THREE-SIXT-E | ALUMNI E-NEWSLETTER | ISSUE 10/SEPTEMBER 2014

Prof O’Connell retiresThe year 2014 sees the end of an era with the retirement of Rector and Vice-Chancellor Prof Brian O’Connell – the end not only of his long and productive tenure as a leader, but also of an association with UWC that almost spans its entire history.

His experience of UWC in the 1960s was bad enough for him to vow never to return after his graduation with a BA in 1969. He held to that vow until 1985, when he accepted a post as a senior lecturer in the Faculty of Education. From 1988 Prof O’Connell took up leadership positions at several institutions, including the old Peninsula Technikon, and headed the Western Cape Education Department before succeeding Cecil Abrahams in 2001.

He found an institution struggling with dwindling student numbers and fi nancial defi cits that resulted in the retrenchment of staff. Worse, the government’s National Working Group then examining the status of universities recommended that UWC be merged with Peninsula Technikon. Arguing that “UWC could be as great if not greater than it was in the struggle for this new challenge of building the intellectual power of a nation,” O’Connell and the University

management convinced the government to shelve the merger. O’Connell then oversaw a decade of massive infrastructural devel-opments (including Africa’s biggest life sciences facility), impres-sive improvements in academic standards, dramatic growth in student numbers and the return of fi nancial stability.

“It has been argued that UWC has risen from a university that was thought of as not able to fend for itself just 12 years ago to being the South African university that has by far, and with relatively few resources, made a bigger leap into excellence than any other university,” says O’Connell proudly of the University, which now ranks among the leading institutions in South Africa and Africa.

Although retiring, he would like to continue helping the institution through fundraising. And what will the lifelong educationist miss the most?

“The wonder of being in the midst of a vibrant site of learning,” he says. And his dream? “For the UWC rugby team to beat the Maties!” O’Connell chuckles.

ALUMNI E-NEWSLETTER | ISSUE 10/SEPTEMBER 2014

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Constructinga Legacy

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Welcome to another edition of Three-Sixt-e. This is our tenth issue and we’re happy to be celebrating and sharing the successes and progress at UWC with you.

Sadly, one of the architects of that progress, our beloved Rector and Vice-Chancellor, Prof Brian O’Connell, will be retiring this year. We take this opportunity to thank him for the won-derful work he has done in advancing this institution, the community and the nation at large. His legacy of innova-tion and progression will no doubt bear fruit as UWC continues to push the boundaries of academic excellence.

We note the tragic passing of Pro-fessor Russell Botman, an alumnus whose courageous leadership as a student in the dark days of apartheid was followed by an equally brave role as a leader of academic trans-formation. We extend our sincerest condolences to the Botman family. May they take comfort in knowing that his commitment to academic excellence and transformation will endure in others. UWC has been in-strumental in advancing nation building throughout this country’s democratic era, particularly through the nurturing of leaders and policy-makers. With President Zuma nam-ing no fewer than eight UWC alumni as ministers and deputy ministers in the new cabinet, our contribution clearly adds as much value as ever. On a lighter note, a hearty congratula-tions to alumnus Graham Jenneker, who was named the ultimate survivor on Survivor South Africa in May and lastly, a reminder to all alumni of the upcoming '80s Alumni Reunion week-end in October – dust off those shoul-der pads, bring out the hairspray and get ready to party. We hope to see you there! Happy reading!

Patricia Lawrence Pro Vice-ChancellorDepartment for Institutional Advancement

Editorial

Excellence a habit Stories of children following in their parents’ paths to study at UWC are not uncommon, but it’s decidedly less commonplace for both parents and offspring to obtain their degrees cum laude from the same faculty.

Fadli Wagiet, Razeena Omar and their son Mateen Wagiet accomplished just that, having obtained their qualifi cations from three different departments in the Faculty of Natural Sciences.

“We are very blessed to achieve that, it is something to be proud of,” commented Wagiet senior, a curriculum advisor in the Western Cape Education Department. Fadli set the trend when he received his MSc in Zoology in 1990, Omar followed suit a year later when she obtained her master’s from the Botany Department, and Mateen Wagiet achieved his BSc from the Medical Bioscience Department this year (Wagiet and Omar’s daughter, Natasha Wagiet, is currently registered for her master’s in law at UWC).

