Goldfields Residence on the Stellenbosch University (SU) campus has decided to move the official opening function in celebration of the completion of its new dining hall to February 2020.
The plan to build the new dining hall has been in process for five years, but construction only commenced in February 2018. Construction of the dining hall was completed in January 2019 and it has been in use by the residence since then.
“We’ve had an opening with the senior management staff in the first week of February, but because of budget and time constraints we have decided to move the big, official opening to February next year,” says Austin Pepar, Primarius of Goldfields Residence.
The residence plans to host a formal function for the official opening in February and will be inviting the new rectorate of SU, the newly-appointed Senior Director of Student Affairs, Dr Choice Makhetha, and the Khoisan praise singer who ushered in President Cyril Ramaphosa for his State of the Nation Address, as he is an alumnus of Goldfields Residence, says Pepar.
Goldfields Residence is the oldest mixed-gender residence on Stellenbosch campus and was originally built in 1987 as a residence for students of colour at SU.
It has been decided that the new dining hall will be named Sada Oms, a Khoisan phrase meaning “Our house”.
“We wanted to bring in an African atmosphere into the dining hall with the native heritage and that sort of thing,” explains Pepar.
Construction on the new dining hall at Goldfields Residence was completed in January 2019. PHOTO: Jana Greyling
Current residents and alumni of Goldfields could submit their suggestions for the name of the new dining hall and it was then decided on by the Centre for Student Communities and the executive committee of the residence which consists of the residence head, the Primarius, the vice-Primarius, the residence secretary and the financial manager.
The residence will be making the hall available to rent for formal functions, parties and workshops, as it has the capacity to accommodate 350 people. House meetings and other residence meetings are already being held in the hall and students make use of it for dining, studying or for the internet connectivity.
The hall includes a coffee making area, WiFi and a LAN Room where students have internet access. According to Pepar, this has also contributed to the students’ safety, as it is no longer necessary for students to leave the residence to study on campus in the evenings.
According to Pepar, the residents are elated to have the new dining hall because it has contributed to the feeling of community and family in Goldfields.
“The culture in res has changed. People are more open to share and have conversations. For example, before we had the dining hall, you’d have students who just come and get their food and go eat in their rooms. But now we play music on Fridays and it’s just fun. Students want to actually be there.”
Inside: The new dining hall can accommodate up to 350 people at a time. PHOTO: Jana Greyling
Renee Hector-Kannemeyer, the residence head of Goldfields Residence, says that it was a priority to make the dining hall halaal.
“I think that if you create a dining space in 2019 it has to be halaal. Our vision is to look at inclusivity so that everybody has a sense of belonging, so if you have a state-of-the-art dining hall and kitchen and it’s not halaal then we are moving backwards.”
Second-year resident of Goldfields, Mpho Maboee says that she especially likes that the hall is very spacious and bright.
Maboee adds that she finds the name for the new dining hall very fitting.
“I feel that as a residence we haven’t really had time to find out what Goldfields is about and what we embody. And so, the name that has been chosen embraces what Goldfields is all about. It’s nice that we can celebrate the people that came before us and what they have done for us and just show the rest of campus who we are.”
“Part of our vision for 2018/2019 is to be a trendsetting residence. So, we have started the trend of honouring indigenous cultures and that’s why the name is so important. It speaks to transformation and honouring first nations,” adds Hector-Kannemeyer.