From green spinach to vine-ripe beetroot, the Division of Student Affairs (DSA) in partnership with the Faculty of Applied Sciences, Nautical Company and Convocation are celebrating the success of their joint Green Campus Initiative (GCI) initiative called One Residence, One Garden at the Catsville Residence.

Earlier this year, the Student Services Council Committee (SSCC) led by its Chairperson, Dr William Mapena, Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Operations, Prof Gilingwe Mayende and Dean of Student Affairs, Nonkosi Tyolwana planted the first seedlings at Catsville to mark’ the 2024 Mandela Day and his passion for ending hunger.

Tyolwana says the Catsville Residence was identified as the first case study for this project. “Staff and students worked tirelessly to make this project a resounding success,” Tyolwana enthuses.

Nikhanye Sitoza, a Marine Engineering student residing at Catsville feels “incredibly proud and happy” about the success of the GCI project. “As a member of the team, I've seen firsthand the impact that this project has had on our community. From providing fresh produce to students in need to promote sustainability and community development, this project has exceeded our expectations,” she boasts.

Nikhanye is also grateful that the Catsville residence was chosen as the first case study in District 6 for this project. “It's shown that even in a residence with reputation issues, we can make a positive impact and create change.”

It took a lot of hard work, dedication, and teamwork to get the project to where it is now. The team faced several challenges along the way, including logistical issues, funding constraints, and initial scepticism from some stakeholders. However, they persevered and worked together to overcome those obstacles.

“Our team has been amazing, and everyone has brought their unique skills and perspectives to the table. We've also had incredible support from our dean and Deputy Dean of Student Affairs [Njabulo Maphumulo], residence coordinators, Convex, and [Faculty of] Applied Science, who have provided guidance and resources whenever we needed them,” Nikhanye remarks.

The project has been a game-changer for this community as it has not only provided a sustainable source of fresh produce but also created “a sense of community and cooperation among those who reside in Catsville”.

“One of the biggest challenges we faced was the initial scepticism from some stakeholders. Some people didn't think that the project would work or that we would be able to sustain it. However, we proved them wrong, and the project has been a huge success.

“Another challenge we faced was the reputation of Catsville Residence. Some people had preconceived notions about our residence and its residents, but we've shown that we're capable of great things,” Nikhanye says.

Residence Coordinator Xolani Jafta adds that the success of the GCI project means a lot to the residence and CPUT at large. “It shows that we're committed to innovation, sustainability, and community development. It also provides a model for other residences and institutions to follow,” Jafta continues.

“For our residence, it's a chance to change the narrative and show that we're more than just a residence with a reputation for behavioural issues. We're a community that's committed to making a positive impact.”

Jafta who is the advocate and great champion of One Res, One Garden across residences also urges the CPUT community to strive to make a positive impact on the environment. He says the GCI project shows that even small actions can add up to make a big difference. “I encourage everyone to get involved, think creatively, and work together to create a more sustainable, innovative, and compassionate community.

“As members of the GCI project, I've seen firsthand the impact that we can have when we work together towards a common goal. Let's continue to strive for greatness and make CPUT a better place for everyone.”

Written by Aphiwe Boyce
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A CPUT student has won the Green Ambassador of the Year award during the national Green Campuses Conference held at the University of the Western Cape recently.

The five-day conference, which explored the impact of the Fourth Industrial Revolution on higher education, recognized Xolani Ntshinga for his outstanding contributions to the Green Campus Initiative (GCI) at CPUT as a Green Ambassador. GCI is a student development initiative which is coordinated through Student Development and Student Housing.

Xolani, also CPUT’s Green Campus Initiative (GCI) chairperson, says the award motivates him to do more green work and brings him more responsibilities to attend to.

Student Development Officer Melani-Ann Hara says he has been a member of the GCI since 2017, and has over the years shown great dedication and commitment to the initiative’s mission and vision. “His innovative idea of turning abandoned refrigerators into food gardens at student residences is one of the initiative’s flagship projects,” said Hara.

He has ensured the success of the project and tends the gardens. The fresh produce is utilised to supply students in need who cannot keep up with supermarket prices.

