Renowned academic and the vice-chancellor of the University of Venda, Prof Peter Mbati, was honoured by the Black Management Forum (BMF) last Friday.

A dinner in his honour was held at the Khoroni Hotel.

The event was attended by, among others, South African Football Association boss Mr Kirsten Nematandani, academics, the BMF president, Mr Sam Maloka, and other guests.

In bestowing the honour on Mbati, Maloka said his organisation took the decision to honour Mbati for his managing and leading the University of Venda. "Among others, Prof Mbati managed the university well and made it stable with a clear focus and commitment to the core business of teaching, learning, and research and community engagement. He ensured that the university developed an institutional culture and ethos that catapulted it to be a quality-driven, financially sustainable, comprehensive university,” he added.

Being honoured this way, Mbati is now in the running for the national awards in October 2013.

Mbati said it was humbling to have been honoured in that fashion. "There are many people out there in the background who worked hard for this honour. I am just here representing them from staff, council, students and the management of the university. The achievements were a result of team work and not individual effort," he said.

In congratulating Mbati, the chairperson of the Univen Council, Ms Shirley Mabusela, said the honour could not have gone to a more deserving person than Mbati. "This is a fitting honour. Looking at Mbati's efficiency, how he does his work and the way he collaborates with others, makes him the right person for such an honour," she said.