​The wheelchair athlete and member of the Maties-Helderberg Sports Club for People with Disabilities, Ernst van Dyk, won his 10th title in the wheelchair race in the annual Boston Marathon. In the process, he became the first athlete in any of the categories of the race to win on 10 occasions.

His time of 1:20:35 was 38 seconds faster than Japan's Kota Hokinoue in second. It was Van Dyk's fastest time at the Boston with only his 2004 effort of 1:18:27 that was faster – at the time the course record.

As usual Van Dyk had an aggressive tactic by breaking way from his competitors early one. They however grouped together and tried to overhaul him and at some stage ge could feel them coming nearer. However, he was first over "Heartbreak Hill" (between 32-34 km) – after which he knew he was able to hang in there with the help of the spectators. This was indeed the case and he was able to win his first title since 2010.

He also managed good form after coming in third in London the previous week.

• Further good news for the Maties-Helderberg Club is that the Paralympian athlete, Fanie van der Merwe, will receive the National Order of Ikhamanga (silver) for his contribution in the field of paralympic athletics.
  

The latest edition of Matieland, Stellenbosch University's news and alumni magazine, is all about the future. Click here.

The theme of this edition is (Your future-focused university). Together with the two previous editions – with inclusivity and innovation as themes – the three editions tie in with the new vision of the University.

"To be future-focused does not mean that you know what is going to happen in future, but rather that you are prepared for what may happen in future. This is also true of universities," says Martin Viljoen, Matieland editor. "In this edition, we have a look at among others, the role that the university of the future should play and how your alma mater takes on this challenge. See for example the article by Prof Russel Botman, SU Rector, in this regard."

In other articles technology writer Willem Kempen asks if your watch were automatically to send your location to the nearest ambulance service because your electrocardiogram shows that you were about to get a heart attack; science writer Engela Duvenage asked food experts on what will end up on our plates as food of the future and Prof Anton van Niekerk, writes on the rise of the super human.

Numerous SU experts also contributed to the theme. These include Professors Albert Grundlingh (History), André Roux (Institute for Futures Research), Karen Esler (Conservation Ecology and Entomology), Alan Brent (Centre for Renewable and Sustainable Energy Studies), Dr Nicola de Jager (Political Science), Mr Chris Munnik (Facilities Management) and Ms Wilma Stassen (Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences).

Also, Wiida Fourie-Basson of the Faculty of Science talked to Prof Eugene Cloete, Vice-Rector: Research and Innovation on the university of the future as well as with Prof Jannie Hofmeyr of the Centre for Complexity Studies for her article "Unravelling the biochemical factory of life". Matieland's book editor, Stephanie Niewoudt, wrote on the future of art, while Pia Nänny of Communication and Liaison looked at the careers of the future.

You are also invited to meet the dynamic Dr Darren Green – TV doctor, columnist, motivational speaker, performing artist and family man. In addition he played rugby for Western Province!

"As always, we have opinion editorials by students and news on faculty initiatves, alumni, books, culture and sport. You can also read an article on how the Konservatorium put spring in the step of Khumba, a little zebra," invites Viljoen.

• Give your views on the magazine through to the editor, Martin Viljoen, at tel 021 808 4921 or via e-mail at media@sun.ac.za.
• Read Matieland here. T
  

​"Today I am a relieved man," said Gys Steyn, son of Stellenbosch University (SU) Council Chairperson, Mr George Steyn, on Wednesday morning (23 April 2014).

He was one of the 469 students in the B-Group of the Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences who obtained their degrees at the second April 2014 graduation ceremony.

Gys, who received his BCom degree, said he enjoyed the last few years as well as staying in Wilgenhof Men's Residence. He is currently doing his Honours in Logistics at SU.

When asked if he would follow in the footsteps of his grandfather (a former SU Council Chairperson) and father (current Chairperson of SU Council), Gys said he rather prefers to walk his own path.

Also among the BCom graduates were Charlton Roux, brother of Ms Chené Roux, a Human Resources Practitioner at SU, Francisca Heese, daugther of SU's former archivist Dr Hans Heese and Sheree Davids, an Imfundo Trust bursary holder.

Sheree is currently doing her Bachelor of Commerce Honours and says she is looking forward to one day becoming a financial risk manager. Imfundo Trust is a scholarship initiative of the Old Mutual Investment Group (OMIGSA) that aims to address the shortage of black investment professionals and grow the pool of suitably qualified individuals in the asset management industry.

At Wednesday evening's graduation ceremony, the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences awarded its medal for the best master's student and thesis which was completed in 2013 to Ms Andrea Palk.

She also received her degree MA (Philosophy) cum laude.

Palk achieved a mark of 85% for her degree, and one examiner remarked that it is a pity her thesis had not been upgraded to a doctorate, because of the high quality of work she has delivered.

For every module Palk has completed since starting her BA studies at SU, she passed with distinction.

Before starting her studies at SU, Palk performed as a soprano in operas in the United Kingdom and is well-known for her Mozart interpretations.

The topic of her thesis is: The morality of transhumanism: assessing human dignity arguments. Her study leader was Prof Anton van Niekerk. She has also been Van Niekerk's academic assistant over the past few years.

The Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences (Group B) and Faculty of Arts  graduation ceremonies on Wednesday were the second and third respectively of seven ceremonies taking place this week. Degrees in the Faculties of Science, AgriSciences, Theology and Engineering will be awarded on Thursday 24 April at 17:00.  

Also on Thursday, two separate ceremonies to award doctoral degrees will take place in the Endler Hall in the Konservatorium.  At 10:00 doctoral degrees in the Faculties of Science, Agri Sciences, Economic and Management Sciences and Engineering will be awarded and at 14:00 in the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, Education, Theology, Law and Medicine and Health Sciences.

The graduation ceremonies come to an end on Friday when honorary degrees will be awarded to musician David Kramer, businessman and physician, Dr Edwin Hertzog, the theologian, Prof Wolfgang Huber and former SU Rector and Vice-Chancellor, Prof Andreas van Wyk. 

Photo 1: Miets Steyn, Gys Steyn and George Steyn; Photo 2: Sheree Davids and Prof Russel Botman; Photo 3: Andrea Palk and her supervisor, Prof Anton van Niekerk.

Photographer: Anton Jordaan

• Click here for a video of Wednesday morning's graduation ceremony.
• Click here for a video of Wednesday evening's graduation ceremony.

