The new Campus Store, which launched at the Bellville Campus recently, is the ultimate destination for showcasing university spirit.

The store offers a diverse array of imprinted apparel, including sweatshirts, t-shirts, hats, jackets, and clothing for youth, alumni, and family members—united in pride and passion for our institution.

The Campus Store powered by CK Advertising was launched near the Auditorium and is fully operational. CK Advertising Brand and Sales Strategist Natasha Petersen says they offer a host of marketing services, of which promotional clothing, gifts, headwear, and sportswear form part of the offering. They pride themselves in offering a turnkey solution to meet all clients' branding needs.

“The concept of ‘great Brands meeting great brands’ in this instance Cape Peninsula University of Technology and CK Advertising; hence, the branding on the campus store front door, CPUT, Powered by CK refers to a collaboration between two successful brands, resulting in mutual growth and expanding reach and visibility. We have shared values to appeal to students and staff alike.”

The store offers what is called the core range - hoodies, joggers, tees, caps, tumblers and tote bags. At the launch, CK Advertising Chief Executive Officer Corné Krige said the partnership is a new dawn. “We celebrate an important milestone in our partnership with CPUT,” saying his company has been working with CPUT for nine years. “Over these nine years, we've really started to trust each other, and this is a combination of that today that we can open the shop.”

Krige emphasised his strong hope for the store’s success, promising that customers would be captivated by its stunning beauty. “…This isn't just the shop guys; this is a combination of a lot of hard work and our plan is not to make this just a normal shop where people buy, we want this shop to have a personality of what you in CPUT hold as your values.”

Krige also acknowledged the vice-chancellor and some of the executive management members who came to witness the event. “To Vice-Chancellor Prof Chris Nhlapo, thank you very much for trusting us with the shop, thank you for giving us this opportunity. We know you could have chosen many other people, but we thank you for trusting us, and your leadership really inspires us, and we hope that we will make you see beauty brand.”

Nhlapo said: “I'm actually moved that this year we are celebrating our 20 years anniversary of the existence of this majestic institution. There are a number of things planned in the offering, and I think it's important that all of us must celebrate this great milestone.”

The vice-chancellor was even more impressed when he reviewed CK Advertising's job creation efforts, noting that it was actively creating jobs for people. Nhlapo also expressed satisfaction with the quality and design aspects.

“I'm always particular about textile and the fabric and I can tell you I know good fabric when I see it and I was looking at those blazers there [shop], the quality is good and I want to encourage our staff that when you got guests when you got friends from anywhere take them to come and actually buy the CPUT memorabilia here, that memento is so important to some of us when you travel around the world.” Krige also announced that the next step was Wellington.

CPUT boasts five campuses located in prime locations – ranging from the District Six Campus in the Cape Town CBD to the Wellington Campus in the heart of the Boland.

The Bellville Campus is the administrative hub of the institution and its face brick façade, designed by architect Revel Fox, is well-known. Some of the landmark buildings include the Dome of Remembrance and the Major Sports Hall, where thousands of students celebrate their graduation every year.

Table Mountain serves as a backdrop to the picturesque District Six Campus. Formerly known as the Cape Town Campus, it was renamed to District Six Campus in 2018 – in memory of the rich heritage of District Six and to acknowledge the pain that was caused when the then Cape Technikon was built on the site. The campus boasts state-of-the-art academic facilities, and the piazza is a popular gathering place for students.

The Wellington Campus is dotted with beautiful historic buildings. The campus offers a range of courses in the Faculties of Applied Sciences, Business as well as Education.

Mowbray Campus plays a crucial role in shaping the next generation of teachers, contributing significantly to the Western Cape’s education sector. Located on Highbury Road, just a stone’s throw from Mowbray’s bustling Main Road, the campus boasts modern lecture halls and dedicated study areas with computer access

Granger Bay

With its prime seafront location, the Granger Bay Campus is home to the renowned Cape Town Hotel School, the oldest in the city, as well as to the Maritime Engineering Department and the cutting-edge Survival Centre. The main attraction of the campus is the stylish Hotel School Restaurant, which features uninterrupted sea views, a Show Kitchen and sophisticated Alumni Cocktail Bar and Coffee Lounge.

Written by Ilse Fredericks

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Orientation 2009, which began on 19 January, promises an action-packed programme geared towards helping first year students to familiarise themselves with their new environment.

