Alwyn had a keen interest and influence in learning and teaching research and innovation, with the aim to enhance students’ learning experiences. He was passionate about students and an exceptional teacher. The evidence is in the fact that over the years he had received the First-year Achievement Award numerous times. For this recognition he was nominated by first-year students in the Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences as the lecturer who most influenced their academic success during the often challenging first year of their studies. His passion, insight and experience in the Extended Degree Programme, changed and touched many students’ lives.

Over the years he had been the recipient of several FIRLT (Fund for Innovation and Research in Learning and Teaching) grants attesting to his dedication to teaching and learning. As was his nature, he often partnered with colleagues and was eagerly invited to partake in research. His knowledge, expertise and generosity were highly appreciated. Following from his success in FIRLT projects, he often presented at the annual SU Scholarship for Teaching and Learning (SoTL) conference and was again scheduled to co-present a paper, which has been shortlisted as a potential prize winning presentation, at this year’s virtual SoTL Conference.  

While these academic accolades are noteworthy, what most of us will remember Alwyn for is his warm-hearted, friendly, kind, generous and approachable personality. Meeting Alwyn in lecture halls, passages, and his office, one would see a ready laugh, an open smile, and an inviting nature. We will miss him dearly.

​

Stellenbosch University (SU)'s first gender detour project recently commenced on the Stellenbosch campus.

During her visit to South Africa late last year, the Duchess of Sussex, Meghan Markle, announced that an Association of Commonwealth Universities (ACU) gender grant had been awarded to three South African universities.

The recipients were SU along with the Universities of Johannesburg and the Western Cape. SU received the ACU gender grant for its proposed Gender Detour project, which was officially launched on 8 October 2020.

The Gender Detour project involves a group of volunteer participants going on a walk around central Stellenbosch, and having conversations about the role of gender in campus culture, emotional and physical safety, health, social life, leadership, achievement and the future workplace.

According to Monica du Toit, ResEd group coordinator at SU's Centre for Student Communities, the grant has motivated them not to underestimate experiential learning and new ideas.

“This is a very small grant and a small project but the fact that our ideas received traction and support really motivated us."

So far, a group of 15 students and staff has been involved in shaping the route and discussion of the first two walks. Members of SU's Centre for Student Communities, along with some positional and non-positional leaders, will also help to facilitate these walks going forward.

​Du Toit said the first detour allowed organisers to see how the project played out and what can be improved in the following walks. She believes that this activity would be of great value if it is not done in large groups but rather smaller groups of five to eight people.

“This will give us time to first reach students and staff who are on campus and allows for safety and social distancing. This will remain a small group activity for welcoming and with senior students and the aim is not reach masses at once but to stimulate connected conversations," says Du Toit.

There are also plans to create a short clip with voice notes and footage from students to help capture some of the feedback from participants.

The detour will take the form of a series of guided weekly walks every Tuesday afternoon until 8 December. They have a core group of students and staff to facilitate walks on their own from 2021.

For more information about the Gender Detour project, contact Monica du Toit at mdt2@sun.ac.za. 

Meat scientist Dr Cletos Mapiye of the Department of Animal Sciences at Stellenbosch University is one of three scientists from the African continent who have been recognised with a 2020 Young African Researchers Award for the authenticity and quality of their scientific research. The awards are allocated by the Arab Republic of Egypt's Academy of Scientific Research and Technology to young researchers from the African continent.

Dr Mapiye was commended for his research work in the field of agriculture and food sciences. Awards were also made in the fields of health and pharmaceutical sciences, and water, energy and environmental sciences.

Dr Mapiye is currently the interim SARChI Chair in Meat Science: Genomics to Nutriomics in the Department of Animal Sciences, and a team member of the Sustainable Agriculture and Food Security research program at Stellenbosch University. Dr Mapiye has been working as an academic at Stellenbosch University since 2013, where he teaches Meat Science to undergraduates, and Sustainable Animal Production to postgraduates. He has since supervised 7 PhD and 9 MSc graduates and published over 100 articles in international refereed journals.

Previously he completed a postdoctoral fellowship at Agriculture & Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) at the Lacombe Research and Development Centre in Canada, and lectured at the University of Rwanda, and the Bindura University of Science Education in Zimbabwe. He started his career in 2003 as a research officer at the Grasslands Research Station of the Department of Research and Specialist Services in Zimbabwe.

Dr Mapiye hails from Zimbabwe, where he grew up in the rural area of Mhondoro and learnt first-hand how to tend chickens, goats, and cattle from his father, who is a smallholder farmer. It is because of these roots, says Dr Mapiye, that he finds such satisfaction in working with especially smallholder farmers, and seeing how his efforts help them to farm livestock better.

Dr Mapiye completed a BSc Agriculture with Honours in Animal Science (2002) and an MSc in Animal Sciences (2004) from the University of Zimbabwe. It was here were his paths first crossed with Prof Kennedy Dzama, who is now a distinguished professor in Animal Science at SU. He piqued his interest in Animal Science, and would later become his PhD supervisor at the University of Fort Hare in the Eastern Cape from which he graduated in 2010.

His efforts towards research, development and capacity building to improve sustainability of food and agricultural systems, food security and poverty reduction in the developing world, was first recognised in 2017 through a Young Scientist Prize: Agriculture and Food Security from The World Academy of Sciences (TWAS) Regional Office for sub-Saharan Africa. “My research programme focuses on finding new strategies to enhance sustainability of meat production and consumption," he explains. “This covers different livestock production systems, ranging from commercial through to small-scale and complex subsistence systems."

He is especially interested in how changes to the diets of livestock plays out in the fatty acid composition of their meat, and ultimately benefits the health of people who consume it. “It is all about improving the performance of animals and the quality of their meat through the use of different types of feed," he explains his interest in animal nutrition and meat science.

He is currently supervising a project that is running on the Welgevallen Experimental farm of the SU Faculty of AgriSciences that is ascertaining the water requirements of indigenous South African sheep breeds such as Damara, Pedi, Namaqua and Black-headed sheep. Funding obtained from the Water Research Commission is making this research possible.

Dr Mapiye and his students are also experimenting with hemp seedcakes to see if such by-products have value as an alternative feed source and meat preservative. This project is part of an initiative by the SARChI in Meat Science, funded by the Department of Science and Technology and administered by the National Research Foundation.

In recent years he has also been involved in projects that looked into the value of using fruit-based diets (such as grape pomace and citrus pulp) as an alternative feed source for sheep and cattle, and whether they can extend the shelf life of meat. “The project was started in 2015, and was inspired by the droughts we were experiencing, in an effort to help especially farmers in the Western Cape secure alternative feed options," he explains.

His research group recently developed a system dynamics model to evaluate the sustainability of a low-input ruminant meat production system. The model currently serves as a decision-making tool for development agents and policymakers in Southern Africa.

“My work on the use of plant by-products rich in phytochemicals as livestock feed supplements and natural preservatives of meat has been widely adopted in Southern Africa. For example, some local farmers, feedlots and feed companies have adopted plant by-products as cheaper feed supplements and meat preservatives."​

“The SHINE trial is the first tuberculosis treatment-shortening randomised-controlled clinical trial in children. It's a milestone. We've suspected for a long time that we are over-treating many children with TB, but now have clear, pragmatic evidence to inform policy and clinical practice," said Professor Anneke Hesseling of the Desmond Tutu TB Centre (DTTC) in the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences at Stellenbosch University.  

