Tukkievaria Staff Newsletter | Personeelnuusbrief | Ditaba Tša Bašomi August 2017 Volume 35 Number 2 | Augustus 2017 Volume 35 Nommer 2 | Phato 2017 Kgatišo 35 Nomoro 2
Inside 02 Junior Tukkie wins awards
03 Farewell to Hester Jacobs
04 Athletes to watch out for in 2017
Autumn Miniolympics Earlier this year, at the Groenkloof Campus, renowned for its lush green fields, UP staff, enjoyed the Autumn Mini-Olympics. It was a beautiful sunny day and the falling autumn leaves were a sign for the shedding of old habits and signalling the way forward for new health, fitness and healthy eating goals for the UP staff there. Sports on offer were soccer, volleyball and the relay race, with the aim of getting everyone moving and more importantly, having fun. The activities catered for people of all shapes, sizes and fitness levels – with the addition of Zumba dance moves. The Zumba proved a hit as it combined shaking your body to some hip music and at the same time burning up the calories. There were also various wellness stalls on general health, exercise, and nutrition and stress management to refresh the body, mind and soul. At the nutrition stall, staff were able to have lots of fun competing against others to create the most interesting, appetising and extraordinary meal. If you missed it, be sure to catch the next Spring event!
Action at the Mini Olympics: At the start of the relay, health screenings in progress, Volleyball, Soccer and Healthy Food preparation tips.
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University Social Responsibility Network (USRN) visit to UP
Recently, the University of Pretoria (UP) hosted a staff development programme for 18 members of the University Social Responsibility Network (www. usrnetwork.org) steering committee. The University Social Responsibility Network (USRN) was inaugurated in Hong Kong in 2015 to promote collaboration, coalition and networking among members and with other networks and alliances. UP is one of the members of the steering committee and the only African member. The 18 members represented Sichuan University, the University of Haifa, the University of Manchester, the University of New South Wales, Washington University in St Louis, Kyoto University, the Hong Kong Polytechnic
University, Tufts University and the University of São Paulo. The CEO of the Yidan Foundation, Mr Clive Lee, also attended the programme. The Foundation promotes Chinese traditional culture and education.
Early Childhood Development), Dr Liezl-Marie Kruger and Prof Melanie Wiese (Department Marketing Management), and Dr Martina Jordaan (community-based project module of EBIT).
The visit included presentations by Mrs Gernia van Niekerk (Community Engagement Department), Prof Antoinette Lombard (Department of Social Work), Prof Jannie Hugo (Department of Family Medicine), Mr Frans Haupt (Law Clinic), Dr Attie van Niekerk (Centre for Sustainable Communities), Mr Tebogo Mphelo (Enactus student society), Mr Manchala Sithole (Keep That Gold Shining student society and EBIT House), Ms Susan Thuketana and Mrs Charlotte Lewington (Department of
Delegates also visited the Faculty of Veterinary Sciences at the Onderstepoort campus, Mamelodi campus, and the Viva Village.
Junior Tukkie wins MACE awards
Feedback from the delegates was very positive, and they were impressed with what the University of Pretoria is doing in terms of community engagement and social responsibility.
Inaugural Lecture Prof Debby Bonnin
The JuniorTukkie Team in the Recruitment Division of the Department of Enrolment and Student Administration (DESA) entered three projects into this year’s Marketing, Advancement and Communication in Education (MACE) Competition at the Pearson Institute of Higher Education in Durbanville, Cape Town.
Prof Debby Bonnin, delivered her inaugural lecture, entitled Transformations of Work, which was held at the Senate Hall in the Admin building. Prof Stephanie Burton, VicePrincipal responsible for research and post graduate education, in her welcome, explained the importance of this inaugural lecture in the scholarly pursuits of UP to remain steadfast in new knowledge created and the recognition of Prof Bonnin.
The Conference and Awards Ceremony were attended by Mr Wallace Isaacs (Deputy Director: DESA), Dr Pieter Clase (Senior Assistant Director: Recruitment), Mr Petrus Lombard (Project Manager: JuniorTukkie) and Ms Martie Kilian (Assistant Publications Coordinator and JT App). All three projects entered by the Recruitment and JuniorTukkie Team received awards:
Prof Bonnin defined transformation as being embedded in a social context and with much “political currency”. She examined important themes in the South African labour scholarship and discussed various ways in which both (the empirical world of) work and scholarship had responded to change. Prof Bonnin further explained that transformation happened through a number of prisms – spatial, economic, political and technological − which then reverberated through the world of work. She concluded with the question: ‘Where to now for labour scholarship’?
