​​​​​The Stellenbosch University Museum in close cooperation with the Nelson Mandela Museum will be officially opening two new exhibitions on 25 August 2014.

The two exhibitions to be launched are entitled:

1. Black man in a white man's court – The forgotten trial of Nelson Mandela
2. For Madiba with Love – a photographic exhibition by David Turnley

(a) Black Man in a white man's court – the forgotten trial of Nelson Mandela

On Sunday 5 August 1962 South Africa's most wanted man was arrested after almost 17 months underground – seven months of them out of the country. It was a coup for the apartheid regime and a blow for the liberation movement. Nelson Mandela was in custody.

Dubbed by the media as the Black Pimpernel for his ability to evade arrest, he was put on trial for leaving the country without a passport and for inciting workers to strike.

At this short trial he wore a bead necklace and a jackal-skin Karros draped over his left shoulder to assert his identity as an African.

It was in the Old Synagogue in Pretoria, which became a 'Special Regional Court' for his trial, that he made his first 'Speech from the Dock' – a statement an accused could make without fear of cross-examination.

On the first day of his trial on 22 October 1962 Mandela made the speech, now known as the Black Man in a White Man's Court speech, while applying for the magistrate to recuse himself because he did not believe that he would be given a fair trial.

The 44-year-old attorney ran his own defence with legal advice given by his comrade Bob Hepple, who substituted for the banned Joe Slovo, was forbidden to travel to Pretoria for the trial. He allowed the prosecution to expect a lengthy defence but he mounted none.

On the day of his conviction, 7 November 1962, the prosecutor D J Bosch came to the holding cells and embraced him, explaining how hard it was for him to ask for a conviction. After being found guilty on incitement and leaving the country without a passport Mandela gave a closing speech of about an hour long. He was sentenced to five years in prison which he began serving at Pretoria Local Prison. He would not be free until 11 February 1990.

b)  For Madiba with love – photographs by David Turnley

It was as a 13-year-old boy growing up in the American Midwest of 1968, around the time of Dr Martin Luther King's assassination, that photographer David Turnley first heard the word "apartheid" – and the name Nelson Mandela.

His father, who had protested the invitation extended to two pro-racism speakers by the local Rotary Club, had explained the term and told him about the imprisoned Mr Mandela. Little could that impressionable lad have imagined that, two decades later, he would become a close personal friend of the Mandela family, and document South Africa's transition to democracy from a very special vantage point?

This incredible journey, and more specifically the period between 1985 and 1995, is the subject of For Madiba with Love, Turnley's new exhibition at the Nelson Mandela Centre of Memory in Houghton, Johannesburg.

Turnley (58) has photographed many of the seminal global events and flashpoints of the late 20th century and early 21st century – Afghanistan, the Middle East, the Berlin Wall, the student protests in Beijing's Tiananmen Square, Chechnya and many others – and the end of apartheid. He has won the Pulitzer Prize, two World Press Photos of the Year and the Robert Capa Gold Medal of Courage, among many other accolades, for his work.

He first crossed paths with renowned South Africa photographer Peter Magubane in 1978, when Magubane travelled to the United States to show his images of the 1976 Soweto uprising. "He had the most generous spirit, and his work was unbelievable," Turnley says of the man who would later also become a close friend.

In 1980 Turnley began photographing race issues in Detroit, "no more opportune" a place to document the ongoing civil rights situation in America – including race riots, and the de facto racial segregation of black inner cities and white suburbia. Five years later apartheid had become an international issue, and Turnley's attention was drawn to South Africa.

"The country was exploding," he recalls, arriving at a time when South Africa was in deep crisis. The national state of emergency was in force, and the country was torn by violent conflict and brutal State suppression of opposition to apartheid.

As he documented what he saw, and observed the intricacies of racial politics in South Africa, Turnley says that "what I think interested me was the daily humiliations, the nuances of ... this racial relationship".

He got to know Allan Boesak, then a leading light of the United Democratic Front (UDF), who invited him to an underground meeting of the UDF leadership in Durban. It was to be a defining moment. He says: "I went, and in walks the who's who of the struggle in the UDF, and the unbelievably beautiful Winnie Mandela."

It was there that he once again encountered Magubane, whom he respected too much to simply approach. But Magubane had already noticed the young American, whom he described as "one tough cookie", and their friendship was soon established. Turnley remembers Magubane's advice: "Don't talk, and if you do talk, don't say anything."

It was Magubane who introduced him to Winnie Mandela, "and we hit it off from day 1". He became a trusted friend of the Mandela family, enjoying "a very privileged relationship" with them – so close, in fact, that he even babysat for them.

But the apartheid regime, which kept a close watch on foreign media, was growing intolerant of Turnley's presence and work, and in 1988 deported him. This was a difficult time for Turnley, who had married a South African, but was now persona non grata.

A year later, in late 1989, things had changed again, and the apartheid government – aware of momentous things looming – invited him to return to South Africa and document what was to happen. Turnley would be one of those fortunate photographers who captured a jubilant Mr Mandela walking out of Victor Verster Prison with his wife, and his first public appearance on the steps of the Cape Town City Hall a few hours later. He was also in the Mandela home in Soweto when Mr Mandela took his first meal there in decades, along with the Sisulus and Ahmed Kathrada.

"I spent so much time with Madiba," he says of the ensuing years, covering Mr Mandela on the campaign trail, the first democratic elections in 1994, and Mr Mandela's presidency, retirement and family life. "I've really been photographing the family for 30 years."

And so it is that Turnley, too, has a South African family. His son, Charlie, was born in 1994 and has grown up South African. For Turnley, who has worked in 75 countries, "without even hesitation I say South Africa" when he is asked about his favourite place in the world.

"My life changed the minute I arrived in 1985, and I cannot say 'thank you' enough to the people of South Africa for letting me into their lives," he says.

​

​​​​Stellenbosch University Museum, in close cooperation with the Nelson Mandela Museum, is currently hosting two exhibitions.