Hesseling was part of the team reporting on the results of the SHINE trial, which involved 1204 children from Uganda, Zambia, India and South Africa, including 315 children in Cape Town at the DTTC. 

Around 1.1 million children develop TB annually and approximately 205 000 die from it in any given year. Children and adolescents account for around 25% of TB cases in Africa. Despite this, treatment options have lagged behind those available to adults.

The SHINE trial compared a shortened four-month treatment regimen with the standard six-month regimen, using the same medications, and showed that 93% of children with minimal TB were successfully treated, with no difference in outcome between the regimens.

'Minimal TB' requires a different treatment regimen

Hesseling explained that 'minimal TB' is TB that is not that severe. “It's typically pulmonary TB with minimal changes in the lungs, no cavities, complications or dissemination of the TB bacilli. It also applies to mild TB outside the lung – typically lymph node disease. We used chest X-rays to look for standard patterns or features which we classify as not severe, and which doctors on site used to randomise children."

Up to 50 – 60% of children with TB globally, as well as in South Africa, may have minimal TB. “This is not a small subgroup, but reflects the majority of children with TB. The results can therefore be generalised and can benefit many children."

It's important to treat all forms of TB, including minimal TB, rapidly and effectively, so that it does not progress to a more severe form of the disease, especially in young, immune-compromised or malnourished children.

“If you treat minimal disease rapidly with a shorter regimen, the disease does not progress, and the regimen cures children, so it's rewarding to have such good outcomes in this trial," said Hesseling.

The 315 children were recruited from 31 clinics and three hospitals in Cape Town in close collaboration with local health services.

“We had to recruit children before they started their TB treatment, so we had to get to them quickly," said Hesseling. “Most were young – below three years of age – typically what we see in terms of the TB burden. Most children were diagnosed clinically, based on chest X-rays, history and symptoms."  Successfully recruiting and retaining these children show that it's possible to do high-quality pragmatic TB clinical trials in children, and also to reduce the barriers to diagnosing and treating children with TB.

Shortened treatment will have an economic and societal impact, and also make a difference to the health services.

Children are not just small adults

“Traditional treatment approaches for childhood TB are extrapolated from adult studies," said Hesseling. “Most adults have more infectious TB than children do. Children usually have lower bacterial levels, which have now been proven to respond equally well to shorter treatment. It's an approach tailored to the child and to the disease. It's difficult to get a child to take antibiotics daily for six months. Reducing this by two months relieves the burden on families, caregivers and health services."

SHINE also included work on the pharmacokinetics, acceptability and palatability of the drugs. “The study used fixed-dose combinations taken whole, or dissolved in water," explained Hesseling. “This is the first time these have been used in South Africa and they will become part of routine care."

Hesseling explained that the World Health Organisation (WHO) is collecting evidence to inform their 2021 TB treatment guidelines, and it is expected that these results will inform the relevant guidelines.

“National TB programmes take their cue from the WHO for TB treatment guidelines," she said. “We will ensure that our results are rapidly disseminated to local and global programme partners, communities and other stakeholders, to prepare for policy changes and practical implementation.

“I think this will be welcomed in South Africa," she added. “It's high-quality evidence that can be translated practically to treat children clinically. We are very grateful for our highly engaged TB programme in South Africa."

“For the DTTC this has been an amazing journey. We have built capacity to do large-scale TB-treatment trials; we have made inputs into key methodological aspects; and, we have strengthened relationships with health services and communities. Training around reading X-rays across all five sites in Africa and India has built confidence in the robustness of these processes."

“It's been a rich collaboration with opportunities for knowledge exchange on which to build for future TB treatment trials in children." 

The SHINE trial was funded by the UK government and the Medical Research Council, the Wellcome Trust, the European Union and the TB Alliance, and was led by the Medical Research Council Clinical Trials Unit at UCL.

Caption: Prof Anneke Hesseling. Photo by Damien Schumann

​For the past few months, Stellenbosch's brightest and most innovative minds have been submitting their best ideas for new business models and process flows to improve the lives of locals in Stellenbosch and its surrounds. This has all been towards the inaugural Ideas For Change Challenge organised by the Stellenbosch Network and sponsored by Stellenbosch University. The Challenge seeks to empower creative, innovative and scalable ideas to increase accessibility in the remote working world. After much deliberation, the judges have announced their top three finalists who will now be entered into a poll on social media and vie for the chance to win the R20,000 grand prize and be named this years' winner.

Stellenbosch Network Operations Manager and organiser of this years' Challenge, Hanli Brink, says: “COVID-19 has forced us to relook the way in which we live and work. Nowhere is this more apparent than in Stellenbosch, where traditional models of doing business have needed to adapt to new and innovative ways of operating. This has been a challenge, but by encouraging forward-looking thinking among local people to solve local problems, we can help to ensure that the town is able to sustainably progress far into the future."

Finalist Matjaka Ketsi secured her spot with an idea to provide remote and underprivileged communities with solar-powered learning canteens. Each canteen is equipped with interactive learning material to encourage young people to engage with renewable energy. For added income generation, the canteens will sell solar lamps, chargers and heaters, and also offer device charging stations for locals.

Zani Mouton has proposed a solution to the traffic and parking problem within Stellenbosch. This entails the creation of a parking and ride-sharing app for Stellenbosch, which will help guide users to available parking spots around town. Accounts will be linked to the driver's number plate and use the application to pay for parking via bank card or Snapscan. In doing so, the app aims to optimise the flow of traffic in Stellenbosch and digitise paid-for-parking.

Lunga Momoza is looking to develop Basket, a business-to-business eCommerce platform which will connect local farmers with nearby wholesalers and retailers. The app will help digitise local supply chains and aims to improve market access by providing a transparent, communicative and connected buying and selling management platform, specifically for fast-moving consumer goods.

“It's fantastic to see that this years' entrants were very practical, realistic and focussed on the most immediate needs of the town. Although their ideas were in various stages of development, most presented great potential and relevance to Stellenbosch. I highly recommend that all entrants go and speak to the Municipality because even if they don't win, their idea may still be tested and implemented," says Dr Leslie van Rooi – the Senior Director for Social Impact & Transformation at Stellenbosch University and judge at this years' competition. He continues: “It has been an honour to be a part of the Challenge, which has successfully shown the potential of innovation think-tanks to further the needs of Stellenbosch and enhance the possibilities of both its local citizenry and economy. It's a fantastic way of tapping into the idea resource of locals."

Johan Olivier, the Director at Ranyaka and another judge at this years' Challenge, echoed these sentiments: “Because Stellenbosch is such a bustling town with so much going on, it can be difficult for budding entrepreneurs without the resources and connections to get noticed. This means that a lot of potentially good ideas and opportunities get missed. The Ideas for Change Challenge has helped us discover and unlock innovations that may never have come to the fore. It also shows the depth and richness of Stellenbosch's people, who together with organisations such as Stellenbosch Network, Ranyaka and Stellenbosch University, will make Stellenbosch a stronger and more inclusive town."

Everyone who entered this years' competition has been afforded the opportunity to attend a masterclass in value proposition and design by Anton Pretorius from Sologix to help all contestants bring their ideas to life.

