Family Physicians Unite at National Conference Hosted by UKZN

Family Physicians at the conference.

The South African Academy of Family Physician’s 18^th National Family Practitioners Congress, hosted by UKZN’s Department of Family Medicine in association with the national and provincial Departments of Health, was themed: “Population Based Medical Care: Moving Theory to Action.”

More than 250 doctors and nurses were addressed by the National Deputy Director-General for Health, Dr Yogan Pillay; KwaZulu-Natal’s MEC for Health, Dr Sibongiseni Dhlomo, and the Dean of UKZN’s School of Nursing and Public Health, Professor Busi Ncama.

The conference aimed to advance the course of Family Medicine in the country against the backdrop of implementing the National Health Insurance (NHI).

According to the Conference Organising Committee conveners, Dr Ruben Naidoo and Dr Andrew Ross, the focus of the NHI is on universal access through primary care and involvement with families and communities. Family practitioners are set to play a key role in the implementation of NHI as they are strategically positioned to respond to its unique challenges.

 ‘The conference was designed to present a wealth of clinically relevant topics and the breakaway sessions afforded delegates the opportunity to choose from a broad spectrum of themes to suit their particular interest,’ said Naidoo.

Welcoming delegates, he highlighted the scenario-based and interactive nature of each session, and later spoke about the incidence of rape in South Africa as well as ethics around HIV and AIDS.

Delegates attended sessions on teaching and learning, implementation research, adding value in the consultation, having a population perspective on health care and on clinical skills. The plenary sessions included a KM Seedat Memorial lecture on: Quality and Safety in Healthcare, delivered by Dr Carl de Wet of Griffiths University, Australia and a JC Coetzee Memorial Lecture presented by UKZN Professor Jack Moodley, reflecting on maternal mortality rates in South Africa.

Other UKZN speakers included Dr Mergan Naidoo, who conducted two workshops: one on sepsis and the other on surgical safety; Internal Medicine Head of Department, Dr Nombulelo Magula, who presented a case-based workshop on HIV and tuberculosis, and Professor Jamila Aboobaker and Dr Kimesh Naidoo who deliberated on Dermatology and Paediatrics respectively.

Newly appointed Head of UKZN’s Family Medicine Department, Bernhard Gaede, said ‘It was an honour to host the family medicine community here in Durban. It is clear from the discussions on the strategic imperatives of the NHI that family medicine is destined to play a far more central role in health service delivery and coordination.’

Lunga Memela

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UKZN student first in SA to receive Choreomundus Scholarship

Ms Thabile Buthelezi.

Masters student in Applied Ethnomusicology at UKZN, Ms Thabile Buthelezi, is the first South African student to receive the prestigious Choreomundus: International Master in Dance Knowledge, Practice and Heritage Scholarship.

Choreomundus is an Erasmus Mundus programme that investigates dance and other movement systems (ritual practices, martial arts, games and physical theatre) as intangible cultural heritage. It is offered by a consortium of four universities in Norway, France, Hungary and the UK recognised for their leadership in the development of innovative curricula for the analysis of dance. 

‘I am truly honoured to receive such a prestigious scholarship,’ said Buthelezi. ‘For me it means that my hard work ethic is being recognised not only nationally but internationally, and I hope the award open doors for other students like me,’ said Buthelezi.

She was initially encouraged to apply by her supervisor and UKZN Lecturer, Dr Patricia Opondo. ‘A colleague of mine, Professor Egil Bakka from the Norwegian University of Science and Technology, asked me to nominate a deserving student to participate in this upcoming cycle of the Choreomundus programme,’ said Opondo.

‘They wanted to have one or two participants from South Africa this year. I did not hesitate to nominate Thabile as she has stood out in the UKZN African Music and Dance (AMD) programme for four years including choreographing pieces for the AMD touring ensemble, Ikusasa Lethu. I believe she will excel in this programme.’

Said Buthelezi: ‘Being awarded this scholarship will assist me by teaching me the methodologies needed to preserve our culture and heritage.’

