Dr Mongane Wally Serote, world-renowned poet, writer and cultural activist was the keynote speaker at CPUT’s Africa Day celebrations on the Bellville campus on 25 May. Revered as one of the Soweto poets who embodied the literary revival of black voices in the 1970s, Serote is generally regarded as one of South Africa’s pre-eminent writers.

Africa Day is an annual occasion for African countries and institutions to commemorate and reflect on the growth and development of the continent. The celebrations mark the day when the Organisation of African Unity, the precursor to the African Union, was formed 48 years ago, on May 25th, 1963.

Civic Engagement Manager Buntu Gwija, a member of the organising committee for Africa Day, says he’s delighted that an icon of Serote’s stature delivered the keynote address. “It's an honour to host Dr Serote, who has played such a proud and committed role in our country’s history. My wish is that we at CPUT, an institution that envisions becoming ‘the heart of technology and innovation in Africa’, can learn from him and use his teachings to forge a unique, shared sense of Africanised identity.”

A recent recipient of the President’s Order of Ikhamanga in Silver for his ‘excellent contribution to literature, with emphasis on poetry and for putting his artistic talents at the service of democracy in South Africa’, Serote spoke on the topic of ‘African Renaissance as Anchored on Indigenous Knowledge Systems.’

In addition to Serote’s address, Hip-hop artist Kapital K provided entertainment during the event, and prizes were awarded to the best-dressed male and female who embodied the dress code theme – ‘Diversely African’.

By Thando J. Moiloa and Jan Weintrob.

Sources: www.en.wikipedia.org, www.thepresidency.gov.za
Photo source: www.townshiptimes.co.za

Written by CPUT News
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Leadership on the continent will come under the spotlight at CPUT’s annual Africa Day celebrations that will take place at the Bellville Campus today.

Africa Day is the annual commemoration of the 1963 founding of the Organization of African Unity now known as the African Union (AU). This day celebrates Africa’s liberation but also urges Africans to reflect on the development and challenges facing the continent.

Today the CPUT community will focus on African Leadership in the 21st century and will explore the current realities, challenges and prospects of leadership on the continent.

The keynote address will be delivered by Reverend Dr Frank Chikane, former Director General of the Presidency.  Dr Chikane is well acquainted with leadership issues on the African continent and earlier this year he released Eight Days in September, his account of the events leading up to and following Thabo Mbeki’s removal from office.

The president of the Apostolic Faith Mission of South Africa, he is also involved in business, offering an advisory service to companies that do business on the African continent.

Africa Day celebrations will take place at the Bellville Campus Auditorium at 12am.

The CPUT community and public can watch the event live online at www.cput.ac.za/live

By Candes Keating

Written by CPUT News
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Africa’s leaders have recognised Professor Oluwole Daniel Makinde as one of the continent’s top scientists.

Prof Makinde recently scooped the African Union Kwame Nkrumah Scientific Continental 2011 Award, which recognises him as the top African scientist in the category of basic sciences, technology and innovation.

The annual award highlights the achievements of African scientist who are making an impact on the continent, through their research and other related activities.

This prestigious award celebrates Prof Makinde’s contribution to the upliftment of previously disadvantaged groups in Africa in the area of mathematical science research and training.

Prof Makinde, who recently received the award at the African Union-Head Office in Addis Ababa, said it will go a long way in boosting his research and training of upcoming African scientists.

“The impact of this AU Kwame Nkrumah Scientific Award on the rest of Africa is enormous. It raises the profile of innovative research in mathematical sciences in Africa and acts as a stimulus for scientific, engineering and technological advancement of the continent,” he said.

Prof Makinde, whose career spans 25-years, has concentrated his research on the use of mathematical theories to gain insights into the dynamics of engineering and biological systems that are of industrial, environmental, medical and social interest.

A senior professor and Director of Postgraduate Studies at CPUT, Prof Makinde said research, mathematics, science and technology are vital for the development of the African continent.

“Unless a country or a group of countries are well equipped with the necessary mathematical skills and knowledge to unlock its enormous scientific and technological potentials, they will be lagging behind in the race of development,” he said.

“It is the level of research in mathematical sciences that determines the level of the science and technological advancement of any nation. The foundation of science and technology, which is the basic requirement for development of a nation, is mathematics.”

To date, he has produced over 200 journal articles, authored several books, chaired numerous international conferences and is also one of the university’s top researchers.

For the past three years, he has scooped the CPUT award for best senior researcher.

By Candes Keating

Written by CPUT News
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Africa Day will be celebrated tomorrow on CPUT campuses to commemorate the founding of the Organisation of African Unity.

The OAU is now known as the African Union, but the day is still celebrated around the world in various ways.

This year CPUT has chosen the theme “Celebrating Africanness” and already students are describing what they think it means to be African on the CPUT Facebook page.

Keeping it short in a bid not to disrupt examinations, activations are curtailed to happen between 1pm and 2pm on the District Six and Bellville campuses. These include traditional dancing, poetry, drumming and interaction with an MC around the concept of Africanness.

Mowbray campus, look out for dancers to visit your campus between 12 pm and 1pm.

Granger Bay campus will be visited by the dancers between 2pm and 3pm.

All campuses should keep an eye out for a huge, travelling poster of Africa. International students are invited to place a pin on the map to show us where their hometown is situated.

On a more academic note, Fundani hosts the second Decolonisation Seminar tomorrow in the Seminar Hall on Bellville Campus. Entitled “Struggle for Epistemic Freedom in Africa: Deprovincialization and Decolonization” the seminar starts at 12.00 pm.

Professor Sabelo Ndlovu of Unisa will deliver the keynote address and Siya Sabata, CPUT lecturer responsible for the development of graduate attributes and curriculum transformation, will respond.

There is something to suite everyone’s mood this Africa Day so come and share in the celebration.

Written by Theresa Smith
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