Special Award for Durban International Film Festival
From left: CCA Acting Director, Dr Lliane Loots; School of Arts Dean, Professor Nobuhle Hlongwa; and College of Humanities DVC, Professor Nhlanhla Mkhize, accept the Simon “Mabhunu” Sabela Award.Click here for isiZulu version
UKZN received the prestigious MEC Special Award at this year’s Simon “Mabhunu” Sabela Film and Television Awards at the Playhouse Theatre for its Durban International Film Festival (DIFF).
The awards, established in 2013 to promote talent in KwaZulu-Natal talent, are named after Sabela who was South Africa’s first Black film director.
The MEC Award is presented to an outstanding individual, group or particular initiative that contributed significantly towards developing the film and television industry in the province.
UKZN was recognised by the KZN Film Commission for pioneering the last 40 years of DIFF - South Africa’s longest-running film festival.
Said Professor Nana Poku, UKZN Vice-Chancellor and Principal: ‘The University is grateful to the KwaZulu-Natal Film Commission for bestowing on us this prestigious award. It is indeed a compliment and I thank you on behalf of UKZN and the many people at the Centre for Creative Arts whose hard work and dedication over the last 40 years have kept this worthy initiative alive. It is made even more special by the acknowledgement of being the longest running local film festival and we are honoured by the recognition.’
Ms Jackie Motsepe of the KwaZulu-Natal Film Commission said: ‘As DIFF celebrates 40 years, the Department of Economic Development Tourism and Environmental Affairs as well as the KwaZulu-Natal Film Commission saw it fitting that UKZN be recognised for the sterling work it has done in developing and maintaining a world standard African event.’
Motsepe identified the annual DIFF as a festival that film-makers all over the country attend as it gives them an opportunity to engage with colleagues from across the continent and around the world while also providing a platform upon which they are able to develop and profile their film projects while building their networks.
‘It is a festival that filmmakers aspire to attend as it has a good and solid reputation, and provides a platform where African filmmakers can interface with each other as well as with those from around the world,’ said Motsepe. ‘International filmmakers attend the festival as it enables them to identify new emerging projects and talent on the continent which assists them in programming their events and identifying potential partners for projects that they could potentially support.’
UKZN Film and Media Studies lecturer in the School of Arts, Mr Mzwandile Makhanya, won a Simon “Mabhunu” Sabela Film and Television Award in the Best Student Film category.
The winning film UBIZO is about a shy, self-conscious theatre caretaker who has to overcome his greatest fears in order to fight to realise his dream of becoming a professional dancer.
Words: Melissa Mungroo
Photograph: Supplied
author : .author email : .Upscaling of ART Coverage Reduces TB in South Africa
Clockwise: Dr Andrew Tomita and Dr Richard Lessells with co-authors Professor Frank Tanser and Professor Tulio de Oliveira.A groundbreaking study indicating a significant link between the scale up of antiretroviral therapy (ART) coverage and a reduction in cases of tuberculosis (TB) has been published.
The work is that of scientists from UKZN’s College of Health Sciences (CHS), the KwaZulu-Natal Research Innovation and Sequencing Platform (KRISP), and the Africa Health Research Institute (AHRI).
Published in the prestigious scientific journal Nature’s Scientific Reports, the study is also the first to indicate space-time clusters of recently-diagnosed TB. The novel findings provide key information to guide policy makers on the scale up of ART in HIV hyperendemic sub-Saharan African communities, which will aid in the control of the TB epidemic.
Dr Andrew Tomita, lead author of the study titled: Space-Time Clustering of Recently Diagnosed Tuberculosis and Impact of ART Scale-Up: Evidence from an HIV Hyper-Endemic Rural South African Population, said in this paper: ‘We use data from one of the world’s largest longitudinal population health surveillance systems to characterise the spatial distribution of TB in a high HIV prevalence rural South African community and quantify the impact of community ART coverage scale-up on recently-diagnosed TB disease. In this specific rural KwaZulu-Natal area, every percentage increase in ART coverage was associated with a 2% decrease in the odds of recently-diagnosed TB.’
The study is based on an analysis of the AHRI demographic surveillance system that was primarily designed to collect longitudinal health and demographic data to monitor the severe HIV epidemic in a rural area of KwaZulu-Natal. The total area is 430 km2 and is situated in the southern part of the uMkhanyakude District in northern KwaZulu-Natal which consists of approximately 87 000 inhabitants. This area has a persistently high HIV burden, with one report estimating the incidence of the disease to be as high as 6.6 per 100 person-years in young women, and has some of the highest rates of TB in the country. Between 2000 and 2011, HIV and TB were responsible for approximately half (49.2%) of all deaths in this community.
The study looked at data from 2009-2015, a time when the scale-up of ART was accelerating. It involved information captured from an annual health questionnaire where individuals self-reported a diagnosis of TB within the previous 12 months. The analysis included 41 812 individuals aged 15 years and above.
In addition to the role of scaling-up ART coverage in lowering TB, the other groundbreaking finding of the study was the identification of localised areas with particularly high levels of TB. This information about where the problem is greatest is essential in prioritising population interventions and targeting high-risk areas. The four largest clusters were in overlapping areas in the south east of the study area, a peri-urban community near the national highway, three of which persisted throughout the study period. Previous studies have indicated that this area has a particularly high HIV prevalence and incidence.
Dr Richard Lessells, an infectious diseases physician and TB scientist at UKZN’s CHS and co-author of the study, added: ‘We know that scaling up antiretroviral therapy is a very good thing for the health of individuals and of the population. This study provides further evidence that increasing ART coverage is specifically helping to reduce the levels of TB in the population and should encourage us to intensify efforts to find and treat all people living with HIV and TB in the community. The observation that there are areas with much higher levels of TB does not surprise us, but it raises the question of whether we might get even more impact by targeting those areas with interventions to prevent and treat HIV and TB. This is what we call a precision public health approach and it is something we plan to evaluate as part of our research programme.’
Words: MaryAnn Francis
Photographs: Supplied
author : .author email : .Umcwaningi Udlulisele Imiphumela Kubaphathi baMaZulu FC
Owayengumfundi waseUKZN, uMnu Tsepo Machila (kwesokudla), edlulisela ucwaningo lwakhe kwiMenenja Jikelele yaMaZulu Football Club, uMnu Lunga Sokhela.Click here for English version
Isitshudeni esenza iziqu zeMastazi kwezoMnotho (KwezokuPhatha), uMnu Tsepo Machila, sidlulisele ucwaningo lwaso olubizwa ngokuthi The Challenges of Management Performance in Managing a Professional Team: A Case of AmaZulu Football Club, kuleli qembu likanobhutshuzwayo.
Lolu cwaningo obelubhekwe wuNks Lindiwe Kunene noDkt Patmond Mbhele belubheke izinselelo ezibhekene nabaphathi ekuphatheni kahle leli qembu laKwaZulu-Natali.
UMachila uthe: ‘Ekubhekeni lezi zinselelo, lolu cwaningo lusebenzise indlela exubile ukuqoqa imininingo. Kusetshenziswe indlela ebizwa nge-qualitative data ukuthola ulwazi kubaphathi abayi-12 baMaZulu Football Club nezikhulu eziphezulu zezinkampani zabaxhasi ezine. Ngibuye ngasebenzisa i-quantitative data kumakhasimende noma abalandeli baMaZulu abangama-385 baseThekwini. Ngazise imenenja jikelele yeqembu, uMnu Lunga Sokhela ngemiphumela, okuningi avele ekwazi. Ubonge kakhulu ngocwaningo engilwenze ngeqembu nokubazisa ngalo.’
Imiphumela iveze ukuthi izindaba zezimali ziphethwe ngendlela nangobunono, okuyinto egculisa abalingani beqembu nabalandeli noma amakhasimende.
‘Kepha ukusebenza kweqembu kutholakale kungagculisi. Ngiphakamise ukuthi kube khona omele inkampani yabaxhasi ethimbeni labaphathi beqembu ukulicebisa ngamasu nokuthi abe wumxhumanisi phakathi kweqembu nabalingani bangaphandle. Ngibuye ngaphakamisa ukuthi kusetshenziswe ithuluzi elibizwa nge-Balanced Score Card ukwelekelela AmaZulu ukuthi afeze izinjongo nombono wawo. Njengomthandi webhola, ngiyaziqhenya ngokuthi ngikwazile ukuphosa esivivaneni ekwakheni isikhungo esikhulu kangaka njengaMaZulu,’ kusho yena.
