Public Affairs and Corporate Communications

Professor Dasarath Chetty & Smita Maharaj

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All information © 2007 University of KwaZulu-Natal. All rights reserved.

Ms Phathisani Ngulube summa cum laude Bachelor of Science : Operations Research

Highlights included: 111 summa cum laude and 232 cum laude graduands and 80 doctoral and 40 disabled graduands. Women constituted 61.2 percent of the total graduates.

Addressing guests at the first ceremony acting Vice-Chancellor Professor Pete Zacharias said, “A graduation ceremony marks the successful conclusion of years of hard work by students and of dedicated supervision by staff. This interaction of staff and students, working towards a common goal, characterises much of what a university is about. When success is achieved, both are deserving of congratulations.” “29.8 percent (2 212) of our graduands are from the Faculty of Management Studies. This is noteworthy when one considers that growing the economy, and local economic development, are national and regional priorities. 22.1 percent of the graduands are from the Faculty of Humanities, Development and Social Sciences; young men and women who are poised to make a contribution to welfare, administration, the fine arts and a whole range of other economic sectors. This is followed by Education (19 percent), Science & Agriculture 12 percent, Health Sciences 4.8 percent, Law 4.5 percent, Engineering 4.1 percent and the Medical School 3.8 percent.”

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Professor Watkeys selecting a sample site to be drilled near Barberton Using a rock drill to collect orientated rock cores for palaeomagnetic analysis near Barberton

The strength of the Earth’s magnetic field 3200 million years ago has been measured using techniques and instrumentation that allows the measurement of the magnetic strength of a single grain smaller than a grain of sugar. The study has been published in the prestigious science journal, Nature. The study’s collaborators are: Professor John Tarduno, Dr Rory Cottrell, and Ms Dorothy Bauch, University of Rochester, Rochester, New York, USA and Professor Michael Watkeys of UKZN.

The study is part of a large programme aimed at establishing the strength of the Earth’s magnetic field from about 4 000 million years ago to the present day. “Finding a method which accurately measures the strength of the Earth’s magnetic field through time has been a problem,” says Professor Watkeys of the School of Geological Sciences and co-author of the study. “It has long been established that when molten rock cools and solidifies, the orientation and strength of the Earth’s magnetic field at that time is preserved in some of the minerals that crystallize. However events after formation of that rock, particularly heating, may reset the magnetic signature of the rock so that conventional techniques cannot be used on ancient rocks.”

Professor Watkeys outlines the study’s impact on understanding the effects of the Earth’s magnetic fields. “The Earth’s magnetic field originates in the liquid iron outer core and is the cause of the magnetosphere which surrounds and shields the Earth from harmful incoming particles from the Sun. The time of its initiation is fundamental to the evolution of life on the early Earth. The magnetosphere protected the solar wind from stripping off the Earth’s atmosphere, which was the fate that befell the atmospheres of Mars and the Moon when their magnetic fields died out between 4 000 to 3 000 million years ago.”

“This research has given us a technique by which the waxing and waning of the Earth’s magnetic field and accompanying magnetosphere can be established through time. Of particular interest is the “flipping” of the Earth’s North and South magnetic poles that have frequently switched positions throughout geological time. Using this technique, it will be possible to establish whether this process involved a migration of the magnetic poles or a collapse of the Earth’s magnetic field followed by a growth again, but with the poles now in opposite positions.”

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At the Launch Professor Martin Prozesky

From grinding poverty to corrupt politicians, greedy public servants, unscrupulous business people and organized criminal gangs, not to speak of sexual violence, war-mongering and thuggery in schools, who can doubt that we have a looming moral melt-down, both globally and locally?

That is the bad news underlying this book. The good news is that these evils can be overcome by the largely untapped power of conscience in each of us, supported by the core values of all cultures and shaped into a global force for a sustainably wise and humane future.

Authored by a highly experienced applied ethics academic, consultant and writer and based on many years of research, this accessible book is intended for educated, general readers and shows us how to draw on the deepest wells of ethical power in ourselves and our value systems, both religious and secular, in order to promote greater, sustainable well-being for all.

It maps out a potentially global ethic, providing practical resources of heart, mind and hands with which we can become both local and global citizens of conscience.

