After matriculating Ornette Danse’s biggest ambition was to work at SAPS as a switchboard operator.

The blind father of three was so determined to realise this dream that he worked as a switchboard operator at a police station for free for an entire year. This sacrifice eventually paid off when he was recruited into the SAPS's busy 10111 call centre.

Fast forward a decade and Ornette has used that same determination to propel himself through a 3-year part-time diploma in Public Management with which he graduates on 13 December 2017.

While the journey has been tough for the 32-year-old he wouldn’t let the personal hurdles get in the way of completing his course on time and with at least 10 distinctions earned during his studies. In 2016, two of his children needed serious surgeries and the family even moved from Eerste River to Delft to make the commute easier for Ornette who mostly attended night classes at CPUT’s Bellville campus.

“Being a call centre agent is a good job but I didn’t see myself doing that in the future and I wanted to improve on my education, so that I can be a better father and husband and ultimately earn a better salary. I love current affairs and politics and Public Management was a way of using the skills I already have with my interest in news,” he says.

Ornette says he was received with open arms and accommodated by fellow students, lecturers, the CPUT Disability Unit and even his employer, who all went out of their way to make him comfortable.

“It was things like a security guard helping me to the bathroom, getting my notes saved in Word and not PDF format and my employer also arranging transport for me at night and making over-time arrangements,” he says.

“I knew I couldn’t fail even one subject because they believed in me and you often hear people complain that blind people just expect things for nothing. If I get promoted one day I want to earn it.”

Ornette also speaks six languages – English, Afrikaans, Xhosa, Zulu, Sotho and Tswana – a skill he picked up during his time at the Athlone School for the Blind and during his upbringing in the Free State.

To watch the video of Ornette being capped and hooded visit our Facebook page.

Written by Lauren Kansley

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

The Disability Unit, headed by Dr Nina Du Toit, is working in partnership with Business for Good, a non-profit training consultancy, to bring the first-of-its-kind short course aimed at addressing issues relating to the disabled.

The course, which was piloted in July, primarily looks at training human resource practitioners in the practices around recruiting and retaining people with disabilities.

Although the course is not restricted to recruiters, it has a strong focus on training and development, with six full-time participants ranging from private Corporates to other non-profit organisations and government departments; from recruitment officer to middle managers.

Thus far, the pilot is run over 13 weeks, with classes taking place on Thursday evenings for three hours with participants needing to complete 30 hours and submit a substantial portfolio of evidence in order to receive a CPUT-endorsed course certificate.

The course administration is done through the Centre for Continuing Education (CCE), headed by Mike Du Plessis and currently holds a National Qualifications Framework (NQF) 5 rating with the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA).

Course co-ordinator and Business for Good’sHuman Resource Director, BeatriceKoopman,says that the course is accessible to anyone who has an interest in issues of people with disabilities.

“For the pilot course offering, we identified participants in industry and government who we felt could benefit from the information we gathered and hope to develop confident ‘job coaches’ who can assist people with disabilities in finding suitable, fulfilling employment”, says Koopman.

“We offer knowledge and information to the potential or current employer about reasonable accommodation and legislation adherence, and some key benefits include creating sustainability, diversity and tolerance for the disabled members of our society to find their place in industry or public service”.

According to Dr Du Toit, who is also a moderator and one of the four course lecturers, potential students need to have either a grade 12 certificate or have grade 10 with at least five years experience in disability work placements. The course, although offered primarily in English, can be translated into Afrikaans, where needed.

She says: “So far the programme been well-received and we hope to run it again next year in February, so anyone who’s interested can contact the Disability Unit (via the CPUT website) for more information”.

By: Thando J. Moiloa

Written by CPUT News
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“People with disabilities shouldn't be defined solely by them – once we have knowledge and awareness regarding a particular disability, we don't see the disability anymore, we see the person.” As Disability Awareness Week continues at CPUT this week, Dr Nina Du Toit, Head of the Disability Unit, is calling on staff and students to get involved in the Unit's activities, which include a series of demonstrations, exhibitions and courses about disability.

Dr Du Toit says the message they want to convey to the CPUT community is simple. “A person with a disability shouldn't be treated differently within our society. The aim of our awareness campaign this week will help able-bodied people to become better informed on issues facing disabled people, which helps promote equity and acceptance. People with disabilities also have many talents that they can put on show and make them feel good about themselves”, she emphasised.

