Community Engagement Student Academy connects with community library
The Community Engagement Student Academy (CESA) project team, called the Community Connectors, recently visited the Siyafunda community library, which is based in a garage in Lavender Hill.
The academy affords student groups the opportunity to design their own programme and activities when engaging their targeted community organisation. These projects are aligned to Vision 2030 and the building of partnerships within society.
Apart from the Siyafunda community library, John and Gail Nicholson also started a feeding scheme about 15 years ago to help address the needs of the youth in the community.
The excitement amongst the Community Connectors was evident as they prepared their activities for the engagement with the learners from the community.
Jacqui Scheepers, Manager: Service-Learning and Civic Engagement Units, Centre for Community Engagement and WIL said: “What impressed me was that the students made time to research and rehearse their stories, develop quizzes, and even make their own props for the enactment of their stories. I continue to be inspired by communities who remain hopeful despite their numerous socio-economic challenges.
“Investing in the development of young minds will contribute to the upliftment of our communities and brings hope and support to organisations dedicated to serving others”.
Students interacted with the Lavender Hill learners who frequent the Siyafunda community library. Activities included storytelling, drama and plays outlining the importance of literacy and expanding knowledge through reading. During the session, learners were extremely engaged and displayed an eagerness to learn. “The Service-Learning and Civic Engagement Unit must also commend the continued support from the internal CPUT Library services department for the collection and donation of books to the community library. This is an ongoing collaboration which will expand the footprint of the university”.
David Haarhoff, who is currently assisting the Service-Learning and Civic Engagement Unit, stated: “The concept of bend the tree whilst it is still young, stands out for me. The children within the Lavender Hill community are exposed to various forms of life challenges including poverty, gangsterism, drugs, abuse and so much more. As a University, we have an obligation from a corporate social responsibility point of view, to bring hope to these challenging situations.
“We want to inspire the children to rise above their circumstances and to believe that they can have a successful life. The circumstances that they are currently exposed to do not have to be a norm or be a way of life. Our goal is to go about our work and plant a seed wherever we go. I am very proud of our student group for the excellent execution of this project.”
Community Engagement Academy Alumni and CESA student assistant, Sydney Hlongwane, a fourth-year Advanced Diploma in Project Management student, said: “Saturday’s project was great. We performed fun skits, distributed books and spent time with awesome kids. I was impressed by their curiosity and smart questions. They were so engaged and eager to learn. It made me happy to see them smile and have fun. These kids are so smart and talented. They are going to do great things in the future”.
Scheepers concluded: “The Service-Learning and Civic Engagement Unit will continually strive to make a positive impact in communities through the dedication and passion of CESA leaders and alumni”.
New book explores organisational communication in Africa
Senior Lecturer in the Media Department, Dr Blessing Makwambeni, is amongst the editors of a groundbreaking new book, Organisational Communication in Africa: Navigating a Digitalising World.
The book brings together empirical work that examines how digitalisation is impacting on and re-configuring organisational communication in different countries across the African continent. It provides new insights, theories and practical strategies for engaging with organisational communication from a Global South perspective.
Makwambeni edited the book alongside Dr Sam Usadolo of Durban University of Technology and Dr Queen Usadolo of North West University and said the project arose from everyday conversations between the trio.
“Sam, like me, is a communication scientist while Queen specialises in organisational behaviour. We wanted a book for our modules that borrowed from both fields to examine contemporary issues in organisational communication from a Global South perspective.
“Luckily, Palgrave Macmillan took an interest in our project and gave us two contracts. So, this is the first of two books we are publishing. The second one that focuses on the intersection of organisational behaviour and organisational communication and technology is coming out in February next year.”
Makwambeni also co-authored one of the chapters in the book, titled Appropriation of Artificial Intelligence in Organisational Communication: A Scoping Review.
His co-author is Dr Patricia Makwambeni from the University of Cape Town.
He hopes it will provide guidelines on AI appropriation in organisations in the Global South and beyond.
The release of the book has left the academic “even more hungry to quench my insatiable appetite for publishing”.
