Once again Drama alumni win big at the 2020 SAFTAs Fashion Department makes face masks for DUT staff working during lockdown
FoAD’s AFH sets up solidarity fund to assist students during COVID-19 crisis Photography students record their journey during lockdown
Editor: Andile Dube
031 373 6455/ andiled@dut.ac.za
Contributors: Noxolo Memela, Sanele Xaba, Waheeda Peters and Simangele Zuma
Proof reader: Dr Jade Smith
Images: Ayanda Buthelezi, DUT Audio Visual, Mbuso Nkosi, Nic Murphy (Electric Creative Media)
Layout and Design: DUT Design Unit
Publisher: Faculty of Arts and Design (FoAD)
Editor-in-Chief: FoAD Executive Dean, Dr René Smith
AWARDS AND HONOURS
Once again Drama alumni win big at the 2020 Saftas………………………………………………..………..01
COVER FEATURE
19 FoAD Staff and Students reflect on the coronavirus pandemic…………………………………………....03
NEWS
FoAD’s first year student orientation boasts famous former students as guest speakers…………………....25
Fashion Department makes face masks for DUT staff working during lockdown……………………………27
FoAD’s AFH sets up solidarity fund to assist students during COVID-19 crisis……………………………...29
Photography students record their journey during lockdown……………………………………….………..31
DUT manufactures its own hand sanitisers…………………………………………………………….……..33
DUT donates 3D face shields to local doctors, old-age home and municipal healthcare workers…………..35
OUR ALUMNI
Fashion alumna’s braille designs cater for the visually impaired………………………………………….…...37
Fine Art alumna and musician, Thabisile Ndlovu, releases hit single…………………………………………..39
NEW FACES ……………………………………………………………………………………………….41
As I write this editor’s letter, I am well aware that I am writing to you at what is an incredibly challenging time for everyone. COVID-19 has arrived in South Africa, and our lives have been greatly disrupted. This disruption has brought enormous grief to some, financial difficulties to so many and a great many changes in the way we go about our daily lives.
All over the world, millions of people have lost their lives because of the coronavirus, others have been separated from their families, while some have lost their jobs.The difficult period that we find ourselves in requires us to be strong, united and resolute. It is in times like these that we need to show the spirit of Ubuntu by caring and talking care of one another. Regardless of our faiths, race and beliefs, we must come together to fight the coronavirus.
Without a shadow of doubt, the first days of the lockdown were hard for everyone. It was at this time that I found myself weeping: weeping because of the uncertainty of the future, missing my family, friends and ‘normal life’ that came with the freedom of doing what I want and when I want to do it. During this time, it dawned on me that we take so many things for granted. So, while self-isolating was hard, it presented an opportunity to slow down, pause, reflect, pray or meditate.
It is not lost on me that many people have put their lives on the line for the sake of protecting and servicing us during this time. And so, we should thank nurses, doctors, police personnel, security guards, cashiers, petrol attendants, volunteers and countless others. They are the unsung heroes in the fight against COVID-19.
In this issue of Softcopy, we get to hear from staff and students in the Faculty of Arts and Design on how this pandemic has affected them and how they have been dealing with its challenges. They also share words of encouragement, some of which reminded me of the words spoken by Queen Elizabeth II in her coronavirus address to the British and Commonwealth nations. In her poignant speech, Her Majesty said, “We should take comfort that while we may have more still to endure, better days will return: we will be with our friends again; we will be with our families again; we will meet again.”
As we continue to battle this invisible enemy, I pray for yours and your family’s safety. I send my warmest good wishes to you all.
Once again, former Drama and Production Studies students proved they are a force to be reckoned with in the competitive film and television industry by walking away with top awards at the 14th South African Film and Television Awards (SAFTAs) recently.
At the awards ceremony, which was held virtually this year because of the COVID-19 outbreak, Wiseman Mncube won Best Actor in a Drama for his role as Jama in EHostela. Christa Biyela was announced as the winner in the Best Achievement in Scriptwriting category for 1Magic’s telenovela,The River. For the second time in a row, Ferry Jele won Best Achievement in Directing for The River. Last year, Jele won the same award for directing The River.
Two other drama graduates, Dawn Thandeka King and S’dumo Mtshali, walked away with top awards at last year’s SAFTAs.
King won Best Actress in a Lead Role for her role as tough ringleader Ma Z on Mzansi Magic prison drama series Lockdown. Mtshali, who shot to fame after winning SABC1’s reality competition Class Act in 2010, was announced as Best Supporting Actor in a Drama Series for his role on season 2 of Is’Thunzi.
An excited Mncube, who currently stars in South Africa’s mostwatched telenovela, Uzalo, took to social media and said this was his vision, and now it has come through.
“Vision. I had a dream and envisioned it, today I see that dream in living colours. What an honour,” he tweeted. Drama and Production Studies’ head of department, Professor Deborah Lutge, said for her department these achievements mean that students require role models that re-imagine the trajectories of their lived narratives.
“Success stories are rare, and during the pandemic as the arts community expresses its fragility, it is refreshing to offer good news and the promise of hope. The Department currently offers only an undergraduate qualification that rests on two primary areas of focus, Performance and Directing, and all students major in both as well as select additional areas of study, one of which is Scriptwriting for theatre and screen. This year it is indeed vindicating to note the winners filled three diverse categories: Directing, Acting and Scriptwriting. In my 30 years of service to the Department of Drama and Production Studies, the broad application of our artists has filled me with proud moments full of love and passionate thanks, and this SAFTA result serves among the proudest,” she said.
Professor Lutge congratulated her former students, saying, “Congratulations to all our graduate nominees and the winners on your impressive and phenomenal successes. There is always a long journey to success so bravo to all the brave pursuing artistic truth, excellence and the dreams a select few realise.”
The coronavirus pandemic has caused enamours challenges to so many people around the world and South Africans have not been immune to them. This is definitely a time of disruption in our country; this disruption has brought grief to some, financial difficulties to so many and a great many changes in the way we go about our daily lives. In times like these we need to come together in our resolve to fight this invisible enemy. We have faced challenges before but this one is different it calls on us to support one another and play our part in flattening the curve. We asked 19 of our staff and students to share how the coronavirus has affected them and how they have been dealing with its effects.
19 FOAD STAFF & STUDENTS
Were you panicked when news of the virus broke in February?
Yes, especially because I was one of the first people who were asked to go and test, due to possible exposure.
How has the coronavirus affected you in your professional and personal life?
I have been I Working from home, very successfully. No distractions, unnecessary visits, etc. But I miss some of the facilities, e.g. files with information.
What has this period taught you about yourself and life?
Nothing is guaranteed. Appreciate my family and friends daily, not with Xmas gifts at the end of the year.
What do you miss the most before the coronavirus? TRAVEL, I LOVE IT. Visiting friends and family.
What message of encouragement would you give to your students and colleagues right now?
Please stay safe, always read messages from the DUT Covid-19 task team, and play your part.
Together, we can do it, if we don’t put our guard down.
(Research Co-Ordinator: Faculty of Arts and Design)
Were you panicked when news of the virus broke in February?
I did think it would be worse than it turned out. I thought that the townships would be affected very badly.
How has the coronavirus affected you in your professional and personal life?
It has made me re-evaluate my priorities. I realised I do not spend enough time with myself, giving all my creative energy to people around me.
How have you been dealing with the effects of the coronavirus?
I’m just more careful when mixing with people, very mindful of the viral load I am exposed to.
What has this period taught you about yourself and life?
I’ll need to refocus and look for more fulfilment within and in my surroundings. I realise that I have been influenced by outside forces more than I care to admit.
