2017

ALUMNINEWS

A NEW STRATEGIC PLAN VISION 2020

TRANSFORMATION DISTINGUISHING A FOCUS AT UCT UCT CAMPAIGN ON RESEARCH MISSION UCT aspires to become a premier academic meeting point between South Africa, the rest of Africa and the world. Taking advantage of expanding global networks and our distinct vantage point in Africa, we are committed, through innovative research and scholarship, to grapple with the key issues of our natural and social worlds. We aim to produce graduates whose qualifications are internationally recognised and locally applicable, underpinned by values of engaged citizenship and social justice. UCT will promote diversity and tranformation within our institution and beyond, including growing the next generation of academics.

UCT STRATEGIC PLAN 2020 Vision Our vision for UCT is to be an inclusive, engaged and research-intensive African university. UCT will inspire creativity through outstanding achievements in discovery and innovation. It will be celebrated for the quality of its learning and contribution to citizenship. We will enhance the lives of students and staff and advance a more equitable and sustainable social order. We aspire to be a leader in the global higher education landscape.

Our statement of values • We embrace our African identity • We widen educational and social opportunities • We enhance the lives of individuals and communities • We build an equitable social order based on respect for human rights • We advance the public good by teaching, generating knowledge and actively engaging with the key challenges facing our society.

Creating a university culture that is creative rigorous curious research-informed nurturing honest accountable excellent collegial responsible open inclusive respectful open-minded

A new, inclusive identity for UCT We want a student and staff body that is more representative of the country and the continent, and for students and staff to see themselves – their cultures, values, heritage and knowledge systems – reflected at the university.

Global partnerships with a distinctive African lens We want to advance the status and distinctiveness of scholarship in Africa, and attract and connect people from all over the world, by promoting a vibrant and supportive intellectual environment at UCT.

A research-intensive university We want UCT researchers to continue making a distinctive contribution to local and global knowledge and to produce new solutions to challenges facing the African continent and the world.

Innovation in teaching and learning We want to improve students’ success rates, broaden their academic perspectives, stimulate their social consciousness and cultivate more critical citizens by renewing our approach to teaching and learning, and pioneering new methods.

Social impact through engaged scholarship We want to enhance UCT’s engaged scholarship to address critical development and social justice issues, including the expansion of community and external partnerships. UCT Alumni News 2017

Vice-Chancellor’s Foreword 2 From the Executive Director 3 Editor Libo Msengana-Bam A NEW INCLUSIVE IDENTITY Renamed Knowledge Commons honours struggle librarian Writers 4 UCT Newsroom A new, inclusive identity: a vision for the future 6 Mills Soko 5 year milestone for UCT Schools Improvement Initiative 10 Prof Mamokgethi Phakeng GSB Philippi campus: a model for university spaces 11 Helen Swingler Jess Oosthuizen ADVANCING THE DISTINCTIVENESS Yusuf Omar OF SCHOLARSHIP IN AFRICA Natalie Simon Lighting the fires to fuel Africa’s development 12 Michael Morris UCT’s d-school unlocks creativity to drive innovation 14 Carla Bernardo Nonhlanhla Khumalo: redefining black hair, defending black skin 16 Rita Stockhowe Postgrads urgently need funding 20 Merlin Ince Honorary Doctorates 2016 and 2017 22 Diana Caelers Nametso Maikano UCT AS A RESEARCH-INTENSIVE UNIVERSITY Cracking the world marathon barrier Photographers 24 Pixabay Launch of new Mycology Unit 26 Michael Hammond Kelly Chibale named one of the 2017 Quartz Africa Innovators 27 Je’nine May UCT’s latest A-rated researcher 27 Alex Unger Adapting to water scarcity 28 Wikipedia A ray of hope for neglected African disease: sickle cell disease 30 Niklas Zimmer New smart crops to underpin food security in Africa 32 Kelvin Song via Human cell researcher gets funding boost 34 Wikimedia Commons Heather Zar named 2018 Woman in Science Laureate 35 ICA UCT Knowledge Co-op INNOVATION IN TEACHING AND LEARNING Elia Fester under Improving academic success rates at UCT 36 Creative Commons Live Art 2017 40 Graphic Design Inspiring dialogue through creative art 42 Banss Design Lab ENGAGED SCHOLARSHIP: SOCIAL JUSTICE INITIATIVES Produced by the The real meaning of social responsiveness 44 UCT Development and Research gets practical in local communities 46 Alumni Department Unpacking the spatial paradox 48 Mary Burton: Patron of the Black Sash 49 UCT Alumni News is the Respect and research: Lessons from the San Code of Ethics 50 annual magazine for UCT ‘Stare straight into the eye of the perpetrator’, said feminist scholar 52 Alumni. It is also available online at UCT FUNDRAISING PROJECTS http://www.uct.ac.za/main/alumni/ Another 40 years of theatrical excellence 54 publications/uct-alumni-news Distinguishing UCT campaign targets R1billion 56 UCT Student Wellness: supporting students in distress 58 Alumni helping to build sustainable student funding 59

2017 Absa increases support to UCT 60 Alumni Couple Remember their Alma Mater with a Gift 61 Foundations, Trusts, and Corporates 62 ALUMNINEWS ALUMNI NEWS Workplace gender equity: a full-time job 68 Farewell to UCT Legacy Society president 69 Former DVC urges alumni to reflect on protests 70 Alumnus inspires the next generation of entrepreneurs 72 Message from the Chair of the Alumni Advisory Board 74 Botswana Chapter Gala dinner 75 Switzerland alumni chapter 76 UCT STUDENT NEWSMAKERS A NEW Triple triumph for star sprinter Mhlongo 77 STRATEGIC PLAN PhD candidate wins international green award 78 VISION 2020 UCT group wins SA’s Got Talent 2017 80 TRANSFORMATION DISTINGUISHING A FOCUS AT UCT UCT CAMPAIGN ON RESEARCH ALUMNI EVENTS 81

IN MEMORIAM 84

1 VICE-CHANCELLOR’S FOREWORD With this being the last annual alumni news foreword that I will write as Vice-Chancellor it seems appropriate to reflect on some highlights of what UCT has achieved on my watch. Looking back, I feel enormously privileged to have led your alma mater during a decade of great achievements and many challenges:

UCT as a globally competitive introduction of an optional course research university has been available to all students covering enhanced through strategies around global issues and social justice internationalisation – developing http://www.globalcitizen.uct.ac.za/; new institutional linkages and amongst other initiatives. research collaborations. UCT has responded to the There has been a concerted potentially disruptive developments focus on developing UCT’s in on-line learning technology by networks and partnerships on piloting some on-line qualifications, the African continent, as one designing and delivering the first way for UCT to differentiate itself MOOCs (massive open online amongst top universities globally, courses) at a South African conceptualised as a vision to be an university, and introducing “flipped ‘Afropolitan’ university. classroom” approaches in some We have intensified and expanded courses (i.e. lectures delivered on our efforts to deal with histories of line and face-to-face time used racialised educational disadvantage for tutorials). In 2016 the UCT was – with respect to student ranked as the second best institution admissions, staffing demography, globally creating MOOCs. Generally, institutional culture and curricula, lecturers are moving more seriously including a new admissions policy (but still too cautiously) towards the and a new financial aid system that use of educational technologies in enables needs-blind admission, and learning and teaching. Thousands of increased resources to interventions lectures are now routinely captured that will improve success rates. on video and available on the web We have moved UCT from ‘research- for revision purposes. led’ to ‘research-intensive’ through I established four flagship “Vice- the implementation of a sophisticated Chancellor Strategic Initiatives” research management system, training which are university-wide trans- and support for emerging researchers, disciplinary research initiatives to policy and projects promoting open Vice-Chancellor, Dr Max Price address key national challenges: access and discoverability, investment • African Climate and Development in equipment and high performance Our commitment to engaged Initiative http://www.acdi.uct. computing and data visualisation, scholarship, or socially responsive ac.za/about-us financial and organisational investment scholarship has been strengthened • Safety and Violence Initiative in post-doctoral programmes, through: the introduction of an http://www.savi.uct.ac.za/savi/ growth of post-graduate numbers annual report and awards to match aboutsavi and quality, and creating new those in teaching and research; • Poverty and Inequality Initiative interdisciplinary programmes. the introduction of the Knowledge http://www.povertyandinequality. With the goal of valorising Partners programme through uct.ac.za/about-us-29 teaching and elevating its status which post-graduates undertake • Schools Improvement Initiative in order to raise the commitment research for community based http://www.sii.uct.ac.za/sii/about/ to, and quality of, teaching, projects; the institution of ‘UCT Plus’ objectives we have amended promotion – which offers formal recognition Two of these are led by Pro- criteria and continue to recognise on the degree transcript of social Vice-Chancellors - positions which outstanding teachers. responsiveness activities; the did not exist before, and two by

2 UCT Alumni News 2017 directors, all reporting to the Vice- I am very proud of the record apartheid has also been intensely Chancellor’s office, to ensure that levels of fund raising that we have controversial, demanding more they operate across disciplinary and achieved with an enlarged office concerted attention – rightly so, in my faculty boundaries http://www.uct. of Development and Alumni – over view – although methods of protest ac.za/main/about/management/ 2,5 billion rand during my tenure. have sometimes been destructive pro-vice-chancellors. We have reconnected with alumni and hostile. Protests have also The Graduate School of all over the world, and drawn in, for paralleled similar student movement Development Policy and Practice the first time, our black alumni. We protests around the world relating has been established which has have also achieved increases in our to identity politics, LGBTIQA+ rights raised our profile with senior public bequest programme that has gone and recognition, gender based administration officials in SA and from less than 30 known bequest violence, and issues of disability across the continent through its commitments to over 300. and mental health. A key outcome training programmes, thematic In the last two years, we have of these protests at UCT was the policy workshops, and fellowships. weathered the storms of challenging, insourcing of some 1300 workers who http://www.gsdpp.uct.ac.za/gsdpp/ often traumatic student and labour had been outsourced in the 1990s, in about/school protests, which were part of a the interests of better conditions of After researching differentnational protest movement. This has employment and a more integrated, models, and significant fundraising, tested the mettle and leadership of cohesive and humane workplace. we have established the Hasso VCs nationally. The central issue has It is not possible in the space of a Plattner Institute for Design been the demand for free education few hundred words to do justice to Thinking, a sister institute to two - something beyond the control a decade of activity and progress. other HPI d-Schools at Stanford and of individual VCs. However, the But the above mark of some of the Potsdam universities www.dschool. continuing colonial imprint within highlights that I am most proud of uct.ac.za. South Africa’s universities post- during my tenure as VC of UCT.

FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Change is never an easy process. And for universities, which often go back many generations, change can be particularly unsettling writes Dr Russell Ally, Executive Director of the Development and Alumni Department

Next year UCT will be celebrating its strategic plan is about the future. centenary as a dedicated degree- The plan recognises the solid issuing tertiary institution and in academic platform of excellence 2019 it will commemorate the 190th that UCT’s complex history has laid year since its founding. Over this for future generations of alumni. long history deep traditions took But it also acknowledges UCT’s root evolving into an institutional flawed past of racial exclusion and culture and academic milieu that white privilege.The past cannot be has had a profound influence on changed. But the future can. Executive Director, Development and Alumni Department, Dr Russell Ally generations of students, staff and This unavoidably means communities. Unsurprising then interrogating our past with your alma mater is conscientiously that any perceived ‘overhaul’ of honesty and courage and putting working towards. Our wish is that this past evokes strong reactions, in place in the present, the building you will realise this is not something particularly among alumni whose blocks for a new and inclusive to fear but to embrace. And most identities are often intertwined identity for UCT. importantly our fervent hope is with this past. In the pages which follow in that you will continue to remain UCT’s new strategic plan is NOT this edition of UCT Alumni News loyal to your alma mater and about writing this past out of our we trust that you will gain better support it during these exciting and history. Fundamentally the new insight into the bold new future that challenging times.

3 A NEW INCLUSIVE IDENTITY

STORY BY HELEN SWINGLER RENAMED KNOWLEDGE COMMONS HONOURS STRUGGLE LIBRARIAN District Six-born community librarian Vincent Kolbe has taken a place of honour on UCT’s upper campus. This follows the renaming of the Knowledge Commons in the Chancellor Oppenheimer Library as the Vincent Kolbe Knowledge Commons on 23 March

Kolbe joins AC Jordan, Neville at the event, the executive director to information at a restrictive time Alexander and Cissy Gool, whose of the Development and Alumni in South Africa’s history. He saw names grace buildings and a plaza Department, Dr Russell Ally, said the library as an indispensable on the main campus. They were the renaming of the Knowledge communal space with a strong social, activists and pioneers in the arenas Commons is part of creating a “new, recreational and educational role. It of language, race and gender, as inclusive identity for the university”. was for this that UCT conferred an was Kolbe, who created a legacy honorary Master of Arts degree in of reading and knowledge and Information for all 2002.Speaking at the launch, the an open and inclusive reading Kolbe’s story is one of commitment executive director of UCT Libraries, culture in Cape Flats’ communities to community and its development Gwenda Thomas, said: “The impact through public libraries. Speaking through reading, debate and access and influence of Vincent Kolbe

The renamed Vincent Kolbe Knowledge Commons honours the late Vincent Kolbe, the ‘people’s librarian’, and is described as an innovative learning space embodying the values of blended learning and inclusive pedagogies. Photo UCT Special Collections.

4 UCT Alumni News 2017 lives on far beyond his lifetime.“The recalled. “Just before closing, I one an Anglican priest in Seattle significance of this space reflects the would join the other assistants in the who sent him books by African wall of honour where UCT’s robust backroom where Vincent regaled us American activist Angela Davis. He and fraught journey in defence of with memories of his early library also received BBC recordings and academic freedom is portrayed in and other experiences. As a school cassettes. Dick recalls, “These and visual representation of both the boy, he ran errands for the City other banned materials were kept in role and activity of this university as Councillor AZ Berman.”The nun who a sports tog bag under the lending well as the histories and legacies of helped him with his studies told him desk at Observatory Library and those activists and educationalists, he should apply for a job at the SA used secretly by activists. When like Vincent Kolbe, who forged the Library. “A new world opened for there were police raids, of course, no way for our nation’s democracy him in the four-and-a-half years he one knew whose tog bag it was or by upholding and defending the worked there. He started as a stack how it had got there!” principles of equitable access to all attendant and ran up and down to information.” library stairs to collect materials for Separate libraries Though delayed by campus researchers like Eric Rosenthal and Kolbe was a young professional when unrest last year, the launch came TV Bulpin.” separate library associations were at a significant juncture, she said. The library director arranged for introduced in 1962. He refused to Last week was South African him to attend part-time studies at join the Cape Library Association for Library Week, which intersected UCT’s School of Librarianship. But Coloureds despite UCT librarian Mr strategically with Human Rights Day while UCT may have provided the [Rene Ferdinand Malan] Immelman’s on 21 March.“The [Library Week] technical skills, Vincent’s style of attempts to persuade him.“When he theme for 2017, My Library, Your librarianship was shaped by the retired in 1991, Vincent was described Library, fittingly represents the spirit creole culture and people of District by a colleague as a ‘people’s and ethos of Vincent Kolbe,” said Six, said Dick.“This style was based librarian’,” said Dick. “As proof of this, Thomas. “The focus on the notion on the idea of the barber shop that his retirement party was attended of ‘communal’ and ‘community’ is brought together the district’s rich by 80-year-old Mr PF Jacobs, who pivotal to why we are here today.” and its poor, its oral and its literate was one of the first people he had traditions, its professionals and its registered at Bonteheuwel Library.” Pioneering concept workers. It was this tradition and Keynote speaker, Trevor Manuel, UCT Libraries pioneered the concept style of librarianship that Vincent deputy chairperson of Rothschild of Knowledge Commons in the 1990s carried into the Cape Flats townships (RSA), described Kolbe as an under Joan Rapp, now UCT Librarian and impressed on young librarians eclectic person: “His life had so many Emeritus. It was a model that rapidly like myself and others.” dimensions because he was a reader, took hold at the country’s academic a storyteller, a jazz musician … and libraries.“It’s an innovative service, Banned books in tog bags an amateur historian.“He invited us which is a dedicated UCT learning But there was another aspect to to listen to his old cassettes, part of and research facility where students Kolbe’s dissemination of knowledge his District Six oral history project … can access the Libraries’ electronic and information. It was, of necessity, people who understood what changes resources via high-end workstations more clandestine.“As a young, had taken place, the people who were and software with skilled librarians on qualified librarian at the Cape Town there when the Group Areas Act came hand to provide expert assistance,” City Libraries in the 1950s, he was into being, and who could relate to said Thomas. When the project to expected to de-catalogue boxes their African neighbours who weren’t rename UCT’s buildings was initiated of books that had been withdrawn there any longer.“He didn’t need to in 2014, it was the Libraries’ staff from circulation and send them to be occupy a position of authority to who persuaded the committee that pulped or burned at the municipal provide leadership … it’s about being the Knowledge Commons was the incinerator. He vividly recalled the non-doctrinaire and about being able most suited facility to honour Kolbe. collection of withdrawn materials to listen. It’s about embracing ideas as a library of condemned books: and never being afraid of ideas.” Library as a barber shop surprising titles like John Steinbeck’s Speaking on behalf of the family, Kolbe had a shaky start. His mother’s Grapes of Wrath, Stuart Cloete’s The Kolbe’s daughter, Juliette Bourne, illness forced him to leave school Turning Wheels and Anna Sewell’s said the nature of the Knowledge and he matriculated through part- Black Beauty … even Martin Luther Commons fitted well with her father’s time night school where a Catholic King’s “I Have a Dream” speech style and legacy.“When Gwenda nun and teacher encouraged him to and LPs of the rock opera Jesus told us why they had chosen the become a librarian.“I met Vincent in Christ Superstar were not spared by Knowledge Commons as the place Bonteheuwel in 1974 when I worked the censors.” to remember him and to celebrate as a student librarian,” guest speaker In the 1970s and 1980s Kolbe his legacy, it started clicking into Archie Dick, professor of information became a source of banned place … He was a constant source of science at the University of Pretoria, materials. He had many contacts, information to all of us.”

5 A NEW INCLUSIVE IDENTITY A NEW, INCLUSIVE IDENTITY: A VISION FOR THE FUTURE Transformation, or rather the perceived slow pace of transformation within higher education, has been at the core of the student-led protests in South Africa since 2015. Since then, the pressure has been on the government to respond to calls for free tertiary education for all. At UCT, one of our new strategic goals is: “To forge a new inclusive identity that reflects a more representative profile of students and staff, and the cultures, values, heritage and epistemologies of the diversity of UCT’s staff and students”

UCT Alumni News Magazine sat discourage it knowledge that sees of employment. The University down with Deputy Vice-Chancellor, student as deficient or as diverse? Is has an Employment Equity plan Professor Loretta Feris, who is it knowledge that sees the student (2015-2020) which has set targets responsible for providing strategic as a receptacle or a co-creator? to support UCT in achieving its direction on transformation policies transformation agenda. Council, and implementation at UCT. Do you believe that the Higher has however, asked us to think We wanted to understand why Education sector has lagged more aggressively about the transformation is an imperative for behind transformation drives targets we have set for ourselves the University; how much progress initiated in South Africa? If so, as an institution. So we are going has been made to date and, to what would you attribute this to? back to the drawing board to look get a sense of the road ahead. We LF: Our understanding of at what we have achieved with started by asking her to explain transformation is constantly changing respect to current targets and how what this process of change entails, and deepening. Thirty years ago, we can expand on those targets. within a rapidly changing higher our focus was solely on changing The executive will working closely education context. student profiles, but we haven’t with Human Resources to assist interrogated institutional culture each department to reach these LF: The University has come a long sufficiently. One reason for that targets and we are developing way when looking at student profiles might have been that we [the older an employment equity strategy - UCT is now a slightly majority black generation] couldn’t look further that will look at the drivers of university, in line with the country’s than the end of the apartheid employment equity: recruitment, demographics. When looking at era and were somehow still shell- promotion and retention. We have staff demographics, particularly shocked from this brutal regime. already stepped up employment academic staff and institutional While the new generation is able equity representative training culture, we still have a long way to to see the bigger picture, they and are systematically reviewing go. Classroom and workplace culture can see further than the end of the EE representative policy and remains an unwelcome space for apartheid and are now challenging the data that emanates from differently situated bodies (black, the notion of being ‘born free’. selection policies to strengthen womxn, LGBT, disabled, etc). With Are they truly born into freedom? those policies. We have also regards to teaching and learning we Through the student protests, this reviewed the employment equity have to ask what knowledge do we new generation foregrounded the fund, a fund that is used to make wish to impart : is it knowledge that call for decolonisation in all spheres strategic appointments to meet includes or excludes, is it knowledge of education. our EE targets. Access to the that is appropriate and contextually fund now requires a clear career relevant, is it knowledge that takes How is your office addressing development trajectory for into account indigenous knowledge the issues around equity at anybody appointed through the systems, is it knowledge that the University of Cape Town? fund. I should mention by the way bridges the divide with respect For instance, what systems are that contributing to the EE fund to the varied contexts from which being developed to implement can be an important way in which our students arrive, is it knowledge the call for equal remuneration alumni can partner with us in that bridges the articulation gap regardless of gender or race? ensuring that we employ talented in ways that empower rather than LF: Let’s talk about equity in terms black staff.

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7 A NEW INCLUSIVE IDENTITY

What interventions are being soon. We have also started the who do not agree with me as my developed to support talented process of drafting a gender policy enemy, whether they are protesting black academics and other and of setting up a designated students or offended alumni. I previously marginalised groups? sexual offences tribunal. am always open to courageous LF: I have mentioned the conversations, robust or perhaps development of a targeted EE Free education. A right or a more guarded; one-on- one, or in a strategy, but already across privilege? more formal setting. As departments departments and faculties, a LF: Probably both! In many or faculties we all have to come variety of initiatives are under countries, it’s a right and I believe together and talk through the issues way to develop the pipeline of black that access to higher education facing us as a university, whether it and female talent, each taking into can be made possible through is curriculum change, decolonisation account the unique circumstances of free education. The government or seemingly year -on-year protest its own discipline and what it takes of South Africa has to evaluate its action. We are all affected by the to recruit, develop and retain staff. contribution and funding for higher moment we find ourselves in as a The DVC for research, Prof Phakeng education. At UCT a Free Education university and we need to be able has taken the lead in providing Planning Group (FEPG) has been to articulate to each other our fears, support for black postgraduates established and has, over the last concerns and anger. My portfolio that will enable them to further year, worked towards the creation through the OIC is willing to facilitate their studies and prepare them for a of a Free Education Research these conversations. career in higher education. Another Unit (FERU) – a student-led and intervention launched in 2015 is academically supervised research Since your appointment to the the Next Generation Professoriate team, which is exploring models portfolio in January 2017 - what (NGP) which aims to expand and for free and accessible education, changes have you observed and accelerate transformation of UCT’s and comparing them with existing what would you consider to be professoriate by providing support international models. One of the the most significant successes to for mid-career academics. more promising models that have date? been examined is that of a graduate LF: It has been the year in which What initiatives are being tax, which taxes graduates at a we had to face and resolve the issues developed to support gender progressively higher tax rate than students have persistently raised equity and sexuality? non-graduates. Another question over the last few years – financial LF: We need to talk about this group is raising, evolves around exclusion, academic exclusion, gender equity not only in relation the future of higher education - does accommodation and social and to employment, but also in terms higher education have to be in the psychological well-being. These are of culture. All the initiatives form of universities or are there issues that ultimately have an impact mentioned above are aimed at other possible models to achieve on how students experience UCT ensuring gender equity. But we academic excellence? and on student success. We have set also need to ask ourselves: “Do up the Rapid Response Task Team we as the university provide a How are you facilitating change (RRTT) a unique interim structure positive workplace, free from sexual and rebuilding trust between with representation of the executive, harassment and insult?” As an the University and its internal student movements and the SRC answer to this question, the newly constituency: staff and students? which looks at both operational and restructured Office for Inclusivity LF: I believe in collaboration. academic issues that impede student and Change (OIC, previously There is a book by Adam Kahane progress. It is not a decision-making DISCHO and HAICU) works with the Collaborating with the Enemy - body, but it works to resolve issues a Sexual Assault Response Team How to Work with People You Don’t more rapidly or sometimes not so (SART) which was set up in 2016 Agree with or Like or Trust. Even rapidly. Students are frustrated that to ensure that survivors of sexual though I don’t necessary like the processes are bureaucratic and violence access survivor-centered, title of the book, I agree with the slow, but we are making headway compassionate care, while assisting sentiment that even if you do not and progress. the campus community in matters agree with somebody, you can still of discrimination, sexual harassment, build trust through collaboration, as What have we learned from the domestic violence and rape. The OIC long as you have a shared vision and student and worker protests which uses an intersectional approach in a willingness to engage. Kahane also took place on campuses across SA its advocacy, awareness and training tells us that we need to re-imagine in 2015 and 2016? on issues pertaining to sexual collaboration and that conflict LF: One of the many things we harassment and discrimination. A should not necessarily be a barrier have learned from the student new policy on sexuality has recently to collaboration, but it can in fact be protests in 2015 is that they have been approved by Senate and will an opportunity for innovation and forced us to interrogate who we hopefully be approved by Council transformation. So I do not see those are as a university, whether we

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I was born into a family that questioned social justice. I was raised in a critical family, so one can say my whole family - my upbringing - is my inspiration.”

