The stories of Stellenbosch University (SU) and Stellenbosch town are closely intertwined. Dating back to 1918, SU has been a prominent presence in town and is today one of the anchor institutions of Stellenbosch. This was the message from Prof Wim de Villiers, SU Rector and Vice-Chancellor, at a town-and-gown conference hosted by the University from 28 to 30 November.

A first for South Africa, the conference brought together universities from small cities and towns similar to Stellenbosch to discuss matters relating to meaningful campus-city partnerships. The objective of the event, which formed part of SU's Centenary commemorations, was to explore the unique interdependence between the staff, students, faculties and divisions of universities, and the people, businesses and governance structures of the towns and cities in which they are located.

Participants included the universities of Bath, Coventry and Durham in England; the University of St Andrews in Scotland; Queen's University Belfast in Northern Ireland; Lund University in Sweden; the University of Göttingen in Germany; Queen's University in Canada; KU Leuven in Belgium; Penn State University in the United States, and Rhodes University and the University of Fort Hare in South Africa. Delegates were joined by Advocate Gesie van Deventer, Executive Mayor of Stellenbosch, as well as Western Cape Premier Helen Zille.

In his welcome address, Prof De Villiers reflected on SU's 100 years of existence, weaving in stories of growing up in Stellenbosch, the tension between town and gown, relationships between the University and the townspeople, and where the University is heading.

“Earlier this year, we laid the foundation for the second century of the University's existence by adopting a new vision and strategic framework. In that document, we commit ourselves to embrace the communities we serve to bring about social, cultural, environmental and economic development and change."

Prof De Villiers highlighted community engagement initiatives such as the Vlakte Bursary Fund, recounting how residents of the Stellenbosch neighbourhood known as Die Vlakte were forced to relocate elsewhere during apartheid. “What happened then was an injustice – so I am glad that the University later acknowledged its contribution to the injustices of the past and, at the same time, committed itself to redress and development." 

Advocate Van Deventer, in turn, spoke about the cooperation between SU and Stellenbosch Municipality, and how the two institutions support each other. In a written message to delegates, she elaborated on the Mayor-Rector Forum, which regularly brings together top management of the two institutions. This serves as a platform to share information, collaborate on projects, and address any challenges that affect them both.

“Stellenbosch Municipality and Stellenbosch University have become synonymous with each other over the past hundred years. It is almost impossible to separate the one from the other, and neither institution would have been successful without the other's support and existence." 

Delegates at the town-and-gown conference hosted by the Stellenbosch University.

Photo: Anton Jordaan

A probiotic for broiler chickens, based on the microbiota from the guts of free-range chickens, was successfully developed and patented by a PhD student in microbiology at Stellenbosch University's Faculty of Science.

Deon Neveling, who will receive his PhD at the December graduation ceremony, says one certainly needs a strong stomach for this type of research, and a thick skin to withstand the complaints about the smell emanating from your lab bench.

“My colleagues squealed so much I had to move my research into a small room in the furthest corner of the J.C. Smuts building," he laughs.

According to his supervisor, Professor Leon Dicks, this is the first time that a probiotic for broiler chickens is based on the gut microbiome of free-range, healthy chickens. “In other words, a probiotic for chickens, from chickens," he quips.

But how does one obtain the microbes from the guts of free-range chickens, we asked?

Deon explains that he collected the discarded guts of free range chickens that came up for slaughter at the University's Mariendahl experimental farm. He then mashed it into a liquid and plated it onto several hundred petri dishes.

Then, as soon as the bacteria started growing, he would obtain them in pure culture and identify the species– a very labor intensive process indeed. After eight months he succeeded in identifying six beneficial bacterial species – each from a specific section of the gut.

To ensure its probiotic character, the bacteria were then subjected to a range of tests. The next step was to test its safety as a feed additive, and then its ability to decrease the incidence of Salmonella in broiler chickens.

Fortunately not all of his PhD research was blood and guts. As part of his research, Deon participated in an Erasmus Mundus INSPIRE Scholarship program and spent nine months at Ghent University in Belgium to study the interaction of beneficial and pathogenic bacteria with epithelial cells. He also completed short courses in entrepreneurship with Innovus and TIA (Technology Innovation Agency), and participated in the SWISS-SA business development program.

“Worldwide, there is a trend to use probiotics rather than antibiotics to improve the health and survival of broiler chickens," he explains. “In the European Union, for example, the use of antibiotics as growth promoter in animal feed has been banned in an attempt to control natural selection for antibiotic-resistant pathogens and to ensure that currently available antibiotics remain effective in the treatment of animal and human infections."

However, the addition of probiotics to broiler feed is still far from being implemented on a regular basis, mainly due to a lack of in-depth knowledge about the complex dynamics of the poultry gut, and the multitude of parameters that influence the efficacy of probiotics.

Deon says the next step will be to find someone who will be willing to invest in the large-scale testing of his newly-developed probiotic. And then he hopes to establish a South African-based probiotic manufacturing company.

Caption

A probiotic for chickens from chickens: Dr Deon Neveling, a microbiology student from Stellenbosch University's Faculty of Science, developed a probiotic as a potential replacement for antibiotics in chicken feed for broiler chickens. He received his Phd-degree during the December graduation ceremonies at the university. Photo: Stefan Els

Media enquiries

Dr Deon Neveling

E-mail: dpn@sun.ac.za

Mobile: 0722 749 153

Photographer: Stefan Els

Every year Stellenbosch University (SU) awards honorary doctorates to outstanding individuals from South Africa and internationally. The honorary degrees recognise and reward excellence in a variety of fields and identify these individuals as role models for the university community.

Among the most notable honorary degree recipients in SU's centenary history are Nelson Mandela, Thabo Mbeki, Bill Gates, Antjie Krog, Helen Suzman, Athol Fugard, Tito Mboweni, Naledi Pandor, David Kramer, Thuli Madonsela, Edwin Cameron and Mervyn King.

During the December 2018 graduation ceremonies, four honorary doctorates will be awarded. Prof Homi K. Bhabha, Prof Dame Glynis Breakwell, Dr Lesetja Kganyago and Justice Zak Yacoob will all receive honorary degrees.

Dr Lesetja Kganyago

Kganyago received the degree Doctor of Commerce (DCom), honoris causa during the Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences graduation ceremony on Monday, 10 December at 17:30.

Kganyago is the tenth Governor of the South African Reserve Bank (SARB) and he was appointed the chair of the International Monetary and Financial Committee in January 2018, the first central bank governor from Sub-Saharan Africa to hold this post.

In his introduction Prof Stan du Plessis, Chief Operating Officer at SU praised Kganyago for his formidable display of intellectual leadership in policy areas such as price and financial stability, and for his role as one of the finest public-policy minds in the country.

