The National Development Plan has been largely acknowledged as the main policy platform for South Africa's growth path between now and 2030. It has also been acknowledged that for the plan and the vision it enshrines to succeed a lot will depend on how it is implemented.

Against this backdrop, Stellenbosch University's School of Public Leadership is pleased to announce a pioneering conference on the theme Implementation of national planning and the South African National Development Plan (NDP) - from design to delivery.  

The conference will be held at the Bellville Park campus of the SPL from 21 to 23 November 2013. The focus will primarily be on and turning government plans and policies into action through effective and ethical implementation for delivery.

Leaders from all three spheres of government, from organised business and civil society structures will address and participate in the conference.  Projects that illustrate how planning can be turned into action – as advocated in the NDP – will also be showcased at the conference.

This conference will be a measured and considered step in the process of moving from ideas through institutionalisation to implementation. The focus will be on national development planning as well as the varied research, education and service programmes of Stellenbosch University that can provide a leadership and innovative knowledge base for national planning.  It will also provide a platform for various role-players to discuss and develop future strategies, partnerships and ways of implementation to realise Vision 2030 for South Africa through the successful implementation of the NDP.

About the National Development Plan:

Amongst other ideals, the NDP aims to eliminate poverty and reduce inequality by 2030. South Africa can realise these goals by drawing on the energies of its people, growing an inclusive economy, building capabilities, enhancing the capacity of the state, and promoting leadership throughout society.

In the NDP nine primary challenges for South Africa are identified. These are:

1.            Too few people work.

2.            The quality of school education for black people is poor.

3.            Infrastructure is poorly located, inadequate and under-maintained.

4.            Spatial divides hobble inclusive development.

5.            The economy is unsustainably resource intensive.

6.            The public health system cannot meet demand or sustain quality.

7.            Public services are uneven and often of poor quality.

8.            Corruption levels are high.

9.            South Africa remains a divided society.

To deal with these challenges the NDP identifies six interlinked priorities, which are:

1. Uniting all South Africans around a common programme to achieve prosperity and equity.

2. Promoting active citizenry to strengthen development, democracy and accountability.

3. Bringing about faster economic growth, higher investment and greater labour absorption.

4. Focusing on key capabilities of people and the state.

5. Building a capable and developmental state.

6. Encouraging strong leadership throughout society to work together to solve problems

The NDP states clearly that a plan is only as credible as its delivery mechanism is viable. According to the NDP there is a real risk that South Africa's developmental agenda could fail because the state is incapable of implementing it. The National Planning Commission (NPC) makes far-reaching institutional reform proposals to remedy the uneven and often poor performance of the public service and local government.  Consensus must be built so that long-term national interest trumps short-term, sectional concerns.

Media enquiries:

Prof Erwin Schwella, 021 918 4124 or 083 627 2377 or click here.

For further information on participation, e-mail: devcon@spl.sun.ac.za

A Stellenbosch University study shows a rapidly growing black middle class and a dramatic decline in racial inequality, but cautions that opportunities and life chances for children from different communities still remain unequal.

According to a comprehensive two-year long interdisciplinary study by researchers from the Economics and Political Science departments at Stellenbosch University (SU) the income gap between race groups is the lowest it has ever been.

"In terms of fundamentals, our society is slowly becoming more equitable," says Prof Hennie Kotzé, Research Fellow at the Centre for International and Comparative Politics at SU.

"That is not to justify the pace of change, but rather to dispel possible misconceptions fuelled by recent evidence of social fragmentation and racial tensions. While there is certainly still room for improvement, data on the incomes and characteristics of South African households suggests that we are making steady progress."

Using a monthly income per capita threshold of R4 100 (in 2012 prices) the researchers found that South Africa's black middle class has grown from 350 000 individuals in 1993 to almost 3 million individuals in 2012. Over this period the black share of the middle class has grown from 11% to 41%.

"The survey data shows a continuous downward trend in racial income inequality since 1993 and at the same time also a dramatic surge in black affluence. Previous studies on emergent black affluence often focussed on the implications for the consumer market, but said little about the impact on the social and political landscape. The disassociation of race and class is creating a post-apartheid society that is more dynamic and more equitable," says Kotzé.

Kotzé was part of the research team which included economists, political scientists, anthropologists and sociologists from SU, the University of the Witwatersrand and Pretoria University. Other team members from SU were Prof Servaas van der Berg and Prof Ronelle Burger from the Economics Department, and Dr Cindy Steenekamp and Prof Pierre du Toit from the Political Science Department at SU.

"After almost 20 years of democracy it is no longer true that South Africa's middle class is mainly white," says Van der Berg, a professor of Economics. "Black South Africans now represent the largest share of the middle class."

"There are indications that the magnitude of this shift and the significance of these developments may previously have been overstated due to media and marketing hype and analysis with small and unrepresentative samples that focus only on the black affluent. However, our work with large representative survey samples affirms that the middle class is becoming more representative," says Burger.

According to Pierre du Toit, "this is a promising sign, with potential positive political, social and economic repercussions".

"Most significantly perhaps, growing black affluence can be interpreted as an indication that our society may be becoming fairer with opportunities increasingly distributed according to the ability and motivation of individuals. Our research shows that gradually the constraints of apartheid are being lifted."

Steenekamp says that "the research cautions against over optimistic predictions of economic growth, political stability or social cohesion" based on this recent surge.

"Marketing hype and a focus on these individuals as consumers have fuelled stereotypes and a characterisation of this group as cohesive and uniform. But our research shows that there is considerable variation within the middle class once you look below the surface."

"While the rise in the black middle class is expected to help dismantle the association between race and class in South Africa, the analysis suggests that notions of identity may adjust more slowly to these new realities and consequently, racial integration and social cohesion may emerge with a substantial lag."

