GRADUATION 2010

UKZN hosted 19 graduation ceremonies which were held over seven days from April 16-23.

A total of 8111 graduates received their degrees at the ceremonies on the Pietermaritzburg and Westville campuses.

Sixty two percent of the graduates are women. A total of 254 graduates, of which 164 are female obtained their degrees cum laude and 109 students, of whom 61 are female, graduated summa cum laude.

Approximately 2 419 degrees were conferred in the Faculty of Education; 438 degrees in the Faculty of Engineering; 374 in the Faculty of Health Sciences; 1 753 in the Faculty of Humanities, Development and Social Sciences; 345 in the Faculty of Law; 1 568 in the Faculty of Management Studies; 244 in the Faculty of Medicine and 970 in the Faculty of Science and Agriculture.

POISED TO IMPACT ON AGRICULTURE IN AFRICA

ACCI graduates and staff at the Faculty of Science and
Agriculture graduation ceremony in Pietermaritzburg.

Seven southern African students from UKZN’s African Centre for Crop Improvement (ACCI) boast PhD degrees in Plant Breeding that will equip them to tackle one of Africa’s most serious problems: how to create high yielding, locally adapted varieties of the important food crops. Accelerated agricultural growth is imperative for alleviating poverty and providing food security to millions of rural people on the continent. The ACCI students will have their work cut out for them as they take on this challenge against the backdrop of unstable economic systems, rising food prices and input costs, diminishing soil health, climate changes and civil conflict.

Emanating from as far afield as Zimbabwe, Uganda, Zambia, Tanzania and Malawi, the ACCI students had their degrees conferred at the graduation ceremony in Pietermaritzburg on April 17. They have successfully completed an intense and demanding five-year study and research period. Their doctoral qualification included two years of academic studies at UKZN, followed by three years of field research in their home countries. Even though some of them started the programme with years of experience, they will now be fully-fledged scientists with advanced knowledge in: Plant Breeding, Biometry, Genetics, Biotechnology and Plant Pathology, as well as scientific communication and project management skills.

THERE’S NO STOPPING MASTERS SUMMA CUM LAUDE PHYSICS STUDENT

Ms Adriana Marais.

A quiet determination characterises top UKZN student, Ms Adriana Marais, who graduated summa cum laude with a Masters degree in Physics. She thrives on coming to grips with difficult problems and says that she tries her best to enjoy these moments because once she gets back to work, she realises how much she still doesn’t understand.

Schooled in Pietermaritzburg, and an undergraduate student at the University of Cape Town, Ms Marais started studying quantum physics at UKZN in 2007. She embarked on her research at the same time as the “Quantum City” project was initiated to provide Durban with the capabilities of offering quantum security solutions to users for their recently installed fibre-optic networks. Her thesis was titled: Security and Entanglement in Differential-Phase-Shift Quantum Key Distribution, which will have applications in encryption for secure communications.

Ms Marais explained that current methods of encrypting private information such as pin numbers, emails, credit card details and medical records are difficult to decrypt using current computational technology. On the other hand, quantum cryptography provides a means of encryption that is not merely difficult, but impossible to break, according to the laws of quantum mechanics. As part of her research, Ms Marais investigated how, for a given quantum cryptographic protocol, this ‘quantum security’ can be proven mathematically.

A LONG WALK TO SUCCESS

Mr Desale Yosief Okubamichael.

So determined was Mr Desale Yosief Okubamichael to study at UKZN that he walked and hitchhiked all the way from Eritrea, a country in the Horn of Africa, to register for his Master of Science Degree in Botany. Mr Okubamichael graduated on April 17.

“No one is special, what makes you special is patience and hard work,” he says. Mr Okubamichael’s research was titled: Host specificity of the hemiparasitic mistletoes. Mistletoes are green shrubs growing parasitically on branches of various trees and are widely used for Christmas decorations.

