Students from universities and TVET Colleges around the Western Cape have committed themselves to tackling the Aids epidemic head on by engaging in issues of unprotected sex , sexual and gender-based violence, substance abuse,  HIV testing and other free health related services offered at the conference .

These and other ideas to end HIV infection were discussed vigorously during the recent HIV/Aids Youth Leadership Conference which CPUT hosted on the Bellville Campus.

Following the success of last year’s inaugural conference, the theme of this year’s conference was: You can be the difference.

Attended by student leaders from CPUT, UWC, Stellenbosch University, False Bay College, Boland College and the College of Cape Town, the conference’s sponsors included Higher Education Aids (HEAIDS), The Global Fund, NACOSA and DHET.

The CPUT SRC announced its fundraising initiative to alleviate hunger among the students which they link to the spread of HIV.

“We thus call upon Higher Education AIDS to partner up with us in this initiative that will go a long way in making strides to tackling the epidemic of HIV/AIDS in higher education,” said Central SRC President, Sibusiso Thwala,.”

Delivering the keynote address, Alex Semba from HEAIDS, said educated youth are a stronger force of transformation in their communities than their peers.

He said they intend to train 7 000 Peer Educators in universities ad TVET Colleges this year.

International Aids Society’s Dr Memory Muturiki called for increased private sector support ad donor funding and encouraged young people to express their views on tackling HIV/Aids.

The conference also featured satellite sessions and panel discussions focusing on pertinent issues of LGBTQI, Innovative methods of reaching youth and Leadership Development.

Two students from CPUT and False Bay College won an all-expenses paid trip to the 2016 International AIDS Conference in Durban.

Written by Kwanele Butana
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Consistent with its resolve to produce not only qualified but also healthy graduates, CPUT students have access to wellness services from the HIV/AIDS Unit.

Situated in the Administration Building on the Cape Town Campus, the unit aims to prevent and control HIV/Aids, sexually transmitted infections and works tirelessly to attend to the holistic wellbeing of all students.

It conducts research, runs awareness campaigns, community outreach programmes, and is also actively involved in curriculum integration of HIV/AIDS, STIs and TB.

Students at the Bellville Campus can access the unit’s services at its satellite office on the campus, while those at other campuses have access to the healthcare services via the Mobile Unit.

Services include walk-in HIV Counseling and Testing Services, a Peer Education Program, Internship as well as Volunteer Programs.

Among several campaigns run by the unit, students can also look forward to a Youth Leadership Conference which is planned for the first Semester.

Written by Kwanele Butana
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Students can count on a reliable service for their wellness needs from the HIV/AIDS Unit.

The unit aims to prevent, control and manage HIV/Aids, Sexually Transmitted Infections, and TB among students and staff. It works hand in hand with Student Counselling, Campus Health Clinics and the Disability Unit towards the holistic wellbeing of all students.

The unit runs awareness campaigns, research and community outreach programmes and provides peer education, care and support. It also has a Wellness Mobile Unit.

“We are proud of our Wellness Mobile Unit that makes it possible to reach our different campuses throughout the year, bringing healthcare services to your doorstep,” says head of the unit Melanie Marais.

“In addition to these existing roles, we are involved in curriculum integration of HIV/AIDS, STI and TB.”

The unit will also participate in the three-week orientation program that will see them run HIV counselling and testing campaigns across all campuses.

“Our encouragement to you is to support our services throughout the year, get to know your HIV status, practise safe sex and most importantly enjoy your time here,” says Marais.

For more information visit the unit at the Cape Town Campus, Administration Building, 2^nd floor or contact the office at +27 21 460 4253, +27 21 460 4252 or 021 959 6898.

You can also follow the unit’s activities on Facebook or Twitter

Written by Kwanele Butana
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The CPUT HIV/AIDS Unit recently held its annual Peer Education Awards ceremony, the first face-to-face ceremony after the COVID-19 pandemic. The ceremony was held at the Cape Town Hotel School and was hosted by the Unit’s interns, Siphelele Maseko and Nthabiseng Maake.

