Top judge is new Rhodes chancellor

This is a momentous occasion. I am deeply humbled and honoured to have been nominated and ultimately elected as Chancellor of this fine and highly respected institution of learning, Rhodes University.

“Judge Lex Mpati personifies the values we embrace at Rhodes University of rising above self, of humility, commitment, excellence and ethical behaviour. His is an inspiring story and we are honoured to have him as our chancellor." ...read more

Top muso Mahlasela rocks Rhodes

CELEBRATED jazz and Afrofolk musician, Vusi Mahlasela, wowed Rhodes University graduates, academics and their families this weekend with an impromptu performance during one of the university's graduation ceremonies. ...read more

‘Reluctant medic’ highlights poverty

DR CAROL Hofmeyr, founder of the Keiskamma Art Project, this weekend gave an account of shocking poverty in parts of the Eastern Cape, the desolation wrought by HIV/Aids and of dealing with an uncaring government and civil service. ...read more

Koos's Xhosa Bible grammar honour

AN AFRIKAANS church "Dominee" who retired before most of this year's Rhodes University graduates were even born, has earned his PhD for a paper on Xhosa Bible grammar - almost 60 years after he studied African languages. ...read more

New chancellor all about rights

Rhodes celebrates as Judge Mpati installed SUPREME Court of Appeal President Judge Lex Mpati was installed as Rhodes University Chancellor at a gala first graduation ceremony this week. ...read more

Rhodes sets record for PhDs

MORE than 2 000 graduates will receive various degrees from Rhodes University. The ceremony started yesterday and ends tomorrow. ...read more

Justice Mpati to be installed as the new Chancellor at Rhodes

Rhodes University alumna, Honourable Justice Lex Mpati, will be installed as the new Chancellor during the University’s 2013 graduation ceremonies commencing on Thursday 4 April, 18H00 at the 1820 Settlers National Monument.

Rhodes University alumnus, Honourable Justice Lex Mpati, will be installed as the new Chancellor during the University’s 2013 graduation ceremonies commencing on Thursday 4 April, 18H00 at the 1820 Settlers National Monument. ...read more

Rhodes to roll out a unique doctoral supervision course

Rhodes University is leading a project to roll out a unique course on doctoral supervision to support South Africa on its quest to increase the number of PhD graduates and produce more than 100 doctoral graduates per 1 million population by 2030. ...read more

Alumni flying the flag high

Talented alumni, Ms Natasha Joseph, Mr Stephen Grootes and Ms Verashni Pillay, are flying the Rhodes University flag high in the South African media industry. ...read more

Drifting – Remembering Reza De Wet

Rhodes University Drama Department will perform "Drifting", a tribute show to the acclaimed South African playwright, Reza de Wet during this year’s graduation week. ...read more

Healing the scars of conflict

The deep scars apartheid era wars left on generations of South Africans are finally being healed by getting former enemies together to talk about their experiences. ...read more

South Africa lacks skilled water experts

Rhodes University Ecologist Professor Jay O’keefe says there are few skilled water scientists and water engineers in the country. ...read more

How water outage went from incident to crisis

Before the prolonged public discontent, before technical faults with water supply pipes and before Rhodes University‘s statement in reaction to recent water outages in Grahamstown – there was a deep-rooted problem.

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Rhodes statement on the Makana water outages

Recent water outages in the Makana municipality area which this week continued unabated, are a major concern to Rhodes University as these are threatening to disrupt the academic life, and students and staff activities. ...read more

Sutherland honoured for her extraordinary work

Rhodes University Drama Department lecturer, Ms Alexandra Sutherland has been honoured for her extraordinary work with local schools and communities with the 2012 Vice-Chancellor’s Distinguished Award for Community Engagement. ...read more

Economic transformation will reduce poverty

Dr Marianne Ulriksen of the Centre for Social Development in Africa, University of Johannesburg, said the society must not only concern with inequality but also with poverty, as it is the root cause of many social ills. ...read more

Discovery of coelacanth might have changed course of history at Rhodes

THE chance discovery of a strange fish in a trawler captain’s nets almost 75 years ago changed the course of history at Rhodes University. ...read more

Mpati: Thorny road to top

Judge Lex Mpati relates the story of the sometimes thorny journey he has travelled in his life, until he finally made his mark as one of the?country’s foremost legal minds. ...read more

Cool digs for students

A PAIR of former Rhodes University students are using their personal experience of living in student residences - and their strong business partnership - to change the face of student living in Port Elizabeth. ...read more

Rhodes academic gets A-rating from NRF

THE National Research Foundation (NRF) has awarded highly acclaimed Rhodes University academic Professor Tebello Nyokong a rare A-rating. ...read more

RIP Mandy Rossouw: a tour de force passes

Mandy Rossouw, one of South Africa’s most prominent journalists, passed away on Monday night at the age of 33 after a short illness. ...read more

Jazz duo impressive performance

“Sublime” was how one audience member described the music of renowned South African jazz musicians and composers, Andre Petersen and Feya Faku. ...read more

Economics student lauded for excellent essay

Honours Economics student, Dylan Smith, who is due to graduate with Distinction in April this year, has been named as the winner of the prestigious Nedbank/Old Mutual Budget Speech Competition. ...read more

Transdisciplinary approach to water-resources management project hailed

The Rhodes University Institute of Water Research (IWR) achieved success in diagnosing and initiating effective engagement with water-security and water- quality concerns in the lower Sundays River Valley catchment area, in the Eastern Cape, by establishing relationships between the IWR, the local government, the community and business organisations around water-related problems. ...read more

SRC, students and lecturers debate the status of Education in SA

Widely acknowledged to be in a state of crisis, education in South Africa is a hot topic of debate for many South African citizens. With 26% of matriculants who passed Grade 12 in 2012 receiving a nonconventional degree pass, the spotlight is firmly on the shocking skills shortages, lack of resources, poor teacher training, corruption and maladministration, a highly unionised teaching profession and low morale that plague the majority of South African schools. ...read more

Sparkling UBOM! pulls it off again

RENOWNED Eastern Cape theatre company, UBOM! is at it again with the introduction of their latest production, Betti & the Yeti. ...read more

Man with prominent public profile

A NEW ERA AT STANDARD BANK Headline earnings grew 10%, boosted by its operations in the rest of Africa, which posted a significant 69% rise STANDARD Bank Group joint CEO Ben Kruger said at its annual results presentation yesterday the bank expected its offshore operations to turn profitable this financial year. ...read more

Old Rhodian new joint CE of Standard Bank

STANDARD Bank Group CEO Jacko Maree, who has been at the bank for more than 32 years, shed a tear yesterday as his newly appointed successors, Ben Kruger and Sim Tshabalala, and a packed house bid him farewell at the annual results presentation. ...read more

The legacies of the apartheid wars

Almost 20 years since democracy was established in South Africa, there is still a pervasive silence around the legacies of the wars fuelled by apartheid. ...read more

Transkei Penal Code can be abolished

Visiting professor, Digby Koyana delivered a lecture in the Law Faculty on the Constitutionality of the Transkei Penal Code (TPC) and argued that even though the continued application of the Code is not problematic, there is no reason for it to remain in practice. ...read more

Nobel Peace Laureate addresses students and staff

The Nobel Peace Laureates’ Medal for Activism in 2012, Chaeli Mycroft, delivered an inspiring Rhodes University’s Human Rights Week keynote address yesterday (Sunday, 03 March 2013) and spoke about her journey as an “ability activist”.

The Nobel Peace Laureates’ Medal for Activism winner in 2012, Chaeli Mycroft, delivered an inspiring Rhodes University’s Human Rights Week keynote address yesterday (Sunday, 03 March 2013) and spoke about her journey as an “ability activist”. ...read more

Prof gets top award for English

A RETIRED Grahamstown English professor who spent more than half a century teaching thousands of students – and wrote several acclaimed books – has received a top award for distinguished service to language. ...read more

Land question still haunts South Africa

“The South African state is clearly not pursuing any radical restructuring of the countryside. Historically and globally mobilisation and organisation are usually required ahead of radical land reform. At some stage there has got to be a dramatic break,” said Head of Department of Sociology, Professor Kirk Helliker. ...read more

Rhodes researchers grappling with key environmental water challenges

Researchers at the Rhodes University Institute for Water Research are conducting a number of studies on environmental water-quality and quantity issues, including water-source testing, identifying the systems that influence water quality, hydrological modelling of water resources, biomonitoring and wastewater treatment. ...read more

Cheaper water test to improve lives

MODIFICATIONS to a cheap and simple home test kit made from basic school science laboratory chemicals and everyday household items could help improve South African tap water quality.

A home kit to test the microbial quality of tap water has been invented in a laboratory at Rhodes University, in Grahamstown, Eastern Cape, costing exactly R5 (US$0.56) to make. ...read more

Ex-miner’s tough life moves man

THE heart-warming story of an ex-miner who walked from Peddie to Cape Town to enrol in university has inspired a weekend car washer to help fund the old man’s theology studies. ...read more

New Chancellor for Rhodes

Following an extensive process of nominations and deliberations, and with the approval of the University Council, it is a great pleasure to announce the Honourable Justice Lex Mpati as the new Chancellor of Rhodes University. ...read more

Old Rhodian named Nelson Mandela Metro boss

Hopes high for end to ANC infighting, chaos FTER more than 3'V2 years of administrative chaos and political bickering, the Nelson Mandela Bay council has finally appointed a municipal manager Dr Lindiwe Msengana-Ndlela.

Hopes high for end to ANC infighting, chaos AFTER more than three and a half years of administrative chaos and political bickering, the Nelson Mandela Bay council has finally appointed a municipal manager Dr Lindiwe Msengana-Ndlela. ...read more

Medic to receive Rhodes honour

A MEDICAL doctor who moved to a poor Eastern Cape backwater years ago and set up a community art project will receive an honorary degree from Rhodes University for her groundbreaking work fighting poverty and HIV/Aids. ...read more

SA to push the African Agenda at the BRICS summit

Pretoria - South Africa will host the 5th BRICS Summit in Durban next month - with the aim of harnessing the country’s membership to benefit the entire African continent. ...read more

Global project to create benchmark for sustainability labels

A new initiative has been set up to create a benchmark for sustainability labels over the next three years. ...read more

Dumas portrait of Madiba on auction

A limited edition lithograph of Nelson Mandela as a young man by one of South Africa’s most internationally renowned living artists will be auctioned in Cape Town at the Stephan Welz & Co. Decorative and Fine Arts Auction, 19 and 20 February. ...read more

EC education to address teaching issues

THE Eastern Cape department of education is set to turn over a new leaf with senior officials promising to do away with poor administrative and learning outcomes in the 2013-14 financial year. The announcement comes after the Daily Dispatch recently reported about a damning report released by Rhodes University-based lobby group, the Public Service Accountability Monitor. ...read more

Rhodes creates a conducive learning environment for postgraduates

Rhodes University’s Centre for Higher Education Research, Teaching and Learning will run a series of seminars for the entire first semester [every Wednesday at 17h00, starting on the 20th February], as part of the Postgraduate Orientation Programme. ...read more

United against rape scourge

Grahamstown folk join One Billion Rising protest

THE horrors of rape and gender violence came firmly under the spotlight in Grahamstown this week when hundreds of people showed their disapproval by dancing together one day and then wearing black the next. ...read more

An unusual move starts to pay off for an Old Rhodian

IT was the sort of dream deal that the shareholders involved won't forget. But for Rod Baxter being at the centre of the famous Consolidated Minerals bidding war of 2007-08 was an experience he never wants to repeat. ...read more

The Lone Ranger

Director and Chief Investment Officer of Foord Asset Management. Dave Foordfounded Foord Asset Management in 1981 with Liston Meintjes and has built it into the company it is today. He began his career at Old Mutual in 1978 and then started his business three years later. ...read more

Nemato, born of true friendship

A FRIENDSHIP between two men which began in Amsterdam, Holland about 16 years ago and had nothing to do with rowing culminated in the formation of the Nemato Rowing Club on the banks of the Kowie River in Port Alfred. ...read more

Rhodes graduate gets her White House wish

Growing up in a home sometimes short of money – but always full of love – has inspired a talented Grahamstown university graduate to realise her dreams and help others reach for the stars too. ...read more

Education receives poor audit

PSAM study points to department’s financial woes for past 10 years. ...read more

Resources used to increase human well-being is unsustainable

“In the last few decades we have seen rapid social and ecological change. More than 24% of the earth’s terrestrial surface is covered with croplands – more than any arable time in history. This presents major challenges such as how to address the increasing disparities in human well-being that prevail, while also improving the capacity of social-ecological systems to provide the ecosystem services that underpin important components of human well-being.” ...read more

Experts in Port Alfred study SKA

THE world’s leading radio astronomers – and the next generation of young up-and-coming scientists – have gathered in Port Alfred to brainstorm ways to improve the design of vital telescopes that will be used in the Square Kilometre Array. ...read more

Old Rhodian receives City of London’s highest honour

South African born Tony Granger has been admitted as a freeman of London. Individuals who have made a significant impact in their field are invited to take up the Freedom to acknowledge their contribution. ...read more

Can we afford to overlook elephants in the room as we design and build SKA?

