Behind the Icon – Tebello Nyokong: The compassionate scientist

This week, 21 Icons focuses its lens on the 10th icon of its second season: Tebello Nyokong, renowned scientist, chemist and professor at Rhodes University in Grahamstown.

'A triumph' over the apartheid and Verwoerdian dictum

BORN on January 18, 1946 in Somerset East in rural Eastern Cape, Professor Gert Johannes Gerwel was a product of historically disadvantaged schools in the Eastern Cape.

Three Rhodes students awarded Mandela Rhodes Scholarship

Nicole Germiquet, Lisa Maholo and Sanaa Abrahams have been awarded the prestigious Mandela Rhodes Scholarships for 2014.

Rhodes alumnus promotes leadership ethics

The Allan Gray Orbis Foundation in-conjunction with Rhodes University officially launched the Allan Gray Centre For Leadership Ethics

Joza Youth Hub officially opened

In an effort to provide a safe and stimulating environment for Grahamstown youths various local organisations have joined together

Tyhini! The tricks of writing

"How do I translate the nebulous energy of ideas into language, words, in order to convey an image?"

Call for quality teacher education

A LEADING academic has made a strong call for quality teacher education on how teachers need to mediate challenges of society such as HIV-Aids.

Rhodes accounting students will score from new professional link

Students in the Department of Accounting have a clearer path to follow to success and a mentor they can be proud to emulate

A youthful take on the pandemic

WHEN, as a first-year student at Rhodes University in 2000, Rebecca Hodes and a friend established an association called SHARC

International prestigious scholarship awarded to Rhodes’ student

Rhodes University Ergonomics student Tyron Louw has been awarded a prestigious scholarship

Solving puzzle of what ancient fish looked like

AWORLD famous fossil site on the outskirts of Grahamstown has yielded yet another

Land equality a long way off, say professors

It will take about 250 years for South Africa to make serious headway in ensuring ownership of land in the country is fair.

“Ongoing land inequalities in South Africa: what role for engaged scholarship?”

Rhodes University academics Professor Fred Hendricks and Professor Kirk Helliker will present a seminar at the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University (NMMU) on 1 November titled “Ongoing land inequalities in South Africa: what role for engaged scholarship?” along with Professor Lungisile Ntsebeza of the University of Cape Town.

Rhodes’ book launch sets a new record

A total of 20 books by Rhodes-affiliated academics were launched recently in the second book launch of the year, setting a new record for the number of staff-related publications at the university.

Silent protest catches fire

The Rhodes University Silent Protest protest which happens annually sees thousands of students pledging solidarity towards fighting the on-going struggle against the silence around sexual abuse.

Struggling students' champions

Amid the massive challenges in providing quality education to our youth stand two beacons of hope. Rhodes University's Saleem Badat and Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University's Derrick Swartz are changing the face of tertiary education in the region through innovation, vision and management excellence.

Argentinian hopper insect introduced into Zeekoevlei to help combat water hyacinth

The City of Cape Town’s Environmental Resource Management Department (ERMD) has released an Argentinian hopper insect (Megamelus scutellaris) into the Zeekoevlei as part of the celebration of National Weedbuster Day which occurred on 16 October 2013.

Turning the tide on SA’S water management challenges

The scarcity and quality of water have emerged as trigger points around this precious life-giving liquid at a major symposium hosted by FMCG giant Unilever.

Poverty, Bare Life and the Life of the Imaginary

Delivering his inaugural lecture last week on Wednesday (16 October), Head of the Department of English, Professor Dirk Klopper spoke about the emergence of the imaginary in the space of the interval; the space among the actualities of everyday life, the space of possibilities, filled with potentiality.

An outlier redesigns chemistry

TEBELLO Nyokong recounts a tale of her Lesotho childhood: "I was the oldest of three, and was sent to herd sheep in the fields with the boys.

Rhodes honours “Mama Africa”

Rhodes University named Kimberley Hall East, Miriam Makeba (affectionately known as Mama Africa) Hall at the Naming Ceremony which took place last week on 15 October 2013.

Activists respond to Angie’s norms draft

At least four lobby groups across the country have called on Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga to review her recently drafted norms and standards for school buildings.

African honey wine popular with Chinese consumers

Honey Sun iQhilika Mead, an African-style honey wine, produced by Makana Meadery, a modern meadery based in Grahamstown, in the Eastern Cape is now on display on 30-month permanent trade fair in Ningbo, China, along with five other Eastern Cape products.

Geography students excel at Annual Conference

Three Rhodes University students scooped awards for their research presentations at this year’s 44th Annual Geography Students’ Conference hosted by the University of Free State.

WeedBuster project creates employment

Water and Environmental Affairs Deputy Minister Rejoice Mabudafhasi has commended the role played by the WeedBuster awareness campaign in job creation.

Touching lives with drama therapy

It is mid-afternoon in a sunny Grahamstown as children begin arriving for their Sakhuluntu cultural group gathering —the delight on their faces and in their voices testament to their enthusiasm and anticipation.

New Education Department creates a link between past and future

The movement of the academic procession through a demolished part of the Education Department’s beautiful old William White Cooper building to its new teacher education building during the new Education Building opening on Friday (11 October) was symbolic. It signified a shift from past to future.

Real transformation 'is not merely a numbers game'

Transformation in higher education is much more than changing demographics in staff and student numbers, and entails historically black universities "catching up to" the facilities available at former white institutions, says Rhodes University rector and vice-chancellor Saleem Badat.

Minister and youth engagement on the NDP

Invitations to attend the National Development Plan (NDP) youth gathering this past weekend from 5 to 6 October were extended to youth-led organisations within the Nelson Mandela Bay District, including the Rhodes University Student Representative Committee (SRC).

End of road for ‘humble, bright rural boy’

Dr Cecil Wele Manona, 76, revered Rhodes University scholar, expert Eastern Cape researcher and radio celebrity, died in Nelson Mandela Bay on Tuesday.

