Recently retired Director of Libraries, Prof Elisha Chiware, has been honoured with the Leadership Achievement Award from the Technological Higher Education Network South Africa (THENSA).

The THENSA Leadership Achievement Award seeks to recognise and honour individuals whose exemplary leadership, sustained contributions, and enduring legacy have made a significant impact on the advancement of Technology-Focused Higher Education in South Africa, Namibia, and beyond.

“This recognition validates a lifelong commitment to advancing technology-focused higher education, not just in South Africa, but across the wider region, including Namibia, Botswana and Zimbabwe. It reflects the value of collaborative, forward-looking leadership in reshaping academic libraries into modern enablers of learning, research, innovation, and digital scholarship. To be acknowledged by my peers through THENSA is a deeply humbling capstone to my career,” said Chiware.

Before joining CPUT in 2009 as Director of Libraries, he served as the founding University Librarian at Chinhoyi University of Technology in Zimbabwe, where he established the institution's library services from the ground up.

“Since 2013, I have initiated and led the development of CPUT’s Research Data Infrastructure, culminating in the institutional repository eSango earning CoreTrustSeal certification as a Trusted Data Repository and gaining World Data System membership. In 2015, I initiated and led the National Higher Education Library Statistics Database in South Africa, creating a vital platform for evidence-based planning and accountability across the sector.”

He served as Lead Technical Architect and Chairperson of the Research Data Management and Open Science Working Group for the ILIFU Data Intensive Research Project and as Secretary General and Executive Board Member of the International Association of Scientific and Technological University Libraries (IATUL) from 2012 to 2018, hosting its annual conference in Cape Town in 2013.

Chiware completed a Bachelor of Arts in Economic History and Political Science at the University of Zimbabwe. Recognising the transformative role of information and technology in development, he pursued a Master of Library Science at Indiana University in the United States before later earning a PhD in Information Science from the University of Pretoria.

As he enters retirement, Chiware leaves behind a lasting legacy.

“My enduring legacy is leaving behind a resilient, digitally enabled ecosystem where academic libraries are active strategic partners in the research enterprise, rather than just traditional service centres. At CPUT, this is embodied in sustainable

systems like eSango, which positions the university among a select cohort of African institutions with internationally recognised research data repositories.

“Regionally and nationally, my legacy lives on through the frameworks established via the ILIFU project, the National Library Statistics Database, and the national Open Science policy contributions. Furthermore, through part-time lecturing and postgraduate supervision at the University of the Western Cape, I have dedicated myself to training the next generation of data stewards and library leaders to ensure the sustainability of these systems.”

Although he is retiring from an institutional role at CPUT, Chiware is looking forward to transitioning into professional consulting.

“While I am retiring from my institutional role at CPUT, I am looking forward to transitioning into professional consulting. Through Yodanalytics Digital Services based in Cape Town and Harare, I plan to continue supporting organisations across South Africa, Zimbabwe, and the wider SADC region. “

Looking back on his career, Chiware hopes to be remembered as a visionary yet pragmatic leader who effectively bridged the gap between academic theory and real-world implementation.

“I hope my colleagues remember me as a collaborative partner, a dedicated mentor and a strategist who worked to ensure African universities possess the robust cyberinfrastructure and open-access frameworks required to compete globally."

Chiware was nominated for the Award by Prof Marshall Sheldon, Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Research, Technology Innovation and Partnerships.

Written by Ilse Fredericks
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Senior Lecturer in the Marketing Department, Dr Pieter Steenkamp, has been honoured with a 2026 Men of Valour Award.

The awards honour extraordinary men who strongly inculcate leadership, remarkable service, and have created a lasting impact.

Steenkamp was recognised for his contribution to education and community brand-building programmes and engagements.

“To receive the Men of Valour award with others that are referred to as 'progressive thinkers and those uplifting communities' is both humbling and inspiring. We just do what we do and when it is acknowledged it is nice.”

His work focuses on bridging theory and practice - taking academic knowledge into communities while integrating real-world industry insight into the classroom. Over the course of his 20-year career, he has facilitated more than 300 community-based service-learning projects, with the aim of empowering both students and the communities they engage with.

In his acceptance remarks, Steenkamp reflected on the central role of education in societal transformation:

“Like Nelson Mandela, I have always believed that education is one of the most powerful ways to improve lives. This award is not just a recognition of individual effort, but of the many students, colleagues, partners, institutional support and communities I have had the privilege to learn from and serve.”

Written by Ilse Fredericks
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Vice-Chancellor, Prof Chris Nhlapo, recently hosted the Vice-Chancellor's Excellence and Leadership Awards at Bellville Campus, celebrating the remarkable staff and students who continuously strive to exceed expectations and inspire ongoing improvement for everyone.

In recognition of their exceptional dedication, Nhlapo commends remarkable individuals each year. These awards are established to recognise those who embody the true spirit of being proudly CPUT, actively contributing to positive change beyond their duties. These awards aim to highlight the exceptional achievements of outstanding staff and students across the following categories:

• Vice-Chancellor Award for Service Excellence delivered by Administrative and Support Staff: This award aims to acknowledge staff members for exceptional service in areas such as administrative tasks, maintenance services, ensuring the safety of staff, students, and CPUT buildings, providing student services, and enhancing the university's image.
• Vice-Chancellor Award for Student Excellence: This award is available to any registered CPUT student, on any of our campuses, who excels academically, displays leadership skills, and commits to community service.

In her welcome address, the Executive Director in the Office of the Vice-Chancellor, Prof Driekie Hay-Swemmer, said the vision and the dream have always been to celebrate the contributions and the performance of staff, “specifically in the administrative, non-academic side of the university and students who have done exceptionally well”.

In his keynote address, Nhlapo passionately expressed his heartfelt gratitude for the invaluable support of the staff. “This year’s event is sweeter as we celebrate our 20 years of excellence in education… Today, we celebrate excellence as we grow from greats. Excellence is a choice and a process, and you have to trust that process.”

