The Link - issue 2 2008 (PDF) - University of South Africa

The Thutong Learning Centre, Sunnytown Campus, Pretoria 

The Renovation of the 

Thutong Learning Centre 

PLUS 

CLOTHING & MEMORABILIA 

YOUNG ACADEMICS PROJECT 2008 

INTERVIEW – Professor Barney Pityana 

FOR ALUMNI BY ALUMNI – Interview with Karen Prinsloo 

ALUMNI MAGAZINE OF THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH AFRICA ISSUE 2 2008

Your world is your classroom... 

Unisa is a distance learning university, 

offering a choice of over 600 qualifi cations. 

You can study at your own rate, wherever 

you happen to be. So call 086 167 0411, 

and add a few more degrees to your horizon. 

TBWA\HUNT\LASCARIS 811021 

www.unisa.ac.za

Contents 

Clothing & memorabilia 4 

Editor’s foreword 6 

Cover story – Unisa Learning Centre 8 

Unisa charting new ways 10 

Unisa people on the move 13 

Financial assistance for postgraduate degrees 14 

Registration dates 2009 14 

SBL – our fi rst homecoming 15 

Career notes 18 

Tips on how to prepare for a job interview 19 

Young academics project 2008 20 

Guest contributor – “Quiet Diplomacy” 

or appeasement? The South African policy towards 

Zimbabwe 22 

Department of Classics and World Languages – 

The common European framework of reference 

for languages 24 

For alumni by alumni 25 

Interviews: 

Karen Prinsloo 27 

Lesiba Seshoka 28 

Dr Rory Dunn 29 

Membership form 31 

Thesis by an alumna – Dr Esther Kip 32 

Victoria Falls bike trip 33 

Surviving in a recession 36 

Cape Town chapter 40 

Polokwane chapter 43 

Unisa research projects 44 

Small business sustainability in a changed 

trade environment 45 

The reading corner 47 

Functions and events 49 

Chancellor’s dinner 2008 50 

Fundraising projects 51 

The Enviroserv Wasteart Expo 2008 52 

The 

Link 3

Editor’s 

foreword 

meet again in the second issue 

of the Link. This time we’ve put 

together articles with news that 

will excite and at the same time 

inform you of the developments happening at the 

University and in our Alumni Relations office. 

On the cover is a photograph of the Sunnytown area 

where the Learning Centre is currently being renovated. 

The new building will support infrastructure services such 

as academic literacy centres, tutorial venues, computer 

laboratories and libraries. It should be in full operation by the 

end of November 2008. 

The Principal and Vice Chancellor of Unisa, Professor 

Barney Pityana, took time to talk to us about the strategic 

direction the University is taking. It is five full years since the 

merger of three diverse higher education institutions became 

one mega university. Unisa is charting new ways to become 

an Open Distance Learning (ODL) institution of distinction by 

being the first role player to create policies with government 

around ODL. 

In the Alumni by Alumni section we get to know more 

about Karen Prinsloo, Lesiba Seshoka and Dr Rory Dunn. 

Three intrepid graduates bravely embarked on a bike trip to 

the Victoria Falls, Zambia, in August 2008 and have come 

back to share with us their profound memories of the trip. 

Messrs Johan Fourie (BA Police Science 1983, BA Honours 

1985), Andre Botha (SBL – Practical Project Management 

2004 and is currently busy with a Masters in Technology 

Forensics Investigation) and Johan Jacobs (Advanced 

Programme in Security Management 2007) were the mates 

in the ‘gang of seven’. 

Thank you so much for all the positive comments that you 

have made. We look forward to receiving more comments and 

contributions from you. See you in the next issue of the Link. 

Unisa is also focusing its sights intensely on research projects. 

In this issue, contributions on research in South African crime 

and small business sustainability in a changed trade environment 

in Soweto as a special case are being showcased. 

In the last issue we touched on the new registration 

process which has taken off very well. However, please be 

mindful of the registration dates for 2009 so that you don’t 

miss out on a chance to study. 

Be on the lookout for insightful contributions on “Quiet 

Diplomacy or Appeasement” which has been the South 

African policy towards Zimbabwe, and the European 

Framework of References for languages. 

Editorial Team 

Editor: 

Busi Mahlangu 

UF&AR Director: 

Patricia Lawrence 

Secretary to Director: 

Ms Wilhemina Masemola 

Deputy Director Foundation: 

Frankie Mojapelo 

Manager Alumni Relations: 

Amanda Masina 

Fundraiser: 

Lloyd Modjadji 

Database Officer: 

Thando Mndubu 

Alumni Officer: 

Sannah Mahlangu 

Finance Officer: 

Maria Rachekhu 

Fundraising Officer: 

Neo Mathibe 

Alumni Relations Officer: 

Lerotha Mpiriane 

Project Manager: 

Ingrid Fourie 

Research & Photography: 

Tumisho Langa 

Finance Manager: 

Martin Thenga 

Website Address: 

www.unisa.ac.za 

alumni@unisa.ac.za 

Published by The Unisa Foundation 

& Alumni Relations University of 

South Africa 

PO Box 392 

0003 

Vista Building No 263 

Skinner Street 

Pretoria 

Tel: +27 12 337 6126 

Fax: +27 12 337 6171

Unisa Learning Centre 

The Thutong Learning Centre, Sunnytown Campus, Pretoria 

iven the urgent need for a much 

greater throughput rate of Unisa 

graduates into all economic sectors, 

the University is preparing to undertake 

a number of critical infrastructurerelated 

projects aimed at developing the 

facilities that will promote higher student 

success rates, encourage greater scholarly 

collaboration and enable Unisa to meet the 

demand for credible, affordable, accessible 

tertiary education in Africa. 

Against the backdrop of diminishing public 

funding for higher education, Unisa can only 

embark on this level of infrastructure development 

with the support of strategic partners in industry, 

commerce, government and non-government 

organisations. 

The Unisa Foundation plays an important 

role in this regard by communicating, initiating 

and sourcing support from such stakeholders 

in furthering the objectives of the University’s 

infrastructure programme. 

Although Unisa is primarily an open distance 

learning university, there is strong evidence 

that student success rates are enhanced by the 

provision of face-to-face tutorial contact and 

learner support. 

Approximately 4 000 – 5 000 students 

frequent the University’s Muckleneuk Campus 

every day. Lacking in appropriate resources to 

accommodate this type of student body, facilities 

such as the main library and the computer 

laboratory have become over-subscribed in 

terms of the provision of a physical facility for 

students to study and congregate. 

In response to the growing demand for such 

services, especially among young undergraduate 

students joining the University straight from 

school, Unisa is deploying vitally important 

support infrastructure services such as academic 

literacy centres, tutorial venues, computer 

laboratories and libraries. 

Ingrid Fourie – Project Manager, Unisa Foundation 

An example of this initiative is the Thutong 

Learning Centre, based on the Sunnyside Campus 

and currently in the process of renovation. This 

centre will be the flagship of the University’s 

learning centres, incorporating all these vital 

services for the benefit of its students. 



Right: Our learning centre currently under construction 

Above: Sunnytown complex

Unisa charting 

new ways 

the bold restructuring plans for 

higher education in South Africa 

obtained the green light in Cabinet 

in 2002, a consolidation of higher 

education institutions was preceded by one of the 

largest mergers the education sector had ever seen. 

The merger in January 2004 was between the 

University of South Africa (Unisa), Technikon South 

Africa (TSA) and the distance education campus of 

Vista University. Since then the University has had 

to strive for greater heights and the Vice Chancellor 

and Principal, Professor Barney Pityana, took a 

moment to unravel some of the milestones achieved 

during this time. 

The post merger journey will be marked and celebrated 

in January 2009 as the fifth anniversary of the New Unisa. 

There is reason to believe that this is an event to mark 

meaningfully because it is a good beacon for Unisa. Several 

things happened after 2004 where we had to begin with 

the alignment of the brand of the New Unisa which was 

launched with a lot of fanfare in April 2006. 

The mission and vision were adopted in July 2004 which 

culminated with the commencement and adoption of the 

2015 Strategy: An Agenda for Transformation. How far 

the University is with the implementation strategy naturally 

progressed into a very important but obvious question and 

which really opened up the interview. 

The implementation of the 2015 Strategy: 

An Agenda for Transformation 

With the implementation of the 2015 Strategy, many 

things had to be taken into cognisance. We had to start 

with the communication and information of the process. 

Management also had to agree to performance agreements 

which were quantifiable and with deliverables which are 

reviewed on an annual basis. We also paid attention to 

the harmonisation of policies – especially the conditions of 

service – which took a great deal to negotiate. 

Personally, the achievement of that is perceived and 

there is a defensible progression of services and nobody can 

say that we have not taken a progressive step to bringing 

three institutions together. Progress was not only made at 

that level but also at a level where ODL (Open Distance 

Learning) is adopted and formalised in the University. 

ODL is the future and way to go for the University. 

Vice Chancellor and Principal, Professor Barney Pityana 

Unisa evolves full swing to 

Open Distance Learning 

2008 saw a clear and determined programme to address 

the academic character of the University in order to clarify 

the vision and the social mandate of the university and at the 

same time enhancing the uniqueness of a Unisa graduate. 

In 2006, the University Council identified the need for 

an adviser on ODL with a view to renewing all systems and 

processes. The writing of the ODL Policy process began in 

2006 and was approved by the Unisa Council recently. The 

major achievement is that the policy was accompanied by 

the plan to operationalise ODL in the life of the University. 

What it simply means is that there is now a common 

platform for ODL in the country because it has never 

been available. There were previously no regulations and 

mechanisms by government to fill the void. Unisa is starting 

this. ODL has so far been looked at through an ordinary lens. 

The University can now go back to the government with a 

framework that Unisa can function under. 



UNISA CHARTING NEW WAYS 

Unisa began implementing ODL processes such as the 

learning platform in MyUnisa and have also partnered 

with network provider MTN to be able to communicate to 

students. We are also at the advanced stages of developing 

the tutorial support for students where they will receive 

support in a form of academic expertise, plus support 

through a counsellor on learning and development. 

Unisa’s new student profile 

While ODL also has its own demands and challenges, the 

University also has witnessed a new student profile due to 

the country’s ever-changing economic, political and social 

status. Unisa is growing in student numbers and has also 

seen a 16% increase on the previous year. 

The profile of students received by the University is also 

changing to full-time students. These are not the traditional 

students who study via the ODL methods, because they are 

used to working with teachers all the time. The support that the 

University offers to students has to change with the times. 

In the midst of all this, the Minister of Education has 

requested enrolment plans from all universities which 

stipulate how they would reach their intended targets by 

2010. The key targets for Unisa are student success and 

its throughput rate. The key is also to ensure that current 

students are retained while attracting more students to study 

through the institution. 

The analysis has shown that we are dealing with major 

drawbacks as well as a combination of other contributing 

factors. Students are unprepared for ODL as they enter the 

University. They are unaware that it requires self-discipline 

as ODL presents new challenges. Students arrive without 

counselling and take too much on themselves with little 

success. Our duty is to ensure that there are necessary student 

competencies for students to be able to help themselves. 

Counselling will form an important part of this process and 

will be available before the registration process begins. 

The impact of the new registration process and 

the adoption of new technological platforms 

Academics have also noted the high number of students 

writing exams as more time is required to mark scripts. The 

new registration process is the key to changing that aspect. 

This is a process that will enable students to register on time, 

receive their study material within seven days of registering 

and at the same time be allocated to tutors. Students will 

never have to queue for study material. 

It is extremely important to develop a technology platform 

that will ensure that new assessment mechanisms are put in 

place. These mechanisms will be supported by a high-level 

ICT structure with the bandwidth increased. A plan is being 

developed and set in motion to assist students to acquire laptops 

at discounted prices as well as individual e-mail addresses. 

Alumni participation in the development 

of the University 

Development at the University touches on many fronts 

and we feel that the alumni of the University can play a vital 

role by assisting the institution in raising sufficient funds in 

order to achieve and complete all the projects targeted. 

Unisa is committing over a billion rands in infrastructure 

development over the next three years. The new entrance 

building for better security and services will be completed 

by 2009 and it will cost approximately R4,9 million. The new 

registration building in the Sunnytown Campus and the new 

student hub will cost R110 million. 

Improving the Florida Science Labs will cost R110 million 

and setting up a training facility R335 million. Expansion is also 

in progress in Limpopo, Ethekwini, Parow in Cape Town, as 

well as in Rustenburg for the Midlands area. This shows the 

extent of the Unisa Council’s commitment to the infrastructure 

programme to change the face of the University. 

The impact of Unisa developments on 

the City of Tshwane 

Unisa has been applauded for the positive impact it has 

made on the City of Tshwane through the construction of 

new buildings and infrastructure in aid of the public. 

Moreover, Unisa are friends of the City and occupy prime 

real estate at the southern entrance of the City. The City of 

Tshwane also ensured a donation of vital land to the University 

for future and major infrastructural expansion. 

The University has also entered into a partnership with the 

City of Tshwane where the University will be able to exercise 

responsible citizenship. The partnership also entails that we take 

responsibility by contributing in the areas of research, education, 

social development, corporate social responsibility as well as 

taking an interest in the surroundings of the City. 

