News & Media
EC region hosts successful stakeholder engagement
On 15 May 2025, the Unisa Eastern Cape Region hosted a successful stakeholder engagement event in Mthatha. The engagement was graced by the presence of traditional authorities, including his Majesty King Buyelekhaya Dalidyebo, His Majesty King Dumalisile Sigcawu, the Honourable Executive Mayor Councillor Nyaniso Nelani of King Sabata Dalindyebo Municipality (KSD), Unisa’s Executive and Deputy Deans from different colleges, and other Unisa staff members from various departments and portfolios.
Prof Moroka Mogashoa, the Honourable Executive Mayor Councillor Nyaniso Nelani, and Dr Vuyokazi Sigaqa
Research that directly resolves societal problems
The purpose of this stakeholder engagement themed Keeping the connection with our stakeholders, was to bring under one roof, organisations that will partner and collaborate with Unisa’s Eastern Cape Region with research, knowledge sharing and to give the provide a strategy on how to curb the social ills plaguing the province.
In her opening remarks, Eastern Cape Regional Director, Dr Makwena Molotja, emphasised the critical role that this collaboration and partnership will be playing in the communities, particularly in directly addressing societal challenges, she explained: "This collaboration will enhance our space in research. We need to create programmes that will speak to the relevance of what is happening in our society, also forging a relationship with our stakeholders that will assist with co-creating knowledge and ensure that our research is relevant to resolve today’s societal problems."
Dr Makwena Molotja
Continuing, Molotja said that the stakeholders need to absorb Unisa students so expose them to the workplace for qualifications they studied for, start scholarship programmes and, in addition, go to communities and give members skills that will assist them to become self-sufficient.
Presentations from Unisa Executive Deans from different colleges and other external organisations, highlighted a serious need of partnerships to create opportunities, engage in spaces where knowledge will be shared, where there is action and reflection, and allowing the university and the municipality to be accessible to members of the community.
Prof Moroka Mogashoa, Acting Deputy Registrar at Unisa, said: "Unisa is the oldest and the biggest university in the country, however that doesn’t mean we are unreachable. University is for the people, a place of knowledge sharing, we are a university that is in touch of with reality and that is in tune with the reality of our communities. Unisa Eastern Cape must make sure that it contributes to the development of the Province."
Mogashoa furtherly stated that Unisa is a place of knowledge production, that it teaches knowledge, stores and archives knowledge, remains relevant and contributes to empowering different societies in the country, continent and globally.
Nelani shared excitedly a start of a great relationship with Unisa, stating that the municipality is looking forward to working with a mega university of the land. "We need your expertise in research and knowledge direction. We are pursuing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and the Provincial Development Plan, to try and fight the three core issues, namely, unemployment, poverty and inequality."
Lastly, Naleni stated that agriculture remains their niche for economic empowerment, employment and food security, and that there will be integration to grow with Unisa and collaborating with the Institution.
The engagement ended on high spirits, coherent and in an integrated manner, in the hope the discussions will not only end here, but they will yield productive results that will see the Eastern Cape Province growing in all economic areas, eliminating working in silos, but understanding the power of working in unity for the upliftment of a brighter future. Stakeholders have committed to develop frameworks and policies that see long term partnerships that will create and develop inclusive growth.
* By Mmamokete Masekoa, Unisa Radio Journalist, Department of Institutional Advancement
Publish date: 2025-05-28 00:00:00.0
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EC region hosts successful stakeholder engagement