Those talents will be evident at the Evening of Stars tonight, a free concert being held in the Major Sports Hall on the Bellville campus in which CPUT's own Wheelchair Ballroom Dancing champion, Mukhtar Lee will perform.

As for the awareness campaign this week, the unit is running a sign language course at the library during lunch time in Conference Room One, while an exhibition explaining various disabilities begins today and runs until Friday 6 May. This will allow students and staff to increase their knowledge on how to interact with co-workers and classmates with disabilities. A series of informative DVD’s will also be screened in the IT Centre.

Du Toit is calling on the CPUT community to make a special effort to attend Thursday's 'Evening of Stars' concert. In addition to featuring the breathtaking skills of CPUT's own Wheelchair Ballroom Dancing champions, learners with disabilities from five different Cape schools will be performing as well.

By Mariette Adams

Written by CPUT News
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Accessibility at CPUT will come under the spotlight, with the establishment of the Universal Access Task Team.

The team, which is currently being put together by Dr Nina du Toit, Head of the Disability Unit, will be tasked with improving and monitoring accessibility at CPUT campuses.

The move to create the task team comes after the Disability Unit roped in the help of outside consultants to conduct an accessibility audit of the CPUT campuses.

The audit, which took place in November and December 2009, examined facilities at CPUT campuses in a bid to determine what infrastructure changes need to take place to ensure that all students, including students and staff members with disabilities have access to all facilities.

The consultants looked at various aspects, including accessibility of buildings, restroom facilities, parking and signage.

“We are still waiting for the consultants’ final report. This will assist us in mapping out the way forward,” said Dr du Toit.

The task team, which will include representatives from several CPUT departments, will also be required to raise awareness on Universal accessibility issues amongst staff members and students.

Dr du Toit stressed the importance of buy-in of the entire CPUT community into the new Universal Access paradigm.

She said ensuring accessibility at all campuses is a huge task and one that cannot be completed within a short period.

In the meantime, the Disability Unit is extending its support services to students with disabilities at all campuses.

There are units at Bellville and Cape Town campuses and support services are provided at all the satellite campuses.

The units feature state-of-the-art assistive technology equipment, which is designed to meet the needs of students with disabilities.

This ranges from a Braille printer to computers with large text and software programmes.

The support services on the satellite campuses are housed in the libraries.

According to Dr du Toit there has been an increase in the number of students that make use of their facilities and services.

By Candes Keating

Written by CPUT News
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Students and staff members who contend with disabilities can now access a variety of support services at the University’s new Disability Unit.

The Unit, situated at the Bellville Campus IT Centre, not only features cutting-edge facilities, such as computer equipment for those with visual, hearing, motor and learning impairments but also serves as an information centre for anyone who wishes to learn more about how to accommodate disabilities in working or student life.

The Unit was launched at a ceremony on Bellville Campus on 24 October 2008. CPUT Transformation Manager Sam Henkeman served as Programme Director.

Dean of Students Cora Motale opened the proceedings by thanking the individuals who had championed the project, including the members of the Disability Forum and the Coordinator of the Unit, Dr Nina Du Toit. ‘We will never take any decision without consulting people with disabilities,” Motale said.

Diane Bell, of the Faculty of Business, shared her story about how she came to be one of the original motivators for the Unit. She spoke about how, as the mother of a child with hearing loss, she had considered what kind of environment her daughter would face when she entered higher education.

A discussion with a student with a cochlear implant and the atmosphere of change during the period when the Peninsula and Cape Technikons became a University of Technology added further impetus to laying the groundwork for a support facility.

Bell, together with like-minded colleagues formed a Disability Forum. With the University’s support, the ideas raised in the forum were put into a proposal, leading to the creation of a Disability Unit.

Disability Unit Coordinator Dr Du Toit then described some of the services that the Unit offers and called on the CPUT community to help the Unit achieve its aim of providing an outstanding support service.

“We need your understanding of what we try to achieve,” she said, “We need your moral support and we need your active input into our activities.”

Reinette Popplestone, Manager of the University of Cape Town Disability Service, and Andrew Merryweather, General Manager of the Restaurant at Theatre on the Bay, were guest speakers.

Popplestone, who is visually impaired herself, discussed the challenges that typically face the accommodation of disability at universities. Merryweather, who suffers from paralysis as a result of spinal cord injury, discussed his experience working with Prof Simeon Davies at the Human Performance Laboratory. “Under Prof Davies’ guidance I was actively doing something to better my situation,” he said, “This empowered me again and I have being going from strength to strength since.”

