THREE-SIXT-E | ALUMNI E-NEWSLETTER | ISSUE 13/JUNE 2015
ALUMNI E-NEWSLETTER | ISSUE 13/JUNE 2015
Contact the Alumni Relations Office: Tel: +27 21 959 2143 | Fax: 021 959 9791 | Email: alumni@uwc.ac.za | www.uwc.ac.za/alumni http://twitter.com/UWConline | http://www.facebook.com/uwcalumni
UWC Bridging International Borders
UWC Rector and Vice-Chancellor, Prof Tyrone Pretorius, exchanges gifts with Liang Shugen, the Consul-General of the People’s Republic of China, in Cape Town during the China Week celebrations.
Relations strengthened with China As members of the BRICS association of developing countries, South Africa and China have many potential opportunities to offer each other in fields such as culture, education, health and the economy. In April 2015, UWC became the first university in South Africa to host China Week as part of nation-wide events held to celebrate China Year in South Africa. Last year China celebrated South Africa Year, with both initiatives intended to promote relations between the countries. The week-long celebration kicked off with a visit by a high-level Chinese delegation, including Liang Shugen, the Consul-General of the People’s Republic of China in South Africa, Hu Jianhua, the Chairperson of the Cape Town branch of the All Africa Association for the Peaceful Reunification of China. The event was also attended by representatives of UWC’s Economic and Management Sciences and Community and Health Sciences faculties and Ghaleeb Jeppie, Chief Director of International Relations at the Department of Higher Education and Training. Among other activities, several presentations on aspects of the China-South Africa relationship were made. There were also
Tai Chi training sessions, Chinese food tasting, Chinese language workshops, and orientation sessions on Chinese medicine and acupuncture. The purpose of China Week, according to Leolyn Jackson, Director of UWC’s International Relations Office, was to promote closer collaboration between the University community and the Western Cape Chinese community in the areas of higher education, cultural exchange and health management. The initiative also provided local students with the opportunity to experience Chinese culture. “Through events like China Week,” says Jackson, “we want our students to value diversity of language and culture, and appreciate the importance of multicultural diversity to professional practice and citizenship.” China has become South Africa’s largest trading partner and South Africa is China’s largest trading partner in Africa. Through the UWC Chinese Students Society, which was founded in 2005, UWC has established relationships with the Ministry of Education in China, the China Scholarship Council, Chinese Language Council and the Chinese Embassy in South Africa. It has signed agreements with two universities in China and there has been considerable growth in Chinese student enrolment, especially in master’s, PhD and postdoctoral programmes. PAGE ONE
THREE-SIXT-E | ALUMNI E-NEWSLETTER | ISSUE 13/JUNE 2015
Couple’s sacrifices rewarded In a rare and unusual event, a couple graduated with master’s degrees from the same faculty at the same time, during UWC’s 2015 Summer Graduation. Erastus Kautondokwa and Nehoa Hilma Kautondokwa obtained their MA’s in Cultural Anthropology and Public and Visual History, respectively, both from the Faculty of Arts. Along the way they faced some peculiar challenges. The couple’s two children were born during their period of study. “Today we are proud recipients of two master’s degrees and proud parents of two lovely sons from the University of the Western Cape,” Mr Kautondokwa says. More seriously, he recalls: “In October 2012 I had to attend a very important class presentation while my wife was in hospital for our first son’s birth. I had to drop her off at the hospital, stay for half
an hour after the delivery of the baby and run to class.” Mrs Kautondokwa adds that the lowest moment was when they were forced to send their nine-month-old baby to Namibia for five months while awaiting approval of his visa application. The couple met while doing their social science degrees at the University of Namibia and ended up not only doing their academic work together, but also working as teachers afterwards. “The decision [to marry her] came as she was always doing exceptionally well in subject matters, was well-disciplined at home and did not like material things,” Mr Kautondokwa remembers. Mrs Kautondokwa responds: “I knew he was Mr Right because I felt so different when he was around...Because we were studying at the same time and at the same institution, we could relate well to each other’s concerns and help each other.”
