​In writing to students, Prof Arnold Schoonwinkel, Vice-Rector: Learning and Teaching, gave through saome important information on the exams.

Dear Maties

I wish you all the best for the examinations. As Management, we will do everything in our power to ensure a peaceful, uninterrupted examination period. That includes providing sufficient internal and external security services.

Herewith a friendly request to take note of the following

ACCESS TO EXAM VENUES

Before you enter an exam venue, please use your student card, identity document or driver's licence to identify yourself, and ensure that your name is ticked off on the class list. For this reason, try to arrive at the venue at least 20 minutes before your exam starts.

SAFETY

For safety reasons, no examinations will be held in the evenings and there is also much less activity on our campuses and in our buildings. Please remember to:

• Save the emergency numbers on your cellphone:  0218082333 (082 808 2333 via Whatsapp) for the Stellenbosch campus and 021 938 9507 for Tygerberg.
• Wherever possible, move around the campus in groups and avoid dark areas.
• Use the main routes, even if you have to walk further: Victoria, Bosman and Claassen Streets on the Stellenbosch Campus.
• Use the pedestrian escort service: at exam venues where exams are taking place in the late afternoons (18:00), the security guards at the doors will be available on request to accompany students. For the benefit of students who work late in the computer user areas (NARGA, FHARGA, FIRGA and HUMARGA), security patrols and a pedestrian escort service will be available. To request this service, contact Campus Security at tel 021 808 4666 or dial the emergency number.
  

SHUTTLE SERVICE

The University's night-shuttle service will continue throughout the exam time. It operates from Monday to Sunday from 18:00 to 02:00. The shuttle departs from the Neelsie parking area and takes students to destinations within a 6km radius.

If there is sufficient demand, we will try to fit in two trips every hour, which could mean that the next trip might start a little later than scheduled. We would appreciate your patience in this regard. For more information, please visit the website.

LIBRARY AND OTHER STUDY AREAS

Library hours during the examination period are as follows:

• Monday to Friday: 08:00 – 22:00
• Friday: 08:00 – 17:30
• Saturday and Sunday: 10:00 – 16:30 (extended hours)
  

Study Centre:

The operating hours of the Study Centre in the JC Smuts building on the Stellenbosch Campus are from 06:00 to 02:00. 

SUPPORT FOR STUDENTS

Please save the number of the 24 Hour Crisis Service on your computer and phone: 082 557 0880 (Stellenbosch and Tygerberg campuses).

Various other support services are in place to assist students. The Centre for Student Counselling and Development is available at 37 Victoria Street, Stellenbosch, and on the Tygerberg Campus, in the Student Centre (third floor). You may contact the following for support on the Stellenbosch Campus:

• Academic Counselling: 021 808 4707
• Psychotherapeutic and Support Services: 021 808 4994
• Persons with Disabilities or Special Learning Needs: 021 8084707

On the Tygerberg Campus, the number for the above service is 021 938 9590.

DISRUPTION OF EXAMINATIONS

The University recognises the right of staff and students to take part in protest action as long as this does not pose risks to the safety of staff and students, or to university property, and provided there is no breach of the rights of students to study or to write their exams.

I must emphasise that stern action will be taken against any person who violates these rights. Perpetrators' access rights to buildings will be suspended immediately or even harsher disciplinary measures may be taken.

I also call on all students who stay in residences and who share accommodation to consider fellow students who are studying for the exams.

MORE INFORMATION

Please keep an eye on the University's website, www.sun.ac.za, for more information. Important information will also be distributed via social media – on the University's Facebook page and via  Twitter (@matiesstudents).

Lastly, I would like to encourage you to use the first examination opportunity. It will greatly increase your prospects of success in case something goes wrong during the exam period. Again, rest assured that management will do everything in its power to ensure the examinations run as smoothly as possible.

Roxine Staats, a postgraduate student in biochemistry ​at Stellenbosch University, has been awarded a Skye Foundation Scholarship to pursue her MSc degree at Cambridge University in the United Kingdom.

The Skye Foundation was established in 1997 by the Zylstra Family Trust to fund postgraduate scholarships in South Africa and abroad. The scholarships are awarded on the basis of outstanding academic achievement in any discipline and are tenable worldwide.

Roxine says she has always wanted to study overseas: "This is really a dream come true. It took a lot of effort to do the application and there are thousands of things to get into place before I can leave, but it is absolutely worth the while."

"She will conduct her research in the laboratory of Prof. Michele Vendruscolo in the Centre for Misfolding Diseases at Cambridge. "Many neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease, develop when proteins in the brain start to break down (called misfolding). As the proteins degenerate, it leads to the build-up of toxic protein clumps or aggregates."

"Most of my work in biochemistry so far has been on proteins and enzymes. When linked to research on neurodegenerative diseases, the idea is to understand why and how the protein breaks down and then to develop therapeutic interventions to prevent or delay the process," she explains.

In 2014, Roxine received the Merck Award for the best final-year student in biotechnology in the Department of Chemistry and Polymer Science and in 2015 the award for the best honours student in the Department of Biochemistry

This former learner of Hudson Park High School in East-London will be starting her new academic career at Cambridge University in October this year.

​​​​​​​​​​​Election of Council Members for the term 02 April 2016 - 01 April 2020

Notice to all members of the Convocation

Members of the Convocation of Stellenbosch University have been notified in the press that three (3) vacancies have arisen on the University Council, owing to the expiry of the term of office of Dr JP (Koos) Bekker, Prof DP (Prieur) du Plessis and Mr PJ (Piet) le Roux, who were duly elected as members of the Council by the Convocation for the term 02 April 2012 to 01 April 2016.