During his acceptance speech, Kganyago thanked his wife and children for their ongoing support and being the moral compass that has helped him stay the course during sometimes-difficult times as Reserve Bank Governor. He also challenged SU to continue its work in pursuing transformation at the institution.

“Given the history of this country, it's important that this institution pursues with vigour the transformation journey you embarked on a number of years ago, build on its successes and learn from its shortcomings. We can't just ride this transformation journey metaphorically looking in our rear-view mirror. We need to clearly spell out the kind of institution we would like to see in the future. An institution that would be diverse, not just in terms of demographics, but one that promotes diversity of thought," said Kganyago.

Kganyago also reminded graduates of the importance of not taking academic freedom for granted.

“Today we may be taking academic freedom for granted, because the Constitution guarantees it, but academic freedom is the result of gallant battles by men and women who were killed to see the transformation in our country. We should not take academic freedom for granted. We must not just embrace it, but defend it if it ever comes under threat again. Today, this honour is not just about me, but about the good men and women of the South African Reserve Bank, that you recognise the good work that we do for our country."

For more information on all the honorary degree recipients click here.

__________________________________________________________________________________

Read the original article on the December 2018 graduation here: http://www.sun.ac.za/english/Lists/news/DispForm.aspx?ID=6142

​​​Among the hundreds of students who will be receiving their degrees at the Stellenbosch University (SU) December 2018 graduation ceremonies, starting on 10 December, will be 27-year-old Xolani Hadebe.

After matriculating at his rural school in Piet Retief, Xolani had his heart set on becoming a doctor, even though he had no idea how tough getting there was going to be. He soon became immune to receiving rejection letters from all the medical schools in the country but he never gave up on his dream.

“After being rejected so many times, I knew there was no way my mom, who has been a domestic worker all her life, could afford to pay for my university studies, so I secured a job as a till packer at our local Spar supermarket," he says.

For Xolani, working at the supermarket was one of the hardest things that he has ever done because he had to pack groceries for his former classmates. At times, he would go and hide so that they did not see or pity him for working at a grocery store while they continued with their studies.

A sum of money from his​ salary went towards saving for his university application. His hard work did earn him a promotion as a cashier, however, which made things a little easier for him financially and he no longer had to walk to work.

“I had to humble myself and focus on what was really important to me and, at the time, it was ensuring that I got accepted to study medicine. It was a tough time for me because I was happy for my friends but, at the same time, I was forced to take a gap year and I had no idea why."

Being one of the top performing​ students throughout his academic life, the rejections came as a very nasty surprise to him, especially when no one could give him a tangible reason for not being accepted.

That same year, Xolani took it upon himself to travel to Medunsa in Pretoria to get feedback on his application. He adds: “I will never forget the day I travelled to Pretoria to seek answers for my unsuccessful application and no acknowledgment letter for my application. I got there late in the afternoon because transport issues​."

He says that he had to approach campus security guards, who offered him a place to sleep for the night, and that they played cards for most of the night before Xolani passed out on one of the chairs. The experience taught him a lot about respect and helping others when you have nothing to gain from it.

At the time, Xolani had no idea that SU existed. “I was excited when my friend asked me if I had tried applying at SU and I was ecstatic when I was accepted from the word go."

He admits that moving to SU was not easy. Language, culture shock and coming from a disadvantaged school added to his stress because he had to work extra hard to grasp things. His English  speaking ability was limited.

Xolani is the fourth of six children and the first in his family to graduate. He will do his community service internship at a hospital in KwaZulu-Natal, which is closer to home.

A successful event for alumni, graduates and guests of the Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences was held on Monday, 10 December 2018.

The keynote address entitled A new paradigm for African futures was delivered by well-known futurist Dr Morné Mostert, Director of the Institute for Futures Research (IFR) at Stellenbosch University.

• For a recording of Dr Mostert's presentation, click here.
• On the photo with Dr Morné Mostert are (left) Prof Ingrid Woolard, Dean of the Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences, and Prof Ronel du Preez, Vice-Dean (Teaching and Learning).
  

​More than 830 health sciences students were capped today at Stellenbosch University's (SU) December graduation ceremony.

Four-hundred-and-twenty of these are newly-minted health professionals obtaining their undergraduate degree from SU's Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences (FMHS). A total of 277 students received their medical (MB,ChB) degrees, making it the largest 'annual crop' of medical graduates at the FMHS yet. This group also has the most students obtaining their MB,ChB degrees cum laude, with 26 graduates passing with distinction.

The FMHS's crop of undergraduate degrees also include 51 graduands of the Bachelor's degree in Occupational therapy, 45 students receiving the BSc in Physiotherapy, 26 graduands of the BSc in Dietetic, and 22 students graduating with Bachelor's degree in Speech-Language and Hearing Therapy.

Medals were awarded to the top performing students in the faculty, and in each individual programme. Two graduates tied for the position of top-performing student overall – the award was shared between Elanie Antoinette van Schalkwyk, a Speech-Language and Hearing Therapy student who achieved an average of 83.38% over her four-year programme, and the MB,ChB student Sean Anderson, who achieved an 81,723% average over the six years of her programme. Lebogang Nthabiseng Mohlala received the Dean's Award for Excellence in Leadership.

Van Schalkwyk also received the medal for top achievement in her programme, while Maxine Smit received the medal for the MB,ChB programme, Charlotte Ann Lovemore received the medal for the B of Occupational Therapy programme, Tayla Saaiman for the BSc in Dietetics, and Chanté van Rooyen for the BSc in Physiotherapy.

The class of 2018 is also the first group of graduands to recite a combined pledge including all health professionals trained by the faculty. This pledge is made in public to uphold the values of the faculty and the profession they are joining.

Seventeen PhDs were awarded by the FMHS at this year's graduation. A special recipient is the FMHS Vice Dean: Learning and Teaching, Prof Julia Blitz, who received her PhD in Health Professions Education. Other recipients include Dr Karin Baatjes, who head the FMHS' Division of Clinical Anatomy, Dr Tony Garcia-Prats, a medical director at the Desmond Tutu TB Centre, Mrs Lee-Ann Jacobs-Nzuzi Khuabi, a lecturer with the Division of Occupational Therapy, Mrs Mariana van der Heever, a lecturer at the Department of Nursing and Midwifery, and Dr Elisabetta Walters, from the Department of Paediatrics. 

A further 117 Master's degrees, 46 Honours degrees and 248 postgraduate diplomas were also awarded by the FMHS.

​​​​​Diabetic eye disease (diabetic retinopathy) is one of the leading causes of blindness globally and treatment can be quite expensive, especially in low and middle-income countries, including South Africa. But, there's hope for people with this condition. A recent doctoral study at Stellenbosch University (SU) found that a relatively cheap drug called bevacizumab may just provide the relief they need. 

