Enactus UKZN – they are the CHAMPIONS!

BY: .

UKZN is the winner of the 2015 National Enactus Competition and its team will represent South Africa at the World Cup in Johannesburg later this year.

Led by the General President, Mr Sizwesihle Gumede, Enactus UKZN competed against 19 other university teams from around the country.

Gumede said it was the team’s commitment to making a difference in communities that set it apart from the rest. ‘UKZN is known as the team that never sleeps, we take our time in addressing the needs of the communities and we put them first. To us winning the competition is secondary. It’s more about making a difference and providing innovative, entrepreneurial solutions to different social problems. So winning nationals was a bonus!’

Gumede said the 2014/15 executive had a variety of primary objectives. ‘We want to increase membership, toughen our stakeholder relations and focus on delivering in projects. But to be honest, reclaiming our glory was something we all wanted.

‘We have achieved our objectives and the team is excited and looking forward to winning the World Cup.’

Enactus is a global student organisation which brings together a community of students, academics and business leaders who are committed to harnessing entrepreneurial action to transform lives and shape a better, more sustainable world.  

Team UKZN presented the following projects at the competition:

- Go-Recypro Project: A project using an incentive-based recycling programme, it is sponsored by CHEP SA and situated in Underberg.

- Karabo Beracah Agric Project: An agro-processing project which farms moringa, yellow maize, melon and various veggies, and from the produce makes farm commercial products, including Moringa Meal, melon jam and vegetable juices.

Enactus UKZN has started prepping for the World Cup from 14 to 16 October.

Gumede acknowledged all those who had contributed to the team’s success: ‘The support from the University has been amazing. Student Services and Dr Sibusiso Chalufu’s support have been wonderful. We also thank the University Teaching and Learning Office, Student Governance and Leadership Development, Corporate Relations, UKZN Foundation and our external main sponsor, CHEP.’

Executive Director of Student Services, Dr Sibusiso Chalufu congratulated the team for ‘the incredible work done in uplifting and changing the lives of our people and for flying the UKZN flag high’.

‘It is young people such as those in UKZN Enactus who inspire confidence in the future of our country, our continent and the world in general,’ said Chalufu.

  Raylene Captain-Hasthibeer