Author Archives: Lauren Kansley

About Lauren Kansley

Lauren is a Communication Officer in the Marketing and Communication Department. She writes stories about general news and the faculties of Health and Wellness Sciences and Informatics and Design. Tel: +27 21 953 8646 Email: kansleyl@cput.ac.za

0% Fee increase will be a death knell for universities

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Prof Jonathan Jansen has warned that another 0% fee increase for tertiary institutions will be a death knell for universities. Jansen was scathing in his opinion of the current Fees Commission and the fact that the Minister of Higher Education and Training Dr Blade Nzimande is expected to make a suggestion on fee increases for 2017 soon.

The fact that politicians and not university councils will be making suggestions on fee increases along with the fact that the Fees Commission is managed by a panel of Judges and not academics with a vested interest in the crisis remains a sore point for Jansen.

Speaking at the third CPUT Public Lecture on the topic of South Africa Higher Education in crisis: Possible Solutions Jansen told the audience that Africa is littered with broken universities who held great promise a few decades ago but are now essentially defunct, as a result of state interference.

“Today the same thing that took down those universities are the same things that will cripple ours- state interference is politicians deciding what fee increases should be,” he says.

Coupled with the legacy of underfunding education and the chronic instability facing university staff on an almost daily basis Jansen says we are sitting on a ticking time bomb.

“The only thing that does is chase away the top academics and the fee-paying students because they have options. People who can pay will pay for safety and send their kids overseas and the academics with options leave for greener pastures,” he says.

Jansen says the future of strong, vibrant universities rely on us protecting the rights, not only of the marginalised poor but also of the middle-class.

“The middle-class students are desperately needed in universities. Not only do they cross-subsidise the poor but they also add to the rich cultural mix that make being at university life changing. Take them away and you are left with poor kids and the lecturers that no one else wants. At my university many students will meet a black person for the first time on a nominally equal basis. These are important relationships that need to be built for the betterment of the country,” he says.

Ultimately Jansen says the secure future of Higher Education in SA will need three key interventions.

  1. Free education for only the poor
  2. The middle-class must pay for the privilege of Higher Education
  3. And finally the bursary funding model must work sustainably to enable the government to recoup the funding for future generations.

Jansen will be leaving South Africa soon to take up a nine month stint at Stanford University where he will be a Fellow at the Centre for Advanced Studies in Behavioural Sciences. He will step down as the Vice-Chancellor of Free State University in September after seven and a half years at its helm. When he returns he hopes to set up a grooming centre for promising PHD candidates.

“No one showed me how to be a good academic, I just happened into it all. My dream is to mentor and groom young academics about what good scholarship is all about,” he says.

Watch the lecture on YouTube below.

CPUT joins efforts to stop missing children

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CPUT students have bolstered efforts to keep youngsters safe in three Cape Flats neighbourhoods notorious for missing children.

BTech Public Relations Management (PRM) students partnered with Missing Children SA to implement school visits and workshops in Mitchells Plain, Retreat and Kahyelitsha.

The aim of the workshops was to create awareness of what to do if a child goes missing and to train not only the learners but also their parents about the best steps to take in case of an emergency.

Team leader Jamie-Lee Carelse says they targeted learners in grade seven because those students have influence over younger children in their schools and would be soon leaving to high school where the realities of drugs and human trafficking became more serious.

These workshops, which were conducted throughout the month of August, were conducted at Hazeldene, Delta and Isiphiwo Primary Schools.

During the sessions children were urged to report missing friends as soon as possible and shown videos which showed how easily kids can get snatched.

Grade Seven teacher from Isiphiwo Primary School in Khayelitsha Mr Nxasana, says his learners live in a dangerous community where the possibility of getting stolen is a reality.

“I know it will make a huge contribution to the grade seven learners as they embark on high school in 2017; they can easily fall victim of human trafficking and it can happen to anyone,” he says.

Missing Children South Africa (MCSA) was established in March 2007 in an effort to create awareness on the reality on the number of children who go missing in South Africa. According to figures released by the South African Police Service Missing Persons Bureau 2013, a child goes missing every five hours in South Africa.

Thus far, MCSA, together with the SAPS, has managed to safely bring home 77% of registered missing children.

The organisation runs purely on the generosity of sponsors and donors and is not funded by the government.

 

Media students sign racism pledge

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CPUT’s annual Media Conference had an extra-special element to it this year when students pledged their support for an anti-racism drive.

The ‘Racism Stops With Me’ campaign is spearheaded by Independent Media  and for CPUT it became the latest in a long list of student lead initiatives at the institution tackling all forms of discrimination.

Head of the Media Department Prof Nirvana Bechan says media professionals have an especially important role to play in defending dignity in all.

“The Anti-Racism campaign speaks to the need in education systems for the recognition of all professionals to be treated fairly and with dignity. It is important for students to acknowledge this and understand that it goes hand in hand with hard work and commitment to their chosen fields,” she says.

