His early struggles as a university student desperate to source funding for his studies have inspired CPUT Chairperson of Council, Mr Mbulelo Bikwani, to establish a fund for students in need, particularly students with disabilities. He has also pledged his Council stipend for this cause. The fund, which has thus far raised well over R250 000, was launched recently in Gugulethu at a Thanksgiving and Gratitude Ceremony to mark Mr Bikwani’s appointment as Chairman of CPUT ‘s Council.

“During my student days, I literally went around to people that I knew, some of them friends, with a begging cap, asking for money to study,” said Mr Bikwani. “Begging is something that undermines and compromises your dignity, but I was desperate for an education and knew that to achieve this I would have to swallow my pride. Having experienced first-hand the struggle to finance my education, when I became Chairman of Council I knew I couldn’t accept such a prestigious role without initiating a project to make a difference in the lives of students.” The fund is named after one of Mr Bikwani’s generous supporters when he was an impoverished student, Mgcobisi Moffat Ngcebetsha.  

Among the first donors of the fund are the current Rector and Vice-Chancellor of CPUT, Prof Lineo Vuyisa Mazwi-Tanga, Mr Wande Madikane, Mr and Mrs Roger Smith, Mr and Mrs Xolisa Mnyanda, Mr and Mrs Mashilo Mokotong, Mr and Mrs Mike Salter, Prof and Mrs Johannes Cronje, Mr and Mrs Sisa Rafuza, Mr Abram Luruli, Mr and Mrs Mandla Maxongo, Mr Paul Boughey, Dr Patti Wickens and Mr Mlamli Magqwaka.

Dr Mlungisi Kwini, whom with his wife, Dr Miranda Kwini, pledged the incredibly generous anchor funding of R200 000 said, “When Mbu (Mbulelo) spoke to me he mentioned education – and education is everything to me. If you have education you can never be poor, and I talk here from experience not from theory. I grew up looking after someone else’s goats for a living whilst I was at school. For that reason, I’ve asked Mbu how much they’ve raised and he told me that it was R150 000, including my initial pledge of R100 000. I have decided to make this a nice round figure of a quarter of a million, bringing the kitty to R250 000”.

During the Thanksgiving service, the Reverend Dr. Baartman prayed for the University Council to, “enjoy the privilege of building an institution that will serve the nation with determination, honesty and excellence. We pray for the educators, that they will find a sense of joy and fulfillment in their vocation, spiritually, intellectually and materially”. Reverend Professor Lizo Jaftha prayed that the new bursary fund serve as a blessing to many who are in need. ”We also pray that many will help in growing this fund. May those who will serve as administrators of this fund do so faithfully, with a sense of empathy for those who are in great need,” he concluded.

By Thami Nkwanyane

Written by CPUT News
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Students and staff members who contend with disabilities can now access a variety of support services at the University’s new Disability Unit.

The Unit, situated at the Bellville Campus IT Centre, not only features cutting-edge facilities, such as computer equipment for those with visual, hearing, motor and learning impairments but also serves as an information centre for anyone who wishes to learn more about how to accommodate disabilities in working or student life.

The Unit was launched at a ceremony on Bellville Campus on 24 October 2008. CPUT Transformation Manager Sam Henkeman served as Programme Director.

Dean of Students Cora Motale opened the proceedings by thanking the individuals who had championed the project, including the members of the Disability Forum and the Coordinator of the Unit, Dr Nina Du Toit. ‘We will never take any decision without consulting people with disabilities,” Motale said.

Diane Bell, of the Faculty of Business, shared her story about how she came to be one of the original motivators for the Unit. She spoke about how, as the mother of a child with hearing loss, she had considered what kind of environment her daughter would face when she entered higher education.

A discussion with a student with a cochlear implant and the atmosphere of change during the period when the Peninsula and Cape Technikons became a University of Technology added further impetus to laying the groundwork for a support facility.