Rhodes University will be hosting the first series of workshops on the third-generation calibration (3GC3) in radio Astronomy in Africa at the Halyards Hotel, Port Alfred from 10-22 February 2013. ...read more

Rhodes’ R5 water kit for easy tests

MODIFICATIONS to a cheap and simple home test kit made from basic school science laboratory chemicals and everyday household items could help improve South African tap water quality. ...read more

Department of Higher Education endorses Economics Journal

The African Review of Economics and Finance (AREF), a brainchild of Associate Professor in Economics at Rhodes University Paul Alagidede has been accredited by the Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET). ...read more

Cellphone initiative to make a difference

RHODES University new tech experts are hoping to increase citizen participation in local government by using cellphones to connect residents and Makana municipal officials. ...read more

SRC President challenges first years

THE diagnostic report of the National Development Plan (NDP) has outlined the central challenges affecting all South Africans, directly or indirectly.

Rhodes University Student Representative Council President, Sakh'usomeleze Badi, challenged first year students to make the best of their opportunity to study at Rhodes University. ...read more

Tribute to Amina Cachalia from Wits University

The University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, extends its deepest condolences to the friends, family and comrades of the late Amina Cachalia, a lifelong activist who dedicated her life to fighting for freedom in South Africa. ...read more

The Forgotten People

Arriving at Constitution Hill last Thursday evening, I found myself empathising with whoever is charged with taking care of the place. Mirror neuron, the effect is called. ...read more

Hamba kahle Amina

Rhodes University pays tribute to struggle stalwart and anti-apartheid activist Mrs Amina Cachalia, who passed away today (31 January) at the age of 82. ...read more

The 2013 first years arrive

More than 1800 first year students are expected to arrive in Grahamstown with their parents for registration which starts on 2nd February. This will be followed by the week long formal induction and orientation of new students taking place from Monday (4th February). ...read more

World famous patron to address cardiac support group

The revitalised Garden Route Cardiac Support Group (GRCSG) is fortunate to have as its patron the Bishops' old boy, Professor Robert Frater who has consented to address the group at its second public meeting in the Methodist Church Hall, Plantation Road, Glenbarrie, George on Thursday 7 February at 17:00 for 17:30. ...read more

Old Rhodian develops robotic rover to explore Saturn’s Titan moon

LIAM Pedersen spent much of his childhood with no electricity, plumbing or books.

Now he is building space exploration robots for Nasa in the search for life beyond our planet. ...read more

Putting right wrongs of past

New head of AFU in Eastern Cape inspired by apartheid injustices to study for career in law. ...read more

Alumna’s new show tackles big issues

Everyone will have a voice on TV' THE queen of radio is going to tackle big issues on the small screen again! SAfm presenter Siki Mgabadeli will present a 10-episode current affairs show called The Big Debate. ...read more

Untold stories to be told at exhibition

In 2001, in Unfinished Business: South Africa, Apartheid and Truth, Dumisa Ntsebeza and Terry Bell complained that ‘like so much of South Africa’s recent brutal history, we shall probably never know exactly how many people were banished and what happened to all of them’

There are many untold stories about South Africa, but an exhibition at Constitution Hill is set to reveal those untold stories. ...read more

Beauty of adults playing pretend

COMING to the Midlands, fresh from a successful performance at the Musho! International Festival of One and Two-Hander Theatre in Durban, is Tristan Jacobs' Hambre Del Alma. Directed by Andrew Buckland, this solo mask performance tells the story of the Durban-born, Portuguese poet, Fernando Pessoa. ...read more

Rhodes research punching above its weight

Grahamstown is not on the way to anywhere else. If you go to the small Eastern Cape city — it has a cathedral, so it is technically a city — it is likely that you are visiting Rhodes University. ...read more

Herbert Kretzmer on Les Miserables

HERBERT Kretzmer has very little to be miserable about. Apart from living a fascinating life, which started in Kroonstad then went via Paris and New York to London, he also wrote the English lyrics for Les Miserables, the world's longest-running musical, which is now coming out as an all-star film. ...read more

Honouring the legacy of Makana

THE descendants of the late 19th century AmaXhosa soldier, Makhanda Gwala, known as Makana Nxele (lefthanded) will finally have closure knowing his spirit will be brought home from Robben Island where he died almost 200 years ago. ...read more

The Forgotten People: Banishment under Apartheid: a text and photographic exhibition

Constitution Hill is a beacon for Constitutionalism, Human Rights and Democracy and is dedicated to remembering past struggles by hosting exhibitions that play an important educational role in expressing these values and true to its nature. ...read more

Old Rhodian on shortlist for Concourt seat

A SENIOR Mthatha advocate, Rhodes Law School graduate and judge of the Competition Appeal Court is one of five candidates shortlisted for a prestigious position on the Constitutional Court bench. ...read more

Support for teacher development

GreenMatter, a public-private initiative championing the development of quality Biodiversity skills, and Rhodes University, today announced a three-year partnership to improve the relevance and quality of environmental learning in schools. ...read more

Musical history comes to life

CULTURAL HISTORY: A visitor to the East London Museum checks some of the photos on display at ‘For future generations’ exhibition by Hugh Tracey and the International Library of African Music. ...read more

Mthatha teen with 4 As to be fully funded

Rhodes University has pledged to ensure the studies of a Transkei teenager, who obtained four distinctions in her matric results, are fully funded. ...read more

Teacher's advice all adds up

AN award-winning teacher based in the US believes maths journals in the classrooms is the answer to South African schools' appalling mathematics results. St Claire Adriaan, formerly of the Eastern Cape, is the principal at Success Preparatory School in the US, which caters for kindergarten to grade 6. ...read more

Old Fourlegs - a fishy tale

Had it not been for the passion of a self-trained South African naturalist, the discovery of a living specimen of the rare coelacanth around this time in 1938 may never have happened. Eastern Cape native Marjorie Courtenay-Latimer originally trained as a nurse. Although her wish was to work in a museum, there were few opportunities at the time.

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Rhodes University Closure

Please note that the University will close from 16h00 on 19 December 2012 and will re-open at 08h00 on 3 January 2013. ...read more

He is the bees' knees

WHO would have thought having your bicycle stolen could lead to an unexpected venture in the honey industry. But that is what happened to Dr Garth Cambray, the managing director of Makana Meadery in Grahamstown. ...read more

Student-mentor pair selected for prestigious Geography fellowship

Third year Geography student Natalie Ellis and Prof Roddy Fox have won a place in the
MyCOE/SERVIR fellowship programme starting in Nairobi, Kenya in December 2012. Only 18 out of 200 applicants from African countries have been selected.
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Politics students receive Mandela Rhodes Scholarship

Three Rhodes University students, Lihle Mancoba, Abigail McDougall and Michael Glover, are amongst the 29 young Africans to receive the prestigious Mandela Rhodes Scholarship for 2013. ...read more

Rhodes alumnus says innovation must become a culture in SA

SOUTH Africa may require a chief technology officer to drive innovation from "top to bottom", according to Donovan Neale-May, a co-founder of Sable Accelerator, which links local technology businesses to funders and experts globally. ...read more

Discovery of famous fish remembered

ALMOST 74 years have passed since the discovery of the coelacanth in East London waters astonished the world. ...read more

Rhodes pays tribute to ‘exceptional’ Gerwel

FAMILY, friends and colleagues of the late Rhodes University Chancellor Professor Jakes Gerwel, gathered in Grahamstown yesterday to commemorate the life and work of an intellectual giant who died two weeks ago. ...read more

Old Rhodian to head Geoscience body

THE Council for Geoscience has appointed Mxolisi Kota as CEO. ...read more

Unflinching fight for human rights

ARTHUR Chaskalson, who died on Saturday after a battle with leukaemia, was one of a small group of human rights lawyers who stood up for the oppressed during the four decades of increasingly dictatorial Nationalist rule. ...read more

Remembering Jakes – Chancellor, our chancellor

The death of Rhodes University chancellor Jakes Gerwel will leave a big void in many people’s lives. ...read more

CHERTL book launched at HELTASA conference

A much acclaimed volume with chapters written and edited by Rhodes University staff members from the Centre for Higher Education Research Teaching and Learning (CHERTL) was launched along with three other new books on higher education at the Annual conference of the Higher Education Learning and Teaching Association of Southern Africa (HELTASA) held at Stellenbosch University from 28 to 30 November. ...read more

Cutting-edge Life Sciences equipment accelerates research

R20 million worth of recently acquired research tools awarded by the NRF National Equipment and National Nanotechnology Equipment Programmes (NNEP) to Rhodes University, forms part of the development of regional and national research infrastructure accessible to researchers at other universities including Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University (NMMU) and the University of Fort Hare (UFH). ...read more

A humble man of intellect, integrity

ONE of the first messages of condolences following the death of Rhodes University chancellor Professor Jakes Gerwel came from a retired academic who said he was: “a good and great man. He will be hard to replace”. ...read more

VC captivates the Dispatch Dialogues audience

RENOWNED scholar and Rhodes University vice-chancellor, Dr Saleem Badat, captivated the Dispatch Dialogues audience last night when he spoke about his new book The Forgotten People that chronicles the political banishment of rural people under apartheid. ...read more

Rhodes mourns the passing of its Chancellor

Rhodes University mourns and lowers its flag on the passing of its Chancellor, Prof Gert Johannes (Jakes) Gerwel. ...read more

Super Probe Electron Probe Micro-analyser marks a new era

The Geology Department staff celebrated an early Christmas when they formally launched a JXA-8230 Super Probe Electron Probe Micro-analyser (EPMA) recently. The EPMA conducts high quality in situ quantitive analyses of elements as well as the chemical dating of monazite and cathodo-luminescence imaging, among many other functions. ...read more

VC to speak at University of Fort Hare

Rhodes University Vice-Chancellor Dr Saleem Badat will speak about his new book The Forgotten People: Political Banishment under apartheid at the ABC Hall, University of Fort Hare East London Campus as part of the Dispatch Dialogues, on Monday 26 November. ...read more

Obesity can’t be due to simply doing too little exercise

“We used to have certain views about nutrition and those views have changed -- what’s changed is science,” said a controversial sports scientist, Professor Tim Noakes to a packed audience on the merits of a low-carb, high-fat diet (LCHF) at Rhodes University. ...read more

