DUTConnect Summer 2022 Issue

FOR Alumni and Friends OF THE DURBAN UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY

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DIRECTOR’S MESSAGE

Dear Alumni and Friends, It brings me great pleasure to present yet another issue of our award-winning publication – DUT Connect. and entrepreneurship. These two concepts constitute one of our ENVISION2030 Strategy DNA strands. These fundamental ideas inform and play a foundational part of the DUT DNA in as far as how we re-imagine ourselves is concerned. To be innovative and entrepreneurial means that as an organisation, we are agile and adaptive in order to not only survive, but thrive even under seemingly hostile conditions. To be innovative and entrepreneurial means that where others may see doors closing and insurmountable challenges rising, we see new opportunities, to reinvent, reimagine and reposition ourselves. I hope you will enjoy taking this brief reflective journey with us as you read through the various stories.

The COVID-19 pandemic seems to have ‘captured’ our lives for the past two years, indirectly dictating that we stay indoors, socially distance, wear masks and adhere to an array of other restrictions which have caused major disruptions to our everyday lives, the economy, the health sector, and indeed Higher Education. The impact and reach of this pandemic is unprecedented in recent human history. While we, today, have moved on somewhat with the lifting of the state of disaster on COVID-19 in the hope that we can ‘return to normal’ as a country, we are still faced with the monumental challenge of ‘picking up the pieces’, making sense of what continues to be a crisis and reflecting on lessons to be learnt. It has challenged us to deeply reflect on who we are and what we are as human beings and as citizens of a global village. It has challenged our values, our principles, our assumptions, exposed our weaknesses and exacerbated pre-existing challenges like poverty, unemployment and inequality.

Having alluded to the negative impact of the pandemic, above, one must hasten to highlight the silver linings amidst the COVID-19 storm. We have witnessed, across the globe and across various sectors, immense human capacity for innovation, resilience, solidarity and fortitude. This issue of DUT Connect is, in some ways, a celebration of the enduring human spirit that is able to transcend above the seeming chaos and despair, as we cast our eyes back on 2021 and celebrate moments of achievement and success, despite the heavy and sometimes crushing weight of the pandemic. This issue reflects a DUT that continues to soar. We had to explore innovative ways of ensuring that we continue to inch towards our ENVISION2030 strategy goals and objectives amidst challenges precipitated by the pandemic. This issue pays particular attention to activities and initiatives around innovation

In the spirit of innovation, we have also effected some changes to the magazine with the inclusion of new features and elements.

I hope you will enjoy these.

As usual, we take this opportunity to express our deepest appreciation to our donors listed below. Your generosity makes it possible for academically deserving but financially constrained students to realise their dreams of obtaining their qualifications and increasing their chances of improving theirs and their families’ lives. In addition, many good programmes that enrich the academic experiences of our students would also grind to a halt without your support. Therefore, always know that you play a significant role in ensuring that we continue to offer an excellent education.

I also wish to take this moment to appeal to those who may not be donors yet to consider supporting any of the worthy causes and programmes we support such as the Bursary initiative, Food Security Programme (Phakimpilo), the School Engagement Project and many others. Please visit our website on this link: www.dutalumni.com and click on projects to learn more about the project you may wish to support and then click on the “donate” link. Alternatively, you may call our offices directly on (031) 3732479 or e-mail our Fundraising and Stewardship Officer, Ms Pretty Zulu on prettyz@dut.ac.za.

Unfortunately, COVID-19 is still going to be with us for some time, therefore, we hope that you will continue to observe all protocols and safety measures to ensure that you protect yourselves and others.

Be safe, be well and stay blessed, Mr Zwakele Ngubane Director: Advancement and Alumni Relations

DONORS • • • • • •

Dell Computers (Pty) Ltd Rand York Coretrays (Pty) Ltd Lloyd’s Register Emea.

Bosch Projects (Pty) Ltd Ikhwezi Bus Service (Pty) Ltd Torapa Holdings (Pty) Ltd

• • • • • •

Toyota NMI Durban South Motors (Pty) Ltd Metropolitan Health Corporate SA Home Loans Glenwood Super Spar The Jonsson Foundation Academy

• • • • • •

Feenix Foundation The Bradlow Foundation IQRAA Trust South Africa The Albert Wessels Trust The Jonsson Education Trust Engineering Educational Trust

contents Message from the Vice-Chancellor

4

Introducing the Advancement and Alumni Relations Office (AARO)

7

DUT’s Agri-Hub Launch a Huge Success

8

Working Together to Achieve Great Things

10

Zinhle Cele Adding Sweet Flavour to Entrepreneurship

12

DUT launches groundbreaking Innobiz Centre for Entrepreneurship and Innovation

14

Championing Youth Entrepreneurship

16

Khuzwayo’s Journey

18

A Passion For Gemstone Jewellery

20

Webinars Connect the Dots…

22

Entrepreneurship Crossword Puzzle

23

Competition Time!

23

Diva Mobedi innovative fashion for a changing world

24

Education made Possible for Students through DUT and Feenix

26

Master of Light

28

Be You. Setting Yourself Apart for that Job Opportunity…

30

Alumni Facebook Page Hacked

32

Walk Down Memory Lane

34

The Upside of Pandemic Travel

36

COVID-19. Help Prevent the Spread of Respiratory Diseases Like COVID-19

38

Your Mental Health Matters

39

By Simangele Zuma

By Simangele Zuma

By Simangele Zuma

By David King

7 8

12 10 14 18

20

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30

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Publisher: Editorial Leader: Editorial, DUT: Administration Support: Contributors: Editorial, Artworks: Layout and Design:

Durban University of Technology Mr Zwakele Ngubane Ms Ronelle Lyson and Mrs Nishie Govender DUT Advancement and Alumni Relations Office Ms Simangele Zuma, Mr David King, Mr Zain Mitha, Ms Lynette Lambrechts and Nanda Soobben Mr Samora Chapman Artworks | www.artworks.co.za

Disclaimer: This magazine is published in good faith and every effort has been made to ensure that the information was true and correct at the time of going to print.

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MESSAGE FROM

THE VICE-CHANCELLOR Warm greetings to all our alumni, partners, donors, friends and the DUT community at large.

With this being the first edition of DUT Connect for the year 2022, may I wish you well in the rest of the year. It is my hope that the challenges and problems that face us from year to year help to refocus and energise us to work even harder and innovate our collective future and prosperity.

In my last message in this medium, I focused on deconstructing our strategy-on-a-page, ENVISION2030, so that we could all have a common understanding and interpretation. Towards the end of the first quarter, we will share with the DUT community a document outlining the state of DUT. Thus, given constraints of space and time, let me just focus on a few critical matters.

COVID-19 Update

We are still reeling from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic as a country generally, and more specifically as a sector. We must be encouraged, though, that at the time of writing this message, the total number of vaccinated individuals in South Africa was sitting at about 19 million according to the National Health Department Online Resource and News Portal1. With a total adult (18 years and older) population of almost 40 million, this means about 48% of the adult population has now been vaccinated; which is just below half of our population. Whilst there is still some way to go, this is a significant improvement considering the initial inertia and hesitancy that characterised initial vaccination up-take. The country, including its various sectors, is now in a better position to return, albeit slowly, to some ‘new normal’ – consisting of the old and the new we could no longer divorce - as business operations and activity increase.

With the easing of restrictions, DUT has also been able to open up and allow a limited number of academic and other activities to take place on our campuses. The intention for 2022, sans any significant changes to the current COVID-19 trends, is to return more and more to regular operations. Of course, it would be foolhardy to suggest that the last two years have not upended our old ‘normal’; hence my reference above to a ‘new normal’.

At its meeting of 4 December 2021, DUT’s Council approved our “Policy choices on vaccination of staff and students” to take effect from 1 January 2022. The approach of providing choices as opposed to insisting on mandatory vaccination is an attempt to balance individual and collective rights, responsibilities, and consequences of those choices. The summary of the policy is as follows: 1.

2.

One must either be fully vaccinated and produce a valid vaccination certificate to enter any DUT campus or; If one chooses not to vaccinate, they must, at their own expense, undertake a COVID-19 PCR test 48 hours prior

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3.

to being on campus, which test must be negative and proof thereof must be produced, or; If one chooses to neither vaccinate nor produce a negative COVID-19 PCR test, then they may not be granted access onto DUT campuses. In the case of students and staff, if they opt for this option, they will have to study and work online respectively and contend with the consequences and implications of such a decision, especially when circumstances that require physical attendance on campus arise. This policy

1 Latest Vaccine

Statistics - SA Corona Virus Online Portal

FOR Alumni and Friends OF THE DURBAN UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY

allows some latitude and individual freedom of choice, while at the same time ensuring that the University plays its role and takes the responsibility and accountability of doing all in its power to safeguard its people on our campuses.

I have argued elsewhere that we have a much more important reason for us to seriously consider return to face-to-face teaching and learning in whatever upended format. Imagine a student who enrolled since 2020 as a first year student who has hardly ever seen a lecture hall, an examination hall and has no idea of academic engagement with the lecturers and fellow students. University education is not only about its mechanical aspects, but socialisation, too, so that mindsets and behaviours are moulded accordingly. These are certainly some of the contributors we need to produce ‘Adaptive Graduates’ as envisioned by ENVISION2030.

This policy allows some latitude and individual freedom of choice, while at the same time ensuring that the University plays its role and takes the responsibility and accountability of doing all in its power to safeguard its people on our campuses.

The demon of violent protests

You must have read and/or heard about sporadic violent (student) protests at DUT, at our sister KZN-based universities and some other universities in the country. Not so long ago, I admitted that DUT was the protest capital of the South African higher education. Obviously that is not a title to be proud of.

I thought we had made strides in minimising protests and ensuring stability in our campuses. Little did we know that protests would return with increased violence that results in destruction of public and private property. We have had university and staff cars - about 10 in Durban and 3 in Pietermaritzburg - torched.

We had had destruction of University property.

Lectures were originally scheduled to start on 14 February 2022, but the start had to be postponed to 28 February 2022.

The reasons include the difficulties we experienced during the weeks of 14 and 21 February 2022 that involved invasions by walk-ins and students, general disruptions, slower registration and a campaign to flood the university with accommodation requests for all and sundry. Ostensibly, on account of some of the above-mentioned reasons, students and many other young people invited through fraudulent social media channels, engaged in these violent protests, as if there is no need for education facilities now and in the future.