Interviews conducted during the study suggest that despite the surge in black affluence, old apartheid era notions of socio-economic class tying class to race have endured and consequently some educated and rich black South Africans are reluctant to identify themselves as middle class.
"Class identity is complex. Our analysis found that the 'middle class' label was only weakly correlated with traditional notions of what it means to be middle class. We find some correlation between self-identification as middle class and income, assets and occupation, but not as strong as one would have expected. However, we found no evidence of a distinct set of so-called middle class values. It is simply not true that the middle class has a better work ethic or places a higher value on savings or education. Research in Latin America confirms this. The middle class might think that they are distinct because they value hard work and education, but there appears to be no basis for this and such conceptions could be due to class prejudice," said Steenekamp. 

The study provides good news, but does not condone the status quo. While there are signs that race is no longer as dominant as it was before in determining economic advancement, white South Africans are still overrepresented amongst the rich and poverty remains concentrated amongst black and coloured South Africans.

"It is important to highlight that the life chances of South African children remain tragically unequal with opportunities and prospects depending largely on where a child was born and who his or her parents are. Children born in poor communities have limited choices and consequently they are often prevented from reaching their full potential, while the future looks promising for children from upper middle class households with educated parents," said Van der Berg.

Where almost all children growing up in typical upper middle class households will have access to electricity, clean water and decent sanitation we find that less than 20% of young children in lower class households have access to adequate sanitation, less than 35% have access to clean water and just over 60% have electricity in their homes. Similarly, while 83% of children who live in upper middle class households have access to a car, it is rare amongst the lower income classes (4%). The starkest contrast is in terms of computers: 73% of upper middle class children grow up with computers in their home, but virtually none of those born into lower classes have access to a computer.

Additional information and photos:

More information on the multi-disciplinary project on the emerging middle class is available at the Research on Socio-economic Policy (RESEP) website.

• Click here for more information on the researchers
  

​The University of Stellenbosch Business School (USB) was again named one of the top three business schools in Africa in the 2013 annual Eduniversal global ranking for business schools. For this achievement the school received a Five Palmes award at the gala event in Bangalore, India.

This is the sixth year in a row that USB achieved a place in the top three on the Eduniversal list for Africa. Globally, USB is placed in the 64th place for 2013.

USB marketing director Marietjie Wepener comments: “The Eduniversal ranking constitutes an acknowledgement by Eduniversal of the reputation of the school.”

The Eduniversal Palmes Awards are based on research on business schools carried out by the international scientific committee of Eduniversal, who compiles the list of criteria, as well as the assessments of business schools carried out by deans worldwide.

According to Wepener, USB is now well established as one of the best schools on the continent, considering that the school has been ranked by Eduniversal in a top three position in Africa for the sixth consecutive year since 2008.

Recently, USB was also ranked the number one school in South Africa in the PMR.africa survey and one of the top three schools in South Africa in the annual Financial Mail “Ranking the MBAs” survey. It was also the first school of an African university to be awarded international accreditation by all three recognised accreditation bodies, EQUIS, AMBA and AACSB.

The school will celebrate its 50th anniversary next year.

USB's top MBA student for 2012, Dr Shaun Vorster, received the gold CGW Schumann medal for the best postgraduate student in the Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences at Stellenbosch University last recently.

It is the first time ever that the medal has been awarded to an MBA student.

Vorster, who is a special adviser to Tourism Minister Marthinus van Schalkwyk, completed his USB MBA cum laude in 2012. He holds a doctoral degree in Political Science. With effect from January next year he will take up tenure as an associate professor extraordinaire at USB, "a pro bono reinvestment in my alma mater", as he calls it.

He received several awards for his academic achievements, and has recently been named one of six finalists for the AMBA (Association of MBAs) and The Independent global MBA Student of the Year Award.

"Dr Vorster not only achieved the highest average mark for an MBA on record, but he is the first MBA student to be awarded the Schumann medal," said Prof Johann de Villiers, dean of the Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences at Stellenbosch University.

The medal is named after the Faculty's first dean and has been awarded annually since 1986.

Said Prof Frikkie Herbst, head of the MBA programme at USB: "Dr Vorster seamlessly integrated his studies and career, traversing the theory-practice divide in an exemplary fashion. He demonstrated that the MBA is not only instrumental for creative innovation in the private sector but also has an important role to play in building the capacity of public sector and not-for-profit entrepreneurs."

Prof Herbst added: "During his MBA research on aviation, tourism and climate change, Dr Vorster published widely and contributed to global policy debates. He also made an important contribution towards achieving recognition by G20 heads of states for tourism as vehicle for job creation, economic growth and poverty reduction."

Reflecting on his research findings, Dr Vorster said: "I believe airlines with modern and fuel-efficient fleets could become leaders in the emerging low-carbon and resource-efficient economy. But airlines cannot become green economy leaders without fundamental transformation in their supply chain.

"Airlines could help to shape the rules of the game emerging from on-going multilateral negotiations, thereby contributing their fair share to avoiding dangerous climate change."

Photograph: Dr Shaun Vorster, who received the Schumann medal from the Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences, with (left) Prof Johann de Villiers, Dean of the Faculty, and (right) Prof Arnold Schoonwinkel, Vice-Rector (Learning and Teaching). (Photo: Anton Jordaan)

The first outbreak of a destructive banana fungal wilt disease in Africa has been found in Mozambique. Its discovery on a commercial banana export plantation in northern Mozambique was confirmed through tests done by plant pathologists at Stellenbosch University in South Africa.

The fungus, widely known as Foc TR4, is soil-borne and causes Fusarium wilt or Panama disease that could be lethal to banana plants. It was most likely introduced from Asia, where it has devastated banana plantations over the past two decades.

"The problem with this fungus is that it could survive in soils for decades," says Prof Altus Viljoen of the Stellenbosch University Department of Plant Pathology, whose research team is internationally known for their work on the characterization and control of the banana wilt fungus. They have also identified variants of the fungus from Asia and Africa in the past. "It is difficult to eradicate, and thus important to restrict it to the area where it was found. A number of measures have now been implemented by the farm management to prevent its escape to other regions."

