The relationship between chronic inflammation and the onset of type 2 diabetes will be the subject of collaborative research between scientists from the Department of Physiological Sciences at Stellenbosch University and the Centre for Applied Biological and Exercise Science at Coventry University in the United Kingdom.

Central to the collaboration will be the sharing of a valuable data set of information and blood samples from a study conducted on a group of farm workers from the Western Cape.

Dr Theo Nell (head of the EpiMets research group), Dr. Maritza Kruger, and three MSc students, collected epidemiological data during 2015 as part of a project funded by the Cancer Association of South Africa (CANSA).  Dr. Nell says scientists are now finding a link between lifestyle diseases – such as diabetes, obesity, high blood pressure, high levels of cholesterol – and the onset of certain types of lifestyle cancers. The aim of the study was to provide a snapshot of what is happening on the ground in the Western Cape.

His collaborator at Coventry University, Prof. Derek Renshaw, will use the abovementioned data set and samples to test for a link between chronic inflammation of the immune system and the onset of type 2 diabetes.

If scientists can find a link between the natural anti-inflammatory system and the onset of type 2 diabetes, then therapeutics could be designed to prevent the onset of this debilitating disease.

Prof. Renshaw explains: “Annexin A1 is a natural anti-inflammatory protein found in humans. It is known to be altered in human diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis and Lupus, and recently we demonstrated that Annexin A1 is also altered in obesity. Individuals with high body fat have half the amount of Annexin A1 found in normal weight humans. Given that obesity is characterised by a mild, low grade chronic inflammatory disease, we believe that this reduction in plasma annexin A1 may exacerbate the inflammatory condition in these individuals and that this altered balance of inflammatory states may predispose those individuals to type 2 diabetes.

This study will enable then to determine whether there is a link between plasma Annexin A1 and insulin resistance/type 2 diabetes.

In 2015, Coventry University was named ‘University of the Year’ in the annual Times Higher Education (THE) Awards.

Prof. Renshaw recently visited SU to formalise the collaboration. Later this year, Dr Nell and members of his research team will travel to the UK to work with Prof. Renshaw.

​Underwater hockey players from 17 countries gathered in Stellenbosch from 23 March to 2 April for the 19th CMAS Underwater Hockey World Championship hosted in Coetzenburg's state-of-the-art Olympic-size swimming pool.

A total of 44 teams competed in four different divisions: Elite (men and women) and Masters (men and women).

Australia won three out of the four available titles while South Africa's Elite Women beat New Zealand 4-3 in the final to be crowned world champions in that category. The SA Masters Women won silver after losing against Australia in the final.

The SA men's teams (elite and masters) both finished in the top eight.

According to events manager from Sports4U Chantelle Hayes they received positive feedback from participants about the town and Coetzenburg swimming pool as a venue.

South Africa has hosted the Underwater Hockey World Championships twice before: in 1996 and 2008.

The 20th CMAS Underwater Hockey World Championship will be hosted by Canada in Quebec in 2018.​​

Photos: Franna Lombard

​WORLD PARKINSON'S DISEASE DAY – 11 APRIL 2016

Stellenbosch University researchers have uncovered that the genetic causes of Parkinson's disease are different in local populations which might also require novel home-grown treatment modalities.

The genetic defects causing Parkinson's disease (PD) in most South African patients differ from those found in European, American and Asian populations, suggesting that drug treatments developed overseas may not be applicable here.

"More research is urgently needed on South African patients to understand the unique aspects of the disease affecting local populations," says Prof Soraya Bardien, a senior scientist with the Parkinson's Disease Research Group at the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences (FMHS), Stellenbosch University.

This is the only group in South Africa investigating the genetic causes and mechanisms that lead to PD and their research over the past eight years have revealed novel genetic defects in South African patients. It has also identified the potential therapeutic benefits of curcumin (the active ingredient in turmeric, a common household spice) in a laboratory (cellular) model of PD.

"PD is a debilitating and incurable disorder that results from the loss of brain cells (neurons) in a specific part of the brain known as the 'substantia nigra'," explains FMHS neurologist Prof Jonathan Carr. "Once lost, these cells never grow back. This loss results in a number of symptoms which include stiff muscles, extremely slow movements and reflexes, involuntary trembling of the body and limbs, and difficulty in maintaining balance."

In addition to these symptoms, PD patients also experience a number of psychological issues such as depression, psychosis, sleep disturbances and dementia. These symptoms can appear up to 10 years before the symptoms related to movement.

The symptoms of PD can be treated to a certain extent with various drugs and with surgery, but these do not halt the disease progression and currently there is no cure.

The prevalence of PD in South Africa is unknown, but internationally it affects between one and two individuals in every 100 people over the age of 60 years, and four in every 100 people over the age of 80 years. In about 15% of patients, the disorder appears before the age of 50 years and this is referred to as 'early-onset PD'. The American actor Michael J Fox has this form of the disorder. PD is found in all ethnic groups.

In order to discover novel PD-causing genes, the PD Research Group are using a technique called whole exome sequencing which involves the simultaneous screening of approximately 20,000 human genes.

"The challenge is to sift through the masses of data that this technique generates to find the proverbial 'needle-in-a haystack' causative gene, and this research is on-going," Bardien explains.

"Also, we have used specialised protein techniques to study the biological pathways that the known PD-causing genes e.g. parkin are involved in and have identified interesting processes that may be implicated in the development of PD. These findings are important as it may ultimately contribute to the design of more effective drug therapies for PD."

The group have also found a novel genetic defect in one South African patient and compared its effect to another genetic defect in the same gene which is a common cause of the disease in some populations overseas. "Interestingly, our results show that the novel defect we found has more severe effects on the cell," says Bardien.

