UKZN Hosts High Level Talks on Managing International Migration

UKZN Hosts High Level Talks on Managing International Migration
Panellists and audience members pictured at the Dialogue on International Migration at UKZN’s Westville campus.

Managing international migration took centre stage during a high level dialogue held on UKZN’s Westville campus.

The dialogue, an initiative of the national Department of Home Affairs and UKZN, focused on the National Development Plan (NDP) and the African Development Agenda, 2063.

Minister of Home Affairs Hlengiwe Mkhize said the talks would assist in developing a new policy framework and programme for the management of international migration.

Mkhize emphasised the importance of dealing with the matter head on. ‘The world today is ravaged by various challenges including political instability, civil wars, terrorism, poverty and economic instability.

‘This leads to sizable numbers of people fleeing their countries of origin to countries in which they will feel safe and in some cases be able to work for their families,’ she said.

Mkhize said the African Union Agenda 2063 was a strategic framework for the socio-economic transformation of the African continent over the next 50 years. ‘Rooted in the spirit of Pan-Africanism and the African Renaissance, Agenda 2063 provides a robust framework for addressing past injustices and for making the 21st Century the African Century.’

She quoted former AU Commission Chairperson, Dr Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, who had said: ‘We developed Agenda 2063 to galvanise and unite in action all Africans and the Diaspora around the common vision of a peaceful, integrated and prosperous Africa.

‘Importantly, Agenda 2063 builds on and seeks to accelerate the implementation of continental initiatives that are aimed at achieving economic growth and sustainable development,’ said Mkhize.

The MEC for Human Settlements and Public Works in the KZN Legislative Assembly, Mr Ravi Pillay - speaking on behalf of the Premier of KwaZulu-Natal, Mr Willies Mchunu - said: ‘As globalisation, travel and information communications technology have turned our world into a global village, as economic shocks and booms affect all of us, and as diseases such as HIV and AIDS and Ebola know no borders, the imperative for African integration has become even more urgent in today’s world.’

Pillay emphasised the importance of social cohesion and strengthening relations between the people of KwaZulu-Natal and other countries in Africa and around the world. ‘We must rekindle the spirit of brotherhood and strength of solidarity amongst African people. We need to use the series of the international migration dialogue to remind each other that our fate is bound together,’ said Pillay.

The dialogue included a panel discussion featuring former United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Judge Navi Pillay; African History Educator, Yaa Ashantewaa Archer-Ngidi; UKZN lecturer Mr Maropeng Mpya; UKZN student Mr James Ndlovu, and Deputy Director-General: Immigration Services, Mr Jackson McKay.

The panel members provided valuable insight and various perspectives on international migration and, with Mkhize, fielded a number of questions from the audience, including issues around challenges faced by international students.

UKZN Vice-Chancellor and Principal Dr Albert van Jaarsveld welcomed delegates and wished them well in their deliberations.

Words: Raylene Captain Hasthibeer 

Photographs: Albert Hirasen


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Inaugural Lecture Focuses on Institutionalisation of Traditional Medicine

Inaugural Lecture Focuses on Institutionalisation of Traditional Medicine
Professor Exnevia Gomo.

Until the advent of Western medicine, traditional medicine (TM) had been the only source of health care in Africa, said UKZN’s Professor Exnevia Gomo at his Inaugural lecture presented on the Howard College campus.

‘Colonisation systematically relegated TM to an unofficial health care service yet it retained its relevance for the majority of the people of Africa, demonstrating its resilience.’

Gomo, who is attached to the Discipline of Traditional Medicine, said decolonisation brought with it a resurgence of national and international commitment to institutionalise TM through the development of legal, policy and regulatory frameworks to enable integration into national healthcare systems.

According to Gomo, the integration process has been very slow, partly because of the paradigms used in the policy framework and the requirement of scientific evidence of safety and efficacy.

‘The question then is has the institutionalisation of TM been a victim of Procrustesism – for example being inflexibly subjected to paradigms of Western medicine?’

Gomo joined UKZN’s College of Health Sciences in 2016 as the South African Research Chair in Indigenous Health Care Systems. Prior to that he was with the University of Zimbabwe’s College of Health Sciences where he was Associate Professor in the Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences and also served as the first Director of the Research Support Centre.  

