Uwc on campus iss2 2014 v10

on Campus Issue 2 • June 2014 • For daily updates visit www.uwc.ac.za

INSIDE UWC’s new Rector to start in 2015 page 3

CHS students dare to aim higher page 7

UWC sports centre scoops architecture award page 21

Another Banyana star joins UWC page 24

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New Centre of Excellence at UWC to tackle food security

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from UWC, UP and the tudies show Universities of Cape Town, that in South Fort Hare, Johannesburg, Africa, where Limpopo, Nelson Mandela, over 60% North West, Stellenbosch of the population and Venda, the Tshwane is urbanised, University of Technology, food insecurity is and the Agricultural widespread, with Research Council and Statistics South Water Research Council.

Africa reporting that International partners approximately 45% will include the Australian of South Africans live National University, the below the poverty line.

City University of New Chronic malnutrition York, the Institute of affects one in five Development Studies, young children in both the International Food rural and urban areas, Policy Research Institute, and about one in ten Michigan State University of households in South Celebrating the launch of the new CoE are (from left) Dr Thomas Auf der Heyde, DST; UWC’s Prof Brian and Missouri University.

Africa experience O’Connell; Minister Derek Hanekom; Prof Stephanie Burton, Vice-Principal: Research and Postgraduate Hanekom had high hunger every month.

Studies at UP; Dr Romilla Maharaj, NRF; UP’s Prof Sheryl Hendriks, who serves as co-director of the CoE; Dr Phil Mjwara, DST; UWC’s Prof Julian May, who is the director of the CoE; and Prof Ramesh Bharuthram, expectations for the It is statistics such Centre of Excellence and as these that inspired Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Academic at UWC. its scholars, he noted. the new national about food security for poor, vulnerable “I want to see researchers become more Centre of Excellence in Food Security, and marginal populations. Its work will than just researchers. They should be activists launched by Derek Hanekom, Minister cover four themes: food creation, food ― an advocacy group for food security.” of Science and Technology, at UWC on distribution, food consumption and food It is initiatives such as this Centre that 15 April. The CoE is hosted by UWC, and governance. will build skills and resources, and lead to co-hosted by the University of Pretoria Researchers will be multi-disciplinary more research that will help the country (UP). It is supported by the Department and will look at changes in the global and to confront the issues of poverty, hunger of Science & Technology (DST) and the national food system, and how this affects and malnutrition, said UWC’s Rector and National Research Foundation (NRF). the sustainability, availability, access and Vice-Chancellor, Professor Brian O’Connell.

“Food insecurity in the country should attributes of food. They will aim to identify UWC has been entrusted with a critical worry South Africans, but we should also and locate ‘food insecurity’ in South Africa, responsibility to host the Centre of be pleased that it is being reduced,” said exploring people’s choices, strategies and Excellence, O’Connell added.

Hanekom at the launch. “People in SA are opportunities. They will also study policies, “I look forward to the coming engagement underfed, overfed or just fed wrongly.” technologies, interventions and products with the University of Pretoria, and I The CoE will set out to undertake that would enable access to affordable and believe that we will see the two institutions research, capacity building and nutritious food in ecological, economic, come together and do amazing things.” dissemination activities that will promote social and politically sustainable ways. a sustainable food system that brings Researchers at the Centre will be drawn

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UWC caps more students who can change the world

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t was another record-breaking Summer Graduation at UWC this year.

UWC’s Rector and Vice-Chancellor, Professor Brian O’Connell, capped a total of 3,311 graduates over the 10 ceremonies in March. This included 2,530 students who completed their undergraduate degrees, 511 with honours degrees, and 203 were awarded master’s degrees, while no fewer than 67 received their doctoral degrees. (There’s more to come in September, of course!)

There were several highlights at the ceremonies. Visually impaired student Xolani Gxekwa received his LLB degree summa cum laude, after also picking up a few prizes at the UWC Law Pre-graduation ceremony. Several master’s and PhD graduates came through the national Square Kilometre Array (SKA) project, the largest astronomical endeavour in the Southern Hemisphere and one of the largest scientific projects globally.

The University also presented its ― and the country’s ― first Master’s in Nanoscience degrees, part of the National Nanoscience Postgraduate Teaching and Training Programme.

It’s been a long road for UWC, explained

O’Connell. “Just ten years ago, they said the University had no hope, and should be merged

UWC had changed since her days as a student, and how the University had changed her as well.

“When I first came to study here, at that school with the red bricks and the four buildings, nobody thought I could learn to be a social worker here,” she said. “But from the first year I learned to be a true professional, to always set high standards and be the best that you can be.”

Jones was honoured for her work as a founding member of Community Chest South Africa. The Community Chest entered the global philanthropic space through Jones’ formal association with United Way Worldwide (UWW), which runs programmes in 45 countries.

Jones is also noted for her part in the establishment of the Community Chest Capacity Building Programme, which UWC Rector Prof Brian O’Connell caps honorary doctorate recipient ― and Community resulted in the urgent need to build a Chest founder ― Amelia Jones, in the March Graduation Ceremony. strong skills base within organisations. with other institutions. But we welcomed “Value your education,” Jones told students, the challenge of transcending the past, and “and never forget where you came from, and today we have come a long way indeed. UWC’s the values you have been taught: to always be success story is a metaphor for South Africa.” yourself; to experience life; to respect others; Amelia Jones, who was awarded an honorary to lead by example; and to live outwardly and doctorate in social work, reflected on how be connected with people.

Archbishop Makgoba speaks out against homophobia

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t’s not a stance typical among church leaders, but at an Open Panel lecture at UWC in April, Anglican Archbishop Thabo Makgoba, who is also the University Chancellor, expressed his dismay about the rise of homophobia on the African continent.

The event, organised by the Open Society Foundation for South Africa, a civil-society organisation that aims to build vibrant and tolerant societies, gave people from all walks of life a chance to voice their opinions.

“As we were preparing to celebrate Human Rights Month,” Makgoba said, “we were saddened to learn about the decision made by the Ugandan government to pass a law that essentially makes loving another person of the same gender a criminal offence.”

He continued: “All humans are created in the image of God, and therefore must be treated with respect and accorded with human dignity.”

Koko added that the organisation was The legislation and growing homophobia surprised to see that the South African calls for action, Makgoba said. “The same government had not condemned such way we expected others to speak out against homophobic actions in other African apartheid, we need to speak out when it is countries. “We can’t expect someone our turn to show solidarity with others who coming from a progressive country to uphold are similarly oppressed.” homophobia in Uganda,” he said.

Guillain Koko, a human rights lawyer from the Democratic Republic of Congo who now assists lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) refugees, spoke of his work with People Against Suffering Oppression and Poverty (PASSOP), an organisation that protects the rights of LGBT and other asylum seekers in South Africa. Many LGBT people flee to South Africa because they face discrimination in other African countries, Koko argued.

“Some of these people are burned alive or run away because of police brutality, especially if you are aware of what is happening on the continent in countries Archbishop Thabo Makgoba and PASSOP human rights lawyer Guillain Koko participating in a panel discussion on homophobia in Africa. like Nigeria and Uganda,” he said.

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UWC’s new Rector to start in 2015

Professor Tyrone Pretorius has been appointed as the new Rector and Vice-Chancellor of the University of the Western Cape.

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WC will have a new Rector in 2015.

The University recently announced that Professor Tyrone Pretorius has accepted the position of Rector and ViceChancellor. He will succeed Professor Brian O’Connell, who has led UWC through turbulent times, helping to transform it from an institution on the verge of bankruptcy to one of South Africa’s most successful research and teaching institutions.

Pretorius arrives at UWC during the second semester of 2014 to allow for a smoother transition, and will officially take the helm in January 2015. The UWC Council has expressed its pleasure with Pretorius’ appointment, and its confidence that he will provide leadership that continues to set UWC on the path to greater success.

A respected academic, teacher and leader who has served as Vice-Principal of the University of Pretoria and President of Monash South Africa, Pretorius holds two doctorates and has published widely in the field of psychology.

Not only has he previously served as Dean of the Faculty of Community and Health Sciences and Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Academic, but he’s also a proud UWC alumnus, who earned his undergraduate, honours, master’s and doctorate degrees at the University.

He has a vision for the University of the Western Cape as an

institution fully prepared to engage with the challenges facing South Africa, and to be a leading member of a transformed higher education sector.

“The grand challenges of our time revolve around creating economic and environmental sustainability, as well as social and cultural equity,” says Pretorius. “The challenges that our young nation faces, in the areas of health, education, crime, poverty and governance are well-known and well-documented. Universities that want to be recognised, that want to be seen as excellent, will reflect the realities of this context in their core mandate of research, teaching and learning, as well as engagement.”

