​This article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the full article here

As Archbishop Desmond Mpilo Tutu celebrated his 86th birthday, it's fitting to reflect on the moral values he has promoted and held dear throughout his life. It is his steadfast adherence to these values, his courage, activism and integrity that have set him apart from others in leadership in South Africa today.

The hallmark of his inspiring leadership philosophy is the unwavering consistency with which he has rejected abuses of power - both during apartheid as well as in post-apartheid South Africa. At the height of apartheid, he was pivotal in encouraging economic sanctions against apartheid South Africa, which contributed significantly to the transfer of power to a majority government.

Archbishop Tutu's fight for peace was relentless, earning him the prestigious Nobel Peace Prize in 1984 – a full decade before the new dispensation of a democratic South Africa. In his acceptance speech Tutu eloquently declared:

"There is no peace in South Africa. There is no peace because there is no justice… When there is injustice, invariably, peace becomes a casualty."

Consistency and authenticity

Archbishop Tutu's role in the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) Hearings in 1995 reflected his authentic desire to help innocent victims of apartheid abuse and torture, and to start the healing process. As chair of the commission, he enunciated the role of forgiveness in healing.

More recently his principled stance against corruption and abuse of power by a majority black government in South Africa has added credence to his authentic opposition to oppression and exploitation – by all and in all forms. Vices and virtues flourish equally in all cultures and socio-economic groups globally. South Africa has had a black majority government for the past 23 years, yet there is still no peace because injustice continues to reign supreme.

The Archbishop has taught the world to embrace the concepts of “human invaluableness" and interdependence inherent in the phrase “Umuntu ngamuntu ngabantu" – we derive our humanity by virtue of being members of the human tribe.

Given his passion for world peace, it's unsurprising that Tutu has been a co-founder of The Elders – an independent group of global leaders working together in support of peace and human rights. Although the idea was originally suggested by billionaire philanthropist Richard Branson and musician, Peter Gabriel, to Nelson Mandela, Archbishop Desmond Tutu and others ensured that the group was formally launched in Johannesburg in 2007. Tutu served as chair from 2007 to 2013. Kofi Annan is the current chair, continuing to drive the global peace agenda of the group.

Champion for global peace

Tutu continues to add his voice to global crises where human rights violations are involved. Only recently, in response to the violent persecution of Myanmar's 1.3m ethnic Rohingya Muslims by the country's military, he offered this leadership advice to fellow Nobel laureate and Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi:

"If the political price of your ascension to the highest office in Myanmar is silence, the price is surely too steep."

The Archbishop's global respect for human life is also reflected in his views on gender preferences and sexual orientation. Despite the views of the Anglican Church, Tutu has promoted a non-judgmental approach to same sex relationships including that of his own daughter.

Over the past few years, Tutu has expressed views on the ethical dilemmas that arise at the end of a person's life. Influenced in no small part by the last months of Mandela's life, the Archbishop has spoken out in strong support of autonomous decision making in ending one's life, including the option of assisted dying.

In refusing dying people the right to die with dignity, we fail to demonstrate the compassion that lies at the heart of Christian values.

A life well lived

Tutu embraces everything noble in Aristotelian virtue ethics and African philosophical systems. Aristotelian ethics would argue that a person who possesses character excellence knows what the right thing to do is, how to do it and when to do it. African philosophy embraces humanism and interdependence which typify Tutu.

The consistency and integrity he has displayed in all facets of his life, including his relationships with his children and grandchildren, has earned him the iconic stature, respect and admiration he so richly deserves. It's not surprising that Mandela described him as “the voice of the voiceless".

But Tutu himself will be the first to acknowledge that he too has an Achilles heel like anybody else. As humans we all have our share of positive and negative traits – both creating challenges and opportunities in life that require balancing. Clearly, the Archbishop has been successful at achieving this delicate balance.

Ms Jana Botha, a postgraduate student in chemistry, is the recipient of the Faculty of Science's Dean's medal for continuous excellent performance.

The medal, cast in solid silver, is awarded annually to an honours student who scores the highest average percentage throughout both the BSc and BSc honours programmes. Botha managed to consistently achieve an average of 86% and higher, and completed both her BSc and BScHons degrees with distinction.

She says the achievement did not come without sacrifice: “Despite the hard work and long hours, I find chemistry very interesting. There are still so many topics in chemistry to be explored. I like the fact that the theory is based on mathematics, mechanisms and logical arguments. That is why chemistry requires so many hours of study. One needs to understand how these arguments and theories fit together before it can be applied further."

Botha, a former learner from Strand High School, is currently busy with her MSc in chemistry under Dr M.A.L Blackie in the Department of Chemistry and Polymer Science.

Her advice to other BSc students studying in this difficult field? “Do not learn chemistry like a parrot. Rather try to understand the work in a way that makes sense to you and then ask 'Why do they do it that way?'. Try to understand the relevance of the work.

“If you study chemistry by rote learning, you are firstly going to forget it very quickly; and secondly, you are not going to enjoy it. You will never experience that 'lightbulb' moments when you finally understanding something," she adds.

Both her parents are Maties alumni. Her father, Mr Gert Botha, is a mechanical engineer, and her mother, Mrs Hanlie Botha, is an analytical chemist and works as technical officer in SU's Department of Process Engineering.

Above: Former learner from Strand High School, Ms Jana Botha, is the recipient of the prestigious Dean's medal, awarded to the best BSc student in Stellenbosch University's Faculty of  Science. The medal was handed to her by the Dean, Prof Louise Warnich, during a special function on Thursday 2 November 2017. Photo: Wiida Fourie-Basson

​This article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the full article here.

Close to three million people suffering from chronic kidney failure across the world receive renal replacement therapy every year. But between 4.9 million and 9.7 million more still need treatment. And at least two million die because they cannot access it.

Kidneys filter wastes and excess fluids from the blood which are then excreted in the urine. When someone has chronic kidney disease, their kidneys are unable to perform these tasks and they require renal replacement therapy in the form of dialysis or kidney replacement.

Chronic kidney disease is a global problem with about 10% of the world's population suffering from the disease.

But in sub-Saharan Africa, about 14% of the adult population suffer from chronic kidney disease. Between 1999 and 2006 South Africa saw a 67% rise in deaths as a result of chronic kidney disease.

There are three main challenges with managing chronic kidney disease on the continent. Firstly lifestyle changes have resulted in increasing obesity rates which in turn increases the risk of kidney disease. Secondly, there is the link between HIV and kidney failure and thirdly, there are treatment failures.

