Prof Maluleke unveils 21st Century Mbombela Campus Library

The newly refurbished Mbombela Campus Library, which includes digital resources, collaboration spaces and research areas, was officially opened by Vice-Chancellor and Principal, Prof Tinyiko Maluleke.

Vice-Chancellor and Principal Prof Tinyiko Maluleke describes libraries as engines of intellectual pursuit, contemplation, and excellence. The launch, held on 10 March 2026, was attended by the University’s senior leadership, campus management, staff, students and community stakeholders. The newly refurbished building provides a sustainable, technology-driven space that supports teaching, learning, research, engagement and collaboration.

In her welcome message, Mbombela Campus Rector, Dr Ndiadivha Tempia, told guests that the gathering was more than just the opening of a building. “It is the unveiling of possibilities, the activation of a promise and the fulfilment of a long-awaited dream,” she said.

Acting Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Operations, Dr Shadrack Nthangeni, reminded those in attendance that, though the project faced many hurdles, they were overcome through hard work, collaboration, and commitment, ensuring that the Mbombela Campus has a fully-fledged, modern library. 

In his address, Prof Maluleke underscored the importance of libraries, describing them as engines of intellectual pursuit and the heartbeat of universities.                                                                                                              

He also noted that: “The library, like all great inventions of humanity over the past thousand years, has to adopt and adapt to, new technologies,” so that library spaces may no longer be used solely for contemplative reading and study. “The library must become a multipurpose place, complete with spaces for dialogue, idea labs, podcast-recording centres, discursive spaces, gaming areas, and coffee-shop-like precincts; in short, places with much more than books on shelves,” he continued.

Dr Shadrack Nthangeni, Dr Ndiadivha Tempi, Prof Tinyiko Maluleke and Sanele Kunene at the ribbon-cutting ceremony. Lamenting the paucity of libraries, let alone events to celebrate the opening of one, Prof Maluleke sighed that society has grown accustomed to the disproportionate number of shopping centres, malls, shebeens and taverns as opposed to libraries. He decried the fact that “the number of libraries in the city of Mbombela can be counted by the number of fingers on one’s hand”.

“This city would be better off if it had as many libraries as it has shopping centres … the youth of Mpumalanga and other areas would be better served by a library than the hubbly-bubbly they puff, the drugs they use and the liquor they imbibe before they die prematurely,” he said.

To conclude his speech, Prof Maluleke made a passionate appeal to staff and students: “Do not waste this library; please do not let it go to waste; you dare not allow the library and yourselves to waste away.”

After the ribbon-cutting ceremony, the Director of Library and Information Services, Sanele Kunene, and Dr Tempia took the audience on a tour of the refurbished library and the campus.

The library skylight. Mbombela Campus Library.