To do this, universities need to educate and equip students to tackle these challenges, and to develop both basic and applied knowledge, says Pretorius. The strengthening of research, social innovation and the enhancement of community engagement are high on his agenda, as is strengthening professional and support services.

Pretorius believes that the future looks bright for UWC. “The University of the Western Cape has a lot to be proud of, but it also has the potential to achieve much more. All the right and solid foundations have been laid, and the challenge is for UWC to build on these solid foundations to become one of the top universities in South Africa, recognised on the continent and beyond for its excellence and innovation.”

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Library friend speaks of ideas and partnerships

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ocieties and cultures benefit Mozambique, painstakingly gathered over 40 defeated by Shaka Zulu in the early 19th from the cross-fertilisation years and more. century fled north. Mozambicans came to work of ideas – and in the South African mines. And many South Africa and South Africans moved to Maputo Mozambique are perfect examples of because interracial relations were this, each enriched by its relationship prohibited in South Africa. “There is with the other.” a long history of these borders being So explained Professor Alan crossed,” Isaacman explained.

Isaacman, Regents Professor There is also a strong political of History and Director of the bond as Mozambique was a strong Interdisciplinary Centre for the Study supporter of the ANC throughout the of Global Change at the University of struggle years.

Minnesota, USA, in a talk presented “I want to emphasise that these at the UWC Library in March. It’s a books are here for students to learn topic of special interest to Isaacman, more about Mozambican history an internationally renowned African and the relationship between South studies scholar and author, as well as Africa and Mozambique,” Isaacman Extraordinary Professor at UWC, who said of his donations to the UWC has published widely on the history of Extraordinary UWC Professor Alan Isaacman explains how South Africa and Library. “Look at your beautiful Mozambique have been intertwined for over a thousand years.

Mozambique and South Africa. library; look at your great works of The UWC Library is also a pet art; and reflect on what these works project of his. Isaacman has long been a “The shared history of the people of South have to say about the history of South Africa, member of the “Friends of the Library” Africa and Mozambique goes back at least a and Africa as a whole.” programme. In 2011 he donated his extensive thousand years, when Bantu-speaking people The UWC Friends of the Library programme library of materials on Lusophone Africa who today live in Mozambique crossed from aims to promote a closer relationship ― probably the largest such privately-held Tanzania to Mozambique,” said Isaacman in his between the UWC Library Special Collections collection worldwide ― to UWC. And in 2013 lecture. “You can see it in their shared pottery and UWC researchers and donors, assist the he handed over a remarkable collection of and languages, among other things.”

Library with activities, participate in the scarce and out-of-print books, ephemera, There have been other exchanges of people library review of the Special Collections posters and serials with a primary focus on and cultures. Large numbers of people material, and help with fund raising.

UWC can shape African higher education through new appointment

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WC’s Dr Birgit Schreiber is quick to point out that her appointment as chair of the African board of the International Association of Student Affairs and Services (IASAS), announced in April, is a timely opportunity.

“It’s a huge responsibility and a huge honour for UWC,” says Schreiber, director of the University’s Centre for Student Support Services (CSSS). “UWC will be able to play a key role in Dr Birgit Schreiber, Director of CSSS, has chairing conversations across the been appointed as chair of the African region of the board of the International continent, attracting partnerships Association of Student Affairs and Services. and developing best practices.

Not only can we learn from our African colleagues, but we will also be able to help shape the continent’s higher education landscape. With the engagement of our national and continental colleagues in the university executives, we will be able to make a real difference for student success.”

That’s also testimony to the influence of IASAS, a global federation that promotes the idea that universities are more than just engines for research. Composed of higher education student affairs and services professionals from around the world, the Association advocates for

students in higher education and their learning and development environment. It also promotes professional development, best practices, internships and exchanges, conferences and research across and between regions.

The position comes with prestige, but also serious responsibilities. In line with IASAS’s goals, Schreiber’s duties will include enhancing local and international understanding.

Among the challenges on the continent are the political and economic environments, notes Schreiber. It is these challenges that the organisation looks at and hopes to assist with.

“Universities are taking responsibility for aspects of living and learning which we know have an impact on student success,” she says. “Shaping the context for student successes cannot be coincidental or based on intuition, but needs to be based on research, partnerships and best practices. UWC is now in a position to contribute to and shape these matters.

Schreiber’s first major task is to set up an online platform that will allow student affairs executives and directors to have conversations across the continent. These will, in turn, facilitate the development of standards based on values and principles.

From there it’s about tackling matters that improve the living and learning of students in higher education.

Want to know more about the International Association of Student Affairs and Services? Visit their website at http://www.iasasonline.org/.

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Sachs speaks on the legacy of Oliver Tambo

Judge Albie Sachs speaking about the legacy of Oliver Tambo at the 9th Dullah Omar Memorial Lecture.

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ormer Constitutional Court Judge Albie Sachs spoke of both disillusionment and hope when he delivered UWC’s 9th Dullah Omar Memorial Lecture, hosted by the University on 25 March.

In his lecture, titled Speaking to Oliver Tambo’s Ghost: Twenty years into democracy, Sachs looked back on his friendship with OR Tambo, and the kind of leadership Tambo provided: methodical, civil and inclusive. This at a time, said Sachs, of great adversity, when Tambo had to lead an organisation that had no state powers but had to contend with the powers of a state that was brutal in its methods.

“OR was the kind of leader who worried about ethical decisions,” said Sachs, “but who never thought he could answer them all. People think of a revolutionary as a fiery, tempestuous person, with burning eyes and powerful convictions. But Oliver Tambo proved that a true revolutionary can be someone who’s warm and embracing and civil even to enemies. You can be a revolutionary and you can be quiet. You can be profound and radical and yet civil and Couldn’t make it to the lecture but want to hear Judge Sachs’ address for yourself?

No problem - you can listen to it at https://soundcloud.com/user805053282/ continue3.

moral at the same time.”

Sachs explored some of the challenges faced while drafting the ANC’s code of conduct, a code establishing a structure of legality for a liberation movement in exile.

The ANC had to stay a step ahead of the South African government, while also trying to stay morally ahead of the apartheid state’s methods when the organisation’s friends and members were dying. With Tambo’s leadership, the ANC came through this period with flying colours, said Sachs.

While admiring how far South Africa had come, Sachs noted that “we have a strong press, and a strong judiciary, and people speak their minds ― it’s a very free and open society. And yet there’s a sense of disenchantment that leads me to think back on the Biblical quote, ‘What profiteth a man who gains the whole world, and loses his soul?’ Well, what profiteth a movement to attain the majority and lose its own soul?”

He urged young people not to give in to despair. He asked them to imagine how troubling this might be to a man like OR Tambo, who provided hope and encouragement in circumstances much darker than those faced by most South Africans today.

South Africans may face problems, but South Africans can also find solutions, Sachs said. The new democracy did so

in developing, in the case of HIV/AIDS, what is now the most advanced and wellorganised ARV programme in the world.

This would not have happened if South Africans had simply thrown up their hands in despair, said Sachs.

“When young people ask me for my advice, I tell them my advice is that they don’t listen to my advice,” he noted.

“We don’t need another Dullah Omar.

We need someone who, like Dullah Omar, finds their own inspirations, with different backgrounds, from different generations, finding different solutions. Just get enough young people together, give them opportunities and hope, and we can create a genuinely new spirit of social revolution in South Africa.”

Since its establishment in 2004, the Dullah Omar Memorial Lecture series, hosted by the Community Law Centre, is staged annually in honour of the late Advocate Dullah Omar, the Centre’s founding director and former minister of Justice.

Advocate Dullah Omar oversaw a period of great transformation at the South African Ministry of Justice. His ministry was responsible for the establishment of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, and laid the groundwork for a profound transformation of the judiciary.

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Dean urges top EMS students to chase their dreams

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here was a lot of talk about dreams when UWC’s Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences (EMS) held its annual Dean’s Merit List Awards in April.

Mostly the talk was about how the 30 undergraduate and postgraduate students honoured that night by the Dean, Professor Kobus Visser, had worked to make their dreams come true. In recognition, Visser and others lauded the Faculty’s high achievers who had averaged 75% or more in 2013.

Foremost amongst these pacesetters were Wikus Botha (BAdmin), leader of the first-year group in 2013; Rhondeline Williams (BAdmin), who outscored all the other second-year students; and Arshud Musa (BCom), outshining everyone else in the third-year classes.

Amongst the postgrads, Francis Chiparawasha (BCom Hons, Economics) took top place in the honours group, while Winnie Sambu (MEcon) did likewise among the master’s students.

