A multi-million rand project to train students in mechatronics
- a combination of electronic and mechanical engineering - at three universities of technology was launched at the Cape
Peninsula University of Technology
(CPUT), a first for South Africa.
The programme, part of the industrial offset programme by the German Frigate Consortium
(GFC) and ThyssenKrupp Marine
Systems, has been endorsed by the department of trade and industry.
Sipho Zikode, a chief director in the department, said that when the idea was first suggested by
ThyssenKrupp three years ago, it was greeted with scepticism, but it was eventually approved.
It was realised at the time that South
Africa needed skills development and training particularly in valueadded service areas, he said.
Zikode added that the computer hardware alone would cost R20 million per institution. The programme would be rolled out at three coastal universities of technology, CPUT, the
Durban Institute of Technology and the Nelson Mandela University in
Port Elizabeth, from January 2007.
Tom Webster, a project leader at
Festo Didactic, said the launch of the programme was a quantum leap for
South African industrial capabilities.
Students would use real industrial equipment, tied in with computer
p8 simulation, in addition to studying theory. The company would provide the hardware and software, train the trainers to ensure sustainability and even offer ongoing training.
Webster added that qualifications were being developed. Ulrich Scheel, the offset project manager for both
ThyssenKrupp and GFC, said the programme would make a real and significant difference to South Africa and change the lives of thousands of historically disadvantaged students.
(Excerpt from article written by Ronnie
Morris courtesy of Business Report )
p2
A t CPUT we have come to the end of another fruitful and exciting year during which we have made good progress and accomplished much in a number of critical areas - and are now embarking on another exciting year.
What we achieved during 2006 has been as a direct result of the collective efforts of all our staff
It is therefore my honour to thank all our colleagues, the academic staff as well as the support staff, all of who remained focused on the critical challenges and who, despite the many challenges, have helped us to realize the objectives which we set for ourselves in 2006.
I hope each one of you and your family members enjoyed a peaceful and enjoyable festive season.
Prof LV Mazwi–Tanga
VICE-CHANCELLOR

M s Yasmin Nanabhay, lecturer in
Public Management and Law at the Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT), was admitted by the Cape High Court as an advocate of the High Court in South Africa .
Ms Nanabhay was admitted to her new role by Senior Advocate Gary Myburg.
She joined CPUT in 2004 as a lecturer in the Department of Public Management and Law, where she also sits as a chairperson for the faculty disciplinary committee at the Cape Town Campus.
Ms Nanabhay obtained her LLB degree at Wits University in 1999. She completed her articles at the law firm Fonnenberg,
Hoffman and Galombik where she was also a practicing attorney. Ms Nanabhay was previously a lecturer in law at the
University of Cape Town (UCT) before joining the CPUT.
She is currently completing her PHD at UCT, which will allow her to appear in different courts to do research on legal work pertaining to her field. Ms
Nanabhay will continue to lecture in Public
Management and Law at the CPUT.
“I am looking forward to it; I feel a strong sense of achievement, as this was one of my goals. It gives me an opportunity to make court appearances at the
Constitutional Court when issues arise pertaining to my field. It also gives me an opportunity to make a difference in society and improve the areas of law that are lacking. I also see this as an opportunity to assist the CPUT in any legal matter where I can offer my expertise,” said Ms
Nanabhay.
LEGAL EAGLE: Ms Nanabhay beams as she stands at the doors of the Cape High Court
2
by Prof Nico Beute
Engineers from various disciplines have embarked on a project to assist teachers with the teaching of mathematics, science and technology in schools.
The engineers attended a training session hosted by the Cape Peninsula
University of Technology and the
Institute of Electrical and Electronic
Engineers (IEEE), the world’s largest technical professional society. The training session was co-ordinated in association with the Engineering
Council of South Africa (ECSA), the
South African Institution of Mechanical
Engineers (SAIME), the South African
Institution of Civil Engineers (SAICE), the Institute of Professional Engineering
Technologists (IPET) and the Chamber of Engineering Technology.
Strategies for building effective partnerships were discussed with school teachers and lesson materials were given to the participants.
The workshop for teachers was held under the auspices of IEEE’s Teacher
In-Service Programme (TISP), Training for South Africa. TISP assists schools as they implement the new curriculum for
Further Education and Training (FET) in schools, which covers Grades 0 to
12. TISP is a proven programme that leverages existing engineering skills in the country to assist teachers.
The overall goal of the programme is to encourage collaboration between the engineering team and local education departments, to establish in-service training sessions for teachers who are teaching subjects related to engineering in Grades 0 to 2.
Mr Cameron Dugmore, MEC for
Education in the Western Cape, said:
“This programme is an excellent example of how all sectors can cooperate to improve the quality of education in the country and to build the scarce skills we desperately need to grow and share the economy. We are deeply grateful to the engineers taking part in this programme, and look forward to working with them as we develop the teaching skills and knowledge of our teachers.”
The workshop attracted about ninety participants from the teaching and engineering professions. Top officials from the national education department and many provincial education departments were present. Engineers came to understand the challenges the education department face and showed their commitment to help teachers understand engineering principles and applications so as to equip them with knowledge and lesson plans to teach engineering related subjects.
During September and October a total of about 500 teachers benefited from engineers who shared their knowledge and practical expertise with them. Engineers lead training sessions, provided teachers with lesson plans, material and instruments. This has helped tremendously to prepare teachers to present engineering related lesson plans to their students.

