CPUT is partnering with the Cancer Association of South Africa (CANSA) to host the Western Cape’s first-ever CANSA Relay for Life Collegiate event.

CANSA Relay for Life is a global event that unites communities in the fight against cancer and about 6 000 such events are held worldwide annually.

The theme is Celebrate, Remember, Fight Back.

Teams from CPUT, the University of Cape Town, Varsity College and False Bay College will participate in the event which will be held in the Major Sports Hall on the Bellville Campus.

The event will start at 6 pm on Friday, and teams will continue to walk in a relay until 6 am on Saturday morning.

“The idea is to raise awareness and provide education around cancer for student communities. We would like to let our young people know that there is help and support out there should they be diagnosed with cancer. October is also Breast Cancer Awareness Month and we find that the statistics for young women with breast cancer are quite high,” said CANSA’s Leillani Geduld.

She stated that participants could also look forward to inspirational guest speakers and exciting entertainment.

CPUT Events Manager, Cathy Cloete said the university was proud to co-host the inaugural event with CANSA.

“Cancer has affected many members of the CPUT family and it is important that we celebrate the survivors, remembers those who have passed and create awareness on fighting back.”

Written by Ilse Fredericks
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Cancer survivors, caregivers, students and staff members from CPUT, Varsity College and False Bay College participated in the first-ever CANSA Relay for Life Collegiate event.

CPUT partnered with the Cancer Association of South Africa (CANSA) to host the all-night event at the Major Sports Hall on the Bellville campus on Friday.

The theme was Celebrate, Remember, Fight Back.

CANSA Relay for Life is a global event that unites communities in the fight against cancer and about 6 000 such events are held worldwide annually.

The crowd were welcomed by comedian Stuart Taylor before cancer survivor Kauthar Roomaney shared her inspirational story.

“People often say you only live once but I like to say you only die once and live every day.”

The relay kicked off with a few laps around the hall by cancer survivors to loud cheers from the crowd.

This was followed by a caregiver's lap.CANSA’s Leillani Geduld said they were extremely pleased with the first CANSA Relay for Life Collegiate event.

“The atmosphere has been terrific. We thank everyone who participated, all our speakers, sponsors and MCs and CPUT for co-hosting with us. We look forward to more such events in future.”

CPUT Events Manager Cathy Cloete said the institution was proud to co-host the event.

Written by Ilse Fredericks
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Breast cancer is the most prevalent cancer among women in South Africa and the Medical Imaging and Therapeutic Sciences Department recently arranged a range of activities to raise awareness of the disease. 

October is Breast Cancer Awareness month and clinical instructor Charne Martin said one of the goals of the activities, which were arranged by first-year radiation therapy students, was to promote breast self-examination.

The activities included cupcake sales to raise money for oncology patients’ transport funds, examining “breast phantoms” for lumps, and pop balloon games where students could pop a balloon and answer a question about breast cancer to win a prize.

Pamphlets explaining to students how to do a breast cancer exam were also handed out, while students could place their handprints on a canvas to show support.

According to the World Health Organization breast cancer impacts 2.1 million women each year, and also causes the greatest number of cancer-related deaths among women.

Written by Ilse Fredericks
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For new students, the first few weeks of the academic year are a period of both excitement and adjustment. In many cases, it is the first time they have lived away from home, and they need to start developing the survival skills that will carry them through their university studies.

The Student Counselling Department at CPUT provides emotional support to students across multiple campuses throughout the academic year. During the months of January and February, it facilitates a variety of workshops and presentations for new students, in order to ensure that their personal wellness receives as much attention as their academic orientation.

“For many years we have wanted to make our contribution more meaningful,” said Elisabet Smit, Head of the Student Counselling, Cape Town campus. “Two years ago we started Extended Orientation.”

As part of the Extended Orientation Programme, the Department visits groups of first year students at all Faculties on both the larger and the smaller campuses for ninety-minute discussion and feedback sessions.

The sessions are facilitated in as interactive a manner as possible, so that students get to know both the counsellors and each other. They are encouraged to ask questions, and share some of the objectives they’ve set for themselves for this year, as well as some challenges they expect to face as a first year student. Tips on how to succeed and survive the first year, are also shared. The tone of the sessions is kept informal, with a focus on both the serious and even the humorous sides of student life.

Another important task for Student Counselling during the orientation period is the deployment of Peer Helpers. These are senior students who are selected through an interview process and then trained with counselling and crisis intervention skills. They are assigned to residences, where they provide guidance on wellness issues throughout the year.

CPUT Student Counselling conducts regular qualitative and quantitative research on student matters and student needs. According to Student Counselling’s statistics, some of the major difficulties that students report experiencing in their first year are loneliness, adjustment to change and fear of failure.

