The Disability Unit at the University of Pretoria awarded the Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences (EMS) second place in their Casual Day Sticker Competition.

EMS was awarded the prize for the faculty with the second outstanding contribution of stickers for Casual Day, which was celebrated on Friday, 2 September 2022. The award, a certificate of recognition and a trophy was presented to the Faculty on 25 October 2022.

Casual Day is an annual awareness and fundraising campaign for persons with disabilities organised by the National Council of and for Persons with Disabilities (NCPD).

Prof Karin Barac, EMS Deputy Dean: Research and Postgraduate Studies, Dr Matete Madiba,  Director of Student Affairs and Doret van der Westhuizen, EMS Faculty Manager.

Since its inception in 1995, the campaign has raised over R4 million through sales of Casual Day stickers and merchandise consisting of t-shirts, caps or bucket hats in aid of disability organisations throughout South Africa. To date, over 600 organisations have benefitted from this campaign, which raises awareness and lobbies for persons with disabilities.

The theme for Casual Day 2022, #ICelebrateSA, was a call to action for South Africans to celebrate the country’s greatness and uniqueness as seen in its art, landscape, culture, language, food and more. Each year, Casual Day supporters are called to express their individual interpretation of the yearly theme through their outfits, showing their support for the full inclusion and equity of persons with disabilities.

Speaking on the Faculty’s support for Casual Day, Prof Margaret Chitiga-Mabugu, Dean of the Faculty of EMS, said:

“The University of Pretoria has an institutional commitment to creating an inclusive space for staff and students living with disabilities. This is a commitment that EMS is honoured to support and empower to the best of our ability. The Faculty prides itself in its efforts to support inclusion and strives to recognise the needs of persons with disabilities. Thank you to everyone who contributed. We encourage everyone to continue supporting this worthy cause.”