Limpopo Leader - Spring 2005 - University of Limpopo

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Limpopo Leader is published by the Marketing and Communications Department UNIVERSITY OF LIMPOPO Private Bag X1106 Sovenga 0727 Limpopo Province South Africa EDITOR: David Robbins Tel: (011) 792-9951 or 082-7878099 ADVERTISING: Gail Robbins Tel: (011) 792-9951 or 082-5721682 EDITORIAL COMMITTEE: DK Mohuba (chairman) David Robbins Gail Robbins PHOTOGRAPHS: Liam Lynch – pages front and back covers, pages 3 (middle to bottom), 7, 8, 11, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 19, 20 21, 22, 23, 27, 29, 30 David Robbins – pages 3 (top two), 5, 6, 9 Professor Dirk Wessels – pages 26, 28 DESIGN AND LAYOUT: JAM STREET Design PRINTING: Colorpress (pty) Ltd PRODUCTION MANAGEMENT: DGR Writing & Research ARTICLES MAY BE REPRINTED WITH ACKNOWLEDGEMENT ISSN: 1812-5468 P A G E 2 EDITORIAL tTHE MERGER BETWEEN MEDUNSA AND THE OLD UNIVERSITY OF THE NORTH TO CREATE THE NEW UNIVERSITY OF LIMPOPO IS NEVER FAR FROM THE NEWS. Most readers will be aware of the publicity that recently shone an uncompromising light onto activities on the Medunsa campus. University leadership has dealt decisively and honestly with this situation, as can be seen from the statement published on page 1. Of more lasting import, the merger process is beginning to create an institution that will contain the very best available from both campuses. The current Minister of Education, as well as her predecessor, have both at various times referred to the new University of Limpopo as ‘a premier African university’ in the making. This is exactly what is happening. And what better place for such an activity to be taking place than in South Africa’s most northerly province – Limpopo – that takes pride in styling itself the ‘gateway to Africa’? This edition of Limpopo Leader takes pride therefore in looking in some detail at the Africa connection. An exciting picture emerges. The merged University is moving rapidly to fulfil the expectations of Minister Naledi Pandor and ex-Minister Kader Asmal – and to pull in the same direction as its outward-looking provincial home. Read about Medunsa’s remarkable National School of Public Health, most successful institution of its type in the whole country. Through sophisticated online software the School is teaching postgraduate students from many SADC countries as well as plenty of South Africans as well. Or consider the networking efforts of Turfloop’s Centre for Rural Community Empowerment that has linked many of Limpopo’s small-scale farmers to their counterparts in Southern, Central and East Africa. Direct Africa linkages aside, there’s plenty to grab the attention. Turfloop has taken a significant step towards the establishment of a Cultural Centre, complete with theatre and collections of provincial fine art, literature both written and oral, and music. On the Medunsa campus, on the other hand, the work of the South African Vaccination and Immunisation Centre underscores the government’s Expanded Programme on Immunisation. Even these two widely differing centres have African connections. The first speaks powerfully of the cultural roots of South Africa’s most rural and traditional province. The second is planning to extend its reach into other Southern African countries in the next few years. Read and enjoy – and don’t forget to encourage your friends to subscribe to a university publication that deals with real issues and a premier tertiary institution’s engagement in them. NEXT ISSUE IT’S A TRUISM TO SAY THAT ONE OF THE BIGGEST THREATS FACING SUSTAINABLE SOCIO-ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN SOUTHERN AFRICA IS THE HIV/AIDS PANDEMIC. The statistics are depressing, and ironically the most advanced country in the region – South Africa – is the worst affected. But it’s not all doom and gloom. For some better news emanating from the University of Limpopo – and don’t forget that this institution represents a merging of the old University of the North and the old Medical University of Southern Africa – read the Summer issue of Limpopo Leader due out in early December. Once again, you’ll see a powerful institution working hand in glove with the provincial government – and with an assortment of national bodies – to curb the country’s biggest ever public health threat.
IN THIS ISSUE cover picture: Genetic Research on indigenous Southern African poultry breeds takes off under the guiding hand of Dr David Norris of the School of Agriculture on the Turfloop campus of the University of Limpopo. See story on page 14 page 1: The latest on Medunsa and the Media page 4: Limpopo: the Africa Connection. The province styles itself the ‘gateway to Africa’, and the University of the same name is working to become a ‘premier African institution’ page 6: Setting the African Scene on both campuses of the University of Limpopo page 11: Crashing aeroplanes and Hong Kong Racehorses. An ophthalmologist has given Medunsa pride of international place in the treatment of cataracts and glaucoma page 14: The Case of the Marginalised Chickens. A geneticist takes a fresh took at indigenous Southern African poultry Page 16: Biotechnology Collaborations. Useful links exist between some Southern African universities and the Turfloop Department of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology & Biotechnology page 17: Small Versus Big: An Important Agricultural Debate. The case for the smallscale farmer as espoused by Turfloop’s Centre for Rural Community Empowerment page 20: A Passion for Doing Hands. The story of an orthopaedic surgeon who has placed Medunsa on the world map of hand surgery page 22: Securing the Health of Future Generations. Read how Medunsa’s SAVIC is helping the state with its Expanded Programme on Immunisation page 24: Online Postgraduate Studies for Africa. The National School of Public Health on the Medunsa campus is the most successful institution of its kind in the country page 27: The Legacy of Ants. ATurfloop professor is involved in studying the remains of 25 000 year old anthills in Namaqualand page 29: A Permanent Home at Last for Turfloop’s drama students and a growing collection of local art page 32: Letters to the Editor
Page 1 and 2: LIMPOPO NUMBER 5 SPRING 2005 LIMPOP
Page 3: News flash: THE LATEST ON MEDUNSA A
Page 7 and 8: iIN THE 1980S THERE WERE MACHINEGUN
Page 9 and 10: Sky Mkuti, Goldmarks Makamure, Tapi
Page 11 and 12: orn in Harare (then Salisbury) in 1
Page 13 and 14: Ophthalmology: CRASHING AEROPLANES
Page 15 and 16: the Swiss instrument makers. They b
Page 17 and 18: Dr David Norris tTO WATCH DR DAVID
Page 19 and 20: Rural Community Empowerment: SMALL
Page 21 and 22: SMALL VERSUS BIG - AN IMPORTANT AGR
Page 23 and 24: Professor Ulrich Mennen a psycholog
Page 25 and 26: end of the life of OIP early in 200
Page 27 and 28: lecture room, the great advantage o
Page 29 and 30: Ecology: THE LEGACY OF ANTS fFEW TR
Page 31 and 32: Visual and dramatic arts: A PERMANE
Page 33 and 34: Visual and dramatic arts: A PERMANE
Page 35 and 36: SUPPORT THE TRANSFORMATION THE Univ

Limpopo Leader - Spring 2005 - University of Limpopo

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