First-year Public Relations students decided to showcase CPUT talent when raising funds for an upcoming student conference.

The students in collaboration with first and second-year fashion design students hosted the “The Next Trend Fashion Show”, which took place at the Cape Town campus, on the bridge connecting the shuttle point and the commerce building.

The event is part of a fundraising initiative for the Public Relations Institute of South Africa Student Association (PRISASA) conference taking place on 6 November 2012. The conference forms part of the students’ practical component of their studies.

And the result was nothing short of fantastic.

The students decided to use the theme of re-use and recycle and produced 30 original garments from second-hand clothing.

Adding to the collaborative effort, the team was also assisted by Somatology students.

Some of the guests included Tanya and Clifford Manganyi from BOSS Models, as well as fashion blogger Lawrence Dube.

By Nurahn Ryklief

Written by CPUT News
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Hundreds of students queued up for an opportunity to be part of the upcoming Cape Town Carnival.

The recruitment drive was spearheaded by five 2^nd year Public Relations students who have joined the Carnival team as interns.

Around 150 volunteers are required for a number of tasks including being float pushers, marshals and setting up banners on the day of the event- March 24.

While students aren’t being paid they will receive free transport, all their meals on the day and a participation certificate which will be a welcome addition to their CV’s.

BUSY: PR students taking volunteer names.

Organiser Lee-Ann Mitchell says they presented the idea of using CPUT students as volunteers to the Carnival Committee last week.

“The volunteers will be screened and depending on where they live and how well they can represent Carnival we will make the selection,” she says.

This week a number of lead dancers donned their costumes to drum up interest in the volunteer drive held at the Cape Town campus.

After spotting the colourful costumes students streamed to the table to add their names to the growing list.

This year the Carnival theme is Cape to Cairo and a number of CPUT fashion students have designed costumes which will be on display on the big day.

Photography and Film and Video students are documenting all the behind-the-scenes action.

PR lecturer and Carnival Marketing co-ordinator Ayesha Toyer says they were overwhelmed by the amount of interest from students.

By LAUREN KANSLEY

Written by CPUT News
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WHEN thousands flood into the city centre next month for the upcoming Cape Town Carnival, a handful of CPUT staff and students will be working hard behind the scenes.

Apart from designing many of the spectacular outfits that will be on show on the day, students have also been working diligently and documenting every aspect of the annual street party.

This week, Photography and Film and Video students captured every moment of the event’s official media launch while Public Relations staff and students made sure the party was a slick affair.

BEHIND THE SCENES: Film and Video students capturing the event’s media launch.

Hosted by Heart FM’s Clarence Ford, a variety of performers like bellydancers and rope-skipping champions got the crowd revved up.

But it was the outlandish costumes, all designed around the theme ‘From Cape to Cairo’ which really got the audience excited.

CPUT students were honoured last year when Cape Town Fashion Council’s Bryan Ramkilawan gave them the opportunity of designing a handful of costumes for the parade.

Students were also awarded a cash prize which is paid into their student fees.

On Wednesday, Minister for Finance, Economic Affairs and Tourism, Alan Winde, told the crowd of journalists they should be proud of the Carnival and what it represents.

“Showcasing this event tells the world who we are and what we are about. Lets give everyone a big surprise,” he says.

Cape Town Carnival happens on March 24 and travels along the fan walk in Greenpoint from 8pm.

By LAUREN KANSLEY

Written by CPUT News
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When a group of excited first-year Public Relations students were asked what they were most looking forward to in their studies they all shouted “Freebies”.

And thanks to their innovative lecturers that’s exactly what they got during their orientation week.

Apart from the usual walks around campus and introductions to staff members the students were also treated to chats from industry experts and a gift bag packed with goodies like accessories from 4Flavour jewellery, magazines, a water bottle, a Virgin Active cap and sunglasses from hip clothing shop Young Designers Emporium.

PR lecturer Deirdre Porthen says she approached successful ex-students for the gifts and they flooded her with freebies.

“We have a very good relationship with our graduates and many of them want to give back to CPUT,” she says.

FREE: A first-year student with a few of the free goodies she received during Orientation.

Students were also exposed to various industry experts like Kim Webster, an ex-CPUT student, Themba Ngada the Marketing Manager for the City of Cape Town and Yolisa Ndlovu a Communications Officer for the same office.

Ngada shared his career path with the first-year group and explained how he sky-rocketed from a rural village boy to a variety of high-powered jobs and his current position as Chairman of the Public Relations Institute of South Africa.

“For months I used to sweep the floor at my first job but I stayed because I knew PR was the industry I wanted to be in,” he told the fascinated students.

