UWC UnVeILs ARCHBIsHOP desMOnd TUTU's sCULPTURe

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O f f i c i a l n e w s l e t t e r O f t h e U n i v e r s i t y O f t h e w e s t e r n c a p e • O c t O B e r 2 0 0 6
UWC UnVeILs ARCHBIsHOP
desMOnd TUTU’s sCULPTURe
ON SEPTEMBER 26 the University
of the Western Cape unveiled a
sculpture of UWC Chancellor
Archbishop Emeritus Desmond
Mpilo Tutu in the university’s library
atrium.
The sculpture is one of three
such artworks made by artist John
Houlston, a contemporary of Tutu at
London’s King’s College in the late
1960s. The two other sculptures are
displayed respectively in the King’s
College Student Union bar which is
named “Tutu’s” and the other is in
the town hall in the London Borough
where the Archbishop is a freeman.
Leading a high level delegation
from King’s College, which donated
Tutu’s sculpture to UWC, was Principal
Prof Richard Trainor. Trainor
spoke affectionately of Tutu, saying
the occasion was an “auspicious”
event because of the Archbishop’s
“importance not only to UWC but to
the world at large”.
UWC Chancellor Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu and Prof Brian O’Connell,
UWC Rector and Vice-Chancellor at the Unveiling of Tutu’s Sculpture
He said the sculpture would serve
as a “fitting link and tribute to Tutu
between King’s College where he
studied and the University of the
Western Cape where he is a much
“loved and respected” Chancellor.
Addressing the gathering UWC
Rector and Vice-Chancellor Prof
Brian O’Connell noted Tutu’s discomfort
in “participating in events
that honour him”. O’Connell said
the unveiling was a “triumph of
memory over forgetting” and that
UWC was particularly proud to be
a part of this milestone. O’Connell
said the occasion of the unveiling
was “about the future” rather than
the past, “about our children”, saying
the presence of the sculpture in
the university’s library atrium would
serve as a daily reminder of the
responsibilities that young people
in South Africa shoulder in today’s
society.
Looking at Tutu, O’Connell said,
“We are proud of you. God gave you
to our country and to the world.
A lot of what you do resonates
strongly with what we do”.
O’Connell also paid tribute
to the King’s College delegation,
saying “your thoughtfulness and
generosity are why we are gathered
here today and I hope this gesture
cements a lasting relationship
between UWC and King’s College”.
- SM
UWC CHAnCeLLOR ARCHBIsHOP eMeRITUs
desMOnd TUTU TURns 75
THE LONGEST SERVING Chancellor
of any South African university,
Archbishop Emeritus Desmond
Mpilo Tutu, turned 75 on 7 October
marking yet another milestone in
the history of the University of the
Western Cape.
Tutu’s Chancellorship of UWC
began in 1987, during some of the
most difficult times this country has
ever witnessed. The University of
the Western Cape by that time was
already immersed in the struggle for
freedom in South Africa and seemed
only natural that the then newly
installed Rector Prof Jakes Gerwel
would work with a Chancellor who
was already a prominent figure on
Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu
the world stage as a respected
activist against apartheid.
Having Tutu as Chancellor
would bode well for UWC following
the announcement by the Gerwel
administration that UWC would
position itself as the “home of the
intellectual left”.
Tutu, a Nobel Peace Prize Laureate,
was himself inside the eye of
the political storm that was raging
in the country at the time. The
world had started to listen even
more attentively to the cleric’s calls
for change in South Africa. The
often tumulus course that UWC
would traverse toward self-realisation
and transformation had been
charted.
During a reception held in Johannesburg
recently to mark Tutu’s 75th
birthday, one of many such celebrations
held around the globe, Nelson
Mandela paid tribute to his longtime
friend saying, ”he is a pre-eminent
voice of conscience in our nation, a
voice that has spoken with consistency
and integrity in all political
conditions”. “From prison and exile,
continued on page 2
InsIde
Alumni Chapter Launch
a place of quality, a place to grow, from hope to action through knowledge
Page 7
UWC Poetry Reading
Page 11
Braille Book Launch
Page 12
Giving Back to the Community
Page 14
Page 14
Swimming Sensation
Page 15

edITORIAL
TUTU
TURns 75
continued from page 1
we watched and listened as
he chastised the Apartheid
regime,” Mandela continued,
“His words and teachings
were translated into deeds of
courage and commitment as
he confronted the might of
the Apartheid state”.
Although Tutu has
stepped down as the head of
the Anglican community in
Southern Africa he remains
a prominent figure in South
Africa’s process of transformation.
In 1995 then State President
Nelson Mandela chose
Tutu to head South Africa’s
Truth and Reconciliation
Commission in what was to
become a five year process of
bringing to light the atrocities
of Apartheid. Tutu had also
been tasked with reconciling
the former oppressed with
their oppressors.
In recent years Tutu also
became increasingly vocal
against what he sees as the
failings of the new dispensation
following the advent of
democracy in South Africa 12
years ago, often warning that
South Africans had failed to
build on the gains of the anti-
Apartheid movement.
Birthday celebrations in
honour of one of the world’s
most loved and recognisable
icons also took place
outside South Africa, notably
at the glittering event that
was organised by some of
Hollywood’s finest. Samuel
L Jackson, Magic Johnson,
music legend Stevie Wonder,
as well as a number of
other celebrities, who call
themselves Artists for a New
South Africa, raised about 5
million rand for two of Tutu’s
favourite charitable projects
in South Africa. - SM
EdiTORiAl iNfORMATiON
EdiTORiAl
iNfORMATiON
Editorial Manager: Ragmah Jappie
Journalists: Awaatief Daniels &
Sonwabo Mbananga
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Photography: UWC Public Affairs
Journalists: Awaatief Daniels
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Contributions and letters to:
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Email Contributions address: and oncampus@uwc.ac.za
letters to:
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ON CAMPUS OCTOBER 2006
production: amazon Media
e d I T O R I A L
welcOMe to the
second last edition of
this year’s On campus
newsletter.
in this edition we pay
special tribute and devote
the front page to our own
enigmatic and revered
chancellor, archbishop
Desmond tutu. the
arch celebrated his 75 th
birthday on 7 October. in
recognition of his iconic
status, people across
the globe paid homage
UWC sTUdenT PAYs TRIBUTe TO neLsOn MAndeLA
THE UNIVERSITY OF THE Western
Cape’s Sebastiao Matsinhe, who is
an honours degree candidate majoring
in anthropology, was the star of
the evening when UWC Rector and
Vice-Chancellor Prof Brian O’Connell
launched the university’s Cape Town
Alumni Chapter at the V&A Waterfront’s
BMW Pavilion recently.
The walls of the venue where
the launch took place were adorned
with paintings done by the 35-yearold
native of Mozambique.
Matsinhe used the occasion to
celebrate South Africa’s first democratically
elected President Nelson
Mandela with a painting entitled
‘Real Example of Man’, which
depicts the 88-year-old Mandela
carrying a cross as a symbol of “his
sacrifice and commitment to the
struggle against the apartheid rule
in South Africa so that all people in
the country could one day realise
’true’ freedom.”
Mozambique’s Consul to South
Africa, HE Mr Francisco Manhica,
who also attended the event, spoke
warmly of Mtsinhe’s talents saying
to this great african
leader – ranging from a
fundraising banquet by
artists for a new south
africa in Beverley hills to
a special concert by the
cape town philharmonic
Orchestra.
closer to home we
were privileged to witness
the unveiling of the tutu
sculpture by King’s college
london in the university’s
atrium. the unveiling
followed the launch of
“Mozambique was proud and fortunate”
to have people like Mtsinhe to
fly the flag of a country that has also
traversed some of the roughest seas
to realise freedom and democracy for
its people.
Matsinhe was born in 1967 in the
Mozambican province of Cambine-Inhambane
and grew up in Maputo. He
completed his high school education
under the colonial education system.
the Desmond tutu Digital
archive – a groundbreaking
collaboration
between Uwc, Kings
college and the University
of witwatersrand.
from the focus on
our chancellor in October,
the spotlight now
falls on our students as
they sit for examinations
in november. On campus
wishes all our students
well during examinations.
UWC Chancellor Archbishop emeritus desmond
Tutu’s lifework to be digitally archived
IN September the University of the
Western Cape unveiled a sculpture
of Archbishop Emeritus Desmond
Mpilo Tutu. The unveiling was one
of several events celebrating Tutu’s
75th birthday.
Speaking at the unveiling
ceremony, King’s College Principal
Prof Richard Trainor said the project
to “digitise” Tutu’s work was an
ambitious one and is so far the largest
such project undertaken on one
individual in the world.
Trainor said, “It is important to
construct a digitised archive of Archbishop
Tutu because of his contribu-
tion to world development”. He said
the archive would be available to all
South Africans as it would be housed
and based in South Africa.
“King’s has a lot in common with
UWC because we too strive to be a
place of quality with academic excellence
being the bedrock of our mission
as an institution of higher education,”
he continued.
Trainor, however, added that the
responsibility of a university did not
end with academic excellence but that
it was equally crucial for a university
like UWC to “play an integral part in
societal prosperity and development”,
UWC Student and Artist Sebastiao Matsinhe
adding that Tutu “encapsulates”
all these values.
Much to the delight of the
many members of UWC campus
community who had gathered in
the library atrium to witness the
unveiling, the UWC Chancellor
took to the podium and thanked
King’s College and UWC for “undertaking
such a project”.
Looking up into the mezzanine
floors of the atrium, which
by then had been filled by UWC
students, Tutu spoke with his
trademark humour about his humble
beginnings as a young man
He presented his first exhibition,
entitled Thirty Years After, in
Cambine, Mozambique in 1997.
This was followed by Men’s Prints
(1998) and Third Degree (1999)
both solo exhibitions, which took
place in the Mozambican Association
of Photography in Maputo
and Logic of Life(2004) was
Matsinhe’s fourth solo showing
presented at Centro Cultural
in conclusion, we
pay tribute to another
proud Uwc alumnus who
passed away on saturday.
affectionately known
as ikey by family and
friends, the late prof izak
van De rheede diligently
served Uwc for more
than three decades as an
academic and administrator.
Our deepest and sincere
condolences to the
family.
growing up in rural South Africa
and later in Johannesburg.
Tutu said that “leaders did not
come down flying from the sky”. “It
was possible even then that someone
like me could become the person
who is where he is today,” he said.
“There is nothing unique about me,
everyone of my generation would
tell you about humble beginnings
and poverty.” Tutu said that the
moral of his story was that “leaders
are not created but born”. “UWC
students, you are now in a setting
that is so sympathetic to you, you
will amaze the world”, he added.
Franco Moçambicano, in Maputo,
Mozambique.
In addition to solo shows,
Matsinhe has also participated in
several collaborative efforts, including
a benefit for the victims of the
devastating floods that displaced
thousands of Mozambicans in
the year 2000, in a joint
exhibition with Toni Paco, entitled
Discovery.

