Page 19 - Thetha Issue 7

#MandelaUniversityGiving

From

London

to Paris

with love

Hub and spokes mean
more than bicycles for keen
triathlete Vuyo Bongela, the
Director of Madibaz Sports at
Nelson Mandela University.
Gillian McAinsh reports.

n July 2023, Bongela cycled from requiring assistance, either for
London to Paris to raise funds and overseas sporting participation or
help launch a new Sports, Arts, community sport clubs equipment
Iand Culture Hub within the Hubs of requests.
Convergence (HoC) in the University’s “Through this new hub we will
Engagement Office. identify which community sports club
The existing Hubs of and individual we will support to help
Convergence cover areas such them reach their dreams.”
as food sovereignty, gender- Being involved in the new hub has
based violence and community- been a personal passion for Bongela,
based economic activities, and the who spends much of her free time
new hub will take the University’s training or competing in sports such
engagement further. as swimming, cycling and running.
This new hub will radiate out “I recognise the value of sport in
through the “spokes” of sports, arts my own life – I never thought I would
and culture to help grow and develop be able to do a full IRONMAN, or run
communities in these areas. the Comrades Marathon, but I have.
“We’re a university that operates “Now I am doing the bit that I can
in service of society, foregrounds to contribute to someone’s dream.”
ubuntu and looks after each other,” The idea started over the first
says Bongela. COVID-19 lockdown when a friend
“In my position at Madibaz started a group, called Bafazi, of
Sports I am inundated by requests black women cyclists who rode
from athletes, coaches and parents together virtually, using the Zwift app

2023 | mandela.ac.za | 17