Nelson Mandela University Business School highlights the Environment Pillar for Nelson Mandela Day 2017
As the first building in the education or public sector to achieve a “4 Green Star design rating” from the Green Building Council of South Africa (GBCSA), Nelson Mandela University Business School believes in sustainability and looking after the environment in which it operates in.
As such, Nelson Mandela University Business School chose to highlight the ‘Environment’ pillar in commemoration of Nelson Mandela Day 2017. To uphold the NMMU value of Respect for the Natural Environment, the team planted trees on its 2nd Avenue premises, to benefit the community and natural environment for years to come.
This initiative welcomed three representatives to plant trees that would represent members of the Business community, Students and Staff – together with a key quote and message on behalf of each group to be inscribed on plaques.
Acting CEO of the Nelson Mandela Bay Business Chamber, Prince Matonsi planted the first tree on behalf of the business community, and acknowledged the importance of businesses taking care and being aware of the environment in which they operate.
“We acknowledge that this is not an easy task to accomplish by consistently applying environmentally friendly practices in business, however, all it takes is our member companies’ commitment and employees’ awareness of environmentally friendly ethos and practices to conserve valuable natural resources.”
“What we sow today, future generations will reap, and I don’t think that it would be fair to our future leaders and citizens to suffer because of the carelessness of the previous generations,” said Matonsi.
Representing the student community was MBA final-year student, Cordene Venter. Venter highlighted that “Equitable distribution and sustainable development of our planet's resources is the true responsibility of all future leaders and the citizens they lead."
The last tree was planted by Director of the Business School, Dr Randall Jonas. Jonas reflected on the abiding vision that Nelson Mandela had for our country when addressing staff.
“As we plant trees and grow the seeds, I would encourage everyone to look at human need and not go the way of greed. As we celebrate the legacy of Nelson Mandela, I want to take this opportunity to assign symbolic names to these trees of Vision, Courage and Tolerance respectively – as we are reminded of Nelson Mandela’s abiding vision which gave him the courage and tolerance to endure many things in order to realize this vision.”
