Blue and Gold Issue 5 #60NotOut

THE OFFICIAL UWC SPORTS MAGAZINE

#60NOTOUT ISSUE 5

BLUE AND GOLD

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any people regard the number “60” as retirement age. However, for us at UWC Sport, the number “60” represents reflection, revival and re-imagining the next 60 years. This year, 2020, is the University of the Western Cape’s (UWC) 60th anniversary. As we celebrate this milestone, we need to revisit the foundations and values under which the University was founded. We also need to honour all the men and women that played a part in getting Udubs to where it is today.

Every milestone, big or small, that we achieve represents their blood, sweat and tears over the last 60 years. It is because of these pioneers that today we can all stand up and shout, “I am UWC”.

As we celebrate the past 60 years, we cannot — and must not — be naïve to the many challenges that we still continue to face on a daily basis. The need to constantly prove to the world that we exist and are capable of delivering on our mandate like other privileged universities has been there since the birth of UWC and still persists today. Our identity continues to strike fear in many people and our achievements are overlooked and, at times, seen as “just being lucky”. We have also been victims, stuck in our history yet not resistant to the winds of change that continue to sweep across the sporting arena.

Many UWC women still feel like second- class citizens at both their own university and in society, in general, as this is what the system of the past 60 years continues to perpetuate. At times, we even

DIRECTOR’S CORNER

Mandla Gagayi, Director, UWC Sports Administration

forget that the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa was drafted at UWC, that the historical archives of Robben Island are housed at UWC, and that the constitution for the South African Students Sports Union (SASSU) was drafted by a UWC student.

Instead, we hide beneath the “humility” tag because we do not want to be seen as arrogant.

Corporates do not even spend a second listening to our proposals because of our history, identity and values — this happens regardless of how much UWC achieves on the sports field or in the classroom.

Sadly, the “underdog” tag has become our permanent feature.

The best way for us to celebrate the past 60 years then, is to ensure we claim our position in society, we celebrate and amplify every achievement, we own our identity as the University that represents the historically disadvantaged and working-class, we accept and celebrate women as our equals, we embrace change and improve our physical identity to reflect the current times, and our alumni take pride in being associated with UWC and actively contribute to its development initiatives.

Part of our 60th celebrations was going to include a book

launch on the history of UWC Sport. The plan now is to launch this book in the near future once the worst of the global COVID-19 pandemic has subsided and restrictions have been lifted.

However, I believe we can still celebrate other 60th milestones in spirit and in our hearts. The most important thing, for now, is to stay safe and contribute to the fight against the pandemic; a responsibility that lies on each and every individual.

To the current generation of students and staff, as you go about your daily tasks, always remember the many men and women who sacrificed their lives in order to ensure the working class and those who were previously disadvantaged are now able to obtain the quality education we enjoy today. We can only honour them through spending our energy on ensuring our university continues to grow and deliver the best education.

UWC will continue to be a beacon of hope for the kids of Belhar, Khayelitsha, Gugulethu, Langa and more, as well as any other young person that feels they deserve a chance in life.

Always remember: You are UWC. I am UWC.

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CONTENTS 2

DIRECTOR’S CORNER

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DIRECTOR’S CUT

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WORDS FROM THE VICE-CHANCELLOR

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CONVERSATION STARTER: SPORT AND POLITICS

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SPORTING COMRADES

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A HIGHER STANDARD

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THE GENESIS OF CRICKET

18 DANNY JORDAAN: THE ALUMNUS WHO AWAKENED AFRO-OPTIMISM THROUGH FOOTBALL 22

DRIVING FORCE

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IN CONVERSATION WITH TOBIAS TITUS

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ONCE A TEAM, ALWAYS A TEAM

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THE ROAD TO ‘GREAT’ IS PAVED WITH STONES

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IN PICTURES

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STRENGTH THROUGH THE SEASONS

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GAME-CHANGING TECH

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RUNNING THE STREETS

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FUTURE RISING

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A HELPING HAND

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POWER PROPONENTS

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BEHIND THE SCENES

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SPORTS COUNCIL NOTES

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UWC SUPERSTARS ZUBAYR HAMZA

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KURT-LEE ARENDSE

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THEMBI KGATLANA

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BABALWA LATSHA

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ANDRIE STEYN

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HERSCHEL JANTJIES

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DIRECTOR’S CUT

Patricia Lawrence, Director: Department for Institutional Advancement

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his special edition of Blue and Gold celebrates the University of the Western Cape’s (UWC) 60th anniversary and our sporting milestones. In this issue, we honour both the new and stalwart generations of sporting alumni for their contribution in leading UWC to the dynamic sports legacy which we are so proud of.

A close connection existed between politics and sports in apartheid South Africa, on both sides of the racial divide. Not only did apartheid interfere in sports in a myriad ways but sports was also used as a means to mobilise support in the fight against the oppressive regime.

As with church institutions, the then-government wanted to continue participating in the international arena. It could, therefore, not afford to ban sporting activity or organisations when, already, political and civil

organisations were suppressed.

This provided a window of opportunity for UWC sporting heroes and other student activists to use sports to advance the fight against the authoritarian university management as well as the oppressive actions of the apartheid government.

Being involved in sports presented the perfect cover to advance political activities on campus. Many footballers, as well as cricket and rugby players, were part of the political formations. The slogan was “No normal sport in an abnormal society” and rugby, in particular, was used as a political tool against the system. This slogan also motivated the University to move away from federation rugby to join the Tygerberg League, a non-segregated rugby league. The likes of Professor Adam Small, Prof Jakes Gerwel,

Dr Danny Jordaan, Prof Julian Smith, Oom Tobie Titus, Gary Boshoff, Philip October and many others resisted and stood firm in their beliefs.

Many UWC alumni fought to lay the foundation that allows the modern UWC student to enjoy the fruit of this hard labour.

This edition of the magazine aims to allow alumni and current students to commemorate their alma mater in a proverbial “mass gathering” of a special kind.

In this issue, we have tried to go beyond merely reporting the events that have led to our illustrious sporting legacy – both past and present. Our focus has rather been to celebrate and honour our current sports heroes as well as allow alumni to be heard, to reflect on their legacy, and to reminisce about campus life and the political “action”, sports heroes and characters of their time.

Here’s to the next 60 years — and many more sporting memories.

INSTITUTIONAL ADVANCEMENT DIRECTOR Patricia Lawrence • UWC SPORTS DIRECTOR Mandla Gagayi • EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Gasant Abarder • EDITOR Myolisi Gophe • COMMISSIONING EDITOR Nashira Davids • MANAGING EDITOR Nastasha Crow • ART DIRECTOR Mish-al van Rijmenant • COPY EDITOR Zainab Slemang van Rijmenant • CONTRIBUTORS Amy Myers, Backpage Pix for Cricket South Africa, Clement Du Plessis, Dumisani Koyana, Getty Images, Harriet Box, John Thwaits, Ilhaam Groenewald, X-Nita Stuurman, Lonwabo Marele, Lyndon Julius, SA Rugby, Wrap It Up PR & Communications, Zaahier Adams

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t is almost impossible to think about the past few months and imagine the wonderful sporting events and times we have enjoyed at the University. A year ago, we happily gathered at the UWC Sports Stadium to cheer on our student-athletes as they took to the field. Now, our stadium stands empty, a silent symbol of the days when the seats were filled with supporters and the field was abuzz with the energy of our sportsmen and women.

As I write this note, I am reminded of those days and can almost hear the shouts of encouragement when a UWC rugby player would make a mad sprint to dot the ball down behind the try line. I am also reminded of all our alumni and students who gathered to support our team and the energetic cheerleaders who urged the crowd to participate in the festivities.

COVID-19 has brought all of this to a halt. Our campus has grown silent and our sporting activities have ceased. Everything we have taken for granted as normal parts of our lives has been halted midstride, overtaken by a national lockdown and restrictions. The past months have been a difficult time for everyone and we have had to adapt to hugely altered circumstances.

However, things will get better eventually and we will slowly but surely regroup and gather again.

We will create new memories — just like those that we hold dear from when everything was normal.

How can we forget the exhilaration and pride we felt when our rugby team made it to the Varsity Cup for the first time under the very excellent leadership of Coach Chester Williams? Or when the victorious Springbok team, fresh

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WORDS FROM THE VICECHANCELLOR Prof Tyrone Pretorius Rector and Vice-Chancellor, University of the Western Cape

from their World Cup triumph in Japan, toured our campus with our former player Herschel Jantjies on top of the open bus? Those are amazing memories.

So too are the memories of our other sporting stars, like former student Thembi Kgatlana who visited UWC after being part of the first Banyana Banyana team to participate in the women’s Soccer World Cup. And let’s not forget about Kurt-Lee Arendse, who was called up to the Sevens Rugby national squad and formed part of the winning Blitzbokke team that won gold in Canada for the Vancouver leg of the HSBC 7s series? Similarly, Zubayr Hamza made history by becoming the first cricketer from UWC to don the senior national cricket team colours in a Test and the 100th player to represent the Proteas in the five-day format.

These are indeed wonderful memories and achievements of which we should be proud. It should also serve as a timely reminder of UWC’s ability to strive for excellence both on the academic and sporting terrains as well as our innate ability to rise above difficulties and hardship.

I am therefore confident that, once we return to a semblance of normality, we will slowly regain our momentum so that our student community can once again take to the fields and lecture halls.

As we look back on 60 years of sports at UWC in this special 60th-anniversary edition of the Blue and Gold, we know we stand on the shoulders of giants who used sport to further activism and to produce world-class sportsmen and women in a democratic South Africa. The future certainly looks bright as we offer the best of both worlds: a place for quality education where students can participate in the highest level of sports.

As we navigate our way to returning to the sports fields and the lecture theatres, I urge everyone to commit themselves to see this academic year to its end as best as possible. I fully understand that no single student or staff member shares the same circumstances and we will never fully know the sacrifices and hardship that our university community has had to endure during this time.

However, like before, I am confident that we will not only survive this challenging time but will also come together as a university community, united in a common purpose — be it academically or on the sports field. Our resilience as UWC will ensure we pull through this crisis and come out on the other side even stronger than we were before.

In the meantime, take care of yourselves and each other.

“I am confident that we will not only survive this challenging time but will also come together as a university community, united in a common purpose.�

COVERSATION STARTER: SPORT AND POLITICS

The first of two new books explores the paradox of sports and politics on the University campus

By Winston Kloppers

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lowing Against the Wind is a set of two books, which gives an account of sports and politics on a university campus, that became connected to much larger forces in the community and, with time, became a groundswell of opposition to apartheid.

Volume 1 is presently with the publishers, while Volume 2 is still in the research phase.

The paradox of playing sports and protesting apartheid lies at the heart of Blowing Against the Wind. Using a combination of

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narrative, photography, first-person interviews and published writings, the research draws together a powerful collage that tells the story of sports and politics on a university campus during apartheid. It is a kind of social history that locates the evolution of sports and politics within the context of the times or, more specifically, in three very different decades: the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s.

The 1960s were a period of acquiescence. To understand

this period, one has to consider the broader political context of the era that includes Sharpville, the Rivonia trial and other events.

Nonetheless, it was a decade in which the signs of political restlessness on the campus were already in evidence. Students found solace and unity in sport, which played an important role in uniting the student body.

The annual inter-college sport festivals (1969 –1971), in particular, were the first mass gatherings of students, organised by the Student Representative Council (SRC) and sports bodies. It set the stage for them to work together and gave them a sense of pride, belonging and the courage — as well as the skills — to later confront the administration.

The 1970s were a time of student rebellion against the University administration as a representative of the apartheid government. This was largely the result of the rapid growth of the Black Consciousness Movement through, for example, the South African Black Intervarsity Council (SABIC) at all the ethnic universities. In the context of sports, this period also accounts for the rapid growth at UWC of organised sport in the early Seventies.

The 1980s. Heyta! Ta! Heyta!

TaTa! Political violence reached

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IT IS A KIND OF SOCIAL HISTORY THAT LOCATES THE EVOLUTION OF SPORTS AND POLITICS a crescendo in the 1980s, stirred by the terrible impact of apartheid legislation, politically instigated murders and counter insurgencies.

Political unrest, a continuous state of emergency, and a feud over the control of non-racial sport nationally, caused many of UWC’s sports clubs to shut down, either intermittently or permanently.

The late 1980s also witnessed the resurgence of sport at UWC. While there is substantial documentation on politics during UWCs early years, relatively little is known about campus sports during this period. It does not help that the archival material available on the subject is sparse.

It is this gap in the historical archive that these books seek to redress, as a matter of political memory but also as a record of what is possible when student activism becomes part of the

change equation — in politics and in sport.

The voices of students appear at the end of each of the decades, giving expression to the student struggles and experiences as they sought to play sport and advance politics at UWC. In this regard, alumni may submit a brief account of their personal recollections of the time they spent at UWC. They may also submit photographs and/or poetry written during this period of resistance against apartheid.

From 1973 to 1977, black poetry burst onto the campus scene. It was new and spoke to how I felt, how we all felt, when humiliated daily by the hand of apartheid and how many of us suffered under the system of poverty.

Professor Jonathan Jansen, Editor of Blowing Against the Wind Vol. 1 says, “Blowing Against

the Wind offers a lens on the micro-politics of sports on one campus where the physical expression of the athlete and the social agitation of the protestor were never quite separable under the oppressive conditions of the first three decades of UWC’s existence. What we now have is an understanding of the day-today struggles for recognition from the administration, the sheer hardship of trying to get a sporting code off the ground, the triumphs and setbacks of every move to advance sports and transform campus life, the high costs of resistance and the seduction of collaboration (with white sports), and decisions of principle and painful compromises in the course of playing for time.

“That time would eventually come, as apartheid crumbled under the weight of resistance that started with even small acts of defiance, including sports on campus.”

Winston Kloppers, is the author of volumes 1 and 2 of Blowing Against the Wind. He is a retired senior lecturer and alumnus at UWC. For submissions for volume 2, Mr Kloppers can be contacted on 084-622-6634.

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SPORTING COMRADES

Throughout UWC’s history of sports and struggle, the SRC has stood firm in its commitments to student rights

By Dumisani Koyana

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port has the power to change the world,” said Nelson Mandela. “It has the power to inspire. It has the power to unite people in a way that little else does. It speaks to youth in a language they understand. Sport can create hope where once there was only despair. It is more powerful than government in breaking down racial barriers.”

Truer words have never been spoken. Just ask the students and

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staff of the sports department at the University of the Western Cape (UWC). Student leadership and sports have played a huge role in shaping the futures of those who have walked this campus.

Some walked into the University grounds with the hope of attaining their qualifications to make a living for themselves and their families while others dreamt of glory on the field. UWC has been the foundation of some of the

most well-known people in the country —in sports, politics and other fields. The likes of Danny Jordaan, Jakes Gerwel, Thembi Kgatlana and Deon Davids, to name a few, have all gone on to make their mark on the world.

But how does sports and student leadership interact?

Student life is tough and time for recreation is needed to offload the anxiety and pressures of academic life. Yet, for studentathletes who attended UWC during the apartheid era, competing against other tertiary academic institutions was not an option. This later led to many struggles between students and the authorities on the unification of sports across the country.

