Tukkie 2 2018

TUKKIE

ALUMNI MAGAZINE OF THE UNIVERSITY OF PRETORIA | ALUMNITYDSKRIF VAN DIE UNIVERSITEIT VAN PRETORIA | SPRING 2018 VOLUME 24 NUMBER 2

On The Cusp Of

CHANGE

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CONTENTS INHOUD

22 26 28 32

Vice-Chancellor and Principal’s Message

6 12 14 18

Looking Back

Fourth Industrial Revolution

Research Breakthrough

Appointments

TuksNovation

ChooseUP

Principal's Concert

Spring Graduation Ceremonies

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Berei ʼn fees uit die Natuur

36 40

COVER

Top 200

Professor Cheryl de la Rey bids the institution farewell after nine years as Vice-Chancellor and Principal.

Opinions expressed in Tukkie are those of the individual concerned and not necessarily the view of the University of Pretoria. Tukkie is published by the University of Pretoria’s Department of University Relations.

Menings in Tukkie is dié van die betrokke persoon en nie noodwendig die standpunt van die Universiteit van Pretoria nie. Tukkie word uitgegee deur die Universiteit van Pretoria se Departement Universiteitsbetrekkinge.

Camerata Reunion

Any editorial queries or information can be sent to: Enige redaksionele navrae of inligting kan gerig word aan: Tebogo Menong E-pos/Email: tebogo.menong@up.ac.za Tel: 012 420 3047 Change of address/Adresveranderings

43 44 46

Community Engagement

Sport News

In Memorium

Please send notification of address change or cancellations to: Gee asseblief kennis van adresveranderings of kansellasies deur na: E-pos/Email: alumni@up.ac.za Tel: 012 420 3533

Faks/Fax: 012 362 5088 Quote the code that appears on the address label in all correspondence. Meld die kode wat op u adresetiket verskyn in alle korrespondensie.

Editor/Redakteur: Tebogo Menong Contributors Primarashni Gower Marissa Greeff Martina Jordaan Leonore Jordaan Marinda Maree Jacqui Pietersen Prof Annel van Aswegen Design & Layout Francois van der Westhuizen Tebogo Menong University Of Pretoria’s Alumni Relations Office Personnel Samantha Castle Senior Manager: Alumni Relations Tel: 012 412 3044 Email: Samantha.castle@up.ac.za Jacqui Pietersen Senior Alumni Officer Tel: 012 412 3702 Email: Jacqui.pietersen@up.ac.za Vuyo Ntloko Alumni Events & Protocol Coordinator Tel: 012 420 3912 Email: vuyo.ntloko@up.ac.za Henriette Minnaar Alumni Events Coordinator Tel: 012 412 3980 Email: henriette.minnaar@up.ac.za

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PRINCIPAL'S MESSAGE Dear Tukkie reader

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fter nine years at the helm, this December I will be leaving the University of Pretoria to take up the position of Vice-Chancellor of the University of Canterbury in New Zealand. It has been a most gratifying period in my career and I wish to express my heartfelt appreciation to all alumni and staff for the support and warm friendship throughout my tenure. Writing a farewell message is never easy, especially after being associated with this institution for almost a decade of my life.

My journey at UP began in 2009, shortly after the University had celebrated its centenary. In my 2010 inauguration speech I articulated my vision. At the time I said UP had to adopt a clear understanding of its role as a public university in our developing democracy. I felt the institution had to produce graduates who are valued, not only for their academic and technical skills, but also for bringing about a more equitable society, while contributing to economic growth. The University through its institutional strategy had to improve its positioning within a competitive international world of higher education, simultaneously becoming more open to the diverse talent across South Africa’s communities.

Developing and implementing the UP2025 strategic plan in support of this vision has been the motif of my tenure and so I feel very gratified that the University has made great strides towards the goals that had been set. UP is currently in the top 1.9% of universities worldwide, and this is one of many rankings that we can mention with pride.

UP is now the top South African university in terms of the qualifications of our academic staff and the achievements of our students continue to make us proud. From 2009 when 45% of our academic staff had doctoral degrees, we have improved to 65%, and the total number of NRF-rated researchers at UP increased from 235 in 2009 to 460 active ratings in 2017.

There have also been many accolades for our students, two recent examples being UP students taking top position in South Africa with a 99.5% cumulative pass rate for the January and June 2018 Initial Tests of Competence, the first of two national professional exams for prospective Chartered Accountants.

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Universiteit van Pretoria | University of Pretoria | Yunibesithi ya Pretoria

This is the second year in a row that UP students came out tops. UP learners also dominated in the GradStar programme, with four out of the country's top-ten students coming from the University.

At the same time as improving our international rankings, our student body has become more representative of South Africa’s population. In 2011, black contact students constituted 11% of the total number of contact students. In 2017 black students comprised 55% of the contact student body.

An important feature of the university landscape over the past decade was the national student protests in 2015–16 when students disrupted the academic programmes at all universities in an attempt to compel government to accede to their demand for free university education. At UP the #FeesMustFall campaign protests led to several disruptions in 2016, related to the outsourced contract workers and the language policy.

UP’s response to this situation exemplified the ability to be both resilient and responsive in the face of challenges and changing political times. At the time I reminded staff that UP had previously confronted protests and conflict and UP had not only survived but thrived.

The resilience and responsiveness that lies at the heart of the institution’s success ensured that our academic mission remained on course, despite the disruptions. We opted for innovation by fast-tracking the implementation of a hybrid teaching and learning model to ensure the timely completion of the 2016 academic year, and after lengthy consultation, developing a new language policy aligned with our changing student profile.

Four navigational markers have been my guiding stars as I have led the implementation of the University’s strategy, UP 2025: quality, relevance, diversity and sustainability. I leave with the satisfaction of having accomplished much of what I set out to do, but also a sense of sadness at leaving. I have had the opportunity to work with many committed and dedicated staff, a hardworking and a highly competent management team whom I wish to thank for their support over the years. I wish my successor all the best in leading this magnificent institution to greater heights.

Thank you and all the best.

Prof Cheryl de la Rey Vice-Chancellor and Principal

REKTOR SE BOODSKAP Geagte Tukkie-leser

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a nege jaar aan die stuur verlaat ek Desember die Universiteit van Pretoria om die posisie van Visekanselier by die Universiteit van Canterbury in Nieu Zeeland op te neem. Dit was ʼn baie vervullende tydperk in my loopbaan en ek wil my innige dankbaarheid uitspreek teenoor alle alumni en personeel vir hulle ondersteuning en hartlike vriendskap tydens my ampstermyn. Dit is nooit maklik om ’n afskeidsboodskap te skryf nie, veral nadat ek byna ’n dekade van my lewe aan hierdie instelling verbonde was.

My reis by UP het in 2009 begin, kort nadat die Universiteit sy eeufees gevier het. In my 2010 intreerede het ek my visie uiteengesit. Ek het toe gesê dat UP ’n duidelike begrip moet vorm van sy rol as ’n openbare universiteit in ons ontwikkelende demokrasie. Ek het gevoel dat die instelling gegradueerdes moet oplewer wat waardeer word, nie net vanweë hul akademiese en tegniese vaardighede nie, maar ook omdat hulle ’n regverdiger samelewing tot stand bring en terselfdertyd ekonomiese groei aanhelp.

Die ontwikkeling en implementering van die UP2025 strategiese plan ter ondersteuning van hierdie visie was die goue draad deur my ampstermyn en ek is baie dankbaar dat die Universiteit goeie vordering gemaak het met die doelwitte wat gestel is. UP is tans in die boonste 1.9% van universiteite wêreldwyd, en dit is een van baie rangposisies wat ons met trots kan noem. UP is nou die voorste Suid-Afrikaanse universiteit wat die kwalifikasies van ons akademiese personeel betref, en ons studente se prestasies maak ons steeds trots.

Sedert 2009, toe 45% van ons akademiese personeel doktorsgrade gehad het, het ons verbeter tot 65%, en die totale getal NNS-gegradeerde navorsers by UP het toegeneem van 235 in 2009 tot 460 aktiewe graderings in 2017.

Daar was ook talle lofbetuigings vir ons studente.

Twee onlangse voorbeelde daarvan is dat UPstudente nogmaals die topposisie in Suid-Afrika beklee het met ’n kumulatiewe slaagkoers van 99.5% vir die Aanvanklike Bekwaamheidstoetse in Januarie en Junie 2018, die eerste van twee nasionale professionele eksamens vir voornemende Geoktrooieerde Rekenmeesters. Dit is die tweede

opeenvolgende jaar dat UP-studente die beste presteerders was. UP-studente het ook in die GradStar-program oorheers, met vier van die land se top-tien studente van hierdie Universiteit.

Terwyl ons ons posisie op internasionale ranglyste verbeter, het ons studenteliggaam meer verteenwoordigend van Suid-Afrikaanse bevolking geword. In 2011 het swart kontakstudente 11% van die totale getal kontakstudente uitgemaak, en in 2017 het swart studente 55% van die kontakstudenteliggaam uitgemaak. ’n Belangrike kenmerk van die universiteitslandskap oor die afgelope dekade was die nasionale studenteprotes in 2015-16 toe studente die akademiese programme by alle universiteite ontwrig in ’n poging om die regering te dwing om toe te gee aan hul eis vir gratis universiteitsonderwys.

UP se reaksie op hierdie situasie was ’n voorbeeld van die vermoë om veerkragtig en ook responsief te wees vir uitdagings en veranderende politieke tye.

Ek het die personeel destyds daaraan herinner dat UP voorheen met protes en konflik toe doen gehad het en dat UP nie net oorleef het nie maar gefloreer het. Die veerkrag en responsiwiteit wat aan die hart van die instelling se sukses lê, het verseker dat ons akademiese missie op koers gebly het ten spyte van die ontwrigtings. Ons het besluit op innovasie deur die implementering van ’n hibriede onderrigen leerprogram te versnel ten einde die tydige voltooiing van die 2016 akademiese jaar te verseker, en ons het na langdurige oorlegpleging ’n nuwe taalbeleid te ontwikkel in ooreenstemming met ons veranderende studenteprofiel.

