Sep/Oct - University of Venda

SEPTEMBER/
OCTOBER 2009
Congratulations Mr President!
Mr Sehlare Universe “Shakira” Machabaphala is
the new President of the Student Representative
Assembly.
Representing the Pan African Movement of
Azania (PASMA), his organisation narrowly
beat the South African Students
Congress (SASCO) during
the recent elections.
“We want to thank the
University community for
their unconditional support
and furthermore reassure
them that their faith and
trust in us is not misplaced,”
said Machabaphala.
student in Public Administration at the School of
Management Sciences, hails from the rural area
of Botlokwa in the Molemole local municipality
of the Capricorn District.
He is the former Student Representative
Assembly secretary general – then under
the umbrella of the Azanian Students’
Convention (AZASCO), but was
removed from the Assembly before
the end of his term. He crossed the
floor to PASMA just three days before
the elections where he was elected
as president.
Univen Vice-Chancellor and Principal
Prof Peter Mbati congratulated
Machabaphala, a final year
Your faith and trust in us are
not misplaced - new Student
Representative Assembly President
Shakira Machabaphala.
Outgoing Student Representative
Assembly President Sylvester Motadi
casts his vote – “In the past year the
Assembly has negotiated a trust fund with
R1,6 million available to assist needy students.
We have also negotiated that to qualify for a
National Student Financial Aid Scheme, the
pass figure is now 50 percent, no longer
60%. Furthermore, we have netgotiated the
building of a two million litre water reservoir,”
says Motadi.
Machabaphala and PASMA, saying management
was looking forward to working with him.
“It is a big responsibility placed on your shoulders
and we wish you all the best with this important
task. At Univen we are committed to freedom
of speech with the accompanying responsibility.
Together we will do what is in the best interest of
the entire Univen community,” Mbati said.
Seven organisations took part in the elections
– PASMA, SASCO, AZASCO, the Student’s
Christian Organisation, the Congress of the
People Youth Movement, the Democratic
Alliance Students’ Organisation and IDESA.
According to the University’s constitution,
two students of the University, elected by the
Students’ Representative Assembly, sit on the
University Council.
• R
ead more about newly elected president
Machabaphala and his cabinet in the
November/December edition of Nendila.
ANC Youth League President Julius
Malema encourages students to
express their democratic right by
voting.
Univen is a quality driven, financially sustainable, rural based, comprehensive university
1
I feel honoured to have
served Univen
Cyril Ramaphosa
Given such a wonderful send-off, this has been
the most special graduation ceremony for me.
It always brings tears to my eyes and it almost
makes me feel like I should not go, and stay
for another term. But that cannot be because
we need to observe two terms. In situations
where you serve the public, we should never
go beyond two terms because once you go
beyond that you start making mistakes.
And we have seen how terrible it can be in
other situations on our continent. We just need
to turn around and look north and we see all
the horrible things that happen when people
do not only serve two terms. But then, again in
my case, I feel like it is fine because I am being
promoted. Ndi khou phoromotiwa, hu pfi ndi
do vha special ambassador. Zwenezwo a hu na
ˆ · we ane a vha special ambassador hafha,
mun
ndi nne fhedzi.Zwenezwo, ndi phoromosheni,
ndi yaˆ i livhuwa phoromosheni. Zwi amba uri
ndi do vha ndi tshi khou isa phanda u shuma na
ˆ
heyiˆYunivesithi.
So, I will not be far away. I will keep coming,
I will make time to come to graduations and
in fact I will be working for the University in
other ways.
So, I would like to thank the University
structures, Council, Senate and teaching
staff for honouring me by offering me this
wonderful position,
and I promise that I
will do everything I can
within my capability to
execute the task that
lies ahead.
I really feel honoured “uri” there are two
outstanding scholars who have been given
PhDs today. They are Dr Robert Mamwadu and
Dr Sampson Makhado. Well na nne ndi nga di
ˆ
ri ndi nadzo dzidokthoreithi. Mineˆ were given
on a platter. Ha vha vhanna vhavhili vho tou
shuma vha bva biko. Nne ndo fhiwa dzihonorari
ˆ
n
a
m
e
th
–
a
s
o
h
p
a
m
a
R
Cyril
University of Venda, Mr
and Chancellor of the
graduation
t
las
his
g
rin
Renowned businessman
du
ts
degrees on 500 studen
Ramaphosa bestowed
ber.
tem
Sep
He
ceremony on 25
, ser vin g tw o ter ms .
ed Ch an cel lor in 19 97
int
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Ra ma ph osa wa s ap
lter Sisulu.
h the aim
succeeded the late Dr Wa
y’s capital campaign wit
mpioning the Universit
the Univen
on
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rov
Ramaphosa is also cha
imp
structural and curriculum
to raise R1 billion for
ate gis t,
campus.
ble ne go tia tor an d str
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and
t
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Wi de ly res pe cte d as
big
his role in building the
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He
is
.
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of Minework
ntry, the National Union
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s with the former South
first democratic
crucial role in negotiation
the country towards its
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ste
and
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apa
nstitution – the
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ica
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a peaceful end to
th
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4.