"It is important to raise awareness about this disorder as it may be misdiagnosed and therefore not treated appropriately. Patients with PD may also be stigmatised and other factors such as witchcraft may be blamed for the symptoms. Therefore, it needs to be highlighted that this is a disorder like hypertension and schizophrenia, and that treatment exists that can alleviate many of the devastating symptoms," says Bardien.

For more information please contact Prof Soraya Bardien, Stellenbosch University, sbardien@sun.ac.za

Media enquiries:

Wilma Stassen
+27 (0)21 938 9359
wstassen@sun.ac.za
Marketing and Communications Office
Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences   
Stellenbosch University

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

Image courtesy of dream designs at FreeDigitalPhotos.net

​​In 2017, the Faculty of Education will implement new Bachelor of Education Honours programmes based on a mixed / blended learning mode.  

Students will be able to register for their programme of choice either full-time (duration 1 year) or part-time (duration 2 years).

The following new programmes will be implemented in 2017:

• BEd Hons (Educational Development and Democracy) 
• BEd Hons (Educational Support) 
• BEd Hons (Foundation Phase Education) 
• BEd Hons (Language Education) 
• BEd Hons (Educational Psychology) – possibly implemented in 2018, more information to follow once accreditation has been received by the Board of Psychology

What is the Mixed / Blended Learning mode?

These programmes consist of an appropriate mix of:

• Face-to-face contact sessions on-campus
• Telematics broadcasts to existing satellite sites
• Electronic learning by using SUNLearn (the learning management system of Stellenbosch University) which includes modern teaching techniques, online discussion groups with fellow students and lecturers, electronic assignments, etc.

How will the new offering differ from previous programmes offered?

Previously students who enrolled in the BEd Hons programmes had to attend classes on campus during the evenings at least twice a week. Now, however, students only have to attend two contact sessions (spread out through the year during school holidays) which allows students from anywhere in South Africa to participate in these programmes with regular contact with their lecturers.​

Download the document with more information, programme-specific requirements and programme structure.

The relationship between chronic inflammation and the onset of type 2 diabetes will be the subject of collaborative research between scientists from the Department of Physiological Sciences at Stellenbosch University and the Centre for Applied Biological and Exercise Science at Coventry University in the United Kingdom.

Central to the collaboration will be the sharing of a valuable data set of information and blood samples from a study conducted on a group of farm workers from the Western Cape.

Dr Theo Nell (head of the EpiMets research group), Dr. Maritza Kruger, and three MSc students, collected epidemiological data during 2015 as part of a project funded by the Cancer Association of South Africa (CANSA).  Dr. Nell says scientists are now finding a link between lifestyle diseases – such as diabetes, obesity, high blood pressure, high levels of cholesterol – and the onset of certain types of lifestyle cancers. The aim of the study was to provide a snapshot of what is happening on the ground in the Western Cape.

His collaborator at Coventry University, Prof. Derek Renshaw, will use the abovementioned data set and samples to test for a link between chronic inflammation of the immune system and the onset of type 2 diabetes.

If scientists can find a link between the natural anti-inflammatory system and the onset of type 2 diabetes, then therapeutics could be designed to prevent the onset of this debilitating disease.

Prof. Renshaw explains: “Annexin A1 is a natural anti-inflammatory protein found in humans. It is known to be altered in human diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis and Lupus, and recently we demonstrated that Annexin A1 is also altered in obesity. Individuals with high body fat have half the amount of Annexin A1 found in normal weight humans. Given that obesity is characterised by a mild, low grade chronic inflammatory disease, we believe that this reduction in plasma annexin A1 may exacerbate the inflammatory condition in these individuals and that this altered balance of inflammatory states may predispose those individuals to type 2 diabetes.

This study will enable then to determine whether there is a link between plasma Annexin A1 and insulin resistance/type 2 diabetes.

In 2015, Coventry University was named ‘University of the Year’ in the annual Times Higher Education (THE) Awards.

Prof. Renshaw recently visited SU to formalise the collaboration. Later this year, Dr Nell and members of his research team will travel to the UK to work with Prof. Renshaw.

​Janine Truter, who previously worked for the Shoprite Group, is a registered industrial psychologist and started as USB’s new Career Services manager on Friday, 1 April. 

​Janine Truter, who previously worked for the Shoprite Group, is a registered industrial psychologist and started as USB’s new Career Services manager on Friday, 1 April. 

It is crucial that all South Africans support campaigns against the rape culture in our country, writes Prof Louise du Toit of the Department of Philosophy in an opinion piece published in Cape Times on Tuesday (12 April 2016).

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

Putting the spotlight on 'rape culture'

Louise du Toit

The Student Representative Council (SRC) of Stellenbosch University (SU) recently launched a campaign to fight against 'rape culture' on campus. The term 'rape culture' triggered an avalanche of emotional responses, but seemingly without leading to any attempts to clarify what the term may mean.

Unfortunately, lack of conceptual clarity, especially with regards to an emotive term such as 'rape culture', often leads to miscommunication, misunderstanding, heated debates and high rhetoric, which hinder rather than promote much needed concerted action.

When thinking about or discussing the term 'rape culture' or 'rape-prone' culture, it is important to keep in mind that it does not mean that actual rape has become the literal norm, or even that a majority of cultural members become involved in it.  Rather, it means that there is a pervasive culture in a country or institution which renders rape a meaningful or easy option for would-be offenders.

With April being Sexual Assault Awareness Month, it is important to consider the term 'rape culture' and its origins to avoid clouding the issue through conceptual obscurity.

It was coined in the 1970s by second-wave American feminists such as Noreen Connell and Susan Brownmiller, when feminists for the very first time placed sexual violence on political and academic agendas. This is indicative of the ancient history of women's sexual oppression: that the theme appeared in public consciousness only so late in modern western history. 

Connell, Brownmiller and other feminists basically meant two things by 'rape culture', namely that rape and other forms of sexual violence are much more pervasive than most people think and will like to admit, and that rape and other forms of sexual violence are to some extent normalised and trivialised by mainstream cultural practices and perspectives. They thus drew attention to how misogynist cultures, jokes, media, role models, and so on, have the effect of normalising or naturalising sexual violence against women.

