The 2022/23 Durban University of Technology (DUT) Student Representative Council (SRC) recently received a donation of R1.1 million from the Motsepe Foundation to go towards student registration, fees and historical debt.
The DUT SRC President, Mr Sanele Khumalo was amongst the 26 university SRC Presidents that received the donation from the Motsepe Foundation at the Universities in Dialogue meeting held in Sandton Sun, Gauteng, last Thursday, 16 February 2023. At the meeting, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Co-Founder of the Motsepe Foundation, Dr Precious Moloi-Motsepe announced that the Motsepe Foundation is donating R30 million to the SRCs of the 26 South African universities.
Khumalo was accompanied by Mr Andile Masuku, Student Development Officer under the Student Governance and Development unit at DUT.
The SRC President explained that the SRC took an initiative to annually allocate part of its budget to assist financially needy students through the SRC Grant which is under the Masifunde Sonke Campaign. He stated that the donation received from the Motsepe Foundation will assist with the underway registration which will enable 217 students with financial challenges to get registered.
Giving insight on the meeting and donation, Masuku said: “The meeting was themed ‘Universities in Dialogue: How SRCs can collaborate/work together to find solutions to student challenges.’ The meeting was attended by the SRC Presidents and staff members from Student Affairs Departments coming from across 26 universities. This platform gave us an opportunity to critically discuss different issues in Higher Education Institutions, particularly those that affect students. Many challenges emerged during the discussion i.e. funding and accommodation for postgraduate students, student access to universities due to the tuition fee increments, student unemployment, challenges faced by students living with disabilities and issues of sanitary towels for female students.”
Masuku indicated that this was the first time DUT had received such a donation from the Motsepe Foundation. However, Masuku stated that his office together with the SRC, have a committee to effectively collaborate with internal and external stakeholders to find solutions to resolving some of the issues, especially student funding which continues to be a challenge experienced by all Higher Education Institutions.
“We would like to take the opportunity to thank the Motsepe Foundation for their thoughtful and generous donation which will assist disadvantaged students to further their studies. Furthermore, we must also reveal that they have contributed to the sustainability of the university as espoused in the ENVISION2030 and we hope that this will forge a way forward for a solid partnership with the foundation,” said Masuku, extending his gratitude to the Motsepe Foundation.
Pictured: DUT SRC President, Mr Sanele Khumalo, CEO and Co-Founder of the Motsepe Foundation, Dr Precious Moloi-Motsepe, DUT Student Development Officer, Mr Andile Masuku and President of South African Union of Students, Mr Yandisa Ndzoyiya after DUT received the R1.1 million donation from the Motsepe Foundation.
Simangele Zuma