This year, first years on all campuses will receive a ‘Passport to Student Life’ – a one-stop handbook containing information on the various services available. An orientation DVD, produced by Student Affairs, will be shown at the various campuses. A Student Affairs and Services website will also be rolled out.

Daily live presentations on topics such as Financial Aid, Student Governance and Student Development are to be held in the Bellville Campus auditorium. Stalls providing further information about items of interest to students will be available on this campus as well as in Cape Town. Orientation Officers will be on hand to give extra assistance to newcomers.

Mowbray and Wellington Campuses have organised plenty of social and sporting events to help new students break the ice with their classmates and get settled in at residences. Wellington has hired out the local town pool for a day of water games. Mowbray’s activities include a drumming session and bus tour of the coast.

In the midst of the buzz of Orientation Week, it is important that students not forget about the essentials of preparing themselves for the year ahead.

“Students must make sure they register for courses before classes begin,” said Kenneth Rinquest, Acting Head of Student Affairs, “They need to make sure that their accommodation is in order. They must also be aware of safety issues.”

Echoing the Vice-Chancellor’s comments in her Welcome address about leading a holistic student life, Rinquest advises the new students of 2009, “Play hard and work hard – keep a balance.”

By Ilana Abratt, Marketing and Communication Department

For more information about student events and services at CPUT, contact the Student Development Officers:

Bellville:
Mastura Jamodien: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Eugene Malan: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Cape Town:
Anette Grobler: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Nomsa Kulehile: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Thobeka September: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Derek Stocken: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Mowbray:
Sandy Johnson (acting SDO): This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

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

Written by CPUT News
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February

• 1 February: Teaching and Learning
• 1 February: Business FMM
• 2 February: Graduation Planning
• 2 February: Continuing Education
• 3 February: Executive Management
• 4 February: Tender Board
• 4 February: Senate Research
• 4 February: CPUTRF Admin and Ben
• 4 February: CPUTRF Fin, Inv and Audit
• 4 February: Library Committee
• 5 February: Secretariat
• 5 February: Advancement, Marketing and Communication Forum
• 5 February: NACI
• 5 February: Applied Sciences FMM
• 8 February: Deans
• 9 February: Cooperative Education and Service Learning
• 10 February: Executive Management
• 10 February: Informatics and Design FMM
• 10 February: Engineering FMM
• 11 February: ICT
• 11 February: Institutional Ethics Review Board
• 12 February: Health and Wellness FMM
• 12 February: Applied Sciences FMM
• 12 February: Council Membership Committee
• 15 February: Student Admin Committee
• 15 February: Academic Planning
• 15 February: Business FMM
• 16 February: Exco of Senate
• 17 February: Executive Management
• 17 February: Informatics and Design Academic Board
• 18 February: Data Quality
• 18 February: Quality Assurance
• 19 February: Council Advancement, Marketing and Communication
• 19 February: Human Resources
• 20 February: Applied Sciences FMM
• 22 February: Deans
• 23 February: SSC
• 23 February: Special Exco of Senate
• 24 February: Executive Management
• 24 February: Informatics and Design FMM
• 24 February: Engineering FMM
• 24 February: Applied Sciences Faculty Board
• 25 February: CPUTR BoT
• 25 February: HDC
• 25 February: ICT Operational Workgroup
• 26 February: Health and Wellness Sciences FMM
• 26 February: Language Policy
• 26 February: Applied Sciences FMM

March

• 1 March: Business FMM
• 1 March: Physical Planning
• 1 March: Finance
• 2 March: Data Quality
• 2 March: Hotel School Management Board
• 3 March: Executive Management
• 4 March: Secretariat
• 4 March: Institutional Forum
• 5 March: Applied Sciences FMM
• 5 March: Budget Review Committee
• 8 March: Deans
• 8 March: Audit Committee
• 8 March: Exco of Council
• 9 March: SATN Board meeting
• 9 March: HDC
• 10 March: Executive Management
• 10 March: Informatics and Design FMM
• 10 March: Engineering FMM
• 11 March: Institutional Strategic Planning
• 12 March: Health and Wellness Sciences FMM
• 12 March: Applied Sciences FMM
• 12 March: Council Membership Committee
• 15 March: Business FMM
• 15 March: Senate
• 15 March: CPUTRF AGM
• 16 March: Tender Board
• 17 March: Executive Management
• 18 March: Student Admin Committee
• 18 March: CPUTRF AGM
• 19 March: JUTT/EM
• 19 March: Applied Sciences FMM
• 23 March: Transformation Forum
• 23 March: CTC
• 23 March: Exco of Senate
• 24 March: Graduation Planning
• 24 March: Executive Management
• 24 March: Business Faculty Board
• 24 March: Informatics and Design FMM
• 24 March: Engineering FMM
• 24 March: ICT Operational Workgroup
• 24 March: Health and Wellness Faculty Board
• 24 March: Applied Sciences FMM
• 24 March: Council

Written by CPUT News
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CPUT welcomes all 2010 first year and returning students.