How do you think the coronavirus has affected the arts and what do you think artists can do to adapt to the new normal?
I think artists are creative and sensitive people that thrive on situations like this. It provides grist for the mill.
What message of encouragement would you give to your students and colleagues right now?
“Present fears are less than horrible imaginings.”
(Head of Department: Fine Art and Jewellery Design & Manufacture)
There was definitely panic on my side. I think the worst feeling was that things were never going to be the same again. I had heard of previous outbreaks like swine flu, SARS and Ebola, but the fact that we recorded the first case in the country -- even scarier, in the province -- definitely caused a bit of panic for me. I remember the messages I got from friends and family when the first case was announced on the news. It showed that they cared, but it did also cause panic, knowing how rapidly the virus is said to spread.
During the earlier days of the first COVID-19 positive case, I was supervising a Master’s student who was close to completion and preparing for her exhibition because she did a part-thesis, part-practical. She soldiered on, finishing the work and getting her creative output ready for an opening. We publicised the event on social media as well as the university’s Pinboard, then boom! As the exhibition was nearing, the first case was reported and the faculty took the step to stop lectures. Sibongile Milisi’s exhibition got locked up for months. As a supervisor, it was sad to have watched and played a part in the Master’s project and not see the ultimate outcome as it had been imagined and planned.
My teaching at undergraduate level has been hit hard too. I teach a
practical module that requires students to do some studio time. This has been particularly difficult because students could not access our sewing labs for a few months. I had to do some online teaching, communicating on WhatsApp, and using learning management systems such as MS Teams and Moodle. WhatsApp has been the most accessible for my students, but for some moments it meant receiving messages after midnight because students use midnight surfer. At times, when I lecture means engaging students with different personalities: some quiet, other loud, inquisitive questioning. I missed that because chatting on WhatsApp is not the same. The emotions and excitement (or the sadness and frustration for that matter) is not felt, at least not in the same way. I will say, though, that some students who were previously quiet in person were inquiring on the socials, and this was probably a lesson for me that blended learning is truly beneficial for some calling further for its use in T&L.
Personally, I have not been able to visit family randomly because of the controlled movement. I have not been able to go to gym, eat out or any other such activities that I do outdoors. But being locked down has been helpful in the sense that I had the chance and time in between changing the curriculum to focus on personal research activities. I also got to do other creative activities like drawing and making clothes for some friends.
How have you been dealing with the effects of the coronavirus?
I try to follow the guidelines provided by government of wearing a mask, washing hands and distancing socially as much as possible. It has been difficult, though, the almost forbidden (if not limited) touching, hugging
How do you think COVID-19 has affected the fashion industry?
Like many industries, the fashion and clothing industry has been affected by COVID-19, but the need to constantly wear masks has also presented the industry with some opportunities, no matter how miniscule they may seem. I saw this when we created masks in my own department for some bodies in the institution.
However, I am passionate about upcoming fashion designers, and I think COVID-19 has disturbed the grounds for them to grow their brands. It has meant many months without cashflow. But I have also seen the resilience that fashion designers have. Looking at designer websites, masks have been designed, and each designer has created them around their brand. The sudden act of designing masks is indicative of their resilience. I have also seen how being locked down has created the room to conceptualise new ideas, and capturing and sharing those ideas on social media has been inspiring for me. It was like being invited into the brain of a fashion designer, and that is so refreshing.
How do you think fashion designers can overcome challenges presented to them by the coronavirus?
Earlier, I spoke of complexities. I am reading up on transdisciplinarity, which speaks of wicked problems. Perhaps one strategy that may be applicable to the industry (I am thinking young designers when I use industry) is to think of and treat COVID-19 as a complex and wicked problem. One way of addressing a wicked problem is through collaborative efforts amongst different disciplines. Perhaps fashion designers have reached a point where surviving and overcoming challenges requires collaboration with others, and I am sure that will spark ideas on how to deal with the intricacies of running a fashion business. I do not mean that designers have not collaborated with others before, but perhaps there is a need for a different form of collaboration: not the kind where we collaborate and at the end of the collaboration we go our separate ways but maybe more of a partnership where a hybrid industry is formed that merges the strengths of the collaborators.
Were you panicked when news of the virus broke in February?
Very much so, as it was really too sad and frightening to know the number of people who lost their lives with the outbreak of the virus in China.
How have you been affected by the coronavirus?
COVID-19 has brought much stress, tension and fear. Seeking medical attention when it was needed had to be stalled due to the fear of being infected by the virus, which resulted in my health condition deteriorating. It was also depressing that I could not physically be of support to family and friends during the time of the loss of loved ones.
How have you been dealing with the effects of the coronavirus?
Since the coronavirus is life-threatening I had to take the necessary precautions and follow protocols as was laid down by the World Health Organisation and the government regulations. Keeping away from family and not living life as normal was not easy, but it had to be done. I just had to pray and remain positive and strong.
What has this period taught you about yourself and life?
I learned to appreciate the breath of life that God has given me and to live life to its fullest by doing what I can while I can and have the ability to do so. This period has taught me that being materialistic in life is not worth it and that I rather just treasure and enjoy every moment that I can with my loved ones.
What message of encouragement would you give to someone during this time?
Life is too short. It can be gone in the twinkle of an eye. Let us learn to love, appreciate, forgive and see the best in others always. We must remain positive, be of good courage and hold fast to the hand of God. He is the only one who will see us through every situation no matter what we go through. Let us continue to practice the coronavirus protocols by wearing of masks, sanitising and social distancing so that we all can be safe and save lives.
(Lecturer: Media, Language and Communication)
Were you panicked when news of the virus broke in February?
I didn’t panic when the news of the virus initially broke in China and then Italy. But when it reached South Africa, I was a bit concerned and then alarmed when it spread so virulently.
How has the coronavirus affected you in your professional and personal life?
It has impacted my professional and personal life in profound ways. Like most people globally, the pandemic has confined me to my home. This has meant working remotely, mainly from my home, which has demanded of me a new realisation of how to work without being in physical proximity with my colleagues and students. I had to learn to effectively participate in online communication by way of teaching and participation in meetings. The shift also required a reorientation of my home space into a home/ work space. This posed a few challenges, which I and my house mate had to negotiate around as he works from home too now.
The pandemic affected my personal life in quite sudden and unexpected ways; for instance, I had to reconfigure my home to accommodate an elder family member. All of this has called for considerable introspection about one’s privileges, needs, strengths, flaws and other personality characteristics and frailties.
How have you been dealing with the effects of the coronavirus?
I have been vigilantly sifting fact from supposition and conspiracies, and I have been observing all protocols to protect myself and those around me from the virus. This has meant an almost non-existent social life, no travel and [going] out only if essential. it and that I rather just treasure and enjoy every moment that I can with my loved ones.
What has this period taught you about yourself and life? It has taught me the importance of patience and fortitude and to check myself from veering towards selfishness. It also taught me that I can do almost anything from the confines of my home if I have good technological connectivity. It has also reminded me that I have enough.
What do you miss the most from before the coronavirus? I miss my freedom.
What role do you think journalism can play in fighting the coronavirus?
To report responsibly by verifying information received. To continue to expose corruption and to tell the stories of those that have the least means to tell their own stories.
Where do you see the future of media post COVID-19?
I see a future characterised by an increase in mobile journalism across spatial boundaries.
What message of encouragement would you give to your students and colleagues right now?
To live with courage and conviction.
Were you panicked when news of the virus broke in February?
The unknown is always scary. We knew a lot less about the virus at the start. I wasn’t panicked as much as concerned for the people that I love and of course for what a pandemic meant for the world at large.
