​​The Military Academy was very fortunate this year to receive two alumni groups who returned to greet their Alma Mater.

MA95, who received their BMil degrees in 1995, visited the unit on 03 October 2015, together with their families.  Course G752 (Wings course 1/74), who received their BMil degrees in 1975, visited the unit on 24 October 2015. 

Although both groupings arranged their reunions privately, both had to come back to their roots and visited the unit to reminisce and again walk in the passages they once treaded with bags full of books.

The groups enjoyed their visits and appreciated the opportunity to return and be welcomed by the unit.  

​Dr Marieke van der Zalm has received the Early Career grant from the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences (FMHS) at Stellenbosch University (SU), for her pilot study, entitled "The role of respiratory viruses in the clinical presentation of South African children with symptoms suggestive of pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB)".  

Van der Zalm, who is a member of the diagnostic research team at the Faculty's Desmond Tutu TB Centre (DTTC), said the study will be looking at the role of respiratory viruses in children presenting with symptoms of pulmonary tuberculosis.  

"It is known that viral infections play an important role in respiratory illnesses in children, with viruses found in up to 85% of cases," she said.  "It is, however, not known what the association between viruses and other diseases, for example TB, is."

According to Van der Zalm it is suspected that infection with respiratory viruses might play an important role in susceptibility to TB in children, including in the clinical and radiological presentation and response to TB treatment.

"To study this, we will do virus tests in children that get a TB work-up and check how often viruses are found in children with and without TB," Van der Zalm said.  

The study will be done within the diagnostic study of Dr Liz Walters, who heads up the diagnostic research team in paediatrics and child health studies at the DTTC.

​​​​

Military Academy Annual Golf Day

The Military Academy hosted its annual Golf Day on Friday 16 October 2015 at the Vredenburg Golf Club.

Due to the fact that the Military Academy also houses the Faculty of Military Science, and members of different levels do not necessarily interact with each other daily, the Commandant of the Military Academy, Brigadier General Lawrence Mbatha, decided last year to introduce the unit Golf Day.  This now forms part of the unit's yearly calendar and provides an excellent opportunity for both uniform and PSAP members to interact on an informal level.

In order to make this a pleasurable day for both golfers and non-golfers, it was decided that the format of the day will be a US Scramble of 18 holes that will be played.  Members were divided into teams of four people where at least one person per team was a golf player, who had to coach, score and assist those that were playing golf for the first time.

After a welcoming by the Commandant, the members were all ready in their red golf shirts.  Everyone enjoyed a good luck "shooter" and team pictures were taken.  The teams teed off at 10:00 to the sounds of "Waka Waka" played by Sergeant Major Class 1 Amanda Strydom.  The "braai team" of Warrant Officer Class 2 Ampie Prinsloo and Sergeant Major Class 2 Danie Groenewald started with the braai and as members passed the "halfway mark", they enjoyed boerewors rolls and a drink or cool drink. 

The Golf teams were very happy on completion of the course, to find cold drinks waiting for them at the Clubhouse and the braai team again busy preparing for their supper.  The spectators also made the best of their time waiting, by interacting with each other on a different level.

Due to the good planning by Lt Col Ernie Cloete, the aim of the Golf Day, to bring members of all levels together in an informal environment and to create Esprit de Corps, was truly achieved in an enjoyable and fun way.

The winning team was Lieutenant Colonel Bernard van Nieuwenhuyzen, Mister Quinton Dirks, Captain Swipey Lourens and Corporal Rebecca Mokwena.

The member who hit closest to the pin was Lt Col Ernie Cloete and the member with the longest drive was Lt Col Bernard van Nieuwenhuyzen.

Brig Gen Mbatha welcoming members and Lt Col Cloete (Co-ordinator of the day)​

Photo's and article:  Major Engela Meintjes

Photos:

First Photo (carousel): Winning Team:  From Left to Right: Lieutenant Colonel (Dr) Bernard Van Nieuwenhuyzen, Corporal Rebecca Mokwena, Mr Quinton Dirks and Capt Swipey Lourens.

Second Photo (carousel​): All Military Academy players and spectators assembled.

Hollywood actress Angelina Jolie had both her breasts and her ovaries removed to avoid getting cancer. Genetic testing revealed that Jolie – who had lost her mother, grandmother and aunt to cancer – had a mutation in her BRCA1 gene, which means she had a higher than 80% chance of developing the disease herself.

This radical preventative measure highlighted the important role that genes play in the development of cancer. And with October being Breast Cancer Awareness Month, we look at how your genes can affect not only your risk of getting breast cancer, but are also an important consideration when planning treatment for breast cancer patients.

Inherited breast cancers are rare and as in Jolie's case, BRCA1 as well as BRCA2 are the most well-known hereditary genes linked to breast cancer.

"Between five and 10% of people have mutations in the BRCA1 and 2 genes that increase your chances of developing breast cancer by between 50 and 85%," says Prof Maritha Kotze of the Division of Anatomical Pathology at Stellenbosch University's Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences (FMHS).

