UKZN STUDENT RECEIVES HONOUR OF PRAISE SINGING AT PRESIDENT JACOB ZUMA’S INAUGURATION

Mr Siphamandla Xaba (centre) with
members from the Buya Africa Student
Cultural Organisation (BASCO). (Left)
Mr Senzo Bhengu (left) and Mr
Dumisani Khumalo (kneeling).
With them is Deputy Dean of Students,
Dr Bhekithemba Ngcobo.

UKZN’s Mr Siphamandla Xaba, a final year Bachelor of Arts in Cultural and Heritage Tourism student, had the honour to be selected as the praise singer (imbongi) at the recent inauguration ceremony of President Jacob Zuma held on May 9.

A three and a half minute praise poem in isiZulu and English congratulating Mr Jacob Zuma immediately after he was sworn in as South Africa’s President at the Union Buildings in Tshwane has been described by Mr Xaba as “the best experience of my life”.

This opportunity came about after an invitation by the Office of the Presidency two weeks prior to the inauguration informing him to prepare a praise poem for the country’s new President.

“It was an honour to be selected out of all other praise singers in the country to perform at the inauguration of our new President. I was a little nervous a few minutes before delivery but I told myself not to let fear overcome me,” he said.

UKZN CHEMIST LEADS STUDY TO DEVELOP NEW METAL ORGANIC DRUG FOR CANCER TREATMENT

Professor Orde Munro.

UKZN Chemist, Professor Orde Munro, is working on a new class of metal-organic drugs that may one day improve the lives of those living with cancer.

The drugs contain gold, palladium, or vanadium. These metals are mined and produced in South Africa and are strategic commodities that have been earmarked for beneficiation by several key industries and industry-sponsored research groups in the country.

Professor Munro, who is based on the Pietermaritzburg campus, was recently announced as the winner of the 2008 Raikes Medal by the South African Chemical Institute. He said he and his team of graduate students are currently working on novel compounds that have an in-built ability to destroy cancer cells. However, their long-term goal is to develop drugs that target specific cancer cells and thus, if successful, eliminate or reduce the side effects typically associated with currently used chemotherapeutic agents (which tend to be non-selective and destroy healthy cells in chemotherapy patients).

STATE OF THE ART PERFORMING STUDIO NAMED AFTER RENOWNED SOUTH AFRICAN ARTIST GCINA MHLOPHE

Gcina Mhlophe (middle centre) Deputy-Vice Chancellor
and Head of the College of Humanities Professor Fikile
Mazibuko with guests at the launch of the new performing
art studio at Edgewood Campus.

A state of the art performing studio, named after renowned South African poet and storyteller Gcina Mhlophe, was launched at the Edgewood campus on May 13.

The studio is a specialised lecture venue and performance space used by drama education students. It was recently refurbished as a small proscenium style theatre and performing arts and exhibition space – with curtains, a new lighting system, sound proofing and a portable stage.

UKZN’s Gcina Mhlophe Drama Studio will not only honour Mhlophe’s outstanding achievements but will also bring new inspiration to the students, especially African female students, who will work in the venue.

“I feel very special and honored to be recognised in this regard. It is very rare that one gets honored while still alive. It is a huge motivation not only for me but also for the students who want to emulate me in the field of drama,” said Ms Mhlophe.

UKZN SIGNS MOA WITH MAZISI KUNENE FOUNDATION

(Front) Professor Jane Meyerowitz, Registrar and Deputy
Vice-Chancellor and Head of the College of Humanities,
Professor Fikile Mazibuko. Back row: Professor Abednego
Maphumulo, Professor Sihawu Ngubane, Professor Nhlanhla
Mathonsi, Mr Andries Botha, Mrs Mathabo Kunene, Dr
Devi Rajab and Professor Donal McCracken.

The College of Humanities signed a Memorandum of Agreement with the Mazisi Kunene Foundation on May 6. The project led, by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Head of the College of Humanities, Professor Fikile Mazibuko, began in 2006 with the establishment of the Mazisi Kunene Chair within the School of IsiZulu Studies.

In an attempt to preserve Mr Kunene’s work, the University seeks to create a lively discourse by ensuring that UKZN becomes the primary source of his work. Since most of his work remains hand written and published, digitisation, preservation, cataloguing and publishing will be some of the priority areas in promoting his work. Professor Donal McCracken, Dean of Humanities, Development and Social Sciences, said recognising an intellectual of Mazisi Kunene’s stature is a unique experience and that it is imperative that his works are professionally catalogued. He also added that his work will be studied at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels to build on already existing rich literacy tradition in the University.

