By: Sandile Zikhali and Khetho Dlamini

Mansfield Hall was packed to capacity as the Green Campus Initiative (GCI) hosted its first Mr and Miss Green auditions.

GCI is a programme that encourages nature conservation and plantation of trees in higher educational institutions. Contestants conducted themselves in a decorous manner as they were modelling and posing on stage.

Linda Nxumalo, the chairperson of GCI said that they are in search of a face and ambassadors for the programme, people who will advise and urge other students to join the initiative.

“Our main objective is to save 15% of water and electricity and increase our membership by more than 10 000 students in 2014,” Nxumalo added.

The large number of contestants gave the judges a difficult task in settling a decision on who goes through to the last 24. Forming the judge’s panel was Yolanda Mngadi who is former DUT

Miss Fresher 2012 and Andile Madlala who is currently Mr KZN Top Model, and former Mr DUT 2012.

One of the crowd’s favourite, Sandy Kunene who is Miss KZN 2014 finalist, said that she loved the positive feedback that she got from the crowd as she made her way to the stage.

“I had the best experience. It is so beautiful and overwhelming to see the positive response from the crowd,” said Kunene.

Churchlife Ati-tettey, one of the male contestants, highlighted that he was feeling awesome and that was a feeling he had never felt in a long time.

The lost 24 at the auditions for Mr and Miss Green Campus Initiative. Picture By Sandile ZIkhali

“I feel fantastic by making it through to the last 24. Victory is not a priority, attempt is all that matters according to my perspective,” said Ati-tettey.

The date of Mr and Miss Green is yet to be announced and the expectations are already high as students want to participate.