Ndaba 4 - University of KwaZulu

Volume 1 Number 7 September 2004
“Knowledge makes you great”
T
dia to the struggle for democracy in
South Africa. He said President Kalam
is preparing India, which is the largest democratic state in the world, to
“go to heaven rather than hell”.
Dignitaries present included government officials of India, the Indian
High Commissioner to South Africa,
the High Commissioner of South Africa to India, the Consul General of
India and ministers from the
KwaZulu-Natal government. Dr
Kalam marked the occasion by making a donation of books to the University.
– Bhekani Dlamini
Picture: Sally Giles
HE President of India, Dr
Abdul Kalam, addressed a
packed gathering of academics, students and guests on the “Evolution of Enriched Societies” on 17
September at the Westville campus.
He was accompanied by the Premier
of KwaZulu-Natal, Mr Sbu Ndebele.
Dr Kalam, who is a leading scientist and intellectual, commended academics for shaping young minds for
the development of nations. He encouraged students to build capacity
in research, moral leadership, innovation, technology and entrepreneurship: “Learning gives creativity,
creativity leads to thinking, thinking
provides knowledge and knowledge
makes you great.”
“We must give our students the skills
with which they find a way through the
sea of knowledge that we have created
and continue with life long learning,”
he advised. He added that the education system should highlight the importance of entrepreneurship and prepare
students to set up businesses: “We need
higher education backed by employment opportunities.”
Interim Vice-Chancellor Professor
Malegapuru Makgoba acknowledged
the massive contribution made by In-
STATE GREETING: President Abdul Kalam
greets guests in the Main Hall, Westville
campus.
Dr Kalam is one India’s most distinguished scientists. He has received honorary doctorates from 30 universities and
institutions and has been awarded three
coveted civilian awards – Padma
Bhushan (1981), Padma Vibhushan
(1990) and Bharat Ratna (1997). He is a
recipient of several other awards and a
Fellow of many professional institutions.
Dr Kalam became the 11th President
of India on 25 July 2002. His vision is
to transform India into a developed nation by 2020. He specialized in Aeronautical Engineering at the Madras Institute
of Technology. As Project Director, he
made a significant contribution towards
developing India’s first indigenous Satellite Launch Vehicle (SLV-III) which
successfully injected the Rohini satellite
into the near earth orbit in July 1980 and
made India a member of the exclusive
Space Club.
He was the Scientific Adviser to India’s
Defence Minister and Secretary, Department of Defence Research and Development from July 1992 to December 1999. As
Chair of the Technology Information, Forecasting and Assessment Council he led a
team of 500 experts to arrive at ‘Technology Vision 2020’ – a road map for transforming India into a developed nation. Dr
Kalam has served as the Principal Scientific Advisor to the Government of India, in
the rank of Cabinet Minister, from November 1999 to November 2001 and was
responsible for evolving policies, strategies and missions for many development
applications.
Four of Dr Kalam’s books – Wings of
Fire, India 2020 – A Vision for the New
Millennium, My Journey and Ignited
Minds – Unleashing the power within India – have become household names in
India and abroad.
Picture: Sally Giles
An act of restitution
BACK TO AFRICA: Minister of Arts & Culture Dr Pallo Jordan unveils the plaque bearing his name at the official opening of the Centre for
African Literary Studies. Smiling proudly is Interim Vice-Chancellor Professor Malegapuru Makgoba, who put all his effort into acquiring the
collection.
Inside
2
3
• Computer power
• Small business development workshop
5
THE launch of the Centre for African Literary Studies (CALS) is “an
act of restitution”, said the Minister
of Arts and Culture Dr Pallo Jordan
at the Centre’s official opening on
7 September. The Centre houses a
collection of more than 13 000 books,
volumes of journals, tapes and video
material written and published by
eminent African authors.
In his address, Dr Jordan noted that
“‘Afro-pessimism’ is a term used to
express the view that Africa has gone
into deep decline over the past three
decades. That opinion is usually coupled with another; that our continent
has produced little of value for humanity, let alone for its own people. Yet
what Africa and its peoples have contributed to humanity is evident in virtually every part of the world”. He
commended UKZN for taking the initiative to ensure that the work of African authors is restored to this continent
and said that the launch came at an appropriate time during Heritage Month.
He called on other tertiary institutions
to partner his department in its quest
• Arbor Week at UKZN
6
“to preserve our cultural treasures, but
also metaphorically excavate what has
been lost or misplaced.”
Interim Vice-Chancellor Professor
Malegapuru Makgoba said that the
Centre will assist the University in
fulfilling its vision of being the Premier University of African Scholarship. Professor Makgoba, who was
personally involved in acquiring the
collection, was inspired by a Japanese
university that collected every publication written by Japanese writers and
about Japanese culture over a period
of 500 years. “When I heard that the
largest collection of African literary
materials was located in the United
States, I jumped at the opportunity and
sought funding to acquire it.”
Professor Liz Gunner, the Acting
Director of the Centre, says plans are
in the pipeline to expand the Centre’s
collection of writing to include works
from Mozambique and Angola. This
will strengthen its ability to act as a
truly rich resource for the continent.
• UKZN achievers
– Bheki Ka Mncube
8
• Sports Corner
Founding
Campuses
Edgewood
Howard College
Medical School
Pietermaritzburg
Westville
Picture: Bheki Ka Mncube
SONGBIRD Jae did not perform at the
launch of the campaign to end violence
against women on the Howard College campus but this did not deter hundreds of people from turning up.
The music and poetry extravaganza
took place outside Shepstone level 6
on 26 August. Senior Student Counsellor Fawn Daniel Clark said that the
purpose was to educate men and
women about the virtues of non-violence. The institution-wide campaign
will highlight services available to
abused women on campus.
