​​The Ubuntu Learning Community (ULC) is creating an opportunity for incarcerated individuals to learn alongside Stellenbosch University (SU) students and academics.

The ULC is South Africa's first prison-university partnership and is spearheaded by Dr Mary Nel from the Faculty of Law. This unique project has been rolled out at the Brandvlei Correctional Centre in Worcester in collaboration with the Department of Correctional Services. International partners and inspiration for the ULC include the American based organisation Prison-to-College Pipeline and the UK based initiative, Learning Together.

As part of South Africa's Women's Month celebrations, Dr Nel tells us more about this ground-breaking project.

Tell us more about the ULC?

The ULC aims to give incarcerated students at Brandvlei and SU students the opportunity to study an interdisciplinary short course together in Brandvlei Prison. Not only does the project promote collaborative learning, but it also serves as a platform for prisoners to make good use of the time they spend incarcerated. We also hope to work with the staff at Brandvlei towards a common goal of improving incarcerated students' prospects for successful re-entry after release, and to decrease levels of recidivism. This is a pilot project, the first prison-university partnership in South Africa, but we hope it will expand to other prisons and universities in future.

Who is participating in the ULC?

We have a total of about 30 SU students and Unisa students from Brandvlei Prison from a variety of different disciplines and year groups enrolled in the Ubuntu Learning short course. The course theme is “Am I because we are? Exploring selves and communities". Colleagues from the Departments of History, Law, Economics and English present the short course to these students.

What makes the ULC project unique?

Its aim is to 'rehumanise' learning by focusing on learning's social, ubuntu-focused dimensions – collaboration, community-building and connectedness. 

You are currently focused on the educational component of the ULC. What other components will be added to the project?

We are looking for funding to expand beyond the interdisciplinary course. We want to start a reintegration programme for incarcerated students post-incarceration. 

The reintegration component envisages academic and social supports to aid students transitioning from prison to the community to continue their education, obtain employment, and lead stable, productive, fulfilling lives post-incarceration. 

We will also look at a student-led initiative aimed at educating and sensitising SU students and the wider community about the incarceration system.

Why is it important to add these components to the ULC project?

We want to reduce the stigma of having a criminal record and change the how others perceive those who have been incarcerated. If we shun people and label them, then that person will not be able to find employment and become a productive member of society. It's in society's best interest to change the narrative of people released from prison.

Why is it important for SU students and academics to participate in the UCL?

If you are looking from the perspective of the SU student and academic, it gives them a wonderful opportunity to learn in a way that enables them to feel connected to others, which leads to empowerment, transformative learning and holistic student development. Transformative learning takes place when students are exposed to new experiences and perspectives, such as interaction with diverse peers.  It is about challenging your prejudices and beliefs. We encourage participants to reflect on and commit to contributing to the common good and to develop a sense of individual and social responsibility.  Learning in this way gives you the opportunity to step into someone else's shoes.

Leading such an initiative is not an easy task. What drives you to do this?

It's the right thing to do. As someone who is humane, if I get the opportunity to change people's lives, then I must do it.

Matie alumna Roxanne Botman is pursuing further studies in the United Kingdom and hopes to one day become an industry leader in the education technology space. But in between her studies, Roxanne (daughter of former Stellenbosch University Rector, Prof Russel Botman) is following in her father's footsteps by making sure that deserving young students get an opportunity to pursue their dreams of a brighter future through higher education. 

1.   You are currently in the UK, doing your MBA. When did you move there and how are the studies going?

Yes, I moved to London in September 2018. My studies have been going really well. It was quite daunting after not studying for such a long time, but I am in my final term and very happy with my experience. The diversity of the classroom has been most enriching, as the majority of my classmates are international students from various backgrounds.

2.   Why an MBA?

I have been working in the learning and development industry for a few years and I felt the need to develop my business and management skills. The EdTech space, specifically, is growing so rapidly and I want to be in a position to be an industry leader.

3.   Are you coming back to SA soon?

I would gladly move back to SA if an opportunity presents itself, I do miss my mom very much.

4.   What are your dreams, plans and hopes for your future?

I hope to continue working in the learning and development industry and lead the way forward as we begin to bridge the gap between education technology and access to solutions. 

More long-term, my dream would be to lead an organisation that supports the development of vulnerable women and girls around the world.

5.   Who or what inspires you and why?

I am inspired by people's stories of resilience, such as my father's. I recently re-read the Russel Botman Tribute book, and I still struggle to comprehend how he did so much in such a short time, especially coming from such humble beginnings. It amazes me to learn about stories of people who choose to stay true to what they believe in and spend every day of their lives working towards creating a new world, despite the challenges they face.

6.   Please tell us more about the Russel Botman Bursary Fund (RBBF).

The Bursary Fund was established on my fathers 60^th and last celebrated birthday, where he asked for donations rather than gifts. I feel honoured to be on the committee and look forward to being apart of its growth. On 28 June 2019, we marked the fifth anniversary of his passing and we had an opportunity to reflect on the impact he made during his life. He believed in transformation, justice, hope and action.

Since its establishment, the Russel Botman Bursary Fund has been able to provide bursaries to more than 10 students. Our first intake supported the studies of three students, and this year we are supporting nine. 

My hope is that we can continue to increase the number of recipients we can support, but this can only be done through increased donations. I hope those whose lives were directly or indirectly impacted by the work and efforts of my father would become regular donors and contribute to giving hope through education.
 

7.   You are a committee member of the RBBF. Tell us about that role.

I work closely with my mother, the bursary fund chairperson, and Prof Xolile Simon in the decision making regarding the bursary fund and recipients. My specific role entails the development of the bursary fund's social media management and website development. It has been exciting to engage with followers of the Russel Botman legacy.

It would make me so happy to see our followers and supporters become donors, as we grow the fund and continue to provide deserving students with bursaries at Stellenbosch University.

8.   Do you find it difficult to balance studies and your duties at the Bursary Fund?

There is no difficulty in doing something that I find so rewarding. I am happy to put effort into keeping my father's legacy alive by supporting the education of our future leaders.

9.   What message do you have for young people?

Do not let your circumstances limit the size of your dreams.

10.   What message would you give to fellow alumni?

​Let us lead African higher education in becoming the strongest alumni, not only in our individual achievements, but also in the support we give the Stellenbosch University students of today and tomorrow.  