A fourth vacancy has since arisen due to the resignation of Dr GC (George) du Toit, who was elected as Council member of the University, by the Convocation for the period 02 April 2014 to 01 April 2018. This vacancy will be handled and filled after this election process has been finalise.

Members of the Convocation were requested to submit nominations in order to fill these three (3) vacancies. As more than three (3) candidates have been nominated, an election is being held. Your CONFIDENTIAL BALLOT must reach the Registrar before 12:00 on 10 March 2016. The validity of ballots will be verified.

Election rules

1. You may vote for a maximum of three (3) candidates. Mark the box next to the name(s) of the candidate(s) for whom you want to vote and complete the ballot. No other amendment to the ballot is allowed.

2. No one may cast more than one ballot and your CONFIDENTIAL BALLOT must be completed in full.

3. If necessary a CONFIDENTIAL BALLOT in hard copy can be requested from the Registrar, Stellenbosch University at (021) 808 9398.

4. No person is allowed to vote on your behalf or use your ballot to vote on.

5. With the completion of this ballot, the voter concerned personally assumes responsibility for compliance with the election rules as stipulated above. Transgressing the above rules amounts to fraud and is a criminal offence. All cases where fraud is suspected will be investigated and may lead to criminal prosecution.

Five ways to vote

You can vote in any one of 5 different ways – the closing date for whichever way you vote is 10 March 2016 at 12:00

1. Electronically by clicking on the voting button below 

2. Fax this completed ballot to: 086 606 7946

3. Scan and email this completed ballot to konvokasie@sun.ac.za

4. Mail this completed ballot in a sealed envelope marked CONFIDENTIAL: BALLOT, to Mr Johann Aspeling, Registrar, Stellenbosch University, Private Bag X1, Matieland 7602

5. Deliver this completed ballot in a sealed envelope marked CONFIDENTIAL: BALLOT, to:
Mr Johann Aspeling, Registrar, Stellenbosch University, Room A 3016, Admin A, Ryneveld Street, Stellenbosch

The following candidates have been duly nominated:

Mr JS (Job) Amupanda

CV – Obtained my MA (Political Science) at SU; an enlightening encounter in my academic /intellectual life.

Vision - Two things stood out; (1) SU Internationalization Agenda and (2) SU Transformation Efforts. My experience and understanding of both will be my greatest contribution, amongst others, as a Council Member. We can do it!

Prof A (Andre) Coetzee

CV - Emeritus Professor and Executive Chairman, Anesthesiology and Critical Care, SU.

Vision - A non-racial university where academic merit is the priority and Afrikaans is maintained as equal academic and administrative language in a multilingual environment.

Prof DP (Prieur) du Plessis

CV – DBA & MBA (cum laude) (Stell). Professor extraordinaire (Stell); Boards: SU (chairman: Audit and Risk Committee), USB, Distell, IoDSA, PPS; President: USB Alumni Association.

Vision - To further develop SU as institution of world-class excellence, managed in accordance with sustainable business principles and also a home to Afrikaans speakers in a multi-lingual/-cultural environment. http://www.prieurduplessis.co.za.

Prof L (Loretta) Feris

CV - BA (law), LLB, LLD (Stell), LLM (Georgetown University) is professor and director of the Institute of Marine and Environmental Law at UCT.

Vision - Stellenbosch University must respond to the demands for social transformation by ensuring high quality education and research in a diverse and inclusive environment.

Mr HF (Heinrich) Gonzales

CV - Admitted attorney currently employed by AfriForum at its Head Office in Pretoria.

Vision - I will fight to retain Afrikaans as language of instruction on campus. It is my vision to act as the mouthpiece for Maties alumni, and to promote Afrikaans as language of instruction at the University.

Prof J (Joan) Hambidge

CV - Is a professor, poet and public intellectual at UCT.

Vision - The diminishing of Afrikaans will impact negatively on foreign and indigenous languages in South Africa.

Adv JC (Jan) Christiaan Heunis

CV - BA, LLB, LLM cum laude, LLD. Senior counsel, author, Vice-President of US Convocation, former member of US Council, lecturer, Chief State Law Adviser, acting Judge, member of the Special Electoral Court, adviser to Constitutional Assembly.

Vision - To ensure, consistently with Constitution, that Afrikaans remains a primary language of instruction at the US.

Dr J (Jerry) Mameja

CV – Founder and Chairman, Otesa Group.

Vision – As a Master Degree graduate from US, to assist the University to establish itself as a centre of excellence, to educate leaders who are strong in character and judgement, and are committed to share their knowledge for the betterment of mankind.

Ms RS (Ronalda) Nalumango

CV – Proportional Councillor at Stellenbosch municipality.

Vision - I understand the dynamics of the broader Stellenbosch community. Stellenbosch is one of the best universities in South Africa and should therefore be more accessible and inclusive of all despite ethnicity, class, language or race. Stellenbosch is for all.

Dr CJ (Corinne) Oosthuizen

CV – 31 Years' experience as Clinical Psychologist (private practitioner), 25 years' experience as expert consultant systems in transformation.

Vision - SU is a place where academic excellence is furthered; where Afrikaans is constructively maintained, where solutions are sought for financing; in a context where diversity and transformation requires open, tolerant discourse.

Mr CA (Chris) Otto

CV - B.Comm LLB (Stell). Businessman, founding director of PSG Group, Capitec Bank and Zeder Investments.

Vision - I am passionate about Stellenbosch, excellence, inclusiveness, sport, justice and the future. Expecting difficult times ahead. I'm Afrikaans, believe US should accommodate Afrikaans, but language should not prevent us from producing national and international leaders.

Ms BN (Bettina) Wyngaard

CV - Author and attorney.

Vision - For US to remain relevant, it must seriously examine structural power imbalances. Academic excellence has to be balanced with inclusivity and embracing diversity. This also means a radical rethinking of language, to enable Afrikaans, together with other languages, to become an instrument of inclusion.

