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15 August 2023 | Story Anthony Mthembu | Photo Supplied
Ndumiso Mbuthuma
Ndumiso Mbuthuma is currently pursuing a PhD in Development Studies with a focus on floods and disasters.

Ndumiso Mbuthuma, a PhD student at the University of the Free State (UFS), was part of a team that won the Durban leg of the Students Reinventing Cities competition. “It was a beautiful experience and an opportunity to not only be a student again but to contribute to the greater good,” Mbuthuma said.

The Students Reinventing Cities competition is coordinated by C40, a global network of nearly 100 mayors of the world’s leading cities who are united in action to confront the climate crisis.

The Umgeni Interchange Team, which consisted of Mbuthuma, who is a student in the UFS Centre for Development Support, three students from the University of Cape Town, and one from an institution in France, participated in the Durban leg of the competition, which began in April 2023. 

After deliberations by C40 and city representatives, the team was informed on 13 July 2023 that they had been selected as the winners of the regional Durban competition.

The Students Reinventing Cities competition provides a platform for students and academics to work with cities around the world to formulate plans to combat climate change. This year the competition took place in 12 cities, including Barcelona, Durban, Rome, Melbourne, and Milan, among others. “The aim of the competition is to find ways in which we can begin to build cities that are climate change-friendly,” Mbuthuma said. 

The winning presentation

The Umgeni Interchange Team was allocated four hectares of land by the eThekwini municipality to come up with a development idea. The team members, who specialise in various fields, had to rely on each other to create a winning project. Their proposal entailed the development of a mixed-use, commercial, retail, and affordable-housing block. 

“We wanted to ensure affordable housing not just for the rich but even for those who aren’t,” Mbuthuma explained. His PhD, which focuses on floods and disasters, provided guidance on ensuring that the housing block was resistant to floods and other disasters. The proposal also suggested sustainable resource use, including the use of solar panels to generate energy in order to reduce the impact of loadshedding. 

Even though a victory in the competition is a great feeling, Mbuthuma is more appreciative of the opportunity to have been active in the battle for a more sustainable future. “To hear that policymakers are interested in hearing what I have to say is a big deal to me.”

Future endeavours

Although there has been a concerted effort globally to combat climate change, Mbuthuma believes that in countries such as South Africa there hasn’t been adequate discourse around how development will take place in a future defined by climate change and the resulting disasters expected. As such, he is committed to working towards normalising these conversations.

News Archive

Scaena Theatre: Boom! (Afrikaans) 7-9 May
2009-05-08

Produksie: Boom!
Regie: Adriaan Meyer
Teks: Nataniël
Kostuums: Errol Arendz
Stelontwerp: Strijdom van der Merwe
Datum: 7-9 Mei
Venue: Scaena-teater
Kaartjie-pryse: R65 & R95
Besprekings: Computicket

BLOEMFONTEIN: Nataniël-aanhangers wat nog nie Boom! gesien het nie, moet gou spring vir kaartjies. Die produksie is gedurende Mei-maand moontlik vir die laaste keer in Bloemfontein te sien.

Boom! is deur Nataniël geskryf. Al die 2008-vertonings van die stuk op Aardklop en die Volksbladfees is al uitverkoop. Ekstra vertonings moes gereël word. Die produksie was ook op ander feeste, soos die Woordfees op Stellenbosch te sien. Die eenvrou-tragikomedie is `n vertoonstuk vir die vaardige spel van met Hilletje Möller.

Hilletje Moller verwerf in 2005 haar B.A Drama en Teaterkuns aan die Universiteit van die Vrystaat, waar sy Universiteits erekleure vir teaterkuns verwerf. Hilletjie maak haar professionele debuut, tydens haar vertolking van die hoofrol in Skerp-sin (oorspronklike teks deur Pulitzer pryswenner Margaret Edson). Verder was sy al op die verhoog te sien in produksies soos “Die Huweliksaansoek" , “Nag van Legio", “Bloedbruilof", “Weer" en “Bewys" wat in 2008 Beste Debuut Produksie by die Volksblad Kunstefees aangewys is. Hilletje is in 2008 gekeur om haar studies aan die Lee Strasberg drama instituut in New York voort te sit.

Op 7-9 Mei om 19:30 is BOOM! In die Scaena-teater op die UV-kampus te sien. `n Middagvertoning om 14:30 is ook op Saterdag gereël. Kaartjies is beskikbaar teen R65. Teen slegs R95 per persoon is 20 sitplekke per vertoning beskikbaar op die leerbanke en sluit sjerrie in.

Besprekings is deur Computicket (Mimosa Mall en Checkers).
 

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