ISSUE #2 September 2018 OFFICIAL UJ ALUMNI MAGAZINE

Prof Marwala shares his vision on the Fourth Industrial Revolution

ESTHER MAHLANGU CHIEF JUSTICE PROF ROBERT recognised for MOGOENG MOGOENG FRY ENGLE her legacy as a Acknowledged for his notable The 2003 Nobel cultural entrepreneur. contributions within the laureate in economics. judiciary sphere. HKLM/0481 HKLM/0481

NEW! FULLY ONLINE Our Programmes are now more accessible. Our Programmes are now more accessible. Towards the end of 2017, UJ launched four 100% online only programmes. These first-of-its-kind online Towardsdegrees werethe end the of Master 2017, UJof Publiclaunched Health, four the100% Master online of only Public programmes. Management These and first-of-its-kind Governance, the online Master degreesof Education were Management, the Master of andPublic the Health, Master the of MasterEducation of Public in Information Management and Communication and Governance, Technology. the Master of Education Management, and the Master of Education in Information and Communication Technology. UJ has now launched its second batch of 100% online only programmes, including the following UJfour has additional now launched online programmes:its second batch of 100% online only programmes, including the following -four Bachelor additional of Commerce online programmes: in International Accounting - Bachelor of CommerceHuman Resource in International Management Accounting - BachelorAdvanced of Diploma Human inResource Financial Management Markets - Advanced Diploma in TransportationFinancial Markets Management - Advanced Diploma in Transportation Management By going online, UJ is offering learning opportunities that accommodate logistical Bychallenges going online, such asUJ full-timeis offering employment, learning opportunities geographical that location, accommodate family obligations, logistical challengesand a host suchof other as full-time challenges employment, that our modern geographical student location, body faces. family obligations, and a host of other challenges that our modern student body faces. To find out more, visit online.uj.ac.za and for any specific questions, Toemail find [email protected] out more, visit online.uj.ac.za or call and 0800 for any980 specific 354 (toll questions, free). email [email protected] or call 0800 980 354 (toll free). CONTENTS 02 Prof Marwala

Sharing his vision on The Fourth Industrial Revolution 11 Prof Basie von Solms

Research Professor in UJ’s Academy for and Software 22 Itumeleng Sekhu

Burn survivor, media personality and motivational speaker

+6 Esther Mahlangu recognized for her legacy as a cultural entrepreneur. 8 Chief Justice Mogoeng Mogoeng acknowledged for his notable contributions within the judiciary sphere. 9 Prof Robert Fry Engle, the 2003 Nobel laureate in economics receives an honorary doctorate from UJ. 10 Prof Omotayo Arotiba is honored with Professorial Inauguration. 13 JIAS, advancing excellence and diversity. 18 Professorial Inaugural address of Prof Marlize Lombard. 20 UJ researchers discover family of silver-based anti-cancer drugs. 24 Motheo Khoaripe, eNCA business journalist and markets anchor. 26 Mike Sharman, living his best life. 28 Roger Haitengi, Namibian athlete and head of UJ’s Athletics Club. 31 Unbeaten UJ women take USSA football title. 32 UJ takes seventh USSA squash title. 34 UJ Choir wins at the World Choir Games 2018. 39 UJ Library hosts a series of events. ALUMNI IMPUMELELO 1 PROFESSOR WAS APPOINTED AS THE UNIVERSITY OF ’S SECOND VICE-CHANCELLOR AND PRINCIPAL IN JANUARY THIS YEAR. AN EMINENT SCHOLAR WITH A DISTINGUISHED RECORD. HE HOLDS MORE THAN 45 HONOURS AND AWARDS, INCLUDING THE , ’S HIGHEST HONOUR, GRANTED BY THE PRESIDENT FOR OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT IN THE INTERNATIONAL ARENA.

“My vision is to position the new forms of machine intelligence, University of Johannesburg in the breakthrough materials and Fourth Industrial Revolution”, said approaches to governance that Professor Tshilidzi Marwala in his rely on cryptographic methods. inaugural speech. “Those who will Prof Marwala said that UJ was thrive in the Fourth Industrial age a leading university in such will have to understand the world, technologies and it should and the University of Johannesburg be linked to the innovation should therefore be at the forefront architecture of South Africa of laying down a foundation for the playing “a critical role in increasing University of the 22nd century”. the productivity of our industrial But what exactly is the Fourth sector and, thereby, reducing the Industrial Revolution? And what challenges of unemployment, does it specifically mean for UJ? inequality and poverty”. Prof Marwala described the Fourth “We should create an environment Industrial Revolution as one which for our staff and students to is going to integrate humans and master the tools of the Fourth machines, the physical and the Industrial Revolution”, he said. “We graduates must have fluency of cyber, a technological revolution should bring technology into our ideas. Fluency of ideas means that that will transform the world. He classrooms, whether by means of our graduates must be able to explained how the First Industrial blended learning or robotic tutors. come up with multiple ideas about We should use technology to Revolution occurred in England in a topic. Our graduates must be monitor the progress of the 17th century, bringing the steam active, agile and adaptive learners”. engine and the mechanisation our students”. Prof Marwala stressed that the of goods. The Second Industrial “We should increase the graduation other vital skill for the Fourth Revolution happened largely in the rates of our students. We should Industrial Revolution is judgement United States and was connected increase the qualification levels of and decision making. “A robot to the generation of electricity. The our staff. We should deepen our will not be able to decide how Third Industrial Revolution came international profile by bringing about because of the invention of the world into our classrooms and we should deal with migration semiconductors in the 1950s, giving taking our staff and students into of destitute people or about us a transistor and ushering in the the world. We should aim to have ethics or how to convince a electronic age. 20% of our staff to be international leader of a country that war is an by the year 2025 and 15% of our inappropriate way of The Fourth Industrial Revolution, students to be international by the handling disputes”. he said, is the advent of cyber- year 2020”. physical systems involving entirely He said students should be treated new capabilities for people and “We are required to train scientists well and that campuses should be machines as technology becomes and engineers who understand safe spaces for generating new embedded within society and humanities and social sciences. and very often provocative ideas. even within our bodies. He used We are to train social scientists “UJ will master the Fourth Industrial examples such as genome editing, who understand technology. Our Revolution only if we invest in

2 ALUMNI IMPUMELELO Prof Tshilidzi Marwala shares his vision

our implementation capacity and Prof Marwala told Impumelelo “I have visited divisions and infrastructure. Our approach should recently that significant progress faculties on all four campuses. I facilitate open engagements. It had been made in the course of the have interacted with our students should facilitate blended learning year, from streamlining registration and unions to deal with all the where technology is the integral to resolving labour issues. He outstanding issues, especially part of teaching and learning”. said that his major challenge around salary negotiations. We was increasing the graduation have overhauled our systems of He said one of his immediate rate of students. “Also how do I financial governance to prevent priorities was the newly established create a culture of responsible future lapses in governance. I have Johannesburg Business School, behaviour, of working hard and of met with industrial players to create which would “facilitate the flow of being ambitious in our students?” the latest technology, leadership he asked. “How do I take UJ to programmes and projects and management to our industrial industry and bring industry to that are of mutual benefit. Now and government sectors”. Another UJ, especially given the serious is the time! I therefore call all our was to establish a Medical School. financial governance challenges we stakeholders in society, industry, “Again, we need to mobilise experienced last year that led to government, domestic and support from both local and the departure of senior leaders of international as well as our alumni, national governments to achieve our university? How do staff and students to join me in this. We will be seeking also the I deal with outstanding issues this great initiative of taking our participation of the private medical around accreditation and how do University into the Fourth Industrial industry. Our Medical School should I create a university of the Fourth Age. Let us jointly mobilize our Industrial Age?” allow graduates with three-year intellectual and physical resources degrees to complete a medical He said he had adopted a strategy to facilitate success in this degree in four years”. of communication. great initiative”.

ALUMNI IMPUMELELO 3 Accountancy@UJ A Leader in Accounting Education SAICA ITC 2018 results South African Institute of Chartered Accountants Initial Test of Competence Congratulations to Simon Basson achieving the number 1 position Another UJ candidate, Brett Black, was also placed in the Top 10. #UJAllTheWay

Accountancy@UJ @UJAccountancy

[email protected] www.uj.ac.za/accounting 011 559 3153 The Future College of Business and Economics Reimagined — ANATOLE FRANCE Honorary Doctorates

“Through my art, I have seen Mahlangu, who with song, cheers the world. In turn, the world and a standing ovation accepted learned about my Ndebele an honorary doctoral degree from heritage. I speak isiNdebele, I walk the University of Johannesburg isiNdebele and I wear isiNdebele (UJ) on Monday, 9 April 2018. – it is my culture. I am humbled and honoured to receive this “With this honorary doctorate, prestigious accolade for keeping we recognise Esther Mahlangu my culture alive for the generation for her legacy as a cultural to come after me.” This was entrepreneur, skillfully negotiating the sentiment of South Africa’s local and global worlds, and as an foremost Ndebele artist and educator. Indeed, as a visionary, international icon, Esther Nikwambi she traverses what to others are