Not only South Africa, but also the USA, Australia, Canada, India, and Pakistan have all been accused of sustaining 'rape cultures' (or, in the words of American anthropologist Peggy Reeves Sanday, 'rape-prone' cultures). Add to this the sexual violence perpetrated against women and girls during armed conflicts – even by peace-keeping forces – and it becomes clear that 'rape cultures' are indeed much more prevalent than we think.

Since 'rape culture' seems to be pervasive in certain countries, one must ask what the factors are that may contribute to this phenomenon. Among these, we can highlight the following: (i) practices of blaming and shaming the victims rather than the offenders; (ii) rape jokes; (iii) trivialising or denying the harms of rape; (iv) high-profile figures who get away with misogynist behaviour; (v) the denial that men and boys are also victims of sexual violence; (vi) official investigative, medical or other procedures that subject rape victims to secondary victimisation and traumatisation; (vii) institutions that place their reputation, brand and public image above the sexual integrity of their members; (viii) naturalising rape as a tendency of male sexuality as such; (ix) trivialising sexual violence as 'rough sex'; (x) selective, e.g. racist or classist applications of the sanction of sexual violence; (xi) apathy displayed by the relevant authorities; (xii) reinforcing of sexual stereotypes such as female sexual passivity and male sexual agency or even force; (xiii) general tolerance of sexist behaviour and institutionalised disrespect for women;  and (ix) fraternity practices that treat sex with women as a competition amongst men.

​Regarding our own context, the stakes in this type of debate are undoubtedly high, because nothing less is at stake than the full citizenship of women and girls (as the primary victims of sexual violence) in post-apartheid South Africa. We have witnessed countless times how sexual violence and the threat of such violence are being used as effective means of stripping women of their political status and reducing them to voiceless, obedient, fearful, second-class citizens. The extent of sexual violence in South Africa is very well documented – we have one of the highest incidences in the world – and it poses a substantial threat to our democratic project as a whole. With this in mind, campaigns like the one initiated by Stellenbosch University's SRC are important political struggles that we should all support. Not just universities, but also society as a whole stands to benefit from such initiatives.

*Prof Louise du Toit is Associate Professor in the Department of Philosophy at Stellenbosch University. She is the author of the book, A Philosophical Investigation of Rape: the making and unmaking of the feminine self.

A Stellenbosch University (SU) researcher is part of a team of international scientists undertaking the largest study to date to explore the genetic causes of prostate cancer (CaP) in African men.

"In addition to gaining valuable insight into the origins of CaP in African populations, this project will also develop genetic and epidemiological capacity and resources on the continent that can be used by other African researchers," said Dr Pedro Fernandez, with the Division of Urology at SU's Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences.

The study, known as MADCaP (Men of African Descent and Carcinoma of the Prostate), is funded by the American National Cancer Institute (NCI), and is a collaborative project between researchers from America, South Africa, Ghana, Senegal, and Nigeria.  

Professor Timothy Rebbeck from the Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health and the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in the US will lead the project. Fernandez is the principal investigator and was awarded a US$3 million (approximately R45 million) grant to lead the collection and genomic analysis of biosamples for the study.  

CaP is the most common type of cancer affecting South African men and international statistics suggest that men from African descent have double the risk of developing CaP compared to men from other population groups.

"The majority of cases in Sub-Saharan Africa are diagnosed with aggressive disease, often at late, incurable stages. In both Sub-Saharan Africa and African American men, this pattern may be due to a combination of tumour aggressiveness and late detection," the MADCaP research team said in a statement.

"Thus there may be common features of CaP aetiology in men of African descent that may explain the observed mortality patterns. Knowledge gained from studies of prostate cancer in Sub-Saharan African may improve the understanding of aggressive prostate cancer in men of African descent around the world."

While numerous prostate carcinoma genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have been reported, only one has been reported in an African population, and most of the GWAS-identified loci have not been replicated in men of African descent. "There is a pressing need to identify African-specific alleles and thereby to elucidate the aetiology of prostate carcinoma with regards to risk and disease aggressiveness," the research team said.

The NCI-funded MADCaP project aims to address this current knowledge disparity by conducting a GWAS with samples collected in South Africa, Senegal, Nigeria and Ghana and the entire project will run over a five-year period.

"The project as a whole will be open to engagement with the SSA scientific community, with a particular emphasis on boosting cancer research capacity in Africa. Owing to the sample volume to be processed in the study, cancer researchers will benefit from having access to an African-centric cancer genotyping array application. This will facilitate the design and execution of small-to-medium size pilot studies which may in turn lead to further large-scale GWAS studies in African populations," the MADCaP team concluded.

Caption:

The South African MADCaP project members. Back row from left: Dr Chantal Babb (National Cancer Registry at the National Health Laboratory Services), Mr Hassan Kimmie (Centre for Proteomic and Genomic Research), Prof Andre van der Merwe (Stellenbosch University). Front row from left: Dr Lindsay Petersen (Centre for Proteomic and Genomic Research), Dr Pedro Fernandez (Stellenbosch University), Mr Jacques Davids (Stellenbosch University) 

A Stellenbosch University (SU) researcher is part of a team of international scientists undertaking the largest study to date to explore the genetic causes of prostate cancer (CaP) in African men.

"In addition to gaining valuable insight into the origins of CaP in African populations, this project will also develop genetic and epidemiological capacity and resources on the continent that can be used by other African researchers," said Dr Pedro Fernandez, with the Division of Urology at SU's Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences.

The study, known as MADCaP (Men of African Descent and Carcinoma of the Prostate), is funded by the American National Cancer Institute (NCI), and is a collaborative project between researchers from America, South Africa, Ghana, Senegal, and Nigeria.  