Reverend Llewylyn MacMaster, the president of the 1984 Student Representative Council (SRC), is the definition of patience and resilience — and a past student who witnessed these struggles firsthand. Originally enrolling in 1976 for a Bachelor of Science (BSc), Rev MacMaster dropped out in 1978 to teach in Belhar; he returned to UWC in 1981 to study theology.

“I was elected as SRC president in 1984 and had a very long term in office,” he recalls. “ In 1985, we could not have the elections as there was a boycott on campus and that meant an extended term for me and my executive.

“In 1976, during the uprisings in the country, I was in my second semester. The University mobilised the community and engaged with

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the students to play our role in the struggle. That was a very scary time for us. There was a hooter at around nine in the evening and if that hooter came on and you were in town or just walking around, you would be arrested.

For me, that is where my political consciousness got awakened.”

This year, UWC celebrates 60 years of existence and the days of racial divides are no longer present on the campus. Instead, interaction amongst different races extends beyond the classrooms and onto the sports fields as well.

“In the 1980s, students took a stance that they will not play against any of the [then-white] institutions. We were under protest even though we were students and we did not want to give legitimacy to a racial institution,” says Rev MacMaster.

“Back then, it was not easy at all when it came to sports. Yes, we had intervarsity games with the University of Fort Hare, the University of Limpopo and the University of Kwa-Zulu-Natal but all of them were what you would call ‘black institutions’.

STUDENT LIFE IS TOUGH AND RECREATIONAL TIME IS NEEDED TO OFFLOAD THE ANXIETY “Today we see our institution priding itself when it comes to sports and student leadership, and our players play alongside others of all races. This truly is a reflection of the amazing journey UWC has taken over the years and truly aligns with our motto of ‘Respice Prospice’ (meaning ‘look to the past and the future’ in Latin).

“We must ensure we record the history of the institution so that those who come after us see what they are standing on and ensure that the culture of this great university continues to be preserved.”

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A HIGHER STANDARD

UWC’s soon-to-be-opened HighPerformance Centre gives rise to a new era of sports at the University

By Dumisani Koyana

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ports have changed in recent years and the introduction of science to the field has improved and positively impacted the industry.

The sports department at the University of the Western Cape (UWC) has taken a step to ensure that the University’s athletes are provided with a platform to excel.

This platform is the recently established High-Performance Centre (HPC), which will cater to eight sporting codes.

“The idea for a high-performance centre came about when the department looked at how sports have evolved from our playing days. There is much research to be done to ensure our athletes are developed holistically,” explains Mandla Gagayi, the Director of Sport at UWC. “In 2015, we sat down to draft a plan that roped in the Faculty of Community and Health Sciences.

Back in the day, coaches and team managers would make all the decisions, sometimes hindering the progress of the athletes. Now the aim is to bring in the research and perspectives of dieticians, biokineticists and psychologists, too.”

The plan also included earmarking specific sporting codes to be focused on. Rugby, cricket, football, athletics, basketball, netball, swimming and volleyball were chosen as these codes are marketable, generate a lot of media attention and are part of the Varsity Sports tournament.

“However,” adds Gagayi, “this does not mean other sporting codes will be neglected.”

Since its establishment, UWC has produced players who have represented the country and went on to play in professional leagues. To attract top studentathletes, the Sport Administration’s stance on recruitment is to review each of the sporting codes’ recruitment plans to ensure they have a holistic outlook for intended players.

“Our goal is to make sure these athletes come to UWC to

participate in sports and graduate,” says Gagayi. “We want to give them an environment that is suitable for them to excel both on the field and in the classroom.”

Student-athletes come from all corners of the country and, in most cases, are from rural areas where they have not previously been exposed to facilities such as those available at the University.

They are naturally talented but need extra training so they are able to reach their full potential.

“When we initially submitted our plan for a high-performance centre, we also wanted to include housing for athletes in a separate sports residence with at least 500 beds. This will ensure sports staff can monitor the athletes – on their diet, training programmes, academics, and physical and mental health – while the athletes have access to these services 24 hours a day.

“Players who live off-campus, where they may not follow the proper diet or have space to grow, will be hindered in their athletic pursuits. We are very confident that once this housing plan, which is currently in progress, comes to fruition, it will be a huge advantage for our student-athletes,” adds Gagayi.

In addition to its current offerings – a gymnasium, physio-

therapy and biokinetics – the HPC will also act as a revenue generator, with rental options for all or specific areas of the facility to external federations as well as provincial and national teams. The advantage, as Gagayi explains, is that the campus is close to the airport so visiting teams need not travel far for games.

Facilities are essential to ensure the HPC project succeeds and Gagayi is confident that the University will ensure they are conducive for professional standards. “We are currently refurbishing the main grass at the stadium as well as the athletics track. In the past, when we had a drought in the province, we could not use the fields but with the planned development of a synthetic football pitch, we will be able to use and maintain the facility in tough times while also renting it out, which will add funds back to the University’s coffers.”

With a current portfolio of a world-class swimming pool and a professional stadium in addition to the new planned facilities and high-performance centre, the trajectory of UWC Sport is looking ever brighter, opening the door for student-athletes to graduate and take their spot in the professional ranks.

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THE GENESIS OF UWC CRICKET

Cricket has always been a feather in the cap of UWC but its road to a powerhouse has not been without struggles

By Zaahier Adams

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rom its humble beginnings when hostel students competed in an internal league, the University of the Western Cape’s (UWC) Cricket Club has grown into a major powerhouse not only in the Western Cape but within the greater South African cricket landscape, too.

The UWC Cricket Club in its current state is a feared competitor that attracts the highest calibre of players and

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coaches — both men and women — from all around the world, all in search of the unique “Udubs” experience.

Initially, however, this was not the case. Although plenty of talented cricketers attended the university, their allegiances lay elsewhere. It was particularly difficult to get the students living at home in the Western Cape to align themselves with the University’s cricket.“We were stuck in the unfortunate

position where it was not the students’ priority to play for UWC but instead for their local club,” says former chairperson Advocate Nic Kock.

“We had a lot of boys from Oudtshoorn who would play for Union Stars. As soon as they put their pen down for their last exam, they would rush back home to play for Union and then delay as long they could until they really could not anymore. They would then

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return and, because they were living at the residence, they would filter back into our system.

“However, the real issue was the students who weren’t staying at the residence. They were much happier playing for their clubs, whether it was Montrose, Victoria, Primrose, St Augustine’s or United, all of whom play in the Western Province Cricket Association’s (WPCA) leagues.

“They would only surface when it was the University

Sports South Africa (USSA) Week and they wanted to be part of it because that was seen as a fun week.”

At the time, UWC Cricket was competing in the WPCA 2B League, which was basically the fifth division.

Something urgently needed to be done to change the culture of the club and the way it was being perceived.

The primary focus, then, was to raise the status of the club

through elevation to a higher league. UWC approached the WPCA and succeeded in negotiating a three-year relegation-free term in the WPCA 1C Division.

This was only the beginning, though. UWC cricket needed a further intervention and it came in the form of the Sports Skills for Life Skills (SS4LS) programme, a non-profit that helps students from previously disadvantaged areas enhance their talent in

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sports while providing them with an opportunity to obtain a tertiary education.

From here on, UWC Cricket Club has never looked back.

Young cricketers now realise they can strike a balance playing cricket while being assisted with their academics through a tutorship programme.

Equally, players have access to quality healthcare, nutritional support and a topnotch mentorship programme.

The first acquisition of the University’s reimagined cricket club was former first-class cricketer and current SABC news reporter Craig Marais as head coach. With the help of a couple of early stalwarts, such as Deon Newkirk and James Albanie, who travelled all the way from Touwsriver to Bellville, the Blue and Gold machine was starting to rumble.

Promotion to the WPCA 1A League quickly followed and bar one season, this is where UWC Cricket Club have been entrenched ever since. The trophy cabinet has overflowed during this period with two Premier League (2-day competition) wins, three 1-Day (50 overs competition) wins, three 20/20 Competition wins as well as sharing this trophy on a fourth occasion with WPCC during the 2016/17 season.

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Success has also been achieved nationally with UWC progressing to the 2016 Varsity Cup T20 final in Potchefstroom as well reaching the USSA finals three times in the recent past.

Furthermore, the introduction of women’s cricket by SS4LS at UWC has been a revelation with the Cricket Club being the premier team in the Western Province for a number of years. Former and current Proteas, such as Shandre Fritz, Olivia Anderson, Shibnam Ismail and Andrie Steyn, provided the much-needed impetus to the continued hard work of former WP cricketer Nuraan Pipers in providing a high-performance home for the many aspiring female cricketers who also wished to pursue their studies.

Furthermore, UWC Cricket Club has extended its branches into the African continent by playing a prominent role in the development of Zimbabwean cricketers.

“We are very proud of our association with Zimbabwean cricket for the players are immensely deserving of playing within our structures,” says Kock.

“All their students come from an environment where they do internationally accredited Cambridge O and A levels. Our first doctorate graduate, Dr Frank Zindo, was a Zimbabwean and two Zimbabwean cricketers were awarded the prestigious

Mandela-Rhodes scholarship.”

“Every single one of our Zim student-athletes have graduated with the majority going on to post-graduate studies. They are a massive positive influence on the other students as they showcase what is possible if you challenge yourself academically.”

With UWC Cricket Club’s alumni honour list growing exponentially every season with a host of cricketers graduating to provincial and franchise cricket, it is hard to single out individuals that have worn the famous Blue and Gold baggy cap.

However, Kock could not hide his delight during one particular balmy sunny day during last year’s New Year Test against England at Newlands. “I was sitting in the President’s Suite and I couldn’t help but smile to myself. It really was a special moment. There, out in the middle was not just Zubayr Hamza, our first male Proteas cap, but also the team physiotherapist Craig Govender, who is a proud UWC and SS4LS alumnus.

“Running on with water bottles was 12th man Givon Christian, who currently plays in the UWC First XI. In the dressing room was also one of our former coaches, Charl Langeveldt, who is now the Proteas bowling coach. To have four UWC people involved in one game with the Proteas was something really special and shows what hard work can achieve.”

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DANNY JORDAAN: THE ALUMNUS WHO AWAKENED AFRO-OPTIMISM THROUGH FOOTBALL

Football is often seen as the glue that binds Africa. And SAFA President Danny Jordaan is here to ensure it reignites African pride, too

By Lynne Rippenaar-Moses

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hen South African Football Association (SAFA) President Dr Danny Jordaan submitted South Africa’s first bid in 2000 to host the FIFA Soccer World Cup, it was more than just an attempt to bring one of football’s most prestigious events to African shores. It was a deliberate act to reawaken Afro-optimism on the continent.

South Africa lost the 2000 bid to Germany by a single vote — yet Jordaan was undeterred. He simply bid again four years later and, in the presence of the late President Nelson Mandela and Archbishop Desmond Tutu,

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watched as South Africa was selected as the first African country to host a World Cup in the 101-year history of FIFA. “My life has always thrown very difficult challenges at me,” says Jordaan, “but what I have learnt over the years is that if there is a goal to be achieved that is worthwhile and in the interest of the people then there is no time to surrender or retreat.”

With South Africa at the dawn of its democracy, Jordaan wanted to counter Afro-pessimism in South Africa, the continent and abroad through the World Cup by demonstrating the skills, knowledge and capabilities of

South Africans and Africans to successfully host such events.

In an attempt to obtain Botswana’s support for the second bid, he participated in a media briefing in the country.

When he left the briefing, he was stopped by a journalist who had one more question to ask.

“He wanted to know if I really thought that South Africa could compete against Germany and England and win. He said: ‘Do you think you can match them?’

I told him: ‘I am not going to match them, I am going to be better than them’.

“We can be African and world-class — there is no

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contradiction between the two.”

But still, there were many countries, says Jordaan, who were unconvinced that South Africa could host the World Cup, with some even calling for a back-up plan in case the country failed.

In the end, the naysayers were wrong. South Africa hosted a successful World Cup, injecting an estimated R93 billion into its local economy. Of the 306 000 tourists that visited South Africa for the World Cup, 90 percent indicated they would return and 96 percent would also encourage family and friends to visit the country. National roads and

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airports were upgraded, more money was invested in transport like the Gautrain and rapid bus transport systems, and more jobs were created. South Africa’s brand awareness and perception had also been improved.

Sports and social consciousness go hand-in-hand for Jordaan. While completing a Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree at the University of the Western Cape (UWC), he became the first-ever first-year student to play football for UWC’s first team. Here he got involved in the South African Students’ Organisation (SASO), which was founded by anti-apartheid activist Steve Biko, and interacted with players such as Henry Eric Isaacs, who was the UWC Football Club’s Chairperson and later became SASO’s Vice President, and Peter Jones, the club’s Secretary who

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established the SASO branch at UWC. He also played interdistrict soccer and cricket for the University and Western Province Cricket.

He credits UWC with helping him develop his social consciousness and gaining a range of skills that he would need for many of the positions he would fill over the years — from serving as the president or vice-president of various football boards to being appointed as the Director of the Cape Town Olympic Bid Company and CEO of SAFA. He also worked as a teacher, lecturer, chairperson of the Port Elizabeth North ANC branch and as a member of South Africa’s Parliament.

Today, as President of SAFA, Jordaan is proud to see that many of the national soccer teams’ players originate from

UWC, with many of those Banyana Banyana players, including the likes of Thembi Kgatlana and Jermaine Seoposenwe, both of whom currently play professional football overseas.

“The institution has made a significant contribution to South African women’s soccer and we want to see UWC strengthen its football academy to make an even bigger impact,” he says.

Jordaan’s love for sports equals his passion for supporting sports players to access and obtain a good education. “Sports players retire at about 35 but in SA, the retirement age is 65. This is why it is important for sports players to start thinking and planning for their second career while they are still in their first.

“At the moment, 80 percent

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of our Banyana Banyana players are graduates, however, SAFA still has work to do amongst the Bafana Bafana players to ensure we can help our players move from the locker room to the boardroom when they stop playing football one day.”

Through SAFA, Jordaan is also focused on strengthening

professional soccer from the ground up. “Our under-17 girls and boys went to the World Cup for the first time this year.

“Our under-20 boys went to two consecutive World Cups while our Banyana Banyana team was in the final in the African Cup of Nations (AFCON) and went to the World Cup in France for the first

WE WANT TO SEE UWC STRENGTHEN ITS FOOTBALL ACADEMY TO MAKE AN EVEN BIGGER IMPACT

time. Our men’s team went to two consecutive Olympics in Rio and now qualified for Tokyo, while Bafana was in the quarter-final of the African Cup of Nations (AFCON). We also have 20 female players playing at the best clubs in the world.”

SAFA has focused strongly on gender equity by increasing the number of women within its governance structures (395) and increasing the number of women referees to 270. It has established a national women’s league and has trained the first female officials to officiate in the Premier Soccer League (PSL) matches while ensuring all female national teams are coached by South African women. SAFA has also improved the quality of refereeing at all levels and the development of qualified coaches.

Yet, in spite of all these achievements, what Jordaan is most proud of is “to have been shaped by an institution like UWC”.

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DRIVING FORCE

Former Director of Sport Ilhaam Groenewald shares her story of leadership and change that has helped catapult UWC Sport to where it is today

“I

am a non-negotiator when it comes to results and I expect the same to be expected from me. While this may well be in my nature, it is something that was nurtured to maturity by my many mentors during my time at the University of the Western Cape (UWC). And for this, I am forever grateful.

