Staff and students at the Cape Town Hotel School (CTHS) are brimming with pride after three of its students were among the prize winners of the prestigious Reaching for Young Stars 2025 competition – with two of them securing internships in the United States (US).

Hosted at the prestigious Cape Grace Hotel, the competition celebrates creativity, excellence, and innovation in food and hospitality. CPUT’s young stars made quite the impression, showcasing their talent across multiple categories.

Phillip Masotha, who entered the Hot Chef category, walked away with the Rio Largo Young Achiever prize, while Tidimalo Manhique, who entered the Pastry Chef category, clinched the Früt Jam prize. Valencia May also made her mark, earning third place in the Beverage category.

Along with Slindile Ngema (Baker category) and Litha Boloti (Barista category), they made up the five-member CTHS team who entered the competition.

Phillip and Tidimalo will soon be packing their bags for Cape Cod, Massachusetts, where they’ll take part in an internship programme, thanks to the Reaching for Young Stars initiative.

“I’m very excited about the internship and going to America”, said Phillip.

Tidimalo said the competition was a wonderful learning opportunity.

“I learned that you have to challenge yourself. Don’t limit yourself,” she said.

“We are very proud of our students,” said Executive Sous Chef at the CTHS, Danielle Barkhuizen, adding that the internship in the US will provide “great exposure” for the two students.

CTHS students also made quite the impression during the 2024 competition and are currently participating in internships in the US.

“Our 2024 winners, Musa Ntantiso and Tshwanelo Sekharume, are currently in Cape Cod with Chuma Cetywayo and Nkosikhona Sandi to further their careers and participate in the mentorship programme offered by Reaching for Young Stars,” said Barkhuizen.

Written by Ilse Fredericks
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

In November, the Tourism and Events Management department hosted an annual general meeting of the National Tourism Educators South Africa (TESA) at the Cape Town Hotel School, Granger Bay.

Representatives from further and higher education institutions across South Africa offering tourism and related courses qualifications were in attendance.

The primary purpose of the meeting was to elect a new executive committee, which was voted in during the proceedings.

The new executive now comprises, President: Dr Rishi Balkaran (Durban University of Technology), Vice President: Prof Elmarie Slabbert (North West University), Treasurer: Dr. Erasmus Mnguni (DUT); Secretary: Mandisa Silo (CPUT).

Two other members with no portfolio are 2011 Acting President Hugh Bartis (Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University) and Peter Kriel (University of Johannesburg).

Newly appointed Head of Department, Mandisa Silo, expressed her delight to be able to host TESA, one the first activities in the position she’s held for a little over three months.

“Our department saw this as an opportunity to represent the CPUT brand and showcase the work we do in the Tourism Industry”, said Silo.

“The former Cape Technikon was one of the first convenor institutions to offer high quality tourism qualifications in the country, so we felt it necessary to uphold this status even as CPUT”, she added.

Later in the month, the department’s BTech: Tourism Management students presented their

Senior Lecturer, Snyman Ohlhoff, explained the purpose of the presentations:

“Our students present their research projects to evaluators and it forms part of the assessment of the projects.  We also invite some of our stakeholders from industry and government with whom we've built up relationships, to listen to the presentations and we also share with them what our students are doing”.  

Ohlhoff added that ‘the outcome of this exercise is that students are prepared for when they choose to further their studies to the Post-Graduate level, in terms of presenting research at conferences by this type of activity’.

By: Thando J. Moiloa

Written by CPUT News
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

After an almost two-month break for renovations, the new-look Cape Town Hotel School (CTHS) is open for business.

With its silver and grey interior, brand new show kitchen, terrace and an all-new cocktail bar the Granger Bay CTHS is sure to be a popular venue on the Cape Town social scene.

ON SHOW: The glittering show-kitchen is a welcome addition to the newly renovated venue.

Guests from CPUT’s Alumni were invited to the grand opening last week and were suitably overwhelmed by the dramatic makeover which was made possible by generous sponsors like the Hospitality Property Fund.

CHEERS: The new Alumni Cocktail Bar is now located in the reception area.

The CTHS is unique in that first, second and third-year students get to spend time in the restaurant and hone their skills under the skilled mentorship of hospitality experts.

Head of the CTHS, Alan Romburgh, says the new restaurant is a truly special place.

