NendilaNEWSLETTER OF THE UNIVERSITY OF VENDA

Creating future leaders

University of Venda

1

Deputy President of South Africa and Univen Chancellor, Kgalema Motlanthe, officiated at the recent autumn graduation ceremony.

A total of some 1 700 students received degrees and diplomas. In total 48 high-performing students were awarded according to the university’s rewards system. Collectively they received R88 500 in award prizes.

“Univen continues to be on an exponential positive growth path with regard to its research outputs,” said Motlanthe.

“In its latest training report the Department of Higher Education and Training awarded the institution 58.37 units for research output publications – an increase of 71 percent from the previous year.

“The number of National Research Foundation rated researchers has also increased more than tenfold over the past four years and now totals 13. The University Council has approved a new research policy which makes provision for more incentives to further increase research outputs. Building a critical mass of rated researchers is essential, not only to drive the research agenda, but also as an important

catalyst for innovative teaching, curriculum development and technology transfer to benefit our communities,” he said.

The university was also awarded two new research chairs recently – one each in biodiversity - value and change in the Vhembe Biosphere Reserve and in communal land and rural entrepreneurship. Developments on the academic side include the filling of positions to improve research output. These include research professors, senior professors, adjunct professors, professors extraordinaires, distinguished teaching professors, professors of the practice, clinical professors and teaching assistants.

“In 30 years Univen has contributed immensely to the socio-economic development of not only the region but the entire nation by producing alumni that today occupy significant positions in both the public and private sector.

“The university is in an irrevocable change mode towards fulfilling its commitment as a quality driven, financially sustainable comprehensive university. The road ahead will present a lot of opportunities, with many challenges.

“To succeed we must be more innovative,

Univen bestowed an honorary doctorate in Law to the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Navi Pillay. Deputy President and Chancellor of the university, Kgalema Motlanthe, bestowed the doctorate on Pillay at the recent autumn graduation.

In the tradition of accumulating a string of firsts, Pillay is the first woman to be awarded an honorary doctorate from the University of Venda. She was the first black woman to open a law practice in the former Natal province in the 1960’s. Pillay was born in 1941 and grew up in an Indian neighbourhood in Durban during the years of strict segregation and very repressive laws. She was one of the very few female black students at Natal University, obtaining a BA degree and, in 1965, an LLB degree, after having received special permission to read at Natal University for the Bachelor of Laws degree.

In 1994 she was appointed acting judge and became the first black woman on the South African Bench. In 1995 she was appointed as Judge of the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda for a four-year term. Her tenure was renewed in 1999 and she became President of the Court.

In 2003 she was one of the 18 judges appointed to the newly created International Criminal Court in The Hague, in the Netherlands. She sat in its Appeals Chamber until her appointment as the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights in September 2008.

APRIL/MAY 2012

I am proud to be associated with Univen - Motlanthe

A woman for all seasons

Read insideTreating students with disabilities equally 2Top researcher on campus 2Goodbye Mr Fourie 2Dell does it again for Univen 2Ten bursaries for hydrology and water resources students 2R210 million infrastructure development put to use 3Thengwe High School wins national schools Moot Court competition 4Two new appointments at Univen 4Univen law students offered positions 4Univen taught me well 4Hard work pays off 4Univen provided me with a solid grounding – Colbert Nengovhela 5Poverty and plenty – what affects these? 5Learning about integrated learning 5Volunteer Services Overseas looking for Univen volunteers 5Pay attention to basic development - Hagenmeier 6Artists help us envision thoughts not tolerated by society – Ravele 6

University of Venda30 Years · 1982 - 2012

Univen 30 years 1982 – 2012

“Univen is on a positive growth path” – Chancellor and South African Deputy President Motlanthe.

We made the grade!Saluting a woman for all seasons.

constantly looking at new ways of doing things correctly and better, work harder and smarter, and more importantly, work collaboratively as a team, united in our purpose of steering the university ever further in our quest for excellence.

“I thank the corporate world for their confidence in the university through their contributions, despite difficult economic times. I thank the Ministry of Higher Education and Training for its contributions and support to university. Without this strong support from various stakeholders, the university could not have come this far and will not be able to go far into the future. I am proud to be associated with the University of Venda,” said Motlanthe.

Creating future leaders2

Treating students with disabilities equally

Goodbye Mr Fourie

Top researcher on campus

“I salute Univen for its endeavours to provide quality service to students with various disabilities,” says the Deputy Minister for Women, Children and Persons with Disabilities, Henrietta Bogopane-Zulu.

