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For friends and alumni of the Durban University of Technology Spring 2015

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Dear Alumni and friends of DUT

Thank you for picking up a copy of our DUT CONNECT magazine. This is our third edition and so far, we have had very positive feedback following the first two editions. DUT CONNECT is published twice a year (Autumn and Spring) and it is an opportunity for us to promote our Alumni, a chance to maintain a link between our graduates and their University and importantly, DUT CONNECT affords you a chance, to connect with us.

You see, we would love to hear from you – with your career news, personal news, engagements, marriages, babies, birthday wishes, awards and advancement – we want to share and celebrate your professional and personal success and growth. So please, take a minute and drop us an email with any update that you feel is worth sharing with the DUT community. The address is alumni@dut.ac.za – I also hope that you are receiving our weekly DUT LINK digital newsletter? If not, please go to our website and subscribe for free: www.dut.ac.za – that’s another great way to stay in touch with DUT news and developments.

We have just recently concluded our Spring graduation ceremonies and a few days ago, we hosted our annual DUT Fashion Show, which was once again a showcase event for our university. At the end of October, the Faculty of Arts and Design will be hosting an Alumni Evening and this is a wonderful opportunity for Alumni from that Faculty to get together, share stories, take selfies and to network. DUT is also the host and partner university for the Department of Higher Education and Training’s 2015 Higher Education Summit - which will be taking place at the award-winning Durban ICC in October. In November, DUT is working with the Department of International Relations and Cooperation and with the DUT Confucius Institute on the One Belt, One Road conference – which reinforces the good relations between South Africa and China.

I’m a firm believer in the philosophy that, “success is not just learning to ride, it’s about staying in the saddle.” Here at DUT, we give you ample opportunity to stay in the saddle and to make that saddle bigger and more meaningful. If you’re contemplating commencing with your Masters or Doctorate degree, please reach out to us so that we can assist you. You can also consider the relevant continuing and professional education courses that we offer via the CCPE at DUT.

I hope you enjoy reading the DUT CONNECT magazine and catching up with familiar names and faces. Our cover “model” is the inspirational Etienne Fynn. I have great memories of him at City Campus in the early 90’s and then on the rugby field representing our university (or as we were called back in the day, The Tech) and then, playing for the Sharks and the Springboks. Thank you to Etienne and the other members of our Alumni who are featured in this edition – I realise that time is precious so we truly appreciate you making the time to talk to us.

Finally, I’m sure that you will join me in wishing all DUT students the best of luck ahead of their final exams. Also, a massive thank you to all of our staff who keep DUT moving forward. Have a safe, blessed and most successful end to 2015.

SincerelyAlan KhanSenior DirectorCorporate Affairs

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6 Queen Mgobhozi - Marketing a Sustainable World8 Etienne Fynn - A Big Win For Sharks Rugby 10 Boni Mchunu - Resonating with Radio12 Surendra Thakur - Will South Africa ever Adopt Electronic Voting 14 Professor Carin Napier - Balancing Diets For Better Health16 BK Zwane - Graduates need to take their Careers to the Next Level18 Anastasia Papaspiridis - Making Reflexology a Part of Daily Life20 Terrence Bray - Creating a Fashion Legacy24 Sibu Msimang - Dressing the Modern Woman28 Dr Charmaine Korporaal - Getting Back to Spinal Health30 Gugu Mathebula - Staying Relevent Makes a Good Manager

Publisher: Durban University of Technology Editorial Leader: Mosimanegape David Sedumedi Editorial Team: Alan Khan, Sinegugu Ndlovu, Vasantha GovenderEditorial Support: DUT Corporate Affairs including the Marketing and Communications DepartmentAdministration Support: Zandile Ndlovu, DUT Development and Alumni Relations Layout and Design: Truth AdvertisingCover Photo: Etienne Fynn by Val AdamsonJournalists: Shirley Le Guern, Victoria Campbell - Gillies

Disclaimer: This magazine is published in good faith and every effort has been made to ensure that the information was true and correct at the time of going to print.