“The purpose of the event was to celebrate the hard work and dedication of the 2022 Peer Educators throughout the year. They have given themselves entirely by ensuring that each campus and campus residence had new condoms, students were aware of what was going on in the Unit and that discussions were held on crucial topics that students faced. They showcased their leadership skills by actively promoting the CPUT Vooma Vaccination Drive earlier in the year. These incredible young minds were celebrated through a state-of-the-art Classic and Vintage theme event titled “Celebrating a Vintage Heart, with a Vintage Mind”,” said Melanie Swanson, Head of the HIV/Aids Units.

The Peer Educators were awarded with a certificate of completion and there were various categories of awards such as Covid warrior of the year, Social media influencer of the year, Role model of the year, Junior peer of the year, Senior peer educator of the year, Campus leader of the year, Peer mentor of the year, Condom distributor of the year, Most discussion of the year, Change agent of the year, and Campus of the year with monetary prizes awarded to the 1st , 2nd and 3rd place prizes according to their work recorded through a monthly log sheet.

Executive Director in the Office of the Vice-Chancellor, Prof Drieke Hay-Swemmer, shared a message of support with the Peer Educators to encourage them to keep doing great work and to be great mentors to others. Andile Xolo, who represented the Central SRC, said: “I wish that the HIV/AIDS Unit will continue recruiting peer educators to join the programme and I hope that all students come and participate in the programme. All in all, the HIV/AIDS Unit is doing a great job and I enjoyed myself”.

Here’s what some of the winners had to say:

“The experience I got in this programme, it will forever stay with me. It has inspired and motivated me to want to do more and seeing my fellow peer eds getting awards/certificates for what they have done during the year. That sparked my interest to be more active in everything I want to achieve”

“I enjoyed those team building games we had in our refreshers training and the discussion we had that day. Also, this programme has helped me to gain my confidence back.”

“The ceremony was amazing and congratulations to all who won and those that are motivated to do better next year. For as long as we support each other the world is a better place”

“My thanks go to the HIV/AIDS unit and their sponsors. Office bearers and peer educators on the ground.”

“We are CPUT and once a peer educator, always a peer educator.”

“Everyone came out looking gorgeous and stunning and they truly enjoyed themselves, indeed, it was a spectacular event as the awards winner had nothing but great things to say and the guest left thrilled. We wish to thank the management of CPUT, Higher Health and Fundani Centre for their generous support of our programmes,” said Swanson.

If you wish to be a 2023 Peer Educator, send your brief CV and motivation letter to the Peer Education Officer, Miss Nonhlanhla Ndabeni, at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Written by CPUT News
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The HIV/AIDS Unit invites staff and students to join the Young Women Empowerment team for an interactive hour-long conversation with Rachel Kolisi, this afternoon from 5:30 pm until 6:30 pm via Zoom.

The online event with the topic: In Conversation With Rachel Kolisi, will focus on young women empowerment and personal and leadership development.

Head of the HIV/AIDS Unit, Melanie Marais says: “We know her to be the co-founder of the Kolisi Foundation, philanthropist of note, a mother and wife of the very popular Springbok Captain, Siya Kolisi.  

“Being the co-founder of the Kolisi Foundations, aimed at building communities, there is a lot that young women can learn from her experience.”

 As part of the Young Women Empowerment programme, the HIV/AIDS Unit under the Division of Student Affairs focuses on empowering young women in terms of personal and leadership development and entrepreneurship. The Young Women Empowerment Programme is an initiative of the Division of Student Affairs, championed by the HIV/Aids Unit. It started in 2017 with various interventions that focus on entrepreneurship, leadership and personal development and reproductive health awareness amongst young women.  

