Mbele makes Destiny Magazine’s The Power of 40 report
Graphic Design Students at Gold Pack competition Shamil Balram exhibits at Essence Festival Beijing Institute of Fashion Technology (BIFT) visits FoAD
Durban University of Technology | Faculty of Arts & Design Magazine
Issue Four 2016
About the Cover Art “The work was produced at a time when I was dealing with the idea(s) of cultural hybridity and its manifestation in the context of ‘black masculinities’ in contemporary Africa (particularly South Africa). I was, at the time, very interested in how our history is laden, or even shaped, by very distinct forms of ultra masculinities – traces of which are still present in contemporary forms of masculinity today. So the juxtaposition(ing) of the image of the historic Afrikaner leader Paul Kruger next a contemporary image of a black urban (hip-hop) youth, next to the iconic image of King Cetshwayo, with the background of a silhouette of a bull was, I suppose, my poetic visual hint at this hybridized form of ultra masculinity.” Themba Shibase
Credits Editor: Andile Dube 031 373 6455/ andiled@dut.ac.za Contributors: Layout and Design: Nic Human Proofreader: Andrea Alcock (City Campus Writing Centre) Images: Mbuso Nkosi, Sbonelo Mthethwa, Michelle Reynolds, Waheeda Peters, Melissa Mungroo, Nirma Dolly Madhoo-Chipps and Facebook. Cover Art: Themba Shibase, Histories Publisher: Faculty of Arts and Design Editor-in-Chief: FoAD Executive Dean, Dr René Smith
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Contents Awards and Honours Video Technology recognise budding film makers
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Language Practice awards excelling students
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Graphic Design breaks record at the Gold Pack Awards
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Lwazi Mshibe finalist in the PG Bison 1.618 Competition
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Interior Design student finalists in DTI’s Furniture Design Competition
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Exhibitions Feminism, Millennial and Indian Diaspora Garments Showcase
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A busy year for Fine Art and Jewellery Design
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Dane Stops exhibits NSFW at DUT Art Gallery
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News FoAD to sign MoU with Beijing Institute of Fashion Technology
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Siyanda Mbele makes Destiny Magazine Power of 40 report
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Special Feature FoAD holds Second Annual Research and Staff Recognition Awards
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Seminars Cry of Love screens at DUT
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Trump presidency deconstructed
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Alumni Journalism graduates big winners at VJ of the year awards
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Journalism alumna produces eNCA news
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Durban University of Technology | Faculty of Arts & Design Magazine | Issue Four 2016
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Editor’s Note With the many distractions that happen throughout the year, it is often not easy to pause and take stock. For me Christmas is a time for families and friends to come together for happy memories and reminiscing. Reflection is very important to me, when you reflect you are able to understand the world more clearly. The practice of reflecting can take many forms, it may be through keeping a diary, contemplation or simply prayer. This issue of Softcopy is special not only because it our last issue for 2016 but it marks two years since the faculty launched the magazine. I hope Softcopy has helped you better reflect on the amazing work that we do; be it as a staff member or student. The awards and honours section is always filled with achievements by our students. In this issue you can read about the Graphic Design students who achieved at the 2016 Student Gold Pack competition. You can also read about Fine Art student, Shamil Balram who exhibited at the Essence Festival, aside from displaying his work on such a platform, he also had a chance to meet Tina Knowles and Steve and Marjorie Harvey. Reflection is not just about looking back but it is also about being grateful for all the positive things in one’s life. As we strive daily to become better people, I hope in the year ahead, you will have time to pause for moment’s reflection. Until next term, stay blessed!