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ay he is a
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the ANC in 1991. Tod
d secretary general of
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wa
osa
aph
Ram
Executive Committee.
n of the
member of its National
helped in the formatio
Union of Mineworkers
ces with
for
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join
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In 1985 the National
the
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of
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Congr
regime, Ram
Front against the Botha
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tic
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the United Democratic
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into the arena of the
al
osa was on the nation
central role, leading him
d from prison, Ramaph
ase
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When Mandela
reception committee.
larger than life, unique
l be remembered for his
wil
osa
rmth,
aph
Ram
all
of
But most
se of social justice, his wa
to championing the cau
ty for
aci
cap
his
l,
cia
spe
l
lifestyle. His dedication
to make students fee
gift
his
,
their
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ing
ect
olv
aff
inv
humour and
lives of students,
- all have touched the
including the audience
.
families, making their day
2
Univen is a quality driven, financially sustainable, rural based, comprehensive university
nnzhinyana, but theirs are better because they
have worked diligently, they have sweated and
they have applied themselves. I also wish to
honour and recognise their supervisor, Prof
Elias Bayona, who is also with us today, that
he must also be very proud to see the product
of his own labour as well for supervising the
work of these PhDs. Let us congratulate them
and give them a loud round of applause.
Eh… Ngauri ndi duvha l anga l a u fhedza, l a
ˆ
ˆ
u amba ndi Tshantsel
a,ˆ ndi aˆ kona u amba
ˆ vhuya nda zwi vhona
zwithu zwinzhi zwe nda
in the last ten years. Eh… what I have seen in
ten years has been a wonderful experience.
Experiences that will stay with me for the rest
of my life. Some of these experiences I will
write down in my memoirs hezwi ndi tshi dzula
ndo no kalahanyana ndi do n·wala bugu yanga
ˆ zwa do vha hone
ya vhutshilo. Zwin·we zwine
ˆ
kha heyo bugu it will be my experiences
with
this University.
My experiences na vhabebi vha vhana vhane
vha fhira kha heyi Yunivesithi. The parents…
How I saw the parents, how I saw the students,
how I saw the Vice- Chancellors, because I
had three Vice-Chancellors going through my
hands. Eh….how I saw the teaching staff and
how I saw ja, many people.
Ndi thoma nga vhabebi. Vhabebi in the last
ten years ndo wana uri a vho ngo tshintsha,
vha kha di vha vhabebi vhenevhala vhe nda
ˆ
tangana navho
ndi tshi thoma u vha ˆTshantsel a.
ˆ
Ndi a divha uri zwifhat uwo zwo di tshintsha
ˆ
ˆ
ˆ
tshifhinga tshot he fhedzi the body of parents
ˆ
has been constant.
The interest that they have
shown in the education of their children has
been the most outstanding. The dedication,
the love, the commitment and the attention
that they give in these proceedings. In the
last ten years, a tho ngo vhuya nda vhona na
mun·we mubebi muthihi o farwa nga khofhe
nga hel i duvha l i no nga l a namusi. U tshi ya
ˆ mit angano
ˆ
ˆ ˆhu tshi khou itwa
kha min·ˆ we
hezwi
zwipitshi, u di ˆ wana muthu a tshi khou sokou
ˆ Not a single parent ever nodded
ya nga khofhe.
or fell asleep. Vhabebi vhot he they have given
ˆ vha tshi takalela
full attention na u fhululedza
vhana vhavho. Some of the most wonderful
things, and I said it in every graduation.
Vhan·we vha nga di vha vha songo zwi pfa.
ˆ
Zwine nda tou zwi humbula
zwavhudi ndi musi
mun·we mme wa n·wana we a vha aˆ tshi khou
gradzhueitha, vha fhululedza havha mukegulu,
vha bva hangei murahu vha tshi khou gidima.
Vha gidima vha vhuyelela murahu. Vho vha
vha tshi amba Tshibeli. Vha tshi khou vhidza
dzina lawe vha ri, ehe!…..ehe!….re ya go
lebogaˆand so on. Vha ri re thabetse go oile wa
ithuta, le rona re tla tshwana le ba ka next door,
re tla ja mayonnaise. Zwino ndo pfa zwi zwithu
zwi no takadza nga maanda.
ˆ
And I always say uri hezwi muthu a tshi ya kha
dzigradzhuesheni ceremonies dza dziyunivesithi
dze dza vha dzi dza makhuwa naho vhathu
vharema vho no dzhena, wo vha u tshi ri hezwi
u tshi ya, hu tshi tou nga hu khou vhulungiwa
muthu. Muthu a tshi wana digirii vhathu vha
hone vha sokou uri mmmm….. that’s very nice.
Ha! Zwino vho no tshintsha tshot he. Ndi vhona
ˆ ya Venda.
u nga vho guda kha Yunivesithi
ˆ
Ngauri hezwi muthu o phasa digirii yawe,
hu a takalwa, vhathu vha a fhululedza vha
sumbedze uri vho takala hoyu n·wana o difunza
a swika hafha. So rine ri vhathu vha phosho, ri
ˆ
vhathu vha u fhululedza.
Dziimosheni dzashu
ri a dzi sumbedza, ri a dzi eksipresa arali ro
takala.