Editorial Welcome to the second edition of Three-Sixt-e for 2015. This issue showcases how UWC is fostering and maintaining partnerships abroad. UWC was the first university in South Africa to host China Week in April 2015 as part of nation-wide events to celebrate China Year in South Africa. The purpose of China Week was to promote closer collaboration between the University community and the Western Cape Chinese community. In keeping with our international theme we catch up with Namibian-born couple Erastus Kautondokwa and Nehoa Hilma Kautondokwa, who obtained their Master’s in Cultural Anthropology and Public and Visual History degrees, respectively, from UWC’s Faculty of Arts in March this year. We also chat to Nigerian astrophysics student, Didam Duniya, who is heading to the 2015 Lindau Nobel Laureate Meeting in Germany in June-July, and report on Computer Science master’s student, Kurt Jacobs, winner of the World Citizenship Award at the 2015 regional Microsoft Imagine Cup finals held at the CSIR in Pretoria.
Namibian couple Erastus Kautondokwa and Nehoa Hilma Kautondokwa obtained their master’s degrees at UWC.
The Alumni Relations Office will be hosting their annual Kings of UWC Soccer Tournament on Sunday, 2 August 2015 at the UWC soccer fields. The UWC Alumni Namibia Chapter Launch will take place on Saturday, 8 August 2015 at the Safari Hotel, Windhoek, Namibia. The UWC Chancellor’s Dinner & Outstanding Alumni Awards will take place at the UWC Main Hall. Date to be announced. The September 2015 Graduation will take place from Wednesday, 16 September to Friday, 18 September 2015 at the UWC Main Hall. The UWC Rugby 50th Celebration will take place from Friday, 2 October 2015 to Sunday, 4 October 2015 at UWC. Times and details to be announced. PAGE TWO
We also report on International Nurses Month by celebrating the work done by UWC alumna, Shahnaz Adams, at the Emergency Unit of the Gugulethu Community Health Centre. Lastly, we are pleased to announce the launch of the new Alumni Travel Programme, which this year offers a week-long intensive travel experience in the United Arab Emirates, in the company of University executives, academics and alumni. Happy reading! Patricia Lawrence Pro Vice-Chancellor Department of Institutional Advancement
THREE-SIXT-E | ALUMNI E-NEWSLETTER | ISSUE 13/JUNE 2015
BOOK REVIEW UWC student wins Microsoft design competition gestions, and making improvements both to the project itself and to the 20-minute presentation that earned Jacobs the win. The VIH was developed as part of Jacobs’s honours project in 2013 (with the help of then-supervisors and Comp Sci lecturers, Ghaziasgar and Reg Dodds). It works as follows: When the Kinect detects a nearby object, it causes the motors in the headband to vibrate. Since these motors are spread out across the headband and vibrate based on the object’s location and proximity, they tell the wearer exactly where the obstacle is so that it can be avoided. Computer Science master’s student Kurt Jacobs alongside current MSc supervisor and team mentor Mehrdad Ghaziasgar.
What do you get when you connect a Microsoft Kinect sensor, an Arduino board and image-processing software to a computer, together with a headband fitted out with small motors?
regional Microsoft Imagine Cup finals held at the CSIR in Pretoria. It also netted him R3 000 as well as the chance to compete in the semi-finals and perhaps earn a spot at the international cup finals in Seattle, USA later this year.
Well, if you do it just right, you get a tool to help the visually impaired navigate the world – and maybe a Microsoft World Citizenship award as well.
Although the competition allows up to four members, Jacobs was the sole member of his team, appropriately dubbed Team Random Dude.
University of the Western Cape Computer Science master’s student, Kurt Jacobs, did just that – his Visually Impaired Helper (VIH) earned him the World Citizenship Award at the 2015
Team Random Dude wasn’t exactly a one-man show, though. Mehrdad Ghaziasgar, Jacobs’s former honours supervisor and current MSc supervisor, acted as team mentor, providing advice and sug-
Winning was great, but not so much the glory as the affirmation. That someone else has faith and can see the potential in your project – I think that’s the real win. Jacobs, who matriculated at Paarl Boys High School and went on to earn a BSc Computer Science as well as a BSc Hons (Computer Science) degree at UWC, says: “Winning was great, but not so much the glory as the affirmation. That someone else has faith and can see the potential in your project – I think that’s the real win.”