Professor Timothy Rebbeck from the Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health and the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in the US will lead the project. Fernandez is the principal investigator and was awarded a US$3 million (approximately R45 million) grant to lead the collection and genomic analysis of biosamples for the study.  

CaP is the most common type of cancer affecting South African men and international statistics suggest that men from African descent have double the risk of developing CaP compared to men from other population groups.

"The majority of cases in Sub-Saharan Africa are diagnosed with aggressive disease, often at late, incurable stages. In both Sub-Saharan Africa and African American men, this pattern may be due to a combination of tumour aggressiveness and late detection," the MADCaP research team said in a statement.

"Thus there may be common features of CaP aetiology in men of African descent that may explain the observed mortality patterns. Knowledge gained from studies of prostate cancer in Sub-Saharan African may improve the understanding of aggressive prostate cancer in men of African descent around the world."

While numerous prostate carcinoma genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have been reported, only one has been reported in an African population, and most of the GWAS-identified loci have not been replicated in men of African descent. "There is a pressing need to identify African-specific alleles and thereby to elucidate the aetiology of prostate carcinoma with regards to risk and disease aggressiveness," the research team said.

The NCI-funded MADCaP project aims to address this current knowledge disparity by conducting a GWAS with samples collected in South Africa, Senegal, Nigeria and Ghana and the entire project will run over a five-year period.

"The project as a whole will be open to engagement with the SSA scientific community, with a particular emphasis on boosting cancer research capacity in Africa. Owing to the sample volume to be processed in the study, cancer researchers will benefit from having access to an African-centric cancer genotyping array application. This will facilitate the design and execution of small-to-medium size pilot studies which may in turn lead to further large-scale GWAS studies in African populations," the MADCaP team concluded.

Caption:

The South African MADCaP project members. Back row from left: Dr Chantal Babb (National Cancer Registry at the National Health Laboratory Services), Mr Hassan Kimmie (Centre for Proteomic and Genomic Research), Prof Andre van der Merwe (Stellenbosch University). Front row from left: Dr Lindsay Petersen (Centre for Proteomic and Genomic Research), Dr Pedro Fernandez (Stellenbosch University), Mr Jacques Davids (Stellenbosch University) 

The Maties Water Polo Club is on a high after winning the Western Province Water Polo league and the inclusion of five of its members in the South African Water Polo team that participated in the recent Men's Water Polo Olympic Games qualification tournament in Trieste, Italy.

Maties Lood Rabie, Jason Evezard, Nick Downes, Lwazi Madi and Jordan Rumbelow returned to South Africa this week.

The tournament took place from 3-10 April. Four teams qualified at this competition to go to the Olympic Games in Rio: Hungary, Italy, France and Spain.

According to Rabie the competition was very tough.

"It's difficult to compete against professional athletes. South Africa has strong players but we only came together as a team a day before the competition started and we had to play against teams that have been preparing together for over a year."

South Africa might not have qualified for the Olympic Games, but the Maties Water Polo Club has gone from strength to strength.

According to Lourens van der Walt, club chairperson and team member, the club has achieved some excellent results over the past three months.

"Based on our results, Maties can be regarded as the best club in the province," he said.

"The Maties first men's team won Intervarsity for a second consecutive year and it also won the Western Province league."

Apart from the five Maties who represented South Africa in Italy, another club member, Alex van der Walt, represented South Africa at the Women's Olympic qualification tournament in the Netherlands in March.

"The club's success has led to a number of first-years choosing Stellenbosch University for water polo reasons. SA players Jordan Rumbelow and Jason Evezard are both only 19 years old."

However, it's not only the young guns who are performing well. The Maties Old Boys side won the SA Masters tournament in March. Duncan Woods was named attacker of the tournament, Mike Bond was the defender of the tournament and Marvin Kilian was the goalkeeper of the tournament. The team includes seven former national players.

"The Maties Water Polo Club has grown into an exceptional club and has set its sights on many more trophies – trophies that are now becoming a reality and aren't just a dream any more," Van der Walt said.

​​After an excellent Varsity Cup season FNB Maties captain Beyers de Villiers was named 2016 Varsity Cup Forward that Rocks while Maties' fullback Craig Barry was named 2016 Varsity Cup Back that Rocks.

This offered some consolation after Matie hearts were broken on Monday when FNB Pukke managed to score a match-winning try deep into overtime of the 2016 FNB Varsity Cup final to clinch their maiden Varsity Cup title in front of a sell-out crowd in Stellenbosch.

In one of the tightest matches ever witnessed at the Danie Craven Stadium FNB Pukke scored and converted a late try to win the final 7-6. The half-time score was 0-0.

Maties scored ​the first points of the match in the second half through two penalties by flyhalf Chris Smith, who replaced regular flyhalf Ernst Stapelberg shortly before kick-off due to an injury Stapelberg sustained during warm-up​​.

Time was up on the clock and Maties led 6-0 when Pukke launched a 12 minute onslaught on the Maties try line. After several penalties and two yellow cards for Maties,​ Pukke finally broke through the Maties defence when flanker Marno Redelinghuys went over next to the posts in the 89^th minute. Fullback Ryno Smith slotted the conversion to break Matie hearts after an epic encounter.

Pukke were finally crowned Varsity Cup champions after losing in the final in both 2014 and 2015.

• The beautiful Joy Mashego, an Accounting student from Stellenbosch University, was crowned Miss Varsity Cup 2016 during halftime on Monday.​
  

Photo credit: Stellenbosch Centre for Photographic Services

With rape and rape culture being widely reported on, Stellenbosch University (SU) has received a number of queries. This has enabled us to compile a list of frequently asked questions and answers. Please see below on rape and rape culture.

ON RAPE

What support is there for a victim of sexual violence or rape?

SU provides counselling and support to students who seek assistance following incidents of sexual assault. Our Campus Health Service, Campus Security, Centre for Student Counselling and Development (CSCD) and our new Equality Unit assists in this regard, and a 24-hour Crisis Service is also available to students in urgent need of assistance.