“This programme is also known to our neighbouring universities and TVET colleges. Our hashtag is #YoungWomenLeadingTheChange because we believe that the sky is the limit for every young woman and they are able to achieve their dream goals,” says Marais.

The end goal is to develop important skills such as personal and leadership development, starting their own successful foundations and leading in their respective areas of expertise. “We’re so excited because Rachel Kolisi liked our post on the HIV Unit Instagram page,” Marais enthuses. The HIV Unit has another very well-known celebrity lined up for 7 August 2021.

To stay up to date and connected, do follow HIV Unit on their social media platforms under CPUTHIVUnit; Western Cape Young Women Leading the Change Forum and Amajita’s Men’s Program.

To join the Zoom conversation with Rachel Kolisi, follow the link: https://us05web.zoom.us/j/81113915360?pwd=YThPK0ZoR0RzVlZTMVV1S0dZTmNjUT09Meeting ID: 811 1391 5360

Passcode: rX9xxh

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

Written by Aphiwe Boyce
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The HIV/AIDS Unit recently hosted an interactive hour-long online conversation with Rachel Kolisi, who shared her experiences and challenges as a young woman.

A brilliant Public Relations Intern, Bonga Kubheka interviewed Kolisi and after the interview, Kolisi remarked by saying “You nailed it”. Head of the HIV/AIDS Unit, Melanie Marais said the event was an insightful conversation and many young women were able to relate to Kolisi’s experiences. Kolisi also shared how she and her husband, rugby star Siyamthanda started their foundation and that it was aimed at reaching out to communities in need.  “Her humbleness and openness about her own experiences and challenges as a young woman was commendable and it was clear that her intention was to build young women during this conversation,” says Marais.

“The questions really helped in steering the conversation to topics that Rachel was clearly passionate about such as the Kolisi Foundation and the work they do related to contributing to the fight against gender-based violence (GBV) and helping victims, as well as global social issues such as poverty.”

Kolisi also touched on the racial discord in South Africa and how people need to be more educated about these topics. She said systematic racism needs to be discussed more in schools so that young people are more educated and can therefore think critically about the world around them and thus how to behave in a society that is so diverse in race and culture.

Kolisi reminded the guests that there was a need to continue with programmes aimed at developing and empowering young people.  She said this could be through sports programmes and reaching out to those young people living in rural areas and ensuring them that nothing can stop them to fulfil their dreams.  Kolisi said that it could also be done by using “our own real-life experiences” to make young people understand mental health issues, advantages and disadvantages of using social media and the importance of making informed-decision in everything “that we do”.

The humble Kolisi also spoke openly about her own mental health challenges as a young girl, when she wanted to end her life at the age of 15 years.  She also reflected on how important it is to have faith and hope considering how far she came in life. In terms of addressing GBV, she said that at the Kolisi Foundation, they adopted principles by which everyone in their organisation lives by.  “We will definitely draw on this suggestion and apply it to our own programmes including the Amajita’s Men’s programme,” said Marais.

Kolisi said: “It gives you so much joy, you know to see South African beauty [Zozibini Tunzi,] being celebrated…I have chosen to expose myself to learning and a lot of unlearning as well and to challenge the idea of a beauty standard. What is that even? What is normal? Who decides what the beauty standard is Who decides what a societal norm is?”

She also reflected on the use of social media. “Social media is accessible to everybody all the time and it is also a decision that you make so if you feel like you can handle what goes on in social media, then, by all means, go for it, but if you feel like it is affecting you in a bad way, get off and stay off”.

Marais said this was an important piece of advice because “we know how important it is to have a healthy balance between social media and your mental health”.

Towards the end of the conversation, Siya Kolisi came to surprise the guests and greeted them. Marais asked if Siya would consider talking to our Amajita’s Men’s programme and they are open to it, so having Siya at one of Amajita’s webinars is definitely on the cards in the near future.

