Welcoming the guests, Vice-Chancellor Professor Thoko Mayekiso said Africa Day creates a platform for African countries to reaffirm their commitment to work in partnership with each other by nurturing an environment that is conducive to prosperity, democracy and peace.

“Africa Day in the South African context provides brothers and sisters form all over the continent an opportunity to distance themselves from xenophobia and all the evils associated with it,” she said. 

“As the UMP Community, we embrace and celebrate our connectedness to the African continent in our very vision: ‘To be an African University leading in creating opportunities for sustainable development through innovation.’ We believe that Africa Day provides us with an excellent opportunity to advance our vision and in particular live our value of diversity.” 

Professor Mayekiso further said that UMP has established a tradition of celebrating Africa since 2015 and have in the past years invited great scholars because the institution seeks to recognise, affirm and entrench the African identity. 

“UMP as an African University seeks to recognise, affirm and entrench the African experience and context in the academic project. The vision prompts and propels us to have a keen interest in what happens on the continent and really be passionate about playing our role properly, to ensure that the continent continue to succeed.”

Guest speaker: Professor Kwesi Kwaa Prah.

The keynote address was deliver by Professor Kwesi Kwaa Prah, founder and former Director of the Centre for Advanced Studies of African Society (CASAS). Founder and former Director of the Centre for Advanced Studies of African Society (CASAS) based in Cape Town, Professor Kwesi Kwaa Prah started the lecture by acknowledging the history of Africa Day and the autonomous history of the African people.

“We were given a new identity. A new identity was created for us. Our history was interrupted. The language we use now is the result of 75 years of interrupted history. Young ones must be careful because you are inheriting this condition. Your task it take all of this and recreate the trajectory which was it rudely interrupted by external interest,” said Professor Kwesi Kwaa Prah.

The UMP Choir provided entertainment on the day. 

“Young ones, you must be socially aware of the significance of this day. See how you can take history to reshape your future. You need to be aware that it is not the colour that defines us. It is the culture. If we allow our culture to be destroyed, we become other people. We become people who follow other cultures and try to speak their language,” he said.

"What has been done to us has made our children act and look more Western out of desperation. This is the danger we face as Africans. The Afrikaners are still writing their dictionary. We need to have the same rights as everybody. Let us make our rights real. We want to study in our language. So we can't blame them.

Don't use colour. Think about African as a culture. Learn to say African child. Black child can be American. Our culture is our foundation. That is where our Africaness lies. We need a memory recall. Empower the language. Then our connection and pride comes back,” he said.  

The Vice-Chancellor, Professor Thoko Mayekiso and the Dean of Students, Dr Paul Maminza.

Wrapping up the lecture was the Dean of Students, Dr Paul Maminza, thanking the attendees who were at the venue and some on Zoom with warm words. He also expressed his gratitude towards the UMP community, staff and students, the Vice-Chancellor Professor Mayekiso and Professsor Kwaa Prah for a thought provoking lecture, which has raised issues that the university will continue to ponder as they go about with their day-to-day duties.

The Africa Day lecture follows a series of events hosted by the University of Mpumalanga to build up to and celebrate the day. Siyabuswa Campus held a poetry and music event. There was also a debate event. The Student Affairs Division held an Africa Day Webinar where students demonstrated their Africaness.

@ Story by Lisa Thabethe. Pictures @ChrisplPhoto. To view the event:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iU4YIgTzxX

The panel, which consisted of Culture and Heritage lecturer, Ms Thulisile Bhuda, Dean of the Faculty of Economics, Development and Business Sciences, Professor Vusi Gumede and Research Professor of Education, Professor Sechaba Mahlomaholo, unpacked a variety of issues that ranged from language and culture to how the African continent was able to contain COVID-19.  

The three were speaking during the UMP and RiseFM Africa Day Dialogue, where Bhuda opened up the discussion by saying that many high school pupils and students are reluctant to take up careers associated with Culture and Heritage until they are enrolled at institutions of higher learning.

“When children are still in high school, teachers encourage them to study careers such as teaching, nursing, law and other related studies. So, when you tell them to study culture and heritage studies they ask themselves how that would assist them in life. When you practice your heritage and culture, you become confident and it makes you confident in the world," she said.

