CUT, Princess Gabo Foundation partnership to create Smart Village

Princess Gaboilelwe Moroka-Motshabi, Founder of the Princess Gabo Foundation and Prof Samsom Mashele, CUT Dean of Health & Environmental Sciences at the signing of the MoU

Princess Gabo Moroka is the traditional leader of this village, which is approximately 20kms away from Thaba Nchu CBD. During a previous visit to CUT, Princess Gabo was highly impressed with the university’s innovative projects and CUT being involved in a Smart Campus initiative. Based on CUT having the skills and technology, Princess Gabo invited a delegation to Nogas Post, with the intention of creating a Smart Village.

“Nogas Post is part of the 42 villages that we have in Thaba Nchu. A rural community that is very disadvantaged and forgotten, if one could say that; but this is also an opportunity for us to bring the change that we want to see. Letting the people take ownership in bringing sustainable development to their areas. So, when we speak about this concept it's really about all of us coming together and holding hands and trying to come up with a model that can be easily duplicated to other disadvantaged, rural communities,” said Princess Gabo Moroka-Motshabi.

Challenges faced by the community include inter alia, no education facilities, health care systems, facilities for early childhood development, no shops, security issues and lack of infrastructure. Other issues include crime, stock theft, and lack of water supply.

Dr Patrick Manditereza, EWSeta Chair at CUT Faculty of Engineering, Built Environment, and Information Technology added that Nogas Post was selected as a community project with regards to the use of renewable energy via water, wind, sunshine, or cow dung. As it is, renewable energy is a multidisciplinary field which means that participation is open to everyone from CUT.

“As a university one of the greatest pillars, what universities are for is about engaging our communities to try and deal with some of the challenges that our communities are facing. We should be seen as having a positive impact in our society, and that’s what CUT is here to actually do,” said Professor Samson Mashele, CUT Dean of Health & Environmental Sciences.

“As a university one of the greatest pillars, what universities are for is about engaging our communities to try and deal with some of the challenges that our communities are facing. We should be seen as having a positive impact in our society, and that’s what CUT is here to actually do,” said Prof Mashele.