The exhibitions, entitled Dear Mr Mandela, Dear Mrs Parks: Children's Letters, Global Lessons and Freedom XX: 20 Pieces of Democracy, will be on at the Museum until 31 December 2014.

The official opening will take place on Wednesday 28 May at 18:00.

The two exhibitions form part of the University-wide celebrations of 20 Years of Freedom, coordinated by Stellenbosch University's Centre for Inclusivity.

The exhibitions also form part of the University Museum's observation of International Museums Day, which is celebrated world-wide on 18 May each year.

The theme of this year's International Museum Day is 'Museum collections make connections'.

DEAR MR MANDELA, DEAR MRS PARKS: CHILDREN'S LETTERS, GLOBAL LESSONS

Dear Mr Mandela, Dear Mrs Parks: Children's Letters, Global Lessons is a travelling exhibition on loan from the Nelson Mandela Museum in Mthatha, Eastern Cape.

The inspiration for this exhibition came from the hundreds of children around the world who wrote letters to Nelson Mandela and the late Rosa Parks, both internationally renowned for their work in human rights.

The letters reveal why children revere Mandela and Parks, and also highlight young people's desire for guidance and understanding about life.

Dear Mr Mandela, Dear Mrs Parks: Children's Letters, Global Lessons highlights Nelson Mandela and Rosa Parks' devotion to freedom, democracy and emancipation. The exhibition raises greater public understanding of the parallels in the struggles for equality and justice in the United States and South Africa through the letters of children.

Rosa Parks and Nelson Mandela shared many values and goals, and both cared deeply about youth. Mandela met Parks in Detroit, Michigan, in 1990 when he toured the United States after his release from prison.

The exhibition was developed when the Michigan State University Museum and the Nelson Mandela Museum were awarded one of the first four grants from a new programme of the American Association of Museums, Washington, DC, and the US Department of State's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. The grants are designed to strengthen connections between people in the US and abroad through museum-based exchanges.

A replica of the exhibition opened in the United States in January 2010 on the occasion of Martin Luther King's birthday and is now travelling through the breadth and width of America. 

FREEDOM XX: 20 PIECES OF DEMOCRACY

The Freedom XX: 20 Pieces of Democracy exhibition is curated by the staff of the University Museum. Each of the 11 staff members (with the exclusion of the Director) was asked to select an artwork or artworks that, in his/her opinion, represented the period 1994–2014. To add more interactivity, they are inviting visitors and members of the public to democratically vote for the artworks of their choice in this exhibition.

​By freeing up the curatorial space to traditionally non-curatorial staff and members of the public, this exhibition challenges the monologic authority of the museum to speak on behalf of everybody. The exhibition not only invites members of staff to speak up but extends this rare curatorial privilege to members of the public as part of celebrating twenty years of our vibrant democracy.

Mr Bongani Mgijima joined Stellenbosch University (SU) on Monday (3 February) as the new Director of the University Museum.

He follows in the footsteps of Dr Lydia de Waal, who retired as Director at the end of last year.

After completing a BA degree and Post Graduate Diploma in Museum and Heritage Studies at the University of the Western Cape, Mgijima (38) started his career in 1998 as curator of the Lwandle Migrant Labour Museum, which became the first township-based museum in the Western Cape. There he also started the Lwandle Township Walk, the first and only township heritage tourism product in Lwandle.

In 2000, Mgijima completed a museology internship at the Bildmuseet, a contemporary art museum in Umeå, northern Sweden. In 2002, he became manager of the Worcester Museum, heading the biggest open-air museum in the Western Cape.

Thereafter, Mgijima joined the government as Deputy Director of Museums and Heritage Resources in both the North West Province and the Western Cape, and from 2009 until 2012 he was Director of the Albany Museum in Grahamstown, which is affiliated to Rhodes University. Before joining SU, Mgijima was Head of Cultural Heritage at the City of Cape.

Last year, Mgijima completed an MPhil degree in Future Studies at SU, with a thesis titled Future Scenarios for the Governance of Museums in the Eastern Cape.

Commenting on Mgijima's appointment, Prof Julian Smith, Vice-Rector (Community Interaction and Personnel), said: "Under the leadership of Dr De Waal the University Museum has benefited in recent times from an external evaluation and from the Corporate Entities Management framework. It is also poised to establish greater cooperation with the academic sector, in particular with the Department of Visual Arts.

"Mr Mgijima joins us at an exciting time and I have every reason to believe that his qualifications and experience will ensure an even greater contribution of the Museum to the realisation of the institutional vision."

As the new Director, Mgijima plans to align the University Museum with SU's positioning as a university of the 21^st century, and to support SU's three pillars of learning and teaching, research and innovation, and community interaction.

"Stellenbosch University, like many other institutions in South Africa, has a very unpleasant past. It has always been seen as the intellectual home of apartheid. However, in recent years it has owned up to this past and committed itself to building an inclusive society. SU has also committed itself to become a 21st-century university – a university of the future. And I would like to be part of this future," says Mgijima.

• Read an interview with Mr Bongani Mgijima in the February issue of Kampusnuus.

CAPTION: Mr Bongani Mgijima. Photo: STEFAN ELS

​​​​​Stellenbosch University Soil Scientists, Dr Andrei Rozanov and Ms Liezl Wiese (PhD candidate) jointly received the Soil Science Society of SA’s “Best Scientific Paper on Innovative New Technology” award at Combined Congress 2015 of the South African Soil Science, Horticulture, Agronomy and Weed Science societies held at Tramonto, George in January 2015. 

Dr Andrei Rozanov with co-authors (L.Wiese and I. Ros) presented a paper on “Soil organic matter: constant, variable and unknown” suggesting a macroscopic statistical method to determine and monitor C content and particle density of soil organic materials. The approach will give further insights into organic matter decomposition and dynamics in soil. 