“Once they are registered in tertiary, that’s where they start to understand the importance of this career. A degree in culture and heritage is important because a graduate can work as a language specialist and they can also work in museums, the tourism industry and also work as policy developers,” said Bhuda. 

She further explained that this kind of study discipline plays a vital role when it comes to preserving culture and heritage as these people will make everyone understand that African culture is relevant in this 21st century. “We encourage our students to write their assignments in their indigenous languages at the University of Mpumalanga."   

Culture and Language
According to Bhuda, successful countries such as South Korea and China use their indigenous languages in most of the things they do. The lecturer has urged Africans not to take their culture and heritage for granted. African people will not understand where they are going if they don’t preserve the knowledge that “our ancestors fought for so many years to preserve”, she added..  

Professor Sechaba Mahlomaholo, a Research Professor of Education in UMP, who also took part in the dialogue, shared the same sentiments as Bhuda as he called on Africans to be united and assist an African child to get the education that they deserve. 

“The problem with Africa originated in our history as we were supposed to be united people, but we are divided and as a result of colonization that continues. We are still in these post-colonial errors, even our education is still written from outside the continent. The majority of practices in Africa still pay homage to the Europeans. For example, if we can use our African languages without European context, our learners would better understand.

Until such time in which we are going to implement that, we will always come second. There is a discovery showing that if we locate what we learn in our particular habitat with our local experience we can become better. Even if Grade 12 can be written in our indigenous languages such as Sesotho and IsiZulu our learners can improve their performance. Exams have to be set in all languages to have our children understand. They should find their experiences and inspiration from what they learn. African stories, African inspirations should be emphasised. We are in Africa here."

Economic Development 
Professor Gumede spoke about issues that affect economic development and other issues of the same caliber. Gumede said the only way the continent can develop is when the African states can come together. 

“The challenge we face is the approach that we are following in Africa to pursue development. However, all countries face challenges of development because of the approach they take to the socio and economic development issues. I think this is a key issue for the global society, not only for us in Africa. We need to confront this issue, that the approach and the model we used to develop our society is traumatic and did not develop us; it is difficult to compete properly," he added.

“There were times when development was advancing effectively just after the post independency period. We lost track and we need to look at the lessons we can learn from that to ensure that we develop again. The key issue for me is Pan African unity because we cannot operate as an island, therefore we need to go back to the drawing board and come together as Africans and advance the development of the whole  continent.” 

Professor Gumede also mentioned that colonialism, imperialism and other factors also have negative impacts when it comes to hindering the development of Africa.  “We need to liberate ourselves from colonial mentality. There are many people such as Arabs and other nations who imposed their way of doing things on us. Another reason we are not able to advance in Africa is that even our states, especially South Africa, are not designed in a way that allows for development to take place. We must firstly deal with the colonization of the mind of the people because we are not yet free from mental slavery."

Professor Mahlomaholo added: "If we can find a way to come together in the African agenda, we can create a united Africa. Even our education is still offered from outside the continent."

Effects of COVID-19
When talking about the impact of COVID-19 on the African continent, Mahlomaholo said that the virus has negatively affected poor students as it  destroyed the progress that was made the previous years. 

He cited that the heavy lockdown that was implemented by President Cyril Ramaphosa to curb the spread of the virus exposed the inequality problems that exist among the institutions of higher education because well-resourced institutions continued teaching uninterrupted, while many under-resourced black orientated universities struggled with issues such internet connections and electricity cut-offs and others.

Bhuda said that COVID-19 explored the many uses of traditional medicines as the world was trying to find a cure. "COVID-19 has put a strain on our cultures. However, it has also forced us as Africans to reconnect with our traditional medicines."

Professor Gumede added: “Everything we do, we must put Africa first and make sure that most of our resources are used on the continent instead of using them in other continents. Look at how we have dealt with Covid-19. We managed to deal with the impact of what was anticipated. We have done quite well. We coordinated our response quite well."

For the full Podcast, https://iono.fm/e/1044106

@ Pictures Cleopatra Makhaga and supplied.

“Being a student at UMP has been my greatest achievement thus far. It has given me the opportunity to fulfill my dreams and to build a future for myself. I will not be bound by the chains of poverty, or let anyone tell me there is something I cannot achieve.”

Hard-working student and excellent athlete, Khumalo’s journey as an orphan and teen mom has not been an easy one. She says she has always had to persevere and overcome life’s hardships for the sake of her son.