Buthelezi will be taught ethnochoreological research methodologies that she will apply to her research and also share those concepts and ideas when she returns to South Africa in 2017, both at the University level and at the National Arts and Culture level.

‘I will not only become a better performer but I will have relevant knowledge that I would be able to share in the future for the better of our creative economy,’ she said.

Buthelezi has already departed for Norway on a three-week orientation programme before spending 12 months in France, six months in Hungary and six months in London where she will graduate at the Roehampton University in June 2017.

Her advice to other performing arts students is: ‘You are never too far from your dreams, the only thing keeping you away from them is sitting and waiting for something to happen when you could create your own opportunities or other alternative ways of reaching those dreams.’

* Buthelezi, who has been performing for more than 10 years, started her career at the Kwa-Mashu Community Advancement Project (K-CAP) in 2000. She has travelled abroad as part of international cultural exchange programmes and is involved in various activities in the performing arts sector.

Melissa Mungroo

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Launch of Books on ‘old Natal Architecture’

At the books launch are (from left) authors Professor Rodney Harber, Ms Michele Jacobs and Emeritus Professor of Architecture, Professor Brian Kearney.

UKZN Campbell Collections in association with the Durban Heritage Trust recently launched two books A Measure of the Past by Ms Michele Jacobs and Professor Rodney Harber together with Emeritus Professor of Architecture Brian Kearney, who also launched his book Stern Utility at the event.

A Measure of the Past publishes together for the first time the fine measured drawings of local buildings by three decades of architectural students from the former Natal School of Architecture, and brings together exciting images of a unique Natal building legacy.

It provides a basis for discussion on the social and physical ways in which such buildings developed and were used. It is also a vital record of buildings of historical value to researchers and historians. Included are vibrant colour drawings of many cottages, houses and villas from Pietermaritzburg, Durban, the Old Main Line suburbs and also domestic examples in wood and iron. There is an extensive glossary of building elements in colour.

While Stern Utility is a publication about a simple and economical building system used extensively in Natal from 1870—1930. Wood and iron had its roots in 19th Century prefabrication. By 1860 such British buildings were being imported into Natal but within ten years a local species had evolved.

This is the story of that evolution; the sternness and the utility; uses in many different building types; its official unpopularity and how it came to be an architecture of the poor.

Speaking about the book, Kearney said: ‘There are several themes- the background technology and industrialised building construction; the bold development of different factory produced materials; adaptation to and integration with local architectural models; the many problems of the system and the ambiguous and often hostile public and official attitudes which often only tolerated them as temporary buildings with the ultimate objective of replacing them with masonry ones.’

It is noted within his book that there are two overriding streams of thought- the sternness and utility of corrugated iron and the ways in which generations of designers, manufacturers and users sought to overcome that sternness and derive value from the utility over nearly a 150 years.

For more information or to purchase the books, please contact Ms Michele Jacobs via gijimajacobs@gmail.com or telephonically on 031 260 1207.

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Abafundi bezomculo base-UKZN esigabeni esandulela owamanqamu emncintiswaneni kazwelonke

Mnu Kwena Ramahuta.Click here for English version

Umfundi wezomculo uMnu Kwena Ramahuta uphakamise ifulegi le UKZN phezulu - ngokuba ngomunye kwabayishumi nambili (12) emncintiswaneni oba minyaka yonke wezomculo obizwa nge - South African Music Rights Organisation (SAMRO) umncintiswano wabemifundaze yaphesheya.

Umculi oyedwa ezigabeni ezahlukene uzohlomula ngama- R170 000 umklomelo wokufunda nethuba lokufeza isifiso zakhe kwezobuciko nobunyoninco.

'isipiliyoni esingaqhathaniseki sokuba ingxenye yomcimbi omkhulu kulelizwe,' kusho uRamahuta. 'ukungena nje kukodwa ebantwini abaningi ekade befake izicelo ngizizwa ngihloniphekile. Lokhu kusho ukuthi kumele ngenze kahle kakhulu,' kusho uRamahuta.