He holds a Diploma in Biological Sciences Laboratory Techniques, MSc in Applied Immunology, PhD in Immunology and a Diploma in Research Methodology. Gomo has extensive experience in health research in Zimbabwe through regional and international collaboration.

In the mid-1990s Gomo initiated the first ever large-scale clinical evaluation of traditional medicines used in the management of HIV and AIDs following claims of a cure by some traditional healers in Zimbabwe. Because of his involvement in traditional medicine, Gomo was invited by World Health Organization’s AFRO Office to participate in the Technical Working Group that developed the Guidelines for Methodologies of Evaluating Safety and Efficacy of Traditional Medicines in the WHO Afro region.

In 2005, Gomo was seconded to the Ministry of Health and Child Welfare in Zimbabwe as Director of Traditional Medicine and tasked with establishing a TM Department and national programme. Between 2005 and 2007, Gomo transformed the public view of TM in Zimbabwe through several initiatives, including the development of the National Policy on Traditional Medicine.

Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Head of the College of Health Sciences Professor Busi Ncama congratulated Gomo saying: ‘The College is honoured to have an academic and researcher of his calibre.’

Words: Nombuso Dlamini


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UKZN’s Postgraduate Students and Staff attend Summer School in France

UKZN’s Postgraduate Students and Staff attend Summer School in France
School of Management, IT and Governance students and staff at Summer School in France.

School of Management, Information Technology and Governance (MIT&G) postgraduate students and staff attended the 11th American-African-European (AAE) Summer School and ARTEM International Conference at the ICN Business School in Nancy, France.

Students who attended the conference - themed: Organisational Creativity and Sustainability - were selected based on blind review of abstracts followed by individual presentations to a panel of academics.

The students were: Mr  Abdulbaqi Badru (MCom in Information Systems Technology), Mr Henry Kyeremateng-Boateng (PhD in Marketing), Ms Pamela Nkabane (Doctor of Administration  Governance), Mr Pfano Mashau (PhD in Management), Mr Vusumuzi Maphosa (PhD in Information Systems Technology), Ms Shivani Moodley (MCom in Management), Mr Taurai Muparadzi (Doctor of Administration in Public Governance) and Mr Sandile Mkhize.

The students described the two weeks educational experience as very enriching as not only did they learn about innovation, creativity, sustainability and research but they were also exposed to different cultures as they interacted with students from France and Germany.

‘The summer school was multifaceted,’ said Badru. ‘My engagement and networking with other students from the ICN Business School in France and TU Chemnitz in Germany enabled me to engage at a very different level in an interdisciplinary space. The art-based intervention approach such as using Lego to express oneself was unique as it enhanced my critical thinking ability. The ARTEM OCC encouraged me to think outside the box and stirred a need to engage in interdisciplinary research in the future.’

For Mashua, who also lectures at UKZN’s Graduate School of Business and Leadership (GSB&L), visiting the ICN Business School created an opportunity for him to explore the similarities and differences between the two institutions.

‘As a student based at the GSB&L I had a lot to observe when we arrived at the ICN business. There were few differences to note starting from the outlook of the school, modules, staff members, and students. I have learned and I will always remember that when an individual or organisation is confronted with a problem, a solution to it might come from playful or artistic or non-traditional interventions,’ he said.

The students were accompanied by staff members UKZN Summer School Co-ordinator Mr Taahir Vajeth, Professor Isabel Martins, Dr Andrisha Beharry-Ramraj and Ms Jayrusha Ramasamy-Gurayah.  A condition of participation in the summer school was the submission of a journal article to an accredited journal.

Beharry-Ramraj described the experience as insightful and the recommendations and suggestions on her article based on Community Sustainability of Solar Home Systems in the Matatiele Local Municipality in the Eastern Cape, South Africa, have given her new perspectives.

‘Having had this opportunity I personally feel the experience has added value to my career as an academic To be in the presence of the best researchers in the world sharing in their wisdom and insights was incredibly informative and inspiring.’

Ramasamy-Gurayah said the experience was a valuable contribution to the development of her academic career and she would produce an article titled: Extreme Weather Survival Strategies for Sustainable Agriculturally Based Organisations: A Case on Blinkwater Mills.

 Words: Thandiwe Jumo


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Hidden Disabilities Highlighted at Research Indaba

Hidden Disabilities Highlighted at Research Indaba
Delegates who attended the third annual Research Indaba hosted by UKZN’s Disability Support Unit.