With the judges having announced the top three finalists, Stellenbosch Network calls on the people of Stellenbosch and its surrounds to vote for who they think should be crowned the winner. To cast your vote, click here.

For more information, go to https://www.stellenboschnetwork.co.za/

About Stellenbosch Network:

Stellenbosch Network is a cross-sector and inter-disciplinary membership organisation that brings people together from industry, government, society, and academia with the aim of sharing ideas, fostering connections, and encouraging collaboration and partnership for inclusive economic growth in the greater Stellenbosch area.

​​Stellenbosch University's Rectorate agreed for the SUNFin project's go-live date to be extended from 4 January 2021 to 1 July 2021 to ensure a seamless transition from the current financial system to the new Oracle Cloud Financials (OCF) system. 

“Despite many challenges during the past few months, the project team has made significant progress on the project," says Chief Director Finance, Manie Lombard. The team is currently finalising critical business decisions and changes to business policies that are required by the OCF application. SU data is also being cleaned before the final cutover and data load. 

Furthermore, the team is developing integration solutions to ensure that the required SU peripheral systems can 'talk to' the OCF application. Visions, our implementation partner, is focusing on transferring knowledge of the OCF system to the SU finance subject matter experts (SMEs).

According to Manie, the SUNFin team has adopted a unique agile way of working on projects in establishing cross-functional teams to develop the integrations of peripheral systems to OCF. “They are instilling a culture of using templates, documenting findings and sharing information. The team established a set of values which they live by, as well as adopted a formal change management approach to manage the people element of change systematically."

The project team is busy preparing the SU data for the last practice data load and system configuration before reviewing the third and final iteration of OCF in early 2021, followed by user acceptance testing (UAT) in March 2021.

Manie says they will inform staff about features of the new SUNFin solution and key changes to the financial processes and policies on planned roadshows in April 2021. 

End-user training will commence in May until mid-June 2021. “We will communicate cutover processes and dates to relevant staff members well in advance."

Please send your questions or comments regarding the project to sunfin@sun.ac.za. For more information, please visit www.sun.ac.za/sunfin.

​​​Keaton Harris, a Stellenbosch University medical student at the Tygerberg campus is the 2020 winner of SU LaunchLab IdeaSmash competition in the existing business: technology category. His business, InforMed, is an offline mobile healthcare translation tool that focuses on breaking language barriers between healthcare professionals and patients. It uses an adaptive approach that is geared towards obtaining translations from healthcare professionals that not only have a medical degree, but can also show fluency in both English and another language.

In July 2020, the Entrepreneurship Development in Higher Education (EDHE) held its first 2020 segment of the annual intervarsity competition. The competition is aimed at stirring and developing student entrepreneurship in South Africa's public universities. Each university holds an initial internal round from which representatives are chosen to compete in the regional/provincial rounds and finally in the national rounds. Although disrupted by COVID-19 earlier in the year, all the Universities displayed massive resilience and adaptability by pushing through with their respective internal rounds albeit modifications.

The Stellenbosch University LaunchLab, in partnership with the Office of the Vice-Rector: Research, Innovation and Postgraduate Studies, hosts Stellenbosch University's internal round dubbed IdeaSmash.

Through the SU IdeaSmash eight finalists from a total of 46 applications were selected to represent Stellenbosch University at the regional finals. The eight competed in four categories which included:
-       New business idea category

-       Existing business (Tech) category

-       Existing business (Social Impact) category

-       Existing business (General) category
All eight finalists gave stellar pitches at the Western Cape regional competition's virtual events which were spread across the 1st week of July 2020. Judges included representatives from the Allan Gray Orbis Foundation (AGOf), First National Bank (FNB) and South African Breweries Foundation (SABf).

The other seven finalists are:

• Grandeur Giftery by Vutomi Khosa (Existing Business - Social Impact):  A gift delivery service that delivers within 24 hours of payment that operates within the Western Cape.
  
  

• Top Tank by Andrex Roux (New business idea): A self-watering plant growing convertible garden tray (TopTank) which can be added to any fish tank.
  
  

• Biotikum by Deon Neveling (Existing Business - Tech): A company focuses on developing and commercialising animal probiotics, thereby promoting sustainable farming practices.
  
  

• Vexed by Peter Brincker (Existing Business - Social Impact): A platform for simplified extra classes in video format. It is keeping to the structure of a syllabus but taking out the complexity.
  
  

• Bloxy by Josephine Rey (Existing Business - Tech): A piece of software that enables free, offline banking- without any need for cellphone signal.
  
  

• Split by Jacques du Plessis (New business idea): An app that provides an easy, safe, and fun way to borrow, lend, and rent things.
  
  

• Innovative Vending Solutions by Janneman van der Merwe (Existing Business - General): A vending machine company which conveniently serves by offering vending solutions and innovative technologies to clients.

Keaton and the other finalists will be receiving a share of R60 000 seed funding to support their business. Keaton has also been receiving incubation services from the SU LaunchLab where he is currently going through the Countdown: Business Validation programme.

The SU LaunchLab continues to be a flagship for the development and support of studentpreneurship on the Stellenbosch University campus. All students are encouraged to keep in the loop with the SU LaunchLab on the SU Entrepreneurship Hub webpage: https://launchlab.co.za/su-entrepreneurship-hub/

​Stellenbosch's favourity Matie Shop has stocked up to make sure students can start 2021 with all the latest Stellenbosch University branded products. A wide selection of branded products is available on Takealot to make it accessible to students and alumni everywhere in South Africa.

One of the most popular products is the 2017 Eeufees Pinotage which was specially bottled for SU's centennial year. They are individually numbered and available in boxes of six at R990. You can also buy a quality double wine cooler (R305) which is ideal to take your favourite bottle of wine to a restaurant or to friends and family. 

To make sure you stay warm, especially during intervarsity matches, a Maties puffer jacket is a must-have item for those unexpected cold evenings. It is available for men and ladies in all sizes at the cost of R890. And while talking clothing, why not add SU hoody (either with the SU Crest, Corporate logo or Maties button) (available in black, grey and maroon in all sizes for R520 – R590) and a SU branded golf shirt (available in maroon and grey melange for R322).

For the first-year students of 2021, have a look at the selection of SU t-shirts, such as the Corporate maroon shirt available in all sizes (R210).

Apart from the clothing items, there are also gift sets and stationery sets for sale. Go to Takealot and find our Stellenbosch University store there.​

Mental health disorders are among the leading causes of ill health and disability worldwide. (1,2) Globally, it is estimated that 264 million people suffer from depression with many of these people also suffering with anxiety.(1)

A study by Stellenbosch University scientists has shown that certain people's immune systems react differently when exposed to the bacteria that cause tuberculosis (Mycobacterium tuberculosis or Mtb) than others.

This research, recently published in The Lancet's EBioMedicine journal, brings scientists one step closer to finding ways of preventing people from developing the disease. People living with HIV are at increased risk of TB, and it is particularly significant that the researchers found this immune reaction in some people living with HIV as well.

The study challenges paradigms about what happens after people are infected with Mtb, said Professor Marlo Möller with the Division of Molecular Biology and Human Genetics at Stellenbosch University's Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences.

“In the past we had a simpler view of what happens after Mtb infection, but the study changes this," said Möller, the senior author of the manuscript. The field work was led by her colleague, Dr Elouise Kroon, with Prof Eileen Hoal as the local Principal Investigator.

