CPUT’s Bellville Clinic has been recognised for its sterling work in the field of HIV/Aids.

The clinic is one of the best HIV testing centres in the Tygerberg Region and received a Gold Award for from the City of Cape Town.

Student Health Coordinator Andries Slinger says the award is a milestone for the clinic that services thousands of students enrolled at the Bellville Campus.

“We are proud of our achievement,” he says.

The clinic, which is manned by a team of dedicated and hardworking nurses, counsellors and administrative staff members, provides free HIV testing and counselling services throughout the academic year to CPUT students.

Slinger says last year they tested a large number of students and also saw a remarkable increase in the number of male students who are signing up for HIV testing.

In addition to providing these free services, Slinger says the Clinic also runs an extensive orientation programme at the start of the year, which focuses on HIV/Aids and other health-related issues.

Counsellor Ntombi Mahlanyana, who works closely with students, says the Clinic does its best to provide quality care and services for CPUT students.

By Candes Keating
 

Written by CPUT News

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CPUT has been congratulated for being a front-runner amongst tertiary institutions in the fight against HIV/Aids. The 7th annual Peer Education Awards Ceremony was hosted by CPUT’s HIV/Aids unit recently.

The aim of the event is to acknowledge the sterling work Peer Educators do in fighting the disease amongst students.

Director of the Higher Education Aids Department (HEAids), Dr Ramneek Ahluwalia, said CPUT is doing very well compared to the 23 other institutions his organisation monitors.

“Peer education is the way forward and I believe in it,” he said.

“CPUT is doing very well and I appreciate your efforts.”

The glitzy event, which was held at the Tuscany Gardens Hall in Rylands, made certain the Peer Educators were centre of attention.

Guests were treated to a song and dance performance as well as a delicious three course meal.

HIV/Aids Unit HOD, Dr Ashraf Mohammed, called the students his ‘A-Team’ and reminded them of the important work they do each day.

“It’s easier for the youth to speak to the youth and tonight is about saying thank you,” he expressed.

The HIV/Aids Unit has also benefitted from a close working relationship with the German government in recent years. The liaison for this programme, Lionel Adriaan, explained the significance of the relationship and introduced two German students currently in SA and working with the unit.

“They bring a wealth of experience here with them and we are grateful to have them,” said Adriaan.

Before the evening ended, students were awarded a certificate for the contributions. 

By: Lauren Kansley

Photo by: Clive Galant (Fundani CHED)

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Four design students graduated with Magister Technologiae on 21 April 2008.

They are (front) Nicole Nel – A surface design intervention for adult inmates infected and affected with HIV/AIDS, John Vermeulen – From the grave to the cradle: exploration of hemp as an eco-design material, Katarzyna Rytel – The influence of advertising design in the print media on the self-perception of South Africa and Polish women, (back) Rael Futerman – Inclusive fitness: participatory design approaches for active ageing.

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From 20 to 24 October 2008, CPUT participated in a Higher Education HIV/AIDS Programme (HEAIDS) survey into the prevalence of HIV/AIDS in institutions of higher education.

With approval from CPUT’s Health Science Faculty Ethics Committee and in collaboration with the HIV/AIDS Unit, a research team from Higher Education South Africa (HESA) randomly selected various departments and faculties to participate in the strictly confidential and voluntary survey.

CPUT’s involvement was part of a broader study currently being conducted by HESA at all public higher education institutions in South Africa to establish the knowledge, attitudes and practices related to HIV/AIDS and to measure the HIV infection levels amongst staff and students. In total, 22 universities and 25,000 students and staff will be involved.

The survey’s findings will be vital in providing a better understanding of HIV/AIDS at CPUT and in the higher education sector in the country in general. They will also serve to inform effective responses to the epidemic, including policy, funding, prevention programmes, and care and support services for staff and students. Results will be made available through the media and through HEAIDS once the entire survey is complete in 2009.

