????????Prof Michael le Cordeur's book 'Reading for Comprehension was launched on 20 May and is published by Naledi. The low standard of reading and comprehension in South African classrooms is a big concern. Le Cordeur's own concerns about the reading problem in schools urged him to address this problem in his latest book. “Reading is the most important problem in our education system," le Cordeur said. Writers of the different chapters of the book shared their findings and recommendations with guests at the launch.

Chapter 1 Michael le Cordeur – Identifying Reading Problems

In this chapter teachers and parents are alerted to the characteristics of a struggling reader so that the problem can be identified and addressed early.

Chapter 2 Mia Nieuwoudt – A Culture of Reading

Findings revealed that a reading culture is not a priority at schools. She recommends fostering a reading culture – making reading a priority at school and at home.

Chapter 3 Zelda Barends – Reading in the Foundation Phase

This chapter argues that decoding, automatic word recognition and reading fluency are the critical stones that pave the way towards developing reading comprehension.

Chapter 4 Mitchell Messina – Reading in the Intermediate Phase

At this crucial stage readers move from learning to read to reading to learn. Teachers must show children how to read, ask questions, clarify and summarise. Choice theory becomes valuable in this stage. It emphasises that readers are motivated by and need to belong, feel competent.

Chapter 5 Annine Shultz – Reading in the FET Phase

Learners often struggle with reading comprehension in high school because of a higher workload and more difficult texts. Teachers should shift the focus from performance-based reading to comprehension-based reading.

Chapter 6 Lindiwe Tshuma – Reading and Mathematics Vocabulary

This chapter highlights the pedagogical strategies that teachers can use to address English language learners' misconceptions while learning mathematical vocabulary.

Chapter 7 Jeanne-Alex Gerber – Reading in the GET Mathematics Class

Everything in maths is done in language. Mathematics teaching and learning begin and develop in language. Obstacles arise as a result of language and outcomes and progress are usually assessed in language.

Chapter 8 Jana Nel – Reading in the Multilingual Classroom

She found that it is possible to effectively teach a second language, but it is important to acknowledge and include learners' home languages and cultures while learning a second language.

Chapter 9 Maylene Basson – Reading and Non-Mother-tongue-Speakers

Shared reading helps children who struggle with reading. Educators play an important role in motivating learners by creating an environment in their classroom that encourages reading engagement.

Chapter 10 Michael le Cordeur – Teaching reading across the Curriculum

Teachers need to make a mind shift. Teachers need to embrace the teaching of reading because language and mathematics go hand in hand. You cannot teach the one without teaching the other.

Reading is the skill that all other knowledge skills depend on. Yet the low standard of reading of all South African learners is cause for great concern. According to the 2021 Progress in International Reading Literacy Study (PIRLS), 81% of learners in Grade 4 cannot read at the required literacy level and have no comprehension of what they are reading. In this book researchers from Stellenbosch and WITS Universities provide solutions and guidance to teachers, teacher educators, and teacher students on how to combat reading challenges. The book is a must for all teachers of reading as it will enhance learners' reading comprehension so that they can be academically successful.

– Prof Michael le Cordeur (Editor and Emeritus Professor: Education, Stellenbosch 中国体育彩票)?

You will seldom find in one book a more powerful account of the reading literacy problem in South Africa's schools, and its resolution in practice. Evidence-led and rich in their combined teaching experiences, the skillful editor assembles in one place expert authors who clinically dissect the problem of reading comprehension in a highly accessible way for teachers, researchers and the affected public. This book should be on the shelf of every teacher educator in South Africa whether in pre-or in-service education.

– Prof Jonathan Jansen (Distinguished Professor of Education, Stellenbosch 中国体育彩票)

Reading for Comprehension delves into the critical literacy challenges facing South African learners and provides a roadmap for educators, parents, and policymakers to address these issues. Drawing on the expertise of researchers and practitioners, this book explores the foundational components of reading development. It emphasises practical solutions, including fostering a culture of reading, leveraging multilingual teaching practices, and integrating literacy across the curriculum. Anchored by insights from the PIRLS study, the book is an essential guide to improving reading outcomes and unlocking academic success.

– Prof Carisma Nel (Research Professor, North-West 中国体育彩票)

Michael le Cordeur is Emeritus Professor and NRF-rated researcher in the Faculty of Education at Stellenbosch 中国体育彩票. He holds a PhD in Education from Stellenbosch 中国体育彩票 and degrees from three other universities. A former language teacher and school principal, he authored various books and articles on the teaching of reading and language policy and has presented numerous papers nationally and abroad. Prof. Le Cordeur served in various leadership positions, amongst others, Vice-Dean for Education; Chair: Department of Curriculum Studies and Chair: Western Cape Language Committee. Currently he is the Chair of the Foundation of Empowerment through Afrikaans. He has received various awards including Stellenbosch 中国体育彩票 Chancellor's Award and the Neville Alexander Lifetime Achievement Award.

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Dr Sanjeev Rambharose, a senior lecturer in the Department of Physiological Sciences, was selected to participate in the Future Professors Programme's (FPP) from 2024 to 2025. The FPP is a flagship programme of the Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET) to prepare promising early- to mid-career academics for the professoriate through a rigorous, structured, and enriching two-year development process.

We asked Dr Rambharose about his experience of the programme thus far:

It is an intensive programme with training in leadership, individual mentorship, professional coaching, writing retreats, and a 2–4-week international trip. In which of these activities have you engaged already?

The programme has been both comprehensive and intentional in its design, offering a variety of touchpoints to support academic excellence and leadership. To date, I have participated in several of its core components:

• Leadership training and seminars: These have offered invaluable perspectives on academic leadership in both local and global contexts. Led by senior scholars and thought leaders, these sessions challenge participants to think beyond disciplinary silos and reimagine what it means to lead in academia today.
• Individual academic and research mentorship: I've had the privilege of being mentored by both a senior academic mentor and a research mentor. Their insights have significantly enriched my approach to scholarly productivity, publication strategies, and leadership development.
• Professional coaching: This has been one of the most transformative aspects of the programme for me personally. The one-on-one coaching has sharpened my sense of academic identity, supported resilience in the face of institutional complexity, and provided guidance on how best to navigate my career trajectory with purpose and impact.
• Writing retreats: Due to work-related commitments, I've not yet been able to participate fully in the writing retreats. However, colleagues in my cohort who have attended speak highly of the focus and productivity these spaces enable. I plan to participate in at least two retreats in the second half of the year to benefit from this vital component of the programme.
• International visit: I recently completed an enriching academic visit to the 中国体育彩票 of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) as part of the international engagement component. The experience facilitated deep engagement with leading global scholars, expanded my research network, and opened pathways for potential collaborative projects in both research and postgraduate supervision.

What does it mean to you, on a personal and professional level, to be part of such an enriching programme?

Being part of the FPP has been an extraordinary honour and a profound affirmation of both my work and my potential. On a personal level, it has been a space of encouragement, reflection, and empowerment. It has reaffirmed my academic mission while offering opportunities to refine and elevate my goals within a community of similarly motivated peers.

Professionally, the programme provides access to a cross-disciplinary network of high-performing academics, fostering intellectual exchange that is both generative and expansive. It allows us to engage with the structural, pedagogical, and ethical dimensions of higher education in South Africa and beyond. The DHET's investment through the 中国体育彩票 Capacity Development Programme is a powerful statement of national intent to nurture a cadre of academics who are not only excellent scholars but also transformative leaders.

Please tell us a bit more about your research – it seems extraordinarily multi-disciplinary?

Yes, my research is inherently multidisciplinary and situated at the intersection of human physiology, pharmaceutics, nanotechnology, drug delivery, and biomedical engineering. The core aim is to design and optimise advanced drug delivery systems that are not only scientifically robust but also responsive to real-world health challenges, particularly in low-resource and global South contexts.

My work spans innovation, sustainability, health equity, and translational science, and requires collaboration across domains such as material science, clinical medicine, and public health. This integrative approach is essential to address the complexity of modern biomedical challenges, from improving therapeutic efficacy to enhancing patient outcomes.

My visit to UIUC further deepened this multidisciplinary ethos. I had the opportunity to engage with researchers in the Department of Molecular and Integrative Physiology, the Holonyak Micro & Nanotechnology Lab, faculty from the Carle Illinois College of Medicine and the Department of Biomedical and Translational Sciences. These interactions were intellectually stimulating and opened exciting possibilities for collaborative research and postgraduate training initiatives.

Anything you would like to add, as a researcher at a South African university, in these days and times?

We are working within a higher education landscape that is both challenging and filled with profound potential. As South African academics, we are called upon to produce world-class scholarship while also ensuring that our work is inclusive, transformative, and grounded in the realities of our context.

The FPP exemplifies this dual imperative. It is more than a capacity-building initiative; it is a vision for a future in which South African scholarship leads globally and serves locally. It fosters the kind of academic leadership that our universities and our country need to navigate a rapidly changing world.

At a time when global inequalities continue to define whose knowledge counts and who has access to opportunity, programmes like the FPP are essential. They help scholars from the global South to stand confidently on the international stage while remaining deeply connected to the communities and institutions they serve.

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??YOUTH MONTH

This Youth Month, we're celebrating students who are driving positive change on campus, in their communities and beyond. Through their leadership, compassion and commitment, they are helping to build a better future for South Africa. These profiles highlight the impact and energy of a new generation of changemakers at Stellenbosch 中国体育彩票 (SU).

In a country where youth unemployment remains one of the highest in the world and poverty continues to limit opportunity, Abigail Larsen is building a solution that connects young people directly to the heart of change. At only 21, this third-year BCom International Business student at SU is co-developing a groundbreaking digital platform designed to mobilise a new generation of volunteers, leaders and social entrepreneurs.

Larsen is the mastermind behind the development of Thallo, a social media platform connecting volunteers with organisations and charities, aiming to bridge the gap between socially aware individuals and NGOs. Larsen describes Thallo as a mix between Instagram and LinkedIn – the app will also feature a marketplace for NGO products and a gamified system that builds social capital.

Originally from KwaZulu-Natal, Larsen arrived at SU with a heart for people and a growing passion for social entrepreneurship. She intially planned to study medicine but realised she could also impact people's lives positively in other ways. Larsen currently leads the social impact portfolio at Lydia Residence, where she has created volunteering opportunities, a student food and essentials cupboard and a range of outreach initiatives. “We've done things like an SPCA drive, a feeding scheme and social impact days at local schools. It's been such a joy and a privilege," she says.

Passionate volunteer

Larsen's passion for social impact originated from her own extensive experiences as a volunteer. After volunteering with NGOs in India, Rwanda and across South Africa, she saw a growing frustration among young people who wanted to contribute but didn't know where to begin. “There's a gap between individuals who want to make a difference in the world and organisations who need skilled volunteers," she notes.

The idea for Thallo, named after the Greek word for growth, took shape when she entered a global social entrepreneurship competition, the Hult Prize Challenge, where participants were tasked with building a business that addresses one of the United Nation's Sustainable Development Goals.

Larsen and her development team recently presented their concept for Thallo in Johannesburg as part of the national round of the Hult Prize Challenge and they're now awaiting news about funding for their project.

Larsen explains that the app will also allow young people to initiate their own community-driven solutions, giving them a centralised platform to promote and coordinate efforts. She's seen how many local initiatives, for example a Stellenbosch fundraiser for children's shoes, are often organised informally through WhatsApp statuses and word of mouth.

Improving mental health

By offering a dedicated space where volunteering opportunities are visible and searchable, she believes Thallo will make it easier for people to become involved. “This could transform not only South Africa, but also mobilise our generation for real, sustainable impact. Whether people want to fight human trafficking, volunteer at an animal shelter, or support upliftment programmes for women, the app offers tailored pathways to action. People want to be part of something bigger than themselves," Larsen adds. “They want to know their life is influencing someone else's."

Both individuals and organisations will be able to create profiles on Thallo, making it easy to discover causes that align with users' passions and location. “We realised that some charities struggle to create awareness for themselves. This is a platform where you can put in your location, and you can see the organisations close by that are doing community work."

A key innovation of Thallo is how it recognises and validates the impact of its users. “Mental health is one of the biggest challenges of our generation," Larsen remarks. “It has been statistically proven that to get out of a depressive rut, helping others or serving someone is the best thing that you can do."

To encourage engagement, Thallo gamifies the experience. Users earn badges and can build a digital CV of their volunteering. Thallo's beta version is set to launch by the end of the year, and Stellenbosch will be the initial test site thanks to strong relationships with the 中国体育彩票's Centre for the Advancement of Social Impact and Transformation (CASIT). “They are very excited," says Larsen. “Hopefully by the beginning of next year, everything will be in place."

Built on faith, fuelled by action

While Thallo may be high-tech, its roots are deeply personal. Larsen's belief in the power of service is shaped by her Christian faith. “Everything in this life, everything that I do, is for the glory of the Lord," she says. “It's not in my strength; it's not my will. If the Lord wants it to happen, He'll make it happen."

That faith gives her resilience and perspective. “Every opportunity I get, I step through the door and try my best. If it doesn't work out, I know the Lord has another plan."

Larsen is also quick to give credit and thanks to the people supporting her. “There are four of us in the Thallo team and my family as well as my friends are incredibly supportive."

She believes her generation has immense potential. “Our generation is the most socially aware and socially engaged. They want to know they are not just leaving an inheritance. They are leaving a legacy."

Her advice to others? “Just do it. Just start. Look at what is available to you and think what you can do with what is in your hands. It may feel like a mountain, but all you have to do is to take one step and then another step and one more … Before you know it, you're literally halfway up the mountain and there's this beautiful view and you can't imagine how you even got there!"

PHOTO: Stefan Els
GRAPHIC: Geola Bergman

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In the plight of global environmental change, the study of ecotones is gaining traction in the scientific community.

