Global partnerships are critical to strengthening disaster relief and humanitarian response. This was the overarching message when the University of Johannesburg (UJ) welcomed back staff members recently deployed to Mozambique as part of an emergency disaster response mission.
The six-person team was mobilised under the banner of Rescue South Africa, contributing specialised rescue, aviation and coordination skills to support relief efforts in flood-stricken areas of Mozambique.
Speaking at an intimate debriefing session, UJ Vice-Chancellor and Principal, Letlhokwa Mpedi, reflected on the rapid real-world impact of the University’s newly launched Rescue Simulation Centre.
“When the Centre was launched about three months ago, I was asked what impact it would make. My response was that, given the rise in disasters linked to global warming, this facility would play an important role. Little did I know that we would see its impact so soon, with our colleagues deployed to Mozambique,” he said.
While expressing hope that such disasters would become less frequent, Prof Mpedi acknowledged the reality of a changing climate. “The truth is that global warming will require more well-trained rescuers. There will be an ongoing need for skilled professionals and for organisations like Rescue South Africa to work hand in hand with our staff, students and graduates to assist communities in crisis.”
Emphasising the importance of collaboration, Prof Mpedi said partnerships with organisations such as Rescue South Africa directly advance UJ’s societal impact mandate as outlined in Strategy 2035. “We are grateful for this partnership and invite other like-minded organisations that share our mission and vision to join us in making a meaningful difference,” he said.
Connor Hartnady, Acting Manager of the Rescue Simulation Centre and team leader of the Mozambique deployment, described the experience as both challenging and transformative. He said it had opened new opportunities for regional collaboration and positioned the Centre as a potential Southern African Development Community (SADC) hub for excellence.
“We want to strengthen ties with other organisations and private helicopter operators who were part of the response, not only as UJ, but also as Rescue South Africa,” Hartnady said. “We want to invite them to train at our facility. This is why the Centre was developed: to become a regional centre of excellence for rescue training in the SADC region.”
UJ staff member and deployment specialist Xavier Millar highlighted the urgent humanitarian needs he witnessed on the ground, stressing that effective disaster response depends not only on resources, but also on cooperation.
“It’s not just about helicopters, fuel, water, medicine and food. It’s also about coordination and cooperation. Border management, local authorities and emergency services all need to work together so that aid can reach people who are starving and in desperate need,” Millar said.
Rescue South Africa Chief Executive Officer Aidan Justus expressed his appreciation for the partnership with UJ, describing it as fundamental to the organisation’s future impact.
“The only way we are going to make a real difference is through education, and that lies at the heart of what a university represents,” Justus said. “UJ’s ethos, and the way it invests in the people who will educate and train at the Centre, speaks volumes. This partnership is key to where we are going.”
“To UJ, thank you for your partnership. I think this relationship is fundamental to the way that we’re moving forward, and the reason that is, is because the only way we’re going to make a difference is through education, and that’s at the very heart of what a university is. The ethos and the way that UJ go about their business, the way that they invest in the people that are going to be educating at the Centre is testament to that. It is key to where we are going,” Justus said.