PRETTY PATELLA: This vessel has been acquired by the CPUT Department of Maritime studies that will help to enhance their existing Maritime Education and Training Development capability.
T he Department of Maritime
Studies at the Granger Bay
Campus recently purchased the fisheries research vessel ‘Patella’ from the department of Environmental Affairs
& Tourism (DEAT).
The upgrading of the fishery and environmental protection vessel fleet was completed in late 2005 with the commissioning of the ‘Victoria
Mxenge’.
A key element of this programme was the phased decommissioning of the three older vessels: ‘Jasus’, ‘Pelagus’ and ‘Patella’. ‘Jasus’ was sold in July
2005, the ‘Pelagus’ in September 2006 and finally, the ‘Patella’.
The reason behind the CPUT acquisition of the decommissioned
‘Patella’ (at a cost of ZAR 450 000,00) by the Department of Maritime Studies of CPUT was primarily to enhance their existing Maritime Education and
Training Development capability.
Captain Dr Ed Snyders, head of the
University’s Department of Maritime
Studies notes: “Many of our students, particularly those from the deep rural areas of South Africa, have never had the privilege of being near or at sea.
This floating laboratory, nicknamed
‘Flolab’ and to be renamed ‘Fathom10’, shall go a long way in complementing and enhancing the existing academic component and bringing to life challenging abstract concepts”.
Like her consorts, ‘Patella’ was used exclusively in the near shore areas during her period of service to DEAT and played an important role in the inspection of rock lobster and line fishing vessels and was also active in the abalone poaching operations.
Over the years, ‘Patella’ has operated around the South African coastline and did extended tours of duty on the south and east coasts. She was very effectively deployed from Hout Bay during 2005 and 2006 and did excellent work in monitoring the activities of the rock lobster boats.
The vessel is ideal for a wide range of training applications and will be used for marine and instrument research and a host of other noncommercial academic applications. She shall be berthed and slipped at CPUT’s own private harbour in Granger Bay.
“We, at CPUT’s Department of
Maritime Studies, hope that ‘Fathom10’ shall serve the maritime industry well in her new capacity as a floating laboratory and that learners, henceforth, shall be more adequately prepared for the immense challenges of a seagoing career,” said Capt Dr Ed Snyders.

4
C heryl Hewson, the driving force of the Student Tutoring
Service (STS) at the Fundani Centre for Higher
Education, will be leaving the institution after 0 years.
Ms Hewson would like to commend the CPUT for creating an opportunity where she had the freedom to be creative in her conceptualisation, implementation and co-ordination of the STS function.
STS has the potential to grow the students’ ability to learn, by giving second year students the responsibility to mentor other students and help their transition from secondary to tertiary learning. This service started with 50 tutors in 997, and now has 50 trained tutors. Many students who started as tutors are now full-time employees of the CPUT.
The STS will become decentralised into departments in 2007.
The STS functions will be located within the various faculties, and a process of consultation is underway. Ms Hewson says, “
The decentralisation will be phased in over the next two years.”
Ms Nosisana Mkonto will manage the process of decentralisation throughout the institution and will be supported by Ms Abigail
Zwartz-Cupido.
Ms Hewson will be remembered by her colleagues for her stamina, creative spark, resourcefulness and networking skills.
“I’d like to commend the institution for valuing a learning support system like peer tutors and acknowledge the many people I have worked with, and formally say goodbye,” said Ms Hewson.
Ms Cheryl Hewson
M s Fatima Darries, librarian at the
CPUT’s Design and Informatics
Faculty, has been named the
Librarian of the Year by the Library and Information Association of South
Africa (LIASA) during its recent annual conference Tshwane.
Each of the ten branches within LIASA had to name a branch winner who would then be eligible for the national award. Ms
Darries was named the Western Cape
Branch Librarian of the year. She was also elected branch chairperson.
She was then interviewed for the national leg of the competition in Tshwane along with the other branch winners.
Ms Daries received an award of R25 000 to be used for educational purposes. The
AWARDED: (from left) Ms Naomi Haasbroek, ex-Western Cape chairperson,.
Fatima Darries holding her trophy and LIASA president, Mr Tommy Matthee
Librarian of the Year is seen to be a role model to the rest of the library and information community and a person whose contributions make a lasting impact on the sector.
The motivation from the Western Cape branch reads: “In addition to fulfilling all the criteria for this prestigious award, Ms
Darries has been very actively involved in Liasa. She demonstrates excellence in promoting library and information services and the Association through her work at the
Cape Peninsula University of Technology and Liasa activities.
“Her leadership is demonstrated by the various initiatives such as the establishment of the Western Cape Higher Education
Libraries Interest Group (WCHELIG) and the successful colloquiums hosted by this interest group. An exceptional achievement was her selection to attend the HERS-SA
Academy. In 2005 Ms Daries was one of six South African women to attend the Bryn Mawr Summer Institute and also presented a paper there, promoting librarians and making valuable contacts.
She is also an accredited EDT practitioner and her involvement with training is evidence of her commitment to the development of Library and Information
Systerms (LIS) professionals.”

The Southern African Institute for
Occupational Hygiene (SAIOH) recently hosted a conference where issues and concerns in Occupational Health and
Safety in Africa were discussed.
Subjects that were addressed included the New Proposed Hazardous Chemical
Substances Regulations, Pre- and post employment medical evaluations,
Psychological and Physiological medical examinations of employees working at heights, the proposed Integrated
Occupational Health and Safety Act and numerous other pertinent topics.
Mr Emmanuel Rusford of the Faculty of Health Sciences lists the resolutions that were compiled and submitted for adoption:
. A proactive role should be played by the leadership of SAIOH at national and branch level to stimulate the dissemination of the aims of the institute amongst stakeholders.
2. Networking and marketing initiatives of the aims and objectives of the institute should occur amongst SMME’s in order to address the imbalances in industry.
3. SAIOH should be taken beyond the boundaries of South Africa.
4. Constructive attempts should be taken by SAIOH to promote the philosophies of health and safety among students.
5. All members involved in the evaluation of potential occupational hazards
(assistants, technologist and hygienist) should be exposed to rigorous assessor and moderation training inline with the
SAQA requirements and the conclusions drawn from certified assessors and moderators should be considered in order to increase the validity and reliability of the recommendations to the certification board;
6. Short courses, workshops, meetings and conferences should be accessible throughout the continent in order to enable members to generate required continuous professional development points;
7. Occupational health and safety information relevant to the hygienist should be accessible through the SAIOH website in order to standardise delivery of occupational health and safety services industry.
Further information about Southern
African Institute for Occupational Hygiene is obtainable at www.saioh.org
South Africa is struggling to compete internationally in the area of tooling.
An international conference was recently held at the Cape Peninsula
University of Technology to address this issue.
Mbavhalelo Mabogo, a M.Tech student in Mechanical Engineering, impressed delegates with his research on tooling failures.
This won him the award for the best presentation.
“It has been very hard work. I have not completed my research on finite element analysis of tooling failures.
South Africa cannot compete in the area of tooling because our technology is behind. At the moment we are competing with China and if we increase our competitiveness, we will increase employment,” said
Mbavhalelo.
For his research, Mbavhalelo approached a company for a tool that was failing. The company gave him a spring seat for a shock absorber.
“I had to look at why this component was failing and used reversed engineering through the Institute for Advanced Tooling in Pretoria.
The results were analysed on a finite element analysing computer programme. I had to simulate the environment to pick up what was causing the failure and how to solve it. Although the research is not finished I have come up with initial findings.”
This was the enthusiastic student’s first presentation at an international conference and he gives all the credit to his supervisor, Prof Graeme
Oliver.
“We have to create a platform to begin to solve problems in industry and this is where academic institutions such as the
CPUT can help.”
A WINNER: Mbavhalelo Mabogo
5