The study shows that the tests commonly used to infer Mtb infection are not always able to detect infection in all people. “Not everyone will give a positive test when they've been in contact with the bacteria. Our study has shown some people who test negative have antibodies against the bacteria so they have been in contact with it and maybe the immune system is dealing with it in a different way," Möller said.

Elaborating on the significance of the manuscript, she said: “This research brings us a step closer to understanding why some people, even though they were exposed to and infected with Mtb, do not go on to develop active tuberculosis. If we can figure that out, we may be able to prevent people from developing active disease after being infected.

“It is important to understand all the processes that happen when you get infected with Mtb and this research assists with this. Understanding the mechanisms of resistance will enable us to develop TB prevention and treatment modalities."

Möller said it was also significant that the study looked at the two tests commonly used to infer Mtb infection. “They are not a direct test to say you definitely have the bacteria in you. Instead they test the immune system to see if it recognises the bacteria which determines if it has been in contact with the bacteria before.

"It is significant because these persons may have possible alternative mechanisms of clearing infection and preventing progression to TB disease."

Reacting to the news of the acceptance of the manuscript, Möller said it was very satisfying to see the work of herself and her colleagues in such a prestigious journal.

“It is always a highlight to get a manuscript accepted. This is what we work towards to contribute to the body of science out there and to improve the health of people. It's the crown on your hard work and the long hours you put in and the challenges you face."

Below are links to more information on the research: 

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ebiom.2020.103053

https://www.thelancet.com/journals/ebiom/article/PIIS2352-3964(20)30429-1/fulltext

Caption: Nosipho Mtala, Elouise Kroon, Sihaam Boolay, Marlo Möller, Craig Kinnear​. Insert: Profs Eileen Hoal & Gerhard Walzl.

​The book focuses on the establishment and development of geography as an academic discipline at Stellenbosch University, South Africa’s founding geography department. It serves as a companion publication to other contributions which have explored the genesis and expansion of geography at Stellenbosch and papers published in the 2020 South African Geographical Journal
Special Issue celebrating the department’s centenary. The authors seek to highlight the development of the discipline and its institutionalisation as part of the academic offerings of the university, while providing details about the teaching and research conducted, as well as the people who contributed to these endeavours.

African governments and the African Union must develop correct policies before 2050 to help ensure food security in the continent and the rest of the world. This is the view of Dr Ethel Phiri (Department of Agronomy) and Master's students Elsje Dippenaar, Mpho Molapo & Philasande Feju (Southern Africa Sustainable Agriculture Programme) in an opinion piece for News24 (30 October).

• Read the article below or click here for the piece as published.
  

Ethel Phiri, Elsje Dippenaar, Mpho Molapo & Philasande Feju*

Development in agriculture led to reduction in cultivated crops. Developing countries were largely affected by the introduction of the green revolution, which focuses on higher input and maximum output. While this led to the intensification of a few cereal cultivations such as rice, maize and wheat, it has left agriculture more vulnerable to pests, diseases and climate change.

We have now moved into the 4th Industrial Revolution, where Africa is mostly left behind, still relying on traditional farming methods. Even though Africa is expected to feed a global population that will reach close to 10 billion people by 2050, poverty and malnutrition are still major challenges faced by the continent. 

The idea that Africa will feed the world by 2050 is based on the premise that it has over 60% of uncultivated arable land that can be used to grow food for the global population. There is no doubt that many people in Africa gain most of their caloric intake from cereal grains, and having it as the leading producer of cereal grains for export to the rest of the world should be feasible.

There have been suggestions that Africa's uncultivated arable land should be used for the production of cereals grains, specifically, maize, wheat, and rice. However, the agricultural intensification of these staple crops and their consumption have not reduced poverty and malnutrition, especially in underdeveloped countries. The problem with these staple crops is that they are vulnerable to pests, diseases and climate change. Worryingly, there are many other crops that are not afforded the same attention as cereals. Indigenous pulses have been sidelined and so have leafy vegetables that can provide micronutrients that are the main deficiencies on the continent. 

As we observe Africa Day for Food and Nutrition Security (30 October), it's important to realise that before 2050, African governments and the African Union must develop policies that will empower small scale farmers and individuals producing for informal markets. The informal sector's agricultural value chain compromises local food markets and street vendors who obtain their fresh produce from large central markets or from the subsistence and smallholder farmers themselves. This sector is an important income source for farmers or sellers as well as for those involved in the life cycle analysis of the produce.

But, being informal, there is usually no formal registration of being a business, absence of an appropriate framework, absence of assets, and the businesses sometimes operate with cleanliness not being a top priority. Also, since legislations are barely implemented, being an informal vendor sometimes puts business owners at risk of having their goods unlawfully confiscated. Thus, linkages between formal and informal seed sectors will help enhance the diversification of crop varieties, leading to the reduction in poverty and malnutrition, and an increase of plant resilience to climate change.

Indeed, it is undisputed that projections for climate change will likely have a huge impact on agriculture due to variabilities and uncertainties in environmental factors (droughts, floods, high temperatures and uncertainties in rainfall). This will have a negative impact on agriculture productivity and food production which will lead to an intense food shortage and an increase in food prices. Therefore, governments and agriculture stakeholders should collaborate and develop climate-smart adaptation strategies that are geared towards sustaining all types of farming. It is also important to acknowledge the ability that indigenous and traditional crops have to increase the diversification of food production. 

We don't want to sound pessimistic, but it seems unlikely that Africa will be able to feed over 10 billion people by 2050, let alone reach the United Nations' 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030. The first two SDGs are to end poverty in all its forms everywhere and zero hunger. Sadly, Africa, particularly sub-Saharan Africa, has thus far been unable to meet any of the goals. Also, with only half a decade left, neither Africa nor the world is on track to achieve the global nutrition targets, specifically those of No Poverty and Zero Hunger. One of the impediments to reaching these goals is the disconnect between government policies that promote and support the supply of healthy food and government policies that support the growth of the economy, which results in policy incoherence.

The following three main aspects may lead to policy incoherence with regards to economic growth and food security and nutrition, globally and in Africa: 1) policies that are related to nutrition to limit the availability of highly processed and unhealthy food are in opposition to economic policies that focus on investments in retail and processing as governments may have investments in multiple areas in the supply chain; 2) policies that promote investment and trade liberalization may have a negative effect on food security and nutrition and may lead to an increase in competition among food processors. This will in turn lead to an increase of availability and a decrease in prices of highly processed foods that have been linked to diet related non-communicable diseases; and 3) the encouragement of economic growth through supply chain policies that do not consider objectives regarding food security and nutrition. 

Thus, local accountability and more accurate information will be needed to create food policies that are unique to communities in terms of their food security and nutrition experiences as current policies are highly centralised and inadequate. In order to transform people from being passive consumers to being food system beneficiaries, food policies should be more participatory, inclusive, and community-focused.

We believe three things need to happen before Africa can feed the world. Firstly, governments should create fiscal incentives that would allow for an increase in the production and accessibility of healthy foods by creating links between consumers and producers. Secondly, small-scale farmers and producers should be incentivised to produce highly nutritious foods. This opportunity may thus lead to more nutritious diets as well as economic growth through an increase in employment opportunities. Thirdly, the nutritional quality of the supply of food should be included in policy objectives across the supply chain and formal avenues should be created for civil society to participate and engage in economic policymaking that will affect food supply, as well as policies directed at food and nutrition security. 