“My publication count is now close to 40 and I keep dreaming for more and have become even more impatient. It is kind of surreal. I hope this book will make a small impact by contributing towards the decolonisation of communication and organisational communication in particular. Oftentimes, I hear fellow academics saying there are no African textbooks on organisational communication. Now there will be no excuse.”
The book’s release caps a stellar year for Makwambeni, who has co-published two journal articles and six book chapters in 2024, with two more articles expected by year-end, “which will take my publication count beyond 10 for the first time in my career”. This will result in more than six research units for the academic.
*The online version of the book was released on 10 November and the hard copy will be released on 21 November.
CPUT takes top spot at Wild African Ale title
In a weekend filled with creativity, camaraderie, and incredible brews, the Department of Food Science and Technology (DFST) team won first prize, worth R10 000, for the Wild African Ale category and second prize of R3000 for the Matured category at the annual Intervarsitybrew Brewing & Tasting Challenge, held at Central University of Technology, Bloemfontein.
These winnings are presented in the form of vouchers for Bev Plus, which is the company the team uses to purchase beer ingredients and equipment. The team mentor, Thembelani Xolo, said the event’s history dates back 21 years. Xolo said the first SAB-sponsored microbrewery was installed at the University of KwaZulu-NataL (UKZN) Pietermaritzburg Campus in 2003. He said this partnership between academia and industry was driven by the now-retired SAB Senior Trade Brewer, Ben Lamaletie.
In the year’s challenge participants from 18 institutions had to create an original label and brew six distinct beers. Presentations by student brew teams, sensory training, blind tasting by certified judges, and technical presentations by influential people and professionals in the craft and commercial brewing fields were all part of the two-day event. All South African institutions are eligible to participate in the tournament, which aims to advance beer culture and craft brewing in the country while promoting safe drinking.
“The uniqueness of the initiative was for students to be educated and have fun at the same time while showing their skills in a national brewing competition.”
Six team members, Lamla Mayekiso, Bongisiwe Zozo, Queen Motjatsi Letsoalo, and Nondumiso Mathabela, were able to participate in all six beer categories. The other team members were Henning Schulte, Nomonde Motsoeneng, Simphiwe Makhathini and Anathi Roto.
Xolo from the Department of Food Science and Technology said the first national Inter Varsity Beer Brewing Competition took place in August 2008 on the UKZN Pietermaritzburg campus. He is mentoring students to operate brewing equipment, and beer production and organising field trips to several artisan breweries in Cape Town.
To prepare for the competition the department allowed students to join the team but could only accommodate 10 students then the department used a register method to select those that were eligible to partake in the completion. Students are trained in the development of recipes (ingredient selection, milling, and the different stages of beer brewing and bottling) according to different styles. They are then introduced to the Beer Judge certification programme guidelines used to brew and the selection of beer style for each category for competition. “We then conduct a sensory evaluation to see if each beer conforms with the style selected,” Xolo remarked.
Reflecting on the team’s performance, Xolo said: “I'm thrilled and gratified, and the team feels the same way, the student will receive a certificate they can utilise the victory on their resume for job application.”
He continued: “The innovation that was used in utilising traditional umqombothi beer without losing its character, such as ingredients and taste which the students can relate with. This concept was mind-blowing and exciting for them. The winning part was a bonus for everyone. Being able to compete and win in all activities involving the university's unique research speciality is very important to the CPUT.”
Bongisiwe said this year’s competition marked her first time joining the brewing team and she was brought in because of her background in Chemistry. “What made it particularly meaningful was that this year's theme celebrated African Queens who brew umqombothi back home. As is often the case in African brewing, it is predominantly women who craft these traditional beers. In light of this, we named one of our beers "Queen Modjadji," honouring the legacy of powerful women in the brewing industry as a whole.”
Mayekiso, the captain, said: “Being able to brew in a conventional way for me is very close to my heart as my mother is a traditional brewer. Our winning beer was our greatest accomplishment as a team. We all resonated with the style of beer as we all know what mqombothi sensory tastes like and what we developed was really the best beer.”