First years often struggle with study and exam preparation and -writing techniques as well as what Smit refers to as “a lack of intrinsic drivers.” While high school learners are generally motivated by external drivers (teachers or family members) to attend to their work, a University environment ultimately requires a student to be self-driven and to take responsibility for his or her success.

Through their discussion groups, as well as through their free individual counselling service, the Department helps students learn how to rely on themselves and set achievable goals.

Smit encouraged students to make as much use of these support structures as possible. “Grab the opportunity for outside the classroom support systems right from the first day,” she said.

“It is up to you. It is your responsibility to succeed.”

By Ilana Abratt, Marketing and Communication Department

For more information about Student Counselling, use the following contact numbers

Bellville campus and Tygerberg campuses: 021 959 6182
Cape Town campus and Granger Bay campuses: 021 460 3237
Mowbray campus: 021 680 1501 / 021 680 1574
Wellington campus: 021 864 5201 / 021 864 5206

Photograph: A student assists at the Student Counselling information stand during Orientation Week.

Written by CPUT News
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The Student Counselling Unit has rolled out various programmes to help first-year students make the transition from school to university.

Currently, the head of the Bellville-based unit, Dr Abie de Villiers and his staff members are holding workshops with first-year students and sharing some much-needed tips on how to cope with the demands of university life.

“Many of the students don’t realise that there is a difference between school and university,” he says.

De Villiers says university life is fast-paced and students are required to cope with a large volume of work.

“We emphasise engaging in academic activities. We also encourage students to attend class, join study groups and make use of the resources on the campuses,” he says.

De Villiers says the unit will work closely with first-year students throughout the year.

The unit plans to host workshops on various student-related issues, from how to handle stress to coping with academic workloads.

First-year students as well as returning students are also encouraged to make use of the services offered by the Student Counselling Unit, which has offices on the Cape Town, Mowbray and Wellington Campuses.

The unit’s services range from individual counselling to career development. All services are free of charge.

More information on the Student Counselling Unit can be found under the Student Affairs and Services section on the CPUT homepage.

By Candes Keating

Written by CPUT News
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This year World Aids Day on 1 December will be commemorated with a week-long campaign across two of CPUT’s campuses – Bellville and Cape Town.

This international initiative provides an opportunity to raise awareness of the HIV pandemic, to encourage sexually active individuals to know their status and to commemorate those who have lost their lives as a result of HIV.

Information tables, where both staff and students can be tested not only for HIV, but also other sexually transmitted illnesses as well as TB will be the focal point of the university’s efforts to create awareness around HIV. HIV testing is voluntary and staff and students are encouraged to get tested or simply to come for general health screenings at the information tables.

On Cape Town campus the information table will be on the Piazza from 27 to 28 November, while it will be in the area between the Major Sports Hall and the Admin Building on Bellville campus from 29 November to 1 December.

The theme for this year’s World Aids Day is Increasing Impact through Transparency, Accountability, and Partnerships.

According to Stats SA 12.7% of the country’s total population of 55 million people live with HIV. A further 5.6% of South Africans aged between 15 and 24 has HIV, while 18.9% of adults aged 15-49 years live with HIV. Despite this high prevalence of HIV, HIV activists still have to battle against the stigma surrounding the disease.

“I cannot stress enough the importance of getting tested and knowing your status. The latest development in antiretroviral treatment is that one no longer has to wait for your CD4 count to be below a certain threshold to start treatment. You can start treatment immediately after finding out you are HIV+,” says Unathi Bheme, a final year Education student who bravely disclosed her status in Parliament last year.

Staff and students are also urged to bring donations of sanitary towels to the information tables. By doing this they are automatically entered into a lucky draw and stand the chance to win prizes. The Donate a Pad Project (DAPP) is an initiative by the HIV unit that formally kicks off on Monday, 27 November. This initiative will extend beyond World Aids Day and continue well into 2018. Staff and students can also drop off donations of sanitary towels at the following offices:

• HIV Unit
• Campus Clinic
• Student Counseling
• Department of Student Affairs; and
• Disability Unit

Female students in need of sanitary towels can collect sanitary towels from these same offices.

Written by Abigail Calata

First year students on the Cape Town Campus are invited to attend a series of life skills development workshops, which will take place from 10 February to 19 March in Room 2.503, 2nd Level, Administration Building, Cape Town.

These workshops contribute towards assisting students in managing adjustment and adapting effectively to change. They help students develop coping skills in order for them to to succeed in their academic life as well as in their endeavors later in life.