“We found that injecting bevacizumab into the eyes could help treat diabetic eye disease and prevent blindness in people living in low and middle-income countries," says Dr Jose Fernando Arevalo, Chairperson of the Department of Ophthalmology at the Bayview Medical Center in the Wilmer Eye Institute at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in Baltimore in America. Arevalo, who is also the President of the Pan-American Association of Ophthalmology, obtained his doctorate in Ophthalmology on Tuesday (11 December 2018) at the second ceremony of SU's December graduation.

Arevalo says the rapid increase in the prevalence of diabetes means that by 2040 more people will be at risk of developing diabetic eye disease and therefore less expensive ways need to be found to treat the condition. Diabetic eye disease affects both people with Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes. It leads to a loss of vision caused primarily because of the build-up of fluid in the retina and the abnormal growth of blood vessels in the eye.

He says the aim of the research was to determine if injections with bevacizumab, sold under the brand name Avastin, are helpful in the management of complications of diabetic eye disease in low and middle-income countries. Arevalo adds that people in many high-income countries are already benefitting from bevacizumab injections, and other more expensive drugs. Used as cancer therapy, bevacizumab is available in low and middle-income countries.

In several multicenter studies conducted in 13 Latin American countries, Arevalo investigated the effectiveness of off-label injections of bevacizumab as treatment for diabetic eye disease.

Highlighting the effect of bevacizumab, Arevalo says the research showed that “injections with bevacizumab, which has minimal side-effects, are effective against the build-up of fluid in the part of the retina crucial for sharp, detailed vision and the abnormal growth of blood vessels in the eye."

“Bevacizumab also helps to curb the protein that stimulates the abnormal growth of blood vessels and causes small aneurysms and increased vascular leaks of fluid."

“The study of 1265 patients who received 4303 eye injections of 1.25 mg or 2.5 mg of bevacizumab has shown that this procedure appears to be safe. Nowadays, only the lower dose of 1.25 mg is recommended."

Arevalo adds that primary injections with bevacizumab seem to provide stability or improvement in the clarity or sharpness of vision, by reducing the build-up of fluids measured by a scan of the retinal layers and a dye test of the retinal vessels.

Extreme care must, however, be taken in using a dose of 2.5 mg or more of bevacizumab as it can cause or worsen retinal detachment in advance cases of diabetic eye disease, says Arevalo.

He mentions that they have also demonstrated the usefulness of using pre-operative bevacizumab injections during minimal invasive surgery performed to remove fluid from the eye in patients where scar tissue on the retina has pulled it away from the layer underneath.

“Pre-operative bevacizumab injections seem to reduce bleeding during surgery, improve how the surgeon sees the eye during surgery, and reduce complications during and after surgery, including ruptures of the retina and post-operative hemorrhage."

Arevalo says in instances where eye surgery is needed, physicians should perform it preferably before five days after the application of bevacizumab injections and immediately on those patients in whom tractional retinal detachment occurs.

“We recommend less than 5 days after injections as more than 80% of the retinal detachments developed after that period of time. The injection can cause retinal detachments in 3.2% of the cases of very advance disease that needs surgical intervention. However, patients' vision improve after a less complicated surgery thanks to the use of bevacizumab."  

In terms of affordability, Arevalo says people in low and middle-income countries would have easy access to bevacizumab.

“Bevacizumab is much cheaper per dose and more accessible compared to similar drugs on the market. A 4-ml vial containing 100 mg has a wholesale acquisition cost of 550 US dollars whereas other available drugs that are between 1,500 and 2,000 US dollars per dose. About 40-80 dosages (0.05 mL each) of bevacizumab injections can be prepared with one vial lowering the cost per treatment significantly."

• Main photo: Patient having an eye test (Pixabay).
• Photo 1: Dr Jose ​Fernando Arevalo at the graduation ceremony.​
  
  

FOR MEDIA ENQUIRIES ONLY

Dr Jose Fernando Arevalo, MD FACS

Department of Ophthalmology

Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center

Retina Division, Wilmer Eye Institute

Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine

Baltimore, MD, USA

Tel: 410-614-4637

E-mail: arevalojf@jhmi.edu

      ISSUED BY

Marin Viljoen

Manager: Media

Corporate Communication

Stellenbosch University

Tel: +27 (0) 21 808 4921

E-mail: viljoenm@sun.ca.za

Zimbaweans living with HIV also suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), often because of stigma, and are in desperate need of dedicated mental health services to help them cope. 

This is one of the findings of a new study at Stellenbosch University (SU).

“In Zimbabwe, the term common mental disorders, which includes depression and anxiety, has traditionally excluded a focus on PTSD despite earlier work suggesting that PTSD-like symptoms are prevalent among those living with HIV," says Dr Ruth Verhey, a Consultant Clinical Psychologist involved with the Friendship Bench Initiative in Zimbabwe. Verhey obtained her doctorate in Psychiatry on Tuesday (11 December 2018) at SU's second graduation ceremony of December 2018.

Highlighting the prevalence of PTSD among people living with HIV in low- and middle-income countries such as Zimbabwe and South Africa, Verhey says the aim of her doctoral study was to ascertain what additional intervention aspects could be added to the Friendship Bench programme in Zimbabwe to address the symptoms of trauma.

“Very few studies have focused on effective treatments for PTSD in people living with HIV despite its high prevalence. In Zimbabwe, PTSD has been under diagnosed because resources are scarce and it has not been seen as a major public health threat. Also, the Friendship Bench Initiative, which has been running for more than 10 years, focuses on lowering depression and anxiety."

Delivered by community health workers, the Friendship Bench provides a crucial mental health service given the few mental health professionals in Zimbabwe. It has been scaled up to over 70 primary health care facilities in the country.

Verhey says sessions between community health workers (i.e. community members with task-related training but no formal professional qualifications) and those affected are held on a bench in a discrete area on the clinic premises and allows for an acceptable level of confidentiality.  

She adds that her study confirmed previous research that people living with HIV make up more than 50% of the Friendship Bench clients.

“This highlights the need to integrate aspects of PTSD management within care packages for common mental disorders delivered by community health workers."

“Understanding the magnitude of depression and anxiety in people living with HIV, and factors associated with trauma and PTSD and the experience of community health workers working with this population are all crucial precursors to developing a strategy for integrating a care package for PTSD within the existing Friendship Bench programme."

As part of her study, Verhey surveyed 204 adult patients and 182 community health workers and also interviewed 10 patients and 5 community health workers. Of the 204 patients who participated in the survey, 91 (44.6%) were HIV positive.

“My study found that 40.7% of these 204 patients have PTSD, and of those 69.5% also had common mental disorders. Among those living with HIV, 42 (46.2%) had PTSD."

