A third year Film and Video Technology student has made CPUT proud after her movie Vuyiswa and the Magic Fish was screened at the recent Durban International Film Festival.

Thantaswa Fiki, 21, submitted her entry for the film festival after it was selected among the best three movie ideas in her class by a panel of lecturers.

The film was screened in five different venues in Durban during the Durban International Film Festival between 22 July and 2 August 2009.

The idea came about last year after Fiki and the rest of the class were given a project, which required them to put together a story idea for a film.

They later pitched their ideas to a panel and three unique and feasible story ideas were selected, whereafter the shooting began.

The film is about the character Vuyiswa, who loses her mother in a sudden death. After her mother’s death, she is distraught and alone and meets the magic fish that brings her food each day.

The plot centres around the character’s struggle with her ‘evil step-sister’ that kills the fish to make Vuyiswa’s life even more miserable. But in the end love saves the day.

According to Fiki, after the film idea was selected; the ‘real job’ began.

Fiki said: “We started immediately on pre-production, and had to find the cast for the movie and relevant location as we needed a rural place.”

Even though Fiki admitted that it was difficult to find a suitable location, they (the film crew) managed to secure Clarra Anna Fontein, a private game lodge in Durbanville.

The production of the film also gave upcoming actors a chance to showcase their talents.

Learners from Harry Gwala High School in Khayelitsha and a group of women musicians called Oomama Bonginqwa from Langa Township, who usually perform at the Waterfront, were part of the cast.

Fiki said: “Even though most of the cast was made up of unknown actors, they were good and did not give us hard time.

“We were honoured to have among us an experienced actor Zolile ‘Zorro’ Sodloyi, who played a part in the film, Intonga”, added Fiki.

After the movie was done, it was screened at the GrandWest Casino to a warm response.

Before being screened at the Durban International Film Festival, the movie was also screened on Cape Town TV, a community television station and at Ithuba Arts Festival.

Fiki heard about the film festival in Durban and decided to take her chances.

After it was agreed that her movie would be screened in the festival, she then approached the Cape Film Commission for funding.

The Cape Film Commission sponsored Fiki’s trip, including flights, accommodation and transportation to and around Durban.

Fiki’s film was based on a book written by Nick Greaves called The Magic Fish Bones.

“I had to add my own flavour in the whole story and I also added more events like witchcraft and polygamy. I wanted it to have an African perspective,” said Fiki. “The response to my recent movie has given me much strength. I have been getting a lot of compliments from high-profiled people in the industry who said they have never seen such as young person doing something in her own language,” she concluded.

By Andiswa Dantile

Photograph: (left) Students film Vuyiswa and the Magic Fish (right) Young director Thantaswa Fiki meets well-known local actor Akin Omatoso at the Durban International Film Festival

Written by CPUT News
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Dr Yvonne Maphosa says the Vice-Chancellor’s Prestigious Achievers Award “is not just a bursary, it’s an acknowledgement of outstanding postgraduate students who have shown academic excellence and an embodiment of the CPUT graduate attributes”.

Here Maphosa talks about how grateful she was to receive it.

The Zimbabwean-born academic obtained her Doctorate in Food Science and Technology during the CPUT Autumn Graduation Series 2022.  Maphosa completed her BTech in Food Technology (Cum Laude) in 2013 and was awarded the Vice-Chancellor’s Medal as the best graduating student in the Faculty of Applied Sciences. She passed her Master’s with distinction and graduated in September 2016.

Reflecting on her career journey, the bubbly author says: “A PhD is not a walk in the park. It requires a lot of emotional and financial support. It’s a very difficult journey that requires commitment and strength. I was blessed with the support of my family, friends and fellow postgraduate students. I had amazing supervisors as well. They held my hand and guided me through. I will forever be indebted to them. The CPUT postgraduate centre was also very helpful and always there to assist.”

The last born of six says a PhD is very expensive and the VC’s Prestigious Achievers Award provided for her tuition, residence and everything she needed to successfully complete her PhD.

The VC’s Prestigious Achievers Award played a huge role in the completion of her studies.

“It also came with tremendous non-financial support from the committee and the VC’s office, all of which I’m deeply grateful for.”

A believer and a go-getter, Maphosa says: “It is [a] motivation to keep on excelling. It inspired me to be the best I could be.”

Growing up in Mambale village, deep in the rural areas of Plumtree, Zimbabwe, working hard came naturally for Maphosa. “Working [hard] was instilled in me from a young age. Waking up early to work the fields before running many kilometres to school, then running to the river to fetch water after school taught me that in life you have to work hard. It also taught me balance and time management.”

Maphosa, who has always been an A student, has won numerous prestigious awards throughout her academic journey in the form of funding, medals, trophies, certificates, and scholarships. “They serve as acknowledgements, reassurances and motivations to accomplish more.”

Besides being an academic, she is an award-winning author. and has published two fiction novel series; The y in yOUR Man is Silent (national bestseller) and Grasping at Straws (award winning).