Topics and Dates:

Mind Challenge-Dare to Change
Session 1 – 10th February (14:00 – 16:00) and Session 2 - 3rd March (16:00 -18:00)

Mind on your Money-Money on your Mind
Session 1 – 12 February (16:00 – 18:00) and Session 2 – 05 March (14:00 – 16:00)

Mind Tools for Maximizing Your Time
Session 1 – 17 February (14:00 – 16:00) and Session 2 – 10 March (16:00 – 18:00)

Master Mind- Master new Study Skills
Session 1 – 19 February (16:00 – 18:00) and Session 2 – 12 March (14:00 – 16:00)

Winning the Mind Game- Setting Goals to Get Going
Session 1- 24 February (14:00 – 16:00) and Session 2 – 17 March (16:00 – 18:00)

Mind Fitness- Stress Less
Session 1 – 26 February (16:00 – 18:00) and Session 2 – 19 March (14:00 – 16:00)

Time and Duration:
Workshops will be presented at alternate times for different sessions, ie; (14h00 – 16h00 and 16h00 – 18h00) as indicated on the dates above.

Presenters:

Registered psychologists / student counselors from Student Counselling, CPUT Cape Town Campus

Booking and venue:

Any student interested in attending one or more of the listed workshops, must notify Annette Kuhn (secretary Student Counselling) so that his/her name can be added to the list of attendees. Thus: Pre-booking for workshop attendance is essential. Annette can be contacted by visiting Room 2.700, Admin Building.

The training workshops will take place in Room 2.503, 2nd level Admin. Building, Cape Town Campus. <p>Further enquiries about the workshops can be addressed to:</p

Faith Sijula
Educational Psychologist (M.Psych, UWC)
Student Counselling
Cape Peninsula University of Technology
Tel +27 (0)21 460 3860
Fax +27 (0)21 460 3794

Written by CPUT News
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South African tertiary institutions took a giant leap forward in the fight against HIV and Aids when they recently launched a national strategic policy framework at a conference held at UCT.

Produced in collaboration with universities by the Higher Education South Africa, the Department of Higher Education and Training as well as Higher Education Aids (HEAIDS), the framework provides a useful guide to universities and FETs in developing an effective response to the HIV/Aids pandemic.

The three-day national conference of Higher Education institutional HIV/Aids programmes was recently held under the theme: Applying the Research/Researching the Applied.

Speakers who addressed the conference included the Professor Anthony Staak, CPUT Deputy Vice Chancellor, the Vice-chancellors of UWC, Stellenbosch and UCT, the Deputy Minister of Higher Education and Training Mduduzi Manana as well as speakers from the national Department of Health, UNAIDS and HEAIDS.

The main highlights of the conference were the unveiling of the new HEAIDS logo and the launch of the Policy and Strategic Framework on HIV/Aids for Higher Education.

The first day of this conference was planned to coincide with the celebration of World AIDS Day, on the eve of which the UNAIDS reported that South Africa increased its rollout of HIV treatment by 75% in the last two years, ensuring 1.7 million people had access.

The World Aids Day/Opening of the Conference was hosted by the CPUT HIV/Aids Unit and its director, Professor Ashraf Mohammed.

The report also indicated that during this period new HIV infections in South Africa had fallen by more than 50 000.

Kwanele Butana

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The Cape Town campus of the Cape Peninsula University of Technology was host to the opening ceremony of the annual Wellness Celebrations on 31 March 2008.

The Wellness Celebrations are organised by the Student Affairs Department in collaboration with the Student Health Department and the HIV/ AIDS Unit of the institution. The Celebrations are aimed at promoting wellness and well-being to staff and students of the institution and communicating the importance of holistic living.

According to Ms Elizabet Smith (Associate Director: Student Counseling), “CPUT defines wellness in terms of seven dimensions: Physical, Environmental, Intellectual, Spiritual, Social, Occupational and Emotional. Each dimension is interrelated and development of each dimension can promote well-being and health. By embracing a holistic approach to well-being, education can move beyond just knowledge gained from textbooks. By awakening life we can promote healthier living, happier living and a good life.”

Ms Smith continues, “Wellness Day is a colourful and festive event, a celebration of life. Not just any life, but a promotion of a life well lived and a university committed to well-being. A happy, healthy university lends itself for a happy healthy society awake, fully human, and fully alive. This important concept is promoted on an annual basis in different ways on the different CPUT campuses.”

The opening event, which was hosted by KFM DJ, Sam Roy was packed with fun-filled entertainment including comedians, trapeze artists, hip hop dancers, tap dancers Tai Chi experts, and singers.

The Dean of Students, Ms Cora Njoli-Motale, addressed the students about how they should incorporate the wellness concept in their daily lives. She stated, “It’s students who are well-rounded who will become graduates.” Ms Njoli- Motale also requested to students to take a stand and make a pledge on what they want to do to improve their wellness. Students were provided with several colours of paint (each representing one form of wellness dimensions) and were requested to put their pledge on a ‘Pledge- board’.

The Celebrations also included a Wellness Market Day with a variety of stalls and exhibitions. Stalls were filled with a large selection of food, treats and jewellery.

Wellness Celebrations continued on the Bellville campus on Wednesday, 2 April 2008 in the Student Quad. As with the opening event, the Bellville event included an address by Dean of Students Ms Cora Njoli-Motal and a concert hosted by Sam Roy. In addition, wellness brochures were handed out and holistic treatments such as massages were available to staff and students.