Ms Liezl Wiese with co-authors (I. Ros, A. Rozanov, W.P. de Clercq and T. Seifert) presented a paper on “Soil carbon accounting in KZN midlands using vertical distribution functions”.  She proposed a new approach towards soil carbon accounting, simplifying the procedure and reducing the amount of sampling by an order of magnitude to make soil carbon inventories an integral part of carbon foot-printing.​

​The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) has decreed 2015 as the International Year of Soils: http://www.fao.org/soils-2015/en/.

The Inte​​rnational Year of Soils aims to be a platform for raising awareness of the importance of soils for food security and essential ecosystem functions.

The FAO estimates that an area of soil the size of Costa Rica is lost every year to factors such as erosion, compaction and salinization. One-third of the world’s soils have already been degraded, often in the countries that can least afford to lose that resource. When soil becomes unhealthier, so too do the people who rely on it. Contamination increases and crop yields and human health decline.

Somehow, researchers must also find a way for farmers to feed ever-increasing populations on ever-shrinking amounts of arable land. The solutions must take cost into account, because what works in the lab will not necessarily work in the field if the soil-treatment or conservation approach is too expensive for the people who need it most.

The Department of Soil Science (SU) has a strong research focus on improving soil quality and making the best use of limited fresh water resources in South African agriculture. We have a number of projects on optimizing irrigation management in fruit production, and investigating the issue of dry-land salinization of rivers in the Western Cape due to agricultural activities. Furthermore, several projects have been conducted on the effect of agricultural management practices on soil quality, as well as, the effect of land-use on organic carbon stocks and stabilization. For more information, visit our department’s research webpage: http://www.sun.ac.za/english/faculty/agri/soil-science/research​

​​Six exhibitions by various artists in six days. And − to top it all − the exhibitions will be open for viewing from as early as six o'clock in the morning!

"I'm probably the only curator in the country who'd be mad enough to take on something like this," confesses Alex Hamilton, the man behind the exhibition Opskiete – popups − that will be on show at the University's art gallery (the SU Museum) during the Stellenbosch University (SU) Woordfees, which will run from 9 March to 14 March.

"At that time of the morning there are already people who come and listen to the live broadcasts of the radio station RSG at the Plataan café under those huge old plane trees behind the Museum," Hamilton explains, who also runs a gallery from his studio in Woodstock, Cape Town. "I thought it might be a good idea to give them something extra to do so early in the morning."

The works that will be exhibited and for sale at Opskiete will be diverse: they will range from pencil sketches to ceramic works. And the artists − who will take part in the three group and three solo exhibitions over the course of the six days − will be equally diverse.

The themes will be 'O . . . FAK!' ('FAK' usually stands for Federasie van Afrikaanse Kultuurvereniginge, a  federation of Afrikaans cultural associations), 'Op-Sessie' (a play on the word 'obsession'), 'Opgradeer' (Upgrade), 'Oop boek (Open book) – Frida Kahlo', 'Op dees aarde' (literally 'On this earth') and 'Die sondes van ons vaders' (The sins of our fathers). But who the artists will be remains secret!

This kind of experiment is, of course, risky − you cannot judge its success before the time. But it is also this uncertainty and playfulness that is alluring.

"Even though it might be risky, it's so much fun working on these exhibitions – and each one will be interesting," Hamilton assures us. "The artists live all over the country; some are already established while others are at the start of their careers."

There will be something for every pocket, with prices starting at about R200. And if your pockets are deep – prices go up to several thousands of rand as well.

"I don't believe in elitism. Art should be accessible to everyone and people should actually want to come to galleries," says Hamilton.

Festival-goers will have exactly 12 hours to visit each daily popup; the art works of that specific popup will then be taken down at 18:00 on that day, to be replaced by the next popup on the following day.

Hamilton will also be curating Die alfabeter − The alphabeter − a play on words. For this exhibition, the artists each get one of the 26 letters of the alphabet and, with these as point of departure, use popular, historic and nostalgic words and sayings to create their artwork.

In contrast with Opskiet, the names of the artists taking part in this exhibition at the PJ Olivier Art Centre are not secret. Two of these artists are Hannelie Tante, who uses the letter 'R' to create a work around rugby and rubber, while Stephen Rosin uses 'S' to cast light – or is it darkness? − on the concept of 'state'. But be warned: these words and works cannot be used to teach school learners the alphabet!

Hamilton, who is an industrious user of social media, explains that those who cannot attend the exhibitions − they may live in another part of the country or even in another country altogether − will still be able to be part of the fun.

"I'll be sending out messages on social media very regularly and, in so doing, will be able to involve people who may be far away."

Yet another exciting Woordfees happening is the auctioning of the benches dotted around Stellenbosch over the past year. The benches, all works for the public art project Kom sit/Come sit/ Hlala phantsi Stellenbosch created by artists and members of community projects, will be up for auction at the Lang Tafel (Long Table) on 6 March. The auctioneer? Actress, writer and director Lizz Meiring.

On the occasion of this same happening, the next public art project – Reflections – will be introduced. Artists taking part in this project include Jaco Sieberhagen, Strydom van der Merwe and Roelien Smit. These public art projects are run by the Stellenbosch Outdoor Sculpture Trust (SOST for short).

"Visual art at a festival is a necessity," says Dirkie Offringa of SOST. "Art isn't just Afrikaans. It crosses all kinds of boundaries, and people from different communities and language groups can therefore practice and appreciate it."

Public art is important, she believes, because people can touch it and feel it and children can climb all over it. It is this interaction between a work of art and the community that is so special.

"Public art goes a long way to undermining the perception of the inaccessibility of art. It also makes people more aware of their built environment," says Offringa.

Offringa is also curator of Woordfees artist Herman van Nazareth's exhibition at the SU Museum.

• ​Photo:  Blinkvosperd by artist Juanette Smuts. It will be part of the Opskiet art exhibition at die Woordfees. 
  