To find registration times, dates and venues, download the online brochure relevant to your faculty.

Note that links to campus maps can be found on the CPUT Contacts and Directions page.

Click each list item to download the relevant Registration 2010 brochure.

• Faculty of Applied Sciences
• Faculty of Business
• Faculty of Education - Bellville
• Faculty of Education - Mowbray
• Faculty of Education - Wellington
• Faculty of Engineering
• Faculty of Health and Wellness Sciences
• Faculty of Informatics and Design - Cape Town
• Faculty of Informatics and Design - Thomas Pattullo

Written by CPUT News
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Creating awareness about environmental issues at the Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT) through radio is a vital part of building a sustainable institution, said one of the organisers of the new Green Radio Show.

The show, to be presented by CPUT’s environmental management students over four weeks, will focus on environmental issues affecting students’ lives.

Green Radio Team co-coordinator, Ms Leanne Seeliger, said: “We want students to see that the choices they make have direct impact on the environment. It matters what kind of transport they use or whether they leave their bedroom lights burning all day.”

In keeping with this philosophy, the hosts will focus on topics that they believe are affecting students’ choices today. These include the electricity crisis, waste management and global warming. They also plan to conduct interviews with staff and students at campus on these topics.

Commenting on the choice of global warming, one of the students Ncedo Bam said: “When I chose to study Environmental Management I had no idea that my choices affected the future of the planet.”

Environmental Management programme head, Jacob Seconna, said his department was making communication on environmental issues a priority for the students “who will have to lead the country into a better future”.

Show hosts have also been encouraged to involve more students in the show. Yolanda Tyhulu, one the hosts, said they plan to invite various individuals with strong opinions on environmental issues to come and air their views.”

For more information on the show, students should contact Leanne Seeliger on This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Written by CPUT News
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One of the hottest acts in South Africa, Gang of Instrumentals, will be performing live for CPUT students on Monday the 18th February, 2008. The event, presented by Student Affairs, will be taking place in the piazza on the Cape Town campus during the 13:00 lunch break.

The GI band members are dynamic, multi-skilled entertainers with serious street credibility and massive popularity. Breaking the mould of pop urban music, the stylish band fuses soul and hip hop with a distinct reggae feel, experimenting with the afro-funk genre to create a sound which is distinctly GI. Their first album, Kassi Flava, was nominated for two Channel O awards. Their latest album, Salute, has broadened the band’s popularity even further with the chart-topping single ‘My Number One.’

The event promises to be one of the best and biggest musical performances seen on Cape Town campus this year.

Written by CPUT News
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A new chill spot on the Bellville campus will provide students with a space to take a relaxing break to enjoy their lunch, watch a big sport match or simply chill.

Located behind the Student Centre, the chill spot is expected to be ready for use in November and will have high-speed internet, picnic benches, specialised 55-inch media screens and electric power points for devices.

The plan is to roll-out the concept to all campuses.

“The concept is to promote more living and learning spaces on our campuses with an enhanced experience of university life,” said Phillip Chibvuri from the Residence Commercial Services Unit.

The spot also provides shelter for shuttle users and is directly opposite a shuttle point.  

“Students can have some lunch, listen to some campus radio, watch big sport games, check their shuttle times on the screens and just chill in general”, he added.

The screens will air a variety of content, mainly consisting of edutainment.

“This very concept will assist in providing our students with places they can relax and discuss all their experiences in a safe and convenient environment.  After all, students need to ‘chill’. This is a step in the direction of creating hubs for our students for positive development and experience at our beloved CPUT”, said Johnny Basson, Business Manager: Residence Commercial Services Unit.

Chibvuri added: “The chill spot concept strives to ensure a product that is memorable and enhancing to the student experience at our Institution.  It is part of the residences enhancement and experience programme, which seeks to promote interaction, sense of belonging, recreation and  convenience in the development of a fully baked  graduate while at the same time promoting  sustainability  and viability for the institution.”