Andile
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Dean’s Corner 2016 was another productive year with many highlights, which our Softcopy publication continues to illuminate. Our second Annual Faculty Staff Research and Recognition Awards was a fitting end to the year. Congratulations to all Researchers recognised by the Faculty for their 2015 output. For the Dean’s Award, several colleagues were acknowledged across categories, including engagement, internationalisation and e-learning. The 2016 Individual Award went to our Faculty Research Coordinator, Dr Maleshoane RapeaneMathonsi and the Interior Design Programme received the Team Award. The Mentees received Special Recognition for their commitment to the purposefully designed Tutor-Mentor Programme, which seeks to develop the next generation of academics in Design and the Arts. Well done to all awardees. It is easy to focus on what isn’t working and on everything that is wrong, but when we start recognising what we are doing to move things forward and the positive changes we are making, we start to see things as they are. We start to see how necessary it is to remain relevant and to believe that we can be the Faculty of choice in KZN for Design and the Arts. Thank you to all who keep us moving forward (including our Softcopy team); to those who keep us on our toes and those who inspire us to do more. Keep shining!
René
We do not see things as they are, we see things as we are. Anaïs Nin
Durban University of Technology | Faculty of Arts & Design Magazine | Issue Four 2016
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Awards Honours
Video Technology recognise budding film makers ANDILE DUBE
Vuyani Nondabula won big at the recent Video Technology awards for students who excelled in 2016. Nondabula who hails from Matatiele, located in the northern part of the Eastern Cape, was accompanied by his proud mother to the swanky ceremony hosted at the Coastlands hotel. The up-and-coming film maker bagged 6 awards, walking away with trophies and a cash prize over R4000.
“It is a fantastic time of the year to be able to recognise student effort and achievement at all levels of study from first, second, third and up to the fourth year”, Burnett said. Other awards given at the ceremony included, First year Certificate of Achievement: Debut Drama, Second year Certificates of Achievement: Music Montage, Third Year Certificates of Achievement: Music Video, and Certificates of Achievement: Research Project.
Nondabula received recognition for Academic Achievement: Second year (Semester 2, 2015), Third Year Certificate of Achievement: Drama, Best Music Video, Best Editing, First Place Third Year, and the Bruce Dobie Award for Initiative. His mother, Bukiwe Nondabula who travelled far to be his date for the night couldn’t contain her excitement as her son walked up and down to accept his awards. She said: “I am so happy that he won all these awards. He has really been working hard and having a lot of sleepless nights. When he told me about the ceremony I had to come and support him because I wasn’t able to come last year.” Nondabula who was beaming with joy as he joked with his mother about what to do with the cash prize said: “I am very happy because I wasn’t expecting to win all these awards, especially this one (Bruce Dobie Award for Initiative). Last year I thought I was going to win it but someone else won it, so I had lost hope. I knew I was going to win a couple of them but not this much. I really want to thank my family and lecturers for the support they have given me.” Video Technology’s Senior Lecturer, Dr Cary Burnett said it was awesome that they are able to get together and celebrate the students’ achievements.
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Vuyani Nondabula with Video Technology Lecturer Peter Burnett.
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Awards Honours
Language Practice awards excelling students ANDILE DUBE
A total of 33 Language Practice Programme students were awarded certificates of excellence for doing well in subjects and extracurricular activities in 2016. In their first year the awards aim to motivate and put students in the spotlight to highlight their potential to companies for future employment. Language Practice’s Philiswa Mncube said: “The impact is very positive because now most of the students are going to want to work harder as to also get the awards which that alone contributes so much in the subjects pass rates.”
Third year student, Daniel Magubane who received two awards for Public Speaking and English praised the organisers of the awards saying “The 2016 Language Practice awards were a masterpiece, held and organized at an esteemed level. Ms Mncube, Ms Nkosi, Ms Sithole along with the language practice team did an astounding job.” “These awards are inspiring and motivating to us as students and those who come after, such an occasion should be granted practice for years to come,” said Magubane.
Language Practice Programme students at the awards ceremony.
Durban University of Technology | Faculty of Arts & Design Magazine | Issue Four 2016
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Awards Honours
Graphic Design breaks record at the Gold Pack Awards ANDILE DUBE
Graphic Design students made history at the 2016 Student Gold Pack Awards by winning 10 awards for three different briefs. The students, Michelange Ngomno Wembolenga, Rebecca Buxton, Liam Chad Duval, Devani Govender, Micah HastingsBell, Kieren Murugan, Micaela Leigh Naicker, Racheal Pontin and Clianta Simone Sylvester, also had another significant achievement by having the highest number of finalists (more than any other university). Two of the nine finalists, Micah Hastings-Bell and Racheal Pontin were entered into the WorldStar Student competition.