Here is a list of some of the other art exhibitions:

• 16 X 16: Ons (Us) is a photo exhibition of portraits by Erhardt Thiel (SU Museum).
• Ligvangers (Light catchers) is a conceptual photo exhibition and light presentation in which Chris van Niekerk investigates the evocative and emotional effect of light; this exhibition comprises 20 digital photos and a light projection (Drostdy Theatre).
• Cobus van Bosch's The trouble with money looks at how South African society has changed over the course of 100 years (PJ Olivier Art Centre).
• Filmverse (Film verses) is a series of short animation films based on 12 classic and contemporary Afrikaans poems (SU Museum).
• With Wanvoorstelling (Misrepresentation), Olaf Bisschoff delves into the relationship between the name and the portrayal of Afrikaans and South African place names (PJ Olivier Art Centre).
• Museum: Van been en as (Museum: Of bone and ash), Sandra Hanekom's first solo exhibition after three years as curator of the ABSA Klein Karoo National Arts Festival, interrogates the relationship between beauty and transience (PJ Olivier Art Centre).
• Untold Stories is a photographic exhibition by Tony Mac (Maake) (PJ Olivier Art Centre).
• The artist Colbert Mashile's work is hosted by SMAC Gallery.
• Towerwoorde roep my (Magic words call me) exhibits works by Clare Menck, Shany van den Bergh, Strijdom van der Merwe, Peter van Straten and Anton Smit in D-Street Gallery.
• Jewellery by Lilly Friedlaender, Juria le Roux, Carine Terblanche, Angela Tolken and Erica du Plessis can be seen in the Lilly Friedlaender Gallery.

​The FNB Maties remained unbeaten after the first two rounds of the FNB Varsity Cup presented by Steinhoff International.

With a packed Danie Craven and new rector Professor Wim de Villiers in attendance, the stage was set for a thrilling night of running rugby.

After trailing 16-0 after two quick tries by the visiting FNB NWU-Pukke the Maties battled back to lead 18-16 at halftime, courtesy of three superb tries from the rolling maul.

The Pukke struck back to lead 26-18 going into the final quarter before big lock Ian Groenewald scored a vital fourth try for the Maties. Replacement flyhalf Brandon Thompson calmly kicked the conversion and Maties emerged with a draw and a bonus point for scoring four tries.

After two rounds of action Maties now travel to Pretoria to face the FNB UP-Tuks in a match that promises to be tough as teak. The last time these two teams met in Pretoria Maties won 18-16 and they will be hoping for a repeat of that heroic performance.

South African students in mathematics were inspired by several world-renowned mathematicians during the recent AIMS-Stellenbosch University Number Theory Conference that took place from 19-23 January 2015. AIMS is the African Institute for Mathematical Sciences.

Prof Florian Breuer, head of mathematics in the Department of Mathematical Sciences at SU and one of the co-organisers, says conferences like these are crucial to overcome South Africa's historical isolation from the mainstream of international mathematical research.

"The South African mathematics community still suffers from an isolation that can be traced back to the apartheid years. Conferences like this are vital for keeping us connected to the rest of the world, and so we are especially pleased that experts at the highest level, such as the delegates from the Institute for Advanced Studies in Princeton, participated in our conference," he remarks.

Among the delegates from Princeton University were, inter alia, Prof Enrico Bombieri, one of the world's leading authorities on number theory and analysis. He won the Fields Medal in 1974 – the highest honour in Mathematics and equivalent to a Nobel Prize.

Another delegate from Princeton University was the South African born Prof Peter Sarnak. Born in South Africa, he is currently one of the most  influential mathematicians of South African origin in the world and recipient of the 2014 Wolf Prize in Mathematics. He was also one of the conference organisers.

Prof Breuer says postgraduate students were exposed to mathematics at the highest level: "We hope this will inspire them and open opportunities for  them and our researchers to visit leading institutions overseas," he adds.

Several South African mathematicians also delivered talks. They were Dr Filip Cools (University of Cape Town), Prof Augustin Munagi and Prof Florian Luca from the University of the Witwatersrand, and from Stellenbosch University Prof Breuer, Dr Dirk Basson and Dr Gareth Boxall.

This was the 11^th biannual conference hosted by SU and AIMS since 1997. The project was originally started by Prof Breuer and Prof Barry Green from AIMS to keep contact with experts overseas. Over the years the conferences have been highly successful at attracting leading international experts in the area of Number Theory. This year's conference was supported by the Clay Mathematics Institute, the Centre of Excellence in the Mathematical and Statistical Sciences at the University of Witwatersrand, AIMS and SU.

What is number theory?

According to MathWorld  number theory is a vast and fascinating field of mathematics, sometimes called "higher arithmetic," consisting of the study of the properties of whole numbers. The Encyclopaedia Britannica calls number theory one of the "oldest and most natural of mathematical pursuits". Today number theory is providing unexpected answers to real world problems in, amongst other fields, digital communication and computer technology.

For more information visit the conference website http://www.aims.ac.za/en/research-centre/workshops-conferences/past/aims-stellenbosch-university-number-theory-conference-19-23-january-2015

On the photo, Dr Patrick Rabarison from the University of Antananarivo in Madagascar is presenting while, seated in the front row, from left to right, are Prof Enrico Bombieri (IAS), Prof Nick Katz (Princeton) and Prof Peter Sarnak (IAS and Princeton). Photo: Florian Breuer

Thomas Weighill (24), an MSc student in Mathematics at Stellenbosch University (SU), , has received two of the most prestigious academic awards a university can bestow on a student.

During the Faculty of Science's graduation ceremony on Thursday 11 December 2014, Thomas was awarded both the coveted Chancellor's medal and the S₂A₃ medal for the most outstanding research thesis on MSc level in the natural, engineering and medical sciences.

Thomas, a former Paarl Boys High School pupil, managed to sustain an average of 91,1% during his six years of study at SU. His MSc thesis in Mathematics, for which he obtained a final mark of 97%, was accepted without any revisions by three external international examiners.

