The Division of Student Affairs (DSA) commemorated World Mental Health Day with a week-long campaign aimed at raising awareness about mental health.

World Mental Health Day is commemorated on 10 October every year and this year’s theme focused on mental health at work.

The DSA hosted mental health days at all the Wellington, Bellville, District Six and Mowbray campuses.

Leanie Brits, Head of Department: Student Counselling, said the objectives of the mental health days were to:

• Promote mental health education
• Empower students with knowledge and skills
• Reduce stigma concerning mental health
• Inform students of support services and support avenues to address mental health challenges
• Mental Health awareness through social mobilisation of students on campus by peer leaders

Students and staff were given the opportunity to interact with CPUT’s student counsellors, diversity and inclusivity champions, peer helpers, peer educators, and other mental health advocates. 

Brits said there was a specific focus on suicide awareness and prevention, substance use and abuse awareness and general mental health promotion. 

Some of the external exhibitors that are partnered with Student Affairs include: LifeLine, Ramot, Syked and Cape Mental Health

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

FIRST years are getting their second taste of life at CPUT as a full week of orientation kicks off.

Last week three Welcome Ceremonies took place across the Wellington, Cape Town and Bellville campuses where new students and their parents were officially greeted by CPUT management.

This week first-year students will be meeting many of their future classmates for the first time when they participate in a number of fun ice breaker events.

Apart from tours of the various campuses, which will show them popular facilities like the gym and pool, students will also get valuable information on topics like Financial Aid and Student Governance.

Helpful facilities like the clinic, library and student counselling will also be pointed out.

During his Welcome speech, Acting Vice Chancellor Prof Anthony Staak encouraged first years to become holistic students who fully participate in all aspects of CPUT life.

“Many lifelong friendships and valuable networks are formed during your time at university. Become involved in the many different facets of student life,” he says.

CPUT Events Manager Cathy Cloete urged students not to miss their orientation.

“If you don’t become familiar with some of the facilities on offer you could spend three years not taking advantage of any of them,” she says.

Orientation Week happens from today through to Friday the 27^th.

Contact the CPUT call centre at 021 959 6767 with any queries.

By LAUREN KANSLEY

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

Students with disabilities don’t need to struggle alone.

CPUT is home to one of the most innovative Disability Units at any university in the country.

Each year hundreds of students with a range of disabilities are assisted in achieving their very best academically.

The unit performs a number of functions from registering students to assisting them during exams. The unit also forms a vital link between the student, their lecturers and student counselling.

The supportive environment offers a number of resources like wheelchair-friendly desks, special computer software for dyslexia, magnifiers for the visually impaired students, Braille embossers for blind students and even a stenographer who assists with note taking to name just a few.

The head of the unit Dr Nina Du Toit urges all students who have a known disability or suspect they may have one to make contact with her unit to be assessed and start accessing the services.

The Disability Unit is based on all campuses- in the IT centre in Bellville, in the Administration Building in Cape Town and in Mowbray.

The unit also has a presence at all the other CPUT service points like Athlone, Wellington and George.

It is open from 8am to 4pm during the week although the lab in the E-Learning centre in Cape Town is open 24 hours a day.

All CPUT campuses are also equipped to handle the special needs of students and staff with disabilities. This includes wheelchair friendly parking, lifts as well as a specially adapted vehicle for transporting these students.

Call the unit at 021 953 8438 or visit their webpage for more information.

Written by Lauren Kansley
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.

Students who performed well in everything from academics to community service walked away with certificates, shields and trophies during this year’s Excellence Awards.

The outstanding students were crowned at a glittering ceremony at the Fountains Hotel which was hosted by the Department of Student Affairs in conjunction with Student Counselling and HIV/Aids units.

The following students received prizes from the Department of Student Affairs:

• HoDs Excellence Award: Mbongiseni Mbatha
• Arts & Culture Award: Performance Arts Society
• Sports Club of the Year: Hockey Club
• Social Development and Environmental Award: Green Team
• Most outstanding event: Central SRC for the Mr & Miss CPUT
• Most creative student: Tshitso Mosolodi
• Academic Award: Surita Venter
• SRC of the Year: SRC Wellington Campus

All Peer Helpers and Peer Educators received certificates from the Student Counselling Unit and Hiv/Aids Unit respectively.