• For more information on the Russel Botman Bursary Fund and to donate online, please visit www.russelbotman.com
  

In July this year, 50 alumni sat down to dinner at Pielows Restaurant in Dublin with Prof Wim de Villiers, Rector and Vice-Chancellor of Stellenbosch University, and the South African ambassador to Ireland, Her Excellency Ms Yolisa Maya.

With just over 200 known alumni in Ireland, it was wonderful having almost a quarter of them meet for the first time, not just us as the alumni team but also each other.

The ambassador opened the evening for us and the following is taken from her speech: “I would like to commend Stellenbosch University for reaching out to its alumni on a global scale. I was informed that this is part of a broader initiative to reach out to former students all over the world. Already it is clear that there are valuable lessons for us, both as a country and as the embassy in Dublin, to learn from this interaction."

She encouraged the former students to move out of their comfort zones and make contact with each other, especially as they all find themselves in a foreign country:

“[W]e need each other more than ever before as we seek to rebuild our country and re-energise the economy, which remains stubbornly stagnant," she said. “In that context, as you get ready to engage further and reflect, I would like to appeal that you please seriously consider partnering with us in the following areas:

• Developing and implementing a strategy for optimising our South African diaspora dividend (including people, knowledge and finance that have left the country for various reasons) and for persuading our brains and young talent to stay connected to South Africa and return home to plough back, add value and encourage their peers after their forays into the world.
• Changing the narrative about our country out there, wherever we are, by speaking positively about the country. This means working hard to find what unites us, even if you have to dig really deep right now!
• Sharing your thoughts on how to help implement our president's and government's good intentions and strategies while making the dreams of our youth a reality – most importantly by sharing your experiences on how meaningfully to ensure ease of doing business to attract investments, trading partners and tourism."

It was a pleasure having not only the ambassador in attendance but also Prof De Villiers, having spent the day visiting a few alumni on a one-on-one basis.

In October 2019, we'll be launching a Dublin Maties Hub. If you want to be part of this hub or volunteer to be part of the planning team, contact me at darrynh@sun.ac.za.

Prof Deon de Bruin, a professor of Industrial Psychology at Stellenbosch University, delivered his inaugural lecture with the title Measurement in Industrial Psychology: Advances in theory and practice, on 19 August 2019.

Prof De Bruin's areas of research interest include psychological measurement and assessment in multicultural and multilingual contexts, with an emphasis on applications in personality and career psychology.

He previously worked at the University of Johannesburg, where he held the positions of director of the Institute for Child and Adult Guidance and head of the Centre for Work Performance. He is registered as a counselling psychologist with the Health Professions Council of South Africa.

Prof Deon de Bruin has summarised his lecture as follows:

"In my lecture I address the challenges that psychological testing and measurement in the multicultural South African context present to psychologists. In this respect, I examine gains and losses that have been made in psychological measurement over the last 20 years.

"The psychological measurement landscape in South Africa is characterised by several challenges, inter alia (a) a disproportionate focus on Eurocentric theories and approaches to psychological measurement, (b) testing in a language that for most people is not their first language, (c) inequality with respect to socio-economic status and access to resources and (d) the high cost of testing.

"I discuss where psychological measurement has failed (and continues to fail) to meet the needs of applied and research psychologists, and also discuss where and how psychological measurement contributes positively in facilitating growth and well-being.

"The merits of advancing indigenous conceptions of individual differences are weighed against the merits of taking advantage of established Eurocentric conceptions. Examples of recent psychological test development projects that contribute toward an inclusive psychology are presented and discussed critically.

"Finally, I discuss guidelines for the development of psychological tests in complex, multicultural and multilingual contexts."

• For more information, click here.

• Photos by Anton Jordaan:
  Main photo: F.l.t.r. are Prof Ingrid Woolard, Dean of the Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences; Prof Deon de Bruin; and Prof Prof Eugene Cloete, Vice-Rector: Research, Innovation and Postgraduate Studies at SU.
  Photo on the right: Prof Deon de Bruin with his family.

​

​

The award-winning writer, editor, satirist and columnist, Ms Mariann Thamm, has called on the next generation to help uncover untruths. She delivered the eighth annual Frederick Van Zyl Slabbert (FVZS) Honorary Lecture at Stellenbosch University (SU) on Monday 19 August 2019.

The theme of her lecture was Navigating your way in a world filled with untruths. She also encouraged the many young people in attendance to help make society a better place for the generations to come.

“The way to navigate our way through a world filled with untruths is by seeking the truth. We also need to strengthen our institutions of democracy by ensuring a free and accountable media, which subscribes to a code of ethics," said Thamm.

Thamm is assistant editor of the Daily Maverick, a top-selling author, comedian and commentator at large. She has written several successful books, including Hitler, Verwoerd, Mandela and Me and Alison Botha's story, I Have Life.

In his welcoming speech at the event, Prof Wim de Villiers, Rector and Vice-Chancellor at SU, praised Thamm for her incredible work. He also said that events like the FVZS lecture would ultimately help empower students to become active citizens in society.

“In 2011 we launched the FVZS Institute for Student Leadership Development, which has since enriched the lives of thousands of students who have benefited from its short courses, series of discourses and other activities – and not only Stellenbosch students, but students from other universities locally and abroad. We hold Van Zyl up as a role model to students because he helped build bridges across the divides – not only in our country, but also at his alma mater," said De Villiers.

The late Dr Frederik Van Zyl Slabbert was a respected politician, business leader, critical thinker and SU Chancellor. The annual FVZS Honorary Lecture aims to stimulate critical and challenging dialogue about our country and the continent. The event is hosted by SU's Centre for Student Leadership & Structures' (CSLS) FVZS Institute for Student Leadership Development, with financial support from the Konrad Adenauer Foundation.

Mr Henning Suhr, Resident Representative at Konrad Adenauer Foundation, expressed how excited the foundation was to have been part of the FVZS lecture over the last few years.

“For many years the foundation has supported the annual lecture of the FVZS Institute for Student Leadership Development. This is an excellent platform for discussing a topic, which is relevant to the actual debate in the country," said Suhr.

He also expressed his delight at the fact that this year's speaker works for The Daily Maverick, whose slogan is 'Defending the truth', something that Suhr believes is important in our society.

“It is important to strive for the complicated truth, rather than the convenient and often untrue soundbite. The Konrad Adenauer Foundation is working worldwide for the promotion of democracy and strengthening the free press," said Suhr.

