The University of Mpumalanga (UMP) is the first South African University to partner with the Asia Pacific University of Technology & Innovation (APU) to develop entrepreneurial students who will create employment and build capacity for supporting start-up and spin-off companies, as well as exchanging knowledge among faculty staff.

Other universities included in the partnership include: Tra Vinh University and Can Tho University, Vietnam; Universitas Trisakti, Universitas Indonesia, and Telkom University, Bandung from Indonesia; Palawan State University, Philippines; the Chea Sim University of Kamchaymear, Cambodia; and National University of Laos.
 
The collaboration was formalised during a virtual ceremony on 10 March 2022, during which the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) was signed by the CEO of APU, Datuk Parmjit Singh, and representatives from other universities.
 
The agreement also includes mutual visits, access to facilities in the incubation centres, advisory to start-up/spin-off companies on regulatory requirements, understanding of the market in each parties’ countries and joint research relating to entrepreneurship.

Commenting on the signing of the MOA, UMP Vice-Chancellor Professor Thoko Mayekiso said: “The signing of the MOA will provide a platform for strategic international cooperation among the participating institutions. This will contribute towards the realisation of our strategic goal of sustainable development through innovation.”
In his speech, Datuk Parmjit Singh applauded all partners for having a common vision of producing employable graduates with the requisite skills to become entrepreneurs.

“It is about creating entrepreneurs with skills set that will allow them to become globally employable. Entrepreneurship is about turning dreams into reality. It’s about passion. The drive to achieve what our students want to be. Our joint collaboration will go a long way towards meeting this objective,” he said.

“Instead of just employability, we would like to enable our students to create job opportunities by establishing their own businesses. We want to better equip student entrepreneurs by providing them with a holistic entrepreneurship ecosystem that brings together optimal content for entrepreneurship education based on elements to foster and entrepreneurship culture and mind set. This network will foster a thriving entrepreneurial community both on and off-campus,” he added.

“The collaboration with the nine universities will give all partners access to support, and facilities in an incubation centre, along with mentor sharing and training sessions for start-up companies, and the sharing of curriculum and teaching materials related to entrepreneurship programmes. Students can also participate in the ideation boot camps, entrepreneur competition, and accelerator programmes,” said Parmjit Singh.

Through this cross-border enterprise programme, APU students, as well as students from the other nine universities could apply their talent and technical expertise and venture into entrepreneurship while they are still studying in institutions of higher learning.

The MOA is in line with the UMP’s mission to develop graduates that are innovative and entrepreneurial. The university established the Centre for Entrepreneurship Rapid Incubator (CFERI) to transform students with business ideas into entrepreneurs with viable businesses.

CFERI also assists start-up businesses from the surrounding communities in developing into sustainable, growth-oriented enterprises. It also provides support services, both financial advisory and non-financial services, including new business incubation, access to information, finance, markets, and strategic partners for growth, training, R&D facilities, and supply chain management.

The centre takes on entrepreneurs with start-up businesses and aspiring entrepreneurs with business ideas and support them through a pre-incubation process and then incubation process to develop a sustainable business within three years.

@ Story Lisa Thabethe. Pictures Supplied.

While the University of Mpumalanga (UMP) may still be one of the youngsters on the South African education block at eight years of age, the past two years have brought with it a maturity which is based firmly on resilience.

Under the guidance of Vice-Chancellor (VC), Professor Thoko Mayekiso, UMP has become a beacon of hope for many students looking to create a legacy for themselves in the country. But it does not stop there for this young upstart of a university that likes challenging the norm. Significant investment into the research and innovation portfolio of the university has produced some incredible results, while the arrival of Justice Mandisa Maya as Chancellor has been a major boon.

Armed with the slogan: Creating Opportunities, Prof Mayekiso summed it up perfectly when she said: “The University of Mpumalanga, as a comprehensive institution, understands that its academic project must combine both the creation and transfer of knowledge and skills, and the development of students as independent and critical thinkers with a passion for knowledge and its application.”

Prof Mayekiso and Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Teaching and Learning Prof Shirley Sommers during the 2021 graduation ceremony.

A new chapter for UMP

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa was named the first chancellor in 2016, but his reign came to an end in 2021. Up stepped Justice Mandisa Maya to fill his considerable shoes from 1 July 2021, after a lengthy process which demanded that the right candidate be installed at the helm.