So ndi zwine nda do t uwa nazwo hezwi zwa
ˆ hafhanoni kha heyi
uri vhabebi vha fhano,
Yunivesithi vha a sumbedza uri vha takala
hezwi vhana vhavho vha tshi funzea, vha tshi
bvelela phanda vha tshi dihudza.
ˆ
ˆ
Kha dzigradzhueitzi, na hone ndi do t uwa na
ˆ ˆ· we dza
dzieksipirientsi nnzhi nga maanda. Dzin
·
ˆ
hone ndo dzi vhona namusi. Vhanwe vha tshi
ˆ
da hafhano nt ha ha tshiteidzhi,
vha tou dada
ˆtshot he havhaˆ vhathu vho funzeaho. Ngoho
ˆ ˆ–
ˆ arali wo dzula hafhal aa, hezwi muthu a
ngoho
ˆ
tshi da, hoyu muthu ndi muthu
o no khou da
ˆ digirii, hezwi a tshi swika fhala vhut ali
ˆ
u wana
ˆ
ˆ
vhu mbo di fhela tshot he.
ˆ
ˆ
I am told that the Minister of Higher Education
and Training, Dr Blade Nzimande was here. In
addressing you as students he said ”do not
rush to the bright lights of Johannesburg,
Midrand and places like that. Try and get jobs
here so that you give back to the areas where
you come from”. More often than not, ri wana
uri vhathu vho funzeaho vha mbo d i t uwa
ˆ ˆ As I
vha ya u shuma kha dzin·we dzibulege.
have observed, how many of them have been
focused to render education to all of you?
They produce graduates, some of whom ended
up in top class positions in various parts of
the world, in various companies and various
government departments. I want to applaud
them for having sharpened the intellectual
and academic performance of this University.
But the University has moved away from being
what we call the usual conventional type
University that just offers simple run-of-the-mill
degrees or courses.
Dr Livhuwani Robert Manwadu and Dr Balanganani
Sampson Makhado received PhD degrees.
Prof Elias Bayona, promoter of the two
PhD graduates.
Univen is a quality driven, financially sustainable, rural based, comprehensive university
They have calibrated the type of education that
has been delivered here to good effect. We
now have good quality degrees. The degrees
that you are getting here are good quality
degrees and it is going to get better and better,
and the projects that are being worked on by
the administration as well. I bid you farewell.
3
Univen wins big in
Innovation Fund
competition
Students of Univen’s Schools of Agriculture,
Environmental Sciences, Law, Management
Sciences and Mathematical and Natural
Sciences joined forces and won R100 000 for
their Schools in the Department of Science and
Technology’s Innovation Fund competition.
and Law walked away with the third prize
of R20 000 for the design of a student
notification system.
The competition focused on technological
i n n o v a t i o n s a n d p ro v i d i n g s u p p o r t t o
South Africans seeking intellectual property
protection as they establish new enterprises or
expand existing businesses.
“Initially 33 entries were
received. At the final stage
of phase one only ten groups
were ready with their business
plans to be evaluated. These
groups were from the
Schools of Mathematical
and Natural Sciences,
Environmental Science,
Management Science, Law
and Agriculture.
Ms Beata Kilonzo of the Centre for Rural
Development and Poverty Alleviation says the
competition encouraged tertiary students to
come up with innovative solutions geared
towards solving a particular real life problem.
The first prize of R50 000 went to Mr Tshitaka,
Mr. Maluleke and Mr Mogale of the team
of the School of Management Sciences for
their business plan for a virtual HIV clinic. Mr
Modiba of the School of Mathematical and
Natural Sciences came second, winning R30
000 for improving the design of a wheelchair to
be more user friendly during rainy weather.
Team members Mr Ntsako and Mr Maphulaneng
of the Schools of Environmental Sciences
Kilonzo says these business plans now qualify
for the inter-university phase of the competition
that takes place in January 2010.
showed throughout the competition. Seeing
the success of the wining teams, we believe
that more students will participate in future.
Although this annual competition has been
running for many years, it was the first time
that Univen participated. We hope to see
much more of this in future,” she says.
“Whilst three teams have
entered the final stage, we
are also assisting the rest of
the teams to strengthen their
business plans and link them
with potential funders.
“It was heartening to see the
hard work, dedication, zeal
and drive that the students
Our three winners - front second from left Selby Hlengani Maluleke,
Tshifhiwa Tshitaka and Mokoting Solomon Mogale.
Timing is everything
Alugumi Benefactor Matamela - student at
the School of Environmental Sciences
The most exciting thing about our future is
that we can shape it. My advice to all Univen
students is to assume responsibility for your
own future and realise your fullest potential in
the battle against poverty and unemployment.
Push until something happens, anything will
work out for you if you hang on to the end.
Always realise that education is the royal road
to success and perseverance is the mother of
success.
As we are approaching the final exams, we
should always remember that success will not
lower its standard to us, we must increase our
standard to success. A successful man is one
who can lay a firm foundation with the bricks
that others throw at him. Don’t allow your
background to shape your life negatively. For
you to achieve your goals you must look where
everyone else has looked, but see what no-one
else has seen.
Life isn’t about finding yourself, it is about
creating yourself. Be careful of the environment
you choose, for it will shape you. Be careful of
the friends you choose, for you will be like them.