Prof Ellery receives the 2012 Mondi National Wetland Award

The South African Wetland Society presented the 2012 Mondi National Wetland Award to Professor Fred Ellery in the category of “Science and research” at the annual Wetland Indaba held in Limpopo Province recently. ...read more

Top award for innovation

RHODES University’s Professor Alfredo Terzoli has won the 2012 Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Technology award in the human resource development category. ...read more

Rhodes University’s Professor Alfredo Terzoli is dti Technology Awards finalist

Rhodes University’s Professor Alfredo Terzoli is a finalist in the 2012 Department of Trade and Industry (dti) Technology Awards in the Human Resource Development category. ...read more

Rhodes think tank seeks policies to improve SA

AN INTERNATIONAL think tank of leading economists and social scientists are holding a four-day brainstorming session at Rhodes University to come up with policy proposals to improve life for all South Africans. ...read more

South African media marginalise voices

Taking stock of the media since the onset of democracy, Prof Jane Duncan of the School of Journalism and Media Studies critiqued the established systems of news in South Africa, examining specifically, the coverage of Marikana -- one of the media’s most glaring failures. ...read more

Fundraising campaign by students for students

Raising a whopping R44 000 this year for Rhodes students who rely on financial aid, the Give5 campaign is growing from strength to strength as it almost doubled previous campaign totals. ...read more

Scholars debate the nature of knowledge

“What is the nature of knowledge and why should we care?” was the question the four panelists from various South African and overseas institutions sought to unpack. With them, was discussant and leading thinker on the forefront of knowledge research in the world, Dr Karl Maton of the University of Sydney. ...read more

Old Rhodian says it with flowers

SHOWCASING vibrant, colourful and beautiful flower paintings by some of South Africa’s finest artists, Flowers is an exhibition running at the Artisan Contemporary Gallery until November 17. ...read more

Reflections on teaching and literature

“I am in the privileged position of being paid for what I love doing,” says Dr Deborah Seddon, when she presented a compelling lecture to mark her 2011 Vice-Chancellor’s Distinguished Teaching Award. ...read more

Old Rhodian’s short film wins 21 awards

ELEGY FOR A REVOLUTIONARY ( www.elegy-movie.com ) a true narrative short film based on the African Resistance Movement in South Africa has won eleven best short awards. ...read more

Ujala leads Library and Information Association of South Africa

Rhodes University Director of Library Services, Ms Ujala Satgoor has been elected as the new president of theLibrary and Information Association of South Africa (LIASA) for the term 2012-2014.
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Searching for explanations

The leading forensic entomologist in Africa, Professor Martin Villet is one of the highly productive academics at Rhodes University, in his 23 years career in entomological and related research, he has produced 119 publications in referred journals, 11 book chapters, 123 conference presentations and a range of technical reports, online resources, edited proceedings and book reviews. ...read more

Old Rhodian to head Draftfcb Johannesburg

Alistair Mokoena, previously head of Marketing at ABSA Retail and Business Bank, has joined Draftfcb Johannesburg as managing director. Making the announcement, Draftfcb CEO, John Dixon, said he regarded the signing of Mokoena as a ‘big signing’ for the agency, which has scored several other goals over the course of the year. ...read more

A new SA Cricket book by Old Rhodians

KEVIN MCCALLUM will tell you that he got lucky. He was offered a plane ticket and a chance to cover the Paralympic Games in Sydney 2000 and took it. He'd never travelled abroad to cover a big sporting event. ...read more

VC talks to the youth on banning and banishment

In an hour-long briefing, Rhodes vice-chancellor Dr Saleem Badat yesterday revealed South Africa’s smallest university would again be punching well above its weight after raising millions for new academic and infrastructure projects.

Dr Saleem Badat, Rhodes University Vice-Chancellor, is to address the South African youth during the second session of the FrankTalk Radio Dialogue series organised jointly by the Steve Biko Foundation (SBF) and YFM radio station. ...read more

Cameron feels solidarity crucial for SA

SOUTH Africa's democracy may be going through tough times, but the Aids epidemic has taught South Africans that social solidarity can overcome massive problems, says Constitutional Court Judge Edwin Cameron. ...read more

Twitter ‘tik’ of journalism

Print media out of tweet loop face being left behind

TWEETS guided specialist Twitter journalism teacher Raymond Joseph to his seminar venue at the Rhodes Journalism and Media Studies Department during the weekend floods. ...read more

Cable guy plugs into lucrative gap in market

A bout of frustration over a missing iPod cable has turned into a lucrative business for university student Andrew Lynch. Today he sells cables for all sorts of appliances as well as electronic equipment to customers around South Africa — while studying politics at Rhodes University in the Eastern Cape. ...read more

Millions for new buildings at Rhodes

The Department of Higher Education & Training has awarded Rhodes University R 170 million for new buildings and facilities. ...read more

Rhodes achiever bags top awards

AYOUNG Mdantsane woman – who battled to fund her fourth year of study at Rhodes University – has overcome many obstacles on her way to landing two top achievements. ...read more

Celebrating 40 years of research, writing and teaching

“I began my research career about 40 years ago, at a time when historical writing about South Africa was beginning to move along exciting fresh paths,” says Head of History Department, Prof Paul Maylam. “New work in the political economy tradition was transforming the way in which South Africa’s past – and present – were being interpreted.” ...read more

Drama student obtains prestigious National award

For the first time since its inception, the prestigious Moira Lister Theatre Award has been given to a Rhodes University drama student, Madelé Vermaak. ...read more

'Interpreting the world’

The Vice-Chancellor’s Distinguished Teaching Award recipients for 2011, Prof Anthea Garman unpacked her self-reflexive approach to teaching journalism in a fast-paced world. She thinks of teaching as a way of “inducting students into the practice of becoming ‘interpreters of the world’”. ...read more

Banishment, apartheid and the law

“Quintessentially, banishment was government reprisals against key, principally rural, political opponents, which involved their administrative expulsion from their home areas to other, usually distant, desolate and inhospitable, areas for unlimited periods,” said Rhodes University Vice-Chancellor, Dr Saleem Badat.

“For the long years of meticulous research and finally the superb telling of the story of banishment under apartheid, we owe a great debt to the author,” writes renowned advocate George Bizos on Dr Saleem Badat’s latest book. ...read more

Africa pregnant with hope and despair

Africa today faces both an opportunity for major social change and the potential for increasing barbarism in what is perhaps the most exciting period in our history. “This is a period pregnant with hope, but also pregnant with its twin, despair,” said Mr Firoze Manji, former-director of Pan African online news publication Pambazuka. ...read more

First scholarly book on neglected topic launched at Rhodes

Curiosity about the word ‘banishment’ has led Rhodes University Vice-Chancellor, Dr Saleem Badat on a 30-year journey which culminated in the publication of an invaluable work on the much neglected topic - banishment. ...read more

Radical green economy approach presents an exciting opportunity

The term ‘green economy’ suggests not only a movement toward reducing environmental risks and ecological scarcities, but improving human well-being and social equality. But is this just another opportunity for exploitation by capitalistic enterprise? ...read more

African musical treasure trove goes online

More than 80 years ago Hugh Tracey made his first recordings of African music and earned himself a reputation as a madman who sallied into the bush with people playing drums. ...read more

Old Rhodian returns to his roots with festival

EAST London 1970s child theatre star Deon Opperman is returning to his roots in promoting the fast-growing Eastern Cape High School Drama Festival. ...read more

The Forgotten People

In 2001, in Unfinished Business: South Africa, Apartheid and Truth, Dumisa Ntsebeza and Terry Bell complained that ‘like so much of South Africa’s recent brutal history, we shall probably never know exactly how many people were banished and what happened to all of them’ ...read more

Rhodes holds critical Lineages of Freedoms conversations

The Rhodes Faculty of Humanities is to hold a series of lunch time conversations that will critically reflect on the South African Lineages of Freedom as part of a national initiative to revive Humanities in the country. ...read more

Sociology conference discusses politics at a distance from state

A recent two-day sociology conference has opened space for the discussion of politics that is at a distance from the state. ...read more

Rhodes celebrates published academics

Recently-published Rhodes University academics were honoured at a cocktail evening on Tuesday 9 October in acknowledgement of the array of new books. ...read more

Prof Stack lauded for enhancement of research in taxation

Rhodes Accounting Department Professor Lilla Stack, was awarded a ‘Lifetime Service Award for the enhancement of research in taxation and empowering of tax researchers and academia’ in South Africa at a South African Tax Educators Association (SATEA) workshop recently. ...read more

Fracking illustrates principles of environmental and resource Economics

$The economic realities of the plan by oil companies to carry out the process of hydraulic fracturing for shale gas in the Karoo were explored in an inaugural lecture given by Professor Gavin Fraser of the Department of Economics and Economic History.$

The economic realities of the plan by oil companies to carry out the process of hydraulic fracturing for shale gas in the Karoo were explored in an inaugural lecture given by Professor Gavin Fraser of the Department of Economics and Economic History. ...read more

"Hopefulness becomes an essential element of the integral life"

The 2011 recipient of the Vice-Chancellor’s Distinguished Research Award, Dr Samantha Vice, delivered an aspiring lecture, which focused on how to live a value-oriented life in post-apartheid South Africa, where the personal and the public, the past and the present are deeply entangled.

The 2011 recipient of the Vice-Chancellor’s Distinguished Research Award, Dr Samantha Vice, delivered an inspiring lecture, which focused on how to live a value-oriented life in post-apartheid South Africa, where the personal and the public, the past and the present are deeply entangled. ...read more

Critical reflection on Toni Morrison’s novel

The historical frame of Toni Morrison’s novel Beloved -- America in the years following the emancipation of slaves -- parallels South Africa’s post-apartheid milieu, as does the novel’s trajectory: healing a society still fraught with pain, anger and racism. ...read more

Re-tracing Biko’s last steps in Grahamstown

Commemorating the 25th anniversary of Steven Bantu Biko’s death in 1977, the Rhodes University Political Studies Department and Grahamstown’s Unemployed People’s Movement (UPM) gathered at Drostdy Arch to re-trace his steps when he walked out of a National Union of South African Students (NUSAS) conference held at Rhodes in 1968. ...read more

Learners shine a spotlight on local issues

The Rhodes University Theatre was packed last Thursday (27 September) for the premier of 24 short films produced by third year television journalism students and learners from local high schools. The films aimed to highlight issues facing young people in Grahamstown today. ...read more

Prestigious travel bursary for postgrad student

Amy Richardson a hardworking Master’s student has been awarded Abe Bailey Travel Bursary, a three-week tour of the United Kingdom, all expenses paid. The bursary selects a single candidate from 16 South African Universities for the sole purpose of giving them a unique cultural and international experience. ...read more

EWN Chief dissects SA Media landscape

The changing face of South African media took centre stage on Tuesday evening as Primedia Broadcasting’s Kate Katopodis descended on Rhodes University‘s Africa Media Matrix to deliver a presentation. ...read more

“What’s Wrong with Mandela Day?”

“We are at one of the most dangerous turning points in our democracy in South Africa,” says award-winning South African journalist, author and Rhodes alumna Ms Zubeida Jaffer. ...read more

Rhodes alumnus takes a challenging post

By accepting the position of chief executive of the SA Post Office, Chris Hlekane has taken on a demanding task. The Post Office has been dogged by strikes, allegations of fraud and golden handshakes - Hlekane couldnt have picked a less opportune moment to become its head.

