Recommendations on language of instruction and administration in the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences were the focus of articles that appeared in the media yesterday (Sunday 14 June) and today (Monday, 15 June). For the sake of clarity Stellenbosch University shares the response that was given to the media below.

Stellenbosch University's (SU) Language Policy is determined by the University Council. Council approved the latest Language Policy in November 2014 and the University is currently implementing it.

The Language Plan offers faculties various options within the teaching and learning context as well as on how language can be used in official communication, in documents and in meetings within the relevant  environments. Since the Language Policy provides equal status to Afrikaans and English, English on its own cannot be the default language, just as Afrikaans cannot be the default language anymore. The latest SU Language Policy is specifically focused on promoting multilingualism and preventing one language from dominating the other. Furthermore, SU pays attention to the discerning advancement and application of isiXhosa as an academic language and as a language of social engagement. SU therefore follows a dynamic process to make the University more inclusive and diverse, which includes our language offer.

True to the nature of universities as dynamic academic environments, there are on a continuous basis in faculties discussions on a great number of issues such as transformation, teaching, research, community interaction, institutional culture, language, technology and student affairs. This is in line with what Prof Wim de Villiers, Rector and Vice-Chancellor, called the "further development of a culture of courageous debate".

In the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, there are currently certain suggestions on the medium of instruction and administration that are discussed and investigated on an internal, faculty specific level.

Language planning and the implementation of the Language Policy in faculties, take place in accordance with each faculty's context specific language plans. These faculty specific language implementation plans must however still be aligned with the principles of the Language Policy and faculties don't have a mandate to make changes that are in conflict with the University's Language Policy and Language Plan.

​Stellenbosch University's (SU) Development Office, in collaboration with Corporate Marketing, has launched a new quarterly publication – e-Matieland, a digital newsletter distributed electronically. 

The aim is to communicate with alumni and other friends and partners of SU wherever they are in the world, and to keep them informed about news of the University.

Items to typically feature in e-Matieland include the following:

• Contributions highlighting SU's leadership position in higher education.
• Profiles of SU alumni that others can identify with so that more people can feel part of the Matie family.
• The positive differences that financial donations can make to ensure that SU remains a world-class institution of excellence.
• What alumni and donors can do to ensure that a next generation of Maties get the same opportunities they had.

• Want to share stories with us? Contact the Alumni Office at alumni@sun.ac.za.
  

​Stellenbosch University (SU) reaffirmed its commitment to research and postgraduate training in Africa by co-founding the African Research Universities Alliance (ARUA) along with 14 other research-driven universities from eight African countries.

The launch took place in March in Dakar, Senegal at the African Higher Education Summit, and was attended by representatives of the partner institutions involved as well as Dr Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, chair of the African Union. Prof Wim De Villiers, Rector and Vice-chancellor of SU, was also at the lauch of ARUA.

ARUA strives to improve training and support for doctoral students, to build capacity for research management and to promote cooperation between universities with regard to research.

Other higher education institutions that form part of ARUA are the universities of Lagos, Ibadan and Obafemi Awolowo (Nigeria), the University of Ghana, the University of Dar es Salaam (Tanzania), the University of the​ Witwatersrand, Cape Town, KwaZulu-Natal, Pretoria and Rhodes (South Africa), the University of Nairobi (Kenya), the University of Rwanda, the Cheikh Anta Diop University (Senegal) and Makerere University (Uganda).

Dr Max Price, Vice-chancellor of the University of Cape Town and first rotating chair of ARUA, said:  "The intention is to bring together our distinctive fields of expertise to achieve complementary and coordinated programmes of research and training, including addressing the key development priorities of the African continent."

"As a group our focus will be on expanding research excellence in Africa as an important prerequisite so that the continent may determine and control its own destiny," said Prof Wim De Villiers, Rector and Vice-Chancellor of SU.

Dr Christoff Pauw, co-director of the African Doctoral Academy (ADA) at SU, said that ARUA is a timely and welcome addition to higher education in Africa, and added that "one of the contributions that the University can make to ARUA is to offer ADA training programmes to prospective and current doctoral students of partner institutions."

Stellenbosch University is also taking part in several Africa consortiums through which important research themes connected to the African developmental context will be investigated. The most important and most active of these are PeriPeri U, AIMS, PANGeA, TRECCAfrica and the NEPAD initiatives for water and bio-energy. The reasearch fields of these consortiums vary from disaster risk mitigation to sustainable development.

The African Doctoral Academy serves to coordinate and strengthen excellence in doctoral education at SU. This is achieved by harnessing local and international expertise on doctoral reasearch to provide doctoral support at SU together with partners elsewhere in South Africa, Africa and the rest of the world.