“I was not ready to have a child, and though I had no one to help me but my sister, who was also still young, we found a way to make it work. I had to leave school to stay home with my son. I knew it was the right thing to do, but it was also very hard because it felt like I could literally see my future fading away. Our hardships also multiplied because we had no finances and I was forced to find a job. A relative offered me work as a domestic and promised to pay me R500 a month. That never materialized and all they gave me in the end was R150," she says.

“I decided there and then that this was not the life I wanted. I enrolled to complete my matric in 2016 and passed with university exemption. It was not easy and I hardly slept. I worked hard and managed to succeed. I had proven to myself that one small misstep did not mean my future was lost.”

JOINING THE UMP JOURNEY
Khumalo applied to several different universities and was accepted by most, but it was only the University of Mpumalanga that offered her a bursary and assisted with the registration fees. With her chosen field of study, Khumalo hopes to help build strong young minds of the future, and to help them choose the right path, but also to show them, that even when you waiver, or things do not go exactly as planned, its never too late to start over and build a better future.

It is not only academically that Khumalo is thriving. “I’ve been part of the USSA (University Sport South Africa) team twice, once in 2018, and again now in 2021. I like participating in sports because it helps me stay fit and focused. It has allowed me to see places I never would have seen otherwise. When I first started studying at UMP, I did not even know about all the wonderful opportunities that are available to students," she says.

She recalls how it all came about. "My residence roommate encouraged me to go see the Sports Officer Mr Aggrey Mokoena, and the rest, as they say, is history. We had our first athletics competition in 2018 on the main campus in Mbombela. Mr Trust Nkomo wanted me to participate with the guys because I was the only female doing long distance (3 000 meters) and the guys were doing (5 000 meters). I was so scared at first but he told me to run my own race and never be ashamed.”

Khumalo definitely ran her own race that day, and has been doing that for most of her life, proving to herself and others that anything is possible.

“Being a single mom was and is extremely hard, but it has taught me to be strong. Not only for myself, but also for this innocent soul I have brought into this world. Growing up without parents and being a single mom has taught me how to stand up for myself, to work hard, dream big, and always strive towards my goals. It has taught me to never be ashamed of who I am or where I come from.”

“Being here at UMP has opened my eyes to the world of opportunities out there, and also within myself. I have come to realise that you need to follow your dreams and never give up. When I took the decision to rewrite my matric, people were quick to laugh and judge me. It would have been easy to give up right then and there, but I persevered and am so grateful for where I am today.”

@ Story by Cleopatra Makhaga. Pictures supplied

The workshop, which will run until June and is organized by the Centre for Entrepreneurship Rapid incubator (CFERI) and the Graduate and Placement Office, aims to empower and support students with tools and knowledge on how to start businesses after they graduate. 

UMP CFERI Centre Manager, Dr Kanayo Ogujiuba, said the purpose of the workshop is to develop and groom UMP student entrepreneurs to become successful in the businesses they choose. 

“Our vision is to support our alumni to have sustainable businesses. We are supporting and capacitating small and medium enterprises within the province to be operational and to be able to assist with job creation.

This workshop is designed to ensure that our third-year students across all faculties are empowered with business knowledge and to get them job-ready should they choose to seek employment,” said Dr Ogujiuba.

The university has partnered with several stakeholders to ensure that the students get the best from the event. Some of the organisations included the Mpumalanga Economic Growth Agency, which assists small, medium and micro enterprises and cooperatives with funding opportunities.

“The organisation provides funding in respect of property, business, enterprise and agricultural development.The industries that are targeted are manufacturing, retail, hospitality, tourism, agriculture and construction,” said Sezanele Zondi.

He further said the organisation supports the hospitality industry through, for example, funding of guesthouses, bed and breakfasts and transportation in the tourism sector. “We also provide funding of restaurants, and assist with the growth and development of emerging and commercial farmers, and agricultural cooperatives,” said Zondi.

Students were also advised to look at various ways of community development and social cohesion initiatives. Hlengiwe Ngomane from the National Youth Development Trust explained the social ills the world is facing today, which require social cohesion and the need for people to become united. “The United Nations is challenging us to come together and solve the issues of unemployment. This starts with young people who have the responsibility to ensure that communities are developed,” she said. 

