CPUT has built up a proud record as a leading university in containing the Covid-19 virus and new and returning students are urged to stay safe.

“To all our new and returning students: please take care, observe the practices required regarding mask-wearing, social distancing and sanitising,” says Prof Mellet Moll, Compliance and Risk Officer: Business Continuity and Covid-19.

“All our efforts are aimed at your safety, ensuring we maximise, where possible, online learning and we appeal to you not to venture into any situations in your daily lives where you may contract the virus or spread it to people who may be more vulnerable than yourself.”

He said COVID-19 was declared a Public Health Emergency on 11 March 2020.

At the time, a workshop was held with all relevant stakeholders to prepare CPUT for the Covid-19 pandemic.

“At the workshop, members of Management, as well as representatives of various healthcare services in CPUT, were present. As part of the resolutions of the workshop, the so-called Covid-19 Health Cluster was formed, consisting of all healthcare services on campus.”

Moll said the results of the CPUT Covid-19 project, under the leadership of the Compliance Officer and the Health Cluster, are well-known.

The level of success achieved in ensuring the CPUT campuses and the university community remains protected against any transfer of Covid-19 is based on a strict regimen ensuring the following: 

• That all potential steps are taken in ensuring that no person brings the risk of infection to a CPUT campus, including screening by appropriately trained healthcare professionals. 
• That any potential infections detected during the screening process are registered, support is given to the individual and the matter is thoroughly followed up until its conclusion is reached. 
• That, if in spite of the above, a potential or confirmed case of Covid-19 is detected, a rapid response is activated by which these individuals are swiftly taken to a safe isolation facility, all areas visited by these individuals are investigated and where needed, decontaminated and that all potential contacts are identified and monitored. 
• That international strategies for the containment of Covid-19 are continuously studied and implemented where scientifically founded and applicable. 

Moll added: “The good news is vaccines are on their way and will be communicated to you during the coming months. Let us make a difference together!”

Written by Ilse Fredericks
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It was a proud moment yesterday when CPUT’s new vaccination centre went into operation and started administering lifesaving COVID-19 vaccines.

“It is important that we play our role in saving lives. There’s no other way. That is the mission, everything else is secondary because this scourge is affecting all of us,” said Vice-Chancellor, Prof Chris Nhlapo, during a visit to the centre which is based at the Richard Sacco Building on the Bellville campus.

Nhlapo, who joined other Executive Management members on a tour of the facility, said he was particularly impressed with the CPUT staff members working at the centre.

He was also among the CPUT staff members who received their first jabs yesterday.

Prof Mellet Moll, Compliance and Risk Officer, Business Continuity and Covid-19, said there had been a good outcome on the first day, with a mix of staff members over 60 years and health students being vaccinated.

“We are very excited because this is a lot of work that came together.”

He said the centre has been accredited by the Western Cape Department of Health and was expected to do 60 vaccinations a day this week.

At full capacity, the centre would be able to administer 500 vaccines a day.

Staff members from the Faculty of Health and Wellness Sciences, Campus Health Clinics and the HIV/Aids Unit have been trained to administer the vaccines.

The following individuals are currently eligible and can be vaccinated at the centre:  

• Staff members and students who are 60 years old or older (ID document required as proof).
• Staff members who are healthcare workers - clinical and non-clinical, irrespective of age (proof required from line manager and or registration with a health statutory body)
• Students who are registered for healthcare-related programmes (proof of registration required).

 Those who are eligible can register for an appointment by clicking the following link:  http://bit.ly/CPUT_VaccinationRegistration_60YearsandOlderAndHCW

Written by Ilse Fredericks
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Higher Education, Science and Innovation Minister Dr Blade Nzimande has lauded CPUT for setting up the first vaccination centre at a Post-School Education centre in South Africa.

“I’m very happy to say CPUT has led the way,” said Nzimande during a visit to the Bellville campus yesterday where he visited the vaccination centre and addressed a briefing where the results of the Higher Health Covid-19 impact study on students in the post-school education system were released.