“The survey is useful to CPUT because the data will tell us more about attitudes, trends and behaviours and what sort of intervention programmes need to be implemented,” said the HOD of the HIV/AIDS Unit, Mr. Ashraf Mohammed. “More importantly, we will have a baseline not only for CPUT, but for all 22 institutions which can be used to compare and recommend best practices.”

Launched in 2000 and involving the Department of Education, HEAIDS is South Africa’s first nationally-coordinated and large scale response to HIV/AIDS in the higher education sector. Its purpose is “to reduce the threat of the spread of HIV/AIDS in the higher education sector, to mitigate its impact through planning and capacity development and to manage the impact of the pandemic in a way that reflects the ethical, social, knowledge transmission and production responsibilities that are the mission of HEIs in society.”

Similarly, the mission of the HIV/AIDS Unit at CPUT (based on Cape Town Campus) is to mitigate the impact of HIV/AIDS/STI and TB on staff and students on all five CPUT campuses.

With an acute understanding that young people are particularly vulnerable to the disease, the Unit’s ten staff members provide a variety of interventions and services: workshops on campus and in the broader community; awareness and prevention campaigns; a peer education programme; Voluntary Counseling and Testing (VCT); care and support for people infected and affected; and innovative research.

By Sarah Burdeniuk, HIV/AIDS Unit

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Everyone has to play their part to stop the HIV/Aids epidemic in South Africa. This was the message of the HIV/Aids activist, Mr Phill Wilson, to staff and students recently at the Cape Peninsula University of Technology.
Mr Wilson is the founder and Executive Director of the Black AIDS Institute in Los Angeles, America. He has been HIV-positive for the past 25 years.

The mission of the Black Aids Institute is to stop the AIDS pandemic in black communities by engaging and mobilising black institutions and individuals in efforts to confront HIV.

“I am still alive because of the love and support of my family and friends and because I have access to the best medical care. Many don’t have that privilege,” Mr Wilson told a packed lecture theatre on the Bellville campus.

Thirty million people have died of Aids worldwide of which the majority is black people. “The only way to stop Aids in black communities is for strong institutions with the capital and the infrastructure to make it happen. Everyone has to do their part. We must encourage each other to be informed. Find out about the facts of Aids and encourage each other to get tested.”

Mr Wilson told students and staff that Aids is not an automatic death sentence. People need to get involved by talking to each other.

“We can all outlive this disease. The one thing that keeps me going is my determination to beat this thing. I continue to take care of myself and refuse to live in shame,” said Mr Wilson.

Mr Wilson also donated a number of HIV/Aids-related books that are available from the Bellville Library. The HIV/Aids Unit also distributed copies of a text book developed by staff members. 2 Be Aids Aware is available to staff members. Contact Mr Peter le Roux at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

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Piercing forward with its commitment to an HIV-free generation, CPUT recently hosted a very successful HIV/Aids Policy Framework and Monitoring & Evaluation Workshop for universities in the Western Cape at its Bellville campus.

Delegates included those running workplace programmes, human resource departments, campus health services, unions, staff associations and staff members working on HIV curricula.

The event, which was organized by the Higher Education HIV/Aids Programme (HEAIDS), focused on various issues surrounding HIV/AIDS in Higher Education such as the importance of prevention programmes and the need for funding.

Feizel Mamdoo, Higher Education South Afica’s communications manager, presented the HIV/Aids Policy Framework for Higher Education during the workshop.

By Kwanele Butana

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The CPUT Choir has once again proven itself to be one of the best choirs in the country by winning a number of categories in the recent Satica Eisteddfod Choral Festival.

After being crowned the overall winner in last year’s competition, the CPUT Choir again won both first places in the HIV/Aids and the African Piece categories of the Large Section.

CPUT went on to take the overall second position in the Large Section, while the first and third positions in this category respectively went to The University of the Western Cape Choir and the Vaal University of Technology Choir.

