CPUT alumni relived memories of their student days during a recent weekend reunion in Nekkies Holiday Resort World in Worcester.
Seventy alumni who graduated between 1980 and 1989 at the then Peninsula Technikon and stayed at the iconic Richard Sacco Residence attended the four-day reunion. The residence was named after former technikon student, Richard Sacco.
On the second day of the reunion the alumni visited their favourite residence and spent a few moments in the Science Building.
“Some of us have never been on this campus since we graduated 36 years ago. Some of us came from as far as Limpopo, Gauteng and Port Elizabeth. It was an emotional moment for us to go into the hostel where we used to stay,” said Gert Wagenaar, one of the reunion’s organisers and a friend to the late Richard.
Wagenaar added that they were honoured by the presence of their then House parents who took good care of them when they stayed at the hostel. “We also had a prayer in remembrance of 69 of our classmates who had passed on as well as the late Paps Le Grange and late Paps Appollis.”
Richard arrived at Peninsula Technikon in 1983 to pursue his studies to become an educator. He was a talented rugby player, who represented his school with distinction at provincial and national levels in 1981 and 1982. Due to his masterful attributes on the rugby field he was selected for the technikon’s first team, a rare feat for a first-year student.
He played alongside Colin Ontong, who achieved the same distinction in 1981. At the tender age of 20 and still a first-year student, Colin achieved Western Province College as well as Tygerberg colours, playing in his favourite fly half position.
Richard was an outstanding administrator and strategist of the Pentech Rugby Club, leading to him being voted vice-chairman in 1984 and chairman in 1985. He achieved these milestones while he was still showing off his talents on the rugby field.