With the agreement in place, the University will be able 

to invite guests to the City which will in turn allow it to make 

affirmative contributions to the nation’s capital and subsequently 

to Unisa itself, as it is a well-known fact that the University is an 

integral part of the wonderful City of Tshwane. 

The developments will cost the University over 

R1 billion and will be used to build science centres. Unisa 

will contribute to the expansion of the City as well by 

providing training and research opportunities. Unisa aims 

to bring the City and the government together, to strengthen 

relations for a prosperous future. 

Professor Pityana was interviewed by Busisiwe Mahlangu 



Unisa people on the move 

Academics serving the wider community 

Professor Maluleke appointed to the Board 

of SANPAD 

xecutive Director of the Research Directorate, 

Professor Tinyiko Maluleke, has been appointed 

to SANPAD, South Africa (the Board of the 

South Africa-Netherlands Research Programme 

on Alternatives in Development). 

serve on such a board. “This is a facet of language in action 

that brings to life the role of language as a living entity – 

specifically where language is an essential tool of transferring 

and transmitting information across a multitude of spheres. 

It is particularly pleasing to see the enrichment of a people’s 

liberation to access and disseminate information without 

fear and inhibition, secure in the knowledge that their basic 

linguistic rights are protected.” 

Professor Tinyiko Maluleke 

Professor Zodwa Motsa 

Professor Maluleke 

was nominated as a 

candidate to serve on 

the board by HESA 

(Higher Education 

South Africa) and 

is one of only four 

academics in the 

country serving on 

this board. The 

CEO of SANPAD, 

South Africa, Dr 

Anshu Padayachee, 

was pleased with 

Professor Maluleke’s 

appointment and has 

noted that she looks 

forward to working 

with him. 

Professor Motsa 

appointed as 

PanSALB Vice- 

Chair 

Professor Zodwa 

Motsa, Department 

of English Studies, 

has been appointed 

as Vice-chair of 

PanSALB. The Board 

is appointed by the 

Minister of Arts and 

Culture to implement 

the provisions 

of language as 

expressed in the 

Constitution. Specifically, the Board oversees the development 

of previously marginalised languages, the implementation 

of multilingualism and the protection of linguistic rights 

as enshrined in the official and heritage languages of 

communities in the Republic. 

According to Professor Motsa, who has been associated 

with PanSALB in a number of offices, it is an honour to 

Professors Sophie Mogotlane and Sarie 

Human 

appointed to 

SANC 

Professors Sophie 

Mogotlane and 

Sarie Human of the 

Department of Health 

Studies have been 

appointed as members 

of SANC (the South 

Sarie Human and Sophie Mogotlane appointed 

to SANC 

African Nursing 

Council). Professor 

Mogotlane has been appointed as the Vice-Chairperson, while 

Professor Human will serve as a member of the Executive Committee. 

Professor Mogotlane has worked in both clinical practice 

and academia in the nursing profession. Over the years she 

has accumulated a vast knowledge base that will benefit the 

SANC in its deliberations. 

Professor Human is a respected member of the nursing 

fraternity with a wealth of knowledge and experience, 

especially in the nursing education field. She is also a member 

of the Unisa Council. 

The appointment of these two members is proof of the 

important contribution made to nursing education by the 

Department of Health Studies. 

Professor Rachel 

Barker appointed to 

Advisory Board of 

AWBMAMD 

Professor Rachel Barker 

has been appointed 

to the Advisory Board 

of the Academy of World 

Business, Marketing and 

Professor Rachel Barker 

Management Development. 

The purpose of the Academy 

is to advance, transmit and sustain knowledge and 

understanding of business, marketing and management 

development through conferences, research and publications 

at the highest international standards for the benefit of local 

and global communities. 



Financial assistance for 

postgraduate degrees 

he Financial Aid Bureau (FAB) is the unit 

responsible for administering funds, in the form of 

loans/bursaries at UNISA. FAB seeks to effectively 

and efficiently manage all funding at its disposal 

by ensuring that every stakeholder, especially students and 

donors, receive a high quality service from a committed 

and professional FAB team. FAB is also responsible for the 

dispbursement of different types of financial aid on financial 

need or academic merit. Funds for postgraduate studies are 

available for students already studying or who intend to 

study for Master’s (Full Research) and Doctoral Degrees. 

CRITERIA: 

- Financial aid is granted on the basis of academic merit. 

- A minimum percentage of 65% is a basic requirement 

for consideration for students who completed an 

Honours Degree. 

- Bursary is primarily awarded to cover tuition fees. Some 

recommended research-related activities may be 

considered upon application, supported by supervisor. 

- Master’s Degrees are given bursaries for a maximum 

period of 3 years. 

- Doctoral Degrees are given bursaries for a maximum 

period of 4 years. 

- A portion of the total budget will be awarded to 

non-SA students. 

- A student who has graduated at another university 

must submit a copy of a complete and official academic 

transcript with marks given in percentages and not 

as symbols. 

- Applications are subject to scrutiny and availability 

of funds. 

For more information, please contact Ms Shumaya Primm at 

011 471 2828 or SPrimm@unisa.ac.za or Ms Sibongile Nhlapo 

at 012 429 3659 or Nhlaps@unisa.ac.za or alternatively, login 

to www.unisa.ac.za/fab 

Registration dates 2009 

Student registrations for the 2009 academic year (for all 

qualifications) will commence on 8 DECEMBER 2008. 

The registration activity will close on 23 December 

2008 for the recess period. The registration period will 

re-commence on 5 January 2009. 

Students writing examinations at Senior Certificate level or 

at a recognised tertiary institution level in October/November 

2008 must await the release of their results before registering 

at the University. 

The closing dates of the different registration activities and 

cycles are as follows: 

1. 16 JANUARY 2009 

Postal registrations (Internet, fax, licensee, SAPO 

applications) for students who are registering for the first 

semester for formative and professional qualifications. 

2. 22 JANUARY 2009 

Registrations for students registering personally for the 

first semester for formative and professional qualifications, 

Honours BCompt, (CTA) and (PGDA). 

3. 12 FEBRUARY 2009 

For students registering for the Honours BCompt (CTA) 

who participated in supplementary examinations. 

4. 05 MARCH 2009 

• For students who wrote examinations in January/ 

February 2008 at Unisa or another recognised tertiary 

institution. 

• For study units which are dependent on the results of 

a January/February 2009 examination/s, excluding 

modules offered in the first semester. 

• For students registering and re-registering for BTech 

Honours (excluding the Honours BCompt or (CTA)) 

(see 22 January 2009), Master’s and Doctor’s degrees. 

5. 02 APRIL 2009 

• For Honours, Master’s and Doctor’s students who 

wrote examinations in January/February 2009 and 

whose registrations are dependent on the results of 

those examinations. 

• The university will be closed for all registration 

activities from 3 April 2009 to 25 June 2009. 

• Registration dates for the SECOND SEMESTER begin 

on 26 JUNE 2009 for all qualifications where study units 

are offered in these periods. 

The closing dates are as specified below: 

6. 16 JULY 2009 

• All students registering for the first time in 2009 or 

adding modules (i.e. students who are awaiting 

examination results from the May/June 2009 

examinations) for the SECOND semester for formative 

and professional qualifications. 

Registrations for the second semester also take place 

between 2 December 2008 and 5 March 2009. Students 

registering for modules offered in the second semester must 

note that the tuition period commences on 14 July 2009. 

The University and its registration facilities are closed on 

public holidays, Saturdays (see below for the exceptions), 

Sundays, the Easter weekend and from 12:00 (10:00 for the 

registration halls) on 23 December 2008 (16:00) to 07:45 

on 5 January 2009. 

Registration activities on Saturdays 

Notice is drawn to the fact that the University will be open 

for registration on the following Saturdays in 2009 (08:00 – 

11:30): 

10, 17 January 2009 

7, 28 February 2009 

11, 18 July 2009 



SBL – Our First 

Homecoming 

A resounding success 

Saturday, 6 September 2008 the 

UNISA Graduate School of Business 

Leadership (SBL) hosted its first 

Alumni Homecoming event at its Midrand 

Campus. The theme of the event was “Let’s 

reunite and rekindle networks” and the activities 

of the day did just that. The SBL has been offering 

its flagship Masters of Business Leadership since 

1962 and over the years introduced a number of 

management and leadership programmes to its 

stable of offerings. 

his thoughts on appreciating diversity of employees and 

tapping into the added-value brought about by diversity. 

Ezra emphasised that we are all diverse and are socialised 

differently but we need to pull together towards a common 

business vision. 

Values are the foundation of culture. “People may forget 

your name, but they never forget what you stand for,” says 

Ezra. Values would formulate what an organisation stands for 

to the employees first, which then exhibit itself to the outside 

world. It all starts with a commitment from top leadership 

and then the rest of the team. He further mentioned that 

changing the culture of an organisation should be driven by 

each and every employee. Each one needs to change the way 

they think and act, their behaviour and, in some cases, even 

their beliefs. Though it is tough at times, it is worth it and for 

those who commit to see it through, it is one of the most 

rewarding periods of their careers. 

To complement Ezra’s presentation Dr Claudelle Von Eck, 

also an SBL alumna, addressed the audience on Creating and 

managing shape shifters in a constantly changing business 

landscape. She argued that the volatile nature of the modern 

landscape calls for new survival methods, which in turn require 

a new set of competencies to be adopted by leaders. 

She focused on the key competencies leaders require in order 

to equip their workforce, to not only survive in fast changing 

environments, but also to become positive and productive 

contributors to the success of the organisation. In order to 

become meaningful contributors the leaders’ followers must 

become agile and to a great degree shape shifters. 

Chappy Bopope with Cristal Peterson of SBL 

Thousands of students have graduated from the school 

and the homecoming is introduced as an opportunity 

for its former students to relive the fond and fading 

memories of student life. The attendance level of 

this first event proved its relevance and the need for 

the alumni graduates to reunite with fellow alumni 

and lecturers. It was an exciting afternoon filled with 

presentations by prominent alumni, an interactive 

drumming session, loads of fun activities and delicious 

treats from traditional food stalls. 

The morning kicked off with interactive talks on 

challenges facing leadership today. Mr Ezra Ndwandwe, 

an SBL alumnus, presented to fellow alumni on the topic 

Changing our Leadership Culture through Values: 

What role does organisational culture play in aiding or 

undermining leadership. He engaged the audience with 

To create even more synergy amongst our alumni 

an interactive drumming session concluded the formal 

proceedings. By creating the same rhythm the drumming 

builds a non-competitive community that realises we have 

come together for the same reason – to make music as one. 

But it was not all work and no play. Following these 

enlightening presentations and a thrilling drumming session, 

the SBL alumni had the opportunity to try their hand at quad 

biking. Those that were less adventurous could unwind by 

enjoying a hand or a back and neck massage. 

SBL alumni left their alma mater with fond memories 

and are looking forward to meeting old and new friends at 

the next homecoming. The SBL aims to make this an annual 

event and is extending an invitation to all its alumni to take 

ownership of the event. Ms Deanna Voget, Alumni Relations 

Manager can be contacted on 011 652 0332 for more 

information on upcoming events. For more details on the 

event, download presentations and photographs from the 

SBL website: www.sblunisa.ac.za. 



UNISA SBL 

Believe in yourself – 

you never know who you’ll become 

UNISA SBL is preparing today’s 

business leaders for tomorrow’s 

challenges. We believe that 

potential lies in everyone and 

therefore we have made 

sure that we provide affordable, 

quality education and knowledge. 

Visit www.sblunisa.ac.za for more information on our exciting offerings: 

• Executive Development Programmes 

• Management Development Programmes 

• Project Management Programmes 

OR 

Contact us to discuss customised corporate training and development 

TBWA\HUNT\LASCARIS 811021 

UNISA Graduate School of Business Leadership (SBL) 

Cnr Smuts and First Avenue, Midrand 1685 

Tel: +27 (11) 652-0208/0000 Fax: +27 (11) 652-0299 

E-mail: sbl@unisa.ac.za 

 

 

First in Leadership Education in Africa

Career Notes 

Logistics – a hot career 

at the moment 

Your qualifications? 

“I have both BCom and BCom Honours in Management. 

I am on the verge of completing my second Honours in 

Logistics. I also studied other courses such as Supply Chain 

with Georgia Tech in the United States.” 

How did you benefit from studying with Unisa? 

“My time at Unisa was beneficial in a sense that it 

improved my confidence, mental sharpness and opened 

many other opportunities for me. It was through networking 

that I acquired unique skills which uplifted me.” 

First job? 

“My first job was as a student worker in the Registration 

Department and that is where I learnt to think proactively 

and creatively. My tip to alumni is that you must always make 

a mark and have your own identity.” 

What is logistics? 

“Logistics is an area that I feel passionate about, because 

everything we do has to do with logistics. Logistics involves 

sharing of information, storage and movement of people, 

data and resources.” 

Career opportunities? 

“Opportunities in logistics are in abundant – in the fields 

of engineering and management, as replenishers, planners, 

buyers, supply chain managers, researchers and specialists as 

well as inbound and outbound logisticians.” 

Things to look out for? 

“Know your market very well, be flexible and be open to 

opportunities. Information sharing and relationship building 

and working towards a common goal are important. Do 

not hold things to yourself, but know which information to 

disseminate. Find a balance between what to say to whom, 

how and when.” 