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"Journalists need to listen"

The roles and responsibilities of journalists and the media in post-apartheid South Africa came under the spotlight, when Deputy Head of School of Journalism and Media Studies, Professor Herman Wasserman shared his belief view that a willingness to listen and to become self-reflective, presents an effective way forward for journalists who aspire to deepen the freedoms of democracy. ...read more

Engaging with the world

The International Office recently awarded an International Education Association of South Africa (IEASA) Golden Key award for Best Practice in Developing a Comprehensive Internationalisation Strategy. ...read more

Sol Plaatje Institute partners with Primedia

PRIMEDIA Foundation entered into a relationship with the Sol Plaatje Institute for Media Leadership to sponsor three post graduate students in media management. The scholarships, to be known as the PRIMEDIA Scholarships for African Media Leaders, are for both practicing and aspirant media managers from South Africa.

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‘A centre of excellence’

“The ELRC awakens our excitement about the environment and our potential as environmental activists putting us in touch with the world, the soil and the ecology of the earth,” said Dr Tanya Abrahamse, the CEO of South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI). ...read more

Prof McQuaid awarded A rating

Rhodes University’s Professor Christopher McQuaid was one of the 22 researchers to be awarded an A rating at a ceremony held in Cape Town last week. ...read more

Newer Heights for Rhodes student

It’s been a joyful, dance filled journey for Joza born and bred Noluvuyo Shwempe from classes in a community hall, to a prestigious national award. ...read more

“Water and Transformation in South Africa”

As citizens of Earth, we all live within a catchment area, and we can locate ourselves within a range of things which happen in our catchment. None of us can say that water is not our concern. Professor Carolyn Palmer, (known to everyone as Tally), opened her inaugural lecture with this stark statement at Eden Grove Blue Lecture Theatre. ...read more

DG to inaugurate the Environmental Learning Research Centre

Ms Nosipho Ngcaba, Director-General Department of Environmental Affairs will officially open a custom built Environmental Learning Research Centre at Rhodes University today (13 September). ...read more

Politics Honours student lauded for best essays

Two Honours students received certificates for their outstanding essays at a recent South African Association of Political Studies (SAAPS) conference, held in Port Elizabeth recently. ...read more

“Women in law who the heck do we think you are?”

“Despite having an aversion to presenting myself as a woman first and foremost, it is incumbent upon me to silence the corporate clamour of being a woman,” says Justice Belinda Hartle of the Bhisho High Court. ...read more

Internet freedom under threat

THE freedom of the internet in South Africa is in trouble - on paper at least - warns Rhodes University's School of Journalism and Media Studies' Professor Jane Duncan.

...read more

Chinese centre boost for Rhodes

RHODES University’s decision to offer Chinese studies four years ago is helping to turn what many perceived as a colonial establishment into something with more universal appeal. ...read more

Over 600 delegates to attend Rhodes Highway Africa conference

More than 600 delegates consist of journalists and heads of media houses from the African continent and beyond are expected to attend the 16th edition of Highway Africa conference at Rhodes University from 9 to 11 September. ...read more

Music student awarded Commonwealth Scholarship

Mia Pistorius has been offered a Commonwealth Scholarship to study towards an MPhil in Music Performance at the University of Oxford. ...read more

Old Rhodian responsible for Games spectacle

SOME things you might say are almost impossible.

In that category would surely be coaching 3 500 ordinary citizens to a point where they can dazzle not only 84 000 spectators, including the cream of the who's who, but a global television audience of millions. ...read more

Berger honoured for life’s work

“South Africa is richer because Guy cared.”

This is a statement made in a supplement to the Standard Bank Sikuvile Journalism Awards, formerly the Mondi Shanduka Newspaper Awards, which were presented on Tuesday, 28 August. ...read more

Historical music exhibit brings its sounds to EL

Historical music exhibit brings its sounds to EL AN ACCLAIMED travelling exhibition, For Future Generations by the late Hugh Tracey, opened at the East London Museum on Thursday night. ...read more

SIFE students finding sustainable solutions

The Students in Free Enterprise (SIFE) are made up of various groups from tertiary institutions all round the world actively involved in changing the social, environmental and economic stability of those in need. Handling around seven projects that benefit the broader Grahamstown community, around 23 Rhodes SIFE students recently took part in a national competition where they got through to the finals. ...read more

Rhodes celebrates SKA bid success

Minister of Science and Technology, Naledi Pandor joined Rhodes University on Monday, 27 August to celebrate South Africa’s successful bid to host the Square Kilometer Array (SKA) telescope.

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Give sight to others

The Rhodes University Pharmacy Students Association (RUPSA) are organising a community engagement activity as part of Pharmacy Week. ...read more

Young Directors Season promises a month of fire

The Young Director Season kicks off at Rhodes University Drama Department Box Theatre on Wednesday 29 August. This year’s season promises to make August, a “month of fire”. ...read more

Alumna with entrepreneurial flair

At the young age of 11 she knew that if she worked hard enough in school she would be successful enough to no longer have to spend her weekends selling ice cream, boiled eggs and raw meat in the dusty streets of Orlando, Soweto, to help out the family business. This did much to hone her entrepreneurial flair, and today Johanna Mukoki is the managing director and joint founder of internationally recognised travel agency, Travel with Flair.

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Rhodes celebrates SKA bid success

On Monday, 27 August, Rhodes University will celebrate the country’s recent achievement in winning the SKA bid and the University’s progress made in Radio Astronomy in the past 50 years. ...read more

Six Old Rhodians honoured

Rhodes University will honour six members of the Rhodes family, who have enhanced the reputation of the University and served as role models in society, at the annual Old Rhodian award ceremony on Saturday (25 August) at Gavin Relly Postgraduate Village. ...read more

Tové Kane joins Algoa FM

Award winning radio presenter, voice artist, speaker, writer, trainer and photographer, Tové Kane has joined Algoa FM as a presenter of her own show.

...read more

The long view of South African industry

“We think South Africa is faced with the imminent fate of deindustrialisation,” said Chief Director of Industrial Policy, Industrial Development Division, Department of Trade and Industry (DTI); Mr Garth Strachan at his talk, “South Africa's Industrial Policy: Past, Present and Future." ...read more

Alumnus gets Top Billing

My Top Billing Dream finally has its winner - and he's pretty excited about it fight now Jonathan Boynton-Lee is feeling like a million-dollar baby. The newest winner of My Top Billing Dream reality TV competition described his victory to The New Age as being just as exciting as winning an Academy award. ...read more

IEC running SRC elections

This year's SRC elections were run and monitored by the Independent Electoral Commission of South Africa. ...read more

Beyond Greed and Grievances

An acknowledgement of the implications of the characteristics of natural resources can have significant policy implications, as they can serve as early warning signs in outlining the predisposition of natural resources to exploitation. ...read more

Rhodes hosts 2012 intervarsity

Rhodes University Sports Administration will be hosting the 2012 intervarsity from 17-18 August - the largest multi-coded university sporting event in the Eastern Cape. ...read more

SRC asks students to put themselves in another’s shoes

The Student Representative Council (SRC) has launched the second phase of their Eastern Cape Community Engagement (ECCOE) project this week with the “Walk in My Shoes” initiative. Students are being encouraged by the SRC to donate school shoes and money for disadvantaged students in what will be a long-term and possibly provincial project. ...read more

Anton Harber talks press freedom and good journalism

Professor Anton Harber, Head of the Wits Journalism Department, co-founding editor of the Mail and Guardian, and the man who “bites the hand that feeds”, recently visited Grahamstown to present a short series of guest lectures to the Journalism and Media Studies 4 writing class. ...read more

Writing is non-negotiable

Among the established writers participating in this year’s Masters in Creative Writing course is well-known literary critic, journalist and poet, Sabata-mpho Mokae. ...read more

A life in struggle

Speaking with admiration and frankness about the life and work of Govan Mbeki, renowned historian Prof Colin Bundy launched Govan Mbeki’s biography at the Cory Library for Historical Research recently. ...read more

Old Rhodian appointed as new SAAMBR CEO

Thanks to almost twenty years experience in SAAMBRs three operating divisions, the official appointment of new CEO, Judy Mann was a seamless one. ...read more

WASA invaluable for women at Rhodes

“Rhodes University as an institution privileges the white males’ way of thinking and doing things,” said former Women’s Academic Solidarity Association (WASA) chairperson, Ms Corinne Knowles during the first WASA round table discussion recently, entitled “Barriers and successes in the struggle for equality at universities.” ...read more

Dr Tukulula returns home to inspire learners

Dr Matshawe Tukulula is living testimony to the success and impact of the Khula Project, an extraordinary initiative created by Dr Ken Ngcoza of the Rhodes Education Department, Mrs Joyce Sewry of the Chemistry Department and Mr Reuben Maselwa of Eastern Cape Department of Education. ...read more

Rhodes alumnus puts SA on world stage

South Africa’s untapped brains trust and knowledge network of expatriate assets around the world will soon be activated to help the country be more competitive in realising a better return on innovation and entrepreneurship across both the private and public sectors. ...read more

Democracy in decline

“The Born Free generation is not more democratic but actually less so -- they are less democratic than their parents and grandparents,” said Prof Robert Mattes in his talk, “ ‘The 'Born Frees': The Prospects for Generational Change in Post-apartheid South Africa”. ...read more

Rhodes men take stand for women

GENDER violence came under the spotlight in Grahamstown yesterday when Rhodes University men stepped up to voice their disapproval. They signed pledges and pegged old mismatched socks on a specially erected campus washing line. ...read more

Alumni animation film voted best feature film

ANIMATED film, The Adventures in Zambezia proved that the best is saved for last when the makers took away the Best South African Feature film award at the 33rd Durban International Fihn festival over the weekend. ...read more

Nurturing the minds of young scientists

Now in its 23rd year, the Eskom Expo for Young Scientists was as bustling and inspiring event. Annually the Chemistry Department at Rhodes University is packed with learners from grades 6-12 from Grahamstown schools, all eager to share their innovative projects with their peers and judges.

Now in its 23rd year, the Eskom Expo for Young Scientists was a bustling and inspiring event. Annually the Chemistry Department at Rhodes University is packed with learners from grades 6-12 from Grahamstown schools, all eager to share their innovative projects with their peers and judges. ...read more

“Barriers and Successes in the Struggle for Equality at Universities”

For the first time in its history, Rhodes University Women’s Academic Solidarity Association (WASA) will host four senior members of the newly launched University of Limpopo Woman’s Academic Solidarity Association (ULWASA) and a gender activist from Walter Sisulu University (WSU), Professor Theresa Chisango, for a round table discussion. ...read more

Courts and the judiciary safeguard democracy

“If I was in government I would laud the courts for doing their work. For individuals living in isolated communities not being listened to by government, the courts can help to deepen democracy in helping people get government’s attention. ...read more

Psychology student wins ICP award

Tracey Feltham-King, a PhD student in the Rhodes University Psychology Department, won the PsySSA/Discovery student presentation award at the International Congress of Psychology (ICP) held in Cape Town recently. This congress, held every four years, attracted about 5 500 psychologists from around the globe. ...read more

Old Rhodian to connect South Africans in the diaspora

There are many professional and skilled South Africans living abroad, who are keen to give back to South Africa. ...read more

Old Rhodian brings Big Screen TV to township kids

Radio’s funny sports guy, Graeme Joffe, gets serious about access to TV for South Africa’s after-school viewers ...read more

South Africa still divided and unequal

In his Teach-In Lecture yesterday (26 July), Professor Steven Friedman said, bypassing the focus on a second transition and focusing instead on how to meaningfully and sustainably implement the promises made to South Africans post 1994 should be the focus of government. ...read more

Creating new intellectuals

Dr Catherine Burns of the University of the Witwatersrand Institute for Social and Economic Research (WISER), was candid and heartfelt in her lecture, when addressing an audience of mainly Rhodes students about their civic responsibility and intellectual autonomy. ...read more

A social compact for higher growth and development

Delivering the second 2012 Teach-In lecture yesterday (24 July), Mr Joel Netshitenzhe, Director of Mapungubwe Institute for Strategic Reflection and member of the National Planning Commission, asked: “if the assumption is correct, that we seek to attain a better quality of life for all, then the question should be, ‘What do we do to achieve that?’. ...read more

“ANC politics are not as simple and clear cut”

When a second transition has nowhere to go – Exploring the gamble president Jacob Zuma took at the ANC’s policy conference

“Our president is willing to take big risks for his own political gain. This shows us that our president is someone who will take chances and risk many things that could affect us and lead to a transition to a worse life for all, which is not something any of us would want,” said well-known South African journalist Ms Mandy Rossouw during yesterday’s (23 July 2012) Rhodes University Teach-In lecture.

