Beste Voornemende Goldfielder
Goldfields is sekerlik een van die mooiste koshuise op Stellenbosch met sy eie unieke karakter en geskiedenis. Wat ons koshuis so uniek en anders maak is juis die feit dat daar nie lang, donker, morbiede gange is soos by meeste ander koshuise nie. Hier is losstaande blokke met vier dubbel- en vier enkelkamers per blok. Daar is twee vloere in elke blok, en elke vloer het ook sy eie kombuisie en sitkamer met stoele en ‘n tafel wat gebruik kan word as bymekaarkomplek of om sommer in groepsverband te swot.
Hier volg nou meer agtergrond oor sekere aspekte aangaande die alledaagse lewe by Goldfields.
Wasgeriewe (vir wasgoed)
Goldfields beskik oor goeie wasgeriewe waar jy as student jou eie wasgoed kan was. Daar word automatiese wasmasjiene verskaf asook tuimeldroêrs. Beide hierdie geriewe werk met jou studentekaart. Reeds vroeg in die nuwe jaar kan jy ‘n kwota laai by Admin A. Elke keer as jy wil klere was of droogmaak, trek jy eenvoudig die studentekaart deur die kaartleser wat langs die masjien geinstalleer is en hoef dus nie elke keer kontant te betaal nie.
Skoonmaakdienste
Die maatskappy wat deur die US aangestel is om ons koshuis skoon te maak is RoyalServe Cleaning. Hulle verrig daagliks ‘n essensiële taak en sorg dat Goldfields altyd skoon en netjies is. Die lekkerte van die stelsel is dat jy nie eens jou eie kamer hoef skoon te maak nie. Alles word vir jou gedoen. Kamers word twee keer per week skoongemaak, op verskillende dae afhangende van die blok waarin jy woon. Laasgenoemde sluit in die uitvee en was van die kamervloer en die afstof van die meubels. Verder word die badkamers en leefareas ook op ‘n daaglikse basis skoongemaak.
Kosvoorsiening
By Goldfields word kos voorsien deur RoyalMnandi, ‘n groot voedselvoorsiener en leier in die veld. Hulle voorsien drie maaltye per dag. Daar is vasgestelde spyskaarte vir elke dag en jy moet twee dae vooruit vir ‘n spesifieke maaltyd bespreek. Die bestelling geskied ook elektronies deur middel van die internet, of op die rekenaar by die eetsaal. Daar sal tydens die verwelkomingsprogram aan jou verduidelik word hoe om ‘n koskwota te laai en hoe om die bestellings te plaas.
Royal Mnandi voorsien lekker kos aan vegetariërs en aan diegene wat weens hul geloofsoortuiging nie vark eet nie. Afgesien van die gewone maaltye word daar ook op spesiale bestelling pizzas, burgers en gesondheids-pakkette aangebied.
Die etensure is soos volg:
| Maandag – Vrydag | Saterdag | Sondag* | |
| Ontbyt: | 07:20 – 08:30 | 08:00 – 08:30 | 08:30 – 09:00 |
| Middagete: | 12:30 – 13:30 | 12:30 – 13:30 | 12:30 – 13:30 |
| Aandete: | 18:00 – 19:00 | 17:00 – 18:30 | 17:00 – 18:30 |
* Elke tweede Sondag word die oggend- en middagete vervang met ‘n brunch wat om 11h00 bedien word.
Deli
Daar is tans ‘n deli weeksdae van 09:00 tot 18:30 waar mens versnaperings en vars toebroodjies kan koop met kontant of op jou studenterekening.
Instandhouding
Die afdeling Instandhouding sorg dat ons blokke heel bly en dat alles in ‘n werkende toestand is. Sou jou kamerlig breek of jou deurslot sukkel so ‘n bietjie om oop te sluit word personeel van Instandhouding uitgestuur om na jou probleme om te sien en dit te kom regmaak teen geen ekstra koste nie!
Ontspanning
Wat ontspanning betref, bied Goldfields heelwat. Daar is twee tennisbane wat die eiendom van die koshuis is en ‘n groot sportveld agter ons vir verskeie sportsoorte. Die Metlife sentrum, bied ook ‘n tafeltennis-tafel, ‘n TV kamer wat met DSTV toegerus is, en ‘n koeranthoek.
Vir die mense wat smaak na ‘n laatagtermiddag braai, is Samekoms die ideale plek.
Met ‘n vleisie op die vuur en die regte geselskap kan dit ‘n baie aangename kuierplek wees.
