The University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN) and Foskor (Pty) Ltd have strengthened their long-standing collaboration with the signing of a five-year contract for the continued delivery of the Leadership Development Programme (LDP).
This milestone partnership – celebrated at a launch event held at the Premier Hotel in Richards Bay in KwaZulu-Natal – marks a significant step for academia-industry partnership in South Africa.
Foskor, a leading producer of phosphoric acid and granular fertilisers, plays a critical role in the country’s agricultural and manufacturing sectors. Its partnership with UKZN began in 2022, driven by the College of Law and Management Studies (CLMS) through the expertise of the former School of Accounting, Economics and Finance (now the School of Commerce) and the Graduate School of Business and Leadership (GSBL).
Since its inception, the LDP has equipped managers and emerging leaders at Foskor with the managerial insight and leadership capabilities required to navigate an increasingly complex industrial landscape. Participants include engineers, scientists, human resources specialists, finance professionals and other practitioners whose roles are central to Foskor’s operational effectiveness.
Foskor’s Chief Operations Officer, Mr James Morotoba, lauded the partnership, emphasising its strategic importance in supporting national food security. “The training of our leadership by UKZN will contribute to upskilling the workforce and addressing sustainability and succession planning,” he said.
Highlighting the national significance of the programme, UKZN’s Dean of Teaching and Learning in the CLMS, Professor Bomi Nomlala, noted that the LDP emerged at a time when skills shortages and organisational complexities were placing pressure on South Africa’s growth trajectory. “The programme was designed not only to enhance individual management competence but also to support Foskor in its broader mandate, improving production efficiency, elevating product quality, strengthening morale and ensuring safe, cost-effective operations. It has been an honour for the University to contribute to this developmental journey,” said Nomlala.
Reflecting on the formalisation of the extended partnership, Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Head of the CLMS Professor Ernest Khalema noted that the agreement reaffirmed the University’s commitment to impactful collaboration. “Today we celebrate the renewal and expansion of this relationship through a five-year agreement for continued delivery of the LDP. This commitment reflects our shared belief that leadership excellence is central to organisational success, economic resilience, and national development,” said Khalema.
He added that while the LDP would continue to reside within the CLMS, the collaboration would broaden through UKZN’s Project Renewal initiative. This would allow the partnership to expand into Agriculture, Engineering, and the Sciences – disciplines critical to innovation and sustainability in the mining and manufacturing sectors. Such interdisciplinary engagement aligned closely with UKZN’s Strategic Goals of High-Impact Societal and Stakeholder Engagement and Excellent High-Impact Research, Innovation and Entrepreneurship.
Khalema concluded by thanking Foskor for its confidence in UKZN’s academic capabilities. “On behalf of the University, I congratulate all stakeholders on this milestone. May the next five years of our partnership be marked by deeper collaboration, shared learning, and measurable impact for both institutions – and for South Africa as a whole.”
The celebratory event was attended by senior leadership from both organisations, including Divisional Human Resources Manager at Foskor Ms Bongi Sithole-Mncube; Acting General Manager at Foskor Mr Musa Xulu; the company’s Chief Finance Officer Ms Jubilant Speckman, and Executive Director of UKZN’s Corporate Relations Division, Ms Normah Zondo.
Words: Hazel Langa
Photographs: Conelia Harry