Vier navigasiebakens was my riglyne terwyl ek die implementering van die Universiteit se strategie, UP 2025, gelei het: kwaliteit, relevansie, diversiteit en volhoubaarheid. Ek gaan hier weg met die bevrediging dat ek baie bereik het van wat ek beoog het om te doen, maar ook met ’n gevoel van hartseer om weg te gaan. Ek het die geleentheid gehad om saam met talle toegewyde personeellede te werk, ’n hardwerkende en hoogs bekwame bestuurspan wat ek graag bedank vir hul ondersteuning oor die jare. Ek wens my opvolger alles van die beste toe om hierdie manjifieke instelling na groter hoogtes te lei.

Dankie en beste wense.

Prof Cheryl de la Rey Visekanselier en Rektor

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LOOKING BACK

Steering the ship

WITH DISTINCTION

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nder Prof Cheryl de la Rey’s stewardship, the University has achieved many milestones, and remained resilient in the face of challenges. Over the past decade UP has taken giant strides to achieve its vision of becoming a leading research-intensive university. This came about as a result of various initiatives during Prof De la Rey’s tenure aimed at strengthening UP’s core academic functions in line with the strategic plan, UP2025.

International recognition for academic excellence is part of the UP vision and under Prof De la Rey’s leadership, the University has earned international recognition on a number of levels. A good example is the latest QS World University Rankings by Subject report, which ranked the University in the top 1.9% of the approximately 26 000 universities worldwide.

The University has continued to strengthen its position in other major world rankings. In terms of the Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings for 2019, the Faculty of Law subject ranking improved by 16 positions, bringing Law into the top 80 in the world. The University’s Law offering catapulted from 92 to 76 among the top 187 universities in Law in the world and positioned it as number one in South Africa.

UP has also been ranked in the top 500 universities in this year’s Academic Ranking of World Universities (ARWU) results. The institution is one of four South African universities to be included, and is the only South African university that improved its position.

The greatest improvement for UP was in the number of highly cited researchers (HiCi), with a score of 9.6. This places it in the top two in this category locally.

In the BRICS region, the University is ranked among the top 40 universities, according to the latest QS BRICS University Rankings. UP

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improved its overall position in South Africa by moving from fourth to third place.

FUNDING SUPPORT During Prof De la Rey's nine years, many loyal benefactors continued to support the University, and many new partners and donors began to contribute to funding.

Through Michael Javett, the Javett Foundation has supported the development of the JavettUP Art Centre with R75 million. The centre is not only a hub for the arts, but a major driver of trans-disciplinary research development between the Humanities and the rest of the University.

The Carnegie Corporation supports the Master’s programme in Information Technology with R24 million, and an Early Career Research Leader Fellowship programme in the Future Africa Institute with R18 million (that includes 20 fellows for two years, and researchers’ visits to the home institutions of fellows across Africa).

The MasterCard Foundation Scholarship Programme is funding 347 scholarships to the value of R21 million over the period of 2014 to 2022 aiming to provide premium education to disadvantaged young people in sub-Saharan Africa. The intention is to prepare them to become transformational leaders who give back to their communities.

The Michael and Susan Dell Foundation has supported UP students since 2012. They are supporting two programmes that provide wrap-around support to students. The two programmes are the Dell Young Leaders and the Sikelela Scholars. In 2018, 60 new students were selected to become part of the Dell Young Leaders programme. The Sikelela Scholars programme seeks to empower and reinforce the success of young South Africans – ensuring that they complete their chosen degree and can ultimately compete for meaningful employment

LOOKING BACK

after graduation.

The Andrew W Mellon Foundation has also given funding for several programmes at UP. From 2010 to 2018, they gave just over R130 million. One of the programmes they are supporting this year is a new master’s programme on Tangible Heritage Conservation.

The launch of the master’s programme was an academic initiative developed in conjunction with the Javett-UP Art Centre. This master’s degree will provide education and training in heritage conservation to professionals across sub-Saharan Africa. The first students will be admitted in 2019.

The Kresge Foundation has supported the University in its advancement initiatives over the past 11 years. Recently, they supported the development of the Mamelodi and Hatfield

Campus Village precincts and are funding a project called Siyaphumelela: Working Together to Improve Student Success.

IMPROVING ACCESS In tandem with its core functions of research, teaching and learning, UP has been committed to being a university engaged with its community, operating for the public good, contributing to the country’s socioeconomic development, and serving the national interest.

The University responded to the call by government to increase the intake of medical, veterinary and engineering students, in order to advance the national development goals. For example, capacity has increased by two thirds at the School of Medicine, which will help to •Go to page 8

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LOOKING BACK •From page 7 address the national shortage of doctors.

As one of the major factors determining access to higher education, UP has responded positively to the financial needs of students. The University offers a large portfolio of bursaries consisting of the University’s own funds, funds raised through donations, gifts, grants, and funding administered on behalf of third parties such as state departments, foundations and provincial governments.

Prof De la Rey established the Tuks Scholarship Fund in 2013. This fund assists deserving poor and working-class students to pursue their studies at UP with full bursaries.

Loans and bursaries to the amount of R1.16 billion were awarded to 24 440 students in 2017. In recognition of Prof De la Rey's contribution to the University of Pretoria, the Tuks Scholarship Fund has been renamed the Professor Cheryl de la Rey Scholarship.

Prof De la Rey also initiated the Vice– Chancellor’s Discretionery Merit Award (VCDMA) in 2016. The award is offered to deserving top academic achievers as an incentive to pursue their studies at the University of Pretoria. It is a multi-year financial award, and the students form part of a unique group of highly talented individuals. The VCDMA was awarded to 13 recipients in 2016, 46 in 2017 and 72 in 2018; a total of 131 students since its inception.

Of this group, 53% are female and 52% are African (Black, Coloured and Indian), with a 99% retention rate. This group also includes students from Quintile 1-3 schools (no-fee schools). The combined grade point average for June 2018 of this group was 80.20%.

In 2018 this group participated in a threeday leadership development workshop, facilitated by the global leadership development organisation Common Purpose, allowing them to become part of a global network of leaders.

ENSURING STUDENT SUCCESS Various measures were taken to improve student success, both in completing their studies and in entering the world of work.

Among these are the extended degree

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Universiteit van Pretoria | University of Pretoria | Yunibesithi ya Pretoria

programmes; the development of the hybrid teaching and learning model; student support structures; initiatives such as FLY@UP; as well as the Ready for Work programme. FLY@UP (Finish Line is Yours), launched at the end of 2015, is a campaign to encourage and assist students to complete their qualifications in the minimum time, save money and start to earn a salary. The Ready for Work programme started in 2016. Enterprises UP has offered free professional online development for UP students since late 2017, and has had a couple of thousand registrations.

STRENGHTENING RESEARCH During Prof De la Rey's term, UP has become widely recognised for research excellence.

The pursuit of a strategy that builds on areas of research strength and consolidates new areas of research capacity has paid off. The

LOOKING BACK capacity: 69 UP research institutes and centres, 33 industry and public sector research chairs, and 23 DST-NRF Chairs, Centres of Excellence, and Medical Research Council Units.

In 2018, UP was successful in its bid to cohost the National Zoological Gardens SARChI Research Chair: Conservation Physiology, which brings the total number of SARChI Chairs to 18, and the overall total of research entities to 126.

Another indicator is the growth in NRF-rated researchers, especially A-rated researchers.

In 2009 there were 255 rated researchers, of whom nine were A-rated researchers. In 2015 there were 395 rated researchers and in 2017 there were 460, of whom 15 were A-rated.

The Institute for Food, Nutrition and Well-Being (IFNuW), launched in 2012, is an example of how UP brought together existing expertise across 15 disciplines to tackle a very important subject: food security. Academics are encouraged to work across disciplines, thereby ensuring UP remains at the forefront of tackling major research challenges.

The Vice-Chancellor’s Workshops for Young Academics in 2014, Tuks Young Research Leaders Programme, African Research Leadership Programme, and the Future Africa initiative were other initiatives to strengthen research.

University has increased its visibility and impact internationally in fields of direct relevance to Africa and the world. At the same time, UP has become part of Africa’s focus on science for development, and for the well-being of people, society and the environment.

Aligned with the University’s long-term strategy, UP 2025, UP has pursued research themes that are of regional and global relevance, and address complex societal challenges. These include climate change, poverty alleviation, the environment and bioeconomy, zoonosis, health and well-being, and evidence-based policies for development.

The University's collaboration with research consortia and industry partners has demonstrated the relevance and standing of UP's researchers and of the University.

In 2017, UP had a total of 125 research entities that strengthen collaboration and

ENGAGING WITH SOCIETY UP is more than just a place of learning; it’s an institution with an important role to play in changing society. This is exemplified by the growth in engagement programmes over the past eight years, from 1 437 registrations of foundation programmes in 2010, to 2 055 in 2018.

As a socially responsible institution, UP has increasingly focused on its engagement with society at large. This approach is epitomised

by UP’s role as an anchor institution in the immediate vicinity of its various campuses.

The creeping, urban decay in Hatfield became a concern because of its potential impact on the long-term sustainability of the University, and the Hatfield Campus in particular. Prof De la Rey's discussion with the former US •Go to page 10

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LOOKING BACK •From page 9 Ambassador to South Africa, Patrick Gaspard, resulted in a study tour to that country in 2015 to examine similar situations there where successful interventions had resolved the challenges that they faced. Prof De la Rey was particularly impressed by what she saw at the University of Pennsylvania and along with the then Executive Mayor of Tshwane, decided to replicate their 'anchor mission and strategy' in Hatfield as an experiment. UP has been collaborating with the City of Tshwane, local businesses and other stakeholders, the Hatfield City Improvement District, university faculties and departments, among others, in pursuit of the vision now known as the “Hatfield Campus Village”, and are starting to observe positive outcomes.