“My memories of Udubs Sport are rich — not just because I met my husband, Yusuf, through volleyball in 1991 but as I was given the opportunity to grow personally and professionally, and was supported by many to realise my vision for a credible sports department at the University with outstanding facilities to match.

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“I came from Keimoes in the Northern Cape to Cape Town to study Business Administration at PenTech (now the Cape Peninsula University of Technology or CPUT) in 1988. I was here to study what would form the foundation of my career in sports and to realise my passion: societal transformation through sports. Being active in student politics and serving on the Student Representative Council (SRC) fuelled my learning and, in 1991, I took my first (initially unpaid) job as an administrator in the UWC Political Science department under Dr Vincent Maphai (who persuaded the late Prof Jakes Gerwel to finally give me a paid contract after a few months!).

“The world of sport is changing

constantly and my business studies and continued learning — I later received my Master’s Degree in Sports Management at Udubs — have benefited me greatly in sports leadership. That leadership began as a member of the Udubs volleyball club on the executive committee. It was an entry into Sports Council meetings, which I chaired for a period.

“I joined UWC Sport as a sports administrator in 1999, thanks to former Registrar Dr Julian Smith who recognised my passion and talent, before being promoted to Senior Sports Administrator within two years. Two years later, I was appointed as head — the youngest and only black woman head of sports within the higher education sports environment.

“At that time, the performance of codes was poor and it was time to implement a change that would take care of staff, student-athletes, coaches, facilities and programmes.

The people who continued to inspire me during tough times were then-Vice-Chancellor Prof Brian O’Connell and Institutional Planner Larry Pokpas, simply because of their rich sports history and their belief in the role of sports.

“Prof Lullu Tshiwula, Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Student Development and Support, and Khaya Magopeni (office management) were a pair who believed in the importance of holistic development of studentathletes and persuaded UWC to invest in student-athletes through the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS), headed

by Mr Mike Kwatsha. In fact, the

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entire staff complement, including Dr Birgit Schreiber, Mark Seale and Dr Manoj Bagwandeen who took great care of the health of our student-athletes,was critical to helping me reposition UWC Sport into the institution it now is.

“I managed to find additional budget for bursaries and the appointment of coaching and other staff and even got the goahead to write a plan to upgrade the sports facilities. The upgrade required a major investment so it took time. However, the dream to upgrade the entire stadium infrastructure became a reality just before I left the University.

“I am privileged and proud to have been a part of the upgrade of the facilities, developing a business case that resulted in the approval of a long-term plan of investment, including receiving funds from higher education, ensuring the role of historically disadvantaged institutions (HDIs)

are respected and recognised, and being part of the Varsity Cup launch in 2010 that resulted in the establishment of the Varsity Shield.

“And, today, UWC has earned its place in the prestigious Varsity Cup competition.

“Establishing the Varsity Sports competition was definitely not an easy journey as I worked with the legendary Francois Pienaar and was called a sell-out. Today, this competition and the Varsity Cup are the best varsity competitions in South Africa, well supported by historically black universities and providing opportunities for children at school to reach their dreams.

“I am also very proud of the leadership development and involvement opportunities provided for so many of our student-athletes and staff at the University of the Western Cape.

“My personal recognition is,

MY MEMORIES OF UDUBS SPORT ARE RICH ...

AS I WAS GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO GROW

in part, as a result of the great history and commitment UWC has always had towards a better South Africa and the leadership profile since our democratic elections in 1994 speaks volumes.

The senior leadership, staff and students both supported my involvement and contributed in so many special ways to my journey.

“Today, I am still in contact with student-athletes and ex-colleagues and they will forever remain special to me. UWC itself will always have a special place in my heart.

“The lesson we can all learn from UWC is that irrespective of the deficit in resources, the institution has attracted some of the best sporting talents, many coming from outside of the Western Cape. And, whatever it was going to take, nobody was going to stop me from demonstrating how successful Udubs could be!

“My role as Chief Director at Stellenbosch University’s Maties Sport and as a senior leader at the University demonstrates the power of sports in changing lives.

“I am a product of this and it is through opportunities, hard work, learning, growth, respect and embracing our diversity that we are able to make a difference.

“I am a product of Udubs Sport!”

Ilhaam Groenewald is currently the Chief Director of Maties Sport at Stellenbosch University, a life president of University Sports South Africa USSA), the first woman to be appointed to the board of the South African Rugby Union (SARU), the 2014 UWC Chancellor’s Outstanding Alumni Award winner and the recipient of a Ministerial Award for contribution to women in sport (2019). She is credited as being the driving force behind positioning UWC Sport as an integral part of the student experience and placing its student-athletes on the national and international stage.

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IN CONVERSATION WITH TOBIAS TITUS

The legendary rugby administrator and UWC alumnus officially retired from the SA Rugby executive this year but still has some pearls of wisdom to share

By Harriet Box

Now that you have resigned as a managing member of the South African Rugby Union (SARU), what does the future hold for you?

To me, this is goodbye but not farewell. I will still be available in support of rugby at the club level in an informal capacity. I enjoyed my time and experiences within the rugby industry and I’m open to offer help where I can.

How did you get started in rugby?

I grew up on a farm outside De

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Doorns in the Boland and my parents were teachers on a farm outside Worcester. I grew up poor and what we had, we shared with our community of farm labourers.

The Hex River Valley at the time (early 1950s and 1960s) was marked by exceptionally cold winters, the “dop system” and farm labourers living in extreme poverty. My parents’ involvement with upliftment and education in the community, church and at club-level rugby really inspired

me. I saw how rugby was a force that brought the labourer community together. My father, Titus William Titus, was the school principal at Sandhill and was a prominent rugby player. He would go on to be the administrator after my grandfather.

Club rugby was the only level of rugby available to us and, at the time, my father played for Villagers Rugby Club and was an influential rugby figure back then.

BLUE AND GOLD What were the highlights of your career?

In short, our first meeting with the late president Nelson Mandela and being granted the opportunity to speak to him about changing the country through sports as well as his reaction and positivity towards our goal of achieving this. Another highlight is receiving the UWC Chancellor’s Alumni Outstanding Achievement Award, which I hold dear to my heart. UWC didn’t want to know whether you were rich or poor; the University just believes in you as the student and wants you to reach your best potential.

When did you obtain your UWC qualifications?

In the Sixties, I obtained a lower Secondary Education diploma from UWC. I followed this up with a part-time, distance-learning Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree from the University then a post-grad education degree at the University of Cape Town (UCT). While I was studying for my BA through UWC, I was also teaching at John Ramsey Secondary School in Bishop Lavis, Cape Town. Back then, the school was in its second year of existence.

How did your career develop from this point onwards?

At the end of my six years in teaching, I accepted a position at the then-Peninsula Technikon (now known as Cape Peninsula University of Technology or CPUT) in Bellville. The post involved fundraising for students and was similar to that of the dean of students.

The job included taking care of student organisations such as the Student Christian Council and student sports, amongst other duties. This is where I became involved in the South African Tertiary Institutions Sports Union (SATISU), an organisation for non-racial student bodies. My general message to students was that they were the leaders of the future and they should not allow challenging circumstances to suppress their will to achieve.

Tell us about your involvement in rugby and administration at UWC? While at UWC, I played as a guest player and was regarded as one of the smaller players on the team.

As a student, the varsity rugby team would come out to the farm where I grew up and my mother would be concerned about how huge the other rugby players were compared to her son. She would regularly advise me that I should rather become involved in rugby administration, just like my grandfather and father.

I later became the chairperson of UWC Rugby Club after first being involved as its coordinating administrator. During those days, UWC was literally in the bush

with no sports facilities such as changing rooms. The bushes were both our change rooms and bathrooms.

Professor Jakes Gerwel had a great influence in obtaining suitable amenities for the sports department at the University. I will always be very grateful to him. He wasn’t just the brilliant intellectual everyone remembers him as, and his humility impressed each and everyone around him, too.

Do you have any regrets?

I always believed that freedom would one day come. I also believed that, as young men, we had to drive social change.

One of my regrets is that some of the young men of our time never had the opportunity to see the “promised land”. Some of them never lived to see the words of the late Prof Bothma come to life, that one day the son of the labourer and the daughter of the farm owner would sit in the same pew and receive their university degree.

I also regret how apartheid succeeded in conditioning some people to still use the k-word. How is it that this is still the case after so many years?

Have we still not learnt anything about becoming better human beings after more than 20 years of democracy?

Which truths has life taught you?

• If you do come out on top in life, let it not be as a result of stepping on somebody else.

• Don’t twist the truth for the sake of being popular.

• Hold on to your religion and not bitterness — there is no hope of a future if you keep holding on to it.

• Do not allow your negative circumstances to dictate your future.

Outside of rugby, who are the most important people in your life?

My wife, Audrey, is from Richmond in the Great Karoo. She is a rugby fanatic herself and still doesn’t miss a rugby match. It’s probably this characteristic and the fact that her father was just as involved in rugby that kept me out of hot water most days.

In my lifetime, there was a rugby meeting almost every evening and I can recall one evening when we had to go out as a couple and couldn’t make it. I was threatened that I would return home one evening and only find a rugby ball for supper.

She still likes watching every rugby match, even though I don’t always bother watching.

We have two children: Antonio (39), who is our independent soul, and Wendell (42), who has an upbeat and interactive personality.

I must thank my wife and children for their sacrifice and for the contribution they allowed me to make to the broader community.

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ONCE A TEAM, ALWAYS A TEAM

Former UWC rugby players reminisce about the impact the University’s rugby club had made on their lives

By Lyndon Julius

R

ugby at the University of the Western Cape (UWC) has a rich and enticing history.

Apart from the many great and legendary players it has produced, there are individuals that have left an indelible mark on this proud Cape Town-based university’s sporting annals. The institution is known for the robust yet constructive manner in which it has tackled inequality since its inception; in 2020, it celebrates 60 years of this history with the memories made by and within the rugby club remembered fondly by every player that has passed through its programme.

Offering a beacon of hope, many great leaders, activists, politicians and sports stars found their niche at UWC. Great stalwarts of our society that amassed legendary status, such as UWC co-founding fathers Prof Adam Small, Dr Jakes Gerwel, Dr Allan Boesak, Prof Julian Smith, Tobias Titus and Dr Danny Jordaan. Many of these men and so many others played an active part in not only shaping UWC but also giving the institution a reputation that generations to follow can be proud of.

Under the guidance of the late Springbok World Cup winner, Chester Williams, the University recently gained promotion to South Africa’s premier intervarsity rugby competition, the FNB Varsity Cup. In doing so, it became the first historically disadvantaged tertiary institution

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to enter the competition.

Sports has been integral in shaping many great men and women, specifically the formation of the rugby club, which had to fight not only the already stringent apartheid system in everyday life but for its rightful place as a rugby club in a predominantly non-white university setting. Not only did great players don the UWC jersey but the rugby club birthed a crop of great leaders, sports administrators and entrepreneurs that helped shape South Africa’s sporting landscape as it is known today.

While UWC did not start out as a powerhouse of consciousness, Prof Smith – who is highly regarded by some of his peers as one of the most talented scrum-halves of his

time – describes it as a “site of struggle and contestation where students started to challenge the ‘system’ and the ‘establishment’.

“It would be historically inaccurate to typify UWC as a beacon of hope when I enrolledin 1972,” he adds.

“While the contestation of the apartheid system gained momentum, the rugby club started to reconsider its affiliation to the (coloured) Rugby Federation, whom we regarded as having been coopted by white (Springbok) rugby to legitimise white rugby exclusivity.”

It was, therefore, a no-brainer for UWC Rugby to join the newly established Tygerberg Rugby Union in 1974 as this union broke away from the Federation to join the non-racial South African Rugby Union, which was a SACOS (South African Council on Sport) affiliate. In this way, the University club deliberately joined the nonracial fold, intending to use sport and rugby as part of the struggle for liberation and social justice.

“I became captain of the first team in 1974 and enthusiastically encouraged and supported this move, which contributed a lot to the UWC reputation as a vanguard of the struggle and eventually a beacon of hope.”

The “brotherhood” that has existed within the rugby club throughout the years all have their own stories of the struggle

BLUE AND GOLD to tell, albeit from different eras and viewpoints.

Advocate Philip October, who joined the rugby club much later than Prof Smith during a different era which came with its own set of challenges and victories, played an integral part in the formation of the plans to get UWC into the Varsity Cup competition, a feat he attributes to the likes of Ilhaam Groenewald and her successor, Mandla Gagayi.

“I played for the club from 1985 until 1989 and filled the roles of team manager, treasurer and chairperson during that time,” says Adv October. “I came back to the club in 2010 and was part of the group, ably led by current

Chief Director of Sport at Maties Ilhaam Groenewald, that helped facilitat the move of UWC Rugby Club into Varsity Shield.

“I was chairman of the club and Varsity Cup Director from 2014 until 2016. It was here that we became brothers. We played together, ate together, fellowshipped together, went to disco clubs together. There was a saying – ‘You hit one rugby player, you’ve assaulted the whole club’ – and it was during the Eighties where the motto of ‘never quit’ started.”

This brotherhood is nothing new to the UWC rugby fraternity, adds Prof Smith. “Strong bonds of friendship and camaraderie were

SPORTS HAS BEEN INTEGRAL IN SHAPING MANY GREAT MEN AND WOMEN

formed, some of which exist to this day. Our friendship with the late Fred Botha and his wife Isabel is a case in point. Several of the players and administrators of my era have kept contact since the early Seventies.

“Being inexperienced, young and often smaller players than our opponents, we had to feel and play for one another. We also tended to socialise, relax, worship and protest together, and many future marriages emerged from the friendships galvanised in this era – a unique era, which we had the privilege to share.”

The impact the rugby club’s structure and order has had on so many can still be seen today with many former UWC players regarding their time as part of it as their incubation years that allowed their personalities, leadership and entrepreneurial skills to flourish for decades to come.

“My involvement in rugby was characterised by abundant enthusiasm, super fitness, meticulous preparation, the honing of skills, an intelligent and creative approach, leading by example, promoting teamwork and camaraderie, and accepting good advice,” says Prof Smith.

“My active rugby involvement dovetailed only with a few years of being a teacher and preceded my role as lecturer, departmental head, registrar and vice-rector.

Predictably my experience as a player and more so as captain stood me in very good stead, especially as a member of the university executive at both UWC and Stellenbosch University.

Drawing on my rugby experience, I could mould managers that reported to me into formidable and excellent performers.

“It would be fair to say that my rugby-related experience lay a good foundation for what I needed in my professional career. And, in the end, my management philosophy may be summed up in two phrases: ‘Common sense (the result of qualifications and experience) goes a long way’ and ‘benevolent bureaucracy’.”

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THE ROAD TO “GREAT” IS PAVED WITH STONES Having witnessed SA’s most historic sporting moments, Songezo Nayo is the ideal person to comment on UWC’s ascendence into the big leagues

By Lyndon Julius

I

t’s no mean feat following in the footsteps of great leaders like Professor Julian Smith, who held top management positions not only at the University of the Western Cape (UWC) and Stellenbosch University but also as the longestserving president of the Western Province Rugby Football Union since unification took place in 1992, Tobias “Oom Tobie” Titus, and Dr Danny Jordaan, the president of the South African

Football Association (SAFA) and a former lecturer, politician and anti-apartheid activist. Yet, the former managing director of SA Rugby, Songezo Nayo, joins these elite figures as former UWC alumni that held and continue to hold strong leadership positions both within SA and on an international level.