“I would like to thank our Management and sponsors for making this renovation possible, as this venue is now a place that is fitting to out core business- hospitality,”
he said.

New Business Faculty Dean, Professor MS Binza says it isn’t only the brand new surroundings which is impressive saying the hospitality industry is much like heaven, where guests are received with the utmost warmth and kindness.

“Our Hotel School, which falls under my faculty academically, is like a little bit of heaven on earth for its patrons. Congratulations to all the inductees and alumni present here, we know that you remember your beginnings,” he says.

Also present at the event was the CEO of Cape Town Tourism, Mariëtte du Toit-Helmbold who added that in the hospitality industry one needs to set the bar high and establishments like to Hotel School help to maintain this vision.

Other key sponsors included, the Protea Hospitality Group, Liquor and Catering Trade (Cape) Education Fund, SS Hotel Group, WP Caterers, Rotary Waterfront and FEDHASA Western Cape.

By: Thando J. Moiloa

Photos by: Clive Galant (Fundani CHED)

Written by CPUT News
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

The Tourism and Events Management, Hospitality and Sport Management Departments of the CPUT Business Faculty, alongside industry players from an international and national level, recently attended INDABA 2009 at the Albert Lithuli Convention Centre in Durban.

The event, which is owned by South African Tourism, ran from 9 to 12 May 2009.

The INDABA 2009 organisers divided the exhibition areas as well as the surrounding parking areas and roads, into the various provinces within South Africa. CPUT was given the opportunity to exhibit all its offerings within the Western Cape tent.

Staff attending the event got to speak to the various industry players, both large and small, informing them about all new developments on offer, from full time, to part time and short courses, which would benefit many of their current employees and contribute to the increase in service offered within the aligned industries.

The event was also a good opportunity for strengthening bonds with many of the organisations where students are sent to complete their experiential training, and due to the increase in student numbers for 2009 many new placements were arranged allowing for 100% placement rate within the Faculty. The event also allowed for meetings and discussions with various industry players with regards to experiential learning, where both parties were given the opportunity to discuss various issues and thereafter improve the placement and training process for all students at the University.

INDABA 2009 was also the venue for the South African 2010 FIFA Organising Committee to launch their international ad campaign for the World Cup.

All attendees got to see the advertisement for the first time in the spectacular opening ceremony attended also by various FIFA delegates, Provincial and National tourism leaders, as well as the organising leader himself, Danny Jordaan.

A breathtaking display of vocal and artistic talent was displayed by the various performers after which all attendees gave loud applause at the proudly South African ad campaign that would go across the world to represent our country, South Africa .

“This INDABA has proven to be an excellent platform for CPUT,” said Luke van Rensberg, Marketing and Functions Co-ordinator for the Cape Town Hotel School Restaurant.

“It encourages industry to become actively involved with the educational side of training and forces involvement with preparing learners to lead the various aspects within Tourism South Africa one day,” he said.

By the Cape Town Hotel School

Photo: Members of the Tourism and Events Management, Hospitality and Sport Management Departments staff the CPUT exhibit at INDABA 2009.

Written by CPUT News
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Second-year students from the Cape Town Hotel School scooped top awards at the Reach for Young Stars competition.

Organised by Showcook, the competition is an annual event which sees South Africa’s young and aspiring chefs, sommeliers and head waiters compete in a number of exciting challenges.

This year’s challenge took place at the One&Only Hotel in Cape Town and saw students wow judges with their culinary and hospitality skills.

The winning starter was a vanilla prawn tortellini prepared by the school’s Sascha Kranz and Grant Glasser.

Gabrielle le Roux and Merissa Naicker were named top sommelier and top head waiter, respectively by the judging panel made up of industry experts.

Other awards went to Lisa Batty, runner-up in the head waiter category, as well as Cobus Bester and Siyabonga Mlonzi, who both came third in the sommelier category.

The keynote speaker at the awards ceremony was Minister of Tourism Marthinus van Schalkwyk, while the awards were presented by Dr Vash Mungal-Singh, CEO of the Heart and Stroke Foundation South Africa.

Judges of the event were Reuben Riffel, Nick Patmore, Marieta Human, Penelope Horwood, Luke Dale-Roberts, Wolfgang Leyrer and Michael Olivier.