They believe their success was built on the foundation laid by their families, who

were not only hard-working and intelli-gent, but also encouraged and support-ed education. “I came from a poor family who didn’t get the opportunity to pursue education,” recalls Omar, who currently holds the position of chief executive offi -cer at Cape Nature. “But my parents al-ways supported education. They spurred reading and encouraged us to go to the library whenever we could and pushed for self-exploration.”

Fadli feels his family moulded him to al-ways strive for excellence, something he has pushed for throughout his career. The culture of reading was reinforced in a stim-ulating rather than punitive manner by both parents respectively, which they feel contributed to their children’s success. They also believe that UWC has support structures to enable students to excel. “You can be a bright person but you need that guiding hand to be able to reach your potential,” Omar adds. Mateen Wagiet, who is now pursuing his honours degree at the University, believes that the tradition still exists. “UWC has this supporting, nurturing environment, not only from lecturers but also from your peers,” he noted.

The September 2014 Graduation will take place from Wednesday, 17 September to Friday, 19 September 2014 at the Main Hall.

The '80s Alumni Reunion will take place from Friday, 3 October to Sunday, 5 October 2014 at the Main Hall and Student Centre.

The annual UWC Cape Town Golf Day will be taking place on Thursday, 20 November 2014 at the King David Golf Club in Montana. For more information, please contact Marlene Scholtz at 021 959 2482 or 082 475 5856.

Times to be announced.

Razeena Omar (left) and her son, Mateen Wagiet (right), both graduated cum laude from the UWC Faculty of Natural Sciences as did Mateen’s father, Fadli Wagiet.

Fadli Wagiet, UWC alumnus and cum laude graduate.

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UWC is redeveloping the old Jan S Marais Clinic in central Bellville into the UWC Bellville Medical Centre which, upon completion in 2015, will serve as a new Faculty of Community and Health Sciences teaching facility.

The medical centre will relieve press-sure on healthcare training facilities at UWC caused by increasing student numbers (total student enrolment is expected to pass 25 000 by 2020). Plans for the new facility include a spacious multi-purpose hall, training simulation labs and computer rooms.

Project manager, Jan Bester, says the building’s contribution to the urban re-newal of the area will be substantial. “The redevelopment and refurbish-ment of the UWC healthcare facility will have a positive ripple effect in the Bell-ville city centre.”

Lindsey Jones, chief operation offi cer of the Greater Tygerberg Partnership (GTP), a partnership representing business, academic institutions and the City of Cape Town in projects to uplift the Bellville central area and the Voortrekker Road corridor, says: “Be-

UWC partners in Bellville urban renewal

cause of the University’s central loca-tion in the greater Bellville precinct – between two highways and close to Cape Town International Airport – it is set to be a focal point in the develop-ment of the Bellville sub region.”

“With UWC as a partner, the GTP wants to create a technology incubator which pools technology services of higher education including CPUT, Uni-sa, Northlink College and Stellenbosch University’s Business School in the surrounding areas of Bellville, espe-cially since the region is under serviced in this regard,” she said.

The technology incubator will be linked to an “Inspiration Village” that brings together business develop-ment, youth development and incuba-tion facilities within the Bellville cen-tral area. Initial partners include the higher learning institutions, Absa, the UWC Centre for Entrepreneurship & Innovation, the Bandwidth Barn, the City of Cape Town, the Western Cape Department of Economic Develop-ment and Tourism and the Depart-ment of Trade and Industry.

The UWC team in the Greater Tygerberg Partnership are (from left) Wouter Grove, Lois Dippenaar, Leona Craff ert, Charleen Duncan and Larry Pokpas (missing from the group is Noeleen Murray-Cooke).

BOOK REVIEW

South Africa’s West Coast region is well known for its scenic beauty and fertile fi shing grounds.

In West Coast Cookbook, UWC alumnus and former lecturer Dr Ernest Messina captures some of the food people on the West Coast used to prepare and live on. Some of the recipes are memorable seafood dishes, delicious braai and meat recipes, and soups that make you long for times past.

“The book is capturing some of the dying food traditions of the West Coast so in that sense it is an important piece of culture and heritage as well as Africana,” says Messina. “Most importantly, in a very tangible way it helps to restore some pride and dignity to people who traditionally lived and worked on the West Coast.”

The concept for the book was initiated by the Bergrivier Vissersvrouevereeniging, who brought the UWC International Ocean Institute of Southern Africa on board. Mes-sina got involved via the Institute for His-torical Research at the University which was requested to assist. The fi rst edition of the book was issued in 2003.