I have consistently challenged all members of the DUT community to live by our values and principles. This means that we must account for tasks we are responsible for, amongst other things. To this end, we acknowledge some glitches associated with our online registration system. We did not only take responsibility; we also moved with speed to address the problems experienced.This explains why we were sitting at over 95% of our 2022 enrolment target by mid-March, a much higher number than we had in 2021 around the same time.

The NSFAS system is, unfortunately, an integral part of the soft underbelly of higher education. Confirmation of funding for NSFAS qualifying students – at DUT constituting about 70% of our student enrolment – was slow and thus affected the pace of registration. As if to add salt to injury, even as some students got confirmed and registered, NSFAS informed us they do not have funds to pay allowances for February and March until April 2022.

They asked universities to advance student allowances from their coffers, with a commitment that they would reimburse institutional funds. For March, we advanced about R31 million to registered NSFAS-funded students. It’s unfortunate that even though concessions like these are made in a difficult financial environment, they are simply not appreciated. You give a hand and an arm is demanded.

I need not overemphasise the impact of destruction of property.

This behaviour sets us back, particularly at a university with a long history of under-investment in maintenance of existing infrastructure, let alone new capital developments.We set out to build state-of-the-art infrastructure by 2030, with many projects already completed and some underway in our many campuses.

However, it seems some sections of our community are hellbent on countering and reversing the progress we are making. Should we really spend millions on infrastructure that appears destined to destruction by arson and other violent means?

I wish to appeal to yourselves, having walked the same path before the current cohort of students, to provide advice and coaching.

Perhaps, accounts of your own harsh experiences could help to change the attitudes of our current students? Some of you may have been taught in shabby lecture halls with broken chairs and windows.You may have studied in libraries that did not have adequate air conmditioning. You understand how important it is for another African child not to experience what you went through. If the rate and depth of violence continues this way, sooner than later, we will hardly have operatonal infrastructure, let alone state-of-the-art. And, sadly, billions of rand focused on improving the environment in which the African child must learn will have been wasted.

Innovation and Entrepreneurship taking root

Let me end this edition with some good news from last year.You may have realised that DUT has been registering a number of what we call ‘transient impacts’ as we continue to fly our rocket towards 2030. ‘Innovation and entrepreneurial’ is one of our DNA strands. It is one area in which we are beginning to cement our leadership in our sector.

2 Economic

Development; Tourism and Environmental Affairs

3 Agribusiness

Development Agency

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To mention just a few achievements, in 2021 our innovation and entrepreneurial efforts led to the establishment of 52 SMMEs; 160 start-ups in total were supported, which created 173 direct and indirect jobs. We witnessed successful launches of the AgriHub (which is in partnership with the KZN EDTEA2 and the ADA3) on 24 February 2021 and Innobiz Centre for Innovation and Entrepreneurship on 19 November 2021. Both of these entities are indicative of our commitment to be intentional about developing ‘innovative and entrepreneurial’ students, by design and not by default. In addition, our very own Deputy Vice Chancellor (DVC) of Research Innovation and Engagement, Prof Moyo, was awarded the Entrepreneurial Development in Higher Education (EDHE) DVC Award at the 2021 EDHE Awards ceremony. This award is in recognition of her exceptional facilitation of institutional support for entrepreneurship development. Further, DHET announced that the DUT model on innovation and entrepreneurship will now be used in about 10 other public universities to support their own students.

As I conclude my message, I would be remiss not to acknowledge and express appreciation and gratitude to our generous donors and other strategic partners with whom we collaborate to ensure that we build a better tomorrow for our students and our broader society through our ‘innovative curricular and research’ and ‘distinctive education’, amongst many other initiatives. Your ongoing support is invaluable.

Stay safe. Best wishes.

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Our innovation and entrepreneurial efforts led to the establishment of 52 SMMEs; 160 start-ups in total were supported, which created 173 direct and indirect jobs.

FOR Alumni and Friends OF THE DURBAN UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY

Introducing the Advancement and Alumni Relations Office (AARO) Advancement and Alumni Relations

“Alumni [uh-luhm-nahy]: An alumnus is a graduate of a school, such as a high school or university. The plural of alumnus is alumni.”

The DUT Advancement and Alumni Relations team endeavours to lead an integrated and collaborative effort for development that will enhance the university’s image and academic reputation; build and nurture relationships with its constituents; and secure philanthropic investment for the university’s strategic goals.

The Advancement and Alumni Relations Office

The mission of the Advancement and Alumni Relations Office is to implement comprehensive fundraising strategies for cultivation, solicitation and stewardship of gifts and funds from individuals, corporations and trusts and foundations.

needs throughout the university and to organize stewardship programmes for past, current and prospective donors.

The Advancement and Alumni Relations Office aims to involve alumni by cultivating lifelong relationships through event participation, advocacy and annual giving; all in support of the Durban University of Technology.

The Advancement and Alumni Relations Office strives to create opportunities to reconnect and maintain established relationships with alumni; provide support for the Durban University of Technology’s Convocation, including their sub-structures and events; create innovative strategies to provide additional value and benefit to the DUT alumni experience.

Location of Office: ML Sultan Campus, Ground Floor, C Block (next to the Student Information Centre)

The role of the Advancement and Alumni Relations Office is to identify donor interest and to match that interest with funding

Mr Zwakele Ngubane Director: Advancement and Alumni Relations

Mrs Nishie Govender Manager: Fundraising and Alumni Relations

Ms Pretty Zulu Fundraising and Stewardship Officer

Mr Zipho Chamane Prospect Research and Database Officer

Ms Ronelle Lyson Alumni Relations Coordinator

Ms Nondumiso Mana Administrative Officer

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DUT’s Agri-Hub launch a huge success

BY Simangele Zuma The Durban University of Technology (DUT) Midlands Entrepreneurship Centre and Student Desk in partnership with the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs (EDTEA) and the Agribusiness Development Agency (ADA) hosted a virtual launch of their Agri-Hub via Microsoft Teams, on 24 February 2021.

She said that the centre has further recruited 15 students with an interest in the agriculture field to use the space for practical learning and for growing their skills. Four local schools have also been adopted by the centre and are able to use the Agri-Hub, exposing the learners to practical experiences in agriculture.

Ngcobo further explained that the Agri-Hub’s main objective is to promote participation in the agricultural sector as a sustainable vehicle for economic growth.

Professor Sibusiso Moyo speaking at the Agri-Hub launch.

T

he event was facilitated by Mr Zwakele Ngubane, Director of Advancement and Alumni Relations at DUT, who commented that this was a momentous occasion for DUT as he applauded the partners that had come together to assist and ensure that this important initiative comes to full realisation. EDTEA has pledged a three-year partnership with DUT and committed an amount of R2 million towards the Agri-Hub. Giving more insight on the launch, DUT Midlands Entrepreneurship Centre and Student Desk Manager, Ms Nontokozo Ngcobo said the Agri-Hub seeks to build resilient and profitable agri-businesses within the Midlands area and the KwaZulu-Natal province at large.

“The infrastructure for Phase One has now been completed and is located at the Indumiso Campus on a 700m² land. The hub has three 5m x 10m Greenhouse Tunnels that are currently being used to grow over 500 trees of cucumbers using a hydroponic system,” said Ngcobo. “The cucumbers have been carefully selected in line with the current market demand against product supply. A nursery has also been provided to grow cabbages, onions, carrots, garlic and spinach that will be sold to staff and nearby markets.”

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“The Agri-Hub aims to counteract issues of food security within the community of Imbali and outskirts,” added Ngcobo. “This programme is one of various programmes that the centre has initiated, including the One Home One Garden project where the centre provided over 150 seedlings to Greater Edendale community members in June 2020. The Centre is also determined that their partnership and collaborations, will assist their student-preneurs to build businesses that will thrive, and build an enduring legacy, once they exit into the external market upon the completion of training and exposure.”

DUT’s Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Research, Innovation and Engagement, Professor Sibusiso Moyo spoke about DUT as an entrepreneurial university.

“As South Africa, we know that currently the youth unemployment rate is very high,” commented Professor Moyo. “In our province itself we have a lot of challenges around youth unemployment. As the university is imbedded within our region, we want to contribute to skills training of our students.

One of the key things we are focusing on is to ensure that our graduates and students become entrepreneurial and innovative before they graduate. For us, the Agri-Hub launch is very special, which is a testimony to the university together with our strategic partners. Like soldiers in a war, we remain resilient in our resolve to pursue the dream of productive participation in the development of our region, country and the world.”

The DUT Midlands Campus Director, Dr Joe Molete said they have identified 10 hectares of land at Riverside Campus for commercial scale hydroponic tunnels, which is the second phase of the Agri-Hub. He said the great thing is that it is next to the Msunduzi River, where there’s plenty of water to help them produce more food.

FOR Alumni and Friends OF THE DURBAN UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY

Giving his message of support, the Director for Youth Economic Empowerment at the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Economic Development; Tourism and Environmental Affairs, Mr Thami Zondi said their engagement with the centre began two years ago.

“We took our time in understanding what they want to do and made sure that what they are talking about is not a ‘fly-by-night’ idea. It is something that, when we come in as government, we can see sustainability and make sure that as a collective, working together we can see young people producing tangible businesses. We want to sign a three-year MOU with DUT because we are not about once-off projects. We want to make sure that the taxpayers’ money that we put behind projects is being monitored,” said Zondi.

Speaking on behalf of ADA, the Acting Chief Operations Officer, Ms Zodwa Mazibuko said ADA is an agency of the Department of Agriculture, responsible for implementing a catalytic project in the agribusiness and agricultural development space.

“We are honoured to be part of the anticipated growth and development within the DUT’s wings of Research, Innovation and Engagement through the anticipated collaboration and efforts with DUT Midlands Entrepreneurship Centre and Student Desk.

The ADA’s vision is to create a diverse, deracialized, prosperous and sustainable agri-business sector in KwaZulu-Natal, while our motto is promoting agri-business through partnerships and knowledge, which is exactly what we seek to achieve with the DUT centre,” said Ms Mazibuko.

This programme is one of various programmes that the centre has initiated, including the One Home One Garden project where the centre provided over 150 seedlings to Greater Edendale community members in June 2020.

In his closing remarks, Mr Duke Ngcobo, who deals with external projects in the centre, acknowledged DUT management and DUT’s strategic partners, not forgetting his colleagues at the centre for ensuring that the launch becomes a success.

The guests were also treated to a virtual tour of the Agri-Hub, showcasing the different vegetables and plants being produced and sold in the hub.