UWC establishes the PricewaterhouseCoopers
Chair in Taxation
THE University of the Western
Cape has established the PricewaterhouseCoopers
(PwC) Chair
in Taxation in the Department of
Accounting. This will go a long
way in increasing the numbers of
Black Chartered Accountants in
the country.
UWC alumnus and Associate
Professor Prof Osman Mollagee
is the new incumbent to take
this chair. He is also a director in
PwC’s Western Cape Tax Services.
“Connection between the real
and theoretical world will now
find reality,” said Prof Mollagee.
“The Chair in Taxation at UWC
means real action. UWC and PwC
THE South African Herbal Science
and Medicine Institute (SAHSMI)
has just received a R1 million
Live Cell Imaging System, to dig-
itally visualize the molecular dy-
namics of life inside of cells. The
Zeiss Axiovert 200M, is the most
powerful microscope of its class
in the world, and will present
scientists at the University of the
Western Cape with a fantastic
opportunity to contribute towards
unraveling some of the important
mysteries of cellular life.
This highly advanced system
can be combined with a variety of
are to be commended for boldness
and willingness on their part to un-
dertake what can only be described
as a pioneering arrangement.”
Western Cape PwC tax serv-
ice leader, David Lermer feels that
the under-resourcing plaguing the
Accountancy Department can now
be tackled and we can now look
at achieving our goal of produc-
ing black Chartered Accountants,
thanks to PwC’s social responsibility
programme.
Accountancy Department Chair-
person, Prof Basie Brink says that
this agreement goes a long way in
ensuring excellent service delivery
in the specialisation of Taxation.
Andre Braaf
components that will allow scien-
tists to use brightfield contrasting,
darkfield, time-lapsed video and
confocal microscopy, with supe-
rior fluorescence, precision and 3D
imaging of cells. The Director of the
“Hosting of the Chair is primarily
to provide high level technical and
teaching support to academics in
the department,” explained Prof
Brink. “The secondary objective
is to provide research support to
academic staff in the specialisation
of Taxation and to stimulate
and increase the research
output of staff specialising in
Taxation.”
Prof Mollagee will spend two
days per week at each institution.
His functions at UWC will include
lecturing postgraduate tax to
Chartered Accountant-stream students
and the overall curriculum
development and technical quality
control for the taxation discipline
as a whole. - AD
PROFessOR O’COnneLL ReCeIVes THe
HIGHesT AWARd AT THe UnITeCH COnGRess
THE 12th Annual UNITECH
Congress took place in Durban
between 11th and 13th October. The
congress was attended by several
hundred delegates from HE
institutions and FET colleges from
across the country. UNITECH is a
professional membership organisation,
representing the interests
of MCD (Marketing, Communication
and Development) practitioners
at tertiary level educational
institutions.
During the congress, UNI-
TECH deliberated on a number of
challenges facing the organisation,
as well as its changing role in
the light of the recent inclusion of
FET colleges in the organisation.
Delegates heard presentations by a
number of speakers, including
Ms Naledi Pandor, Minister of
Education and Mr Bheki Khumalo,
former spokesperson of President
Thabo Mbeki. Two themes ran
through all the presentations. Firstly,
MCD practitioners at universities
and FET colleges must build close,
SAHSMI Professor Quinton Johnson
expressed his delight that UWC has
made such a competitively strategic
investment in this advanced tech-
nology for the Life Sciences.
He indicated that the applica-
direct and honest relationships
with the executive in their respective
institutions. Secondly, but more
importantly, their role should not
be limited simply to being spokespersons
for the institutions. MCD
practitioners must be able
to have a say in the strategic decisions
of their institutions and to
intervene if, in their professional
capacity, they believe that certain
decisions taken by the executive
might damage the brand of their
institution.
HeRBAL sCIenTIsTs dIGITALLY IMAGe
CeLLULAR LIFe
Proud Andre Braaf putting new
microscope to the test
tions of this technology will have
an extraordinary impact on our
research endeavours, to bet-
ter understand how indigenous
medicines may affect a variety
of  genes and proteins that are
vital to combat infectious pathogens
in AIDS, and essential for
the prevention of cancer, diabetes,
heart disease and neurological
conditions amongst others.
For the past 7 years, Andre
Braaf has dedicated his talent
and creative energies to Herbal
Science. Today, he is a Senior
Technical Officer in the SAHSMI
and will manage this amazing
microscope system. In fact, Mr.
Braaf has just completed a com-
At the Annual Awards Gala,
Professor O’Connell and Professor
Makgoba, Vice-Chancellor
of UKZN, received the highest
UNITECH award: the Gold Award
for the best Vice-Chancellor of
the year. Congratulations, Professor
O’Connell.
In addition, UWC also
reached third place in the Integrated
Campaigns category for
its first national Homecoming
Alumni Campaign, which was
hosted in June this year. - AdB
prehensive training programme
in imaging with specialists from
Zeiss. He said that he was very
excited about this powerful
technology and its potential to
help scientists explore and image
cells, in an attempt to find important
lifesaving remedies.- RC
This is how a live cell appears
when put under the microscope
ON CAMPUS OCTOBER 2006
neWs & eVenTs

neWs & eVenTs
UWC’S GOLF DEVELOPMENT TEAM SET TO
REINVIGORATE INTEREST IN THE SPORT ON CAMPUS
NOVEMBER 30th will see the Univer-
sity of the Western Cape marking the
30th anniversary of golfing tradition
on its historic Bellville campus, con-
tinuing a legacy that has transcended
some of the most turbulent times this
university has ever seen.
It was in 1976, the year that
shall remain forever etched in the
minds of South Africans and history
books alike, as the year that young
South Africans across the country
unanimously issued a vote of no con-
fidence against a system that sought
to impose upon them the Afrikaans
language as the country’s medium of
instruction for all schools.
This was also the year when the
first golf clubs were swung at UWC,
heralding a sporting culture that has
lasted thirty years and continues to
enjoy a considerable following among
the campus community.
UWC’s Edwin Wyngaard, an ad-
ministrator in the university’s Sports
Department, agrees, ” there is im-
mense talent for golf on the campus,”
he says.
“There are many young men and
women here at UWC who have an
interest in the sport and many have
the talent that can see some of them
compete at professional level if the
required support is given in order
for these young players to reach that
level.”
Wyngaard is the unofficial
guardian of the sport on campus and
says golf was and remains a popular
sporting discipline at UWC but many
of those who play, some of them UWC
WOMEN and men from the NGO
Women for Peace attended their
first graduation at UWC. They had
attended a Division of Life Long
Learning course on Life Skills and
Community Peace Building, the first
of its kind at UWC.
The course which is registered
in the Centre for Conflict Transfor-
mation, Reconstruction and Devel-
opment was developed and coordi-
nated by Prof Marion Keim Lees. It
is a 10 credit 100 hours course and
consists of leadership skills, commu-
nication, facilitation, problem solv-
ing, conflict transformation skills,
and other components.
The course has been designed
for representatives of community
based organization in South Africa
to attain an in-depth understand-
ing of the central issues of conflict
prevention and conflict transforma-
tion in their communities. Through
the course, the participants were
ON CAMPUS OCTOBER 2006
speaker’s Corner
staff members, have opted to join
formal golf clubs because of the need
to “raise one’s standard of playing”.
PROF LIndA de VRIes
sIFe national Faculty
Wyngaard adviser is award also spearheading 006.
Founder of Bee companies
the revival of the sport on campus
ahead of the UWC /ABSA Annual
Golf Day scheduled to take place on
November 30th.
Wyngaard is quick to point
out that “constant practicing” as an
integral part of keeping a player’s
game in top form and has opted
to put action behind his words by
organising a UWC Golf Development
Team. He hopes to secure the
necessary funds to ensure that this
team continues playing “seriously”
beyond the annual golf day.
Riedewaan Afrikaner, 20, who
is a first year student at UWC, says
he started playing golf when he
was in grade 6 and since arriving at
the university he says has always
wanted to further his game by being
part of the UWC development team.
Moefinyana Chakana, 21, a
second year student, has shown
a “promising talent” according to
UWC sUPPORTs LIFe sKILLs And COMMUnITY
PeACe BUILdInG
Happy Graduates singing after receiving their certificates
introduced to the core knowledge
and skills required for their role as
actors in peace and development.
The graduates of the course all
work as volunteers in the communi-
ties and their age ranged from 20
to 65 years. Prof Anjie Krog gave
the Women and Men for Peace very
encouraging words stressing the
importance of peace in today’s world
before the Vice-Rector for Student
Development and Support Service,
Wyngaard. “I picked up the sport
when I was in grade 9 and realised
that even though I could play sports
like soccer, I had a talent for golf,”
says Chakana.
Haschley Engelbrecht, 23, who
is a third-year LLB student, says the
sport is expensive and that there
are many would be players on the
campus who are unable to take up
the sport because of the highest
involved.
Almar Koopman, 19, a first year
BA student, says it is all well and
good to have a development programme
in the sport but says this is
not enough to develop one’s game.
“Having being part of a development
programme for more than two
years I was disappointed to realise
there are no support mechanisms for
up and coming players beyond this
level because the sport remains inaccessible
for many,” he says.
The members of the UWC’s Golf
Development Team say they hope to
see the sport of golf being offered as
a professional course at UWC.
Prof Tshiwula bestowed the certificates
on the very dedicated group.
Six students achieved between 75
and 93 %.
The Centre would like to give
special thanks to Alan Ralphs
and Frieda Daniels for the support
throughout the process of registration
and accreditation of the course,
Mr. Lance Scheppers for the certificates
and Mrs Astrid Williams for
the administrative support.
Law students take
part in Arusha
Moot Court
Competition
From left to right: Alexander Kamieth, Bianca Hainon, Prof Letetia van
der Poll and Lorenzo Wakefield setting off to Arusha, Tanzania
FOR the second time graduate students from the UWC Law Faculty
have been invited to participate in the prestigious annual Arusha
Moot Court Competition on International Humanitarian Law (IHL) in
Arusha, Tanzania.
UWC Law students Bianca Hainon, Alexander Kamieth and
Lorenzo Wakefield have been chosen by the Regional Delegation of the
International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) for Southern Africa to
participate in the competition.
Hainon and Kamieth are studying towards an LLM degree, which
includes courses in International Humanitarian Law, while Wakefield
has a background in Public International Law, which is taught at UWC
by Prof Letetia van der Poll.
Prof van der Poll explained that the UWC team was the only one
sponsored by the ICRC Southern African Delegation, whose jurisdiction
includes all South African law faculties as well as those of the Indian
Ocean Islands (notably, Reunion and Mauritius).
“This is a significant achievement by our law students,” explained
Prof van der Poll. “The occasion is all the more special as it recognises
the quality of our students, as well as the high standard maintained
by the Faculty’s graduate programme.”
The competition is hosted by the Nairobi Regional Delegation of
the ICRC (Kenya) from 25 November to 2 December 2006 in Arusha,
Tanzania.
The final round of the competition will be argued in the Trial
Chamber of the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR)
situated in Arusha. This underscores the significance and prestige of
the competition, which endeavours to build competence among law
students in International Humanitarian Law.
During the preliminary rounds teams will be expected to argue a
particular humanitarian problem from various angles. A considerable
degree of ingenuity and “thinking on one’s feet” will thus be
required.
Prof van der Poll explained that the UWC team will compete
against various teams from other leading African universities, which
will enable students to enhance their knowledge in International
Humanitarian Law.
“This also provides an opportunity to meet and foster ties with
other law scholars on the continent,” she explained. “This might well
see successful future collaboration between students and encourage
students from participating African countries to consider enrolling for
graduate studies at UWC!” - AD