There are founder mutations in the BRCA1 and 2 genes of most Afrikaner and Ashkenazi Jewish patients with familial breast cancer in South Africa, which means that a faulty gene occurs at a higher-than-normal rate in affected individuals from these populations due to a communal ancestor carrying the original mutant gene.

The molecular make-up of a cancer tumour also plays an important role in the treatment of breast cancer.

"Each individual breast cancer has its own unique molecular make-up," explains Prof Hannah Simonds, head of the Division of Radiation Oncology at the FMHS and Tygerberg Hospital. "One of these molecular types is the HER2 breast cancers, which accounts for about 25% of all breast cancers. Receptors on the HER2 cell surface help control the healthy growth of breast cells, but when the receptor is faulty it can cause cells to grow uncontrollably, causing HER2-positive breast cancer."

About two-thirds of breast cancers are hormone sensitive and rely on the expression of oestrogen and progesterone receptors to grow. All breast tumours are routinely tested for these hormone receptors and when cells test positive it is called oestrogen receptor (ER) positive and/or progesterone receptor (PR) positive breast cancer. Cells without these receptors or HER2 overexpression are called triple-negative breast cancer, which are frequently found in BRCA1 mutation carriers classified as the basal-subtype.

HER2 status could roughly subdivide hormone-positive breast cancers into the luminal A (HER2-negative) and luminal B (HER2-positive) subtypes.

It is important to know which individual subtype is responsible for breast cancer, as the different subtypes respond differently to various treatment methods. For example, patients with the triple-negative cancers usually have to undergo chemotherapy, while most patients with HER2-positive cancer will benefit from combining chemotherapy with anti-HER2 treatment such as Herceptin.

Herceptin is very expensive and costs in the region of R400 000 for a full year of treatment. It is currently only available in the private sector and medical schemes cover testing for HER2 in order to determine whether this treatment is really necessary.

Luminal A cancers usually respond well to hormone therapy alone, while chemotherapy is generally added for patients with the luminal B breast cancers.

"Development of highly sophisticated molecular testing is now available in the form of the Oncotype Dx or Mammaprint. They can test a combination of molecular markers of an individual breast tumour and determine if chemotherapy is necessary or not," says Simonds.

"You can see how knowing the genetic origin of cancer can improve your treatment outcome for breast cancer and potentially save patients hundreds of thousands of rand," says Kotze.

All breast cancers are tested for ER, PR and HER2 using standard immunohistochemistry methods, but the molecular subtypes are most accurately identified through sophisticated genetic testing that comes with a hefty price tag. Although medical schemes cover certain assessments, genetic testing is out of range for the large majority of South Africans.

onsidering the financial implications of molecular testing, it is important to weigh up the benefit against the cost before deciding to be tested. Breast cancer patients with inconclusive results about the molecular origin of their cancer will get the most benefit and the results can help doctors make treatment decisions that may potentially save money by not giving unnecessary treatment.

The cost for BRCA mutation tests can range from between R2 000 for known mutations to R12 000 for a full gene screen, and further tests to determine if chemotherapy or other targeted treatment will be useful can go up to R35 000.  

Knowing the genetic cause of breast cancer can also be useful for a patient's family members. BRCA is the most common hereditary breast cancer gene and a strong family history can indicate an increased risk for this type of cancer.

Women who have not developed cancer are encouraged to go for genetic counselling to determine whether they will benefit from genetic testing.

"Having a gene mutation doesn't mean you will get the disease. In fact, all of us have at least five to 10 gene mutations with the potential to make us sick, but because of environmental and other clinical and genetic factors, it will never cause any problems," says Kotze.

Managing your risk for breast cancer

• More research is showing that being overweight increases a woman's chance of developing breast cancer, while a healthy weight reduces the risk. This is particularly relevant to non-familial and postmenopausal ER-positive breast cancer. 

• Research found that women with the BRCA mutations who were active and maintained a healthy weight during adolescence only developed breast cancer much later in life than women who were inactive and were overweight. This suggests that a healthy weight even holds benefit for hereditary breast cancer.

Media enquiries:

Mandi Barnard
Marketing Coordinator
+27 (0)21 938 9505
mandi@sun.ac.za
Marketing and Communications Division
Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences    
Stellenbosch University

Website:       www.sun.ac.za/health
Facebook:     www.facebook.com/SUhealthsci
Twitter:         @SUhealthsci

Photo: GL Stock Image

​SciMathUS, a bridging programme in which learners are supported in improving their matric results in core subjects to improve access to university admission, recently hosted a farewell function for the class of 2015. 

The SciMathUS programme is offered by the Centre for Pedagogy at Stellenbosch University (SUNCEP), situated within the Faculty of Education.

As always the function left everyone with a feeling of humbleness and gratefulness for the work (and love) of committed facilitators and the determination and excitement of the SciMaties (as the students call themselves). 

At this function, the programme also celebrated the progress of the students​ during 2015. 