Voices that Reason
T
As part of the campaign, men
“
HE madman was truly dangerwere encouraged to wear a white
ous. He had to be strapped up
ribbon as a symbol of their comand have his tongue rubbed
mitment to end violence against
with bitter herbs. Can you believe it?
women. T-shirts were also sold
He walked around the paths asking
as part of a fundraising drive for
for money in exchange for Yes, you
a shelter for abused women.
guessed: AIR! He even hit people
Organisations which took part in over the head with a stick, accusing
the campaign included Life Line, them of crossing his boundary and
HIVAN, the Hillcrest Aids Centre, breathing his air without permission.
the Clermont Women’s Community ‘You there,’ he would shout, ‘Stop
Organisation and the Advice Desk for breathing now.’ And if the poor soul,
Abused Women.
too surprised to know how to re– Bheki Ka Mncube
spond, took a breath, his stick would
do some dancing on the head, the
shoulders and backside…
“’What is this world coming to?’
we ask one another. ‘Can you imagine what the world would come to if
people started selling the ground we
live on, selling rain, the water, the
ponds, selling the twigs and stones
that make up fire? Can you imagine,
three heads of cattle for some rain?’”
This is one extract from the parables contained in the pathbreaking
book, Voices That Reason by Professor Ari Sitas of Industrial Organisational and Labour Studies on the
Howard College campus. It argues
ENOUGH IS ENOUGH: More than 300 women and men gathered at the Howard College
campus to reject violence against women.
Computer power
THE KwaZulu-Natal Department of Education has welcomed a donation of
R3 million worth of computer networking software from the private sector.
The equipment will go a long way towards addressing the backlog of computers in the Province.
Professor Manoj Maharaj of the School of Mathematical Studies on the
Westville campus facilitated the donation. He says that all stakeholders in
education should contribute towards making technology accessible to all.
Helping learners to be computer literate at high school level would also help
the University because a number of these learners end up at tertiary institutions “We must also realise that we operate within the community and must
therefore do all in our ability to ensure that the community benefits.”
Speaking at the handover, KwaZulu-Natal Minister of Education Mrs Ina
Cronje said that “it is my wish that every school must have a computer. I will
not rest until this becomes a reality”.
A Gauteng-based IT company 3Com donated the equipment. Minister
Cronje has established a task team to look at which schools are the most
deserving beneficiaries. The computer equipment arrived from the United
Kingdom a few weeks ago.
Minister Cronje’s report during the KwaZulu-Natal Budget Vote highlighted
the lack of infrastructure and technology as one of the biggest stumbling
blocks to effective education in the Province.
– Bheki Ka Mncube & Sibusiso Mbotho of Bua News
Picture: Bheki Ka Mncube
No to violence
against women
TOWARDS AFRICAN SCHOLARSHIP: Professor Ari Sitas gives a copy of his book to
sociologist and community activist Professor Fatima Meer, while Professor Pitika Ntuli looks on.
for a new paradigm in understanding, teaching and writing about sociology. The sociological parables in
the book are rooted in the popular
narratives of the people of KwaZuluNatal.
At the launch of the book on 3 September Professor Sitas said story tell-
Editorial
Picture: Bheki Ka Mncube
2
– Bheki Ka Mncube
Send your news to news@ukzn.ac.za
ukzndaba: Informative, glossy,
colourful and cost effective!
THE merger that resulted in the University of KwaZulu-Natal necessitated a number of initiatives. We were faced with the challenge of building a new brand
i.e. the University of KwaZulu-Natal, for stakeholders who for many years
had been loyal to the old brands (the former Universities of Durban-Westville and
Natal). Our task was to retain the loyalties of existing stakeholders, build awareness of
the new brand and create a new brand that essentially reflected the culture, ethos and values
which constituted the building blocks of the new Institution. Our general approach was to retain
what was good, to build on the promising aspects of the old cultures and to discard the negative. In the
marketing terrain this meant undertaking an innovative advertising campaign, launching a new stable of
exciting publications and holding events which reflect our Institution as academically excellent, innovative in
research, critically engaged with society and committed to social redress.
ukzndaba your campus newspaper, UKZN Touch (the Alumni magazine), the UKZN Today, (the Schools publication), the 100 Days Report of the Interim Vice-Chancellor, the UKZN Profile, (our Flagship publication), the
Research Report 2003, the Tribute to Chief Albert Luthuli and a whole range of other ad hoc publications formed
the basic tools of our new approach in 2004.
A total of 13 000 copies of ukzndaba are distributed to staff and students on our five campuses. The publication is
aimed at bringing staff and students on board under the new dispensation, thereby creating a sense of loyalty
through the creation of an informed readership. We highlight the achievements of both staff and students, increase
awareness of who the successful members of the University community are, cover prominent visitors, special
events and outreach projects which all contribute to building a sense of pride at the University. We also try and
build a sense of community by ensuring that all campuses and their activities are covered in ukzndaba.
ukzndaba is not an academic journal. Its intention is to inform and excite both first year students and
senior professors alike, people who speak English, isiZulu, Afrikaans, Hindi or any other language at
home and whose income levels and demographics vary in line with that of the general population.
Through efficient procurement procedures we have been able to produce ukzndaba in full
colour and on quality paper well within budget and more cheaply now than we were
able to produce the first spot colour edition on bond paper earlier this year.
The ukzndaba team invites your views on how we could improve
the publication.
