2020 UKZNTOUCH A UNIVERSITY OF KWAZULU-NATAL ALUMNI MAGAZINE NELSON R. MANDELA SCHOOL OF MEDICINE 70TH ANNIVERSARY INSPIRING GREATNESS ACKNOWLEDGEMENTSACKNOWLEDGEMENTS This edition of UKZNTOUCH celebrates the University of KwaZulu-Natal Nelson R. Mandela School of Medicine’s 70th Anniversary and its men and women who continue to contribute to the betterment of society, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. Executive Editor: Normah Zondo Editorial Team: Bhekani Dlamini, Normah Zondo, Sinegugu Ndlovu, Finn Christensen, Deanne Collins, Sithembile Shabangu, Raylene Captain-Hasthibeer, Sunayna Bhagwandin, Desiree Govender and Nomcebo Msweli Contributors: Tony Carnie, Greg Dardagan, Colleen Dardagan, College PR Offices, Central Publications Unit, UKZNdabaOnline archives, UKZN academics, UKZN Press Creative Direction: Nhlakanipho Nxumalo Photographs and graphic illustrations: UKZN archives, UKZN Corporate Relations Division, UKZN photographers Copyright: All photographs and images used in this publication are protected by copyright and may not be reproduced without permission of the UKZN Corporate Relations Division. No section of this publication may be reproduced without the written consent of the Corporate Relations Division. 2020 UKZNTOUCH A UNIVERSITY OF KWAZULU-NATAL ALUMNI MAGAZINE Disclaimer: Information was collected at different times during the compilation of this publication UKZNTOUCH 2020 CONTENTS 04 32 51 ANGELA HARTWIG 75 - COVID-19 HEROES FOREWORD UKZN ENACTUS IN THE ALUMNI CLASS NOTES EDITOR’S CHOICE TOP 16 AT ENACTUS WORLD CUP 52 DR LIONEL DE GOUVEIA 05 - COVID-19 HEROES 87 EDITORIAL 34 EDITOR’S CHOICE OUT AND ABOUT NORTH POLE RUN TO 52 DR MZAMO SHOZI 06 SUPPORT SOUTH AFRICAN - SCIENCE AND MESSAGE FROM THE GIRLS TECHNOLOGY 88 ALUMNI WHO PUBLISHED PRESIDENT OF THE UKZN BOOKS RECENTLY CONVOCATION 53 JHONO BENNETT - CIVIL 36 SOCIETY ALUMNI PROFILES 89 THE ART OF 53 KESHIN GOVENDER LITERATURE 07 37 A DOCTOR ‘PURPOSE- - BUSINESS, MESSAGE FROM ALUMNI BUILT’ FOR SA ENTREPRENEURSHIP & 90 BILL GUEST RELATIONS CONDITIONS THANKS TO TOURISM UKZN 91 CHARLES MULLER 08 HISTORY OF THE ALAN 54 MALANGU BLOSE – TAYLOR RESIDENCE 38 SURGEON HAILS UKZN HEALTH 91 ADRIAN FURNHAM MEDICAL SCHOOL 10 UKZN MEDICAL MENTORSHIP AS LIFE 54 PHILANI POTWANA SCHOOL PAST DEANS CHANGING - BUSINESS, ENTREPRENEURSHIP & 93 CONTACTS & SOCIAL 20 GROWING OUR OWN 39 NEW GENERATION TOURISM MEDIA TIMBER OF UKZN MEDICAL STUDENTS FOLLOWING 55 PRESHANTHIE NAICKER 22 THE GIFT OF SOUND IN FOOTSTEPS OF SA – ENVIRONMENT HEROES 94 24 SHAPING MEDICAL 55 SANDIKA BABOOLAL- CHANGE OF ADDRESS FORM CONTENTS HISTORY 40 SLEEP OCCUPIES THE HEALTH MIND OF THIS WIDE 26 A BRIGHT FUTURE AWAKE PROFESSOR! 56 SICELO BHENGU - EDUCATION 95 41 TACKLING MATERNAL DURBAN ALUMNI 27 AND INFANT MORTALITY 56 SULAIMAN SALEEM ASSOCIATION OPINION PIECE - IMPACT PATEL- SCIENCE AND SUBSCRIPTION FORM OF THE COVID-19 43 MARRYING MEDICINE TECHNOLOGY AND ETHICS PANDEMIC - EARLY RECOMMENDATION ON 45 A COMMUNITY HERO 57 97 MASK-WEARING A GAME OPINION PIECE - THE UKZN FOUNDATION TRUST CHANGER IN FIGHT 47 SHINING A SPOTLIGHT ON SCOTTSVILLE CARBIS LEGAL DETAILS AGAINST COVID-19 INFECTIOUS DISEASES ROAD JAMAAT KHANA/ ISLAMIC CENTRE - A STUDENT-LED INITIATIVE 98 29 48 DONATION FORM UKZN FOUNDATION SHIFTS WORLD RANKINGS FOCUS TO BEAT THE HIGHLIGHTS/ PANDEMIC INFOGRAPHIC 59 UKZN NEWS HIGHLIGHTS 99 ALUMNI BENEFITS 30 50 PUTTING WASTE TO WORK UKZN ALUMNI PART OF 72 THE TOP 200 YOUNG THE LEGACY FUND 100 100 TO IMPROVE HEALTH AND ON THE BOOKSHELF SOUTH AFRICANS SANITATION UKZN PRESS 51 AFSANA KAJEE – HEALTH 73 A UKZN STALWART FOREWORD UKZN MEDICAL SCHOOL: 70 YEARS OF DEDICATION AND EXCELLENCE his is a poignant moment to be celebrating the accomplishments communicable diseases. With more than two dozen disciplines, the of Nelson R. Mandela School of Medicine as it marks its 70th Medical School is at the heart of public healthcare in KwaZulu-Natal Tanniversary. Typically, at such a juncture, past triumphs and future and beyond—not only in teaching and training, but also in advancing challenges would fill the stage; now, as the COVID-19 pandemic ravages clinical and professional practice and more fundamental research. the world, all of us are acutely aware of the vital importance of the work Seventy years of achievement and the painstaking, unglamorous work it undertakes every day - preventive and curative, research, clinical that has made it possible is remarkable - virtually beyond living memory. development and community engagement. The shadow of the deadly In our lifetimes, it is all too easy to take those accomplishments for virus under which the entire University is labouring throws into sharp granted. But each man and woman involved in medical advances and relief the importance of our splendid Medical School and the men and each new generation of doctors, nurses and midwives has come about women who comprise it. We extend our gratitude to them and those through the slow, patient work of scientists, teachers and every other who came before