Mr Okubamichael’s study investigated a broad range of topics from ecology to molecular biology, physiological and population genetics. It utilised several different experimental designs, scientific tools and statistical packages which may be applied to other scientific studies. These studies have multidisciplinary implications in ecology, evolution, biology, environment, conservation and parasitology.

UKZN PROFESSOR SUPERVISES THE FIRST DOCTORATE IN HOMEOPATHIC SCIENCE IN SOUTH AFRICA

Professor R Sooryamoorthy.

Ms Izel Botha.

Professor R Sooryamoorthy of UKZN’s School of Sociology and Social Studies supervised Ms Izel Botha’s doctoral thesis titled: Towards an Integrated Methodology: C4, Sherr and Dream Provings of Protea cynaroides. This is the first doctorate to be awarded in the field of Homeopathy in South Africa. Ms Botha is a lecturer in Homeopathy at the Durban Institute of Technology (DUT).

This thesis compares the most commonly employed Homoeopathic proving methodologies (the C4 trituration, the Sherr and the Dream proving methodologies), in order to ascertain the validity of the claims that these methodologies elicit reproducible symptoms.

Professor Sooryamoorthy said, “When the student approached me to promote this study I felt that it was my responsibility to support such intellectual endeavours that would lead to new areas of knowledge in the country.”

AGROMETEOROLOGY PROFESSOR RECEIVES UKZN’S FIRST DSCAGRIC DEGREE

Professor Michael Savage.

Professor Michael Savage made history on April 17 when the University’s Chancellor, Dr Zwelini Mkhize, conferred UKZN’s first Doctor of Science in Agriculture degree on him at the Pietermaritzburg Science and Agriculture graduation ceremony. He joins just one other graduate, Dr Arthur Lishman (who graduated with a DScAgric in Animal Science in 1998), in the history of the former University of Natal to receive this degree.

A senior Professor in the School of Environmental Sciences, Professor Savage has lectured to Science and Agriculture students since 1977 in the areas of agrometeorology, environmental biophysics and meteorology. He was instrumental in the discipline of Agrometeorology at the former University of Natal and has been responsible for the development of all Agrometeorology courses from 1977 to the present. His research is concerned with water and energy movement in the soil-plant-atmosphere continuum. During his academic career he has received more than R7 million in research funding. Over the years Professor Savage has also accrued a wealth of experience in other areas such as academic administration and private consulting.

BEATING LANGUAGE BARRIERS

Ms Nobuhle Zungu.

Ms Nobuhle Zungu graduated with a Bachelor of Arts Honours degree in French on April 21. Her achievement is a challenge to all South Africans to go out and learn new languages.

During her studies at UKZN Ms Zungu was actively involved in a French for Tourism project. The project was implemented by staff from Durban’s Further Education and Training (FET) colleges. In her honours year she also took part in a French for Informal Traders initiative, a collaborative project between the eThekwini Municipality and one of the world's largest schools of French language, Alliance Française. The objective was to teach French to Durban’s informal traders to prepare them for the 2010 Fifa World Cup.

Her research titled, Est-ce que les Zuluphones ne s’interesse pas á apprendre d’autres langues explored the stereotype that Zulu-speaking South Africans are not interested in learning foreign or even local languages except for English.

UKZN’S YOUNGEST GRADUATE

Mr Previn Naicker completed his Bachelor of Medical Science Honours degree in Medical Biochemistry when he was just 18. Now aged 19, Mr Naicker graduated on April 23.

Mr Naicker has become accustomed to completing most of his education ahead of schedule. He completed his secondary schooling at Star College in Westville at the age of 14 and his Bachelor of Science degree at UKZN in 2008 at age 17.

Mr Naicker’s postgraduate research project on The Effects of Fumonisin B1 and Apoptosis on the Oesophageal cancer occurrence in Black Patients in South Africa investigated the occurrence of this type of cancer among people who consume fumonisin contaminated maize.