Ms Unarine Lefosa was named the top performer in Introduction to Accountancy, Academic Literacy, one of the two top performers in Mathematics, as well as the student whose Mathematics marks improved most during the year; with 45 percentage points. 

Ms Mbalentle Jack was named the top performer in Mathematics and in Physical Sciences, a position she shares with Ms Naadirah Shaik​.

Mr Lionel Appel was named the top performer in Introduction to Economics​. ​

Photograph: Dr Trevor van Louw, Director of SUNCEP (far left) Unarine Lefosa, Mbalentle Jack, Lionel Appel, Naadirah Shaik and Ms Elza Lourens, Facilitator in Physical Sciences (far right)​.

Applications for SciMathUS 2016 is now open.

To be considered for this programme in 2016, prospective students should be:

• in Grade 12 in 2015 or have matriculated in 2014. Only students who matriculated within two years of attending the programme will be considered;
  
• have at least four subjects from the group of subjects designated for university admission*
  
• have a Grade 12 average of at least 60% (excluding Life Orientation); and
  
• have obtained a minimum of 50% in Afrikaans or English (Home Language or First Additional Language).
  

1. for the Science track, students should have obtained a minimum of either 45% in Mathematics or 80% in Mathematical Literacy and 45% in Physical Sciences.
   
2. for the Accountancy track, students should have obtained a minimum of either 45% in Mathematics or 80% in Mathematical Literacy.
   

Since this programme prepares students for university studies, applicants will have to prove to the selection committee that they are highly motivated and hardworking. They will also have to indicate that they have the drive and ambition to obtain a university qualification. 

SELECTION AND APPLICATION 

We prefer online applications. Please follow the link below to access the form.

• http://www1.sun.ac.za/scimathus/application/login.php

Alternatively, a copy of the form can be requested from our office. Please call 0218082301. 

All applications close on 22 January 2016. 

​Observing the enthusiasm of teachers attending SUNCEP contact sessions during the school holidays was inspiring and motivating.

With these words Dr Trevor van Louw, Director of the Centre for Pedagogy at Stellenbosch University (SUNCEP) paid tribute to the FET and senior phase teachers who gave up part of their school holidays to attend training sessions in Mathematics as well as Physical, Life and Natural Sciences.

"It was a phenomenal experience to work with teachers with such a positive attitude, who are willing to participate and learn," he added.

These sessions were hosted in Stellenbosch and Springbok and attended by teachers from, among other areas, the West Coast, Winelands and Overberg regions.

In the meantime, almost 60 participants attended contact sessions in the Advanced Certificate in Education in Leadership and Management in De Aar and Calvinia, while 40 district officials from Worcester attended a week-long project management short course in Stellenbosch.

The teaching sessions were very practical.

"The Science sessions were designed in such a way that we as facilitators could model how the subject material can be presented to learners in the classroom. We emphasised that teaching and learning should be learner-centred rather than teacher-centred," said Mrs Danelda van Graan, one of SUNCEP's Physical Sciences facilitators.

Teachers also had the opportunity to share what they have done in their classrooms since they attended the previous two contact sessions in April and June. Sharing best practice is a powerful way of learning.

Mrs Pauline Hanekom, e-learning co-ordinator at SUNCEP said teachers are confidently using their tablets now. "All the teachers also attended a basic course on how to effectively use PowerPoint. Whatsapp is continuously used by the teachers to communicate with peers as well as with the facilitators."

The feedback received from teachers and curriculum advisors was very positive. They were very impressed by the lessons modelled by SUNCEP and the expert teachers assisting as facilitators. 

"We can replicate these lessons in our classes immediately," one of them responded. "These courses are worthwhile attending."

Mentors will now visit a number of these teachers for a second time this year. All of them have already been visited once.

Learners who form part of the Hope@Maties programme also attended special classes during the school holidays – in Malmesbury, Worcester, Villiersdorp and Mitchells Plain.

"It is so inspiring to see the dedication of everyone involved," said Andrew Fair, manager for school interventions at SUNCEP. "We expected to see devoted tutors and learners, but we also saw security guards, principals and administration personnel preparing for the next term and making sure that the extra classes ran smoothly. Their commitment is truly commendable."

Lynthon Jacobs, coordinator of the Hope@Maties programme at SUNCEP, visited all the venues where Grade 12 learners were at work. "There was a buzz of energy among the learners. One asked me what the top mark in Mathematics was last year because he wants to improve it."

One of the Physical Sciences facilitators reported that he had to send the learners more papers to work through.

"These learners see the bigger picture and they want to perform well," says Dr van Louw. "Over 90% of the Hope@Maties students have already been provisionally accepted to study at SU in 2016."

​Dr Marieke van der Zalm has received the Early Career grant from the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences (FMHS) at Stellenbosch University (SU), for her pilot study, entitled "The role of respiratory viruses in the clinical presentation of South African children with symptoms suggestive of pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB)".  

Van der Zalm, who is a member of the diagnostic research team at the Faculty's Desmond Tutu TB Centre (DTTC), said the study will be looking at the role of respiratory viruses in children presenting with symptoms of pulmonary tuberculosis.  