The WorldStar Student Awards, promoted by the World Packaging Organisation (WPO), is an international packaging design competition for undergraduate or graduate students from countries around the world who are involved in projects in the field of packaging structural design and/ or graphic design. Graphic Design lecturer, Frank Kalala couldn’t contain his excitement saying, “Many (students) got approached for jobs at the event and are currently working. Micah Hastings-Bell was approached by Coca-Cola to see if they can use her project in their future campaign.”
The Graphic Design Programme has previously won the Gold Pack Awards. Last year Nontobeko Kunene was announced as the winner in the Back to School Stationary category. In 2014, Sasha Subramoney won the overall Graphic Design award and Bradley Cuzen went on to be one of the three winners of the 2014 WolrdStar Student Competition that was held in Brazil. Cuzen was awarded one of the three ‘WorldStar Student Winner’ awards, the top possible award to win in this international competition. Graphic Design students with their lecturer, Frank Kalala (centre) at the 2016 Student Gold Pack Awards.
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Awards Honours
Lwazi Mshibe finalist in the PG Bison 1.618 Competition ANDILE DUBE
Dressed in a dazzling red blazer and brown mountain hat, third year Interior Design student, Lwazi Mshibe mingled with his peers and industry professionals at the PG Bison 1.618 Awards ceremony held in Johannesburg recently. Mshibe was one of the finalists in the PG Bison 1.618 Competition which culminated in a glitzy ceremony which allowed all finalists to reveal a little of their personalities. Speaking at the ceremony, Managing Director of Surface Innovations, Philip Roux emphasized the importance of creating opportunities for up and coming designers to showcase their talents. “We love seeing these young designers coming up through the educational system, and this competition creates an incredible opportunity and stepping stone for their careers,” Roux said.
Mshibe said he was disappointed at not winning but being a finalist assured him that he was on the right path to becoming one of the finest young emerging designers in the country. The 2016 brief tasked students with creating a space for a collective, put together to work on a massive international sporting event which would be hosted in Port Elizabeth. Cape Recife Lighthouse on the Southern tip of Algoa Bay, located within the bounds of the Cape Recife Nature Reserve, was chosen to house the collective. “This space needed to foster creativity, design, interaction and maximum productivity. Also, function as a lighthouse. Therefore, I took on the brief and did what I know best and produced the final results,” said the 22-year-old Mshibe. The PG Bison 1.618 Competition was created over two decades ago to recognise future interior and industrial designers, architects, and key decision makers in the South African construction industry.
Future interior designers awarded Lwazi Mshibe was a big winner at the 2016 DUT Interior Design Programme Awards. Mshibe won five awards walking away with trophies from companies like FGG Architects and prizes which included money and vouchers. The annual awards and portfolio exhibition which have been ongoing since the Interior Design programme was established aim to acknowledge hard-work, growth and excellence in 3rd year and BTech Interior Design students. Michelle Reynolds noted that in addition, the awards showcase student work to the faculty, alumni, family and industry. “Third year and BTech students showcased their year’s portfolio.
Lwazi Mshibe (red jacket) with fellow finalists in the PG Bison 1.618 Competition and Managing Director of Surface Innovations, Philip Roux (left).
Durban University of Technology | Faculty of Arts & Design Magazine | Issue Four 2016
They did this using digital presentations, printed books, posters and Behance,” said Reynolds.
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Awards Honours
Interior Design students finalists in DTI’s Furniture Design Competition ANDILE DUBE
Third year Interior Design student, Simphiwe Mlambo along with first-year student, Akhona Thusi were selected as finalists in the Department of Trade and Industry’s 2016/17 Furniture Design Competition. Both Mlambo and Thusi will exhibit their work with other finalists in February next year. Should one of them win, they will walk away with a one-year internship, software prizes, design tools and vast media exposure. Mlambo says he entered the competition because he wanted to test if the skills he has accumulated at DUT over the last three years were worthy of national recognition. “Most importantly to get a chance to possibly be part of a growing industry as a young creative in South Africa and it was a chance for me to create and have people experience my thoughts.” To be shortlisted Mlambo submitted 3D drawings, along with technical drawings of his designed furniture piece, a rationale explaining his thought process, and the general idea behind the design.
