A group of senior citizens showed-off their sporting skills during an outreach event organised by the third-year Sport Management class.

The event, which took place at the Greenpoint Urban Park, saw members of the Cape Peninsula Organisation for the Aged partake in various activities under the theme “Amazing Race”.

Based on the concept of the popular reality television show, the seniors completed various tasks in a bid to cross the finish line first.

The event also aimed at introducing and educating senior citizens on the importance of recreation and urban parks.

One of the participants of the day, 95-year-old Diane Meyer would put most of today’s youth to shame with her veering energy and determination.

“I thoroughly enjoyed the activities. I find it very important to keep fit, and the event offered the perfect opportunity to get moving,” says Meyer.

The teamwork between the students was undeniable and their enthusiasm and cooperation allowed the day to be a great success.

“The students did an amazing job. They responded brilliantly, and conducted and presented an event that the participants will always remember,” says CPUT Sports Coordinator, Quinton Summers.

The event was run in conjunction with the Service Learning Unit.

By Nurahn Ryklief

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The final phase of a CPUT outreach project was concluded on 16 October 2008 at the Cape Winelands District Education Office when learners from 15 rural schools across the Breederiver/Overberg region took part in a science and technology competition.

These learners represented science clubs and/or groups developed at each of the participating schools and demonstrated the skills that were practiced and developed under the auspices of the schools’ science teachers.

Learners showed their knowledge and understanding of curriculum-related experiments and practical work by conducting experiments on stage and exhibited their presentation skills by explaining their work at each step. The learners presented their work in an informative, entertaining and creative manner in an attempt show the adjudicators what they have learnt.

The project is an outreach initiative by the Centre for Mathematics, Science and Technology Education (CEMSTE) at CPUT and was developed in partnership with the Cape Winelands Education District.

As Dr Shaheed Hartley, Director of CEMSTE explains, the project had three phases.

Phase 1 consisted of a workshop conducted by subject experts and was directed at providing skills, expertise and subject knowledge to the science and technology teachers of the participating schools.

During the second phase the teachers implemented the knowledge gained in the workshops and set up the schools’ science clubs with the assistance of the curriculum advisors and the CEMSTE team.

The final phase was the competition between the science clubs from the various schools. This provided an opportunity to measure the impact of the teacher workshop through outcomes achieved in learners’ activities and participation in the science clubs.

The competition was opened by Dr Brian Wilson, Chief Curriculum Advisor, who encouraged the learners to continue in science and mathematics and to grab all opportunities presented to them as important learning steps in life.

Edgar Johannes, Science Curriculum Advisor, applauded the teachers for their hard work in building the science clubs. The science and technology competition is divided into primary and secondary school divisions with six primary – Suurbraak, Skurweberg, Masakheke, Vergesig, H Venter, Rawsonville – and nine high schools – Ashton, Bella Vista, Emil Weder, Hawston, Langeberg, Masakheke Combined, Villiersdorp, Vusisizwe and Qhayiya – participating in 2008.

Dr Hartley pointed out that this year’s competition was especially difficult to adjudicate as the level and the quality of the experiments and presentations were exceptionally high.

To this end joint winners were announced in the secondary division, namely Ashton and Qhayiya, while Vergesig walked away with the laurels of the primary division for the second year running.

Dr Hartley thanks the participating learners, teachers and curriculum advisors for all their efforts as well as the sponsors who continue to make this project possible.

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Education students at the Mowbray Campus are teaching large numbers of primary school learners from various communities to swim.

Over a six-week period, more than 80 learners from Observatory Primary School will visit the campus once a week, in order to participate in free swimming lessons.

Human Movement lecturer, Mel Muller, said the swimming lessons have been taking place at the campus for several years and forms part of third year Foundation Phase Students’ Human Movement module.

Muller said all third year students must complete a swimming module, which requires them to master the skill of teaching a child to swim.

Instead of sending the students out to schools to complete this module, Ms Muller said they opted to bring learners to the campus and incorporate them into the Human Movement classes.