Ecotones are spatially complex transition zones that occur between distinct plant communities. Here, plant species are at their ecophysiological limits due to changes in suitable environmental conditions such as climate and soil. Because of this heightened sensitivity, researchers are increasingly recognising the role ecotones could play in biodiversity conservation, potentially, acting as indicators of global environmental change.

Historically, studying ecotones presented scientific challenges due to their inherent dynamic spatial structure, data and methodological limitations. Notably, advances in spatial tools and techniques including GIS and remote sensing and spatial statistics, have afforded researchers the opportunity to locate and quantify ecotones across landscapes globally. However, these techniques typically neglect quantifying other defining characteristics, such as the spatial structure of ecotones, which notably shapes their adjacent plant communities.

Since ecotones are seldomly linear in structure, in our newly released study led by Dr Thina Ncube (On the Fractal Dimension of Ecotones Among African Vascular Plants) – a collaboration between the 中国体育彩票 of Stellenbosch in South Africa, the 中国体育彩票 of Lincoln in New Zealand and the School of Geography at the 中国体育彩票 of Leeds combined two key techniques, the first being the application of a fractal dimension and second, statistical analyses. 

There are several reasons for taking this approach, we wanted to find out if a fractal dimension (a measure of structural complexity in irregularly shaped features) could be of use in characterising the shape of ecotones. Through our statistical analyses, we intended to explore the relationships between the resulting fractal dimensions of the ecotones and a suite of environmental factors. Our findings revealed the overall usefulness of this approach and suggest its use in initiatives aimed at tracking shifts in plant biodiversity in Africa, and beyond.

A related version of this article is available on (Exploring fractal patterns in African ecotones), where we explore the topic from a broader perspective.

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??YOUTH MONTH

This Youth Month, we're celebrating students who are driving positive change on campus, in their communities and beyond. Through their leadership, compassion and commitment, they are helping to build a better future for South Africa. These profiles highlight the impact and energy of a new generation of changemakers at Stellenbosch 中国体育彩票 (SU).

When Brandall Swartz applied to university, he had no roadmap – only determination and a borrowed computer from the public library. As a first-generation student from Atlantis on the West Coast, the process was exhausting, marked by hours of online research, daily phone calls to institutions, and countless questions. Now, as a second-year student in international studies at SU, he's making sure others don't have to walk that road alone.

Swartz is the founder of UniDreams Foundation, a non-profit organisation dedicated to helping matriculants from underserved communities apply to tertiary institutions. “I assist with applications for bursaries and accommodation as well," he explains. His goal is to make higher education more accessible by removing the barriers of confusion, isolation and lack of information that so many first-generation students face.

“Being a first-generation student, I had no guidance or assistance navigating the application process," he recalls. “I remember how mentally tiring it was. All my efforts eventually paid off, but I vowed to make the process a lot easier for someone else."

Creating pathways, one application at a time

Since its launch, the UniDreams Foundation has already assisted multiple students, offering personalised support and step-by-step guidance through the application maze. Beyond assistance with administration, Swartz also strives to instil confidence and show students that tertiary education is a possibility, no matter their background.

“To have at least one prospective student find the application process easier, especially if they're first-generation, makes it worth it," he says.

Swartz believes most schools already hold many of the tools to support students – computer labs, internet access and infrastructure – but lack the coordination and support to use them effectively. In future he hopes to bridge this gap by partnering with tertiary institutions, including SU's own recruitment office, and working directly with schools.

“The most difficult part is the large number of applicants and learners who ask for help. It is challenging, but not impossible to get to everybody. If there are other students or individuals out there who are looking for volunteering opportunities, I would be very grateful for assistance!" he remarks with a big smile.

Serving with purpose

Swartz's commitment to social upliftment extends beyond UniDreams. He is the Recruitment and Social Media Manager of Rotaract Stellenbosch, a youth-led Rotary-affiliated club focused on leadership, development and service. In this role, he ensures that recruitment is inclusive and aligned with the values of “service above self".

He also serves as a brand ambassador for the South African Faith and Family Institute (SAFFI), an organisation dedicated to put a stop to gender-based violence through faith-based advocacy. It's a role that calls for promoting safer and more inclusive communities, something Swartz takes to heart.

But it is the individual success stories that fuel his sense of purpose. “The most rewarding part so far has been the gratitude expressed by parents," he notes. “I can only imagine the relief they must feel after stressing so much to ensure their children receive assistance with their applications, especially since many of these parents have never applied to universities themselves."

Swartz attributes much of his inspiration to Joy Petersen, Residence Head of Nerina and co-founder of the 中国体育彩票's SOAR programme for first-generation students. “Her love for first-generation student development inspired me and made me realise that this organisation can be a success if I nurture my passion to help others."

Education for all

At the heart of Swartz's work lies a strong conviction: that access to education must be matched by access to the tools and information that make that education possible. “What's the use of education for all if the resources to gain this education is not available to all?" he asks.

His mission is not driven by personal recognition. “I'm not doing this for me, for fame or recognition," he emphasises. “Someone out there will get an opportunity to study, may even be the first in their family to do so, all because of the little work I put into my organisation now."

His advice to other students who want to make a difference is simple: “If you identify a problem, start with the solution. It doesn't matter how small or how big, a positive impact in one person's life is more than enough."

Swartz may still be at the early stages of his own academic career, but the legacy he is building is already opening doors for others to follow.

· Contact Swartz by email if you want to know more about UniDreams: 28054156@sun.ac.za or UniDreams.foundation@outlook.com

PHOTO: Stefan Els
GRAPHIC: Geola Bergman

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When Wildré Kok speaks about her role as Office Manager to Dean Prof Elmi Muller at the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, her passion for organisation and improvement shines through every word. “I want to be a resource for my peers," she says with conviction. “I want to be the go-to person who not only knows the answers but can help streamline processes to make everything work better."

Now in her second year at the Faculty, Wildré has embraced a philosophy that extends far beyond typical administrative duties. Her ambition is clear: to leave every process, every system, and every interaction in a better state than she found it. “When I leave one day, the person that comes after me will have a better environment that they can keep improving," she explains. This forward-thinking approach has made her an invaluable strategic partner to the Dean's office.

Pride in the profession

What sets Wildré apart is her deep pride in choosing administration as her profession. In an academic environment where highly skilled researchers and clinicians often take centre stage, she advocates passionately for the recognition of administrative professionals. “This is our profession," she emphasizes. “It's not a stepping stone to something greater – this is what I've chosen, and I'm proud to make a meaningful contribution."

Her belief in the power of sharing knowledge drives much of her work. “There's power in sharing knowledge, sharing skills," she notes. “People feel more appreciated when their contributions are recognised and their growth is supported, and through that appreciation, they're motivated to do even more."

Global networks and professional growth

This commitment to professional development and knowledge sharing led Wildré to become the National Chair of the International Management Assistants (IMA), a global network spanning over 20 countries. South Africa is the only country outside Europe included in this prestigious 50-year-old organisation.

“Administrative staff often feel unseen," Wildre observes. “IMA provides a platform where we can pay it forward, uplift each other and advocate for our profession." Through webinars and events, she helps create a community that celebrates administrative excellence.

A journey of growth

Wildré's journey to the Faculty began many years ago with an adventurous gap year in London, where she spent two years working at the Royal College of Physicians. It was there that she first experienced the dynamic nature of a multicultural medical environment.  This early exposure to healthcare administration proved prophetic, preparing her for her current role supporting a surgeon-dean.

Her formal career in personal assistance began in 2008 at the Department of Agriculture's Elsenburg campus, where she describes facing a “sometimes challenging environment." Rather than being deterred, she learned a crucial lesson: “You have the power to shape how you work, and you set the tone in your office."

This resilience served her well during her 13-year tenure as personal assistant to the Rector at Stellenbosch 中国体育彩票, including the challenging period following Prof Russell Botman's passing just four months after she started. “That uncertain time prepared me for anything that might come my way," she reflects.

Finding balance and purpose

The move to the Faculty wasn't just about career advancement – it was also a family decision. The role brought her closer to home, offered greater flexibility and also aligns perfectly with her degree in Office Management and Technology. “I've come full circle and I'm finally doing what I was meant to do."

What energises her most is the variety each day brings. “No two days are the same," she says with enthusiasm. “I love change, solving problems and being in the know about what's happening at the Faculty." Her role extends beyond traditional administrative tasks to building bridges between the Dean's office and faculty staff and students, serving as a crucial communication link.

Life beyond the office

Despite describing herself as “quite a workhorse," Wildré finds balance through her seven-year-old daughter, who keeps her busy with netball and tennis practice. Their evenings are filled with sports activities, while weekends revolve around quality family time. Completing their family is Lila, their golden retriever – or as her daughter calls her, “golden achiever" – who ensures they get their daily walks and outdoor adventures.

Wildré embodies the spirit of Workers' Day and her story reminds us that true success lies not just in personal achievement, but in creating systems and building relationships that benefit everyone around us.

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?Parents must be supported to provide nurturing care to their children. Providing nurturing care does not only mean ensuring that they are healthy and well-nourished. It also means noticing, understanding, and responding to their needs—ensuring that they feel safe and out of harm's way, and providing them with simple and feasible early learning opportunities. This is the view of Kelly Gemmell from the Institute for Life Course Health Research in an opinion piece for the Weekend Argus in celebration of the Global Day of Parents on Sunday 1 June.

• Read the original article below or click here for the piece as published.
  

Kelly Gemmell*

From as early as conception, parents have profound influence over their children's development. Once a parent, this important responsibility never ends. Parenthood can be wonderful and rewarding but also challenging and fearsome.

Every year, on the 1^st of June, we commemorate the Global Day of Parents to recognise and appreciate the vital role parents play in the lives of their children—and ultimately, in society. But why is the role of a parent so important? And what do South African parents need to fulfil it?

To develop to their full potential, all children need to be cared for and nurtured. Providing nurturing care does not only mean ensuring that they are healthy and well-nourished. It also means noticing, understanding, and responding to their needs—ensuring that they feel safe and out of harm's way, and providing them with simple and feasible early learning opportunities.

In the first years of life, parents and caregivers are the closest to the child and thus the best providers of this nurturing care. Nurturing care can be transformational, providing the environment necessary for optimal brain growth, including the formation of neural connections—the building blocks of learning and memory. Nurturing care provided by a loving and attentive parent enables a child to build relationships and develop a healthy sense of self-esteem.

In low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), however, poverty and extreme adversities mean around 250 million (or around 40%) of children under five years are at risk of suboptimal development and stunted growth. We also know that in LMICs only 25% of children aged 3 and 4 years currently receive adequate nurturing care leaving them exposed to risks that jeopardise their healthy development.

Further, a child's need for nurturing care does not end when they reach the age of three years old. Attention should continue throughout middle childhood and into adolescence to consolidate gains made during earlier stages and address challenges encountered or associated with each period of development.

In South Africa, nearly 7 million children are under the age of 6. Of these children, 70% live in households with an income below R1,634 per person per month—the official “upper-bound" poverty line—and nearly 40% live in households that do not have enough income to provide for their basic nutritional needs.

Recently, the Thrive by Five Index reported that a staggering 57% of South African children attending an early learning programme fail to thrive by the age of five years old. This means they are not meeting age-appropriate milestones for their physical, cognitive, language or social and emotional development.

We know that massive inequalities persist in children's experiences of care in their first five years in South Africa, which leads to measurable disparities in their capabilities and potential. We know that most impoverished children face significant barriers to success before even entering school, impacting their long-term prospects and reinforcing cycles of poverty. When individual development and well-being is not promoted, lifelong and inter-generational benefits for families and communities could be lost, which in turn leads to a less productive and cohesive society. 

Knowing about the importance of parenting and nurturing care is one thing. But being able to provide it, all of the time, is often unattainable and unrealistic. It is very difficult for many South African parents and families to provide adequate care for their young children when they are living in extreme poverty and face a daily struggle for survival. Many face unemployment and financial hardship, young parenthood, disability, family violence, race or ethnicity-based discrimination, substance abuse or maternal depression.

We know that these types of threats tend to cluster together, often in conjunction with insufficient service provision and social exclusion. Being exposed to one risk usually means being exposed to many.

While parents who understand the importance of parenting and child development are more likely to engage in nurturing, informed, and positive parenting practices, knowledge alone is not enough. Parents and caregivers are better able to provide the care that their children need when they are emotionally, financially and socially secure. They need to have the time and resources to look after themselves, and in so doing, be able to provide nurturing care for their children.

We know how to create the enabling environments parents need to provide nurturing care. Policies that encourage healthy environments and universal health coverage and international conventions concerned with peace, security and human rights have been ratified. Many individual countries' social protection systems protect families and individuals when they face economic and social adversity.

And workplace policies allow families time off work—or on-site facilities—to feed and care for young children. But much more must be done to ensure that children who are not receiving nurturing care—and their parents who are not able to provide it—are supported.

Country- and context-specific family-friendly policies, along with strong political will and the quality implementation of said policies, are needed. As it stands, South Africa's National Integrated Early Childhood Development Policy (NIECD) Policy provides for an integrated and varied package of services needed during early childhood. The whole of the South African government and society must continue to work together towards creating a supportive and enabling environment to ensure that all children actually receive the full, and good quality, package of services as set out in the policy.

Even though we may not be able to imagine it right now, let's dream big and advocate for other huge wins for our country's parents and children. Wins such as sufficient paid leave for all our parents, mothers and fathers, working in both the formal and informal economies, so that they can meet the needs of their young children. Let's envision a society where mothers are supported to breastfeed exclusively—by improving work conditions, offering breastfeeding rooms, and investing in families so they can provide time and support to their young children.

Imagine a South Africa where parents could access quality and affordable childcare for their children to address their early learning needs as they develop and grow through their childhood.