Written by Ilse Fredericks
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CPUT has secured a grant from the Michael & Susan Dell Foundation to strengthen virtual student support services.

The University will be supporting students on their journey to academic fulfilment during the current trying and uncertain times. The support will not only include additional academic assistance but will encapsulate overall support for students, looking at psycho-social support, disability unit support, counselling and psychotherapeutic therapy, amongst others.

The onset of the global pandemic has intensified the challenges students face. Educational institutions are adapting to new ways of learning whilst dealing with the additional disruptions the lockdown and COVID-19 bring. Crucial support systems and developing long-term, sustainable innovations within the education sector are required for students’ journey to adapt and reach their academic ambitions.

“As we enter the uncharted territory of COVID-19 and its regulatory restrictions, careful planning is needed to implement holistic student support in order to address students' needs during this time. Ours is underpinned by the principle that no student will be left behind,” says Prof Driekie Hay-Swemmer, Executive Director: Office of the Vice-Chancellor.

Projects that the institution is embarking on for students’ support during this time are:

Updated Online Directory which would ease access as students would be able to navigate information.

Online Helpdesk for students to access remotely while off-campus. Tutor and Teaching Assistant Programme: additional Writing Centre Learning facilitators - academic literacy support, additional Maths and Science Learning Facilitators.

Mentor and Retention officers which provide psycho-social support to first-year students. With COVID-19 their operation has changed from face-to-face to online.

Employability Improvement Programme which means online materials need to be developed, adapted to specific disciplines and offered to enhance student employability.

The Extended Curriculum Programme Support: specific tutorial support and seminars; online psycho-social support; E-books: Pearson’s My Labs & Mastering for Dental Science; Prescribed e-textbooks for Faculty of Business and Management Sciences Extended Curriculum Programme students; My Foundations Labs On-line reading and comprehension material.

Disability Unit support: online tutorials and support to lecturers about universal access and universal design for online and multimodal learning so that no student with a disability is left behind.

Student Counselling: rendering of online psychotherapeutic therapy and support services to students.

HIV Unit support: online coaching and support to current peer educators on creating short infotainment video clips and educational posters to provide online awareness campaigns focusing on COVID-19, HIV/AIDS, sexual and reproductive health, gender-based violence and related social justice topics so that peer-to-peer learning continues remotely.

In order to make these projects possible, Hay-Swemmer says that the impact of the grant will be felt by every student because staff members will be supported to quickly climatise to the new form of teaching and thereby cascading this to students.

Thashlin Govender, Program Director at the Michael & Susan Dell Foundation, says working in higher education for over a decade has shown the foundation how important collaboration is in order to provide an enabling environment for student success.

“The student environment serves as a key pillar to their academic experience and ensuring that students have the academic, physical, and emotional infrastructure to succeed is one of our guiding principles. We are pleased to have found a like-minded partner in CPUT that will help us create long-term benefits for students during this turbulent times,” Govender remarks.

In addition, Hay-Swemmer says the students and staff readiness to embrace virtual education are essential and hence the need for projects like this.  “Students must respond to the call by the university for them to urgently update their contact details online. Staff members and students must embrace the multi-modal approach of teaching and learning.”

Written by Aphiwe Boyce
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The Department of Nursing Science is leading an initiative which aims to strengthen efforts to ensure the gradual safe return of staff and students to campuses.

The project has provided training, conducted via Microsoft Teams, for Campus Protection Services (CPS) as well as heads of departments and faculties and cleaning services.

“The focus was mainly on personal safety, wearing of PPE (Personal Protective Equipment), access control and measuring temperature,” said Prof Karien Jooste, Head of the Department of Nursing Science. Jooste drew up a training programme for nurse educators who are experts in Occupational Health to provide the training. The training was coordinated and facilitated by the department’s Natalie Copeling and her team. 

The project was conducted in liaison with Human Capital: Learning and Development and Melanie Marais, Head of HIV/AIDS Unit as well as Campus Health Clinics.
CPS and cleaning staff were provided with information specifically tailored for their role in the processes.
According to Jooste, training of the CPS staff focused on the part that these staff will play in the screening of temperatures. “Training also included the use of interpersonal skills to address the possible fears and uncertainty that staff may have in relation to both the screening process and the return to campus within the constraints of our ‘new normal’”.