During her lecture, Thamm also reiterated the importance of a free press and believed that it was every citizen's democratic right to help uphold press freedom and eliminate the spread of disinformation.

“Disinformation is designed specifically to cause public harm, to fracture society, to reduce trust in the media and to undermine democratic processes. Seek out those who themselves seek truth and guard the Constitution that is the foundation of our democracy in South Africa," said Thamm.

For more information on the FVZS Institute click here.

Photos by Henk Oets.

​Two FMHS researchers – both with the faculty's Department of Global Health – made the department proud when they were recently featured in the Mail & Guardian's “200 young South Africans".

They are Dr Xanthe Hunt (27), a researcher at the Institute for Life Course Health Research and Dr Lieketseng Ned (30), a lecturer at the Centre for Rehabilitation Studies.

Hunt, who is also affiliated with California University and is studying with Harvard University, has two areas of research: she focuses on improving maternal and child health, particularly among young children affected by HIV and their caregivers in Kenya, Mozambique, Malawi, Zambia and Tanzania. She is particularly interested in what makes public health programmes for mothers and children work – and how they can be made to work better. She also does research on sexual and reproductive health among people with disabilities and how mainstream health care services can be made more accessible to people with disabilities.

She is currently working on a book about disabled people's experiences of accessing sexual and reproductive health services.

Hailing from the Easter Cape, Ned convenes the postgraduate diploma programme in the centre. Her research is aimed at “contributing to the development of a situated disability and rehabilitation scholarship which centres the African experience. “More specifically, I am passionate about the following niche areas; critical disability and rehabilitation studies, community development practice, indigenous knowledges and methodologies, transformation in higher education and decoloniality," she said. Her work is published in various accredited journals and books.

Hunt, who hails from KZN and published more than 30 academic papers, has been described as "an academic phenomenon", and was a recipient of last year's prestigious Chancellor's Medal at Stellenbosch University. She is also the first psychology department student to have her master's degree converted to a PhD, and passed with no changes needed.

Yet, in an interview about the achievement, Hunt said she felt “very flattered". “By being named, I think you begin to feel you should work harder to earn the place.“

Asked what drives her in her work, Hunt said: “Coming from a privileged middle-class background in KZN, I started doing volunteer work in the public health system as soon as I got to university. It cemented my understanding that it was a complete accident that I ended up having access to good services while others did not. That accident is a result of inequalities with historical roots. For me healthcare services and systems can make a big difference in quality of life. I want to figure out how to make those services more equitable as it's unfair that they are not."

Ned, who is a board member for the South African Christian Leadership Association and Western Cape Rehabilitation Centre, said her doctorate, entitled 'Reconnecting with indigenous knowledge in education: exploring possibilities for health and well-being in Xhora, South Africa' has really assisted her to have a much more nuanced understand of disability and rehabilitation studies. She is now focused on raising funds to continue her engagements with AmaBomvane for further dissemination of this research using participatory visual methodologies. She also has a research collaboration with the University of Helsinki to focus of disability research in the Global South.

Ned said she feels “grateful and humbled" about being featured on the Mail & Guardian's 200 List. “It is a recognition of work that is mostly located in the margins. Most importantly, I am filled with joy and gratitude towards AmaBomvane in the Eastern Cape as it is through their knowledges that I am this recognised scholar today." She also voiced gratitude to friends, colleagues and the judges.

“The recognition is a form of affirmation as an emerging researcher and a future leader. It's a great privilege to be counted among the best minds and influencers in the country. I hope others are affirmed too that it's possible to re-imagine the present and actually re-create a better future" Ned said.

Acting head of the Department of Global Health, Professor Taryn Young said: “We are proud of Drs Hunt and Ned in being amongst the Mail & Guardian's '200 Young South Africans'. We celebrate their commitment and passion for their work, and value the contributions they are making to society."

Caption: Drs Lieketseng Ned and Xanthe Hunt.

Photo credit: Wilma Stassen

​When final-year medical student Rosemary Pitsi was selected to attend the Global Engagement Summit in Illinois, in the United States earlier this year, she had no idea that what she learnt there would escalate her dream of starting a reading project into an exciting and way more ambitious reality.

The week-long summit – which took place in April - was a turning point for Pitsi's project, Book Buddies, which arose out of her passion for reading and her strong desire to share books with people less privileged than herself.

The Global Engagement Summit, organized and sponsored by Northwestern University, brings people together from all over the world who have a social project and exposes them to mentors and resources aimed at growing their projects.

“From my plan to simply redistribute books from more privileged to less privileged people, I redefined my goal to create a community library at the Emmanuel Centre in Khayelitsha," said Pitsi.

“I explained my goal to one of my mentors who then said 'why not start a community library?' It was a light-bulb moment! At first I was apprehensive, but then I thought, why not challenge myself. I underestimated the number of people who want to be involved. The project has grown so much in the two months since I returned. I cannot wait to see how it grows."

Pitsi, who was born in Pretoria, always loved reading. “My friends and I would exchange books which gave us great exposure to a range of books. I wanted to offer that opportunity to more people, so I started working on a project in which I redistributed literary resources to less privileged people."

She heard about the Global Engagement Summit and was accepted in December last year.

“The summit – which hosted people from all over the world, including Sudan, India and the US – was opened by Cheryl Dorsey, CEO of Echoing Green, a non-profit organization that helps grow social projects. Her inspiring speech set the tone for the whole conference. Then we were exposed to a range of phenomenal guest speakers and individuals from big companies, like Google and Facebook on how to expand our projects, pitch campaigns, create brands and formulate teams. We also learnt how to critically assess a community so as to be of best benefit for them.

“They gave us one-on-one sessions on how to improve our projects. It was sophisticated, professional and an amazing experience. The turning point for me was taking my project from being a thought process to being a proactive plan that I'm now seeing through."

Plans for her community library are coming along nicely and Pitsi is also planning reading sessions for children in the Emmanuel Centre and helping access textbooks for high-school learners.

“I was there recently with Professor Jimmy Volmink who is involved with the centre. Through his connections, Mediclinic donated a structure to the centre that they can use to do homework. I am hoping to form the literary component of the enterprise. I spent a few hours reading to the children. I remain in communication with the guardians of the centre to assess how to move the project forward.

Once she completes her medical studies, Pitsi hopes to do her internship at the Khayelitsha District Hospital – where she has done a few medical rotations. “I love the working environment and the community. I've always imagined myself serving a community in the townships. That's where I grew up in my early years. Also, an opportunity to stay in the Western Cape is always good."