Having started at Rhodes University in Grahamstown, Nayo soon found himself at

the heart of the country’s most significant sporting era when the unification talks got underway and the nation was on the verge of becoming a democracy. He cut his teeth at UWC during this time, says Nayo, while holding various positions within the Sports Administration department and leadership offices.

But it was his close relationship with his peers and mentors that led Nayo to the pinnacle of an imperative and very important moment in South African sports.

He recalls the unequivocal influence of the legendary Prof Jakes Gerwel on his thinking and how, later, this relationship would help facilitate and develop his leadership style and abilities.

Prof Gerwel’s involvement at one of the defining moments in sports history — the unification talks held in Kimberley in 1992 — helped usher in a new era.

“The late Prof Jakes Gerwel undoubtedly had the biggest impact on me and where I ended up,” he recalls proudly. “Many people may not be aware but Prof Gerwel played a big role in the achievement of unity within the university sports movement.

“When talks fell apart between the SA Universities (representing

BLUE AND GOLD white universities) and the SA Tertiary Institutions Sports Union (representing the black varsities, colleges and technikons), it was Prof Gerwel, in his capacity as Chairperson of the Committee of University Principals, that restarted negotiations, chaired them and saw them to fruition.

“During my time at UWC, the country was on an accelerated march towards democracy. Every sphere of society was making its contribution to the struggle to defeat apartheid. The University found itself at the centre of this struggle and, as part of the student leadership core, I had the privilege to experience many moments and activities of the time. The most notable of these moments was the unification of the universities’ student sports organisations to form the South African Students Sports Union (SASSU), where I proudly held the position of founding national chairperson.”

From here, Nayo would go on to top leadership within SA Rugby’s commercial arm.

“As part of the leadership of the student sports organisation, and with my playing background in rugby, I had the privilege of representing the Universities’ Rugby Association at the founding of the South African Rugby Football Union (SARFU) in Kimberly in 1992. When Mr Silas Nkanunu took over the presidency of SARFU and asked me to join the administration in late 1999, I already had a history with SARFU. I joined in January 2000 as the general manager responsible for transformation, eventually progressing through the ranks to managing director of the commercial wing, SA Rugby.”

Despite having these significant and monumental moments etched in his memory, it was meeting his wife during his time at UWC that tops his list of most unforgettable moments — and rightfully so as the couple has been married for more than two decades “I met my wife at UWC and we have been married for 24 years.

This is my greatest achievement at the University and carries my

THE LATE PROF JAKES GERWEL UNDOUBTEDLY HAD THE BIGGEST IMPACT ON ME fondest memories. I also formed life-long friendships at UWC, friendships that endure to date,” he smiles.

UWC also became the first previously disadvantaged university to gain promotion to the premier intervarsity competition, the FNB Varsity Cup and Nayo stresses the importance of this position, including how the inequality that still exists in rugby needs to be rectified. Seeing UWC feature amongst the country’s top university teams is a strong message of this that needs to continue, he says.

“I was very proud when UWC earned its place in the Varsity Cup. It was long overdue for this to happen. It was always my view that institutions like UWC and Fort Hare, both of which have

a strong rugby heritage, had a major role to help transform the narrative on transformation.

“The prevailing narrative suggests that black and coloured people are new to rugby and therefore need to be ‘developed’.

And so, by occupying our time with discussions on development and the lack of support for it, we are side-tracked from the real conversation that needs to be had about transformation.

Chester’s [Williams] work in helping UWC gain promotion to the Varsity Cup was the biggest statement in affirming the need for transformation — a radical change in how black and coloured players are viewed in rugby, not as people needing development but as people good enough to stand and compete on their own terms.”

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This page, clockwise from top left: A UWC rugby team in 1960 with Jan Persens wearing his scrum cap to protect his mathematical brain; the 1970s UWC Rugby Club; UWC scrum-half Julian Smith, who is now the Vice-Rector at Stellenbosch University, in action; the late 1960s rugby team; the UWC 1970s soccer team with Dr Danny Jordaan.

This page, clockwise from bottom left: UWC athletes attend the Sportsman’s Ball in 1987; 1980s hockey girls A team; members of the UWC netball team (left) and Ettienne Boonzaaier and Moses Baartman (right); the Allan Boesak Soccer Squad 1988; the 1982 UWC rugby team; a boxing tournament held in the Great Hall (left) and a member of the men’s hockey team (right); a women’s rugby match at a 1986 hostel sports event; members of the UWC men’s rugby team.

STRENGTH THROUGH THE SEASONS

Sports administrators have always been the backbone of UWC’s sporting success

By Lyndon Julius

T

he backbone of any successful sports body or organisation is the people behind the scenes, the ones who run the administration, ensuring all the stars on the pitch are taken care of. And this applies to both professional and amateur setups. At the University of the Western Cape (UWC), these worker bees have been instrumental in the success of the University’s sporting teams for the past sixty years.

Many academic institutions that fought the liberation struggle of our country boast an arsenal of sound and very prolific sports administrators. It can oftentimes feel that being organised and structured was the default when fighting an oppressive government.

Which is why Blue & Gold tapped three of UWC’s top and most long-serving administrators on their more than 30-year careers.

In their time at Udubs, Messrs Andrew Wrankmore, Edwin Wyngaard and Derick Orderson have always served alongside the University’s leadership to bring the best out of UWC athletes. The amazing achievement of these gentlemen is that they obtained their degrees at a very advanced age, sending a strong message of hope to so many not only within

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the sporting world but also anyone who applies their mind to their goals.

Starting out as a squash court supervisor, Wrankmore recalls the squash courts as a place that was the humdrum of social gatherings in the late Eighties.

According to Wrankmore, who obtained his Bachelor of Commerce (BCom) Honours during his time at UWC, the courts were filled from the early hours until late at night with some of the country’s most profound leaders after they had spent all day at the grind with their books.

“I started as a squash court supervisor at the end of 1987, which was the hey-day of squash on campus,” he says proudly.

“Courts were filled from 8.30 am

until 9 pm, and this was the case until the late Nineties.

“The squash courts were very popular among students but plenty of academics were regulars, too. The likes of Prof Tyrone Pretorious and former South African ambassador to the United States Ebrahim Rassool, the current Student Development Manager Winston Middleton, and many others.”

Like his fellow UWC alumnus, Wyngaard started out as a squash court supervisor. A few years down the line, he would go on to administer a host of other sporting codes, leaving an indelible mark on the University’s rich history of sports. With many medals, trophies and awards during his illustrious career, Wyngaard was also able to

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complete his BCom Honours degree while plying his talents and skills as a sports administrator.

He has descended and embodied what a true sports administrator is: diligent, accurate, full of vigour and, like his fellow administrators past and present, always putting his students first.

“I started my career with UWC in February 1990 in the Sports Administration department,” he says. “In 1995, I was promoted to Sports Administrator, where I managed several sports codes over the years, including priority codes such as cricket, football and rugby.

“I’ve managed most of the sporting codes in my career except volleyball, judo and aerobics. I even managed netball during the time when their administrator was on maternity leave.”

Unlike his compatriots, Orderson started out much earlier at UWC as a swimming facilities officer. Joining the University in the mid-Eighties, he was able to complete his Bachelor of Arts (BA) Honours degree while working and was instrumental in establishing the current South African swimming structures, most notably the 1994 SA sport dispensation. An avid swimmer himself, he was also a field hockey player and swimming coach, and still serves the institution with immense pride and diligence.

“Since I started working at UWC in February 1986 as the aquatics manager, I have been involved with swimming and water polo at an administrative level. I took part in the Learn to Swim programme, actively coaching and working on competitions and gala events.

UWC was then accepted into the SA Swim Union, which fell under the auspices of the South African Council of Sport (SACOS).”

In addition to being part of the aquatics and lifesaving coaching staff, Orderson has also been part of the hockey club and water polo teams, the latter of which saw him earning his provincial colours. His list of accolades includes medals in 100-metre swimming with a mannequin (gold), beach sprints (gold), flags (gold) and the twokilometre long run (bronze). To this, he credits the UWC heads of department , who impressed their wisdom on him as both an individual and sports administrator.

With so many great memories, accolades and achievements,

THE AMAZING ACHIEVEMENT OF THESE GENTLEMEN SENDS A STRONG MESSAGE

Wrankmore, Wyngaard and Orderson have won the respect of their peers, students, athletes and the sporting fraternity. Yet, they remain humble and teachable.

They have given the credit to all the fond memories and excellent working relationships with both coaches and student-athletes throughout their time serving the University.

“In terms of my ‘bosses’, I’ve definitely had some really good [leaders] – ones that taught me so much,” says Wrankmore. “Mr Gary Boshoff was the one that opened doors and made me believe in myself. Mr Theseus Constance’s open and humane nature was refreshing and encouraging.

“I was quite involved with SACOS squash and was SA champ for about four years.

The transition from SACOS to ‘normal sport’ was quite a big thing for all of us during the early 1990s, and someone that played a big role in my life at that time was definitely Prof Denver Hendricks.”

Wyngaard is also full of praise for the academics who have played pivotal roles in his career.

Dr Lyndon Bouah, Chief Director of the Western Cape Department of Culture, Arts & Sport, Mr Gary Boshoff and Dr Lwando Mdleleni are all fondly remembered by him. However, it is the students he has worked with who he holds in high regard as well: “Those who have gone on to become successful in their careers but remain humble and respectful. This was always my benchmark,” he concludes.

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BLUE AND GOLD

GAME-CHANGING TECH

The future of sports looks to be revolutionised with advancements in AR and VR technologies

By Prof Mmaki Jantjies and Dr Simone Titus

R

ecent years have seen major technological advancements in the sports industry, that range from the development of sports apparel and protective gear to the science of movement, analytics, sports mobile apps and performance monitors. Technology has brought improvements both on and off the field and the use of augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) now provides viable alternatives to physical support in sports, that benefits education and rehabilitation.

Now that hardware has improved as well as become more accessible to everyone, augmented and virtual reality technology are able to immerse users in a simulated threedimensional experience of the real world. AR enables users to overlay hardware devices such as mobile phones in a real-world setting where complementary 3D objects can be experienced interactively.

VR allows visual immersion of users in a simulated 3D context, which is now supported by

smartphones, complementary head-mounted gear or special glasses.

Everyone remembers the craze for Pokémon Go, an augmented reality game that allowed users to overlay their mobile phones onto their environment and chase and capture virtual Pokémon around the real world. Just as users could battle each other virtually to unlock even more Pokémon, the same technology is now used to enhance the sporting experience.

VR sporting technology can reach fans from the comfort of their own homes through a realtime interactive experience. Clear sound and visuals enable both the physical and the digital world to merge within these very “real” interactive sporting experiences.

In this article, we explore how these technologies have affected on-field and training experiences.

Complementary AR applications now enable users to overlay their mobile phones onto football games to view live data and statistics. And Panasonic’s AR allows sports-lovers

to watch their games through their smartphones or custom AR glasses to access features such as live commentary, game statistics and player information throughout a match.

During the 2018 FIFA World Cup, the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) released a complementary VR application service that gave fans access to screen virtual reality matches with live commentary and a complimentary information dashboard that provided live match information. In 2018, the USA National Basketball Association introduced the NextVR application, which allowed fans to experience basketball games virtually.

Such complementary-access technologies provide greater access to matches at a much more affordable rate, if not for free. Users can also revisit their favourite games or highlights through the VR experience.

VR tools and applications can enhance sporting performance and training processes, too, by

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BLUE AND GOLD providing invaluable support to remote training during times of crises such as the COVID-19 pandemic. Enabling an athlete to engage in personalised training within different sports scenarios and under various weather conditions helps them develop tactical and decision-making skills, thereby correcting and enhancing their biomechanical techniques.

VR also allows athletes to enter into a simulation where they feel physically and mentally present.

Here, they can practice particular skills infinite times under different conditions unavailable in the real world, which can be beneficial for student-athletes who require a degree of flexibility given their academic and other commitments.

For sports scientists and health rehabilitation professionals, VR can also be of assistance. These technologies can help to diagnose sports-related injuries through the interaction of the athlete with a virtual environment that uses sensors to record motion and sports-related movement. This type of bio-feedback is useful for the development of suitable treatment protocols. Rehabilitation programmes using VR simulations can help athletes maintain appropriate movement during sessions and may be used by professionals to assess athlete readiness and health outcomes.

Lastly, VR simulations can be used to develop exercises that enhance mental readiness to control competition anxiety.

There are clear opportunities provided by VR and AR in health professions and sports science

education, and VR has already proven highly beneficial to train students in preparation for the world of work. Using VR tech in the education of both sports science and health professions allows academics to develop virtual learning spaces where students can practice techniques on virtual patients as many times as they need to without running the risk of hurting an individual.

AUGMENTED AND VIRTUAL REALITY TECHNOLOGY ARE ABLE TO IMMERSE USERS 36

VR may also be used as preparatory exercises before students are exposed to real athletes on the sports field or in a rehabilitation centre. In turn, academics can tailor the student experience to meet learning outcomes while also considering the needs of the athlete. This type of approach can enhance student learning and engagement through virtual activity rather than books.

Furthermore, emerging virtual tech is valuable for explaining complex content to visual learners.

The COVID-19 pandemic has further accelerated the use of technology to conduct multiple sporting activities in adherence to recommendations made by the World Health Organization (WHO). Looking beyond the pandemic, immersive tech will continue to impact sports significantly, whether on the field or in the comfort of an athlete’s own home.

“As we enter our 60th year, it is my privilege to lead the University of the Western Cape (UWC) alongside our strong executive team. A leading higher education institution in South Africa and Africa, UWC continues to move forward - defined by the ethos that one’s origins do not define one’s destiny.

WE ARE PROUD THAT OUR DOORS HAVE LONG BEEN OPEN TO ALL

G R A D U AT E E M P L O YA B I L I T Y

SOCIAL JUSTICE

COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT

“While UWC remains an institution of choice for employers searching for real graduate talent, we recognise that the global challenges of graduate underemployment will not be addressed through classroom learning alone. That is why Student Development and Support at UWC is continuously promoting participation in the co-curricular space. It’s why in 2016, we launched the Co-Curricular Record, which involves active learning inside and outside of the classroom. This ensures that our students develop key skills and competencies to improve both their employability and marketability. In line with our aim to Interact, Network and Inspire, our Careers Service also provides interactive career networking opportunities for students, faculty and prospective employers - preparing our students for their entry into the world of work. Since 2013, this service has featured consistently in the Top 7 of South African Graduate Employers Association (SAGEA) “Best Careers Service” and “Best Career Fair” categories. In 2015 and 2019, we won the SAGEA “Best Work Readiness Initiative Award” for our Mock Interview Project and for our career service management tool “Career Xplora”, respectively. This tool in particular has enabled us to increase the breadth and depth of our career service offerings. From an Internship and Job Board, to an Employer Directory, Career Events Calendar, a CV Builder tool, and an online Mock Interview, over 11,000 students and alumni have accessed and benefitted from this portal since its launch in 2017. As our students plot their future careers, we will continue in our endeavour to provide a meaningful and stimulating job search experience for them all - from their first year to their final year and beyond.”

