Vol9 no3 2017
heita!
STAY IN THE PICTURE
INTRO
BUDDING BLOGGER! MATHAPELO SEOPELA (27), a D Tech student at the Department of Chemistry, is the winner of a national blogging competition by The South African Young Academy of Science. She is now part of a select group of scientists who write about their fascinating research
on a regular basis.
Have a look!
please send your name and cell number to heita@tut.ac.za on or before 26 May 2017. Mark the subject field: BACK
To win this
BACKPACK,
I’M Neo Matsomane (23), Student Faculty Council Chairperson at the Faculty of the Arts. I’M FROM Polokwane, Limpopo. I’M STUDYING Performing Arts Technology at the Department of Entertainment Technology (ET). WHAT’S THAT, YOU MIGHT WANT TO KNOW. WELL, LET ME BRING YOU INTO THE PICTURE: ET trains students for careers backstage, such as at concerts, corporate and special events, cruise ship shows, television studios, sports venues and theatres. The course covers subjects such as Props, Costumes, Décor, Lighting, Sound and Make-up. I HAVE DECIDED TO STUDY IN THIS FIELD BECAUSE I have always had a passion for the entertainment industry, which is vast changing and growing with new innovative technology introduced every day. TUT is the only University that offers this course. It does not only focus on theory, but also on work-integrated learning. AFTER COMPLETION OF MY STUDIES I WOULD LIKE TO enter the entertainment industry, particularly television. Having acquired all the knowledge and experience that TUT has offered me, I also plan to start a black, female-owned production company.
This month’s striking cover image was captured by Visual Communication (Photography) student, ELSA NIEMOLLER. The photo formed part of the Department of Visual Communication’s annual photography exhibition earlier this year.
RIGHTS
Moses Motha, the new TUT Student Ombudsman, wants to ensure that your academic rights are not violated. In an interview with Heita! he said he will undoubtedly assist you if there is merit in your complaint/s.
Meet Moses, TUT’s new Student Ombudsman
Moses Motha, the new TUT Student Ombudsman.
WHAT IS THE IMPORTANCE OF THE STUDENT OMBUDSMAN AT
A UNIVERSITY SUCH AS TUT?
Primarily, it is to receive and assess academic complaints from students. Once these have been confirmed to be falling within the ambit of the Office, a process of mediation between the different parties commences and an amicable solution is sought. Other responsibilities include conducting quality audits and student surveys; and monitoring and reporting on quality issues within the University.
SHARE WITH US SOME OF THE MOST COMMON PROBLEMS
WITH WHICH TUT STUDENTS APPROACH THE OFFICE?
A quick perusal of cases in the preceding years indicates that complaints regarding assessments are more prevalent. The second common problem is that of an acute variance in terms of postgraduate supervision processes between students and their appointed supervisors. The other cases that are more on the periphery relate to challenges with the residences, registration processes and outstanding fees.
WHAT IS THE PROCESS THAT STUDENTS SHOULD FOLLOW
BEFORE THEY APPROACH YOUR OFFICE?
If, for any reason, a student is aggrieved by an academic process like assessment, he/she should first articulate his/her dissatisfaction with the lecturer concerned. If they do not get any joy out of their complaint, the matter can be escalated to the HoD, even up to the Campus Director and the Executive Dean. In all these stages of lodging complaints, it is crucial that students keep documentary proof of their interaction with the different levels of authority, as these will be needed by the Ombudsman in setting up the mediation process. In the event that all these steps do not produce any joy, they can approach the Student Ombudsman with a view to seek a resolution to the complaint.
WHERE CAN STAFF AND STUDENTS CONTACT YOU? The Office of
the Student Ombudsman is located in Building 21, Room 428, Pretoria Campus,
tel. 012 382 5525 or e-mail MothaM@tut.ac.za/ombudsman@tut.ac.za.
Amilia van Niekerk (19)
MEDICAL ORTHOTICS AND PROSTHETICS
“I believe leaders should express their views because a lot of youth are apathetic towards politics. Many young people are on social media and they are the next crop of leaders. Youth will be more exposed to politics if political leaders use social media to express their views.”
Devon Matthews (21)
ARCHITECTURE
“Yes, when leaders express themselves on social media it creates a level of transparency to the public about the workings of government. People are also given a platform to engage directly with government.”
Given Phoshoko (23)
ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING
“Political leaders should share their views on social media because this gives young people a chance to engage and share their own feelings and ideas on politics.”