Professor Dasarath Chetty, Interim Executive Director
Public Affairs and Corporate Communications
The ukzndaba team
IT’S A DEAL: (l-r) UKZN’s Professor Manoj Maharaj and MEC for education Mrs Ina Cronje
listen attentively as funders explain how to use R3 million worth of computer networking
software donated to KwaZulu-Natal schools.
ing, creativity and sociology are intertwined. He says that the book
breaks from colonial knowledge production: “The time for looking to the
West for standards and knowledge is
over”.
Dasarath Chetty
Deanne Collins
Sharon Dell
Bhekani Dlamini
Fikisile Mabaso
Bheki Ka Mncube Avadhna Singh
Small business development workshop
(l-r) THINK TANK: Bobby Madhav (Regional Director, FNB), Ajay Swarup (Consul General of India), Mr BS Minhas (Secretary to Government of India: Small Business Industrial Development), Prof Dhiru Soni (UKZN Executive Director of Outreach), Kershnie Maharaj (FNB), Prof Dasarath Chetty (UKZN Executive Director of Public Affairs and Corporate Communications),
Ms Lolette Kritzinger-van Niekerk (World Bank Economist), Prof John Volmink (Pro-Vice-Chancellor of Partnerships and John Gaughran (FNB) at the workshop.
rate is between 7% and 8%. This creates additional employment of 4.4
million people annually.” The government of India is collaborating with
universities and other institutes in
training people in small business development. eThekwini Deputy Mayor
Logie Naidoo and World Bank
Economist Ms Lolette Kritzinger-van
Niekerk also shared their ideas
Discussions ranged from the internationalisation of small business operations, to international trade lessons
for South Africa. Professor Dhiru
Soni, who leads this initiative at
UKZN, said established businesses
worldwide are looking towards developing small businesses. With the
support of the state, “the private sector must come to the fore and provide the necessary financial support”.
Picture: Madoda Mahlangu
T
HE Centre for Africa-Asia
Studies at the Westville
campus held the first in a
series of workshops for
small business initiatives on 3 September. The workshops are run in collaboration with the Durban Consulate
General of India and First National
Bank. The workshop was entitled,
“Entrepreneurship and Small Business Development: The Indian Experience and Lessons for South Africa”.
Welcoming delegates, UKZN Interim Vice-Chancellor Professor
Malegapuru Makgoba said that he
hoped the discussions on how to succeed in the small business sector
would yield fruit. The Secretary to
the Indian Government, Mr BS
Minhas outlined the role played by
the Small Scale Industrial Unit (SSI)
in the Indian economy. India’s government encourages banks to finance
small scale industrial units by reimbursing them 75% of any money they
lose on the investment. “The
economy of India grows at a rate of
12% per annum and the target growth
The Consul General of India in
Durban, Mr Ajay Swarup announced
at the workshop that the GandhiLuthuli Chair will be established at
the Centre for Africa-Asia Studies.
– Bhekani Dlamini
Facilities for the differently-abled
THE Disability Unit on the Howard
College campus has made great
strides in assisting students and facilitating their studies. The Unit is
part of the Student Counselling and
Careers Centre.
A lift has recently been installed
in the Law Faculty. This has enabled
students to gain access to lecture and
tutorial venues that were previously
inaccessible to them.
Jodie Johnson using the new lift installed in
the Law Faculty.
Spotlight on…
The Unit has also recently acquired
new assistive devices in the form of
specialised software, such as
Arkenstone Openbook, which scans
text material into electronic format
and vocalises it. Vision assistive devices help students with visual impairments to read text documents in
larger fonts. These advances have led
to a great improvement in the students’ abilities to access information
more efficiently and effectively.
While the unit makes these announcements with great pride, it recognizes that the journey towards
providing equitable services is a long
and challenging one!
– Rikesh Harypursat
Newsletter
Student Counselling Quarterly is a
newsletter produced by the Student
Counselling and Careers Centre on
the Howard College campus. The
staff at this centre see it as a place of
refuge – a haven in a world that sometimes alienates and discounts our
identities. Sadly, on occasion they
hear that someone in need was unaware of them. They hope the Quarterly will help build a stronger
relationship between the Centre and
the rest of the University community.
The first issue can be viewed on
the University Notice System until 11 October.
Medical School
ukzndaba continues our series on our five campuses
UKZN’s Nelson R Mandela School
of Medicine has its roots in the setting up of a Faculty of Medicine in
1950 at the former University of Natal. Currently, the Medical School has
approximately 1 158 students and a
staff complement of 706.
During the apartheid era, the Medical School not only produced doctors,
but students who were determined to
practice their skills as equals in a free
society, despite not being allowed to
work on white patients and even white
cadavers. The corridors of the Faculty
of Medicine, as it was known at the
time, were a hub of political resistance against the abhorent racist practice in both the University and society.
The Alan Taylor Residence at
Wentworth, where many medical students stayed, was the target of many
raids by the security police. The students and the Medical School itself
survived grossly inequitable state
funding and a severe shortage of human resources, space, facilities and
equipment. Today, it has an international reputation for academic rigour
and an unwavering commitment to
the community it serves.
The Medical School became respected as a leader in the field of
community-based projects. It initiated programmes in isolated, poverty-stricken areas, which provided
important elements needed for basic
health care and helped teach rural
people good health and sanitation
practices. It determines community
ills and needs, gives advice, provides
medicines and helps to co-ordinate
health services in far flung areas of
the region.
As part of its contribution to society, the Medical School is involved
in the development of health policy
on a national level and the skill and
medical expertise its staff, alumni
and students provide remain key
components of the institution’s contribution to the direction health policy
takes today. It also undertakes research that makes a tremendous impact on the development of society.