The Bellville activities featured a Shavathon hosted by CANSA. The aim for the Shavathan was to raise cancer awareness and to raise funds for CANSA services. It involved the shaving or colouring of hair for a donation of R20- R25.

The atmosphere of the Wellness Celebrations gave an impression that the institution was in great shape. Head of Department: Student Counselling Dr AB De Villers extends a vote of thanks to all who worked very hard to make the Celebrations a success.

By Tyrone Van Heerden and Ruth Chisesa, Marketing and Communication Department

Photograph: Mbasa Boiketlo (3rd year Consumer Science- Food and Nutrition student) and Conway Maluleke (3rd year Marketing student) make a Wellness pledge.

Written by CPUT News
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The campus wide Voluntary Counseling and Testing (VCT) drive has proved to be a huge success, attracting hundreds of CPUT students.

The VCT campus drive, which is driven by the HIV/Aids Unit, has been a bi-annual feature on the CPUT calendar since 2005.

This year’s drive kicked off at Freedom Square Residence at Bellville campus on 9 March and will run up until 20 March.

Head of the HIV/Aids Unit, Dr Ashraf Mohammed said this year they would most likely reach much more students and staff because they have extended the VCT campus drive to additional CPUT sites.

During the past few years the drives were only held at Bellville and Cape Town campuses and occasionally at Granger Bay and Mowbray campuses.

But this year, it was extended to Tygerberg campus, and several student residences in Bellville and Cape Town.

Dr Mohammed said the move to extend the drive to other CPUT sites proved to be a “huge success.”

“We had an overwhelming response at Tygerberg campus,” he said.

At the student residences, the drive attracted large numbers of students who could not manage to get tested at the Bellville or Cape Town campuses.

Dr Mohammed said the main purpose of the VCT campus drive is to give students a chance to “just walk in and get tested.”

“Students prefer to come to the VCT campus drive because it is convenient, quick and they don’t have to make an appointment,” said Dr Mohammed.

Once students walk into the testing centre, they are given pre-counseling to put them at ease and are then required to sign consent forms before being tested.

Thereafter, students wait approximately 20 minutes before receiving their results in a confidential environment. Upon receiving the results, the students are given post counseling by trained counselors.

During this VCT campus drive, students were also given the option to sign a “Safer Sex Pledge” that highlights the Abstain (A), Be faithful (B) and Condomise (C) strategies (ABC).

Dr Mohammed said the VCT drives provide the HIV/Aids unit with an opportunity to reinforce healthy lifestyles among students in order to prevent risky behavior that could make them vulnerable to be infected with HIV.

“Our aim for those that test negative, is to keep them negative,” he said.

The VCT campus drive is also aimed at ensuring that those who do test positive have access to the care and support services offered by the unit’s Health Promoters and clinical support from the CPUT campus clinics.

Dr Mohammed said the VCT campus drive “compliments” the routine VCT service, which is offered at campus clinics (on both Cape Town and Bellville campuses only) throughout the academic year.

The next campus-wide VCT drive is scheduled for the second semester.

By Candes Keating

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The Bellville campus of the CPUT was the epitome of holistic wellness during a three day celebration that aimed to promote the many facets of living a healthy life.

Seven dimensions of wellness lent colour and character to this initiative, namely spiritual wellness, intellectual wellness, social wellness, emotional wellness, occupational wellness, physical wellness, and environmental wellness.

Beauty and health related businesses and non profit organisations exhibited, sold products, or rendered services like massages, jet therapy, manicures and pedicures. Other products on offer included Herbalife, Acorn products, Argillo pottery, Glocell airtime, Swiss Guard, Pottery and Tupperware.

Exhibitors included Student Counseling, the Clinic, Co-operative Education, Nusight, WP Blood Transfusion Service, Metro District Health Services (Sensible Drinking), Cape Mental Health, US Mental Health Centre, SANTA (TB), PGWC Oral Health and the Arthritis Foundation.

Staff and students were invited to participate in dance, katabox and pilates classes, or to enjoy the vibrant ambience in the air as Radio Good Hope FM, Hip Hop artist Lungelo and Radio personality Sandra Rosenburg took to the stage.

The student quad was the centre of attention as this was where the many exciting demonstrations and activities occurred. Here, there were renditions of poetry, an aerobic display, hip hop dancing, drama displays, drumming sessions as well as judo and karate demonstrations.

In addition a mechanical bull, clowns and ball jugglers kept the crowds entertained. In the atrium, a Hungarian classical music trio played harmonious music entertaining the staff and students who passed through.

Dr Abie De Villiers, chairperson of the Wellness Committee said according to an evaluation done during Wellness Week, the majority of participants on the Bellville campus gave the wellness concept and activities the thumbs up.