• ​Read more on these and many other Afrocentric initiatives at www.sun.ac.za/international.
  

Supplementary source: University World News

Stellenbosch University's (SU) Frederik Van Zyl Slabbert Institute for Student Leadership Development (FVZS) has further strengthened its ties with other universities by presenting the short course, Leadership through Community Interaction, to the University of Johannesburg (UJ) and Monash.

This course is presented in collaboration with Maties Community Service (MGD). The first session kicked off on Thursday 14 May 2015 with an interactive telematic connection and students from Monash, UJ and SU participated.

Dr Leslie van Rooi, head of the FVZS Institute and Ms Michelle Pietersen from MGD will within the next few weeks travel to Johannesburg where the course will be concluded over a weekend. The themes to be addressed are centred around community development, principles of community interaction and ethical leadership.

"A strong need for this course was expressed by UJ and Monash as well as Wits some time ago. However, we had to work hard to adapt the course content to enable us to fully address the needs of these institutions," says Van Rooi.  

Since its introduction to SU students in 2010 by SU and MGD, this course has proved very successful and popular. The target group are student volunteers who want to do community service.

"Research has shown that students who become involved with community interaction as volunteers have the graduate attributes institutions of higher learning expect from their graduates," says Pietersen.

"SU has a well-structured course and programme through which community work is done. Community interaction is also well entrenched in the university's leadership structures and there are relevant portfolios in the house committees and the Student Representative Council.

"UJ and Monash do not yet have structures which are as solid as ours. The aim of the course is that the student volunteers will enter leadership structures and on completion continue to contribute to the establishment of commumnity interaction principles."

Van Rooi adds: "It is a huge milestone for us when students from outside the Western Cape participate in our courses. We are proud when this happens. In this case we use a mixed-model to present this course.

"We are also working towards presenting more of our courses outside of Stellenbosch. We are not only looking at institutions in the Western Cape or Gauteng, but also elsewhere in Africa and even in other African countries."

​​Five positions in the government's New Generation of Academics Programme (nGAP) were allocated to Stellenbosch University (SU). The allocations are in the fields of Economics, Mechanical and Mechatronic Engineering, Anatomy and Histology, Mathematics and in Social Work. The University already started to advertise the positions.

nGAP is one of five programmes of SSAUF (Staffing South Africa's Universities Framework) – focussed on the expansion of the size and compilation of academic staff at South African universities – especially with regard to transformation. The focus of the programme is the appointment of black and coloured candidates as well as the appointment of women.

Prof Tobie de Coning, SU Chief Director: Strategic Initiatives and Human Resources, says the University welcomed the initiative. "SU is fully committed to sustained and systemic transformation, including the diversification of its employee corps in terms of race, gender, and cultural diversity. nGAP is an important step forward in this process and ties in with the University's Institutional Intent and Strategy and it is supporting plans that include mandatory transformation."

According to Prof De Coning, a great advantage of the programme is that appointments will initially have a reduced teaching load to enable them to further their studies. "In addition, a mentor will be allocated to each of the appointees to support them with their individual professional development and to guide them in the process of registering for masters' or doctoral studies. The mentors will also provide support with personal challenges, time and financial management and to create opportunities for discussions about their teaching and research experience."

Successful candidates will partake in the programme for six years after which they become part of the fulltime academic  corps of the University. The Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET) will cover the total costs of the first three years. In the next three years, the DHET will cover  75%, 50% and 25% respectively of the costs. The University will take over the full costs of employment after six years.

The criteria for participation include that applicants have to be 40 years or younger and that they illustrate evidence of eligibility to undertake postgraduate study at master's or doctoral level. The recruitment and appointment  of the nGAP employees will take place in accordance with the university's policies and procedures, with due consideration of the transformational agenda of the SSAUF and national priorities developed by the DHET.

The DHET will be entitled to participate, with observer status, in the selection process. The University will make recommendations regarding appointment of candidates to the DHET, which in turn will forward it to the Director-General for final approval.

• For more information on the advertised positions, visit www.sun.ac.za and click on Careers @ SU. 

​On 16 June South Africa celebrates the young people who helped to shape the history of our country. Three students and a staff member of Stellenbosch University each wrote an opinion article around this topic which were published in the media. 

Follow the links below to read what they had to say about this historical day in our country's history. 

More needed to unlock potential - Siviwe Feketha, Cape Times/ Mercury

Kan die Jeug asseblief opstaan - Hannes Kruger, ​Rapport

Dear Hector (and the youth of Soweto of 1976) - Simon Sonnekus, Cape Times/ Mercury

Quo vadis, Afrikaans? Van 1976 tot 2015​ - Michael le Cordeur, Die Burger

Photo: From left is Siviwe Feketha, Hannes Kruger, Simon Sonnekus and Michael le Cordeur.

