Staff from the Durban University of Technology’s Writing Centre devoted 67 minutes of their time in celebration of Mandela Day 2015 by donating food parcels to a Durban shelter and conducting a clean-up at the King Dinuzulu (Louis Botha) Park which is behind the DUT City Campus.

The Nest shelter, which was visited by staff from the University’s Writing Centre, accommodates 120 homeless people.

“We decided to donate our time to the Durban community as a way of giving back,” said Shahieda Kraft, DUT Writing Centre Secretary.

The DUT Writing Centre is made up of various writing centres which are located in various DUT campuses.

Residents from the Nest were overwhelmed by the kind gesture of the DUT staff. The shelter’s Soswa Thomas said the donation shows that DUT is thinking about the community in which it is located. “Mandela spent his time working for the community and DUT is doing the same. We really appreciate what they have done for us,” he said.

The University had other events in celebration of Mandela Day, including HIV/AIDS Peer Educators from the DUT Midlands Centre, in conjunction with the Msunduzi Municipality’s HIV/AIDS Unit, having an outreach programme at the Isandla Esihle Disability Centre, Sinathing area.

In Durban, the Department of Homeopathy’s Dr David Naude and Dr Jabu Ngobane conducted their community outreach programme at the Ukuba Nsibindi site in Warwick Triangle from 8h00 to 12h00. The Department’s Dr Silvana Nienaber visited the Redhill Community Clinic at 8h00to 12h00. All three doctors did blood pressure tests and attended to general health queries.

On Saturday, 18 July 2015, students who are part of the DUT GCI (Green Campus Initiative), together with staff from the University’s Student Housing and Resident Life Department will clean-up and plant new trees at the garden behind the Berea Residence on the Steve Biko Campus.

Also on Saturday, 18 July 2015, the Department of Fashion and Textiles will handover collected toys, clothes and other goodies to the WE ARE DURBAN Foundation. The students from the Department will also (on Saturday) assist at a market that the Foundation will be having.

– Mxolisi Ntanzi and Noxolo Memela

Pictured: DUT Writing Centre staff cleaning the Durban City in celebration of Mandela Day 2015.