“Many clients described traumatic effects related to their HIV-infection. Some of the factors include physical illness, domestic violence, and the reaction of the wider community and family to their displaying symptoms of 'the illness'."

“Faced by numerous socio-economic challenges such as unemployment, an ailing health system and an ongoing HIV epidemic fuelled by extreme stigma, Zimbabweans living with HIV experience the condition as an ongoing pervasive threat to their survival."

According to Verhey, it is important for an initiative like the Friendship Bench to address PTSD in people living with HIV because the lack of self-care resulting from PSTD can mean they default on medication which is dangerous, especially in areas where there is not much chance for changing to a different antiretroviral treatment.

Community health workers

In regards to community health workers' knowledge of HIV-related PSTD, Verhey says the interviews revealed that they had an understanding of the concept of traumatic experiences as an 'unknown' illness related to being diagnosed with HIV and being stigmatized. She adds that they had a clear understanding of what traumatic stressors are and how they affect a person.

“Although community health workers working on the Friendship Bench were not aware of PTSD as described in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, they were still able to capture salient features of the condition, such as avoidance, re-experiencing (i.e. flashbacks), hyper-arousal and negative thought patterns such as self-blame."

“With no prior knowledge of PTSD, they coined this phenomenon as 'kufungisisa kwenjodzi' (thinking excessively due to trauma). Through the lens of 'kufungisisa kwenjodzi' they have managed to incorporate their clients' reports of traumatic experiences ('njodzi') into the existing common mental disorders by treating it as a more severe form of 'kufungisisa' (thinking too much)."

Verhey points out that even though community health workers were being exposed to the same stressors as their clients such as poverty, HIV infection and other chronic conditions, lack of access to medical treatment, loss of loved ones, displacement and violence, the rate of PSTD among them was low.

“I found a very low PTSD rate of 6% amongst the 182 community health workers, and 11% scored above the cut-off for common mental disorders."

Verhey says community health workers should receive regular supervision, clear referral pathways, debriefing, acceptable remuneration and ongoing education to avoid them becoming over-stretched.

“We're working on an ongoing education programme that will help them recognize and focus on the symptoms of PTSD."

Verhey says the findings of this study are applicable to people in similar settings as those in Zimbabwe, adding that the Friendship Bench programme has been expanded to Malawi and Zanzibar/Tanzania as well as New York City.

• Main photo: A community health worker speaking to one of the Friendship Bench clients.
• Photo: Dr Ruth Verhey (middle) with two co-workers.

FOR MEDIA ENQUIRIES ONLY

Dr Ruth Verhey

The Friendship Bench

Harare, Zimbabwe

Cell: +263 773857376

E-mail: ruth.verhey@zol.co.zw

       ISSUED BY

Martin Viljoen

Manager: Media

Corporate Communication

Stellenbosch University

Tel: +27 (0) 21 808 4921

E-mail: viljoenm@sun.ac.za

​Netherlands-born Dr Michael Hoefnagel received a PhD at the third graduation ceremonies of Stellenbosch University (SU) on 11 December. Hoefnagel's parents moved to South Africa when he was still a toddler and raised him and his siblings in Hermanus.

After school, he worked as a carpenter in a factory in Salt River, Cape Town, where he spent most of his free time creating mathematics problems and learning about and exploring mechanics and physics.

Hoefnagel says that he was fascinated by applied mathematics and physics, and hoped he could pursue university studies in these subjects. “I was interested in knowing how a refrigerator works, planes fly, and how satellites stay in orbit."

During his first year at SU, Hoefnagel took phyics and applied mathematics, and in his second year changed his major to Computer Science. Learning to program a computer, he says, was the best thing that he had done during his undergraduate studies. After his undergraduate studies, he went on to pursue postgraduate studies in mathematics.

He did most of his research for his master's thesis while in Italy and, after good reviews on presenting his research in Belgium, he was advised to upgrade his master's thesis to a PhD dissertation.

This year, while completing his PhD thesis, Hoefnagel got the opportunity to lecture the first-year course in mathematics, which gave him lecturing experience for five months.  Hoefnagel says that the overall highlight of his time as a student at SU was having an experienced and supportive supervisor who helped him through the various problems that one encounters in mathematical research. 

“The highlights of my time here at Stellenbosch University was the opportunity to do independent original research. Often you have ideas that lead nowhere. Luckily, under the guidance of my supervisor, we were able to produce a good contribution."

From the 1st January 2019, Hoefnagel will be employed as a lecturer of mathematics at SU and will be lecturing Mathematics Bio in the first semester. 

“I feel good about graduating, and I am glad to be taking a more serious step to professionalising myself as an academic. I am also very excited about my future career as a mathematician."

​Matie postgraduate student, Gerbrandt Kotzé (26) from Paarl, did not allow cancer to interfere with his Master's studies in science, or to make him feel despair, be depressed or fearful.

He persevered with his studies, never complaining or letting his illness define his life. Gerbrandt's mother, Ms Amanda Kotzé, says that when he went for chemotherapy sessions, he would encourage and support other cancer patients. He had been diagnosed with colon cancer, which spread to his liver.

During Stellenbosch University's third graduation ceremony for 2018 at the Coetzenburg Centre this evening (11 December) those present witnessed with great empathy how Gerbrandt's devoted mother accepted the MSc degree on his behalf.

Gerbrandt passed away on 28 May of this year, three days before his 27th birthday. He never heard the result of his thesis, which Stellenbosch University (SU) made available only a fortnight after his death.

Gerbrandt worked closely with his supervisor, Dr Rehana Malgas-Enus of the RME-Nano Research Group at Inorganic Chemistry in SU's Department of Chemistry and Polymer Science.

Earlier this year, when he was already becoming weaker, he submitted chapters of his thesis entitled, Mono- and Bimetallic Au-Cu dendrimer micelle encapsulated nanoparticles as catalysts in the oxidation of styrene. The Acknowledgement section of his thesis is a full confession of his faith.

An anecdote told by Gerbrandt's mother reveals that even as a small child he had a big heart for people who were struggling. One day his mother saw her three-year-old little boy packing all the clothes in his room into a suitcase.

Fighting back tears Amanda continues: “I then asked him where he was going. Gerbrandt told me that he was going to give all the clothes to the poor children. I had to persuade him to leave a few items of clothing behind otherwise he would have had nothing to wear."

Even as a young adult he still wished to help people in difficulty. This is why on his birthday on 1 June this year his family held a special Gerbrandt Kotzé Commemoration Day and made a donation of imperishable foodstuff and money to the Andrew Murray Children's Home in Paarl.

Gerbrandt's older brother, Dawid, cannot stop talking about his brother's intelligence, sense of humour and humanity.