Wayenesifiso sokuqhubeza izifundo zakhe, uzwa engathi lelithuba lihle kakhulu. ' ngikholelwa ekutheni ukufunda emazweni angaphandle okanye isipiliyoni nje sokuba ngaphandle sizongisiza ukuthi ngikhule kwezobuciko nasekuzihlanganiseni nabanye abantu. Ufunda okuningi emasikweni ahlukene.

Ekhuluma ngothando lwakhe lomculo, uRamahuta uthe: ' okusenhlizweni yami kakhulu ukuqhubeza izifundo zami kwezomculo kulelizwe.' Bengiswele kakhulu kuleyondawo, ngikhula eLimpopo nokuqala ukufundela umculo sengikhulile kungilahlekisele kancane. Ngikholelwa emfundweni yezomculo nokuthi ineqhaza engalibamba ekwenzeni iNingizimu Afrika indawo engcono ngokwenhlalo yabantu kanye nakwezomnotho.'

URamahuta ukhethe i-UKZN, emva kokuzwa ngeziqu zezomculo zakulesisikhungo nokunconywa kwazo eNingizimu Afrika nangaphandle. 'ngihlabeke uxhwele kusukela ngisenza unyaka wami wokuqala ngothisha abaseqophelweni eliphezulu abazimisele futhi abazikhandlayo nabancomekayo emsebenzini abawenzayo.'

Uthe imifundaze yezomculo ayandile, ikakhulukazi eNingizimu Afrika. 'iningi lethu lizibona liphumela nasemazweni angaphandle okanye sibone ingxenye yokwenzeka ngaphandle ukwazi ukuthi amathuba afana nalawa afezekiswa imifundaze efana nalena kuhle kakhulu.

URamahuta umatasa uyazilungiselela, ulolonga nendlela azodlala ngayo kowamanqamu.

Uzobasemzuliswaneni wokuqala mhlazingama- 27 kuNcwaba. Abangeneli abane - ababili esigabeni ngasinye seWestern Art ("classical") Music ne Jazz - bazoqhudelana mhlazingu- 29 kuNcwaba.

Umzuliswano wokugcina, ovulekile emphakathini, ufaka izihambeli ezikhethekile nabazonandisa abasuka emikhakheni eyehlukene yezomculo kufaka nenoni leNingizimu Afrika elihlanganiselwe lomcimbi.

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PhD Workshop for Postgraduate Students

School of Built Environment and Development Studies (BEDS) PhD students at the workshop.

Professor Dianne Scott  and Dr Tamlynn Fleetwood of the School of Built Environment and Development Studies (BEDS) co-ordinated an eight-day PhD workshop attracting 16 candidates, some from as far away as Zimbabwe, Nigeria, and Malawi.

Postgraduate students from most of the disciplines in the School - Development Studies, Population Studies, Planning, Housing and Architecture - attended the workshop which was funded by the NRF/DST Research Chair (SARChI) in Economic Development headed by Professor Dori Posel.

Scott said the participatory workshop aimed to prepare and support PhD students across the School in writing their proposals and preparing for their PhD research; to provide an opportunity for PhD students to discuss their work together; and to provide an integrating mechanism to encourage dialogue across the social science disciplines in the School at post-graduate level.

‘This workshop was designed for new students; for those who have not yet completed their proposals.  This is the third year that such a successful workshop has been offered in the School, thanks to the support of Professor Dori Posel,’ said Scott.

Students stated on evaluation forms that the workshop was invaluable to them in the early stages of their proposal writing and they greatly appreciated it.

Some of the more important topics included positioning research in a research paradigm, how to write a literature review and the role of theory in a PhD.  Other issues covered included research design, sources of data; and a range of data collection, sampling and methods of analysis and interpretation in both the qualitative and quantitative approaches to research.

The workshop also allowed PhD students to formally present their PhD proposals or progress reports to staff and students.  A lot of sharing of ideas and critical discussion took place among students across the disciplines.