“In the search for a new Chancellor, UMP set very high and stringent criteria. The candidate, for example, had to be a person of public honour, implying therefore that such a person should be of national stature and prestige; whose integrity is beyond question. Over and above that, the potential candidate should have an outstanding record in his or her profession and service to his or her community. Additional considerations should be the ability to enhance the stature of the university. The gravitas to encourage wide benefaction of the institution also mattered. Furthermore, candidates had to have a good understanding of, and interest in public higher education.

“Justice Mandisa Maya met these criteria, and much more. She is the president of the Supreme Court of Appeal (SCA). She comes with an illustrious record in the judicial system and is a visionary. She has an excellent track record of women empowerment. The fact that she is female is a bonus, to serve as an inspiration, and to give female staff and students hope when they see someone like themselves hold such a key position at the university.”

Prof Mayekiso admits that she is looking forward to working together with the chancellor on a number of key projects to advance the vision of the university. One of these is to continue to push the boundaries of the transformation agenda.

“We need to act in a meaningful manner to ensure we become a society that works for everyone. Transformation is key in higher education. Society looks up to higher education for solutions to some of life’s stubborn challenges, and, therefore, it is key to not only talk the talk, but walk the walk when it comes to higher education.

“Gender equity and equality require pursuing without stopping. Patriarchy and stereotypical tendencies must be eradicated. A world characterised by epistemological justice is worth working towards. My assessment is that strides are being made towards transformation in the higher education sector, but at present, for example, there are only six female vice-chancellors out of a total of 26 universities,” the avid reader and family woman adds.

Prof Mayekiso during the signing of the MoU with German-based DHBW-Loerrach.

Relevance is key

The growth of the university can be seen in the number of students applying each year. This is testament to the hard work of Prof Mayekiso and her team in ensuring that they remain relevant and an institution of choice for those looking to continue their studies post high school.

“Our student numbers are growing tremendously year on year. At inception in 2014, the university enrolled 169 students in three programmes and in 2021, we enrolled 5 369 students in 32 qualifications. In 2022, we are planning to enrol 6 375 students in 45 qualifications. A very encouraging development is the enrolment of the first doctoral students in three doctoral programmes in 2022.

The student pool is also not confined to Mpumalanga or even South Africa for that matter. UMP is determined to continue its growth trajectory and that includes the admission of students from neighbouring countries and beyond. This is down to strong partnerships being formed with tertiary institutions in Africa and other parts of the world.

Prof Mayekiso explains: “UMP has established partnerships with 20 universities globally in 13 countries. UMP has recently signed a partnership with the Baden-Wuerttemberg Cooperative State University Loerrach in Germany. Within the African continent, we have partnerships with the following universities: University of Eswatini; Universidado Eduardo Mondlane in Mozambique; Makerere Business School; Millennium University of Malawi; Muni University in Uganda; and the University of Nairobi in Kenya; while more partnerships are being explored.

Staff  recognition, development and retention is a priority for the Vice-Chancellor.  

Stellar UMP staff

To maintain the growth of the university, it is vital that the staff shaping the students are of the highest calibre. Prof Mayekiso is lucky in the sense that she has just that at her disposal. This has always been a key facet for the university, as without the best imparting their knowledge, the attraction of enrolling at the university would dwindle.

“The university has eight NRF rated researchers with two C1, three C2, two C3, and one Y2 categories. I’m a C3 rated researcher which is a great achievement considering the number of years in senior management. I received my C3 rating for the period 2013-2018 and was re- rated for the period 2019-2023.

“At UMP, staff capacity development is always prioritised and this includes research seminars presented by distinguished national and international scientists, National Research Foundation (NRF) information sessions, training on research ethics, methods, methodology, and data analyses, and the annual research writing retreats. The university currently boasts three postdoctoral fellows sponsored by UMP and three sponsored by external organisations such as NRF and the South African Institute for Aquatic Biodiversity (SAIAB).

To ensure that UMP retains staff and gives them the best opportunities, Prof Mayekiso encourages all employees to look at ways of upskilling themselves. For some, this has come in the shape of completing their doctorates. Having a highly educated and skilled staff base has always been a priority, and the results are bearing fruit for all involved.

“The percentage of staff with doctoral degrees is 49%, which reflects the university’s efforts to support staff to complete PhDs and the recruitment of new staff with PhDs. Our target is to have 50% of our staff with doctoral degrees by 2022,” she says.

“Our researchers are also encouraged through the Annual Research Excellence Awards such as the Faculty Researcher of the Year Award. In this category, recognition is given to a staff member who has made the most significant contribution towards research in their faculty during the reporting year." 

