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CONTACT THE ALUMNI RELATIONS OFFICE: ISSUE 18 | SEPTEMBER 2016

ISSUE 18 | SEPTEMBER 2016

Tel: +27 21 959 2143 | Fax: 021 959 9791 Email: alumni@uwc.ac.za | www.uwc.ac.za/alumni http://twitter.com/UWConline http://www.facebook.com/uwcalumni

UNIVERSITY OF THE WESTERN CAPE

ALUMNI NEWSLETTER

The Minister of Science and Technology, Naledi Pandor, takes a closer look at a UWC HySA System innovation.

Energy for the Future he global fuel cell industry is evolving into a sector with massive economic potential and the University of the Western Cape is ensuring that South Africa is a major player in this field.

systems. PEM fuel cells are considered to be the most versatile type of fuel cells currently in production – they are lightweight, have high power density and cold start capability, and can be used in many applications, such as stationary and portable power, transport, and even applications in space technology.

UWC’s HySA Systems, hosted by the South African Institute for Advanced Materials Chemistry, recently announced that it has entered into a collaborative tri-partite agreement with one of Europe’s largest independent fuel cell stack providers, Nedstack BV, and Cape Town-based green energy consultancy, Africa Green Energy Technologies (AGET).

Since its inception, HySA Systems has generated significant intellectual capital and developed a number of prototypes which have been tested in the field by industry partners. These include innovative hydrogen fuel cell technology like the HFCT generator at the UWC Nature Reserve and the world’s first hydrogenpowered forklift and refuelling station.

The collaboration will see local manufacturing of proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cell components and

HySA Systems will design and manufacture membrane electrode assemblies (MEAs) as well as other components. Nedstack,

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Europe’s largest independent PEM fuel cell producer (and the second largest in the world), will integrate the MEAs into the Nedstack PEM Fuel Cells, which will be jointly integrated into final products to service Nedstack’s growing global customer footprint.

HySA Systems and Nedstack will collaborate closely with local consultancy AGET, which specialises in developing renewable energy technology projects that develop fuel cell market opportunities in South Africa and the broader African continent.

HySA Systems Director, Dr Cordellia Sita, says of the new venture: “The next bold step is to ensure that these products are commercialised. The collaboration with Nedstack provides the required momentum for establishing a commercially viable fuel cell manufacturing industry in South Africa.”

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ISSUE 18 | SEPTEMBER 2016

Editorial Welcome to the third edition of Three-Sixt-e for 2016.

In this issue we report on a collaboration between UWC’s HySA Systems, European fuel cell stack provider Nedstack BV and local consultancy Africa Green Energy Technologies (AGET). The collaboration involves the local manufacture of proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cell components and systems.

We celebrate the success of a mother and daughter team who studied simultaneously at the School of Pharmacy and the fifteen UWC graduates who were recipients of Grandwest bursaries.

FAMILY STORY

It’s never too late to learn It’s not unusual for family members to be studying at the same time. In the last issue, we reported on three members of the Adom-Aboagye family who earned sport science qualifications at the University of the Western Cape. Now a mother and daughter are doing it in Pharmacy.

Daughter Nolindo Mpanga obtained her degree at the April 2016 graduation ceremony, while her mom, Nozibele Mpanga, will graduate later this year.

Nolindo (29) completed a medical bioscience degree but decided to pursue pharmaceutical studies after being unable to find work in her field. “After I received my BSc degree in Medical Bioscience, I started searching on the internet for jobs, but it was looking really bleak.

“That’s when I noticed that most of the jobs available were for pharmacists. There is a real demand for pharmacists and I was confident that, should I pursue pharmacy, I would be able to find a job

the minute I qualified.” When she started her studies in 2012, she was expecting her first born. Nolindo says it was quite a balancing act for her with a baby on the way, but she was used to tackling her studies.

Her mom comments: “Despite all her challenges with motherhood, my daughter told herself, ‘if my mother can make it through the first year, so can I'.”