She added that the training for cleaning services staff will reinforce the way of cleaning, where to clean specifically and the chemicals used for the cleaning and disinfecting processes. Information sessions are also offered to all CPUT staff to provide a clearer idea of how to prepare the campus for the return of staff and students as well as what to expect on return.
“Participating in training is a constructive way to give back to the community and is in line with the slogan of the department: Carers for the future!” said Jooste.

The initiative comes as the department marks the Year of Nurse and the Midwife. This year has been designated as the Year of the Nurse and the Midwife by the World Health Organisation to mark the bicentenary of the birth of the founder of modern nursing, Florence Nightingale and to recognise the critical contribution nurses make to global health.

Marais said training for peer educators in residences had also been provided.

The Nursing Science Department encouraged the CPUT community to continue:

• washing hands regularly
• practising social distancing
• wearing a mask

Written by Ilse Fredericks
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The Department of Student Affairs has initiated a food parcel drive to support vulnerable CPUT students during the lockdown.

Deputy Dean of Students, Tulani Nkuntse said they have been working with the Central Student Representative Council in partnership with an NGO, Ithemba Labantu, and staff members to assist 420 identified students who are currently in residences and in need of food and basic essentials. “We have rolled out assistance for the students who have not received their allowances to [this] date, [and] students who are not receiving any form of bursary or NSFAS…and we were clear that this is for students who have no means to support themselves.” 

This initiative has been benefiting mainly the students on the Bellville Campus. Nkuntse said postgraduate students in Cape Town also started a fund to assist students residing in their residences who were identified as needing similar support. “This has also fast-tracked the university’s wider student support programme geared to support our struggling students; the groundwork has begun,” said Nkuntse.

He added that the university has already spent about R200 000 and that the initiative came at a time when the institution had begun looking at various ways on how to build a sustainable programme to support its struggling students. “We believe that this initiative will provide a good foundation for the programme to be implemented in the near future.”

This initiative also received a thumbs up from Vice-Chancellor Prof Chris Nhlapo, who said: “This is excellent beyond measure. This is what social justice and a caring university must do. Well done.” 

Nkuntse added that the university has a number of struggling students and support of this kind was crucial for ‘our’ university. “We are committed to ensuring that we support our students in all ways possible. Good nutrition results in good health and ultimately good academic performance.”

*The Dr Mzamo Jakavula Foundation and Adams Food Stall have also been assisting with cooked meals.

Written by Aphiwe Boyce
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The Department of Student Affairs has gone the extra mile to assist students since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Deputy Dean of Students, Tulani Nkuntse, said that from 1 March to 18 April, the university has initiated a number of programmes, including Health Cluster activities, busing students home ahead of lockdown, accommodating students who could not go home, student counselling and general residence activities. When President Cyril Ramaphosa announced that SA would go into lockdown, it was decided that it would be in (residence) students’ best interests if they returned to their families for the duration of the lockdown period.

Nkuntse said 941 students were transported by CPUT chartered buses and 9 719 went home voluntarily. A total of 1853 students chose to remain on campus.

“There is good provision of services to ensure the hygiene of residences [such as] procuring and securing protective equipment, sanitisers and gloves, good containment with no positive cases reported thus far.”

The Student Health Clinic works in tandem with the Western Cape Department of Health and the National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD) in Cape Town as they follow the World Health Organisation, National Department of Health and NICD Protocols in the management of suspected and confirmed Coronavirus cases. “All suspected, confirmed cases and close contacts at CPUT campuses can be reported telephonically to the student health clinic with the following detail:

• Name and surname of suspected case/patient
• Contact number and alternative number
• Date of start of symptoms

The deputy dean added that anti-microbial (antibiotics) treatment is not advised for COVID-19 cases unless there is good reason to do so e.g. secondary bacterial infections.   He said the university has increased access to staff members for students in all activities and that students can send emails to request counselling. Student counsellors can call to follow up.

Nkuntse said students have been adhering to lockdown rules as required and there has been greater access control at campus gates.

“This period has challenged us to look deeply and we fast-tracked the thinking around the services we provide as student affairs and how we need to reimagine student affairs for the university of the future. We have acted in the best way possible. We continue to look for ways to improve during this uncertain time but in all we do; we have our students at the centre of it all. [We are] quite happy with the progress made thus far. We were able to really, in a short space of time [we] come up with and implemented concrete plans to ensure that we respond in a responsible manner. We continue to make more strides to ensure that our interventions yield the desired results,” Nkuntse said.