Maphosa is also involved in charity work. She runs a campaign called Buy-A-Pad with Yvonne. She collects and donates sanitary pads to disadvantaged women and girls. She also has a writing competition, Luvone, aimed at discovering young, unpublished writers. From this competition, the book: Luvone: an anthology of short stories was published. Maphosa is involved in several community projects in Zimbabwe, especially those aimed at empowering the girl child and advocating for women rights.Summiting Mount Kilimanjaro was another highlight of her life.

In her message to prospective students, Maphosa says: “Be yourself. You can only realise your true potential if you are truly yourself. Don’t waste your life mimicking other people or chasing the wind at the expense of your dreams. Focus! Set your goals and work towards them.”

Maphosa also acknowledged the support she received from the Vice-Chancellor and the awards committee.  “Thank you for awarding me the Vice-Chancellor's Prestigious Achievers Awards. I am sincerely humbled and elated that you found me a suitable beneficiary for this honourable award. It made a remarkable difference in my PhD journey and my life as a whole. I’m truly grateful.”

Written by Aphiwe Boyce

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The Marketing and Communication Department (MCD) walked away with three prestigious national accolades during the 2024 Marketing, Advancement, and Communication in Education (MACE) Excellence Awards.

The team secured a silver award in Division 1: Campaigns for the "BOK Fridays CPUT" initiative, which ran during the Rugby World Cup. The campaign was the brainchild of Cathy Cloete, who is responsible for events and PR.

In Division 3: Skills, the team earned bronze awards in two categories. The bronze in the category Design for Digital Channels applauded the creativity behind the Shero campaign and was created by Kurt Mitchell.

The second bronze award was in the category Writing for the Web, and recognised an article, Graduate Excels Despite Great Loss, which was written by communication officer, Ilse Fredericks-Kennedij.

Hosted annually, the MACE Excellence Awards celebrate outstanding achievements in marketing, advancement, and communication across the higher education sector. These awards acknowledge exceptional campaigns, innovative strategies, and the talents of practitioners who bring their visions to life.

The ceremony marked the end of a successful two-day MACE National Conference, which was hosted by CPUT at the Bellville Campus. Under the theme Maximising Impact: Innovative Strategies for Transformative Higher Education Marketing, Communication, and Advancement, delegates explored cutting-edge practices.

The conference culminated in the glamorous Excellence Awards ceremony and dinner at the scenic Eureka Estate in Durbanville. Themed "Under the African Skies," the event was a celebration of skill, dedication, and excellence in higher education marketing and communication.

Cathy Cloete, who manages Public Relations and Events, said she was “truly honoured to receive this award for the CPUT campaign”. This recognition is a testament to the hard work, creativity, and collaboration that went into bringing a vision to life. Thank you to my colleagues at CPUT —it’s a win we can all celebrate together!"

Dr Garth Van Gensen, Director: MCD, said the MACE annual national conference is an opportunity for colleagues at public universities and TVET colleges to gather and share best practices. “Very often our issues are uniform, and MACE gives us a chance to gather and learn from one another. This year CPUT scooped three awards and hosted the almost 300 delegates at our Bellville campus. Our organising team did an exceptional job and showed their peers that quality, creativity, and hard work are in the DNA of everything we do at CPUT.”

Written by Aphiwe Boyce

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The winners of the first-ever Vice-Chancellor’s Excellence Awards were revealed during a recent ceremony at the Bellville Campus.

The awards honoured exceptional student leaders and dedicated administrative staff.

Outlining the background to the awards, Prof Driekie Hay-Swemmer, Executive Director in the Office of the Vice-Chancellor, said: “When we recognise the hard work of staff and students, we do more than just celebrating it in a particular moment. We ignite a spark that encourages even greater efforts. And that is also what we want to achieve with this initiative. Recognition serves as a reminder that hard work does not go unnoticed and that every step toward excellence is worth celebrating”.

Vice-Chancellor Prof Chris Nhlapo said it was an incredible honour and a privilege to be part of the ceremony, adding that it “has been long in the making”.

Nhlapo said the CPUT community has diligent staff and students who habitually exceed their job description and go beyond the proverbial extra mile or call of duty.

“As the Vice-Chancellor and principal of this majestic institution, the MIT of Africa, I want all of us to embrace excellence.”

The winners in the staff category were:

First place - Nomalizo Mapasa – Mapasa was described as a beloved person on the Wellington Campus, a mother to many students “who walked many extra miles”.
Second place - David Haarhoff
Third place - Isaac Paul
Fourth place - Selema Molopa and Tumiso Mfisa

The winners in the student category were:

First place - Bulela Limba - Bulela is the chairperson of the Student Christian Organisation. Bulela guides a team that hosts spiritual and community events, creating an inclusive environment for over 100 members. She's also the provincial chairperson of Make a Mark Africa in the Western Cape and directs volunteer teams and coordinates youth empowerment programmes for underprivileged communities. She's also part of the Golden Key International Honour Society.

Second place - Athenkosi Sobada – Athenkosi is a member of the Golden Key Honour Society CPUT chapter and has been a teaching assistant at CPUT, mentoring and assisting students with their studies and providing pastoral care. He has also been involved in the Bellville Campus first aid responders team.

Third place- Rorisang Makgana – Amongst other things Rorisang has established tutoring classes on campus, attended by many students. He also launched a YouTube channel, making his tutoring accessible to a broader audience of students facing learning challenges. He is also a Golden Key member.