A joint statement on the discovery was released by the Mozambique Department of Agriculture, Matanuska, the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), Stellenbosch University and Biodiversity International.

"Our primary concern is to implement and monitor control methods to prevent the fungus from establishing or spreading, and to increase preparedness of other countries whose people are dependent on banana for their food security and income generation," says scientist Dr Fen Beed of the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA).

The reported outbreak is limited to a few fields on the farm concerned. All sites where the disease was found have already been isolated, the affected plants destroyed, and appropriate phytosanitary measures have been implemented to prevent the disease from spreading.

"We are satisfied with the measures implemented by the farm management, but we need to be prepared to deal with any new outbreaks in the region and on the continent," adds Dr Serafina Mangana, head of Mozambique's national plant protection organization (NPPO). "We will therefore introduce in-country quarantine measures and interact with our colleagues in neighboring countries to prevent any further outbreaks and incursions of the fungus into clean banana fields."

Mozambique authorities and scientists are now working with a consortium of African and international scientists to prevent the spread of FocTR4 to new areas in Africa. The team includes the Mozambique Department of Agriculture, International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), Stellenbosch University, Biodiversity International, Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO) and African National Agricultural Research and Regulatory Organisations. The expertise in this consortium of producers, national authorities, quarantine services, banana agronomists, banana pathologists and breeders strives to resolve the current situation in Mozambique and aim to prepare countries across the continent for any future incursions of this potentially devastating plant disease.

Bananas are an important food source in Africa. In Uganda, the average person consumes about 250 kg of this fruit per year. These bananas, which are primarily cooked, are resistant to African strains of the wilt fungus. Scientists are now testing whether they would also resist the Asian strain.

​Shepherd Mudavanhu, currently in the third year of his BAgric (Agricultural Economics) degree at Stellenbosch University, is the 2013 recipient of the prestigious INISA Student Grant.

INISA – "The Initiative Southern Africa" – is a German Non-Governmental Organisation, founded in 1995. It offers a grant for students from universities and other tertiary education institutions in countries of the SADC region. The organisation is independent and non-partisan and is funded through membership fees and donations – members include country-experts, researchers, students and people from Germany and Africa with an interest in Southern African affairs.

The bursary, covering a substantial amount of tuition fees and costs related to studying (such as books, study materials and residence fees), considers a range of criteria in selecting the successful candidate(s), and requires a comprehensive application, one part of which is a personal motivation letter for receiving the grant.

Shepherd's motivation was simple, yet far-reaching. Citing reports from the UNDP and his own research on existing literature on food security, agricultural practices and developing economies' growth, he argued in his motivation letter that agriculture underpins a great deal of the development of Africa and other developing economies. He directed his concern in particular towards his home country, Zimbabwe, in which he sees not only challenges, but also prospects, not least of which is the immense agricultural potential.

During his studies at Stellenbosch University thus far, Shepherd maintained an aggregated average of 71% for the 10 modules he followed in second year; which is even more impressive and inspiring if one considers that he halted his previous degree in Business Studies after his second year at the University of Zimbabwe due to personal challenges, the economic meltdown and political crises in Zimbabwe.

Through his degree and future career in Agricultural Economics, he hopes to employ his knowledge in finding socio-economically integrated solutions to farming commodities and practices in general and endeavours to contribute to, in particular, economic policy recommendations, farming consultancy and research.

Shepherd intends on continuing his Honours-level studies in 2014 at Stellenbosch University.

For more information about the INISA grant, contact: info@inisa.de

​​​​The ​South African Underwater Hockey Federation (www.sauwhf.co.za) – with the help of Maties Underwater Club – MUC (www.matiesunderwater.co.za) hosted the ​South African Underwater Hockey Club Championships in the new swimming pool at Coetzenburg this past weekend (30 November – 1 December).

Although the official opening of the pool will only take place on 13 February 2014 Maties Sport approved a special request by SAUWHF to host the tournament here.

According to Jack van Blerk, chair of the MUC, everybody was very happy with the venue and would like to return as soon as possible.

"Maties Underwater Club will be hosting the 2014 Club Championships here in Stellenbosch during the last weekend of November," he added.

The results were:

Mens A League: 1) Cape Town UWC; 2) Tuks Plus; 3) NUC A; 4) PSA A; 5) NUC MAsters.

Mens Open: 1) Cape Town UWC; 2) Barramunda.

Ladies A League: 1) Cape Town Ladies Red; 2) Cape Town Ladies White; 3) PSA Ladies; 4) Maties Ladies; 5) Rhodes Ladies.

Mens B League: 1) Cape Town Red; 2) Cape Town Aquawolf; 3) Maties A; 4) Border; 5) Durban; 6) NMMU.

Mens C League: 1) PSA B; 2) Wits; 3) Orca; 4) Maties B.

The new swimming pool is 50m long with 10 lanes of 2.5m each. It is 2.0m deep and comply with national and Olympic standards for swimming as well as water sports such as waterpolo and under water hockey.

The pool is funded by Stellenbosch University with a generous grant by the Remgro Group.

​​"Kuns hier, kultuur daar – siedaar, 15 jaar!" (Art here, culture there and there you have it – 15 years!).

This is the theme of the 15th Woordfees (Wordfest) of Stellenbosch University (SU) announced this week (2 December 2013) at Landtscape outside Stellenbosch.

The SU Wordfest takes place from 6 to 16 March 2014.

(Full article in English to follow.)

Na aanleiding van die bekende kulkunstenaar Martino se bekende "Kul jou hier, kul jou daar –en siedaar!" word die wonder van die woord luisterryk gevier, maar ook die merkwaardige groei van hierdie gewilde fees oor die afgelope vyftien jaar – aldus die organiseerders.