"It is known that viral infections play an important role in respiratory illnesses in children, with viruses found in up to 85% of cases," she said.  "It is, however, not known what the association between viruses and other diseases, for example TB, is."

According to Van der Zalm it is suspected that infection with respiratory viruses might play an important role in susceptibility to TB in children, including in the clinical and radiological presentation and response to TB treatment.

"To study this, we will do virus tests in children that get a TB work-up and check how often viruses are found in children with and without TB," Van der Zalm said.  

The study will be done within the diagnostic study of Dr Liz Walters, who heads up the diagnostic research team in paediatrics and child health studies at the DTTC.

​SciMathUS, a bridging programme in which learners are supported in improving their matric results in core subjects to improve access to university admission, recently hosted a farewell function for the class of 2015. 

The SciMathUS programme is offered by the Centre for Pedagogy at Stellenbosch University (SUNCEP), situated within the Faculty of Education.

As always the function left everyone with a feeling of humbleness and gratefulness for the work (and love) of committed facilitators and the determination and excitement of the SciMaties (as the students call themselves). 

At this function, the programme also celebrated the progress of the students​ during 2015. 

Ms Unarine Lefosa was named the top performer in Introduction to Accountancy, Academic Literacy, one of the two top performers in Mathematics, as well as the student whose Mathematics marks improved most during the year; with 45 percentage points. 

Ms Mbalentle Jack was named the top performer in Mathematics and in Physical Sciences, a position she shares with Ms Naadirah Shaik​.

Mr Lionel Appel was named the top performer in Introduction to Economics​. ​

Photograph: Dr Trevor van Louw, Director of SUNCEP (far left) Unarine Lefosa, Mbalentle Jack, Lionel Appel, Naadirah Shaik and Ms Elza Lourens, Facilitator in Physical Sciences (far right)​.

Applications for SciMathUS 2016 is now open.

To be considered for this programme in 2016, prospective students should be:

• in Grade 12 in 2015 or have matriculated in 2014. Only students who matriculated within two years of attending the programme will be considered;
  
• have at least four subjects from the group of subjects designated for university admission*
  
• have a Grade 12 average of at least 60% (excluding Life Orientation); and
  
• have obtained a minimum of 50% in Afrikaans or English (Home Language or First Additional Language).
  

1. for the Science track, students should have obtained a minimum of either 45% in Mathematics or 80% in Mathematical Literacy and 45% in Physical Sciences.
   
2. for the Accountancy track, students should have obtained a minimum of either 45% in Mathematics or 80% in Mathematical Literacy.
   

Since this programme prepares students for university studies, applicants will have to prove to the selection committee that they are highly motivated and hardworking. They will also have to indicate that they have the drive and ambition to obtain a university qualification. 

SELECTION AND APPLICATION 

We prefer online applications. Please follow the link below to access the form.

• http://www1.sun.ac.za/scimathus/application/login.php

Alternatively, a copy of the form can be requested from our office. Please call 0218082301. 

All applications close on 22 January 2016. 

​​This article appeared in the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences' digital publication, VIVUS

The Matie Community Service (MCS) primary health care project at the Kalkfontein Secondary School in Kuils River, which has been in operation for many years, now boasts brand new consulting rooms to ensure patients can be treated with dignity and respect.

Ms Avril Whate, Senior Project Manager: Primary Care programme at MCS noted that she identified the need for consultation rooms approximately one year ago.  "I then approached the school principal, who together with the school governing body gave us permission to have consultation rooms put up in the school hall," she said. 

"I then started raising funds for this project, and on 13th July 2015 we had the official opening of our new consultation rooms. At the ceremony the attendees paid tribute tothe late Dr Louis Heyns, a paediatrician at the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences and Mr Patrick Ndyana, who was a community volunteer at the clinic."

Whate explains that the clinic at Kalkfontein is held in the school hall, where patient screens were previously erected in order to do medical examinations.   "For us as health care providers, it is important to treat our patients with dignity and respect therefore the consultation rooms to provide patient privacy when doing examinations were necessary," she said.

Students and community volunteers offer an after-hours primary health care service to communities with limited access to services.  The project is managed through MCS's Primary Health Care branch and student volunteers include medical, physiotherapy, occupational therapy as well as dietetic students.

The students are mentored by doctors and clinical nurse practitioners and according to Whate the focus is mainly on prevention and promotion of health as opposed to curative and rehabilitative care.

Patients can also obtain medication at the clinics.  At Kalkfontein there is a partnership with the local pharmacy in Kuils River (Essential Health), who does the dispensing on behalf of MCS.  "We prescribe medication if necessary, but do not dispense," Whate said.

Individuals or organisations who are interested in becoming involved can contact Ms Avril Whate on 021 938 9310 or acw@sun.ac.za.

Photo: Avril Whate (Senior Project Manager: Primary Care programme at MCS) and one of the new consultation rooms.

