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.

Written by CPUT News
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

A collaborative partnership between CPUT, Germany’s University of Applied Science of Osnabrueck and Guizhou University of Finance and Economics, China saw students and lecturers volunteering their services at two pre-schools in honour of Nelson Mandela Day.

Joined by officials from the local office of the Department of Social Development, the students played games with the children and cleaned and painted walls at Jack and Jill Pre-school in Durbanville. They also spent time with children at Curious Cuties Educare, Bellville South.

Meanwhile, at the Bellvile Campus staff as well as students were treated to a free cup of soup, as part of the day’s celebrations. The soup was donated by campus cateres Indiwe and the event was coordinated by Patrick Prins, from the Department of Marketing and Communication.

FUN TIME: Students played games with children at Curious Cuties Educare in honour of Nelson Mandela Day.

STAKEHOLDERS: Staff members from CPUT, University of Applied Science of Osnabrueck, Guizhou University of Finance and Economics, Department of Social Development and Jack and Jill Pre-school during a Nelson Mandela Day at the pre-school

WARM MEAL: Marketing and Communication staff members Patrick Prins and Suzelle Koch hands out soup to staff members and students

Written by CPUT News
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

As part of its Mandela Day initiative, the Faculty of Engineering has launched a donation drive to raise funds to renovate an overcrowded local orphanage.

Started with three orphans in Nyanga in 1994, Emasithandane Children’s Organization is a home for 29 vulnerable children. The home consists of three very small bedrooms in addition to few common rooms.

Emasithandane not only meets the children’s basic needs such as clothing, shelter, education and food but also offers them a nurturing environment, which facilitates their personal growth and holistic development in the face of extreme odds.

The Engineering Faculty’s Luvuyo Kakaza says that they decided on an institution which caters for children’s needs as a response to the need to instil a sense of hope and convey a message that there are people who care.

“Today’s the launch of the project to raise donations for renovations and upgrades at the home, including creating study areas,” said Kakaza.

“We want to create a safe environment which is also conducive for learning.”

He added that the drive will continue in the next three to four months and donations can be made through a CPUT bank account or by purchasing a CPUT Mandela Month button for R20.

There’s also a Fun Run/Walk which will take place on July 29 and registration is open to all members of the public and all proceeds will be donated to Emasithandane. To register for the event one may click on the link.

Hazel Maposela, Finance Officer at Emasithandane, thanked CPUT for the gesture and says it addresses some of their challenges such as lack of safety and overcrowding.

She added that the home needs funds to pay salaries to its staff complement of nine employees as it only receives donations for food.

Written by Kwanele Butana
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Staff members, students and members of the public are invited to get their hands dirty in support of Mandela Day at CPUT.

CPUT will be celebrating Mandela Day with former and current District Six residents on July 31 when a general clean-up of the former horticulture nursery on the Cape Town Campus will take place.

The site is the ideal spot for a community urban garden, which could benefit the community and CPUT.

The activities will include:

• A general clean up - clearing of the vegetation and rubble
• Gardening: cleaning of herb garden, composting and planting
• Maintenance: cleaning walls, painting, fixing the panels etc.
• Fixing the boundary fence
• Bricklaying of composting bays
• Cleaning and reviving the fish pond
• Cleaning and marking the location of the original Horstley Street

Register by July 21 and submit to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. For more information contact Desmond Jackson on 021 959 6868/9 or Civic Engagement Office, New Science Building, Bellville Campus.

Mandela Day is celebrated on July 18, (Mandela’s birthday) every year and commemorates the lifetime of service the late Nelson Mandela gave to South Africa and the world.

The Mandela Day campaign encourages South Africans to spend 67 minutes to support a charity or serve in their local community. The 67 minutes symbolically represent the number of years the former President fought for human rights and the abolition of apartheid.

Written by Ilse Fredericks
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Learners from three Cape Town schools had a ball when CPUT and the Parliament Squash Club joined forces to teach them basic squash skills in celebration of Mandela Day.