All of the great achievers of the past have been
4
visionary figures - they were men and women
who projected into the future. They thought of
what could be, rather than what already was,
and then they moved themselves into action, to
bring these things into fruition.
No life ever grows great until it is focused,
dedicated and disciplined. A day you waste is
one you can never make up. He who would
learn to fly one day must first learn to stand,
walk, run and climb. Don’t remain a dreamer,
be an achiever, no matter how many goals
were missed or dashed before. It is never too
late to set another goal or to dream a new
dream, for goals will give you a compass to
direct your path in life.
When our dreams are born out of purpose, we
can soar above the limitations to accomplish
the seemingly impossible. Prioritise your time.
It is so discouraging to waste your precious
time and money at university and go home
empty-handed - remember that our single
actions can completely alter our future, for
better or worse.
It is time to focus only on our studies for the
present and future generation. I studied the
lives of great men and famous women and
found that those who got to the top were
those who did the jobs they had in hand, with
everything they had, energy and enthusiasm
and hard work. So study hard and maximise
your potential in your exams, and may the
living God continue to bless you richly.
Univen is a quality driven, financially sustainable, rural based, comprehensive university
Persevering a model to
manage HIV/AIDS at Univen
Proper prevention of HIV is possible through
intensive campaigns and effective management
of sexually transmitted infections through full
involvement of peer educators as counsellors.
This is according to Ms Helen Mudzusi at the
HIV/AIDS desk of Univen’s Centre for Health
and Wellness. She recently visited the University
of Virginia in the USA to benchmark HIV/AIDS
standards and processes against international
practices. The University of Virginia and Univen
have an exchange programme.
“I focused on various key issues such as HIV and
AIDS prevention programmes, the monitoring
and evaluation of such programmes and
employee and peer education programmes.
“Other focus areas were how HIV/AIDS is
integrated into the curriculum, support for
students who are doing HIV/AIDS related
research, the care and support of HIV infected
staff and students and policies and guidelines
related to HIV/AIDS.
“Effective treatment of HIV and AIDS infected
clients through nutritional support and early
introduction of antiretroviral treatments keep
the viral load below detectible level, which also
reduce the spread of HIV infection. One should
constantly pursue ways of effectively using
people living with HIV and AIDS in dealing with
HIV and reducing new infection.
“Furthermore, the integration of a compulsory,
effective study model of HIV/AIDS into the
curriculum should be enhanced, giving certain
credits for completing that course which is
not only theory but also including practical
experience. Quality assurance on HIV/AIDS
programmes is a good way of ensuring
the monitoring and evaluation of HIV/AIDS
programmes,” she says.
Te a m i n g u p t o f i g h t H I V / A I D S - H e l e n
Mudzusi, HIV/AIDS Coordinator at Univen
and Sarah Delgado,Assistant Professor/Nurse
Practitioner,University of Virginia.
50 years of transformation in Cuba
“The struggle in Cuba to transform society
has continued for 50 years,” says Dr Aleida
Guevara, daughter of Marxist revolutionary
Che Guevara.
Speaking at a public lecture at the University
of Limpopo recently, Dr Guevara said it took
50 years to develop a country with little
economic recources, that was exploited and
humiliated for a long time and that was
practically robbed of its riches.
“ H o w e v e r, C u b a w a s n e v e r t o t a l l y
conquered, as for more than 100 years
people were resilient and fought for total
independence. Throughout all these we
worked and achieved significant changes in
our daily lives.
“In 1958 the infant mortality rate in Cuba
was 60/1 000 new births. Today it stands
at 4,7/1 000. In 1958, 33 percent of our
population was illiterate. Today we have
an educated nation not only free from
the plaque of ignorance but also with
professionals who are rendering services in
more than 120 countries over the world.
“We need to unite ourselves. For that we
need to know ourselves better, to respect
our differences, and learn from them. At
the same time we need to strengthen our
solidarity and co-operation between nations.
We are looking for a new dawn for our
people. Our unity must be based on respect
and sovereignty with the aim of improving
our economies and social development.
“We are and we will always be a sovereign
nation, but we live on this planet and we
will need solidarity and respect from other
nations. We have learned that only with the
unity of all of us we can obtain the necessary
force to change everything that needs to be
changed.
“Che Cuevara said solidarity is the
tenderness of the people and we fight for
that tenderness to be expressed by all. It is
that tenderness that gives us the strength to
change this world and to build another one
more just for all.
“I am sure that is possible,” she said.
Univen is a quality driven, financially sustainable, rural based, comprehensive university
We would like to
hear from you!
Nendila is your communications
channel.
Nendila editorial committee
Mr Takalani Dzaga – CPRP –
Chief editor
Ms Welheminah Mabogo – CPRP –
Coordinator
Dr Lesibana Rafapa – Language
editor
Ms Bevely Dube – Media expert
Dr Nanga Lidovho – Resource
person
Ms Mushoni Mulaudzi –
Preservation (library)
Send your contributions to:
Welheminah Mabogo
Nendila Coordinator
University of Venda
Private Bag X5050
Thohoyandou, 0950
Tel
015 962 8525
Fax
015 962 8494
e-mail
welheminah.mabogo@univen.ac.za
Office number 24, first floor
Main administration block
5
Masia Development Trust
and Univen join forces to
benefit the community
T h e M a s i a Tr u s t a n d U n i v e n
have signed a memorandum of
agreement to improve the quality
of life of the Ha-Masia population.