CPUT also secured themselves second place in the rendition of the Own Choice Piece and third place in both the Duet and Western categories of the Large Section.

Hosted by the Department of Student Affairs in the Major Sports Hall last week, the Choral Festival started with a social concert, followed by smaller groups like female, male and duet voices on Tuesday. The standard and large categories were heard for the remainder of the week.

Satica President Velani Mbiza says the standards were so high that it was difficult to tell who was going to win.

“The type of music chosen for the competition gave a great level of output from the choirs. The quality of music could reveal the level of preparation the choirs went through,” he says.

CPUT Student Development Officer Thando Moiloa thanked the entire CPUT team for making the event a success.

By Thami Nkwanyane

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The HIV/AIDS Unit will hold the second 2009 Voluntary Counselling and Testing Drive from 7 to 22 September 2009.

Staff and students who participate in the drive have the opportunity to learn their HIV status and are counselled accordingly.

Bellville

• 7 September 2009 - Freedom Square Residence (16:00-21:00)
• 8-9 September 2009 - Auditorium, Bellville Campus (8:30-16:00)
• 10 September 2009 - Tygerberg Campus (8:30-16:00)

Cape Town

• 11 September 2009 -Western Cape Nursing College, Athlone Campus (8:30-16:30)
• 14 September 2009 - Catsville Residence (16:00-21:00)
• 15-16 September 2009 - Student Centre/Atrium, Cape Town Campus (8:30-16:00)
• 17 September 2009 - Mowbray Campus (8:30-16:00)
• 18 September 2009 - Granger Bay Campus (8:30-16:00)
• 21 September 2009 - EWR (16:00-21:00)
• 22 September 2009 - Masimanyane Residence (16:00-21:00)

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On 17 August 2009, the Office of the Dean of Students hosted an HIV/AIDS awareness campaign for CPUT staff and students themed ‘Living Openly Positive’ at the Auditorium on the Bellville campus.

The campaign was the outcome of discussions held at meetings of the CPUT HEAIDS Institutional Organisation Committee (HICC), which is chaired by Dean of Students Cora Njoli Motale.

The inspiring programme featured speakers Derrick Fine and Elaine Maane from the Openly Positive Trust, who highlighted their personal experiences and discussed the responsibilities they faced after confirming their status.

They encouraged guests to come forward and fight stigma by sharing their stories and experiences of living with and being affected by HIV and AIDS.

The CPUT programme also featured several operatic melodies by the Gugulethu Tenors, a group of talented local youths with powerful voices.

Launched in 2007, the Openly Positive Trust is a non-profit organisation focused at building a “supportive, stigma-free environment for people living with HIV and AIDS” and helping them to live positively and disclose their status.

The trust aims to encourage “open living” with HIV and AIDS, to share the stories and experiences of people living with HIV and to be visible role models in promoting positive living, health and non-stigmatising communication around HIV/AIDS.

Other goals include working towards equality and non-discrimination for people living with the virus and implementing the GIPA Principle (the Greater Involvement of People living with HIV and AIDS) in policies, programmes and projects affecting communities.

Openly Positive also conducts workshops and talks, acts as an advocate for health and human rights and develops resources distributed in the organisations and institutions they serve.

Fine and Maane, two of the organisation’s four trustees, have lived with HIV/AIDS for over ten years and have authored the books Clouds Move and Umzala, which have been purchased by CPUT for the Campus Libraries.

In the near future, the trust will publish a new collection of stories from people living positively with HIV and those affected with AIDS based across the continent.

Interested parties are encouraged to visit the trust’s website at www.openlypositive.com for more details on the upcoming project.

By Thando J. Moiloa

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Students can count on a reliable service for their wellness needs from the HIV/AIDS Unit.

The unit aims to prevent, control and manage HIV/Aids, Sexually Transmitted Infections, and TB among students and staff. It works hand in hand with Student Counselling, Campus Health Clinics and the Disability Unit towards the holistic wellbeing of all students.