This move is proving to be a huge success, both for students and learners.

Muller said students are not only developing their teaching skills through the swimming lessons, but also providing the community with a valuable service.

“The students are experiencing working with children in water. What they have learnt in their first two years, they are now putting into practice,” she said.

Each student is allocated a learner and over the six week period must teach them how to swim.

“They also have to write a progress report on their child,” she said.

Muller said incorporating learners into lessons has also had a major impact on the community over the past few years.

“It is benefiting the community. Every year we teach so many children to swim,” she said.

Learners also have the opportunity to play various balls games with students when at the campus. Muller said this also assist students with how to go about giving lessons at schools.

As a result of the interaction with learners on campus, many CPUT Foundation Phase students hit the ground running when they start their experiential teaching at schools.

By Candes Keating

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Eight B Ed students from the Mowbray campus recently took the Grade 7 class of the Christian David Moravian school in Retreat to the Crags outside Plettenberg Bay.

The five-day trip was planned and organised by the students who secured sponsorship of clothing and food from various community organisations.

Each student mentored four to five children through an experiential learning week. Students prepared a workbook for the children to use as a resource book and also as a journal.

The aim of the trip was to Make Art Grow in Children (MAGIC TOUR), where both students and the children learn from one another. A map gave the children insight of the route they were taking and the environmental questions that they were asked, focused on their thinking. During the tour the children walked in the Tsitsikama forest with elephants and had the unique experience of touching and interacting with the elephants before feeding them.

The children made clay elephants, exploring form and texture and they went on to explore this activity at the beach where they worked in groups to make vast sand sculptures. They also went to the Lawnwood Snake Sanctuary, the Eden Bird Sanctuary, Monkey-land and the Rhino base camp.

In the evenings the students worked with the children to complete activities and to reflect on the day’s learning. When the children were sleeping, the students and the teacher worked together to reflect on their own process of learning and would then discuss activities for the following day.

According to the group, the trip offered a unique learning experience for the facilitators, students and children.

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A group of high school learners from a Private School Swakopmund in Namibia were thrilled by courses offered at CPUT during a recent visit.

The delegation consisted of Grade 10 learners interested in pursuing their tertiary studies at CPUT. Learners used the opportunity to learn more about the university’s faculties and courses, before making their crucial subject choices.

After being welcomed by Student Recruitment Officer Grant Barends, the group was taken on a tour of the Bellville Campus and met lecturers and students from the Clothing Management Department and Food Technology Department.

In each department, the learners enjoyed opportunities to view the practical equipment used in the courses offered.

“The aim of the trip is to inspire our students, we want them to think out of the box. Visits like these open their minds to the possibilities out there,” says Swakopmund teacher Marianna Johns.

By Nurahn Ryklief

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As part of its community engagement initiatives, the Faculty of Business collaborated successfully with Sinenjongo High School in Milnerton.

The Khula Sonke Tutorial programme was conceptualised early this year as a life skills, accounting and economics tutorial programme offered to Grade 10 learners from Sinenjongo High School in the Joe Slovo Settlement in Milnerton. 

Research has shown that Grade 10 is strategically a good level to start this type of intervention as learners in this age group join schools in the Western Cape in search of a better standard of education.

The aim of the project was to assist learners and teachers with teaching and learning accounting and economics while at the same time developing the learners’ life skills.

The tutorials were offered every alternate Saturday from April to September and 49 learners from the school were bussed to the Bellville campus where they were taught and supported by 15 student tutors.

The learners were awarded with certificates of completion and tutors received certificates of participation.

Lecturer Carol Whiting, who co-ordinates the programme, says feedback from learners and tutors, as well as preliminary evaluation indicates that the project was highly valued and had contributed to the academic success of the learners.

Community Engagement and Work Integrated Learning Director, Dr Joyce Nduna, says the project articulates well with CPUT’s mission and the national vision.

By Kwanele Butana

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The university’s HIV/ AIDS Unit is involved in community outreach at the Malmesbury Correctional Centre.