Xolani graduated with a ND: Civil Engineering in 2018 and is currently pursuing a BTech degree in Civil Engineering, specializing in Urban Engineering Studies. His academic research focuses on developing sustainable building material using renewable resources for low cost housing.

“It’s our responsibility as engineers to make sure that we create more sustainable environments using innovative ideas,” he says.

He adds that the food garden project, which GCI started at Freedom Square Residence, has expanded to Sacco Residence and that plans to start other gardens on the Wellington Campus and in the Bellville Campus Student Centre are in the pipeline.

GCI is now focussing efforts on how they as students can contribute and positively influence CPUTs waste management policy ensuring that CPUT promotes sustainability and is a Green University.

Written by Kwanele Butana

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CPUT students explored their creative side while promoting recycling and an environmental awareness during the recent Green Campus Initiative Fashion Show.

Students were involved in all aspects of the fashion show including the design, modeling, styling and music and lighting. The brief was for students to create a fashion look made entirely out of recycled materials and the results were breathtaking.

Co-ordinator of the event Melani-Ann Hara says she is immensely proud of the 14 designers and 28 models who participated in the show, most of whom are students in faculties not connected to fashion design.

“It’s been quite a while since we have been able to socialize in this way and this was an ideal opportunity for students to connect and learn about how they can reduce, re-use and recycle.

Nursing student Ferial Galant, 18, says she tried to achieve a classy streetwear look that incorporated recycled material but was still edgy and fashionable.

“I used household items that could be recycled like bottles and plastic bags and it took me four days to complete my look,” she says.

Ferial also encouraged a good friend Wesley Hendricks to model her look and says she was grateful to him for helping her refine and present the look successfully.

Environmental Management student Wakuenda Alex, 25, says he saw the callout for designers and was immediately interested because of the green fashion element.

“I had so much fun exploring fashion in this way, me and my friends spent days on campus coming up with ideas and the type of materials that could be used,” he says.

“It was really fun to participate in-person and interact with people.”

Wesley Hendricks was crowned Mr Green Campus Initiative with first place awarded to Okuhle Lingani.

Written by Lauren Kansley
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A vegetable garden planted in old refrigerators is providing healthy meals to needy students while helping to clean residences at the same time. The Zondle Project, a brainchild of Green Campus Initiative (GCI) member Xolani Ntshinga, uses old refrigerators to grow vegetables in portable soil. Spinach, carrot, beetroot, onion, chillies, parsley and coriander are some of the fresh vegetables that can be harvested from the garden at Freedom Square Residence.

“We started the project around February with 10 fridges which were dumped by students in corridors (when they left),” says Xolani. “When using a container you use portable soil which is more fertile than Cape Town’s sandy soil.”
The third-year Civil Engineering student convinced other GCI members and friends to help him plant the seeds which he bought using his own pocket money. He first obtained permission from the House Parent at Freedom Square Residence, Zukiswa Nyalasa, who also prayed for the soil.

Xolani is mentored by Mvuyisi Mtshisazwe, a lab assistant in the Horticultural Sciences Department, who also donated soil and seedlings from the department. “I had approached the department for advice as I am interested in pursuing a business in crop production after working as an engineer for a few years.”

To date, Xolani has collected about 30 old refrigerators from some residences on the Bellville Campus to duplicate the project at Matthew Goniwe Residence.

He is calling on students to support the project by donating their labour as he would like to see it become part of other CPUT programmes such as Peer Help.

Nyalasa says the project to provide food to needy students has come a long way to get to where it is today. “We used to raise funds using money from our pockets to buy them groceries.”

She adds that last year, before the fridge project, they helped at least four students with groceries until the final exams were over. Student Development Officer Melani-Ann Hara says the university is proud of GCI achievements despite the little support they have.

“Through the gardening project GCI students, who are not even studying horticulture, are using their initiative to provide solutions to students’ hunger.”

Says Nyalasa: “We are looking at ways of reusing the old electronic equipment such as dumped computers, we want to create a clean environment where we can live and learn.”

Written by Kwanele Butana
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