Many patients with kidney failure either incur catastrophic out of pocket medical bills, or they die. If the underlying challenges aren't addressed the problems that come with expected increases in chronic kidney disease on the continent will only get worse.

Obesity's role

Obesity is one of the most potent risk factors for people developing kidney disease. This is because it increases the risk of people developing diabetes and hypertension – two of the major risks for chronic kidney disease.

The rise in obesity rates has been rapid, substantial and widespread. As a result, obesity has become a major public health epidemic in both the developed and developing world.

The estimations are that by 2025, obesity will affect 18% of men and more than 21% of women worldwide while severe obesity will affect 6% of men and 9% of women.

On the continent South Africa has the highest number of overweight and obese people. Close to 70% of South Africa's women are overweight or obese, according to a study by The Lancet. More 25% of girls are also overweight or obese.

The Lancet study found that 70% of South African women are overweight and 42% are obese. The problem is also acute in children. There is combined overweight and obesity prevalence of 13.5% for South African children aged six to 14 years. This is higher than the global prevalence of 10% in schoolchildren, but lower than current levels in the US.

If action is not taken to halt this epidemic, the expected increase in overweight and obese South African children will become a major concern.

There are very specific dietary and lifestyle changes that are linked to obesity. This includes patterns of increased eating, drinking and smoking along with reduced physical activity, and a shift to a diet high in sugar, salt and saturated fat.

Evidence shows that people with a higher weight-to-height ratio – more commonly known as a body mass index – have a higher risk of developing cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes, osteoarthritis and chronic kidney disease.

Expensive treatment

Treatment of chronic kidney disease on the African continent is dire. Of the world's population that needed renal replacement therapy, only 1% of those who received treatment lived in Africa.

There are two main problems:

• dialysis is costly, and
• there are too few facilities to perform transplants.

In South Africa, more than half of potentially eligible patients are turned down for dialysis as a result of cost. But dialysis is not a cure, it is a lifeline while patients wait for a transplant.

In South Africa there only three public hospitals that offer kidney transplants. And on the rest of the continent, there are very few countries offering routine transplants. Nigeria and Kenya have started up programmes.

The link between kidney failure and HIV

Africa carries the world's highest burden of HIV: In 2013, more than 24.7 million people were living with the disease, accounting for 71% of the total caseload on the globe.

Studies have also shown that severe immunosuppression – or CD4 counts less than 200 – are a predominant risk factor for acute kidney infection.

The extent of the HIV epidemic and its associated burden of chronic kidney disease on the continent make it a challenging problem.

The main challenge is that there are no measures to prevent renal disease in people living with HIV or to detect it early enough to treat it. As a result, most clinicians deal with advanced stages of chronic kidney failure in people living with HIV.

Making changes

The underlying causes that lead to chronic kidney disease need to be tackled as a matter of urgency.

Firstly, the challenge of a rise in diet-related non-communicable diseases – such as obesity and hypertension – which accounts for 28% of the burden of disease in South Africa, must be addressed.

One critical intervention would be to get people to eat healthier. For obese individuals sustained moderate weight loss by itself is definitely beneficial in obesity, especially “morbid" obesity, but also in diabetes, hypertension, hyperlipidaemia, cardiorespiratory diseases and other chronic degenerative diseases associated with any degree of excess body fat.

Reducing salt intake would also make a dramatic difference. Excessive salt leads to increased risk of stomach cancer, kidney failure, dehydration, high blood pressure and hypertension, which in turn can contribute to heart disease and strokes.

Another critical intervention is education: people need to understand the causes and risks. Action and clear strategies are needed. South Africa's Department of Health realises the significance of the obesity crisis, and has included this in the national non-communicable diseases strategic goals to assist with the obesity problem in the country:

• Increase physical activity by 10% by 2020;
• Reduce the consumption of alcohol by 20% by 2020; and
• Reduce the percentage of people who are obese and overweight by 10% by 2020.

But there's only so much that governments can do. It's up to the individuals to improve their health and quality of life.

An improvement on the famous Markowitz' theorem may have the potential to not only more accurately predict the next financial crises, but also the outbreak of pests and diseases, or whether a patient will have a heart attack in two hours' time or not.

Described as a newer version of Markowitz' portfolio theory, the unified 'landscape portfolio platform' is able to predict inflated growth and reduced volatility in an ensemble of stochastically co-varying populations across the landscape.

It was developed by Prof Cang Hui, a bio-mathematician from Stellenbosch University, in collaboration with two researchers from the United States of America, Prof Gordon A Fox, a statistician from the University of South Florida, and Prof Jessica Gurevitch, a well-known ecologist from Stony Brook University.

The theorem was published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Science (PNAS) this week (Monday 6 November 2017) with the title 'Scale-dependent portfolio effects explain growth inflation and volatility reduction in landscape demography'.

Prof Hui says the collaboration started after Profs Fox and Gurevitch visited South Africa in 2014 as Fellows of the Stellenbosch Institute for Advanced Studies (STIAS).

“Initially we were looking for ways to quantify population demographics of invasive species on a larger scale in order to make it more relevant to management," he explains.

At that stage, most demographic work had been carried out on a few populations and at local scales.

But the idea to use the Markowitz theorem was completely serendipitous: “I often go to the library and browse a section of books. That day I was in the economics and statistics section when my eye caught a book on the portfolio theory of financial investment. That is where the idea then came to use Markowitz' theorem as the corner stone."

By combining concepts from landscape ecology and Markowitz' portfolio theory, they developed the landscape portfolio platform to quantify and predict the behaviour of multiple stochastic populations across spatial scales. As a case study, they used a 35 year time series on gypsy moth populations, covering about 350 000 square kilometres.

The landscape portfolio platform, however, is applicable to any situation where subsystems fluctuate with a certain level of synchrony, from trade analysis in stock market to sudden outbreaks of pathogens and invasive species.

Prof Hui says while the current article took an invasive moth species as case study, the new theorem is applicable to the financial world, ecologists working on regional scale invasions or threatened species, as well as any biologist working with time-series data.

Prof Hui and co-researchers are now working on expanding the platform to allow the differentiation of system stochasticity and external noise in driving portfolio inflation.

More about Markowitz' portfolio theory

Harry Markowitz's portfolio theory is described as one of the most important and influential economic theories dealing with finance and investment. Published for the first time in 1952, it is a mathematical framework for assembling a portfolio of assets in such a way that the expected return is maximised for a given level of risk, defined as variance. Its key insight is that an asset's risk and return should not be assessed by itself, but by how it contributes to a portfolio's overall risk and return. In 1990, Markowitz received the Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences for this work.