Bell, together with like-minded colleagues formed a Disability Forum. With the University’s support, the ideas raised in the forum were put into a proposal, leading to the creation of a Disability Unit.

Disability Unit Coordinator Dr Du Toit then described some of the services that the Unit offers and called on the CPUT community to help the Unit achieve its aim of providing an outstanding support service.

“We need your understanding of what we try to achieve,” she said, “We need your moral support and we need your active input into our activities.”

Reinette Popplestone, Manager of the University of Cape Town Disability Service, and Andrew Merryweather, General Manager of the Restaurant at Theatre on the Bay, were guest speakers.

Popplestone, who is visually impaired herself, discussed the challenges that typically face the accommodation of disability at universities. Merryweather, who suffers from paralysis as a result of spinal cord injury, discussed his experience working with Prof Simeon Davies at the Human Performance Laboratory. “Under Prof Davies’ guidance I was actively doing something to better my situation,” he said, “This empowered me again and I have being going from strength to strength since.”

Zuko Mbolekwa, Treasurer General of the SRC added further words of motivation. He stressed that the University should improve its representation of disabled students in sporting codes and other student activities.

Two musical interludes during the ceremony demonstrated the talents of young people coping with disability. The Athlone School for the Blind delighted the audience with Marimba rhythms. Visually impaired violinist Morne van der Merwe of Stellenbosch University gave a virtuoso performance, accompanied by Dr Du Toit on piano.

After the ceremony, guests toured an exhibition at the library and explored the Unit's facilities.

The launch of the Disability Unit marks the start of a long-term process of improving the University’s disability support. Dr Du Toit currently visits all campuses regularly in order gather information about, and accommodate, the needs of disabled individuals who work and study there.

The Unit hopes to eventually develop permanent support facilities on all major campuses of the institution.

By Ilana Abratt

Written by CPUT News
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The Disability Unit is partnering with PetroSA (formally known as The Petroleum, Oil and Gas Corporation of South Africa (SOC) Limited) to launch a bursary programme for deserving students.

The aim of the initiative is to place specific focus on those living with partial and severe disabilities offering them academic bursaries with a guaranteed two-year work contract once they complete their studies.

PetroSA has been a long-standing industry partner with CPUT and sees this programme as an opportunity to transform its organisation by supporting, training and employing underprivileged and disabled youth.

The discussions, which began in late 2010, will culminate in the signing of a memorandum of understanding and a formal launch in early March.

Interviews with potential recipients are currently underway with students from the first year through to a BTech level.

Recipients will be selected from a range of disciplines, such as engineering, information technology and administration-related courses.

By: Thando J. Moiloa

Written by CPUT News
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Students with disabilities don’t need to struggle alone.

CPUT is home to one of the most innovative Disability Units at any university in the country.

Each year hundreds of students with a range of disabilities are assisted in achieving their very best academically.

The unit performs a number of functions from registering students to assisting them during exams. The unit also forms a vital link between the student, their lecturers and student counselling.

The supportive environment offers a number of resources like wheelchair-friendly desks, special computer software for dyslexia, magnifiers for the visually impaired students, Braille embossers for blind students and even a stenographer who assists with note taking to name just a few.

The head of the unit Dr Nina Du Toit urges all students who have a known disability or suspect they may have one to make contact with her unit to be assessed and start accessing the services.

The Disability Unit is based on all campuses- in the IT centre in Bellville, in the Administration Building in Cape Town and in Mowbray.

The unit also has a presence at all the other CPUT service points like Athlone, Wellington and George.

It is open from 8am to 4pm during the week although the lab in the E-Learning centre in Cape Town is open 24 hours a day.

All CPUT campuses are also equipped to handle the special needs of students and staff with disabilities. This includes wheelchair friendly parking, lifts as well as a specially adapted vehicle for transporting these students.

Call the unit at 021 953 8438 or visit their webpage for more information.