Kgaugelo Bhoya 

gaugelo Bhoya is a Lecturer: Strategic 

Management Section, Business Management 

Department, University of South Africa. 

His career spans more than eight years. 

Where were you born? 

“I was born in a township called Atteridgeville. My birth 

took place inside the house. I attended eight schools before 

completing matric because my father is a missionary and we 

travelled around the country and throughout the world.” 

Salary scale? 

“Depending on the level of the position, a junior will 

receive about R8 000 as a start and can go over 

R100 000 per month.” 

Career breakers? 

“Doing things for quick money. A career starts from 

passion and money comes later.” 

Next two years? 

“For the next two years I will focus on studying for a 

Master’s Degree. I want to see progress in my plans to establish 

a consulting firm in logistics and transport solutions.” 



CAREER NOTES 

Tips on how 

to prepare for 

a job interview 

and ace it 

It’s that time of year again when you make 

your new year resolutions – and one of them 

might well be to look for a new job. But a 

new job means that dreaded interview! Just 

follow this advice from Origen Capital and 

your interview will be a breeze! 

Preparation is the first essential step towards a successful 

interview. Company interviewers are continually amazed 

at the number of applicants who drift into their offices 

without any apparent preparation and with only a vague 

idea of what they are going to say. 

1. Dress in a business suit. Pay attention to all facets 

of your dress and grooming, i.e. no excessive make-up or 

jewelery. Skirts should not be too short. 

2. Know the exact place and time of the interview, the 

interviewer’s full name, the correct pronunciation and his/ 

her title. 

3. Find out specific facts about the company – where its 

plants, offices or stores are located, what its products and 

services are, what its growth has been, and what its growth 

potential is for the future. There are a number of research 

publications providing this kind of information. 

4. Refresh your memory on the facts and figures of your 

present/former employer. You will be expected to know 

at least the basics of a company that you have previously 

worked for. 

5. Prepare the questions you will ask during the 

interview. Remember that an interview is a two-way street. 

The employer will try to determine through questioning if 

you have the qualifications necessary to do the job. 

You must determine through questioning whether the 

company will give you the opportunity for the growth and 

development you seek. 

6. Probing questions you might like to ask: a detailed 

description of the position? Reason the position is available? 

Anticipated induction and training programme? What are 

the advanced training programmes available for those who 

demonstrate outstanding ability? 



Young Academics 

Project 

2008 

he retention of talent and skills in the workplace 

has been, at the most, an unrealised dream the 

world over. However, Unisa met the challenge 

to raise the profile of its young academics in the 

areas of academia and management. Information supplied 

by Professor Rosalie Finlayson, Academic Advisor: Human 

Resources Development, UNISA. 

Liza van Jaarsveldt (35) (Department of Public Administration) 

The Young Academics Project for 2008 started with a 

bang. As the University of South Africa (Unisa) steadfastly 

progresses on implementing its 2015 Strategic Plan and the 

2008 Institutional Operational Plan (IOP), much effort has 

been placed on the importance of building a visible and critical 

mass of high-quality young academics at the University. 

Adherence to the IOP means that the Young Academics 

Project aligns itself with three key goals embedded in the 

IOP which are to identify and develop leaders, managers 

and improve staff capacity; recruit and retain high quality 

staff in line with EE targets as well as to develop and 

implement appropriate leadership and management 

education and training programmes. The main goal of the 

project is to develop a group of 16 young, promising and 

talented academics for the future, both in terms of academic 

development as well as at management development. 

A young academic is regarded as someone under 

the age of 36, who holds a minimum of a Master’s Degree. 

The ideal candidate should be considering registering or have 

registered for a doctoral degree. The project seeks to fast track 

these academics in the areas of tuition, research and academic 

management, providing them with the knowledge and skills 

required to be high achievers not only within the University, but 

also on the national and global stage. The project also aims to 

enable these young academics to one day assume the role of 

leadership in their academic departments or colleges. 

A stringent criteria was used for academics to enter the 

programme. Selection Committee was put together to 

ensure that the project is in place. The targeted number was 

20 candidates which depended on the number and quality 

of nominations received. The Committee also identified 

and selected young academics who have managerial and 

leadership potential with the emphasis on research and 

tuition in an ODL environment. 

Tameshnie Deane (32) (Criminal & Procedural Law) 

Denzil Chetty(28) (Religious studies and Arabic) 

Clifford Ndlangamandla(33) (English Studies) 

Young academics are evaluated on the quality of their 

performance during the programme. Training is delivered and 

structured primarily by the University but with the support of 

external providers based on best practice. 

Expected returns from this programme are that the 

graduates would be able to produce excellence in tuition 

awards, high quality research, tranfer these skills and mentor 

other academics as well as be groomed to move into a 

position of leadership in the academic environment. 


Link 20 

Tresella Nayagar (33) (Department of Business Management)

YOUNG ACADEMICS PROJECT 

Left: Gusha Ngantweni (35) 

(Police Practice) 

Right: Langutani Masehela (35) 

(English Studies) 

Left: Dr Mpfariseni Budeli (35) 

(Labour Law) 

Right: Rose Malefa Malefane (30) 

(Department of Economics) 

Left: Richard Moloi (31) 

(Development Studies) 

Right: Guguletho Sharon Nkosi (33) 

(Jurisprudence) 

Left: Rembuluwani Paul Mbedzi (29) 

(Social Work) 

Right: Dr Genevieve James (31) 

(Christian Spirituality, Church History 

and Missiology) 

Left: Dr Babalwa Matsiliza Mlathi (35) 

(Life & Consumer Science) 

Right: Kedibone Phago (31) 

(Department of Public Administration) 



Guest contributors – 

School of Graduate Studies 

‘Quiet Diplomacy’ or Appeasement? The South African Policy 

towards Zimbabwe 

he policy of quiet diplomacy pursued by 

Thabo Mbeki has become increasingly 

controversial. Some members of the ANC 

have described it as an embarrassment, 

and Jacob Zuma has made critical statements about 

Robert Mugabe’s rule in Zimbabwe writes John 

Hoffman, Emeritus Professor of Political Theory, 

University of Leicester, UK. 

Indeed the crisis in Zimbabwe has become more and 

more obvious since 1997. Payments for “war veterans” 

and military involvement in the Democratic Republic of the 

Congo aggravated inflation, and the IMF and World Bank 

withdrew support. In 2000 Mugabe lost the referendum 

on new powers for the president, and with the formation 

of the MDC the previous year, subsequent elections were 

marred by violence, intimidation, election irregularities, and 

the suspension of a free press. In 2002, Mugabe declared 

that he was “Hitler tenfold”, and following his suspension 

from the Commonwealth, the EU and US imposed targeted 

sanctions, aimed at the elite. 

All the while the South African government publicly 

expressed no criticism. Electricity continued to be supplied and 

military pacts were signed. The special relationship between 

South Africa and Zimbabwe existed on both sides of the political 

divide. The earliest African nationalist organisation in colonial 

Rhodesia had been called the African National Congress, and 

there were close links between ZAPU and the South African 

ANC. It was pressure from John Vorster in South Africa that 

brought Ian Smith to the negotiating table at Lancaster House, 

and after Zimbabwe’s independence there were brittle relations 

between ZANU and the ANC. 

Mbeki is said to have a positive attitude towards ZANU- 

PF. But to understand the adoption of quiet diplomacy, we 

need to take account of the question of working within the 

southern African region. The new democratic South Africa 

was understandably concerned to avoid the apartheid state’s 

military and economic pressures on what were called “the 

frontline states”, even though critics have argued that a 

passive attitude towards Zimbabwe has seen hundreds of 

thousands of Zimbabwean refugees come to South Africa, 

and severe consequences for the country’s economic wellbeing, 

There is also the African context, where Mbeki has 

instituted NEPAD and proclaimed the need for an African 

renaissance. Mandela’s foreign policy has been seen as a 

“valuable lesson” in what to avoid, and some have also taken 

the view that for cultural reasons, Mbeki defers to an older 

statesman. Critics have argued however that Mbeki’s policy 

has simply reinforced negative stereotypes of African rule. 

Adopting a multilateralist approach and asserting the need 

for a South African model of transition is based, critics argue, 

on a dogmatic misreading of the Mugabe government, and 

while it is true that public opinion in South Africa has been 

enthusiastic about Mugabe, there is strong opposition to his 

rule from within COSATU and the SACP. 

Quiet diplomacy has also gained credibility from a sceptical 

view of the “West” and its Human Rights Doctrines, and it has 

also been argued that Zimbabwe as a sovereign state should 

be respected. Critics argue that sovereignty is better defined 

in terms of the human rights of the Zimbabwean people who, 

after all, have suffered grievously under Mugabe’s rule. A key 

factor in grasping quiet diplomacy has been the status of 

Mugabe as a national liberation leader. The MDC are based 

on the trade unions and the civics, and it is argued that this 

lies at the roots of Mbeki’s dislike of Morgan Tsvangarai. 

If we assume that quiet diplomacy has been ineffective, 

then what are its alternatives? It is crucial that we do not 

see armed intervention from South Africa or the SADC as 

the only alternative: other pressures could be mounted. 

Condemnation would be a start and a description of the 

Mugabe government, as “illegitimate” would lead to 

Zimbabwe’s expulsion from the SADC. Stronger economic 

and political pressures could then follow. 



COLLEGE PROFILE

Department of Classics 

and World Languages 

The Common European 

Framework of Reference 

for Languages 

an ever-growing European Union 

whose member states encompass 

a totality of over 30 different 

languages, the necessity of everyone ideally 

understanding at least one or two foreign 

languages has very early been recognised, 

with the ensuing implementation in the 

school systems of virtually all European 

countries. By Dr. Michael Maintz of the 

Goethe-Institut, Johannesburg. 

This situation is completely different from that of the 

United States of America where English (with an increasing 

influence of Spanish due to migration pressures) rules 

supreme as the lingua franca. The Council of Europe (set up 

in Strasbourg, France, in 1946) promotes the awareness of 

a European identity that is based on shared values which can 

be summarised generally as human rights, parliamentary 

democracy and the rule of law, but more specifically the 

learning of foreign languages is greatly encouraged as a 

means of preserving linguistic and cultural identity, improving 

communication and mutual understanding and combating 

intolerance and xenophobia. 

To this end, two institutions – The Language Policy 

Division (LPD), Strasbourg, France and The European 

Centre for Modern Languages (ECML), Graz, Austria, have 

been founded. 

Their respective Language Education Policies aim 

to promote plurilingualism, linguistic diversity, mutual 

understanding, democratic citizenship and social cohesion. As 

a policy instrument and initiative, the Common European 

Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) has been 

created. It was developed to support the Council of Europe 

policy by providing “a common basis for the elaboration of 

language syllabuses, curriculum guidelines, examinations, 

textbooks, etc., across Europe”. 

The CEFR represents in essence an action-oriented 

approach to language learning which can be described 

as the use of language to perform communicative acts 

which may be external and social (communicating with 

other people) or internal and private (communicating with 

ourselves). Language can also be used when people perform 

communicative acts – we use strategies to make the most 

appropriate and effective use of our linguistic resources. 

Language learning is, or should be, a kind of language 

use. The action-oriented approach thus implies a taskbased 

approach to language teaching and learning. In 

a Europe whose borders become increasingly open for 

inner-European social, touristic and, above all, economic 

migration, common standards of language teaching and 

measurements of foreign language competence levels 

cannot be done without. 

Consequently, language proficiency is defined by so-called 

“can-do” descriptors which are fundamental to the CEFR’s 

action-oriented approach that we use language to do things. 

Thus the successive proficiency levels are defined in terms of 

what learners can do in the second/foreign language(s) they 

know or are learning. 

By defining proficiency levels for five different language 

activities (listening, reading, spoken interaction, spoken 

production, writing) the CEFR allows us to take account of 

partial competences and the fact that we are usually stronger 

in reception than production. 

Since 2005, modern European Language Certificates 

therefore conform to the following levels, taking the German 

certificates (examinations administered by the Goethe- 

Institut) as an example: 

C2 Mastery ZOP / KDS 

C1 Proficient Zentrale Mittelstufenprüfung 

B2 Vantage Zertifikat Deutsch für den Beruf 

B1 Threshold Zertifikat Deutsch 

A2 Waystage Start Deutsch 2 

A1 Breakthrough Start Deutsch 1 

As mentioned above, the competence levels have been 

further fine-tuned for all language skills and provide therefore 

valuable help, especially. for curriculum, examination and 

textbook developers. The CEFR also assists on a very 

personal level where for instance the holder of a language 

competence certificate that conforms to the levels explained 

above applies for a position abroad. His/her language skills 

can clearly be judged by the future employer by looking at 

the certificate alone, which makes additional language testing 

largely unnecessary and can prove to be an advantage to the 

individuals and companies involved. 

The CEFR has proved to fulfil its function as an integrating 

linguistic tool for the European Union and sets an example 

for other linguistically diverse regions in the world. 



For Alumni by Alumni 

Alumni matters – Amanda Masina, Manager Alumni Relations 

am pleased to introduce myself 

as the new Alumni Relations 

Manager and I’m truly excited 

with my new role. Although the 

bar has been set by my predecessor , 

Mr Lloyd Modjadji, I hope to raise 

it and perhaps add some exciting 

new perspectives. 