Discipline, hard work and support from several role models made it possible for Mr Naicker to skip grades seven, nine and ten. “My high school teacher, Mr Ismail Bayinder, helped me greatly with my schooling and pushed me to do better, as well as my elder brother who has always excelled academically. My parents were also there every step of the way and helped me get to where I am,” said Mr Naicker.

UKZN FORMS PARTNERSHIPS TO FIGHT BILHARZIA AND HIV

Front from left: Dr Jane KvalsVig, Department of Public Health and
Professor Noddy Jinabhai, Head: Department of Public Health; back
from left: Ms Pumla Mkhiva, Department of Public Health; Professor
Myra Taylor, Department of Public Health, Professor Fanie Botha,
Deputy Dean: Medical School; Ms Nomonde Mbadi, Executive
Director: Corporate Relations; Dr Eyrun Kjetland Oslo University
and Professor Svein Gundersen, University of
Agder and Sorlandet Hospital.

In 2009, the World Health Organization (WHO) convened a meeting to stress the importance of further research into the likelihood that the treatment of Genital Schistosomiasis (commonly known as Bilharzia) could contribute to the control of HIV transmission. It is estimated that globally more than 200 million are infected with Bilharzia. Schistosomiasis is a chronic illness, mainly prevalent in school-going children, which may damage organs, impair cognitive development and lead to a number of secondary conditions…one of them being HIV. The main transmission mode of Bilharzia is infested water.

A study conducted in Zimbabwe in 2006 found that women with Genital Schistosomiasis had an almost three-fold risk of being infected with HIV. In some countries in Africa, the prevalence of Bilharzia is as high as 90 percent, hence increasing the risk of HIV contraction.

NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE FOR UKZN FOOD SECURITY GRADUATE

Mr Moleka Mosisi with President Jacob Zuma
at the African Union Heads of State
Summit in Libya in 2009.

Mr Moleka Mosisi is undeterred by anything that may stand in his way when it comes to realising his goals and aspirations. He knows what he wants and goes after it with a dogged determination. Passionate about Africa’s development, Mr Mosisi is one of three UKZN students who graduated recently with a Masters degree in Agriculture.

Mr Mosisi’s experience at the 13th African Union Heads of State Summit on Agriculture and Food Security, held in Libya at the end of 2009, bears testimony to his motto that “nothing is impossible.” Attending the summit with other UKZN staff and students, Mr Mosisi was intent on meeting his role model, President Jacob Zuma. “I went where Presidents were and looked for my role model”, said Mr Mosisi. “I introduced myself to him and told him about myself and what I can offer to South Africa in my field of study.” Mr Mosisi engaged in a long conversation with President Zuma about the role of UKZN’s African Centre for Food Security (ACFS) in improving food security and eradicating poverty in the country. He said that President Zuma exceeded his expectations as he found him “accommodating and fatherly.”

OVERCOMING THE ODDS

Vice-President of Convocation, Mr André
Young places the academic hood on
Ms Sheelagh Halstead.

Ill-health and other difficulties did not stand in the way of Ms Sheelagh Halstead (58) completing her Master of Science degree. She graduated on April 17.

Titled: A critical analysis of research already conducted on student difficulties with acid-base chemistry, her thesis developed a new method to synthesize the type of qualitative data under analysis as well as a conceptual analysis of the underlying chemistry.

“As a teacher I have always been interested in student misconceptions and how they should be addressed. In the course of my literature review for the research proposal I discovered there had been considerable work already done (but of varying standards) in this topic which had not been consolidated, so a critical analysis was first needed in order to synthesize this,” said Ms Halstead.

CHALLENGING STEREOTYPES

Ms Kerrylynn Pillay next to her final year
design project entitled: Protection and
Co-ordination Scheme for a Power
Reticulation System.