The theme for the event, which was held at the CPUT Sports Centre on the Cape Town campus, was "Parliament Squash and CPUT Celebrating Mandela Through Action."

Learners from Holy Cross, Good Hope and Intshayelelo primary schools participated in the event.

The objective was to familiarise the learners with the game of squash as it supports physical and mental fitness. Forbes magazine has rated squash as one of the healthiest sporting codes to be active in.

“You are our VVIP’s (very, very important people). Tata Madiba used to love to spend time with kids,” Kholekile Gorata, chairman of the Parliament Squash Club, told the learners.

CPUT Sport Development Officer, Quinton Summers says the university was privileged to be part of this celebration.

Before participating in a squash demonstration and clinic, the pupils received a motivational talk from top professional squash player, Siyoli Waters.

Mandela Day is celebrated on July 18, (Mandela’s birthday) every year and commemorates the lifetime of service the late Nelson Mandela gave to South Africa and the world.

The Mandela Day campaign encourages South Africans to spend 67 minutes to support a charity or serve in their local community. The 67 minutes symbolically represent the number of years the former President fought for human rights and the abolition of apartheid.

CPUT’s official Mandela Day activity will take place at the old Horticulture Building at the Cape Town campus. Staff, students and members of the public are invited to help clean the site in preparation for its eventual restoration.

Written by Ilse Fredericks
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Students from Wellington Campus spent their Mandela Day morning visiting local primary schools to feed hungry children.

They visited four different schools in their area, where some of their fellow Education students were doing their practical in-service training.

The students worked quickly to set up their own production line, making sure the learners each got a slice of bread with their soup.

While the Blouvlei Akademie does have a feeding scheme that provides breakfast and lunch, teachers pointed out that the mid-morning snack was a good way to energise the children.

Wellington Campus SRC Chairperson Pieter Lammert said he grew up on a farm and experienced how difficult it is to learn when you don’t have anything to eat.

“That is why we went to the local farm schools to feed the hungry children from the farms which are often neglected by charity organisations,” said Lammert.

The students also visited the Wagenmakersvallei Primary School, Soetendal Primary School and Weltevreden Secondary School.

The industrious group then shared the leftover soup with fellow students on campus.

Student Development Officer Willie Liebenberg pointed out that the students raised the money to buy the food themselves.

“We held a drama competition between residences. It brings the students together, and there is a lot of interaction. So, we had the money that we could use for community projects,” said Liebenberg.

Liebenberg says the entrance fee they charged at the drama competition became very useful when their initial plan for Mandela Day fell through. Originally they had wanted to do a river clean up, but recent rain took care of the polluted river banks.

Written by Theresa Smith
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Each year on 18 July Mandela Day honours Nelson Mandela’s life and legacy in a way that can bring about change.

This year we mark the Mandela Centenary Celebrations at CPUT by making a pledge about how we choose to make a difference to those in need.

CPUT campuses will use the day to highlight a Poverty Alleviation Initiative started in 2015 by Student Affairs and you can donate an item such as stationery, toiletries or non-perishable foods. Student Counselling will screen and assist students by disbursing the items as needed.

“On 18 July we encourage people to come and make a pledge and bring along an item,” explained Student Development Officer Melani-Ann Hara.

“You pledge how you are living the legacy. We want to showcase the good work that is being done by people on campus.”

“We need people to put up their hands and then continue with the work beyond just Mandela Day. We want to put together something sustainable.”

The first 100 people who drop off their donations on 18 July between 1pm and 2pm will receive a cup of soup.

Campus drop off points for donation items between 18 and 20 July are the Library Foyer.

On 18 July you can take your donations to the Student Centre between 1pm and 2pm where the Mandela Day Champions will help you make your pledge. You will be encouraged to leave your palm print on a pledge banner.

Campuses taking part in the Mandela Day Initiatives are Bellville, District Six, Granger Bay, Mowbray, Tygerberg and Wellington.

