Unisa KZN Region explores extending university services to KwaMpungose community

The Unisa KwaZulu-Natal Region and KwaMpungose Traditional Council recently had an engagement at Nkungumathe Youth Centre in Nkandla wherein senior officials from the Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET) were also in attendance to discuss how Unisa services could be extended to the rural community.

Dr Joyce Myeza and Inkosi Zakhe Davidson Mpungose, Chief of KwaMpungose Tribal Authority

Early this year, the KwaMpungose Traditional Council wrote to the Principal and Vice-Chancellor of Unisa, Professor Puleng LenkaBula, to request the university to consider establishing a Unisa office in Nkandla which is under this tribal authority of KwaMpungose Traditional Council. The VC then requested the KwaZulu-Natal Regional Director, Dr Joyce Myeza, to facilitate an engagement between the tribal authority and the university on her behalf.

DHET Official addressing the meeting

The Unisa KwaZulu-Natal management, led by Myeza, met with the tribal council at Nkungumathe Youth Centre in Nkandla. Coincidentally, DHET officials attended to discuss progress in establishing DHET Community Learning College in the area. The Chairperson of Nkungumathe Youth Development, Mthokozisi Mchunu, elaborated on how far they come in working with Unisa and DHET in their resilient pursuit to establish a permanent post-schooling institution closer to the community. He explained that his organisation aimed to uplift the community through education.

Mthokozisi Mchunu, Chairperson of Nkungumathe Youth Development

The meeting explored many ideas, possibilities, challenges, and solutions presented by DHET officials and community leaders who spoke at length about the community's endeavours to establish a community college in the area.

In her presentation, the Regional Director expressed appreciation for the information and work already done by the community of KwaMpungose and DHET to bring post-school education to the community. She explained Unisa's process for establishing a regional services centre. She indicated that the number of students enrolled at Unisa per academic year who reside in the area explored to open an office is a primary determining factor. She added that infrastructure, such as internet connectivity and office space, played a critical role since the university is a comprehensive open distance eLearning (CODeL) institution.

In response to the university's presentation, Inkosi Zakhe Davidson Mpungose, the chief of KwaMpungose, who hosted the meeting with his council's elders and executive, said the community was prepared to identify suitable infrastructure such as the Nkungumathe Youth Centre, which could be used to house Unisa when they are in the area to provide services to the community.

The meeting resolved that in the short term, the university will embark on activities such as participating in community career exhibitions and arranging for various university departments, such as Communications, Counselling, Student Admin, and Library, to visit the area during the applications and registration period and to provide services within the community. In this manner, the provision of Unisa services to the community could take place while exploring a long-term solution.

*By Siyabonga Seme, Unisa KwaZulu-Natal Region: Communication Manager