Electrical Engineering cum laude graduate, Ms Kerrylynn Pillay, dispels the myth that engineering is the domain of men. In her final year design project, which essentially represents each student’s magnum opus, she achieved three of the top awards for academic excellence, one of which was the Siemens Prize for the Best Final Year Student in Electrical Engineering. This is no mean feat considering the demanding and arduous nature of the engineering curriculum.

According to Engineering Professor, Roger Peplow, “Even though the number of women in the Electrical, Electrical and Computer Engineering Programmes has been rising over the last few years, it still is only around 23 percent of the class, so having a woman come top is great.”

RETENTION OF PROFESSIONAL NURSES IN THE PUBLIC HEALTH CARE FACILITIES IN KZN

From left: Dr Zethu Nksoi with her
supervisor Professor Busi Bhengu.

Dr Zethu Nkosi, academic co-ordinator of the Nursing Management programme at the School of Nursing recently attained her PhD in Nursing. Her topic was Analyzing the relationship between leadership style, organizational factors and retention of professional nurses in the public health facilities in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN).

Dr Nkosi’s study covered four institutions ranging from urban, semi-urban, semi-rural and rural hospitals in KZN. She interviewed professional nurses, chief nursing services managers, unit managers, chief professional nursing managers and union managers. The factors which Dr Nkosi analyzed are based on the Magnet Hospital model, as adopted by Canada, the UK and the US. Hospitals are given Magnet status when nursing delivers excellent patient outcomes, where nurses have a high level of job satisfaction, where there are appropriate grievance resolution procedures and where staff turn-over is extremely low. The idea is that Magnet nursing leaders value staff nurses, involve them in shaping research-based nursing practice, and encourage and reward them for advancing in nursing practice. The factors Dr Nkosi analysed were access to support, access to information, available resources and opportunities for growth.

UKZN ACADEMIC ACHIEVES MASTERS IN MEDICAL SCIENCE CUM LAUDE

Ms Pamela Pillay.

The study of Anatomy brings a sparkle to the eye of Ms Pamela Pillay, who from humble beginnings as a demonstrator, research assistant and Academic Development Officer became a lecturer in the Discipline of Clinical Anatomy. She completed her Honours degree and moved on to pursue a Masters degree.

On April 23, Ms Pillay was conferred with a Masters in Medical Science degree in Anatomy cum laude. This achievement could only be described as “the product of sheer dedication and hard work.”

Her thesis titled: The anatomical study of the osteochondral, vascular and muscular relations of the superficial and deep cervical plexuses, aimed to clarify the anatomical knowledge of the cervical plexuses (a group of nerves located in the neck deep to the muscle that acts to flex and rotate the head, the sternocleidomastoid muscle). The research was conducted on adult and fetal cadaveric material and “may assist anesthetists and surgeons to accurately identify the vascular, neural and muscular structures and reduce the risk of complications when performing nerve blocks in regional anesthesia, facial rejuvenation surgery and parotidectomies (a procedure whereby salivary glands located near the ear are removed).”

“TWO HEADS ARE BETTER THAN ONE”

Ms Thabelang and Ms Thabelo Walusimbi.

Twins, Ms Thabelang and Ms Thabelo Walusimbi from Pietermaritzburg validated this saying when they completed related degrees in the Faculty of Management Studies.

The pair are delighted that their hard work and joint efforts eventually paid off. “Our very supportive parents are so proud,” said Thabelo.

Thabelang graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain Management and Economics and Thabelo received a Bachelor’s degree in Information Technology Systems and Supply Chain Management.

“We don’t always want to do the same things as twins but in this case Supply Chain Management was a common choice,” said Thabelo. “I am very excited. I want to study further and travel the world,” said Thabelang.

ENGINEERING TOP ACHIEVER

Ms Samista Jugwanth.

Ms Samista Jugwanth graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering, cum laude on April 20.

Strong support from her family and the staff of the School of Civil Engineering enabled this recipient of the Women in Science, Engineering and Agriculture (WOSA) Scholarship to maintain her grades. “Engineering is a fascinating career to pursue. Every day you will learn and accomplish something new - but it does require hard work and perseverance,” she said.

