Tag Archives: donation

CPUT partners with R27 million Planetarium upgrade

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CPUT is helping to launch ageing Planetarium equipment from analogue straight into the digital era.

The Iziko Planetarium has entertained around 2 million visitors (half of which are schoolchildren) for 30 years but obsolete equipment has forced the museum staff to urgently consider a digital upgrade.

The upgrade (due to last around six months) will cost around R27 million and CPUT, along with academic partners UCT and UWC have made donations to ensure the longevity of the Planetarium for future generations.

The new state of the art full dome immersive theatre will play an important role in research endeavours in the region and will create a 4D learning experience for students in a number of disciplines including marine and ocean sciences, engineering and the informatics and design streams.

Deputy Vice-Chancellor of Research, Technology Innovation and Partnerships Dr Chris Nhlapo says the matter of considering a contribution to the digital upgrade to the Planetarium was discussed at the highest institutional level at CPUT.

“Ultimately CPUT, the Western Cape and indeed South Africa gains so much more as a result of this collaboration. Singularly none of the institutions would have been able to afford a R27 million piece of equipment however together we can all benefit from this upgrade. For CPUT this means students in our Informatics and Design and Engineering departments will have access to cutting edge  infrastructure and as a region we are assisting to drive the research agenda of the province and ensure the Western Cape remains the intellectual hub of the country,” he says.

 

Christmas came early for Emasithandane Children’s Home

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Christmas came early this year for Emasithandane Children’s Home in Nyanga.

CPUT students and staff members donated groceries and blankets to the home that houses 39 vulnerable children.

The community outreach was an annual initiative of the Matthew Goniwe Residence (MGR) 2 House Committee and was powered by the Marketing and Communications Department (MCD).

MGR2 House Parent, Mxolisi Ngcwabe, says the gesture was in line with the university’s policies which encourage students to plough back in their communities.

Ngcwabe says the students raised funds among themselves to buy non-perishable foods and fruit, while MCD donated the blankets.

Zelphina Maposela, who started the home in 2002 in her own house, thanked CPUT for the donations.

Maposela says they rely on funding to cover all their running cost.

“We need a dedicated source of funding not only to keep us going but also to extend the house as it is too small to accommodate all the children,” she says.

Image courtesy of winnond at FreeDigitalPhotos.net