Contact:DUT Alumni Relations Office10 Botanic AvenueDurbanSouth AfricaTel: +27 31 373 3020www.dut.ac.zaSimon Deiner/SDRphoto

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Reaching out to adult learnersAbout CCPE

CCPE operates as a division of DUT, as an outward-focused dynamic interface between the University and its external context and provides learning opportunities to a diverse group of lifelong learners through flexible delivery systems.

2015 holds special promise as CCPE@DUT opens its doors to provide learning opportunities to a diverse group of lifelong learners to help them achieve their professional and personal goals in an ever-changing world, to keep up with change and also to make that change happen.

What we Offer CCPE extends the educational resources of the University and offers courses that range from single-day events to full degree programmes and everything in between, in the following categories:

• Formal programmes that blends the benefits of a flexible part-time approach to learning delivery with the rigour and support of the formal university processes for these qualifications. • Continuing education (short) courses aimed at improving and developing skills to meet changing workplace demands. • Personal enrichment courses centred on popular interests, for personal development. These fun courses are informative and inspiring and enable you to explore new interests, develop new skills, improve existing skills and enrich your life.• Continuing professional development courses that provide high-quality knowledge transfer and support for a wide range of professions to maintain professional knowledge and skills.

Customised courses can also be created to meet your strategic objectives and needs, to help your organisation build capability by either modifying one of our existing courses or developing an entirely new one. Consideration is also given to flexibility in presentation and delivery format to meet the needs of the world of work.

Flexible Offering of Formal Programes

Continuing Professional Development (CPD)

Courses

Continuing Education (Short) Courses

Personal Enrichment (Fun) Courses

www.ccpe.ac.za Tel: 031 373 6017 ccpeenquiries@dut.ac.za

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or Queen Mgobhozi, Senior Brand Manager at Unilever, the words of the company’s global chairman said everything. You can’t have a healthy business in an unhealthy world. So, it’s up to every one of us to change it now. It’s about encouraging consumers to join with this

global Fast Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG) giant to make a difference. Although she always dreamt of working for Unilever and interacting with the very brands with which she grew up, she had no idea that she would become part of something far bigger.

In 2010, Unilever launched its Unilever Sustainable Living Plan. This encapsulates its commitment to halving its environmental impact, improving the health and well-being of more than a billion people and enhancing the livelihoods of millions working in its value chain. It spans Unilever’s entire portfolio of brands and all of the countries in which it operates. “We are trying to show people the possibilities of a better world and demonstrate that it’s possible to act sustainably by greening our world, enhancing livelihoods through job creation, empowering women and children and just helping through our brand programme and getting people involved,” she explains.

MARKETINGA SUSTAINABLE WORLD

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At its core is what Unilever has termed “brands with purpose”. It transcends what sceptics may see as just another Corporate Social Investment (CSI) platform and demonstrates why specific brands should be more meaningful. Many products share similar ingredients, so customers need a good reason for choosing one brand over another. Unilever markets premier and more expensive brands and consumers need reasons for spending more. For example, Lifebuoy has partnered with UNICEF and is teaching children to wash their hands properly. Customers can contribute. It’s a whole new way of marketing. It’s about talking to people in a way that matters to them, she explains. But the projects on which Mgobhozi is specifically working are not all brand specific. One is Planet Action in conjunction with the Wildlands Conservation Trust which will see Unilever plant one million indigenous trees across South Africa this year in response to Twitter, Facebook and Instagram pledges make by consumers.

Community members – known as treepreneurs – grow indigenous trees and barter these for product hampers, bicycles, school fees, driving school lessons and more. “You can’t expect people who are hungry to think about the environment. By forming a programme that rewards them for taking care of the environment, we give them dignity,” she says. Every three months, Unilever “trades” for trees and then hands them over to government for planting on restoration sites where they will not

only mitigate against climate change but assist with combatting erosion and the effects of flash floods.

