Honey-voiced and softly-spoken, Anette Grobler, Student Development Officer at CPUT, adventure sportswoman and the first person in the world to walk the entire length of the Northern Namib Desert coastline in Angola, speaks with an authority that is hard to ignore.“If I can teach students one thing, it’s this - nothing that happened in the past can influence one’s future, unless we give it the power to do so. “

The severely asthmatic Grobler recently made history yet again - becoming the first person ever to walk a distance of 570 kilometres through the Namib Desert, completely solo and unsupported. Renowned for its shipwrecks, brown hyenas, jackals, side-winders and seals, the Skeleton Coast is also infamous for its harsh, unfriendly terrain and extreme climate. Grobler embarked on her record-breaking feat to raise funds for the National Institute for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing College in Worcester. She dubbed her expedition "Silent Steps" in recognition of the challenges faced by the deaf and hard of hearing in their daily lives.

“I was born asthmatic and still have severe asthma to this day. I was told I’ll never be able to do any exercise as this exacerbates asthma. I was 8 years old when I decided it won’t influence the rest of my life. I’ll rather battle doing it than not doing exercise at all.”

It’s this hard-won resolve and sense of authenticity about Grobler that seems to speak to the students she guides and mentors. “My message to the students is really simple - I’m not the product of my past but the creator of my future. Once you realise this, and I’m always telling them this – YOU design your own future. I’ve seen students so vulnerable and hungry absorb this philosophy and go on to achieve incredible things.”

Responding to the recent student protests at CPUT, Grobler is philosophical. “Most of the students I deal with are wise young adults and again - one just has to re-affirm that one’s past is history, it’s nothing unless I give it power. The future is yours to shape.”

Grobler is tremendously grateful to Dean of Student Affairs Cora Motale and HOD of Student Affairs, Sibusiso Chalufu for their support. She’s also expressed thanks to CPUT’s Engineering Department, especially Tap van der Schyff for allowing staff member Mark Jenkins to build her rickshaw. Without the rickshaw, Grobler’s journey would have been next to impossible.

By Jan Weintrob.

If you would like to support the cause, SMS lines are still open. Please sms the letters "NID" to 31243. Each sms costs R10 and all proceeds go to the National Institute for the Deaf. The person who sends the most sms's will stand a chance to win a Dell Notebook to the value of R8000.

Written by CPUT News
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CPUT mountaineers, Annette Grobler and Ntlaletseng Ramohlola recently attempted to summit Mount Aconcagua, the highest mountain in South America.

Grobler, a Student Development Officer and alumnus Ramohlola, who is employed as a Chemical Engineer on an oil rig off the coast of Nigeria, began their mountaineering ventures several years ago.

Whilst studying at CPUT, Ramohlola, with the support of Grobler, summated Mount Kilimanjaro in 2005. The following year Ramohlola returned to CPUT and invited Grobler to travel with him to Russia and summit Mount Elbrus. The alumnus covered Grobler’s expenses as a token of appreciation for the role she played in his life whilst he was studying at CPUT.

After a short break from mountaineering, the duo decided to take on Mount Aconcagua, which is situated in Argentina, during the December holidays.

The expedition, which included several other climbers and Spanish guides, was led by well known mountaineer Sean Disney.

Grobler said despite their best efforts, they were unable to summit and fly the CPUT flag on top of Mount Aconcagua.

A mere 500m from the summit, the group was forced to turn around. Due to two climbers who had developed altitude sickness, they had moved too slowly and could not reach the summit before 3pm.

“Due to the fact that the weather at 7000m can change in a second, the Spanish guides that escorted us, have strict instructions to summit with their groups before 3pm. If people are not at the top by this time, then the guides have to take them down,” said Grobler.

“The first 20 steps back to camp were the most difficult steps I had ever made. Defeat is all you think about. I was defeated by the mountain,” she said.

However, with winds speeds up to 65 km per hour in minus 23 degrees, blizzards, nausea, insomnia, acute mountain sickness, and waiting in tents for up to three days on end, Grobler said she is happy to be home.

She said there is still a possibility of flying CPUT’s flag on Mount Aconcagua as Ramohlola plans to travel back to South America and make a second attempt to summit.

By Candes Keating

Written by CPUT News
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Students will be able to show off their creative skills by designing and creating garments for an online fashion show.

The national lockdown has prompted The Department of Student Affairs (Student Development and Student Housing) to launch the Green Campus Initiative (GCI) Online Fashion Show. Together with the GCI Green Ambassadors (student volunteers), the department is calling on students to participate as designers. The designers are required to design (and create) one garment, and a mask in an effort to raise awareness of Covid-19.  T

An adjudicators panel is scheduled to announce the winners on 17 June.

Student Development Officer, Melani-Ann Hara said the aim of the event was to provide the students with: “A unique and memorable experience which creates environmental awareness, by combining entertainment, fashion and environmental awareness”.

Hara said it’s an opportunity to provide a platform for all registered students across all faculties interested in design to showcase their skill and passion by entering and designing garments made out of recyclable and upcycled materials. “[We] promote the Green Campus Initiative and [want] to get more students involved with the activities and to become more environmentally conscious.”

The department aims to reach between more than 500 students through the various online platforms. GCI 2020 chairperson, Sisipho Mphemba said a designer can model his or her design or may choose any person who is older than 18 years at home to model the design.