*Dr Ethel Phiri is a lecturer in the Department of Agronomy at the Faculty of AgriSciences at Stellenbosch University. Elsje Dippenaar, Mpho Molapo & Philasande Feju are Master's students in the Southern Africa Sustainable Agriculture Programme in the same faculty.

​

“South Africa and the continent of Africa has a lot to teach the rest of the world. We have a very young and intelligent population. It is a unique place where Data Science can be used to create opportunities for Africa and outside Africa that will help to better lives."

This was the message from Prof Kanshukan Rajaratnam, Director: School for Data Science and Computational Thinking, who delivered the keynote presentation at a recent online talk hosted by Stellenbosch University International.

In his presentation, Rajaratnam highlighted what Stellenbosch University (SU) was doing to build data science capability in Africa and opportunities for institutions across the world in this space.

He believes that Data Science can be used in the fields of Health, Water, Agriculture, Education, Climate and Energy throughout the African continent.

“We are producing so much data now; all of that can be analysed to improve the quality of life for all citizens around the world. We also need to collect and store our own data in Africa, so we can use it to solve our own problems and needs on the continent," said Rajaratnam.

SU launched the School for Data Science and Computational Thinking in July 2019 with the vision to be a world-class institution for data science and computational thinking in and for Africa.

The school has been hard at work to facilitate non-conventional, trans-faculty approaches to teaching and research in data science and computational thinking at the University in an interdisciplinary way.

The school established the African Data Science Academy earlier this year to carry out the school's mission to facilitate human capacity building in data science and computational thinking at the University, nationally in South Africa, across Africa and globally. It develops and presents open courses offered by the school as well as bespoke courses developed for our industry and academic partners.

To date the school has also collaborated with many higher education and international institutions, including Harvard University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in the United States, as well as the United Nations.

Rajaratnam said that the school hopes to collaborate with many other institutions on the continent and globally in the near future.

During his presentation, he also focused on how artificial intelligence was used to detect a flu-like virus in Wuhan and to lower fatalities among vulnerable populations during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Without data science the pandemic would have been worse. Data science was used in diagnostics, in discovery, pharmaceutical discovery and in various other aspects in the solution to the COVID-19 pandemic."

Rajaratnam also highlighted the role that SU played in the fight against the disease and mentioned how SU students came up with innovative ideas during the online 2020 Hackathon. Participating students were challenged to develop solutions that could help small businesses to function effectively in the new normal post COVID-19 environment. Rajaratnam believes this is a good example of how important data science education is to help train young people in Africa to help find solutions for the continent.

“There is a high demand for data scientists in Africa and across the globe. With Africa's young and tenacious population, there is a lot of opportunities to build partnerships to solve problems in Africa going forward."

For more information on SU's School for Data Science and Computational Thinking, click here.​

​

The Ombud has for long served as an independent channel through which people can seek help.

At Stellenbosch University (SU), the Office of the Ombud is an independent, neutral and confidential space for people to discuss their issues and concerns related to the University.

Students, parents of students, or staff can bring forward problems and complaints to the Ombud to be resolved that the existing University structures are unable to deal with satisfactorily.

The SU Ombud, Adv Rina Meyer, is an independent person appointed to facilitate the informal resolution of concerns regarding the University. Meyer shares more insight to the work her office does at SU.

1.            What is the role of the Ombud at Stellenbosch University?

The SU Ombud acts totally independently and does not form part of the SU structures. The Office of the Ombud is a channel through which appropriate attention can be given to all problems and complaints from the University community that the existing SU structures are unable to deal with satisfactorily. The Ombud does not replace these structures – therefore, complainants must exhaust the normal SU procedures before involving the Ombud. Only if their problem remains unresolved after a reasonable period has expired, or if it is extremely urgent, complainants may turn to the Ombud. If the available channels have not been explored thoroughly, the Ombud will refer complainants back to those channels.

2.            How can the Office of the Ombud help people?

The Ombud provides confidential, informal, independent and impartial assistance to individuals through dispute resolution and problem-solving methods such as mediation, facilitation and shuttle diplomacy. Visitors who wish to discuss matters relating to the University in confidence and seek independent guidance may find a place to speak freely. Those who want to report or discuss sensitive concerns confidentially are also encouraged to visit the Office of the Ombud. 

3.            Why is it important for a university to have an Ombud?

The Ombud is helpful to complainants but also to University leaders as the Ombuds's orientation is toward "fair process". The Ombud can also inform the University about issues or “hotspots" of which they ought to be aware, and the possible implications of those issues. Furthermore, the Ombud can identify serious potential problems that may be unforeseen or downplayed by management or employees. The Ombud may convey trends, systemic problems and organisational issues to high-level leaders and executives. The Ombud does not advocate for individuals, groups or entities, but rather for the principles of fairness and equity.

4.            Who can lodge a complaint or query with the Ombud?

The purpose of the Ombud is to provide an approachable, independent office that is available to all SU students, prospective students, students' parents, employees and former employees, alumni, visitors and service providers of Stellenbosch University or institutions who want to take action against the University under certain circumstances. In that manner, the Ombud can appropriately articulate the concerns of those whose voices often go unheard.

5.            What are the nature of the complaints or queries that people can lodge?

Complaints may be lodged in the following circumstances, namely where persons referred to above:

• Feel that they have been treated unfairly by or within the University.
• Need advice to solve a complicated problem regarding the University.
• Have a complaint, issue or problem that could not be addressed or resolved internally.
• Need an impartial listener who will keep any sensitive University-related matter that they may raise, confidential.
• Need a neutral mediator to assist in solving a dispute within the University.
• Require help to expedite a matter that is delayed unnecessarily by the University. 

6.            Can a person remain anonymous if they contact the Office of the Ombud?

The Ombud holds all communications with those seeking assistance in strict confidence. The Ombud does not reveal, and cannot be required to reveal, the identity of any individual contacting the Ombud Office, without that individual's express permission, and only to the extent of that permission. The only exceptions to this rule are situations of apparent immediate danger of serious harm and when a legal duty applies. The campus community should note that consulting with the Ombud would in no way place them at a risk. The University guarantees that no one will suffer reprisal, discrimination or victimisation for seeking assistance from the Ombud.

7.             What can the Ombud not help with?

The Ombud cannot help with the following:

• Make decisions on behalf of the University.
• Make or overrule University policies or established procedures (though the Ombud may comment on or recommend change, or do both, regarding these areas).
• Intervene if the complaint can be pursued as a grievance according to established University procedure.
• Accept notifications on behalf of the University or any party.
• Consider complaints that are already the subject of a lawsuit.
• Give legal advice or provide psychological counselling,
• Award compensation.
• Act as representative for any party.
• Handle purely academic matters.
• Attend to patently vexatious or frivolous complaints.

 8.            How can you lodge a complaint or query with the office of the Ombud?

To submit a complaint or concern for the Ombud's consideration, complete and submit the complaints form, which is available on the website www.sun.ac.za/ombudsman. The form is also available from the administrative officer of the Ombud Office and Mrs Grace Bruintjies can be contacted for appointments at graceb@sun.ac.za. Urgent matters may be reported at ombudsman@sun.ac.za.

