Former SRC members and TUT Alumni joined the current SRC during the bootcamp to share their experiences, lessons, as well as impart soft skills and principles to ensure that they start their tenure as leaders on the right foot. Among the Alumni and guest speakers were Ms Nicol Morris, Ms Vivian Morodi, Veli Mbhele, Vuyisile Mshudulu and Dr Convy Baloyi, to name a few.
The purpose of the boot camp was to equip the young leaders with the leadership skills and knowledge, share information on the role they play in building the image of the University and understanding what is expected from them in their role as representatives of the student body.
Tlotlo Ngwenya, Language Practice student and Deputy Secretary from the Soshanguve Campus said Dr Baloyi’s word encouraged him to consider making a positive contribution towards nation building.
He said: “Dr Baloyi encouraged us and said we, are leaders, we should be thinkers. We should expand our thinking about the world, the economy, our country and TUT itself. His words that ‘Learning is painful but will sustain you for a very long time’, will always encourage me.”
Advanced Diploma in Public Finance student and Secretary of the Mbombela campus, Mkhanyisi Pako, added that as student leaders, the SRC has great challenges ahead of them. With a university so large, they have to put their political differences aside and unite to serve and support the students.
“My highlight of the boot camp is the experiences SRC members, who have been deployed for their 2nd term, shared with us in terms of unity. TUT is a University with 6 campuses and 2 service points, spanning three different provinces. That means, because of the magnitude of the university, we have a huge challenge to help students, hence we need to be united as the 2022/23 SRC no matter the organisations we come from,” concluded Mkhanyisi.