Asked about her long-term goals, Pitsi said: “I will look at how to leverage my leadership skills and use them alongside my passion for medicine. I might go into medical management. Whatever I do, my heart will always be dedicated to health care."

* Anyone interested in getting involved in Pitsi's project can contact her on rosemarypitsi@gmail.com.

Photo credit: Wilma Stassen

​Stellenbosch University (SU) has a zero-tolerance approach to gender-based violence, and is committed to creating an environment free of gender violence and advancing equal rights for all.

This commitment is reinforced by the Equality Unit through its Gender non-Violence portfolio, which is headed by Thembelihle Bongwana. 

As part of South Africa Women's Month celebrations, Thembelihle shares insight into her work at the University.

What is the role of a Gender non-Violence Coordinator?

My role is to network, promote and form strategic alliances institutionally and outside of SU in the building and coordination of a comprehensive institutional strategy aimed at preventing, raising awareness and monitoring of gender related forms of violence, discrimination and victimization.

Staff and students can also report forms of gender violence, sexual harassment and discrimination at the Equality Unit in person or via unfair@sun.ac.za

You are the first person to hold this portfolio. How did this portfolio come about?

The portfolio came into full existence on the 1st of February 2018, with its foundations rooted in the recommendations of the SU End Rape Culture Report 2016/17. The Equality Unit and management deemed it necessary for a Gender non-Violence Portfolio be created in order to coordinate and monitor gender violence and rape culture in a systemic manner.

The portfolio reports to the Rape Culture Monitoring Committee which exercises an oversight role in relation to the implementation of the recommendations tabled in the #EndRapeCultureReport2016/17.

Gender-based violence is a profound and widespread problem in our communities. What role can SU play in addressing this problem?

Gender violence touches every fabric of every society. Many social ills, including domestic violence, social and gender based inequalities disproportionately affect women and other marginalised and vulnerable groups more than their male counterparts.  

As part of society and a key role player, SU must seek to equip its students to be agents of sustainable change in society. The Equality Unit may steer the ship, but we need all our stakeholders on board to make SU live up to its zero-tolerance approach to all forms of unfair discrimination and various forms of harassment.   

Why are you passionate about working in the field of gender?

I think it's safe to say that I was born for this kind of work and my passion for the subject matter comes effortlessly to me. I have always been passionate about the field of gender with my research interest focused on masculinities, gender and development, gendered power dynamics, public eating spaces, gender and science/women in academic institutions.

Do you have a word of encouragement for women?

Women empowerment requires that women themselves pitch up and seize all opportunities presented to them with a sense of purpose and readiness. It is also crucially important for women to constantly be in the know and to seek these opportunities.

 *How to lay a complaint:

Staff and students can report forms of gender violence, sexual harassment and discrimination at the Equality Unit in person or via unfair@sun.ac.za

The unit is not a trauma or crisis support service but a centralised place to report all forms of sexual misconduct as soon as a person is ready to do so.

Trauma or crisis support is available at the Centre of Student Counselling and Development:

• Stellenbosch campus: 021 808 4994
• Tygerberg campus: 021 938 9590
• After hours: ER24 at 010 205 3032
  

When final-year medical student Rosemary Pitsi was selected to attend the Global Engagement Summit in Illinois, in the United States earlier this year, she had no idea that what she learnt there would escalate her dream of starting a reading project into an exciting and way more ambitious reality.

The week-long summit – which took place in April - was a turning point for Pitsi's project, Book Buddies, which arose out of her passion for reading and her strong desire to share books with people less privileged than herself.

The Global Engagement Summit, organized and sponsored by Northwestern University, brings people together from all over the world who have a social project and exposes them to mentors and resources aimed at growing their projects.

“From my plan to simply redistribute books from more privileged to less privileged people, I redefined my goal to create a community library at the Emmanuel Centre in Khayelitsha," said Pitsi.

“I explained my goal to one of my mentors who then said 'why not start a community library?' It was a light-bulb moment! At first I was apprehensive, but then I thought, why not challenge myself. I underestimated the number of people who want to be involved. The project has grown so much in the two months since I returned. I cannot wait to see how it grows."

Pitsi, who was born in Pretoria, always loved reading. “My friends and I would exchange books which gave us great exposure to a range of books. I wanted to offer that opportunity to more people, so I started working on a project in which I redistributed literary resources to less privileged people."

She heard about the Global Engagement Summit and was accepted in December last year.

“The summit – which hosted people from all over the world, including Sudan, India and the US – was opened by Cheryl Dorsey, CEO of Echoing Green, a non-profit organization that helps grow social projects. Her inspiring speech set the tone for the whole conference. Then we were exposed to a range of phenomenal guest speakers and individuals from big companies, like Google and Facebook on how to expand our projects, pitch campaigns, create brands and formulate teams. We also learnt how to critically assess a community so as to be of best benefit for them.

“They gave us one-on-one sessions on how to improve our projects. It was sophisticated, professional and an amazing experience. The turning point for me was taking my project from being a thought process to being a proactive plan that I'm now seeing through."

Plans for her community library are coming along nicely and Pitsi is also planning reading sessions for children in the Emmanuel Centre and helping access textbooks for high-school learners.

“I was there recently with Professor Jimmy Volmink who is involved with the centre. Through his connections, Mediclinic donated a structure to the centre that they can use to do homework. I am hoping to form the literary component of the enterprise. I spent a few hours reading to the children. I remain in communication with the guardians of the centre to assess how to move the project forward.

Once she completes her medical studies, Pitsi hopes to do her internship at the Khayelitsha District Hospital – where she has done a few medical rotations. “I love the working environment and the community. I've always imagined myself serving a community in the townships. That's where I grew up in my early years. Also, an opportunity to stay in the Western Cape is always good."

Asked about her long-term goals, Pitsi said: “I will look at how to leverage my leadership skills and use them alongside my passion for medicine. I might go into medical management. Whatever I do, my heart will always be dedicated to health care."

* Anyone interested in getting involved in Pitsi's project can contact her on rosemarypitsi@gmail.com.

Photo credit: Wilma Stassen

​​

Nominations for a new chancellor of Stellenbosch University (SU) are to open on 14 August 2019. An electoral college, consisting of members of Council, members of the Executive Committee of Senate and the President and the Vice-President of the SU Convocation, will meet on 25 September 2019 to vote for a new incumbent.  