International Peace Youth Group (IPYG) will also host Peace Boxes on each of the campuses in 18 July.

“You write to the CPUT community or to government about issues of peace, or about fostering peace within the country and IPYG will deliver the letters. This is so that young people’s voices around fostering peace can be heard,” said Hara.

Written by Theresa Smith
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

CPUT is collaborating with the International Peace Youth Group (IPYG) to host Mandela Day Initiatives on 18 July 2018 and champions are needed to spearhead activities. 

International Mandela Day is celebrated on the anniversary of Nelson Mandela’s birth and this year marks the centenary of the day. Each year on this day since 2010 South Africans and a growing number of people internationally have donated their time to help others and change the world for the better.

The International Peace Youth Group gathers and mobilises the youth of the world to work and learn from one another in the hope of realising peace.
Mandela Day activations will take place between 1 pm and 2 pm on the various CPUT campuses.

Students and staff are encouraged to celebrate Mandela’s Centenary in the following ways:

*Donate to the CPUT Legacy Boxes between 16 and 20 July. Non-perishable items, toiletries, clothing and blankets are needed to address poverty alleviation on campus. Designated drop off spots will be identified per campus
*Pledge how you are living the legacy –by making a written, video or photo pledge. These will be collected on the day on campus
*Write a Message of Peace in the Peace Box. This is an IPYG initiative that they have used successfully in the past to send messages of peace from groups of youth to people in power.

The first 100 students and staff who volunteer to take part in the activations on the day will receive a cup of soup on each campus.

If you are available to assist with coordinating activities at your respective campus get involved as soon as possible so that you can access information about what you need to do.

Mandela Day Champions are needed on the following campuses:

• District Six Campus
• Roeland Street Campus
• Granger Bay Campus
• Mowbray Campus
• Athlone Campus
• Tygerberg Campus
• Wellington Campus
• Bellville Campus

Email Melani-Ann Hara on This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. if you are interested in assisting on the day.

Written by Theresa Smith
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

The CPUT university boxing team have been given a welcome boost after they were presented with a brand new boxing ring on Mandela Day.

The ring was promised to the team by CPUT Vice-Chancellor Prof Chris Nhlapo after meeting with the team in 2022. In that meeting Nhlapo committed to purchasing the team a tournament size ring so that the squad could continue to train effectively and grow from strength to strength. The ring is believed to be the only tournament size ring owned by an institution of higher education in SA.

In April Team CPUT secured the second place spot in a field of 11 university teams in the USSA competition and the spot continues to grow rapidly at the university.

Nhlapo says the unveiling of the ring on Mandela Day was the conclusion of a promise he made a year ago.

“For all the boxers here, this ring is for you. You have been waiting for this moment for so long. Boxing embodies the essence of Mandela’s philosophy like the ability to rise above adversity. I have no doubt that this ring will see boxing rival rugby in popularity at CPUT.”

Captain of the team Aphiwe Ntluzwana, 24, says he stumbled on boxing when visiting the Bellville campus stadium to watch soccer.

“I saw the team and I started training with him. I just love it, it saved me actually. At university you can sometimes get caught up with drinking and smoking but as a boxer you can’t do anything like that,” he says.

The inaugural Mandela Day Boxing Challenge will be an annual event and kicked off with team CPUT squaring off against neighbour UWC.

Written by Lauren Kansley

Tel: +27 21 953 8646
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Liaises with the media and writes press releases about interesting developments at CPUT.

The Ophthalmic Sciences Department paid it forward on Mandela day with staff and students volunteering their time to conduct free vision screenings for students.

Head of Department, Angelique Walbrugh, said the purpose of the visual screenings was to identify undiagnosed refractive errors in the CPUT student community.

"All 10 departmental staff members and 21 Opticianry students participated as volunteers in the screening and manned stations including reception, visual acuity, autorefraction, health promotion and statistics.

