THROUGH sheer hard work and dedication CPUT students have managed to raise almost R60 000 for charitable causes.

Office Management and Technology students hosted an annual fundraising day at both Cape Town and Wellington campuses this month.

And in a separate event, post-grad students who stay on residence in Bellville washed cars and hosted sports days to raise cash for a needy Philippi school.

First-year Business Administration students managed to hand over an impressive R54 000 to the Children’s Hospital Trust - almost R10 000 more than what they raised in 2010.

Office Management & Technology Programme Co ordinator Mandie Richards says students selected the Red Cross after a presentation from the Children's Trust Marketing department.

“A representative explained how the funds raised by the students often save lives and provide necessary healthcare for children,” she says.

“All those who support this cause can be assured that every cent raised will go towards the care for the children.”

Meanwhile, Bellville’s post-grad students have committed to a three-year relationship with the Naluxolo Primary School in Samora Machel.

NEEDY: Postgraduate students have a three-year relationship with Naluxolo Primary School in Samora Machel.

Last year students donated R5000 which helped start a much-needed library and this year they handed over a cheque for R4450.

House Committee Chairman Walter Ngobeni says their donation of cash, old clothes and books may not be huge but made a big difference to the primary school learners.

“For example the shack where one of the learners lived burned down so the clothes we donated will go to his family,” he says.

“Next year will be our final year helping Naluxolo Primary and then we will move on to another school.”

WORTHY CAUSE: Staff and students from Naluxolo Primary school with CPUT Post Graduates.

By: Thando J. Moiloa

Written by CPUT News
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The Cape Town Sailors’ Home recently donated R60 000 towards bursaries for students in Maritime Studies at the Granger Bay campus.

The organisation has been supporting Maritime Studies students annually for more than ten years

The Cape Town Sailors’ Home dates from the 1880s when benefactors made the establishment of a home from home for sailors possible in Cape Town, offering accommodation, meals and people support to sailors passing through Cape Town or waiting for new postings at sea.

The changes in the maritime industry prompted the management council of the Sailors’ Home to reconsider their support of matters maritime which resulted in the selling of the Sailors’ Home in 1994 and thereafter making donations to maritime support organisations from the interest accrued on the capital received for the Sailors’ Home property.

Earlier this year Mr Doug Jupp, the trustee responsible for liaison with CPUT and a General Botha old boy, visited the Department of Maritime Studies and was hosted by Captain Ed Snyders at Granger Bay who showed him the ropes regarding modern seagoing officer training. This included all the modern equipment as well as the trusted Admiralty seagoing training, culminating in a visit to the Maritime Department’s training vessel, Fathom X.

Jupp stated that it was great to be involved with helping an institution that offers training that will prepare students for their future careers. Captain Snyders responded that each student has a dream and that the Cape Town Sailors’ Home helps them in achieving these dreams. He continued that the bursaries were not a handout and those recipients were selected on the grounds of their desire to go to sea, their academic record and their financial position.

By Chris Lombaard and Tyrone van Heerden

Written by CPUT News
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Two students enrolled for the Bachelor of Education: FET Specialization received R60 000 each from the Dr Neville Alexander Language Scholarship.

Nothukela Mnyeka and Siphenathi Qumbelo were selected from the top ten first-year BEd: FET Specialization students majoring in isiXhosa at CPUT and had to compete with students from other universities.

Since it was established in 2013, this is the first time that CPUT students benefitted from the scholarship which is only awarded to South African students.

Established by PanSALB to provide financial support to students who are advancing their studies in African languages, the scholarship encourages academic interests in disciplines that promote multilingualism and mother tongue education at all levels of learning.

Lecturer Zakhile Somlata says that to ensure that CPUT made an impression to the scholarship’s adjudicators, the students’ applications were prepared in conjunction with CPUT’s Institutional Language Co-ordinator, Dr Monwabisi Ralarala.

“This opportunity should be grabbed with both hands as it is a good start which has paved the way for more students to be awarded in the future, especially those from disadvantaged communities,” says Somlata.

Head of the Department, Mogamat Marlie, commended Somlata for initiating the application process with PanSALB.

“I congratulate the winners for flying CPUT’s flag high, as they competed against other universities,” says Marlie.

Alexander was a vocal proponent of multilingualism in the post-apartheid South Africa who passed away in 2012 at 75 years of age. Due to his commitment to the promotion of the use and development of indigenous languages, PanSALB commemorated him by naming its scholarship after this major advocate of linguistic diversity.

Written by Kwanele Butana
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