Nhlapo continued: “[This is] a place where we pause to acknowledge the unsung heroes and heroines.”

The guest speaker, Bulelwa Limba, the winner of the VC Exceptional Student Leadership Award 2024, said: “When I received the Vice-Chancellor’s Excellence Award in 2024, I thought the award itself was the big moment. But little did I know… it was only the beginning. From that award, new doors, new rooms, and new tables opened for me. I was blessed to be nominated to represent CPUT on a national platform, and out of nominees from 20 public universities, I was selected as one of the Top 5 Siyaphumelela Scholarship recipients.”

Limba continued: “To tonight’s nominees: If you walk away with an award, celebrate it. Honour it. But please, do not think it is the end. It is the seed. What you do next how you carry yourself after tonight, how you continue to lead, how you continue to serve that is what creates impact, and even if you don’t walk away with an award tonight, don’t be discouraged.

The winners in the Support Staff category were as follows: Gold Winner - Athenkosi Bucwa, Silver Winner - Sonja Swanich, and Bronze Winner - Shamiel Abrahams, along with his team in Wellington. In the student category, the Gold Winner was Keanan Gerschwin Fisher, while the Silver Winners were Ntando Fakela and Jorja Mehl.

This was followed by the handover of the Quality Awards by Dr Siyanda Makaula, Director: Quality Management Directorate.

In his congratulatory message, Msulwa Daca, Executive Director: Finance, said: “These awards recognise the extraordinary contributions made by yourselves as dedicated staff members and outstanding students who have demonstrated commitment to service excellence, professionalism, and exemplary leadership. Your commitment to going above and beyond reflects the core values of CPUT and significantly contributes to a positive, supportive, and effective culture. I would also want, on the same breath, to extend my appreciation to the people who run the systems and sub-systems that have allowed you to perform at this outstanding level.

“These are the systems that will ensure that we come back every year to celebrate outstanding achievements for both staff and students as they are able to replicate production of achievers, year in and year out.”

Written by Aphiwe Boyce
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Two academics have been honoured at the prestigious National University Teaching Awards (NUTA), which recognise innovation and excellence in university teaching across South Africa.

In the 2024 awards round, Senior Lecturer: Department of Clothing and Textile Technology, Prof Sweta Patnaik, received a commendation for her outstanding contribution to teaching and learning. The commendation acknowledges her innovative curriculum design, student-centred pedagogy, and sustained commitment to student success.

For the 2025 cohort, Senior Lecturer: Department of Food Science and Technology, Dr Vusi Mshayisa was named one of the national winners in the Experienced Teacher category, placing him among the country’s leading university teachers. A total of 50 applications were received from 20 universities. 

The award recognises his consistently high-quality teaching, creative use of technology and assessment, and his ability to create an inclusive, engaging learning environment for diverse student groups.

CPUT has welcomed the recognition as an affirmation of the university’s commitment to teaching excellence and its Vision 2030 focus on student success and transformative learning. “These awards signal that the work our academics are doing in lecture rooms, laboratories, and online spaces is having a national impact. Prof Patnaik and Dr Mshayisa exemplify the kind of reflective, innovative, and caring teaching that changes students’ lives,” said Dr Xena Cupido, Director: Fundani CHED.

Cupido said both academics will continue to contribute to institutional projects that strengthen curriculum renewal, assessment practices, and the scholarship of teaching and learning at CPUT. Their achievements also provide powerful role models for colleagues and students, demonstrating that teaching excellence is central to the university’s mission. With two NUTA recognitions in successive years, CPUT is consolidating its reputation as a sector leader in high-quality, socially responsive higher education.

Written by CPUT News
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CPUT, in collaboration with the Mauerberger Foundation Fund (MFF), proudly hosted the Vice-Chancellor’s Prestigious Achievers Award and Brian Figaji Scholarship event at the Bellville Campus, celebrating the remarkable achievements and inspiring journeys of outstanding individuals.

The Vice-Chancellor’s Prestigious Achievers Awards, launched in October 2018 by Prof Chris Nhlapo, aim to inspire excellence among students by providing them with vital financial support and mentoring to fuel their pursuit of further studies. Additionally, the Prof Brian Figaji Scholarship for Women in Engineering stands as a beacon of empowerment for exceptional female engineering students at CPUT, recognising their academic brilliance, leadership potential, and dedication to making a meaningful difference in society.

Speaking at the event, Nhlapo congratulated the “talented” awardees of the Vice-Chancellor’s Prestigious Achievers Awards. “To be a recipient of a Vice Chancellor’s Prestigious Achievers Awards, you have to be the best of the best…We are immensely proud of you. In my calendar, this is actually one of the best moments of the institution…

“I hope that today is the beginning of a long academic journey that you will traverse.”

Prof Joseph Kioko, Chairperson of the Vice-Chancellor’s Prestigious Achievers Awards Committee, paid tribute to the Vice-Chancellor’s inspiring vision in establishing this award, which creates a powerful platform for the emergence of new greatness. “This year, that platform attracted 18 ambitious applicants from South Africa, Nigeria, Zimbabwe, and the Democratic Republic of Congo, showing the vibrant and diverse intellectual community we are fostering.”

Advancement Department Director, Mandla Maseko, said the vice-chancellor observed that some of these top-performing graduates were entering industries that did not align with their passions, while others aspired to become academics but lacked support. This programme was therefore established to develop and retain such talent.

“It aims to recognise, reward, and support academically excellent Master’s and Doctoral students at CPUT who demonstrate strong potential to contribute positively to society and embody the University’s graduate attributes. Ultimately, the programme contributes to the development of the next generation of academics, academic supervisors, and research capacity, benefiting not only the University but also the country as a whole,” Maseko noted.

Figaji said he was “indebted” to the Mauerberger Foundation Fund (MFF) for offering to fund a scholarship in his name and for giving him the option to choose the institution where he would like to have this scholarship established. “I am also indebted to the leadership at CPUT for the enthusiastic acceptance of the scholarship proposal. Both gestures make me feel validated but also humbled…I have now succeeded in establishing a scholarship for female engineers that hopefully will encourage female students to not only study engineering but also advance the knowledge through research and innovation. Congratulations to Lanay [De Reuck] and Refiloe [Selai] for being the torch bearers that will lead the way and set the standards for others to follow.”