The Dean of Students, Dr Paul Maminza with the VC and SRC President Bathini Madinawe during the inauguration of the 2022 Student Leadership.

Leading from the front

The reality of the last two years is that being a leader has come with many challenges. No one was prepared for what was about to be thrown at us as a global community, so it is only fair that those in positions of power were given the benefit of the doubt.

However, for Prof Mayekiso, her leadership qualities are what saw her over the line. While she has been forced into learning unprecedented lessons, her core abilities were invaluable.

“Strategic thinking is crucial in the arsenal of a leader. Paying attention to the transformation agenda is also of importance. The ability to be discerning and realising that none of us can be smarter than all of us, as Ken Blanchard suggests, is key. Welding teams and delegating, and holding those delegated accountable, is very important.

“Today’s institutions are complex and demanding, therefore, the ability to attain the following bodes well for leadership: self-awareness, self-mastery, self-understanding, empathy, determination, managing social relations, and paying attention to detail. Over and above these, authenticity also comes in handy on the leadership journey,” Prof Mayekiso, who is an avid sports fan, shares.

Prof Mayekiso admits that her leadership style is derived from her disciplinary background, which is psychology. She draws upon insights from her understanding of human behaviour in order to cope with her daily interactions with stakeholders. 

“One has to constantly ask oneself, ‘What is my purpose? What am I doing here?’ As a leader, you have to be in touch with your personal values and beliefs. Leaders should embody their true selves, drawing on their values, beliefs, principles, and ethics. People skills are crucial in the armamentarium of effective leaders.”

The University of Mpumalanga thrives on partnerships: VC signing another one with Ehlanzeni District Municipality. 

What comes next?

“The overarching goal over the next three years is both consolidation and growth in all the three missions of the institution, namely: teaching and learning, research, and engagement. The university has experienced substantial growth in student numbers, staff complement, academic programmes, research outputs, academic staff with PhDs, and infrastructure. There is a need to continue to embed quality in the academic project. As a result, the need to ensure quality promotion and enhancement of all our activities is at the core of our being as the UMP.”

The university currently offers 48 programmes in three faculties: Education, Agriculture and Natural Sciences, and Economics, Development, and Business Sciences.

“In the next three years, the plan is to add new programmes at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels and to establish the faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences and the School of Law. By 2024, the plan is to offer approximately 70 qualifications to over 8 000 students.

“I look forward to the graduation of the first cohort of University of Mpumalanga doctoral graduates in 2024. We will continue to put in place sound governance, management systems, and processes to ensure functional governance and management structures, thereby ensuring the sustainability of the institution,” she concludes.

@ Story was first published in Leadership Magazine February Issue 2022. Follow the link for full story: https://indd.adobe.com/view/96085690-5178-41d0-ab5d-1ae88a3cbda7

Pictures by ChrisplPhoto.

ELEPHANT aims to Empower universities’ Learning and rEsearch caPacities in the one Health Approach for the maNagement of animals at the interface between humans, livestock, wildlife and environment in SouTh Africa. 

UMP is one of six South African Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) participating in the ELEPHANT Consortium. Other partners are University of Pretoria (UP), University of Venda (UVEN), University of Fort Hare (UFH), University of Limpopo (UL), Southern African Wildlife College (SAWC) and two European Universities: Utrecht University (UU) and University of Bologna (UNIBO).

On 21 – 25 March, UMP hosted a five-day ELEPHANT meeting at the Tfokomala Hotel and Conference Centre – together with the Steering Committee (UU, UNIBO and UP) and the Board of Representatives (UMP, UNIVEN, UL, UFH, SAWC, UP, UNIBO, and UU).

Progress of the ELEPHANT project was discussed, and further development and delivery of OneHealth-related training in South Africa, the Netherlands and Italy was planned.

The training targeting staff and Post Graduate students, focuses on the principles of OneHealth, an integrated approach of human, animal and environmental health and welfare issues, sample collection and disease surveillance methods, hazard identification, and biosecurity and welfare assessments.

Finally, participants discussed the establishment of community participative post-graduate student research projects, strategies for enhancing involvement of, and effective communication with local communities and authorities, as well as dissemination of results to these communities and beyond.

University of Mpumalanga Research Projects

UMP ELEPHANT Project Leader, Dr Liaan Minnie, and co-investigator Dr Kath Forssman, both from the School of Biology and Environmental Sciences, are developing Masters and Honours student research projects, which will involve working with the community of Welverdiend, Acornhoek bordering the Kruger National Park (KNP).