The 2015 Strategic Objective of the University, “An 

Agenda for Transformation”, clearly sets out the objectives 

for the Directorate to mobilise alumni in the service of the 

University (Strategic Objective 6.6.). 

The Unisa Alumni has been created to help keep you 

connected, engaged, and involved with Unisa. Through the 

Unisa Alumni we hope to: 

- Maintain open communication with you in order to 

keep you informed of Unisa news and developments as well 

as to hear what you are up to. 

- Create new means for you to stay involved with Unisa 

through our Alumni Association, Chapters and events. 

- Establish Chapters by organising annual meetings 

nationally and internationally. 

- Create and maintain a lifelong relationship between 

Unisa and its graduates, as well as the broader community 

- Encourage alumni participation in fundraising initiatives 

of the University 

- Foster sense of loyalty between the University and its 

alumni by means of University memorabilia. 

But we need your help to reach these goals. You may 

participate in the following in order to make the Unisa 

Alumni strong and effective. 

Update your contact information regularly – We 

recognise that this is a very busy time in your life and 

that you may move several times in the next few years. 

However, we can’t keep you in the loop if we don’t know 

where you are. You’ll miss out on Alumni newsletter, 

invitations to Alumni events and University updates. So 

be sure to let us know whenever your contact information 

changes (i.e. your mailing address, e-mail address, or 

telephone number). Updating your contact details is 

easy! Just visit the Update Your Profile on the website, 

send an email to: alumni@unisa.ac.za or call us on 

+27 12 337 6082 

Stay Involved – Attending Unisa Alumni events, getting 

involved with Chapter activities and becoming an Alumni 

Association member are just some of the ways for you to 

stay involved in the Unisa Alumni and help it to grow! 

Alumni Association – The aim is to create a platform 

where alumni can actively participate in the activities of the 

University in order to contribute to its long-tem success and 

sustainability. 

Alumni Events and Activities – We are currently 

planning series of events for 2009 to promote alumni 

membership association. To view upcoming Alumni events, 

please go to the alumni website under Events. 

Alumni Chapters – Each Chapter coordinates alumni 

activities and events. These events will offer networking 

opportunities for alumni. 

Let us know what you are up to – Unisa alumni across 

the world are doing amazing things in their career fields and 

beyond! Whatever lifepath you choose, we’d love to hear 

about it. 

I hope you’ll enjoy our second edition of the Link. We hope 

you’ll let us know what you’d like to see in the magazine. 

Should you wish to contribute, please feel free to contact 

our Editor. The Link is your magazine – we hope you’ll get 

involved in every issue. 

Wishing you a happy festive season! 



Karen Prinsloo

FOR ALUMNI BY ALUMNI 

Interview 

with Karen 

Prinsloo 

aren Prinsloo is the co-owner of the ever 

-popular Duncan Yard in Hatfield, Pretoria. 

She has done so many things in her life 

and she so happens to be an alumna of 

Unisa. Business is not for the faint-hearted and with 

its challenges it has also brought happiness along 

with other achievements. 

Who is Karen Prinsloo? 

I grew up in Krugersdorp in the North West Province. 

I attended both my primary and high schools there. I 

later moved to Pretoria and studied through the Pretoria 

University. I studied a BA in Social work and later worked at 

the child welfare organisation. 

I have an Honours degree in Psychology and worked for 

the Human Science Research Council (HSRC) where I did 

research. I however found research to be too impersonal 

and decided to register for a Masters in Psychology at the 

University of South Africa. 

How has studying at Unisa benefited you? 

Studying at Unisa benefited me immensely because 

I enjoyed the course work tremendously and grew on 

a personal level and at the same time built wonderful 

friendships. It was also a personal growth experience as it 

changed me a lot. The Masters degree made me aware of 

who I am and who I like to be. 

Why did you swop careers from psychology to property? 

I like exploring things and I decided to do something 

different when I studied film technology at Tshwane 

Technikon. I then started working as a producer for a television 

programme called “Pasella”. I also did 13 episodes in “Agter 

die mynhoop” which focused on the coloured community 

in Benoni. Other television work was in documentaries for 

gambling addiction, cultures and weddings. 

I have been working here for five years. Duncan Yard 

was previously called Die Jaart and we have extended the 

shopping centre part of it. My husband and I wanted to 

redevelop the area which had a small restaurant. Now there 

are shops, restaurants and a deli. 

The property market is different from what I’m used to. 

The business runs on its own because of our tenants. The 

restaurant requires constent attention in the everyday running 

of things. You will notice that the place looks different from 

time to time and I like to get involved in that process of 

continuously changing the place. 

Do you have a family? How do you juggle that with 

work and proving yourself at work as a woman? 

The personnel that we have in our business help a lot 

and I also delegate so that I am not there all the time. I 

am here from Monday to Saturday as Sundays are important 

to my family. I also try not to work at night. Our trading 

hours are between 08:00 in the morning and 12:00 at night, 

depending on when people leave. 

Duncan Yard staff hard at work 



The activities that we have on Sundays are of a mellow 

nature. We have jazz and singers and on women’s day this 

year, we promoted new and upcoming artists. The restaurant 

also tries to cater for women who enjoy a good time. 

How many people do you employ? 

We employ over 50 people including waiters. 

What are your leadership and management styles? 

I am an easy-going person and I learnt to be strict and 

to trust people to do their jobs. There are, however, a lot 

of lessons to be learnt and it is important to grow in the 

process. I’ve made mistakes but I am growing with age. 

Lesiba Seshoka 

South African mine workers have become more 

outspoken about their labour rights. Lesiba Seshoka, is 

the spokesperson for the National Union of Mineworkers 

(NUM) and has been entrusted with ensuring that the 

hushed echoes of the people who build the economy 

from within the belly of Mother Earth, are heard. 

Seshoka is an alumnus of the University. 

How do you mentor people? 

I have an open approach and any staff member is 

welcome to see me. If there are problems in the kitchen we 

hold meetings to resolve them. As my husband is also my 

mentor, I often ask for his opinion or consult with him. We 

often share in one another’s world. 

Where are you located? 

My office is upstairs but you will always find me around 

the building. Our building is on the corner of Duncan and 

Prospects Streets, Hatfield. 

Any issues you’ve identified that are potential career 

breakers? 

It is really important to trust yourself. Intuition also plays a 

big role as well as decision-making, especially on issues such 

as recruitment of staff. Make sure you get more clarity before 

doing things. 

The pros and cons of the South African property 

industry? 

When it comes to property, my husband and I invest in South 

Africa. We believe in our country a lot and if you want to make 

a success, then immigrate to the new South Africa. Although, 

things are different in light of the high interest rates, hang on 

to what you have to get a good return in the end. Hatfield is 

a hive of activity; the Gautrain is close to being completed and 

other expansions and developments are evident. This is a prime 

property for us and we vow to never sell it. 

What can we expect to see from you in the next two 

years? 

You can expect to see even more developments on our 

property. We want to add more shops and offices at the 

back. But I might change my mind. You know I’m just going 

to give it some time and maybe do things differently. 

What’s your motto or principle? 

I believe in honesty, dreams and in change. Every day of 

your life you change and there’s always change. 

Lesiba Seshoka 

Working with workers’ rights have always given Lesiba 

Seshoka a different take on life. He has been involved in 

it since leaving the University of South Africa. His work in 

media relations and publicity, nationally and abroad, has 

always been cut out for him. Denosa, the Union movement 

for nurses in South Africa was the launch pad for his career 

in the real media world. 

“I’ve had brief stints with other labour councils and 

through all of that I was approached by the National Union 

of Mineworkers to carry out publicity, media and public 

relations work for them. My main job is in the media – both 

nationally and internationally,” said Seshoka. 

He does not forget to mention how big NUM is amongst 

other African mining unions. According to Seshoka, NUM is 

the largest union in Africa today because it is part of the most 

vibrant and viable economic sector of mining and resources. 

By and large, many issues arise out of the mining sector, and 




that is why media giants such as BBC, Sky News and CNN 

have such excellent relations with NUM. 

“Our task as a union is to pay heed to the needs and plights 

of our mineworkers. Our concern as the NUM has always 

been with safety, wage negotiations and the conditions our 

miners work in.” 

Seshoka does not shy away from the fact that miners in 

South Africa create wealth but in the end do not enjoy it. 

“The people I see don’t see the wealth and it doesn’t go 

to their dinner tables. Our inflation has hit an all time high 

and when you go and negotiate wages you would not get an 

increase. I dare anyone to go six kilometres underground one 

day to see the different levels and shafts. We have instances 

where miners have to walk for up to two kilometres to their 

work stations. It is very hot below ground and miners work 

on different things for long hours – do drilling, others dig 

with picks and shovels while others remove the rubble. We 

talk about workers who have no smiles. Workers are also not 

guaranteed safe working conditions and they fear for their 

lives as so many of them die or get injured while on duty.” 

While safety is always an issue, endless possibilities of 

retrenchments are aslo a worry. The most recent example 

was when the country experienced massive load shedding 

which threatened the economy on many fronts. The mining 

sector was not immune to this and it struggled to cope. 

Many mining giants threatened to retrench workers, sighting 

profit-making versus the high costs of productivity. In all of 

that, NUM still forged forward to fight for what is right for 

its members. 

he is faced with today. Achieving balance is not easy but 

the five staff members who work under him are their own 

decision makers and that adds to the smooth running of his 

office. 

However when it comes to the home front. Seshoka vows 

that he would never be able to play the role that women 

fulfil. While his wife keeps the home fires burning, this son of 

a rural Limpopo town called Zebidiela writes books. His first 

novel “Megokgo ya Ditlholego” – a story about his life – is in 

manuscript stage. 

“I have thousands of principles but one of them is that 

nothing is impossible. The struggle is the meaning of life. I lived 

in a hostel before where there was no privacy. That is what 

strengthened me and if people can obtain their degrees while in 

prison then a hostel is no different. I’ve been through the tough 

times and nothing will ever break me” he concludes. 

Dr Rory Dunn 

It is not hard to recognise why the Capital 

Outsourcing Group courted the skills of Dr Rory 

Dunn. He has been there, done that and is still doing 

more. His work experience round the world, mainly 

in strategic management, vouch for that. Dr Dunn is 

an alumnus of the University. He has both a B. Com 

degree and a B. Com Honours from Unisa. 

Besides giving his all – the voice of mine workers, Seshoka 

is also part-time tutor and marks assignments and exams for 

English students at Unisa. According to him, this is a pay-back 

to the community. He wants people to learn from his wealth 

of experience because he has graduated from the University. 

Seshoka obtained all his degrees from Unisa and specialisesd 

in communications. He is currently studying for his MBA with 

the Unisa School of Business Leadership (SBL). 

“My mother could not believe it when I delivered the 

news to her when I received my results and my impending 

graduation ceremony because she thought that studying was 

only possible from behind a desk,” he said. 

For him, Unisa means the world and he believes that he 

owes the University everything just for moulding him into what 

he is today. As a student, he made his presence felt by getting 

invloved areas such as private teaching, writing and editing of 

publications, student counseling and peer-help movements. 

Little did he know that the balance that he learnt back 

then, would help him cope with the enormous responsibility 

Dr Rory Dunn 




“Entering the job market in 1969, my first formal job 

after conducting autopsies for a year was as a junior buyer. This 

was my introduction to the world of commerce and I realised 

that a professional qualification was necessary in order for me 

to realise my career expectations. My duties were related to 

the buying/purchasing function. I then registered for a BCom 

degree with the University of the Witwatersrand but completed 

it at the University of South Africa. 

The various positions I held then were in the field of 

financial accounting. Companies such as IBM, AFROX and 

Unisys were where I was able to perfect my skills in areas 

such as debtors, inventory, order processing, wages, balance 

sheets, budgeting and computer systems. This however 

allowed me to have access to many vital areas in the 

companies. For the most part, I was able to introduce and 

implement various systems that would ensure the smooth 

running of inventories, field engineering systems as well as 

supplies distribution. At the same time I was managing staff 

complements of over 30. 

Branching off to the medical field was no coincidence. 

Financial skills I acquired also enabled me to be in positions 

where I was responsible for the analysis and interpretation of 

hospital finance and management accounts of the Rand Clinic. 

In 1997, I was fortunate to be part of Hospital Developments 

International as a Project Development Manager where I 

was involved in the development and building of clinics in 

Lesotho and Malawi. I was also involved in the Uganda and 

Swaziland Projects. 

The European Union (EU) approached 50 South African 

consultants in 2002 to be a part of implementing the Hospital 

Revitalisation Programme. They required consultants who were 

well-versed in hospital management. We were placed in the 

North West Province and I worked as a Hospital Management 

Advisor for the SA Department of Health. 

My international work also grew with my involvement 

in the United Nations AIDS Programme. I was approached 

to set up a technical support facility and a resource centre in 

SA to enable the drawing up of the National Strategic Plan 

for parent to child transmission of HIV/AIDS and any other 

AIDS related issues. The project was a resounding success 

and in 2007 we were invited to Geneva to address UNAids 

delegates on how the resource centre was established in SA 

as well as the milestones we achieved. 