UWC TAKes LeAd In HIV/AIds
PeeR edUCATIOn In sOUTHeRn
AFRICA
THE University of the Western Cape
recently hosted the launch of the
ZAMANAWE HIV & AIDS peer
education project after being ap-
pointed as lead institution for the
project.
The project, collaboration
among the universities of Zambia,
Malawi, Namibia and UWC has
as its primary goal to promote insti-
tutional co-operation among institu-
tions of higher learning in the
SADC region in the context of
HIV/AIDS said Jacobs. Building
sustainable relationship between
staffs and students of the four
institutions forms a key part of this
goal.
This collaboration is a key to
the development of effective models
for behavioural changes that go
beyond traditional programmes
that focuses primarily on imparting
information and knowledge about
HIV/AIDS. HIV/AIDS Programme
Manager Joachim Jacobs said
the project is a direct response to
the SADC protocol on education, by
collaborating in this important field
the four institutions can take
advantage of the strengths and
expertise of each individual
institution and maximize efforts
in the regional HIV/AIDS
response.
Given the scale of the HIV/
AIDS pandemic on sub-Saharan Af-
rica, institutions of higher education
ONE in 27 women diagnosed with
cancer in South Africa is diagnosed
with breast cancer, and more than
3000 women die each year from the
disease, according to the Medical
Research Council.
October is International Breast
Health Awareness Month focussing
on breast cancer. The Cancer Association
of South Africa (CANSA) has
been running breast cancer awareness
campaigns during the course of
the month.
“Every woman needs to
examine their breasts and underarm
every month, a week after her
monthly period, to check for lumps,
unusual swellings, puckering of
Seated: Prof Brian O’ Connell, UWC Rector and Vice-Chancellor with Vice-
Chancellors from the University of Zambia, Malawi and the Registrar from the
University of Namibia. Standing ; Members of staff from participating Universities
in Southern Africa have a particularly
important role to play. This
project will provide institutional
leadership, the opportunity to
engage on issues of HIV prevention
at the four campuses in addition to
providing the platform for further
collaboration within student development
and improving the quality
of student life on campuses explains
Jacobs.
Jacobs said, the staff
delegation included the Vice- Chancellor
from the Universities of Malawi
and Zambia and the registrar
from the University of Namibia. In
addition it also included programme
managers and HIV/AIDS coordinators
from the three visiting universities.
During the visit to UWC senior
management from the four institutions
discussed important
issues of collaboration across a
range of projects. At the student
level, students from the four
the skin, sores, pain, rashes or any
other possible symptoms of breast
cancer,” says Martha Molete, Head
of the Communication & Advocacy
at CANSA.
Molete’s concern is that younger
women are presenting with
breast cancer more often than in
the past, when breast cancer mostly
affected women over 40 years old.
“The key is to detect breast cancer
early so that you can get treatment
and have a better chance of
survival.”
According to CANSA all women
are at risk of breast cancer but
the risk is increased if the person
lives on a diet high in fat, does not
universities engaged on a number
of issues ranging from sexual
and gender norms to the impact
of culture on the spread of the
disease.
During the visit students attended
a training session in moderating
an electronic discussion forum
that will involve students from
the four universities and it’s our
belief that this electronic discussion
forum, is crucial in building student
leadership in the area of HIV/AIDS
says Jacobs.
The project is funded by
the South Africa- Norway Tertiary
Education Development programme
(SANTED), which is a Norwegian
government to government development
project which has the purpose
of assisting the South African
Department of Education with the
transformation of the higher education
sector.- RC
CAnsA BReAsT CAnCeR
AWAReness CAMPAIGn
exercise regularly, is overweight and
consumes more than two glasses of
alcohol per day.
Other high risk groups include
women over 40, particularly if they
have a relative who suffers from
the same disease; those who started
menstruation at a young age; experienced
menopause at a late stage;
those who had children after the
age of 40, or those without
children.
For further information
please contact Martha Molete,
Head of Communication,
CANSA National Office at
011-616-7662 or email:
mmolete@cansa.org.za. AD
UWC HOsTs
nATIOnAL HeALTH
PROMOTInG
sCHOOLs
COnFeRenCe
IN partnership with the Department of Health, the Department of
Education will review the draft of the ‘Health and Wellness in Education
Framework’ report. Similarly, the Department of Health will
also review the ‘National Guidelines for the Development of Health
Promoting Schools/sites in South Africa’.
These significant decisions came out of a national Health
Promoting Schools conference hosted by the University of the Western
Cape. Entitled Celebrating a decade of health
promoting schools: Strengthening whole school development,
this very successful conference was organised by the UWC Health
Promoting Schools Project in partnership with the Department of
Health: Health Promotion, and held in September on UWC
campus.
The conference was sponsored by the European Union
and VLIR. In a message to the conference Prof Jan Bloemart,
VLIR Belgium, highlighted the importance of health promoting
schools by linking the work of VLIR in the Faculty of
Education programme on ‘HIV and Education’ with their programme
in the Community and Health Science Faculty on ‘Youth
Wellness’.
“The sheer concept of health promoting schools testifies
to a holistic view of the learning environment,” said Prof
Bloemart. “It is a view in which a school is not just a place for
learning but a place for becoming a new kind of person and
citizen”.
The conference was attended by prominent experts in the
fields of education and health. Among the 312 delegates were
academics from tertiary institutions from across the country;
senior national government representatives from the Department of
Health, the Department of Education and the Department of Social
Development; provincial government representatives from all
nine provinces; the Western Cape Reference Group for Health
Promoting Schools; grassroots workers, including many school
nurses; trade union representatives; parent organisations; and
a broad range of NGOs who work with schools including Sound
Track 4 Life, LoveLife, Inclusive Education Western Cape and Aids
Portal.
An extensive scientific programme included 48 oral
presentations in 13 parallel sessions. These covered a broad
range of themes related to health promoting schools, such as
‘Building health promoting schools’, ‘Health promoting schools
supporting teachers’ and ‘Health promoting schools in the time of
AIDS’.
The success of the conference highlights the success of the
UWC Health Promoting Schools Project. This is a joint project of the
Community and Health Science Faculty and the Faculty of Education.
Special thanks go to Dr Trish Struthers, Department of Physiotherapy,
who chaired the conference organising committee and
the conference scientific committee; Ms Suraya Mohamed, School
of Public Health; and Prof Sandy Lazarus, Faculty of Education, for
many hours of hard work that went into the organisation of the
conference. - AD
ON CAMPUS OCTOBER 2006
5
PROFILes & neWs

neWs & eVenTs
BRIeFs
spring Graduation
The University of the Western Cape recently held the final graduation
for 2006. The spring graduation ceremony was held from the 20th to
21st of September in the Main Hall. It was a colourful ceremony that
attracted people from all over the country, coming to honor the graduates
for their intellectual achievements.
Cancer campaign aims for the
world record
A world record-breaking collection of 150 000 bras is the objective
of the newly launched “Cup for a Cup” campaign aimed at raising
awareness of breast cancer. The initiative is being driven by Fig Jam
Marketing, and will run for a month.
The aim is to collect bras for Reach for Recovery, which will deliver
them to impoverished breast cancer patients around the country.
The project is being hosted by Nino’s coffee shops around the country,
where women who donate R10 and a bra will be given a free cappuccino.
South Africa will try to break the world record of 114 700 bras
collected by Cyprus. Women need to realise that if they feel something
different - not necessarily pain or discomfort - they should check it
with their doctor.
saving water is a way of life
The Water Service has confirmed that the Dam and Reservoir
storage levels have risen. The dams supplying water to the
City of Cape Town are currently at 88.4% of the total storage
capacity.
stop the spending spree, sA
warned
Economists have warned consumers to heed a Reserve Bank call to
decrease consumer spending after the repo rate was raised another
0.5% on Thursday.
Reserve Bank governor Tito Mboweni announced on 12/ 10/ 2006
that banks will be charged 8,5 percent interest for money brought
from the Central Bank - an increase of 50 basis points.
The four main commercial banks have since announced an
increase of half a point, to 12%, on their prime lending rates.
Consumers are likely to feel the pinch if food and petrol prices
increase.
6
APOLOGIes
Mitchell is a BA Graduate
In our previous issue we incorrectly reported that Sharrone Mitchell
had graduated with a degree in Psychology, specializing (sex therapy).
However, she has in fact graduated with a general BA and is pursuing
a career in sex therapy.
Khanyisa Gala
We also incorrectly reported that Khanyisa Gala had graduated with
an honorary degree in Physiology. However, she has in fact graduated
with an honours degree in Physiology. We regret the inconvenience
caused.
ON CAMPUS OCTOBER 2006
Hospital Welfare and Muslim
educational Movement
donates R108,000 to UWC
Left to Right; Mohammed Omar - General Secretary, M Ebrahim Shreef Snr Executive member, Rector Prof Brian
O’Connell, Mahar Brey - Treasurer and Surita Riffel from the Financial Aid Office
FOR the past 20 years the Hospital Welfare and Muslim Educational Movement has been sponsoring welfare
and education projects. UWC has always been one of the educational institutions that annually enjoyed
its support. This year the Movement presented UWC with a donation of R108 000, which will benefit 26
economically disadvantaged students. Rector Prof Brian O’Connell expressed his gratitude at this annual
generous gesture.
“These bursaries are of great significance to these needy students,” explained Prof O’Connell. “This is
the type of community involvement that is direly needed. Students in return can plough back into communities
once they’ve completed their studies.” - AD
Moment of madness pays off for
health promoting schools project
LATE in November 2005 a small
group of academics from the Faculty
of Education and the Community
and Health Science Faculty met
and decided to organize a national
Health Promoting Schools Conference.
Was it a moment of madness
or inspiration? What makes apparently
reasonable people take on
such an enormous task when none
has any experience in organizing a
conference? How could we entertain
success when we had absolutely no
funding?
A group of UWC academics,
mainly from health and education,
interested in health promoting
schools has been meeting for several
years to collaborate in the areas of
teaching, research and outreach
around health promoting schools.
We link closely with the Western
Cape Reference Group for Health
Promoting Schools and the Departments
of Health and Education.
In 2005 a series of three very
popular seminars were held at the
University of the Western Cape followed
by a successful symposium
speaker’s Corner
dr Trish struthers
Physiotherapy
department
as a result of funding from VLIR and
the NRF. The decision to host the
national conference was seen as an
important opportunity to take this
forward. The year 2006 was significant
being ten years after the first
(and only) Health Promoting
Schools Conference in South Africa,
which was held at UWC in 1996. It
was time to celebrate the successes
of health promoting schools in
South Africa and identify
priorities for the way forward.
Yes, the moment of madness/inspiration
paid off. There were over
300 delegates at the conference,
over 48 oral presentations and 36
poster presentations. We did achieve
a partnership with the Departments
of Health and Education. More importantly
we achieved a partnership
here on campus between the Faculty
of Education and Community and
Health Science Faculty. We worked
around the clock believing that what
we were doing was valuable for
South Africa and to our delight VLIR
and the EU believed in us and gave
us financial support.
The UWC Health Promotion
Project will continue to support
the development of health promoting
schools. The network of health
promoting schools in South Africa
has been extended as a result of the
conference. The health promoting
schools website is being developed
and all the conference presentations
will soon be on it. Watch this site
to follow the way forward of health
promoting schools in South Africa.