Where can I report an incident of rape or sexual assault?

Women and men who are sexually harassed, abused or raped should not hesitate to report incidents to either the University's Crisis Service (tel: 082 557 0880) or Campus Security (tel: 021 808 2333; and 021 938 9507 for the Tygerberg Campus). It can also be reported anonymously at the University's independent Ethics Hotline (tel: 0800 204 549) or sun@ethics-line.com 
Complaints can also be mailed to the University's Equality Unit at unfair@sun.ac.za.

Rape is a criminal offense and should also be reported to the nearest police station.

Why is the number to report rape or other sexual misconduct not toll free?

We are working on providing a toll free number for security purposes. There are ICASA regulations and interconnectivity challenges between cellular networks that do not allow for toll free numbers from a cellular network to a Telkom line. We are currently negotiating with the cellular networks to get customised products for the University that are toll free for each network.

Why does the University not tell us when there has been a rape on campus?

The University treats all cases of sexual violence discreetly and in confidence. However, the University also tries to be transparent in its communication to students at all times. A criminal matter like rape is complex to communicate, but the University has undertaken to communicate as soon as possible. A traumatic experience like rape often poses the challenge that all the information is not always immediately available. Any wrong communication could have a legal impact on the University or the complainant.

Why does the University use the word 'alleged' when reporting on a rape incident?

Rape is a criminal offence and is subject to investigation by the South African Police Service (SAPS) and prosecution by the justice system. The University therefore uses the term "allegation" or "alleged" until a court of law has made a finding. An additional motivation is the presumption of innocence. The South African Bill of Rights states that: "… every accused person has a right to a fair trial, which includes the right to be presumed innocent until till proven guilty."

​What are the rape statistics at SU?

Going back to 2005, the statistics of all rape incidents reported to Campus Security and/or the SAPS on all SU campuses are the following:

• 2016: 2
• 2015: 2
• 2014: 5
• 2013: 1
• 2012: 1
• 2011: 1
• 2010: 3
• 2009: 2
• 2008: 5
• 2007: 4
• 2006: 5
• 2005: 4

How does the University deal with a reported incident of sexual misconduct?

As rape is a criminal offence, only the police can investigate rape. When a perpetrator and a victim is a staff member or student at SU, charges of sexual misconduct can be laid through any of the above mentioned channels.

Sexual misconduct is also dealt with in terms of the University's Student Disciplinary Code (for students) and it's Sexual Harassment Policy (for staff members). SU's Division of Legal Services investigates allegations, and the University's Sexual Harassment Advisory Committee hears and acts on reported cases of sexual misconduct.

The internal investigation procedures are not dependent on the police investigation in cases also reported to the police.

What is the University doing about the safety of students?

The safety of our students and staff is a priority for the University.
Over the last few years SU has:

• Discontinued exams and tests at night (Exams are written in the morning and at 14:00. Undergraduate tests start at 17:30, just after the last lecture of the day with some time for students to reach the test venue. At postgraduate level and for individual assessments, departments may make their own arrangements.)

• Instituted a shuttle service on campus and surrounds. (Visit www.sun.ac.za/mobility-shuttles for more information)
• Made a pedestrian escort service available at night (call 021 808 4666 or WhatsApp 082 808 2333)
• Doubled the number of guards patrolling the primary routes on campus
• Upgraded pedestrian routes
• Rolled out a vast street camera network
• Established safety kiosks on campus
• Increased the visibility of security officers, patrol vehicles and motorcycles
• Started creating security zones, such as the one on the Rooiplein where a mast with cameras and lights has been erected
• Started using the internet and social media to improve reaction capacity and run safety awareness campaigns among students and staff members
• Forged active partnerships with the SAPS, Stellenbosch Municipality and the broader security community in town.

A Task Team has been formed but still a woman was raped. What is the Task Team doing?

At the beginning of March 2016, the Rector's Management Team (RMT) appointed a Task Team to urgently look into rape culture at the University and make the necessary recommendations. This is separate from on-going precautionary and preventative measures against rape.

ON RAPE CULTURE

What is rape culture?

Rape culture – first named and described internationally in the 1970s – is defined as various acts in which sexual aggression or sexual victimisation is normalised due to societal attitudes on gender and sexuality. Behaviours commonly associated with rape culture include sexual objectification, victim blaming, refusing to acknowledge the harm caused by forms of sexual violence, or some combination of these. Society as a whole has a challenge in this regard – locally and globally.

Does rape culture really exist at the University?

The University acknowledges that rape culture exists at SU as it exists elsewhere in South Africa. We are not different from the rest of society, but embedded in it. Gender violence is endemic in society, and SU is part of it. The same general culture of disrespect and harassment of women that exists elsewhere in society is also found at SU.

What is the University doing to combat rape culture?

Existing counter-measures at SU include ongoing activities on our various campuses to create awareness about gender issues and sexual harassment. Consciousness-raising sessions and sensitivity training for staff members and students take place both in and outside of residences. But more systematic interventions might be required to challenge entrenched practices.

Our role is to create a climate in which we don't perpetuate the wrongs of society. We must be thought leaders within academic and social spaces in order to change society with a view to ending gender violence.

A stronger focus on this issue has led to the Rector's Management Team (RMT) appointing a Task Team to urgently look into rape culture at the University and make the necessary recommendations.

What will the Task Team focusing on?

The Task Team on Rape Culture will assess the current culture and climate at SU to determine the nature and extent of sexism and sexist practices and attitudes which underpin rape culture at SU. It will also explore the steps that have already been taken to address rape culture and their impact to date, assess the existing grievance procedures to determine if/where shortcomings are, and assess sanctions and consequences.