The recipients of the Vice-Chancellor’s Excellence in Quality Awards were also announced during the event.

Dr Siyanda Makaula, Director of the Quality Management Directorate outlined the Excellence in Quality Awards and said: “You can’t define excellence without taking into consideration quality. You can’t define quality without taking into consideration excellence.”

Written by Ilse Fredericks
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CPUT will be celebrating the success of more than 300 graduates during our Summer Graduation ceremony on 12 December.

A total of 25 doctorates will be conferred during the ceremony, which will be held at the Major Sports Hall on the Bellville Campus.

The Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment has the highest number of graduates (179), followed by Business and Management Sciences (60), Applied Sciences (36), Health and Wellness Sciences (22), Informatics and Design (17) and Education (16).

Vice-Chancellor Prof Chris Nhlapo said the university was very proud of the graduating class and their achievements.

“I hope that you continue to create value wherever you go, dream big, and do something worthwhile with your precious qualification. Your community and South Africa need you now, more than ever.”

The ceremony will be live streamed via the university’s //www.youtube.com/@cputnews/streams">YouTube channel.

Written by CPUT News
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Elias Chipofya, a PhD candidate at the Applied Microbial and Health Biotechnology Institute (AMHBI), was awarded a prestigious travel scholarship and recently attended the 2nd School on Neuropharmacology Research and Drug Development in Harare, Zimbabwe.

The programme was organised and sponsored by the International Brain Research Organization (IBRO) through the African Regional Committee (ARC), in collaboration with the University of Zimbabwe's Department of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences.

The school provided participants with a comprehensive understanding of fundamental pharmacological principles and practices required for researching potential neuroactive compounds. This knowledge and skillset will empower them to transform traditional natural compounds into potent therapeutic agents or preventive strategies, ultimately contributing to the development of innovative treatments and preventions for neurological disorders.

Elias, who is supervised by Dr Taskeen Docrat and Prof Jeanine L. Marnewick, expressed deep gratitude for receiving the travel scholarship, acknowledging it as a testament to his dedication and hard work in neuroscience research. “This transformative experience allowed me to learn cutting-edge techniques in neuropharmacology and network with leading experts in the field. I am excited to apply this newfound knowledge to my research on Rooibos and its potential neuroprotective effects.”

Docrat, his main supervisor, added: “The scholarship will open doors to new opportunities and collaborations, propelling his research to new heights”.

Elias' research focuses on the protective effects of Rooibos herbal tea, a topic of growing interest. With limited knowledge on how Rooibos affects the brain, his research aims to uncover the neuroprotective mechanisms of its antioxidant compounds to prevent Alzheimer's disease and related disorders. "By understanding these mechanisms, we may develop novel preventive strategies to combat neurodegenerative diseases and improve the quality of life for millions worldwide," said Docrat.

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Mvemve Mdingi’s journey is a testament to resilience and determination. Having been born in a squatter camp in Gqeberha, he faced considerable challenges from a young age. During his primary schooling, he sold sweets, chicken heads, and chicken feet just to afford a school uniform. Despite these obstacles, his unwavering spirit has led him to receive a Doctoral degree in Education today.

Growing up in the township of Mdantsane and a rural village in Qoboqobo, Eastern Cape, Mdingi experienced the realities of both worlds. His educational journey was deeply influenced by his mother, a remarkable woman, known in her village for her intelligence, yet she never had the opportunity to pursue further studies due to financial constraints. This legacy of unfulfilled potential motivated Mdingi to prioritise education above all else.

From an early age, he chose not to focus on the material possessions that many children valued. “My focus and pride were always my academic performance and being at the top of my grade,” he reflects. This determination and dedication have now become a beacon of hope for countless children and students who look up to him as a role model.

Mdingi understands that the path to a doctoral degree is paved with sacrifices and challenges. He encourages aspiring PhD candidates to persevere and not to take feedback from supervisors personally. “While it may be difficult to understand their comments, they ultimately serve to improve your writing skills,” he shares, emphasising the importance of resilience in the face of adversity.

His research focuses on “A Framework for the Integration of Computerized Accounting into the High School Accounting Curriculum,” aiming to help the accounting profession embrace technology. He hopes to inspire more learners to consider accounting as a viable career path, recognising that the subject is losing popularity among high school students.

Mdingi completed his undergraduate qualification at the Central University of Technology in Free State, followed by his master’s and doctoral studies at CPUT. Arriving at CPUT in 2009 at the Wellington Campus in the Business Faculty, he later transitioned to the Education Faculty in 2016. Training pre-service teachers is something he cherishes deeply, stating, “Nothing is more fulfilling than seeing someone's life change for the better.” His role as boxing team manager has enriched his experience, allowing him to share his passion for sports with his students.

Boxing and sports hold a special place in his heart, and he approaches his contributions to their development with great enthusiasm. His efforts have led to four CPUT students representing South Africa in the World University Games in Turkey—an unforgettable experience that they will carry with them forever. Through his dedication, Mdingi has also helped elevate the CPUT brand, garnering positive attention in local and national media.

