Richards Bay Alumnus Luncheon 2011

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Richards Bay Luncheon Reunites UKZN Alumni

UKZN alumni residing in the north coast of KwaZulu-Natal enjoyed a first-time opportunity to reunite on July 23. An alumni lunch was organised at the Protea Hotel Waterfront in Richards Bay by the Alumni Relations Office in UKZN’s Corporate Relations Division.

Director for University Relations and Marketing Support, Mr Len Mzimela announced that this year the University is launching student chapter associations with the aim of setting up functional networks. ‘We are helping students and alumni get plugged onto the development of the University both professionally and academically,’ he said.

Mzimela also highlighted some of the University’s successful partnerships with alumni in Cape Town, Johannesburg, London and New York among others. ‘We are also very proud of the University’s cinema advert which is currently being screened in selected films showing at Ster-Kinekor cinemas. The advert highlights some of the University’s top achievements which are of benefit to society at large,’ he said.

Lobbying for an active alumni body, UKZN Convocation Executive Member, Mr Sifiso Mncube asked: ‘Are we becoming a selfish nation as South Africa?’ Speaking on the weekend following Mandela Day which encourages South Africans to give 67 minutes of their time to others, Mncube said that although the idea behind Mandela Day is to be lauded, ‘the stipulated 67 minutes just simply is not enough’.

He expressed concern about South Africa’s high unemployment rate and the fact that, while some graduates are deemed unemployable ‘yet employers talk about skills shortages’. He encouraged UKZN alumni to become role models to youngsters and proposed that each graduate devote themselves to assisting at least one child the best way they can.

Executive Director: Corporate Relations Division, Ms Nomonde Mbadi said the lesson is that 67minutes is not enough, and encouraged alumni to give back to their alma mater and build the nation.

The three-course buffet lunch and UKZN marketing material was well received by the 65 alumni who attended. This is set to become an annual event on the Alumni Relations calendar.