A Wits post-graduate student has designed a water purification system to produce reusable water.

A Wits University Masters student Kavisha Patel has designed a water purification system which may provide a possible solution to South Africa’s water shortage problem.

Patel’s system which combines wastewater treatment and membrane distillation makes the water reusable without the need for post-treatments of the wastewater.

“The membrane distillation bioreactor developed in this study has the potential to improve water quality, reduce sludge production, and greatly minimize the discharge of wastewater into rivers and streams”, Patel said.

According to the Rand Water  website, the current water situation in South Africa is that “the scarce fresh water is decreasing in quality because of an increase in pollution and the destruction of river catchments.”

Patel said that there is no existing evidence on work done on the membrane distillation bioreactor in the country which is what led her to undertake the research.

Prof Kevin Harding co founder of the Industrial and Mining Water Research Unit, explains that Patel’s project “is seen as novel in the paper industry.”

Harding said, “her [Patel’s] work is relevant to all the paper industries in South Africa, and obviously water being an important aspect of life and health she is giving useful information to them”.

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FEATURED: Kavisha Patel, Wits masters of chemical engineering student has designed a water purification system. Photo: Provided. 

An exhibition of traditional Mexican toys is held at the Wits Anthropology museum. 

A toy which depicts Mexican painter and artist, Frida Khalo. Photo: Tumelo Modiba

A variety of traditional food welcomed visitors to an exhibition  of Mexican toys hosted by the Wits Center for Mexican Studies (CMS) and the Mexican embassy at the Wits Anthropology Museum on April 30, 2019. 

CMS, which was created in May 2018, mounted the exhibition on the same day as Children’s Day in Mexico to promote Mexican and Spanish culture.

Cooperation and cultural affairs officer of the Mexican embassy, Lourdes Zozaya, told Wits Vuvuzela that the exhibition was specifically held on April 30 in light of Children’s Day in Mexico that is observed on April 30 as well.

The toys on display were provided by collector and director of the Museo del Juguete Antiguo México, Roberto Shimizu. Shimizu said the toys that are on exhibit, “are the basic toys that nobody knows who invented them … they are toys that come with humanity”. 

Rosella Seresi, A Wits Spanish student told Wits Vuvuzela “I really enjoyed learning about the toys as well as the importance of toys for our understanding of different cultures.

Third year Spanish student, Jodie Fisher told Wits Vuvuzela “I learned that toys are very important to the Mexican culture and it [traditional Mexican toys] have an interesting history”.

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It is my mother’s shouting that I miss the most

Left to Right: Mooketsi (younger brother), Tsholanang and Keitumetse Rapoo at home in 2014.                                                                                                        Photo: Provided

This Sunday, May 12, marks the worst day of my year with the celebration of Mothers’ Day.

It is sure to be another day of wishing for things that can never be. Wishing she was around to: shout at me, punish me, make me do chores, or to joke or share a word of encouragement.

None of these things will happen, because, for yet another Mothers’ Day, she won’t be around.

Keitumetse Rapoo passed away on May 4, 2016, two weeks after she inexplicably collapsed in her bedroom. My little brother who was 12, found her.

I was away from home, doing first year at Wits. By the time I got to the hospital in Tlhabane, North West, my mother was in a coma. She never recovered.

The first Mothers’ Day without her came just four days after her death. We were deep into funeral arrangements when a family member casually mentioned that he had forgotten to wish his mother a happy Mothers’ Day. “Oh, it’s Mothers’ Day?” was my elder brother’s surprised reaction.

I just felt numb, because we had been anticipating a miserable Fathers’ Day, as our father had passed away six months before.

The first thing that came to mind was that I was never going to get another chance to make her a Mothers’ Day breakfast in bed. This is something I had failed to do year after year, because she would simply wake up first.

My lasting memory of that first Mothers’ Day is feeling really afraid for the first time. The world became scary. Everything was suddenly too big without my mother.

In my mind, I had always imagined that my mother would die after I had gotten my degree, gotten married and had three children. Any commemoration of her would be of her having lived a full, long life. Instead she died at 51, and to this day I feel cheated out of at least 20 more years with my mother.

I have loved my mother all my life and had never been angry with her.

It is the shouting that I miss the most. What then had seemed like the most painful and annoying 20 to 35 minutes of unnecessary noise in my pre-adult life, replays itself as music to my spirit now.

Family members tell me all the time that I look like her, and take after her in many ways. Which brings to mind a Setswana proverb that says: Kgaka-kgolo ga kena mebala, mebala e dikgakaneng. This loosely means the greatness of adults is seen through their children. This saying makes more sense now than it did in my high school Setswana class.

My mother was a person with a ‘will do’ spirit living in a ‘can’t do’ world. She used to tell us all the time she was tired, but we didn’t really pay attention to that because she willed herself out of bed every morning to do what she needed for her family.

Life was hard after my father’s death. I didn’t notice it then because of her. She fed my crazy imagination with as much enthusiasm as she kept it in check. I can’t even imagine how I can compare to the person who gave me this life.