Written by Aphiwe Boyce
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CPUT has awarded a R30 000 scholarship bursary for the most deserving learner at the Eskom Expo for Young Scientist to Grade 11 South Peninsula High School’s Saamiya Van Niekerk.

She can use the funds to study any course at CPUT and the bursary is renewable annually, depending on the successful completion of each academic year.

Vice-Chancellor, Prof Chris Nhlapo, handed over the cheque to the soft- spoken learner at a luncheon held on the Bellville Campus. This was a compliment for achieving a gold medal at the Cape Town Regional Eskom Expo for Young Scientists competition in August last year. The 17-year-old triumphed over a stiff competition from 731 other learners from 56 different schools in Cape Town.

The Expo is a science exhibition where learners showcase projects and Saamiya’s project was titled; “Converting sound pollution to energy.”

Nhlapo thanked her family and said: “We are proud of you [Saamiya], I am sure you will come and register at CPUT.” He added that the country needed people like her and that there was a need to put premium and investment in education.”

Saamiya said it took passion and dedication including 11 months of “countless sleepless nights to beat other competitors”. She also won a silver medal at the annual 2018 Eskom Expo for Young Scientists International Science Fair in Boksburg.

The “extremely grateful” learner said: “I thank CPUT for this, I will come register here [after matriculation]. There were several nights where I would be awake, capturing and analysing data until the next morning when I have to get ready for school. But it was worth it.”

Her mentor, Jawina Jansen, described her as having always been a quiet and lovely child. “[She is] full of life, very dedicated. She really enjoyed the challenge. It is always a pleasure working with her.”

South Peninsula High School principal, Zeid Baker, said Saamiya inspired a lot of her schoolmates. “She has the right mindset; she is destined for success.”

Written by Aphiwe Boyce
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Two CPUT students, who have been crowned Miss and Mr City of Cape Town respectively, are eyeing national titles.

Third-year students, Asavela Tshaka (Food Science and Technology) and Apiwe Zokufa (Mathematical Sciences) clinched the Miss and Mr City of Cape Town titles respectively, during a pageant held at the Civic Centre recently.

“It’s a great feeling, the crown made me realise that I’m a role model and a leader,” said Asavela. “I had to understand new ways of doing things as the title came with responsibilities such as mandatory public speaking.”

She expressed her desire to contest for the Miss South Africa title next year and is confident of making the Top 16.

She added that her friends have a hard time to come to terms with her new responsibilities as she can no longer hang out with them due to her busy schedule.

Asavela concluded that during her current reign as the City’s beauty queen she is going to schools to hand over donations and motivates learners.

On the other hand, the newly-crowned Mr City of Cape Town boasts almost 11 years of modelling experience. He was crowned Mr Summer in 2016, and in 2018 he became Mr Cape Town Hunk and Mr Northern Suburbs.

Said Apiwe: “I’m very happy as this crown gives me an opportunity to interact with people during games and other social events.”

He added that the Mr South Africa pageant is in his to do list as he wants to challenge for bigger honours next year.

In the mid-term the self-taught model, who learnt modelling from acquaintances, wants to open a modelling school in order to groom future models.

“I work hand-in-hand with Miss City of Cape Town in social events and projects, and some organisations invite us to be motivational speakers at their events,” said Apiwe.

If the duo’s dream of conquering the nation gets fulfilled, it would not be the first time for CPUT to achieve that feat. The current Miss South Africa, Zozibini Tunzi, is a CPUT student, while her male counterpart, Heinrich Gabler is an alumnus.

Written by Kwanele Butana
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First-year Mechanical Engineering students have developed an automated dustbin for people with disabilities.

The automated bin could be of great benefit to paraplegics.

The department’s coordinator, Luyanda Meyers, says the students were given a project to write an Arduino program that can control light-emitting diodes (LED), RGB globes that can flash red, green and blue colours, a buzzer and a button. In groups of five, they were required to design a simple electronic system where the four LEDs, two buzzers, two buttons, an RGB and a potentiometer component which can be utilised directly or interchangeably with each other. Meyers says it was also important to indicate where the program could be used to solve modern-day technological challenges.

“This was our first time introducing Arduino programming in the entire department of mechanical engineering for first-year students,” says Meyers. “I am proud of the students because they had to learn to code in a space of two months yet they manage to produce a project that has a potential solution in the society for disabled people. This also fits perfectly to the smart CPUT vision.”

One of the group members, Yongamele Tshazibane, says they started off by conducting a research on Arduino projects to get an in-depth view of what Arduinos are capable of. Arduino projects refers to a micro controller board.

The students decided to use a servo, an ultra-sonic sensor and a potentiometer. “We decided to make this dustbin after we had bought these components. Before that we did not have a clue as to what we were going to do,” Yongamele says.

During their research the students discovered that they could control lids using a servo, the component that opens and closes the lid which works with the sensor. “We then decided to make an automated dustbin for disabled people. We went ahead with this idea because we knew that it would be useful in the modern world.

“Paraplegic people cannot use their limbs so it is difficult for them to open and close bins. We felt that they need a smart bin like the one we built because almost every bin that has been invented does not work in their favour,” he says.

Yongamele thanks their lecturers for assigning them to the project, because the students would not have known what they are truly capable of doing.”