6 ALUMNI IMPUMELELO insurmountable political barriers. Swedish fashion designer, and Culture Award, an award from From now on it is Dr Mahlangu!” Eytys, who embroidered Ms the French Ministry of Culture, two said Professor Federico Freschi, Mahlangu’s designs on to the awards from Radio Ndebele, and the Executive Dean of the Faculty Doja Mahlangu series. many others from South Africa of Art, Design and Architecture Over the past three decades, and abroad. (FADA) at UJ. Ms Mahlangu has exhibited both “In the context of current debates Ms Mahlangu began painting as a mural and canvas paintings in South African institutions of child. At the age of 10, her mother throughout Europe, Asia, North higher learning on questions of and grandmother, in accordance and South America, also capturing decolonisation of the curriculum, with tradition, taught her the art of the imagination of more than Ms Mhlangu is a living example of Ndebele homestead wall painting one generation on social media how authentic African knowledge and beadwork. Her work came through charitable campaigns. systems can be articulated to international attention in 1989 She collaborated with American meaningfully and sustainably”, after her inclusion in the important singer, songwriter, musician and said Prof Freschi. exhibition Magiciens de la terre, actor John Legend in a 2017 held at the Centre Pompidou “In her, we have an icon worthy Belvedere Vodka advertising in Paris. of being looked up to by the next campaign, along with RED generation of creatives, and the In 1991, she painted the 525i model (a Bono-founded charitable University, in particular. FADA is for the BMW Art Car Series, the organisation) to raise awareness greatly honoured to confer the first woman and the first person and raise funds for the fight from outside Europe or the United against HIV/AIDS in Africa. degree of Philosophiae Doctor States to do so. Her designs also honoris causa upon her.” As a national icon and custodian covered the tails of British Airways of heritage Ms Mahlangu has been Ms Mahlangu concluded: aircraft in 1997, and the new Fiat honoured with awards and medals “This honour bestowed on me 500. by Government many times, and today binds me to this institution In 2017, artist Imani Shanklin by more than one South African that shares my passion. I have Roberts celebrated her with a president. She received the Order respect for the University mural on a Tribeca boulevard in of Ikhamanga, silver class, in 2006, and its endeavours to New York. In collaboration with as well as the Mpumalanga Arts promote Africanism.” Honorary Doctorates Esther Mahlangu

“THIS HONOUR BESTOWED ON ME TODAY BINDS ME TO THIS INSTITUTION THAT SHARES MY PASSION. I HAVE RESPECT FOR THE UNIVERSITY AND ITS ENDEAVOURS TO PROMOTE AFRICANISM.”

ALUMNI IMPUMELELO 7 Honorary Doctorate Chief Justice Mogoeng Mogoeng

“The Constitution of the Republic of South Africa challenges all of us to recognise that once upon a time there were injustices in this country and today, we believe that South Africa belongs to all who live in it and may God bless South Africa.” These were the sentiments of Chief Justice Mogoeng Mogoeng, who was acknowledged with an honorary doctoral degree by the University of Johannesburg (UJ) on Tuesday, 27 March 2018. The University conferred an honorary doctorate on Chief Justice Mogoeng Mogoeng in recognition of his pioneering commitment to serving humankind by upholding the independence of the judiciary and by promoting access to justice in tangible ways. This has earned him widespread respect and admiration for serving humankind. Speaking ahead of the conferral, the Chancellor of UJ, Prof Njabulo Ndebele highlighted the significance of such an honorary From left: The Registrar, Professor Burger Kinta, degree – both to the recipient and chief Justice, Mogoeng Mogoeng. and to the University, pointing out that this honorary doctorate is THIS HONORARY DOCTORATE IS CONFERRED UPON conferred upon Judge Mogoeng JUDGE MOGOENG AS AN ACKNOWLEDGEMENT FOR as an acknowledgement of his notable contributions within the HIS NOTABLE CONTRIBUTIONS WITHIN THE JUDICIARY judiciary sphere - which should SPHERE - WHICH SHOULD REMIND SOUTH AFRICANS TO remind South Africans to take the Constitution as a guide that will TAKE THE CONSTITUTION AS A GUIDE WHICH WILL GIVE give us unity to build our country US UNITY TO BUILD OUR COUNTRY AND TO RECONCILE and to reconcile us all as South Africans. US ALL AS SOUTH AFRICANS. Mogoeng Thomas Reetsang Mogoeng, born in 1961, is the Chief Justice of the Republic of South Africa, having assumed office on 8 September 2011. Through his exemplary leadership of the judicial branch of government, he has steadfastly advanced the

8 ALUMNI IMPUMELELO constitutional values of human dignity, equality and freedom; non-racialism and non-sexism; the supremacy of the Constitution and the Rule of Law.

“Through his actions, Judge Mogoeng has been concretising each of the core values of the University. An unquestionable ethical foundation is evident from his judgements in the Constitutional Court, delivered without fear or favour, as well as from his public addresses and publications. He has earned trust and credibility through judgments that were critical of executive decisions and conduct; of parliamentary rules and conventions; and of legislation that does not conform to the Constitution, resisting political pressure and maintaining judicial independence”, said the Executive Dean of the Faculty of Law, Prof Letlhokwa George Mpedi. Prof Robert Fry Engle Judge Mogoeng’s commitment to judicial independence has a wider WORLD-RENOWNED ECONOMIST purpose: promoting access to justice by regenerating the judicial The 2003 Nobel laureate in features, autoregressive conditional system. “His quest for institutional economics, Prof Robert Fry Engle duration and more recently, dynamic was acknowledged with an honorary legitimacy of the judiciary is conditional correlation models,” doctoral degree by the University of says Prof Van Lil, the Executive rooted in the realisation that Johannesburg (UJ) on Monday, 19 Dean of the College of Business many South Africans felt alienated February 2018. and Economics. from the court system”, said Prof Mpedi. “This is a proud moment for both Prof Engle’s Autoregressive the college and myself. An honorary Conditional Heteroscedasticity During his tenure as Chief doctorate is conferred upon an models (ARCH) have become Justice, Mogoeng Mogoeng has individual as an acknowledgment indispensable econometric tools made a decided impact on and for his/her notable contributions employed by private and public contribution to South African to a specific field or outstanding sector economic researchers and society. This is clear from two service to society which relates practitioners operating as financial awards made to him in 2017. to the universities vision, mission, market analysts and economic Mogoeng Mogoeng has received values, and strategic goals and decision makers. the Biko Fanon award from the objectives. Association with the Prof Van Lill points out that the Pan-African Psychology Congress university forms part of the reason University is honoured by Prof for contributing to psychological why we confer honorary doctorates. Engle’s acceptance of a UJ honorary liberation. The award commends Today we honor and celebrate doctorate in Economics. “The him for contributing to public Professor Robert Fry Engle” says the commitment of the CBE School of Vice Chancellor of the University of awareness and creating a source Economics to quality econometric Johannesburg, Professor Tshilidzi of hope for morality in the country. education and training will be Marwala. He was also voted 2017 South enhanced through association with African of the Year in a public poll “His research has also brought into Prof Robert Engle - a global leader hosted by News24, having been being, innovative statistical methods in econometric risk-modelling”, nominated by a panel of such as co-integration, common he says. journalists and experts.

ALUMNI IMPUMELELO 9 From left: Professor Tshilidzi Marwala, Professor Omotayo Arotiba, Professor Debra Meyer, Professor Emmanuel Iwuoha PROFESSORIAL INAUGURATION Prof Omotayo Arotiba The Vice-Chancellor and Principal biosensors and sensors (Sense it); Mrs Margaret Bamidele Arotiba of the University of Johannesburg 2) Electrochemical technologies, (Ughoton, Okpe, Delta State). He (UJ), Professor Tshilidzi Marwala, such as electrochemical completed his BSc Honours and and the Executive Dean of the oxidation, photoelectrochemical MSc in Industrial Chemistry at Faculty of Science, Professor oxidation, electrocoagulation, the University of Ilorin and the Debra Meyer, hosted the ionic diode for water treatment University of Benin, respectively, professorial inauguration of (Treat it); 3) Materials science, both in Nigeria. He proceeded to Omotayo Arotiba, Professor in nanotechnology, membrane South Africa for a PhD in Physical Applied Chemistry at UJ. composites, and electrochemical Chemistry (Electrochemistry characterisation. Sensors and The inauguration took place speciality) with a scholarship from biosensors are analytical devices at the Council Chambers, the National Research Foundation that are capable of providing Madibeng Building, Auckland South Africa at SensorLab, qualitative, semi-quantitative and Park, Kingsway Campus on Department of Chemistry, quantitative information about an Monday 6 August 2018. University of the Western Cape analyte. They are characterised (UWC) under the supervision of The inaugural lecture titled, Sense by low cost, simplicity, fast Prof Emmanuel Iwuoha and Prof it, Treat it, Electrochemistry in response/analysis, ease of use, Priscilla Baker. Action, highlights research in possibilities of on-site or point of the fields of electrochemistry, care application, miniaturisability, He joined the Department of photoelectrochemistry, analytical etc. Electrochemical technologies Applied Chemistry (UJ) in 2011 electrochemistry, nano- offer a complementary or where he is now a full Professor electrochemistry, materials science alternative approach to water (since Oct 2016). Prof Arotiba and electrochemistry of materials treatment. These technologies are is the Director of the Centre from 2006 to date. sustainable, easy to design and for Nanomaterials Science operate, environmentally benign, Professor Arotiba’s research Research at UJ; the pioneer and sustainable and can remove is based on the application leader of the Electrochemistry recalcitrant pollutants. of electrochemistry to solving Research Group at UJ; and environmental, water, biomedical Prof Omotayo Ademola Arotiba also the current Chairperson of and industrial challenges. More was born in Nigeria into the family the Electrochemistry Division specifically, Prof Arotiba’s research of Chief David Omotayo Arotiba (ElectrochemSA) of the South looks at: 1) Electrochemical (from Ipele, Owo, Ondo State) and African Chemical Institute (SACI).