The book was re-launched in April and all royalties have been committed to an educational fund in the West Coast, with nearly R30 000 already granted to schools in the region.

Book restores West Coast tradition

UWC alumnus Dr Ernest Messina hopes the book will inspire the youth.

The redevelopment and refurbishment of the UWC healthcare facility will have a positive ripple eff ect in the Bellville city centre.

Because of the University’s central location in the greater Bellville precinct, it is set to be a focal point in the development of the Bellville sub region.

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THREE-SIXT-E | ALUMNI E-NEWSLETTER | ISSUE 10/SEPTEMBER 2014

The UWC '80s Alumni Reunion Face-book page was created to inform and invite the University’s alumni community from all corners of the world to attend this important event later in the year, but the page has already achieved more than that.

Alumni across the globe are using the page to reconnect and to strike up new relationships. The newly formed London chapter had its fi rst meeting on Saturday 2 August 2014. In Abu Dhabi in the Unit-ed Arab Emirates (UAE), alumni Leonie Begbie and Francis Fourie are planning a function for UWC alumni there.

“Our hope is that from that meeting we will start an alumni group in UAE,” says Francis, who graduated from UWC in 1990 with a B.Bibl.Ed degree. “We all, in our own ways, support individuals, groups or charities back home, but I think it would be great if we can collectively give to a certain cause at UWC. My personal philosophy is ‘Do good while you can, you might not walk this way again’.”

Born on a farm in the Northern Cape, Francis lives in Abu Dhabi with her husband, Danville Fourie, also a UWC graduate. The couple, who love to travel and meet people, also spent seven years in the United States.

Francis says she was very excited when she learnt about the '80s Reunion Facebook page. “Having the best days of my life at UWC and also my love for people and inquisitiveness made me jump boots and all in all the conversations on the page.”

Alumni active in Abu Dhabi

Francis Fourie is working on establishing a UWC chapter in Abu Dhabi.

A record number of over 400 Con-vocation members participated in the hotly contested elections at this year’s Convocation Annual General Meeting at UWC in June.

Excitement engulfed the venue as members cast their votes at this year’s election, which was described as free and fair by observers.

Brian Williams, with 199 votes, and former president of the University’s Student Representative Council, Songezo Maqula, who received 189 votes, were elected to serve a three-year term on the UWC Council, starting on 1 December 2014. The other candidates were Judge Nathan Erasmus (182), Professor Brian Figaji (158), Dr Martin Hendricks (36) and Scholastica Ntoyanto (67).

Williams was also elected for the sixth consecutive time to be the President of the Convocation. He triumphed over Judge Erasmus receiving 93 votes, just two more than Erasmus, while Ntoyanto gained 15 votes.

Convocation includes all UWC gradu-ates, academic employees (all those currently employed on a permanent basis or on contract for a period of one year or more), the Rector, Vice-Rectors, Registrar, Executive Direc-tors, the Director of Library Services and two members of Council appoint-ed to Senate.

The vision of Convocation, according to the AGM booklet, is to help the University to “reconstruct the shat-tered” social spaces, economic and industrial imperfections and to ad-vance the knowledge project within society. It is committed to “recon-structive activism” in which members must help advance the highest levels of scientifi c innovation, genuine aca-demic and scholarly excellence, and the constant pursuit of and creation of new knowledge.

Vice-President of Convocation, politi-cal scientist Keith Gottschalk, outlined the grassroots work Convocation members have been doing in commu-nities such as Hangberg in Hout Bay, Manenberg, Hanover Park, Langa, Crossroads, Kensington, Khayelitsha and Mitchells Plain.

Williams encouraged Convocation members to become actively en-gaged in helping to reconstruct com-munities where residents experience the worst socio-cultural and econom-ic challenges.

In his address, Rector and Vice-Chancellor Prof Brian O’Connell de-scribed how the University rose from bankruptcy a few years ago to be-coming a thriving institution that ex-cels in many areas and that performs well in university rankings in South Africa and internationally.

Big turnout at UWC Convocation election

Songezo Maqula (below left), Alexander Fisher (centre) and Brian Williams (below right) have been elected to the UWC Council.

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THREE-SIXT-E | ALUMNI E-NEWSLETTER | ISSUE 10/SEPTEMBER 2014

UWC alumni in Cabinet

Below are short biographies of some of the UWC alumni serving in Cabinet.