As a result of the unit’s ongoing activities at the prison, an inmate who is a Peer Educator trained by the HIV/AIDS Unit detected two possible TB suspect cases using the TB Screening instrument developed by the unit.

This was as the result of Craig Daniels’ participation in the World TB Awareness Campaign at the Centre.

Daniels referred inmates who showed signs and symptoms of TB to the centre’s clinic and as a result, one was confirmed to have active TB and placed on treatment.

During the campaign, Daniels encouraged 104 inmates to sign the TB Pledge on signs and symptoms.

Associate Professor Ashraf Mohammed says the HIV/ AIDS Unit has worked with the prison since 2004.

The unit has conducted various workshops on HIV/ Aids, initiated a sewing project as well as a vegetable garden project at the prison. 

The unit donated sewing machines and arranged for a postgraduate student to conduct a short course in fashion design and sewing at the centre.

During the unit’s last visit to the prison, inmates requested donations of fabric, needles, buttons and seeds for their projects.   The successful visit was aimed to showcase the unit‘s outreach programme to its visitors from Sweden who also made presentations to the inmates.

By Kwanele Butana

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CPUT has established the Civic Engagement Unit, which drive and coordinate community projects in order to develop socially responsive graduates and staff members.

The unit forms an integral part of the Centre for Community Engagement and Work Integrated Learning, which was established in 2009 in response to the 1991 Education White Paper on the Transformation of Higher Education.

The paper calls for all higher education institutions in South Africa to demonstrate greater responsibility and commitment to the socio-economic development of communities.

Manager of this new unit is Buntu Gwija who is no stranger to CPUT. Gwija was a former lecturer in the Faculty of Business and was responsible for driving the CPUT chapter of the Students in Free Enterprise (SIFE).

Gwija, who prior to joining CPUT in May 2010 was involved in political and business ventures, will play a key role in developing and nurturing partnerships between the university and the communities it serve.

“The main role of the Civic Engagement Unit is to provide non-curricula opportunities in social engagement and social responsibility for both staff and students,” said.

Gwija said students’ arrive at CPUT and many become detached of their communities. He said it is thus vital to raise social awareness amongst students and develop a sense of citizenship.

“Civic engagement means working to make a difference in the civic life of our communities and developing the combination of knowledge, skills, values and motivation to makes that difference. It means promoting the quality of life in a community, through both political and non political processes,” he said.

Programmes will range from individual volunteerism to community projects. The unit will also work closely with community organisations, government, faculty managers and the Department of Student Affairs.

Gwija said in line with the CPUT transformation, social cohesion and diversity charter, the unit plans to participate and further redress past injustices through programmes that are educationally meaningful.

Currently they are in the process of compiling a database of civic activities at CPUT and will then move on to establish a forum that will play an advisory role.

“Its main function is to advise on projects that can become educationaly meaningful. We want to make sure that these projects make an impact. The projects must also link to the institution’s vision,” he said.

Gwija also plans to bring a research aspect to the unit, by compiling a database of community problems, which researchers could focus on.

“At the end of it all, we want to acknowledge and pride ourselves with our involvement in community engagement,” he said.

A webpage will soon be launched that will list the unit’s projects, allowing students and staff to become involved in outreach programmes in the true spirit of ‘Ubuntu’.

“These are exciting times for all of us at CPUT,” he said.

Other units in the centre include the Service Learning Unit, which drives the integration of community engagement with teaching, learning and research, and the Co-operative Education Unit, which is responsible for nurturing partnerships that result in students’ experiential training and graduate recruitment opportunities in industry.

Contact the Bellville-based unit at 021 959 6794 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

By Candes Keating

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CPUT’s Civic Engagement Unit in collaboration with Iziko Museum and Nomsa Mapongwana Primary School recently participated in the Nelson Mandela International Day celebrations.