UWC launches Johannesburg Alumni Chapter
A LITTLE OVER a moth ago the
University of the Western Cape Rec-
tor and Vice Chancellor Prof. Brian
O’Connell launched the university’s
largest Alumni Chapter, in Johan-
nesburg.
Addressing nearly two hundred
alumni at the high-tech VW Confer-
ence Centre in Midrand near Johan-
nesburg, O’Connell spoke of a UWC
that had transcended the legacy
of being founded primarily as a
“Coloured” institution to a university
that had moved from “under-devel-
opment” to one that “still produces
the largest number of Black gradu-
ates in South Africa”.
“From a university that was
operating on a negative bank bal-
ance inherited from apartheid-era
administrations, to a UWC that is
solvent and has surplus funds in its
bank account today,” he said. “UWC
has the largest faculty of dentistry in
Africa and we are at the forefront of
biodiversity research in the world,”
he added.
A quarter of the members of
former President Nelson Mandela’s
first executive, when he became
president of South Africa in 1994,
were alumni and former academics
of UWC. This includes former Rector,
Prof. Jakes Gerwel who is the current
Chairperson of the Nelson Mandela
Foundation.
O’Connell said he was proud to
be leading an institution that had
not only played a significant part
in the struggle against apartheid
in South Africa, but one that had
contributed to the country leaders of
high caliber, such as Western Cape
Premier, Ebrahim Rasool.
He went on to say that UWC
had gone through its fair share of
troubles in the past, turning the
name “bush university”, a name
that was meant to be derogatory
and demoralizing, into a name that
has come to symbolise what UWC
stands for today: strength, a rich
history of revolution and change
but also “a place of quality, a place
where one can grow”.
Johannesburg Alumni Chapter
Chairperson Jabulile Sibanyoni,
spoke of the challenges of starting
a chapter in South Africa’s largest
city.
UWC Rector and Vice Chancellor
Prof Brian O’Connell and
Johannesburg Alumni Chapter
Chairperson Jabulile Sibanyoni
Sibanyoni said, “It was difficult
at times to keep the momentum for
the launch of this chapter going”.
“It’s been years since many of us
graduated from UWC but coming to
the ‘home coming’ ceremony (held
earlier this year at UWC), many of
us felt invigorated in what we feel
for UWC, in what UWC stands for,
the symbol that it represents in
the country today – as a symbol of
freedom in the fight against apart-
heid and as the institution that has
produced so many leaders of our
country”.
Sibanyoni said: “Alumni chap-
ters are still very much relevant in
today’s society. This is not just about
getting former students to settle
their accounts with the university
but it’s the responsibility that we
have towards South Africa to ensure
that those who graduate from the
university move on to become true
leaders.”
“We are hoping to start pro-
grammes in this chapter that will
further reinforce our collective con-
nection with UWC through initiatives
such as the ‘adopt a student cam-
paign’, where an alumnus takes one
student under his or her wing and
empowers them with additional life
skills and thereby prepares them for
society”, she added.
“We hope to assist UWC through
such activities, create better profes-
sionals, better workers and ultimate-
ly better people”, she said.
Club 99 shows Charity Begins at Home
WHAT STARTED IN the late 1960s
as “coffee drinking sessions” among
students who shared common
interests, has evolved into one of
the University of the Western Cape’s
oldest and most progressive alumni
societies to date, with plans to
formalise the philanthropic work of
what has come to be known as Club
99.
Club 99 Members
The club, which has been
without a name until “five years
ago”, had been inactive until mem-
bers who were part of the original
gatherings of the late 1960s and 70s
decided to come together again and
revive the “spirit” and camaraderie
of bygone days.
Club Chairperson Neil Jacobs
(59), who is a librarian at the
Tafelsig Library in Mitchell’s Plain,
speaks proudly about the initiatives
Club 99 is embarking upon and
says work that began last year with
the raising of a “modest sum of
money” to assist first-time entrants
to UWC with registration fees. This
and other initiatives will take on a
more serious phase once the club is
formally registered as a non-profit
organisation.
The primary focus of the fund
to be operated by the club will be
to raise funds for deserving UWC
students who come from historically
disadvantaged backgrounds.
The impetus for such an ambi-
tious project was the death of the
founding member Lawrence Burgess
earlier this year.
“We are considering naming
the fund that will be operated by the
club the Lawrence Burgess Memorial
Bursary Fund,” says Jacobs.
The unveiling of Club 99’s plans
to establish the fund took place at
the club’s annual gala dinner that
was held at the Bellville Civic Centre
on September 30th , and attended by
more than 200 alumni and friends
of UWC.
Keynote speaker at the event
was UWC alumnus and former Act-
ing Vice-Rector (Academic) at UWC,
Dr. Colin Johnson, who is currently
Vice-Principal of Rhodes University
in Grahamstown (eRhini) in the
Eastern Cape.
True to UWC’s reputation as a
significant contributor to South Af-
rica’s pool of leaders, Johnson, a spe-
cialist in botany, is an accomplished
career academic who has occupied
various leadership roles not only in
institutions of higher learning but
also in government as well as envi-
ronmental research organisations.
After reading his CV one would
be forgiven for expecting a stately
address from a person who has
achieved so much but Johnson used
UWC Vice-Chancellor calls for stronger
work ethic to sustain knowledge
cultivation in south Africa
THE OCCASION WAS the launch of the Cape Town alumni chapter, and
the stage for yet another milestone for the University of the Western
Cape Alumni Relations Office. The event took place at the beautiful BMW
Pavilion at the V&A Waterfront, located in the home city of one of the
best universities in Africa.
The launch of UWC’s Cape Town Alumni Chapter took place just two
weeks after the celebratory gala dinner of the university’s oldest alumni
societies, the Club 99.
Addressing nearly 200 hundred former and current UWC students,
as well as visiting dignitaries including the Mozambican Consul to South
Africa, HE Mr. Francisco Manhica, UWC Rector and Vice-Chancellor Prof
Brian O’Connell spoke with refreshing candor about a country that finds
itself at a “crossroads” twelve years into democracy.
O’Connell said that South Africa was faced with many challenges
that were not just “confined to the monumental and urgent issues of
the day such as HIV/AIDS, poverty, crime and underdevelopment”, but
that the country ran the risk of being without sufficient leadership in the
near future if young people, particularly graduates, did not respond to
the call for “knowledge cultivation” in South Africa.
He said South Africans who were leading in the fields of specialised
skills such as engineering, science were “ageing”, and that those who
were qualifying in these disciplines were leaving the country for greener
pastures. Of those who remained behind many changed jobs too often to
gain any real experience in pursuit of the next big salary.
“In order for there to be any real skills development in the country,
South Africa must become a nation of learners,” he said.
He argued that South African graduates needed to exhibit the same
levels of commitment and passion that would mirror that of those who
fought in the struggle for freedom.
He said complacency was one of the biggest challenges facing young
people in South Africa since the advent of democracy twelve years ago.
“We must recapture the spirit of the struggle and commitment in the
pursuit of development in South Africa.” He said,” Alumni are part of
the extended goal of advancing development in pursuit of knowledge in
South Africa”.
“We need to position UWC in a new time, with a new mission of
placing UWC at the forefront of skills development.”
“We need to change perceptions about UWC,” he said, adding that
”UWC has created a legacy in South Africa that is difficult to ignore,
because UWC graduates are found in every corridor of power in the
country”.
O’Connell said that UWC could not afford to be complacent about its
position in the fraternity of institutions of higher learning, pointing to
UWC’s award-winning research that it is conducting with its US partner
the University of Missouri on the efficacy of indigenous medicines as
possible vehicles in the treatment of diseases like HIV/AIDS and tubercu-
losis.
UWC Vice-Chancellor and Rector Prof Brian O’Connell and Mozambican
Consul to South Africa, HE Mr Francisco Manhica
The President of Convocation of South Africa, Mr Brian Williams,
also attended the event. - SM
the occasion to reminisce fondly
about the history and humble
beginnings of an institution that
many thought would not accom-
plish much beyond being a university
of the “bush” – “a university that
continued on page 8
ON CAMPUS OCTOBER 2006
7
neWs & eVenTs