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Political and International Studies hosts the 10th annual Teach-In

Rhodes University Political and International Studies Department will hosts the 10th annual Teach-In from 23 July to 27 July. Prominent speakers will descend to Grahamstown to debate the “Second Transition” which was recently proposed by the ruling party, African National Congress. ...read more

Cory Library welcomes new head

A well-travelled academic, writer, academic archivist and curator, Dr Cornelius Thomas has taught in South Africa, the United States, and Saudi Arabia and has published several books. Now, as the newly appointed Head of the Cory Library for Historical Research, he is planning to transform the research library into an even more vital and exciting research facility. ...read more

Africa hosts Critical Realism Conference for the first time

The 15th Annual International Association for Critical Realism Conference held at Rhodes University, kicked off yesterday (18 July), for the first time on the African continent. The conference coincided with the 94th birthday of the African statesman, former president of South Africa, Nelson Rholihlahla Mandela. ...read more

Ex-Rhodian in limelight

A FORMER Rhodes University student's portrait of a double Olympic champion and now Olympic ambassador, Dame Kelly Holmes, has gone on display at the National Portrait Gallery in London. ...read more

Biochemistry student set to become forerunner in Alzheimer’s research

Aiming to bridge the knowledge gap in Alzheimer’s disease research, Biochemistry PhD student, Eden Padayachee has been awarded an International Brain Research Organisation (IBRO) travel grant to attend a prestigious neuroscience conference in New Orleans. ...read more

“Passage through the tempest”

Prof Achille Mbembe is to deliver the Second Annual Rhodes University Thinking Africa Project Public Lecture on "Frantz Fanon on the Subject of Emancipation" to be held on 12 July, 2012 at the Rhodes Eden Grove Red Lecture Complex.

“It is possible to read Fanon as an advocate of Ubuntu,” Professor Achille Mbembe, philosopher, political scientist and public intellectual told the audience at last week’s Second Annual Rhodes University Thinking Africa Project Public Lecture, entitled “Frantz Fanon on the Subject of Emancipation”. ...read more

Education in Crisis - ISEA releases new book

South Africa’s Education Crisis: Views from the Eastern Cape was launched during the Eastern Cape English Educators’ Association biennial conference held at Rhodes at the end of June. ...read more

A Festival of Resistance

This was the third time I attended the Grahamstown National Arts Festival, now as a fourth year student at Rhodes University. The role that the festival plays for the town has become increasingly apparent as my own interests and work have increasingly shifted out of the bubble of Rhodes into the outlying townships that surround Grahamstown. ...read more

Alumnus to head Management Accountants' body

The Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA), has appointed Zahra Cassim as the new head of South Africa. Cassim joined CIMA on 2 July 2012 with the responsibility of driving the long term country strategy and will report to Samantha Louis, regional director for Africa. ...read more

Highway Africa Chair calls for a transformation charter in the press industry

Rhodes University’s Highway Africa Chair has argued for the establishment of a transformation charter in South Africa’s press industry on her recent submission to the third parliamentary hearing on print media transformation. ...read more

Rhodes professor calls for open dialogue between media and government

Rhodes University School of Journalism and Media Studies professor has called on media and government to engage in open and honest dialogue to advance public debate. The call was made at a recently held Eastern Cape provincial Media Indaba. ...read more

Grahamstown writer delights readers with new collection

Amid the flurry of Festival artists and visitors to Grahamstown, one writer has returned to his hometown to launch a new short story collection, entitled African Delights. ...read more

Project dips into melting pot of G’town

RHODES University's history department is producing, as part of Grahamstown's 200th anniversary, an exhibition at will bring to the fore the history and experiences of different ethnic groups that lived in the town during its formative years. ...read more

Making Rhodes Library the hub of the University

The new Director of Library Services, Ms Satgoor made the “life-changing decision” of joining Rhodes after visiting Grahamstown on only two occasions, one of which was for the interview itself. ...read more

Festival allows MA Drama students to show mastery

What could be a better time for students to gain real world experience in performance than during the National Arts Festival?

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Making Way – contemporary art from South Africa and China

Fine Art lecturer Ruth Simbao has a busy National Arts Festival in 2012. As curator of Making Way - Contemporary Art from South Africa and China, she is the driving force behind the main programme event, which runs from 28 June to 8 July, in some of the most eclectic and startling spaces in Grahamstown. ...read more

One-man history with some high notes

Rhodes student Brett de Groot, a Rhodes University student is debuting a musical tribute at this year’s Festival, and it promises to be anything but ordinary. ...read more

Between tenderness and terror

Cross-legged and naked, a man sits on stage and tells the audience he is not satisfied. He is dissatisfied, he says, taking a drag of his cigarette, because he has trained himself so well and so hard not to be dissatisfied. In this intimate space, the audience is pulled in as a group of confidantes, made to feel safe and welcome.

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Flies and mutant toenails

Rhodes University drama alumnus Rob van Vuuren is returning to Grahamstown this Festival for a rendition of Rob van Vuuren-Live!, the comedian’s latest award-winning stand-up comedy show. ...read more

Achille Mbembe to deliver a second “Thinking Africa” Public Lecture

Prof Achille Mbembe is to deliver the Second Annual Rhodes University Thinking Africa Project Public Lecture on "Frantz Fanon on the Subject of Emancipation" to be held on 12 July, 2012 at the Rhodes Eden Grove Red Lecture Complex. ...read more

At home with the Apocalypse

The National Arts Festival has taken a leap into new territory in 2012. In a welcomed recognition of the value of the trans-disciplinary work being created between artists, actors, musicians and other creative disciplines, performance art now has a place on the Main Programme for the first time. ...read more

Poor service inspires Rhodes Alumnus to set up online store

A search for an iPod charging cable and a reluctance to pay “ridiculous” prices led a former Westville man and Rhodes University politics student to set up an online electronics store. ...read more

The Annual Student Exhibition in full swing

The Annual Student Exhibition, which showcases works by undergraduate members of the Fine Art Department, is running during winter vacation and festival period to allow Grahamstown locals Festival-goers to admire the striking artworks. ...read more

Volunteer students collaborating with artist

For the third year running volunteer students are collaborating with artists and performers with the aim of opening the festival up to everyone. ...read more

The art of darkness

Visceral, deeply cynical and elegiac, wordsmith Lesego Rampolokeng presented what some would call a seminar and what he describes as “a blood-flesh-bone-brain-dust mix of liberatory art”. ...read more

The pain and the triumph of freedom

“Expect to be taken on an emotional and poetic dance theatre journey,” says Standard Bank Young Artist award winner for Dance Rhodes University alumnus and acclaimed dancer/choreographer Bailey Snyman about his latest contemporary dance work. ...read more

Shedding light on luminescence

The international symposium will bring together experts and students from China, the USA, Italy, Israel, Poland and South Africa to “explore contemporary, up-to-date theories of luminescence in quartz, attempting to resolve the disparities between the different major theories” and it will be held at the Courtyard Hotel in Port Elizabeth from 1 to 6 July. ...read more

All hearts beat Ubom!

With award-winning director Mr Rob Murray at the helm, Ubom! Eastern Cape Theatre Company is exploding onto the Festival scene this year. Three productions Through Blue, Eco-Wolf and the Three Little Pigs and The Dogs Must be Crazy are all sure to get Festinos’ hearts beating Ubom! ...read more

Maria’s Story

Based on her great-grandmother Maria’s own account of her flight from, and later capture by, British troops during the Anglo-Boer war, Maureen de Jager, the National Arts Festival Artist-in-Residence has created Maria’s Story exhibition. ...read more

Rhodes hosts Clinical Pharmacy Conference

Rhodes University is hosting the 2nd South Africa Clinical Pharmacy Conference at the Barratt Complex from 25-27 June 2012. The three-day conference of the South African Society of Clinical Pharmacy (SASOCP) is pivotal to health management of South Africans.

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China’s developmental state: the cost of success

“The meaning of developmentalism is no longer defined as economic development,” said Prof You-Tien Hsing, of the University of California Berkeley’s Geography Department. ...read more

Storm in a tea cup

“I'm going to enjoy every drop of my Cecil John Rhodes-sponsored tea,” Lesego Rampolokeng said while making himself a nice big cup in the Institute for the Study of English in Africa (ISEA ) tea room. “I'm taking something back from him, brilliant!” ...read more

Call for research proposals

The Rhodes University Research Office has opened for the submission of proposals for the 2012 Sandisa Imbewu (We are growing/multiplying our seeds) Fund. The Rhodes University Board of Governors has made a further R5.9 million available for funding (to a R12.5 million seed funding), which will be open for proposals until end of July 2012. ...read more

Academics and communities break ground together

Rhodes University’s Department of Environmental Science is taking on a range of issues connected to sustainability and adaptability in communities, particularly those related to HIV/AIDS and climate change. ...read more

Rhodes PhD student to present in Singapore

Rhodes University PhD student Prudence Mutsa Mambo will present a paper (master’s research) at Singapore International Water Week in July entitled: Towards a Sustainable Bioremediation Process for Acid Mine Drainage.

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Anglo American and Rhodes Business School announce unique partnership

Rhodes Business School and Anglo American are pleased to announce their partnership in the Global Responsible Leadership Initiative (GRLI). GRLI is a worldwide network of companies and learning institutions uniquely focused on developing the next generation of globally responsible leaders. ...read more

Rhodes staff members receive Alty awards

An impressive number of Rhodes University staff were honoured recently at the annual Alty Awards, in which 32 Alty and Vice-Chancellor’s Awards were made to University staff in recognition of recently attained postgraduate qualifications. ...read more

Rhodes lecturer’s research article among the 50 most influential

Rhodes University Fine Art lecturer’s research paper has been named as one of the fifty influential articles published in the humanities and sciences journals under the MIT Press label. ...read more

Local students represent South Africa at MICC 2012

Eight Grahamstown High School learners participated in this year’s Model International Criminal Court simulation in Krzy?owa, Poland, shared their experiences at the function held recently. ...read more

Three Fulbright scholars to broaden horizons

No less than three Rhodes students have been selected for the prestigious Fulbright Foreign Student Program. Kyle O’Hagan, Alex Lenferna and Adriano Mendes will start fully-funded PhD’s at three different American Universities in August and September this year. ...read more

Local government bursaries awarded to Ichthyology students

Giving back is the watchword behind a unique bursary programme funded by the Local Government Sector Education Training Authority (LGSETA). A total of R150 000 has been granted to five students (amounting to R30 000 each) to study Ichthyology and Fisheries Science at Rhodes University. ...read more

Malice in Wonderland

“I need to be able to engage with people who live with and are of the word,” says Lesego Rampolokeng. A self-confessed wanderer, the internationally acclaimed writer, iconoclast and wordsmith is spending three months as a writer-in-residency at Rhodes University as a recipient of the Andrew H. Mellon Foundation fellowship. ...read more

From law to literature

He could have been a lawyer making pots of money, instead he gave up his legal articles to pursue his passion.

