Professor’s Star Shines Brighter
UKZN academic, Professor Shenuka Singh.‘This is very exciting, but I also feel humbled to be recognised at such a prestigious level at another university,’ said Professor Shenuka Singh of her appointment as Professor Extraordinary in the Centre for Medical Ethics and Law at Stellenbosch University until 2025.
The position recognises individuals for their proven specialised expertise and/or eminence in their profession and field of study. Recipients participate in the academic programmes of the relevant department. ‘This was unexpected. While I applied for an honorary appointment, I was pleasantly surprised by the outcome,’ said Singh.
She is currently co-supervising a PhD student at the Centre for Medical Ethics and Law and will be facilitating its online course on the ethical, legal and social implications of biobanking, which was the subject of her PhD at Stellenbosch University.
Singh has also developed an online module on scientific misconduct as part of an online course on research integrity offered by the centre.
She co-chairs the African Consortium group, (with Professor Theresa Burgess from the University of Cape Town), which focuses on ethical considerations in data science research. The group comprises researchers and research ethics committee members from various parts of Africa, including Kenya, Eswatini, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Sudan, Zambia, Uganda and Malawi, to name but a few, and is part of the larger REDSSA (Research for Ethical Data Science in sub-Saharan Africa) project led by Professor Keymanthri Moodley, Director of the Centre for Medical Ethics and Law.
Singh is a full professor in the Discipline of Dentistry at UKZN and holds a PhD in Clinical and Research Ethics (Stellenbosch University) and in Dental Public Health from the University of the Western Cape.
She is a member of the National Health Research Ethics Council in South Africa (2020-2023) and chairs its Norms and Standards Committee.
Singh served as Deputy Chair for the Biomedical Research Ethics Committee at UKZN (2020-2022) and is a member of the Human Sciences Research Council’s Research Ethics Committee (2019 to date). She was invited to be part of a World Health Organization joint working group (Regulation and Safety Unit and Health Ethics and Governance Unit) to develop a tool to benchmark research ethics oversight in 2021 and is a member of the Ethics in Dental Research Committee at the International Association of Dental Research.
She is actively involved in research and postgraduate supervision and has presented papers at local and international conferences (including invitations as a keynote speaker).
Singh was a recipient of the 2018 College of Health Sciences Teaching Excellence Award (in the category: Outstanding Contribution to Teaching) and was also awarded a Certificate of Excellence in Teaching in that year.
Dean and Head of the School of Health Sciences, Professor Khathutshelo Percy Mashige congratulated Singh: ‘Keep flying the School’s flag high. We are very proud of your achievement.’
Words: Nombuso Dlamini
Photograph: Supplied
author : .author email : .Internationalisation Without Indigenous African Languages is a Fallacy
Mr Khumbulani Mngadi.I recently attended the African Language Teachers Association (ALTA) Conference in Washington DC, United States of America. The conference was attended by representatives of more than 30 universities from across the globe and 15 from the African continent. Under the theme, Navigating Current Challenges in the Teaching and Learning of African Languages, the papers focused on the challenges faced by lecturers, students and language enthusiasts in teaching African languages abroad and locally.
The ALTA conference was jointly organised by the College of Arts and Sciences and the Centre for African Studies, Howard University; the National African Language Resource Centre, Indiana University; the Department of World Languages and Cultures; the Office of the Provost and the School of Social Work, Howard University; the Louis Stokes Library and the Ralph Bunche Centre and hosted by Howard University.
I attended in my capacity as the acting Director of the Language Unit (ULPDO) at UKZN and presented on The Strides the University of KwaZulu-Natal has made in the Intellectualisation of African Languages. My colleague from the School of Education Dr Nokukhanya Ngcobo delivered a paper titled, The Pedagogical Appeal of Participatory Visual Methodologies: Youth as Knowledge Producers. I believe we represented the University well and also made important connections with colleagues from the African continent who are teaching African languages in the US. We were warmly received by South African Nguni language representatives based in the US, Drs Zoliswa Mali and Nandipa Sipengana. The connections made are promising in relation to job opportunities, student exchange, and collaborations with colleagues in the diaspora. The keynote speakers and individual presentations in the parallel sessions I attended highlighted the amount of work that has been devoted to promoting and supporting initiatives to enhance the status of African languages in the US and I realised the power of collaborations in achieving the vision of the total emancipation of these languages.
I also became aware of gaps in the manner in which language issues are handled at both national and international level. A major issue is that people are still working in silos. Language development is by its very nature a collaborative effort and has to be treated as such. From the keynote addresses to the papers presented, the culture of working in silos was a common thread. It could be that some projects involve international funding, with attendant restrictions, or that sinister colonial undertones remain in what we do as Africans. As a result, there is a disjuncture between the amount of effort put into emancipating African languages and the ultimate impact. If we continue in this fashion, it will take Africa centuries to shed this colonial baggage.
The way South African language groups are categorised as languages of teaching and learning in the US also presents a challenge. While there are historical reasons for this situation, the strides South Africa has made in the languages space means that it could easily be corrected. There is a need for all nine official indigenous languages to be represented in the diaspora. The current approach is one of multilingualism. This stems from the country’s Constitution and the promulgation of the new language policy for public Higher Education Institutions in 2020. While all 26 public Higher Education Institutions are working to realign their language policies with its provisions, in my view, there is a need for more information sharing with colleagues in the diaspora.