Rhodes University bids farewell to a brave and generous spirited scholar

Dr Wele Cecil Manona was born in Durban location, Peddie in 1937 and completed his early schooling at the Methodist Mission school

The Ten Most Spectacular University Campuses in South Africa

South Africa’s universities are among its most beautiful public buildings. Take a tour around Mzansi in mortarboard and robes with our roll call of higher ed beauties.

INqaba yeGolide, IWR and Catchment Research Group scoop Environmental Awards

Rhodes University’s Institute for Water Research (IWR) Incorporating the Unilever Centre for Environmental Water Quality (UCEWQ), the Catchment Research Group (CRG) and the Makana community group iNqaba yeGolide are all 2013 Rhodes University Environmental Awards recipients.

Rape cases - medics need more training

South Africa's low rape conviction rate could improve drastically if student doctors were given more training at medical school.

Prof Mann to present keynote address in Venice

Chris Mann, Honorary Professor of Poetry at Rhodes, will be in Italy this week to present the keynote address at an international conference on post-colonial literature.

City teacher headed for Antarctica

A Three-month stint in the freezing cold of Antarctica, working with a host of professionals while researching landforms that form in cold, dry climates is a dream Pretoria teacher Liezel Rudolph is about to fulfil.

Action to address water challenges in Grahamstown and surrounding areas

Minister of Water and Environmental Affairs Mrs Edna Molewa is confident of a lasting solution to the water shortages in Grahamstown and surrounding areas that have seriously affected the Rhodes University in the Eastern Cape.

Law students successful at African Human Rights Moot Competition

Final year LLB students Tammy Harrison and Jarryd Mardon recently showcased their skills and walked away with the Best Memorial award at the African Human Rights Moot Competition in Cape Town recently.

“South Africa’s foreign policy priorities are so weak under President Zuma”

According to Dr Paul-Simon Handy, Research Director of the Institute of Security Studies (ISS), South Africa’s foreign policy priorities are so weak under President Zuma as to be almost impossible to define.

Grahamstown braces as water restrictions on cards

Municipal water restrictions are looming for Grahamstown and surrounding farms which irrigate, said Eastern Cape regional head of the national Water Affairs Department, Portia Makhanya.

MA Creative Writing student is the new editor for New Coin

The latest issue of New Coin magazine, out this month, was edited by Vonani Bila. He is the first black editor in the nearly fifty-year history of this Rhodes University-published poetry magazine which has a national and international reputation.

Prof Nyokong to address The World Academy of Sciences

Rhodes University’s Distinguished Professor Tebello Nyokong will discuss the use of combined therapies to fight cancer in Africa at the yearly General Meeting of The World Academy of Sciences for the advancement of science in developing countries (TWAS) on Thursday 3 October 2013, in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Open letter to government, business and those who have work

I am a 31-year-old African male with university degrees from two higher education institutions.

‘Academic freedom and the enclosure of knowledge in the global university’

According to one of the top feminist scholars, Professor Silvia Federici, a discussion on academic freedom is timely as everywhere across the planet, this long fought-for principle is under siege.

“Don’t feel that privilege protects you”

A society in which each one of us is our brother’s keeper; a society in which all are equal. This is how anti-apartheid activist Steve Biko foresaw a future South Africa

EC journo tells of Kenya bloodbath

Ex-Rhodes staffer in lucky escape AFORMER Eastern Cape journalist narrowly missed being caught up in the terror attack on a Kenyan shopping mall on Saturday.

New Rhodes SARChI Chair to explore SA’s significant sexuality and reproduction challenges

Rhodes University has appointed Psychology Professor Catriona Macleod as the SARChI Chair in Critical Studies in Sexualities and Reproduction: Human and Social Dynamics, following a successful nomination by the University and approval by the National Research Foundation (NRF).

Rhodes academics condemn racist song at Wits

About 50 members of the Rhodes University academic community signed a statement to condemn the recent incident of gross racism occurred at the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits), during the concert performance of Israel jazz musician Daniel Zamir.

Prof McQuaid receives Gold Medal award

The Zoological Society of Southern Africa (ZSSA) has recently awarded a gold medal to Rhodes University’s Distinguished Professor, Christopher McQuaid of the Zoology and Entomology Department.

Fixing our broken schools takes more than money

The national budget for basic, free education is almost R17.6bn. Even so, free basic education in SA is in crisis. Most schools have no library, face staff shortages and suffer mismanagement.

The Art of Teaching for the Conceptual Understanding of Mathematics

Delivering his inaugural lecture on Wednesday (11 September) at Rhodes University, First Rand Foundation Chair in Mathematics Education, Professor Marc Schäfer said 67% of Grahamstown’s Grade 10 learners are bored in their maths class.

Muni, Rhodes raise the bar

Capable officials who stay and are committed to actively improving the town is the vision behind a new joint initiative by Makana Municipality and Rhodes University.

A passion for science, a thirst for knowledge

Professor Tebello Nyokong, who recently won the National Research Foundation’s Lifetime Achievement Award, has big plans for science in Africa, writes Oliver Roberts.

Rhodes author on shortlist

Rhodes University masters student Sabata-mpho Mokae's novel, Ga ke Modisa, has been shortlisted for the 2013 M-Net Literary Awards. Mokae is completing his MA in creative writing at Rhodes, where his thesis is a novella in English.

“Making a former white South African university function in a way that is not racist is not easy”

Rhodes University senior lecturer in the Political and International Studies Department, Dr Sally Matthews will deliver a paper entitled “(White) Privilege and Institutional Culture” at Rhodes University Institutional Culture Roundtable on Saturday (14 September) at Gavin Relly Post Grad Village.

Xhosa legends’ literary works brought to life

Xhosa literature fanatics can look forward to further compilations of the written works of legendary authors like Samuel Edward Krune Mqhayi.

‘Journalists practising in deeply trying conditions’

The media face multiple pressures both from within and outside the profession, writes Hopewell Radebe.

“To whom are academics responsible?”

Widely considered one of the leading scholars of his generation in Comparative Government, Political Sociology, Theory of Politics, African Politics, Marxism and Sociological Theory, Prof Gavin P Williams recently addressed issues of academic freedom and responsibility.