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Google ambassadors focus on the community

2012 Google Ambassadors at Rhodes University, Matthew Boswell and Munashe Musuka

Two third-year Rhodes University Computer Science and Information Systems students, Matthew Boswell and Munashe Musuka, have been selected to become Google’s 2012 ambassadors.

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Rhodes first to sign pledge

Following the launch of non-profit organisation Crime Watch this year, Rhodes University took a stand against corruption last week (24 May) at Eden Grove, where academic,administrative, student leadership and community representatives from in and outside of the university were invited to sign a pledge against crime and corruption. ...read more

Why on earth would you want to work in Antarctica?”

The great beauty of the Southern African landscape has been extolled in many disciplines. Professor Ian Meiklejohn of the Rhodes University Geography Department gave his inaugural lecture last week on the topic Landscapes, Space and Time – The Arctic to the Antarctic and places in-between adding that so inspiring is the geomorphology associated with South Africa that it was used to develop a global model for landscape development that had as a basis, Process, Stage and Structure. ...read more

Regional legitimacy is key to South Africa’s success

“South Africa is in a very asymmetrical position with regards to its neighbours, but this doesn’t need to be fatal. It can be managed if South Africa adopts a communitarian foreign policy and exercising strength by providing the public good of security without being too interventionist,” said the Visiting Nelson Mandela Professor International Relations, Prof Amitav Acharya, who recently shared his views on South Africa’s role in relation to other emerging powers. ...read more

Luke Mann scoops Chevening scholarship

Applying entirely of his own volition, Rhodes alumnus Luke Mann has been chosen to receive the prestigious Chevening scholarship to study in the UK. He has been accepted to study towards an MSc in Development Studies at the London School of Economics (LSE) in September this year. ...read more

Alumnus offers sought after legal advice

In the wake of the 2008 financial crisis, politicians have been determined to step up regulation over that part of the financial sector some regard as the main driver of the "casino" economy. And it's this desire to regulate the derivative and hedge fund industries which has resulted in Zimbabwe-born attorney Michael Denenga becoming a sought-after adviser. ...read more

Rhodes appoints a SARChI SKA chair

Rhodes University is pleased to announce that Professor Oleg Smirnov has assumed his position as the prestigious SARChI SKA Chair in Radio Astronomy Techniques & Technologies at Rhodes University.

Rhodes University is pleased to announce the appointment of Professor Oleg Smirnov who will assume the new prestigious SKA (Square Kilometre Array) Chair in Radio Astronomy Techniques & Technologies at the University. ...read more

Vice-Chancellor announces further R5.9 million funding

The Sandisa Imbewu Fund, a R12.5 million funding programme was launched this week. The Fund aims at increasing postgraduate numbers and research areas at Rhodes University ...read more

Reflections on the Study of South African Literature

The first attempt at shifting the structure of postgraduate teaching at Rhodes University’s English Department took the form of a recent colloquium, entitled “Reflections on the Study of South African Literature”. ...read more

Rhodes University pledges against corruption

The executive director of Corruption Watch, Dr David Lewis, will deliver a Public Lecture on Thursday (24 May) at Eden Grove. The lecture will be followed by the signing of the pledge by official representatives of structures of Rhodes University in support of the Corruption Watch. ...read more

Snaps of Palestinian political discourse

“Many people are being led to believe that the conflict in Palestine is religious, but it is clearly political,” maintains Mr Iyas Ashour. Visiting Rhodes last week along with fellow activist Dr Anis Daraghma, the two provided a decisive and moving account of the conditions in what they call “the military state of Israel.” ...read more

Rhodes Law students take an Epic adventure

“Nick and I actually finished the Cape Epic! It was hectic!” are the opening words of Andrew Lowndes’ blog on the website www.sabrinalove.co.za Entirely of their own volition, Andrew Lowndes and fellow LLB student, Nick Theron, cycled all 781km of the Absa Cape Epic over the Easter holidaysrecently.

“Nick and I actually finished the Cape Epic! It was hectic!” are the opening words of Andrew Lowndes’ blog. Entirely of their own volition, Lowndes and fellow LLB student, Nick Theron, cycled all 781km of the Absa Cape Epic recently. ...read more

Rhodes University Council establishes a strategic initiative fund

The Rhodes University Board of Governors endorsed the creation of the Sandiswa Imbewu (‘We are growing/multiplying our seeds’) Fund to fund strategic new academic initiatives.

...read more

Rhodes graduates scoop health journalism awards

Two recent Rhodes University School of Journalism graduates won prestigious Journalism Excellence awards at a ceremony in Sandton on Monday 7 May.
Fatima Simjee (BJourn class of 2009) won the inaugural 'LoveLife young upcoming Health Journalist of the year' award and Siphosethu Stuurman (BJourn class of 2010) won the Discovery Health 'Best radio health journalism' award.
...read more

Scientific research is fun

Scientific research is worth doing for the same reasons that art and creative writing are worth doing; because it is interesting and it answers worthwhile questions. It is also, says Professor Marcus Byrne from the Department of Animal, Plant and Environmental Sciences at Wits University, fun.

Scientific research is worth doing for the same reasons that art and creative writing are worth doing ...read more

Rhodes and local municipalities conserve marine resources

Marrying development, local municipalities and how to sustainably utilise our marine resources is what the Rural Fisheries Programme (RFP) is all about.

Marrying development, local municipalities and how to sustainably utilise our marine resources is what the RFP is all about. ...read more

Language has to be on national agenda

Multilingualism in higher education faces challenges SOUTH Africa's democracy was at a crossroads and language, at the heart of real transition and liberation, was not even on the national agenda, political analyst and commentator Professor Somadoda Fikeni warned.

Multilingualism in higher education faces challenges SOUTH Africa's democracy was at a crossroads and language ...read more

Rhodes' student overwhelmed by bursary win

THE daughter of a Grahamstown domestic worker has scooped a prestigious Rhodes University bursary, set up in memory of tireless community philanthropist Dr Thelma Henderson, who raised more than R15-million to help 15 000 students realise their dreams. ...read more

Rhodes launches L. T. Fufu Memorial Prize

Rhodes University has established a Memorial Prize for the late student, Lelona Thembakazi Fufu, who was murdered while hitchhiking from Port Elizabeth to Grahamstown for her graduation in April 2012. ...read more

Red steenbras recaptured after 22 years

Good things come to those who wait.
This adage holds true even for those in conservation, it seems, after a red steenbras was recaptured in the Kei River mouth in the Eastern Cape – 22 years after being tagged – potentially a record for the amount of time a tagged fish was “at liberty”.
...read more

Rhodes Fine Art welcomes innovative young curator

At only 26 years old, Portia Malatjie has already made a name for herself as a promising curator. She was recently put on the spotlight again, through an article in the Mail and Guardian that appeared on 23 March. ...read more

Somadoda Fikeni gives an inaugural Multilingualism Awareness Lecture

Political analyst and social commentator, Professor Somadoda Fikeni, will give a public lecture on the challenges of multilingualism in higher education tomorrow (15 May). ...read more

RU saving the rhino?

DEHORN RHINOS AND THEIR CLIENTS. So reads the sticker that will be available at two action points for Rhino Week from 14-18 May to raise awareness around illegal poaching. ...read more

Prof Cheryl de la Rey calls for a new approach in Psychology

Debating the nature and role of psychology in South Africa’s Higher Education Institutions and society more broadly, Professor Cheryl de la Rey, called for a new approach to the discipline which would be better suited to addressing the challenges experienced by millions of South Africans. ...read more

Minister marks a significant heritage milestone

Minister of Arts and Culture Paul Mashatile witnessed the birth of an important partnership between the South African Heritage Resources Agency and Rhodes University, to fast track the development of critically and urgently needed skills in the heritage sector. ...read more

Senior lecturer to visit Smithsonian Museum as research fellow

The complete antithesis of self-aggrandizement, Christine Dixie was hesitant in sharing her exciting news ?that she will be spending two months as a research fellow of the Smithsonian Institute in the USA. ...read more

Guanxi with Rhodes leads to Chinese book donation

It was a rainy evening in early March when journalism alumni Wang Guoqin noticed the sign to the Confucius Institute while revisiting his alma mater with family and friends. His curiosity led him to Chinese Studies Professor Ma Yue, who still happened to be in his office. ...read more

Rhodes University joins forces with Unilever SA to host a colloquium

Unilever Centre for Environmental Water Quality (UCEWQ), housed within the Institute for Water Resources at Rhodes University joins forces with Unilever SA, to host a full day colloquium on “CORPORATE WATER STEWARDSHIP” this week, at International Convention Centre (ICC) in Cape Town. ...read more

Rhodes debate the politics of media policy-making

“Our policy speaks to the inequalities in South Africa. The reality is that black people are on the receiving end and they have always been. We need to do justice to their economic and social standing against the white population that has always been privileged,” said Mr Jackson Mthembu, national spokesperson of the African National Congress (ANC) at a recent debate to mark World Press Freedom Day (3 May 2012) at Rhodes University. ...read more

South Africa needs to develop an integrated approach to ECD

The Early Childhood Development (ECD) sector in South Africa is developing, for the first time, a critically important framework for people working with young children (birth to four years). ...read more

Transformation of the judicial system and the role of the judiciary

“It is the court’s ruling to strike down some government decisions that have caused government to react in such a way. Their suggestions would impair the dignity of the judiciary,” said Mr Sipho Pityana of the Council for the Advancement of the South African Constitution.

...read more

Rhodes’ Telkom Centre of Excellence celebrates 15 years

Rhodes University’s Telkom Centre of Excellence in Distributed Multimedia, in partnership with Telkom and the South African government, is celebrating 15 years of growing local telecommunications and information technology skills, promoting a culture of excellence in research in information and communication technology, and providing facilities to encourage young scientists and engineers to pursue their interests in South Africa. ...read more

Sharpening unemployed graduates skills to become business analysts

Providing quality Business Analysts and meeting the increasing demand for business modelling in South Africa are the main objectives of the recently launched Work Readiness Programme (WRP) which is being facilitated by Rhodes Business School. ...read more

Young Grahamstown-born academics to collect untold stories

AN AMBITIOUS plan to send four Grahamstown university graduates into local townships to painstakingly collect the almost forgotten history of people of colour in the City of Saints is creating a buzz. ...read more

Historian honoured with a Distinguished Professor title

In honour of his scholarly productivity and contribution, Professor Paul Maylam was conferred with the title of Distinguished Professor at the 2012 Rhodes University humanities graduation ceremony held last week (13 April).

...read more

Rhodes honour a leading international scholar

A leading international scholar on marine ecosystems and Rhodes University’s research Chair in Marine Ecology, Professor Christopher McQuaid, has been honoured with the title of Distinguished Professor by Rhodes University. ...read more

Distinguished Professor title for Prof Nyokong

The Africa-Arab State 2009 L’Oreal-Unesco Award for Women in Science recipient and Professor of Medicinal Chemistry and Nanotechnology, Tebello Nyokong, has been honoured by her own institution for her outstanding scholarly reputation and productivity. ...read more

Accolades for Rhodes Chemistry students

Ms Megan Coates and Ms Sekai Tombe of Rhodes University Chemistry Department were recently commended and awarded prizes for superior presentations of their work at the fourth international Nanoscience and Nanotechnology (NanoAfrica 2012) conference. ...read more

Graduates overcome the odds

INSPIRING stories of ordinary students doing extraordinary things to realise their academic dreams have emerged during graduation at Rhodes University. ...read more

Commerce graduands urged not to set out just to make money

Rhodes University Alumni and philanthropist, Mr Geoffrey de Jager, urged the Faculty of Commerce graduands in his graduation speech today (Saturday, 14 April) not set out just to make money, as this leads to short-lived pleasures.