To foster constructive and research-based dialogue and discussion around challenges facing students with disabilities, UKZN’s Disability Support Unit (DSU) hosted their third Annual Disability Support Research Indaba on the University’s Westville campus. 

Based on the success of the previous two Research Indabas, held in the past two years, it has now evolved to an annual expectation. The theme for 2017 was entitled: Considering New Pathways: An Analysis of Disability Intersecting with Diverse Factors as a Means of Addressing Barriers within the Higher Education Landscape and Society. 

The focus of the Indaba, also covered by the sub-themes, was to discuss the aspects of access to higher education, social justice and an insight on hidden disabilities. 

A range of presentations were delivered by students, academics, representatives of NGOs and various disability experts and activists. 

In her opening address, Executive Director of Student Services Division, Dr Rose Laka- Mathebula, conveyed that the time had come for university campuses to cater fully for students with disabilities to ensure that they had a ‘full experience’. 

Laka-Mathebula encouraged delegates to continue with their work in support of persons with disabilities. ‘Continue to heighten your commitment and your efforts to ensure the voices of people with disabilities are heard.’ 

Keynote speaker and Assistant Director in Non-Communicable Diseases at the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Health, Mr Mncedisi Mdunyelwa, said in the predominantly Western-oriented academic cycles and investigations, the disabled people’s voice, especially African students, were either side-lined or suppressed because indigenous knowledge systems were not taken seriously. 

‘The critical action is how disability research in Africa maintains its own unique identity whilst embracing western methodologies.’ 

In a panel discussion examining the theme and the subthemes of the Indaba, the issues of hidden disabilities were debated. Students with these types of disabilities often found it difficult to disclose because of fear of being discriminated against. Eighty percent of disabilities are invisible to the naked eye. 

Some of the challenges raised by students during the presentations and workshops included that lecturers were not skilled in how to deal with students with disabilities, the difficulties experienced in accessing lecture venues and libraries, the challenges faced by students that are hard of hearing and Deaf in the noisy and large classrooms, and financial support especially for postgraduate students. 

Hidden disabilities include conditions such as dyslexia, ADHD, anxiety, depression, sleeping and emotional disorders, and chronic illnesses. 

Laka-Mathebula asserted that one of the challenges was translating policies at the University into action because key stakeholders were not at “these” meetings and gatherings. 

One of the key highlights of the Indaba was the inaugural ‘Dinner in the Dark’, that was the gala event on the evening of the first day.  This was primarily to raise awareness around issues of disabilities and give delegates the experience of what blind students go through every day. Delegates were ushered into the darkened venue by a blind student, and further had the option to use a blindfold as the light increased during the course of the night. Each table was hosted by a blind student who engaged with the participants on general issues around disability. Entertainment was also done in the dark. 

Overall, the Research Indaba was seen as a sterling success. Presenters came from both national and international locations and delivered research presentations that were rich, empowering, enlightening and challenged the paradigms of Education in respect to Students with Disabilities.  

Words: Sithembile Shabangu


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UKZN hosts 3rd Annual Mafika Gwala Lecture

UKZN hosts 3rd Annual Mafika Gwala Lecture
The scene at the 3rd annual Mafika Gwala Lecture at UKZN.

Renowned South African poet, writer and activist Mongane Wally Serote delivered the third annual Mafika Gwala Lecture at UKZN.

Hosted by the College of Humanities together with South African History Online (SAHO) and the National Institute for the Humanities and Social Sciences (NIHSS), the lecture coincided with the third anniversary of the death of Gwala and was part of a research programme led by SAHO to critically evaluate the role of the Arts in the struggle against apartheid.

The CEO of SAHO and good friend of Gwala, Mr Omar Badsha, says the lecture series seeks to ‘reclaim and popularise the work of Gwala and his contemporaries’ who he feels shaped the discourse on issues of race, gender and the aesthetic sensibility of so many of today’s artists.

Acting Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Head of the College of Humanities Professor Stephen Mutula said the lecture was fitting as it dovetailed with the UKZN strategic plan in which research excellence and transformation were vital.

‘The lecture promoted transformative thinking and engaged with critical issues of transformation, social justice and equity. Gwala’s poems resonate with the current situation in South Africa and can influence younger minds to take the country forward,’ said Mutula.

During his address, Serote paid homage to Gwala for his activism and contribution to the Arts while speaking about the importance of valuing Africanness and heritage.