​VOTE​ HERE ​

Mr Johann Aspeling
REGISTRAR
Stellenbosch University
6 February 2016

​​​NOTICE TO ALL MEMBERS OF THE CONVOCATION OF STELLENBOSCH UNIVERSITY

Election of a council member for the term 22 June 2016 -  01 April 2018

Members of the Convocation of Stellenbosch University have been notified in the press that a position has arisen due to the resignation of Dr GC (George) du Toit, who was elected as Council member of the University, by the Convocation for the period 02 April 2014 to 01 April 2018.

Members of the Convocation were requested to submit nominations in order to fill this vacancy. As more than one (1) candidate has been nominated, an election is being held. Your CONFIDENTIAL BALLOT must reach the Registrar before 12:00 on Tuesday, 21 June 2016. The validity of ballots will be verified.

ELECTION RULES

1. You may vote for a maximum of one (1) candidate. Mark the box next to the name of the candidate for whom you want to vote and complete the ballot. No other amendment to the ballot is allowed.
   
2. No one may cast more than one ballot and your CONFIDENTIAL BALLOT must be completed in full.
   
3. No person is allowed to vote on your behalf or use your ballot to vote on.
4. With the completion of this ballot, the voter concerned personally assumes responsibility for compliance with the election rules as stipulated above. Transgressing the above rules amounts to fraud and is a criminal offence. All cases where fraud is suspected will be investigated and may lead to criminal prosecution.
5. Please note:  BOTH your SU number (appearing at the top of the Registrar's e-mail), as well as your ID number must be used in order to vote.
6. The Alumni Office can be contact on 21 808 2709 or 021 808 2710 if voting problems are being encountered or if a hard copy of the CONFIDENTIAL BALLOT is required.
   

1. Electronically below
2. Fax this completed ballot to: 086 606 7946
3. Scan and email this completed ballot to konvokasie@sun.ac.za
4. Mail this completed ballot in a sealed envelope marked CONFIDENTIAL: BALLOT, to:
   Mr Johann Aspeling, Registrar, Stellenbosch University, Private Bag X1, Matieland 7602
5. Deliver this completed ballot in a sealed envelope marked CONFIDENTIAL: BALLOT, to:
   Mr Johann Aspeling, Registrar, Stellenbosch University, Room A 3016, Admin A, Ryneveld Street, Stellenbosch

​CANDIDATES

The following candidates have been duly nominated: 

Mr JS (Job) Amupanda:

CV – Deputy Dean at Unam, Masters Graduate at SU; an enlightening encounter in my academic /intellectual life.

Vision - Two things stood out; SU Internationalization Agenda and (2) SU Transformation Efforts. My experience and understanding of both will be my greatest contribution, amongst others, as a Council Member. We can do it! 

Prof J (Joan) Hambidge:  

CV - professor in the School of Languages at UCT and a public intellectual.

Vision - The protection of Afrikaans as scientific language as well as all the African languages positioned with English in an equal status following a parallel medium teaching model. An only English language policy will impact negatively on all other languages.

Prof TT (Tito) Mboweni:

CV - 8th Governor of SA Reserve Bank, Minister of Labour (1994 -1998), Labour legislation pioneer, board member of listed companies and other institutions and honorary professor at SU and Wits. 

Vision - Maties should be recognised as an inclusive centre of excellence, remaining realistic and visionary in upholding high academic standards.

Dr CJ (Corinne) Oosthuizen:

CV – MA (Clinical Psychology) (US) cum laude, D Litt Phil (Psychology) (SA).

Vision - SU is a place where academic excellence is furthered; where Afrikaans is constructively maintained; where solutions are sought for financing; all in a context where diversity and transformation requires open, tolerant discourse.

Mr CG (Christian) van Schalkwyk:

CV - Alumnus, professionally qualified as attorney and chartered accountant (SA). Work experience in commercial law practice and banking over 35 years. Recently retired. 

Vision - The US must continue to provide expertise and leadership in a changing society. This requires realism and clear thinking within a global context. This is what I will strive for.

VOTE HERE

Mr Johann Aspeling

REGISTRAR
Stellenbosch University
17 May 2016

​With a big Western Province Grand Challenge match against title contenders WPCC coming up this weekend the Steinhoff Maties Hockey men's team won't have much time to think about their disappointing end to the Varsity Hockey tournament.

The Maties men and women play WPCC at the Maties Astro on Sunday.

Maties lost 0-1 to UP-Tuks in the semi-final of the Varsity Hockey tournament on Monday. This was the first time since August 2012 that Maties lost at their home ground. The result was even more disappointing because Maties had been dominant in all their matches since their loss against the University of Johannesburg (UJ) in the first match of the competition.

During the course of the tournament, they scored 43 goals in eight matches and only conceded six. Keenan Horne, Shannon Boucher and James Drummond scored six goals each. Eight other players also got on the scoreboard. Daniel Bell scored five goals and Dylan Swanepoel and Reece Arendse hit the back of the goal box four times each.

Horne was named Super Striker three times and Man of the Man twice.

The expectations for the semi-final against Tuks were high. On Friday Maties beat them 6-1. But Monday was one of those days when absolutely nothing went Maties' way. They had chances but the ball never crossed the line into the goal box.

When Tuks keeper Estiaan Kriek saved a shot from the penalty spot at a critical point in the game it was clear that it just wasn't Maties' night.

Even though the disappointment was obvious and the players will feel like they let themselves down, they will have to shift their focus soon as they face a very amped and confident WPCC team this weekend. After the heartbreak of the Varsity Hockey tournament they will want to get back on the winning track.

There will be four matches at the Maties Astro on Sunday. Vics take on Pinelands (men and women) and the first match is at 12:00. Maties women play WPCC at 15:00 and the men will be in action at 16:30.