Kumanje leli qembu likanobhutshuzwayo licubungula lolu cwaningo, libheka ukuthi lungalisiza kanjani ukuphucula iqembu.
Amagama: ngu-Thandiwe Jumo
Isithombe: Sithunyelwe
author : .author email : .UKZN Spreads Mandela’s Love at Special School
UKZN representatives spreading love and Ubuntu at Ekuthuthukeni Special School on Mandela Day.UKZN’s College of Health Sciences, in partnership with the HIV Pathogenesis Programme (HPP) and the Information and Communication Services Division, spent 67 minutes with learners at the Ekuthuthukeni Special School in Umlazi on Mandela Day.
Ekuthuthukeni is a public school for intellectually disabled children aged between six and 18. Conditions affecting the learners include autism, down’s syndrome, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and a range of learning disabilities.
Intrinsic to the functioning of Ekuthuthukeni are stated values and qualities which include honesty, caring, empathy, professionalism, integrity, fairness, excellence and team work. The School’s focus is on empowering learners from different backgrounds with values and skills such as art, sewing, draping, wood work and flower arranging - to help ensure they leave school, well equipped mentally and have at least one technical skill that will assist them find employment and function efficiently in society.
The School’s mission is to ensure that each learner develops spiritually, emotionally as well as socially by firstly acknowledging that each one is unique and also by encouraging them to reach their full potential.
The surrounding community participates in various studies conducted by the HPP.
In order to give back to the school and follow in the philanthropic and humanitarian footsteps of Mandela, the team fundraised over the last few months. Through generous contributions from staff and other stakeholders, the team was able to present the school with stationery, desktop computers, microwave ovens, cotton, sewing machines, fabric, tool kits, blenders, toasters and gift packs for the teachers.
Speaking at the event, HPP community liaison officer in Umlazi, Mr Phumlani Kunene, said to the teachers: ‘It is inspiring to meet the amazing teachers of Ekuthuthukeni Special School who on a daily basis go above and beyond the call of duty to make sure these learners are taught well and cared for. You have been gifted with patience, strength and most of all, love. Thank you for all that you do.’
The school’s deputy principal, Mrs Sizakele Bhengu, expressed her gratitude to UKZN for the gifts. ‘We are eternally grateful for all these goods. We will use them to ensure our learners are taught various skills that will one day help them as adults.’
Words: MaryAnn Francis
author : .author email : .Food Gardens at Mtubatuba School for Mandela Day
Ms Nontuthuko Mgabhi (far left) and Enactus students start vegetable gardens with the learners and staff of Khiphinkunzi Primary School.UKZN alumnus, Ms Nontuthuko Mgabhi, and Enactus members launched food gardens at Khiphinkunzi Primary School in Mtubatuba for Mandela Day.
Mgabhi appealed to alumni to donate their time or items such as vegetable seedlings, compost, fertilisers and tools to assist in developing the garden at the school. The call was heeded by UKZN alumni and staff who donated money, Friends of Agric also heeded the call, donating seeds and fertilisers.
The vertical sack farming method - a process that involves planting 25-30 seedlings in a bag to preserve land and water - was demonstrated by Enactus member, Mr Andile Mkhize. While the philanthropic organisation’s Deputy President, Ms Nomqhele Dube and the rest of her team, assisted groups of parents, teachers and pupils in starting their own gardens.
Mgabhi, a champion of this initiative through her Go Beyond for a Child project, hopes to not only provide food security for the school but also five new classrooms and two new administration offices. Seeing 110 children crammed into one classroom is what moved her to start the project.
‘So many children in this area are from child-headed households and live off farming, so this will help them a lot. I’m grateful to Enactus and UKZN because I’ve done a lot of gardening projects but the innovation involved today really blew me away,’ she said.
School Principal, Ms Nonhlanhla Shongwe, and Deputy-Principal, Ms Nana Sibeko, said they were grateful for this initiative. ‘This will assist the school greatly as our menu is derived mainly of vegetables which our suppliers are always short of,’ said Sibeko. ‘It will also help our community as most of them are unemployed,’ she added.
Enactus students and Mgabhi together with parents, teachers and pupils planted over 30 bags of spinach, onions, beetroot and chillies. In line with empowering the community, pupils were also divided into groups and given scheduled timetables for them to help maintain the gardens; thus teaching them to help themselves.
Mgabhi’s love of long distance running will see her take the initiative further as she plans to run in seven continents for seven days, raising funds for the new school buildings.
She also welcomes any contributions to help the school through the BackABuddy initiative starting from as little as R50.
To donate, please follow the link: https://www.backabuddy.co.za/khiphinkunzi-primary
Words: Hlengiwe Precious Khwela
Photographs: Andile Ndlovu
author : .author email : .Law Students and Staff Assist Poor and Marginalised Folk on Mandela Day
Law students and staff who participated in the Mandela Day outreach initiative.UKZN Law students and staff provided free legal advice to poor and marginalised people in Craigieburn near Umkomaas and at Ohlange in Inanda on Mandela Day.
Led by the Director of the UKZN Howard College Campus Law Clinic, Dr Dave Holness and Professor David McQuoid-Mason of the Street Law Plus Project at the Centre for Socio-Legal Studies, Law teams gave free legal advice and conducted legal awareness sessions.
Teams consisted of two candidate attorneys from the Law Clinic, Ms Nomfundo Buthelezi and Ms Cassandra Holdcroft; an intern from the Legal Resources Centre, Mr Gift Luthuli; UKZN Street Law students, Ms Zusiphe Noko, Ms Kerisha Naicker, Ms Wenzile Dongo, Ms Tashnia Moodley and Ms Sibongile Banda; and South Coast attorney, Ms Sindi Hlatswayo, a former candidate attorney at the Law Clinic who arranged the programme.
About 50 people in Craigieburn and Ohlange who needed guidance were assisted by the teams.
Legal assistance relating to the following allegations were covered on the day: challenges with transferring ownership of homes from deceased estates; protection order violations; a murder cover-up; forged signature on a falsely amended divorce court order; a lost identity document being reissued falsely indicating that a local woman was married to a Pakistani migrant; assistance with drawing up a will; and an encroachment on a purchased property where the boundary peg had been removed.
The Ohlange team went to the house of Mr Thami Shandu, a community activist who lives in the area. The team was led by Supervising Attorney at the Campus Law Clinic, Mr Rishen Buden Singh, who supervised former candidate attorney, Mr Marc Larkin of Street Law Plus, and a current candidate attorney, Mr Andile Cele.
They assisted nine people who had issues relating to immovable property.
The sale of homes and payment of rentals - often against the law as well as illegal occupations of Reconstruction and Development Programme houses are common issues raised at outreach events and are symptomatic of the desperation of many South Africans for their own homes and permanent shelter.
A highlight of the day was a visit by Cele to the home of an elderly woman who was unable to attend the event but needed help to draft her will.
Words: Ndabaonline
author : .author email : .College of Health Sciences Hosts Screening of Township Documentary for Mandela Day
Guests at the screening of The Township Yogi for Mandela Day.The College of Health Sciences, in association with the South African Depression and Anxiety Group (SADAG) and the directors of the Township Yogi documentary film hosted a premier screening of the production for Mandela Day.
The documentary was produced to raise awareness about the Township Yogi Project, which offers free yoga classes to people living in townships and empowers those who are unemployed with free yoga teacher training. The documentary is produced and narrated by the renowned American producer and actor, Blair Underwood, who is an ambassador for the Township Yogi Project.
Academic Leader at the College of Health Sciences, Dr Suvira Ramlall, says the goal of the event was to showcase the inspirational work done by the Township Yogi Project as well as launch the UKZN Campus Yogi Project - a university programme aimed at creating a culture of holistic development and promoting the wellbeing of students and staff.
Ramlall said the health of university students was a matter of growing concern. ‘Stress, anxiety, depression, suicide and substance abuse are taking their toll on young adults with serious social and economic consequences as well as a negative impact on tertiary education throughput. Good health - encompassing physical, mental, emotional, social and spiritual wellbeing - is essential for academic success and has to be part of the university curriculum.’
Reflecting on the significance of Mandela Day, Ramlall said embracing yoga on this day is a fitting commemoration. ‘Mandela once famously said: “A good head and a good heart are always a formidable combination”. Yoga is one practice that can help develop both a good head and a good heart.’
The Campus Yogi Project has been designed in collaboration with UKZN staff and students with the support and guidance of the Township Yogi team. The project will embrace and promote the practice of Hatha yoga, meditation and breathing exercises.
• For information on the Township Yogi Project, visit: https://www.townshipyogi.org
• Follow: https://vimeo.com/136700826 to watch the film trailer.