Many Medical School graduates
have made outstanding contributions
in the private, public, government
and academic sectors and are featured in the media by virtue of the
positions they occupy. Some of the
alumni include current Minister of
Health in KwaZulu-Natal, Dr Zweli
Mkhize, Secretary for Health and
honorary professor, Professor
Ronald Green-Thompson, two
former premiers of KwaZulu-Natal
Dr Frank Mdlalose and Dr Ben
Ngubane, Dr Nkosazana DlaminiZuma, currently Minister of Foreign
Affairs and formerly national Minister of Health, who studied her second to fifth years of medicine at the
University before continuing her
studies at the University of Bristol,
Professor Eprahim Mokgokong
former Vice-Chancellor of Medunsa
and Professor Jagidesa “Jack”
Moodley, who is a respected international expert on hypertension disorders in pregnancy. The Interm
Vice-Chancellor of UKZN, Professor
Malegapuru Makgoba is also one of
the luminaries who traversed the
Medical School’s hallowed halls.
The Medical School received its
finest ever honour when former president and Nobel Peace Prize winner
Nelson Mandela agreed to link his
name to the school. It was named the
Nelson R Mandela School of Medicine on its 50th birthday.
– Bhekani Dlamini
3
Development Studies celebrates 50 years
U
KZN’s School of Development Studies celebrates its
50th anniversary this year.
The School has come a long way
since it was established in 1954 to
bring together specialists from across
the social sciences for the purpose of
interdisciplinary research. It has an
international reputation for the quality of its work and the intellectual
rigor with which it applies academic
skills to policy challenges. Academic
staff are integrally involved in the
shaping of economic and development policy at all levels of government.
Teaching and research in the
School is largely organised around
the areas of economics, social policy,
population studies, urban-rural governance and development, and civil
society. The School offers coursework Masters Degrees in Development Studies, Development Planning
and Population Studies, as well as a
research-based PhD programme.
The School has a close working
association with the Centre for Civil
Society. Since 1997, the School and
the Centre have raised more than R60
million in external funds.
To celebrate these achievements, the
School is hosting a conference in October that will review South Africa’s
first decade of development and democracy. The conference will begin
with a banquet to celebrate the history
of the School, and the evening will be
attended by many of the staff from the
early days of the School and other
prominent people who have had close
links with the School over the years.
Over the following two days, international and national analysts will assess progress made in the past ten
years in South Africa, while recognising trends and structures that stretch
back into the country’s legacy of apartheid and inequality. The papers to be
presented have been selected along the
lines of the major current research and
graduate teaching themes of the
School. A selection of these conference papers will be used to put together an edited peer-reviewed volume
which is currently being discussed
with a UK-based publisher.
For more information about the
conference, please consult the SoDS
website; www.ukzn.ac.za/csds or
email conference organiser, Shannon
Moffett on moffett@ukzn.ac.za
Equity survey
UKZN’s Equity Office together with the Dean of Student Development
is co-ordinating climate surveys for staff and students respectively. The
staff surveys will be run during October 2004. It is important for all
staff to participate so that we get meaningful data. The survey will be
web-based but copies in English and IsiZulu will be distributed to staff
who do not have access to computers.
Staff Survey
Purpose: To assess the working environment in order to identify barriers
that may:
• contribute to the under-representation or under-utilisation of employees from the designated groups;
• contribute to the lack of affirmation of diversity in the workplace;
• adversely affect designated groups; and
• Identify practices or factors that positively promote employment equity and diversity in the workplace.
• Provide data to management that can be used for informed decision
making.
• Inform Faculty and Divisional Employment Equity Plans.
• Facilitate the ongoing process of transformation.
• Establish a baseline with which future campus climate assessments
can be compared.
DEVELOPMENTALISTS: Some of the staff of the School of Development Studies.
Act
responsibly!
HIV/Aids activist Mr Jesse Milan Jr
who has been living with HIV for 22
years, addressed students and staff in
a packed Senate Chamber on the
Westville campus on 6 September. Mr
Milan is Vice President of Analytical Sciences Inc. where he directs the
National Prevention Information Network, the largest service for dissemination of information on HIV/Aids,
STDs and TB in the United States.
His visit to South Africa was organized by the US Embassy and the US
Consulate in Durban.
Milan said people who are HIVpositive must protect themselves
from getting re-infected, avoid passing the virus on to others, eat healthily and refrain from smoking and
alcohol. “My goal is not to get on
anti-retroviral drugs but to have my
immune system stay healthy,” he
said. Activism, constant monitoring
of his CD4 count and an incredible
emotional support network have kept
him alive: “The more we break the
stigma, the more we realize that we
are not isolated”, he said.
– Bhekani Dlamini
Student Survey
Purpose: To assess the current UKZN campus climate and needs with
respect to racial, cultural, ethnic, gender and other forms of diversity.
The objectives:
• To determine the UKZN general climate and climate for diversity.
• Gauge the extent to which UKZN is preparing its students for careers
in a changing, multicultural world.
• Trigger conversations that will serve to strengthen and improve
UKZN’s climate for diversity.
• Highlight the areas where diversity may be having a positive effect.
• Provide data to administrators that can be used for informed decision
making.
• Better inform the Office of the Dean of Student Development and the
Office of Equity about the campus climate for diversity in order to
help with their efforts to embrace diversity.
• Begin the on-going process of self-assessment and critical evaluation
in order to continue to improve the campus climate for diversity.
• Establish a baseline with which future campus climate assessments
can be compared.
4
LIVING POSITIVELY: Jessie Milan (l) and Liam Humphreys, Deputy Principal Officer, Public Affairs at the Office of the US Consul General,
with students on the Westville campus.
– Bhekani Dlamini
Dr Paddy Ewer, Dean of Science and Agriculture plants a tree at the Pietermaritzburg campus
Arbor day ceremony.