PRESTIGIOUS STATISTICS PRIZE AWARDED TO UKZN STUDENTS

Mr Mphiliseni Nzuza.

Mr Nadeem Dawood .

Two students from the School of Statistics and Actuarial Science were given prestigious awards for 2009 by the South African Statistical Association (SASA).

Each year, the Association awards a maximum of three prizes to the most deserving students registered for a statistics major at a South African University. There were two awards made this year, a scholarship, based on merit and a bursary, based on need.

The 2009 SASA scholarship was awarded to Mr Nadeem Dawood. He was judged to be the best third year statistics student in the country. He is currently registered for the BSc Programme in Actuarial Science and is majoring in Statistics and Actuarial Science.

“It is an interesting course and extremely challenging which motivates me to work even harder. I pray that I will work harder this year, stay focused and work consistently.”

HEARD HOSTS ROUNDTABLE ON CHALLENGES OF YOUTH DEVELOPMENT

Delegates during a round table discussion organised by the Health
Economics and HIV/AIDS Research Division (HEARD).

The Health Economics and HIV/AIDS Research Division (HEARD) hosted a roundtable discussion on the challenges of youth development, and information gaps, in relation to the youth and sexual and reproductive health. The discussion was held on May 6 on the Westville campus.

The discussion was a follow-up to HEARD’s recent work on Adolescents and HIV and AIDS, and was directed by Professor Tim Quinlan, Dr Kwame Owusu-Amomah and Mr Nkosinathi Ace Ngcobo of HEARD’s Adolescents Research Team.

Recent studies show that the HIV and AIDS epidemic continues to increase the vulnerability of children and young adults in South Africa and elsewhere in the world. The roundtable on adolescents and HIV and AIDS was an urgent call for systematic and collective action on behalf of children and young adults affected by this epidemic.

UKZN BADMINTON STAR JETTING OFF TO CHINA TO PARTICIPATE IN THE SUDIRMAN CHAMPIONSHIPS

Once again a lot will be expected
from Ms Kerry Lee-Harrington when
she takes part in the Sudirman
Championships this month.

UKZN sports woman of the year, Miss Kerry-Lee Harrington, who has just returned with a silver medal from the All Africa Championships in Kenya, will soon be jetting off to China for the Sudirman Championships.

The Sudirman International championship is the most prominent badminton competition in the world and is approved by the International Badminton Federation (IBF).

The 23-year-old badminton star is ranked number two in the ladies single badminton side in South Africa and is also ranked number two in the mixed doubles.

“It was a good feeling to receive a silver medal considering that I am not good in doubles. This has motivated me to do even better when I am playing in the doubles. The tournament was tough but I am happy that team South Africa came back with a gold medal overall,” she said.

“I don’t have good memories about China because the standards were very high but I can tell you now that I will do a lot better this time. My preparations have gone very well and I am looking forward to the tournament. It is always nice to compete with the international athletes because you get a lot of exposure,” she said.

OPTOMETRIST RECOGNISED FOR OUTSTANDING GLOBAL ACHIEVEMENTS IN DELIVERING EYE CARE FOR ALL

Professor Kovin Naidoo.

Distinguished academic and optometrist, Professor Kovin Naidoo, was recently recognised with an Honorary Fellowship by the British College of Optometrists in London on May 7 for his outstanding contributions to optometry worldwide and the prevention of avoidable blindness and vision impairment.

This award is further acknowledgement that Professor Naidoo’s leadership position has advanced optometry as a leading public health care profession in the fight against vision impairment and avoidable blindness. Professor Naidoo, who hails from Chatsworth in Durban, acknowledged the great honour of being recognised by his colleagues. "It is also a tribute to all my colleagues at ICEE and IAPB who work tirelessly to make eye care available to the poor of our world," he said.

As Global Director of Programmes for the International Centre for Eyecare Education (ICEE) and Africa Chair for the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness (IAPB), Professor Naidoo has been resolute in his commitment to raise awareness of the impact of unnecessary vision loss, delivering basic eye care services to people in need and campaigning at all levels to develop a systematic global solution to the fight against avoidable blindness. Uncorrected refractive error (the need for glasses to see clearly) drives children and adults further into poverty by limiting their opportunities for education, employment and thereby seriously impacting on their quality of life and their ability to contribute to their communities.