The second and last term of Dr Johann Rupert, SU's 14^th Chancellor, is coming to an end towards the end of 2019 and it is envisaged that the new chancellor will take office on 1 January 2020.

The Chancellor is the titular head of the University, presides at graduation ceremonies and confers all degrees, diplomas and certificates in the name of the University. The chancellor holds office for a term of five years, but may be re-elected for one further term of five years.

“Although a ceremonial role, the position of chancellor is of crucial importance to our institution. He or she should be able to identify with and promote the University's Vision 2040, its mission and its values, and take a keen interest in Stellenbosch University as academic institution," says Dr Ronel Retief, SU Registrar. “The individual should be a thought leader in his or her own right and be a role model for the University community." 

Nominations

All Members of the SU Convocation are eligible to submit nominations and have from 14 August until 4 September 2019 to hand in their nominations. Nominations must be in writing and have to be lodged with the registrar by the deadline of 4 September.

All SU graduates (including current postgraduate students who completed their undergraduate studies at SU), recipients of SU diplomas after 2010, and full-time and retired academic staff of the University are members of the Convocation.

Candidates for chancellor do not have to be members of the SU Convocation.

Each nomination must be signed by at least 20 members of the Convocation and must be accompanied by a signed declaration by the nominee in which he or she accepts the nomination. These forms will be available on the University's website (www.sun.ac.za) on 14 August.

Even if only one nomination is received, the candidate will only be elected chancellor if a majority of the members of the electoral college present, vote in his or her favour.

Liaise with Alfreda Coetzee at tel 021 808 4910 or alfreda@sun.ac.za for more information. Nomination forms will be available on the University's website (www.sun.ac.za) on 14 August.

Nadine Moodie named to Stellenbosch University Council

Ms Nadine Moodie, a management and strategy consultant, has been elected as a member of the Council of Stellenbosch University (SU). Two members are selected by Council, while the rest are representatives of various University Stakeholders such as the Convocation, donors, Senate, those appointed by the Minister of Higher Education, the Student Representative Council, etc.

Moodie, an alumnus of the University and a former student leader, will serve on Council for the period 18 June 2019 until 17 June 2023.

Says Moodie: “I feel honoured and humbled to have been elected to serve on Council and am looking forward to giving back to the SU, a place that aided me in my development and gave me exposure to so many areas of leadership and learning."

A senior associate at Step Advisory, a boutique management consulting firm, Moodie is a management and strategy consultant advising clients in financial services. Previous employment includes senior communications specialist at McKinsey & Company where she was co-responsible for, managing projects across Africa and also spent time working on advanced analytics projects in North America.

Moodie also interned at Media24 upon completion of her studies in 2012.

At SU, she obtained the degrees BPhil (Journalism) and BA (International Studies). She matriculated from the St Cyprian's School in Cape Town

Amongst others, Moodie was named among the Mail & Guardian's Top 200 Young South Africans in 2017 (Business and Entrepreneurship category), while she also received the SU's Vice-Chancellor's Award for Service and Leadership (2009).

Mr George Steyn, Chairperson of Council, says that Council is looking forward to Moodie's expert contributions to Council activities. “Not only can we tap into Ms Moodie's expertise as management and strategy consultant in her own right, but as she has completed her studies at the University not that long ago, she will be able to provide valuable and energetic insights into the lives of young people in the country."

• Mr Ainsley Moos, a member of the executive team of the financial services company, African Rainbow Capital, is the other member selected by Council. He was elected to Council in 2014 and currently serves as the Deputy-Chairperson
  

The 2019 Sanlam Cape Town Marathon (15 September) is upon us, giving yet another opportunity for Stellenbosch University (SU) staff to show their support and raise money for the student-led #Move4Food campaign.

The #Move4Food campaign kicked off in August 2018 with a target of R10 million rand to fight student hunger on our campuses. To date over R1 million in donations and goods have been raised.

Earlier this year, Prof Wim de Villiers participated in the Cape Town Cycling Tour to raise money for #Move4Food and last year he completed the full Sanlam Cape Town Marathon (42,2 km) to raise money for this worthy cause. This year however, Prof De Villiers will be in London in September, where he will take on the London to Brighton Cycling Race with fellow Maties to raise bursary money for Matie students.

So how can YOU help? Please put on your running shoes and #Move4Food! Whether you do the 10km, the full marathon of 42.2km, or the peace or trail runs, you will be doing your part to end student hunger.

Here's what to do:

• If you've already bought your ticket to the marathon, you can sign up to the #Move4Food Maties team by sending an e-mail to ontwikkeling@sun.ac.za .
• If you haven't signed up yet, we've secured a 25% discount on the entry tickets for the 42.2km and 10km races. There are also tickets available for the 5km and trail runs. 
• Send an e-mail to ontwikkeling@sun.ac.za and we will send you a voucher code, which you can use to register on the Cape Town Marathon website. 
• Once registered, you will receive further information on how you too can raise funds among your colleagues, friends and family to help fellow Maties reach their finish line.

Running not your thing? Then donate money on https://www.givengain.com/cc/su100/. Or, if you're planning to participate in any other sporting activities later this year, please let us know via ontwikkeling@sun.ac.za so that we can assist you to show your Matie pride and contribute towards our #Move4Food campaign.

• Photo: #Move4Food supporters at last year's Marathon. ​
  

​Three current and five former Maties are among the 200 notable South Africans under the age of 35 featuring in the Mail & Guardian's annual edition of '200 Young South Africans' who have made their mark in areas such education, health, arts and entertainment, justice and law, and politics and sport. The 2019 edition was published in the Mail & Guardian on Friday (28 June 2019). This year Stellenbosch University (SU) is represented in the following categories by the eight Maties:

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

Zipho Tyoda (32) is the deputy director of earth observations at the Department of Science and Technology, where he oversees the South African National Space Agency and coordinates South Africa's earth observations landscape through the Geneva-based organisation, South Africa-Group on Earth Observations (SA-GEO). He also monitors elements such as the water level of dams to help stakeholders (such as government) make policy decisions. Observations of SA-GEO were used to make important decisions during the recent drought experienced in the Western Cape.

HEALTH

Dr Xanthe Hunt (27) is a researcher at the Institute for Life Course Health Research in SU's Department of Global Health. She is also affiliated with California University and Harvard University. Her work focuses on improving maternal and child health, especially services for young children affected by HIV and their caregivers in Kenya, Mozambique, Malawi, Zambia and Tanzania. She also does research on sexual and reproductive health among people with disabilities and is working on a book about these people's experiences of accessing sexual and reproductive health services.