Driven by the newly appointed manager at the Civic Engagement Unit, Mr Buntu Gwija, the former president’s birthday was celebrated in style at Nomsa Mapongwana Primary School in Mandela Park, Khayelitsha.

CPUT joined the whole world in celebration of former president Dr Nelson Mandela birthday’s on 18 July.

Nomsa Mapongwana Primary School was chosen as a beneficiary of the project.

Mandela’s birthday was declared Nelson Mandela International Day by the United Nations General Assembly last year to mark 67 years of his life that he dedicated to the struggle for humanity.

The celebrations took place on Saturday 17 July 2010 and on the actual birthday, the following day.

Pre-birthday celebrations included a workshop conducted by Jonathan Shapiro, a popular South African cartoonist known as Zapiro. Ten students from CPUT formed part of The Youth Ambassadors, who spent a day reflecting on Nelson Mandela’s life through a series of cartoons.

Gwija said: “The cartoon session with Zapiro and The Youth Ambassadors was an eye-opener judging from the feedback that we got from the people. We all learnt that cartoons are not just the artwork, but a reflection of life as we see it.”

CPUT’s involvement focused on giving back to previously disadvantaged communities through educationally-meaningful processes.

Gwija said: “At CPUT, we view the Nelson Mandela International Day as the day of reflection on our own strength, unity, diversity and an opportunity to form part of a global celebration to peace.”

About 400 people, which included staff and students from CPUT, supported the initiative. As a result, staff and students spent 67 minutes of their time providing painting, gardening and information-sharing services at the school.

Some of the activities included a lecture on conflict resolution that was provided to educators. To kick-start the programme, all attendees embarked on a Madiba Walk, which was led by Drum Majorettes and City Police.

Lulamile Ntonzima from the Public Management Department brought 200 students, who offered a hand during the event.

CPUT Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Research, Technology Innovation and Partnerships Dr Chris Nhlapo was one of the dignitaries who attended and supported the initiative.

As one of the keynote speakers, Dr Nhlapo said: “CPUT, together with the rest of the world, is pleased and honoured to form a global call to join the rest of Africa in celebrating the Nelson Mandela International Day.”

He further explained that CPUT’s core business is teaching, research and community engagement.

“We as CPUT are a University of Technology that serves these communities. As custodians of the people’s education, we view our involvement in the Nelson Mandela International Day as a contribution to society and humanity at large,” said Dr Nhlapo.

The Western Cape’s Education MEC Donald Grant and Economic Development and Tourism MEC Allan Winde, Iziko Museum CEO Prof Jatti Bredekamp and the member of the National Legislature Chris Stali were also among the guests.

Addressing the learners, Grant said: “The best present that we can give today is to improve our literacy and numeracy results. We must learn to read and write more than 67 minutes a day.”

Click here to view photographs of the day.

By Andiswa Dantile

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The Faculty of Business donated ten boxes of food and clothing to The Haven Night Shelter for homeless adults.  

The shelter is located in close proximity to the university’s Cape Town campus and houses close to 100 homeless adults.

Associate Dean of the Faculty of Business Ivan van der Heever says the donations were received from the faculty’s staff members as part of the Mandela Day Project.

 “We decided to start with the community that’s closest to the campus,” he says.

Sheila Jacobs, manager at the shelter, welcomed CPUT’s donation.

She says part of their mission is to find permanent homes for homeless individuals, whether with their relatives or any other parties.  

The shelter has a social worker who assesses new clients’ needs as well as a skills trainer who provides training in various fields.

Jacobs says they also have several fieldworkers who patrol suburban areas and rescue homeless individuals who are taken in by the haven. Individuals can stay at the shelter for up to nine months.

To carry out its mandate, the shelter relies on donations from the community and funding from the Department of Social Development.

The faculty is currently looking at further collaborations with the shelter. 

By Kwanele Butana

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The Food Technology Department is calling all Grade 11 and 12 learners as well as other interested parties to attend their annual open day this Saturday.

The open day will take place at the Food Technology Facility on the Bellville Campus and promises to be a fun and informative event.