UWC has constantly sought to embed social justice through various means. Firstly, our UWC Charter of Graduate Attributes for the Twenty First Century includes the graduate attributes of “critical citizenship and the social good.” Secondly, we are an engaged university – not only through our disciplines, but through an explicit commitment to community engagement that is not a “soup kitchen” approach to community engagement, but an integrated scholarship of engagement. The South African Constitution is premised on social justice – on healing the divisions of the part, creating a society where wealth, opportunities and privilege are available to all. That notion of social justice was embraced at the University of the Western Cape (UWC) since its inception. The university was created by the apartheid government to serve only “coloured” students in very limited fields of study in 1960, the 1970s saw a rise of black consciousness. The 1980s were characterised by anti-apartheid activism, while in the 1990s, UWC became known as the “intellectual home of the left” through its efforts to critically engage on what a democratic South Africa should look like. And in the twenty-first century, UWC has risen to becoming South Africa’s most successful historically disadvantaged research-led teaching university, shedding the shackles of the past.

This year, social justice will be a key focus area in our celebrations and scholarly endeavours. We remain responsive to the imperatives of social and economic development in our own country and its many diverse communities.

As a research-intensive university, UWC is held aloft by our motto, “From Hope to Action through Knowledge.” Every endeavour undertaken by our institution is to ensure that we give life to this motto and that we engage with the communities we serve. As the harsh realities of life embed itself in society, it has become crucial for university staff and students to find solutions through teaching, research and community engagement. Through these activities we also aim to contribute to achieving the 17 Sustainable Development Goals adopted by the United Nations General Assembly – including achieving gender equality and empowering all women and girls as well as making cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable. UWC also prioritises South Africa’s National Development Plan which plans to eliminate poverty and reduce inequality by 2030. Over the years, there has been significant growth in community interaction and support. These range from sustainable agriculture in the science sector to preventing tooth decay for children with special needs in the health sector. Soon we will offer a community development course and we are examining the application of nanoparticles towards the treatment of Tuberculosis, especially to achieve immunotherapy. Recently we have also partnered with Samsung to establish the Future-Innovation Lab where unemployed, deserving and previously disadvantaged youth can gain skills in software development and digital social innovation, free of charge.

With an uncompromising focus to engage and positively impact our community, we continue to bring our academics into public spaces – providing ever-increasing opportunities to facilitate knowledge translation and real world problem-solving.

UWC Facts and Figures

UNIVERSITY OF THE WESTERN CAPE

O U R S TAT S AT A G L A N C E

12 000

We are proud that our doors of learning have long been open to all - irrespective of race or status.

Moreover, we are pleased with the strides we have made by providing education that places excellence in learning, teaching, research and innovation at its centre.

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Therefore, to honour our history whilst embracing our future, we have chosen to celebrate our 60th year by focusing on three key themes: Graduate Employability, Social Justice and Community Engagement.

Together, we will continue to inspire hope that leads to action through knowledge.

Professor Tyrone Pretorius UWC Rector and Vice-Chancellor

Professor Josè Frantz Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Research & Innovation

Academic Milestones

We see this in the resilience of our students, many of whom will be the first in their families to gain a university education. It is also evident in the institution’s rise from a historically disadvantaged institution to a national university of high repute.

As we look forward, we’re more committed than ever to being a vibrant intellectual space, engaging with matters of significance and constantly seeking new ways of improving what we offer our students.

We endeavour to do this while continuing to be mindful of the society we are in and the communities around us.

Professor Vivienne Lawack Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Academic

Professor Pamela Dube Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Student Development and Support

STUDENTS FROM SOUTH AFRICA and other African countries have participated in the UWC School of Public Health’s Summer and Winter School programmes since they began in 1992.

10

UWC’S RANKING in the Times Higher Education Impact Rankings for quality education.

UWC ACADEMICS received awards for excellence in teaching and learning from the Higher Education Learning and Teaching Association of Southern Africa.

200

UWC HAS CONSISTENTLY BEEN INCLUDED among the top 200 universities in emerging economies in the Times Higher Education 2019 rankings

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PhDs WERE CONFERRED by UWC in 2018 in several disciplines – from astrophysics to politics and zoology.

157

10

UWC ALUMNI have served as Rectors or ViceChancellors of South African universities.

TOTAL STUDENTS 2019

Excellence in teaching, in support of effective learning, is at the forefront of the University’s commitment to the success of its students.

55%

Four key priorities underpin UWC’s vision to deliver on its learning and teaching mandate:

THE PERCENTAGE OF PERMANENT academic staff at UWC who hold PhDs.

3

THREE UNIVERSITIESUWC, the University of Cape Town and the University of Pretoria – have formed the InterUniversity Institute for Data Intensive Astronomy (IDIA), a flagship project that responds to the big data challenge of the Square Kilometre Array (SKA).

1

INNOVATIVE LEARNING AND TEACHING FOR STUDENT SUCCESS

24 223

7

UWC STUDENTS have been selected in as many years, to participate in the annual Lindau Nobel Laureate Meetings with Nobel laureates, students and researchers from more than 200 institutions.

• • • •

Excellence and student success Research-led learning and teaching Learning with emerging technologies Transformation and renewal of the curriculum

BREAKDOWN Undergraduates

19 303 Postgraduates

4 920

UWC’S HYDROGEN SYSTEMS SOUTH AFRICA (HYSA) has introduced five prototype hydrogen fuel cell technology (HFCT) innovations: an HFCT-powered forklift and refuelling station, a tricycle, a backup power system and a generator.

First-time Entering Undergraduates

5 099

FACULTIES

UWC’S FACULTY OF DENTISTRY is the leading dental school in Africa and produces 48% of South Africa’s dentists.

THE RANKING AWARDED in 2019 by the URAP World University Rankings to the Astronomy & Astrophysics disciplines taught at UWC, while Physical Science, was ranked 470.

ARTS

EDUCATION

COMMUNITY AND HEALTH SCIENCES

LAW

DENTISTRY

NATURAL SCIENCES

ECONOMIC AND MANAGEMENT SCIENCES

Historic Milestones

1960 The University College of the Western Cape opens its doors.

1970 The institution gains independent university status and is allowed to award its own degrees and diplomas.

1975 Professor Richard van der Ross appointed as UWC’s first black Rector.

1978 UWC’s Cape Flats Nature Reserve declared a National Monument (now known as a provincial heritage site).

1987 Rector and ViceChancellor, Professor Jakes Gerwel, declares UWC “the intellectual home of the left.”

UWC opens its doors to African students and inaugurates its longestserving Chancellor, Archbishop Desmond Tutu (who would serve for more than 25 years).

1990 UWC becomes the first university to award President Nelson Mandela an honorary doctorate upon his release from prison.

1994 Many academics from UWC join President Mandela’s new government and are appointed to ministerial and advisory positions, including its Rector, Prof Gerwel, who becomes the Director-General in the Presidency.

UWC’s leadership takes part in writing the higher education policy for the incoming government.

The South African interim Constitution and final Constitution are drafted at UWC.

2008 The Mellon Mays Undergraduate Fellowship is introduced, promoting an international postgraduate education experience. The first cohort of Fellows is accepted in 2009.

2009 South African writer, Meg Vandermerwe, initiates UWC Creates, the only creative writing programme in South Africa operating across three languages (English, Afrikaans and isiXhosa).

THE UNIVERSITY OF THE WESTERN CAPE RANKS AMONG THE WORLD’S TOP 200 HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS*.

Committed to fulfilling the United Nations’ Social Development Goals, (outlined above), as well as prioritising the country’s National Development Plan (NDP), here are some of the ways our multidisciplinary approach is seeing many of these goals realised:

ENABLING LEARNING

D R I V I N G R E S E A R C H & I N N O VAT I O N

MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS

DATA SCIENCE MASTER’S PROGRAMME. Combining statistics, mathematics, programming and creative problem-solving to develop new approaches to data handling.

SOUTH AFRICAN NATIONAL BIOINFORMATICS INSTITUTE. Cutting-edge bioinformatics and computational biology research.

NANOTECHNOLOGY INFORMATION CENTRE (NIC). A unit focussed on the science and research behind using small particles and certain metals to target various diseases.

SOUTH AFRICAN RESEARCH CHAIRS INITIATIVE. UWC currently holds no less than 18 chairs.

THE CENTRE FOR INNOVATIVE EDUCATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGIES (CIECT) defines eLearning’s position on education within UWC and how it supports and develops learning and teaching activities.

ZONE LEARNING is offered at UWC as a partner of Ryerson University, Toronto. It enables students to apply their formal learning to develop business ideas, start-ups, companies or projects.

THE DIRECTORATE OF TEACHING AND LEARNING develops an encompassing strategic plan for teaching and learning, and guides and evaluates its implementation.

THE FIRST-YEAR EXPERIENCE PROGRAMME provides a support structure to empower and equip first-year students with the essential skills they need to successfully navigate university life.

SQUARE KILOMETRES ARRAY (SKA) PROJECT. To coordinate and accurately analyse the big data received from this global project, UWC has joined forces with other universities to form the Institue for Data Intensive Astronomy.

HYDROGEN SOUTH AFRICA SYSTEMS COMPETENCE CENTRE. Together with another partner in this initiative, UWC encourage and facitlitate more hightechnology industries in the mining sector.

E-SKILLS WITH IMMERSIVE TECHNOLOGIES STREAM. A Postgraduate Diploma that combines Augmented and Virtual Reality.

GLOBAL ENVIRONMENTAL LAW is an area of current research within the Faculty of Law. It aims to facilitate scholarships that respond to the increasingly global ecological crises from a perspective of ecological justice.

THE DEPARTMENT OF GEOGRAPHY, ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES & TOURISM critically explores the interrelations between people, places and the environment in Africa, as well as within the global context.

*According to the Times Higher Education University Impact Ratings 2019.

C O M B AT I N G I N E Q U A L I T Y

E N H A N C I N G S U S TA I N A B I L I T Y

INSTITUTE FOR POVERTY, LAND AND AGRARIAN STUDIES. From research to policy engagement to teaching and training, this institute is focussed on the dynamics of chronic poverty and structural inequality in Southern Africa, with a particular emphasis on the key role of restructuring and contesting land-holding and agro-food systems.

THE WATER RESILIENCE INITIATIVE seeks to address drought in the city.

To this end, UWC has constructed a borehole water purification plant and acquired an atmospheric water generator to harvest water from the atmosphere.

THE HIGHER EDUCATION AND TRAINING HIV/AIDS PROGRAMME, which UWC is a member of, develops and supports HIV mitigation programmes in South Africa’s tertiary education facilities.

THE ENERGY STORAGE INNOVATION LAB is a culmination of years of research and innovation by UWC’s South African Institute for Advanced Materials Chemistry, especially in the fields of Lithium-Ion and Sodium-Halide batteries, battery modules and integrated energy storage systems.

WOMEN’S & GENDER STUDIES. An interdisciplinary department emerged from gender and anti-apartheid activism at UWC. It foregrounds questions of social justice and processes of societal and institutional transformation.

STATISTICS AND POPULATION STUDIES’ multipronged focus includes growing important areas of research such as data for planning purposes, and understanding the challenges of our modern societies.

THE DULLAH OMAR INSTITUTE FOR CONSTITUTIONAL LAW, GOVERNANCE AND HUMAN RIGHTS is focussed on children’s rights, socio-economic rights, multi-level government, criminal justice reform and women’s rights.

UWC HAS THRICE BEEN DECLARED AFRICA’S GREENEST CAMPUSa shining example of how sustainable thinking and environmentalism can be promoted at universities.

MIGRATION AND MOBILITIES. With a research niche in migration and mobilities to promote critical approaches in research and collaboration, an interdisciplinary programme across UWC’s faculties connects research, teaching and learning as well as community engagement in this field.

2010 10 SARChI (South African Research Chairs Initiative) chairs awarded to UWC, the highest number awarded to any university in SA that year (as of 2019, UWC hosts 18 SARChI Chairs).

2012 UWC is declared Africa’s Greenest Campus in the inaugural African Green Campus Initiative Challenge.

2013 UWC signs the Berlin Declaration on Open Access in the Sciences and Humanities, joining hundreds of institutions around the world dedicated to supporting the principles of open access and working to achieve greater transparency and collaboration on publicly funded projects.

2014 For the first time, UWC awards over 100 PhDs and over 4,000 degrees in one year.

Under the leadership of Rector and Vice-Chancellor Professor Brian O’Connell, UWC is recognised as a top-tier university by the Department of Higher Education and Training.

2016 UWC’s Centre for Humanities Research is awarded the Flagship on Critical Thought in African Humanities by the NRF (National Research Foundation).

UWC is ranked number 1 in Physical Science - not just in South Africa, but for Africa as a whole - in the 2016 Nature Index.

2017

PROMOTING STUDENT DEVELOPMENT & WELLNESS THE STUDENT DEVELOPMENT AND SUPPORT office is tasked with building and maintaining vibrant student development programmes.

THE FOOD SECURITY PROGRAMME is a partnership with Tiger Brands whereby UWC has set up a pantry on campus as part of a holistic strategy for ensuring student wellness and well-being.

THE STUDENT REPRESENTATIVE COUNCIL (SRC) is the highest decisionmaking structure of student governance. It represents and advocates for the rights of all UWC students and their overall interests and social well-being.

THE INTERDISCIPLINARY CENTRE FOR SPORTS SCIENCE AND DEVELOPMENT promotes sport as a powerful tool for development, peace, health, well-being and social change.

THE CENTRE OF EXCELLENCE IN FOOD SECURITY is co-hosted with the University of Pretoria. It was established to improve access to sustainable and sufficient amounts of nutritious food for poor, vulnerable and marginal populations.

2018

A group of UWC students, led by Professor Nico Orce, conduct the second major African-led experiment at the CERN laboratory in Switzerland.

UWC’s former ViceChancellor, Professor O’Connell, receives the National Research Foundation’s highest honour, the NRF Lifetime Achievement Award.

UWC’s Faculty of Dentistry - Africa’s leading and largest dental school launches a new state-ofthe-art video conferencing system that will allow students to watch live surgeries in class or at home - a first for South Africa.

2019 UWC Rugby made its debut in the Varsity Cup. The team made history by becoming the first historically disadvantaged institution to qualify for the premier university rugby competition.

2020 UWC celebrates its 60th anniversary.

Visit www.60.uwc.ac.za for more info. #UWC60

BLUE AND GOLD

UWC SUPERSTARS

ZUBAYR HAMZA

BY ZAAHIER ADAMS

Z

ubayr Hamza is a class act.

Ask anyone who watched him during the first Test against England at SuperSport Park in Centurion last summer.

Hamza only made 39 but the University of the Western Cape’s (UWC) first Proteas cricketer stroked six elegant boundaries during his stay at the crease.

The two that came off England’s World Cup final hero, Jofra Archer, were particularly special, with Hamza even holding a pose for the cameras after one sweet drive through the covers. It was a sure sign that the Bachelor of

40

Commerce (BCom) Accounting student belonged at the highest level of the game.