The Coloured question? Former Rector of the University of the Western Cape, Professor Richard van der Ross, launched his latest book, titled In Our Own Skins, A political history of the Coloured People, in the Mayoral Banquet Hall at the Cape Town Civic Centre in May.
tribution “toward the complex and multifaceted tapestry which details our nation’s history.” She added, “The book is a valuable contribution to the next generation, to read and understand our past.”
Published by Jonathan Ball, the book is Van der Ross’s history of the ‘coloured community’, from its invention soon after the arrival of the Dutch settlers to the post-colonial dispensation and the eventual arrival of democracy.
Van der Ross, for whom the term ‘coloured’ has uncontested cultural and historical validity, remarked on the uncertainty and ambivalence people have about the coloured community, neither of which feeling he shared. “We are coloured people, people of this country and people of this world.
At the launch, Cape Town Mayor Patricia de Lille thanked Van der Ross for his con-
“And we are here for a purpose, to do a job. If you have not done it get up and do it.”
Prof Richard van der Ross and Cape Town mayor, Patricia de Lille, at the launch of his latest book.
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THREE-SIXT-E | ALUMNI E-NEWSLETTER | ISSUE 13/JUNE 2015
Alumni travel offering The University of the Western Cape, through its Alumni Relations Office, has launched an Alumni Travel Programme. The purpose of the programme is to offer alumni week-long, intensive travel experiences to sought-after international destinations in the company of University executives, academics and other alumni. “These travel programmes will nurture your learning experience while you develop new friendships and networks,” explains Samantha Castle, UWC Alumni Relations Manager. The programme will kick off in December with a trip to Dubai and Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Last year a group of alumni got together in Dubai and formed a UWC alumni chapter. The UAE chapter has already had a few meetings and raised funds for the University from among its members. With many South Africans living there and more
postgraduate students from the Middle East pursuing their studies at UWC, the UAE connections to UWC are growing. During the visit, the UAE chapter will host the delegation with a gala dinner. Representatives of the UWC senior management team will meet their counterparts from New York University in Abu Dhabi. Meetings with the South African Consul-General and the Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry will also take place. “This trip will facilitate opportunities for academic collaborations, economic and knowledge exchanges, and will offer the delegation many avenues to explore different opportunities,” Castle added. And of course also opportunities for fun, shopping, fine dining and touring the sights of Dubai and Abu Dhabi. Alumni interested in joining the trip or viewing the programme itinerary may contact the Alumni Relations Office.
UWC
I N M A LTUR AV E L
Join us on the UWC Alumni Travel Tour to the United Arab Emirates 7 December to 14 December 2015 For more information contact the UWC Alumni Relations Office at 021 959 2143
Alumni Relations Office Department of Institutional Advancement, University of the Western Cape, Office No. 41, Nursing Building, Robert Sobukwe Road Tel: +27 21 959 2143 • Fax: +27 21 959 9791 • Email: alumni@uwc.ac.za • www.uwc.ac.za www.facebook.com/uwcalumni
twitter.com/uwconline
FROM HOPE TO ACTION THROUGH KNOWLEDGE.
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A caracal was spotted in the UWC Cape Flats Nature Reserve.