Prof Nico Koopman, Dean of the Faculty of Theology, has been appointed as acting Vice-Rector: Community Interaction and Personnel. He and Prof Mohammad Karaan, who served as acting Vice-Rector since May 2014, will work together for a month to ensure a smooth transition.

Prof Karaan will return to the Faculty of AgriSciences, but has received study leave from the University.

Prof Hendrik Bosman, Professor in Old Testament, will serve as the acting Dean of the Faculty of Theology.

"I would like to express my appreciation to Prof Karaan for his contribution," Prof Wim de Villiers, Rector and Vice-Chancellor, said. "For the last five years, he was also a member of the National Planning Commission, which made his contributions invaluable." 

Of Prof Koopman, Prof De Villiers said: "He has shown exceptional expertise as Dean. At Theology, he was very successful in the creation of a transformed environment in terms of diversity. I look forward to be working with him as a member of the management team for the foreseeable future."

Photographs: Prof Nico Koopman, prof Mohammad Karaan and prof Hendrik Bosman.

​​The Division for Research Development (DRD) was visited by a senior delegation from the University of Botswana (UB) on 4-5 June 2015.  The purpose of this visit was to benchmark best practices in research and innovation management.  The DRD at Stellenbosch University has a long standing relationship with the UB Office of Research Development, as they were consortium partners for a four year period in the EU funded RIMI4AC project.  The project, which also involved the Association of Commonwealth Universities (ACU) and three other universities across the African continent, focussed on the development of Research and Innovation management capacity in Africa and the Caribbean.  Dr Therina Theron, Senior Director: Research and Innovation, says: "The DRD is grateful to be well connected to research management divisions at universities across the African continent. Discussions on best practices in the research and innovation management environment are always enriching and mutually beneficial.  In my view, collaboration amongst research management offices on the continent has the potential to lift the African research base to new heights, and we will continue to engage our partner institutions in Southern Africa, in particular through our active participation in regional bodies such as SARIMA (The Southern African Research and Innovation Management Association)."  The DRD involved several sister SU support divisions in their deliberations with the delegation, in order to provide the full spectrum of research support at SU to the UB visitors.  

*Photo (from left to right): 

Riana Coetsee (DRD); Mogodisheng B.M. Sekhwela (UB); Wellington Masamba (Director: Okavango Research Institute); Maléne Fouché (DRD); Maryke Hunter-Hüsselmann (DRD); Motsoptse Modisi (Director: Office of Research and Development, UB); Monica Matlhaku (UB); Therina Theron (Senior Director: Research and Innovation, SU); Molefe Rantsudu (UB) (Photo: Justin Alberts)

​On Thursday 26 May Prof Eddie Cole and six PhD students of the Higher Education Programme of  William and Mary College in the United States visited the Center for Higher and Adult Education.  They met with Prof Eli Bitzer and Prof Magda Fourie-Malherbe and five of their PhD students. 

William and Mary College is the second oldest higher education institution in the US (after Harvard) and was chartered in 1693.  It has just over 6 000 undergraduate and 2 000 postgraduate students and its main campus is in Williamsburg, Virginia. 

Prof Cole previously worked with the well-known scholar George Kuh at Indiana University.  He gave an interesting presentation on the main considerations for Higher Education Studies in the US, whereas Prof Fourie-Malherbe informed the visitors about the state of Higher Education Studies in South Africa, and Prof Bitzer highlighted the work of the Centre.

Over an informal light lunch the students used the opportunity to discuss matters of mutual interest and exchanged contact particulars with a view to future collaboration.

​The Centre for Higher and Adult Education hosted the Fifth Biennial Conference on Research into Postgraduate Supervision from 25-27 March 2015.  The theme of the conference was:  Looking ahead: the future of postgraduate supervision in the knowledge society. A total of 156 delegates attended the conference, of whom 21 were international delegates from the UK, Australia, New Zealand, Sweden, the West Indies and Nigeria. Of the 26 public higher education institutions in South Africa thirteen were represented. 

Four excellent keynote addresses were presented by Prof Pam Denicolo from the UK, Dr Claire Aitchison from Australia, Prof Michael Samuel from UKZN and Prof Johann Mouton from SU.  In addition 62 papers were presented in parallel sessions. A special interest meeting of directors of postgraduate schools or centres with a view to launching a South African Council of Postgraduate Schools/Centres also took place.

One of the outcomes of the conference will be a publication on the conference theme that will be published in 2016.

