The CPUT Staff football team has expressed their heartfelt gratitude to the executive management for their support in helping the team participate and secure victory at the University Sports South Africa (USSA) Staff Tournament.

The tournament was held at the University of Limpopo last week and the win brought the team their maiden trophy.

“We wish to pass our heartfelt gratitude to the executive management of CPUT for their support in helping us travel to Limpopo and fly the CPUT flag higher. We also wish to extend our message of appreciation to the following departments for their support: Sports, Arts and Culture, Advancement, and Human Capital. To all the colleagues who kept checking on us while we were away, thanks for the support and we appreciate you for showing us love,” said the team captain, Mvelo Siyaya.

The coach and Secretary General, Arthur Xolani, also extended his words of gratitude to the Vice-Chancellor [VC], Prof Chris Nhlapo, “for all the support he has given to us”. “From the moment we knocked on the door of the VC’s Office, we were welcomed with open arms and kindness and assisted with moral and financial support. I would also like to thank the Advancement Department, Sport, Arts, and Culture, as well as Human Capital for their kind support and contributions. And I will also thank the Marketing and Communication Department, Finance Department, Health, and Safety, and Campus Protection Services for their support and contributions,” said Xolani.

The proud coach said this victory was just the beginning, and “We should aim even higher because the sky is the limit”. He added that football is a team sport that thrives on unity and team spirit, and “we have truly excelled in that regard”. “The team really showed the spirit of oneness. I am deeply proud of all of you. We have made our mark in the history of USSA and CPUT. We will continue to develop other sporting codes and partnerships to ensure that CPUT remains at the top of the university sport.”

In welcoming the team and during the handover of the trophy to the Vice-Chancellor, Nhlapo said: “Whenever we present CPUT we must represent to the best of our ability… I am really impressed by this group of winners. We have to support this winning team… Thank you very much for representing for representing us well. I know that this is just the beginning, there are other sporting codes that are actually coming. But for me, health and wellness come first. It’s very important that all of us we must be sure that we live well, we exercise, we walk, and we actually destress, one of the best ways of destressing is to ensure that we play sport.”

The captain admitted that it was a difficult tournament to participate in, especially considering that it was the team’s first participation in the Staff USSA Tournament, “but our unwavering bond and determination propelled us to success”. “Other universities had great individual players, but we had a great CPUT staff soccer team. Our victory serves as a testament to the power of teamwork, perseverance, and a shared vision of unity.”

To prepare for the tournament they played in the Institution’s Res League and participated in tournaments that were organised for students by the Central Student Representative Council. Such tournaments helped the team to gain fitness and to identify areas of improvement within the team. They also played several friendly matches with the University of the Western Cape, the University of Cape Town, and Stellenbosch University to prepare for this tournament.

“I feel extremely happy to captain this team of winners and the excitement is the same for everyone within the team. This victory is a symbol that together we can achieve greater things. The team holds a larger vision - one of promoting unity and collaboration among staff members through the power of sport. Our goal extends far beyond the confines of the football pitch. We aim to foster a sense of belonging and oneness among colleagues from all corners of the university,” Siyaya enthused.

Any member of the CPUT community who wants to join this exciting team may contact Mzingisi Muluse at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or Anele Tyhulu at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Written by Aphiwe Boyce
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For the first time since its inception, the CPUT Advancement Department celebrated being awarded a challenge grant for meeting and exceeding the 2009 expectations of the Kresge Foundation, one of the institution’s major funders.

The Kresge Foundation is an American private foundation that seeks to influence the quality of life for future generations through its support of non-profit organisations in health, the environment, community development, arts and culture, education and human services.

In 2005, the Foundation committed $10.5 million over 5 years to five South African organisations, four of which are universities including CPUT.

The Foundation made a total of R10.2million available to CPUT for the period 2006 to 2010 to develop institutional capacity to increase the amount of third-stream income for the institution through the establishment and operations of an advancement office, encompassing fundraising, alumni relations, individual donors, campaigns and communication. The grant is released on an annual basis.

Certain targets and milestones were put in place each year for the department to achieve and in return receive a challenge grant from the Foundation.

Having met and exceeded all set targets and milestones for the year 2009, the department received R800 000 in addition to the annual grant.

Advancement Director Dr Garth van Gensen said being awarded the challenge grant was a reflection of the hard work and team effort the department had displayed in the past months.

“It is the first time that we are receiving this challenge grant in the history of the department and that shows that we are doing something right,” Dr van Gensen said. He said the award had motivated the department to work even harder in 2010.

The challenge grant for the 2010 evaluation which will be conducted next year is at R1million if all set targets are met by the department. The challenge grant is specifically targeted at developing the capacity of the department staff.

The Advancement Department is located on the fifth floor, Administration Building on the Cape Town campus and can be contacted on +27 21 460 3389.

By Noloyiso Mchunu

The Advancement department team has a lot to smile about following an exceptionally good evaluation by the department’s main funder, the Kresge Foundation.

Written by CPUT News
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Milcho Damianov has been appointed as the new Director of Advancement at CPUT.

A graduate of the prestigious International Fundraising School at Indiana University in the USA, Damianov also holds a post-graduate qualification in Marketing Management.