It is a possibility. Let's make it happen.

*Kelly Gemmell is a researcher at the Institute for Life Course Health Research at Stellenbosch 中国体育彩票.

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?As in previous years, Stellenbosch 中国体育彩票 (SU) will once again be well represented at the 2024/2025 National Science and Technology Forum (NSTF)/South32 Awards with nine finalists competing for these coveted accolades. Adding another feather to SU's cap are three finalists from other institutions who are affiliated with the 中国体育彩票*. The annual NSTF/South32 Awards will be held on Thursday 31 July 2025.

Regarded as the 'Science Oscars' of South Africa, these annual awards recognise, celebrate and reward the outstanding contributions of individuals, teams and organisations to science, engineering and technology (SET) in the country.

The NSTF Awards Gala event will take place simultaneously in Cape Town and Johannesburg, while being broadcast live to an online audience from both cities via the NSTF YouTube channel. The patron of the Awards, the Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, Dr Blade Nzimande, will preside over the presentation of the awards.

Among the competitors are experienced scientists, engineers, innovators, science communicators, engineering capacity builders, organisational managers and leaders, as well as data and research managers.

According to the organisers, it is an extraordinary honour to be a finalist given the quality of the nominations received every year, the fierce competition that nominees face and growing interest from the SET community over the years.

The SU finalists (with department or environment) and the categories in which they will compete are as follows:

Prof Dave Richardson (Botany and Zoology / Centre for Invasion Biology) and Prof Mark Tomlinson (Institute for Life Course Health Research, Department of Global Health)

• Lifetime Award

Dr Yaseera Ismail and Prof Yin-Zhe Ma (Department of Physics)

• TW Kambule-NSTF Award for Researcher: To an individual who contributed to research and its outputs – over a period of up to fifteen years of research work from the commencement of the research career, predominantly in South Africa.

Prof Shahida Moosa (Division of Molecular Biology and Human Genetics)

• TW Kambule-NSTF Award for Emerging Researchers: To an individual who contributed to research and its outputs over a period of up to six years of research work from the commencement of the research career. Moosa is also a finalist in the NSTF-SAMRC Clinician-Scientist category.

Prof Leigh van den Heuvel (Department of Psychiatry)

• NSTF-SAMRC Clinician-Scientist Award

Wiida Fourie-Basson (Faculty of Science)

• Communication Award

Innovation and Commercialisation Unit – Innovus, Launch Lab and Stellenbosch 中国体育彩票 Enterprises

• Innovation Award: Corporate Organisation

Prof Francesco Petruccione (School of Data Science and Computational Thinking / National Institute for Theoretical and Computational Sciences – NITheCS)

• Special Annual Theme Award: Quantum Science and Technology

The Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Research, Innovation and Postgraduate Studies at SU, Prof Sibusiso Moyo, congratulated the finalists for their outstanding contributions to science and innovation. “Their dedication and excellence continue to elevate the 中国体育彩票's reputation and impact on society as we continue to tackle our societal and global challenges. This is also an acknowledgement to our stakeholders, collaborators, government, science councils, communities and funders for supporting the research and innovation initiatives involving SU."

*The following three finalists are affiliated with SU, but work at other institutions:

• Prof Olaniyi Amos Fuwole (extraordinary professor in the Department of Food Science) – TW Kambule: Researcher Award
• Prof Stephanie Midgley (extraordinary associate professor in the Department of Horticulture) – NSTF-ARC Award
• Marion Delport (research fellow in the Department of Agricultural Economics) – Data for Research Award?
  

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?YOUTH MONTH

This Youth Month, we're celebrating students who are making a difference on campus, in their communities and beyond. Through their leadership, compassion and commitment, they are helping to build a better future for South Africa. These profiles highlight the impact and energy of a new generation of changemakers at Stellenbosch 中国体育彩票 (SU).

Alboricah Tokologo “TK" Rathupetsane is not easily defined. A PhD candidate at SU's Centre for Sustainability Transitions (CST), she is deeply immersed in the technical complexities of green industrialisation and energy infrastructure. But she is also a gifted storyteller whose fiction dares to reimagine Africa's future – one where science, justice and imagination converge.

It is this rare blend of rigorous academic inquiry and creative vision that drives Rathupetsane's work. Her research explores how expanding South Africa's power grid can open new doors for local businesses, especially in steel and manufacturing – sectors which are critical to inclusive economic development. Yet she approaches these questions with the mind of a novelist and the heart of a social changemaker, asking not only what is, but what could be.

Storyteller by heart

Originally from Kgapane, a small town in Limpopo, Rathupetsane's academic journey has taken her from mechanical engineering to a Master's in Sustainable Development, and now to doctoral research focused on green economy transitions. Along the way, her love of storytelling has remained a constant – from self-publishing two novels in high school to placing in prestigious international writing competitions. One of her stories, “The Faraway Things," was shortlisted for the 2020 Commonwealth Short Story Prize.  Another, titled “What's Freely Given", achieved second place in the 2021 Future Folklore short story competition.

“The more I've engaged with sustainability and the persistent social challenges facing South Africa, the more I've felt inspired to write stories that are deeply rooted in our local realities," Rathupetsane says. “Stories are a great way to explore the complexities of reality and creatively thinking about solutions."

This belief lies at the heart of the Africa Week Network, a community-driven initiative she co-founded in 2023 alongside three like-minded peers: Jasmine Jacob, Merin Jacob and Mhlengi Khambule. Launched in the week leading up to Africa Day on 25 May, the project brings together artists, entrepreneurs, scholars and local residents for a week of markets, workshops, dialogues and stargazing, all aimed at imagining a unified, vibrant Africa.

Dreaming beyond poverty, crime and inequality

The Africa Week Network is about creating spaces for possibility, Rathupetsane explains. “Beyond attending events, we wanted people to meet other young innovators, creators, entrepreneurs and changemakers and form meaningful connections. I also explored public storytelling, sharing my personal journey as a writer and how my work in sustainable development had reshaped the kinds of problems I want to solve."

For Rathupetsane, the need for imagination is urgent. It's hard to dream beyond poverty, crime and inequality, she acknowledges, but we must try. She recalls the challenge of preparing a sci-fi storytelling session for Comic Con Cape Town this year: “It was amazing and frightening to reflect on how hard it was to imagine a different reality than the one we see today, even for people who constantly engage with trying to do that."

Her own creativity is fed by a close-knit circle of family and friends who have stood by her every step of the way. She speaks fondly of her brother, who has dog-eared her early novels with pride; her younger sister, whose bold opinions push her to think deeper; and her colleagues at the CST, who have nurtured her belief that academic work can – and should – be personal.

'Start by showing up'

While Rathupetsane's published academic work has already begun to reach broader audiences, it's often in the informal moments that she feels the greatest impact. “After one article, I was invited to deliver a keynote at a power infrastructure conference. I was one of the few women there, and the only speaker talking about inclusive development. I didn't win everyone over, but I was happy that people came up to me during the breaks and over lunch to challenge my perspectives, and we had more in-depth conversations. I think these conversations are rewarding because I learn from them and they in turn learn from me."

Her commitment to public engagement stems from a deep conviction that real change does not only come from the top. She believes development is not only about policies or research – real change begins when people feel seen, heard and invited into the process.

When asked what advice she has for other students who want to contribute but feel uncertain, her response is simple: “Start by showing up. Go to the small events, talk to people, be present."

This quiet magic of consistent presence, deep listening and collaborative dreaming lies at the heart of Rathupetsane's work. Her vision of justice is not performative or prescriptive. It is, instead, an invitation: to gather, to share and to imagine a different Africa – one story, one idea, one connection at a time.

PHOTO: Stefan Els

GRAPHIC: Geola Bergman

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From a small KwaZulu-Natal town to leading the charge in mobile renewable energy innovation in the country, Menelaos is transforming big ideas into tangible solutions he hopes will empower communities to regain control over their energy.

Menelaos says he's always been a tinkerer. “I was always curious about how things worked – I'd take things apart just to figure them out, even if I couldn't always put them back together. At the time, I didn't know what engineering was, but I knew I wanted to be involved in creating solutions that were useful – I guess I wanted to be an 'inventor'."

After completing his Master's in Electrical and Electronic Engineering at Stellenbosch 中国体育彩票 in 2021, he's now the Chief Technology Officer at Zero Carbon Charge, where he's helping build South Africa's first off-grid, mobile solar-powered electric charging network. His invention, the Melivan, was developed as part of international collaborative research with the Technical 中国体育彩票 of Munich and others, on the LEAP-RE SolChargE project. The Melivan is a portable solar charger designed specifically for the unique challenges of Africa's diverse and challenging landscape.

But Menelaos isn't just a tech guy. “My goal is to keep growing – not just technically, but by understanding the business and strategic side better. Being versatile is what makes long-term impact possible," he says, adding this mix of skills will help him create solutions that actually work for people and communities.

For him, it's about more than just technology. “It's about independence. When communities can control their own infrastructure, they move forward on their own terms. That's where the real shift happens." He believes energy should be something people can take into their own hands, not just wait for big companies or governments.

Menelaos wants more South Africans to feel involved in shaping the future. “I'd like to see more people feel like they can take part in shaping the future, and not just from the sidelines. Especially in sectors like energy and mobility that are still evolving." He shares what he's learned and hopes to help others build skills because “impact scales through people, not just projects".

His advice for anyone wanting to make a difference? “Don't wait for perfect conditions. Start with the basics, build something, and learn by doing. You'll figure out more by trying and fixing than by planning endlessly."

Looking at his generation, Menelaos says, “We have a responsibility to tackle South Africa's challenges with urgency and creativity and stop clinging to old ways. My role is to ask better questions, challenge assumptions, and build practical solutions that move us forward."

To him, real, tangible progress depends on everyone working together. “If we want a better future, collaboration has to matter more than competition."?

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Hailing from the Eastern Cape, Sivenathi grew up without her parents and even experienced periods of homelessness. But she did not allow these challenges to interfere with her vision. With relentless focus, she earned a Bachelor of Accounting degree from Stellenbosch 中国体育彩票 (SU) in 2018, a milestone that symbolised more than academic success – it was a victory over the odds stacked against her.

“It wasn't easy. I lived with different family members at different times. Fortunately, I excelled in my academics and was awarded not only the top district learner award in my matric year in 2013 but also a scholarship from the Department of Education to study at SU. I was determined to achieve my dream of becoming a powerful corporate woman.

“My headmaster convinced me to study for a chartered accountant as it would be a faster way to achieve my goal, even though I never did Accountancy at school. I thought I could do anything, but I ended up not really enjoying my studies and it eventually took me a year longer to finish my degree."

She said of that time: “I developed depression. I was working as a security guard at my residence and as a marketing assistant at the LaunchLab to earn money for food as my bursary only covered tuition. I was not sleeping and taking medication which compounded everything."

Ironically, it was her studies at SU and the people she interacted with that eventually turned her fortunes around and gave her hope.

“I remember one time during a holiday break; I could not afford the bus fare home to visit my family. One of the students at my residence, Jessica Edwards, found out about it and booked me a flight to the Eastern Cape. It was my first time on a plane but also the first time that someone came through for me and helped me without expecting anything in return. While working at the LaunchLab I also met someone who was involved with Blessing Bucks, a fund that assists students who were on bursaries but did not have enough money to buy food. She was able to secure funding for me and as a result I could quit the jobs I had to do for food and just focus on my studies. Their generosity has taught me to always go out of my way to help others where I can because I know how much that means.

“My course contained one module, Treasury, which focused on investments which I really enjoyed and excelled in. This is also the time cryptocurrency came on the scene and I took it on myself to teach others how to invest and how to understand markets. I became known as a sort of an investment guru to my peers and even people outside of university, and that sort of shaped my career path."

Sivenathi became a financial advisor with Liberty Group South Africa in 2022 after deciding to leave her articles at a major accounting firm “because if I did not quit, it would have destroyed my mental health". Before joining Liberty, she worked as an au pair and ran a successful wholesale bakery. ?

“My job as a financial advisor helps me to change people's lives. I always wanted to help alleviate poverty in Africa and to bring about sustainable economic solutions. My job helps me do that, even if it is on a smaller scale."

She urges young people to use Youth Month as an opportunity to prioritise their financial health.

“Our generation is outspoken. We speak up on mental health issues and issues that used to be taboo such as racism and sexism. We are also the generation of social media and instant gratification – everyone wants to make it so quickly and everyone judges themselves so harshly when they haven't achieved what they wanted. We do not portray financial wealth as a journey, we don't talk about putting money away. I'd like us to also be real about that and upfront about our financial wellbeing, instead of giving in to instant gratification."

Sivenathi  dreams of becoming an independent financial advisor and opening her own brokerage firm later this year. ?“I really want to bring about sustainable development by teaching people how to optimise their finances. I am good at what I do, I just need that lucky break."??

Photo: Jika Jika Media

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?"Stan cares about our institution immensely, and it is this love for Stellenbosch 中国体育彩票 which has driven his passion for the operations, and especially for the sustainability of our organisation."

With these words, Stellenbosch 中国体育彩票's (SU) Rector and Vice-Chancellor, Prof Deresh Ramjugernath, celebrated Prof Stan du Plessis, our Chief Operations Officer, after 25 years. Du Plessis will join Stadio Higher Education in August as Chief Executive Officer.

"Stan is many things. A macro-economist, a gifted academic, a respected institutional leader, and someone who has served SU with incredible consistency, depth and integrity," said Ramjugernath at a special function on Nooitgedacht Estate on Friday, 23 May 2025.