The other elephant in the room is African governments. There is a need for serious introspection on how they have handled the development of the African languages agenda. The African Union is doing its bit by promulgating enabling policies and establishing commissions, but individual African governments have still not come to the party. Lip service is paid to what should be done, but commitment on the ground is lacking. Ironically, almost all African governments are still using colonial languages as their official languages of administration, education and business. The continent must stop relying on these languages that have stymied African development on many fronts for decades. History has taught us that the most developed nations in the world use their own languages and the literature shows that it is easy to invent, innovate and develop anything using one’s own language. While it is often reiterated that language is fundamentally a constitutional and social justice issue, this is ignored on every level by our governments. Given that more than 1 000 languages are spoken on the African continent, it is clearly a mammoth task to develop all of them. However, this does not mean that Africa cannot prioritise and agree on developing its dominant languages for business, administration, education and trade whilst promoting other indigenous languages for social cohesion.
The concept of internationalisation is a fallacy without languages. Language carries the culture, history, heritage and wisdom of its native speakers and internationalisation therefore means one carries one’s language to the global discourse. It cannot be that Africans are coming to the table with their colonial masters’ language. How can we be respected if we do not respect ourselves? How does Africa expect other nations to take it seriously if it does not take itself seriously? Where do originality, authenticity, uniqueness and innovation lie in our approach to internationalisation without our languages? As Africans, these are issues we need to confront head on and be frank with one another. Africa remains inferior in the eyes of the world because it does not believe in its own wisdom and tapestry.
In conclusion, Africa faces major problems in the realm of language development. While meaningful initiatives have been launched, there is a need to align them for greater impact. It is heart-warming to see that African languages have been immersed into American curricula; however, it is disheartening to witness African governments’ disregard and peripheral approach to the language issue. I believe Africa has a role to play in the internationalisation agenda, but we need to believe in ourselves in order to play a meaningful role. Decolonised, visionary and fearless leaders are needed to liberate the continent from this quagmire.
*Mr Khumbulani Mngadi writes in his capacity as a public scholar and independent analyst based at UKZN.
*The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the University of KwaZulu-Natal.
author : .author email : .South African Academy of Engineering Fellowships for UKZN Professors
Professors Thomas Afullo (left) and Akshay Saha.Professors Thomas Afullo and Akshay Saha of the Disciplines of Electronic and Electrical Engineering were inducted as Fellows of the South African Academy of Engineering (SAAE) at the Academy’s annual induction luncheon.
The Fellowship Certificates were presented by SAAE President and UKZN Honorary Research Fellow Mr Neil MacLeod to inductees who were elected Fellows between 2020 and 2023; the 23 new Fellows bring the number of SAAE Fellows to 220.
The Academy’s membership comprises eminent engineers and professionals across several disciplines and through its activities, it harnesses their wealth of knowledge and experience to create a unique resource for independent, evidence-based advice. It maintains affiliations with international academies of engineering and is a member of the International Council of Academies of Engineering and Technological Sciences.
Afullo was recognised for his more than 20 years of Engineering education and research in South Africa. He has graduated more than 50 postgraduate students in Electronic Engineering, including 31 master’s and 21 PhD graduates from 10 African countries. He is recognised by several societies, being a Fellow of the South African Institute of Electrical Engineers (SAIEE) and a senior member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE), as well as a registered professional engineer with the Engineering Council of South Africa (ECSA).
Afullo joined the former University of Durban-Westville, now UKZN, in 2003 and was appointed full professor in 2012. He was awarded his undergraduate degree by the University of Nairobi after which he gained professional experience as a telecommunications engineer, moving up the ranks to work as a senior executive engineer in charge of project engineering.
He pursued a master’s degree at West Virginia University in the United States of America and received his PhD in Applied Sciences from the Vrije Universiteit Brussel in Belgium while working in the Department of Electrical and Communications Engineering at Moi University in Kenya. He spent six years at the University of Botswana as a lecturer before joining UKZN, where he has served as Academic Leader for the Discipline of Electrical, Electronic and Computer Engineering, and as Director of the Telkom Centre of Excellence in Rural Telecommunications, and is now directing the Telkom Centre for Radio Access and Rural Technologies (CRART).
Afullo’s research interests are in microwave and antenna engineering, radioclimatological modelling, radio propagation modelling, power communications, and free space optics. He is a specialist editor for the Electromagnetics and Antennas research journal of the SAIEE and holds a C2 National Research Foundation rating.
In addition to being inducted as a SAAE Fellow, Saha is a Member of the Academy of Science of South Africa, a Fellow of the SAIEE, a senior member of the Society for Automation, Instrumentation, Mechatronics and Control, a senior member of the IEEE, and an individual member of the International Council on Large Electric Systems.
A registered professional engineer with the ECSA, he also serves as the Academic Leader for Research and Higher Degrees in the School of Engineering. His industrial and academic experience has served his teaching and research well, earning him six awards for the best lecturer in Electrical Engineering, seven Research Excellence Awards from UKZN, and two awards for being among the Top 20 Published Researchers at the University.
Saha is active in research on electrical power systems, applications of power electronics in power systems, real-time power system modelling, smart grid systems, power systems protections, standards and protocols, automation and control, renewable energy and distributed energy resources in power systems, applications of artificial intelligence in power systems, condition monitoring, and engineering education. He is a member of the editorial board of several international journals and has supervised 11 PhD and 36 master’s students in Electrical Engineering to graduation.
Words: Christine Cuénod
Photographs: Beverley Dupouy and Supplied
author : .author email : .Medical Student Flies South African Flag High in Europe
Mr Mohamed Hoosen Suleman (right) with European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases President-elect, Dr Robert Skov.Fifth-year MBChB student at the Nelson R. Mandela School of Medicine, Mr Mohamed Hoosen Suleman was selected by the European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases (ESCMID) to attend its conference in Copenhagen, Denmark recently. He was part of the Medical student delegation, representing South Africa and the global medical youth voice.
He landed at King Shaka International Airport on 20 April and shared his exhilarating and thought-provoking experiences after engaging with senior experts in clinical microbiology and infectious diseases during his trip.