neWs & eVenTs
Pharmacy ball 006 a huge
fundraising success
THE 2006 annual Pharmacy Ball
was a huge fundraising success.
The Pharmacy Department is the
first department at a Faculty which
boasted the refreshed UWC brand.
“It was stunning,” said Chairperson
of the Student Pharmacy Committee,
Pieter du Toit. “We never knew that
such a structure existed to display
the UWC corporate identity so
graphically and so beautifully. The
new logo blew us over. “
8
The Student Pharmacy Ball is an
annual fundraising event. Third year
students organise the function for
fourth year students. It was a formal
event and dignitaries who attended
it included the main sponsor, SIPLA
Medpro, the biggest generic pharma-
ceutical company in the world.
Other dignitaries were the
Rector Prof Brian O’Connell; Head of
Pharmacy Department Prof Myburgh,
the President of the Pharmaceutical
Society of South Africa (PSSA), Gary
Black; and Prof Peter Eagles from the
Medicines Control Council.
Part of the annual Ball includes
giving awards to deserving people.
This year’s award went to the Red
Cross Children’s Hospital where
the School of Pharmacy supports
a spacer project. The spacer is an
extension on the asthma pump that
Pharmacy students make in the labs.
ON CAMPUS OCTOBER 2006
From top left:Taryn Rhoda, Advertising, Sharfaa Holliday, Secretary,
Shaakira Abrahams, Advertising; Michelle Theunissen, Event Coordinator;
Anil Ghiwala,Treasurer; Pieter du Toit, Chairperson; Rhys Thomas Special
Events; Mehboob Ali Cassim, Vice chairperson
Middle: Prof Nadine Butler,
Front from left: Firyaal Bawa, 2007 Executive committee;
Razeenah Omar, Design and decor; Diana Farahbakhsh, Design and decor;
Deepti Bhawan, Design and decor; Hamida Parker,Vice treasurer
Another award went to the
South African Pharmacy Students
Federation (SAPSF) for arranging a
national conference. The outgoing
executives of the UWC Association
for Pharmacy Students also received
an award for their work.
Dr Gavin Jones and Prof Nadine
Butler, director of SIPLA Medpro,
handed over a mortar and pestle,
the age-old symbol of pharmacy, to
all students.
It was a special achievement for
the Student Pharmacy Committee to
bridge the gap between first year
and final year Pharmacy students.
Third year students, like the Chair
and Vice-Chair of the SPC, Pieter du
Toit and Mehboob Ali Cassim both
agreed that it was a great achieve-
ment.
“It was more than just selling
boerewors rolls to help with the
fundraising,” said Vice-Chairper-
son Mehbood Ali Cassim. “We
brought together our students. It
is our way to bring all our students
closer.”
Pharmacy students bid farewell to Tannie Anna
TANNIE ANNA was one of the important
guests attending the Annual
Student Pharmacy Ball. Known for
wagging her finger at students to
stop throwing papers on the floor, she
also gave them the warmest
and heartiest smiles.
“The Pharmacy building
cannnot be the same without Tannie
Anna,” said Student Vice-Chair
Mehboob Ali Cassim. “Whenever we
come into the building, the most welcoming
smiles await us. It’s like she
is waiting for us to come home. It’s a
nice feeling. She is like our mother.”
School of Pharmacy Logo
Tannie Anna started working in
the Pharmacy building in 1986,
with only eight offices, which later
increased to 10 more. “It was prefabs
at the time,” she said. Now it’s
big brick buildings. The students
are kind and I am honoured to have
attended the Ball. They are good
children.”
UWC Pharmacy will miss
Tannie Anna. “It’s OK if they
can delay her retirement until next
year,” said Pieter du Toit, Chairperson
of the Student Pharmacy
Committee.
Left to Right; Tannie Anna posing with
Rector Prof Brian O’Connell
at the Annual Pharmacy Ball
The four smallest squares depicts the four disciplines of pharmacy
Left top corner: Rx; Depicts discipline of pharmacy practice
Top right: Conical flask; Represents pharmaceutical chemistry discipline
Bottom left: Mortar and pestle: Represents pharmaceutics
Bottom right: Tablets and capsules: Represents pharmacy practice
The gold border encompassing these four disciplines indicates the unity of these four disciplines integrated into the
B.Pharm degree.
The royal blue is the university blue, whereas the lighter blue indicates the Faculty of Natural Sciences. The gold
squiggle represents Table Mountain that indicates the presence of UWC in the Western Cape.
The new pharmacy logo will always be used in conjunction with the university logo to indicate that we are proud to
be part of UWC and not a single or separate entity.
Women speak out on
gender-based violence
Panel Speakers from Left to Right: Elaine Salo , Mary Hames, Sibongile
Ndashe, Yvette Abrahams, Karin Chinnian and Patricia Handley
REACTING to the current socio-political climate, the University of the
Western Cape Women’s and Gender Studies Programme and Gender Eq-
uity Unit recently hosted a discussion panel on gender-based violence
at the Senate Building. The aim of the discussion was to examine the
prevalence of gender-based violence in South Africa and evaluate strat-
egies intended to eradicate it. This was in light of a number of social
problems. To cite only a few examples: the increasing incidence of
rape, and that of domestic violence, escalating homophobic violence,
the highly dubious media coverage of important events, such as the
Zuma rape trial, current legislative enactments and government policy.
It was suggested during the discussion that it is crucial for activists,
NGOs, progressive thinkers, students and the general public to con-
sider how society ought to deal with gender-based violence.
The panel comprised speakers from various organisations, includ-
ing UWC itself. Patricia Handley, a media consultant and lecturer at
UWC, discussed gender-based violence and the media. According to
her, such violence is misrepresented in the media, allowing for a di-
chotomy between neglect of the problem on the one hand and sensa-
tionalism on the other.
Karin Chinnian, from UWC’s own law faculty, discussed female
genital mutilation (FGM), otherwise referred to as female circumcision.
According to statistics provided by the World Health Organisation, 2
million women undergo the procedure every year. It was Chinnian’s
argument that FGM is a violation of women’s rights, unlike male cir-
cumcision, through which men enjoy an elevated status.
During the discussion on same sex marriage, a number of topics
were raised. Yvette Abrahams from the Institute for Historical Re-
search commented extensively on the high incidence of homophobic
violence in South Africa. She expressed concern that the issue has
been largely ignored to the detriment of society.
Other speakers were Mary Hames, the director of the Gender
Equity Unit, Gertrude Fester, an independent researcher and former
CGE commissioner, Sibongile Ndashe, an attorney from the Women’s
Legal Centre and Elaine Salo from the African Gender Institute at
UCT. - RC
continued from page 7
many had a love-hate relation-
ship with”.
“ ’Bush’ was important. It
represented everything that root-
ed us, anchored us, identified us
and located us politically in South
Africa,” he said, adding, “Most of
all, it was the place that we call
home – the place where Saturday
lunch of ‘sous boontjie bredie’ (or
was it cabbage stew?) was the
order of the day and became very
handy and gave us strength when
Davie Isaacs and I had to scrum
against the Athenians”.
Looking back at the many
challenges UWC has overcome to
be recognised globally as the sixth
best university in Africa, John-
son said, “UWC should celebrate
the achievements of its gradu-
ates who now occupy various
positions both in the public and
private sectors”.
He said one of the many chal-
lenges facing UWC as it consoli-
dates its development and growth
plans for the future, was finding
innovative ways of encouraging
“its alumni to open not just their
hearts but also their purses”.
Adding that, “The other
challenge is how to ensure that
students make UWC the preferred
place to come and study”. - SM

HOUSEBREAKINGS, murder,
shoplifting, assault and fraud are
just some of the criminal cases that
Prosecutor Tandeka Ntamnani sub-
mits for bail consideration before the
Magistrate of the Court.
Alumnus Tandeka Ntamnani,
who graduated from UWC with
an LLB degree in 2000, has been
working as a Prosecutor in Court F
for Bail Applications in the Athlone
Magistrates Court since 2004.
“I am really a victim’s lawyer,”
explains Ntamnani. “But I also
have to understand the people who
commit these criminal offences. It’s
my duty to understand the law as
best as possible to help make the
best decision affecting the lives of
offenders.”
Ntamnani hails from a small
township of Whittlesea in the
COMMUnITY deVeLOPMenT WORKeRs @ WORK
The South African
government strongly
encourages communities
to participate
in the democratic
process instead of
passively accepting
government
initiatives.
The government wants to begin
thinking and acting at a local
level. The Community Develop-
ment Worker programme is an
Turning the Wheels
people who keep UWC moving
nelda Cozyn
ALUMnUs –TAndeKA nTAMnAnI
a proud UWC Law Faculty alumnus
Eastern Cape. Her father was a
speaker’s Corner
construction worker and mother a
domestic. Despite hardships, they
put her through school but simply
could not manage to pay for her
university studies. It was her sister
Matombi who paid her university
fees. “Matombi sacrificed a lot for
me, so now I look after her and the
children,” says Ntamnani gratefully.
“I look after my parents too. I have
UWC to thank for all of this.”
The high standard of the UWC’s
LIndA de VRIes
Vice-President
OssReA
law degree is always held in high
esteem by law alumni of this univer-
sity. Lecturers and staff particularly
come in for regular high praises
effort to deepen democracy at a local
level. Community Development
Workers are an army against pov-
erty, HIV/AIDS and unemployment.
Western Cape Premier, Ebrahim
Rasool at the second graduation
ceremony of Community Develop-
ment Workers (CDWs) said at the
University of the Western Cape, “You
are the cadre, a group of people to
make a difference with the neces-
sary academic training and massive
doses of compassion,” urged Premier
Rasool. “CDWs know it already.
They are already at the coal face
It’s not every day that a secretary at UWC gets to sing to
President Thabo Mbeki. Nelda Cozyn is this fortunate
singer.
Although Nelda could probably make a career out
of singing, she only sings socially. She is a full time
secretary in the Department of Biotechnology and is par-
ticularly proud to be associated with a ‘very active post-
graduate programme’ involving research in the fields of
Microbiology and Biochemistry.
Routine secretarial duties go beyond answering
phones, filing and arranging appointments. As an ad-
ministrator of marks she also enjoys close contact with
the most important component of the University – the
students.
“Helping and being of service to our students is a
blessing and a greatest pleasure,” says Nelda. “I feel like
coming to work in the morning. The students inspire
me. I am grateful to know them. I learn a lot from
them.”
from former students.
“UWC standards are very high
and we had to work very hard to
make the grades,” she recollects.
“When I doubted myself and felt
scared and alone my lecturers came
to my rescue. They are always
open and ready to help. My lectur-
ers saved me at a time I thought
I would never make it academically.”
One of Ntamnani’s concerns
is that not enough women enter
the law profession. She stresses
that women must go for extra law
training and learning. “It’s essen-
tial to do Legal Practice Training,”
advises Ntamnani. “It’s essential
working to bring government and
people together.”
To support the CDWs in their
workplace learnerships, UWC has
been chosen by the government
Life and work at UWC has always been a very in-
teractive process. Her father, Mr Jeftha was caretaker at
for law students and they should go
at first opportunity go for Aspirant
Court Training where we learn how
to complete charge sheets, converse
with investigating officers and how
to handle the court.” In addition to
her training in articles at the Legal
Aid Centre at UCT, Ntamnani also
completed a Diploma in Legal Prac-
tice at the same university.
“UWC is the champion about
understanding the needy,” she says.
“It’s not only me. Other prosecutors
and lawyers working here with me
feel the same.”
Regardless of the financial
constraints, Ntamnani feels that
to enhance their know-how and
competence aimed at earning the
National Certificate in Community
Development Work at NQF level 4.
This is done in two ways:
The first is Training Blocks,
which are led by UWC facilitators
who have been trained to national
standards by the Education and
Training Unit. Secondly, CDWs
will also receive training from
experienced municipal officials
who can guide them to complete
their practical tasks to the required
standards.
Secretarial work is not just about answering phones .............
UWC. “I literally grew up on campus when we
moved here in 1987,” she recalls. “I remember the days
of the struggle when I would come home from a school
rally, and find my “neighbourhood” UWC up in arms,
fighting for our freedom. UWC left deep footprints in
my soul and played a big part in moulding my
character.”
Nelda brings far more to her work than just secre-
tarial and administrative skills, which are constantly up-
graded due to the support from the Faculty Officer Ursula
Cyster. Selflessness and a deep-seated patience are the
hallmarks that characterise Nelda.
Not only does she spend three hours a night dur-
ing the week to assist in Addictions Counselling, but she
has also initiated a project to open an out-patient drug
rehabilitation centre at UWC under the umbrella of the
existing Student Health Centre.
“I am really passionate about this project and aim
to create new hope,” she says. “Hence the proposed new
name for the treatment centre: UWC New Hope Drug
Centre”.
students must make a decision and
commitment to work very hard.
“Focus only on the studies and work
extremely hard,” is Ntamnani’s
advice to students. “Dedication and
commitment to hard work guarantee
success. Hard work is real hope put
into action as the Rector says.”
For more information on the
Community Development Worker
programme, contact Mr Sipho
Phendu – Local Government.
483-4954 or 072 089 0902
ON CAMPUS OCTOBER 2006
9
neWs & eVenTs & PROFILes