10 ALUMNI IMPUMELELO Prof Sebastiaan Hendricus (Basie) von Solms is a Research Professor Alumnus, Research Professor in the University of Johannesburg’s Academy for Computer Science and Software Engineering, and the and one of UJ’s longest longest serving UJ employee, with nearly five decades (48 years) of IT research and innovation under serving employees his belt. He is also the Director of UJ’s Prof von Solms joined UJ as a converted by a punch card Centre for Cyber Security, and an lecturer in 1970, in the newly machine to a set of punch cards Associate Director of the Global established Department of for submission to the mainframe. Cyber Security Capacity Centre of Computer Science. He completed There were no such things as the in the UK. his PhD in Computer Science at UJ desktop computers”, recalls in 1972 – one of the first in South Prof von Solms. A specialist in research and Africa – and was promoted to consultancy in the field of senior lecturer. In 1978, he became In the early 1980s, the University information and cyber security, Chairperson of the Department of created its first hands-on Prof von Solms has written Computer Science, a position he laboratory for Computer Science and presented more than 150 occupied until 2006. students, consisting of Burroughs papers, most of which have B20 mini-computers – one of the been presented at international “I started out long before anybody first such labs in South Africa. “A research conferences and/or had even heard of the Internet few years later, the IBM PC was published in international subject or cyberspace. Back in those journals. He has supervised more days, there were basically only launched, and labs were refitted than 150 postgraduate students, big mainframe computers, and with these new ‘wonder machines’. and is well known in the media students had to prepare their Still, the idea of portable as one of South Africa’s most programs on coding forms. computers didn’t yet exist”, authoritative cyber security experts. The programs had to then be remembers Prof von Solms. Prof Basie von Solms

ALUMNI IMPUMELELO 11 In the late 1990s, computer networks members across all industries. At developed faster as the Internet UJ, we have been widely involved evolved. “I was very privileged to have with accountability of members of seen the dawn of this discipline, to be boards, as cybercrime is the number part of and experience the massive one threat for companies across all developments in the IT fields over sectors”, he says. the years. Thus the demand for IT graduates “I am proud that I could, over is huge, says Prof von Solms. “It is the years, be part of establishing acknowledged globally that the Computer Science and Informatics demand for expertise in the cyber as an academic discipline, and be field is among the highest, if not part of the internationally acclaimed the highest, among all professional Academy for Computer Science and disciplines”, he says. Software Engineering that we now have at UJ”, says Prof von Solms. As a result, the certificate courses in the Centre for Cyber Security In 2005, Prof von Solms was awarded are constantly oversubscribed by IT the ICT Leadership Award by the employees, while full-time students South African IT industry and the can barely finish the four-year Computer Society of South Africa degree before they are head-hunted. for “exceptional thought leadership “We struggle to get lecturers and qualities and sustainable contribution postgraduate students, because the to the development and growth of demand out there is so high”, he says. the South African IT Industry”. A year later, the South African Academy for In 2011, Prof von Solms was awarded Science and Arts awarded him the the Alumni Achievers award by MT Steyn Medal for Scientific and the Metropolitan Technical Achievement. University (NMMU) in Port Elizabeth, In 2009, the book Information Security where he actually started his Governance, co-authored with his academic studies, in 1965, when brother, Professor Rossouw von it was still the University of Port Solms, was published internationally Elizabeth. by Springer. The book documents the In 2016, Prof von Solms was elected experience and research resulting as a member of the Academy of from cooperation between the two Science of South Africa, which brothers over 10 years. honours the country’s “most The following year, he received the outstanding and celebrated scholars”. Computer Society of South Africa He is also a Fellow of the Computer (CSSA) Distinguished Service in ICT Society of South Africa, a Fellow of Award, as well as the 2010 IFIP TC-11 the British Computer Society, a Kristian Beckman Award, for “his Fellow of the Oxford Martin School never tiring work towards broadening of the University of Oxford and a the meaning of Information Security Chartered Information Technology in various aspects”. Also in 2010, the Professional (CITP). SA Institute for Computer Scientists and Information Technologists He is a past president of the awarded the Pioneers in Computer International Federation for Science and Information Technology Information Processing (IFIP), which Award to Prof von Solms for his he is now an honorary member of, contribution to IT, and specifically and is the vice-chair (Africa) for the Information Security, over the IEEE’s Special Interest Group on Big last 40 years. Data and Cyber Security. Prof von Solms says cybercrime is “My journey started early and is now massively pervasive worldwide, coming to an end, but the future lies with Africa being a “hotbed” of open for the present generation to cybercrime. “Cybercrime is no develop applications that we cannot longer a technical issue, but an even envisage at this stage”, issue that concerns company board says Prof von Solms.

12 ALUMNI IMPUMELELO JIAS: Advancing Excellence and Diversity

The Johannesburg Institute “New conversations start here”, of Advanced Studies (JIAS) says JIAS director, Professor Peter promotes advanced research Vale. We are sitting in the Cartoon in the humanities and natural Room, one of the Institute’s sciences, and is the city’s first fully conference spaces, its walls lined fledged institute of its kind. JIAS is with the works of contemporary a joint initiative of the University South African political cartoonists. of Johannesburg (UJ) in South “JIAS creates the conditions in Africa, and Nanyang Technological which scholars can deliver cutting- University (NTU) in Singapore, and edge interdisciplinary thought is based in an elegant Roman and research at the highest style building in Westdene, academic level”, he says. “This is Johannesburg. a place to work, think, talk and deliberate, and the greatest luck of all was finding this property. It’s made all the difference because of its wonderfully conducive atmosphere. It’s like a little college in Oxford or Cambridge in the heart of an African city.” Built on a hillside, with playful concrete cherubs adorning its rooftops, the landmark JIAS building was formerly a guesthouse, and JIAS now uses it for conferences and workshops and accommodation for participants, visiting fellows and academics. The building also houses the JIAS staff offices. The accommodation is gracious; and there are shaded courtyards, generous lounges and libraries, conference spaces and a communal dining area. “Institutes for advanced studies have their early origins in monasteries”, explains Prof Vale. “The modern versions of institutes like these began with Princeton in the USA in the 1930s, when they

ALUMNI IMPUMELELO 13 started an institute for advanced main programmes is the Writing imaginative collection of short studies that aimed to be at the Fellowship. A dozen residence stories featuring funerals and very top of research and higher Writing Fellows come to stay at ancestors and satirical flair. education. One of the first JIAS for four months to work on While Mhlongo recently led a fellows, would you believe, their chosen subject. The writers JIAS seminar about African myth was Albert Einstein”. apply for the fellowship and a and magic realism, the subject of selection is then made. Last year Today’s institutes of advanced African ontology was the concern there were over 300 applicants studies locate themselves of another Writing Fellow, Dr from South Africa, Asia, Uganda, Elvis Imafidon who teaches in in different ways within the Nigeria, Kenya, the USA and India. the Department of Philosophy global academic world. JIAS is of Ambrose Alli University in a university-based institute as South African author, Niq Mhlongo, Nigeria. Ontology is the study of opposed to free-standing institutes was one of the Writing Fellows who stayed at JIAS this year to metaphysics and the nature of such as those in Princeton, Berlin, being, and he looks at how African work on his new novel. Born in Radcliffe, and Stellenbosch. concepts of reality affect the Soweto, Mhlongo’s first highly Although rooted within UJ and African idea of the good. acclaimed novel was linked to NTU, JIAS collaborates Dog Eat Dog published in 2004 by Kwela Books with other institutions of higher In another field, that of urban and was translated into Spanish planning, Writing Fellow learning throughout the country. under the title Perro Come Perro. Melissa Tandiwe Myambo, did a Launched in May 2015, JIAS is in His most recent book Soweto under comparative project on spatial its fourth year now, and one of its the Apricot Tree (Kwela 2018) is an inequality in urban spaces in

14 ALUMNI IMPUMELELO JIAS is an ongoing conversation...

JIAS IS A JOINT INITIATIVE OF THE UNIVERSITY OF JOHANNESBURG (UJ) IN SOUTH AFRICA, AND NANYANG TECHNOLOGICAL UNIVERSITY (NTU) IN SINGAPORE