Nozibele Mpanga, who was 56 when she started her studies four years ago, says she’s proud of her daughter. “Thanks to my God and my ancestors who gave me this gift and guided me until now. I look forward to successfully completing my degree later in the year.”

Since February this year Nolindo has been employed at a popular supermarket chain store pharmacy. She applied immediately after she received her results toward the end of last year. Nozibele Mpanga encourages other mature people to follow their example in seeking education.

The 2016 edition of the annual Kings of UWC Tournament was successfully concluded, albeit on a sad note following the passing of two founders of the football tournament. Another annual event, which took place in Johannesburg, was the UWC Golf Day which raises significant funds for UWC. UWC scored a major success in May when it presented the Miriam Makeba Mama Africa - The Musical show. The show, which is set to travel to the USA, showcased impressive talent among the cast of student actors and dancers.

Nozibele Mpanga congratulates daughter Nolindo who completed her degree in Pharmacy.

Lastly, we note the passing of a UWC legend, Professor Adam Small (1936–2016), who will forever be remembered for his contribution to South African culture and particularly Afrikaans literature.

UPCOMING

Happy reading!

Times and details to be announced

Patricia Lawrence Director Department of Institutional Advancement

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n The annual Desmond Tutu International Peace Lecture takes place on Friday, 7 October 2016, at the UWC Main Hall. n The Alumni Relations Office hosts an Alumni Dinner on Saturday, 15 October 2016, in Durban.

n The annual Cape Town Golf Day takes place on Tuesday, 1 November 2016, at the Bellville Golf Club, Jip de Jager Drive, Welgemoed. n The December 2016 Graduation takes place on Monday, 12 December 2016, at the UWC Main Hall.

ISSUE 18 | SEPTEMBER 2016

INNOVATION

UWC hosted the UWC-Yale Alumni Leadership Exchange Conference to discuss how to build strong alumni communities.

Improving alumni relations Alumni relations practitioners got together to share best practices, discuss ideas for building strong alumni communities and explore ways to enhance social transformation when the UWC–Yale Alumni Leadership Exchange Conference was convened on campus in July.

The conference was attended by a delegation of Yale alumni volunteers and leaders and their counterparts from UWC and other local higher education institutions.

Since 2008, the Yale Global Alumni Leadership Exchange (YaleGALE), a volunteer-driven initiative of the Yale University Alumni Association, has engaged in exchanges, conferences and forums around the world. Among the topics discussed at the UWC conference were

integrating alumni relations and fundraising, cultivating a culture of giving back, volunteer engagement, how to create and sustain alumni organisations, and organising alumni by their interest and passions.

In her welcoming address, UWC’s Pro Vice-Chancellor for Institutional Advancement, Patricia Lawrence, outlined the history of UWC, its current standing as well as its achievements and future plans.

“To sustain the academic excellence of its offerings, UWC must achieve financial sustainability by diversifying and expanding other revenue streams, including the support received from state, donors, industry and alumni, and generate its own revenue,” she said. “We have a duty and a responsibility to ensure that the legacy that is UWC continues to shape the future of our children and that of our

children’s children.” Dr Benjamin Slotznick of YaleGALE gave a quick preview of alumni relations at Yale University, comparing the differences and similarities of their activities with those at UWC. One of their strategies was to separate “friendraising” from “fundraising”. “These are two functions operated and managed by separate organisations with separate tasks, but with many connections and using many alumni volunteers,” Dr Slotznick said.

Other ideas included inculcating a culture of belonging between current and past students, joint activities with other universities, linking alumni events to big social events and maintaining and continually recruiting volunteers.

Differentiating friend-raising from fundraising was among the main ideas to emerge from the breakaway groups that discussed various topics. “Let’s build our relationships first and the money will follow,” one speaker noted.