• All the graduation ceremonies can be followed live on the internet at www.sun.ac.za/streaming.
• Visit Stellenbosch University's Facebook page and tag yourself in photographs.
• Tweet using the hashtag #SUgraduation and mention @Matiesstudents and @StellenboschUni in your tweet.

​​From the eastern highlands of Zimbabwe, in the tributaries of the Save River on the Nyanga Mountain range, the first freshwater crab species endemic to Zimbabwe was found by a doctoral student from Stellenbosch University.

Dr Ethel Phiri, who received her PhD in Botany and Zoology during the April graduation ceremony of Stellenbosch University this week (Thursday, 24 April 2014), says this is the first discovery of an endemic crab species in Zimbabwe, and she collected it herself during a sampling trip in December 2011.

The new species, the Mutare rivier crab (Potamonautes mutareensis), is named after the town Mutare, as it was the town nearest to where the first specimen was discovered.

This brings the number of known freshwater crab species in Zimbabwe to four. The other three species are not endemic to Zimbabwe, but are widely distributed in southern Africa.

The results of Dr Phiri's research was published in the journal Invertebrate Systematics, with the title "Hidden in the highlands: the description and phylogenetic position of a novel endemic freshwater crab species (Potamonautidae: Potamonautes) from Zimbabwe".

This is the first time in more than fifty years that a new freshwater crab species has been identified in Zimbabwe. This means there may be more unidentified endemic crab species, but until recently researchers have not been able to conduct systematic surveys due to political unrest.

In 2012, her study leader Prof Savel Daniels and a colleague described two new freshwater crab species from Mozambique and Malawi. They then hypothesised that high-lying mountainous inland areas may be harbouring many more undescribed and probably endemic species, and that these areas should be the target of further research.

In another academic article, published in the Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society recently, Dr Phiri looked at the distribution of freshwater crab species in the Cape Fold Mountains in South Africa. She found that the species Potamonautes perlatus sensu stricto is confined to western flowing drainages. She also identified two new species, Potamonautes barbarai, which occurs only in the Gamtoos and Gourits Rivers, and Potamonautes barnardi, found only in the Breede River.

The research formed part of her doctoral thesis, which investigated the evolutionary development and history of the Afrotropical freshwater crab fauna.

More about freshwater crabs in sub-Saharan Africa

While freshwater crabs are mainly known as scavengers, they also play an important role in freshwater ecosystems as shredders of organic material such as leaf litter and wood. In turn, they are fed upon by various fish species, otters and water mongoose.

Potamonautes (first described in 1838) is the most widespread and diverse freshwater crab genus among the seven genera occurring in sub-Saharan Africa. At present there are an estimated 79 described freshwater crab species in this genus, with several novel species being described annually. However, records of new species in countries like Mozambique, Zimbabwe and Malawi remain limited due to undersampling.

Dr Phiri's Zimbabwean Potamonautes mutareensis and the Malawian Potamonautes mulanjeensis both share a common ancestor with a group (clade) comprising all the large-bodied riverine freshwater crab species from South Africa.

More about the evolutionary genomics research group at SU

The Department of Botany and Zoology's research group in evolutionary genomics focuses uses their expertise of various molecular techniques to investigate the evolutionary history of animals and plants on land and in water.

For more information, contact Dr Ethel Phiri at ephiri@sun.ac.za

Issued by Wiida Fourie-Basson, media: Faculty of Science, Stellenbosch University, science@sun.ac.za, 021 808-2684, 071 099 5721

"Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world." The oft-quoted late Pres Nelson Mandela's words ring as true today, as they did in the 1960s and after South Africa's first democratic elections in 1994. 

Quoting the late former President and recalling his unmistakable role in the country's development, Prof Russel Botman, SU Rector and Vice-Chancellor welcomed representatives from 17 AC21 partner-universities as well as 10 observer institutions at the opening of the 7^th AC21 International Forum.

Prof Botman joined Rectors, Vice-Presidents and other delegates from universities around the world to discuss several pertinent issues facing higher education today within the broader theme "Science for Society: Higher Education as Builder of Hope" at the AC21 (Academic Consortium for the 21^st Century) International Forum, held at Spier Conference Centre in Stellenbosch, 13 – 16 April.

The consortium's function and activities take their cue from the view that universities have a vital role to play in human development. Since its inception in 2002, at the first meeting at Nagoya University in Japan, the AC21 consortium believes: "In an era of continuous change, we believe that institutions of higher education must take the initiative in responding to the rapidly transforming needs of society […] The optimum means to accomplish this would be an international university network" owing to its shared "knowledge, expertise and experience". It is these shared resources and knowledge that will allow universities today to respond to important societal questions.

This notion was carried through by the keynote speakers, in addition to Prof Botman. The Rector of the University of Freiburg in Germany, Prof Dr Hans Schiewer shared the university's approach to environmental sustainability; Mr Gahleeb Jeppie, Chief Director: International Relations at the Department of Higher Education and Training, explained the South African Higher Education Internationalisation Strategy and Prof Arnold Van Zyl, Rector of Chemnitz University of Technology argued the importance of universities in the innovation chain. Prof Pascale Quester from the University of Adelaide shared the concept of co-creation where university management and the student body worked together to better university structures, services and use of campus space.

This notion of various partnerships for collective impact was underlined by Prof Botman, when he explained Hope@Africa and Hope International, SU's approach to international collaboration for collective impact. Through Hope@Africa, African universities are going to combine their ICT platforms to leapfrog brick-and-mortar restrictions to learning and teaching. And through Hope International, we aim to build global consensus around universities doing science for society.

The broader Forum theme also allowed for exploration of several subthemes and added a unique African characteristic to the Forum: panel discussions on African Partnerships created a platform for questions and answers on the barriers that African universities in particular are facing today: different languages, university infrastructure and policy as well as governmental challenges.

That international collaboration is necessary in response to societal need cannot be overstated. The idea of collective impact, according to Prof Botman, "recognises that social problems have multiple causes – and multiple solutions – and that these are interrelated and interdependent. They cannot be addressed by uncoordinated actions among isolated organisations. Each stakeholder's efforts must fit into an overarching plan if their combined efforts are to succeed."

AC21 – Academic Consortium for the 21^st Century – is a consortium comprising 19 Higher Education Institutions in Australia, China, France, Germany, Indonesia, Lao Peoples Democratic Republic, South Africa (Stellenbosch University), Thailand and the United States and is coordinated by Nagoya University in Japan. The 2014 International Forum was hosted by Stellenbosch University. Read more about the International Forum here. Read more about AC21 here.