"Over the past four and a half years, I have had the pleasure of working closely with Stan. What has always stood out to me is his presence, his clarity of thought, and the way he brings energy and focus to any situation, even in the most complicated ones; whether it's a tough policy debate or a complex operational challenge, Stan's contributions have been invaluable. He listens, he weighs options up carefully, and then, with his trademark precision, he offers a solution that's both strategic and considered. For most of a quarter of a century Stan has been a significant contributor to this Institution, and one may say that over the last decade, a cornerstone of Stellenbosch 中国体育彩票, leading with integrity, teaching with passion, and influencing generations of professionals, students and peers, it is rare to find someone who embodies leadership and scholarship with such unwavering commitment," said Ramjugernath.

"He cares about impact, not just outcomes, and in so doing, he helped build a more thoughtful, responsive, but importantly, resilient 中国体育彩票. Stan, I want to thank you for your leadership, your tireless work ethic, your insight and your humour. You've given more in your time here, your thoughtfulness, your steady hand, and, importantly, your heart to SU. On behalf of the Rectorate of the leadership of Stellenbosch 中国体育彩票 and the wider university community, I want to express our deepest appreciation. And for all that you've done for this Institution, and hopefully will continue to do for the Institution, this may be the end of your chapter as the Chief Operating Officer at our Institution. Still, your legacy is part of the fabric of Stellenbosch 中国体育彩票."

Addressing the guests, Prof Stan thanked the 中国体育彩票, his colleagues and friends for a long and varied career at "this 中国体育彩票 we love so much". "I am desperately romantic about universities and have been since I was in primary school, visiting my first 中国体育彩票: the Empire Road campus of Wits. That visit left me with a lasting impression of the grandeur of our enterprise."

Sharing his experience of SU, Du Plessis quoted Alfred North Whitehead, an English mathematician and philosopher, who wrote that a university's true purpose is not just to transfer information but to connect it with the joy of life. It brings together different generations in imaginative and passionate learning and transforms mere facts into meaningful and inspiring ideas. Without this creative and energising spirit, a university loses its reason for being.

"Soon, I will get the chance to lead the development of a new university, which is an opportunity I relish. The objective is to ensure that we impart knowledge imaginatively and strengthen the connection between knowledge and the joy of life," Du Plessis said.

For him, SU should relentlessly uphold its two core priorities: academic excellence and institutional integrity. "As an academic institution, our impact on society stems from the quality of our scholarship and the opportunities we create for students. That must always come first. However, academic excellence is only possible if we are equally committed to protecting the integrity and independence of the institution through sound governance, smart operational decisions, and unwavering ethical standards. Without both, we risk losing what makes a university truly valuable."

Du Plessis thanked the 中国体育彩票, colleagues and stakeholders – his management team - for their support and collaboration over the years, especially over the past seven and a half years as COO. "A really rewarding aspect of this position was the chance to meet colleagues in the 中国体育彩票 who rarely, or possibly never, cross your path as an academic but are some of the most expert and committed people who make the university function. I think of people like Niven Adonis and Chantal van Rooi, Doris Peters, Keegan van Aarde, Lizzy de Beer, and many others."

Master of ceremonies, Ronel Retief, SU's Registrar, honoured Du Plessis for his incredible contribution to SU, mentioning "his incredible energy, his integrity and courage, his towering presence, both intellectually and physically, and his red or orange ties that make him impossible not to notice".

"Stan reads macroeconomic policy papers for leisure. He makes a conversation about monetary theory sound like a fireside story. And trust me, only Stan can turn fiscal policy into something that holds your attention between starters and dessert. Mind you, he can speak on almost anything and hold your attention. His general knowledge is legendary. If you've ever stood outside his office, you would know that the classical music coming from inside, whether a Gregorian chant or a triumphant organ, directly correlates to his mood. His enthusiasm about life is contagious."

Toasting his career at SU, Prof Eugene Cloete took the audience through a whirlwind of challenges Du Plessis had to endure: #FeesMustFall, Day Zero, load shedding, buildings and residences that went up in flames and COVID-19, amongst others – all of which happened in eight years. "Your leadership was calm and courageous. Your strategic insight, grounded in academic excellence and a pragmatic understanding of operational realities, has helped steer this 中国体育彩票 through some of its most defining moments."

Cloete honoured Du Plessis for winning the award for exceptional academic achievement as one of SU's top 50 researchers three times in a row while being COO. "You saw the big picture but never overlooked the fine details or the people behind them. Your door was always open, your words measured, and your actions always guided by a deep sense of responsibility to this 中国体育彩票 and the community it serves. You have reminded us that leadership is not a position but a service. You served with dignity, discipline and vision. As you now turn the page to new chapters, know that those chapters will be as fruitful as the ones you've had at Stellenbosch 中国体育彩票. We want to know you, to know that your legacy here is secure," Cloete said.

In a special tribute to Du Plessis, Professor Emeritus Anton van Niekerk highlighted his contributions, including "his impressive capacity to apply his quite considerable knowledge of the history of economic thought to the needs of our current day knowledge economy".

Ramjugernath ended the evening proceedings by handing a special gift to Du Plessis: a mantelpiece clock, symbolising his dedication and legacy at the Institution. The clock was donated initially to Professor MacDonald in 1896 (a mathematics professor at Stellenbosch), and it had been in Du Plessis's office for eight years. "Stan's love for clocks is well known. He's taken it upon himself to restore just about every masterpiece or timepiece that he has been able to find, and it's found its way into Admin B. And we are most grateful for this, Stan. It has been beautiful over the last few years to hear the chimes of these fabulous antique clocks brought back to life by your determination and love for these timepieces," Ramjugernath remarked.

In his concluding remarks, Du Plessis said: “For my final words I speak again through those of Whitehead: 'More than two thousand years ago, the ancients symbolised learning by a torch passing from hand to hand down the generations. That lighted torch is the imagination of which I speak. The gift which the 中国体育彩票 has to offer is the old one of imagination, the lighted torch which passes from hand to hand.'

"It was a pleasure and honour to carry this torch in Stellenbosch for a while, and now I hand it to you, confident that you will care for it and allow it to shine brightly," Du Plessis concluded.?

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Mr Adnil Titus has been a lecturer in the Division of Physiotherapy at Stellenbosch 中国体育彩票's Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences for over 15 years. His journey from hospital clinician to university educator reveals how sometimes the career paths we initially resist turn out to be exactly where we belong.

When Adnil joined the faculty in December 2009, he brought with him seven years of clinical experience from Tygerberg Hospital and a somewhat ironic career trajectory. Growing up in George as the son of two teachers—a school principal and a Grade 1 teacher—he was adamant about one thing: he didn't want to follow in their footsteps.

“Ironically, I always said that I don't want to become a teacher, because my parents were teachers," he admits. “But here I am, a glorified teacher."

His path to physiotherapy began with an interest in the medical field, influenced by media portrayals and later solidified by a personal experience with a physiotherapist following an injury. What struck him most was discovering that physiotherapy involved much more than the massages and exercises most people associate with the profession.

After completing his BSc degree at the 中国体育彩票 of the Western Cape, Adnil spent 15 months working in Welkom, a mining town in the Northern Free State. The experience was culturally different from his coastal upbringing, but it provided valuable lessons about adaptability and professional growth. His parents had instilled in him the importance of taking responsibility and working hard—values that would serve him well throughout his career.

Returning to Cape Town, he spent seven years as a physiotherapist clinician at Tygerberg Hospital, eventually developing a special interest in adult neurology. It was during this time that a moment of reflection changed everything. At a regional CPD meeting, he watched a colleague retire at 65 and found himself questioning whether he wanted to spend his entire career “running up and down hospital passages."

The answer came in the form of a job advertisement for a junior lecturer position in adult neurology—perfectly aligned with his clinical expertise.

“At that point I had no formal teaching experience, but working in teaching hospitals like Tygerberg, you are always teaching students how to protect your back when lifting patients, or working with nursing students, radiography students," he explains. “So there was, in a manner of speaking, teaching responsibilities and student supervision."

Since joining the university, Adnil has found his niche, particularly as the second-year coordinator for Physiotherapy Science since 2017. He acknowledges that second year is notoriously difficult for students, but he's found ways to connect with students during this challenging period.

What drives him most is those breakthrough moments with students. “You know that moment when the penny drops for someone? That's enough for me," he says. “It doesn't matter where it is, whether it's in class, or next to a bed in the hospital—seeing that penny drop, that 'aha moment,' that's a lovely thing for me to witness."

His teaching combines classroom instruction with clinical bedside teaching, where he focuses on role modelling and guiding them through practical processes. This blend allows him to maintain his connection to clinical practice while developing the next generation of physiotherapists.

Beyond teaching, Adnil serves on the Undergraduate Research Ethics Committee, a role he finds meaningful given the importance of ethical practice in healthcare. He also participates in the Faculty and Departmental Transformation Committee, where his perspective on transformation extends beyond traditional interpretations.

Having grown up in the 1980s when educational opportunities were limited, Adnil understands transformation as something deeper than representation.

“For me, transformation is now slightly different. It's not about the visual representation," he explains. “Students don't learn the same way anymore, so it's about transforming how we think and how we challenge and how we ask and how we teach and how we make them think."

This philosophy is particularly relevant in an era where AI can easily generate assignments and reports. For Adnil, transformation means thinking differently about education itself—adapting teaching methods, approaching students from different cultural backgrounds, and preparing lessons in ways that encourage critical thinking rather than rote learning.

His approach to student development reflects this broader perspective on transformation. He encourages students to maintain their individuality while learning to balance different aspects of their lives.

Adnil completed his Master's degree in Physiotherapy focusing on gait analysis in stroke patients, using the motion capture laboratory to study . The research combined his clinical interests with academic inquiry, though he admits he's still figuring out how he feels about the label “academic."

“I would say I'm a little bit of both—teacher and clinician," he reflects. “Research is very important, and so is teaching and fostering students to conduct research."?

Looking back on his career transition, Adnil recognises that timing played a crucial role. “I'm quite a reflective person, and sitting back and thinking about what I was meant to do—the opportunity came when I least expected it. It comes at the right time and we must just often be patient."

Today, after more than 15 years in academia, it's clear that despite his initial resistance to following his parents into teaching, Adnil has found exactly where he belongs—helping students navigate both academic challenges and personal growth, one “penny drop" moment at a time.

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Within the buzzing halls of Tygerberg Hospital's neonatal unit, Dr Gugu Kali carries forward a medical legacy nearly a century in the making. As she guides her team in caring for South Africa's most vulnerable newborns, she walks a path first carved by her grandfather through extraordinary determination and sacrifice. This path, from the segregated healthcare system of 1920s South Africa to Kali's current position as Head of Neonatology at Tygerberg Hospital and Stellenbosch 中国体育彩票, tells a powerful story of perseverance across generations in service of healing.

Dr Rotoli Xaba, one of the first 20 Black doctors in South Africa, faced seemingly insurmountable barriers to his medical education in the 1920s. With no opportunities for Black South Africans to study medicine in their home country during apartheid, Xaba travelled first to the United States and later to Edinburgh, Scotland, working on ships and taking odd jobs to fund his education. Financial hardships forced him to abandon his studies for a decade when his father suffered a stroke, cutting off his minimal financial support. Despite these challenges, Xaba persevered, finally qualifying as a physician in 1936 and returning to serve communities in the former Transkei where access to healthcare was severely limited.

Today, his granddaughter Dr Gugu Kali, carries that legacy forward as the Clinical Unit Head for Neonatology at Stellenbosch 中国体育彩票 and Tygerberg Hospital, where she's served for the past four years. The connection between generations is unmistakable – both driven by a commitment to provide care to those who need it most.

“I'm always very grateful when I think about the people that pioneered the pathway for me, especially my maternal grandfather," Kali reflects. “He had actually qualified as a teacher but he saw how the people around him were suffering without access to good care. And he wanted to make a difference."

Kali's path to medicine seemed almost predetermined, growing up in a family where healthcare was a calling. Her father was a general practitioner who often took her along as he tended to patients in their small hometown of Butterworth in the former Transkei. Her mother, inspired by her own father Xaba, became a nurse.

“As long as I can remember, it seemed to be a natural path," Dr. Kali says of her decision to study medicine. “I can't even remember ever considering anything else."

After completing her medical training at the 中国体育彩票 of Natal in Durban during the final years of apartheid, Kali specialised in paediatrics and neonatology at UCT. Her journey included four years working in academic units in the UK and Ireland to gain experience in settings without resource limitations before returning to South Africa in 2008 to join Tygerberg Hospital's neonatal division.

As head of neonatology, Kali focuses on the care of newborns from birth to 28 days old. She has developed particular expertise in treating hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy (HIE), a condition where babies don't receive enough oxygen around the time of birth, which can lead to severe brain damage or death.

“It's one of the top three causes of death in babies," Kali explains. “Babies that survive the neonatal period can have long-term developmental problems. They can get cerebral palsy. Their vision and hearing can be affected."

Kali's work on cooling therapy for HIE formed the basis of her PhD, completed in 2021. This treatment, which she introduced to Tygerberg Hospital in 2008, involves reducing a baby's core temperature by about four degrees for three days before slowly rewarming them. It's now considered standard practice in most areas and has been proven to improve outcomes for affected infants.

Current research she is involved in explores why babies with seemingly similar oxygen deprivation respond differently to treatment, investigating potential genetic factors that might influence outcomes. Other projects in the pipeline include combining cooling with other neuroprotective therapies to achieve even better results, and looking at low cost accessible ways of diagnosing brain injury in newborns.

Despite working in a resource-limited setting, Kali strives to create an environment where patients receive dignified care and her team can thrive. Her dedication bears fruit in heartwarming ways – like when a former patient, born prematurely at 27 weeks and weighing just 900 grams, returned to the unit as a healthy 16-year-old to celebrate her birthday by visiting the place that saved her life.

“It was nice to show the mothers that they could actually look forward to a day where they have a healthy child," Kali shares.