Photo: Keenan Horne

​The ​South African cricket legend and Maties Cricket alumnus Peter Kirsten celebrated his 61st birthday on the cricket fields at Coetzenburg this weekend, surrounded by other former Maties who attended the Maties Cricket reunion.

Maties who represented Stellenbosch University (SU) on the cricket field between 1949 and 1995 gathered in Stellenbosch to share memories and rekindle old friendships.

The weekend kicked off with a golf day and dinner at the Stellenbosch Golf Club on Friday and continued on Saturday with three cricket matches in which players such as Kirsten, Adrian Kuiper, Roger Telemachus, Dave Rundle and Garth le Roux showed their skill with bat and ball.

The oldest person to attend the reunion was James Starke (85) from Stellenbosch. Although he is better known as a rugby player who travelled to New Zealand with the Springboks in 1956, he played cricket for Maties in 1950.

Jim Crowe, Colin Rushmere, Roy Justus and Brian Galgut were part of the first Maties team to win the South African Universities competition (in 1956) and Justus was the first Matie to be included in the South African Universities team.

"I'm grateful that I could meet up with my friends after 60 years. It's wonderful," Justus said at Friday evening's dinner.

Various players got the opportunity to tell a story or two from their era and most of them agreed that the cameraderie they experienced and the friendships they made were the things that they remember best and appreciate most after all these years.

André Parker, who played cricket for Maties in the early 1970s, said in the opening speech that he can't recall scoring many runs but that he does remember the social side of cricket.

"Cricket is a great game and a wonderful character builder. It is important that we (Maties) recruit and produce the best players and hopefully cricket will continue to floursh because it is a special, special game."

Former Springbok Morné du Plessis told the audience that he chose to come to Stellenbosch so that he could play cricket here. Although he later became captain of the Springboks, he played cricket for Maties in the late 1960s/early 1970s.

He emphasised that those present should also look toward the future. "Tonight is about the past and we can enjoy it but it is the future that is important," he said.

The alumni were introduced to the Maties Cricket Legacy Fund, a fund that is focused on ensuring the well-being of the club and enabling it to provide top bursaries to ensure that the Maties Cricket Club remains competitive compared to other universities.

Plans for the envisioned Cricket Performance Centre were exhibited at the reunion. The aim of this academy will be to identify and develop the most talented cricket players.

Feedback about the reunion was overwhelmingly positive.

According to the organiser of the event, well-known cricket commentator Prof Kotie Grové, he had received numerous e-mails and calls from people who enjoyed the reunion ​​​and who thanked him and SU for organising it.

The Manuscripts Section of the JS Gericke Library mourns the recent senseless murder of Winnie Rust, beloved resident and author from Wellington.  In 2015 she was the speaker at the sixth Manuscript Section Lecture and her works include Martha: Countess of Stamford and Trek.

Winnie's manuscript collection is housed in the Manuscripts Section.

Stellenbosch University (SU) has again been selected to serve on the steering committee of AC 21 – Academic Consortium for the 21^st Century. This was announced at the 2016 AC21 International Forum held at Chemnitz University of Technology (TU Chemnitz) in Germany from 29 April – 3 May 2016. SU, the only university from Africa represented in the network, hosted the biennial meeting in 2014. The consortium consists of 19 universities from Australia, China, France, Germany, USA, Thailand, Indonesia, Japan, New Zealand and Lao People's Democratic Republic. Its steering committee is responsible for making strategic decisions for the future development of the consortium.

More than 120 guests from AC 21 member institutions and stakeholders participated in the forum discussing networks of innovation for the transformation of society through science. Attending the 2016 meeting, Prof Wim de Villiers, Rector and Vice-Chancellor, Robert Kotzé, Senior Director: Postgraduate & International Office and Anita Nel, Senior Director: Innovation and Business Development, represented SU giving presentations on research excellence, innovation and next steps in internationalisation at the university.

Prof de Villiers took part in a panel discussion which included Prof Seiichi Matsuo, President of Nagoya University (Japan) and Prof Julie Owens, Pro Vice-Chancellor for Research Strategy at the University of Adelaide (Australia). Discussing 'Excellence in Research and Research Transfer' Prof de Villiers spoke of SU's "triad of scientific excellence, social relevance and transfer, which makes products out of research on the one hand and communicates knowledge about research results to society on the other hand".

The 2016 AC 21 International Forum coincided with the 180th Anniversary Celebrations of TU Chemnitz. Apart from consortium meetings, other topics discussed during the event included student mobility, staff exchanges and recent trends in international higher education. The programme also included extensive visits to TU Chemnitz's industry partners highlighting university-industry collaboration as vehicle for the transformation of society.

Such multilateral consortia have the further benefit of also enhancing our bilateral activities as evidenced by the number of bilateral collaborations SU has developed since joining this consortium (in bold): AC 21 members: The University of Adelaide, Jilin University, Nanjing University, Northeastern University, Peking University, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Tongji University Shanghai, University of Strasbourg, Technische Universität Chemnitz, University of Freiburg, Gadjah Mada University, Nagoya University, National University of Laos, University of Canterbury, Stellenbosch University, Chulalongkorn University, Kasetsart University, North Carolina State University and The University of Minnesota.

Picture:  SU's Robert Kotzé, Senior Director: Postgraduate & International Office (second from right) during a discussion of the 2016 AC21 International Forum

"Visionary leaders" is how Prof Jimmy Volmink, Dean of the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences (FMHS), Stellenbosch University (SU), described the two Vice Deans recently appointed to the faculty's management.