On a fact-finding mission to see how universities deal with enablers for disabled students - from registration to academic assistance – the minister said that one of the government’s priorities is the provision of quality education for all.

“My department has made recommendations to the National Student Financial Aid to ensure that funding for assistive devices is disbursed on time and that these are fully utilised. The government has set an appointment target of two percent for people with disabilities. I urge the university to meet this target.”

The Head of Univen’s Disabled Student Unit, Mrs Tshifhiwa Mbuvha, said the university provided students with disabilities with assistive and recording devices, braille and the use of fully adapted venues for examinations.

“We have one of the highest per capita enrolments of disabled students in the country,” said Vice Chancellor and Principal, Prof Peter Mbati.

“We apply a fully integrated learning experience for disabled students and the Centre of Higher Education Teaching and Learning, in collaboration with the training unit of the Human Resources Department, will host workshops to expose all lecturers to the learning needs of these students,” he said.

After 27 years of service, the Head of the Committee Section, Mr Manna Fourie is retiring from Univen.

“My association with Univen goes back from when it was still a satellite of the University of Limpopo. Over the past 27 years I had a very existing and rewarding career. I made many friends and experienced only loyalty from my colleagues. A special word of thanks and appreciation goes to my ‘committee family’ with whom I worked so nicely. I will always remember you.

“During my time at the university I had the privilege to work with three vice chancellors and two acting vice chancellors. I also had the honour to serve six Councils. My thanks go to all Council members for their kindness and help,” says Fourie.

“When I started in 1985, there was very little infrastructure, only the buildings of the old Dimani Agriculture School where the School of Human and Social Sciences is presently being housed. I am very privileged to have witnessed the huge infrastructural development which took place, especially over the last couple of years. To all my friends and colleagues, academic and administrative, with whom I worked, I express my sincere appreciation for your kindnesses throughout the years.”

Chairperson of Council, Ms Shirley Mabusela says Fourie is a quality-driven, hardworking and committed employee who put a lot of his time and effort into helping the university grow.

“He instilled a standard of excellence, commitment, perfectionism and hard work in the Committee Section. The good work that he has done cannot be stressed enough. Words cannot begin to express our gratitude for his good work. We wish him all the best in his future endeavours. His retirement is well deserved,” she said

Fourie joined the University of Venda on 1 February 1985, after serving the University of Limpopo for eight years. He joined Univen as an assistant registrar in the Committee Section. He was promoted to Director: Committees in April 2004. This post was changed to Head: Committee Section in March 2010 when the management organisational structure was revised.

Fourie was asked to serve the university until October.

National Research Foundation A-rated scientist, Prof Steven Chown, recently visited Univen.

Chown is the Director of the National Research Foundation/Department of Science and Technology Centre for Excellence in Invasion Biology at the University of Stellenbosch.

Univen was recently awarded a National Research Foundation Chair in Biodiversity, which will be co-

hosted with the University of Stellenbosch.

Chown, with a strong international profile in biodiversity and climate change research, assisted with the drafting and conceptualisation of the proposal for the research chair.

Through his efforts more than R1m was allocated to bursaries for postgraduate students in Botany and Zoology at Univen over the past five years.

“Univen is on the right track in assisting students with disabilities” – Deputy Minister Bogopane-Zulu.

Cooperation to host Univen’s Chair in Biodiversity – from left, Dr Stefan Foord, Prof Peter Mbati, Prof Steven Chown and Prof Jan Crafford.

Dell does it again for UnivenFive Dell bursary holders were each awarded a laptop to assist them in their learning.

The students, Nancy Nelulongwe, Tshilande Mueletshedzi, Thabelo Gandini, Lufuno Mapholi and Maanda Matumba now have bursaries from Dell which cover their tuition, books, accommodation and welfare.

In addition, each bursary holder also received a Mr Price clothing voucher. Beneficiaries are chosen based on their grade 12 marks and also their family backgrounds.

Univen’s Director of Information Technology Services, Mr Joel Vele says Dell has over the past ten years donated R2 million to the university, including 200 personal computers and two file servers.

“Dell’s sustained support strengthens our offensive on computer illiteracy, poverty, unemployment and social exclusion by providing students, some from disadvantaged communities, with an opportunity to access quality education,” says Vele.

Student Representative Council Deputy President, Ms Shonisani Masutha, thanked Dell for contri-buting to the learning of Univen students.

