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CITY VISION Thursday, 9 April 2015
Cape College alumnus converge for unity ZILA MKONTO Former students of the Cape College of Education gathered in Surrey Estate on the weekend to launch a union aimed at committing teachers to a sense of nation building. Mthobeli Tengimfene, Cape College Union (CCU) founding president said the purpose of the organisation was to “ define the future by being involved in educational matters”. This after one of their own had fallen on hard-times. “CCU was started when we heard of the plight of a Cape College graduate, he had fallen on hard times and he was assisted by group members,” he said. Tengimfene said since then it became a “spontaneous movement that sought to revive the spirit of Cape College” He said the organisation will mobilise all the Cape College alumni around the country to “be actively involved” in educating the nation. Some of CCU’s plans include mentoring programmes , creating resource centres and developing a business wing for teachers. Former Cape College lecturer Zola Sikiti who is now based in Durban hailed the formation of the union as a great step towards “rebuilding our education.” “We want teachers to be better equipped. Coming from the old Cape College we are
proud to be channelling our energies into a venture like this,” he said. Another CCU member from Umtata, Nkululeko Somhlahlo said they will use this platform to intervene in educational crises, “Many of the Cape College alumni are no longer in the education sector, some are in business and we are calling upon them to join us and help,” Somhlahla said. He said former and current teachers must find a “niche to make a difference in communities” CCU will establish chapters nationally in all provinces but at the moment it operates in Gauteng, Western and the Eastern Cape. Kapa CCU chairperson Mbuyie Hlomela said this body will greatly “empower teachers”. “We thank Mr Tengimfene for his vision because now we know we have a voice. We are all united people who are concerned about the state of affairs in this country particularly the youth of today,” said Hlomela. KCCU organiser Nkululeko Mpiriri Ngada said he was happy to be part of the launch. “Many alumni have joined the private sector, but all are still inclined to uplift the majority of South Africans, particularly in the education field,” he said Ngada gave a brief history of the Cape College of Education.
The Cape College alumni met at Shalimar Hotel in Athlone over the weekend “The Cape College of Education was a teachers college that was meant train teachers whom the apartheid regime had hoped would be an extension of it policies. But Cape College became the hotbed of revolutionary thought and politics, what with dedicated trainee teachers, who were bent on uplifting the standard of education of the black child. Fezeka Dlukulu from Mosselbay said she
PHOTO: VOOXSON
hoped that CCU’s objectives will uplift the poor level of education in the country. “With the commitment shown here, we can’t go wrong ,” she said. There were emotional scenes when more than 100 names of the late former Cape College of Education students and six lecturers were beamed on the screen as CCU members sang a hym of remembrance at the conclusion of the two-day conference
Nomnyaka Mazwayi, Mzwandile Gontsi (left picture), Tiny Qabazi and Lulekwa Bunguzana Hina during an ice breaking exercise before the launch of Cape College Union on Saturday.
Themba Kojana, Nomnyaka Mazwayi, Nomntu Hina, Mthobeli Tengimfene, Nombuyiselo Hlomela and Nontobeko Tom at the launch of Cape College Union on Saturday. PHOTOS: VOOX SONANDZI
Unathi Tshaka, Nomntu Nkewu, Godfrey Masithela, Phumeza Gwabeni, Nikita Dlukulu also attended the Cape College Union launch.