Dr Therese Fish, who has held the position of Deputy Dean: Community Service and Interaction for two terms, has been reappointed in the renamed portfolio Vice Dean: Clinical Services and Social Impact, and Prof Julia Blitz, an associate professor in the Division of Family Medicine and Primary Care since 2011, has been appointed as Vice Dean: Learning and Teaching. Blitz takes over the reins from Prof Marietjie De Villiers who held the previous portfolio of Deputy Dean: Education.

During her next term Fish intends to strengthen existing partnerships. "The importance of committed partnerships cannot be underestimated to ensure that as a Faculty our research and our graduates contribute to a health system which enhances universal health care," says Fish, who was instrumental in the delivery of the first Rural Clinical School in South Africa.

"My vision for the post is to align our activities with both the international and national health and development agenda. This resonates with the repositioning of social impact policy in the university through which the university commits itself to reciprocally influence, motivate and activate stakeholders both in the university and in society towards equitable social change," says Fish.

She is a trained medical doctor (MB,ChB) and also holds a Master of Business Administration (cum laude) from SU. She completed a course in Health Policy and Planning at the Nuffield Institute of Health in Leeds, United Kingdom, a Health care Financing Course at the University of Cape Town and a Diploma in Community Health at SU.

Blitz believes that her background in Family Medicine and a quarter century of experience in different roles in academia have prepared her for her new role as Vice Dean: Learning and Teaching. She holds BSc and MB,ChB degrees from the University of the Witwatersrand as well as a Master in Prax Med from Medunsa and a post-graduate certificate in Higher Education from the University of Pretoria.

"This faculty has a well-established tradition of support for learning and teaching, which positions us well to respond to the current challenges that we face in terms of both our health systems and the South African higher education environment. We also have a strong tradition of research which gives us the ability to construct evidence-based, context-relevant educational responses," says Blitz.

"We have an imperative to respond to the need for fit-for-purpose medical and health sciences graduates for our country. In order to do that, we need to maintain a process of curriculum renewal so that in addition to identifying relevant outcomes and competencies, we can also put in place the most effective ways to promote students' learning. In this, it will be important to foster the sort of trusting, respectful and collaborative relationships upon which innovative and responsive learning and teaching activities can be built.

"I look forward to engaging with teaching staff, support staff and students as we pursue our mission of producing graduates who are able and willing to advance the health and equality of South Africans," says Blitz.

Photo: Prof Julia Blitz was appointed to Vice Dean: Learning and Teaching and Dr Therese Fish was reappointed as Deputy Dean: Community Service and Interaction.

Traditionally, someone who suffered from hypertension – or high blood pressure – would only receive treatment when his or her blood pressure was measured and the reading was found be higher than normal. But this meant that the condition was often picked up only when the person had a stroke or a heart attack – and in many instances this was too late.

As a result of this, the thinking on when to treat hypertension has changed in the past few years. Research has shown that hypertension should not only be diagnosed on the basis of one blood pressure reading, as this reading could vary and be raised by other triggers such as stress.

Instead, doctors make use of a risk assessment tool that measures the overall cardiovascular risk of a patient. The tool estimates the risk that a person faces over the next ten years of having a heart attack.

They do this by looking at the risk factors patients are exposed to: what is their age and gender? Do they smoke? Are they overweight or obese and do they have high cholesterol levels or diabetes? The tool determines a patient’s risk of developing cardiovascular disease in the next ten years and guides doctors on whether or not they should prescribe high blood pressure treatment to reduce the patient’s risk.

This is because hypertension rates and associated risky lifestyle behaviours are on the rise – especially in the developing world.

Globally about 22% of adults over the age of 18 suffer from hypertension, according to statistics from the World Health Organisation in 2014. But in Africa, this figure is higher and sits at 30%.

In South Africa, 28% of the adult population suffers from hypertension compared with 23% in Brazil and 25% in China. And among adults older than 50 the rate of hypertension is as high as 70%.

Hypertension is one of the leading causes of cardiovascular diseases such as stroke, heart attacks, heart failure, peripheral vascular disease and kidney disease.

Why treatment methods have changed

The challenge with hypertension is that there are usually no warning signs or symptoms for someone suffering from hypertension. Hypertension is often referred to as the “silent killer”, as a heart attack or a stroke may be the first warning sign.

But patients do classically have a combination of other risk factors. These include having an unhealthy diet, not exercising, and smoking and drinking too much. And it is the effects of these behavioural risk factors that may show up in patients as hypertension, raised blood glucose, raised cholesterol, and being overweight and obese.

As a result, it is estimated that in South Africa only 26% of men and 51% of women are aware that they suffer from hypertension.

The research shows that in South Africa hypertension is the leading reason that people seek help from primary care facilities such as clinics. It is also the most common diagnosis in primary care in the country.

Changing your lifestyle can help

Treating hypertension is not only about taking tablets. Someone with raised blood pressure can also reduce it by changing their behaviour. There are several guidelines that should be followed:

• Reduce salt intake as it raises blood pressure. The South African government has recently legislated salt intake, ruling that salt content in common foods such as bread should be reduced. As an extra measure, people should not add extra salt to their food and avoid very salty processed foods such as packet soups, stock cubes or gravies.

• Lose weight. People who are overweight or obese have a higher risk of suffering from hypertension. The key is to eat healthily, exercise and reduce meal portions. Instead of large amounts of starchy food, fruit and vegetable intake must be increased and fatty foods and sugar reduced.

• Drink less. Alcohol also increases blood pressure so it is important to only drink in moderation. Men should not exceed two drinks a day and women one drink a day.

• Exercise more. At least 150 minutes of exercise a week translates into 30 minutes a day, which raises the heart rate.

• Smoke less. A person who smokes can reduce their cardiovascular risk further by cutting down or stopping smoking altogether.

Even when patients are on treatment for hypertension it is still important for them to try to change their behaviour as this reduces the amount of medication they need to control their blood pressure.

