More than 3 500 UP staff members descended on the Hillcrest Campus to celebrate Spring Day on 26 September.

According to the organisers, this was the biggest Spring Day in the University’s history. The theme was ‘International Street Food Market’, and the setup was true market style. “This allowed for interaction among staff, enabling them to go around and taste the different foods,” said the organisers.

The air was alive with laughter, music, braai smoke and aromas emanating from a medley of food served at 21 brightly decorated food stalls. Food on offer included Mexican, Indian, Moroccan and Ethiopian, among others.

The winner of the best stall was Facilities Management’s Madiba Munchies. Their food was based on former President Nelson Mandela’s favourite meals, including beef stew, tripe and spatlo. Second place went to TuksRes. They had a variety of chicken in their dish, which included chicken feet, livers and giblets. Their delicious ginger beer got the judges very excited. 

Facilities Management’s Madiba Munchies was judged the best food stall. With them is UP Vice-Chancellor and Principal, Prof Cheryl de la Rey.

The competition was judged by chef Fortunato Mazzone from Forti Grill and Bar; Leandi Archer, a food blogger and product developer at Food Design Agency; as well as Jacqui Pietersen from the Department of University Relations.

Food judges, Jacqui Pietersen, Chef Forti and Leandi Archer after tasting food from 21 stalls.

Those who had energy participated in a fun walk/run, netball, soccer and volleyball matches. TuksSport won the soccer tournament, while the netball winners were Team UP, a mixed team from various departments. The volleyball tournament was won by the Department of Finance.

 TuksSport won the soccer tournament. They are pictured with Prof Cheryl de la Rey.

Netball tournament winners, Team UP with Prof Cheryl de la Rey.

The Department of Finance won the volleyball tournament. They are pictured with Prof Cheryl de la Rey.

Some attendants sang along when the Faculty of Law’s rock band, Christof Heyns and the Outlaws, strutted their stuff on the podium, doing renditions of the Eagles’ Hotel California and Pink Floyd’s The Wall.

Band leader Prof Christof Heyns, Director of the Institute for International and Comparative Law in Africa, said the band consists of teaching staff, students and alumni. They reconstitute every year, depending on auditions, and last year one of the university’s janitors joined the lineup. Prof Heyns, a former UP Dean of Law, is a rhythm guitarist and vocalist. “We challenge all faculties to have a band at Spring Day next year. Being in the band is a lot more fun than being dean,” he said.

Christof Heyns and the outlaws entertained staff with their rock music

Participants in the UP’s Got Talent contest got up on stage and danced to popular songs. Precious, the child of a UP staff member, stole the show when she boogied to Beyoncé’s Single Ladies. Karaoke was highly popular, and poetry reading was also on the menu.

UP's got Talent contestants

The judges for the competition were Weza Matomane, voiceover artist at SAfm; Phuti Sepuru, lecturer of music from the UP Music Department; as well as Prof Heyns.

UP's got talent judges, Phuti Sepuru, Weza Matomane and Prof Heyns.

For Dr Taneshka Kruger, Project Manager at University of Pretoria Institute for Sustainable Malaria Control (UP ISMC), “Spring Day 2018 really stood out as being better executed. The international street food market stalls were very colourful, well thought-out, and the variety of food delicious, with some very entertaining cooks.”

She said the participating groups “made a great effort to create a very authentic street food market, and the overall layout was perfect, with the stalls participating in the theme grouped together and adding to the authenticity of a market.”

“Spring Day allows hardworking UP staff members to sit and enjoy a few hours away from the office, relax and breathe in some fresh air, all in a social environment with their co-workers,” she said.

Staff make their way to their stalls.

A stall with Indian food.

Tukkievaria asked staff to send their pictures to us. Here are some that TuksSport staff sent of their day.