Seamus Heaney: The Guttural Muse in the Sky

Seamus Heaney, the much loved Irish poet and Nobel Prize winner who died in Dublin last week, was no stranger to South Africa.

MobiSAM, an important initiative - VC

Rhodes University Vice-Chancellor, Dr Saleem Badat has endorsed the launch of MobiSAM, a new initiative between Rhodes University and Makana Municipality to look at ways of reporting the lack of effective provision of basic services such as water, energy and the like.

Young thinkers meet to shape Africa

Young leaders from South Africa and beyond gathered in Grahamstown yesterday for the start of the biennial Pan African Youth Dialogue (Payd) summit aimed at making Africa a better place.

“Where on earth are we going?”

The annual Literature and Ecology colloquium returned to Rhodes University over the weekend to mark its tenth edition under the theme, “Where on earth are we going?”

Photo unlocks little-known story

An ancient photograph of long-dead relatives who fled Europe for South Africa in the 1850s, has inspired a Rhodes University language professor to write about life in the Eastern Cape and other parts of the country over the past 150 years.

Rhodes scientists turn off the green light

Scientists at Rhodes University in Grahamstown have developed a simple dye that may hold the solution to pranksters who flash green lasers at aircraft, temporarily blinding the pilot and putting lives at risk.

Jump on the information highway

The 17th Highway Africa Conference and 13th edition of the Highway Africa New Media Awards take place this weekend from 1-2 September at Rhodes University.

Tiny fossil huge find for Grahamstown

A RHODES University palaeontologist has finally hit the jackpot with his discovery of a fossilised scorpion.

The Promise of Land

In an effort to address the ensuing land crisis in South Africa, The Promise of Land: Undoing a Century of Dispossession in South Africa, explores the many dimensions of the crisis with the aim of encouraging meaningful debates on alternative approaches.

Old Rhodian over moon at award

THE head of the South National Space Agency (Sansa) is reaching for the stars after receiving a prestigious Rhodes University award.

MobiSAM to launch in September

The 2nd of September will see the launch of a year-long pilot project for new initiative MobiSAM which seeks to investigate how mobile phone technology can be used to improve citizen participation in local government.

Special Plan Will Ensure Water Supply

Plans have been put in place to repair Grahamstown’s antiquated water supply infrastructure, the cause of serious water shortages.

Prof Nyokong receives NRF Lifetime Achiever Award

The National Research Foundation (NRF) has awarded Rhodes University’s Distinguished Professor Tebello Nyokong the Lifetime Achiever Award at the NRF ceremony held last night (27 August) in Port Elizabeth.

‘Getting to Zero’

“The economy of this nation depends on you. The university system can be the answer to a pandemic like HIV/Aids – it is uniquely positioned to equip students with the skills and knowledge around HIV/Aids that can make them agents of change within their own families, communities and future workplaces.”

Teaching maths in a fun and practical way

With a mere seven years of teaching experience, it is certainly remarkable that Dr Lizanne Raubenheimer has received the Vice-Chancellor’s Teaching Award so early in her career.

Cherry on top for Janet

Political activist and Port Elizabeth lecturer Dr Janet Cherry has been awarded the Distinguished Old Rhodian Award from Rhodes University.

“I want to put the ghost of targeting white males aside”

“I want to put the ghost of targeting white males aside. This has never been the approach and it has never been about black and white… No one asks about the dearth of female judges.”

Town up in arms over water crisis

Zuma’s office sending team to assess situation in parched Grahamstown. Is it because they are better than us that Rhodes gets listened to?

LLB student selected for German/African scholarship exchange

Final year LLB student, Aphiwe Nkosimbini has been selected by the German Partnership with Africa Foundation, to attend a political economy conference in Germany and Namibia.

Sort it out or get out

THE prolonged water outages in large parts of Makana Municipality are not just an inconvenience to many residents. They threaten the future of Grahamstown.

Celebrating 60 years

The Rhodes Chamber Choir will celebrate its 60th anniversary on Saturday by bringing former members and music lovers together, while raising funds for charity.

Professor Gordon to take up the Nelson Mandela Visiting Professorship

Rhodes University is thrilled and honoured to announce that Professor Lewis Gordon, a leading figure in philosophy, will take up the prestigious Nelson Mandela Visiting Professorship in the Department of Politics & International for 2014 and 2015.

Rhodes gets water after presidency intervenes

It took an intervention from President Jacob Zuma’s office for water to be restored to Rhodes University – which was on the brink of closing late last week.

An evening of beguiling Baroque music

Solo tenor and music teacher Mr Sibusiso Mkhize presented an engaging and technically adept concert recently at Beethoven Room in the Music Department.

Zuma’s office takes steps to deal with Rhodes water crisis

Grahamstown’s lengthy water shortage, which threatens to close Rhodes University, is at last receiving priority attention at the highest level.

“Teaching big classes at a small university”

Unassuming and erudite, Professor Jen Snowball of the Economics department at Rhodes University presented a lecture entitled: “Teaching big classes at a small university: strategies for managing student diversity in a ‘killer course’”.

In the shadows of his own creativity

He may have designed the South African Democratic Teacher’s Union (SADTU) logo, the logo of the House of Traditional Leaders in the Eastern Cape, the 2004 South African Games logo, and contributed 70% to the design of the South African flag, but Mr Thembani Hastings Mqhayi remains unknown.

Marikana inquiry ’not fair’ to dead miners’ families

Inequality could impair integrity of commission, says advocate.

Rhodes hosts lively debate on fracking

Battle lines were drawn in Grahamstown on Thursday night when the leader of South Africa’s fight against shale gas mining in the ecologically sensitive Karoo locked horns with the author of a controversial new book that claims the fears are exaggerated.

“Nkandla case reveals flaws in Secrecy Bill”

Visiting Professor Wim Trengrove argued that the Protection of State Information Bill is open to abuse because it fails to tightly define and control what may be classified as secret information.