The unit runs awareness campaigns, research and community outreach programmes and provides peer education, care and support. It also has a Wellness Mobile Unit.

“We are proud of our Wellness Mobile Unit that makes it possible to reach our different campuses throughout the year, bringing healthcare services to your doorstep,” says head of the unit Melanie Marais.

“In addition to these existing roles, we are involved in curriculum integration of HIV/AIDS, STI and TB.”

The unit will also participate in the three-week orientation program that will see them run HIV counselling and testing campaigns across all campuses.

“Our encouragement to you is to support our services throughout the year, get to know your HIV status, practise safe sex and most importantly enjoy your time here,” says Marais.

For more information visit the unit at the Cape Town Campus, Administration Building, 2^nd floor or contact the office at +27 21 460 4253, +27 21 460 4252 or 021 959 6898.

You can also follow the unit’s activities on Facebook or Twitter

Written by Kwanele Butana
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This past weekend CPUT hosted a successful Young Women Empowerment Conference.

Close to two hundred of female students from Western Cape higher education institutions descended on Bellville campus for a two day conference focused on issues facing them. The programme included speakers talking about dealing with the challenges of HIV/Aids and Gender-Based Violence (GBV) as well as workshops on everything from digital storytelling to leadership lessons and personal development tips.

Minister of Women in the Presidency Bathabile Dlamini’s keynote address on the first day urged the young students to respect themselves and not buy into the patriarchal idea that men are better.

“Women have capacity and ability. When we are given responsibility we perform but we don’t bully our way through, we impart knowledge. You have heard the saying ‘teach a woman, you teach the nation’,” Dlamini reminded the students.

She encouraged them to be more vocal in ensuring older people in power better understand the challenges faced by students in tertiary education as contemporary problems are very different to what she faced as a young woman.

“It is for students to create support structures and make sure society understands how it impacts on your life. As a tertiary institution you need to come up with new ideas for dealing proactively with the issue of violence against women and children,” said Dlamini.

Dlamini and Dr Ramneek Ahluwalia, CEO of Higher Education and Training Health Wellness & Development Centre (HEAIDS), commended CPUT on launching its own Institutional Gender-Based Violence Position Statement.

Ahluwalia pointed out that a policy for all higher education institutions on how to deal with gender-based violence is currently awaiting approval from Cabinet. This policy includes details on disciplinary tribunals for offenders and the need to be more victim centric in all approaches.

“We need to build an army to deal with gender-based violence on campuses in the same way we built the peer to peer educators to deal with HIV infections.

“The way you come out for early testing for HIV we need you to report incidents of GBV on campuses,” said Ahluwalia.

Written by Theresa Smith
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The second round of CPUT’s Vooma vaccination campaign saw nearly 2,000 people receiving their vaccinations at pop-up sites on the various campuses and the vaccination centre in Bellville.

Vaccination Manager Benjamin de Waal said 1 992 people were vaccinated, including 813 at the pop-up sites and 1179 at the Bellville centre. 

He said much of the campaign's success hinged on the efforts of Melanie Swanson, Head of the HIV/Aids unit, and their team of peer educators. The Central SRC also supported the campaign.

Swanson said that as the head of the HIV/AIDS Unit, she coordinated all the off-campus Vooma vaccination drives to ensure their successful execution.

“The HIV/AIDS Unit team, including peer educators, played a key role in social mobilising students to participate in the vaccination programme. We used a similar model for HIV testing and health screening at our campuses and campus residences. This has proven to work well in the past and now for the vaccination drive.”

She added that the HIV/AIDS Unit has also played an essential role in the supply of PPE (personal protective equipment) and monitoring compliance.