Working for the Johannesburg Child Welfare Society 

was fulfilling for me. There were a number of centres where 

orphaned children were fed. My role was that of fundraiser 

and Administration Manager. A major contributor to the 

Society was the Elton John Foundation. 

My role at Capital Outsourcing Group (COG) 

currently is that of a Permanent Recruitment Manager. COG 

is a supplier of blue collar workers (tradesmen and artisans) 

to blue chip companies and other large clients. People are 

interviewed and trained on soft skills and we strive to find 

them jobs. I have also been charged with setting up a new 

division to recruit white collar workers. 

Knowledge sharing has always been my strength. I have 

worked with Damelin College as a lecturer in degree and 

diploma courses. I am still lecturing on a part time basis 

with various institutions in Business Economics, Principles 

and Practice of Marketing, Consumer and Buyer Behaviour, 

Business Management, Business Communications, 

Personnel Management, Labour Relations, Practice of 

Retailing, Distribution and Logistics Management and 

Corporate Strategy to name of a few. 

Awards I have received are from the many activities 

I was involved in. Besides my lecturing achievements 

(attaining the highest pass rates in subjects I lectured 

nationally such as IMM – Consumer and Buyer Behaviour), 

I also made notable strides in publishing articles touching 

on various topics. My published works include three 

articles in the Financial Mail: Safety First was published 

in 1994, Strategy for Healing in 1995 and Death Knell? 

in 1997. I also wrote course material and study guides 

for the Academy of Learning in Principles of Marketing, 

Consumer and Buyer Behaviour, Labour Relations and 

Successful Sales. 

My biographical record was entered in the Marquis 

“Who’s Who Publications Board” in the United States of 

America in 1997. The focus of the record was on assisting 

Provincial Hospitals with Patient Overloads while I was at 

the Rand Clinic’s Renal, Kidney Transplants and Pain Units. 

The balancing act was made easy for me because I 

studied all my degrees through correspondence while raising 

a family, lecturing and working. Success came from a passion 

for working. 

Study experiences at Unisa taught me discipline because 

I sat down at night to study. My self-esteem was improved 

in the process as it made me very determined even though 

I sacrificed my social life. You have to work hard if you want 

to succeed and set priorities. I also found that doing my own 

research gave me the strength to look for things. I ended up 

with a questioning mind. 

My message to alumni is that failing is not falling down, 

but not being able to get up again is failing. 



Unisa Alumni Association Membership Form 

The Unisa Alumni Association is a group of Unisa graduates organised to help Unisa meet its social and educational 

responsibilities. 

1. Biographical Information 

ALUMNI ASSOCIATION FORM 

“The University of South Africa Alumni Association was established in order to mobilise alumni in the service of the 

University and to improve the level of engagement between the institution and its alumni. The Alumni Association and the 

Alumni Chapters are a vehicle to advance the vision and mission of the Universtity as it strives to become “the African 

University in the service of humanity”. 

The University invites you to join the Alumni Association by filling in your details and pledge below. 

Title: 

Surname: 

Student No: 

First Names: 

Maiden Name: 

ID No: 

Personnel No (If you are a Unisa staff member): 

Postal 

Address: 

Residential Address: 

Country: 

Tel No: 

Cell No: 

Fax No: 

E-mail address: 

2. Qualifications 

1. 

2. 

3. 

4. 

Qualification 

(eg Certificate, Degree) 

Institution & College/School 

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Thesis by an Alumna 

– Dr Esther Kip 

Factors Influencing Patients’ Adherence to Antiretroviral Therapy 

in Four Selected Health Facilities in Botswana 

Esther Kip, D Litt et Phil graduate, University of South Africa, 

Pretoria, South Africa 

Valerie J. Ehlers, D Litt et Phil 

Professor, Department of Health Studies, University of South 

Africa, Pretoria, South Africa 

Dirk M. van der Wal, D Litt et Phil 

Senior lecturer, Department of Health Studies, University of 

South Africa, Pretoria, South Africa. 

otswana provides antiretroviral therapy (ART) 

free of charge to its citizens. Despite treatment 

being free, patients fail to adhere to their therapy. 

Non-adherence to lifelong ART causes the spread 

of ART-resistant HIV/AIDS. This study identified factors 

influencing patients’ adherence to ART at four sites in 

Botswana. Interviews were conducted with 400 patients 

on ART and with 16 nurses working at ART sites. 

The major findings included patients’ misconceptions 

about their (re)susceptibility to HIV/AIDS; perceptions 

that HIV/AIDS is a severe problem but does not pose any 

personal threat; inadequate knowledge about CD4 cell and 

viral load counts; irregular monitoring for HIV/AIDS markers 

and failure to realise the consequences of non-adherence to 

ART. Patients indicated that they had good relationships with 

the healthcare workers. 

The nurses indicated that most patients were illiterate 

and struggled to comprehend the ART instructions as well 

as the implications of CD4 cell and viral load counts. The 

main barriers to adherence to ART were: financial burdens, 

distances from the clinic, long waiting queues and waiting 

times, side effects of ART, the use of traditional medicines 

and alcohol. 

The recommendations include that patients’ health 

education should be tailored to their level of comprehension. 

Health facilities should be brought closer to patients’ homes, 

clinic hours should be adapted, test results must become 

known sooner, nurses should be enabled to contact patients 

with cellular phones and to conduct follow-up home visits. 



Victoria Falls bike trip 

even people went on the trip: Andre Botha 

(GS 1200), Jakes Jacobs (BMW 100RS), Leon 

Raubenheimer (Yamaha Dragster), his brother 

Nico Raubenheimer (BMW 100RT), Brig. Johan 

Fourie and George Mason (both in the Colt Rodeo support 

vehicle), and not forgetting myself (GS 1200 Adventure). 

As a rookie, this was my first real trip beyond South 

African borders on a motorbike. The rest of the crew 

have, among other things, been on a Namibian tour all 

the way up to Lüderitz, writes Andre Botha. 

DAY 1 – WONDERBOOM PARKING LOT (PTA) 

TO MARTINS DRIFT 

The formalities at the Martins Drift/Groblersbrug border 

post went off without a hitch. It was actually more of a hassle 

removing our gloves, helmets and other little bits-and-bobs 

when getting off our bikes. The ‘easy-going’ was partly 

thanks to Kwanokeng Lodge close to the border post on 

the Botswana side that offers a free service for the issuing 

of vehicle access permits. It does save you a lot of time in a 

queue and the permits can be paid at the Kwanokeng filling 

station. 

DAY 2 – KWANOKENG LODGE TO ELEPHANT SANDS 

(NATA) 

Boots and all – the guys are ready to burn rubber! (Photos: Jakes, Andre & Fritz) 

The first was almost a disastrous day for Andre. On his 

way to the place of departure at Wonderboom Nature 

Reserve, a young buck hurled a glass bottle out of his car that 

ricocheted off a pole and shattered right in front of Andre. It 

could have been ‘Gang Zonder Member’ for us, and a hiding 

for the chap, but luckily Andre kept himself in check. 

It was quite a warm day as the thermometer on my GS 

indicated 35° C, but it wasn’t too bad as long as you kept 

moving and took in the necessary fluids. Nico, who came 

from Middelburg, joined us at Ellisras. 

On every trip something will happen that nobody finds funny 

at the time, but can laugh about afterwards. That something 

was the 2 kms long dirt road to Elephant Sands Lodge, about 

53 kms north of Nata. When I drove this very road last year 

with my 4x4, I didn’t pay it much attention at all. To be frank, I 

can’t even remember if it was sandy or not. 

A few weeks before our departure I phoned Tjaart from 

Elephant Sands, who assured me that “the road isn’t really 

that sandy except for a turn or two”. Hmm, I think the turns 

were actually the easiest to navigate. I should’ve actually taken 



more notice of the Sands in “Elephant Sands”. As soon as 

we approached the road, I realised we were in trouble. The 

bikes were heavy and most of them were on-road bikes with 

thinner wheels. Due to a Land Cruiser that also needed to 

turn down the road, a truck passing at the speed of light, and 

a miscommunication with hand signs between Andre and I 

while we were supposed to push on, we never let air out of 

our tyres. 

Now imagine this: a bunch of old balls with relatively no 

experience driving in the sand, mostly on on-road bikes, 

tyres not deflated and scorching loose sand! It felt like I 

scrummaged against a Bulls pack when I eventually arrived at 

Elephant Sands. We later found out from Ben Moller, owner 

of Elephant Sands, that there’s a bunch of interesting tales 

regarding motorbikes and this dusty road, and that we have 

nothing to feel ashamed about as not too long ago a bunch 

of KTM bikers also met the white sand from up close. 

DAY 3 – ELEPHANT SANDS TO ZAMBEZI 

WATERFRONT (LIVINGSTONE) 

It’s amazing what a big difference a little less air in the 

tyres and cooler sand can make. The same stretch of road 

was completed without any incidents or accidents. 

One of the bountiful unique sights of Botswana is the 

elephants next to the highway – you won’t just find that 

anywhere in the world. We came across two herds of elephant 

on the way between Nata and Pandamatenga, along with 

some kudus. This is because of the few, or sometimes no, 

fences in the country, so the animals can move around freely 

in their pursuit for food, shelter and water. 

The Zambian border post is surely the most frustrating, 

confusing and illogical border post ever. We spent a good four 

hours there. However, the last 70 kms to Livingstone was a quiet 

scenic route. We reached the Zambezi Waterfront before sunset, 

quite exhausted. After we pitched our tents, we made our way 

down to the bar next to the wooden deck that overlooks the 

Zambezi River – idyllic. One doesn’t think twice before coughing 

up $2 (+/- R16) for an ice cold Mosi Lager. 

Victoria Falls 

George had us all for a bunch of fools. In cahoots with 

Wilson, a security guard at the falls, with an AK-47 draped 

over his shoulder and all, he convinced us that he was arrested 

DAY 4 – LIVINGSTONE AREA 

We noticed all the flags were hanging half-mast and found 

out that the President of Zambia, Levy Mwanawasa, had 

passed away. We took it easy that day. 

DAY 5 – THE VICTORIA FALLS 

Like they say, nothing can prepare you for the spectacle 

and experience that is the Victoria Falls, not when you see it 

for the first time anyway. The water mass overwhelms your 

senses: you can see it, hear it, smell it, and you can feel the 

spray on your skin. The natural beauty is simply astonishing 

– rainbows that form around you, flowers that cover the 

cliffs, and just the pure awesomeness of the place as a whole. 

We only visited the Zambia side of the falls. Next time I’m 

definitely going to experience it from the Zimbabwe side. 

George’s arrest 



VICTORIA FALLS BIKE TRIP 

and handcuffed for trespassing. Both a dumfounded George 

and upset Wilson played their respective roles so well that 

we honestly thought we were in BIG TROUBLE. 

DAY 6 – LAST DAY IN ZAMBIA 

Jakes and I (the others were too lazy) left at the crack of 

dawn to go scout for elephants on the Mosi-Oa-Tunya way, 

which means “The Smoke That Thunders”. They’ve been 

spotted there the previous two days. But alas, we were out 

of luck. There had been a veldt fire the previous night that 

possibly scared them away. 

DAG 7 – LIVINGSTONE TO NATA 

After a photo session at the boat club next to the waterfront, 

we began our long journey south. Everyone was wearing 

his sponsored Unisa shirt and cap that Jakes organised for 

us. (Thanks Jakes and lots of thanks to Unisa!) Talking about 

Unisa, it was incredible how often old and prospective Unisa 

students, especially in Zambia, approached us. It served as an 

icebreaker that led to interesting conversations and insights. 

DAY 9 – KWANOKENG TO PRETORIA 

While we were busy filling up for the last time, two hippos 

decided to make their appearance about 30 metres or so 

from Kwanokeng filling station. That was Africa at her best 

and a fitting way to end our trip. If I could only fill up like that 

everyday, then I wouldn’t mind the oil price fluctuating. It is 

a pity though that the photos didn’t come out clearly in the 

bad light. Well, that’s Africa I suppose. 

The trip was almost over apart from the lovely stretch of 

road between Ellisras, Vaalwater and Nylstroom that allowed 

us to reflect on the events of the past week. We said our 

good-byes at the Petroport outside Pretoria. 

DAY 8 – NATA TO MARTINS DRIFT 

In Botswana one has to be careful and continuously on the 

lookout for animals on the road. Between Nata and Francistown 

we passed a Corolla that had struck a donkey. We reached 

Kwanokeng without any incidents and no one felt like camping 

and we were fortunate to still get a chalet. Another fortunate 

thing was that the progress of the tour wasn’t measured on 

the progress of the Springboks, because that weekend they 

suffered a defeat at the hands of the Aussies. 

We also had the privilege of bumping into a couple that 

had come back from Sudan on a 3-month bike tour – all by 

themselves. You meet the most interesting characters on a 

bike trip. 

The Hogg’s after their 3-month tour to Sudan 

Leon’s dragster – the blonde on the bike 



Surviving 

in a Recession 

With the world financial markets in 

turmoil and uncertainty facing many 

businesses and employees, will small 

business owners be able to survive a 

recession or downturn? Dr John W 

Hendrikse, small business survival 

strategist, suggests 8 essential steps 

for survival. 

here are two certainties in life: death 

and taxes. There is one uncertainty 

in life: the economy! Economics is 

the behaviour of business and individuals 

at local, national and international level in 

terms of the level of demand and supply for 

goods, commodities, services, real estate 

and how this influences the money supply, 

international exchange rates, inflation 

and value of currencies and whether 

governments, businesses and individuals 

are getting richer or poorer. The word on 

everyone’s lips right now starts with the 

letter R! It is the word Recession. 