EDUCATION

Nondumiso Phenyane (28) is one of the youngest Black lecturers at SU's Faculty of Law where she teaches the Law of Evidence and Mercantile Law. Before Nondumiso joined SU, she excelled as a legal researcher at the Supreme Court of Appeal and worked on high-profile cases such as the Director of Prosecutions, Gauteng vs Oscar Pistorius, and Van Breda vs Media24 Limited. She plans to complete a master's degree and a PhD in the next few years focusing on research about access to justice in urban townships.

Having recently obtained her doctorate at SU, Dr Lieketseng Ned (30) is the youngest lecturer at the Centre for Rehabilitation Studies in SU's Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences. Here she convenes the postgraduate diploma programme. Lieketseng is also a board member for the South African Christian Leadership Association and serves as the deputy chair for the Western Cape Rehabilitation Centre. She is passionate about the promotion of indigenous knowledge in disabilities and rehabilitation studies.

ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT

Renaldo Schwarp (27) is Radio Host & Head of Digital at Jacaranda FM. Before joining Jacaranda FM, he worked at MFM, VIA TV as well as CapeTalk. Renaldo also produced an Afrikaans documentary called Skeef which is about the reality of being gay in South Africa and the issues the LGBTI+ community face.

SPORT

Omphile Ramela (31) is a professional cricketer who currently plays for the Bizhub Highveld Lions. He also represented Maties, the Cape Cobras and South Africa A. Omphile is now the president of the South African Cricket Association and the executive director of Thuto Trust. He sees sports as a powerful force that change the lives of many young people.

BUSINESS AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP

Wandile Sihlobo (28) is the chief economist at the Agricultural Business Chamber (Agbiz) of South Africa and also the commissioner at the International Trade Administration Commission of South Africa. Last year he was a member of an advisory panel on land reform appointed by President Cyril Ramaphosa. Wandile writes regularly for Business Day, Fin24 and Farmer's Weekly.

POLITICS AND GOVERNANCE

Aakanksha Malik-Nair (35) is Acting Director of Tourism in the Western Cape's Department of Economic Development and Tourism where she sees to that this industry creates work and help boost the country's economy. She is passionate about the empowerment of minorities and works towards the elimination of inequality and injustice.

​As the nominations for the '200 Young South Africans' were not submitted by Corporate Communication, there may be other current and former Maties on the list that we do not know about. The bio of each nominee is a slight adaptation of the one appearing on the list of the Mail & Guardian. 

• Click here for a complete list of the 2019 Young South Africans.
  

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Stellenbosch University (SU) on Thursday (20 June 2019) officially acquired a special manuscript collection of the Institute for Democratic Alternatives in South Africa (IDASA). The collection was acquired through the financial support of the Swiss Confederation and handed over by the ambassador of Switzerland to South Africa, Her Excellency, Ms Helene Budliger Artieda, at the Stellenbosch University Library.

“This has been an amazing journey. Switzerland is proud to be associated with this archive and these manuscripts. We have been working on this since late 2015. I'm happy that there will be a lasting memory at Stellenbosch University and that this collection is where it needs to be," said Artieda during the handover.

The IDASA manuscript collection contains unique photographs, manuscripts and other material depicting South Africa's political history during the 80s and early 90s, which Prof Wim de Villiers, Rector and Vice-Chancellor at SU believes will be of great benefit to researchers and students.

“Stellenbosch University is committed to 'research for impact' – that is a core theme in our strategic framework. It is our vision to become Africa's leading research-intensive university, globally recognised as excellent, inclusive and innovative, where we advance knowledge in service of society and this manuscript collection will help us do exactly that," said Prof De Villiers.

Dr Frederik van Zyl Slabbert and Dr Alex Boraine formed the Institute for Democratic Alternatives in South Africa (IDASA), later known as the Institute for Democracy in South Africa, in 1986. IDASA's initial focus from 1987 was creating an environment for white South Africans to talk to the banned liberation movement in exile, the African National Congress (ANC) prior to its unbanning in 1990 by then President FW de Klerk. After the first democratic election in 1994, IDASA's focus changed to ensue the establishment of democratic institutions in the country, political transparency and good governance. The institute was later dissolved in 2013.

Slabbert, who passed away in 2010, was an alumnus of SU and the institution's 13th Chancellor. The IDASA manuscript collection complements other similar collections in the Library, including The Frederik Van Zyl Slabbert Collection, which was donated to SU in 2014 and opened in 2015.

“We owe Drs Slabbert and Boraine and IDASA a debt of gratitude for helping to shape the environment within which Stellenbosch University could grow more inclusive to the point where we are today, an integrated academic community that celebrates critical thinking, promotes debate and is committed to democracy, human rights and social justice, with an outward, international focus on the future," said Prof De Villiers.

Also in attendance at the handover ceremony was Mr Paul Graham, former executive director ofIDASA, who gave an extensive overview of the history and significant role the organisation played in shaping South Africa's democracy. He stated that IDASA was always committed to building capacity for democracy amongst citizens and their governments and is a model that is still worth following today.

“I remain convinced that these tasks are necessary in South Africa as elsewhere, and am glad that the Stellenbosch University Library will continue to contribute to that task through the materials made accessible to scholars, and we hope practitioners," said Graham.

Parts of the IDASA Collection will also be available digitally on the SU library website at http://digital.lib.sun.ac.za/.

For more information on the IDASA Collection contact Mimi Seyffert-Wirth from the SU Library at 021 808 9489 or email mseyf@sun.ac.za. 

Photos by Hennie Rudman. 

​

Stellenbosch University's Library and Information Service has reached another milestone as South African leader in open access to knowledge with the launch of its SUNScholarData repository.

In the past decade, the management of research data has taken on a more prominent role in tertiary education institutions around the world. This has been primarily due to the increasingly data-centric nature that academic research has taken.

As a leading research institution, Stellenbosch University (SU) is helping to address this issue by taking the necessary steps to adopt appropriate data management practices. One of these steps is the establishment of an institutional research data repository at the University called SUNScholarData.  

SU's Library and Information Service officially launched it on Monday, 12 August 2019 at The Stellenbosch Institute for Advanced Study (STIAS) in Stellenbosch.