Special guest speaker was UWC alumnus Murshid Obaray, CEO of Black Oaks Consulting. Obaray knows a thing or two

about chasing dreams. Unable to study after high school, he instead went on to build a remarkable résumé in, among other areas, business development and strategy consulting. Only at age 35 did he start his formal higher education training at UWC. He carries his student card to this day.

“I can’t tell you about setting goals and achieving them,” Obaray told the assembled students, “because you’ve already demonstrated that you can do that. But I can tell you that being here today is not about the dreams other people have for you ― it’s about figuring out what you want for yourself, while honouring the family and friends and lecturers who sacrificed to give you the opportunity to do your best.”

Staff achievements were also acknowledged at the event. Dr Derek Yu was declared Teacher of the Year, Dr Johan Breytenbach was named Emergent Lecturer of the Year, and Professor Andy Heng-Hsing Hsieh received the award for Researcher of the Year. In addition, the Academic Development Department was named the Department of

the Year.

“These awards acknowledge both the students and the lecturers and academic staff,” explained EMS tutor coordinator, Megan Bam. “The lecturers have a huge responsibility, sending out the next group of business leaders in South Africa. And the students have an immense responsibility, too: one day when we’re old, you will be the ones making sure this country stays stable.”

Top EMS students with their certificates at the Dean’s Merit Awards.

Paarl school receives new science lab from UWC-SLCA

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cience is going to get a lot Kim Gibson, chief financial officer more hands-on at Noorderat Garden Cities, the foundation Paarl Senior Secondary. that has sponsored numerous such The school, opened in SLCs, said the partnership with UWC 1922 and is one of the oldest high has flourished over the years. “That schools in the Western Cape. It on its own is an immeasurable was recently presented with a fully achievement; we would like to furnished Science Learning Centre thank the committed teachers for (SLC), courtesy of UWC’s Science the work they are doing,” he said.

Learning Centre for Africa (UWCProfessor Shaheed Hartley, SLCA) project and the Garden director of the UWC-SLCA, Cities Archway Foundation. That’s explained that the Paarl SLC is more good news for Noorder, home the nineteenth sponsored by UWC in 2014 to 1,300 learners from and Garden Cities since 2011. the surrounding Paarl area, who “This is one of the most beautiful recently won a prominent science laboratories I have ever seen competition. because of the space in this room,” (From left to right) Myrtle February, Director of the Garden Cities Archway The official opening of the Hartley added.

Science Learning Centre was led by Foundation; UWC Rector and Vice-Chancellor, Prof Brian O’Connell; and Principal “It is a space that should at Noorder-Paarl Secondary school; Darryl Mathys, at the opening of the Science UWC’s Rector and Vice-Chancellor, benefit both the learners and the Learning Centre.

Professor Brian O’Connell, on a community”, he said. pleasantly busy day. Earlier that Darryl Mathys, principal of that we have HIV/AIDS treatment, and I tell morning, O’Connell and others unveiled a Noorder-Paarl, said the school could not thank you now that it will be through science when Science Learning Centre at Steynville Senior UWC enough for the Centre. we eventually discover the cure,” he said.

Secondary school in Piketberg, an hour and a “Our learners and staff are now exposed O’Connell spoke on how countries like South half’s drive away from Noorder-Paarl. to high-tech science resources and we hope Korea built their economic successes on In Paarl, the Rector described science as a they really make use of this facility. And as science. He also encouraged learners to set way of learning and understanding new things, the principal of this school, I am committing high targets for themselves; too often South citing HIV/AIDS as a case in point. “It is myself to ensuring that this Centre is Africans make the mistake of thinking they are through science that we know how to protect properly utilised not only for our school, but not good enough, he said. ourselves from the virus. It is through science in the area.”

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CHS students dare to aim higher

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hey set the bar high for those who want to make it onto a Dean’s Merit List.

That was one of the messages to come out when UWC’s Faculty of Community and Health Sciences (CHS) recently hosted its annual Dean’s Merit Awards.

Undergraduate students have to score an aggregate of 80%, while honours students need an aggregate of 75% or more. Master’s students must average at least 70%.

At this year’s event, 42 students were honoured for their academic achievements.

They have come a long way, pointed out Dean, Professor José Frantz.

“Of the thousands who apply to study at CHS, we can take only perhaps 10% into our Faculty,” said Frantz. “So the pressure on the 10% increases ― and we should really salute these young people here tonight, who overcame that pressure to be the best.”

“The best” included top first-year student Wendy Lianne Knol of the Department of Sport, Recreation and Exercise Science; nursing student Kuda Majada was the

best among the second years; and Chane Volschenk took top place in the third-year class. Among the postgraduates, psychology student Tracey Wild was the top honours student, with Jill Ryan topping the leader board among the master’s students.

Finally, Nishaat Jacobs was surprised with a PPS Bursary, which is made to a deserving student and covers an entire year’s tuition.

But the occasion wasn’t just about the students. A selection of Staff Excellence awards were presented to outstanding CHS academics. Professor Julie Phillips of the Department of Physiotherapy received the Excellence in Research Award. The Excellence in Teaching and Learning Award was made to Professor Jo-Celene de Jongh of the Department of Occupational Therapy. The Outstanding Academic Support Award went to May Coetzee, also from Physiotherapy.

Keynote speaker at the ceremony was alumna Dr Tanushree Pillay, who served with the South African hockey teams at the 2012 London Olympics and is now based with the

Springbok Women’s Rugby squad. Pillay, who received her PhD at the March graduation ceremonies, reminded students of the long road to success.

“Celebrate your achievement,” she said, “but I also urge you to take with you what it is that you want to achieve in future, and to find your place in society, and to be the best that you can be ― not because somebody’s pushing you, but because you love what you do, and with that depth and passion will come excellence.”

Prof Anthea Rhoda, Chair of Physiotherapy (fouth from right) in the CHS Faculty, with the top Physiotherapy students.

Science honours its “outliers”

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medical bioscience student who tudents in the scored 90.8% for her coursework Faculty of Natural in 2013, the second year of her Sciences at UWC studies. Volkman was followed have a lot to live by medical bioscience honours up to: this, after all, graduate Hartwig Visser, who had is the faculty with the achieved an average of 90.1% in largest research output at 2013. the University.

Davies-Coleman explained The students honoured that the students honoured at at the annual Dean’s the event represented only a Merit Awards in March tiny fraction of those studying are clearly up for the in the Faculty, making them ― challenge. At the event, statistically speaking ― outliers.

Professor Charlene Africa, “You are extraordinary,” he told Deputy Dean: Employment the students. “You worked very and Gender Equity in hard, you put in the hours and you the Faculty and MC for took advantage of the challenges the evening, and Dean, and opportunities presented to Professor Michael DaviesThe Dean of the Faculty of Natural Sciences, Prof Michael Davies-Coleman (left), with the you ― and you love science.”

Coleman, presented science students who made it onto the 2014 Science Dean’s Merit List. certificates and awards award was nothing new to Parker, a The Faculty of Natural Sciences has the to 28 of Natural Sciences’ biotechnology major; she had also been largest research output of any faculty finest students. These students earned an the leading student in 2012 and 2011. In in the University ― and that output is average mark of 80% or higher in 2013.

2013 she scored no less than 91.3%, and had growing all the time. In 2006 it had Among the group ― although she couldn’t graduated summa cum laude in March. generated 426 research units. By 2013, attend on the night ― was Edyth Parker, Closely following her was Tina Volkman, a that number had nearly doubled to over the Faculty’s top student in 2013. The 800 research units.

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Arts faculty’s top achievers honoured with Dean’s Merit Awards

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vuna Math, Marriam Salie and Dale Kyle May were among those who took centre stage when UWC’s Faculty of Arts hosted its annual Dean’s Merit Awards ceremony in April.

The three students were the top achievers among the cohort of about 90 students honoured on the day. Leading the ceremony was the Dean, Professor Duncan Brown, who presented the students with their hard-won certificates.

In his address, Brown noted that the event is his favourite at the institution as it is a day where the Faculty honours the top achievers, their parents and faculty staff. Parents have sacrificed so much, he added; they have invested money towards their children’s education and supported them, helping them to excel in their studies.

Brown maintained that “there are many careers with a BA degree, and the importance of a degree should be emphasised in families because one degree can open up university opportunities for other family members. A university degree is not just about getting a job; it trains you to be a thinker and an intellectual.”

He also had a few words of caution and encouragement for the students.

“Having a degree shouldn’t make you arrogant; one must

be humble and learn to learn, and that is something I believe should never end. Nothing stops you from graduating with a doctoral degree; just think about the blue gown.”

