The Durban University of Technology’s Midlands House Committee and Residence Assistants recently attended the first African Green Campus Conference at the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University (NMMU) where they walked away with three awards for their role in energy conservation.

The conference is aimed at empowering young green champions with skills and knowledge which they in turn use to educate others about the benefits of sustaining the environment.

Midlands Housing Manager Khetha Mngadi said DUT contested in five out of six categories. They secured the number one spot in the Best Green Campus Initiative (division one) which was also contested by the University of Johannesburg, University of Pretoria as well as the University of the Free State. DUT was also crowned first runner up in the category: Most Innovative Idea on Green Campus.

“We also received the R5000 prize money. Sabelo Njoko, a House Committee member was crowned Best Dressed Male in the AGCI fashion show using waste materials out of the nine universities that participated at the conference. With limited resources, our residences students; including those in outsourced facilities have responded positively to our call for energy conservation as well as the need to take care of our environment. I believe that this is beginning of greater prospects for all of us,” said Mngadi.

Mngadi thanked Mbokodo Mbatha, Indumiso Student Housing Department Residence Life Officer and House Committee member. He also acknowledged students from the Campus for their commitment and innovation in residence life programmes.

DUT Vice-Chancellor Professor Ahmed Bawa congratulated the group. “This is absolutely wonderful news. My heartiest congratulations to our students,” he said.

–Sinegugu Ndlovu

Caption: The DUT Midlands House Committee and Residence Assistants team recently savoured the taste of sweet victory at the first African Green Campus Conference.