Dr Jendayi Frazer, newly appointed US Ambassador to South Africa visited the Nelson R
Mandela School of Medicine and held discussions on HIV/Aids with senior researchers at the
Doris Duke Medical Research Institute. Ambassador Frazer arrived in South Africa on
3 August. Prior to her appointment, she served as special Assistant to the President and Senior
Director for African Affairs at the National Security Council. In the photo Dr Frazer is seen
with Dr Nceba Gqaleni (front left), Mr Ntutuko Mahlaba (front right) and the Dean of
Medicine, Professor Barry Kistnasamy (back left).
Professor Julia Botha with staff members at the tree planting event on the Westville campus.
New look at
natural resources
A NEW book on South Africa’s indigenous forests and woodlands provides an up-to-date synthesis of
current research and policies and
practices affecting forests and woodlands in this country.
Edited by Mike Lawes and Harriet
Eeley from UKZN’s School of
Botany and Zoology, together with
Charlie Shackleton and Bev Geach,
Indigenous Forests and Woodlands in
South Africa: Policy, People and
Practice contains contributions from
more than 80 authors with different
perspectives, expertise and interests,
including biologists, economists, sociologists, academics and practitioners
Such a synthesis is particularly
pertinent at this time. Since 1994
there has been a shift in the approach
to the management of forest and
woodland resources, with a move
away from former ‘preservationist’
polices and an increased emphasis on
the sustainable extractive use of natural resources, particularly by rural
communities. A growing recognition
of the potential value that these resources hold for local economies and
livelihoods has been accompanied by
both the restructuring of national institutions governing forests and
woodlands, and a number of new
policies and strategies for integrated
management. An increasing volume
of research across the country has attempted to bridge the scientific and
social aspects of indigenous forest
and woodland resource use. The ‘hidden’ economy is being revealed, and
new and traditional areas of resource
use – including medicines, foods and
handicrafts – are being opened up.
The trade in natural forest and woodland products incorporates more and
more people, with improved infrastructure, urban growth, increased
movement of people, and the growing tourism industry. As this process
of transformation has been underway
for a decade, now is an opportune
time to bring together the results of
these studies.
Indigenous Forests and Woodlands
in South Africa: Policy, People and
Practice was launched on 5 August
at the Natal National Botanical Gardens in Pietermaritzburg. It is available from the University of
KwaZulu-Natal Press and selected
book stores.
Picture: Bheki Ka Mncube
ll five UKZN campuses celebrated Arbor Week.
On the Westville Campus staff
members from different departments
and experts in Botany and nature conservation gathered to plant ten indigenous trees outside the Wellness
Centre.
Professor Julia Botha, Chair of the
Durban Centre Environment Committee (which comprises members
from Edgewood, Howard College,
Medical School and the Westville
campuses), addressed a small group
of enthusiastic planters. She is the
Head of the Department of Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology at
the Nelson R Mandela School of
Medicine.
She said that the significance of
Arbor Week extends far beyond
planting trees. It also involves the
conservation of the natural heritage
of all the campuses. Four campuses
(Edgewood, Howard College, Medical School and Westville) are Urban
Conservancies registered with
Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife. “This
means that we are charged with the
responsibility of looking after our
indigenous flora and fauna”, said Professor Botha. She emphasised that the
preservation and planting of local
indigenous plants (rather than alien/
imported plants) was consistent with
the concept of being a University of
African Excellence.
One of the major dangers facing
the forests and grasslands of the
UKZN campuses is alien invader
plants. These plants advance aggressively. Due to a lack of natural competitors and animals and insects
which would normally keep their
growth under control, alien invaders
out-compete our natural indigenous
vegetation. This upsets the delicate
ecological balance and eliminates the
habitat and food source of many species of birds and other creatures. “Alien plant invaders pose as big an
economic and ecological threat as any
other form of pollution. In terms of
current legislation it is illegal to have
these plants on one’s property and
everyone in South Africa has a responsibility to be aware of invaders
and to take steps to eradicate them”,
Professor Botha explained.
The problem of alien invader
plants is currently being addressed
on the Westville Campus. One of the
other University events for Arbor
Week involved students under the
supervision of Dr Helen Watson
(Senior Lecturer: School of Life and
Environmental Sciences), who are
developing a management plan for
the removal of invasive alien plants
such as Chromolaena odorata
(Triffid Weed), Lanatana camara
(Lantana) and Melia azedarach
(Syringa).
WELL DONE: Professor Fikile Mazibuko, Executive Dean, Human and Social Sciences,
applauds the Director of the School of Languages Professor Phyllis Zungu and her team for
winning the Open Days 2004 Best Stand on the Westville campus.
Best stands
collect awards
UKZN’s first Open Days having come and gone, it was time to recognise
staff members who went the extra mile in making the events a success.
On the Westville campus, the School of Languages walked away with a
trophy and a certificate of appreciation. Schools Liaison Manager Len
Mzimela said their stand was exceptionally enterprising.
At Howard College, the winning stand was the Library. Deputy Director of Public Affairs and Corporate Communications Julie Dunsford
handed the trophy and a certificate to library management amid rejoicing
by staff members. She said that judges took into account that the Library
performs numerous functions on Open Day. These include keeping the
library going for ordinary library users, hosting Faculties who bring their
exhibits and being open to visitors, all at the same time.
– Bheki Ka Mncube
Picture: Madoda Mahlangu
A
US Ambassador
visits Medical
School
Picture: Vicky Crookes
More
than
planting
trees
CONGRATULATIONS: Julie Dunsford hands the trophy to Catherine Dubbeld, Library Head
Information Services, and Norah Buchanan, Deputy Head University Librarian.