Archbishop Emeritus and Nobel peace Laureate Desmond Tutu wrote the following for the book’s cover:

‘This is a beautiful work. Gently but persuasively, the author has made a very strong case for a world ruled by conscience. It is not abrasive, but lets readers decide for themselves. It is eminently rational and lets the facts speak for themselves. I think it is a book whose time has come …’

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Professor Nithaya Chetty

The NITheP will forge strong collaborations between theoretical physics and mathematics that will allow South Africa to consolidate and considerably expand existing research programmes in the fields of quantum systems, condensed matter physics, plasma and space physics, string theory and high energy physics, and cosmology and astroparticle physics. There will be a strong development of computational physics and the computational sciences more generally. Research will support national priorities in experimental programmes such as quantum optics, nuclear physics, and chemical and biological systems. It is intended that there will be joint appointments with other experimental national facilities such as iThemba Labs, the National Laser Centre, the South African Astronomical Observatory, etc, with the view to providing theoretical support for critical experimental programmes.

The NITheP has its headquarters at the University of Stellenbosch where the interim Director, Professor Hendrik Geyer, is stationed, and regional nodes at Wits and UKZN. The NITheP-KZN Centre is located on the 3rd floor, Physics Building, H-Block, on the Westville campus. The official launch of the local node is scheduled for 25 May where NITheP associate and NRF Research Chair, Professor Sunil Maharaj, is one of the keynote speakers. The local management committee consists of representatives from all three KwaZulu-Natal institutions which emphasizes the regional nature of the facility.

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Ailie Charteris with Trevor Manuel Talia Meer with Trevor Manuel

Ms Charteris is enrolled for an Honours degree in Finance on the Westville campus, while Ms Meer is doing Honours in Political Science.

The Budget Speech competition, now in its 34th year, is about finding and rewarding bright young South Africans with exceptional intellectual ability. It is supported by the National Treasury and all South African Institutions of Higher Education. At UKZN, Dr Richard Simson, Lecturer in Economics and Finance on the Pietermaritzburg campus and a team of other academics facilitated the participation of students, who were required to write an essay on how South Africa can achieve a 6 percent growth rate by 2010.

“I had lots of reading to get through,” says Ms Meer. Though she is not sure if her essay directly contributed to the formulation of the Budget, she is pleased that the Minister read it and believes that he took some of her concerns and recommendations into consideration. She praised the Budget, saying that she was especially pleased about the planned extension of social security benefits.

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Miss Bianca Theeruth

Miss Theeruth is the second student from the Discipline of Animal and Poultry Science to receive the scholarship. She was thrilled to have met Mr Nelson Mandela. “It was a humbling experience to be in the presence of such greatness. He was witty, charming, down to earth and a true gentleman!”

Miss Theeruth’s research involves an evaluation of an optimisation routine for the profitable feeding of growing pigs and involves the use of simulation models. She will conduct part of this research in Scotland.

The Nelson Mandela Scholarship is sponsored by Unilever and Deloitte and is already in its tenth year.

Miss Theeruth was awarded a National Research Foundation / Department of Labour Scarce Skills Scholarship in 2006 and subsequently resigned from her job as a nutritionist for a vitamin and trace mineral premix supplier to further her academic career at UKZN. On completion of her doctorate she intends doing a post-doctoral fellowship and is keen to take up a position in academia.

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Mr Andrew Ferret, General Manager of Prospecton Brewery, hands over a cheque of R40 000 to Professor Jane Meyerowiz, Deputy Dean of Science and Agriculture

In addition, South African Breweries will supply the fermentation vessels and raw materials for the brewing process.

Professor Bala Pillay, the Discipline Chair said that, “this facility will afford students the opportunity to investigate microbiological, chemical, biochemical and engineering research topics that are associated with the production of beer. In addition, it will also be used as a platform to promote interdisciplinary research activities at the University. This venture has the potential to inculcate a culture of entrepreneurship among our students.”

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Confronting HIV/AIDS is a priority at UKZN. This has been given impetus with the approval of the new three-year UKZN AIDS Plan.

Ongoing activities at the Institution range from the integration of information about AIDS into curricula to extensive HIV prevention programmes; providing antiretroviral drugs to those who have been raped or suffered occupational exposure to HIV infection; and comprehensive AIDS treatment for students.

The Director of UKZN’s AIDS Programme, Mr Chris Mokolatsie says, “we are one of the few institutions, if not the only one in South Africa, providing HIV/AIDS treatment to our students.”

The AIDS Programme employs four Voluntary Testing and Counselling (VCT) counsellors and an HIV/AIDS co-ordinator on each campus. The AIDS Programme Office is fully funded by the University. “HIV/AIDS is now a manageable disease and therefore the sooner a person knows their HIV status the better. There is no need for anyone to get infected today because we have all the necessary preventative measures in place,” says Mr Mokolatsie.