‘Mafika understood what it was to be African, to come from an oppressed people,’ said Serote. ‘He asked pertinent questions about this and the direction of the country. Mafika often said that the oppression/racism was a means towards the exploitation of the masses of Black people. He characterised this problem and provided the solution to always rise above oppression.’ 

Serote said history was often distorted and emanated from ignorance and intention. ‘To correct this distortion, give a voice to the voiceless people of this country. Assert your humanness. Seek knowledge not only for self-improvement but for the country and its people.’

The lecture included a prize giving ceremony for learners from 12 high schools in Hammarsdale in KwaZulu-Natal who participated in an essay writing project. Learners were asked to do research and present an essay on artists and cultural organisations in the area. First prize was R3 000, second prize R2 000 and third was R1 000. All winners were awarded certificates.

The winners were:

Words: Melissa Mungroo 

Photographs: Albert Hirasen


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IT Training Programme Details Solutions to Counter Web Attacks

IT Training Programme Details Solutions to Counter Web Attacks
Participants at a workshop where they learned how to mitigate cyber infiltration.

The School of Management, Information Technology and Governance staff and students learned to develop solutions through demo security applications to safeguard web applications against various vulnerabilities and attacks during a week-long workshop.

The intensive Application Security Analyst programme was organised by the Discipline of Information Systems and Technology (IS&T) in partnership with the global multinational technology company, IBM.

The cutting-edge, certified programme involved 30 trainees who created and launched common attacks to web applications such as Brute Force, cross-site scripting, SQL Injection, insecure direct object reference, sensitive data exposure creating real life scenarios encountered in the IT industry.

IS&T staff members and IBM certified instructors Mr Stephen Akandwanaho and Mr  Deepak Kumar said while it was their first such programme, they were very pleased with the results as more than 80% of the trainees passed the certification examination.

‘The scenarios gave participants hands-on experience through the IBM cloud labs with applications created by IBM to launch demo security attacks,’ said Akandwanaho.  ‘Trainees were able to create vulnerabilities in web applications, scan the web applications using AppScan Standard to be able to detect the vulnerabilities created and then implement various measures to mitigate the vulnerabilities in the applications. This provided them with expertise on how to scan applications for vulnerabilities, analyse reports and implement the report recommendations which is what they will have to do when they join the IT sector.’’

Third year IS&T student, Mr Kyle Bedderson, said being part of the programme had given him a glimpse of the practical world of IT he was keen to be a part of after completing his studies.

‘It was a real eye opener to learn about the security flaws of websites and applications we use daily and come up with solutions to these challenges. Although I am not sure exactly what career I want to pursue after my BCom degree, the knowledge I gained from this experience will be valuable to me in the IT field,’ he said.

Fellow student Ms Aleka Barath described the experience as enlightening as her future career aspects include working in cyber security.

‘Being part of the training was amazing as in a week we learnt a lot and gained very extensive theory and practical experience which really broadened my knowledge of web applications and cyber security,’ said Barath.

IS&T’s Academic Leader Mr Karna Naidoo said the programme provided students with world class training experience, preparing them to be competitive and succeed in the IT industry.

‘We believe that the integration of IBM courses provides students with a rich experience helping them to be market ready in areas including security, business analytics, and mobile computing.’

Words: Thandiwe Jumo


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Higher Degrees and Research Processes Reviewed at Workshop

Higher Degrees and Research Processes Reviewed at Workshop
Participants of the Higher Degrees Workshop.

The College of Law and Management Studies held a workshop aimed at reviewing and streamlining the College’s Higher Degrees and Research Processes.

The workshop, attended by the College’s higher degrees staff, featured presentations on various aspects of the research process including academic decisions, progression rules, ethical clearances and the thesis examination.

The College’s Director of Professional Services Dr Kathy Cleland set the scene by detailing the academic flow decision for higher degrees decisions, while College Academic Services Manager Ms Marion Kirsten spoke on higher degrees progression rules and the Research Office’s Assistant Administrative Officer Ms Mariette Snyman talked about ethical clearance applications.

The College’s Principal Administrative Officer Ms Smangele Ninela presented on the thesis examination process.

Deputy Dean of the Durban University of Technology’s Faculty of Accounting and Informatics Professor Paul Green spoke from a perspective of an external supervisor.

