GO!
How will you use your title to the benefit of students?
MAMIKIE MABIGWE (22), MISS TUT SOSHANGUVE CAMPUS, 4th-year Education student: “I have always devoted my life to helping others. As Miss TUT, I hold qualities such as leadership, confidence, and responsibility. I’ve realised how underprivileged students struggle with getting information about finances, not only through NSFAS, but also other available means. I want to create an awareness about financial assistance. Furthermore, I will invest my time in motivating students to get them inspired to pass their degrees/diplomas in record time.”
YANELISA BOKVELD (19), MISS TUT PRETORIA CAMPUS, 2nd-year Hospitality Management student: “I will try and bring change within the institution. I have a lot of ideas, specifically relating to first-years. During my first-year I noticed that a lot of students were suffering from anxiety and depression due to the drastic change from high school to university. I plan to start a Mental Awareness Programme and get a team together to visit residences to educate and enlighten students about this matter and bring ways to deal with it. My aim is to always inspire and empower. Every soul touched matters.”
FASTEST! TUT students are surely representing the University on many fronts. ROBIN MALUNGA (19), on the right, who studies Film and Television Production, is one such a student. Earlier this year he was named second runner-up in the international leg of the Diesel Red Bull Desert Wings University Challenge hosted in Lima, Peru. Eleven countries participated. This followed after he won the national competition end of last year, clocking a record time of 11:11. As part of the competition, student motorsport enthusiasts were challenged to participate in a competitive, remote-controlled mini "Dakar Race" on their university campuses. In Peru, Robin got the opportunity to meet SA’s and other international participants in this year’s Dakar Race.
Vol10 no2 2018
heita!
STAY IN THE PICTURE
This edition’s cover image was
captured by ZANDER ERASMUS (21), a Visual Communication (Photography) student. WHAT’S THE STORY BEHIND THE PIC? “It formed part of a Fine Art assignment. I particularly enjoyed this assignment because the final image did not have to conform to as many guidelines as usual and it gave me the perfect excuse to play with burning steel wool. As anyone would, I told my friend to stand in the sparks, which resulted in the eerie silhouette in the foreground and a few scorched hairs.”
please send your name and cell number to heita@tut.ac.za on or before 23 March 2018. Mark the subject field: COASTERS
To win this
SET OF TUT COASTERS
DUTY
Meet the President
Matimba Ngobeni (24) is the new President-General of the University’s Institutional Student Representative Council (ISRC). In an interview with Heita! he shares his vision.
WHO IS MATIMBA? (WHERE WERE YOU BORN AND BRED, HOW DID YOU BECOME INVOLVED IN STUDENT POLITICS, WHAT DO YOU STAND FOR?) I was born in Bushbuckridge, Mpumalanga. I’m studying Cost Management and Accounting (fourth-year) at the Mbombela Campus, but, for now, I will be based at the Ga-Rankuwa Campus. I got involved in student politics in 2015, when there was a spirit of undermining students at the Mbombela Campus. I felt that student issues weren’t taken seriously by management, since it’s a distance campus. I stood up to represent those who were rejected by those who were in charge. At the time, the leadership was failing us as ordinary students. I started to raise issues at the Mebala Residence, challenged the SRC during mass meetings, and then joined the Economic Freedom Fighters Students' Command (EFFSC), who I considered the last hope for those rejected by the system. Back then, I thought all structures were captured by management. I joined the EFFSC since I was part of the rejected group.
Free education can be implemented as long as Government is willing to do so. Research has proven that it is possible.
WHAT IS THE ROLE OF THE STUDENT REPRESENTATIVE COUNCIL? To represent students at management level and to co-ordinate all student meetings. The SRC must not be the ‘property’ of management, but rather belong to students. Thus, all student issues should be resolved through the SRC. We remain the umbrella of all structures recognised by the University.
IS FREE EDUCATION REALLY VIABLE IN SA? Free education can be implemented as long as Government is willing to do so. Research has proven that it is possible. We can implement free education if we decrease the salaries of Government officials, introduce tax for education, and support local produce. State- owned land can also increase investments.
I felt that student issues weren’t taken seriously by management, since it’s a distance campus. I stood up to represent those who were rejected by those who were in charge.
ISN’T UNIVERSITY EDUCATION OVERRATED AND SHOULDN’T MORE STUDENTS OPT FOR TRAINING AT TVET COLLEGES? TVETs are being undermined by the State, hence they are being treated like high schools. The requirements of TVETs must be equal to those of universities; and the benefits and qualifications must be the same. All courses must be available at TVETs.
WHAT ARE THE QUALITIES OF A GOOD LEADER AND WHO ARE THE LEADERS THAT YOU LOOK UP TO? Good communication skills, confidence, accountability, honesty, integrity, decisiveness, and the ability to delegate. I’m inspired by leaders such as Steve Biko, Chris Hani, Julius Malema, Fidel Castro and many more.