As part of its broader community outreach the AIDS Programme also helps students coming from child-headed households by linking them up with NGOs and church organisations in their areas.

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UKZN’s HIV/AIDS Support Unit held a special graduation ceremony on 4 April to welcome its latest cohort of peer educators.

The Peer Education Programme trains students in life-skills and knowledge about HIV and AIDS. This enables them to act as mentors both to their peers and their communities.

Mr Melusi Mkhize a senior peer educator and final year BCom Management and Marketing student said that he joined the programme because he felt the need to educate fellow students and his community about the negative impact the HIV/AIDS pandemic has on society. “Today’s students are tomorrow’s leaders. If students get infected and possibly die of AIDS, this hinders our country’s economic growth,” he said.

Guest speaker at the event, Mr Alex Mthiyane, DJ at Gagasi FM, commended students for their commitment to society: “The greatest challenge for you as peer educators is to go the extra mile in changing people’s perception about the disease.”

In his speech, Professor Salim Abdool Karim, Pro Vice-Chancellor Research said that it is very important that tertiary institutions take the threat of HIV seriously. He noted that UKZN was the first University to provide anti-retroviral treatment for students. The University currently receives more than R800 million in funding in support of HIV research.

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Mr James (Paddy) McDowell

Mr McDowell retired in 1996 after serving as Chief Executive Officer and Regional Director for multinational companies based in London, New York and Jersey. He received his Master of Commerce degree from UKZN after he retired for his thesis on "the Economic History of the South African Textile Industry".

He was inspired to pursue doctoral studies by the realisation that the knowledge he gained during his working career could help others. “There is not sufficient knowledge of invoice discounting, factoring and confirming in publications. I asked myself, ‘why must I take this experience and knowledge to the grave with me?’” he says. He adds that invoice discounting and factoring form part of accounting syllabi at universities. His study will thus also be useful for lecturers.

To keep up-to-date in his field, Mr McDowell maintains an association with a trade finance house in Switzerland. He is a member of the Institute of Marketing Management and is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Secretaries.

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Mr Thabo Msibi

Mr Msibi hails from the rural hills of Ntabamhlophe in Estcourt. He received his Honours Degree in Education summa cum laude on 23 April. His dissertation focused on the perceived relationship between social and dress identities among young African males. He has been accepted at the University of Colombia in the US.

"I am overjoyed and thrilled at this opportunity, especially because when I went for my interview, the chairperson told me after the interview that I'm still too young and should not feel inadequate if I don't get it,” he says.

Mr Msibi received a National Research Foundation scholarship to undertake his Honours degree and was one of five Honours students who represented UKZN and South Africa in the Replenishing Democracy Project at Amherst College in the United States last year. He was also awarded the ABE Bailey Travel bursary, which allowed him to visit Britain for a month.

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Professor Eddie Mhlanga with lead actress of Djanta, Ms Sandra Soubeiga

The Federation focused on the promotion of sexual and reproductive health and rights through media and film and held a panel discussion which created a forum for journalists and the film industry to engage the reproductive health specialists on issues of safe abortion, HIV and sexual violence. Professor Eddie Mhlanga, head of the School of Maternal, Child and Women’s Health who was one of the experts on the panel was also tasked to judge and present the prize for the Best Film promoting sexual and reproductive health and rights. This year the prize was won by the film, Djanta.

Djanta looks at forced marriages and violence against women and was rewarded by the IPPF for its ability to sensitise viewers around these issues of concern. Professor Mhlanga says that movies have the ability to replace story-telling and encompass the values and traditions of the continent which can then be passed on to the youth. They have a huge role to play in the promotion of women and children’s health. His experience of the festival is that it electrifies Ouagadougou with a carnival-like energy and festival-goers are not only exposed to excellent films but also have the opportunity to engage in panel discussions around the theme of the festival.

The goal of FESPACO is to distribute and develop African cinema as a means of expression, education and awareness-raising.

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Professor Haruhiko Sakaguti

During his stay, he hopes to learn more about social work education in South Africa. He has already visited the informal settlement of Bhambayi north of Durban with senior students who are doing their field work there. He was very impressed with the friendly manner in which he was received by the community.

Professor Sakaguti says that South Africa is experiencing similar social problems to those found in Japan, including poverty, crime and unemployment. While school education is subsidised by the state in Japan, university fees are very high and many people prefer to send their children to vocational training colleges.

Professor Vishanthie Sewpaul Head of the School of Social Work and Development says, “Japan has one of the fastest growing numbers of schools of social work in the world and we are hoping to develop and strengthen relationships with our colleagues from the East. There is a great deal we can learn from each other.”

