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Alumni
U n i v e n A l u m n i n e w s
Th ird qUarTer 2015
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“Playing its role well, alumni is the reality check for any
university,” says Univen’s vice Chancellor and Principal, Prof
Peter Mbati.“On the one hand, a body representing successful former
students who play a vital role in society, showcases the success
stories of the university, and is able to garner business and other
stakeholder support.
“On the other, the alumni and its members should add value to
the university, spreading the goodwill message, being the
proverbial ambassador of the good news message. however, it should
never abandon its role as critical observer, not defending the
indefensible and white-washing the wrong. Univen will never expect
this of its alumni.
“what we do however expect, is to engage and communicate with us
in two-way, open-ended dialogue. if we do well, tell the world and
tell us. if we do bad, tell, but tell us first.
“we salute the launch of this first edition of the quarterly
Univen alumni news. it is a newsletter by you, for you. Contribute
to the content to enlighten members about your movements in the
dynamic world you entered after Univen – this is building an esprit
de corps – the Univen esprit de corps.”
“For the Univen Foundation and Univen alumni to combine forces
could only be to the advantage of the university,” says Foundation
Chairperson Mashudu ramano.
“The foundation has restructured to enhance resource
mobilisation efforts. we believe this will spur future intensified
resource mobilisation strategies for the greater good of the
university.
“we have spelt out clear strategies that will give impetus to
the foundation’s drive to increase its footprint in the competitive
resource mobilisation environment. On the cards is a restructured
foundation office where regular performance management will assess
performance and attainment of set targets, based on agreed to
contracts. The Foundation regards alumni as a critical stakeholder
to leverage on for fund raising.
“with the right frame of mind, vision and commitment to the
cause, the foundation will lay a foundation that will be
sustainable for generations to come,” said ramano.
“Congratulations with this first issue of Univen alumni news –
read it, contribute to it but most of all, use this communications
channel to contribute to the well-being and sustainability of
Univen. we look forward to working with you.”
“it is time for all of us to plough back to our alma mater. it
is through the alumni association that we have to network among
ourselves and identify opportunities for the current and
prospective students of our institution.”
This is according to Univen Convocation and alumni President,
Levy ndou.
speaking at his recent inauguration, ndou said: “we need to take
the lead in assisting our students with work - integrated learning
and internships.
“Let us all assist the student leadership by providing guidance
and training for our future leaders. Let us all play a role in
assisting the academic departments by participating in the
activities of school boards.
“Our role as convocation members is to promote the interests of
our institution. Convocation is the meeting platform of former
students, where they can share institutional memories but most
importantly, new ideas on how we can take Univen forward. it is
through this body of graduates, that we make our alma mater more
visible
and known everywhere we touch base. we should all become
ambassadors of this prestigious university,” said ndou.
delegates were also reminded that institutions of higher
learning, like Univen, are facing serious student funding
challenges as the national student Financial aid scheme (nsFas) can
no longer afford to finance all needy students because enrolment at
institutions keeps on growing.
ndou called on all alumni to make a commit-ment to the
university and raise millions of rands for needy and academically
deserving students.
“we need to ensure that we participate in attract ing business
to invest in the infrastructure of our university. Let us all
recruit our friends and our children to come and study at Univen.
we need to come back and register for postgraduate qualifications
right here where we received our first undergraduate
qualifications.
“Let us all raise the university flag higher and higher and make
Univen known all over the world,” said ndou.
You are experiencing a moment in history - a moment in history
that will add to the more than 30 years of Univen’s existence - the
marking of the first edition of the Univen alumni news.
read it, debate it, tell people about it, but most importantly,
contribute to it!
it is a communications channel by you, for you – the alumni of a
remarkable place called the University of venda.
The alumni office’s task is simply to foster strong,
long-lasting convocation and alumni relationships for rural and
regional development in southern africa.
The Univen alumni community consti-tutes the Polokwane chapter,
Gauteng chapter and the Mpumalanga chapter which includes the
Badplaas, witbank, hazyv iew, nelspru i t and Male lane regional
committees.
add to these the very active Univen agricultural alumni
association and the recently established Univen Law association, i
believe you will agree that we have a dedicated and loyal alumni
fraternity that will take us places!