WHERE CAN STUDENTS CONTACT YOU?
Cell: 082 255 0402, email NgobeniM@tut.ac.za or Matimbangobenitg@gmail.com
WELCOME!
Orientation
in pictures
Although First-Year Orientation is done and dusted, we cannot resist to publish another couple of pics that caught our eye.
Prof Polly Mashigo, new Executive Dean of the Faculty of Economics and Finance, welcomed new students at the Ga-Rankuwa Campus. She highlighted the rapid growth of the Faculty (student registration) and encouraged first-years to complete their studies in record time and further enrol for postgraduate qualifications.
Hats-off to Prof Ben van Wyk, Executive Dean of the Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment (second from left), for getting dirty during the Faculty’s colour run hosted as part of its first-year welcoming.
Prof Nalini Moodley-Diar, Executive Dean of the Faculty of the Arts, also dressed up for the Faculty’s hats-inspired student welcoming where she shared the following words of wisdom:
Be present, be honest, never give up! Have fun! Be optimistic!
Carla Wilken (19) and Angelique van Rooyen (21) are among the approximately 500 first-year students who kicked-off their studies at the Faculty. They both study Performing Arts Technology.
Executive Dean of the Faculty of Humanities, Prof Elsabé Coetzee, welcomed her 1 210 first-year students with a reminder to live a life of gratitude: “May God make you aware of all your blessings so that you can remain thankful at all times. Always think of your loved ones and send them regular messages, and remember to make good friends.”
EXPECTATIONS
WHAT COULD TUT DO TO IMPROVE YOUR
RENEILWE
PHEEHA (21)
Industrial Engineering
“There should be more buses. We often run late for classes while waiting in long queues to come to University.”
SYLVESTER MAKGETLWA (21)
Landscape Technology
“There is a lack of parking for students with cars. We struggle to find the right places to park our cars and that sometimes make us not to concentrate in the classroom while thinking of how we left our cars parked outside.”
TSHOLANANG SIKO (18)
Electrical Engineering
“TUT should change the way that it allocates residence accommodation to students. They must set aside at least one week per month for students to apply for res, instead of only one day, because there
are many students who are in need of accommodation.”
BRIGHTON
RALEFATANE (18)
“TUT should build more residences for students. There is a large amount of students in
need of accommodation with few residences available on University campuses.”
Management
SABRINA BOTTYAN (21)
Sport and Exercise Technology
“TUT should install air conditioners in all classrooms and have more cafeterias because there are too many students and too few outlets to buy food from. When we are hungry, we have to wait in long queues.”
HENDRIK GROENEWALD (22)
TREASURE
RIBA (26)
Civil Engineering
“There should be more events to unite students. That could eradicate racism and isolation. Such events can also cheer us up and help us find friends.”
Officiating and Coaching Science
“There should be more job opportunities for disabled students and more user- friendly transport to accommodate them.”
STUDENT EXPERIENCE?
SUPPORT
Student Development & Support (SDS) has been offering a Student Mentors @ TUT programme since 2007. It is considered one of the University’s flagship programmes, and is all about more experienced students assisting and supporting less experienced students on the academic and personal fronts.
This year, several students were trained as mentors on all campuses (see photos). The training, among others, included sessions on brain profiling, emotional intelligence, goal setting and motivation, problem solving, learning styles, memorising, as well as more serious stuff, such as dealing with loss, bereavement and suicide.
For more information on services available to students, CLICK HERE
heita!
STAY IN THE PICTURE
Heita! is an electronic student newsletter of the Tshwane University of Technology (TUT).
It is edited and published by the Directorate of Corporate Affairs and Marketing.
EDITOR
Gerrit Bester
TEL 012 382 4306
WRITE TO US AT
LAYOUT
This publication may contain third party advertisements and links to third party sites. The Tshwane University of Technology does not make any representation as to the accuracy or suitability of any of the information contained in these advertisements or sites and does not accept any responsibility or liability for the conduct or content of those advertisements and sites and the offerings made by the third parties.
FULL STOP
All work and no play make Jack (and Jill) a dull boy (and girl).
win R300
The winner of the COOLER BAG IS: THULI MTHETHWA (22), a Legal Assistance student at the Soshanguve Campus.
It’s easy! All you have to do is answer the following
question (don’t fret, you should get the answer somewhere
in this edition): WHO IS THE PRESIDENT-GENERAL OF TUT’S INSTITUTIONAL STUDENT REPRESENTATIVE COUNCIL?
Please send your answer, name and contact number to heita@tut.ac.za on or before 23 March 2018. Mark the subject field: COMPETITION. The winner will be announced in the next edition. Only registered TUT students can enter.
Good luck!
MAASHILE LAZARUS MAMPA (24), a Surveying student
at the Pretoria Campus, is the winner of the competition featured in Heita! Vol10 no1 2018.
CONGRATULATIONS!
SPEND THE R300 WISELY.