The HIV/AIDS Unit initiated the following:

• Engaged student leadership one-on-one regarding the importance of the vaccination programme and involved them throughout the campaign. Swanson said they played an outstanding and supportive role in these endeavours.
• Regularly shared COVID-19 and vaccination information about the campaigns on all their social media platforms (CPUT HIV/AIDS Unit)
• Initiated a TikTok vaccination competition where students were invited to use educational and creative ways to record their vaccinations via TikTok. The top four creative TikToks were selected and posted on their social media page. The broader student population selected the best TikTok. These TikToks were viewed more than 5000 times, more than 1000 likes, and over 600 comments were received. These are now used on their social media pages to educate students about the importance of vaccination.
• Bulk SMSs per campus were sent to announce the campaigns.
• Branded shopper bags were distributed to each student who got vaccinated. This consisted of a 16 GB flash drive / EarPods, health information, condoms, leaflets and student services. To date, 3,000 shopper bags have been distributed through these campaigns.
• Vaccinated peer educators were trained to mobilise their peers to get vaccinated. Each campus has a representation of peer educators who actively promoted the Vooma Vaccination Drive, including door-to-door visits at residences.
• Another important factor was having a DJ playing music that the students enjoyed. This was a perfect drawing card.
• CSRC provided a lunch pack at Mowbray campus for each vaccinated student.
• On one of the days at D6, a healthy snack was provided to those who got vaccinated.
• A Q&A regarding the vaccination drive was distributed at almost all campus residences.
• Bulk printed Vooma Vaccination flyers that announced the different campaign dates and a lucky draw of R5000 that should be announced.
• During registration, while students waited for their student cards, the unit used the opportunity to engage them.

Peer educators group leader at the D6 campus, Siliziwe Nomnqa, said it was fun to participate in the campaign, and students well received it.

“We’ve been talking about vaccination; we’ve been engaging with our peers, and I think that’s also why they (students) came in numbers; they now understand what vaccination is.”

Written by Ilse Fredericks

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The Faculty of Business and Management Sciences recently resumed face-to-face orientation sessions for first-year students on the District Six Campus.

“The number of students who attended the face-to-face sessions surpassed numbers expected as well as orientation sessions pre-Covid-19, as most departments had approximately 80% of the registered students attending orientation in 2022,” said Mandie Richards, Business Information and Administration (BIA) senior lecturer. Richards added that seeing the piazza abuzz with animated students laughing and chatting was a “heart-warming moment” as students are the life and energy of the institution.  “The enthusiasm and excitement exuded by students to be on campus added to the atmosphere, as students quickly connected with lecturers and their peers and [had] an exciting start to their academic journey.”

Richards said although most departments concluded the orientation sessions on Friday, 25 February, a few departments further engaged first years in face-to-face sessions during the remainder of the first term.

The departments were introduced by Faculty Dean, Prof Paul Green, utilizing a welcome video (hyperlink https://youtu.be/vXroQY20GhE)

The BIA department, as did most departments, invited various speakers from industry, alumni, and service departments to engage with students.  Students were also welcomed from the outset by the BIA student assistants at the entrance of the campus Administration Building and escorted to the orientation venues. Lively discussions with an external organisation, Inclusive and Affirming Ministries (IAM), took place, and issues of gender-based violence (GBV), sexual harassment and students’ rights were discussed. The sessions provided students with contact details of various organisations that will assist and counsel them should students require such help.

“Many questions emanated from the students, and the Faculty will continue these conversations as part of the First Year Experience, as GBV is a mandatory module for first years in the Faculty and integrated into the curriculum,” said Richards.  The Financial Aid Office presented relevant information about NSFAS (write in full), and shared vital information regarding financial issues, that are uppermost on many students’ minds who require financial assistance.  

The Cape  Town Hotel School engaged vendors and suppliers to meet with students at the Granger Bay Campus, and the Campus turned into a mini-expo with tasty treats available for students to purchase and a good introduction to cuisine offered at the Hotel School, which was recently awarded a 4-star rating. 