Be sure to communicate with us. Tell us what you are up to, what
you are doing to add value to your community and how we all can
help improve the institution – Univen – that we all care for so
dearly.
mashudu Ramaleba editor: Univen alumni news 015 962 8338, 073
063 9933 [email protected]
“We must promote the interests of Univen” – Ndou.
I am a proud product
of Univen - Ndou
Alumni, the reality check for any university - Mbati
Univen Foundation and Univen Alumni – combined goals A
moment
in history– Editor
Mashudu Ramaleba [email protected]
UNIveN
News
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U n i v e n A l u m n i n e w s2
“As per legislation governing the University of Venda, all
people who hold degrees from Univen - the vice chancellor, deputy
vice chancellors, the registrar, chief librarian and permanent
academic employees - are members of Convocation.” The alumni and
Convocation office communicates, initiates activities and executes
public relations programmes with graduates of Univen.
The faces of Univen Convocation
Long walk from goat and cattle herder to President of the south
African Institute of Physics
Tiny Matsotsosela village produces top achievers
LivhUwani LevY ndOU is the President of the Univen Convocation.
ndou is a political analyst and a lecturer in Political science at
the Tshwane University of Technology. he serves on the Convocation
exco and that of Council and the adjudication committee and is also
the Chairperson of the student affairs sub-committee of
Council.
s h U M a n i M a x w e L L r av h U a n z w O is the deputy
Pres ident of the Univen Convocation. ravhuanzwo is the district
senior Manager at the Tshipise-sagole education district in
Limpopo. as the former President of Convocation and the deputy
Chairperson of Counci l he was instru- mental in driving the
university’s infrastructure development plan. This resulted in the
massive
infrastructure projects which have been completed in the last
five years and even those which are ongoing. The Convocation exco
has also tasked him to oversee the leveraging of expertise of
alumni, of which the target for 2015 is two public lectures by
alumni on exciting and informative topics.
KhaThUTsheLO COLLins razwiedani i s the exco member of the Un
iven Convocation who serves as chairperson of the institutional
Forum. razwiedani is the Manager of Public relations and events at
the Limpopo department of Cooperative Governance, human settle-
ments and Traditional affairs in Polokwane. The exco also tasked
him to oversee
communication tools of which the target for 2015 are 5 000
followers on Twitter and Facebook, and the publication of Univen
alumni news – a new newsletter for alumni and the university
community.
P r O F a z w i h a n G w i s i edward nesaMvUni is the Univen
registrar and the secretary of the Univen Convocation.
ThOvheLe MMBanGiseni JOsePh Masia is a committee member of the
Univen Convocation that serves on the institutional Forum. Thovhele
Masia is a Chief of the Masia traditional communities. he is also a
member of the board of trustees in the University of venda
Foundation - a fundraising wing of the institution.
PrOF PeTer aMUnGa MBaTi is the vice Chancellor and Principal of
the University of venda and an ex Officio member of the exco of the
Univen Convocation.
KOBOLa saLOMe MaKGOKa is an exco member of the Univen
Convocation and serves on the Univen Council as a member of the
appeals Committee. Makgoka is a deputy Manager of human resource at
the Limpopo department of sport, arts and Culture in Polokwane. The
exco also tasked her to oversee the tracking and tracing of alumni,
of which the target
for 2015 are10 000 alumni.
TaKaLani MOdaU is an exco member of the Univen Convocation and
deputy Chairperson of the institutional Forum. Modau is the
Capacity Building and Training Manager at Mvula Trust in
Johannesburg. The exco also tasked him to oversee the pre-alumni
programme. The target for 2015 is a minimum of 2 500 current
students orientated on alumni relations matters during
registration,
orientation and other university events.
FhULUFheLO neTiLi is an intern in the office of the Univen
Convocation and alumni. she is responsible for the day-to-day
administration of the office which includes handling calls, filing,
data capturing and requisitions.
PrOF MUsiwaLO LizzY neTshiKweTa is designated by senate to serve
on the exco of the Univen Convocation. she is the head of
department of advanced nursing and deputy dean of the school of
health sciences.
