Do you know where life is?

UP residences

Do you know where life is?

By Princess Mhlanga

Tuks Bophelong is a vibrant and multicultural residence, for male and female students on the Prinshof Campus. This lavish self-catering residence, situated on Olympus Hill, opposite the Prinshof Medical Campus and Steve Biko Academic Hospital, opened its doors in January 2015 and is known for its cultural history and excellent academic and sports achievements.

‘Legae-gae’ is the perfect home away from home for 296 residents in single and private rooms across five blocks. WiFi and LAN cables have been installed in all the rooms for convenience. The residence brings students in the health sciences who come from different backgrounds into one big family. The grab-and-go cafeteria, situated near our great Unity Hall, has a flat-screen television with DStv. With its study centre, computer labs and laundry facilities, the residence provides a comfortable home environment.

We are proud of our colours, turquoise, charcoal, black, grey and white, making us stand out. Our emblem is the famous Pegasus image with its wings spread out, surrounded by a charcoal and grey laurel wreath.

The students in the Tuks Bophelong residence adhere to principles such as respect, unity in diversity, inclusivity, empathy and compassion. The residence has a House Committee consisting of 10 residents who were voted into office by the residents. They serve as the communication channel between students, TuksRes and the University Management. We have house parents who live in the residence with us. They supervise activities and provide academic and psychosocial support. Our house parents are PhD graduates employed in management and have extensive experience in management and caregiving.

The residence is actively involved in many outreach programmes, such as RAG (Reach Out and Give), and internal projects aimed at providing pads, food and clothing for distribution among residents in need. A new project for 2021 was the School Shoebox project, during which residents were asked to donate school shoes to school-going children in need.

Residents participate in various sports codes, including soccer, netball, yoga, tennis, hockey and athletics, and we are well represented on the sports fields. In previous years our male and female soccer teams have won numerous league titles. Our Sports House Committee also hosts online games, such as chess and soccer matches.

The residence has a Wellbeing Committee, generally referred to as ‘#Woke - about Well-Being’ of students, which hosts discussion sessions in the residence on various sensitive topics that affect most students. It is part of Wokudonsa, a TuksRes initiative that promotes students’ wellbeing in residences.

Tuks Bophelong looks forward to meeting new talent, which will add to this beautiful home’s dynamic values. We look forward to assisting and inspiring you to develop to your full potential and achieve success during your time with us.

Our motto is ‘Ubi est vita’, ’Where there is life’, and Tuks Bophelong is where you need to be to have a life.

Tuks Bophelong House Committee 2020

Contact information

Tel +27 (0)12 420 3592 | Instagram @tuks_bophelong Website www.up.ac.za/student-accommodation/article/2865385/tuks-bophelong-residence