Pictured above is Prof Russel Botman symbolically handing over the AC21 Presidency to Prof Arnold van Zyl, Rector of TU Chemnitz in Germany where the AC21 2016 International Forum will be hosted.

Two second cousins earned their doctoral degrees in theoretical physics and laser physics during Stellenbosch University's April graduation ceremony this week.

But Monty (27) and Chris (27) Rohwer's family also has a particular historical connection with Stellenbosch University, which began shortly after the end of the Second World War and which includes several degrees, including six doctoral degrees in chemistry, mathematics and physics.

Monty's grandfather, Prof Egmont Rohwer, was a lecturer and later head of the Department of Chemistry at SU from 1943 until his retirement in 1977. All seven of his children obtained degrees from the university varying from BEngineering and BSc, to five PhDs. One of his sons, Prof Erich Rohwer (and also Monty's father), is currently head of the Department of Physics at SU.

Chris is the third child in his family to obtain a PhD. His eldest brother, Prof Johann Rohwer, obtained a PhD in biochemistry from the University of Amsterdam in the Netherlands. He is currently teaching in the Department of Biochemistry at SU. The second brother, Dr Mark Rohwer, did a PhD in Chemistry at the University of the Free State and now works for the Scientific and Industrial Research Council (CSIR). Both completed their undergraduate studies at SU.

Chris' father, Rolf, was principal of the Deutsche Schule Hermannsburg in KwaZulu-Natal from 1969 until 1999, after which he and his wife, Christel, retired to Somerset West. The school is about 25km outside Greytown and was established in 1856 to provide for the needs of a growing German settlers community. The first Rohwer arrived in South Africa in 1920 to take up the position of pastor in the Lutheran Church in nearby Harburg. Pastor Johann Rohwer and his wife, Henriëtte, had six children. All of them, as well as many of the grand- and great-grandchildren, attended the Deutsche Schule Hermannsburg.

Future plans

Despite all the PhDs and other specialist fields in the bigger family, the two new graduates reckon there are sufficient other interests to talk about. However, conversations around the family barbeque fire usually tend to be "very interesting".

Chris, who matriculated from Parelvallei High School in Somerset West, says he has always known that he wanted to do something in the field of mathematics. But it was in his second year at university that theoretical physics piqued his attention. In 2004 Chris was among the Top 20 learners in the Western Cape, with an average of 97% for physical sciences.

The title of his dissertation was "Combinatorics and dynamics in polymer knots". He leaves for Germany later this year where he is taking up a postdoctoral fellowship at the Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems in Stuttgart.

Monty, who is also a former Parelvallei pupil, says he has never really considered which career to follow one day: "I have always chosen that which was the most interesting to me. To tell the truth, I have not even thought about a career in physics. I find physics infinitely interesting, and for now the research is challenging and exciting."

His doctoral research at SU's Laser Research Institute was part of an international research project looking at new sources of energy, in this case specifically that of dye-sensitized solar cells that convert sunlight into electricity.

Monty is also taking off in the direction of Europe later this year. He will pursue postdoctoral research at the University of Bern in Switzerland.

Enquiries

Prof Erich Rohwer

Head: Department of Physics, Stellenbosch University

Tel: 021 808-3372

E-mail: egr@sun.ac.za

Prof Johann Rohwer

Department of Biochemistry, Stellenbosch University

Tel: 021 808-5843

E-mail: jr@sun.ac.za

Dr Monty Rohwer

Tel: 021 808-2593

E-mail: erohwer@sun.ac.za

Dr Chris Rohwer

E-mail: crohwer@sun.ac.za

Issued by Wiida Fourie-Basson, media: Faculty of Science, Stellenbosch University, science@sun.ac.za, 021 808-2684, 071 099 5721

​Scientists are calling for the immediate revision of the treatment regimen for multi- and extensively (MDR and XDR) drug-resistant TB in South Africa after a recent study showed that the current treatment regimen is ineffective and contributes to the development of XDR-TB instead of preventing it.

This study debunks the common belief that the widespread occurrence of XDR-TB in the country is a result of MDR-patients defaulting on their treatment, and shifts the blame to the standard treatment regimen being ineffective and potentially promoting the amplification of resistance.

"This study, for the first time, clearly reveals the flaws of drug regimens in use in South Africa and suggests that poor treatment rather than patient non-adherence represents the major driver of the emergence of XDR-TB," reads a statement by one of the lead researchers, Dr Borna Muller, an epidemiologist at Stellenbosch University's Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences (SU FMHS).

MDR-TB is resistant to the most effective anti-TB drugs, while XDR-TB shows additional resistance to alternative drugs leaving few effective treatment options and resulting in very poor patient outcomes.

Ten percent of all TB cases in South Africa are believed to be MDR-TB, and 10 percent of that are XDR-TB. The highest rates of MDR and XDR-TB were recorded in the Western Cape, Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal, with treatment success rates below 50% for MDR-TB and considerably poorer outcomes for XDR-TB.

The study, led by researchers from SU FMHS and published in the journal PLOS One, analysed the specific genetic strains of MDR-TB responsible for the majority of XDR-TB cases in South Africa. The most prominent strain showed particular high resistance to two first line drugs (ethambutol and pyrazinamide) and one second line drug (ethionamide) suggesting that the current drug regimen for MDR-TB is ineffective to kill and prevent transmission of these strains.

"These regimens were ineffective as they did not take into account that a significant proportion of MDR-TB strains are resistant to two or three of the drugs included in the five drug standardised MDR-TB treatment regimen," says Rob Warren, professor in molecular biology and human genetics at the FMHS.

"These strains have been 'bred' inadvertently over the last decades through the use of only limitedly effective standardised treatment regimens and the absence of regular drug resistance testing," reads Muller's statement.

For example, they found that the most prominent XDR-TB strain detected in the Eastern Cape affected more than 40% of all MDR-TB cases and was simultaneously resistant to at least nine anti-TB drugs.

"These strains are readily transmitted, quickly acquire additional resistance and may eventually become untreatable. There is a considerable risk that subsequently such untreatable strains also spread in the community."

The research team from Stellenbosch University, the Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute and the University of Basel in Switzerland, the Aurum Institute, the University of KwaZulu-Natal and the National Health Laboratory Services, analysed 4 667 TB, MDR and XDR sputum samples collected from the Western Cape, Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal to determine the most predominant strains.