LUFUnO rOBerT MUdzanani is an exco member of the Univen
Convocation. Mudzanani is the head of Public Partici- pation and
Petit ions at the Limpopo legislator in Lebowakgomo, Limpopo. The
exco tasked him to oversee fundraising for student bursaries of
financially needy and academically talented students through the
social responsibility Fund. The target
for 2015/16 is r500 000.
dr ndandULeni Bernard nThaMBeLeni is designated by Council to
serve on the exco of the Univen Convocation. nthambeleni is the
executive director of the national research Foundation in Pretoria
responsible for grant management and system administration. he also
serves on the audit, appeals and human resources committees of
Council.
MashUdU LUCKY raMaLeBa is the Univen Convocation and alumni
Officer and the Minutes secretary to Convocation. he provides
administrative support to the exco, all other alumni structures and
alumni in general.
Professor azwinndini Muronga is the newly-elected president of
the south african institute of Physics (saiP).
The goals of saiP are to create a positive image of physics in
the country and of the institute, to respond timeously to
challenges facing physics in general and the institute in
particular, to foster debate in the physics community on matters of
relevance to physics and to increase the participation rate of
members in the affairs of the institute.
Muronga is a renowned scholar and researcher who has received
numerous accolades, including an award from the University of
Minnesota for developing opportunities for young african scientists
and one from the national science and Technology Forum for his
outstanding contribution to science, engineering, technology and
innovation through communication for outreach and creating
awareness over the past five years.
he is recognised by var ious te lev is ion and radio stations in
south africa and around the globe as a physicist who regularly
raises awareness of community members about the relationship
between everyday human life and science. Muronga was elected
unopposed as the Chairperson of the Univen Gauteng alumni Chapter
in July 2013.
“in my youth we did not have watches and did not have a concept
of time. i relied on the sun’s shadow on the ground to tell what
time i should go to school, or what time i should take the cattle
to the veld,” says Muronga.
“we lived in a village where there were no lights, so our eyes
were so sharp at night. By
looking at the stars, i could find my way back from the veld
with the goats really early in the morning,”
Muronga told the dubna newsletter while on a visit to russia for
the south africa-russia roundtable discussions on possible
collaboration in physics.
Muronga grew up in Lwamondo, in ha-Belemu village in Limpopo’s
vhembe district. his education started at Belemu Primary school and
then he went on to the Makakavhale secondary school where he did
grades 8 to 10. he passed grade 12 at Mbilwi secondary school.
he started his tertiary education at the University of venda
where he obtained a Bsc degree in Mathematics and Physics. he
obtained an honours in Physics at the University of Cape Town, as
well as an Msc in Physics at the same university, which was awarded
with distinction.
in 2002 he obtained a doctorate in Physics at the Univers i ty
of Minnesota in the Usa, researching about the ‘state of matter at
the birth of the universe with a premise on the BiG BanG theory’.
Muronga went on to do his post-doctoral training at the University
of Frankfurt and at the Gsi helmholtz Centre for heavy ion research
in Germany.
he is the director of the University of Johannesburg soweto
science Campus and an associate professor in the department of
Physics. Learners between grades 3 and 12 are provided with
real-life opportunities to explore topics in physics, chemistry and
life sciences at the centre.
when the initial plan in life fails, there is always a room for
plan B and other options. This is evident looking at the life of
advocate Basani ngoveni of the tiny village of Matsotsosela in
Giyani.
ngoveni struggled to get employment after obtaining a diploma in
information Technology at dumberton College, a certificate as a
Computer Technician at Boston College, a certificate in Mechanical
engineering with sir val duncan Further education and Training
College. she then considered her other available option, which was
to enroll for a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) with the University of
venda.
her intellectual prowess did not start in the corporate world,
but started to show while she was still young. after being promoted
twice - thus not to sit for grades 4 and 5 - she passed matric at
the issac nxumalo high school at the age of 16 in 1999.
during her LLB studies, she played leadership roles as a c lass
representat ive for the introduction to the theory of Law and
Criminal Law in her first year and the law class representative in
the second year, while doing mock trials.
after completing her LLB studies in 2009, she joined Ga Maluleke
attorneys in 2010 where she was assigned civil matters which
included road accidents, maintenance and domestic violence. By
mid-2011 she left the company to attend practical legal training at
edu Park, Polokwane where she obtained 13 awards as a meritorious
performer.
