Department of Horticulture - DUT

15/08/2026

𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗣𝗘𝗢𝗣𝗟𝗘 𝗕𝗘𝗛𝗜𝗡𝗗 𝗗𝗨𝗧 𝗛𝗢𝗥𝗧𝗜𝗖𝗨𝗟𝗧𝗨𝗥𝗘 🌿
Awards may recognise achievement, but people create the culture. We are more than a department, we are a family.

These moments capture the people, connections and celebrations that make DUT Horticulture special. From students and staff to colleagues and partners, every person is part of our journey.

15/08/2026

𝗟𝗘𝗔𝗗𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗪𝗜𝗧𝗛 𝗩𝗜𝗦𝗜𝗢𝗡 | 𝗗𝗨𝗧 𝗛𝗢𝗥𝗧𝗜𝗖𝗨𝗟𝗧𝗨𝗥𝗘 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲 𝗔𝗪𝗔𝗥𝗗𝗦

The Department of Horticulture Awards opened with a powerful address from our HOD, Prof Mack Moyo, who reflected on the department’s vision, mission, performance, and future direction.

Prof. Moyo encouraged all staff, academic and support, to align their work with the department’s strategic direction and to be active stewards of DUT ENVISION2030. He reflected on the department’s achievements and future priorities, while challenging the Horticulture family to remain committed to excellence, innovation, and meaningful impact.

His message set the tone for the day that was not only about celebrating achievements, but also about reflecting on where we are going and the role each of us plays in shaping the future of DUT Horticulture.

15/08/2026

𝗖𝗘𝗟𝗘𝗕𝗥𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗘𝗫𝗖𝗘𝗟𝗟𝗘𝗡𝗖𝗘 | 𝗗𝗨𝗧 𝗛𝗢𝗥𝗧𝗜𝗖𝗨𝗟𝗧𝗨𝗥𝗘 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟱/𝟮𝟲 𝗔𝗪𝗔𝗥𝗗𝗦

The DUT Horticulture family recently came together to recognise outstanding students and staff who continue to raise the bar through academic excellence, leadership, service and commitment.

In line with DUT ENVISION2030, these awards are more than certificates and trophies. They celebrate the hard work, dedication and positive contributions behind every achievement, while inspiring others to pursue excellence and make a meaningful impact.

From our high-performing students to our dedicated staff, we are proud to be a department that continues to grow talent, nurture excellence and inspire impact.

A special appreciation to everyone who contributed to making this celebration possible. Together, we continue to build a culture where excellence is recognised, potential is nurtured, and success is shared.

🌱 𝗚𝗿𝗼𝘄𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗦𝘂𝗰𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀.

29/06/2026

🌿 𝗢𝗨𝗥 𝗩𝗘𝗥𝗬 𝗢𝗪𝗡 – 𝗠𝗥. 𝗗𝗛𝗜𝗥𝗘𝗡 𝗚𝗢𝗩𝗘𝗡𝗗𝗘𝗥 🌿

Today, we celebrate one of our very own, Mr Dhiren Govender.

A special thank you to the Faculty of Applied Sciences Marketing Team for this wonderful staff spotlight and for celebrating the people behind our department's success.

Join us in showing some love and appreciation to Mr Govender for his commitment and the difference he continues to make.

15/06/2026

🌿 𝗗𝗨𝗧 𝗛𝗢𝗥𝗧𝗜𝗖𝗨𝗟𝗧𝗨𝗥𝗘 𝗥𝗘𝗣𝗥𝗘𝗦𝗘𝗡𝗧𝗘𝗗 𝗔𝗧 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲 𝗦𝗔𝗚𝗜𝗖 𝗖𝗢𝗡𝗩𝗘𝗡𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡

The Department of Horticulture was once again proudly represented at the 2026 South African Green Industries Council (SAGIC) Convention, held at the Riverside Sun in Gauteng.

Participation in key industry gatherings such as SAGIC provides valuable opportunities for DUT, in line with ENVISION2030, to engage with industry leaders, strengthen strategic partnerships, and gain insight into emerging trends shaping the green industry. These engagements are essential in ensuring that our programmes remain relevant, responsive, and aligned with industry needs.

The relationships fostered through platforms such as SAGIC contribute significantly to Work-Integrated Learning (WIL) placements, student bursaries, industry-linked capacity-building initiatives, collaborative projects, and curriculum enhancement—all of which support student success and graduate employability.

A key highlight of the convention was the continued engagement with our alumni and former staff, who remain active in supporting student training, industry exposure, and development opportunities while proudly flying the DUT flag high.

We value the continued collaboration between academia and industry as we work together to strengthen the horticulture profession and create opportunities for current and future students.

Special appreciation to Mr Dhiren Govender, our WIL Coordinator, for representing the department and advancing our engagement with industry stakeholders.

03/06/2026

𝗖𝗢𝗡𝗚𝗥𝗔𝗧𝗨𝗟𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡𝗦 𝗧𝗢 𝗢𝗨𝗥 𝗗𝗘𝗔𝗡, 𝗣𝗥𝗢𝗙. 𝗦𝗨𝗥𝗘𝗡 𝗦𝗜𝗡𝗚𝗛

The Department of Horticulture extends its heartfelt congratulations to Prof Suren Singh on this remarkable recognition.

Prof. Singh continues to lead by example. Beyond his achievements as a researcher, he has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to advancing research, innovation, and academic excellence within the Faculty of Applied Sciences.

We celebrate this well-deserved recognition and thank Prof. Singh for his dedication, vision, and leadership.