My earliest memory of Mothers’ Day is my grade R teacher making us create arts and crafts cards for our mothers, listing all the things we loved about them.

I started out with: “I love my mom because she can cook: she makes my favourite food. I like it when she makes me laugh. She always shouts at my brother when he makes me sad.”

As we got older, we graduated to pictures and poems about the undying love of a mom. Until, at 16: “I love you and Happy Mothers’ Day to the greatest mom in the world.”

For years, what I did on the second Sunday of May was a result of what I thought was brain washing. Yet here I am now, wanting a reason to buy a ‘Greatest mom in the World’ cup.

My mother, like most mothers, could do anything. The question then is: why couldn’t she stay alive for me?

So, every Mothers’ Day I take the opportunity to argue with her in my head. No presents, no cards, just posting for the ‘gram and sulking alone in a corner.

FEATURED IMAGE: Keitumetse and Tsholanang Rapoo discuss Tsholanang’s choice in hair colour, December 2014. 

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As many as 120 students can benefit from the initiative

The Wits Law Students Council has partnered with a Wits lecturer to launch an initiative to provide groceries, textbooks and stationery assistance to students in the faculty.

Paul Kaseke is funding the initiative through the law firm AfriConsult, where he is a senior managing partner. It will assist up to 120 students.

The Wits Law Students Council. Front row: Merica Ntswane, Tina Ntywele, Dieketso Boshego, Nolwandle Hadebe, Siphosihle Nkosazana Mbuli and Faatimah Laher. Back row: Neville van der Spuy, Lerato Moela, Tsepo Kotoane and Cebo Khumalo. Photo: Provided by Siphosihle Nkosazana Mbuli.

Kaseke told Wits Vuvuzela that the initiative was estimated to cost just under R500 000 a year.

AfriConsult will purchase the items, while the LSC will distribute them to awarded students. The textbooks will be kept at the LSC offices and selected students can borrow them for the semester.

Siphosihle Nkosazana Mbuli, secretary-general of the LSC, said that Kaseke’s office had sent the offer to the council via a Twitter message earlier this year.

Kaseke, who teaches the Labour Law component in Occupational Social Work said, “I decided to help out after learning about some of the issues faced by students in the law faculty.”

Mbuli told Wits Vuvuzela that, “The partnership is based on giving the students that would best be served by alleviating their situation and making law school more bearable.”

The grocery support will cover five students while the stationery support is to cover between 75 and 100 students. Between five and 10 students are set to benefit from the textbook loan system.

Applications for the three forms of assistance opened on April 30. By the time they closed on May 7, 74 students had applied.

A means test will be conducted to ensure that applying students require assistance, and are not receiving similar support already.

“We look at the students’ expenses, and use that to determine the level of assistance we can provide to a student. The plan is to make this an annual collaboration so if all goes well this year, future projects of a similar nature will continue,” Kaseke told Wits Vuvuzela.

Kamogelo Madileng, a third-year BCom Law student and recipient of the Vincent Tshabalala bursary, said she had applied for the grocery and stationery assistance.

“My bursary pays for tuition and books. I stay off-campus, and I don’t eat at the dining hall,” she said.

The LSC has extended the deadline for applications for textbooks and stationery by one more week.

“We want to help out as many students as we can, and we feel that not enough students got the opportunity to apply for this benefit,” Mbuli told Wits Vuvuzela.

FEATURED IMAGE: Kamogelo Madileng (left) and fourth-year LLB student Nokuthula Nyathi, have applied for LSC assistance with groceries and textbooks respectively. Photo: Molebogeng Mokoka

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Wits University is set to introduce a policy which sets a quota in residences.

Wits university is in the process of phasing in a new policy which will dedicate 50% of residence places for first year students. The policy, which will be implemented over two years, is expected to be phased in for the 2020 admissions cycle. 

“The university constantly reviews its policies, processes and programme to ensure that these are aligned with our objectives and particularly that these respond to the changing nature of the student body”, Dean of Student Affairs Jerome September told Wits Vuvuzela.

At present, the university is able to provide accommodation for 6 500 students for which it receives roughly 14 000 applications.

First year student BA student Thando Lukhele told Wits Vuvuzela she thinks the quota system is a good idea.

“A lot of us are not coming from Johannesburg, so to be accepted into Wits and still have to look for private accommodation must be daunting”, the Wits Junction resident. 

The remaining 50% of spaces will go to returning students from 2nd year onwards, according to the policy. 

Readmission will be determined on the basis of academic performance, gender, distance from the main campus, contribution to residence life like mentorship, tutoring and involvement in student leadership.

A senior student at Knockando residence who wished to remain anonymous said that he fears that most senior students will not have a place to stay next year and that the accommodation crisis will increase.

“The atmosphere around residences has now changed because senior students and current first years are living in fear that come next year they might be homeless due to the introduction of this new policy”, he said. 