More about Prof Cang Hui

Prof Hui is based in the Department of Mathematical Sciences at Stellenbosch University, where he holds the South African Research Chair (SARChI) in Mathematical and Theoretical Physical Biosciences. His research team works on the interface between mathematics and biology. As ecological processes are highly complex and adaptive, the researchers rely on the simplicity of mathematical language to quantify emergent ecological processes and their hidden mechanisms.

Media enquiries

Prof Cang Hui

E-mail: chui@sun.ac.za

Tel: +27 _21 808 4907

Prof Jessica Gurevitch

Stony Brook University, New York

E-mail: Jessica.gurevitch@stonybrook.edu

Tel: +1 (631) 632-8567

Prof Gordon Fox

University of South Florida

E-mail: gfox@usf.edu

Tel: +1 (813) 974-7352

South Africans love their meat so much so that without it a meal is considered no meal at all. And it's not just chicken, lamb, beef or pork; other meat delicacies are also consumed regularly. Today we use different names for a variety of meat products.

But where exactly does our intricate meat cuisine come from?

“We have to go back to the days of colonialism when different populations/ethnic groups with different incomes, cultures and perceptions of what meat is and how it should be prepared and consumed, were introduced and developed in South Africa," say Dr Sara Erasmus and Prof Louw Hoffman from the Department of Animal Sciences at Stellenbosch University. Erasmus is a postdoctoral researcher and Hoffman a distinguished professor in the Department. Hoffman also holds the SARChI Chair in Meat Sciences in partnership with Prof Voster Muchenje of the University of Fort Hare.

Erasmus and Hoffman studied the development of the South African meat cuisine and traced its roots back to the Dutch settlers, Indo-Asian slaves, indigenous Khoisan (pastoral Khoikhoi/Hottentots and foraging San/Bushmen), and Black African groups.

The findings of their study were published recently in Animal Frontiers.

The researchers found that during the 17^th century, colonisation and immigration had the greatest influence on our meat cuisine.

“The early Dutch settlers indulged in rabbit, beef, mutton/lamb, pork, hartebeest, eland, wild pig, rhinoceros, hippopotamus, steenbok, ystervark (Cape porcupine), dassie (rock hyrax), wild geese, mountain duck, wild peacock, korhaan (bustard), and different fish species."

The researchers point out, however, that meat consumption in South Africa began long before the arrival of the first European settlers in 1652 as the indigenous Khoisan hunted wild game for their survival.  

They add that the settlers even learnt from the indigenous people how to source meat through hunting and fishing.

“The indigenous Khoisan, Black African groups and settlers trekked across the land and, since food was scarce, nothing of the animals was wasted – from the meat to the intestines."

“Consequently, traditional dishes made from offal exists. Mala mogodu (a popular Black African stewed tripe dish) is made from animal intestines (mala) and stomach lining (mogodu), while the Afrikaners (White ethnic group) make a dish called afval (offal), spiced with curry (kerrie-afval)."

The researchers say what we know today as braai (barbecue), biltong (dried preserved meat product) and droëwors (spiced, dried sausage) can be traced back to the Khoisan who fire-roasted and air-dried their meat, whereas a similar practice of cutting up and drying the meat of animals that had died (accidentally or naturally) were performed by rural black tribes.

They point out that the Europeans as well as their Indo-Asian slaves implemented new techniques for meat preservation, processing, and cooking.

"The slaves brought with them various spices, herbs and cooking styles which were also quickly incorporated into the cuisine and let to the creation of the Cape Dutch cooking style, known for its use of spices (cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, and chili peppers)".

"The Cape Malay people brought an Indonesian flair with their spicy curries which contributed to the creation of typical dishes such as bredie (stew), pickled fish and bobotie (spiced minced meat bake), while the 19^th century Indian labourers also introduced curried meat dishes to South Africa."

"Bredies were also developed through the need to tenderise the tough meat of cattle obtained from the Khoikhoi, while the inclusion of curry and spices were particularly useful to disguise slightly tainted meat.  Spices, salt and vinegar were also used to preserve meat and led to the creation of products such as boerewors (spiced sausage that is typically braaied)."

The researchers say the South African meat cuisine is transforming daily where trends, diets, the availability of meat, price and population/ethnic groups are some of the factors playing a role.

"Changes in consumption traits show how South African consumers have developed and transformed with time. Although meat remains deeply rooted in the South African heritage with its sources as wide as the people's ethnicity, its demand continues to be largely influenced by availability, price, traditional usage and the consumer's associations and perceptions."

Reference: Erasmus, S.W. & Hoffman, L.C. (2017). What is meat in South Africa? Animal Frontiers. Volume 17/4, 71-75. September 2017. https://doi.org/10.2527/af.2017.0449.

FOR MEDIA ENQUIRIES ONLY

Dr Sara Erasmus

Department of Animal Sciences

Faculty of AgriSciences

Stellenbosch University

E-mail: 15615138@sun.ac.za / sara.w.erasmus@gmail.com

Prof Louw Hoffman

Department of Animal Sciences

Faculty of AgriSciences

Stellenbosch University

Tel: 021 808 4747

E-mail: lch@sun.ac.za

The smart water meter, developed by Prof Thinus Booysen of the Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering at Stellenbosch University, will be rolled out to a 100 schools in the Western Cape – thanks to a sponsorship by the Shoprite Group.
This initiative was launched in Cape Town at the Western Cape radio station, Cape Talk, today (8 November).

It is expected that a million liters of water could be saved a day.
The smart water meter project is being commercialised by InnovUS, SU’s technology transfer office, and incubated by the Nedbank Stellenbosch University LaunchLab, SU’s business incubator, through a spin-off company, Bridgiot (Bridge to the Internet of Things).

• Click here for the Shoprite Group media release.
• Click here for a previous article about the smart water meter.
  

World Diabetes Day is observed on 14 November and the theme for 2017 is Women and diabetes – our right to a healthy future.

Women are generally the primary caretakers in the family and play a central role in the long-term health status of children and other household members. The increase in lifestyle diseases, such as obesity, diabetes and heart disease, calls for a greater awareness of the importance of healthy food and drink choices to help attain and maintain a healthy body weight.

Pregnant women are also at risk of developing a specific type of diabetes, called gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). This condition occurs during pregnancy and can lead to serious complications, placing both mother and child at risk of developing diabetes later in life.

Insulin resistance and increased blood sugar levels are common during pregnancy, and predispose some women to develop GDM. Poor blood glucose control in pregnancy can be detrimental to the mother's health, cause birth complications and put the baby at an increased risk of developing obesity and diabetes.