As a means of protecting and hiding the identities of complainants, the Office of the Ombud has been strategically located off campus on Ryneveld Street to minimise any possibility of being noticed.

​

Mitch's story, like most of our students, starts with the day that he received his matric results. The results would not allow him to pursue his dreams and be selected to the studies of his choice at Stellenbosch University. During a High School career Expo in Robertson, Mitch was introduced to Conservation Ecology through the Graham and Rhona Beck Skills Centre. This field immediately sparked an interest in Mitch, and he contacted the Faculty of Agricultural Sciences at Stellenbosch University trying to look for an alternative route into tertiary education. This is when Monika Basson at AgriSciences informed Mitch about the SciMathUS programme. Mitch confesses how grateful he was of this recommendation, as this was the start of the journey which would lead him to where he is today.

Looking back on his SciMathUS year in 2011, Mitch mentions that sharing a house with some of his classmates had a particularly positive impact on him. He attributes a lot of his success at SciMathUS to the camaraderie and support he and his peers experienced. His academic achievements at the end of that year rewarded him with a sufficient merit bursary and in 2012, Mitch started his studies at the Faculty of AgriSciences. Despite challenges along the way, he was granted an AgriSeta bursary in his third year. This was again made possible by recommendation of Monika Basson, who had now supported Mitch from the beginning of his academic career.  

Mitch graduated in 2019 after finishing his final year in 2018 after which he was fortunate to secure a brief internship at Boschendal. He later accepted a position at the Flower Valley Conservation Trust and moved to Gansbaai. He started there as an Assistant Farm Manager in June 2019 and was later offered the position of Extension Manager of the greater Overberg region. Mitch works closely with the Department of Environmental Affairs and his responsibilities include managing teams in sustainable harvesting as well as the clearing of alien and invasive plant species in this area.

Although he is not sure where the future will take him, Mitch is content in life and his work. He especially mentions how happy he is to be working in nature. When he reflects on the role that SciMathUS played in his development as a student and person, he passionately says, “It was more than studying the subjects, Mathematics and Physical Sciences. This programme equipped me with determination and critical thinking skills in order to look at the world differently."

Mitch attests to the fact that being part of the SciMathUS programme introduced him to higher education lifestyle and helped him to navigate his degree with much more confidence and lots of motivation. He is grateful to the staff of SciMathUS for providing him with tools that he is still making use of as a young, employed graduate. He explicitly wishes to convey his gratitude to Ms Monika Basson, who introduced him to the programme and Dr Natasja Brown at Agriscience who always had an open door policy for him to consult. All the people mentioned above played a pivotal role in moulding the person he is today.

Quintin the robot, who has been assisting physicians at Tygerberg Hospital's Covid-19 intensive care unit (ICU), is now also helping to put concerned family members in touch with ICU patients that have had to be isolated – and in some cases, allowing them to say goodbye for the very last time.

Quintin, a Double Robotics robot that looks like a computer tablet on wheels, has been equipped to do video and voice calls using the freely available WhatsApp service, or regular phone calls. That means family members can now dial in to “visit" with patients in the Covid-19 ICU.

Quintin can be remotely steered using an app and therefore hospital staff don't have to physically enter the ward to position the robot. This reduces their risk of infection, saves on personal protective equipment (PPE) and frees up their time to focus on other tasks.

Enabling contact between patients and their families has been a “humanising process", explains Dr Kerry Louw, a psychiatrist at Stellenbosch University's Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences (FMHS) and Tygerberg Hospital.

She likens the experience of being a patient in an ICU to “a form of psychological anguish which involves a fear of death, unexpected pain and sensory deprivation, as well as overstimulation".

ICU patients are not only physically ill, but often also suffer psychologically because they are isolated from their families, are sleep-deprived due to the constant beeping of machines, and experience no natural light or air movement. “Some patients stay in an ICU for long periods of time, and it becomes really difficult for them," Louw explains.

“It's heart-warming to see the smiles once patients have connected with their families. It has made such a difference.

“In some cases, the patients have not been awake while the family communicates with them, but it has still been meaningful. We have been able to organise some end-of-life conversations for people to say goodbye. One family wanted to be present at the moment of passing and we enabled them to be there with the patient."

Louw says the Department of Psychiatry was already providing individual and group support for healthcare staff working with Covid-19 patients, when a colleague asked if they could help with patient family contact.

“Staff members of the Department moved into a little office at the ICU to be on site to support the ICU staff. We go in every day to be visible to the staff and to give psychological support to the patients."

When Quintin is called upon to assist, he moves over to the patient and sometimes stays with them for hours while the family visits virtually.

“I always explain to the families beforehand what to expect and what it looks like to see someone who is intubated, as it can be a shock. Some families don't want visual contact and prefer audio contact. We always check in with the patient to see how they are doing after engaging with their families. We also check in with the families, who can be very emotional after they've connected with the patient."

According to Prof Coenie Koegelenberg, an FMHS pulmonologist who also works in Tygerberg Hospital's Covid-19 ICU, the idea of using Quintin in this capacity came about “because we didn't expect the patients to be so aware, awake and anxious".

“It is difficult for healthcare workers to provide psychological support through a mask and goggles, because you look like an alien and it is difficult to hear what people are saying," he says.

Koegelenberg originally sourced Quintin's services to enable ICU specialists to do virtual Covid-19 ward rounds when they are unable to be physically present. “The odds of at least one of us falling ill or having to go into self-isolation and being unable to physically go to work were quite high, so it was reassuring to know that we would be able to function remotely by using a phone or a laptop to steer the robot."

None of the ICU specialists have fallen ill yet, but Quintin's services as an intermediary between patients and their families have been indispensable.

Louw says connecting the family who wanted to be present when their relative passed away was memorable and moving. “We were able to have Quintin present while the family sang and prayed with the patient as he died. It was very powerful."

“It has been a huge privilege to engage with patients and their families at such a vulnerable time in their lives. It is beautiful, but hard."

Caption: Dr Kerry Louw with Quintin the Robot.

Photo credit: Damien Schumann

​LC-MS is an important tool in metabolomics studies. An example of such work at the LCMS laboratory is the recently published papers by our PhD student, Keabetswe Masike who used it to study leaf blackening in Proteas.  ​​​​​​

She further optimized phenolic methods on the Synapt system with ion mobility and data-independent acquisition to study the metabolites of the plants.  Leaf blackening is a post-harvesting disorder that causes financial losses during exports.  

Ion mobility is a complementary tool to mass spectrometry that separates molecules (ions) based on their collisional cross-section. 

The link to her latest paper:

 https://dx.doi.org/10.1021/acs.jafc.0c03607​

​The unveiling of a new artwork in front of Stellenbosch University's Ou Hoofgebou (Old Main Building) in Ryneveld Street depicts the SU community's commitment to unity and nation-building.

“We want to unite the University community with symbols that heal the wounds of the past and help us move forward together. And this installation is part of that ongoing process," said Stellenbosch University (SU) Rector and Vice-Chancellor Prof Wim de Villiers at the launch of the artwork on Tuesday (3 November 2020).

Christened The Preamble Art Installation, the artwork comprises three separate metal plates depicting the preamble to the Constitution of South Africa in three languages (Afrikaans, English and Xhosa). Water cutting technology was used to excise the words of the preamble on the plates.