6
by Jenna Christoffels and Ntsikelelo Madini
The South African Port Operations
(SAPO) and the Department of Maritime
Studies at the Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT) hosted the recent National Campaign, “Take a girl child to work”, at SAPO’s Multi Purpose
Terminal and Containers, Cape Town.
EMPOWERING YOUNG WOMEN: The learners learnt a lot during the time spent day at the CPUT.
The campaign was launched four years ago as a joint effort between
Government, the Department of
Education, businesses and the public. It has transformed into South
Africa’s biggest co- operative act of volunteerism.
The visit included a group of four students from Robinvale High School in Atlantis, Zisukhanyo High School,
Samora Machel in Philippi and
Fairmount High School in Grassy Park.
The objective for the day was to expose and encourage girl child empowerment and the core topic was experiential learning and giving them career guidance on how to access this industry. It encouraged the girls to deepen their thinking, enhancing their self- esteems to achieve their full potential. The campaign gives them insight into different working conditions, breaking away from the stereotypical girls choices, and helps them make wider career options.
The learners were also introduced to various fields within the campus and
SAPO. The day brought about more knowledge for the students and was a great experience and success. The outcome of the day was a success thanks to Ms Pamela Yoyo, Mr
Francoius Verwey, Mr Mike Powles, Mr
Joe Madlala from SAPO, Captain Dr. Ed
Snyders and Mr Zanemvula Gozongo from CPUT.
by Melissa Green
Twenty inmates at Malmesbury
Correctional Facility, of which ten are
HIV-positive, participated in a 6 -week
Surface Design workshop conducted by Nicole Nel, a masters student in
Surface Design at the Cape Peninsula
University of Technology (CPUT). The inmates form part of the “Group of
Hope,” who contribute to the plight of
HIV/AIDS and work closely with the
HIV/AIDS Unit at the University.
Nicole’s project focused on exploring the feasibility and sustainability of an educational surface design programme for HIV-infected and affected adults based at the Malmesbury facility.
The project aimed to empower inmates with skills that can be used as an income generating resource once they are released. It further aims to teach inmates to express their feelings through art as a therapeutic benefit for
HIV-infected and affected inmates.
If the research yields positive results, not only in terms of skills development but in terms of expressing feelings through art, then such interventions could be introduced elsewhere for the
HIV-infected and affected persons.
The workshop encouraged inmates to explore their feelings through art by creating their own surface designs.
The inmates experimented and worked with clay, chalk pastel, water paint, charcoal, crayon and ceramic paint.
Their journey also included rhythmic, singing, meditating and rhythmic clap work.
Many inmates have not touched clay since their childhood, and this experience brought back many playful memories. They believe there is a great need for other inmates to be exposed to these workshops.
One inmate said, “I’d like to thank you for making the effort and time to further educate us and bridge the divide between inmates and the public. Thank you for this opportunity Nicole.”.
The Group of Hope, under Nicole’s guidance, is currently completing the last project. This entails the creation of a tile mural for the prison. Each participant received four tiles on which to compose a positive message by expressing their own feelings. The tile mural, consisting of eighty tiles, will be mounted at the visitors’ area at the facility in Malmesbury.
The experience has introduced Nicole to a completely different world. It has proved to be very challenging, fulfilling and has given her a “feeding of the soul” experience.
She said, “They were always eager to work with the art materials and wanted to acquire new skill learning processes that raised their self confidence and self esteem”, said Nicole.
The workshop was guided by two art facilitators Andrea Raath and
Jandri Macaulay.