‘We have pressure when it comes to supply meeting demand because of timing and we find that the process of filling out forms is too tedious; we would prefer an automated system with drop down options to make our lives easier.

‘We would also like to have knowledge of the final outcome of the theses we work on because we never get to know what happens and are lucky if we get to see candidates graduating,’ said Green.

Professors Purshottama Reddy and Thokozani Nzimakwe spoke from a supervisor’s perspective and   Senior Funding Advisor Mr Bongumusa Gasa made a presentation on student funding.

The College’s Acting Dean of Research, Professor Harold Ngalawa, who presented on the examiners’ process, said the rationale behind the workshop was not only to highlight the processes and procedures but also to create a platform for sharing challenges and solutions.

‘We are a team and we work within the same environment despite being in different schools.  Therefore, it is important that we should all understand and agree in our interpretation of the University’s rules and guidelines. We are all working towards a common goal of improving the College’s research output, which can be effectively achieved if we streamline our standard operating procedures’ he said.

After the presentations there was an open discussion with suggestions shared and agreements reached on a uniform process to be adopted for the College.

Words: Thandiwe Jumo


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ISikole SezeMfundo Sibambe Umhlangano Wokucobelelana Ngolwazi Ngabangezwa

ISikole SezeMfundo Sibambe Umhlangano Wokucobelelana Ngolwazi Ngabangezwa
Abebebambe iqhaza emhlanganweni wokucobelelana ngolwazi ngabangezwa.

Click here for the English Version

ISikole SezeMfundo sibambe umhlangano wokucobelelana ngolwazi ngokungezwa ukuze kulekeleleke othisha abafundisa abafundi bobuthisha abanezingqinamba ngokuzwa kanye nolwazi lokusetshenziswa kolimi lwezimpawu lwaseNingizimu Afrika i- South African Sign Language (SASL) ekhempasini.

Lo mhlangano, oyingxenye yenyanga yabangezwa, ibizwe ngokomyalelo weDini eyiNhloko  yeSikole, uSolwazi Thabo Msibi, ukuze kulekelelwe abantu abanezinselelo zokuzwa ekhempasini i-Edgewood.

Obehola lo mkhankaso uDkt Lolie Makhubu-Badehorst onguthisha onentshisekelo ngezindaba ze-SASL ebambisene noNkz Rosh Subrayen wasehhovisi lase-UKZN lezabaphila nokukhubazeka ekuhlelweni kwalo mhlangano.  

Abebefundisa emhlanganweni bekuwuthisha ongezwa uNkz Monica Sutcliffe, noMqondisi wase-Deaf SA, uNkz Odette Swift.

UMakhubu-Badenhorst uthe: ‘Umhlangano ububalulekile futhi unesidingo esikhulu ngoba ungowokuqala walolu hlobo ekhempasini i-Edgewood. Ube isiqalo sokungase kwenziwe yiSikole sezeMfundo ukuze kufundiswe othisha ngabangezwa nokuhola umkhankaso wokuthuthukiswa kohluzifundo ze-SASL KwaZulu-Natali.’

Umhlangano ubuhlanganise ukufundiswa ngezindlela ezifanele nezingafanele zokuxhumana nabantu abangezwa, ukufunda ukusebenzisa uimi lwezimpawu kanye nosiko lwakhona.

Ngenkathi ebuzwa ngezinhlelo zokufundisa ngokungezwa ekhempasini uMakhubu-Badenhorst uthe: ‘Sihlele ukuhlanganisa uhlelosu oluzobhekana nezindaba zabangezwa jikelele ukuze silwenze ingxenye yamamojuli/izinhlelo zabaphila nokukhubazeka. Kuzoba nokusebenzisana esikhathini esizayo lapho kuzoba nokucwaninga okuhlanganisa imikhakha ehlukene nokuqeqeshwa kothisha base-Edgewood nabanye othisha abasebenzayo. Sihlele nokuthuthukisa izifundo ezifingqiwe ze-SASL ukwelekelela abangezwa.’

Ngu-Melissa Mungroo


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African Cultural Calabash Highlights Social Ailments

African Cultural Calabash Highlights Social Ailments
The 12th Annual African Cultural Calabash and African Cuisine in Action.

Social ailments were highlighted during the 12th Annual African Cultural Calabash and African Cuisine event hosted at the Howard College Theatre by the School of Arts within the College of Humanities.