In the halls of Tygerberg Hospital, Kali embodies the persistence and compassion that characterized her grandfather's pioneering journey. Through her clinical leadership, ongoing research, and approach to teaching, the next generation of medical professionals, she extends a family legacy of breaking barriers and healing communities – a living testament to the enduring impact of determination in the face of adversity.?

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At the crossroads of medicine and law, Dr Janette Verster finds her passion. As Head of the Division of Forensic Medicine at Stellenbosch 中国体育彩票 and Head of Clinical Department at Forensic Pathology Services at Tygerberg Mortuary, she brings a unique blend of medical expertise and investigative skill to a field many might find sombre.

Yet where others see darkness, Verster sees opportunity—to solve mysteries, provide answers, and ensure justice is served.

“It's a very stimulating, very interesting field," Verster says of forensic medicine. “There's no day that's the same as the previous one. There's no case that's the same as any other. You always have to be thinking on your feet, focusing and trying to solve the puzzle."

Fate intervened

Verster's journey to forensic medicine wasn't initially planned. As a medical student, she had always wanted to become a paediatrician. However, fate intervened when her planned elective fell through just two weeks before it was scheduled.

“I loved anatomy, and quite enjoyed the forensic rotation because it touched on anatomy," she recalls. Looking for a last-minute placement, she approached the late Professor Dempers, former head of the Division of Forensic Medicine, becoming only the second elective student the division had ever taken.

“That's where my love for forensics was cultivated," she explains, “because it really touches on all subjects, everything in medicine, as well as languages and law. It's the perfect job if you're a perfectionist and love detail."

Moving forensics forward

In her current role, which involves more management than casework, Verster has ambitious plans for her division. “We have a vision to have a centre for imaging excellence at the university and to focus on forensic post-mortem imaging," she says with enthusiasm.

Having completed a Certificate of Advanced Studies at the 中国体育彩票 of Zurich in forensic imaging and virtopsy (virtual autopsy), Verster sees digital imaging as the future of forensic pathology. “Globally, this is where forensics is moving," she explains. The technology allows pathologists to create permanent digital records of cases, perform 3D reconstructions of injuries, and even assist in solving cases years after the fact.

“With post-mortem CT, you can do so much because you have a permanent record," she notes. “You can see skull fractures beautifully when you 3D reconstruct, much better than in the actual case."

Beyond imaging, Verster's division focuses on two other key areas: gender-based violence and sudden unexpected deaths in infants (SIDS). The division is involved with the Thuthuzela and Inspire Centres in Idas Valley, which serve victims of gender-based violence.

“The Thuthuzela Centre has been operational for one year now," Verster explains. “They have seen more than 400 patients in one year, and shockingly, something like 41% of them are children." Her division contributes to clinical training at the centre and hopes to establish a postgraduate research stream through the Inspire Centre.

Every day something new

For Verster, the highlights of forensic pathology lie in its unpredictability and relevance. “You never know what to expect," she says. “You literally see the cases that were reported on in the media. You get to solve the mystery as to the cause of death."

She also values the human aspect of her work: “If it's a sudden death and the family don't know how the person died and they want answers, then you can find an answer and report back to them."

Verster is passionate about breaking down barriers between forensic pathology and other medical disciplines. “Traditionally people see us as part of the police, or the judicial system," she explains. “We are still medical practitioners and colleagues. There's so much value in discussing a case or attending a mortality morbidity meeting."

She describes her team as “young, vibrant, enthusiastic" and “very approachable," extending an open invitation to colleagues across the faculty to collaborate. “If they have a question, if it's case-related or just pathology-related, to reach out to us and get to know us."

Under Verster's leadership, the Division of Forensic Medicine continues to advance pathology services with cutting-edge technology and compassionate care. Whether solving mysteries of the deceased or helping victims of violence, her work brings answers to those who need them most — ensuring that even in death, dignity and justice prevail.

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A mini symposium on Academic Renewal was hosted by the office of the Vice Dean of Teaching and Learning on Wednesday 7 May 2025. For the past three years there has been much focus on the academic renewal of the MBChB programme. However, many of the other programmes within the faculty have similarly embarked on their own academic renewal journeys. The focus of the symposium was therefore to share the journeys of academic renewal across the faculty, towards fostering a culture of inter-professional collaboration and conversation – something that is key in the teaching and learning of all undergraduate students within our faculty.

The symposium commenced with a display in the Biomedical Research Institute (BMRI) atrium of health promotion posters completed by 2^nd year MBChB students as part of the Health and Wellness module. There was excited engagement between students and attendees of the symposium, with many qualified health care professional learning something new. Similarly, students had the experience of presenting their work in poster format and responding to questions.

Prof Karin Baatjes, FMHS Vice Dean: Teaching and Learning, welcomed delegates to the symposium and spoke to the importance of fostering a culture of continued academic renewal evaluation within the faculty. Baatjes was excited to share that members from all undergraduate programmes have now been invited and included into the Programme Renewal Evaluation Working group. This will further strengthen inter-professional conversations and collaboration around academic renewal.  

The first presenter of the programme was Dr Janet Bell, from the Department of Nursing and Midwifery, that graduated their first cohort of students from the new B Nursing degree in 2022. Bell described how students' growth towards the B Nursing graduate attributes, and their being person-centred in caring practice, is facilitated through critical reflection and group work throughout the four-year programme. Bell ended her talk by sharing positive feedback from graduates about how these strategies have strengthened their caring practice in being Professional Nurses and Midwives is starting to filter back to the department – Graduate Whispers.

Prof Evette Van Niekerk from the Division of Human Nutrition presented an innovative and inspiring visual of their academic renewal using the digestive system to map out their programme and titled 'Feeding the Future'. The curriculum is compared to the digestive tract and process, with food and nutritional intake acting as proxy for the academic content. Highlights of their Registered Dietician academic changes include an integrated case-based learning approach; strengthened clinical, community and food service modules; enhanced interprofessional education; alignment with the updated HPCSA Scope of Practice for a dietitian; and enhanced research and ethics competencies.  

The Division of Occupational Therapy started their academic renewal process in 2012. Prof Nicola Plastow presented their journey and highlighted some steps that facilitated the renewal process, such as planning and preparation; implementation; dealing with unexpected challenges (e.g. the 中国体育彩票 pandemic); critically moving from Form Bs to flexible assessment; and clinical training. Plastow highlighted the importance of a strong collaborative team approach that recognises that academic renewal can be a challenging process. This calls for respect in the team driving academic renewal and careful consideration of the 'bigger picture'.

Dr Berna Gerber from the Division of Speech-Language Therapy shared that they are at the very beginning stages of academic renewal – 'a very good place to start'. Having completed a facilitated workshop in December 2024, the division wants to approach academic renewal in a scholarly manner. That means they wish to read, research, and write as they think and plan. First stages to renewal will include a stakeholder engagement and completing a scoping review of curriculum frameworks and teaching methodologies for speech and language undergraduate programmes across the world.

Ending the presentations from the various programmes, Dr Derick van Vuuren from the MBChB programme phrased curriculum renewal as a 'game changer'. Van Vuuren reminded the audience that academic renewal was initiated in response to various international and local calls in the past 10 to 15 years, to transform healthcare education. Additionally, ongoing interactions with the HPCSA programme recognition processes have contributed to the motivation for renewal. Similarly to other programmes, the renewal and implementation of the MBChB programme has followed a journey that started in 2017, with many workshops along the way. Van Vuuren highlighted certain 'ingredients' needed for a renewal process such as excellent team communication and collaboration, patience, and a respect for emotions.

A representative from the Tygerberg Student Council (also the 4^th year MBChB class representative), Ms Sharon Adejimi, close the event by thanking all for their contribution to academic renewal within the faculty and especially for actively involving students in the process. Ms Adejimi was excited about the shift to an inter-professional collaboration around academic renewal and invited more students to be involved and journey with faculty.

Altogether a successful afternoon of faculty engagement that we hope to repeat annually.  Forward together.

Written by Karin Baatjes, Noeline Fobian, Janet Bell, Nicola Plastow, Evette van Niekerk, Berna Gerber, and Derick van Vuuren

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??The unveiling of a permanent installation honouring the late science teacher Walter Parry at the Old Lückhoff School in Stellenbosch on 22 May marked a deeply moving milestone in Stellenbosch 中国体育彩票's (SU) ongoing journey of restitution and transformative social impact.

It took place in a building steeped in historical meaning. Once the heart of Die Vlakte – a vibrant, predominantly “coloured" neighbourhood in central Stellenbosch – the school building was given to SU a few years after this close-knit community was violently uprooted by apartheid's Group Areas Act. More than 3 700 people were forcibly removed from streets such as Muller, Banhoek, Ryneveld and Smuts, and relocated to places like Cloetesville and Ida's Valley.

In 2007, the building was symbolically rededicated to its original community under Rector and Vice-Chancellor (VC) Prof Russel Botman, and in 2019, it became the site of a ceremonial return of school benches under his successor, Prof Wim de Villiers. This launched the Lückhoff Living Museum, which is becoming a space for memory, healing and dialogue – an initiative that continues under SU's current VC, Prof Deresh Ramjugernath.

The unveiling event brought together members of the Parry family, alumni of the school, community members, and SU representatives to reflect on the life and legacy of a remarkable educator.

The installation is the latest in a series of steps by SU to honour Parry. In 2024, the inaugural annual Walter Parry Memorial Lecture was held – also on his birthday – and in January this year the 中国体育彩票 named a new student residence House Walter Parry.

Layered tribute

The concept of creating a space of memory at the old school was proposed by Otto van Noie, a former Lückhoff learner, teacher and community activist who has since passed away. Renée Hector-Kannemeyer, Deputy Director of SU's Centre for the Advancement of Social Impact and Transformation (CASIT), helped to develop this into a proposal that was approved by SU's Social Impact Funding Committee.

“We wanted to honour Walter Parry not just as a scientist, but also as a man, a father, a teacher – someone who lived with integrity and served his community in a time of deep hostility and injustice," Hector-Kannemeyer said at the unveiling.

The three-panel installation consists of a biographical overview or Parry, an artist's illustration of him, and scenes from the inaugural 2024 lecture. It was designed by Monique Biscombe, a PhD candidate in Visual Arts at SU and daughter of the late Stellenbosch author and activist Hilton Biscombe, with input from the Lückhoff Alumni Association and the Parry family.

Who was Walter Parry?

Born in District Six, Cape Town, in 1913, Walter Hazell Parry was a gifted scholar who completed his MSc in Physics cum laude at the 中国体育彩票 of Cape Town in 1934. Despite his academic brilliance, apartheid laws denied him the opportunity to pursue a doctorate or a formal academic career. He became a mathematics teacher instead, and taught at Lückhoff High School in Stellenbosch from 1952 until his untimely death in 1966.

“Teachers at the school who were taught by him when they were learners remember him for always being well prepared for his lessons," Chris Jooste, the current principal of Lückhoff, said. The school still exists today, now located in Ida's Valley.

Parry's passion for science reached beyond the classroom. Though never formally appointed, he quietly assisted staff and students at SU – often tutoring students behind closed doors and collaborating with physicists, including then-Head of Department Prof Piet Zeeman, on early experimental projects linked to the Southern Universities Nuclear Institute (today known as iThemba LABS). This at a time when SU was a whites-only institution.

The injustices he was subjected to left their mark. “Apartheid hurt Walter and all of us," Wilfred Daniels, Vice-Chair of Lückhoff Alumni, said. “He was sometimes frustrated and unhappy, but he remained committed to teaching."

Family voices and community reflections

In an interview after helping to unveil the installation, his daughter, Elizabeth Vergotine, now 82, remembered the warmth of the Parry home, a house full of books. He and his wife, Winifred Edna Heneke, had eight children – five of whom became teachers. “As long as there are children to teach, there must be teachers," she recalled her father saying.

Vergotine said she was moved to see the 中国体育彩票 not only honouring her father but transforming itself: “Last year at the first lecture, I was pleasantly surprised – there were so many academics and students who would not have been there in the past. It made me so happy. SU is making a real effort so that children from Stellenbosch do not have to go elsewhere."

Her son, Benito Vergotine, a presenter on Smile FM, expressed similar appreciation: “This wonderful tribute and honour bestowed upon my grandfather means a great deal to our family."

Calvyn Gilfellan, CEO of the Castle Control Board in Cape Town and a member of the strategic body of Lückhoff Visual Redress as Restitution, said: “I wish the spirit you have here can be transplanted in all our communities."

Restitution in practice

The installation is a tangible expression of SU's restitution statement, adopted in 2018 when the 中国体育彩票 marked its centenary. In the words of Prof Nico Koopman, Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Social Impact, Transformation and Personnel: “Restitution includes contrition, confession and conversion. But it must also lead to reparation, reconciliation and rejoicing. It must be joyful, hopeful work."

The old school building hosts a range of community organisations and educational activities, and plans are underway to hand over the building to a community trust.

As Hector-Kannemeyer explained: “This is not just about the building, but bringing back what was lost – holistic education, spiritual restoration, and a space for healing the body, mind and soul."

“As a result of this work, and strong collaboration with community activists such as Mr Moegammad Kara, we've had community members come forward with powerful accounts of political trauma and personal loss, saying: 'This is my story too'," she added.

The future of mathematics

The ceremony did not just look back – it also looked forward. Fittingly, mathematics and science education featured prominently in the programme, linking Parry's passion to the current state of learning in South Africa.

Dr Benita Nel, a Lückhoff alumna and Director of the Science Learning Centre for Africa at the 中国体育彩票 of the Western Cape, spoke about Parry's impact and the need to reinvest in mathematics in South African schools.

“There are learners with the brilliance of a Walter Parry who today cannot take maths because their schools no longer offer it," she warned. “That has serious implications for the future."