Prof Dorothea van Zyl, wat in 2014 vir die laaste keer as feesdirekteur by die Woordfees betrokke is, vertel dat ʼn vyftal dosente, twee van die Departement Afrikaans en Nederlands, en drie van Drama, kennelik in 1999 iets reg ingeskat het toe hulle oor ʼn Woordfees begin droom het wat van letterkunde "lekkerkunde" sou maak en van skrywers sterre. "Destyds was boeke laag op die enkele feeste se ranglys, as aanbiedings met ʼn baie skrale opkoms, maar deesdae is daar oral literêre feeste en ander boekgeleenthede, en het skrywers inderdaad sterre geword namate mense gefassineer word deur die wonderwêreld van woorde."

Maar in dié 15 jaar het die US Woordfees ook uitgegroei tot ʼn nasionale kunstefees. Waar in 2000 begin is met 1 000 feesgangers, is in 2013 meer as 101 000 feesbesoeke (aantal besoekers per keer per venue) aangeteken, met ʼn besonder hoë gemiddelde bywoningsyfer van 74%. In 2011 het die Woordfees die eerste kykNET Fiesta ontvang as gewildste kunstefees.

Nog interessante syfers:

• Woordfeesblootstelling in die media het volgens Newsclip van Sep 2012 tot Mei 2013 meer as R65.3 miljoen in reklamewaarde beloop in die gedrukte media, radio, TV en internet. RSG Nuus bereik bv. daagliks tot ʼn miljoen luisteraars.

• Volgens twee steekproef-ondersoeke het die Woordfees in 2013 ʼn impak van meer as R102 miljoen op die dorps-ekonomie gehad.

• Feesgangers kom van oor die hele land en uit die buiteland, in 2013 onder meer van Koeweit, Dubai, Australië, Duitsland, Brittanje, Nederland en Vlaandere.

• Produksies gerig op die studente het in 2013 ʼn bywoningspersentasie van 91,2% gehad. Studente van 6 universiteite kom ook jaarliks om Nederlandse en Vlaamse skrywers te ontmoet. Die Woordfees handhaaf ook ʼn sterk internasionale profiel.

• In Oktober 2013 was die US Woordfees se enorme WOW (Woorde Open Wêrelde) -jaarprojek ter bevordering van taal, letterkunde (lees) en die kunste 10 jaar oud. Meer as 180 000 mense in sewe provinsies is in 2013 deur hierdie projek bereik. Die WOW Fees tydens Woordfees 2013 is bygewoon deur 17 680 mense. Meer as 20 ander projek-aksies word deur die jaar aangebied om lees en kultuur te bevorder, soos skrywersbesoeke aan skole, leeskringe, leesfeeste, werkswinkels en kultuurfeeste. Die grootste is die WOW Spelfees, wat in 2013 sowat 138 407 mense in sewe provinsies bereik het.

Die hoofdonateurs van die US Woordfees is die US, Die Burger, Sanlam (Musiekfees), ATKV, kykNET en Die Dagbreek Trust.

Volgens dr Johan van Zyl, Sanlam se uitvoerende hoof, is Sanlam trots om vir die sewende agtereenvolgende jaar by die US Woordfees se Sanlam Musiekfees betrokke te wees.  "Hierdie jaar gaan ons al die regte lirieke saamvoeg om ʼn kuns en kultuur towerspel uit die boonste rakke te komponeer," sê hy in sy voorwoord tot die program.

Klik hier vir meer inligting oor "Spesiale trieks en toertjies" by die Woordfees en vir inligting oor vanjaar se Skrywersfees, Musiekfees, Dramafees, Kunsfees, Diskoers-gesprekke, WOW se aanbiedings, die Pendeldiens asook spesiale pakkette.

• Die volledige program is beskikbaar by www.woordfees.co.za – en binnekort by www.litnet.co.za. Computicket-besprekings is reeds oop en sitplekke kan in 2014 vir die eerste keer in die Boektent gereserveer word. Programboekies is te kry by die Woordfeeskantoor in Erfurthuis, by uitgesoekte boekwinkels en Computicket-takke soos by Oude Libertas, en ook by Stellenbosch Toerisme.

Onderskrif: Die Jaloersbokkies het gaste by die bekendstellingsgeleentheid vermaak. 

Five staff members of Stellenbosch University (SU) were rewarded for their contribution to advance wellness in the workplace.

These staff members diligently attended from training sessions to open days, and in this way they showed their commitment to the wellness of SU staff members.

The prizes were presented to the five staff members on Wednesday (4 December) during a short ceremony held in the SU Sasol Art Museum.

Prof Tobie de Coning, Chief Director: Strategic Initiatives and Human Resources, awarded the prizes.

Ms Labiba Rhode of Facilities Management and Ms Crystal Hendrickse of Human Resources were both in first place, Mr Rodney Davidse of Civil Engineering was in second place, while Ms Lalie Davids of Admissions and Ms Denise Moolman of the JS Gericke Library both received the third prize.

"We would like to say thank you in this manner for your contribution to promoting wellness within you environments. Also to your line managers who gave you the time, sometimes under difficult circumstances and during busy times, to learn more. All of you realise the importance of the Staff Wellness initiatives," said De Coning.

According to Ms Maureen Kennedy, Head: Staff Wellness, several aspects were taken into account in deciding on the winners, for example knowledge obtained and courses attended.

At each of the Staff Wellness events – which included training sessions, lunch-time talks, SU's first Sports Day this year and open days – staff members must sign an attendance register. For each event a staff member attends, he/she gets a point. Those with the most points will eventually be rewarded with a prize.

All these events are held to encourage staff members to look after their health and to ensure that the University is a healthy working environment.

The prizes were sponsored by Mr Gary Feldman of NMG and included two Apple iPads, a laser printer and two George Foreman grillers.

For more information on Wellness events, visit www.sun.ac.za/hr/wellness.

CAPTION: Ms Labiba Rhode, Prof Tobie de Coning, Ms Denise Moolman, Ms Crystal Hendrickse, Mr Gary Feldman, Ms Lalie Davids, Mr Rodney Davidse and Ms Maureen Kennedy.