De Villiers said the University was on a journey of renewing its institutional culture. This includes taking a fresh look at what is visually apparent in the spatial layout, visual iconography and visible symbolism on its campuses.

“There was a time when South Africa was isolated in the community of nations because of discriminating and oppressive policies, but no more. We made a peaceful, negotiated transition to democracy and wrote a new Constitution, providing us with a good framework which also guides us as a university community.

“This art installation will serve as a constant reminder of that framework, a constant reminder that we've come a long way, a reminder that our country is a better place and so is our University."

The 134-year-old Ou Hoofgebou building houses the Faculty of Law of SU.

Prof Nicola Smit, Dean of the Faculty of Law, said the project was initiated in 2017 as part of the broader visual redress process of the University.

“Discussions started even before the #Feesmustfall student protests, but the need for more urgent progress with this process was certainly underlined by students during these protests.

“Our memories of the past together with this new visual reminder of the aspirations of the people of South Africa, provide us the opportunity to use memory – past and present, individual and collective − to establish, maintain and foster our relations with all people in an inclusive and reflective manner.

 “From the start, it was important that The Preamble of the Constitution will act as a physical link between the public space outside the Ou Hoofgebou and the Faculty of Law, symbolising a society anchored in a constitutional democracy and the importance of access to justice and the realisation of social justice for all."

 The artwork was designed by well-known landscape artist, Strijdom van der Merwe.

“Forty years ago I was a first-year Philosophy student in this very building and I would never have thought that I would make a contribution to transformation at Stellenbosch through my art," he said.

He said dynamic features of the artwork include its transparency and ability to reflect the changing seasons.

The work is one of a range of visual redress projects currently underway on SU's campuses.

Preamble:

A highly distinguished career over more than three decades has earned many honours for Prof Jimmy Volmink, the Dean of Stellenbosch University's Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences. In February, the Belgian university KU Leuven will add to this ever-growing list when it awards him an honorary doctorate.

"KU Leuven has a centuries-long tradition of awarding honorary doctorates to individuals of exceptional distinction," the university informed Volmink recently. "In conferring this degree, our university community wishes to recognise you for your work in the fight against inequality in order to promote human dignity, and your contribution to both science and practice to improve health and wellbeing."

This statement succinctly describes the essence of Volmink's career. His commitment and compassion were clear right from the start when he chose to work at a rural hospital in Swaziland (Eswatini) after he completed an MBChB degree at the University of Cape Town in 1982.

He then returned to Cape Town, where he worked at the Red Cross War Memorial Children's Hospital (1985) and subsequently as a family practitioner in Mitchells Plain (1986-1993). In addition, he worked part-time as medical officer at Lentegeur Psychiatric Hospital and as district surgeon in Mitchells Plain (1986-1987).

During this period, he also somehow still found time to do a DCH at the SA College of Medicine (1986) and an MPH in epidemiology at Harvard University (1988) before he became a Specialist Scientist at the SA Medical Research Council's Centre for Epidemiological Research in Southern Africa (1990-1993).

Volmink later continued his studies in epidemiology and obtained a DPhil degree from Oxford University in 1996. It was during his time at Oxford that a chance meeting with Sir Iain Chalmers, one of the founders of the Cochrane Collaboration, turned his career in a new direction.

"Meeting Iain was a life-changing moment," Volmink acknowledges in an interview with the medical journal The Lancet. "Everything I have done since has been through the lens of evidence-based medicine [EBM]."

So, when the SA Medical Research Council invited him to establish the SA Cochrane Centre (now Cochrane SA) in 1997, he readily accepted the challenge. This marked the beginning of the formal promotion of EBM in South Africa, which is premised on the idea that decision making in healthcare should be based on reliable evidence from clinical research, and not merely on expert opinion or tradition.

Today Cochrane SA is widely known for the quality of its training in EBM and for developing various Cochrane methodologies and tools. It has produced a number of important systematic reviews, most notably in the field of HIV/Aids and tuberculosis, which have informed World Health Organisation (WHO) guidelines, as well as national policies.

Volmink went on to gain international prominence as a leader in this relatively new global movement in medicine, which subsequently also gained traction in a number of other disciplines. In 2015, he received the Leverhulme Medal for his contribution to evidence-based healthcare from the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine.

In addition, Volmink has made a significant contribution to health sciences education at Stellenbosch University after he joined the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences as Deputy Dean (Research) in 2006. He developed or taught various courses in epidemiology, evidence-based healthcare, public health, preventive medicine and primary healthcare, and led the development of an MSc in Clinical Epidemiology as well.

Volmink became Dean in 2011. Since then, the Faculty has succeeded in significantly improving access to students from historically disadvantaged backgrounds while, at the same time, maintaining high success rates.

In addition to supporting the development of a new generation of health professionals and scientists, the Faculty has played a pioneering role under his leadership in reforming training curricula for healthcare professionals.

The influence of Volmink's parents, James and Johanna, is clearly still very strong in his life. Although neither of them went further than primary school due to financial constraints, they always emphasised the value of education, and five of their seven children obtained postgraduate qualifications.

Like the Dean, his brother Prof John Volmink went on to carve out a prestigious career in education as well. Most notably, he played a leading role in post-apartheid South Africa in curriculum reform, advancing mathematics education and the quality assurance of schooling. In recognition of these outstanding contributions, he will receive an honorary doctorate in education from Stellenbosch University in December.

A few weeks later, the Dean will receive his honorary doctorate from KU Leuven as part of its Patron Saint's Day celebrations on February 2. It is an honour that Volmink, an elected Member of the Academy of Science of South Africa and an elected Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh, richly deserves.

The Rector and Vice-Chancellor of Stellenbosch University, Prof Wim de Villiers, welcomes the latest acknowledgement of Volmink's contribution to medicine and health sciences education: “An honorary doctorate is one of the highest accolades that can be bestowed on an academic, especially if it is from a leading university like KU Leuven.

"Prof Volmink fully deserves this honour and we are immensely proud of him. He is not only a leading academic, but also an excellent administrator and leader. Particularly noteworthy is the fact that he continued with his research career while also being Dean of our Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, which has thrived under his visionary leadership.

"With his international exposure to the training of healthcare professionals, he has further enhanced the academic and research excellence for which the Faculty is renowned. Our heartiest congratulations to Prof Volmink."

Caption: Prof Jimmy Volmink. Photo by Damien Schumann.

​​As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic the Stellenbosch University (SU) Rectorate has approved a hybrid graduation model for the upcoming 2020 December graduation cycle. The hybrid graduation model includes 12 small physical (face-to-face) ceremonies for doctoral graduands, honorary doctorates, Chancellor's Awards recipients and the Chancellor's medallist in the Endler Hall, as well as virtual faculty-specific graduation ceremonies. Graduation ceremonies will take place from 14 to 16 December 2020.

Please see the below information outlining the arrangements for the 2020 December Graduation:

Physical (Face-to-Face) Ceremonies
Twelve small physical graduation ceremonies (four per day) will be held in a format that complies with current COVID-19 regulations and will not put the health and safety of graduands and their guests at risk. The physical graduation ceremonies will be held in the Endler Hall of the SU Conservatoire of Music (Konservatorium), as the venue is the most suitable for the small number of attendees allowed, and from a social distancing perspective.