Dell’s Head of Transformation, Mrs Natasha Reuben said the company’s aim is not only to support students but to plough back into the community.

“Dell is our guardian, since they finance our studies and make sure that we have books, food and clothes,” said bursary holder Tshilande Mueletshedzi.

Ten bursaries for hydrology and water resources studentsThe Energy and Water Services Education and Training Autority (EWSETA) has granted ten hydrology and water resources students bursaries that provide tuition, residence, meals, books and academic trips. The maximum period of the bursary is three to four years, depending on the duration of the degree or diploma.

“Together we must develop and facilitate skills development in the country,” says the Acting Chief Executive Officer of EWSETA, Mr Ngobese.

“Students should not only get high marks, they must learn something from what they are taught. We are often perceived as unable because we studied at rural based universities. I believe your excellence can prove that coming from rural areas

doesn’t mean you don’t have the ability to excel and bring about change in this country. After all, you are a university like any other university,“ he said.

“Highlights of our partnership include improved pass and graduation rates in line with national average norms, and a substantial increase in research outputs in the past four years,” said Univen’s Vice Chancellor and Principal, Prof Peter Mbati.

“Univen has also increased its number of National Research Foundation-rated researchers, while the foundation has awarded the university two research chairs recently,” said Mbati.

Univen Chancellor and South African Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe officially opened various new buildings on campus recently. The new buildings are part of an extensive multi-million infrastructure development to enhance quality teaching research. See article on page 3.

Creating future leaders 3

Deputy President and Univen Chancellor, Kgalema Motlanthe, officially opened buildings worth nearly R210 million as part of a multi-million refurbish-ment of the Univen campus recently.

These are a new Life Sciences building worth R115 million, a new student administration building worth R22 million, a new lecture theatre complex constructed at a cost of R40 million, extension to the School of Environmental Sciences worth R15 million and extensions and refurbishments to the library worth R15 million.

Other construction projects include a new female residence worth R36 million, the upgrading of sports facilities at a cost of R2 million and road and electrical infrastructure upgrades worth R7,5 million.

Vice Chancellor and Principal, Prof Peter Mbati, says these expansions are firmly distinguishing the university as a national education asset, whilst as-sisting the institution to meet its commitment to the people and communities of Venda.

“The budget for urgent infrastructure development totals more than R840 million. This will provide for four new student residences, a 24-hour study cen-tre, an information technology centre and a new

mining engineering building.

“Other planned infrastructure includes a Science Park, additional lecture halls, a building for the School of Health Sciences, a new health clinic, an academic community training centre, an indoor sports centre and other improved sporting facilities.

“The infrastructure development has largely been funded by the Department of Higher Education and Training, but we have also contributed substantially from our own savings.”

The University of Venda was established in 1982 to accommodate only 5 000 students.

“Due to the demand for access to higher education, the university was forced to double its intake, which currently stands at about 11 000 students – the ma-jority from poor socio-economic backgrounds. This puts immense pressure on the current infrastructure to accommodate the needs of an increased student and staff population.

“Universities across the world are key strategic as-sets for the growth and development of modern societies. Univen is no exception and will help serve as an engine that drives the regional growth and development strategies of Limpopo,” said Mbati.

R210 million infrastructure development put to use

Putting infrastructure to work – Chancellor and South African Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe officially opens the new buildings complex.

Extension to the school of Environmental sciences building.

Female residence.

Library.

Life Sciences bulding.

New student administration.

Block E lecture halls.

Library.

Life Sciences bulding.

Female residence.

Block E lecture halls.

Library.

Life Sciences bulding.

Creating future leaders4

Univen taught me wellMy stay at Univen as an intern in the Communi-cations and Marketing Department was definitely worthwhile.

It indeed yielded good results as I am currently working at the National Treasury in Pretoria as a communication specialist, assisting the director of media management and communications in the director general’s office.

While at Univen, I learned all the bits and pieces of communications and how to market an organisation. I have always learned and known that hard work pays, that is why I have always worked hard to realise my dreams. I will be wrong not to share my journey to success with Nendila readers.

I matriculated at Khwevha Commercial High in 2006. By then I already knew I wanted to be in the media world. Though I was in a commercial school,

I never loved accounting. I was working part-time at the SABC at Phalaphala FM as a kiddies show presenter. I enrolled for a BA in Media Studies at Univen in 2007. At the same time I worked for the Capricorn Voice and Limpopo Mirror newspaper as a freelance journalist.