A percentage of profits from the film will be donated to the Township Yogi Project.
Words: Lihle Sosibo
author : .author email : .Durban International Film Festival Award Winners Announced
Winners at the Durban International Film Festival (DIFF) awards ceremony.The 40th Durban International Film Festival (DIFF), hosted by the Centre for Creative Arts (CCA) in the College of Humanities, announced its winners at an awards ceremony held at the Elangeni Hotel.
Acting CCA Director and UKZN lecturer, Dr Lliane Loots, congratulated all winners for their exceptional work in telling stories that speak to the human spirit. She noted that DIFF had honoured the truth-tellers ‘who have tapped into the zeitgeist of our 2019 seismic moment’.
‘The power of film and of all critical arts is to constantly be the conscience of nations,’ said Loots. ‘Reaching 40 years, this landmark South African film festival is a triumph for very single filmmaker who has shown work on this platform, every new film project that was born in our space, and every single audience member who made the time to come and watch and listen to these stories. Our focus has been on uniting Africa through film, and we join the decolonising movement that asks us to find a way to honour what is local and what comes from within,’ she said.
A highlight of the event was former CCA Director, Mr Peter Rorvik, who was a steady hand at the helm of the festival for more than a decade receiving the DIFF Legacy Award. Rorvik shared the award with Roz Sarkin and the late Moosa Moosa who co-founded DIFF, and the producer of Izulu Lami, Julie Frederikse and its director, Madoda Ncayiyana.
Rorvik said he was honoured to receive the award but called on UKZN ‘to appoint a permanent CCA Director to ensure that DIFF and other festivals such as Time of the Writer, Poetry Africa and JOMBA continue’.
Awards handed out at the ceremony included:
• Best Amnesty International Durban Human Rights Award at DIFF 2019: For Sama directed by Edward Watts and Waad al-Kateab
• Artistic Bravery: Letters Of Hope directed by Vusi Africa
• Best Cinematography: Divine Love directed by Gabriel Mascaro
• Best Editing: Cronofobia directed by Francesco Rizzi
• Best Screenplay: Les Misérables directed by Ladj Ly
• Best Short Film: Acid directedby Just Philippot
• Best African Short Film: Brotherhood directed by Meryam Joobeur. The film received a cash prize of R20 000 from the Gauteng Film Commission
• Best South African Short Film: Miracle directed by Bongi Ndaba. The film received a cash prize of R20 000 from the Gauteng Film Commission.
• Best Actor: Bongile Mantsai for Knuckle City directed by Jahmil X T Qubeka
• Best Actress: Nisrin Erradi for Adam directed by Maryam Touzani
• Best Documentary: For Sama directed Edward Watts and Waad al-Kateab. The film received a cash prize of R25 000
• Best South African Documentary: Buddha in Africa directed by Nicole Schafer. The film received a cash prize of R25 000
• Best Direction: Divine Love directed by Gabriel Mascaro
• Best South African Feature Film: Back of the Moon directed by Angus Gibson. The film received a cash prize of R25 000
• Best Feature Film: Les Misérables directed by Ladj Ly. The film received a cash prize of R50 000
• DIFF Legacy Awardees: Peter Rorvik, Roz Sarkin, Moosa Moosa, Julie Frederikse and Madoda Ncayiyana
Words: Melissa Mungroo
Photographs: Supplied
author : .author email : .Embracing Excellence is not an Option. It’s an Imperative!
By Dr Rudi Kimmie
Disrupt or be disrupted, that’s the new mantra driven by the 4th Industrial Revolution - the digital technology tsunami overturning established business practices in its rush to be bigger and better while in turn, making sweeping changes to our professional and personal lives.
Ask Standard Bank or its employees how app-driven banking by Discovery Bank, Zero Bank and Thyme Bank has impacted conventional banking.
There is no doubt that to thrive in this rapidly transforming world we not only need to ride the wave of change, we also need to embrace excellence as a professional ethic in light of globalisation and the increase in competition that comes with it. However, globalisation and digitisation are not only about technology - they are also about the quick uptake of opportunities, innovation, agility in how we apply our skills, and responsiveness to rapidly evolving trends. Failing to do so will see South Africa slip further in globally competitive rankings and exacerbate an already dire situation of a failing economy and a high unemployment rate.
Undoubtedly, high unemployment and the inability to create jobs remain the biggest failures of post 1994 South Africa. Albeit there are many factors that influence job creation, a key one is value excellence - that is the advantage an employee brings to an employer.
With large numbers of graduates in competition for fewer job opportunities, the key question they should ask themselves is: “What compelling value can I offer a prospective employer?”
New York Times columnist Thomas, L Friedman, once wrote: ‘Today, average is officially over.’ This is because in a world of increasing competition and where unique value proposition is becoming the norm, being average doesn’t cut it anymore. Surviving and indeed thriving in business, academic or professional spheres require above average and often excellent performance. Look around you, individuals and organisations who are sustainable and successful, are those who offer better value; who have transcended being “average”.
Higher education institutions, such as the University of KwaZulu-Natal, are custodians of tomorrow’s leaders and need to insert “excellence” centrally into their teaching and learning mandates. Likewise, students need to realise that embracing excellence will bring out the best in them because - it taps into our highest potential and drives us to improve our abilities. As former American football coach Vince Lombardi explains: ‘The quality of a person’s life is in direct proportion to their commitment to excellence regardless of their chosen field of endeavour.’ The University bristles with potential, from the sports fields to the classrooms and in the research labs. Unfortunately, much of this potential remains stillborn!
So how can we transform from being mediocre to excellence? It starts with choice! As late psychiatrist Victor Frankel stated: ‘Humans are choosers.’ We choose our destinies through our thoughts and then we create them in our actions. The Japanese nailed it down to kaizen or making small incremental improvements on an ongoing basis. William C. Taylor in Simply Brilliant – How Great Organisations do Ordinary Things in Extraordinary Ways, shows how latter-day businesses have become successful through integrating excellence into their common business practices such as customer service.
Fortunately, technology has brought “excellence” within easy reach. Global best practice and role models can be readily accessed through online learning platforms. Online content has provided opportunities to learn from the best in the world and in so doing, enable us to become our better selves.
Thriving in South Africa requires that we break the “entitlement syndrome”. Despite its many promises, the South African government is not capable of providing the development and opportunities to enable growth. Revelations at the Zondo, Mpati and Mokgoro commissions show how state capture and cronyism have stripped value from our economy. Similarly, our education system doesn’t fare much better. The recent International Monetary Fund (IMF) working paper: Struggling to Make the Grade: A Review of the Causes and Consequences of the Weak Outcomes of SA’s Education System, paints a dire picture of the basic education system.
South Africa’s economic and social challenges deserve nothing short of the very best solutions and the most qualified officials to implement them. Poor or lack of service delivery at all levels of our social development value chain show that excellence, whether in the academy or in any professional endeavour, must prevail above all else. It is no surprise that politically stable and economically successful Singapore, through upholding meritocracy, recruits the sharpest minds into its civil service so that the most efficient service is provided.
For the sake of South Africa’s growth and sustainability, it is imperative that a “culture of excellence” is embraced. Excellence is not a superhuman skill - it needs neither academic qualifications nor positional authority. The starting point is choice and then to commit that decision to action.
Dr Rudi Kimmie, a UKZN alumnus, writes in his personal capacity.
author : .author email : .I-UKZN Yemukele Akade Befundela Ubudokotela E-Cuba
Emcimbini wokwamukela izitshudeni zase-UKZN ebezenza izifundo zobudokotela e-Cuba.Click here for English version
Izitshudeni ebezifundela ubudokotela ezili-126 ekade ziqeqeshwa iminyaka emihlanu e-Cuba zemukelwe "ekhaya" e-University of KwaZulu-Natal (e-UKZN).
I-College of Health Sciences (i-CHS) yenze "umcimbi wokwemukela ekhaya" izitshudeni eziphothule i-Nelson Mandela-Fidel Castro Cuban Collaboration Programme (i-NMFCCP) esezibuyile ukuzoqeqeshwa izinyanga ezili-18 ezibhedlela zaKwaZulu-Natali.
IPhini LeSekelashansela neNhloko ye-CHS, uSolwazi Busisiwe Ncama, lemukele ngezandla ezifudumele lezi zitshudeni emndenini wase-UKZN, lathi: ‘Siyaniqinisekisa zitshudeni zethu ukuthi i-UKZN izohamba nani kulolu hambo lwezinyanga ezili-18 lwasezibhedlela zaseKZN.’