The signs of success have impelled the introduction of the anchor mission on the Mamelodi Campus in conjunction with Rutgers University, and there are hopes to expand it to the Prinshof and Groenkloof campuses.

A SUPPORTIVE ENVIRONMENT A major focus over the past ten years was to ensure that UP provided a supportive environment to optimise the staff and student experience and to enable them to succeed in their academic endeavours. To that end, existing infrastructure and university premises were maintained and upgraded, and new infrastructure was built.

The Javett-UP Art Centre (Javett-UP), which is due to be completed early in 2019, is a public art gallery. It will house, among others, the Javett Foundation’s collection of 20th-century South African art and the University’s Mapungubwe collection. The Javett-UP will provide unique resources and support through collaboration, education, research and community outreach.

Equally impressive is the development of the Future Africa Campus on the Hillcrest Campus.

It is destined for completion in 2019 and will provide a dynamic living, learning and research environment for Africa’s leading scientists and scholars from across the world to leverage the benefits of transdisciplinary research to address

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the challenges that face Africa and the world.

Generous infrastructure grants from the National Skills Fund made possible the refurbishment of buildings and construction of new residences on the Prinshof and Onderstepoort campuses, which were completed in 2015.

Additions to the Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS) on the Illovo Campus were completed in 2014, and on the Hillcrest Campus, the TuksSport High School and the Cricket South Africa Centre of Excellence were opened. The Plant Sciences Complex was constructed and inaugurated in 2012.

The University’s holistic approach to education, which extends beyond academic success and embraces a broader definition aimed at developing informed citizens who can play a leading role in civil society, informed the planning and execution of infrastructure development. Accordingly, investment in infrastructure extended beyond lecture halls and laboratories to state-of–the art residences, sporting facilities, and the arts precinct that resulted from the completion of a building project that linked the Engineering 3 Building, the Amphitheatre, the Musaion, the new Aula foyer and the Rautenbach Hall.

The Thuto Building, a new lecture hall complex on the Hatfield Campus with a seating capacity of 2 400 in four lecture halls, was opened in April 2012.

THE GOLD STANDARD Over the past nine years, TuksSport has redefined what it means to be a champion, and that would not have been possible without Prof De la Rey's support and passion. During this period, the Stripe Generation has delivered 1 020 national senior Protea representatives, 93 national senior Protea coaches and managers, 541 national federation and agegroup representatives and 366 USSA national representatives.

Since 2012 – when tracking began – Tuks teams have won 82 gold, 45 silver and 33 bronze medals at VarsitySport, VarsityCup and USSA events – a total of 160 medals.

A new Honours degree, offered by the Faculty of Humanities, in Philosophy, Politics and Economics

BSocSci(Honours) (Philosophy, Politics and Economics) [PPE] Career options in this field include: careers in journalism; international trade; the diplomatic service; banking; economic analytics; economic and political policy making related to globalization, citizenship and migration, poverty and social justice, climate change and sustainable development and many others Employer options include: Thomson Reuters, Goldman Sachs, Alexander Forbes, the Public Service, Accenture, Deloitte, Kuehne Nagel, Barclays, Dedola Global Logistics, the Migrant Resource Centre, the UN Refugee Agency, and many others

Admission requirements • An undergraduate Philosophy, Politics and Economics (PPE) degree or any related appropriate degree • 70% average for B-degree Duration One year of full-time study Closing date for applications SA – 30 September; Non-SA – 31 August

Curriculum Core Modules Ethics and Social Philosophy, Research Paper (on an appropriate topic in any of the 3 disciplines, or an intersection of them) Electives One module each is selected from the current Honours curriuclum of each of the Departments of Philosophy and Political Sciences and two modules are selected from the current Honours curriculum of the Department of Economics

Programme Coordinator: Prof Emma Ruttkamp-Bloem emma.ruttkamp-bloem@up.ac.za Web address: http://www.up.ac.za/philosophy TUKKIE

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APPOINTMENTS

DR PIET BOTHA TAKES A BOW

D

r Piet Botha retired from the University of Pretoria’s Council after serving on this body from 2000 to 2018. His relationship with the institution began in the 1960s, when he was an undergraduate student, and continued throughout his career. After qualifying as a chartered accountant, he obtained his doctorate in 1978. He also lectured in the University’s Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences.

In June 2008, Dr Botha was elected Deputy Chairperson of the University’s Council, which is responsible for governance, policy making and monitoring, with a general focus on teaching, research and community engagement.

Prior to his appointment to the Council, Dr Botha was chairperson of the TuksAlumni Board from 1997-2007 and played an active role in all the activities of TuksAlumni.

During his career, he worked for establishments including Van Zyl, Scheepers and Bruwer; Federale Volksbeleggings Ltd; Coopers Theron Du Toit; the Rand Merchant Bank; Subtropico Ltd; and Vleissentraal (Pty) Ltd. He also served as chairperson on the boards of several organisations, including Constantia Ondernemings Ltd; Nationalink; Natsure Holdings Ltd; the Pretoria Eye Institute; and the Estate Agents’ Board.

PROF OGUDE APPOINTED VP OF PAU COUNCIL

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rof Nthabiseng Ogude, Dean of the Mamelodi Campus, has been appointed Vice-President of the Pan African University (PAU) Council.

PAU is an intra-African human resource development initiative established by the African Union Council to focus on mainstreaming Science, Technology and Innovation in the African higher education sector. It brings together research capacity from existing institutions to address problems such as climate change and sustainable energy.

Prof Ogude previously held senior management positions as Vice-Chancellor of Tshwane University of Technology, and Deputy Vice-Chancellor of the University of Pretoria and the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University.

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She obtained a BSc (Upper Class), majoring in biology and chemistry, at the National University of Lesotho, an MSc in analytical chemistry at the University of Nairobi, and a PhD degree in chemistry at the University of the Witwatersrand.

She has over 25 years’ experience in tertiary education, with more than 15 years’ experience in university management and leadership, including research management.

She has served on the councils of the University of Botswana and the National University of Lesotho.

Prof Ogude’s appointment bodes well for the southern sub-region, as available statistics indicate that the university student participation rate is relatively low in South Africa.

APPOINTMENTS

PROF NAIDOO NEW VET SCIENCE DEAN

P

rof Vinny Naidoo, the newly appointed Dean of the Faculty of Veterinary Science, says Veterinary Science is not only about keeping pets healthy, but also about food security.

The faculty is the only one of its kind in South Africa, and the secondoldest in Africa. Prof Naidoo, who at 41 is among the youngest deans in the country, sees the faculty playing a role in food production and food security.

Prof Naidoo obtained his Veterinary Science qualification from MEDUNSA and has a PhD in Veterinary Pharmacology from UP. Currently there are only 3 500 vets in South Africa, while the World Health Organisation estimates that there should be 9 000. UP

admits 190 first year students into its Veterinary Science Faculty annually, and is introducing a nursing degree in veterinary science next year.

Prof Naidoo is working on a conservation project that monitors Cape vultures, which are endemic to the Hartbeespoort area in the North West. There are 200 breeding pairs in the area, and they face extinction.

“They feed on carcasses, and as veterinary science and farming improves, there is less food for them.”

Prof Naidoo explains that vultures are important for cleaning up dead carcasses, and that a committee of vultures can strip a buffalo carcass in 30 minutes.

Prof Naidoo and his wife Lauren (a fellow vet) have a dog and two cats as pets. He knew from the time he was a child that he was going to be a vet. He regards himself as a researcher by profession, and his research passion is Cape vultures.

INNOVATIVE ADDITION TO DEPARTMENT

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RF-rated researcher Prof Gerrit Stols took over as Director of the Department for Education Innovation from 1 October 2018.

Prof Stols, who has a Higher Education diploma, a BScHons, an MSc and a PhD, was Head of the Department of Science, Mathematics and Technology Education (SMTE), and has been associated with the University of Pretoria since 2005.

His area of expertise is the use of technology in mathematics education, and he was responsible for the development of five apps to assist high school teachers and learners. His other innovations include the development of two interactive e-books for mathematics teachers and learners, and a website to support maths teachers with information and communication-technology intervention.

He has authored and co-authored many articles, textbooks and manuals, and organisations and various international institutions have invited him to present papers and workshops. In 2015 he spent a semester as a Fulbright Scholar at the University of Great Falls in the United States, where he assisted with the internationalisation of the institution’s teaching programmes.

Between 2011 and 2013, and again in 2016, he assisted the Naruto University of Education in Japan with the training of mathematics teachers and course facilitators.

Prof Stols was a member of the Ministerial Task Team that developed the Mathematics Teaching Framework for South Africa. He has also supervised a large number of master’s and doctoral candidates to the successful completion of their studies.

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#CHOOSE UP

#ChooseUP Day A HUGE SUCCESS

PRIMARASHNI GOWER

A

n air of excitement and festivity was evident on all the University’s campuses during the #ChooseUP event. Approximately 12 000 Grade 12 learners and their families visited UP to finalise their applications and confirm their acceptance for admission in 2019.

The nine faculties exhibited their academic

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programmes and hosted information sessions and mock lectures by senior faculty members on five campuses. Sports and cultural offerings were also on display. Furthermore, representatives of various residences spoke to prospective students, parents and guardians about their experiences, and campus and library tours were organised to familiarise them with their future surroundings. Prospective students could also attend mock lectures to experience

#CHOOSE UP

UP’s teaching model.

The event trended on Twitter at number two on TrendWiki South Africa, and was in the fourth and fifth positions on TrendMap SA. Shrikesh Maharaj (18) from Raisethorpe Secondary School in Pietermaritzburg applied to study aeronautical engineering and referred to UP as a ‘prestigious university in a beautiful setting’. He would like to pursue a career in propulsion, and was convinced of his choice after spending just three hours on the Hatfield Campus. His mother, Ishara, said: ‘His mind is made up. He’s coming here.’

Corah Melato from the Vaal could hardly contain her admiration. ’Ooooh! It’s a beautiful environment. It has open spaces and it’s nice and clean,’ she said, and added: ‘My daughter chose this campus, and I want the best for her.’