Know the GDM risk factors

GDM is more common in:

• Older women;
• Women who are overweight (BMI above 30);
• Women who smoke;
• Women who have developed GDM in previous pregnancies;
• Pregnancies that follow closely on one another;
• Women who have had a previous unexplained stillbirth;
• Women who have had a previous baby with a very high birth weight (4,5 kg or more);
• Women with an immediate family member (parent or sibling) with diabetes.

More about women and diabetes:

• Most cases of hyperglycaemia (high blood sugar levels) in pregnancy occur in low and middle income countries, where access to maternal care is often limited.
• Diabetes is the ninth leading cause of death in women globally, causing 2,1 million deaths per year.
• Women with type 2 diabetes are almost 10 times more likely to develop heart disease compared to women without the condition.
• Women with type 1 diabetes have an increased risk of early miscarriage or having a baby with malformations, and should receive specialised medical and nutritional therapy during pregnancy.
• Globally one in seven births is affected by gestational diabetes.
• Approximately half of women with a history of GDM go on to develop type 2 diabetes within five to ten years after delivery.
• Half of all cases of hyperglycaemia in pregnancy occur in women under the age of 30.
• Up to 70% of cases of type 2 diabetes could be prevented through the adoption of a healthy lifestyle.

Recommendations for South African women

South African women can follow these tips to reduce their chances of GDM during pregnancy:

• Maintain a healthy body weight and avoid being overweight;
• Do regular exercise;
• Don't smoke;
• Allow some space between pregnancies;
• Attend the six-week postpartum check-up and have a blood sugar test done.

Fifteen dietary recommendations to prevent and treat diabetes

1. Eat a variety of different foods during every meal to ensure that your diet contains sufficient nutrients and that it is more enjoyable.
2. Losing as little as 5-10% of your body weight improves insulin resistance. Lose weight if you are overweight, especially before a planned pregnancy.
3. Eat at least three balanced meals per day.
4. Drink at least six to eight glasses of water per day.
5. Increase you fibre intake by eating:

• whole wheat bread instead of white bread;
• oats, oat bran, or whole wheat cereals e.g. high-fibre cereal for breakfast;
• lots of vegetables and fruits;
• legumes (peas, lentils, beans and soya), and include barley, samp, brown rice and whole wheat pasta in your diet.

Access the South African Food Based Dietary Guidelines and recommendations for healthy eating and weight loss at: http://www.sun.ac.za/english/faculty/healthsciences/nicus/how-to-eat-correctly.

For more information, contact NICUS or a dietitian registered with the Health Professions Council of South Africa.

References from the scientific literature used to compile this document are available on request.

Photo: PIXABAY

Three doctoral students from Stellenbosch University (SU) were honoured with the L'Oréal-UNESCO Regional Fellowships For Women in Science (FWIS) in Sub-Saharan Africa on Wednesday (8 November 2017). The awards ceremony was held in Johannesburg.

Cynthia Tamandjou (Division of Medical Virology), Therina Du Toit (Department of Biochemistry) and Carol Mahachi (Department of Physiological Sciences) each received 5000 Euros for the quality of their research. The fellowships will also help them continue with their doctoral studies. This year, fourteen fellowships were awarded to female scientists in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Cynthia Tamandjou is doing her doctorate on Hepatitis B virus mother-to-Child-transmission in Namibia: transmission dynamics and possibilities for elimination. Her research aims to assess the feasibility of preventing mother-to-child transmission of hepatitis B virus in Namibia, using available cost-effective methodologies. This work is meant to shed more light on the high prevalence of chronic HBV infection in many parts of sub-Saharan Africa.

Tamandjou said she is very thrilled and delighted to have her work acknowledged and considered of value for the continent and to the science community; and more importantly being recognized as a woman in research in Africa.

“This award really gives me the confidence and the certitude that my work is of great significance and is of high quality, benefiting our motherland – Africa. I feel very proud of myself; proud of not giving up despite all the difficulties I have faced and proud of what I have achieved so far."

Therina Du Toit's research focuses on The profiling of C11-oxy steroids by UPC2-MS/MS quantification in clinical conditions characterized by androgen excess and in steroid abuse. Her doctoral study aims to establish the role of certain steroids in the development and progression prostrate cancer.

It is a privilege to receive the award and a wonderful feeling to know that her hard work is worthwhile, Du Toit said.

“This award offers me the opportunity to expand my research at Stellenbosch University and also to present my findings at national and international conferences. For any young research that considers science – the field is vast and interesting, if you not the 8-5 type, then research is for you, it is challenging and you will never be bored."

Carol Mahachi, who works at the University of Zimbabwe, is doing research on Inflammation Markers Associated with Kidney Disease in HIV positive patients. She focuses, in particular, on kidney disease in HIV positive patients living in poor resource settings such as Sub-Saharan Africa.

Mahachi, who works at the University of Zimbabwe, said she is very honoured to receive this award, which will open more doors for research in kidney disease and inflammation.  

“I have been blessed to have women role models such as my supervisor Prof Kathryn Myburgh and the late Prof Lucy Malaba who have been my inspiration. Not forgetting Prof Rafique Moosa, my co-supervisor, who has been very supportive in my journey. To other women researchers, let's keep the love of Science alive to improve the lives of people in our society."

Congratulating the students on their achievements, Dr Therina Theron, Senior Director: Research and Innovation at SU, said she is extremely proud of the fact that they have been acknowledged and supported by the L'Oreal Foundation.

“I hope that this will enable them to continue to make the world a better place through their research, and that they will serve as role models to many younger girls to follow scientific research careers."

Theron added that the world needs more women bringing their exceptional talents and creativity to the scientific profession.

“Promoting gender balance in science and advancing the scientific careers of women is a strategic priority for Stellenbosch University," she said.  

​MORE ON THE L'Oréal-UNESCO FWIS PROGRAMME

Since 1998, the L'Oréal-UNESCO For Women in Science programme supports talented young women scientists all over the world with their doctoral or post-doctoral research projects. More than 2,500 researchers from 112 countries have been distinguished for their extraordinary discoveries and outstanding accomplishments that contribute to making the world a better place. 

​​​Stellenbosch University (SU)'s top students who excelled in areas such as academics, sports, leadership and social impact were honoured with Rector's Awards for Excellent Achievement on Thursday (5 October 2017). The annual award ceremony took place at the Stellenbosch Institute for Advanced Study (STIAS).