September told Wits Vuvuzela that the needs of senior students will be taken care of. “We are in conversation with private accommodation providers to ensure that a minimum standard for residence life and support is also put in place in private accommodation particularly speaking to the needs of senior students”, September said.

September added that an off-campus accommodation liaison office is being established to ensure a smooth transition for those seniors not re-admitted to a Wits residence, to accredited private accommodation.

The kitchen hopes it will restore the dignity of students.

Wits International Amnesty launched Kitchen Communal, a student-led initiative, which aims to end hunger at Wits University on Thursday, May 9.

Chairperson of Wits Amnesty, Sophia Sideras-Haddad said the launch was a success as the turnout of students shows the need for this initiative.

The aim of Kitchen Communal is “to create a space whereby students can prepare their meals in a dignified way,” Sideras-Haddad told Wits Vuvuzela.

The launch included a focus group to allow “students to have an input in how the kitchen will be run,” said Claire Tsumane, Wits Amnesty sub-committee head.

Wits Amnesty partnered with the Wits Citizen and Community Outreach (WCCO) and Co-operative and Policy Alternative Centre (COPAC), which funded and initiated the creation of the kitchen.

Karuna Singh, senior programme advisor at WCCO told Wits Vuvuzela, “I think the [launch] went very well as many students are interested in this facility.”

COPAC equipped kitchen  with a fridge, stove, oven, pots and crockery and cutlery which students can make use of. Sideras-Haddad said that the facility will allow students to have their say in how their meals are prepared.  During the focus group, Sing also encouraged students to cook the food they receive from the food bank at the Kitchen Communal.

Lethukuthula Mohlwayo, deputy chairperson of Wits International Amnesty said “the WCCO provides over 400 meals for students but not everybody gets the food so we want students who are not able to get the food to be able to cook for themselves,” he said.

Kwakhanya Pilane, a third year education student who attended the event told Wits Vuvuzela that she does not always get meals from the WCCO. “This will be an opportunity where I will be able to cook my own meals and for others,” she said.

The Kitchen Communal is based at The Sanctuary on Hostel Road close to the rugby fields.

“The ultimate aim eventually is to cook food for nearly 100 students a day,” said Sideras-Haddad.

FEATURED IMAGE:A group of volunteers who cooked for attendees of Kitchen Communal launch at The Sanctuary on Thursday, May 9. Photo: Lwazi Maseko

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Malicious sites have been blocked by Wits ICT.

Wits ICT (Information Communication Technologies) division have blocked malicious and illegal peer-to-peer downloading and streaming sites starting on April 1, 2019.

The division confirmed the block after a number of Wits students took to social media to complain about not being able to connect to some of their favourite sites.

Twitter user @Iam_KM98 was one of the students who could not gain access to movie sites

Haybo guys , did Wits block access to movie sites?

— Kuhle (@Iam_KM98) April 25, 2019

Another user, @Thaaandazo_, also raised the same problem highlighting that the show she normally watches is not available on the legal sites.

why did Wits block all the movie sites Homeland is definitely not on Netflix

— ethical slut. (@Thaaandazo_) April 27, 2019

@MosaMonaheng1, in shock, asked fellow students what they had done wrong for Wits to block streaming sites.

Why is Wits blocking streaming sites?? What did we do wrong?

— . (@MosaMonaheng1) May 2, 2019

Twitter user @tumipitswane was also one of the students who took to twitter to complain about the blocked illegal streaming sites.

So Wits really blocked our streaming sites.

— IM THE GAL (@tumipitswane) May 9, 2019

Dr Umesh Bodaling, a Systems Engineer at Wits ICT, explained malicious sites as virus sites or sites that attempts to install malware or  gather  personal information. He said peer-to-peer on the other hand, is like torrents which are illegal downloading sites.

“The reason we blocked these is because of copyright material that is illegally downloaded, however, there are ways to bypass it and some students have already found them,” Bodaling said.

“We get complaints from media centres overseas saying our network has downloaded a copyright material, for example a movie. The university could get sued if we do not pay close attention to things like this and that is why we have blocked them”, he added.

Bodaling emphasised that the university does not block legitimate sites like Netflix or Showmax which he encourages students to use.

He added that the viruses from malicious sites can attack the user’s device so blocking the sites actually preserves and protects the device.

“A lot of these sites that host things for free have malicious content which affects the user’s machine and the user won’t know. So they give it for free but in the meantime its infecting your machine,” he said.

Thokozani Dhlamini, ICT  technician, told Wits Vuvuzela that the sites are blocked by restricting access to certain domains that are marked as malicious. He also added that the the university is also limiting students from accessing the Eduroam network, which allows students to connect to the internet as they are trying to reserve it for visitors.

“We are trying to encourage students to use the Wits Wifi network by limiting access to Eduroam. We are doing this by trying to shed traffic especially during the day.”

ICT Chief Information Officer, Dr Mgobansimbi Mpofu, said the Wiits network cannot be used for illegal activities activities as this will have an impact on the university and ultimately on the jobs of the people working for Wits ICT.