The annual conference brings together some of the brightest minds in the Public Relations, Film and Video, Photography and Journalism fields and this year was no different.

CPUT student Tony Gum charted her journey from a simple selfie to being named the Coolest Girl in Cape Town by Vogue Magazine and later photographer and videographer Yazeed Kamaldien shared some of his secrets to being one of the top freelance writers in the country.

A highlight of the event included a Skype session with Yusuf Omar, one of the most prolific new media professionals to emerge from SA recently.

 

 

 

Slashing Stereotypes

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From a silent disco to exploring the thorny issue of stereotypes, a recent Department of Student Affairs event left more than a few guests questioning their own mind sets.

Themed ‘Surfing the Suffix’ the event held at the Marimba restaurant at the CTICC also saw staff and students celebrate leadership and excellence at CPUT.

Organiser Anette Grobler says her motivation for the event was to allow students to interact and challenge their own pre-conceived ideas around issues of stereotyping.

“Discrimination is one of the social ills in our society and all institutions of learning.  Attempts to deal with discrimination need to be as sophisticated as the problem itself,” she says.

And the event certainly met her expectation, starting with a novel ice-breaker called Secret Sunrise all guests donned music headsets which encouraged them to explore the space around them using dance and to interact with strangers. Some of the unpretentious exchanges saw guests hug a stranger, make a funny face and fly like an eagle.

Student Affairs Head of Department Malinge Gqebe says racism and sexism is often perceived as being “other people’s problems”.

“We sometimes like to look at others and see problems like racism, we do this without introspection and considering our own faults,” he says.

Speaker for the evening Brett Anderson-Terry is a white, Jewish, gay man who works in the film industry. He challenged the audiences perception of him when he revealed that he was also HIV positive. In an emotional 30 minute chat Anderson-Terry asked the guests to confront their own inner demons and live a more inclusive and positive life.

CPUT partners with R27 million Planetarium upgrade

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CPUT is helping to launch ageing Planetarium equipment from analogue straight into the digital era.

The Iziko Planetarium has entertained around 2 million visitors (half of which are schoolchildren) for 30 years but obsolete equipment has forced the museum staff to urgently consider a digital upgrade.

The upgrade (due to last around six months) will cost around R27 million and CPUT, along with academic partners UCT and UWC have made donations to ensure the longevity of the Planetarium for future generations.

The new state of the art full dome immersive theatre will play an important role in research endeavours in the region and will create a 4D learning experience for students in a number of disciplines including marine and ocean sciences, engineering and the informatics and design streams.

Deputy Vice-Chancellor of Research, Technology Innovation and Partnerships Dr Chris Nhlapo says the matter of considering a contribution to the digital upgrade to the Planetarium was discussed at the highest institutional level at CPUT.

“Ultimately CPUT, the Western Cape and indeed South Africa gains so much more as a result of this collaboration. Singularly none of the institutions would have been able to afford a R27 million piece of equipment however together we can all benefit from this upgrade. For CPUT this means students in our Informatics and Design and Engineering departments will have access to cutting edge  infrastructure and as a region we are assisting to drive the research agenda of the province and ensure the Western Cape remains the intellectual hub of the country,” he says.

 

Compliance Manager joins Registrar’s Office

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Compliance within all departments at CPUT is a critical function which ensures the university stays afloat.

The Registrar’s office has been given a boost in this area thanks to the recent addition of Mbongeni Mateta.

Mateta joined the team as a Compliance Manager a month ago and his main functions will be to ensure the ethical and financial compliance across all CPUT governing structures including Senate and Council.

Mateta is an Advocate with a strong business background and has worked in senior positions in former  President Nelson Mandela’s office, the Post Office as well as in the Gaming and Aviation industries to name a few.

“Compliance has become an established business practice within large corporations but it is important to understand that it isn’t a watchdog- rather it is about understanding where we come from and what we need to do,” he says.

Mateta adds that he is excited to join CPUT and launch his office from the ground up.

“I consider myself fortunate to start something from scratch. That means when I leave here one day I will be leaving a legacy. Looking at CPUT I can immediately identify the Protection Of Personal Information (POPI) as an area where I can lend my expertise.”

 

Mr SA hopeful needs your help

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CPUT lecturer Habib Noorbhai needs your help to launch him into the top 12 of the Mr SA contest.

Noorbhai, 27, is a Biokineticist and a lecturer and researcher in CPUT’s Sports Management Department. He is already a media darling having already been named one of the Mail and Guardian’s top 100 brightest minds in SA in 2013, then in 2015 he was nominated among Mail and Guardian’s Top 200 Young South Africans.

He is also a regular on TV and radio discussing health and fitness trends.

Noorbhai says the competition is much more than just a male modeling contest.

