Fair 15°C

Humidity:

76%

Wind Speed:

14 KMH

Wind Direction:

NNW (340°)

Barometer:

1008 mb

Dewpoint:

11°C

Heat Index:

15°C

Wind Chill:

14°C

Visibility:

11 km

Belgium: Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Universiteit Ghent Germany: Universität Hamburg, Universität Tübingen, Universität Leipzig Austria: Universität Salzburg Finland: University of Helsinki Academic staff members are invited to apply for participation in the above exchange programmes to teach or do research at the respective institutions. Note the following: Each programme has its own regulations although a common [...]

Read More on News: Exchange programmes for academic staff members

An explosion occurred in an organic chemistry laboratory on the seventh floor of UCT’s PD Hahn Building in the early hours of Thursday, 2 September. Nobody was in the lab and there were no injuries. Damage to the facilities is being assessed.

Postgraduate students working in laboratories in other parts of the building alerted campus security staff and were safely evacuated from the building. Emergency services arrived promptly on the scene, secured the fire and determined that nobody was injured in the explosion. UCT’s security staff are working with Fire Department investigators to determine the cause of the explosion and prevent any recurrence.

Read More on University of Cape Town / Daily News: No injuries in organic chemistry lab explosion

Assoc Prof Keertan Dheda, a pulmonologist in the Department of Medicine and at the UCT Lung Institute says that drug-resistant TB is one of the biggest health threats facing the African continent

The forced isolation or incarceration of patients with drug-resistant tuberculosis (TB) will be in the spotlight at a workshop titled Current Practices, Controversies and Clinical Challenges, in the Faculty of Health Sciences from 3 to 5 September.

Valid medical concerns about risks to the community have to be weighed up against the ethical and legal human rights ramifications of enforced isolation of an individual, and the availability of resources. This controversial issue is expected to spark animated debate.

Other topics on the programme include the evolution and epidemiology of drug-resistant TB in South Africa, diagnosis of the disease using current tools, and drugs, and treatment regimes for infected adults and children.

Pulmonologist Associate Professor Keertan Dheda, one of the organisers of the event, said: “I believe that drug-resistant TB is one of the biggest health threats facing the African continent. It has the potential to destabilise an already compromised TB control system in South Africa.” He added: “Consistent failure to identify and administer appropriate treatment for tuberculosis (TB) cases means that a growing number of TB-infected South Africans are burdening an already strained health care system.”

This is one of the findings of a review of the current situation. The review, co-authored by Dheda, was published in the May 2010 issue of The Lancet and focused on developing countries.

The workshop concludes on Sunday, 5 September 2010, with the closing address delivered by Western Cape MEC for Health, Theuns Botha.

Read More on University of Cape Town / Daily News: Health sciences to lead drug-resistant TB workshop

The face of change: The Clanwilliam Arts Development Project has won a BASA Award for youth development.

The UCT Fairheads Clanwilliam Arts Project took top honours for youth development at the 13th Annual Business Day/Business and Arts South Africa (BASA) Awards, announced in Johannesburg on 31 August.

The project, which was also nominated in the sustainable partnership category, is a collaboration between UCT’s Department of Drama and Michaelis School of Fine Art, as well Magnet Theatre and Jazzart, with sponsorship from Fairheads International Trust for the past 10 years. It started off in the mid-1990s as the Living Landscapes Project under the care of Professor Pippa Skotnes of the School of Fine Art and Professor John Parkington of the Department of Archaeology. At annual workshops, they taught about 100 learners from Clanwilliam about the rich heritage of the area.

As interest and participation grew, Skotnes recruited colleague Associate Professor Mark Fleishman of the Department of Drama to add a performance element to the project. Today, Fleishman and a small army of students and performers run weeklong workshops to prepare hundreds of children, aged between five and 18, for the culminating events – a lantern parade through Clanwilliam, and a performance of /Xam (San) stories first told to the 19th century linguist Wilhelm Bleek and his sister-in-law Lucy Lloyd. (This year, the events take place on Sunday, 12 September.)

Also lending a hand in these preparations is offshoot Comnet, a permanent drama group made up of high school learners from Clanwilliam whose interest was sparked by Fleishman’s workshops. Two of the original 10 Comnet members have since the group’s founding been accepted onto the training programme at Jazzart in Cape Town, and one of the leaders of Comnet receives a trainee bursary from Magnet Theatre to co-ordinate the group.

“For all the other things the project is, it has also become an opportunity for our students, both drama and fine art, to see at first hand the wonderful, transforming, imaginative power of creativity,” says Skotnes.

The BASA accolade, she adds, is just rewards for Fairheads’ continued investment, even after the 2009 death of chairperson Peter Fairhead, who spearheaded the trust’s support for the Clanwilliam project.

“The award is great – it acknowledges our sponsors who have been committed to this project from the very beginning and without whom we would not have been able to take it this far.”

Read More on University of Cape Town / Daily News: Lantern and arts project a light for Clanwilliam

G/Crime busters: Attending the GSCID launch were (from left) Antony Davies, John Critien and DVC Prof Thandabantu Nhlapo.

UCT’s R3.5 million investment to combat crime, grime and homelessness in surrounding areas took physical shape on 1 September with the first deployment of security patrols and cleaning staff taking to the streets.

This is the public launch of the Groote Schuur Community Improvement District (GSCID) a project four years in the planning to clean up the business areas, and later residential areas, bordering Main Road, from the South African Breweries in Newlands to Anzio Road in Observatory.