Says Dawid: “He was a comedian. If he could make people laugh, he was very happy. But he also had a quiet, deep side."

When Gerbrandt was told that he had cancer, he remained calm and collected. He allayed his family's concerns by the way he received the bad news. Amanda says that he told her: “I have reconciled myself to what has happened because my life is in the Lord's hands".

Gerbrandt had a great love of science and it was his mission to cultivate this love of science in young people. He played guitar in the Shofar Church at Stellenbosch.

Gerbrandt is survived by his mother, Amanda, his father, Gerhard, his brother Dawid, his sister-in-law, Cecilia, and his adopted sister, Elizabeth (10).

​​

“You can't get extraordinary results through ordinary effort. You need to go the extra mile. Be resilient and find that one motivation that keeps you going."

This is the advice from Claudia Ntsapi, who received her PhD in Physiology on Tuesday, 11 December 2018, at the Stellenbosch University (SU) graduation ceremony for the Faculty of Science.

Ntsapi grew up in the township of Eldorado Park, Johannesburg. While most of her high-school friends decided to complete their tertiary education in Johannesburg, she decided to come to SU instead after seeing pictures of the stunning campus.

“The first time I heard about Stellenbosch University was in Grade 11, through my guidance teacher, who studied Theology at Stellenbosch. He told us about the University and, when I saw pictures of the campus, I think I fell in love with the environment before arriving at the actual place and I just knew that's where I'm going. I didn't apply anywhere else. I just applied at SU knowing this is where I wanted to be."

After matriculating from Kliptown Secondary School in 2007, Ntsapi wanted to study Chemical Engineering but needed to improve her marks. She then heard about the bridging programme called SciMathUS, which stands for Science and Mathematics at the University of Stellenbosch. She successfully enrolled for the programme and did very well but soon realised that she actually wanted to study BSc, not Engineering.

“When I was in school, I didn't know there were so many different variations of science. I knew I wanted to do something in science and, when the SciMathUS programme gave us more exposure to this field, I knew that's what I wanted to do. The SciMathUS programme opened doors for me; it gave me a second chance and time to discover my true passion."

Ntsapi says that she never thought she would get to a PhD level. She is the first person in her family to receive a PhD degree, something her parents are very proud of. “My family has always been very supportive of my studies, even if they don't always understand what my research is about. Throughout my postgraduate studies, I've had to sacrifice many holidays with my family, but what kept me going was knowing that I was contributing to something bigger than myself."

Ntsapi's PhD research focused on the role of autophagy, the process through which our cells eat themselves, in Alzheimer's disease and how this process could potentially be controlled to help combat this devastating neurodegenerative disease. Ntsapi says that, during her MSc degree, which focused on Parkinson's disease, it was the important human angle to her research that motivated her to continue with research on maintaining brain health with age.

“Doing this type of research can be very lonely sometimes and you don't see results immediately or experiments don't always work, but you have to stay positive and keep going. I realised early on that there are actually people who are affected by the work that we do. Being part of the medical research field, is being part of something bigger than yourself. It is this realisation that became a driving force for me to continue in this field of research. I may not be the one who ultimately discovers the cure for Alzheimer's disease, but I feel that we all have a little piece of the puzzle to add to the bigger picture of solving the problem and eventually getting translatable results."

Photo by Stefan Els.

​After completing her Masters in Geoinformatics in 2011 at Stellenbosch University, Dr Nyasha Magadzire (31) moved back to Zimbabwe in hope of finding a job and settling back in her home country, but the move only resulted in a year of unemployment.

“That same year, my Masters supervisor (Prof Helen de Klerk) encouraged me to apply for a  PhD position advertised by the South African Environmental Observation Network (SAEON), the application was successful and, being newly married at that time, I made the bitter-sweet move back to South Africa."

Coming from a Geography and Environmental Studies background, Nyasha says her PhD required her to delve into quite a lot of ecology and statistics, which was a huge adjustment for her but she managed.

“I had very supportive supervisors; they are so passionate about teaching, and spending time helping you." she said.

Nyasha said being a wife and juggling a PhD full time was not easy, but luckily her husband  made the move to South Africa to pursue his studies at Stellenbosch University as well.

“We eventually had a baby in 2016."

She described this period as quite hectic as she was not sure how having a baby right in the middle of her PhD would impact on her studies, especially being on a bursary and aiming to finish in record time.

“It took me a while to break the news of my pregnancy because I was worried I would have to stop my studies."

To Nyasha's relief, her supervisors were extremely supportive and allowed her to work at her own pace as she transitioned into juggling the PhD and motherhood.

Nyasha`s research focussed on the role of fire in modelling fynbos species, particularly in the face of climate change; it came up with several interesting points like how strong an influence fire has on the distribution of fynbos species, which plants are likely most vulnerable to changes in climate and fire regime, and several others.

“The point of the research was to improve our understanding of the drivers and underlying ecosystem processes the shape vegetation distributions in the Cape Floristic Region. A key point that came out here is that changes in fire regime will likely have a greater impact on vegetation in fire dependent ecosystems than changes in climate in the future."

“While fire is important for the regeneration of most fynbos plant species, too frequent fires or the occurrence of out of season fires will negatively impact the persistence of these plants."  

 “Scientists anticipate fire regimes will be greatly altered as a result of climate change, most fynbos vegetation takes a long time to recover, if you have a fire every two /three years, it never has enough time to reach maturity before the next fire, we need to start thinking about how this will affect our landscapes especially in terms of conservation."

She said private citizens can contribute to conservation efforts by respecting and maintaining the integrity of areas that still hold fynbos species, planting indigenous plants and keeping an eye out for invasive alien plant species like wattles, which take a lot of water from our indigenous plants and act as fuel for fires.

Nyasha is the second born in a family of four kids, her mother is a believer in education.

“She taught us that anything can be taken away from you but your education remains, it widens and broadens your horizons and possibilities."

​

For many prospective university students and their parents, the burden of student fees is something that keeps them up at night. Thankfully, through funding initiatives like Project Zero, many students from the Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences at Stellenbosch University (SU) can complete their studies without financial worries or student debt.

In 2015, the Faculty launched Project Zero, an initiative to reduce to zero the actual cost of studying at SU for talented students. Project Zero bursaries, together with the University's recruitment and merit bursaries, cover the recipients' tuition, accommodation and living expenses.

At the 2018 December graduation, five Project Zero recipients will be graduating. Kamir Arjun (BAcc), Salona Burdhu (BCom Actuarial Science), Levern Fortuin (BAcc), Panashe Hakutangwi (BCom Actuarial Science) and Aishah Karaan (BAcc) will all be receiving their respective degrees.