Through this partnership Univen will
mobilise its knowledge and expertise
to implement rural community-owned
and driven development initiatives.
Furthermore, Univen will establish a
grassroots community engagement
site where the University’s various
schools will assist in ways to
d e a l w i t h re a l l i f e c h a l l e n g e s .
Other focus areas are the training of
local school principals to manage
schools, finances and labour relations
and admini-strative personnel in
various community institutions
in client relations and resource
mobilisation.
Research also needs to be done for
mining opportunities and agricultural
development - particularly for food
security, storage facilities, soil water
management and livestock, vegetable
and orchard farming.
Environmental management and
urban and regional planning for
business and residential area
demarcation were also identified as
focus areas.
The University’s Centre for Rural Development and Poverty Alleviation will manage
the project.
The Chairperson of the Masia Development
Trust, Mr Pandelani and Univen Vice-Chancellor
and Principal, Prof Peter Mbati signed the
understanding.
The Minister of Rural Development and Land
Reform, Mr Nkwinti, the Limpopo Member
Working together to serve the community - from left Prof Peter Mbati, Mr Pandelani, Minister Nkwinti
and Thovhele Vho-Nthumeni Masia.
of the Executive Committee for Public Works,
Mr Phadagi, the Mayor of the Makhado
Municipality, Councillor Luruli and the
Deputy Chairperson of the Limpopo House of
Traditional Leaders, Mr Khosi Netshimbupfe
attended the signing ceremony.
“There is huge potential for conducting
inter-disciplinary community-based research
and development work and a strategic
opportunity for developing a rural community
development model, involving, a university and
a philanthropic organisation.
Both Prof Francis and Ms Kilonzo of the Centre
for Rural Development and Poverty Alleviation
are of the view that this paves the way for
the establishment of a grassroots community
engagement site for Univen.
“It is a huge challenge for us, requiring careful
facilitation, mobilisation and organisation
of human and financial capital to meet the
aspirations of the community in Ha-Masia,”
they said
All the best for the 2009 exams!
How did the exiting year of 2009 rush by.
We had our fourth democratic national and
provincial elections and for many of you this
was the first time you could vote.
sound economic policies, we did feel the
pinch. Indications are that the economy
is lifting its head and we are beginning to
experience an upward trend.
The University participated in the democratic
process by hosting various political parties
on campus to come put forward their views
before the elections.
As tertiary students you do not live in a
vacuum on campus. If so, it would be a very
sad case for tertiary education.
On the economic front South Africa officially
went into a recession - for the first time in 17
years. Although the impact of the economic
slow-down was not as detrimental as in many
other countries due to the government’s
6
When you leave the campus after
completing your studies, it should be a
combined educational curve that would have
incorporated all the academic learnings as
well as the life experiences. The issues that
occur in everyday life is thus an integral part
of your education here at Univen.
As for the academic part, it is again time
to report back on what you have learnt
and experienced during this academic
year. Univen wishes you well for the exams
ahead. Prepare yourself well, if you are not
sure about anything that you have learnt
this year - go and ask, the lecturers are here
to assist.
Stay calm when you write exams and most
of all, see this as an excellent opportunity
to report on your wealth of experience
this year.
Univen is a quality driven, financially sustainable, rural based, comprehensive university
African women define
leadership for social justice
“If we change the social actors in education, we
change their paradigm of thinking and create
new definitions of power - thus creating new
knowledge,” says Prof Thidziambi TshivhasePhendla of the School of Education.
In her recent inaugural address, TshivhasePhendla said schools as social organs mirror the
wider cultural expectation wherein women are
subordinate players.
“The expectations of the school and community
and especially sexist attitudes prescribing the
manner in which they are expected to behave
are making women’s leadership jobs even
more difficult. This raises the contradictory
assumption of voice and voicelessness, where
women by virtue of their gender are not
expected to hold management and leadership
positions. Therefore the notion of a woman
leader is rhetoric if not a paradox.
“They have to respond to change while
encouraging and supporting their subordinates
to implement new initiatives. I highlight these
considerations to provide insight into the
multiple grounding from which our fragile
identity as black African women emerged.
“Feminism has different meanings for different
people. For one group it is equated to a struggle
for equal participation in social mobility. For
other groups it is a cry for recognition as fellow
human beings on this earth.
“This word has been reduced to serve the
needs of a few privileged individuals in our
communities. This then suggests that confining
feminism to a simple definition is extremely
difficult, if not impossible. Therefore, feminism
should be defined by its concerns - to correct
inequalities existing between women and
men and address what constitute woman, her
history, nature and future,” she said.
“As a result, understanding power and
privileges within the education system, is to
change the rules of the game and meet the
new players’ differing values, attitudes, ideas
and philosophies formed over time, which
created their theory of knowledge.
“Since women are new players who do not
have to abide to the status quo, they have
opportunities to create new definitions for
educational leadership. Female leaders
have a multiple burden that is evident in
the interactions between their personal and
professional lives and the social and cultural
frameworks within which they work.
Carrying the torch for women - centre, Vice-Chancellor and Principal Prof Peter Mbati congratulates Prof
Thidziambi Tshivhase-Phendla.