Pos
Die pos wat by Goldfields afgelewer word, word deur die Suid-Afrikaanse Poskantoor gedoen. Daarna word dit gesorteer en versprei deur eerstejaars, wat op diens is, en afgelewer na die spesifieke inwoners. As daar ‘n afskrif vir ‘n pakkie ontvang word, kan dit afgehaal word by die Matieland-tak van die poskantoor.
Sekuriteit en veiligheid van studente
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Toegang tot ons hele perseel en blokke word slegs verleen met u studentekaart. Elke deur is toegerus met ‘n elektroniese kaartleser wat slegs toegang tot geboue verleen indien jou kaart deur die databasis herken word. Verder is daar ook deurwagte en word ons perseel saans deur G4S (‘n eksterne sekuriteitsmaatskappy) gepatrolleer. Elke kamerdeur kan met ‘n slot gesluit word. Die gewone staproete tot by Goldfields vanaf kampus vorm ook deel uit van die US se Groen-Roete. Die USBD patrolleer hierdie roete bedags en saans asook die res van kampus.
Koshuiskamers
Alle kamers, hetsy enkel of dubbel, word toegerus met ‘n bed met matras, lessenaar, stoel, vullisdrom, gordyne, boekrak, aansteekbord en klerekas vir elke student.
Daar word egter van elke Goldfielder verwag om al die bogenoemde meublement goed op te pas sodat toekomstige studente ook hierdie voorreg kan geniet.
Elke kamer by Goldfields is toegerus met ‘n netwerkpunt per student. Laasgenoemde verskaf vinnige toegang tot die internet en die US se intranet. Sodoende kan jy e-pos en kursus notas vanaf die internet trek sonder dat jy die kamer hoef te verlaat. Die aktivering van ‘n netwerkpunt moet egter by die IT-studentesentrum in Joubertstraat gedoen word. Daar is ‘n nominale fooi hieraan verbonde.
Studie hulpmiddels
Goldfields is baie besorgd oor sy akademiese prestasie van sy inwoners en om dit te bewerkstellig is daar ‘n studiekamer voorsien.
Tydens toetsweke en eksamens word daar sekere stiltetye ingestel.
Elke eerstejaar word van ‘n mentor voorsien om te help met probleme wat hy/sy ondervind met akademie asook die studentelewe.
Die Metlife-sentrum het ook ‘n rekenaar, om voorsiening te maak vir diegene wat nie toegang tot ‘n rekenaar het van hul kamer nie.
Daar is ook ‘n drukker wat gebruik kan word om notas of take mee te druk.
Voertuigparkering
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Goldfields is toegerus met ‘n geteerde parkeerterrein wat voertuie kan huisves.Inwoners met voertuie word verplig om ‘n klein fooi per jaar te betaal vir die onderhoud vir die verf op die parkeerterrein.
Let asseblief op dat as gevolg van die tekort aan die beperkte parkeerarea word EERSTEJAARS NIE TOEGELAAT OM HUL EIE VOERTUIG TE BRING NIE.
Om die universiteit se parkeerareas te gebruik word ‘n nominale fooi gehef. Deur hierdie fooi te betaal word die voertuig ook geregistreer by die USBD. ‘n Disket word aan jou voorsien om in die motor aan te bring. Let wel dat indien jy besoekers ontvang met voertuie hoef jy nie vir hulle te betaal nie. Die parkeerfooi is slegs van toepassing indien jy ‘n permanente staanplek vir jou voertuig wil hê by Goldfields. Die fooie word deur die universiteit vasgestel en is dieselfde vir alle koshuisstudente.
Ek hoop dat die bogenoemde darem meer lig werp op vrae oor Goldfields. Dis werklik ‘n lekker koshuis, die soort plek waar u nuwe vriende kan maak, maar ter gelyke tyd ook u eerste tree kan gee in die grootmenswêreld.
Goldfields-groete,
Goldfields Primarius
*****
Dear Prospective Goldfielder
Firstly, I would like to welcome you to our website and thank you for considering Goldfields as your new home away from home.
Goldfields is probably one of the most beautiful residences on Stellenbosch Campus with its own unique character and history. One of the key factors responsible for this is the fact that there are no long, dark and morbid passage ways, thus setting us apart from most other res’s.
Here we have independent blocks forming a quad, each block with four double and four single rooms over two floors. Each floor is equipped with its own kitchen area, a bathroom and its own fully furnished common area. This area is often used for social gatherings, block meetings or the formation of study groups.
Below you will find some further information regarding everyday life at Goldfields.
Laundry Facilities
Goldfields has modern laundry facilities where you as student can do your own washing. This facility includes automatic washing machines as well as tumble dryers. They work using your student card which can be loaded up with a financial quota at the start of the year at Admin A. Simply swipe your student card through the card reader installed above the machine to activate it. You will therefore not need cash when using these machines.
