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
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CPUT recently hosted its first Research Indaba on Gender-Based Violence (GBV) in Higher Education under the theme: Crafting trends, patterns and awareness intervention to combat GBV.

The purpose of the two-day event, which coincided with International Women’s Day, was to share lessons, strategies, interventions, practices and research agendas on:

• Enhancing, integrated, multi-sectoral coordination and collaboration on gender equality and women empowerment to combat GBV in higher education.
• Dealing with changed behaviours, social norms and interventions that drive GBV for students and staff.
• Enhancing sustainable and survivor-centred response, care and support services for students and staff.
• Sustaining, responsive, efficient, safe and responsive campus protection.
• Ensuring evidence-based research and integration of research focus areas; and
• Integrating realist evaluation approaches aimed at developing GBV interventions to existing social problems to bring about social change.

The keynote speakers on the first day were Deputy Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation, Hon. Buti Manamela and Prof Mzikazi Nduna, Dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences at the University of Fort Hare, who addressed the topic of Sustainable Development Goals and GBV: Locating the Higher Education Sector.

Vice-Chancellor, Prof Chris Nhlapo, welcomed attendees and said that to give effect to the Department of Higher Education, Science and Innovation’s Policy Framework to address Gender-Based Violence in the Post-School Education and Training System, CPUT has put in place a high-level GBV Committee, which is chaired by the Vice-Chancellor.

He said the institution maintains a zero-tolerance stance on GBV.

Manamela, said that according to the World Health Organisation, over a quarter of women aged between 15 and 49 years, who have been in a relationship, have been subjected to physical and/or sexual violence by their intimate partner at least once in their lifetime since age 15.

“They also observe that globally as many as 38 percent of all murders of women are committed by intimate partners so this is actually very scary.”

He said the post-school education and training sector has been deeply affected by the scourge of gender-based violence.

“As a department, we regard gender-based violence as a national emergency. Together with our entity, Higher Health, over the years, we’ve made a number of policy, institutional and programmatic interventions, all of which are intended to create a safe and secure environment for students and staff in the PSET sector.

“We are implementing various programmes and support structures for students and frontline staff at institutions of higher learning. The programmes are offered on 420 campuses across the country.”

An emotional candle lighting ceremony in honour of GBV Victims was also held, where CPUT staff member, Flora Buffet shared “HerStory” from the GBV survivor” from her childhood. The guests, which included students, were welcomed by the Vice-Chancellor, who condemned “every act of gender-based violence”, saying: “Not at CPUT.”

“Let’s create an environment where all of us can live in peace and harmony…” Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Research, Technology Innovation and Partnerships, Dr David Phaho, provided insight into eradicating GBV through Research, Technology Innovation and Partnerships aligned to Vision 2030 - One Smart CPUT. The CPUT Arts Society showcased a gender-based violence short drama just before the candle-lighting moment.

The last session was held on the second day and dealt with multi-sectoral partnerships and collaborations to enhance social, political, and economic consequences of gender inequality and gender-based violence. In his comment, Student Representative Council (SRC) member, Xolani Booi, voiced his “happiness” with CPUT management’s effort in fighting GBV and its decision to host such an event. “We are happy with the response we are receiving [from the management] and today there is this event, and we knew about it before it happened … We are happy that we’re not surprised when things are happening in this university, we’re part of the decision making in this university.”

Xolani also acknowledged the existing “good working relations” between the student leadership and Acting Dean of Student Affairs, Nonkosi Tyolwana who had earlier made a presentation on: Localising response to National Strategic Plan on GBV and Femicide in Higher Education: A CPUT Case Study.

The speakers included Advocate Lizelle Africa from Sexual Offences and Community Affairs: National Prosecuting Authority. Africa provided a presentation on: GBV Reporting protocol and training approaches to enhance the implementation of the GBV Policy: A CPUT Case Study. Director: HERS- SA, Brightness Mangolothi talked about “women academics’ bullying experiences in higher education as a manifestation of GBV”. “It’s harmful, it has a negative impact on you who is in the receiving end.” Mangolothi said GBV is not only about sexual harassment, and she said the abuse of power and workplace bullying is another form of GBV.