• GOLD EXCELLENCE AWARD: JuniorTukkie APP • MERIT AWARD: Grade 9 Information Session for learners and parents (2016) • MERIT AWARD: JuniorTukkie magazine (May 2016 edition)
From Left: Anthea Pretorius, Martie Kilian, Selena Davids, Petrus Lombard, Pieter Clase, Wallace Isaacs
Dean of the Faculty of Humanities, Prof Vasu Reddy, responded to Prof Bonnin’s talk by thanking her for her set of ideas that were applicable to the local context and to understanding society in a broader context around ethics amidst the pursuit of profits, racial discrimination and gender indifferences. He concluded by stating that work was a central part of how our society was being shaped: individually and communally.
From left: Prof Stephanie Burton, Prof Debbie Bonnin, Prof Vasu Reddy
University of Pretoria
MOI with India’s Chandigarh University University of Pretoria’s (UP), Vice-Chancellor and Principal, Prof. Cheryl de la Rey met with India’s Chandigarh University, Vice-Chancellor Prof. (Dr.) Rajinder Singh Bawa and signed an Memorandum of Intent (MOI)
Universiteit van Pretoria
Yunibesithi ya Pretoria
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The Department of Philosophy and the Centre for Sexualities, AIDS and Gender hosted the book launch of, Three Essays on the Theory of Sexuality by Sigmund Freud, at the University of Pretoria, Hatfield Campus. This was the first English translation since the 1905 first edition and was headed up by Prof Ulrike Kistner, from UP’s Department of Philosophy.
The MOI’s objective allows both universities to explore and promote co-operation between the two institutions with the view of developing academic, teaching and research exchanges and collaboration. This may include the exchange of academic members of staff for the purposes of lecturing and collaboration in joint research projects; participation in conferences, colloquia and symposia; and student exchanges.
The Three Essays on the Theory of Sexuality, is a 1905 work by Sigmund Freud which advanced his theory of sexuality, in particular its relation to childhood. This translation presents Sigmund Freud in a form, new to all but a few ardent students of his work. Three Essays on the Theory of Sexuality is a classic work by Freud and was first published in 1905. This classic evolved into various editions since it was first published and of these, only two were ever translated into English, in 1910 and 1949. Neither of these were based on the original German manuscript published in 1905, but from subsequent editions of the work.
Prof. (Dr.) Rajinder Singh, commented that, “Of the 150 universities I have visited around the world, I would rate the University of Pretoria as being in the top 20.”
Dean of the Faculty of Humanities, Prof Vasu Reddy, commended the vibrant and energetic work being done at the Centre for Sexualities. This launch, the only one in Africa, will provide opportunities for academics, practitioners and other interested parties to reflect and engage on the debates generated by this translation and interpretation of the work.
Chandigarh University is an Indian institute for higher education. Located in Greater Mohali, Punjab, it is the largest university near Chandigarh with more than 30,000 students from across India and 30 countries. It is ranked among 'Asia's Best & Fastest Growing private Education Institutes' by WCRC (World Consulting & Research Corporation)
Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Cheryl de la Rey with Chandigarh University's ViceChancellor Prof. (Dr.) Rajinder Singh Bawa
FAREWELL TO HESTER JACOBS
Staff of the Rectorate, Members of the Executive, Seated in front from Left: Prof Norman Duncan, Hester Jacobs (in red) and Vice-Chancellor Prof Cheryl De la Rey
From Left: Philippe Van Haute, Zaheera Seedat, Susan Van Zyl, Mary Crewe, Naledi Mokoena, Gary Dowsett, Ekua Yankah, Vasu Reddy, Herman Westerink, Rebecca Hodes and Ulrike Kistner (front, right)
BREAKING THE NORM
Hester began her career at the University in 1974 in the general typing pool. She served as secretary under the Deputy Registrar, Mr Ben Espach and the Assistant Registrar, Mr Jan Koekemoer from 1981-1982 and later under the Registrar, Mr Manie Hurter until he retired at the end of November 1992. In 1993, Mrs Jacobs became the secretary to the new Registrar, Prof Chris de Beer. This working relationship continued for the next 17 years when Prof de Beer took up office as Vice-Principal and later Senior Vice-Principal, until his secondment in 2010 to the University of Zululand as Administrator. Mrs Jacobs was promoted to Senior Secretary and later Executive Assistant to Prof de Beer.
Prof Tania Hanekom will be quick to point out the perception that certain careers are more suitable to specific genders is nonsense. She has received several awards in the field of engineering. One is the Innovation and Excellence in Teaching Award. Prof Hanekom’s teaching philosophy is, “Excellence fosters excellence: if one wants to nurture excellence in students, one must offer excellence in the teaching and learning strategy – one needs to set an example that students cannot resist following.”
From 2010 – 2016, Hester served as the Executive Secretary to the Vice-Principals: Profs Robin Crewe, Tyrone Pretorius and Norman Duncan. She will be remembered for her service of excellence to the University. She carries with her the well-wishes, respect and admiration of the University as she embarks on a new chapter of her well-deserved retirement.