DVC: RIE Professor Sibusiso Moyo cutting the ribbon at the official launch of DUT’s Agri-Hub with KZN EDTEA’s Director for Youth Economic Empowerment, Mr Thami Zondi and Ms Nontokozo Ngcobo, DUT Midlands Entrepreneurship Centre and Student Desk Manager.

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Working together to achieve great things DUT Alumnus, Ms Ugeshni Moodley, lauded for her contribution to the Student Bursaries Project…

The Durban University of Technology’s (DUT’s) Ms Ugeshni Moodley, an alumnus of DUT, is honoured to have been the recent recipient of the prestigious Chancellor’s Award, given in recognition of Innovative Excellence in the category of ‘Student Centeredness’, and awarded to her for her sterling role and contribution towards the Student Bursaries Project.

Ms Ugeshni Moodley won the award at the DUT Council Staff and Research & Innovation Awards Ceremony 2020, which took place virtually.

The award in this category is awarded to an innovative project or initiative that has positively enhanced the student living and/ or learning experience – academically, socially and/or in the context of student welfare and wellbeing.

Moodley is a Technician who hails from the Faculty of Accounting and Informatics. She has 15 years of lecturing experience at DUT and has attained many industry certifications over the years. As fate may have it, she had to leave her passion for lecturing due to ill-health and has since taken up a technical post within the Faculty of Accounting and Informatics at DUT. “I have a strong flair for organising events and have successfully hosted numerous award functions and team building events.

I advocate for a positive work environment characterised by teamwork, support, trust, and respect for one another. I believe that hard work and commitment is the key to success, so if you ask my family, they will say that I am a workaholic,” she relayed.

Moodley further said that she lives by the values of service to humanity, giving back and paying it forward, to make a difference in the lives of the less fortunate.

Upon winning such a prominent Chancellor’s award, Moodley expressed that she still cannot believe she had won such an award.

“I really didn’t expect it. I feel so honoured and it is just so inspiring to be recognised. I am extremely grateful to the Durban University of Technology for this prestigious award. It has motivated me to keep working at it to make a difference to those in need. I believe I have done my family, my parents and my community proud,” she said happily.

Moodley thanked all the industry partners, including SAP, IBM, Hollywood Bets, Aspen, Lenovo, Institute of Business Partnership and Betting Entertainment Technologies for reaching out to the call to assist students from financially strained families. Over the

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FOR Alumni and Friends OF THE DURBAN UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY

past three years, she has been able to secure funding to the tune of R10 million. She gave thanks to the students as well as staff from the Departments of Information Technology, Information Systems, ITSS, Faculty Office, Alumni Office and Finance for timeously providing support documents that she required to secure the bursaries.

“I think student recognition is essential in keeping students engaged and motivated. I also believe in student involvement and accountability, so introducing student clubs that focus on community engagement and projects in line with the perspectives of ENVISION2030, will enhance student growth and success,” she said.

“Thank you to the Department HODs (both past and present), as well as the Executive Dean of the Faculty of Accounting and Informatics for the support and the kind words of gratitude they extended to me. I would also like to thank my husband Ravesen and my kids, Divaan and Geeren, for allowing me to sacrifice family time and the long hours after work to make this initiative a success. They have been incredibly supportive, understanding and shared in my goal of making a difference in the lives of the less fortunate,” she said.

Moodley said having the ENVISION2030 strategic plan also highlights the equal importance of all stakeholders such as universities, staff, and students in achieving a prosperous society.

She conveyed that the current global pandemic has undoubtedly affected many people and large corporations alike. She stressed that it had been much more difficult seeking funding during this pandemic but none the less she has still been trying to find avenues to assist students. “Reaching out to industry and abiding by their timelines posed more difficult during the pandemic and hindered securing the bursaries I targeted,” she said.

Born and raised in the rural farmlands of Esenembe on the North Coast and coming from a financially disadvantaged background herself, she knows the strain taken on a family and the sacrifices made to educate their children. “In my time as a lecturer and to date, I have heard the plea of many academically deserving students who would have risked becoming dropouts due to lack of funding. Like I, many of these students would be the first in their family to graduate with a tertiary qualification and dropping out would be shattering any hope of a brighter future for themselves and their families. Their plight made me approach our industry partners for financial support towards their studies,” she said.

Moodley indicated that her lecturers’ positive impact on her as a student influenced her joining academia.

“Our students are the core existence of our business and their tertiary experience shapes their futures. There should be no compromise on the service, skill set, motivation and opportunities offered to them. We must allow them to bring out the best versions of themselves while preparing them for greater things in life,” she stressed.

She would also like to increase her networking skills and attract new projects and opportunities, especially seeking funding to roll-out ICT 4IR skills to accounting cluster graduates and to secondary students preparing them for ICT related careers.

Her goal is to continue appreciating life. She aims to balance work, family, health, and studies while improving her tertiary qualifications and industry certifications.

“I would like to encourage alumni from the Faculty of Accounting and Informatics to come on board as voluteers, donors, mentors and where possible put us into contact with the companies they are employed at for partnership opportunities around 3rd stream income, graduate placement and socio-economic upliftment programmes so that the Faculty could grow from strength to strength.

“Working together, we can achieve great things. The satisfaction you get from knowing you contributed to a family’s well-being and made a difference to society at large is just overwhelming,” she said.

She gave more input on how the ENVISION2030 strategic plan can help students grow.

I advocate for a positive work environment characterised by teamwork, support, trust, and respect for one another.

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Zinhle Cele

Adding sweet flavour to entrepreneurship DUT Catering Management student and budding professional chef, Ms Zinhle Cele, shares her passion and flair for all things delicious…

components meant to equip students with the necessary skills and knowledge to manage a commercial kitchen or catering business of their own. Through work integrated learning, students are also given the opportunity to gain handson industry experience. The course is well rounded with fundamental modules that include commercial cookery and restaurant operations but also extends to information systems, hygiene and safety and financial management. This is taught both in the context of industry operations and with the possibility of entrepreneurship in mind.

Every journey comes with its challenges and Cele says that her experience at DUT was difficult at times – due to the lack of funding in her first year and all the hardship of being a student, adjusting to university life, independence and the prospect of entering the world of work.

Catering Management student Ms Zinhle Cele and her lecturer Ms Raeesah Khan show off their latest pastry creation – a croquembouche with creamfilled choux buns.

C

ele was born and bred in sunny Durban, a place where flavours from the east and west collide with traditional African cuisine. She grew up with four brothers and was always drawn to the hub of activity in the kitchen – the sweet aromas and magic that took place every mealtime, especially at important family events.

As a young girl, she dreamt of one day becoming a doctor, but as she grew up she discovered that cooking was her genuine love.

Her passion for food continued to grow while studying Catering Management at high school.

“My mom is a teacher, she encouraged me to pursue a career in catering and helped me register at the Durban University of Technology,” reflects Cele.“Cooking is more than a job – it is the art, science, and craft of using heat to prepare food. As a chef, I am here to get your taste buds dancing,” she says poetically.

DUT lecturer Ms Raeesah Khan explains that the Catering Management Diploma consists of both theoretical and practical

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However, DUT prepared her for the catering industry in a number of ways – she completed her in-service training at St Mary’s Hospital kitchen and also received vital support in launching her own business, Zeeyenzeka, in 2020.

“The name of my catering business is ‘Zeeyenzeka’, which means: It will happen,” says Cele.“What it means to me is that no matter what obstacles I might face… my business will succeed. I cater for all kinds of events, parties and baby showers to name a few.”

Khan says that Cele is an ambitious young lady who is selfmotivated and will achieve every success in her career. “She is an all rounder in the kitchen and has done well in hot kitchen, cold kitchen and pastry sections. Zinhle has a ‘never-give-up’ spirit and grabs any opportunity to pave her career path.”

“I always tell my students that when they graduate, they do not just graduate with their qualification, but rather also an acquired skill that they can use to create their own business opportunities. Entrepreneurship is pivotal in today’s economic climate as it drives innovation and allows new markets to develop,” adds Khan.

Khan, along with HOD Dr KM Naidoo offered further support to Cele’s business by conducting an interview and video shoot, which was posted on the DUT website.

FOR Alumni and Friends OF THE DURBAN UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY

Overcoming the pandemic blues Cele says that she faced a lot of challenges as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and lockdown restrictions, but business is looking up, and once she graduates she will be able to put all her time and energy into the business.

On this note, Khan said that prior to COVID-19, many students travelled and worked abroad for some of the most world-renowned hospitality/hotel brands.

Now, due to COVID-19, many students are going the entrepreneurship route and creating their own business opportunities.

This kind of resilience and creative entrepreneurship is vital amid the current social, political and economic challenges.

“My biggest career lesson is to never give up, keep pushing forward even when it gets hotter than ever in the kitchen,” says Cele with a smile. “I always make time to learn, expand my knowledge of cooking and anything else that might tickle my fancy in this lovely world we live in.”

The name of my catering business is ‘Zeeyenzeka’, which means: It will happen. What it means to me is that no matter what obstacles I might face… my business will succeed. I cater for all kinds of events, parties and baby showers to name a few.

DUTConnect // 13

DUT launches groundbreaking Innobiz Centre for Entrepreneurship and Innovation Simangele Zuma A two-day hybrid launch of the Durban University of Technology’s (DUT’s) newly named Innobiz DUT Centre for Entrepreneurship and Innovation was held at DUT’s Indumiso Campus in Pietermaritzburg on Thursday, 04 November 2021 and on Friday, 05 November 2021.

Providing messages of support to Innobiz were Dr Norah Clarke, Director: EDHE programme, Ms Mandisa Cakwe, Director: Teaching and Learning Development in Universities (DHET), Ms Janna Pukka, International Higher Education, Innovation and Regional Development Expert in Finland and Ms Jaclyn Cole, Public Affairs Officer, US Consulate General. The fitting keynote address was delivered by Dr Phil Mjwara, Director General: DSI. The Programme Directors were DUT’s Professor Keolebogile Motaung, Technology Transfer and Innovation (TTI) Director and Mr Zwakele Ngubane, Director: Advancement and Alumni Relations, who facilitated the proceedings of the launch.

Innobiz Competition winner, second year Auditing and Taxation student, Miss Nobuhle Ngcobo. Image © Vusi Dlamini

Local and international esteemed guests joined DUT in celebration of this milestone – a centre that will serve as an umbrella Centre for all entrepreneurial units within the university.

This exciting launch included the unveiling of the Innobiz plaque, an exhibition of DUT’s entrepreneurial activities, showcasing of hubs and student businesses, fashion shows, a panel discussion with various industries both local and international, networking, a gala dinner, student pitches, prizes and more.