UCT Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Transformation, Professor Loretta Feris truly are inclusive and importantly it has forced us to reflect on the Getting to know Professor Loretta Feris academic project – the very core Loretta Feris is professor of law in the Institute of Marine and of the university. As a result we Environmental Law. She joined the department of public law, at the now reflect much more deeply on University of Cape Town in July 2009. She holds a BA(law), LLB and curriculum, pedagogy, assessment LLD from the University of Stellenbosch and a LLM from Georgetown and classroom practice. The worker University in the USA. Previously, she was associate professor of law at protests have similarly forced us to the University of Pretoria, where she was also a research associate at the revisit who we are as an employer Centre for Human Rights. Prior to joining the University of Pretoria, she and the conditions on which we was based at American University’s Washington College of Law first as have previously employed people. an international fellow and later as Assistant Director of the International Insourcing of staff has therefore Legal Studies Programme. She remained an adjunct faculty member been an important step forward for of this institution until 2006. She was also a senior research fellow at the university. the South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA). Loretta is an NRF rated researcher and her research interest includes environmental As a professor of law, why justice and trade and environment. Recently she started focusing on are you passionate about the connection between, space, identity and rights. She advises the transformation? Who inspires you United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) on priority areas for in this regard? the environmental law agenda in respect of the Montevideo Programme LF: Law is a discipline that IV process. She has also served on a UNEP experts group which has allows you to question notions drafted a model law on liability for environmental damage. Loretta has of justice and fairness. I was served on the board of the South African Maritime Safety Authority drawn to law because I was born (SAMSA), is a Law Commissioner of the World Conservation Union into a family that questioned (IUCN) and a member of the IUCN Academy of Environmental Law social justice. I was raised in a where she served on the teaching and capacity building committee critical family, so one can say my for three years. She was also the Western Cape regional representative whole family – my upbringing – is of the ELA (the Environmental Law Association of South Africa) and my inspiration. serves on a number of editorial boards.

9 A NEW INCLUSIVE IDENTITY

5 YEAR MILESTONE FOR UCT SCHOOLS IMPROVEMENT INITIATIVE On the 26th of August, 150 donors, supporters and high school learners gathered at the Centre of Science and Technology in Khayelitsha, Cape Town to celebrate a five year milestone for the University of Cape Town’s innovative Schools Improvement Initiative

Launched in May 2012, the Schools Mathematics (STEM) schools in the improving the quality of teaching Improvement Initiative (SII) was Western Cape. and learning in the classroom. One established at UCT to assist The SII anniversary event held in way we achieve this is by engaging the Western Cape Education August, provided an opportunity in teacher-professional and school- Department in improving the quality for learners, teachers, UCT staff and organisational development, which is of education in the province and students to reflect on milestones undertaken by the SDU. Our modus to strengthen the UCT Schools achieved as well as critical insights operandi here is a combination Development Unit’s (SDU) obtained since inception. Speaking of university-approved and South interventions to address the crisis at the event, director of the SDU African Council of Educators- of education in the country. To date, and SII, Professor Jonathan Clark registered short courses, backed up 20 Khayelitsha schools now form said, “The negative impacts of the by classroom-based support.” part of the SII schools network. The socioeconomic circumstances of the The 100UP programme is one Centre of Science and Technology communities these schools serve, of the SII’s flagship initiatives. (COSAT), a senior secondary school press heavily on every classroom. Selected high school learners from in Khayelitsha,is one such partner One of the programme’s strengths disadvantaged backgrounds are institution. Established in 1999, it is that it works to support each mentored and supported over a is also the first of three Science, partner school’s self-identifiedthree-year period by members of Technology, Engineering and development needs related to UCT staff and students. Established as a pilot project in 2011 with five Grade 10 learners identified from each of the 20 high schools in the area, 100UP now boasts an enrolment of 300 learners per annum, across grades 10 to 12. An additional group of ‘university potential’ Grade 12 learners, identified as the GILL NET group, is brought on board after June each year from the 20 Khayelitsha schools. In 2014, 70 of the first cohort of 100UP and GILL NET learners entered UCT as 100UP+ students. The Schools Improvement Initiative is one of several priority fundraising projects at the University of Cape Town. A longer-term objective is to use 100UP to build institutional knowledge and experience that can better inform the University’s Students from COSAT impressed the audience at the Schools Improvement Initiative bridging programmes and school- anniversary event held in August 2017. based interventions.

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Solution Space Philippi is a vibrant hub for innovators and entrepreneurs, say team members (pictured from L-R): Tsepo Ngwenyama, Sivuyise Nomana, Ndileka Zantsi, Sarah-Anne Alman and Simnikiwe Xanga. GSB PHILIPPI CAMPUS: A MODEL FOR UNIVERSITY SPACES The University of Cape Town’s Graduate School of Business has launched a novel satellite campus, on the site of a disused cement factory in the Cape Flats. The new Solution Space Philippi is the first community campus to be established by UCT in the institution’s history. The initiative forms part of a long-term strategy to support local entrepreneurship and to facilitate stakeholder and student interaction beyond the traditional spaces of the University. UCT is one of the anchor tenants at Innovation and Entrepreneurship), is develop empathy and resilience and to Philippi Village, a 6 000m2 mixed- one of two founding partners in the open their eyes to wider perspectives use entrepreneurial zone, located Philippi Village initiative; the other – all of which are vital attributes for at the intersection of the Nyanga, being Cape Town-based NGO, The the modern leader, especially one Gugulethu, Mitchell’s Plain and Business Activator. Although the operating in an emerging market,” Khayelitsha communities. The new Philippi campus has been operating said Soko. He believes that the Philippi development zone in Philippi was first for almost year, the official launch or site fulfills other important goals conceptualised in 2012 and according ‘ukuvulindlu’ (house-warming) event, such as deepening roots in the local to Manager Sarah-Anne Alman, the was held on 24 July 2017. community, cementing the GSB’s Graduate School of Business (GSB) Solution Space Philippi offers UCT relevance as an African business school was involved right from the start. She students, alumni, clients and local while developing socially relevant explains that the vision was to create entrepreneurs in the community, solutions to African challenges. broader economic opportunity for a place to meet and to exchange On-site facilities at UCT GSB’s residents and to reverse the exodus ideas. GSB students based at the Solution Space Philippi include fully- of resources from the township to Breakwater campus are encouraged equipped meeting rooms, state-of- the CBD. Fast forward five years and to take at least one course on the the art work spaces, a lounge area as a once derelict site has now become Philippi satellite site. For the director well as lecture venues. To date, more a vibrant, creative hub for innovation, of the GSB, Professor Mills Soko, this is than 100 workshops and educational technology and entrepreneurship one of the key advantages of the new programmes have been held in the involving community members, private satellite site. “This ‘transfer’ is essential space. Visitors have included the stakeholders, donors, corporate if students are to become comfortable World Bank, Columbia University, entities and university students. with uncertainty and paradox in a the University of Warwick, George The Bertha Foundation (sponsor of complex and fast-changing world,” he Washington University and Esade the GSB’s Bertha Centre for Social said. “Being here helps our students to Business School.

11 ADVANCING THE DISTINCTIVENESS OF SCHOLARSHIP IN AFRICA

STORY BY MILLS SOKO LIGHTING THE FIRES TO FUEL AFRICA’S DEVELOPMENT To meet the scale of the continent’s challenges, African entrepreneurs and innovators need to re-orientate their enterprises towards good business principles – and business schools must make sure they are on hand to support them

Things are looking tougher for having a clear and articulate vision Africa this year. After a decade of of what they are trying to achieve exuberant growth, recent GDP data and a strong business model for shows that key economies in sub- how they plan to do this, along with Saharan Africa (SSA) continue to clear measures in place to track and slow, dragging growth in the region demonstrate impact. down to a disappointing average In short, they need to embody 1.1% per annum, its lowest for six good business principles first years. Add to that global threats, and innovative potential second. including uncertainty surrounding a Innovation is frequently touted Trump administration in the US, and as the cure-all for creating new you could start to get quite gloomy markets, jobs and solutions to age- about prospects on the continent. old development problems, but Such pessimism, however, would despite its seductive lure as a quick be misplaced. As businessman fix for Africa’s challenges, innovation and philanthropist Tony Elumelu – in and of itself is never going to be champion of the concept of Africans a substitute for sound business. investing in Africa – has pointed It is not – as Christian Seelos and out, the commercial rewards for Johanna Mair put it in their article in investing on the continent are still the SSI – a shortcut to development. significant. And done right they Innovation, they argue, does not can bring significant economic and magically solve big problems faster. much needed social benefits. More dangerously, the belief that it There is already significantdoes can mean that value created investment interest in the continent by incremental improvements both at home and abroad, of the core, routine activities of particularly in the impact investment organisations (which are altogether a coordinated effort from business, space, which looks for businesses less glamorous) can be side lined – government, civil society, media that deliver social value along with creating more harm than good. and academia working together financial returns. A recent analysis of KPMG to support and build business on According to Rachel Keeler, writing International Development Advisory the continent. Business schools, of in the Stanford Social Innovation Services’ (IDAS) investment portfolio course, have a special role to play Review (SSI) recently, Africa has across Africa confirmed, perhaps here, and collaborations like the been the top geographic focus for unsurprisingly, that successful African Academic Association on impact investment in the past few businesses also have the most Entrepreneurship (AAAE) too will years. The only problem is that the impact. If we want to create impact play a crucial role. number of interested investors far in Africa, we need to attend therefore An institution like the GSB, which outstrips the number of investable to the task of creating successful is a founding member of the AAAE enterprises. business – that includes paying and rated as the top business school To better position African business more attention to the businesses on the continent, has a duty to to take advantage of this interest, that fail and understanding why facilitate and promote the growth entrepreneurs need to learn to this is, in addition to celebrating the of business on the continent. We think like investors. This starts with ones that succeed. This will require can do this not only by making sure

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Mills Soko is director of UCT Graduate School of Business business leaders and entrepreneurs are equipped with the right skills and attitudes to build successful Professor Mills Soko is director of the University and profitable businesses that also move society of Cape Town’s Graduate School of Business. He forward, but also by convening spaces to enable the is a UCT alumnus who holds a Bachelor of Social necessary conversations and connecting the right Science degree (1992); a Masters in International people. Studies from the University of Stellenbosch as If we don’t do this, we risk the tragedy of exciting well as a Master’s degree in International Political new ideas – no matter how good they are – burning Economy from the University of Warwick. In brightly and briefly before crashing to the ground 2004, he completed a doctoral thesis on the never to be seen again because they do not have the political economy of trade policy reform in post- right business infrastructure in place to support them. apartheid South Africa at the same university. His When it comes to the development challenges areas of academic interest and expertise include: facing this continent, we don’t just need bright flares International trade; Foreign direct investment; and dazzling innovations – we need slow burning Doing business in Africa; Government-business and sustainable fires that bring about systemic relations in South Africa; Economic diplomacy; changes – and the GSB is positioning itself to Regional economic integration, with a specific ignite these. focus on Southern Africa.

13 ADVANCING THE DISTINCTIVENESS OF SCHOLARSHIP IN AFRICA

STORY BY JESS OOSTHUIZEN. PHOTO BY MICHAEL HAMMOND UCT’S D-SCHOOL UNLOCKS CREATIVITY TO DRIVE INNOVATION The Hasso Plattner Institute of Design Thinking (d-school) at UCT is one of only three in the world. Richard Perez, the founding director of the UCT d-school, was the guest speaker at the most recent Café Scientifique. He described how the d-school aims to equip multidisciplinary research teams at UCT with essential design thinking skills for developing innovative solutions to tackle real-world problems

“Volatile, uncertain, complex and centred on the principles of design unlock our creativity,” says Perez. ambiguous are the new normal,” thinking. The first school opened in “It’s about making space for and says Perez. Stanford in the USA in 2005 and a allowing failure to enable people So, supporting innovation second school followed in 2008 in to become more creative.”Those in professional and academic Potsdam, Germany. familiar with the Lean Startup environments requires a workforce Plattner had wanted to open up methodology will know that design that can respond and adapt to a d-school at UCT ever since his teams have a particular idea at challenges as they arise. Design daughter studied here; the UCT the outset and work on refining it thinking involves developing d-school opened doors in 2016 and until it is perfect. By comparison, a particular mindset to tackle is the first of its kind in Africa. design thinking involves starting the problems and develop solutions process without having any idea of within a changing environment. Holding the problem space what your solution will look like. “Finding sustainable solutions is “You can’t go into solution mode about letting go of having the answer until you’ve held the problem space” Design thinking ecosystem and dealing with the uncertainty,” says Perez. “It’s about holding the In conceptual terms, the design says Perez. “We teach our students problem space for as long as you thinking space – or ecosystem, as to be more comfortable with being can.” Einstein reportedly said that Perez describes it – is made up creative, explorative and to step into if he only had one hour to solve of three key elements: diversity, a uncertainty”. a problem, he would spend 55 process to follow and the space to minutes defining the problem and do it in.“The innovation sits within Origins of design thinking the remaining five minutes solving the diversity,” says Perez.Team work The d-school’s approach is centred it. This approach is echoed in the is at the heart of d-school activities, on the principals of design thinking: principles of design thinking. and the focus is on working with a creative, human-centred approach Perez refers to the importance interdisciplinary teams to achieve to problem-solving that has its of taking an abductive approach, results by drawing on each roots in industrial design.The theory which involves relying on incomplete individual’s different perspective behind the d-school’s design observations to develop a solution and expertise.“Design thinking thinking approach emerged from to a particular problem. Part of this offers a paradigm shift in the way Stanford University’s product design process involves becoming familiar problems can be approached. It major in the early 2000s. Academics with failure. dismantles competition by fostering at Stanford began to explore the “You’ll probably fail the first time, collaboration,” says Professor Ulrich thinking processes that lead to a good but over time the solution emerges,” Weinberg, director of the d-school in design outcome. Instead of focusing says Perez. Potsdam. on the aesthetic appeal of good The UCT d-school aims to “Real human needs should inform design, they began to investigate the empower students and staff to feel the initial search for solutions to a approach that designers followed to confident to embrace failure. One of particular problem.” conceptualising good design.This the school’s founding principles is to Perez does not divulge what new school of thought prompted recognise that failure is instrumental process is followed in detail, but it’s the German businessman, Hasso to the learning process.“Embracing clear that design thinking occupies Plattner, to start a school that was failure is crucial to being able to both a mental and a physical space.

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Richard Perez, the founding director of the UCT d-school.

Most importantly, it retains a human- led a project team to recognise the space they’re working in.“As the centred approach throughout.Real that a large chunk of the patient project evolves, the space evolves,” human needs should inform the initial experience involves looking at the he says. search for solutions to a particular ceiling. The design-thinking process The UCT d-school itself is also problem. One way to identify human also equips teams with the ability to evolving. It is still in its infancy needs is to understand issues from take a variety of constraints – such as and Perez does not know how the perspective of the people access to technology – into account Plattner will measure its return on affected, in the context in which and suspend these while they work investment.“Part of the challenge is they experience them. Identifying together to identify the best-fit to use design thinking to solve this solutions to optimise patient care solution.“It’s about being agile and and to let the solution emerge,” he within a hospital environment, for iterative,” says Perez.Flexibility is says. example, could start with observing key in both mental and physical Interested UCT postgraduates a patient lying in a hospital bed to terms. The d-school is located in an in any discipline can sign up for understand their experience. Perez open-plan space that allows project a foundation programme taking reports that this very exercise teams to rethink how they occupy place in the first semester of 2018.

15 ADVANCING THE DISTINCTIVENESS OF SCHOLARSHIP IN AFRICA

COMPILED BY UCT NEWSROOM NONHLANHLA KHUMALO: REDEFINING BLACK HAIR, DEFENDING BLACK SKIN This is the story of how a child who regarded a comb as an instrument of apartheid repression became an expert on hair research and dermatology, making headlines across the world with her revelations about the poisonous side effects of Brazilian hair straighteners and skin-lightening products

“I would see my mom coming with that Afro comb, and I would just want to run away,” Associate Professor Nonhlanhla Khumalo remembers. “I think at that time I really believed that the comb was so painful, it must have been a tool of apartheid repression.” Eventually, she and her mom declared a truce: her mother would put aside the comb, and Khumalo would keep her hair short. Rewind to two years after the 1976 Soweto uprisings. Khumalo – then 12 years old – found herself on a train headed from the centre of Johannesburg to Inanda Seminary, an elite boarding school near Durban. The school was an anomaly in apartheid South Africa. It was an all-girls school where the learners were all black, and the staff was multiracial and multinational; the school was known for its academic rigour, and as the preferred school for the daughters of the middle class. Even more importantly for Khumalo, it also had a black woman as a principal: “Mrs Khoza, the principal, would always say to us, ‘Girls, chests out, walk straight, be proud,’” recalls Khumalo. “You only had to look at her – a black woman who was the one in charge, and who did it all in sky-high heels – to know that anything was possible.” Khumalo excelled academically at high school, but it wasn’t until she visited the University of Natal Associate Professor Nonhlanhla Khumalo. in her matric year that she had an

16 UCT Alumni News 2017 inkling of her future career. “I walked “I chose dermatology because it is a complete lack of original data on into a lab, and saw an electron so visual,” she explains. “The skin the subject – and, for that matter, microscope for the first time,” she gives you clues for the diagnosis; little understanding of African hair said. “It was love at first sight.” you just need to learn the art of in general. It was this that led her She enrolled in a medical degree piecing the puzzle together.” Two to working with Professor David course at the university; her first years later, when her husband won Ferguson to create the first electron year coincided with the declaration a fellowship to complete his PhD at microscopy ‘root-to-tip’ scan of of a national state of emergency. Oxford University, Khumalo went black African hair. She published Khumalo remembers it as a dark too. Thanks in part to Professor this study in 2000 in the Journal of time: “The night before the Moroko Saimon Gordon (a fellow South American Academy of Dermatology, Three were to be assassinated, African, and Oxford professor), and under the title “What is normal black all of us Alana Taylor Residence in part to the fact that she offered to African hair: a light and scanning students held an all-night vigil. The work for free, Khumalo started work electron microscopy study”. next morning, we did not go home in the Oxford University Department Not content to return to being as we were supposed to: instead, of Dermatology soon after. She a practising dermatologist when we started marching. The police hadn’t been there long when Fenella her family moved back to South waited until we reached an industrial Wojnarowska, a professor, and – as Africa, Khumalo then embarked part of town, and that’s when they Khumalo describes her – “a genius on a public health doctorate under announced that we should disperse within three minutes. At the time I I chose dermatology because it is so was with a new friend who was from the Transkei. He said, ‘Don’t worry, visual. The skin gives you clues for the we have plenty of time,’ but I was diagnosis; you just need to learn the from Soweto and knew better. The art of piecing the puzzle together.” next moment the police let the dogs loose on us – well, let me tell you, my new friend changed his mind pretty quickly, and we all ran for our lives!” at understanding auto-immune the supervision of Dr Susan Jessop That new friend, Bongani Mayosi, disorders” – called Khumalo into and Prof Rodney Ehrlich, in which would later become her husband, her office, and told her she thought she focused on a wide-ranging the father of their two daughters, she could handle doing a laboratory population study. In 2013, she was and dean designate of the Faculty of project on immunofluorescence for appointed head of the division of Health Sciences at UCT. bullous pemphigoid, a skin-blistering dermatology at Groote Schuur After graduating, the newlyweds disease. “I had never done research and UCT. completed their internships in Port – I had always been a clinician; but Her continuing research further Elizabeth and then moved to Cape I was determined to prove her right, entrenched her concern over the Town, a city they had fallen in love so I worked harder than ever before, long-term effects of commonly-used with on their honeymoon. Khumalo and in due time I published that hair and skin products, especially began practising as a general paper,” Khumalo remembers. “Later, those – such as chemical relaxers practitioner, first in Khayelitsha and I found out I was not special; it was – used on black hair. “Do you know later in Langa. “I remember it as a something she did with every new how chemical hair relaxers were happy, busy time,” she said, “but arrival. But by that time, it was too invented?” Khumalo asks. “They were there was still so much violence. late – I was hooked.” discovered accidentally by a tailor Too often, people would come to When Khumalo embarked on an called Garret Morgan, in 1909, when my practice with severe trauma; and evidence-based medicine course at he was trying to find a substance because there was no after-hours Oxford she returned to the subject, that would prevent needles from casualty close by, I felt it was my publishing a seminal paper on snagging fabric. Apparently he obligation to always be on duty.” the treatment of the disease and wiped the chemical off his hands on Khumalo became a common sight later becoming a member of the a piece of fleece, and noted that the on the streets of Langa, doing house committee that compiled treatment texture changed. Later, he showed calls with her doctor’s bag in hand. guidelines for the British Association its straightening effect on hair, and “It was during these years that I also of Dermatologists. It was also in registered the first patent. The main had my two babies, but I never took Oxford that Khumalo first started ingredient then, as now, was sodium maternity leave; I just took them with researching hair. For a long time hydroxide – the same substance me to the practice,” she said. she had wondered at the high used to clean blocked drains.” After five years, Khumaloprevalence of alopecia, or hair loss, Khumalo began to work towards started her training to become a she saw in black women patients in opening a laboratory in which skin dermatologist at Groote Schuur particular. When she investigated and hair products could be tested hospital. Why this specialisation? further, she realised there was almost specifically for toxic and illegal

17 ADVANCING THE DISTINCTIVENESS OF SCHOLARSHIP IN AFRICA

Khumalo with Dr Jennifer van Wyk, manager of the UCT Hair and Skin Research Laboratory, which opened last year. ingredients. In 2015 the UCT Hair what hair is,” said Khumalo. inflammation (hair loss), and how and Skin Research Laboratory (HSR) “When it comes to its biochemical to prevent and treat it. It would opened its doors, using funding makeup, new discoveries suggest also be great to create an ongoing from the National Skills Fund. “The it’s probable that curly hair has database of products containing reason that this lab is so unique and a greater lipid content. This may common illegal ingredients, so that so exciting,” said Khumalo, “is the have huge implications when hair regulations can be better enforced fact that it is truly a multidisciplinary is used for medical testing, such as when it comes to the cosmetic collaboration.” The lab has three when hair is used to monitor HIV industry.” sections: a mechanical testing area patients’ compliance in taking their “Through our department we now in which the physical properties of antiretroviral medicine. Thus, testing also offer a very exciting qualification hair, such as its tensile strength, can for lipid-soluble drugs may require in trichology, which has applications be tested; an analytical area, which adjustment for hair curvature. This in different industries where hair is tests the chemical properties of hair; leads us to another important increasingly being used for testing, and a genetic section, which is still research focus – a move away from giving wide career options for being set up. using ‘race’ to more scientific ways students. It is my hope that this will Last year, Khumalo was also one of (e.g. geometry) of describing hair- reduce the divide between clinicians five female South African Research curl variation.” and basic scientists in skin/hair (SARChI) Chairs appointed by the Now that the lab has been research in this country. A lot of National Research Foundation. The established and the chair appointed, cosmetic formulators have never intention behind the chair is to better what are Khumalo’s hopes for the seen what skin allergy looks like. understand human hair and facilitate future? “There are so many things Training at the HSR Lab will expose the use of hair in medical testing, as we’d like to do,” she said. “Develop scientists to skin disease, and help well as to understand the effects that a solid research programme that them focus on product safety and common cosmetic products have will lead to the valid use of hair as the wellbeing of consumers. If my on users’ health in the long term. a testing substrate in medicine. work can help this kind of cross- “Not many people really understand Improve our understanding of skin pollination, then I will be content.”

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2016-17 IN NUMBERS UNIVERSITY OF CAPE TOWN (UCT) WORLD UNIVERSITY RANKINGS 1st in Africa BRICS RANKINGS 191st 171st 112th IN THE WORLD IN THE WORLD IN THE WORLD THE 2017 BRICS and emerging economies 4th QS 2018 THE 2018 US NEWS 2017 BEST QS 2016 GLOBAL UNIVERSITIES 14th BRICS SUBJECT RANKINGS TOP 100 TOP 10 TOP 50 TOP 100 TOP 5 TOP 100 Clinical, pre- Development Geography Immunology Omithology Anatomy and clinical and studies IN THE Microbiology IN THE physiology WORLD health IN THE 47th WORLD Social science 3rd Anthropology 10th WORLD IN Archaeology AFRICA QS 2017 and public 1st QS 2017 Area studies health IN THE Architecture and IN THE 4thWORLD 61st WORLD IN THE built environment 40th WORLD US NEWS 2017 Education IN THE BEST GLOBAL CWUR 2017 THE 2016-17 8th WORLD Public health English language Mining UNIVERSITIES GRAS 2017 and literature and mineral Law engineering Sports-related GRAS 2017 subjects Theology, divinity and religious studies

QS 2017

KEY TERMS THE Times Higher Education QS Quacquarelli Symonds CWUR Center for World University Rankings GRAS Shanghai Rankings BRICS Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa

Access the latest UCT Research Report online (https://www.uct.ac.za/main/research/publications/research-reports-gazettes)

19 ADVANCING THE DISTINCTIVENESS OF SCHOLARSHIP IN AFRICA

STORY BY PROFESSOR MAMOKGETHI PHAKENG POSTGRADS URGENTLY NEED FUNDING UCT Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Research and Internationalisation, Professor Mamokgethi Phakeng recently said: “The University of Cape Town is an inclusive and engaged research-intensive African university that inspires creativity through outstanding achievements in learning, discovery and citizenship; enhancing the lives of its students and staff, advancing a more equitable and sustainable social order and influencing the global higher education landscape.” She is unequivocal in her commitment to transformation and academic excellence and in this *opinion piece, writes about the importance of prioritising funding for postgraduate students in higher education

Statistician general Pali Lehohla has In June this year, Aliki Saragas, brewing in postgraduate education in said that tertiary education is the key a master of documentary arts South Africa for the same reason that to employing South Africa’s young graduate of the Centre for Film tertiary education is in turmoil now. people. However, the key to growing and Media Studies, showcased her The underlying issue is how much our economy is not just to put feature-length documentary, Strike a financial support the government will people into jobs, but to develop new Rock, at the Encounters International allocate to this important educational business and professional sectors in Documentary Film Festival in and economic resource. which South Africans can apply their Cape Town and at the Sheffield Many postgraduate students face ingenuity to solving problems that International Documentary Film the same financial problems as can have a global effect. Festival in the United Kingdom. The undergraduates. Financial assistance Most of the world has entered the production, which focuses on women from the National Student Financial knowledge economy, which connects in Marikana, was first conceived as Aid Scheme (NSFAS) is available people globally. This is where South her graduation film. only to students earning their initial Africa needs to compete. It is also Maryam Fish, a PhD student at UCT, degree. So students who relied on where postgraduate students can was a member of the international NSFAS to earn their first degree must begin to make their mark: conducting research team that identified the compete for a limited number of research to address specificgene that causes arrhythmogenic grants and scholarships to continue questions and problems in health, right ventricle cardiomyopathy, a their education, no matter how well science, engineering and technology, potentially fatal genetic disorder they performed in earning their initial computer science, law, business, that predisposes young people to degree. Many of these scholarships media, education and social welfare cardiac arrest. The ground-breaking do not sufficiently cover university — to name a few sectors. Although discovery was announced in March in fees, materials, accommodation and universities impart knowledge and Circulation: Cardiovascular Genetics. living expenses. skills to undergraduates, postgraduate Earning a postgraduate degree is This is short-sighted, considering, students contribute in a very practical also the first step towards developing first, the need to grow our local sense to the growth of our knowledge, a successful academic career — an academic capacity to transform the economy and culture. important area of transformation university sector and ensure growth, For instance, honours students in in South Africa, in which black and especially in terms of women and black the University of Cape Town’s (UCT) women academics remain the minority. professors; and second, the need to computer science department Despite this potential for shaping bring a fresh outlook to the country’s helped to develop a micro plate the future, postgraduate education development hurdles by training up reader app (available from Google) remains under-resourced in South postgraduate students who have been that allows technologists to measure Africa — accessible only to students raised in disadvantaged communities samples in the field using their from middle-class backgrounds who and deeply understand the kinds phones. This app has a range of have the financial resources to support of problems we need to overcome medical and scientific uses. graduate studies. There is a crisis as a nation.