Can an employee resign
pending a disciplinary process?
“What are the options of the employer when an
employee resigns when faced with disciplinary
action?” asks Head of Univen Employee
Relations, Advocate Ndivhuwo Tshisevhe.
guilty. Employees should remember that the
employer has, by this time, gathered sufficient
evidence that leads him to believe that the
employee is guilty. “
“These resignations are usually in the face
of serious charges such as theft or fraud,
unauthorised possession of company property,
absence without leave - perhaps not for the
first time – or extreme insubordination.
Tshisevhe says until the employee can dispute
the evidence, or put forward a justifiable
defence to the charges, the employer will
continue to believe that the employee is guilty.
“Obviously the employer has concluded that an
act of misconduct has occurred, has hopefully
investigated the matter fully and has decided
that disciplinary action is called for.
“In terms of the University’s Disciplinary
Procedure, an employee can resign and
still exercise his or her right to present his
or her case.
“Therefore, an employer can still institute
the disciplinary hearing against such a staff
member, provided that the disciplinary process
was instituted before the notice lapses. The
downside for the employee is that the employer,
upon receiving the letter of resignation,
immediately concludes that the employee is
”If the employee resigns and does not appear
at the disciplinary hearing, the hearing will
continue and the chairperson will arrive
at a verdict of guilty since evidence will be
unchallenged.
“When employees resign it does not terminate
the contract immediately as the contractual
period of notice still remains in tact. At
Univen‘s managerial and academic levels,
notice of resignations is over three months,
unless otherwise agreed upon in writing.
”Administrative and service members need to
give a month’s notice, unless otherwise agreed
upon in writing.
“The employee remains in the employ until that
Univen is a quality driven, financially sustainable, rural based, comprehensive university
date - therefore the employer can still go ahead
with the disciplinary proceedings.
”In terms of the University’s staff disciplinary
procedures, if employment is terminated as
a result of resignation after an employee
has been charged with misconduct, pending
the disciplinary process, the employee will
be considered to have discharged himself or
herself on account of misconduct. The same
applies where an employee assumes other
employment while the disciplinary process is
still pending.”
Tshisevhe says resignation by an employee
when faced with disciplinary action does not
necessarily look better on the employee’s
record.
“The record will still contain details of the
alleged offences, the disciplinary hearing
held in absentia and the outcome.
The employer needs to decide to continue
with the hearing. Many employers who have
better things to do with their time simply drop
it and get on with the task of running their
business,” he says.
7
From Russia with love
The University of Moscow donated 57 of the
latest postgraduate textbooks on applied
mathematics and engineering in CD-ROM
format to the value of R50 000 to Univen
recently.
Mr Joe Hlomuka of Univen’s Department of
Mathematics and Applied Mathematics, a
speaker at the 7th international conference on
fluid mechanics and aerodynamics, received
the donation. Mr Hlomuka’s presentation was
on the numerical simulation of a fluid flow
through a permeable boundary or membrane.
“Processes of this type occur not only in an
industrial setup, but also in nature. A NavierStokes fluid - water, oxygen, carbon dioxide,
smoke and steam - flows slowly through a
permeable boundary, which may be very thin.
This process occurs in the lungs when oxygen
and carbon dioxide are exchanged from the
lungs into the blood stream and vice versa.”
His paper was judged as one of the best at
the conference because determining the
approximate speed and pressure of the fluid is
I’m living
my life
Mabuza Coli - Health Promotor at the
HIV/AIDS unit
done in a very thin layer of the boundary – like
splitting hairs. Hence, time involved is of the
order of milliseconds or even microseconds.
There are many challenges that I came
across from the day I tested positive for
HIV/AIDS.
“The numerical algorithm we developed works
even in those very short time frames. We have
already published four refereed papers on fluid
flow and presented the fifth at the conference.
The sixth paper is currently in review by the
Far East Journal of Applied Mathematics.
Should the review be successful, the paper will
comprise the solution to the Sixth problem of
the millennium,” says Hlomuka.
I felt so isolated and neglected. I felt so
betrayed by the person who infected me.
A dark cloud seemed hanging in my life
and pushing me to fell down.
The presented paper will be published as
part of the proceedings of the conference by
Springer-Verlag Books, and has already been
accepted by the Information Sciences Institute’s
list of knowledge. Hopefully, in two years’
time, it could qualify for a Department of
Education subsidy.
To see the seven problems of the millennium,
visit www.claymath.org/ and click “AWARDS”.
The solution of each one of the problems
carries a prize of US$1 000 000.
It was not easy to face the world because
I assumed as if all the people’s eyes were
looking up on me.
I never thought of solving the problem
that I was now positive but kept on
blaming myself and others. I went
through a rough patch and thought of
committing suicide.
Getting my strength back was not an easy
task. However, looking at other people
who were HIV positive, I managed to gain
my life back and started to disclose my
status to people around me.
How I got my life back - positive living
and self acceptance were my healing
remedies. I started talking about it rather
than bottling it up inside me.
Joining different support groups, social
clubs and motivational structures lifted
my drowned spirit to a groomed spirit to
value and see life as a precious gem.