I-NMFCCP iyingxenye yesivumelwano samazwe amabili okuyiNingizumu Afrika ne-Cuba nesasayinwa ngoMengameli abangasekho u-Nelson Mandela no-Fidel Castro, ngenhloso yokuqeda ukusweleka kodokotela eNingizimu Afrika.
Izitshudeni zizoshintshisana emaqoqweni okuhlinza, ezifo zabantu besifazane, ezangaphakathi, ezabantwana, ukugula okujwayelekile, nezifo zezengqondo. Zizoqeqeshwa ezibhedlela zokuqeqesha ezivunywe yi-HPCSA zaseKZN okukhona kuzo i-Addington, i-General Justice Gizenga Mpanga, i-RK Khan, i-Prince Mshiyeni, i-King Edward VIII, i-Queen Nandi, iNgwelezane, i-Port Shepstone, i-Newcastle, i-King Dinuzulu, i-Estcourt, i-St Apollinaris, iNkandla, ne-Wentworth.
UDkt Gustavo Lopez, odabuka e-Cuba noyimenenja yezokwelapha e-General Justice Gizenga Mpanga Hospital eNyakatho yaseKZN, uthe kwizitshudeni: ‘Uhlelo lezokwelapha lwase-Cuba lugxile ekunqandeni izifo ezijwayelekile emphakathini kanti uhlelo lwaseNingizimu Afrika lugxile ekwelapheni izifo esezivele zikhona. Nibuye eNingizimu Afrika nolwazi oluningi lwendlela yokwelapha egxile ekunqandeni izifo ezivamile kanti nisendaweni enhle yokushintsha inqubo yokwelapha ekhona.’
I-Dean yase-School of Clinical Medicine, uSolwazi Ncoza Dlova, ikhuthaze izitshudeni ukuthi zisebenze ngokuzikhandla, ziphokophele empumelelweni. ‘Akuyi ngokuthi umjaho uwuqale kanjani kodwa kuya ngokuthi uwuqeda kanjani kanti yimiqondo yenu ezocacisa ukuthi niyanqoba noma cha,’ kusho yena. UDlova uqinisekise izitshudeni ngokuthi umNyango wakhe uzozeseka ngokugcwele, ikakhulu amathwasa obuholi kwezokwelapha angama-36 azoseka, acathulise lezi zitshudeni. Amathwasa obuholi kwezokwelapha ngabafundi abacijwa yi-Dean kwezobuholi.
Izitshudeni zikhuthazwe ukuthi zilwele amalungelo eziguli, ziqinisekise ukuthi zilwela ubulungiswa emphakathini ngale komsebenzi wobudokotela. InHloko ye-Family Medicine, uDkt Bernhard Gaede, ithe: ‘Kudingeka nisifundise ukuthi ezempilo zingaguqulwa kanjani zibe ngcono eNingizimu Afrika. Inselelo yezifo idlangile KwaZulu-Natali kanti asikayinqobi singabelaphi. Kuyaphithizela ezindaweni ezemukela iziguli. Kudingeka sifunde ukuthi siwuvala kanjani lo mpompi. Lokhu singakwenza uma sifundisana, sihambisana kulolu hambo.’
Umkhandlu wabafundi bezobudokotela, i-Medical Campus Representative Council, ebimelwe wuMnu Kenneth Sithole, nayo yemukele lezi zitshudeni yethembisa ukuzeseka. ‘Siyaziqhenya ngempumelelo yenu. Kuzo zonke izinselelo ebenibhekene nazo, nikwazile ukuphumelela. Namuhla niloba ikhasi lokuqala lencwadi yezinyanga ezili-18. Niqinisekise ukuthi nibhala incwadi emnandi.’
Omele izitshudeni, uMnu Nhlanhla Khuzwayo, wakhuliswa wubabekazi wakhe, wafundiswa ngabashadikazi baseNgilandi basesontweni labo emakhaya kwaNongoma, enyakatho yaseKZN. UKhuzwayo uthe kade afisa ukuba wudokotela kanti wajabula kakhulu ngomfundaze we-NMFCCP wokuyofunda e-Cuba.
Kulabo akade bekhona uthe: ‘Empilweni kuhlale kunezinselelo kodwa kudingeka ukuthi umuntu ahlale ethemba. Ngiwumphumela wobudlelwano bekhethelo boMengameli abangasekho, u-Nelson Mandela no-Fidel Castro, abenza ukuthi lolu hlelo lube khona. Silapha ukuzoshintsha izinto kanti sijabule ukufika emndenini wase-UKZN.’
Amagama: ngu-MaryAnn Francis
author : .author email : .Rise Against Hunger Awareness Drive
From left: Community Nutrition students Ms Zinhle Khanyile, Ms Nokwanda Mhlongo, Ms Tikhala Padambo, Ms Nokwanda Dlamini, and Ms Nomasiko Zulu at the Rise Against Hunger awareness campaign.The Pietermaritzburg Campus Management Forum hosted an awareness campaign for the Rise Against Hunger (RAH) programme that provides free meal packs to students facing food and nutrition insecurity.
Postgraduate students in the Community Nutrition programme in the Discipline of Dietetics and Human Nutrition gathered on the Pietermaritzburg main campus to introduce students who were unfamiliar with RAH to the meal packs it offers. The group, under the supervision of Ms Penny Jarvie, prepared pamphlets about the packs as well as complementary recipes to enhance the flavour and benefits of the meal packs.
The scents of flavourful curried mince and vegetables wafted over campus as the group explained how to prepare cost-effective and healthy meals by adding a range of affordable ingredients to the meal packs, with students visiting the display also having the option to taste finished products.
The pre-packed RAH meals include enriched rice, soy protein, dried vegetables and 23 essential vitamins and nutrients, and yield four to six servings. The Dietetics group explained the cooking instructions, advised on how to store the packs and gave students tips on budget stretching in terms of healthy meal preparation. They also informed students about the important benefits of the fibre, carbohydrates, vitamins and protein in the packs.
The packs are freely available to students on the Pietermaritzburg campus from the Disability Unit and HIV/AIDS Centre.
‘The response to this campaign has been very open; a lot of people didn’t know about the availability of these packs and many suffer in silence, so it’s good that the University has made these available,’ said Community Nutrition student, Ms Tikhala Padambo.
The Postgraduate Diploma in Community Nutrition programme enables students to gain an understanding of nutrition security in South Africa and internationally, and exploring initiatives to improve nutrition security.
They undertake an internship to gain practical experience of community nutrition interventions and their practical experience includes hosting wellness days, assisting at clinics, and presenting talks about nutrition.
Community Nutrition students undertook research on dietary diversity among female students earlier in the year and indicated that many students make less healthy choices due to time constraints, often maintaining unsustainable eating habits. This could be assisted, said Padambo, by the versatility of the RAH packs.
The Discipline of Dietetics and Human Nutrition has a track record of putting its expertise to work to tackle food insecurity faced by students. The Discipline’s Dr Suna Kassier compiled a booklet about healthy eating on a limited budget for the benefit of students, while the Discipline has collaborated with student clubs and University divisions to inform students about healthy, budget-friendly approaches to nutrition.
Staging the awareness campaign in partnership with the Community Nutrition students is an excellent example of how the Campus Management Forum can bring together the expertise and energy of members of the University community to improve life on Campus for everyone.
Campus Director, Professor Albert Modi, who chairs the Forum, commented: ‘Our University accommodates a large number of students who struggle with food insecurity. This programme should be very effective in mitigating student hunger as well educating students about food and nutrition for good health. We are grateful for the support of the private sector and hope to expand it to more companies that can benefit from supporting our ventures.’
Words: Christine Cuénod
author : .author email : .African Languages Academic Presents Paper at International Conference
Dr Henry Gumede, a UKZN academic who presented a paper at an international conference.African Languages academic, Dr Henry Gumede, presented a paper titled: Struggle for Recognition: Identity - Formation and Subjectivation, at the 8th International Conference on Language, Literature and Culture in France.
The conference is an annual, peer-reviewed academic event and comprehensive venue for the free exchange and dissemination of ideas on language, translation, literary and cultural studies, which aims to bring together scholars and graduates researching the intersections of these fields.
In his address, Gumede analysed the novel: Umshado in relation to differences in attitudes and behaviour and also in relation to “free” expression or subjectivity by woman writer, N Zulu. This is achieved by exploring the use of language by both men and women in this literary text.
By engaging a nuanced discourse analysis, Gumede sought to explore some contradictory aspects of selected Zulu traditional practices, and how these negatively impact on the rights of women. He then explored the struggles a woman goes through in trying to attain her freedom and independence which unfortunately land her in trouble and she emerges as a victim.