Mpofu said the department has been trying to restructure their network system so it could work more efficiently and effectively.
“With trying to stay on top of things and encourage students to lodge complaints instead of tweeting them, we are going to launch a twitter page where students can tweet their complaints and we can fix them as they arise,” he added.

FEATURED IMAGE:  Wits Information Communication Technologies (ICT) offices where students can lodge complaints about internet related issues. Photo: Anathi Madubela.

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Wits student rows her way to the top.

The president of the Wits University Boat Club (WUBC) has been selected to coach the South Africa Schools Rowing Union (SASRU) development tour in London, from May 1 to May 13.

Rain de Jager, a third year BSc Occupational Therapy student, said she got selected to coach the SASRU tour team in March at the SA Schools Rowing Championship Regatta.

“Athletes get selected based off of their performance and once they are selected, all the coaches who coached them undergo a selection process,” De Jager said.

“This year they took the winning scullers (1-person boat) and winning pairs (2-person boat) coaches which I was one of,” De Jager told Wits Vuvuzela.Jenna Scott, WUBC Secretary told Wits Vuvuzela,

Jenna Scott, WUBC Secretary told Wits Vuvuzela, “Being a student athlete as well as president is already a massive commitment. Rain always goes the extra mile which is evident in the fact that she has put so much hard work into coaching schools rowing”.

Scott went on to describe De Jager as a vital member of the club who has done a great deal to recruit more female novices into WUBC.

“I have been coaching since 2015 and it has played a huge role in my life. Teaching young kids the sport that I love so much and teaching them the life skills that this sport offers is a big enough reward itself,” said de Jager.

In the UK, De Jager and her group will attend two rowing competitions – the Wallingford Regatta and Bedford Regatta where the athletes coached by De Jager and her other coaches, will compete against top schools in the area such as Eton College and Headington girls school.

FEATURED IMAGE: Rain de Jager, President of the WUBC and previous captain of the women’s squad, has gone to the UK to coach rowing. Photo: Provided

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The research looked at the use of fair value by the JSE’s top 40 listed companies

Valencia Hewlett will present her research at the 2019 South African Accounting Association Biennial International Conference in June. Photo: Ortal Hadad

A Wits trainee academic’s honours research has been selected to be presented at the 2019 South African Accounting Association (SAAA) Biennial International Conference, set to take place on June 26-28 at Emperors Palace.

Valencia Hewlett completed an honours degree in 2018. Her research evaluated the use of fair value as a measurement within the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE) Limited’s top 40 listed companies. This contributes to the South African field of accounting as Hewlett said there is much debate around whether to use fair value, the estimated price at which an asset can be sold under current market conditions, as a measurement model for companies.

Considering that accountancy is not generally research-based, the 22-year-old said, “Having the opportunity to do research and to be guided by my supervisor (Mr Wayne Van Zijl) really was eye opening.”

Her research will be presented in front of about 350 national and international candidates as well as representatives of accounting publications such as the ‘Journal of Economic and Financial Sciences’ and the ‘Southern African Journal of Accountability and Auditing Research’.

Wits associate professor and SAAA president, Elmarie Papageorgiou, said, “SAAA is very honoured to have Kimi Makwetu, the Auditor-General of South Africa, to be the keynote speaker.”

She said, having collaborated with the International Association for Accounting, Education & Research, SAAA hopes the conference will provide valuable feedback for experienced researchers.

Hewlett most looks forward to the possibility of being published yet acknowledges the value of feedback. “When other people start bringing in their ideas it can enhance what I’m trying to say,” the masters student said.

Andres Merino, who lectured Hewlett in management accounting last year, said that she is very professional in her work and that she makes an effort to support students in their own academic journeys.

He said the conference would enhance Hewlett’s research, saying, “From a practitioner’s point of view, a lot of insights can be arrived [at] on how to run your business.”

Thulani Mkaba, who is a trainee academic alongside Hewlett, said his colleague had struggled at first with her research. “At the beginning it was quite difficult. For instance, she would have to do extra lessons and her Saturdays were just about research,” he said.

Although overwhelmed at the invitation, Hewlett told Wits Vuvuzela, “I was just glad to get the opportunity to present. I didn’t expect anything like that.”

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The society of students from the land of the Rain Queen Modjadji to celebrate academic excellence of members

The Wits Balobedu Student Society (WBSS) is hosting its first academic dinner on Friday, May 10. The society, formed in 2018, is home to Khelovedu-speaking students.

According to the SA Languages website, “This language variety is associated with Northern Sotho (Sepedi) as it is regarded as a dialect of Northern Sotho. It exists only in an unwritten form and the standard Northern Sotho language and orthography is usually used for teaching and writing by this language community.”

Although the focus with cultural societies is being a ‘home away from home’ for members, the WBSS decided to incorporate celebrating the academic achievements of its members.

Molewane Mametja, a WBSS committee member, said this was an exciting development for the society because an event of this nature had not been held in the past, and therefore there were no set standards to follow.