Visiting Canadian lecturer Andrew Elliot interviews American Ms Eileen Bosso about her contribution to HIV/Aids awareness and councelling at the CPUT. Mr Elliot writes:
As a Canadian, many South Africans assume that I have a latten dislike for
Americans.
Whether I’m fond of my cousins to the
South or not, when you’re a few thousand miles from home and you hear an accent that sounds almost like yours all your preconceived notions disappeared and you instantly hit it off.
Of course this was made even easier by Eileen Bosso; the New Yorker with an infectious smile. There she was at my doorway, introducing herself two days before she was due to head back to the states to start her masters at the
University of Albany with a focus on AIDS epidemiology.
Eileen was the vanguard of what will hopefully be a large international contingent of interns from North America coming to work and learn at the Cape Peninsula
University of Technology (CPUT). Whether here on the Bellville campus or Cape
Town the experience they garner and the contributions they make are irreplaceable, and enrich the work they do and that of those around them.
First arriving in Natal, Eileen worked at a hospice developing AIDS education programmes for youngsters and women, as well as working with terminal AIDS patients.
When she described her first six weeks to me I got the feeling that it was just settling in how much it had changed her life. The difference just from lodging with a large
Zulu family as opposed to her home in
New York was distinct enough.
But working in a hospice in a totally foreign environment with a whole new set of rules is a big change. However, I think the most traumatic experience for Eileen was that under her care two of the patients she was working with passed on. While it was inevitable for her, “not only being in the medical profession but also working directly with people who have
AIDS” the first time she witnessed someone die before her eyes was life altering.
After six weeks in Natal it was off to the Mother City.
Eileen immediately started working on her projects. The projects she was working on at CPUT were massive in both scope and application, and for someone who was only spending six weeks here she accomplished a tremendous amount.
Eileen went over the details of what she was doing here things got a little foggy for me. My background in anything medical consists of “go back to bed, if it gets worse see a doctor”. She spoke about her first task of working with the clinical psychologist to put together a counselling programme for peer educators and only after careful explanation on Eileen’s part did I finally get it.
It would appear that the peer counsellors on campus were at the time purely trained in HIV/AIDS education. Now, thanks to
Eileen they have a programme that also teaches them how to counsel fellow students and others who have been infected with HIV. Often, when people find out they have been infected they have no one to turn to for help and support. This
programme helps students who need counselling services and give counsellors a
better set of tools to help them deal with a host of other issues that might arise during their work.
Previously the clinic did not use partner notification as part of their STD control. This was the second project Eileen was working on. Partner notification is used around the world to prevent the spread of STD’s and works something like this. When someone tests positive for an STD/STI the clinic or hospital encourages them to inform any partner they have been with to also get tested. If for some reason that person does not want to notify their partners the medical facility will do it on their behalf without using the original person’s name.
We ended our conversation with a toast to work done, and work to be done.
FAREWELL EILEEN From left are Mr Peter le Roux (HIV/Aids Coordinator), Ms Merle Hodges (International Officer), Ms Eileen
Bosso, Lion Kahimise (HIV/Aids Peer Counselor) and Ms Nadia Viljoen (Health and Safety Officer).
7

The year was 200. Like so many students Zindle Mobbs came to the Cape
Peninsula University of Technology with hopes and dreams. Although Education was not her first choice she put everything into her studies. After passing her first year she knew she made the right choice. She has just completed her
B.Tech degree in Education.
What makes Zindle different from other students? This young, attractive woman with the beautiful smile has full blown
Aids. It was not an easy decision but she wanted to tell Moja her story.
“It has not been an easy road, but I could not have done it without the wonderful support of the CPUT students and staff,” said Zindle.
Zindle fell ill in May 2004. It started with the flu but things got worse.
She lost a lot of weight and thrush in her mouth. She went to the campus doctor who suspected she had tuberculosis but advised her to go for a HIV-test.
“I got scared and decided to go to another doctor.
He told me the same thing. Still I did not want to face reality and bought medicines with the hope that I will get better.”
She did not want to go for the test because she knew what the virus did to people.
She lost her sisters to Aids, one in
99 and one in 200.
“I was not getting better and did not want to go for the test. I decided to pack my bags and go home to the Eastern
Cape. There I went to the hospital. They took X-rays and it was confirmed that I had TB. They also insisted that I do the test. I didn’t want to worry my parents and tried to convince myself it was nothing. I continued changing doctors and medication.”
Zindle returned to campus. By then she lost 0 kilograms and still did not want to test. She became weaker and developed sores on her back. She went back to the campus clinic where the HIV/Aids counsellor spoke to her and eventually convinced her to do an HIV-test. After six months of being ill and losing weight she found the courage to do a test.
“It was what I knew all along and did not want to face. I cried but I was relieved at the same time. I called my mother. She told me to make a decision: to die or to live. She said this was a manageable disease. She believed that I could pull through.”
She was writing her final exam for her second year. When she told her best friend, she applauded Zindle for her courage and strength to disclose.
Zindle finished her exams and went home where she started TB-treatment.
The side effects of the treatment hit her hard and she became weaker. By that time she was reading about HIV and knew that something else was wrong.
“Without the doctor knowing and went to test my CD-4 count. It was 15. I had fullblown Aids. I immediately spoke to the doctor about anti-retrovirals.”
She was now taking medication for
TB as well as Aids, but she came back to campus to start her third year.
“I came back for my family. They were so supportive and gave me the courage to go on. When I arrived on campus I weighed 5 kilograms and looked like a skeleton. I continued to go for counselling on campus and joined the HIV/Aids Support
Group. Being part of the group was encouraging. It made me feel like the strongest person on earth. The group gave me the confidence to go on with life, my studies and to look forward to the future. I decided to disclose to certain lecturers and their reaction was amazing. They supported me and constantly told me what a strong person I am.”
After six months Zindle weighed
54 kilograms and life was starting to look good again. She wanted to do more and became a Resident Student
Assistant and later joined the HIV/Aids
Peer Counsellors.
“I decided to disclose my status to the peer counsellors. They didn’t feel sorry for me and that was amazing.
They are like my family. They didn’t care about my status. I enjoyed the workshops especially the community outreach projects. I was gaining new skills and this kept me going.”
Zindle’s biggest test was recently with the three-day
HIV-testing drive on campus. She disclosed to her fellow Education students and encouraged them to know their status.
“The reaction was great. Everywhere I went students came up to me and told me they went for the test.”
Today Zindle’s CD-4 count is 854.
She is living healthily and wants to continue to spread the word about
Aids.
“I had to change the way I live but I know it’s just a virus. I cannot let my dreams be shattered because of it. It is a challenge to live with Aids. You get depressed and you do wonder what people think. I always remind myself that the focus is to live a longer life. I have plans for my future. I want to enrol for HIV/Aids course at the University of the Western Cape in 200.
“I cannot imagine starting my journey with Aids without the love and support of the CPUT students and staff. I have learnt that anything is possible and that you cannot sit down and wait to die.”