Cape Town Hotel School Director Alan Romburgh recently hosted a celebratory lunch for the victorious students and the staff members who coached them.

Romburgh commended the students for doing extremely well in the competition.

He says judges were so impressed by their high standards that they voted CPUT as the best hotel school in the Western Cape.

Reflecting on the experience, the students says while they were nervous at first they later enjoyed taking part in the competition as they had an opportunity to put the skills they learnt at the school to test.

By Kwanele Butana

Written by CPUT News
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Excitement filled the room in the Cape Town Hotel School when scholars consisting of CPUT staffers, who are mainly women in academics, were recently awarded certificates for completing their SAP train the trainer and newly advance SAP S4 HANA courses.

Prof. Renitha Rampersad, Assistant Dean for Research & Innovation in the Faculty of Business and Management Sciences, congratulated the Centre for ERP in Africa (CERPiA) and the graduating women for their achievements and said that women empowerment has become very important in the country.

“Women are contributing to the society. The modern woman is self-confident,” said Rampersad. “I appreciate women who bring success to themselves and others”

CERPIA SAP education manager and trainer, Jerry Ansen, said the CPUT-based CERPIA was established in 2014 from a successfully completed two-year erp4school project, sponsored by GIZ & SAP. “The project aimed to implement the ERP education programme in Africa and CPUT is a Centre for Africa,” said Ansen.

He added that CERPIA was launched as a multidisciplinary Centre in the Faculty where partnerships with other like-minded entities at CPUT could engage to advance the CPUT agenda. CERPIA consists of three units:  Business Informatics Research, SAP/ERP Skills Development and SAP/ERP University Networking in Africa.

“Our current focus is the skilling of students and graduates to enhance their employability in this digital business economy. We have trained 8000+ graduates since 2012 in Africa,” said Ansen. He added that they have trained 800 lecturers and professors from African Universities and colleges and in the process produced over 4 500 Certified SAP ERP graduates in Africa.

He said the 100 women SAP Digital Business Skills development initiative, which was launched in September 2019, has seen 30 women trained from November to December. He added that the training of further 51 women will commence in November 2020.

Yvette Greeff, Senior Talent Development Consultant at The Foschini Group, congratulated the graduates and attributed their achievement to the ADKAR Model. Greeff added that the model is a tool created by Jeff Hiatt that helps to analyse one’s change with a view to better understand it.

• ADKAR is an acronym that represents five concrete outcomes that people need to achieve lasting change, namely Awareness, Desire, Knowledge, Ability and Reinforcement especially in today’s digital transformation economy.

She added that the benefits of lifelong learning are acquisition of new skills and improving old ones, nurturing curious minds, opening minds and increasing wisdom as well as improving memory.

Calvin Maseko, Director: Advancement Department, said his Unit decided to invest unrestricted donor funds in colleagues’ digital business skills to advance their learning and teaching. He thanked his colleagues in the Department for their efforts in raising the funds and doing the administrative work.

“Since 2018 we’ve been working with CERPIA and have helped with funding for the SAP ERP training of 72 staff members and students to the tune of over half a million rand,” added Maseko.

Written by Kwanele Butana
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Financially disadvantaged students can expect some relief thanks to an exclusive fund raising cocktail evening.

Interested parties have only one day left to RSVP for the event which will be held on Tuesday 19^th June at the Cape Town Hotel School in Granger Bay.

Hosted by Vice-Chancellor Prof Mazwi-Tanga and Council Chair Mbulelo Bikwani, the glittering event will give guests the opportunity to network and reconnect while finding out more about the incredible work being done to help students in need.

Mr Bikwani is himself a grateful recipient of financial aid. His early struggles as a student saw him knocking on many doors to source funding.

“Having experienced first-hand the hardships of financing my studies, when I became Chairman of Council I knew I couldn’t accept such a prestigious role without initiating projects to make a difference to those desperate for an education,” he says.

“With this in mind, and given the challenges facing the University to maintain standards of excellence, your support and engagement, is now, more than ever, critical to the interests of CPUT. “

Those who wish to attend the function on Tuesday 19^th June at the Cape Town Hotel School are advised that seats are reserved on a first-come, first-served basis. Please RSVP by close of business on Friday 7^th June to Helena Pietersen at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. The cocktail function begins at 17h00 for 17h30 and the dress code is Smart.