‘Transformation of the Judiciary in South Africa’

Adv Dumisa Ntsebeza will be delivering a lecture entitled ‘Transformation of the Judiciary in South Africa: Problems and Prospects’ as the Marikana Massacre Memorial Seminar hosted by the Faculty of Humanities and the African Humanities Programme at Rhodes University on Friday, 16 August 2013.

Workers’ voices ‘low’ in media

The voices of mine workers featured little in media reports on last year's strike-related unrest at Lonmin's Marikana mine in North West, academic Jane Duncan said on Monday.

An open letter to the mayor, the municipal manager and the Makana Municipality councillors

Rhodes University views itself as an integral part of the Makana region and the Eastern Cape. We are willing to shoulder responsibility in the search for collective solutions to problems that confront our community.

‘50/50’ gender equity targets a numbers game

Gender transformation in South Africa today is largely about playing the numbers game to achieve ‘50/50’ – the popular reference to gender equity targets.

Rhodes VC leads protest march

Lengthy water outages in Grahamstown have galvanised Rhodes University staff, students and residents to march to City Hall today to protest dry taps in high lying areas.

Rural learners find Maths and English classes “fun and accessible”

In response to a request from the local community of Keiskammahoek to assist with ailing education, Rhodes University’s Faculty of Education in conjunction with the Ntinga Ntaba ka Ndoda organisation recently hosted a week-long tutoring programme for top pupils from seven secondary schools in the area.

New Rhodes SARChI Chair to help address food security and biodiversity loss through biological control

Rhodes University welcomes Professor Steve Compton who has moved to Rhodes from Leeds University in the United Kingdom, to take up the prestigious SARChI Chair in Insects in Sustainable Agricultural Ecosystems in the Department of Zoology and Entomology from July 2013.

JMS students enchant France

Two students from Rhodes University School of Journalism and Media Studies, fourth year radio student Georgina Selander and third year television student Bongeka Masango were selected to join two French students from the Centre de formation des journalists de Paris (CFJ) to produce multimedia stories during the ‘South African Season in France 2013’ for a month between June and July.

It’s all in the sea, as new Rhodes SARChI Chair will reveal

Rhodes University has appointed Microbiology Professor Rosemary Dorrington as the SARChI Chair in Marine Natural Product Research, following a successful nomination by the University and approval by the National Research Foundation (NRF).

Son of Transkei soil joins Concourt bench

Mount Frere-born advocate Mbuyiseli Russell Madlanga was yesterday sworn in as a Constitutional Court judge.

Researchers find 33 new animal species in Cape streams

Researchers have found about 33 new species of insect and other organisms confined mainly to the mountain streams of the south-western Cape.

“Violence In/And the Great Lakes: The Thought of V.Y. Mudimbe and Beyond”

The Annual Thinking Africa Colloquium will be hosted by Rhodes University’s Department of Political and International Studies from 7 to 9 August 2013 under the theme, ‘Violence In/And the Great Lakes: The Thought of V.Y. Mudimbe and Beyond’.

How to Spread It: Saleem Badat

Dr Saleem Badat is the vice-chancellor of Rhodes University. He gives from his own pocket so that more young people can get a tertiary education.

Tax expert “stunned” to be a member of the Tax Review Committee

South African tax expert and Rhodes University Professor, Matthew Lester has been selected to be a member of the Tax Review Committee announced recently by the Minister of Finance, Pravin Gordhan.

Transplant athlete eyes gold

A Rhodes University student has set his sights on winning gold at the World Transplant Games currently underway in Durban after he was given a second chance at life by an anonymous kidney donor.

Grahamstown learners showcase scientific projects

Rhodes University and Eskom recently hosted the annual regional component of the Eskom Expo for Young Scientists and sponsored R300 000 in prizes and bursaries for top performing pupils.

Rhodes student competes at World Transplant Games

“I’m honoured and humbled to wear the South African colours and represent my country,” says Mthunzi Fatyi.

“Anthropology is perplexing and rewarding”

Considering the ways in which identity is reconstructed in places where oppression still lingers is a lifetime pursuit for Professor Rose Boswell, former Deputy Dean of Humanities and Head of Anthropology at Rhodes University.

Silence on rape at South African universities

Political analyst, lecturer and writer, Mr Eusebius McKaiser brought the Eleventh Annual Teach-In Public Lecture Series entitled the “Rape Crisis” to a close on Friday, 26 July, with a lecture focused on the need to blow the lid off some of the silences which surround conversations about rape on South African university campuses.

Rhodes VC shines as soccer coach

It was an unusual sight last Saturday afternoon as Rhodes University ViceChancellor Saleem Badat ran around Prospect Field with a ball.

Hanamichi: a feast of visual theatre

There is something wonderfully ironic about the play Hanamichi being inspired by a poem, yet hardly a word is spoken throughout the piece.

Rhodes Alumni appointed to senior M&G editorial positions

The Mail & Guardian announced the appointment of two new editors this week, as well as additional changes to its organisational structure, in a new phase of its digital-first strategy.

“Why does the history of rape matter?”

Dr Catherine Burns of the Wits Institute for Social and Economic Research, emphasised that rape has been part of human life for a long time. She was addressing the Rhodes community on the fourth day of the Teach-In Lecture Series on Thursday, 25 July, at the Barratt Lecture Theatre.

Honours student selected to attend Commonwealth University network

Honours Political and Social Sciences student, Mlamuli Hlatshwayo has been selected from 200 student applicants, who have demonstrated excellent qualities as future leaders, to attend the Association of Commonwealth Universities’ Residential School 2013.

Rhodes mourns the passing of former Chief Justice Pius Langa

Rhodes University joins South Africans, the Constitutional Court and the Chief Justice of the Republic of South Africa Chief Justice Mogoeng Mogoeng, in expressing deep sadness at the passing of the former Chief Justice of the Republic of South Africa, Dr Pius Langa.

Men urged to speak against patriarchy

Government and Media Relations Manager for the Sonke Gender Justice Network, Mr Mbuyisile Botha, urged men to challenge patriarchy in South Africa in an emotive address delivered on the third day of the “Rape Crisis” teach-in series.