Four half-day and one full-day pre-conference workshops on research and postgraduate supervision held on 24 March were fully subscribed and attended by 20 staff members from the Faculty with funding from the Vice-Dean: Research.

​Children with tuberculous (TB) meningitis now have a better chance of survival, thanks to a study at Stellenbosch University (SU).

As part of his doctorate in Paediatrics, Dr Ronald van Toorn, a Senior Specialist in Paediatric Neurology at SU and Tygerberg Children's Hospital (Western Cape Government Health), explored ways to improve the outcome of childhood TB meningitis. This severe form of tuberculosis in children occurs when TB bacteria invade the membranes and fluid surrounding the brain and spinal cord. It is the most common type of bacterial meningitis in the Western Cape with an average of one case being reported at Tygerberg Children's Hospital every week.

Van Toorn says it is difficult to diagnose and treat TB meningitis and the optimum choice, dose and duration of treatment is not known. He adds that while the World Health Organisation recommends a treatment period of one year for the disease, children admitted to Tygerberg Children's Hospital are treated for six months on higher dosages of TB drugs.

Van Toorn conducted a four-year study with 184 children with TB meningitis to determine whether this treatment is safe and effective. He found that after treatment was completed, 80% of the children had a good outcome and the mortality rate was 3.8%.

"The mortality rate of 3.8% is the lowest in the world for the treatment of childhood TB meningitis."

Van Toorn says all the children were followed up for a period for two years after treatment completion to see whether the TB recurred.

"There were no relapses. Our results are the best in the world. No other hospital where children have been treated for TB meningitis has had the same success."

Van Toorn says another reason for the positive results is that they have developed unique ways of treating the complications of the disease which include fluid in the brain, inflammation of blood vessels and eye nerves and brain abscesses.

"After replacing some of the spinal fluid with air so that the brain cavities show clearly, X-ray of the brain is taken to determine where in the brain the blockage of spinal fluid is. The study showed that 80% of children with TB meningitis can be treated with medication and do not require brain surgery." 

Van Toorn says that while most children with TB meningitis also require steroids to reduce the amount of inflammation caused by TB germs, some children, especially those that develop brain abscesses and inflammation of their eye nerves, need stronger anti-inflammatory drugs than steroids.

He found that one such drug, thalidomide, was very effective in treating brain abscesses and inflammation of the eye nerves that causes blindness.

"Children with TB meningitis respond very well to thalidomide treatment and often the brain abscess disappears without damage to surrounding areas. Thalidomide also rapidly reduces the inflammation of the eye nerve and within days children who are completely blind regain full vision."

Van Toorn says thalidomide was banned during the 1960s because it caused limb deformities in children born to mothers who took it to treat morning sickness during pregnancy.

He adds that further studies in some parts of the world showed thalidomide's effectiveness  against certain cancers and skin conditions.

"Today it could prove the difference between life and death for many children with TB meningitis."

Van Toorn says the next step is to see whether thalidomide could also prevent inflammation of blood vessels and injury to the brain in these children.

• Photo: The image on the left shows a MRI scan of the brain of an eight-year old child with a TB abscess (big white ​spot in the middle) in her cerebellum or little brain. The image on the right shows the abscess is getting smaller and starting to calcify after treatment with thalidomide and anti-TB medication.
  

FOR MEDIA ENQUIRIES ONLY

Dr Ronald van Toorn

Department of Pediatrics and Child Health

Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences

Stellenbosch University

Tygerberg Children's Hospital

021 938 4234

021 938 9113

Laticia Pienaar

Principal Communications Officer

Tygerberg Hospital

Tel: 021 938 5454

E-mail: Laticia.Pienaar@westerncape.gov.za

​Martin Viljoen

General media enquiries: Stellenbosch University

Tel: 021 808 4921

Email: media@sun.ac.za

​This weekend, sport teams from Stellenbosch University (SU) will travel to different places in South Africa to compete in the various University Sport South Africa (USSA) tournaments taking place next week (29 June to 3/4 July).

Matie teams will be representing SU in badminton (Pretoria), cycling (Stellenbosch), golf (Port Shepstone), gymnastics (Potchefstroom), hockey (Pietermaritzburg), netball (Johannesburg), rugby (Johannesburg) and squash (Johannesburg).

The USSA Surfing tournament was held at Victoria Bay (George) from 24-26 June. By Friday morning four Matie men and two Matie women had progressed to the quarter finals.

The Maties will be looking for strong showings by both their rugby and netball teams.

Under the watchful eye of coach Christine Markgraaff-Behan the netball players have fostered a superb team culture and have grown into a tight-knit family.