Both students made presentations on their research journeys. Lanay’s research title is: Synthesis of an Eco-friendly Ag/CQD/g-C₃N₄ Composite for Photocatalytic Degradation of Methyl Orange. Refiloe’s research title is: Mathematical modelling of wind-induced vibrations in transmission line conductors.

Maseko said through this scholarship, the MFF and Figaji seek to break barriers to education for women in engineering, ensuring that deserving students have the financial resources and opportunities to succeed in their Master’s and Doctoral studies, and to become the next generation of engineers, researchers, leaders, innovators, and change-makers.

“The throughput rate of the Vice-Chancellor’s Prestigious Achievers Awards is very good and, in recent years, there has been at least one graduate from the programme in every graduation ceremony, demonstrating its growth and maturity. The Figaji Scholarship, on the other hand, was only launched recently, and the first two recipients are still completing their studies, so there are no outcome reports available yet. Both programmes are funded by the MFF, and therefore, it was both efficient and practical to host a single joint event…”

The programme also featured presentations on research areas and topics by the 2025 awardees. Nhlapo and Advocate Dianna Yach, the MFF Chairperson, distributed certificates prior to each student presentation.

The students and their research titles were as follows:

• Babalwa Gqomfa (Doctor of Environmental Management): "Prevalence of Micro- and Nano-Plastics in Selected Areas of Cape Town: An Environmental Risk Assessment and Metagenomic Analysis of Microbial Communities."
• Nomnqophiso Zantanta (Doctor of Horticulture): "The Feasibility of Soilless Cultivation of Selected Indigenous Legumes as Fodder Crops for Small-Scale Livestock Farming in the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa." Nomnqophiso said: “Today I am receiving the award again this year. I stand here with a clear vision and a stronger purpose- one that seeks to contribute to sustainable agriculture and food security in our country.”
• Kudzai Mugejo (Doctor of Engineering in Civil Engineering): "Infrastructure Performance and Water Governance for Climate Change Adaptation in Smallholder Farming Systems in the Western Cape, South Africa."
• Additionally, there was a message from Dr Murendeni Nethengwe, a former recipient who has graduated and holds a Doctor of Philosophy in Biomedical Sciences.

Yach said the MFF’s continuing support for the CPUT Vice-Chancellor’s Prestigious Achievers Awards stems from their deep and enduring commitment to growing future leaders who are devoted to advancing social justice and social cohesion, ethics, good governance, and human rights – aligned with our core mission. Prof Driekie Hay-Swemmer, the Executive Director of the Office of the Vice Chancellor and Acting Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Operations, powerfully delivered a heartfelt vote of thanks.

Written by Aphiwe Boyce
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The Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment (FEBE) recently celebrated excellence at its annual FEBE Research Awards ceremony, held at the Cape Town Hotel School. This gathering recognised outstanding achievements in research, innovation, teaching, and learning, highlighting the remarkable talent within the faculty.

These prestigious awards inspire a vibrant research culture, encouraging young researchers and honouring exceptional contributions from both staff and students. Presented during the annual Research and Awards Day, winners showcased their groundbreaking findings through papers, posters, and technology demonstrations. Earning a FEBE Research Award offers significant recognition within the institution and may include monetary grants for work-related pursuits.

In his welcome speech, Prof Suresh Ramsuroop, Dean of the Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment, said: “Today is about celebration - celebrating the incredible work, creativity, and dedication that make our faculty such a vibrant community in research and innovation. Not only has the faculty engaged in impactful research in recent years, it has also been a leading faculty in research outputs and technology innovations.

Ramsuroop said over the past year, their faculty has achieved so much - more publications, stronger collaborations, and a growing number of postgraduate successes. “These achievements don’t happen by chance; they reflect your hard work, teamwork, and a shared commitment to excellence, transformation, and impact.”

Addressing the recipients, he said: “To our award recipients - congratulations! You remind us of what’s possible when passion meets purpose. And to all who support this journey - our supervisors, research units, administrators, Ndumi [Mangqwengqwe-Siko] and Elizma Alberts, thank you for the energy and spirit you bring to our faculty every day.

“Let’s continue to inspire one another, build on this momentum, and keep making research matter. Enjoy the afternoon, and once again, congratulations to all our awardees!”

Ramsuroop said their work plays a vital role in connecting their research with industry, innovation, and real-world application - “ensuring that the knowledge we generate at CPUT truly makes a difference beyond our campus”.

Prof Veruscha Fester, Assistant Dean: Research, Technology, Innovation & Partnership, Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment, said: “We want the top performers in terms of research to know that they are appreciated. We are aware that to perform so well, a lot of family time is sacrificed. We therefore invited the spouses/support structure at home to attend with them and also come with to collect the award. I believe it is a very special gesture.”

Fester said the event shows that FEBE values their staff and values outstanding performance. “Hard work never goes unnoticed.”

Written by Aphiwe Boyce
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The Faculty of Health and Wellness Sciences’ Teaching Excellence Awards ceremony shone a spotlight on the faculty’s commitment to outstanding education and honoured exceptional staff members.

The event, which was recently held at the Cape Town Hotel School, showcased the best teaching and learning practices in the faculty, under the theme: In Harmony: Honouring the heart and science of teaching excellence.

Assistant Dean, Dr Lloyd Christopher, said the event was not just about recognising the recipients but everyone who contributed to their success, “whether faculty office, whether it be the heads of departments, and all the other technical administrative staff that make a really very difficult job possible and so we acknowledge all of that”.