Another proud Physics Lecturer, Velaphi Msomi, says this project responds to the Fourth Industrial Revolution.

Written by Aphiwe Boyce
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The Vice-Chancellor’s Prestigious Achiever Award will be helping 10 academically gifted students to fund their post-graduate studies.

Valued at R1 million for the current cohort, the fund identifies students who have achieved excellent results throughout their academic studies and can make a contribution to society by completing their Masters and/or Doctoral studies.

Vice-Chancellor Prof Chris Nhlapo says the award is a way of grooming the next generation of professors and ensures that Dean and Vice-Chancellor medallists remain connected to CPUT and come back to complete their Masters and Doctorates with the institution.

In 2019 one student was selected for the honour but a year later the pool of recipients has increased to 10, with students studying a variety of course options including Food Technology, Public Relations and Mechanical Engineering.

The Mauerberger Foundation Fund, which is a key sponsor to the award, was represented at the certificate ceremony by Advocate Dianna Yach.

She complimented the institution on making a real-world difference to positively transform society through technology.

“The recipients have a real desire to solve local and African problems in emerging economies and to do so in a way which is scalable. This is where CPUT makes the difference,” she said.

Prof Nhlapo called the recipients the cream of the CPUT crop and encouraged them to keep up the good work.

“You have been chosen because you represent the best of what CPUT has to offer, you have displayed the graduate attributes of resilience, superior problem-solving abilities and most importantly ethical capabilities. You already have the recipe for success,” he said.

PR Masters student Sivenathi Jayiya, who lives in Delft, thanked the award panel for seeing the best in her and believing in her capabilities.

The award will cover her existing student debt and finance the logistical cost of completing her Masters like transport, interviews and editing.

“Thank you to the panel for listening to my story and seeing something in me that I didn’t see in myself. Thank you also to the VC for giving children from disadvantaged communities the opportunity to study in peace and without worry,” she said. 

Written by Lauren Kansley
Tel: +27 21 953 8646
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Liaises with the media and writes press releases about interesting developments at CPUT.

While juggling his studies, work and maintain his family in Rwanda, a married father of two will be receiving his Master’s in Business Administration in Entrepreneurship with cum laude during this Summer Graduation.

“I arrived in South Africa in 2005 as a refugee, it was difficult for me to communicate in English since I am French speaker,” says Simon Nsengimana.

Simone registered for an English course at the Hatfield Assembles of God Church, which was a three-months Basic English course offered to the refugees free of charge.

The knowledge gained from the course assisted in improving his vocabulary and then Simon managed to secure a job as a security officer.

“When I came to South Africa, my ambition was to continue with my studies and pursue a Bachelor of Science degree in nursing.”

However, he later enrolled at CPUT as a full-time diploma student in Management and Entrepreneurship Department.

He chuckles at one of his bosses’ disbelief upon seeing study books in Simon’s office. “When I told him that they were mine, he laughed at me and asked: “Can you study?” I said yes, but he never believed me.

“With the knowledge, I got in an Entrepreneurship course, I spotted an opportunity in taxis industry which I joined during the time of World soccer cup.”

While in the taxi business, Simon enrolled for a Masters’ degree in Business Administration in Entrepreneurship. “I continued working hard in school and take my studies seriously. I made sure I attend classes, conferences and meetings as scheduled. I also use every opportunity to learn, I use my teachers a lot and search information from various materials.”

He also lost his father-in-law while he was in the middle of his BTech degree examination and his father in the last month of handing in his Masters’ thesis.

He intends to enrol towards a doctoral degree soon.

For the latest highlights from #CPUTsummerGrad2017 visit the CPUT Facebook Page

Written by Kwanele Butana
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She had won second place in the regional competition, so the win at the national competition came as a complete surprise for Luzane Aiken, a BTech Electrical Engineering student from Atlantis.

Luzane recently won first prize for Universities of Technology in the South African Institute of Electrical Engineers (SAIEE) national competition for her BTech project, which saw her doing a real-time simulation of a power system.

“I was really surprised to win. Initially, I felt very intimidated by all the other students’ projects. Most of them physically built something, where I only did a simulation,” says Luzane, who works as a maintenance and commissioning technician at Koeberg Power Station.

The last time she had won any competition was in grade 6, when she produced the winning essay in a competition sponsored by her current employer, Eskom. It was also a merit bursary from Eskom that paid for her National Diploma in Electrical Engineering. “The difference between a merit bursary and a regular bursary from Eskom is that I’m not compelled to work for them after completing my studies,” she explains.

She completed her service learning at Koeberg and was offered a job upon graduation. Her BTech did not come without difficulty. She enrolled for the postgraduate degree last, but fell seriously ill in the second semester. “I enrolled this year again, but wasn’t coping. When I tried to deregister I was told it was too late and since I was paying for the course, I figured I might as well do it.” This gamble paid off since Luzane pass two of her four final subjects with distinction this year.

She plans to further her studies by obtaining a BSc and ultimately wants to qualify as a Nuclear Engineer, but for now, she’s just enjoying the fact that yet another chapter in her study life has closed more successfully than she had ever hoped for.

Go to our Facebook page for the latest grad news.