Amongst dignitaries who attended this prestigious event were DUT’s Vice-Chancellor and Principal, Professor Thandwa Zizwe Mthembu; Dr Phil Mjwara, Director General: Department of Science and Innovation (DSI); Dr Mmboneni Muofhe, Deputy Director General, DSI; Ms Mandisa Cakwe, Director: Teaching and Learning Development in Universities, Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET); Dr Norah Clark, Director of the Entrepreneurial Development in Higher Education (EDHE) programme; Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Research, Innovation and Engagement at DUT, Professor Sibusiso Moyo, DUT Midlands Campus Director, Dr Joe Molete, Director: Technology Transfer and Innovation at DUT, Professor Keolebogile Motaung, Director: Advancement and Alumni Relations, Mr Zwakele Ngubane and Innobiz Midlands Centre Manager, Ms Nontokozo Ngcobo.

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“Today, we demonstrate what DUT is made of. Today, we demonstrate that DUT’s DNA strands, namely ‘innovative and entrepreneurial’ and ‘people-centred and engaged’ – which are not wild and vacuous slogans, but rather are full of tangible outputs, outcomes and impacts. Innobiz is one of the platforms we will use at DUT to make good on our ultimate goals of ‘innovative and entrepreneurial’ and ‘people-centred and engaged,’” said DUT Vice-Chancellor and Principal, Professor Thandwa Mthembu.

Professor Mthembu further revealed that DUT has, from 2017, put more emphasis on innovation and entrepreneurship as a strategy for transforming societies and economies. He thanked all those that put their minds and energy together over a number of years to make the centre not just a possibility, but a reality.

“Beyond this launch, many problems will still arise, within DUT and between DUT and its Quad-Helix partners. May we all choose to solve the problems instead of moaning incessantly and noisily about them. Unlike what we saw in July 2021, what we see in service delivery protests and other violent protests including our own here at DUT, may we not multiply our problems. May we rather unleash innovation and entrepreneurship via Innobiz.

Ultimately, may Innobiz contribute to improving the lives and livelihoods of our broader society,” noted Professor Mthembu.

Unpacking ENVISION2030: Taking Entrepreneurship and Innovation to new levels at DUT was DVC: RIE, Professor Sibusiso Moyo. She began by thanking both DUT Council and Professor Mthembu for approving the establishment of the centre.

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Through this leadership, Professor Moyo highlighted that DUT has managed to position itself as a significant player in entrepreneurship both in words and in action.

“It will provide a conduit for all entrepreneurs and innovators to learn, practice, experiment, innovate, design and set up their own start-ups with the support of mentors, while providing access to a network of experts and organisations/businesses,” she said.

She further announced the Innobiz competition winner, second year Auditing and Taxation student, Miss Nobuhle Ngcobo, came up with the best name and concept of Innobiz, out of more than 500 entries. Ngcobo expressed her gratitude to DUT for giving her the opportunity to explore her creativity.

Dr Phil Mjwara, Director General: Department of Science and Innovation left many people wishing for more on his thought provoking key note address.

He noted that the establishment of this centre is important in a number of respects, saying it is being launched at a time when there is a growing expectation for science, technology and innovation to become increasingly socially responsive to the needs of the citizens of South Africa.

“This expectation is legitimate if viewed in the context of our disturbingly high levels of inequality and how these were exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. Informed by these and other societal challenges, we have regularly reviewed the responsiveness of our Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) system to the needs of the citizens of our country.

More recently, we have undertaken a project to configure our National System and Innovation with the view to make it more agile and responsive to our current socio-economic realities.

Our latest reconfiguration project is largely informed by our 2019 White Paper on Science, Technology and Innovation and will be implemented through our soon to be finalised Decadal Plan,” said Dr Mjwara.

He spoke at length about his Department’s Decadal Plan and its benefits to society. Informed by the White Paper on Science, Technology and Innovation, Dr Mjwara said they will continue to make investments that are aimed at enabling their STI system to be more socially responsive. He emphasized that they will increase their focus on the development of techno-

entrepreneurs, thus stating that this opening of the centre is complementary to their objectives. He congratulated DUT on this visionary initiative, saying the DSI was looking forward to working with the centre in efforts to build a culture of technology-driven entrepreneurs in South Africa.

“We are a home for all entrepreneurial and innovative activities in DUT. We assist students who want to start business or participate in entrepreneurial community engagements. We assist students with design thinking training, incubation, business mentorship, access to market, funding, business compliance and business support and we also offer personal development activities through community services. We are dedicated in creating entrepreneurs who are innovative and creative,” said Innobiz Midlands Centre Manager, Nontokozo Ngcobo.

Sharing some of the challenges, Ms Ngcobo expressed the need to scale-up the commercialisation scenario for transactional products in the University. Another area she addressed was around having the right human resource capacity and funding for entrepreneurial research and innovation in order to fully meet the demands. Her recommendations included establishing incubators in the university that will assist with commercialisation.

She advised that students should be allowed to translate their ideas into commercialisation by not threatening them that the Intellectual Property (IP) belongs to the university. Ms Ngcobo also recommended that the format of proposal writing should be changed to incorporate entrepreneurship in the curriculum.

After the formalities, dignitaries had a walkabout, touring the Agri-Hub then to the centre for the ribbon cutting and plaque unveiling. They were given a chance to interact with student entrepreneurs at the Student Businesses Exhibition.

Day one of the launch ended with informed panel discussions titled: The Role and Response of the Higher Education Sector to Commercialisation and Innovation with the other tackling the Role of Incubators in Higher Education Institutions. The facilitators of the discussions were TTI Director, Professor Keolebogile Motaung and Mr Duke Ngcobo, Innobiz Midlands, Industry and Projects Coordinator.

Day two of the launch was held virtually on Friday, 05 November 2021 via Microsoft Teams. It was filled with exciting presentations and discussions from DUT stakeholders, all in celebration and support of the launch of the groundbreaking Innobiz DUT Centre for Entrepreneurship and Innovation.

From left to right: DUT Vice-Chancellor and Principal, Professor Thandwa Mthembu, Ms Jaclyn Cole, Public Affairs Officer, US Consulate General, Dr Phil Mjwara, Director General: Department of Science and Innovation and DUT Midlands Campus Director, Dr Joe Molete at the launch of the Innobiz DUT Centre for Entrepreneurship and Innovation.

DUTConnect // 15

Championing youth

entrepreneurship DUT’s Professor Sibusiso Moyo scoops the Entrepreneurial Development in Higher Education (EDHE) DVC Award 2021…

BY Simangele Zuma The Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Research, Innovation and Engagement at the Durban University of Technology (DUT), Professor Sibusiso Moyo was awarded the Entrepreneurial Development in Higher Education (EDHE) DVC Award at the EDHE 2021 Awards ceremony held at the Premier Hotel in Johannesburg on the 19th of November 2021.

P

rofessor Moyo was recognised for facilitating exceptional institutional support for entrepreneurship development in 2021. She won based on three focus areas, namely; student entrepreneurship, entrepreneurship development through teaching, learning and/or research and advancing the institution’s positioning as an entrepreneurial university.

Professor Moyo echoed the importance of collaborations and the wealth of materials and ideas shared by the DUT ViceChancellor and Principal, Professor Thandwa Zizwe Mthembu, from 2017 to 2021.

“Professor Mthembu continues to drive us in the right direction and my role is to ensure that the team and I understand how to create a sustainable entrepreneurial ecosystem and ensure we have at least one approved innovative programme that will help train entrepreneurs with real enterprises by ‘design’ and not by ‘accident’, as our Vice-Chancellor and Principal usually says,” commented Professor Moyo.

She also thanked all the staff and students who are working in this area, and in particular her team of entrepreneurial leaders led by Professor Keolebogile Motaung, Ms Nontokozo Ngcobo, Ms Nonhlanhla Khanyile, Dr Poppet Pillay and Ms Lana Brady.

“I also thank Professor Colin Thakur, Ms Phumzile Xulu, Dr Themba Msukwini, Mr Zwakele Ngubane, Mr Ebrahim Asmal who just do what needs to be done without complaining and advancing our impact amongst our communities. Working on the boundary between the university and its partners is not easy and resources that have come through various donors/ partners have to be used responsibly to ensure there is impact and accountability,” added Professor Moyo.

Professor Moyo advocates for student entrepreneurship, not just in words but also in action. At DUT she has been responsible for setting up the equivalent of ‘Activation offices’ for students in Durban and the Midlands. These offices target

DUTConnect // 16

at least 10% of the 33 000 students annually based in Durban and in the Midlands. She has, with the support of the university management, set up a coordinating structure that brings together the two focal desks in Durban and Midlands, the Enactus team and the Social Entrepreneurship Rapid Incubator funded by SEDA – to become the Umbrella Centre for all the Entrepreneurial Entities. This new entity is called Innobiz and it is set to become the coordinating entity for entrepreneurship activities at the university with centralised services, supported by the Technology Transfer and Innovation portfolio.

There are a number of initiatives DUT participated in in 2021, including the British Council Innovation for African Universities (IAU) Programme, with the mission to leverage Carbon Literacy for Youth Employability and Job Creation in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). The Network Partnership comprises the Sheffield Hallam University as the lead UK partner, Durban University of Technology as the lead SSA partner, Innovate Durban as the Ecosystem player, as well as Kisii University in Kenya, and Ladoke Akintola University of Technology in Nigeria. Professor Sunday Ojo is the Project Manager for this programme.

Her advocacy is not just limited to DUT students but goes beyond to the youth in the province who can access co-designed programmes with the university’s quad-helix partners and international partners – including the Guangzhou International Sister City University (GISU), which she has been instrumental in ensuring DUT joins and presents opportunities to. In 2021, she and a team of her colleagues were awarded the GISU grant for Entrepreneurship sponsored by Guangzhou University.The grant for 2021 was awarded to her and the DUT Entrepreneurship Team comprising of Dr Ndivhuho Tshikovhi (Postdoctoral Fellow), Ms Nontokozo Ngcobo (Manager Innobiz), Professor Keolebogile Motaung (Director: Technology Transfer and Innovation) and Dr Xiang Zhou (Guangzhou University, China).

She has been recognised internationally for her contributions not just to the South African agenda but the international agenda as well. The UNESCO-UNEVOC in Bonn, Germany, calls

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To deliver on these major initiatives requires a number of partners inside and outside the university to make things happen. We have good plans and intentions and now we are required to step-up and move into the implementation phase.

upon her and her colleagues to share best practice through various TVET Engagements through the UNEVOC network.