The new cleaning crew is provided by Straatwerk Ophelp, who provide rehabilitation and job creation for the homeless. After a tender process, Orbis Security Solutions were appointed to provide the new security patrols.

Speaking at the launch function, Antony Davies, CEO of the GSCID, thanked UCT for its “massive investment” in the pioneering project.

“This unique partnership shows the value that UCT places on good neighbourliness,” said Davies. “It also shows a commitment to addressing the crime and grime concerns of the community.”

Deputy vice-chancellor Professor Thandabantu Nhlapo said the project was of immediate interest to UCT, because although crime had been significantly lowered on campus, the crime problem in its peripheral areas has resulted in the murders of UCT students and staff.

“Occasionally it’s my job to announce a death to relatives, and believe me, you don’t ever want to do that. It’s the most gut-wrenching thing to do.”

UCT is also upgrading the GSCID offices in Shell Court, Mowbray “as part of UCT’s commitment to urban renewal”, says John Critien, executive director of Properties and Services Department.

“The university is very serious about the upliftment of the area it serves,” said Critien. “We want to be a part of real change.”

Read More on University of Cape Town / Daily News: Obs community improvement project takes to the streets

Helping hand: DVC Prof Crain Soudien (centre) receives a bursary cheques from the Hospital Welfare and Muslim Educational Movement, from left, Mohamed Omar, Allie Brey, Nazeer Khalfe, Nur Bawa and Essack Mohamed.

The Hospital Welfare and Muslim Educational Movement (HWMEM) handed UCT the latest in its annual a bursary cheque on 31 August. The donation will go towards the study fees of disadvantaged students.

Nazeer Khalfe, the movement’s education secretary, noted that the cheque of R171 000 was but part of the R600 000 in donations that the HWMEM has dispersed to needy students at the four Western Cape universities this year.

The HWMEM is a community-based organisation that was established early in the 1940s to cater for the nutritional needs of Muslims at Somerset Hospital which later grew to a welfare programme for the community at large. It set up the bursary scheme in the 1960s with a nudge from its political stalwarts, who argued that liberation and education go hand in hand. Beneficiaries are struggling students of all races and creed who have the drive and attitude but may not necessarily have excelled in their primary and secondary studies due to their disadvantaged circumstances.

Receiving the cheque, deputy vice-chancellor Professor Crain Soudien said UCT appreciates the continued support of the HWMEM, adding that it was clear that the award comes from their hearts.

Read More on University of Cape Town / Daily News: Muslim bursary comes from heart

Fair 23°C

Humidity:

40%

Wind Speed:

8 KMH

Wind Direction:

S (170°)

Barometer:

1016 mb

Dewpoint:

9°C

Heat Index:

25°C

Wind Chill:

23°C

Visibility:

11 km

Stellenbosch University (SU), specifically its Senate, believes that the Protection of Information Bill, 2009, is unnecessary, suffers from fundamental defects and will in any case be declared unconstitutional should it become law. The University is therefore in favour of the Bill being withdrawn and thoroughly revised by way of, inter alia, a process of public [...]

Read More on News: SU asks for withdrawal of Protection of Information Bill

Wanted: the anecdotes, stories, slides, diaries and photos of the construction workers, scientists, mariners, joiners, engineers and doctors who have been involved in South Africa’s research bases in Antarctica and on Gough and Marion Islands since the start of the previous century. This request comes from Dora Scott, a researcher associated with the DST-NRF Centre [...]

Read More on News: CIB researchers to compile archive on South Africans in Antarctica and surroundings

Mostly clear 19°C

Humidity:

52%

Wind Speed:

11 KMH

Wind Direction:

SSW (200°)

Barometer:

1024 mb

Dewpoint:

9°C

Heat Index:

19°C

Wind Chill:

19°C

Visibility:

11 km

After a holiday the  Risk and Protection Services Division (R&PS) usually experience regular reporting of break-ins and theft inside  hostel rooms and store rooms. Students are  advised not to leave behind valuable items such as laptops, radios, cameras, etc and not to store valuable items inside store rooms. Please try to take your valuable items [...]

Read More on News: Safety prevention tip for the holiday

Are you wilfully independent and ambitious and determined to achieve your goals?  Do you want to know more about commercialising your electrical or electronic research? InnovUS is inviting all Electronic and Electrical Engineering undergraduates and postgraduates; researchers; Stellenbosch University staff; and entrepreneurs to its first Entrepreneurs’ Evening on Tuesday 14 September. “The event will raise [...]

Read More on News: Calling all entrepreneurial mavericks

The Department of English will be presenting its annual postgraduate conference on Friday 17 September. The conference is an opportunity for postgraduate students from SU, UCT and UWC to present their work in progress to an audience of their peers and lecturers. All are welcome to attend. Date:  Friday 17 September 2010 Time:  08:30-18:00 Place:  [...]

Read More on News: Department of English presents its Annual Postgraduate Conference

The Stellenbosch University Sport Performance Institute (SUSPI) will be hosting Special Olympics South Africa’s 2010 National Summer Games during the period 8-11 September. Over 350 athletes from eight provinces will be competing in various sport codes in preparation for the 2011 Special Olympics World Summer Games in Athens, Greece. Special Olympics is a leader in [...]

Read More on News: SUSPI To Host Special Olympics Summer Games

The Office for Institutional HIV Co-ordination invites you to attend a Peer2Peer Education initiative panel discussion, on 14 September 2010. The panel includes a couple of people living openly and positively with HIV. Feel free to bring your friends and colleagues along to this great opportunity. Staff and student alike are welcome. Date: 14 September [...]

Read More on News: Living Positively with HIV: A Panel Discussion