Written by Abigail Calata

from left) Kim Nel (overall Btech winner), Elizka Van Rensburg (overall 3rd year winner) Vassiliki Konstandakellis (HOD), Carol Calligaro (overall 2nd year winner) and Katharina Barth (overall first year winner).

It’s a profession as old as any human activity and requires painstaking concentration, meticulousness, creativity and imagination. And yet again students of the Jewellery Design Department on CPUT’s Cape Town campus have shown they are up to the task.

Speaking at the annual year-end Jewellery Design Graduate Exhibition, Head of Department Vassiliki Konstandakellis praised what she called the students’ consistently fantastic work. “You have great ideas and the work on show is testimony to that. Those of you graduating this year are the future and I know you will make something of it, as unexpected and as challenging as it might be. I hope when you look back on your time here you will see it as one of great challenge and reward. I believe you will feed for many years off the ideas that your peers and lecturers sometimes inadvertently gave you.”

Top students in each year were awarded certificates and prizes, courtesy of the Department’s supportive industry sponsors. These include Cape Precious Metals, Lipman and Son, Jewel Tec, Vadim, Artes, Mathew Huxman, Ajanta, BJ Oberholzer and James Wakabayashi.

While Kim Nel was the overall BTech winner, Elizka Van Rensburg and Katharina Barth scooped top overall student in years three and one respectively. Second year student, Carol Calligaro, excelled by walking away with every award in her year, earning distinctions for all of her subjects.

Konstandakellis urged her students to never be afraid of failure. “Success is often built on the back of having to pick yourself up and try again. Embrace your imagination and creativity and you will do great things as jewellers, for yourself and our industry.”

By Jan Weintrob.

Written by CPUT News

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It’s one of the highlights of the Faculty of Informatics and Design‘s calendar, and a showcase filled with spectacular designs and concepts, tongue-in-cheek innovations and practical, functional fashion. The annual FID Year End Exhibition last week played host to upcoming designers, industry members and hundreds of interested Capetonians on CPUT’s Cape Town campus.

Themed “Come See my Work”, the exhibition saw students from the 15 different design courses, including Architectural Technology, Industrial Design, Interior Design, and Film and Video Technology departments, showcasing work completed in 2010, and work that won prestigious prizes or was highly commended in external competitions.

Kaleidoscopic in nature and almost overwhelming in scope, the exhibition was an incredible platform for these future design-leaders to introduce themselves, and their creativity, to Cape Town at large. Here are a few of the highlights.

B tech Graphic Design student, Orli Setton.

Setton is involved in an NGO working with high-school youths in the Western Cape, focusing on leadership and inter-cultural dialogue. “I’d like to use design for social development – and believe we can do more than just design logos or a “pretty something”. In Europe and the US, people use design to change health-care, education systems and politics. As designers we have a strong influential power. If we can convince people to buy things they don’t necessarily need, we can certainly convince them to do the right thing as well – it’s all about seduction!”

3^rd year Graphic design student Sandi Mvandaba says CPUT’s graphic design department is extremely hands-on from first-year. “Lecturers really take care of students, are very good at what they do and groom students to their full potential.”

Sandi Mvandaba

“Nested Light” by Anri Vercuiel of the Surface Design Department.

“The Tree of Knowledge Bookshelf” Megan Aitken (shown above), Surface Design.

“I am a bird” Hammock Nest by Juanne Groenewald.

BTech Fashion Design student Eileen Booysen designed a versatile and sustainable range of bridal wear for men and women. All the garments are simple and flexible enough to re-wear post-wedding as well.

Final year Btech Fashion Design student, Nabeela Moosa. “Autism is in my family and I saw first-hand the difficulties parents are faced with each morning. Getting the children dressed is a struggle and stressful for families. So I decided to design a range specifically for children with autism. This incorporates Velcro and elasticated shoulders, making it easier for kids to dress themselves.”

Springbokkies – The collected designs of 2^nd year Jewellery Design students.

Cacti Rings – Each cactus ring individually designed by 3^rd year Jewellery Design students.

Belt with Skulls. Jewellery Design student, Kyle Berry.

The stunning creation of Kim Nel, overall BTech winner of Top Student award in the Jewellery Design Department.

By Jan Weintrob

Written by CPUT News

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SOUTH Africa’s dire shortage of nurses was given a welcome boost yesterday when CPUT and the Western Cape College of Nursing celebrated their post-basic graduation ceremony.

The 129 nurses graduated in a variety of specialty courses including Operating Theatre, Critical Care, Trauma and Emergency, Midwifery and Psychiatric Nursing.

Provincial Minister of Health Theuns Botha welcomed the graduates into his department which already boasts a healthy 11 762 nurses working across the Western Cape.

“You will most probably work 20, 30 or 40 years for this Department,” he informed the audience.

“You will be treated accordingly because you are a scarce skill. The people of the Western Cape deserve the best therefore we train the best.”

Keynote speaker Prof Karien Jooste who enjoys a successful career as an editor and writer of medical journals and textbooks, reminded the graduates of the importance of striving for success and lifelong career passion.

ESTEEMED GUESTS: Keynote speaker Prof. Karien Jooste sitting alongside Provincial Health Minister Theuns Botha at the graduation ceremony of 129 nursing students.