By  Jan Weintrob

Written by CPUT News
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

The Deputy Vice-Chancellor Research Forum being hosted by CPUT is in full swing today.

The event kicked off with a dinner at the plush Cape Town Hotel school on Thursday evening where around 26 Research Leaders from across the country attended.

SHARE: Guest speaker Nasima Badsha works to encourage collaboration between the four Western Cape universities

DVC for Research, Technology Innovation and Partnerships at CPUT, Dr Chris Nhlapo welcomed the guests warmly and expressed his pleasure at hosting the bi-annual event.

He also encouraged guests to set aside their competitiveness in favour of an atmosphere of sharing.

“This event is not just for CPUT, it is for all of us,” he says.

“We can share best practices and knowledge. Competition can be destructive.”

Guest speaker Nasima Badsha from the Cape Higher Education Consortium (CHEC) echoed Dr Nhlapo’s message while describing the work her institution does.

CHEC promotes collaboration between the four Western Cape universities CPUT, Stellenbosch, UCT and UWC and markets the region as an education hub.

The body is also currently tracking all 2010 graduates from these institutions for a major study on the career growth of students.

Today the forum will hear addresses delivered by members of the National Research Foundation and the Department of Higher Education and Training.

A delegation from the Ethiopian Embassy will also present their research capacity development project.

By Lauren Kansley

Photos by Clive Galant

Written by CPUT News
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

It’s all hands on deck this Mother’s Day weekend as CPUT’s Hotel School gear up for the annual Table of Peace and Unity event.

The fundraiser will see 700 people coming together to break bread at one long table set on Tafelberg Road – and raise millions for children’s charities.

Cape Town Hotel School Lecturers Jerome Peters and Danielle Schamrel will join other top chefs to prepare the three-course meal while students will help staff the event, using the skills learnt in the field each day at the Granger Bay Hotel School restaurant.

Jerome and Danielle will prepare the dessert of baked cheesecake brownie, chocolate truffles and raspberry coulis.

“We will have 60-80 students involved over three days. On the day of the event, 40 students will be divided into two stations and we also have our 100 first-year students doing the front-of-house service side of the operation,” says Jerome.
The Table of Peace & Unity was started 11 years ago and has raised close to R12 million to date. Every cent goes directly to the charities, which support abused, vulnerable and orphaned children across South Africa.

By Jan Weintrob

Written by CPUT News
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Fundani Centre for Higher Education Development recently held a regional colloquium to discuss scholarship, research and academic literacies in the South African context.

The colloquium provided a space for collegial engagement among the universities in the Western Cape to participate in a conversation that attempted to mark-out, reclaim and re-assert a possible role for an academic literacies research perspective within their higher education context.

The colloquium brought together an interesting mix of established scholars and emerging voices connected by their adoption and use of an academic literacies perspective to frame and direct their explorations of student writing and learning in the South African higher education context.

Held at the Cape Town Hotel School, the colloquium also featured academic literacies expert Mary Lea, a Reader in Academic and Digital Literacies in the Institute of Educational Technology at the Open University in the UK, as a respondent.

Academic literacies is a field of enquiry which emerged in the mid-1990s and focuses on student writing in higher education.

Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Learning and Teaching, Prof Anthony Staak, says the majority of students who enter universities are not able to write and read at the level which is required at university and providing support to them was taken seriously at CPUT .

“Fundani is at the centre of most of these efforts,” added Staak.

Written by Kwanele Butana
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

CPUT bade farewell to some of its longest-serving councillors in a gala dinner at the Cape Town Hotel School recently.

During the emotional dinner, speakers thanked the councillors for the passion with which they executed their responsibilities, even during times of disagreement.

Council chairman Mbulelo Bikwani says it is a privilege for anyone to serve in the council and that everyone served the institution with pride.

He added that all councilors were passionate about attending and engaging in robust discussions at council meetings, making important decisions that impacted on well over 30 000 students.

Registrar Nikile Ntsababa says that according to the council’s constitution, members cannot serve more than two terms (eight years) and therefore had to be released.

The longest-serving council member, Gerry Ferry, says the council gave them wonderful memories and he was commended with a standing ovation from the audience.