The Head of the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Health, Dr Sandile Tshabalala, extended the Department’s congratulations to Suleman and wished him well.
Suleman said global experts advocate for a multidisciplinary approach to the evolving epidemic of infectious disease outbreaks, especially reflecting on lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic and different countries’ responses.
‘I learned about the latest data and research on molecular mechanisms of pathogenicity; virulence factors’ interactions with host cells; innate and adaptive immunity to infection; the development of vaccines against viral and non-viral pathogens; genomic sequencing of pathogenic bacteria; clinical microbiology, antibiotics and resistance; immunology; nosocomial infections; therapeutics and prevention of infectious diseases and other related topics,’ said Suleman.
The meeting was attended by leading researchers, medical specialists, clinicians, scientists, scholars and students from across the globe. ‘Many presentations focused on biology, transmission of pathogens, infectious disease diagnostics, the latest treatment guidelines and infection prevention and control policies. The scientific discussions had a particular focus on the host immune response to infection, community-acquired infections, and emerging infectious diseases,’ he added.
Suleman said that the keynote addresses by the World Health Organization’s Director-General, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, and H.E. Mia Amor Mottley, Prime Minister of Barbados and Chair of the Global Leaders Group on Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) were particularly fascinating. ‘Major commitments were made to ensure that AMR remains a top health priority and the road to the United Nations General Assembly High-Level Meeting on AMR in 2024 will unpack detailed interventions to halt the burden of AMR,’ he said. ‘AMR continues to rise and has now surpassed mortality rates due to HIV and AIDS or malaria. The latest data published in The Lancet reveals that more than 1.2 million deaths occurred in 2019 as a result of AMR and that sub-Saharan Africa had the highest number of deaths. Novel interventions that seek to address the AMR epidemic are urgently needed.’
A top-performing student at UKZN and a youth healthcare leader, Suleman is widely respected for his advocacy efforts and holds numerous awards and accolades from the University and beyond.
Advising other students who may wish to follow in his footsteps, Suleman said: ‘Curiosity, passion, persistence and perseverance are fundamental attributes that one needs to have in order to successfully pursue a career path. I think it’s also important for students to have a mentor and someone whom they can look to for inspiration and motivation.’
Words: Lunga Memela
Photograph: Supplied
author : .author email : .UKZN Highly Rated by Centre for World University Rankings
UKZN has been placed in 4th position in Africa and South Africa in the Centre for World University Rankings.The University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN) has been ranked in the top 2.4% of 20 531 universities worldwide on the 2023 Centre for World University Rankings (CWUR) list.
The CWUR publishes the largest academic rankings list of global universities, according to its President, Dr Nadim Mahassen, who congratulated UKZN, saying the Institution’s highly ranked position is an outstanding achievement.
Mahassen said the rankings are unique in that:
• Objective indicators are used for all four key pillars underlying the methodology of the ranking (education, employability, faculty, and research) with no reliance on surveys and university data submissions;
• Equal emphasis is put on student-related and faculty-related indicators;
• 62 million outcome-based data points were used for this year’s rankings; and
• 20 531 universities were ranked according to their academic performance.
Further detailing UKZN’s achievement, Mahassen said the University ranked 478th out of the 20 531 institutions in the survey and was placed in 4th position in Africa and in South Africa. UKZN had an Employability rank of 360, a Research rank of 469 and an Education position of 500.
The CWUR uses seven objective and robust outcome-based indicators grouped into four areas to rank the world’s universities:
1) Education: based on the academic success of a university’s alumni, measured by the number of alumni who have received top academic distinctions relative to the university’s size (25%);
2) Employability: based on the professional success of a university’s alumni, measured by the number of alumni who have held top company positions relative to the university’s size (25%);
3) Faculty: measured by the number of faculty members who have received top academic distinctions (10%);
4) Research:
i) Research output measured by the total number of research articles (10%)
ii) High-quality publications measured by the number of research articles appearing in top-tier journals (10%)
iii) Influence measured by the number of research articles appearing in highly-influential journals (10%)
iv) Citations measured by the number of highly-cited research articles (10%).
‘The CWUR is a leading international consulting organisation providing policy advice, strategic insights and consulting services to governments and universities to improve educational and research outcomes. Its authoritative global university rankings are respected for objectivity, transparency, and consistency, and trusted by students, academics, university administrators and governments around the world,’ said Mahassen.
Ms Normah Zondo, UKZN Corporate Relations Executive Director, welcomed the news: ‘We are proud of the recent ranking of our University at a global level. This is well received by all stakeholders as the rankings place our Institution on the world map. It is clear that UKZN is making great strides in various areas.’
Words: NdabaOnline
Image: Supplied
author : .author email : .“Continue to Fight Gender-Based Violence!”
Attending the 19th Victoria and Griffiths Mxenge Memorial Lecture are (from left): Mr Raj Badal, Justice Thoba Poyo-Dlwati, Advocate Shamila Batohi, Dr Mark Hay, Ms Deborah Samuel, and Professor Warren Freedman.Violence should not be a way of life and society should ensure that this issue remains high on the agenda.
This clarion call was made by Justice Thoba Poyo-Dlwati when she delivered the 19th Victoria and Griffiths Mxenge Memorial Lecture at UKZN.
Poyo-Dlwati, who is the first woman to be appointed Judge President of the KwaZulu-Natal Division of the High Court, called on current and future members of the legal profession to use the law to eradicate gender-based violence. In her lecture titled: The Role of Women in the Legal Profession, she urged the Mxenge family to find solace in the fact that Victoria died because she opposed an oppressive system, which cannot be said of those women who “die for no reason” at all.