Zuko Mbolekwa, Treasurer General of the SRC added further words of motivation. He stressed that the University should improve its representation of disabled students in sporting codes and other student activities.

Two musical interludes during the ceremony demonstrated the talents of young people coping with disability. The Athlone School for the Blind delighted the audience with Marimba rhythms. Visually impaired violinist Morne van der Merwe of Stellenbosch University gave a virtuoso performance, accompanied by Dr Du Toit on piano.

After the ceremony, guests toured an exhibition at the library and explored the Unit's facilities.

The launch of the Disability Unit marks the start of a long-term process of improving the University’s disability support. Dr Du Toit currently visits all campuses regularly in order gather information about, and accommodate, the needs of disabled individuals who work and study there.

The Unit hopes to eventually develop permanent support facilities on all major campuses of the institution.

By Ilana Abratt

Written by CPUT News
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The Disability Unit is investing in the latest assistive technology.

The unit has acquired a state-of-the-art portable Loop System and FM System, which will be of huge benefit to hearing-impaired individuals who are attending conferences, meetings and other events at CPUT.

The portable Loop System transmits audio signals directly to individuals’ hearing aids. These audio signals are then converted by the hearing aid into a sound suited to an individual’s specific hearing requirements.

Head of the Disability Unit, Dr Nina du Toit says the portable system is packaged in a suitcase, allowing for it to be set up at any venue at CPUT.

While the portable Loop System is aimed at large groups, the FM system caters for individual use.

Student Support Assistant, Lillian Fortuin, says the unit is also currently setting up a resource centre for CPUT students who are living with disabilities.

Fortuin says students will have access to a variety of resources such as digital recorders, audio recordings of class material and laptops.

For more information on the available resources, contact the Disability Unit at 021 953 8447 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

By Candes Keating

Written by CPUT News
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Norms and standards relating to disabilities could soon be implemented at all South African universities.

During a visit to CPUT, Deputy Minister for Women, Children and Persons with Disability, Hendrietta Bogopane-Zulu, informed a delegation from the Department of Student Affairs of the government’s intentions.

Currently, Bogopane-Zulu is visiting higher education institutions and exploring their approaches towards students and staff members with disabilities.

During the meeting, a range of issues were discussed, from curriculum adaptation to application forms.

Head of the CPUT Disability Unit, Dr Nina du Toit, says the meeting gave the university an opportunity to share their best practices with the Deputy Minister.

During the past few years, CPUT has rolled out a number of strategies to support students and staff with disabilities. This includes Disability Units at the various campuses and specialised technical support.

Du Toit, who has been instrumental in setting up the CPUT Disability Unit, informed the Deputy Minister that all stakeholders at universities must take responsibility for students with disabilities.

“The Disability Unit must be seen as an advisory unit,” says Du Toit.

Dean of Students, Cora Motale says the meeting gave CPUT stakeholders insight into several good strategies that have been implemented at other universities.

“The meeting was very informative,” she says.

By Candes Keating

Written by CPUT News
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The Disability Unit is partnering with PetroSA (formally known as The Petroleum, Oil and Gas Corporation of South Africa (SOC) Limited) to launch a bursary programme for deserving students.

The aim of the initiative is to place specific focus on those living with partial and severe disabilities offering them academic bursaries with a guaranteed two-year work contract once they complete their studies.

PetroSA has been a long-standing industry partner with CPUT and sees this programme as an opportunity to transform its organisation by supporting, training and employing underprivileged and disabled youth.

The discussions, which began in late 2010, will culminate in the signing of a memorandum of understanding and a formal launch in early March.

Interviews with potential recipients are currently underway with students from the first year through to a BTech level.

Recipients will be selected from a range of disciplines, such as engineering, information technology and administration-related courses.

By: Thando J. Moiloa

Written by CPUT News
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Students with disabilities don’t need to struggle alone.

CPUT is home to one of the most innovative Disability Units at any university in the country.

Each year hundreds of students with a range of disabilities are assisted in achieving their very best academically.

The unit performs a number of functions from registering students to assisting them during exams. The unit also forms a vital link between the student, their lecturers and student counselling.

The supportive environment offers a number of resources like wheelchair-friendly desks, special computer software for dyslexia, magnifiers for the visually impaired students, Braille embossers for blind students and even a stenographer who assists with note taking to name just a few.