Her recent appointment in 2021 as the Honorary Dean: School of Innovation and Entrepreneurship, Tianjin Vocational Institute, China (2021-2023) and as Board Member of Innovate Durban and the Durban Chamber of Commerce and Industry helps her use her networks to continue supporting entrepreneurs, especially student start-ups at DUT. Looking at Entrepreneurship development through teaching, learning and/or research, Professor Moyo was instrumental in leading the development of the Student Entrepreneurship Policy, which is aimed at ensuring that every student, by the time they graduate, gets exposed to entrepreneurship. Parallel to this are the initiatives she has been leading, together with her DUT colleagues, on establishing the next generation “Entrepreneurship & Innovative” curriculum through a design thinking process. Furthermore, she has been leading strategic engagements and initiatives that have seen staff trained in

Project Based Learning since 2019, Design Thinking and practical training on the 3D Experience Platform. Additional training and resources will continue being offered through strategic partnerships and engagements with THENSA for a number of programmes targeted at students and staff respectively. This has inevitably increased DUT’s reach to student entrepreneurs who are exposed to online practical learning in entrepreneurship.

In terms of advancing the institution’s positioning as an entrepreneurial university, Professor Moyo indicated that internal collaboration is vital. In her engagements, the Deputy Vice-Chancellor Teaching and Learning, Professor Nokuthula Sibiya, Executive Deans and Directors/Chairs of Research and Innovation areas, the Chief Financial Officer and Procurement Director are seen as critical partners in delivering DUT’s ENVISION2030 and creating an enabling environment. For instance, in 2021, both the CFO and Director of Procurement have been directly engaged in advising and supporting entrepreneurial initiatives that will support our students and youth. The important outcome is where the CFO advocated for the inclusion of training and exposure of entrepreneurial students to Supply Chain Management processes, inclusions and exclusions. This will help DUT students to get skills and understand the governance and policy landscape to survive in the real world outside the university’s protected environment.

“In terms of infrastructure, the DUT Innovation Hub, is destined to become a flagship for DUT once completed.That space will allow entrepreneurs, industry/business partners and other quad-helix partners to come together in driving the university’s innovation and entrepreneurial capacity forward through mutually beneficial engagements. To deliver on these major initiatives requires a number of partners inside and outside the university to make things happen. We have good plans and intentions and now we are required to step-up and move into the implementation phase.

Watch the DUT space!” concluded Professor Moyo.

From L-R: Professor Thandwa Zizwe Mthembu:Vice-Chancellor & Principal (DUT); Professor Sibusiso Moyo: Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Research, Innovation and Engagement (Recipient of EDHE DVC Award 2021); Professor Keolebogile Motaung (Director: Technology Transfer and Innovation); Ms Nontokozo Ngcobo: Manager- Innobiz DUT Centre for Entrepreneurship & Innovation and Mr Muzi Mhlongo (Biotechnology Student and Finalist Intervarsity Participant in the EDHE 2021 Awards).

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Khuzwayo’s journey DUT student rises above barriers on the road to entrepreneurial success…

Up-and-coming entrepreneur and Durban University of Technology (DUT) Diploma in Business Information Management student Nqobile Nomfundo Khuzwayo has not let her disability become a deterrent in her academic studies or entrepreneurship journey.

Khuzwayo’s study journey “My study journey began at Ekuthuleni Combined School, KwaMashu, where I completed grade one to grade three. I then attended the Paul Sykes Primary School from 2006 to 2010.This was followed by attendance at Hill Grove Secondary School until 2011. It was then that my life changed forever. I suffered from Hypoxic Brain Injury (a brain injury that forms due to a restriction of oxygen supplied to the brain), so I had to find another school that would accommodate my disability,” she said.

Khuzwayo completed her matric in 2018 at the AM Moola Spes Nova School, which specialises in education for persons with disabilities. She could not apply for university in 2019 because she did not have a motorised wheelchair and so decided to take a gap year. In 2020, she was so excited to get an opportunity to become a student at DUT. However, with the onset of COVID-19, she could not attend physical classes and is now doing her studies online, which she admitted has its disadvantages.

She immediately joined the Differently Abled Students Association (DASA) on becoming a student, which has been a great support structure for her.

Know your rights!

“It is vital to be part of the association because you get to know your rights as a student living with a disability on and off campus.

Students can follow our Disability Rights Unit on Facebook as it’s important to be educated about disability,” she said.

Explaining how her journey as a person with a disability had impacted her, Khuzwayo conveyed that it had changed her life as she now has to, at times, rely on other people to help her with her daily routine.

Business Information Management student Nqobile Nomfundo Khuzwayo is a thriving student and entrepreneur despite suffering from Hypoxic Brain Injury.

DUTConnect // 18

She struggles with doing daily chores but gets help from friends and family in getting ready for school or doing her washing and ironing.

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Academic challenges Khuzwayo also spoke about some of the challenges (preCOVID-19) she faced as a student when she was attending classes physically. They included the fact that some campuses were not accessible for persons with disabilities such as lifts on campuses. She said that most of the time, the lifts were full or not working, making it difficult to get to class on time.

She also said that some classes on campus are not yet wheelchair accessible, and at residences the issue of lifts was also a problem as they are often inadequate.

A successful peer mentor Besides her academic studies, she is currently a peer mentor for first-year students and loves helping people, especially other DUT students.

“The peer mentoring is going well; my responsibilities are to show the first-year students around campus (pre-COVID-19), helping them with their modules that they are finding difficult and giving them support and guidance in terms of their studies.

I enjoy this because I am keen on helping other students and I want them to succeed,” she said.

DUT nurtures her entrepreneurial dream Khuzwayo said that DUT has helped her discover who she is and what she wants in life. “Since I want to grow as an entrepreneur, I have gained a lot from the DUT’s Entrepreneurial Desk,” she said. “I feel honoured to be a DUT student because I now have an opportunity to study, and not every person with a disability gets this opportunity.”

She is very excited about her academic journey because due to the lack of job opportunities, she wants to become a fully-

fledged and knowledgeable entrepreneur and her studies at DUT will allow her to become one.

Khuzwayo started her business called Dimplez Digital Invitations in 2019, which entails creating and making invitations for all kinds of occasions. Her idea behind the business came about because of her immense passion for digital design.

“I am proud of my business and am keen on growing it really big.

I would like to employ other students, since in these days it’s hard to get employment; students are sitting at home with their qualifications,” she added.

In terms of the help that she had received at the Entrepreneurial Desk, she said that she now knows how to do a business plan. “I know how to do a value proposition and I also got motivated by the people who came and spoke to us (pre-COVID-19) during our boot camps,” she said.

Khuzwayo’s advice to other students living with disabilities is to never let one’s current situation determine one’s future.

“Anyone can change the world, so what makes you think that you can’t do it? Anything is possible if you put your mind to it. I’m a living testimony to that; I was declared brain dead, but look at where I am today. I passed my matric and now I’m a proud DUT student and I’m elated to say that I’m passing my modules with distinctions,” she said.

Future plans Khuzwayo explained that her role models are her mother and sister, and her future plans are to establish a company that leaves an indelible mark in the industry as well as to one day own and drive her own car. “I want to study until I do my PhD, and I want to be financially stable in order to move forward and achieve my entrepreneurial dreams,” she said.

I am proud of my business and am keen on growing it really big. I would like to employ other students, since in these days it’s hard to get employment; students are sitting at home with their qualifications.

DUTConnect // 19

A passion for gemstone jewellery DUT alumna shares the secrets of her successful jewellery career…

International entrepreneur and former DUT Jewellery Design student, Vereena Sundraj is the founder and creative director of Colour Addict, which specialises in bespoke gemstone jewellery.

The brand is available online and in boutiques in London, New York, Singapore, and Dubai. Sundraj designs all the jewellery, which is manufactured in the Colour Addict workshop.

Currently residing in Ireland, she has shipped her jewellery to over 34 countries worldwide, has been featured in Vogue and Harper’s Bazaar magazines AND been invited to showcase her designs at New York Fashion Week.

Durban-born Sundraj, who has received a de Beers Award, manages an all-women team that handles design, social media, sales and distribution from their headquarters in Singapore and Ireland. She also runs Colour Addict workshops. Having successfully launched three start-up businesses, her latest brand, Chai Addict, went live in November 2021 targeting Ireland, the UK and the European Union.

Sundraj described her jewellery as fun, flirty, and rebellious…

“All our pieces are bold and vibrant to give you that celebrity style. We believe that the most sustainable fashion you can purchase is already in your closet. Instead of spending money on a new wardrobe every season to keep up with trends, we suggest updating your current one with jewellery,” she said.

She settled in Ireland as her husband is Irish.

“I am a sucker for the rain and the Irish accent and we made the decision to move here a few years ago. This also helped my online business as Ireland is the perfect location to ship from worldwide.”

She reflects fondly on her time at DUT: “I registered in the Faculty of Arts: Jewellery Design and Manufacture in 1999 back in the days when it was at the Botanical Gardens campus. I completed my diploma in 2001,” she explains.

Special moments included discovering and falling in love with rare semi-precious stones during her gemmology class.

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“However, the highlight of my DUT experience was a more personal one. I grew up in apartheid South Africa and lived among only Indian people. My high school was attended by mainly Indian girls. DUT exposed me to what it means to be South African and I made friends of all races and backgrounds, many of whom I am still in contact with today.”

Nonetheless, she confronted some challenges during her time as a student…

“My family could barely afford to pay my fees and I had to work part-time. For those three years, I did not have a single day off,” she said.

Sundraj added that DUT shaped her into the entrepreneur that she is today.

“I do a live-stream where we sell our jewellery, and people comment on what a gemstone geek I am, as I am always quoting my gemmology and metallurgy lecturers,” she laughs.

She cites Rihanna Savage x Fenty as role models.

“Growing up as an Indian kid in apartheid South Africa, I didn’t think I had the confidence to grow an international accessories business. Seeing other women of colour doing this and having the time of their lives while doing it, makes me feel like anything is possible and the sky really is the limit. My other role model is my mum who worked to provide for us, ran the home and raised three children. I am in awe of her and how she managed to do it all,” she said.

Looking to the future, she aims to work with her dedicated team to become a major player in the fashion industry with more celebrity endorsements and store locations. She added that the COVID-19 pandemic has forced her to think outside the box: “Last year at the height of the pandemic, we partnered with Facebook and Instagram and have used these social media platforms more than ever to promote our business,

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allowing us to grow our online presence.We also set up global next-day shipping to selected countries. Our biggest win was getting ASOS, the largest online fashion marketplace in the UK, EU and North America to sell Colour Addict jewellery,” she said.