Delhi and Johannesburg. In 2016, and donate books. And they also connect with leading scholars in she did research in India while visited a prison, where the Writing their fields. These sessions feature based at the Centre for the Fellows engaged with more than intense collaboration with scholars Study of Developing Societies 100 inmates. JIAS gave readings at the NTU, as well as with Nobel in New Delhi, enabled by and talked about how to produce Laureates. Fulbright-Nehru Academic and written texts and poems. “It was Professional Excellence Research incredible what came out”, says In the spring term, JIAS has topic Award. Pamela Maseko, an Prof Vale, “it was agreed that an sessions, which include colloquia associate professor at Rhodes anthology of poetry written by – the jewel in the crown of JIAS University in the Eastern Cape, the inmates would be published.” events – in which international was researching language policy JIAS and individual writers experts in the public and and planning in education, donated books to the Correctional professional sectors gather for language development, and Services Library. intense debate about a specialist the historiography of isiXhosa Apart from the Writing Fellowship, subject. In 2016, for example, literature. JIAS also hosts a series of JIAS hosted a hugely successful The Writing Fellows host a series workshops, conferences and colloquium on Why the Brain of weekly seminars during their colloquia throughout the year. Matters, which was attended by stay at JIAS, and one gets a “We host visiting lecturers more than 50 participants from sense that there is real academic and academics, we do book more than 27 countries. The launches, we have conferences on and critical thinking across an colloquium led by Prof Willem everything from the decolonisation incredible range of subjects here. Hendrik Gispen, Professor Emeritus of thought to ”, of Neuroscience and former “As you can imagine”, says Prof says Prof Vale. “JIAS is an ongoing Vale, “the lunch conversation conversation”. VC of Utrecht University in the at JIAS is totally dynamic and Netherlands, and a range of global can include from poetry and The annual JIAS work program- experts made presentations. dark matter to the nature of me is divided into three terms of On 22 October 2018, JIAS is the universe. There is real multi- equal length, the summer term disciplinary thinking here. JIAS is a (mid-February to mid-May); winter hosting a colloquium on Digital wonderful experiment”. term (from the start of June to end Finance in Africa’s Future: August); and spring term (from Innovations and Implications. JIAS also works in the field and mid-September to mid-December). Trevor Manual will deliver the within communities, says Prof Vale. In the summer term, JIAS has its keynote address at the opening In April this year, for example, a open session for students from any session. With some 50 experts team of the new Writing Fellows discipline, encouraging them to participating in panels and went to the Polokwane Literary pursue intensive reading, research workshops, the colloquium seeks Fair in Limpopo. The Fair is or writing. held by the Polokwane Cultural to map out developments in the In the winter term, JIAS has Services Department and JIAS has fields of digital finance and try to university sessions, which are open attended for the last few years. understand the social and to departments and faculties political implications. This time the JIAS team went to within UJ. These sessions aim to three high schools in Mankweng encourage UJ staff to broaden For more information visit the township to engage with learners the scope of their research and to JIAS website www.jias.joburg

ALUMNI IMPUMELELO 15 UJ_T&SCM_50yrsCelebration_AD_A4_AlumniMAG.indd 1 2018/05/03 9:59 AM 2018-08_STH Alumni Bar_A4 print ad_v01_repro.indd 1 2018/08/08 11:35 Professorial Inaugural address: Prof Marlize Lombard

Professor Alexander Broadbent and Professor Marlize Lombard Professorial Inaugural address: Prof Marlize Lombard

THE FUTURE OF HUMAN ORIGINS RESEARCH LIES IN INTER-DISCIPLINARY RESEARCH PROGRAMMES, AIMED AT UNDERSTANDING GENE-CULTURE, BRAIN-CULTURE AND GENE-BRAIN CO-EVOLUTION.

According to Professor Marlize “Around two million years ago the population history of sub- Lombard, the Director of the when these early hominins roamed Saharan Africa, aligning it with Centre for Anthropological our grasslands and where many the archaeological records of Research at the University of fossil discoveries have been the region.” Johannesburg (UJ), human origins made since, mostly by non-South researchers will need to integrate African researchers in a still male She highlighted that the artefacts fossil, archaeological and genetic dominated field. Yet, the work of excavated by archaeologists are records with state-of-the-art South African women scientists human-made material culture, the methods, and global trends and is greatly influencing what we tangible products and extensions debates; while dedicating the are learning about the genetic of the human mind. “Lyn Wadley, knowledge thus gained to the and cognitive origins of our own my mentor, A-rated scientist, youth and to their futures in species, Homo sapiens”, she said. and the first woman professor a region that gave birth to in archaeology in South Africa, Prof Lombard pointed out our humanness. worked several prominent Stone that Prof was Age sites, and her cognitive Professor Lombard explored the a trailblazer in the field of archaeology on material culture questions what make us human mitochondrial DNA, which showed from these sites demonstrates how (Homo sapiens or modern human, that all living humans stem ancient hunter-gatherers had fluid i.e., ‘us’), and how, where and when from one ‘great, great, great … intelligence that allowed them did we gain our humanness, when grandmother’, a woman who lived to conceive of and use complex she delivered her professorial in sub-Saharan Africa (perhaps knowledge systems to resolve inauguration address, Human even southern Africa), and most everyday problems innovatively”. Origins in Southern Africa: A Stone closely resembled a San woman Age Archaeologist’s Reflections on of today. “Her mentee Carina “It is then to the human mind the Past and Future. Prof Lombard Schlebusch now works from – a mind that is capable of sketched some of the paradoxes Uppsala in Sweden, from where wisdom and reason, and a mind and puzzles around the discovery she is exploring ancient human that is flexible enough to think of the first fossil skull of a young DNA in a collaborative project simultaneously both scientifically hominin child in South Africa with myself and other scientists and creatively – that I find myself almost a century ago. in an endeavour to reconstruct drawn to explore the origins of our

ALUMNI IMPUMELELO 19 humanness here in southern Africa. of our humanness – there can be such as neuro-archaeology, and Working with cognitive scientists no science, no art, and indeed reconstructing the full genomes from Scandinavia, we are no Fourth Industrial Revolution of people who lived millennia delving into the earliest symbolic without them. This way of thinking before us were inconceivable. “The behaviours, what stone tools has its neurological foundations in the precuneus, an area of the future of human origins research can reveal about human brain in which only Homo sapiens now lies in inter-disciplinary cognitive evolution, and the displays a general enlargement.” research programmes, aimed evolution of causal cognition”, at understanding gene-culture, said Prof Lombard. Prof Lombard stressed activities such as bow hunting was brain-culture and gene-brain In a first study of its kind they used instrumental in shaping the co-evolution. As human origins EEG (electroencephalography) modern human brain. “A brain researchers, our task will be scanning that provided the first with which Africans colonised the to integrate fully our fossil, globe – outwitting and outlasting direct neuro-archaeological archaeological and genetic all other human groups, becoming evidence for praxis, the human ancestral to us all. It also alludes records with state-of-the-art ability, based on ‘ideas’ or to our abilities to gain causal methods, and global trends and ‘imaginings’, to knowingly play out knowledge, and to reason about debates; whilst dedicating the different scenarios in our minds outcomes based on it, which is key knowledge thus gained to the before enacting them. to the human way of thinking.” youth and to their futures in a “Such conscious imagination and Prof Lombard concluded that a region that gave birth to ideation are quintessential traits few decades ago, lines of research our humanness.”

UJ researchers discover family of silver-based anti-cancer drugs

A new family of potential silver- Esophageal cancer cells are Fewer side effects based anti-cancer drugs has been known to become resistant to discovered by researchers at the current forms of chemotherapy. Apart from needing a much lower University of Johannesburg (UJ). dose than an industry standard, “The UJ3 complex is as effective The most promising complex in the UJ3 is also much less toxic. UJ3 has been successfully tested in as the industry-standard drug “In rat studies, we see that up to rats and in several human cancer Cisplatin in killing cancer cells 3 grams of UJ3 can be tolerated cell lines in laboratory studies. The in laboratory tests done on per 1 kilogram of bodyweight. complex is as effective against human breast cancer and This makes UJ3 and other human esophageal cancer cells, as melanoma, a very dangerous silver phosphine complexes a widely-used chemotherapy drug, form of skin cancer, as well”, says we have tested about as toxic but at a ten times lower dose, and Professor Marianne Cronjé, Head as Vitamin C”, says Professor much lower toxicity against non- of the Department of Biochemistry malignant cells. at the University of Johannesburg. Reinout Meijboom, Head of the Department of Chemistry at the In research published in BioMetals, “However, UJ3 requires a 10 times University of Johannesburg. UJ3 is shown to be as effective lower dose to kill cancer cells. It against human esophageal also focuses more narrowly on If UJ3 becomes a chemotherapy cancer cells, as a widely-used cancer cells, so that far fewer drug in future, the lower dose chemotherapy drug in use today. healthy cells are killed”, she says. required, lower toxicity and greater

20 ALUMNI IMPUMELELO focus on cancer cells will mean create cancerous tumors. To do standard laboratory equipment, fewer side effects from this, they need far more energy which shows good potential cancer treatment. than healthy cells do. for large scale manufacture. The family of silver thiocyanate UJ3 appears to target the UJ3 targets this need for phosphine compounds is very mitochondria, resulting in energy, by shutting down the large. We were very fortunate to programmed cell death to “powerhouses” of a cancer cell, test UJ3, with an unusually ‘flat’ kill cancer cells - a process the mitochondria. The complex chemical structure, early on in called apoptosis. When a cancer then causes the release of the our exploration of this chemical cell dies by apoptosis, the result is “executioner” protein, an enzyme family for cancer treatment”, a neat and tidy process where the called caspase-3, which goes says Prof Meijboom. dead cell’s remains are “recycled”, to work to dismantle the cell’s not contaminating healthy cells command centre and structural Research on UJ3 and other around them, and not supports, cutting it up for recycling silver thiocyanate phosphine inducing inflammation. in the last stages of apoptosis. complexes at the University is ongoing. Certain existing chemotherapy Unusual compounds drugs are designed to induce Research funders apoptosis, rather than “septic” UJ3 complex and the others in the cell death which is called necrosis, family are based on silver. This The research was funded by the for this reason. makes the starter materials for Technology Transfer Office of synthesizing the complex far more the University of Johannesburg, Cancer cells grow much bigger economical than a number of the National Research and faster, and make copies of industry-standard chemotherapy Foundation of South Africa, themselves much faster, than drugs based on platinum. “These and the Technology Innovation healthy cells do. In this way they complexes can be synthesized with Agency of South Africa.