Written by Aphiwe Boyce
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The head of CPUT’s HIV/Aids Unit, Melanie Marais, believes in doing things wholeheartedly and her passion for her work is palpable.

Marais joined CPUT in January 2014 and her personal motto is: “Whatever you do, work at it wholeheartedly as though you were doing it for the Lord and not merely for people”.

As a child, she was inspired by women such as the late Princess Diana for her humbleness and desire to break down the stigma around HIV and for highlighting the plight of the most vulnerable in Africa.

“Oprah Winfrey, another phenomenal woman, showed me we as women, we have a place in society. We matter and can have our voices heard, no matter what. Her heart to build young women in our country is heart-warming. Our late mom, Winnie Mandela, what I loved about her was her boldness, courage and fearlessly standing for what she believed in. And then most of all, my mom - what a strong, fearless and bold woman. She went through much and as a single mom of four, brought us where we are today by the grace of God. All these women, in a nutshell, inspired me to be who I am today.” 

Her highlights at the institution include “being able to move with time, being relevant and responsive to key issues in our country, such as gender-based violence (GBV) and the most recent Covid-19 pandemic, are very important”.

Other highlights are implementing key programmes such as Young Women Empowerment, increasing the focus on GBV through the launch of the Position Statement on Institutional Response to Gender-based violence and the Men’s Pledge in 2018, the mass campaign in 2019 where more than 400 trees across CPUT campuses were wrapped with purple ribbons, the Silent Protest against GBV to further increase awareness on the plight of women in our country.

“Amajita’s Men’s programme is another very important programme, which I am very proud of because we believe men are the most important role players in driving down GBV in our country. Seeing students grow, is another very important highlight for our office.”

Marais obtained her Nursing degrees – B.Cur and M.Cur at the University of the Western Cape and is currently enrolled for a Doctorate in Business Administration at Bath University in the UK.

As a nurse, it was important to her to get involved in the fight against COVID-19 and she is one of the staff members who administer vaccines at the University’s vaccination centre.  

“I am first and foremost, a nurse by profession. Fighting illnesses and disease prevention is part of my DNA as a healthcare worker. We are skilled in fighting diseases especially those that threaten the existence of mankind. Being part of a historical event and saving lives made this an important intervention which I am very happy to be part of.”

Her message to young women is: “Believe in yourself, be an influencer, be courageous, be fearless, be you. Grow yourself, use every possible development opportunity and don’t hold back. Your value is not determined by how many likes you receive on social media, or by how many friends you have, it is determined by you and your untapped potential”.

Marais admits that balancing work and her private life is sometimes a challenge and she has to force herself to step back and relax.

“I’ve learnt to spoil myself, more and more. I enjoy watching reality shows, Food Network and a good conspiracy movie. I occasionally write songs and love singing.”

Written by Ilse Fredericks
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HIV/ AIDS Unit Head, Melanie Swanson, encourages students to make use of the services offered by #Keready on campuses and student residences.

#Keready Mobile clinics were recently at Bellville Campus, and they provide youth-friendly HIV, STI and TB screenings at no cost to the students. The medical team includes doctors and nurses and are ready to support the students.

The #Keready team was joined by representatives from the Western Cape (WC) Department of Health, DG Murray Trust, German parliamentarians as well as KfW, GIZ (German Corporation for International Cooperation) and German Embassy representatives. The visit was a short one in which the Unit hosted the delegates for a presentation and a showcasing of their sponsored mobile units. The visitors were welcomed by Prof Judy Peter, Director: Strategic Initiatives and Partnerships, who said the collaboration which was unfolding on the day was a result of deep collaborations between Global North and Global South. “And how important it is to address sustainable development goals around health and well-being because we take a holistic approach to education, and we have an invested interest in our students…”

Reflecting on the event, Swanson said it “was a huge success” and that the German visitors “thanked us for our warm hospitality and were pleased to see their flag in front of the Admin building”. “They were very welcoming in terms of hearing their team’s experiences and being able to visit the donated Wellness Mobile Units and came across very positive, knowing their funds were well-invested.”