How has the coronavirus affected you in your professional and personal life?
I am sure that COVID-19 has changed us all personally and professionally. I’m grateful to the pandemic for forcing us to prioritise online learning. It’s been a refreshing and exhilarating learning curve, and it’s been encouraging seeing academics and students embracing the future in this way. That said, I miss problem solving with colleagues over a cup of tea and cake. I miss conversations around a table with students, many things really. But the creativity of motherhood and working from home, beside my garden, dogs and young family has definitely extended into my professional life, and it’s been good.
How have you been dealing with the effects of the coronavirus?
I have dealt with the effects of the COVID-19 by working hard, and by being creative. During hard lockdown, my husband and I rolled up our sleeves and got 3D printing visors for healthcare workers. At the time, there was very little PPE in the country, so it was great to be able to contribute in our small way. As a family, we wrote a list of all the things we wanted to build but hadn’t made time for, and then we made them one by one. This included a treehouse, an electric bike and a community bike park for families at the end of our road, which is a dream realised. I got stuck into an online photography course, and my husband finally got round to prototyping a robotic camera arm, both of which are keeping us honest.
What has this period taught you about yourself and life?
This time has taught me that I have all that I need in life and a whole lot to give. To make the things that matter, happen.
What do you miss the most from before the coronavirus?
Other than the sweet embrace of loved ones, what I miss most about life before COVID-19 is being carefree and “going with the flow”. I feel the pandemic has schooled us in how to “grow with the flow”. It’s been good, but intense.
What message of encouragement would you give to your students and colleagues right now?
I love these words by Fred Rogers, a muse in life and parenting. He says “When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, ‘Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.’”
In so many ways, the world is in such a bad way. I would encourage students and colleagues to look for the helpers, or better yet, to be them.
Were you panicked when news of the virus broke in February?
Ooh yes, I thought it was end of it all. I saw statistics of infection and death rate escalating every minute; I just lost hope for tomorrow.
How has the coronavirus affected you in your professional and personal life?
Everything had to come to a stand-still at the beginning of lockdown. Life style had drastically change completely. I had to stay indoors for a long time, and life was too frustrating. I could not carry on with my studies as usual, even with work also. After some time, I had to do things online in order to carry on with life.
How have you been dealing with the effects of the coronavirus?
Consulting with friends, family members, health professionals and colleagues to share information with me in case I need help and support.
What has this period taught you about yourself and life? I came to realise that healthy living is the key everything. Extra precaution is the key to survive against all odds. I had learn to do lot of things through technology.
How do you think teachers can adapt to the new normal that has been brought by COVID-19?
Adapt to the approach of doing teaching and learning. Be willing to work odd hours in some special cases.
What message of encouragement would you give to your students and colleagues right now?
People should practice safety, learn more ways to save since the economy is deteriorating. We should all follow what the South African President advised us to do to minimise infection and stop the mortality within our country.
(Lecturer: School of Education)
Were you panicked when news of the virus broke in February?
Not really; I did not comprehend the severity of the pandemic and thought it would go away in a few days and everything would return to normal. Only when close family friends passed away from COVID, did I take it seriously.
How has the coronavirus affected you in your professional and personal life?
My professional life did a 360-degree somersault as I had to learn how to teach online and use the institution’s LMS (Moodle) for teaching. In my personal life, being an insulin-dependent diabetic meant throughout the national lockdown, I was housebound and I felt stifled and very restricted. I felt that I was being deprived of all that was fun for me. Also, being at home with my children all day presented a new experience for me and at times created some anxiety because we were getting in each other’s way.
How have you been dealing with the effects of the coronavirus?
I have been relatively calm and accepting of the situation because I realised that this pandemic could result in me losing my life if I did not take the necessary precautions.
What has this period taught you about yourself and life?
I have come to appreciate my life and not take it for granted because it could be gone in a flash. I began to appreciate the little things that I had taken for granted previously. I became more introspective and mindful of other people and more empathetic. Little things like waking up in the morning and really looking at the flowers in my garden or the birds in the trees made me think about the fact that my work had previously consumed my life. Deadlines and meeting targets seemed to have become so superfluous as the days went by during the lockdown.
How do you think teachers can adapt to the new normal that has been brought by COVID-19?
I think that teachers not only have to change and adapt to the new normal, but they have to change their mind-sets and their thinking. If they remain constantly negative and do not embrace the change and accept it as inevitable, be proactive and not reactive, then this change will be seen as an obstacle rather than as a challenge to make a new beginning and reinvent yourself with limitless opportunities.
What message of encouragement would you give to your students and colleagues right now?
Our lives will never ever be the same again, so instead of waiting around for things to go back to the way they were, look forward to becoming the change and see this as an opportunity to put all the negative in your lives as something that is gone and should not be dwelt on. Be appreciative of being able to see the sun of another day, and most important of all, enjoy your family and your friends. How often does one get this chance to transform and reimagine the possibilities?
Were you panicked when news of the virus broke in February?
When the news broke about the coronavirus, there was generally a lot of panic as we did not have enough information about it, and all we knew were the bits of information that were sifted down through social media. We had conflicting reports about the authenticity of the illness, and there was generally a lot of fear as we began to hear about the severity as the death toll began to rise.Then the country gradually began to shut down and then we knew that it is real. Panic struck because we did not know what this meant for us and how prepared we were to handle the effects.
How has the coronavirus affected you in your life personally?
The coronavirus had a major dual effect on me. It had a positive impact because it made me become even more attentive when it comes to hygiene and cleanliness. On the other hand, it had a negative impact on my mental state: when we hit lockdown and we had to self-isolate, I lost contact (interpersonal) immediately with family and friends as I took the rules very seriously. I could not go to visit family or friends and that took a toll on me because even though I live alone, I enjoy having guests over and entertaining them, hosting dinners and so forth, but that could no longer happen as the country was on high alert due to the spreading of the virus.
How have you been dealing with the effects of the coronavirus in your personal life?
I haven’t been hit directly by the coronavirus per se, but I have been practising extra caution and also taking extra measures to make sure that I do not contract the virus because that would have a detrimental effect on my household and my working environment. Another important thing for me has been to destigmatise the virus in my own mind so that I do not treat recovered individuals with any less humanity.
As an actor, how has COVID-19 impacted the way you work?
We have seen major changes that have had to happen in order for us to be able to continue to work. Some of these changes included intimate scenes being cancelled or rewritten, minimising physical contact, not being able to use extras (background actors) in the scenes so we used smaller locations and we had to get very creative with camera angles. The technical crew had to change the way they work (make-up and wardrobe). We had to help as much as possible with that because part of their job includes them being in direct contact with us, and that could no longer happen, so we had to step in and take over a bulk of that work. Furthermore, a lot changed in the industry: auditions were no longer being held face to face but talent had to now submit audition tapes (self-recordings), and many events had been cancelled or postponed, which meant many alternative income streams had been plugged. All in all, the effects of the virus on the industry were immense.
What has this period taught you about yourself and life?
Life can change in an instant; nothing is forever. We have had a great deal of loss this year -- loss of income, loss of jobs and most importantly, loss of life. The biggest lesson in all of this for me was to always appreciate what I have and the people that I have because it could all be gone in an instant. It also reminded me of my sense of humanity as in many cases we had to come together and assist those that needed assistance the most, so that was a tiny bit of silver lining in this dark cloud. We were reminded of UBUNTU and re-awoke our humanity.
What message of encouragement would you give to your fans during this time?
All things pass, especially negative. What we have to do is to find the positive in all situations. We should take this year as a reset and prepare ourselves to make 2021 the best year for ourselves. We should just remain patient, calm and take extra measures to ensure that we are healthy, happy and safe. Wear a mask when you leave the house, continue to sanitize your hands regularly and remember be kind to everyone and make good choices.