From left: Professor Reinout Meijboom, Professor Marianne Cronjé, Dr Zelinda Engelbrecht Itumeleng Sekhu against all odds

“I WAS ABLE TO PUSH PAST THE BARRIERS OF LOW SELF-ESTEEM AND DISCOVER MY STRENGTH, RESILIENCE AND UNIQUE ABILITY TO SEE THAT BEAUTY GOES DEEPER THAN SKIN.”

Itumeleng Sekhu is the founder Tshwane, Sekhu got severely burnt Sekhu’s mother was her guiding and MD of the Itumeleng Sekhu when a candle fell on her at home. light throughout her childhood Foundation, a philanthropic NPO, She was only 11 months old. Her – “through her strength and and author of the book What right hand, as well as four fingers tenacity, she continued in life, no do you see?, which is her story of on her left hand, were amputated matter what storms hit her” – but courage and fortitude in the face as a result. “I was practically raised ultimately it was Sekhu’s faith that of the permanent disfigurement in Muelmed Hospital in Pretoria enabled her to find her path in life. she suffered after being burnt in a until I was about 15 years old. “I was determined to live my fire as a toddler. I had 104 surgical procedures, and in-between I attended Hope life as God intended. It was my Sekhu, 30, graduated from UJ School in Johannesburg and acceptance of Him as my Father in 2014 with a BA in Audiovisual Pretoria School, which are both that was instrumental in helping Communications, majoring in schools for physically challenged me to navigate my way through communications, psychology and learners”, she says. the obstacles that constantly media studies, sponsored by the threatened to overwhelm me”. Dischem Foundation. By then, she Although she was a bright learner, “I was able to push past the was already a media personality, school was difficult at times, she barriers of low self-esteem and working with a number of Christian says, because “the other children discover my strength, resilience programmes including ONE Gospel were mean and continually called and unique ability to see that channel (DStv) and Friends Like me names, even though we were beauty goes deeper than skin. My These on SABC 1, as well as The all disabled”. “I grew up with low self-esteem, as 90% of my face is challenge to readers of my book Sound Revival and The Sacred scarred. The word beauty was rare. is to look beyond the scars on the Space on Metro FM, and Making I even tried to commit suicide on outside, and see who I am, a strong Moves on Bonngoe.tv. numerous occasions”, she recalls. woman with a beautiful soul and “My psychology major equipped indomitable spirit”, she says. What do you see? takes the reader me to have good relations in the on her emotional and spiritual While at UJ, Sekhu became a media and in my life. I have been journey, firstly through the physical project manager for the Sbusiso able to relate to almost everyone pain, and then through the pain Leope Education Foundation, in both the workspace and in my of being rejected and ridiculed as which assists hundreds of students personal life”, says Sekhu. a young girl because she with bursaries to continue with Born in Makapanstad near was different. tertiary education. She was in

22 ALUMNI IMPUMELELO charge of organising seminars for the past seven years. Through As a motivational speaker, in South Africa, which brought these candles, I want to assist Sekhu has delivered talks to together entrepreneurs. She was other people to discover their numerous corporates, institutions, also communications manager inner light, to ensure that they organisations and events, focusing for Map Christ, and a brand reach their full potential”, on the power of self-esteem, and Ambassador for Dove Unilever. says Sekhu. of a persistent and confident mind. “Tell yourself that I’m going She is also a social media Sekhu has also conquered the to do it, it will happen”, she says. manager for I Do magazine, and keyboard of her computer, as To students, her advice is, “study, recently launched her new venture, well as the steering wheel. “Even and study very hard, you can get manufacturing candles. “I have though I have only one finger, a bursary. My dreams push me to found my inner light, and been my thumb, I can type 35 words success. Reach your dreams and fulfilling my purpose in the media per minute and can drive myself dream more dreams of where industry, in both TV and radio, anywhere in the world”, she says. you want to see yourself”.

ALUMNI IMPUMELELO 23 24 ALUMNI IMPUMELELO Motheo Khoaripe eNCA business journalist and markets anchor

Motheo Khoaripe, 32, is a business and by midday, I’d be at work, then they’ve developed into fully fledged journalist and markets anchor for return for a 7.30 pm psychology businesses is gratifying. “I want to eNCA, best known as anchor of the class”, he says. help black people to be part of the channel’s Moneyline show. economy, to give them the right It didn’t get easier afterwards. tools to equip them adequately He cut his teeth in broadcasting Despite Khoaripe’s degree, he to get ahead in business, and on YFM radio station, which he sold pots for two years in order to to learn and talk about money joined in 2012 as a news and sports make ends meet. “I managed to reporter before moving to Power get by. We all have fight in us, and comfortably”, he says. FM as a business reporter in 2014 I rely on my unassailable faith that His TV job aside, Khoaripe has also for a year. He joined eNCA in 2015. my life is part of a bigger plan. I partnered with a financial advisor am here to add something to the “As a business reporter, I’ve to improve financial literacy and world, so even when things don’t discovered there is a section of educate high school learners as go according to plan, I take that society that will never get to know well as young professionals. “I want as only a life lesson more than how money works. It’s not that to teach as many people as I can, something that would break me. people don’t have money, it’s that as soon as I can, to become money So always rise above the challenge, they just don’t know how to use it”, wise, to learn how to keep money, knowing it will be a reference point he says, adding: “I’d like to teach not only spend it”. for my next challenge”, he says. young people about money before To this end, he is also working to they get money. And to tell the Khoaripe was 24 when he started introduce a workable financial stories untold”. working at YFM, under the literacy programme into the South guidance of Zukile Majova, the Khoaripe matriculated at African curriculum system. “The editor of the station at the time. Wordsworth High School in Benoni, practical aspects of finance need At Power FM, he was mentored with merit, in 2006. “My mind to be understood by all”, he says. by Siki Mgabedeli, and produced wandered and I found it difficult He is inspired by the underdog. Power Business and Power to concentrate. I loved sport more “Everyone has a war story. Those Perspective shows. than my books, to be honest. I who make it to where they want did really well in the Quiz and JSE At eNCA, dissecting his first budget to be, despite the odds stacked challenge team”, he recalls. speech remains the highlight of against them. Those people his career. “It was a chance to inspire me”. As a boy, he had his mind set on delve into its depths, fully unpack being a soldier or Navy officer. Last year, Khoaripe was named it and help people understand its “I also did well in cricket so I also among the Mail & Guardian’s Top significance. A chance to serve had a dream of representing the others”, he says. 200 young people. Proteas”, he says. Khoaripe says he has noticed how Plans for the future? “I want to get Instead, he enrolled at UJ, many people encounter “glass into the agriculture technology completing his BA in Corporate ceilings” when it comes to money. business. It’s something I have Communications in 2010. Money “The financial jargon doesn’t help been passionate about for a long issues made it a tough journey. the masses to understand their time. So going back to school to “It was also very important to financial issues. That’s why I love get a new set of skills is part me to prove to my parents that I the world of finance, and business of the plan. was deserving of all the sacrifices journalism. It’s a platform for me to they’d made for me to go to I would also love to lecture a bridge that gap”, he says. varsity. I did promotions and odd course on financial journalism gigs to help them pay the fees. I For the same reason, telling stories and journalism in the modern would go to class in the morning about start-up businesses and how era. So lots to do!”