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considering how to cover the funding gap in situations where the future payment of a bursary or scholarship is confirmed. Other institutions, such as the University of KwaZulu-Natal, allow for a rebate on the repayment of a student loan when the degree is awarded before the normal required time. The NRF is not the only source of funding for postgraduate students. Research in health, science and technology in particular receives funding from a number of outside sources, including the private sector. In such cases, the principal investigator for a project can budget for postgraduate students to join the project. In April this year the Black Postgraduate Student Caucus at UCT asked to meet me on this issue and other grievances. I established a task team to examine their concerns and to make recommendations, including what UCT could do to improve support to postgraduate students. Individual universities have limited resources for this purpose. In 2016, for instance, UCT contributed R23 693 941 to postgraduate students UCT Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Research and Internationalisation, Professor at the university. The lion’s share of Mamokgethi Phakeng. funding comes from the additional The focus on financing only 2015-2016, according to its annual efforts of departments and individual undergraduates limits the creative report for that period. In 2015, academics in various faculties. Not diversity we need to apply to these universities had 128 747 full-degree every university has the resources to problems. postgraduate students, according provide such support. Even UCT, one Postgraduate students point out to the Centre for Higher Education of the better-resourced universities, that the higher education system Trust. So the total NRF contribution is not able to meet the vast need. puts critical obstacles in their way. would have averaged out to R6 330 Difficult choices need to be made. These obstacles can be removed if a student, for a programme of study It would make sense to support the government applies the political that may cost 10 times that amount, fewer postgraduate students fully will to do so. For instance, students not including other costs such as with the available funding rather who pursue a bachelor’s degree that housing. (By contrast, in the same than to spread small allocations requires a fourth year of study, such period NSFAS disbursed R9.3-billion to more students who will still as business science or engineering, to 418 949 university, technical and struggle to meet all their expenses. qualify for NSFAS assistance, vocational students. This averages For the good of the country and yet South African students in an out to R22 198 a student.) In addition, its influence in Africa and the honours programme do not. An postgraduate students are often world, the government needs to honours degree should be treated not eligible for services that are give postgraduate funding its with the same financial support provided for free to undergraduates, immediate attention. as that provided for a fourth-year such as healthcare. I know of one This challenge we face is a undergraduate programme. promising postgraduate student magnificent opportunity to unlock The state’s main funding body who is devoting critical study time and support the brilliance of young for postgraduate students, the to washing cars to raise funds. post-graduate talent in South Africa, National Research Foundation Support from the NRF is often but left unattended spells a sad loss (NRF), provided only R815-million paid late in the academic year, of human potential and the deep in financial support to honours, putting the student recipients contribution these scholars could master’s and doctoral students in in financial jeopardy. UCT is have made in South Africa.

*This article originally appeared as an Opinion Piece in the Mail Guardian on 15 September 2017.

21 UCT HONORARY DOCTORATES AWARDED IN 2016 AND 2017

HONORARY DOCTORATES 2016 AND 2017 June 2016:

Janette Deacon, the well-published and highly acclaimed archaeologist, graduated from UCT with a BA (1960), MA (1969) and PhD (1982). Throughout her career as an academic and later as archaeologist at Emeritus Professor El Anatsui was the National Monuments awarded an honorary doctorate in Council she displayed Fine Arts. His Oration was delivered Emeritus Professor Francis Wilson by Professor Sandra Klopper. exceptional scholarship and advocacy and it was awarded an honorary doctorate in Literature. His oration was El Anatsui has is in the intersection of these two that she delivered by Emeritus Professor been described Marion Jacobs. as “the most has made a significant significant living African contribution. Deacon’s For over 40 artist”. In 1968 Anatsui work contributed years Wilson obtained his first degree significantly to the Bleek has made a from the University of and Lloyd archive at UCT, unique contribution Science and Technology, achieving the recognition to documenting and Kumasi, Ghana. By 1975, he by the United Nations as analysing key social had become professor of a site of the Memory of issues affecting South sculpture at the University the World.” African society. Even more of Nigeria, Nsukka, unique though is how where he taught for the he has used his research Dr. Janette Deacon was next 35 years. Emerging awarded an honorary doctorate and that of others to as an artist during the in Literature. Her oration was promote social change vibrant West African delivered by Professor for good in South Africa. post-independence Joan Hambidge. He has been an academic art movements of the pioneer, embodying the 1960s and 1970s, he vision of UCT, to produce has gone on to receive rigorous, relevant, critical international acclaim for research promoting his constantly evolving engaged scholarship and and highly experimental social justice. Through sculpture. He is one of a his academic teaching, handful of highly revered, scholarship, mentorship internationally acclaimed and national convening contemporary artists power, Wilson has brought whose inventive works are great credit and honour to widely acknowledged.” this institution.”

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December 2016: Wicomb, an academic and Emeritus Professor novelist, is also among the Peter Folb was most significant and widely- awarded an read literary interpreters of South honorary doctorate Africa. There are over a hundred in Science. His critical studies that engage with each oration was read by Professor of her first two works, You Can’t Danie Visser. Get Lost in Cape Town (1987) and David’s Story (2000), a comparable Peter Folb established the discipline scholarly impact to the work of of Clinical Pharmacology in South Nobel Laureate Nadine Gordimer. Africa and is recognised as a leading JM Coetzee describes David’s Story authority internationally on the scientific basis as “a tremendous achievement and of drug development. He is considered a a huge step in the remaking of the world leader in drug regulation and served as South Africa novel”. Wicomb writes Chair of the South African Medicines Control from the political subject position Council for 18 years, bringing it to a position of black womanhood. Yet, while her where it was the World Health Organisation fictional and critical oeuvre pricks reference and training centre for drug holes in the pretensions of patriarchy regulation in the developing world. and intervenes in structures of In 1977, the death of Steve Biko while in racialisation, it simultaneously refuses police detention generated considerable to retreat into identity politics, professional and public ethical discussion, resisting in turn the complacencies or as there were clear ethical breaches on the violence such politics can spawn.” part of the doctors who were responsible for him. Peter Folb, along with three other professors, pursued disciplinary action against Dr. Zoë Wicomb the doctors. This case played an important was awarded role in sensitising the medical profession to an honorary medical ethical issues in South Africa. He went doctorate in on to lead the investigation of the Apartheid Literature. Her oration government’s chemical and biological warfare was read by programme for the South African Truth and Professor Joan Reconciliation Commission.” Hambidge.

May 2017: Zackie Achmat has devoted his life to fighting social injustice and discrimination. In 1977, at the age of 15, he was detained by the security police for 14 days, and was a member of the ANC underground and UDF structures. Yet his activism did not end with the transition to democracy in 1994. Taking on a position at the AIDS Law Project, and working under the tutelage of Edwin Cameron, one of South Africa’s most eminent legal minds, Achmat turned his indefatigable energies first towards issues of gay and lesbian rights, and then to the issue of antiretroviral provision. Through his work at the AIDS Law Project and his role as co-founder (and, later, director) of the National Coalition for Gay and Abdurrazak ‘Zackie’ Achmat was awarded an honorary doctorate Lesbian Equality (NCGLE), Achmat was involved in a (LLD honoris causa). His oration number of cases from the mid-1990s onwards that first was delivered by Professor Joan established, and then enforced, the constitutional rights Hambidge. of gay and lesbian people in South Africa.” Read the full citations online

23 UCT AS A RESEARCH-INTENSIVE UNIVERSITY

STORY BY HELEN SWINGLER CRACKING THE WORLD MARATHON BARRIER

ESSM’s Prof Andrew Bosch, co-leader of the Sub2hr Marathon Project to crack the two-hour barrier. Photo Saadiq Behardien.

A UCT sports scientist is a member top athletes, said Bosch. Pitsiladis already emerged as a result. One of the international Sub2hr wanted to show that by applying example is Maurten, a Swedish marathon project to crack the rigorous sports science and start-up which is tackling glycogen elusive two-hour barrier – without medicine, top runners could break depletion in endurance athletes with drugs. The project, which is the records without drugs. a new drink. The drink converts to brainchild of Professor Yannis “What we have here is an a hydrogel, based on the acidity Pitsiladis (University of Brighton), opportunity to put a concerted (pH) of the stomach. “The hydrogel harnesses the best of sports science effort into using sports science enables a more concentrated and an elite team of athletes. and sports medicine to break the carbohydrate drink to be consumed The Sub2hr Marathon Project in marathon record, making sure that while running,” said Bosch. “Bekele Africa was launched on 22 August all the athletes are tested regularly, is one of the first ... to use the drink and will be hosted by UCT’s Division and ensuring that it’s a ‘clean’ in training and the results are very of Exercise Science and Sports record’,” said Bosch. encouraging.” Medicine (ESSM) at the Sports To showcase this, the Sub2hr Science Institute of South Africa team of approximately five elite, Ready, set, go (SSISA). ESSM’s Professor Andrew drug-free athletes, which includes The project is divided into three Bosch is Pitsiladis’s co-leader on multiple world-record-holder Ethiopian phases. The first phase is recruiting the project. Kenenisa Bekele, will be attacking the athletes and securing the The original Sub2hr project was the current world marathon record finances that will underpin phase launched in 2015, partly for the and, ultimately, the two-hour barrier two. This is to break the current challenge of achieving what many at various marathon events. They’ve world record and the two-hour believe to be impossible, partly as also enlisted support from high-end barrier by applying physiology, a test bed of sports medicine and nutrition, shoe and tech companies. sports medicine, sports nutrition, sports science, and also to address Several new products in sports biomechanics, training science and the problem of doping among nutrition and telemedicine have sports psychology in a focused way

24 UCT Alumni News 2017 to a cohort of the top runners. The who is co-supervised by Pitsiladis, is by rival John Landy. It was more final phase is about legacy: centres working with some of the athletes in than the tape that Bannister broke; of excellence will be established to Ethiopia. The International Olympic he’d shattered a perception. After assist and groom promising young Committee and the IAAF have already that the field was open. Noakes athletes. The first of these centres will expressed interest in the project’s believes that the same will happen be hosted in Ethiopia. The campaign drug research component. Co-leader with the sub-two-hour marathon. has excited the public imagination. of the Sub2 marathon project UCT’s Mental strength is a huge part Many recall the inspirational story of Prof Andrew Bosch talks about the of the strategy, said Bosch. “But Roger Bannister cracking the four- new nutritional product developed it’s also the little things that need minute mile at the Iffley Road track for the quest to break the two-hour to be taken care of.” Clothing for at Oxford on a gloomy day in 1954. marathon barrier. example; wind tunnel tests show Pundits believed it couldn’t be done. that loose, flapping gear can cost It was a breakthrough. 30 seconds. They’ve also worked “Running sub-two hours is to the on a different race strategy: Their marathon what sub-four minutes five runners will rotate the lead, to was to the mile 63 years ago,” said benefit from the effect of drafting, Bosch. It’s expected that an East as happens in cycling. This is also African – a Kenyan or an Ethiopian worth 30 to 45 seconds, said runner – will crack the marathon Bosch. “They’re all in it together,” record. They’ve already had some said Bosch. “No matter who breaks success with Bekele. After just a the record, the spoils will be spread few months on the programme, he among the group, cancelling the produced his best marathon time, individual runner’s fear of ‘blowing’ missing the world record by six the race and losing prize money. seconds. “It showed that we’ve got The aim is to collaborate rather the right ideas,” said Bosch. than just compete.” Timelines are However, the Sub2 team is not difficult to set. For now, their goal the only one in the race.The Nike remains Kenyan Dennis Kimetto’s Breaking2 campaign (a later rival) record 02:02:57 marathon. The saw Olympic marathon champion Sub2 team’s next attempt will Eliud Kipchoge almost clip the two- be the Berlin Marathon on 28 September, a fast, smooth run Running sub-two hours is to the in cool temperatures in front of a large and enthusiastic crowd, marathon what sub-four minutes was which is one of the motivating to the mile 63 years ago.” factors that science can’t replicate. A keen distance runner himself (he’s run 10 Comrades, with a top 20 placing, and posted a marathon hour mark earlier this year. Running It’s in the mind time of 02:22 in the 1980s, winning at the Monza F1 track at Milan Physiology and sports science aside, the interprovincial champs), Bosch exactly 63 years after Bannister’s the group has not discounted the key wants to see their research model feat, Kipchoge was just 25 seconds ingredient of a winning strategy: the spread around. short. Although it was the fastest cognitive battle between emotion There’s no reason it can’t be time on record, it was unofficial – and winning. “Physiology is what is. replicated for shorter distances the race did not meet International The mind is what might be,” UCT’s and even other sporting disciplines. Association of Athletics Federations Emeritus Professor Tim Noakes It should also benefit amateur (IAAF) regulations. “It didn’t come said at the launch. Noakes believes runners he said – part of SSISA and off, but it did come close enough to that the Nike attempt earlier this ESSM’s campaign to use research shut up the naysayers who said it year failed because of the focus on programmes for the public good. wasn’t possible in our lifetime.” physiological factors. “You have to “This work doesn’t just apply to convince the brain that the sub-two- the super-duper athlete, but also to Clean pair of heels hour marathon is possible. Belief and the guy wanting to run a sub-three- However, it’s the anti-drug angle, or support of that belief are essential, hour marathon, or the club runner the ‘clean’ win that’s key to the Sub2 he adds. These are psychological wanting to run under four hours,” campaign. “We’re linking a drug factors that play into running at said Bosch. “Many of these runners research programme into this, which high speeds for extended periods. are as dedicated and passionate my PhD student Shaun Sutehall is Bannister’s sub-four-minute mile about breaking their own barriers working on,” said Bosch. Sutehall, record lasted just 46 days, broken as the sub-two-hour elite athletes.”

25 UCT AS A RESEARCH-INTENSIVE UNIVERSITY

STORY BY HELEN SWINGLER. PHOTO BY WIKIPEDIA

Athlete’s Foot fungus under microscope LAUNCH OF NEW MYCOLOGY UNIT A new international research centre for tackling deadly fungal infections has been established at the University of Cape Town. This is a joint initiative between the Aberdeen Fungal Group (University of Aberdeen) and the University of Cape Town’s Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine. The new £600 000 AFGrica Unit in Medical Mycology was launched in August, at the Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine (IDM), where it will be based. The University of Aberdeen’s Professor Gordon Brown will lead the initiative The AFGrica Unit is the world’s first with other infectious diseases. other medical mycology centres in international research centre set up in “Fungal infections kill more people the rest of the UK. Upon obtaining Africa for tackling fungal infections. in Africa than anywhere else on the their degree, these students then It is estimated that fungal infections planet. The AFGrica Unit is a unique return home with their new skills kill some 1.3 million people globally opportunity to address the urgent to help address critical fungal every year. In sub-Saharan Africa, need to improve basic knowledge research and training needs in their around 50% of people diagnosed and clinical management of fungal own countries. with invasive fungal infections die infections in Africa,” said Brown. Commenting on the initiative, from the infection. In 2008, there The development of the new Dean of the Faculty of Health were a million cases of cryptococcal medical mycology unit within UCT’s Sciences, Professor Bongani meningitis in patients with HIV/AIDS, Faculty of Health Sciences forms Mayosi said that the establishment resulting in more than 500 000 part of ongoing initiatives of the of the AFGrica Unit would related deaths. The new unit will prestigious MRC Centre for Medical “enhance the excellent clinical provide the Aberdeen Fungal Group Mycology, established at the and basic research that is taking (AFG) with a centre of operations University of Aberdeen in February placed on cryptococcal meningitis in Africa where they can work in 2016, to spearhead innovative and other fungal diseases at the collaboration with UCT experts to research. This latest collaboration University of Cape Town. This establish research programmes also builds on an existing Wellcome initiative will also contribute to that target priority areas in fungal Trust-funded Strategic Award (led the training of a new generation diseases in Africa. by the Aberdeen Fungal Group), of African scientific leaders, who According to Professor Brown, where PhD students from low and will produce high-quality research fungal infections are understudied middle-income nations (including to combat the scourge of fungal and under-diagnosed compared Africa) are trained in Aberdeen and infections in Africa.”

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STORY BY JESS OOSTHUIZEN KELLY CHIBALE NAMED ONE OF THE 2017 QUARTZ AFRICA INNOVATORS Professor Kelly Chibale is one of the me as an individual but also of my 33 innovators in Africa honoured past and present team members in 2017 by the digital news agency, at H3D, as well as my network of Quartz. Chibale heads up UCT’s collaborators, funders and finally but Drug Discovery and Development not least, UCT for the conducive and Centre (H3D) and has been at the supportive research environment. helm of ground-breaking research Through our work at H3D, we have to manufacture a single-dose drug demonstrated that research and to combat malaria. development is not a luxury. It According to the Quartz Africa provides solutions, creates jobs, editor, Yinka Adegoke, the reason builds infrastructure, attracts foreign for the annual publication of this list direct investment, contributes to is to showcase innovation in Africa. reversing the brain drain and can “The narrative in Africa has moved seed a new industry,” said Chibale. from seeking foreign-solutions-to- Around 429 000 people died from African-problems, to discussing malaria in 2015, mostly in Africa, African-solutions-to-African- according to the World Health problems,” he said. Organisation’s World Malaria Report. position in Drug Discovery. He has a This is the third year that the In their most recent discovery, Chibale PhD in Synthetic Organic Chemistry Quartz Africa team published its list and his team at H3D discovered a new from the University of Cambridge of innovators. This year the nominees anti-malarial clinical drug candidate, in the UK. This was followed by are picked from 18 countries. “The MMV390048, which holds the postdoctoral stints at the University influence of their work goes well potential to cure and protect in a single of Liverpool in the UK and at the beyond their immediate community dose. H3D conducted the research Scripps Research Institute in the and will ultimately impact millions of in collaboration with Medicines for USA. He was also a United States lives,” said the Quartz Africa team in Malaria Venture (MMV) and a team of Fulbright Senior Research Scholar at their announcement. international researchers. the University of Pennsylvania School “I am grateful for this recognition, Chibale holds the DST/NRF South of Medicine and a visiting professor which is not just a recognition of Africa Research Chair (SARChI) at Pfizer in the United Kingdom

STORY SUPPLIED TO UCT NEWSROOM UCT’S LATEST A-RATED RESEARCHER Professor Peter Ryan, director of the Percy FitzPatrick Institute of African Ornithology, is the latest UCT researcher to receive the coveted A rating from the National Research Foundation (NRF). A-rated researchers are recognised by their peers – through the NRF rating system – as leading international scholars in their field. Ryan’s research interests focus on the understanding and management of environmental issues that affect birds. This includes plastic pollution at sea, island restoration, the impact of fisheries on seabirds and the effects of infrastructure on land birds. To date, Ryan has written more than 300 peer-reviewed papers and 12 popular books on birds and the wildlife of sub-Antarctic islands. “It’s a great honour that reflects the hard work of the entire Fitz team, especially our students and postdocs, and is largely thanks to the generous support we receive as a Centre of Excellence from the Department of Science and Technology through the National Research Foundation,” said Ryan. His rating brings UCT’s total number of A-rated researchers to 40, the highest in South Africa.

27 UCT AS A RESEARCH-INTENSIVE UNIVERSITY

STORY BY DR KEVIN WINTER ADAPTING TO WATER SCARCITY Since February 2017, Capetonians have had to deal with tighter controls over a dwindling water supply. How low can they go before limited supplies are unhealthy?

The last five years of rainfall measured at the Cape Town Ohlsson and Turton (1999) provide some thought provoking International Airport has been 30% theory in a paper entitled “The Turning of a Screw”. They below the average compared to the explain how water resource management moves through four years from 1979 to 2000 (378 mm distinct phases: per annum as opposed to 527 mm). • a supply phase that is dominated by the provision of water The city is drier. infrastructure, such as dams and diversions Not only is there a decrease in • a water demand programme to control water consumption the rainfall averages, but at least • a phase in which allocation of water is regulated through stringent 25% of the total rainfall for the laws and punitive measures year fell during one month of the • a final phase that features an adaptation to water scarcity. Successful year followed by seven months of adaptation is achieved when consumers accept a diversity of water below average monthly rainfall, supplies that are fit for particular purposes, which includes water sometimes by as much as 50%. reuse and recycling. Rainfall patterns are uncertain and less predictable, which is consistent Struggling to make the in a strong partnership between local with climate model predictions. government, the private sector and Water storage levels in the six major change dams supplying water to Cape Town What makes it difficult to shift from the public. These are the prerequisites and the surrounding region have a supply mode (getting more water) to enter the final phase: the shift declined each year. and water demand management from efficiency to adaptation. A The City of Cape Town has dealt modes to the next phases? Why are key feature of the final phase is a with dwindling water supplies by we struggling to shift? reduction in population growth, implementing a Water Demand The water deficit lies at the heart urbanisation and water demand, and Management programme that of the struggle to ensure that most of all, it is demonstrated by the includes increasing block tariffs, consumption is aligned with available capacity of society to adapt to using water resources and those that are fixing leaks, reducing pressure water sustainably. and educating consumers. The planned for the future. Dealing with the deficit begins with an integrated programme has achieved impressive The importance of results. Despite a rising population, water management approach that adaptation urbanisation and increasing demand, recognises that all water is valuable, the growth in water demand has that there is no such thing as ‘waste’ Are we stuck? been restricted to just 2% per water and that a diversity of water There is no denying that the annum. In 2015 the City received sources are acceptable. This phase challenges are enormous. Factors international recognition from requires a huge increase in human such as population growth, members of the C40 Cities on its and financial capacity to regulate the urbanisation, increasing water allocation of water fairly, and to have leadership on climate change, and demand and climate change are rightly so. systems in place that are capable holding back the move toward However, supplying more water of penalising offenders, but more adaptation. Closely following these and containing the demand is clearly importantly to create new channels factors is a value system that is not enough. By 2019 Cape Town’s for the development of proven, water is likely to run dry unless reliable green technologies. characterised by lawlessness, supplies are augmented further, but The business of managing our water corruption, a lack of accountability most of all, unless consumers adapt resources is no longer the domain of and behaviour that seeks to opt out to a new norm. institutional authorities, but is shared of contributing to an ailing public

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system and inefficiencies. because the vision is constrained by beyond future plans for increasing However, in the long term, crisis management and short-term water supply to one that recognises adaptation is essential. It will require political mandates that are marred the need to develop the capacity of bold new leadership to steer the by five-year plans and programmes. society to adapt to water scarcity so city and its citizens into this era The struggle will not be achieved by as to ensure the well-being of the city of uncertainty. It will also require increasing water supply or managing and region. fresh investments and programmes the demand alone, but by reducing Dr Kevin Winter is a senior that are directed specifically to the water deficit and by adapting to lecturer at the Department of building the capacity of institutions water scarcity without doing harm Environmental & Geographical and society to embrace new green to human health, ecosystem services Science at the University of Cape technologies in water management. and the environment. Town. He specialises in urban water We are struggling to achieve the It is a long-term vision that is management. Read the full story, next phases of water management missing. It is a vision that goes available at: www.news.uct.ac.za

29 UCT AS A RESEARCH-INTENSIVE UNIVERSITY

STORY BY NATALIE SIMON A RAY OF HOPE FOR NEGLECTED AFRICAN DISEASE: SICKLE CELL DISEASE Sickle cell disease (SCD) is a gene mutation that affects over 300 000 newborn babies every year, nearly three-quarters of those in sub-Saharan Africa. Ninety per cent of babies with SCD in Africa are believed to die before the age of five years. To respond to this disease on the continent, a range of research groups under the leadership of UCT’s Professor Ambroise Wonkam have secured US$3.7 million to establish the Sickle Africa Data Coordinating Center (SADaCC), which will build capacity to help Africa tackle this disease