The 22-year-old says he is obsessed with the built environment which is why he chose to study Interior Design. “This is inspired by my father who’s been a general builder for as long as I’ve been alive really, and my mother who was a furniture sales lady for over 27 years. And that over the years grew a desire to create spaces that respond to the context in a functional yet aesthetically pleasing manner that people can experience continuously,” he said. On making it this far in the competition he said: “I’m freaked out to be honest because this means I have to work harder. It also means I’m getting closer to where I want to be as a person and a young creative but all on all I’m really excited and inspired.”
Third year Interior Design student, Simphiwe Mlambo.
Interior Design chairs rock Silindokuhle Makhubo’s chair won first prize at the Durban Art Deco Society and Makerspace Durban exhibition in conjunction DUT Interior Design. The exhibition was part of the 2016 #DUTDigiFest which also featured a competition aspect with prizes donated by Francis Architects & Interiors. Nonkululeko Dube and Cebile Sibiya’s chairs won second and third places, respectively. The theme was formulated around “Art Deco plus Digital”, with the employment of modern digital techniques such as laser-cut flatpack design (like IKEA), autoCAD, stop-frame assembly and 3-D rendered video presentations. Silindokuhle Makhubo’s (on the left) which took first place.
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Exhibitions
Feminism, Millennial and Indian Diaspora Garments Showcase at Exhibition WAHEEDA PETERS
The Department of Fashion and Textiles recently held its annual BTech Fashion exhibition at Brickfield campus. Six Fashion and Textiles BTech students, Paige Marie Garbutt, Kirstie Van Den Berg, Neliswa Jili, Fathimah Patel, Tamlyn Bergoff and Kershnie Permasur, brought their designing skills to ‘life’ with a viewing of their unique, bright fashion ranges, displaying creativity with usages of ethnic colours, fabrics and designs from various eras. Kirstie Van Den Berg’s ‘Millennial Women’ designs encapsulated the importance of fourth wave feminism, the revolution looming in women’s closets, especially through her range of hats, shift dresses and coats. Shifting to a more hip-hop genre was Neliswa Jili’s range depicting the Americanisation in South African hip-hop fashion.
She hopes that through her studies and design, a better understanding of Islam, its modesty values and clothing needs, will help to motivate and inspire more South African fashion designers to cater for the Muslim market, which is seen to be growing at an extraordinarily rapid pace internationally. Another designer range which depicted the present day Indian diaspora within South Africa, in terms of its culture and tradition, was Kershnie Permasur’s modern sartorials exhibition. Using a mixture of colourful saris, tablecloths, upholstery, printed plastics, she linked her range to the ‘motherland India’ and Bollywood. Permasur further reiterated that a modern clothing collection maintaining cultural silhouettes, has the potential to communicate to trendy women in the Durban Indian diaspora.
Her exciting collection showcased female rappers and compared it to that of American hip-hop in order to highlight the analytical, aesthetic feel of local hip-hop for women. Her display took the form of a constructed hip-hop capsule consisting of screen printed fabrics, garments and accessories that were inspired by Zulu culture and iconography. “Through my research and my designs, I found that there is a need for local-inspired- hip-hop fashion,” she said. Concentrating on a very cultural fashion element was Fathima Patel’s beautiful, modest collection. Patel added that the huge potential market for modest clothing in South Africa and the urgency with which the fashion industry needs to understand and cater for Muslim women, was important. Kirstie Van Den Berg’s ‘Millennial Women’ exhibition.