Reflecting on the workshop, PhD student Ms Reesha Kara, said, ‘The workshop covered a range of issues critical to the development of research questions and proposals. The facilitators provided us with knowledge and information which forced us to think about where our research fits in relation to the broader body of existing knowledge and in terms of the more philosophical and theoretical categorisation of our work. 

‘This workshop was very informative and useful as it provided a framework and springboard from which I can now base the construction and development of my research proposal.’

Fellow student Mr Preston Govindsamy added: ‘The workshop stimulated PhD candidates to think about every aspect of the PhD journey, from their paradigm position to writing up the methodology and results. Such workshops are also important for building networks with your peers to provide a support base and forum for sharing ideas for what many call "a lonely journey”.’

Melissa Mungroo

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UKZN Academics and Students Contribute to New Book

Dr Ziska Fields.

UKZN academics and students contributed significantly to a new book titled: Incorporating Business Models and Strategies into Social Entrepreneurship, which seeks to provide solutions to social problems through redefining the goals of today’s enterprises and enhancing growth potential and change in every community.

The book, published by IG Global, was edited by School of Management, Information Technology and Governance academic, Dr Ziska Fields, and 10 of the 16 chapters were written by UKZN academics and PhD students.

The research-based chapters cover topics such as corporate social responsibility, legal empowerment, marketing ventures, millennium development goals, social economy, social value, sustainable livelihood and unemployment.

Fields’ chapter titled: “Using Creativity and Social Innovation to create Social Value and Change”, explains how societies need to explore social innovation as an answer to social problems and not only look to the government for solutions.

‘The chapter explains that social innovation is needed to seek new answers to social problems by identifying and delivering new services that improve the quality of life of individuals and communities, said Fields. ‘The main aim of this chapter is to create awareness of social innovation as an emerging field and explain what social creativity and innovation are and identify the creative and innovative processes social entrepreneurs can use to generate possible solutions. Barriers and support for social innovation are also discussed.’

While many people might choose to relax a bit after managing a book project for 12 months, Fields is doing just the opposite as she has submitted a book proposal titled: Collective Creativity for Responsible and Sustainable Business Practice, which has been accepted by IG Global.

‘This book focuses on how collaborative creativity can be used to solve challenging problems to ensure that responsible and sustainable business practices are maintained,’ said Fields.

Thandiwe Jumo

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Black Lawyers Association Celebrates ‘Phenomenal Women’ in the Legal Fraternity

Members of the Black Lawyers Association Student Chapter with Advocate Lihle Mapipa-Ndlovu (in yellow) celebrating Women’s Month.

In the celebration of Women’s Month, UKZN’s Black Lawyers Association Student Chapter recently recognised UKZN alumnus, Advocate Lihle Mapipa-Ndlovu, for her valuable contribution to the legal fraternity during an event held on the Howard College campus.

The Association has adopted the theme: “Women With a Drive in the Legal Fraternity to celebrate and highlight female lawyers who are trailblazers in the legal profession.”

As a member of the Black Lawyers Association, an admitted advocate of the High Court and the former chairperson of the KZN Gaming and Betting Board’s Social, Ethics and Transformation Committee, Mapipa-Ndlovu is the perfect candidate to inspire and motivate Law students.

During her address at the event, she spoke of the personal and professional rewards and challenges involved in pursuing a career in Law and how she maintains a balance between being a wife, a mother of three and a legal practioner.

‘Doing one’s task diligently, empowers oneself which later results in a variety of opportunities coming your way,’ said Mapipa-Ndlovu.

Speaking about the paths she has chosen and why she left a successful career as magistrate, Mapipa-Ndlovu said: ‘I disliked penal jurisprudence as I could not bear sentencing criminals, as this went against my ethics. It was indeed a sad part of the trial. I hated seeing people go down. I’m not much of a magistrate, I am more of a defender by nature, that’s why I had to leave. It is important to identify your strengths and capabilities to prevent frustration in the workplace.’

Black Lawyers Association Student Chapter’s Chairperson, Ms Pearl Biyela, said that such forums were important as students often made career choices with limited knowledge on how they could use their qualification to its full potential.