We rely on our red blood cells, specifically the haemoglobin in those cells, to carry oxygen from our lungs to all the tissues of our body. These red blood cells are disc shaped, so they can easily move through both the large and small blood vessels all over the body. But sickle cell disease is a genetic mutation that causes haemoglobin to develop into stiff little rods within the red blood cell. That misshaped haemoglobin forces the red blood cell into a crescent or sickle shape, which hampers its ability to move through blood vessels. These sickle cells cause blockages in the blood vessels, cutting off oxygen supply to critical parts of the body like the organs, brain and eyes. “Sickle cell disease impacts extremely negatively on the quality of life of a patient,” said Professor Professor Ambroise Wonkam, professor and senior specialist in the Division of Human Genetics at UCT, and the principal investigator for the Sickle Africa Data Ambroise Wonkam, professor and Coordinating Center (SADaCC). senior specialist in the Division of Human Genetics in the Faculty by major risk factors – such as “The first case of SCD was of Health Sciences, and principal pulmonary hypertension (high described more than 100 years investigator for SADaCC. “Symptoms blood pressure in the lungs), organ ago, but there is still only one of the disease include anaemia (due damage, stroke, blindness and medication (hydroxyurea) available to the short lifespan of the deformed kidney dysfunctions and failure – for treatment,” said Wonkam. red blood cells), episodes of severe that ultimately lead to a short life His research has been dedicated pain caused by the sickle-shaped expectancy, if untreated. to remedy this history of neglect. red blood cells blocking blood flow This work has recently paid off in the body, frequent infections, and A turning point for SCD? with the announcement of the US delayed growth and vision problems Despite the high incidence of SCD, National Institutes of Health (NIH) as the sickle cells block blood vessels there has been little investment and National Heart, Lung and Blood to the eyes.” in basic research into the disease, Institute (NHLBI) funding SADaCC. The disease is also accompanied specifically in Africa. “The centre will allow us to build

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that understanding helps us treat patients effectively. The centre will therefore have a direct impact on AWARDS FROM US how patients are treated in clinics,” he said. HEALTH AGENCY Critical to the future work of SADaCC is the focus on translating the research into policy and practice Professor Ambroise Wonkam changes. One of the main conditions received three awards from of the NIH/NHLBI grant was a formal the National Institutes of commitment from the ministries of Health (NIH) in 2017. The health in the collaborating countries. first, an NIH1 U24 award for his research entitled Sickle African research for African Africa Data Coordinating diseases Centre (SADaCC) which aims Wonkam said it is critical that the to establish a coordinating research for effective management centre to image the activities and treatment for SCD is developed of a sister Sickle Cell Disease in Africa, as it is Africans who are Consortium in Africa (Tanzania, worst affected. Nigeria and Ghana). The “The mutation that causes SCD second is an NIH1 U01 Award, for the project entitled: Cross-section: normal blood cells versus is the same as those that confer sickle blood cells a resistance to malaria,” explains Hearing Impairment Genetics Wonkam. “SCD is thus most Studies in Africa (HI-GENES a robust platform to support the prevalent in populations living in Africa) (Principal Investigator activities of a companion Pan African areas of the world where malaria Ambroise Wonkam) which Sickle Cell Disease Consortium has been endemic for a long time will aim to investigate the (SPARCo), which brings together – and so Africa and its populations genetic aetiology of hearing leading SCD researchers and clinicians are worst affected.” impairment in Africa, with from high-, middle- and low-income The mutation is also highly research focused in South countries to bring about real change prevalent in the Arabian peninsula Africa, Cameroon, Ghana and – not only for victims of SCD but and India, and among some people Mali. Exceptionally, this award affected communities and regions. of European descent who have will be co-funded by the “The work of SADaCC can be been exposed to malaria for a long Wellcome Trust, UK. His third described as that of a conductor time, such as those in the southern successful project application of a pan-African sickle research parts of Italy and Portugal. Sections is entitled: Individual Findings orchestra,” said Wonkam. “The of Africa – such as South Africa – in Genetic Research in Africa four main activities of the centre that have not been affected by (IFGeneRA), a Multiple PI include administrative planning and malaria for thousands of years do Collaborative Centre Award for coordination across various sites in not experience high levels of the which Wonkam is PI/Director, Africa, research design and training mutation. SCD does, however, affect together with Jantina De Vries of field investigators, monitoring and African Americans, whose genetics (Senior Researcher in Bioethics implementation of the research and still contain the mutation. in the Department of Medicine, data management, and analysis and “It is important to say that, UCT). They will aim to explore publication of research results.” while more than 70% of SCD incidental findings in genetic Key to the work of SADaCC is patients worldwide live in Africa, research in Africa, with research the coordination of longitudinal most advances in the molecular conducted in South Africa, cohort studies. “These are the most understanding and management of Cameroon and Botswana. scientifically rigorous methodsSCD have been based on research The National Institutes of in understanding the risk factors, conducted in either the US or the Health is the primary agency of health and disease outcomes, as well UK,” said Wonkam. the United States government as training and public policy for the “Clearly contemporary research responsible for biomedical disease,” said Wonkam. tools must now be widely and public health research, “The SADaCC will measure its implemented in Africa. Therefore, founded in the late 1870s. The success not only by research impact SADaCC has a capacity-building NIH offers funding for many in the way we understand both dimension, as the SCD studies will be types of grants, contracts and the scientific and clinical aspects performed from design, clinical and programmes for researchers. of the disease at the scientific molecular analysis and reporting, The Wellcome Trust is a UK and clinical level, but by the way right here on the African continent.” based charitable organisation.

31 UCT AS A RESEARCH-INTENSIVE UNIVERSITY

STORY BY HELEN SWINGLER. PHOTO BY MICHAEL HAMMOND

Prof Jill Farrant has studied how resurrection plants can survive in the face of extreme water loss, aiming to introduce these characteristics into smart crops that will feed Africa in the face of climate change and increasing and extended drought. NEW SMART CROPS TO UNDERPIN FOOD SECURITY IN AFRICA If you walk by plant molecular Under severe drought, crops can The farm was also where Rupert physiologist Professor Jill Farrant’s no longer resist water loss and under Farrant introduced his inquisitive laboratories, you’ll see row on row extreme pressure they die after just daughter to a miracle of nature. At of bright green plants which are a small water loss. the age of nine, Farrant identified close relatives of tef, or love grass. “There are no crops we yet know what are now called resurrection Tef is an orphan crop in South Africa of that can lose an extreme amount plants: Xerophyta retinervis and (we feed it to cattle), but its highly of water (desiccation) and not die. other Xerophyta species that can nutritious seeds – which are gluten Increasing and prolonged droughts desiccate without dying. free – serve as the main food source will threaten the very base of the Farrant never forgot the wonder in countries like Ethiopia. food chain.” of watching seemingly dead plants Its ‘resurrection’ relative is being If climate change continues turn green almost overnight, analysed by Farrant’s students to unchecked, it is predicted that by regaining full life in all existing identify the properties that make 2050 most of South Africa (and the tissues within 12 to 72 hours after this species more drought tolerant global south) will be desert. rain. The drought-tolerant genetics than tef, and to use this knowledge “We need to start identifying of resurrection plants came to to boost its resilience during strategies now to grow more smart underpin her life’s work. prolonged dry seasons. crops,” said the A-rated National She is now looking at a tef “Drought will affect our crops, Research Foundation researcher. plant with bigger seeds and a whether it’s wheat in the Western Smart crops, like tef, are the ‘dwarf’ profile: a plant that doesn’t Cape or, more importantly, our answer. But in South Africa, farmers grow too tall, so that the heads maize belt in the centre of the grow tef to feed animals. don’t lodge (fall to the ground) country or elsewhere in Africa “My father grew tef to feed our when heavy with seeds, which where it’s the biggest staple crop,” dairy and beef herds in Limpopo,” makes harvesting difficult and said Farrant. said Farrant. reduces yields.

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Plant survivors global climate change and growing tea, it offers potent antioxidant and In her research, Farrant has world population. antibacterial properties. shown that the genetic survival “Resurrection species such as “We must grow our bio-economy mechanisms found in resurrection Xerophyta viscosa may serve as using our amazing plant diversity. As plants are like the desiccation ideal models for the ultimate design we are increasingly understanding processes found in seeds. of crops with enhanced drought the roles of microbiota and field “All our crops produce desiccated tolerance,” Hilhorst said. environments, the treasure trove of seeds and thus have the genetic The paper’s first author, Maria- knowledge is just growing. Nature mechanisms to make seed tissue dry Cecilia Costa, pointed out that has all the answers.” without them dying.” Xerophyta viscosa was also able to What resurrection plants appear suppress drought-related senescence Time and money to be doing, said Farrant, is “turning (ageing) and that genes involved in But time is running out and big money on” those seed genes in their roots seed dormancy, a process that allows is needed to drive this research. and leaves when faced with a seeds to survive many years of dry Farrant and Hilhorst believe that severe drought. storage, are also involved. with enough financial backing, they The challenge is to unlock these can get to a proof-of-concept plant mechanisms that resurrection Adopt orphan crops that will yield an extremely drought- plants use to turn on these genes In pursuing this research in South tolerant crop. in their roots and leaves and use Africa, Farrant’s focus is on orphan “But it will take another five to this knowledge to induce the same crops – crops that haven’t taken off 10 years before all the biosafety process in dry times to make crop commercially on a large scale. Apart concerns have been addressed to plants more tolerant of drought. from tef, these include local varieties release it out into the wild. So, even Desiccation tolerance is a complex of beans, which are an important with money, it will be at least 15 to 20 phenomenon involving both source of protein in Africa. years before we even taste the fruit “switching on” and “switching off” “Cowpea, black-eyed peas and of my work – and that’s the fast track. many genes. These are controlled bambara beans are excellent sources “But I’m very patient.” by master switches and her group, of protein that can be grown quickly, Food and water go hand in in collaboration with Dr Henk with high yields.” hand as important collaborative Hilhorst of Wageningen University & The other concept she is research fields. Research (WUR) in the Netherlands, investigating is the biofortification “Though plants form the basis have identified at least two that of crops: enriching plants with, for of the food chain, they don’t seem to play a significant role in the example, vitamin A and an available survive without water and in acquisition of desiccation tolerance source of iron to reduce deficiencies Africa 85% of agriculture is based in a plant. common in Africa that result in on rainfall,” said Farrant. “Africa By understanding how these conditions such as blindness. needs to invest in desalination and operate in the vegetative tissue of Commercially, she’s also keen to see alternative water sources. We need desiccation plants reacting to loss of the bio-economy grow in lean times. a combined effort by water and water, Farrant hopes to enable the Plants like Myrothamnus flabellifolia, plant researchers, augmented by same reaction in crops. a woody plant that grows in rock new, creative water-harvesting and crevices in dry parts of southern irrigation techniques. Feeding Africa Africa, is a particularly promising “And we must look to nature for Important headway is being made. candidate. Ground into leaves for ideas on how to trap water.” A paper in the latest edition of Nature Plants has published the genome sequence of Xerophyta Though plants form the basis of viscosa – the work was done by an international consortium that the food chain, they don’t survive includes Farrant and is led by without water and in Africa 85% Hilhorst of WUR (who raised most of agriculture is based on rainfall,” of the funding for the project). said Farrant. “Africa needs to invest The paper details the genetic footprint of the resurrection plant’s in desalination and alternative water ability to withstand severe drought sources. We need a combined effort by for long periods. They hope the water and plant researchers, augmented finding will contribute to faster by new, creative water-harvesting and development of food crops resilient enough to cope with foreseen irrigation techniques.”

33 UCT AS A RESEARCH-INTENSIVE UNIVERSITY

STORY BY YUSUF OMAR. PHOTO BY KELVIN SONG VIA WIKIMEDIA COMMONS

Funding for Prof Musa Mhlanga lab will enable the exploration and development of tools for future phases of mapping and charecterising of all human cells HUMAN CELL RESEARCHER GETS FUNDING BOOST Professor Musa Mhlanga has received a grant for funding by the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative to contribute to a global project to map all the cells in the human body Mhlanga, of UCT’s Institute of Infectious the Human Genome Project, a 13- cell and where proteins from that RNA Disease and Molecular Medicine year, international collaboration to are located. RNA is a molecule similar (IDM), will be involved with the sequence the entire human genome. to deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA), both philanthropic organisation’s Human “Once we have cellular resolution for of which carry genetic code which Cell Atlas project, an ambitious global the trillions of cells in your body, we will dictates how proteins are constructed collaboration that involves dozens of be able to say whether a particular cell and thus how bodies are built. This researchers. “The Human Cell Atlas is signature or cell structure signifies the technique is called spatially resolved not only going to revolutionise the way onset of Alzheimer’s or schizophrenia, omics. If successful, the new technique we see human biology, but it’s also or infectious disease, for example,” will help to answer questions like going to revolutionise medicine,” said he said. “Diseases like mental illness where RNA goes in the cell once it has Mhlanga, who was among nearly 500 will change dramatically because we been made, where in the cell proteins applicants for funding. Mhlanga said will have the ability to peer into the are made, and where proteins move he hopes to harness the opportunity brain and understand the onset, and to once they are made. The Human to extend South Africa’s involvement in potentially how to rebalance things. Cell Atlas project, with its global reach, collaborative, world-leading research. This will be absolutely transformative. could make a groundbreaking impact Of the 38 applicants who were And that’s just giving you a glimpse of on the understanding of human recommended for funding, only nine the possibilities that the Human Cell disease and medicine. are from outside the USA. Atlas will create.” “It’s an opportunity for Africa to The Human Cell Atlas will study The Mhlanga Lab’s funding enables participate in high-impact research – a and document the types, numbers, it to explore and develop tools that region that normally isn’t involved in locations, relationships and molecular will be applied in the project’s future this type of work,” said Mhlanga. “It’s parts of every human cell. This will phases of mapping and characterising a way to make scientific knowledge allow scientists to better understand all human cells. They are developing creation, and access to it, more how healthy cells work and what goes a technique that they hope will apply equitable. wrong when cells are not healthy. The cell biology methods in a novel “This grant is another step in data generated by the project will way to visualise – at the level of an my personal journey to make an be made openly and freely available. individual cell and single molecules impact and contribute positively to Mhlanga compared the significance – the relationship between where developing basic scientific research and of the Human Cell Atlas to that of ribonucleic acid (RNA) is located in a knowledge creation in South Africa.”

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STORY BY MICHAEL MORRIS. PHOTO SUPPLIED HEATHER ZAR NAMED 2018 WOMAN IN SCIENCE LAUREATE Professor Heather Zar has been announced as the 2018 L’Oreal-UNESCO Women in Science Laureate for Africa and the Arab States, in recognition of her wide-ranging contributions to child health, which have improved – and saved – children’s lives across the globe, as well as helping to shape international policy. The prestigious award is given annually to five women scientists worldwide, one from each continent

Respiratory illnesses, such as pneumonia, tuberculosis (TB) and asthma are leading causes of mortality and debilitating illness in children worldwide, but especially for children in Africa. These illnesses are also a serious complication in HIV-infected children. Zar, chair of the Department of Paediatrics and Child Health and director of the Medical Research Council Unit on Child and Adolescent Health, has devoted much of her working life to finding ways to tackle these conditions, and to developing capacity in Africa in this field. The recent award acknowledges her “outstanding contributions in the Heather Zar announced as a 2018 L’Oreal–UNESCO Women in Science Laureate for epidemiology, diagnosis, prevention her work on child health in Africa. and management of pulmonary illness, achieving reductions in globally, including childhood and causes of lung disease and in childhood mortality globally”, as well pneumonia, TB, HIV-associated developing effective preventative as for “establishing a cutting-edge disease and asthma. Her work in and management strategies. She led research programme in pneumonia, childhood pneumonia has identified studies to develop better preventive tuberculosis (TB) and asthma”. new methods for diagnosis and strategies for TB in HIV-infected Receiving the award was “very prevention and provided new children, reducing mortality by 50%. humbling”, said Zar, and “a really knowledge on the causes and long- More recent research has focused wonderful acknowledgement of term impact. Studies in childhood on chronic diseases in HIV-infected the work we’ve been doing in child TB led by Zar have fundamentally adolescents on antiretroviral therapy. health over many years”. changed the way in which the In asthma, epidemiological studies Emphasising the role of her disease is diagnosed, using new have delineated the large burden collaborators and study staff, she samples (such as induced sputum) of childhood asthma in Africa; Zar noted that “the award reflects the and rapid molecular diagnostics is well known for her innovation extraordinary teams and people for quick, effective diagnosis and in the development of a low-cost I’m fortunate to work with and the treatment. alternative to spacers for asthma, strong collaborations that we’ve Zar has also conducted seminal using a simple 500ml plastic cool built”. Zar’s work focuses on key work in improving and saving drink bottle. illnesses that cause most childhood lives of HIV-infected children, Read the full story, available at: deaths and disease in Africa and including defining the spectrum www.news.uct.ac.za

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IMPROVING ACADEMIC SUCCESS RATES AT UCT ‘Innovation in teaching and learning’, ‘Improving student success rates’ and, ‘Cultivating critical citizens’ – just some of the objectives that feature prominently in the University of Cape Town’s new 2020 strategic vision. UCT Alumni News Magazine spoke with Professor Daya Reddy, acting Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Teaching and Learning at UCT, about some of the innovative projects currently under way at the University aimed at supporting students. Professor Reddy is an internationally recognised mathematician whose research interests lie in the intersection of applied mathematics and engineering sciences. He is also a proud UCT alumnus

You are an internationally new strategic plan says it all, “the such as problem-solving, discussion or recognised academic whose goal is to address accountability of debates – and blended learning - the research interests include applied teaching, while constantly reviewing combination of traditional face-to-face Mathematics and computational what we teach and how we teach teaching and online learning. Online mechanics. Did you always know it and essentially measuring it on learning has been developing steadily that this would be your the success of our students”. We in recent years and is set to expand academic calling? have to realise and act upon the substantially as a strategic priority, with DR: My career has been a long importance of innovative curricula. an online education policy recently winding road with mathematics When comparing our success rates approved by the Senate. being my strong subject at school. from two to three years ago, a Returning to the topic of success The teacher advised me that I greater proportion of students are rates: in some Mathematics courses, should study engineering, which I succeeding, and graduation rates for instance, the success rate did at UCT. After my studies and have increased. This is due to a stands at around 75%. We must PhD in mechanics at Cambridge number of interventions such as ask ourselves why 25% are not University, I came back to UCT with online and blended approaches to succeeding. Some of those factors a joint appointment to build bridges teaching and learningand tailored are social or economic, include between applied mathematics approaches to courses that impede difficulties in making the transition and engineering. Later on, I moved graduation. We still, however, have from school to university. As a into the Applied Mathematics some way to go in achieving the response to these issues, we have Department. A key interest has success rates that are consistent put in place early warning systems been the link between mathematical with our high-quality intake. to track and support students. These modelling of complex phenomena, systems form part of the innovation and the use of computational What are some of the critical in teaching at the university. techniques to solve the problems opportunities for change and arising out of these models. innovation within the existing The quality of school Mathematics curriculum at UCT? education in South Africa is As the Deputy Vice-Chancellor DR: There are massive the subject of ongoing debate for Teaching and Learning, can opportunities for innovation in with some reports indicating you outline your vision for this various forms of online learning. that we rank among the poorest portfolio at the University of These include Flipped Classes - performers on the continent. As Cape Town? where students gain first exposure to one of the matric subjects that DR: What I would like to achieve new material outside of class, usually impact university entrance, what while in the position asacting via reading or lecture videos, and are your thoughts on the role of Deputy Vice-Chancellor, is what will then class time is used to assimilate the university in addressing happen after I leave this post. The that knowledge through strategies this deficit?

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DR: There is a huge diversity in the quality of mathematics education at school level. In our top- end public schools the quality of teaching is very high, while in some public schools there are too few mathematics teachers, or none able to teach at senior certificate level. There is a great need to expand the programmes for in-service training of teachers, to ensure they are able to adapt to changes in the curriculum. The university is working to attract more students into teaching as a career, whatever their basic degrees. The point about a university education is that it provides one with the background and skills to adapt, to learn continuously, and to be able to move into new areas or careers.

Tell us more about the scope of work being done by the University of Cape Towns’ Curriculum Change Working Group? DR: The Curriculum Change Working Group was set up early last year by the Vice-Chancellor, in response to the demand for decolonised education. Its key role is to facilitate and initiate dialogue about curriculum change within the faculties. The group’s objective is to develop a framework for curriculum development, identify forums of curriculum innovation, and engage the faculties with this framework. This group has a strong student involvement and has initiated a number of workshops with groups in the various faculties.

What initiatives are being developed at UCT in the area of online teaching and e-learning?Are there initiatives designed to extend access to technology for all students? DR: As mentioned earlier, an essential part of the plan includes blended learning, which implies that students have access to devices such as smartphones or laptops. Our computer labs and facilities in the student residences are constantly updated and there are numerous Acting UCT Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Teaching and Learning, Professor Daya initiatives to raise funds to purchase Reddy is an internationally recognized mathematician whose research interests lie in additional laptops. We provide the intersection of applied mathematics and engineering sciences

37 INNOVATION IN TEACHING AND LEARNING

laptops to students who are on financial aid.

What short, medium and long- term interventions are being developed to stimulate social consciousness and critical thinking at the university? DR: The strategic plan addresses the need for a socially aware university community and to provide a work environment that is inclusive. Students and staff must be aware of the social context they are working in and have the ability to think critically. Academic staff must build historically conscious interventions into their curriculum. In each subject, we must ask ourselves ‘where does this subject stand today?’. We cannot develop a decolonised curriculum without getting to grips with the historical context.

What other ‘beyond the classroom’ initiatives have been implemented in order to support UCT students? What are the challenges and opportunities for these initiatives? DR: We are supporting students in their learning activities through technology and online learning DR: MOOCs and online learning in especially important in programmes and through increased recording general have had a massive influence such as engineering in which the of lectures. We have changed the on how we perceive learning. I believe social context, including community recording policy to an ‘opt-out’ it will transform the way in which engagement, has to form part of the rather than an ‘opt-in’ approach. society learns in the future, but it will approach to designing solutions, for The perceptions were that students not replace the university as a place example in developing sustainable would skip lectures altogether if of learning. Time spent at university approaches to water supply. they are recorded; however, surveys is more than just about learning have shown that this is not the case. in class – residential universities Finally, Professor Reddy, who are Rather, there are other factors that offer multiple opportunities for the most influential people in your lead to students skipping lectures, all-round development. life and why? for example, those scheduled in the DR: There are many, but let me early morning, especially during the What advantages does the UCT highlight the late Professor John winter months. Apart from turning Global Citizenship Programme Martin, a head of civil engineering to technology, wardens and house offer to students engaging in and later a dean and deputy vice- committees are placing an increased this programme? chancellor, who inspired me to follow this path in my career. He was importance on study groups in DR: The programme consists of most influential in my application to student residences. critical debate, voluntary service do a postgraduate scholarship and activities and reflection. Janice encouraged me to come back to Some of the innovative teaching McMillan has done an amazing South Africa after completing my practices include the use of online job by setting up this programme studies at Cambridge. On my return, technology – can you discuss the to address the development he supported my early research influence projects such as the challenges in South Africa, by giving career by involving me as an equal MOOC series and the e/merge students the opportunity to engage partner from day one. He was hugely Africa are having in addressing in and reflect on service learning influential in my life as well as in my calls for increased access to programmes and community career as a mentor and leader in the academia? engagement while at UCT. It is academic environment.

38 UCT Alumni News 2017 EXPLORING THE DIVERSITY OF LIFE ON EARTH What would UCT be without its cohort of academics and researchers who are at the forefront of their fields? Professor Anusuya Chinsamy-Turan, a palaeo-biologist in the department of Biological Sciences is recognised as an A-rated researcher who, besides all her academic work which places her at the forefront of her field, is committed to promoting and stimulating an interest in science. She has presented numerous public talks, written articles and published two books for popular audiences (Famous Dinosaurs of Africa and Fossils for Africa). Chinsamy-Turan became a scientist quite unintentionally. Growing up as a black (Indian) woman in segregated South Africa, without a TV in her home, and in the pre-internet days, she knew little about the scope of careers that were available for a young person who enjoyed EXTINCTIONS science at school. Coming from a typical middle- class community, teachers, doctors, and nurses PAST AND PRESENT were the people she looked up to, and her ambition then was to be a teacher. But when PRESENTED BY: PROFESSOR ANUSUYA CHINSAMY-TURAN she started university her eyes and mind were opened to the wider world of science, and she realised that she too could actively contribute to this knowledge. In her third-year she discovered FREE ONLINE fossils, and immediately felt the field of COURSES palaeontology beckoning her. “So began my love for understanding earth’s history and biodiversity, MOOCs by UCT: and my fascination for understanding the origins of our modern biodiversity” she remarked, reflecting on her personal journey. Her passion for communicating science made Chinsamy-Turan the perfect candidate to create a Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) as part of UCT’s programme to showcase its teaching and research to the wider world. MOOCs are free online courses which provide learners with access to knowledge at a pace which they can set themselves. Thus far 10 courses have been launched on topics including Extinctions, Social Innovation, the Medical Humanities and Organ Donation with a global reach of over 150 000 people. In Chinsamy-Turan MOOC, Extinctions: Past and Present, she prompts learners to examine the five past mass extinctions the Earth experienced - where entire species went extinct - and how we may be living through a sixth. The course features discussions with several other scientists (including amongst others, A-rated UCT researchers such as William Bond, Ed Rybicki, and Peter Ryan), on how their research informs us about past/present biodiversity. The course has garnered rave reviews from participants who have been captivated by not only the subject matter but Anusuya’s teaching approach in an online space. If you are interested in enrolling in the Extinctions MOOC or seeing what other free online courses UCT has to offer please visit: http://www.cilt.uct.ac.za/cilt/moocs-uct 39 INNOVATION IN TEACHING AND LEARNING

PHOTOS BY SUPPLIED BY ICA LIVE ART 2017 Continuing the Institute for Creative Arts’ history as an initiator of innovative projects, the international Live Art Festival got under way with an even bigger programme this year. The third in a series of biennial festivals showcased work from some of the most influential artists from across the continent to push the boundaries of audiences and artists alike. With the aim to disrupt public spaces, the city of Cape Town was used as the stage for a range of public, collaborative and performative artworks ICA LIVE ART 2017 has established itself as a pioneer in the region, forming a unique platform for cutting-edge interdisciplinary art by blurring the fields of fine art, dance, theatre, music and literature. With an emphasis on works by African artists and those from the diaspora, the festival allowed for new and transformative interactions within diverse personal, political, public and architectural spaces. ICA Director, Associate Professor Jay Pather, commented on the significance of the Festival: “LIVE ART 2017 represents the intersection of visual and performing arts and culture with some of the enduring Donna Kukama performing ‘Chapter Y: Is survival not archival?’ personal and political themes of our time and provides an arena for Zimbabwean-born, New York- women (trophy wife), of nature these elements to clash, marry, and based celebrated choreographer (hunting trophy) and the Other, by influence each other. Our efforts to and performer Nora Chipaumire means of war throughout history. engage audiences and expand their performed as part of the Diasporic Swiss dancer and choreographer expectations of the possibilities of live Travellers artists, who emerged from Foofwa d’Imobilité, orchestrated a theatre and art, brings to life some of the continent, but traverse several five-hour long dancewalk from Cape the most esoteric and experimental spaces. With her performance ‘Self- Town CBD, via Observatory and work by key African artists.” Un-contained # punk’ she continued Athlone, ending in Langa. His walk The 2017 programme featured her investigation into portraiture challenged the lack of adequate screenings, performances, artworks and self-portraiture. Focusing on transport and affordable housing and interactive installations by over the construction of identities in an close to the city. thirty contemporary artists from ‘instagrammed’ world. Another outstanding performance Zimbabwe, Nigeria, Mozambique and Two other performances stood out was presented by Cape Town South Africa. One of the veteran local in the Diasporic Travellers section. based Sethembile Msezane. In her artists included in the programme, South African born theatre performer work, she addresses the absence was Standard Bank Young Artist Rudi van der Merwe, activated of the black female body in the Award-winner Donna Kukama. the Sea Point promenade with an monumentalisation of public space. She is well known for her use of outdoor performance exploring the Her performance at the festival, multiple media in her performances, clash of culture, gender and nature. ‘Excerpts from the Past’, highlighted with which she deconstructs art The title of the piece, Trophée, was current conversations of land in production and process. a reference to the submission of relation to the colonial conquest of

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Rudi van der Merwe, Trophée.