The winners were:

• Clinical Instructor recognition award: Elroy Cameron (Emergency Medical Sciences)
• Senior Lab Technician: Fadia Alexander (Biomedical Sciences)
• Lab Technician: Abdulraoef Ganey (Ophthalmic Sciences)
• Faculty Office Award: Karin Buckle (Faculty Manager)
• Faculty Teaching Excellence Award: John Meyer (Emergency Medical Sciences)

In her closing remarks, Faculty Teaching and Learning coordinator, Anthea Pinto-Prins, said the theme of the awards, “invites us to reflect not only on what we teach, but how and why we teach”.

“Together, you create conditions in which students grow cognitively, professionally, and personally. In this way, the heart of teaching, our care, empathy, and responsiveness are inseparable from the science of teaching, our pedagogical frameworks, disciplinary knowledge, and intentional design. Harmony is not a soft ideal. It is a rigorous, ethical balancing act that ensures no student is left behind and no knowledge is left inaccessible.”

Written by Ilse Fredericks
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Dr Avela Sogoni, who began his journey as a petrol attendant after matriculating, is now inspired to see his dedication and hard work celebrated by his peers and the National Research Foundation (NRF). He has been honoured with the 2025 Research Excellence Award for Next Generation Researchers.

“To achieve this recognition, I sacrificed my preferences, moderated my ego for the greater good, not minding the delayed gratification,” he enthuses.

Sogoni says: “When I heard the news through email, I could not believe it. I remember clearly telling my supervisor, Prof Muhali Jimoh, that I would call the NRF staff just to make sure it’s true. It was an amazing feeling to know that my research was rated as outstanding among candidates from well-researched universities.”

He has achieved remarkable milestones, earning his BTech in Horticulture and a Master’s in Horticultural Sciences from CPUT, where he recently completed his PhD and now serves as a research assistant. His groundbreaking work has significantly advanced the understanding of salt tolerance mechanisms, the pharmacological potential, nutritional properties, and metabolic profiles of Tetragonia decumbens, a wild edible vegetable, showcasing his dedication to the field and the future of horticulture.

Born in Qonce, formerly known as King William's Town, Eastern Cape, Sogoni attributes his success to an insatiable curiosity about how things work. After matriculating from Forbes Grant Senior Secondary School in 2012, he took a gap year, working as a petrol attendant from 2012 to 2013. In 2014, he boldly stepped forward to pursue his dreams by enrolling for a National Diploma in Horticulture at CPUT.

Growing up in an area where only a few people managed to attend university inspired him to excel. His mother, who always supported education because she believed it was the only way out of poverty, encouraged his enrolment in Horticulture. “The reason behind this choice was purely based on the love I have for plants, more especially leafy vegetables.”

When asked about his reaction to the announcement, Sogoni, who finds solace in long coastal drives that refresh his spirit, says: “I was very happy to see all the long hours I have put in eventually being recognised by my peers and the National Research Foundation… I would attribute my success to curiosity about how things work. My primary motivation lies in the realisation of my strength, understanding the system, and the discovery of new things. These discoveries are the rewards from long hours that science requires.”

He is also excited to think that the things people are learning may help preserve the environment and improve human health through diet diversity and by limiting chronic diseases. “I am inspired that my contribution to knowledge could enhance food security and mitigate hidden hunger.”

A hard pill for him to swallow was that he had no choice but to succeed, coming from a family without a university background and feeling the pressure to earn a PhD. With support from his supervisors, he achieved this goal. A major highlight of his career was attending the International Horticultural Congress in France in 2022.

This award signifies the outstanding quality of work conducted by a final-year doctoral student in South African universities. It is a turning point in Sogoni’s career, “as it reassures me and my peers that research excellence is achievable”.

“Bringing home the trophy proves that research conducted at CPUT is of immense quality in innovation for a sustainable future. Moreover, the support provided by my supervisors and the Department of Horticulture through nomination was significant in the achievement of this award.”

Sogoni has an important message for other postgraduate students and staff members who aspire to follow in his footsteps. He emphasises the need for patience with oneself. “Understand that this journey is a long one; you don't have to do everything perfectly from day one. You will need time to complete tasks, make mistakes, and learn from them. It is also essential to have or develop a close network of collaborators, especially more senior colleagues who can mentor you.”

For younger individuals coming from similar backgrounds to his, Sogoni encourages them to believe in themselves and to think about their aspirations. It’s important to consider how a diploma or degree can support their ambitions. “It can be easy to doubt yourself or spend too much time seeking opinions from others. While input from others can be beneficial, in the end, you must trust in your ability to succeed. Remember, ‘the road to success is not a path you find, but a trail you blaze.’”

Written by Aphiwe Boyce
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The unwavering dedication and loyal service of more than 200 employees were celebrated during the recent Long Service Awards ceremony.

The event, which was held at the Major Sports Hall, Bellville Campus, honoured employees with 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35 and 40 years of unbroken service at CPUT.

Vice-Chancellor Prof Chris Nhlapo said the event served to honour and acknowledge the recipients for their hard work and loyalty to the institution.

“This event today is a platform to say thank you. It's a platform to look back with admiration … for recognising employees’ long relationship with the institution. It is a platform for us as executive management to acknowledge loyalty and a strong sense of belonging.”

He acknowledged the role the awardees had played in building the institution.

“This year we are celebrating our 20 years of growing from greats. And some of these greats are here before us. I know that sometimes when we talk about these greats people are thinking about people who have retired, but you are the greats that we’re talking about because some of us who joined later benefited from the work that you have done and we are standing on your broad shoulders.”

Denise February, who celebrated 40 years of service, said she looks back at her journey at CPUT with deep gratitude, pride and joy.

“I’ve been privileged to witness countless students cross the graduation stage, knowing the dedication and perseverance behind each success story. I’ve celebrated innovative projects that united colleagues in creativity and purpose and I’ve treasured the friendships forged over shared coffee breaks and late-night deadlines.

“As I prepare to embark on my retirement journey, I extend my heartfelt wishes for the university’s continued success and prosperity.”

Written by Ilse Fredericks
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CPUT proudly celebrates the achievements of Bulela Limba, a recipient of the Vice-Chancellor’s Excellence Award and a Siyaphumelela Scholar.