Later, in 2013, she was appointed at the national Prosecuting
authority as a Maintenance Prosecutor at the Tembisa Magistrate
court.
“i worked at the vereeniging Magistrate court as a district
Court Prosecutor responsible for serious cases. There i was exposed
to dangerous criminals, as most of the time i was opposing their
release on bail. as a woman,
you sometimes feel intimidated as courtrooms are usually filled
with male attorneys. i had to challenge their arguments before
court,” says ngoveni.
“now i am managing prosecutors’ control rooms - managing the f
low of al l f irst appearances from about seven police stations. i
screen all dockets and decide whether to prosecute or not, allow
the withdrawal of cases or not. it is quite a daunting and
challenging job as i should always be acting in the best interest
of the complainants, as there are situations where complainants are
withdrawing cases - not voluntarily but as a result of the
influence from either the accused person or third parties.
“My advice to women is that the only way we are going to
increase our presence in the legal profession is to encourage and
mentor one another. The only way we can succeed in a profession
still dominated by men is to support one another.
Ndivhuwo Doctor Sundani-Univen - Media Studies Alumni
[email protected]
Connie Raletjena – [email protected]
“Women must mentor one another” – Ngoveni
M r. Ta k a l a n i victor dzaga is the director of
Communications and Marketing and a member of the executive c o m m
i t t e e o f c o n v o c a t i o n . One of his roles i s t o p r
o v i d e oversight of the allocated budget of convocation.
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U n i v e n A l u m n i n e w s 3
R12m plan to assist students
The small town of Malamulele could become a city
Remembering the life, death and legacy of ezekiel edmund Lumumba
Maimela 1936-2015
venture into rare specialisations in law - Minister
The Univen Convocation exco, representa-tives of alumni chapters
from Mpumalanga, Gauteng, Polokwane, school-based associa-tions and
the Univen student representative Council have devised a plan to
raise r12m to assist financially needy and talented students.
a support programme, targeting the Limpopo Premier, Chupu
Mathabatha and members of the Limpopo provincial legislator, mayors
and councillors, students, university employees, parents, alumni,
churches, individuals and business will be launched soon.
“it is estimated that if members of these target markets
contribute between r20 and r300 per month, no less than r400 000
can be raised,’’ says the President of Convocation, Levy ndou.
“students who have completed their studies but are unable to get
their certificates due to outstanding fees, those from
disadvan-taged backgrounds and those who suddenly
face financial hardships which are beyond their control like
sudden death of a sole person supporting them, but meritori-ous in
their performance, will be considered for the social responsibility
Fund.
“For the project to be sustain-able, students who benefitted
will be persuaded to contribute back to the fund and not
necessarily pay back the money,’’ says Univen’s director of
Communications and Marketing, Takalani dzaga.
ndou says the national student Financial aid scheme (nsFas) has
been very successful and supported the majority of previously
disadvantaged students growing from r441m in 1999 to r9.2billion in
2015.
“however, the cost and demand for higher
education grew every year, leaving nsFas with the challenge of
being unable to fund all the students who applied for funding.
in the current academic year alone, about 39 percent of
undergraduate students managed to raise the registration fees with
the hope that
nsFas will later cover the rest of the fees.
“This was not the case. research shows that the majority of
students who are dropping out, do so as a result of financial
difficulties. This is also likely to happen in 2016 if we do not
intervene soon,” says ndou.
T h e y o u t h o f Malamulele has a challenge to turn their
community into a city - through h a r d w o r k a n d
determination.
The zion Christian Church in Giyani, h langanan i and Malamulele
held a successful first- ever motivational t a l k d a y a t t h e
M a l a m u l e l e stadium recently, filling the stadium to ful l
capacity. The talk focused on motivating the youth to work hard to
change the province and the country at large with their accumulated
knowledge.
