Dr Gwen Ramokgopa honours the 2021 top academic achievers 

Dr Gwen Ramokgopa, Chancellor of the Tshwane University of Technology.

Dr Ramokgopa awarded academic excellence certificates and trophies to seven awardees from each of the University’s faculties, in recognition of their sterling performance in their respective courses. 

In her keynote address at the Capital Hotel in Pretoria, Dr Ramokgopa urged the recipients to become active University ambassadors, by living exemplary lives. 

“The Chancellor’s Awards are presented to recognise exceptional students who exhibit not only qualities that will help them achieve their goals, but also bestow honour and demonstrate success of the University,” she  commented, while inviting the recipients to support TUT’s Advancement and Partnerships Office (APO) initiatives through philanthropy and external sponsors. 

TUT Alumna, staff member and Programme Director, Zama Zikhali, entertained guests with her charisma and bits of poetry. Representing the recipients, Anza Phidana, said: “It took a lot of self-motivation, determination, dedication, discipline, focus and sleepless nights for us to become the top achievers. Thank you to the Alumni Relations Office and the Directorate of Corporate Affairs and Marketing for hosting these awards to recognise exceptional students (Us)”. She added it was the great honour for the graduates and their families to celebrate such a significant milestone with University management. 

Professor Lourens van Staden, Vice-Chancellor and Principal.

Vice-Chancellor and Principal, Professor Lourens van Staden, commended staff, students, the community and Alumni for their continuous commitment in ensuring that TUT is an enabling learning environment to achieve excellence. He also applauded the recipients: “You are entering a new phase of your relationship with the people’s university, becoming the University’s exceptional Alumni. You are joining a cohort of extraordinary Alumni who continue to be exceptional brand ambassadors for TUT.”

Alluding to TUT’s success rate in ensuring that the University is accessible to many aspiring graduates, Executive Dean of the Faculty of Management Sciences, Dr. Edgar Nesamvuni, remarked: “For many years TUT has enabled and celebrated access, the time has arrived for us to start celebrating more of the remarkable achievements that the University has attained over the years”. 

Ms Minah Sindane-Bloem, author and life-coach, who delivered a motivational talk said “Lack of money does not equate a lack of talent. You sit here as proof. Remember, your success is not your success alone, it is also the success of those who had challenges like you – they see you and they get encouraged to push on towards the success mark.”

This prestigious annual ceremony is hosted by Advancement and Partnership Office, to recognise the top achieving students who will and have made an immense contribution to our University and the society. 

“These students depicted such qualities that will not only help them in achieving their goals, but also bring the glory of success to their academic career. TUT has always provided its students with an excellent and fair competitive environment to help them grow in every sphere, be it academics, sports or any other activity that involves student life”, said APO Director, Dr Eric Pule. 

In closing, Professor Ben Van Wyk, Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Teaching and Learning, guaranteed his support to the course and urged the APO to host more such events, while also including the larger TUT community. 

Chancellor’s Awards Recipients:

1. FACULTY OF ECONOMICS AND FINANCE: ADVANCED DIPLOMA IN ECONOMICS
   SILUMA BONGANE MXOLISI
2. FACULTY OF ENGINEERING AND THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT: BACCALAUREUS TECHNOLOGIAE: ENGINEERING ELECTRICAL
   NATHAN CHRIS SWANEPOEL
   
3. FACULTY OF HUMANITIES: ADVANCED DIPLOMA IN INTEGRATED COMMUNICATION
   ANZA PHIDANA
   
4. FACULTY OF INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY: NATIONAL DIPLOMA: ENGINEERING: COMPUTER SYSTEMS
   
5. FACULTY OF MANAGEMENT SCIENCES: NATIONAL DIPLOMA: SPORT MANAGEMENT
   CHARLES JOHANNES
   
6. FACULTY OF SCIENCE: ADVANCED DIPLOMA IN CROP SCIENCES
   RENEILWE CINCINNATIA MOHALE
   
7. FACULTY OF ARTS AND DESIGN: NATIONAL DIPLOMA: PERFORMING ARTS TECHNOLOGY 
   ANGELIQUE VAN ROOYEN