Government creates jobs through setting up teams to plant and tend the saplings.

Mgobhozi says it’s important that people realise that Unilever is not asking them to take up spades themselves. Not every

tree would be the right tree and Unilever is happy to not only facilitate planting a

tree on their behalf in places where

they’re needed most, but also to fulfil community needs and create jobs in the process.

The pledge process hinges on education. Every minute, the equivalent of 36 football fields of trees in rain forests is chopped down, she explains. Simply appealing to young people to do their bit drew a massive response and, in just one night, Unilever inspired 53 000 Tweets and Facebook and Instagram pledges. For Mgobhozi, this has opened up a whole new world. “Our brands reach over two billion people in the world every day and that’s a real platform to start talking to them and helping them to see a better way. If it’s not us, then who’s going to do it? But you also need to understand what needs to be done. You have to meet people and understand the issues that they face.” She tells of visiting families where cupboards are bare but homes are neat and clean. People are proud and somehow manage to feed between eight and 13 people, many of whom aren’t even immediate family.

“As a marketer, there is so much that I can do. I may not be able to help feed 10 families but, through my work, I can find ways of doing that. I have found a way to merge my marketing and business background with a social mission and create something tangible,” she says. What has been most inspiring is seeing communities embrace the project and take it further. Many grow trees specifically to barter for certain products. They use these to stock the spaza shops they have set up, ultimately creating sustainable businesses and even jobs. She also gets to work with Unilever representatives across the five markets in which this programme is also operating and the many creative professionals who contribute to the marketing effort. While developing world markets such as India, Indonesia and Brazil confront similar issues as South Africa, those in first world markets such as the United States and the United Kingdom are very different, she explains. South Africa’s Sustainable Living Plan initiative launched after the five other Unilever markets in June this year. It was the product of an intense six months of planning and activity – which shows no sign of slowing any time soon. One of Mgobhozi’s most memorable experiences as part of the wider Unilever campaign was assisting with the making of the digital film, “The Way Kids See It”, which has been screened on television worldwide as well as viewed on YouTube. Unscripted, it features four children from South Africa, two each from the United States and the United Kingdom and one from India who tell what they think of the world and how we can make a difference. It made a huge impact. There are more films to come and the treepreneur will continue for another three years, keeping her at the forefront of what she enjoys most - making a difference.

I may not be able to help feed 10 families but, through my work, I can find ways of doing that

Queen Mgobhozibrand managerunilever

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ny sportsman who is worth his salt has discipline, is able to work in a team environment, and understands when to put himself forward and when not to. Most importantly, any sports

person in a team sport knows about being in it for the long haul otherwise they wouldn’t be successful. So, they tick a lot of the boxes for any corporate or entrepreneurial position.” Proud head of the Sharks Academy, Etienne Fynn, believes in the holistic development of each individual player who passes through the Academy. This not only means on the field but also off, with many players ultimately contributing not only to the future of the sport itself but also to the communities in which they live and the businesses for which they work.

He says that, over the past 15 years, the very many people that have contributed towards creating what is the only long term elite player focussed academy in the country, have got the formula right. Big names chosen for the 2015 Springbok World Cup squad have their roots in the Sharks Academy – Pat Lambie, Beast Mtawarira, Lwazi Mvovo, JP Pietersen and Pieter-Steph du Toit. Fynn’s own rugby career was born during his school days at Kearsney College. His family hails from Harding and his parents worked extremely hard and saved to send him to the legendary private school which quickly converted him from a soccer to a rugby player. In the same year that President Nelson Mandela was released from prison, the then Natal rugby team won its first – and historic – Currie Cup final. He remembers a “wave of euphoria” as the Natal Schools side remained unbeaten at Craven Week. Also part of the excitement was becoming the first black player to be selected for the South African Schools XV.