In what can be considered an historic occasion, the Faculty of Theology at Stellenbosch University (SU) awarded certificates of attendance for a course in Missional Leadership to 31 male and female pastors of Khayelitsha on Tuesday (3 December 2013).

The pastors, who completed a month-long introductory course in Theology, received their certificates during a ceremony held at the Faculty’s Attie van Wijk Auditorium.  They belong to the ‘Great Commission’, an umbrella structure representing hundreds of pastors in the greater Khayelitsha area.

The course was offered by Ekklesia, an ecumenical centre that focuses on the practical aspects of pastoral ministry, leadership development as well as being of service to churches.

Ekklesia is affiliated to SU’s Faculty of Theology.

“As part of our outreach, we came into contact with the ‘Great Commission’, and we put together a preliminary introductory course and issued certificates of attendance to each candidate that completed the course,” said Dr Bruce Theron, Program Manager at Ekklesia.

“Since the pastors are at various levels of education, we are in the process of assisting them to embark on formal theological studies. We want them to do a diploma or a degree in Theology.”

Theron added that these endeavours are also part of SU’s focus on community interaction.

According to Pastor Aaron Makili, representative of the ‘Great Commission’ and also a recipient of a certificate, their lives and ministry will not be the same after having completed this course.

Speaking at the ceremony, Prof Nico Koopman, Dean of Faculty of Theology, highlighted the importance of doing good theology. “We owe it to God, the church and to the world to practice good theology,” he said.

Caption: The pastors at the awards ceremony. (Photographer: Anton Jordaan)

Agricultural economists from Stellenbosch University (SU) teamed up with agricultural economists from the University of Ghent to study the varied impact of a government food security programme in KwaZulu-Natal. The study, published in the journal Development Southern Africa, contributes to the on-going debate on rural food insecurity in South Africa, and forms part of the Stellenbosch University Food Security Initiative HOPE Project.

The study was led by Prof Marijke D'Haese of the Department of Agricultural Economics at Ghent University, and Prof Nick Vink of the Department of Agricultural Economics at Stellenbosch University. It focused on the impact of the Empowerment for Food Security Programme (EFSP) in two districts of KwaZulu-Natal since the launch of this agricultural support project in 2007. The EFSP is coordinated by the KZN provincial Department of Agriculture and Environmental Affairs in cooperation with the Flemish Development Corporation. It aims among others to improve agricultural practices, institutional capacity, to raise a focus on agriculture through education and awareness programmes, and to establish community gardens, home gardens and broiler projects.

Populations are seen as food secure when all members of a household at all times have enough food to eat to ensure an active, healthy life.

People's self-reported experiences of food insecurity were noted through a Household Food Insecurity Access Scale (HFIAS). These included feelings of hungry, cutting down on the number of meals, eating food that is less liked or having a less diverse diet. Expenditure on food and the number of hungry months in a year were also taken into account.

The researchers found that the EFSP improved people's access to resources, and helped to diversify the diet available to the beneficiaries. However, the research team do not believe that the EFSP has markedly improved food security levels in the province.

More than half of the 390 beneficiary households interviewed experienced severe food insecurity, with many living on less than R12 (or $1.25) per person per day. Households in the northern region were relatively more food secure than their compatriots in the southern region. Average diets consisted mainly of cereals, and some animal products. Food production is rather diverse, with vegetables, cereals and tubers being the most important crops produced. Many respondents noted production difficulties related to access to water and lack of inputs.

The most important sources of income are social grants and gifts, followed by a formal salary. Unemployment is high because only one-fifth of the household heads receive an income by working for cash or in kind. Borrowing was the most important coping strategy when shocks or stresses such as food price increases or livestock losses occur.

"Beneficiaries view the outcomes of the project as very positive, while household diets and access to resources seem to have improved thanks to it," notes Prof D'Haese. "Beneficiaries reported improved access to information and farm technology, but not to credit and markets."

"The EFSP makes a difference to self-reported livelihoods, but it does not seem to lift households out of the food insecurity risk zone," adds Prof Nick Vink of the Department of Agricultural Economics at Stellenbosch University. "One obvious explanation is that food insecurity cannot be seen in isolation from other development questions such as income sources, rural and urban development, household demographics, and access to resources such as water, land, credit, technology and markets."

Reference: D'Haese M. et al (2013). Improving food security in the rural areas of KwaZulu-Natal province, South Africa: Too little, too slow. Development Southern Africa, DOI: 10.1080/0376835X.2013.836700

The Council of Stellenbosch University (SU) appointed Prof Stan du Plessis, Vice-Dean: Research in the Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences at SU and Prof Louise Warnich, Vice-Dean (Research) in the Faculty of AgriSciences, also at SU, as the new deans of the Faculties of Economic and Management Sciences and Sciences at SU.

Prof Stan du Plessis

Prof Du Plessis is a macroeconomist at SU, Professor in the Department of Economics and Head of Research at the Bureau for Economic Research (BER). He is also an economist for Prescient Securities. He studied at the Universities of Cambridge (MPhil) and Stellenbosch (PhD) and is a former President of the Economic Society of South Africa. He was a member of the "Harvard group" of economists who advised the South African government on policy since 2006. His scholarly publications have focussed on monetary policy and the business cycle but he has also written on wide range of related topics. He is a National Research Foundation rated researcher.

Prof Louise Warnich

Prof Warnich obtained a PhD in Human Genetics from SU, joined the Department of Genetics in 1992 and was appointed as Professor in 2003. She also served as Chair of the Department. She was also emplued by the Division Human Genetics in the SU Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences. She served as chair of the Southern African Human Genetics Society from 2007 – 2009 and also serves on the Council of the Elsenburg Agricultural Training Institute. She is an associate editor of the Current Pharmacogenomics and Personalized Medicine and a review editor for Frontiers in Pharmacogenetics.