UCT TV Shoots US Talk Show

The UCT TV Studio, a facility housed in the Department of Film and Media Studies, recently had the opportunity to shoot the South African leg of Higher Education Today, an American Talk Show that deals with issues of education and learning.

Rhodes University not partaking in international rankings

Examining the surge in interest in international ranking systems Deputy-Dean (Research), Faculty of Education, Stellenbosch University; Prof Lesley Le Grange argued that these shifts are reflective of Professor Jon McKenzie’s ‘age of performance’ that characterises the 21st century in which performativity is the main focus of many institutions.

Moral outrage, risk, and vulnerability in “The Rape Crisis”

The well-known independent researcher Ms Lisa Vetten who has worked in the field of violence against women since 1991, argued yesterday that a reaction of moral outrage is often ineffective when it comes to rape in South Africa.

Feminist scholar to visit Rhodes

The Italian–born, feminist scholar, and activist, Prof Silvia Federici will be running workshops for students and young people at Rhodes University in September, talking about her work and its significance for contemporary South African politics.

Rhodes University Media Statement on RULAC

Mr Wesley Hayes is the Director of the Queenstown Rural Legal Centre which is an office of the Rhodes University Law Clinic. In addition, he is the Deputy Director of the Rhodes University Law Clinic.

Rhodes drills into gender violence scourge

Gender-based violence will come under the spotlight during a week of high profile Rape Crisis public lectures at Rhodes University.

Prominent South Africans to debate “Rape Crisis”

Prominent speakers will debate the “Rape Crisis”, as part of the 11th annual Teach-In Public Lecture Series hosted by Rhodes University Political and International Studies Department from 22 July to 26 July.

Local girls make English Olympiad Top 20

Grahamstown shone at the De Beers English Olympiad prize-giving ceremony as three local girls were announced in the Top 20.

Old Rhodian pharmacist serves community

Rhodes University Alumna, Ms Lynda Bryant-Mutsaerts has scooped the National Pioneer Pharmacy Facility of the Year 2013 award, for her sterling community pharmacy work, at the South African Pharmacy Council’s National Pioneer Pharmacy Awards held at Sun City Superbowl recently.

Surprise award for EL teen

Feisty Lucy Grinker, 17, of Clarendon Girls’ High, who entered the 2013 De Beers English Olympiad on a nonchalant “whatever” basis, could not believe it when she came second out of 7 500 entrants from Southern Africa.

Author Soga heading for Rhodes

By day Soga Mlandu oversees municipal administration but by night he writes short stories.

Leading academics to discuss University rankings and measurements

Leading academics from various institutions in South Africa will debate international rankings and explore what can and cannot be measured in Universities, and where the ‘obsession’ with measurement comes when they participate in a public panel debate on Monday night as part of Rhodes University’s Education Department’s ‘Education Dialogues’.

Young Water Professionals to gather in Stellenbosch

The 3rd Regional Conference of the South African Young Water Professionals (YWP ZA) will be taking place for the first time in Stellenbosch in the Western Cape, South Africa from 16 to 18 July 2013.

“I feel proud to raise the Rhodes' flag”

Rhodes University alumnus and community journalism trainer, Mr Gino Shelile has been selected amongst more than 12 000 applicants globally to attend the UNAOC-EF Summer School in Tarrytown, New York, from August 24th to August 31st.

Ntsika documentary to premier

Eighteen months of work are coming to fruition at the National Arts Festival for Alette Schoon and her team of documentary film-makers.

Rhodes hosts the Legacies of the Apartheid Wars conference

“Rhodes is very pleased to host and to be associated with the Legacies of Apartheid Wars Project (LAWS).

Rhodes staff prays for Tata

Former president Nelson Mandela’s ill health has galvanised staff at a Rhodes University dining hall to light candles and pray every day that he gets well soon.

Meet new people with start-up Weaver

A new start-up from Cape Town has been established to act as matchmaker for groups of friends. But instead of romance, Weaver wants to foster new friendships.

Brooks brings history of province's art to life

Exploring the arts of the Eastern Cape 1900-2013. Venue: Nelson Mandela Metropolitan Art Museum, until July 14.

Walking tours with a twist

Diamonds, Bagpipes and the Mother Superior sounds like just the kind of title for a Festival production you'd expect.

East meets West in Hanamichi

Presented by Rhodes University Master’s student, Tristan Jacobs (Hats, Stilted), Hanamichi is a thrilling theatrical hybrid, a dialogue between Western and Eastern theatre forms.

Fine Art Festival fare

“To point a camera towards land in Southern Africa is to draw the history of the conti¬nent to your eye,” said Fine Art Senior Lecturer, Mr Brent Meistre

Kicking ass!

Grahamstown local Thozi Ngeju has been writing and directing plays for the past 10 years.

Humour, horror in Moor

Rhodes University presents Moor, directed by Masters Student Jess Harrison, adapted from William Shakespeare’s The Tragedy of Othello: The Moor of Venice

Language expert to launch a book during Festival

Prof Russell Kaschula, the National Research Foundation SARCHhi Chair of Intellectualism of African Languages will launch short story anthology as part of the Wordfest Programme on Sunday, 30 June 2012, in Eden Grove Red lecture theatre. The book is entitled Displaced, explores past and present complexities in South Africa.

A most prized accomplishment

A young Pietermaritzburg musician will be performing at the National Arts Festival in Grahamstown this weekend, as part of the National Youth Orchestra.

Law students mark 100 years since the Black Land Act

Rhodes Law students marked Wednesday 19 June exactly 100 years since the Black Land Act (BLA) of 1913 came into force by writing their Law of Property Law A exam (a component of Legal Theory 3) on the same day to highlight the importance of Law.

Report suggests minister can’t meet targets

Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga is unlikely to meet her target to build more than 300 Eastern Cape schools by the end of the next financial year, according to a report released by Public Service Accountability Monitor (PSAM).

Solstice nut jobs find out: ‘dam that water’s cold!’

