February 2022

Post Source - LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/ms-unathi-kildase-mba-8533556a/

Alumna: Ms Unathi Kildase (MBA)

LOCAL ARTISTS TO FLY NMB FLAG HIGH IN JACKSONVILLE, USA

 

Two of Nelson Mandela Bay’s very own artists will be making their way to Jacksonville, USA, on Friday, 25 February 2022 to pursue a collaborative art project with their US counterparts.

Jonathan van der Walt and Sakumzi Nyendwana are this year’s beneficiaries of the international exhibition exchange programme, which is a partnership between the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality, the Eastern Cape Development Corporation, the Ritz Museum and Theatre and the Jacksonville Sister Cities Association.

The artists travel to the US through the generous support of the Eastern Cape Development Corporation and will take part in the World of Nations Festival; an annual international festival that has been on the City of Jacksonville’s calendar since 1993.

 

Uthando Baduza, Co-Curator of the exhibition from Red Location Art Gallery, said: “As the City (NMBM) we are extremely excited that our artists will be participating in this incredible opportunity. We are further pleased that this strengthens our twinning partnership with Jacksonville, which was initiated over 20 years ago.”

 

“The festival they will be participating in is North Florida's largest multicultural festival, and features exhibitions and events from a variety of countries. The celebration gives Jacksonville a chance to showcase the diverse international communities that reside in the area. Annually, 

75,000 visitors, including 12,000 children on school field trips, experience the festival.”

 

The two local artists were chosen after a call was made to Eastern Cape Artists to make new works to be submitted to the long standing ‘Through Our Eyes’ annual exhibition coordinated by the RITZ THEATRE AND MUSEUM in Jacksonville, Florida, as part of the international partnership between the cities of Nelson Mandela Bay and Jacksonville.

 

36-year-old Nyendwana from Motherwell who specialises in mix medium art work said: “I am l

ooking forward to the whole experience, it’s a great opportunity that I aim to learn from. This opportunity means a lot to me because currently as artists we are struggling. There is a lack of support, people are struggling financially so I’m really happy for this opportunity as it will showcase my work and give me the exposure I need.”

 

St George’s van der Walt, 31, said: “I make sculptures mainly and our work was sent to the USA last year. We will attend the festival, some workshops, art tours and do collaborative work with our counterparts. I am really excited. We are leaving this evening and coming back to South Africa on 5 March. I still can’t believe we are leaving. We are just looking forward to use this opportunity to learn and build relations for the future.”

 

You can view a virtual tour of the exhibition at https://www.nmbm.co.za/.../through-our-eyes/index.html and follow the pair’s journey on their social media pages: @sakumzinyendwana and @jonathanvdw_sculptor on Instagram.

 

Issued by the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality Communications Office.

#MandelaUni #MandelaAlumni #CelebrateSuccess #SustainableAgriculture

 

Alumni Relations congratulates Mandela Alumnus Dr Qinisani Qwabe MSc (Agriculture) for obtaining his PhD in Sustainable Agriculture.

Academic bags PhD at 27

Qinisani Qwabe, a 27-year-old who originally hails from Northern KwaZulu-Natal and lectures at the University of the Free State (UFS), has obtained his PhD in Sustainable Agriculture….

 

 

Click the link for full article

Post Source: LinkedIn and Bloemfontein Courant https://www.bloemfonteincourant.co.za/academic-bags.../...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Alumni Relations congratulates Mandela Alumna Thenji Moyo (LLB) on receiving an award for Employment Lawyer of the Year 2022 at the LexisNexis Middle East Woman in Law Awards, held on the 23 February 2022 in Dubai.  Moyo is the Legal Director and Head of Employment at Gateley LLP (Dubai).

Post Source:  LinkedIn- Thenji Moyo

Pic Post Source:  https://www.lexisnexis-womeninlaw.com

 

#WomenLeadWednesday #SASInspiredByMandelaAlumni

Mandela Alumna Papamani Toronto Malawu BA Hons (Corporate Communication) shared her 3 part interview.  #Introduction

Post Source:  LinkedIn- Papamani Toronto Malawu

Video Interview Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ynIGs8OUNT0

 

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Mandela alumnus on the forefront of COVID-19 vaccine research and development

 

Mandela Uni alumnus Gerhardt Boukes (38) who holds a PhD in Biochemistry, is part of a team making the first mRNA vaccine for human use on the African continent.

 

“This is a tremendous honour and achievement. We want people to have access to the most effective prophylactic and therapeutic vaccines (and other medicines) available on the market.

 

“During the COVID-19 pandemic Africa and other low- to middle-income countries (LMICs) were last in line to receive lifesaving COVID-19 vaccines. We cannot allow this to happen again!”, says Gerhardt.

 

He is the Chief Scientist at Afrigen Biologics and Vaccines and focuses on the research and development (R&D) of the COVID-19 mRNA vaccine.

 

Gerhardt, is based in Cape Town and works closely with other teams at Afrigen Biologics and Vaccines who oversee production, quality control/assurance and regulatory aspects of the COVID-19 mRNA vaccine. Part of his job is to identify new and improved technologies for vaccine R&D and production.    

 

Read full article on the university website.

Website Article Source: Nelson Mandela University https://news.mandela.ac.za/.../Mandela-alumnus-on-the...