“The youth has to work like slaves to live like kings,” said
keynote speaker, Pastor Patrick Mabogo, a BCom and Ued graduate
from Univen.
“Youth unemployment in south africa is a major, well-documented
and ongoing problem that requires serious attention to bring it to
a halt. however, the long term prospects of the Malamulele youth
will depend on an education system that adequately equips them with
marketable and entrepreneurial skills.
“it is now in the hands of the youth of Malamulele to turn their
small town into a big city like Johannesburg. emulate Jesus Christ,
a pioneer of every profession. he turned water into wine, calling
it Chemistry, he fed 5 000 people with two fish and five loaves of
bread, calling it economics, to name but a few.”
“as the vhembe 2015 matric class, you need to emulate the 2014
class which took position one in Limpopo by being smart. set
specific, measurable, achievable, realistic and time bound goals,”
said the executive Mayor of the vhembe district Municipality,
Tshitereke Matibe.
“For those who come from poor families - you need to work hard
and pass with good grades to stand a chance of getting a stake of
the r3,5m worth of vhembe district Municipality bursaries. For
Malamulele town to reach city status in 2040, you need to study
Mathematics to become engineers.”
On behalf of the 2015 matric class and all other learners who
were present, Ms shongi Khosa, a learner from the ndhambi high
school in Mzilela village, expressed her pride as a zionist and
promised that the class of 2015 will pass with flying colours,
reaching the unreachable star.
“My dream is to study LLB at the University of venda. never let
your background dictate your future.”
e z e k i e l e d m u n d M a i m e l a , w h o w a s
affectionately known as Lumumba due to his political views, was a
dynamic individual who cherished the spirit and hope of young
people. This led him to teaching and being a planner of education -
resulting in the establishment of the University of venda.
Maimela started his primary education at ha Mulima and completed
his standard six at elim Practical school. during his student days
at Musi high school in Pimville, where he completed his matric, he
was loved and branded as an ‘englishman’ for his oratory and
debating skills during school debates.
after matric, he studied towards a teacher’s diploma at the
University of the north. here he was given the name “Lumumba” for
his involvement in politics at the time. in 1968 he graduated with
a Ba from the University of south africa.
Using his keen intellect and incredible capacity for work and
for the love of education, he started his teaching career at
Mphephu high school and worked for four years between 1962 and
1966.
in 1967 he was promoted as principal at Phiriphiri high school
where he served for six
years, until 1973. during that time he was the district
assistant secretary of the zoutpansberg teachers association of
Transvaal United african association.
he had a progressive outlook to life and an aptitude to seize
the right opportunities. he was one of first few intellectuals to
be awarded a scholarship oversees at a comparatively early age,
during the time when blacks were rarely allowed to pursue studies
out of the country.
in 1974 he was awarded a scholarship to study at Bristol
University in england. in the same year he was promoted to
inspector of schools of Mphephu, sinthumule and Kutama schools.
Between 1977 and 1978 he was a Circuit inspector of nzhelele
schools in the vhuilafuri Circuit.
Maimela was appointed as education Planner in the department of
education of venda and promoted to Chief education Planner, a
position he held until 1986. during this time he was chairperson of
the task team which looked into the logistical issues around the
establishment of the University of venda, which was to cater for
the population of the venda homeland.
after Maimela’s presentation to the Cabi-
net of the then venda government, the parlia-ment promulgated an
act - act 19 of 1981 - for the establishment of the University of
venda. he later served as a member of the first Council of the
university. he is also known to have played a pivotal role in the
establishment of the Makhado College of education.
while he served as a deputy director General in the department
of Public works, director in Urban affairs and Land Tenure, his
passion for education saw him going back to the department of
education where he served as a deputy director General from 1989
until 2001 when he retired.
he was married to Grace Mukwevho in 1962 and they had five
children, the late Manasseh and hayward and Tshiwela, Kennedy and
Babra. he died in april this year at the age of 79, leaving behind
his wife w h o d i e d s o m e m o n t h s a f t e r h i m ,
children Tshiwela, Kennedy and Babra and grandchildren nkhume,
Murunwa, ndivhuwo, sifhime, Lufuno, adi ja, Makulana and
Cassandra.