The HIV/Aids epidemic shall stay with us for a long time. Not only are we faced with the crisis of the illness, but we are also faced with the crisis of death stemming from this epidemic.
As result of the epidemic, the average age of death in South Africa is 34. Thirty years from now we will still be feeling the impact of their death.
These were the observations of HIV/Aids activist and Treatment Action Campaign leader, Mr Zackie Achmat, during his address at the Peer Educator Awards
Ceremony hosted by CPUT’s HIV/Aids
Unit at Kirstenbosch recently.
The awards are held annually and salute those Peer Educators who go out of their way to ensure that they convey important information about HIV/Aids to their fellow students.
He said many things changed in South
Africa since the campaign started. “If you have HIV, you can still have a productive life. I am looking forward to many, many years,” he said amid cheers from the gathering.
Lerato Mniki, the winner in the Senior
GREAT WORK: Zackie Achmat and some members of the CPUT’s HIV/Aids
Unit during the Peer Educator Awards Ceremony at Kirstenbosch.
Peer Educator category, said she had initially had negative perceptions about infected people. “When I was introduced to the programme, it changed my attitude and perception about HIV/Aids,” she said.
Dr. Mandla Tshabalala, Deputy Vice-
Chancellor of Student Affairs, said the
CPUT was taking the Peer Educators’ work very seriously.
“You have given yourselves time to drive the message of HIV/Aids beyond the CPUT You have done this even though you have the same challenges
(academic) as other students. You will be rewarded,” said Tshabalala in praise of the Peer Educators at the CPUT.
The HIV/AIDS Unit celebrated World
AIDS Day at the Malmesbury prison on 2
December 2006. Some inmates involved in the programme received certificates for their contribution to HIV/Aids activities.
by Melissa Green
The Faculty of Informatics and Design recently honoured Surface Design student
Jon Paul Bolus for raising R700 000 for
Aids orphans within twelve hours. Surface
Design lecturer Ms Elize Potgieter gave her second year students an assignment that require them to raise funds for AIDS orphans.
The students set about raising money through the sale of raffle tickets and
Jon Paul Bolus (middle) with Ms Mel Hagen, Dean of the Faculty of
Informatics and Design, Ms Gail Johnson, Director of the Nkosi’s Haven,
Mr Pierre Uys, MEC of Health: Western Cape; and Mr Cameron Dugmore,
Western Cape Education MEC, with children from the Nkosi Haven.
organising a market day.
Student Jon Paul Bolus was moved to make a difference. He knew of
Brockhouse Cooper’s “brokerage” day and initiated an idea with the help of his father, Mr Mike Bolus, Managing Director of the company.
All speakers, amongst them Prof Anthony
Staak, Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Academic;
Ms Mel Hagen, Dean Faculty of Informatics and Design; Ms Gail Johnson, Director of the Nkosi’s Haven; Ms Shirley Palmer,
Public Relations Manager of Foschini Ltd;
Mr Pierre Uys, MEC of Health: Western
Cape and Mr Cameron Dugmore, MEC of Education, showered John with praises for the job he had done.
Ms Johnson told the gathering how important this money has been for the
Nkosi’s Haven as some renovations have already been effected with the money.
Sponsors for the evening included
African Harvest, Allan Gray, Old Mutual,
Prudential, Sanlam, Rand Merchant Bank and Stanlib. The Nkosi’s Haven Choir ascended the stage and performed some dance items for the guests.
9

The Cape Peninsula University of
Technology’s Community Engagement and Service Learning Department recently won an award for their display at a national exhibit on Community
Engagement in Higher Education. The
Department won R0 000 for the most informative exhibition.
The Higher Education Quality
Committee (HEQC) of the Council on
Higher Education (CHE) and the JET
Education Services (formerly known as the Joint Education Trust) hosted the conference.
Mr Jo Lazarus CHESP Project Manager said, “Three international guests, Mr
Mario Fernandez, Mr John Kaburisa and Mr Rupa Shah were requested to identify the exhibit which they found most informative in terms of community engagement.”
“While our international colleagues indicated that it was no easy decision, their collective vote identified the Cape
Peninsula University of Technology as the institution with the most informative exhibition. Congratulations to CPUT and thank you all for exhibiting at the conference,” said Mr Lazarus.
The conference was held in response to the White Paper on the transformation of higher education
(Department of Education, 997) which refers to community engagement as an integral part and core function of higher education in South Africa.
EXHIBITIONISTS: (from left) Ms Jacqui Scheepers, Dr Joyce Nduna and Ms Faeeza Davis.
The overarching goal of the conference was to promote an enabling environment for the conceptualisation and implementation of community engagement in South African Higher
Education Institutions (HEI’s). One of the specific goals was to promote dialogue among senior academics, local authority, community, and business leaders regarding regional development through teaching, learning and research. All public HEI’s in South
Africa were invited to nominate seven delegates to attend the conference.
Amongst the speakers was the
National Minister for Education, Ms
Naledi Pandor, the Premier of the
Western Cape, Mr Ebrahim Rasool, the Mayor of Cape Town, Ms Helen
Zille and the acting CEO of the CHE who is also Director of the HEQC, Mr
Mala Singh .The Vice-Chancellors and Deputy Vice-Chancellors of local institutions acted as conference chairpersons.
Dr Joyce Nduna and Ms Jacqueline
Scheepers of the CPUT’s Community
Engagement and Service Learning
Department attributes the winning of the award to the tremendous institutional support that the Community
Engagement and Service-Learning Unit receives from the CPUT community.
“CPUT is committed to community engagement and for this we are proud,” they said.
by Ncamile Dlikilili
0
Mr Jabulani Mazibuko Mahlangu,
International Relations Coordinator at the
Cape Peninsula University of Technology
(CPUT) passed away recently.
His memorial service was held at the
Cape Town Campus. Mr Mahlangu fell ill while promoting the CPUT to universities in Europe. Upon his arrival back to South
Africa, Mr Mahlangu was directly transported to hospital where he was diagnosed with double pneumonia and remained in critical condition till his death.
He worked closely with Ms Merle Hodges of the university’s international office.
“We started to work together in 2005 when the international office was opened by the
University”, said Ms Hodges.
Mr Mahlangu advised international students on problems they were facing in the CPUT.
“Mr Mahlangu came up with good ideas in drafting policies, leaflets, posters and books for international students”, said Ms
Hodges.
“Mr Mahlangu searched for the good instead of searching for mistakes. He was dedicated to push the University mandate even though he was not feeling well”, said
Vice-Chancellor Prof Vuyisa Mazwi-Tanga.
“Mr Mahlangu was soft spoken and also meant a great deal to us. CPUT will prosper and grow and shall always remain grateful to this dedicated man”, said Mr Alwyn van
Gensen, CPUT Interim Registrar.
MrJabu Mahlangu