02/06/2026

𝗗𝗨𝗧 𝗛𝗢𝗥𝗧𝗜𝗖𝗨𝗟𝗧𝗨𝗥𝗘 𝗔𝗣𝗣𝗥𝗘𝗖𝗜𝗔𝗧𝗘𝗦 𝗦𝗔𝗟𝗜 𝗙𝗢𝗥 𝗧𝗛𝗘𝗜𝗥 𝗖𝗢𝗡𝗧𝗜𝗡𝗨𝗘𝗗 𝗦𝗨𝗣𝗣𝗢𝗥𝗧

The Department of Horticulture extends its sincere appreciation to the South African Landscapers Institute for the invaluable role it continues to play in the development of our students and the growth of the department.

SALI has been instrumental in facilitating Work-Integrated Learning (WIL) placements, ensuring that our students gain meaningful industry exposure and practical experience. Beyond WIL opportunities, SALI has also contributed significantly through bursary support, initially for WIL students and now for postgraduate students.

The SALI–DUT Horticulture partnership is built on a shared commitment to industry collaboration, professional development, and landscaping excellence. Through student training opportunities, industry engagement, professional networking, and ongoing support, SALI continues to help ensure that our graduates are equipped with the practical skills, industry knowledge, and professional connections needed to succeed in the green industry.

Strong partnerships such as these demonstrate the value of academia and industry working together to develop future-ready graduates and advance the horticulture profession.

SALI have been recognized by DUT Co-operative Education for commitment to placing students with members in meaningful work integrated learning opportunities.

By connecting students with industry professionals and real-world experience, SALI continues to invest in the future of the green industry, bridging the gap between education and the workplace while developing the next generation of skilled professionals.

26/05/2026

𝗖𝗘𝗟𝗘𝗕𝗥𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗚𝗢𝗚𝗢 𝗚𝗢𝗢𝗗𝗡𝗘𝗦𝗦 – 𝟮𝟭 𝗬𝗘𝗔𝗥𝗦 𝗢𝗙 𝗗𝗘𝗗𝗜𝗖𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡 𝗔𝗡𝗗 𝗦𝗘𝗥𝗩𝗜𝗖𝗘 💚🌷

Today, we proudly celebrate Auntie Nosipho Nokwindla, affectionately known as Gogo Goodness, as she marks over 20 years of dedicated service in the Department of Horticulture.

Since joining the department in February 2005, Gogo Goodness has been much more than a staff member. She has been a mother, sister, grandmother, and a source of warmth and encouragement to generations of students and colleagues.

Through her dedication to the upkeep of our nursery and her daily interactions with students, she has played an important role in supporting teaching, learning, and practical training. Over the past two decades, she has witnessed many chapters in the growth and evolution of the department and has seen countless students pass through our doors, many of whom have gone on to make meaningful contributions within the horticulture and green industries.

As one of the department’s longest-serving members, Gogo Goodness remains a cornerstone of our Horticulture family.

Reflecting on her journey, Gogo Goodness extends her sincere appreciation to the many students, staff members, and Heads of Department, past and present, who have been part of her journey over the years. She also expresses special gratitude to Dr Jonathan Foley, who appointed her to the department and believed in her potential from the very beginning.

🌱 Thank you, Gogo Goodness, for over 21 years of service, care, and commitment. Your contribution to the Department of Horticulture is deeply valued, and your legacy will continue to inspire generations of students and staff.

25/05/2026

𝗧𝗛𝗥𝗢𝗪𝗕𝗔𝗖𝗞 𝗥𝗘𝗦𝗘𝗔𝗥𝗖𝗛 𝗦𝗣𝗢𝗧𝗟𝗜𝗚𝗛𝗧: 𝗣𝗥𝗢𝗙. 𝗠𝗔𝗖𝗞 𝗠𝗢𝗬𝗢 🔬🌱

This week, we spotlight Prof. Mack Moyo, a C-rated scientist whose work has firmly established him as a leading researcher in Plant Science.

Prof. Moyo has published over 55 peer-reviewed journal articles and accumulated more than 2,000 citations. His research focuses on advanced plant tissue culture and micropropagation technologies, with applications in plant production, conservation, and sustainable horticultural systems.

One of his recent publications, looking at the vulnerability of Southern African ornamental plant functional groups to future climate warming and reduced soil moisture, provides important empirical evidence on how different plant functional groups respond to climate change stressors.

The study highlights varying levels of vulnerability among ornamental plant groups and offers insights to inform conservation planning and adaptive management strategies for protecting biodiversity under future climate scenarios.

📚 Read more:
https://doi.org/10.1007/s11258-026-01604-7

Through impactful scholarship such as this, Prof. Moyo continues to advance scientific knowledge and contribute to sustainable biodiversity conservation and horticultural innovation.

22/05/2026

𝗖𝗢𝗡𝗚𝗥𝗔𝗧𝗨𝗟𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡𝗦 𝗧𝗢 𝗢𝗨𝗥 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲 𝗗𝗜𝗣𝗟𝗢𝗠𝗔 𝗚𝗥𝗔𝗗𝗨𝗔𝗧𝗘𝗦 🌿🎓

The Department of Horticulture proudly congratulates 2026 Diploma students on successfully completing their qualification.

We sincerely appreciate your hard work, dedication, and resilience throughout your academic journey. As you step into the professional world, we believe in your potential to grow, innovate, and make a meaningful impact in the horticulture and green industry.

Please remember that your department will always remain a place of support, guidance, and continued connection as you progress in your careers.

🌱 Your journey continues. Your impact begins.