neWs & ReseARCH
UWC nURseRY In sAFe HAnds
10
HOW often do we not call on Rushdi
Solomons and Freddie Michaels at
the Nursery to nurse our office plants
back to health, ask for bitter als or
simply go and buy plants down at the
Nursery?
All too often. And Rushdie
Solomons and Freddie Michaels never
disappoint. For 11 and 18 years re-
spectively the two of them have been
removing the Langhans weed, the
Port Jackson aliens and keeping the
Nursery and the reserve in healthy
condition.
Over the years the two developed
a deep love for the Nature Reserve
and the Nursery, which they have
been maintaining in the absence of a
horticulturalist.
“We can’t neglect the Nursery,”
they both agreed. “Our love is too
great for the place. We like the place.
It must look clean and nice when
tourists and visitors come here.
Inside the Reserve is like being in
another world. It is amazing.”
Visitors from schools and tour-
ists regularly visit and/or buy plants.
UWC PARTneRs ABsA
FOUndATIOn TO AdVAnCe
MATHeMATICAL LITeRACY
In sA sCHOOLs
THE UNIVERSITY OF THE Western
Cape School of Science and Math-
ematics Education (SSME) has
received a R200,000 donation per
annum over the next three years from
the ABSA Foundation for Mathemat-
ics, Science and Technology (MST)
in support of the UWC Mathematical
Literacy Project.
The UWC Mathematical Literacy
Project was formed to offset the lack
of training among teachers, empower-
ing them with the knowledge, skills,
attitudes and values that would help
their learners develop into math-
ematically literate persons.
In so doing UWC is assisting in
the advancement of a government
priority, by placing much needed
emphasis on mathematics and sci-
ence oriented education and thereby
helping in the cultivation of these
much needed skills in a developing
economy.
ON CAMPUS OCTOBER 2006
Rushdi Solomons and Freddie Michaels
When the school learners and
teachers come, the two men teach
them how to grow more flowers and
plants.
Rushdi is responsible for the
irrigation of the plants and nursery.
Freddie always grows more plants,
and is responsible for keeping the
nursery clean. He also planted
Rector, Professor O’Connell signing the agreement with ABSA
The project, which seeks to
“skill grade 10-12 mathematics
teachers in the new mathematical
literacy curriculum” is also aimed at
“encouraging professional growth
within the new curriculum” and
contributing to the enhancement of
a new garden a few years ago in
front of the entrance to the
Nursery.
“We love to propagate more
plants,” they explained. “There are
Felicias, Balerias, Bulbines, Agapanthus
and others. They belong
to our Unit. We must care and look
after it.” - AD
mathematical classroom activities.
The project follows on the
success of similar initiatives by the
School of Science and Mathematics
Education at UWC in partnership
with ABSA bank, which has seen
substantial financial resources
dAsA
eases the
way for
students
with
disabilities
THE Differently Abled Student Association (DASA) is
working hard to ease the challenges and enhance facilities
for DASA students on campus.
DASA was established in 2002 by students with disabilities
and became an official structure of the Student
Representative Council (SRC) at UWC. DASA’s mission
and vision is to advocate and advance access for students
with disabilities to tertiary education and to
assist in the promotion of their needs and interests at
UWC.
Chairperson Ronnie Willem is still concerned that
there is no quick response to the challenges facing students
with disabilities.
“If the lift is not working, then accessing the GH
building is difficult,” explained Willem. “Students with
disabilities might not make it to the exam rooms in
time. If construction takes place without notification or
a car is parked in the usual walkway where cars are not
normally parked, it can send blind students bashing into
the vehicle.”
It follows that DASA is eager to campaign for an alternative
to the distance between classes during change
of periods. Also, blind students should be accommodated
adequately when they need to access their academic
materials from lecturers. Computer labs and software
programmes must also enable blind students to become
computer literate like other students.
Another issue facing students with disabilities is
residence accommodation. For example, it is important
for visually impaired students to have their own rooms.
DASA Vice-Chairperson Mike Nobala mentioned that
the association was negotiating with the Chris Hani
Residence to allocate single rooms to students who are
totally blind.
DASA, in conjunction with the Office for Students
with Disabilities (O.S.w.D.) completed a proposed draft
policy document on student disability. This document
is awaiting consideration, input and final approval from
the University executive.
committed toward teacher training
programmes aimed at historically
disadvantaged communities since
2001. It will continue in this trend
by placing special emphasis on
areas such as Khayelitsha, Elsies
River, Bishop Lavis, Blackheath,
Mitchell’s Plain and Bellville.
The UWC Mathematical Literacy
Project is based at the university’s
Bellville campus and is coordinated
by the School of Science and
Mathematics Education Dr. Monde
Mbekwa and Lynn Rossouw

Boesak, Jeremy Cronin and others join
Antje Krog at UWC poetry lunch hour
“HAVE you heard Alan Boesak read a love poem? Have you heard Teba rapping in Xhosa - or Def P, one of the first
people to rap in Dutch? Have you heard how communist Jeremy Cronin reads his poems? Or seen how a Balinese poet
jumps when he performs his poetry? Have you heard the poems of Suriname performed by their best poet? Or how a
philosopher performs poetry with a percussionist?”
This was the invitation sent out by
the celebrated South African writer,
Professor Antje Krog to the UWC
community. She organsied this
year’s UWC Annual Poetry Lunch
Hour, which took place at the Li-
brary Auditorium on 5th October.
Among the participants were Tan
Lioe Le; Keith Gottschalk; Shrivi-
nasi; Teba Shumba; Diana Ferrus
and Sipho Mathati; Alan Boesak;
Gibi Bacilio; Jeremy Cronin and Def
P. The range of styles and themes
was astounding. The depth of social
activism was also eloquently clear.
For these poets their art and their
sense of belonging to their commu-
nities are equally strong.
This annual event drew a lot of
interest both from the UWC com-
munity and the broader public. We
are looking forward to next year’s
poetry lunch hour with great antici-
pation.
Jeremy Cronin
Jeremy Cronin is one of South Afri-
ca’s most respected political activ-
ists and one of those rare people
who combines a poetic voice with
that of an activist. Currently Cronin
is deputy General Secretary of the
South African Communist Party,
an ANC Member of Parliament and
Chairperson of the Transport portfo-
lio committee. He is an academic of
note and regarded as one of the best
poets writing in South Africa today.
Born in Cape Town, he considered
entering the priesthood, however a
stint in the army and then a bursary
to study at the University of Cape
Town led him to becoming a member
of the then banned South African
Communist Party. His first book of
poetry, Inside (1983) was published
after his release from prison and he
has recently published a new col-
lection entitled More Than A Casual
Contact (2006).
Ronald snijders
Ronald Snijders is the most
swinging flautist in the Netherlands
at present. He started playing at the
age of seven and after studying
civil technology, became a
professional musician. His style
varies from North American jazz
and fusion to new African Caribbean
jazz. Snijders is the creator
Alan Boesak
Reverend Allan Boesak is Modera-
tor in the Western Cape and Vice
Moderator of the General Synod of
the Uniting Reformed Church in
Southern Africa . He has received
12 honorary doctorates, several
peace prizes and is the author of 15
books among them translated into
Dutch, German and Danish.
Since he left prison he pub-
lished a volume of poetry as well as
a book: The Flight of God’s Imagina-
tion for which he was awarded the
prestigious 2006 Andrew Murray
Prize for theological work.
of the Afro Surinam kawina-jazz.
As a musician Snijders is in
great demand and is very
successful with his Ronald Snijders
Extended band, which has toured
and played throughout the Nether-
lands, Germany, Finland, Surinam,
the United States, Cuba and
Curaçao.
Gibi Bacilio rapping...........
Gibi Bacilio is an expert in the
field of oral literature and written
rhythmic poetry. His work carries
the themes of slavery, the colo-
nial past and the dominant and
confusing position of the Dutch.
Although there are tenderness and
eroticism in his work, he practices
his activism in the form of street
theatre and uses his studies in
the Netherlands to teach dramatic
expression within his own thea-
tre group. Living on the island of
Curacao (Koerasau), his poems had
been published widely in magazines
and various collections. In 2000, he
published a collection titled ‘Kueru
Marká’.
diana Ferrus
Diana Ferrus works at UWC as an
administrator and has self-published
her first collection of poetry in Afri-
kaans, “ons komvandaan” in March
2006. She also compiled with Suzette
McKerron the short story collection,
“Slaan vir my ‘n masker, vader” (forge
me a mask, father).
sipho Mathathi
Together with Sipho Mathathi,
Wendy Woodward from the English
Dept, UWC, established the “Bush
Poets” poetry group in 1999 and
compiled a collection of poetry called
Convergences.
Keith Gottschalk Cape Town during the 1980s, and
Keith Gottschalk published his
prison and other anti-apartheid
poems in the collection “Emer-
gency Poems” which is in our UWC
Library, and has over 100 other
poems published or performed.
Keith helped lead the Con-
gress of SA Writers (COSAW) in
now serves on the executive of the
SA Writers Association (SAWA). He
hosts the Lansdowne Local Writers
Group on the last Saturday of each
month. On Monday evenings, he
joins the Off the Wall poetry session
in the Observatory pub A Touch of
Madness.
deF P
Apart from many things, Def P has
the wonderful real name of Pascal
Griffioen. In Holland he is syn-
onymous with hip-hop. He became
interested in hip hop while at school
in Amsterdam and in 1986 he formed
his first rap group, Funky Fresh Force.
In 1989, he started the first Dutch-
speaking hip hop band, Osdorp Posse
and made a breakthrough album,
‘Afslag Osdorp’ (‘Exit road Osdorp’).
In 1998, Osdorp Posse set up its own
label, Ramp Records and under this
label Def P has released two solo
albums. Like many of the other poets,
Def P is also involved with theatre
work as well as drawings and paint-
ings.
Tan Lioe Le
The grandfather of Tan Lioe Le was
Chinese and moved to Bali many
years ago. Having their religion and
language suppressed by the govern-
ment, Tan Lioe Ie grew up a Catho-
lic. Although he studied architecture
and economics, he is now a full
time writer and activist. His poetry
anthology, ‘Kita Bersaudara’ has
been translated and published under
the title ‘We Are All One’ and he has
published a second book, ‘Malam
Cahaya Lampion’ – The Night of the
Lantern.
ON CAMPUS OCTOBER 2006
11
PROFILes & neWs