Were you panicked when news of the virus broke in February?
Hearing that there is an outbreak of a pandemic flooded a lot of questions in my mind. Questions like will I survive it? Am I mentally and physically fit for it? Am I going to be able to deal with it? etc. To be honest, I panicked when the first case was confirmed here in Durban, but at the back of my mind, I had hope that the outbreak will fade out soon and life will continue as usual. Getting information that the number of cases increased drastically to a point that Durban became a hotspot and we had to leave everything and go home to contain the spread of the virus-- as true as it was, it honestly felt like a smack on my cheek. I just didn’t understand. The announcement of the national lockdown was an eye-opener to me, and I had a different perspective of things.
How has the coronavirus affected you in your studies and personal life?
I was worried about my studies; to think that it’s my final year and my chance to shine for my family, then the whole world gets upside down, and the worst of it all: the world gets shut. I had wished that this pandemic broke out in our first year. It would have been easy to recover because honestly I didn’t see any way possible of trying to save the academic year. When multimodal learning was introduced, I lost all hope and faith in myself and studies. After some time, my positivity poured back and saw this whole pandemic situation as a chance for each one to find themselves, a break from everything and doing some introspection, a chance to deal with ourselves and be sure of what we want, and I had hoped that everyone comes out of this situation a different person. Looking at multimodal learning, I didn’t see it working, but now I’m enjoying it because I began to look at it as chance to learn new things that will help me in the workplace, a chance to be more advanced in technological stuff in this foreverchanging world.
How have you been dealing with the effects of the coronavirus?
I’m grateful that no-one in my family was infected and [I’m] sending out love to those who were infected and deep condolences to those who lost their loved ones because of this pandemic. COVID-19 taught me how to survive under difficult circumstances (especially at home) and adjust to a few things, grow some thick skin and also become strong for myself and my daughter. I got a chance to spend quality time with family, sort out our differences and we grew stronger. I’m a very active person; going to the gym made me forget about the pandemic, and it meant a lot when a few people got interested in what I was doing and joined me, including my sisters.
What has this period taught you about yourself and life?
I’ll be forever be grateful to the DUT’s student counselling centre for guiding me emotionally. I was able to use some tactics to deal with myself and everyone around me. I can say I’m the strongest person mentally and physically, I am resilient and really proud of myself. I’ve always looked at life as a rollercoaster ride, and right now the rollercoaster is making its way out of the dark tunnels and heading towards light. COVID-19 was a phase, and it shall pass.
What do you miss the most from before the coronavirus?
I was not an outgoing person, but knowing that you have to stay indoors because of a pandemic made me feel like a prisoner. I miss going to the shops and being free, roaming the streets freely. I miss the life without a face mask, hugging freely. I miss sneezing freely and getting a ‘bless you’. I miss being surrounded by people and having fun and lastly, I miss the vibe the country had before the outbreak.
What fears do you have about life post COVID-19?
My greatest fear post COVID-19 is how people will recklessly act in the name of being free. I’m afraid they will forget about hand hygiene. People are going to waste themselves away because there won’t be any restrictions on some things. I fear the rise of crime rate and road accidents.
What message of encouragement would you give to other students right now?
Everything revolves around time. Make the most of the little time you have been given. Another thing: don’t feel threatened by other people’s time; theirs is now and yours is coming, and remember in whatever you do, you’re always one decision away from changing your life. Nothing beats being strong and believing in yourself as an individual. As a student, stick to your goals, be in a productive circle and get active, but most importantly never abandon your books. They brought you here, and they will take you far.
Were you panicked when news of the virus broke in February?
Yes, I did panic a bit, especially when we watched the numbers of people dying from coronavirus in other countries. It felt like there is nothing much you can possibly do to prevent getting the coronavirus. Every time I went to supermarket for groceries, I used to come back feeling like my chest is blocked, would put all my clothes in the washing machine and bath immediately. I think this was part of the psychological effects of COVID-19. The more I got used to wearing the mask, washing and sanitising hands, and mostly the social distancing, it became better.
How has the coronavirus affected you in your professional and personal life?
Professionally, everything stopped: could not teach, could not do anything and the tricky part was that we had no prior warning to better prepare ourselves in terms of teaching. Eventually, when we could start teaching, there was such a backlog. Also, the long break in teaching and learning had effects on the students’ performance. It seemed they had forgotten everything that had been done before. So besides having to complete the syllabus, we have had to sort of begin from the beginning just to recap on what was learnt prior to lockdown. For design-based subject modules, you cannot afford to not have the preliminary skills and knowledge, or else you will not be able to execute your projects much as you go forward.
Personally, it has not affected me much. I am an introvert so do not mind being indoors at all. In fact when lockdown started, I think what used to be my weekends just became my everyday with just the occasional going out for groceries.
How have you been dealing with the effects of the coronavirus?
It was very scary at first I must admit, but as we learnt more and more about how to prevent it, it has really become a new normal for me. Importantly, even though we are under Level 1, I am still careful as if we are under Level 5.
What has this period taught you about yourself and life?
It has taught me that I am definitely an introvert. About life it has reminded me of appreciating life and to celebrate everything. Also, checking on people is something I started doing regularly because it has been tough. People have suffered with anxiety and depression.
How do you think graphic designers or creatives can play a role in fighting the coronavirus?
Graphic Designers are visual communicators who can assist by continuing to develop messages and materials that teach and remind people about the coronavirus. I say remind because when you go outside, it seems like people have decided that the virus does not exist anymore. I have just finished a design project with my students where they were developing infographics for an awareness campaign for COVID-19. Visual information is very important because it is fast and can be consumed by many people at the same time.
What message of encouragement would you give to your students and colleagues right now?
Stay safe and still be careful and observe all the COVID-19 regulations. Even though we are under Level 1, we should behave as though we are still under Level 5. This is a way to protect yourself and others around you. Also, keep fit because physical exercise can help maintain a healthy mental state.
Were you panicked when news of the virus broke in February?
I was a little bit shook by the matter as most people might have been, but like every bad situation, we have to learn to keep calm and figure out survival tactics as soon as possible.
How has the coronavirus affected you in your professional and personal life?
The virus has stripped away physical interactions, which is one of the things I value much. Being isolated by force is quite exhausting.
How have you been dealing with the effects of the Coronavirus?
I have been staying indoors and figuring out how to articulate Katekani Moreku within the new decade.
What has this period taught you about yourself and life? We are all vulnerable and nothing is guaranteed. It’s important to make the most of each day.
What do you miss the most from before the coronavirus? I miss going outside without being a little paranoid and interacting with people.
How do you think COVID-19 has affected the fashion industry?
It has definitely slowed down the fashion industry and has given all of us the opportunity to rethink our approach to fashion and its effect on life on earth.
How do you think fashion designers can overcome challenges presented to them by the coronavirus? Designers should remember that there is an opportunity in every situation. They should look at this as an opportunity to be innovative and reconfigure the fashion industry.
What project(s) are you currently working on now?
I have a collection in collaboration with Pick n Pay Clothing that launched in stores on 30th September 2020.
What message of encouragement would you give to other designers during this time?
Do not resist change, and never bow down to defeat. Use these tough times to prove to yourself how tough you are.
Katekani Moreku (Fashion Designer and Former Fashion and Textiles student)How has the coronavirus affected you in your studies and personal life?