SRC President Mbongiseni Mbatha thanked the councils’ secretariat for dedicating long hours to keeping documents up to date and councillors abreast of developments.

Written by Kwanele Butana
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

The Faculty of Business recently hosted a meeting of the South African Commerce Deans Association (SACDA) meeting at the Cape Town Hotel School.

SACDA, an association of deans of commerce faculties in public universities throughout South Africa, holds biannual meetings in June and November in its member institutions.

The two-day conference was hosted by CPUT Dean of Business, Prof Mzikayise Binza, who is a member of the association.

Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Academic, Prof Anthony Staak presented CPUT’s major innovations such as the Nanosatellite and patented inventions such as the Unmanned Aerial Vehicle and the Omega Caro-E capsules.

BankSETA CEO Max Makhubalo discussed the SETA’s roles and functions and the opportunities that it avails to higher education institutions.

Makhubalo said the SETA offers merit bursaries to students who study accounting, maths, computer engineering, economics and actuarial sciences.

The SETA also funds doctoral students to support its research areas as well as facilitating internships with employers.

During the conference, the association discussed its response to the expected changes to the subsidy for Commerce modules as well as a possible collaboration with the South African Institute of Chartered Accountants

Discussions also included the possible revision of the SACDA Constitution with specific reference to the association’s role and implications for resources and future prospects to offer joint degrees. 

Written by Kwanele Butana
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

In recognition of the training excellence offered in the Cape Town Hotel School, the sector has awarded approximately R1.5m in bursaries, equipment, and accommodation vouchers to about 38 of its students.

These and other academic excellence awards were announced on the Granger Bay Campus recently during the school’s Annual Awards Ceremony.

Every year Protea Hotels by Marriot awards bursaries to students who show potential in the industry, and 17 students from the school received bursaries.

The Cape Liquor and Catering Trade Educational Trust, which was formed in 1999 and is closely aligned to the Tourism Hospitality and Catering Pension Fund, awarded R50 000 to the school’s students.

Tsogo Sun awarded bursaries to ten BTech students, with five awarded on academic merit and others on financial need, while the Cape Town International Convention Centre awarded three bursaries worth R30 000 each. The latter award includes a one-year graduation training programme at the centre.

Six more bursaries were awarded to individual hotel school students including an overseas scholarship by Feedem, Hotel School Restaurant, FEDHASA, the Hospitality Property Fund and University College Birmingham.

For many years the University College Birmingham has been sponsoring a Hotel School student to complete their 4th year of study there. Valued at approximately R350 000, this very prestigious scholarship is awarded to a student with the best academic record and who can succeed in the overseas industrial environment.

Hotel School director Thembisile Molose believes the sector’s continued support is adding value to CPUT.

“Our students can only grow from strength to strength and we are, therefore, very excited for them to be so fortunate as many have the opportunity to work for a year in some of the hotels that awarded them bursaries,” says Molose.

Written by Kwanele Butana

Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

CPUT has registered a range of academic programmes pertaining to the training of paralegal practitioners with the South African Qualifications Authority.

The programmes to be offered will range from a General Certificate up to a Doctoral qualification.

Last week, the Unit for Applied Law hosted the first-ever regional colloquium at the Cape Town Hotel School under the theme: “The transformation of the legal profession: A paralegal perspective”.

Delivering the keynote address, Ashraf Mohamed of the Cape Law Society said paralegal practitioners can be the backbone of the justice system and that legal training should be about social justice.

He says paralegal training at universities should include the taking of statements and provision of free legal advice to members of the community.

Seth Mnguni, Chairperson of the Association of Community Advice Officers of South Africa, say community-based paralegal practitioners use sets of facts to give their communities access to effective justice without litigation.

Mnguni says paralegal practitioners are trained to deal with prevalent problems in their communities in an unintimidating manner as they spoke the local languages.

The delegates discussed the role of paralegal practitioners as outlined in Chapter 4 of the Draft Legal Practice Bill of 2009.

Written by Kwanele Butana
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

This Cape Town Hotel School student is a cut above after being awarded a generous bursary and industry body subscription.

Third-year student, Deen Hopcroft, was awarded a R20 000 bursary and a year’s subscription to the Federated Hospitality Association of South Africa (Fedhasa).