Mixo Muhlava (21)
LOGISTICS
“It is important for political leaders to express their views on social media. A lot of people use social media and everything has become digital. It is actually the only tool to use to interact with the masses. It also stimulates discussion and debate.”
Mohamed Karani (22)
LANDSCAPE TECHNOLOGY
“Leaders should not be allowed to express themselves regarding political issues on social media. They are people too and make mistakes. They should therefore not be allowed to potentially segregate our society further. Especially because our society is already so divided.”
Shela Moloto (21)
LANDSCAPE TECHNOLOGY
“Plenty of people are on social media because almost everyone has a smart phone these days. Therefore, leaders should share their views with youth on social media so that young people can become politically conscious.”
Tsakane Maluleka (28)
HOSPITALITY MANAGEMENT
“Social media is diverse, so leaders should use it to share their opinions. People no longer consume traditional news as it is not as widespread or readily available. People of all ages are on social media. Therefore, leaders will be able to reach everyone.”
Zine Ndamase (25)
BUILDING SCIENCES
“Leaders should voice their opinions on social media because the majority of young people get their news on their social media feeds. Many students don’t understand politics, so I think they should be given a chance to access political conversations by these leaders.”
TO VIEW ANSWERS,
CLICK ON
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THE IMAGES.
TRAVEL
On route to London, they made a pit stop in ADDIS ABABA, ETHIOPIA (Headquarters of the African Union) where they attended an AU sitting and posed on the famous steps where African leaders are regularly photographed. Nalize is second from left.
She explains that an excursion to the Oxford University was also memorable. “Nothing could beat standing in a hall where some of the world’s greatest minds graduated and to realise that it is actually possible for any student to attend that university, especially now that I am an Abe Bailey bursar,” adds Nalize. “A MEETING WITH CAMDEN MAYOR, Nadia Shah, one of the youngest mayors in the UK, was also inspiring.” On a lighter note, she tried her hand at curling (a sport in which players slide stones on a sheet of ice towards a target area which is segmented into four concentric circles). Here fellow bursar, Boraine Barnard of the Sefako Makgatho University, and Mayor of Camden, Nadia Shah, pose with Nalize.
A group of 18 staff members and students from South African universities embarked on a journey of a lifetime in November 2016 – all of them handpicked for the prestigious Abe Bailey Travel Bursary to the United Kingdom. TUT could not have asked for a better ambassador than Nalize Venter (25), a Master’s student and part-time lecturer at the Department of Fine and Applied Arts. She shared some of her photos with us.
Abe Bailey bursar looks back at memorable trip
“The highlights are too many to mention,” says Nalize. However, she indicates that what stood out for her was a trip to the British Parliament (House of Commons), attending no fewer than five productions staged on the West End (including a Christmas performance by famous Kings College Choir at the Royal Albert Hall) and visiting museums and art galleries where she could view the work of artists that she had only seen in textbooks. “It was especially pleasing to see the work of South African artists, Jane Alexander and Marlene Dumas, standing tall among that of other well-known artists,” Nalize reminisces. The group was the first to experience a rain-free visit to STONEHENGE (a prehistoric monument in Wiltshire, England) in the long history of the travel bursary.
London was calling, where a jam-packed programme, that would make any traveller green with envy, awaited them. They experienced some of the world’s most famous scenes and sites and interacted with interesting people (two bursars even got the opportunity to meet Queen Elizabeth II!). The Goodenough College was the group’s base in London. Here Nalize is photographed in front of the GOODENOUGH CLUB.
Despite the
rigorous selection process, Nalize encourages fellow staff/students to apply for the 2017 bursary.
FASHIONISTA
It is said in order to know where you’re going, you need to know where you’re coming from. It is hard to find a better example of this wisdom than Bayanda Khathini (25), a B Tech: Fashion Design student, who acknowledged his roots in a very fitting way at the recent SA Fashion Week hosted at Hyde Park Corner, Johannesburg.
Bayanda hails from Nkandla in KwaZulu-Natal, also home to President Jacob Zuma. As a young boy, he spent a lot of time in the mountains, looking after cattle, but also imagining a life outside one of the poorest regions in the country.
To bide time, he made wired cars, which, perhaps in retrospect, was the first sign that a creative future awaited him.
“Ever since I was a child I wanted to become a designer, I love clothes. I am inspired by my mother who was a dressmaker, and in 2010, I started to assist her with sewing and patterns,” he says.
In 2013, he enrolled at TUT for a Financial Management course. However, his real passion soon got the better of him in 2014 when he swopped finance for fashion. The accolades that followed proved that this was the right decision.