Africa. By using sound clips from the colonial and apartheid era, she brought associations of belonging, dislocation, displacement and claims to African land to present day context. Pather concluded: “The relevance of live art today as an appropriate retort to the irrationality of much of what is happening globally and nationally is plain to see. Several artists who are students, fellows or graduates of our institution have subsequently appeared at international Festivals in Germany, Austria and the Netherlands. These have included Msezane, mentioned above, Chuma Sopotela, Mamela Nyamza, Buhlebeze Siwane, Dean Hutton and Gabrielle Goliath.” Sethembile Msezane ‘Excerpts from the Past’.

41 INNOVATION IN TEACHING AND LEARNING INSPIRING DIALOGUE THROUGH CREATIVE ART The Institute for Creative Arts (ICA), formerly known as the Gordon Institute for Performing and Creative Arts (GIPCA), is an interdisciplinary institute that facilitates new, collaborative research projects in the performing and creative arts. This year, a variety of innovative ICA projects and events focused on transformation and decolonisation. Black Art and Communities at Heart (BACAH), was among these

Pastor Xola Skosana interacts with Zanekhaya Mhlana as he performs the installation Lizobuya in the lead up to the first Black Art and Communities at Heart (BACAH) talk. Photo: Xolani Tulumani.

BACAH is a three-part series the founder and artistic director them into communities where social designed as public conversations of Theatre4Change, a non-profit change is needed. “I hope to see these exploring the importance of Black art, organisation based in Khayelitsha that conversations not only becoming a Black artists and Black communities. provides art activities and mentorship. talk, but to see people fighting for The initiative was conceptualised The concept, he said was derived from their rights and reclaiming what is and hosted by Mandisi Sindo, a his interest in finding new ways to use rightfully theirs. I want to see black recipient of a National Fellowship art and theatre to address social ills communities becoming confident to from the Institute for Creative and effect positive change. His vision: talk about the social issues that they Arts (ICA). Sindo is a theatre to take theatre performances away face,” he said in an interview with UCT practitioner, community activist and, from traditional spaces and bring Daily News.

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Prior to each BACAH event, an invited writer was asked to submit commentary on a specific theme, to a selected respondent. The first of these events took place at the Makukhanye Art Room in Khayelitsha on South Africa’s National Youth Day (16 June). Titled “State of the Townships”, the talk saw academic and political analyst Pastor Xola Skosana in discussion with Ukhona Mlandu, a creative entrepreneur and facilitator, on the issue of underprivileged communities and artists and how they affect the growth of the art industry and South Africa at large. Audience members were given the opportunity to contribute to discussions on racism, crime, xenophobia, feminism, colonisation, exclusion and homophobia. Bongolethu Women in Poetry and Music, during their performance, conceptualised In the second instalment, themed: and composed by young black females who want to create positive change in the ‘Homophobia, Queerness and townships. Photo: Xolani Tulumani. Patriarchy in the Townships’, well- known activist Chumani Maxwele, conversed with Lwando Scott, a sociologist, blogger and advocate for queer consciousness. This event featured Bongolethu Women in Poetry and Music, who presented their performance piece, titled Black Woman Say Something. which concerns the ill treatment of women in the townships – the ways in which they are undervalued and misunderstood in their own communities. A third conversation, titled ‘Defining Community Theatre’, featured Sindo who challenged the state of community theatre in South Africa commenting: “The name community theatre has been carelessly used; to an extent being UCT Graduate Lwando Scott delivers his address “Homophobia, Queerness and misused and misunderstood even by Patriarchy in the Townships” in the second iteration of the series. Photo: Xolani Tulumani. theatre artists and academics, and has been given a cheap label,” said Sindo. ICA Director Professor Jay Pather brought these perspectives into In his opinion, this has contributed said: “The topics for conversation spaces of crisis and need.” to the confusion that exists around and engagement, the place of these The BACAH initiative aims to Community Theatre in South events and the choice of speakers find concrete ways for art to Africa today. all evoked strong responses be used effectively to address The fourth and final instalment and capacity audiences. The social ills and to effect positive of the BACAH series took place on combination of performance and change. An important feature of 4 November and focused on the lecture and then discussion made these public conversations is that exclusion and marginalisation of for fresh insights. This has been they are located away from their black artists in theatre institutions, the structure of ICA events since traditional centre (the university) universities, theatre awards our inception but to collaborate and are instead situated inside ceremonies and the ways in which on BACAH with Mandisi Sindo the marginalised working-class this affects the growth of the and the Makukhanye Art Room communities most affected by the industry and South Africa at large. was particularly rewarding as they subject of the talks.

43 ENGAGED SCHOLARSHIP: SOCIAL JUSTICE INITIATIVES THE REAL MEANING OF SOCIAL RESPONSIVENESS Social responsiveness is not just a catch phrase at the University of Cape Town, but a philosophy that aligns teaching, learning and academic research activities with very real development issues facing South Africa. Here, social responsiveness is about connecting staff members and students with communities in need through engaged scholarship and volunteerism initiatives. Sonwabo Ngcelwane, Research and Development Coordinator for UCT’s Social Responsiveness programme, explains why this matters, how it links to the 2020 strategic vision and, which partnerships he thinks are the most exciting

Why are Social Responsiveness my values. UCT students through The programme initially focused only and Engaged Scholarship such student development agencies like on Khayelitsha, a community that has important initiatives for the Ubunye and SHAWCO, have shown historically been under-represented University of Cape Town? How do their commitment to engaging with at UCT in terms of student numbers, these link with the broader 2020 the country’s challenges and that but now also involves schools in strategic vision for the University? to me is important in terms of the Mitchells Plain. There are many more SN: The University is a public kind of graduates UCT produces to outstanding projects to mention, institution and we lie in a country society. I am extremely proud of the including the Bertha Centre for Social with intractable challenges which calibre of socially conscious students Innovation and Entrepreneurship are borne by poverty, inequality and I have worked with over the years. (UCT Graduate School of Business) unemployment. It is befitting for a and the Southern Africa Sustainable public university to bring to bear its A conceptual framework for Social Development Initiative Starting resources (research, teaching and Responsiveness was developed Chance Campaign, which aims to service) to address these challenges. and approved by Senate in upgrade 30 shack-based crèches Social Responsiveness is part of the 2006. What are some of the into formal centres of excellence. institution’s accountability to the key initiatives that have come public. The University of Cape Town’s out of its three tiers? (engaged How is social responsiveness Strategic Planning Framework has scholarship; civic engagement and embedded within the University social responsiveness embedded in PASS staff activities) and what has been the response each of the five goals, but particularly SN: Some of the initiatives we are from the internal community? foregrounded the concept of particularly proud of are profiled SN: It is very difficult to embed responsiveness and engagement in in our Social Responsiveness social responsiveness into a research- goal number five. award list. As a former educator led institution which still valorises in Khayelitsha, the Schools ‘basic research’ as the only legitimate As a UCT alumnus and current Improvement Initiative (SII) is one of form of scholarship. Having said that, staff member, why does this work the flagship projects I am extremely it is a huge achievement to have matter to you? proud of. The SII recently celebrated placed Social Responsiveness on SN: UCT is one of Africa’s top its 5th anniversary and draws on the agenda as one of the core mission of universities and through this work, University’s broader resources to the university in addition to research which is captured in our annual assist the Western Cape Education and teaching and many people reports, I have seen how academics Department in improving the quality have expressed interest in engaged use their knowledge and expertise of education in the Province. The scholarship as a methodology to to grapple with challenges. Much SII model for school improvement generate knowledge. The newly of the work profiled in our reports is forged through the development developed policies have created falls within the ambit of “activist of strong university-school an enabling framework to engage scholarship” As a social activist, this partnerships and is committed to faculties and challenge them within is the kind of work that resonates with working with community structures. their own practice.

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In terms of wider societal impact, which innovative UCT SR research collaborations stand out as having achieved this? SN: Again, I want to mention the School Improvement Initiative programme as an example of making a difference by significantly increasing the number of learners accessing higher education. At the 5th anniversary event it was announced that since its inception in 2013, the programme has increased the number of enrolled matriculants from Khayelitha from 29 to currently 79.

Please elaborate on some of the milestones achieved to date, identifying highlights from the latest Social Responsiveness Report? SN: We are very proud to have published articles on some of our Social Responsiveness work and presented them at international conferences. The launch of the Social Responsiveness Award to recognise the work is a huge incentive for people. I was part of a team that was commissioned by the Council on Higher Education to write a review of higher education 20 years after democracy. This was a confirmation that UCT was a leading institution in the field. The Engaged Scholarship programme was launched in 2015 and consists of four workshop- seminars, which are combined with preparatory reading, reflection and practical applications. 23 academics Sonwabo Ngcelwane is the Research and Development Coordinator (engaged where enrolled in the programme scholarship) in the University of Cape Town’s social responsiveness unit. in 2017.

Is there a social impact ranking What opportunities exist for experience. Another way of getting among higher education alumni to become involved in involved is to financially support institutions? If so, how does supporting Social Responsiveness students from disadvantaged UCT fare? activities at UCT? communities. In short, to be a role SN: Unfortunately, international SN: One way of getting involved model for your own community. rankings do not reflect social as an alumnus is to offer one’s Internally, alumni need to take impact – although funders demand expertise or services to your own part in the conversation around that research demonstrates social community and thereby increase the decolonisation and transformation. impact. Nonetheless, UCT has been chances of learners gaining access Alumni chapters could be used to recognised for producing socially to higher education. Many learners in engage executives proactively and impactful research. I believe that rural areas have never heard of UCT together they should envision a social impact will become an nor its opportunities. If you own a transformed university of the future, indicator for university rankings in company for instance, you can offer instead of waiting for the next crisis the future. students an internship to gain work to arise.

45 ENGAGED SCHOLARSHIP: SOCIAL JUSTICE INITIATIVES

PHOTOS SUPPLIED BY UCT KNOWLEDGE CO-OP

One of the UCT Knowledge Co-op research projects explores the role of “urban farmers” who are running 11 big food gardens in Guguletu.

RESEARCH GETS PRACTICAL IN LOCAL COMMUNITIES Masters student Zakiyah Ebrahim’s basis. She published her written and Under the motto ‘Putting work StreetsCapes, illustrates the photographic documentation on a Knowledge to work for communities,’ ambitions of the UCT Knowledge website to raise awareness on issues the UCT Knowledge Co-op was Co-op. Ebrahim worked together that are very scarcely documented launched in 2010 with funding from with the Khulisa Social Solutions in South Africa. the Vice-Chancellor’s Strategic Fund who rehabilitate homeless people Her research also examined the and modelled on the ‘Science Shop’ living on the streets of Cape Town. significance of job creation for concept developed in Europe in the Her aim was to document stories street-based people in regaining 1970s. Since then, the Knowledge of 10 street-based individuals, their dignity. Khulisa’s StreetsCapes Co-op has provided the structure exploring and addressing the project creates work opportunities and support to the university’s social challenges of the larger social and and is described as a ‘hand-up’ not responsiveness involvement with systemic issues they face on a daily a ‘hand-out’ project. local communities.

46 UCT Alumni News 2017

ICTS students teaching computer skills.

Agriculture is another very popular topic with several ongoing projects on gardening and social cohesion. One of the projects is exploring the relationships between food gardening and (mental) wellness, while another is assessing the welfare effect of the Harvest of Hope Local residents clearing the community programme on its beneficiaries. gardens of alien vegetation. Another major reoccurring theme evolves around information regular basis, Schmid sends a list of systems and computer literacy. Jolene Daniels changed priorities and This is partly due to the fact that a changed life “When I smoked [drugs] sought-after topics to the different I got money easily. When I was sober, I departments. She also talks directly ICTS students can now complete didn’t want to beg”. to students or posts availabilities on their community outreach through Vula and other student platforms to the Knowledge Co-op. Between The Knowledge Co-op allows advertise among students. 2012 and 2017 some 110 students community groups to approach In 2017 about 45 projects were have assisted schools and NGOs the university with proposals and conducted under the Knowledge with website and database requests for joint projects. The Co-op banner. Schmid emphasises development, social media office, staffed by Barbara Schmid, that “these projects run on a very guidance and software training for in turn, approaches departments to low budget and are predominantly high school learners, children and identify students and staff whose based on work students and NGO staff members. research matched the needs of the academics, currently conducting, to Going forward, the Knowledge communities. Back in 2010 she and better match them with the needs of Co-op is hoping to increase the her team started with community the communities.” number of projects in 2019 to 60, outreach through NGO forums Some of the most popular topics focusing more on environmental and since then the programme has are sexuality and research into issues. Schmid concludes: “For seen increasing interest from the sex work. Currently under way is this to happen we need to engage communities and about 800 to 1000 a project on male sex workers and more UCT staff and students and topics are still waiting to be tackled prison experiences and another is need more funding to get their by students. Available topics can be documenting stories around sexual research off the ground and into accessed on the website and, on a abuse and hate crimes. the communities”.

47 ENGAGED SCHOLARSHIP: SOCIAL JUSTICE INITIATIVES

STORY BY KATE-LYN MOORE. PHOTOS BY ROBYN WALKER UNPACKING THE SPATIAL PARADOX Is a truly integrated and spatially just Cape Town possible? It is this question that the Integration Syndicate (IS) hopes to answer

The collective brings together research centres at three Western Cape universities, including UCT’s African Centre for Cities (ACC), experts on urban development and planning, and civil society groups such as Reclaim the City and the Development Action Group (DAG). “The idea is to recognise that at the moment it feels like we are really stuck in Cape Town, that we know that there is a profound problem with the spatial form of the city, the continued reproduction of all kinds of inequality and segregation and we sort of jump from one burning platform to the next, but we don’t seem to resolve anything,” explained Professor Edgar Pieterse, head of the ACC. Pieterse, together with Professor Premesh Lalu (University of the Western Cape) and Dr Adi Kumar Prof Pieterse, head of UCT’s African Centre for Cities, explains the aims of the (DAG) gave a sense of the syndicate’s integration syndicate, which hopes to reimagine the city of Cape Town into a space thinking at a panel discussion of inclusivity and justice. entitled “Integration Complexities” at Cape Town’s Open Book Festival. Environment Performance Plan Africa.” The private sector tends to They outlined the problems with (BEPP). “It struck me that if we can invest in areas as far from the poor the popular narrative surrounding build a shared understanding among and as close to economic centres as spatial exclusion and inequality in a diverse group of Capetonians possible. “This is a spatial paradox: Cape Town, as well as the steps that around the assumptions of this the more we redistribute, the greater Cape Town citizens, together with plan and the potential for shifting spatial injustice becomes.” government, academia and civil the debate – we could potentially It is this paradox that South society, might take to realise spatial really make an impact and escape Africa’s eight metropolitan justice in the city. this … sort of sensibility that one has governments have been tasked Discussion around the sale of the in Cape Town; that you just come with addressing. The City of Cape Tafelberg site and gentrification in back to the same debates over and Town has put forward five catalytic Woodstock and Salt River are good over, and nothing fundamentally interventions. “What we as civil examples of the kinds of issues changes.” society and academia have not done that reach the public domain, said is to respond in a considered and Pieterse. They demonstrate the The spatial paradox focused manner.” highly polarised views portrayed in South Africa has a redistributive the media, without any sense of what investment approach, he explained, Trapped in a hardening to do about it. Having worked in both through free housing and transport narrative academia and public policy, it was subsidies. “So what we have seen “I think we’ve trapped ourselves in clear to him that in the past few years since ’94 is a massive redistributive a very, very hardening narrative of there has been a real shift in coming investment to alleviate poverty the divided city. Let me be clear, to terms with the underlying drivers through these various subsidies. But I don’t think we’re beyond that of spatial inequality and exclusion. effectively it has worsened the spatial narrative,” said Lalu. “We’ve got to This is reflected in the latest Built form of the settlements in South think about new ways of anticipating

48 UCT Alumni News 2017 a concept of freedom. And where shops, early childhood development and the CBD. “So the centrality we have become very neglectful in centres.” There is immense potential of these particular parcels of land our rendering of this city is to think in the city, given the institutions and make massive commercial sense,” about it as a divided city, without the lands that we have, he said. he said. But these developments recourse to other forms of narrating do not respond to the city’s other its past.” He highlighted the cinema How to promote imperatives. “In the context of the as an example of a crossover space inclusionary housing Cape Flats, what civics have been in Cape Town during apartheid. But in planning development, it is struggling with are issues around Spaces like Elsies River had six or essential that one uses the correct crime, safety, cultural amenities seven cinemas, he said. Thousands data sets. This has been shown to and all those kinds of things, but of people would go to the cinema be a significant issue during Kumar’s developers have cornered the market on a Saturday morning. work in promoting inclusionary because the land is available at a “This was a worldliness that was housing in the city. The information cheap price.” The interventions like unavailable to the rest of Cape collected through community this result in pervasive gentrification. Town,” he said. Pieterse added: organisations and civil society This, in turn, leads to further sets of “The core of Premesh’s perspective groups differed vastly from data removals to the periphery. on this, and the provocation that sources such as Statistics SA. These he continuously brings into the sources do not reveal how areas are Competing impulses debate in the syndicate, is that it’s really operating, or the wishes of the “We feel very self-satisfied when in the mundane spaces of everyday people who are living and working we ‘like’ a critique of gentrification life within the township that we’ve there, said Kumar. by Reclaim the City, but at the got incredibly rich and productive He referred to the Philippi same time, we are so happy there capacities for imagination, desire horticultural area, by way of is a Biscuit Mill”, said Pieterse. “It is and transcendence.” How then example. This area is surrounded that contradiction between our own could public infrastructure be by approximately 15 shopping desires, our own yearning for the reimagined to create a city that is malls. “But what the Cape Flats kind of creativity that is embedded both integrated and connected to civics are actually asking for is there, along with a political rectitude these alternative histories within cultural amenities, socio-economic that, I think, disallows us from really the city? Imagine if we placed a amenities, and that is not actually engaging with these dynamics … And moratorium on sprawl for the next being factored into the development it is not just about the townships, or decade, Pieterse said. This would process at all.” just about Woodstock, or just about mean no more public housing built So why do developers insist on reclaiming Hout Bay, for that matter, on the outskirts of the city. Instead, building malls? This is influenced it is about all of Cape Town. we would look to the underutilised by a number of factors, said “Let’s be clear that change comes and neglected public spaces in Kumar, including how landowners about through specific sites, through the city. “So imagine the fences go and developers determine the specific people, but we have to be down, the [unused public school] commercial value of a property. able to think that in relation to the sports field … repurposed with two- Land in the Cape Flats is relatively city as a whole. And that is what to three-storey walk-ups of public central in the context of the city, I think has been missing from and rental housing. You insert into Kumar explains. Philippi, for instance, our discourse.” that laundromats, workshops, repair now sits between Khayelitsha

COMPILED BY UCT NEWSROOM. PHOTO BY MICHAEL HAMMOND MARY BURTON: PATRON OF THE BLACK SASH

Mary Burton, who joined the Black Sash in 1965, is only the second person to be honoured by being named as the movement’s patron. Burton served as regional chair for several terms, as national president from 1986 to 1990, and is a founder of what is now known as The Black Sash Trust. Besides holding high office within the organisation, she has always been known for her work ‘on the ground’. Apart from her extensive work in the Black Sash, Burton was the provincial electoral officer of the Independent Electoral Commission in the Western Cape during the 1994 elections, and a commissioner for the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. She served as deputy chairperson of the Council of the University of Cape Town and as chairperson of Convocation. Burton has been the recipient of many awards and commendations, including the UCT Vice-Chancellor’s medal. She received an honorary doctorate from the university in 2011. Her acclaimed history of the Black Sash, entitled The Black Sash: Women for Justice and Peace, was published in 2015.

49 ENGAGED SCHOLARSHIP: SOCIAL JUSTICE INITIATIVES

STORY BY CARLA BERNARDO. PHOTO BY ELIA FESTER UNDER CREATIVE COMMONS RESPECT AND RESEARCH: LESSONS FROM THE SAN CODE OF ETHICS The recent launch of the San code of ethics received an overwhelming amount of media and academic coverage across the world. For the first time, the oldest and most over-researched community alive had formalised their demands for ethical research. Representatives from the coalition who launched the code visited UCT to discuss the role of research and the responsibilities of the researcher when conducting community-based studies “There was a lot of harm done by academic language, incentives and the San: justice and fairness; care; researchers,” said Collin Louw, a value systems. Often, when process; honesty; and respect. member of the South African San research proposals do find their Swart explained why engaging Council (SASC). “The presence of way to the council responsible for with the code, consulting with the researchers caused conflict in our granting permission, the academic council and committing to the pillars communities and opened a lot of language makes them inaccessible. is so important. old wounds.” Researchers hoping for a successful He described how the San, young But, he said, they understood the outcome need to be aware of this and and old, would walk far distances enormous benefits of research. amend their proposals accordingly. in search of watering holes. When “Without it, the world will stand Translation of interviewees’ input the elderly could no longer walk, still. So this code is used to bridge the divide between researchers and communities.” In the west, we’re told to respect The code, which was launched life. According to the San, we must in Cape Town in March, was a respect the choice to die” collaborative effort between SASC, the South African San Institute (SASI), !Khwa ttu, and two communal is also of concern to the council, they would announce that they property organisations. The launch as a lot can be lost in translation. would sit under a tree, wait and formed part of a conference hosted Researchers are encouraged to find welcome death. by TRUST, an international network a suitable local partner who can “In the west, we’re told to respect funded by the European Union’s provide translations in exchange for life. According to the San, we must Horizon 2020 Programme, and insight into the investigation process respect the choice to die,” said Swart. is aimed at ensuring researchers and a daily stipend. With their Code officially launched maintain high ethical standards. UCT On remuneration, Swart said and celebrated the world over, the is one of 14 TRUST partners. the time had long passed where group were making plans to digitise The launch was the culmination researchers could get away with the research application process, of almost 20 years of consultative “You’re going to be on TV!” as which will include a requirement work with San communities in South payment. He added that researchers that researchers report their findings Africa, Botswana and Namibia. The had also previously paid the San in to the council. “That way you can group also studied the existing cigarettes and mielie pap. have your PhD and we can have the codes of the First People of Now, the code requires that knowledge,” said Swart. Canada and Australia: the Inuit and researchers apply for permission to The Research Ethics and the Aborigine. “It was a huge job getting conduct their studies, and if there is a Communities workshop at which the to this point,” said Hennie Swart, commercial element, the community San code of ethics was discussed, SASI director. under investigation should reap in the context of UCT’s Engaged There were, said Swart, many some of the financial benefits. Scholarship Programme, formed aspects of the research process The code also requires that part of the series of workshops that needed amending, including researchers agree to the five pillars organised and hosted by the senate translations and the use of underlying the value system of Ethics in Research Committee.

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Elia Fester and children, Kalahari Khomani San Bushman, Boesmansrus camp, Northern Cape, South Africa.

51 ENGAGED SCHOLARSHIP: SOCIAL JUSTICE INITIATIVES

Prof Jacqueline Rose delivered the Vice-Chancellor’s Open Lecture at UCT on 16 March 2017.

52 UCT Alumni News 2017

COMPILED BY UCT NEWSROOM ‘STARE STRAIGHT INTO THE EYE OF THE PERPETRATOR’, SAID FEMINIST SCHOLAR Author Professor Jacqueline Rose, renowned worldwide for her scholarship on the intersection of feminism, psychoanalysis, literature and politics, delivered the Vice-Chancellor’s Open Lecture at UCT on 16 March 2017.