Ngomane explained that what this means is that if a student has information about agriculture opportunities and your friend is sitting at home unemployed, you can share your knowledge and create a business where more people can participate. 

Business finance is also a big part of becoming an entrepreneur and securing funding is also crucial, said Sabelo Mamba from the Small Enterprise Finance Agency. 

He said his organisation offers small, medium and micro enterprises with funding, which includes direct lending from R50 000 to R15 million. This covers asset finance, bridging loans, revolving loans, term loans and township and rural entrepreneurship programmes. 

“There is also technical support, commercial and industrial properties, institutional strengthening, investee company board representation and fund management services, which the students can choose from,” he added. Other support services are post investment management, workout and restructuring.” 

4IR is the future and students learnt more about how to become part of it, and the use of drone technology in business solutions for entrepreneurs said David Malematsa. He explained that the fourth industrial revolution would also bring solutions that will assist to change the way hotel systems function. 

The workshop was beneficial to the students who attended such as Kgothatso Maphopha who is studying for a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture. “Before the workshop I was anxious about her future and the direction I wanted to take post my graduation but the information I gathered here has empowered me with all the necessary information I need to make a decision,” she said.

“Now I’m clued up about the agencies that support entrepreneurs. I know that before you get funded you attend training and are helped with your business plan. I learnt about all the different policies in the workplace. I now also know what is expected of me as an entrepreneur, employee, employer and agricultural student.”

Another student who found the workshop useful is Thapelo Mamiane who was amongst the students who won the 2020 EDHE competition and recently awarded R2 000. He says the workshop gave him plenty of insights and more knowledge about entrepreneurship and running a successful start-up.

“The workshop has been a great experience which brought plenty of innovative business ideas. Ideas that were just ideas have been given hope to become more than just dreams.

He says the workshop has empowered him with skills and presented opportunities that are out there waiting to be grabbed. “The support that is given to business minded or businesspeople is remarkable; the motivation and drive to become an entrepreneur is revolutionary. The most important thing I have learned from the workshop is that there are organizations that are set to assist us in our business ventures.” 

The UMP-CFERI centre and the Graduate Placement Division hopes the workshops have empowered students with business skills to run successful and thriving businesses. “We also hope the knowledge will assist the students to succeed post graduation,” said Raymond Mkhwanazi from the Graduate Placement Division. 

Other organisations that presented at the workshops included the Small Enterprise Development Agency, the Department of Labour and the National Empowerment Fund. The workshop will run until June 2021 when all the faculties have attended.  

@ Story by Cleopatra Makhaga. Pictures by ChrisplPhoto.

After graduating in 2015, Motla started several agricultural businesses, none of which thrived to the extent that he would have hoped. Last year, in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic, he ventured into a completely different field, selling branded clothes. 

Though his fashion business is growing, Motla says agriculture remains his first love. His aim is to use the fashion business because it generates profit faster so that he can fund the farm and get more livestock.

“Agriculture still remains my number one priority. Running another business is just one way of creating an additional source of income. Livestock farming needs patience; it will be a while still before the farm becomes sustainable. For now, I will run both businesses,” he says.

The clothing business seems to be working well and is giving him the time and funds needed to run the farm. “I joined forces with someone who used to work at a clothing warehouse and we formed a partnership. We buy branded clothes from big factories and sell them directly to the public,” he adds.

“Our business approach is simple: it’s a standard buy and sell business model. We stock clothes at a certain price, do a markup, and resell. When we do that, we consider how much we bought an item for and also include other indirect costs so that we can make a reasonable profit.”

The Pretoria-born entrepreneur has learnt a thing or two from his two failed businesses. He is rising up again and has managed to secure land, which was donated to him by the Ndebele King so that he can farm and employ locals. 

“I have a few goats and sheep that I managed to buy from the profit I made. I hope to increase the number by the end of the year. I go to auctions to interact with established farmers and also to check how the livestock market is doing. I’m also a member of the Walmanthal Farmers Forum, a group of local farmers who assist each other when one needs help. We also share opportunities and help each other to prevent livestock theft.”

Motla’s advice to other aspiring entrepreneurs is to never stop learning and to be aware of business trends - especially the changes that technology brings. “It is important to do research so you can always have access to new opportunities every day. Never stop knocking on doors - they do open eventually as long as you are persistent. Be ready for that change all the time and be willing to change, what worked for you yesterday might not work for you today,” he adds. 