But most importantly, diagnosis is important. Many people are unaware of their cardiovascular risk and raised blood pressure. People should check their blood pressure at least once every five years to ensure that it is normal. This can be done at a clinic or even a pharmacy.

Prof Bob Mash, Division of Family Medicine and Primary Care, Stellenbosch University and Dr Zelra Malan, Senior Lecturer, Division of Family Medicine and Primary Care, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University

This article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the original article.

​​​With his inaugural lecture on modernity in Afrikaans literature, Prof. Visagie proved his knowledge of and insight into his subject. His research on male subjectivity in Afrikaans literature, and more recently on the depictions of human and animal relationships in literature, continues to contribute to the field of Afrikaans as well as South African literature.
Visagie was appointed as professor in Afrikaans literature in the Department of Afrikaans and Dutch in 2015.
Prof. Visagie (left) was photographed with Prof. Johan Hattingh, Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences at the event on Monday.

​South Africa has the highest rate of women killed by their intimate partner in the world despite various interventions such as the Sixteen Days of Activism of No Violence Against Women and Children campaign each year from late November to mid-December. In fact, 17 years since its inception in 1998, fifty percent of the women murdered in South Africa are still killed by someone with whom they have an intimate relationship.

“Clearly, not enough is being done about Intimate Partner Violence (IPV),” says Dr Kate Joyner, an expert in gender-based violence nursing at the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences (FMHS) at Stellenbosch University (SU).

To raise awareness of this social phenomenon, Joyner and Drs Kate Rees and Simone Honikman from the University of Cape Town (UCT), compiled a policy brief on IPV for the Alan J Fisher Centre for Public Mental Health (CPMH).

The CPMH is an initiative between researchers at SU and UCT to address important public mental health issues in low and middle-income countries in Africa and Asia. The CPMH policy briefs present summarised research findings and key policy recommendations on these issues.

“More specifically this document, entitled ‘A policy brief on Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) in South Africa: How to break the vicious cycle’, can be used to inform policy and standard operating procedures which are a requirement for sustained, quality implementation in practice,” says Joyner.

To date, IPV has largely been an area of chronic neglect within the Health and Social Development arenas and therefore the necessary care is mostly absent from clinical practice. “The document provides evidence of the burden of disease this problem poses nationally, and offers evidence-based recommendations and potential solutions,” says Joyner.

The intention is for senior officials within the Department of Social Development and the Department of Health to take the lead in integrating the suggestions into policy and practice. “The intersectoral focus will ensure a meaningful sharing of responsibilities as well as more effective outcomes,” Joyner explained. “We compiled the document for all personnel, from national, provincial and district management to frontline providers across the nation.”

 Joyner hopes that public awareness about the extent of the problem of IPV, as well as how it impacts on health and development, will be improved.

“This document was a collaborative effort between the authors and our respective institutions,” says Joyner. The research was based on local and international literature and the authors’ empirical research in the clinical field. Click here to download a copy of the Policy Brief (PDF document)

You don't want to stand in a queue to register at the gym? You forgot your access card at home? You don't want to sign up for a two-year contract?

With an online registration process, biometric access system and flexible membership options these excuses won't fly at the Maties Gymnasium.

The gymnasium recently launched its new website (http://matiesgym.co.za/) and it is now possible to fill out the registration form online. Just follow the "Join us" link and complete the form when and where it is convenient for you.

After you've registered you need to go to the gymnasium to activate your biometric access. This is a one-time process and will give you access to the gymnasium's facilities with your fingerprint.

You won't have to repeat the process whenever you renew or reactivate your membership. Renewal and reactivation will also be online in the near future. This means less hassle and more training time for you.

The Maties Gymnasium offers world-class facilities and services – not only to professional athletes and sportsmen and sportswomen, but also to students, SU staff and the rest of the public. 

"Any student, SU staff member or member of the broader public can join us at very competitive fees and flexible options," says Francois Kotzé, Head: Fitness and Wellness at the gym.

According to Francois, Maties Gymnasium boasts a wide variety of equipment and, to make it even more attractive, students and SU staff can join at special tariffs. The discount for students is 15% while university staff members pay 25% less. Members of Maties sport clubs receive a discount of 20%. The duration of the contract is also flexible and can vary from as short as one month to 12 months.

Find all the necessary information about registration, classes, timetables, prices, etc. at http://matiesgym.co.za/

​​​​Three local institutions are throwing their weight behind Maties Sport's Olympic and Paralympic hopefuls to ensure that these athletes' road to Rio is a little smoother.

Winelands Radiology, Maties Gymnasium and Campus Health Services (CHS) have all pledged to assist the Maties High Performance unit (HP unit) in various ways.

According to Dr Richard de Villiers, a director of Winelands Radiology, they are honoured to partner with Maties Sport and Stellenbosch University (SU) to offer the athletes the best possible radiology service at the Coetzenburg Imaging Unit, which specialises in the imaging of sports injuries.

Francois Kotze, manager of Maties Gymnasium, added that these athletes have been great ambassadors for their individual sport codes, Maties Sport and SU in general.

"In addition, they consistently perform at the highest level bringing back handfuls of medals from international competitions. Sponsoring gym memberships is the least we can do to show our support and appreciation.

"We believe that by making our facilities available to the athletes, we can contribute significantly to their overall physical conditioning and recovery. This will allow them to focus on their preparation, without the added burden of paying bills or finding extra money for a gymnasium membership."

Dr Pierre Viviers, Senior Director: CHS, said that they are an accredited Collaborative Centre of the International Federation of Sports Medicine (FIMS) and that they have a proud record of supporting Matie athletes with sports medicine and physiotherapy services for over 40 years.

