The University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN) Law lecturers and PhD candidates Ms Zamankwali Thandeka Njobe and Mr Siphesihle Mhlonishwa Mbatha represented the University at the prestigious UNITAFRICA Conference hosted by the University of Messina in Italy.
The international conference focused on innovative teaching and Higher Education, bringing together African and European scholars, policymakers, and practitioners to engage in global discussions on Africa’s future and the transformation of Higher Education systems.
The conference forms part of the UNITAFRICA Alliance, an international initiative aimed at strengthening academic cooperation between Italy and African universities, promoting innovative teaching practices, research collaboration, and mutual learning across continents.
Njobe and Mbatha presented research papers during a high-level session on the International Protection of the Right to Higher Education, which explored legal, technological, and social barriers to education across Africa.
Njobe, under the supervision of Professor Darren Subramanien for her PhD, presented a paper titled: ‘Exploring AI, Digital Inequality, and Access to Quality Higher Education in Africa: Developing an Afrocentric Framework for Digital Justice’.
Her presentation examined the rapid integration of artificial intelligence and digital technologies in Higher Education and questioned whether these innovations are accessible to all students across the African continent. She argued that without intentional, equity-driven policies, digital transformation risks reinforcing existing inequalities. Njobe proposed an Afrocentric framework for digital justice that centres African realities, promotes inclusive access, and ensures that technological advancement contributes meaningfully to educational equity and social development.
Mbatha, under the supervision of Professor Freddy Mnyongani, Head and Dean of the UKZN School of Law, for his PhD, presented a paper titled: ‘They Must Leave – Abahambe: The Impact of Anti-Immigrant Protests on Immigrant Children’s Right to Education in South Africa.’
His paper examined how recent surges in anti-immigrant protests, often accompanied by chants of abahambe (“they must leave”), undermine immigrant children’s constitutional right to education. Mbatha argued that such protests, frequently marked by violence, intimidation, and forced displacement, place vulnerable children at serious risk of losing access to schooling. Drawing on the late President Nelson Mandela’s words that “education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world,” he emphasised that immigrant children must not be denied this fundamental right. He further recommended that the South African government adopt proactive and coordinated measures to safeguard immigrant learners’ access to both basic and higher education, in line with constitutional and international law obligations.
With both scholars being PhD candidates and lecturers at UKZN, their participation contributed directly to the conference’s central theme of innovative teaching and learning in higher education. The conference included sessions on digital platforms, blended learning, curriculum development, and cross-border academic partnerships, providing valuable insights that the scholars can integrate into their own teaching and research practice at UKZN.
The event also created opportunities for networking and future collaboration with representatives from over 78 African universities across 18 countries as well as multiple Italian institutions, reinforcing UKZN’s role within global academic networks focused on capacity building and knowledge exchange.
For both Njobe and Mbatha, it was their first visit to Italy, making the experience particularly meaningful both academically and culturally. Beyond the formal programme, participants took part in a guided cultural tour of Taormina, where they experienced Sicily’s historic landscape and coastal beauty. They also visited historic cathedrals in Messina, including the iconic Duomo, gaining deeper appreciation of Italy’s architectural heritage and cultural traditions.
The scholars described the experience as overwhelmingly positive, noting the warmth of the host institution, the richness of Italian culture, and the opportunity to engage with scholars from across Africa and Europe in a truly global academic environment.
Participation in the UNITAFRICA Conference reflects UKZN’s ongoing commitment to internationalisation, research excellence, and socially responsive scholarship. By contributing African-centred perspectives on digital inequality, migration, and educational access, Njobe and Mbatha showcased the University’s strength in research that addresses pressing societal challenges while engaging with global academic communities. The knowledge, networks, and teaching innovations gained through this experience are expected to strengthen future research collaborations and enrich classroom practice at UKZN, supporting the University’s mission to produce globally engaged, socially conscious graduates.
Words: NdabaOnline
Photographs: Supplied