Written by Lauren Kansley

Tel: +27 21 953 8646
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Liaises with the media and writes press releases about interesting developments at CPUT.

More South Africans living with disabilities could soon be taking to the road in their customised adapted vehicles.

The TIA Adaptronics Advanced Manufacturing Technology Laboratory (AMTL) has designed and built Africa’s first vehicle simulator that will open a world of affordable driving opportunities for disabled persons.

The simulator will facilitate the design of an adapted vehicle, by simulating the driving environment of people with disabilities and allow engineers to test the vehicle in a controlled environment.

PIONEERS: Innovators Gerhard Coetzee and Cyprian Onochie who worked on the project with Nicky Abdinor

Last month Nicky Abdinor, who runs Nicky’s Drive, an organisation which raises funds for vehicle adaptations in South Africa and who inspired the project had the opportunity to test the simulator at CPUT.

Born without arms and with shortened legs, Nicky currently drives a specially adapted vehicle that was developed in the UK, but high cost of conversions has prevented access to adapted vehicles in South Africa.

Nicky says she is excited about the possibilities the simulator holds.

“The ability to drive a modified vehicle not only provides the freedom that we so often take for granted, but it also enables people with disabilities to develop their self-confidence and contribute to society through their work and family life,” says Abdinor.

Innovators Gerhard Coetzee and Cyprian Onochie who worked on the project, which was initiated by Professors Mugendi M’Rithaa and Oscar Philander, say the finished product surpasses their expectations.

“We ended up developing a set of new technologies within a space of two years. For us, this is a real accomplishment,” says Onochie.

Coetzee says the simulator features an electric joystick steering system, a touch screen, foot controller, electric switching for gears and breaks as well as electronic pedals for acceleration and braking.

The project has also been selected as part of the World Design Capital 2014 programme.

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.

Postgraduate student Tezna Abrahams PLY recently returned from the Paralympic Games in Paris where she proudly represented South Africa in track and field.

The MTech Sport Management student has only been participating in athletics for a short time but has emerged as a force to be reckoned with.

“I initially started in swimming, which was my first love, but I found my passion in athletics. The switch to track was actually a random idea. I got locally classified in 2022 but only started my track career in January 2023.

“The thrill of competition and the opportunity to excel in track and field pushed me to make the transition. Through athletics, I’ve discovered my true potential, allowing me to push my boundaries and explore new personal limits.”

She competes in the T44 classification, which is for athletes with lower limb impairments and has broken the African record in the long jump three times.

“My impairment has taught me resilience and perseverance. Sport has played a huge role in my life by giving me a platform to push past my limitations, excel, and inspire others. Breaking the African long jump record three times has been a highlight in showing that with dedication, I can surpass expectations and set new standards, not just for myself, but for other athletes facing similar challenges.

“Physically, my preparation includes rigorous training, strength conditioning, and focusing on techniques that enhance my performance in each event. Mentally, I've worked on maintaining a positive mindset, building mental resilience, and staying focused on my goals. Balancing both aspects is key to being at my best on the global stage.”

At the Paralympic Games she participated in the long jump and the 200m.
In the long jump she finished 11th in the final with a new African record of 4.46m. She recorded a personal best of 31.17 seconds in the 200m, securing 10th place.

“Representing South Africa on the global stage is an honour and a privilege. It’s not just about personal achievement; it’s about being a role model and showing the world the strength and potential of athletes with disabilities. It's a reminder that hard work and dedication can take you far, regardless of challenges.”

She said balancing her training with her studies, her work as a retention specialist in the iGaming industry, and spending time with family requires careful planning and time management.

“It’s about setting priorities, and I’m fortunate to have supportive people around me who understand the demands of my sport and career.”

Her message to young athletes, especially those with disabilities, is to never underestimate their abilities.

“Your challenges can become your strengths if you stay determined. The key is to believe in yourself and not let any limitations define your potential.”

Written by Ilse Fredericks

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