Described as a student with "an exceptional mind" and "in a class of his own", Thomas opted for an MSc in Mathematics after he completed his degree in Electrical and Electronic Engineering, cum laude, in 2012. His interest in Mathematics, and specifically category theory, was piqued after he completed the Foundations of Abstract Mathematics course in 2011. Despite his busy lecture schedule at Engineering, he attended this course in the evenings. The course was introduced by Prof Ingrid Rewitzky and Prof Zurab Janelidze from the Department of Mathematical Sciences to give students insight into the conceptual view of modern mathematics. The course happened to alter Thomas' career path.

Prof Janelidze, who specialises in categorical algebra, suggested to Thomas to try to read the famous graduate textbook in category theory, written by its co-founder, Saunders Mac Lane. "Thomas engaged with this textbook and read and deeply understood the first few chapters in a couple of months, without much difficulty. This is exceptional — please note that the book is called 'Categories for the Working Mathematician'," says Prof Janelidze.  

Category theory is an advanced field of mathematics which studies structures through relationships between them. It provides an abstract theory of structures and of systems of structures. 

In order for him to enrol for an MSc in Mathematics in 2013, Thomas had to informally follow six postgraduate modules during the first year of his studies. He obtained 100% in three of these, and more than 90% in the rest.

"That Thomas obtained such stellar marks for modules that rely heavily on undergraduate mathematics modules, which he had never followed, is a reflection of his truly exceptional intellect," remarks Prof Janelidze.

By the end of 2013, Thomas had co-authored three papers with Prof Janelidze. The first of these papers has appeared in a leading international journal in the field, Theory and Applications of Categories. The results of his research have been presented at seven national and international conferences, including the International Category Theory Conference which took place in Australia in July 2013, regarded as the most important conference in category theory.  

Prof Janelidze says Thomas succeeded in obtaining important results in a new direction of research in categorical algebra, with possible future applications in computer science and classical algebra: "This is a very advanced field of research which no-one has explored before. Thomas' thesis presents a new perspective on a problem, posed in 1950 by Saunders Mac Lane, in a paper which laid the foundations to the field of categorical algebra." Prof Janelidze adds.

The three examiners were unanimous in their praise for his work and described it as "among the very best that I have examined", "really outstanding" and "the results are deep, original and absolutely interesting, opening up a new frontier".

Prof Ingrid Rewitzky, executive head of the Department of Mathematical Sciences at SU, says Thomas has an exceptional mind: "He is capable of thoroughly understanding abstract concepts and constructions in pure mathematics and of producing ingenious solutions to complex problems."

During his studies at SU, Thomas actively participated in student life. He served on the Engineering Student Council, the Academic Affairs Council and the Maties Community Service marketing team. He was also editor of the Eendrag residence newspaper, Vires Unitatis, and was a tutor in the undergraduate Mathematical Sciences programme.

Despite a prestigious grant offered to him for pursuing a PhD in central Europe, Thomas decided to head for Tennessee in the United States to accompany his wife Deborah Ann Weighill. She also graduated in 2014 with an MSc (cum laude) in Grapevine and Wine Biotechnology. She is a former student in the biomathematics stream of the Mathematical Sciences programme at SU, and will pursue a PhD in Energy Science and Engineering at the University of Tennessee. Thomas has been accepted for a PhD program in Mathematics at the same university, and was offered to be funded by a Graduate Research Assistantship.

The research for his MSc was funded by the National Research Foundation and the MIH Media Lab at Stellenbosch University. Thomas is the first student in pure mathematics to be awarded an MIH Media Lab bursary.

Thomas will keep ties with SU through the Centre of Mathematical Structures that is being established in the Department of Mathematical Sciences.

More about the Chancellor's medal

The Chancellor's medal was instituted in 1961 to recognise students who persistently performed well over the four to seven years of studies at SU. Both academic merit and participation in student life are taken into account. This will be the sixth time since the medal was instituted 53 years ago that it has been awarded to a Mathematics student. The last time was in 1972.

More about the S₂A₃ medal

The S₂A₃ medal was instituted in 1981 and is awarded by the Southern Africa Association for the Advancement of Science (S₂A₃) for original research at Masters level in the natural, medical and engineering sciences at South African universities. Each university may make one award every year. The Association was founded in 1902, making it one of the oldest scientific organisations in South Africa.

On the photo, Thomas Weighill (left) with his study leader, Prof Zurab Janelidze.

​The mystery of the recurrent disappearance of fish from the ponds in the SU Botanical Garden has finally been solved. After it recently became evident that fish had again disappeared CCTV footage was investigated and it became apparent that Cape clawless otters were the culprits. Although not all the footage is clear it seems that a large group of otters, up to six or seven, frequent the Garden regularly from early evening to the early morning hours.

The otters have decimated both the Otjikoto tilapias (Tilapia guinasana) and koi of the Garden. Although the otters' visits are welcomed, no fish will be introduced until the Garden's ponds can be secured.

​

​​​Managing accurate plant records is essential in botanical gardens especially with regard to plants used for research and conservation. 

With nearly a hundred years' worth of plant records recorded in books and field notes, the SU Botanical Garden has begun the process of digitising its records.  IrisBG, the state-of-the-art database that the Botanical Garden recently started utilising, not only maintains records but can also be used to map plants within a few square centimetres. Researchers and staff will also be able to use a mobile devices and barcode scanners to update records quickly and efficiently.

​​​On Thursday 5 March and Friday 6 March the Botanical Garden, Katjiepiering Restaurant and the BioBou Shop will be open till 22:00 in the evening. For the remainder of the Woordfees (until the 15th of March) the Botanical Garden will also extend its opening hours to dusk.​​​​

This is the perfect opportunity to come and enjoy the Botanical Garden at dusk and see the night flowering Victoria water-lilies in all their glory. Although still growing the floating leaves of these giant annuals can already support the weight of a baby.

Visit our Facebook site or webpage for more information.

South Africa still has a long way to go before social justice becomes a reality for all its citizens, writes Dr Chris Jones of the Department of Practical Theology and Missiology at Stellenbosch University in an opinion article published in the Cape Argus on Thursday (19 February 2015).