Fedhasa, the official representative of the hospitality industry of South Africa, approached hotel schools in Cape Town and encouraged third-year students to apply for the bursary opportunity. Shortlisted candidates were invited for interviews at the association’s local offices in Century City.

The money would go towards his third-year’s tuition fees.

Deen says the selection criteria included academic performance and experience in the hotel industry as Fedhasa wants to invest the money and the opportunity in someone who will shine in the industry.

He says it gives him great excitement and is a load off his shoulders to have been awarded the prestigious bursary as he can now focus on his studies and the business he started recently.

“Two months ago, I started Master Bar Events, a company which stocks bars and hire out bartenders for events of any size,” he says.

He says the Fedhasa subscription will be a great opportunity for him to network with people in the hotel industry as well as keep him updated with industry news and latest developments.

“It will provide me with training opportunities from other general managers who will share tips and skills that helped them to get to where they are,” says Deen.

He hopes to go to London soon for his six-month internship and then come back to enrol for a BTech degree next year.

Written by Kwanele Butana
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

With its prime seafront location, the Granger Bay Campus is home to the renowned Cape Town Hotel School, the oldest in the city.

Last year the school was recognized by industry as the leader of hospitality education on the African continent. Last year alone the school produced close to 100 graduates, of whom many were snapped up by industry, both locally and internationally.

The school has state-of-the-art training and educational facilities, including a show kitchen and alumni cocktail bar that forms part of the stylish Hotel School Restaurant, which is open to the public, seven days a week.

Positioned next to the V&A Waterfront and Table Bay Harbour, the campus also features a harbour area and extensive training facilities that form part of the Survival Centre.

The centre is a full member of the International Association for Safety and Survival Training and offers a wide-range of maritime safety courses for industry.

Courses in Maritime Engineering and Marine Engineering are also offered at the campus.

Maps and contact details for the Granger Bay Campus

Written by Candes Keating
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Provides coverage for the Engineering and Applied Sciences Faculties; the Bellville and Wellington Campuses, and research and innovation news.

The Granger Bay Campus is home to the oldest hotel school in the city.

The Cape Town Hotel School is renowned in the South African hospitality sector, and produces highly skilled graduates who are trained in accommodation management, food and beverage management and professional cookery.

The school boasts state of the art facilities, including a show kitchen and a cocktail bar that forms an integral part of the Hotel School Restaurant, which is open to the general public.

Thembisile Molose, the Hotel School Director attributes their success to close ties with industry and remaining on par with the latest developments in their sector.

“Our international benchmarking ensures that we attract top learners from the best schools,” he says,

Last year the Hotel School signed a memorandum of understanding with top international culinary schools such as Ferrandi, a hotel school in Paris, France.

The campus also houses the Maritime Engineering Department and the cutting-edge Survival Centre. The campus also houses slipways that can accommodate vessels up to 46 ton, which can be rented.

Vessel owners who need to dock their boats for surveys, repairs and maintenance can do so at the Granger Bay Slipway.

Situated a stone's throw away from the world famous V&A Waterfront, the campus boast a harbour area and extensive marine training facilities.

View Granger Bay Campus maps and contact details

Written by Kwanele Butana
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Academic excellence and determination were at the centre of the recent Vice-Chancellor’s Prestigious Achievers Awards ceremony where the new cohort of recipients were celebrated.

The ceremony, held at the Cape Town Hotel School on the Granger Bay campus, also celebrated the success of four awardees who have graduated.

The awards programme was started in 2018 and is bestowed annually on deserving Master’s and Doctoral students who have shown academic excellence and an embodiment of the CPUT graduate attributes.

The 2022 awardees are:

• Oritonda Muribwathoho (completing a Doctor of Engineering in Chemical Engineering. Her research title is: Development of metal matrix composites suitable for hulls and ship decks.
• Murendeni Nethengwe (completing a Doctor of Philosophy in Biomedical Sciences) Her research title is: Evaluation of antioxidant potential and mechanism of action of phenolic compounds from South African indigenous plants used in the management of diabetes-related male infertility.
• Shaun Mgoma (completing a Doctor of Engineering in Chemical Engineering). His research title is: Recovery of valuable compounds from agricultural food using green technologies: Process design and Techno-economic analysis.
• Bongisiwe Zozo (completing a Doctor of Philosophy in Chemistry). Her research title is: Purification and characterisation of the native black soldier fly larva Protein.
• Mzoxolo Ntabeni (Master of Engineering in Civil Engineering. His research title: The influence of academic and industry-specific project management qualifications on the effectiveness of project managers in the construction industry.