5
Golden
Key Award
UKZN
achievers
Excellence award
T
HE Africa Centre has won the
‘PG Group SAIA Award for
Excellence 2004’ from the
South African Institute of Architects.
The Centre is part of UKZN and was
the brainchild of Interim Vice-Chancellor Professor Malegapuru
Makgoba when he was still at the
Medical Research Council.
Design team East Coast Architects
received the award on behalf of the
Africa Centre at a Gala Dinner in
Bloemfontein on 27 August. All three
members of East Coast Architects are
UKZN alumni and one – Derek van
Heerden – lectures in the School of
Architecture.
Located in Mtubatuba, Northern
KwaZulu-Natal, the Africa Centre is
a community-based research organization that focuses on health and
population studies. It undertakes research to find solutions to problems
facing rural communities such as
HIV/Aids and other health issues. It
has a large demographic information
system that visits 12 500 households
twice a year, and works closely with
the provincial health services to examine ways of providing more effective care to rural communities. It not
only advances science, but also engages in interventions that improve
people’s lives, such as offering free
Voluntary Counselling and Testing at
its 20 counselling centres. The Centre has become a model for effective
development in Umkhanyakude District.
The PG Group SAIA Award is the
premier award for Architecture in
South Africa and is granted every two
years. Of the twelve buildings nominated, three were granted awards.
Other awards went to the new medical research facilities for the Africa
Centre by East Coast Architects, the
South African Apartheid Museum by
Mashabane Rose Architects and
Gapp Architects, and the Westcliff
Estate by Studio MAS Architects.
The award was granted on the basis
that the image of the Africa Centre
building is rural vernacular and it
houses state-of-the-art technologies that
support and drive the research initiatives of the international donor funders.
The designers have been mindful of the
value of limited resources and all are
addressed and integrated into the resolution of the design.
“I am overjoyed that the hard work
that we all put into this effort – the
community, the Africa Centre staff,
and the architectural team – has been
rewarded by the top award in South
African Architecture,” said Dr
Michael Bennish, Director of the
Africa Centre. “The award serves as
a concrete demonstration of the excellence that can be achieved in a
poor rural area when all are committed to an important goal and of a symbol of hope that rural development
can take place. Often aspirations are
low for what can be done in rural areas, and this building shows that
when aspirations are high they can
be met if we all work together to
achieve that aim.”
ACCOUNTANCY student Privashni
Pillay received the Golden Key Honours Society Award at a function on
the Westville campus on 10 September. Privashni, who has a string of
achievements to her name, received
a scholarship of R5 000.
The Golden Key Honours Society
recognises and encourages scholastic achievement and excellence in
undergraduate fields of study. The top
15% of high achievers are invited to
be inducted into the UKZN chapter.
There are 11 chapters at leading institutions in South Africa and 313 in
the rest of the world.
The Dean of Student Development
on the Howard College Campus, Dr
Devi Rajab, says that “too often in-
stitutions of learning tend to focus on
the problem students and neglect to
acknowledge the achievements of
high functioning students. The
Golden Key Honours Society addresses this limitation and provides
opportunities for our top students to
network internationally and to develop leadership and organsiational
skills that will hold them in good
stead throughout their lives.” Members of the Chapter participate in student development projects on and off
campus. Each year three or four honorary members are chosen who act
as mentors to students. More than 800
students have joined the society this
year.
– Bhekani Dlamini
Honour for
medical academic
THE Council of the University of the Free State conferred an honorary doctorate on Professor Yackoob Seedat on 22 September for his “outstanding
contribution to medicine, specifically hypertension among the black population”.
Professor Seedat served as Professor and Head of Medicine at the former
University of Natal from 1978 to 1994, Professor of Medicine Research from
1995 to 1999 and was appointed Honorary Research Associate in 2000, a
position he still holds. He is also Emeritus Professor of Medicine at UKZN.
Jazz Winner off to
the USA
– Bhekani Dlamini and Mdu
Mahlinza
First
prize
JAZZ CHAMPION: Ayanda Sikade shows off the style that has won him an overseas
scholarship.
Dr MO Alli, Senior Registrar in the
Department of Urology, Nelson R Mandela
School of Medicine, received the prize for
presenting the best scientific paper at the
International Congress of the Urological
Association of South Africa from 28 July to
1 August at the Sun City Convention Centre.
Co-authors of the award-winning presentation were Professor ZB Bereczky,
Dr EH Abdel Goad, Dr P Chetty and
Dr M Conradie.
In the photo, Dr Alli receives his award from
the President of the Urological Association of
South Africa, Dr Johan Pretorius.
6
AYANDA Sikade, a third year Diploma student majoring in Jazz Performance, has been awarded the
prestigious SAMRO overseas scholarship. He started playing drums
when he was eight years old and was
chosen to perform with the National
Schools Jazz Band in 1999 when still
at high school. Ayanda played with
Bheki Mseleku at Durban’s renowned Awesome Africa Festival in
2002 and The Melvin Peters Quarter in 2003. He is the drummer for
the Nuje (big band) and was also
selected to participate in the ex-
change programme with Goteburg
University in Sweden. He was also
part of the highly successful band
Kwazuna led by Professor Darius
Brubeck, which received rave reviews at the Festival Les Rendezvous De L’ Erdre in France. He will
perform with Kwazana at the International Jazz Educators Conference
in Los Angles in January next year,
where he can explore different options for taking up the scholarship.
– Glynis Malcolm-Smith
Chemical engineers
score gold
P
HUMAN RIGHTS ADVOCATE: Ntokozo Khanyile receives her award from Professor James
Mowatt, Dean of Law on the Westville campus.
Advancing
human rights
ADVOCATES Kessie Naidu and S
Poswa-Leratholi, and Mr Ravan
Harkoo presided over the Moot Court
Final on the Westville campus on 10
September.
