“VUT’s Faculty of Engineering and Technology marked Mandela Day by supporting Imfundo Yesizwe Secondary School with repairs and tutoring.”
21 July 2026 | Story by: Tayron Mhlongo | Picture: Sifiso Nomzaza
3 minutes read time.
Embracing the spirit of Nelson Mandela International Day and its call to dedicate 67 minutes to community service, the Faculty of Engineering and Technology at the Vaal University of Technology (VUT) led a heartfelt community outreach programme at Imfundo Yesizwe Secondary School in Zamdela, Sasolburg, on 20 July 2026. What began as a single-day act of service quickly revealed itself as a lasting commitment by the University to answer a call to help young learners rise above entrenched challenges.
Imfundo Yesizwe Secondary School officially opened in 2023 and, from the start, has faced steep obstacles. Delays in formal recognition and funding from the Department of Basic Education (DBE) added strain to an already fragile beginning. Though funding was finally secured after a year of operation, many urgent problems remain unresolved, including inadequate infrastructure, insufficient classroom furniture, unreliable power in most rooms, a lack of proper fencing, and an intermittent water supply. The school purchased two JoJo tanks, and the municipality supplies water sporadically, but these measures only partially alleviate the crisis.
More than 1,000 learners attend Imfundo Yesizwe. When water runs short, toilets back up and the feeding scheme, a vital source of daily nutrition for many pupils, is disrupted. The school’s principal, Ms Felicia Lenka, described the VUT visit as a rare and welcome intervention. “This is the first time we have had people who really see the challenges we are facing at our school and come with a genuine attitude to assist,” she said.
Leading the VUT delegation, Professor Khaled Abou-El-Hossein, Executive Dean of the Faculty of Engineering and Technology, offered words of encouragement and shared a long-term vision for education and innovation. He thanked the school and the surrounding community for welcoming the University team and emphasised VUT’s commitment to sharing knowledge that could spark learners’ interest in engineering disciplines. “The world needs more innovators and problem solvers,” he said. “You are not in school just to get knowledge but to develop skills.” He urged learners to see subjects like mathematics as training in thinking and resilience, tools that enable them to overcome academic and personal challenges. Quoting Nelson Mandela, Professor Abou-El-Hossein reminded attendees that “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.” He closed by encouraging learners to respect themselves, their parents, teachers and community, and to believe in their own potential.
VUT’s response was coordinated and practical. Multiple departments collaborated on the outreach, including the Department of Civil Engineering and Building (DCEB), the Department of Chemical, Metallurgical and Materials Engineering (CMME), the Department of Industrial Engineering and Operations Management (IEOM), Gardening Services, and the Electrical Education Centre under the French Southern African Schneider Electric Education Centre (F’SASEC). Activities ranged from maintenance and minor renovations to tutoring in Mathematics and Physical Sciences, hospitality and tourism demonstrations, gardening and landscaping, departmental exhibitions, and campus-led cleaning initiatives. Together, these efforts addressed immediate needs while exposing learners to career pathways and the real-world application of classroom knowledge.
The school welcomed the assistance but also appealed for sustained external support. With Imfundo Yesizwe preparing to present its first matric class in 2027, the stakes are high. Educators and community members alike want better facilities and consistent resources so their learners can receive quality teaching, feel proud of their school, and be inspired to pursue greater heights.
VUT’s Mandela Day outreach at Imfundo Yesizwe was more than a short-term intervention; it was a demonstration of the University’s enduring commitment to community engagement and social impact. As VUT celebrates its 60th anniversary, initiatives such as these reaffirm that academic excellence is inseparable from service to society, and that lasting change is achieved through education, compassion and shared responsibility.