"XDR-TB in KwaZulu-Natal was primarily driven by strains belonging to the KZN/LAM4/F15 lineage while in the Eastern Cape the XDR-TB epidemic was restricted to the Atypical Beijing lineage," says Warren. "This clearly demonstrates that these XDR-TB strains have emerged independently in the two different provinces. A similar situation was observed in the Western Cape where XDR-TB was associated with the Typical Beijing lineage. However, in that province XDR-TB strains from the Atypical Beijing lineage were also highly prevalent suggesting migration of XDR-TB cases between provinces".

Based on these findings, the researchers call for an immediate strengthening of the standard treatment for MDR-TB in South Africa.

​​Professor André Coetzee, head of the Department Anaesthesiology and Critical Care, received his DSc degree this week. This is his fourth doctorate, making him the fifth person at the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences to achieve this milestone.

What makes the event even more special is that his daughter, Carien, received her PhD on the same day. Her doctorate is in oenology research on Sauvignon Blanc wine.

Prof Coetzee's clinical interest is adult critical care and anesthesia for heart and lung surgical procedures, and his DSc degree is based on a thesis entitled: "Global and regional myocardial and circulatory function during anesthesia in the normal heart and in the presence of imminent or overt myocardial ischemia". It evaluates articles published in various international first-class and peer-reviewed journals that focus on global and regional heart function, circulation in the normal heart, and the hearts subjected to ischemia during anesthesia in the intensive care unit.

"Professor Coetzee was at the forefront of cardiovascular research and often ahead of his time," his supervisor, Professor Johan Coetzee, said. "The insights and knowledge gained from his research was often applied directly into practice, with better results. His research brought him international recognition as a cardiovascular scientist and clinician."

Prof Coetzee 's qualifications include an MB,ChB, MMed (Anes), two PhDs, one MD (US) and professional specialist qualifications FFA (SA) Subspecialty: Critical Care and FFARCS. The DSc degree is Prof Coetzee's fourth doctorate (the MD is the US equivalent to a PhD in SA). He is also the author of four books, 117 national and international published articles and 162 contributions to national and international conferences. He has received 20 national and international awards in recognition of research contributions and has been a finalist in the Rector's Awards for outstanding lecturer twice.

He has managed his own laboratory at Stellenbosch University since 1984, where he conducts research on myocardial contractility, metabolism, and coronary artery and heart regional function normal and ischemic hearts. His work has delivered important international contributions, including evidence that inhalation anesthesia modulates the reperfusion injury of the heart, oxygenation of cardioplegia during heart surgery, quantification of miocardial suppression associated with anesthesia and the pathophysiology and management of acute pulmonary hypertension and right heart failure in patients with acute lung injury.

His wife, Suzanne, is an anesthetist with a PhD. Their eldest daughter Louise, has a MB,ChB from SU and currently practices at Rawsonville. Another daughter, Jani has a master's degree in education (also from US) with the emphasis on learning support, and Carien will receive her PhD on the same day as Prof Coetzee. His youngest daughter, Zoë, is currently in 8th grade and has acquired many national and local prizes for piano and violin, and was amongst others the orchestra leader of the Hugo Lamprechts junior string orchestra in grade 7.

Prof Coetzee's extracurricular interests include flying - he has a private pilot's license - he reads a lot of books on philosophy, politics and the structure and function of tertiary institutions, and he also owns part of a farm in Namibia.​

Photo: Prof André Coetzee (left) and Dr Carien Coetzee

Stellenbosch University's (SU) April 2014 doctoral graduation ceremonies turned out to be a real family affair with a father and daughter, two cousins and a couple from Mozambique all graduating together. They were among 123 graduates who obtained their doctorates at two separate doctoral graduation ceremonies held in the Endler on Thursday 24 April.

Cristiano Macuamule and his wife Custodia received their doctoral degrees in Biochemistry and Food Science respectively. Cristiano's research focused on the development of new drugs to combat malaria especially since existing drugs do not have the desired effect against one of the most dreaded malaria parasites.

In her study Custodia established that the bacterium that causes bovine-tuberculosis (bTB) in humans and many animal species can be eradicated in milk thanks to a fermenting period of 60 hours. These methods work even better when a specific anti-microbial agent is added to the fermenting milk.

Carien Coetzee obtained her PhD in Oenology while her father, Prof André Coetzee, received a DSc degree in Anaesthesiology. Coetzee is the head of the Department of Anaesthesiology and Critical Care at the University's Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences. This is his fourth doctorate and he is only the fifth person in this Faculty to reach this milestone. Coetzee is also the author of four books, he published 117 national and international articles and made 162 contributions to national and international conferences.

His DSc evaluates articles in various international first class and peer-reviewed journals that focus on global and regional heart function, circulation in the normal heart, and hearts subjected to ischemia during anaesthesia in the intensive care unit.

"Professor Coetzee was at the forefront of cardiovascular research and often ahead of his time," his supervisor Prof Johan Coetzee said. "The insights and knowledge gained from his research, could often be applied in practice, with better results. His research brought him international recognition as a cardiovascular scientist and clinician."

Coetzee's wife Suzanne is also an anaesthetist with a PhD.

Second cousins Egmont and Chris Rohwer obtained their doctoral degrees in theoretical physics and laser physics respectively. Egmont's father, Prof Erich Rohwer, is head of SU's Department of Physics.

Chris is the third sibling in his family to obtain a doctorate. His eldest brother, Prof Johann Rohwer, currently working in SU'S Department of Biochemistry, received a doctorate in Biochemistry from the University of Amsterdam. His second oldest brother, dr Mark Rohwer, holds a PhD in Chemistry from the University of the Free State. All three brothers completed their undergraduate studies Stellenbosch. Egmont and Chris plan on continuing their postdoctoral research in Europe.

Other interesting PhDs

Also among the graduates were three women who completed their doctoral studies under the guidance of one supervisor, Prof Marina Rautenbach. Adrienne Leussa and Anscha Troskie received their PhDs in Biochemistry while Melani Nieuwoudt received her doctorate in Food Science. Nieuwoudt is starting her own brewery in the Cederberg, based on the results of her research.

​At Thursday's ceremony Lauren Wildschut obtained the first PhD in Evaluation Studies in the country. A doctorate in the study of Science and Technology was awarded to Ndivhuwo Luruli from the Department of Higher Education and Training and Magdalena Oosthuizen, wife of former Kampusnuus editor, Hans Oosthuizen, also received her PhD.

Photo 1: Drs Egmont and Chris Rohwer. Photographer: Hennie Rudman; Photo 2: Prof André Coetzee and Dr Carien Coetzee. Photographer: Anton Jordaan; Photo 3: Drs Cristiano and Custodia Macuamule. Photographer: Hennie Rudman  

The Centre of Student Recruitment (CSR) at Stellenbosch University (SU) launched a new initiative on Wednesday 24 April when merit certificates were presented to the principals or representatives of the top schools in the Western Cape. 

