A third year student’s passion for photography recently helped her clinch a top prize at the Sanlam Private Investments Innovation Awards.

Photography student Robyn Rickers is one of 10 tertiary students who recently walked away with R10 000 in prize money.

The awards, which were launched this year to mark the 10th anniversary of Sanlam Private Investments, celebrate students who in their field produce unique ideas and concepts which are practical and add value.

The awards, which took place on 30 October 2009, were exclusive and only institutions that were identified as being among the top in their respective fields, were invited to participate.

The Photography Department at CPUT and all its third year students were invited to showcase their skills and participate in the awards. Several other tertiary institutions were invited to participate in the catergories of fashion design, wine-making, interior design, architecture, culinary arts, jewellery design, music and fine art.

The CPUT students were tasked with creating an entry that displayed one or a combination of the criteria, which included creativity, beauty, luxury and quality.

Rickers, who hails from Wellington, produced an emotive portrait that featured a man and woman embracing. She said although well dressed, their faces tell a story of individuals who have struggled with poverty and other hardships.

Rickers, who comes from a family of photographers, said she was inspired by the conditions in her community to capture the image.

Although she hopes the photograph will raise awareness of what is happening in communities, Rickers said: “Everyone creates their own story when they see a picture.”

One of the judges, celebrity photographer Gerda Genis, who was moved by the photograph, said Rickers is a “great photographer.”

Genis described the photograph as “visually captivating and communicating instant and alarming honesty.”

She said the photograph highlights the social issues of those less fortunate and offers insight into the couple’s platonic love and their lost aspirations.

By Candes Keating

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

CPUT students who worked tirelessly behind the scenes of the Cape Town Carnival on Saturday have been given a pat on the back for their help.

Students who responded to a call for volunteers were spotted all over the busy Fanwalk making sure the event ran smoothly.

VISUAL SPECTACLE: One of the acts to wow the crowds on Saturday.

From marshals to float pushers there wasn’t a job too small for the eager students.
Photography and Film and Video students were the envy of the crowd as they were allowed restricted access to the carnival corridor where the performers were.
Second-year photography student Zahraa Dollie says the event was a confidence booster.
“We are working alongside professional photographers here and can see we are doing exactly the same job that they are,” she says.
Her classmate Bertram Malgas says it was nice to be part of the action and not just watching from the sidelines.

EXPERIENCE: Students got unlimited access to the Carnival parade and worked alongside professionals.

“Tonight we are part of the media and that is really nice,” he says.
Film and Video head Jared Borkum was on site to make sure everything ran smoothly.
“The footage we shot through the auditions right to the event itself will probably be used to market the Carnival next year,” he says.
Public Relations students Lee-Ann Mitchell and Chane Arnolds also got a taste of their future careers by manning entry to one of the VIP areas.
Carnival Operations Manager Anthea Metcalf thanked the CPUT students who formed part of a group of over 2000 volunteers.
“The volunteers delivered a world-class, moving fashion-fusion extravaganza,” she says.
The event kicked off at 5pm with a free concert and the parade started at 8pm.
The theme Cape to Cairo was realised through floats depicting Egypt, Kenya’s Masaai and even a hilarious take on SA’s iconic taxi.By LAUREN KANSLEY
Pictures by SHAWN UYS

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

Hundreds of students queued up for an opportunity to be part of the upcoming Cape Town Carnival.

The recruitment drive was spearheaded by five 2^nd year Public Relations students who have joined the Carnival team as interns.

Around 150 volunteers are required for a number of tasks including being float pushers, marshals and setting up banners on the day of the event- March 24.

While students aren’t being paid they will receive free transport, all their meals on the day and a participation certificate which will be a welcome addition to their CV’s.

BUSY: PR students taking volunteer names.

Organiser Lee-Ann Mitchell says they presented the idea of using CPUT students as volunteers to the Carnival Committee last week.

“The volunteers will be screened and depending on where they live and how well they can represent Carnival we will make the selection,” she says.

This week a number of lead dancers donned their costumes to drum up interest in the volunteer drive held at the Cape Town campus.

After spotting the colourful costumes students streamed to the table to add their names to the growing list.

This year the Carnival theme is Cape to Cairo and a number of CPUT fashion students have designed costumes which will be on display on the big day.

Photography and Film and Video students are documenting all the behind-the-scenes action.

PR lecturer and Carnival Marketing co-ordinator Ayesha Toyer says they were overwhelmed by the amount of interest from students.

By LAUREN KANSLEY

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

On 1 August 2008, the Department of Public Relations Management officially moved from the Faculty of Business to the Faculty of Informatics and Design.

The change of Faculty allows the Public Relations Management to be offered by the same Faculty that supports programmes in Multimedia Technology, Photography, Film and Video and Journalism.

“The move of the Department of Public Relations Management to the Faculty of Informatics and Design has brought exiting challenges for synergies with other Departments, exploring cutting edge technology that has become the vehicle for successful communication in the twenty-first century,” said Public Relations Management Head of Department Johann van der Merwe.

The National Diploma and BTech in Public Relations Management equip students with strategic communication management and planning skills in order to design effective messages to reach a specific public or publics.

The programme focuses on components that are necessary in strategic communication, such as trend analysis, stakeholder management and the forecasting and researching of public perceptions, which are translated into creative and practical message design, in order to meet the strategic objectives of an organisation.

