Former Higher Education Resource Services – South Africa (HERS-SA) Director, Brightness Mangolothi, recently joined CPUT as the new Director of the Centre for Diversity, Inclusivity and Social Change (CDISC).
CPUT’s Vision was a key drawcard for Mangolothi, who stepped into the role in December and brings with her a trove of experience in the field.
“For me, the vision of the university, to be Africa’s leading smart University of Technology globally and renowned for innovation, with graduates who shape a better world for humanity, attracted me,” she stated.
“The fact that the vision and values have a human-centric approach was very appealing, which means that transformation is the university’s strategic intent. Importantly that the institutional transformation framework expands beyond redress, which is normally limited to student and staff diversity issues, to recognising that redress is incomplete when the mandate of the university, which is teaching and learning (decolonisation of the curriculum, language, and being responsive to the needs of Africans) research and engagement are divorced from the transformation objectives - further, tapping into digital transformation and strategic partnerships, which are also key to driving the realisation of the institutional vision.”
Asked what will be top of her agenda, Mangolothi said while she understands the transformation interventions needed for universities as she has worked with all 26 universities in her erstwhile role, she is always hesitant to prescribe what needs to be done before engaging with the university stakeholders and understanding the systems in place.
“It would be a disservice to assume solutions without first understanding the unique context of CPUT – context is key for any intervention. At the core of my work and my team at the CDISC is to contribute to creating and sustaining a psychologically safe space for all - where all will feel valued, seen and heard and a strategy to sustainable change that is driven beyond compliance.”
“The institutional transformation framework is the blueprint of what needs to be done. The university is celebrating 20 years. It will be great to look back and say: where are we as a centre/institution - using a transformative lens? What have we achieved? What still needs to be done and what interventions need to be in place to realise the vision and to be a sustainable institution?”
“This requires spaces to be created to have authentic and intentional institutional conversations. It’s about listening to the voices of all university stakeholders. What needs to be done to create safe spaces for all? We need to understand whether we are embracing oneness as CPUT, which is critical as transformation is anchored in “ONE SMART CPUT”
Her first month in office has been mainly dedicated to meet and greets with stakeholders and meeting with her team “listening to their aspirations and concerns”. These conversations form a key part of the baseline assessment.
Asked to share her views on diversity equity, inclusion, belonging (DEIB), she said: “When we talk about diversity in South Africa, the focus has mainly been on race.
“For me, diversity it about representation of all social identities, which includes race, gender, class, sexual orientation, religion, age, language, and more. Diversity creates a “pot of gold” that allows different experiences, beliefs, and values to enable the creation of inclusive solutions/innovation – leaving no one behind. Representation needs to be viewed with an intersectional lens, which elucidates those different social identities that lead to different experiences (privileges and oppressions)”.
She continued: “Equity is about fairness. Fairness is appreciating that we are starting from different points, thus treating unequal people equally means reproducing the inequalities. Inclusion is making diversity work by valuing and supporting all, and belonging is enabling a space that is welcoming to everyone”.
Mangolothi firmly believes that diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging are a cornerstone to attaining the vision and the mission of the institution.
“I believe this office should create transformation systems to enable the realisation of the transformation goals and further, contribute to an environment that values staff and students, irrespective of colour, sexual orientation, ability, age or neurodiverse abilities.
She hails from humble beginnings in Soweto
“Issues of social justice were instilled at home, in how we were raised. We were taught to speak up, not just when an injustice is done to you but when done to others and to also share, as my mother would say, “Bana ba motho ba kgaogana tlhogwana ya tsie (the spirit of sharing irrespective of the size of what you have)”. I attended school at Morris Isaacson High School, the place where the 1976 riots started in Soweto, Gauteng.
“The school was not just a learning space; we were also empowered to understand that we can thrive irrespective of our race. We witnessed the recording of Sarafina, which tells the story of the impact of apartheid. We had teachers who instilled fighting for our rights and the power of acquiring knowledge and how it can emancipate us. Varsity life injustice motivated me to be an academic, in fact to be that lecturer I wished I’d had. Working for corporate I experienced racism and opted to go back to university to further my studies, which landed me an academic position.”
She has cultivated an exceptional career working for both public and private universities, non-profit organisations and corporate. Mangolothi is a former Head of Department at Nelson Mandela University and Head of Programme at IIE, ADvTECH. She is The African Women Leaders Network (AWLN) – South African Chapter Treasurer General, previously served as a Public Relations Institute in Southern Africa Board Member and National Workers Union (NEHAWU) Nelson Mandela University Branch Chairperson. In 2023 she co-co-edited a book titled, Women’s Empowerment for a Sustainable Future: Transcultural and Positive Psychology Perspectives. 2023. In 2020, Mangolothi earned the esteemed title of the University of Georgia Fellow for the African Civic Engagement Academy Program and was recognised as a 2015 Standard Bank Rising Star Finalist. The International Association for Business Communicators (IABC) also acknowledged her significant contributions to the communication field.
Outside of work, she enjoys being in nature, travel, and learning about different cultures.
“I love to go on game drives and to watch the sun set and rise. It makes me think that if the sun can rise, I can also rise again. It’s a new beginning, a new hope. People don’t believe me but I’m an introvert, I think the confusion comes from seeing me in action, as when I take the microphone, I own it and speak where there is injustice I do speak up.”
Written by Ilse Fredericks
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“We are one family and we are trying by all means that we bring all the staff members together,” he said.