Nhlanhla Musa Nene, Minister of Fi-nance, graduated with an Advanced Di-ploma in Economic Policy in 2004 and a BCom Honours in 2009. Nene was the Deputy Minister of Finance from Novem-ber 2008 and has been an ANC Member of Parliament since 1999.

Tina Joemat-Pettersson, the former Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, now heads the Department of Energy. She obtained her BA in 1990, BA Honours in 1991 and HDE in 1992.

Maggie Sotyu, Deputy Minister of Police since November 2010, has an Advanced Diploma in Economic Policy, 2009. She is a member of the Joint Standing Committee on Defence and is also chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Safety and Security.

Mohamed Enver Surty, has been Depu-ty Minister of Basic Education since 2009. Surty, who obtained an LLM de-gree in Constitutional Litigation in 1999, has served on the Judicial Services Com-mission and various portfolio committees in Parliament, including Justice, Safety and Security, Constitutional Affairs, and Local Government and Administration.

Zou Kota-Fredericks, Deputy Minister of Human Settlements since 2009, holds a

degree in Social Work, an Advanced Diploma in Economic Policy obtained in 2008 and a BEcon Honours degree obtained in 2011 from UWC. She was a member of the Portfolio Committees of Defence and Sports and Recreation and the Joint Standing Committee on Defence.

The following Cabinet members previ-ously studied at UWC and therefore qualify as alumni by virtue of registration and attendance.

Ebrahim Patel, Minister of Economic Development since 2009, was a long-serving general secretary of the South African Clothing and Textile Workers Union. He registered for his BA degree at UWC in 1983.

Gugile Nkwinti, Minister of Rural Devel-opment and Land Reform since 2009, was Speaker of the Eastern Cape Pro-vincial Legislature, and served as East-ern Cape’s MEC for Housing, Local Gov-ernment and Traditional Affairs and as MEC for Agriculture. He registered for his LLB degree at UWC in 1990.

Andries Carl Nel, Deputy Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs since 2013, was the Deputy Min-ister for Constitutional Development from 2009, and has been an ANC Mem-ber of Parliament since 1994. Nel regis-tered for his PhD in History in 2006.

Top, left to right: Nhlanhla Musa Nene, Tina Joemat-Pettersson, Maggie Sotyu, Mohamed Enver Surty, Zou Kota-Fredericks, Ebrahim Patel, Gugile Nkwinti and Andries Carl Nel. (Pictures: Parliament RSA)

Helping to build Africa UWC has for years produced graduates who are particularly active in development work, making sterling contributions not only locally but elsewhere on the African continent as well.

Charles Birungi is a fi ne example of this trend. A development specialist and sociologist, he works at the Uganda Law Reform Commission (ULRC), a government institution charged with national policy and le-gal reforms. Birungi, who graduat-ed with a master’s degree in devel-opment studies from UWC in 2005, has participated in policy and legal reform programmes at national and international levels in the areas of criminal justice, land justice, family and social justice and commercial justice. He has also acted as a so-cial development consultant to in-tergovernmental organisations and government agencies, such as the Intergovernmental Authority on De-velopment in Eastern Africa and the Uganda Revenue Authority. He says these achievements were thanks to UWC’s conducive envi-ronment for students. Despite initial fears of racial discrimination and struggling with English, Birungi found the facilities, educational ma-terials and systems at UWC pro-vided the best conditions for aca-demic study. “All these put together, encouraged me to put more effort into my studies, thereby enabling me to complete my master’s in less than the two years.”

“I learnt that research and practice are interlinked and these helped me to transform research results into benefi ts for my society. The time I spent at UWC made me realise that university education brings people of different nations close to each other, resulting in the expansion of my social network from students to lecturers.”

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Alumni chapter revived Dr Glynis Pieterse, who obtained her BA and HDE (1986) at UWC, has been instrumental, together with Abe-lene Visagie Goezaar, Paul Sauls and Reynold Patrick King, in the re-estab-lishment of a UWC alumni chapter in her home town of Port Elizabeth.

Pieterse believes in using her skills and talents in service of her community. A moti-vational speaker, she is currently a school counselor at Westview Special School and is a community representative on the gov-erning boards of FAMSA Port Elizabeth and MTR Smit Children’s Haven.

It all started when she attended UWC in the 1980s. “Teenage years are known as the most turbulent years in human devel-opment,” she says. “Added to this was the increasing turbulence of our country and the political pressure cooker ‘Bush’ had

become to the Apartheid government. This was the most turbulent time in the history of the country and our university.”