The Moot Courts put the legal
knowledge of final year students to
the test. Students argue a hypothetical human rights case before a full
bench of judges. This year, the case
centred around the rights of a child
orphaned by Aids.
Advocate Naidu said that he was
impressed with the high standard of
the Final. He congratulated Ntokozo
Khanyile (23) from Clermont who
was the overall winner. She received
a cash prize and a token of appreciation. On completion of her studies,
Ntokozo would like to practice family law.
Nirasha Singh (21) received the
prize for the best oral presentation.
She wants to practice corporate
law.
The Moot Courts are inspired by
the vision of former President Nelson Mandela who once said: “One
could hardly think of a better way to
advance the cause of human rights
than to bring together students – who
are the leaders, judges and teachers
of tomorrow, to debate some crucial
issues of our time in the exciting and
challenging atmosphere of a courtroom, where they can test their arguments and skills against one another
in a spirit of fierce but friendly competition.”
The event was sponsored by
Harkoo, Brijlal and Reddy, and Siven
Samuel.
– Bhekani Dlamini
rofessor David Arnold, Head of
the School of Chemical Engi
neering on the Howard College
campus, Jon Buzzard (Part-time Senior Lecturer), and Philipp Steiner and
Brent McKeon of International Furan
Technology (Pty) Ltd were awarded
the South African Institution of
Chemical Engineers (SAICHE) Gold
Medal on 3 September.
According to SAICHE, “the Gold
Medal Award is granted for outstanding achievement in chemical engineering or process technology in its
broadest definition. Unusually competent technical design and execution
carried out essentially within Southern Africa, including commercial
implementation and with at least an
element of innovation, are the main
criteria. As engineering is largely a
team effort, the award is more likely
to be made to a group, though not
necessarily so”.
The group developed a process to
make furfural, an environmentally
safe pesticide, plastics precursor and
industrial chemical made from renewable resources such as mealie
cobs, sunflower husks and sugarcane
bagasse. Furfural is also one of the
key chemical building blocks to create green sustainable chemicals. By
considering the theoretical aspects,
designing and performing laboratory
and pilot plant work, the process was
brought to a commercial stage. The
processing costs are about half of
those of existing processes. The first
licence to operate the process, called
“SupraYield®” has been sold to an
Australian company.
The team is currently expanding
their understanding of the process
fundamentals. More significantly,
they have recently patented another,
totally novel process for making furfural which will set new standards
of production with regard to operating and capital costs. Development
work is in progress in the Howard
College School of Chemical Engineering.
This kind of sponsored research is
product and process orientated, with
a specific commercial focus. However, the academic spin-off is enormous, with additional funding from
the NRF. The School has graduated
four MSc students and generated
many final year research projects from
such activities over the past few years.
Contractual arrangements through the
UKZN Research Office have resulted
in significant income to the University, half of which is being used for
research development in the School.
Professor Arnold says that the
team “is indebted to UKZN’s forward looking research policy, the
superb technical back-up of the
Support Staff of the School of
Chemical Engineering, International Furan Technology (Pty) Ltd
for ongoing financial and management support and guidance and to
students and staff of IFT and the
University who have worked on the
project”.
For further information on the
project visit www.ift.co.za
TOP TEAM: Jon Buzzard, Professor Mike Heydenrych (Chair of SAIChE) and Professor Dave Arnold.
Toolkit for caregivers
AFTER several years of working
closely with HIV-positive women
and their families at an ante-natal
clinic in Cato Manor, Durban, Dr
Stephanie Thomas and Professor
Anna Coutsoudis of the Department
of Paediatrics and Child Health at
UKZN have produced a comprehensive guide for caregivers entitled
Quality Living with HIV – A toolkit
for care providers.
Newly diagnosed HIV-positive
patients need high-quality, in-depth
and ongoing counselling about the
implications of their condition
while being encouraged to sustain
a sense of personal purpose and
optimism. The guide will be helpful to HIV counsellors, community
workers, nurses, doctors and trainers.
The guide explains HIV infection and Aids-related diseases in
simple language and provides stepby-step procedures and techniques
caregivers can use to help their clients accept their status and learn
skills for coping with its effects.
It presents the Quality Living
Course, complete with session outlines, games and ice-breaker exercises, overhead projection
material, participant handouts and
information on the importance of
sexual choices in relation to Sexually Transmitted Diseases. An optional CD is available with the
publication.
While stocks last the handbook is offered free of charge to
non-profit organisations, who
can send a motivation letter to
mslthomas@absamail.co.za. Alternatively, it may be purchased
from Adams Bookshops at R85
without the CD and R100 with
the CD. All proceeds will be donated to iThemba Lethu, an Aids
organisation working with child r e n a ff e c t e d b y H I V / A ids
( w w w.ithembalethu.org.za).
7
Kwasha
It’s happening!
HAROLD WOLPE MEMORIAL LECTURE
(HOWARD COLLEGE CAMPUS CENTRE
FOR CIVIL SOCIETY) 30 September 2004
at 17:30. SPEAKER: Archie Mafeje (Visiting Fellow, UNISA)TOPIC: Poverty and
Social Justice For further information contact Helen Poonen: 031 260 3577 or
email:poonenh@ukzn.ac.za
THE DOORS – TO THE OTHER SIDE
(ELIZABETH SNEDDON THEATRE
HOWARD COLLEGE CAMPUS) 16 September – 10 October. This is a powerful and
compelling musical biography on the life and
times of the legendary Jim Morrison. With
his early death, Morrison is described by
some as a voluntary victim of the destructive forces in pop culture. Thirty years on,
his story still holds great fascination – and
his reputation is even greater now than in
the heyday of his group The Doors. For further information contact Jackie Cunniffe:
031 260 2296.