​​More than 60 learners from Lynedoch Primary School attended a school holiday programme hosted by Maties Sport earlier this month.

According to Ms Juanita Muller, Community Interaction coordinator at Maties Sport, the aim of the programme was to encourage the learners to be active and to engage them in activities that would assist in the development of their gross and fine motor skills.

Activities were also geared towards teaching the learners communication, creative thinking and problem-solving skills.

"The learners were exposed to various sport codes like football, netball, tug-of-war, rugby and frisbee," explained Muller.

The activities also included aerobic sessions at the Maties Gymnasium at Coetzenburg, activities in the mountain behind Coetzenburg and team-building sessions.

In addition, the learners were treated to a movie at Pulp Cinema in the Neelsie and a visit to the Stellenbosch Toy Museum.

The children who attended were mostly between 9 and 14 years old.

Ms Ilhaam Groenewald, Chief Director: Maties Sport, said community interaction projects like these are very important.

"Maties Sport would like to use its facilities and expertise in such a way that the community can benefit. Hopefully some of these learners will become Maties Sport athletes one day."

Two Grade 11-learners from Aloe Secondary School in Kayalitsha and Bardale High School in Mfuleni came out tops in a physics quiz, presented by the Department of Physics at Stellenbosch University (SU).

Anita Mnqanqeni (Aloe Secondary School) and Mapasa Lindokuhle (Bardale High School) were part of a group of 68 girl learners selected on the basis of their marks in mathematics and physical sciences to participate in the Department of Physics' Open Day activities for Bright Sparks.

During the event the learners met with women physicists like Dr Daphney Bucher from iThemba LABS and Dr Melanie McLaren from the University of the Witwatersrand. Under the guidance of postgraduate students and lecturers in physics, they also had an entire morning to explore a variety of experiments set out in the department's laboratories. Experiments ranged from transmitting music over a laser beam, to bending a stream of water without touching it, to steering a laser beam through a maze.

Three other teams also  won prizes in the physics quiz: they were Noyi  Siphokazi (Ixolo High School), Carmen Millar (Bridge House) and Hope Johnson (New Orleans Secondary), followed by the team of Anjé Albertyn (Rhenish School for Girls), Mazamisa Esethu (Bardale Secondary School), Mauricha Jansen (Kylemore High School), Thandeka Beka (Uxolo High School) and Natasha Florence (Kylemore High School). Liza Frolicks (New Orleans Secondary), Mihlali Cekiso (Aloe High School) and Zenani Sipika (Uxolo High School) also won prizes.

After the event, Fatma Nshirimana said her most important take-home message from Dr Bucher was that "education is something that will never disappoint a woman in life".

Dr Christine Steenkamp, organiser of the event and acting director of the Laser Research Institute at SU, says almost all the learners indicated that the experience increased their interest in science and technology: "Nearly half of them said they are now convinced that women can have a successful career in physics, while 42% said they are now more positive about physics as a possible career choice for women."

The event was sponsored by the South African Institute for Physics (SAIP) as part of their Women in Physics in South Africa programme and in celebration of the International Year of Light.

Grade 11 learners Anita Mnqanqeni (left) from Aloe Secondary School in Kayalitsha  and Mapasa Lindokuhle from Bardale High School in Mfuleni (right) earned themselves first place after completing a physics quiz set by the Department of Physics at Stellenbosch University (SU) during its Open Day on 21 October 2015. With them are Dr Daphney Bucher, a physicist from iThemba LABS, and Dr Christine Steenkamp, organiser of the event and acting director of the Laser Research Institute at SU.

Local learners performed excellently at the recent International Science Fair (ISF) held in Boksburg with Kai Grotepass, a Grade 9 learner at Paul Roos Gymnasium winning a gold medal and the Physics prize in the category for junior learners. 

Approximately 570 learners from 33 Eskom Expo for Young Scientists regions in South Africa, among them Stellenbosch, participated in the event.

The Stellenbosch regional competition was hosted jointly by the Centre for Pedagogy (SUNCEP) and the Faculty of Science and 15 learners from Stellenbosch, Paarl, the Overberg and the Northern Suburbs attended the ISF after impressing judges on regional level.

Apart from Kai, nine learners won silver, three bronze and two learners received highly commended awards.

The purpose of Kai's experiment was to identify the relationship between the speed at which sound travels through air in a container and the air pressure within the container. He also correlated the speed of sound with the temperature of the air.

Shirley van der Merwe from Bellville High School won the prize awarded by Die Suid-Afrikaanse Akademie vir Wetenskap en Kuns while Angeline Smit from La Rochelle Girls' High School was shortlisted for possible participation in further international competitions. Both of them are in Grade 11.

Other learners from local schools also did well: Mariaan Strauss (Bloemhof High School), Lucca Naude (Bridge House School), Danel Adendorff (Eikestad Primary) and Yarah Narker and Emma Oosthuizen (both from Rhenish Girls' High) all won silver while Schivon Farirai  (Kayamandi High School) received bronze.

