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Politics academic appointed to African political science association #R2bP
 
Associate Lecturer in the Department of History and Political Studies at Nelson Mandela University Dikeledi Mokoena, was elected as the new Treasurer of the African Association of Political Science at its recent conference.
 
Dikeledi was elected unopposed as the youngest of the seven member executive that will lead the recently revived continental body until its next elective conference. 
 
Mokoena joined Nelson Mandela University in January 2020 as an associate lecturer.
 
The African Association for Political Science (AAPS) was launched in Dar es Salaam in 1974 as the premier platform for discussing the state of African politics, governance, the state, economy and society. 
 
The Association became dormant in 2014 and was revived at its 2021 conference. The “new” association will draw in national associations, national departments in political science and related fields and individual scholars including emerging scholars from the continent and in the African diaspora. They also hope to revive the iconic African Journal of Political Science as an open-access online journal. 
 

Mandela University preparing for vaccination rollout

 
The University is actively preparing itself as an accredited vaccination centre to support its staff and students as part of the country’s phased COVID-19 vaccination rollout programme.
 
 
 
Work began early this year towards enabling the institution to offer the COVID-19 vaccination at our North and George campuses through the auspices of its Occupational and Student Health Services. Both health professional teams have been liaising directly with the Eastern Cape Department of Health, the Metro’s Health portfolio and Higher Health, which oversees health and wellness in the higher education sector, in preparation for Phase 2 of the rollout programme.
 
Phase 2
 
As institutions of higher learning fall into the “congregant” category, Nelson Mandela University is expected to be included in Phase 2 of the rollout process, once all the frontline workers have been vaccinated under Phase 1.
 
While no specific date for Phase 2 has yet been given, it is unlikely to happen before May. The University, however, is pressing ahead with its vaccine readiness plans so that it can support its own staff and students as soon as it is accredited by the Department of Health and given the go-ahead to do so.
 
Vaccine Rollout Workstream 
 
Given the complexities and safety concerns related to the vaccination rollout programme, a university Vaccine Rollout Workstream was formed early in February, comprising stakeholders from all the relevant workstreams across the university.
 
Logistical Support
 
The team, as part of the larger Coronavirus Task Team, has been meeting weekly to manage and implement the support needed to become an accredited vaccination site. This includes the provision of special infrastructure and equipment, additional human resources, ICT support in, for example, managing the booking system in line with the national Electronic Vaccine Data System (EDVS); security for protecting the vaccine, as well as safety, health and environment (SHE) support, particularly as it relates to storage of the vaccine and waste management.
 
This complex and multi-layered logistical support is presently being preceded by an education and training programme.
 
Education and Training
 
The establishment of a Vaccination Rollout webpage; the sharing of vaccine and vaccination information online; the hosting of information sharing sessions by professional nurses and of VAX FAX webinars all form part of the University’s commitment to educate staff and students on the subject. This is to enable each person to make an informed decision about vaccination when the opportunity does arise.
 
Way forward
 
While there have been no COVID-19 cases at Mandela University among either staff or students for the past four weeks, the virus is still active and there are grave concerns about a Third Wave. Each of us is encouraged to remain vigilant and continue to practice all COVID-19 preventative measures.
 
Taking the vaccine towards achieving herd immunity (67% of the population) has been touted as the only way to stop the spread of the virus.
 
Coronavirus Task Team
 
Vaccine Rollout Workstream

 

 

 

Congratulations to our Law alumni Shakira Ahmed LLB '05 and Abongile Vuso LLB '19 on their promotions Joubert Galpin Searle Official!
 
 
 
 

 

Congratulations to Nomazibulo Tshanga (ISPr) BTech (Human Resources Management) '05 graduate and Managing Director - Ziyana Business Consulting for being recognised and qualified as one of South Africa’s Top Gender Empowered Companies by Standard Bank
 
 

 

 
To women and girls in science
Following the celebration of women in science, we caught up with George Campus, PhD Forestry student, Noxolo Ndlovu, to hear from her what bearing this day has to her as a female in the industry.  We asked Noxolo a few questions about what she is currently busy with and what advice she can give to young girls wanting to pursue careers in science.
 
 
 

 
Zoology postdoc at Mandela Uni awarded prestigious scientific scholarship
 
Dr Chris Oosthuizen, a Mandela University postdoctoral fellow hosted by Prof Pierre Pistorius, was recently awarded a prestigious CCAMLR (Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources) Scientific Scholarship (2021–2022) to help develop new monitoring indices to improve ecosystem-based feedback management of the krill fishery in Antarctic waters. 
 
 

 

Fulbright scholarship for Mandela Uni Geosciences lecturer #R2bP

 
 
Mandela University Geosciences lecturer Navashni Naidoo, has been awarded a Fulbright scholarship to study towards her PhD at the University of Illinois in the Unites States.
 
 
She will be based on their Urbana-Champaign campus when she takes up residency in August this year.
 
“The sheer number of courses offered at the University of Illinois makes me spoilt for choice; if there is anything you're confused about there will be a course that you can take to remedy the confusion.  Studying internationally also gives you a different perspective in how to approach your research and teaching”, Navashni says.
 
“I think I was successful in attaining a Fulbright scholarship as I was confident.  I knew what I wanted to do for my PhD, and I was confident in my research and social abilities. 
 
 
 
 

Nomkhita Mona named as CEO of SA Post Office 

(Published by Heraldlive on 28 February 2021)
 
Nelson Mandela Bay Business Chamber CEO Nomkhita Mona has been named as the new group CEO of the SA Post Office.
 
According to a statement stemming from a virtual cabinet meeting on Wednesday, Mona's appointment is subjected to the verification of her qualifications and relevant clearance.
 
Mona is an experienced CEO with many years in strategic, operations and general management experience. She took over the role of chamber CEO in 2017.
 
The post office post became vacant after Mark Barnes resigned in August 2019.  
Mona is an Alumni Award recipient and holds a BA degree, BA Honours degree in Industrial Relations from Nelson Mandela University.