“Law practitioners should focus on rare specialisations in law
which include information communication technology, broadcasting
and environmental law,” says Communications Minister Faith
Muthambi.
speaking at the launch of the Univen Law alumni association,
Muthambi said the availability of online legal resources, the
ability to consult with clients using some form of
video-conferencing and increased usage of cloud computing by law
firms, lessens the need for staff to sit in a physical office.
“it also includes the ability to store client files and firm
records electronically and to obtain access to these documents
remotely from anywhere in the world. These are the trends
challenging law firms in south africa and graduates from
historically black universities. if not dealt with accordingly, the
law firms will be outperformed by the competition, and start a
backward slide that may lead to eventual closure.
“students who aspire to become attorneys need to secure articles
of clerkship while still working towards completing their degrees.
a lack of information contributes to the failure of graduates to
secure job opportunities. Law graduates are also faced with
challenges relating to ethics when entering the labour market and
declining ethics in the legal profession is worrying.”
The dean of the Univen school of Law, annette
Lansink, said there is general agreement that the LLB degree is
expected to produce well rounded graduates, possessing critical
thinking skills and a manifest understanding of the constitution of
south africa and its impact on the development of the law.
“act ethically in your profession and be committed to promoting
social justice and the national development goals. alumni should
embrace continued legal education, especially
in the light of the advances in technology on legal services in
today’s rapidly changing world.”
The director of international Tax services at ernest and Young
and Univen alumni, rendani neluvhalani, led a panel of speakers
sharing their experiences with other graduates in various fields of
law. advocate Unarine Makuya was elected chairperson of the
association.
Mokadi Kgaugelo Mamarara – 3rd Year Media Science
[email protected]
Komape kwena Dominic [email protected]
Pfunzo Mashau – [email protected]
Communications Minister Faith Muthambi launches Univen Law
Alumni Association
The team that is putting a student assistance plan together.
“The youth of Malamulele can turn their small town into a big
city” – Mabogo.
Univen Law Alumni Exco - front from left - Tshegofatso
Kgarabjang, Head of Communications, Mpho Stability Nefuri, Deputy
Chairperson, Adv Unarine Makuya, Chairperson, Prudence Makhosazane
Hlangwana, Secretary and Lerato Raphasha, Deputy Secretary.
Back from left - Dumisani Nghomane, Head of Events and
Marketing, Oriel Makhale, Head of Membership and Recruitment, Adv
Mafanywa Mangammbi, Treasurer, Oriel Vele, Head of Fundraising,
Temitope Obisanya, Head of Special Projects and Community Outreach
and Kagiso Mphahlele, Head of Research and Innovation.
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U n i v e n A l u m n i n e w s4
Univen enactus (entrepreneurial action Us) has again proved that
Univen creates leaders by further scooping up various prizes. The
club recently added the first prize in Triple Bottom Line
sustainability and Business solutions for Community development to
its collection in the enactus south africa national
competition.
i t a lso came second in harmony Local economic development and
third in Capacity Building through effective empowerment - ending
in the overall fourth national position with a prize of r17
500.
enactus is an internat ional non-prof i t organisation of
students which helps promote local businesses in the communities to
grow and become sustainable. students create and implement
community empowerment projects around the globe.
Univen enactus assists local businesses and hawkers in
Thohoyandou and sibasa in particular with the registration of their
businesses, teaching them business, hygiene and bookkeeping skills.
Both undergraduate and postgraduate students further set up teams
on campus and apply business concepts to develop outreach projects
that improve the quality of life and standard of living for people
in need.
Graduate member students of enactus have since established an
alumni network, a support structure to the team that helps to
source support from the external world and links undergraduates to
the corporate world.
Univers ity teams part ic ipate in annual competitions where
they present the outcomes of their community projects.
“For the past three years, Univen enactus has been winning
prestigious prizes,” says dr Malebogo Legodi, Faculty advisor of
Univen enactus.