The 25-year-old had been prolific in domestic first-class cricket since making his debut back in 2014. He caught the eye early on when he became the fourth-youngest South African to hit a double hundred.

In scoring an unbeaten 202 against Namibia in the Sunfoil Cup three-day competition at the age of 19 years and 113 days, Hamza is only behind Johann Myburgh (17 years and 122 days), Graeme Pollock (19 years and 19 days) and Xenophon Balaskas (19 years and 86 days) on the all-time list. His curve has been on an upward trajectory ever since, with him establishing himself as one of the standout batsmen in the Cape Cobras franchise team.

He struck 1203 runs in the 2017/18 season that alerted the national selectors to his vast potential.

Stylish with the willow in hand on the field while being mildmannered and modest off the field, Hamza is already being compared to the legendary Hashim Amla. While flattered by the comparisons to his boyhood hero, Hamza would prefer to walk his own path.

“I can only be Zubayr Hamza 1.0. I can’t go out and try and be like Hashim Amla,” he says. “There will never be another player

exactly like him. The way he scores runs, the way he hits the ball, his flourishing back-lift; he’s such a special player and human.

If given the chance, I will go out and be the best version of me that I can be.”

Hamza certainly possesses Amla’s humility, though. Not long after scoring his maiden Test half-century in India against high-quality seam and spin bowlers such as Mohammad Shami, Umesh Yadav, Ravindra Jadeja and Ravi Ashwin, he was back on campus playing for UWC’s First XI against Langa CC. It was not only an indication of Hamza’s dedication to Udubs but also the character of the young man. Ironically, he received the call for his Proteas Test debut against Pakistan at Wanderers while playing for UWC in the 2018 University Sports South Africa (USSA) week.

South Africa’s 100th Test player since readmission in 1991 has also shown that responsibility brings out the best in him. A natural-born captain, having previously led Western Province’s youth representative teams and UWC at the Varsity Cup, Hamza was handed the Cape Cobras’ limited-overs leadership reins towards the end of last season.

It proved to be a masterstroke: Hamza finished second on the national run-scorers list with 582 runs at an average of 58.20. It certainly showed he is equally adept in white-ball cricket as he is in the red ball version.

Although COVID-19 has stalled cricket momentarily, you can rest assured that, once it gets back underway, Hamza will be at the front of the queue. For this young man is certainly ready to mix it with the world’s best.

BLUE AND GOLD

UWC SUPERSTARS

KURT-LEE ARENDSE

BY LONWABO MARELE

M

y first impression of KurtLee Arendse was that he was way too skinny to be a rugby player. Yet, when I saw him outrun his opponents while playing for UWC, I knew that here was a player that meant business.

The Paarl native, who weighs in at over 76 kilograms, is definitely no shot-in-the-dark. His highlights at the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series alone is astounding.

Hailed by SA Sevens highperformance manager Marius Schoeman as a surefire to have on his squad, whether he starts or comes off the bench, Arendse is the Gio Aplon of the current generation of rugby players.

Arendse said he started his rugby journey at the age of nine years old, at Paulus Joubert Primary. He then joined the

same high school and made the Boland Cavaliers Academy team in Grade 12.

“I was actually happy because it was my first time making the provincial team and it was nice because it was my final year,” he says.

He joined UWC fresh from the Boland Cavaliers under-18 setup, helping the University bag the 2017 Varsity Shield trophy. Prior to winning the cup, the team had struggled against Fort Hare University. However, during the last day of the season, it was Arendse’s FNB Back Player of The Tournament award-winning performance that helped his side be crowned champs in addition to getting promoted to the Varsity Cup. From then on, Arendse was in the hearts of UWC rugby fans.

“When I joined UWC from Boland, I had not met coach Chester Williams yet so I asked one of the guys if they could ask him if I could join them at training and he said yes. I received a bursary to study at UWC and did a bridging course in economic development before starting my Bachelor of Arts (BA) in 2018.

But I eventually left my studies to become a full-on athlete.”

In 2019, he stole even more hearts — this time during the first-ever Varsity Cup meet and the derby between Udubs and the University of Cape Town’s

(UCT) Ikeys. When Arendse stepped onto the Green Mile and outran his opponents, he performed so well that Schoeman and SA national head coach Neil Powell could not turn a blind eye.

They needed the UWC student on their team.

“It was quite an amazing feeling (to play in the first Cape Town Varsity Cup derby). In 2017 and 2018, Coach Chester said his goal was to win the Varsity Shield so we could get promoted to the Varsity Cup. With the bunch of okes we had, it was something special to achieve.

“So far it’s been an amazing system (representing the SA Sevens) with a great bunch of guys. I got the call-up while I played for Sunrise in Kenya. It has been an exciting journey,” adds Arendse.

Since joining the national team, he has helped them earn more than a couple of medals, including gold in Vancouver and Singapore late last year. Around his teammates, Arendse receives and gives respect, says Schoeman.

His quiet and well-spoken nature has also earned him the respect of his fellow players.

“Of all the players, he is probably one of the ones who has progressed the most. He’s definitely a player who just needed to be in a professional environment like ours,” adds Schoeman. “He’s got massive potential. You could see it when he was still playing at UWC. If you take his reserved personality into account, he just needed the setup where he has the opportunity to express himself and his potential, especially his attack.”

The coach also commends Arendse’s progress from an academy to a starting line-up player. “He just needs to find his feet whether Neil [Powell] wants to play him at 10 or 12, although I personally believe he’s better at 12.

“Kurt is one of those players who you definitely want in your squad, whether he is starting or coming off the bench because he is able to play in multiple positions, including 10, 12, 14 and even as a defender.”

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BLUE AND GOLD

UWC SUPERSTARS

THEMBI KGATLANA

BY LYNDON JULIUS

C

hrestinah Thembi Kgatlana has made a mark in South African football’s history books. Known by her second name, Thembi, the striker won the African Women’s Footballer of the Year in 2018 in addition to picking up the African Goal of the Year in the same season.

Having signed her fourth professional contract with the Spanish side ESD Eiber this year, following stints with Portuguese giants, Benfica, Beijing BG Phoenix in China and Houston Dash in the United States, the UWC alumna has never been one to shy away

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from honouring her time at UWC as crucial to catapulting her career as a professional athlete.

Having made her debut for Banyana Banyana in 2014, it was her Varsity Football season in 2015 that allowed Kgatlana to turn her passion and love for football into what is now her full-time job.

“I don’t see what I’m doing as ‘playing’. Some might think I’m crazy when I say this but what I mean is that I choose to view football as a job — and it’s a job I choose to do to the best of my ability,” she says proudly. “The income I get from my contracts with these professional teams has allowed me to take care of my parents back in South Africa and has opened up opportunities for them as well.”

The 24-year-old describes her time at UWC as life-changing and applauds the manner in which the entire staff, management, coaches and administrators work together to make life for studentathletes easier.

“There isn’t a single person alone that has left a mark on my career from my UWC days; it’s a collective effort that has allowed athletes like myself and so many others to focus on the sporting arena while the admin with our studies is handled on our behalf.

“A few key UWC football staff, such as Nathan Peskin, who

coached us during my time there, and Sanele Dumako, who devoted his time to me, are definitely well remembered. Sanele helped me grow as a footballer and shaped me as a player. The support of Mr Mandla Gagayi has also meant so much; he is very involved with every student-athlete and tends to all our concerns.”

Having represented South Africa at the Olympics in 2016 and at their first FIFA Women’s World Cup in 2018, Kgatlana believes the perception that all athletes can make it on their talents alone is not reality. Despite understanding the pressures of a professional athlete, she knows that completing an academic qualification is as important as an athlete staying devoted to their training programme and remaining disciplined.

“To be honest, I don’t have my degree yet. The sporting world is completely different from the academic world,” she explains.

“You don’t need a qualification to be an athlete but you need to work hard and be disciplined just as you would had you been in any other job that employed you based on your academic qualification.”

The one thing that stands out and that will remain etched in the memory of the Banyana Banyana striker is playing in front of a packed Operation Room when the UWC men’s Varsity Football team hosted and won the final in 2015. The women’s team came up short in the match ahead of the men’s final, losing 2-1 to the Tshwane University of Technology (TUT), but it was Kgatlana who picked up the Player of the Match award for a prolific display of talent and skill.

“I still remember those days like they were yesterday. Every time I wore that UWC jersey, I wore it with pride and for the rich history that comes with it.

“UWC is truly magnificent, awesome and resilient.”

BLUE AND GOLD

UWC SUPERSTARS

BABALWA LATSHA

BY LONWABO MARELE

B

abalwa Latsha’s interest in rugby has influenced numerous young African girls to follow her footsteps — and their dreams.

In 2014, mentor and former UWC coach Lwazi Mzozoyana and former national rugby player Faik “Blatjang” Hendricks saw her talent while playing for the University of the Western Cape (UWC). They suggested she take the sports seriously so she could make the provincial and national teams.

Latsha had no idea there was a national women’s rugby team at the time but when she hung up her soccer togs for rugby boots, she felt a spiritual tingle down her spine — the moment of truth.

Originally from Mount Frere in the Eastern Cape, the 26-year-old

Latsha, who graduated with an LLB degree at the end of 2019, moved to Cape Town as an infant with her family. They moved around a lot finally settling down in Khayelitsha, Site B. On the field, the “buff girl”—– as she was hilariously called while working at the campus gym — is a beast. Which is no surprise as her role model is Springbok prop Tendai “Beast” Mtawarira. Off the field, the young prop is a wellversed, down-to-earth woman who advocates for women’s sports in society.

Over the years, Latsha has helped the Western Province rugby team achieve numerous accolades, including being crowned the inter-provincial champs for three consecutive years. She says her next journey will be to win the 2021 Rugby World Cup with the national team.And she may well do so as, prior to becoming the captain of the national team in 2018, she won the SA Rugby Women’s Top Achiever award in 2017.

Her positive influence on the field was prevalent late last year when she became the first African women’s rugby 15s player to sign a professional contract, which saw her join Spanish outfit Eibar Rugby Club for three months at the start of 2020. Unfortunately, due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, her contract ended

sooner than planned but this setback is all but a blimp with the club signing her on for a season-long contract — thanks to her 13 impressive tries during her short time with them.

When she is not leading her club, provincial or national team to victory, Latsha spends her time working with local radio stations and non-profit organisations. Here, she shares her experience on how young girls can use sports as an educational tool and avenue to achieve success in life. “[Rugby] has catapulted me to a better life for myself and my family. It has given me a voice to be myself, it has given me confidence and empowered me, it has given me a sense of belonging and freedom,” she says.

“Moreover, I discovered rugby to be a tool we can use not only to empower ourselves but to empower and inspire those around us, to bring forth a new generation of young and confident women who are able to lead, be free and stand up for what they believe in.”

And despite her hard work behind closed doors, dreaming big has helped her prepare for opportunities. “The key is to dream big; dream really, really big and work towards that dream.

You’re going to meet people along the way; in fact, God is going to place people in your path who are going to help you but they can’t do that if you aren’t ready for that help. And opportunities will come, provided you work extremely hard. Make sure that when the opportunity comes knocking, it finds you ready.”

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BLUE AND GOLD

UWC SUPERSTARS

ANDRIE STEYN

BY LYNDON JULIUS

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omen’s cricket has come a long way since a few years back, especially with the huge strides the sport has made at a national level. Yet, lots still need to be done for South African women’s cricket to be compared and consistently competitive with the likes of England and Australia, the countries considered by most female South African cricketers as the benchmark in terms of professionalism and resources.

One such cricketer is the University of the Western Cape’s (UWC) very own Andrie Steyn, who joined the Bellville-based

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university in 2016 and has been a regular feature in the Proteas side. Despite being enrolled at Stellenbosch University, where she completed her Honours in Sports Science and is currently completing her Masters in Sport Science having completed her Bachelor of Science (BSc) in Sports Science at UWC, Steyn continues to be a member of the UWC Cricket Club.

“UWC made me feel extremely welcome; I felt immediately at home,” Steyn says. “Regardless of how well or bad I had done with the Proteas, when I returned to the UWC team, I was able to get to what mattered the most and that was keeping my passion for cricket going.

“We are a very close, tight bunch. Even within an everchanging team environment, there is a foundation that has been laid that is evident every season, which is that the Women’s Cricket Club allows us to express ourselves.”

Upon her arrival in Cape Town, Steyn, who hails from KwaZuluNatal, says she looked up players Nuraan Pippers and Shandre Fritz first. The latter’s Protea career had come to an end around the same time when Steyn’s Protea career had just begun. Being a right-hand specialist batswoman, Steyn has 32 one-day international (ODI) matches for SA under her belt and,

while she prefers the ODI, she has also featured in five Twenty20 (T20) fixtures. A flamboyant and teachable cricketer, Steyn has also had to pick up the bat for her newly adopted provincial side, Western Province.

Steyn believes the national women’s side has made huge strides in terms of becoming a fully-fledged professional outfit yet still has a long way to go when compared to some of the more well-known national sides. For example, England and Australia have professionalised right down to their domestic leagues, which allows for a larger pool of players to get professional contracts. Only the top 15 women’s cricketers receive contracts in SA, of which Steyn was one for four years from 2015 until the beginning of 2019.

In Mzansi, the national side renews contracts on an annual basis with each contract only lasting a year.

“We [women’s cricket in South Africa] still have a long way to go,” stresses Steyn. “Currently, there are no provincial or domestic contracts, leaving many ladies with little to no options if they don’t land a national contract at an early age. Do they continue to pursue the top 15 spots or do they devote their time and energy to building a career in another field?

“This is a tough one as some of the girls are talented but to be without a stable income for the first few years while building your game can be stressful. The only thing that can be done is to follow the footsteps of England and Australia’s professionally structured domestic teams.”

Steyn lauds the national leaders in cricket for their hard work in trying to get SA women’s cricket on par with the best. “Even just in the last five years, a lot has been done to make the game equal for men and women.”

Despite her success, she would prefer to be remembered for her character instead of her cricket., “I want to be remembered as someone who imparted what I learnt to the next generation.

That, to me, would be my ultimate legacy.”

BLUE AND GOLD

UWC SUPERSTARS

HERSCHEL JANTJIES

BY LYNDON JULIUS

“I

believe my achievements are big for me but in the greater vision of the University of the Western Cape (UWC), it’s only a drop in the ocean of a successful and prestigious institution.”

These are the words of Rugby World Cup winner and UWC alumnus, Herschel Jantjies.

The Kylemore-born Jantjies has become a household name following his shot to stardom during his maiden Super Rugby competition, where he became a Stormers’ top performer in the 2018 season.

As humble as they come, Jantjies — who was part of the UWC Varsity Shield squad that laid the foundation for the 2018 team to gain promotion to the reputable Varsity Cup competition

— believes he’s been given a lot more than just a platform for his rugby career with UWC. According to the scrumhalf, the tertiary institution set him up to be “street smart” and innovative with his career choices outside of rugby.

“Many will probably criticise me for saying this but I don’t think a degree qualification is important. If you look at the number of unemployed graduates in SA, it should give you an idea as to how important it is to educate yourself not only with books but by hustling and being innovative in your approach to earn a living.”