‘As Mapipa-Ndlovu said “a Lawyer can work almost anywhere and be almost anything because all you have to do is know the Law and apply it to the facts at hand”,’ said Biyela.

 Thandiwe Jumo

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Attracting Young Medical Scientists into Clinical Anatomy Research

Final year students at Clinical Anatomy’s Open Day.

Final year Bachelor of Medical Sciences and Bachelor of Science students recently learned about exciting research opportunities at UKZN during the Discipline of Clinical Anatomy’s Open Day for postgraduates.

The Clinical Anatomy Lan was a hive of activity as students met with Lecturers while seniors shared their insights and experiences on presenting research papers locally and internationally.  The activities were supported by the College of Health Sciences as UKZN prides itself in being a research-led institution.

‘I was the sporting type until I joined UKZN and fell in love with anatomy,’ said third-year student, Ms Nokwanda Mkhize (21) of Umlazi. Mkhize said she loved the practical size of anatomy – ‘the dissections’ – and intended to further her studies in the discipline.

Mr Zola Mpofana (21) said he loved learning about the brain, heart, liver and immune system. His goal was to complete his Bachelor of Medical Sciences degree and then pursue his passion for medicine.

‘I did my Honours last year and decided to take my research to the next level,’ said masters student, Ms Bianca Roelofse, whose area of interest is the histology of the suprarenal gland and kidneys. She said she looked forward to taking her research to PhD level.

‘It’s important to recruit talented students to postgraduate studies,’ said Lecturer and PhD candidate in the discipline, Mrs Pamela Pillay, whose research interests include human anatomical variations, dental forensics, medical law and ethics. This not only enhances personal careers but also makes an invaluable contribution to the country’s knowledge production, Pillay said.

Current research fields in the Discipline of Clinical Anatomy include:  arthrology and biomechanics; cardiovascular, forensic and radiological anatomy; human anatomical variation; andrology, medico-legal ethics and socio cultural, and the praxis of anatomical research.

Lunga Memela

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Medical School Welcomes Former Cuba-Based Students

Fidel Castro Medical Collaboration Programme students.

UKZN’s College of Health Sciences’ Student Support Services (SSS) welcomed 12 students from the Nelson Mandela – Fidel Castro Medical Collaboration Programme to the Nelson R Mandela School of Medicine.

Chaired by student counsellors, Dr Kamilla Rawatlal and Mrs Wulganithi Thaver, an academic orientation and Integration programme examined several aspects that might be useful for a student in a new environment.

The students, from Mpumalanga, KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo, North West, Eastern Cape, have been studying medicine in Cuba for the past five years.

Thaver said the orientation programme aimed to enhance the students’ personal growth and help make their integration to UKZN a smooth one.

Presentations by Student Funding Academic Services, Occupational Health and Safety and the UKZN AIDS programme gave students an understanding about services available to them should they come across any challenges or setbacks.

Thaver said several issues could lead to study setbacks; ‘The most common are personal relationship problems, family issues, mental health problems, grief and family bereavements.’

Rawatlal said ‘We offer free, professional and confidential counselling and academic support service to all registered students at the College.’

Services included academic orientation; collaborative programmes and personal counselling provided by professional psychologists and social workers

A focus group session was facilitated by counsellors to assist the students to ‘debrief’ and ease the transition of returning to the academic programme.

Nombuso Dlamini

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Why Health Care Workers Make ‘Mistakes’

Dr Carl de Wet.

A significant minority of patients suffer preventable harm as a result of the healthcare they receive, according to researcher, Dr Carl de Wet.

Speaking during his presentation at UKZN titled: “Why the Best Health Care Professionals Often Make the Worst Mistakes”, de Wet said: ‘This happens despite the fact that healthcare professionals are typically hard working, motivated to deliver high quality care and receive extensive training.’

De Wet explained there were at least four different reasons for this: human limitations; systems and technical failures; lack of a safety culture; and because of efficiency-thoroughness trade-offs (ETTOs).