“I must admit I’m really bowled over by what CPUT is doing, which indeed confirms that this is one of our premier universities of technology,” Nzimande added.

Vice-Chancellor Prof Chris Nhlapo said the institution has for a number of years now had a guiding principle of “One Smart CPUT” and this ethos has never been more evident than in the past year as CPUT navigated the pandemic.

“We have been One Smart CPUT from the very beginning when we realised the gravity of the pandemic unfolding and quickly set up a COVID-19 Response Unit that infiltrated every unit, department and faculty at this university. From the Vice-Chancellor’s office to security we have been meeting every second day to strategise and, with agility, react to the challenges presented.”

He added that the institution never lost sight of another element “which makes us uniquely CPUT, which is our heart”.

“While needing to make tough decisions about the academic project and other institutional processes, we have been careful to never lose sight of the 40 000 individuals who make up our community.”

Nhlapo said this caring attitude is also evident in the vaccination centre, which will not only be vaccinating CPUT staff and students but the broader community as well.

“Staffed by our own CPUT colleagues, the vaccination centre has the capacity to vaccinate in the region of 500 individuals per day and we hope to help as many people as possible.”

The release of the results of the impact study on students in the post-school education system formed part of commemorations for Youth Month.

Other speakers during the webinar included the CEO of Higher Health, Dr Ramneek Ahluwalia, Chief Research Specialist at the Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC), Prof Sibusiso Sifunda, Dean of the Faculty of Health and Wellness Sciences, Prof Tandi Matsha and Prof Mellet Moll, Compliance and Risk Officer, Business Continuity and Covid-19.

The study was undertaken by Higher Health and the HSRC, through the support of the Department of Higher Education and Training, the Department of Science and Innovation and the United Nations Population Fund.

“From the results we know that 53% thought they were at low risk of contracting COVID-19 and 15% perceived themselves as high risk. This reinforces that it is important for students to understand that they are in fact carriers of the virus and whilst they may be asymptomatic, they are at risk of transmitting to their parents and elderly grandparents,” said Nzimande.

Written by Ilse Fredericks

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The DST-UNESCO Engineering Conference kicked off yesterday (September 17) with a day-long event dedicated to students.

Postgraduate students from around the country descended on Bellville campus to deliver papers, inspect each other’s posters and more importantly network.

Prof Mellet Moll, acting Dean of the Faculty of Engineering, said the important factor was for students to get to know their own peers and discover people who think as they do and might be able to contribute to their work.

“The day started off with a chance for postgraduate students from all over to listen to each other and look as peers at each other’s work.

“Prof Veruscha Fester’s opening address really framed the day. She gave the postgraduate students context in terms of what the new world of work would be like for them,” said Moll.

During their breaks students inspected the posters displayed in the Auditorium foyer and at a gala dinner CPUT DEng candidate in the Department of Chemical Engineering, Whigens Ngoie Ilunga, won first prize for his poster “Biodiesel production from edible oil wastewater sludge with bioethanol using heterogeneous nano-magnetic catalysis.”

Kerry-Anne Airey of UCT won the first prize for her presentation “Simulation of discrete machining modelling characterisation of Titanium chip formation during milling operations.”
Moll added that it was important to note the Conference showed a CPUT community at peace. “This type of event promotes the spirit of lecturers and students working together. It was wonderful to see so many CPUT students present their work.”

Today (Tuesday) the DST-UNESCO Engineering Conference begins with an address by Vice-Chancellor Dr Chris Nhlapo followed by the United Nations Resident Coordinator in South Africa Nardos Bekele-Thomas and CEO of Engineering Council of South Africa Sipho Madonsela. Dr Gansen Pillay, Deputy CEO of the National Research Fund, will deliver the keynote address.

The three day DST-UNESCO Engineering Conference is themed Enabling the Fourth Industrial Revolution for Sustainability and Economic Growth and plenary sessions over the three days will cover topics such as Women in Engineering, Space Science and Engineering Education.