ALUMNI IMPUMELELO 25 Mike Sharman is the co-founder at West Hollywood’s well-known In 2015, Bidvest Media, a of Retroviral, an award-winning Ha Ha Café. “Stand-up comedy division of Bidvest Group Limited, digital communications agency and marketing are linked, so that purchased a majority stake in that creates online word-of-mouth training stood me in good stead. Retroviral, though Sharman spread for cutting edge brands, I am passionate about brand still retains an interest in the using bespoke strategy, social presentation, and I love speaking company and continues to lead media and web tactics. and performance. It’s like my its nine-strong team in his typical, church”, he says. He’s also travelled disruptive, entrepreneurial way, in A high energy, loquacious 35-year extensively – “travel is my guilty offices in Sandton. old, Sharman is also co-founder passion”, he smiles. of Webfluential, a platform that “My day starts at 7.45 am and I establishes relationships between Sharman returned to South Africa work until 5 pm. I was full-on in consumers and brands through in 2006, then wrote a one-man the early days, working late at influencers. He was named one show and took it to the National night, but it’s important to have of the Mail & Guardian’s top 200 Arts Festival in Grahamstown, but balance. In my spare time I’m with young (under 35) South Africans ultimately decided to immerse my family, and I love listening to in 2013. himself into the career path he podcasts and reading everything set out on at RAU. He worked for to do with tech start-ups”, he says. With more than 12 years of start-up PR agencies, and did a In his book, Sharman entwines marketing agency experience, stint with an agency in London business insights and universal Sharman has worked on brands between 2008 and 2010, which he premises of first hires, cash such as Nando’s, RocoMamas, says was vital to developing his flow challenges, brand building, Kreepy Krauly Wrangler, Castle business acumen and honing his networking and pitches, with his Lager BraaiPhone, Russell Hobbs skills as a marketer in the digital storytelling approach, delivering and Beeno, to name a few. “I space. “Through working for other a compelling read complete with love making stuff go viral”, says agencies, I got to experiment in armed robberies and fancy-dress Sharman, who had his debut a team, on big accounts, and competitions, while partnering business book, The Best Dick tapped into a network of the right with some of the world’s best published last year (2017). people”, he says. known brands. Brilliant at self branding, and Retroviral was launched in 2010 Sharman writes in the preface famed for dressing up in eye- and quickly carved a niche for “From scribbling logos and popping costumes for the brands itself as an agency that gets formulating some semblance he’s working on, Sharman has people talking about brands, of a new agency model – that appeared on TV, radio and print through tactics like design, blogger combined PR, digital and media numerous times, and is relations, community management activation – on napkins at multiple described by his friend, radio and viral video production and London Starbucks, to starting personality Gareth Cliff – in the distribution. Among his first briefs Retroviral with no business plan foreword to his book – as one were Absa’s digital channels, and and not a solitary client, this is my of those “pioneering, fearless SAB’s campaign for Miller beer. entrepreneurs, with a frontier personal entrepreneurial odyssey”. A huge highlight was producing quality to them that often Sharman is married, and has digital content for Nando’s. propels them into the two children with a third “Retroviral seeded various Nando’s stratosphere internationally”. on the way. campaigns, including its ‘Last Sharman matriculated at King Dictator Standing’ campaign, Edward School in Houghton in depicting Zimbabwe president 2001, then enrolled for a marketing Robert Mugabe in a video playing communications degree at UJ with dictators such as Colonel (then RAU) in 2002, completing it Gaddafi. It was the first marketing in 2004. It was the “right degree”, campaign in South Africa to he says, even though he initially attract one million YouTube views had his heart set on acting and in less than one week”, more creative pursuits. “I liked the says Sharman. mixture of communications and More recently, Retroviral executed business. I got to dabble in the the online communications for audio-visual, in politics, business all the #5GumExperience parties management and marketing, and and was the seeding agency picked up solid business principles behind the Douwe Egberts yawn- along the way”. activated coffee vending machine. After graduating, Sharman “We work with bloggers and online decided to go to acting school influencers, and of course I’m big in Los Angeles, enrolling in an on Twitter (he has over 16 200 eight-week stand-up comedy followers). I’m very tech driven”, course that culminated in a show says Sharman.

26 ALUMNI IMPUMELELO “I’M LIVING MY BEST LIFE, RIGHT HERE IN SOUTH AFRICA, WHERE WE DO SOME OF THE MOST CREATIVE WORK IN THE WORLD”, HE SMILES. Mike Sharman Co-founder of Retroviral

ALUMNI IMPUMELELO 27 Roger Haitengi

28 ALUMNI IMPUMELELO HAITENGI, 34, HAS WON NUMEROUS TRIPLE JUMP COMPETITIONS OVER HIS ATHLETIC CAREER, TAKING HOME HIS FIRST MAJOR MEDAL, A BRONZE, AT THE 2014 AFRICAN CHAMPIONSHIPS. Namibian athlete and head of UJ’s Athletics Club

Roger Haitengi is a Namibian He followed up with an MTech With the Cambridge International triple jump medalist, manager and in Operations Management Examination (CIE) school coach of UJ’s Athletics Club, which (Industrial Engineering) at UJ, qualification, and having done under his guidance, has established which he completed in 2017. well in maths, Haitengi found the itself as one of the leading track “I plan to go into industrial transition to Tshwane University and field clubs in Gauteng. engineering in a few years, but quite easy. Two and a half years Haitengi, 34, has won numerous at the moment, I’m very happy later, when he enrolled at UJ, his triple jump competitions over his where I am. I was rewarded by the mother advised him to finish his athletic career, taking home his opportunity to train and develop degree, however long it took. She first major medal, a bronze, at young athletes. I didn’t get the said that after my degree, I’d be the 2014 African Championships. best start – most athletes were better prepared to decide my path. He set a national record for the ahead of me when I was younger triple jump at 16.78 m, at the “Like her, I’ve always worked hard – but I’ve learnt a lot, taking the African Athletics United (AAU) UJ and consistently to achieve my positives from each coach I’ve Athletics & Nkwalu Invitational in goals. I don’t like failure”, he says. 2016, and is yet to be beaten. had along the way, and doing a lot of research to improve my Industrial engineering is the right Haitengi’s athletics talent was “late performance. Now I can give back choice, he says, as he is naturally to bloom”, he says, as growing up and get these athletes on the right drawn to business operations in Windhoek, there were very few footing to make a career out of it. and processes in industrial athletics coaches, and even fewer A lot of scholarship students who development in South Africa. who were specialised in triple jump. “South Africa is a great place to be “I played rugby and soccer, but have trained under me are now on exposed to engineering, as there is my first formal coaching in triple the rise”, he says. plenty of growth and opportunity jump only started when I was 16”, Born in Poland, Haitengi returned in this field”, he says, adding that he says. to Namibia with his Polish mother he continually reads and updates when he was six years old. “I could Haitengi graduated from high his knowledge. school in Windhoek in 2003 and speak Polish, but not English got a scholarship to study at or Afrikaans”, he says. Haitengi Meanwhile, Haitengi’s life is a full- Tshwane University of Technology and his younger brother were time routine of coaching, training in 2004. In 2006, after he won a raised by their mother, who is and participating in competitions. silver medal for long jump in the also academically accomplished. He recently returned from the SA Student Sports Union (SASSU) “My mother got a Master’s in Commonwealth Games, where championships, and was awarded Economics and worked for the he came third in the qualification a UJ sports bursary, he enrolled round of the triple jump event, and for a NDip Marketing, which he Namibian National Council. She is completed in 2007. He then joined still there. She gave us the basics took eighth place overall in the the Engineering Faculty at UJ to of our educational discipline and final. His next big goal is a medal do a BTech Management Services, value system. My brother is also in the 2020 Olympics. finishing it in 2014, the same doing well in Namibia. He is in IT year he was appointed UJ software development”, athletics manager. says Haitengi.

ALUMNI IMPUMELELO 29 HKLM/AI/0516

CREATING TOMORROW

The 4th Industrial Revolution is here and we cannot afford to get left behind. Constant advances in technology and the rapid rate at which AI is integrating into our daily lives, means that how we as human beings behave is evolving. This is not just the situation in the workplace: how we interact with each other is changing just as much as how we interact with machines.

World renowned thought leaders and a focus on everything 4.0, positions the University of Johannesburg to catapult Africa into this new era. We are creating tomorrow through meaningful cross-discipline conversations leading to impactful research and innovation that will transform lives and landscapes around us.

uj.ac.za/4IR Unbeaten UJ women take USSA football title

The University of Johannesburg achieved last year. “We went into In addition, we had a different women’s team maintained an the week with a strong desire to approach for every match and unbeaten record to emerge as do better than 2017 when we were adopted the approach of taking champions at the end of the the hosts, we wanted to finish it one game at a time.” said University Sport South Africa higher this time.” she said. the coach. football tournament in Port Elizabeth this year. A number of elements had Baloyi also said their work ethic contributed to their success, extended beyond just the players, UJ topped their group and she added. with the management team clinched the title when they playing a critical role behind defeated Tshwane University The first thing is that we were the scenes to ensure the squad of Technology (TUT) on penalties extremely disciplined on and off remained focused. in the final. All the matches the field. The unity in the team were played at Nelson was also strong and we kept Striker Amanda Mthandi played a Mandela University. telling ourselves we were capable big part, scoring nine goals during the tournament. Coach Jabulile Baloyi said of winning the title. The whole afterwards that UJ had set group believed it and we were “She was the top goal-scorer and themselves a goal: to improve always motivated to make sure was named player of the on the fourth position they had we achieved more than last year. tournament”, said the coach.

THE UNIVERSITY OF JOHANNESBURG WOMEN’S FOOTBALL TEAM THAT WON THE UNIVERSITY SPORT SOUTH AFRICA TITLE IN PORT ELIZABETH.

Back, from left: Potso Aphane, Ntombizodwa Mokenela, Dineo Magagula, Mechaela Springkaan, Phindile Matu and Boitumelo Rasehlo. Front, from left: Lethabo Kekana, Amanda Mthandi, Charity Valoyi, Thato Letsoso (captain) and Sizakele Ndlovu.