This group includes schools that were recognised by the Western Cape Education Department as begin the top academic schools in the Western Cape after the 2013 matric exam as well as schools that delivered good results despite difficult circumstances. The schools also identified learners to attend the event.

Prof Russel Botman, Rector and Vice-chancellor of SU thanked the schools for their hard work. "We have to notice it because we benefit from it," he said. To the learners he said the time is here to make important decisions, not only about their careers but about their futures.

"We are aware of the role young people will play in the future. The country can't wait much longer for your leadership," he added. He elaborated about the opportunities and support students enjoy at SU and emphasised the University's pursuit of excellence.

"Stellenbosch University is a place where successful students come and where they do not fail. A place where they get the opportunity to build their future."

The schools who were invited to attend the event were Bernadino Heights High, Bloemhof, Centre for Science and Technology, DF Malan High, Eersterivier Secondary School, Joe Slovo Comp School, ​Kensington High School, Leap 1 Academy, Leap 2 Academy, Luhlaza High School, Malibu High, Masibambane Secondary School, Masiyile Secondary School, Matthew Goniwe High School, Milnerton High, Mondale High, Norman Henshilwood High, Paarl Boys High, Paarl Girls' High, Parklands College, Paul Roos, Phandulwazi High School, Rhenish Girls High, Rondebosch Boys High, Rylands High School, Sinenjongo High School, South African College High School, South Peninsula High School, St Cyprian's School, Thandokhulu High School, The Settlers High School, Westerford High School, Wynberg Boys High School and Wynberg Girls High School.​

​​On Thursday 24 April 26 PhD graduates obtained their doctoral degrees from the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, raising the Faculty's PhD output for 2013 to 52 graduates – the highest amongst all the faculties for this academic year. 

It is the second year in a row that the Faculty has produced more than 50 doctorates. In 2012, it awarded 56 doctoral degrees.

"We are now seeing a culture of success in our Faculty, which gains momentum with each passing year," says Prof Johan Hattingh, the Dean of the Faculty.

According to Hattingh, the Faculty has over the last few years concentrated on creating an environment where research, in particular at doctoral level, can flourish.

This has included, amongst others, the provision of financial incentives to students who complete their degrees in three years and to supervisors who assist in this regard. The incentive is also offered to students who manage to publish their first subsidised journal article during or at the end of their PhD studies. 

"Worldwide there has been concern over the standing of the humanities (including the social sciences) in society. There has been a general perception – justified or unjustified – that the humanities is in crisis and that this is reflected by a drop in applications and registrations for PhD studies and further exacerbated by the amount of time that doctoral candidates take on average to complete their studies, the high number of incomplete PhD degrees, and the lower salary levels that these graduates receive upon completion of their degrees. With our recent successes we are proving that the humanities is still alive and well – at least at Stellenbosch University," says Hattingh.

He says that the humanities have an important and leading role to play within society.

"In a world which is increasingly dominated by a culture of consumerism and a multiplicity of crises, it has become even more important to think clearly and critically about those aspects of our society that undermine our humanity and the things that we can do to promote a peaceful, prosperous and humane future for us all."

The increase in PhD graduates from the Faculty, he says, is also a good indicator of how the social sciences and humanities engage with the big issues in our society and make meaningful contributions towards resolving them.

"This confirms something about the value of the humanities and the social sciences and shows that it functions not only in service of other research areas or other sectors within society, but has value in itself by articulating, communicating and imagining what it can mean to be human in our time and in the context we live in."

In addition to the general PhD incentives offered, says Hattingh, the Graduate School, partnerships with other African universities (via the Partnership for Africa's Next Generation of Academics (PANGeA) network) and the excellent relationship that the Faculty has developed with a growing number of donors who have contributed towards PhD scholarships over the years, have strengthened its endeavours even further. 

In the 2013 academic year, 21 of the 52 PhD graduates were enrolled via the Graduate School doctoral scholarship programme.

The Graduate School was established in 2010 and allocates scholarships to students to the value of R400 000 over three years. Seed funding for the establishment of the initiative came from the HOPE Project, however, over the years additional financing for scholarships and the day-to-day operations of the Graduate School are covered by the Faculty. Donors such as the Carnegie Corporation of New York and the Wallenberg Foundation have provided scholarships via the School and as from 2015, scholarships will also be provided by the Gerda Henkel Stiftung. Partner universities also provide support by temporarily replacing staff members taking up study opportunities in Stellenbosch.

The partner universities are SU, the University of Botswana, Makerere University in Uganda, the University of Malawi, the University of Dar es Salaam in Tanzania, the University of Nairobi in Kenya and the University of Ghana. 

The universities all form part of the PANGeA network, which was officially established in November 2010 with the signing of a multilateral memorandum of understanding between the six founding universities. The aim of the network is to strengthen the development of higher education in Africa by creating opportunities for collaborative research and exchange among peer institutions, methodological development, full-time doctoral study and, in the longer term, the creation of joint doctoral degree programmes. 

Photo: Twenty-six PhD graduates from the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences received their degrees at the PhD graduation ceremony held in the Endler Hall today. (Anton Jordaan, SSFD)

​​The musician, playwright and environmental activist David Kramer​ became an honorary Matie on Friday 25 April when an honorary doctorate was conferred on him at the last of seventh graduation ceremonies hosted by Stellenbosch University in April.

Four honorary doctorates and approximately 384 degrees in the Faculties of Education, Law, Medicine and Health Sciences and Military Science were awarded at Friday's ceremony.

Apart from Kramer, the University also conferred honorary doctorates on businessman and physician Dr Edwin Hertzog; theologian Prof Wolfgang Huber and the academic, legal scholar and former SU Rector and Vice-Chancellor Prof Andreas van Wyk. 

The degree of Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), honoris causa, was awarded to Dr Hertzog as a visionary South African physician and businessman for his invaluable and sustained contribution to ensuring high-quality private healthcare in South Africa and abroad, and as an extraordinary leader and benefactor for his support to the University.

Prof Huber received the degree of Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), honoris causa, for his extensive and influential contribution as an academic, a church leader, public figure and opinion shaper on social ethics in Germany and internationally, including South Africa.