T he Reading Association of South
Africa (RASA) recently held its second national conference at the
Cape Peninsula University of Technology’s
Education and Social Science Faculty in
Mowbray. The theme of the conference this year was “Literacy Matters” and was attended by about 200 delegates.
Many academics, schools, and institutions of higher learning from as far as Botswana,
KwaZulu-Natal, Gauteng, Free State and the Eastern Cape attended the conference.
There was a very strong presentation of
WCED officials throughout the weekend and many publishers had displays of their most recent work.
The keynote speaker was Professor Kate
Parry who spoke on the topic of “Which
Literacy Matters and why”. Although Kate lecturers at Hunters College, New York, she lives 4 months of every year in Uganda and her talk was based on her work in libraries in Uganda.
Among the very stimulating and fascinating sub themes of “Literacy
Dr Janet Condy
Matters” papers were presented on multilingualism, adult literacy, early literacy, professional development, writing, authors and illustrators, special needs and literacy from Gr R - 2.
Dr Janet Condy, convener of the conference and chairperson of RASA, described this year’s conference as extremely positive and what the country, teachers and academics are crying out for
– a forum to discuss and debate current literacy issues across the spectrum. She said all of the papers that were delivered by national and international speakers were of a very high standard and that this reflected the excellent work that is being done by many people in the country in the field of literacy.
RASA is affiliated to the International
Reading Association (IRA) and its vision is to be an internationally recognised organisation dedicated to empowering and helping all its citizens to be literate and to be able to develop to their fullest potential.
Dr Condy said RASA did not promote any specific pedagogic theory nor any one organization but was open to accepting all organizations and individual members involved with literacy.
RASA will begin a peer reviewed journal on reading and writing in southern Africa.
This journal will include articles that will benefit classroom teachers as well as researchers.
by Candice King
T he Department of Tourism
Management at the Cape
Peninsula University of
Technology (CPUT) recently hosted a workshop promoting responsible and sustainable tourism. The objective of the workshop was to put into operation practical implementations of this project.
“This project is run over four months and takes place in four modules. The project is currently in its fourth module and each workshop runs over a one week period”, said Prof Harold Goodwin, Professor of Responsible Tourism Management:
Leeds Metropolitan University.
The focus of the training programme is to promote sustainable and responsible tourism in South Africa, predominantly in previously disadvantaged communities.
The project engages provincial and local government.
Twenty-five participants attended the workshop and they include Cape Town
Routes Unlimited (CTRU), Cape Town
Tourism and people who travelled from as far as the West Coast, Overberg and
Paarl.
“The workshop is a training project that the British High Commission is funding”, said Ms Samira Kenward, Programme
Manager for Sustainable Development:
British High Commission in Pretoria.
Mr Nuchey Van Neel from Conservation
International - a non-governmental organisation with an office in
Namaqualand – says they hope to implement an eco-tourism development programme and they intend to catalyse conservation through development.
KEY PLAYERS: Ms Samira Kenward, Ms Heidi Keyser and Prof Harold Goodwin

T he Baja Bug team is on their way to America once again after winning the National Baja
Bug competition in Pretoria.
Mr Wesley Alexander, lecturer in the
Mechanical Engineering Department said this time around everything went well. Five Baja Bugs were entered this year. There were three student cars and two staff cars. At the end of the competition the Cape Peninsula
University of Technology students and staff won the overall competition in both their categories.
“Over and above the normal workload students and staff sacrificed their time to work on the vehicles. The fact that our vehicle did not break down during the endurance race won the competition for us. The endurance race counts the most and all we had to do was to fill the vehicle with petrol and change drivers,” said Mr
Alexander.
The student team who won their category consisted of CPUT students as well as Dutch students who spent a few months on the Bellville campus. The three students returned from the Netherlands to Cape Town to participate in the competition.
As the national champions, the students now have the opportunity to compete with students from all over the world at the international Baja
Bug competition in America in May
2007.
“The CPUT team went to America last
WINNING TEAM: The team who won this year’s National Baja
Bug competition.The students will compete at the international Baja
Bug competition in America in May 2007. year to compete in the competition and next year we again have the opportunity to show what we can do. Unfortunately going to America costs money and we hope to raise enough to prove to the rest of the world what we are capable of,” said
Mr Alexander.
The Baja Bug competition is open to all universities. The students are given a set of rules and a 0horsepower engine.
They have to design and build a four-wheel, single-seater vehicle.
2
An outreach team of the Cape Peninsula
University of Technology implemented a science and technology project in rural schools. This venture is a partnership between the Western Cape Education
Department’s Breederiver-Overberg
Education Management and Development
Centre (EMDC) and the mathematics, science and technology (MST) education outreach team. The project consisted of three phases: a science show followed by the building of science clubs and finally an interschool science and technology exhibition.
The CPUT outreach team consisted of Dr. Shaheed Hartley (Director of
Contract Research), Mr. Robert Solomon
(Education Department) and a number of mathematics, science and technology education students. They took this project across the Breederiver-Overberg region, from Ceres, Wolsley and Worcester to
Robertson, Grabouw and Genadendal.
The first phase, consisted of curriculumrelated physics and chemistry experiments and technology education.
The second phase dealt with the establishment of a science club at each of the schools that were visited during
Phase I. The final part of Phase II involved a science show by the learners to the outreach team.
The final phase of the project entailed a competition between the schools that participated in Phase II. The details of the project and the science competition will be featured on SABC 2 on Monday
1 st January 2007 on the programme
HIP2B 2 at 16:30 .
In the high school category Vusisizwe
Secondary from Worcester won the award for their enthusiastic and interesting rendition of experiments, scientific explanations, presentation skills and incorporation of local knowledge. The primary school section was awarded to
De Villiers Primary in Robertson for their scientific approach, carefully worked out experiments and scientific explanations but finally also for their ingenious methods in devising and launching a waterrocket that was shot in the air for nearly a proverbial mile. Both schools won a
R2000 prize, half which is to be spent on the participating learners directly and the other half on developing science and technology education at the school.