neWs & eVenTs
1
THe OdPA TeAM nOW COMPLeTe
With the arrival of Anna du Bois,
who joined the ODPA team at
the beginning of September, the
Office of Development, Public Af-
fairs and Alumni now has a full
staff complement, and is looking
forward to a very productive year.
Anna joins us from SHAW-
CO, the Students’ Health and
Welfare Centres Organisation,
UCT’s main student outreach
programme, where she worked as
a fundraiser and public relations
officer. Prior to that she had done
OdPA shares its experience
with African delegates
The University of the Western Cape’s
Office of Development, Public Affairs
and Alumni (ODPA) is sharing its
experiences with peers from other
African universities. Recently, ODPA
welcomed ten delegates from the
Makerere University of Uganda and
the Obafemi Awolowo University of
Nigeria. The international delegation
was led by Nazli Abrahams,
programme coordinator of Inyathelo,
the South African Institute
for Advancement. The main objective
of their visit to South Africa
was to benchmark communications,
marketing, fundraising and alumni
relations at higher education
institutions.
ON CAMPUS OCTOBER 2006
NEWLY APPOINTED DEVELOPMENT OFFICER, ANNA DU BOIS
BRAWAM-sIsWAM PROJeCT Is GROWInG
THE provincial initiative, Brawam-
Siswam, is a project that was
established due to an increase in
the number of learners dropping
out of schools. This project is run
under the auspices of the Provincial
Department in partnership with Department
of Social Development and
in conjunction with the University of
the Western Cape.
The aim of this project is to try
to reduce the high dropout rate of
Grade 9 learners in high schools
throughout the Western Cape. A
research study was done which
examined the reasons behind the
high dropout rate in high schools
in the Cape Flats and it revealed
that between 48 and 50 percent of
learners drop out due to reasons
ranging from drug abuse, HIV/AIDS
– with the consequences thereof
(parents dying, learners leaving due
to familial care responsibilities etc.),
and heightened levels of crime.
The delegates were hosted
in the Vice Rector’s conference
room, where ODPA Acting Director
Raymond Schuller presented an
overview with respect to the mission,
goals and programmes of the
Department. Schuller expressed his
delight at the delegates choosing to
engage with UWC and the University
of Stellenbosch since ‘we often look
at European and American models
when researching best practise”.
Donor analyst, Camilla Thorogood
and Linda Mkhize, Alumni Database
Officer, gave demonstrations on the
functionalities of the new fundraising
and alumni database that is currently
under construction. Alumni
manager, Linda Budaza, explained
the function of the Alumni Relations
office and the important lessons
learnt in organising our first Alumni
Homecoming. Our international delegates
were also keen to learn more
about our strategy for organising
our Alumni into Chapters – a major
focus of the UWC Alumni Relations
programme in 2006.
The delegates expressed their
gratitude to the ODPA office for
welcoming them to UWC and for the
valuable resources provided, including
the new UWC Norms Guide. Both
institutions expressed an interest to
continue the dialogue and strengthen
our African networks.- RC
UWC Students (Mentors) and the Learners from Spine Road Secondary Schoool
It is for these reasons that the increased from 520 to 820.
Brawam-Siswam project was intro- At UWC this project is held
duced. The project intends to train under the Vice Rector of Student
learners in a variety of life skills Development and Support Services,
disciplines. Brawam-Siswam Project Prof. Lullu Tshiwula.
Manager, Maureen Davis, said that Ms. Davis tells us that UWC stu-
last year the Western Cape Education dents are also benefiting from this
Department identified 20 schools project. They are trained as mentors
where the project had commenced. and are given Life Skills training by
This year the number has increased
to 28 schools and the number of
an educational psychologist. After
learners on the programme has also
continued on page 13
a variety of jobs, including working
as freelance translator in Canada
and the UK, a sub-editor for the
BBC World Service, and a paralegal
assistant at an international law
firm in London. In ODPA Anna will
be responsible for funding propos-
als, the alumni appeal and, together
with Camilla Thorogood, our Donor
Analyst, identifying and approach-
ing new potential donors.
Asked what she wants to
achieve at UWC, Anna said that for
her the most important aspect of
fundraising for an institution like
UWC is cooperation between dif-
ferent faculties and departments
in line with the strategic vision
of the University. “This would
strengthen our case and ensure
that we do not ask the same
donor twice, or for too little or at
the wrong time. Cooperation is
key to success.”
When not fundraising, Anna
is studying towards a postgradu-
ate diploma in Adult Education
at UCT.
LAUnCH OF POeTRY
COLLeCTIOn In BRAILLe
Hale Tsehlana, a well-known
writer and former lecturer at the
UWC English Department, has
just launched her latest collection
of poetry, Poems and Songs
from the Mire, an anthology of
poetry which has been translated
into Braille at the request of the
author.
The launch took place
on Saturday 7 October at the
UWC library auditorium. One
of the poems, The Darkroom,
was read in Braille by second
year B.Admin student Phumla
Mpangeva.
Evadne Abrahams, Project
Manager at the Office for
Students with Disabilities, was
delighted and encouraged by
this historical gesture. “Readings
available in Braille are mostly
academic, so this will be the beginning
of a recreational library
for blind students,” said Evadne.
Further good news is that Diana
Ferrus is now also considering
translating her poetry into
Braille.
Hale Tsehlana’s anthology
is different to her previous
offerings. “I wanted us to be
aware of each other’s cultures and
languages,” said Hale. “I wanted
to do something different and
exciting to reach people on the
margins. Blind people now have
access to this anthology of poetry.”
The poems in this volume
explore varying themes such as
space, gender, music song, and
emotions. They are unified by
contemporary subjects, such as
the joy of jazz, exile, the return of
Saartjie Baartman, as well as the
recurrent themes of Cape Town
and Africa.
Poet and Arts Project Manager
Malika Ndlovu critically reviewed
the collection. “This poet (referring
to Tsehlana) is on the one
hand flexible and on the
other firm in her style. Her
messages range from sensual
to philosophical, but most of all
is a true and brave reflection of
where she comes from, who she
is.”
Hale Tsehlana has published
her poetry in several anthologies
and journals over the past
15 years and teaches Academic
Development and Creative Writing
at Stellenbosch University.

Us academic delivers lecture on
racism and raceless societies
With the onset of neoliberalism,
the prejudice of race has been
removed from formal structures
but racism still remains and has
been privatised and no longer
holds an official and public posi-
tion.
This comes from a seminar
presentation entitled Racisms
and Raceless Societies delivered
by Prof David Theo Goldberg
from the University of California.
The emergence of neoliberal-
ism saw governments rejecting
intervention in the domestic
economy, and focusing on free-
market methods, on fewer restric-
tions on business operations,
and property rights. In foreign
policy, neoliberalism favors the
opening of foreign markets by
Prof David Theo Goldberg
political means, using diplomacy,
economic pressure and, for some
neoliberals, military might.
Through a visual presentation
Prof Goldberg outlined how race
is a constituent of modern society
and how racial regionalisations and
racial naturalism are
defined by those of European
descent.
Neoliberalism, explained
Prof Goldberg, has two modali-
ties of managing heterogeneity
through mixing or the concept of
“whitening” or “Euro-mimics”,
i.e. wanting to mimic Europeans.
The other modality is through
institutionalisation of violence
on rogue states, such as
invasive violence, as in the
case of the USA invasion of Iraq,
or the Israeli-Palestinian
conflict.
Formal race structures have
been removed but the invisible
structures still exist. Race has
gone but racism is still with us.
OUTReACH TRIUMPHs
AT UWC
WHEN ex-students give of
themselves and plough back
into struggling communities
they hail from, then the road
ahead can best be marked by
progress.
St Mark’s College in Jane
Furse, Sekhukhuneland has
been the receipient of this kind
of support for some time now.
Former students like the Gov-
ernor of the Reserve Bank, Tito
Mboweni, have given generous-
ly. Others gave of their time and
effort to work in committees,
organising schools sports, ad-
ministering the library, planning
weekend programmes and even
organising trips as far as Durban
and Cape Town.
One other champion is
UWC student, Khutso Lucas
Ramontja . Lucas may not
have been the most prominent
learner at St Mark’s, nor was he
a leading athlete, but he became
chairperson of the Sports
Committee, the most active
office in the school. Lucas
planned the weekly sporting
programmes and highlight
performances of the school
term. He energetically arranged
weekend fixtures, determined
the budget, decided the various
awards, took care of the
- AD
Lucas Ramontja at St Marks College helping students to become computer
literate
soccer kit and dealt with the
ever-changing rules of
netball.
At UWC Lucas joined the UWC
SIFE and YIELD programmes, which
equipped him with skills necessary
for project management and fund-
raising. “I gained my entrepreneurial
skills from SIFE while raising
funds for UWC computer labs,”
he explained unassumingly.
“I adopted a similar approach
when it came to raising funds for
my old school. My dream is to make
St Mark’s College the leading school
in the country to produce black
professionals.”
Working towards getting com-
puter programmes for St Mark’s
College in Sekhukhuneland is not
his only contribution to commu-
nity outreach.
In 2005 the Anglican
Archbishop of Cape Town,
Reverend Njongonkulu Ndungane,
invited Lucas to serve on the
newly formed Anglican Board
of Education for the Western
Cape. He is now serving as a
Director and Trustee of the newly-
formed Section 21 company, the
Anglican Church School Trust.
- AD
Children celebrate
oceans and coasts
with art
As part of its 10th anniversary celebrations, the International Ocean
Institute, Southern Africa (IOI-SA) and its partners convened the Children
& the Sea competition of children’s artworks on the ocean. The competi-
tion aimed to raise awareness of oceans and coasts in young people, and
to raise awareness in broader society through their art.
Almost 400 artworks were submitted to the competition within the
six themes of Peace in the Oceans, The Wonder of Marine Life, Ocean
Ecosystems, The Source of Life, Pollution of the Seas, The Danger of
Overfishing, and People in Harmony with the Sea.
First, second and third prizes were selected during September by an
independent panel of judges consisting of Mr John Maytham from Cape
Talk Radio, and Dr Niel Malan and Ms Esther Howard from Marine and
Coastal Management. First prize was awarded to Maeve Fourie (12 years
old) from Epworth Primary School in Pietermaritzburg, for her pastel
drawing which combined different ocean ecosystems with the design and
colours of the South African flag. Second prize went to Valery Stander
(15 years old) of Walvis Bay, Namibia, for her painting of a mother
dolphin and its baby, and third prize was awarded to Nadine Augustus (8
years old) of Duneside School in Walvis Bay, Namibia, for her bright and
bold painting of a fish.
An additional five entries were selected by the panel to be sent to
International Ocean Institute Headquarters in Malta for consideration at
an international competition along with submissions from all 25 of the
International Ocean Institute’s centers around the world. Images of the
selected five local artworks are available on the IOI-SA website at www.
ioisa.org.za
Artworks will be displayed at a number of venues around southern
Africa in the coming months (October: Port Elizabeth Harbour; Novem-
ber: Two Oceans Aquarium in Cape Town; December: National Marine
Aquarium of Namibia in Swakopmund; January: uShaka Marine World
in Durban) before returning to IOI-SA and UWC in February next year
when we hope to display the artworks on campus. An album of the chil-
dren’s artworks is also planned for 2007.
IOI-SA would like to congratulate the winners of the competition,
and those whose artworks were selected to enter the international
competition, on their achievements. We would also like to thank all the
art teachers and children who participated in the competition, and our
partners, including the Two Oceans Aquarium, Bayworld, uShaka Marine
World, National Marine Aquarium of Namibia, Benguela Environment
Fisheries Interaction and Training Programme (BENEFIT), Benguela Cur-
rent Large Marine Ecosystem Programme (BCLME), and the African Coela-
canth Ecosystem Programme (ACEP), South African Institute for Aquatic
Biodiversity (SAIAB) and the Wildlife and Environment Society of South
Africa’s Eco-Schools Programme, for their enthusiasm and support. - AD
continued from page 12
BRAWAM-sIsWAM PROJeCT Is GROWInG
the training they are expected to
go and teach learners in various
schools once a week and are paid a
nominal fee for this work.
It is impressive that the
number of students who are inter-
ested in the project at UWC is also
growing, with the 200 students
taking part last year increasing to
400 students this year. Ms. Davis
tells us that these students can
often offer lessons beyond life
skills as many learners come from
different backgrounds and are
faced with different socio-economic
challenges.
The objective of this pro-
gramme is to implement a tracking
system over a three year period
to measure the outcome of the
initiative. Ms. Davis has urged all
second year to Master’s students
to embark on this life-changing
programme in 2007. This pro-
gramme allows students to grow
and develop their life skills train-
ing. Many students have found this
programme to be fulfilling.
An on-campus open day is
planned for next year to market the
programme and create awareness
among all members of staff and
students. Check the next issue for
more information. - RC
ON CAMPUS OCTOBER 2006
1
neWs & eVenTs