The programme is offered within the framework of changing information technology. Students are equipped with basic business and life skills to assist them in working within diverse professional environments.

Public Relations Management students are also exposed to other relevant disciplines such as law, social psychology, marketing and industrial relations in order to prepare each student to be a well-rounded, employable individual.

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

WHEN thousands flood into the city centre next month for the upcoming Cape Town Carnival, a handful of CPUT staff and students will be working hard behind the scenes.

Apart from designing many of the spectacular outfits that will be on show on the day, students have also been working diligently and documenting every aspect of the annual street party.

This week, Photography and Film and Video students captured every moment of the event’s official media launch while Public Relations staff and students made sure the party was a slick affair.

BEHIND THE SCENES: Film and Video students capturing the event’s media launch.

Hosted by Heart FM’s Clarence Ford, a variety of performers like bellydancers and rope-skipping champions got the crowd revved up.

But it was the outlandish costumes, all designed around the theme ‘From Cape to Cairo’ which really got the audience excited.

CPUT students were honoured last year when Cape Town Fashion Council’s Bryan Ramkilawan gave them the opportunity of designing a handful of costumes for the parade.

Students were also awarded a cash prize which is paid into their student fees.

On Wednesday, Minister for Finance, Economic Affairs and Tourism, Alan Winde, told the crowd of journalists they should be proud of the Carnival and what it represents.

“Showcasing this event tells the world who we are and what we are about. Lets give everyone a big surprise,” he says.

Cape Town Carnival happens on March 24 and travels along the fan walk in Greenpoint from 8pm.

By LAUREN KANSLEY

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

Alumnus Cindy Waxa is making a name for herself in the media industry.

In 2005 she graduated with a National Diploma in Photography and a decade later she is now the senior photographer at Independent Newspapers (Cape Argus, Cape Times, Weekend Argus) covering everything from news to sport and features.

From photographing the luminaries like Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Kofi Annan and the late Nelson Mandela, Waxa has no regrets about following her passion.

“Photography has taken me out of my comfort zone and into places that I would never have access to if I was not behind the lens. I have definitely experienced fear and danger, but excitement and joy too,” she says.

Waxa is renowned for documenting the Cape Town International Jazz festival for the past 10 years and has also held several successful photographic exhibitions of her work.

“Ritual Entry to Womanhood is one of the projects I am most proud of. This came about when I was in Qunu covering Madiba’s funeral,” she says.

“This is a ritual that prepares young women to learn about the social responsibilities that comes with womanhood. It's one of the important rituals for all Xhosa girls.”

In 2014 she was also part of the 20 Years of Democracy exhibition at the Artscape, a showcase of images of South Africa after 20 years of democracy.

Waxa encourages future photographers to equip themselves with the correct skills.

“Equip yourself not only with photography but skills like multimedia and videography. The world is moving to a digital era so it’s wise to combine photography with emerging technologies,” she says.

Written by Janyce Weintrob
Tel: +27 21 460 3514
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Home to more than 30,000 students, CPUT is the largest university of technology in the region and has several campuses and satellite sites, stretching from the Cape Town city centre to as far as George in the Southern Cape.

Each campus boasts unique characteristics and functions.

Bellville Campus

This campus is the administrative hub of the institution and is home to the following:

• The world renowned French South African Institute of Technology, which produced and launched Africa’s first nanosatellite.
• The Electrical Engineering Building, which is CPUT’s largest teaching and research facility.

Cape Town Campus

The city’s most popular landmark, Table Mountain, is a backdrop to this campus. It accommodates the following:

• The university’s largest faculty, the Faculty of Business and Management Sciences.
• The Faculty of Informatics and Design.
• A select number of courses offered by the Faculties of Applied Sciences and Health and Wellness Sciences are offered on the campus.

Wellington Campus

This campus is situated in the centre of the Boland town and has become known for:

• Producing teachers trained in the Afrikaans medium.
• Training the next generation of leaders in the agriculture sector.

Mowbray Campus

The Faculty of Education recently expanded is facilities with building work completed last year. This campus is renowned for:

• Annually producing the largest number of teaching graduates in the Western Cape.
• The state-of-the-art Human Performance Laboratory and the Centre for International Teacher Education.

Athlone Campus, Worcester and George satellite campuses

• These three campuses produce nursing staff for the country’s health sector.

Granger Bay Campus

The stylish Hotel School Restaurant is the main attraction of this campus, which overlooks Robben Island. It also houses the following:

• The renowned Cape Town Hotel School.
• The Maritime Engineering Department and the Survival Centre.

Groote Schuur and Tygerberg Hospital

• The Department of Medical Imaging and Therapeutic Sciences is located on the premises of Groote Schuur Hospital in Observatory.
• The Dental Sciences Department is based at the Tygerberg Hospital and gives students the opportunity to work directly with patients and medical staff.

Roeland Street Building

• Students and staff from Journalism, Photography, Public Relations and Multimedia call this campus home.

Media City

• Media City is based on the Foreshore and accommodates students and staff of the Architecture, Town and Regional Planning, and Interior Design schools.

For campus contact details see: http://www.cput.ac.za/about-cput/cput-at-a-glance/contact-details

Written by Ilse Fredericks

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