ALUMNI IMPUMELELO 31 Seventh USSA squash title in a row for UJ

The University of Johannesburg Although the Johannesburg outfit title, a competition played on the continued its remarkable has dominated for a lengthy first three days of the week. domination of the University Sport period, Bester said the competition Bester said the team remained South Africa squash tournament at the USSA tournament when we won the title for the remained tough. motivated to do well despite their long run of success. “They seventh year in a row. “In recent years there has been were ecstatic after the final and Competing at Nelson Mandela very strong competition from Tuks, University in Port Elizabeth, the Stellenbosch and Madibaz. But our are always focused on trying to defending champions overcame a strength is the depth that we have maintain the record and to set spirited challenge from the hosts, in our squad. For instance, last year themselves further goals.” Madibaz, to win the final 4-2. we were strong in the men’s team, He added that the key element in Earlier, UJ eased past Stellenbosch and this year our women’s team their success was the consistency University 5-1 in the semifinals, was very good, so the one backs and dedication they showed in while Madibaz earned their place up the other. I said to my players training. “They basically train for ahead of the tournament this was in the final by defeating University 11 months of the year and have going to be a collective effort and of Pretoria for the first time at the December off. Winning USSA for USSA week. that’s the way it turned out”, he said. the seventh time in a row is the UJ coach Mike Bester said the final reward for those efforts.” against Madibaz had been “pretty While emphasising the teamwork At the conclusion of the week, close up to a stage”. in the squad, Bester said women’s No 1 Alexa Pienaar was a major Pienaar was named in the USSA “But our females, who proved to asset for the team. “She is top of team to compete in the World be strong all week, managed to do the tree as far as student squash is University Championships in the business by winning all their concerned and she is a banker for matches”, he said. Birmingham in September. us at No 1.” “We lost a very close match at No 3 UJ’s Kacey-Leigh Dodd will play in the men’s line-up and also at No Besides spearheading the team Hayley Ward, of Madibaz, to 1, but won the No 2 to take the win”, event win, Pienaar confirmed her decide the second place in he said. potential by retaining her individual the USSA women’s team.

The University of Johannesburg team that won the University Sport South Africa title for the seventh time in a row in Port Elizabeth: Back, from left: Blessing Muhwati, Kyle Maree, Tyrone Dial, coach Mike Bester. Front, from left: manager Reedwaan Asvat, Kacey-Leigh Dodd and Jenny Preece. Absent: Alexa Pienaar. Picture: Full Stop Communications

32 ALUMNI IMPUMELELO UJ crowned the champions of the World University Sevens Rugby CONGRATULATIONS

CONGRATULATIONS TO UJ SEVENS RUGBY PLAYERS, WHO RECENTLY REPRESENTED SOUTH AFRICA AT THE WORLD UNIVERSITY SEVENS RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIP, WHICH TOOK PLACE IN NAMIBIA SWAKOPMUND IN JULY. THE WOMEN’S NATIONAL TEAM WAS UNFORTUNATELY KNOCKED OUT OF THE SEMI-FINALS, WHILE THE MEN’S TEAM WAS CROWNED WORLD UNIVERSITY CHAMPIONS.

ALUMNI IMPUMELELO 33 The UJ Choir distinguished itself Choir qualified to enter the was the creator of the once again at this year’s World Champions Category, based African repertoire that blew Choir Games. on its excellent achievements in the audience and judges away”. Bratislava in 2015. The University of Johannesburg The 60-member UJ Choir is no (UJ) Choir took part in the 10th The UJ Choir took gold in both its stranger to competitive platforms, World Choir Games 2018, hosted categories – with 85% for Mixed such as the World Choir Games. by the City of Tshwane, South Choirs (Western Music repertoire), Besides its live performances in Africa, from 4–8 July, scooping and in Folk Music A Cappella it South Africa and production of wins in two of its categories. received a whopping 95% score, to numerous CDs, the award-winning be crowned world champions. More than 300 choirs from UJ Choir has also performed 60 countries took part in the Choral Director Renette Bouwer internationally in countries international event, with over 16 said: “I am so proud of my team; it such as Austria, Germany, 000 singers judged by some 60 was so rewarding to see the fruition Belgium, the Netherlands, national and international judges of their hard work. They proved Russia, Poland and (as previously in the single-biggest choral event that they can compete against the mentioned) Bratislava. in the world. The UJ Choir was one best in the world in Western and Later this year, from 15–21 October, of 155 South African choirs that African music. To win such high the UJ Choir will make its way to took part in the games. marks at an international level like China, to take part in the Beijing Choirs could enter in the Open this is a huge accomplishment for International Chorus Festival. Category (any choir was accepted these young singers. I am excited The UJ Choir then concludes its if it adhered to the repertoire to see what the future holds for winning year with the annual specifications) or Champions this group of lovely and talented celebration concert held in Category (only choirs that have students, and it’s a privilege for Johannesburg on 26 October. proved their excellence in me to be a part of it. Hats off to Tickets for this concert can previous competitions were our Conductor of African Music, be purchased on allowed to enter here). The UJ Sidumo Nyamezele, who www.uj.ac.za/arts.

34 ALUMNI IMPUMELELO UJ Choir wins at the World Choir Games 2018

ALUMNI IMPUMELELO 35 UJ FM 95.4 is a campus-based radio station that seeks to provide quality, relevant, dynamic, innovative and thought provoking programming content which speaks directly to shaping the future.

The on-air identity is edgy with UJFM 95.4 prides itself in an urban contemporary feel with facilitating thought provoking 60/40 programming format. conversations between the University and society as well as Since inception, UJFM 95.4 taking institutional success to has transformed the on- the market. UJFM 95.4 air programming style and LIBERTY content from a previously UJFM 95.4 has numerous awards RADIO AWARDS rock background to one more from MTN / Liberty radio awards NOMINATION reflective of the Joburg and UJ in various categories. UJFM 95.4 2018 student market and incorporates firmly entrenches itself amongst an eclectic mix of urban the 4 campuses of UJ, the voice #UJFM contemporary music, of UJFM 95.4 strives to serve as a SHOWS NOMINTATED with Pan-African thought- platform for healthy engagement The UJFM Breakfast provoking content. amongst the community and The Ego Trip promote a radio program The UJFM Drive dedicated to positioning UJ as a 4.0 leader as well as a leading PRESENTER NOMINATED Nick Explicit university in Africa. Bolele Polisa Listenership– market share RADIO SHOWS and demographics Show: UJFM Breakfast Broadcasting over a 100km Time: 6:00-9:00 radius from the campus, the Mon- Friday station employs registered Show: The Urban brunch UJ students as well as keen Time: 9:00-12:00 external talent. Mon- Friday The UJFM 95.4 market share Show: The Ego trip is divided into our primary Time: 12:00-15:00 target market of 16 – 26 year old Mon- Friday students and young Joburgers who fall within the LSM Show: UJFM Drive bracket 5-7. Time: 15:00-18:00 Mon- Friday Show: The Night-Cab Time: 18:00-22:00 Mon- Friday Our extended primary target market can be defined as former students who are now entering the corporate environment after graduating and can most likely be classed under the LSM 8-10 bracket who consist of individuals between the ages of 26-36 year old. The UJFM 95.4 listener can be described as confident, edgy and fashionable and a young star who knows what he or she wants, loyal to brands and choose ambitious and trend conscious. Their preferred music choices include house, hip-hop, R&B, afro-pop music & dub-step. Our mission is to provide quality, relevant, dynamic, innovative and thought-provoking Pan- African programming content that speaks directly to shaping the future. UJFM strives To Become a complete edutainment radio companion, dynamically shaping the future

Follow @ UJFM on Social Media 011 559 1655 2018-08_STH Waterford Restaurant_A4 Print Ad_v01_repro + print marks.indd 1 2018/08/08 12:16 Library BOOK DISCUSSIONS

Nelson R. Mandela: Decolonial Ethics of Liberation and Servant Leadership

2018 marks the centenary of the birth of Nelson Mandela. As a Library, we have had the unique opportunity to reflect on his life and times and to promote his legacy. On Thursday, 24 May, the Library in partnership with the Faculty of From left: Deputy Ambassador to South Africa, Raul de Luzenberger; Leslie Humanities and the Department of Lindsay; Prof Maria Frahm-Arp, Prof Pitika Ntuli; Busani Ngcaweni; Dr William Politics and International Relations Mpofu; Prof Saurabh Sinha; Prof Tinyiko Maluleke; Prof Ylva Rodny-Gumede. created a very engaging platform around a book discussion with Busani Ngcaweni, editor of School of Economics and Political Nelson R. Mandela: Decolonial The Land is Ours Science. He is a research associate Ethics of Liberation and at the University of Johannesburg The Faculties of Law and Humanities, Servant Leadership. and a research fellow at the the Transformation Unit, and the University of the Witwatersrand. Busani Ngcaweni and Sabelo Library together with Penguin Ndlovu-Gatsheni’s book, skilfully Random House hosted a book Tembeka was joined in conversation and empirically demonstrates how discussion with Tembeka Ngcukaitobi by Prof Alex Broadbent (Executive Mandela embodied a rare type of author of, The Land is Ours. Dean: Faculty of Humanities), leadership that is currently missing Tembeka Ngcukaitobi is an Dr Justin Wanki (SAIFAC’s post- in many parts of the world. advocate in Johannesburg doctoral research fellow) and Busani Ngcaweni is the Deputy specialising in Public Law. He Ms Kgomotso Mokoena (Lecturer Director-General in The Presidency graduated in law at the Universities Procedural Law, University of and Research Fellow at the of Transkei, Rhodes and the London Johannesburg). University of Johannesburg and Sabelo J Ndlovu-Gatsheni is a Professor and Head of Archie Mafeje Research Institute for Applied Social Policy based at Unisa. We were very honoured to have had Prof Pitika Ntuli, Prof Tinyiko Maluleke, Lindsay Leslie and Prof Ylva Rodny-Gumede, who have all contributed chapters in the book to be part of the facilitated conversation. The book publisher Kassahun Checole (Africa World Press) From left: Prof Alex Broadbent, Kgomotso Mokoena,Tembeka Ngcukaitobi, gave his closing remarks. Dr Justin Wanki, and Dr Mispa Roux