It has affected me academically as well as in my personal life. A lot has changed. For example, before the outbreak of this virus, I used to attend lectures on a physical basis where I get an opportunity to ask and engage with them, but now in “the new normal”, I am attending my lectures online, and I can say that the new normal of doing things has brought me close to technology, and it’s a good way of doing things. My personal life has been affected negatively because on weekends I used to assist Matric students and during the week I was busy tutoring students from varsity, but none of the above mentioned happened.
How have you been dealing with the effects of the coronavirus?
I have been close to my Saviour. I prayed for protection and guidance. I cannot say that I have dealt with the side effects of this virus, but I have allowed my Saviour to deal with everything with regards to this virus. What has this period taught you about yourself and life?
It has taught me to put God first in all situations that I encounter in my life. It has made me realise the importance of technology. I have seen that nothing lasts forever, and there is time for everything and you need to be patient and be courageous.
What do you miss the most from before the coronavirus? Going to church every day, assisting Matric students and tutoring.
What fears do you have about life post COVID-19?
I cannot say that I fear this virus. What I fear the most is the livelihoods as well as the economy of our country. Many have lost their jobs due to this virus, and their livelihoods have been affected negatively because it is now very difficult to look after themselves and to take care of their loved ones or their families. As for our economy, it was not good before the COVID-19, and this year is worse than before.The figures that estimate the Consumer Price Index (Inflation) and Unemployment are not promising, but I still have hope that our economy will recover.
What message of encouragement would you give to other students right now?
During this time of need, we must not lose hope. We must not allow fear to control our lives. Struggle is temporary, but happiness is forever. God gave us this life to live it, so we must not live a life of regret or fear. This virus will be with us for quite some time, so we must go and do what we always did before the virus. We need to adapt to this new way of living and studying, hoping that all things will go back to normal again and that we shall live our happy lives again.
Were you panicked when news of the virus broke in February?
It was chaotic and disturbing. It holds a feeling of failure to a student going home early without fulfilling your main course of approaching tertiary education. At first, there wasn’t much information. It was fear-filled with not knowing whether coronavirus will be by your home and lives of South Africans will be lost. How the South African government broke the news was scary and questionable: do they have a plan, and how will the country survive with lockdown and only work from essential workers?
How has the coronavirus affected you in your studies and personal life?
There was an introduction to online learning, and at first it was a big relief and joy and excitement. In life in general, I endangered the lives of my family by working as an essential worker, and I was the only one working at that time. It was in the middle of the month, and home was a misery. It wasn’t nice; the situation was bad, and there was almost no food. There was only maize meal and salt, and I was only left with a choice to go back and work to bridge the gap as I was the only one soul who was working in this family of 8 mouths, and I had to go to university. There was social grant money and NSFAS, but at this time there was nothing. It was all finished by this time of the month. There were thoughts running from the family to approach loan sharks. I wasn’t told, and I was in the middle of that practice that my family was in debt because my mother broke her leg in the yard while I was at res, so that was how it was. I restarted working there to bridge the gap. As the implementation from 1 June, I communicated with the supervisor of the store to only work over the weekend in order to have the attendance perfect at school. It wasn’t easy. I was the bread winner, and when I had to learn online, there was too much noise at home and we lived far from the library. There were times that in this area there was no electricity for days and I had to charge [my device] in a store.
How have you been dealing with the effects of the coronavirus?
We were left with to adjust to new rules and being updated daily about the COVID-19 news was relieving and good.
What do you miss the most from before the coronavirus?
I miss being at campus having long big lectures that included future teachers. That was the moment I know I chose the right path and felt like I belonged. I missed catching the bus to school and riding the bus late (around 8) to our res, singing loudly in the bus. I missed the stadium singing, shouting and being noisy as students, being in crowded places, dancing, relationship goals and success goals.
What fears do you have about life post COVID-19?
It is confusing sometimes as we all don’t know what to expect. It is very upsetting and disappointing to hear someone you know is part of the big numbers that are published every day and he / she is gone and no more.
What message of encouragement would you give to other students right now?
Online learning has been implemented to further the education and progress. If there is a will, there is always a way. It is all about choices .During hard times, a human being can choose to overwork or not work, but the ball is in your court.
Were you panicked when news of the virus broke?
I had heard about the disease affecting people in China (Wuhan) but was now travelling to other countries and for South Africa. The first case was here in Pietermaritzburg, and this is where I am located. It reminded me of the case of the xenophobic attacks which broke out the moment I crossed the border into South Africa in May 2008. I consider myself among the fortunate, considering I have survived and observed the protocols as well as praying for protection from God. I was later appointed the SHE rep for the School of Education and have thus been at the forefront of fighting the virus for the faculty of Arts & Design and university from the school trenches. I have therefore been on campus for the most times of all staff members.
I never panicked but appreciated the gravity of the pandemic. I was one of those advocates for closure of universities and the teaching and learning enterprise until such time as it is possible to open. I thought all teaching and learning should stop for the whole system as the online learning would serve to amplify the inequalities already present in the SA society. With hindsight, that position is still my considered opinion. Online learning has benefits of continuity, yet those without gadgets and connectivity are excluded. While concerted effort at availing online resources physically through print media are being practised, the practice appears rather vicarious than generative. It is however, better than when there is no effort being made at all.
How have you been dealing with the effects of the coronavirus?
Coronavirus has led me to learn how to use the MS Teams software for remote teaching. While I have made an effort to speak with the Audiovisual unit to explore remote meeting options such as Skype and another that the university was in the process of acquiring, the coronavirus made it easy with MS Teams. We are now able to meet remotely on MS Teams. I have sought to remove the loss of tuition time that occurred for the School when we travelled to Durban for the Faculty Board meetings. Our day was just dead in the water, yet for Durban colleagues, they could come in at 11 then leave the meeting for a 1pm lecture or continue with a 4pm lecture as the meetings concluded after 3pm. This was impossible for the Indumiso-based school of education. As a consequence, the SoE colleagues can now participate fully in the Faculty Board while also being able to continue with classes that come after the meeting.
Personally, as I travel to campus most days, I have had to bath twice every day otherwise I would expose my family to the virus. I always wore the mask at all times as well as sanitising after touching commonly-used gadgets such as the photocopier/ printer.
What do you miss the most from before the coronavirus?
I miss going to church every Sunday. Teaching students live, sharing the life journey, which is not so cordial and humane now. This is impersonal as one speaks to the computer.
What fears do you have about life post COVID-19?
The relatives and compatriots who became unemployed prior to COVID-19 will continue being unemployed. I fear that the virus can have some resurgence and people may be relaxing and having their guard down.
What message of encouragement would you give to colleagues and students right now?
We are not out of the woods yet. Let’s continue to be vigilant, opening our eyes and observing all the said protocols. If it means working remotely, let’s continue in that lane, so long as we are doing justice in the circumstances. Let’s not forget to always be ethical and professional in our contact. Let’s remember to live the values engraved in the DUT strategy namely professionalism, courtesy, integrity, compassion, transparency, fairness, commitment, excellence, accountability and respect. These should be values that we as DUT cherish and strive to live for as we discharge our purpose in this life. We should be committed to our work as we do this for the Lord. We ought to strive for excellence which has emerged through DUT being fifth in the country on the debut of entering the world university rankings process. Let us be ethical and fair in our dealings. We are DUT, not the buildings or the machines. We as employees give expression to DUT, so as long as we are still employed, let’s demonstrate the commitment to its vision, mission and core values with the DNA strands of innovation and entrepreneurship pervading every body politic of what we do. It could also be helpful if management meets employees halfway in being people centered! We can make the DUT great aboard flight ENVISION2030.
Were you panicked when news of the virus broke in February?
Were you panicked when news of the virus broke in February?
