With the world facing an unprecedented challenge in the form of the global Covid-19 pandemic, we have seen stakeholders coming together to combat this pandemic.
The North-West University (NWU) played its part by supporting students with laptops while also offering support to staff and communities surrounding its campuses.
To further assist our students with their studies, the Bakubung Platinum mine made a donation of twenty laptops to the university on 5February 2021.
With excitement and after accepting the laptop donation on behalf of the NWU, Prof Daryl Balia, Deputy Vice-chancellor for Information Technology and Potchefstroom Campus Operations explained that along with the support of Council, the university is fast tracking the implementation of the NWU Digital Business Strategy. From this year, all first year students are expected to have access to a device, ordinarily a laptop. And therefore the donation came at the right time.
“The Covid-19 pandemic caught us by surprise in 2020 and the situation reminded us about the important role of technology in education. The NWU successfully completed the 2020 academic year because we were able to deploy relevant technology to continue with remote teaching and assessment during the different lock-down levels that were introduced by government, stressed Prof Balia.”
Mr Tertius Tlogelang Chiloane, Manager for Stakeholder Relations at the Bakubung Platinum Mine, delivered the laptops and explained that the company prides itself in supporting development programmes across the board which are aimed at uplifting the lives of historically disadvantaged South Africans. Mr Chiloane also thanked the university for affording the mine an opportunity to participate on the laptop and connectivity project. Bakubung Platinum Mine (BPM) is a core project of Wesizwe Platinum Limited (Wesizwe), which is a public company incorporated in the Republic of South Africa with its shares listed on the JSE Securities Exchange (JSE).
“We are thankful to Bakubung Platinum Mine for their support and we look forward to a long term relationship that will enable the NWU to produce graduates who are equipped to positively contribute to the economy of our country, added Warren Makgowe, Director of Stakeholder Relations at the North West University.
“We understand that some students might not have the means to procure devices this academic year. I would like to thank Bakubung Platinum Mine for the generous donation of twenty laptops. This will ensure that our students are not left behind and able to commence with their studies forthwith. Such generosity will not only assist our students with their studies, but in the long run, it will also uplift their families,” concluded Prof Balia.
Prof Balia accepted the donation on behalf of the NWU from Tertius Chiloane
Seen here is Mr Warren Makgowe; Director of stakeholder Relations at the NWU, Mr Tertius Chiloane Manager for Stakeholder Relations at the Bakubung Platinum Mine, Prof Daryl Balia; Deputy Vice-chancellor for Information Technology and Potchefstroom Campus Operations and Ms Maria Mopelong one of the Fundraisers from the CRM fundraising and development team.