South Africa is hosting the 34th Global Social Work Congress in Durban in July 2008. Professor Sewpaul says that Japanese colleagues have helped to translate documents into Japanese and they are doing everything possible to promote the Congress in Japan. They have also been actively engaged in the processes of developing global standards for social work education and training.

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NGOs in India: A Cross-Sectional Study, co-authored by Professor Radhamany Sooryamoorthy, Associate Professor, Sociology Programme, in the School of Sociology and Social Studies, Howard College campus, has been reprinted by Rawat Publications in India. The book was originally published in 2001 by Greenwood Press in the United States.

According to the Social Development Issues journal, “this book makes a useful contribution to the study of voluntary social service. The authors offer a sweeping overview of the voluntary sector and augment this account with several interesting case studies which explore different aspects of voluntary action. This excellent book will not only provide information about India, but inform international debates on the role of voluntary action in enhancing human welfare. It should be widely consulted.”

Professor Sooryamoorthy is rated as a C2 researcher and is the Editor of Loyola Journal of Social Sciences and the Associate Editor of the Journal of Comparative Family Studies. He is a prolific writer and has published several books that include Climbing Up, Managing Water and Water Users: Experiences from Kerala; Extension in Higher Education: Evolving New Models; Consumption to Consumerism; and Science in Participatory Development.

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From L-R: Melisa Hoover (flute), Elizabeth Fang (piano), Khumbuzile Dlamini (soprano), Bulelani Madikizela (baritone) and Sarah Pudifin (violin)

The UKZN School of Music presented its premiere classical music performance group Classical Collective 1 at a lunch hour concert at the Howard College Theatre on 2 April. Classical Collective is a new initiative by the School of Music. It is a performance opportunity for senior undergraduate students and also showcases the Classical department. The group will travel to local high schools on a recruitment drive and will perform at various corporate and private events by invitation. Each semester there will be a new Classical Collective. Students’ practical exam marks will be taken into consideration and they will have to audition for a place in the group. For more information about Classical Collective 1 or for information about concerts presented by the School of Music contact Debbie Mari: 031 260 3353 or email marid1@ukzn.ac.za

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UKZN Bigs with their Littles

The lunch time conversation was about crime, yet again. It’s so easy to complain about the lack of action taken by our government in combating crime, and yes, most of us feel that there is nothing we can do about it. Sure, we can pack up and leave, but there is obviously something that holds us here, why else are we still here? Perhaps it is because we know that our country is worth saving and we are unsure of how to go about achieving this, or maybe it is complacency and waiting for the next person to carry the load. If it is the former, then there is a way we can make a difference.

We bemoan the fact that children are left parentless due to HIV/AIDS and that many fathers fail in their responsibility to their children. We are all aware that this situation leaves children vulnerable to abuse and to moving into a life of crime. After all, uneducated children, who have received little guidance, become adults too, just the same as any other child. However, these children are far more likely to move into a life of crime than a child who has been nurtured and guided by someone with sound moral values. So, do you want to make a difference? And yes, it will require some effort on your part, but hopefully, after a short time, it won’t feel like ‘effort’.

Are you prepared to spend a minimum of one hour a week for a year (sure, you can have a holiday) with a child? Are you prepared to be a friend and a role model to a child? Save our youth and we save our future. Apply for enrolment with Big Brothers Big Sisters South Africa (BBBSSA) and do something positive for the youth of South Africa today.

So what is BBBSSA really about? BBBSSA is part of an international programme that now operates in 32 countries. It aims to facilitate positive youth development by offering one-to-one mentoring relationships between selected and trained adult volunteers (such as yourselves) and children/youth at risk. All children/youth who participate in the programme are between the ages of six and 18 years of age. The programme operates on three levels viz. in schools, in children’s homes and in the community.

A number of UKZN staff members and students (Bigs) have joined BBBSSA and have been matched with Littles (a child/youth). I was matched with a Little in August 2006. To date my experience has been a positive one and I look forward to spending time with my Little. When did you last enjoy baking gingerbread men, playing soccer, drumming (during a fun day organised by BBBSSA) or just sitting on a swing and chatting? Yes, mentoring a Little is a commitment and it can also be fun and rewarding.

If you would like to know more about the programme or wish to volunteer, please contact the Programme Co-ordinator (KZN), Joshika Ramlall
Tel: 031 461 5657 Fax: 031 461 5649
Email: joshika@bbbssa.org.za

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