The Bulgarian-born director is equally adept at Corporate Communications, a discipline gleaned from his extensive work experience at tertiary institutions in Europe and Southern Africa.

His formidable skills were most recently pivotal to the success of the Uniswa Foundation, which spearheads advancement initiatives at the University of Swaziland. As the first CEO of the foundation, Damianov’s leadership and creative management style were instrumental in promoting the university as a positive, credible and worthy institution.

What followed was an influx of international donor aid, the establishment of public-private-partnerships, corporate social investment and private donations to Uniswa.

This, in turn, allowed the university to invest in the development of world-class facilities on campus such as sport centers and hostels, while scholarship programs ensure that the previously unattainable educational aspirations of thousands of students are made a reality.

And that, in a nutshell, is the essence of Advancement, says Damianov.

“Advancement is all about the empowerment of the dreams of others – making those dreams a reality. One of my roles is to align the activities of the Advancement office with the overall strategic undertakings of the university. I aim to do so by leading with innovation and creativity. “

Positioning CPUT as a world-class, socially responsive university that embraces the cutting-edge of technology is another of Damianov’s principal tasks, as is broadening the partnership networks of CPUT.

“This will be done while successfully retaining our special relationships with existing friends, partners, funders and alumni.”

By Jan Weintrob

Written by CPUT News
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More academically deserving CPUT students are set to benefit from additional bursary funding from the Hosken Consolidated Investments Limited (HCI) Foundation and Golden Arrow Bus Services.

Bursaries to the value of R1, 520 700 have been made available by the HCI Foundation, while Golden Arrow contributed R37 330 in addition to R98 000 which was announced earlier this year.

The contributions are part of a bursary programme partnership between CPUT, Golden Arrow Bus Services and HCI Foundation aimed at making higher education accessible, as well as contributing to the reduction of skills shortage in the country.

The Golden Arrow bursaries cover tuition and accommodation costs, books and travel expenses as well as a living stipend, while the HCI Foundation bursary covers a large portion of registration and tuition fees only.

CPUT Advancement Director Dr Garth van Gensen expressed gratitude for the funding on behalf of CPUT.

""This additional funding from HCI and Golden Arrow will ensure that more of our students achieve their academic goals without worrying about funding for their studies,” he said adding that “we are grateful for the generous support and we look forward to a strengthened partnership.”

Speaking on behalf of the HCI Foundation, bursary programme manager Khaya Jack said the Foundation was committed to supporting and encouraging students at tertiary education level, as well as to assisting them to complete their studies in order to increase the number of youth who are qualified, skilled, and employable.

Jack said the bursary programme had retained its focus on providing financial assistance to academically deserving students from historically marginalised groupings whose families were least able to afford the cost of higher education.

“Our financial contribution to student funding is a direct commitment to an educated society which helps to improve the quality of life of its people,” he said.

By Noloyiso Mchunu

Written by CPUT News
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The fundraising arm of the CPUT has thrown its weight behind the student-led initiative to ease hunger in residences this International Mandela Day.

Usually tasked with raising millions for the betterment of the university, Advancement staffers jumped at the chance to collect and donate food for those in need.

This is the first Nelson International Mandela Day since Madiba's death in December last year, with literacy, shelter and food security chosen as the themes for the day. Staff member Helena Pietersen says that given these themes, the food collection drive is an especially fitting way to mark Madiba’s legacy.

“We believe that charity begins at home and that donating nourishing food is a simple but very tangible way to show our students that we care. Our project will run for the entire month of July, not just for Mandela Day, and we’re urging all who learn and teach on the Cape Town campus to join in.”

The initiative has been endorsed by the Vice Chancellor and was conceptualised by a group of students from the Assemblies of God Movement on Campus (AOGMC) in Bellville, in partnership with the Bellville SRC, Student Counselling and Student Affairs.

Co-ordinator Abulele Mgijima says non-perishable foodstuffs such as cans of beans, soups, tuna, dried fruit, rice, pasta, mielie meal, peanut butter, long-life milk, flour and sugar etc, can be dropped off at the Advancement Department on the 5^th Floor of the Admin Building on Cape Town campus and at collection points all over Bellville campus.

The food will later be distributed via House Parents to pre-identified needy students.

Please contact Abulele Mgijima on 076 893 9150 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. of the Advancement Department for further info.

Written by Janyce Weintrob
Tel: +27 21 460 3514
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Marketing, advancement and communication practitioners from higher education institutions across the country are gathering at the Bellville campus for the annual MACE congress.

The three-day Marketing, Advancement and Communication in Education (MACE) congress, which concludes on Friday, provides opportunities for benchmarking, networking and professional development.

The congress will delve into a host of interesting topics including trends shaping the South African communication industry and protecting your institution in a world of fake news.

“CPUT is honoured to host this year’s conference and welcomes MACE delegates from universities across the country to our Bellville campus. Higher Education remains a dynamic space and events like these present an opportunity to network and learn from best practice. We hope the delegates will enjoy their time with us and leave the congress enriched,” said Dr Garth van Gensen, Director of CPUT’s Marketing and Communication Department.

The congress will incorporate the 2018 MACE Excellence Awards, which acknowledges the achievements of specialists and practitioners in marketing, advancement and communication in the tertiary education sector.

Written by Ilse Fredericks
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