The event was organised by third-year African Music and Dance students under the directorship of lecturer Dr Patricia Opondo. This year’s theme was: Rootless Africa, Remembrance of Who we Were.

The production aimed to conscientise audiences about social ailments - including the abuse of women and human trafficking - which have plagued the country in recent months, tainting the “African image”. Through curating a platform embracing cultural diversity it was hoped unity, love and Ubuntu would be re-energised.

Key performers included Ithwasa Lekhansela, an award winning Maskandi artist from Umbumbulu who has worked with masters in the genre, including Bahubhe and Phuzekhemisi. Lekhansela has been nominated as best new comer in the South African Traditional Music Awards, and for song of the year in the South African Volunteers Awards.

There was also a performance by the Emzini Arts Youth Production whose members infused dance, music and theatre on stage. This ensemble from the KwaZulu-Natal South Coast has previously performed at the Durban Playhouse and Ushaka Marine World.

Additionally, a percussion group, the Burundi Drummers from Central-East Africa, brought exotic rhythms to the set. The group has performed at the International Convention Centre and for the Royal Zulu family in Kwa-Nongoma.

The UKZN African Music and Dance Ensemble, comprising first and second year African Music and Dance students, displayed their talents and passion on stage.

African and jazz inspired tunes also filled the theatre thanks to the Nkosinathi Ntshangase Quintet.

Said guest speaker Professor Sihawukele Ngubane: ‘A calabash decides the route we are going to take as Zulu people, and constitutes our uniqueness as Africans.’

Opondo added: ‘The Annual African Cultural Calabash is an important cultural event of the UKZN African Music Project providing a platform to celebrate various cultural traditions. It also allows students to have hands-on experience in producing and hosting a large scale cultural event as part of the training in my African Music Outreach: Community Development module. 

‘I thank the National Arts Council of South Africa, the Southern African Music Rights Organisation and Concerts SA for sponsoring the event.’

Words: Ziphezinhle Silindile Biyela

Photographs: Thuli Dlamini


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Outstanding UKZN Soccer "Stars" Receive Awards

Outstanding UKZN Soccer
From left: Mr Mcebo Mbatha, Deputy Chair; Ms Nomkhosi Dlamini-Ndlovu, Sports Officer; Mr Sabelo Siwelele Mkhize, Finance Officer; Mr Khethani Ximba, Secretary; and Mr Nkosingiphile Gumbi, Chairperson.

UKZN’s Res League Committee recently honoured football players, coaches and officials during their Annual Res League awards held at Howard College campus.

The awards are given to players pertaining to both the Premier Division League and University First Division (UFD) at the end of the season. Each division is constituted by 13 teams which makes up a total of 26 teams.

During the event players who have secured contracts with KwaZulu-Natal professional teams including Amazulu FC, Golden Arrows and Ses’khona FC from Motsepe League were also announced.

Finance Officer, Mr Sabelo Siwelele Mkhize from the Res League Sport Department said the awards celebrate those who have performed outstandingly throughout the year in the League and cup competitions.

‘This event came as an adoption from the professional football leagues around the world, where at the end of every season players, coaches, officials and teams are awarded based on their outstanding performance throughout the football season.

‘Basically, for every individual award we look at one’s contributions to the team throughout the season and for the team award, we look at the team work displayed by the team players on the field of play, and the effort made to win league and cup games,’ said Mkhize.

Guest speaker for the evening was well-known soccer player Mr Ayanda Ndlovu. His football profile speaks volumes in both provincial and national divisions. In 2002, he played for University of Natal Durban SAFA SAB team. He continued to play for known teams from Vodacom SAFA League namely; Maritzburg City, Booth Laces Academy, Brazil FC, and the University of KwaZulu-Natal.

Ndlovu has been part of Howard College Res Soccer League since 2002 and watched it evolved from recreational league to a more competitive league, and providing platforms for young stars to be recognised by professional teams through various innovations. Ayanda has won all Res Soccer league tournament with his current team, New Res, since 2002 till now.

The students play for various teams and those include the HCSS, Anchor House, New Res, Juventus, City Life, Mabel Palmer, Reservoir, John Bews, Springfield, Tower, Colonial, Tiger Boys, Shepstone House, T Will, Renaissance, Mayville Court, Camden, TB Spurs, Queens Park Strangers, Seaboard, Albert Luthuli, FC United, Legacy, Victoria, Parkcelona, and Greyville.