Caracal spotted When the UWC-West Link Entrance security staff reported sighting a big cat earlier this year, the staff of the UWC Cape Flats Nature Reserve suspected it was a caracal, rather than a true big cat. Hestelle Melville, head of the nature reserve unit, said first scat (identified faecal droppings) was found, then fresh tracks. Finally, photographs from a camera trap verified the presence of the elusive cat on our campus, for the first time in recent University history. Caracal, also known colloquially as ‘rooikat’, are not classified as ‘big cats’. The caracal is a striking medium-sized, robustly built cat with long powerful legs, large paws, a short tail and ear tips with long hair tufts. It is classified among the ‘top predators’, which function as keystone species or animals whose disappearance could cause the increase of some species and the decline and extinction of others. Predatory species like caracals are therefore considered potential indicators of ecosystem health. “These are very special animals,” comments Melville. “This means we have quite a healthy ecosystem at the UWC Cape Flats Nature Reserve. To keep the balance in the ecosystem you need predators”. It is not yet clear where the animal came from, with Table Mountain or the Tygerberg Hills being likely origins. Melville, a UWC alumna, notes that the presence of the caracal adds to the variety of animals present in the reserve and that this bodes well for the work her unit is doing for students, staff and the community at large. “There are lots of students who can’t afford to travel far to do their fieldwork, who can do their practicals right on our doorstep. Most of the time we are also fully booked with visitors from other universities, schools and members of the community. So this is good news for all.”
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New alumni chapters set up UWC alumni showed heartening enthusiasm for their alma mater at the launch of the Gauteng, Eastern Cape and Western Cape Alumni Chapters in February, April and May, respectively, eagerly volunteering to serve on steering committees and putting forward ideas on ways to help the institution.
Pretorius described key programmes and projects underway at the University and outlined the University’s new vision – the Udubs 2030 Vision.
The chapters were launched to assist the University to engage alumni in the respective provinces, promote UWC as a university of choice for future generations and foster relevant discussion and debate.
“As students at UWC you were fearless champions of human rights and socio-political transformation. We need your support to be continuously resilient and to adapt to the challenges that lie ahead.
The chapters will also promote the University in the corporate sector and help establish innovative fundraising activities for the benefit of UWC.
“I believe you can play a key role in strengthening the University’s revenue system in many ways, including using your professional networks to identify potential philanthropists, and to assist us to become a real metaphor for South Africa.”
UWC Rector and Vice-Chancellor, Professor Tyrone Pretorius, congratulated the newly elected steering committees and thanked them for agreeing to play this critical role. “Every alumnus represents key moments in UWC history. “You form an integral part of our history and I hope you will form an integral part of our future,” he said. At the Western Cape Chapter launch, Prof
“You, the alumni, hold influential positions in all walks of life across the country, the continent and the globe,” he told alumni.
Prof Pretorius assured the alumni that their alma mater was in safe hands. “We have a dynamic new leadership in place, and I have every confidence that this new leadership team is poised to take UWC to new heights. But it can only do so through the support of the UWC community, including the alumni.”
Rector and Vice-Chancellor Prof Tyrone Pretorius congratulates the newly elected chairpersons of the alumni chapters, from left: Claude Smith (Western Cape), Dr Glynis Pieterse (Eastern Cape) and Melvin Watkins (Gauteng).
Student’s research takes him places UWC astrophysics student Didam Duniya is attending the 2015 Nobel Laureate Meeting in Lindau, Germany from 28 June to 3 July, with some of the world’s most promising young scientists and 70 Nobel Prize-winning scientists. The Lindau Nobel Laureate Meeting, which has been convened annually since 1951, brings together young scientists, chosen by a high-level scientific review panel, with Nobel laureates. Duniya, a PhD student from Nigeria, was nominated to attend by the Robert Bosch Stiftung in Germany and the African Institute for Mathematical Sciences (AIMS) for his work in astrophysics. Under the supervision of UWC Physics Professor and Square Kilometre Array (SKA) Research Chair, Prof Roy Maartens, Duniya investigates the effects of Einstein’s Theory of General Relativity in galaxy surveys. Upcoming surveys with the MeerKAT telescope and the Square Kilometre Array (when completed) will be able to detect the effects that Duniya is working on, and will consequently test Einstein’s theory. “I feel privileged to be selected from so many young scientists across the world to attend this prestigious, once-in-a-lifetime forum,” Duniya says. “My gratitude goes to the selection review panel, Robert Bosch Foundation and AIMS.” Duniya adds: “This trip isn’t just about me. [It shows]...progress in science at UWC, and in Africa as a whole. It is my sincere hope that this will inspire young scientists at UWC and across Africa to work harder and aim to be among the world’s top-ranking researchers. I believe the sky will be our limit – and the sky is limitless.” PAGE FIVE
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Nursing for change in 1985, was called in. “The majority of staff was so resistant and didn’t want me there,” Adams says. “A few of them, though, were tired of being called names by the community and wanted change. I worked with them to persuade the others to come on board.” Under her leadership, the unit markedly improved its services. “When I went there in 2008 patients had a 98% chance of dying, and today patients have a 98% chance to live.” Her success story became a case study for other struggling units and Adams has based her master’s research on her experience.