As part of a drive to entice talented young players to KwaZulu-Natal tertiary institutions rather than lose them to universities in the Cape and “up North”, he was

recruited to study business management and play for the Natal Technikon. By his own admission, he had rugby rather than business on his mind and the highlight of his time there was being part of a really strong rugby team. Fynn played for the Natal Under 20’s team for three years before his career in provincial rugby gathered momentum and culminated in his earning his Springbok jersey in 2001. He was the first black Springbok test forward.

Looking back, he says that being chosen for what was ultimately to become the Sharks was a dream come true. He also smiles as he recalls that the father of a boyhood friend had vowed to eat his hat if he played for the Natal team. When he earned his first cap, his friend suggested that they went out to find that hat. That’s not to say that everything has always been smooth sailing. “There were some speed bumps along the way - but that’s life,” he concedes, adding that his own issues sometimes contributed towards these. This has remained with him and undoubtedly contributes towards his understanding of the challenges facing the young talents within the Sharks Academy. Fynn stopped playing for the sharks for a short spell in 1995 when he says he “went north” and studied sports management at Vaal University of Technology. Despite having been at boarding school, spending time away from home was a huge step for this young player. It comes as no surprise, then, that he was pleased to return home and rejoin the Sharks.

Although one might expect a player of this stature to be quite forceful, Fynn is quietly spoken and sincere. He is the quintessential gentleman and a family man who also enjoys reading and fishing. After retiring from rugby in 2004, he married. He was living in Treasure Beach at the time and the Wentworth Rugby Club approached him to coach. Although he had coached informally at various schools, becoming more actively involved wasn’t

Etienne Fynn

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something he had seriously considered. But it was to ultimately develop into his second rugby related passion. From Wentworth, he moved to College Rovers for two years before moving again to the Sharks Academy where he coached the Sharks junior sides for a number of years, becoming a specialist in scrumaging. He moved on to work with the senior side and ultimately became the Shark Academy’s head coach.

He also had an opportunity to work with Hans Scriba who was the managing director of the Academy. Fynn had played with him during the latter part of his career and he describes him as a mentor and guide during those days. “When you are young, you can be pretty impetuous. He was very patient and guided me. I was going to retire at 26. I was just frustrated. He convinced me to play another year. At the end of that year, I was a Springbok!”When Scriba moved on to run academies for the South African Rugby Union, Fynn stepped up to fill his shoes. He describes his role as that of a headmaster of a mini school who makes sure that the right structures are in place to allow individuals to grow and to shine. The flip side is that he also deals with tougher issues such as discipline and disappointed players facing non-selection which he says can be intense and time consuming.

“Rugby is my passion, so coaching became an extension of that. You have to have a passion to impart knowledge and to also receive feedback and try and get the best out of youngsters. If you are just doing this as a job and you are not prepared to give of yourself, they see straight through you. You have to connect,” he explains. But what makes a good rugby player? Surprisingly, Fynn is quick to point out that talent is only a very small component. “You have got to have character. You have got to have perseverance because there are highs and lows and, sometimes, the lows outweigh the highs. But, most importantly, you’ve got to have an unbelievably

durable work ethic. If you don’t have it, you’ll never come back from injury or outperform the next person. “He adds that, although it is possible to turn a rough diamond into a smooth one, it is impossible to coach character, perseverance and a strong work ethic. At times, people focus too strongly on how junior sides are performing but miss the importance of developing the individual. He believes that it is about attaining a balance which is why the Academy has an active life skills programme with modules that include everything from financial management to mental strength. There’s also an onsite counsellor.

He believes that the youngsters of the nineties are no different from those of 2015 with all being as hungry for success and all needing guidance. Looking forward, how does Fynn see the evolution of the Sharks’ Academy? He replies that it will always be an intrinsic part of the Sharks and focussed on turning out talented players for the side. “I think that, down the line, it’s also about self-improvement and continually lifting the bar to ensure that we get better. We constantly challenge ourselves as individuals and departments.” With a career that is symbolic of the transformation in rugby, Fynn maintains that the Academy is playing a valuable role and that South African rugby as a whole is committed to making strides when it comes to levelling the playing fields.