I also joined Capricorn FM in 2010 as a news reporter - all for the love of journalism and the media. It was a bit challenging to study and work at the same time, but I did it with passion.

In 2011 I joined the University of Venda as an intern, having to resign at Capricorn FM where I had a promising job. People were surprised that I was leaving a job for an internship and thought I didn’t know what I was doing, However, I knew that I was going somewhere and would at the end achieve my goals of having a bigger job somewhere.

I joined a great communication team at Univen and I was so keen to learn everyth ing. I learnt so many sk i l l s . Sometimes when I made photocopies it would feel like such a dull thing to do, but it was part of the experience. In the end I acquired events management, writing, administration, photography and marketing skills that I am able to use in my present job.

Internships are a very important start to everyone’s career and I advise other young people to learn as much as they can as interns.

Don’t be shy to ask if you don’t know, and if your supervisors are not giving you anything to do then ask for something to work on - that is how I got to learn. It feels much easier to do my job now because I learnt most of it during my internship.

I would like to thank the communications and marketing team for giving me an opportunity to learn from them, I really enjoyed my stay at Univen.

Zwikhodo Promise Netshituni

Thengwe High School in Mutale is the winner of the second national schools Moot Court competition. The winning team members are Knowledge Dzumba and Rohula Bilankulu.

They competed aga ins t Fezeka Mehlomakhulu and Nicole Dunn of the Springfield Convent School in Cape Town, at the Constitutional Court in Johannesburg recently. The judges were Justices Bess Nkabinde, Edwin Cameron of the Constitutional Court, Dr Majodina, former Chair of the UN Human Rights Committee, Ms Yasmin Sooka, Director: Foundation for Human Rights and Prof Skelton, Director of the Child Law Unit.

Bilankulu was awarded as the best oralist with Dzumba in second place.

More than 200 schools competed nationally in the essay round of the competition and the best four teams of each province competed in the semi-finals in April. Univen’s Dean of the School of Law, Annette Lansink, congratulated the team and their dedicated teacher, Mrs Mokoena.

“Congratulat ions to Adv Walter Makulana and the Univen Street Law students who reached out to schools about the competition and provided legal assistance to the learners.

“This is living proof that not only private or privileged schools succeed in South Africa, but that a highly dedicated teacher and hardworking and very committed students are pivotal to success,” said Lansink.

Two new staff members have joined the ranks of Univen. Univen welcomes them and wishes them a productive career at the university.

Thengwe High School wins national schools Moot Court competition

Saluting winners - Deputy Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development,

Andries Nel flanked by Knowledge Dzumba and Rohula Bilankulu.

Mr Mashudu Lucky Ramaleba has been appointed as Convocation and Alumni Officer in the Department of Communications and Marketing.

Dr Cosmas Maphosa has been appointed as Educational Development Practitioner: Student support in the Centre for Higher Education Teaching and Learning.

Univen law students offered positionsFourth year Univen law students were offered internships by Bowman and Gilfillan Attorneys at the recent Black Lawyers Association Open Day.

Hosted by the association’s University of Limpopo chapter, presentations were made by, among others, the Department of Justice and Constitutional

Development, the National Prosecuting Authority, Spoor and Fisher - who dealt with intellectual property – and Legal Aid South Africa.

Judge Ledwaba of the North Gauteng High Court and Judge Shaik of the Thohoyandou High Court also addressed delegates.

Hard work pays off

Two new appointments at Univen

Through her hard and excellent work Mrs Esther Nembambula, a cleaner at Univen s ince 1988, has been recognised by people from as far afield as the United States of America.

“I find fulfillment in my job and I love working at Univen because this is where I officially learnt to work well.”

Recently letters of acknowledge-ment came from people who saw her work while visiting the university. Peter Troel and Susan Lareau of the University of Virginia’s School of medicine in the USA described Esther as a punctual and disciplined worker.

She was also said to be a friendly and polite person who always strives for excellence in her work. Prof Cornelia Helfferich of the University of Applied Sciences, Frieburg in Germany, also commended her work.

“I advise senior management to reward those who work hard so that they can feel motivated to even do better. People should embrace their jobs and continue to work hard,” said Nembambula.

Univen’s Department of Business Infor-mation Systems handed Nembambula a certificate of appreciation recently.

“Embrace your job” – Mrs Esther Nembambula.

Creating future leaders 5

Learning about integrated learning

Volunteer Services Overseas looking for Univen volunteers

Poverty and plenty – what affects these?