Dean of Arts Professor Duncan Brown and Yuvna Muthy (who has maintained the number one spot for two years) at the Arts Dean’s Merit Awards. She got 80.6% in her BA.

Law students urged to build “Brand You”

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hat this afternoon is about is Brand You: I want to suggest to each and every one of you taking your place on the Dean’s Merit List that you are your own professional brand, and that that brand needs to be nurtured.”

So said Dean, Professor Bernard Martin, at the Faculty of Law’s Dean’s Merit Awards in April. Here the faculty’s top students – just under a 100 of them ― were honoured for scoring 75% or more in 2013, and were presented with certificates and awards.

“This afternoon is a very important step in your development and in your career path,” Martin told the students. “This certificate is in recognition of your achievement ― and it’s something you can put on Facebook, along with the pictures.” (“You might want to cut me out if I’m too ugly,” the Dean joked.)

Several students had already received their certificates at the Law Pre-Grad Ceremony in March, but as Martin explained, the Merit Awards also gave non-graduating students the credit they were due. “I’m hoping that this will become an independent celebration in its own right,” he noted. “It’s a celebration of the achievement of those people who are on the path to graduation but aren’t there yet ― we want to celebrate your achievements along the way.”

The Dean explained the importance of branding by discussing what happened when Coca Cola ― perhaps the most recognisable brand in the world at the time ― stopped advertising for a while, costing them over a billion dollars in lost revenue. “Brands have to be built, to be promoted constantly. People need to know what

you’re all about, to know what you’re worth.”

Martin encouraged students to keep on achieving. “You know what it took to get on the Dean’s Merit List, and you know what it takes to stay there. I hope that in future you will put in the hard yards ― I want to see you come here again and again, building up that brand, getting people to recognise that you are a consistent achiever.

“And remember,” he concluded, “whenever you achieve, UWC achieves ― and through you the banner and the name of UWC is held high.”

Visually impaired summa cum laude LLB student Xolani Gxekwa, assisted by the Coordinator of the Office for Students with Disabilities, Evadne Abrahams, receives his certificate from Dean of Law, Prof Bernard Martin.

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9

ABSA sponsors UWC accounting students

Five first-year students at UWC could not have asked for a better start to their varsity life than receiving financial assistance to register for their studies. The five accounting students each received R3 500 towards their registration, thanks to a new partnership between UWC and the Association for the Advancement of Black Accountants of Southern Africa (ABASA). The ABASA bursary fund aims to assist students who have performed well at secondary school and now wish to pursue tertiary studies in chartered accountancy.

Here students mark the occasion with UWC and ABSA representatives.

World-renowned academic showcases mixed methods research

(From left to right) University of Nebraska-Lincoln researcher Tim Gutterman; UWC Dean of CHS, Prof José Frantz; University of Nebraska-Lincoln lecturer Prof John Cresswell; UWC Occupational Therapy Chairperson, Prof Lisa Wegner; and senior Occupational Therapy lecturer Dr Mogammad Soeker at the Occupational Therapy Mixed Methods Workshop.

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n research, you sometimes have to mix and match.

To see how to best do that, UWC’s Department of Occupational Therapy, together with the Office of the Vice-Chancellor: Academic, hosted a Mixed Methods Workshop in April. To run the workshop, the Department had called on mixed-methods doyen, Professor John Creswell of the Department of Educational Psychology at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in the US. Creswell is a renowned author and researcher on qualitative

methodology, general research design and mixed method research, as well as founding co-editor of the SAGE journal, the Journal of Mixed Methods Research. He has also published over 20 books on research designs.

Assisted by Tim Guetterman, a doctoral fellow at NebraskaLincoln, Creswell provided an overview of mixed methods research, a research approach that seeks to marry qualitative and quantitative research methodologies. Participants discussed topics such as the essentials of mixed-methods studies, its history, and when best to apply the technique. They also reflected on the conceptualisation of a qualitative research problem, on identifying the appropriate procedures for data collection, and on the validation of qualitative research findings.

For some hands-on insights, five postgraduates were given the opportunity to present studies ― involving both quantitative and qualitative data ― that they were working on. Creswell and other academics then provided much-appreciated feedback.

Anja Human-Hendricks, one of the presenters, found the workshop to be of such value that, she said, she would definitely recommend it to other students. “The input and feedback received from Professor Creswell and the broader academic panel was very useful in adapting and improving our studies. Prof Creswell is a phenomenal researcher, and his presence was an asset to our learning and growth as developing researchers.”

Juliana Willemse was equally complimentary. “To be granted an opportunity to present your own research to an author of such esteem was one of the most rewarding academic achievements for a student of the University of the Western Cape,” she said.

“This was a great review session, and it provided clarity on areas that I was challenged with, as I am doing mixed methodology in my PhD research.”

10

News

UWC marks World TB Day

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WC’s School of Nursing believes people need to talk about tuberculosis (TB).

That’s why the University’s nursing students commemorated World TB Day on 24 March ― themed Unmask Stigma ― by distributing masks to the campus community and answering questions about the disease. The message of the day was to create awareness about the plight of those infected with TB. The process had been initiated at UWC by the School’s Professor Rene Phetlhu, urged UWC Nursing students marking World TB Day by holding a masking event on campus, distributing masks to the campus community and on by the organisation answering questions about the disease.

TB Proof and physician couple Dr Arne and Darlene von Delft, a bank and get TB,” she said. “People in the same way as has been the case who have started many projects at the should still be aware that you can have with HIV/AIDS. “We’ve had a great deal of University of Cape Town and Stellenbosch TB without simultaneously having HIV, and success promoting the awareness of HIV/ University. Phetlhu and her colleague that TB is curable even if you have HIV. AIDS over the last few years,” she noted.

Magesh Naidoo, as well as other staff You can still take your treatment and you “But if we focus on AIDS without really and students at UWC’s School of Nursing, will be cured.” talking about TB, we are missing the point, organised the activities.

World TB Day helps raise awareness and not properly managing a disease that TB is the biggest killer of HIV-positive about the disease, and about other contributes to the death of our people.” patients, both in South Africa ― which has important TB related facts. Most This is especially problematic in a huge amount of TB cases each year ― importantly the day promotes TB particular communities, like the Western and around the world. Even without the awareness so that communities can Cape farming community, where TB is contraction of HIV it is a deadly disease, understand and manage the disease. The particularly widespread. “TB rates are and getting deadlier all the time. message is simple, but important. increasing ― despite the fact that it is Research has shown that XDR TB ― which “Those people with TB need support from curable. We need to educate people about is an extensively drug-resistant form their communities,” said Phetlhu. “They their treatment regimes.” of TB ― has been increasing in South need to be able to take their treatment One aspect of the discussion is the stigma Africa. Patients who don’t complete their and go about their lives without being attached to the disease. Many people courses of medication help build even stigmatised. They’re sick, but they’re still associate TB with HIV, and treat sufferers greater resistant TB strains, putting both human beings, and they can be cured.” as though they are doomed to die, and themselves and others in danger. are in some way responsible for their own Prof Rene Phetlhu was recently elected Phetlhu expressed the hope that TB would suffering. “So the problem becomes this: as the Regional Coordinator (Africa) of be taken seriously and would be discussed if I’m diagnosed with TB, I’m scared to tell the international committee of the Sigma people and I’m scared to go for treatment, Theta Tau International Honour Society of because people will think I have HIV.” Nursing for 2013 to 2015. She also serves Want to know more about World TB Day, “TB is highly infectious and as it is an as the current Tau Lambda at-large and why it’s so important? Just take a airborne disease, it can affect anybody”, chapter president, serving 18 universities few minutes and visit the official website Phetlhu informed the audience. in seven countries (with more institutions at http://www.who.int/campaigns/tb“People forget that you can walk into in the process of being inducted). day/2014/event/en/.