Visitors to the open day can expect an exciting line-up, says event organiser Cindy Hunlun.

The day will kick-off with a welcome presentation, where lecturers will give an overview of the course. Visitors will also enjoy a guided tour of the state-of-the-art Food Technology Facility.

This impressive building boasts several cutting-edge laboratories and a Pilot Plant, which is the only of its kind at a university in South Africa.

Hunlun says staff and students will also conduct various scientific demonstrations in some of the laboratories.

Staff and students will be at hand to assist learners and other interested individuals with completing application forms.

The open day begins at 9am. For more information, please consult the CPUT events calendar.

By Candes Keating

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The Service-Learning and Civic Engagement Unit (SLCEU) recently joined hands with the Business Unit to distribute beds and mattresses to community organisations as part of their Social Investment Project.

On Monday, 16 November, 165 beds and mattresses were distributed to various organisations, spread across the province. The work of the SLCEU involves the formation of partnerships between all sectors of government, the community, university staff and students, to respond to societal challenges in communities through meaningful projects. Theresa Burns from the SLCEU coordinated the activities on site to ensure that the project was administered according to institutional requirements.

A range of organisations received beds and mattresses, including organisations providing services to the elderly, the homeless, orphans and to those recovering from substance abuse and gender-based violence.

Phillip Chibvuri, Residence Finance Specialist in the Business Unit, said: “We remain determined to  see through this on-going project of making our living and learning spaces more conducive for baking  the  best graduates we can with the resources and initiatives we can explore.  We are now close to 70% completion in replacing all CPUT owned beds and mattresses across all our campuses. This replacement project paves the way for a wide range of possibilities and other complimentary projects to come in our bid to ensure our clients, our future graduates, get the best experience with our brand as we continue to ‘create futures’”.

One of the highlights of the project was when Resident Student Assistant, Khumbulani Chimusaro, a Civil Engineering student, mobilised a group of student volunteers from the residences to assist community members to load the beds and mattresses onto the trucks at the Bellville campus.

“The leadership, kindness and respect displayed by the students was heart- warming and impressed the community organisations,” said Jacqui Scheepers, SLCEU Manager, adding that “it gave much hope for the future of the country”.

CPUT’s Student Ubuntu Ambassador, Ntombozuko Bota, from The Hope Foundation, a student-led organisation, assisted with identifying organisations and Masters in Energy student, Muster Madavha, coordinated some of the logistics on site and volunteered to help organisations load the trucks on arrival. Another student-led organisation that participated was Umsimbithi Foundation.

 The Community Policing Forum (CPF), Langebaan, were amongst the organisations who partnered with CPUT. The CPF’s Debbie and Peter Liebenberg conveyed their thanks to CPUT “for making a difference to 50 of our community members who received much-needed beds and mattresses in Sea Breeze Park on Thursday, 19 November 2020, where beds were distributed in 15 minutes and brought comfort to so many community members”.

The Breede Valley Municipality also conveyed its thanks stating that: “It could not have come at a more appropriate time as our shelter was in need of beds”.

Project partner, Lovetta Bolters from Camissa Solutions, expressed her gratitude for the role that CPUT plays in ‘not just talking about giving back but acting on their commitment to their communities’.

“We are looking forward to building our footprint to include more projects in rural and remote areas in the province. In order to contribute positively to the upliftment of our communities, we all need to practice the spirit of Ubuntu, especially during these uncertain times. It will be an absolute pleasure to continue this journey of meaningful engagement with our communities,” said Scheepers. The project will continue in December with many more organisations already lined up to receive beds and mattresses from CPUT.

Written by Ilse Fredericks
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The Department of Clothing and Textile Technology will host its annual Open Day this week.

Set to take place on Thursday at the Bellville campus, this popular event gives learners an insight into the exciting world of Clothing and Textile Technology.

The course is the only one of its kind offered in the Western Cape and each year graduates are snapped up by some of South Africa’s top clothing companies.

