It was a time for fun, laughter and a chance to offload for staff members during Staff Wellness Week. Held at the onset of spring, the third annual Wits Staff Wellness Week was held from 2 � 6 September providing a perfect moment for those who were under the winter slumber. View the picture gallery

During the week, the Mpil’nhle Programme made its debut with two new offerings to complement the existing wellness initiatives at Wits. Free health screenings and lifestyle advice was offered at the Braamfontein and Parktown campuses to cater for Witsies on these sites.

As per tradition, the Lenn Smith race around campus drew Witsies from various parts of the University. The inter-faculty campus road race first took place in the 1980s and continues to grow. It is named after Lenn Smith a stalwart of the Wits Metallurgy Workshop and a running enthusiast.

Jesse Alt, senior lecturer from the School of Mathematics took first place followed by Ellen de Mello Koch from the School of Electrical and Information Engineering.

Chief Organiser and Secretary Frank Kienhofer said he is amazed and heartened by the happiness the run or walk achieves and the good will of all that help to make the event a success.

Another highlight of the week is the Staff Fun Day where staff participate in a range of games or cheer from the sidelines and enjoy the festive ambience and the beats from the DJ.

The competition was tight on the soccer field as the Departments of Finance, ICT and Services proved to be tough contenders.

Campus Housing and Residence Life remain netball champions.

Kabungo Mubanga Senior Operations Manager at Wits Sport commended the spirit of Witsies from those who play regularly to those who rise to the challenge on the day and form ad-hoc groups and compete amongst themselves.

We have made improvements since the first Staff Fun Day that were reflected in this year’s event by creating a day that offers a variety of events for diverse interests. There were several requests for volleyball on the day. In the future we will have more activities, surprise gifts and prizes for the winning teams, Mubanga.

Sarafina Mahlakoane, a Faculty Officer from Commerce Law and Management, was crowned the dancing queen walking away with one of the three highly sought food processors to aid healthy food preparations.

Those who attended the Yoga Day struck a jackpot and each walked away with a Wits branded yoga mat and a fitness watch.

The Staff Wellness Week is part of the University’s broader strategy to enhance the personal and professional wellbeing of staff. The Staff Health and Wellness Strategy seeks to inculcate a culture of health and wellness by attaining a balance between work and life activities, encouraging physical activity/exercise and healthy eating habits among staff. The Mpilenhle programme and the online Wellness Calendar is among the many initiatives that responds to this aspiration

Source: University of the Witwatersrand