Durban University of Technology | Faculty of Arts & Design Magazine | Issue Four 2016
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Exhibitions
A busy year for Fine Art and Jewellery Design ANDILE DUBE
2016 was a busy year for Fine Art and Jewellery Design students who’ve hosted a number of memorable exhibitions around Durban. Second and third year jewellery design students held an exhibition at the DUT Art Gallery titled, ASSEMBLAGE. The exquisite jewellery which was on show went for sale with a certain percentage of proceeds being donated to ARROWSA and Bechet High. The department also participated in the annual DUTDigiFest where first and second year jewellery design students hosted an exhibition titled, Perception.
experiences, human condition informed by emotionality, fragility and ephemerality of life and socio-political issues informed by the #FEESMUSTFALL protests. Also at ArtSPACE gallery a group of first year Fine Art students, Kenneth Shandu, Mfundo Mhlongo, Ncumisa Mcitwa, Yasmien Mackey, Baphile Khuzwayo, Sihle Myeni, Andile Hlengwa, Tebugo Mbhatha, Shamil Balram, Bomikazi Dlava, Mfezeko Gumada and Deon Brown, organised and hosted an exhibition called New Beginnings.
The exhibition explored the interaction of their jewellery with the world. This was presented through a visual and audio installation showing the different ways in which both jewellery and the environment can be perceived. Also for DUTDigiFest, third year Fine Art students hosted an exhibition called, from no-tech to lo-tech. Supervised by their lecturer, Greg Streak, the students’ showcase explored lo-tech technologies and innovative cross-platform interventions as a way to speak to their context and concerns within both the institution and the city. Last month, the Fine Art and Jewellery Design department held an exhibition of a selection of works by third year and B-Tech students. The showcase featured the students’ final portfolios, with disciplines spanning Drawing, Painting, Printmaking, Sculpture, Ceramics and Jewellery.
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Accessories by Jewellery Design students with Fashion students for the Annual Arts and Design Digital Festival.
Essence Festival for Fine Art students First year Fine Art Students, Shamil Balram and Kenneth Shandu were part of a team of local artists that exhibited at the Durban Essence Festival which took place in November 2016. The budding artists had the pleasure of meeting international stars, Tina Knowles, Steve and Marjorie Harvey, and having them gush over their work.
Fine Art students also made the most of the year by hosting group exhibitions at ArtSPACE Durban last month.
Tina Knowles posted on Instagram: “It’s so important for events like Essence Festival to come to South Africa to give the people, especially women, empowerment seminars. There are 1000 businesses that got to display their products to network with other African business. This is a start of something that can change the lasting effects of apartheid.”
Minenhle Buthelezi, Andy Dlamini, Sithembiso Dube and Bongumusa Shezi’s exhibition was titled, Transformation. Their offering featured works which looked at identity informed by life
Fine Art graduate and part-time Lecturer, Mhlonishnwa Chiliza’s work was also on display.
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Exhibitions
Dane Stops exhibits NSFW at DUT Art Gallery SOFTCOPY REPOTER
Part time Graphic Design Lecturer, graffiti artist and Masters student, Dane Stops held a daring solo exhibition titled, NSFW [Not Safe for Work] at the DUT Art Gallery recently. The exhibition consisted of Stops work completed in partial fulfilment of his Master’s degree in Graphic Design. The body of work is an investigation into the artistic exploration of the nude figure. Stops explored various aspects of social media and the internet and their contextual influence on contemporary society. Stops says the internet and associated media have influenced the way we communicate and represent ourselves through selfies, emojis and hashtags.
Students enjoy taking selfies at Dane Stops’ NSFW exhibition.
Stops looked at the contemporary overlap between public and private spaces and plays on the relationship between these two states; connecting the privacy of nudity and figure drawing with public art forms such as graffiti and advertising media. Almost all of the images that made up the exhibition were sourced online through Google searches and Tumblr sites. The work exhibited made use of a number of techniques, from traditional painting and drawing to print media and spray-paint.
Dane Stops who is graduating with a Master’s Degree next year.
