A donation by the City of Cape Town, including essential food items and hygiene products, will greatly benefit students in need.

The 30 boxes of food hampers and 30 women’s vanity bags will aid 60 students.

The food hampers include mealie meal, lentils, flour, oil, pilchards, tea bags, soap, peanut butter, milk and many other items while the vanity bags include sanitary towels and toiletries.

“The donation will really go a long way for the students that will benefit. Our aim as an institution and our role as the Student Affairs Division is to ensure that we remove life’s impediments, where possible, to enable students to concentrate on their academic and co-curricular pursuits. This is so that they can excel in their personal journey of overall success. This donation contributes towards achieving this,” said Tulani Nkuntse, Deputy Dean of Student Affairs.

The donation will benefit students who have been identified as needing assistance and do not receive any form of financial aid or belong to the so-called ‘missing middle’ with their parents struggling to meet the costs of their studies.

“This situation has become more acute during the lockdown period associated with the Covid-19 pandemic, as many of these students have come forward to declare their dire position of suffering from hunger, apparently as the pandemic has also had the effect of diminishing the capacity of their parents or guardians to provide for them.”

The Marketing and Communication Department acted as the liaison between the City of Cape Town and the Student Affairs Division.

“We are very grateful for the generosity and care the City of Cape Town has shown to our institution, in particular our students. We welcome and appreciate the support and partnerships. We are certainly looking forward to growing the partnership in other areas as well.”

Nkuntse said talks had already started on how the City of Town and CPUT can collaborate on a few programmes, one of which is to revive the vegetable garden situated on the Bellville campus.

“We are extremely excited about this initiative as it was a project initiated and solely run by our students under the Green Campus Initiative.”

The University has, on two previous occasions during lockdown Levels 5 and 4, provided support in the form of food parcels to 420 and 520 unfunded students in need, respectively. The Student Affairs Division carried out this exercise in conjunction with the Financial Aid office, as well as the Advancement Department.

“Also, on these previous two occasions, funding for the food parcels has been sourced solely from the Vice-Chancellor’s discretionary budget, which may be an unsustainable option if the intervention is to continue into the foreseeable future,” he said.

The University has since set up a Task Team to look into the matter of food security in its entirety on CPUT campuses, specifically looking at a holistic and sustainable programme to address this need.

Written by Ilse Fredericks
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The Division of Student Affairs (DSA) wrapped up Africa month with a celebration at the Granger Bay Campus, including an exhibition of African artifacts.

Guests proudly donned their diverse tradition attires while information sharing about the importance of the Africa Day was also on the agenda.

The DSA’s intention with hosting Africa Day was to commemorate and affirm the Division’s commitment to the CPUT vision 2030, in promoting the ‘oneness and smartness’. Commemorating Africa Day was crucial given that it allowed a platform for conversations. “In our quest to partner with relevant stakeholders to build relationships and enhance strong relationships between local and international students, Africa Day provided a platform to engage on common continental issues, this was done through conversations, exhibitions, learning from each country and providing opportunities that can benefit students and staff,” said Njabulo Maphumulo, Deputy Dean of Student Affairs.

The outdoor festivities included performance by a marimba band, African traditional dance groups and African countries craft stalls and exhibition. There was a screening of the “Preserving Khwe/Xam Heritage, a creative expression.

In his opening address, Vice-Chancellor, Prof Chris Nhlapo, said Africa Day was an exciting annual event where the institution joins other Africans in celebrating the mother continent, its rich resources, its astonishing beauty, and its profound cultural diversity. “This is an important day to us as it gives us a very rare opportunity to reflect and to talk about issues affecting us as Africans. It’s an opportunity to reaffirm our commitment to work collectively with other institutions on the continent and promote responsible internationalisation.”

Prof Simphiwe Sesanti from the Faculty of Education, University of the Western Cape, also took to the stage and shared his views on: Contextualising Africa Day and its meaning in the Higher Education Context. There were also messages of support from the diplomatic community, which included Zimbabwe, Mozambique and Angola.

The keynote speaker, Honourable Alvin Botes, Deputy Minister, International Relations and Cooperation, delivered his presentation on celebrating Africa Day through education, innovation and culture”. Alfonce Ngasirmoi from Kenya and Milka Bazeka, a Democratic Republic of Congo native, both shared their experiences of students and staff in a higher education context.

Reflecting on the event, Maphumulo said it was a major success, given that it was a unique project that combined the academic project by the Cape Town Hotel School Hospitality students who showcased their culinary skills as they prepared African cuisine during the day. “The event was further a success as it showcased the rich culture and diversity of our students who displayed their talents through music, traditional dance and cuisine.”

Written by Aphiwe Boyce
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CPUT Libraries, in collaboration with the Department of Student Affairs (DSA), recently joined the global celebration of World Book and Copyright Day under the theme "Read Your Way”.

This annual event is observed worldwide, and it serves as a tribute to the invaluable contributions of books and authors, while also highlighting the importance of copyright protection in fostering creativity and innovation. The World Book and Copyright Day holds profound significance, tracing its roots back to UNESCO's decision in 1995 to commemorate April 23rd as a day of literary celebration. This date was chosen to honour the birth and death anniversaries of renowned authors, including William Shakespeare and Miguel de Cervantes, underscoring the universal appeal of literature and its timeless impact on human culture.

At the heart of CPUT's celebration were esteemed guest speakers, dedicated staff, and enthusiastic students, all gathered to partake in a series of enlightening discussions and presentations. Yunus Omar, Library Manager of the Faculty of Business and Management Sciences, set the tone for the event, emphasising the importance of reading as a transformative force that enriches the mind and broadens the horizon. Njabulo Maphumulo, Deputy Dean of Student Affairs, emphasised the importance of cultivating a culture of writing and storytelling, stressing that it is crucial to create avenues where individuals can share their narratives and contribute to the rich tapestry of literature. Maphumulo also highlighted the critical role of access to books in empowering individuals to chart their intellectual journey. He stressed the need for collaborative efforts, such as this event, to bridge the gap and make educational resources more accessible to students.

There were also insightful presentations by guest speakers, Ntombozuko Bota- CPUT alumna and author of a book: A Seed Grown Into Flower and motivational speaker and Musa Tshabangu- first-year student and author, who captivated the audience with their inspiring journeys and invaluable insights into the writing, publishing process, and importance of copyright. With firsthand experience and expertise, they shared practical tips and financial considerations essential for aspiring authors, shedding light on the intricate path from conception to publication. Musa has authored two books, Decision Making and Koke ngaphasi komthunzi welanga kune skhathi sakho.

Under the adept direction of Regina Sikhosana, Library Manager, Faculty of the Engineering and Built Environment, the programme unfolded seamlessly, providing a platform for dialogue, learning, and inspiration. Janine Lockhart, Scholarly Communication and Digitisation Services, extended heartfelt gratitude to all participants for their contributions and commitment to promoting information literacy as a skill taught in libraries to support learning and teaching, and protection of authors’ copyright and intellectual property following the Protection of Personal Information Act.

Ntombekhaya Gwaqa , Marketing Librarian, said the celebration of World Book and Copyright Day was a testament to the institution's unwavering dedication to fostering social cohesion, a culture of reading, learning, and creativity. “Through collaborative endeavours and insightful discourse, it reaffirms the enduring significance of books as vessels of knowledge and the indispensable role of copyright in safeguarding the fruits of human imagination. As we reflect on this commemorative day, let us renew our commitment to cherishing literature, nurturing talent, and upholding the principles of intellectual integrity and cultural diversity.”

Written by CPUT News
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