Shahnaz Adams believes public servants must take ownership to improve service delivery.
The theme for this year’s International Nurses Day on 12 May was Nurses: A force for change: care effective, cost effective. UWC alumna Shahnaz Adams proved herself a force for change when she helped to turn around the Emergency Unit at Gugulethu Community Health Centre. Before she took up the position to head the unit in 2008, there were allegations of racial conflicts, poor service delivery
leading to patients dying in the waiting room while health practitioners dragged their feet, and employees under the influence of alcohol. The community was losing confidence in the facility and this led to the Public Protector launching an investigation. “It was a disgrace,” Adams says frankly. Having served Emergency Medical Services for many years and having dealt with a similar situation at Knysna Ambulance Station, Adams, who obtained her degree in nursing at UWC
“My focus is on people,” Adams explains. “If you have a policy or something to be done, it takes a person with determination to achieve the outcome. In addition, a person is not a robot that you can programme. There are a lot of dynamics, personalities, attitude, personal challenges, competencies (or the lack thereof). If that person doesn’t take ownership and lacks the insight that he or she has a commitment to the community, that policy has no meaning.” Adams believes that public servants owe it to the community to provide quality services. “That will always be our mandate. And if we have systems that are hampering us from achieving that mandate, then we must find creative ways to change them.”
Working for a sustainable future UWC alumnus Akhona Ndletyana believes in sustainable development and improving quality of life through the use of environmentally friendly methods in civil and commercial activities. In his work in the Pollution and Chemicals Management section of the Western Cape Department of Environmental Affairs and Development Planning, Ndletyana is responsible for the management of pollution in the physical environment (earth and water), and also for noise pollution and control. His work encompasses everything from working with policy and assessing the environmental impact of developments, to implementing compliance, law enforcement, monitoring, investi-
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gations (inspections), as well as environmental awareness and education. “Often complaints come from ordinary members of the public about incidents that are harming or have the potential to harm the environment, allegedly committed by other citizens,” Ndletyana explains. “In such cases people skills are crucial, and my training in my engagements at UWC proves to be useful here as people are part of the environment too. In the end, the goal is to derive an amicable solution for all involved parties as sometimes the alleged perpetrator is unaware of environmental legislation, or simply does not have the resources to mitigate environmental damage.” Ndletyana, who holds a BA degree and Honours in Geography and Environmen-
Akhona Ndletyana is a member of the UWC Alumni Association.
tal Management from UWC, says he received more than an education at UWC. “The compassion UWC has for helping communities, especially disadvantaged and marginalised people, is second to none.” For this reason, Ndletyana didn’t hesitate to join the Alumni Association, “to give a little contribution to this wonderful institution so that it can continue to help others, especially those that are disadvantaged and marginalised.”
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NEW APPOINTMENT
New sport boss aims high Mandla Gagayi studied a Bachelor of Arts degree intending to follow a career in labour relations and human resources, but his passion for sport soon took over and has since seen him spending his working life in sports development. Gagayi is the new Director of Sport Administration at UWC, replacing longserving director, Ilhaam Groenewald, who has joined Stellenbosch University as its Chief Director of Sport. Gagayi has worked in sport administration for 14 years, eight of which were at management level at Rhodes University, first as deputy head and later as head of sport. With just 7 500 students compared to UWC’s more than 20 000, Rhodes has more students involved in sport, better working relations between its sports administration and student bodies and the sports office operated with a larger budget. But Gagayi sees opportunities rather than challenges at UWC. “We must understand the core business of the
OBITUARIES
Mandla Gagayi is the new Director of Sport Administration.