‘On a personal level, this was such an enlightening and worthy experience for me as an academic as I was able share information with the rest of the presenters as well as other conference attendees,’ said Gumede. ‘The interesting part was that I was the only participant from South Africa and I met scholars who come from as far afield as India, England, Turkey, Morocco, Oman, Romania, and Greece. Many of the papers presented touched on my area of specialisation but it was very refreshing to engage with other scholars on new and emerging academic debates and discussions in the academia, especially in literature,’ he added.
Words and photograph: Melissa Mungroo
author : .author email : .Graduate School of Business and Leadership Open Day
Guests, lecturers and industry experts at the Graduate School of Business and Leadership Open Day.The Graduate School of Business and Leadership (GSB&L) held its Open Day, showcasing a variety of postgraduate programmes it offers.
Lecturers and industry experts were on hand to provide guests with a wide variety of information. There was also a networking session.
Acting Dean and Head of the School, Professor Ana Martins, welcomed guests and thanked them for considering UKZN as their university of choice. ‘The Premier of KwaZulu-Natal, Mr Sihle Zikalala has emphasised the importance of professionals going back to school and furthering their education and I believe the GSB&L is the right choice for that,’ said Martins.
Senior Manager at the South African Revenue Service, Ms Nelly Hlope, who holds a Postgraduate Diploma in Leadership Studies and whose Master of Commerce in Leadership Studies dissertation has undergone an examination process, spoke about why she had enrolled at the GSB&L, highlighting how she had benefitted from the programmes and how easy it had been to go back and implement what she had learned practically. ‘When I enrolled for these programmes, I wanted to improve my leadership skills because it’s not easy to lead people. It also becomes really hard when you don’t have any tools in your toolbox because you won’t know what tool you need for which task,’ Hlope said.
Process Safety and Fire Protection Specialist at Engen, Ms Thandi Ngxongo, who holds a Master of Business Administration (cum laude) degree,shared her struggles of pursuing her studies while she was pregnant. ‘During the first semester, I was known as the pregnant lady, but by second semester that all changed when I became the “go-to-girl” for anyone who needed information.’
Ngxongo said she wanted her research, which focused on transformation and empowerment of women in the petroleum sector, to serve a purpose by making an impact and solve problems the African way, attributing that to her success. ‘I knew I was solving a problem for future generations with my research and that’s why I didn’t lose focus because it was something that I was passionate about.’
Head of African Business at Lenmed Health and adjunct lecturer at GSB&L, Dr Augusta Dorning, said it was a privilege to lecture at the School being a professional who had worked for over 35 years in four different careers all in line with her passion for healthcare. Dorning encouraged prospective students to apply themselves during their studies and to do their best, as the courses required them to learn by interacting and pushing boundaries. ‘If you’re facing that dilemma of taking all of your leave days to study, do it because you’ll never regret it. I did the same! Embrace this opportunity, there are so many bursary options if you present yourself to the right companies and the personal growth is amazing,’ said Dorning.
GSB&L lecturer, Dr Tony Ngwenya, kept guests entertained with his interactive Q&A session while lecturers, Professor Mihalis Chasomeris and Dr Pfano Mashau, gave guests a breakdown of the programmes on offer and guidelines of how to apply.
Words: Hlengiwe Precious Khwela
Photograph: Supplied
author : .author email : .Call-up to National Health Laboratory Services Committee for Biochemistry Academic
Professor Shahidul Islam who has been appointed to the NHLS Data Access and Ethics Committee.Associate Professor of Biochemistry in the School of Life Sciences at UKZN, Professor Shahidul Islam, has been appointed one of five members of South Africa’s National Health Laboratory Service (NHLS) Data Access and Ethics Committee.
The committee was established to ensure proper governance on the sharing of data collected by the NHLS which provides clinicians with test results from tissue samples and patient specimens in the public and private health sector for purposes of research, medical treatment and care. The NHLS was instituted to provide quality, affordable and sustainable health laboratory and public health services.
Islam was selected onto the NHLS committee because of his extensive experience gained while serving on UKZN’s Animal Research Ethics Committee (AREC), where he was a member for two years and chairperson for four years.
‘Our College is very proud of the confirmation by the NHLS that we have academics of international standing,’ said Deputy Vice-Chancellor of the College of Agriculture, Engineering and Science Professor Albert Modi.
‘This is a great achievement for Professor Shahidul Islam, the College as well as UKZN,’ said Modi.
Islam has a C2 NRF rating and more than 10 years’ teaching experience in Biochemistry and Metabolism. He is an expert in the field of type 2 diabetes and obesity and has published seven book chapters and more than 110 full-length articles in international peer-reviewed journals and has served on editorial boards for distinguished international journals.
Islam has delivered a number of lectures around the world and received the 2015 Distinguished Teachers’ Award in the College of Agriculture, Engineering and Science. He secured 18th positon in 2017’s list of the Top 30 published researchers at UKZN and has supervised about 50 postgraduate students and has taught from undergraduate to honours levels.
His research has involved the development of animal models of type 2 diabetes, antidiabetic intervention trials of various medicinal and functional foods, food supplements, artificial sweeteners, sugar substitutes, and medicinal plant extracts (including fractions and isolated pure compounds from these) and underlying molecular mechanisms behind their effects targeting novel drug discovery and better management of diabetes.
Islam and colleagues have developed two animal models of type 2 diabetes in use by researchers around the world, and their work on sugar alcohols and on medicinal plants has drawn international attention in recent years.
Words: Christine Cuénod
Photograph: Supplied
author : .author email : .Academic Gives Keynote Address at International Society of Political Psychology Conference
Professor Kevin Durrheim who delivered the keynote address at an international conference.Psychology academic in the School of Applied Human Sciences, Professor Kevin Durrheim, delivered the keynote address at the International Society of Political Psychology (ISPP) Conference in Lisbon, Portugal.
As the winner of ISPP’s Nevitt Sanford Award for Professional Contributions to Political Psychology, Durrheim was invited as a speaker by the ISPP President, Professor David Redlawsk.
‘We recognise Durrheim’s body of work in the discipline and its direct application in working to solve social problems,’ said Redlawsk. ‘Moreover, his research on racism, segregation, and social change speaks volumes under our conference theme of Empowering Citizens in liberal Times: The Political Psychology of Oppression and Resistance. His talk was warmly welcomed by the audience,’ he said.
Durrheim’s address was titled: The Beginning and the End of Racism – and Something In-Between and examined the power of racism; how racism discourse can mobilise right-wing populism, particularly the construction of identity, and alliance in reactions to UKIP’s Brexit “Breaking Point” campaign; while tracking the trajectory of historical racism from Nazis to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) to modern day racism and the discourse of racism denial.
‘Was there racism before the word “racism”?’ asked Durrheim. ‘Certainly, but the emergence of the word is telling. Racism emerges when the political and oppressive use of race categories become conscious of themselves as racism. Each contribution to science also reflects a socially situated point of view.’
Durrheim noted that ordinary people reflexively understand their lives and actions in terms of the category of “racism” and participate in life in its terms and that ordinary people and elites are lay critics and lay scientists as they argue about the reality or unreality of both race and racism. ‘The hallmark of everyday racism is its refusal to recognise itself as such and be owned. Researchers are tempted to be authoritative,’ he argues.
Speaking about the end of racism, Durrheim said: ‘Begin with the beginning of racism: The horrors of the holocaust. Racism becomes conscious of itself. In some sense, this is actually the end of unbridled racism of the colonial era, but racism gets a second life: it is transformed into a moral category.’
Words: Melissa Mungroo
Photograph: Supplied
author : .author email : .Raffia Palm Wine Benefits for Diabetic Men
At a UKZN graduation ceremony in April are (from left) Dr Ochuko L Erukainure, Ms Rebecca Reddy, and Professor Shahidul Islam. Professor Shahidul Islam of UKZN’s School of Life Sciences, together with two recently graduated postgraduate students, Ms Rebecca Reddy and Dr Ochuko L Erukainure of the Federal Institute of Industrial Research Oshodi (FIIRO) in Nigeria, have collaborated on research showing that the consumption of raffia palm wine could guard against complications stemming from type 2 diabetes which affect male sexual organs.
The research, published in the Journal of Food Biochemistry, was featured in the Nigerian Tribune daily newspaper. The researchers indicated that a common complication of type 2 diabetes among men was testicular damage, which if left untreated could result in low libido, erectile dysfunction and eventually infertility.