Durban University of Technology | Faculty of Arts & Design Magazine | Issue Four 2016
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News
FoAD to sign MoU with Beijing Institute of Fashion Technology ANDILE DUBE
The Faculty of Arts and Design is in a process of signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with China’s Beijing Institute of Fashion Technology (BIFT). Following a visit to BIFT by Executive Dean, Dr René Smith and Dr Lavern Samuels (facilitated by Dr Eddie Fu of our DUT Confucius Institute), a senior delegation from BIFT visited DUT’s Faculty of Arts and Design where they met with a number of departments and attended the annual DUT Fashion Show. The delegation held meetings with Departments of Fashion, Fine Art and Jewellery Design, as well as with Interim Vice Chancellor, Dr John Volmink and International Education and Partnerships Director, Dr Lavern Samuels to discuss possible future collaborative projects between DUT and BIFT.
The BIFT delegation included, Vice President, Professor Liao Qing, Office of Enrolment and Career Planning Director, Zheng Jie, Director in the Fashion Media Design Programme, School of Fashion Art and Engineering, Professor Xie Ping, Jewellery Design lecturer, Fu Yonghe and Project Coordinator in the Office of International Cooperation and Exchange, Lu Xuan. Internationally acclaimed ‘The Business of Fashion’ ranked BIFT in the top 20 of their Global Fashion Ranking list for 2015. The list aims to provide an objective assessment of the top undergraduate (BA) and graduate (MA) fashion programmes around the world. Amongst many accolades, BIFT was responsible for the national team uniforms at the 2008 Beijing Olympics and the civilian parade for the 60th anniversary of the People’s Republic of China.
DUT Fashion and Textiles staff together with Beijing Institute of Fashion Technology’s delegates.
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News
Siyanda Mbele makes Destiny Magazine Power of 40 report ANDILE DUBE
2016 has been a good year for Interior Design graduate and parttime Lecturer, Siyanda Mbele. The budding entrepreneur and creative was recently featured in Destiny Magazine’s “Power of 40”. The Power of 40 profiles men and women under the age of 40 who are doing extraordinary things in their various industries. Earlier this year Mbele was named Product Designer of the year 2015 at the Nestlings Awards. Last year, the 24-year-old was named South African Bureau of Standards (SABS) Design institute’s Design Candidate. He was also one of the artists that exhibited at the 100% Design South Africa, which took place at the Gallagher Convention Centre in August last year. Moreover, Mbele was awarded a scholarship by the Southern Guild Design Foundation and he was named as House and Leisure magazine’s 100 rising stars 2015.
Interior Design graduate and part-time Lecturer, Siyanda Mbele.
As a child he wanted to make cars but while studying Mechanical Engineering in high school, he realised he liked Graphic Design but ended up choosing Interior Design. Mbele is the owner of Pinda, which designs and manufactures hand-painted furniture inspired by the uniqueness of South African cultures. His designs provide an unexpectedly modern variation of African furniture and incorporate South African cultural references. He uses Ndebele, Venda and Zulu patterns in the products, which are interpreted into a novel aesthetic that also influences the shape of the products’ legs.
Mbele’s feature on Destiny Magazine’s “Power of 40”.
Durban University of Technology | Faculty of Arts & Design Magazine | Issue Four 2016
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Special Feature
FoAD holds Second Annual Research and Staff Recognition Awards SOFTCOPY REPORTER
The Faculty of Arts and Design (FoAD) ended the academic year by hosting the second annual Research and Staff Recognition Awards. The Research awards are organised by the Faculty’s research office and pay homage to staff and students involved in various research projects. Organised by the Dean’s office, the Staff Awards recognise individuals that have contributed significantly to the success of the faculty. FoAD’s Dean, Dr René Smith handed out trophies to the students who had participated as Mentees on the FoAD Pilot Mentorship Project funded by the Teaching Development Grant and coordinated by Mala Govender. Dr Smith thanked them for their commitment to the programme, which seeks to develop the next generation of academics, particularly in design and the arts.
as their community engagement work and collaboration with dti on their innovative wood prototyping project. Several colleagues were also acknowledged: Khaya Mchunu, Frank Kalala, Pragasen Reddy, Dennis Purvis and Dr Pamela Tancsik for various Engagement projects; Ismail Farouk, Prof Deborah Lutge, Lee Scott, Tasneem Seedat, and Stephen van Dyk for Internationalisation; Maud Blose, Dr Cary Burnett, Michaella Cavanagh, Nirvana Ramsaroop and Ben Tarr for e-learning. Special Recognition went to our team of Mentees: Mhlonishwa Chiliza, Dikeledi Maponya, Fezile Mdletshe, Mbuso Nkosi, Karla Nixon, Nomvula Sikakane, Luyanda Zindela.