According to Dr Minnie, “a pilot survey, forming part of the ELEPHANT project, was completed in November 2021 and the Welverdiend community indicated that they have issues with wildlife from KNP moving onto their communal grazing areas and disease spread due to contact with their cattle.

“To address this issue, we are going to place camera traps in the communal grazing areas and ask the local community  to monitor the camera traps, thus increasing community participation in research. We will use these camera traps to determine the abundance, activity patterns and habitat selection of both livestock and wildlife,” he continues.

“Based on this data we will develop a model of contact rates between livestock and wildlife, aimed at predicting the chances of disease-spread between wildlife and livestock.”

Dr Minnie further says that during the pilot survey, the community also expressed concerns over carnivores killing livestock. Camera traps will again be used to look at the abundance, activity patterns and habitat selection of carnivores.

“The information may be useful in adapting livestock management practices within communal grazing areas. The third project in this community is a socio-economic survey of the farmers, which is based on a questionnaire that is being developed as part of the ELEPHANT project,” he says.

Working with communities

The ELEPHANT Project aims to boost innovative research capacities at SA Institutions by facilitating strong connections between partners, local communities and authorities, as well as EU support for equipment purchase. Thus will contribute to poverty relief through effective science-based health and welfare management at the interface between humans, domestic animals, wildlife and environment.

ELEPHANT Chairperson Professor Victor PMG Rutten, who coordinates the Erasmus+ project from Utrecht, Netherlands, chaired the meeting held at UMP.

He said that although the project had launched early 2020, it has suffered a year’s delay due to Covid-19. Fortunately, now, participating institutions and communities are back on track.

“All partners are working very hard and are ready to deliver their contributions. We feel ready to empower staff and postgraduate students.”

Prof Rutten also mentions that staff and postgraduate students, in consultation with communities come forward and contribute to the project. The idea is to train people, especially young stars, to deal with complex animal, environmental and human issues, adopting OneHealth approaches.

“We encourage students to stay on and work with us on OneHealth projects. Most students receive their degrees and leave but some continue as staff at our institutions and even though they might be working somewhere else, they will be equipped with a “OneHealth” attitude.”

The objectives of ELEPHANT addresses several of the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals and align with the European Consensus on Development that integrates the economic, social and environmental dimensions of sustainable development for poverty reduction.

Participants at the ELEPHANT meeting held at UMP.

Solving complex problems

Several evaluations of OneHealth initiatives have indicated that solving complex problems regarding the health and welfare of humans, animals and environment necessitates an adoption of a systematic approach with no domination of one discipline over the others.

ELEPHANT will thus adopt interdisciplinary by bringing together researchers with different skills, expertise and backgrounds as well as a transdisciplinary approach that will overcome the boundaries between academia and society to enable inputs and scoping across scientific and non-scientific stakeholders.

The project aims to adopt a disease risk assessment methodology to enhance capacities in hazard identification (potential source of harm or adverse health effects). Hazards include emerging, endemic, and zoonotic diseases as well as non-infectious threats that may affect the health and/or the welfare of humans and animals, food security and the ecosystem, as well as the consequence for local communities.

This will be mainly done with researchers and post-graduate students. ELEPHANT will address one of the main priorities identified in the South African Veterinary Strategy (2016-2026) of the Department of Agriculture Forestry and Fisheries (DAFF) that underlined the importance of participatory health and welfare policies and evidence-based interventions.

The above objectives will ultimately address several of the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals and align with the European Consensus on Development that integrates the economic, social and environmental dimensions of sustainable development for poverty reduction.

@ Story by Lisa Thabethe. Pictures ChrisplPhoto.

Professor Gumede was addressing the UMP community and external stakeholders at a seminar put together by the university’s Research Division, under the topic: Organisation, Capacity and Functioning of the South African Government.

Opening his address, Professor Gumede said it is critical to assess the prospects of South Africa achieving its developmental goals as well as dealing with the challenge of state-building, particularly as development outcomes appear to be deteriorating amidst various efforts to capacitate and reorganize the government.

“The process of rethinking the organisation of the state began in 2005 when President Mbeki introduced the planning, monitoring and evaluation in government and President Kgalema Motlanthe administration continued with that.

President Zuma administration expanded those functions by creating more capacity: new ministries and more government departments. President Ramaphosa administration largely continued with what President Zuma administration was pursuing but it also resuscitated what President Mbeki had put in place,” he said.

