UKZN hosts its 16th Golf Day

BY: .

UKZN alumni, staff, students, corporate sponsors and friends of the University took to the Zimbali Golf Course on 5 September for a round of golf and to award scholarships to eight deserving students.

Over R250 000 was raised this year for students from the “missing middle”.

In his welcome address, the Executive Director of Corporate Relations Mr Ashton Bodrick thanked all the sponsors, including Standard Bank who has been the lead sponsor for 10 consecutive years.

Bodrick spoke to the golfers about the University’s key social role in KwaZulu-Natal. He emphasised the importance of not being “reactive” with gender-based violence (GBV) and said we need to proactively engage with students and ask ourselves: ‘What kind of leaders are they going to be tomorrow?’

Head of Corporate Sales at Standard Bank, Mr Themba Rikhotso, said celebrating 10 years of sponsoring the Golf Day was especially heart-warming for him as an alumnus of the University.

Rikhotso echoed Bodrick’s sentiments about GBV and paid tribute to University of Cape Town student Ms Uyinene Mrwetyana who was tragically raped and murdered a few days before the event. He said he ‘feels the pain’ of students who need to overcome not only poverty, but ‘selfish and barbaric’ acts like GBV, among other overwhelming challenges.

Speaking on behalf of the students, bursary recipient Mr Thabiso Jele said he was honoured and that the money would make a difference in his life. Jele also won a laptop sponsored by ICS in a lucky draw.

Executive Director: Institutional Planning and Governance (Acting) Mr Kishore Gobardan, who was the overall winner in the Staff/Convocation category, thanked all the sponsors and the companies who supplied lucky draw prizes. He acknowledged everyone who had made the day a success, including Corporate Relations’ Ms Shakila Thakurpersad, the tournament organiser.

Sponsors included Standard Bank, PricewaterhouseCoopers, Investec Bank, First National Bank, DALRO, the Fairmont Zimbali, Travel with Flair, Serendipity Tours, LDM, The Dynamic Group, Nashua Communication, Shepstone & Wylie and The ProGroup.

Words: Raylene Captain-Hasthibeer

Photographs: Itumeleng Masa