Xolo added that the goal of the CPUT brewery is to demonstrate that sorghum, an African grain, can be utilised as a primary component as well as an adjunct in creating a variety of beers. “We make every effort to be innovative and allow students to do research and development. If we continue to make the same beer, we will undoubtedly continue to have the Wild African Ale title.”
New SRC urged to discharge their responsibilities diligently
Following the recent inauguration of the Central Student Representative Council (CSRC) and Local Student Representative Council (LSRC), the new representatives were introduced to Vice-Chancellor Prof Chris Nhlapo and the Executive Management at the South African Renewable Energy Technology Centre.
This occasion has historically been a close and intimate meeting facilitated by the office of the Dean of Students for the new SRC to meet the Vice-Chancellor, executive Management and senior management. This special meeting (Meet and Greet) takes place soon after the inauguration of the LSRC and CSRC. During the meeting, Nhlapo congratulated the SRC on behalf of the management and gave them a sense of the history of the university, a brief of his 17 years of experience at CPUT and where the institution is today, and the direction the institution should be heading. He also motivated the SRC. underscoring the valence of being a student leader and highlighting the importance of the SRC to champion the interest of all the students irrespective of who voted for them as they embark on their leadership journey.
The event also provided an opportunity for the SRC president to briefly articulate his vision for the year. Nhlapo said: “We warmly welcome you…We have a long route to traverse in 2025… I would like to thank all of you without exceptions and the structures in particular the conduct of the elections and the elections that have come and gone and the democratic processes have yielded the results that we are actually having. Congratulations.”
He continued: “I am congratulating all of you, the president, and the chairpersons of the respective campuses, and all of you who are here. Addressing the new leaders, Nhlapo said: “It’s important that we build teams, I am accurately aware that even though we’re driving Oneness, but we should also appreciate diversity within Oneness.”
Nhlapo added: “I want to say to all the leaders it’s very important that we note there are huge differences between groups as well as teams. And our role is to build teams, to build coherence, to build Oneness, and reduce fragmentation at all times because what I am actually asking you is to build this institution.”
Dean of Student Affairs, Nonkosi Tyolwana, also congratulated the SRC for being elected to student leadership, and “We wish them everything of the best on their life-changing journey”. “The CPUT students have spoken through the ballot and the SRC represents the voice of the students. May they commit to discharge their responsibilities diligently and draw on their collective strengths and talents to the best of their knowledge and ability. May they serve the Cape Peninsula University of Technology community with humility, fairness, and love.”
The new CSRC is led by Pelo Saki as president, while Ayabulela Mbiza is his deputy, Lungelo Mnguni is a Student Support Services Officer, Thato Masonganye is a General Secretary, Luvuyo Ngwenya is an Education and Transformation Officer, Ntembeko Petse is a CHC and Welfare Officer, Anathi Pamana as an International Relations Officer and Aphiwe Mbele as a Treasurer General. For the full list of all the SRC members, please see: https://www.cput.ac.za/students/about/src/members
Speaking at the event, Pelo said: “Today, for me it’s a great day indeed.” He thanked the Vice-chancellor for welcoming them. “I and the central SRC and also the local SRC as a whole, I am sure we will have a great partnership where we will work together to assist [the students] and achieve everything that we need to achieve for CPUT. I am sure that we will positively work with the management and have a healthy relationship towards achieving the goals of 2030.”
The Office of the Dean of Student Affairs expects the SRC to pursue ethical leadership and to service all students to the best of their ability. “It is incumbent upon every SRC member to uphold the SRC Constitution, University Statute, and all other policies of the University and to ensure maximum communication with all relevant stakeholders; to ensure proper financial controls; to foster and promote social cohesion, tolerance, and transparency through their programmes and lastly to prioritise their academic performance through striking a balance between SRC duties and academic work.”
Learning from the past
Second-year Diversity Management students in the Faculty of Business and Management Sciences recently engaged in a one-day District Six Heritage Learning Journey workshop at the District Six Museum (D6M).
Mandie Richards, Senior Lecturer and Chairperson of the Transformation Forum in the Faculty of Business and Management Sciences, said the District Six Heritage Learning Journey is integrated into the curriculum in the subject Diversity Management and that this year marked the 12th year of the project and a collaboration with D6M.