‘To improve the safety of care we not only need to identify and reduce patient safety incidents but also need to celebrate success and value and improve resilience,’ de Wet said.

He explained that people had natural limitations which naturally predispose them to make the same kind of errors under stress. However, ‘we also have adaptive mechanisms that normally allow us to effectively deal with new and challenging situations’.

He said a safety culture was important because it shaped the discretionary behaviour of individuals, teams and organisations. ‘Becoming aware of, measuring and building a strong, positive safety culture therefore helps to prevent patient safety incidents.’

A cause of safety incidents was when ETTOs that usually helped healthcare professionals deliver effective care, led to error because of resonance. ‘The implication is to increase resilience through its four characteristics: respond, monitor, learn and anticipate.’

De Wet graduated from the University of Pretoria in 2000 and in 2008 he completed a Higher Academic Fellowship with NHS Education from Scotland.

He is a fellow of the Royal Colleges of General Practitioners in the United Kingdom and Australia and has contributed to a wide range of research projects, presented the findings at multiple national and international conferences and published the findings in peer reviewed journals, books and reports.

His current research topics include the epidemiology of harm in primary care, missed diagnostic opportunities and normalisation process theory.

He currently lives in Brisbane, Australia, and is affiliated with the University of Griffith in Queensland.

Nombuso Dlamini

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Postgraduate Orientation and Integration Programme launched by Health Sciences

Professor Fanie Botha addressing students.

The College of Health Sciences (CHS) launched a first ever Postgraduate Orientation and Integration Programme which was held on the Westville campus.

‘Historically, Universities have spent a lot of time and effort in welcoming their new and first-entry students to University by developing programmmes and events which help them find their way around campus and become familiar with important facilities and the relevant people that they need to connect with,’ said College Manager for Student Support Services (SSS), Dr Saloschini Pillay. 

Pillay said UKZN and the South African higher education context recognised that timeous and targeted support to postgraduate students was opportune given the critical shortage of new postgraduates, high dropout rates and the protracted time frame for completion of postgraduate studies. She emphasised the critical role of SSS in enhancing the wellness, holistic growth and development of all students.

The new CHS Postgraduate Academic Orientation and Integration Programme was introduced as an important first step for the transition of senior students into postgraduate studies. ‘It will provide a valuable introduction into the expectations of postgraduate studies, the support services at your disposal, and useful strategies and academic skills required to maximise student experiences.  It will also provide the opportunity to meet fellow students and enable you to engage with the academic, personal and professional development aspects of your studies,’ Pillay explained.

The Director for College Professional Services, Professor Fanie Botha, said the launch was a very special occasion as ‘the College realises that the investment in postgraduate studies is an important contribution towards building a better South Africa’.

Botha encouraged the students to keep in constant communication with College leadership and to live up to the values of respect, excellence, accountability, client-orientation, and honesty as promoted by the University-wide campaign of REACH.

The students heard from CHS Grants Coordinator, Mr Clement Matasane, who assured them that the office of the College Dean of Research had their best interests at heart and would support them in achieving research success.

College Manager for Student Academic Services, Mrs Ranitha Ramdeyal, outlined the institutional policies and procedures pertinent to their academic journey while Ms Anne Gabathuse from the UKZN InQubate raised awareness about intellectual property and its commercialisation.

The students left with detailed information brochures and feeling confident to contact the relevant ‘go-to’ people in support of their postgraduate studies within the CHS disciplines.

Lunga Memela

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Annual Employers Career Exhibition Empowers Students to make well informed Career Choices

Students at the Career Expo at the Sports Centre.

The College of Law and Management Studies in partnership with College of Agriculture, Engineering and Science recently hosted the annual employers’ career exhibition which saw students from UKZN engage with prospective employers at UKZN’s Pietermaritzburg, Westville and Howard College campuses.

The event creates a platform for students to engage with prospective employers about opportunities for personal development, full-time job opportunities, vacation employment, training contracts, learnerships, international work-placement and bursary opportunities.