Mametja told Wits Vuvuzela, “We decided to focus on members holistically, being the pyscho-social, cultural and educational aspect of our members. In [hosting] the academic dinner, we hope to motivate other members to improve their performance.”

Hluli Mongwe, the events co-ordinator and entertainment officer of the Khomanani Students Society which hosted an academic dinner in 2017, said, “Celebrating academics gives [members] the push to put in more hours and effort in their studies. So, celebrating academics is as important as celebrating one’s culture,” he said.

Speakers at talk hosted by Yale Village House Committee urge students to use all available support as examinations approach

Students should keep open communication lines with academic staff at all times, and make use of available platforms such as house committee WhatsApp groups and the SRC’ s suicide hotline, as the mid-year exam season approaches.

This was the advice to about 70 students who attended a discussion on academic exclusions hosted by the Yale Village House Committee on Tuesday, May 7.

The audience was warned about the issues that may lead to a student getting excluded from university, such as funding and being involved in toxic relationships.

“As the SRC we try our best to ensure that students come back to university. Students need to communicate with us, so we can help them appeal and ensure that they continue with their studies,” said SRC academic officer Palesa Mofokeng, who was one of the keynote speakers.

Former chairperson of SASCO Education Campus Hlanganipho Nkambule, said that the issue of exclusion was broader than not being able to afford fees, as it also covered mental health and social influences on a student’s academic life.

“The fact that they can pay your fees at home doesn’t mean that you can escape exclusion. Coming from an abusive background, or being in unhealthy relationships can affect your health and how you perform as a student. There are diverse issues that affect student performance,” he told Wits Vuvuzela.

Two students raised concerns about not meeting Due Perfomance (DP) requirements because of poor class attendance. What happens when one performs well academically through studying alone, and yet fails to meet DP requirements because of poor class attendance, they asked.

Mofokeng’s response was that students should communicate their different study mechanisms with lecturers ahead of time, in order for accommodation to be made where possible.

“Academic exclusion is one of the things that can really diminish all opportunities. Students have to adapt into the system for the first three months and it’s usually after the second block that you start asking yourself where am I going wrong and what are my chances within this university,” she said.

The speakers also cautioned students about how academic exclusion continues into other aspects of a student’s life. “Being excluded academically has a ripple effect on other aspects because once you are excluded you don’t get res, and funding,” said former All Residence Council academic officer Nondumiso Thango. She advised students to communicate with their house committees, as they would with their lecturers.

The academic officer of Yale Village residence Nombulelo Qhojeng, who is also a Post-Graduate Certificate in Education student, said that as the house committee, they are aware of the importance of supporting students and limiting exclusion.

“We have a WhatApp group as house comm where students can easily access us. Ask questions on venues for lectures among other things. We also have Sunday tutorials for first years to attend and improve performance,” Qhojeng said.

Computer Sciences first-year student Vusumuzi Booi, 19, said he attended the talk because of the many things he was dealing with, especially the pressure of adjusting to university.

“The talk made me realise that it’s still early and I can do anything if I start now. Consulting is also important and we tend to take it lightly, so we must ask when we face challenges,” he told Wits Vuvuzela.

FEATURED IMAGE: About 70 students listen during a Yale Village discussion on academic exclusions.  Photo: Molebogeng Mokoka

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A Muslim Students’ Association office hosted the controversial speaker.

The national office of the Muslim Students’ Association (MSA) has distanced itself from its Western Cape division, after the latter hosted a controversial speaker accused of sexual misconduct.

International Islamic scholar Nouman Ali Khan, a man accused of having “inappropriate interactions with various women” and an abuse of power, according to reports from the BBC, was hosted by MSA Stellenbosch at a seminar at Stellenbosch University on Friday, May 3.

On behalf of the MSA cape we welcome Ustadh Nouman Ali Khan on the 3rd of May insha’allah . Be sure to clear your clear your calendars as this is not something you’d want to miss .
To RSVP, please use the link below:https://t.co/Wkq6gjsXEZ pic.twitter.com/JUeMYuHqNw

— MSA Stellenbosch (@msa_stellies) April 29, 2019

Through a statement released on Thursday, April 29, the MSA national office said it  “respectfully distances itself from [the] event and does not endorse it, despite being hosted by MSA bodies”.

“We also know that this issue is especially relevant because of the increasing rates of sexual harassment, rape and violence against women,” the statement read.

The MSA Western Cape division released their own statement on April 29 which countered the stance of the national office, saying, “[We] are obliged to presume his [Khan] innocence [and] cannot be hasty in validating unproven accusations as this goes against Islamic teachings.”

MSA national president and Wits law student Kaamil Alli declined comment on the matter saying the office had decided not to engage with the media.

A politics student, Ali Ridha Khan, from the University of the Western Cape agreed with the national office’s stance saying that Khan has a “questionable character” due to the allegations against him.

“We should always take the side of the accusers,” Ridha Khan said, adding that this was particularly important due to the gender based problems South Africa faces. “Faith is justice,” Ali Ridha Khan said, adding that religious belief should lead people to social justice.