Her field of study is the pharmocogentics, the study of variability in drug response due to heredity.

​​By Russel Botman

The victory over apartheid belongs to all who helped to end that system, but the greatest, most inspiring figure of the anti-apartheid struggle undoubtedly was former president Nelson Mandela. His example and the deprivations he endured gave people courage in the darkest hours.

He stood for democracy and justice, even when it was to his own detriment. His life has been characterised by respect and tolerance for the viewpoints, language, culture and religion of others.

The best tribute to Madiba, better than any monument or street name, is the Constitution our country got in 1996. One could describe it as the Madiba Constitution. It was he who led South Africa in the transition from apartheid to democracy and who shaped a new and free South Africa. The Constitution embodies his values, his viewpoint, and his respect for diversity and for the universal rights of every person in this country.

The best way to honour Madiba's legacy is to protect and uphold the Constitution. Our country would be a far better place if the Constitution were applied more extensively. In this regard one thinks particularly of the socio-economic provisions of the bill of human rights – regarding housing, employment and food, among other things – that may help to restore our broken humanity in South Africa.

The right to basic and further education forms part of the Constitution, and in this regard, too, Mandela himself set the example. His commitment to education makes him a role model for all lecturers and students, teachers and learners. It is this conviction that made him say on occasion, "Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world."

It is this mindset, among other things, that Stellenbosch University recognised in 1996 by awarding Madiba an honorary doctorate. At the time, Maties said that he had become a living symbol of empowerment through study, of peace and reconciliation through negotiation, and of respect for those values that make for a just and human society. I agree, and that is why we are paying tribute to Madiba.

He gave us yet another great gift: the stature and calibre of his leadership, which will remain a model for generations to come. Leadership of the calibre that Madiba has displayed consistently over the years makes him stand head and shoulders above the rest.

Not only did he remain steadfast during 27 years in a prison cell in his pursuit of freedom and dignity for all people. When one thinks back to the stormy period during the run-up to the 1994 elections – those moments when our country hovered on the edge of the precipice of civil war due to the Boipatong massacre and the assassination of Chris Hani, to name but two incidents – it was Madiba who succeeded in pouring oil on troubled waters and preserving the fragile peace on all sides.

His strong leadership was exactly the reason why he could persuade opposing groups to make concessions. That is why South Africans in general, not only one particular group, hold him in high esteem.

In times when young people are searching for good leadership, they only have to look at his example for inspiration and an inclusive vision of the future, which our country needs so desperately. In this time of mourning our message to the youth must be to pursue the values, approach and leadership stature that Mandela has shown. In this way, we shall make a valuable investment in a future of peaceful coexistence in a just society.

* Prof Botman is the Rector and Vice-Chancellor of Stellenbosch University.

Photographer: Anton Jordaan

​​​​"The best way to celebrate the life of former President Nelson Mandela is to ensure that his legacy lives on in future generations of South Africans who, unlike us, will not have the privilege of his living example. 

"We pay tribute to an influential leader, a remarkable statesman and icon of liberation and reconciliation. South Africa, our continent and our world lost a role-model and symbol of ethical leadership. We owe it to him that South Africans may never forget what he sacrificed in the interest of justice and freedom," Prof Russel Botman, Rector and Vice-Chancellor of Stellenbosch University said in reaction to the news that former President Mandela had passed away.

Prof Botman expressed his condolences to the Mandela family and his spouse, Dr Graca Machel. Like her husband, she also received an honorary doctorate from Stellenbosch University. "Our country's people owe Dr Machel a debt of gratitude for her supporting role in the period after his release from prison and during his last years. While he was in public office it was remarkable to observe her presence in the background, caringly supporting him.

"For our country's youth and our university's students there is no better example than former President Mandela. Difficult circumstances did not deter him from completing his studies and as a principled leader he dedicated his life to democracy and justice, even when it was to his own detriment. His life is characterised by respect for and tolerance towards people's points of view, language, culture and religion – the same ethos that we value at Stellenbosch University," Prof Botman said. "He played a pivotal role in the creation of our country's Constitution, and like the Constitution, he has built a bridge between our divided past and our shared future.

"By honouring Madiba with the degree, Doctor of Philosophy honoris causa on 25 October 1996, Stellenbosch University acknowledged the man who has become a living symbol of empowerment through learning, of peace and reconciliation through negotiation, and of respect for those values which make a just and humane society possible."

• Read Stellenbosch University's tribute to former President Mandela, including his speech after receiving his honorary degree in 1996, at www.sun.ac.za/madiba. Please note that the photographs on the website are subject to copyright. 
  
• Read extracts from the commendatio that was read at the graduation ceremony here​.
  

​​​Stellenbosch University will be paying tribute to Mr Nelson Mandela at a special occasion to be held on Monday 9 December.

In writing to staff and students Prof Russel Botman, Rector and Vice-Chancellor, said there is no better example for the young people of our country and our university's staff members and students than former President Mandela, and this is fitting that we honour this "influential leader, remarkable statesman, icon of liberation and reconciliation, and of course also a recipient of an honorary doctorate from Stellenbosch University" at a special occasion.

The event will be held at 12:45 in the Endler Hall of the Conservatoire in Victoria Street. 

The foyer of the Conservatoire will be become a place of tribute where staff members and students can reflect, commemorate and acknowledge Madiba daily during this period of mourning.

Prof Botman invites staff and students to place their own cards and flower at a candle of remembrance. A book of remembrance will also be available to staff and students to write a message. The book will placed in the State Archive along with all the others collected from across the country.

Visit www.sun.ac.za/madiba for more information on Madiba's ties with Stellenbosch.