T he e-Innovation Academy of the CPUT, housed in the
Multidisciplinary Applied
Research Centre in Roeland street,
Cape Town, has been the base for numerous research projects since it’s launch. A project titled “Website
Visibility” is one of the more recent
CPUT e-commerce projects funded by the National Research Foundation
(NRF), writes Prof Melius Weideman, head of this unit.
Website visibility refers to the degree of ease with which a search engine crawler
(like Google) can find and index a given website, and it affects the ranking of this website on search engine result pages.
This e-Commerce research niche area recently produced four Masters degree students. The four students are Rickard
Chambers, Fernie Mbikiwa, Mongezi
Ngindana and Wouter Kritzinger.
Rickard Chambers produced a model which can improve website visibility for
SMME websites, while Fernie Mbikiwa studied search engine exclusion policies and their effect on the indexing of e-
Commerce websites. Mongezi Ngindana compared the effect text-based as opposed to graphics-based hyperlinks have on visibility, while Wouter Kritzinger researched the role of keyword location in website visibility. Mongezi and
Wouter are both CPUT staff members, while Rickard is currently employed by a college in London as lecturer and head of department. Fernie is a system support developer at Metropolitan.
Since early 2004, numerous research outputs have been produced by this group of researchers. The list includes five Department of Education accredited journal articles (two of them international), ten published working papers, two international and eleven national academic conference papers and twenty research posters at academic conferences. Furthermore, four international guest lectures were delivered on various aspects of website visibility, including one at Oxford
University in the United Kingdom.
Future research focuses on the real estate SMME sector in the Western
Cape, and how website visibility affects these smaller companies. A study is also being done on user preference profiling of natural search results as opposed to paid search engine result systems.
The effective use of Latent Semantic
Analysis (LSA) to increase the relevancy of search engine results is being studied.
Another student is focusing on the effect the choice of top level domain choice has on website visibility.
A proposal has been submitted to the NRF to expand the focus of this research group to also study potential synergy between crawler visibility and human usability. The researchers in this group are also concentrating on links to the industry. A mutually beneficial working relationship has been established with Ananzi, the top
South African search engine. Secondly, the topic of one of the recent national conference papers was the application
INNOVATORS: (From left) Masters student, Wouter Kritzinger and Prof
Melius Weideman.
of previous research done in the group on a real-life website.
Louw & Coetzee Attorneys, a company in Durbanville, was chosen for this research project. A variety of measurements were done on their website before and after the research project (www.louwcoet.co.za). As a result, their website rank for a certain set of keywords on both Google and
Yahoo! has jumped from nowhere to number one.
Finally, another link with industry has been established through potential improvements to a website. Grapetek
(www.uvasys.com) is a company manufacturing Uvasys Sulphur
Dioxide Generators, which are special rot-retarding sheets used in packaging export fruit. Negotiations are currently under way to submit the result of this research project to the World Usability
Day competition in Johannesburg.
Interested Masters and Doctoral students are invited to join in the fun and become part of the future!
* Funding from the NRF offers many staff members and students the opportunity to do research and improve their qualifications. Since it’s inception, this RNA has developed into one of the strongest in South Africa, with up to eight active grant holders producing research outputs.
“Why doesn’t this work?” “What am
I supposed to do with this now?”
World Usability Day, 14 November
2006, was for everyone who has ever asked these questions. It promoted the value of usability engineering and user-centered design, and the belief that every user has the responsibility to ask for things that work better. The
Usability Professionals’ Association did that by encouraging, organising, and sponsoring 6 hours of activities at the local level around the globe, all occurring on 14 November 2006.
This year the event organisers also launched a competition to showcase the inspiring usability achievements from all over South Africa. Prof Melius
Weideman and Mr Wouter Kritzinger from the CPUT’s e-Innovation Academy both entered the competition. Mr Kritzinger entered a poster integrating a model of both website usability and visibility, which could potentially help website designers not only achieve visibility, but also retain usability . Professor Weideman’s entry was a refurbishment of a website (see www.uvasys.com
) in terms of both usability and visibility.
This is the website of Grapetek, a company that manufactures Uvasys sulphur dioxide generating sheets, used in the grape export industry. e-IA received a special award and prize
(see picture in centre of page).

