Unisa alumni encouraged to behave the pro-Unisa way

A Unisa graduate should not behave in manner that goes against Unisa values, was the advice given to the audience at an alumni chapter convenor election meeting recently held in Polokwane.

The advice came from the guest speaker, Reverend Mautji Pataki, well-known in Limpopo Province for his expertise on matters involving peace initiatives and ethical conduct. Reverend Pataki is the chairperson and executive director of the Foundation for Leadership Excellence.

Left, Prof Moloko Sepota (Regional Director: North Eastern) congratulates Reverend Mautji Pataki (right) of the Foundation for Leadership Excellence after the latter delivered the main address an alumni breakfast session in Polokwane.

The Polokwane Alumni Chapter breakfast session, which took place at the Fusion Boutique Hotel, was arranged by the Department of Institutional Advancement (DIA) in collaboration with the North Eastern Region.  Other than electing a new chapter convenor, the event was also aimed at enabling alumni to network with one another and to know officials of both the DIA and the North Eastern Region with whom they could interact regarding various support services offered by the university.

Reverend Pataki reminded the audience that Unisa does not train people and expect those people to go back to society to be troublemakers. ‘You should not be found among troublemakers. When you differ with what is happening around you or you want to raise a query, you should do it with diligence and focus to show that you are a Unisa graduate. You are an ambassador of the institution,’ he said.

Left, Amanda Tlale (Manager: Alumni Relations) formally introduces Malesela Maubane (right) to the audience after the latter was elected as the convenor of the Polokwane Alumni Chapter.

Reverend Pataki reiterated that it is normal for a society to associate what an individual does or say with an institution or organisation that he/she is linked with or comes from. ‘A Unisa alumnus or alumna should see himself/herself as a Unisan. He/She should sleep, speak and eat Unisa. If you do things that are anti-Unisa, you are damaging the brand of Unisa. Don’t behave the anti-Unisa way. Rather conduct yourself the pro-Unisa way,’ he added.

The alumni present at the function elected Malesela Maubane of the Polokwane Municipality as the convenor of the Polokwane Alumni Chapter.

Khomotso Khoza (middle), Manager at the Nelspruit Service Centre congratulates Njabulo Mhlongo (right) and TLB Manzini (left). The two contested the convenor position. Following discussions, they reached consensus that Mhlongo would be the convenor of the Mbombela Alumni Chapter.

The DIA and the North Eastern Region hosted a similar activity in Mbombela. The function in Mbombela took place at the Mercure Hotel. The main speaker at the Mbombela function was Johan Potgieter. He is non-executive director and the chairperson of the Mpumalanga Chapter of the Institute of Business Advisors Southern Africa (IBASA). He took the audience through the services offered by his organisation and how other parties could get involved in its operations.

The alumni present elected Njabulo Mhlongo of the St Peters School as the convenor of the Mbombela Alumni Chapter. Both Maubane and Mhlongo assured the respective audiences that they would rejuvenate their respective chapters.

* By Malose Gilbert Mokwatedi, Communication and Marketing Manager, Unisa North Eastern Region