Another prospective student is seventeen-yearold Sizakele, who applied to study for a BSc degree in Agricultural Economics. This learner from Masibambane College in Orange Farm is interested in the processing of food and wants to be involved in the application of better food production methods.

Ashleigh Teixeira (18) from St Dominics Catholic School for Girls in Boksburg plans to complete a BCom in Investment Management.

She was encouraged to apply to UP by her older sister Shannon, who stayed in one of the women’s residences. ‘My sister told me how nice it is here. UP is known to be the best university in the country,’ she said, and added that the staff are very professional and that she already feels she is part of the UP community even before becoming a student. Her friend Fabio Miranda (18), who is currently a learner at Christian Brothers’ College in Boksburg and plans to enrol for the same degree, said that he had heard about the ‘good culture’ on the campus. ‘There is a good vibe and good student life. This is a welcoming place, and it is easy to feel accepted.’

Following in her mother’s footsteps, Tiane de Bod from Midstream College in Centurion applied to study BCom Law. ‘It is a brilliant university and I am excited to meet new people,’ she said. Her mother, Sharon, said: ‘I am very proud to have been a student at UP, and delighted that Tiane has also chosen Tuks.

Hopefully my son will join her in two years’ time. I have many good memories of my years at UP, and hope she will have the same good experience.’

The family of Fadwa Salem, who plans to study dentistry, also gave UP a thumbs-up.

‘The weather was warm, but the people were even warmer,’ said her father Salama, who also stated that the University had treated the members of his family, who come from Egypt, with dignity and respect. He said that he found it surprising that Africans go to Europe to study when ‘everybody should come to UP’.

The University had organised a bursary competition for prospective students, and 90 •Go to page 16

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#CHOOSE UP

UP is among the top 500 institutions and is the only SA university to have improved its position Prospective students and their parents attended mock lectures and had real-life experience of campus life. The deans and staff of all faculties went to great lengths to showcase their academic offerings

•From page 15 lucky winners of an amount of R10 000 each were drawn at the faculties. Eight winners of bursaries worth R15 000 each were also drawn from the list of students who had submitted their contracts on time.

A highlight during the festivities was the announcement that the University’s ranking had once again improved in the 2018 Academic Ranking of World Universities. UP is now among the top 500 institutions globally, and is the only South African university to have improved its position. The greatest improvement was in respect of the number of highly cited researchers – UP’s score of 9.6 places the University in the top two South African universities.

The QS World University Rankings rate the top tertiary institutions around the world against several indicators. After significantly improving its ranking to be placed in the 501– 550 range, UP is now among the top 52% of ranked institutions. ‘Considering that there are approximately 26 000 universities globally, this places the University of Pretoria among the top 1.9% of universities in the world,’ the QS body reported.

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Corah Melato (left)

Shrikesh Maharaj (centre)

UP Law Faculty climbs wordwide The University of Pretoria is ranked 76th in the world for law, according to the latest 2019 Times Higher Education (THE) Law subject

ranking. It is the highest ranked South African Law Faculty and 16 places up from the previous

ranking at 92nd. UP Law remains the best ranked law faculty in Africa and is now in the top 80 in the world.

The latest achievement could be attributed to the following: The Faculty has delivered a record number of 35 doctoral degrees in 2017 and 179 master’s degrees.

The Faculty presents a fully integrated hybrid teaching and learning model, which seamlessly integrates online and contact sessions.

UP Law students consistently excel internationally, for example, the UP Law team also won the Alona E Evans Award for Best Memorial and the Richard R Baxter Award for Best Overall Respondent Memorial. The UP team ranked higher than Harvard University, the University of Oxford, Stanford University and Norman Manley Law School, to mention a few. In August 2018, a UP Law team once again walked away with the laurels in the English category of the 27th African Human Rights Moot Court Competition in Ghana. To top it all, for the first time in its 26-year history, a team of UP Law students representing the Africa continent won the International Manfred Lachs Space Law Moot Court Competition.

The Faculty is currently in the unique position where three law professors (Professors Dire Tladi, Ann Skelton and Christof Heyns) serve as international experts on key United Nations (UN) bodies in Geneva, responsible for the development and application of international law.

The Faculty is also unique in the sense that it has its own open-access publisher, the Pretoria University Law Press (PULP), which publishes and makes available high-quality scholarly texts on law in Africa.

True to its vision and mission, the Faculty of Law continuously strives to improve its international recognition as a leader through relevant legal research and education in Africa.

Faculty of Law Fakulteit Regsgeleerdheid Lefapha la Molao

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A CONCERT TO INSPIRE HOPE and uplift the spirits

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PRINCIPAL’S CONCERT

T

he Principal’s Concert, which is held every year, recognises the important role played by the arts in building a community. South African music includes, and is often a fusion of, Western and African music forms. The University has several world-class choirs and musicians and is committed to developing excellence across all artistic genres.

The theme for the 2018 Principal’s Concert was The Circle of Being, which recognised the interconnectedness of life, the importance of community life, and our interdependence across all walks of life.

The programme included local and international music from various genres, ranging from musical theatre to contemporary music, pop and jazz. It aimed to inspire hope, uplift the spirits, and fill the audience with optimism for life and the future.

UP ensembles and choirs that performed on the night included the Symphony Orchestra, the Camerata Choir, the Ovuwa Cultural Ensemble, the Onderstepoort Community Choir, and the multicultural regional UP Youth Choir.

The programme was inspired by cinema, and comprised three main parts connected by music played on the handpan, a convex steel drum played with the hands and tuned with specific notes based on a particular scale or mode.

It emits a series of overtones and produces several layers of sound to create an ethereal and ’spacey’ effect. This instrument was used throughout the programme, to create the idea of a human spiritual experience and a journey through time.

•Go to page 20

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PRINCIPAL’S CONCERT

•From page 19 Currently, both the University of Pretoria Symphony Orchestra (UPSO) and Symphonic Winds (UPSW) form entities of the department of UP Arts and present a platform of cultural expression and identity at the University of Pretoria. UPSO has been in existence since the inception of the Department of Music in 1961 at the University of Pretoria. Both ensembles

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showcase, through their unique repertoire and diverse array of participants, the profoundly complex past and present of South Africa as well as repertoire that encapsulates all facets of music, including Western Art Music and world music. The ambience of the concert hall is an ever-changing experience for the listener.

With the intention of changing emotional perceptions, both ensembles strive to entertain and stimulate the audience.

These two ensembles, as an academic institution, provide a platform for the Department’s finest soloists, instrumentalists, singers, students and professionals, training them to face the industry head-on. The main purpose of the orchestra and wind band is to provide students with the invaluable knowledge and experience of symphonic and ensemble playing and to celebrate the dynamic and diverse sounds of South Africa while reflecting the local and international world we live in.

UP Symphony Orchestra and UP Symphonic Winds are currently conducted by Gerben Grooten and the permanent manager is Mrs Zamile Mzizi-Khuzwayo.

Advancing science by focusing on the frontiers of knowledge The Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences (NAS) makes a significant contribution to the building of research and teaching capacity in South Africa. The Faculty is well-known for its academic excellence in the fields of agricultural, biological, physical and mathematical sciences.

A substantial number of its scientists are internationally recognised and acknowledged by the National Research Foundation as researchers of high international standing, with six A-rated researchers in NAS. The Faculty expands the frontiers of knowledge and develops new technologies to lead the way. It strives to continuously improve its high impact research with publications in Nature and Science and to significantly address the national shortage of PhD graduates to respond to global and local challenges.

NAS invites graduates to become part of the exciting world of research by enrolling in the Faculty for postgraduate study. There are endless opportunities within its world-class, internationally acclaimed institutes and centres.

For more information, please visit the Faculty website: www.up.ac.za/nas

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GRADUATIONS

MASTERS OF THE GRADUATION CEREMONIES

UP reached a historic high at the Spring Graduation Ceremonies, which took place from 4 to 7 September. A total of 189 PhD degrees, 463 master’s degrees and 436 honours degrees were awarded. The Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences awarded 50 PhDs, while the Faculty of Economics and Management Sciences awarded 30 PhDs. For the first time in its history, the Faculty of Education awarded 28 PhDs, of which five went to UP staff members.

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GRADUATIONS

A MODEL OF DETERMINATION Dr Tumisang Loate’s journey is one of determination and sacrifice. While in Grade 12, this self-starter went against the grain and taught herself higher-grade maths. The North West high school she attended only offered maths at standard grade, but she and a handful of other students decided to take the road less travelled. Her decision resulted in her graduating with a PhD in Economics from the Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences at the University’s Spring Graduation.

Dr Loate’s self-learning included watching maths programmes on television presented by wellknown maths teacher William Smith. She also supplemented her textbooks with Independent Examinations Board exam question papers as well as answer guidebooks, which she bought second-hand. In addition to that, she collected revision

exercises she found in newspapers.

Her hard work paid off, as she passed with distinction and was among the top five matriculants in the North West’s Bojanala district.

After high school, Dr Loate acquired a BCom degree in IT management at the University of Johannesburg, where she subsequently did her honours in economics. Thereafter, she obtained a master’s degree in Economics at UP. The South African Reserve Bank then awarded her a scholarship to do her PhD in economics, with a focus on monetary policy and banking. She grabbed this opportunity with both hands because of the value she placed on learning.

She is now a postdoctoral fellow at UP, and her advice to learners who struggle with maths is that ‘discipline and consistency are key to learning, not just in maths, but in general. It is a subject that gives you more study opportunities in varsity, which is important if you are not sure yet of what you want to do. It’s important to start getting good grades as early as you can in high school for funding, which is something that I did, thereby reducing the financial stress for both myself and my parents, who didn’t earn much.’

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GRADUATIONS

HONOURED FOR CONTRIBUTING TO A BETTER WORLD Prof Ben Shneiderman, one of the most influential human-computer interaction researchers in the world, was recently awarded an honorary doctorate by the University of Pretoria’s Faculty of Engineering, Built Environment and Information Technology.

Prof Shneiderman is a professor of computer science at the University of Maryland, and a world leader in the visualisation of big data sets.

