UP receives R12 million at giving event

by Mothusi Mokalane and Londiwe Mnguni | Aug 1, 2022 | News

On 25 July, UP officially reopened its doors for full-time contact classes for the second semester, and hosted its very first Giving Day Campaign. The purpose of the campaign was to create philanthropic awareness and raise funds for the various initiatives in the university. These include UP Residences, the museum, student support, the Onderstepoort Veterinary Hospital, and faculty-specific projects. 

The eventful day started at 12:00 with entertainment from jugglers, loud music, free nail and hair services from the well-known Legends Barber salon, as well as campus tours being offered to students by the STARS mentorship program. The queues for these freebies were exceedingly long, as expected. 

Speeches by the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Tawana Kupe, the Director of Student affairs, Dr Matete Madiba, and the current SRC emphasised the importance of student participation and donations to the UP Giving initiative. Prof. Kupe commented on the event by stating that the Giving Day event was established “first [as a way] to celebrate the [arrival] of students on campus, and second to celebrate the giving campaign where [they] wanted to raise [funds] and increase the number of people who give to the university”. So far, the Giving Campaign has raised R12,434,851, and has 334 donors. 

Another highlight of the event was the official announcement of the upcoming 2023 SRC elections dates. The announcement was made by Dr Madiba who urged students’ participation in the elections – “I want to beg you on my knees to make sure that you participate, and there are at least two ways in which you can participate, one by being a candidate, running for the SRC elections and becoming a member of the council, or you can participate by voting”. 

Dr Madiba went on to indicate that following the Institutional Culture Survey, students indicated that they do not feel well represented by the SRC, therefore it is important for students to participate in the upcoming elections so that they elect the right leaders. “It is your opportunity to participate and to make sure you get the right leaders into these positions. it is definitely not about the blazer but about making sure that your interests at the council are represented” said Dr Madiba. Over the next few weeks, UP will be experiencing an election period, until the actual election which is scheduled for 5 until 7 September. “All the process will be running on a hybrid manner leading up to that date, and for the three days we are going to have e-voting. There are workshops planned to make sure we prepare you as candidates” explained Dr Madiba. The SRC President, Thuto Mashile, and the rest of the council also were present at the event and were called on to come and encourage students to take part in the elections.

Overall the event was, in the words of third-year Social Work student, Kedibone Sithole, very overwhelming but incredibly fun at the same time. 

Photos: Cletus Mulaudi

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History, Archaeology and Setswana student at the University of Pretoria. An avid reader and lover of news writing and broadcasting. I have a passion for African indigenous languages and history. A prospective world-class journalist and scholar

Londiwe Mnguni
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