The complete article, as submitted, follows below:

Still a long walk to social justice

World Social Justice Day, celebrated on 20 February, is a good opportunity to reflect on how far we still have to go in South Africa, writes CHRIS JONES*.

Since 1994, South Africa has made massive strides from past adversity to the creation of one of the most inspirational democratic systems in the world. We have proven that democracy is the only effective instrument for social justice.

Sadly, we have not always upheld and advanced the principles of social justice to the benefit of the majority of our people.

Many South Africans are still caught in the so-called deprivation trap of poverty, isolation, vulnerability and weakness. The cycle of grinding poverty and despair renders them voiceless and powerless while political elites enrich themselves at the expense of social justice.

A lack of economic development at local level as well as the inability to obtain quality education contribute to high levels of unemployment and poverty and keep people in a position of vulnerability and powerlessness.

In their 2014 book, Community Development: Breaking the cycle of poverty, Hennie Swanepoel and Frik de Beer point out that in urban informal settlements unemployment rates of 70–80% are not uncommon.

With around 22% of the population living on less than R335 per month, 19% on less than R501 and 54% or 27 million people below R779, it is no wonder that many remain caught in the deprivation trap.

The inadequate provision – and sometimes complete absence – of water and sewage services pose serious health problems, especially to children who are among the most vulnerable when diseases start to spread under such conditions.

The continued plight of the poor and other marginalised groups clearly shows that we only pay lip service to social justice. We fail to realise that in order to advance social justice we need to eradicate poverty, and promote full employment, decent work and gender equity for all.

The United Nations (UN)'s World Day of Social Justice (http://www.un.org/en/events/socialjusticeday), celebrated annually on 20 February, is an opportune moment to reflect how far we still have to go to make social justice a reality for all South Africans.

It gives us the opportunity to look at the reason why we have failed to create a peaceful and prosperous society, and also to look at the removal of barriers that people face because of gender, age, race, ethnicity, religion, culture or disability.

To succeed in advancing social justice we will have to provide people with access to quality education to reduce poverty and unemployment. Education is a universally accepted instrument for economic and human growth, while employment helps restore dignity and self-esteem.

It is especially important to bring the poor closer to places of opportunity and employment from which they are often far removed.

Once employment opportunities have been created, we should fight the exploitation of workers. Exploitation is an important underlying cause of the social unrest and uprisings so prevalent across the country. Corporate and industrial accountability must be demanded, a decent national minimum wage must be set by government and the labour force must be treated with the humanity they deserve. 

The government should also do more to provide affordable and equal health care for everyone. Broken, dysfunctional hospitals must be fixed, nurses must be paid better for their contributions, and more doctors must be trained. Preventive primary healthcare facilities also need to be expanded.

Transport facilities, such as ambulance services to health centres, should be upgraded and curative facilities provided by large clinics and hospitals should be closer to the poor.

Also, government and business should work together to ensure affordable access to healthy food and proper nutrition for the many South Africans who suffer from malnutrition, low-grade diets and are close to starvation.

When reflecting on the pressing challenges needing to be addressed, we should remember that the struggles of the poor are everyone's struggles, as award-winning documentary filmmaker, author and journalist Gillian Schutte reminds us.

In a statement released by the South African Civil Society Information Service, she pleads that we do not turn a blind eye to the violation of human rights and human dignity caused by poverty. We should have compassion with those who are suffering, and become advocates for change. We should demand a life of dignity and justice for all.

If we are serious about extending social justice to the poor, we will heed her call.

* Dr Chris Jones is an academic project leader in the Department of Practical Theology and Missiology at Stellenbosch University.

​​​The University of Stellenbosch Business School (USB) celebrated its 50 year history at the beginning of this week with the launch of a special commemorative book that tells the story of how USB "came into being through innovative thinking and courageous implementation".

However, speaker after speaker emphasised the importance of looking forward and building on the business school's rich legacy.

This is what they have said:

Prof Piet Naudé, USB director: "We are actually celebrating our 51^st year with the launch of this beautiful book that is telling a good story. But we need to look forward and improve even more on the reputation that we have built over the first 50 years."

Mr Simon Susman, USB Advisory Board chairman: "It is said that reputation gets the customer in the door, but if he or she comes in the door and you don't recreate this excellence that is reported on in the book they will turn away. The USB team, with director Piet Naudé, need to build on this phenomenal reputation; not rest on it."

Prof Stan du Plessis, dean: Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences at Stellenbosch University: "On these pages you can see where we are coming from. The book should now serve as a stepping stone for the USB to have an even better future."

 Prof Helgaard Muller, a former USB director: "I have been involved with the USB since the first classes were presented in 1964. Today, I experience the same atmosphere of commitment, support and enthusiasm that has always formed part of the business school. I'd like to wish the staff and new director success with a challenging future that lies ahead."

Dr Marietjie Theron-Wepener, deputy director: Business Development, Marketing and Communication and managing editor of the book, quoted from the leave of the book as her comment: "The way of learning has changed in the last 50 years. But the founding mission of the USB – to engage in academic excellence and rigorous research – remains intact. There is the same innovative spirit; the same dedication to quality."

• The book can be ordered online at www.usb.ac.za or by calling the USB Marketing Department on (021) 918 4242.

​PLease Ignore

Come get free career advice and find out what Maties has to offer!

This is the invitation from organisers of Stellenbosch University's (SU) Open Day, presented for the first time this year on a Saturday (28 February) on its Stellenbosch and Tygerberg campuses.

The Maties Open Day is the ideal opportunity for Grade 11 and 12 learners to gain valuable information on university studies, career choices, bursaries and loans; student fees; residence placement, sporting events, accommodation, student associations, student life, and much more.

"What makes the Open Day so special is that prospective students and their parents can talk directly to faculty staff and representatives of the various support services to find out exact information on the various fields of study as well as the support services offered by the University," says Magdel Pretorius, project coordinator and adviser at SU's Centre for Student Recruitment (CSR).