Professor Estelle Boshoff introduced the speaker, Professor Vusi Gumede.

Measures to reorganise the state
The introduction of new government ministries over time show that government has been growing. Departments started at 27 and have grown to 46 in 2014 and then went down to 39 presently.

Professor Gumede notes that research shows that capacity has been put in place over time, but that certain areas seem stagnant or have low productivity.

“With regards to capacitating the public service, there are many institutions that have transformed over time. People are also paid relatively well in the public sector – professors and senior officials in government departments earn roughly the same.”

He argues that productivity is low in government. Though some departments have shown an improvement, there are sectors in which there have been a decline or departments that have simply remained stagnant.

“The issue could therefore be that there might not be enough people to do the work, or maybe there is simply no direction. It may be other factors too. It may be that you have the right people in wrong places or vice versa.”

Programme Director, Dr John Molepo.

Stagnant developmental outcomes

Professor Gumede says South Africa has not improved in terms of developmental outcomes. The decline started in 2008/2009.

“The challenge we have in South Africa is perhaps we have capacity in the wrong places and to correct the problem you need to reorganise and capacitate the organs of state. The fundamental issue that requires attention is what is causing a deterioration in the development outcomes when capacity seems to have been increased since 1994,” he adds.

“What matters most is the kind of capacity that the government has and how it is organised. There are specific skill sets that are needed at local government level that might differ from the expertise required at the provincial and national levels, he added.

“Though the solution remains unclear, the problems are apparent: the South African government has not sufficiently confronted apartheid colonialism directly and in order to address this successfully, the country is in need of a clear development agenda and issues of leadership.”

@ Story by Lisa Thabethe. Pictures ChristplPhoto.

Shongwe, a former Hospitality Management student, currently resides and practices in an area locally known as France’s ‘Bread Basket’, which is located on the river Creuse in the heart of the Indre et Loire region, home to the finest goat’s cheese producers, and where winemaking has been deeply rooted for centuries.

The 27-year old says, “I entered a competition in 2019 for a six-week internship at Le Calabash in the Loire Valley in France. It was held at the Saxon Hotel Villas and Spa. They chose three interns and I was the fourth. Being selected came as a shock, it was like an outer body experience because I was surrounded by a lot of great chefs.”

Though her dream to join top chefs in France was almost shattered by the two-year lockdown, Shongwe says the experience was worth the wait, as she has already learnt a lot in the two weeks she has been there. 

Shongwe will receive all the training she can imagine at Le Calabash since the restaurant also offers cookery courses, which provides a hands-on opportunity to develop culinary skills in a practical and supportive learning environment.

“French people love food which is good news to the hospitality industry. In every town there’s a small food market where farmers sell their fresh produce on a weekly basis,” she continues.

“France really embodies what organic farming is because you will go to the supermarket and find unwashed carrots still full of dirt. They are also home to the largest food hub/ food market in the world. Their food is easily traceable - you know where the chicken you’re eating came from, how it was raised and how long it lived. Those little things matters and everyone is so aware.”

“I met two South African winemakers and a chef who won the internship with me in 2019 and is now based in Belgium,” she says.

Shongwe, who inherited her love for cooking from her father and grandmother, has settled well in the home of the Eiffel Tower.

Always be willing and eager to learn

Shongwe urges young people to find a way to keep their skillset alive and functional. She cautions them to always know that there will be challenges along the way, but that hard work will see them through, as will a thorough understanding of the industry they are in.

“Conduct research about your industry and make sure that your CV is concise and readable,” she adds.

“The challenges will always be there. Though they differ, since people are not the same, so the way you deal with the challenge determines your next step. I always remind myself that I cannot be like anyone else because our journeys are different even if the goal is the same. Picking up good habits will help a lot.”

Shongwe says she used her time at the University of Mpumalanga wisely and grabbed every opportunity that came her way.

“My lecturers taught me what most people don’t realise, which is that hospitality management is not just about food. It mostly focuses on the hotel or accommodation based establishments especially the front of house but somehow I managed to get into a kitchen and learn.”

Initially Shongwe was anxious about the hospitality industry after it was badly affected by Covid-19 and lockdowns. But her time in France has restored a positive feeling about the industry she loves so much.

The young chef started her schooling at Ermelo Christian School and completed her primary career at White River Primary and high school at Rob Ferreira High School. She wants to see herself making an impactful change in the hospitality industry.

“There aren’t enough female-headed kitchens at the moment and I feel determined enough to keep learning and inspire my peers so that we can make it to the top.”