“It is my opinion that the week achieved its objectives. The CPUT community was able to mingle with each other and enjoy the friendly atmosphere in the quad. In talking with people I got the impression that it was a good example of edutainment, where people were entertained, but also educated on the need for a healthy life style,” said Dr De Villiers.”

Written by CPUT News
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The Department of Nursing Science is leading an initiative which aims to strengthen efforts to ensure the gradual safe return of staff and students to campuses.

The project has provided training, conducted via Microsoft Teams, for Campus Protection Services (CPS) as well as heads of departments and faculties and cleaning services.

“The focus was mainly on personal safety, wearing of PPE (Personal Protective Equipment), access control and measuring temperature,” said Prof Karien Jooste, Head of the Department of Nursing Science. Jooste drew up a training programme for nurse educators who are experts in Occupational Health to provide the training. The training was coordinated and facilitated by the department’s Natalie Copeling and her team. 

The project was conducted in liaison with Human Capital: Learning and Development and Melanie Marais, Head of HIV/AIDS Unit as well as Campus Health Clinics.
CPS and cleaning staff were provided with information specifically tailored for their role in the processes.
According to Jooste, training of the CPS staff focused on the part that these staff will play in the screening of temperatures. “Training also included the use of interpersonal skills to address the possible fears and uncertainty that staff may have in relation to both the screening process and the return to campus within the constraints of our ‘new normal’”.

She added that the training for cleaning services staff will reinforce the way of cleaning, where to clean specifically and the chemicals used for the cleaning and disinfecting processes. Information sessions are also offered to all CPUT staff to provide a clearer idea of how to prepare the campus for the return of staff and students as well as what to expect on return.
“Participating in training is a constructive way to give back to the community and is in line with the slogan of the department: Carers for the future!” said Jooste.

The initiative comes as the department marks the Year of Nurse and the Midwife. This year has been designated as the Year of the Nurse and the Midwife by the World Health Organisation to mark the bicentenary of the birth of the founder of modern nursing, Florence Nightingale and to recognise the critical contribution nurses make to global health.

Marais said training for peer educators in residences had also been provided.

The Nursing Science Department encouraged the CPUT community to continue:

• washing hands regularly
• practising social distancing
• wearing a mask

Written by Ilse Fredericks
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Members of the executive management are conducting spot checks of campuses this week as the university gears up for the gradual return of staff and students.

Facilities on the Bellville and Wellington campuses were assessed on Monday, with visits to District Six, Mowbray and Granger Bay campuses scheduled for later in the week.

The team visited screening facilities, campus health, a joint project by the food technology and chemical engineering departments to produce hand sanitiser for the CPUT community as well as the Adaptronics Advanced Manufacturing Technology Laboratory where initiatives to produce face shields and masks for ventilators are underway.

Vice-Chancellor Prof Chris Nhlapo said he was impressed with the progress that had been made thus far.“I'm imploring on all colleagues to support the maintenance staff as well as protection services in ensuring that campus is ready to welcome our students back.”

The protocols that are being put in place include:

• All staff and students currently on any of CPUT’s campuses will be screened for Covid-19
• All facilities will undergo comprehensive (deep) cleaning
• Preparing campuses for social distancing using the principles of one-directional flow of the movement of people. Lecture theatres are also being prepared.
• Screening tents that will be visible from the entrance of each campus. Inside this facility, persons will first be screened for Covid-19 and may only enter the premises if no signs of infection are found.

Prof Mellet Moll, who is responsible for overseeing all Business Continuity Management Covid-19 related activities, said the visits form part of the activities of the BCM Covid Command Centre.

“We are taking it seriously to put lives first. We are observing health and safety at the highest possible standard.”

Written by Ilse Fredericks
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As the global community continues to battle the coronavirus pandemic, our health workers have emerged as the heroes of this crisis. Among them are many of our very own CPUT students who are working selflessly to help others. Some are risking their own lives at the frontlines.

Students from the Department of Emergency Medical Sciences have heeded the call for help by health authorities by manning ambulances and the recently erected temporary hospitals. Others have volunteered to assist in various non-clinical roles such as manning the telephones in the call-centre.

This week we are telling their stories in their own words. Today we tell the stories of two student volunteers at the Covid-19 Hotline.

Benjamin Grant, third-year Bachelor of Emergency Medical Care (BEMC) student:

"Before the lockdown even started, we as BEMC students knew we would one day become a part of the fight against the coronavirus and thus submission forms were circulated to allow a database to be set up of students willing to volunteer.

Many filled in the forms with the hope they would be able to assist in any way possible when called upon.

Just two days after lockdown began, I was called by a representative of the METRO College to tell me that my opportunity to volunteer had arrived. We were instructed to report to Tygerberg Hospital Disaster Management Centre, where we would work at the Covid-19 Hotline call centre. The Hotline was created to assist the public with education, telephonic screening and assistance, where possible, and with all general enquiries around the lockdown and the virus.