14
Does the quality of ground water in rural areas, as a source of drinking water, pose a health risk? Does replacing lead in gasoline have a positive effect on the environment? Do export wines produced close to the sea conform to sodiumchloride ratios?
These are just a few questions Analytical
Chemistry students answered at this year’s Science Idols competition.
This year’s Science Idol is Yolande
Schoeman. Yolanda spoke on “Surface characteristics of acrylic coatings for printing”. Higher performance coatings are a major goal for packaging companies. Acrylic based coatings have become increasingly popular due to UV resistance, gloss retention, improved adhesion, outstanding water resistance and its availability in variety of forms.
A compromise needed to be achieved between hydrophobicity and hydrophilicity to attain good printability as well as good barrier properties. Two acrylic based coatings were investigated for printability.
Murendeni Mafumo who was placed second investigated the chemical oxygen demand experienced in water which contains many organic substances after use in the industry. He investigated an improved method, whereby visible spectrophotometry is used, rather than the time-consuming titration method.
Third place went to Jeronimo De Los
Rios who used chemistry in the form of fluorescence liquid chromatography to determine whether wild garlic could be used to deter mycotoxins from forming on maize. The toxin is a huge problem in many maize-producing countries, and, with maize being the staple diet for many people, this is important research.
The purpose of the competition is to encourage Analytical Chemistry students doing their experiential training to articulate their workplace experience and practice in a public forum.
Ms Jenny Wright, one of the organisers explained how the competition came about:
“The competition was conceptualised in response to concerns expressed by industry that students struggled to articulate their understandings of science during interviews and generally in the workplace. Since our first competition last year, the number of organisations and companies sponsoring the event has grown. This year’s sponsors are the
South African Agency for Science and
Technology Advancement (SAASTA),
Merck, Denel Land Systems and the MTN
Sciencentre.”
Fifty Chemistry students entered the competition. The finals were held at the
MTN Sciencentre in Canal Walk.
Prof Luigi Nassimbeni, professor of
Physical Chemistry at the University of
Cape Town was one of the judges and the guest speaker at the event. The other two judges were Ms Janette Cawood, a chemist from Vredenburg and Ms Althea
Du Plessis, a communications lecturer.
SCIENCE GURUS:
(from left) Jeronimo Des
Los Rios (third place),
Yolande Schoeman
(winner) and Murendeni
Mafumo (second place).

What started off as a project has now launched an aspiring filmmaker’s career.
David Enright, a second year Film and
Video student recently reached the finals of the Vuka! Awards.
The Vuka! Awards is a national competition for public service announcements.
David entered the Newcomer category with a public service announcement on responsible gambling.
His entry started out as a project for his studies. He could not decide which issue to address until he looked around him.
“I have a very good friend whose father was a compulsive gambler. His gambling led to divorce and the family lost almost everything during this time. It was very sad to see what was happening to this family and this inspired me to focus on gambling,” said David.
David approached the National
Responsible Gambling Programme and did research on the subject before starting to film.
Although he did not win, his public service announcement will be flighted on selected DSTV channels.
“It has been a great experience to meet people from the industry. This has been an opportunity for me to be noticed - which can only do my career good.”
The world of film enticed David from a young age. As a learner at D.F. Malan
High School in Bellville, he convinced his teachers to do his oral presentations in the form of film.
“I am really enjoying the course. There is so much to learn. I would like to go into cinematography when I have finished my studies. The film industry is growing in
South Africa and you have to create your own opportunities.”
SWEET SUCCESS: David Enright’s public service announcement will be screened on national television
by Melissa Green
Fashion and surface/textile students from
South African design institutions could showcase their designs at the recent “No
Kak’ Awards. The objective was to increase awareness of eco--friendliness and provide local companies an opportunity to showcase their organic wares and holistic services. Students were asked to design an organic outfit which would then be displayed in a fashion show at the finals.
Organic garments are made from organic fabrics, e.g. cotton, linen, hemp, wool and untreated silk, where no bleach or dyes have been used.
From the 6 entrants twenty students were short listed to showcase their organic outfits at the “No Kak” fashion show. Of these twenty students five of them were from the Cape Peninsula
University of Technology.
The five students that were chosen from
CPUT were Petro Nieuwoudt, Pierre-Louis
Model on left wearing Kirsten’s organic outfit and third place winner
Kirsten Greeff on the right.
Geldenhuys, Philani Makwati, Bukiwe
Ndengezi, Wendren Milford and Kristen
Greeff.
All of the twenty finalists were flown to
Johannesburg for the final fashion show where the judging and prize giving took place.
At the prize giving and final judgment ceremony Cape Town students won the day. First place was taken by Estelle
Willemse (Northlink College), followed by
Bukiwe Ndengize (CPUT) in second place, and Kirsten Greeff of CPUT came in third.
Kirsten Greeff said, “The entire event was a wonderfully enriching experience, and I’m sure the entrants who will remain students next year are looking forward to the next
‘No Kak’ fashion show which will take place in 2007.”
5

6
by Candice Appollis
Think sport and you probably think sweaty clothes, physical training and exhaustion.
On one glitzy night, however, the Cape
Peninsula University of Technology
(CPUT) sportspeople get all dressed up to attend the Annual Sports Award Dinner
Dance.
Recently the clubs and teams from across the Institution gathered to honour top achievers of and contributors to
CPUT sport. The boxing team received an award for the Team of the Year and the Hockey Club was announced as the
Club of the Year. Alicia Eksteen and Sors
Joubert were named 2006 Sportwoman and Sportman of the year respectively.
Mr Michael Mortley, Relationship
Manager of Standard Bank presented honorary awards, merit awards and exemplary service awards to the recipients that evening.
The guest speaker was Mr Bennet
Bailey, a CPUT alumnus and Director of Transformation and Disputes in the
Department of Sport and Recreation in the Western Cape.
WORK OF ART: Ms Georina Westraadt from the Faculty of Education and Social Sciences at the Wellington campus recently presented a paper at the International Conference on Arts in Society in Edinburgh,
Scotland. Six delegates from the Cape Peninsula University of
Technology (CPUT), the University of Cape Town and the University of
Stellenbosch attended the conference. The conference coincided with the Edinburgh International Arts Festival and attendees represented the entire arts world, with the majority hailing from the Americas,
Australia, New Zealand and Europe. The theme of the conference was ‘Arts of Engagement’. Ten broad themes were addressed at the conference, namely Arts Agendas, Supporting the Arts, Art in
Communities, Constructing Art Worlds, Audiences, Arts Education,
Analysing Art forms, Meaning and representation, Festivals, Art and
Human Rights. In addition to papers delivered, there were talking circles, workshops and colloquia.
YOURS IN SPORT: Once again the Cape Peninsula University of Technology’s (CPUT) Sport
Department excels. Mr Kenny
Rinquest (left) received Honorary
Colours from the South African
Student Sport Union (SASSU) at their Annual General Meeting.
Mr Rinquest received this honour for services rendered over the past four-and-a-half years as National
Executive member of SASSU.
Mr Sakkie Booysen (right) was elected as a national executive committee member of SASSU for a two-year term.
OR
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