“in 2013 we took first place in the harmony Loca l economic deve
lopment spec ia l competit ion. in 2014, the team came fourth out
of the 28 participating tertiary institutions.”
entrepreneurship skills are major skills needed to address the
world’s socio-economic challenges and to accelerate the achievement
of the national development goals. enactus students gain valuable
skills and experiences that are not offered in formal classes.
it sets them apart from other students and graduates. They get
the opportunity to assess and come up with solutions for their
community challenges through the power of entrepreneurial spirit.
They become change makers. They network with students from other
institutions, share experiences and their ideas become seeds of
positive change.
They also have the opportunity to meet business leaders who
guide, motivate and give them valuable strategies – as well as
information on company expectations - upon graduation. nowadays
community involvement is a requirement for all private and public
institutions when it comes to employment opportunities.
Therefore, enactus equips students with skills to be socially
responsible citizens after graduation. Furthermore, students are
open to the possibility of self-employment and job creation –
increasing their chances of success in future endeavours.
Univen’s agricultural alumni association elected a new exco
recently, with Prof Lucky nedambale at the helm.
C h a i r P e r s O n P r O F T s h i M a n G a d z O L U C K Y
n e d a M B a L e i s a P ro g r a m m e M a n a g e r o f G e r m
p l a s m C o n s e r-vat ion and reproductive B i o t e chno log i
e s a t t he a g r i c u l t u r a l r e s e a r c h Council -
irene institute. he is a Professor extraordinaire at the Tshwane
University o f Te chno logy, ad junc t P ro f e s so r a t the
University of Free state and an executive b o a rd m e m b e r o f
t h e G o v e r n o r s o f t h e i n t e r n a t i o n a l e m b r
y o Tr a n s f e r society. nedambale is a technical advisor in the
Min i s t r y o f agr i cu l tu re , Fo res t r y and Fisheries. he
has several projects that enhance and improve productivity in
smallholder farmers. [email protected]/[email protected]
viCe ChairPersOn PrOF n O r M a n M a i w a s h e i s Programme
Manager : a n i m a l B r e e d i n g a n d Genetics at the
agricultural research Council. he is a member of the Council of the
south african society of animal science and the Council of the
international Genetics applied to Live-stock Production. his
research focuses on the development of selection tools applic- able
in breeding of efficient and profitable l ivestock. The training of
students at postgraduate level is also an important component of
his research programme. [email protected]
GeneraL seCreTarY PrOF sYLvesTer MPandeLi is a research Manager:
water Uti l isation in agriculture a t t h e wa t e r r e s e a r c
h Commission. Before that he worked at the department of
environmental affairs as director: Climate Change adaptation. here
he was also a specialist advisor on climate change adaptation
issues and is Lead fellow on environment and develop-ment issues.
he is a board member of the african Centre for Climate and earth
systems. Mpandeli’s fields of expertise are agrometeorology,
seasonal c l imate forecast ing, agronomy, i r r igat ion and
agricultural risk management. he is one of the climate change
adaptation negotiators at the United nations Framework Convention
on Climate Change. 012 330 9740, 083 2604 946
[email protected]
T r e a s U r e r e d w a r d KhaThUTsheLO TshiPaLa is an
executive Manager at Transnet sOC Ltd where h e i s r e s p o n s i
b l e f o r t he env i ronmen ta l and sus ta in-ab i l i t y por t
fo l io within Transnet’s specialist un i t , c ap i t a l p ro j e
c t s . h i s f i e l d s o f expertise are environmental
governance, management systems, r isk assessment, impact
assessment, auditing, research in the context of infrastructure
develop- ment, sustainable development, climate change and
industrial ecology. Tshipala is a founder and the f i rst inter im
chair- person of the Univen agricultural alumni association. 011
308 4707, 083 200 1020, [email protected]
PUBLiC reLaTiOns OFFiCer Maanda raMBaULi is a Manager of Plant
health Policies, norms and standards at the di rectorate P lant
health with the department of agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries.
he administers the agricultural Pests act which provides measures
by which agricultural pests may be prevented and combated. he is
also responsible for developing, reviewing and amending plant
legislation and policies to prevent the introduction, establishment
and spread of plant pests and diseases. he represents the
department in international and national forums related to trade,
phytosanitary legislation and policies. 071 765 0747,
[email protected]
P r O J e C T M a n a G e r M a s h U d U s i L i M e L a i s
deputy director: international Plant health Matters in the
directorate: Plant health of the department of agri-culture,
Forestry and Fisheries. he ensures compliance with the
international plant health obligations and manages plant health
risks in south african agriculture and biodiversity from the risk
of foreign pests and diseases – in line with south africa’s
membership of the world Trade Organization agreement on the
application of sanitary and phytosanitary measures. he represents
the department in national and international forums to facilitate
safe international trade regarding phytosanitary measures.