Emergency contact person is Andries Slinger; *60247 or 076 229 0298

Written by Aphiwe Boyce
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District Six staff members and students can now boost their health and fitness levels at the new Outdoor Gym on the campus.

The new facility, situated at corner of Constitution and Tennant streets boasts eleven pieces of equipment and is the second one of its kind at CPUT.

The outdoor gym park at the Bellville campus opened last year and plans are afoot to roll out the project at the Mowbray and Wellington campuses.

According to the Residence Business Unit, which has been managing the project, outdoor gym sessions and a boot camp series will soon resume at the Bellville campus. The District Six gym will also have professional trainers on site on Mondays to Thursdays from 4 pm to 6 pm. The starting dates will be announced soon and these sessions will be free of charge for staff and students.
The unit hopes that the project will provide a spot where staff and students can enjoy the benefits of an outdoor gym like at many other university campuses around the world.

“We have looked into the benefits of the project and we are confident it will bring a much needed service within our living and learning spaces. We believe a healthy body leads to a healthy mind and this is important as we strive to be the innovation centre of Africa through our One Smart CPUT drive," said Johnny Basson, Manager of the Residence Business Unit.

Written by Ilse Fredericks
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CPUT has budgeted more than R100 million for building and refurbishing student residences as well as upgrading and restoring other buildings on the university’s various campuses.

The infrastructure development projects include the refurbishments of Freedom Square Residence on the Bellville Campus and St Peter’s Residence Block D in Observatory, which have now been completed.

The heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system upgrades for the Commerce Building, the Design Building and the E-Learning Building on the District Six Campus have also been completed.

Department of Physical Planning’s Manelisi Rarani says that the construction of a new student residence on the Wellington Campus is in progress. “The contractor has been appointed and construction will commence upon approval of the building plans,” says Rarani.

He adds that the restoration of Ikamva Building on the District Six Campus and Greenoaks Building in the Elizabeth Women Residence (Cape Town) is in progress. “The contractor is on site and work is planned to be completed by end of June 2020,” he says.

The restoration of Lecture Theatre 3 on the District Six Campus and the Staff Room on the Mowbray Campus is in progress as the contractors have been appointed and the work will begin after the finalisation of contracts.

He said that the refurbishments of St Peter’s Residence Blocks A, B and C in Observatory, which is underway, are planned to be completed by end of June.

Roof repairs and waterproofing of several buildings on the Bellville Campus have been completed, and Rarani says similar maintenance work on several buildings on the District Six and Granger Bay campuses is in progress and will be completed by end of May.

Written by Kwanele Butana
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Set goals, work hard and stay focused on your studies.

These are just some of the tips senior CPUT students shared with first years during welcome ceremonies that took place at the Cape Town, Bellville and Wellington Campuses this week.

Final year Project Management student, Abubakr Hattas, who is one of CPUT’s top performing students, says those who have joined CPUT this year, are a step closer to achieving their goals.

However, Abubakr says the reality is that some students don’t graduate, while others take many years to do so.

Boasting an impressive academic record of 10 distinctions, Abubakr says achieving success at CPUT is possible provided students priories their studies and rise above the challenges they will face.

“I have successfully navigated my university years by dedicating myself to achieving my goals,” he says.

Another top performing student, Wanga Ncise, encouraged the class of 2016 to make sacrifices.

Wanga, who is a Masters student enrolled in the horticulture programme, says sleepless nights and putting in that extra effort will pay off.

He also encouraged students to respect lecturers and to be actively involved in classroom activities.

CPUT SRC Chairperson Sibusiso Thwala, echoed his peers’ sentiments and reminded students that their primary purpose at CPUT is to attain a higher education qualification.

He encouraged students to not be side-tracked by other influences during their time at university.

Vice-Chancellor, Dr Prins Nevhutalu reminded first years that entrance to a university is a privilege.

“Keep focused on your goals,” says Nevhutalu.

Written by Candes Keating
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Provides coverage for the Engineering and Applied Sciences Faculties; the Bellville and Wellington Campuses, and research and innovation news.

Exams at CPUT officially commenced today.

The majority of students are writing exams at the Wingfield Military Base in Goodwood, while others are writing at venues across South Africa and in Namibia, Zimbabwe, the DRC, and Nigeria.

The examinations will run up until the end of the month.

