Held under the theme “New Horizons in Leadership: Women Leading, Men Partnering for Ethical and Equitable Institutions,” the conference brought together Student Affairs and higher education professionals from universities and TVET colleges across South Africa.
It provided a platform to explore leadership, gender equity, institutional transformation and the role of men as partners in creating more equitable institutions.
Representing Mandela University, Yanga Lusasa from the Department of Student Governance and Development participated as a panellist in the session, “From Power to Purpose: Reimagining Leadership through Integrity, Accountability and Inclusion.”
Lusasa challenged conventional approaches to leadership that emphasise authority, position and power, advocating instead for leadership grounded in service, ethical responsibility, integrity and accountability.
He also drew on the work of Ebuhlanti / The Kraal – Men’s Leadership Programme, a Mandela University initiative that provides developmental spaces for young men to critically engage with masculinity, leadership, responsibility, relationships, values and their role in society.
The programme recognises that meaningful gender transformation requires the active participation of men. Through dialogue, mentorship and leadership development, it encourages young men to challenge harmful ideas about masculinity and embrace values rooted in ubuntu, responsibility, integrity, respect and purposeful leadership.
Lusasa emphasised that the future of leadership should be measured not by authority, but by how leaders use their influence to empower others, create opportunities and lead alongside their communities.
“The conference provided an important national platform for connecting institutional initiatives with broader conversations on women in leadership, men as partners, gender equity and the responsibility of higher education institutions to develop socially conscious graduates and future leaders,” said Lusasa.
These conversations will continue at Mandela University during the Ebuhlanti / The Kraal – Men’s Leadership Programme Symposium on 25 September.
The symposium will bring together young men from Mandela, Rhodes, Walter Sisulu and Fort Hare universities as well as TVET colleges to promote positive life values, responsible masculinities, ethical leadership and purposeful citizenship.
2026 NASDEV Women in Leadership Conference