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11

Sequencing of tsetse fly genome a wake-up call for sleeping sickness

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The IGGI’s efforts have been instrumental of Public Health (US), the European WC’s South African National Bioinformatics Institute (SANBI), as Bioinformatics Institute (embl-ebi), in building capacity in genomic and Cambridge University (UK) and the WHO part of an interdisciplinary group genetic research in Africa, and saw strong regional office for Africa of researchers participation from institutes in sub-Saharan ― genetic traits have been from several institutions Africa. exposed that make more across the globe, helped “We have been involved in a few control options available. obtain and decode the international consortia, but this project Some of the 12, 308 366-million base pair was the first of its kind, where African protein-coding genes genome sequence of the researchers were playing an active that IGGI researchers tsetse fly, aka Glossina leadership role and all of the activities were identified code for morsitans morsitans. directed at supporting genomics research on proteins that help tsetse Tsetse flies have many the African continent,” says Professor Alan flies to both conserve interesting and unique Christoffels, director of SANBI. “We have and extract water from physiological traits. They developed partnerships with researchers their meals. These genes feed only on vertebrate across the African make for good blood. Females give birth continent.” treatment targets to live young. They feed The availability ― eliminating these their larvae by lactation. of the tsetse fly would help control fly And they have complex genomic data populations, perhaps relationships with no and related by providing livestock less than three different information ― symbiotic bacteria. including knowledge Professor Alan Christoffels, Director of SANBI with vaccines that But these little insects at UWC, was part of an international project create antibodies to of the tsetse’s the proteins found can also be a big problem. to decode the genome of the tsetse fly. vision, olfaction, in tsetse guts and Tsetse flies are perhaps and immune and salivary glands. better known as the vectors of African reproductive Genes involved in the fly’s smell, sleeping sickness ― technically known as physiology ― will The tsetse fly is a unique insect taste and vision can help devise better Human African Trypanosomiasis (HAT) ― a provide a unique in many ways, as revealed by repellents ― or better traps. Now that disease that impacts over 70 million people opportunity to a genomic analysis performed the genes involved in colour sensing in sub-Saharan Africa. Sleeping sickness is transform tsetse

by UWC’s SANBI as part of an have been revealed, for example, new caused by tiny parasitic organisms known international partnership. research and traps can be devised that capitalise on as trypanosomes, found in the saliva of the Photograph by Dr Geoffery Attardo, associated disease Yale School of Public Health. the shade of dark blue which the fly tsetse fly. There is no known vaccine, and control practices. finds most attractive. the result is fever and human deaths.

Says Christoffels: “Besides the scientific The disease can be controlled by helping The disease also causes losses of more findings, this programme has demonstrated the flies themselves. By examining tsetse than US$4 billion in agriculture, and kills the value of genomics training in the mechanisms for eliminating parasites in three million livestock annually. context of a DNA sequencing project. There the mid-gut, flies can be engineered with Efforts to combat HAT mainly revolves is no doubt that much more value is to be greater resistance, thereby solving the around avoiding the fly or controlling its found in this project.” problem of disease transmission. spread. But now that the genome has SANBI was involved in various aspects been decoded ― a ten-year effort by the The South African National Bioinformatics of the project, including the analysis International Glossina Genome Initiative Institute is a Medical Research Council of the olfactory genes and the iron (IGGI), a group of 146 researchers from research unit for capacity developing metabolism genes (related to smell and institutions including the Yale School in bioinformatics, with the mission to feeding, respectively); the examination of conduct cutting-edge bioinformatics and characteristics that control the ‘on/off’ Among the interesting IGGI discoveries: computational biology research relevant switch of the genome; the identification the tsetse fly doesn’t just enjoy blood, or to South African, African and global of DNA that repeats itself multiple times use it to supplement other meals; it uses populations. SANBI has been involved in in the genome (helping scientists to figure blood as its only nutrient source. The several major national and international out evolutionary relationships); and the fly has no sugar-processing genes at all, genomics projects. For more information description of the location of particular genes and makes up for nutritional deficiencies about SANBI, visit their website at www. on the genome. The Institute also invested with the help of symbiotic bacteria that sanbi.ac.za or contact the SANBI offices heavily in computer-based training for the synthesise some of the vitamins lacking at 021 959 3645 or via email at info@ analysis of the tsetse fly genomic data. in its blood-only diet. sanbi.ac.za.

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News

Is there a doctor in the house?

A total of 67 candidates received their PhDs over the March 2014 graduation ceremonies. Here is a snapshot of our doctoral graduates with their thesis titles and their area of study.

LAW Timothy Kyepa

Usang Maria Assim

Yeukai Mupangavanhu

Thesis: The World Trade Organisation (WTO) and the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) Mandates: Regulating production quotas, subsidies, and corruption in oil producing countries ― an African perspective

Thesis: Understanding Kinship Care of Children in Africa: A family environment or an alternative option

Susan Carol Philpott

Michael Derek Powell

Thesis: Realising the Right of Children with Disabilities to Early Childhood Development in South Africa

Thesis: Building the Peace Viaduct: State formation and peace transitions ― understanding South Africa’s national and local peace transitions in an international context

Thesis: The Regional Integration of African Trade Mark Laws: Challenges and possibilities

Charity Wibabara Thesis: Gacaca Courts Versus the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda and National Courts ― Lessons to learn from the Rwandan justice approaches to genocide

NATURAL SCIENCES Imran Achmed

Pedro Miguel dos Santos Abrantes Thesis: Characterisation of Candida Species Isolated from the Oral Mucosa of HIV-positive African Patients

Thesis: Independent Hand-tracking from a Single Twodimensional View and its Application to South African Sign Language Recognition

Ademola Olusola Adesina

Clement Bula Basuayi

Thesis: Short Message Service Normalisation for Communication with a Health Information System

Thesis: Cross-Border Trade and Migration in the ConflictRidden Great Lake Region of Africa: Perspective from the Democratic Republic of the Congo

Oyelola Adegboye Thesis: Statistical Modelling of Incomplete and Clustered Data with Applications in Population Health Studies in Developing Countries

George Buzuzi Thesis: Fitted Numerical Methods to Solve Differential Models Describing Unsteady MagnetoHydrodynamic Flow

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13 NATURAL SCIENCES Tshepo Samuel Dinoko Thesis: Search for Low Spin Collective Structures in 158Er and 159Er

Cecil Felix Thesis: Development of Membrane Electrode Assemblies based on Electrophoretic Deposition for High-Temperature Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Fuel Cell Applications

Oko Unathi Gcilitshana Thesis: Supercapacitor Electrode Materials based on Nano-Structured Conducting Polymers and Metal Oxides

Mahjoubeh Jalali Sefid Dashti

Zahra Jalali Sefid Dashti

Julian David Vivian Key

Thesis: Application of Whole-Exome Sequencing and Biomedical Knowledge Discovery in Clinical Diagnostics, Disease-Risk Prediction and Personalised Medicine

Thesis: Computational Characterisation of IRE-Regulated Genes in Glossina morsitans

Thesis: Development of Aqueous IonIntercalation Battery Systems for High Power and Bulk Energy Storage

Kristian Leisegang

Raghu Ram Malladi

Innocent Muchingami

Thesis: The Effect of Insulin, Leptin and Inflammatory Cytokines on Reproductive Health and Hypogonadism in Males Diagnosed with the Metabolic Syndrome

Thesis: Automatic Signature Verification System

Thesis: Non-Invasive Characterisation of Unsaturated Zone Solute Transport in Dry Coal Ash Dumps at Tutuka, South Africa

Sarah Wambui Mwangi

Philomene Nsengiyumva

Zebib Yenus Nuru

Thesis: In Silico Investigation of Glossina morsitans Promoters

Thesis: Female Migration and Housing in South Africa: Evidence from the 2007 Community Survey

Thesis: Spectrally Selective Solar Absorber Coatings for High Temperature Solar-Thermal Applications

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News NATURAL SCIENCES Gauthier Nganda Okolongo

Kolade Matthew Owolabi

Pavan Kumar Rallabandi

Thesis: Advanced Oxidative Water Treatment Process Using an Electrohydraulic Discharge Reactor and TiO2 Immobilised on Nanofibres

Thesis: Efficient Numerical Methods to Solve Some Reaction-Diffusion Problems Arising in Biology

Thesis: Processing Hidden Markov Models using Recurrent Neural Networks for Biological Publications

Odutayo Raji Rufai

Thulaganyo Phillip Sechogela

Aline Simo

Thesis: Nonlinear Low Frequency Wave Phenomena in Space Plasmas

Thesis: Vanadium Dioxide Nanocomposite Thin Film Embedded in Zinc Oxide Matrix as Tunable Transparent Conductive Oxide

Thesis: Physical Properties of Vanadium Dioxide Nanoparticles: Application as 1-D nanobelts for room temperature hydrogen gas sensing

Bertrand Tumbain Sone

Christopher Edozie Sunday

Oluwakemi Tovide

Thesis: Low Temperature Tungsten Trioxide Nano/Micro Systems for Applications in Gas Sensing and Electrochromism

Thesis: The Design of Ultrasensitive Immunosensors based on a New Multi-Signal Amplification Gold NanoparticlesD$otted 4-nitrophenylazo Functionalised Graphene Sensing Platform for the Determination of Deoxynivalenol

Thesis: Graphenated Polyaniline Nanocomposite for the Determination of Polyaromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHS) in Water