Over 60 companies attended the exhibitions across the various campuses. Exhibitors included Procter & Gamble, Vodacom, AdaptIT, Old Mutual and UKZN’S Graduate Development programme to mention a few.

Third year Supply Chain student, Mr Nqobile Lushaba said that he was delighted to see government departments represented at the expo as he would love to work in the public sector.

‘I was impressed to see representatives from the department of labour here explaining to us about what career options they have available and how we can apply and also to have RCL Foods give us a demonstration of the foods under their brand. It is important to have information from various companies so that one can make an informed choice,’ he said.

Third year BCom accounting student, Karabo Monote said that choosing a career path comes with various uncertainties hence getting to speak to the employers directly is a good way to ensure that you don’t make poor decisions.

‘When you choose a career you uncertain about a lot of things and getting employment is one of them.  Coming to the exhibition and hearing about all of the opportunities open to me as a UKZN graduate has motivated me to take advantage of all of the opportunities available to me,’ she said.

The exhibitors provided positive feedback, stating that the event was well-attended and that they had met with their target groups to develop reliable databases.

Thandiwe Jumo

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UKZN Students Donate Food and Clothing at Informal Settlement

Community members queue for items of clothing.A group of young students serious about making a difference in the lives of others distributed food parcels and clothing at an informal settlement in New Germany, KwaZulu-Natal.

President of the UKZN Westville Information Distributors Association (IDA) chapter, third-year BCom student, Mr Mpendulo Mthethwa, said clothing and food parcels were collected from residence students and distributed at the informal settlement as part of the association’s outreach.

With about 130 members on UKZN’s Westville campus, the IDA, a national Christian organisation, helps those in need.

Quoting a scripture from the bible, ‘My people perish at the lack of knowledge,’ Mthethwa, who is from Richards Bay, said people also needed something tangible.

He acknowledged the efforts of students from S-Block, P-Block and C-Block who donated boxes of clothing and long-life food and paid tribute to the members of IDA who regularly donate their time, spending hours washing donated clothing ahead of handing it over to community members.

The double-major in Economics student said he had never seen anyone help another person and become poor. ‘If you help somebody, you are already rich,’ said Mthethwa.

IDA members visited a high school in Inanda recently and distributed Central Applications Office forms and UKZN brochures to matric pupils and told them about UKZN.

He said was proud that a pupil from a disadvantaged school they visited last year was now a UKZN student.

Mthethwa plans to read for an honours degree and expand his family’s school uniform and catering businesses once he has graduated.

* To get involved with IDA or to make a contribution to their next food and clothing drive, please visit the IDA Facebook page:  https://www.facebook.com/pages/Information-Distributors-Association-IDA/826076720798980?ref=br_rs ; or email mpendulomreply@gmail.com

Raylene Captain-Hasthibeer

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UKZN Extended Learning hosts Women’s Day event

LIV Village Choir performing at UEL’s Women’s Day Event at Coastlands Umhlanga.

Travel your path with honesty, dignity and dedication, says founder of cancer awareness NGO, Sinomusanothando Community Development, Dr Thandeka Mazibuko.

Speaking at UKZN Extended Learning’s Women’s Day event, Mazibuko delivered an inspiring address.

Having built a successful career in the face of financial difficulties, she recalled eating stale, left-over bread as a child, just to get sustenance to go to school. “Education is the key to everything,’ she said.

An alumnus of UKZN, Mazibuko encouraged women to ‘rise above segregation, pressure in the family and poverty’.

She completed her Medical degree while looking after an extremely sickly son and also going through a divorce.

Nominated for South African of the Year, Mazibuko emphasised the importance of the early detection of preventable cancers (breast, colon and cervical) and of unity and maintaining a positive attitude.

Head of East Coast Radio’s Marketing department, Ms Renee Burton, entertained the audience, detailing her experiences in building a successful career, while leaving a legacy behind for her children.

Burton said stories of ‘everyday people battling everyday issues’ inspired her.

Entrepreneur Ms Pria Hassan said hard work, sacrifice and dedication were crucial to get ahead in business. Developing young women and surrounding herself with ‘people you would like to be like,’ were important to her.