“Find yourself a mentor who has a business in the same field as you. This will help you to learn faster with less mistakes because you will have received first-hand advice.”

Motla was recently elected as an additional member of the UMP Gauteng Alumni Chapter Committee. 

“I've tasked myself with recruitment and promoting the UMP brand. There are actually quite a number of former students who are originally from other provinces, but now live in Gauteng. I’m hoping to track them all down and get them to join the Chapter. This would be one way of increasing the UMP brand and presence in Gauteng. Together we will become stronger to create more opportunities for our alumni all over South Africa.”

@ Story by Cleopatra Makhaga. Pictures supplied.

University Sports South Africa (USSA) officially included eSport within its structure almost two years ago. It has since grown from strength to strength as more and more universities join and start to recognise eSport as a bona fide sporting code.

Simply put, eSports is competitive level gaming. Players participate in computer games against each other and are given a chance to compete from anywhere in the world. With sport changing and evolving due to the Covid-19 pandemic, eSport has been able to take a front seat.

UMP Sports and Recreation officer, Aggrey Mokoena, says eSports will also afford students who are not comfortable to physically participate in sports a chance to take part.

“Students are already involved in eSports; they are always playing games on their laptops or chess on their phones to blow off steam. This form of sport is giving them a platform to participate in formal competitions. We want to ensure that students participate in sports and recreation activities even the ones that do not want to be on the field.”

Mokoena adds: “USSA eSports will be using FIFA 2020 as a way of ensuring universities are able to compete, it is also one of the most popular and most played games. Since we are in the process of introducing eSports, it only makes sense to align ourselves with what is being done for 2021 through the USSA office. FIFA 2020 is a football game, and it can be played by anyone, it has different difficulty levels, which ensures that everyone is catered for.”

“After the first uptake, we will add more games and variety in the games, from sports, strategy games and first-time shooter games. We will also be introducing chess on an online platform using Lichess to ensure that students don’t only play chess physically on campus with other students but can also play with other users worldwide,” he adds.

“We have seen some individuals that have made a career from eSports and this is an opportunity for our students to utilise and have another income stream after they graduate. “

The University of Mpumalanga is pleased that students will be able to play at a recreational level; they will be able to play against fellow students at the campuses or even other people worldwide.

“USSA has planned for an eSports tournament this year and it be open for all students. This will ensure that students are not limited to participation. They only need to be confirmed registered students. We will also have our own campus and inter campus tournaments as the year progresses.”

Mokoena explains that eSports is played via different platforms, some of these include: Console (PlayStation), Personal Computer (PC) Games, you can use a laptop or desktop PC and also mobile phones,” he says.

@ Story by Cleopatra Makhaga. Pictures supplied.

Professor Okharedia presented his research findings on the legal implications of the Implementation of International Labour Standard (ILO) and the harmonisation of Labour Laws in the SADC. The research focused on the employees’ freedom of association, collective bargaining, forced labour and discrimination. 

“The findings of the research show that there is no uniformity in the implementation of ILO standards in the SADC region and, therefore, it is recommended that labour law should be harmonised in terms of ILO standards. Labour has become a key issue as the SADC moves towards the establishment of a common labour market. 

The non-harmonisation of labour laws has affected migrant workers in terms of industrial relations practices. Currently, the plurality of labour laws in the Southern region has contributed greatly to unfair competition in the demand for labour. 

In respect of the benefits to be derived from the harmonisation process, an empirical investigation was conducted in the region and the following is recommended: the harmonisation of labour law in the SADC region will help with the implementation of ILO standards, protection of workers against the economic power of employers in the workplace and maintaining similar benefits for migrants in the region,” he said.

FREEDOM OF ASSOCIATION
Professor Okharedia further discussed the core of the differences in the implementation of the ILO labour standards in the region.

“South Africa is greatly influenced by union activities while Botswana and Namibia are not influenced by union activities. In Lesotho, the rules and procedures are not strictly followed, and public servants are prohibited from joining trade unions.

Swaziland rules and procedures are not strictly followed on freedom of association especially in the informal sector. In Zambia, the government placed many limits on freedom of association in practice and in Tanzania in the private sectors employers have adopted anti-union policies that hinder freedom of association.”