Nouman Ali Khan is currently in Cape Town for the Bayyinah Institute’s Dream Worldwide Quran programme until Friday, May 17.

FEATURED IMAGE: Muslim Students’ Association (MSA) Cape hosts Nouman Ali Khan at MSA Stellenbosch. Photo: MSA Stellenbosch twitter account

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The Wits Energy Leardership programme hosted a seminar to “to better inform students and the South African public about a major economic development in Southern Africa.” 

The potential of gas as a solution to South Africa’s energy crisis and as an energy investment came under the spotlight at a seminar hosted by the Wits Business School (WBS) on Thursday, May 9.

Guest speaker Paul Eardley-Taylor, from Standard Bank, reflected on the economic growth implications of Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) investment decisions in Mozambique. He estimated that investments into LNG in Mozambique would add about $15 billion annually to that country’s economy.

Eardley-Taylor said that “South Africa can make competitive liquefied natural gas purchases and take risks on spot pricing,” given its proximity to countries like Mozamique, Angola and Nigeria which reduces delivery costs.

Professor Rod Crompton, assistant professor of the Energy Leadership Programme at WBS, explained that as South Africa changes its use of energy, there has been an increased use of solar energy in the electricity grid because of the rise in electricity demand towards evening peak demand times.

This will cause a need for power stations that can deliver electricity quickly.

“Gas-to-power is an ideal technology for this purpose. In the view of … Eardley-Taylor … imported LNG would be the lowest cost source of natural gas,” Crompton added.

This offers opportunities for goods and services exports in South Africa and can amount to “about three and a bit billion dollars”,  said Eardley-Taylor.

Crompton told Wits Vuvuzela that the aim of the seminar was “to better inform students and the South African public about a major economic development in Southern Africa.”

“When all the plants have been built, these gas facilities in northern Mozambique will be the most expensive thing on earth ever built by human beings. The implications for Southern Africa are massive,” Crompton added.

FEATURED IMAGE: Paul Eardley-Taylor and Professor Rod Crompton interacting in a Q&A after a seminar at Wits Business School on May 9, 2019.  Photo: Tsholanang Rapoo.

Huawei invests in IT and engineering students to upskill them for the fourth industrial revolution

Nine academically deserving Wits University postgraduate students have been awarded bursaries to the tune of about R2 million by Huawei Technologies.

The students, from the IT and engineering fields, are Luyanda Siqalo Makhoba, Suleiman Momoniat (IT), Ridwaan Ryan Bham (engineering), Makoko Alfred Motloung, Tumelo Tshana Konaite, Sakhile Mbane (computational and applied mathematics), Lesego Euratius Modiane, Mohale Nakana (big data analytics) and Simamkele Madikwa (project management in construction).

At the bursary award ceremony on Wednesday, July 17, deputy CEO of Huawei South Africa, Kian Chen, said, “In the spirit of giving back as we approach Mandela Day, Huawei has decided to make this donation to Wits University in order to upskill youth in the industry as the country moves towards the fourth industrial revolution.”

Ceremony: Huawei Technologies South Africa management hand over the donation cheque to Wits University postgraduate students on July 17.                                          Photo: Lineo Leteba

Vanashree Govender, Huawei’s media and communications manager, told Wits Vuvuzela that there was a rigorous selection process which helped narrow the number of applicants down to the best students from the IT, engineering and computer science departments who were academically deserving.

“The students applied and those selected went for interviews and the nine were picked. The bursary is from this academic year until the end of the student’s respective degree programme,” she said.

Simamkele Madikwa, the only female recipient, said that she had just enough money to register and had no plan of how to pay her fees this year and this bursary would help her realise her dreams.

“I come from a rural village near the small town of Matatiele in the Eastern Cape. Growing up, I was always fascinated by building and construction. I saw that as a sign of progress and improvement. With this Huawei bursary I am looking forward to bringing connectivity infrastructure to more people in areas like the one I grew up in,” the masters student in Project Management and Construction said.

Professor Robert Muponde, Wits director of postgraduate affairs, said that the technology company had given scholarships to Wits students more than once and the university cherished these scholarships.

“Huawei Technologies have therefore made an inspired choice to invest in an area of dynamic growth and the talented youth of Wits University.

“Not only have they meticulously selected the talented young beneficiaries for their prestigious, hotly-competed-for scholarships; they have judiciously chosen to invest in the intellectual capital and infrastructure of South African higher education by strengthening local institutions,” said Muponde.

Other beneficiaries of Huawei’s largesse are students at the universities of Pretoria and Cape Town.

The Clever Boys Academy outplay Black Aces.

The Bidvest Wits Academy under-18 soccer team successfully defended their title against Black Aces FC at the Engen Knockout Challenge on the weekend, July 19 to 21.

Wits opened the match with a goal in the first three minutes setting the pace for the game which was played at the Wits Marks Parks ground in Emmarentia, Johannesburg. Thando Jacobs put the Witsies ahead leaving Black Aces on the defensive for most of the first half.