Ms Jugwanth’s final research project was titled: Nitrate Removal from treated landfill leachate using Domestic and Commercial Garden Refuse as a carbon source: Simulation through Batch Reactor Test, and was supervised by Doctor Cristina Trois of the School of Civil Engineering, Surveying and Construction.

UKZN MARKETING GRADUATE EXCELS

Mr Duncan Land.

A bit of self composure and comprehending the value of a University degree were the main factors that led to Mr Duncan Land receiving his BCom Marketing Honours degree summa cum laude.

The UKZN graduate is currently in Cape Town working in marketing and acquisitions for an online poker brand. “It is a great training ground in web-based marketing and e-commerce, so I’ll be sticking with this for now,” he said.

Following a couple of years of travelling, Mr Land decided to head to UKZN ‘to get some real work done’. He stresses that as you only have three or four years at university it is important that you get involved in more than just your lectures.

“Life after ‘varsity is certainly an interesting beat, but on most Monday mornings I’m pretty keen to trade the morning traffic jam and my alarm clock for my digs in first year and a 9:30 breakfast slot,” says Mr Land.

TOP LAW STUDENT AT UKZN

Ms Bhavna Ramji.

The honour of best final year law student for the 2009 academic year went to Ms Bhavna Ramji who received her Bachelor of Law degree summa cum laude on April 22.

For Ms Ramji, the recipe for acedmic success is nothing more than hard work and consistent study. “Sometimes it was a drag, but because I enjoyed many of the subjects I was doing, the studying was less tiresome than people imagined. I also enjoyed those subjects which challenged me in terms of the content and what the lecturers expected, from Income Tax to Administrative Law to Jurisprudence. This made me want to work harder and read more,” said Ms Ramji.

A Candidate Attorney at Bowman Gilfillan, Ms Ramji chose a career in law as it matched her personality - she admits to being a tad bit opinionated - and it blended in with her love for English, History and reading.

Describing the conferral of her LLB degree with distinction as “awesome”, Ms Ramji hopes that as her career in Law unfolds the contributions she makes to her profession in years to come would be more “meaningful and praiseworthy” than graduating with distinction.

ACCOUNTING GRADUATE REACHES FOR THE STARS

Ms Laura Atkinson.

UKZN student Ms Laura Atkinson is delighted to have graduated with a Bachelor of Commerce summa cum laude on April 16, even though she is aware that “a long road to becoming a Chartered Accountant awaits.”

Funded by auditing firm, Ernst and Young, Ms Atkinson, says that her undergraduate years simply flew by.

“Starting ‘varsity in first year I set goals that I wanted to achieve and, needless to say, I was ecstatic when I found out that I had in fact reached one of my goals through hard work and dedication. I proved to myself that I can do anything I set my mind to and this has certainly spurred me on to achieve even greater things,” she says.

PHD AWARDED FOR THESIS ON ACTIVIST, HAROLD STRACHAN

Dr Zoë Elizabeth Molver.

Ms Zoë Elizabeth Molver, Academic Co-ordinator at UKZN’s Centre for Communication, Media and Society (CCMS) received her PhD on April 21. Registered in the Department of English, in the School of Literary Studies, Media and Creative Arts, her thesis was titled: Harold Strachan in Context: Guerilla Artist, Writer.

Drawing on unique archival documents, including State Security files and the transcript of the1965 Rand Daily Mail Perjury Trial, Ms Molver’s thesis is the first critical evaluation of the writing of Harold Strachan. Born in 1925, Strachan is one of the most remarkable figure, in recent South African history, his life intersecting with many of the key figures in the liberation struggle during the 1960s and ‘70s. One of the appendices of the thesis comprises DVDs of six films on Strachan co-produced by journalist, writer and filmmaker, Dr David Basckin, also a PhD graduate from UKZN, and Ms Molver.