‘Research shows that a woman dies every four hours at the hands of a loved one. Despite our country’s progressive laws that aim to curb this pandemic, as President Cyril Ramaphosa has described it, there does not seem to be any end in sight and the violence continues unabated. I urge all of us, especially women and the progressive men that have associated themselves with this fight to continue fighting because I firmly believe that Mama Mxenge did not have any hope that apartheid would be defeated; 1994 was too far off for her to have had any glimpse of hope.
‘Resilience, persistence and focus helped her. We should learn from this and not lose hope. We, too, shall conquer even if it is not us but those who come after us, just like Mrs Mxenge,’ said Poyo-Dlwati.
The Victoria and Griffiths Mxenge Memorial Lecture is hosted annually by UKZN’s School of Law to honour and acknowledge the crucial contribution Victoria and Griffiths made to liberating South Africans from apartheid. Griffiths was a graduate of the Faculty of Law at the University of Natal. He and his wife Victoria were brutally murdered by the apartheid security police in 1981 and 1985, respectively.
Poyo-Dlwati, who is also a trustee of the Griffiths and Victoria Mxenge Trust, said she hoped the plan to convert the Mxenge home into a museum would soon materialise.
In her lecture, Poyo-Dlwati focused primarily on Victoria’s role because 2023 marks a century since women were allowed to practice Law in South Africa.
‘It was women like Madeline Wookey who started the fight for the rights of women to practice Law. Her application to be admitted as an attorney succeeded in the Cape Supreme Court when Maasdorp JP concluded that women were equally entitled with men to be enrolled as attorneys on furnishing proof of the necessary qualifications. Her success was short-lived, though, as she lost in the Appellate Division in Incorporated Law Society v Wookey1912 AD 623 when Acting Chief Justice Innes concluded that where the law referred to “persons” being admitted as attorneys, it referred only to male persons.’
In Schlein v Incorporated Law Society 1909 TS 363 the court previously held that in the absence of special legislation women were not entitled to be admitted to practice as attorneys. ‘This was fortunately to change; hence the commemoration in our province in a court sitting held in the Pietermaritzburg High Court on 25 April 2023, when we celebrated the coming into effect on 10 April 1923 of the Women Legal Practitioners Act,’ said Poyo-Dlwati. She cited several other milestones achieved by women including her appointment as she is currently the only woman Judge President in South Africa as well as the youngest. She noted, however, that plenty remains to be done.
Son of the struggle stalwarts, Mr Mbasa Mxenge said the lecture immortalised his parents, an honour they appreciate as a family.
‘It is more than 40 years since their passing, but people still remember them. For most of us, the day we die will be the last day they talk about us. But the University found it necessary to keep honouring them,’ he said.
National Director of Public Prosecutions, Advocate Shamila Batohi was also in attendance and the evening honoured Law students who received awards for academic excellence sponsored by various law firms.
Words: Slindile Khanyile
Photograph: Andile Ndlovu
author : .author email : .HEARD Supports Access to Sexual and Reproductive Health Information and Services in Malawi
UKZN’s Professor Gavin George (fifth from left) and Malawian Minister of Health, the Honourable Khumbize Kandodo Chiponda (sixth from left) along with colleagues from the APHRC and UNESCO.In 2020, researchers from the Health Economics and HIV and AIDS Research Division (HEARD) at UKZN, the African Population and Health Research Center (APHRC) in Kenya, and the Kamuzu University of Health Sciences in Malawi formed a partnership to conduct a problem-based political economy analysis (PB-PEA) of adolescents’ access to sexual and reproductive health (SRH) information and services in Malawi.
The objectives of the study were to:
• identify key actors who influence decision-making and implementation around the provision of adolescent SRH services, their interests and motivations; and
• understand the role played by politics, economics, and socio-cultural and religious beliefs in the implementation of existing laws and policies, whilst identifying potential policy and law reforms which would strengthen the provision of SRH services for adolescents.
The final report highlights that, while the Malawian government remains supportive of comprehensive sexuality education (CSE), implementation is limited and is not a priority within schools. It also details how civil society organisations are augmenting the provision of health services to adolescents and their critical role in influencing policy and implementation strategies.
A national symposium on Adolescents and Young People’s Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (ASRHR) was held in Lilongwe, Malawi from 28 February to 2 March 2023, providing an opportunity for multi-stakeholder engagement on how Malawi can enhance the provision of youth-friendly SRH services through shifting social norms that restrict access to ASRHR information and services. It also explored community-based interventions that work with parents and guardians and highlighted the critical role of health providers and community leaders. The meeting energised key stakeholders, including officials from key ministries, and it was agreed that civil society networks should play the critical role of holding office bearers accountable to both regional and national policy proclamations.
During the meeting the final report on the PB-PEA on adolescents’ access to SRH information and services was handed to the Malawian Minister of Health.
Words: NdabaOnline
Photograph: Supplied
author : .author email : .UKZN’s DIFF Gears Up for 44th Edition
DIFF programmers who will be putting together the films, features and documentaries for the upcoming festival.Click here for isiZulu version
The 44th edition of the Durban International Film Festival (DIFF) hosted by the Centre for Creative Arts (CCA) within the College of Humanities will run from 20 to 30 July 2023.
The festival will present live screenings at the Cine Centre at the Suncoast complex, in collaboration with the Avalon Group, supported by the KwaZulu-Natal Film Commission and the National Film and Video Foundation, amongst several other partners. Additional venues will be announced closer to the time.
The DIFF has received an impressive number of 3 316 films from 137 submissions. Festival Manager, Ms Andrea Voges, will be supported by 15 programmers to put together a programme of features, documentaries, shorts and student films. Voges honed her skills as an arts and cultural manager in strategic positions both nationally and internationally.
