The 2024 MUT Wellness Day lived up to expectations – a bang of an event that was full of energy and enthusiasm. The event, which was a collaboration between the Department of Human Resources and Development (HR&D) and the Department of Sport, brought in several service providers that offered staff updates on various aspects of their lives, including health-related services. Staff also challenged themselves by taking part in aerobics and playing football and netball.
Addressing his colleagues, the Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Resources and Planning, Dr Johan van Koller, said it was a “very special day for MUT. We are here to pay attention to a very critical aspect of our work and study life, that is our physical, emotional and mental health of all staff and students. This is a day in which all employees and students are encouraged to focus on themselves. It is about having the freedom to focus on activities that promote a healthier work and study life balance to improve our emotional, mental and physical wellbeing”.
Dr van Koller said MUT aimed to provide its staff and students with a day of fun, access to information, and engagement with fellow colleagues and students, away from their normal work and study environment. Both nationally and internationally, there are various days which are put aside to focus on the wellbeing of employees, he said. For example, there is a World Health Day, which is normally celebrated on 7 April.
Sport Deputy Director, Siyabulela Mkwalo, said the collaboration between his department and Human Resource and Development has given a meaningful impact on the dedicated day for the staff wellness. Mkwalo said the fusion of sport and recreation activities into this day had directly promoted a healthy and active lifestyle among the staff members. “This initiative has significantly transformed the event into a social cohesion event where staff members from different classifications were able to easily interact without any barriers. It was amazing to see many staff members showing interest and trying fitness challenges that were generating fun and enjoyment for themselves,” said Mkwalo. Aerobics was one of the activities that attracted mass participation and was enjoyed to the fullest by the passive and active participants.