ARTS Mark Espin

Catharina Maria Conradie

John Hugo Fischer

Thesis: Closeness and Distance: Modes of representation and forms of narration in John Berger’s prose fiction

Thesis: Aspirations and Capabilities: The design and analysis of an action research project in Khayelitsha, Cape Town

Thesis: The Relationship Between the Church and the Reign of God in the Reconstruction Theology of JNK Mugambi: A critical analysis

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15 ARTS Niklaas Johannes Fredericks Thesis: A Study of Dialectal and Interlinguistic Variations of Khoekhoegowab: Towards the determination of the standard orthography

Kelvin Mambwe Thesis: Identity, Mobility and Localisation of Language in Multilingual Contexts of Urban Lusaka

Jo-Mari Anne Nel Thesis: The Challenges, Opportunities and Possibilities of the Implementation of the Western Cape Language Policy

Godfrey Harold Thesis: An Evangelical Discourse on God’s Response to Suffering: A critical assessment of Gregory Boyd’s open theism

Marie L MinnaarMcDonald Thesis: Work, Women & Welfare: A critical, gendered analysis of social development with special reference to income-generation projects during the transition in South Africa (1994-2001)

Ebrahim Badrudin Sheikh Rashid Thesis: The Form of Muslim Government and its Source of Authority in Contemporary Islamic thought: A comparative study of the views of Ayatollah Ruḥollah Khomeini and Sayyid Quţb

Shirley Euginia Ndahafa Uvatera Shivangulula Thesis: Employment Demand, Employability and the Supply-Side Machinery: The case of the children of the liberation struggle of Namibia

David Solomon Jalajel Thesis: Women and Leadership in Islam: A critical analysis of classical Islamic legal texts

Masechaba Mahloli Mokhathi-Mbhele Thesis: Independent Clause Sesotho Personal Names as Texts in Context: A systemic functional linguistics approach

Rahel Salem Thesis: A Critical Comparison between the Ashʿarite and Salafi Schools of Thought with Special Reference to Muḥammad Saʿīd Ramaḍān al-Būṭī and Muḥammad b. Ṣāliḥ al-ʿUthaymīn.

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News COMMUNITY AND HEALTH SCIENCES Million Shiferaw Bimerew

Hazel Anne Bradley

Ebrahim Naushaad

Thesis: Developing a framework for a District-Based Information Management System for Mental Health Care in the Western Cape

Thesis: Roles and Competencies of District Pharmacists: A case study from Cape Town

Thesis: Development and Characterisation of a Transdermal Formula for an Extract of the Medical plant Harpagophytum procumbens

Shanaaz Hoosain

Mary Kasule

Rochshana Kemp

Thesis: The Transmission of Intergenerational Trauma in Displaced Families

Thesis: A Model for Obtaining Informed Consent for HIV Clinical Trials Research with Paediatric Patients

Thesis: The Development of Management Guidelines for School Social Work in the Western Cape

Wondwossen Terefe Lerebo

Penelope Martin

Tanushree Pillay

Thesis: Development of a Model of Emotional Support for Undergraduate Nursing Students Working in Mental Health Care Settings

Thesis: The Development of an Injury-Prevention Protocol for Netball: Using concept mapping as a framework

Thesis: A Hierarchical Modelling Approach to Identify Factors Associated with the Uptake of HIV Counselling and Testing and Prevention of Mother-to-Child HIV Transmission Programme among Post-Partum Women in Ethiopia

Tania Steyl Thesis: Designing and Determining the Effectiveness of a Health Promotion Programme for Clients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus from an Urban South African Community

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17 DENTISTRY Priscilla Brijlal

Robert Brian Barrie

Robert Paul Langlais

Faculty: Dentistry

Thesis: The Design, Implementation and Evaluation of a Management Information System for Public Dental Services

Thesis: Characterisation of the Cadmium Telluride Photon Counting Sensor as it Applies to its Use in the QR Master-P Panoramic Machine

Thesis: The influence of diversity and the educational climate in shaping clinical competence of oral health students.

ECONOMIC AND MANAGEMENT SCIENCES Rosalie Kingwill Thesis: The Map is not the Territory: Law and Custom ‘African Freehold’: a South African case study.

Penelope Karen Law

Meselu Alamnie Mulugeta

Thesis: An Integrated Spiritual Leadership Model for the South African Public Service: A case of selected government departments

Thesis: Linking Fiscal Decentralisation and Local Financial Governance: A case of district level decentralisation in the Amhara Region, Ethiopia

Emil Nothnagel Thesis: The Development Hub as an Integrated Strategy to Accelerate Local Economic Development in Small Towns

EDUCATION Lucia HessApril Thesis: Occupational Therapy (OT) Graduates’ Conceptualisations of Occupational Justice in Community Service Practice in South Africa: A UWC case study

Karen Suzette Collett Thesis: Teacher Perceptions of the Role of a Primary School Principal in Supporting Their Well-Being: Learning from a South African public school in challenging conditions

Suzanne Lucille Anne Ross Thesis: Stories as Teaching Tools in Grade R Classes

Godefroid Bantumbandi Katalayi Thesis: Fundamental Validity Issues of an English as a Foreign Language Test: A process-oriented approach to examining the reading construct as measured by the DR Congo English state examination

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News

UWC condemns kidnapping of Nigerian girls

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scourge ― the Nigerian he abduction of 230 abductees are not the only Nigerian school girls girls whose rights have been in the northern town violated. There is the practice of Chibok in Nigeria of ukuThwala in South Africa, had social networks buzzing, for instance, in which young especially after the launch of the girls are abducted and forced #BringBackOurGirls campaign. into marriage with older men UWC’s Gender Equity Unit (GEU) ― often with the consent of joined in on this global protest, their parents. “In many cases staging a silent demonstration it is not what the girls want”, to raise awareness around the points out Hames.

University about the kidnapping Implementing the Bring and broader issues of gender Back Our Girls campaign at violence. the University is a way of Mary Hames, head of the GEU, building solidarity and making reports that student support has people conscious of what been “visible and constant” over UWC students and staff members gather outside the University’s Great Hall to protest gender is happening locally and in the demonstration period, which violence. the rest of Africa, she adds. ran for most of June. The action “People see us standing with our posters and they want to know will stretch beyond the month, however. what is happening. We rally support by informing them about “We have decided to keep the campaign as an ongoing protest, the campaign and what we hope to achieve through it. We have so that we are consistent in our fight against gender violence,” staff and students originating from Nigeria, and through showing says Hames. solidarity we build community.”

This, she explains, is because gender violence is a perennial

Cheesy study a testimony to new technology

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ou can’t cut corners when it comes to food safety.

Luckily there are a score of advances being made in this area.

This includes innovations such as that

by SurePure Inc, a world leader in liquid photopurification (the company has offices in nearby Milnerton), as illustrated in a recent study conducted with UWC’s Department of Biotechnology and Stellenbosch University’s Department of Biochemistry. The study details the effectiveness of the company’s patented photopurification and HST thermal pasteurisation process.

The SurePure ultraviolet processing method involves the use of ultraviolet radiation (specifically UV-C, or subtype C) for purposes of killing microorganisms such as bacteria, viruses, protozoa, yeasts, moulds and algae. The cellular DNA of microorganisms absorb UV-C at the appropriate wavelengths, damaging the DNA of exposed cells and making it difficult for them to replicate.

Used in isolation or combination with other processing technologies, the UV-C is harmless to consumers, leaving no residual effect.

The study employed cheddar cheese as a model cheese system, due to its popularity and consumption in leading world markets.

The results from the study indicated that the SurePure photopurification system could achieve equivalent microbial efficacy, and thus equivalent food safety standards, to traditional heat treatment of cheese milk.

In addition, quantitative and qualitative evaluation of the chemical, biochemical and sensory characteristics of raw and processed milk demonstrated no significant differences between cheese produced using the SurePure

photopurification and that using traditional thermal processes. There were no important protein changes or macronutrient degradation, and no reduction of essential vitamins.

And unlike thermal treatments, the UV treatment did not destroy milk enzymes that are essential for cheese texture and flavour, and that maintain healthy properties of natural milk.

Guy Kebble, CEO of SurePure Inc, says: “We are pleased to collaborate with Stellenbosch University and the University of the Western Cape, South Africa, in this study, which continues to demonstrate the untapped commercial potential of our patented photopurification technology in the food and beverage industry.”

Further collaboration between SurePure, UWC and Stellenbosch will continue to investigate the manufacture of cheddar cheese from milk treated with a new generation of SurePure system, focusing on the chemical and biochemical changes during cheese ripening, and on consumer acceptance.

