TUT helps students via ‘virtual Comrades’
TUT industrial engineering department colleagues help out students by raising money by running a "virtual" Comrades marathon.
The Tshwane University of Technology’s (TUT) has raised funds to help students in need of welfare assistance by holding a virtual Comrades marathon.
TUT spokesperson Willa De Ruyter said it had assisted 250 students through the University’s student food support programme.
De Ruyter said the boost was through TUT honouring a partnership with the Pretoria eastern suburbs Seventh Day Adventist Church (Pedsa) board to raise funds in support of students in need of welfare assistance.
She said the money was raised through a virtual Comrades race.
She said the support was made possible when Prof Khumbulani Mpofu, an elder in the church, approached the board about the possibility of a sponsorship, to which they agreed.
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“Mpofu completed a 90km virtual Comrades marathon held on 16 June 2020 in a time of 11 hours and 35 minutes.”
She said the Pedsa church board had also agreed that 50% of the funds raised would be allocated to the university’s food support programme.
“Therefore, from the total of R12 438 raised during the marathon, Pedsa would assign R6 219 to the programme.”
De Ruyter said Khumbuzile Mdlalose from the industrial engineering department and coordinator of the student food support programme had also managed to contribute R6 030 to the project with an end target of R41 800.
Other colleagues who participated were Thabo Podile (45km with a finish time of 3:35), Thomas Kgatle (1km in a time of 2:39); Marensia Bhebe (21km finishing in three hours), Tshifhiwa Nenzhelele (5 km in 2:35).
M Tech mechanical engineering student Nyangani Mtimkhulu ran an extra mile for his fellow students in need, and completed 94km in a time of 9:10.
Mdlalose explained that observance to good governance is very important in the success and execution of the project.
“The programme does not allow for money to be handed out to students in need of support, rather it pays for specific basic necessary food items. Food parcels are then delivered to the beneficiaries.”
She appealed to colleagues to assist in raising funds for the project.
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“Every rand helps; therefore, if you would like to assist the project financially, please SMS ‘food support’ to 38157 to donate,” she said.
She said alternatively members could pay a donation directly into TUT’s bank account.
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