GRADUATES URGED TO BECOME UNISA AMBASSADORS

More than 200 graduants from the University of South Africa converged at the Durban's beachfront hotel on Saturday morning 'to map a way forward regarding the marketing drive' to their old academic institution.

The social get together (reunion) attended by the Unisa Registrar Professor Louis Mulamo, Assistant Director of Unisa Foundation Patricia Lawrence and the President of the Convocation, Professor Themba Sono, called upon the institution's graduates to internalise the motto and the etho's of their alma mater.

Prof Mulamo cajoled graduates to always talk positively about Unisa and also called upon them to market, promote and become the custodians of the university's legacy since it was established way back in 1878, when Unisa was still known as the University of Cape of Good Hope.

"Since my first election as President of UNISA Convocation in 2004 I have always called upon the past gradiuates to play an activist role in shaping the running of their almar mater.
You must internalise the university motto and embody its principles as you live up the values it represents.
Treat UNISA as ANC membership treat their party. You can never mistaken the ANC members with their own party because they live, breath and conduct themselves as ANC disciplined cadres" observed Sono.

He said UNISA students carry a burden of social responsibility and in whatever they do to the outside world reflects to their alma mater.
Sono took strong exception to the recent negative news coming from the Eastern Cape whereby it was reported that some 45% of young males had allegedly raped helpless and vulnerable women in that region as part of 'a cleansing practise by men who'd recently graduated from the 'initiation school' ' to become adults in line with the Xhosa-speaking people tradition.

"Is the barbaric practise by the young men in the Eastern Cape what you fellow South Africans who are Unisa graduates want to be identified?
Will any among you here regard that as part of making a sustainable positive contribution to mankind, no, no,no, that so-called culture is foreign and unkown from people that want to be associated with Unisa.
You, Unisa graduates, carry a moral duty and a responsibility to safeguard, protect our communities and protect the legacy of the very communities that have made us what we are today" warned Sono
Sono, added, UNISA's motto is 'Pro Gentibus Sapienta' which literally means 'Learning in the Service of Humanity' must be taken to another level by anyone associated with Unisa.

The KwaZulu-Natal Unisa Alumni Breakfast was concluded by the election of the regional Alumni Association, whose primary function will be to organise students to participate in Unisa' activities.
Accoerding to Unis Foundation's Lawrence,the Alumni Association regional chapter will also act as ambassadors that were expected to champion Unisa's legacy by supporting the 'agenda of transformation'presently ongoing work within the university.