The Durban University of Technology (DUT) Sport Administration Unit held an exciting Mandela Day outreach event at Sithengile Secondary School on Friday, 21 July 2023.

The DUT Sport Administration Unit started this initiative in 2022 with the objective to give back to one of the schools that they had the privilege to recruit one of DUT’s excellent sport players.

“It is with that intention we would not want to just give back but to also look at future relationships where all parties could benefit in the best interests of the students,” said Takalani Mfamadi: DUT Sport officer.

On the day they had coaching clinics with 60 learners who were playing netball, aerobics, chess, and indigenous games together with the coaches and DUT staff.

The unit donated equipment such as a football kit, netball kit, chess kit, football, netball, rugby and cricket balls, a first aid kit, and giveaway gifts for competitions and quiz winners to help develop young athletes and keep them active.

The Sport Administration Unit also donated sanitary pads to underprivileged learners.

Sharing her excitement, Pamela Magubane: the administrative secretarial assistant said that the main aim of the pad drive was to provide support to the female learners, get more learners participating in sport (without having to worry about discomfort while playing sport), boosting community engagements and aiming to get more donors of sanitary pads.

“A special thanks goes out to everyone that donated sanitary pads, you made an impact,” she said.

DUT Sport administration manager, Mr Yengwa said that they were extremely happy to host such an event because Mandela Day is all about giving back. He further explained that the event assisted in growing higher employee satisfaction because a communal cause for the greater good is an excellent way to bring employees together to make a difference as a team.

“We thank you so much for everything and we promise to keep you updated. As for the school we will make sure that the learners make you proud,” said Siyanda Zuma, the DUT Sport Director.

He emphasised in the words of Nelson Mandela that sport has the power to change the world, to unite people in a way that little else does. He further said that sport can awaken hope where there was previously only despair; and sport speaks to people in a language they can understand.

Pictured: A successful DUT Sport pad drive was held with Sithengile Secondary School learners.

Sinethemba Njoko