Full-time and part-time Diversity Management students from the District Six and Wellington campuses participated in the workshop.
Richards stated: “The story of District Six is not an isolated story and synonymous to Cape Town and the Western Cape. Forced removals as a result of the Natives Land Act of 1913, and the Group Areas Act of 1950 during apartheid impacted the lives of many people of colour across South Africa socially, politically, psychologically and economically. Families were torn apart, traumatised and communities were destroyed.”
Fidelis Chu, the subject lecturer at the Wellington Campus, stated that the workshop was necessary for all students to attend, as it allowed for students to have a meaningful and deeper understanding of history and the past.
Mandy Sanger, the D6 Museum Head of Education, engaged in interactive conversations with students, through exploring the past, looking at the present and the future, and the roles students should be playing. Students were afforded opportunities to engage in inter-generational conversations with ex-residents who shared their stories and challenges, and enlightened students through a personal guided tour and shared the history of the sites and the culture of the people who once lived in this vibrant community.
Richards further stated: “Students need to have an understanding of the past, and more so as the Institution is built on land which was the homes of people living in District Six, and who were forcibly removed on 11 February 1966 by the apartheid regime.”
Richards indicated that 74% of the students who attended the workshop, were unaware that CPUT was built on the homes of residents who had lived in D6.
One of the ex-residents, Nadeema Oostendorp, lived in Richmond Street in D6, and was forcibly removed with her family to Lavender Hill on the Cape Flats, and started working in a clothing factory at the age of 14 to assist her mother financially. Nadeema stated: “The District Six Museum is my comfort space, as it reminds me of a community we once were, before we were destroyed by the apartheid Land Act”. Students also created digital storytelling videos and shared the story of the ex-resident with whom their team inter-acted.
One of the students, Bontle Swazi, stated: “The workshop improved my understanding of the history, as well as the forced removals and the impact of apartheid. I genuinely didn't know that D6 was a community filled with numerous homes, families and schools. So, it was so heartbreaking to hear the aunties’ stories, and what they went through at such a young age.”
Students also shared their stories and challenges and worked on a #CreateChange project to address challenges in their communities. The challenges were varied and included, amongst others, gender-based violence (GBV), teenage pregnancy, gangsterism, drug addiction, unemployment and a lack of service delivery. This required that students explore the challenge they identified in their team, present their projects in the session and provide solutions to addressing these challenges in their communities and an action plan with solutions which would work towards empowering youth and community members, thus working towards nation building.
Sesethu Haya highlighted domestic violence as a challenge their team identified for their team project and passionately stated: “The patriarchal and apartheid system left deep scars which resulted in violence, and we as young people need to guide young men to know what is meant by being a man, and that real men do not beat women.” He advocated for change and that GBV should be eradicated. He further proposed ways in which young students could contribute to change and empower young people through workshops and conversations in safe spaces; and serve as role models for young men and teach them to respect women.
Richards stated: “Most students shared that they enjoyed the interactive discussions and hearing firsthand accounts from the ex-residents and students about their real-life experiences, as it created a powerful atmosphere where everyone felt connected to the history and impact of content being taught”.
She further indicated that curriculum could not be taught in isolation and devoid of the realities of socio-political challenges nor ignore the voices of students and community members.
Advancing Workplace Skills Through Data Literacy
Academics, librarians, and industry partners recently attended the 3rd Research and Information Literacy Skills in the Workplace Seminar, hosted by CPUT Libraries.
This year’s event focused on data literacy and was held at the South African Renewable Energy Technology Centre, where attendees were welcomed by Prof Rishidaw Balkaran, Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Teaching and Learning.
In his opening remarks, CPUT Libraries Director, Prof Elisha Chiware, said that over the past six years, they had been engaging key stakeholders and partners in a bid to improve students’ research and information literacy skills as they enter the workplace.
“In today's data-driven world, the ability to collect, analyse, and interpret data has become an essential skill for professionals across industries and work activities. Data literacy is critical for informed decision-making, for strategic growth, for competitive advantage, for effective communication as well as critical thinking.”
