Change the world

09/10/2024

We would like to congratulate our Alumni for their hard work and dedication. You have made Nelson Mandela University proud!

De Doncker Recognized as South Africa’s Top Secondary School Educator

lumna, Rose De Doncker, the first female principal of Paterson High School in the Northern Areas of Gqeberha has been awarded the “Excellence in Secondary Leadership Award” at the 24th National Teacher's Awards in South Africa.  Boasting 30 years of teaching experience, she has remained actively involved in teaching, especially in Grade 11 and 12 Mathematics, while steering the school toward academic success.

De Doncker holds a BA from Nelson Mandela University, among other qualifications.

Her dedication to education has been recognized through numerous accolades and her leadership at Paterson High School is widely celebrated for its emphasis on academic excellence and holistic student development.

Under her guidance, the school has seen improvements in performance and a strengthened sense of community. She attributes her success to teamwork and the shared efforts of her colleagues.

Read latest article here: https://www.heraldlive.co.za/news/2024-10-07-paterson-highs-de-doncker-named-sas-top-secondary-school-educator/

 


Alumnus to receive prestigious Honorary doctorate

Congratulations to alumnus and former Mandela University Deputy Director: Arts, Culture and Heritage Michael Barry, who will be receiving an honorary doctorate from Rhodes University during October.
 
This prestigious honour celebrates his outstanding achievements and contributions across various fields. 
He was previously honoured for his contribution to the Arts by the Port Elizabeth Opera House and he was a recipient of the 2018 Eastern Cape Department of Sport Recreation, Arts and Culture Provincial Cultural Award.  He remains an active arts activist and community development agent and serves on a number of community structures such as the Northern Areas People Development Initiative (Napdi) as a trustee and the champion of art education projects of the organisation.
 
His work in education has had a lasting impact, helping to create opportunities for young people to pursue their dreams. Barry’s inspiring vision for empowering future generations and his commitment to creating a better, more inclusive society reflect the values of Nelson Mandela University.

Read latest article here: https://www.ru.ac.za/latestnews/artactivistmichaelbarrytoreceiverhodesuniversityshighesthonouramidcr.html

 


Themba Gwejela Appointed Group Executive: Corporate Affairs & Marketing for SABC

Themba Gwejela, a distinguished leader in the field of marketing and communications, has recently been appointed as the Group Executive: Corporate Affairs & Marketing for the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC). This new role marks another milestone in his remarkable career, as he steps into a position that will allow him to shape the public image and corporate communications of South Africa’s national broadcaster.
 
Prior to this appointment, Themba served as the Head of Communications for the Eskom Pension and Provident Fund (EPPF), where he was instrumental in overseeing effective communications strategies and enhancing the organization's brand visibility. His vast experience in strategic communication, coupled with his innovative approach to digital marketing, has earned him a strong reputation in the industry.
 
As Themba takes on this leadership role at SABC, his focus will likely be on further strengthening the corporation’s corporate image, fostering deeper engagement with audiences, and driving new marketing initiatives in an evolving media landscape. His passion for inclusivity and diversity, as seen in his previous roles, will no doubt play a critical role in shaping the future direction of SABC’s corporate affairs and marketing strategies.
 

Past students pay it forward for GBV survivors

A person standing in front of a buildingDescription automatically generatedPast students are paying it forward to survivors of gender-based violence (GBV) at tertiary institutions in South Africa through the Alumni-in-Action (AiA) initiative.

Transformation Office gender-based violence counsellor Ulleta Marais is the student point of contact at Nelson Mandela University

AiA, which started at the University of Cape Town in 2021 and expanded to Nelson Mandela University in 2023, is bearing fruit with beneficiaries speaking about its positive influence on their lives.

Avusiwe Tyamzashe was one of the students who spoke out about the impact of the programme, offered through the Transformation Office at Nelson Mandela University in Gqeberha.

Read more: Nelson Mandela University News

 


Professor Rossouw von Solms honoured with IFIP Fellowship #R2bP

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meritus Professor Rossouw von Solms from the School of ICT has recently been honoured with an International Federation for Information Processing (IFIP) Fellowship.

According to the IFIP, this fellowship is not only in recognition of his standing and expertise in the field of information and cyber security, but also the contributions, including in working groups and technical committees, Prof Von Solms has made to the IFIP over almost 30 years.

Prof Von Solms is only the third South African to receive this IFIP Fellowship award.

 

Tribute to the late Dr Pravin Gordhan

Nelson Mandela University pays tribute to former Public Enterprises Minister Pravin Gordhan, who died early on Friday 13 September 2024.

Dr Gordhan earned numerous accolades for his lifetime of public service, including an honorary doctorate from Nelson Mandela University in 2008.

Pravin Jamnadas Gordhan was born on 12 April 1949 and grew up in Durban, Kwazulu-Natal. After graduating with a Bachelor of Pharmacy from the University of Durban-Westville he completed his postgraduate studies in Human Resource Development.

In recognition of his substantial contribution to society by transforming the administration of the SARS into a strategic governmental institution, the University conferred the degree of Doctor of Commerce (Honoris Causa) on Pravin Jamnadas Gordhan.

Under his guidance, SARS evolved into a world-class institution, significantly improving revenue collections and enhancing compliance culture across the nation.

Read more: Nelson Mandela University News

 


Lifesaving work over COVID-19 leads to Master’s degree

At the start of the COVID-19 pandemic when South Africa faced a severe shortage of mechanical ventilators, Nelson Mandela University student Zaahid Imran drew on his mechanical engineering knowledge and entrepreneurial skills to improve the drive efficiency of a mobile ventilator.