Event Organiser Charlene Parenzee says this year learners and other visitors to the Open Day can expect an informative and interactive event.

“Learners will participate in a dyeing project in our textile laboratory and will also take part in a draping project in our pattern rooms,” she says.

Learners will also get to see a clothing production line in operation and enjoy a tour of the department’s state-of-the-art facilities.

All schools and private persons are invited to attend the Open Day. To book please contact Parenzee at 021 959 6466 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

By Candes Keating

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Learners from Sun Valley Primary School were shown the fun side of science through a number of interactive exercises during a recent visit to the Bellville campus.

They turned water into wine, induced static electricity, performed chromatography and created a bouncing polymer ball.

The first stop was the Department of Analytical Chemistry where staff explained how the instruments in the laboratories work and allowed the youngsters to conduct basic experiments.

After explaining how life would be without chemistry, Shaheeda Adonis split the group and together with lab assistants the youngsters were given a set of instructions and allowed to experiment.

They then moved on to the Food Technology Department where the Grade 6’s learnt about the role of bacteria in the processing of food and beverages.

They were shown all the machines that are used to process various types of food and beverages and were treated to demonstrations.

Later Timothy Jasson from the Horticulture Department took the learners through the growth pattern plants follow and explained how to create the best conditions for them to flourish.

By Kwanele Butana

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Visitors to the annual Clothing and Textile Technology Open Day left CPUT well-informed of the course.

Each year the Bellville-based department comes up with novel ways of presenting their Open Day and this year was no exception.

Visitors had the opportunity to dress up mannequins using colourful fabrics and jewellery and even got the chance to see a clothing production line in full action.

PATTERNS: A CPUT student shows students how garment patterns are manufactured.

Brackenfell High School learner, Nadine Rodrigues, who aspires to become a fashion buyer, says she was impressed with the range of interactive activities organised.

“The event was very informative,” she says.

Visitors also toured the department’s state of the art facilities, were shown how to dye materials and taken through the process of pattern making.

Monique Solomons, who has already applied for a place in the course, says she was very impressed with the pattern making exercise.

“This is definitely the course I want to do,” she says.

Event organiser, Charlene Parenzee says thanks to CPUT students, who were at hand to field questions from visitors, the day was a huge success.

Those who would like to apply for this course and others at CPUT should do so by 31 August 2012. Applications can be downloaded from the CPUT website or collected at the university.

By Candes Keating

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CPUT staff and students got into the spirit of Mandela Day by dedicating 67 minutes of their time to not one but three underprivileged communities. 

Under the auspices of the Civic Engagement department, the institution is teaming up with other corporates like Vodacom, Prasa, Asla, African Pride Crystal Towers hotel and Spa and the Black business Chamber to work in Khayelitsha, Tafelsig and Manenberg yesterday.  The Siyabonga Madiba initiative agitates for change in the township through infrastructure development and education.  In Khayelitsha volunteers cleaned the grounds of the Chris Hani High School, supplied paint and supplies  and promised to return for a sports intitiative that will introduce handball to the students. 

At the same time a separate group started building a crèche in Tafelsig from scratch.  In Manenberg, a smaller group, was tasked with cleaning the Sarah Baartman centre which is home to abused women and children.  Siyabonga Madiba head Yvonne Lungcuzo says she cried tears of joy when she heard CPUT was on board.  “I just want to say thank you to absolutely everyone for joining,” she says.  Civic Engagement’s Buntu Gwija says it was an honour to share the day with Yvonne and her team.  “This isn’t just a once off, it’s a long term commitment,” he says.

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From tutoring learners to rolling out greening programmes, students at CPUT are volunteering their time to make a difference in local communities.

These initiatives all form part of the Student in Civic Engagement Programme (SICEP) that was officially launched this week.

HELP AT HAND: A group of CPUT students who are participating in the Student in Civic Engagement Programme

An initiative of the Civic Engagement Department,  Manager Buntu Gwija says SICEP aims to increase students’ involvement in communities.