Caption: Mr Conrad Sidego (left), Executive Mayor of Stellenbosch, and Prof Russel Botman, Rector and Vice-Chancellor of Stellenbosch University (SU), lay a wreath at the Endler Hall on the campus of SU on 6 December in honour of former president Nelson Mandela who passed away on 5 December. A wreath was also laid at a Madiba statue in front of the town hall of Stellenbosch. (Photo: Adrian Baillie-Stewart)

David Prinsloo's talk on aspects of the antenna design for the Square Kilometer Array (SKA) radio telescope won this Stellenbosch University student the award for the best presentation by a doctoral student in engineering at the 8^th annual SKA SA Bursary Conference. In turn, Dewald Botes presented the best poster in the section for MSc Engineering students, while Ngoy Mutonkole was the runner-up in the category for presentations made by MSc students in engineering.

The conference brought together 215 delegates from among others South Africa, Europe, China, Australia and SKA Africa partner countries who are working towards building the Square Kilometer Array (SKA) radio telescope, of which the KAT-7 and MeerKAT projects are part. Among them were 32 post-doctoral fellows, 48 PhD students and 38 MSc students – testimony to the success of the SKA SA project to attract research students to the fields of engineering, astronomy and physics.

Prinsloo's talk focused on dual-polarised dual-mode active antennas, and how their sensitivity and polarimetric performance can be enhanced. His research is being led by Prof Petrie Meyer of the Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering and his work is done in collaboration with Profs Rob Maaskant and Marianna Ivashina of Chalmers University of Technology in Sweden. Prinsloo has already spent several months in Gothenburg. The work is of great interest to aperture arrays (part of SKA) which traditionally have limited coverage towards the horizon. 

Ngoy Mutonkole, runner-up in the category for presentations by MSc students in engineering, talked about the use of wideband sinuous feed to use in reflector antennas. Such feeds, which instantaneouly cover a wide frequency bandwidth, are a topic of continuing importance in radio astronomy. Dewald Botes'poster focused on the use of wideband, differential ultra low-noise amplifiers for the mid-range SKA. Low-noise amplifiers are the crucial first stage in the detection process and their performance often dominates system performance.

Last year, Stellenbosch University students garnered five prizes, with three in the Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering. According to Prof David Davidson, SKA research chair in that Department, the consistently good results by SU students at the conference demonstrate the continuing high quality of work.

The conference has become a showcase for the quality of students and research being supported through the SKA SA Human Capacity Development Programme bursaries and scholarships at various institutions in South Africa.

"Also of note is the excellent work students from Africa are doing," adds Prof. Davidson. "Mutonkole hails from the Democratic Republic of the Congo and was educated in Zambia before enrolling at SU for his BEng." Two other prize winners this year, enrolled at other universities in South Africa, come from Madacasgar.

"It was heartening to hear about the new and exciting science coming from the community that we are supporting," reflects Kim de Boer, SKA SA Human Capacity Development Programme manager.

Photo:The best poster by a MSc student in engineering was that of Dewald Botes. Here he receives his prize from Dr Aris Karastergiou of Oxford University. Photo: SKA SA/Maryna Cotton

​Nelson Mandela was a formidable man who showed true leadership, a legend who could see the future, who was courageous and sharing.

This is how the late former President Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela (1918–2013) was praised for his leadership that ensured a peaceful transition to a democratic South Africa at a memorial service held in his honour at Stellenbosch University (SU).

Madiba died on Thursday night, 5 December, at his home in Houghton, Johannesburg. Since then, not only South Africa but the whole world have been in mourning and tributes have been pouring in.

SU held a memorial service for Madiba in the Endler Hall of the Conservatoire on Monday (December 9). The former president received an honorary doctoral degree from SU in 1996, and in 2008 an honorary doctorate was also conferred on his wife, Graça Machel.

About 400 SU students and staff as well as members of the Stellenbosch community attended the service where several speakers paid tribute to Madiba's leadership and the impact he had on South Africa and the world.

The service was opened with SU student Dayne Nel reading the poet Antjie Krog's "Rougesang by dood van Mandela".

In his welcoming address, Prof Nico Koopman, Dean of the Faculty of Theology, said: "We are very, very sad but content in the knowledge that Madiba can have a well-deserved rest. SU mourns with the rest of South Africa, Africa and the world. Mandela now belongs to all the ages."

In his eulogy, Prof Russel Botman, Rector and Vice-Chancellor of the University, compared the former president to the Biblical figure Samuel.

"Like Samuel, Mandela was a leader in a time of transition. Mandela created a framework for the nation. He is someone who saw a future for all of us and who could offer direction. The man who fought to create a constitution for our country," Botman said.

He singled Mandela out as not only a politician but as someone to whom the "Reconstruction and Development Programme (RDP) of the soul" was more important.

Imam Shaakier Vermeulen, on behalf of the local Muslim community, paid tribute and said Mandela has shown real leadership.

"He calmed the nation and saved us from the abyss of a civil war. He was convinced that violence is not the answer. Today we have to remind ourselves to honour this part of his legacy," Vermeulen said.

Rev Simon Adams from the local Volkskerk spoke on behalf of the Christian community. He highlighted Mandela's opposition to apartheid and courage to fight against injustice.

"Even after his death Mandela brings people together. I see him as someone who is sharing and caring. Let's all honour him and help to build a South Africa that is free from violence, nepotism and corruption. May Madiba's legacy of peaceful opposition be followed by all South Africans."

Proponent Nadia Marais, a former Mandela Rhodes Foundation scholar, spoke on behalf of the student body: "No words can express the deep loss and gratitude for Mandela's remarkable life."

Madiba was also honoured with various musical contributions. Ms Ncebakazi Mnukwana, lecturer at the Conservatoire, played a song on the traditional isiXhosa instrument, the Uhadi.

Gillian Arendse and Ramon Alexander (piano) dedicated "Gabriella's Song" to Mandela.

The memorial service ended with the singing of the National Anthem, accompanied by SU's Brass Quintet, organist Francisco Salies, and mezzo-soprano Minette du Toit-Pearce as lead vocalist.

• ​The book of remembrance will be in the foyer of the Endler until Friday for those who haven't written their message yet.
  
• Also visit www.sun.ac.za/madiba for more articles.