‘The 2023 DIFF programme will showcase the works of filmmakers who place their imaginations, voices, creativity and lenses at the centre in creating films that inspire, confront, challenge and provoke audiences. The programming team will look out for innovative storytelling that will connect storytellers with audiences,’ said Voges.
The shorts programming team includes the founder of Alfreda’s Cinema, Melissa Lyde (USA); curator, filmmaker and historian Greta Morton (Australia); filmmaker, visual artist, and film festival programmer Yanyu Dong (China); and curator, cultural programmer and producer Mitchell Harper (South Africa).
The documentary programmers are film director and curator Ygor Gama (Argentina/Brazil), line producer and programme co-ordinator Egar Ntanyi (Nigeria) and film director, producer and director of photography Inadelso Cossa (Mozambique).
Writer and director Indranil Banerjee (India), curator, producer, director and broadcaster Andrea Cals (Brazil), seasoned festival programmer and distributor Safa Morad (Egypt) and film critic, programmer and journalist Tara Karajicoa (Serbia), will make up the programming team for the Features category.
The DIFF also includes the second edition of the Isiphethu Student Film Festival, which is headed by Mr Sakhile Gumede. He is supported by a programming team consisting of writer and director Madoda Ncayiyana (South Africa), cultural producer and editor Ashok Vish (India) and festival manager and programmer Ibee Ndaw (Gambia/France). Gumede will also mentor emerging arts managers Aphiwokule Moyo and Nomthandanzo Nyathi, whose internships are funded by the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture grant administered by the National Arts Council.
To stay updated, follow DIFF on social media and subscribe to their mailing list at https://ccadiff.ukzn.ac.za.
Words: Melissa Mungroo
Image: Supplied
author : .author email : .Staff Member a Top Achiever
Top achiever, Ms Dolly Mkize.Click here for isiZulu version
High flying staff member, Ms Dolly Mkize, the acting Safety, Health and Environment (SHE) Monitoring and Evaluation Manager on the Pietermaritzburg campus, has been awarded a bursary for her Master’s degree in Safety Management at the University of South Africa (UNISA).
The bursary which covers tuition fees, was granted to her by the South African Institute of Occupational Health and Safety (SAIOSH) for attaining her postgraduate diploma cum laude. Mkize, who has been a member of the SAIOSH for seven years, was also named student of the year in 2019 after she received her Diploma in Safety Management cum laude. ‘I’m literally on cloud nine! I’m not lucky, I’m blessed and everything I have is because of God’s grace and favour,’ she said.
With dreams of obtaining her PhD before the age of 35 and publishing occupational health and safety books that focus on South African universities’ operations and procedures, she remarked that the bursary and pursuing her master’s will propel her career by equipping her with specialised skills that will enable her to assist UKZN to implement new occupational health and safety systems.
Mkize said she is able to balance work and her studies by planning ahead and scheduling her study time using productivity apps. With two older sisters that hold PhDs and a younger brother who is a master’s candidate, this family of high achievers is clearly headed to the top.
Acknowledging her parents and siblings for constantly encouraging and believing in her, Mkize also extended her gratitude to her friend, Ms Baroness Vere for her valued counsel on the health and safety industry.
Words: Hlengiwe Khwela
Photograph: Supplied
author : .author email : .Journeying into Research - The Medical Registrar Mentorship Programme
Professor Refiloe Masekela (left) and Mr Nicolas Hellens inspired medical registrars.An initiative of the Dean of the School of Clinical Medicine, Professor Ncoza Dlova, the Medical Registrar Programme is a training programme to support and mentor medical doctors specialising in various fields.
Now in its third year, this quarter’s presentation was on Journeying into Research and Understanding the South African Economic Climate.
Dlova and Dr Kimesh Naidoo, academic leader for medical registrars, welcomed the 2023 cohort and encouraged participants who joined the presentation from hospitals all over the province to provide regular feedback on topics of interest. ‘We have an open-door policy in the School of Clinical Medicine and welcome discussions on issues you are grappling with in hospitals. Furthermore, we strongly advocate for a climate where there’s no academic bullying and as such all issues must be reported to me,’ said Dlova. She and Naidoo provided their personal mobile numbers to the registrars for further engagement.
Keynote speaker, Head of Paediatrics and Child Health, Professor Refiloe Masekela presented on her journey in research. The medical registrars had requested that Masekela address them due to the fact that her Department has had an excellent throughput rate and was voted as the Best Department at the Medical School since she took up the position.
Masekela is a nationally and internationally recognised expert in her field, having held various leadership positions in local and international thoracic societies. Her scientific research career has focused on lung diseases in children. She is the Vice-Chairperson of the Pan-African Thoracic Society (PATS), where part of her mission is to highlight issues around lung health in Africa and to guide policy in various countries on the continent. Masekela is the current Director of the American Thoracic Society (ATS) MECOR Africa Program, a research methodology programme run by the PATS. It provides training on operational and clinical lung research for trainees from all over Africa and has trained more than 450 trainees from over 20 countries. She is also a group member of the ATS Pediatric Global Health Group. Through PATS MECOR, she developed the African Women in Research Mentorship Programme.
As a young girl, Masekela knew she wanted to become a doctor. She always had a scientific mind but initially viewed research as a “black box”. She said, ‘We always think of very intelligent people like Albert Einstein and Marie Curie when we think about pursuing research. However, being a researcher is not about aiming to win the Nobel prize. Research informs science that informs what we do on a daily basis. It’s about pursuing a topic you are passionate about that will help you to make a difference in people’s lives. We all became doctors for this very reason.’