David Kramer received the degree of Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), honoris causa, for his remarkable contribution to South Africa's cultural life as a thoughtful and ever-experimenting cultural practitioner, versatile artist – songwriter, singer, musician, playwright and director – and environmental activist; for elucidating social issues from a cultural perspective; and for enriching our national music heritage by showcasing marginalised and endangered musical practices and traditions.

As an innovative leader and brilliant academic and legal scholar, for his contribution to national development, to constitutional transformation and to higher education, as well as to the promotion of the university town of Stellenbosch and surrounds, the degree of Doctor of Law, (LLD), honoris causa, was awarded to Prof Van Wyk.​

A former Student Representative Council chairperson Anina Botha received her LLB degree, as did Odwa Mjezu, a young man who earned a second degree at SU despite difficult financial circumstances. Before the LLB degree he had also received a BSc degree in Human Life Sciences.

Mjezu, currently a candidate attorney at the law firm Edward Nathan Sonnenbergs, grew up in the township Mbekweni in Paarl and matriculated from New Orleans Seconday School. He has three brothers, two elder and one younger, and is the only one who has earned a tertiary qualification.

During his student years he struggled financially but he persevered and his qualifications have opened doors for him. He wants his younger brother to better his matric marks so that he can also gain access to university.

"My dream is to encourage other people to look beyond the boundaries of the township and to realise that there is 'life after matric'."

Thanks to his background in science, he is interested in specialising in intellectual property law.

Approximately 2700 students graduated during the April graduation ceremonies.​

​​Passion.

That was the main theme of Dr Ernesto Sirolli's talk at Stellenbosch University (SU) on Thursday 24 April. Dr Sirolli, founder of the Sirolli Institute, was invited to speak at a breakfast meeting hosted by Prof Russel Botman, Rector and Vice-chancellor of Stellenbosch University and Board Chairperson of World Design Capital Cape Town 2014.

Watch video.​

"Today's millenials (young people in their twenties and thirties) want to know how they can turn their passion into something that will feed their family," he said.

They are faced by the challenge of wanting to well AND good, he added.

Dr Sirolli is an international expert on economic development through local entrepreneurship and social enterprise. More than 300 communities around the world have benefitted from his person-centred approach to local economic development and his TED Talk has been viewed more than 1.8 million times.

WDC 2014 is aimed at transforming lives through design, in its broadest sense. One of the themes of the initiative is bridging historical divides in the greater Cape Town region - including Stellenbosch - and building social and economic inclusion.

Stellenbosch University strives to make a positive impact as an innovative, future-focused and inclusive institution. Through its HOPE Project, it puts academic excellence in service of society. 

Dr Sirolli enrolled as a PhD student at SU in 1978 after working for an Italian NGO in Africa for several years. After this experience he came to the conclusion that the first law of aid is respect. "People do not want to be helped. Leave them alone. You can work by invitation only," he said.

He emphasised the power of pull and explained how this would work in local communities.

"Do something amazing in your own neighbourhood and when people see it, they will ask: Can you teach us? Your passion will create a gravitational pull. They will be attracted and together you will co-create a new product or solution."

According to Dr Sirolli it is his passion to become the servant of other people's passion.

On the subject of creating employment opportunities, he advised that people should listen to the unemployed people and help them to what they love.

"The role of facilitation is going to more and more important," he said.

Photographer: Stefan Els

The realisation that the spread of the bacterium that causes bovine tuberculosis (bTB) in humans and many animal species can be prevented if milk is fermented for at least 60 hours. Updated methods to control apple scab and green mould among citrus fruits. New findings about brandy distilling and making Sauvignon blanc wine. A new method that uses animal sounds to do environmental surveys: these are just a few highlights from research undertaken by the 18 graduates of the Faculty of AgriSciences at Stellenbosch University who received their doctoral degrees on 24 April.

The recipients are Dr Richard Bugan (Soil Science) Dr Rinus Knoetze (Nematology), Dr Carien Coetzee, Dr Nina van Niekerk-Bougas and Dr Leanie Louw (Oenology), Dr Custodia Macuamule and Dr Melanie Nieuwoudt (Food Science), Dr Willem Olivier (Animal Sciences), Dr Arno Erasmus, Dr Cheusi Mutawila and Dr Saskia von Diest (Plant Pathology), Dr Mariëtta Brand, Dr Jessica da Silva, Dr Matthew Zylstra, Dr Lize Joubert and Dr Paul Grant (Conservation Ecology), Dr Brand Wessels (Wood Product Science) and Dr Khalid Salie (Aquaculture).

Fermentation of milk prevents spread of bTB

Through her studies in food science, Dr Custodia Macuamule determined that Mycobacterium bovis, the bacterium that causes bovine tuberculosis (bTB) in humans and many animal species, can be eliminated from milk through a fermentation period of 60 hours. This method works even better when the anti-microbial agent ethyl pyruvate is added to the fermenting milk.

"The use of this method could help prevent the spread of tuberculosis in Southern and Central Africa through contaminated and unpasteurized milk," believes Dr Macuamule, who also developed various methods with which to quantify Mycobacterium bovis in dairy products.

Studies focus on grapevine trunk diseases, green mould in citrus fruits, and apple scab

Turning to plant diseases, Dr Cheusi Mutawila found that various Trichoderma species can be applied on pruning wounds to control grapevine trunk diseases. The application of this biocontrol fungi method works best when applied six hours after pruning. "It also helps to use it together with benzimidazole fungicides to protect pruning wounds," he says.

Dr Arno Erasmus focused on the control of green mould (Penicilium digitatum), which often causes the decay of stored citrus fruit. Through his efforts, industry guidelines have already been updated to improve fungicide application, disease control and food safety. Green mould control is mostly done at the packhouses by dipping citrus fruits into fungicides such as imazalil. Dr Erasmus found that the exposure time of the fruits to the fungicide, pH and temperature of fungicide mixtures, the size of wounds on the fruit, and post-treatment brushing significantly affects residue loading and green mould control.

In turn, Dr Saskia von Diest tested alternative methods other than fungicides that can be used by the local apple industry to control apple scab (Venturia inaequalis). She showed that the shredding of leaves after the harvest has been completed significantly reduced scab levels on fruit in the following spring. Dr von Diest also found that viable, asexual spores are able to overwinter in orchards in inner bud tissue and late-season apples.

New nematodes discovered

Dr Rinus Knoetze surveyed the distribution of cyst nematodes found in South African soils, and investigated the survival potential and reproduction capacity of these agricultural pests. In the process, he described three new Globodera species.

Bees are crucial helpers of onion seed producers

Dr Mariëtte Rieks' study in conservation ecology highlighted just how important pollination by managed and wild natural populations of honeybees is to the success of the hybrid-onion seed industry of the Karoo.