"But the day is not just about gathering academic information. There will be plenty of entertainment and lots of prizes up for grabs!"

Career counselling

For the first time this year the University is also offering access to a free career counselling questionnaire, available at maties.pacecareers.com/questionnaire. The questionnaire identifies appropriate fields of interest and links this to a variety of careers and study opportunities.

"Another innovative program is Course Chooser, at www.coursechooser.co.za, which helps you find programmes that you qualify for based on your Grade 11 or 12 subjects and marks. This will give you a very good indication with whom you should talk to on Open Day," comments Pretorius.

"SU does offer career guidance to Grade 11 and 12 learners. This service includes a psychometric assessment of personality, aptitude and interests, individual conversations, as well as a written report of the results and recommendations. However, the questionnaire is a perfect option for those individuals who can't afford these tests."

Information sessions

At the Open Day, learners and their parents can attend general information sessions, on among others, application for admission in 2016 and they can visit the various faculties for more course specific information. Those interested in sports can make their way to the lawns next to the Rooiplein to find out more about Maties Sport, or alternatively hop on the Maties shuttle to Coetzenburg to see what Stellenbosch's Sport Facilities have to offer. A tour of the JS Gericke Library is also on the programme.

A good starting point for the Open Day is the welcoming tent at SU's Conservatorium in Victoria Street. Once there, parents and learners can get complete information about the day's programme and information sessions. A campus map, as well as buses for visitors to and from the various venues will also be available there.

Also be on the lookout for information officers wearing yellow T-shirts. They will be deployed at various key points across campus to provide information and directions.

Several other educational institutions will be exhibiting at the Maties Open Day. They includes Isa Carstens Academy; Stellenbosch Hair Academy; Stellenbosch Academy for Design and Photography; Stellenbosch Rugby Academy; Boland College; The Private Hotel School; ICA and Aleit Academy; CTU and The Hurst Campus..

Shuttle buses will travel from the Stellenbosch campus to the Tygerberg campus and back to accommodate learners and parents who would like to visit both campuses. Please note that it is imperative to make reservations for this service.

The Open Day starts at 09:00 and ends at 16:00.

•  Visit www.maties.com for the complete Open Day programme with times and venues.
• Visit us on Facebook at MatiesFanPage, or tel: 021 808 9111, e-mail info@sun.ac.za.

​​​Prof Wim de Villiers, Dean of the University of Cape Town's (UCT) Faculty of Health Sciences, was appointed the new Maties Rector and Vice-Chancellor by the Stellenbosch University (SU) Council earlier today.

Watch video.

De Villiers (55), a Matie alumnus and medical doctor who studied and worked in England and America for 24 years, succeeds Prof Russel Botman, who passed away unexpectedly in June. He becomes the University's 12th rector (although the title of this post has changed a number of times through the years). He will take office in 2015, but the exact date is not known yet [1 April has since been confirmed]. In the meantime, Chief Operating Officer Prof Leopoldt Van Huyssteen will stay on as acting Rector and Vice-Chancellor.

"I feel honoured and am very thankful for this opportunity," De Villiers said about his appointment. "Stellenbosch is a jewel in the crown of higher education in South Africa, and with the right leadership and good teamwork we can reach new heights, both locally and internationally."

Mr George Steyn, Chairperson of the SU Council, said De Villiers's appointment heralds a new era for the University. "We are looking forward to Prof De Villiers breaking new ground – also in the run-up to our centenary in 2018. Not only is he an excellent academic and manager, but he has the necessary insight and vision to be a worthy successor to Prof Botman."

De Villiers was "born and bred in Stellenbosch", the youngest child of the late Prof AB de Villiers, who would later become Dean of Law at SU, and Mrs Gera de Villiers (née Klomp) of Kroonstad. He matriculated from Paul Roos Gymnasium in 1977 with top marks in the then Cape Province, and passed his MBChB at SU cum laude. He received the Francie Van Zijl and Chancellor's medals for academic achievement.

He decided to "spread his wings" and obtained a DPhil in Immunology at Oxford University, England, in 1995. He then went to America to gain more experience – at the University of Kentucky Medical Centre in Lexington. He later also obtained a master's degree in health-care management from Harvard University.

"I thought I would stay for 18 months, but it turned out to be 18 years! It was worthwhile, though."

In the USA De Villiers practised as a gastroenterologist and also established himself as a respected researcher in this field. He was included in the publication Best Doctors in America, and held a number of senior positions at the University of Kentucky, including Head of Gastroenterology, and Administrative Head in the UK HealthCare organisation with an annual budget of more than $1,2 billion.

"Then the pull of the fatherland became too strong to resist," and he accepted the dean's post in Cape Town in July 2013. Now he is looking forward to the next chapter in his career.

"I have a long association with Stellenbosch, and am pleased to make a contribution to my alma mater. I come from far, but am also from here. I received a wonderful education and had many opportunities thanks to Stellenbosch. Now it is my responsibility to plough back."

De Villiers sees SU as a "mature university" that has to "compete globally". He is impressed with the fact that Maties moved into the top 300 universities on the Times Higher Education rankings for 2014/15.

"I realise that rankings are problematic in certain respects, but they are the global academic currency of our time. By focusing on our strengths we can reach even higher. The SU brand is undervalued."

He supports academic excellence in all three of the University's core activities – research, learning and teaching, as well as community interaction – but is also in favour of differentiation.

"Each university cannot do everything. We must distinguish ourselves through excellent research that is locally relevant and globally competitive. We also need to increase our number of postgraduate students."

He believes that the University's new policy on multilingualism, which was adopted by the University Council on 22 November and makes provision for increasing the lecture offering in both Afrikaans and English, will help attract more international students and lecturers.

"We must just make sure that the language policy and plan are implemented correctly. I realised overseas what Afrikaans means to me, so I am glad that we are extending it academically – but this is also necessary for English, which provides access to the rest of the world."