CAPTION: SU staff members and students, as well as the Stellenbosch community attended a memorial service for Madiba in the Endler Hall. Prof Russel Botman signs the book of remembrance for Mandela. Photos: HENNIE RUDMAN

When Jessica Wienand receives her MSc degree in December, she will be the first of hopefully a host of Stellenbosch University (SU) conservation ecology students whose research is supporting the revival of Majete Wildlife Reserve in Malawi.

Jessica, under guidance of Dr Alison Leslie, studied the impact of the elephant reintroduced to the reserve over the past ten years on especially the area's woody vegetation, and how to best manage the perennial and artificial water sources on the reserve in accordance.

The 70 000 ha Majete Wildlife Reserve was proclaimed in 1955, and is one of the larger protected areas in Malawi. It lies in the Lower Shire Valley at the southernmost tip of Africa's Great Rift Valley. Most of its animals were eliminated or reduced to very low numbers by the year 2000 because of severe poaching in the 1980s and 1990s. In 2003, African Parks (Pty) Ltd took over complete responsibility for managing the reserve through a Public Private Partnership initiative. African Parks has since worked towards rehabilitating, developing and managing the reserve, to fence the area and to contribute to tourism initiatives from which the local community are benefitting. 2550 animals of 14 different species have already been translocated into the conservation area, including lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo, black rhino, sable antelope and eland. This included 217 elephants.

More than a decade later, the project is now moving from its inception and rehabilitation phase into the conservation, monitoring and habitat management phase. And this is where the Conservation Ecology graduate students from Stellenbosch University and their supervisor, Dr Alison Leslie, become part of the picture.

The Majete Wildlife Research Programme, the brainchild of Dr Leslie, was established in April 2013 thanks to a Memorandum of Understanding signed between African Parks Majete, the Department of Conservation Ecology and Entomology at Stellenbosch University in South Africa and the Lilongwe University of Natural Resource Management in Malawi.

"This multidisciplinary research programme, together with a dedicated research centre, is a first for Malawi," says Patricio Ndadzela, park manager of Majete. "We are excited about the involvement of the universities, as this will strengthen our conservation work and provide essential scientific backing and information  to our conservation efforts. "

The students will be involved in an on-going research programme to help assess, monitor and model the population dynamics of many of the re-introduced species, including spotted hyena and black rhinoceros. Their work will ultimately help to set in place suitable management strategies to handle fire, to establish appropriate artificial water provision, and to handle conflicts which might arise between humans and wildlife. A predator monitoring programme will also be implemented to assess the impact and adaption of the re-introduced lions and leopards.

"Changes in animal numbers and the impact that re-introduced species such as elephant, buffalo and rhino have on the vegetation need to be determined and monitored," explains Dr Leslie. "Base-line monitoring provides essential feedback to reserve staff about the impact of current and future management actions, and how these can be adapted to maximise effectiveness."

She also explains that because Majete is a confined system, management decisions can have a direct impact on population densities and the distribution of especially some species of large mammals.

A self-sufficient research centre and camp was erected in 2012. This year it serves as a base from where Stellenbosch University MSc students Kate Spies and PhD student Collin Tucker have been studying impala, waterbuck and buffalo. Species counts are done on foot and by vehicle, while the more than 30 digital camera traps set around the reserve and aerial surveys also help to complete population censuses.

The students are assisted in their field work and financially by volunteers from the Earthwatch Institute.

Photo caption:

A Stellenbosch University MSc student in conservation ecology, Jessica Wienand, busy with elephant monitoring in the Majete Wildlife Reserve in Malawi along with a Majete game scout. Photographer: Alison Leslie

For more information
*Stellenbosch University Department of Conservation Ecology and Entomology www.sun.ac.za/consent

* African Parks (Pty) Ltd www.african-parks.org

* Earthwatch Institute www.earthwatch.org

Stellenbosch University (SU) will for the first time confer its doctoral degrees at two separate gra​duation ceremonies. Both ceremonies will be held at 14:00 in the Endler Hall in the Konservatorium in Victoria Street.

On Wednesday 11 December doctoral degrees in the Faculties of Arts and Social Sciences, Education, Theology, Law and Economic and Management Sciences will be awarded while doctoral degrees in the Faculties of Science, AgriSciences, Engineering and Medicine and Health Sciences will be awarded on Thursday 12 December.

At the first event 48 doctoral degrees will conferred while Thursday's event will see 55 doctoral candidates receive their degrees.

The rest of the ceremonies will be awarded as usual in the DF Malan Memorial Centre. Honorary doctorates – to Ms Naledi Pandor, Minister of Home Affairs, and Prof Reimund Neugebauer, an internationally respected scientist and engineer – will be conferred at Friday's ceremony in the DF Malan Memorial Centre.

Click here for general information on the graduation ceremonies.

The other ceremonies will take place on:

First graduation ceremony (DF Malan Memorial Centre) – 677 students:

Tuesday 10 December: 10:00 – Medicine and Health Sciences

Second graduation ceremony (DF Malan Memorial Centre) – 766 students

Tuesday 10 December: 17:30 – Economic and Management Sciences (Group B#)

Third graduation ceremony (DF Malan Memorial Centre) – 858 students

Wednesday 11 December: 10:00 – Arts and Social Sciences  

Fourth graduation ceremony (DF Malan Memorial Centre) – 455 students

Wednesday 11 December: 17:30 – Science

Fifth graduation ceremony (DF Malan Memorial Centre) – 739 students

Thursday 12 December: 10:00 – Education, Theology, Military Science

Sixth graduation ceremony (DF Malan Memorial Centre) – 675 students

Thursday 12 December: 17:30 – Law, Economic and Management Sciences (Group A#)

Seventh graduation ceremony (DF Malan Memorial Centre) – 639 students

Friday 13 December 10:00 – AgriSciences, Engineering, Honorary degrees (the honorary degrees are awarded at the start of the programme)