Wishing all the winners well Mkhize said: ‘Congratulations to all the winners. May the gifts they have received serve as a tool to encourage them to work even harder next year and set the bar even higher. Soccer is not only about talent but it’s about being disciplined, and dedicated.’

Winners announced during the evening are as follows:

University First Division:

University Premier Division:

Other Special Awards of the day:

Res League Squad Appreciation Awards:

Words: Sithembile Shabangu


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UKZN Hosts First Ever Disability Sports Day

UKZN Hosts First Ever Disability Sports Day
Staff, students and guests enjoying the Disability Sports day at Howard College campus.

Shouts of ‘wicky, wicky, wicky, wickyyyy’ rang out on the Howard College campus as students were given a crash course in blind cricket at UKZN’s inaugural Sports Day for students with disabilities.

Blind cricket is played by blind, partially blind and partially sighted players using a ball containing ball bearings which allows participants to hear the ball. Players are classified according to their Visual Acuity (VA) as being either B1 (totally blind) or B2 or B3 on the basis of their VA. To add to the fun, sighted students and staff members were blind-folded and joined in, giving them the chance to experience the game.

KZN Blind Cricket hosted the session.

Disability Co-ordinator on UKZN’s Westville campus, Ms Faaiza Shaikh, said the Sports Day was held to ‘create an opportunity for students with disabilities to take part in various sporting codes and to foster social cohesion among those with disabilities’.

The Sports day also featured goalball, a Paralympic sport invented in 1946 by Austrian, Hanz Lorenzen, and German Sepp Reindle, to help rehabilitate blind war veterans.

Students had the choice of yoga, shooting basketball hoops, and table tennis. Adapted board games, including monopoly and scrabble, were also part of the fun activities.

With over 720 students with disabilities across all campuses, the University was pleased that about 60 students participated.

The event was hosted by the Disability Support Unit; the Bio-kinetics, Exercise and Leisure Science Department; the Department of Sports and Health, and the Differentially Abled Student Association.

Words and photographs: Raylene Captain-Hasthibeer 


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Humanities Student Publishes Second Self Help Book

Humanities Student Publishes Second Self Help Book
Social Sciences student Mr Khethani Njoko with his second self-help book titled: It Has Nothing To Do With Life.

Social Sciences student in the College of Humanities Mr Khethani Njoko has published his second self-help book titled: It Has Nothing To Do With Life.

The book seeks to answer many questions people have about life and what is expected from them to live life to the fullest.

‘Life is a beautiful gift from God which has two important days - the one you were born and the one when you realise why you were born,’ said Njoko. ‘If you haven’t realised the purpose of why you were born you are missing the sense of life which leads to many people harming and hurting themselves.

‘Everybody has an ability to be great in this world but some people lack understanding about life and end up failing to tap in to their full potential.’

His book consists of 13 chapters which he regards as rules to be understood in order not to clash with the universe and to enjoy life.

The chapters are: Your Future is in Your Hands, Life is not Unfair, Everything Happens for a Reason, Different People have Different Time Zones, We Can’t be all Rich or Poor, Be the Change You Want To See, We are all Unique in Different Ways, The Importance of Understanding The Self, Negative and Positive Balances in Life, Plan of the Universe Versus our Own, We are all Bound To Fail and Fall, Mind your Tongue, and Death is not a Tragedy.

Offering advice, Njoko says, ‘The meaning of life is finding your gift and its purpose in sharing it. Our purpose is to find ourselves in this world and know all our abilities and capabilities to tap into the full potential of our lives. In life, you can achieve anything at any time with no limitations. Until you discover how powerful you are, you will never live your life to the fullest.’

The book is available at all major bookstores and through Njoko’s website www.khethaninjoko.co.za

Words: Melissa Mungroo 


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Entrepreneurial Thinking Should Begin at a Young Age

Entrepreneurial Thinking Should Begin at a Young Age
Attendees of the group-in-class mentorship programme.

If in 2017 you are only going to school to enable you to get a job later then you are most likely going to be disappointed, says successful Pietermaritzburg businessman, Mr Lindo Makhaye.

Makhaye - founder of Lusizo IT Solutions, an organisation that provides home technology installations solutions - was speaking at a presentation he gave for second year UKZN Entrepreneurship students.