In his first year, he was named best student in garment and pattern construction and got an internship at Tsotetsi KL (the label of a leading fashion outfit owned by alumnus Khothatso Tsotetsi). In the same year, he was one of only three students chosen to showcase their work at the 012 fashion IMBIZO. Last year, he bagged the Young Designer of the Year Sansui Summer Cup 2016 award.
He started 2017 with a bang when he was selected for a Sies!isabelle Developing Designer mentoring programme, scooped the Award for Best Collection at the Department’s annual fashion show, and the cherry on top – named a finalist for the 2017 SA Fashion Week Scouting Menswear competition, run in association with GQ magazine.
As part of the latter, he got an opportunity to showcase his menswear collection – sharing his signature of tailored African luxury clothing, playing with a masculine-feminine dichotomy – to the fashion fraternity.
He ended off his show by proudly parading on the ramp with a wired car, similar to the ones he made as a young boy (see video link). “My main vision is to create garments that tell the story of being African; giving you a sense of belonging to Africa, no matter your background or where you find yourself,” he concludes.
Up-and-coming fashion designer, Bayanda Khathini (25).
Contact Bayanda Khathini Clothing at
079 996 6723/bayanda.khathini@gmail.com
Former Music student, Viwe Mkizwana (29), has recently released his debut album African Skies with the Mkizwana Ensemble. The multi-talented double bassist was classically trained at the East Rand School of the Arts, but ventured into jazz when he joined TUT in 2008. He obtained a Grade 8 certificate in Double Bass and a National Diploma in Music and is a former member of the TUT Big Band and Footprints Trio Jazz Band.
Jackey Masekela
Viwe Mkizwana
WHY DID YOU CHOOSE THE DOUBLE BASS OUT OF A WHOLE RANGE OF OTHER INSTRUMENTS? I love the role it plays in an ensemble/band set up; it is often not even heard, but plays a big role in keeping time and the music together.
YOU SPENT SOME TIME IN LONDON TO REFINE YOUR PLAYING. TELL US MORE ABOUT YOUR EXPERIENCE THERE. Some time ago, I was selected to represent South Africa in Europe. It was humbling. I learnt so much from musicians that side who all influenced my playing and writing.
YOU HAVE TRAVELLED EXTENSIVELY, SHARING YOUR MUSIC. NAME SOME OF THE COUNTRIES THAT YOU HAVE VISITED AND SHARE HOW YOUR MUSIC WAS RECEIVED THERE? I’ve travelled to Mozambique, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Germany, Italy, Sweden and the Netherlands. Our music is always well received.
AFRICAN SKIES IS YOUR DEBUT ALBUM. WHAT HAS THE RESPONSE BEEN AND HOW DOES THAT MAKE YOU FEEL? It has been a great experience. People are loving the album. I was recently on tour to promote the album and it was a huge success. I hope to take the project abroad soon.
WHERE CAN THE TUT COMMUNITY HEAR MORE MUSIC FROM THE MKIZWANA ENSEMBLE, AND WHAT ARE YOUR FUTURE PLANS? The music is available online, and I also take orders and deliver personally. Future plans include getting a sponsorship to perform outside South Africa.
MEET
heita!
STAY IN THE PICTURE
Heita! is an electronic student newsletter of the Tshwane University of Technology (TUT).
It is edited and published by the Directorate of Corporate Affairs and Marketing.
EDITOR
Gerrit Bester
TEL 012 382 4306
WRITE TO US AT
LAYOUT
This publication may contain third party advertisements and links to third party sites. The Tshwane University of Technology does not make any representation as to the accuracy or suitability of any of the information contained in these advertisements or sites and does not accept any responsibility or liability for the conduct or content of those advertisements and sites and the offerings made by the third parties.
FULL STOP
win R300
It’s easy! All you have to do is answer the following
question (don’t fret, you should get the answer somewhere
in this edition): WHERE DOES THE TUT FASHION DESIGNER FEATURED IN THIS EDITION HAIL FROM?
Please send your answer, name and contact number to heita@tut.ac.za on or before 26 May 2017. Mark the subject field: COMPETITION. The winner will be announced in the next edition. Only registered TUT students can enter.
Good luck!
RISUNA MAHOSI (20), a Public Finance and Accounting student at the Polokwane Campus, is the winner of the competition featured in Heita! Vol9 no2 2017.
CONGRATULATIONS!
SPEND THE R300 WISELY.
The winner of the CANVAS BAG is KELEBOGILE MFETE (22), an Information Technology Development Software student at the eMalahleni Campus.
All work and no play make Jack (and Jill) a dull boy (and girl).