Diabetes mellitus, according to the researchers, is one of the fastest-growing global epidemics, with many developing countries paying a higher price for treatment of the disease.
Raffia palm wine, known as Oguro and Ngwo in the Nigerian Yoruba and Igbo languages respectively, is a natural beverage commonly drunk in West Africa and some parts of Asia which has medicinal and social uses. Although it has been used in folkloric medicinal plant treatments for several ailments, including measles and to boost libido and breast milk production, its effect on diabetes-associated oxidative testicular injury had not previously been investigated.
Reporters for the Nigerian Tribune also referenced multiple beneficial properties of palm wine, saying it contained calcium, sodium, magnesium, phosphorus, vitamin C, nicotinic acid, potassium, nitrogen, and thiamine. The wine can be made throughout the seasons and was reported to have a positive effect on cardiovascular and skin health, hair growth, vision and other health issues.
The trio’s research, undertaken in Islam’s laboratory at UKZN and at the FIIRO during the course of Erukainure’s PhD research, involved administering palm wine and distilled water to two groups of diabetic rats under the strict guidelines and approval of UKZN’s Animal Ethics Committee.
The results showed that treatment with raffia palm wine resulted in lower blood glucose levels and less evidence of oxidative stress on testicular tissue. They concluded that raffia palm wine has therapeutic potential to protect against erectile dysfunction or impotence in men with type 2 diabetes, giving credence to its use in folkloric medicine.
According to the researchers, this study will also improve the medicinal use of this wine, which may also indirectly improve its commercial benefit.
The researchers however cautioned that excessive consumption of the alcoholic beverage could be detrimental and that its effect on healthy tissue are unknown.
Words: Christine Cuénod
Photograph: Supplied
author : .author email : .Owezobudokotela Kwezomnotho Wezolimo Wenza Ucwaningo e-Italy
UNks Lerato Phali wase-UKZN ethula ucwaningo lwakhe kwi-European Commission Counterfactual Impact Evaluation Week e-Italy.Click here for English version
UNks Lerato Phali, owenza iziqu zobudokotela eMkhakheni wezoMnotho WezoLimo e-Sikoleni sezeSayensi YezoLimo, YezoMhlaba Neyezemvelo, eNyuvesi yaKwaZulu-Natali, wenza ucwaningo olukhokhelwayo lonyaka wonke e-University of Foggia eNtaliyane ngosizo lwe-Rotary International Global Grant.
Ucwaningo lwezobudokotela luka Phali, olugxile emnothweni wamanzi nokuphatha, lululekwa uSolwazi Maxwell Mudhara noDkt Stuart Ferrer. Inhloso yalo ukwandisa ulwazi lokuthi izinto ezithinta amanzi ziphathwa kanjani, zisetshenziswe ngendlela efanele neyongayo ikakhulukazi njengoba kunenselelo yoguquguquko esimweni sezulu nesomiso
Uthe: ‘Nakuba iNingizimu Afrika ineminye yemithetho yokubuswa kwezwe kwezamanzi ehamba phambili, kepha ukungabi khona kwemithetho ephelele yokwengamela amanzi kuyinkinga kwezokunisela kwezolimo, okuyisixazululo enkingeni yobubha, ikakhulukazi ezindaweni ezisemakhaya.’ Ubalule ukuthi ukungabi khona kwezikhungo ezincane ezinhlelweni ezinjenge-Participatory Irrigation Management kunqinda impumelelo ekusabalaliseni lezi zinhlelo.
‘Ucwaningo lwami lubhekisisa lezi zinto, luqhamuke nezincomo ukuthi inqubo ingashintshwa kanjani nokuthi yiziphi izinto ezingenziwa ukuqinisekisa ukuthi izindaba zamanzi ziphathwa ngendlela efanele, abalimi bachume,’ kusho uPhali.
Ucwaningo lwakhe luyingxenye yomsebenzi we-Water Research Commission obheke impumelelo yezinqubo zokuphathwa kwamanzi ezinhlelweni zokunisela emapulazi amancane eNingizimu Afrika, kanti ibheka zonke izinhlangothi, okuhlanganisa ezomnotho wezolimo nezinsizakusebenza nezindaba zezinqubo nezokuphatha.
Ukuba seNtaliyane kukaPhali kuzocija umsebenzi wakhe wokucwaninga ngokumnika amava, ulwazi, namakhono ekwenzeni inqubo nokubuyekeza, ikakhulu kwezohwebo lwezomhlaba kwezolimo.
Ngenkathi eseNtaliyane uye ezikoleni zasehlobo ezinjenge-European Commission Counterfactual Impact Evaluation (i-CIE) e-Ispra lapho ethole khona ukucijwa ngezindlela ze-CIE, wabamba iqhaza kwi-Impact Evaluation yasemazweni athuthukile nasathuthuka lapho khona bekunomsebenzi wezifundiswa, abacwaningi, nongoti bezinhlangano zomhlaba ezinje-World Bank, i-European Commission ne-Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.
Ngenkathi ekulesi sithangami, uPhali uthole ithuba lokubhunga ngomsebenzi wakhe wocwaningo ngesihloko somphumela wamaqhinga okukhula komnotho nentuthuko eNingizimu Afrika, okuwucwaningo alwenzayo njengoba ekwi-Agricultural and Food Economics Group e-University of Foggia.
UPhali, ocwaningo lwakhe lwe-mastazi olwenziwa e-UKZN ngesihloko esasibheka umphumela wamanani okudla emakhaya, unamava kulo mkhakha ngokwe-Young Agricultural Professionals Programme 2017/18. Ungomunye wababili baseNingizimu Afrika abakhethelwa lolu hlelo, olwamenza wakwazi ukuthatha uhambo oluya e-United States, wavakashela e-Cornel University, i-World Bank, i-International Food Policy Research Institute, ne-Economic Research Services eMnyangweni WezoLimo e-America, phakathi kwezinye izindawo aseke waya kuzo.
UPhali uhlela ukuqhubeka nokusebenza endimeni yezocwaningo uma eseqede izifundo zakhe kanti ufisa ukuthuthukisa inhlangano engenzi nzuzo ayisungula, i-Grow-n-Live, ehlose ukusebenzisa iziphakamiso zocwaningo ezifundweni zezolimo nezentuthuko. Ihlose futhi ukuheha intsha, iyihehele emisebenzini yezolimo.
Amagama: ngu-Christine Cuénod
Isithombe: Sithunyelwe
author : .author email : .Agrometeorology PhD Student Bound for Food Security Centre Summer School in the Philippines
Mr Joseph Masanganise, UKZN Agrometeorology doctoral student. Doctoral student in Agrometeorology in the School of Agricultural, Earth and Environmental Sciences (SAEES), Mr Joseph Masanganise, has been awarded a scholarship to attend a Summer School in the Philippines in September on the topic: Transformative Changes in Agriculture and Food Systems.
The Summer School is organised jointly by the South-East Asian Regional Centre for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture and the Food Security Centre of the University of Hohenheim in Germany
Masanganise is one of only 17 applicants from Africa, Asia and Latin America who received a scholarship to attend the international workshop, with travel, board and lodging expenses paid for.
He will be the only southern African representative at the Summer School which will consider advances in technology and discuss three pathways for how changes in food and agriculture systems could contribute to meeting United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 2 of ending hunger, achieving food security and promoting sustainable agriculture by 2030.
‘My selection is an indication that my research work is relevant not only in South Africa but in the world, and this is an important milestone in my research career,’ said Masanganise.
Masanganise is pursuing PhD research on the topic of water use and the yield of soybean and grain sorghum for biofuel production in South Africa under the supervision of Professor Michael Savage, Dr Alistair Clulow, Dr Tafadzwa Mabhaudhi and Mr Richard Kunz. This work forms part of a Water Research Commission (WRC) project on the water use of strategic biofuel crops. One of the surface renewal methods he is employing has not been previously used in South Africa, thus testing the utility of this method is expected to contribute to new knowledge.
Masanganise lectures Physics at the Bindura University of Science Education in his home country of Zimbabwe, and has worked to blend Physics with Agrometeorology in order to expand the avenues available for research and knowledge production. He studied Physics at the University of Zimbabwe before teaching the subject at high school level in Zimbabwe before, completing a Master of Science in Agricultural Meteorology at the University of Zimbabwe which would lead him to a career in academia.
Masanganise credited Savage - his supervisor and mentor - for sharing his vast knowledge and being a source of encouragement for students.
‘Professor Savage has developed scientific tools that I have used, finding them user friendly even for novice students,’ he said.