Nonkululeko Monatisa (Bellville), France Nyambi (Mowbray), Elize van der Spuy (Wellington) and George Wasekiwah (Cape Town) walked away with trophies as they were announced best Peer Helpers on their respective campuses.

The following winning Peer Educators were announced by HIV/Aids Unit Head, Melanie Marais:

• Volunteer of the Year: Hlengiwe Mbanjwa
• Senior Peer Educator of the Year: Avuzwa Ngubo
• Peer Educator of the Year: Viwe Mashalaba
• Role Model of the Year: Avuzwa and;
• Young Leader Award: Nomtika Mjwana

Advocate Lionel Harper, Acting Dean of Students, congratulated the winners as well as the departments which rewarded them for their contribution towards the welfare of students.

“We need ethical leaders who conduct themselves proprietary as CPUT has values which it holds dear to its heart,” says Harper.

LEADER PAR-EXCELLENCE: Staff members in the Directorate of Student Affairs and Services and the reigning Miss and Mr CPUT congratulate outgoing SRC President Mbongiseni Mbatha for scooping the HoDs Excellence Award for his outstanding leadership skills

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

From getting tips on how to adapt to university life to relationship advice, students at CPUT have access to a range of services to support their personal development.

These services are rendered by a group of highly qualified and skilled individuals who are based at the various offices of Student Counselling.

The unit services range from individual counseling and therapy, career development to wellness awareness.

Student Counseling’s Claudette Pretorius says students are encouraged to make use of the available services.

“Students have many demands placed on them whilst they are studying and they will need to be able to manage their emotions, relationships, studies, finances and overall health in order to succeed. This is not always possible and there are times when students may feel they need additional support and instruction,” says Pretorius.

“Student counselling is able to offer support and skills development that acknowledges the whole student and looks to support the student's holistic development whilst they are at CPUT.”

The unit also hosts programmes throughout the academic year, such as wellness events and support groups.

Pretorius says this month the unit will host first year orientation talks that will focus on bridging the gap between high school and university, and will also share tips on how to adapt to the university environment.

For more information on the available services, students can send an email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or visit their Facebook page at: https://www.facebook.com/CPUT-Student-Counselling

More information can also be found on the unit’s blog: https://www.facebook.com/CPUT-Student-Counselling

Contact Student Counselling

Cape Town Campus
Room 2.700, 2nd level Administration Building
Tel: +27 21 460 3237

Bellville Campus
Ground level, New Extension to the Library Building
Tel: +27 21 959 6180

Mowbray Campus
Ground level, Barkley Davies Building, Mowbray
Tel: +27 21 680 1574

Wellington Campus
Extension to Administration Building
Tel: +27 21 864 5201

Athlone Campus
Room 116, C Block
Tel: +27 21 684 1242

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

Provides coverage for the Engineering and Applied Sciences Faculties; the Bellville and Wellington Campuses, and research and innovation news.

Student Counselling support does not only mean engaging on an individual psychotherapeutic level – it also plays an important role in holistically developing students.

Dr Charlene Petersen, who has been an educational psychologist for the past 20 years, explains that the Student Counselling Unit’s programmes are also geared towards the development and self-growth of students and “this also further enhance academic development of our students”.

Petersen’s career journey started as a guidance counsellor/ teacher at a secondary school on the Cape Flats. “It is here where my passion for assisting young people to develop their potential started.” Her psychology career started soon after she qualified as a psychologist and “it inspired me to further my passion in developing young people”.

Petersen continued to shine as she moved to a higher level, working for the University of the Western Cape Psychology Department for eight years before moving to the then Peninsula Technikon in 2001.  She was employed on a contract basis until she was appointed permanently as a student counsellor in 2006.  

“I find training and development of young people very rewarding and, as a psychologist, I assist students to further their potential through our training interventions.”

Petersen says 2020/2021 was challenging due to the negative impact of the pandemic on student engagement. “The limitations that the pandemic brought about forced us to become innovative and find alternate and creative ways to support our students’ needs and provide a holistic support service despite our limited contact.”