ELIMINATION OF DISCRIMINATION
He further added that empirical investigation on the benefits of the Harmonisation of Labour Laws in the SADC Region. “In South Africa, the elimination of discrimination is pursued vigorously through the constitution of 1996, the LRA of 1995 and the Employment Equity Act of 1998. In Botswana discrimination against persons with HIV/AIDS continues to be a problem in the workplace and the law prohibits homosexuality,” adds Professor Okharedia.

“Discrimination is still a common phenomenon in both civil society and workplace and women are still discriminated against in Lesotho and Zambia as well as the people living with disabilities and homosexuals are still discriminated against." 

According to Professor Okharedia Swaziland is still discriminatory against people living with disability and non-ethnic Swazis such as white people and mixed race.

“While in Namibia people living with disabilities are still discriminated against by employers in both the public and private sectors. Other people who are still discriminated against in Namibia are the San tribe as well as women,” explained Professor Okharadia.

 From the left: Director: Research Management, Professor Phindile Lukhele-Olorunju, Guest speaker, Professor Akhubue Okharedia, and
Vice-Chancellor Professor Thoko Mayekiso.

FORCED LABOUR
He added that in South Africa and Botswana forced labour is strictly prohibited. “However, there are still few cases of forced labour in the rural traditional areas by local chiefs and traditional leaders in Lesotho, while in Swaziland there is still forced labour, especially with the enactment of the administrative order, which reinforced the tradition of residents working for chiefs without payment.” 

Professor Okharadia further explained that in Namibia, farmworkers, including some children on commercial farms still experience forced labour, while in Zambia forced labour is still used. Tanzanian prisoners are still used for forced labour on a project outside the prisons and children are also used. 

“The non-harmonisation of labour laws in the SADC region has affected migrant workers in terms of Industrial Relations practices. Currently, the plurality of labour laws in the SADC region has contributed greatly to unfair competition in the demand for labour.”

He suggested that the harmonisation of labour laws in the region will help to maintain similar benefits for the migrants’ labour, it will help with the implementation of ILO standards, will assist in the protection of workers against the greater economic power of employers in the workplace. 

“This finding further reflects how current migrant workers, especially those from Zimbabwe, are suffering at the hands of unscrupulous employers in the region because of the current plurality of labour laws in the SADC region. The harmonisation of labour laws will minimise the exploitation and poor conditions of service offered to migrant workers.” 

Professor Okharedia further said the research confirms the fact that the implementation of ILO standards will be made easier through the harmonisation of labour laws since the different countries in the SADC region implement the core areas of ILO labour standards differently.

“In conclusion, the harmonisation of labour laws in the SADC region will help in the protection of workers against the greater economic power of employers in the workplace.” 

*Professor Akhubue Okharedia, a full Professor at UMP. His areas of specialization include: Law, Business Administration, Industrial Sociology and Development Economics.

@ Pictures by ChrisplPhoto.

Since 2020, the University of Mpumalanga has offered four Master’s and two Honours programmes. In 2021, approximately 86 students will be enrolled in one of five Master’s and four Honours programmes. During these first six and-a-half years, a number of very talented students have studied at and graduated from UMP and some of these have the potential to make a meaningful contribution to higher education in South Africa.

The Academic Talent Stewardship Programme (ATSP) will target such students and offer them a carefully crafted development programme that will see them complete a Master’s degree or make substantial progress towards completing doctoral studies and participate in a series of workshops that will prepare them for a place in academia at UMP.

Moses Zakhele Sithole is currently doing a Master’s in Agriculture. He is an ATSP Fellow and Associate Lecturer in the FANS and in the School of Agricultural Sciences.

“Being part of the ATSP is a dream come true. I can actually see my dreams becoming a reality. I’m honoured and humbled. It also means that UMP has trained a quality individual which it saw fit to retain in the system. The very product of the university recognized and absorbed into the system as an academic, is really a wonderful experience. I believe that the ATSP is my stepping-stone towards becoming a professional academic. I’m hoping to develop my academic talent and to become an effective and efficient professional.