Cleaning Services
The company appointed by the University, RoyalServe Cleaning, has been assigned to the essential task of keeping Goldfields neat and tidy at all times. The joy of this system is that you hardly need to worry about keeping your room clean as most of it gets done for you twice a week. The specific days that your room gets cleaned differ from block to block. The service includes the sweeping and cleaning of floors, dusting of furniture and emptying the bins. Furthermore, bathrooms and common areas are cleaned once a day.
Food Provision and Meal Times
Catering at Goldfields is provided by RoyalMnandi, a major food service provider and a leader in the industry. They provide three meals per day, each of which should be booked at least two days in advance. These bookings can be made via the internet, the university’s intranet, or simply by using the PC at the dining hall. This is a simple procedure and will be explained during Welcoming Week.
RoyalMnandi not only provide healthy and tasty food, but also take into consideration the needs of those who require special diets. They provide a vegetarian option and for those who – due to personal preference or religion – avoid pork. Other options include burgers, pizzas and health-packages.
Meal times are as follows:
| Monday – Friday | Saturday | Sunday* | |
| Breakfast: | 07:20 – 08:30 | 08:00 – 08:30 | 08:30 – 09:00 |
| Lunch: | 12:30 – 13:30 | 12:30 – 13:30 | 12:30 – 13:30 |
| Supper: | 18:00 – 19:00 | 17:00 – 18:30 | 17:00 – 18:30 |
* Every second Sunday breakfast and lunch are substituted with a brunch that is served at 11h00.
Deli
There is a deli onsite which is open between 09:00 and 18:30. Here you can purchase fresh homemade toasted sandwiches, soda’s and energy drinks, chips and chocolate, etc. All of these items may be purchase with cash or by swiping your student card (once you have loaded a deli quota onto it).
Maintenance
The maintenance team ensures that all Goldfields facilities remain in good working condition. Should a light bulb in your room fail or a lock get jammed, simply log a maintenance call. The HK (House Committee) member in charge of maintenance will contact the maintenance team, who will ensure that the issue is rectified.
Relaxation and Recreation
As far as relaxation is concerned, Goldfields has quite a bit to offer. Two tennis courts (property of Goldfields) and two very large sports fields next to our residence are at our disposal. The Metlife Centre offers table tennis facilities, a TV room with DSTV and a News-Corner.
If you are planning to have a braai with a few of your buddies, then Samekoms is the best place to have it.
All mail is delivered to Goldfields by the South African Postal Services and distributed to the Goldfields residents by the first years on duty. Parcel slips will be delivered to the students, but any parcels must be picked up at the Matieland Branch of the Post Office by the recipients themselves.
Safety and security of students
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Access to the blocks and open areas is only possible with your student card. Each gate is fitted with an electronic card reader which will only grant access if your card is recognized by the university’s database. Our premises are also patrolled by external security company G4S. All rooms are fitted with a locking mechanism. Students must buy their own padlocks for this purpose. The walking path from the main campus to Goldfields forms part of the Universities Green-Route. The USBD regularly patrols this path throughout the day and night.
Residence Rooms
All rooms are furnished with a bed with a mattress, desk, chair, dustbin, notice board, curtains, a bookshelf and a wardrobe for each student. It is expected that students will look after the furniture so that future Goldies will also enjoy these privileges.
Each room has a network port per student, which connects your computer to the internet. This point can be used for fast internet and University intranet access. You can therefore access your lecture notes electronically and read your e-mails without leaving your room. The activation of the network point must be done at the IT-Student Center in Joubert Street. A small levy is charged for this service.
Study necessities
Goldfields cares very much for its residents’ academic performance and to maintain this, there is a study room available for when you need a quiet environment. During test week and exams, quiet time rules are in force.
Every first year is provided with a mentor to help with problems related to academic and student life in general.
The MetLife-Centre has a computer available, for those students that don’t have access to one in their room. There is also a printer to use for printing notes, essays, report, etc. The printer works with a printing quota, this will again be explained during welcoming week.
Student parking
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Goldfields has a parking area for students with vehicles. Residents with vehicles are required to pay a small fee per year to the HK for the maintenance of parking bay numbers etc. Please take note that FIRST YEARS ARE NOT ALLOWED TO BRING CARS TO GOLDFIELDS due to the lack of available parking spaces.
To reserve a parking space for a year, a fee is charged by the university. Once paid, your vehicle is registered at the USBD and a small disc issued, which must be stuck to your windscreen. The parking fee is the same for all residences.
I hope that you find the above information helpful and that it answers a lot of your questions. Goldfields is a vibrant residence, a place where you make new friends but also start your path to serious adulthood.
Goldfields-regards,
Goldfields Primarius