NEWLY APPOINTED PEPFAR PROJECT MANAGER TO STRENGTHEN TIES WITH TRADITIONAL HEALERS

Ms Thandi Ngcobo.

Living with AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome) for the past 12 years, Ms Thandi Ngcobo, the newly appointed Project Manager at the President’s Emergency Plans for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) Traditional Healers Project at the Nelson R Mandela School of Medicine (NRMSM) is determined to increase the Project’s visibility among traditional healers in KwaZulu-Natal.

Two weeks into her appointment Ms Ngcobo is in the process of planning a public AIDS awareness campaign that’s expected to draw thousands of traditional healers and others with an interest in the fight against the disease this July in Pietermaritzburg.

The Traditional Healers Project, funded by the US based organisation PEPFAR, is a collaborative initiative between traditional healers in the districts of Umgungundlovu, Ilembe and eThekwini and medical professionals within the NRMSM, aimed at expanding their knowledge of HIV and AIDS.

Advocating AIDS awareness through a weekly radio show, Siphilisa Ithemba on Ukhozi FM and counseling the youth on the weekends, Ms Ngcobo said: “I’m honoured and humbled by my appointment. I feel blessed to be part of a project involving work with traditional healers on Aids awareness which I’m passionate about. While I bring in a range of skills this experience is also a learning curve for me and I hope to expand my knowledge of the disease.”

CULTURAL EXCHANGE WITH THE CITY OF LE PORT

Partnerships between Durban’s art community and the City of Le Port on Reunion Island are set to be strengthened following a meeting on May 7 held at the Centre for Creative Arts (CCA) at UKZN.

Representatives of Durban’s art and cultural community explored artistic and cultural linkages between the two cities at the “Meeting of Cultures” programme organised by the eThekwini Municipality’s International and Governance Relations Unit in conjunction with the CCA.

Mr Eric Apelgren, Head of the International and Governance Relations Unit at eThekwini Municipality hoped this twinning project would solidify arts and cultural initiatives between Durban and Le Port.

“An investment in arts and culture is the glue that holds us together during tough economic times,” he said.

Mr Peter Rorvik, Director of the CCA who welcomed further linkages with Reunion Island, said inter-cultural exchange outside of South Africa was an important element incorporated into the Centre’s programme.

“The CCA was pleased to facilitate an event that furthers the possibility of cultural exchange between artists, organisations and countries as much of our work involves cultural exchange,” said Mr Rorvik.

In the past the CCA has hosted dancers from the City of Le Port as part of the Jomba Contemporary Dance Experience in Durban and will now turn its attention to developing mutually beneficial programmes for the two cities respective annual film festivals. He supported the idea of identifying areas of interest among artists in Durban in furthering cultural exchange between the two cities.

According to Mr Rorvik determining the availability of infrastructure, cultural and art programmes would measure the interest and capacity for future partnerships.

The City of Le Port was represented by its Deputy Mayor, Mr Michel Seraphine; Head: Cultural Services of Le Port Municipality, Mr Paul Mazaka; and the Director of Karbardock Theatre, Mr Stephane Rochecouste.

With 50 percent of its population of 700 000 constituted of individuals under 25 years old and a 40 percent unemployment rate, the City of Le Port placed much emphasis on promoting arts and culture.

Mr Seraphine said: “We come here today interested in establishing sustainable arts and cultural links between our two cities. For us the best expression of our twinning is through the arts. Reunion Island has a mix of cultures and we view this project as an act of sharing our cultures.”

A suggestion made by Durban’s art community was categorising areas of interests in the arts as the way forward in formulating concrete projects with the City of Le Port.

MEDIA AND MARKETING STUDENT WINS CAR FROM FNB

Mr Prevashen Pillay proudly standing close
to his brand new car.

When Mr Prevashen Pillay, a final year Media and Marketing student on the Howard College campus, took a Life Start Student Loan from First National Bank (FNB) little did he know what was in store for him.

The shy lad from Queensburgh received a brand new car from FNB on Friday May 8 at the bank’s Queensburgh branch.

Surrounded by his family members during the hand over, the 22-year-old couldn’t believe that he had become the owner of a brand new white Opel Corsa Lite.

Visibly shocked and excited on receiving his prize, Mr Pillay said: “I still can’t believe that I now own a car. I want to thank FNB for this competition. It has really changed my life.”

The campaign was called FNB Life Start Student Loans “Win a Car” competition which ran for a period of six months from 01 October 2008 to 31 March 2009.