(In the photo above: Panashe Hakutangwi)

According to Kamir, the Project Zero bursary helped him to achieve his dream of pursuing a degree in the business field. “I love the world of business, it absolutely fascinates me. Ever since I was a young boy, I used to make products and sell them. From that moment, I knew that I needed a set of skills that can empower me to make sound financial decisions so that I can be financially free as an adult, which led me on the journey to becoming a chartered accountant."

Kamir says that the bursary also took away all financial burdens, which helped him to have a more enriching Matie experience. “Project Zero removed one of the biggest financial overheads from me – student debt. The bursary gave me peace of mind knowing that I can study and not have to be stressed about how I am going to afford my studies."

After graduation, Kamir plans to pursue an honours degree in Accounting at SU and hopes one day to provide mentorship to students who are also following the Chartered Accountancy path.

For Salona Burdhu, getting funding through Project Zero made her feel like she was part of an amazing family. “It has helped me with networking, as I got to meet other recipients of the bursary who were studying in the same field, and over the years we've created a support structure and memories were made with wonderful friends."

(In the photo above: Salona Burdhu)

Salona also plans to pursue an honours degree in Actuarial Science at SU and hopes to gain enough experience in the future so that she can one day innovate the actuarial profession.

Levern and Aishah says they wouldn't have been able to achieve their goals without the bursary funding. “Project Zero has motivated me to continuously work hard throughout my studies, without the weight of student debt on my shoulders. The cost of tertiary education is an ongoing struggle and many are still unable to enter the doors of university because they do not have the means to afford it's benefits. Project Zero has opened those doors for me in order that I may reap those benefits," says Aishah.

Levern plans to continue her studies at SU next year and hopes to use her qualifications in job opportunities abroad.

The Project Zero bursary is based on the academic merit of black, coloured and Indian students. If you wish to contribute to the Project Zero initiative or apply for a bursary, contact the Faculty Manager, MJ Brooks, at 021 808 2078 or mjbrooks@sun.ac.za for more information.

Photos by Stefan Els.

In the main photo from left to right: Levern Fortuin, Kamir Arjun, Aishah Karaan.

__________________________________________________________________________________

Other stories on the Project Zero bursary:

http://www.sun.ac.za/english/Lists/news/DispForm.aspx?ID=5532

http://www.sun.ac.za/english/Lists/news/DispForm.aspx?ID=3977

What do residents of the Cape Flats, Westbury in Johannesburg, and the Northern Areas of Port Elizabeth have in common? They live in constant fear as gang members continue to kill each other and innocent people on a daily basis.

And while many solutions have been put forward to deal with gangs, one of the major problems is the ineffectiveness of anti-gang legislation.

This is according to Dr Delano van der Linde from the Faculty of Law at North-West University. He obtained his doctorate in Criminal Law on Thursday (13 December 2018) at the sixth graduation ceremony of Stellenbosch University's December graduation.

“The Prevention of Organised Crime Act (POCA), enacted to combat, among others, organised crime, money laundering and criminal gang activities, has been inadequate to deal with criminal gangs because of several textual, institutional and constitutional shortcomings," says Van der Linde who conducted the study because criminal gang activity and the prosecution thereof under POCA is underdeveloped and under-researched.

“It became clear that, although criminal gang activity contributes disproportionately to both national and (the Western Cape) provincial crime statistics, the study of criminal gang activity from a legal perspective was completely neglected and was deserving of a comprehensive investigation as to why our anti-gang legislation is not working and what potentially could be done to remedy the situation."

Having done a comprehensive analysis of the legislative history of POCA and each crime and punishment under the Act, Van der Linde found that POCA is substantially similar to the common law and equally ineffective when it comes to dealing with gang activity. He points out that POCA was supposed to supplement the common law which failed to disrupt the way gangs operate.

“Save for maybe the crime of gang recruitment, POCA doesn't add much to the arsenal of common law crimes such as conspiracy, incitement, public violence and the common purpose doctrine that could address group-based criminality. The crimes under POCA are basically similar to the common law crimes."

Van der Linde says the ineffectiveness of POCA is supported by the increasing number of gang-related murders with about 21,6% of all murders committed in the Western Cape (during the 2017/18 financial year) being attributed to gangs.

“Another problem with POCA is that the punishments for gang members are also extremely weak – ranging from three to eight years (which can be increased by aggravating factors such as committing gang-related crimes close to schools) or the alternative of a fine."

Van der Linde points out that there are also several other issues with POCA that make its application potentially unfair to persons who stand accused of offences under Chapter 4 of POCA, which specifically deals with criminal gang activity.

“POCA is too broad and uncertain due to potential interpretation(s) of 'criminal gang' and 'criminal gang activity' under POCA. These are 'open' definitions and a court does not necessarily have to follow them."

“Consequently, a court can find persons guilty under POCA even though they do not strictly comply as such under the text of the Act. This is unfair to persons who may potentially fall under the scope of POCA – as they do not adequately have fair warning as to what type of conduct would constitute illegal behaviour."

Van der Linde adds that that one of the sentence enhancements or aggravating factors under POCA is unconstitutional and violates of the freedom of association.

“Section 10(3) makes it possible to increase a person's sentence for any crime merely because he or she is a gang member. A gang member who is found guilty of a speeding offence can therefore face increased punishment if he or she is a gang member."

“It is arbitrary and irrational to increase someone's sentence on this basis. Section 10(3) should be restricted to gang-related offences. It must be amended so that it can only apply to gang members (or active participants) who committed offences 'for the benefit of, at the direction of, or in association with any criminal gang' ".

Gang leaders

Van der Linde points to several strategies from foreign and international law that could be incorporated into our legal system – or in some instances would only require a novel application of the common law. Drawing from international criminal law, he makes suggestions and offers alternative mechanisms for a new mode of responsibility for gang leaders in holding them liable for crimes committed by their subordinates.

“Under international criminal law, leaders of military and civil organisations can be held responsible for the actions of their subordinates as well as where such persons have committed atrocities. Similar modes of liability can easily be introduced into South African law."

“The common law imposes, for example, criminal liability for omissions such as creating a dangerous situation and not preventing harm from ensuing. Gang leaders could be held responsible for creating a dangerous situation (a gang) and not quite obviously not preventing harm from ensuing."

According to Van der Linde this would make it easier for the State to prove that gang leaders gave instructions to commit certain crimes.

“Where a gang member commits a crime on behalf of a superior, the superior could be held liable as if he or she committed the crime him- or herself. These common law methods are much simpler to prove than the arduous statutory scheme under POCA."

He says his study also provides a comprehensive interpretive guide to the text of POCA and makes several substantive and absolutely necessary suggestions for the amendment to the text.

“Amendments to the definitions of 'criminal gang' and 'gang activity' are formulated making it compulsory for courts not to deviate from it."