After years of threatening to do the Polar Plunge in Grahamstown, Dispatch reporter David Macgregor finally plucks up courage to hit the icy water for the annual dam splash.

Writing through the silence

This year’s first Andrew H. Mellon Foundation fellowship writer-in-residence, Award-winning poet, Dr Kobus Moolman says the residency grants him time to pause and reflect.

Riebeek’s english olympiad star

Micaela White, a Grade 11 top academic learner at Riebeek College, has achieved a position in the top 15 of the more than 7 500 candidates who entered the 2013 De Beers English Olympiad.

Rhodes staff members honoured for academic achievements

Forty-six Rhodes University staff, which included 36 academic staff and 10 support staff comprising seven PhDs, 13 Masters, two honours, four Postgraduate Diplomas in Higher Education, 15 CHERTL assessment qualifications and five other qualifications including Bachelor degrees were acknowledged recently for their academic achievements.

Generations of Jazz Exhibition

The launch of the “Generations of Jazz Exhibition” at the Red Location Museum, on Friday, 21 June 2013 from 19:00 is already fully booked.

South Africa benefits from international citizens

Rhodes University International Office has issued a strong statement against the xenophobic attacks that took place recently in some provinces in South Africa such as Johannesburg.

Rhodes Education Faculty set to increase enrolment

The Faculty of Education is on track to increase their enrolment in the Post Graduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) to 120 by 2014, as part of the plan and agreement with the Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET).

Varsities in success row

Two of the Eastern Cape's four universities have criticised figures released by the Department of Higher Education and Training that show low graduation rates.

South Africa needs a strong foundation of labour market information

South Africa needs a strong foundation of labour market information across the post-school system and labour markets, including per sector, occupation and region.

Slugs and snails and DNA trails

The chief curator of Mollusca at the KwaZulu-Natal Museum, Dr Dai Herbert presented an engaging talk on a group of much maligned creatures -slugs and snails- opening up the fascinating world of how he uses DNA analysis to identify and track species.

Marginalisation of rural people’s struggles

While much has been written about popular resistance of the marginalised people of South Africa, as well as its violent repression by the state in urban areas, very little attention has been paid to resistance by the rural poor.

A scholarship in tribute to philosopher David Ryan

Friends, family and colleagues of the late Dr David Ryan have donated R1.2 million towards a scholarship for fulltime post graduate students in Philosophy. The scholarship, was launched on Monday (3 June 2013) at Rhodes University.

The Generations of Jazz Exhibition Launch

The Red Location Museum is in its element as one of our most exiting exhibitions ever, will be launched on Friday, 21 June 2013!

IR conference interrogate Africa’s marginalisation in theory

Setting out to investigate the reasons for Africa’s marginalisation in International Relations (IR) discipline and theory and how this issue can be addressed, the Department of Political and International Studies at Rhodes University recently held a two day conference, ‘African Voices in New International Relations Theory’.

Religion and British government worked together in 1700

“Both the church and the state were divinely given in the simple order of human society. Therefore god works not just through the church but also through the state as well,” said Prof Rowan Strong, when he delivered his lecture entitled: "Anglicanism and Imperialism".

Top English honour for U’hage girl

A thirst for knowledge and a love of books have resulted in 17 year-old Uitenhage pupil Micaela White being selected as one of the top 15 contestants out of 7 500 entries in the 2013 De Beers English Olympiad.

'Homophobia' posters spark outrage at Rhodes

Graphic posters, apparently intended to expose Muslim homophobia, have provoked the anger of Rhodes University staff members, students and alumni.

Mobiflock app on its way to making worldwide mark

One of the handful of South African entrepreneurs vying for a chance to win the Dragon's Den competition was Rhodes University B Journ graduate Vanessa Clark.

Grahamstown launches cell project

Makana Municipality and Rhodes University have joined hands in a project to use cellphone technology to improve communication between residents and the municipality.

Outrage over ‘homophobia’ posters

Rhodes students and staff are livid after “racist, xenophobic” posters were displayed on campus

Grocott’s scoops up two big awards

It’s a brand new era for Grocott’s Mail, the oldest newspaper in South Africa. Not only does this grand dame of community papers turn 143 this year, but it now boasts a new look and, as from last week, will be published once a week on a Friday.

High Tech for Rural Development Actually Bridging the Divide?

Reported cases of failed technology-related development projects mean that governments and other roleplayers implementing ICT initiatives should re-think their strategies.

PhD student to participate at international workshop

A PhD candidate with the Institute for Environmental Biotechnology (EBRU) at Rhodes University, Prudence Mambo has been selected to participate in an Advanced Academic Research Institute workshop from June 8 to June 22 at Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island in America.

“Stem cells: the hype and the hope”

Speaking at the annual Peter Rose Biotechnology Lecture, the founder of Biotechnology at Rhodes recently, acclaimed scientist and advocate for bio-entrepreneurship, Professor Michael Pepper provided a leading perspective on stem cell research in his address, “Stem cells: the hype and the hope.”

Rhodes to hosts International Relations conference

Rhodes University Political and International Studies Department will host International Relations (IR) conference on 27-28 May 2013 at Continuing Education Conference Centre.

Need for punitive action against officials

THE Eastern Cape government has to lay criminal charges against officials implicated in corrupt activities if budget spending is to improve, the Public Service Accountability Monitor (PSAM) said yesterday.

Academics fail to settle Rhodes freedom debate

Plans to replace Rhodes University’s apartheid era Academic Freedom Declaration have been shelved after an open debate by leading academics ended in a stalemate.

Post-apartheid social movements see limited gains

Post-Apartheid social movements in South Africa have acted as agents of democracy, but have a lot of work to do if they are to achieve the socio-economic transformation that their members truly need, according to senior research associate at the Centre for the Study of Democracy, University of Johannesburg/Rhodes University Dr Fiona Anciano.

Rhodes lecturers debate academic freedom

In a public debate on Tuesday this week, a panel of academics discussed the proposed new Academic Freedom Declaration for Rhodes University.