What triggers a recession? 

One of the main reasons is the ease with which credit is 

made available to people who can’t really afford it and then 

followed by rising interest rates resulting in the eventual 

collapse of the home mortgage market, flowing through to 

financial institutions, unable to meet their inter-bank loan 

repayments. This leads to a loss of confidence in financial 

institutions and the stock market, a run on the banks, a 

bear market where investors are selling their shares – the 

share prices fall – and the gears of commerce gets stuck 

resulting in slow or no growth, falling retail sales and 

lay-offs of employees as businesses cut costs. The result, 

financial crises! The real cause: executive greed and gullible 

consumers living above their means. 

The small and medium size business is often the fi rst to 

feel the full brunt of a downturn and recession and often 

the last to enjoy the benefits of an upturn or revival. 

So what should the small business owner do to survive? 

If your business is sliding downhill or chugging along, 

you need to take immediate action to identify the problem 

areas and what corrective actions needs to be taken to turn 

your business around, survive and succeed. 

The good news is that all is not doom and gloom if you act 

fast and take control of your business with decisive action. 

Firstly, you need to recognise the danger signals – the “signs 

of the times”, the symptoms of the problem in your business. 



SURVIVING IN A RECESSION 

There are: 

• Falling Sales and sales enquiries; 

• Debtor customers not paying on time; 

• Margins are being cut; 

• Increased customer complaints and excuses for not 

paying; 

• Employee morale and motivation low, leading to poor 

productivity and increased absenteeism; 

• Business information on performance and results is 

neglected and ignored. 

The second step is to identify a rescue plan for immediate 

action and implementation in your business. “To delay is 

to pay”. The specific steps involved are as follows: 

1. Control your buying and expenditure 

Implement a cost reduction programme for expenditure 

– cost of sales of materials and services as well as overheads. 

Review every expense and every source of supplies of goods 

and services. There is no place for nepotism or favouritism. 

Does the expense contribute to increasing the bottomline 

or decreasing it? Is the expense absolutely essential, 

necessary or just a luxury item? Identify every supplier of 

both goods and services and evaluate their business terms – 

trade discounts, settlement discounts, payment terms, unit 

prices, free delivery, warranties, etc. 

Take control over the authority to purchase. Make sure as 

the owner-manager you personally authorise all purchases 

prior to expenditure, as well as checking payments (by 

cheque or electronic funds transfer) prior to payment in 

relation to delivery and agreed terms. Ensure that there are 

no purchases or financial commitments without a written 

signed purchase order. Follow the maxim: 

“No purchase order ....... no payment”. 

2. Control your margins 

There is a saying that says “no margin, no mission”. Many 

small businesses operate on an inadequate mark-up and gross 

profit percentage. This puts extreme pressure on achieving 

break-even sales levels and often the achieved sales level is 

consistently below break-even, resulting in an accumulation 

of losses. One swallow does not make a summer. In your 

planning and budgeting, budget for 11 months of sales / 

cost of sales and 13 months of overhead expenses. This will 

ensure you cater for the slow, unproductive and the holiday 

shut-down period. 

But it starts by relooking at your costing of products and 

services, otherwise known as product / service contribution 

(sales less variable costs) in terms of product / service 

mix and individual contribution margin percentage. Which 

specific products / services are giving you consistently 

a contribution percentage greater than the average for 

all products / services and which less? The focus must be 

to drive and push products that optimise and exceed the 

average contribution and not dilute it. 

3. Control your customers and debtors 

Your debtors must be your best friend, not your worst 

enemy. Which of your debtors are running away from you? 

Which ones have no intention to pay or regularly pay late, 

involving a high collection cost? Remember, credit is your 

money in the wrong person’s hands, so take control of your 

debtors. Some of the ways of accelerating collections are: 

• Invoice more frequently and send statements out at 

least twice a month; 

• Offer settlement discounts to encourage faster 

payments; 

• Visit your debtors at their offices to collect outstanding 

monies, even if it means waiting until you get paid; 

• Get the debtor, to break-up the outstanding payment 

in 2 or 3 instalments to minimise the Return to Drawer 

or bounced cheque effect; 

• Encourage cash customers and spell out your terms 

up-front in writing with new debtor customers. 



Cape Town Chapter 

Ms Myra Horn, Cape Town convenor, congratulating a graduate 

Profile 

Convenor: 

Mr Myra Horn 

Tel: 021 558 4045 

e-mail: 

honkyhorn@mweb.co.za 

Area of service: Cape Metro 

Number of alumni: 19 583 

The Cape Town Chapter held its Gala Dinner on Saturday, 

October 4, at the Cape Town International Convention Centre. 

The guest speaker was Archbishop Njongonkulu 

Ndungane, Executive Director of the Historic Schools 

Restoration Project, whose speech was focused on 

the importance of education. He stated that the fate 

of our country depends upon our ability to deliver 

effective, excellent education, to every young person in 

our nation. “And we need to encourage young people to 

go on and take their education as far as they can,” he said. 

Archbishop Ndungane is involved with the Historic 

Schools Restoration Project. Its mission is to promote 

the restoration of under-resourced secondary schools 

of historic significance into sustainable and aspirational 

African institutions of cultural and educational excellence. 

Those are schools such as Morris Isaacson and Orlando 

High in Soweto in which, through their upliftment, the 

calibre and integrity of future leaders to serve the country 

will be nurtured. 

As the evening progressed, Professor David Mosoma, 

Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Vice-Principal: Learner Support 

and Student Affairs, addressed alumni about developments 

that the University is embarking on in terms of the 

importance of learner support in an Open Distance Learning 

environment. To this end, the University will greatly need the 

support of its alumni to offer support and mentorship to 

students in order to achieve an increase in pass rates. 

Ms Myra Horn, Convenor, Cape Town, initiated the idea of 

a dinner which would bring alumni of the Chapter together. 

Attended by one hundred and twenty alumni from the Cape 

Metro, the dinner was the highlight of the Chapter’s calendar. 



CAPE TOWN CHAPTER 

For me it was while I was on Robben Island, I felt the hand 

of God upon my life with a particular calling to ordained 

ministry. It is hardly a career bound for the riches of this life 

– but it does promise the possibility of storing up treasures 

in heaven! And perhaps an eternal bank balance is of rather 

greater benefi t than an earthly one in these days of economic 

turbulence! On Robben Island, I learnt about not only the 

importance of intelligence and intellectual training, but the 

importance of developing wisdom. 

Now, you may ask me, what is the difference between 

intelligence and wisdom? Well, intelligence is knowing that a 

tomato is not a vegetable, but a fruit. But wisdom is knowing 

that, nonetheless, one does not put tomato in the fruit salad. 

Archbishop Njongonkulu Ndungane 

Below is a transcript of the Archbishop’s speech: 

Ladies and Gentlemen, honoured guests, it is a great 

pleasure to be with you this evening. Thank you for the 

invitation. 

I have been asked to speak about education – including 

my own involvement in a new initiative, The Historic School 

Restoration Project. But let me begin with an ancient Chinese 

saying: “Education is a treasure a thief cannot touch”. 

I am sure that this is a lesson that all of us here have learnt, 

one way or another, through the experience of our own lives. 

It is a lesson we need to share with those who have not yet 

understood that education is a ‘pearl of great price’ to quote 

a phrase from the Bible. 

Education opens doors for us in all sorts of ways. There 

are the particular opportunities that come with the gaining 

of some skill or expertise. But more than this, our minds are 

opened to new ways of understanding the world, new ways 

of learning how to handle the circumstances in which we fi nd 

ourselves, new ways of expanding the contribution we can 

make to the building of our country. 

This last point is one I want to stress. Of course we can use 

education for more narrow selfi sh objectives. Indeed, I must 

admit that after I matriculated, I chose to read commercial 

law, in the hope and expectation of going on to make a lot of 

money. I had had enough of poverty, and I wanted out. But I 

was derailed, fi rstly by the political vision of Robert Sobukwe 

– whom I heard, speaking against the pass laws, as I was on 

my way with friends one Saturday afternoon, to play a football 

match. I never made it to the match. 

Nor did I make it to my graduation but instead found myself 

transferred to the University of Life that was Robben Island. 

I like to say that there I studied the humanities. Certainly I 

learnt more about life, and what is to be human – in our best 

and worst manifestations – than I would ever have done in a 

lecture hall. 

We need an education system – no, more than that, 

an education ethos – in our country, that promotes and 

encourages not only intelligence, but wisdom. It is in the 

building up – indeed, rebuilding – of such an ethos, that I am 

concerned, as the CEO of the Historic Schools Restoration 

Project. In a nutshell, our mission is to promote the restoration 

of under-resourced secondary schools of historic signifi cance 

into sustainable and aspirational African institutions of cultural 

and educational excellence. 

By historic signifi cance, we mean not only schools such 

as my own alma mater, Lovedale – and Adams College and 

Inanda and Ohlange and Healdtown, and so forth, often run 

by the Churches, who produced so many of yesterday and 

today’s leaders. We also include those other schools such as 

Orlando High and Morris Isaacson in Soweto, which were at 

the forefront of the struggle for Justice and Liberation. 

Far too many of these schools were seriously run down 

after the introduction of Bantu education. Through the 

upliftment of these schools, and the revitalising of their rich 

heritage, we hope to achieve our vision, which is: “to nurture 

future African leaders of calibre and integrity, who are able to 

meet the critical needs of community and country, in a valuesbased, 

transformational environment”. 

Excellence, integrity and values are at the heart of this 

vision for leadership. We need leaders who do not seek power 

or infl uence merely to serve themselves and their closest 

associates, but who are there to serve their country, and 

especially those of our people who are in greatest need, those 

who are least able to help themselves. 

These are the values epitomised by the heritage – often 

the Christian heritage – of so many of our very best historic 

schools. But it will take hard work to regain those values and 

that excellence. 

Earlier this year Statistics South Africa recorded that 

enrolment at tertiary institutions had risen only 0.7% in six 

years, lower than any other developing country. University 

of Cape Town Deputy Vice-Chancellor Martin Hall said the 

root of the problem lay with poorly equipped high schools, 



CAPE TOWN CHAPTER 

From left: Professor David Masoma, Miss Patricia Lawrence, Miss Myra Horn and Archbishop Ndungane 

which were not producing enough matriculants who qualify 

for university. 

At the same time, the OECD (Organisation for Economic 

Cooperation and Development) also registered doubts about 

the quality of education being provided to the majority of 

South African learners. 

This was especially the case in literacy, maths and science. 

Of course, it noted the legacy of apartheid, but feared that 

standards might have been ‘relaxed’ in the efforts to bring 

greater equity. 

We cannot allow excellence to become something of a dirty 

word, because of the burdens of the past. We especially cannot 

allow this to happen within education. Benjamin Disraeli, 

British Prime Minister in the middle of the nineteenth century, 

voiced a universal truth when he said: ‘Upon the education of 

the people of this country, the fate of this country depends.’ 

For us too, the fate of our country depends upon our ability 

to deliver effective education, excellent education, to every 

young person in our nation. And we need to encourage young 

people to go on and take their education as far as they can. 

People like you, Unisa Alumni, have shown that this can 

be done, no matter what your background, and even if you 

cannot physically go and study at a university or college. You, 

here today, must become living examples, active inspiration, to 

our school learners. I am glad to say that Government is fully 

supporting our attempts to support excellence in education. 

Indeed, the Historic School Restoration Project would not 

have come into being it had not been for the inspiration of His 

Excellency Dr Pallo Jordan, Minister of Arts and Culture, whose 

department has provided our initial funding. 

I am also grateful for the support we are receiving from 

the Department of Science and Technology and from the 

Department of Education, with whom we are deepening our 

conversations on questions of effectiveness and excellence. 

We are also receiving support from an increasing number of 

other stakeholders, not least in the private sector, who need 

a continuing stream of well-qualifi ed graduates entering the 

employment market. 

I am confi dent that our Project can make a difference. But 

we cannot make the whole difference that needs to be made. 

So may I encourage you to consider what you too can do, for 

the promotion of education, of excellence, of wisdom, and of a 

spirit of service, in building up the life of this country. 

Within South Africa we live at a time of great change. That 

is something we have come to expect in a world of globalised 

technological advance. Change is here to stay. But we also live 

at a time of particular change in our own country. 

We have made the transition from apartheid and are now 

consolidating democracy. The future shape of our country, 

the society we live in, is very much in our own hands – and 

especially in the hands of the young. 

Our young people need to be encouraged to realise that, 

wherever they go, whatever they choose to do – and not to 

do – will infl uence the unfolding life of our country. You, as 

living testimonials to the power of education, can help them 

make the best choices. 

Let me end, as I started, with a famous Chinese proverb. 

But I chose this proverb because it offers us words of wisdom 

that we would do well to remember. 

It goes like this: “If you are planning for one year, plant 

rice. If you are planning for ten years, plant trees. If you are 

planning for a hundred years, educate.” 

