Studying under normal conditions is tough, but studying on an empty stomach is near impossible.

That is why staff and students from CPUT’s Wellington Campus kicked into action in answer to eight NSFAS students’ cry for help. The payment of their NSFAS food allocation was delayed and with the assessment period looming the students initially approached Sasco Chairperson on Wellington Campus, Thembile Khaleni, for help.

He thought that those best placed to help the students were members of the Local Student Representative Council (LSRC), who he in turn told of the students’ plight. The LSRC issued an appeal for either food or money to help the students out. They received only monetary contributions, mostly from staff, but also from students, and were able to provide one meal per student per day for the whole period of assessment.

“Everybody pulled together to help these students,” says Pieter Lammert, Project and Community Development Officer of Wellington’s LSRC. “We approached Aunty Des from Boland Catering, a service provider at the hostel, for help and she dropped the price for a meal from R40 to R25 to accommodate us,” he adds.

Lammert goes on the remark that this is the first time that the LSRC has undertaken an initiative like this and that he would encourage the incoming LSRC to do the same should students approach it with such a request again. “I want to thank everyone who contributed to this food drive. People like Andri Braid, a fourth year student, who donated what was left on her account with Boland Catering (R900) to the students.

“It was very brave of the students to come forward and say they need help and for that I want to commend them too,” he comments.

Written by Abigail Calata

Following the recent inauguration of the Central Student Representative Council (CSRC) and Local Student Representative Council (LSRC), the new representatives were introduced to Vice-Chancellor Prof Chris Nhlapo and the Executive Management at the South African Renewable Energy Technology Centre.

This occasion has historically been a close and intimate meeting facilitated by the office of the Dean of Students for the new SRC to meet the Vice-Chancellor, executive Management and senior management. This special meeting (Meet and Greet) takes place soon after the inauguration of the LSRC and CSRC. During the meeting, Nhlapo congratulated the SRC on behalf of the management and gave them a sense of the history of the university, a brief of his 17 years of experience at CPUT and where the institution is today, and the direction the institution should be heading. He also motivated the SRC. underscoring the valence of being a student leader and highlighting the importance of the SRC to champion the interest of all the students irrespective of who voted for them as they embark on their leadership journey.

The event also provided an opportunity for the SRC president to briefly articulate his vision for the year. Nhlapo said: “We warmly welcome you…We have a long route to traverse in 2025… I would like to thank all of you without exceptions and the structures in particular the conduct of the elections and the elections that have come and gone and the democratic processes have yielded the results that we are actually having. Congratulations.”

He continued: “I am congratulating all of you, the president, and the chairpersons of the respective campuses, and all of you who are here. Addressing the new leaders, Nhlapo said: “It’s important that we build teams, I am accurately aware that even though we’re driving Oneness, but we should also appreciate diversity within Oneness.”

Nhlapo added: “I want to say to all the leaders it’s very important that we note there are huge differences between groups as well as teams. And our role is to build teams, to build coherence, to build Oneness, and reduce fragmentation at all times because what I am actually asking you is to build this institution.”

Dean of Student Affairs, Nonkosi Tyolwana, also congratulated the SRC for being elected to student leadership, and “We wish them everything of the best on their life-changing journey”. “The CPUT students have spoken through the ballot and the SRC represents the voice of the students. May they commit to discharge their responsibilities diligently and draw on their collective strengths and talents to the best of their knowledge and ability. May they serve the Cape Peninsula University of Technology community with humility, fairness, and love.”

The new CSRC is led by Pelo Saki as president, while Ayabulela Mbiza is his deputy, Lungelo Mnguni is a Student Support Services Officer, Thato Masonganye is a General Secretary, Luvuyo Ngwenya is an Education and Transformation Officer, Ntembeko Petse is a CHC and Welfare Officer, Anathi Pamana as an International Relations Officer and Aphiwe Mbele as a Treasurer General. For the full list of all the SRC members, please see: https://www.cput.ac.za/students/about/src/members

Speaking at the event, Pelo said: “Today, for me it’s a great day indeed.” He thanked the Vice-chancellor for welcoming them. “I and the central SRC and also the local SRC as a whole, I am sure we will have a great partnership where we will work together to assist [the students] and achieve everything that we need to achieve for CPUT. I am sure that we will positively work with the management and have a healthy relationship towards achieving the goals of 2030.”

The Office of the Dean of Student Affairs expects the SRC to pursue ethical leadership and to service all students to the best of their ability. “It is incumbent upon every SRC member to uphold the SRC Constitution, University Statute, and all other policies of the University and to ensure maximum communication with all relevant stakeholders; to ensure proper financial controls; to foster and promote social cohesion, tolerance, and transparency through their programmes and lastly to prioritise their academic performance through striking a balance between SRC duties and academic work.”