Furthermore the Task Team will Advise the RMT and rector on what strategies to employ to change aspects of SU culture, identify interventions which change culture, focus on all aspects which shape culture at SU and recommend interventions, focus on creating a safe and progressive interpersonal and social climate at SU.​

​​​In a rape culture, violence against women has become the new 'normal'.

This was one the viewpoints of Prof Julie Claassens of the Discipline group Old and New Testament in the Faculty of Theology at Stellenbosch University (SU) on Monday (4 April 2016). She was the speaker at a colloquium hosted by SU's Department of Psychology.

Claassens said rape is the pinnacle of a very patriarchal and violent context.

Highlighting South Africa's rape statistics, Claassens pointed out that, according to estimates, a woman is raped every 17 seconds in the country. She said this led to South Africa being dubbed the Rape Capital of the world.

"What these statistics do not reveal, though, is the devastating effects of rape not only on the individual victims but also on women in communities around the world. Rape not only attacks the body but also threatens the innermost core of the human being."

Reflecting on the persistent reality of rape, Claassens related the biblical story of Tamar (2 Sam 13) and the case of Susannah in the Apocryphal addition to the book of Daniel. Tamar was raped by her half-brother Amnon, while Susannah rejected the advances of two judges and almost lost her life as a result.

Claassens said the stories of Tamar and Susannah not only reflect the complex reality of rape but also show the courageous responses of victims who refuse to accept the normalization of rape and hence resist in whatever way possible.

"For both readers who have been victims of rape and sexual assault, as well as women and men who stand in solidarity with those who have been violated, these narratives offer fertile space to reflect on what it will take for individuals and communities as a whole to resist the violence of rape and in some small way to transform a rape culture."

These stories "help us to name the violence of rape which is deeply systemic in nature and reflective of a much larger problem. They hold up female agency - the signs of female resistance - even though it may be slight, muted or limited in light of the overwhelming show of male power, helping us to not further relegate women to a state of powerlessness".

Claassens said the stories of Tamar and Susannah may play an important role in raising awareness regarding the reality of rape that persist to this day.

• Photo: Prof Julie Claassens speaking at the colloquium.
  
• Photographer: Justin Alberts.
  

Of all the issues SA faces, none is more important than restoring business and investor confidence in order to get growth going. Without faster growth, SA will not be able to narrow the budget deficit, or keep social grants growing in pace with inflation, raise tertiary education subsidies or create jobs for millions of disaffected young adults.

In other words, without faster growth, SA's fiscal sustainability and political stability are at risk. There are signs that government has belatedly grasped this fact. Lately it has thawed to the business-friendly reforms that are needed to galvanise the private sector behind a growth effort.

Finance minister Pravin Gordhan has become the champion of this campaign to restore growth and save SA from a junk rating. This includes saving key institutions from "capture" by venal elites. But it is the 11th hour and there are doubts about how effective he can be, beyond the narrow remit of fiscal policy, when he lacks the full backing of the president and the Hawks openly harass him.

Claire Bisseker asked three leading experts on the economy and politics to debate these issues in a recent round-table discussion near Cape Town.

They are Rand Merchant Bank chief economist Ettienne le Roux (ELR); head of the faculty of economic & management sciences at Stellenbosch University, Prof Stan du Plessis (SDP); and BNP Paribas consulting political analyst Nic Borain (NB).

FM: The 2016 budget delivered a credible plan to put SA back onto the path of fiscal sustainability but was unconvincing as a growth strategy, which is what is really needed. Is it fair to expect the budget to have done double duty as a growth strategy?

ELR: No, it’s not fair. Treasury is just one spoke in a complex wheel. The finance minister is limited in what he can do when it comes to broader economic policy. It wasn’t fair to expect he would stand up in parliament and say he’s got all the answers to our growth problems.

SDP: The harsh judgment from rating agencies had nothing much to do with failing to deliver a growth plan. It was for basing a fiscal recovery plan on an unrealistic growth scenario. It’s a tough time in the business cycle to try to turn things around and they couldn’t make it add up in the budget.

FM: Could they have gone further in announcing growth-enhancing structural reforms?

ELR: It’s more a question of implementing the good, new initiatives they have in the budget. If government can, for example, make good on the promises to liberalise immigration policy or undertake reform of SOEs (state-owned enterprises) it will make a significant difference to business confidence and boost growth in the long haul.

SDP: Ettienne is absolutely right. In the late 1990s, when we were in a comparable debt position, part of getting out of it was through fiscal prudence, another part was through restructuring state assets. If we can do it this time around, that’s one way to make inroads.

My concern is that the budget bows to the presidential review committee on SOEs. Whereas the minister explicitly analyses SOEs’ dire financial position, the committee speaks about other goals and the developmental state. If you have that perspective on SOEs you don’t do what we did in the 1990s, you don’t restructure them. You think you solve a problem by merging SA Express into SAA.

FM: You doubt government will do what really needs to be done?

SDP: One of the technical parts of the fiscal turnaround is on state compensation. But the work of that is actually going to be done in the next two fiscal years, not in this one. And that’s exactly the story we’ve heard for the past five years. Every time we have a strategy the actual work is put down for the following two years and when we get there we start again, and it’s always two years into the future — which is why the actual debt line marches majestically upward (see graph: Broken Promises).

FM: Do you think this joint reform/work programme between government and business is the real deal? Could it actually push the growth rate up or is it mainly just good PR designed to pluck some low-hanging fruit in the hopes of staving off a credit-rating downgrade?

ELR: It can’t be the real deal. To be the real deal, all stakeholders should have been involved from the beginning and I don’t see much sign of labour. Still, I do think it’s a genuine attempt on the part of government and the private sector to mend their relationship.

Also, I don’t think we should view these conversations as the new reform programme of SA. Rather, they’re an attempt to fast-track the implementation of some National Development Plan initiatives.

And the third objective, there I would agree with you, is an effort to find some quick fixes to help stave off a sovereign downgrade. It’s an attempt to buy time.