I was panicking very badly, imaginations were going wild, having seen movies where people are wiped out by viruses. I thought that the virus was airborne and just getting out of the house would get me infected. I started thinking about my family, relatives and friends, whether we will be seeing each other ever again.
How has the coronavirus affected you in your professional and personal life?
It affected me positively and negatively at the same time. Positively, in that I started getting serious with multi-modal teaching which was never taken seriously before. Learning and exploring new ways of delivery: that was great. On the other hand, it derailed my plans, especially for research with some of my students. They couldn’t collect data from the field. Personally, I got a bit stressed,. Anxiety crept in thinking about what’s going to happen to the academic year, about how I am going to deliver my module, especially that it’s practical-based. And no-one had answers to these questions.
How have you been dealing with the effects of the coronavirus?
I have been taking it easy lately, not following much of the news, exercising regularly and embracing life. At the same time, I am taking the precautions as given by WHO and DoH.
What has this period taught you about yourself and life?
This period taught me to be strong. It taught me that anything can happen in life, and the most important thing is to adapt and survive. Being flexible and versatile is key to unprecedented circumstances like this pandemic.
What challenges do you think the coronavirus poses on teachers and how do you think they can adapt to the new normal?
Delivering is a big challenge for teachers in schools. Having poor ICT integration into their teaching and learning processes poses a big challenge for them.
What message of encouragement would you give to your students and colleagues right now?
They should take it easy, not focus all their energy on fear of the pandemic. They should rather stay positive and focus on progressive activities of life. This will pass, and we will be back to normal again at some point.
How has the Coronavirus affected you in your professional and personal life?
Like all other academics, I have now had to shift to online learning. This has been a real challenge for me as a lecturer of video technology as so many of my lectures are based around film and video screenings, and because students have not had sufficient data, I have had to avoid streaming or posting videos. Instead, I have been doing podcasts and narrated PowerPoints, which work quite well. I also include links to the video material, but I know not all students will be able to watch video examples.
How have you been dealing with the effects of the coronavirus?
Fortunately, my family and I have been well and have managed to avoid the virus so far. However, we have had friends who have been very sick, which is a reminder of how serious this virus is.
What has this period taught you about yourself and life?
I miss being connected to other people. I miss my colleagues and all the conversations that we shared at work. Not being able to see students in person, or crit their rough cuts while I sit next to them, has made teaching quite difficult. Students have been posting their rough cuts to YouTube, or sending them via Dropbox, and I then watch the work and write the criteria out and email it to them. What could have been a conversation now has to be put in writing. It can be quite time-consuming.
What do you think the coronavirus’s impact has been on film and television industry?
It has had a huge impact on the industry. Some companies did not survive and others have downsized. One of the biggest areas of impact has been in sports broadcasting. We still don’t have spectators at events, but at least coverage of sports has started again. Soapies have continued, and a new soapie ‘Durban Gen’ premiered on eTV last night. It is shot in Durban by the same company that does Imbewu.
Do you think the film and television industry can overcome the impact of COVID-19? And if so, how?
There will always be an audience for visual stories. The industry was moving away from traditional film and television towards streaming and COVID-19 has just increased this move. Film theatres will not survive.
What message of encouragement would you give to your students and colleagues right now?
We will remember this time as a turning point in our history. We have to adapt and add to our repertoire of skills so that we are employable. Most importantly, we must keep up with technological changes and embrace them.
Were you panicked when news of the virus broke in February?
No, I wasn’t.
How has the coronavirus affected you in your professional and personal life?
Personally, I wasn’t able to see my family since I moved to another province. It isolated me from my family, and that really hurt. Professionally, it wasn’t that bad because Zoom meetings made everything easier for me, and I was still receiving payment, so it wasn’t that bad.
How have you been dealing with the effects of the coronavirus?
I haven’t been dealing with it, actually. It was the best time of my life because I could be an introvert without judgement.
What has this period taught you about yourself and life? That I need more time by myself.
What do you miss the most from before the coronavirus?
Nothing, really.
How do you think photographers have been affected by the coronavirus?
Event photographers and freelance photographers really had a hard hit from this pandemic. Financially, it affected these type of photographers, but for the commercial ones, it’s business as usual.
Were you panicked when news of the virus broke in February?
Yes, since it was not expected, and scientists were not even promising of its cure.
How has the coronavirus affected you in your studies and personal life?
In my personal life, it was positively affecting because it is where I realised that I was supposed to relax and start to open a new page in my life while there was nothing operating. Then, in my studies, I was more than affected because it came immediate by the time whereby the NSFAS was removing me from their department by means of N+2 rule, so I was trying to fix all those problems by applying for any other sponsors which was still opened by that time. Now they are closed, , and I’m still stressed because it is clear that by next year I could be staying at home because I’ll be owing the university.
How have you been dealing with the effects of the coronavirus?
I was always washing my hands with soap after a while and sitting at home, then practising my Mathematics and Physics.
What has this period taught you about yourself and life? It clearly shows that I must depend on myself and look for only things that I could benefit positive products on.
What do you miss the most from before the coronavirus?
An allowance to be with my lecturers in lecture rooms and also allowing us to be with our tutors since they were very helpful to our modules. Now, we are not adapting well to e-learning. I also miss breathing fresh oxygenated air since now we are living under masks that are recycle carbon dioxide to our bodies and makes us dizzy.
What message of encouragement would you give to other students right now?
I would like to say it is more than important to study their books and focus on what they are always dreaming of. Lastly, they need to follow instructions from Government to keep their lives in good condition.
Mthokozisi Nkosingiphile Mtshali
First year students in the Faculty of Arts and Design (FoAD) were treated to a remarkable day at this year’s FoAD’s 2020 Orientation Programme, which took place on Thursday, 30 January 2020 at City Campus’ Arthur Smith Hall.
Guest speakers were FoAD graduates, actress Anathi Gobeni from Drama and Productions Studies and fashion entrepreneurs Sipho Mbutho and Ben Nozo from the Fashion and Textiles department.
Gobeni, who is known for her role on e.tv’s award-winning telenovela, Imbewu: The Seed motivated the students and spoke about her journey from being a drama student at DUT to landing on one of South Africa’s most watched television programmes.
Fashion designers, Mbutho and Nazo, are the duo behind bespoke menswear brand Reign SA, known for its Zulu-inspired pieces. The two have taken the fashion industry by storm with their unconventional designs that use sustainable materials.
Mbutho and Nazo shared with the first year students about their days as fashion students at DUT and now running their own thriving clothing label.
FoAD’s Executive Dean, Dr René Smith, and Deputy Dean, Professor Brian Pearce, delivered the welcome address and gave the closing remarks, respectively.
Other speakers included FoAD’s Faculty Officer, Pragasen Reddy, and Teaching & Learning Practitioner, Roshnee Sunder.
Earlier in the week, the students and their parents had attended the university’s week-long annual first year orientation programme, where they were addressed by Vice-Chancellor and Principal, Professor Thandwa Mthembu, on the first day.
In his address, Professor Mthembu congratulated the matric class of 2019, especially the majority of DUT students who were born and raised in KwaZulu-Natal and who had achieved the 81.3% pass rate. “We really appreciated that we (DUT) have students that come from the broader
region around KwaZulu-Natal, the Eastern Cape and the Free State. We really appreciate that you (students) considered DUT as your next step in your educational career. There are 790 000 pupils who wrote matric last year: only 291 000 got what is called Bachelor passes; only 225 000 of those got Diploma passes, so you are very special because from such a cohort of about just under 800 000 younger people, you are here today,” he said. Professor Mthembu also added that there is also a responsibility that comes with being a student as there are societal challenges that they will face. “We need solutions to societal challenges; we need a lot of innovations in this country to ensure ourselves of a brighter future. I am calling on all young people to think creatively about all the challenges we face in this country and try and find new solutions to these. Being at university also means you must be a game changer,” he stressed.