Leading Asian fashion provider Zalora followed and Colour Addict is also sold on Amazon.

Her advice to DUT students who want to follow in her footsteps is to keep going.

“It will be hard, and at times you will wonder why you are doing it. There have been days where I had $10 in my business account with a string of bills to pay, but one has to push through the difficult times because there is so much reward on the other side.”

All our pieces are bold and vibrant to give you that celebrity style. We believe that the most sustainable fashion you can purchase is already in your closet.

Instead of spending money on a new wardrobe every season to keep up with trends, we suggest updating your current one with jewellery.

From humble beginnings to international success, Vereena Sundraj is a shining example of what can be achieved with ambition and hard work.

DUTConnect // 21

Webinars connect the dots…

T

he Advancement and Alumni Relations Office had a very eventful 2021. The launch of the Mentorship Programme saw the need for webinars that would be a useful tool and resource for alumni, staff, and students.

The AARO planned a multitude of webinars with a variety of topics, which were relayed by subject matter experts. The list of Mentorship Webinars included the following:

• • • • • • •

•

Mentorship Induction – AARO Benefits of Mentorship – AARO What is Mentorship? – AARO Responsibilities of Mentors and Mentees – Mrs Arusha Dasrath Tips and Advice on Work Readiness and CV Writing – Ms Ntombizine Fikeni and Dr Zamokuhle Mbandlwa Sexual Harassment in the Workplace – Mrs Mandisa Mthembu Individual Branding and Marketing – Ms Zodumo Maphumulo, Mr Reginald Vusumuzi “Mapansela” Ndlovu, Ms Thato Moeng and Mr Nkululeko Mbatha Rock Your LinkedIn Profile – Mr Stewart Samkange

Evaluation surveys were conducted after each webinar and by indication of the attendees’ responses there was a demand for

other areas to be covered which has and will be met in current and future webinars.

Alongside the Mentorship Webinar we saw a niche of alumni, student and staff who wanted more information on entrepreneurship and the survival of businesses through the COVID-19 pandemic, which has been cause for many businesses to close their doors permanently. These ideas gave birth to our Business Networking Webinars which address entrepreneurial questions and provide a platform for our guest speakers to offer much needed advice. Our Business Networking webinars included the following topic and guest speaker: • •

A business journey – Mr Mfundo Shozi The Extent to which Higher Education Institutions Adequately Prepare Students for Life: Reflections from a DUT Perspective – Prof Thandwa Mthembu, Mr Mfundo Shozi, Ms Diva Mobeni and Ms Mbali Bhengu

The webinars hosted by AARO have been received with very positive feedback and there has been demand for more.This has been an extremely successful programme which included not only alumni but staff and students taking advantage to educate themselves on the variety of topics.

The challenges of modern times require creative solutions.Webinars enable students, academics and industry experts from all over the world to connect, engage and spark new ideas.

Image © Olu Eletu / Wikipedia Commons.

DUTConnect // 22

FOR Alumni and Friends OF THE DURBAN UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY

DID YOU KNOW? The Durban University of Technology is a result of the merger in April 2002 of two prestigious Technikons, ML Sultan and Technikon Natal. It was named the Durban Institute of Technology and later became the Durban University of Technology in line with the rest of the universities of technology.

Entrepreneurship crossword puzzle ACROSS

1 2

3

4

5

6 7 8

9

2. A former pupil or student of a particular school, college, or university.

3. An educational talk to an audience, especially one of students in a university.

5. A group or system of interconnected people or things.

6. The likely prospects for or fate of someone or something in time to come.

8. A university academic of the highest rank; the holder of a university chair.

9. A list of the books referred to in a scholarly work, typically printed as an appendix.

DOWN

1. An organization founded for a religious, educational, professional, or social purpose.

4. A new method, idea, product.

7. In-between childhood and adulthood.

Turn to page 35 for all the answers to our funtastic crossword puzzle.

COMPETITION TIME! WOULD YOU LIKE TO WIN A

R300 WOOLWORTHS VOUCHER?

Answer these three simple questions on our LinkedIn page and the voucher is yours. The first person to answer all three correctly wins... good luck!

1. What does AARO stand for?

2. Name one AARO project?

3. What is AARO’s mission?

DUTConnect // 23

Diva Mobedi

innovative fashion for a changing world DUT graduate Ms Diva Mobedi has used her fashion diploma as a stepping-stone to create real change in the world. Apart from running her own business, Fashion by Leelah, she has a number of satellite projects that encompass education, recycling and skills development. A true entrepreneur and inspiration, Mobedi has proven that business can work hand-in-hand with social development and environmentalism.

“It all began when I was seven years old… I would go to my mother’s work-place after school – she was a seamstress at that time,” remembers Mobedi. “I would gather up all the small offcuts that she threw away and staple and glue them together to create clothes for my dolls. By the time I turned 11, I was a pro at sewing on the industrial sewing machine!”

Mobedi’s love for fashion started at a very young age. Besides watching runway shows and trend forecasting, she loved the idea of dressing people according to their style of choice.

“It made me feel like the godmother from the movie Cinderella,” she reminisces. “In 2017 I enrolled at the DUT to study Fashion and Textiles.”

The same year, Mobedi started her own business, Fashion by Leelah, and her first campaign was creating Muslim wear. She soon won her first entrepreneurship competition, which was

held by the Centre for Social Entrepreneurship (CSE DUT).

From there, her business diversified as she began providing free sewing training, empowering unemployed members of her community towards finding work in factories or starting their own businesses.

During her studies, Mobedi gathered a long list of accolades.

She won the existing Business General category of the Entrepreneurship Development in Higher Education (EDHE) as well as winning a leadership programme hosted by Khanya Khanya.

In 2019 she placed in the top 10 for a fashion competition hosted by the South African Fashion Week (SAFW) and she was recently featured in the annual Mail & Guardian: 200 young South Africans to make a difference list.

“I always find innovative solutions to problems that arise in my business and life,” reflects Mobedi. “Being environmentally conscious, I discovered that fashion has a major environmental footprint and is causing damage to the world. Billions of clothes get dumped in landfills every year. So I developed a system and recycling campaign that turns waste fabric into fashion items.”

Mobedi’s ‘waste to fashion’ campaign has won a number of awards and garnered the attention of various filmmakers.

During the pandemic Mobedi also created a tutoring group that supports high school learners from Grades 10 to 12. “I work with ICON who provided professional tutors and data for the students,” she explains. “In the first week, we enrolled almost 1700 learners across South Africa.”

DUT has played an integral role in her personal and business growth. She is currently studying an advanced diploma in Management Science: Business Administration.

DUTConnect // 24

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“DUT funded my business with capital in 2017,” she says. “I have been under their guidance through an incubator programme that has brought so many clients and networking opportunities,” she adds.

Mobedi believes that her greatest achievement is growing her own business and providing jobs at a time when employment is so vital to our economy and people.

“I currently own 22 machines, I employ six people and am expanding my business to incorporate a printing department,” she says proudly.

“Starting a fashion company is one of the hardest things I’ve ever done,” she goes on. “For the first two years I was running at a loss. People weren’t comfortable with trying a new designer who was still a student the time.That didn’t stop me from striving and pushing forward. Five years later my business is picking up.”

With so much on the go… what does Diva Mobedi do to kick back and relax?

“Between running my factory, sewing classes, the online tutoring programme and recycling project, I barely have time to spare.

And if I do get time, then I plan more innovative ideas,” she says in conclusion.

Being environmentally conscious, I discovered that fashion has a major environmental footprint and is causing damage to the world. Billions of clothes get dumped in landfills every year. So I developed a system and recycling campaign that turns waste fabric into fashion items.

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Education made possible for students through DUT and Feenix DUT’s partnership with the Feenix Trust has resulted in over R2 million being raised towards the fees of 70 students.

DUT student, Samkelo Mlambo, is one of many recipients of support through the Feenix Trust.

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raditional student financing mechanisms are by and large restrictive and often exclude vulnerable categories of students such as those who show resilience and progress academically, but are not necessarily top (A) students, post graduate students, and those whose household income falls outside of traditional or government financing brackets. DUT works closely with the Feenix Trust, an online student fundraising platform, to provide an alternative and innovative solution for students who fall through the cracks.

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Feenix Student Engagement Manager, Cara-Jean Petersen.

Through crowdfunding, the Feenix Trust connects students in need of financial assistance with corporate and individual communities to raise the funds required to obtain a degree.

Feenix has raised over R112.55 million and impacted the lives of over 2 331 students (figures as per February 2022), enabling them to continue their degrees or graduate debt-free.

“Feenix is built on the premise that access to education should not be dependent on wealth and that communities lie at the

FOR Alumni and Friends OF THE DURBAN UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY

heart of making this a reality. Students create their Feenix profiles, tell their stories, and share this with their communities,” says Feenix Student Engagement Manager, Cara-Jean Petersen.

DUT has worked closely with Feenix since 2019, raising over R2 million to assist students in need of funds. A total of 70 students, including 17 students with disabilities, have received funding to date, and an additional 109 final year and postgraduate students received laptops, data and food vouchers during the 2020 hard lockdown to complete their degrees remotely and enter the job market.

Bachelor of Applied Arts in Screen Arts and Technology student, Samkelo Mlambo, is among the DUT students who has received funding. Like many of the students on Feenix, Samkelo Mlambo has faced challenges on his journey to accessing a tertiary education. Despite this, he has remained resilient in pursuing his goals, and in 2021 was selected for the Feenix 2021 Student Hero video to share his story of courage and further boost his fundraising campaign.

“I want to kill the stereotype that if you come from a disadvantaged background your dreams are limited,” commented Samkelo Mlambo. “Thank you so much…I will forever be grateful and I think I will also be part of Feenix for years to come because it is changing my life.”

Feenix works across all 26 public universities in South Africa and annually hosts the Feenix University Awards to recognise universities’ efforts in supporting students to access both financial and holistic support. In 2020 DUT received the Feenix University of The Year award as well as the Staff Champion of the Year award, and in 2021 received the Partnership Appreciation Award and the Beyond Excellence Award.

Anyone who wants to donate to Samkelo or other DUT students can do so by visiting www.feenix.org. All student information is verified by DUT to ensure transparency and that donations are paid directly into students’ university fees accounts.

