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Education activist Hendrick Makaneta is encouraged by the commitment of the newly appointed Vice-Chancellor of the University of Pretoria (UP) to focus his energies on providing quality education for hundreds of thousands of South Africans in the next few years.  

“The University of Pretoria aspires to and will strive to breathe, live and demonstrate quality in everything it does. It will do so to create a new reality and narrative about our continent as a place of quality, excellence and prosperity.” said Prof Tawana Kupe

We have noted that UP has experienced changes on many fronts especially on student enrollment which reflect at least more than half the student population which consist of black students together with an increasing number of black appointments within the workforce.

We applaud the university under the leadership of Prof Kupe for taking the time to outline his transformation goals. Of importance we welcome the university’s plan to increase the number of students from 55 000 to 75 000 by the year 2025. If other universities can emulate the position of UP, we may see an increase in student enrollment of more than half a million students by the end of 2025 in the entire terrain of higher education.

It should be clear at this point that the University of Pretoria has taken great strides to address the plight of hungry students. Today UP has a campus- wide campaign with all stakeholders to contribute towards changing the lives of our students in a positive manner. UP has a Student Nutrition and Progress Programme (SNAPP) to which the university makes annual budget allocations towards this feeding scheme. The Student Representative Council is actively engaged in organizing food parcels for hungry students.

This initiative is embraced in residences in what is called “food forward” advances where other students offer their meal cards to be used by those in need. The food pantry drive at UP is geared towards overcoming hunger and eventually have a “Zero Hunger at UP”. Other initiatives such as the Walk4Access are additional efforts initiated by partners of the university together with students to assist disadvantaged students to overcome this critical barrier to access and success of our students.  The university is currently looking into a self-sufficiency project in which we can grow our own food and promote food security and healthy nutrition for our students.

All these efforts are in addition to the NSFAS food allocations to students.

Humanity should not forget the role played by Prof Tawana Kupe in bettering the lives of students particularly those from poor backgrounds. We wish Prof Kupe well as continues to prosecute the difficult struggle to improve the general wellbeing of students and staff at the university.

Issued by Education activist Hendrick Makaneta