EDUCATION

Corporate giving access to success

Many UWC graduates have benefited from the Grandwest Corporate Social Investment Bursary Fund in recent years.

in high demand. The bursary fund allocation has increased from R5 million when it was established to about R17 million this year. Prof De Vries believes the programme is a best practice model of bursary funding as recipients must do 40 hours of voluntary work, “which creates responsibility among students.” Bursary recipients are provided with all necessary support including links to alumni who have previously been recipients. Prof De Vries says, “It’s a flagship programme on how you give bursaries because it is not just about money being given to students. This is a programme that actually says we track you, we monitor you and we want to know your successes post the process.”

The bursary fund is open to financially needy Western Cape-based registered university or college students pursuing an education in scarce skills and occupations

This approach, she feels, speaks to the UWC ethos of providing students with access to support and developing them to achieve their potential.

well our students are performing in relation to other universities. For me it’s wonderful when externally there is an affirmation of our success at UWC.”

The Grandwest Corporate Social Investment Bursary Fund has awarded a large number of bursaries to UWC students since its establishment in 2007.

Fifteen of the 17 bursary recipients who graduated this year were from UWC. Of the 139 students allocated bursaries in 2016, 76 were UWC students across a wide range of disciplines.

According to Professor Linda de Vries of the UWC School of Business and Finance, who is a trustee of the fund, the high proportion and number of bursaries awarded to the University is a testimony to the quality of UWC students. “They look at us and how

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ISSUE 18 | SEPTEMBER 2016

ON CAMPUS

New Convocation President The University of the Western Cape (UWC) Convocation held its Annual General Meeting (AGM) in June. Songezo Maqula was unanimously elected as the new President of Convocation to replace Mlungisi Noludwe.

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onvocation includes all UWC graduates, academic employees (all those currently employed on a permanent basis or on contract for a period of one year or more), the Rector, Vice-Rectors, Registrar, Executive Directors and the Director of Library Services, as well as two members of Council appointed to the Senate.

President of the South African Tertiary Institutions Choral Association. Until Convocation ceased to have an executive in 2015, he was the project leader of several of its community engagement initiatives, including the Convocation to Cuba project.

Maqula expressed his gratitude to the Convocation’s members for their confidence in him. “We all have the responsibility to

protect this institution as a legacy to future generations and to the continent of Africa,” he said after his election. “We must be fearless, not only inside UWC but wherever we go, to fight injustice in whatever form it manifests itself. We must also go out there to project the good image of this institution, and mobilise as many resources as possible to assist our students.”

He called on Convocation members to support his presidency. “We must work for the University but we must also defend its principles and integrity. That is all we need to do. If we stick to that then we can all work together.”

Maqula, who works as a Stakeholder Relations Officer at Intercape Bus, completed his BA degree in Public Administration and his Honours in Political Studies degree at UWC. He was the President of the Students’ Representative Council and was appointed by Convocation as its second representative on the University Council for the period December 2014 to 30 November 2017.

While he was SRC President he served on a number of governance structures, including the Senate, the Tender Committee and the Joint Appointments Committee of Senate and Council. Maqula was the National Deputy Secretary, Deputy President and

Newly-elected President of UWC’s Convocation Songezo Maqula is congratulated by predecessors Mlungisi Noludwe and Brian Williams.

The fellowship is the flagship programme of US President Barrack Obama’s Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI) that empowers young people through academic coursework, leadership training and networking. The programme, which started in 2014, provided about 1 000 outstanding young leaders from SubSaharan Africa this year with the opportunity to hone their skills at a higher education institution in the USA, with support for professional development after their return home.

INTERNATIONAL

Brushing up on leadership skills UWC alumna Juanitill Pettus’s passion for community development, particularly youth development, was recognised when she was selected to participate in this year’s Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders.

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The fellows were between the ages of 25 and 35 years with established records of accomplishment in promoting innovation and positive change in their organisations, institutions, communities and countries.