The head of the unit Dr Nina Du Toit urges all students who have a known disability or suspect they may have one to make contact with her unit to be assessed and start accessing the services.

The Disability Unit is based on all campuses- in the IT centre in Bellville, in the Administration Building in Cape Town and in Mowbray.

The unit also has a presence at all the other CPUT service points like Athlone, Wellington and George.

It is open from 8am to 4pm during the week although the lab in the E-Learning centre in Cape Town is open 24 hours a day.

All CPUT campuses are also equipped to handle the special needs of students and staff with disabilities. This includes wheelchair friendly parking, lifts as well as a specially adapted vehicle for transporting these students.

Call the unit at 021 953 8438 or visit their webpage for more information.

Written by Lauren Kansley

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

CPUT’s progress in meeting the physical and academic needs of staff and students with disabilities was celebrated last week, as students, design gurus, disability experts and donors gathered to showcase the university’s innovations in empowering persons with disabilities.

Dr Nina du Toit, Disability Unit coordinator, gave warm thanks to the units’ many supporters and donors, and reiterated that CPUT’s bold blueprint to provide universal access to those with disabilities across CPUT’s five campuses is forging ahead. Guest speakers included Mrs Wendy Ackerman, a staunch supporter of research and development in the field of disability through The Ackerman Family Educational Trust. CEO of the Carl and Emily Fuchs Foundation, Dr Riaan Els also gave a keynote address. This foundation has been extremely supportive of the Disability Unit since its inception in 2008, giving annually to boost the unit’s coffers. In his address, Dr Els emphasised that only 5% of those with severe disabilities attain a higher education qualification, with females at more of a disadvantage than males.

In recent years CPUT has unveiled a few ground-breaking technologies and projects to combat this dire statistic. These include the country’s first prototype car adapted for driving by people with disabilities. This is the first ever locally-engineered prototype to feature joystick engineering, and has opened a world of driving opportunities for persons with disabilities in South Africa.

CPUT’s Sport Management Department is also involved in training and research with the London makers of the Ekso Bionic Suit, which enables people with spinal cord injuries to walk.

The Ekso Bionic suit which gives those immobilised by spinal cord injuries the ability to walk

Yet another innovation is being overseen by CPUT’s Universal Design guru, Prof Mugendi M’Rithaa. His students are developing a unique range of kitchenware for those with special needs, in collaboration with Hekkie Brink. Brink, a person with one arm was introduced to the Industrial Design department by Mrs Ackerman. Through the funding graciously approved by The Ackerman Family Educational Trust, Hekkie’s products are now being developed into a commercially viable range.

One of the innovative kitchen utensils developed by Hekkie Brink and Industrial Design students

Other attendees included stalwart supporters of the Disability Unit such as national oil and gas company, PetroSA, who offer students with a range of disabilities full bursaries and guaranteed work contracts on successful completion of their studies. The HCI Foundation, the corporate social investment arm of HCI, were also gratefully acknowledged for their contributions to bursaries, and providing 54 assistive devices to students with learning difficulties.

Written by Janyce Weintrob
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A chance encounter on a train has seen a Disability Unit staff member being featured in a documentary focusing on the challenges of people with Albinism.

As We See It: Education and Albinism was produced by the Human Rights Media Centre and attempts to shed light on the realities of living with albinism through the experiences of four individuals.

Dellicia De Vos is a familiar face at CPUT’s Cape Town campus where she works as an Administrator in the Disability Unit. For years De Vos has been helping students with disabilities acclimatise to university life and introducing them to the adaptive study aids like magnifiers and recorders which will assist their studies.  

De Vos was on a train one Saturday in 2016 when a women approached her about participating in a documentary on Albinism and the associated challenges.

“I told her that if she had asked me a few years previously I would have removed myself from the situation but over time I have learned to accept myself as I am. As my confidence increased I also felt the need to start being more vocal about the challenges people with Albinism face,” she says. 

In the 31 minute documentary De Vos recalls travelling from Namibia to Cape Town as a five year old to attend the Athlone School for the Blind, where she remained for her entire schooling career. The wife and mother of two is now pursuing a Master’s degree in Disability Studies at UCT.

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

Students living with disabilities have full access to a range of support services through the CPUT Disability Unit.

The unit’s services range from general support services, such as assisting students with registration and completing bursary forms to specialized support services, which includes adapting study material for use by learners with various needs.

Head of the Disability Unit, Dr Nina du Toit, encourages students to make use of the equipment and learning material, which is available at the Disability Unit.