[email protected]
FOrMer Cha ir PersOn rOnaLd nePFUMBada is agricultural
Management advisor at the department of agriculture, Forestry and
Fisheries. he was Product de-velopment specialist at
Bayer-Cropscience and research scientist at aventis Cropscience and
rhone Poulenc agrichem. [email protected]
reCKsOn MULidzi is a pro-gramme manager for soil and water
science at the agricultural research Council institute for Fruits,
vine and wine. his research interests include soil and water
pol-lution due to the disposal of winery wastewater through land
application and or irrigation. he is a member of the south african
Council for natural scientific Profes-sions and international water
association specialist group on winery waste management and a
steering committee member for four water research Commission
projects. he was awarded the best research Manager for 2006 by the
deciduous Fruit Producers Trust.
Advisory membersPrOF FhaTUwani MUdaU is the Chair of the
department of agriculture and animal health at Unisa. Mudau has
vast experience in project de-velopment and implementa-tion in the
agro industries and education and health care sectors. he has
extensive experience in manag-ing mega projects and performing
initial assess-ment on business proposals and due diligence
investigations. he was seconded by the then Tshumisano Trust (now
the Technology innova-tion agency) to establish the Limpopo agro
Food Technology station. Mudau is a board member of the sci Crop
Production Journal. he was also a board member of the south
horti-cultural sciences society and rotondo Pty Ltd.
aLUOneswi eLvis MaFUn-waini is Chief director: rural development
in the Gauteng Provincial Government de-partment of agriculture and
rural development. Before that he was a business devel-opment
manager responsible for the grains and horticulture divisions of
the agricultural research Council. some of the projects he oversaw
or coordinated included the development of an agricultural
education and training strategy and a fresh produce inno-vation
programme. Mafunzwaini was chairper-son of the Timbali Technology
incubator and a member of the Mapfura Makhura incubator.
M U r e M B i wa C h a r L e s ManYaGa is a sc ient ist Manager
at the research and Technology development services directorate in
the Gauteng Provincial Govern-ment department of agricul-ture and
rural development. starting as an agricultural scientist, he went
through the ranks of senior agric scientist, as-sistant director
and deputy director. he was also a professional development
programme manager at the agricultural research Council’s institute
for Tropical and subtropical Fruits in nelspruit. Manyaga holds a B
agric and B instagrar honours from Univen and the Univer-sity of
Pretoria. he also holds a Management development Programme
certificate from the University of stellenbosch Business
school.
with alumni members coming from the enhlanzeni, nkangala and
Gert sibande districts of Mpumalanga, the Univen Mpumalanga alumni
chapter was re-launched recently.
Members agreed to work together to foster strong, long lasting
convocation and alumni relationships for rural and regional
development in southern africa and to support Univen in its drive
to offer education which addresses the developmental needs of the
southern african region.
They also agreed to act as ambassadors for the university,
support its strategic goals and
unite convocation and alumni, friends of the university, parents
and students.
“we also undertook to foster and maintain a positive image of
the university, help attract and assist prospective students and
fundraise for student bursaries, university infrastructure and for
the convocation.
“we are also fostering a feeling of belonging among convocation
and alumni, taking an interest in the governance, administration
and academic matters of the university and contr ibuting towards
inst itut ional advancement through donations,” says the newly
elected Chairperson sibusiso nkosi.
Team Univen Enactus – bringing home the accolades.
Rearing to go – relaunch of the Univen Mpumalanga Alumni
Chapter.
Univen enactus going from strength to strength
New Univen Agricultural Alumni Association exco
Mpumalanga Alumni chapter on a roll
Dr Malebogo Legodi – [email protected]