In a few weeks’ time Shongwe will be back in South Africa and aims to share her experience with other local chefs and customers at a restaurant, Kitchen Co. Bistro and Bar in White River, where she currently works..

@ Story Lisa Thabethe. Pictures Supplied.

Initially developed by the Science-for-the-Future unit at the University of Free State (UFS), the Family Math programme involves a collaboration with six other South African universities, of which UMP is one. Dr Nokwanda Mbusi, the Family Math Project Champion and Facilitator, and Dr Mphalele Makgaleng, the Family Math Project Facilitator, form the Project team members at UMP.

Dr Mbusi says the programme is especially helpful in the rural areas where schools and parents often don’t have the necessary skills, and teachers are not always equipped with sufficient resources to assist children with their learning.

“It addresses effective mathematics teaching and learning by promoting a collaborative approach where teachers, parents and learners from a particular community are included in a triangular project strategy, where facilitators train Grade 3 teachers on Family Math activities.

The strategy is aligned with the Curriculum and Assessment Policy Statement (CAPS) mathematics subject content, which they are teaching to Grade 3 learners. During the training, the focus is on subject content knowledge and teaching skills, making use of a hands-on, constructivist approach.”

The Family Math Programme also assist local teachers.

Inclusive training 
Facilitators and teachers conduct parents’ training sessions in the Family Math activities at their respective schools in the local community and this enables parents to become involved in their children’s Mathematics teaching and learning.

Dr Mbusi says: “The implementation phase (first year) of the Family Math programme entails training of teachers at UMP as well as receiving all the relevant classroom and parent activity material.

In the second year of the Family Math, facilitators visit the individual participating teachers at their local schools for mentoring sessions instead of them coming to the campus,” she explains.

In the third year, facilitators support the teachers via group meetings at their local schools whilst activity material is still supplied. This is called an EXIT-SUPPORT initiative. The triangular strategy is embedded in the roll-out-exit- as well as exit-support initiatives. Support beyond the three-year period is referred to as Partner Support initiatives. The goal of the aforementioned is to ensure sustainability.

Dr Mbusi adds that after attending training sessions, teachers integrate the Family Math programme activities into the school curriculum and teach Family Math activities to their learners.

“Teachers conduct training sessions with the parents of their learners, on the Family Math activities, so that parents can assist their children with mathematics when they are at home."

Programme facilitators have strengthened networks locally.

Exchange of knowledge 

The Family Math project funder, SANRAL, supplies all teacher training material, learners’ material and parent training material. Parents keep the material so that they can use it with their learners at home.”

Dr Mbusi says over and above the fact that this project fulfils the role of UMP in community engagement by providing contextualised, relevant teaching and learning, the empowerment of teachers from local schools has an added benefit for the UMP Faculty of Education.

“For example, UMP BEd students go to these local schools for their Teaching Practice, where teachers are using Family Math material. Therefore, UMP students get to be mentored by the school teachers on how to use the material. This is an opportunity which cannot be provided to them as part of their formal training in the BEd programme, due to time constraints,” she continues.

“UMP facilitators involved in the Family Math project have strengthened their networks with local primary school mathematics teachers, while forming important Communities of Practice.”

@ Story Lisa Thabethe. Pictures Supplied.

Early struggles towards gender equality took the sameness approach which encapsulate practices and procedures that seek to ensure equal rights, treatment  and same opportunities between men and women especially in the public sphere.  The sameness approach has been widely criticized on the basis that women, in this case, would then be expected to perform to the standards set by men and men are set as the yardstick against which women are measured. 

At a later stage, the gender struggle changed the focus to address gender equity or issues of difference. This approach embodies preferential treatment of employees based on their special needs.  This includes women’s unique (reproductive) needs. To this effect policies/legislation such as maternity leave are put in place to allow women to recover from child-birth without of fear for dismissal from employment on the basis of pregnancy.

However, the main concern with regards to this approach has been that employers may choose to refrain from employing women to avoid having to put in place the provisions such as maternity leave.  It is also important to note that in the recent past there has also been advocacy for more time given for paternity and parental leave to encourage the sharing of child-care and domestic responsibility between fathers and mothers.

Another form of special treatment is ‘positive action’ which refers to the adoption of specific measures, on behalf of the disadvantaged groups to remedy past discrimination and as a way of leveling the playing field. One form of positive action is affirmative action, which in the case of women, as one of the designated groups, was adopted to rectify women’s previous disadvantages and increasing gender disparities. These approaches have been embedded in legislation and work-place policies.  

