The Hlanganani Show

Mvelo Hadebe was joined by Mr Sandile Dlamini, President of the Umlazi International Film Festival to discuss the upcoming Umlazi International Film Festival, which will be hosted at Mangosuthu University Of Technology. Mr. Dlamini shared the background and vision behind the festival, highlighting its growth, its role in empowering local filmmakers, and why it remains an important platform for storytelling, creativity, and community development.

He emphasized how the festival not only celebrates cinematic talent but also creates opportunities for youth, industry networking, and cultural expression within Umlazi and beyond. www.mut.ac.za · iono.fm

Mvelo Hadebe was joined by Mrs. Roxanne Pillay, a lecturer in the Department of Biomedical Sciences, for an insightful conversation on exam stress management.

Mrs. Pillay emphasized the importance of planning ahead, maintaining a healthy balance between social life and academics, and adopting positive lifestyle habits to manage stress effectively. Her discussion offered practical advice and encouragement to students preparing for exams, reminding them that good preparation and self-care are key to success. www.mut.ac.za · iono.fm

Nqubeko is one of the students that were being celebrated at the ceremony. He mentioned what inspired him to study nature conservation and his biggest experience so far as he is volunteering also in 2 organisations at a time. www.mut.ac.za · iono.fm

Ms Mbali Ngcobo was a guest speaker from Ezemvelo kzn wildlife. As much as she didn’t do nature conservation, she mentioned the importance of hosting these kinds of events for students as they are moving from student life to workplace. www.mut.ac.za · iono.fm

Mr Errol was the guest speaker from eThekwini Municipality. He shared his journey in the industry and the reason why he chose to direct his career path into nature conservation. He also mentioned the biggest environmental challenges faced by South Africa. www.mut.ac.za · iono.fm

Mvelo Hadebe was joined by Mrs. Ndlovu, along with Ms. Ayanda Mbele, an educator from Shumayela Secondary School, and Mr. Vela Mkhize, an educator from Mafumbela High School.

The conversation focused on their collaborative community development project — exploring its objectives, inspiration, and the active involvement of community members. The guests shared insights into the positive impact the project has made within schools and surrounding communities, highlighting the importance of education-driven initiatives in creating long-term social change.

They also reflected on effective engagement strategies and shared their aspirations for the continued growth and empowerment of the communities they serve. www.mut.ac.za · iono.fm

Professor Akash Anandraj delivered the purpose of the day during the Department of Nature Conservation ceremony. In his address, he highlighted the significance of the event, emphasizing that such gatherings are essential for celebrating academic excellence, fostering environmental awareness, and inspiring students to continue their vital role in preserving nature. Professor Anandraj further explained that hosting these events allows the faculty to recognize student achievements, strengthen the spirit of collaboration, and encourage future conservation leaders to apply their knowledge towards sustainable solutions for the planet. www.mut.ac.za · iono.fm

Mvelo Hadebe was joined by Dr. Nthabiseng Mosala-Bryant, Senior Director of Library Services at Mangosuthu University of Technology (MUT), who delivered the closing remarks for the day’s Open Access Week programme.

Dr. Mosala-Bryant reflected on the importance of Open Access in advancing the university’s mission of knowledge sharing and research visibility. She commended the presenters and participants for their valuable contributions and reaffirmed the Library’s commitment to supporting researchers through access to information, training, and digital resources. www.mut.ac.za · iono.fm

Mvelo Hadebe was joined by Dr. M.B. Mutanga from the Department of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) at Mangosuthu University of Technology (MUT) during Open Access Week. Her discussion focused on “Open Access in Practice: MUT Scholars’ Perspective.”

Dr. Mutanga shared insights into how MUT scholars are engaging with Open Access publishing, highlighting its benefits in improving research visibility, collaboration, and impact. He also discussed the challenges faced by researchers, such as limited awareness and access to publishing resources.

He emphasized the importance of institutional support, capacity building, and researcher involvement in strengthening Open Access practices at MUT, encouraging academics to fully embrace open knowledge sharing. www.mut.ac.za · iono.fm

Mvelo Hadebe was joined by Mr. Phumlani Biyela, Research and Scholarly Communications Librarian at Mangosuthu University of Technology (MUT), to discuss MUT’s Open Access Strategy and Institutional Repository during Open Access Week.

Mr. Biyela highlighted the role of Open Access in promoting knowledge sharing, increasing research visibility, and fostering collaboration. He explained that MUT’s Institutional Repository provides a platform for preserving and sharing the university’s research outputs. He also emphasized the importance of researcher participation and awareness in strengthening MUT’s Open Access initiatives. www.mut.ac.za · iono.fm