Jantjies has become known for tenacity at the breakdown and set phases but it’s his ability to seize the moment during a game that has not only earned him 10 test caps but also four tries. The 24year-old has been an integral part of the Stormers’ leadership despite being much younger or of the same age than most of his teammates. He remembers his first Varsity Shield match quite vividly, possibly because he received his first yellow card in a UWC jersey during this game.

It was in his next game against the University of Fort Hare that he was selected by the late Bok legend Chester Williams for the replacements bench.

“UWC has taught me how to adjust and adapt to situations,”

Jantjies adds. “In one match, you will be on top of the world and owning that starting position; the very next, you only get to play in the last 10 minutes. It was the game in Alice that made me realise how hard the reality check can be when you think your spot is secured.”

Sharing a room with Andre Manuel, the former Bishops’ rugby player and 2019 Varsity Cup top try scorer, has been one of Jantjies’ fondest memories along with those created with his fellow players. He also considers the friendships forged with his coaches to be lifelong, he says.

“My time at UWC has been an amazing one, filled with great memories. I never regarded the history of the University as a political one but I do understand the impact that UWC has made on our society and the beacon of hope that it was, and still is, to so many.

“I saw and regarded UWC as an opportunity when I was recruited by coach Chester [Williams] to join the team.

“I think my greatest and fondest memories have to be sharing a room with Andre Manuel; we will not elaborate on those times,” he laughs.

The boy wonder has praised the leadership style of UWC’s Director of Sport, Mr Mandla Gagayi — “He really made you feel at home and very special; not just the rugby players but all the sporting codes. You could easily see he truly cares for the brand of UWC and lives it through his conduct” — and reminisces fondly about the friendships he’s developed.

Most specifically, his relationship with backline coach and former Stormer scrumhalf Bolla Conradie is a standout one that has greatly affected his career. “Coach Bolla was one of the main reasons I could express myself the way I did during matches.

“But I still have a long way to go in my rugby career. I most certainly haven’t peaked yet and still have to put in lots of hours both on the field and in training to get to where I want to be.”

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RUNNING THE STREETS

Footballer and BEd graduate Renaldo Leaner proves that anything is possible if you’re passionate and committed

By Dumisani Koyana

Y

oungsters growing up on the Cape Flats are no strangers to adversity as the area is well known for violence, gangsterism and drugs, among other social ills. Yet, 22-year-old Renaldo Leaner, who hails from Elsies River, has kept his wits to ensure he did not become just another statistic, swallowed up by his surroundings.

“Most of the time, it’s difficult when people ask me whether I am really from Elsies River,” he says. “It’s not easy; there’s a lot of gangsterism. I remember times when I could not go to training because shootings were taking place in my area.”

Peer pressure is also rife on the gang-riddled streets, especially for kids running in the wrong circles.

“Growing up, I was naughty and would chill with my friends and smoke but I was never part of any gang. I also distanced myself from anything that I felt was not good

and my parents were also very strict.”

Solace is often found in the most unlikely places and, for many Cape Flats youth, football has become one such place. Many of the greatest footballers South Africa has produced have hailed from areas such as the Cape Flats, which, says Leaner, shows that even in the toughest, most dangerous of circumstances, diamonds are found, polished and can shine. He, of course, is testament to that.

“Football gave me hope and a chance to make things better for me and my family. It’s kept me busy and it still does. The football bug bit me at a young age and the funny thing is that, in my street, I was the only one with the ball.”

After dominating the streets, he joined local clubs Central AFC and Matroosfontein and says now many people from his home turf look up to him. “My parents have also played their part and I am

grateful to them because they’ve truly spoilt me rotten,” adds the softspoken goalkeeper.

Asked why he chose to enrol at UWC, he says: “In my family, no one had a degree and I told myself I wanted to do that for them.

“I also saw a lot of footballers who played at the highest level return to nothing after they retired so studying was my plan B. I could have focused on my soccer career but I wanted to secure my future and having a degree was that for me”.

During his studies at UWC, his time was carefully managed between playing for Ajax Cape Town, with whom he travelled a lot, his books and playing for the national team. ”It truly was a collective effort between my coaches at Ajax, UWC football and myself. I remember going to Holland with Ajax in my second year, getting home then leaving again to Taiwan right away – it was hard, especially trying to keep up with my exams and assignments.

“At one point, I wanted to quit football to focus on my studies.”

However, his hard work and determination helped him through.

Now, armed with a Bachelor of Education (BEd) in Mathematics and Science, Leaner can focus on his sporting career, which is only growing further as he has recently signed a professional contract with GladAfrica Championship title-chasers.

BLUE AND GOLD

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FUTURE RISING

The appointment of UWC Sport’s new rugby head coach marks a look into the bright, innovative future of sports at the University

By Gasant Abarder

W

hen the University of the Western Cape (UWC) announced the appointment of Paul Treu as its new Head Coach for Rugby in July, it did so with an eye on the future of the sport. Coach Treu is no stranger to the South African public after serving with distinction as the Head Coach of the Springbok Sevens, Head Coach of the Kenya Sevens, Defensive Coach of the Stormers and the Performance and Innovation Manager of the Western Province Rugby Football Union. His most recent post was as the High-Performance 7s Consultant for the Japan Rugby Football Union and he has also worked with international coaches Robbie Deans and Eddie Jones.

Treu epitomises what UWC Sport is trying to achieve under the guidance of Director of Sport Mandla Gagayi. The latter’s philosophy is to offer studentathletes the best of both worlds with a high-quality tertiary education and the opportunity to play sports at the highest levels.

Treu, who himself holds a masters degree in Sports Directorship from Manchester Metropolitan University in the United Kingdom, a masters in Educational Psychology from the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University (NMMU) and honours in Education from Stellenbosch University, says his formative years were shaped at UWC while completing his Higher Diploma in Education.

It was during this time that he developed a great affinity for UWC and its role in society.

“I just want to thank everyone at the University of the Western

Cape for appointing me as the head coach of the Varsity Cup team. I started my career at the University as a player and now I’m returning as a coach. I am really excited to start working with the team, staff and everyone at the University,” he says.

UWC Rugby participates in the FNB Varsity Cup — South Africa’s premier university rugby competition. Treu will succeed iconic former World Cup-winning Springbok and UWC Head Coach Chester Williams, who passed away tragically in October last year. They considered each other close friends and peers and Treu will be looking to carry on with the work Williams had begun and which was carried through the disrupted 2020 competition by interim Head Coach and Assistant Coach Lionel Langenhoven.

“I regard myself as a dynamic, cutting-edge leader with extensive experience in professional sports,” Treu said during his interview for the UWC Head Coach: Rugby position.

“I am exploring opportunities to team up with a high-performance organisation that relies on innovation and critical thinking, which, in turn, prioritises bestpractice methods to achieve their goal.

“As a recent Masters of Science (MSc) graduate with distinction in Sports Directorship, I offer a variety of skill sets to meet the increasing demands of elite sport and enthusiastically support the objectives of an organisation that has an unwavering quest for excellence.

“I believe the next generation in rugby will require even more

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BLUE AND GOLD

innovative approaches to performance than ever before.

As technology has become more pervasive and information more freely accessible, it is the ability to process, filter and commit to what is important in the ‘big data’ landscape that will set organisations apart. This is as true in sports as it is of any other industry.

“In this regard, the network alluded to previously, which I have access to through my international work, experiences and studies, as well as an ability to manage and interpret the

details whilst retaining a clear vision of the ‘big picture’ are key competitive advantages that I believe I bring to this role,” he finished.

Of Treu’s appointment, Gagayi says: “Mr Treu’s appointment reinforces our strategy towards the promotion of balance between academia and sports. It also reaffirms our commitment to the transformation of rugby as a sport where black coaches are usually overlooked or under-utilised.

“I want to take this opportunity to also thank interim coach, Mr

I AM REALLY EXCITED TO START WORKING WITH THE TEAM, STAFF AND EVERYONE AT UWC 50

Lionel Langenhoven, for ably guiding the University through a difficult Varsity Cup campaign after the sudden and painful loss of Coach Chester”.

Professor Tyrone Pretorius, Rector and Vice-Chancellor at UWC, believes that universities are key in the development of the sportsmen and women of the future, and sees Treu as an example of what can be achieved when student-athletes create a balance between their careers in sports and academics. “We are pleased to have him on board and wish him all the best in his new role. He has an excellent track record, having been in charge of very successful Springbok 7s campaigns,” says Prof Pretorius.

“His appointment illustrates that we have to think about life beyond the COVID-19 pandemic.

While we have to deal with the consequences of having to work from home, we must not become trapped by this reality and his appointment shows that the University has a keen eye on the future.”

UWC Rising Stars UWC RAISES THE GAME

HERSCHEL JANTJIES

BABALWA LATSHA

These days, everybody knows who Herschel Jantjies is, but before the hungry scrumhalf joined the Springbok team that would ultimately lift up the Web Ellis trophy, he was helping his University’s team attain another coveted (albeit less famous) title: The FNB Varsity Shield.

Babalwa, who graduated with her LLB degree from UWC in 2019, is the captain of the Springbok women’s rugby team. In 2020, she also became the first South African woman rugby player to turn professional - signing with Spanish rugby club, SD Eibar Femenino. Speaking about the move, Babalwa says:

This iconic victory saw the team promoted to the Varsity Cup, making UWC the first previously disadvantaged institution to qualify for South Africa’s premier university rugby competition.

‘It’s a great dream of mine, as Captain of the Springbok Women, to fly the South African flag as high as possible, and I think the perfect place to do that, is in the international arena.”

Flies higher

Winning hearts at UWC long before the World Cup

Latsha, who hails from Khayelitsha, rose from playing in the Springbok Women’s Sevens team to captaining the 15’s national side in 2019. In her first year on the job, she led the team to qualify for the 2021 World Cup. SA’s inaugural participation in this tournament is anticipated to usher in an exciting new chapter for women’s rugby in the country – one in which UWC is ready to play an increasingly larger role.

THEMBI KGATLANA The world at her feet

When Thembi Kgatlana blasted the ball passed Spain’s goalkeeper into the top left corner of the net, she wrote herself into the history books with her magic right boot.

It wasn’t just the first-ever goal scored at the FIFA Women’s World Cup in 2019, it was Banyana Banyana’s first goal there – making Thembi the first South African woman to score at a FIFA World Cup. UWC alumna and 2018’s African Women’s Footballer of the Year, Thembi also won the 2018 African Best Goal accolade at the Confederation of African Football (CAF) awards.

Since then, whilst still playing an integral part in the SA team, she moved East to join Beijing’s BG Phoenix Club and has more recently just been signed by European giants, Benfica, in Portugal.

In her own words, “Every time I step onto the field God uses me to show off.”

At 23, it would seem Thembi really does have the world at her feet. We look forward to seeing what she does in it next.

UWC SPORT: 2019 HIGHLIGHTS IN REVIEW • KEVIN MARTIN participated in the World Pool Chamionships in Qatar.

• THE UWC WOMEN’S FOOTBALL TEAM qualified for SA’s first National Women’s League.

• UWC PRODUCED NO LESS THAN FIVE PLAYERS in the 26-member Banyana Banyana squad that travelled to France for the FIFA Women’s World Cup.

• BONGEKA GAMEDE was selected into the Banyana Banyana team for their first FIFA Women’s World Cup participation.

• KURT-LEE ARENDSE was selected for the Springbok’s Sevens team.

• UWC RUGBY MADE ITS DEBUT IN THE VARSITY CUP. The team

• NOXOLO CESANE was part of the Banyana Banyana team that won the COSAFA

made history by becoming the first historically disadvantaged institution

Women’s Championships.

to qualify for the premier university rugby competition.

• BEACH VOLLEYBALL PAIR LEO WILLIAMS AND GRANT GOLDSCHMIDT were also selected to represent the country.

• ANTHONY TIMOTEUS AND ROWHALDO RATZ were selected to represent USSA at FASU Africa University Cross Country Champs in Morocco.

• BEJANCKE DELLA was selected to the national Women’s Beach Volleyball team.

• MOGAMAAD ZUBAYR HAMZA joined the Proteas cricket team.

• CHELSEA DANIELS represented South Africa at the FIFA under-17 World Cup in late 2018.

FANELWA NGECE-AJAYI

MMAKI JANTJIES

SENAMILE MASANGO

Dr Fanelwa Ngece-Ajayi is a senior lecturer in Physical Chemistry at UWC, a research leader in the field of drug metabolism nanobiosensors for antiretrovirals and Tuberculosis treatment drugs, and a member of the South African Young Academy of Science. As if that weren’t enough impressive credentials, she’s also the founder and leader of the non-profit organisation, AmaQawe ngeMfundo, which aims to promote and enrich STEM at township schools, providing assistance with academic resources and infrastructure.

Prof Mmaki Jantjies, senior lecturer in Information Systems at UWC, has a passion for promoting STEM subjects in developing nations and disadvantaged communities. She’s been named one of News24’s Young Nelson Mandelas, included in the Mail & Guardian’s 200 Young Top Achievers Under 35, and is one of the Inspiring 50 SA Women In Tech. She also coordinates the Mozilla and UN Women technology clubs for young girls – creating safe spaces for high school girls to learn ICT and leadership skills.

Senamile Masango was part of one of the first African-led experiments at CERN - the most powerful laboratory in the world. Since then, she’s received her master’s in nuclear physics from UWC (cum laude), addressed President Cyril Ramaphosa on the challenges faced by young scientists, and founded Women in Science and Engineering in Africa (Wise Africa). This is an NGO that provides leadership and role models for young people wishing to enter the fields of science and technology.

Chemistry, Communication & Outreach

Using Tech To Transform The World

Nuclear Physics For A Brighter Future

YOUNG LEADERS BY THE NUMBERS

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The number of exceptional young leaders hailing from UWC who were included in Mail & Guardian’s Young 200 South Africans in 2019. This list celebrates under-35s who are leading the country into a brighter future.

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Seven UWC students have been selected in as many years to attend the Lindau Nobel Laureate Meeting in Germany, invited to share their ideas on science and medicine with some of the sharpest minds in the world.

6

Six UWC graduates were selected out of thousands of amazing academics to make the GradStar Top 100 Students list in 2019, selected by employers for their ability to make a real impact in the working world.

5

The number of Young Nelson Mandelas who come from the University of the Western Cape. For the Mandela Centenary in 2018, News24 honoured 100 Young Nelson Mandelas, South Africans who embody a legacy of hope and change.

3

The number of UWC women who made the #InspiringFiftySA 2018 list.

Hundreds of amazing women were nominated in the fields of science, tech, engineering and mathematics, but only 50 were chosen.

A HELPING HAND

Not content with peak on-field performance, UWC offers athletes holistic support Lynne Rippenaar-Moses

W

hile the performance of elite athletes on the field is important to help win matches, it’s what happens off the field that paves a future for athletes beyond their sports-playing years.

Thanks to the University of the Western Cape’s (UWC) academic development and support programmes, elite athletes at the University are better able to cope with the demands of professional sports alongside their academics.

A researcher based in the office of the Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Research and Innovation and an academic support officer in Sports Administration, Dr Lwando

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Mdleleni runs one such programme.

“I’ve been involved with UWC’s Sports Administration for more than 15 years, from being an elite student soccer player for the first team and later captaining that team to an assistant coach — all while pursuing an academic career,” explains Dr Mdleleni.