“Mr South Africa is a contest that looks to find an ambassador for South Africa, one that exhibits the qualities that set him apart from the average man. A man who has superior qualities, intelligence, commitment, and a healthy physique. He must have a great personality and be fun loving with a balanced lifestyle,” he says.

If he was lucky enough to win, Noorbhai says the competition would slot into his day job easily because most of the engagements happen after hours.

The competition is tight and Noorbhai says he would need as much support as possible to make it to the top 12.

  • SMS MRSA006 to 47439 (charged at R3 per SMS) to show your support.  You can vote as many times as you like.

 

New Lifestyle and Wellness Specialist for CPUT

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In an effort to improve the work performance of CPUT staff members the Human Capital Department has recently employed a dedicated Lifestyle and Wellness Specialist.

The position is newly created and will cater to all elements of employee wellness including social, emotional, physical and financial wellbeing.

Samukelisiwe Mzele, or Sam as she is comfortable being called, is the woman who will be crafting the position into shape at the institution.

She relocated from KZN where her previous positions have been at the Department of Health in Training and Development and as a Social Worker.

“I am a trained Social Worker and this position was perfect for me because I wanted to go back into the therapeutic side of field,’ she says.

Mzele says an institution as large and complex as CPUT requires a full time specialist to mitigate any crises- like the protest action last year which was an inevitable cause of increased anxiety in staff.

“My first plan is to develop a range of interventions and information leaflets on how to handle trauma or intense pressure. Naturally the co-ordination of the entire Wellness model will also be my responsibility,” she says.

Contact Mzele at mzeles@cput.ac.za if you want to find out how she can assist your department to function better.

Inaugural Caro Wiese award bestowed on IT graduate

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A promise that SA business tycoon Dr Christo Wiese made to CPUT came to fruition and forever changed the life of one special graduate.

Wiese attended the Informatics and Design graduation personally to congratulate the inaugural recipient of the Caro Wiese award. Named after his wife, the award is offered annually to a CPUT student who has succeeded in overcoming extremely difficult circumstances and achieved full academic potential.

The recipient Matthew Benjamin is originally from Sudan and arrived in Cape Town in 2011, speaking very little English and with only R200. Determined to study he taught himself English using YouTube videos and eventually enrolled for a Masters course in IT. Using the amenities on offer to CPUT students like the IT labs and E-Learning Centre Matthew successfully graduated last year and has plans to continue his studies thanks to the Wiese family’s generosity.

“Thank you to everyone who helped me along the way including my CPUT lecturers and Dr Christo Wiese,” he says.

“When you have nothing you feel like a second class citizen but I told myself I will be able to be someone through education.”

Dr Wiese congratulated Matthew and pledged a second award to CPUT in future, one for a male and a second for a female student. The awards will be granted annually.

 

News of CPUT’s extraordinary alumni can be found in our Grad Mag 2016.

New Security HOD means business

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Fees Must Fall presented CPUT with one of its greatest safety and security crisis. The enormous task of keeping staff and students safe has fallen on the capable shoulders of the newly appointed Vernon Philander who brings a wealth of risk analysis and protection services skills to the new position. We quizzed him on his time at CPUT so far…

  1. Just to be clear you are not the SA cricketer! Who are you, when did you start and what is your job title and function at CPUT

No I’m not the cricketer, in fact I can’t even play cricket! I am Vernon Philander, currently from Vanderbijlpark in Gauteng and took office at CPUT on 8 December 2015 as the Acting HOD for Protection Services. I am Capetonian though and it sure is good to be back. I am responsible for all security as well as Investigators at all CPUT campuses.

 

  1. You are no stranger to Higher Education and policing. Give us a summary of your experience and skills as it pertains to this position.

I started off as a Narcotics Detective at the old SA Narcotics Bureau in Johannesburg in the early 90’s and ended up at Bishop Lavis and Delft Detective Branches as a detective of gang-related serious and violent crimes. I left the SAPS in 2001, as I was head-hunted by the V&A Waterfront in Cape Town for the position of Investigations and Surveillance Manager. Later I joined Vaal University of Technology in 2012 as Lead Investigator: Protection Services.

 

  1. Fees Must Fall hit CPUT especially hard. What do you want staff to know in terms of safety and security as we head into 2016.

Fees Must Fall is a very real issue, and the fact that it’s now sadly earmarked by violent protests has become an even bigger threat to both staff and property of all involved. It is therefore of the utmost importance that a proper understanding around the dynamics of these protests be developed, and that it be addressed from an informed angle, where Security is concerned. I want to encourage staff members and students alike, to contact me directly, should they feel unsafe or if they have information that might prevent the injury to innocent people, and/or the destruction of CPUT property.

  1. What is your impression of CPUT and what mark do you hope to leave?

CPUT, like all other tertiary institutions, are also faced by numerous challenges. These challenges, however, are not unsolvable, if we choose to work together. I am proud to be part of the CPUT team, and I am striving to create a Protection Services Department on which staff and students alike, will be proud.