them and salute the commitment and leadership of member of the Medical School, working to expand our knowledge, the current management team under Professor Busisiwe Ncama and her sharpen our practice and expand the compass of medical care to all outstanding College leadership team-both academic and professional South Africans. services. What links the medical and non-medical disciplines of UKZN in the Let us pause to recall that a public university is first and foremost quest for healthier and less vulnerable communities is the recognition dedicated to human betterment; and although no single discipline, that there is more to health than diagnostics and therapeutics. How research avenue or profession can shoulder that burden alone, there is individuals gauge health risks; whether families have consistent access always a special place in our hearts for the teaching, development and to appropriate nutrition; how our logistical networks can deliver health practice of Medicine. It is not only life-saving dramas that engage us— requisites to all who need them, in a timely manner; and the basis on difficult surgical procedures; ensuring the safety of newborns and their which we prioritise and distribute limited resources in the most equitable mothers; dealing with traumatic accidents - but the everyday business and effective manner - these and countless other issues cannot be of diagnosing and prescribing; sustaining preventive initiatives that addressed by Medicine alone. It takes an entire community of scholars, support public health; and bringing best practice to bear on the care across every discipline, to ensure that the path-breaking research and of the sick and injured. There is nothing sentimental in our admiration; clinical engagement of medicine bear the fullest fruit. Again, little of this it is an expression of our appreciation of the people whose calling work is heroic in its particulars, but in aggregate, the University functions exemplifies what’s best in all of us: care and compassion. to save lives, prevent suffering and ensure good health for the largest Beneath the visible surface of medical number of South Africans possible. The Medical School continues to practice is the intellectual and pedagogical lead, as it has done for three generations, but we all have a part to play; infrastructure that supports it: our Medical and we all have reason to be proud of what we contribute. School. In the middle of a public health The national lockdown has been a very burdensome challenge for crisis, it is entirely fitting that we should the entire UKZN community. We have made special provision for the highlight the expertise and dedication continuance of laboratory and clinical work, which cannot be conducted of the Medical School and its staff. But remotely. I would like to take this opportunity to express my deep thanks while the COVID-19 pandemic rightly and to the Medical and Science staff for their exceptional dedication in these understandably turns attention to the difficult times—and of course, to the students who are determined to work the Medical School is undertaking finish their training and begin their careers. to prevent its spread and to combat its effects, we should not overlook the At this moment, it would be foolish to try to predict the future, to say wide array of medical work that is largely when or by what means we might be able to return to more familiar unsung, perhaps because the modes of working and interacting with one another. But we are not School’s many specialisms do helpless in the face of the current, unprecedented threat to public not routinely present as health—and nothing demonstrates this more forcefully than the work public emergencies. of our Medical School, some of which is detailed in these pages. The exception, of I am very proud to celebrate the Medical School’s 70th anniversary, course, is HIV and proud of all the men and women who have made it the beacon of AIDS; and while we learning and applied knowledge that it is, and proud of the larger UKZN grapple with the community of which the Medical School is an integral part. I’m certain huge demands that our alumni, medical and non-medical alike, share my pride and look of the COVID-19 forward to a less turbulent future. pandemic, other health issues have not been Professor Nana Poku put on hold, Vice-Chancellor and Principal especially non- PAGE 4 UKZNTOUCH 2020 EDITORIAL COPING WITH THE ‘NEW NORM’ IN HIGHER EDUCATION he COVID-19 pandemic dominated and impacted heavily on the prestigious Rhodes Scholarship to read for his DPhil at the University of lives of all South Africans in 2020, forcing us to abandon many tried Oxford in England. and tested ways of operating and quickly adapt to a drastically T What an impressive line-up of alumni who have excelled and in the different way of life - the ‘new norm’. process made UKZN proud! Several other alumni are featured, with a Staff in the Corporate Relations Division carried on with their work variety of further items of special interest.