The screenings took place at the Trafalgar Stone Building on the District Six campus and despite the rainy weather, 87 students were screened.

Walbrugh said 47 students were found to have significant refractive error requiring further evaluation.

“These students will be scheduled for a comprehensive optometric examination during our clinic launch in September.”

Written by Ilse Fredericks
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Mandela Day not only honours the former stateman’s life and achievements but also inspires individuals and communities globally to devote their time and efforts to make a positive difference in the lives of others.

As the heavy rain and gusty winds continued to batter the Western Cape on this day, the staff and students were excited to engage in a meaningful act of kindness that brought joy to children in low-resourced local schools such as Balvenie Primary School, Astra Special Education School, as well as The Saartjie Baartman Centre for Women and Children.

Led by the Service-Learning and Civic Engagement (SLCE) Unit, the Community Engagement Student Academy (CESA) project group, known as The Community Connectors, groups of staff members and students visited the classrooms at these venues and read stories to the learners. The teams also delivered an entertaining programme that included the performance of a children’s story, a quiz and other interactive activities.

SLCE Manager, Jacqui Scheepers emphasised the importance of institutional projects that express the Ubuntu philosophy through action within the communities around CPUT. “The support, teamwork, good spirits, and camaraderie displayed by staff and students from across the institution and various campuses was evidence of what could be achieved in communities when there is unity and purpose,” said Scheepers.

She also quoted Tata Madiba who said: “What counts in life is not the mere fact that we have lived. It is what difference we have made to the lives of others that will determine the significance of the life we lead.” Scheepers said this was displayed by the CPUT community who visited three community sites to engage in activities with school learners to celebrate the legacy of Tata Madiba and express the spirit of Ubuntu as part of CPUT’s Vision 2030.

CPUT Libraries has coordinated the drop-off sites of reading materials at all campus libraries which were donated by staff and students. Scheepers said the donation of new/pre-owned books and reading materials of all genres children’s books, CDs, magazines and many more) “contributes to the educational development of our communities”, adding that reusing pre-owned reading materials is also environmentally responsible as it reduces waste.

Scheepers stated that the Balvenie Primary School Library is a long-term project site for SLCE interdisciplinary projects in conjunction with Architectural Technology, Construction Management and Quantity Surveying, Interior Design, Mechanical Engineering, and Graphic Design departments. Industry and service-learning partner, Nadeson Consulting staff members joined CPUT at Balvenie Primary and handed over books, a laptop, and a printer to the library. They also raised R5,000.00 through crowdfunding for the library.

The school principal, Farieda Wakefield expressed her gratitude to CPUT and Nadeson Consulting for their kind donations and for engaging with their learners.

Wakefield said: “It's such a joy to see people come on board to invest in our community. One of our mottos at our school is always: This can be Elsie's River, but we don’t need to be like Elsie's River … One of our challenges is getting people on board to come and invest in our school… So the fact that CPUT and Nadeson Consulting came on board to have a library, I must say thank you very much to CPUT and other role players who after so many years want to see this project through…Thank you very much for whatever you're giving to the school, small or big it doesn’t matter what it is, we are just happy that at the end of the day, we will have a library to at least see what we can do to enhance the academic performance of our learners.” She added that the school needed more interventions to improve the dire situation at the school.

Regina Sikhosana, Branch Manager, Bellville Campus, brightened the room when she mentioned the available assistance from the library and said: “So we are going to adopt you until you graduate”.

In The Saartjie Centre for Women and Children's new therapeutic library, the Community Connectors and library staff sorted out the books, packed the bookshelves, and then engaged with the learners. Miriam Fredericks said: “Your support is instrumental in our ability to continue to provide essential, life-changing services to survivors of domestic violence and their children.”

The SLCE unit have undertaken to conduct a life skills programme with the hostel learners at Astra Special Education School in the future.

Scheepers also conveyed “a special thank you” to all the stakeholders, staff and students for their participation.

Written by Aphiwe Boyce and CPUT News
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. | This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.