One of the Durban University of Technology’s (DUT’s) Strategic Plan 2.0’s strand is engagement, and DUT always seeks to be engaged with issues affecting the communities within the region of its operation.

Being part of society, DUT encourages its DUT community to reach out to those in need. Many DUT staff and students were deeply affected by the recent, brutal storm that struck the greater part of Durban in late April 2019, which had claimed at least 51 lives and left thousands injured and homeless.

The Gift of the Givers, the largest disaster response non-profit organisation (NGO) of African origin on the African continent, are collecting donations for communities who suffered severe material loss in the storm.

The broader DUT community opened their hearts and donated food and clothing items to the Gift of the Givers to help the victims of the recent Durban floods.

DUT reached out to the broader DUT community for assistance with drop off stations located at each of the seven campuses across the Durban and the Midlands campuses. The initiative was well-received and donations poured in.

Ms Thulile Duma, coordinator of the DUT Floods Project, said: “The response from everyone, especially the DUT staff was amazing, we collected so many items for the flood victims.”

The most affected areas were uMlazi, Chatsworth, Malvern, Pinetown, New Germany, Shallcross, Marianhill and Reservoir Hills.

The handover of all the clothes, blankets and food collected, took place at the Gift of the Givers on Tuesday, 21 May 2019.

Pictured: DUT’s Ms Thulile Duma hands over donated food and clothing items to the Gift of the Givers representative.

Phumeza Msongelwa