He thanked Ms Meryl Savage, as well as Mabhaudhi, Kunz and Clulow for their support during his PhD studies. He was also grateful to Mr Sanele Ngubane and Mr Vivek Naiken for their technical support, Ms Marsha Chetty and Ms Noluthando Mhlungu for their administrative support, and fellow PhD candidate, Ms Evidence Mazhawu for sharing ideas with him.
Masanganise acknowledged the WRC for its support of his project, and gave credit to God and to his parents, the late Philemon and Patricia Masanganise, for their provision for his life as well as to his wife Patricia and family for their support and patience during his absences while completing his studies.
Words and photograph: Christine Cuénod
author : .author email : .Humanities Student on a Mission to Empower Young Black Women
Ms Gugulethu Sithole, UKZN Humanities student working toward empowering Black women.Architecture student, Ms Gugulethu Sithole, is passionate about community engagement and has embarked on a student-led conversation for change campaign to empower young Black women on campus.
Sithole of Hammarsdale, KwaZulu-Natal, held her first student-led conversation at the Howard College campus student residence under the theme BLACK GIRL RISE SISTERS CONNECT. Using the topic #GOODENOUGH, a group of young African women gathered to speak out about depression and how it has affected their lives.
Sithole chose this topic as she believes depression is considered a taboo subject in Black communities and wanted to offer students an opportunity to be open and honest about their struggles in order to effect change.
‘The idea of student-led conversations came about through my curiosity and a feeling that this generation is losing young critical thinkers and problem solvers,’ said Sithole. ‘I want to see how much I can do to help, using all the skills I have to actually play a part in making someone’s life better instead of complaining about how awful life can be. Even if it is a small thing - such as talking someone out of depression.’
She believes that collaborative discussions empower collaborative learning, understanding and finding meaning. ‘Questions like “what’s my purpose in life?” become critical when students discuss them with one another in a low risk setting. These conversations also challenge the stigmas that settle on our minds about race, nationality and even religion when we all face similar problems,’ she said.
Sithole plans to have more student-led discussions on campus around topics affecting students and is hopeful that they help bring about change individually and in the communities students come from.
‘My future goal is to change 10 000 lives before I turn 21 this year and the dream is to host all these people at the Durban ICC.
‘Students can sign up as part of the 10 000 who want to change their lives for the better. Our handle on Instagram is: sa_gwetha,’ said Sithole.
Words and photograph: Melissa Mungroo
author : .author email : .Alumni Lunch on KZN South Coast
South Coast based alumni at the UKZN networking and information-sharing lunch.The Alumni Relations Office hosted UKZN graduates living on the KwaZulu-Natal South Coast at a networking and information-sharing lunch at Selborne Golf Estate in Pennington where Mr Fanle Sibisi, President and Chair of the UKZN Convocation as well as Alumni Relations personnel were on hand to interact with guests.
Sibisi addressed the gathering providing a comprehensive overview of the University and highlighting current developments, future/planned initiatives and the importance of giving back to UKZN.
His presentation was very well received by the 58 alumni with suggestions made that the event take place annually.
A lucky draw was held during proceedings and information packages and UKZN-branded memorabilia distributed to all guests.
Words: Finn Christensen
Photographs: Nomcebo Msweli
author : .author email : .High School Learners Experience Being a Scientist for a Week!
Learners on the Westville and Pietermaritzburg campuses enjoy UKZN’s “Be a Scientist for a Week” programme.KwaZulu-Natal youngsters got the chance to experience what it is like to be a scientist when the College of Agriculture, Engineering and Science (CAES) presented its annual Be a Scientist for a Week programme on the Pietermaritzburg and Westville campuses.
According to College Public Relations Officer, Ms Swasti Maney the fun, educational and interactive programme - aimed at Grade 10 and 11 learners - gives them an opportunity to participate in various science practicals drawn from a range of scientific disciplines.
Maney said the project was ideal for learners interested in the Sciences and keen to find out more about what is entailed at university level.
The programme also gives learners the opportunity to engage with staff and students, view UKZN’s facilities, enquire about career opportunities and obtain career guidance and application information.
On the Pietermaritzburg campus, participants got involved in practicals at the School of Chemistry and Physics, the School of Mathematics, Statistics and Computer Science and the School of Life Sciences (including Microbiology, Genetics and Ecology). The programme included an educational field trip to WESSA uMngeni Valley Nature Reserve and a career assessment by UKZN Career Development Officer, Ms Karuna Mahadave, using a Temperament Sorter.
‘UKZN’s PMB campus is beautiful with exceptional resources,’ said Ms Inge Truter of Voortrekker High School, who added that she found the career assessment by Mahadave to be very insightful.
‘The professors are passionate and well informed,’ said Juwairiyyah Bhigjee of Pietermaritzburg Girls’ High School.
On the Westville campus, learners undertook practical experiments in the fields of Biochemistry and Chemistry, and went on a tour of the Vibration Research and Testing Centre (VRTC) and Smart Grid where they interacted with Engineering students. They tackled several mathematical and computer science simulations and built their own galaxies to better understand astronomy. Their week culminated with a field trip to Dube Tradeport where they toured a cucumber farm and tissue culture lab.
‘These opportunities come once in a lifetime so I’m so grateful I got to experience being a scientist for a week,’ said Grade 10 learner, Ms Amahle Ngcobo.
Words: Pumla Dlamini
author : .author email : .UKZN Hosts Workshop and Conference on Computational Mathematics
The School of Mathematics, Statistics and Computer Science explored methods to manage data using software during the Numerical Methods for Differential Equations workshop.The Mathematics Discipline in the School of Mathematics, Statistics and Computer Science hosted its 12th annual workshop on Numerical Methods for Differential Equations on the Pietermaritzburg campus.
The annual workshop is seen as a central pillar in capacity building and in developing mathematical skills at UKZN, in particular, and South Africa in general.
Numerical analysis is an area where mathematics interfaces with computer science in creating, implementing and analysing computer algorithms and in answering questions on aspects of accuracy, convergence, consistency and efficiency of numerical schemes. This provides real-world applications of algebra, calculus and geometry to solve mathematical models in the fields of science, medicine and economics.
The series of annual workshops on differential equations and numerical methods was started in 2008 by academic staff on the Pietermaritzburg campus after they identified that a significant knowledge gap existed in this area from undergraduate to postgraduate studies. Significantly, some early-career academics in applied mathematics appear to lack adequate mathematical programming skills and advanced knowledge of appropriate computer software. The series of annual workshops on numerical methods for differential equations addresses this knowledge gap through teaching usable and transferable skills by bringing together novices and experts in numerical methods from various institutions in southern Africa.
The focus of the workshop is to address slow progress towards the completion of postgraduate studies by many students, and the low productivity of early-career academics in areas of numerical analysis and fluid dynamics. The aims of the series are to encourage and promote research collaboration among early-career academics, address skills acquisition among postgraduate students at UKZN and other local and regional universities through cohort teaching, and to build a new vibrant research focus group with interests in numerical analysis and fluid dynamics in South Africa.
Participants at this year’s workshop included postgraduate students and young academics from various institutions from across South Africa as well as from Botswana, Swaziland, and Zimbabwe. In addition to the main workshop activities, participants shared their research findings through an added mini-conference on the last day.
The workshop is currently sponsored by UKZN although it has received contributions from the Hanno Rund Fund (a school-based fund) and the Centre of Excellence - Mathematical and Statistical Sciences (CoE-Mass) in the past.
Words and photograph: Sabeliwe Langa
author : .author email : .Altered Skin Barrier on HIV-Infected Children - Study Reveals
Dr Navlin Naidoo whose research has revealed that HIV alters the skin barrier of Black African children infected by the disease.A study conducted by UKZN’s Dr Navlin Naidoo has shown that HIV alters the skin barrier of Black African children infected by the disease.
The skin barrier research - a section of Naidoo’s studies for his master’s degree - was undertaken to determine and compare the skin barrier of HIV-infected Black African children with that of non-infected individuals who all attend a local community healthcare clinic in Durban.
Two well-known parameters were tested to determine the competence of the skin barrier: Transepidermal Water Loss (TEWL) and Skin Surface Hydration (SSH).
The significance of the research results, says Naidoo, is that pharmaceutical companies may now be able to use the findings to develop better products for these patients and the work may also have a beneficial impact in the wider contest. ‘Furthermore, this study may now form guidelines to test children in all race groups.
‘I was asked to present this research at the College of Health Sciences last year and was awarded a prize,’ said Naidoo.