“Chapter 4 of POCA also heavily relies on previous convictions and hearsay – which are normally impermissible forms of evidence. The inclusion thereof could render a trial unfair if the State does not rely on the appropriate legislation for its inclusion. Van der Linde suggests a provision similar to that in Chapter 2 of POCA which makes the inclusion of these forms of evidence permissible.

He says POCA's textual, institutional and constitutional shortcomings must be addressed to more effectively deal with criminal gang activity but also to protect the accused's constitutional right to a fair trial.

Van der Linde is critical of the newly-established Anti-Gang Unit saying it is merely a plaster and a temporary solution to a bigger socio-economic problem.

“It was reported that up to 85% of police stations are understaffed and gang hot spots are disproportionately under-policed compared to areas such as Stellenbosch with a lower crime rate."  

He urges academics, community leaders and civil society to do more to motivate further legislative intervention.

“The increase in the number of gang-related incidents (in particular murders) shows there is a constitutional failure on behalf of the State to protect its citizens from all forms of violence."

Van der Linde says the three branches of government (the executive, legislative and the judiciary) will benefit the most from his study.

“The inhabitants of the Cape Flats will ultimately benefit if my suggestions are to be implemented."

He plans to present his research findings to the legislature and the law reform commission.

• Main photo: Some of the tools gangs use in their trade. (Pixabay)
  
• Photo 1: Dr Delano van der Linde at the graduation ceremony. Photographer: Stefan Els
  

FOR MEDIA ENQUIRIES ONLY

Dr Delano van der Linde

Faculty of Law (Vaal Campus)

North-West University

Tel: 016 910 3634

E-mail: Delano.vanderLinde@nwu.ac.za

        ISSUED BY

Martin Viljoen

Manager: Media

Corporate Communication

Stellenbosch University

Tel: 021 808 4921

E-mail: viljoenm@sun.ac.za

​​​​​​​Two decades of eminent research has earned Professor Nicholas (Nick) Vink Stellenbosch University's coveted Chancellor's Award for community interaction and research.

He is the Chair of the Department of Agricultural Economics in the Faculty of AgriSciences at the university.

Vink is acknowledged for his continuously excellent achievements and research outputs over the years. He is the author of 167 peer-reviewed publications including 11 books as editor or co-editor and more than 50 publications in journals or books published internationally. He is also involved in the African Association of Agricultural Economists and the International Association of Agricultural Economists (IAAE), and is currently the president of the IAAE.

Vink, who joined the department​ in 1996, has a longstanding association with the university. “At the beginning of 1979 I was still enrolled as a Masters student in Stellenbosch when I accepted a position as lecturer at the former University of the North (now Limpopo) or 'Turfloop'​ as it is called,” he says. “I can still clearly remember the day that I packed my car and came to the department to greet Prof (Eckard) Kassier, my supervisor. I was planning to come back to Stellenbosch, the town of my birth, but I did not know how or when. After seven years in the far north of the country, I moved to the Development Bank in Johannesburg for 11 exciting years before returning to Maties after 17 years.

“I have been a researcher and a policy analyst all my life, but what really got me hooked to the academic world was lecturing. As departmental chair, I still lecture our new students because I believe it is important that they have first-hand experience of senior lecturers as early in their (academic) programme as possible. I also lecture them in their final year because by that time they have come to their senses, and the task is so much easier!”

​​​

For Marlise Theron, creating music daily is not the only driving force in her life anymore. Spending time teaching music to young children in the Cloetesville community has brought her a deeper appreciation for her craft and also a sense of purpose to share that passion with others less fortunate than herself.

Theron, who hails from Stellenbosch, was awarded the degree of BMus in Music Education cum laude at Stellenbosch University's graduation ceremony for the Faculty of Arts and Social Science on Thursday (13 December). She is also a recipient of the 2018 Conservatoire Stipendium, which is the Music Department's highest award for its most exceptional student.

Says Theron: “My whole life is steeped in music. I'm really passionate about music and music education. I'm very lucky in the sense that my passion is something that I study and it's something that I unwind with and share with other people."

Theron, along with other students of the Music Department participated in the ATKV's Abbasorg and Rietenbosch Project during the course of their studies. This project respectively caters to preschool students and elementary school learners from the Cloetesville community. It was started by Danell Muller, a lecturer at SU's Music Department, who along with Theron, Rozelle Wilken, Jolandi Hanekom, Chandre Windvogel, Rachel Mertens and Jessica October, helped to raise some R60,000 for the Rietenbosch Primary School by means of a music concert.

Says Theron: “Music education is such a rich field. I think it's a noble art to practise, because you have a huge responsibility to carry on making music and convey it to the next generation.

Apart from her involvement in the Rietenbosch Project, she also helped to organise and facilitate the 2018 Con Serve Eisteddfod for the broader Stellenbosch community, where among 80 participants a 76-year old woman from the Stellenbosch community made her debut. It has become quite clear that her work in Cloetesville has helped to build mutual trust and sound relationships between people, eradicating barriers that have kept communities apart for too long. 

Theron elaborates: “Music lessons can be seen as a privilege and not an essential for many people. At times when you are a music student it can feel as if you are living in a bubble, where you practice your instrument, and you are fully involved in your own professional music-making world. The ATKV Abbasorg and Rietenbosch Project is a wonderful community initiative and it was a fantastic experience to be part of."

Theron believes that more music students should consider studying Music Education as it gives one a larger perspective on life and is a wonderful and enriching experience.

She makes her point as follows: “Unfortunately there are still not many people opting for music education. The future for music education in this country is so incredibly rich and the opportunities are absolutely endless. Studying music education really makes one such a complete musician. There's a misconception that those who do performance have made it, while those who study music education have not made it. However, when you study music education, it does not prevent you to still continue with your music career and it opens a bigger musical world to you."

Theron has been accepted to study for an Honours degree in Violin performance in 2019, and she fervently hopes to continue sharing her passion for music with the greater Stellenbosch community. 

Photo by Stefan Els.

Dr Xanthe Dawn Hunt (27), who hails from KwaZulu-Natal, is described by academic staff at Stellenbosch University (SU) as “an academic phenomenon" and the “very finest student we have had in many years." This description corresponds with the admiration from world leaders in the field of disability studies at a recent international disability conference in Europe, who described her as a “genius."

​Hunt is the recipient of the coveted Chancellor's Medal – awarded annually to a final year or postgraduate student who has not only excelled academically, but also contributed to campus life in various ways and worked hard at developing co-curricular attributes.

Hunt is to receive the medal at SU's seventh graduation ceremony in the Coetzenburg Centre at Stellenbosch at 17:30 on Thursday (13 December). At the ceremony Hunt will also receive a PhD in Psychology.