"Most of these athletes are familiar with the professionals at CHS and therefore it makes perfect sense to continue the support. To acknowledge their achievement as brand ambassadors of SU, CHS want to ensure that their final preparations are without any medical stumbling blocks."

Sean Surmon, head of the HP Unit, explained that the sponsorship is effectively given to a group of athletes that belong to Maties sport clubs and have the potential to qualify (if they have not done so already) for the 2016 Olympic or Paralympic Games.

The possible participants at this stage are: Shaun de Jager, Justine Palframan and Victor Hogan (athletics); Charl du Toit, Anruné Liebenberg, Anika Pretorius, Dyan Buis, Fanie van der Merwe, Ilse Hayes, Arnu Fourie, Reinhardt Hamman and Zanele Situ (Parasport athletics); Hendri Herbst (Parasport swimming), Marie Rabie (triathlon), Mariska Strauss (mountain-biking), Ernst van Dyk (Parasport handcycling (road race and time trial) and Parasport athletics (marathon wheel chair)) and Roxy Burns (Parasport track cycling).

Surmon said he is very grateful for these sponsors' support.

"Two crucial areas of high performance support to athletes in their Olympic/Paralympic year are strength and conditioning and medical support.

"With the help of Maties Gymnasium, CHS and Winelands Radiology our athletes have access to a world-class facility to do their training and recovery as well as immediate and accurate diagnosis in case of injury. Quick diagnosis results in the athlete receiving immediate treatment (physiotherapy services are also sponsored by CHS) and means that we can get the athlete back to the normal training environment as soon as possible so that they can continue their preparation for the big event."

Caption: Celebrating the partnership with Maties Sport and the Maties High Performance Unit are Francois Kotze, manager of Maties Gymnasium, Dr Pierre Viviers, Senior Director: Campus Health Services, Ilhaam Groenewald, Chief Director: Maties Sport, Sean Surmon, Head: Maties HP Unit, and Carene Valentine, radiographer at Winelands Radiology.​​

​​​Maties Netball ended 2015 on a high after hosting the Varsity Netball Final on home turf. With the depth and experience of the present players the team is hoping to go from strength to strength in 2016.

Their second place in the Varsity Sports competition was a huge improvement on their fourth place in the USSA competition earlier the same year and their fourth place in the Varsity Sports competition in 2014.

Their consistent improvement has been ascribed to, among other things, improved fitness levels and superb coaching and support.

Under the guidance of head coach Christine Behan the team has grown tremendously since 2013. Dr Sherylle Calder from EyeGym has been involved with Maties Netball since 2014 while former Proteas coach Elize Kotzé joined the coaching staff in 2016. She will serve as coaching consultant and has already presented a number of coaching sessions in Stellenbosch.

She will serve as coaching consultant and has already presented a number of coaching sessions in Stellenbosch.

"We're pleased that someone of Elize's stature has decided to join Maties Netball and we believe the players will gain a lot from her experience and guidance," says Karen Swart, manager of Maties Netball.

"We are looking forward to improve on our results of last year," she added.

Another possible reason for Maties Netball's improvement is the level of experience among the existing players.

This is evident in the number of players chosen for national and regional teams.

Maties' captain Juline Rossouw was included in the University Sports South Africa (USSA) squad for the World University Netball Championships (WUNC) to be held in Miami in July this year.

The final team will be named closer to the time.

"I'm very grateful for this opportunity, but realise that the hard work starts now. I'm excited about the challenge and willing to put in the effort and sacrifices needed to be successful," says Juline.

Six Maties were selected to attend the SA u.21 training camp in Pretoria in February.

Sasha-Lee Petersen, Nichole Taljaard, Stephanie Brandt, Charmaine Baard, Jo Prins and Anandie Burger were included in the SA u.21 squad in preparation for the u.21 World Cup qualifiers later this year.

In interviews posted on Netball SA's Facebook site, shooter Charmaine described the u.21 training camp as an "amazing learning experience" while Nichole said it was a wonderful opportunity to "train with great players".

Maties Netball players also make up the majority of the 2016 Southern Stings squad for the Brutal Fruit Netball Premier League. Included in the squad are Anandie Burger, Carla Werth, Charmaine Baard, Jo Prins, Juline Rossouw, Megan Gossmann, Nichole Taljaard, Remina Stephan, Sasha-Lee Petersen, Stephanie Brandt, Cindi Pretorius and Abeline Olivier.

Can cities solve problems countries can't? How will cities shape the future? These are some of the questions academics, business and government leaders from around the world will discuss at the 2016 Chicago Forum on Global Cities. Among them will be a Stellenbosch University student.

Rickus Cronje, a master's student in industrial engineering, is part of a student delegation that will attend the conference in the US from 1-3 June 2016. He will join students from the US, UK, China, Mexico, Israel, Canada, Ireland, Singapore and Taiwan  who will engage with global leaders like Henry M. Paulson, former secretary of the US Treasury, Carl Bild, former prime minister and foreign minister of Sweden, and Tessa Jowell, member of the House of Lords in the UK.

Drawn from the fields of architecture, economics, environmental engineering, international affairs, political science, public policy and urban planning the students will deliberate on issues affecting global cities.

Rickus, who will travel to Chicago at the end of May, says he is excited about the "diversity of respected global leaders" who will attend the conference.

"These are leaders in major pillars of urban life—business innovators, education visionaries, cultural luminaries, civic pioneers and they represent a large part of the world. It is wonderful that they will discuss how they improve their cities. The goal is to collaborate to improve the world. I'm also very excited to engage with the rest of the student delegation."

Rickus says he wants to contribute to inclusive innovation, sustainability and community development in South Africa. He hopes to pursue a career in renewable energy and to contribute to faith-based organisations.   