Earlier this year, Naidoo received an invitation to submit an abstract of his research to the University of Michigan in the United States for the Global Youth Advancement Summit. He was selected out of hundreds of applicants world-wide and presented his research at the summit held in June. His expenses were fully sponsored.
‘I think it is important to encourage young people in South Africa to aspire to be great and achieve greatness and to actually make a significant difference in the world at large. ‘Despite the difficulties we face as a nation we are still able to make a positive impact in the global scientific and healthcare areas,’ he said.
Naidoo, who is the Medical Officer in the Trauma Unit at Addington Hospital in Durban, studied Medicine at UKZN where he obtained his Master’s degree in Dermatology.
Words: Lihle Sosibo
author : .author email : .Writing Workshop for Academics at UKZN
From left: Ms Ina Skosana, Professor Werner van Zyl, and Mr Ozayr Patel at the writing workshop by The Conversation Africa. UKZN recently hosted a writing workshop run by The Conversation Africa for academics who hold PhDs or are recognised experts teaching in a particular field of study.
The Conversation Africa, a non-profit oganisation (NPO), is a media platform offering informed news and views written by academics and edited by journalists. This platform aims to create a better understanding of complex issues and current affairs by conveying the knowledge in a language that can be understood by the general public.
UKZN’S Dean of Research, Professor Urmilla Bob, welcomed The Conversation Africa and thanked the Corporate Relations Division for organising the event. ‘Key stakeholders, including the general public, need to know the findings of research, and this can only be done if we as academics change our generic ways of communicating substantially,’ said Bob.
The Conversation Africa’s Health and Medicine Editor, Ms Ina Skosana, and Digital Editor, Mr Ozayr Patel, facilitated the workshop and took academics through the training programme.
To source content, The Conversation Africa uses a pitch system and invites academics to pitch their work and explain their content. A journalist is then assigned to edit the work, coming up with suggestions where necessary while giving the academics the final say before publication. Academics are also given personal dashboards, as authors on the site, where they get to see who has read their articles and how their work has been received on social media.
Professor Werner van Zyl of UKZN’s School of Chemistry and Physics, a current writer for The Conversation Africa, is ranked third on the all-time UKZN authors’ list. He signed up in 2016 and has contributed at least one article a year to this platform. He has four published articles which have been read close to 80 000 times, and has had an article go viral after being picked up and republished by Quartz Africa.
‘I think scientists generally do a poor job in explaining themselves properly to the general public, who after all pay taxes to fund their research,’ said van Zyl. ‘Writing research papers to inform my peers is one of my core duties, but I believe it has become increasingly important for scientists to also educate the local community where possible and to help erase some of the misconceptions and ignorance out there. The Conversation Africa can help with that,’ said van Zyl.
‘With eight offices world-wide and partnerships with media giants such as eNCA, Mail & Guardian, News24, QUARTZ Africa and CNBC Africa, The Conversation Africa remains a good place for academics to disseminate their writings and add value to their careers,’ said Skosana.
Words: Hlengiwe Precious Khwela
Photograph: Albert Hirasen
author : .author email : .UKZN Alumnus Publishes First Book
Author and UKZN alumnus, Mr Christopher Smith with his book: Blood on the Range.Qualified Chartered Accountant and UKZN alumnus, Mr Christopher Smith, has published his first novel titled: Blood on the Range.
The book explores Smith’s childhood fascination with the Western genre through the story of Nathan Todd, a tough, hard-working cowpuncher whose loyalty, quick temper and sense of fair play often get him into situations that test his mettle and his ability to survive.
‘I read a lot of Westerns growing up and really enjoyed the stories of Louis L’Amour,’ said Smith. ‘He had such a passion for his genre and made you feel like you were living the story which is what I attempted to do with Blood on the Range. I want to bring back an interest in Westerns with my story and create a hero who was brave and strong but also with a lot of flaws and needing help to solve his problems, somebody that readers can relate to rather than an unbeatable action hero,’ said Smith.
The book - available on Amazon - took Smith two years to write and another year of editing before it was published. The financial advisor is already busy working on his second novel titled: Staring into the Shadows.
‘My latest novel is a detective story set in Durban in the mid-2000s about a serial killer on the loose and two detectives who have to track him down. I also have a fantasy novel in the pipeline and a sequel to Blood on the Range is also bouncing around in my head.
‘The best advice I can give to other writers is don’t procrastinate. Set yourself the goal of writing at least 300 words a day,’ he said.
Words: Thandiwe Jumo
Photograph: Supplied
author : .author email : .Career Prospects Outlined at Employer Exhibition
Scenes from the College of Law and Management Studies Employers’ Career Exhibition.Students from the College of Law and Management Studies engaged with prospective employers at a careers exhibition on the Westville campus.
The annual 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.
Exhibitors included Nestlé South Africa, Mr Price Group, Standard Bank, AdaptIT, and the Public Investment Corporation.
Honours in Supply Chain Management student, Ms Shanice Naicker, said as someone who will join the employment sector soon, the exhibition was a good platform for one-on-one conversations with people in industry.
‘The exhibition is very helpful as I got to know about other companies which I didn’t know existed and found out what they have to offer. Going forward, I would like to see more companies at the expo, especially in the fields of marketing and logistics,’ said Naicker.
Speaking from a graduate’s perspective, Ms Vuyi Mandlakazi who joined Ernst & Young this year and holds a BCom Accounting degree, said the transition from studying to working was an eye-opener.
‘When you are a student, you get used to working at your own pace but when you are working, you must adhere to strict working hours and deadlines. ‘While university prepares you for the theoretical, the practical aspects of working life, still takes some getting used to. I am lucky to be working in a small office with a family environment where I get to learn a lot daily. My advice to students is that they have to take advantage of opportunities, ask as many questions as they can and apply for the graduate employment opportunities available to them,’ she said.
Words and photographs: Thandiwe Jumo
author : .author email : .UKZN hosts National School Sports Championships
Learners from all over the country competed in the winter edition of the National School Sports Championships held at UKZN.The Department of Sports, Arts and Culture, in partnership with the Department of Basic Education, held its winter edition of the National School Sports Championships at UKZN.
The Championships held annually in winter, summer and autumn – are aimed at encouraging both primary and high school learners across all provinces to engage in sport from an early age and to remain physically active.
This social cohesion programme is focused on nation-building and takes place at intra-school, inter-school, district, provincial and national levels.
This year, 4 000 students, including those living with disabilities, participated in sport such as chess, soccer, hockey, netball, rugby, tennis and volleyball.
The championships is used as a programme to identify talent; awarding those who excel with sports bursaries to attend sports-focused schools, thus creating a supporting pillar for both sport and education.
Words: Hlengiwe Precious Khwela
Photographs: Supplied
author : .author email : .Latex Writing Workshop held at UKZN
School of Engineering postgraduate students who attended the Overleaf Latex writing workshop.The UKZN Mu Eta Chapter of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Eta Kappa Nu (IEEE-HKN) Honours Society hosted a latex writing workshop for postgraduate students in the Electrical Engineering LAN on the Howard College campus.
The workshop, held in partnership with Overleaf Latex in the United Kingdom, was organised to assist students in research writing skills. The focus was also on preparing postgraduate students for thesis, journal and conference writing in line with scientific standards.
Mu Eta Vice-President, Ms Divina Govender, opened the workshop with a talk on the benefits of joining IEEE, while Mu Eta Chapter President and Overleaf Advisor, Mr Dauda Ayanda, took the participants through a practical introduction and working with Overleaf Latex.
Dr Armeline Mafuta was the lead instructor for the workshop during which participants received worksheets in zip files via their respective emails for a given task to be completed. While Mafuta was giving a slide presentation, each of the instructors gave demonstrations; ensuring that participants fully understood and reproduced the assignment.
‘The workshop was excellent for me. My lecturer encouraged me to write my thesis in latex format but I was scared because I did not know much about coding. This workshop has taught me a lot,’ said Mr Cong Liu, a PhD candidate in Chemical Engineering.
Mr Bukola Ajewole, an MSc graduate in Electronic Engineering, said: ‘The workshop was an educative, informative and eye-opening experience.’
The event was put together by the IEEE-HKN Mu Eta Chapter committee comprising Exco and Mu Eta volunteers, Ms Ansuri Reddy and Mr Sahil Hansraj.
The workshop was attended by approximately 30 participants from the Disciplines of Electrical, Electronic and Computer Engineering; Mechanical Engineering and Chemical Engineering. Hansraj gave the closing remarks on behalf of Mu Eta faculty advisor, Professor Thomas Afullo.
Words: Dauda Ayanda
Photograph: Christian Ishimwe
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