"SUNCEP is excited about this programme. It encourages learners to apply their natural inquisitiveness and it gives them a platform to share their findings with others," says Ms Erika Hoffman Expo coordinator at SUNCEP and the chairperson of the Stellenbosch Eskom Expo for Young Scientists region. "I am positive about the future of this country if I look the quality of research that is done by these youngsters."

At the ISF Stellenbosch University offered recruitment bursaries to category winners in the senior categories to learners who received at least a silver medal for their research. If these learners adhere to all the necessary admission criteria and enrol at Stellenbosch University, the bursaries are awarded to them.

Ten students have already taken up this offer to study at SU in 2016.

Learners who would like to participate at the next regional competition in August 2016, should ideally start preparing now. Visit the web site www.sun.ac.za/stbexpo for more details.

Caption From left to right: Mariaan Strauss (Bloemhof), Lucca Naude (Bridge House School), Shirley van der Merwe (Bellville High School), Schivon Farirai  (Kayamandi High School), Danel Adendorff (Eikestad Primary), Angeline Smit (La Rochelle Girls' High School), Kai Grotepass (Paul Roos Gimnasium), Zoë Hendricks (William Lloyd Primary School, Paarl), Conrad Strydom (Hermanus High School); Kayla Hansen (Curro Durbanville), Bridgette O'Rein (Klein Nederburg Secondary School), Leighlyn Solomons (New Orleans Secondary School), Ethan Conradie (New Orleans Secondary School), Yarah Narker (Rhenish Girls' High School) and Emma Oosthuizen ((Rhenish Girls' High School).

​​The #FeesMustFall Campaign is also an expression of students' criticism of neo-liberal capitalism, writes Prof Amanda Gouws of the Department of Political Science at Stellenbosch University in an article published in Die Burger on Tuesday (3 November 2015).

• Read the complete article below or click here to read the article as published.
  

There is one basic emotion that characterises the #feesmustfall campaign: confusion. There is confusion among students, among lecturers, among University management. This confusion has to do with people experiencing various emotions simultaneously. And this leads to psychological discomfort. Various clashing perspectives of the same experience at the same time can also hold true.

You can sympathise with the students' activism against high class fees, for example, but, at the same time, you can be concerned about the long-term implications for the University of a 0% increase in fees. You can be proud of the students' activism but, at the same time, you can reject the students' lack of respect for authority. You may disagree with the students' occupation of buildings − but you may also disagree with police brutality. There are race interests and a fear of becoming irrelevant if you are white and there are class interests. Some students are experiencing fear of victimisation and further marginalisation. Many lecturers and students who did not take part in the protest are angry about the postponement of the exams.

All these simultaneous emotions are valid and this is what takes people out of their comfort zones. Anyone who is involved in tertiary education in South Africa who is not experiencing a mixture of emotions is not honest with him or herself.

The fact that the students are also laying the blame with the state is important; the state pays less than one per cent of the GDP to tertiary education. Zuma and Nzimande have shown particularly poor leadership and the bornfrees have shown that the government can no longer rest on the laurels of its struggle credentials.

The countrywide success of #feesmustfall can be ascribed to social media; national mobilisation is only a tweet away. Students might well be seeing this as our Arab Spring, but we also know what the consequences of the Arab Spring were – a return to authoritarian rule.

Over the last few decades, the model of a university as a place where knowledge is generated has changed to a place where knowledge is commodified. Universities are being operated like businesses, with little regard for the generation of intrinsic knowledge, critical thought or analytical skill. All that is expected of universities is to train people for employment. For this, we can thank neoliberal capitalism. The state's role in universities is diminishing and it is taking less and less responsibility for how universities are funded, while, at the same time, expounding a policy of the "massification" of universities.

If there is one reason why we should be in solidarity with the students, it is that their activism is critical of neoliberal capitalism. This is why they are in solidarity with outsourced workers. When certain services at universities were outsourced, universities renounced the responsibility of paying workers viable wages and fringe benefits. The private companies that took over this role pay minimum wages and no fringe benefits.

The global economy is based on outsourcing and privatisation, together with the commodification of services and lifestyles and a much smaller role for the state. This benefits the rich to the extent that conditions now exist where approximately 10% of the world's population controls more than 80% of the world's wealth.

The bornfrees are a new generation that may well have a new moral compass. Perhaps we should see the protest of the students as an embryonic start to changing the world order of neoliberal capitalism. It is in the interests of all people.

The 4th African Bonsai Convention will be presented in the Stellenbosch Town Hall from the 22nd to 25th of October 2015.  The theme of the convention is: Under African Skies

The ABC4 is hosted by the South African Bonsai Association with the Africa Bonsai Association. Over 130 delegates from all over the country as well as internationally have already registered.

ABC4 promises to boast an exciting exhibition with over 200 prestigious trees on display including a suiseki display.  The Stellenbosch Town Hall is just a short walk away from the Western Cape Heritage Collection in the Stellenbosch University Botanical Garden and daily tours will be conducted during the convention.