“We need nursing leaders who rise above and use their power to motivate others,” she says.

“Every person has the need to succeed. Climb your career ladder with passion.”

Dean of the Health and Wellness Faculty Prof Dhiro Gihwala congratulated each graduate personally and highlighted the strides CPUT is making to fill the demand for nurses while also complying with new higher education qualifications frameworks.

He also urged the graduates to remember where they came from.

DON’T FORGET: Health and Wellness Dean Prof. Dhiro Gihwala reminded graduates to remember the communities they came from.

 “I am confident you will use your special skills and your influence to put something back into those communities,” he says.

“We also hope you will continue to support CPUT and the College.”

 By LAUREN KANSLEY

Written by CPUT News
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Final-year Product and Industrial Design talent was recently showcased at the Annual Graduate Exhibition in Woodstock.

According to Lezandi Fourie, a third-year exhibitor and prize winner, the aim of this year’s Graduate Exhibition was “to showcase our design talent”. The exhibition, organised and designed by the students, also provided an opportunity to build the brand of the programme.

In a first for the programme, final-year students were awarded prizes with irreverent titles like Mad Scientist, Blood, Sweat and Tears and Minion to Master. The programme lecturers came up with the names for the prizes and also selected the ultimate winners.

Items such as standing lamps, furniture, timber puzzles and product renderings made for a dazzling display. Third-year National Diploma students weren’t the only ones exhibiting either. Postgraduate (BTech) students’ designs were also on display to the audience, which included students, alumni and industry players. Products designed by the BTech students were also available for sale – from coffee pots to camera straps.

The Product Design and Industrial Design Postgraduate courses are for anyone interested in designing in three dimensions – from physical objects found in daily life, to innovative systems and product concepts. The job opportunities available to graduates of this course include lighting design, set-building and furniture design and manufacturing.

The exhibition served as valuable experience for the student organisers in promoting and marketing their designs, a skill they will need to have when they enter the working world.

More pictures of the exhibition are available on our Facebook page.

Written by Abigail Calata

The flags are unfurled, the university grounds are manicured and the main auditoriums on CPUT’s Bellville and Cape Town campuses are decked in finery – all awaiting the bumper crop of graduates who will descend on the university this week. CPUT will confer 6252 qualifications during 12 ceremonies, including 51 MTech and 6 DTech degrees.

Graduates will be addressed by a host of South Africa’s movers and shakers in politics, industry and academia, including Chief Mandla Mandela, the grandson of former state president Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela.

Referred to by his full name and traditional title, Nkosi Zwelivelile ‘Mandla’ Mandela is Chief of the Mvezo Traditional Council, where he serves as a cultural figurehead for the people of Mvezo village, near Mthatha in the Eastern Cape. A Member of Parliament for the ANC since 2009, Chief Mandela will be talking to graduates in the Business Faculty at Wednesday’s ceremony on the Cape Town campus at 10am.

Business Faculty graduates will also be addressed by Ernst and Young’s social entrepreneur of the year, Olivia van Rooyen. The founder of the Kuyasa Fund, which offers microfinance and housing loans for poor people, Van Rooyen has helped tens of thousands of South Africans better their lives.

Other inspirational speakers include Professor Oupa Rangaka, former principal of the Soweto campus of the University of Johannesburg and now the proud owner of an award-winning wine estate in Stellenbosch. Prof Rangaka, his wife and three children run M’Hudi – the first black-owned family-run wine farm in the country.

One of South Africa’s rising design stars, Mokena Makeka, has been invited to speak to Faculty of Informatics and Design (FID) graduates. The founder and Managing Director of Makeka Design Lab is a two-time recipient of the Cape Institute of Architects Award of Merit for his work on architectural projects around the Cape Town metropole. He also sits on the World Economic Forum's Global Agenda Council for Design.

CPUT’s top students in each faculty will be honoured for their outstanding academic achievements. This year sees Eduard Smit from Applied Sciences, Emanual Cloete from Education and Social Sciences, Vaughan Pillay from Engineering, Alison Schwartz from Health and Wellness Sciences, Natasha Sarkady from FID and Bruce Taona Masama from the Faculty of Business, scoop the Dean’s Medal.

The Vice-Chancellor’s Medal this year has been awarded to Melissa Jane Gardner, also from the Business Faculty. Melissa scooped this most illustrious honour after obtaining distinctions in all of the subjects she studied for her BTech: Retail Business Management, with an aggregate of 86% for her BTech degree.

By Jan Weintrob

Written by CPUT News
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The Department of Town and Regional Planning held its annual Students’ Awards function on 14 October 2009 on the Cape Town campus of CPUT.

Among the awards that were presented on the day were the Dean’s Merit Awards, the Cooperative Education Excellence Awards and the Academic Performance Awards.

Vic Theunissen, retired head of the department, was the master of ceremonies. For the first time this year a floating trophy, the VH Theunissen Floating Trophy, named after him was presented for Best Student in Second Year Infill Project Presentation (2009) to Louis Schlecter.