I’d like to become a renowned professor in my field. I want to learn and develop as an academic, and grow to make an impact in society, within South Africa and across boarders. I intend to do my Doctoral studies from 2022 – 2023, followed by postdoctoral studies. I aim to improve my academic talent by attending academic conferences and workshops and by working closely with every human resource at doctoral and professorial level so that I may learn from them. I want to advance myself in all possible ways and become one of the greatest assets at UMP and within the Higher Education and Training Sector. I want to be a researcher who writes to make an impact in the society and contributes to the creation of knowledge in the sector.

The appointment as an Associate Lecturer is within the Agricultural Extension Discipline. Furthermore, this position entails tutoring and lecturing as well as mentoring first year students within the University. As part of my developmental programme, the position affords me a golden opportunity to grow and develop as a strong and professional. I am so grateful that I am not lost, but am home, in a space to grow and advance in academia.

I am currently working on my Master’s degree and am hoping to finish in July 2021. I am to prepare a research paper and it is required of me to have a paper published before I graduate. As soon as I am done with data collection, which I am working on now, I will then prepare a research paper and publish it with an accredited journal.”

Confidence Ndlovu graduated towards an Honours in Development Studies and currently submitted her Master’s dissertation for Master of Development Studies qualification. Ndlovu is waiting for her results and will graduation soon.

“Being appointed to be part of the ATSP programme means that as an aspiring Doctor of Philosophy I have been provided an opportunity that paves my academic career towards achieving that specific goal. This opportunity also means that I must continue working hard to ensure that I represent myself and the University of Mpumalanga well.

I have been afforded a platform to motivate and inspire students in UMP, and I have been given the opportunity to change the narrative about education in the rural areas where I come from by showing young people who look up to me what is possible. I have been appointed to be part of the first cohort of the academic talent stewardship programme and an associate lecturer in the school of development studies. This is a three-year programme of academic, intellectual, psycho-social, and personal development established to prepare UMP students for future careers in academia.

I am expected to be in involved and develop adequate skills in Research, Teaching and Learning and contribute to the society through community engagement. The expectation from this programme is that as an ATSP fellow I will become a permanent lecturer at UMP after the 3 years. I have been allocated a personal mentor (Dr Masuku) whose responsibility it is to support me in identifying and participating on appropriate teaching and learning, research, and engagement opportunities.

My plan is to adopt vast teaching techniques from readily available professors and doctors in the institution because I believe they produce the best graduates. I would love to incorporate or encourage media teaching and learning methods, where students identify the best platforms that suit their needs.

I am working on my review paper from my Master’s dissertation titled: The Effectiveness of Agricultural cooperatives towards enhancing food security in rural areas, to be submitted to a peer reviewed journal. Together with my supervisor/mentor Dr Masuku we plan to publish even more articles moving forward.”

Mokoni Kenneth Maduna holds a Diploma in Agriculture (Plant Production), and will be graduating with an Advanced Diploma in Agricultural Production Management this year.

“This opportunity is life changing and has given my life even more direction. I have always wanted to be an academic, but I did not know where to begin. This is now a stepping-stone towards me obtaining my long-term goal which is obtaining my PhD and becoming a researcher. Being in this programme will expose me to motivated people who have walked the same academic journey as me and therefore I will be surrounded by mentors who will carry me through the journey until I reach my academic goal.

I am currently busy with my research, which my supervisor and I are hoping to publish after completion. I want to be the best researcher possible. To do that, I have set primary goals for myself, I would like a position that challenges me; where I can continue to grow and develop as an Academic. I would like to be a positive influence in the lives of students at both the cognitive and affective level. I would like to include the community in the expansion of my career.

Based on what I have learned so far, I believe the University of Mpumalanga offers me the best opportunity to accomplish these goals. I would hope to be here for many years – growing, learning, and contributing right alongside students and the research industry.”

Hlengiwe Patronella Zulu, a Master’s degree student within the School of Development Studies says her career is about to change for the better.

“Being part of this programme will give me the platform to share information and knowledge that I have acquired over the years. I will also get to learn from the students that I will interact with over the teaching sessions. I am excited about learning and acquiring knowledge from other academic staff members that have been dominating the academic space. The knowledge that they will pass down to me will elevate my career and give me a push in the right direction.

My biggest goal now is to finish my Master’s degree. I also want to publish various chapters from my Masters’ dissertation that will contribute to the existing body of knowledge. I would like to partner with different academic staff members from the field of development studies and other disciplines within the institution for research purposes.