The unit has a range of assistive devices which can be used by students who are blind, partially sighted, deaf, and hard of hearing and who have learning or mental disabilities.

The assistive devices range from large screen computer monitors for visually impaired students to a braille embosser that can be used by blind students to convert documents into Braille. The unit also has several software packages that cater for various needs.

Du Toit says the assistive devices, learning material and other resources available at the Disability Unit play a key role in ensuring students reach their academic goals.

The unit has offices at the Bellville and Cape Town Campuses. The services are available through the CPUT Libraries at the other campuses and satellite sites.

Students who need to make use of the Dsiabilty Unit’s services or would like to get in touch one of the staff members, can contact them at the following numbers:

Direct Student Support Assistant:  All campuses
Lillian Fortuin
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Dr Nina du Toit
Tel: +27 (0)21 959 6964
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Administrative assistant: Cape Town Campus
Delicia de Vos
Tel: +27 21 460 9071
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Written by Candes Keating
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Provides coverage for the Engineering and Applied Sciences Faculties; the Bellville and Wellington Campuses, and research and innovation news.

Cape Town campus is nestled on the historic slopes of District Six with a bird’s eye view of the city’s most notable landmark - Table Mountain.

The campus is home to the Faculty of Business, which is the institution’s largest faculty, and the Faculty of Informatics and Design. Various courses from the Faculties of Engineering, Applied Sciences, and Health and Wellness Sciences are also offered here.

Cape Town campus boasts a well-stocked academic library, computer labs and a branch of the Disability Unit. A stone-throw away from main campus is the Centre for E-Learning which is home to the Myclassroom Learner Management System.

The heart of all student gatherings is the amphitheater where a number of functions are hosted by the student affairs department. The large student centre offers staff and students various places to eat.

Despite being in the city center, students are amply catered for with parking facilities around campus and those using public transport have the benefit of using the MyCiti service which has a bus stop right outside campus.

Maps and contact details for Cape Town Campus

Written by Marick Hornsveld

Students with disabilities are ensured top notch service thanks to the innovative Disability Unit which has a presence on all CPUT campuses.

In 2013 over 260 students were assisted academically and that number is expected to grow this year.

The unit performs a number of functions from registering students to assisting them during exams. The unit also forms a vital link between the student, their lecturers and student counselling.

The supportive environment offers a number of resources like wheelchair friendly desks, special computer software for dyslexia, magnifiers for the visually impaired students and Braille embossers for blind students to name just a few.

The Disability Unit is based on all campuses- in the IT centre in Bellville, in the Administration Building in Cape Town and will soon be launching its latest office in Mowbray. The unit also has a presence at all the other CPUT service points like Athlone, Wellington and George.

It is open from 8am to 4pm during the week although the lab in the E-Learning centre in Cape Town is open 24 hours.

All CPUT campuses are also equipped to handle the special needs of students and staff with disabilities. This includes wheelchair friendly parking, lifts as well as a specially adapted vehicle for transporting these students.

Call the unit at 021 953 8438 or visit their webpage.

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

Resting on the historic slopes of District Six, the former Cape Town Campus was renamed to the District Six (D6) Campus and is located close to the city’s most notable landmark, the Table Mountain. 

The campus is home to the Faculty of Business and Management, the largest faculty at CPUT, and the Faculty of Informatics and Design. Various courses from the Faculties of Applied Sciences a well as Health and Wellness Sciences are also offered here.

The campus boasts state-of-the-art academic facilities such as a library, computer labs and a branch of the Disability Unit. A stone's throw away from the campus is the Centre for E-Learning.

Student gatherings and entertainment events hosted by the Department of Student Affairs are held in the amphitheater. There is also a large Student Centre which offers staff and students various places to sit and eat.

Visitors’ and student parking is available while staff members must register for paid open and undercover parking annually. Those using public transport have the benefit of using the MyCiti service which has a bus stop right on the campus' doorstep..

Apart from the six main campuses in Bellville, Cape Town, Wellington, Mowbray, Athlone and Granger Bay, CPUT also has a number of satellite campuses across the city.

These include Tygerberg Hospital, Groote Schuur, the Media City building on the Foreshore and Roeland Street, which is a few minutes from the D6 Campus.

Media City houses the Architecture and Interior Design schools while Tygerberg Hospital hosts Dental Technology and Emergency Medical Care students.