“It is important to promote the culture of engaging with the workplace in a profitable manner,” says Univen’s Deputy Vice Chancellor: Academic, Prof Xikombiso Mbhenyane. Speaking at the first work integrated learning workshop on campus recently, Mbhenyane said the process ensures that programmes are relevant and responsive to the job market.

“It focuses on community engagement policies, roles and responsibilities and work integrated learning assessment and monitoring.”

The workshop also focused on curr iculum design, teaching and learning assessment and implementation guidelines, module design, supervisory arrangements and the assessment of placement sites and challenges.

The Directorate of Community Engagement and the Centre for Higher Education, Teaching and Learning organised the workshop, which was funded by the Organisational Development and Training Unit. Similar workshops will be presented over the next two years.

Volunteer Services Overseas recently visited Univen to test the feasibility of establishing a recruitment base in South Africa and particularly in the Venda region.

Co l l abo r a t i on be tween U n i v en and t he organisat ion’s Pretor ia off ice includes the implementation of a joint volunteer programme development and management course late last year. Other areas of collaboration are in the fields of HIV and AIDS programmes and home-based care.

The visit was arranged by the Directorate of Community Engagement, with Univen’s HIV/AIDS Coordinator Dr Helen Mudzusi, the Coordinator of Short Courses, Dr Philip Kutame and the Director of International Relations Mr Cornelius Hagenmeier spearheading the initiative.

The Volunteer Services Overseas delegation comprised of the Head of International Volunteering at the Nairobi office, Ms Lillian Kotonya and the Programme Manager at the Pretoria office, Ms Charity Nshimbi.

What are the effects of the socio-economic, legal, political and philosophical dimensions of health inequality on communities?

To address these issues, Univen’s School of Health Sciences’ Department of Public Health hosted a symposium on ‘poverty and plenty’ recently.

Keynote speaker, Prof Adejumo of the University of Western Cape, said aspects such as unemployment affect health financing and the relationship between poverty and access to health.

“The effect of worker drainage is also crucial on the health system of developing countries, while world financing bodies’ policies have a marked effect on

health financing in these countries.”

Univen’s Head of the Department of Developmental Studies, Mr Lehloka, highlighted how laws and ethics affected justice towards health.

The university’s Director of International Relations, Mr Cornelius Hagenmeier, said human rights laws had a marked influence towards addressing health inequality in sub-Saharan Africa’.

”The right to health is fundamental and policy implementation in developing countr ies is sometimes affected by the requirements set by international funding bodies, which have an influence on the health of the people.”

Colbert Nengovhela was in the first class of Mining and Environmental Geology at Univen’s School of Environmental Sciences in 2000. He graduated in 2004.

“The four years spent as an undergraduate at the university have helped shape the professional that I am today.”

Visiting the campus recently to share some of his experiences with current students, he said that the campus had changed for the better - both in terms of aesthetic appearance and general ambience.

In 2004 Nengovhela was assisted by the university, through the leadership of Prof JS Ogola, to do his masters in Earth Sciences in Geology, sponsored by the Water Research Commission and the company Pulles Howard and De Lange in Johannesburg. He completed the programme within the prescribed time of two years and graduated in 2006.

“Without the dedicated guidance of Prof Ogola, all this wouldn’t have been possible.”

Today, in his professional life, he constantly reaps the rewards for having persisted with a postgraduate programme from the University of Venda.

“The skills that I have learnt during this process will always stand me in good stead in my professional life,” he says.

After completing the academic programme, he had a short stint at the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research before joining the gold mining industry where he spent the majority of his time. He held key positions in geology, environmental geology as well as environmental management.

“The versatility offered by the mining programme from Univen allowed me to switch from one career to the next and still be able to deliver high quality work. It is unique and serves a niche market that exists within industry as well as the government sector.”

He also spent some time in the platinum sector, managing rehabilitation activities for the open pit mines, as well as looking after the environmental commitments for exploration sites in other African states.

Today, Nengovhela works for the world’s biggest resources company in resource planning and development, based in Johannesburg. In all the work that he has done, he has managed to excel owing to the solid fundamental teachings offered by Univen’s School of Environmental Sciences.

“Hold your heads high and be proud that you are Univen students - in due course you will become proud Univen alumni,” says Nengovhela.

We would like to hear from you!Nendila is your communications channel.