Masekela initially decided to pursue a doctoral degree as at the time, there were only three paediatric pulmonologists in the country with PhDs. Finalising a research topic was a challenge, but by attending and networking with other PhD students at a PATS research methodology course, she developed an interest in lung health. Her message to the attendees was to always network and collaborate with other people. ‘People come with different skill sets which will assist to shape your research and enrich your knowledge. Become part of the global society by networking and collaborating.’
Her other message was to always say yes as a junior researcher: ‘Present your abstracts at conferences. Write manuscripts. Make use of all grant opportunities and most importantly take up all opportunities to showcase your research.’ Finally, Masekela encouraged the audience to “Just Do It”. ‘Research is the most powerful method for you to change the world. The Coronavirus showed us this. So just do it and remember that research is a wonderful journey but always have fun and strike a balance between your personal life and work.’
In his presentation, Naidoo observed that the most demotivating part of the research journey is receiving negative criticism or even worse having a paper rejected. Masekela’s advice was to always remember it is part of the game: ‘Don’t take it personally. Take some time out to introspect. Don’t allow the feedback to destroy your soul. All the reviews and rejections are there to make your work better, so keep striving forward.’
The medical registrars also had the opportunity to learn about South Africa’s and the global economic environment during a presentation by Mr Nicolas Hellens from Investec’s Wealth and Investment division. Investec is the largest manager of private client wealth in South Africa and one of the largest managers of wealth in the United Kingdom. He noted that financial management advice is essential to ensure medical registrars’ financial security. Hellen’s forecast for the economy was that it will likely improve once the Federal Reserves start cutting interest rates, which should start weakening the Dollar and strengthening the Rand.
Words: MaryAnn Francis
Photograph: Supplied
author : .author email : .Alumnus Presents at Africa is So Queer Webinar
Scholar and activist, Dr Princess Sibanda.Click here for isiZulu version
UKZN alumnus, Dr Princess Sibanda was invited to make a presentation at the Africa is So Queer webinar hosted by the Centre for Civil Society (CCS) in the School of Built Environment and Development Studies.
Sibanda who holds a PhD from UKZN and an MA in Drama and Performance Studies (summa cum laude) is a scholar and activist working under the South African Research Chairs Initiative (SARChI) Chair in Sexualities, Genders, and Queer Studies at the University of Fort Hare.
The session focused on African narratives of resistance, especially embodied texts that speak back or talk back to say, “Africa is so queer, deal with it”!
Sibanda explained that her interest lies in promoting solidarity among people of African descent and reclaiming Pan-Africanism regardless of sexual orientation, gender identity or expression.
She argues that the existence of queer people in the present is sufficient evidence to demonstrate that there are queer Africans, without overlooking the fact that history is important.
Referring to the stereotype perpetuated by some political leaders who are of the view that being queer is un-African, she said: ‘Queer people have existed and have been part of the Pan-African movement for a long time; thus, my interest in scripts of resistance or those that say that people do not always make a sufficient contribution to public discourse. Queer people are now saying “I exist” in defiance of public utterances by leaders that question whether one is African enough.’
Sibanda called for unity in and outside of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer or questioning, intersex, asexual, and more (LGBTQIA+) community and highlighted the need to fight discrimination.
Words: Sinoyolo Mahlasela
Photograph: Supplied
author : .author email : .UKZN Partners with ECHO India for Nephrology Outreach Services in KZN
The UKZN ECHO Team (from left): Dr Sudesh Hariparshad, Professor Rajendra Bhimma, and Drs Serela Ramklass, Leann Munian and Kimesh Naidoo.The School of Clinical Medicine has partnered with an international outreach project, the Extension for Community Healthcare Outcomes (The ECHO Institute) at the University of New Mexico (Albuquerque, USA), and ECHO India to strengthen its reach to healthcare professionals in peripheral hospital sites in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN). Project ECHO was launched in 2003 by Dr Sanjeev Arora, and currently has more than 90 hubs in Africa including the one established at UKZN which is focused on medical outreach services. The Adult and Paediatric Nephrology Outreach programme was recently launched under this banner.
Dean of Clinical Medicine, Professor Ncoza Dlova, introduced the School’s healthcare specialists to the ECHO Outreach movement based on a mentor-mentee model that uses technology to leverage scarce resources; share best practices to reduce disparities; applies case-based learning to master complexities; and evaluates and monitors outcomes. Capacitating primary healthcare practitioners, strengthening outreach and creating self-sustaining healthcare services in rural communities are all part of the movement’s core mission.
ECHO Project Manager at UKZN, Dr Serela Ramklass said, ‘We are excited to partner with the ECHO Institute and ECHO India to facilitate the link between primary care clinicians at hospitals across the province with specialist staff from the School of Clinical Medicine. Collectively, we can improve the health outcomes and quality of life in patients at peripheral sites through shared knowledge on patient assessment and management through mentoring and feedback.’
Team leader for the Adult and Paediatric Nephrology UKZN-ECHO programme, Professor Rajendra Bhimma said, ‘We will focus on nephrology conditions (both paediatric and adult) which are most common in our region. The discussions will be general, allowing all regional hospitals and district hospitals to participate. The project will deal with clinical cases presented by doctors either at the central or peripheral hospital, followed by a clinicopathological discussion around the case. In this way, doctors at peripheral hospitals will be able to participate in the discussion and be updated on the acute and chronic management of the patient. Optimal management of the patient at the base hospital before transfer to the higher care facility will greatly improve the outcome of these patients.’
Dr Sudesh Hariparshad, Head of UKZN and Inkosi Albert Luthuli Central Hospital Nephrology noted there is one nephrologist per 2.5 million people in South Africa. ‘It is important to note that Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) in its early stages is a silent disease and may only become apparent when more than 50% of kidney function is lost. It is therefore essential that patients be screened, managed and referred appropriately at the primary healthcare level.