She said the presence of the German government delegates, and of the WC Department of Health and being able to network with the service providers were the highlights of the day, adding that the vibrancy of the different state of the art Wellness Mobile Vehicles was a highlight.

“What also stood out during the presentations was the ability to see how #KeReady connect with youth through their youth friendly programmes and their presence in rural farm areas.

In a joint message on behalf of #Keready, Dr Lethukwenama Letsoalo, and Dr Tevarus Naiker expressed their gratitude to the CPUT team. “Yesterday’s visit by KfW, the German delegation and WCDH at CPUT was a great success. I would like to thank both of you [Swanson and Mathapelo Gabaake] for your exceptional efforts and going above and beyond to ensure that everything was in place for the visit. We are truly grateful for your dedication and commitment to excellence.”

They added that they were excited to continue working together and look forward to continued success in “our partnership” [with CPUT].

Written by Aphiwe Boyce

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The provincial Ministry of Health and Wellness recently joined hands with the Department of Nursing Science in the Faculty of Health and Wellness Sciences to host a Reproductive Health Jamboree at the Bellville campus.

February signals the start of Reproductive Health month and Provincial Minister for Health and Wellness, Prof Nomafrench Mbombo, engaged with first-year Nursing students during the event.

Mbombo was welcomed by Dr Nicole Brooks, Acting Dean of the Faculty of Health and Wellness Sciences, whereafter a number of health stakeholders spoke on various topics related to sexual and reproductive health and the crucial role it plays in fostering a healthier society.

Stakeholders included Higher Health, the HIV/Aids Unit and Campus Health Clinics and other role-players.

The speakers included Nursing Science lecturer, Amy Williams, who spoke on why sexual and reproductive health matters while Sr Caroline Maarman provided an overview of the available services from Student Health.

The Provincial Department of Health and Wellness also provided an overview of provincial reproductive health and various stakeholders, including students were given a chance to provide their input.

Students and staff members were also given an opportunity to ask questions and engage with the Minister as well as with the Acting Dean, Acting Deputy Dean of the Faculty, Lloyd Christoper, Head of the Department of Nursing Science, Dr Odilia Sehume and invited stakeholders.

“It was an important opportunity to discuss all things youth matters and to remind all in attendance about how sexual and reproductive health not only impacts one's physical wellbeing, but also one's emotional, social and economic health,” Mbombo said in a social media post, following the event.

Written by Ilse Fredericks

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Representatives from the university’s residences recently attended a thought-provoking workshop where the Report of the Ministerial Task Team (MTT) appointed to advise the Minster of Higher Education, Science and Innovation on Matters of Sexual Matters and Gender-Based Violence and Harm in South African Universities was unpacked.

Melanie Swanson, Head of the HIV/Aids Unit, said the objective was to get residence students and staff, including owned and leased residences, together in one room and to give Higher Health the opportunity to present the key aspects from the report that are important to CPUT.

“It is also to look at a range of protocols, for example, the protocols on students and staff relationships, protocols on safer residences and so on, and also to look at the processes we have in place.”

The MTT was appointed in 2019 and the report was released earlier this year.

The MTT, with the support of the Department of Higher Education and Training, conducted a comprehensive analysis of policy and processes in place at all public universities, with a view to advise on policy gaps and minimum standards for policy, processes and support systems in place to manage and prevent gender-based violence within the higher education system. Stakeholder engagements were also held.

The workshop presented by legal practitioner Erica Emdon focused on the MTT’s eight recommendations and the Policy Framework to address Gender-based Violence in the Post-School Education and Training System, among other things.

The robust conversation included discussions around consent, the role played by alcohol, and the reporting process, among other topics.

Swanson said more sessions would be held with a view towards implementation.

Written by Ilse Fredericks  
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