So – let us educate. 



CAPE TOWN GRADUATIONS 

Cape Town Graduations 

Ms Myra Horn (left) with members of the events committee of the Cape Town Chapter 

Welcoming a graduate to the Cape Town Chapter 

Polokwane Chapter Meeting 

The Polokwane Chapter held its meeting on 

Saturday August 2, 2008 at the Café Pavilion, 

Polokwane. The purpose of the meeting was to 

bring alumni in Polokwane together to discuss 

the way ahead of the Chapter. 

Presentations were made by members of the Unisa 

Foundation & Alumni Affairs (UF&AA) on infrastructure 

projects such as the Sunnytown Development and the 

Registration Building. Presentations serve as core agenda 

Mr Lerotha Mpiriane, Alumni Relations Offi cer congratulating Ms Sharon Abrahams 

of the Port Elizabeth branch 

items of alumni meetings in order to get alumni to participate 

in the life of the University. 

Alumni were also informed of the remodeling of the 

Chapter which will in future only have one Convenor. The 

Convenor will have committees within the Chapter. Ms 

Monene Mashangwani, outgoing Co-convenor also gave a 

report of the activities of the Chapter during her tenure. The 

election process for a new Convenor was also in place and 

the meeting elected Advocate Meshack Theledi who was in 

the running with Dr Mabala. 



Unisa Research Projects 

Research in SA crime 

Crime remains one of the key challenges facing South 

Africa, while burglaries in particular are on the rise. 

Unisa’s Dr Rudolf Zinn, Senior Lecturer in Forensics 

Investigations has conducted more research into the 

nature of the scourge that’s plaguing the country. 

Although the latest statistics released by the SAPS 

(South African Police Services) have shown that the crime 

wave in murder and rape are on a downward spiral, a more 

disturbing category is on the rise. Government has welcomed 

the decreases but is still concerned that the levels of crime 

continue to be very high as the country prepares to host the 

2010 Soccer World Cup. 

According to the SAPS, house robberies have increased 

by 13.5 percent compared to the previous year. Dr Rudolph 

Zinn who is a Senior Lecturer in Forensics Investigations at 

Unisa, highlighted in his research the modus operandi used 

by burglars. 

“There is wide information that house robbers use to 

have access to a targeted house. Inside information is of 

great importance to them and they usually approach people 

who have that information,” says Zinn. 

According to Zinn, an estimated 77% of robbers have 

inside information and they go into great efforts to obtain 

such information. The information would be about money 

kept in the house and jewellery. This impacts widely on the 

people who work or sell from home. Many of the robbers 

appear under false pretences and even go to the extent of 

bringing the targeted home under observation for up to two 

weeks including conducting visits on the home at night when 

the occupants are inside their house. Robbers are highly 

experienced and would often look through the windows to 

see who is inside the room. The room often becomes the 

target which is used as part of a plan as an escape room. 

Zinn in his research discovered that security at the 

house can be an obstacle according to the many criminals 

interviewed. Basic things such as small dogs, especially those 

kept in the house can be the biggest deterrent. Dogs always 

alert you of any movement. A big fence also poses difficulty 

when entering the house. 

Alarm systems also play a crucial role and very often 

know when people switch off their alarms. Those are the 

times between 5:00-8:00 in the morning and 18:00 – 

23:00. He advises that alarms should be switched off only 

inside but not at the outside doors or doors leading to 

the exterior. Increasing the perimeter of the alarm system 

is also important criminals often get their weapons and 

equipment to break into the house from the garages of 

the victims. 

Zinn advises that victims should cooperate fully with the 

robbers. The victims should not make any noise or produce 

firearms. The best is to do what they want you to do, listen 

as well because they will give you instructions on what to do. 

Once robbers are inside the house, it is often too late to do 

something in self defence. 

Youth in South Africa are very violent and the profile of the 

criminal is alarming. It is estimated that highjackers and robbers 

in South Africa are between the ages of 19 and 26. 

“Robbers these days use a lot of force, foul language, 

point fire arms and pistols to intimidate the victim. They use 

torture and concentrate mainly on women and children. They 

would overpower the victims, bring them into one room and 

often ask where money is kept in the house. They know that 

people hide valuables in more than one room. Unfortunately, 

time spent inside is often conducive enough to turn into rape 

because they have all the time.” 



UNISA RESEARCH PROJECTS 

Small Business Sustainability In 

A Changed Trade Environment: 

The Soweto Case 

In today’s world small businesses are seen more than 

ever as a vehicle for entrepreneurship, contributing not 

only to employment and social and political stability, 

but also to innovation and a competitive environment. 

As a result, Professor Ligthelm of the Bureau of Market 

Research identified small business and entrepreneurial 

development, especially in the second or informal 

economy, as a key research subject. 

One of the recent research projects in this regard is an 

analysis of the impact of shopping mall development on 

small businesses in township areas. The pre-2000 landscape 

of township areas was dominated by small, mainly informal 

retail businesses, offering basic products and services to a 

relatively low-income consumer market. 

This resulted in only a small portion of consumer 

spending conducted by township dwellers within their area 

of residence. This pattern has changed drastically during the 

past few years due to the development of shopping malls in 

almost all township areas with sizeable population numbers. 

In Soweto alone six of these shopping malls have opened 

their doors since 2005. 

In a recent study focusing on the impact of these shopping 

mall developments on existing small township businesses, 

the Bureau of Market Research (BMR) of Unisa, mentioned 

that the market expansion strategies of national chain stores 

and franchisors are largely instigated by the rapid household 

income growth of township dwellers. This together with 

the fact that almost 75% of middle-income township 

households expressed no intention to move out of their 

townships creates substantial market potential in these areas. 

% Growth in household expenditure, 1994 – 2004 

(Current prices) 

The table below shows the growth in household expenditure 

of a selection of household expenditure items of White and 

Black households between 1994 and 2004. Expenditure on 

food, for example, expanded by 196% in the case of Black 

households compared to the 79% of White households. The 

percentage growth for clothing and footwear stood at 98% 

for Blacks and 15% for Whites respectively. On aggregate, 

growth in household expenditure of Blacks was double that 

of Whites during the ten-year period 1994 to 2004, namely 

239% compared to 110 %. 

Items 

% growth 

Black households 

Food 196 79 

White households 

Professor Ligthelm 

Clothing and footwear 98 15 

Housing and electricity 490 133 

Personal care 401 140 

Total expenditure 239 110 



THE SOWETO CASE 

The expansion strategies of national retailers in emerging 

markets have resulted in heightened competition for small 

township businesses with a potential risk of a considerable 

consumer expenditure displacement away from them to 

national chains and franchise businesses. A counter strategy 

is imperative to ensure long-term sustainability of small 

township businesses amidst the structural changes in the 

trade environment. 

Survey findings show that the impact of shopping mall 

development on existing small businesses cannot be 

explained uni-dimensionally, purely portraying a decline in 

small business activity. While some small businesses expect 

to close their doors, several small businesses were established 

due to mall development. 

This is particularly true of street vendors with their 

ability to intercept large numbers of township consumers 

at the new malls. A third of the respondents surveyed in 

Soweto predict an expansion of their business turnover 

while a third expects a contraction in business turnover. 

Some regard the newly developed malls as their major 

competitor while others experienced stiff competition 

from fellow small businesses. 

The competitive environment within which small businesses 

in townships have to operate is, therefore, multi-dimensional 

and may differ across the small business fraternity. However, 

it would seem that the following types of businesses tend to 

experience the most serious problems: 

• businesses located in old shopping centres 

• businesses offering daily household necessities 

• retail businesses closer to the newly developed 

shopping malls 

Some businesses of similar type reported severe negative 

impacts while others recorded positive effects from mall 

development. It seems, therefore, that notwithstanding 

the change in the competitive environment created by 

mall development, several factors may contribute to small 

business survival. 

It was found that the type of business and its location 

and, in particular, the level of entrepreneurial acumen and 

business management skills embedded in small businesses 

to facilitate pro-active adjustment of business practices to 

cope with the new competitive environment, were key to 

the survival of small businesses. 



THE READING CORNER 

The Reading Corner 

Unity & Struggle. Speeches 

and writings. Amilcar Cabral. 

Second edition. 

SA price: R263,00 

Amílcar Cabral, born in 1921 in Guinea-Bissau, had 

his early education in Guinea and did his university studies 

in Portugal. Cabral found himself active in the nationalist 

struggle, a political context that enabled him to reflect on 

several aspects of the armed struggle. He developed his 

understanding and theories of the national liberation struggle 

in the political context of militant nationalism; he fought 

as he wrote incisively about that struggle, and passionately 

struggled as he wrote. This dialectical experience enriched his 

theoretical understanding of the aims, goals, strategies and 

ideologies that informed the nature of political involvement 

in the movement for national liberation. 

This new edition of Cabral’s work includes a chapter on 

“Return to the Source” that emphasises culture as a form of 

struggle. Cabral’s work remains one of the most influential texts 

written on the imperatives of rethinking the political, economic 

and cultural debates on identity, nationality, and the discourses 

of Africanisation. This second edition comes at a time when 

Cabral’s work is being re-evaluated across disciplines such as 

sociology, history, literature, and cultural studies. 

A new introduction to this edition, by Maurice Taonezvi Vambe (Associate Professor of English, University of South Africa) and 

Abebe Zegeye (Primedia Chair of Holocaust and Genocide Studies, University of South Africa), situates Cabral’s work in the context 

of the debates on African renaissances. 

About the editors 

Maurice Taonezvi Vambe is a Professor in African Languages and currently attached to the Institute for Continuous Learning and 

Development at the University of South Africa. He has published widely on African orality and cultural identities, and is the author 

of the Unisa Press book African Oral Story-telling Tradition and the Zimbabwean Novel in English. The book is part of the Unisa 

Press Series Memory and African Cultural Production, with Vambe and Zegeye as series editors. 

Abebe Zegeye, D. Phil (Oxford) is Primedia chair and Professor of Sociology at the University of South Africa. His research 

interests are Identities, African studies, Black studies, Theory, Film studies and representation. He has published widely as co-editor 

of books and journals such as Culturelink, Social Identities, among others. He has co-authored a number of books and was a coauthor 

on the position paper Resisting ethnicity from above: Social Identities and the deepening of Democracy in South Africa (with 

I Liebenberg & Gregory Houston). He also published North, West and the Horn of Africa in World Directory of Minorities, Minority 

Rights Group International with Julia Maxted. 



Revisions + 

Expanding the narrative of South African art. 

The Campbell Smith Collection. 

Author: Hayden Proud 

SA Price: R260,00 

This sequel publication only contains the new works acquired since the publication of 

Revisions: Expanding the narrative of South African art in 2007. This new publication is an 

indispensable supplementary volume that makes extensive reference to the initial publication. 

It contains biographies of all of the new artists who are now represented in the Collection, 

as well as an in-depth discussion on newly-acquired works by artists who were already 

represented in the initial publication. 

All things hold together 

Holistic Theologies at the African Grassroots. Selected 

essays. African Initiatives in Christian Mission Series. 

Author: M L Daneel 


The African Initiated Churches (AICs) in many parts of Southern Africa represent up to 

fifty percent and more of African Christianity. They have often been negatively characterised 

as ‘sects’ of a dubious Christian nature or as ‘separatists’, growing mainly by virtue of African 

reaction to the mission endeavours of Western denominations. In-depth studies in this series, 

however, have convincingly illustrated that in terms of growth rates, indigenised evangelisation, 

missionary campaigns, and ecclesiastical contextualization the AICs can no longer be regarded 

as a peripheral phenomenon. They belong to the mainstream of African Christianity and 

have developed innovative mission methods of their own which can only rate as a major 

contribution to the expanding Church in Africa. Although the individual essays focus on AIC 

leadership, worship, sacraments, healing, dialogue with practitioners of African Traditional 

Religion, and earth keeping, the narration as a whole portrays the richness of AIC life and faith. 

The composite picture reflects the attraction this form of inculturated Christianity holds for 

African people — an attraction that stimulates recruitment and rapid church expansion. 

Zerihun Yetmgeta. The magical universe of art 

Series editors: Meskerem Assegued & Abebe Zegeye 


The work of Zerihun is exceptional, colourful and has an intoxicating spiritual dimension that 

defines it as unique. Abebe Zegeye, Primedia chair and Professor of Sociology at the University 

of South Africa, confirms this in the foreword where he states that Zerihun has a talent 

“for transposing traditional motifs of Ethiopian Christianity – its legends, magical practices, belief 

in spirits and demons and ‘evil eyes’ – into contemporary art…” 

As early as the late 60s and early 70s, Zerihun’s name began to emerge in art circles. This period became known as the 

Renaissance Period of Ethiopian Art; Zerihun’s mystical artworks became the epitome of this significant phase. Zerihun‘s 

trademark is his “Magic Scroll” paintings, framed on pieces of wood from weavers’ tools and strips of parchments he 

assembled, so that his artworks have been displayed in many museums. 



FUNCTIONS AND EVENTS 

Functions and Events 

Pretoria Graduations 

Honour bestowed 

on Kofi Annan 

Veronica Hlongwane was conferred the Industrial and 

Organisational Psychology degree on 16 September 2008. 