Pettus, who completed her BCom in Economics at UWC in 2009, works at the Pinotage Youth Development Academy, which develops the capacity of talented, historically disadvantaged South Africans aged 18 to 25 years and prepares them for employment. Her leadership journey started at UWC through her participation

in programmes in the Leadership and Social Responsibility Department at the Centre for Student Support Services. “It was there that I started seeing the world outside of myself and my circumstances and where I discovered a passion for community development, and particularly youth development,” she comments.

During her fellowship, Pettus completed a six-week programme in civic leadership at the University of Illinois at UrbanaChampaign. “I have learned a great deal about the continent of Africa and from the amazing people who are putting shoulder to the wheel to ensure that their respective countries reach their potential,” she comments.

She rounded off her journey in Washington where the fellows participating in the Presidential Summit which ended with a town hall event hosted by President Obama. “This was of course the highlight of our trip, which could only have been better if I had managed to shake hands with Michelle Obama!”

ISSUE 18 | SEPTEMBER 2016

FUNDRAISING

UWC celebrates 40 years of Golf Day fundraising On 24 August UWC hosted its annual Johannesburg Golf Day at the Killarney Country Club.

This event, which has been presented annually since 1976, has grown into much more than just a day out on the golf course for our alumni. It is now also a key part of our strategy of staying connected to our loyal donors and expanding our network of supporters.

ALUMNI PROFILE

Alumnus travels the world but always returns

This year saw a total of 68 players teeing off (17 four-ball entries) with players including alumni, corporate guests and friends of the University. There were sponsored prizes all the way to 10th place, including a prize for the longest drive and one for the nearest to the pin.

The day concluded with a dinner where the winners received due recognition.

The top three achievers were Dr

Raymond Patel and Mr Colin Brown (first prize), Bradley Usher and Sheldon West (second) and Werner Maree and David Scholtz (third).

The keynote address delivered by the Rector and Vice-Chancellor of UWC, Professor Tyrone Pretorius, highlighted the funding crisis facing higher education and the issue of student access to education in particular. Prof Pretorius used the occasion to explain why the University has embarked on the Access to Success public fundraising campaign.

The campaign stresses the importance of a collective solution that involves collaboration between higher education institutions, alumni, corporate and national structures towards finding sustainable funding solutions for students in need.

Dr Oluwaseun Fadipe joined UWC in 2007 with a burning desire to become a renowned geoscientist. He earned his honours degree and resisted “juicy offers” from the mining industries while he completed his master’s degree in petroleum geology (cum laude) and his PhD. Thereafter Dr Fadipe joined Schlumberger, one of the world's leading providers of technology for reservoir characterisation, drilling, production and processing in the oil and gas industry. Over a period of four years, he worked in several geological terrains in Europe, Africa, North and South America, and the Middle East.

Faced with some financial challenges at UWC, he worked as a writing coach to support his studies. Dr Fadipe recalls that his time on campus was not without funny moments.

Dr Fadipe believes he learnt proactiveness, perseverance, hard work and dedication at UWC, as essential keys to success. He has made it his duty to visit UWC at least once a year and has kept in touch with staff and the graduate students who need mentorship. He believes it’s always good to pass through the University and to let the University pass through you too. “If this happens, your willingness to give back to what fed you will not be a problem," says Dr Fadipe.

Rector and Vice-Chancellor, Prof Tyrone Pretorius, congratulates this year's winners, Dr Raymond Patel (left) and Colin Brown (right).

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ISSUE 18 | SEPTEMBER 2016

MEET THE MEMBER

No place like home It has been 23 years since Makwena Seshoka-Modimola graduated from UWC but her love for the University is as strong as ever. From time to time Seshoka-Modimola, the chief executive officer of the Contact Centre School in Johannesburg, visits the campus. She is deeply involved in alumni activities.

Green Dragons were crowned the new Kings of UWC football tournament champions

SPORT

Kings of Udubs bigger than ever The Kings of UWC Football Tournament gets bigger and better every year.