‘Furthermore, CKD is the fifth highest cause of death in low- and middle-income countries. The main risk factors in South Africa are hypertension, Diabetes Mellitus and HIV. At the tertiary level, we see patients at an advanced stage of the disease, 99% of whom are in phases 3-5. It is therefore vital that sufficient urinary testing is done at the primary healthcare level to assess for albuminuria or proteinuria which is vital to risk stratify patients. Other markers include low estimated glomerular filtration rate (EGFR) and raised protein excretion which are associated with a massive (15 -16 times) greater likelihood of advanced CKD or End Stage Kidney disease.’
Academic Leader of Medical Registrars at UKZN and Head of the Clinical Unit of Paediatrics at King Edward VIII Hospital, Dr Kimesh Naidoo presented on Glomerulonephritis (GN), a specific set of renal diseases in which an immunologic mechanism triggers inflammation and proliferation of glomerular tissue resulting in damage to the basement membrane, mesangium, capillary endothelium and epithelium. Naidoo presented a case study of an 11-year-old patient who presented at a local clinic with “coke-like” or “tea-coloured” urine, a slight headache and no health issues at school. He was discharged but presented a week later with mild pedal oedema, high blood pressure (BP), and macroscopic haematuria. At this stage, he was diagnosed with nephritis.
Naidoo commented, ‘Determining when such cases require referral to specialists and sub-specialist levels of care with most cases of nephritis can be adequately managed at primary healthcare levels.’
Bhimma stressed the importance of examining urine. ‘Persistent protein in urine is very toxic to the kidney. Another marker to be aware of is haematuria when there is more than 5% dysmorphic or crenated (abnormally shaped) red blood cells in urine. It is important to follow up on patients to assess whether their BP is controlled, kidney function is normal and there is no protein in the urine. Furthermore, it is important to note that in stage 3 or less of CKD, there are often no major symptoms. However, screening for CKD is essential as patients often present to nephrologists when they experience kidney failure. Proper management in the early stages including diet, exercise, weight loss and cholesterol management may delay progression or prevent CKD.’
Naidoo said, ‘There is potential to integrate the ECHO programme with primary healthcare doctors (medical officers and doctors completing community service in district and regional facilities) with their human resources development portfolios that are required as Department of Health employees.’
The next ECHO workshop scheduled for June will focus on hypertension in adults and children. Contact Dr Serela Ramklass for further details at ramklasss@ukzn.ac.za.
Words: MaryAnn Francis
Photograph: Supplied
author : .author email : .PhD Candidate Presents to the IEC
Mr Ntuthuko Mhlongo.Click here for isiZulu version
Master’s graduate and PhD candidate in Political Science Mr Ntuthuko Mhlongo was invited by the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) to present the findings of his research on Opportunities and Challenges of Youth Engagement in the South African Context.
The study examined the opportunities and barriers that young people encounter as they try to influence change using political structures in the country.
‘The Arab Spring as well as the #feesmustfall movement have driven change in political systems around the world,’ said Mhlongo. He added that research has shown that youth structures need to be effective and responsive in order for them to effect change. Change is difficult if these structures are unresponsive, resulting in frustration and the youth feeling neglected. This causes them to seek a sense of belonging through nefarious activities such as crime, violent protest, and terrorism.
Mhlongo highlighted the importunate of policymakers who have the power to create responsive structures that enable the youth to bring about positive change in society.
He commented that he feels privileged to conduct research that can make a difference in the lives of the youth and noted that this requires that one thinks outside the box.
His future plans include becoming a post-doctoral research fellow and continuing with his research.
Words: Sinoyolo Mahlasela
Photograph: Supplied
author : .author email : .Alumnus Nominated for 2023 Metro FM Music Award
UKZN alumnus, Mr Linda Sikhakhane.Click here for isiZulu version
Well-known jazz musician and UKZN alumnus Mr Linda Sikhakhane was nominated for a Metro FM Music Award for his album Isambulo in the Best Jazz Album category.
Speaking of his nomination, Sikhakhane said, ‘An artist creates with a purpose and our fulfilment stages precede the time of the release where the work is of public knowledge. A moment like this opens a window of deep gratitude, in just realising that there is a community that is paying attention to one’s journey. The Metro FM Awards are prestigious and this nomination brings so much amplification to the work; it’s such an honour to be representing an entire community.’
Isambulo was recorded during Sikhakhane’s six-week residency at the Birds Eye Jazz Club in Basel, working with European and African co-players. The album focuses on Zulu spirituality, the role of music in ceremonial rites, and the legacy of the ancestors, both personal and musical.
Sikhakhane, who hails from Umlazi, began his musical journey in 1998 at the age of six while at Clairwood Boys Primary School. He was introduced to the art of jazz in 2003 when he joined the Siyakhula Musical Centre and his journey progressed with mentoring from internationally acclaimed trumpeter Dr Brian Thusi. He obtained a Diploma in Jazz and Popular Music at UKZN.
Metro FM business manager Ms Kina Nhlengethwa said, ‘We congratulate all the winners, as this signifies that their hard work and impact in the industry do not go unnoticed.’
Words: Melissa Mungroo
Image: Supplied
author : .author email : .Academic Graduates with Distinction
Dr Andrisha Beharry-Ramraj.Lecturer in the School of Management, Information Technology and Governance Dr Andrisha Beharry-Ramraj graduated with a Postgraduate Diploma in Human Resource Management with distinction.
Beharry-Ramraj said this qualification will enhance her academic career.
‘Human resources is a component of management and is at the heart of an organisation as dealing with people requires a particular set of skills and abilities. Post COVID-19 and in response to the demands of the 21st century, employees need to upskill and reskill in order to continue playing a pivotal role in the growth and development of their organisation. I pride myself on taking up opportunities to ensure that I keep abreast of current trends and continue to make a difference in my workspace,’ she said.