De Villiers wants students to receive an excellent education that will give them a competitive advantage as graduates in a rapidly changing world. The latest technology will have to be harnessed to this end, because virtual learning and teaching are becoming increasingly important.

"At the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, there is a slogan on the wall: 'The interest of the patient is the only interest'. We could just as well adapt this to, 'The interest of the student is the only interest'."

De Villiers believes Maties should offer a student experience that is "pleasant, welcoming and hospitable" – "in an inclusive environment". He is "committed to continued transformation to address the inequalities of the past", and supports the University's Institutional Intent and Strategy.

"I am enthusiastic about the path on which Prof Russel Botman placed SU, and find the University's Vision 2030 inspirational. Implementation will no doubt come with its challenges, but it will be an honour for me to lead this process."

De Villiers regards himself as an optimist: "I see the glass as being half full, not half empty". He says he is a "team player who listens well and consults widely". He also knows that "in the end someone needs to take the difficult decisions", but realises that leading a large institution "is a long-distance race, not a sprint".

De Villiers likes to stay fit. "I discovered marathons in my middle age and have run the 'Big 5' – Boston, New York, London, Chicago and Berlin". He also enjoys mountain biking. He is married to Catherine, and they have two daughters and a son – Katusha (33), Braam (30) and Gera (26) – as well as two grandchildren.

Steyn thanked all the candidates: "In this process the Selection Committee was in the fortunate position to compile an impressive shortlist of highly-qualified candidates. We appreciate the efforts of everyone and the time they devoted to Stellenbosch through their applications, preparations and presentations."

Photographer: Anton Jordaan

​​For the first time, Stellenbosch University's Woordfees, which is to be held from 6 to 15 March this year, will be a cashless one. But what exactly does this mean?

"Instead of cash, pay cards – a little like loyalty cards − will be in use," explains Ludwich Marx of the service provider Plankton.

According to Saartjie Botha, Woordfees Di​​rector, the pay cards will contribute to a safer festival because less cash will be bandied about at the various venues.

"It's also a good tool to help you stick to your festival budget! And, behind the scenes, it's a good tool to help us determine what it is that festival-goers need and so help us when we start planning for the next Woordfees in 2016."

According to Marx, transaction time is much shorter than that of debit or credit cards because the value of the pay cards is literally on the cards themselves, which cuts out external institutions; all transactions take place at the accredited and certified bank terminals.

"Each sales point will have a built-in stock control system. This will eliminate theft and leave festival partners 100% risk-free because no cash will be involved," says Marx.

Plankton has been involved in the Easter Rugby Festival at the private schools St Johns' and King Edward in Johannesburg for the past four years; in the Cape, it provided the FNB Whiskey Live Festival with a cashless system last year.

Botha says that the cards will be able to be used for anything that will be for sale on the festival premises: tickets, food, wine, coffee, books, art, the shuttle service.

The Woordfees will be partially subsidising the pay cards but they will come at a price for the festival-goer – all of R10 − to make sure that "the festival-goer looks after them".

"There'll also be a free shuttle service ride and free drink built into the pay card, so – actually − it'll cost you nothing!" says Botha.

"Credit" on a pay card will not, unfortunately, be able to be transferred to a next year. Festival-goers will therefore have to make sure to "empty" their cards – either that or they will have up to a month after the festival to have their credit refunded.

"You'll be able to SMS the number on your pay card to 43553. You then get sent a special code and you can use the e-Wallet service at any FNB branch or ATM to get your credit back," says Marx.

The pay cards will be for sale from 3 to 5 March at the FNB branch in Stellenbosch and, during the festival, at De Vette Mossel, Erfurthuis, the Plataan Café and the Van der Stel sports grounds. They will be able to be reloaded at any of the festival venues.

If you lose your pay card – you will, unfortunately, have to make peace with your loss. 

​​The South African Association for Food Science and Technology (SAAFoST) recently launched the SAAFoST Foundation which will administer all SAAFoST academic prizes, awards and bursaries in future.

 In 2015, the SAAFoST Foundation will support 19 students studying Food Science and Technology at various tertiary institutions in South Africa. The Department of Food Science, SU is very proud that ten Stellenbosch Food Science students will be amongst the worthy recipients of SAAFoST support in 2015. The academic stars are: Caroline Bursey, Stephanie Phelps, Christine van Niekerk, Carin-Marie Engelbrecht, Kayla-Anne Jordaan, Kristin Mapstone, Emma Phillips, Celia Walters, Alexandra Rust, and Jani Bisschoff.

Read more about SAAFoST by following this link.

http://www.saafost.org.za/

​​One of 2014's most successful participants of the Small Business Academy (SBA) Development Programme (www.usb.ac.za/sba) at the University of Stellenbosch Business School says the programme has taught her a great deal, including how to balance the books better.

Rushana Charles, who runs the Little Mermaids Swim School in Mitchell's Plain, was interviewed by women's magazine Destiny for their March 2015 edition. She started the business in 2012 as a response to the absence of a swimming school in her community. Since then her number of students, or clients, have increased from 35 to almost 500.

The best part of the SBA programme, Charles says, has been the mentoring she received from USB MBA alumnus and seasoned entrepreneur Elma Rivera. It was through Rivera's mentorship that she could tackle the challenges that followed the developmental phase of her business, according to her.

Rivera's tips for Charles included that she should only open a second school once her current business is running at full capacity. "Just because you're doing well doesn't mean you have to expand immediately," Rivera is quoted as saying in the article.

The new intake of SBA participants will start with their training soon. The programme – supported by Absa Enterprise Development and the Distell Foundation - runs over a nine month period. It covers all aspects of running a business, including finance, people management, marketing, as well as personal development.

Click here http://www.usb.ac.za/Shared%20Documents/NewsClippings/DestinyMarch2015_main.pdf to read the full magazine article about Charles. For more information about the SBA contact Benjamin Matshoba on 021 918 4379 or at sba@usb.ac.za​