"My study aims to contribute towards renewable energy technology usage in South Africa through the development of a business model that could allow renewable energy technology to skip or 'leapfrog' national grid electricity in informal settlements. I will look at Enkanini, an informal settlement in Stellenbosch and take pointers from Stellenbosch University's iShack project."

Rickus nomination and selection came through the Postgraduate & International Office and School of Public Leadership.

The Centre for Evidence-based Health Care (CEBHC) was recently appointed as the African Regional Centre of Excellence in Implementation Research by the World Health Organisation as part of their Strengthening Capacity for Implementation Research (SCAPIR) initiative.

"The Centre of Excellence status recognises the CEBHC and faculty as having an established reputation in the science of translating research evidence into policy and practice, based on demonstrated records of publications, teaching and mentoring related to this field," says Prof Charles Wiysonge, deputy director of the CEBHC at the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University.

It is one of only six Centres of Excellence in Implementation Research around the world and will be tasked to help build capacity in implementation research at other African institutions. This will be achieved through the development of training courses; implementation of a small grants scheme; and development and sharing of case studies on implementation research that could be used for teaching purposes by other institutions.

Implementation research refers to the scientific investigation into whether research achieves the intended effect. "In health research it can be policies, programmes or interventions," explains Wiysonge.

"Implementation research aims to understand what, why and how interventions work in 'real world' settings and to test approaches to improve them.  Implementation research therefore seeks to understand and work within real world conditions rather than trying to control for these conditions or to remove their influence as causal effects."

According to Wiysonge the field of implementation research is growing, but it is not well understood, despite the need for better research to inform decisions about health policies, programmes and practices.

"Through the training centres, the development of and demand for locally generated research that is problem-focused and action-oriented will be supported. The centres will develop the capacity of implementers to identify implementation barriers and opportunities that can be addressed through research," says Wiysonge.

"It will also facilitate partnerships between implementers and researchers who share the goal of engendering iterative improvements in programme implementation.

"In this way the centres will foster demand for implementation research that is aligned with programme needs and is of particular relevance to low- and middle-income countries."

​​"This signals our continued commitment to our role in society and to what the University can do in terms of redressing our divided past."

This was how Prof Wim de Villiers, Rector and Vice-Chancellor of Stellenbosch University (SU), described the signing of an agreement between the University and Die Volkskerk van Afrika on Tuesday (10 May 2016). Prof De Villiers and Dr Donald Katts, Moderator of Die Volkskerk van Afrika, signed the agreement on behalf of the two institutions at SU's Faculty of Theology.

In terms of the agreement, Die Volkskerk van Afrika becomes a church partner of SU to train ministers of the Church in church ministry at the Faculty of Theology.

​The parties also agree, insofar it is reasonably possible and academically justifiable, that SU will acknowledge the needs of Die Volkskerk van Afrika in all the University's theological courses for the training of Christian leaders and ministers, as well as those for church ministry. 

Stellenbosch University also declares its willingness to make it facilities and infrastructure available to the church. In addition, Die Volkskerk van Afrika, may also appoint, in accordance with the requirements of the University, full time or part-time lecturers to teach students of the church.

Dr Donald Katts described the signing of the agreement as an historic occasion and said it also tells something about the Church's struggle for justice over the years.

​"It is also a sign of our commitment to build the country and to set it on a path of reconciliation and human dignity."

Reverend Simon Adams, a former Vice-Moderator of Die Volkskerk van Afrika, said "one of the dreams we had since 1972 came true today."

Prof Hendrik Bosman, Acting Dean of SU's Faculty of Theology, said the Faculty is not only privileged to have a special relationship with Die Volkskerk van Afrika, but is also willing to continue the journey with the church.

Students from various denominations have long received their theological training – undergraduate and postgraduate – at the University's Faculty of Theology.

The Faculty has signed similar agreements with the Dutch Reformed Church, the Uniting Reformed Church, the Presbyterian Church and the Anglican Church.

• Photo: Dr Donald Katts, Moderator of Die Volkskerk van Afrika, and Prof Wim de Villiers, SU Rector and Vice-Chancellor, sign the agreement while Prof Hendrik Bosman, Acting Dean of SU's Faculty of Theology, looks on.
  
• ​Photographer: Anton Jordaan
  

​​​​​​​The Telematics project was initiated as an intervention, which seeks to improve the Grade 12 year-end results of participating schools, via the Stellenbosch University Telematics division's interactive satellite platform. The project is a partnership with the Centre for Learning Technologies at the Stellenbosch University, the Western Cape Department of Education, which is making the service available at no cost, and the Departments of Education around South Africa.  A total of 507 schools are now taking part in this project, of which 38 are sponsored.  The reach of the project now includes 147 schools in the Western Cape, 247 in the Eastern Cape, 107 in the Northern Cape and 6 schools spread over KwaZulu Natal, Limpopo, North West and Mpumalanga.

The project has extended since the pilot project in 2009 to 100 broadcast hours per year covering nine key subjects. The presenters explain core concepts and address problem areas where learners had experienced difficulty in previous examinations.

Technology is used to create an online community of Grade 12 learners. The Telematic Schools Project Facebook page aims to reach out to all students and teachers who are part of the programme. It serves as a platform to interact directly with students and also keep them updated and informed about broadcasts, as well as any interesting learning opportunities. Facebook is furthermore used as a tool to motivate and excite students about Telematics and it gives them the opportunity to give feedback and input to any changes going forward.

www.facebook.com/telematicschoolsproject

Another exciting tool is a Moodle website for each subject. Presenters load their PowerPoint presentations onto the website, as well as any additional learning material they wanted the learners to have access to between broadcasts. The learners were also encouraged to use the discussion forums on the Moodle website to pose questions and interact with the presenters. Each school is issued a unique username and password to access the websites.

www.sun.ac.za/school