We are working alongside students from UCT and Stellenbosch (University) and high-risk nurses and doctors, with the same mindset of wanting to help wherever they can. We volunteer for shifts far enough in advance to ensure our school priorities are not inhibited and work either day or night shifts (as the call centre runs 24 hours).

After some time, I and a few others moved from taking calls on the hotline to calling back patients to let them know their results, positive or negative, and to assist with enquiries or educating the patients to ensure the slowing of the spread of Covid-19.

Working alongside a group of like-minded individuals, all which hope to assist in the fight against the coronavirus, has truly been inspirational and highly educational, all while meeting new and interesting people and even making friends and helping the community to the best of our abilities.

The fight against the coronavirus is far from over, however, I am proud to be serving my community while representing CPUT at the Covid-19 Hotline and I will keep volunteering until my help is no longer required."

Jamie Shrimpton, Second-Year Bachelor of Emergency Medical Care student

"My name is Jamie and I am a second-year student studying towards a Bachelor of Emergency Medical Care at CPUT. During this pandemic, CPUT’s BEMC programme and other medical programmes have been given an opportunity to volunteer at the Tygerberg Disaster Management Centre, working on the COVID-19 Hotline.

This has given me an opportunity to be involved in the industry whereas I would usually be working on the road while studying alongside my peers.

I am enjoying this thoroughly. Disaster Management is extremely welcoming towards all the students involved and it also gives us a great opportunity to network with students and qualified practitioners that we would not usually see.

At the COVID-19 Hotline we provide advice, screening, and protocols to members of the public, as well as to practitioners and other essential services. We are in contact with the police, traffic services and other government essential services, which gives us the variety of views that come from each industry regarding the pandemic, as well as the many information resources that come along with it.

South Africa will make it through this pandemic, and this is evident to me by the tireless hours, our emergency services and hospitals are putting in, of which the general public might not be entirely privy to. The Western Cape Disaster Management specifically is running a system that many consider to be a top standard in managing this pandemic and is reassuring to witness first-hand."

Written by Ilse Fredericks
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The Department of Student Affairs (DSA) has compiled a list of exciting activities to keep students fit, healthy, and entertained during the lockdown.

Deputy Dean of Students, Tulani Nkuntse outlined the wellness services available to students during this period and how to access them.

Nkuntse said: This is aimed at reaching as many of our students as possible. Some of the activities can be done individually, in pairs and or groups and therefore students can even do some with their own families, [for]those who are at home.”

These activities range from aerobics to general fitness which are done every day with a walk or run activity in and around your home. The intensity of the activity can be increased with time and can include stairs, chairs, sandbags, water bottles.

Individuals are also urged to set up their own exercise circuit at home which could include basic exercises such as sit-ups, push-ups, planking, and squats. “Students can check out Virgin Active Facebook page for an exercise activity every morning at 07:30. Video call a friend or colleague while doing the activities simultaneously,” he said.

Nkuntse encouraged students to watch Virgin Active, “The Grid 20 Minute Hit Workout and Active Fitness Activities for Members” on YouTube. He said that there was also a Supa-pool, a programme which includes, ‘YouTube – 8 Ball Pool Practice Routines and Improve Your Game in 10 Minutes with basic pool practice drills’. The students are also encouraged to watch Volleyball YouTube – 10 solo volleyball drills to try at home; Golf YouTube – Golf swing made simple (miracle drill) and Chess Online Video Coaching.

“We always have our students in mind… we were talking about how much we miss them, we thought of compiling something to show them that they are in our thoughts and that they could still do activities that will remind them that they belong to [the] CPUT community.”

To add to the sport, DSA also included arts and cultural activities such as the virtual choir project, weekly drama practice videos, which will be created and shared with all drama students and interactive debates will be scheduled via social media. The short story project is aimed for students who are creative with words, have a passion for storytelling, and who can work in a collaborative format.  This project will be rolled out in phases.

Facilities committee member, Cherice Mangiagalli said once students have been identified, online platforms will be used to brainstorm ideas. These ideas will be finalised into different genres, themes, and titles of the short stories.  Students will work in groups of three to five per story depending on the interest shown and which language they are most comfortable with from IsiXhosa, IsiZulu, Afrikaans, and English.  Mangiagalli adds that once the short stories have been completed: “Our hope is to engage our schools in the surrounding communities by sharing the love for reading and writing.”

Written by Aphiwe Boyce
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The Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment is collaborating with the Faculty of Health and Wellness Sciences to manufacture medical ventilators which are much needed in the coronavirus fight.