neWs & eVenTs
1
THe CHALLenGe OF HOMOseXUAL
ReLATIOnsHIPs TO CHURCH And
sOCIeTY
THE UNIVERSITY OF the Western
Cape’s Department of Religion
and Theology recently played
host to a one-day conference
themed “Revisiting intimacy
– The Challenge of homosexual
relationships to church and
society”.
Homosexuality as a form
of human sexual expression
and as a vehicle through which
same-sex relationships manifest
themselves, is well documented
to have been in existence since
at least the time of the ancient
Greeks.
Some social and science
scholars argue that homosexuali-
ty has been in existence since the
beginning of time, as part and
parcel of the process of human
evolution.
History also shows us there
has been great human suffering
as a result of society and commu-
nities struggling to understand
and come to terms and accept the
many that live among them who
identify with being homosexual.
In recent times, however,
governments and societies have
been under concerted pressure
from human rights activists and
lobby groups to allow for debate
to take place around issues af-
fecting homosexuals and perhaps
afford this section of society
liberties that their heterosexual
counterparts enjoy, like the rights
to dignity and freedom of choice.
Addressing the opening
of the conference, UWC Rector
and Vice-Chancellor Prof. Brian
O’Connell quoted renowned poet
and scholar T S Eliott,” ‘Homo-
SANELE KUNENE, 28, has achieved
what many in her hometown of
eShowe in KwaZulu Natal would
readily consider impossible.
Kunene has completed her Master’s
degree in Library Science and is
raring to return to her community to
“plough back and contribute to the
development of that area”.
She first came to the University
of the Western Cape in 1996. “It’s
been a long road for me to get to
where I am and I’ve been away from
home for a long time too” she says.
ON CAMPUS OCTOBER 2006
UWC Department of Religion and Theology Miranda Pillay
sexuality is and old matter, dealt
with differently at different times.
What is different about this time is
that it not a quiet matter, not a “in
the closet matter”, that can be tolerated
as long as it is silent’”.
The Rector went on to say
homosexuality, “today is not silent.
It is a hugely public matter on which
very strong positions are held.
The arguments are passionate and
fierce”.
“ There are many lenses used
through which to reflect on the
matter. Just a few week ago, here at
UWC we spent a week of lunchtimes
in the debate on homosexual and
lesbian relationships under the rubric
of homophobia. Today our lens
is intimacy,” he added.
Inclusive and Affirmative
Ministries minister Reverend Pieter
Oberholzer, an openly gay cleric
who lives with his male partner
of 19 years, kicked off the conference
by reminding delegates that
the purpose of the event was not to
investigate the merits or demerits of
homosexuality.
“It is a fact that there would
always be divergent and often con-
flicting views on the issue of homosexuality,”
added Rev. Oberholzer.
“The issue today is one of
intimacy in same-sex relationships”
with a particular emphasis on those
who practiced religious worship
and the struggle of reconciling “being
gay with God’s will,” he said.
Oberholzer continued looking
at intimacy by drawing parallels
with his own personal experiences.
He spoke of the need to move away
from sex and sexual thoughts when
thinking of being intimate. “There
are various kinds of ways of being
intimate”, he said.
“Intimacy is the sum of all
the experiences and memories that
one shares with their loved ones,
including sexual intimacy” said
Oberholzer.
“The need to find a place of
belonging is also an extension of
intimacy and instead of humanity
focusing on the negatives rather
than the positives, on the differences
rather than commonalities,
we will realise that we all face
similar challenges regardless of our
ethnicity, race, gender and sexual
orientation,” he added. -SM
UWC MAsTeR’s GRAdUATe HOPes TO
TAKe deVeLOPMenT BACK HOMe
SANELE KUNENE
“I initially came to UWC to be
away from home and to experience
a place that I’ve never been to before
but I certainly got more over the
years.”
Kunene comes from the
semi-rural town of eShowe located
between Durban and Empangeni.
“The library at eShowe is
small and not developed at all, this
is why I pursued library science
because I saw the need for people
in my community to learn
and gain more knowledge,” she
says.
“People there are still living in
the past, some people believe
AnsOC is giving back
to the community
Children from Nolufefe educare centre in Phillippi
THE University of the Western
Cape’s Anglican Student Society
(ANSOC) is giving back to the
community through its outreach
programme. The aim of
this project is to exemplify the
social mandate and responsibility
of the church in community
development by building a bridge
between the church and the
community. This is an ongoing
programme which seeks to
build a very strong foundation in
various communities, from early
childhood development to high
school level.
This would not have been
possible without the help of their
fellow Cape Peninsula University
of Technology members in partnership,
who host the Siyafundisa
Programme from the Anglican
AIDS office, Hope Africa and
CPUT SRC (Bellville campus).
And their own mandate? They
believe that since Christ has
given them the spirit of triumph,
it is their Christian responsibility
to act as His ambassadors on
earth.
The organisations have realized
this responsibility through
outreach programmes. Their
first project identified Nolufefe
Educare Centre in Philippi,
which was in critical condition
and needed immediate attention.
An assessment was made
by UWC and CPUT ANSOC Team
led by UWC Chairperson Sipho
libraries are meant only for white
people and its perceptions like these
that need changing”.
“Reading broadens our minds,
you get to ‘travel’ to where you’ve
never been before. People are also
unaware the different mediums
through which information is carried
– some still think that when
you’re going into a library you’re
going to be reading books only but
there are also newspapers, the
Internet and other mediums.”
The youngest of six siblings,
Mthethwa.
Mthethwa described the state
of the crèche as not conducive to
the fostering of future leaders.
There existed a number of constraints
regarding resources and a
poor infrastructure. This included
broken toilets, old mats and mattresses,
bad plumbing, an urgent
need for a new coat of paint, a
broken ceiling, and a playground
in disrepair.
The organisations came
together to address these practical
problems by cleaning, painting and
replanting the Garden of Hope in
Philippi. The donations amounted
to 30 mattresses, sponsored by
UWC and CPUT residences, toys,
drawing books, crayons, pencils,
dishes, spoons and two hot plates.
Sipho Mthethwa thanked everyone
who participated in the programme.
“Words cannot begin to
explain the impact you just made
to the community.” He encouraged
young people to continue making
Christ known to everyone.
ANSOC extends an appeal to
everyone to invest in education
- the future of South Africa’s children.
If anyone wishes to make a
donation, please call the Anglican
Students’ Society (ANSOC) at:
Cell: 072 139 1181or e-mail:
2338330@uwc.ac.za (Sipho
Mthethwa)
Cell: 078 400 3903or e-mail:
asfmpo@yahoo.com (Masande
Gonya) - RS
Kunene says that old perceptions
of UWC being an institution that is
underdeveloped are no longer valid
today.
“This place has taught me that
even from a place of disadvantage
one can still succeed. This place has
taught me that anything worth having
does not come easy and one has
to work hard at whatever they set
their minds and heart on.”
Kunene says, “Knowledge is the
key to our growth and development
as a nation.” - SM

sWIMMInG sensATIOn FROM sOWeTO COnsIdeRs
UWC enROLLMenT
him as a South African favourite.
SWIMMING SENSATION Thabang
Moeketsane (19), who came 30th
overall at the World Champion-
ships in 2005, is in Cape Town on a
month-long visit to the University of
the Western Cape “to see what UWC
is all about” as he considers enroll-
ing as a sports science student. In
particular, UWC’s swimming facili-
ties and coach Karoly von Toros for
UWC INDOOR VOLLEYBALL STAR AIMS FOR
BEIJING OLYMPICS
Zandy Erasmus, currently studying
Sports Science, has been excelling
in indoor volleyball consistently.
Annually, she has been selected for
both provincial and national teams.
More notably, she was the only
UWC volleyball coach passionate about her sport
Leigh-Ann Naidoo, coach of the
UWC women’s volleyball team,
together with German partner Judith
Deister-Augustides, current cham-
pion of the VSA Supradyn Recharge
Beach Volleyball Challenge, speaks
with striking passion when asked
about her sport. “Beach volleyball
involves strategy more than most
sports”. Leigh-Ann believes that
significant stress is placed on the
individual, while one still needs
to ensure their capacity as a team
player.
The competition, which took
UWC sTAFF MeMBeR WIns Ms PHYsIQUe TROPHY
Melissa Wentzel won the Ms Phy-
sique trophy when competing in
the South African Natural Body-
building Union championships
in September. Despite Melissa’s
rigorous training and participa-
tion at qualifying competitions,
she could hardly believe she had
won the trophy. “I was shocked,”
said Melissa. “I competed against
a person who is legendary at this
game. I just could not believe it.”
Melissa, a member of the
UWC Bodybuilding Club, is a
Moeketsane to make the move to
UWC.
Thabang, originally from Soweto,
is currently based at Pretoria University.
His professional swimming
career began in 2003. Exceptional
performance at the 2004 Junior
Commonwealth Games, where he
won 2 silver medals, was the first of
many notable successes and marked
UWC volleyball athlete who was
selected to play in the World Student
Games. She was unable to play in
the trials due to an injury which she
sustained in an earlier tournament,
but was nevertheless selected for the
Sports Administrator in UWC’s
Sports Department Section. The
club is an active member of the
Western Province Natural Bodybuild-
ing Union and is affiliated with the
Department of Cultural Affairs and
Sport.
Melissa endured gruelling
training combined with a strict diet
which forbade junk foods, focus-
ing on achieving an optimum body
weight. “This teaches one disci-
pline,” she said. “There are many
negative things happening in life.
His chosen events are the 50 m and
100m-breast stroke, no doubt due to
his success with them in particular.
Most remarkably, the 2006 African
Championships saw him win 3 gold
medals and 1 silver.
While he has enjoyed a prodigious
swimming career so far, maybe
if he moves to UWC he will be
spurred on to even greater successes
– Beijing 2008 perhaps? Whatever
his choices may be, UWC wishes
final squad. Now, after successful
involvement in both indoor six-aside
and outdoor two-aside teams, Zandy
has been invited to a training camp
in preparation for the 2008 Beijing
Olympics.
Leigh-Ann Naidoo coach of the UWC women’s volleyball team (middle) with
volley ball team
place from 22-24 September, had a in the pair’s skills being sorely
round-robin format which resulted tested, culminating in a gripping fi-
This is a positive way of controlling
the body with discipline and dedication.
I decide how far to take it. It
really is wonderfully liberating.”
Health matters are Melissa’s
primary concern. This Natural
Bodybuilding Union is not like
a stand-alone union such as the
International Federation of Body
Building. “The emphasis is on
health related matters and lifestyle
choices,” she explained.
As the current SA Ms. Physique title
holder I’ve been invited to compete
Swimming sensation Thabang Moeketsane
Thabang the best of luck with both
his swimming and sports science
nal against Palesa Sekhonyana and
Natasha Strydom. The stands were
full and the event received much
media coverage, a rare occurrence
for beach volleyball. It was very
windy throughout the competition
which is often a determining factor
when playing volleyball.
There are two further Supradyn
Recharge Volleyball Challenges this
December. However, Leigh-Ann will
regrettably be unable to play as is
she is currently recovering from a
knee operation. She is nevertheless
very enthusiastic about the
in Australia, in the most prestigious
bodybuilding competition of all, the
Natural Olympia in Perth Australia!
I will compete in the Ms. Figure
and because SA is not affiliated to
this association, I will compete as
an individual.
As I prepare for this competition
(18/11/06), I’m waiting for my emergency
passport, because the invitation
was short notice, and then I’ll
have to wait for my visa and hope
it’s on time. So far, I have one possible
sponsor willing to help.
aspirations. Perhaps we will have
our very own Roland Schoeman.
prospects for the teams which she
is coaching. Incidentally, her UWC
women’s indoor volleyball team was
ranked second in the country this
year. While disappointed that she is
unable to play, Leigh-Ann believes
that her coaching will give greater
long-term benefits to the volleyball
team. “It’s not just how you click
on the court, but how you manage
to communicate with your players
when not playing the game”. It is
perhaps this positive attitude which
has led Leigh-Ann and Judith to
such great success.
Melissa Wentzel, UWC Staff Member
and Miss Physiqoue Trophy Winner
ON CAMPUS OCTOBER 2006
15
On CAMPUs sPORT