ATTENTION: NEWS EDITORS & EDUCATION REPORTERS
Media Advisory
For immediate release
Tuesday, 27 January 2026
The University of Johannesburg (UJ) invites members of the media to engage directly with staff members who have returned from an international flood rescue mission in Mozambique, where they formed part of a specialised response team providing critical humanitarian assistance following severe flooding along the country’s eastern coastline.
The staff members were deployed as part of a Rescue South Africa–coordinated operation, activated at the request of the Government of Mozambique and facilitated through the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA). Operating within established international humanitarian and regional disaster response frameworks, the team delivered life-saving interventions under challenging and high-risk conditions.
During the engagement, media will have the opportunity to hear first-hand accounts of the mission, including aviation-assisted evacuations in flood-stricken areas, emergency medical support to vulnerable communities, and large-scale logistical efforts to relocate displaced residents and distribute essential supplies as floodwaters receded. The session will provide insight into the realities of cross-border disaster response, the technical expertise involved, and the human impact of the operation.
UJ’s participation in the mission reflects the University’s commitment to applying specialised skills and knowledge to regional and global challenges, with staff contributing professional expertise beyond the academic environment.
The Vice-Chancellor and Principal, Professor Letlhokwa Mpedi, will formally receive the returning team on campus, together with representatives from Rescue South Africa. Media will be able to engage directly with the team during this session.
Event details:
Date: Wednesday, 28 January 2026
Time: 14:00 – 15:00
Venue: Rescue Simulation Centre, University of Johannesburg, Doornfontein Campus
Ends.
Note to media: This is a closed event and attendance is strictly by RSVP. Media are requested to confirm attendance by 16:00 on 27 January 2026. No walk-ins will be permitted.
Issued By:
Masego Panyane
Media Liaison
masegop@uj.ac.za
011 559 1571
084 067 7528
