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Unisa’s support contributes to successful 2024 Walk the Talk

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Unisa’s efficiency in contributing to the success of the 702 Walk The Talk event, a major highlight on the Gauteng social and leisure calendar each year, was lauded by Primedia Broadcasting and Freedom Park Heritage Site and Museum, who organised the event in collaboration with the City of Tshwane. The university provided essential (and much appreciated) park-and-ride facilities for participants, and made the necessary arrangements in a remarkably brief time.

A joint delegation of the organisers recently visited Unisa to personally thank the university and its entire Management Committee for the way in which it handled the request to provide parking and get the ball rolling immediately. Said Primedia’s Boniswa Pezisa, Chief Marketing Officer, and Lauretta Ngakane, Head of Communications: "Such a request usually takes a while to process because of the bureaucratic approach of many large organisations. This was not the case with Unisa, who cut through the red tape to confirm its support in record time. Unisa’s involvement was undoubtedly a key contributor to the outstanding success of this year’s event, and both stakeholders and participants provided very positive feedback on the parking arrangements."

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From left: Khethani Makonde (Acting Deputy Director: Protection Services, Unisa), Console Tleane (Head of Corporate Services, Freedom Park), Thetsh Tshivhase (Client Relations Manager, Freedom Park), Lauretta Ngakane (Head of Communications, Primedia), Matsiababa Motebele (Vice-Principal: Operations and Facilities, Unisa), Joe Bopape (Acting Deputy Director: Governance, Reporting and Support, Unisa), Boniswa Pezisa (Chief Marketing Officer, Primedia) and Ditiro Ramogayane (Infrastructure Support Manager, Freedom Park)

Console Tleane, Head of Corporate Services at Freedom Park, said that Unisa’s participation raised the profile of the event. "Unisa," he said, "is indeed the University of the Land, and it only makes sense for it to form part of this kind of event."

Added Thetsh Tshivhase, Client Relations Manager at Freedom Park: "We would like to thank Unisa –  due to your contribution the event was successful, which would not have been the case if adequate parking was not made available."

Unisa’s Acting Deputy Director: Governance, Reporting and Support, Joe Bopape, explained that the Vice-Principal: Operations and Facilities, Matsiababa Motebele, was approached by the organisers to support this prestigious social event by allowing the extensive parking space at the Muckleneuk Campus to be used as the park-and-ride facility for participants. "Realising the importance of supporting this annual community event, the Vice-Principal agreed and a Management Committee submission was prepared, submitted and approved in a very short space of time," said Bopape.

Commented Motebele: "It is essential to understand that Unisa does not operate in isolation. We hope this is the beginning of a great relationship, and would like to thank Primedia and Freedom Park for inviting us to form part of this exciting event."

The Operations and Facilities Portfolio ensured that 2 198 parking bays were available for park-and-ride purposes. Unisa further ensured that Protection Services personnel were available to assist with logistics on the day, and to support the organising committee with any information that might be required for presentation to the Tshwane Joint Operating Committee governing events. Lastly, the portfolio ensured that other support services personnel such as cleaning, waste management and recycling staff were available to prepare the campus after participants had departed for it to be ready for use by Unisa staff the following day.

The 2024 edition of the 702 Walk the Talk took place on Sunday 28 July 2024. The route started at the Freedom Park Heritage Site and Museum, passed a number of Tshwane landmarks, and finished at the southern lawns of the gracious and iconic Union Buildings. This year’s event was hosted in celebration of 30 Years of Democracy. 

* By Edgar Rathelele, Unisa Senior Media Officer, Department of Institutional Advancement

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Publish date: 2024/08/14

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