“It prepares students for good citizenship by raising awareness of the need for social responsibility and commitment to building South Africa’s future economically, politically and socially,” says Gwija.

Already two programmes are underway, with a large number of students involved.

Student volunteer and field coordinator, Mzolisi Kene says the Believing in Change programme focuses on environmental sustainability in the community of Langa, while the Masiphumelele programme will see CPUT students tutor primary and high school learners.

“We want to bring change in our communities,” he says.

Both these initiatives will run throughout the winter holidays and this year the CPUT volunteers will be assisted by students from Tulane University in America, who are participating in an exchange programme.

The group of students will also participate in various HIV/Aids programmes in several communities, which are being driven by Dr Ashraf Mohammed, head of the HIV/Aids Unit.

By Candes Keating

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Apart from being an important element of our ecosystem, wetlands can also be a source of income to communities living near them.

Deputy Minister of Water Affairs Rejoice Mabudafhasi made the important point during a recent visit to the Adopt-A River Programme in Makhaza, Khayelitsha.

The project, which sees locals composting, creating food gardens and protecting indigenous plants, is a partnership between the department of Water Affairs, CPUT’s Service Learning Engineering project, the City of Cape Town and various civil and environmental organizations.Around sixty second year Civil Engineering students are involved in Service-Learning projects on seven rivers and Wetlands.

Minister Mabudafhasi says she was very excited to see what this community was doing.

“If we take care of our wetland we can benefit from it,” she says.

Her department is funding a number of bursaries to deserving students to ensure the chain of wetland care is maintained.

“Young women volunteers will say ‘we were once river cleaners today we are scientists’,” she says.

“As mothers you’ve made me proud.”

She went on to highlight the positive effect a clean wetland has on the surrounding community saying criminals were no longer using these secluded places for ill deeds.

Jacqueline Scheepers, of the Service Learning Unit said the main aim of the Adopt a River programme is to create an understanding among all water users about the importance of protecting their natural resources.

By Thami Nkwanyane

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Leadership on the continent will come under the spotlight at CPUT’s annual Africa Day celebrations that will take place at the Bellville Campus today.

Africa Day is the annual commemoration of the 1963 founding of the Organization of African Unity now known as the African Union (AU). This day celebrates Africa’s liberation but also urges Africans to reflect on the development and challenges facing the continent.

Today the CPUT community will focus on African Leadership in the 21st century and will explore the current realities, challenges and prospects of leadership on the continent.

The keynote address will be delivered by Reverend Dr Frank Chikane, former Director General of the Presidency.  Dr Chikane is well acquainted with leadership issues on the African continent and earlier this year he released Eight Days in September, his account of the events leading up to and following Thabo Mbeki’s removal from office.

The president of the Apostolic Faith Mission of South Africa, he is also involved in business, offering an advisory service to companies that do business on the African continent.

Africa Day celebrations will take place at the Bellville Campus Auditorium at 12am.

The CPUT community and public can watch the event live online at www.cput.ac.za/live

By Candes Keating

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It’s all hands on deck this Mother’s Day weekend as CPUT’s Hotel School gear up for the annual Table of Peace and Unity event.

The fundraiser will see 700 people coming together to break bread at one long table set on Tafelberg Road – and raise millions for children’s charities.

Cape Town Hotel School Lecturers Jerome Peters and Danielle Schamrel will join other top chefs to prepare the three-course meal while students will help staff the event, using the skills learnt in the field each day at the Granger Bay Hotel School restaurant.

Jerome and Danielle will prepare the dessert of baked cheesecake brownie, chocolate truffles and raspberry coulis.

“We will have 60-80 students involved over three days. On the day of the event, 40 students will be divided into two stations and we also have our 100 first-year students doing the front-of-house service side of the operation,” says Jerome.
The Table of Peace & Unity was started 11 years ago and has raised close to R12 million to date. Every cent goes directly to the charities, which support abused, vulnerable and orphaned children across South Africa.

By Jan Weintrob

Written by CPUT News
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