Makhaye was invited by the module co-ordinator, Ms Lindiwe Kunene, to host a series of lectures on campuses where the module is offered.

The lectures aimed to broaden the minds of students to enable them to view entrepreneurship as a career choice and use their theoretical training during practical exercises.

Makhaye, a former student of Kunene’s, reminisced about how he used to sell sweets at junior school to earn extra money and said entrepreneurial thinking and behaviour should start at an early age.

‘I remember my grandmother would give me R50 to buy a packet of chocolate éclairs and sell them at school.  We shared the spoils! This led me to saving up my money until I could buy two packets. I would share the profits of one packet with my grandmother with the money I made on the second would keep for myself.

‘If entrepreneurship is your thing you need to be in it already,’ said Makhaye.

Makhaye say his uncle Mr Sibusiso Makhaye – who owned a construction company which brought in enough money to feed and educate the entire family – was his entrepreneurial role model.

Fast forward to the present, Makhaye owns the biggest MultiChoice agency in South Africa. He believes succeeding in business means investing in your employees and constantly keeping your fingers on the pulse.

‘Never be too detached from the action. The most important investment you can make as an entrepreneur is to build people and they will in turn build the business,’ said Makhaye.

‘One of the important mechanisms to fast track entrepreneurship learning and practice is through mentorship,’ said Kunene. ‘This year we are running group-in-class mentorship programmes. Mr Makhaye has committed to providing 10 video case studies on his company based on our curricula. His presence has created excitement among students and they have become inquisitive and eager to learn and do more.’

Words: Sibonelo Shinga


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UKZN Academic External Examiner at Kenyan University

UKZN Academic External Examiner at Kenyan University
UKZN’s Dr Diane van Staden at the MMUST Optometry Faculty with the class of 2017.

UKZN’s Optometry Academic Leader, Dr Diane van Staden, was the external examiner for the Bachelor of Optometry Class of 2017 at the Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology (MMUST) in Kenya.

MMUST started the first Bachelor of Optometry programme in Kenya in 2010.

UKZN and MMUST have had discussions on the development of an institutional partnership which will see capacity development activities, faculty exchanges and research as the main focus areas, with the overall objective being the development of African optometry.

MMUST currently has six of its academic staff completing doctorates at UKZN in the fields of Physics, Biology, Chemistry and Computer Science.

Words: Nombuso Dlamini


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UKZN Students at a Conference at Rhodes University

UKZN Students at a Conference at Rhodes University
Centre for Communication, Media and Society members on the highway to SACOMM 2017.

UKZN delegates - including students - from the Centre for Communication, Media and Society (CCMS) presented papers at the 2017 joint conference of the South African Communication Association (SACOMM) and Highway Africa 2017 held at Rhodes University in Grahamstown.

SACOMM - an annual conference of academics working in different fields of communication - and Highways Africa - Africa’s largest annual gathering of journalists - brought together media practitioners, scholars, journalists and academics from Africa and beyond.

CCMS sent its largest ever representation comprising eight postgraduate students, four lecturers and a postdoctoral researcher who each presented papers on various themes, including decolonisation of the media in a digital age, media accountability and power of communication in the post-truth world.

The two-day gathering was preceded by a pre-conference for emerging scholars where a CCMS PhD candidate Ms Rhoda Abiolu was nominated for the position of Deputy Convener of next year’s conference. In her presentation, Abiolu spoke on: Young People, Mobile Phones and the Public Sphere: the Role of Social Media in New Forms of Communication in Lusaka.

UKZN lecturer Dr Sarah Gibson, presented on the politics and poetics of mobility in the films of Sara Blecher, while another lecturer, Dr Lauren Dyll, presented several co-authored papers with her students. 

Other CCMS presenters were:

The following CCMS members also chaired parallel sessions: Dr Eliza Govender (Health Communication), Dr Musara Lubombo (Political Communication), Ms Mary Okocha (Development Communication), Ms Olutola Fasakin (Behaviour Change) and Ms Rhoda Abiolu (Media, Identity and Texts).

*Located in the School of Applied Human Sciences on the Howard College campus, CCMS is a research and educational unit that offers graduate programmes (honours, masters and PhD) in Culture, Communication and Media Studies.

Words: Oluwatola Fasakin: tfash54@yahoo.com and Rhoda Abiolu: abiolurhoda@gmail.com


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