DSA launches 2025 Mandela Day drive

The Division of Student Affairs (DSA) has launched a food and sanitary collection drive to raise awareness about food insecurity and encourage staff and students to donate non-perishable food items and toiletries.

Louisa Brits, Head of Student Counselling, expressed that this initiative aims to promote the spirit of Ubuntu and inspire a united response to a vital national challenge that affects CPUT students. Brits highlighted that the DSA recognises that CPUT students are integral to a larger community, embodying the resilience needed to address the psychosocial and socioeconomic challenges faced by many South Africans.

 “These trends and challenges are thereby also affecting the development and success of the student at CPUT. It is through the work of DSA that we seek to address various challenges through different interventions that may impede the health, wellness, and success of the student at CPUT. One such challenge is food insecurity,” she remarks.

Some of the objectives are as follows:

• To raise awareness and sensitise the CPUT community about food insecurity and period poverty.
• To mobilise various internal and external stakeholders to contribute food, toiletries, and sanitary products to support students in need.
• To strengthen the institution's commitment and establish a unified approach toward promoting student wellness and success.

“We encourage all staff and students to form a unified stance and demonstrate the values of Ubuntu and come out to support our 2025 Mandela Day drive as a call to action under the theme: 'It's still in our hands to combat poverty and inequity.”

Donations of various non-perishable food items and sanitary products can be made at multiple locations across all campuses. The designated donation points include:

• Student Counselling Offices
• Campus Health Clinics
• HIV Unit Offices
• Disability Unit Offices
• Library Circulation Desks
• Student Centres (District Six and Bellville) and the Student Housing Reception
• All Residence coordinators’ offices at their respective student residences

In addition, faculties, departments, and units can bring their donations on July 18 and July 31 at the following locations, Bellville Campus: Sports Hall and Student Centre from 10 am to 2 PM.

Brits said the students are facing significant challenges related to food security and sanitary needs, which affect their academic and personal success. While there are several food security initiatives in place at CPUT, there is a continued need for supplies and resources to empower service departments to assist students discreetly with various health and psychosocial issues. These departments require non-perishable items to maintain ongoing support for our CPUT students.

“We therefore call to action the CPUT student and staff community to join DSA in a joint food and sanitary drive to contribute to and promote student wellbeing and success, by donating towards our Mandela Month drive.

“We challenge all faculties, departments, units, and residences to participate in the donation drive and compete to “Out-donate, out-give, outshine!” on 18 July, during which we will have 67 minutes for the Mandela Day event to receive donations, and together pack and sort donations. The drive will conclude on the 30th of July with a final donation sorting and packing initiative.”

Written by Aphiwe Boyce
Email: BoyceAp@cput.ac.za