Mpumalanga – Kagiso Trust and the University of Mpumalanga have signed a three-year partnership focused on research and joint projects
Partnership will translate academic research into policy and development solutions in education, socio-economic development, institutional capacity building and financial sustainability
The partnership will generate research publications, policy briefs, symposiums, student research projects and thought leadership outputs that translate knowledge into implementable development solutions.
Four thematic focus areas guide the work: education, socio-economic development, institutional capacity building and financial sustainability.
Success will be measured by on-the-ground impact and transformation, with particular emphasis on shifting from theoretical analysis to practical implementation.
The partnership reflects both organisations’ commitment to collaborative, evidence-based approaches to addressing pressing development challenges.
The partnership, signed on 21 July at the university in Mbombela, runs from 1 July 2026 to 30 June 2029 and signals both organisations’ commitment to research that drives measurable development outcomes.
“This marks the start of a shared journey in our roles and contributions to the development of our country,” said Zwoitwaho Nevhutalo, chairperson of Kagiso Trust.
“The true success of this partnership will not be measured by today’s signatures, but by what we achieve together in the years ahead: the research we produce, the programmes we implement and the impact we create.”
Key pillars and outputs
The partnership will focus on Kagiso Trust’s key pillars: education (alternative career pathways including sports, arts, technical, vocational and artisanry); socio-economic development (agriculture and property entrepreneurship development); institutional capacity building (civil society organisations and municipal governance); and financial sustainability (including social impact bonds and crowdfunding).
Planned outputs include:
- Peer-reviewed journal articles, policy briefs and discussion papers.
- Postgraduate student research (master’s, PhD and doctor of business administration dissertations).
- Seminars, conferences and colloquiums.
- Policy analysis and influence work.
- Concept papers.
- Thought leadership articles suitable for public presentation and parliamentary engagement.
The research will combine rigorous academic inquiry with practical application, ensuring findings reach decision makers and practitioners.
Grounded in excellence
Professor Thenjiwe Meyiwa, vice-chancellor and principal of the University of Mpumalanga, said the signing of the memorandum of understanding marked the start of an exciting journey.
“Through these collaborative efforts, we can ensure that research brings policy briefs to the table that are easily communicated and grounded in excellence,” she said.
“Let’s use this opportunity to get research to inform policy, to get policy to inform practices, and to get practices to change our behavioural patterns.”
Kagiso Trust has four decades of direct community development experience, focusing on education, local governance, socio-economic development and active citizenry. Its track record of previous academic partnerships demonstrates the organisation’s commitment to evidence-based practice.
The University of Mpumalanga is a young, dynamic and rapidly growing institution with significant potential to contribute meaningfully to its surrounding communities and to national development goals. The partnership positions the university to ground its research in real-world development contexts while supporting students and researchers to engage directly with pressing societal challenges.
Translating commitments into action
Themba Mola, chief operating officer of Kagiso Trust, said successful partnerships require intention, accountability and sustained commitment. “Our responsibility now is to ensure that today’s commitments are translated into action through effective planning, active collaboration and consistent engagement between our institutions.”
“The real value of this agreement will be reflected in the work we undertake together over the coming months and years: in the quality of our collaboration, the knowledge we produce, and ultimately the impact we make in improving people’s lives.”
Both organisations acknowledged that South Africa faces significant development challenges, including unemployment, poverty, inequality, skills shortages and digital exclusion. The partnership positions academic research as a tool for understanding and addressing these challenges at scale.
Q&A: KAGISO TRUST AND UNIVERSITY OF MPUMALANGA PARTNERSHIP
What is the duration of the partnership and when does it begin?
The partnership runs for three years, from 1 July 2026 to 30 June 2029. It was formally signed on 21 July 2026.
Is this Kagiso Trust’s first academic partnership?
Kagiso Trust has had several formal strategic partnerships with academic institutions. Previous partners include the University of Limpopo, the CSIR, the University of the Free State, Stellenbosch University, the University of the Western Cape and the Human Sciences Research Council. These partnerships have produced master’s and PhD dissertations, research publications and policy recommendations.
What are the four focus areas of the partnership?
The partnership concentrates on education (including alternative career pathways in sports, arts, technical and vocational fields); socio-economic development (agriculture and property entrepreneurship); institutional capacity building (civil society organisations and local government); and financial sustainability (including social impact bonds and crowdfunding).
What kinds of outputs will the partnership produce?
Expected outputs include peer-reviewed journal articles, policy briefs and discussion papers, postgraduate student research, seminars and conferences, policy analysis and influence work, concept papers and thought leadership articles. The emphasis is on research that informs policy and practitioner decision-making.
How will success be measured?
Success will be measured by real-world impact and transformation, specifically the extent to which research translates into policy changes, programme improvements and measurable development outcomes. This differs from measuring success by publication output alone.
Why is this partnership significant for South Africa?
The partnership models how academic research and development practice can work together to address pressing national challenges including unemployment, poverty, inequality and skills shortages. It demonstrates a commitment to evidence-based approaches that respond to local and national priorities.
Can students and early-career researchers participate in the partnership?
Yes. The partnership explicitly creates opportunities for master’s, PhD and doctor of business administration students, as well as early-career researchers, to engage with real-world development challenges through research projects aligned with the four thematic focus areas.
About Kagiso Trust
Established in 1985 during South Africa’s transformative years, Kagiso Trust is one of the country’s leading development agencies. For four decades, the Trust has been dedicated to creating a brighter future for South Africa’s most vulnerable communities by promoting equity and socio-economic inclusion. Through its innovative, bottom-up approach, Kagiso Trust has implemented scalable and sustainable development programmes across education, institutional capacity building, and socio-economic development.
In 2025, Kagiso Trust proudly celebrated its 40th anniversary, marking a legacy of impactful interventions and a commitment to igniting human capacity to solve critical challenges faced by the country. With over R2 billion invested in development and more than 1,800 programmes implemented, the Trust continues to drive meaningful socio-economic transformation from the bottom up.
For more information, visit www.kagiso.co.za
Source: Kamuses.co.za