Exams kicked off smoothly at most venues this morning. Minor issues at some venues have been dealt with and exams should continue trouble-free.

Students who wish to improve their CAM marks for those subjects that do not appear on the current exam time table, will be given the opportunity to do so during the re-assessment period which will commence on Monday, 1 February 2016.

Students are reminded that student cards or ID documents must be produced in order to board buses or gain access to examination venues and to report at the examination venues at least one hour before the commencement of their exam.

Please take note of the following important information:

Timetables and venue information

Updated timetables and additional venue information is available on the CPUT website at http://www.cput.ac.za/students/about/timetables

Transport for residence students

Busses from Cape Town Campus to Goodwood exam venue depart daily from Caledon Road at 7:00 and 12:30.

Busses from Bellville Campus to Goodwood exam venue depart daily from the tennis courts at 7:00 and 12:30.

The bus going to Bellville Campus, IT Centre for computer based exams, departs the eLearning Centre in Cape Town at 7:00 daily.

Computer labs

Some labs have been made available for study purposes.

The labs in the FBMS is open from 8:00-20:00 daily.

The eLearning Centre in Cape Town is open 24 hours a day.

Library hours

All CPUT Libraries are open. During the exam period, all libraries will be following semester hours. At the sites where exams are completed, vacation hours will be followed. View library hours here: http://www.cput.ac.za/library/about/opening-hours

PLEASE NOTE: the official communication channels remain the CPUT website, student email accounts as well as the official CPUT Facebook page and CPUT Student Affairs Facebook page.

Written by CPUT News
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CPUT’s Student Accommodation Management System (SAMS) will aim to deliver a one-stop centre for all information and operations of residence management, with quality service at the heart of it all.

The project will range from maintenance logs, student/client experience, client complaints, client history , payments patterns and a number of other client-centric features to improve the residence experience, not only for the client but for the institution to get to know its clients better as well.

“The system will also aid in managing the billing, placement tracking and analyses and will be an ideal business analysis tool for CPUT. We are talking of a system that will give you a 3D space view for each building, inform the authorised user of the assets, dimensions and usage of utilities of each building loaded,” said Phillip Chibvuri, finance specialist and project leader of CPUT’s SAMS.

SAMS will be unique to CPUT and will be able to interface with any existing systems.

The project will also feature a student mobile app option for residence users which will enhance the communication and linkage with the client.

“This is a bold move towards a more tech-savvy operational model that will achieve the best required results and opportunities to provide a quality service to the clients. It is an interesting undertaking, which was birthed out of operational challenges and a vision/outlook that we could do better, always,” Chibvuri added.

“There is a need to accelerate our approach to achieve more in-time deliverables than we have been capable of but had not activated yet. We have got to align operations in a more efficient angle of doing things and create a measurable, sustainable and favourable service/product to all clients. SAMS will certainly take us into the future and to make strides towards achieving Vision2030,” says Business Manager, Johnny Basson.

Written by CPUT News
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Two CPUT representatives have been appointed to the Regional Board of the Association of College and University Housing Officers International – Southern African Chapter (ACUHO-I SAC).

They are Deputy Dean of Student Affairs, Njabulo Maphumulo and Residence Finance Specialist, Phillip Chibvuri.

The main focus of the global association centres around several university and college housing matters ranging from staff, operational and financial models, to sustainability on campuses and interaction with authorities and stakeholders.

The regional chapter has been in existence for more than 15 years.

Maphumulo has been elected as vice-president of the association from 2025 to 2027.

“I am delighted to be elected vice-president of the ACUHO-I in Southern Africa. Whilst I am not new in the organisation, as I served as the Executive Head of Residential Education for the past seven years, I am confident that I will continue contributing to holistic student development and success, in particular in the student housing field. Our collective mandate remains to develop and introduce different approaches to managing, controlling, and supporting the student housing field in the higher education sector. I am therefore grateful to be trusted with such a role by the member institutions.”

Chibvuri was elected as Treasurer General of the Association for the same term.

He said: “I am humbled and thankful to all that have put their confidence in me for the role and without much delay I will shift the thinking to be that which I think is without a box at all as the possibilities of how and where the organisation can transition to greater heights are vast. I am excited to serve our very own continent of Africa, its people, and the global village.”