She was flanked by her daughters, Jacqueline Khomo (left) 

and Phuti Khomo (right). Phuti once held the prestigious title 

of Miss Teen South Africa in 2002. 

Kofi Annan 

In a moving ceremony held by the University of South 

Africa (Unisa), Kofi Atta Annan was conferred the Honorary 

Doctorate Degree of Literature and Philosophy. Annan is 

the Secretary General Emeritus of the United Nations (UN), 

a Nobel Peace Laureate which he share with the UN “for 

their work for a better organised and more peaceful world”, 

a Diplomat, an heir apparent to the Asante chieftaincy and 

a member of the Society of Elders. Born in the Ghanaian 

town of Kumasi, Annan is a recipient of over 20 honorary 

degrees and a number of national awards from the US, 

Europe, Asia and his home country of Ghana. Unisa conferred 

the degree for his many roles in achieving world peace. His 

work extended to the areas of bringing an end to poverty 

and inequality, improving education, reducing the incidence of 

HIV/AIDS and to protect the environment and humanity from 

violence. These are factors which are outlined in his report, 

“We the Peoples: The Roles of the United Nations in the 21st 

Century”. They form the basis of the Millennium Declaration. 

Mr Willem Jacobus Smith (right) has been an artist all his life 

and at the age of 73, he was conferred the BA Visual Arts degree. 

Smith says that he studied towards the degree since 1998 and his 

interests were in practical arts and history. He is a writer and has 

already published an article in the Art Times. He is also intending 

to write a book on negativity and positivity. The Unisa Art Gallery 

is showcasing Smith’s artwork titled “Stille Taal” (Silent Language) 

and was made in hardboard and acrylic in 2007. 

Ms Pat Lawrence, Director UF & AR congratulating 

Gregory Gundelfinger after receiving an LLB degree. Gregory 

is the son of Billy Gundelfinger who is the Chairperson of the 

Unisa Foundation Board of Trustees. 

Mr Willem Jacobus Smith 



2008 CHANCELLOR’S 

DINNER 

The Chancellor’s Dinner was celebrated again this year 

on the evening of 23 October 2008 and sparkled with 

many illustrious guests including the keynote speaker 

of the evening, Her Worship The Executive Mayor, Dr 

Gwen Ramokgopa. Guests, who are friends, alumni and 

stakeholders of the University, attended the annual function 

in order to celebrate with the University its highlights and 

achievements thus far. 

Unisa’s Chancellor, Judge Bernard M Ngoepe, Judge President 

of the Transvaal Provincial Division of the High Court of South 

Africa, hosts an annual dinner for Chancellor’s Club members 

and friends to encourage pledges and donations towards the 

overall mission of the University and those of the Club. 

The Club supports the strategic objectives of the University 

by encouraging intellectual discourse on issues affecting the 

socio-economic development of our society and the many 

initiatives embarked upon to promote a learning society in 

our country. 

Guests in the Principal’s dining room 

The theme of the evening was “En route to 2015”. As the 

Chancellor noted in his speech, 2015 marks an important 

milestone for the University as it aims to have in place the 

infrastructure it so desperately requires to be effective in its 

mission to be the African university in the service of humanity. 

The Mayor of the City of Tshwane, Dr Gwen Ramokgopa, 

addressed the guests on the achievements of the City as 

well the partnership that prevails between the City and the 

University. She touched on the importance of higher education 

in the country and the benefits of the City’s partnership with 

the University in terms of the city’s own development plans 

and the value an institution such as Unisa adds to it. 

Singer Phinda sharing a note with diva Sibongile Khumalo 

It is also an award ceremony for a meritorious alumnus of 

the University who has made an outstanding contribution to 

South Africa as well as an outstanding educator who has made 

a significant contribution towards education in South Africa. 

At the dinner, Mr Brian Molefe, an alumnus of Unisa and 

the CEO of the Public Investment Corporation (PIC) was 

honoured with the University’s Outstanding Alumnus Calabash 

award for his outstanding contribution to the corporate world 

of South Africa. Professor RH Nengwekhulu of Unisa was also 

honoured with the the University’s Outstanding Educator’s 

Calabash award for his outstanding contribution to the field 

of education in South Africa.. 

The Principal and Vice Chancellor, Professor N Barney 

Pityana in his speech elaborated on the importance of the 

participation of all stakeholders in helping to make the vision 

of the University become a reality. He lightheartedly indicated 

his wish to see the start towards leaving a legacy of real 

development taking place at the University. 

Professor RH Nengwekhulu after receiving an award 



FUNDRAISING PROJECTS 

Fundraising projects 

The establishment of academic chairs at Unisa 

The Unisa Foundation is very active in breaking 

new ground and embarking on partnership 

initiatives with the private sector in the pursuit 

of establishing specialised academic centres of 

excellence at the University. 

Two such examples of these initiatives are the recently 

established ABSA Chair in Banking and the Primedia Chair in 

Holocaust and Genocide Studies. 

ABSA Chair 

The new ABSA Chair, to be based at the College of 

Economic and Management Sciences at Unisa, is the first of 

its kind in Africa. The Chair will conduct research into new, 

relevant and sustainable banking developments nationally and 

internationally and will facilitate and inform the development 

of new degree programmes, short courses and learning 

programmes to be offered at the University. 

In this way, the Chair will play an important role in growing 

the country’s much needed base of financial qualifications 

and skills. 

The Chair will also play an important role in the second 

Unisa International Banking conference scheduled to take 

place in November 2009. This will bring approximately five 

hundred industry experts together to look at trends in the 

financial services sector, new research initiatives and current 

thinking around the issue of managing operational risk in 

African banks. 

The Primedia Chair in Holocaust 

and Genocide Studies 

The Primedia Chair in Holocaust and Genocide Studies 

aims to explore the theoretical principles of comparative 

genocide research focusing, inter alia, on the holocaust in 

Europe and genocides in Africa. 

Africa’s global knowledge production is a dismal three 

percent. The Unisa School of Graduate Studies, under the 

auspices of the Holocaust and Genocide Studies Chair has 

established an encyclopaedia project to study and document 

genocide in Africa. The ambitious scope and scale of the 

project will be an important boost for African knowledge 

production. The project will span a period of three to five 

years and will require the assistance of the continent’s finest 

scholars and thinkers. 

Genocide has not been sufficiently theorised and 

understood in Africa. It presents, arguably, the most 

dangerous threat to the Continent and will continue to do so 

until Africans robustly claim the intellectual space and start to 

open up and examine this most heinous of crimes. 

The encyclopaedia aims to reveal how, why and with 

what consequences nationalist politics on the Continent 

over the past 50 years has fuelled and promoted genocidal 

tendencies. It wishes to reverse the trend that has seen Africa 

being served up limited and stunted explanations of why and 

how genocide happens – explanations which have failed to 

unearth the deep rooted, complex social and political realities 

of Africa’s regions. 

The Chair will also be collaborating with other universities 

such as the National University of Rwanda in Butare. Work 

emanating from this collaboration will be housed in the 

soon-to-be-constructed Centre of Holocaust and Genocide 

Studies on the University’s Sunnytown campus. The Centre 

will include a museum in tribute to those who have suffered 

as a result of holocaust and genocide atrocities. This museum 

will be a first for Africa in that it is to be the repository for the 

collection of the Shoah Foundation based in Los Angeles. 

Some of the projects of the Primedia Holocaust and 

Genocide Unit included a recent student study tour of 

Rwanda led by Dr Anthony Court in conjunction with the 

Johannesburg Holocaust Centre, South African Union of 

Jewish Students, and the American Jewish Committee (AJC) 

Africa Institute in New York. The AJC funded the tour in 

its entirety which included 12 full scholarships for the 

students. 

Dr Court and Mr Leon Hartwell of the University of 

Pretoria are planning an exhibition on the 1994 Rwanda 

genocide in March 2009 at Unisa. The keynote speaker will 

be the Director of the ‘Voices of Rwanda’ oral history project, 

based in Kigali, and the exhibition will include oral testimony 

by survivors of the 1994 Rwandan genocide. The exhibition 

has been conceived as a forum to showcase the photographs 

taken by the participants in the 2008 study tour to Rwanda. 

If you are interested in fi nding out more about the work 

of the Unisa Foundation, please contact either Ms Patricia 

Lawrence, Director of the Unisa Foundation and Alumni 

Affairs Directorate on tel. 012 337 6126 or via email 

at lawrepb@unisa.ac.za or Mr Frankie Mojapelo, on 

tel. 012 337 6152 or via email at mojapmp@unisa.ac.za 



The Enviroserv Wasteart 

Expo 2008 

Cresta Shopping Centre – Randburg 2-7 September 2008 

A Small Woman With Big Talent – Mavis Taole 

Information provided by: Celia de Villiers (WasteArt Foundation) 

and Anne-Marie du Plessis (EnviroServ Waste Management) 

Mavis Taole (26) from Soweto, is a waste-crafter who turns empty aluminium cooldrink cans into beautiful pieces of jewellery 



ENVIROSERVE WASTEART EXPO 2008 

Clock by Bethuel Mpheto made from bottle tops 

Hats made from waste by Lee Ronique 

From Waste Bin to Waste Art 

Getting Wasted 

Believe it or not, the amount of general waste generated 

by South Africans can fill almost 760 000 buses in a single 

year. Last year 1.3million tons of household waste were 

collected at landfill sites from just ten municipalities in the 

country... now imagine how much more there would be if 

one took all the other municipalities into consideration. 

The fact that we produce waste can unfortunately not be 

changed, BUT we can control and determine the amount 

of waste we produce and the way we manage it. And a key 

aspect of waste management is recycling. 

What is Recycling? 

Recycling means to reuse something, whether for its 

original purpose or for something else, for example the 

refilling of a water bottle or usage of a yoghurt carton as a 

plant pot. 

Items that can be recycled include paper, cardboard, 

magazines, newspapers, glass bottles, plastic containers, 

plastic bags and aluminium beverage cans. 

How Does One Contribute to Recycling? 

Dresses made from waste plastic 



Here are a few simple ideas: 

• Use the plastic bags that you’ve acquired from one 

shopping trip for the next 

• Buy refills for shampoos, washing products, 

household detergents, etc 

• Deposit empty beverage cans at Collect-a-Can 

centres 

• Feed old fruit and bread to the birds 

• Add your food waste such as vegetable peelings to 

the compost heap 

• Flatten empty boxes and beverage cans. This will 

save landfill (dump-site) space 

• Use the unprinted side of a page as scrap paper 

There are also numerous ‘creative’ ways in which to use 

your waste to make attractive art and craft items. 

Creative Ways to Use Your Waste 

Paper Beads 

These are fairly simple to make with scrap paper such as 

A4, wrapping paper, and magazine pages. 

Items needed: Wood and paper glue, toothpicks, scissors, 

and scrap paper. 

Method: Cut a strip of paper, ½cm wide and 6cm long, 

tapering it to a point as you cut. Coat one side of the strip 

with glue and roll it around a toothpick, starting at the wide 

end. Ensure that the end of the strip sticks to itself, and then 

gently slide it off the toothpick. Voilà – you have your first 

bead! Set it aside to dry as you make others. When all the 

beads are dry coat them with a layer of glue. 

The beads can be painted if desired. To make larger beads, 

simply cut a wider and longer strip of paper. 

Decoupage 

Old boxes, newspapers, magazine pages and scraps of 

wrapping paper can be used for decoupage. 

Items needed: A box, Modge-podge, old paintbrush, 

scissors, strips of newspaper or pictures from magazines. 

Method: Coat the box with a thin layer of Modge-podge 

and paste on the pictures arranging as desired. Once the Modgepodge 

has dried and the pictures are secure, paint another layer 

of Modge-podge over the pictures. You may need to add a 

second or third coat of Modge-podge. 

One can create themes by cutting out specific pictures – 

for example flowers, holiday destinations, cars, cats, dogs, etc. 

The box makes an attractive storage container and making it 

is great fun for children on rainy days. 

Packaging 

Empty yoghurt cartons and the bottoms of 2l cold drink 

bottles can be used as plant containers. One will however 

need to make a hole or two at the bottom for drainage; this 

can be done with a hammer and nail. 

Polystyrene packaging for meat can be used as drip trays, 

painting pallets or containers for mixing polyfilla. They are 

great for creating your own original stamps for printmaking 

on paper or fabric. Cut them into decorative shapes, ‘emboss’ 

with ballpoint pen drawings or patterned motifs. Brush or 

roll paint on to the surface and press paint side down on to 

drawing paper, greeting cards, fabrics or T-shirts. 

Plastic bottles are great as makeshift watering cans. 

Laddered Stockings 

Believe it or not, these can be used for the storing of 

onions. Simply cut one leg off and drop an onion in. Knot the 

fabric just above the onion, then drop in another, knotting 

the stocking leg after each onion. They also make strong 

‘rope’ for tying things together in the garden or workshop. 

Some fibre artists and machine embroiderers use stockings 

to embellish surfaces. 

Odds and Ends 

Old wooden spoons and wire coat hangers can be used 

as plant supporters, whilst ice cream sticks can be used to 

label plants and make delightful containers when stacked and 

glued together. 

You can also cut, re-shape, fold, manipulate and transform 

old Christmas cards to make new Xmas tree decorations.

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