Rhodes University Alumnus and philanthropist, Mr Geoffrey de Jager, urged the Faculty of Commerce graduands in his graduation speech today (Saturday, 14 April) not set out just to make money, as this leads to short-lived pleasures. ...read more

Tribute to Courageous Makabongwe Ndzwayiba

Rhodes University has launched the Makabongwe Ndzwayiba scholarship in recognition of his courageous fight against cancer and his remarkable academic achievements. The Scholarship is valued at R50 000. ...read more

“Our youth needs skills and access to education”

Addressing the Faculty of Humanities graduation ceremony on Friday (13 April), the mother of former South African president Thabo Mbeki, Ms Epainette Mbeki, affectionately known as “MaMbeki” said South Africa has a serious shortage of skills and this poses a challenge to government. ...read more

Honorary doctorate recipient appeals to South Africans to be vigilant

A veteran journalist and media activists, Mr Raymond Louw, made an earnest appeal in his graduation address at Rhodes University to all South Africans to exercise maximum vigilance over the government’s action in relations to the judiciary and the Constitution as well as in regard to secrecy and restrictive legislation. ...read more

Rhodes to establish the Allan Gray Centre for Leadership Ethics

Rhodes University will affirm its position as an institution of choice for leaders with the establishment of the Allan Gray Centre for Leadership Ethics which will be launched later in the year. ...read more

Graduates are important agents of change

“Education is not only about conveying information – as information is readily available to nearly everyone today – but about guiding thoughts and encouraging reflection. In fact, education is mostly about creating a context for motivation. It is about why we should learn, not only what we should learn,” said Professor Mike Bruton. ...read more

Highway Africa's rDNA wins Climate Change Leadership Award

Highway Africa’s Reporting Development Network Africa (rDNA) scooped the Climate Hero Award at this year’s edition of the Climate Change Leadership Awards (CCLA) in Johannesburg held recently. ...read more

Rhodes graduate aims to raise R3m.

Group to row across Atlantic for EC charity Aiming to raise R3m from Ubunye Challenge ARHODES University graduate and several former student mates are counting the days until they cycle across Britain, swim the English Channel and cross the Atlantic Ocean in a rowing boat to try raise more than R1-million for a Grahamstown rural outreach project. ...read more

Prof Garman to receive Vice-Chancellor’s Distinguished Teacher’s Award

2012 marks Prof Anthea Garman’s 16th year as an indispensable part of the Rhodes School of Journalism and Media Studies. This month, she is to receive the Vice Chancellor’s Distinguished Teacher’s Award. ...read more

Creating magic -Dr Seddon to receive VC’s Distinguished Teacher’s Award

A dynamic and involved lecturer at the Rhodes English department, Dr Deborah Seddon is passionate about teaching, which is why she will receive the Vice Chancellor’s Distinguished Teacher’s Award later this month. ...read more

Reza De Wet Post-Graduate Bursary for Drama studies

The Rhodes University Drama Department will launch the Reza De Wet Bursary on 12 and 13 April to celebrate her contribution to the department and the arts in general. ...read more

Community Engagement as a hallmark of the university

Debating the interface between community engagement and research at Rhodes University and the role of higher education institutions in this regard, Professor Caroline Palmer, Director of the Unilever Centre for Environmental Water Quality at the Rhodes Institute for Water Research called for Rhodes to become a hallmark institution for this type of research. ...read more

Rhodes introduces a new postgrad orientation programme

Rhodes University has unveiled a first of its kind postgraduate research programme to assist postgraduate students in engaging with various theoretical approaches, data collection methods and methods of analysis. ...read more

“Cut me a calabash” – pito levels the playing field in Ghana

A locally-brewed Ghanaian sorghum beer resembling umqombothi is succeeding in bringing increased equality among generations outside its ritual space. ...read more

Eastern Cape ‘Mathematics pioneer’ honoured

A true leader who empowers with figures others in the Eastern Cape and beyond. That is Dr Rose Spannenberg, who has just been singled out, along with 62 other South African women in Women Making it Happen a special publication by the Impumelelo Social Innovations Centre. ...read more

Rhodes Alumni to feature on CNN show

BUSINESS mogul in the making, writer and fashionista Milisuthando Bongela is making strides internationally as one of four “millennials” in the world represented on a popular CNN business show. ...read more

Prickly Pear: The Social History of an Eastern Cape Plant

Providing possibly one of the first accounts of the social history of a plant in South Africa, Professor William Beinart (Oxford) and Dr Luvuyo Wotshela’s (Fort Hare) Prickly Pear: The Social History of a Plant in the Eastern Cape explores dynamic systems of local knowledge and local informal markets that have been generated around the plant. ...read more

Rhodes to honour Leymah Gbowee, Nobel Peace laureate recipient

Rhodes University will bestow an honorary doctorate on Leymah Gbowee, one of the 2011 Nobel Peace laureate’s at its 2012 Graduation ceremonies which will be held from 12 to 14 April. ...read more

Tech geek honoured for connecting local schools

Professor Alfredo Terzoli, head of the Telkom Centre for Excellence at Rhodes was
awarded the vice chancellor’s distinguished community engagement award on Monday 26 March. The purpose of the award is to acknowledge academic staff who make an effort to stimulate community engagement activities between Rhodes and the community through teaching and research. ...read more

Groundbreaking environmental protection project

Dr Aidan Wood of Rhodes University’s Enviro-Fish Africa (EFA) is spearheading a groundbreaking R400 000 initiative aimed at increasing environmental protection along the Southern Cape coastline. ...read more

Honorary doctorate for Epainette Mbeki

RHODES University will confer an honorary doctorate on seasoned human rights campaigner Epainette Mbeki, now aged 92, at its April graduation ceremonies.

...read more

Rhodes welcomes Northern Cape teachers

“This week marks the beginning of the four-year Rhodes - Sishen Iron Ore Community Development Trust (SIOC-cdt) partnership and initiative. The teacher development project is multi-pronged, and will be undertaken through teaching sessions at Rhodes and through district-level workshops and in-service training in the Northern Cape,” said Rhodes University Vice-Chancellor, Dr Saleem Badat, in his welcoming speech last night (27 March 2012), in honour of the inaugural class.

...read more

Celebrating Community Engagement in Higher Education

The Director of the Centre for Entrepreneurship at Wits University, Mr Kojo Parris, in his keynote address to mark the beginning of Community Engagement Week at Rhodes University challenged the University to do more for community engagement. ...read more

South Africa – a home to all who live in it?

Questioning whether South Africans are aware of the challenges involved in translating the aims and objectives of the constitution into reality, Rhodes University’s Deputy Vice-Chancellor of Academic and Student Affairs, Dr Sizwe Mabizela challenged audience members with tough questions during a recent debate entitled “Is South Africa a home to all who live in it?”

...read more

MFA student exhibits unusual body of work

A member of the Visual and Performing Arts of Africa focus area in the Fine Art Department and a Masters student, Rachel Baasch showed an unusual body of work in an even more unusual setting, the tennis court at St Peter’s campus recently. ...read more

Protest against horror of sexual violence

IT WAS an eerie, hushed and sombre day at Rhodes University on Friday when about 20% of the student population donned purple T- shirts, taped their mouths shut and spent the day demonstrating against the horror of sexual violence in South Africa.

...read more

English Olympiad winners pleased to study at Rhodes

A total of 10 De Beers English Olympiad scholarship winners are attending Rhodes University this year. Last year, 6748 candidates wrote the three hour open-book exam, of which the top 50 candidates are awarded full tuition for the first year of study at Rhodes, subject to meeting entrance requirements.

...read more

WASA empowers Rhodes women academics

With the many challenges women academics face in the institutions of higher learning, it has become crucial that they support each other. The Women Academic Solidarity Association (WASA) is a dynamic network of women at Rhodes established to do just that.

...read more

Rhodes academics debate Green Paper

Calling for a modest approach to addressing the challenges of education in South Africa, Rhodes University Vice-Chancellor, Dr Saleem Badat and Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Dr Sizwe Mabizela presented their critiques of the recently proposed Green Paper on Post-School Education and Training at a Rhodes’ ‘Education Dialogue’ session held recently.

...read more

Unveiling the mystery of mountains

“Mountains are the most inspiring natural features on the planet. Artists, writers and mystics are all attracted to them as paramount places of spirituality, solitude and refuge. For centuries they have been barriers and borders for the organisation of society but they are increasingly becoming environmental havens,” Prof Goonie Marsh said. ...read more

Israeli–Palestinian conflict the central human rights issue on the planet

Describing the Israeli–Palestinian conflict as "the central human rights issue on the planet today", Professor Steven Friedman, academic, public intellectual and Director of the Centre for the Study of Democracy addressed members of the Grahamstown community recently on the meaning and relevance of Israeli Apartheid Week (IAW), 5-10 March.

...read more

Invertebrate encounters of a Sexual Kind

The production and survival of viable offspring, which in time reproduce themselves, is one measure of animal success, and animals spend a great deal of time trying to achieve this goal. Interoperates, into which category most molluscs fall, reproduce more than once. ...read more

New names embody the values of Strength, Virtue and Truth

The importance of names and naming was the pervading theme on Wednesday night residence naming ceremonies, attended by Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu and struggle stalwart Mrs Amina Cachalia. ...read more

Beyond fighting, martial arts and wordless communication

Think more flexibly about building bridges between the martial and performing arts, performance and practice, the seen and the unseen, Rhodes Drama lecturer, Ms Athina Valha implored her audience during an intriguing interdisciplinary presentation.

...read more

Watchdog boosts fight to preserve EC coastal zone

THE fight to save the Eastern Cape’s pristine coastal zone from illegal development has stepped up a gear, thanks to Grahamstown’s government watchdog – the Public Service Accountability Monitor (PSAM) – adding a green feather to its cap.

...read more

Tutu comes to town

Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu will be in Grahamstown this Wednesday 7 March to give an address at the Naming Ceremony of the former Hilltop Hall, now being named Desmond Tutu Hall in his honour.

...read more

Engaging government on key social issues

The Centre for Social Development (CSD) and the Institute of Social and Economic Research (ISER) at Rhodes University are venturing beyond the academic environs and engaging national government on substantive issues of social development.

...read more

New student residence Hall to be named after Desmond Tutu

New student residents Hall to be named after Desmond Tutu

Rhodes University is to name the student residence Hall previously known as Hilltop, the Desmond Tutu Hall. The naming ceremony which involves also naming three student residences will take place on Wednesday, 7 March.

...read more

A rating for a leading Marine Ecologist

The National Research Foundation (NRF) has awarded the Rhodes University’s research Chair in Marine Ecology Professor Christopher McQuaid an A rating. Prof McQuaid’s career which spans decades was recognised by peers as a leading scholar in his field and for the high quality and impact of his recent research output.

...read more

Towards creating equitable access to health financing and medical insurance

Challenging commercialised health care in Southern Africa: Towards an equity perspective on National Health Insurance

The Institute for Social and Economic Research at Rhodes University has produced a powerful publication that is likely to make a valuable contribution to the debate around private healthcare and Government’s proposed National Health Insurance (NHI).

...read more

Economics classes for high school learners

In an effort to make a concrete and practical contribution to improving the quality of secondary education in Grahamstown, Rhodes University’s Department of Economics and Economic History has launched an education initiative to learners from Ntsika High School.

...read more

Fingo village pupil gets full Rhodes scholarship after 2010 matric

THE son of a Rhodes University gardener is reaching for the stars thanks to a prestigious scholarship from 20 collaborating countries who are trying to build the world’s most powerful radio telegraph in South Africa.