“The person [model] may or may not be the registered student of CPUT as long as you are within lockdown restrictions.”

The designers’ applications are open until 24 May 2020.  The deadline for submission of designers’ garment photos and videos is 5 June 2020.

The designers’ products will be uploaded on Student Affairs’ Facebook page for voting from 8 June to 24 June at midnight. The top three winners which will be announced on 17 June will be awarded prizes as follows:

• First place: R 2 500
• Second place: R 1 500
• Third place: R 1 000

Please use the following link to apply: https://forms.gle/vLXe74fv4aX33ZZb9   

For more information contact: Melani-Ann Hara: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Written by Aphiwe Boyce
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The Department of Student Affairs (DSA) has introduced a Learn to Sail programme, which equips students with a set of life skills while enjoying sailing.

Students learn skills such as diversity management as everyone on the boat is equal, the importance of teamwork, discipline, commitment, communication, time management and dealing with stressful situations from the programme for free.

“Your needs and desires are secondary to those of the group - as a group you have to navigate the boat to safety regardless of the weather or swell of the dunes,” says Student Development Officer Anette Grobler.    

The programme, which is made possible by SA Sailing Western Cape, Western Cape Department of Cultural Affairs, the Sailing Academy, the Royal Cape Yacht club and DSA, started recently at the Royal Cape Yacht club with 18 students from all CPUT campuses.

It will continue until October and will resume in January next year and each programme lasts for five weeks.

Training takes place on Sundays.

“Currently, CPUT is the only university that offers this programme to its students,” adds Grobler.

In order to take part in the programme students must be able to swim. If not, they will still be trained in the art of sailing, but their training will mostly be focussed on the important role a person working on the “bridge” plays.  

Later this year, part of this programme will also include a “Learn to Swim” phase.

Students must attend at least four of the five Sunday sessions in order to receive a certificate at the programme’s graduation ceremony.

Students are transported to the yacht club and the bus from Cape Town campus will depart from the Admin Building at 09:30, while on the Bellville campus it will depart at 09:00 from the parking area in front of the New Library building.

Written by Kwanele Butana
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Students from Wellington Campus spent their Mandela Day morning visiting local primary schools to feed hungry children.

They visited four different schools in their area, where some of their fellow Education students were doing their practical in-service training.

The students worked quickly to set up their own production line, making sure the learners each got a slice of bread with their soup.

While the Blouvlei Akademie does have a feeding scheme that provides breakfast and lunch, teachers pointed out that the mid-morning snack was a good way to energise the children.

Wellington Campus SRC Chairperson Pieter Lammert said he grew up on a farm and experienced how difficult it is to learn when you don’t have anything to eat.

“That is why we went to the local farm schools to feed the hungry children from the farms which are often neglected by charity organisations,” said Lammert.

The students also visited the Wagenmakersvallei Primary School, Soetendal Primary School and Weltevreden Secondary School.

The industrious group then shared the leftover soup with fellow students on campus.

Student Development Officer Willie Liebenberg pointed out that the students raised the money to buy the food themselves.

“We held a drama competition between residences. It brings the students together, and there is a lot of interaction. So, we had the money that we could use for community projects,” said Liebenberg.

Liebenberg says the entrance fee they charged at the drama competition became very useful when their initial plan for Mandela Day fell through. Originally they had wanted to do a river clean up, but recent rain took care of the polluted river banks.

Written by Theresa Smith
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The CPUT Cheerleaders danced their way to two medals during the recent South African Majorette and Cheerleading Association competition, held at the University of Cape Town.

CPUT competed in three categories and won gold in the Tertiary Cheer Pom section and Silver in the Tertiary Cheer Hip-Hop Doubles section.

Cheerleading coach Tumisang Matlala, who is also one of the choreographers, said the Tertiary Cheer Pom Section consists of 11 talented dancers, “all of whom have been working incredibly hard leading up to the competition”.

"I am absolutely thrilled and beyond proud! Winning gold is a testament to the hard work, dedication and passion that each dancer put into their routines. This victory is truly a team effort, and it's an incredible feeling to see them reach this level."

She said the team had spent weeks preparing for each competition.

“This involved regular rehearsal sessions, conditioning and perfecting their choreography. We focussed on synchronisation, technique and overall performance quality. They were committed to pushing themselves, whether it was through physical endurance or mental focus.”

In the Tertiary Cheer Hip-Hop Doubles section, Liyakhanya Matika and Lithemba Buqa were awarded a silver medal.

“They delivered an incredible routine filled with energy and precision, really showcasing their skills on competition grounds. The Duo team created their own choreography and formations. They are exceptionally talented athletes and I felt confident in their abilities.”

She said the athletes were overjoyed and truly proud of their achievements.

“It is an incredible validation of all the sacrifices they've made along the way. This recognition means the world to them and I am sure they only plan on going up from here."

Cherice Mangiagalli, Student Development Officer: Sport, Arts and Culture, congratulated the CPUT Titans on their excellent results. “Their hard work and dedication proved they were on par with various cheerleading teams across South Africa. As first-time competitors, they stepped up to the requirements and claimed their first and second place without any doubt. I am exceptionally proud of the team and look forward to future competitions."

Written by Ilse Fredericks
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