Life at UWC was a mad kaleidoscope of struggle, fear, but mostly fun and laugh-ter. “During all the turmoil there was al-ways the ongoing camaraderie … the studying till 12 o’ clock, the checking out of the men folk, of course, and the falling in love and the inevitable heartache of being dumped for another girl. Life was turbulent but also surprisingly normal.”

Although she later furthered her studies up to PhD level at another university, UWC gave her the foundation. “It was where I learnt that knowledge is fragile, that reality is but perception and that community is all. I am who I am because of my Bush experience.”

Dr Glynis Pieterse is one of the leaders in the revitalisation of the UWC alumni chapter in Port Elizabeth.

UWC hosts successful Johannesburg Golf Day UWC marked its tenth Annual Golf Day in style when the University hosted a resoundingly successful UWC Johannesburg Golf Day in July. On a beautiful sunny day, 96 players took to a challenging golf course at the Wanderers Golf Club in Sandton, Johannesburg and teed off in a Better Ball Stableford format of the game.

After a day of golf played in a wonder-fully warm yet competitive spirit, John Massie and Gideon van Branden from Van Wyk Attorneys took the honours, with Christopher Williams and Pieter van Lochenburg winning second prize

and Thomas Parker and Enver Swarts coming in third. The day was made even more memorable for Mandla Mbukwane when he shot a hole-in-one at the sixth hole. At the prize-giving dinner, UWC’s Rector and Vice-Chancellor, Prof Brian O’Connell, delivered a light-hearted key-note address that encouraged all guests to contribute to higher education. Alumnus Dr Raymond Patel, CEO of merSETA, paid special tribute to Prof O’Connell for his en-lightened leadership of the University.

Patricia Lawrence, UWC’s Pro Vice-Chancellor for Institutional Advancement, thanked all the players who participated in the 2014 Golf event and expressed a

special word of thanks to the sponsors: Naspers Group (platinum donor), Ash-burton Fund Managers, merSETA and PPS Insurance (watering hole spon-sors), and prize sponsors Budget Car and Van Rental, City Lodge Hotels Limited, Distell Group Limited, Exclu-sive Mineral Water, Kopanong Hotel, Millennium Travel and Singapore Air-lines. The main objectives of the an-nual Johannesburg Golf Day are to raise funds for the Jakes Gerwel En-dowment and Bursary Fund and to nurture the University’s relationship with its Gauteng-based alumni and corporate partners.

UWC Rector and Vice-Chancellor congratulates Mr John Massie (left) and Mr Gideon van Branden (right) winners of the 2014 Johannesburg Golf Day.

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Alumni mix business with pleasure

The University of the Western Cape mourns the passing of alumni, students and staff , including:OBITUARIES

This year’s UWC Johannesburg Golf Day was preceded by a cocktail evening hosted by Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr Inc, one of the largest law fi rms in South Africa. Close to fi fty prominent alumni mixed and mingled on a lovely May evening at the fi rm’s Sandton offi ces overlooking Johannesburg.

About 50 UWC alumni attended a high-level alumni cocktail function in Johannesburg.

Annalene Meyers, nee Talliard (BA, HDE, 1988), who passed away after suffering a stroke. Meyers taught at Emil Weder Secondary School in Genadendal, then took up a post at Noordgesig Primary School for a brief spell before becoming the fi rst female teacher at Goudveld Special School, where she eventually became the deputy principal. She is survived by her husband Anthony Meyers, who she met at UWC, and their three children, Steven, Anthea and Samantha as well as her mother, aunt Freda, and siblings Reuben and Joy.

Professor Hayman Russel Botman, the Rector and Vice-Chancellor of Stel-lenbosch University. Born in Bloemfon-tein, Prof Botman completed his Bachelor of Arts degree, Bachelor of Theology, Bachelor of Science, Masters of Theology (cum laude) and his doctor-al degree at UWC. He served the Uni-versity in various positions from 1994, including being Dean of the then Faculty of Religion and Theology and was an Extraordinary Professor of postgraduate studies in Social Ethics. He is survived by his wife Beryl and children Hayman, Lazelle, Ilze and Roxanne.