Pic 1: (L-R): FoAD Deputy Dean Brian Pearce, Sipho Mbutho, Anathi Gobeni, Ben Nozo and FoAD Executive Dean Dr René Smith.
In a bid to help fight the outbreak of COVID-19 in South Africa, especially at the Durban University of Technology (DUT), there have been various forms of support given by different departments such as the Department of Fashion and Textiles, which recently embarked on a voluntary project to make face masks for some departmental staff working through the lockdown period.
Acting head of the Fashion and Textiles Department Sunthra Moodley, DUT lecturers Meena Bagwandin, Khaya Mchunu, Tando Mbanga, Simphiwe Xulu, Keegan Naidoo, Sally de Witt, BTech students Georgina Brink, Kelly Love and Agilan Thaver, all formed part of the DUT team taking part in the initiative.
Moodley said what prompted her department on the task of making face masks was Professor Sibusiso Moyo, Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Research, Innovation and Engagement (RIE), who reached out and informed her of DUT’s initiative to fight COVID-19 implications. “I immediately knew what we had to do to make a positive contribution to the initiative. We had the
resources and the equipment, so I reached out to staff, who in turn reached out to our BTech students, and the team of 10 pledged their support to this initiative,” she said.
Delving more into the actual mask-making process, Moodley said that the team produced 530 face masks from 28 April 2020 to 30 April 2020. She further added that it was a double ply mask with medium weight denim twill, lined with a cotton shirting fabric. “Elastic was attached to the sides and made to be adjustable for a small, medium or large face. Branding was also attached to the bottom of the mask,” she said.
On completion the face masks were distributed to DUT staff in the library in Durban and Pietermaritzburg, Student Counselling, Research Innovation and Engagement Office, Procurement, Security and Finance.
The Faculty of Arts and Design’s Art for Humanity (AFH) established a solidarity fund to assist Durban artists, art students and creative practitioners with cash relief during the coronavirus crisis which has caused a disruption in many people’s lives.
AFH’s Director, Ismail Farouk, said the fundraising project was initiated as part of the Arts Lives Project (ALP), which is spearheaded by DUT’s Faculty of Arts and Design.
With the COVID-19 pandemic having a substantial effect on the arts globally and locally, “artists, art students, creative practitioners and the families they support are now facing a severe loss of income, resulting in a variety of difficulties and an inability to even purchase basic needs for survival”.
AFH raised a total of R43085,35 in nine days and paid 77 verified applicants a total of R559,55 each by 1 May 2020.
To apply for the fund, people had to fill out a basic survey and send copies of their ID and CV to AFH. A Working Committee was setup to ensure that the applicant information captured through the online application is
processed with urgency and transparency.
“This is only a very small initiative, but we hope it can be consolidated and continue to be a source of support for Durban-based artists. Importantly, there exist several similar solidarity initiatives in various other cities around the country, as well as globally, and we are one among several others which provides support and solidarity for artists around South Africa,” said Farouk. To raise the funds, AFH ran an online campaign and had various fundraising efforts collaborating with their partners. Farouk said that AFH is extremely grateful to those who have donated funds.
To donate to the AFH Artist Solidarity Fund, go to: https://www.payfast.co.za/donate/go/artforhumanity. Alternatively, you can make a direct deposit to the following account:
Account Name: Art For Humanity
Bank: Nedbank
Branch: 130126
Account Number: 1301289353
Account Type: Cheque/Transmission
Reference: ALP
With the current COVID -19 crisis, the Photography programme’s students and staff were requested to participate and showcase their photographic expertise and practice in a compulsory photography programme project brief – 21 DAYS ISOLATION.
The project, which began on 27 March 2020, had over 90 visual storytellers participating. The main aspect was for all storytellers to make one strong image per day which simply represented isolation in one’s personal space that one is bound, for the 21 days of the first lockdown.
One of the storytellers, second-year Photography student Wonderboy Maluleka, spoke of his journey of documentation through COVID-19. “The fact that this is something that we are not used to made it interesting for me. I think it is important that we document a rare moment or situation in our lives. My main focus is around recording how people react to this pandemic, how they go on a daily basis trying to get used to the situation. It’s also about me
as a photography student, how do I react as a visual artist when I am limited in terms of creating photographs,” he said.
He added that it is important to capture the mood and emotions because this is like a documentary. “We will always go back to this and just see how everyone was about the situation. Also, the next generation would also know what happened in 2020,” he stressed.
For second-year Photography student Scelo Dlamini, most of his work does reflect that he comes from the rural backgrounds of Ladysmith. “The COVID-19 epidemic has been a life-changing challenge for all of us and across all spheres in societies we live in. With the modern 21st-century technology, we are enabled to share images across the world with a wider platform. It is also important to capture events as they happen as images can also serve as a reference and awareness,” he said.
All student storytellers had to assemble a collection of images at the end of lockdown, which will yield promising results as everyone has a story to tell, and everyone’s story is important.
(L-R): Gaositwe
Makolomakwa, Dr Adarsh
Puri, Prof Suren Singh (Exec Dean: FAS), Prof Kugen
Permaul, Siphiwengesihle
Mbamali, Prof Feroz Swalaha (HOD: Biotechnology and Food Technology).
Durban University of Technology (DUT) produced 1000 litres of hand sanitiser, FastSan 80, which was distributed for free to staff and students when the university re-opened.
The project forms part of the university’s various initiatives driven by the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Thandwa Mthembu, to curb the spread of COVID-19 among the DUT community.
Professor Suren Singh, the Executive Dean of the Faculty of Applied Sciences, stated that the faculty has a wide array of expertise that could play a significant role in the fight against COVID-19.
The project was spearheaded by Professor Kugen Permaul, one of the university’s leading molecular biologists, and Director of the BRICS consortium on Biomass Utilization (one of only three globally).
Professor Permaul drove this project with a highly technical skilled team from the Department of Biotechnology and Food Technology at DUT comprising of three staff members: Dr Adarsh Puri, Mr Gaositwe Makolomakwa and Mrs Siphiwengesihle Mbamali.
“The first batch of 1000 litres of hand sanitiser was produced, bottled and labelled in four days. A competition was held within the department to come up with a name for the hand sanitiser. FastSan was proposed by the Head of Department, Prof Feroz Swalaha, and chosen as it includes the Faculty name and the “80” designates the alcohol concentration,” said Permaul.
He further stated that the hand sanitiser was formed according to the World Health Organization (WHO) specifications.
Elaborating on its effectiveness, Permaul said the FastSan 80 hand sanitiser uses 80% ethanol, as opposed to most of the sanitisers that use 70% or lower ethanol.
“While 70% of ethanol is an effective concentration for inactivating coronaviruses and other micro-organisms, 80% ethanol is more effective. Besides the active ingredient, alcohol, a humectant has been added to moisturize hands and prevent drying out with frequent use. Hydrogen peroxide is added to sterilise the bottles and sanitiser,” said Permaul.
The rampant COVID-19 pandemic has brought our nation to a standstill. It is depleting medical resources and equipment faster than they can be replaced. The worldwide scramble for Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) is also driving prices higher while simultaneously reducing availability. The Durban University of Technology (DUT) stepped in and provided a helping hand to mitigate this dire shortage by producing and donating 3D face shields to selected Durban communities.