His 1986 list of eight golden rules of interface design is still taught in human-computer interaction courses. His book Designing the user interface, now in its sixth edition, has been translated into eight languages, and is used the world over in human-computer interaction courses.

He contributed significantly to the development of the graphical user interfaces that we use on computers and mobile devices, and was instrumental in developing the selectable link of the World Wide Web, and the touchscreen keyboards we use on smartphones.

Prof Shneiderman was listed among the top 1 000 creative people in the United States in the book 1000: Richard Saul Wurman's who's really who. He was elected to the prestigious US National Academy of Engineering, and is also a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, the

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Institute for Electrical and Electronic Engineers, the Association for Computing, and the National Academy of Inventors.

Prof Shneiderman’s recent publications include The new ABCs of research: Achieving breakthrough collaborations, which examines how to conduct collaborative research ventures to solve the problems of the 21st century.

Another of his books, Rock the research: Your guidebook to accelerating campus discovery and innovation, provides strategies to redirect research to make advances in communication, healthcare, transportation, business and government. His work is rooted in a deep passion for using computers to improve quality of life.

ADDING TO CREDENTIALS Rural Development and Land Reform Minister Maite Nkoana-Mashabane also received her master’s degree in diplomatic studies.

The Minister embarked on the degree while she was head of the Department of International Relations and Cooperation.

Studying while balancing the responsibilities of being Minister of International Relations and Cooperation was no easy task. But the Minister said, ‘Thanks to the willing, open and flexible approach of the University of Pretoria, I was able to achieve the task.’

GRADUATIONS

Cronjé’s illustrious career spans more than four decades, and he has directed or acted in more than 100 stage productions

KING OF FARCE CROWNED WITH CHANCELLOR’S MEDAL Tobie Cronjé, South Africa’s ‘king of farce,’ received the Chancellor’s Medal for his contribution to the arts.

This distinguished artist is a giant in the local performing arts industry. In the late 1960s, he taught music to students in Katlehong, outside Johannesburg, and in 1972 he was offered his first professional role by the Performing Arts Council of Transvaal (PACT), in the theatre production The Fantastics. He completed a degree in drama at UP in 1976.

Cronjé’s illustrious career spans more than four decades, and he has directed or acted in more than 100 stage productions.

He has enchanted audiences with his performances in TV and film productions, such as Die Sersant en die Tiger Moth, Willem, Kootjie Emmer, Koöperasiestories, Nunsence and Onder draai die duiwel rond.

He also starred in the Brickhill-Burke production of the Broadway hit, I love my wife, Pyjama Tops, which toured nationally and internationally, and in the international film Inside Out. In recent years he has played the role of the Dame in numerous pantomimes directed

by Janice Honeyman and has starred in the TV soapie Binnelanders, the TV series Amalia, shows such as My Fat Friend and various films, including Promised Land, Die spook van Uniondale, The Chemo Club and Die Rebellie van Lafras Verwey.

Tobie has also received a Gallo Award for best actor in a musical comedy; a Rapport Oscar for best supporting actor; a Dalro Award for best supporting actor; and a Naledi Lifetime Achievement Award.

His advice to drama students is to ‘make sure you have enough passion, and work as hard as you can’.

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Q&A

IT’S THE END OF THE WORLD as we know it

You can run but can’t hide from the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR), says the University of Pretoria’s Dean of the Faculty of Engineering, Built Environment and Information Technology, Prof Sunil Maharaj, in an interview with Primarashni Gower.

PRIMARASHNI GOWER Should we be nervous about the 4IR? SUNIL MAHARAJ Yes and no. Yes, because we need to be more vigorous about providing the right technical education and training. No, because I see this as an opportunity through focused and decisive leadership for South Africa to ‘leapfrog’ our digital transformation agenda and improve our heath, food security and economic growth.

PG How is the 4IR different from previous revolutions?

SM The 4IR is a game-changer for the future as it is marked by breakthroughs in fields including robotics, artificial intelligence, nanotechnology, internet of things (IoT), quantum computing and biotechnology, to address future challenges such as food security, health, education, water and energy.

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PG Do you have empirical evidence that several jobs will be lost in South Africa?

SM No study that I am aware of has been exhaustively conducted in South Africa.

However, based on 2018 reports from Canada, more than 25% of Canadian jobs will be disrupted by technology in the coming decade, while 50% of occupations will undergo a major skills overhaul.

In South Africa, there is potential for job losses, but people will need to reskill for different types of work. It is important that we train now for jobs that could exist in ten years.

PG Author Elbert Hubbard said ‘one machine can do the work of 50 ordinary men. No machine can do the work of one extraordinary man.’ Can artificial intelligence replace workers entirely?

Q&A SM The human touch will still be needed for leadership and debate, conflict resolution and ethical and moral considerations for decisionmaking. Skills of writing, speaking and making videos are important but the fundamental skills of critical thinking, problem-solving, effective communication, community building and teamwork will be powerful.

PG Is South Africa doing enough to plan for the fourth industrial revolution?

SM The Department of Science and Technology is tackling issues. However, South Africa needs to invest more into research, particularly in the discipline of engineering. There needs to be investment in areas such as smart transportation, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence and machine learning.

PG Are schools preparing learners for 4IR? SM The school system in general is failing society in terms of producing the right types of skills. There is a high failure rate among firstyear engineering students, country wide, as they lack sufficient problem solving, communication and mathematical skills.

PG How different could South Africa look, 30 years down the line?

SM South Africa has some of the deepest mines in the world and safety is a major issue. We can minimise the safety risk by having remote controlled mining and inspections by robots.

We will have driverless cars that need artificial intelligence, while your smartphone could

diagnose medical problems. Our homes will be automated. You could talk to your robotic house keeper to start the cooking or maybe monitor the kids doing their homework!

PG How can artificial intelligence help bring about social justice in South Africa?

SM We can build sustainable services in rural areas, but it requires vision and investment. In rural areas there is a scarcity of good maths and science teachers, but a teacher – in for example Johannesburg – could hologram himself/herself using future telecommunications technology, such as fifth-generation technology, into a classroom in real time, and learners could interact with it.

PG What about the ethics and pitfalls of artificial intelligence?

SM There could be an invasion of privacy in our homes with cameras and sensors. Our rights as individuals could be compromised. If a driverless car crashes into another driverless car, who pays for the damage? We would need to relook at insurance policies and the profession of law.

PG What is the University of Pretoria doing to prepare its graduates for the 4IR? SM At the Faculty of Engineering, Built Environment and Information Technology, we educate our graduates with the fundamental and foundational skills in mathematics, stochastics, programming, electronics, problem solving, critical thinking and design.

We recently launched TuksNovation, a high-tech business incubator, in collaboration with the departments of Small Business Development, Trade and Industry and the Small Enterprise Development Agency.

The aim is to promote hi-tech job creation among students by providing support for the incubation, development and opportunities for commercialisation of technology.

We also have the Multichoice-funded Chair in Machine Learning, which will help grow the country’s pool of talent in AI, machine learning and cybersecurity for the digital future.

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PALM-READING down to a science

S

ince she was aware of the often-limited access to adequate health facilities in Africa, she realised that she needed a different approach, and used her expertise in various disciplines to find innovative ways to improve people’s health and wellbeing.

Dr Coetzee is a principal investigator in the Department of Genetics’ Facial Morphology Research Group and has, together with her research team, set out to develop affordable and non-invasive methods to help doctors more accurately identify deficiencies and diseases.

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Their work focuses on how facial features and skin properties can be used to gauge whether someone has a certain medical condition. Their 3D camera-screening tool and other devices will be able to rapidly provide this information and eliminate the waiting time associated with laboratory test results.

Their non-invasive devices might one day be able to detect various health indicators ranging from fat percentage to whether a person’s diet is lacking in micronutrients, to cardiovascular health and immunity. They will even be able

RESEARCH to screen for certain congenital disorders such as Down‘s syndrome which, according to Dr Coetzee, is often only diagnosed in babies when they are about eight months old, which is too late for some life-saving interventions.

She added: ’The long-term aim of the project is to develop a facial screening tool that can help doctors to more accurately identify a range of conditions. It will give doctors a risk estimate for various conditions to guide further testing.

This tool will be especially helpful in situations where doctors have insufficient expertise in these conditions and inadequate funds for extensive testing.’

The Facial Morphology Research Group has built a 3D camera for one tenth of the cost of commercial systems used in well-funded hospitals. They are also collaborating with Prof Tania Hanekom of the School of Engineering to produce a more affordable version. Dr Coetzee believes these devices will have a significant impact if they are introduced in major hospitals.

Although her focus has been facial analysis to learn more about a person’s health, she has also started using hand- or palm-reading (chirology) to gain insight, and has made great strides in the diagnosis of malaria. In collaboration with UP’s Institute for Sustainable Malaria Control, she has filed a provisional patent for a device that can detect malaria by analysing the colour of the skin on the palm of the hand. Dr Coetzee has tested the device in Nigeria, where a large

This tool will be especially helpful in situations where doctors have insufficient expertise in these conditions

percentage of the population is exposed to the risk of malaria. The device’s ability to correctly identify children with malaria was found to be between 94% and 95%. This device would be ideal for use at border posts, in refugee camps, and in other areas where many people have to be screened.

Most of the methods used to diagnose malaria require a blood analysis. Some tests require only a single drop, but more specialised tests require more blood to be drawn, which could be a scary experience, especially for children.

Although Dr Coetzee is still a young researcher, she has been recognised internationally for her innovative research and contribution to the advancement of science, and was named a Young Scientist by the World Economic Forum. The Forum names young scientists who have demonstrated their commitment to public service and who play a transformational role in integrating scientific knowledge into society for the public good.

Dr Coetzee attended the World Economic Forum’s Annual Meeting of the New Champions in China, where she engaged with political and industry leaders, as well as some of the world’s most influential academics. She explored the influence of new business models, industries and technologies that can contribute towards creating workable health solutions for Africa.