Titled Legacy, or What I Have demand of free education for all, or She also used French psychoanalyst Learned From You, Rose’s lecture at least for the poor, in South Africa. Jacques Lacan’s idea of “disjointed touched on a range of subjects “I have witnessed the deleterious but generative temporality”, to relating to South Africa and the effect on the house of critical offer an explanation for some global south in general, from the thought of any whittling down of of the peculiarities on the South student-driven protests against that fundamental right in the so- African socio-political landscape. tertiary education fees that started in called free world,” she said. Rose further emphasised that no 2015 to “transgenerational haunting” A crucial question for Rose was political struggle could escape the that might explain otherwise what was passed down to younger social arrangements of gender and inexplicable incidents such as a generations in moments of historical sexuality. She concluded with some group of girls in Mlungisi township in crisis. Citing South African academics, advice: “Stare straight into the eye the Eastern Cape, born after the end Sampie Terreblanche and Patrick of the perpetrator still at large who of apartheid, re-enacting a grisly Bond, who explained some of the … takes no responsibility for what he necklacing scene. challenges in post-apartheid South has done. Above all, do not blame “The 1913 Land Act, an act of Africa which resulted in, say, the those who erupt because they sheer theft initiated by the British decolonisation project barely getting were burdened with an injunction which laid the groundwork for off the ground, Rose was certain that to transcend history, an impossible segregation and then apartheid, what should not be passed down demand that can have no place in would be a good enough place to was a responsibility for the next any attempt to build a better world.” begin not least because I know the generation not to “cry foul, or claim still unresolved question of land, its that apartheid had not ended, or that cruelly unequal distribution, is at their future was blighted by a past that Rose is Professor of the heart of a continuing struggle in had not gone away”. Rose presented Humanities and co-director South Africa,” Rose said. The author a smorgasbord of ideas from a range for the Birkbeck Institute linked mainstream attitudes to of contemporary philosophers. for the Humanities at the public protest in South Africa to her She threaded together strands of University of London. She experience as a student in Europe. argument from scholars such as spent the week of 13 to Rose, who participated in student philosopher Hannah Arendt, who 17 March engaging with protests in the 1960s, recalled cautioned that the idea of “progress academics and students at hysteria in France, with a major was dangerous in so far as it allowed UCT about issues ranging newspaper proclaiming that France rulers of the present dispensation to from an identity seminar held was crumbling, ostensibly because pretend that everything is just fine with the Trans Collective to of the discontent. “The same when it is not and allows those in sex and race as they related hyperbole of destruction is thrown powers to ignore the world forever”, to the aftermath of Oscar at the protests [in South Africa]. and Frantz Fanon, who called for Pistorius’s murder trial. After all, France did not crumble or “radical empathy” in Wretched of Dr Victoria Collis-Buthelezi fall apart in the 1960s.” the Earth. “There is a violence in the of the Wits Institute for Social How much had any of that changed, human heart, perhaps implanted and Economic Research Rose wondered. Recalling her own but certainly hugely aggravated delivered a formal response state-funded tertiary education, by social injustice and cruelty,” to Rose’s lecture. Rose expressed “solidarity” with the said Rose.

53 UCT FUNDRAISING PROJECTS

STORY BY KATE-LYN MOORE. PHOTOS SUPPLIED ANOTHER 40 YEARS OF THEATRICAL EXCELLENCE The Baxter Theatre Centre turned 40 this year, having opened its doors on 1st August 1977. To celebrate this milestone, the iconic venue launched an exciting fundraising drive called the 40/80 campaign. The space came into being through a bequest by the late Dr William Duncan Baxter, who earmarked R553 866 to set up and finance the project.

Baxter envisioned a space that Funding misconceptions a state owned entity and is would “develop and cultivate the There are a number of therefore not considered eligible arts in Cape Town and the adjacent misconceptions about the Baxter’s for national government funding,” districts for all artists”. Now, four finances that have proven to be continued Foot. decades later, the theatre has barriers to the centre’s fundraising The Baxter raises the remaining launched a fundraising campaign efforts. “UCT covers approximately 60% of its funding (which to secure its future and make it 40% of our operational costs and we covers all artistic projects, salaries, possible to deliver another 40 years have to raise the remainder ourselves. security, cleaning, maintenance and of theatrical excellence. The Baxter is a UCT project and we electricity, production staff, ad hoc get considerable support from the artists, marketing, publicity and A time of divisions university. However, they cannot staff transport). “Unfortunately, these The theatre was built during a time give us all that we need to do our aforementioned misconceptions of entrenched racial divisions. The work,” explained CEO and artistic have severely compromised our Publications and Entertainment Act director Lara Foot. efforts to raise funds,” Foot said. of 1963 separated black and white UCT meets the costs associated The theatre hopes to turn this audiences. South African actor, with the Concert Hall, which around with the 40/80 campaign: director and playwright Dr John Kani functions primarily as a teaching ensuring that the Baxter’s 40- wrote: “The Baxter Theatre opened and performance venue for the year legacy of theatre excellence its doors during the most difficult South African College of Music. It becomes an 80-year commitment time of history in our country. There also contributes an annual operating to the same. All money raised were no theatres in Cape Town in grant, to cover part of the Baxter’s through this initiative will go the 1980s that would take the risk infrastructure costs. “Currently, directly into the theatre’s of presenting works by black artists. the baxter Theatre does not Endowment and Production Funds. The Baxter Theatre became the only receive funding from the national The public and the business theatre that allowed the alternative government or from from the sector are encouraged to join voice to be heard especially from the National Lotteries Commission. The forces and contribute in any number black communities.” Baxter Theatre is not considered of ways. The University of Cape Town was selected as a strategic location South African actor, director and for a theatre that hoped to open itself to all. “Because of the Baxter playwright Dr John Kani wrote: “The Theatre’s fortunate location, Baxter Theatre opened its doors during situated inside the grounds of the most difficult time of history in the University of Cape Town, they our country. There were no theatres in Cape could present and produce the so- called ‘protest theatre’ plays,” Kani Town in the 1980s that would take the risk of explained. These included pieces presenting works by black artists. The Baxter such as Sizwe Banzi is Dead and Theatre became the only theatre that allowed The Island. the alternative voice to be heard especially from the black communities.

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Donations of any amount can be made by very special tribute in memory of a loved one will visiting the Baxter’s website be displayed on a plaque.

There is a ‘Donate’ icon on the homepage, ALIGN YOUR BRAND WITH THE BAXTER making it easy and simple to give generously As a trailblazer in the performing arts and a centre for artistic excellence, the Baxter offers Subscribe to the online newsletter or like the exceptional promotional opportunities to brands, facebook page and for just R100, enter our which will be exposed to over 2 700 patrons on online competition and win a trip overseas a daily basis.

A Snapscan payment option has also been Naming rights are available for the Baxter Main introduced – the QR code can be found Theatre, Concert Hall, Zabalaza Festival and throughout the foyers or on the website Dance Festival.

When buying tickets online there is the option All contributors are eligible for tax deductions of donating each time a booking is made under section 18A of the Income Tax Act.

The Name-A-Seat option offers the public Contact Baxter CEO Lara Foot about the opportunity to do just that – the perfect branding options. birthday, anniversary or retirement gift, or a

55 UCT FUNDRAISING PROJECTS

DISTINGUISHING UCT CAMPAIGN TARGETS R1 BILLION The University of Cape Town will celebrate its centenary in 2018, as a degree-issuing university and in 2019, will commemorate 190 years since it was first established as the South African College. These two milestones form the backdrop to one of the most important fundraising campaigns currently under way at the University of Cape Town: the Distinguishing UCT campaign, which aims to grow the general endowment from R500 million to 1 billion rand by the end of 2019.

An endowment is a dedicated and connecting the most talented doctorates and planning academic permanent source of funding that students and scholars from our careers,” said Dr Ally. underwrites a university’s ability to continent and the rest of the world.” As at the end of November 2017, work towards its vision and mission. Through its thought leadership, the the campaign has received a total of Sources of funding for a university education of future professionals 320 donations with the majority of endowment come in the form of large and the creation of knowledge these coming from individual donors gifts as well as regular giving. The and innovation, UCT makes a huge (alumni and friends) resident in primary goal of the Distinguishing contribution to the development of Australia, Canada, France, Germany, UCT campaign is to grow the value our country and our continent and, New Zealand, South Africa, in the UK of the general or ‘undesignated’ in many disciplines, the world. This and in the USA. Under the umbrella endowment fund from R500 million campaign illustrates UCT’s drive of the Distinguishing UCT campaign to R1 billion for which the university to continuously improve, develop other significant donations, totalling has set a target for 2019. The current and create a sustainable future for in excess of R53 million, have been value of the endowment has grown the university, for South Africa and secured for key strategic capital to R633 million in the last two years, Africa.” works projects at UCT. One example thanks to the generous support Executive Director of the is funding received in support of the received from the donor and alumni Development and Alumni Neurosciences Institute at Groote communities. Department, Dr Russell Ally, Schuur Hospital, a project intended Underpinned by the University’s said that a significantly stronger to enhance patient care, improve new Strategic Plan for 2016-20, the general endowment will not only teaching, increase research and three pillars of the Distinguishing contribute meaningfully towards the foster closer interaction between the UCT campaign are: Advancing university’s continued sustainability clinical disciplines of neurosurgery, Excellence, Investing in Talent – financially and through producing neurology, neuropsychology and and Realising Transformation. The the next generation of academics neuropsychiatry. This initiative campaign is focused on creating – but will also enable financial will also provide a platform for a new, inclusive identity for UCT assistance for deserving students. the translation of basic science as the leading university on the “The endowment income will boost advances into clinical practice, African continent. According to our bursary programmes making public education and advocacy, and Vice-Chancellor, Dr Max Price: higher education accessible to development of new postgraduate “A successful campaign will not talented young people in our programmes. only serve as a resource towards country. The particular funding gap Campaign highlights include financial sustainability, but will also is for postgraduate students and the successful fundraising dinners make a bold statement about our absence of such funding is the key hosted in London, New York, Sydney commitment to maintaining our reason for the small number of black and more recently in Cape Town position as a premier university, South African students pursuing and Johannesburg. 2017 also saw

56 UCT Alumni News 2017

Distinguishing UCT campaign highlights include successful fundraising dinners hosted in London, New York, Sydney, Cape Town and Johannesburg. the establishment of an inaugural We are indeed privileged to have general endowment by R 133 million Distinguishing UCT Golf Day, which such prominent institutions support it is within our reach to raise the was held at Steenberg Golf Club, the campaign, both financially current shortfall of R367 million in Cape Town. “All these events and logistically,” said Sidney Van in order to achieve our target of proved to be highly successful not Heerden, Campaign Director. 1 BILLION RAND. We need UCT only in raising awareness for the As the University approaches alumni and friends to join hands and campaign, but also in securing its centenary in 2018 and the half- invest in the future of Africa’s leading financial support for our efforts. way point in the campaign lifespan, university,” said van Heerden. Locally the campaign has been UCT alumni, donors, staff members For additional information on the very well-supported by corporate and friends of the university are Distinguishing UCT Campaignas South Africa and in particular by encouraged to pledge their support well as information on how you First National Bank and Standard to the Distinguishing UCT campaign. can pledge your support, visit: Bank, as well as Sun International. “Having already strengthened the www.distinguishinguct.uct.ac.za

57 UCT FUNDRAISING PROJECTS

UCT Student Wellness Service provides professional health and counseling services to all UCT students UCT STUDENT WELLNESS: SUPPORTING STUDENTS IN DISTRESS Located in the Department of services; in particular, counselling Creating a supportive environment Students Affairs, the University services. New interventions include for students, through the provision of Cape Town’s Student Wellness a dedicated crisis care line as of academic and psychosocial Service provides professional well as on-site, after hours crisis support is imperative to helping health and counselling services intervention. Speaking at the launch them achieve academic excellence. at a primary health care level. It is of the UCT crisis care line in 2016, The university is grateful for the an invaluable resource, one that Dr Max Price said: “We are deeply contributions received from donors has benefited generations of UCT concerned about the increase in and the alumni community to date. student. However, the current mental health issues in society in Should you wish to make a donation realities of campus life combined general and amongst our students in in support of UCT Student Wellness with the socio-economic challenges particular. We are constantly striving Services, contact Cindy De Oliveira faced by many in South Africa place to increase our support to students.” at: [email protected] a heavy burden on this, most crucial of student services. Present realities At UCT, Student Wellness A reduction in government subsidies FAST FACTS: Services (SWS) comprises medical for higher education coupled with • 40% of consultations with the practitioners, nurses and clinical the climate of austerity, have made clinical health nurses are women’s psychologists who together, look it difficult to provide adequate health related after the physical, emotional and SWS interventions for a growing • One clinical social worker mental wellbeing of close to 30 000 student population. To help address sees approximately 40 students students. Internally, resources are this challenge, the Development per month stretched and the Department of and Alumni Department has raised • 44% of cases relate to mental health Student Affairs recently employed over R3 million which has been issues, up from 30% in 2012 external health care services to earmarked for the recruitment of • The Upper Campus clinic nurse sees meet the rising demand for on-site additional psychologists. on average 20 consults per day

58 UCT Alumni News 2017

COMPILED BY MERLIN INCE ALUMNI HELPING TO BUILD SUSTAINABLE STUDENT FUNDING A space of calm, tranquillity, and sustenance, is conjured up by the idea of an oasis. Company CEO, Adam Ebrahim, of Oasis Group Holdings explains that this is the spirit in which he set up the asset management firm with two of his brothers twenty years ago, all of them UCT alumni. With a comprehensive giving portfolio, Oasis not only shares its value through educational initiatives but also contributes towards public healthcare facilities, as well as homes for children and the aged.

Oasis’ deep commitment to education is embodied in its investments into this sector and under their watch, the company has engaged with projects that encompass early childhood development facilities as well as secondary and tertiary level initiatives. Earlier this year, the brothers made a generous donation of R10 million to the University of Cape Town as part of the company’s commitment to building sustainable solutions to the student funding crisis that threatens the future of South Africa’s talented youth. Through this multi-pronged funding approach, they express the hope that this donation will reinforce efforts to “address inequality and strengthen a competitive workforce, opportunities for Master’s and While the struggle for equality leaving nobody behind”. Doctoral qualifications. of education opportunities still Over the next five years, an annual Education has always been a continues in many respects, it is R2 million allocation of the fund from pivotal value for Ebrahim and his through building strong partnerships Oasis will be used to support: The brothers, who were students at UCT of support that more of the country’s First Year Experience Programme, during the turbulent years of the talented youth will be able to fulfil hosted by UCT’s Centre for Higher country’s history in the 1970s and their academic and career pursuits. Education Development (CHED) 1980s. In the context of country-wide The brothers are enthused by the which provides comprehensive university and school boycotts at remarkable capacities that bursary support to all first year students, the time, they took on the initiative, recipients demonstrate, not only in from mentoring to tutoring and along with 150 other UCT students, their academic aptitudes but also career pathing, so that students of hosting free “Saturday Schools” at their drive to be innovative leaders. are empowered to perform at their three locations across Cape Town for To this extent, they consider it an optimal capacity; Undergraduate approximately 3 000 students who imperative that the business sector Bursaries which provide financial participated in the boycotts. The “plays a strong role in supporting support for student fees across initiative helped ensure that while our universities so that we produce a wide range of disciplines; and taking up the struggle, students still more outstanding professionals Postgraduate Bursaries that will kept up with the curriculum and and continue to be a globally provide exceptional students with passed their examinations. competitive society”.

59 UCT FUNDRAISING PROJECTS ABSA INCREASES SUPPORT TO UCT A total of 250 “missing middle” students from the University of Cape Town (UCT) will receive scholarships after a R10 million donation was handed over to the university by the Barclays Africa Group on Tuesday, 24 October.

Representatives from Absa handed over a R10 million cheque to UCT executives on 24 October. L-R: Dr Russell Ally, ED Development and Alumni Department; Clinton Clarke, head of SA coastal regions, Absa Corporate and Investment Banking; DVC Prof Loretta Feris; Bonisile Magewu, corporate banker, Absa Corporate and Investment Banking; VC Dr Max Price; Anastasia Peters, citizenship manager for the Western Cape; John Tshabalala, Absa managing executive for the Western Cape.

This follows an almost three-fold The group has pledged to invest Of the 3 000 scholarships, 2 increase in the Barclays Africa R1.4 billion in education and skills 250 will be allocated to South Group’s CEO Scholarship Fund, training between 2016 and 2018. African students. The remaining which will finance the studies of “University education unlocks 750 are earmarked for students in 3 000 students across Africa. The opportunities that can change the Barclays Africa operating regions fund, now valued at R210 million lives of young people and the future throughout the continent. Of the (up from R80 million in 2016, of our continent. This is an expression South African scholarships, 500 which funded 2 000 students), has of our Shared Growth commitment will be granted to dependants of dedicated R35 million to universities to help realise Africa’s potential and Absa staff members. Universities in the Western Cape specifically. contribute to long-term economic will identify qualifying students on This includes UCT, the University growth,” said Barclays Africa Group the basis of academic performance of the Western Cape, the Cape chief executive Maria Ramos. “This and financial need, and will allocate Peninsula University of Technology investment has been made possible scholarships after consultation and Stellenbosch University. by the hard work and dedication with Absa. The funding is also The CEO Scholarship Fund is a of colleagues in our business and available to students from the so- component of Barclays Africa’s I am proud of their commitment called “missing middle”. Shared Growth strategy, which to making a visible difference The scholarship programme includes endeavours to create shared value in the lives of thousands of essential psycho-social support and for communities and stakeholders. young Africans.” leadership training.

60 UCT Alumni News 2017

ALUMNI COUPLE REMEMBER THEIR ALMA MATER WITH A GIFT Judy Thönell has recently established the Sven Thönell Grant for Continuing Paediatric Radiology Education and Training in honour of her late husband, Dr. Sven Thönell. The couple are both UCT alumni who met and married UCT alumnus Dr Sven Thönell during their first years of study at UCT.

Sven Thönell was born in Southern Hospital for Children in Perth (PMH), to medicine and to his work in the Zimbabwe where his early where he remained for the next 22 field of paediatric radiology. “That upbringing instilled in him the core years. Colleagues at the hospital was Sven’s chosen field, although he values of: service to others, humility remember him for his unique skill in could have chosen any other – he was and selflessness. At the University of pacifying young children – he was an achiever in whatever he did. Sven Cape Town he completed two years referred to as the ‘baby whisperer’. was passionate about his work. He towards a Bachelor of Science degree Dr Thönell received several examined for the Australian College before transferring to medicine accolades during his professional of Radiologists for several years, he in his third year. It was during this career. He was an examiner for the tutored students in Australia, but also time that he met and later married Royal Australasian and New Zealand taught nurses for over three years, his wife, Judy O’Hagan who was College of Radioligists (RANZCR) who excelled in the exams, in what studying music. and was awarded life membership was then Rhodesia and, he was very Dr Thönell commenced his in 2010; he was awarded the Turab good with children,” she said. Through medical career in 1970, completing Chakera Award for Excellence in this donation, Thönell said that she his internship at Grey’s Hospital in Teaching, by the registrars in 2012 would like to encourage other UCT Pietermaritzburg. In 1971, the couple and served as the Chairman of the alumni to support future generations moved to Sweden where their son Australian Society of Paediatric of students and graduates. “It is up to Peter was born but feeling homesick, Imaging and, during his tenure was us to secure the quality and expertise they returned to Africa spending instrumental in raising the profile of future generations, we who have almost four years in Zimbabwe, of paediatric radiology in Australia. the experience and have ‘been there where Dr Thönell ran three hospitals Poor health resulted in his stepping and done that’ need to encourage and several clinics. During this period, down from his position in 2012. and support those following after us,” he obtained his pilot licence and In 2000, Dr Fujioka of Tokyo concluded Thönell. purchased a small Cessna plane with University and Dr Thönell took the The Sven Thönell Grant for another doctor, they used to visit initiative to start the AOSPR (Asian Continuing Paediatric Radiology clinics and transport patients. The Oceanic Society of Paediatric Education and Training is a Thönell family returned to Sweden in Radiology which has now grown to 10-year grant agreement worth 1976, where completed his medical involve all the Asian countries and a minimum of R20 000 per accreditation and their daughter include Australia and New Zealand. annum. It is intended to assist a Marie-Louise was born. After a few After an active life which includes a registrar in annually attending years in adult radiology at Nacka passion for exploring the outback and and participating in national and Hospital, he underwent specialist for four-wheel driving, he tragically international Paediatric Radiology training in paediatric radiology at succumbed to his illness in 2013. conferences. Applications will Karolinska Hospital, where he was Commenting on why she had be reviewed by a Faculty of later employed as a consultant chosen to honour her late husband in Health Sciences panel at the paediatric radiologist (1983 to 1989). this way, Judy Thönell said that she University of Cape Town. The In 1990, he was appointed Director had established the Grant at UCT grant will be administered from of Radiology at Princess Margaret because of her husband’s dedication 1 January 2018.

61 UCT DONORS

FOUNDATIONS, TRUSTS AND CORPORATES

Platinum Circle Foundations, trusts and corporates that have made donations to UCT totalling R50 million and above (alphabetically)

• The Andrew W Mellon Foundation • The Harry Crossley Foundation • The Atlantic Philanthropies (Bermuda) Ltd • Hasso Plattner Stiftung • The Bertha Foundation • The MasterCard Foundation • Carnegie Corporation of New York • The Rockefeller Foundation • Claude Leon Foundation • The Wolfson Foundation • The Ford Foundation USA

Gold Circle Foundations, trusts and corporates that have made donations to UCT totalling between R25 million and R50 million (alphabetically)

• The Gallagher Foundation • Johnson & Johnson Family of Companies • Cancer Research Trust Contribution Fund • Minerals Education Trust Fund • The ELMA Philanthropies Services Inc • The Michael and Susan Dell Foundation • Novartis Research Foundation • The William and Flora Hewlett Foundation

Silver Circle Foundations, trusts and corporates that have made donations to UCT totalling between R10 million and R25 million (alphabetically)

• ABSA Bank Limited • James Sivewright Scratchley Will Trust • The Albert Wessels Trust • John and Margaret Overbeek Trust • Andreas and Susan Struengmann Foundation gGmbH • The Kresge Foundation • Anglo American Chairman’s Fund • Liberty Holdings Ltd • The Atlantic Philanthropies (SA) (Pty) Ltd • The Mauerberger Foundation Fund • AXA Research Fund • Moshal Scholarship Program • The David and Elaine Potter Charitable Foundation • National Lottery Distribution Trust Fund • The DG Murray Trust • The Nellie Atkinson Trust • Discovery Foundation • The Oppenheimer Memorial Trust • Discovery Fund • The Raith Foundation • Donald Gordon Foundation • The Raymond Ackerman Foundation • The Dora and William Oscar Heyne Charitable Trust • Rustenburg Platinum Mines Ltd • Doris Duke Charitable Foundation • Sigrid Rausing Trust • Eskom Holdings Ltd • The South African National Roads Agency Ltd • FirstRand Empowerment Foundation • The Spencer Foundation • The Ford Foundation SA • Standard Bank Group Ltd • The Frank Robb Charitable Trust • Unilever South Africa Home and Personal Care (Pty) • Garfield Weston Foundation Ltd • Government of Flanders • WK Kellogg Foundation, USA

62 UCT Alumni News 2017

Bronze Circle Foundations, trusts and corporates that have made donations to UCT totalling between R1 million and R10 million (alphabetically)

• The A & M Pevsner Charitable Trust • Elsevier Foundation • The Aaron Beare Foundation • Embassy of the People’s Republic of China • Abax Foundation • Eranda Foundation • Abe Bailey Trust • Eric and Sheila Samson Foundation • Actuarial Society Development Trust • Ernest E and Brendalyn Stempel Foundation • Actuarial Society of South Africa • Fetzer Institute • AECI Ltd • FirstRand Bank Limited • The African Development Bank Group • The FirstRand Foundation • Allan Gray Orbis Foundation • The Foschini Group CSI • Alliance for Open Society International • The Foschini Group Ltd • Anglo American Platinum Ltd • The Gabriel Foundation • Anglo Operations Ltd - Anglo Corporate Division • Garden Cities Inc • AngloGold Ashanti Ltd • The Gatsby Charitable Foundation • The Atlantic Philanthropies (Ireland) Limited • GlaxoSmithKline plc • Attorneys Fidelity Fund • Goldman Sachs Charitable Fund • Aurecon South Africa (Pty) Ltd • Goldman Sachs Foundation • Aurum Charitable Trust • Government Technical Advisory Centre • Bank Sector Training and Education Authority • Green Leaves Ausbildungs-Stiftung • The Beit Trust • Guy Elliott Medical Fellowship Fund • The Bertha Foundation • Haw & Inglis (Pty) Ltd • BHP Billiton Development Trust • HBD Business Holdings • BirdLife South Africa • HCI Foundation • BM Raff Will Trust • The Hermann Ohlthaver Trust • Boehringer Ingelheim (Pty) Ltd • Hope for Depression Research Foundation • The Boston Consulting Group (Pty) Ltd • HR Hill Residuary Trust • The Breadsticks Foundation • HSBC Africa • British American Tobacco South Africa • Humanist Institute for Development Cooperation • The Calleva Foundation • IBA Human Rights Institute Trust • Cape Gate (Pty) Ltd, Cape Town • The Indigo Trust • Cape Gate (Pty) Ltd, Vanderbijlpark • The Institute of International Education Inc • Capebridge Trust Company (Pty) Ltd • International Bank for Reconstruction and • The Carl and Emily Fuchs Foundation Development • Charles Stewart Mott Foundation • International Development Research Centre • The Children’s Hospital Trust • The International Foundation for Arts and Culture • CHK Charities Ltd • Investec Limited • The Chris Barnard Trust Fund • The Jaks Trust • Daimler Fonds - Deutsches Stiftungs-Zentrum • Janssen Pharmaceutica (Pty) Ltd • De Beers Consolidated Mines Ltd • Joan St Leger Lindbergh Charitable Trust • De Beers Fund Educational Trust • The John D & Catherine T MacArthur Foundation • Department for International Development (DFID), • The John Davidson Educational Trust Southern Africa • The John Ellerman Foundation • Department of Economic Development and Tourism • Johnson & Johnson (USA) • Department of Health (Western Cape) • Johnson & Johnson Services Inc • Desmond Tutu HIV/AIDS Foundation • Johnson Matthey plc • Die Rupert-Musiekstigting • JPMorgan Chase South African Trust Foundation • The Doris Crossley Foundation • JRS Biodiversity Foundation • Dow Southern Africa (Pty) Ltd • Julian Baring Scholarship Fund • Dr Stanley Batchelor Bursary Trust • The Justin and Elsa Schaffer Family UCT Scholarship • Dr. Leopold und Carmen Ellinger Stiftung Trust • Edgars Consolidated Stores Ltd • Kangra Group (Pty) Ltd • Edwards Lifesciences (Pty) Ltd • Kaplan Kushlick Educational Foundation • EJ Lombardi Family Charitable Trust • Karl Storz GmbH & Co KG • Else Kröner-Fresenius-Stiftung • Keerweder (Franschoek) (Pty) Ltd