She loves and embraces challenges, which sees as, “The fertile soil in which new ideas and tactics can sprout and grow.”
Mrs Hester Jacobs, Executive Secretary to Prof Norman Duncan (Vice-Principal: Academic) officially retired from the University of Pretoria after having 42-years of service at UP. Staff at the Rectorate bid a fond farewell to Mrs Jacobs in an intimate function held in her honour.
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Sport Athletes to watch out for in 2017 Rikenette Steenkamp, the winner of the 2010 South African Junior and Senior titles in the 100m-hurdles, had to relearn how to walk properly, after needing surgery to remove an extra bone in her ankle. As part of the rehabilitation process Steenkamp, was confined to bed rest for six weeks and thereafter she had to relearn how to walk properly again. Only in September last year was she allowed to start doing athletics again. Her road to recovery has been remarkable as earlier this year she raced 13.14s at the University of Johannesburg. What was remarkable about her performance is the fact that it was only her second race after a two-year absence from competitive racing. Steenkamp admits there were times she really wondered whether she would ever be able to race again.
Mamathu wants to run Steenkamp’s the perfect comeback race inspires
Tebogo Mamathu, third year Sport Science student at UP, when asked why she loves running answered, “I like sprinting because you get to go as fast as you can without really having to think about what you are doing.”
At a Tuks league which took place earlier this year, Tebogo raced to a time of 11.45s which is just 0.05 seconds slower than her best time of 11.40s. It was her first race this season. According to last year’s statistics she was South Africa’s third fastest female sprinter. Carina Horn (TuksAthletics) clocked a time of 11.07s. Alyssa Conley (University Johannesburg) ran 11.23s while Mamathu set a personal best time of 11.40s. According to Mamathu there was never any doubt that she was going to make athletics the sport of her choice. “Don’t ask me to hit a ball with a stick or a racket or to catch it. I am not great at that. I was born to be a runner. Mamathu admits that she is yet to race the perfect race. “I think the closest I got to it was last year at Pilditch when I ran 11.40s. After the race I got the feeling that I am not done yet as I still have a lot more fuel left in the ‘tank’.”
“The one thing that kept me going is that I feel I was born to run. There is also the matter of unfinished business on the track.” She credits her recent fast times to her coach, Hennie Kriel (Tuks/HPC), “He is an amazing coach who does not believe in mediocrity.” Steenkamp is also busy with her master’s degree. Her theme is: The need for leadership and role models in South African women’s sport. “I honestly believe that as an athlete I have an obligation to leave a legacy behind for younger athletes. Once I have finished my career as a competitive athlete I really want to get involved helping younger athletes, especially female athletes.”
Bongani eyes SA senior Badminton title As a badminton player UP’s, BCom Accounting student Bongani van Bodenstein has a perfect record. He has won the South African singles title in each age group that he has competed in. But 2017 is going to be his proverbial “Rubicon”. It is the first time the 19-year-old TuksBadminton player will be officially competing in the senior ranks. He is not too fazed about it because he believes that on a good day he is capable of beating any of the South African top senior players. At last year’s University South Africa Championships, he won the singles, doubles and mixed doubles which led to him receiving the Player of the Tournament Award. Another highlight was winning three medals at the 2014 African Youth Games which took place in Gaborone. “At TuksBadminton we spend up to three hours a day training. Apart from working on improving our technique we also spend a lot of time on doing speed work, endurance and working on our agility.”
Thamea achieves a unique double hat trick A hat trick in cricket is one of the most unique achievements any bowler can aim to achieve. To take two hat tricks in one game is unheard of, or is it? Karabo Thamea (TuksCricket) is one of a very elite group of bowlers who has managed to do so. She did it in a league game for the women’s team against Soshanguve. The 20-year old BSc Human Physiology student at UP gets a bit shy when she has to talk about her achievement. “It was my teammates who drew my attention to the fact that I was on a hat trick after I had taken two wickets with two balls. That was when I started feeling nervous because everybody wanted me to complete the hat trick. When I did get the wicket it was really cool. The second
hat trick was an even a bigger surprise. ”Thamea finished having taken 8 wickets for four runs. Her cricket exploits should not really be a surprise as her mom, Zola, is real trail blazer in South African cricket. She was the first woman of colour in Africa to be nominated to head up a cricket union in a male dominated industry. Thamea was appointed as president of the Free State Cricket Union in 2013. In 2014 she was awarded the Sport Administrator of the Year at the Minister of Sports and Recreation Sport Awards. She was also the first woman to serve on the Cricket South Africa general council. She managed the Cricket Women’s Proteas side from 2004 to 2009.