At this point, 35 percent of its students are players of colour, a figure that could be higher. Sadly, many young players fall by the wayside as they cannot support themselves during their time at the Academy. “But, although transformation in rugby is very necessary, it doesn’t assist anyone if you put players in place who are not able to perform. So, our duty is to equip players and administrators to fulfil their roles more than adequately. When a guy gets picked, there should be no question marks,” he emphasises.

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f you want something, go out there and get it. Nothing can stop you but you. Realise that you are strong enough to stand on your own. If you have parents, respect them. They are a luxury. Listen to them because they know what they are talking about. Cherish them because many do not have them.”

Smiling, positive and bubbly but always professional, Boni Mchunu is the sort of person you would look to for guidance and regard as a mentor. She describes herself as a very positive person, driven and fair, but stresses that failure is not an option. She attributes this to the fact that she realised early on in life that relying on yourself gives you the freedom to make anything happen. Having started with East Coast Radio (ECR) on 3 August, she is a newcomer to her role of Station General Manager for East Coast Radio.

Her new job is a perfect fit with her passion for brands, building brands and seeing them standing. “The cause and effect is my passion,” she says. Her fascination with brands dates back to her positions as Brand Manager for Unilever and General

Manager for Tourism KwaZulu-Natal (TKZN). For Unilever, she launched non refrigerated margarine. At TKZN, she

worked on the Holiday Swap reality TV show which was aimed at encouraging the South African middle class to travel.

During her time in both positions, she got an opportunity to travel all over the world, visiting more than 70 countries and developing a clear global perspective. Passionate about all things African, her favourite countries are Tanzania, Kenya and here in the South African Development Community (SADC), Botswana. “It’s the only country in Africa that has a currency stronger than the rand and it is beautiful. But abroad, I love Paris. You can walk on the streets at 11 pm and it feels like two in the

afternoon! I’ve been to Brazil too, I love the vibe, and it’s so similar to South

Africa. It feels like home.” But her roots are in KZN. She grew up in the township of Imbali in Pietermaritzburg. She was one of a family of five girls. Her father was a strict man who instilled principles of success in his brood. He believed success is earned. “My dad has played a very influential role in

Title: Station General Manager for East Coast Radio

Favourite clothing store: Earth Addict

Goals: To complete her MBA

Favourite phrase: Women power!

One crazy thing she’d like to do: Climb Mt Kilimanjaro.

Boni Mchunu

RESONATING WITH RADIO

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my life. My mom died when I was very young and my dad told me that education is the key to success. He’d say, ‘nothing is impossible. You are the master of your destiny – write your own script, otherwise somebody else will do it for you. Mchunu says her father formed the foundation for her drive and family is the reason why she wakes up every day. “When I look back on where I have come from, it is humbling. If I had one thing to say to the youth of today is that you should work hard because you are capable. The sky is the limit,” she says.

As a youngster, she saw girls her age falling pregnant and knew it wasn’t for her. She knew her education was paramount and finishing her studies was her priority. After matriculating, Mchunu set out to pursue her dream career and, despite financial difficulties, she earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Marketing, a diploma in Business Management, and a diploma in Project Management. She started her working career at ABSA Bank in Pietermaritzburg where she was responsible for marketing the bank’s Financial Services Department. After two years, she left to join Unilever where she worked in brand management. After seven years at Unilever, she was offered a position at Tourism KwaZulu-Natal (TKZN) to market and promote South Africa and KZN in particular. Here she gained a love for the country. She says there is no place quite like it and, despite many cha l lenges , she believes the country is alive with possibilities.

When she arrived at ECR, Mchunu says everything was working seamlessly. Her predecessor, Trish Taylor, did a very good job and she has gone off to head up Urban Brew, a subsidiary of Kagiso Media. “But my vision is to take this organisation from good to great with the incredible team we have here. How do we achieve greatness? It’s about what we stand for, and asking, are we true to that and do we stand out, ” she says. Looking at the landscape of competition in South Africa she asks: “How do we make sure that ECR remains relevant?” He reply is that the key purpose of radio is to resonate with the people who do things “the East Coast way”. It is also about informing communities, educating and empowering them.