FREE GERMAN MOVIE (HOWARD COLLEGE CAMPUS MTB SECOND FLOOR
ROOM 236) Every Monday at 3.30 p.m. For
further information contact Marion Pape:
031 260 1107/2380.
SOCIAL BADMINTON (PMB CAMPUS)
Every Tuesday Evening. 7:00pm – 9:00 pm.
Both beginners and more experienced players
are very welcome. The cost is minimal, but the
benefits enormous. For further information
contact Glynn Davies: 033 260 5242, Home
Telephone: 033 386 5557 or email:
daviesgr@ukzn.ac.za.
THE EIGHTH POETRY AFRICA INTERN ATIONAL POETRY FESTIVA L
(HOWARD COLLEGE CAMPUS ELIZABETH SNEDDON THEATRE) 18 to 22 October and BAT Centre 23 October at
7:30pm. The world-renowned festival
showcases an impressive and diverse lineup of 30 local and international poets who
will give readings and performances
nightly. For further information contact
Centre for Creative Arts (UKZN) Tel 031
2602506.
Sport corner
Egypt takes 28 medals
THE Egyptian team emerged the champions of the recent karate tournament
at the Sport Centre on the Westville campus, taking home 28 medals.
Participating countries were Angola, Senegal, Zimbabwe, Egypt, Mali,
Rwanda, Botswana, Swaziland, Zambia, Namibia, Nigeria, Kenya and Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). All teams included women and men.
Egypt was followed closely by Senegal, with 25 medals. The South African Special Presidential Team collected 12 medals.
Karate is the third fastest growing sport in Africa. The Union of African
Karate boasts two champions - Aly Ndiaye from Senegal, who won the 2000
World Karathas five and a half million karatekas and Sandra Ferreira from
South Africa, the winner of WKF Championship in 1999.
– Bhekani Dlamini
Send your diary of events to
events@ukzn.ac.za
THE UKZN OPERA SCHOOL AND CHORAL ACADEMY (OSCA THEATRE JUBILEE HALL PRINCESS ALICE AVENUE)
Friday, 22 October at 19.30 and Sunday, 24
October at 15.00. OSCA Showcase- an evening
featuring our finest talent. A selection of items
from opera and oratorio will be performed. The
singers will be accompanied by pianist Andrew
Warburton. For further information contact
Maggie Reddy: 031 260 1672.
CENTRE FOR JAZZ AND POPULAR
MUSIC:
Wednesday 6 October 5.20pm: Four Roses
“Women Power in Jazz” from Switzerland
featuring Florence Chitacumbi (vocals) Florence Melnotte (piano) Nina de Heney (bass)
and Beatrice Graf (drums) ** Double show
R20 (students R5).
Saturday 9 Oct 8pm: Walking the Blues featuring the best of Durban’s Blues players,
plus the amazing Dan Patlansky 21 year old
Johannesburg Blues prodigy, with his band,
the Mississippi Muthas. Admission R50
Wednesday 13 Oct 5.20pm: BuJazzO (24
piece Jazz Big Band) from Germany directed
by Peter Herbolzheimer ** Double Show
R20 (students R5)
Wednesday 20 Oct 5.20pm Drumcliffe featuring famous Irish players Brian OhUginn
(uileann pipes and whistles) Darraugh
Morgan (fiddle) & Robert Van der Linde
(guitar) from RSA playing traditional Irish
music plus special guest
** Double show R20 (students R5)
Wednesday 27 Oct 5.20pm: Strings an Skins
with Ashish Joshi (Indian Tabla, Dhol, Egyptian Darbukah, Afrian Djembe) & Greg
Georgiades (Oud, Bouzouki, nylon string
Flamenco guitar) playing rhythmical interpretations of North African and South African improvisational styles. **Double show
R20 (students R5)
For further info, tel: 031 260 3385.
– Complied by Fikisile Mabaso.
Jazzing it up
in France
THE UKZN School of Music featured prominently at this year’s Les
Rendez-vous de L’erdre jazz festival
in Nantes, France (27-29 August). As
part of a process of twining the cities
of Nantes and Durban, two groups
were invited from Durban, both comprised almost entirely of present or
former UKZN music students and
both receiving fantastic ovations.
Though presenting quite distinct
programmes and with different lineups, both groups featured South African jazz with innovative and highly
polished arrangements of works by
Zim Nqawana, Abdullah Ibrahim,
Winston Mankuku Ngozi, Moses
Mololekwa, Bheki Mseleku, Duke
Makasi and Themba Mkhize.
Kwazuna was put together especially for the festival and
showcased current students,
Ayanda Sikade (drums), Logan
Byrne (bass) and Burton Naidoo
(piano and keyboards). They were
joined by jazz lecturer, Paul Kock
(sax) and Professor Darius
Brubeck (piano & keyboards).
The Melvin Peters Quartet includes three UKZN alumni:
Melvin Peters (piano and keyboards), Bongani Sokhela (bass)
and Jeff Robinson (sax and flute).
Robinson is currently a lecturer in
Music Education at UKZN. Drumming for the group was Durban’s
Wesley Gibbens. The quartet accompanied vocalist extraordinaire,
Andile Mseleku, the newest member of the Mseleku clan to be making a name for herself. She is
currently studying at the Durban
Institute of Technology, whose
Music Department is in the process of merging with the UKZN
School of Music.
– Glynis Malcolm-Smith
Recycle your ukzndaba
Please don’t litter… when you’ve finished with
your ukzndaba, why not pass it on to someone
else, or place it in a bin for recycling with
other paper-waste.
8
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