Reflecting on her career path and aspirations, she says: “Being in the psychology fraternity for more than 20 years I find myself leaning towards applying my knowledge and achievements on a much broader spectrum. Through expanding and applying my knowledge via training and development opportunities I can develop others.”

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

The Student Affairs Division and Services (DSA) will run the #WiseUp Healthy Living campaign from 19 July to 5 August.

Head of Department: Student Counselling, Leanie Brits, says the mandate of DSA is to educate and support students’ adjustment, development and wellness outside of the classroom through its various service portfolios.  “We strive to create opportunities for engagement and education to empower our students to grow. The prolonged lockdown and COVID-19 pandemic brought with it an increase in psychosocial challenges for students.

“The pandemic challenged people’s resilience and placed great strain on people’s general coping strategies,” says Brits.

The #WiseUp Healthy Living campaign emanated from the need to empower the CPUT community with information, tools, and resources to maintain the fundamental principles of a healthy body and mind.  “It also seeks to promote wellness, mental health, and amongst others, focus on depression and suicide awareness, substance use and abuse and gender-based violence (GBV) awareness,” emphasises Brits.

She adds that the campaign is supported by CPUT’s external partners, the Department of Social Development, the National Institute of Community Development and Management, and the Department of Health, exhibiting on campus on the 19th and 20th of July. The Department of Student Counselling and Campus Health clinic will also show these days.

Students are encouraged to attend the exhibitions’ stalls and the various activities that will run during the campaign. The organisers anticipate that more than 500 students will participate in the on-campus events that will run during this period. The campaign has to adhere to COVID-19 protocols, and therefore, certain activities will be limited per number of attendees to comply with venue capacity restrictions. The drama performance and exhibitions are open air/outside events, these activities will be regulated but limited.

The target audience is all CPUT students, especially students who seek to empower themselves with knowledge and those who want to learn how to live and maintain a healthy life. “This campaign allows students to learn the facts about general strategies to maintain wellness and mental health, substance use and abuse, depression and suicide, and GBV,” summarises Brits.

She also states that wellness and mental health should be a daily priority and that without proper self-care, one might find it challenging to focus on one’s academics and may even notice social and emotional problems such as depression, low motivation, isolation, high levels of stress and inability to deal with pressure.

“Students may end up engaging in unhealthy coping strategies such as increased alcohol use, unhealthy eating and sleeping habits, etc. We are holistic beings; wellness and mental health cannot be separated from our work and academics. We encourage the CPUT community to #BeWise and equip themselves with the knowledge to live healthily,” adds Brits.

To view the line-up, click this link:

Written by Aphiwe Boyce

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

CPUT Libraries recently hosted a Mental Health Awareness campaign and poetry session at the Granger Bay Campus.

The event was a collaboration between the CPUT Library staff and the Student Counselling team, aimed to help the students’ educational experience with a blend of motivational speaking and poetry.

The opening remarks by the Granger Bay Campus Librarian, Nontobeko Xwayi set the tone for an event that promised to be as enlightening as it was inspiring. Regina Sikhosana, a Senior Librarian at CPUT Bellville Campus, provided a message of support and word on mental health. Speakers graced the stage, presenting a unique perspective designed to motivate and educate. The presentations covered various topics, all fitting to the student experience at CPUT.

The CPUT Student Counselling Services team provided information on their services. Ntombekhaya Gwaqa, Marketing Librarian, said their message connected with the audience, providing them with “hope and guidance”. “They detailed the comprehensive services available at the Department of Student Counselling, including career counselling, wellness programme, peer helper services, individual counselling and therapy, self-help materials, academic support and advocacy, support groups and skills development,” said Gwaqa. The counselling team also shared different ways on how to manage stress.

Counselling Psychologist, Modipadi Phala said: “Self-awareness helps you to understand yourself better so that when you are experiencing mental health challenges, you can know what to do about it”. Ntswaki Shopane, a counselling intern, explained the career pathing role as to enhance and promote mental health, wellness and adjustment of students.

A guest poet from the University of Western Cape, Jamie Conway, and a Maritime Studies student, Nondabulo Mbasa, delivered inspiring poems. “The event was a success, student engagement and participation were high, with many students who walked away with prizes presented by Gwaqa.

Written by CPUT News

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