NB: I think it would be wrong to just dismiss it. This is a government that has been shaken and went straight to business and took business’s advice in terms of its analysis and the touch-points that business said need to be fixed. This was a responsiveness we haven’t seen from the ANC in a long time.

SDP: The contrast is indeed very sharp. This year, President Zuma has been speaking with the realisation that sometimes politics has to accommodate the world of economics and I think that’s a really big shift and very encouraging from my perspective.

FM: But does this mean you expect things to change in the real economy?

ELR: We have to be realistic. Whatever growth initiatives are implemented will pay dividends only in two to three years’ time, whereas the pressure is here and now. Unfortunately, SA is hostage to an unfavourable global picture while domestically, fiscal and monetary policy are being tightened. The latter is depressing growth even though it’s probably what’s required to help safeguard the sovereign rating. I guess that’s the bitter medicine we have to take.

• To read the entire article, click here.
  

​​It is nearly impossible to imagine maintaining a large public garden without a bakkie, but that is exactly what has been the situation in the SU Botanical Garden over the past few decades. Recently however Westvaal Stellenbosch announced that it would be supporting the work of the Botanical Garden by sponsoring a Chev Utility for a period of six months. 

The Andrew Murray prize fund has announced the winners of this year's prizes for Christian and theological books.

The publication Living with Dignity - African Perspectives on Gender Equality from Sun Press  will receive the Andrew Murray Desmond Tutu prize this year. The editors are Elna Mouton and Len Hansen from the Faculty of Theology, Stellenbosch University, Getrude Kapuma from Malawi and Thomas Togom from Kenya.

This project involved more than twenty scholars from across Africa to discuss important issues of gender equality and human dignity in Africa from different perspectives.

Dr Frits Gaum, chairperson of the Andrew Murray Prize Fund, says: " The judges believe that this publication will make a major contribution to shaping African thinking about these issues and that this approach, thinking and writing together, will pave the way for future theological and academic co-operation in Africa."

Theologians Dion Forster, Nadia Marais and Rian Venter acted as judges. The prize, which will be awarded in May, consists of R20 000 and commendations.

The Andrew Murray prize for the best Christian book in Afrikaans was won by Barend Vos for his book Die ewigheid in my hart (Eternity in my heart), published by Lux Verbi. Barend Vos, alumnus of the Faculty of Theology at Stellenbosch University and author of successful Biblical novels, is known as a satirical columnist in church circles. His winning book offers meditative and contemporary descriptions of the Psalms.

The Desmond Tutu-Gerrit Brand Award for a debut work in an official South African language is named after the Nobel laureate Desmond Tutu, and the deceased young Stellenbosch theologian and book editor, Gerrit Brand. This year the winning book is Jong teoloë praat saam (young theologians in conversation) published by Bible Media, initiated and edited by Annette Potgieter and containing contributions from fifteen students of theological faculties of several universities in South Africa about contemporary religious and life questions that are important to them.

The Andrew Murray-FAK Award will be awarded for the first time this year, and goes to Chris Lambrechts for an extraordinary contribution to Christian music.

A special Andrew Murray Award will be given to church historian and Africana collector Gerdrie van der Merwe. He can rightly be called a chronicler of DRC congregations for meticulously recording the history of churches and pastors of more than fifty books . He also owns a collection of church history, theology books and other Africana, unique in its kind, and probably the largest collection in private hands.

The Andrew Murray prize fund has announced the winners of this year's prizes for Christian and theological books.

The publication Living with Dignity - African Perspectives on Gender Equality from Sun Press  will receive the Andrew Murray Desmond Tutu prize this year. The editors are Elna Mouton and Len Hansen from the Faculty of Theology, Stellenbosch University, Getrude Kapuma from Malawi and Thomas Togom from Kenya.

This project involved more than twenty scholars from across Africa to discuss important issues of gender equality and human dignity in Africa from different perspectives.

Dr Frits Gaum, chairperson of the Andrew Murray Prize Fund, says: " The judges believe that this publication will make a major contribution to shaping African thinking about these issues and that this approach, thinking and writing together, will pave the way for future theological and academic co-operation in Africa."

Theologians Dion Forster, Nadia Marais and Rian Venter acted as judges. The prize, which will be awarded in May, consists of R20 000 and commendations.

The Andrew Murray prize for the best Christian book in Afrikaans was won by Barend Vos for his book Die ewigheid in my hart (Eternity in my heart), published by Lux Verbi. Barend Vos, alumnus of the Faculty of Theology at Stellenbosch University and author of successful Biblical novels, is known as a satirical columnist in church circles. His winning book offers meditative and contemporary descriptions of the Psalms.

The Desmond Tutu-Gerrit Brand Award for a debut work in an official South African language is named after the Nobel laureate Desmond Tutu, and the deceased young Stellenbosch theologian and book editor, Gerrit Brand. This year the winning book is Jong teoloë praat saam (young theologians in conversation) published by Bible Media, initiated and edited by Annette Potgieter and containing contributions from fifteen students of theological faculties of several universities in South Africa about contemporary religious and life questions that are important to them.

The Andrew Murray-FAK Award will be awarded for the first time this year, and goes to Chris Lambrechts for an extraordinary contribution to Christian music.

A special Andrew Murray Award will be given to church historian and Africana collector Gerdrie van der Merwe. He can rightly be called a chronicler of DRC congregations for meticulously recording the history of churches and pastors of more than fifty books . He also owns a collection of church history, theology books and other Africana, unique in its kind, and probably the largest collection in private hands.

Political intolerance, no trust in the government and racism. These are just some of  the problems South Africans are struggling with and the Born Free generation reminds the country daily that they have failed to deliver on the promises of over two decades ago. Even Nelson Mandela comes under scrutiny and the Constitution is viewed as an obstacle to transformation.

Prof Amanada Gouws, lecturer and researcher at Stellenbosch University (SU) Department of Political Science, says the South Africa that Nelson Mandela dreamed of, is still to be built.