In her department, there are mixed challenges and perks, but in business, she says, it’s always good to have various viewpoints. “We don’t have to agree on everything. But we can reach a common ground. I enjoy the diversity of the team, we all come from different backgrounds and we are all taking the organisation to new heights.” “The most rewarding thing about being Station Manager is the robust conversations being had with the team and the

fact that there are different perspectives on everything, and we all question the status quo. There is always room for improvement,” she said. Mchunu says her biggest challenge yet is to increase ECR listenership to over two million. “How? By positioning the ECR brand properly. This means the music we play and the stories we tell need to resonate with the people of KZN. So as a KZN radio station, we need to fly the KZN flag and be proudly KZN.”

She is also excited about a current project called Connecting Africa which aims to connect with sister radio stations in Zambia, Zimbabwe and Swaziland to promote KZN in these countries. She points out that, if one looks at provincial tourism numbers over the past year, KZN had about nine million visits from international tourists. The majority of these come from Africa. She says ECR has invited radio personalities from these radio stations to come to Durban and the response has been positive. Turning to her personal beliefs, Mchunu admits to being a huge advocate of positive thinking. “Positive thinking manifests – but so does negative thinking. I believe in the power of positive thinking.”

Mchunu is happily married with a supportive husband, she believes partners have an important role to play in each others’ lives. “Rather than shelving issues I bring

to him, he is supportive of the challenges I take on.” One thing people would be surprised to know

about her is she never liked children before she had her own. “I used to be strict, telling my sisters to mind their kids, until I had my own. I now have three children and I’m also a Sunday school teacher! I love kids dearly now.” In all things she does, she believes God has a master plan. “Both my parents are gone and you’d think the world will crumble. But God takes care of everything. From a professional point of view, nothing is impossible if you put your mind to it.”

An athletic hobbyist, Mchunu runs and cycles for fun but, most importantly, finds peace when she reads – Who Stole My Customer by Harvey Thompson is her current read. “The book is about how companies become stagnant. It’s about how they look around to find who stole their customers, but they don’t realise that they have done it themselves because they haven’t grown and have lost their customers.” Speaking about Durban, she says the only thing she would change is the current perception of the province. “KZN and Durban is the most beautiful province and city to see. We are so underrated when we have so much to offer from a leisure and business point of view. Durban is the place to be and with the plans the city has in terms of developing, all we need to do is rally behind it.”

her biggest challenge yet is to increase ECR listenership to over two million

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surendra Thakur

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ueuing at the ballots has become a symbol of the South African electorate’s right to freedom since the country’s first ever democratic election in 1994. But what if e-voting became the new way to cast your ballot? Would the mark of South Africa’s democratic heritage and patriotism be affected?

Namibians voted in November last year in Africa’s first electronic election which saw the ruling South West Africa People’s Organisation (Swapo) extend its 24-year rule. Here, a system using Indian Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) was used. In December, Tech Central quoted Chief Justice Mogoeng Mogoeng saying that South Africa was operating in a difficult economic period with an Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) budget of around R1 billion. “We know there are a lot of things in this country that need serious attention and budgets. How is such an atmosphere going to make it easy to implement e-voting?” he asked.

But research is underway to ascertain whether e-voting could be a viable way for South Africans to exercise democracy. Surendra Thakur from the KZN e-Skills Colab at the Durban University of Technology (DUT) has been independently commissioned by the IEC and United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) to study electronic voting technology. He advocates starting a process of trials and pilot projects for e-voting from your cellphone, particularly in response to low voter turnout rates.

