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Click on each tab below to read more about the activities
that were part of the Purple Race.

The enthusiastic teams start the NWU’s Purple Race
in Vanderbijlpark on 15 September.

The team representing the Responsibility value is the first to complete their puzzle during their challenge in front of the Law Faculty building in Potchefstroom. They are Prof Babs Surujlal, executive dean from the Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences, Theresa Sekopane, chief director for finance and Prof Linda du Plessis, deputy vice-chancellor for planning and Vanderbijlpark Campus operations.

The straw challenge at the Faculty of Engineering in Potchefstroom ended with victory for the team representing the Accountability value. They are Prof Helen Drummond, deputy dean of the Faculty of Natural Sciences, Prof Dumi Moyo, executive dean of the Faculty of Humanities and Prof Elize Küng, deputy dean of the Faculty of Education. They had to build a strong structure that can stand on its own.

Fun activities
on the campuses

MAHIKENG CAMPUS

Prochickenate (information sessions on the chickens at the farm), milking cows, harvesting, finding the Lost City residence, doing a word search of the constellations (science building), learning about serotonin and building its chemical structure, passing on the message and doing the trust walk at the Soccer Institute.

marks a new
NWU tradition

Bystanders would have been forgiven for thinking they were on the set of a reality television show complete with cameras and live action when 24 NWU staff members participated in the university’s first Purple Race.

– Willie du Plessis –

FIRST PURPLE

RACE

Representing the NWU’s seven values

The NWU Way campaign kicked off earlier this year with a cook-off in which seven teams participated, with each team representing one of the seven core values of the university. The Purple Race teams also represented those values.

The values are: Caring and Inclusive; Embracing Diversity; Transparency; Excellence in all Endeavours; Ethics in all Endeavours; Responsibility and Accountability, and Academic Freedom and Freedom of Research.

The teams, comprising staff from the University Management Committee (UMC), along with executive and deputy deans and chief directors, participated in various activities across all three campuses.

The activities ranged from building puzzles to milking the cows at the Molelwane farm and making an unplanned detour to do some star gazing in Mahikeng. (See text box: “Fun activities on the campuses” for more information.)

People and Culture presented the Purple Race on 15 and 16 September as part of the Leadership Development Programme and the NWU Way Values campaign.

Watch this video to see the Purple Race teams competing and representing the NWU’s seven core values.

“We chose the different activities for the Purple Race in such a way that it would showcase the uniqueness of each campus,” says Helen Lekalakala, director for talent management and organisational development.

The idea was to incorporate the academic side of things as well as the facilities such as student residences (on all three campuses) and the Soccer Institute at Mahikeng. “We wanted the teams to take a moment and experience the beauty of the NWU on each campus,” she explains.

One activity, one objective

Ntsako Nkuna, specialist in learning and development and one of the key organisers of the race, says each activity was tied to a specific objective.

“It was not only about fun, but also to exercise important attributes such as teamwork and cohesion. The leadership team know each other, but do not always get the opportunity to socialise and engage, and we wanted to facilitate more interaction.

“What better way to get to know your fellow management team members than running around after clues, having to work together to achieve outcomes and having constant communication to reach the end goal?”

Energy, enthusiasm and branded buses

“Watching the management team members take part with energy and enthusiasm, dressed in unity and being driven up and down in buses branded with the NWU Way Values, was a goose-bump moment for everyone involved,” says Zelda van den Berg, senior specialist for organisational development.

Helen says although this was the first Purple Race, it will be an annual event from now on.

“It is part of the NWU’s culture project to be united in everything that we do. Although it will always be tied to the values, the race will be unique and exciting every year, aiming to increase unity and inclusion through diversity on an ongoing basis.”

For more information and updates on exciting events, visit the NWU Way website.

The enthusiastic Purple Race team representing the value of Excellence in all Endeavours, was victorious.

They won most of the race activities that started at the Vanderbijlpark Campus, progressed to the Potchefstroom Campus and concluded at the Mahikeng Campus.

This team comprised Ntsikie Kote, chief director for strategy in the office of the vice-chancellor, Clement Manoko, executive director for corporate relations and marketing, Prof Mala Singh, executive director for people and culture, and Prof Henri Bezuidenhout of the Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences.

WE ARE THE WINNERS

Experience each campus’s beauty

INDEX

The enthusiastic teams start the NWU’s Purple Race in Vanderbijlpark on 15 September.

Fun activities
on the
campuses