...read more

Ubom! celebrates 10th anniversary

Award-winning Eastern Cape theatre company Ubom! celebrates its tenth anniversary today (24 February) with an infusion of new faces, fresh energy and a view of consolidating their award-winning efforts of the past decade ...read more

Rhodes marks World Day of Social Justice

“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed people can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.”

It was posters bearing this quote by Margaret Mead which launched the World Day of Social Justice on Monday, the first time the UN-declared day has been marked by Rhodes University.
...read more

A million euros for a national postgraduate supervision project

The Rhodes University Centre for Higher Education, Research, Teaching and Learning (CHERTL) national project on postgraduate supervision received a major boost when it recently accepted a grant of 1 million euros from the Dutch agency NUFFIC.

...read more

VC reveals exciting plans for 2012

In an hour-long briefing, Rhodes vice-chancellor Dr Saleem Badat yesterday revealed South Africa’s smallest university would again be punching well above its weight after raising millions for new academic and infrastructure projects.

...read more

Award for MSc study of six whales and dolphins species

Enthusiastic and committed, Brigitte Melly is to receive a Bronze award for her Masters dissertation from the Council of the Society of South African Geographers (SSAG), entitled “The Zoogeography of the cetaceans in Algoa Bay”. ...read more

Mistero Buffo performance to aid drama students

Rhodes University Professor and Award Winning Theatre Legend Andrew Buckland will be presenting two exclusive performances of Dario Fo’s highly acclaimend work Mistero Buffo to Grahamstown audiences on Friday and Saturday (25 February). All proceeds from these two shows will go directly to supporting and aiding bursaries for drama students. ...read more

A Memorandum of Intent to enhance access to Rhodes

The signing of a Memorandum of Intent with Ubuntu Education Fund is a significant step that moves Rhodes University closer to its goal of increasing access to the broadest possible pool of students, especially those who come from the Eastern Cape, and from poor rural and working class backgrounds. ...read more

Old Rhodian wins Standard Bank Young Artist for dance

Standard Bank Young Artist Award winner for Dance 2012 Bailey Snyman (33) grew up in Kimberley in the Northern Cape. From a very young age he knew that he wanted to spend his life on the stage and to pursue his vision of how the arts can potentially challenge perceptions and ideologies.
...read more

Rhodes celebrates new prestigious SARChI Chairs

The Minister of Science & Technology, Ms Naledi Pandor, this morning announced the results of the latest round of awards in the South African Research Chairs Initiative (SARChI) programme.

...read more

Faceless but not nameless

Posing a subtle and refreshing commentary on the confines of society, Masters Fine Art student Mark Farmer’s exhibition, In Line, has been described as “compositionally very tight and the rendering detailed and sharp, not unlike an official school photograph.”

...read more

Fine Art student shortlisted for Sony Award

Nina Grindlay of Rhodes University has been shortlisted for the 2012 Sony World Photography Awards Student Focus. Student Focus has established itself as the world’s most high-profile student photography award and is open to universities worldwide that run a photography programme.

...read more

‘Advancement course at Rhodes is a first for Africa’

Rhodes University, in partnership with Inyathelo - The South African Institute for Advancement - is to offer South Africa and the rest of the continent the first ever university-level course in Advancement – the practice of building, maintaining and improving support, skills and funds for an organisation or institution.

...read more

Guide to introduce new students to knowledge production

In an effort to bridge the intellectual gap between school and university and assist undergraduate students in fulfilling their academic potential, Rhodes University has launched its first ever undergraduate learning guide. The guide is being made available to first year students during this year’s Orientation Week. ...read more

Vice-Chancellor welcomes new students

In welcoming new students on Sunday, 5 February 2012, Vice-Chancellor, Dr Saleem Badat said, the new students begin a new life journey – a voyage that is centred on higher learning and the making, sharing and spreading of knowledge and at the same time a voyage of self-discovery.

In welcoming new students on Sunday, 5 February 2012, Vice-Chancellor, Dr Saleem Badat said, the first year students begin a new life journey – a voyage that is centred on higher learning and the making, sharing and spreading of knowledge and at the same time a voyage of self-discovery.

...read more

Rhodes’ academics debate press freedom

Rhodes University’s School of Journalism and Media Studies (JMS) made two submissions to the Press Freedom Commission (PFC) public hearing in Johannesburg on Monday (30 Jan 2012), and described the ANC-proposed Media Appeals Tribunal to be potentially disastrous for South African democracy. ...read more

Long years don’t diminish a degree of integrity

GRAHAMSTOWN: Political activist mom Fiona Adams, 52, who boycotted her Rhodes graduation ceremony 24 years ago in protest against the effects of apartheid on tertiary education, will become the first of the protesters to finally receive their moment in the academic sun.

...read more

The forgotten role of journalists in journalism research

It seems obvious that when studying the media, the media needs to be involved and should learn from the results. But there is a real disconnect between the academic and profession, says Michelle Solomon.

...read more

Passionate Politics student represent Africa in Dubai

Rhodes Politics Masters student, Shingirai Maparura is proud to be the only delegate from Sub-Saharan Africa at a prestigious International Youth Leadership conference in December last year. ...read more

Twelve names to change the world

DST/NRF professor in Medicinal Chemistry and Nanotechnology at Rhodes University and director of the DST/Mintek Nanotechnology Innovation Center for Sensors, Professor Tebello Nyokong, will represent Africa and be one of the National Center for Research on Human Evolution (CENIEH), located in Burgos, Spain, "12 NAMES TO CHANGE THE WORLD."

...read more

Teaching the teachers

The Eastern Cape education department remains in the news for all the wrong reasons. From court battles between unions, provincial and national departments, teacher strikes, the state of education in the province suffers.
...read more

Flanagan scholarship winner off to Cambridge

Port Elizabeth resident, Nadine Sampson has been awarded the 2012 Rhodes University Patrick and Margaret Flanagan Scholarship worth R300 000 per annum for two years full-time study.

...read more

“Blue Note’s band represents a joyful defiance of the apartheid laws”

Maxine Macgregor, widow of acclaimed jazz musician and composer Chris Macgregor, travelled from her rural homestead near Tonneins in Bordeaux in France last week to sit on a panel discussing his band, the Blue Notes, at the recent indaba held at Rhodes University. ...read more

“Symbolic mobility of what we call jazz”

Since South Africa emerged from cultural isolation, the challenges of a globalised jazz industry has led to live performance becoming the dominant means of expression.

Black jazz artists express performance confidence in ways very different to their fellows who were performing under the harsh apartheid laws, says Professor David Coplan of Wits University.

...read more

"The time in SA when the ideas underlying music get their most vigorous airing"

Today (January 18) is the second and final day of the Rhodes University History, Politics and Aesthetics of Jazz Conference: an opportunity for scholars to draw together the various threads of inquiry that currently characterise the study of South African jazz culture.

...read more

“Segregation functioned as a structural condition for the emergence of jazz”

The emergence of jazz as a genre at the same time as the “Jim Crow” segregation laws were enacted in America, came under the spotlight during the keynote address delivered by Ingrid Monson, Quincy Jones Professor of African-American music at Harvard University, at the “Histories, Aesthetics and Politics of South African Jazz” Symposium held at Rhodes.

...read more

A symposium to preserve a rich Eastern Cape jazz heritage

Rhodes University will be hosting a Histories, Aesthetics and Politics of South African Jazz Symposium from 17 – 18 January 2012. The conference will take place in the Beethoven Room and will be officially opened by the Vice-Chancellor, Dr Saleem Badat.

...read more

Politics student awarded Ruth First Scholarship

A masters student, Camalita Naicker has been awarded R80 000 Ruth First Scholarship to study towards the field of emancipatory politics at Rhodes. Naicker is the first recipient to receive the coveted and prestigious scholarship. ...read more

Political beats

Musical Echoes will be launched in South Africa on Wednesday January 18, as part of the Rhodes University international conference Histories, Aesthetics and Politics of Jazz.

Musical Echoes by Carol Ann Muller and Sathima Bea Benjamin (Duke University Press).

...read more

New hall and residences to be named after human rights activists

Rhodes University will formally honour heroes and heroines in March by naming a brand-new Hall and four students’ residences after Desmond Tutu, Ellen Kuzwayo, Amina Cachalia, James and Fort Calata and Rosa Parks for their courageous and outspoken stand against racial discrimination and their determined fight for human rights.

...read more

Rhodes welcomes new students

Rhodes University will be officially welcoming new students during the Orientation Week, which will formally start on 6 February 2012. Students’ registration will commence on Saturday, 4 February and on Sunday, the Vice-Chancellor and Students Representative Council President will deliver opening addresses to parents and students.

...read more

SA pushed to the limit

Drink Smart Week comes to an end

Rabiger speaks on life, art and film-making

Research body leads rural study

A win-win collaboration

Students shine at climate change workshop

The dilemmas of difference and implications

Former Rhodian pays homage to the Karoo

Popular Journalism

Rhodes builds pharmacy links with India

The rainbow nation advantage

Drink Smart Week at Rhodes

Eastern Cape Reprints: a Cory Library initiative

Israel and Apartheid SA: Shady dealings unearthed

New edition of Succulent Flora of Southern Africa

CSD and SRC team up to raise awareness

Renowned documentary maker comes to Rhodes

National HCT campaign hits Rhodes campus

Universities can make a difference

Water Circle seminar series

Expression in the depiction of tactility

30 years of serving with compassion

Uncovering the riches under our feet

New Chairman for Rhodes UK Trust

Combining Arts and Business

Rhodes graduate to head space agency

Strategic Initiatives Fund

Creative Writing MA takes off

Vice-Chancellor's welcoming speech

One of the most productive research institutions

What’s in store for a whopping O-week 2011

No longer stumped due to career move

Prof Jeff Peires left speechless

Not just an academic project

Zoology makes CSD go lemony

Our own “Darwin”

Cory Library commemoration

Skipping the last step

Bridging the Gap

Counselling support for all employees

Debating the big question - agrarian and otherwise

Orientating academics – both new and old

Probing the violence of paternity

SA’s abundance of botany and biodiversity

New Hilltop residences ready to be occupied

Looking at China for change

Moving from land reform to land revolution

AIAS Summer School 2011

R9 million for waterweed research

Plants in a changing world

Biodiversity really matters

EC art competition finalist

Here comes the sun

High praise for SKA team from Pandor

SA won eye in sky bid but Australia 'threw toys out cot' THE stars of South Africa's winning bid to host the Square Kilometre Array (SKA) radio telescope have been praised by Science and Technology Minister Naledi Pandor. ...read more

Bringing banished in from cold

When Rhodes University vice-chancellor Dr Saleem Badat promised veteran struggle stalwart Helen Joseph he would write a book about 160 “forgotten” South Africans banished by the apartheid government to remote parts of the country he never realised it would take 30 years to complete, writes Daily Dispatch Port Alfred bureau head David MacGregor. ...read more

Most expencive female artist’s work on exhibition Art Tourism

The work of the internationally famous painter Marlene Dumas is currently on exhibition at the new Edwards Fine Art Gallery in Shop 24 at the Xanadu X-ing Shopping Centre. ...read more

Old Rhodian to head St George’s College

OUTSPOKEN, outgoing and adventurous, Wayne Joubert, who has been appointed as the new head of leading Nelson Mandela Bay private school St Georges's College, has an expansive vision for the school and private education in the province. ...read more

Positive feedback from new lecturers

Rhodes University’s Centre for Higher Education Research, Teaching and Learning (CHERTL) has received a positive feedback from the new academic staff members who attended the Academic Orientation Programme (AOP) recently. ...read more

Transdisciplinary approach to water-resources management project hailed