Mahatma Ghandi’s granddaughter, Ms Ela Gandhi, reminisced about the past, highlighting the contributions made by women, some famous and some not-so-famous, to the liberation movement in the country.

She said the best tribute to women who ‘bore so much pain so that we can be free today,’ was to continue the struggle for a better life for all women in the country, including those in rural areas,

Ghandi emphasized the importance of access to medical care and education in the struggle for a better life for all.

Extended Learning’s Mrs Nashlene Maharaj thanked the guest speakers and her team for putting together a successful event.

Maharaj highlighted UEL’s customised courses which she said would be ‘game changers in careers’.

The event, with East Coast Radio’s Jane Linley as the MC, included entertainment by LIV Village Choir, a village for orphaned and vulnerable children, and UEL’s Ms Faith Ndlovu. Design houses Victor Kingdom Fashion and House of St Luke put on a fashion show.

Lucky draw prizes were sponsored by Independent Newspapers, Tiger Brands, Kotex, Turner’s Travel, Fairmont Zimbali Resort, Proverb, Nando’s, Intombi and Cabana Beach Resort.

 Raylene Captain-Hasthibeer

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UKZN athletes take on Durban Runner Challenge

Sport Officer Mr Ayanda Ndlovu (far right) with some of the UKZN runners who participated in the 2015 Durban Runner Challenge.The Durban Runner Challenge, hosted by the Durban Runner Athletics Club and UKZN, attracted about 1 200 participants who took part in either the 21.km or 10km race.

Starting behind Howard College’s sports field in Lamont Road, the runners made their way through the suburbs of Glenmore, Umbilo and Glenwood and finished at UKZN V1 soccer field at Howard College.

Senior Sport Officer for Howard College and the Medical School, Mr Ayanda Ndlovu, said the event would assist in cementing a sustainable relationship between the two clubs.

‘UKZN runners are now welcome to take part in Durban Runner club runs and training sessions which are led by an experienced coach. This will assist our athletes receive quality training at no additional cost to them whether they are training to run their first or fastest park run or anything up to qualifying for Comrades,’ said Ndlovu.

Ndlovu congratulated all the UKZN runners, especially Mr Nhlanhla Nzama who made it into the top 10 in the 21.1km race.

The UKZN Runners Club is in talks with the University about hosting a UKZN night race and a campus to campus 10km, 21.1km and 42.2km Comrades qualifier.

Ndlovu, who is reading for a Masters in Leadership Studies at UKZN, was part of the local organising committee in which he gained valuable experience in organising a road race.

Eight athletes from the University competed in the race:

Position	Name	Gender	Club	Event	Event Time
8	Nhlanhla Nzama	Male	UKZN AC	21.1 KM Run	01:18:00
57	Nkanyiso Khwela	Male	UKZN AC	21.1 KM Run	01:43:02
136	France Zuma	Male	UKZN AC	21.1 KM Run	01:55:15
165	Sanele Gumede	Male	UKZN AC	21.1 KM Run	01:58:33
186	Meluleki Ngwenya	Male		21.1 KM Run	02:00:35
293	Zanele Bohlela	Female	UKZN AC	21.1 KM Run	02:13:17
356	Thembekile Simelane	Female	UKZN AC	21.1 KM Run	02:23:53
332	Sinenhlanhla Nxumalo	Female	UKZN AC	10 KM	01:26:36

UKZN was involved in the race marketing strategy including branding on the race flyer, branding at the race (start, route and finish), and manning of a water station at the 5km point on race day. All UKZN AC runners were given free entry into the race at no cost to them or the club.

‘The wider student, staff and alumnus population are invited to join the UKZN Athletics Club which caters for Track and Field, Cross Country and Road Running,’ said Ndlovu. ‘The club caters for runners from recreational beginners to competitive elite in distances from park runs (5km) to ultra-marathons.

‘Those who want to just jog with the aim of managing their weight, health reasons or deal with stress are also welcome,’ he said.

Raylene Captain-Hasthibeer

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