Census figures show there are more than 1.1 million people aged between 18 and 19. However, according to the IEC, only 12 percent are registered as voters. Of the 7.5 million people aged between 20 and 29, only 65 percent are on the voters’ roll. “Young people view voting with paper as a strange experience. They are therefore disengaged with the way we cast our ballots. It is likely that technology may bring them back. If I make it easy for you to vote via your cell phone without having to go to the polling station, then why not? You can simply vote in your ward from your house. This is a conjecture I will test next,” says Thakur.

He admits that he stretches the boundaries of e-voting although he does hope that some components of his model will be adopted sooner rather than later. “There are several types of electronic voting such as poll site machines which capture and count the votes used in India, Brazil and Philippines and remote internet voting used in Estonia. The western world uses e-voting machines which are deployed at poll-sites to collate and store votes. There are over 20 countries using this method,” he explains. He adds that, given the high penetration of mobile devices, one potential way to address this challenge is to connect government electoral resources with mobile devices to enable a wider participation of

citizens. Thakur points out that there is also an exorbitant amount of paper used in an increasingly unsustainable administration process. “India has replaced the paper vote with portable voting machines called EVMs. India used roughly 12 million kilograms (that’s 12,000 tons) of paper in its last full paper elections in 1996. That’s a whole forest! South Africa uses 450 tons of paper per election. The paper must be produced securely, stored securely, transported securely to the 22,000 electoral districts, collected and then stored.”

However, Thakur cautions that none of the potential benefits of e-voting can be realised if mobile internet voting is not secure. Right now, specialised cellphone technology is being developed with a combination of features to address various security challenges that mobile voting is facing. “Voice biometrics is an effortless way for an individual to be recognised and verified as they are registering to vote without the risk of identity theft. The technology is 93 percent effective and is constantly being updated and improved.” He goes on to explain that voter convenience is closely aligned with this. “The Near Field Communication (NFC) tag automatically launches the application on your phone without you lifting a finger when you touch your ID with the phone.” Going back to safety concerns surrounding e-voting, Thakur points out that, up until now, there has been no court case where a political party has alleged electronic fraud.

“In a public election where a machine is monitored, the system has built in security for capturing the vote. We just need to make sure the software is written in a way that’s secure and can’t be changed. Having said that, almost every single machine produced in the history since the 70’s has been compromised in a laboratory,” he says. Incoercibility is another feature that needs to be strengthened. He notes that, when voting from home in a particular ward, a voter could be coerced or forced into voting for a specific party. However, he or she could simply vote again, wiping out the previous vote.”

Another built in safety feature is geo-fencing using GPS which defines the geographical boundaries within which a voter declares that he or she will cast a ballot. “If you vote from your electoral district, your cell phone will use GPS to ‘geofence’ the device to your electoral ward preventing hackers from voting in your ward.” Thakur says e-voting is still some way off in South Africa and research needs to provide an informed contextual view of electronic voting in South Africa. “As soon as the stakeholders, the IEC and various political parties concur, electronic voting trials can start,” he concludes.

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ver 60 percent of the South African population is overweight and obese - but most of those that fall in this category are also micro nutrient deficient. Food and nutrition expert, Professor Carin Napier, who lectures in the Department of Food and Nutrition Consumer Science at the Durban University of Technology (DUT), says that those who live below

and above the breadline share the same problem – they eat too much starchy food that is not nutrient dense. That means tummies are full and everyone thinks they are food and nutrition secure – but they aren’t. When Professor Napier arrived at the DUT in 2007, there was no dedicated academic to oversee post graduate research in the department. The post graduate research that the students and staff in the department now conduct provides invaluable insight into eating habits and provides a solid foundation for educating and assisting communities to improve their nutrition and, ultimately, their health. These survey studies showed that

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overweight communities often do not eat a big enough variety of food, starving their bodies of essential micro nutrients, she says. She explains that large numbers of children are both iron and zinc deficient, mainly because caregivers and families cannot afford important food sources such as vegetables and red meat. Both women and young children often do not get enough vitamin A, again because they do not eat enough vitamin A rich vegetables. Calcium is also a major concern and, although most automatically think of osteoporosis as an older women’s problem, Napier says the younger age groups are as much at risk. Your body absorbs calcium from food best until you reach 18 and then it slows down. So, teens and young children need to get optimal amounts. The problem in poorer communities is that very little milk and dairy is consumed.