Along with four fellow scholars, he was selected to work under the mentorship of renowned South African poet Diana Ferrus.

Ferrus guided the scholars to craft their own “I Am” poems, a powerful reflective exercise that draws on personal narrative, identity, and purpose. Bulela shared her poem at the Siyaphumelela Conference recently in Johannesburg. Dr Xena Cupido, the director of the Fundani Centre for Higher Education Development, said being mentored by a literary veteran like Diana Ferrus is not only an opportunity to refine her poetic and performative talents, but also a profound act of claiming voice and space within the higher education landscape.

“It affirms that storytelling and expression are central to shaping inclusive learning environments.”

Cupido said that in parallel with the poetry mentorship, CPUT’s data interns showcased their work on the development of student success dashboards at the Siyaphumelela conference. This project places students at the heart of CPUT’s data innovation. “The dashboards aim to provide real-time insights to support academic advising, track engagement, and improve overall outcomes.”

She said this initiative reflects CPUT’s ongoing commitment to student voice and partnership. “Through platforms such as the Siyaphumelela Student Success programme, the university recognises students as co-creators of knowledge and agents of change. Whether through poetry or data analytics, students are supported to critically engage with their lived experiences and reimagine what student success looks like. This dual emphasis on data and dialogue underscores a key tenet of the Siyaphumelela ethos: that meaningful transformation in higher education cannot occur without students at the centre.”

Written by CPUT News
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Outstanding academic and administrative staff members and students were honoured during the recent Faculty of Business and Management Sciences Faculty Achievers Awards.

The event held at the Cape Town Hotel School Restaurant was a celebration of excellence, innovation and dedication.

Assistant Dean: Research and Innovation, Prof Renitha Rampersad, said it was an honour to celebrate the remarkable contributions made by all the awardees.

Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Learning and Teaching, Prof Rishidaw Balkaran, also congratulated the winners and emphasised the role of ethics in their work.

The winners were:

Research Department/Unit of the year – Marketing Department

Supervisor of the year – Prof Michael Twum-Darko

Emerging Researcher – Dr Jaron Ras

Top Doctoral Student – Awonke Geqeza

Top Master’s Student – Jamie-Leigh Bruce and Madelynn Gordon

Teaching Excellence Award Facutly winner – Prof Brendon Knott

Secretary of the year – Thersia Conolly

Administrative Assistant of the Year – Vidonia Viviers

The guest speaker at the event was renowned sport scientist Dr Ross Tucker.

Written by Ilse Fredericks
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Outstanding educators were honoured during the 2024 Institutional Teaching Excellence Awards Ceremony, recently held at the Cape Town Hotel School.

Faculty and Institutional Award winners were recognised during the event with Dr Pieter Steenkamp from the Faculty of Business and Management Sciences walking away with the individual award for Established Teacher at Institutional level.

Steenkamp is a Senior Lecturer in the Marketing Department and has more than 20 years of experience as an academic. He obtained a PhD from Stellenbosch University Business School with a specialisation in brand strategy. His research has been published in major academic journals, including the Journal of Brand Management. He is a co-author of the Services Brand Management textbook.

The following award winners were announced:

Faculty Winners

Faculty of Applied Sciences – Dr Sune Henning

Faculty of Business and Management Sciences – Prof Brendon Knott

Faculty of Education - Dr Tanja Coetzer and Dr Cisca de Kock

Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment - Dr Gunjan Gupta, Dr Rumbidzai Muvunzi and Prof Asis Patnaik

Faculty of Health and Wellness Sciences – Gerhardus Koch and Anthea Pinto-Prins

Faculty of Informatics and Design - Gingirikani Maswanganye, Dr Waldon Hendricks and Dr Belinda Verster

Institutional Winners - Team Teaching

Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment – Dennit Adams, Dr Basirat Olayemi Bello, Samantha Daffue, Dr Christélle Ekron, Felicity Harris, Kay Jaffer, Luvuyo Kakaza, Dr Mzukisi Kepe, Naasirah Mohamed, Kajal Singh Nundlal, Ayesha Reiners and Dr Bronwyn Swartz.

Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Learning and Teaching, Prof Rishidaw Balkaran, said the winners’ contributions would go a long way in helping the students to become leaders.

“We are acknowledging you, not only because you have achieved in this space, but because you are a beacon of hope for the university.”

Dr Xena Cupido, Director Fundani CHED congratulated the winners and said the recognition was well deserved.

The guest speaker at the event was Prof Denise Zinn, Programme Leader for the national Women in Leadership Programme under the auspices of Universities South Africa (USAf) and its Higher Education Leadership and Management division (HELM), for the past 5 years.

Dr Yvonne Maphosa says the Vice-Chancellor’s Prestigious Achievers Award “is not just a bursary, it’s an acknowledgement of outstanding postgraduate students who have shown academic excellence and an embodiment of the CPUT graduate attributes”.

Here Maphosa talks about how grateful she was to receive it.

The Zimbabwean-born academic obtained her Doctorate in Food Science and Technology during the CPUT Autumn Graduation Series 2022.  Maphosa completed her BTech in Food Technology (Cum Laude) in 2013 and was awarded the Vice-Chancellor’s Medal as the best graduating student in the Faculty of Applied Sciences. She passed her Master’s with distinction and graduated in September 2016.

Reflecting on her career journey, the bubbly author says: “A PhD is not a walk in the park. It requires a lot of emotional and financial support. It’s a very difficult journey that requires commitment and strength. I was blessed with the support of my family, friends and fellow postgraduate students. I had amazing supervisors as well. They held my hand and guided me through. I will forever be indebted to them. The CPUT postgraduate centre was also very helpful and always there to assist.”

The last born of six says a PhD is very expensive and the VC’s Prestigious Achievers Award provided for her tuition, residence and everything she needed to successfully complete her PhD.

The VC’s Prestigious Achievers Award played a huge role in the completion of her studies.

“It also came with tremendous non-financial support from the committee and the VC’s office, all of which I’m deeply grateful for.”