"Periodically hybrid-onion seed farmers have severe crop failure owing to a lack of cross pollination," she explains. "The conservation of natural areas and the correct management of managed honeybees are paramount for optimal and reliable seed production."

Sound surveys

Dr Peter Grant developed a new method in which he uses the sounds emitted by animals to do surveys of especially smaller animals found in the undergrowth.

"It is important to assess how nature around us is changing so as to put in place conservation measures; yet there are so many species which simply cannot be seen, being hidden away in the undergrowth," he explains.

Two studies focus on brandy research

Dr Leani Louw is the first researcher to successfully use rapid profiling methods with which to complete the sensory evaluation of brandy and other spirit products.

"The combination of its high alcohol content of at least 36% alcohol and complex volatile structure generally makes sensory evaluation of brandy very difficult," she explains.

In turn, Dr Nina van Niekerk-Bougas's deduced various factors throughout the production process that influence the eventual style of brandy. She believes her findings could be used to develop a prediction tool that the local brandy industry can use to deduce and ensure the outcome of a specific style of brandy.

Influence of oxygen on Sauvignon blanc wine

Dr Carien Coetzee received her PhD in oenology for a study on Sauvignon blanc wine. She used both sensory and analytical techniques to study the effects of oxidation on this white wine, and also investigated sensory interactions between various aroma compounds.

The research showed the progress and evolution of aromatic and non‐aromatic compounds during an oxidative aging period. Dr Coetzee found that the concentration of antioxidants and various pleasant aroma compounds decreased, while compounds associated with oxidation increased. Sensory evaluation of these wines also showed the development of reductive odours in the treatments where no oxygen was added to the wines.

"It would seem as if moderate oxygen exposure could be beneficial to the wine composition," she says.

Her tests on the sensory interactions between Sauvignon blanc impact compounds and aroma compounds associated with oxidation delivered new results, and showed complex interactions occurring. The presence of aldehydes drastically influenced the sensory perceptions of the impact compounds.

"These types of studies could possibly serve as a model to evaluate at what concentrations interactions become detrimental to the wine sensory composition," she believes.

Photographer: Anton Jordaan

Paediatric TB researcher and clinician at the Faculty of Medicine and Health Science (FMHS) Prof Simon Schaaf was awarded the acclaimed National Order of Mapungubwe (silver) by president Jacob Zuma on Sunday, 27 April 2014.

This Order recognises South Africans who have accomplished excellence and exceptional achievement to the benefit of South Africa and beyond. It acknowledges Schaaf's excellent contribution in the field of medical sciences Dr Cassius Lubisi, Chancellor of the National Orders and Director-General in the Presidency said in a statement.

"His focus on drug-resistant tuberculosis (DR-TB) is ground-breaking in assisting with the management of the disease," says Lubisi.

"This award really is a great honour and it acknowledges all the work the team at the Desmond Tutu TB Centre (DTTC) at Stellenbosch University has put into the treatment of drug-resistant TB in children over the years," says Schaaf.

He is one of the faculty's two A-rated scientists and has published more than 200 research articles. He also edited the clinical guide Tuberculosis: A comprehensive clinical reference in use all over the world.

He started his career in medicine in 1975 when he enrolled as medical student at the FMHS. Since then he has made the Tygerberg campus his academic and professional home – after qualifying as a doctor and completing his specialist training cum laude, he was recruited by the Department of Paediatrics and Child Health where he also did his clinical doctorate.

"I'm a clinician first and foremost and my research developed out of the needs of my patients - to try and find ways to make things easier for them," says Schaaf, who treats children at the Tygerberg Hospital, Brooklyn Chest Hospital and through outreach programmes in Khayalitsha and Scottsdene near Kraaifontein. He is considered to be a world expert on the treatment of MDR-TB in children and advises clinicians from all over the world on the topic.

Schaaf's work at the DTTC has helped develop early detection and treatment methods for MDR-TB in children, and as a member of the National MDR Advisory Committee he was also involved with the development of the National Guidelines for treatment of MDR-TB in children.

Schaaf is reluctant to take full credit for this achievement saying that the team at the DTTC, particularly Profs Peter Donald, Nulda Beyers, Robert Gie and Anneke Hesseling, have all been instrumental in his success and the progress that has been made in treatment of TB in children in the country and the world.

• The Order of the Baobab (silver) was bestowed posthumously on Dr Frederik van Zyl Slabbert. The Order of the Baobab recognises South African citizens who have contributed to community service, business and economy, science, medicine and technological innovation. Van Zyl Slabbert - student leader, residence head, lecturer and Chancellor of Stellenbosch University -​ received the award for his "excellent contribution in pushing members of parliament to reject inequalities and unjust laws. He stood with courage of his convictions and bore the brunt of apartheid leaders," according to a Media Statement by the Chancellor of the National Orders and Director-General in the Presidency Dr Cassius Lubisi​.
  

• ​Fanie van der Merwe, former student of SU and current member of the Maties/Helderberg Sports Club for Persons with Disabilities received the Order of Ikhamanga (silver) ​for his excellent contribution in the field of paralympic athletics. The Order of Ikhamanga recognises South African citizens who have excelled in the fields of arts, culture, literature, music, journalism and sport.​

The Maties Tennis team finished second at the recent NWU-Pukke Invitational Tournament at Sun City.

The young team from the Stellenbosch University played in the final against Kovsies after beating Tuks (9-7) and an Invitational Team (16-0). In the final Maties lost 10-6 against the team from the Free State.

"I am satisfied with the result even though we did not successfully defended our title," said Maties Tennis Manager Le Roux Conradie.

"It is a young team and the players showed some real promise for success in the future. I am proud of the players. I'm looking forward to the USSA tournament in Bloemfontein in December this year." 

​Giving first-year students a voice and showing them that you don't have to wait until a second or a third year to become a leader on campus.

These are the aims of Khule Duma, Speaker, and Megan Meyer, Chief of Staff of the First-Year Forum in the Student Parliament at Stellenbosch University.

Khule, a former pupil of St David's Marist Inanda School in Johannesburg, is studying Politics, Philosophy and Economics (BA) and is a resident of Dagbreek. Megan went to Cornwall Hill College and is studying BAccLLB. She is a resident of Harmonie Residence.

Why Student Parliament?

Khule applied for Student Parliament to gain experience in serving the people around him.