The advantages of early testing are that
knowledge is the best teacher – you need
to know to manage your life. After eight
years of living with HIV, people are still
surprised if I tell them.
People need to know that if you get
tested when you are fully infected the
process is more difficult.
I would like to share my experience with
you - come visit me at the HIV/AIDS Unit.
A gift from Russia - from left, Deputy Vice-Chancellor Academic, Prof Xikombiso Mbhenyane,
Mr Joe Hlumka handing the CD-ROM to the Director of the Library Ms Mushoni Mulaudzi.
8
Univen is a quality driven, financially sustainable, rural based, comprehensive university
Univen secretaries spoilt their bosses on Bosses Day - contributing from their pockets to buy gifts.
Univen salutes SAFA president
Univen salutes one of his sons,
new President of the South
African Football Association
(SAFA), Mr Mbulaheni Kirsten
Nematandani.
Nematandani, Univen’s Director
o f S p o r t s a n d R e c re a t i o n ,
was elected president of the
country’s football controlling
body recently. He was elected
unopposed, after two other
presidential candidates, Dr Irvin
Khoza and Dr Danny Jordaan,
withdrew from the race during the elections.
Born in 1958, Nematandani has served on
various football structures, both locally and
nationally. He was the coach of Chibuku Young
Stars FC from 1986 to 1988 and became the
president of the Venda Football Association in
1988. He was elected president of the SAFA
Vhembe Regional Association
in 2006, a position he held until
he became president of SAFA.
He was SAFA’s chairperson for
the competition’s committee
between 2001 and 2005.
He is also the chairperson
o f t h e S A FA r e f e r e e i n g
committee from 2006.
Univen Vice-Chancellor and
Principal Prof Peter Mbati says
the University is very proud of
one of his sons.
“Nematandani is living proof that if one puts
one’s mind to something, success will follow.
We are with you where you represent South
African football’s highest body,particularly as
the country is moving into top gear to host the
biggest show on earth - the FIFA 2010 World
Cup,” says Mbati.
Health education to benefit
the community
Univen’s Campus Health HIV and AIDS Unit facilitated a HIV and AIDS peer educators workshop
for service staff and community workers recently.
About 50 volunteers from Univen and from the Thusalushaka, Itsani and Faranani Home Based
Care as well as from the Konanani Health Development Project attended.
They were taught about basic HIV and AIDS information and communication skills to empower
them to support those who are infected or affected with HIV and AIDS.
The training was funded by the Higher Education HIV/AIDS Programme.
Univen is a quality driven, financially sustainable, rural based, comprehensive university
Sharing
knowledge
on health
sciences
The School of Health Sciences recently
hosted Prof Bart van den Borne from
Maastricht University in the Netherlands
and Prof Kay Bartholomew from the
University of Texas in the USA as
part of the South Africa Netherlands
Research Programme on Alternatives
Development.
The visitors addressed a programme
development workshop for postgraduates and researchers as well as a
school seminar recently.
Bartholomew donated copies of her
textbook, Planning Health Promotion
Programs: an Intervention Mapping
Approach to the University.
The book provides comprehensive frameworks for programme development to
substantiate the steps of intervention
mapping and to delineate the tasks
required for these steps.
The research of a PhD student at the
School is on the development of an
intervention programme for the control
of Tuberculosis in Limpopo.
9
Night of the stars
Univen recently honoured its sporting stars for
the heights reached over the past year.
The Minister of Sports and Recreation, Dr
Makhenkesi Stofile was the guest speaker
and various sportsmen and women received
certificates, medals and trophies for their
untiring efforts.
Dineo Rammutla “The Beast” was awarded
as the best female rugby player and Tinash
Maramba as the best male rugby player.
Univen’s women’s rugby team won the
provincial league.
National and international wheelchair tennis
players Desmond Monyane, Khothatso
10
Montjana and Sydwel Mathontsi were also
honoured for their participation at national and
international competitions.
“Sports must be integrated and we must all
participate, regardless of age,” the Minister
said.
Minister Stofile said that friendship created on
the sportsfield is usually a lasting relationship.
Mr Justice Mbadamana, Head Coach of the
Univen rugby team, thanked sportsmen and
women for their dedication to reaching new
heights in 2009.
“You can do well in your studies if you involve
yourself in sports because your body will be fit,
your mind will be sharp and your soul will always
be fresh. To reinforce the imperatives of our
constitution, sports is no longer just recreation,
it is increasingly becoming a source of livelihood
and spectator entertainment. Sports is also a
source of economic improvement and a great
asset in the society.
“We thank our supporters, stakeholders
and sponsors for their dedication. These
include the Vhembe District, Limpopo rugby’s
administrators, the South African Rugby Union,
Mr KC Maiwashe and Campus Foods. Without
these people we would not have been able to
excel,” he said.
Univen is a quality driven, financially sustainable, rural based, comprehensive university
Tourism students explore
Kimberley’s Big Hole, the Cango Caves, Table
Mountain, Robben Island, District Six, the Van
Ryns Brandy Distillery, the Spier Wine Estate –
magical places to some – all in a day’s work if
you are in tourism!