The 2016 Individual Award went to our Faculty Research Coordinator, Dr Maleshoane Rapeane-Mathonsi. The Faculty’s Research Plan includes creating a culture of scholarship, through (amongst others) regular research seminars, as well as academic writing, publishing and supervision capacity workshops, and facilitating a range of Research appointments. She also actively contributes to Faculty projects like Digifest and is a member of the TDG team, supporting academic development. The Interior Design Programme, recipients of the Team Award, were recognised for steady improvement in curriculum development; active involvement and willingness to contribute to Faculty projects, like Rise of the Oxx and Digifest; as well
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Special Feature
Fine Art part-time lecturer, Mhlonishwa Chiliza receives his special recognition award in mentorship from FoAD’s Executive Dean Dr RenÊ Smith.
Durban University of Technology | Faculty of Arts & Design Magazine | Issue Four 2016
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Special Feature
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Special Feature
Durban University of Technology | Faculty of Arts & Design Magazine | Issue Four 2016
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Seminars
‘Cry of Love’ screens at DUT ANDILE DUBE
The Faculty of Arts and Design hosted a screening of local movie, Cry of Love which was followed by a discussion. Starring legendary musician, Yvonne Chaka Chaka, Oscar nominated actress, Leleti Khumalo and seasoned actor, Luthuli Dlamini the film talks about democracy, justice, human rights, identities, immigration and xenophobia.
with both the students and the filmmaker, about the experience it was felt that it would be valuable to generate discourse about the themes addressed within academic context. The filmmakers (Faith Isiakpere and Firdoze Bulbulia) are keen to have the film used as an educational tool”, Seedat said.
Chaka Chaka, stars as a community leader who is worried about the ills of the world around her. She starts a sanctuary to which she invites children who need guidance and provides a place where they can showcase their talents. Children from various backgrounds audition for Dlamini and Khumalo’s characters.
Levit Phungula, who plays a key role in the film, attended the screening and was part of the discussions that followed where he shared his experience of being part of the film project. “He also shared his personal experience of the changes he experienced within himself by being involved in this film project. The themes addressed were personally challenging and made him consider his own perspective. Being a musician he shared some of his feelings through a performance. He feels he expresses himself best through his music,” Seedat concluded.
Language Practice and English & Communication Lecturer, Tasneem Seedat (who was part of the team that organised the screening), said part of the reason for screening the film was to establish the possibility of how it can be used within the curriculum. “Some of my students and I had attended the opening screening during the vacation with the filmmaker. After some discussion,
The screening was made possible through the support of the filmmakers and producers, Moments Entertainment.
Levit Phungula (right) also attended the screening at City Campus.
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Seminars
Trump presidency deconstructed WAHEEDA PETERS
The historic win of the recent American elections by the Republicans’ nominee for president, Donald Trump, has become the most unpredicted win in US history. The fascination and also horror of his win against the Democrats’ presidential nominee for president, Hillary Clinton, has not only affected the American people but people from around the world. Academics such as Dr Sylvia Kate (DUT Peacebuilding), Dr Lubna Nadvi (UKZN), DUT’s Tasneem Seedat (English and Communications as well as Language Practice) and journalist and DUT part-time Lecturer, Tiema Haj Muindi; took the platform to voice their views and concerns pertaining to the Trump presidency.
Journalist and DUT part-time lecturer, Tiema Haj Muindi stated that the racial polarisation in the US epitomised neo-liberalism. “Democrats took for granted their electorals just like the African National Congress (ANC). From my perspective, we cannot think for the voters, to be a politician is not a problem, it’s how to manipulate the answers because Trump told the American people all the good things that they (voters) wanted to hear. It is not about a political party for the voter but it’s about the political party knowing what the people want,” he said. DUT’s Tasneem Seedat argued that the whole US election debacle played out like a script straight out of a Hollywood movie.