A believer and a go-getter, Maphosa says: “It is [a] motivation to keep on excelling. It inspired me to be the best I could be.”

Growing up in Mambale village, deep in the rural areas of Plumtree, Zimbabwe, working hard came naturally for Maphosa. “Working [hard] was instilled in me from a young age. Waking up early to work the fields before running many kilometres to school, then running to the river to fetch water after school taught me that in life you have to work hard. It also taught me balance and time management.”

Maphosa, who has always been an A student, has won numerous prestigious awards throughout her academic journey in the form of funding, medals, trophies, certificates, and scholarships. “They serve as acknowledgements, reassurances and motivations to accomplish more.”

Besides being an academic, she is an award-winning author. and has published two fiction novel series; The y in yOUR Man is Silent (national bestseller) and Grasping at Straws (award winning).

Maphosa is also involved in charity work. She runs a campaign called Buy-A-Pad with Yvonne. She collects and donates sanitary pads to disadvantaged women and girls. She also has a writing competition, Luvone, aimed at discovering young, unpublished writers. From this competition, the book: Luvone: an anthology of short stories was published. Maphosa is involved in several community projects in Zimbabwe, especially those aimed at empowering the girl child and advocating for women rights.Summiting Mount Kilimanjaro was another highlight of her life.

In her message to prospective students, Maphosa says: “Be yourself. You can only realise your true potential if you are truly yourself. Don’t waste your life mimicking other people or chasing the wind at the expense of your dreams. Focus! Set your goals and work towards them.”

Maphosa also acknowledged the support she received from the Vice-Chancellor and the awards committee.  “Thank you for awarding me the Vice-Chancellor's Prestigious Achievers Awards. I am sincerely humbled and elated that you found me a suitable beneficiary for this honourable award. It made a remarkable difference in my PhD journey and my life as a whole. I’m truly grateful.”

Written by Aphiwe Boyce

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The winners of the first-ever Vice-Chancellor’s Excellence Awards were revealed during a recent ceremony at the Bellville Campus.

The awards honoured exceptional student leaders and dedicated administrative staff.

Outlining the background to the awards, Prof Driekie Hay-Swemmer, Executive Director in the Office of the Vice-Chancellor, said: “When we recognise the hard work of staff and students, we do more than just celebrating it in a particular moment. We ignite a spark that encourages even greater efforts. And that is also what we want to achieve with this initiative. Recognition serves as a reminder that hard work does not go unnoticed and that every step toward excellence is worth celebrating”.

Vice-Chancellor Prof Chris Nhlapo said it was an incredible honour and a privilege to be part of the ceremony, adding that it “has been long in the making”.

Nhlapo said the CPUT community has diligent staff and students who habitually exceed their job description and go beyond the proverbial extra mile or call of duty.

“As the Vice-Chancellor and principal of this majestic institution, the MIT of Africa, I want all of us to embrace excellence.”

The winners in the staff category were:

First place - Nomalizo Mapasa – Mapasa was described as a beloved person on the Wellington Campus, a mother to many students “who walked many extra miles”.
Second place - David Haarhoff
Third place - Isaac Paul
Fourth place - Selema Molopa and Tumiso Mfisa

The winners in the student category were:

First place - Bulela Limba - Bulela is the chairperson of the Student Christian Organisation. Bulela guides a team that hosts spiritual and community events, creating an inclusive environment for over 100 members. She's also the provincial chairperson of Make a Mark Africa in the Western Cape and directs volunteer teams and coordinates youth empowerment programmes for underprivileged communities. She's also part of the Golden Key International Honour Society.

Second place - Athenkosi Sobada – Athenkosi is a member of the Golden Key Honour Society CPUT chapter and has been a teaching assistant at CPUT, mentoring and assisting students with their studies and providing pastoral care. He has also been involved in the Bellville Campus first aid responders team.

Third place- Rorisang Makgana – Amongst other things Rorisang has established tutoring classes on campus, attended by many students. He also launched a YouTube channel, making his tutoring accessible to a broader audience of students facing learning challenges. He is also a Golden Key member.

The recipients of the Vice-Chancellor’s Excellence in Quality Awards were also announced during the event.

Dr Siyanda Makaula, Director of the Quality Management Directorate outlined the Excellence in Quality Awards and said: “You can’t define excellence without taking into consideration quality. You can’t define quality without taking into consideration excellence.”

Written by Ilse Fredericks
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The Digital Literacy Skills for the Future Project recently celebrated a momentous occasion at the BankSETA Digital Literacy Skills for Future Awards Ceremony, honouring the graduation of 51 matriculants who completed their digital literacy training in 2024.

This heartfelt ceremony took place at the Bellville Campus and symbolised a significant step in empowering young learners through the transformative power of technology and digital education.

The participants in this project hailed from Langa and Lotus High Schools. Many of these learners started with little to no digital literacy skills, often feeling unsure of themselves in the digital realm. However, with dedicated support from CPUT facilitators and the encouragement of their peers, the Advancement Department has witnessed remarkable growth in their technical abilities and self-confidence. Their journeys were not just about acquiring skills; they discovered a sense of belonging and possibility.

The learning areas explored throughout the project included:

• Introduction to Computer Hardware and Software
• Introduction to Microsoft Office Programs
• Cybersecurity and Digital Citizenship
• Internet and Email Usage
• Introduction to Information Technology (IT)
• Robotic Process Automation (RPA) and Artificial Intelligence (AI)
• Blockchain and Cryptocurrency
• Introduction to Programming Basics

Mandla Maseko, director of the Advancement Department, spoke from the heart about the importance of these skills as the learners prepare for their next steps in higher education. During the ceremony, the learners proudly demonstrated their new skills by building robots and competing in an exciting robot race. Lotus High School was celebrated as the winning school and received well-deserved prizes. Additionally, the learners were awarded certificates and gifted the tablets they used throughout their training—tools that will continue to support their education.