Maties will face stiff competition from the likes of Tuks, Kovsies, NWU-Pukke, NMMU-Madibaz and UJ. Kovsies are the two-time defending Varsity Sports champions while Tuks won the 2014 USSA tournament. Maties ended in fourth place.

On the rugby front coach Chris Rossouw has selected a quality group of players to travel to UJ. All 26 players will have a chance to stake a claim for a place in next year's Varsity Cup. Captained by flank Beyers de Villiers the team has sixteen players with Varsity Cup experience and will look to start well in their opening match against Wits.

"This is a great opportunity for the younger team members to experience the team culture and the tournament plays a big role in our plans for next year," said Rossouw. Maties reached the semi-finals in 2014.

While the Steinhoff Maties Women's hockey team is the defending USSA champions, the Maties men are looking to set the record straight after an extremely disappointing fifth place in 2014.

The men are very motivated to not only improve on last year's performance but to win the title this time. Coach Neville Rothman and his troops have been working really hard the past few weeks. "The goal for USSA is simple: Win it!" said Rothman.

Maties are in Group A along with multiple defending champions UJ, UKZN and Tuks.

For coach Jenny King the first step is to make sure her women's team reaches the semi-finals, as they are in a tough group that includes UJ, Tuks and Varsity College. "To reach the final four is going to be a hard-fought battle in itself. Only then reaching the final will become a goal," she said.

According to King, her troops are willing and ready to handle the pressure that comes with the status of being defending champions. "There is only one way of handling the pressure and that is one game at a time with simple attacking and defensive plans and a huge amount of determination."

In the meantime, Maties Golf will be hoping to improve on their fourth place of last year. Tuks are the defending champions.

The team's captain, Christiaan Rossouw, made it clear that the team wants to win.

"Maties have a proud USSA record and we want to build on that. I believe that our team is strong enough to fight for the trophy and hopefully we'll bring it home this year."

Photo: Maties Hockey's women's team won the 2014 USSA tournament.

​​​​"Stellenbosch University (SU) will continue fulfilling Prof Russel Botman's vision to move this institution from success to significance in order to be of relevance to the people of our country and continent," Prof Wim de Villiers, Rector and Vice-Chancellor of SU, said on the first anniversary of Prof Botman's death. 

Prof Hayman Russel Botman was halfway through his second term as Rector and Vice-Chancellor of SU when he unexpectedly passed away in his sleep on 28 June 2014.

"We will continue on the path set out in the University's Vision 2030, which was approved under Prof Botman's leadership and we will honour his legacy by continuing to work towards a just society for the next generation. His steadfast belief that Stellenbosch should make a positive difference will always serve as an inspiration as we move into the future," Prof De Villiers added.

Prof Botman did not only make a positive difference in Stellenbosch. He was highly-regarded in higher education circles the world over. In April 2013 he received Princeton Theological Seminary's Abraham Kuyper Prize for Excellence in Theology and Public Life​ and in March 2014, he was awarded an honorary doctorate by Hope College in Michigan. He received the degree Doctor of Letters in recognition of his leadership in higher education and the Reformed church to promote a more just society for all South Africans.  

In July 2014, The University of Aberdeen in Scotland bestowed an honorary degree, Doctor of Laws, posthumously upon him for his integrity, leadership and contribution to higher education.

Dr Botman, widow of Prof Botman received the degree on her late husband's behalf and read the graduation speech he had prepared. Her Royal Highness, Camilla, the Duchess of Rothesay (as she is known in Scotland), conferred the degree in her role as Chancellor of the University of Aberdeen.

SU also honoured Prof Botman's legacy of reconciliation, human dignity and social justice, with the naming of a new senior residence on the Stellenbosch campus. The residence, Huis Russel Botman House, was officially opened this year on Human Rights Day on 21 March.

The Botman family has encouraged the public, staff, students and alumni to consider donating to the Russel Botman Bursary Fund (RBBF) as a lasting tribute to him. The Bursary Fund was established on his 60^th birthday on 18 October 2013.

"Russel was always passionate about giving access to students who would otherwise not have the opportunity to study at a world-class institution. This Bursary Fund is the perfect way to keep Russel's legacy alive and gives us the opportunity to help make his dream of creating a better future for the next generation a reality," Dr Botman said.  

• Online donations can be made he​re. The details for direct payments are: Standard Bank, account number 07 300 695 5 and branch code 05 0610. Please make sure to add the reference: Botman.

Prof Botman's Biography

Professor Hayman Russel Botman was Rector and Vice-Chancellor of Stellenbosch University. First appointed in 2007, he was reappointed for a second 5-year term in 2012.