The focus of my Masters’ dissertation is on the participation of rural households in water provision. The research paper that I will publish will be based on one of the objectives that I have on my dissertation. The paper will be informed by the objective of identifying the nature of rural households’ participation in water provision. It will be on the different categories of participation that community members tend to belong to when they get involved in water projects and programmes. The paper will be informed by different literature that has been reviewed on issues of community participation and engagement in water provision. Furthermore, the paper would include data that was collected from community members and key informants from Tjakastad that are involved in water provision.

I am looking forward to doing international research collaborations. I want to work with different authors from international countries in writing research papers and books. I want to continue with my education by enrolling for doctoral studies and serve as an inspiration to other students that education is still the tool that can be used to change the world."

Thabang Mashiloane Associate lecturer in the school of Agricultural Sciences under the Faculty of Agriculture and Natural Sciences.

“My career plans align closely with the objectives of the ATSP. I have applied for enrolment into the MSc in Agricultural Sciences with an Animal Nutrition specialization (2021 – 2022). Under the supervision of Prof Victor Mlambo, I have developed my research proposal for the MSc degree, which was reviewed and recommended for NRF funding by the Faculty of Agriculture and Natural Sciences. Notably, I have now been awarded the NRF scholarship for my MSc Masters. Moreover, upon completion of my MSc studies, I plan to study for a PhD, because I believe that knowledge and wisdom are the biggest drivers for success.

During my postgraduate studies, it is my intention to acquire teaching and other skills that are required to succeed as a researcher and university teacher. Moreover, last year in 2020 UMP published an article with the title “Meet the student who aspires to be UMP’S Vice Chancellor”. I believe the ATSP fellow programme will further advance my aspiration as I am now mentored by the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Thoko Mayekiso.

My research will focus on fish nutrition and is entitled: Black Mulberry fruit powder as a potential nutraceutical source for Dusky kob (Argyrosomus japonicus): Physiological and tissue nutrient response. I will carry out my feeding trials at the Department of Environment, Forestry and Fisheries’ Marine Research Aquarium in Cape Town.

Significantly, this study will make meaningful contributions towards the production of healthy, safe, and high-quality functional food (fish) to meet the demands of a world population that is projected to reach 9 billion by 2050. Therefore, my proposed MSc study will generate information that will help in the design of economically, environmentally, and socially sustainable food production systems."

Precious Leutle is a Master's candidate at the Nelson Mandela University. She graduated at UMP with a Diploma in Information and Communication Technology.

“This programme is of paramount importance to my professional goals and career objectives because it will help me gain the skills, knowledge and expertise required for a successful career in academia. It will grant me the opportunity to pursue the goal of bettering and uplifting the quality of life and economic emancipation of society through lecturing and engaging in research.

Since I will be guided by prominent lecturers and professors, gaining expert knowledge and in the process develop leaderships that come with being a lecturer and researcher. I will learn and improve on existing teaching methods and strategies that make teaching and learning interactive. I will be starting my career on such a great foundation will ensure that I am equipped with most if not all the skills that are required to become an excellent lecturer and researcher.

I am in an environment that nurtures and develops potential and talent, which will ensure that I remain relevant and competent for the academia field. I will learn, grow and develop at an exponential rate as compared to those who had to learn as they go rather than following a programme that structured by prominent professors and doctors. My career will impart significance from the knowledge I will gain from this programme. A career that does not impart significance would be a career that would not be fulfilling for me at all.

I want to make a meaningful contribution to higher education in South Africa and make a difference in people’s lives by imparting them with knowledge that I have also gained from other researchers and professors. Currently, I am a Master's candidate and my topic focuses on digitization in SMMEs, my goal is to finish my qualification and publish an article or journal upon completion of my dissertation. I wish to pursue a PhD degree upon completion of my Master's degree and I want to focus on one of the components of 4IR in education and publish several articles and journals as well.

Upon completion of my PhD, I aspire to become a professor with the aim of publishing several articles and journals, co-supervising and supervising other students to also reach the same level as mine and beyond possibly. I also wish to work with prominent professors and collaborate with them to publish articles and journals that will contribute to improving or solving problems in my area of expertise and others expertise and continue learning and developing in my professorship.”

@ Story by Cleopatra Makhaga. Pictures @ChrisplPhoto.