About Feenix Feenix is a Public Benefit Organisation (number: 930057053) and was launched in 2017 as a response to the #FeesMustFall movement which highlighted the extremely high cost of tertiary education in South Africa. Feenix’s online student crowdfunding platform connects communities, providing a tool for students to formalise their fundraising efforts and a channel for funders to find students they wish to support. www.feenix.org

Feenix is built on the premise that access to education should not be dependent on wealth and that communities lie at the heart of making this a reality. Students create their Feenix profiles, tell their stories, and share this with their communities.

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Master of light Photographer, designer and creative director – Kevin Goss-Ross reflects on his professional journey, his time at DUT and the meaning of entrepreneurship…

DUT Alumnus, Kevin Goss-Ross

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evin Goss-Ross is a Visual Communications graduate who made his name as one of the most exciting young portrait and music photographers to come out of Durban in an era when the creative scene was blooming. Goss-Ross won the lauded Emma Smith scholarship in 2009 and went on to establish a career as a successful freelance photographer here in South Africa. However, after a few years in the industry, he felt the need to travel and explore new boundaries, and so moved to Dublin, Ireland, where a whole new adventure began. Today he’s creative director and partner at Vibrant, a creative agency and production company at the cutting edge of the industry in Europe.

DUT Connect: Briefly describe your background and how this influenced your identity as a creative…

Goss-Ross: I’m South African, so the experience of growing up in such a vibrant country certainly helped inform my creativity. In other countries you wouldn’t be exposed to so many different people and ideas and ways of doing things as we are in South Africa. Apart from that I was lucky to have grown up in a family where creativity was always encouraged.

DUT Connect: When did you attend DUT and what’s your qualification?

Goss-Ross: I started studying Graphic Design but I think the course got a name change half way through so I graduated with a degree in Visual Communication in 2010. It was lucky for me because half way through I also fell in love with photography, so I was able to justify doing a photography project for my fourth year. I liked the immediacy of the medium and it just came to me more naturally.

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DUT Connect: What’s your fondest memory of your time at DUT? Goss-Ross: Being awarded the Emma Smith scholarship was a highlight. Otherwise it’s the days where we’d spend hours between lectures under the big tree at City Campus.

DUT Connect: Briefly discuss your journey in the working world, and describe your current position…

Goss-Ross: I freelanced during my time at DUT and when I finished I just kept going. By the time I got my qualification I had enough regular work to sustain myself. Initially I spent most of my time doing editorial photography: some of it for free, most of it for not a lot of money. After a couple of years of being a freelance photographer I wanted to try something different and challenge myself because it felt like things were just a little easy. So I moved to Ireland, right in the middle of a recession. I picked up some photography teaching jobs and gradually built up a client base: something which isn’t very easy when you don’t know anyone. After three years I ran into visa trouble and got in touch with a local advertising agency to see if they’d give me a job so I could stay in Ireland on a work permit. They said yes and I worked there for two years as a photographer and art director, then three more as creative director. In that time I started working in video too because I was in charge of the film and photography team. Gradually my work day went from mostly photography, some design and a bit of art direction to more and more video. I worked on out of home campaigns, cinema, radio, TV ads, social, cultural pieces and an endless list of creative outputs.

FOR Alumni and Friends OF THE DURBAN UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY

At the start of 2021 I joined two of my friends who had founded Vibrant: a production company/creative agency as a partner and creative director. We offer a wide range of creative services but I spend my days mostly working on video projects big and small for some really amazing clients with an incredible team of talented humans.

DUT Connect: Speak on returning home to work on the beachfront project (The Golden Mile)… what motivated you to work on it? Do you still feel connected to Durban / Mzansi?

Goss-Ross: I was home for a couple of months because I had a problem with a work permit which couldn’t be resolved in Ireland. It was an amazing couple of months for me. My employer at the time allowed me to work remotely for two days a week and get paid in Euros so I had a lot of time, a lot of which was spent on the beachfront. It was a period where I reconnected with South Africa and with KwaZulu-Natal in particular. I fell in love with the Durban beaches. It felt like one of the places where everyone was truly equal and shared the same space. I was enamoured by the characters and the vibrancy of it all and the light was gorgeous every evening. The sun travelled through the sea mist in a special way. I had to do something creative with it so I walked around the Golden Mile with a camera and a softbox for a couple of days with some really great people helping me with lighting. I approached interesting looking people and took their portraits. I then took their details and if they wanted I sent them a digital copy of the image.You can’t just take photographs, you have to give them too.

DUT Connect: What advice can you give to young photographers looking to make it in South Africa and abroad?

Goss-Ross: Be good before trying to be different. You’ll find your unique voice with time.

Try everything. It’s good for your brain and it’ll make you a more valuable asset. It’s getting harder and harder to do just one thing.

Photographers should really learn the basics of video. Designers will find work more easily if they can make their design move.

The industry is constantly changing, so change with it.

DUT Connect: Did DUT adequately prepare you for the world of work? Why is entrepreneurship important in the creative field?

Goss-Ross: I think DUT prepared me as much as anywhere can prepare you for the world of work. All the things I remember thinking of as a waste of time still serve me to this day. Our first year we barely touched a computer and spent most of our time painting squares in gouache, or drawing a single object 50 times in 50 mediums. Those lessons which left me frustrated are the most valuable to this day. I can’t really imagine a better education and I will forever be grateful to the kindness and patience of my lecturers. In particular Dennis Purvis, Kay Smart and the brilliant Kate Wells.

I learned a lot from freelancing as a designer and photographer while studying. You’ll never have as much free time as you have as a student and it is a massive wasted opportunity to not jump straight into the industry while you’re at DUT. The creative industry is as competitive as ever and having a year or two of freelancing under your belt gives you a massive head start. It’ll also teach you valuable lessons early on.

Entrepreneurship is a word thrown around all the time but it has many reasons and ways of coming to life. I wouldn’t consider myself a very knowledgeable businessman but what I will say is this: start by working for someone to learn the ropes. Make sure you’re treated well. If you’re working for someone who isn’t paying you enough, working you too hard or not looking after you, work for yourself. The creative industry is one of the best industries in which to freelance and you have a unique skill or style people will pay for it. Don’t be afraid to break free and start your own thing, with or without other people.

Everyone has a different motivation and mine has never been to make loads of money. It is to make amazing work with great people and entrepreneurship helps me achieve those goals.

DUTConnect // 29

Be You

Setting yourself apart for that job opportunity…

BY David King

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inding a job can be a daunting task. All the pressures and expectations around carving your career path, earning a living and reaching your full potential in the midst of a pandemic can be overwhelming. But fear not, there is a wealth of information and guidance that can help you on this journey… and the first step is the journey of self-discovery.

There is an age-old piece of career advice that goes: discover your passion and you will never work a day in your life. For some this is easy, but for others it can take a lifetime to discover your passion and purpose. There are some simple steps to help you identify and recognise your potential, your strengths and skills – and these are vital in finding meaningful work, as well as creating your own career opportunities.

Begin by asking yourself these questions: Who are you? What do you bring to the world? What makes you shine and flourish? What are the skills, talents, qualifications and experiences that make you employable?

Knowledge of self will hold you in good stead when applying for any position, pitching a project or starting your own business.

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Reach out to colleagues, peers and family for their input. Often, those around you can offer a fresh perspective that changes your mind-set and open up new opportunites. Reflection is key.

Once you have a firm (or loose!) idea of who you are and what your purpose is, you can start preparing to present yourself (and your story) to others that may help on your career journey.

This can be at a job interview, networking session, meeting or even a social situation. The more you talk about your ideas and skills, the more opportunities you will have of turning dreams into reality.

The next step – preparation When you do ‘get your foot in the door’ and manage to land your dream job interview or set up a meeting with an influential person in your sector, the next step is PREPARATION.

FOR Alumni and Friends OF THE DURBAN UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY

Here are some useful tips in preparing for the big day: Know your audience: research the company or person you • are meeting with. Understand what they do, what their vision is and how you might fit into, or contribute to their master-plan.

• Anticipate the interview questions.

• Pack (and dress) accordingly.

• Get your head in the right place. Whether it’s exercise, meditation or rest – taking care of your physical and mental health is a vital step in preparing for a big interview.

The most important tip is to breathe and tell your story. Future employers, entrepreneurs or possible business partners will be looking to gather a clear understanding of who you are and what you have to offer. So be confident in your unique story, skills and potential.

The world-renowned author and illustrator, Dr Seuss said it best: “Today you are you.That is truer than true.There is no one alive who is you-er than you!”

During an interview, remember these key pieces of advice: Listen and observe: these skills will help you respond to • questions and situations accordingly.

Give real life examples: your own story is what you know • best!

• •

Body language: be relaxed, confident and friendly.

Fill the gap, meet the need! Be prepared to pitch ideas.

Nurture a solutions-based attitude.

After your meeting, send a thank you message and try to be at peace with whatever the outcome may be. Remember that the process (or journey) and the lessons we learn along the way, are as important as the destination itself.

When you do land the job, here are some useful tips to help you adapt to the new position…

Absorb, listen, observe and ask questions.

• The new job may be a shock to the system: on average, it • takes three months to settle into a new position and six months to become proficient.

Find a friend, find a mentor. Build good relationships in the • workplace.

Don’t be afraid to make it your own.

• The Chinese philosopher Lao Tzu said: “A journey of a thousand miles begins with one step.”

Your career truely is a journey to be walked and explored, one step at a time.

Knowledge of self will hold you in good stead when applying for any position, pitching a project or starting your own business.

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Alumni Facebook page hacked Mr Zipho Chamane of the DUT Advancement and Alumni Relations team tells of how the Advancement and Alumni Relations Facebook page was hijacked by an anonymous hacker…

On the 29th of August 2020 Mr Zipho Chamane, woke up and went to work at the DUT Alumni office like any other day. The Prospect Researcher and Database Officer went about his business as usual, a routine that includes managing the Alumni Office’s social media accounts – LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and DUTConnect. Opening up the Facebook page, a lively platform with 3 900 Likes, he was in for a terrible surprise…

“Our page had been hacked and I had been removed as admin,” remembers Chamane of the incident. “We had alumni asking what is going with the name change and the cover photo change.

I was totally shocked.”

The name of the Alumni page had been changed to ‘Yoga Online Shop’, which meant that the Facebook community of alumni was effectively a captive audience, hijacked by an anonymous hacker with ulterior motives.

