The vision shared by Professor Rushiella Songca, MUT’s interim Vice-Chancellor as part of her engagement with staff and students has sparked a note at MUT as it breathing a new life into its environment and student community with the official return of the Green Campus Initiative (GCI). GCI is a student-led, non-political, and non-profit organisation, designed to transform the University and its surrounding neighbourhoods into eco-friendly, sustainable spaces. The project also resonates with the MUT Aesthetic Initiative led by Professor Ramogale, aimed at beautifying our campus and surrounding communities.
Nombuso Mlondo, representing GCI, and a warden, recently shared how the programme, originally established by Student Housing, is making a comeback.
Supported by Student Housing officials, the initiative aims to shift the mindsets of MUT students and local communities, encouraging them to become more environmentally conscious. “Our aim as a structure of MUT is in promoting, improving, and developing a green and sustainable environment for all,” Mlondo stated.
GCI is much more than just planting seeds; it focuses on active community involvement through structured programmes. These include a residence recycling programme, clean-up awareness campaigns, energy-saving initiatives, and clean-living practices. Currently, the initiative boasts about 25 active members who regularly participate in hands-on gardening and maintenance activities.
According to Mlondo, through food gardening, water management, and maintaining campus spaces, students are learning vital, real-world skills. “As much as the gardening initiative is about planting vegetables and flowers, it teaches students about environmental responsibility, recycling, food security, and maintaining space,” Mlondo explained. Crucially, the programme serves a social purpose because some of the vegetables grown support MUT students in need, fostering a spirit of self-sustainability and mutual aid.
The initiative is entirely free and open to all registered MUT students across all faculties. While the organisers encourage broad participation, they maintain strict boundaries regarding the organisation’s non-political nature. While students are welcome to be politically active in their personal lives, GCI programmes and gatherings are strictly neutral zones. No political agendas or regalia are permitted during any GCI events.
Looking forward, GCI has ambitious plans to expand its roots. “The organisation aims to establish gardens both on the main campus and within external student residences that have available green space,” said Mlondo. Students can also look out for a vibrant lineup of upcoming campus activities designed to promote a sustainable lifestyle, including indigenous tree planting, which is about creating natural carbon sinks on campus to fight climate change. GCI members will conduct regular drives to keep the University grounds “pristine”; “Green Thursday” quizzes. These will be weekly trivia to test and expand eco-knowledge; Eco-Educational Programmes, which are outreach workshops tailored for both students and the broader community. And Creative Eco-Events. These will be fun, engaging gatherings that will include eco-friendly fashion runways and an official annual launch.
With its blend of environmental advocacy, skill-building, and student support, the Green Campus Initiative is setting a new standard for student life at MUT, one green space at a time.