Nendila editorial committee –

Mr Takalani Dzaga – Chief editor

Ms Welheminah Mabogo – Coordinator

Ms Bevely Dube – Media expert

Dr Nanga Lidovho – Resource person

Ms Mushoni Mulaudzi – Preservation (Library)

Send your contributions to:

Welheminah Mabogo Nendila Coordinator University of Venda Private Bag X5050 Thohoyandou, 0950

Tel 015 962 8525 Fax 015 962 8494 e-mail welheminah.mabogo@univen.ac.za

Office number 24, first floor Main administration block

Univen provided me with a solid grounding – Colbert NengovhelaResource geologist, Master of Earth Sciences in Geology (Univen), Graduate Diploma in Mining Engineering, Cum Laude (Wits University), Bachelor of Earth Sciences in Mining and Environmental Geology (Univen), Professional Natural Scientist (Pr.Sci.Nat) - Colbert Nengovhela addressed staff and students at the Univen School of Environmental Sciences recently.

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Creating future leaders6

Pay attention to basic development - Hagenmeier

Artists help us envision thoughts not tolerated by society – Ravele

More attention should be paid to the basics of development, exposing learners to career opportunities that are now available. This is according to Univen’s Director of International Relations, Mr Cornelius Hagenmeier.

Officially opening the career exhibition on the Univen campus, Hagenmeier said this will help learners to choose careers they feel passionate about and have the necessary potential to complete successfully.

“The main challenge remains the ability to attract better prepared and best performing learners to institutions of higher learning. Other challenges are reducing undergraduate drop-out rates and

increasing throughput rates. Presently, the number of students who complete within the academic programmes remains unsatisfactorily small.

“Learners should also be encouraged to consult with their educators and parents regarding career choices. The more young people we assist in choosing careers they are best suited for, the sooner we will produce a critical mass of human resource processing skills that are required to compete favourably in the global economy,” he said.

More than 10 000 learners visited the careers exhibition which targets grade 12 learners and those who have already completed grade 12.

Exhibitors included various universities, universities of technology, technical and further education and training colleges and private and public sector organisations as well as parastatals. It was presented in partnership with the Vhembe District Department of Education and the Careers Exhibition and Information Association of South Africa.

Hagenmeier said the exhibition programme covers all the essential professions and skills training required by the current economy.

“We should work together to develop scarce skills and improve quality in those areas where there is insufficient supply of relevant human resources.

Our students are an invaluable asset to the country. We need to do everything possible to facilitate their smooth transition into the world of work. Without vital information and support from the education industry we will continue wasting a lot of resources and the potential in our young people,” he said.

Schools from Vhumbedzi, Malamulele East, North and East, Tshinane, Mutshundudi, Mutale, Sibasa, Mvudi, and Luvubu attended.

In the past the exhibition attracted more than 20 000 learners from over 200 schools from the Vhembe District – hence the decision to split exhibition into two phases.

Artists are the most important members of society because they help us to envision our thoughts that may not be tolerated in the social and political paradigm.

This is according to the Department of Education in Vhembe’s Mr Cedric Ravele.

Speaking at the Artists in Schools festival held on the Univen campus recently, Ravele said the arts are a powerful vehicle for communication.

“It is a way to express visions that are beyond the capacity of words and a medium for cultural enlightenment. Knowledge of the arts is an indispensable foundation for enlightened citizen-ship in our increasingly complicated world,” said Ravele.

Hundreds of arts and culture lovers and learners converged on the Univen campus for the Artists in Schools Festival. The festival was hosted by the university in collaboration with the Department of Arts and Culture. It showcased community artists assisting leaners to produce art works that were then put on display at the Univen art gallery.

They also taught learners performances from Tshigombela, Tshikona and Malende dramas, jazz and folk music.

Officially opening the festival the Deputy Dean of the School of Human and Social Sciences, Prof Dumisani Thabede said it helped learners to identify their talents at an early age.

“As a nation we should acknowledge the artists

while they are still alive and not only praise them when they have passed away.

We are faced with a challenge that most artists do not have a formal qualification in fine arts, drama and dance. We applaud the department for making this project possible.”

The Department of Arts and Culture’s Mr Mpho Mabule said the department is committed to ensuring that every learner in public schools has access to good quality arts education and resources.

Khosi Vho-Nesengani and his entourage attended the festival as did the legendary artists Noria Mabasa and Avhashoni Manganyi. Learners from about 20 schools attended the festival.

“Grab the opportunity that a career in art offers” - Ravele.