63 UCT DONORS

Bronze Circle Foundations, trusts and corporates that have made donations to UCT totalling between R1 million and R10 million (alphabetically)

• KPMG, Johannesburg • PM Anderson Educational Trust • The Leanore Zara Kaplan Will Trust • The Rand Merchant Bank Fund • LEGO Foundation • Rand Merchant Bank, a Division of First Rand Bank • The Leverhulme Trust Ltd • The Lewis Foundation • Rangoonwala Foundation • Life Healthcare Foundation • Retina South Africa • Lily & Ernst Hausmann Research Trust • Rio Tinto Plc • Linbury Trust • Robert Bosch Stiftung • Link-SA Fund • Roche Products (Pty) Ltd • The Little Tew Charitable Trust • Roche Products (Pty) Ltd - Diagnostics • Lonmin Management Services • Roche Products Limited, UK • The MAC AIDS Fund • Rockefeller Brothers Fund • Macsteel Service Centres SA (Pty) Ltd • The Rolf-Stephan Nussbaum Foundation • Mai Family Foundation • Rosalie van der Gucht Will Trust • The Maitri Trust • Sanlam Ltd • The Maize Trust • The Sasol Social and Community Trust • Manufacturing, Engineering and Related Services • The Saville Foundation Sector Education and Training Authority • The Schroder Foundation • MariaMarina Foundation • SCHWAB Foundation for Social Entrepreneurship • Mary Slack & Daughters Foundation • The Skye Foundation Trust • The Maurice Hatter Foundation • South African Institute of Chartered Accountants • Medical Education for South African Blacks • South African Norway Tertiary Education • Medicor Foundation Development Programme • Medtronic Africa (Pty) Ltd • South African Penguins • Medtronic Foundation • South African Responsible Gambling Foundation • The Merck Company Foundation • Southern African Music Rights Organisation • Millennium Trust • The Starr Foundation • Misys Charitable Foundation • Stevenson Family Charitable Trust • Mota Engil Construction South Africa (Pty) Ltd • Students for a Better Future • MTU South Africa • Swiss-South African Co-Operation Initiative • National Arts Council of South Africa • Tides Foundation • National Bioproducts Institute • Trencor Services (Pty) Ltd • Nedbank Foundation • Tshemba Charitable Foundation NPC • Nedgroup Trust Ltd • Tullow Oil South Africa (Pty) Ltd • Nestlé (South Africa) (Pty) Ltd • UCT Fund Inc (New York) • New Settlers Foundation • United Therapeutics Corporation • Nigel & Judith Weiss Educational Trust • Upstream Training Trust • NM Rothschild & Sons Ltd • Vodacom (Pty) Ltd • Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation • The Vodafone Group Foundation • Novo Nordisk (Pty) Ltd • Wallace Global Fund • The Nuffield Foundation • Wellspring Advisors, LLC • Oasis Crescent Fund Trust • Welton Foundation • Old Mutual Foundation (South Africa) • Wenner-Gren Foundation for Anthropological • Old Mutual South Africa Research Inc • Open Philanthropy Project Fund • Western Platinum Ltd • Open Society Foundation for South Africa • The Wilfred Cooper Trust • The Ove Arup Foundation • Wine Industry Network of Expertise and Technology • PA Don Scholarship Trust • Wyeth SA (Pty) Ltd • Pearson Plc • Xstrata South Africa (Pty) Ltd • Percy Fox Foundation • The Zamani African Cultural Heritage Sites and • PF Charitable Trust Landscapes Foundation • The Philip Schock Charitable & Educational • The Zenex Foundation Foundation • Picasso Headline (Pty) Ltd

64 UCT Alumni News 2017

INDIVIDUAL DONORS

Chancellor’s Circle Individuals whose gifts to UCT over a five year period have amounted to over R500 000

• Bruce and Serena Ackerman • Christopher and Jeanne Jennings • Oludolapo Akinkugbe CON • Kenneth Downton Jones • David and Ursel Barnes • Johannes Jordaan • Klaus-Jürgen Bathe • Alasdair & Eve Kemsley-Pein • Lee and Brenda Baumann • Robert Knutzen • Helen Beach • Paul Kumleben • Anthony H Bloom • Brett and Jo Lankester • Roelof Botha • Gary Lubner • Nick Boydell • Peter Maggs • Johan and Monika Brink • Vincent Mai • Malcolm and Marjorie Brown • Charles McGregor • Charles Edward Carter • Noel McIntosh and family • The Cockwell Family • Jim and Marilynn McNamara • Nick Criticos • Tim and Marilyn Noakes • Elgin and Rosemary Curry • Trevor Norwitz • Theophilus Danjuma GCON • Jennifer and Jonathan Oppenheimer • Sir Mick and Lady Barbara Davis • Kate Owen • Kevin Dillon • Simon Palley • Rashid Domingo • Shafik Parker • George Ellis • David and Elaine Potter CBE • Robby & Georgina Enthoven • Max Price and Deborah Posel • Ian and Gillian Falconer • Patrick & Jane Quirk • Jill Farrant • Derek and Inks Raphael • Meyer Feldberg • Trevor & Sandy Reid • John and Anne Field • Mary May Robertson • Bill Frankel OBE • Simon Robertson • Ernest Fullagar • Patrik Sandin • Bill Gild • Duncan Saville • Richard and Kara Gnodde • Guy Shutt • John Graham • Georgina Stevens • John Grieve • Sir Hugh & Lady Stevenson • Pauline Groves • Alan Stewart • Philipp Gutsche • Grant and Sarah Stubbs • Selwyn Haas • Ben Surdut • Raymond Haas • Sibylla and Bruce Tindale • Michael Hayden • Blaine John Tomlinson • Charlotte Heber-Percy • Johannes van Zyl • Michael Jurgen Alexander Ihlenfeldt • Tiger Wessels • Neville Isdell • Stephen and Chantry Westwell • Elizabeth and Roderick Jack • Christo Wiese • William and Yvonne Jacobson • Russel Zimmerman

65 UCT DONORS

Vice-Chancellor’s Circle Individuals whose gifts to UCT over a five year period have amounted to between R250 000 and R500 000

• Brian Anziska • Craig Mullett and family • Charlyn Belluzo • Mark Raphaely • Robert Berman • Liam and Penny Ratcliffe • Alan Drabkin • David Rockefeller Jr. • David Gibson • Shirley and Hymie Shwiel • Michael Levy • Ian Yudelman

Dean’s Circle Individuals whose gifts to UCT over a five year period have amounted to between R100 000 and R250 000

• Bruce Keith Adams • Ruth Horner-Mibashan • Beverley Adriaans • Georgina Jaffee • Mark and Lynette Alexander • Andrew James Jaffray • Michael and Agnes Alexander Family • Megan Ruth Jobson • Hugh Amoore • Geoffrey Kaye • Peter Beighton • William J Kentridge • Leslie Bergman • Rochelle Le Roux • Bob Bishop • Thomas Leiden • R David Bloomberg • Hugh Livingstone • Marcus Bowman • Alistair Charles Mackay • Neil Braude • Timothy Mathews • Stanley Braude • Mary Mattholie • Walter Braude • Malcolm McCallum • Donald Jamieson Buchanan • David JP Meachin • Geoff Burton • Malcom Andrew Miller • Yasmin Carrim • Michael Erwin Richard Mittermaier • Francois Cilliers • Mutle Mogase • Ian Clark • David Nurek • Beric Croome • Gerald Norman Nurick • Michael Darlison • Helena Okreglicki • Ezra Davids • Gabby Parker • Jim Davidson • Bruce Royan • Bryan Davies • Hannah-Reeve Sanders • Elmarie de Bruin • John Stuart Saunders • Jeanelle Louise De Gruchy • Steve Schach • Marion Dixon • Christoph and Renate Schmocker • Prashila Dullabh • Mark Shuttleworth • Sakhi Dumakude • Crain Soudien • Ian Farlam • Sara Spiegel • Arthur Forman • David Strong • Robert Forman • Gregory John Symons • Anthony Stephen Fricke • Jenny Thomson • Lauren Friedman • Martin Tooke • Christoph Fröhlich • Stephen Townsend • Siamon Gordon • Karen Van Heerden • Robert Gould • Michael Westwood • Suzanne Mary Hall • Jacob Daniel Wiese • Mary Ethel Harrisson • Rob Williams • Nigel and Lila Harvey • Peter George Abner Wrighton • Vivien Hodgson • Derek Yach

66 UCT STUDENT NEWS MAKERS UCT Alumni News 2017

Friends of UCT Individuals whose gifts to UCT over the last five years have amounted to less than R100 000 3 316 individuals who have generously shown their support by making a gift to the University of Cape Town.

Bequests Individuals who have bequeathed a legacy gift to UCT in their wills.

• Niel Ackerman • BA Goldman • Elizabeth Ethel Barbara Parker • PA Ackerman Will Trust • BJN Greig • RC Pead • Harry Allschwang • JM Griffiths • AH Peires • Enid Atkinson • JS Griffiths Will Trust • Edward Petrie • Linda Doreen Beckett • RB Grosse • Harry Phillips • JFW Bell • GN Hayward • Esme Wedderburn Quilley • Anne Alida Bomford • Alfred Harold Honikman • Jacob Wolf Rabkin Trust • Simon Bor • ML Hutt • BM Raff Will Trust • CLF Borckenhagen • Carolina Rebeca Iljon • Martha Reed • AM Botha • Vera Jaffe • Patricia Roche • Arthur Bridgman • Colin Kaplan • Kathe Rocher • Jack Broadley • The Leanore Zara Kaplan Will • Kevin Rochford • Edward Carter Trust • CCG Steytler • CH Charlewood • John E. Karlin • Hajee Sulaiman ShahMahomed • DI Chilton • Miriam Kluk • BG Shapiro • Phillip Alexander Clancey • LB Knoll • James Sivewright Scratchley Will • RJHH Coldback • ESE Kramer Will Trust Trust • David Graham Cunningham • Ann Kreitzer • Aline Smit • Joyce Irene Ivy Cupido • NH Lerner • Ian Trevor Berry Smith • Ilse Margaret Dall • Elias Bertrand Levenstein • Rolf Richard Spiegel • EIGT Danziger • Leah Levy • PWL Stanton • Pauline de la Motte Hall • Myer Levy • RM Stegen • MBM Denny • Henri Marais • AM Stephen • Lilian Dubb • IN Marks • George Strates • Seymour Dubb • Dorothea McDonald • Clifford Herbert Stroude Trust • CW Eglin • J Melrose • Abraham Swersky • M Eilenberg Trust • EOWH Middelmann • Peter Theron • Elsabe Carmen Einhorn • Walter Middelmann • Sarah Turoff • Barbara Finberg • Valerie Moodie • Rosalie van der Gucht Will Trust • Azriel Fine • IM Monk • LM van der Spy • Derek Stuart Franklin • Audrey Moriarty • Cederic James Vos • Sybil Elizabeth Laura Gauntlett • P Moss Will Trust • JF Viljoen • Pamela Marcia Glass • RM Moss • Victor Glasstone Will Trust • Margaret Alice Nash

Note: As of January 2015, the levels of individual donors’ giving Please note that these changes only affect donations circles have changed as follows: received after 1 January 2015. All donors who were members of particular circles prior to January 2015, will • Chancellor’s circle: formerly continue to be recognised in their original circles, until R250 000+, now R500 000+; the rolling five-year giving period has elapsed. • Vice-Chancellor’s Circle: formerly R100 000 – R250 000, now R250 000 – R500 000; We apologise for any omissions or errors. If you would • Dean’s circle: formerly like to query your donations totals, circle membership, R60 000 – R100 000, now R100 000 – R250 000; or any other matter related to your gifts to UCT, please • Friends of UCT: formerly

A full list of UCT donors is also available at www.uct.ac.za/main/donating-to-uct/donor-recognition

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STORY BY DIANA CAELERS PHOTO BY JE’NINE MAY WORKPLACE GENDER EQUITY: A FULL-TIME JOB Even one of the most powerful businesswomen in the world had to learn the hard way that maintaining high numbers of women in top company posts is a full-time job. Workplace gender equity must be prioritised, firm strategies introduced, and the momentum maintained, said author and world-respected banker Gail Kelly, whose lesson came in her own job as the first woman chief executive of one of Australia’s big four banks.

Kelly, in Cape Town to address nearly 200 fellow University of Cape Town alumni as part of the Distinguished Alumni Speaker Series, said it was a “very bitter pill” when she, a role model for the empowerment of women, was blamed for the declining numbers of her counterparts in top jobs at Westpac Banking Corporation, where she took the reins in 2008.“I had such a full agenda when I moved from St.George Bank, my first CEO post, and I knew that Westpac was oriented to giving women help. So I thought I didn’t have Gail Kelly pictured here with UCT applicants for the Gail Kelly Global Scholarship Programme. Successful applicants from UCT will spend a term at the uNiversity of to worry. I took my eye off the ball and New South Wales. it was only about 18 months before the number of women in top positions kickstarted her progress – she urges million (approximately R10 million) first plateaued, then declined because I male bosses to always look for accredited exchange programme hadn’t prioritised the issue. People said opportunities to support, grow and between UCT and the University of I didn’t care, which was very painful for develop the women in their teams. New South Wales, where she is today me,” Kelly revealed. Her book, explained Kelly, is a an Adjunct Professor. Starting next Putting into action her strength and natural progression of her “very year (2018), The Gail Kelly Global resilience, primary themes in her new lucky, even improbable” career, that Leaders Scholarship programme will book Live Lead Learn: My stories of saw her spend 13 years as a CEO of see one student from each university life and leadership Kelly committed major banks in Australia, including spend a term on the other’s to changing recruitment, training during the global financial crisis, home turf, learning about politics, and even parental leave policies at while raising four children, three of economics and lifestyle. “Now these the bank. Her aim? A target of 40% them triplets. “I decided to capture two powerful universities that I love, of women in leadership roles by 2014. my learnings, ideas, thoughts, and these two cities that I love, will She nailed the target in 2012. insights and perspectives to share be linked in a very special way that Not content to leave it at that, with everyone what I have learned I hope will build bridges into the Kelly set a new goal – 50% by 2017, about leadership, and how it requires future,” Kelly told the audience. the bank’s bicentenary year, and a generosity of spirit in people The South African students can although she’d retired two years who are supremely self-aware and also look forward to mentoring from earlier, her successor hit the target know how to listen. I don’t think the Kelly, the woman who began her this September. For women, her hierarchical approach works, I don’t career as a teller at a building society message is to always back yourself, be think it allows leaders to create an in Johannesburg, and ended up being prepared to “give it a go”, and stare environment where each individual named the eighth most powerful down the fear of failure. For men – can flourish and grow,” she said. woman in the world by Forbes in and she attributes her stellar career Kelly has proved her generosity 2010 – wedged right between Lady to men who identified her talent and with the announcement of a AUD$1 Gaga and Beyonce.

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a national inquiry into strategies to overcome poverty and inequality. FAREWELL TO UCT Wilson took over as president of the Legacy Society in 2010, from former LEGACY SOCIETY Vice-Chancellor, Emeritus Professor Stuart Saunders. During his tenure, PRESIDENT he has worked tirelessly to engage UCT alumni both locally and abroad, The University of Cape Town’s Legacy Society recently bid promoting the benefits of Legacy Society membership. a fond farewell to esteemed academic, Emeritus Professor Speaking at the farewell event Francis Wilson who has enjoyed a deep connection with held in his honour, Vice-Chancellor, Dr Max Price said that Wilson would the institution spanning five decades. He taught at the be remembered for the integral role university’s School of Economics, founded and directed the he had played in engaging with alumni and, for his contribution Southern African Labour and Development Research Unit to the university. “Most people (SALDRU). Professor Wilson recently stepped down as the come to these events because of Francis. Francis is an iconic figure. UCT Legacy Society’s President, following a seven He used his book launches around year tenure. the world to invite alumni and draw them to the society. He has played a fantastic role through his stature,” Wilson is an economist and said Dr Price. At the event, the Vice- pioneering academic, credited for his Chancellor presented him with the significant contribution to advancing Vice-Chancellor’s Medal for his scholarship in the field of social contribution to the University. equality. Throughout his academic In his last speech as the President career, he has published widely on of the Society, Wilson said that an the migrant labour system as well important role of the Legacy Society as on poverty and social inequality was to bridge the inter-generational in South Africa. His research has gap between alumni and students. informed South African policy “The legacy society’s key role is to formulation in these areas. In 1974, interpret between the generations, he launched the Southern Africa to help explain to those who left Labour and Development Research UCT 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, even 60 years Unit (SALDRU). In 1982, he directed ago, what is happening on campus the Second Carnegie Inquiry into today and what the students are Poverty and Development in South thinking. This is important, to bridge Africa, a massive independent the gap between generations and research process which documented to facilitate the process of change the impoverishment black South within the society,” said Wilson. “In Africans endured under apartheid. this work I have been part of a team, In 2012, he was appointed Acting in which my closest mates have been Pro Vice-Chancellor for Poverty Rene Nolte and Lu Nteya. I wish to and Inequality at UCT, tasked with pay tribute to them for all their help,” organising a conference to launch said Wilson.

This year the Legacy Society also bid a fond farewell to Mr Rene Nolte, under whose guidance, the society has expanded and gained membership since its inception in 2011. The number of Legacy members increased from 22 members locally to over 300 members across the globe. During the period June 2011 to June 2017 a total of over R62 million was donated to the university from executed estates. This amounts to an average of almost R9 million per annum which allows UCT to support more development projects, conduct intensive research and change the lives of hundreds of UCT students through financial aid support.

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FORMER DVC URGES ALUMNI TO REFLECT ON PROTESTS UCT Emeritus Professor Crain Soudien presented his audience with some food for thought at the fourth instalment of the 2017 Distinguished Alumni Speaker Series. On Saturday, 20 May, UCT Emeritus Professor Crain Soudien addressed a packed audience of alumni at the Buck Road Primary School in Grassy Park. This was the fourth instalment of the Distinguished Alumni Speaker Series in 2017, an initiative designed to profile extraordinary graduates of the University of Cape Town among the institution’s wider alumni community and public. His talk in Grassy Park, entitled: “What is the significance of the student protests for universities in the context of their transformation strategies?”, challenged the audience to re-examine their understanding of the national student protests, specifically the legitimacy of the issues raised by the students alongside the academy’s responsibility to transform. One of the stark realities, he said, was that almost one-third of all South African students (African students in particular) who embark on a university education do not complete their first year of studies. Given the low throughput rates, he posed several questions to the audience, namely: • What should the South African university be? • Who should be admitted into it? • Who should teach? • What should be researched? • What should be the responsibility of the university to its context?

Transitions in higher education His talk offered two explanations for what has happened in South Africa UCT Emeritus Professor Crain Soudien provided alumni with food for thought at over the past two years. The first: an event held in Grassy Park earlier this year

70 UCT Alumni News 2017 the radical changes and mergers “Since 1994, something incredible knowledge which continue to occur in that have occurred within our has happened in South Africa and the everyday”. higher education system post that has been the growth of the 1994, which were intended to black middle class. From a base of Reaching out to a broader remove apartheid from within around 350 000 in 1994 to anywhere audience it, resulted in the 26 academic between 4 and 14 million by 2014, The event was attended by more than institutions that are operating this significant sociological shift has 60 alumni, students and UCT staff today and the removal of the divide implications for universities also,” members. Some guests, including between technical institutions he said. UCT Executive Director for Finance and universities. “In 1993 enrolments stood at Ashley Francis, who attended Buck Citing the work of renowned 191 000, but between 1993, and Road Primary School as a child, higher-education scholar Professor 2013 these had increased by expressed a deep connection to the Martin Trow, his second explanation almost 261%. This, however, stands site and to the community. is that South Africa’s higher in stark contrast to the fact that “The decision to host some of our education system is undergoing a the professoriate and academic Distinguished Alumni Speaker Series process of “tipping over” from an teaching core are still largely white,” events in communities like Grassy elite system towards a mass-based said Professor Soudien. Park is part of an ongoing strategy system, from a Eurocentric model He reiterated that the university to reach out to a much broader, more to one that seeks to empower. has an obligation to respond to these diverse audience of UCT alumni on Trow’s model, he said, was useful current realities and fluctuations. topics that resonate with them,” said in helping us understand that what On the issue of decolonisation Libo Msengana-Bam, head of Alumni has happened in South Africa over he made the point that the South Relations at UCT. the past two years has precedence African university was established “As one of the former ‘dumping in many other parts of the world on the basis of delegitimising grounds’ for non-white South and that these transitions (from other people’s understanding Africans during apartheid rule, Grassy elite to mass to universal) are often while validating all knowledge as it Park remains politically active. It is accompanied by periods of great comes from Europe. He said that also home to many UCT students, turbulence. He said that this change the decolonial project seeks to staff and alumni and is therefore or process of “massification” has validate all knowledge, insight and an ideal venue for a meaningful an important but often ignored wisdom and that “we need to bring conversation about transformation,” sociological context. back and legitimise all forms of said Msengana-Bam.

Professor Soudien is the chief executive officer and Realising the Dream: Unlearning the Logic of the Human Sciences Research Council and is of Race in the South African School; and the a UCT alumnus, having obtained a number of co-author of Inclusion and Exclusion in South qualifications from the university, including a African and Indian Schools. His new book on Master’s in Comparative African Government the educational significance of Mandela is titled: and Law in 1979 as well as a postgraduate Nelson Mandela: Comparative Perspectives of higher diploma in education in that same his Significance for Education. year. He joined the university staff in 1988 and He is involved in a number of local, national and was later appointed as director of the School international social and cultural organisations of Education. In 2009 he was appointed as and is the chairperson of the Independent deputy vice-chancellor, a position he held until Examinations Board, the former chairperson of his departure in 2015. He remains an emeritus the District Six Museum Foundation, a former professor in education and African studies president of the World Council of Comparative at UCT. He has published widely in the areas of social difference, culture, education policy, Education Societies and former chair of the comparative education, educational change, ministerial committee on transformation in public history and popular culture. higher education. He is currently the chair of Professor Soudien has co-edited three books the ministerial committee to evaluate textbooks on District Six, Cape Town; a jointly edited book for discrimination. He is a fellow of several local on comparative education; and is the author of and international academies and serves on The Making of Youth Identity in Contemporary the boards of a number of cultural, heritage, South Africa: Race, Culture and Schooling; education and civil society structures.

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ALUMNA INSPIRES THE NEXT GENERATION OF ENTREPRENEURS ICT thought leader and entrepreneur Rapelang Rabana returned to her alma mater in July to address an audience of UCT alumni and students on the topic of ‘youth and entrepreneurship’. At the Distinguished Alumni Speaker Series event, she shared her journey of self-discovery - from UCT student to successful technology entrepreneur - along with some of the life lessons she has acquired along the way.

Rapelang Rabana co-founded Yeigo Communications, one of the world’s the first VoIP with former UCT classmates Wilter du Toit and Lungisa Matshoba.

Rabana was a founding member Young Global Leader for 2017 and, training environments. Botswana- of Yeigo Communications, one of has been featured on the cover of born Rabana completed a BSc in the world’s first Voice over Internet Forbes Africa magazine. Her latest computer science at the University Protocol (VoIP) applications. project, Rekindle Learning, develops of Cape Town in 2005. She was recently honoured by mobile learning technology for Speaking at the alumni event, the World Economic Forum as a both academia and corporate Rabana said that she was unsure

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about which programme to pursue at university and that computer science was not at all on her radar during high school. “I really had no idea what I wanted to study after matric. Since my parents refused to allow me to take a gap year, I spoke to my brother and asked him ‘what can I do?’. He picked computer science for me. Those first few days in class were terrifying – seeing all that code on the wall. I wanted to change my degree but I stuck with it because I realised that it was the one commerce subject that would allow me to create stuff from my imagination, to literally inject ideas into reality. This seemed like a worthwhile pursuit. Less than eight years later, I was featured on the cover of Forbes Africa Magazine alongside Wendy Ackerman, as this symbol of the next generation of young, aspirant African entrepreneurs who are trying to make their mark.” Rabana co-founded Yeigo Communications with former UCT classmates Wilter du Toit and Lungisa Matshoba as soon as they graduated from UCT in 2005. Together they built one of the earliest mobile VoIP applications in the world. “When I think back, I am amazed that a group of young students with no real social or financial capital could use cheap laptops, cheap internet access, sit in an apartment and prototype technology that was Rabana was featured on the cover of Forbes Africa Magazine alongside Wendy Ackerman world class. We literally googled our way to success. We had no mentors, and private investors. Although prepare for regulatory examinations instead we taught ourselves how to Rabana concedes that this was a and significantly improve success build the software and how to run difficult time, their hard work did rates. The product offering includes a business, online,” said Rabana. eventually pay off. Within nine short smart learning apps and the business During the initial stages, one of the months they had completed work has launched its first solution for biggest challenges the trio faced was on the prototype, enabling them to universities, English Word Power, access to funding for their business. secure funding from their first angel – an online bridging programme Fortunately, they persevered. “Our investors in September 2006. “The designed to students to improve parents agreed to feed and house lessons that experience brought with their level of English proficiency. us; this is actually the most critical it were innumerable and engendered “With Rekindle Learning, we are form of funding because it freed us in me a hardy belief in the power trying merge the best that we know to pursue every waking moment of of diligence and perseverance – no about learning science and smart the business venture,” says Rabana. doubt these lessons remain with me learning technologies to deliver In the months immediately to this day,” said Rabana. better learning outcomes so that we following graduation, the Yiego Fast forward to Rekindle Learning, learn better, we build skills better and team focused their attention on an education technology business so that we can assimilate knowledge building a prototype, expanding and Rabana’s latest venture. faster,” concluded Rabana. their networks within the industry Rekindle Learning utilises the Watch the video from this and building relationships with concept of micro-learning to help alumni event on the UCT alumni potential investors, including banks financial services professionalsYoutube channel.