However, neither of the two approaches challenge the status quo. For example, positive action addresses equity issues to achieve mainly a gender parity in high positions in politics and the workplace but leaves root of the problem, which is unequal gender relations intact.  

To achieve full equality it is important to consider addressing not only equality and equity issues but also mainstreaming gender in the institutional systems, including policies, practices procedures etc.

Gender mainstreaming

The third equality approach is Gender Mainstreaming (GM) which emerged in the 1980 and was adopted by the UN Beijing Platform for Action (BPA), in the Fourth World Conference for Women (FWCW) in 1995, to address gender inequality across nations. The BPA was ratified by many countries including South Africa. The BPA requires the establishment of institutional mechanisms to carry out the implementation of gender mainstreaming across nations. 

Gender mainstreaming could assist in dealing with complex gender inequality brought about by unjust patriarchal and traditional cultures.  Unlike other approaches, gender mainstreaming takes the ‘long agenda’ approach which entails addressing unequal gender relations based on the patriarchal culture, structures and systems that lie at the root of subordination and which perpetuate gender discrimination. This also entails the transforming the decision-making, structures and processes, rearticulating policy-ends and means from a gender perspective.  

Many countries, including South Africa, have adopted GM, as required by the BPA, and has legislated it as a ‘soft law’. Such laws have no teeth and are not legally binding. There are no allocations of financial and human resources, no time-table for action, no specific measures for its implementation, no monitoring its application, and sanctioning of non-compliant actors. For instance, the EU sets targets but the implementation of policies is left to member states and monitoring is done only through annual reports on progress made by each member-state. 

Mainstreaming ‘intersectionality’

The last approach is intersectionality. This approach deals with intersectional structural inequalities such as race, gender, class, sexuality, ethnicity and pays attention to the cross-cutting and overlapping nature thereof.  

As a country where the majority of the people, have suffered on the basis of one or more of the systems of oppressions mentioned above, under the apartheid and hetero-patriarchal state, South Africa requires such an approach.    

The state had also created further divisions, among blacks, along the ethnic lines and within these there are also urban and rural divides.  However, the intersections and their overlapping nature have not been fully captured in the post-apartheid’s South African equality policies.    

All the approaches are relevant to address the complex multi-layered nature of inequalities we are confronted with, in South Africa. To this effect for sustainability, we propose a four-fold framework which draws from all approaches – equality, equity, gender mainstreaming and intersectionality, discussed above. 

This would mean mainstreaming all four approaches concurrently and complementarily for sustainability. This four-legged framework would make a complete package to the advancement to sustainable equality in South Africa. 

Pictures Supplied.

The students from the Bachelor of Arts programme, Mr Bonginkosi Hlatshwayo and Ms Reamogetse Segooa, both respectively achieved a distinction in the Tourism Module. They had to present on a brief titled: South Africa’s most sustainable incentive trip, and had to work in groups with students from other institutions. 

This year, unfortunately, due to Covid-19, the South African National Convention Bureau (SANCB) in conjunction with the Southern African Association for the Conference Industry (SAACI) and Tourism Educators of South Africa (TESA) hosted the Meetings Africa Youth Programme at Meeting Africa 2022 instead of the IMEX-Future Leaders Programme.

UMP Tourism and Heritage Lecturer and UMP Coordinator for this initiate, Dr Precious Shabalala, explains that the teams were expected to come up with an exciting concept for South Africa’s most sustainable incentive trip for 50 people and present it as an Incentive Travel company that is motivated to win Brightways as a new client.

“The groups were expected to come up with an attractive two-day programme for the consultancy firm: Brightways, adhering to the criteria presented during the brief. In addition, in groups they had to decide on one or several presenters who would then present their idea,” explains Dr Shabalala.

UMP delegates with Tourism Minister, Lindiwe Sisulu.

Encouraging the best and brightest

Meetings Africa is a platform where exhibitors such as hotel groups and tourism associations from across the country and continent exhibit their product/services, with plenty of opportunities to meet potential buyers or even partners/collaborators.

Exhibitors meet with buyers, who are international visitors with an interest and the capacity to host conferences or various meetings in different fields. The South African National Convention Bureau (SANCB) is responsible for facilitating a meeting between exhibitors and buyers, and one of the ways it does this is through a diary system, where each buyer has to have at least 20 meetings in one day with the different exhibitors. 

