Preparations are underway for the second annual 2024 DUT Remember and Give (RAG) for first-year students which will be hosted by the Student Governance and Development unit in collaboration with the Student Housing and Residence Life, Student Representative Council (SRC), Central Housing Executive (CHE) and the Sport Administration units at the Durban University of Technology (DUT). The launch of this year’s fun-filled event will take place on Saturday, 27 April 2024 at Indumiso campus in Pietermaritzburg.
DUT RAG was officially launched last year on 01 April 2023 at the Curries Fountain Stadium in Durban and Indumiso campus in the Midlands. It was attended by returning students and staff including senior executive members at DUT consisting of the Registrar, Dr Maditsane Nkonoane, Deputy Vice-Chancellor: People and Operations, Dr Vuyo Mthethwa, and Dean of Students, Dr Clement Moreku. The theme of the event was “Come ye Crazies, it is all about RAG’ where the attendees came dressed up in weird funny looking attires to raise funds for needy students.
According to the Student Development Officer under the Student Governance and Development unit at DUT, Ms Thokozani Sibiya the purpose of RAG is to highlight the distinctive education offered at DUT outside of the classroom.
“It also serves as a tool for fundraising to assist some of our projects within Student Services. RAG is also about Holistic Student Support where students are enjoying themselves including integrating first-year students into the DUT community. It is also about changing the culture of the student experience at the university. With first-year students engaged in diverse activities at the start of the year, the wish and hope is that this will set the tone for the remainder of the year-a tone that excludes protests but includes unity in achieving and living the values of DUT,” explained Sibiya.
She explained that the event is targeting mostly first-year students, however, it is open to the entire DUT community, staff and students. Sibiya urged the students to come out in their numbers to attend this event as she feels it is a continuation of the intentional move by student services to socialise a culture change amongst DUT students. She highlighted that the event encourages the culture of giving and introduces the students to positive ways of having ‘clean fun’.
“This event is related to the principle of compassion, listed in the ENVISION2030 Living Values. It promotes showing empathy and kindness to others. The value being championed here is being humane – ‘Umuntu nguMuntu Ngabantu’ – ‘I am because you are’. Showing empathy is what makes us human towards one another and what binds us together, where the wellbeing of the individual, the collective and the university are inextricably intertwined,” added Sibiya.
The event organisers are hoping to raise an ambitious R5000 through this event and the proceeds will be donated to programmes such as the Phakimpilo Food Security Programme and the Masifunde Sonke campaign.
Pictured: Student Governance and Development Manager, Mr Masiza Ngculu, DUT Mascot, DVC: People and Operations, Dr Vuyo Mthethwa, Registrar, Dr Maditsane Nkonoane and Dean of Students, Dr Clement Moreku at the 2023 DUT RAG.
Simangele Zuma