Waldon Hendricks, a compassionate lecturer in the Information Technology Department, emphasised the significance of integrating STEM—science, technology, engineering, and mathematics—into their learning experiences. He shared an inspiring message: “As they move forward, these learners carry with them not just knowledge, but the confidence and courage to pursue whatever career path they choose.”

Inga Dlephu, a learner from Langa High School, expressed her heartfelt gratitude: “I would like to thank BankSETA and CPUT for believing in us and teaching us valuable skills. We’ve learned so much—from things we didn’t know much about to discovering new interests. This programme didn’t just teach us; it opened doors and created a community where we felt supported.”

Maseko concluded with words of appreciation for BankSETA's vital support, saying: “Thank you for standing by us. We hope to continue this meaningful journey together next year. And to all our incredible learners—thank you for your dedication and resilience, even when faced with challenges. Your hard work truly inspires change.”

Written by Aphiwe Boyce
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Design-junkies, budding film-makers, fashion-fundis and multi-media mavens will be joining forces this Tuesday 23rd November at the Cape Town campus of CPUT. In an evening filled with spectacular designs and concepts, the Faculty of Informatics and Design hosts one of the highlights of its calendar - the annual FID Year End Exhibition, themed "Come See my Work".

Students from the 15 design courses will be showcasing work completed in 2010, as well as work that won prestigious prizes or was highly commended in external competitions. Some of these award-winning students include the Fashion Design Department’s Rene Burger, Le Roux Hofmeyer from Interior Design and Geoff Brown from the Industrial Design Department. More than just a showcase of student work, the event also provides for interaction between upcoming designers, industry members and the general public. Some students will choose to sell their work, but if sold, the item will remain on exhibit until the show closes on Saturday 27th November.

The opening night begins with industry speakers addressing the students about career opportunities. This will be followed by an address by FID Dean Johannes Cronje and a video presentation showcasing the top achievers across the Faculty. The exhibition is then open for viewing, with a fashion show scheduled for the evening’s finale. Kicking-off at 6pm on Tuesday the 23rd, this not-to-be-missed exhibition takes place over all 3 floors of the Design Building, part of the Student Center and the Multi-Purpose Hall.

By Jan Weintrob

Written by CPUT News
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Professor Johannes Cronjé, Dean of Informatics and Design at CPUT was recently named the top ICT educator in Africa.

The announcement was made at the 10th Annual African ICT Achievers Awards, which was held in Johannesburg on 28 November 2008. The awards recognise companies and individuals who have had a significant impact on the ICT industry in Africa.

Prof Cronjé’s passion for ICT in education along with his ground-breaking work in this field ensured that he clinched this prestigious award.

His interest in this field developed more than 15 years ago, when he was lecturing at the then Technikon Pretoria.

“I just believed that there must be better ways of getting high quality learning to take place than putting a talking head in front of a class,” he said.

This determination to impact on teaching and learning saw Prof Cronjé become a pioneer in ICT in education, with many of his innovations becoming standard practice in classrooms across the globe. In 1997 he ran one of the first Internet-based classrooms in the world and was also a pioneer of “peer teaching” in the field of ICT, where learners would sit two to a computer and assist one another.

“I further developed methods of teaching students outside regular contact time by using social software sites such as Facebook, LinkedIn, Youtude and Del.icio.us,” he said.

Prof Cronjé has also developed a popular website, Research Methods Online where students can access resources for their postgraduate studies. During the past few years he has also used his skills and knowledge to impact on the broader community.

“I regularly meet on a one-on-one basis with schools and provinces who invite me,” he said.

He was awarded a C rating by the NRF, has conducted extensive research in ICT, published extensively and presented papers at hundreds of national and international conferences.

He has also acted as a consultant in the area of using computers to reach out to various African countries.

Prof Cronjé said he is honoured by the award and “believes that it is an affirmation of the work” that his students have completed under his leadership. To date 150 of his students have been awarded master’s degrees, 35 have been awarded doctorates, while four have gone on to become professors.

Prof Cronjé plans to continue his work in ICT in education.

“My plans are to continue investigating, specifically the use of mobile devices and web 2.0 applications – that is cellular phones and Facebook – in education,” he said.

By Candes Keating. Marketing and Communication Department

Photograph: Prof Johannes Cronjé, Dean of Informatics and Design, displays his African ICT Achiever award.

Written by CPUT News
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A student in Architectural Technology at CPUT, Marla Bekondo Plunkett, was recently awarded a study grant for an architectural drawing that he submitted for the Georgian Group Architectural Drawing Prize 2008.

The awards were presented by HRH The Prince of Wales at a ceremony at the Ritz Hotel, Piccadilly, United Kingdom on 26 November 2008.

The competition is organised annually by the Georgian Group, a London-based British charity founded in 1937 to preserve Georgian buildings, monuments and landscapes.

The 2008 event was held conjunction with The Prince’s Drawing School and the Traditional Architecture Group of the Royal Institute of British Architects, to celebrate the Georgian Group’s patron HRH The Prince of Wales’ sixtieth birthday. Competition entries were exhibited at Fitzroy Square in London during the week leading up to the Prince’s birthday.

Hailing from Cameroon, Plunkett was encouraged to enter the competition by his History of Architecture lecturer John Samuels, who noticed Plunkett’s talent during coursework practicals.

Plunkett’s submission, the only entry from CPUT, was submitted for the competition in September 2008 and was amongst ten finalists to be shortlisted and subsequently to receive the title of ‘commended entry’.

Overall, out of over 240 entries received, Plunkett was the only international student architect to be placed fifth in the amateur measured drawing category.

The entrants, being professionals and students alike, had to sketch the exterior or interior of an existing Georgian building.

For the purposes of the competition, the term ‘Georgian building’ referred to architectural structures that were completed in the period 1660 to 1840.

The building chosen as the subject of Plunkett’s series of drawings was an old municipal building in Tokai, one of Cape Town’s Southern Suburbs.

According to the Georgian Group, the aim of the architectural drawing competition is to promote and reward excellence in technical drawing and to encourage a close study and understanding of Georgian buildings.