The keynote speaker was Prof Tiko Iyamu from the Department of Information Technology in the Faculty of Informatics and Design.
His address was titled: Creating value using big data analytics: The Reality in Practice and was followed by a question-and-answer session, which included questions on the dangers associated with big data.
The event included several presentations with topics ranging from The Imporance of Data Literacy in the Teaching Profession to How Librarians can respond to Researchers’ and Students’ Data Literacy Training Needs.
The day culminated in a panel discussion on a number of key areas and the panel members were: Iyamu, Prof Hanlie Dippenaar (CPUT Faculty of Education), Joey Klaaste-Salmans (Western Cape Education Department), Prof Julia Bauder (Grinnell College, USA), Dr Kirstin Krauss (WWIS), Dr Mathew Moyo (NWU) and Dr Vusi Mshayisa (CPUT Faculty of Applied Sciences).
The topics included the importance of data literacy in the workplace, the role of AI tools and data literacies required by new graduates entering the workplace.
Ubuntu Leaders Academy Ignites Passion for Servant Leadership
A transformative Ubuntu Leaders Academy (ULA) training event, conducted in collaboration with CPUT, recently concluded at the Cape Town Hotel School.
The event brought together 10 leaders comprised of CPUT staff, Community Engagement Student Academy (CESA) leaders and community leaders, who were trained as trainers, to impart their newfound knowledge and skills.
The ripple effects of this training are set to extend beyond the campus, with plans to roll out similar programmes, fostering a culture of servant leadership throughout its sphere of influence.
As a unique part of their training, the trainers-in-training also mentored 20 student leaders and leadership fellows associated with the CESA at CPUT. This training was in the form of Ubuntu Week, which was hosted in Worcester. This created a dynamic environment where both seasoned and aspiring leaders could learn and grow together. The motivational speakers at the event were Pastor Clinton Luikes and Nontutuzelo Dyakala from the A2B Centre, and Guinness World Record holder and ten-times medallist for skateboarding, Jean-Marc Johannes.
Jacqui Scheepers, Service-Learning and Civic Engagement Manager, shared her thoughts on the training: The impact of the Ubuntu programme on the participants was evident in the sessions, which were interactive and included moments of deep reflection, sharing and compassion for each other’s life journeys. Sessions on bridge building were especially relevant for the work of the staff and students as part of the Service-Learning and Civic Engagement Units. Thank you IPAV and MIET Africa for supporting the very first ULA in Cape Town, Western Cape Province, South Africa”.
Moses Machipisa, an Ubuntu Master Trainer who led the training, expressed his enthusiasm: "Witnessing the passion and dedication of these future leaders has been truly inspiring. It fills me with hope to know they will carry the Ubuntu philosophy forward, creating a ripple effect of positive change in their communities and beyond."
The CESA student leaders and academy alumni shared their experiences of ULA: Atlegang Lekabe reflected: “I have learned so many things that I did not know about myself. The importance of self-knowledge, being a servant leader, and ethics of care stood out for me. I will be able to carry that out to society and be able to make an impact, not only to my immediate communities, but to the rest of the people around the country and the world and I hope we are able to grow and make an impact through small steps.”
Another student, Lutendzo Moavi, expressed that: “I gained a lot of knowledge that I will use in the future, which helps me enhance a lot of lives. Attending the programme has been one of the best things that has happened in my life. I have gained more knowledge and learned a lot about myself and what I can change in the world in the spirit of Ubuntu. From today on I will advocate for Ubuntu and wish for everyone to be part of the programme.” Stephanie de Koker, a student assistant in the SLCE Units who participated in Ubuntu Week, said: “What stood out for me was being able to serve others in servant leadership, ethics of care. The progamme gave me more perspective as to how to do this, not just to think about myself or my circumstances but what others go through and how to share the knowledge to make their life a bit better, sharing love and care through ubuntu.”
The Ubuntu Leaders Academy, grounded in the Ubuntu philosophy, cultivates servant leaders. Its curriculum focuses on five key areas: self-knowledge, self-confidence, resilience, empathy, and service. The programme's impact is far-reaching, having involved young leaders from an impressive 183 countries worldwide.