She was also selected as a Next Einstein Fellow for the period 2017–2019 for her research on non-invasive measures in health care. The Next Einstein Forum (NEF) is an initiative of the African Institute for Mathematical Sciences, which aims to create a platform that connects science, society and policy in Africa with the rest of the world.

NEF Fellows are regarded as some of the top scientists under the age of 42 years in Africa.

Through this fellowship, Dr Coetzee hopes to not only widen her collaboration networks across the continent, but to also move science in Africa forward in an innovative way, encouraging young scientists to think outside the box to improve healthcare on the African continent.

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RESEARCH

SAFEGUARDING THE FUTURE

P

rof Mary-Cathrine Madekurozwa’s love for animals developed at an early age.

While growing up on a farm in Zambia, she was inspired by her environment to obtain a degree in Veterinary Science from the University of Zimbabwe. She pursued postgraduate studies in the United Kingdom and the Netherlands, and obtained a PhD in avian research from the University of Glasgow.

In 2002 she joined the UP Faculty of Veterinary Science, and has contributed to avian research ever since.

Internationally she is regarded as a leading expert in avian anatomy and physiology. Much of her research has focused on ostriches.

In 2002 Prof Madekurozwa’s research produced the first-ever report on seasonal, precocious testicular activity in immature

male ostriches. The research was published in Reproduction, an international journal that focuses on novel research in reproduction.

Prof Madekurozwa is currently researching the effects of phthalates (a chemical added to plastics to make them flexible and soft) on birds. Over time – and because of exposure to the elements – the chemicals leach out of the plastics into the environment. Animals ingest what is known as endocrine-disrupting chemicals, which interfere with hormone balance, particularly of the male reproductive system.

Because of the novelty of her work, Prof Madekurozwa does the baseline research herself. Currently no law exists to regulate the production, use and disposal of phthalates, and she hopes her research will influence legislation.

A CALL FOR REGULATION

P

rofessor Lise Korsten, Co-Director of the Department of Science and Technology’s National Research Foundation Centre of Excellence in Food Security, is calling for the creation of sustainable regulation systems to improve food safety in the informal sector, including food sales in informal settlements. She and her team are conducting research on food safety in informal settlements which she says are often controlled by different factions or groups – who also control the food supply.

But it’s unclear where the food is coming from and who exactly is controlling the supply chain.

Because lower-income groups typically can’t afford to buy large quantities of food, there is a market in informal settlements for smaller volumes. “One can purchase milk powder in a small unlabelled plastic bag or coffee powder for less than 80 cents,” Prof Korsten says. “But

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what is in the milk powder, who manufactured it, what is the expiry date? This is all critical information that must be provided according to our national labelling regulations yet it is not available. This means the food system has been compromised for the very poor and that is not acceptable.”

More so, not only is the exposure to contaminated food that much higher because of lack of access to clean water or fridges, the unsuitable environmental conditions under which products are being stored, prepared or sold all favour microbial growth. Fresh produce, for instance, is usually sprinkled with water of unknown quality, which increases the risk of waterborne pathogens.

The biggest concern for Prof Korsten is that people in informal settlements could purchase raw chicken that may be contaminated with listeria monocytogenes or other pathogens that can cross-contaminate.

Welcome to UP Alumni Connect Ter viering van hulle reünie voor die Ou Letteregebou is van links Willie Becker, Rienk van Wyk, Fanie Terblanche, Gustaf Klingbiel, Rupert Exton en Chris Carrington.

Wetenskaplike tuiskoms JACQUI PIETERSEN

D

ie Alumni-kantoor het ʼn groep voormalige studente by ʼn reünie verwelkom 50 jaar nadat hulle Veekunde aan die Universiteit studeer het. Die alumni is op ontbyt getrakteer en dit het hulle die geleentheid gebied om herinneringe uit hulle studentejare op te haal.

Gert Potgieter, voormalige Olimpiese atleet en een van die komiteelede van die TuksKlub 60+ alumni-groep, het Willie Becker, Rienk van Wyk, Fanie Terblanche, Gustaf Klingbiel, Rupert Exton en Chris Carrington by die Hatfieldkampus verwelkom. Potgieter het hulle daarvoor bedank dat hulle trotse alumni is en hulle aangemoedig om na die toekoms te kyk en die meeste van die oomblik te maak. Hy het hulle verseker dat UP groot voortuitgang gemaak het met navorsing en akademiese prestasies, op die voorpunt is van gehalte onderrig, en voortgaan om hoë kaliber graduandi te lewer.

THE ALUMNI OFFICE

will launch our new alumni portal and

app, UP ALUMNI CONNECT, in 2019.

It will help you re-connect with former classmates and grow your professional network. UP Alumni Connect will also keep you informed about what is happening at your alma mater, and keep you up-to-date on events taking place. Watch your inbox for an invitation to join this new platform.

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TUKSNOVATION

New incubator to cultivate

TECH ENTREPRENEURS UP has launched a new high-tech business incubator called TuksNovation, initially supporting postgraduate students within the Faculty of Engineering, Built Environment and Information Technology (EBIT).

A

t the TuksNovation launch, Prof Cheryl de la Rey, Vice-Chancellor and Principal, said the University has ramped up its efforts to implement innovative strategies to leverage and commercialise home-grown technologies in order to create sustainable new enterprises and, in turn, job opportunities. ‘We realise that by developing and commercialising research

Ms Lindiwe Zulu, Minister of the Department of Small Business Development

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and development projects within academic institutions, and by creating new spinoff companies, universities can contribute to job creation and economic development.’ TuksNovation was established with the support of the Small Enterprise Development Agency, the Department of Small Business Development, and the Department of Trade and Industry. It has access to an extensive network of industry partnerships through its affiliation with EBIT, and is expanding its government and industry partner networks.

There are more than 3 800 postgraduate students in the EBIT faculty, and services could be expanded to other science and technology-linked faculties in the future. The goal is for TuksNovation to act as a catalyst for the development of industrial clusters that positively influence the Tshwane region.

TuksNovation provides specialised support to entrepreneurs throughout their start-up growth journeys. It helps to validate an idea, develop the technology, and construct a business model for the relevant market. The incubator also links entrepreneurs with the right people to provide feedback on ideas and potential market access.

The fourth industrial revolution is increasingly confronting traditional economic sectors with digital disruptions which compel them to review their business models. With this in mind, there is a need for academic institutions to prioritise technology and innovation in their curriculum to

meet the demands of the future.

TuksNovation’s programmes offer entrepreneurs access to training; advice and mentorship from key industry representatives and leading academics; specialised prototyping facilities and workspace; extensive corporate and industry networks; various support services to get companies up and running; as well as funding opportunities.

‘We are seeking to foster creativity and innovation among our students – all 50 000 of them. It is well known that youth is the time of experimentation and innovation. Indeed, many of the most successful 21st-century businesses were sparked by innovations among students such as Steve Jobs, Mark Zuckerberg, Bill Gates, and Mark Shuttleworth from South Africa,’ said Vice-Chancellor and Principal Prof De la Rey.

Ms Nosipho Khonkwane, Senior Manager at SEDA

SEDA CEO Mandisa Tshikwatamba and Prof Cheryl de la Rey, Vice-Chancellor and Principal of UP

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SCIENCE FEATURE

BEREI ʼN FEES UIT DIE NATUUR

V

erbruikerstudiestudente het ʼn opwindende, byderwetse aandete met inheemse plantkosse gekook tydens die bekendstelling van ʼn boek oor inheemse Suid-Afrikaanse kossoorte by EAT@ UP. Die dinee op Mandela-dag was ʼn inisiatief van Prof Julian May, Direkteur van die Departement Wetenskap en Tegnologie van die Nasionale Navorsingstigting (DWT-NNS) se Sentrum vir Uitnemendheid in Voedselsekerheid. Die Sentrum vir Uitnemendheid word gesamentlik deur die Universiteit van Pretoria en die Universiteit van die Wes-Kaap gehuisves.

Die geleentheid is gereël ter viering van die invloed van die kulinêre en die kulturele geskiedenis van Suid-Afrika se vroegste inwoners op hedendaagse kookkuns, soos nagevors en bevorder deur Renata Coetzee.

Haar jongste boek, A Feast from Nature: Food Culture of the First Humans on Planet Earth is weer tydens die geleentheid bekendgestel.

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Universiteit van Pretoria | University of Pretoria | Yunibesithi ya Pretoria

SCIENCE FEATURE

Renata het aanvanklik in 2015 self die boek uitgegee en dis hierdie jaar herdruk met die steun van die DWT-NNS Sentrum vir Uitnemendheid. Renata was vanaf 1977 tot 1979 ʼn dosent aan die Universiteit van Pretoria en het in 2000 die UP Kanselliersmedalje verwerf. Sy is in Junie vanjaar oorlede.

Die Universiteit se Departement Verbruikers- en Voedselwetenskappe het, in samewerking met die DWT-NNS se Sentrum vir Uitnemendheid in Voedselsekerheid, die konsultant Truida Prekel en African Sun Media, ʼn viergangete aangebied met resepte wat gebaseer is op Renata se lewenslange navorsing oor die inheemse kulinêre erfenis van SuidAfrika.

Die spyskaart vir die ete het afgeskop met ʼn skemerkelk in die vorm van ʼn heuningbos- en aalwyndrankie. Die eerste gang, ‘Nature’s Salad’, het bestaan uit marogpuree, spekboomjellie, pelargoniumsand, suurlemoenskuim, gepekelde papkuillote, saamgeperste aalwynbloeisels en ʼn verskeidenheid blomme.

Die tweede gang, ‘Forager’s Pride’, het bestaan uit duinespinasiesop met

diepgebraaide vlakvarkbiltong. ‘Rocky Waters’, die derde gang, het kurper en gebotterde ysblaar-, seefennel- en oesterblaarpuree met bokkomstof ingesluit.