Wits opened the second half with another goal courtesy of Lungelo Dondolo in the 38th minute. After a hand ball by Wits, Black Aces had a golden opportunity to come back with a free kick but failed to find the back of the net.

Aces coach Charles Jacobs told Wits Vuvuzela his team were tired out towards the end of the match but played very well throughout the tournament. “We wanted to go as far as possible and we did. The Bidvest boys were well organised and it was a big challenge to play against them,” said Jacobs.

Wits coach Caeser Maphalla said he was happy with his team’s victory. “It’s the greatest thing as a coach and I’m proud of them,” he said.

The Wits team won R20 000 as champions of the tournament.  Maphalla said the team’s management is still to decide how to spend the winnings but he hopes that it will go to the boys who struggle with transportation.

Wits’ Rowen Lancaster and Maphalla won player and coach of the tournament respectively. As finalists, both Bidvest Wits and Black Aces qualify to compete at next year’s Engen Knockout Challenge.

FEATURED IMAGE: Bidvest Wits boys celebrate winning the Engen Knockout Challenge. Photo: Courtesy Engen Soccer.

Speakers at coffee event hail reading and making a habit of speaking out as beneficial habits to cultivate for the real world.

Google’s chief marketing officer Mzamo Masito (left) sharing life skills for life after university with students at the Wits Library Lawns. On the right is Allan Mpofu from Nescafe.
                                                                                                          Photo: Rose Clemence Shayo

Wits students have been urged to be courageous and to block out anything that gets in the way of their future goals.

“Delay all things, materials or relationships that will slow your career and success down,” Google South Africa’s chief marketing officer Mzamo Masito advised students on Thursday, July 18, saying they should focus more on their studies and work hard for their future careers. “Go for what you want right now!”

#ThisIsOurGrind is a youth empowering campaign by Nescafe Classic that goes around South African universities to motivate and inspire students in their personal and career paths through various activities.

The event at the Wits Library Lawns included small group discussions led by a LinkedIn representative on how to create a resume and how students can improve their LinkedIn profiles to entice suitable employers when looking for jobs.

This was followed by a motivational talk by Masito on how to lead a successful career, and mind stimulation games such as Jenga and chess.

“I came [to address you] with no expectations, just to speak from the heart and share my career journey, and hopefully even if one person gets inspired and motivated from my story and life,” he said.

Masito’s career journey is one that teaches the importance of not limiting oneself in terms of how far one can go careerwise and how reading books can expand one’s language use skills in academia and workplaces.

He urged students to travel more, even outside the country to learn from other cultures. He also advised them to use their voices to present their ideas and opinions whether they are wrong or right in order to build up confidence rather than be represented by others. “Speak up. Don’t let your voice shrink, in any place that you are in,” Masito said. 

Tankiso Makhene, Nescafe PR account manager, told Wits Vuvuzela that the activation was aimed to help students understand that life in the real world  is very different, that you are not guaranteed to get a job right after graduating, hence, “You have to ‘grind’ (work hard) now for your future.” 

Chulumanco Mketo, who is studying towards an honours degree in International Relations, said she enjoyed the event. However, she felt that there wasn’t enough publicity about it because not many of her peers were present and it would have been a great opportunity for postgraduates preparing for employment.

First-year BSc student, Paballo Sejanamane, said the event had motivated her to persevere and to aim for more than just a pass. “It is not just pushing to get 50s but to also aim for As,” she said.

Witsies make it to the Dream Team

The Wits first netball team have qualified for the 2020 University Sports South Africa (USSA) Premier League after being promoted to the A Section of the tournament earlier this month.

Thirty-seven teams from universities across the country competed at the USSA tournament, which took place from July 1-5.

Two teams represented Wits this year, and they competed in the B and C sections.

Winning seven out of eight of the games they played, the Wits 1 team succeeded in moving up a notch, from B division to A division.

Marguerite Rootman, who coached both teams, told Wits Vuvuzela: “It is an amazing achievement for them [Wits first team]. They do not realize just how much talent they have.”

Jolize Beukman, captain of the first team, said it was an honour and privilege to participate. Their goal was to qualify for the Premier League and now their hard work had paid off.

Following their fine performance, two first-team players – Enhakkore Bope (19) and Panashe Chiranga (19) – were selected to play for the USSA Dream Team in the B division.

Bope, who often plays as first-team goalie, was moved to a wing defence position for the tournament.

“I did not think I would get noticed, because that position is not usually recognised,” said the Bachelor of Health Sciences student.

Panashe Chiranga was selected for the Confederation of Universities and Colleges Sports Association (CUCSA) games USSA netball squad.

“It is amazing to be up there,” the chemical engineering student told Wits Vuvuzela. “All of the hard work has paid off and now I am reaping the rewards.”

The Wits second team competed in the C2 section, where they were placed ninth.

FEATURED IMAGE: Left to right: Panashe Chiranga and Enhakkore Bope selected to the B division Dream Team.

RELATED ARTICLE: 

• Wits Vuvuzela, Wits netballer snatches big win, April 7, 2019.