At the time of his death, he was also Senior Vice-President of the Association of African Universities, Chairperson of the World Design Capital Cape Town 2014 Board and a Director of Higher Education South Africa and of Media24.

Born in Bloemfontein on 18 October 1953, he attended the Dr Blok School in Heatherdale at primary level and matriculated from Kliptown Senior Secondary School in Johannesburg. He graduated from the University of the Western Cape (UWC), with the degrees BA (1978), BTh (1979), BTh Licentiate (1981), MTh cum laude (1984) and DTh (1994).

As Public Relations Officer of UWC's Student Representative Council in 1976, the year of the Soweto uprising, he led his fellow students in human rights protests against apartheid laws.

Ordained in 1982, he served as minister of religion of the Wynberg congregation of the Dutch Reformed Mission Church from 1982 to 1993. He played a key role in forming the Uniting Reformed Church of Southern Africa (URCSA), and remained a staunch proponent of church unity within the Dutch Reformed Church Family to the end.

He joined UWC in 1994 as a Senior Lecturer in Practical Theology, and was promoted to Associate Professor and Dean of the Faculty of Religion and Theology in 1999. In 2000, he joined SU as Professor in Missiology, Ecumenism and Public Theology.

At SU, he became Vice-Rector: Teaching in 2002, and served in that position until his historic appointment as the institution's first black Rector and Vice-Chancellor in 2007. He also served as President of the South African Council of Churches from 2003 to 2007, and had published widely on human rights, reconciliation, human dignity and social justice.

The title of his inauguration address at SU in April 2007 was "A multicultural university with a pedagogy of hope in Africa", and he said that he would devote his time in office to the practical realisation of SU's stated commitment to redress and development. He launched the University's HOPE Project in 2010, a ground-breaking science-for-society initiative. In 2013, he guided the University to the adoption of its new Vision 2030, which is to become more inclusive, innovative and future focused.

In March 2014, he was awarded an honorary doctorate, Doctor of Letters, by Hope College in Michigan for leadership in higher education and the Reformed church to promote a more just society for all South Africans, and in April 2013 he received Princeton Theological Seminary's Abraham Kuyper Prize for Excellence in Theology and Public Life. He had received honorary membership of the United Nations Association of South Africa for advancing the Millennium Development Goals. And his honorary doctorate, Doctor of Laws, from the University of Aberdeen in Scotland was received on his behalf by his widow in July 2014.

Family and friends of the late Rector and Vice-Chancellor of Stellenbosch University (SU), Prof Hayman Russel Botman, gathered  at Huis Russel Botman House on Human Rights Day – 21 March – to officially open this new senior residence on the Stellenbosch campus and to honour Prof Botman's legacy of reconciliation, human dignity and social justice.

His wife, Dr Beryl Botman and Prof Leopold van Huyssteen, Chief Operating Officer and Acting Rector, unveiled the plaque during a special ceremony at the residence on Saturday.

Dr Botman said it was difficult to express in words what this tribute means to them. She described it as evidence of Prof Botman's influence and the difference he made.

"We are proud of him and proud to be associated with him. We are grateful that he used his talents to aspire to a better life and human dignity for all."

In 2007, Prof Botman became the first black Rector and Vice-Chancellor of SU. The title of his inaugural address was "A multicultural university with a pedagogy of hope in Africa".

During his tenure at the helm of SU, he sought to realise the University's stated commitment to redress and development.

Student leaders of the residence, who was consulted in the naming the residence, motivated their suggestion in honouring Prof Botman in this way: "Prof Russel Botman played an invaluable role in the recent transformations of Stellenbosch University, which definitely had numerous indirect impacts on Stellenbosch as a whole. Since the residence was built during the time that Professor Botman was Rector and Vice-Chancellor, and still did not have a name at the time of his untimely passing, we think naming the residence Huis Russel Botman House would be the perfect way to honour Prof Botman and celebrate his legacy."

To express this sentiment the plaque reads as follows: "May those who reside in this building call it home. May they be inspired by his legacy and the pedagogy of hope to further the causes of reconciliation, human dignity and social justice."

The residence, completed in 2014 and housing 252 senior male and female students in single rooms, is situated in Marais Street in Stellenbosch.

Prof Van Huyssteen said student communities was of the utmost importance to Prof Botman: "On numerous occasions, Prof Botman said we have to build like crazy. In this he referred to the improvement of physical facilities at SU – student housing included. He also often referred to the important role that student housing plays in the attributes of students who graduate from SU, and he wished for many more students to share in this privilege."

This specific residence and the surrounding development meant a lot to Prof Botman. Shortly before his death, he described as a "fantastic place to be".