The following students received SU medals for being the top master's student in their respective faculties: Christiane Schaeffler (Arts and Social Sciences); Jadri Barnard (Education); Niel Miller (AgriSciences); Monika du Toit (Economic and Management Sciences); Kari Jonker (Medicine and Health Sciences); Josh Mitchell (Engineering); Sunel de Kock (Science); Cecile van Schalkwyk (Law); and Susan Mellows (Theology).

• ​Mobile users click here for video
  

An award for excellence in Community Interaction was given to Tafadzwa Girupira, while Lize-Marie Doubell, Lee Baatjies, Melt Hugo, Khensani Hlongwane and Gideon Basson were honoured for excellence in leadership.

Also among the awardees were Paralympic athlete Dyan Buis and Olympic athlete Justine Palframan who received the Rector's Award for Excellent Sport Achievement.

A special Rector's Award went to Anita Engelbrecht. Suffering from spastic diplegia, Engelbrecht has been in a wheelchair all her life. She was born prematurely and experienced an oxygen shortage shortly after birth. This affected part of her brain that controls the development of motor functions.  

“It is fantastic for me to receive recognition for all the blood, sweat and tears that went into my studies. It's a privilege to help make a difference in society," Engelbrecht said. 

The guest speaker Dr Nondumiso Mzizana, Chief Executive Officer of Sikelela Medical & Dental Suppliers and recipient of a Diploma in Odontology at SU, was nominated by the Student Representative Council for the Exceptional Alumni Award.

In her speech, Mzizana congratulated and encouraged students by sharing some of her life lessons with them.

“You have to be passionate about what you do. You have to love it. You have to believe in yourself and have resilience."

“Work harder and never stop educating yourself," she added.

In his congratulatory message, Prof Wim de Villiers, Rector and Vice-Chancellor, praised students for their hard work. 

“Behind every achievement lies focus, dedication and persistence. That is a big component of what is being recognised here tonight. Hang on to that lesson, especially when the going gets tough, and you will go far in life."

De Villiers also reminded them that SU stands for excellence.

• Click here for the complete list of students who received Rector's Awards in 2017.
  
• Click here for photos of the event.
  

Main photo: Prof Wim de Villiers with some of the students at the award's ceremony. 

Photo 1: Former SRC Chairperson Nomzamo Ntombela, Prof Wim de Villiers, and Dr Nondumiso Mzizana at the ceremony. Photographer: Hennie Rudman

Whether you have already signed up for the 2018 Cape Town Cycle Tour, or are still thinking about it, why not do it to raise funds for student bursaries?

We would like to invite all keen cyclists to join Stellenbosch University (SU) Rector and Vice-Chancellor Prof Wim de Villiers, former Springbok cyclist Carinus Lemmer, and chair of Maties Cycling Nicky Giliomee on the starting line and support a worthy cause!

As you might know by now, Maties will be turning 100 in 2018, and we are gearing up to mark this milestone in style. One of the highlights will be riding the Cape Town Cycle Tour on 11 March 2018 as a group of alumni, students, staff and friends of the University.

Help us raise at least R1 million in bursary support with sporting events during our Centenary year. By joining the #Maties100 team, you will be doing your bit to provide opportunities to the next generation of talented Stellenbosch graduates making an impact globally.

Here are three ways in which you can support this cause:

1. Buy a #Maties100 group entry: Secure your place in the 2018 Cape Town Cycle Tour for R3 000, payable to Stellenbosch University. You will be able to start with our Charity Group ahead of the open groups, PLUS get a limited edition #Maties100 cycling shirt and supporter's T-shirt in your goody bag, and enjoy post-event hospitality. Please follow the instructions below and we will send you a link to sign up.
2. Or transfer to the #Maties100 group: If you have already registered for the 2018 Cape Town Cycle Tour, you can still join the #Maties100 group by paying the University the difference (R2 460) to make up our R3 000 entry fee. If you have an earlier seeded starting time, you are welcome to stay in that group, or you may want to drop down to ride with our group. Regardless of the group you ride in, you will still get a limited edition #Maties100 cycling shirt and supporter's T-shirt in your goody bag, and access to post-event hospitality. Please follow the instructions below and we will send you a link to transfer.
3. Or make a donation to #Maties100: There are plenty of riders who are willing and able to take up this challenge, but cannot afford the entry fee. Your donation of R3 000 per rider can get their wheels rolling. If you have someone in mind that you would like to sponsor, let us know. If not, we will make sure someone gets an opportunity with your contribution, and that it is also used for bursary support. Please follow the instructions below.

“Thank you for supporting this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity marking SU's Centenary. Let us go forward together for bursaries," Prof De Villiers said.

= = = = == = = =

INSTRUCTIONS:

Only a limited number of entries are available, and the deadline is set by the organisers. Enquiries may be directed to marvin@sun.ac.za.

• First let our Alumni Office know that you would like to ride along and/or intend registering for #Maties100 or making a donation by emailing marvin@sun.ac.za by no later than 24 November 2017.
• Then follow this link to the GivenGain page where you can support this cause. The Alumni Office will automatically receive a notification.

• You or the person you are sponsoring will then receive a link to register for the Tour or transfer to #Maties100.
• Once you have done that, let us know your cycling shirt and T-shirt size. Riders will be able to collect their goody bags when they pick up their race number before the Cycle Tour in Cape Town.
  

​​From capturing grey water for reuse to the mass rollout of water efficient fittings, the Stellenbosch University has implemented a number of interventions to drive down water consumption.

The university's interventions, which are being driven by the Facilities Department, is part of broader initiatives to conserve water in the Stellenbosch Municipal area. Currently the area is on Level 5 restrictions, which limits individuals to 87 litres per person, and households to 20 kl per residential home.

Some of the University's interventions were recently highlighted at the bi-monthly Rector/Mayor Forum, where university and municipality officials discussed the water crisis.

Over the past few weeks Facilities Management​ has replaced plumbing fittings with more efficient ones. This large scale project included the fitment of efficient showerheads in residences, restrictor aerators on taps, waterless urinals, water replacement units and fittings in toilets. The University has also implemented electronic water meters to measure water use in each building and detect leaks.  These initiatives should result in a 30% water saving.

Alternative sources of water have also been secured and several boreholes have been opened, tested and will soon become operational. Water from the boreholes will be used for the upkeep of the botanical garden, sports ground and for animals on the experimental farms. Greywater from showers and hand basins will also be filtered and reused to flush toilets and for irrigation.   In addition to the various initiative, the Facilities Department is currently compiling a water optimization plan for the University.