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19

Researchers identify galaxy clusters from the early universe

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found a cluster in existence much earlier than that, and we believe that this approach has the potential to reveal many more new and exciting That’s one of the findings discoveries.” of an international team of The team used scientists from the UK, US, additional data to Europe, Canada and South estimate the distance of Africa, who viewed and these clusters from Earth, described four previously and to explore which of unknown galaxy clusters the galaxies within these about 10 billion light years clusters were forming from Earth ― clusters that stars. Unlike the Milky formed when the universe Way, which is a spiral was less than four billion galaxy filled with gas years old. being formed into stars, Dr Mattia Vaccari, of the most clusters today are UWC Astrophysics group, dominated by elliptical was part of the team that galaxies, which have many used a new technique stars but little gas. combining data from two “What we believe satellites to view clusters we are seeing in these nearly a billion years older distant clusters are giant than the oldest clusters elliptical galaxies in the previously known. The process of being formed,” Planck satellite of the says Clements.

European Space Agency Vaccari, who worked (ESA’s) scanned the on the Herschel mission whole sky for sources of while a research assistant far infrared emission, in London with Clements, while the more sensitive believes these findings receivers of the ESA’s are just a hint of things to Herschel satellite were come. He’s confident that used to examine those South Africa’s MeerKAT sources more closely at and SKA telescopes will submillimetre wavelength. set the bar even higher in Most of the 16 sources future. identified by researchers “MeerKAT and the SKA were single galaxies, will boost our sensitivity but four multiple, to clusters of galaxies in fainter sources indicated the early stages of the previously unknown galaxy life of the universe,” he clusters. explains. “Young, strongly Galaxy clusters are star-forming galaxies have perhaps the largest powerful radio emission, objects in the universe, and this will allow us to each containing hundreds detect them up to very or thousands of galaxies UWC Astrophysicist Dr Mattia Vaccari, who formed part of an international team who combined data from two large distances.” satellites to view clusters nearly a billion years older than the oldest clusters previously known. much like our own Milky The scan-and-zoom Way. Clusters can be technique multi-satellite “Although we’re able to see individual identified at such great distances because approach could be used to identify thousands galaxies that go further back in time, up they contain galaxies in which huge amounts more galaxy clusters, looking further back to now the most distant clusters found by of gas are being formed into stars. in time and helping to build a more detailed astronomers date back to when the universe Many nearby galaxy clusters have been timeline of how these clusters are formed. was 4.5 billion years old. This equates to identified, but by going further back in time And who knows what else they may find? around nine billion light years away,” says (and thus looking at greater distances away The universe is a big place, and there study leader, Dr David Clements of the from the Earth) astronomers can get a better are surely more mysteries waiting to be Department of Physics at Imperial College sense of how clusters are formed. uncovered.

London. “Our new approach has already long time ago, in galaxy clusters far, far away, galaxies were a bit different than the one we live in.

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News

Entrepreneur inspires students to get their hands dirty

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eing an entrepreneur means making the most of every opportunity, making use of every resource at your disposal. and always being on the lookout for new challenges. That was the story coming out of UWC’s Entrepreneurship Initiative’s talk, delivered in April by Bongani Tungamirai, owner of the popular Sticky Fingers restaurants.

“As an entrepreneur, you always have to be aware of what you’ve done, and what other opportunities there are out there,” Tungamirai said. “Inspiration is key and experience matters ― but not always the experiences you think.”

Tungamirai would know. His post-high-school career got off to a shaky start. His father sent him to college in the US, but he dropped out and took a job at a restaurant instead. He started as a dishwasher, moved to the tills, then went to the grill, worked as a busser (the person clearing the tables), and eventually started waiting. But it was never what he wanted to do with his life.

“Eventually I realised I needed a degree to get anywhere in this world. So I called up my dad, and he gave me a chance to study at the University of Cape Town (UCT), where it was cheaper than the US.” But during his second–year at UCT his father, the breadwinner of the family, passed away. Bongani had to make a plan. Food came to his rescue.

“Students were on campus at all hours, and the library was open to 10pm ― but most of the good food places closed by 5pm. I figured

Sticky Fingers owner Bongani Tungamirai explains to UWC students what it takes to be an entrepreneur.

anybody selling food at night would make a killing.”

He was right. His late-night sandwiches and snacks, made on a snackwich machine plugged in close to the library, sold well. Soon Tungamirai was able to upgrade his operation, expanding to a second location. He also brought in Mazoe, a popular juice in Zimbabwe, which he distributed to other tuck shops on campus.

After graduation he got a job as a hedge fund evaluator, figuring out the value of investments. The job paid well, but sitting in meetings wasn’t for him. Tungamirai got back into the food business, selling hot dogs and sandwiches to his co-workers. Eventually he quit his job, launching Sticky Fingers in June 2010.

The award-winning Sticky Fingers ribs were a happy accident.

(As Tungamirai explained, entrepreneurs have to be ready to turn luck into success.) “One of my old friends who worked at another restaurant told me how to do the preparation, and to put it in the grill for one hour. I left it in for two hours by mistake, but the customers loved it ― and so our rib style was born.”

Soon people were coming from all over to taste the ribs, and enjoying the restaurant’s relaxed atmosphere and comfy booths.

Bongani kept pushing himself, aiming to differentiate his restaurant, trying out new foods like burgers and pizzas.

“That’s one of the advantages of not being franchised,” he noted.

“You don’t have to stick to other people’s limits, and you can create and develop your own brand. If you’re genuine, people will see that and will want to support you.”

Sticky Fingers has grown from strength to strength, and Tungamirai has big plans for the brand. One day, he said, his business will compete with the greats of the South African fast food industry, businesses like Spur and Wimpy. All it takes is drive, vision, and hard work.

“Entrepreneurship is a state of mind,” he said. “You have to commit to your programme, to be all about it, to always think about it at every stage. Otherwise you’re not really an entrepreneur ― you’re just doing a project. You are your own barometer; every barrier can be overcome. ” Arnold Mdepha of the Business Innovation Centre, in thanking Tungamirai for the address, talked of the key qualities needed by entrepreneurs. “Many people have no idea what to do with their businesses; education can help you with that,” he said. “But education on its own may not be enough. The market is saturated, and young people need to find another way to make their mark and find their way in the world. An entrepreneurial mindset can help add value to your life.”

The Entrepreneurship Initiative is a branch of the Leadership and Social Responsibility programme, run under the auspices of the Centre for Student Services and Support (CSSS). It aims to help students develop their entrepreneurship skills, while at the same time developing specific business ideas.

The Entrepreneurial Initiative hosted a business plan challenge in May 2014. Students were invited to submit condensed business plans for actual or imagined businesses. The challenge is intended to help students learn how to convince investors that their ideas are worthy of funding. The best plan will receive a valuable prize.

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21

UWC sports centre scoops architecture award

E

ven before the first brick was laid, the multi-million upgrading of the UWC Sports Stadium project was being showered with praise and accolades.

With Noero Arhitects providing designs sensitively enough to retain the essence of the original designs, the project was recognised in the Journal of the South African Institute of Architects (Jan/Feb 2014, 65th issue) for its excellence in architectural design.

The Architecture South Africa Project Awards 2013 recognised excellence in architecture design in genuine projects commissioned by a client ― and carried out but not yet constructed ― since the end of September 2011. Nearly 40 projects were submitted and evaluated by the assessors, who included practising architect Alex Robertson, who initiated the Project Awards programme in the 1980s.

To evaluate the projects, assessors agreed on a set of criteria to be used. The drawings and explanation, they said, must give a clear and full description of the proposal, including its context. Secondly, there was a need for a strong idea in the proposal, a conceptual idea of materiality or an idea related to local context or historical continuity.

Another requirement was that the proposal should be innovative in terms of sustainability ― technical social and economic, according

to the report.

“There should be a pushing of boundaries, a challenging of established positions and, possibly, doing something completely outside of current ideas of what sustainability means,” the report prescribed.

Also, there must be evidence of contextual thinking ― be it geographic, climatic, political, social ― the report continued.

“The proposal must be in dialogue with something, aiming to bring meaningfulness to architecture.”

The last criterion was that the project should convey a sense of the building’s detail, of its materiality. The assessors were impressed by the high quality of submissions and made eight awards including the award for the UWC Sports Centre.

The construction of the state-of-the-art Sports Centre started in earnest early this year and is set to be completed by the end of the year. It is big step forward for UWC’s vision to be a globally competitive university.

Among the world-class facilities to be included in the revamped facility is a health and fitness centre, a multi-purpose sports hall, additional offices, a boardroom, a upgraded, a medical facility and offices. A restaurant, special events venues and parking will also be included in the development.