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MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIR OF THE ALUMNI ADVISORY BOARD It is now two years since I was elected Chair of the Alumni Advisory Board. Much has been achieved, despite the challenging environment in which everyone has lived, studied and worked and much remains to be done.

In particular, I believe that we need to redouble our efforts to address a key function of the Alumni Association – encouraging alumni to support UCT by offering their time, talent or treasure to the University. Although many of us are actively involved, some of us may feel isolated or disillusioned or just not know how to become engaged. Some of us are radical and progressive, if not revolutionary; others of us are conservative if not reactionary. Some of us believe fervently in the fundamental principle as stated by Paulo Freire – that ”nobody is superior to anybody”. Some of us are confident in our own skin, knowing who we are and where we came from, if not where we are going. Many of us feel we are part of a Global Majority with a commitment to building an educational culture that is equitable, inclusive and supportive. Many of us are protagonists for social change, equality inclusivity and human rights. Some of us are change blockers. Many of us see the need to understand each other better so that we learn to live, learn and work together harmoniously. Many of us share the belief that knowledge knows no colour, gender or sexual orientation, nor is it validated only when it is Eurocentric. Many of us are committed to healing the past in order to transform the future and time is running out. Transformation is not a spectator sport – we are all in this together. If we stay silent or ambivalent in the face of injustice or inequality, we are part of the problem not part of the solution. As we all know, transformation is a process that goes beyond numbers – facing up to people’s lived experiences which may be very different from our own, being willing to engage in open, respectful and honest conversation even when we may disagree with each other, being willing to critically review our institutional culture to expose the “unwritten rules” and “micro indignities”. We all need to work together to advance equality, inclusivity and human rights in our day- to-day activities – we are all of equal worth. This necessarily means doing things differently – it also requires personal and collective responsibility. Our new Strategic Plan requires that all alumni are fully engaged in the transformation and renewal of our beloved UCT. Transformation will not happen of its own accord. We all need to invest our time, energy and treasure to help UCT reach the next level of excellence in ways that address current and future challenges. I want to acknowledge all those in the Development and Alumni Department and fundraising offices for their steadfast support during the year and also, all alumni who have been and continue to be willing to go the extra mile for UCT. Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa said: “We should seek to pursue at all time that which is right and true and just, no matter how inconvenient, how unpopular or how difficult...” I look forward to working with the Alumni Association in the new year. Wishing all alumni and friends of the University of Cape Town, a safe and joyous festive season!

Dianna M. Yach Chair, UCT Alumni Advisory Board

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STORY BY NAMETSO MAIKANO BOTSWANA CHAPTER GALA DINNER The Botswana Alumni Chapter held its first Annual Scholarship Gala event on the 26th of October 2017 at Masa Square Hotel. The objective was to establish a scholarship fund to benefit future UCT applicants from Botswana.

Guest speakers included Honorable Bogolo Kenewendo, the Special Elect Minister of Parliament of the Republic of Botswana), Executive Director of the Development and Alumni Department, Dr Russell Ally as well as local entrepreneur, Ms Iona Omphile. In her speech, Honorable Bogolo Kenewendo spoke about the importance of giving back. “It might seem to many that [this] may be just one other scholarship... but that one person that will get to benefit from this scholarship will have their lives transformed forever, I cannot stress enough how important this [scholarship] is,” said Kenewendo. The Botswana Alumni Chapter (BACUCT), is a volunteer society that aims to create a platform for fellow alumni in Botswana to come together, to share their UCT pride and forge long lasting business and personal relationships. In keeping with UCT tradition, the Botswana Chapter has held a variety of networking evenings termed “Lifestart Thursdays” – informal networking and socialising sessions held every Thursday at the Lengau Wine Company. Thanks to generous sponsorship received from this venue, BACUCT members enjoy discounted wine and cheese tasting as well as the opportunity to network The Honorable Bogolo Kenewendo with the Executive Director of the and share their experiences. Mr Bk Ramahobo, Development and Alumni Department, Dr Russell Ally (UCT) Ms Sethebe Manake, Ms Lerato Motshwarakgole, Mr Lesley Mmokele and Ms Mimi Gowoka were For more information on how to pledge your support among those who shared their experiences with to the BACUCT fundraising drive, please contact us at: those in attendance. [email protected]. Current chapter chairperson Nametso • 2016 Pledgers (Society AGM): Mr Lerang Selolwane Maikona, who coordinated the Gala dinner said • 2017 Pledgers (Scholarship Gala): Mr Ewetse Khama, Hon. the Botswana chapter is committed to amplifying Bogolo Kenewendo, Ms Primrose Gowoka & Ms Tuduetso the work of the University of Cape Town Mokgosi, Mr Thabiso Nkile, Ms Emang Molojwane, Ms through active fundraising for future applicants Gorata Molojwane, Mr & Mrs Modiega, Mr Andrew Pooe, and ongoing engagement with graduates who Ms Marea Olyn, Ms Tina Chikane, Colonel Mdau, Mr Judika are based in the region. “The Botswana Alumni Tladi, Mr Wazha Omphile, Mrs Tebatso Lekalake, Chapter is committed to creating connections • 2017 sponsors and friends of the Alumni: BMW (Capital between past and current generations of UCT Motors), Lengau Wine Companies, Yarona FM, Fine alumni and, to being the central liaison point Promotions, 750ml, UCT, South African High Commission, for UCT alumni who are based in Botswana,” Brownstone Foundation, Nayang Association she said.

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Members of the UCT alumni chapter attended a wine tasting event held in Wädenswil. Pictured here (L-R): Scott Wilson; Nomthandazo “Thandie” Mtwebana; PhiweMtwebana and Rolf Kuhn.

SWITZERLAND ALUMNI CHAPTER REPORT BY ROLF KUHN The Alumni Zurich Chapter held board, while Marcel Frey retired as grow and become a networking an Annual General Meeting in a board member. The assembly took platform for Swiss-based former the first semester of 2017. During the opportunity to thank Marcel Frey UCT students. the assembly the financials and for his work for the Chapter over In the second semester a social event, budget were discussed. The the years. Marcel Frey is one of the namely a wine tasting, took place in president of the chapter reported founding members of the Chapter Wädenswil, a Zurich suburb. The wine on the activities during the last and remains an important link to UCT. tasting was organised by Kapweine, year. One of the highlights was VC A main topic during the assembly a Swiss company importing wines Max Price’s visit to Zurich. Max was how to gain new members. This from South Africa. Members of the Price gave the members an insight has been one of the major topics Alumni Chapter Zurich regularly visit into the happenings at UCT and discussed amongst the current these wine tastings as they are always explained the difficulties UCT is members of the Chapter in recent a good opportunity to get together currently facing. Gary Bull was years. Since its establishment, the and share memories of studying elected as a new member of the Alumni Zurich Chapter intends to at UCT.

76 UCT Alumni News 2017 TRIPLE TRIUMPH FOR STAR SPRINTER MHLONGO Sprint sensation Mpumelelo Mhlongo won his third consecutive UCT Sportsperson of the Year prize at the university’s annual sports awards dinner on 3 November 2017. It is the first time in history that an athlete has taken home the top trophy three years in a row. This was a poignant ceremony. The joy of the victors played out against a sad backdrop, with Lydia Hall, the eminent sports administrator who coordinated the sports awards dinner for 31 years, having passed away in May this year. Hall was posthumously honoured with the Chairperson’s Award, presented to the person who has made a huge and positive impact on sports at UCT. Hall’s bereaved partner, Tish, received the trophy and plaque on her behalf. Associate Professor Tessa Minter, chair of the Sports Council, recalled words spoken at a memorial service for Hall in May: “Lydia’s testimony was a life lived for others, with integrity and fulfilment. To live on in people’s hearts, is not to die.” Soon after, the guests were to hear UCT Vice-Chancellor, Dr Max Price presented Mpumelelo Mhlongo with his third consecutive UCT Sportsperson of the Year prize. that former sports administrator Patrick Williams had, sadly, died be imprinted around its neck by now. earlier that day. It was the hard work The fastest athlete at UCT, Mhlongo of people like Hall, Williams and their excels in three events: 100m, 200m colleagues that laid the foundations and long jump. Among a long list for the attendant athletes to flourish. of notable performances in 2017, And flourish over the past year they Mhlongo was particularly impressive did, evidenced by the myriad half at a University Sports South Africa colours, full colours and trophies (USSA) 100m race, where he was being handed out. up against non-disabled athletes, tripped on his blade at the start, fell, UCT Sportsperson of the picked himself up and finished sixth Year with a time of 11.7 seconds. None flourished more than Mhlongo. Mhlongo represented UCT at The T44-division sprinter was given a Varsity Athletics in the team that won standing ovation as he made his way the B section and has been invited to the podium in apparent disbelief. to participate in the International Nobody had taken the Jamison Cup Wheelchair and Amputee Sports – the huge trophy given to UCT’s top Federation World Games in Portugal athlete – home thrice in a row before. in December 2017. All this while To put it in perspective, all-time rugby battling knee and back injuries. great HO de Villiers won it twice, in Read the full story, available at: 1966 and 1967. Mhlongo’s hand must www.news.uct.ac.za

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PhD candidate Megan Lukas receives her Green Talents award in Berlin, Germany. Lukas was one of 25 green visionaries from across the globe who were honoured. PHD CANDIDATE WINS INTERNATIONAL GREEN AWARD PhD candidate Megan Lukas was one of 25 young scientists honoured with a Green Talents award at the International Forum for High Potentials in Sustainable Development, which took place in Germany during October.

The Green Talents award is conferred research on how people connect They were also presented with by the German Federal Ministry of to their environment within the opportunities to engage with experts Education and Research to provide under-resourced township setting and key innovators to discuss their young researchers across the globe of Nyanga, in Cape Town. Her research and to gauge opportunities with a platform for sharing their work is concerned with how pro- for potential collaboration. Indeed, views on green concepts, with a environmental behaviour, sustainable as part of their award, these young mind to changing the world for the living and attachment to place unfold researchers are invited to return to better. Lukas, who is pursuing her in such settings, where green space, Germany in 2018 for a fully funded doctoral degree in environmental trees and recycling facilities are research stay at an institution of their and geographical science, was often lacking. choice. And Lukas intends to take selected from hundreds of applicants This year’s forum focused full advantage of this opportunity. from 95 different countries. “I still on sustainable production and can’t believe I was selected and that consumption and took place over two Inequality and I went to the forum. But I obviously weeks, between several German cities. environmentalism felt very honoured, especially During this time, awardees visited “In such an unequal city, where knowing that I was selected out of key research sites and sustainability access to nature is not always easy 602 applications,” she commented. hotspots in order to gain insight into for people living in a township such Lukas was recognised for her the German research landscape. as Nyanga, the people living there

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are still connecting to the natural Human and met with various experts in through sustainable living practices particular fields. Highlights include and pro-environmental enactments,” behaviour is meeting the German coordinators she explained. Through her the prominent and the 24 other awardees, who research into pro-environmental cause of the were from 21 different countries behaviour, Lukas introduces the environmental crisis – the stories we shared about concept of home. She argues that each other’s countries were very human connection to and ways of in the world today.” interesting; staying in eight cities imagining the idea of home are a in Germany; and meeting two result of this pro-environmental professors who were interested behaviour. “The concept of home is in my research with whom I could considered to hold an abundant area collaborate next year.” for understanding the social and the to understand, at a grassroots The trip provided grist to Lukas’s spatial and offers a range of research level, how and why people are mill. Her work was embraced with within the subject geography. behaving the way they are towards positivity. “In fact, my research was “As a result of social and economic their environment.” mentioned in the keynote address problems, people are creating The judging panel noted at the awards ceremony,” she said. ways to reconnect to their homes significant value in Lukas’s long- “From the interest expressed by the and engage in home-making term aims. She hopes her work will awardees, to the interest and similar activities that ultimately provide provide political decision-makers research shown by the professors I pro-environmental opportunities,” with an understanding of what is met, I felt acknowledged in the field. she explained. required, at a social and grassroots Many of the people I met want to Lukas strives to identify ways level, to achieve sustainability and visit Cape Town now! in which people in poorer urban improved socio-economic well-being “I now see that there is room communities can improve their within townships. for me in the field. Unfortunately, I lives, using sustainable methods haven’t received much support for that are both self-motivated and International collaborations my research here in Cape Town, so self-implemented. The tour was an unbelievable to be welcomed with open arms “Human behaviour is the prominent experience, according to Lukas. “We in Germany, where environmental cause of the environmental crisis in visited six institutions that focus work is taken so seriously, was an the world today. So it is important on different forms of sustainability affirmation of note for me!”

Lukas, (pictured centre, back row) accompanied 24 other researchers on a two-week-long tour of key sites of sustainability research in Germany.

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UCT group AnecNote claimed the top prize at the 2017 SA’s Got Talent competition. Members of the group are all UCT alumni and current students. Photo supplied UCT GROUP WINS SA’S GOT TALENT 2017 A Cape Town acapella group has secured the coveted top prize at the 2017 SA’s Got Talent competition. AnecNote received the most public votes at the televised grand finale event on Sunday, 12 November, walking away with the prize of R500 000 in cash. What is unique about this victory is that the group is comprised exclusively of UCT alumni and current students from the South African College of Music.

Established in 2014, AnecNote has received - we weren’t expecting to third years of my MBChB. I will be become the leading a cappella win SA’s Got Talent. We entered the graduating this December and will be group in Cape Town with monthly competition hoping to reach out to a completing my two-year internship television appearances and a wider South African audience and are at Khayelitsha District Hospital from growing performance schedule ecstatic that our journey through the 2018. I am incredibly happy that which includes performances at competition has allowed for this. Our I will still be able to perform with Kirstenbosch Gardens, Cape Town plans for next year include recording AnecNote next year,” he said. City Hall, Baxter Theatre as well a full -length album of original music, The multi-talented student said as various corporate events. Over as well as setting up an a cappella that his academic success was the last three years, AnecNote has festival. We are all very excited!” possible thanks to generous funding gained a strong public following on said Kahts. received from the Ackerman Family social media platforms, where they For this UCT alumnus, the Education Trust, who funded his regularly upload “couch videos” of competition win forms part of a BMus Honours as well as his fourth, their latest arrangements. The won much bigger and more personal fifth and sixth year of medicine. the SA’s Got Talent 2017 competition celebration story. Kahts will receive During this time, Kahts established after receiving DJ Fresh’s Golden his MBChB degree (medicine another performance group called Buzzer in the audition round and and surgery specialization) at the Jazz Between Friends, which helped being winners of every subsequent graduation ceremony to be held support his studies at UCT. round in the competition. on 20 December 2017. This, after AnecNote will perform at Group member Morne Kahts obtaining a Performers Diploma in the Kirstenbosch Gardens 2017 said the group were thrilled and Music in 2012, followed by Bachelor of Christmas Carols event in December. overwhelmed by the competition Music (Honours) degree obtained in This will be their third year of victory. “We have been overwhelmed 2014. “I completed my BMus Honours featuring in this popular Cape Town by the support and appreciation we concurrently over my second and annual event series.

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1. Class of 1966 UCT graduates attended a Golden Graduation event in May 2017. Guests enjoyed a full day of activities which included breakfast with the Executive Director of the Development and Alumni Department, Dr. Russell Ally; walking in the graduation procession and a campus tour 2. Former chair of the Cape Town chapter Karen Daniels and UCT alumna Phindile Gina attended the Distinguished Alumni Speaker Series event held at Buck Road Primary School in Grassy Park. 3. Ndileka Zantsi welcomed alumni at the pre-launch event for GSB’s new Solution Space Philippi, the first community campus to be established by UCT in the institution’s history.

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4. From L-R: Khulekani Dlamini; Anthony Moore; Brayton Paulse and Herschell Gibbs at the 2017 Varsity Cup Golf Day held at the King David Mowbray Golf Club in February. 5. Professor Pumla Gqola; Shafieka Isaacs and Dianna Yach were panelists at a Women’s Month UCT alumni event held in Johannesburg. The topic was ‘Patriarchy: women’s experiences in the workplace”

82 UCT Alumni News 2017

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6. The Development and Alumni Department hosted an alumni networking event in Kampala Uganda in July as part of a visit to the region. A new Uganda alumni chapter was formed as a result. 7. Spotted at a shopping mall in Nairobi: whilst in Kenya this July, the alumni relations teams ran into alumnus Tony Wafula and his son, pictured here with UCT senior manager for research and systems, Josiah Mavundla. We spotted a gentleman wearing a UCT hoodie and introduced ourselves! 8.UCT alumni marathon runners were hosted to refreshments at the Old Mutual Soweto Marathon in November. This was a pilot event which enabled engagement with a broader community of UCT alumni. The 2018 alumni relations events calendar will include a similar presence at the Two Oceans and Cape Argus sporting events.

83 NOTES FROM ALUMNI CHAPTERS

IN MEMORIAM The University of Cape Town extends its condolences to the family, friends and loved ones of alumni who have passed away over the last year.

Abbas, Burhanuddien (Sheikh) Libby, Rosemary Coral (Mrs) Allen, Edward Albert (Dr) Lilford, Colin Sandys (Dr) Alting Mees, Hendrik Willem (Mr) Lundy, Michael Anthony (Mr) Au, Norman (Mr) Maclean, Iain Stewart (Rev) Averbuch, Samuel Morris (Mr) Mallach, Irene (Mrs) Barnett, Ursula Annemarie (Dr) Malyon, Thelma (Mrs) Bartie, Frederick (Mr) Martin, Russell Sullivan (Mr) Bates, Mary Murray (The Lady) Matlock, Diana Finnette (Mrs) Black, Diana Louise (Mrs) McDougall, Robert Damain (Mr) Boonzaaier, Nico John (Mr) McLeod, Gary Murray (Mr) Bowman, William Russell (Dr) McNally, Susan Elise (Ms) Bromley, Thomas Francis (Mr) Meinert, Cynthia Joyce (Mrs) Brook, Rita Beatrice (Mrs) Meinert, Jürgen Christian (Mr) Caradoc-Davies, Gillian Louise (Mrs) Minnaar, Frances Dorothy (Mrs) Cardoc-Davies, Gillian (Dr) Munnik, Lourens Albertus Petrus (Dr) Caviggia, John Leo paul Joseph mario (Mr) Ngobese, Mbuyazi Dmitri (Mr) Chapman, Carol Socha Phillip (Mr) Nurick, Alan (Prof) Cox, Jennifer Maeve (Mrs) Oblowitz, Ivor David (Mr) Craig, Cecil John Tainton (Dr) Oxtoby, Richard Markham (Dr) Crankshaw, Herbert James (Mr) Pachter, Selwyn Derrick (Mr) Davies, Jane Elizabeth (Mrs) Patel, Hawa (Dr) De Groot, Eduard Christiaan Constantijn (Dr) Pearson, Oscar Edward (Mr) De Villiers, Charente Gerard (Dr) Pedersen, Marie Elfriede (Mrs) De Villiers, Geneza (Mrs) Pedersen, Svend Aage (Mr) De Vos, Wouter (Em Prof) Perrott, John Rees (Mr) Dyer, Marjorie Harriet (Dr) Rainier-Pope, Christopher Robin (Dr) Ferreira, Albertus Johannes Roux (Dr) Reeler, Lesley Lawrie (Mrs) Finnemore, Paul Unwin (Mr) Roberts, Douglas Stuart (Mr) Fouche, Gustav Wilhelmus (Prof) Rooney, Alexander Charles (Mr) Freemantle, Aubrey Charles (Dr) Rosendorff, Bernice Hazel (Mrs) Fullard, Alice Marsephine (Ms) Ross, Graham Lindsay Drury (Dr) Futeran, Gerald (Dr) Roukens de Lange, Aart (Dr) Gerber, Maurice Hyman (Mr) Rwechungura, Assumpta Devota (Ms) Gericke, Erol Nico (Mr) Sacks, Berry (Mr) Gray, Robert Norman (Mr) Saunders, Anita Johanna (Mrs) Green, Terence Richard (Mr) Schneider, Leonard (Mr) Greyling, Susanna Cornelia Francina (Dr) Shaw, Kenneth William (Mr) Griffin, John Malcolm (Mr) Shulman, Charlotte (Mrs) Gross, Gloria (Ms) Silke, Kenneth Neville (Mr) Hanmer, Richmond Norman Montagu (Mr) Silverman, Robert (Mr) Hart, Christopher Goyen (Mr) Smyth, Oloff William (Dr) Hawke, Patricia Faith (Dr) Stannard, Linda Margaret (Dr) Hawtrey, Arthur Owen (Prof) Stein, Leon (Dr) Helm, Brunhilde (Em Prof) Stephen, Alistair Matthew (Em Prof) Hoberg, Friedrich August Hermann (Mr) Tedder, James Robin (Dr) Hodgson, Michael Hugh (Mr) Tolmie, John Fraser (Dr) Hoffman, Francois (Mr) Valentine, Edwin John (Mr) Host, Beverley Anne (Mrs) Van Heerden, Abraham Francois (Mr) Humphreys, Carol Anne (Mrs) Vaughan, Bernard John (Mr) Kesting, Jean Gideon (Em Prof) Viljoen, Vernon Iver (Mr) Kilgour, Audrey Dorothea (Ms) Wannenburgh, Barbara Marion (Mrs) Kinross, Donald Barry (Mr) Wells, Derek Frank (Mr) Kleinman, Gerald (Mr) Wessels, Petronell Olive (Ms) Krause, Milton Frederick (Assoc Prof) Whitelaw, George Edwin (Mr) Krikler, Dennis Michael (Dr) Wienburg, Claire Jenneth (Ms) Lange, Myron (Dr) Wilding, Margaret Teresa (Mrs) Law, David Lawrence (Mr) Willers, Petrus Salmon (Dr) Leclezio, Raymond Andre Joseph (Dr) Woods, John Ralph (Mr) Leech, Daniel Paul (Mr) Wulf, Charles Joseph (Mr) Lerner, Laurence David (Prof) Ziehl, Pamela (Mrs)

We apologise for any errors or omissions.

84 CONTACTS Development and Alumni Humanities: International Offices: Department: Azwi Mufamadi [email protected] UCT Australian Trust Libo Msengana-Bam +27 21 650 4358 Ruth Thornton Editor: UCT Alumni News [email protected] Magazine Health Sciences [email protected] Linda Rhoda UCT Regional Office: Canada +27 21 650 2641 [email protected] Di Stafford + 27 21 406 6686 [email protected] Libo Msengana-Bam Head: Alumni Relations Law: UCT Trust (UK) [email protected] Gabrielle Ritchie Angela Edwards +27 21 650 2641 [email protected] [email protected] +27 21 650 5602 Sihle Mabaso UCT Fund, Inc (USA) Alumni Relations Manager Science: Johanna Fausto [email protected] Katherine Wilson [email protected] +27 21 650 4140 [email protected] + 27 21 650 2574 Faculty Alumni Relations Managers: Centre for Higher Education Development: Vicki Heard Commerce: [email protected] Helga Halvorson + 27 21 650 5163 [email protected] +27 21 650 1593 Graduate School of Business: Niven Maree Engineering and the Built [email protected] Environment: + 27 21 406 1321 Mary Hilton [email protected] +27 21 650 4108

UCT currently has alumni chapters in the following regions: Cape Town; Johannesburg; Durban; Port Elizabeth; Botswana; Kenya; Uganda; New Zealand; Switzerland. Don’t see a chapter in your region yet? Why not start one. To find out more, contact UCT Alumni Relations Manager, Sihle Mabaso at: [email protected].

Join UCT ALUMNI CONNECT and connect to a global community of UCT alumni. Sign up at: www.uctalumniconnect.com

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Germany: MaecenataStiftung Linienstrasse 139 Tax benefits now 10115 Berlin, Germany Tel: +49 30 2838 7909 E-mail: [email protected] available on donations Ireland: to UCT from Europe Community Foundation for Ireland Tel: +35-3-187-473-54 UCT alumni living in Belgium, France, Germany, Ireland, The Email: [email protected] Netherlands, Spain and Switzerland, can now make tax deductible donations to UCT via the Transnational Giving Europe (TGE) network Netherlands: and the University of Cape Town Trust, a UK registered charity. OranjeFonds Tel: +31-30-656-4524 Alumni who are taxpayers in these countries should please contact Email: [email protected] the organisations below for more details, mentioning that they wish to make a donation to The UCT Trust (UK Charity Registration Number Spain: 803042). Fundación Carlos de Amberes • Transnational Giving Europe (TGE) is a partnership of leading European Tel: +34-9-143-522-01 Email: [email protected] foundations and associations that facilitates secure and tax-efficient cross- OR border giving within Europe. Empresa y Sociedad Tel: +35-9-143-589-97 • The TGE network enables donors, both corporations and individuals, to Email: fabad@ financially support non-profit organisations in other member states, while empresaysociedad.org benefiting directly from the tax advantages provided for in the legislation of their country of residence. Switzerland: • All donations received by the UCT Trust are transferred to UCT in their entirety: Swiss Philanthropy Foundation the University pays the Trust’s operating costs. Tel: +41-2-273-255-54 Email: tge@ swissphilanthropy.ch Please note that the minimum donation accepted via Swiss Philanthropy Foundation is CHF500