Speaking at the event, Dr Sylvia Kate from DUT Peacebuilding spoke about the role journalism and the press plays in bringing news to the people. She said truth-telling was vital and ethical practice is paramount. She also added that news writers and editors should be sanctified from the prejudices of egotism and desire, and be committed to equity and justice Adding to Dr Kate’s conversation was Dr Lubna Nadvi from UKZN, who said having Trump for four years or even eight years as president was a horrifying scenario. “Debates are now arising in the US as what to do about the American Electoral College system where voters vote for electors, which is a problem in the US.” she said. America’s incoming 45th President, Donal Trump with wife, Melania Trump.
Durban University of Technology | Faculty of Arts & Design Magazine | Issue Four 2016
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Our Alumni
Journalism graduates big winners at VJ of the year awards ANDILE DUBE
A number of DUT Journalism graduates scooped awards at the 2016 Vodacom Journalist of the Year Regional Awards in the KwaZulu-Natal region. Former Daily News reporter, Nosipho Mngoma won an award for a 2016 Print Feature for a story she wrote titled, Jailhouse rocked. SABC Radio reporter, Nonjabulo Mntungwa was announced as the 2016 Radio News winner for her coverage of the Shembe trial. Jeff Wicks won in the 2016 Financial/Economic category for a story he did at News24 titled, EXPOSED: How Panday bought the cops. Last year another Journalism alumnae, Nabeela Shaikh won the regional award in the Editor’s Choice category at the awards. Mngoma’s win comes hot on the heels of her being announced as the winner of the Best Health News Reporting at the 2015 Discovery Health Journalism Awards held in Johannesburg.
DUT Journalism graduate and former Daily News reporter, Nosipho Mngoma who won an award for a 2016 Print Feature for a story.
At each regional finals Media Express, sister company to Internet Express Courier, expressed gratitude to the journalists “that so tirelessly serve the people of South Africa.” “We’d like to congratulate all the winners in the KwaZulu-Natal Region for entering a strong body of thoughtprovoking and compelling work. We look forward to welcoming you at the national finals, where we will be celebrating excellence in journalism in South Africa,” said Netshitenzhe.
Other 2016 Vodacom Journalist of the Year Regional Award winners in the KwaZulu-Natal region.
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Our Alumni
Journalism alumna produces eNCA news ANDILE DUBE
Adam’s Mission born, Gcina Mvana is living proof that dreams do come true. The former DUT Journalism student is now bulletin producer and reporter for eNCA isiZulu news.
She said: “When you enter different workspaces, there’ll also be characters who are not easy to work with. I’ve learnt to keep my eye on the ball and just stay a happy person.”
Mvana who was part of the Journalism class of 2010 says she chose journalism because of her general interest in the world around her and she truly believes her purpose in life is to tell stories.
Mvana plans to continue with her studies in journalism but she notes that most importantly she is one day going to be a news anchor for a global news channel and continue to be part of history in the making.
Prior to eNCA she worked as a communications intern for the South African YMCA, as a Children’s Radio Officer in Northern KwaZulu-Natal, but her break on broadcast TV came when she worked as a news producer and entertainment reporter for Africa News Network (ANN7). Working in television can be hectic but Mvana has taken the bull by its horns and says what she enjoys about her job is “working on a 30-minute bulletin, you have to constantly challenge yourself to delivering factual news whilst being creative and ensuring that the next bulletin is better than the last one.” One of her memorable events as a current affairs journalist was the passing of anti-apartheid activist and former president, Nelson Mandela. “The thing with working in current affairs is that you are constantly involved in moments that will someday be considered historic. The energy was awesome and everyone just looked beyond the exhaustion. We were just thrilled to be part of history.” Mvana’s career hasn’t always been rosy, along the way she has faced challenges but through it all she has remained hopeful. DUT Journalism alumna and eNCA’s bulletin producer, Gcina Mvana.
Durban University of Technology | Faculty of Arts & Design Magazine | Issue Four 2016
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