Michael “Mikey” Coetzee, Secretary to Parliament. Coetzee, 54, passed away in June after a long battle with cancer. Born in the Eastern Cape, he enrolled for a BSc at UWC in 1978 where he was drawn into reading groups and introduced to the Freedom Charter and political activism. He played an important role in the creation of community organisations affi liated to the United Democratic Front and his activism landed him behind bars. In 1994, he became secretary to the Gauteng Provincial Legislature. In 2002 he was appointed deputy secretary of Parliament, and in 2012, its secretary.

The purpose of the event, according to Patricia Lawrence, UWC’s Pro Vice-Chancellor for Institutional Advancement, was to garner more support for the Golf Day which subsequently took place in July, and to pave the way for the resusci-tation of the Gauteng alumni chapter. Among the attendees were Minister of Fi-

nance, Nhlanhla Nene, senior Members of Parliament as well as prominent busi-ness leaders, including the host Brent Williams, the Chief Executive Offi cer of Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr, and Fred Robert-son, the Executive Chairman of Brim-stone Investment Corporation and Chair-man of the UWC Foundation Board.

Williams, who obtained his BProc from UWC, welcomed guests and explained the reasons for hosting the cocktail func-tion as the pre-Golf Day event, and the importance of strengthening the UWC alumni chapter in Gauteng. Fred Robert-son also encouraged the alumni to sup-port needy students at their alma mater through The Jakes Gerwel Education, Development and Endowment Fund.

Rector and Vice-Chancellor Prof Brian O’Connell updated the guests on the cur-rent state of affairs of the University and its achievements over the past decade. Minister Nene, who graduated with a BCom Honours in 2009 and an Ad-vanced Diploma in Economics in 2004, also spoke of how proud he was to be a UWC alumnus, and described the role the University played in shaping his suc-cessful government career.

Picture: Parliament RSA

PAGE EIGHT

Ploughing back

UWC alumnus, Graham Jenneker, won Survivor South Africa 2014 in May this year. Another UWC alumnus, Sivu Xabanisa, was one of the runners-up this season.

UWC received the Green Campus Award from the African Green Campus Initiative in 2012 and 2014 for being the most environmentally friendly tertiary institution in Africa.

Prof Brian O’Connell and his wife Judith O’Connell were honoured at this year’s Club 99 Langarm Dance.

This year’s annual Langarm Dance, hosted by the Club 99 UWC alumni group to raise funds for needy stu-dents, saw the club bid farewell to retiring Rector and Vice-Chancellor, Prof Brian O’Connell, who has for many years honoured the occasion with his attendance.

Held on the eve of Women’s Day the dance was fi ttingly themed ‘Celebration of Women’, highlighting the roles women have played in the lives of alumni, and as alumni themselves. Quipped programme director, Keith de Wet, “God created men fi rst because you always make a rough draft before you make a masterpiece.”

Club 99 was formed in 1967 when a few alumni friends who met socially on a regular basis decided to express their loyalty to UWC by giving back. The name derives from their fi rst meetings having taken place in room 99 of a hostel at UWC. The club has hosted regular fund-raising events to raise money for alumni registration fees for disadvantaged stu-dents. The club has funded the registra-tion fees of over 60 students. The '60s and '70s Alumni Reunion dance last year raised R25 000 from the sale of tickets (fi nal income from the latest dance had not been tallied by the time of going to

press). Formally opening the dance, Neil Jacobs, chairperson of Club 99, ac-knowledged Prof O’Connell’s contribu-tion to the University “for transforming our alma mater from a place of shame to an institution of renown.” The club pre-sented the Rector with a painting depict-ing a student demonstration against apartheid in the early days of the institu-tion. Jacobs noted that students of the 1960s and 1970s were not really at-tached to UWC because of the institu-tional climate of those times. Club 99 could help to erase the bad memories.

He encouraged members to support fundraising activities. “We want our members to do what the alumni of a university should be doing – to appreciate what they got from UWC and attach value to it,” Jacobs explained. He said they were working on spreading the alumni culture among the members so that they could plough back to their alma mater and promote the good name and image of the University.

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DID YOU KNOW ?

CEO & UWC alumnus pays it forward!

Roland Greaver, UWC alumnus and CEO of Kagiso Asset Management, has donated R130 000 to The Jakes Gerwel Education, Development and Endowment Fund. Greaver is pas-sionate about education and chal-lenges other UWC alumni to invest in their alma mater as well.

To make a donation, please con-tact the Alumni Relations Offi ce at alumni@uwc.ac.za or visit www.uwc.ac.za/alumni.