This year he graduated with his Master’s in Mechanical Engineering from the Faculty of Engineering, the Built Environment and Technology (EBET).

“At the time, universities worldwide, including MIT were working in earnest on mobile ventilators,” says Imran. “I chose this as my design project in the final year of my BTech in Mechanical Engineering in 2020, which continued into my Master’s in 2021.”

The Advanced Engineering Design Group (AEDG) at Mandela University sponsored Imran’s Master’s degree as it had received funding from the Manufacturing, Engineering and Related Services Sector (merSETA) for the research and development of mobile ventilators.

Imran’s family is from Lesotho, and it was destiny’s hand that led him and his two brothers to the University.

Read more: Nelson Mandela University News

 


Art alumnus Nosiviwe Matikinca holds first solo exhibition at Pretoria Art Museum

Nosiviwe Matikinca, 2023 Sasol New Signatures Art Competition Winner and Visual Arts Degree graduate from Nelson Mandela University, will hold her first solo exhibition, titled Ukungalingani Kwezemfundo (Educational Inequality), alongside the Sasol New Signatures 2024 exhibition at the Pretoria Art Museum from 5 September to 3 November.

Her acclaimed work in 2023 shed light on the difficulties learners from under resourced backgrounds face in public schools, particularly emphasising the gaps in basic necessities such as school shoes.

The fragile clay castings of school shoes are featured once again, but with enhanced significance in the context of a solo exhibition.

For this solo show, Matikinca expanded her artistic exploration beyond ceramics to include printmaking and castings in various materials. She remarked, “For my solo exhibition, I chose to continue the narrative from 2023, to raise awareness and educate the public about the struggles of learners from underprivileged backgrounds.

Read more: Nelson Mandela University News

 


Surfing the AI wave

The new landscape of the working world and how to merge technical skills with human creativity and ethics formed part of the discussions at the recent seminar, ‘How is AI shaping and reshaping your environments and your future of work in the age of AI’ hosted by Mandela University’s Faculty of Humanities’ Digital Humanities Hub.

The discussion was led by Mandela University graduates and alumni, Styli Charalambous, the co-founder and CEO of Daily Maverick, Jackson Tshabalala, project manager at Tangible Africa and Jonathan van der Walt, sculptor and lecturer, all working in the field of humanities at the cutting edge of AI. 

According to Styli, while the journalism industry is going through a massive disruption and roughly 70 percent of jobs have been lost, AI cannot replace the work of journalists. Instead, he encouraged students to look at the potential and opportunity of AI, not the negatives, like using AI as a tool to help upskill and assist with research.

Styli also hosted a masterclass for invited Gqeberha media representatives, encouraging them to shift news from being a mere reporting commodity, to becoming more of a service, adding value to the society they are serving.

He relayed the journey towards the success of the Daily Maverick, his South African online news publication and weekly print newspaper, started in 2009.

Read more: Nelson Mandela University News

 


 Mandela University student film selected for London Fashion Film Festival #R2bP

“Back to Earth”, the fashion film directed and produced by BA Media, Communication and Culture student Olothando Ntungele and BVA honours graduate in fashion and textile design. Tazleigh Swartz, has been selected for the prestigious 2024 London Fashion Film Festival.

 
   

The film selected alongside internationally renowned brands like Bvlgari, Calvin Klein, Nike, and Fenty, addresses the environmental impact of fast fashion by using fabric and food waste to create textiles and prints.

The collection incorporates materials like fabric offcuts, wilted spinach and onion skins, experimenting with new printing techniques to stencil prints onto garments.

The goal is to foster an emotional connection with consumers and highlight sustainable design practices, addressing waste issues but also innovative approaches to textile production

The selection process is rigorous, with films being audited by leading filmmakers and marketing agents from the industry. The Mandela University students’ film was chosen for showcasing and recognition, highlighting the exceptional quality and storytelling displayed in their work, although it was not submitted for award nominations.

Read more: Nelson Mandela University News

 


WOMEN'S MONTH - Jeanie Steyn - versatile achiever, excelling in both sports and the arts

As captain of the SA Fast 5 team, Renskie “Jeanie” Steyn led her team to a Silver Medal at the World Championship and represented her country again in 2023. Transitioning from player to assistant administrator and coach at Madibaz Netball, Jeanie has displayed commitment in her sporting career.

 

Alongside this success, Jeanie has pursued a Master’s degree in Fine Art, graduating in 2023 with distinction, and showcased her work in various exhibitions. These include "Spinning The Golden Thread" at the GFI Art Gallery and "MA.X.23 MA Student Graduation Exhibition" at the Bird Street Gallery.

Committed to community involvement, she has conducted netball coaching clinics and supported initiatives like the Hope4Kids Foundation.

Read more: Nelson Mandela University News

 


Strong women inspire a range of power scarves

A dozen strong women have inspired a young designer and Mandela University alumnus to create and name a range of patterns celebrating their leadership styles.

Abstract visual artist and graphic designer Xolela Madlanga is launching the “I Am” range of scarves throughout Heritage Month, in cooperation with the Fabric Bank.

“This collection celebrates women in leadership who make way for those coming after them, take time to mentor others and aim to leave an impact on the lives of other women. It is honouring 12 women in my life who have, literally, contributed to who I am, in so many different ways,” says Madlanga.

“They share their time and mentor, guide, nurture. They are women of faith, integrity and principle, professional women who want to pass on those skills and are a survival support system for the people around them.”

Although she now lives in Johannesburg, Madlanga studied in Gqeberha, taking commerce – not art – at Nelson Mandela University there.

Read more: Nelson Mandela University News