The Durban University of Technology has entered into a partnership with the uMgungundlovu Academy of Sports (UAS) in a project that is geared towards enhancing local sporting skills while contributing to sport education and development as well as stimulating the local economy within the district (uMgungundlovu).
The two parties signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) earlier this year where they were represented by DUT Vice-Chancellor Professor Ahmed Bawa and UAS Manager Mdu Madlala.
The core objective of the MOU is social and local economic development. Under the MOU, the parties are to develop and implement high performance sports development programmes. The parties are to then derive monitoring and evaluation strategies for the mentioned programmes and also obtain funding.
DUT and UAS have committed themselves to ensure the successful implementation of all the goals listed in the MOU which include providing athletic support services through training, talent identification and coaching, facilitating the upgrading of sporting facilities and educational opportunities as well as providing specific sport science and medical support services at sporting events.
Elaborating on this, Fathima Haffajee, the Director of Student Services and Development at the DUT Midlands Campuses said that a formal agreement has been concluded around sports infrastructure upgrades culminating in a grant of R1.15 million from the National Lottery Board for the upgrade of the basketball court, soccer fields and the swimming pool on the Riverside Campus.
“We are currently pursuing agreements around the development and implementation of high performance sports development programmes,” Haffajee said.
The project includes other stakeholders from the uMgungundlovu District Municipality, the Department of Sport and Recreation, the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Education and the Federations/ Sports Council.
Haffajee said DUT and UAS have a second agreement involving the establishment of a staff gym on the Riverside Campus, utilising UAS sponsored gym equipment.
–Naledi Hlefane
Pictured: (L-R)Pietermaritzburg Sports Officer Michael Mbatha, DUT Vice-Chancellor Professor Ahmed Bawa, UAS Manager Mdu Madlala and Student Services and Development Director Fathima Haffajee.