PHD FINDS THAT ‘LOVE MEDICINES’ MIGHT INCREASE THE RISK OF HIV TRANSMISSION

Dr Busi Kunene.

Using `love medicines’ to enhance sexual relationships increases the risk of men and women contracting HIV and other Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs). This was the finding of doctoral research undertaken by UKZN graduate Dr Busi Kunene who was conferred with her PhD in Nursing degree on April 23.

A Project Director for Midwives AIDS Alliance (MAA), Dr Kunene investigated The use of `love medicine’ among Black Africans in KwaZulu-Natal and the risks of HIV transmission to both men and women in South Africa. Her study included the participation of 148 men and women between the ages of 18 to 60 from the KwaZulu-Natal districts of Umzinyathi, Umkhanyakude, Ugu and Zululand.

MARKETING WIZ

UKZN exchange student, Ms
Le Ha Trang Nguyen.

The Faculty of Management Studies is celebrating the academic success of Ms Le Ha Trang Nguyen, who graduated with a Bachelor of Commerce Honours degree summa cum laude, on April 16.

Ms Nguyen first came to UKZN on a student exchange programme in 2007 from Singapore. After completing a semester at the Pietermaritzburg campus she headed back to Nanyang Technological University and then returned to UKZN to do her Honours degree in Marketing.

Currently employed by international consumer goods corporation Procter & Gamble in Singapore, Ms Nguyen aspires to excel in her job and develop an in-depth understanding of the career she is passionate about: marketing.

“UKZN is a prestigious institution in South Africa. I was impressed by the level of commitment and passion among the lecturers and professors,” said Ms Nguyen. She said she was proud to have been part of such a diverse group of students. “All of this was the driving factor of holistic education,” she said.

“Treat education as a life experience, not as a channel to get a degree,” said Ms Nguyen. She admitted that the journey towards achieving such great results was not easy, but the hard work paid off.

PHD GRADUATE IS PASSIONATE ABOUT CONSERVATION

Dr Kirsten Wimberger with friends and family.

Wildife enthusiast, Dr Kirsten Wimberger received her PhD in Zoology on April 17. Her thesis, titled Wildlife rehabilitation in South Africa focuses on animal welfare, human-animal conflict and conservation.

“We need to have better communication and support between nature conservation authorities, who are looking after the health of entire ecosystems, and wildlife rehabilitors, who are at the forefront of human-animal conflict, as rehabilitated animals are often those injured or orphaned from vehicle collisions, cat attacks and being taken out of the wild for pets” she said.

WENTWORTH RESIDENT DOES HER COMMUNITY PROUD

Mrs Bronwynne Anderson.

A lecturer at UKZN Mrs Bronwynne Anderson has made history in the community of Wentworth by being the first women from the area to graduate with a PhD in Gender and Education. She received the degree for her research on the dilemma faced by Coloured boys in the area. Mrs Anderson graduated on April 22.

A year-long study Coloured Boys in Trouble: An Ethnographic Investigation into the Construction of Coloured Working Class Masculinities in a High School in Wentworth, Durban investigated the trials and tribulations of Coloured boys aged 14-17 and the myriad of challenges that lead to their poor academic performance in school.

Her research which has been accepted for publication in the journal Agenda delves into the masculinities of Coloured boys who enter high school and are wading through a new school environment to establish their identity. Among her findings were that their socio-economic context – the high rate of unemployment, living in overcrowded tenements, drug abuse, a high pregnancy rate, poverty and gangsterism – prompted these boys to engage in problematic behaviour.

PHD FOR RESEARCH ON TEACHERS TAKING ON LEADERSHIP ROLES IN SCHOOLS

Lecturer in the School of Education and Development, Ms Carolyn Grant has achieved a first for the Faculty of Education – a PhD in Education through publication. Her quest to seek answers on the possibility of teachers taking on leadership roles in South African schools, which began in 2004, had led to her latest academic success.