She delivered a keynote address at the Nelson Mandela Colloquium this week (30 March 2016) at SU Stellenbosch campus.

"This is not the South Africa that Nelson Mandela dreamed of. What went wrong," asks Prof Gouws.

She highlights that even with South Africa having one of the most progressive constitutions in the world and a parliament with the highest number of women in the world, South Africa have found itself in very precarious times.

"What the new generation tells us is that the body, too, matters very much. The body is the embodiment of people's experience. If your body is black or that of a woman, you have a very different experience of the world that when your body is white or male. This generation has put 'lived experience' central in their engagement with the world. Young women, the majority of them black, are at the forefront to say that second class citizenship is not acceptable."

Bradley Frolick, SRC member for Transformation, who delivered the second keynote address, said memory and human rights are inextricably linked as that which we have in our memory is experienced daily and manifests itself as oppression on our being.

"Memory and human rights must therefore be seen as one. Reconciling these two then would lead us to the attainment of the society we speak of. As long as reasonable and urgent demands of the oppressed are met with arrogance, we can never have a functioning society – not at the university level and not at a national level either."

He said universities especially have become isolated spaces where only those who are considered 'worthy' can actively engage. He added that it is also presupposed that the individuals in the space come in without any other hindrance - in essence: it is a place far removed from the realities of the South African society.

Click Nelson Mandela Foundation keynote 30 March 2016.pdf for Prof Amanda Gouws complete address

Click Building the South Africa of Nelson Mandela.pdf  for Bradley Frolick's complete address.

​Nurturing and caring are two qualities that students on the Tygerberg campus embrace – not only as part of their studies, but also in their daily human interaction.

A project which entails the establishment of communal pantry where needy students can get food and other basic necessities has received dedicated support from students and staff, but more help is needed to ensure the sustainability of the project.

The first pantry was established at the Tygerberg Student Council (TSC) office when the administrative head, Adri Brits, realised that there were needy students at the Tygerberg Campus but that it wasn't always possible to get assistance from main campus straight away. "So we started keeping some non-perishable food items in the office to give to students," says Brits.

The idea caught on and soon another pantry started at one of the residences on the Tygerberg Campus, home of the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences.

"The Kerkenberg pantry started in my room," says Emeka Okeke, a final-year MB,ChB student and Kerkenberg resident who himself went without food during difficult times in his third and fourth years. "I didn't know who to ask for help, but my friends noticed that I was distancing myself and losing weight, so I told them what was going on and they pulled together to help me.

"I realised that there were other students like me and since then my room has become a collection and distribution point for food and other items," says Okeke.

The project has grown and in addition to the two collection and distribution points (the TSR office in the Tygerberg Student Centre (TSC) and the Kerkenberg residence), 'drop boxes' have also been placed around campus where staff and students can make donations, and 'in-house' pantries are being planned for other residences at the campus.

"Tygerberg students need a place on their own campus where they can get immediate help, and that's what we are trying to do," says Brits.

Initially only non-perishable food items such as canned and dried foods were collected, but recently toiletries, including sanitary products, have also been included. The project leaders are also calling for donations of used text books, scrubs and white coats that can be passed on to students who can't afford to buy these items. Financial donations have also been channelled to needy students.

"You don't expect this level of poverty among university students because you think that either their parents are looking after them or they have bursaries," says Okeke. "But some students with bursaries are actually the breadwinners in their homes."

Many students have never been taught how to work with money and struggle to make their allowances last the whole month. "We are looking at ways to help students manage their money better and are planning to provide students with financial advice to help them plan their budgets," says Okeke.

Access to the pantry at Kerkenberg is largely based on trust and during the three years it has been running there has only been one incident where someone took food unnecessarily. "The point is not to police it, otherwise the people who really need it won't have access to it," says Okeke. In fact, people who contribute to the pantry at Kerkenberg are also encouraged to take from it so that the needy students don't get singled out or treated differently.

"So I sometimes go to the pantry and take things and other times I go and add items, and I encourage others to do the same. That way, apart from me, nobody knows who is needy," says Okeke.

In order to keep the project going after he graduates at the end of the year, Okeke is handing the reigns of the Kerkenberg pantry over to younger students. The Department of Paediatrics and Child Health have launched a project through which Kerkenberg residents can earn grocery vouchers from Pick 'n Pay by reading to patients in the Tygerberg Children's Hospital. "We are very grateful to Paediatrics for the support they have given to students, and we challenging other departments to do the same," says Okeke.

He also gave special thanks to everyone that supports the project, in particular Adri Brits, Dr Karin Baatjes (Department of Surgical Sciences), Dr Marli Smit and Prof Andrew Levin (Department of Anaesthesiology and Critical Care).

"This is a symptom of the bigger issue of poverty, but the problem we are faced with is that students need to study, but they are hungry and they need food. A packet of two-minute noodles is so much more than that for a hungry students – it is a meal that keeps them going for the whole day. And we are very grateful for every donation we receive, however big or small," says Okeke.

This year the theme of "giving" is part of the FMHS's 60^th celebrations. "This is a wonderful example of Ubuntu on our campus where students and staff are pulling together to help each other," says Ms Ronel Bester, Strategic Relations Manager of the FMHS. "As part of the faculty's 60^th celebrations this year we hope to further nurture a culture of caring and giving between everyone on the Tygerberg campus. We encourage staff members to bring whatever items they can manage on a monthly basis to help our students who are sometimes in dire need."

Donations of non-perishable food and toiletries can be dropped off at the TSC office in room 2005 in the Tygerberg Student Centre (TSS), or placed in the collection boxes in the Clinical Building (in front of room 1038) or the TSS (in front of Fedics). Used textbooks and clothes can also be dropped off at the TSC office. Call Adri Brits at 021 931 1921 for more information.

Photo: Mr Emeka Okeke

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