Numerous workshops will take place daily for the duration of the event, presented by South Africa's own bonsai fundi's as well as international masters.  A sales area will be available catering for all your bonsai needs i.e. trees, tools, nutrition, books and more.

To see the programme and find out more about the convention, visit their website at  www.abc4.co.za

​​The Institutional Forum held an election recently for members of their staff sector. The student sector also appointed their new members and US Senate (part of the Management sector) also appointed new members. Herewith a complete list of the people currently serving on the Institutional Forum. The newly elected chairperson, vice-chairperson, secretary and additional members  (one from each sector)  on the Executive Committee of the Institutional Forum are indicated in brackets. 

MANAGEMENT:

Mr JA Aspeling (Johan)

Prof S Green (Sulina)

Prof JH Knoetze (Hansie) (IF(EXEC))

Mr PJ le Roux (Piet)

Mr SD Molapo (Sello) – on behalf of employment equity
Mr AV Moos (Ainsley)

Prof KH Myburgh (Kathy)
Dr AR Smith Tolken (Antoinette) – community interaction

STAFF:

Mr L Burrows (Le Roux) (Chairperson)

Mr WP Davidse (Wayde) (Secretary)

Ms CM Feyt (Christelle)

Ms F Fredericks (Farah) (IF(EXEC))

Dr KM Huddlestone (Kate)

Mr MG Marupula (Gabriel)

Dr C Nel (Celeste)

Ms PJ Steyn (Peta)

STUDENTS:

Ms I Barac (Inge)

Ms CM du Toit (Chante)

Ms K Hlongwane (Khensani) (IF(EXEC))

Ms L Mautloa (Lesego)(Residences)

Ms K Meiring (Kara)

Mr L Mtakati (Ludwe)

Mr C Samson (Chumile)

Ms CF Walker (Cathelynne)(PSO)

COMMUNITY:

Ms N Marais (Nadia) (IF(EXEC))

Dr DA Scholtz (Adelbert) (Vice-chairperson)

Stellenbosch Chamber of Commerce
Prof CJ van Schalkwyk (Kobus)

Council for Church Co-operation in Stellenbosch (CCCS)

Rev HJ Goosen (Jurie)

Stellenbosch Municipality:

Mr M Wüst (Marius)

Stellenbosch Ratepayers Association (SRA)
Mr GG Groenewald

Western Cape Education Department (WCED)

Mr J Benjamin (Juan)

Stellenbosch Welfare and Co-ordination Committee (SWOCC)

Mr JMJ du Plessis (Jacob)

​​The #FeesMustFall Campaign is also an expression of students' criticism of neo-liberal capitalism, writes Prof Amanda Gouws of the Department of Political Science at Stellenbosch University in an article published in Die Burger on Tuesday (3 November 2015).

• Read the complete article below or click here to read the article as published.
  

There is one basic emotion that characterises the #feesmustfall campaign: confusion. There is confusion among students, among lecturers, among University management. This confusion has to do with people experiencing various emotions simultaneously. And this leads to psychological discomfort. Various clashing perspectives of the same experience at the same time can also hold true.

You can sympathise with the students' activism against high class fees, for example, but, at the same time, you can be concerned about the long-term implications for the University of a 0% increase in fees. You can be proud of the students' activism but, at the same time, you can reject the students' lack of respect for authority. You may disagree with the students' occupation of buildings − but you may also disagree with police brutality. There are race interests and a fear of becoming irrelevant if you are white and there are class interests. Some students are experiencing fear of victimisation and further marginalisation. Many lecturers and students who did not take part in the protest are angry about the postponement of the exams.

All these simultaneous emotions are valid and this is what takes people out of their comfort zones. Anyone who is involved in tertiary education in South Africa who is not experiencing a mixture of emotions is not honest with him or herself.

The fact that the students are also laying the blame with the state is important; the state pays less than one per cent of the GDP to tertiary education. Zuma and Nzimande have shown particularly poor leadership and the bornfrees have shown that the government can no longer rest on the laurels of its struggle credentials.

The countrywide success of #feesmustfall can be ascribed to social media; national mobilisation is only a tweet away. Students might well be seeing this as our Arab Spring, but we also know what the consequences of the Arab Spring were – a return to authoritarian rule.

Over the last few decades, the model of a university as a place where knowledge is generated has changed to a place where knowledge is commodified. Universities are being operated like businesses, with little regard for the generation of intrinsic knowledge, critical thought or analytical skill. All that is expected of universities is to train people for employment. For this, we can thank neoliberal capitalism. The state's role in universities is diminishing and it is taking less and less responsibility for how universities are funded, while, at the same time, expounding a policy of the "massification" of universities.

If there is one reason why we should be in solidarity with the students, it is that their activism is critical of neoliberal capitalism. This is why they are in solidarity with outsourced workers. When certain services at universities were outsourced, universities renounced the responsibility of paying workers viable wages and fringe benefits. The private companies that took over this role pay minimum wages and no fringe benefits.