Some of the finest footballers to have come through the University participated in this year’s competition, including past and present professional and semi-professional players. The contest on the field of play was intense with tackles, skills and goals sending spectators – staff, students, alumni and friends of UWC – into rapture.

Now in its eighth year, the event that was started by a few alumni who wanted to keep their sporting connection to UWC, “has grown to be this wonderful and exciting day,” explains Patricia Lawrence, UWC’s Pro Vice-Chancellor for Institutional Advancement.

Lawrence attributes the growth of the event to the two founders, Remo Andrews and Hilton Stroud who, together with the Alumni Relations Office at UWC, organise the tournament. “These two young guys started off this amazing tournament and it’s through them that it has become this wonderful event. I hope it will continue to grow from strength to strength.” Andrews says the tournament started in 2009 with 16 teams and a joining fee of R50 per team. “It has grown exponentially over

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the years, and we thank the participants and sponsors for that.”

The 2016 tournament featured 24 teams vying for the prize money of R10 000, double that of last year thanks to sponsors Pro Events, Fieka Sport and Score Energy Drinks. This year perennial finalists Green Dragons became the champions for the first time by beating Amavolunteer 4-0.

They were presented with the trophy and cheque by Rector and ViceChancellor, Professor Tyrone Pretorius.

The player of the tournament award, was renamed the Lallo award after Lyle “Lallo” Arendse, who succumbed to cancer last year. The award went to former New York Red Bulls midfielder Danleigh Borman of the Green Dragons.

A new individual award was introduced to the tournament, named after Kyle “Kabamba” Lawrence, a stalwart of the event since inception who passed away earlier this year. “The award is for the best defender of the tournament. We felt it was fitting as Kyle was a solid player but his ability to tackle players was by far his greatest attribute,” said Andrews.

The Kabamba award went to former Santos captain Fagan Muller of the Green Dragons. Muller dedicated his award to Lawrence and Arendse.

“The reason why I participate in alumni activities is that I developed a great sense of loyalty and allegiance to UWC, because the University was key in developing a sense of home and belonging for me,” Seshoka-Modimola explains. “So I often come back to the University to look at ways that one can contribute positively and to see how the campus is developing over the years.”

After she obtained her education degree at UWC in 1993, Seshoka-Modimola went on to obtain qualifications at other universities. She has held numerous senior positions in different organisations.

Although she was politically active in the community before enrolling at UWC, Seshoka-Modimola says her political consciousness increased on campus and she became aware of the power of politics to effect change in communities.

Seshoka-Modimola, who is the deputy secretary of the UWC Gauteng Alumni Chapter, believes UWC alumni can do more to market the Institution to potential students, partners and sponsors. “UWC is excellent in various academic and social areas and if we as alumni can go out there to market the University, many of our children and those who don’t know about UWC will be able to make it their university of choice.”

Alumna, Makwena Seshoka-Modimola, believes graduates could do more to market the excellent academic and social benefits of studying at UWC.

ISSUE 18 | SEPTEMBER 2016

NEW APPOINTMENT

New Dean for Education Faculty UWC stalwart and senior academic Professor Vuyokazi Nomlomo has been appointed as the new Dean of the University’s Faculty of Education.

She will replace Prof Zubeida Desai who retires at the end of 2016 and will assume her new role in January 2017.

Born in the Eastern Cape town of Mqanduli, Prof Nomlomo brings a wealth of experience to the position. After working as a high school teacher in her home province, she completed her MEd at UCT in 1993. She joined UWC in 1998 as a lecturer and completed her PhD in Education in 2007.

Prof Nomlomo has served in different leadership roles in the faculty – as the Deputy Director of Professional Programmes, the Head of the Language Education Department, and as Associate Professor and Deputy Dean, working alongside Prof Desai.