Keynote speaker for the day Cheryl Walters, Director of Planning and Building Development Management at the City of Cape Town, said Cape Town as a city presents its own unique challenges, and this is what makes their role as development urban planners in this city so interesting and challenging.

“We have a population of 3.6 million inhabitants occupying a metropolitan area of 2461 sqkm. Inhabitants of our city live either in formal or informal homes, the majority of which are having no security of tenure,” she said. She said the challenges facing ‘us’ are both at local and global level, and these include: Climate Change, Growing Urbanisation, Poverty, Housing and broader Environmental issues.

“When considering development applications we need to address all these issues and their impacts in striving towards creating a balanced environment,” said Walters.

Colin Daniels, Associate Dean of the Faculty of Informatics and Design, presented the Dean’s Merit Award for National Diploma: Town and Regional Planning, Level 1 to Lieb Alexander Maritz and the same award on Level 3 to Gertchen Boonzaaier.

Daniels also presented the Cooperative Education Excellence Awards to the City of Cape Town and the Provincial Government of the Western Cape’s Department of Environmental Affairs and Development Planning for supporting the Work Integrated Learning Programme for students in the department.

The following is a full listing of all Town and Regional Planning students and staff members who received awards:

• Best Overall performing student in ND level 1 (2008): Lieb Maritz
• Best Overall performing student in ND level 3 (2008): Gertchen Boonzaaier
• Best Overall performing student in B-Tech level (2008): Wynton Brown
• Most improved student in ND level over 3 years (2006-2008): Vongani Chauke
• Best Student in Planning Design in ND level 1 (2008): Lieb Maritz
• Best Student in Planning Design in ND level 3 (2008): Dylan Johnstone
• Best Student in Planning Design in B-Tech level (2008): Kevin Mcgilton
• Best Student in Planning Theory in ND level 1 (2008): Jill Du Plessis
• Best Student in Planning Theory in ND level 3 (2008): Gertchen Boonzaaier
• Best Student in Planning Theory in B-Tech level (2008): Eitan Ada
• Best Student in Environmental Studies in B-Tech level (2008): Kevin McGilton
• Best Student in 2nd Year Infill Project in Experiential Training (2008): Christopher Munro
• Vic Theunissen Floating Trophy for Best Presentation in 2nd Year Infill Project (2009): Louis Schlecter
• Staff Member of the year in Department Town and Regional Planning (2008): Martin Abrahae

By Thami Nkwanyane

Written by CPUT News
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Key role-players in government, industry and education are among the guest speakers lined up to address CPUT’s 2010 graduates at the university’s April Graduation Ceremonies, running from 12 to 17 April on the Bellville and Cape Town campuses.

Dr Trevor Manuel, CPUT Chancellor and Minister in the Presidency in charge of the National Planning Commission, will be providing the guest address for graduates of the Faculty of Engineering in a ceremony on 16 April 2010 on Cape Town campus.

Dr Manuel was elected as CPUT’s first Chancellor in May 2008. He is an alumnus of the Peninsula Technikon and served as the South African Minister of Finance for 11 years, before accepting his current ministerial role.

Dr Manuel was in attendance at this year’s opening graduation ceremony on 12 April, where he called on graduates to make a commitment to life-long learning and return to CPUT to further their studies.

Director and co-founder of South African Women in Engineering, Naadiya Moosajee will address Engineering graduates attending the Bellville ceremony on 14 April. Moosajee currently serves on the FIFA 2010 Local Organising Committee and was voted the 2009 Most Influential Woman of the Year by CEO magazine.

Member of Parliament and nuclear reactor design and analysis expert Dr Nqaba Ngcobo will be guest speaker at the Applied Sciences morning graduation ceremony on 15 April. Dr Ngcobo chairs the Portfolio Committee on Science and Technology, a committee tasked with holding several government entities accountable for service delivery.

Sagie Pillay, CEO of the National Health Laboratory Services and former CEO at Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital, will address Health and Wellness Sciences graduates on the evening of 15 April.

Prof John Volmink, Chairperson of the International Partnerships Network and Member of the Board of the Universal Education Foundation, will be guest speaker at the morning ceremony on Saturday 17 April, where he will address graduates in the Education and Social Sciences Faculty.

Informatics and Design graduates will be addressed by internationally recognised furniture designer Liam Mooney at the 17 April afternoon ceremony. Dr Carla Enslin, Head of the Vega Communications School in Cape Town, will also address graduates in Informatics and Design, as well as graduates from other faculties, in the evening ceremony on 16 April.

Earlier this week, I & J Marketing and Sales Director David Pietersen and Group Executive and CEO of Metropolitan International Mervyn Cookson gave guidance to Business graduates at the Cape Town and Bellville first graduation ceremonies.

“Persevere and never give up, no matter what obstacles you face,” said Cookson, who also emphasised the values of humility, integrity and continuous learning as key to leadership.

Prof Michael Wormald and Prof Glen Holman of the Faculty of Commerce at the University of Cape Town and Gayle Kaylor, Chief Director at the Public Administration Leadership and Management Academy also addressed the Business graduates.

CPUT expects to confer 6 300 qualifications during twelve graduation ceremonies this week, including 62 master's degrees and seven doctoral degrees.

By Ilana Abratt

Written by CPUT News
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