The Radiography Department is the only one located at the Groote Schuur satellite campus and Roeland Street houses the Media School which includes Journalism, Photography, Public Relations and Multimedia.

Written by Kwanele Butana
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The Disability Unity recently welcomed Kevin Petersen to its ranks– the first South African Sign Language interpreter to be appointed in the unit.

Petersen has one sister who is also a SA Sign Language Interpreter, and the siblings entered the profession because both of their parents are deaf.

“We grew up with South African Sign Language as our first language,” says Petersen.

The Cape Town-born interpreter attended mainstream school and finished matric “the only difference, well I wouldn’t call it a difference, more of a blessing was that my parents were deaf, but they supported me and raised me into the person that I am today”. “If it had not been for them, I wouldn’t be in the profession that I am in today. I slowly became part of the Deaf community through going to Deaf gatherings with my parents, (well, mainly my mom) and meeting all her friends and being immersed within the Deaf culture, which in turn became a part of me,” Petersen reminisces.

It took tremendous hard work, determination and willpower and passion for Petersen to be where he is today. “If you are not passionate about what you do, then what is the point of doing it,” Petersen quips.

Underlying his career choice would be his parents. “It drives me [outrageous] seeing that my parents and the rest of the Deaf community have no access (access to what?), which is why I am doing it, to improve accessibility for persons that are Deaf.”

The modest interpreter says the highlight of his career is just being able to provide this service to the Deaf community so that they may also have a full understanding of what is happening in and around them.

Reflecting on his appointment, the kind-hearted Petersen says: “I am excited and overwhelmed at the opportunity of being the first South African Sign Language Interpreter at CPUT. Previously, I worked at a Deaf organisation called Deaf Federation of South Africa, (DeafSA), offering the same service for four years. This is where I received in-depth training and refined my skills in South African Sign Language interpreting.”

He is determined to fulfil his mandate to offer the best service to students and to also work hard in the unit to show current and prospective students that CPUT is an institution that is all about inclusivity and accessibility and “to ensure that all students with disabilities get the best service from this unit”.

Petersen’s overall plan is to make CPUT proud and to improve the lives of students. When he is not at work, he plays rugby and dances as well but when he is not doing either, he will be spending time at home or exploring fun places and activities with his loved ones.

“I prioritise my work but when I do have time out of my busy schedule, I make time to spend with my family, they mean the world to me and are very supportive and understanding at all times.”

He adds: “Don’t think of South African Sign Language or having parents that are Deaf as a burden, especially if you always have to interpret for them, but look at it as a blessing in disguise because it is shaping you for something much greater for your life.”

To ensure students reach their goals, CPUT offers a comprehensive range of academic support services. These services, which are free to registered CPUT students, range from providing access to books to assisting students with improving their writing skills.

CPUT Libraries

With approximately 265 327 books, 27 025 e-books, as well as 25 platforms which provide access to a total of 83 databases across various disciplines, the CPUT Libraries have covered all their basis to ensure students have access to a wealth of resources.

Services:

• Borrowing of resources
• Access to e-books and databases
• Interlibrary loans
• Short loans
• Study spaces
• Postgraduate support via the Research Information Support Centre

Venues:

CPUT campuses and satellite sites

Opening times:

For library opening times, please see www.cput.ac.za/lib/about/opening-hours

Writing Centre

The Writing Centre provides students with assistance in the fields of writing, mathematics and physics.

Venues:

• Cape Town Campus: E-Learning Building
• Tygerberg Campus: Library
• Bellville Campus: IT Building
• Mowbray Campus: Education Building

Opening times:

Students are assisted by appointments only.

To make an appointment, please contact:

• Bellville and Tygeberg Campuses: +27 (0)21 959 6040
• Cape Town and Mowbray: +27 (0)21 460 3610

Disability Unit

Students living with disabilities have access to assistive devices and learning material, which will assist them in reaching their academic goals.  

Services:

• Adapting study material
• Software programmes, eg, The Dragon programme that converts the spoken word into written format.
• Large screen computer monitors for visually impaired students
• Scanners and magnifiers
• Braille embosser that converts documents into Braille
• Special large font keyboards
• Digital recorders to record lectures

Venues:

• Bellville and Cape Town Campuses
• The services are available through the CPUT Libraries at the other campuses and satellite sites.

Opening times:

For assistance, contact Lillian Fortuin at  This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or +27 (0)21 959 6964 or Delicia de Vos at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or +27 21 460 9071

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