“I can write six volumes about my experiences at the University of the Western Cape,” Prof Nomlomo jokingly

OBITUARIES

Professor Vuyokazi Nomlomo is the new Dean of the University’s Faculty of Education.

comments. “I have been fortunate to be part of an engaging faculty which stimulated and supported me to be what I am today. I have been the Dean of Teaching and Learning, so even though I have never headed up the whole Faculty before, I am quite clued up and shouldn’t have a hard time

adapting to the tasks that come with being a Dean.” Prof Nomlomo says she is “very excited” about her new position and is looking forward to leading the Faculty to greater heights. “I cannot do it alone and I rely on my team to take the vision of the Faculty and that of the Institution forward.”

The University of the Western Cape (UWC) is deeply saddened by the passing of one of its intellectual founders, Professor Adam Small, who died in June at the age of 79.

According to an official statement issued by the University, Prof Small will be remembered as a thoughtfully measured philosopher, a caring social worker with a profound sense of the emotional and material injustices inflicted upon his fellow citizens, and as a playwright who had the rare ability to articulate the cross currents of our time.

Prof Small was born in Wellington in the Western Cape on 21 December 1936. He was raised on a farm in Goree outside Robertson, where his father served as school principal, community leader and lay preacher to farm labourers. After attending several Catholic schools and matriculating at St Columba’s in 1953, Prof Small obtained a degree in languages and philosophy. He was awarded his MA (cum laude) at the University of Cape Town on the philosophies of Nicolai Hartmann and Friedrich Nietzsche.

Before moving to UWC, he was appointed as a lecturer in philosophy at the University of Fort Hare in 1959. Prof Small served as UWC’s first Head of the Department of Philosophy from 1960. He resigned from the University in 1973 but returned to head the Department of Social Work in 1984, where he played an influential leadership role until retiring in 1997.

An activist of the Black Consciousness Movement, his plays dealt with racial discrimination and political injustice.

The University conferred an honorary doctorate on him in 2001, in recognition of his outstanding contributions to society. Since 2013, UWC has hosted the annual Adam Small Dialogue in his honour.

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ISSUE 18 | SEPTEMBER 2016

DID YOU KNOW?

UWC‘s Institute for Microbial and Metagenomics has varied research interests – including genome diversity, nanotechnology, enzymology and investigating the possibility of extraterrestrial life?

EVENTS

Mama Africa – the life and times of an international legend The first-ever performance of Miriam Makeba Mama Africa – The Musical – three days of foot stomping energy, with audiences enjoying traditional dance to the tune of time-honoured songs – was a fitting tribute to the legendary South African icon.

The musical showcase was a celebration of the 30-year partnership and collaboration between the University of Missouri-St Louis and the University of the Western Cape.

The production had a South African cast and orchestra, consisting of students, professional and semi-professional community dancers and actors. It proved to be a dramatic show full of sound and sentiment, a vibrant tale of fear and defiance in the apartheid era.

The original musical drama, featuring 30 of Makeba’s most popular songs, was researched and written over three years by Professor Niyi Coker Jr, an American academic and Broadway director. The show was presented with support from the Carnegie Africa Diaspora Fellowship Program, in association with the ZM Makeba Trust and Siyandisa Music.

Celebrity Corner

As for the performance, the energy on stage was simply too contagious to keep the audiences from reciprocating. Their participation was the highlight for many of the cast members, who remarked that they in turn fed off the energy from the audience.

“It was quite a different experience performing for the first time, testing the play in front of an audience,” said Ameera Juta, a second-year UWC BA degree student and one of the youngest cast members.

“The first night was extra special – it had a large number of students [in the audience] who could relate to the story and even interact and identify with the play, and I think a lot of them are more curious to know about the liberation struggle after seeing the musical. Even though Miriam Makeba's music is not from our generation, we have grown to love the tunes and to learn about the country's history in a very practical way.”

The show leaves for the USA in September but will have a run at the Baxter Theatre in Cape Town in February 2017, before playing in Johannesburg.

UWC alumna and chief executive officer of the Artscape Theatre, Marlene le Roux (right), and actress Denise Newman, were among the guests in May at the performance of Miriam Makeba Mama Africa - The Musical.

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