During the launch event Ms Ellen Tise, Senior Director: Library and Information Services at SU, excitedly shared her joy with those in attendance about finally launching SUNScholarData. According to Tise, it has taken over seven years to establish and launch SUNScholarData, making it the longest project the library has embarked on in recent years.

“It has been quite a long journey. The day has finally arrived for Stellenbosch University to join the growing number of institutions around the world who have established research data repository. I'm super excited and so pleased that we have come this far," Tise said.

The implementation of SUNScholarData forms part of the Library and Information Service's role regarding research data support which has been identified as a strategic objective of the Library and Information Service in terms of supporting research by providing world-class, diverse, innovative and client-oriented services.

Some of the set of services that SUNScholarData as institutional research data repository will provide is to capture, store, index, preserve and redistribute the University's research data in digital formats. There are also two purposes for relying on an institutional research data repository. Firstly, this would create a medium through which SU's research data can be made findable and accessible. Secondly, it would facilitate the interoperability and re-usability of the University's research data.

Prof Eugene Cloete, Vice-Rector (Research, Innovation and Postgraduate Studies) at SU, said in his welcoming at the event the launch of SUNScholarData was a direct result of the Berlin Declaration on Open Access to Knowledge in the Sciences and Humanities that SU signed in 2010.

“The Library and Information Service has really taken the lead in South Africa when it comes to open access and it started way back in 2010 when we became the first university to sign the Berlin Declaration on Open Access to Knowledge in the Sciences and Humanities. Since then the library has strengthened and developed its own initiatives including SUNScholar, an open institutional repository established in 2008, SUNJournals, an open journal-hosting platform established in 2011, and then SUNDigital Collections, a digital heritage repository established in 2013 and now we continue with our open science journey with the launch of SUNScholarData," said Cloete.

The main functionalities of SUNScholarData will help with research data management, research data dissemination, administrative workflow management, impact and usage reporting.

Prof Wim de Villiers, SU Rector and Vice-Chancellor believes that SUNScholar will be a leading digital archive for the preservation and promotion of the research output of Stellenbosch University.

“Our Vision 2040 is to become 'Africa's leading research-intensive university, globally recognised as excellent, inclusive and innovative, where we advance knowledge in service of society' – and SUNScholarData will help us get there," De Villiers remarked at the launch.

For more information on SUNScholarData and SU's Library and Information Service's other repository platforms, click here.

​Photos by Hennie Rudman.

​​Stellenbosch University (SU)'s new School for Data Science and Computational Thinking was officially launched on Monday (29 July 2019) at a function at the Stellenbosch Institute for Advanced Study. Aiming to be a world-class institution for data science and computational thinking in and for Africa, the newly established School will work across SU's ten faculties with multi- and inter- and trans-disciplinary collaboration. It will also span the entire academic project, from under- and postgraduate training to research and specialist consultation.

Speaking at the launch, SU Rector and Vice-Chancellor Prof Wim de Villiers described the School for Data Science and Computational Thinking as a game-changer in higher education, both in South Africa and beyond.

“Through our new School for Data Science and Computational Thinking, Stellenbosch University is ready to enhance South Africa's competitiveness in the Fourth Industrial Revolution."

“The School provides a single platform for collaboratively advancing knowledge in service of society – in an interdisciplinary way."

De Villiers said the world is changing fast, especially in terms of the gathering, sharing and exploitation of data and the new School is SU's stake in the unfolding future.  

He added that new School is a tangible expression of SU's new Vision and Strategic Framework in terms of which the institution strives to be relevant to the people of South Africa, continent and the rest of the world, and making meaningful contributions of the highest quality that will take humanity forward.

Echoing De Villiers' sentiments, Dr Wim Delva, Acting Director of the School for Data Science and Computational Thinking, said the entity will connect people in government, business and non-profit organisations as they seek to use big data to address the challenges South Africa faces as a country.

In addition to offering online programmes that are future-proof, the School will provide a roadmap to prospective students of what they can study in the field of data science, added Delva.

He invited various societal role-players to partner with the School, saying we need to work together in utilising big data to the benefit of all South Africans.

​In a video message, Minister of Higher Education, Science and Technology Blade Nzimande described the launch as a transformative and historic event for SU and higher education in South Africa. He said the government is particularly pleased that the School will offer distance and online tuition and help prepare students for a different and rapidly changing work environment.

“Our task as government and universities is to prepare our youth and adults for the skills of the future which include, among others, robotics, artificial intelligence, the internet of things, autonomous vehicles and 3D-printing."

“The new world of work will be a place where the discovery of useful knowledge from data will become integral to most of what students will do in future," added Nzimande.

• ​Click here for the Rector's speech.
• Click here for the Rector's opinion piece on big data as a game-changer for higher education.
• Click here for Dr Wim Delva's article on data science in Africa.

Photo: Dr Wim Delva,  Acting Director of the School for Data Science and Computational Thinking, speaking at the launch. Photographer: Stefan Els

A prominent researcher at the Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences at Stellenbosch University (SU), associate professor Josephine Kaviti Musango, was recognized for her research when she was awarded one of only two research chairs in South Africa by a trilateral research chair initiative.

Musango, of the Faculty's School of Public Leadership, obtained the chair through the SA-AFRICA-UK Trilateral South African Research Chairs Initiative (SARChI).

The SA-AFRICA-UK Trilateral SARChI is supported by South Africa's Department of Science and Technology through the National Research Foundation (NRF) and the British Council. It promotes collaboration between research and academic centres of excellence in SA, UK and an African country. 

The key objectives of the SA-AFRICA-UK Trilateral SARChI research chair are to:

• Build capacity across Africa by enabling mobility of African students and technical support staff to SARChI research chairs in South Africa, UK and an African country;
• Provide mentorship and support PhD co-supervision;
• Contribute toward increasing the output of PhDs in South Africa; and
• Build new links between SA-AFRICA-UK- higher education and research institutions.
  

Musango was appointed the chair in May following an application process that started in July 2018. The chair will be officially launched in October.

She says being awarded the chair is recognition for her research efforts - inspired during her Transdisciplinary Doctoral at SU - to understand and respond to global and policy challenges relating to energy poverty, energy security and energy policy in an African context.

As the chair, Musango will collaborate with Dr Amollo Ambole of the University of Nairobi in Kenya and Dr Fabrizio Ceschin of the  Brunel University London to develop and advance evidence-based research under the cross-cutting theme of “Gender Mainstreaming", and the trilateral chair name of “Mainstreaming Gender for Energy Security in Poor Urban Environments".