First-year Jami-Leigh Pinn, 20, says the orientation week events convinced her she chose the right career.

“I’m looking forward to the year,” she says.

By LAUREN KANSLEY

Written by CPUT News
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Alumnus Sibusiso Mtyiwazo, who is affectionately known to his fans as Kumkani Sibu, is making headlines in the stand-up comedy industry.

“At first it was just an extramural activity, just like others went to rugby or debate,” says the funny Mtyiwazo. “I went to comedy clubs and stand-up comedy venues at Lower Main Road just down the road from my res (Catsville) at the time.”

Subsequently, he got better at making people laugh and received raving feedback from audiences. “Then I thought, ‘Oh well, why not push it as a side hustle’”.

He began his career in the entertainment industry as a Radio Personality on Campus Radio and that gradually led him to comedy. The first time he got on stage to perform was in 2015 just to try it because of friends’ pressure on him to try it out.

He was a CPUT student when he decided to commit to a career in stand-up comedy. The Public Relations (PR) Management graduate adds that a lot happens at CPUT in a period of a year and that this provided him with “comedy material”. “Other comedians asked me to give it a shot because they had enjoyed my set when I got on stage the first time.”

He says studying PR helped him a lot in his chosen career. “In PR we cover a lot when it comes to Branding, Events, Communications and dealing with an audience, so every once in a while, I get to use what I studied in my stand-up career like when organising a comedy show or ideas in promoting myself as a brand.”

Mtyiwazo graduated with a BTech degree in PR in 2019 after obtaining his National Diploma in 2017. 

He says he enjoys doing what he loves, which is making people laugh. “Just watching my audience laugh feels some kind of way that can’t really be expressed in words.” He adds that comedians are great human beings who have a strong bond with each other.

The star says the national lockdown regulations have hurt him financially. “With all the events being cancelled, including comedy shows, it's been hard for comics to survive, [something] which leads to most comedians getting eight to five jobs.”

To make ends meet during these challenging times he has been working as a Boilermaker Assistant. Mtyiwazo also hosts #ConversationsBetweenCreatives, a radio show on online station GainRadio International.

To follow Mtyiwazo on social media his Twitter and Instagram handle: @sbuda_love, on Facebook: Kumkani Sibu or search @Sibu.Mtyiwazo. His work is available on Tiktok @Kumkani_Sibu and on

Youtube: https://youtu.be/ 2uk17dnguqc

Written by Kwanele Butana

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Home to more than 30,000 students, CPUT is the largest university of technology in the region and has several campuses and satellite sites, stretching from the Cape Town city centre to as far as George in the Southern Cape.

Each campus boasts unique characteristics and functions.

Bellville Campus

This campus is the administrative hub of the institution and is home to the following:

• The world renowned French South African Institute of Technology, which produced and launched Africa’s first nanosatellite.
• The Electrical Engineering Building, which is CPUT’s largest teaching and research facility.

Cape Town Campus

The city’s most popular landmark, Table Mountain, is a backdrop to this campus. It accommodates the following:

• The university’s largest faculty, the Faculty of Business and Management Sciences.
• The Faculty of Informatics and Design.
• A select number of courses offered by the Faculties of Applied Sciences and Health and Wellness Sciences are offered on the campus.

Wellington Campus

This campus is situated in the centre of the Boland town and has become known for:

• Producing teachers trained in the Afrikaans medium.
• Training the next generation of leaders in the agriculture sector.

Mowbray Campus

The Faculty of Education recently expanded is facilities with building work completed last year. This campus is renowned for:

• Annually producing the largest number of teaching graduates in the Western Cape.
• The state-of-the-art Human Performance Laboratory and the Centre for International Teacher Education.

Athlone Campus, Worcester and George satellite campuses

• These three campuses produce nursing staff for the country’s health sector.

Granger Bay Campus

The stylish Hotel School Restaurant is the main attraction of this campus, which overlooks Robben Island. It also houses the following:

• The renowned Cape Town Hotel School.
• The Maritime Engineering Department and the Survival Centre.

Groote Schuur and Tygerberg Hospital

• The Department of Medical Imaging and Therapeutic Sciences is located on the premises of Groote Schuur Hospital in Observatory.
• The Dental Sciences Department is based at the Tygerberg Hospital and gives students the opportunity to work directly with patients and medical staff.

Roeland Street Building

• Students and staff from Journalism, Photography, Public Relations and Multimedia call this campus home.

Media City

• Media City is based on the Foreshore and accommodates students and staff of the Architecture, Town and Regional Planning, and Interior Design schools.

For campus contact details see: http://www.cput.ac.za/about-cput/cput-at-a-glance/contact-details

Written by Ilse Fredericks

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