The manufacturing team is headed by the Director of the Adaptronics Advanced Manufacturing Technology Laboratory (Adaptronics AMTL), Professor Oscar Philander.  Members from Adaptronics AMTL include Technical Manager, Mornay Riddles; Logistics and Operations, Eugene Erfort; Electronics and Mechatronics Technologist, Cyprian Onochi; Mechanical Technologist, Lubabalo Matshoba; Technician, Kerwyn Lategan; Artisan, Romeo Arendse and Department of Mechanical Engineering MTech Student, Tristan Edwards.

Other members are Project Consultant and Faculty of Health and Wellness Sciences Acting Dean, Prof Penelope Engel-Hills, and Bachelor of Emergency Medical Care lecturer Louis Jordaan, who is also a Project Technical Adviser.

Philander says that when a desperate need for ventilators was identified in early April, he started looking at what other people were doing and downloaded and studied open-source designs for these devices.

Prof Marshall Sheldon also urged the Adaptronics AMTL to assist in any way with products to help in the fight against the pandemic. Philander then identified three areas, face shields, face masks, and ventilators.  The team has successfully produced both shields and masks using conventional manufacturing processes. “To date, we’ve finalised the design and manufacturing process for the face shield and handed out sample shields for evaluation purposes.”

He states that about 22 of these went to CPUT security staff while six went to doctors and emergency medical services staff on the front line. “So far the feedback on the shields has been positive and we have produced a stock of 150 face shields. Our prototype mask also underwent a cursory review by a medical doctor and he provided valuable feedback on its operation and use. We are currently prototyping the third variant of the face mask that should be ready for testing in about a week.”

Philander adds that the ventilators they are manufacturing are highly sophisticated lifesaving instruments. “Most of the open-source designs are for systems that mechanically depress AmbuBags or Bag Valve Masks (BVM).

“I decided to focus our work on such a system and contacted Prof Penelope Engel-Hills, requesting assistance in procuring a BVM.”

He states that Jordaan delivered a BVM to the Adaptronics AMTL and gave them a short introduction on how the BVM is used in the field and how it could potentially be used as a substitute ventilator when hospitals are overrun with patients desperately needing assisted breathing devices.

“My team is currently in the third iteration of the design and it was decided that we would minimise the amount of moving parts in the design thus making control of it easier. The design goals include varying the volume of air displacement, as well as varying the inspiration and exhalation rates.”

The Grassy Park born professor who enjoys helping communities says the team is finalising the design and will start prototyping soon.  Once the prototype is complete, the device will be tested in collaboration with the Faculty of Health and Wellness Sciences to obtain its specifications and how it could be used in the field.

“This will be a critical phase of the development due to the complexity of its function. More will be shared once we reach this stage,” he remarks.

Written by Aphiwe Boyce
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The Department of Health recommends the wearing of face masks to help prevent the spread of the coronavirus and CPUT is aiding in the fight.

The Technology Station: Clothing and Textiles (TSCT) and Department of Clothing and Textile Technology have contributed to the development of guidelines for the South African Clothing and Textile industry in terms of manufacturing fabric face masks for use by the general public.

TSCT Manager Shamil Isaacs said they were contacted by the Director for Policy Implementation in the Department of Trade and Industry and Competition (DTI&C) to be part of the Clothing, Textiles, Footwear and Leather Masterplan Team, with the focus on these industries’ support in fighting Covid-19. “The call was to provide input and guidelines on specifications for face masks for general public use during Covid-19. Face masks play a critical part in avoiding mass transmission during this coronavirus pandemic.”

Dr Asis Patnaik from the Department of Clothing and Textile Technology in the Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment provided textile material specifications for small manufacturers and home sewers to make masks. The mask specifications and design form a part of the Recommended Guidelines: Fabric Face Masks Manufactured by South Africa’s Clothing and Textile Manufacturing Industry for General Public Use issued by the DTI&C (http://www.thedti.gov.za/news2020/Guidelines_Masks.pdf). “This would be an alternative to the expensive N95 mask as these are to be retained exclusively for use by medical personnel and to avoid a shortfall of these masks during this critical time. All indications are that everyone will be required to wear a mask or a face covering when out, especially persons travelling on public transport,” said Isaacs.

The DTI &C group is also engaging clothing manufacturers with the capability to convert their manufacturing plants to produce various items of personal protective equipment. The TSCT, funded by the Technology Innovation Agency to support Small, Medium and Micro-sized Enterprises (SMMEs) will be able to provide pattern making and testing support to these businesses, especially SMMEs.

*Masks are only part of the solution in the fight against Covid-19 and should be used in combination with other hygienic methods of prevention.

Written by Ilse Fredericks
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The Department of Student Affairs has initiated a food parcel drive to support vulnerable CPUT students during the lockdown.

Deputy Dean of Students, Tulani Nkuntse said they have been working with the Central Student Representative Council in partnership with an NGO, Ithemba Labantu, and staff members to assist 420 identified students who are currently in residences and in need of food and basic essentials. “We have rolled out assistance for the students who have not received their allowances to [this] date, [and] students who are not receiving any form of bursary or NSFAS…and we were clear that this is for students who have no means to support themselves.” 