DUT utilised its advanced 3D printing laboratory located at its Ritson Campus-based Luban Workshop. The laboratory has 12 high quality 3D printers producing purpose-built PPE. In addition to the 12 3D printers, DUT has two industrial
resin printers that could be used to print moulds to support large scale manufacturing processes.
According to Ebrahim Asmal, the leader of this innovative project, “Each shield is printed in just 24 minutes. This prompt response is urgently needed to help reduce the COVID-19 infection spread in order to flatten the curve. It helps to protect the wearer and those around from the splatter that may occur. Our main aim is to help reduce the spread of the virus.”
The shield protects the three facial areas, the eyes, nose and the mouth, all known to be areas through which the virus can infect a person. Asmal’s team is made up of staff and students from the Department of Information Technology and Mechanical Engineering who continue to make these 3D shields on a daily basis.
A number of doctors around Durban, the South African Police Services (Berea SAPS, Chatsworth SAPS), doctors at Prince Mshiyeni Hospital, Addington Hospital, Wentworth Hospital and the Aryan Benevolent Old Age Home in Chatsworth have benefited from this initiative.
Dr Festus Mwangi (Head of Department: Mechanical Engineering) with Ebrahim Asmal (Senior lecturer: Department of Information and Technology and the Project Leader) at the University’s Luban Workshop, Ritson Campus.
Fashion alumna and designer, Balini Naidoo, started her own brand of braille designs. Now based in Saldanha Bay, Naidoo completed her Bachelor of Technology Degree in Fashion and Textile Design at DUT and graduated in 2017 cum laude.
Naidoo’s idea of braille designs came from having a family member who is visually impaired, making her aware of the many struggles that the unsighted faced. She said that some of these difficulties include daily clothing identification and clothing choices made with assistance.
“I started researching how I can design a system for the blind to assist them in becoming more self-reliant and independent when choosing clothes. My designs, which come in muted colours, help visually impaired identify the colour, size, wash care instructions and style description of a garment, which is printed onto it. This also makes it easier for people who are visually impaired to have some independence, for example when choosing what to wear on a daily basis,” she said.
She stated that her range of clothing gives visually impaired people the dignity of choosing their own fashion sense and what they feel comfortable and good in. Also, Naidoo added that a percentage of all her profit of her braille clothing is donated to the Cape Town Blind Society.
Naidoo’s creativity got her vast recognition for her designing skills. She was chosen as one of the Top 10 designers for the Society of Dyers and Colourists 2015 competition. In 2016, she was placed in the top 25 Vodacom Durban July Young Designer Awards. Naidoo was chosen to showcase her BTech concept at the Design Indaba Emerging Creatives class of 2018. “I am also a Goalkeeper for the Bill and Melinda Gates foundation 2019,” she said proudly.
Another exciting chapter for her was the opening of her own business in April 2019 called Balini Pty Ltd. The core product of her business is the braille clothing with the braille identification system. However, she stressed that this does not limit the company from exploring any other market with regards to the fashion industry.
“The braille identification system is also available for sale to retailers under trademark,” she said.
To find out more on her braille designs, email: balininaidoo@yahoo.com
Multi-talented Fine Arts alumna and singing sensation, Thabisile Ndlovu -popularly known as Thab’sile -- recently released her hit single titled How Do I Love Thee, after taking a break for two years from music.
Thab’sile, who is originally from Pietermaritzburg, made a name for herself in 2005 when she collaborated with DJ Bongz and sang the hit songs Thina Sobabili and Get Over You. These songs (especially Thina Sobabili) got many people dancing. They were released under DJ Bongz’s debut album: No Retreat. No Surrender, which later sold triple platinum.
Speaking about her return to the music industry, Thab’sile said she has decided to go back to using her original name and sound. She said in 2016 she ditched her name and changed it to Lellogreen after trying a new sound heavily influenced by pop music.
“The Lellogreen project was an EP called Misfit and I released a single, Doesn’t Matter. As Lellogreen, I went to New Orleans Essence Festival and shared the stage with the renowned R&B artists such as Toni Braxton and Babyface. Unfortunately, the new sound and name did not bring me much luck. Things were not as popping as I would have liked,” said Thab’sile. She further stated that even though her music career had been a winding journey, she was not willing to quit as music is her life.
“I decided to go back to house music and my original name. This is when I started working on my new single, How Do I Love Thee, produced by C Sharp. It’s a love song. It’s a very sweet song, written in a girl’s perspective. She is trying to find a way to let her boyfriend know how much she loves him,” said Thab’sile.
Reflecting on her music journey,Thab’sile said she moved to Durban in 2004 to study Fine Arts at DUT. After relocating to Durban, she was introduced to music by her friend, TKO, who was a music producer.
“We started making music! Luckily, we created Thina Sobabili and Get Over You, which were released under DJ Bongz’s album. People liked my voice and welcomed me with open arms. This led to the release of my debut selftitled album:Thab’sile. My album had the songs, Come Duze and the Sobabili remix,” said Thab’sile.
Media, Language and Communication Department: Journalism
Tarryn holds a Master’s degree in Social Science (Psychology) summa cum laude from the University of KwaZulu-Natal and is completing her PhD at the University of the Witwatersrand and the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam as a part of the Desmond Tutu NRF Doctoral scholarship.
Tarryn’s research focuses on memory and identity in post-apartheid South Africa. Drawing on material from her psychology background and interests in anthropology, history, development studies as well as literary, culture and media studies, her PhD project explores questions of how South African youth (the ‘born-free generation’) understand and ‘remember’ our traumatic past and create our future. Additionally, her research has engaged with issues of cross-generational story-telling, and during her Master’s study, she participated in a SANPAD-funded project under the umbrella: ‘Exploring cross-generational construction of social identities in contemporary South Africa: notes from emergent margins’ that was held at the Centre for Critical Research on Race and Identity (CCRRI) at the University of KwaZulu-Natal.
Bulelwa Mbele is currently a Fine Art Lecturer at the Durban University of Technology. She was previously a Junior Lecturer in Art History at the University of South Africa. She has worked in various art institutions such as the “Bag Factory Artists’ Studios” and “Gallery Momo”. She completed her Master’s degree in History of Art at the University of the Witwatersrand in 2019 and her BAFA at the same university in 2010. Her research is largely based on sexual violence and the manner that it intersects with visual culture.
Media, Language and Communication Department: English and Communication
Nontsasa is a senior lecturer in Media, Language and Communication. Her research focuses on black women as producers of knowledge about their lived realities. She has published book chapters and journal articles on race, gender, sexuality and culture, touching on varied subjects such as women before the TRC, disability, gender and race, and black women in popular culture and the historical archive. Her current project focuses on representation of Black women in South African heritage and commemoration.
Jade is a sociolinguist with an eye on the underlying meaning in texts. She started her studies at Rhodes University with the aim of becoming a journalist. However, after a BA in Journalism and Media Studies specialising in writing and editing, her interest in critical discourse analysis led her to pursue a newfound love: linguistics. Still intrigued by print media, Jade focused her MA research on the ways in which imagined communities of readership are built in letters to the editors of the Daily Sun and The Times newspapers. Her findings have been published in local and international linguistics journals. Jade has also published in health journalism as a research assistant at the Discovery Centre for Health Journalism. After a brief detour from academia as a high school English teacher and TVET lecturer in business communication, Jade started her PhD in linguistics through Rhodes University. Her research investigated the representations of South Africans in the words and images of post-apartheid children’s literature with a multimodal systemic functional linguistic framework. After completing her PhD, Jade was an online writing tutor for university students from the USA, Canada and Australia. Her current research project is a multimodal analysis of a children’s book parody which builds an imagined community of support among tired parents.
R.I.P
Dr Joseph Shabalala
1940-2020
