Alumni News First Quarter 2016
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
UNIVEN FIRST QUArtER 2016 NEWS ll people in South Africa have the right to our daily task, is lack of information from ‘’When I want to see patients I have Agood and quality healthcare. the public or ignorance about their benefit always been pulled back to administrative packages with medical schemes, especially and managerial duties by the system,’’ says All Where these rights are violated, people have where there are exclusions. After consultation Kwinda. a right to complain to the Health Professions patients may find that they owe a huge sum Council of South Africa. The health of money which they have to pay out of their He spent eight years – from 2004 to 2011 people professionals concerned are registered with pockets. Based on the complaints received we - as a Senior Medical Superintendent at this body. The council ombudsman protects the have started to alert members of the public the Donald Frazer Hospital before joining general public against health care professionals about matters of interest such as authorisation Tshilidzini Hospital as Medical Specialist in and at the same time mediates and arbitrates from a medical aid - what is covered and not Family Medicine in 2012. The member of have the between a patient and a health professional to covered and co-payments.” the Executive Council of Health in Limpopo help them find an amicable solution. at the time, Dr Norman Mabaso, appointed Kwinda, who was born in the rural Guyuni him to manage the national health insurance For Dr Munyadziwa Albert Kwinda, who is also village, obtained a BSc in Botany and Zoology pilot project for the Vhembe District until right to a pastor, being an ombudsman does not mean at the University of Venda in 1995. He then 2014. Kwinda has been the Ombudsman at punishing colleagues but helping them to help completed an MBChB degree at the University the Health Professions Council of South Africa patients in a professional way. of KwaZulu-Natal in 2002. since 2014. quality “I enjoy doing my work because it brings He proceeded to Medunsa where he obtained Kwinda is well-known in the medical smiles to both parties as I look at the matter a Masters of Medicine, specialising in Family profession for his leadership, having served in Alumniwithout prejudice. My advice to fellow doctors Medicine in 2011. Recently he completed the different structures of the South African and other health professionals is that they his second masters of Science in medicine at medical association and the Health Professions healthcare should seek to gain more knowledge on ethics Wits University, specialising in Bioethics and Council of South Africa. Here he served as the and health law, which will enable them to Health Law. This year he received funding for a Vice-Chairperson for the Medical and Dental Justice Lebopa serve patients even better,” says Kwinda. PhD in Bioethics and Health Law, which will be Professions Board. He is a family man, pastor [email protected] “One of the main challenges we face in studied at Wits. and well-known community builder. President Ndou and his team “We are continuing on the positive path where our count their achievements predecessors have left.” Mashudu Ramaleba - [email protected] pon assuming office last year, we made supports the demands of students for afford- Mushohwe of Zimbabwe praised Univen as it is motion has been submitted to the University “Uan undertaking to promote the interests able higher education in South Africa. We the first chapter launched in that country by a Registrar 28 days before such a meeting. of our alma mater and become ambassadors commend the Univen leadership for handling South African university. of our prestigious institution,” said Univen’s the situation well, to a point where students Univen’s Registrar, Prof Edward Nesamvuni, Convocation President, Levy Ndou. Speaking ended writing their final examinations.” “Another significant milestone is the Convocation and Alumni members as well as after one year in office, the Executive publication of the Univen Alumni News, which representatives of chapters from Hazyview, Committee of Convocation, led by Ndou, He highlighted the launch of alumni chapters, is the first publication for alumni with its focus Waterberg and Zimbabwe attended. the publication of the first newsletter for on the achievements and successes of alumni.” reported back at the Annual General Meeting It was Ndou’s first year in office as the President held at Univen. alumni, fundraising for students’ awards and the social responsibility fund as well as an Mr Lufuno Mudzanani encouraged alumni of Convocation and a chance to assess “Indeed in our various roles in Convocation appreciation to the donors who continue to to support the Social Responsibility Fund how far have they progressed with the Exco, on Council and its subcommittees, support convocation activities. which was launched in April. The fund assists