Third year Tourism Management students
went on the annual tourism tour during the
September recess to experience many of
the tourism attractions
so famous to South
Africa. From a movie
house in Jozi, to the
Big Hole in Kimberley,
to the fifth most
important destination
for international tourists
– Cape Town - it was a
‘take it all in’ experience
to the group.
the Dutch came to South Africa, they
experienced the hustle and bustle of the
Grand Parade in front of the Drill Hall and
the City Hall and visited South Africa’s most
visited tourism attraction, the Victoria and
Alfred Waterfront.
The group traveled on a suburban train to
Rondebosch and Simon’s Town and took the
Cape Town aerial cableway to the top of Table
Mountain.
And the most enjoyable excursion? Table
Mountain - despite extensive cloud cover
which blanketed out the whole of Cape Town
and environs. Surely a memorable experience
to enhance the knowledge of future tourism
practitioners!
I n C a p e To w n t h e y
visited District Six and
its museum, the Cape
P e n i n sula Un iversity
o f Te c h n o l o g y, t h e
Castle, the Houses of
Parliament, the old slave
lodge that now houses
the Cultural History
Museum and the old
Supreme Court.
They had lunch in the
beautiful Gardens,
developed by the
VOC Company after
Making a
case for
Univen –
on air
Power to the library!
Mr Maredi Mphahlele of Univen’s School of
Law has for the past three years carried the
University’s torch on Thobela FM.
Thobela FM’s Current Affairs Acting Executive
Producer Mr Boya says since 2007 Mphahlele
has been a regular participant on Hlokwa la
Tsela, analysing legal issues.
“He has been participating in our morning,
evening and weekend current affairs shows.
His expertise in the legal field is highly
appreciated and has been a great help in
unpacking topical issues of the day for our
listeners,” says Boya.
When Mphahlele recently accompanied Univen
students to Cape Town and visited Parliament,
members acknowledged how they enjoyed
his shows – much to the excitement of the
students. Some even said that they would
send their children to Univen to study. This
is certainly a sterling example of how every
member of the Univen community can assist in
building the University’s image.
Load shedding is something of the past at the Univen library. The Chairperson of Council, Justice
Yvonne Mokgoro officially switched on the generator for standby power in the library recently.
Univen is a quality driven, financially sustainable, rural based, comprehensive university
11
What does Univen’s
Research and Innovation
Directorate stand for?
“We stand for excellence in research and
innovation,” says the Directorate’s Prof Phindile
Lukhele-Olorunju proudly.
“We have identified key challenges to attain
excellence in research and innovation. These
include research capacity, output, linkages,
collaboration, partnerships and importantly,
the mobilisation of research.
“We are addressing these by reviewing and
revising research policies and guidelines,
addressing postgraduate enrolments and
funding linked to niche areas. We are also
developing policies to support research
leaders such as post-doctoral fellows, research
professors and emeritus professors.
Furthermore, we are identifying support
and training programmes to assist staff
and postgraduates to publish their research
findings, leverage research funding and
to participate in regional, national and
international conferences.”
Lukhele-Olorunju says Univen is competing
for National Research Foundation and other
research chairs and interacting with targeted
organisations to increase the current research
income.
“We are also developing partnerships to
facilitate joint research projects with higher
education institutions nationally and regionally
within the SADC.
“Univen is successfully marketing itself to
partners taking advantage of its strategic
location, natural resources and diverse, highly
qualified academics. We have agreements in
place that promote capacity development,
research output, collaboration and financial
resource mobilisation with organisations like
the Water Research Council, the Agricultural
Research Council, the Department of Science
and Technology, the Food, Agriculture and
Natural Resources Policy Analysis Network,
the South Africa Norway Tertiary Education
Development Programme and various Limpopo
government departments. Other eminent
agreements are with the University of Virginia
in the USA, the Walter Sisulu University, BioPad
and the Welcome Trust.
“We have also obtained research funding
from external partners like the National
Research Foundation, the Department of
Water Affairs, the Land Bank, the Medical
Research Council, the Department of Arts and
Culture, the Australian Centre for International
Agricultural Research, the
Netherlands Organisation for
International Cooperation in
Higher Education, the South
Africa Netherlands Research
Programme on Alternatives
in Development and the
Kellogg Foundation.
‘By investing more than R5
million in research this year,
besides the funding from
external partners, we are
confident that our strategy
will enhance teaching and
learning and community
engagement,” says LukheleOlorunju.
Prof Phindile Lukhele-Olorunju.
Staff members from left Executive Secretary Pinkie Mukhuba, Intern
Ingrid Malebana and Research Administrator Norah Machaba.
Say it Out says it like it is
Say it Out, a motivational organisation on the
Univen campus, hosted a debate about the
Student Representative Assembly elections
recently.
Issues like health and housing, safety and
security around campus, the shortage of hot
water in student residences, the rate of student
dropouts and long queues at the cafeteria were
brought to the debating platform.
Invited organisations included the Azanian
Students’ Convention (Azasco), Congress
of the People (Cope), the South African
Students Congress (Sasco) and the Pan African
Movement of Azania (Pasma).
Members of the audience wanted to know
whether Christian students will in future be
accommodated on campus, together with
those who love bashes and parties and whether
assistance from the National Student Financial
Aid Scheme will help decrease the number of
dropout students on campus.
12
Univen is a quality driven, financially sustainable, rural based, comprehensive university