UWC Sports Administration director Ilhaam Groenewald proudly demonstrates the winning UWC Sports Centre Design.

22

Sport

Things go swimmingly well for UWC

Jessica Ashley-Cooper and teammate Tashreeq Davids celebrated their medals at the recent national championships.

M

aking swimming one of UWC’s priority sporting codes has paid dividends over the years.

That became clear again recently when a handful of University swimmers, competing in the colours of Western Province Aquatics, took podium spots over several races at the South African National Championships in Oudtshoorn in March. More than just picking up plenty of shiny medals, the swimmers also earned berths in various South African squads to compete at major continental and global events over coming months.

Making up the UWC contingent in the Western Province team were Tezna Abrahams, Jessica Ashley-Cooper, Shannon Austin, Tashreeq Davids, Joshua Finch, Janneke Malan and Rudolf Visser.

Abrahams won the 50m breast stroke in the disabled swimming event, and took silver in the 50m backstroke, the 100m freestyle and the 50m freestyle.

Ashley-Cooper, who has qualified for this year’s Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland, won the 50m backstroke, and finished second in the 100m backstroke, the 50m freestyle race, and the 50m butterfly, all in the

senior category.

In the youth nationals, Finch won both the 50m backstroke and breaststroke races, and came third in the 100m backstroke.

Davids finished second and third in the 50m and 100m breaststrokes, respectively. Malan won the 100m backstroke and was the runner-up in both the 200m individual medley and 200m backstroke events.

Glen Bentley, UWC sports administrator responsible for swimming, congratulated the UWC swimmers for flying the University flag high.

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23

UWC star shines bright

U

WC’s netball sensation, Shirvonne Reent, is having the time of her life, both in the classroom and on the netball court.

In March, Reent ― a former Miss Varsity Shield ― celebrated the successful end of her undergraduate studies when she graduated with a degree in education.

She also caught the eye of the sports administrators, who named her as the University’s April Athlete of the Month for her sterling performances in the UWC Netball team. The accolade, designed to recognise the best-performing athletes on campus, was the second for the year, following the win of long- and triple-jumper Nicole Dirk in March.

But Reent wasn’t done celebrating just yet. Not too long afterwards she was selected for the Western Cape’s Southern Stings netball team that competed in Division 2 of the inaugural Brutal Fruit, Netball Cup. The event is the first ever semi-professional netball competition in Africa, and is hosted by Netball South Africa in association with title sponsor Brutal Fruit in a partnership that will run until at least 2019.

Reent, who plays as both goal attack and wing attack, is over the moon, yet modest about her achievements. “The award and the call-up to the Southern Stings was unexpected, but it was a good feeling,” she said at the time.

The Brutal Fruit Netball Cup adds an exciting new dimension to women’s sport in the country, and is set to become the sport’s premier domestic competition, incorporating 10 teams from all nine provinces. (Gauteng, traditionally the country’s strongest netballing province, will field two teams.)

The competition started on 10 May and culminated in the final in Pretoria on 7 June, when the Free State Crinums beat the Gauteng North Jaguars 40-36.

Reent and the Southern Stings also had cause to break open the bubbly. They first won the Division 2 title by beating Kingdom Stars of KwaZulu-Natal by 39-31 in the Shield Final on 7 June.

The next day came the icing on the cake. They won promotion to next year’s Division 1 Cup event after they outplayed Eastern Aloes (from the Eastern Cape) in the promotion/relegation decider, winning handsomely by 52-40.

Top athletes feature among graduates

A

s tough as it may be, mixing sport and academic work is part and parcel of UWC’s ambitions to develop its students holistically.

It’s a policy that has paid off, and a number of top athletes have graduated from the University over the years. That trend continued at the March graduation ceremonies where no fewer than five athletes collected their degrees.

Interestingly, most of the sport graduates had done programmes not related to sport.

So 100m and 200m sprinter Bernice Roman graduated with an LLB. Her Athletic Club teammate, Rodwell Ndlovu, a 200m and 400m specialist, had been a BA student. Rugby star Kenwinn Weiner finished a postgraduate degree in environmental and water science. And netball luminary Shirvonne Reent, a former Miss Varsity Shield, graduated with a degree in education.

Bucking the trend was Ryan Nel, known for his energetic exploits over the 400m and 400m hurdles, who walked away swiftly with a BA Sport Science.

A number of UWC athletes were among students who graduated in the March Graduation ceremony. They include (clockwise from top left) Rodwell Ndlovu, Ryan Nel, Bernice Roman and Kenwinn Weiner.

24

Sport

UWC women’s football thrives

T

hey may have lost some pivotal players at the end of last season, but the UWC women’s football club did not dwell on those losses for

successful season that UWC Ladies Football Club has ever had,” predicts head coach, Nathan Peskin.

After picking up two titles last season, expectations are high. Peskin long. is confident that his side will do well Goalkeeper Kaylin Swart and striker in the competitions they have in their Jermaine Seoposenwe left some big sights. These include the inaugural boots vacant when they went to Varsity Football Tournament, the Sasol pursue their football and academic league (the title that eluded them last careers in the US this year. But the year), as well as the University Sport club has worked hard to fill those South Africa competition and SAFA’s boots.

Cape Town-specific Coca-Cola Cup. In come four top-class players, not “The real excitement of this season least among them Mickey Liebenberg, lies within our player numbers,” says who previously played for rivals Spurs Peskin. “This is significant in that Ladies FC. Joining Liebenberg is the the club is now completely selfUWC Ladies FC have recieved a real boost with the arrival of some top trio of Khoketso Nelly Mamabolo, sustainable and no longer relies on players this season.

Kelso Peskin and Nomvula Kgoale, external players to compete.” who have all represented the country at both the under-17 and In addition, the club will strengthen its alliance with the High under-20 levels. Kgoale has also recently been called up for the Performance Centre in Pretoria, as well as with the local schools national senior team, Banyana Banyana. to ensure a steady influx of good players.

As a unit, things are looking up as well. The club has retained “All of the above is indicative of a very healthy platform for the its entire technical and management staff. The number of players future growth and development of women’s football at UWC,” has more than doubled, from 14 registered players last year to 30 says the coach. “A tough season lies ahead, with a possible 52 this year. Fifteen of them are now senior players, and at least nine games that need to be played if we are to achieve 100% success. have received call-ups to various junior and senior national teams.

“This might seem like a tall order but is well within the “This promises to be both the most exciting as well as the most potential of the team.”

Another Banyana star joins UWC

N

omvula Kgoale is the newest Banyana Banyana player to join UWC’s women’s soccer team, aka UWC Ladies FC. Kgoale joins three other national teammates at UWC this season, namely Vuyo Mkabela, Rachel Sebati and Leandra Smeda. Her arrival will no doubt strengthen an already formidable-looking University side, but Kgoale also counts herself fortunate to be here.

“It feels great, like a dream come true ― I always wanted to play for the UWC ladies’ team,” she says.

The midfielder, born and raised in Limpopo, started playing soccer in 2004. She attended TuksSport High School in Pretoria ― the school forms part of the High Performance Centre at the University of Pretoria ― where she had the opportunity to develop both her soccer skills and her academic credentials.

She was selected for the national under-17 women’s team, and impressed former Banyana Banyana coach Joseph Mkhonza with her performances at the 2010 Under-17 Women’s World Cup in Trinidad.

She was soon drafted into the Banyana squad.

Asked what it feels like to form part of the country’s senior women’s soccer team, Kgoale answers: “It is just a bonus to what I have always wanted. I never imagined myself playing for the team,

but I feel that I am part of it because I was meant to be.”

It’s a role that comes with many perks, she says.

“Having to also be coached by the newly appointed coach from the Netherlands, Vera Pauw, is a privilege. I love representing my country because the kit, flag and the people watching our games always remind me to not forget that I am not playing for myself ― but that I am playing for everyone who contributed to allowing this country to compete with other nations.”

The first-year BCom Law student admits that it is very difficult to balance her soccer career and her studies, but she’s giving it her all.

Her goal, she says, is to be successful in her studies and to play in an overseas league Banyana Banyana star Nomvula Kgoale joins UWC in 2014 to pursue one day. both her academic and football aspirations.

UWC MEDIA OFFICE

Do you have any important UWC stories to share? Do you know of an event on campus that you’d like to see featured? Have you heard of UWC alumni who’ve done amazing things, which you think the world should know about? Or maybe you have a few suggestions, comments or questions about something in this newsletter? Whatever the case may be, the UWC Media Office would really like to hear from you.

Just email us on ia@uwc.ac.za, call us on 021 959 9525, or drop by our offices.

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