Students in all departments were given a campus tour to familiarise themselves with the campus. They attended sessions held in the computer laboratories to allow them to log in to their emails, activate their accounts, and gain assistance in navigating Blackboard.  Departments also invited the Disability Unit, Student Counselling Unit, the Library, the HIV/Aids Unit and Fundani Centre for Higher Education Development to engage with students and advise on various support structures at CPUT to assist students.

Written by Kwanele Butana

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CPUT’s Vooma vaccination days are back, and students are being encouraged to get their shots to protect themselves and others.

Participating students can win one of two R 5000 cash prizes or one of ten R1 000 cash prizes.

The campaign kicks off at the Bellville campus today, and there will be goodie bags for all students who come to get vaccinated.

“We hope to provide 3,000 or more vaccinations over the entire campaign,” said vaccination manager Benjamin de Waal.

The dates and venues are as follows:

• 28 February to 4 March - Bellville Campus Vaccination Centre
• 7 to 11 March – D6 Campus, Admin building
• 16 March – Wellington Campus Student Centre
• 29 March – Mowbray Campus
• 30 March Catsville Residence
• 31 March – Granger Bay Campus

Students wishing to enter the competition need to register on OPA via https://opa.cput.ac.za if they have not already done so in the past.   

Walk-ins are also welcome. Students need to bring along their student cards and Identity Documents.

Last year’s Vooma campaign was a huge success.

Melanie Marais, Head of the HIV/Aids Unit, encouraged students to vaccinate.

“This is an act of good citizenship. Getting your Covid-19 jab is the most responsible thing anyone can do. If you don’t want to do it for yourself, do it for your loved ones, friends, and anyone around you. Too many people have lost their lives. Our economy has suffered enough. The power is in your hands to help change the tide of this pandemic by getting vaccinated,” said Marais.

De Waal added that vaccination will increase individual and community protection even for people who have had Covid-19.

“Booster vaccinations are equally essential to ensure immunity levels remain high in anticipation of a possible fifth wave expected towards winter. Those who are hesitant should consider that the COVID-19 vaccines have been approved for use by health authorities across the globe. The vaccines have been studied thoroughly, and their effectiveness and safety have been proven and are being monitored across the world.“

Written by Ilse Fredericks
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First-year students are receiving a warm welcome to the CPUT family this year via an online welcoming ceremony, created especially for them.

The pre-recorded ceremony will go live at 8:00 on the CPUT webpage and can be viewed by clicking the VC Welcoming message banner.

Among other things, the ceremony introduces the new students to our campuses, deans and campus life.

In his welcoming message Vice-Chancellor, Prof Chris Nhlapo, told the students that they had chosen well when they accepted a place at CPUT.

He said the institution has multi-million rand building works and renovations planned for this year and had used the quieter period to forge ahead with these.

“As much as we are improving the infrastructure, I want to ask that you do the same for your own personal growth in 2022. So, as we find ourselves fully immersed in the tide of the new year, I encourage you to find the time in your busy lives to do a life and career review and plot – where it is you want to be on this day in 2023. The institution offers a wealth of self-improvement opportunities because we benefit from you reaching your full potential. Similarly, though, we also need your support to help us get CPUT to its full potential. I am certain I can count on you for that.”

Nhlapo told students that while their academic development was why they chose CPUT, the institution wanted to see students mature holistically during their time at CPUT.

“As a CPUT student, you are privileged to have a plethora of student development opportunities available to you for free; courses in life skills like public speaking and time management are on offer while our First Year Experience programme is specially developed to transition you from high school classroom to university lecture theatre. Your physical wellbeing is also catered for by a dedicated clinic, HIV/Aids unit and Student Counselling unit. With these resources, this is the ideal time to be the best version of yourself. I hope you take advantage of this special time in your life and maximise the opportunities at your disposal.”

Written by Ilse Fredericks

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