"For this reason it is appropriate that the residence is named after him. In this house his ideas are with us and are we in agreement with his ideas of inclusivity, excellence and being future-focused."

Photo captions:

Prof Leopoldt van Huyssteen, acting Rector and Vice-Chancellor of Stellenbosch University, and Dr Beryl Botman, wife of the late Prof Russel Botman, unveil the plaque. Photo credit: Adrian Baillie-Stewart

Dr Beryl Botman, wife of the late Prof Russel Botman, and members of the Huis Russel Botman House forum in front of the senior residence with its new name. Photo credit: Melissa da Costa

​​​Two members of Maties Football Club's first men's team arrived in Pretoria on Sunday as part of the Western Cape U/21 team that will participate in the national SAB U/21 championship tournament this week.

Midfielders Euwen Manuel and Regan Rhode have been members of the Maties club since they were in primary school – Manuel joined as a 12-year-old while Regan was 11 when he became a member.

They attended a training camp in Beaufort-West last week in preparation for the tournament that starts today (29 June) and will conclude on Saturday 4 July.

According to Garth le Roux, sport manager at Maties Sport, nine provincial teams will participate in the tournament. They will compete for the top two spots in two groups: one with five teams and one with four.

The semi-finals will take place on Friday and the final on Saturday.

"We wish them all the best," Le Roux said.

According to the team's coach Jason Rhode, they are very pleased with the players' inclusion in the squad.

"It's a compliment to everyone involved with the club and proof that we are on the right track. We trust that the players will do themselves proud and that their performance will lead to doors in the soccer world opening for them." 

Maties surfers Shaun Joubert and Arthur Withers have been included in the 2015 USSA Surfing Team after good performances at the USSA Students Surfing Championships held at Victoria Bay near George last week.

The team is made up of eight men and four women. Other members are Jean du Plessis (NMMU), Wade Simkiss (Varsity College), Jeandre Blignaut (CPUT), Daniel Wilson (UCT), Dane Van Greunen (NMMU), Dominic Notten (VC), Nicole Pallet (VC), Chanelle Botha (VC), Nikita Kekana (UCT) and Roxy Giles (NMMU).

The Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University (NMMU) team from Port Elizabeth successfully defended the institutional team title at the annual USSA event.

The Madibaz posted a total score of 41 240 points to defeat Stellenbosch University. The Maties scored 39 640 points.

The University of Cape Town team came third with 35 860 points followed by the Cape Peninsula University of Technology with 33 040 points and Varsity College with 30 260 points.

The Madibaz also took honours in the men's division narrowly beating the Maties. UCT were third, CPUT came fourth and Varsity College filled fifth.

The girls from Varsity College defended their 2014 women's division title with a huge 11 660 points victory over NMMU, who posted 8 920 points. UCT scored 8 740 points to take third, Maties were fourth with 8 240 and CPUT scored 6 080 to come fifth.

2014 International Surfing Association (ISA) world champion Shaun Joubert of SU took the title in the men's final ahead of 2014 winner, Jean du Plessis of NMMU. Wade Simkiss of Varsity College was third and Jeandre Blignaut of CPUT took fourth place. – Robin de Kock, General Manager: Surfing South Africa

Photograph: Shaun Joubert in action

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The Military Academy Advisory Board (MAAB) had a meeting at the Military Academy on 4 June 2015.  Since the Military Academy comprises of members from all four arms of services, the MAAB also consists of representatives of all the Services and Divisions.  The MAAB typically meets twice a year:  the first meeting takes place in the middle of the year and the second meeting take place at the end of the year.

The Defence Force saw a need to have a body that can collectively look at issues that concern all students at the Military Academy, no matter which arms of service.  It also forms a platform where aspects or problems of a specific arm of service's members at the Academy, can be raised and dealt with in the presence of the others, so that everyone works from the same viewpoint.

The MAAB was created to enhance the knowledge, understanding and strategic thinking of the Military Academy management team and the CSANDF.  It is not a substitute for the management of the Military Academy and has no authority over the statutory responsibilities of the CSANF, but the MAAB provides advice and recommendations to the CSANDF on matters of morale and discipline, policies, assets, fiscal affairs, curriculum, academic content, and any other matter relating to the Academy which the Board decides to consider.

Article & Photo: Maj E.J. Meintjes

Photo: (From left to right)

Front row: Maj Gen Katoki Catherine Motlhabane(CDHRM), Prof Samuel Tshehla (Dean Faculty of Military Science), Maj Gen Andries de Wit (GOC Trg Comd), Brig Gen Lawrence Mbatha Commandant Military Academy), R Adm Rusty Higgs (CNS), Maj Gen Nontobeka Mpaxa (Chief Dir Army Force Preparation).