These physical (face-to-face) ceremonies will be held for the following categories:

• Doctoral Graduands (*Including March/April 2020 PhD graduates)
• Honorary Doctorates
• Chancellor's Awards Recipients
• Chancellor's Medallist

* All 2020 March/April doctoral graduates should please note that this will be a ceremonial crossing of the graduation stage only. Your name will not reflect in the 2020 December Graduation Booklet. No certificate will further be issued as you have received your certificate during the March/April 2020 cycle.
 
Physical (Face-to-Face) Ceremony Schedule
All graduands in the four categories listed above should please consult the physical (face-to-face) ceremony programme schedule for the date and time of your graduation/ceremonial crossing of the stage.

Group allocations will be made available on the graduation webpage. The comprehensive programme and graduand name list will also be published on the graduation webpage in early December.

PhD Candidates - Confirmation of Attendance
All PhD candidates, including the March/April 2020 cohort, are kindly requested to confirm their attendance by following this link. Please note you will not receive any admission
tickets (graduand or guest) if your submission has not been received before 16 November 2020.
 
Arrival Time
All graduands are requested to present themselves at the venue 30 minutes prior to the start of the ceremony. Graduands must proceed directly to their allocated seat. Your seat number will be indicated on your invitation.
 
Admission Tickets – Graduand and Guest Tickets
Please note that the venue's population certificate (a legal requirement) limits the number of individuals that may be in the venue at any given time, compelling SU to issue a specific number of admission tickets per graduand. The current Level 1 Disaster Management Regulations further determine that a venue may not exceed 50% of its capacity, with a maximum capacity of 250 people for indoor gatherings. This number includes essential staff.

Based on the above the following number of guest tickets will be issued:

• Doctoral Graduands - Each candidate may invite two (2) guests
• Honorary Doctorates - Each candidate may invite two (2) guests
• Chancellor's Awards Recipients - Each candidate may invite one (1) guest
• Chancellor's Medallist - The candidate may invite two (2) guests

 Please Note:

1. No guest or graduand will be allowed to enter the venue without an admission ticket.
2. Regrettably, no additional guest tickets will be available for any of the graduation ceremonies.
3. We respectfully request graduands and guests that are over the age of 60 and/or with any comorbidities to take extra precaution.
4. The physical graduation ceremonies will be live streamed for family and friends that are unable to attend the event.
5. Each graduand and guest will receive a unique seat number. Please do not move/change seats. 
6. Each graduand and guest should take note of the COVID-19 protocols outlined below. These protocols will be strictly enforced. 

Graduands and guest admission tickets will be emailed by Tuesday, 8 December 2020. Please check your official “@sun" student email account or the e-mail account registered by you on the University system for the admission tickets. Please also check your “junk" or “spam" folder. Note that the tickets will be sent from a Quicket account. Tickets can be printed or saved to cell phones and must be shown at the door. Note that this arrangement applies to both graduands and guests.
 
COVID-19 Protocols

1. All venues will be thoroughly cleaned and disinfected as per the approved COVID-19 protocols.
2. The doors to the venue will be opened 30 minutes prior to the start of the ceremony.
3. The wearing of a mask is compulsory for the full duration of the ceremony, including when you cross the stage.
4. No guests or graduands will, therefore, be allowed to enter the venue without a mask.
5. All graduands and guests will be required to complete the Higher Health Check and produce a copy of the outcome at the door. Please take a screenshot of your screening status outcome and have it ready upon arrival at the venue. The application can be accessed via the following options:

• Higher Health Check tool: https://healthcheck.higherhealth.ac.za   
• WhatsApp: 0600 11 0000
• Dialling: *134*832*2#

6. To enter the venue, a green/ low-risk status is required. Graduands and guests with any other status will not be allowed to enter the venue.

7. You are requested to keep a safe physical distance at all times.

8. We respectfully request guests to leave the venue as quickly as possible after the event in order for the venue to be cleaned and sanitised before the next ceremony.

Virtual Faculty-Based Ceremonies
Virtual faculty-based ceremonies will be held for the remainder of the graduand categories. These graduands will receive their qualifications in absentia. The virtual faculty ceremonies' links will be released at the time of the first physical PhD ceremony, on Monday, 14 December 2020 at 09:00.
 
Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences - Physical (face-to-face) Pledge Ceremonies
This segment will entail small face-to-face pledge ceremonies per UG programme groups on 18 November and on 14 December 2020.

A physical pledge ceremony will be held for the following UG programmes/programme groups on 18 November 2020. The provisional number of Graduands is allocated in brackets ():

1. Ceremony 1, 9:30: Dietetics Graduands

• Dietetics (33)

A physical pledge ceremony will be held for the following UG programmes/programme groups on 14 December 2020. The provisional number of Graduands is allocated in brackets ():

1. Ceremony 2, 9:30: Health Sciences Graduands

• Speech-Language and Hearing Therapy (29)
• Occupational Therapy (44)
• Physiotherapy (56)
• All Dietetics Graduands that were not able to attend the 18 November Pledge Ceremonies (TBC)

Further information will be communicated to the applicable graduands.
 
Faculty of Military Science Graduands
Please note that a separate graduation ceremony will be held for all Military Science undergraduate, honours and masters' graduands on the Saldanha campus on 2 December 2020.

PhD candidates will receive their qualifications on the Stellenbosch campus (Endler Hall) as communicated earlier. Please consult the physical (face-to-face) ceremony programme schedule.

Further information regarding the arrangements for the ceremony at Saldanha will be communicated to the specific graduands by the Faculty of Military Science.
 
Contact details:
Jeanné-Mari Mac Lachlan – Faculty Administrator: Military Science 
Tel:  022 702 3017
jeannie@ma2.sun.ac.za
 
Academic Attire
The hiring of academic attire for the ceremonies on 14 to 16 December 2020 will take place in the Jannasch Lecture Hall at the SU Conservatoire of Music (Konservatorium) on the following dates and times:

Rental Dates - Stellenbosch Campus

• Friday, 11 December 2020: 09:00 – 16:00
• Saturday, 12 December 2020: 09:00 – 12:00
• Monday, 14 December 2020: 07:00 – 19:30 (rental and returns)
• Tuesday, 15 December 2020: 07:00 – 19:30 (rental and returns)
• Wednesday, 16 December 2020: 07:00 – 19:30 (rental and returns)

18 November 2020 Ceremony

• 18 November 2020: 7:00am – 15:00 (rental and returns)

14 December 2020 Ceremony

• Friday, 11 December 2020: 09:00 – 16:00
• Saturday, 12 December 2020: 09:00 – 12:00
• Monday, 14 December 2020: 07:00 – 14:00 (rental and returns)

• The sheath received by the candidate at the ceremony will not contain the official graduation documents, but will, instead, contain an account for the outstanding amount and a letter requesting payment thereof.
• To make it possible for the University to issue candidates' graduation documents at the ceremony, candidates must for the purposes of the December 2020 ceremonies settle the outstanding amount before 12:00 on Friday, 4 December 2020.
• Please contact Student Fees at 021 808 4521/4913 or via email at studentaccounts@sun.ac.za to make arrangements.

 Please take note that the above arrangements are subject to the prevailing Covid-related conditions and applicable regulations during December. 

Please visit the graduation webpage for additional information​