Meanwhile, the Stellenbosch Municipality is preparing to start drilling of boreholes in order to supplement the water supply. Sites are being chosen where water is likely to be found in close proximity to existing reservoirs so the water can easily be fed into the municipal supply.

According to Mr Deon Louw, Director of Engineering Services at the Stellenbosch Municipality, the water will be purified to potable standards, and it is hoped that the water coming on line will be enough to supply all residents of Stellenbosch to at least Level 4 B water restrictions.

The Chinese Ambassador to South Africa, His Excellency Lin Songtian, announced this afternoon (Friday 10 November 2017) that Naspers will sponsor two additional Mandarin lecturers from China for 5 years at Stellenbosch University (SU).  The announcement was made at an event at the SU Museum on the Stellenbosch Campus.

In addition, to support cultural exchange, students from Wuhan College in China will visit South Africa annually and a South African student will be fully sponsored to study in China.

Read the official media statement below

H.E. Ambassador Lin Songtian, Stellenbosch University, Wuhan College and Naspers announce educational and cultural exchange programmes

Cape Town, South Africa, 10 November 2017 – The Chinese Ambassador, His Excellency Lin Songtian, announced that Naspers will sponsor two additional Mandarin lecturers from China for 5 years at Stellenbosch University.  In addition, to support cultural exchange, students from Wuhan College will visit South Africa annually and a South African student will be fully sponsored to study in China

Mandarin Chinese was introduced at Stellenbosch University in the Department of Modern Foreign Languages in 2000. At the time, it was the first undergraduate programme in Mandarin at a residential university in South Africa. In 2012, the Mandarin Section was the first such unit in South Africa to introduce an Honours postgraduate degree in Mandarin. Students of Mandarin at Stellenbosch University distinguish themselves at the annual Chinese Bridge Competition and regularly receive merit scholarships from the Chinese Government for further study in China.

It also hosts one of two postgraduate programmes in South Africa for Chinese language studies. The Confucius Institute, established in 2009, provides support to the Chinese programme within SU's Department of Modern Foreign Languages as well as teaching Chinese language and culture programmes in 14 schools in and around Stellenbosch, Franschhoek, Worcester and Knysna. 

Wuhan College provides full-time university and diploma education to 11,000 students. The university comprises of two schools and five departments. Most recently Charles Chen, one of the original co-founders of Tencent, made a transformative donation allowing Wuhan College to become one of the first non-profit internationalized application-oriented universities in China.  Students from Wuhan College will visit South Africa for 2 weeks and will attend cultural exchange programmes covering a wide variety of topics.

​

Fungus gnats are serious pests in South Africa's undercover farming, often harming production of various crops. The larvae of fungus gnats are soil-dwelling and, if uncontrolled, can chew through a plant's underground root system and severely harm the plant's ability to grow. Currently, the most common way that growers control fungus gnat populations is by spraying chemical insecticides, which can be harmful to the environment and human health. Entomopathogenic nematodes (EPNs) are tiny soil-dwelling worm-like organisms which attack and kill insects. EPNs are found naturally in the soil and are not known to harm humans. In a recently completed MSc study, it was found that local EPNs which are found naturally in the soil of the Western Cape, may be very effective at killing fungus gnats. Therefore, EPNs might prove to be a powerful alternative to chemical insecticides by killing the pest insects without harming humans or the environment.

Though fungus gnats naturally feed on fungi and organic matter, there exist a few species that are specialised pests of living plants. The most harmful fungus gnats in South Africa are believed to have been introduced from the Northern hemisphere. Some of the crops affected so far include mushrooms, greenhouse-grown cucumbers, tomatoes, chrysanthemums, blueberries, vegetables, herbs and tree nursery beds. The effects of the fungus gnats on these crops include direct physical damage on the crops' root system through their larval feeding. Consequently, the symptoms presented by the affected crop will resemble those of a plant deprived of a healthy root system. Since fungus gnats naturally feed on fungi, they are also responsible for dispersing fungal pathogens, and other soil borne pathogens, when they move from one plant to the other. The adults, though physically harmless, are quite a nuisance to farm workers, and also disperse fungal spores.

The control of fungus gnats has been dominated by the use of chemical insecticides which unfortunately pose risks to farm workers' health and of fungus gnats-resistance development. Furthermore, the cryptic habitats of the fungus gnats make control through the use of chemicals difficult. Considering such hindrances, as well as the increased consumer demand for chemical free products, alternative management practices such as physical, cultural and biocontrol methods, are being sought after. Such management practices are ideal, since fungus gnats attack crops where the application of chemicals is relatively inappropriate. This is the case for crops such as mushrooms and vegetables that have short life cycles, and for which the application of chemicals is restricted only up to a certain growth stage. Fungus gnats are also pests of houseplants, which are found in very close proximity with human beings, and where application of chemicals is undesirable.

Biocontrol for fungus gnats has been achieved through the use of biocontrol agents such as EPNs, predatory mites, rove beetles and soil bacterium. Worldwide, control using EPNs has been dominated by use of the EPN, Steinernema feltiae, which has also been adopted by some South African producers. It is important to note that S. feltiae is an alien EPN species that has, to-date, not been isolated from South Africa. Thus the effects of this EPN on South Africa's biodiversity are still unknown and the importation of this species is illegal. More still, S. feltiae has been determined to be less adapted to the environmental conditions of high temperatures that prevail in South Africa's undercover production.

Ms. Agil Katumanyane, who recently completed an MSc, focussed on determining the potential for using local EPNs to control fungus gnats in undercover farms in South Africa. The project was carried out in the Department of Conservation Ecology and Entomology and was supervised by the nematologists Prof. Antoinette P. Malan and Dr Tiarin Ferreira. Funding was provided by NemaBio (Pty) Ltd. and the Technology and Human Resources for Industry Programme (THRIP: TP14062571871).

Laboratory bioassays and field trials were performed on the larvae of the fungus gnats. Field trials were performed in a commercial cucumber farm based in Paarl, Western Cape Province. The local EPNs that were tested, were found to positively control the fungus gnats both during the laboratory and field trials. Another ongoing study by the PhD student, Nicholas Kagimu, is focussed on formulating the EPNs into a marketable product. We hope that once these local EPNs are formulated, they will be availed to producers for use, at an affordable price. This will provide a more sustainable approach to controlling the fungus gnats, as well as help prevent the need to import foreign nematodes, whose effect on South Africa's biodiversity, is still unknown.