Middle row: Brig Gen Jackie Khanye (Dir ETD (Air Force)), Lt Col Wikus Jansen van Rensburg (Secundes Dean Military Academy), Col Mtutuzeli Vena (COS Mil Acad), Maj Gen Ansuyah Fakir (CDHRD), Brig Gen Edna Joseph(GOC MHTF)

Back row:  Mr Andries Fokkens (Faculty Manager FMS), Col J.H. Kruger (SA Army), Capt Vusi Malaza (Physics lecturer at Mil Acad and Secretary of the MAAB), Lt Col Morné Booÿjens (Chief Military Instructor at Mil Acad), Mr K.P. Lebelo (CD M&G)

​​Helen Marais is the recipient of the HORTGRO Science/Prof Daan Strydom Award as the best student in horticultural science at Stellenbosch University (SU). This former student of Charlie Hofmeyr High School is the second student in a mere three years from the Ceres area to receive this award. The honour was also bestowed upon Gerrit van der Merwe in 2013. He grew up in the Koue Bokkeveld.

The prestigious award recognises the efforts of the best final year student of the previous year (2014). It is supported by HORTGRO Science, the research arm of South Africa's deciduous fruit industry.

Dr Lynn Hoffman, chairperson of the SU Department of Horticultural Science, describes Marais as a "meticulous student".

"She has excellent technical insights that will stand her in good stead one day," said Dr Hoffman at the award ceremony that took place during HORTGRO Science's annual technical symposium in Simondium.

Marais is humble about her success. "All that is needed is a passion for and an interest in your field of study," she describes the reasons behind her successful academic career.

She has since childhood showed an interest in biology, and especially plants. An inspiring conversation with an alumnus of the SU Department of Horticultural Sciences who also hails from Ceres made her decide to focus her interests and knowledge, and to apply it in a practical way in for instance the fruit industry. Marais subsequently majored in Horticulture and Soil Science.

Marais is currently finding her feet in her first year of MSc Agric studies in Horticultural Sciences. She will research nutritional aspects related to mandarins and other citrus fruits. She will in particular study how nitrogen fertilisation and minerals contribute to the growing of the best possible quality fruit. Her studies, under the guidance of Dr Paul Cronje and Dr Lynn Hoffman of the SU Department of Horticultural Science, are funded by the Citrus Academy.

A career as a technical advisor is a possibility for the future, but Marais is keeping her options open.

"Things can change tremendously in two years, so I prefer to focus on finishing my masters' first. Everything depends on the opportunities that present themselves," she adds.

Photo caption:
Helen Marais is the recipient of the 2014 HORTGRO Science/Prof Daan Strydom Award as the best student in horticultural science at Stellenbosch University. It was presented to her by Stephen Rabe, chair of the HORTGRO Science Advisory Council. Photo: Engela Duvenage

Media enquiries:
Dr. Lynn Hoffman
Department of Horticultural Science, Stellenbosch University
ewh@sun.ac.za
+27 (21) 808 2383

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The Military Academy hosted the 7^th South African-Netherlands International Security Course over period 1 – 12 June 2015.  Apart from becoming an annual event, the course attracts increasing attention from the African continent.  Members from the Centre for Military Studies (CEMIS) at the South African Military Academy and members from the Netherlands Defence Academy co-hosted and organised the event.  Due to major renovations at the Military Academy, the course was presented at Air Force Base Langebaanweg.

The aim of this course is to provide young officers with a proper appreciation of international relations and to develop skills necessary for forming and developing opinions on the matter.  Participants received a number of presentations during the course and also had ample opportunity to participate in discussions and make presentations on different subjects. The approach were therefore twofold: to provide relevant information on international relations and security, and to stimulate debate and independent thought on the subject.

The course content are intended to address the needs of junior officers serving on peacekeeping or other complex missions.  The course also equips attendees with a broader understanding of a geo-political environment in which current missions are undertaken as well as provide knowledge transfer on human rights, the law of armed conflict, the role of gender in conflict and peace and lessons learnt from specific case studies.  Due to repeated student requests and the range of the content of the presentations, the course duration was extended to two weeks.

This year the students were officers from the South African Defence Force, as well as officers from the defence forces of Botswana, Mali, Mozambique and Zambia.  The course was presented by lecturers from CEMIS (SA Military Academy), the Netherlands Defence Academy, Transparency International and from the ICSC.

Also a first for the course was the visit by the GOC Training Command, Major General Andries de Wit on 5 June 2015, accompanied by the Commandant of the Military Academy, Brigadier General Lawrence Mbatha.  It was really appreciated by the members and the overall feedback from the attendees on course was again very positive.