University is the academic project,” he explains. “Therefore, the University will not keep on pumping funds towards us while there are academic departments that are in need of the same money. “We must be creative and find ways to source funding on our own to be able to send our athletes to national and international competitions. Currently we are struggling to send them because of funding and it becomes a problem when we can’t send them or expect them to pay out of their
pockets.” Among his goals for the University is mass student involvement in sport, holistic student development through sport and better performances from athletes. “If I happen to leave UWC at some point, I would love to look back to a university that has gone beyond being seen as a previously disadvantaged institution. Yes, we are previously disadvantaged but we need to move on from that stereotype. We can be as competitive as previously advantaged universities.”
The University of the Western Cape mourns the passing of alumni, students and staff, including:
UWC Alumnus and part-time lecturer Lewis Jonker passed away after a long battle with illness in May 2015. In his 21 years of service at UWC, Jonker, who had a BSc from the University (as does his widow), worked as a lab assistant and then lectured at UWC’s Faculty of Science. He was retired, but still occasionally lectured at UWC until his illness.
Brian Sepkit died on 11 May 2015 after a short illness. Sepkit worked for many years as a Library Assistant in the University’s Main Library before retiring at the end of December 2014.
Andiswa Sibeko, affectionately known as Andy, a final-year BChD student at UWC, passed away in April 2015. Sibeko was born in Gugulethu, Cape Town, and educated at St Augustine’s Primary School and Immaculata Girls High School.
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DID YOU KNOW ?
Did you know UWC is the only institution nationally offering a postgraduate programme in Museum and Heritage Studies?
Fashion Show updated UWC has some of the best alumni apparel in its store, judging by the popularity of the Campus Lifestyle Store. In April a packed Student Centre was in rapture when models strutted their stuff at this year’s Fashion Show to showcase the latest range of student and alumni clothing.
world a better place.” The purpose of the contest, according to Alumni Officer Lynn Hendricks, was to create awareness about the Alumni Relations Office, prepare students for their future role as alumni and cultivate students’ pride and patriotism for the Institution by encouraging them to wear the University branding.
The eight models were selected from hundreds of entrants who took part in the Alumni #IamUWC Selfie Competition 2015, a contest run since the beginning of the year by the Alumni Relations Office in conjunction with the Brand and Digital Communications unit – both located in the University’s Department of Institutional Advancement.
Hundreds of students heeded the call and sent their selfies to the Alumni Office through social media and email.
Students were asked to take selfies on campus that communicated the message of UWC students being proud and happy.
The winners did not only take home interesting prizes but also modelled the winter and summer clothing ranges at the popular fashion show, which was held in partnership with the Campus Lifestyle Store and DK Worx Photography.
“We want to celebrate our University by showing our pride, loyalty, passion and commitment to Udubs through your selfies,” read the brief to contestants. “Your selfie should promote the positive and practical ways in which UWC can make the
Celebrity Corner
The eight finalists selected were Davida Messeur, Chanell van Heerden, Uzayr Shira, Mogammad Adh-har Jardien, Tristan Hay, Khuselwa Kafu, Ashton van der Rheede and Aashiqah Laingno.
The new alumni clothing range is already on sale and can be purchased at the University’s Campus Lifestyle Store.
Minister in the Presidency and former Justice Minister, Jeff Radebe, visited UWC to welcome Prof Tyrone Pretorius to his new position as the Rector and Vice-Chancellor at the University of the Western Cape on Thursday, 12 February 2015.
Join the UWC Alumni Association! Get your free UWC Alumni T-shirt and much more for only R170 per annum (or R70 for the first two years after graduation)! To join, download and complete the Alumni Membership form at www.uwc.ac.za/alumni Contact us at email: alumni@uwc.ac.za or tel: 021 959 2143 if you have any questions.
Stay Connected! Winners of the Alumni #IamUWC Selfie Competition modelling the 2015 Alumni Clothing Range.
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Update your contact details at www.uwc.ac.za/ alumni or send an email with your details to alumni@uwc.ac.za.