Prof. Deon De Beer, SARChi Chair Medical Product Development: Centre for Rapid Prototyping and Manufacturing (CRPM) and Dr William Hlakoane, Denel Group Executive Landward, CUT alumnus and the newly awarded Honorary Doctor. 

The Faculty of Engineering, Built Environment and Information Technology (FEBIT) at the Central University of Technology, Free State (CUT), conferred the Honorary Doctorate in Mechanical Engineering (honoris causa) to William Hlakoane, a Mechanical Engineer by trade and the current Denel Group Executive Landward. 

Dr Hlakoane hails from Thabong, a small town in Lejweleputswa District, Welkom. He acquired both his National Diploma and Bachelor of Technology in Mechanical Engineering qualifications at the CUT.

According to Hlakoane, his career in Engineering started in his early childhood when he and his peers used wires to build cars. He mentioned that he has always been an inquisitive child who always loved fiddling and figuring things out. “As a child, I enjoyed assembling and disassembling things, and I also loved making wire cars. I think I would have been the first person to invent a car made of aluminium or zinc plates. I was a very curious young boy, so it was no surprise that I ended up in the engineering field,” he said.

CUT conferred an Honorary Doctorate in Mechanical Engineering (honoris causa) to industry leader, Dr William Hlakoane. Pictured: Vice-Chancellor and Principal, Prof. Pamela Dube, congratulating the newly capped Doctor, CUT alumnus and Denel Group Chief Operating Officer. On stage with them is Dr Sally Dzingwa, Institutional Register (far left) and Prof. Wendy Setlalentoa, Acting Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Research, Innovation and Engagement (far right).

Dr Hlakoane said the honorary announcement brought him honour, pride and emotional joy. “I was in tears. It made me think back to where it all started. Thinking back on the relationship that I have with the institution, from the good old days to now, and everything that I have achieved throughout my career. Out of a million of the things that I ever wanted in my life, this honour and recognition is the one that my family and I will cherish forever,” said Hlakoane joyfully.

Asked about his leadership and how he managed to wear multiple caps in his role, Hlakoane said he has always taken the approach of empowering himself with all the available knowledge, insisting on not only focusing on one specific job role. “I always wanted to be knowledgeable, but what has been outstanding for me in my career is the ability to be able to work in different environments and apply my engineering knowledge in various aspects of businesses. People always ask me why I know so much, and my answer is simple… curiosity.”

He added that his ability to wear many caps in different environments has allowed him to be where he is today.  “Even outside of my career, I always say, the lessons learnt from school only gives you a certain level of thinking or knowledge. But it is how you use it to have more knowledge beyond those lessons. Use the same knowledge that you have gained to go beyond what you have acquired here.”

When accepting his Honorary Doctorate, Hlakoane stated that he is proud of the university for what it has become. “I am a very proud alumni of this institution, and I wish all of you the success that you deserve.”