This initiative has been benefiting mainly the students on the Bellville Campus. Nkuntse said postgraduate students in Cape Town also started a fund to assist students residing in their residences who were identified as needing similar support. “This has also fast-tracked the university’s wider student support programme geared to support our struggling students; the groundwork has begun,” said Nkuntse.

He added that the university has already spent about R200 000 and that the initiative came at a time when the institution had begun looking at various ways on how to build a sustainable programme to support its struggling students. “We believe that this initiative will provide a good foundation for the programme to be implemented in the near future.”

This initiative also received a thumbs up from Vice-Chancellor Prof Chris Nhlapo, who said: “This is excellent beyond measure. This is what social justice and a caring university must do. Well done.” 

Nkuntse added that the university has a number of struggling students and support of this kind was crucial for ‘our’ university. “We are committed to ensuring that we support our students in all ways possible. Good nutrition results in good health and ultimately good academic performance.”

*The Dr Mzamo Jakavula Foundation and Adams Food Stall have also been assisting with cooked meals.

Written by Aphiwe Boyce
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The Department of Student Affairs has gone the extra mile to assist students since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Deputy Dean of Students, Tulani Nkuntse, said that from 1 March to 18 April, the university has initiated a number of programmes, including Health Cluster activities, busing students home ahead of lockdown, accommodating students who could not go home, student counselling and general residence activities. When President Cyril Ramaphosa announced that SA would go into lockdown, it was decided that it would be in (residence) students’ best interests if they returned to their families for the duration of the lockdown period.

Nkuntse said 941 students were transported by CPUT chartered buses and 9 719 went home voluntarily. A total of 1853 students chose to remain on campus.

“There is good provision of services to ensure the hygiene of residences [such as] procuring and securing protective equipment, sanitisers and gloves, good containment with no positive cases reported thus far.”

The Student Health Clinic works in tandem with the Western Cape Department of Health and the National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD) in Cape Town as they follow the World Health Organisation, National Department of Health and NICD Protocols in the management of suspected and confirmed Coronavirus cases. “All suspected, confirmed cases and close contacts at CPUT campuses can be reported telephonically to the student health clinic with the following detail:

• Name and surname of suspected case/patient
• Contact number and alternative number
• Date of start of symptoms

The deputy dean added that anti-microbial (antibiotics) treatment is not advised for COVID-19 cases unless there is good reason to do so e.g. secondary bacterial infections.   He said the university has increased access to staff members for students in all activities and that students can send emails to request counselling. Student counsellors can call to follow up.

Nkuntse said students have been adhering to lockdown rules as required and there has been greater access control at campus gates.

“This period has challenged us to look deeply and we fast-tracked the thinking around the services we provide as student affairs and how we need to reimagine student affairs for the university of the future. We have acted in the best way possible. We continue to look for ways to improve during this uncertain time but in all we do; we have our students at the centre of it all. [We are] quite happy with the progress made thus far. We were able to really, in a short space of time [we] come up with and implemented concrete plans to ensure that we respond in a responsible manner. We continue to make more strides to ensure that our interventions yield the desired results,” Nkuntse said.

Emergency contact person is Andries Slinger; *60247 or 076 229 0298

Written by Aphiwe Boyce
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A conference which empowered young women in higher education with skills such as entrepreneurship, self-defence and personal branding was recently held on the Bellville Campus.

The two-day conference, which was hosted by the HIV/Aids Unit, was attended by approximately 300 female students from universities and TVET Colleges around the Western Cape.
Prof Nomafrench Mbombo, Western Cape Health MEC, told the young women to be wary of risky sexual activities as it could lead to their downfall such as unwanted pregnancies, sexual transmitted infections and abusive relationships.
“Girls are groomed for men’s sexual gratification,” she said.

Mbombo decried the patriarchal environment which raises boys differently from girls and added that young women sometimes feel the pressure to have children in order to please or gain hold over their men and that transactional sex is a common practice these days as women wants to live the good life. 

Acting Dean: Faculty of Health and Wellness Sciences, Prof Penelope Engel-Hills, said she works with communities around issues of gender-based violence. 
“In this country women are not well at the moment and this means that the society at large is ill,” said Engel-Hills.

HEAIDS Project Manager, Alex Semba, said the conference was a platform for the delegates to network with each other.
Semba discussed the programmes that HEAIDS is providing to universities and colleges to address the ‘blessing’ culture in a bid to reduce HIV infections among women between the ages of 15 and 24 by 30%.
He said health and wellness is important in order for higher education institutions to perform their core functions of teaching, research and community engagement. 
During the conference the delegates received goodie bags and spot prizes, and were equipped with a range of skills including personal safety, entrepreneurship and leadership.

Written by Kwanele Butana
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