Die hoofgang het ʼn paar bestanddele gehad wat ondergronds groei en is ‘Exploring Burrows’ genoem. Dit het bestaan uit ystervarkvleis en waterblommetjies bedien met ystervarkse-mielie, geroosterde uintjies, krieke en rys en glace de viande. Nagereg was ʼn sonsondergangteepartytjie met boegoe panna cotta bedien met gepekelde tsamma, rooibos en appelliefiestroop, aronskelkkrummelkoek en akasialekkers.

Die spyskaart is ontwerp deur ʼn vierdejaar verbruikersstudiestudent, Darren Vasilijevic, onder toesig van Hennie Fisher, dosent in kulinêre kuns. Die vierdejaarstudente het die kos voorberei en dit is deur derdejaarstudente geklee in spesiale oorvourompe bedien.

Die rompe is versier met geborduurde volksmotiefontwerpe van die derdejaar kledingkleinhandelbestuurstudente.

Dr Gerrie du Rand, hoof van die Afdeling Voedsel in die Departement Verbruikers- en Voedselwetenskappe sê dat Suid-Afrika se kulinêre geskiedenis deel is van die studente se akademiese ervaring terwyl hulle van invloede op huidige eetpatrone leer. ʼn Geleentheid soos die Feast from Nature-dinee blaas lewe in geleerde materiaal. Dr Du Rand voeg by dat inheemse voedsel reeds op die spyskaarte van top restaurante verskyn. Renata het haar kennis met sjefs gedeel en die gebruik van inheemse voedsel is stadig besig om deur te syfer na kostydskrifte en gewone restaurante.

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TOP 200

TOP YOUNG LEADERS toasted at luncheon PRIMARASHNI GOWER

T

Dr Rofhiwa Mukhudwana; Kgomotso Setlhapelo and Sanele Lukhele

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Universiteit van Pretoria | University of Pretoria | Yunibesithi ya Pretoria

he University of Pretoria believes that the education it affords its graduates should provide them with skills, values and attributes that will not only enable them to fulfil their career aspirations, but will also improve the lives of others who were denied the same opportunities.

This was the gist of the message delivered by Prof Norman Duncan, VicePrincipal: Academic, at a celebratory luncheon for alumni who were nominated for the Mail & Guardian’s 200 Young South Africans, and the 100 Young Mandelas of the Future. Both awards recognise young people who have demonstrated outstanding leadership qualities.

The luncheon and tribute to the young leaders was held at UP’s Gordon Institute of Business

TOP 200 Science in Illovo, Johannesburg. The guests were also addressed by Mr Hernan Finkel, Deputy Director: Relationship Management and Fundraising; Ms Samantha Castle, the newly appointed Senior Manager: Alumni Relations; and MPhil student Ernest Mulibana, who was included in the 2018 M&G list.

Prof Duncan further emphasised the fact that UP graduates have – among other things – a sense of autonomy and confidence, leadership, intellectual curiosity and integrity, as well as a collaborative orientation, and that UP believes its graduates should have the capacity to communicate respectfully, and have an entrepreneurial spirit and a sense of social responsibility. ‘They should aspire to work for the public good, social justice and environmental sustainability. They should advocate for equality and fairness wherever they find themselves, both nationally and globally,’ he said, adding that the University was proud of their achievements.

Members of the UP community who were among the nominees in the Mail & Guardian’s 200 Young South Africans list were: Dr Zamantungwa Khumalo, nominated

in the Science and Technology category.

She graduated this year with a PhD in Veterinary Tropical Diseases and works as a medical scientist at the National Institute for Communicable Diseases. As a scientist involved in genome sequencing, she worked with a team that researched the listeriosis outbreak of late 2017 and early 2018. She is also the founder and chairperson of the I Am A Future Leader Youth Development Programme, which promotes youth development in rural areas.

Alumnus and academic Dr Dawie Bornman, nominated in the Education category, said: ‘It is amazing to be in the top 200. Being younger, you do not expect such recognition.

Usually the ones who are recognised are the professors with years of working experience. This motivates me to work even harder.’ Bornman, a lecturer in the Faculty of Economics and Management Sciences, teaches Business Management and Entrepreneurship and, through Enterprises UP, presents entrepreneurship courses to people who do not have a school education. He also presents emotional intelligence and stress management courses for schoolteachers and learners.

The following alumni were nominated for the 100 Young •Go to page 38

Dr Dawie Bornman; Koketso Mbewe; Dr Zamantungwa Khumalo and John Messiahs

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TOP 200 •From page 37 Mandelas of the Future awards: Mr John Messiahs, a first-year MBA student at GIBS, who was nominated for his resilience.

He grew up in Oudtshoorn in the Western Cape, and was diagnosed with epilepsy at the age of nine. ’I was told that there were certain jobs I would not be able to do, such as working in a chemical plant, and that I should not play contact sports.’ This did not stop him from participating in sports, though, and he earned provincial colours in table tennis, squash and badminton. His father – who had a disability – passed away when he was 15 years old. After finishing school, he studied part time while working 12-hour shifts at PetroSA’s refinery in Mossel Bay, and completed a diploma course and a BTech degree in Chemical Engineering.

Since then he has added a string of other qualifications, and now works as a senior strategist at the Industrial Development Corporation. ’Your circumstances only determine where you come from, not where you are heading. Never forget where you come from. As you rise, remember to take others with you, because you have never really lived until you have done something for someone who can never repay you,’ he said.

Although she is only 24 years old, final-year chemical engineering student

Zakhona Ndlovu; Ernest Mulibana; Zukiswa Nee-Whang and Kutlwano Hutamo

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Universiteit van Pretoria | University of Pretoria | Yunibesithi ya Pretoria

Koketso Mbewe has an impressive list of achievements to her credit. Recognised for her leadership qualities, she was involved in the 2016 Pledge-a-Pad Campaign to collect sanitary towels, prior to which she had been involved in the Adopt-a-School initiative and had presented motivational talks at schools. She is also the co-founder of the Youth Leadership Investment Network, a social entrepreneurship company, and is involved with the UP Business Incubator, where she helps to source information and funding for students’ start-up businesses.

She said: ‘Studying at UP taught me resilience, and the experience has helped build my character. UP maintains globally recognised standards, and teaches its students to be relevant on that level. Somehow the environment and resources also push you to go beyond your boundaries. I cannot imagine why anyone would not want to study at an institution that not only offers academic programmes, but also helps them to discover their true potential.’

Other alumni nominated for the Mail & Guardian 200 Young People awards were Zukiswa Nee-Whang, Kutlwano Hutamo, Zakhona Ndlovu, Sanele Gambu, Kgomotso Setlhapelo and Dr Rofhiwa Mukhudwana.

All the young alumni spent the afternoon networking and reminiscing about their time as students at UP.

ALUMNI RELATIONS

The alumni relations team: Ms Samantha Castle, Mrs Henriette Minnaar, Mr Hernan Finkel, Mrs Marillise Du Plessis, Ms Marianne Hettasch, Ms Jacqui Pietersen and Ms Vuyo Ntloko

NEW DIRECTION

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he appointment of Mr Hernan Finkel as Deputy Director: Relationship Management and Fundraising has brought new energy to the University’s alumni relations.

Hernan is being assisted by Samantha Castle, who was also recently appointed as Senior Manager: Alumni Relations.

Hernan was awarded a degree in Accountancy by the University of South Africa, which he followed up by completing an MBA at UP’s Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS). Prior to this appointment, he had been a financial manager and associate director at GIBS for more than five years.

Samantha Castle studied Political Science at the University of the Western Cape (UWC), and has gained work and leadership experience in youth philanthropy and building relationships at, among others, Inyathelo (SA Institute for Advancement). Prior to joining UP, she headed Alumni Relations at UWC for eight years.

Samantha envisages the establishment of an intergenerational institution at UP, to encourage alumni to entrust their children’s futures to UP, based on the quality of its output.

Hernan agrees that the University’s achievements can be celebrated by strengthening ties with alumni. While part of this plan is to encourage alumni to give back financially, it also includes partnerships through advisory boards, and creating opportunities to tap into their expertise.

Samantha plans to publish quarterly online newsletters for alumni in 2019. Communication opportunities for alumni, with each other and with the University, will also be created. The printed Tukkie magazine will become an annual publication.

Alumni Relations will also create an online portal, UP Alumni Connect, which will feature news and events, create groups, contain information on mentorship opportunities and advertise job opportunities.

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CAMERATA REUNION

UPsingsCAMERATA up a storm at reunion 40

Universiteit van Pretoria | University of Pretoria | Yunibesithi ya Pretoria

CAMERATA REUNION

A

lumni who have sung in the Tuks Camerata choir travelled from all over the world to celebrate its 50th anniversary in September. And what better way to celebrate a birthday than with a rehearsal camp on campus.

The choir was officially established on 19 March 1968 and it has achieved many national and international accolades throughout the years, and has changed the lives of its past and current members. The rehearsal camp resulted in a concert choir of 400 singers who sang pieces that spanned all 50 years of the choir’s life. The legacy of Camerata was presented with works that were conducted by six generations of conductors: Kobus de Witt, Renette Bouwer, Petru Gräbe, Johann van der Sandt, Christo Burger and Michael Barrett.

Tuks Camerata operates under the auspices of UP’s Department of Music and is still going strong after 50 years. All thanks to the foundation laid by the choristers, managers and conductors who preceded all current members and alumni.

The special weekend commenced on Friday evening with rehearsals and socials that continued the entire weekend, culminating in a reunion concert at the Aula Auditorium on Monday morning.

The Aula stage was filled to capacity with singers young and old who came together to once again live their greatest joy – singing. The reunion was a huge success, festivities concluding after the concert and with commemorative items for sale such as Camerata fridge magnets, shot glasses, DVDs and CDs , as well as books.

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CAMERATA REUNION

The Aula stage was filled to capacity with singers who came together to live their greatest joy – singing 42

Universiteit van Pretoria | University of Pretoria | Yunibesithi ya Pretoria

COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT

ALL-ROUNDERS Assupol TuksCricket joined hands with the Black Rhino Reserve Wildlife Trust to assist with anti-poaching activities.