"I believe that when one is fortunate enough to receive a good education, one should give back and serve those who cannot speak for themselves. Student Parliament allows me to serve the Stellenbosch student population and to gain experience so that when I leave I will be a better public servant with a better understanding of this nation's great people.

"The First-Year Forum should be the stepping stone for all first-years to get involved in student leadership structures on campus and should be the facilitator of robust dialogue."

His longer term goals are to remain involved in Student Parliament and to become a member of the Student Representative Council.

"After University, I would like to be a politician and serve the people of South Africa where the people see fit, be it at local, provincial or national level."

Megan applied because she was keen to participate in a role where she could be a stepping-stone for other first-year Maties to get to have their, equally heard, say.

"I also didn't want to miss out on the opportunity to work towards making Stellenbosch a more inclusive community, where everyone enjoys and feels comfortable in the environment that they are living in."

She wants to take part in leadership roles that allow her to improve the environment and community that we all live in.​

What makes a good leader?

A good leader should know the people he/she is serving and be aware of what is relevant to them so as to make the best decisions for all, says Khule. They should also be courageous and firm, caring, truthful and hardworking, and be motivated by a vision that benefits those they serve and not by power or money.

Megan feels a good leader is someone that can empower others.

"I believe good leader is a serious delegator who motivates and guides others to do well, is fair and responsible and open to other people's opinions and ideas."

The role of born-frees

Born-frees will determine what direction this country will take, says Khule.

"We as born-frees will have to rise up, stop complaining and get down to fixing this country so that our children will know no hunger, inequality or prejudice but instead enjoy a South Africa that the greats like Nelson Mandela dreamt of."

Megan regards the born-frees more as a symbol for new thoughts, solutions and ideas that can be used to better the country.

"I believe the born frees are an intelligent group of people that want to improve their environment just because they want a better place to live."

If you were president…

Khule would address the huge inequalities in education, the issue of expensive university education the slow rate at which jobs are being created for new graduates and those coming out of school.

Megan would look at the quality of education, and pay attention to budget distribution to make sure that money allocated is actually spent. She would also look at the public service sector, from policing to nurses.

"This sector is an integral part of a successful and effective society. People need to be motivated to consider jobs in this sector because they would contribute an invaluable resource to society. "

Excited to vote?

"I am very excited to vote because finally I have a chance to make my voice heard about our united future," says Khule.

Megan believes that everyone has the responsibility to vote to make a positive impact in our country's governance.

"Finally it is my turn to be able to make difference, no matter how small it is," she adds. 

Several future research topics in the field of sustainable agriculture were interrogated at a Sustainable Agriculture Indaba held in Stellenbosch recently.

The Indaba brought together representatives of the agricultural, conservation and food sectors, as well as academics and students from Stellenbosch University on 15 April.

The Indaba formed part of the Programme in Sustainable Agriculture which was launched in February 2014 at SU in conjunction with Conservation South Africa and Wageningen University in the Netherlands.

"Through the Indaba we want to bring together researchers, students and those working in the agricultural and food sector to take stock of the work thus far, and to build consensus about what we should do further research on. Sustainability is a complex issue that requires transdisciplinary scholarship," Prof Ken Dzama, who leads the Sustainable Agriculture Programme at Stellenbosch University, said before the event.

Three PhD students who are part of the Programme in Sustainable Agriculture presented their research proposals. Ms Emma Vink gave an overview of socio-economic issues within sustainable agriculture, Ms Annelin Davids spoke about sustainable smallholder sheep farming in the Western Cape, while Ms Rhoda Malgas focused on the rooibos tea industry.

After listening to the presentations, Mr Bezekela Dube, a postdoc student within the programme, presented the group with a draft research strategy. During plenary and group work it was decided that the suggested main themes for a research programme should address the many competing claims on land in SA (agriculture, energy crops, mining, tourism, etc) as well as aim to improve resource use efficiency, especially of water and arable soil.

It was agreed that the approach would always consider the 3 Ps (people, planet profit) and would remain systems-based, i.e. considering the inputs, outputs and processes on various scales from, e.g. farm animal/plant, to farm, to landscape, to region. This approach would necessitate that the research be transdisciplinary and it was agreed that this will be best enabled through student projects with supervisors from multiple disciplines and/or discipline-linked projects that ask different aspects of the same question, as well as a willingness within Faculty to learn each other's 'language'.

During group work a number of interesting research topics were suggested, such as:

• What models of sustainability and complexity in land use planning have worked elsewhere and which ones are appropriate to South Africa?
• Evaluation of indigenous livestock breeds for physiological markers of heat and drought resistance;
• Cost-benefit of energy-nutrient webs and cycles in biogas production: testing diary-crop-aquaculture models in the SA context;
• What factors have lead to the failure of the Land Reform process and what recommendations can be made to government as part of the current revision process?
• How do farmers/other stakeholders in agriculture make decisions and what influences behaviour?
• What are the trade-offs between production, biodiversity, ecosystem services and human wellbeing in various agricultural approaches and various climate and habitat conditions? 

Six MSc and three PhD students are already part of the Programme.

Dr Heidi Hawkins of Conservation South Africa, who co-leads the programme said that "we had attained the aim of the day by consolidating the research strategy" and she thanked the academics and agricultural stakeholders alike for continuing to enrich the strategy with industry-relevant research topics.

South Africans are going to the polling booths on 7 May. And there is a lot of expectations of the vote of the born frees – young people born in 1994, the same year in which the first democratic elections were held.

In a recent article in the Sunday paper, Rapport (4 May 2014), three born free Maties, who are also students at the Frederik Van Zyl Slabbert Institute for Student Leadership Development, gave their views on the elections.

Bohlale Selahle, who is studying BSc in Speech, Language and Hearing Therapy, said: "I reject the expectation that I, along with other born frees have the key to a perfect South Africa. I simply believe that my vote gives me a voice in this country. By participating in this year's elections, is not only my right, but also a way for me to exercise my political vocal chords."

Llewellyn Stevens, (BCom Law), said he had a lot to learn from the mistakes made in the past as well as the present. And therefore "it is our responsibility to vote to prevent a repetition of the same mistakes. When you vote, you have the right to demand accountability from your leaders. I grew up with the idea that one has to take pro-active steps if you want things to change."

Law student JC Landman, who is also a mentor in his residence, believes it is an honour to be part of a specific generation.

"I am excited to be able to vote. But it is unfair that there is so much pressure on a specific group of young people."

• The complete article (in Afrikaans) can be read by clicking here.

Photos: JC Landman, Llewellyn Stevens and Bohlale Selahle