Her dissertation, Distributed Teacher Leadership in South African Schools: Troubling the Terrain comprises eight Chronicles (articles), six of which are published in the following peer-reviewed journals: Educational Management Administration and Leadership; Agenda; South African Journal of Education Leadership and Management; Education as Change; Journal of Education; and Perspectives in Education. The seventh is a chapter in a published book titled: Educating for Social Justice and Inclusion while the eighth is in the process of peer review with the South African Journal of Education.

MEDICAL DOCTOR SWITCHES TO LAW AND GRADUATES WITH DISTINCTION

Dr Claudia Azzarito.

Dr Claudia Azzarito, a medical doctor by profession, decided to relinquish her career in medicine for the legal world. She graduated with her Bachelor of Law (LLB) degree summa cum laude on April 22.

After two years in medical practice at a South African hospital and in the United Kingdom, Dr Azzarito decided a career in Law would better suit both her intellectual strengths and personality. She opted to pursue the LLB degree at UKZN’s Faculty of Law in 2006, a qualification she completed part-time, over four years.

Dr Azzarito whose elective courses for her LLB degree include Bioethics and Intellectual Property said: “As with medicine, law is a people-focused career which provides opportunities to assist. It is also a career with which it is possible to combine my medical background.”

RESEARCH ON DIAMOND LAW EARNS PHD FOR UKZN LECTURER

Miss Fikile Portia Ndlovu.

Doctoral research by UKZN graduate and Senior Law Lecturer, Miss Fikile Portia Ndlovu on South Africa’s Diamond Law will be converted into a book for publication.

Ms Ndlovu who was conferred with a PhD in Law on April 22 for her research dissertation An Analytical Study of the Regulation of South African Diamond Trade from 1994 to 2009 with Reference to Aspects of the 1996 Constitution is in the process of adapting her research into a book she believes will make an invaluable contribution to the field of Maritime Law and Diamond Law.

The book South African Diamond Law is expected to include significant findings Ms Ndlovu made while examining the country’s Diamond Law. She has identified as significant findings an international and national trend to adopt “humane practices” in the diamond trade process. Ms Ndlovu indicated she also discovered that where good leadership existed, laws that governed a country’s mineral resources were adhered to and this avoided the manipulation of a country’s mineral wealth.

AFRICA CENTRE CELEBRATES QUALITY

From left: Ms Nozipho Qwabe, Ms Sibongile Khumalo,
Ms Zinhle Mkhwanazi, Ms Cynthia Duze, Professor
Marie-Louise Newell, Ms Nikeziwe Ncube, Dr Kobus
Herbst, Ms Zandile Mfeka and Ms Nokuthula Fakude
and Ms Khulakahle Hlabisa (seated).

April 12-16 was set aside to celebrate the quality of work that the Africa Centre does. The Centre is a joint project of UKZN and the Medical Research Council of Southern Africa. It was established in 1997 near Mtubatuba in Zululand.

The week started with a morning gathering of all employees to listen to speeches by Professor Marie-Louise Newell, the Africa Centre Director, and the keynote speaker of the day, Dr Abraham Malaza, the HIV Surveillance Project Leader.

Professor Newell mentioned the successful outcome of the Wellcome Trust mid-term review that took place in February this year. She thanked the staff for the good work they do and reminded them of the importance of the two surveillances – Household and Individual (HIV) - that are undertaken by the Centre. These surveillances help the Centre to understand what is going on in the community especially the impact of HIV.

A JUGGLING ACT

Holding down a teaching position and studying part-time for his Master of Science degree in Chemistry led to many 24-hour days for Mr Muvhango Rasalanavho (40) who graduated on April 17.

Titled: Waste management and minimisation with special focus on industrial sector, his thesis focused on using Chemistry to solve problems pertaining to environmental issues.