Written by Ilse Fredericks
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Many individuals perceive pool as just a recreational game – something one plays at a bar or in the man cave. However, to members of CPUT’s supa-pool teams, it’s more than just leisure. It’s a competitive sport where they can test their skills against opponents from other universities nationwide.

CPUT supa-pool men’s team recently took first place overall in the 2024 USSA National Institutional Supa-Pool Championships. CPUT recently hosted the 2024 USSA Supa-pool Championships at the Western Cape Ultimate Pool Centre, Bellville.

Sport Development Officer, Quinton Summers, who was the chairperson of the Local Organising Committee, said the venue was “a positive new addition to this event”. “Hosting the event off-campus at a community venue meant that USSA supa-pool was exposed to the community more than it would have been.”

There were six participating universities: CPUT, Sefako Makgatho University, the University of the Western Cape (UWC), the University of Limpopo, Rhodes University, and the University of Fort Hare, and each university brought two men’s teams and a female team for the five-day tournament. Summers said: “The competition was exciting, on each day the excitement in the venue could be felt.” The men’s team won the men’s section by beating UWC in the final. Unfortunately, the ladies did not make the knock-out stages but one of CPUT's players, Perseverance Mashilo was the best women’s player of the tournament.

Even though Perseverance did not make it to the knockout stages her scores in the round-robin part of the event were the best. This earned her the award. The CPUT Supa-Pool team Manager, Ricardo Geduld, and Coach, Beauren Simon worked tirelessly behind the scenes to earn the team the success and the respect they deserve at the USSA level.

The overall Women's Individual winner – Shanice Van Vuuren (UWC), made the knockout stages and won the final. Summers clarified that the scores in the knockout stages don't impact the points scored leading up to that stage of the tournament. The UWC was the winner of the women’s section. The Player of the Tournament, (men) was Kevin Martin, meanwhile, the overall team of the tournament was the University of Limpopo.

Written by Aphiwe Boyce
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Student innovators and entrepreneurs were given the opportunity to hone and show off their skills during the recent Heritage Entrepreneurship Day at the District Six Campus.

The event, a collaboration between the Department of Business and Management Sciences (FBMS) and the Division of Student Affairs, also saw industry leaders, authors, entrepreneurs, and researchers share their knowledge with students.

Mandie Richards, Senior Lecturer and Transformation and Social Cohesion Forum Chairperson, said she was excited that the event allowed for collaboration across departments in the FBMS and with external partner, African Bank, a relationship established by Strategic Initiatives and Projects Manager, Andiswa Mrasi.

The Business and Information Administration (BIA), Entrepreneurship, Retail and Marketing departments integrate entrepreneurship into the curriculum, facilitating the process for students to practically apply their skills by selling their products/services at the event. Profits raised are donated to various non-profit organisations to assist them with much-needed resources.

The Business Innovation and Incubation Centre innovators (BIIC) showcased their businesses, which provided much insight into the practicalities of the operation and allowed for engagement about their products.

Entrepreneur and author of the book The Business Legend, Dr Quinton Simpson, shared his entrepreneurial journey and told students: “Your business legacy is in your hands”.

African Bank’s Money Master Class Co-ordinator and Chief Executive Officer of Zoluhle Financial Wellness, Zibu Masotobe, engaged with students interactively on consumer education and the role students have to play in ensuring that they achieve their objectives by setting goals, while African Bank Head of Transformation, Elizabeth Ramashala expressed their commitment to entrepreneurship development and encouraged the students to take advantage of the opportunities available to them.

Spot prizes were awarded to students.

The market stalls set up by students around the Piazza showed their entrepreneurial spirit and DJ Inga Mzilikazi filled the student centre with rhythm and soulful beats.

The following winners were announced:

The Spirit prize was awarded to a BIA group called Sweet and Savoury. This group was also sponsored by Makro, Ottery and the sponsorship included staff from Makro engaging on the day and assisting the students.

The Marketing prize was awarded to a BIA group, Sweets Stakz Den, whilst the Best Product which aligned to the theme was awarded to an Entrepreneurship group, SIIBAs CREATIONS.

One of the BIIC innovators emphasised the need for entrepreneurial creation education. He further stated that support was required for entrepreneurs and that BB-EEE was not the answer to addressing unemployment, but that an entrepreneurial mindset was required.

Richards concluded: “As educators, we need to partner with industry and government and align graduate attributes so as to ensure that we provide opportunities for students for employability, and at the same time encourage civic engagement and paying it forward.”

Written by CPUT News
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