ALUMNI IMPUMELELO 39 Library BOOK DISCUSSIONS Redi Tlhabi addresses Power Issues through her book Khwezi

From left: Dr Mispa Roux, Leila Abdool-Gafoor, Redi Tlhabi, Prof Shahana Rasool and Sr Rainny Nkhatho

The Library hosted Redi Tlhabi journalist Redi Tlhabi breathes chapter should have been a salient to discuss her book Khwezi - The life into a woman who, for so long one in the development of our remarkable story of Fezekile Ntsukela was forced to live in the shadows. nation. We should have learnt to Kuzwayo. The discussion was co- In giving agency back to Khwezi, interrogate the language of power. hosted with the UJ Institutional Tlhabi is able to focus a broader We should have walked away from Office for HIV & AIDS (IOHA), lens on the sexual abuse that her story with an understanding of the Akani Ladies Day House and abounded during the ‘struggle’ the complexities of power relations PsyCaD. Prof Shahana Rasool, years, abuse which continues to and how they can destroy lives HoD Social Work and Dr Mispa plague women and children in and contaminate the space for Roux, Senior Lecturer Faculty of South Africa today. debate. We should have had a Law, served as panellists. “Fezekile Kuzwayo represented more cerebral and compassionate The book is an account of the something much larger than the understanding about patriarchy life of President Jacob Zuma’s life of a young woman”, Tlhabi as performed and lived by both rape accuser Fezekile Kuzwayo. writes. “She was not just Zuma’s the women and men who were In sensitive and considered prose, rape accuser, although that intent on lynching Fezekile.”

40 ALUMNI IMPUMELELO Focus on SA History: Prof Marwala talks about King Makhado Ramabulana

Prof Marwala recently addressed the audience attending the book discussion dedicated to King Makhado Ramabulana. The book written by Mphaya Nemudzivhadi traces the life and times of King Makhado and his refusal to carry the colonial and imperial yoke from 1864-1895. This wildly researched book goes a long way in providing valuable information about South African History. Dr Simphiwe Nojiyeza, HOD Anthropology and Development Studies, gave a detailed analysis of the book and its relevance in today’s context. Some members of the Ramabulana descendants were present and contributed to the discussion. Remani Mulangaphuma represented the publishing house, Dzuvha Publishers. Rendani Ladzani, daughter of the author, thanked the audience on behalf of her father. Prof Tshilidzi Marwala

From left: Dr Simphiwe Nojiyeza, Rendani Ladzani, Remani Mulangaphuma,

ALUMNI IMPUMELELO 41 PUBLIC DIALOGUES hosted in the library

Funding for SMMEs addressed through the Richard Maponya Think Tank

The Johannesburg Business School in partnership with the UJ Library Think Tank inform the focus of and the Dr Richard Maponya Institute hosted the annual Think Tank the Dr Richard Maponya Annual exploring The Science of Funding for SMMEs. This event is one of four Soweto Conference as well as the main interlinked events for the year aimed at shaping and building the annual lecture to be hosted later conversation on funding to support SMMEs. Contributions from the this year. The panel discussion which was facilitated by Ntsiki Mkhize (former Miss SA Runner-up) included the following: • Vuyo Tofile, CEO of EntBank • Darlene Menzies, CEO of FinFind • Khosi Mvulane, MD at GAD Consulting Services • Jack Stroucken, Consulting, SMME Funding The conversation was very insightful as it unpacked the main funding opportunities available to SMMEs; how funding institutions From left: Alrina de Bruyn, Khosi Mvulane, Jack Stroucken, operate and what they’re Moipone Molotsi, Roy Maponya, Ntsike Mkhize, Darlene Menzies, looking for and how SMMEs can and Vuyo Tofile prepare themselves to be better candidates for funding.

Satellite Cooperation: The Next Frontier of Sino-African Relations?

The UJ Confucius Institute recently held a number of seminars in partnership with the Library. During the month of June, Dr Zhu Ming, a Research Fellow of the Centre for West Asian and African From left: Dr David Monyae, Dr Zhu Ming, Prof Arthur Mutambara, Prof Esther Studies of the Shanghai Institute Akinlabi, Prof Wally Serote and Essop Pahad for International Studies (SIIS),

42 ALUMNI IMPUMELELO was invited to talk about: projects, including projects or steps towards the BRI Space Satellite Cooperation: The Next relating to cashew pest control Information Corridor. Frontier of Sino-African Relations? technology and resources Prof Arthur Mutambara was the satellite receiving stations. Most of China’s satellite respondent, and he tried to cooperation with Africa is free, While many of these extract from the lecture some and includes training, the provision collaborations have been bilateral, central questions, including: of satellite data, etc. In 2009, some multilateral and more What are the practical within the FOCAC framework, integrated satellite initiatives applications to be derived from China launched the China- have also emerged. Dr Zhu Ming the collaboration? Which countries Africa Science and Technology delivered this special public are China’s primary partners Partnership Plan which aims to lecture, and argued that these in this sector? How are Africa’s promote technology transfer to practices can be understood as developmental plans, as laid out Africa, research exchanges, and forming part of a grander plan in in Agenda 2063, being understood the sharing of more scientific and and incorporated in Beijing? technological achievements. Major sync with China’s re-globalisation successes have been registered, strategy (as articulated at a recent The seminar also addressed the and by the end of 2012, China UJCI seminar by Prof Wang Dong extent to which Africa is gearing had cooperated with African of Peking University). As Dr Zhu itself up to be an independent countries on 115 joint research argued, these initiatives should player in the area of satellites and technology demonstration be viewed as components of and space exploration.

Institute for Pan-African Thought and Conversation discussed the ANC’s Status Quo

From left: Cecilia Moyo, Prof Mzukisi Qobo, Prof Raymond Suttner, Natasha Marrian

The University of Johannesburg’s Professor, and Deputy SARChl (UJ) Institute for Pan-African Chair in African Diplomacy and Thought and Conversation, in Foreign Policy, University of collaboration with the University Johannesburg. Prof Raymond of Johannesburg Library, held a Suttner, Researcher and Analyst, public dialogue on: The ANC Professor at the University of in transition. Johannesburg Humanities Faculty; and Professor Emeritus The discussion focused on the at the University of South Africa, current political issues surrounding was the keynote speaker with the ANC and what the future Ms Natasha Marrian, Political holds. The dialogue was chaired Editor for Business Day serving by Prof Mzukisi Qobo, Associate as a discussant.

ALUMNI IMPUMELELO 43 HKLM/COJ/0506 uj.ac.za/4IR THE FUTURE RE-IMAGINING a more streamlined user experience as we re-imagine the future of the province. of social infrastructure is more efficient. We’re looking forward to giving the residents of Gauteng UJ has agreed to pave away for the use of the latest technologies to ensure that the delivery By with partnering the University of Johannesburg. fore of technological developments. how And, do they intend to maintain acutting edge? of InfrastructureDepartment Development and is taking big steps to ensure that they are at the the 4thAs Industrial Revolution begins to play abigger role in the lives of all Africans, the Gauteng 44 ALUMNI IMPUMELELO TOGETHER World Rankings

THE (Times Higher QS US News and World Center for University Ranking by Education) World University Report’s Best Global World University Academic Performance World University Rankings Universities Rankings Rankings Rankings (URAP) (QS WUR) (BGUR) (CWUR) (THE WUR)

Latest Edition: 2018 Latest Edition: 2019 Latest Edition: 2018 Latest Edition: 2017/2018 Latest Edition: 2018/2019 Release Year: 2017 Release Year: 2018 Release Year: 2017 Release Year: 2017 Release Year: 2018 World Rank: World Rank: World Rank: World Rank: World Rank: 601–800 (*637) 551–560 457 655 790 Africa Rank: 6th Africa Rank: 6th Africa Rank: 7th Africa Rank: 8th Africa Rank: 9th South Africa Rank: 5th South Africa Rank: 4th South Africa Rank: 6th South Africa Rank: 6th South Africa Rank: 6th

Alumni Benefits w Access to the UJ gym at R200 per month with a R75 annual joining fee. w Access to the UJ Library at a discounted rate. w 10% discount on UJFM advertisements.

For more information visit www.uj.ac.za/alumni

ALUMNI IMPUMELELO 45 MBA LAUNCHING 2020 www.jbs.ac.za

JOHANNESBURG BUSINESS SCHOOL WILL SOON LAUNCH ITS MBA At UJ, we understand that higher education is vital for Industry 4.0, and in doing so, ensuring Africa becomes future fit.

The Johannesburg Business School (JBS) forms part of the College of Business and Economics at UJ and consists of more than 100 full-time faculty members. As the largest business school in Africa, with over 10 000 students, the JBS has a clear focus on African management and leadership in the local and global context. The school provides an interface for a Business Academia Ecosystem, which will stimulate and inform purpose- driven business practices with a collective impact.

From the strong foundations of UJ, with its rich academic heritage, the JBS, led by Professor Lyal White and his team, is creating an accessible and progressive business school suited for Africa. By embracing new technology to support teaching, the JBS will enable the creation of innovative new business models and produce visionary leaders geared for progress across the continent and connected to the world at large.

Visit our website www.jbs.ac.za for more information or email [email protected]