“There is happiness when the students are carrying their groceries they got from us which have been donated by the Gift of the Givers. They feel they now belong to the community,” said Bonginkosi Mtshali, Black H warden, main campus. Mtshali is one of the key staff members that help with the distribution of food parcels to needy students. Mtshali explained a case of a student that he said was struggling, even though the student does receive the NSFAS allowance. Mtshali said this student could be one of those that are using the allowances to take care of their families. Mtshali said there could be more students with the same problems that “we have not yet discovered. The number of food parcels will increase, he said.
On 15 May 2024, Mtshali and the interns in the Department of Marketing and Communications gave food parcels to more than 200 students. This is clear indication of how such help is needed. This is also an indication of the situation in the homes of these students.
The Gift of the Givers have been donating dry and canned food to the University students since 2016 when the University was battered by heavy floods that caused a lot of damage in the eThekwini Metropolitan area, where the University is located. The Gift of the Givers sometimes donate clothing to the students.
Mbali Mkhize, Senior Director of the department said Gift of the Givers has been a dear friend of the University during the worst of times. “In 2016 we had to respond to an overwhelming situation by asking Gift of the Givers to help our students. We were aware that the organisation was composed of kindhearted individuals. But what they do for our students is beyond belief. They are driven by a need to help. We cannot thank them enough,” said Mkhize.