Education is light

The ceremony concluded with the lighting of a candle by Parry's granddaughter, Portia Brown. It was a simple yet powerful act, evoking the school's motto: Opvoeding is lig – Education is light. As Daniels noted: “Parry ignited that light in us, and now we must keep it burning."

The second annual Walter Parry Memorial Lecture took place later the same day (22 May) at SU's Faculty of Theology. It brought together scholars from physics, theology, education and the community for a discussion titled 'Academic Disciplines in Dialogue: Leveraging Science and Theology for Social Justice and Societal Impact'. It was moderated by the Dean of Science, Prof Bertie Fielding.

•  Image by Stefan Els?
• Desmond Thompson is a freelance journalist.

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?Published in May to commemorate Workers' Day, our annual #dayinthelife series spotlights our staff at Stellenbosch 中国体育彩票 (SU). This year, we highlight professional administrative support services staff who make a tangible difference in students' lives.

As a technical support specialist at ICT Student Services, Riyaad Parker ensures that students get the IT support they need to succeed – whether that is solving hardware issues in computer labs, helping them access online learning tools, or making sure new systems are rolled out behind the scenes.

What does your role at SU entail?

I am responsible for ensuring the seamless operation of systems within ICT Student Services. That includes supporting effective customer service, refining service standards, and maintaining consistent business processes – from the moment a service request comes in up until its resolution. I also help ensure these processes evolve with our students' needs and keep up with the best industry practices.

What does a typical day at work look like?

No two days are the same, which is part of what I enjoy most. A big part of my day is encouraging teamwork and creating learning opportunities through mentoring and on-the-job training. I assist new staff in adjusting to our systems and processes and often liaise with stakeholders and key employees.

My responsibilities range from providing maintenance and support for computer systems and hardware to installing, configuring, and updating both hardware and software. I also help manage and improve our desktop systems and support pages.

Much of my time is spent troubleshooting issues, writing technical reports, maintaining service-level agreements, running security checks, and ensuring our IT Service Management processes align with ITIL (Information Technology Infrastructure Library) standards. I also assist with implementing new applications or operating systems and contribute to broader projects aimed at keeping ICT Student Services ahead of the tech curve.

How did your education or past experiences prepare you for this job?

My passion for IT started early. I was five when my mother brought home our first PC – an IBM running MS-DOS. I couldn't help myself and took it apart out of curiosity!

My academic journey has taken a few turns – from studying BSc Computer Science, then LLB (which I still plan to complete), to qualifying as a Cisco Networking Specialist. My hands-on experience managing seasonal retail staff and later taking responsibility for an entire primary school's network – growing it from 40 to 200 working PCs using only donated equipment I repaired myself – laid a solid foundation for what I do today.

What do you enjoy most about your role and working at SU?

The constant challenges keep me engaged – every day brings something new to solve. I especially enjoy working with students and colleagues in the uniquely academic and collaborative atmosphere of Stellenbosch 中国体育彩票. The town itself, with its natural beauty and energy, adds to the appeal.

Tell us something exciting about yourself that few people would expect.

I am really into car detailing – I love restoring or enhancing vehicles to make them look as good as new. It's my way of relaxing and unwinding. In my younger days, I used to modify cars and race at Killarney, and I've even done the odd bungee jump. I'd call myself a bit of an adventurer – I love discovering new places, cultures, and experiences.

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Dear Colleagues of the RC Operations and Finance,

This is my final newsletter as Responsibility Centre Head for Operations and Finance and as Chief Operating Officer for Stellenbosch 中国体育彩票 (SU). Please join me in welcoming Professor Nicola Smit, who will serve as the acting COO and Responsibility Centre Head until the position is filled permanently. I am sure you will give her the same tremendous support I enjoyed over the last seven years.

My career at SU began in the previous century, in October 1999, and I completed 25 years as a staff member last year. I enjoyed a long, happy, and varied career at this 中国体育彩票 we love so much. My friends know that I am desperately romantic about universities and have been since, as a primary school kid, I first saw a university in real life at the Empire Road campus of the 中国体育彩票 of the Witwatersrand (Wits). That visit left me with a lasting impression of the grandeur of our enterprise, and I could hardly believe my luck when I first saw the Stellenbosch campus.

Almost a century ago, the British philosopher Alfred North Whitehead captured the 中国体育彩票 experience that I also enjoyed in memorable prose. He wrote: "The justification for a university is that it preserves the connection between knowledge and the joy of life by uniting the young and the old in the imaginative consideration of learning. The 中国体育彩票 imparts information, but it imparts it imaginatively. This atmosphere of excitement, arising from imaginative consideration, transforms knowledge. A fact is no longer a bare fact; it is invested with all its possibilities. It is no longer a burden on the memory: it is energising as the poet of our dreams and as the architect of our purposes."

That is how I experienced Stellenbosch 中国体育彩票. Soon, I will get the chance to lead the development of a new university, and that is an opportunity I relish. The objective is the same, though: to strengthen the connection between knowledge and the joy of life.

I am grateful for the many opportunities offered to me at this 中国体育彩票. As a student, I learnt the powerful perspective on society one obtains through the analysis of Economics. As you know, that is still the framework I use most comfortably to make sense of the world. SU allowed me the freedom to pursue my academic interests and to do so with brilliant students.

I am grateful that the 中国体育彩票's executive gave me the chance to develop a leadership career, first as a vice dean and some years later as Dean of the Faculty of Economics and Management Sciences, a job I truly loved, even though buildings went up in flames, and others got ransacked by protesters. There was a far greater excess of HR to deal with than I had ever imagined.

Undoubtedly, the highlight of my career at SU was the seven years as COO. In this position, I had the opportunity to serve on the 中国体育彩票's Council and work at an interesting interface between the management and governance structures of the 中国体育彩票, as well as between internal and external stakeholders. It was a pleasure to work with the Rectorate, the Deans and the General Managers, and an outstanding privilege to work with all of you, my colleagues in the five divisions of the Responsibility Centre, as well as in my office.

It was in this role as COO that I learnt about aspects of the 中国体育彩票 that you don't always (or perhaps even never) see as an academic. Here, I met colleagues who work with tremendous skill and commitment to ensure the smooth running of this 中国体育彩票. We are all part of the academic project, delivering essential aspects of the student experience and the research capacity required for the excellence of SU.

I was deeply impressed and inspired by your resilience during the most challenging moments we faced these last seven years: budget cuts, drought, fires, and the pandemic. You worked with the outstanding leadership in our five divisions to lead the 中国体育彩票 through these difficult episodes. I am proud of how you led with concrete transformation as the outcome of a clear commitment and deliberate planning and effective implementation. You are an example to the 中国体育彩票, and I honour and thank you for it.

I will not forget the kindness and spirit of our staff. Wherever I go on campus, I am greeted by friendly staff, who are remarkably dedicated and experienced, and that inspired me in my work as well. I am going to miss working with you. Thank you for your superb contribution to an ever more excellent Stellenbosch 中国体育彩票. I am confident that you will continue to strengthen the connection between knowledge and the joy of life.

In my new job, I will no doubt think of you often and wonder how you would have handled a particular situation. Thank you for all that you have taught me.

With my best wishes to you and to Stellenbosch 中国体育彩票

Stan du Plessis

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??Prof Florian Luca from the Department of Mathematics in the Faculty of Science at Stellenbosch 中国体育彩票 delivered his inaugural lecture on Tuesday 27 May 2025. The title of his lecture was 'The Skolem landscape'. It can be viewed he?re?.

Luca spoke to the Corporate Communication and Marketing Division about his passion for mathematics and how his research on Number Theory finds application in our daily lives.

Tell us more about your research and why you became interested in this specific field.

I was interested in mathematical riddles since I was a child. As I grew up, I learned that there are some techniques to tackle such problems. As a high school student, I enjoyed some success in problem solving – making it all the way to the International Mathematical Olympiad. So, I feel that I am still doing the same type of problem solving as in my childhood except that now I have a lot more tools in my bag.

How would you describe the relevance of your work?

As any scientist, most of what I do is relevant to the community of scholars to which I belong. We all do our best to advance our area and better understand the mathematics that we are studying. Occasionally, a small part of what we do finds application in other areas such as computer science, coding and cryptography (securing information by using codes to prevent unauthorised access).  

Your research centres on Number Theory. Can you share a few ways it applies to our daily lives?

Number Theory is about finding patterns in the ocean of numbers. For example, there are many interesting palindromes (numbers that read the same from left to right). A Czech legend has it that the construction of the famous Charles Bridge in Prague started at 05:31 on 9 July 1357 with the first brick being laid by the King Charles IV himself. The exact time (1357 9/7 5:31) is a palindrome which was believed that it would bring additional strength to the construction. In modern times, we are surrounded by numbers from the driving directions in the GPS to price reductions in supermarkets. So, understanding numbers makes our daily lives easier.

You are the principal investigator in the DynAMiCs project. How do you see it contributing to advances in mathematics and computer science?

Discrete dynamical systems pervade the quantitative sciences and lie at the heart of central computational challenges in a wide variety of areas, from programme analysis and computer-aided verification to neural networks and theoretical biology. Such systems are typically simple to describe yet give rise to a rich algorithmic and mathematical theory that is replete with easily stated and compelling open problems. One such example is the famous Skolem Problem: Does the orbit of a given linear dynamical system ever hit a given hyperplane? The decidability of this question is a longstanding open problem going back nearly a century! Our project aims to makes progress on some of these difficult problems. Some partial advances will be described in my inaugural lecture which is on the Skolem landscape.

Higher education can be challenging. What keeps you going when things get tough?

The university community. We are not alone; we have collaborators, colleagues and students. We do research, attend conferences, lecture, mentor students and young colleagues. When something becomes hard in one aspect maybe we can put that matter to rest for a while and concentrate on a different aspect for some time. Once we make some progress there, we can come back to the previous challenge with renewed energy.

What aspects of your work do you enjoy the most?

Collaboration. I enjoy going to mathematics conferences, listening to what colleagues have been up to, learning about their tools and achievements and attempting to push matters forward.   

As someone who is passionate about mathematics, what would your message be to young people who may find it challenging or intimidating?

Find your passion. Don't follow the crowd. Do what you like, even if it seems that perhaps what you like is not the mainstream. Be well-prepared but be original.

Tell us something exciting about yourself that people would not expect.

I like looking at maps and planning fantastic trips in my head.

How do you spend your free time?

I enjoy spending time in nature, hiking, and going places which are off the beaten track.

• Photo by Ignus Dreyer.
  

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In a world of rankings, metrics, and institutional prestige, few markers of excellence are more respected or more quietly transformative than international accreditation.

Stellenbosch Business School’s recent reaffirmation of its European Quality Improvement System (EQUIS) accreditation is more than a feather in the cap. It is a story of resilience, collaboration, and a relentless pursuit of relevance in a global business education landscape. “Accreditation is not a badge – it’s a beacon,” says Yolanda van der Westhuizen, Accreditation Manager at the School. “It signals to the world that our academic programmes, our research, our students, and our partnerships are held to the highest international standards.”

In March 2025, the School was once again awarded full EQUIS accreditation by the European Foundation for Management Development (EFMD), a distinction it has held since 2000. EQUIS, along with the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) and the Association of MBAs (AMBA), forms the triple crown of business school accreditations, achieved by fewer than 125 business schools worldwide, placing Stellenbosch Business School among an elite group globally. Stellenbosch Business School was the first in Africa to receive both EQUIS and AMBA recognition, and the first on the continent to gain AACSB accreditation in 2012.

A key part of what distinguishes Stellenbosch Business School – and what underpins the reaccreditation – is its close engagement with business and industry. Executive Development, as a core part of the School, plays a central role in shaping leadership and management practice in South Africa and beyond. Through its custom and open programmes, applied research and leadership interventions, the School translates academic excellence into workplace impact. The seamless connection between degree programmes, executive education, and working with the private and public sectors strengthens the relevance and impact of the School in real-world contexts.

“This re-accreditation is a powerful affirmation of our commitment to excellence and continuous improvement,” says Professor Chris van der Hoven, Senior Director of Stellenbosch Business School. “It ensures we remain relevant in a rapidly changing and competitive global landscape by holding ourselves to standards that demand innovation, agility and societal impact.”

Far from being a bureaucratic exercise, reaccreditation is a reflective and rigorous journey. “It requires deep introspection, honest self-assessment, and an unwavering commitment to continuous improvement,” van der Westhuizen explains. The EQUIS process involves an institutional self-study, a detailed report, and an intense, on-site peer review including interviews with faculty, staff, students, alumni, and corporate partners.

According to Prof van der Hoven, what sets Stellenbosch Business School apart in sustaining its triple-crown status, is a blend of forward-thinking strategy, globally oriented yet locally relevant programmes, and a deeply embedded culture of responsible leadership. “Centres such as the Centre for Responsible Leadership Studies and our work in business ethics, sustainability and public policy show how our scholarship speaks to Africa’s needs while engaging global debates.”

“It’s a moment to ask: Are we relevant? Are we future-fit? Are we living our values in a meaningful way?” van der Westhuizen adds. These questions become even more urgent in a post-pandemic world where agility, accountability and responsible leadership are not optional – they are essential. The outcome was a resounding yes from EQUIS and a renewed sense of purpose from within.

Prof van der Hoven emphasises that the achievement was brought about by a collective effort: “This reaccreditation is not the result of a single innovation or department – it is the culmination of shared vision and hard work. What’s exceptional about our School is not only our academic calibre but our people – their passion, expertise and commitment to impact.”

What does this mean for stakeholders?