She says by unpacking the three keywords of “Mainstreaming Gender", “Energy Security" and “Urban Poor Environments", they intend to utilise gender mainstreaming as a strategy to achieve energy security in poor urban societies.

“The overall objective of the Trilateral SARChI Chair during the first five years is to explore gendered innovations and commercialised energy opportunities in poor urban societies through two case studies in Nairobi and Cape Town," says Musango.

Another feather in the university's cap is that Musango was awarded the accolade despite the trilateral research chair normally only being awarded to researchers who are full professors and considered to be thought leaders benchmarked internationally.

Dr Makobetsa Khati, executive director of Research Chairs and Centres of Excellence at the NRF, says the associate professor deserves the chair because of her impressive academic credentials and track record.

These include leading a research team called Urban Modelling and Metabolism Assessment (uMAMA – www.umama-africa.com) to track resource flows that shape African cities and developing innovative tools to understand and measure energy metabolism in informal settlements.

Dr Therina Theron, senior director of Research Development at SU, says Musango's chair will enable the university to achieve its objectives of highlighting “research for impact", becoming South Africa's leading research-intensive university and addressing challenges in society.

The NRF and the British Council will fund the chair for a period of five years, with the option of having it renewed for a further five years.

Stellenbosch University staff members who play an active social impact role through research, learning and teaching, volunteerism, special programmes and the building and servicing of partnerships in society are asked to register their initiatives on the Social Impact Platform: https://www.sun.ac.za/si. The Division for Social Impact would like to assist with highlighting and enhancing this valuable work. The annual deadline for registrations is 30 November.

Why register?

By registering your initiative:

• Stellenbosch University's impact work is made visible within the university, to external societal partners (including government, business/industry and civil society), to funders and to the public;
• potential is created to collaborate within and across disciplines for greater impact;
• you will be eligible to apply for funding opportunities made available annually by the Division for Social Impact: https://www.sun.ac.za/si/en-za/Pages/Funding-opportunities.aspx;
• you will be eligible to apply for funding from the Development and Alumni Relations Office, which supports registered social impact initiatives; and
• you will have a portfolio of evidence of your social impact initiatives for performance evaluation purposes.

For any queries relating to the registration process, please contact Rachael Spiers: rspiers@sun.ac.za.

​​Prof Ingrid Woolard, Dean of the Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences, delivered her inaugural lecture entitled Mind the gap: Income inequality in post-apartheid South Africa on 7 August 2019.

Woolard, who is also a professor in the Department of Economics, painted a picture of the changing pattern of income inequality in South Africa since the dawn of democracy, and the key drivers of this inequality.

Based on a body of work spanning the last 25 years, Woolard pointed out that although poverty has fallen since 1993, inequality has not changed very much over the same period.

“The poorest 40% of people accrue about 6% of total income, while the richest 10% of people are earning about 57% of income. This shows a very stark picture of income inequality," she said.

She highlighted the roles that fiscal policy – personal income taxes, cash transfers, education and health spending – have in reducing income inequality.

Woolard said questions remain about the roles and importance of assets and wealth in perpetuating the high levels of inequality, as well as why the South African labour market continues to display such extraordinary levels of unemployment.

“This requires a better grasp of the demand for labour, in conjunction with more sophisticated understanding of market structure and market power," she said.

According to Woolard the trends in inequality are related to deep-rooted factors that change slowly.  These deep drivers of inequality include strong path dependency, enduring social stratification that creates persistent group-based inequalities, deep-seated norms and preferences regarding redistribution, the particular role of social movements within a specific context, the strong link between economic and political inequality, and demographic dynamics with large inequality implications.

“These are topics which economists are inadequately trained to investigate, let alone address.   Making progress on inequality reduction requires much greater collaborative efforts with colleagues from other disciplines – historians, political scientists, lawyers, demographers and sociologists," she concluded.

Woolard's areas of research interest include the measurement of poverty and inequality, unemployment, social protection and fiscal policy. She is a research affiliate at the United Nations University World Institute for Development Economics Research, the Institute for the Study of Labour and the Commitment to Equity Institute, and an honorary professor at the University of Cape Town.

From 2008 to 2014, she served on the Employment Conditions Commission, which advises the South African Minister of Labour on making sectoral determinations concerning working conditions and minimum wages in sectors where collective bargaining is weak.

She served on the Davis Tax Committee from 2013 to 2018.

• To see a video of the inaugural lecture, click here​.
• Photo by Anton Jordaan: F.l.t.r. are Prof Nico Koopman, Vice-Rector: Social Impact, Transformation and Personnel; Prof Ingrid Woolard, Dean of the Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences; and Prof Stan du Plessis, Chief Operating Officer of Stellenbosch University.
  

On 1 September 2019, Stellenbosch University (SU) will welcome Prof Mbulungeni Madiba as Dean of the Faculty of Education. Prof Madiba, who joins SU from the University of Cape Town (UCT), considers Stellenbosch (University) to be one of the highly ranked universities in the country and on the continent, “and it is quite an honour for me to be part of such an institution”.

Prof Madiba is currently serving as the director of the Multilingual Education Project (MEP) in the Centre for Higher Education Development (CHED) at UCT. He has been deputy dean and acting dean of the CHED a number of times, chairs UCT’s Senate Language Committee and serves on the UCT Council.

Prof Madiba is not only bringing with him over 30 years’ of teaching experience, but also a wealth of experience in leadership and management. “I am excited to join the Faculty of Education as dean and look forward to working with all staff and providing good leadership and management to enable the faculty to grow in its mission and become a leading research-intensive education faculty in the country.”

A full professor of Multilingual Education, Prof Madiba holds a DLitt et Phil (Linguistics) degree from the University of South Africa (Unisa). He has also received research fellowships and study awards from a number of higher education institutions abroad, including the universities of Cologne, London (Oppenheimer fellow), Birmingham and Harvard (Mandela fellow).

As an established researcher with a C-rating from the National Research Foundation, his main research interests are language planning and policy, with a special focus on multilingual education.

Prof Madiba’s appointment is for an initial term of five years, with the possibility of a second term. He will be taking over the reins from Prof Christa van der Walt, Vice-Dean (Research), who has been serving as Acting Dean since Prof Johan Malan retired at the end June.

Photo: Je’nine May, University of Cape Town.​