T

he team worked with the Trust to dart two white rhinos at the Pilanesberg National Park Wilderness area in the North West. One rhino was a massive bull which had been wounded in a territorial battle, the other was a female that needed to be notched (markings made on the ears for identification purposes).

‘This project came at the start of our outreach month, where we are supporting both conservation and community programmes,’ said Kruger van Wyk, Assupol TuksCricket Head of Programme and Head Coach. ‘At the start of September we hosted our annual Cricket Day with the Soweto Pioneers Cricket Club

in association with Assupol.’

Deon Strydom, trustee and co-founder of the Trust, said the combination of sport and conservation efforts was a powerful way to create awareness and spread the word on issues regarding poaching. ‘The public needs to know what the facts are, and they need to act to support these causes to preserve creation. I must say thank you to Kruger and [team manager] Blanche Conradie for sharing our vision and getting the project off the ground.’

During the darting operation, the team also took DNA samples and inserted microchips into the rhinos, which will help make identification easier. They also named the rhino cow ‘Blanche’, after their team manager.

Over the past few months the club sold raffle tickets and – thanks to a large contribution from Assupol – they raised R30 000 to assist the Trust in its activities.

The handover of the money coincided with the elite squad’s pre-season break in the Pilanesberg, where they got together to discuss their goals and vision for the season.

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SPORTS

Mr. Toby Sutcliffe, Acting Director: TuksSport, Prof Cheryl de la Rey, Vice-Chancellor and Principal: UP, LJ van Zyl, Caster Semenya, Ms Tokozile Xasa, Minister of Sport and Recreation and Mr Aleck Skhosana, ASA President. Photos: Reg Caldecott

Akani Simbine and Prof De La Rey

EXCELLENCE is the name of the game

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he TuksAthletics Centenary Celebrations were held on 31 October. The eldest living member of the Club, June de Villiers (89), was honoured during the event, which was attended by many exmembers to celebrate 100 years of excellence by the Club. The function was also attended by Minister of Sport and Recreation, Ms Thokozile Xaba; the Vice-Chancellor and Principal of UP, Prof Cheryl de la Rey; and Mr Aleck Skhosana, President of Athletics South Africa (ASA).

The Excellence Awards were given to the following individuals: • Prudence Sekgodiso was named Most Promising Female Athlete. She is a student at the TuksSport High School and is sponsored by the Athletics Foundation Trust (AFT).

• Thembo Monareng was named Most Promising Male Athlete. He is a first year student at UP, studying the Higher Certificate: Sport Science. He is a TuksAthletics sport bursary holder and will study BEd in 2019.

• Yvonne Robson was awarded Junior Female

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Universiteit van Pretoria | University of Pretoria | Yunibesithi ya Pretoria

Athlete. She is a first year student, studying BEd, and a TuksAthletics sport bursary holder.

• Sokwakhana Zazini won the Junior Male Athlete award. He is a matric student at the TuksSport High School and is sponsored by the Athletics Foundation Trust (AFT). He will study at UP in 2019.

• Melandie Taljaard is the Female Road Runner of the Year. She studied Veterinary Medicine at UP and is a veterinary surgeon based in Mbombela.

• Dirk Ligthelm is the Male Road Runner of the Year. He studied MBChB at UP and is a urologist by profession.

• Carina Horn was named Female Athlete of the Year. She studied BSportSci at UP in 2009 but decided to become a professional athlete. She quit her studies in 2010

and has been running professionally ever since.

• Akani Simbine won the Male Athlete of the Year award. He completed his BIS degree at UP in 2017 and is a professional athlete.

• June Mackenzie (De Villiers) got the Centenary Honourable Recognition award. She participated in the shot put, discus and javelin when she was a student at UP. • Caster Semenya received the Centenary Female Athlete award. Semenya has defied all obstacles thrown her way, while being loyal to the place where it all started.

• LJ van Zyl received the Centenary Male Athlete award. He completed his MEd degree in 2018 and has been appointed a staff member at the Faculty of Education at UP. • Vice-Chancellor Prof Cheryl de la Rey was given recognition for her contribution to TuksAthletics and its successes over the past nine years.

■ ‘Three crews, three gold medals,’ pretty much sums up the dominance of the UP-Tuks rowers in the USSA Boat Race that recently took place on Port Alfred’s Kowie River. Tuks coach Mpumi Geza became slightly upset by the buffoonery of the Rhodes University crew when they crashed into the Tuks boat in the first 100 metres of the Men’s A final, which necessitated a restart. The second time around the UP-Tuks crew made every stroke count from the start and beat Rhodes by well over 100 metres. The UP-Tuks Women’s A side defended their title convincingly, achieving backto-back victories at the USSA Boat Race Regatta for the first time. The Women’s B final was, without a doubt, the race of the day.

The coach described it as ‘a thrilling, pound-for-pound

Michaela Whitebooi.

Photo: Reg Caldecott

UP-Tuks crew

battle’ between the crews of UP-Tuks and the University of Cape Town.

■ At the USSA gala held in Port Elizabeth, the Tuks swimmers continued their dominance by becoming the overall winners for the second consecutive year. Both the men’s and women’s teams were victorious in their respective competitions.

■ The Tuks women’s team proved they were still the undisputed queens of SA student hockey when they won the USSA title in Bloemfontein, beating Kovsies 1-0 in the final. This means that Tuks has been victorious in the past three tournaments they contested. The men’s hockey team finished third. Before Tuks even took to the Astroturf to play Maties in the semi-finals, it had been predicted that the game would be a humdinger. Maties had beaten Tuks in the Varsity Cup final, which meant that the ‘stripedup team’ had something to prove.

■ Michaela Whitebooi has made peace with the fact that her performance had only been good enough for bronze at the African Judo Championships in Tunisia. The Tuks judoka’s first fight was against Maimouna Diarrasouba of Ivory Coast, whose domination on the mat led to an easy victory. The semi-final turned out to be a rematch between Whitebooi and Morocco’s Aziza Chakir, whom she had beaten in the semi-finals last year. ‘[Aziza] did her homework … I let my guard down [and she] immediately made her move and managed to catch me off guard, securing the victory.’ In her third fight, Whitebooi beat Chaimae Eddinari of Morocco.

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IN MEMORIAM

PROF OJO (COBUS) FERREIRA

P

rof OJO (Cobus) Ferreira, voormalige professor in wat voorheen die Departement Geskiedenis en Kultuurgeskiedenis was en die stigter van die Universiteitsargief, is in September oorlede. Hy het in 1980 by die Universiteit aangesluit as deel van die Departement Afrikaanse en Nederlandse Kultuurgeskiedenis. In 1988 het hy na die Departement Geskiedenis en Kultuurgeskiedenis geskuif toe die twee departemente saamgesmelt het.

Prof Ferreira was ʼn leiersfiguur op die gebied van kultuurgeskiedenis en is beskou as ʼn vooraanstaande internasionale kenner oor Portugese geskiedenis in Suid-Afrika. Hy het verskeie werke gepubliseer, insluitende Montanha in Zoutpansberg, Ilha de Moçambique byna Hollands en Da Costa Leal in die Zuid-Afrikaanse Republiek. Ter erkenning van sy bydraes tot die Suid-Afrikaanse kultuurlandskap het hy lofbetuigings en toekennings van verskeie organisasies ontvang, insluitende die Suid-Afrikaanse Akademie vir Wetenskap en Kuns en die Suid-Afrikaanse Kultuurhistoriese Vereniging.

In 1995 is hy aangestel as die Universiteit se eerste argivaris.

Prof Ferreira het homself ten volle aan die taak toegewy en ʼn argiveringsbeleid en liasseerstelsel ontwerp om sodoende die grondslag te lê vir die bewaring van die the Universiteit se verlede.

Prof Ferreira het in 1998 bedank, maar die Argief wat deur hierdie merkwaardige en toegewyde historikus tot stand gebring is, bly ʼn integrale deel van die Universiteit se geheuebank.

KOTIE ODENDAAL

K

otie Odendaal, esteemed member of the Faculty of Humanities since 2002, passed away in September. As the Faculty’s senior communications practitioner, Odendaal worked closely with the Deanery. She bravely fought cancer for several years, while tirelessly continuing with her work in the Faculty. Odendaal was always admired for her friendliness, professionalism, and passion.

She leaves behind her husband Hendrik and their children Pieter-Ben, Hannes, Japie and his wife Lecia, as well as her grandchild Anja.

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Postgraduate Study Opportunities

Faculty of Theology Fakulteit Teologie Lefapha la Thutatumelo

BACHELOR OF THEOLOGY HONOURS – BTHHONS

MASTER OF THEOLOGY – MTH

The purpose of this programme is to provide graduate

This programme offers the opportunity for theological

students with specialised knowledge, skills and competence

specialisation and research at Master’s level. There are two

in a particular field of Theology at postgraduate level.

possibilities, one with coursework and a short dissertation, or preferably research only and a full dissertation.

POSTGRADUATE DIPLOMA IN THEOLOGY – PGDTH Theological studies can be pursued by candidates who

DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY – PHD

already have tertiary qualifications equivalent to any

The programme line that starts with the three-year BTh

bachelor’s degree, but not in Theology. Students can

and continues via the BThHons to MTh, or the programme

specialize in any of the six theological disciplines and after

line that starts with the four-year BDiv and continues with

completion of this programme, they will be able to do a MTh

the MTh, is concluded with the PhD. The outcome of a PhD

in the subject in which they specialised.

is highly specialised knowledge and expertise based on research.

MASTER OF DIVINITY – MDIV This is a structured Master’s degree programme based

DEPARTMENTS IN THE FACULTY

on coursework and focuses on advanced theological

Old Testament Studies

knowledge and practical skills that will meet the needs of

New Testament Studies

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are offered in cooperation with particular church partners.

Science of Religion and Missiology Practical Theology Religion Studies

Looking for CONTINUING PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT prospects instead? Register for a course or seminar with one of our Centres. They include Contextual Ministry, Public Theology and Sustainable Communities.

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Doris Mokgokolo +27 12 420 2700 doris.mokgokolo@up.ac.za www.up.ac.za TUKKIE

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