​

Solutions to end world hunger and the destruction of our planet might lie in an unlikely place, in our tiniest and most overlooked six-legged friends, the insects. Just as cattle, fish or other livestock are reared in large numbers – such as for meat or dairy production – so, too, are insects reared for a variety of purposes, some of which are quite instrumental to our daily lives!

Sterile insect technique (SIT), for example, is a method used for reducing the number of agricultural pests by releasing laboratory-reared, infertile insects into agricultural environments, to mate with wild individuals, which will result in the production of infertile eggs, and thus no further progeny. These programmes benefit South African agriculture (such as citrus, and the table grape industry) and the economy by enabling the production of high quality fruit with less chemical insecticide input. This in turns makes South African fruit more marketable in foreign countries, and appetizing here at home. Similarly, biological control agents, or beneficial insects which feed on and kill weeds and pest insects, are an excellent replacement for chemical herbicides and insecticides. Weed biocontrol agents for example are widely utilized throughout South Africa to clear out clogged waterways and other invasive alien plant infestations, especially in areas that are hard to access by other means.

Just as animal production is a science in and of itself, so, too, is insect mass-rearing a field which is continually growing and improving with the development of technological advances. There is a growing demand for more sustainable pest control and protein production, and reduction of waste products using insect decomposers, even having butterflies replacing confetti at weddings! The International Insect Rearing Workshop (IIRW), held annually at Mississippi State University, USA, celebrated its 20^th session in 2017, and has worked hard to fulfil this demand over the years. The IIRW served as a model for this first South African Insect Mass-Rearing Workshop.

Prof. Des Conlong, of the South African Sugarcane Research Institute and Stellenbosch University’s Department of Conservation Ecology and Entomology, and Dr. Elsje Pieterse of Stellenbosch University’s Department of Animal Science, are two of South Africa’s most experienced and knowledgeable insect rearing experts. Together they attended the IIRW in November 2016 and were encouraged by the founders, Dr. Frank Davis, Dr. John Schneider, and Dr. Norman Leppla, to replicate the workshop and adapt it to the South African context.

A year later, from 23-27 October 2017, the first Insect Mass-Rearing Workshop was held in Stellenbosch and was hosted by the IPM Initiative in the Department of Conservation Ecology and Entomology. The workshop brought together 42 attendees from government, private industry and academia from five countries, with expertise ranging from biology, entomology and engineering to economics. Twelve subject matter experts presented lectures on wide-ranging inter-related topics for scientifically based mass insect rearing, which included genetics, physiology, insect nutrition, insectary design, quality control, health and safety, and insect pathology. Dr. Leppla, of the University of Florida, one of the original organizers of the IIRW, was in attendance, and his input and insight from 40 years of experience in insect rearing was invaluable to workshop participants.

In addition to detailed lectures, four practical sessions allowed participants to learn by doing. Two field trips to rearing facilities in Stellenbosch and Cape Town and a few social events in the evenings provided further opportunities for participants to share their experiences and exchange ideas.

Many interesting discussions were sparked throughout the week, focussing heavily on the perception of insect production in South Africa, and how to more effectively streamline the adoption of these beneficial practices into South African industry and culture. Prof. Conlong, Dr. Pieterse and Dr. Leppla are committed to making this workshop an annual event, as there is clearly a demand and an interest in South Africa. Through the network formed in this first workshop, participants will stay in touch and continue to share tips for how to grow more and better quality insects into the future.

To learn more or register for next year’s workshop, visit this link: http://www.sun.ac.za/english/faculty/agri/conservation-ecology/ipm/workshops/insect-mass-rearing-workshop

​​When MK Nompumza, a fourth-year Education student, registered at Stellenbosch University in 2014 he did so with the resolution that he will take full ownership of his journey at this institution.

Growing up in the Eastern Cape, he came to Stellenbosch with the predictions of naysayers in his ears: That as a black male he wouldn't be able to flourish. That he would have no influence or the ability to make an impact. That there is no way that he could possibly stand out.

These assumptions were all proven wrong. On Thursday, 5 October, MK received not one, but two Rector's Awards for excellent achievement: one for excellent leadership and one for excellent service delivery. Read article about event here.

“I'm feeling very honoured because I think these awards say that we recognise your efforts, your leadership in this space and your contribution."

His proud father Vusumzi Nompumza travelled from King William's Town to Stellenbosch to share the moment with his son.

MK admires his father who had to leave school at primary school level to look after livestock on a farm.

“He used newspapers and anything else he could lay his hands on to teach himself English. Now he is successful in business, successful in farming and he is a leader in his community. He has showed me that regardless of your circumstance, education is within your reach and that some initiative from your side is needed too."

During the past four years, MK has made use of every possible opportunity that came his way and created some of his own.

He was elected as the chairperson of the Education Student Committee in 2015/2016 and was instrumental in the design and implementation of a Leadership in Education short course. For the past two years, he has acted as the coordinator of this course presented by the Faculty of Education in collaboration with the Frederik van Zyl Slabbert Institute for Student Leadership Development.

“I have to give credit for the space that allowed me to take this initiative," MK adds.

He travelled abroad for the first time to attend an international summer school at Humboldt University in Berlin and was also involved with a partnership research project on planning and policy for bi- and multilingual schools.

His dream is to become a true facilitator of learning in which ever school he teaches one day.

• MK is graduating at the end of the year and has applied for an honours degree in Education Development and Democracy. 
  
• Photo: MK and his father, Vusumzi Nompumza​​
  

Barely a month after receiving two Rector's Awards – one for excellent leadership and one for excellent service delivery – Education student MK Nompumza received news that he has also been awarded a Mandela Rhodes Scholarship.

The overarching mission of the Mandela Rhodes Foundation is to build exceptional leadership capacity in Africa, by providing excellent educational and training opportunities to individual Africans with leadership potential; as well as by creating a network of well-rounded leaders of talent, effectiveness and integrity across African society.

The scholarship is awarded to individuals that reflect a commitment to the principles of education, reconciliation, leadership and entrepreneurship for postgraduate study at South African universities or tertiary institutions. The heart of the leadership development programme is delivered primarily through a series of residential workshops.

“I am honoured to be a part of the 2018 class of Mandela Rhodes scholars," said MK.

“I feel that being awarded this scholarship, out of many other young African leaders, gives me an opportunity to reflect upon my leadership journey to date; and it inspires me to continue leading the change that I want to see."

MK, who will receive his bachelor's degree in Education in December, has made use of every opportunity that came his way over the past four years.

He was elected as the chairperson of the Education Student Committee in 2015/2016 and was instrumental in the design and implementation of a Leadership in Education short course. For the past two years, he acted as the coordinator of this course presented by the Faculty of Education in collaboration with the Frederik van Zyl Slabbert Institute for Student Leadership Development.