“As we all know, waste production is unavoidable at an industrial manufacturing sector and as such it is important for the management to know how to manage/minimise or even eliminate it so that our environment is kept clean for generations to come. This also assists the company to see to it that all raw materials, some which are scarce, are utilised properly,” said Mr Rasalanavho.

COLLEGE OF HEALTH SCIENCES HOSTS GRADE 12 LEARNERS

Guests at the College Information Day.

More than 400 enthusiastic high school learners, teachers and representatives from the Department of Education attended the first College of Health Sciences Information Day. Held at the Nelson R Mandela School of Medicine, the Information Day attracted the top Maths and Science learners from the Province of KwaZulu-Natal.

Ms Kathy Holland, Dean’s Assistant from the Faculty of Health Sciences introduced the guests to the variety of allied health programmes available within the College. Many of the learners were amazed at the options and for the first time heard of disciplines such as Speech Language Pathology and Occupational Therapy. Ms Holland also showcased the Faculty of Health Sciences with an entertaining DVD highlighting the clinical and experiential learning that takes place outside the classroom.

UKZN RESEARCH FELLOW’S COMPOSITION TO BE PERFORMED AT SYDNEY FESTIVAL

Dr Clare Loveday.

Sydney's hosting of the International Society for Contemporary Music (ISCM) World New Music Days Festival from April 30 to May 9 heralds the first time in the 88-year history of the organisation that the prestigious event will be held in the Southern Hemisphere. It will also be the largest festival of contemporary music ever held in Australia.

More than 700 works from 52 countries were assessed, with over 82 being selected for the festival. These reflect a broad spectrum of innovative musical practice, from traditional chamber groups and choirs to cutting edge multimedia and sound installations. Music has been sourced from Australasia and Asia; Western and Eastern Europe; North, South and Central America, and South Africa.

On May 3, the Sydney Conservatorium Saxophone Orchestra (Michael Duke director) will perform Duodectet I and II by UKZN's postdoctoral research fellow Dr Clare Loveday at Verbrugghen Hall, Sydney Conservatorium of Music.

EDGEWOOD COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATION HOLDS INDUCTION CEREMONY

Ms Sthembile Zondi.

The UKZN Community Development Association (CDA), a student-led outreach organisation at the Faculty of Education, held an induction ceremony for its new Executive on the Edgewood campus on April 9.

The executive members took an oath of commitment and dedicated contribution to the organisation’s mission; working together to create a society that is literate, uplifted and striving towards excellence in the global community. CDA has a strong backbone in the Masakhane project, a brainchild of the former CDA Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and now Lecturer in the Faculty of Education, Mr Thabo Msibi.

In her keynote address, Deputy Dean of Initial Teacher Education, Professor Thabisile Buthelezi outlined the burdens and social ills – crime, poverty, unemployment, teenage pregnancy, rape and HIV and AIDS – resting on South African youth. The CDA is challenged to eradicate these through strategic educational outreach programmes.

MAMELODI SUNDOWNS F.C.’S TED DUMITRU VISITS PIETERMARITZBURG CAMPUS

PMB Soccer Club Chairperson, Ms Nozipho
Hadebe with Mr Ted Dumitru.

On April 7 Mr Ted Dumitru, Executive Technical Director of football at Mamelodi Sundowns F.C. paid a short visit to UKZN’s Pietermaritzburg campus Soccer Club. He spent the earlier part of the day with the junior section where he demonstrated a number of technical exercises that can accelerate the learning of children between the ages of 12-15. Later in the evening he delivered a paper: Our Football, Our Nation.

Mr Dumitru noted that coaching has failed to develop the immense pool of talent that exists in South Africa. Coaching also fails to consistently produce valuable and attractive football in the PSL, and this has resulted in failure to achieve success at international level.

He also spoke of South African players’ superior ball skills, exceptional creativity, unreserved mobility and sustained speed that are the weaknesses and limitations of German, Dutch, English and other European football players.