What makes this 27-year-old so special to be 2018's recipient of the Chancellor's Medal?

With very little difficulty, Hunt already has some 30 academic publications to her name. This is more than many academics in Psychology have contributed in their entire careers, says Prof Awie Greeff, Chair of the Department of Psychology.

She is also the first Masters' student in the history of the Department whose degree was upgraded to a PhD.  Her PhD was also accepted and passed with no changes required.

Another academic highlight was that during her PhD studies, she enrolled for a course in Biostatistics at Masters' level, despite not having completed Mathematics at matric level. Initially, the course convenor did not wish to admit her to the course for this reason, but later reluctantly agreed to accept her.  She completed the course cum laude and her results were the second best in the class.

In her years of study at SU which commenced in 2010, she won:

• The SU Political Science Award for Excellence for Top Achieving First Year Student;
• The Department of English's Award for Excellence for Top Achieving First Year Student;
• The Rector's Award for Academic Excellence Top Faculty Achiever (on three occasions);
• She was offered the prestigious Babette Taute English Scholarship.

Amazingly, Hunt passed cum laude in every single subject she took, with the exception of a single service module.  During the first five years of her studies, she achieved an average of 82.08%.

Her research spans disability studies, public health, monitoring and evaluation of early childhood interventions, and academic communication. She holds a Bachelor's degree in the Humanities, Honours degrees in Journalism and in Psychology, a Master's Degree in Biostatistics, and now a PhD in Psychology.

Hunt has worked with many members of the Department of Psychology over the course of her Honours, Master's and PhD degrees, primarily in the role of project assistant, but gradually formalising her role in the employ of one of the research units.

In her undergraduate years, Xanthe was part of her residence's a cappella choir and worked as a peer tutor both within her residence community and later beyond. She has also worked as a volunteer counsellor in community-based projects in the Stellenbosch and Franschhoek areas.

In addition to all her academic qualities, Hunt is exceptionally hard-working and a great team player.  Fellow students find her supportive, and she is very popular amongst the staff in her department.  She also regularly gives talks and lectures, and is an excellent communicator.

She has a contract for her PhD to be published as a book with Palgrave next year (2019).  She will present an exhibition from the PhD work at the Cape Town Holocaust Centre early in 2019. 

• Last year the Chancellor's Medal was awarded to an Engineering student, Ms Jacqueline Kazmaier  

Mphumezi Hombana, (42) has just received his second master's degree in Theology at Stellenbosch University (SU), despite the fact that everyone has discouraged him from this field of study.

"Where I come from, people judge you according to the grade you have in hand. The degree you earn must enable you to make money. Initially, I entered the degrees in Engineering and Accounting, but lost interest and discontinued them," says Hombana.

Hombana, who grew up in the Moses Mabida informal settlement near Kirkwood, says: "Living in an informal settlement in the 1970-1980's was difficult. My friends and I did not want to go to school. We smoked, drank and sometimes my parents did not even know where we were. The standard of training we received was of a very low standard. We learned English in isiXhosa. "

However, he later became involved in churches and felt called to study theology.

"I felt ashamed to study theology. I was not proud at all because I knew people at home would not think it would make enough money. Even my school teacher, who encouraged us to study further, said that I had to do something else with my life, " he said.

Hombana moved to the Western Cape in the early 2000's to start tertiary education at a local theological seminary near the Cape Flats.

But it was not easy. "During my undergraduate studies, I had to work as a general worker in a textile factory to survive," said Hombana.

Because Hombana knew that theology was his passion, he has maintained his "interest and calling".

Today he is grateful that he can be part of the SU community. "It's a privilege to have access to wonderful resources and to connect with the people in Stellenbosch. Studies at SU were definitely a learning curve and are very exciting. I have a community of friends at the Faculty of Theology that feels like family. I'm a better person because I'm part of the SU community, "he says.

Mphumezi is currently living with his wife and two daughters in Gugulethu where he is a pastor in the Gugulethu Baptist Church. He begins with his PhD at SU in 2019.

​ 

​Stellenbosch University’s Faculty of AgriSciences honoured its top academic achievers at an award ceremony on campus this week.

“We are incredibly proud of this year’s academic crop who has excelled through hard work and dedication,” says Prof Danie Brink, dean of the faculty. Brink said that this award ceremony is an important highlight on the faculty’s calendar, especially in 2018 given that it is also its centenary year.

Michaela Ann Boshoff is this year's recipient of the Prof AI Perold medal. This medal is awarded annually to one of two best students who obtained their BScAgric degree. Boshoff obtained her BScAgric (Oenology Specialised) with an average of 79.50% over the past four years.

Naulette Pollard received the Prof PA van der Bijl medal. She obtained the degree BScAgric (Soil and Horticultural Sciences) with an average of 78.30% over the past four years. This medal is awarded annually to one of two best students in the faculty who obtained their BScAgric degree.

The Hofmeyr-Van Schaik Medal is awarded annually to the student in the course BScAgric or BScHons for the best achievement in Genetics. This year’s recipient is Matthew Peter Greenwood who obtained an average of 80%. The medal is awarded annually by the South African Genetics Society.

Caption: Medals were awarded to Matthew Peter Greenwood (Hofmeyer-Van Schaik medal), Michaela Ann Boshoff (AI Perold medal) and Nautette Pollard (PA van der Bijl medal). Prof Danie Brink, dean of the Faculty of AgriSciences, celebrated the event with them.

Photo: EJ Langner

​Stellenbosch University’s Faculty of AgriSciences is growing from strenght to strenght.

During the December graduation ceremony, a total of 247 students in the faculty received their first degree, 10 received post-graduate diplomas and 13 students received HonsBSc degrees. Furthermore, 31 Masters degrees and 15 PhDs were awarded in the faculty.

Dr Lara Alexander, a food scientist, investigated phenolic compounds in both “unfermented” (green) and fermented honeybush tea as potential indicators of bitterness in honeybush tea.

Dr Bonginkhosi Edward Dlamini, an entomologist, considered the use of nematodes and fungi to control the banded fruit weevil (Phlyctinus callosus). This insect can cause huge economic damage in vineyards and orchards.

Dr Sune Henning, a food scientist, focused her research on marine fish species infested with parasites (Kudoa thyrsites and K. paniformis). Although harmless to humans upon consumption, these parasites cause considerable losses in the local fishing industry.

Dr Carlien Vorster, a conservation ecologist, conducted a dragonfly study that provided a new tool to determine freshwater health in Africa. This tool, called the African Dragonfly Biotic Index can be used to assess the ecological state of freshwater resources.

Dr Spepherd Maduvanhu, an agricultural economist, investigated sustainable land use planning in areas where invasive alien plants have been removed. His research can help decision makers to improve land use planning in future.