More time needed to comment on vital fisheries legislation

THIS is an open letter to the Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, The Honourable Tina Joemat-Pettersson : Dear Minister, We wish to register our deep concerns with the inadequacies of the public participation process being organised by your department in relation to the Marine Living Resources Amendment Bill and general and sector specific rights allocation policies.

Varsities protest gender violence

Lunch-time traffic ground to a halt in Grahamstown yesterday when 200 Rhodes University academics, staff and students took to the streets to protest against gender violence.

Concern over time allowed to comment on marine bill

A group of 13 academics and environmentalists has written an open letter to Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Minister Tina Joemat-Pettersson to express "deep concerns" about the shortness of time she has given for comment on the Marine Living Resources Amendment Bill and fishing rights allocation policies.

Debating multilingualism at higher education institutions

Debating the extent to which South African higher educational institutions have and ought to adopt multilingualism into their curricula...

Eastern Cape universities to unite against gender violence on women

Four Eastern Cape universities have teamed up together preparing Tuesday ’s (May 21) march against gender violence on women around the country.

Rhodes hosts fiery debate on bill

The Legal Practice Bill was an illconsidered, badly thought-through, poorly drafted piece of political brinkmanship, Grahamstown Senior Counsel Izak Smuts charged last week.

“What is academic freedom?”

Rhodes University will hold an open debate on the academic freedom question on Tuesday, 21 May 2013 in the Arts Major lecture theatre at 17:30.

Rhodes signed MoU with Department of Human Settlements

Rhodes University will “assist the Department in augmenting its research and strategic thinking capacity and render quality assurance” for research projects that will be undertaken by the Department of Human Settlements.

Rhodes to take anti-corruption fight to rest of SA

RHODES University vice-chancellor Dr Saleem Badat has vowed to step up his fight against corruption by persuading other South African universities to sign a pledge to fight the scourge themselves.

Rhodes lauded for African science ‘translatathons’

BREAKING down long-held beliefs that indigenous African languages could not be used to teach science would go a long way towards ridding South Africa of “linguistic apartheid”.

Rhodes takes lead in fighting corruption

THE best way to fight widespread corruption in South Africa by elected officials and civil servants is to name and shame the people involved.

Desperate need for debates around race in South Africa

Speaking to her experience of writing the widely critiqued and publicised “How Do I Live in this Strange Place?” (2010) paper, Associate Professor in the Department of Philosophy at Rhodes University, Samantha Vice explained that while her conclusions may be contested, the extent of the responses to her paper highlight the desperate need for debates around race in South Africa.

Whites should be silent on SA’s future, debate told

White South Africans should not speak out about the county's politics, because it was black people's turn to rule, controversial Rhodes University philosopher Samantha Vice said last night.

Community Engagement: a political tool?

The purpose politics of Community Engagement was intensely debated last Wednesday in the panel discussion ‘Changing Contexts: RU’s response to social justice needs’. The panel consisted of a wide variety of Rhodes University-based academics and activists

Global Shapers Community nominate Rhodes Alumnus

A Rhodes Alumnus, Mr Xolani Nyali, has been nominated to be a member of the Global Shapers Community of the World Economic Forum, Cape Town Hub. There are currently 36 Global Shapers in South Africa, 15 in Cape Town, Pretoria (11) and Johannesburg (10).

Marathon Man is road warrior

Ric Mapara turned 65 last week. In just three weeks' time, the slight, sinewy man with his trademark grizzled beard sets off on his ninth gruelling 90km Comrades Marathon.

Greeks, Romans and hydrologists

“The Greeks and Romans had many gods but hydrologists have many models,” quipped the director of the Institute for Water Research (IWR), Professor Denis Hughes during his address marking his reception of the Vice-Chancellor’s Distinguished Researcher’s Award recently.

Coelacanth genes get sequenced

Sarah Wild Tweet Lead paper author Dr Chris Amemiya speaks to M&Gs Sarah Wild about the centuries-old coelacanth, which he has been studying for over 20 years.

Re-configuring South Africa’s Youth Political Sphere

This article is a direct follow-up to a question posed to Dr Nomalanga Mkhize at a Women's Academic Solidarity Association (WASA) discussion entitled: "Teaching the Born Frees: The Dea(r)th of Youth Intellectualism in the Post-Apartheid University".

Research suggests increasingly militarised protest regulation in South Africa

In a seminar hosted by the Faculty of Humanities yesterday (Tuesday 7 May) the Chair of the Media and Information Society at Rhodes University, Professor Jane Duncan, highlighted indicators that the regulation of protests under the President Jacob Zuma’s administration is becoming increasingly militarised.

Eusebius McKaiser fears Rhodes students’ political disengagement

Eusebius Mckaiser's controversial first book has been received with critical acclaim. Promoting his book A Bantu in my Bathroom Eusebius McKaiser spoke to an audience at Rhodes University on 3 May 2013.

Three universities pilot doctoral supervision course

An innovative course that aims to produce a new generation of doctoral supervisors kicked off this year at three South African universities. The plan is to roll out the free course to other universities to raise the country’s PhD output.

PSAM requests the President not to sign the Bill into law

Today (3 May 2013) the world is celebrating Press Freedom Day. In South Africa, the passing of the Protection of State Information Bill last week (25 April 2013) has cast a cloud over the hard-won freedoms of expression as enshrined in our Constitution.

Rhodes’ students to honour Amina Cachalia

Rhodes University will honour and celebrate the life of the late Amina Cachalia by screening for the first time a documentary based on the book by Vice-Chancellor, Dr Saleem Badat entitled “The Forgotten People”, starring Amina Cachalia, on Friday (3 May 2013), for the members of Grahamstown and Rhodes community.

Implementation in mental health lags behind policy

Prof Melvyn Freeman, the 2013 recipient of the Department of Psychology’s social change award, devoted most of his working life to create the conditions for better mental health services in South Africa.

Broadband project connects rural Eastern Cape with rest of world

Advanced satellite technology is helping poor rural schoolchildren on the Wild Coast to mouse-click their way to a better future.