Over the years, his observation of the academic performance and drop-out rates of elite athletes has led him to connect with Director of Sports Administration Mandla Gagayi and other stakeholders to discuss how to provide student development support to athletes

in order to help them complete their studies.

“Mr Gagayi showed a keen interest in supporting studentathletes and his ideas resonated with what I wanted to do, which was to develop a programme where we could assist studentathletes to balance their academic and sports obligations — and meet both. Each year, the Sports Administration would recruit top athletes who would drop out the following year due to poor academic performance. There was just not enough support and, when athletes drop out of university, it also places an added burden on coaches to find new players to fill vacant spots.”

In response to this concern, Dr Mdleleni created a programme in 2020 that is focused on elite soccer players in their first and final year of studies. “We provide holistic support that extends beyond academics and ensures students have access to electronic devices, mentors and information about other support services they can access on campus.

“We also monitor the academic performance of these students and maintain constant communication with the faculties so if students do not meet academic requirements, we can release them from sports participation up until they can strike the right balance between sports and academics.”

The programme also assists athletes with access bursaries and top-up bursaries, including food

BLUE AND GOLD vouchers, which helps relieve the financial pressure on them, a factor that often causes anxiety and distracts them from their academic and sporting pursuits.

Additionally, mental health services are provided through the Centre for Student Support Services.

While working as an assistant coach, Dr Mdleleni applied the principles he has incorporated into the current programme to support soccer player Renaldo Leaner, a UWC graduate who now plays professional soccer for Ajax Cape Town.

“When we would travel and he had to take a test, I would carry his scripts with me and would invigilate while he wrote his test then bring it back to campus. He showed commitment and struck that balance. Now, at the age of 22, he is a UWC graduate playing professional football.”

Other than Dr Mdleleni’s programme, the University also offers a Student-Athlete Mentoring Programme and a Rugby Academic Support Programme, both of which are coordinated by Ms Kelello Moeketse from the Sports Administration department.

Moeketse has been running the Rugby Academic Support Programme since 2019 and says its aim is to enhance the academics of rugby players who are struggling but are committed to improving their marks. “The pressure gets a lot during the first semester with the Varsity Cup games, many of which are away games. This makes it difficult for players to attend classes and write tests.

“With this programme, the University hopes to prevent the players‘ grades from dropping or prevent them from dropping out by helping them to balance their performance on the field with the academic aspects of student life.”

Additionally, she explains, this programme is compulsory for students that are scouted to play rugby for the University, whether they are struggling with their academics or not. On registration, they are provided with different kinds of support such as peer study groups, one-on-one inperson or online mentoring sessions, or help with writing letters to change programmes.

In turn, the Student-Athlete Mentoring Programme focuses on five priority sporting codes at the University: football, cricket, athletics, rugby and swimming.

Mentors for the programme are

I WANTED TO DEVELOP A PROGRAMME WHERE WE COULD ASSIST STUDENT ATHLETES

final-year and postgraduate students and some are athletes who themselves excel within the academic sphere.

“This programme extends beyond academics to focus on peer support and companionship, which – with the rise in mental health issues at higher education institutions – is critical. The programme also places a large emphasis on connecting studentathletes with units and mentors on campus that can assist with specific challenges they face,” adds Moeketse.

Ntsako Masinga, a Master of Sciences (MSc) Biokinetics student in the Sport, Recreation and Exercise Science (SRES) department has mentored athletes for the last two years and, in 2020, is mentoring seven athletes. Her interest in sports psychology prompted her to enrol as a mentor.

“Sports psychology teaches you that sports are not just about performance but about mental toughness. While we focus on academics, it is mostly about being a friend to the mentee,” she says.

“My job as a mentor is to provide the student with emotional support and bridge the gap between the University and the student, helping them access other support services at the University.”

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POWER PROPONENTS

UWC’s investment in biokinetics is optimising the performance of its elite athletes

By Lynne Rippenaar-Moses

I

ncreased investments by the University of the Western Cape (UWC) to improve sports performance amongst its elite athletes over the last few years has allowed the Biokinetics Practice and newly established High Performance Centre (HPC) to provide these athletes with niche training. This training improves their performance, helps minimise injuries and tracks habits, such as good nutrition and sleep, all of which impact on performance.

Both the Biokinetics Clinic and the HPC are based in UWC’s Department of Sport, Recreation and Exercise Science (SRES) at the Faculty of Community and Health Sciences.

“These investments are giving our athletes a cutting edge and provide them with access to high-performance support, training, equipment and software.

Our athlete online monitoring system, for example, has become really important during the COVID-19 pandemic and national lockdown as it allows us to monitor and facilitate athletes training remotely. With this tool, we can assess what they are doing during training, their sleeping and eating patterns, and other information through wellness questionnaires,” explains Angelo Nelson, a qualified biokineticist from the HPC. Biokineticists offer specialised exercise rehabilitation for people with orthopaedic and sports injuries as well as chronic illness.

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Nelson, along with fellow biokineticist Kirsten Huckle, forms part of a multidisciplinary team at the HPC comprising physiotherapists, medical doctors, a nutritionist, and strength and conditioning coaches that focus on developing and offering specialised training programmes to the Varsity Sports sporting codes.

High-performance training is very different from the “minimum exercise individuals do to help maintain a healthy lifestyle”, says Nelson.

“There are certain performance parameters that an elite athlete needs to meet in terms of strength,

power, agility, speed and explosiveness. A biokineticist in a high-performance setting takes a structured approach and creates a periodised plan to take the athlete through the entire sports season – from off-season to pre-season training as well as during the playing season. This plan ensures the athlete trains in a safe environment, that the training programme is structured to allow the athlete to peak at the right time, and protects the athlete from getting injured in the process.”

When athletes are injured, biokineticists also facilitate the process to get the athlete back

BLUE AND GOLD to their peak performance.

“While physios are responsible for reducing athletes’ pain and getting them back to the activities of daily living, we take it a step further by preparing them for that competitive environment.”

Athletes also approach the centre to optimise certain aspects of their performance. ”For example, an athlete would consult with us if they are struggling with the speed component in their sporting code and want to focus on acceleration,” adds Huckle.

“While every sport is different, our job as biokineticists is to take the sport, whether we have experience in it or not, break it down into movements and put together a training programme to train those specific muscles that will help optimise the athlete’s performance and reduce the risk of injury.”

The Biokinetics Practice works closely with the University’s cricket team and athletes from sporting codes as diverse as boxing, soccer, netball, volleyball and hockey. The practice is used by undergraduate students for practical training while they study and by postgraduate students for research purposes and to complete the internship component of their biokinetics degree within the Practice’s internship programme.

“Interns are encouraged to see a certain amount of orthopaedic, chronic disease and special population cases as part of the criteria as set out by the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA) in order to graduate,” says Ghaleelullah

Achmat, a lecturer and biokinetics manager at the Practice. He adds that this has allowed the facility to service staff, students and the communities surrounding UWC. “We regularly collaborate with other departments and receive referrals from health professionals, too.”

Biokinetics students must spend a minimum of 250 hours each semester doing supervised clinical work. In the past, the Practice was unable to accommodate all students at the facility at once but since the establishment of the High Performance Centre, says Achmat, it is possible to accommodate more students between the two departments.

Students also get to shadow Nelson and Huckle.

“Through such internships, students can be assigned to

THERE ARE CERTAIN PERFORMANCE PARAMETERS AN ELITE ATHLETE NEEDS TO MEET

sporting codes for an entire year,assisting the strength and conditioning coaches to achieve student-athlete goals within the framework of team goals, thereby gaining experience in a practical and clinical setting – all under supervision. Sports Skills for Life Skills (SS4LS) is currently applying this model with the Varsity Cup Cricket team.”

High-performance sports has improved learning and teaching in the classroom as students also learn through sports training, mentorship programmes and working on real-life cases in different sporting codes. This also means UWC is sending out more experienced graduates that are better prepared for the sector, which, adds Achmat, is part of the University’s ethos of providing access to services for everyone and helping the development of the surrounding communities.

“We are now able to provide residents from communities surrounding the campus with an opportunity to train in a high-performance setting at a cost-effective rate while also creating public awareness about orthopaedics and chronic disease management.

All this by bringing together biokinetics practice and services, student development, elite athlete training, and community development in our work every day.”

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BEHIND THE SCENES

Three former physiotherapy students share fond memories of their years at UWC

By Lyndon Julius

T

here have been a host of world-class sportsmen and women passing through the corridors and lecture halls here at the University of the Western Cape (UWC) over the past six decades. Many were standout performers on the field, actively playing their respective sports since this prestigious University was founded.

In addition to the plethora of UWC alumni on the field, there

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has been an equal group of amazing medical and administrative staff that helped national sports teams achieve success.

Most recently, the winning Springbok complement included two former UWC students, Dr Tanushree Pillay, who was pitchside during the Boks’ historic 32-12 thumping of England in Japan, which saw the team hoisting the William Webb Ellis

Trophy for the third time, and Cape-based physiotherapist Rene Naylor, who has been with the Boks since 2008.

Two more UWC graduates and qualified physiotherapists are Craig Govender, who has been with the Proteas side since 2017, and Hugh Everson, who has been actively contracted to SA Rugby since 2002 and is also the current Blitzbok (Springbok 7s) physiotherapist. Everson recently celebrated 100 tournaments with the Blitzbok side after joining them in 2007.

One year before the Springboks victory in Japan, Dr Pillay tied the knot with her Frenchman fiancé Gilles Mége and, earlier this year, gave birth to their first son, Etienne Sudev Antoine Mége.

“There are just so many things I am grateful for as a alumna of UWC. Particularly, the impact that some of the key role players have had during my time here,” she says proudly.

Having enrolled in the undergraduate programme in 2000 and graduated with her doctorate in physiotherapy in 2014, Dr Pillay has spent nearly two decades at Udubs. And while she has many fond memories of her academic years, it is the friendships that were birthed during her time as a Udubs student that she cherishes today.

“My mentor, Jose Frantz, held my hand through every step of not only my academic career and PhD but in life as well. I can’t say I’ve always wanted to become a

BLUE AND GOLD

THERE ARE JUST SO MANY THINGS I AM GRATEFUL FOR AS AN ALUMNA OF UWC

physiotherapist but I definitely wanted to do something in the medical-aligned health field and refined my choice to physio quite late, thanks to her help.”

Naylor, for her part, has been with the Springboks since 2008, after taking a two-year hiatus when her son Cullin was born.

In addition to her glamorous role with the Boks, she also runs a successful physiotherapy practice in Cape Town.

However, having graduated from UWC around the time when South Africa’s democracy was born, she has witnessed the campus change throughout her years of study – from her enrollment in 1990 to the completion of her Bachelor of Sciences (BSc) Physiotherapy degree and again years later when she returned to the University as a lecturer.

“It is very powerful and very significant to be part of UWC,” says Naylor. “Not only has the University shaped my identity within a male-dominated field and sport but it has also left an indelible mark on my success as a businesswoman.

“This institution has always been at the forefront of the

country’s struggle. UWC has always looked for creative ways to get an equitable stake in society and being linked to the University is a powerful testimony that anything is possible if your ‘why’ is strong enough. After our World Cup win, it showed what true diversity and transformation can bring about.”

Govender has been with the Proteas since 2017. Becoming the first-ever professional cricket physiotherapist in South Africa when he became the head physiotherapist at the Highveld Lions. He was also instrumental in setting up the medical department at the Sports Skills for Life Skills (SS4LS) programme at UWC. Proud to be associated with the UWC brand, the Proteas physio deems his time at Udubs as a pivotal moment that shaped not only his professional but personal life, too.

“There are five phrases I would use to describe UWC,” he says.

“They are comfortable, friendly, competitive, driven and challenging the status quo. It is an extreme honour to be part of UWC’s alumni.

I understand the history and what it stands for.

“There is a calibre of people that have created an environment for all of us to thrive. It’s like a huge family-type environment and I always try telling people where I come from. The [Physio] department is a very caring and giving department that sets high standards from the first year right through to the postgraduate programme. This is what you need as a young adult and the lecturers have become role models to me personally. The biggest and most influential person for me was and still is Advocate Nicolas Kock (chairman of the UWC Cricket Club). I have learnt so much from him and implement all of the lessons he taught, not only in my businesses and career but also at home.”

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MAGAZINE

UWC CAPE TOWN GOLF DAY FUNDRAISER SAVE THE DATE 60for60 CAMPAIGN WHEN: WHERE: FORMAT: COST:

Thursday, 12th November 2020 King David Golf Club, 1 Raapenberg Road, Mowbray 4-ball Stableford 11h00 R6,600 per 4 ball (incl. VAT and R4,000 donation)

This year, the University of the Western Cape (UWC) celebrates 60 years from Hope to Action through Knowledge. We will be initiating the 60for60 Golf Fundraiser Challenge to commemorate this iconic year.

The funds raised will go towards 60 bursaries for 60 students from our UWC Sport’s Department. Please join us on the course by entering a 4 ball or sponsoring a watering hole and prizes.

We will be in contact with you soon to confirm your preferred option. We look forward to your participation in this meaningful fundraising campaign. We encourage you to play an active role in the education and development of our 60 deserving students. For more information on how you can get involved, contact us.

CONTACT: Melissa Maans on 079 881 5106, or email mmaans@uwc.ac.za.

FROM 58 HOPE TO ACTION THROUGH KNOWLEDGE.

uwc.ac.za

BLUE AND GOLD

SPORTS COUNCIL NOTES

X-Nita Stuurman, UWC Sports Council 2020

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020… What a rollercoaster ride it has been so far. As the new Chairperson of the UWC Sports Council 2020, I never once thought the year would turn out this way. I was so excited to start my term and contribute to the new year that lay ahead of us. Who would have thought that a worldwide pandemic would touch our shores and change our entire lives, including the most important aspect of the lives of student-athletes – our sports?

As a Sports Council, we were going to continue with projects we were busy with last year,

including the sanitary towel drive and the student-athlete computer lab. These are some of our big projects and we really hope to continue them soon. As studentathletes, these two projects are very close to our heart: it is difficult to juggle sports and academics and the computer lab will help make that balance easier, while it brings us great sadness that thousands of girls and women across the country do not have access to proper sanitation.

Back to the sports. As we all know, due to COVID-19, all sports are suspended until further notice,

BY WORKING TOGETHER, WE WILL GET THROUGH THESE SAD AND TROUBLING TIMES

which has made it difficult for the Sports Council to continue our duties. The pandemic has not only changed our lives but has taken the lives of so many people we hold dear, including a very close family member of mine.

That said, as someone who has experienced a loss so close, I’d like to sincerely encourage each UWC student and staff member to stay safe, take all necessary precautions, always sanitise and wear your masks correctly. These simple steps can save countless lives and keep our families safe.

By working together, we will get through these sad and troubling times and will be back on the field, tracks and courts once we’re in the clear.

With the pandemic looking to stick around until the new year at least, the major question is what does the future look like for sport?

Challenging, perhaps, but also innovative and exciting. Studentathletes are presented with many hurdles and I would like to encourage you to see the pandemic and this time as another of these.

Keep training, stay fit and stay safe. We will get through this and we will all reach our goals and dreams. I believe in each and every one of you.

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