*CPUT students can visit the DST-UNESCO career exhibition in the Major Sports Hall on Tuesday 18 September and Wednesday 19 September between 9.00 and 16.00. Fifty of the students who visit during the day could receive gifts.

Written by Theresa Smith
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CPUT hosts the DST-UNESCO Engineering Week on Bellville campus from 17 to 20 September 2018.

Prof Mellet Moll, Acting Dean: Faculty of Engineering, explained that the annual Engineering Week is sponsored by the Department of Science and Technology (DST), the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and the Engineering Council of South Africa (ECSA) and is done in collaboration with a host university. “It is a great honour for CPUT to host the event this year,” said Moll.

The week focuses on addressing the challenges of the engineering profession in Southern Africa and the rest of the continent and is also aimed at attracting learners to subjects such as Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics. The event (DST-UNESCO Engineering Conference) rotates among the nine provinces of South Africa.

The DST-UNESCO Engineering Conference starts with a day-long student conference on 17 September, with students from Engineering Faculties from all South African Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) invited to take part.
“Postgraduate students from engineering faculties of South African HEIs submitted abstracts and the best submissions will be presented, with prizes for the best paper and best poster presentation plus a student function which provides a chance for the students from various institutions to network”.

“The formal proceedings of the student conference will be run by academic from CPUT, UCT and Stellenbosch in collaboration with engineering students who are members of CPUT’s SRC,” said Moll.
The main conference will take place from 18 to 20 September and is free and open to all people involved in the engineering profession including industry and academia as well as people in related disciplines who are interested in the topics that will be discussed.

“We have a line-up of speakers from across the spectrum including the DST, SANSA, NRF, ECSA, CPUT, our neighbouring universities UCT and Stellenbosch as well as industry specialists.”

“Engineering finds itself in a changing landscape, especially with the advent of the Industrie 4.0 era. A lot of things have to be reframed so we selected the theme ‘Enabling the Fourth Industrial Revolution for Sustainability and Economic Growth’,” said Moll.

“The conference is divided into sub-themes which require dialogue, especially within the southern African context. These include Industrie 4.0 itself, Energy, Water, Environmental Engineering, Infrastructure, Beneficiation, Space Science, Women in Engineering and Engineering Education.”

*Students can visit the DST-UNESCO career exhibition in the Major Sports Hall on Tuesday 18 September and Wednesday 19 September between 9:00 and 16:00.

Written by Theresa Smith
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Registered CPUT students could win a holiday cash injection of R5 000 if they register for their Covid-19 vaccination on the CPUT Online Personal Access (OPA) portal and get vaccinated between today and December 15th.

CPUT is giving away two cash prizes of R5 000 each as well as 10 cash prizes of R1 000 each to the lucky winners.

All students who get vaccinated at the university’s Vaccination Centre during this period will also receive a free goodie bag.

To enter, register for your vaccination at https://opa.cput.ac.za/ and go get your vaccination.

CPUT will be hosting two Vooma vaccination days this week and encourages students to use this opportunity to get vaccinated.

Join us on November 25th at the vaccination pop-up stand on the District Six Campus (D6) and at the Vaccination Centre on the Bellville Campus on November 26th.

There will be music, goodie bags and boerewors rolls for all who come to get vaccinated.

Prof Mellet Moll, Compliance & Risk Officer: Business Continuity and Covid-19, said the institution wants to create a fun way for students to spread the message that the fourth wave of Covid-19 infections will be arriving soon. Moll added that when students depart, the best way for them to ensure that they protect their loved ones over the Festive Season. is to arrive home having been vaccinated.

“Our students had a difficult year to cope with their studies as well as the circumstances created by the second and third waves and now when they complete their assessments, conclude their academic year by visiting our Vaccination Centre at the Bellville Campus or the temporary Vaccination Centre we will be setting up at D6 to get their jabs as well as participate in wonderful competitions and share in the refreshments offered there."

The university hopes to vaccinate at least 3000 students during this week and a further 2000 students during next week.

Written by Ilse Fredericks
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