The qualification will also support Beharry-Ramraj in her role as a supervisor.
‘This qualification will enhance my abilities and capabilities to supervise students from an HR background in managerial positions. Studying has always given me a lot of pleasure. I find immense happiness in books and studying towards this qualification was no different. I previously graduated cum laude and tried to keep it up. Being an adult learner meant juggling my responsibilities and it was challenging to maintain a balance. I often worked at odd hours to meet deadlines. Despite the limited time and the pressure, I saw this as an opportunity to grow as an academic.’
Words: Thandiwe Jumo
Photograph: Supplied
author : .author email : .Memorandum of Understanding Signed with DKMS Africa
Highlights from the signing of the MOU with DKMS.Corporate Relations Executive Director, Ms Normah Zondo signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between UKZN and Deutsche Knochenmarkspenderdatei (DKMS) Africa, formerly known as the Sunflower Fund, on 19 April.
In her address, Zondo highlighted the significance of collaborating with DKMS in a collective fight against blood cancer and other blood conditions such as bone marrow failure. ‘UKZN is proud to participate and engage with DKMS Africa in this initiative to create opportunities for our communities through transformative education as well as research and engagement. We commit to support and undertake various activities to facilitate awareness programmes such as stem cell donor registration drives for our students and staff in order to understand blood condition issues and become donors.
‘The MoU aligns with our strategic goals outlined in the University’s recently launched strategic plan. The main goal is to achieve high-impact societal and stakeholder community engagement,’ she said.
DKMS Africa Regional Donor Recruitment Team Leader, Mr Xolani Hlongwane noted that the MoU built on previous engagements with the University and Chief Albert Luthuli Hospital in support of changing patients’ lives and extending knowledge of blood stem donation. Through the DKMS project, UKZN master’s student Mr Kwazi Mhlongo became a blood stem donor.
Ms Erna West, DKMS Interim Country Manager said the partnership with UKZN speaks to agency and commitment to recruit donors. ‘We deeply value this partnership as our core strategic goal is to recruit young donors, create awareness and educate. One of the factors that impact access to transplantation for patients is not having a matching donor. Our mandate is to recruit donors in the country for the country; we need more ethnic donors on our registry,’ she said.
Chief Albert Luthuli Hospital Clinical Hematologist and transplant specialist, Dr Sharlene Parasnath said DKMS opens up a window of opportunities by allowing them to tap into non-patients for donations. ‘In dealing with blood disorders race matters, as there is a lot of stigma within our society when it comes to donating and people like Kwazi can make a difference.’
Director of University Relations, Ms Xoliswa Zulu, thanked everyone present and DKMS for the initiative that will impact the community.
Words: Zama Khoza
Photographs: Sethu Dlamini
author : .author email : .“Don’t Forget the Environment”
Dr Myrna De Rooij from the Institute for Risk Assessment Sciences at Utrecht University in The Netherlands.Hosted by lecturer and researcher, Dr Nkosana Jafta, the Discipline of Occupational and Environmental Health held a seminar on transmission of diseases from animals to humans.
Veterinarian, epidemiologist, and assistant professor at the Institute for Risk Assessment Sciences at Utrecht University in The Netherlands, Dr Myrna De Rooij outlined the One Health approach that aims to balance and optimise the health of people, animals and ecosystems.
She highlighted the relationship between humans, health, and the environment stating: ‘As humans, we’ve neglected the environment. It is critical that we take care of it as it can be a reservoir of or directly cause pathogens to spill over from animals to humans.’ Such an approach is imperative in order to understand and prevent emerging infectious and non-communicable diseases.
De Rooij highlighted the importance of interdisciplinarity as collaboration across sectors and disciplines not only contributes to protecting health, but to addressing health challenges such as the emergence of infectious diseases, antimicrobial resistance and food safety, and promoting the health and integrity of our ecosystems.
De Rooij’s research and teaching focus lies in microbial One Health issues, focusing mainly on the impact of insects and livestock farming on public health. She is involved in a large-scale, long-term study on agricultural air pollution and respiratory health, zoonotic infections and antimicrobial resistance among the inhabitants of rural areas in The Netherlands.
She has made meaningful contributions to research on epidemics and the role of environmental transmission. Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, she has contributed to several studies on SARS-CoV-2 transmission, including environmental characterisation of infected mink farms and meat processing plants.
Words: Mandisa Shozi
Photograph: Supplied
author : .author email : .PhD Study Focuses on Augmentative and Alternative Communication
Speech Language Therapy lecturer Dr Vuledzani Ndanganeni, was awarded a Doctor of Philosophy from the University of Pretoria.Speech Language Therapy lecturer, Dr Vuledzani Ndanganeni was awarded a Doctor of Philosophy in Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) from the University of Pretoria.
Ndanganeni said that gaps in educational provision for special needs children motivated her to enter this field. Her study aimed to develop an AAC training model for caregivers of young children in a low-income rural context in South Africa.
‘I developed a contextually and culturally appropriate training programme for Vhavenda caregivers of children with complex communication needs, and evaluated its effect on caregiver skills and child behaviours,’ she added.
Drawing on Vygotsky’s sociocultural theory of child development, the study found that the training improved teachers’ and children with special needs’ communication by training the more knowledgeable partner.
Ndanganeni is thrilled that, despite confronting financial and health issues during her PhD journey and suffering the loss of family members, she was able to succeed.
She said she is grateful for the support she received from her academic support group, “Siyathwalisana”. Ndanganeni is currently busy producing publications from her thesis, and is seeking funding for postdoctoral research to continue her study.
Words: Mandisa Shozi
Photograph: Supplied
author : .author email : .