SANCB has also been working on one of their projects to recover the industry, which includes working with 27 small towns, three from each province, and has identified 50 national associations in different fields, from the bees association to engineering, science and technology.  

UMP Meetings participants: Bonginkosi Hlatshwayo and Reamogetse Segooa.

Dr Shabalala further explains that the programme has been developed to encourage the best and brightest students to develop successful careers in the meetings and events industry.

“Over the two days, the students were exposed to valuable industry contacts and benefitted from high-quality education through the Master Class. They also gained expert insights into the meetings industry, and learned from one another as students.  Over and above, the students had an opportunity rub shoulders with the Minister and Deputy Minister of Tourism,” she adds.

As a UMP coordinator for this initiative, I am grateful for the continuous support received from MTPA and the organisers of the event. When UMP initially attended this event, they supported me when I motivated for our students to attend Meetings Africa 2019,.

I would like to extend my appreciation to my line manager, Prof Sibanyoni, and my Programme leader, Dr Ngobese, for their support. I extend my gratitude to our Faculty and UMP management for their support."

@ Story by Lisa Thabethe. Pictures Supplied.

Recently, Baloyi and another renowned star, Condi Sibiya, represented the university at the Sunbirds Netball trials, which were held in Nelspruit on 20 March. The Sunbirds is the provincial netball team that will be representing Mpumalanga in the Telkom Netball League.

“We both did well during the first round of trials, which were held in Middelburg, and then moved on to the second stage which was held in Ermelo. We made it to the finals but unfortunately did not do so well this time.

I’m disappointed that I won’t be representing Mpumalanga at the Telkom Challenge this year,” says Baloyi who coaches a Siyabuswa campus netball team, fondly known as Lockdown 11.

Baloyi and Sibiya, who are both BEd students at Siyabuswa campus, were also part of the 2021 UMP USSA team that was crowned UMP Female Sports Team of the year at the Co-Curricular Awards.

As part of its netball development programme, the University of Mpumalanga allows local netball teams to use its facilities, with the intention to ensure that the aspirant netball stars are motivated and encouraged. UMP Netball coordinator, Kabelo Mmakola, says the university plays a vital role in developing netball stars within communities.

“During school holidays our players assist netball teams in their communities. The university also organizes tournaments in which local teams can play against UMP stars,” she says.

The Nkangala Netball league games are also being played at the UMP facilities. The tournament fosters an environment in which every young star starts dreaming big and developing confidence. The UMP netball team is organized. We play a part in growing netball stars within the different communities in Mpumalanga.

This makes local players want to register at the university because they want to be part of the UMP team.” He adds that most of the teams that use UMP’s sports field are comprised of high school girls who are mostly interested in studying at UMP to be closer to the institution’s netball team." 

Mmakola adds: “The local players admire our team. This is also another strategy that has helped us attract more young players to our team and registered at the university. Youngster become fascinated by the professional conduct displayed by their mentors (UMP players).”

Stars in the making

Nondumiso Mhlongo is a young player, who was inspired by former UMP netball star, Khanyi Shongwe, UMP’s former Sports Woman of the Year. Shongwe played for Benin, one of the formidable sides in Nkomazi.

Mhlongo says: “I was motivated by Shongwe. She used to interact with us during school holidays. I can say that she mentored us. When I was still in high school it was my dream to play for the UMP netball team. Shongwe used to assist us and everyone in the team wanted to emulate her. Luckily, after completing matric, I was accepted to study at UMP and this gave me an opportunity to play for the institution."

She adds: “I am very happy to be part of this formidable team; it’s like a dream come true. I will use this platform to display my skills so that one day I can become a professional player and be a part of the national team.”

Mhlongo now plays for UMP and mentors other young players from her home town in Benin, KaMhlushwa in Nkomazi.

Diploma in Animal Production student, Nobuhle Nyoni, who is from Nkomazi has also commended UMP for playing a role in developing her sporting abilities. 

“Interacting with UMP players while in high school taught me discipline. Netball teams in the communities do not have that. Most of them play the game for fun and are not competitive. The UMP players are disciplined and very professional. And this is what I have learnt and that is what you need to succeed in netball, or any sport for that matter,” she says.

Other young stars who just joined UMP and are doing well include Hullender Mabuza and Mapule Kgatla who played for Mopani Netball Team at the Spar Championship last year.

Mmakola adds that UMP will continue to groom young netball players in the local townships. "The institution and our stars inspires aspirant netball players to do great and develops their willpower to become excellent players."

@ Story Lisa Thabethe. Pictures Supplied.