1. For the School’s reputation: The EQUIS stamp positions Stellenbosch Business School among a rare cohort of globally benchmarked institutions, reinforcing its brand as Africa’s leading business school.
2. For students: Students are guaranteed qualifications that meet international standards, and graduates earn a competitive edge globally, which means they get access to exchange programmes and dual-degree partnerships.
3. For partnerships: Partnerships with Stellenbosch Business School signal trustworthiness to international collaborators, enabling stronger alliances with peer institutions, research networks and business schools worldwide.
4. For corporate clients: Accreditation assures clients the quality and relevance of executive education and advisory services. “They know our teaching is not just academic – it’s actionable,” adds van der Hoven.
5. For society: The reaccreditation affirms the School’s role in developing responsible leaders who can tackle complex societal challenges across Africa and beyond.

This research and reflection process positions Stellenbosch Business School as a thought leader in applying global best practice to local imperatives. While institutional status is important, the School believes true impact comes through systemic influence, shared purpose, and shaping a better future for everyone.

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Recently, 49 South Africans quietly packed their bags, boarded a flight, and were granted asylum in the United States. Not because they were stateless, undocumented, or fleeing war but because they said they no longer felt safe here. The world noticed, social media stirred, and for a moment, the actions of a few seemed to drown out the quiet resolve of the many.

Let’s be honest: “The 49” sounds less like a historical event and more like a failed sequel to District 9. It's the kind of film that opens to empty cinemas and a few polite claps at a film festival in Iowa. And yet, somehow, it captured national headlines as if 49 people could declare the end of the South African dream.

But here’s the thing: South Africa didn’t stop when they left.

While we debated their reasons — fear, disillusionment, a longing for certainty — the streets were still swept, classrooms still opened, taxis still hooted and people, millions of them, still chose this place. They chose it not because it’s easy, but because it’s home.

Yes, life in South Africa can be hard. Really hard. We carry the weight of history, the burden of inequality and the daily grind of “making a plan” in the face of load-shedding, potholes, and policy limbo. But we also carry something else — something quietly extraordinary: a kind of stubborn hope; a belief, however battered, that things can be different; that they must be.

And still, despite all of it, people stay. People have stayed. Let’s not forget that when this country was at its worst, many were persecuted, imprisoned, tortured and killed not for what they feared might happen, but for what was happening. And yet they fought to make this place better, not for themselves alone but for generations they might never meet.

Even today, millions live under conditions far worse than those cited by the 49: townships with no running water; the “blokke” without real safety and security; households where hunger is a daily visitor. And yet, they stay. They build. They believe.

Meanwhile, one can only wonder what happens when Donald Trump finally accepts the truth that not all migrants come bearing casseroles and Calvinist charm? What will you, the 49, do when the red caps stop smiling and start asking hard questions about Orania, Afrikaans, and affirmative action — American style? The first sign that not all Americans are buying the persecution story has already arrived. Even the Episcopal Church, hardly known for turning away the weary, declined to assist. Because heritage doesn’t always come with a visa stamp. It lingers in your name, your accent, your Sunday habits. And it’s hard to explain your love for braai or sishanyama when nobody around you knows how to pronounce it.

I was reminded of this truth and beauty of our country in the back seat of an Uber, driven by a man from Rwanda who had every reason to run from his past. “This is the land of opportunity,” he said with a quiet conviction, “if you’re willing to see it.”

That stopped me in my tracks.

Because opportunity, like beauty, often lies in the eye of the beholder, and sometimes the privilege of living here blinds us to the very promise it still holds.

To those 49, I genuinely wish you well. Migration is as old as humanity and if your spirit truly finds peace on the other side of the world, I hope you thrive. But, let’s not crown your exit as noble resistance. Let’s not pretend that leaving is the same as leading.

Leadership looks different here. It looks like a teacher who stays behind after school. A nurse who still shows up an hour before her shift. A small business owner who keeps paying wages even when the books don’t balance. Leadership is the domestic worker who helps raise another family’s children while sending her own to school. It is the everyday commitment to stay and build, again and again.

What’s easy to forget especially when we fixate on who left is what they’ve walked away from. Not just the difficulties, but the beauty; the complex, messy, breathtaking beauty of this country. They’ve left behind mountain and mielie field, heartbreak and healing, struggle and song. They’ve left behind the very identity that made their ancestors trek into unknown lands, not to escape, but to create.

There’s a quiet dignity in staying; in staying when it would be easier to go; in choosing to love a country that doesn’t always love you back in the way you hoped. That’s not resignation. That’s courage.

So, to the millions who remain — black and white alike — thank you. You are the real story. You are not trending, but you are transforming. You are not fleeing, you are forging.

To the 49? No hard feelings. But just know: while you search for green pastures in someone else’s backyard, the soil here, though stubborn, is still rich with possibility. You just have to be willing to dig.

Dr Armand Bam is Head of Social Impact at Stellenbosch Business School. This article appeared in the Mail & Guardian on 19 May 2025 verskyn.

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When Prof. Stan du Plessis, Stellenbosch 中国体育彩票's Chief Operating Officer, enters a room or steps onto a stage, he fills it. Then follows that familiar warm smile, eyes sparkle, an energised greeting, and you know his sharp mind is ready to engage, inspire and challenge (when needed).

Prof Stan's go-to film is The Big Lebowski; he can quote as readily as he can any 20^th -century philosopher or economist like David Ricardo, Adam Smith, Friedrich von Hayek and of course, Karl Popper, who — just like him — believe that while our understanding of the world is inheritably limited, there is the constant need to explore and learn: "We know a great many things, but our ignorance is boundless and sobering."

The early years

After completing his matric at Kempton Park High School, Stanislaus Alexander du Plessis enrolled in 1991 at Stellenbosch 中国体育彩票 for a B.Com in Mathematics, dead set on becoming an actuary. Of course, he finished with distinction after his first year but then got economically sidetracked in his second year when the legendary economic lecturer Prof Sampie Terblanche gave him his first glimpse into the history of economic thought. The series of lectures commenced with the teachings of Saint Augustine (354-430 AD), who laid some ethical foundations that would later influence medieval and modern economic thought, followed by St. Thomas Aquinas, David Ricardo, Thomas Hobbes, John Locke, Jean-Jacques Rousseau, Adam Smith, David Ricardo, Karl Marx, with Mary Wollstonecraft in between them "because of Sampie's quirkiness", and so on. Says Prof Stan: "By the time we got to Hobbes and Locke, my actuarial science career was ruined. I didn't know that anything could be as interesting as this."

Prof Stan finished his actuarial science degree with distinction after adding economics as an extra major with actuarial science and mathematics, which was crucial as technical background for his studies at the 中国体育彩票 of Cambridge, Clare College, where he enrolled for an MPhil in Economics (with a scholarship from the Oppenheimer trust), which he achieved in July 1996.

Prof Stan loved Cambridge. "I've always been a romantic about universities. From the first time I set foot on a university – the Empire Road campus of Wits, a majestic campus. Universities were always part of the discussion in our house. I'm so fortunate that all my grandparents studied." His great love for history was greatly influenced by his grandmother's encyclopaedic knowledge and incredible passion, making her a remarkable storyteller."

"My grandmother was a very dynamic and sort of unstoppable force. She shared with us the impression that the world is a fascinating place, and you should find out about it. I spent a lot of time as a kid reading encyclopaedias. I always thought a trip to the library was a highlight.

"Education was always a part of what we valued, and universities were part of that. We knew that universities like Cambridge and Oxford- and their study of economics are were the summit of the discipline." He says Cambridge is incredibly famous to Economists because of John Maynard Keynes (1883-1946), one of the most influential economists of modern times who studied there.

"I spent most of my time there studying the teachings of Marx and Ricardo. I was a very left-wing student, hanging out with the lefties and studying with my supervisor, one of the world's greatest Marxists, Lord Eatwell – a tremendous scholar. At Cambridge, I learned how to be a good scholar and scientist. Science is not just brute facts – you don't just throw your work on the table and say, there. Being a scientist means you can compellingly ask a question and be able to answer it persuasively, something I also learned from Lord Eatwell. I was so lucky to be his only student, as in Cambridge you often have just one student per lecturer. In my college for example. We had 500 academics and 400 students."

"Lord Eatwell's room was at Trinity College, next door to Isaac Newton's room, where he studied at Cambridge in the 17^th century. "So, I would knock there, and then he would tell me to mind my head because people were shorter when this building was constructed. He was also a very tall guy. I had such an intellectually stimulating time learning how to be a scholar."

Life in London

After Cambridge, Prof Stan joined Old Mutual International Asset Managers (UK) in London in March 1995, first as a research analyst and later as an economist. "I absolutely loved my job. I was basically paid to read the newspaper and think about the world and share these thoughts and insights with the audience. "It was thrilling to be invited to be the 'morning investor' on CNBC business television, having to talk for an hour in the morning with the news anchor. I would start in Japan and take them through the entire global map. It was also an incredible time in the world economy during globalisation in London, with London very much in the centre of that."

During his three years in London, he continued studying with an older colleague and brilliant economist, Nigel Morgan, who was also a student of Karl Popper at the Londen Stock Exchange (LSE) in the 1950s. "Until today, I believe Nigel – a brilliant economist – significantly influenced my economic thinking. "He instantly demonstrated to me that all the Marxist stuff was wrong. So, we relearned economics together.

"By this time, I was no Marxist and left-wing, and from an ideology perspective became alienated from my other great influence, Prof Sampie, who – like me – think the greatest book we had ever read is Lord John Acton's book: Lectures on Modern History (1906). "It is undoubtedly the book I will read if I'm only allowed to take one book to a desert island. I have a copy next to my bed that is so heavily annotated, and there are notes on every single page that stick out. It is an unbelievably outstanding book. When I gave it to him the first time to read, he spent all night with it. He came to my office with red eyes the next morning, and he gripped the book and he said: 'ek het nie geweet enigiets kan so goed wees nie'" (I didn't know anything can be this good.")

Time for change

While in the UK, SU approached him to apply for a teaching position at the Department of Management Sciences (EMS), he was immediately interested in pursuing an academic career. He thought he will evaluate this decision at the end of every year. "But as you can tell, the evaluations always came out positively. "Every time I said: 'No, I'm loving it here, I enjoyed it. It was a fantastic switch" – one that lasted over 25 years."

"The Department of Economics is an extraordinary group of people, and when you only know one department, you don't always appreciate how special they are because you just think all departments are like that. Later I learnt that they were not just another department; they were exceptionally collegial. It really was a team effort, and I was fortunate that that was the department where I was both a student and later a colleague."

After completing his PhD at SU in 2003 he became a distinguished macroeconomist and academic leader, Prof Stan held various roles at SU: Professor of Economics, Vice-Dean for Research the Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences Dean of the Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences and Chief Operating Officer, steering SU's operations and finance through some stormy waters since January 2018 when he stepped into this challenging position. Recognised as a leading scholar in Monetary Economics in South Africa, he was often invited as a keynote speaker during the SA Reserve Bank's international conferences.

Though he is a specialist in Monetary Economics, Prof Stan has been an interdisciplinary scholar for most of his career. "Many of the world's problems require an interdisciplinary approach, and I have benefitted from collaboration with colleagues in many fields."

Beyond Economics, he has published in disciplines such as Philosophy, History, Law and Public Theology. As an academic at SU, he received the 中国体育彩票's highest research award on four occasions, including twice during his tenure as COO. Over his academic career, he published 45 papers in peer-reviewed journals and wrote 17 chapters in various books.

Last year (in May 2024), Cambridge 中国体育彩票 Press published his latest book, entitled Reconsidering Central Bank Independence.

EMS on the rise

The SU he found here in the early 1990s was not as research-intensive as today, Prof Stan says. His vision was that SU should change the direction of the economics department. "I thought, well, we should become the best in the country, and the way to do that is to raise the quality of our programmes to the international level. So, I came back with a vision that our best students should be able to go to Cambridge and Oxford and Harvard, which meant that we needed a technical intensification of our work."

After a very intensive and highly contested debate in the department, a significant culture shift followed, particularly in the postgraduate syllabus, which was initially very controversial. "But once we implemented it and saw the results after the first year, it became clear it was the right move. After seeing the impact, UCT asked me to teach their postgraduate macro course as well. Initially, some believed such a syllabus couldn't be taught in South Africa, but we proved it could. I also organised a regional postgraduate student conference with Stellenbosch, UWC, and UCT, where our students' performance helped solidify the change. It all came down to shifting perspectives."

By the time Prof Stan became a full professor at SU in 2006, at 33 years old, he was the youngest professor in Economics in many years and the youngest member of SU's Senate, mainly because he had built up a substantial research portfolio while he was teaching. He was an NRF-rated researcher. He mentioned the impact of another significant figure, Prof Servaas van den Berg, who helped steer the department towards research-intensive teaching at an international level, creating opportunities for students abroad. "On their return, they were exceptional professors – something that really changed our department. Four of my PhD students received the "Founder's Medal" from the Economic Society of South Africa for the best PhD in South Africa in a particular year."

According to him, EMS students never received the Chancellor's Medal until 2002/03, when Gideon du Randt became the first student to receive this award. He is now at the Reserve Bank. "It was like the dam wall broke. Suddenly, the 中国体育彩票 looked differently at our faculty, and several awards followed. I had the opportunity to lecture to some outstanding students."

He loved being Dean of EMS, says Prof Stan, "because I love the faculty so much, and it was a time to lead the faculty and help them build some confidence inside the 中国体育彩票. What's more, we've built a postgraduate school where students can now be full-time PhD students – a move that saw the number of PhD students grow to as many as forty at a time, compared to a maximum of three a year when I graduated."

Changing course

When Prof Leopoldt van Huyssteen retired as SU's COO in 2017, Prof Stan made the difficult decision to leave his academic career. "But this was an opportunity to be involved in the leadership of the Institution, and if you love Stellenbosch 中国体育彩票 like I do, then this opportunity is extraordinary. Our 中国体育彩票 is full of inspiring people and is in a great location. We are good." For him, who regards himself as on the liberal side of the ideological spectrum – people who love change – being part of the executive team leading SU on a path of transformation and change was a fascinating place to be.