“Teaching the Born Frees”

Debating the extent to which young South Africans are engaging with the complex political dynamics of contemporary society, several Rhodes University lecturers recently presented their views on the topic, “Teaching the Born Frees: The Dea(r)th of Youth Intellectualism in the Post-Apartheid University?”

World is now a click away in EC rural area

THEY may attend school in the isolated countryside of Dwesa, far from the technology associated with big cities, but Wild Coast children and their teachers are connected to the world, thanks to Rhodes University's Siyakhula Living Lab project.

3000 join rape protest nationwide

MORE than 3000 people nationwide stood in solidarity with rape survivors on Friday as a part of the annual Silent Protest.

Student start-ups on rise - Silicon Cape

University students who start their own companies are on the rise, says Alex Fraser, who is chairwoman of Silicon Cape Initiative, a non-profit organisation that seeks to attract new businesses to the Western Cape.

Rape protest: survivors speak out

RHODES University’s powerful silent protest campaign is helping rape survivors deal with the trauma of being sexually violated.

Buffalo Grove's Ami Relf Receives National Award to Study in South Africa

Ami E. Relf, an English teacher from Buffalo Grove High School, was recently selected as one of 25 National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) Summer Scholars from a national applicant pool.

Activists give voice to rape survivors

A powerful form of protest that started in Grahamstown has gone national. Seven years ago 80 people taped their mouths shut publicly to show solidarity with rape survivors who are silenced by sexual violence.

Genetics of coelacanth decoded

Rhodes University academics have played a key role helping decode the genetic makeup of the prehistoric African coelacanth.

Rhodes’ academics part of a historic coelacanth genome international research and decoding team

This week, Professor Rosemary Dorrington, Rhodes Visiting Professor Gregory Blatch and Dr Adrienne Edkins, along with colleagues, who were part of an international team of researchers, celebrate the successful decoding of the genome of a creature whose evolutionary history is both enigmatic and illuminating: the African coelacanth.

Journalism student writes his way to Russia

A STUDENT from Rhodes University has been chosen as one of only two African representatives to attend a prestigious sports journalism seminar in Russia during the July vacation.

Education a key theme for 2013 Anglican synod

Church called to witness to broader society TOMORROW, the Anglican Synod, which takes place every three years, begins. This year it takes place in Grahamstown, at St Andrew's College.

Madlanga appointed as new Judge in Constitutional Court

Marikana Commission evidence leader Advocate Mbuyiseli Madlanga has been appointed as the new Judge in the Constitutional Court.

R200m being spent in boost to university

Plans for Rhodes upgrade, new buildings RHODES University will spend R200-million on infrastructure in the next 30 months.

Rhodes looks to up student numbers

Rhodes University intends growing its student body to 8 748 by 2019 – a project which means more infrastructure, more staff, a great deal of money and careful planning.

Dr Badat addresses media on key University developments

Rhodes University Vice-Chancellor Dr Saleem Badat addressed the local, regional and student media today (12 April 2013) on key developments at the University such as the new Enrolment Plans, the Institutional Development Plan, and Campus Development Plan.

‘A new agronomy’- algae and carbon sequestration

Academics from the Czech Republic, Egypt, Ghana, Namibia, Italy, Great Britain and South Africa participated in an important workshop recently where ways of harnessing bio-energy produced by algae were discussed.

Top judge is new Rhodes chancellor

“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."

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.

‘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.

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.

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.

Rhodes sets record for PhDs

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

Justice Mpati to be installed as the new Chancellor at Rhodes

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Nobel Peace Laureate addresses students and staff

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”.

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.

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.

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.

Cheaper water test to improve lives

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.

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.

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.

Old Rhodian named Nelson Mandela Metro boss

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

United against rape scourge

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.

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.

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.

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.

Education receives poor audit

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

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.”

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.

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.

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.

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.

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).

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.

SRC President challenges first years

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.

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.

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.

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.

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).

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.

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.

Putting right wrongs of past

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

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.

Untold stories to be told at exhibition

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Discovery of famous fish remembered

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

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.

Old Rhodian to head Geoscience body

THE Council for Geoscience has appointed Mxolisi Kota as CEO.

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.

Remembering Jakes – Chancellor, our chancellor

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

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.

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).

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”.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

VC talks to the youth on banning and banishment

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.

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.

Twitter ‘tik’ of journalism

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

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.

Millions for new buildings at Rhodes

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

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.

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.”

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.

'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’”.

Banishment, apartheid and the law

“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.

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.

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.

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?

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.

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.

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’

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

"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 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

“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.

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.

"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.

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.

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.

‘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).

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.

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.

“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.

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).

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.

“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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Give sight to others

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

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”.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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."

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.

IEC running SRC elections

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.”

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.

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.

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”.

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.

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.

Nurturing the minds of young scientists

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.

“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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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?’.

“ANC politics are not as simple and clear cut”

“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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

“Passage through the tempest”

“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”.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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?

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.

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.

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.

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.

Achille Mbembe delivers 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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”.

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.

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.

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!

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.

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.

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.

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!”

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Google ambassadors focus on the community

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Rhodes appoints a SARChI SKA chair

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.

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”.

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.

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.”

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. Entirely of their own volition, Lowndes and fellow LLB student, Nick Theron, cycled all 781km of the Absa Cape Epic recently.

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.

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.

Scientific research is fun

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

Rhodes and local municipalities conserve marine resources

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

Language has to be on national agenda

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

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.

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.

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”.

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.

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).

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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).

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.

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.

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.

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.

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).

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.

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.

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.

Graduates overcome the odds

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

Commerce graduands urged not to set out just to make money

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.

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.

“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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

More postgraduates at the 2012 Rhodes graduation

Rhodes University has reaffirmed its position as a leading postgraduate and research-intensive university with 40.35 percent of those graduating at the 2012 graduation ceremonies being postgraduate students.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

“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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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?”

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

New student residence 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.

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.

Towards creating equitable access to health financing and medical 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).

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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”.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.”

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.

‘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.

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.

Vice-Chancellor welcomes new students

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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."

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.

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.

“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.

“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.

"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.

“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.

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.

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.

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).

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.