He travelled abroad to attend an international summer school at Humboldt University in Berlin and was also involved with a partnership research project on planning and policy for bi- and multilingual schools.

His dream is to become a true facilitator of learning in which ever school he teaches one day.

“I believe that the rapid changes that we see occurring in South Africa require young leaders who are innovative thought-leaders – something which I aspire to be. I see being a Mandela Rhodes scholar as an opportunity to develop as a leader, and to take my experiences and the lessons learnt to benefit and do more for and within the schools, communities and leadership positions that I find myself in."

MK will pursue an honours degree in Education Development and Democracy in 2018. 

​​​​​​Two departmental chairpersons in the Faculty of Education – Dr Nuraan Davids, chairperson of the Department of Education Policy Studies, and Dr Michael le Cordeur, chairperson of the Department of Curriculum Studies – were promoted to Associate Professors earlier this year.

Dr Davids completed her PhD in 2012 and was appointed as a lecturer in the Department of Education Policy Studies in 2013. Her primary and foundational research area is Philosophy of Education and her research interests include democratic citizenship education, Islamic education and ethics in education.

She is passionate about both teaching and research and doesn't see them as two separate endeavours but rather as two important pursuits that are intertwined and mutually contingent.

“I am honoured and humbled by this promotion. The invitation from my Faculty to apply came as a wonderful surprise. It feels good to know that my passion and commitment as an academic are being recognised by the university. My goals are to make worthwhile contributions to my research area, to get students to think anew about themselves, those they encounter, and to recognise the profound privilege of teaching."

Dr Le Cordeur completed his PhD in 2004 and was appointed as a lecturer at SU in 2009. 

His main research interests include language in education, enhancing reading ability, mother tongue education and language and identity.

He is passionate about providing access to higher education for those students from previously disadvantaged students.

“That is why I am involved in projects such as Rachel's Angels and the Brugbou-project through the SBA (Stigting vir Bemagtiging deur Afrikaans). Learners cannot excel at school if they do not understand the language of teaching and learning and this leads to all sorts of problems, for example reading challenges.

“This promotion is an endorsement that I am on the right track as far as my research and my teaching is concerned. It provides the necessary funding to continue and even expand my research on the above-mentioned foci."

Prof Ronelle Carolissen, Vice-Dean: Learning and teaching in the Faculty of Education, was promoted to Professor in the Department of Education Psychology.

Two Stellenbosch University students won an all-expenses paid trip to visit the London Stock Exchange and R12500 each after coming out tops in the 2017 JSE Investment Challenge.

Now in its 44th year the Challenge aims to educate the youth about financial markets and investing. The initiative allows learners and students to buy shares in a virtual portfolio and practise trading in a risk-free environment. Each team is given a virtual sum of R1 million which they can use to trade JSE-listed shares.

The winners – Tonia Schoeman and Luke Nel, BCom Actuarial Science students in their third and second year respectively – are no strangers to this competition.

As learners of DF Malan High School they were part of the team that won the Schools Challenge in 2013 and 2014. In 2015, Luke's team won the Schools Challenge for a third time, while Tonia and her team came third in the University Challenge.

They joined forces again in 2016 and this time they won the University Challenge. Their prize included R25000 (R12500 each) and an all-expenses paid trip to the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX) in Sydney, where they were given the opportunity to ring the bell to open the market.

Their winning streak continued in 2017 and they ascribe their success to hard work and a goal-orientated approach.

“We placed between four and five orders on the stock exchange every day. During the six months of the challenge, we placed a total of 574 orders and our portfolio grew by 46%. We spend at least one hour per day on the game and because of the short time span, we follow a very high-risk approach.

“We enjoy the competition tremendously and learn something new each year. It's a great diversion from our studies," they say.

Tonia and Luke both plan to qualify as actuaries. Luke would like to specialise in investments and banking while Tonia want to specialise in investment strategies and asset management for financial services providers.

“During the course of the challenge we gained significant practical experience and we are sure that this experience will be very valuable in the future."

​At the recent annual Maties Sport Awards evening, Maties Water Polo player Jason Evezard was called to the stage twice – once to receive full colours for his water polo achievements and once more to receive an award as top academic achiever.

Despite travelling abroad a couple of times to represent South Africa internationally, this second-year BCom Actuarial Science student at Stellenbosch University still managed to maintain an academic average of 86%. His first-year average was 91%.

“It is all about balance and being organised and focused. Playing water polo is a passion and a very important part of my life. I believe that a healthy mind, body and spirit is key to a healthy lifestyle," says Jason.

His first international duty of 2017 involved travelling to Poland to represent South Africa at the EU Cup of Nations in May. There he made a big impression by scoring the most goals of the tournament. South Africa won silver.

“I was surprised and extremely happy. It was great to be acknowledged after all the hard work and training and being able to make a positive contribution to the team."

After captaining the SA U/20 team at the FINA Junior World Championships in Serbia in August, Jason travelled directly to Taiwan to compete in the World Student Games (Summer Universiade) in Taipei, alongside fellow Maties Lood Rabie, Lwazi Madi, Nicholas Downes, Jordan Rumbelow and Cameron Sugden.

There he scored 19 of South Africa's 53 goals, also making him the second highest goal scorer at the World Student Games.

“It's an honour to represent SA internationally in a sport that I am passionate about. It has given me the opportunity to meet and play against many top water polo players, as well as form friendships with people throughout South Africa as well as all over the world."

Jason, who matriculated from Grey High School in Port Elizabeth in 2015, started playing water polo at the age of 11.

His top highlights include being selected to represent South Africa for the first time when he was 15 years old at the Tri Nations U/18 tournament in Australia in 2013, as well as being selected to the SA Senior Men's team at the age of 18 for the Olympic Qualification Tournament in Italy in 2016.

His ultimate goal is to represent South Africa at the Olympic Games.

Apart from spending the necessary time in front of the books, Jason trains approximately 16 hours per week which includes gym, swimming and skills sessions.

He doesn't mind though. For him, there is no downside to playing water polo.

“I am keen on most water sports which includes surfing, skiing and wakeboarding. I also enjoy music and play the violin and piano."

• On home soil, the Maties Water Polo men's team won the University Sport South Africa (USSA) tournament in October.
  

​​​President Jacob Zuma has officially released the report of the Commission into the Feasibility of Fee-Free Higher Education and Training in South Africa.

The Commission was established in January 2016 to investigate university fees.

To view the full report click here.