Wits Titans unsuccessfully faced their biggest rivals at the Old Mutual Sports Hall. 

Wits’ passion shone through in their volleyball game against “the best team in the league”, UJ. Photo: Stephanie Schaffrath

The Wits ladies volleyball team kept University of Johannesburg (UJ) on their toes but failed to secure a win as the second round of the Johannesburg Volleyball League kicked off on Wednesday, July 24.

Wits managed to win only one of the four sets with a score of 25-18 in the second.

The Titans opened the scoreboard with four points in the first two minutes. The team lost momentum handing the first set to UJ with a score of 22-9.

Wits capitalised on UJ’s sluggishness to take the second set but UJ showed their experience by winning the third set 25-14.

The final  minutes of the last set were exciting for both teams as they each scored multiple times. The game ended with UJ winning the fourth set by six points.

“It’s been a good game,” said UJ supporter, Mandla Mdlalose, 54. “Wits started off well but they don’t seem to be able to maintain it. I think it is just a matter of experience,” he added.

Wits coach, Zweli Ngwenya, echoed these sentiments. “It’s more about the mental strength than the physical ability.” “We performed well, especially in the first two sets. The ladies even took a set away from UJ, which is the best team in the league,” added the coach.

UJ player, Rejoice Madikizela, told Wits Vuvuzela, “We like to keep up a winning spirit. We don’t like to lose.”

The team will participate in the USSA Championships in December to determine their participation in the next Varsity Football championship. 

Wits Football Club did not only finish the University Sport South Africa (USSA) Championships in the middle of the log last year, but ended their chances of playing  in the 2019 Varsity Football which started on Thursday, July 25.

Varsity Football consists of the top eight teams on the USSA log from the previous year. Wits finished in 10^th position out of 20 teams in the A section of the competition.

The team managed to make it all the way to Varsity Football finals last year but lost out to Tshwane University of Technology.

Wits Football coach Mark Haskins told Wits Vuvuzela that it took his team the entire year to accept the mistakes they made last year but they are ready for the upcoming games. “We will be greatly focused for the next USSA championships in December,” the coach said.

Midfielder Salukelo Mathonsi who has been with Wits FC for the past four years said the team is ready for the tournament.

“We are more prepared this year. We are focusing on the USSA championships,” Mathonsi said.

Despite their dismal performance in the championships, some members of the team were fortunate to get some international experience. Two players from the team formed part of the USSA national squad that participated in the 30^th Summer Universiade (world university games), earlier in July in Italy.

“It was a great opportunity for most players who have never played outside South Africa, and it will add a different perspective in their football careers and the way they view the world,” Haskins said.

The team also participated  2019 World Elite University Football Tournament in China earlier this month. Wits FC lost 1- 0 in the final to German side Eberhard Karls University of Tübingen.

Wits University will host the USSA Championships in December this year.

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The murder of a doctoral student and father has left the academic community shocked and saddened.

A well-known Wits University doctoral student was killed at his home in Tembisa on Monday, July 8.

Moses Mtileni, 36, was shot and fatally wounded by armed robbers during a home invasion in which his fiancée was injured.

“He was a peaceful man, one who would avoid conflict at all times. That is why it is very painful for us as a family that he met his death in the manner in which he did,” said Goodman Mtileni, Moses’ older brother, told Wits Vuvuzela.

Goodman believes that his brother’s shooting was premeditated and not a random act.

“If you look at the things they ran away with, those are things they would have taken without going further to take somebody else’s life,” he said.

According to Goodman, the intruders stole a plasma screen, cell phone, Moses’s ID book and a laptop among other things.

Moses Mtileni, a father of three had completed two master’s degrees at Wits, one in urban planning and the other in development economics. He also held a master’s degree in creative writing from Rhodes University. Mtileni was undertaking doctoral studies in town and regional planning at Wits, while simultaneously completing a distance learning doctorate in literary studies at the University of the Western Cape.

One of Mtileni’s friends and fellow Wits graduate, Ntokozo Mjiyako told Wits Vuvuzela, “The manner [Moses] would calmly engage in sometimes heated political debates left a lasting impression on me.

“He was not only committed to the struggles of students, but also to those of other members of the Wits community, especially the general workers.”

Mtileni was a sessional lecturer at Wits and also played an important role in activism as the 13^th provincial chairperson of Sasco Gauteng.

Nqobile Malaza, a colleague of Mtileni said, “[He was] a country boy born in Ka-Nkuri village, in rural Limpopo, who made good in the big city and made his people proud in the process … He leaves us with a literary legacy and a significant hole in our hearts. Witsies have lost a treasure and remarkable human being”.  

A memorial service for Mtileni was held at Wits on Wednesday, July 17. He was laid to rest on Saturday, July 20 in Nkuri, Giyani. No arrests have made in connection with the killing and the investigation continues.

FEATURED IMAGE: Moses Mtileni, a Wits student and sessional lecturer at Wits who was killed on July 8. Photo: Provided