The four recipients who have graduated are:

• Dr Yvonne Maphosa (Doctor of Food Science and Technology)
• Dr Imisioluseyi Akinyede (Doctor of Engineering in Civil Engineering)
• Sivenathi Jayiya (Master of Public Relations Management)
• Sihle Ngxabi (Master of Horticultural Science)

Chairperson of the Awards Committee, Prof Joseph Kioko, said the recipients have the potential to achieve great things.

Kioko said that too often, such excellent potential is extinguished by a lack of funds or resources, resulting in many brilliant, possibly life-changing dreams being deferred, often forever.

“Fortunately, humanity has in itself the ability to provide the spark or the fuel that would keep those lights shining all the way to a brighter future. For a fitting example of what we can all do, one needs to look no further than people and entities like the Mauerberger Foundation Fund and its chairperson, Advocate Diana Yach. The foundation has been generously supporting these awards and has ensured that the spark in many bright minds at CPUT has been kept alive. On behalf of the committee, I’d like to express our deep gratitude to Advocate Yach.”

Recipient Oritonda Muribwathoho said she was immensely thankful for the award, adding that it would mean “less stress” and allow her to focus on her studies.

Vice-Chancellor Prof Chris Nhlapo saluted the recipients and said he hoped that some of the recipients would become professors and vice-chancellors at the institution.

Yach said she was pleased to announce that the amount allocated to CPUT was being increased this year.

She said the awardees had fulfilled the dreams set out when the awards programme was first established.

Written by Ilse Fredericks
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

The Cape Town Hotel School recently celebrated the efforts of their students who excelled academically and showed commitment to the hospitality industry in 2016.

Several prizes were awarded during the glitzy Annual Awards ceremony, which was held on the Granger Bay Campus.

It was attended by captains of the hospitality industry who also donated the prizes handed over to the winners.

The students who scooped more than two awards were Jadre Swartbooi and third-year students Carl van Niekerk and Kelly Julie.

The biggest winner of the evening was Jadre as he scooped the prestigious University College Birmingham Scholarship valued at approximately R350 000 to complete his fourth year of studies.

Luvo Ntezo, Head Sommelier at One&Only Cape Town, was the guest speaker during the ceremony.

He said his life changed after he joined the One and Only Hotel in 2011 and added that being a sommelier was not just a job but a lifestyle.

“Wine is not just a beverage you open and drink. Each wine has a story; wine unites the people and makes the world smaller.”

Written by Kwanele Butana
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Another vote of confidence for the quality of training offered at the Cape Town Hotel School as it attracts more bursaries from its industry partners. 

The South African Association Women’s Graduates has pledged ten bursaries for second-year students in 2019, while the International Women Dialogue pledged five more bursaries to first years.

The pledges were announced by Samukelisiwe Coka, president of the Association Women’s Graduates and Convenor of the International Women Dialogues, during a Nelson Mandela Day Lunch held at the Hotel School restaurant on Saturday.

The lunch was hosted by the school’s community engagement strategic pillar to raise funds for a student bursary by selling tickets for R100 to members of the public and staff.

The proceeds from the ticket sales will be awarded to a student who meets the school management’s selection criterion. The R100 entitled the scores of patrons to a light buffet lunch and live music entertainment.

Coka called upon students to do well in their studies as a token of their appreciation of the pledged financial support.

“Students who are funded by the association should be in class at all times,” she said. She added that without education young people cannot achieve their dreams and that would mean the struggle fought by Mandela and others was all in vain.

Earlier this year, the students who excelled in 2017 walked away with a total of R1 478 100 in bursaries, vouchers and prizes during the annual Cape Town Hotel School Awards.

The bursaries are funded by successful establishments in the industry including Tsogo Sun Hotels, Cape Liquor and Catering Trade Educational Trust as well as Protea Hotels by Marriot.

Written by Kwanele Butana
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.