The Durban University of Technology (DUT) held a memorial service for Dr Progress Mtshali, a former Chief Information Officer whose recent unexpected passing at his home in Ballito left many in tremendous shock. The DUT community together with family and friends gathered at the DUT Hotel School, Ritson campus in Durban on Friday, 14 February 2025, to honour and celebrate the life of Dr Mtshali.

The Programme Director was Mr Alan Khan, Senior Director of Corporate Affairs at DUT who began by extending the university’s sincere condolences to Dr Mtshali’s family, friends and colleagues.

“In particular, I would like his wife, Dr Khumalo, their children, grandchildren and the rest of the family to know that we are praying for their strength and comfort at this very sad time. Dr Mtshali was a valued member of the DUT family. For those of us who are blessed to have worked closely with him, we will always cherish those memories. I hope that his family and friends will know that he was loved, admired and respected,” said Mr Khan.

He revealed that Dr Mtshali (67) was born in Newcastle, KwaZulu-Natal and later attended the prestigious University of Fort Hare. According to Khan, Dr Mtshali left South Africa on a fully funded scholarship to study in the United States of America where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering, from the State University of New York. Dr Mtshali obtained his Master of Science and a PhD in Computer Information Systems from Nova Southeastern University in the US. He lived in the United States of America for 34 years and with a deep desire to contribute to his original home, he returned to South Africa, where he worked at the Central University of Technology in the Free State and then joined DUT, where he eventually retired after dedicating several years of service to the institution.

Delivering the message on behalf of DUT was Professor Fulufhelo Nemavhola, Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Research, Innovation and Engagement.

“It is indeed with great and profound sorrow that we gather to honour and celebrate the life of Dr Progress Mtshali. Once again on behalf of DUT, I extend our heartfelt condolences to his family, friends and those who had the privilege of knowing him. People will forget what you do, but people will never forget how you made them feel. Dr Mtshali had an extraordinary ability to inspire and to connect with people. Similarly, we find words of wisdom from the African proverb that goes; a person who plants a tree will not necessarily sit in its shade. I want to believe that Dr Mtshali planted trees of knowledge and innovation at DUT,” shared Prof Nemavhola.

The DVC:RIE indicated that Dr Mtshali will be remembered as the forefront runner of his work done on the Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system, which he believes will be a gift for future generations and it will ensure DUT remains at the forefront of higher education. Prof Nemavhola also honoured the sacrifices made by Dr Mtshali’s family, especially his wife, Dr Khumalo who supported him in his continued service to duty even after retirement. He commended Dr Mtshali of always managing to turn life challenges into opportunities for growth and progress. He believes Dr Mtshali’s legacy will remain an enduring thread in the fabric of duty history forever and no one will delete that history.

Chief Information Officer, Professor Mohohlo Samuel Tsoeu went on to speak on behalf of the Information and Communication Technologies Services (ICTS) unit, expressing his condolences to the family’s loss of the beloved ‘gentle giant’.

“We are here to celebrate the positive contributions that Dr Mtshali has made to DUT and to the community as large as at been alluded to. His warm demeanour appealed to me. His wisdom and larger than life presence reflected in the staff members of the ICTS unit who respected him and admired him dearly,” he shared.

He further thanked Dr Mtshali for the sacrifice of time that he had given, as well as the support he given him in order for him to be able to execute what he had to do.

“At any given point in time, he touched more than 33,000 student lives and 4000 staff members. Enabling this majestic institution to continue against a digital backbone that he was committed to,” added Prof Tsoeu.

He concluded his tribute message by saying that the ICTS family extended their sincerest condolences to the family of Dr Mtshali.

“He was loved, he was respected and he was admired. He was a member of the ICTS family. May the Lord bless you and keep you,” he conveyed.

Delving into messages on behalf of colleagues at DUT was shared by Director: ICTS Customer Service, Mr Nkorwana Mosehla.

He professed that he was one of the lucky ones as well as other staff members who had the opportunity to sit with Dr Mtshali, who had shared many of his life adventures with them.

“With a mental PowerPoint -like presentation, highlighting his photographic memory, he would narrate his stories from Newcastle to his job in the United States, and back to South Africa with such great details, sharing on the people he met along the way,” he added.

Mosehla reiterated that the late Dr Mtshali had left a lasting legacy with the DUT colleagues.

Adding to the sediments was Data Analytics Director, Mr Alex Mngenge, who reflected on some of the feedback shared from colleagues at DUT on Dr Mtshali.

“On my end I saw him as a problem solver, a leader, Dr Mtshali, who was hands on when it came to programming. He also shared incredible stories around what he was doing around cyber security,” he indicated.

Mngenge divulged on Ms Prabashnee Kisten’s experience with working with Dr Mtshali, saying that under his guidance she had thrived in a natural environment where innovation was encouraged. She explained that Dr Mtshali’s  energy and warmth made a lasting impact.

Last but not least was the touching message given by the family spokesperson, Dr Mary Thembi Mtshali, daughter of the late Dr Mtshali.

“I cannot adequately put into words how much this event has meant to my family. To the Vice- Chancellor and Principal, Professor Thandwa Mthembu, thank you so much for your efforts in putting this together to honour this person that we love so much. I want to extend our heartfelt thanks to DUT for organising this beautiful tribute to my father. The thoughtfulness, care and love that you have put into honouring his contributions and memory mean so much to us,” she expressed.

She relayed that her father had loved DUT in the community here, and it was clear from everything DUT had done that everyone had loved him all so much too.

“To the faculty and staff that worked alongside my father, thank you for your friendship and support of him throughout the year. To his former students, thank you for allowing him to do what he loves most, teaching, mentoring, and guiding future generations. He came back here with the purpose of educating, guiding and supporting the young minds of this country because he knew you were the future of South Africa. He wanted to try his best to give you all the opportunities he had throughout his life. To our family and friends, thank you for your support, your comforting words, and for sharing our grief and celebration of his life,” she added.

She also expressed that her dad was more than an academic husband, father, a friend, a mentor, a thinker, and a kind hearted soul that gave so much to those around him.

“Our father believed in the power of Africa, it’s people and the power of education. His legacy lives on in all of you. Thank you for honouring him with us,” she concluded.

The closing remarks were then shared by Mr Alan Khan who thanked all the speakers for their heart-warming messages on such a gentle giant.

“Wisdom and kindness will always remain an inspiration to those of us who are blessed to have known him and worked with him,” he highlighted.

Khan further conveyed to friends and colleagues of Dr Mtshali to honour his legacy by carrying forward the values and passion that he embodied. “Thank you to everyone who made this memorial possible to those who organised the service, shared their tributes and offered support during this difficult time. May we leave here not only with the sorrow we feel, but also with immense gratitude for the privilege of having known Dr Progress Mtshali. May his soul rest in eternal heavenly peace and may his memory always be a blessing,” he concluded.

Dr Mtshali was laid to rest at his home in Newcastle on Saturday, 15 February 2025.

Pictured: The late Dr Progress Mtshali.

Simangele Zuma/Waheeda Peters