implementation of the five-year Convocation we are continuing on a positive path where Univen’s financially needy students who are and Alumni strategic plan and in particular our predecessors have left and have made “It is historic that in its 33 years of existence, academically talented. After Ms Salome the operational plan. The gathering was significant progress, particularly in driving our Univen has internationalised its Convocation Makgoka presented the constitution, it was concluded with a buffet lunch, networking strategic plan. and alumni through the launch of a chapter debated and adopted as a working document. among alumni and a photo session. on foreign soil, the Zimbabwe international It can be amended at any extraordinary “On the # feesmustfall campaign, Convocation alumni chapter. Minister Christopher meeting or Annual General Meeting if a A dedicated team. “We have made significant progress, particularly in driving our strategic plan” - Ndou. UNIVEN ALUMNI NEWS 1 Black is not the Prof Muronga skin but a mindset appointed Dean of – new Black the Faculty of Science Kwena Montsha and Nobuhle Mhlongo Lawyers Association he Director of the University of Johan- Albert Einstein’s special theory of general Tnesburg’s Soweto Science centre, Prof relativity states that relative to who is Azwinndini Muronga, has been appointed as watching, space and time are transformed the new Dean of the Faculty of Science at the near the speed of light, distances appear president Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University. to stretch and clocks tick more slowly. He challenged the way the world thought He was recently elected as President of the about gravity, as well as Sir Isaac Newton Nobuhle Mhlongo South African Institute of Physics. himself, by describing gravity as the Muronga, who holds a BSc degree in warping of space-time, not a force acting at a lack is not the skin but a mindset,” says the newly elected President of the Black Lawyers Mathematics and Science from the University distance. “BAssociation of South Africa, Lutendo Sigogo. of Venda, is also the Chairperson of the Univen Muronga, a theoretical physicist, describes Gauteng Alumni Chapter. “Membership of the association is open to all lawyers and aspirant lawyers, irrespective of Einstein, who in 1919 was awarded the Nobel race, color, gender or creed, provided they subscribe to and abide by the constitution, policies ‘‘I am pleased and honoured to have joined Prize for his services to theoretical physics, and principles of the organisation. Members participate in the programmes to create a non- a new community of scholars and students. especially for his discovery of the law of photo racial, non-sexist judicial system and society at large. Some of my major tasks include taking the electric effect, as his role model. faculty to new heights, promoting excellence “For graduates to get jobs and for women to be given chances to practice law and obtain In 1919, an astronomer from America went to in teaching and research and tackling the triple the west coast of Africa to prove the theory senior or higher positions in the profession, the association acts as mouthpiece of the challenges of unemployment, poverty and vulnerable people in society,’’ said Sigogo. of Albert Einstein. Africa was found to be inequality through science. the place that has a solar eclipse to prove his He spoke at the Black Lawyers Association’s Annual General Meeting in Johannesburg. ‘‘I hope to create a platform of dialogue in theory. Sigogo holds a BProc and Bachelor of Laws (LLB) from the University of Venda, was the best challenging aspects such as relevance and In the theory of Einstein, light was seen as LLB student, first candidate attorney and was one of the founding fathers of Univen Radio, alignment of the faculty goals to the national central to the structure of space and time together with Chief Mmbangiseni development plan. Furthermore, I trust that -hence the celebration of 100 years of Nthumeni Masia of the Masia tribe. I can promote science education to local Einstein’s theory and the international year of communities, including secondary school light in 2015. His election comes in the wake of learners as well as assisting undergraduate his outstanding leadership record students to complete their studies in record “Light is everywhere, allows us to go about of more than eight years. Sigogo time,’’ says Muronga. our daily activities and provides us with was the treasurer of the Limpopo entertainment, safety and security, access to Black Lawyers in 2007, secretary One of his greatest moments at his alma mater education, technological advancements and of the Limpopo Black Lawyers was his delivery of a public lecture on ‘Einstein healthcare.” Association in 2009, National Centenary of General Relativity and 2015 Deputy Secretary in 2011 and International Year of Light’ which was aimed at Muronga continues to inspire millions of young National General Secretary in 2013.