The global economy is based on outsourcing and privatisation, together with the commodification of services and lifestyles and a much smaller role for the state. This benefits the rich to the extent that conditions now exist where approximately 10% of the world's population controls more than 80% of the world's wealth.

The bornfrees are a new generation that may well have a new moral compass. Perhaps we should see the protest of the students as an embryonic start to changing the world order of neoliberal capitalism. It is in the interests of all people.

Stellenbosch University (SU) rector, Professor Wim de Villiers, on Tuesday (3 November) met with staff and students of the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences at the Tygerberg Campus to discuss issues surrounding the recent student protests.

The #FeesMustFall campaign by students across the country protesting against increased tuition fees culminated in the announcement on 23 October by President Jacob Zuma of a 0% increase in study fees for 2016.

Recent protest action on the Stellenbosch Campus resulted in the university obtaining an interdict to end students' occupation of the Admin B building. Although the interdict has since been withdrawn, Prof De Villiers admitted that relationships between management and students have been damaged. "What we can learn is that although the law affords us the remedy of an interdict, management should go out of its way to proactively engage with students before things escalate," Prof De Villiers argued.

He said that he admired students who critically engaged with issues and commended them for the generally non-violent manner in which the protests were conducted.

"Stellenbosch University is not an island of tranquillity. We cannot be isolated from the key challenges facing our society and we should not be. We should take up collective responsibility for the project we are involved with over the long term," De Villiers said.

The university supports the ideal of equitable access to higher education and annually commits about half of the funds it receives in student fees to bursaries for students, said Prof De Villiers.

With the 0% increase in fees for 2016, universities are facing a budget shortfall and are currently awaiting details on how the government intends making up the shortfall.

Discussions between staff and students from the Tygerberg campus and the rector focused on financial, academic and social support for students, the university's language policy and progress with transformation.

"Stellenbosch is no longer an Afrikaans university. Nor is it an English or Xhosa university. Stellenbosch is a world-class, multilingual university," Prof De Villiers said. According to him the university's language policy is currently being revised by a dedicated task force who will bring a proposal before council by the end of the year.

Prof De Villiers encouraged open conversation around transformation and other challenges facing the university. "We have to increase consultation and not only listen, but truly hear what people are saying," he concluded.

Stellenbosch University (SU) rector, Professor Wim de Villiers, on Tuesday (3 November) met with staff and students of the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences at the Tygerberg Campus to discuss issues surrounding the recent student protests.

The #FeesMustFall campaign by students across the country protesting against increased tuition fees culminated in the announcement on 23 October by President Jacob Zuma of a 0% increase in study fees for 2016.

Recent protest action on the Stellenbosch Campus resulted in the university obtaining an interdict to end students' occupation of the Admin B building. Although the interdict has since been withdrawn, Prof De Villiers admitted that relationships between management and students have been damaged. "What we can learn is that although the law affords us the remedy of an interdict, management should go out of its way to proactively engage with students before things escalate," Prof De Villiers argued.

He said that he admired students who critically engaged with issues and commended them for the generally non-violent manner in which the protests were conducted.

"Stellenbosch University is not an island of tranquillity. We cannot be isolated from the key challenges facing our society and we should not be. We should take up collective responsibility for the project we are involved with over the long term," De Villiers said.

The university supports the ideal of equitable access to higher education and annually commits about half of the funds it receives in student fees to bursaries for students, said Prof De Villiers.

With the 0% increase in fees for 2016, universities are facing a budget shortfall and are currently awaiting details on how the government intends making up the shortfall.

Discussions between staff and students from the Tygerberg campus and the rector focused on financial, academic and social support for students, the university's language policy and progress with transformation.

"Stellenbosch is no longer an Afrikaans university. Nor is it an English or Xhosa university. Stellenbosch is a world-class, multilingual university," Prof De Villiers said. According to him the university's language policy is currently being revised by a dedicated task force who will bring a proposal before council by the end of the year.

Prof De Villiers encouraged open conversation around transformation and other challenges facing the university. "We have to increase consultation and not only listen, but truly hear what people are saying," he concluded.

The Stellenbosch University management decided to appoint a representative task group to investigate all outsourced services at the institution. Although the University is not considering any new outsourcing projects at this time, there are a number of current contractual agreements with external service providers, some on a multi-year basis and others seasonal or as the needs dictate.

The role of the task group would be to, amongst others, ensure that a register of outsourced services be kept; to determine whether all   outsourced services are managed in accordance with University policies and practices, and to report to the Rector’s Management Team (RMT) and the Audit and Risk Committee of Council. Representatives of the Finance, Human Resources and Legal Services divisions, and the Transformation office, as well as the head of the entity that contracted the company will be appointed to the task group, with representatives from the student community and service employees  as a reference group.

One of the first objectives of the task group would be to investigate and evaluate the history of outsourcing at the University, and to consider and to recommend appropriate restitution in proven cases where former employees have been disadvantaged as a result of outsourcing.

The task group will also investigate viable alternative to outsourcing, for example, by supporting staff members to, where appropriate, create entrepreneurial teams for the development of their own businesses.