"I was fortunate to work with people from whom I could learn – my team of Chief Directors who are all specialists in their fields."

In 2017 Prof Stan attended The Wharton School of the 中国体育彩票 of Pennsylvania for an advanced management programme, which he regards as one of the most remarkable educational experiences of my life. "The content was brilliant, and I also saw how intellectually interesting the management world is. Trying to lead a big organisation is an intellectually interesting question, not just a practical one. There are deep and interesting questions to think about, and I've been wrestling with them ever since. Working and thinking about the 中国体育彩票 remains thrilling to me – it is never boring."

Quoting Karl Popper when he said, "All life is problem-solving," Prof Stan says we live in a world of problems, which he is very comfortable about. "That is why I have a sculpture of a dung beetle on my desk. "To be a scholar and scientist, whether a social or a natural scientist, the first thing you must be able to do is identify and be comfortable with problems. Then you say: 'Okay, can we solve them and how?' And the solutions are always partial and inadequate, generating further problems. So, the job is never done." What the dung beetle does is address something that is a problem for society, and they do that with a lot of energy. They solve it, but it's never done because there's more to do the next day."

Referring to a book by the Italian writer Piero Sraffa, Prof Stan says it took the author, one of the most brilliant economists of the 20^th century, forty years to write this small book of 100 numbered paragraphs with the weird title of The Production of Commodities by means of Commodities. "It is the perfect book, and nobody could ever criticise it. But, as the great Nobel Prize-winning economist Paul Samuelson said: 'Piero Sraffa has given us a diamond. There is nothing to criticise in this book. My only regret is how many rubies he could have given us instead over forty years. They would have been imperfect but would have been better for this world than this one."

"You are not trying to be Newton. You are trying to be part of a scientific discussion, which requires you to deliver many good things and be involved in a discussion as a good scholar. Still, you will not deliver this one silver bullet for society; striving for that is a mistake. The correct perspective is, how can I give a better answer to what we had before, not the perfect answer," says Prof Stan. "All life is problem-solving. The tentative solution we put in place will create more problems for us next year, and we must do better again the next year."

And that is precisely what he did year after year since he took over the demanding role of COO seven and a half years ago.

Steering SU through turbulent times

As COO, Prof Stan du Plessis and his management team, the Chief Directors of Finance, Facilities Management, Maties Sport, Innovation & Commercialisation, and Information Technology, over the past years, implemented a responsibility centre model that locates responsibility for planning and execution at the local level – a model that encourages entrepreneurship and innovation, while providing an incentive for solid financial management.

Despite many challenges — including the Day Zero drought of 2017–2018, the Huis ten Bosch fire and its subsequent reconstruction, ongoing load-shedding, the student uprising during #FeesMustFall, and the complexities of managing the COVID-19 pandemic at SU — he and his team consistently steered the university safely through turbulent times.

"In my role as COO, I constantly had to be aware of risks and challenges while managing the 中国体育彩票's response. Over the years, I have developed a mature risk management methodology, including identifying opportunities. Where possible, we mitigated risks proactively and always worked to improve the system while mitigating the consequences of the adverse event," he said.

One of his guiding principles was that SU, as one of the finest public universities in South Africa, must be accessible to students and staff from all South African communities and regions. One of his latest contributions was playing a facilitating role and providing resources in establishing the Thuthuzela Care Centre, which houses a Gender Based Violence Centre for the victims of gender-based violence within an SU facility in Ida's Valley.

Over the years, his colleagues have seen and acknowledged that he does not shrink from complex issues. He would always explain his convictions and was open to criticism and suggestion. "I have the conviction to stand up for my convictions and the courage to change my view when persuaded of a better alternative," he said.

A new kind of university awaits

Prof Stan will join Stadio Higher Education, a private education institution offering undergraduate and postgraduate qualification through contact and distance learning, as Chief Executive Officer from 1 August this year. "Our challenge at Stadio is to solve a triple problem: how can we provide high-quality access to higher education efficiently and at scale?"

"In South Africa, and I've written about that a lot, there are inherent scale problems in the public sector. At SU, we have excellent quality education, but access is problematic, and it's becoming more so because of the rising cost and limited spaces. Furthermore, the entry requirements for a university like Stellenbosch keep increasing. Stellenbosch can provide quality but limited access and not much scale, whereas Stadio can do scale and access and do so efficiently. The real challenge for me, then, is to ensure we can have efficient quality education at scale," said Prof Stan. "I am convinced that we can achieve this to serve a huge section of the country, and eventually even the continent, with a scalable system to address our country's biggest education system, namely that of quality, access and scale." He believes there is an opportunity for collaboration between SU and Stadio, as Stellenbosch offers quality and Stadio scale.

What I will miss

Prof Stan says what he will truly miss is this university that he truly loves. "It is very hard to leave this Institution, and I will miss it tremendously. And, of course, in my job, I had the chance to lead the best team at the 中国体育彩票. We have improved SU a lot during the past decade, and it is a much stronger institution now. Being part of it for so long was such a privilege."

It must be meaningful

For him, SU should relentlessly uphold its two core priorities: academic excellence and institutional integrity. "As an academic institution, our impact on society stems from the quality of our scholarship and the opportunities we create for students. That must always come first. However, academic excellence is only possible if we are equally committed to protecting the integrity and independence of the institution through sound governance, smart operational decisions, and unwavering ethical standards. Without both, we risk losing what makes a university truly valuable."

Prof Stan believes it helps not to take himself too seriously. He believes it is essential to have goals not only about yourself. "I think to be happy, we need to do meaningful work. If people remember the work that I did, I hope they will remember only one thing: that I was committed and serious about my job and tried to do it as best I could."

We wish Prof Stan all the best with his new adventure, including a fantastic holiday ahead that he will be sharing with his wife Helena and daughters Julia and Lara. Of course, he will make enough time to work on his golf handicap, a sport he adores. He says: "It fills your soul to hit a beautiful golf shot. It's one of the most thrilling things to see the ball fly off your club in that majestic arc, just as you wanted, or perhaps even better than you intended. That is an extraordinary thing, and you always hope that all your shots will soon be like that. Of course, that never comes, but the hope is never gone. And in the meantime, it is it is a tremendously fun game because everybody can compete."

And if we may… The Dude Abides!

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?The national Housing Act should be amended to address mass unlawful land occupation in South Africa. This is according to Dr Tanveer Jeewa from the Department of Public Law at Stellenbosch 中国体育彩票 (SU), who recently obtained her doctorate in public law at SU.

Because existing legal remedies in mass unlawful occupation cases are failing, Jeewa proposes a framework that provides justice not only for landowners, but also for unlawful occupiers who have been systematically denied access to housing. An amendment to Section 9(3) of the Housing Act forms part of this framework. Jeewa points out that mass unlawful occupation, as opposed to usual instances of unlawful occupation, includes more than one family unit and has been known to include 100 000 people in settlements.

• Cellphone users click here for the video.

?“Existing remedies—court orders requiring the state to resolve unlawful occupation, constitutional damages, and contempt of court orders—are failing. Where they do work, it is only because they allow occupiers to remain on the land while compensating landowners.

“Mass unlawful occupation is not just a legal issue but also a socio-economic and political challenge— one that demands a strategic approach beyond conventional legal remedies," Jeewa explains.?

“Facilitating meaningful engagement between all stakeholders—private landowners, unlawful occupiers, and the state—to develop a sustainable solution also remains a challenge."

Compensation

According to Jeewa, her proposed remedial framework acknowledges historical injustices by providing practical relief to all parties, being forward-looking and long-term, and ensuring compensation for landowners and security of tenure for occupiers.

“The proposed framework compels the state to intervene while protecting landowners' rights by allowing them to decide whether to seek compensation."

Jeewa says statutory expropriation offers a viable solution to the problem of mass unlawful occupation, “because it removes the need for endless litigation while addressing the core concerns of both landowners and occupiers by compensating landowners, securing tenure for occupiers, and shifting responsibility onto the state, which has long neglected the housing crisis".

She mentions the case between the Meadow Glen Homeowners Association and the Tshwane Metropolitan Municipality where the Supreme Court of Appeal explicitly stated that mass unlawful occupation requires government intervention, not just judicial enforcement.

Jeewa says that her proposed amendment to Section 9(3) of the Housing Act would introduce a compensation clause that ensures statutory expropriation only takes effect if the state is unwilling to negotiate a sale contract with the property owner—thus preserving the option of a buy-out as the primary remedy.

“It will also grant landowners discretion over whether to claim compensation. The property will only be considered expropriated if the landowner actively claims compensation, placing the trigger in the hands of private landowners and ensuring a balance of interests.

“The proposed amendment reframes mass unlawful occupation from a law enforcement issue to a land reform matter requiring state intervention. It gives significant power to the executive by treating mass unlawful occupation as a matter of expropriation by the state rather than a legal process of eviction. The state would be obligated to compensate a landowner who can prove that mass unlawful occupation has taken place, thereby leading to an automatic transfer of ownership to the state."

Limited

Jeewa adds that unlawful occupiers would likely receive security of tenure as eviction threats are usually removed once the state owns the land and acknowledges the housing crisis.

“It is, however, important to point out that the state tends to prioritise long-standing informal settlements over newer ones, meaning new occupations may wait longer for land interests to be officially recognised and for services to be delivered.

“Improving informal settlements by upgrading them, rather than by evicting occupiers, aligns with the constitutional imperative to provide adequate housing and prevent forced removals that could lead to further socio-economic displacement."

Jeewa points out that the new Expropriation Act prohibits statutory expropriation and arguably limits such avenues for the state to expropriate land in the public interest. Amending the Housing Act to facilitate such expropriation might also raise procedural concerns for landowners, she says.

“Once compensation is granted through statutory expropriation and the Constitution, landowners' procedural rights would be limited to contesting the adequacy of compensation rather than the expropriation itself. This shift would reduce avenues for legal resistance and place greater emphasis on judicial interpretation of key terms—particularly the definition of 'mass unlawful occupation'.

“Courts could adopt a strict property-rights-based approach, setting a high threshold for when an occupation is deemed 'mass' and requiring greater procedural safeguards for landowners. Alternatively, a more transformative reading could expand the definition, enabling landowners to claim compensation while placing greater emphasis on securing tenure for occupiers."

Jeewa says while her study offers a potential way forward to address mass unlawful occupation and the long-neglected housing crisis, she realises that any proposal to amend Section 9(3) of the Housing Act would face significant political and legal resistance.

• Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons.

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?Stellenbosch 中国体育彩票 (SU) honoured its most impactful lecturers at the annual ROCTAS Awards, held recently at the Stellenbosch Institute for Advanced Study (STIAS), celebrating those whose dedication has shaped the academic journey of first-year students.

ROCTAS – short for Recognition of Contributions Towards Academic Success – pays tribute to lecturers nominated by SU's first-year cohort for their role in facilitating student success. The rebranded awards, formerly known as the First-year Achievement Awards, reflect a deepening of SU's commitment to transformative teaching and learning.

The evening opened with a welcome by Prof Lis Lange, Acting Senior Director: Division for Learning and Teaching Enhancement, who introduced SU's Rector and Vice-Chancellor, Prof Deresh Ramjugernath, as the keynote speaker.

Ramjugernath noted that the renaming of the event from the First-year Achievement Awards to ROCTAS added strength and clarity to the purpose of the occasion, which is not only to recognise excellence in teaching, but also to affirm the values that underpin a learning-centred institution.

He reiterated his vision for the 中国体育彩票 as one that is increasingly people-centred. For SU to move forward meaningfully, he said, it must prioritise both student and staff wellbeing and that begins with how learning and teaching are approached. A student-centred ethos, he argued, is not a slogan but a practice, visible in the daily work of dedicated lecturers across faculties.

Turning to the award recipients, he emphasised that their recognition carried weight because it came from students themselves.

“Your students have recognised you because you are not just teaching content. You are co-creating learning experiences," Ramjugernath said. “You are applying a learning centred approach that empowers students to think critically, engage meaningfully and take ownership of their development. This is teaching in the deepest sense of transformation in our institution. We know that the first year of study can be overwhelming, and yet, amidst the adjustment, many students found a voice, a pathway, and often their confidence, and it's because of you. Don't underestimate the role you as an academic and as a lecturer, play in the development of our students."

Ramjugernath pointed out that SU has long regarded academic excellence as a strategic priority but that true excellence is not confined to plans or policy documents. It takes shape in lecture halls, laboratories, online platforms and in the individual moments of connection between teacher and student. He stressed that it is in these spaces that the real work of higher education unfolds.

Ramjugernath described the student-lecturer relationship as one of the most powerful and under-recognised forces in higher education. Drawing on SU's own student feedback mechanisms and research, he said these relationships often tip the scale between perseverance and withdrawal.

On a personal note, the Vice-Chancellor acknowledged the years he spent as Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Learning and Teaching, saying that the awards ceremony was not just another calendar event, but a space he understood and valued deeply.

“I have seen firsthand the kind of courage, creativity and consistency it takes to teach in a way that truly transforms. These awards reflect the values we were hoping to elevate when we began reimagining our teaching-learning-assessment landscape at the institution, values like inclusivity, student engagement, reflective practice and authentic assessments. Seeing those values in action tonight, in your work, in your impact, brings me a deep sense of pride and gratitude."

He linked the evening's celebrations to SU's long-term strategic vision, including the bold aspirations of Vision 2040. Lecturers, he said, are central to realising this vision, as they are the ones who give practical expression to SU's commitment to transformative, inclusive and future-focused education.

Ramjugernath concluded by affirming that excellence in teaching is no accident; it is the result of intentional professional development and a willingness to adapt. He encouraged staff to continue pushing boundaries, to lead with empathy and to remember that their work, even when unseen, is helping to build a better future.

Winners of the ROCTAS Awards:

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