The competition was open to British subjects and to all citizens of the British Commonwealth, British Overseas Territories, Crown Dependencies and the USA under 40 years of age.

The Architectural Technology course offered at CPUT aims to equip students with independent technological innovations, researching skills and the capability to perform professional architectural services in technology, design and management in the public and private sectors of the built environment.

To learn more about the Architectural Technology course at CPUT, contact the Faculty of Informatics and design at +27 +21 460 3136.

By: Thando J. Moiloa, Department of Marketing and Communication

Photographs: Architectural Technology student Marla Bekondo Plunkett; HRH The Prince of Wales examines one of the competition entries.

Written by CPUT News
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Dr Kamilla Swart, Head of the Centre for Tourism Research in Africa at CPUT, has recently been awarded the Black Business Quarterly (BBQ) Youth Award for Research and Development.

Dr Swart, who is involved in 2010 research projects and initiatives, is among several other South Africans who received awards in various categories at the inaugural BBQ Youth Awards in March.

The awards are an initiative of the BBQ publication, which has been at the forefront of honouring and celebrating the achievements of black businessmen and women in South Africa.

However, this year they have chosen to honour the achievements of the youth (those younger than 40) of South Africa, who against all odds, have made a positive contribution to the country and shown creativity and innovation in their field of expertise.

The awards honoured individuals in several categories, including corporate, civil society, entrepreneur, information communication technologies, government and arts and culture.

Dr Swart, who is a leading expert in Sport Tourism research, was awarded the BBQ Youth Award for the category Research and Development.

Dr Swart, who received her award on 6 March 2009 at Emperors Palace in Johannesburg, said: “I am elated to be honoured and celebrated in this manner. I have worked hard to make a positive contribution to building our country through my specialist area of sport tourism research.”

“For my accomplishments to be recognised at this juncture, especially with the 2010 FIFA World Cup™ on the horizon, it feels very satisfying,” she said.

Dr Swart said she would not have achieved this without her colleagues and students who have contributed to her success.

Farouk Roberson, a representative on the Black Management Forum (BMF) in the Western Cape Tourism Development Partnership – 2010 Sub Committee, nominated Dr Swart for the award.

Robertson, who serves alongside Dr Swart on the Western Cape Tourism Development Partnership (WCTDP) said: “Her presence in our Committee is always beneficial and meaningful because she has the ability to constructively engage and share her experiences and knowledge as much as she is eager to learn from others.

He said Dr Swart “constantly strives to enhance her skills for the betterment of her students and others within the Tourism sphere.”

“She operates in the international arena with the greatest ease and no fuss at all and is acknowledged by her peers both locally and internationally for the sterling work she does,” he said.

Robertson said this award showcases Dr Swart as a role model for the youth.

“We need people like these from amongst our own with solid credentials to ensure a better future for all in this beautiful country of ours,” he said.

Photo: Dr Kamilla Swart accepts her award from Keabecoe David Motlhoioa, one of the judges of the BBQ Youth Awards.

By Candes Keating

Written by CPUT News
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The Theewaterskloof International Community Development Project (TWK) recently clinched second place in the prestigious MacJannet Prize for Global Citizenship.

The prize recognises exceptional student civic engagement initiatives at higher education institutions across the globe

Out of 67 nominations from 40 universities in 19 countries, the projects driven by TWK were recognised for making an impact in impoverished communities in the Western Cape.

The TWK Project was established several years ago and is a partnership between CPUT, HAN University in the Netherlands, the University of the Western Cape, Elgin Learning Foundation and the Theewaterskloof Municipality.

Currently the coordinating office of the project is based at CPUT.

On 6 June 2009 , CPUT Vice-Chancellor, Prof Vuyisa Mazwi-Tanga, accompanied by a CPUT student involved in the TWK Project, Fattinald Rangongo, received the prize at a ceremony in France .

Prof Mazwi-Tanga said the TWK Project, along with the other projects that received awards, are making a “huge impact on communities and at universities.”

She said the prize is a “valuable” recognition of the work being carried out at the institution.

CPUT is an engaged university, with research activities and teaching, geared to involving communities.

“Issues in the community must inform the research and teaching and learning agenda of the university,” said Prof Mazwi-Tanga.

She said the institution is also involved in several other community based projects, of which one was internationally recognised.

The Tabeisa project, which aims to develop entrepreneurs in poor communities, won the Queen’s Anniversary Prize in 2008.

“We are on the right path, but need to consolidate all these activities and showcase them appropriately,” she said.

Prof Mazwi-Tanga said while in France, the winners of the MacJannet Prize also had an opportunity to network and discuss how they could support each other.

Jacqueline Scheepers, CPUT Manager of the TWK Service Learning Project, said the initiative sees South African and Dutch students participate in service-learning projects that build on their areas of study. The projects are designed by the students and address the needs identified by the community.

Through the projects students provide services in areas such as social work, education, health services, sports, architecture and environment management. Currently there are more than 30 projects under way in the towns of Genadendaal, Caledon, Grabouw and Villiersdorp.

Scheepers said the prize brings “validity to the whole project.”

“This recognition will help us to develop more links, especially internationally,” she said.

Abraham Oliver, a TWK Project field coordinator said the prize will also assist them in further developing the programme.

“We want to make the project sustainable by securing outside funds,” he said.

Currently the partners are responsible for funding of the projects.

Director of International Affairs, Merle Hodges, who nominated the TWK Project for the prize, said the project is not only impacting on communities in the Western Cape .

“What we’ve found is that Dutch students are now taking the programs back to their institution and implementing them there, so the effects are even wider,” she said.

Ben Bartels, HAN Director International Relations and coordinator for TWK Project said this is a “powerful” programme.

“For us as representatives of universities it is our duty to create and to facilitate powerful learning environments for students in which they can develop their professional and personal growth,” said Bartels.

He said without the students’ enthusiasm, projects like these would be “doomed to fail.”

By Candes Keating

Written by CPUT News
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