Zipho immediately reported the incident to Facebook and his director, and later contacted the DUT Communications Department for assistance. Try as they might, nobody was able to rectify the issue... and the hacker continued to run the page for a few days, making posts unrelated to DUT and its alumni.

To this day Facebook has not responded to the issue and the Alumni Office has had no success in accessing the page. Chamane reached out to specialists and colleagues in his network as far abroad as UCLA, but to no avail. Eventually he had no choice but to start a new Facebook page from scratch.

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“We would like to be transparent about the issue – for all the alumni that followed us to be aware of what happened and be on the look out for posts from the fraudulent account, although it seems to be dormant now,” says Chamane. “Our new account is up and running and can be followed here: facebook.com/ dutalumnioffice.”

The Facebook page and other social media platforms are important communication channels for the Advancement and Alumni Relations team.

“We are living in a digital world, where social media is a leading tool for communication, so we use social media as a medium of communication between alumni and their alma-mater. We also use social media to find alumni and encourage them to update their profiles.”

The DUT Alumni FB page showcases content created by the DUT Communications department as well as news relating to alumni and the Alumni Office – with a focus on careers, entrepreneurship and community engagement.

“We only share stories that alumni can relate to,” continues Chamane. “We monitor comments and measure engagement on each story we share.”

The hacking incident highlighted the fact that there are a number of risks involved in the use of social media as an individual or business, and these are often overlooked. Chamane lists the

FOR Alumni and Friends OF THE DURBAN UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY

following risks and responsibilities to be aware of when running a social media account:

seize but to also co-operate with foreign states to investigate cybercrimes.”

Be careful not to spread false information.

Be responsible – creating or sharing posts that could be misunderstood can lead to a backlash.

Protect your passwords, avoid saving passwords on your web browser or phone.

Make sure you log out of accounts when using communal computers.

Add colleagues as admins to your page, this way you have a better chance of gaining access to a page that has been hacked.

Avoid clicking on suspicious links and downloading attachments from suspicious email addresses.

“This has taught me to be more careful when surfing the Internet,” says Chamane in conclusion. “We have never tracked down the person that hacked our page, but we will continue our efforts to resolve the issue.”

• • • • •

•

The good news is that President Cyril Ramaphosa recently signed in the ‘Cyber Crimes Act’ in order to combat hacking, theft of information, assets, hate speech and so on.

According to golegal.co.za: “The Cyber Crimes Act… creates 20 new cybercrime offences and prescribes penalties related to cybercrime. The Act provides the South African Police Services with the authority to not only investigate, search, access and

We are living in a digital world, where social media is a leading tool for communication, so we use social media as a medium of communication between alumni and their alma-mater.

We also use social media to find alumni and encourage them to update their profiles.

The new Alumni Facebook page is up and running. Join the vibrant community by following https://www.facebook.com/dutalumnioffice

The original DUT Alumni Facebook page, which was hijacked by ‘Yoga Online Shop’.

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Walk Down Memory Lane Name and Surname: Mr Michael Charles Morrison Qualification: Analytical Chemistry Year Completed: 1975 Campus: Legacy Institution - Technikon Natal Company name: eBonsella Inc Current job title: President Share a memory: Loved the Chemistry Classes - Organic Chemistry with Mr Greenberg and Analytical with Mr Bantjies.

Name and Surname: Mr Sibongiseni Sbo Coach Khoza Qualification: National Diploma: Small Business Management Year Completed: 2002 Campus: Steve Biko Campus Durban Company name: Happy Clean Services (Pty) Ltd Current job title: Owner Share a memory: I started Happy Clean Services (Pty) Ltd in 2001 while studying 2nd year Small Business Management.

Name and Surname: Mr Njabulo Ntuli Qualification: BTech: Marketing Year Completed: 2014 Campus: ML Sultan Campus Durban Company name: Sun International Current job title: Marketing Coordinator Share a memory: I had a good time at DUT meeting new people from the length and breadth of the world.

Name and Surname: Mrs Nomalungelo Charity Noma Maiden Surname: Mkhize Qualification: National Diploma: Sports Management Year Completed: 2012 Campus: ML Sultan Durban Campus Company name: Eye Couture Current job title: CEO/ Director Share a memory: DUT is my home, I still miss being a student there ‘till today. I had the most amazing time studying there.

I can safely say I’m a proud product of the institution – I was unemployed but I started my own businesses.

Name and Surname: Miss Charmaine “Chaz” Dube Qualification: National Diploma: Information Technology Year Completed: 2013 Campus: Ritson Durban Campus Company name: Discovery Current job title: Business Analyst Share a memory: DS3 Project

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Name and Surname: Mrs Nontobeko Siphelele Khoza Maiden Name: Ntombela Qualification: Somatology Year Completed: 1999 Campus: Ritson Campus Durban Company name: Nealj Wellness Current job title: Director Share a memory: Being first runner up for Miss Natal Tech in my last year.

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Name and Surname: Ms Khethiwe Nokwanda Kubheka Qualification: National Diploma in Operations Management Year Completed: 2017 Campus: Ritson Campus Durban Company name: Transnet Current job title: Operations Checker Share a memory: I will forever hold DUT dear to my heart. It brought me the most sincere friends I’ve ever had. Each day I thank God for these people in my life, and I would never have met them if we hadn’t gotten together to attend this university.

Name and Surname: Miss Nomkhosi Nomthandazo Myeza Qualification: National Diploma: Civil Engineering and BTech Degree: Construction Management Year Completed: 2014 and 2020 Campus: Steve Biko Campus Durban Company name: Transnet Current job title: Engineering Technician Share a memory: Stayed at Essenwood residence from 2011 to 2012 (Residence committee) and Seaboard 2013.

Name and Surname: Ms Tembakazi Nqakala Nkanga Qualification: National Diploma: Environmental Health Year Completed: 2007 Campus: Ritson Campus Durban Company name: Amathole District Municipality Current job title: Environmental Health Practitioner Share a memory: I remember the great times I had with my friends watching old movies at the library.

Name and Surname: Ms Siyathokoza Ziyanda Tembe Qualification: National Diploma: Translation and Interpreting Practice Year Completed: 2016 Campus: ML Sultan Campus Durban Company name: Department of Justice and Constitutional Development Current job title: Court Interpreter Share a memory: DUT days… where do I start though! I had lots of good and bad memories but hey I will only dwell on the good. My greatest memory is walking on and receiving my qualification on the 09th of May 2017 after so many obstacles along the way. But the Lord came through for me.

ENTREPRENEURSHIP CROSSWORD PUZZLE ANSWERS 1.

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Institution Alumnus Lecture Innovation Network

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Future Youth Professor Bibliography

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The upside of pandemic travel Multiple lockdowns, international travel bans and reactionary ‘red lists’; South Africa’s travel industry has been through a roller coaster since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. Many travel professionals have called it a day. Others have weathered the storm, and a few have even come out the other side more positive about the future of travel. Like Mr Zain Mitha, Director of Sure Mithas Travel in KwaZulu-Natal and Chairman of the Sure Travel Group, who spoke to us about why he’s navigating 2022 with optimism, and what tips he has for travelling during this year’s ‘new normal’.

DUT Connect Magazine: After the hard two years you’ve had, why are you so upbeat?

Zain Mitha: Firstly, the pandemic has really brought home a message we, as the travel industry, have been trying to get across for many years, and that is: professional travel experts remain invaluable. Booking online is fine during ‘normal’ times, but during times of crisis – whether that’s a volcano erupting and stopping all air traffic to global lockdowns – professional travel agents prove their worth. I’m not knocking online travel booking – we use online platforms ourselves – but when it comes to the crunch nothing can replace hard-won human expertise. A booking engine is not going to know the ropes to get you home when all flights are cancelled, but a seasoned travel agent will.

DUT: What other upsides have there been as a result of pandemic travel?

ZM: As with any major crisis – and the travel industry has experienced many over the years – there have been several positive developments in the industry. For me, the big one to have come out of the pandemic is that innovation that was already in the pipeline has been fast tracked.

experience more seamless with innovations like mobile phone hotel keys, contactless check-in and direct text communication.

Likewise, many car rental companies now enable customers to pre-register online so they can simply walk straight up to their car and drive – no more long queues and tiresome registration processes.

DUT: What’s your prediction for travel in 2022?

ZM: It won’t necessarily be bigger in terms of the volume of travellers, but it will be better in terms of the travel experience from booking to return. In some ways we’re going back to basics by focussing on individual customers rather than ‘the mass’, and that’s a good thing.

DUT: What general tips do you have for people travelling under all the varying COVID-19 regulations?

ZM: The big one is to always get travel insurance, whether travelling for business or leisure. And of course it is essential that you understand what the terms are and whether situations like sudden lockdowns or flight cancellations are covered.

DUT: What sort of innovations?

ZM: Whereas technological convenience and up-to-theminute information was a nice-to-have pre-pandemic now it’s a prerequisite, and that’s really beneficial for travellers.

For example, hotels around the world have made the entire

Room with a view... Shandrani Resort, Mauritius.

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Snowfall at Bursa,Turkey, in the foothills of the 2,500m-high Mount Uludag.

FOR Alumni and Friends OF THE DURBAN UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY

Zain Mitha (right) of Mithas Travel, visits the historic pyramids in Cairo, Egypt.

When planning a trip, check the country’s latest travel regulations for South Africa. A good resource is Skyscanner’s mapping tool that tracks COVID-19 flight and travel restrictions in effect around the world. It is generally quite reliable, although you should always double-check the info with the country’s government information portals.

The tricky part is that regulations may change between the time that you book and your time of travel, so always check the cancellation and refund policies for any hotel, package, flight or any other travel product you plan to purchase.

Always note down the contact details for the South African representative in the country you are travelling to before your departure. This is in case of the unlikely event you need

assistance if, for example, there is a sudden lockdown and you are stuck. A list of all South African representation abroad is available on the Department of International Relations and Cooperation’s website.

When it’s time to fly always check your ticket for the checkin arrival time as many of these have changed from pre-Covid times, and ensure you arrive well in time, as health and safety protocols at airports are taking longer.

My last tip is the most important one: for peace of mind, always use a professional travel agent.

Instagram: @suremithastravel Facebook: @mithastravel

Local travel destinations abound in our beautiful country. Here’s a sunset over Cape Town, as seen from Signal Hill.

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Advancement

AND ALUMNI

Relations

Telephone Number – 031 373 3043 / 2479 Email – alumni@dut.ac.za Instagram - @DUTAlumni LinkedIn - @Durban University of Technology Facebook - @dutalumnioffice Twitter - @DUTAlumni