Yet another South African problem is excessive salt intake. Napier welcomes the fact that new legislation requires food manufacturers to keep the addition of salt to stipulated levels. Her department, she says, will soon begin off-the-shelf studies looking at labels and how much salt is in specific products. The biggest offender, she says, is bread which relies on the addition of large amounts of salt. But, without salt, consumers would probably find that bread tastes bland. “We need to change peoples’ taste for salt. Our taste buds become sensitive and want more – the more you eat, the more you want. If we labelled products low salt as we do with low fat, people probably wouldn’t want them.” She adds that people often add salt to food at the table without even tasting their meals first and advocates that salt shakers be removed from restaurant tables and only produced on request.

“If you also look at high blood pressure levels and diabetes in the country, these all correlate. Those are all aligned which is why it’s important for us to try and work in communities and understand poverty issues and cultural issues to address this,” Napier says. But it is certainly not as simple as tweaking menus. “Our concern is that we need to get our communities to eat more variety in their diets. But we also understand the problems and the difficulties in doing that. Healthy food is ridiculously expensive, so to tell our poor communities to go and buy whole wheat products or organic vegetables, is not feasible. We must also consider culture. People are used to eating in certain ways. People cook the way that their mothers taught them to. In some cultures, being overweight is seen as a sign of good health and prosperity,” she says. She says the department’s studies often focus on recording the top 20 foods consumed. In many, pap is often the number one with large portions of between

400 and 500g served each mealtime. This meets more than their energy needs for a full day. “If we could get these communities to grow vegetables or spend some of their money on cheaper vegetables and cut the starch, then maybe we could make a difference,” she observes. The problem is not confined to poorer people. Higher income groups eat a lot of convenience foods because they save time and are inexpensive. Often this means added oils, creams and salt. “We’ve done some studies in higher income communities and it was fascinating. Children’s lunch boxes were filled with good things such as fruit. But the 20 top food intakes still included sodas, hamburgers and fast foods.

“So, where poorer communities fill up on maize meal, wealthier communities fill up on take aways, fatty foods and salt. We may find that the more affluent communities eat a greater variety of foods because they can afford it, but they still may have micro nutrient deficiencies because the majority of the food that they eat is not healthy.” Then there’s the problem of food fads or fashions such as the controversial Banting diet that has created on-going debate and argument. As a nutritionist, Napier says she does not support this high protein and high fat diet as it is

not realistic to cut out all starches. Apart from being dangerous and increasing the risk of high cholesterol levels and kidney problems, it

is also not sustainable. People will inevitably return to normal eating patterns, piling on more weight. She says all diets rely on the same thing – decreasing energy intake. “But every nutrient has a role to play in the body. If you cut out something, somewhere in the body something will go wrong. We believe in healthy eating, everything in moderation, checking on portion sizes and exercising.”

As nutritionists, Napier and her students focus on educating consumers and those who are responsible for buying and preparing food for their families, children’s homes and homes for the elderly. Amazingly enough, she says, very few people know about the South African Food Based Dietary Guidelines and food guide devised by the Department of Health. “These should be available to those planning tuck shop menus, meals for children’s facilities, crèches and elderly facilities. If they just followed them, things could be different.” One of her biggest worries is that often poorly educated care givers have little or no knowledge of nutrition. So, children get very little vegetables. Yoghurt and fruit are absent. “We are told that it is because children don’t like vegetables. We often open fridges to find vegetables are not used and left to go rotten. There are various ways that vegetables can be incorporated in children’s diets without it being too visible. The vegetables can be incorporated in soup and stews. Our children need vegetables,” she says.

One of her biggest worries is that often poorly educated care givers have little or no knowledge of nutrition

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outh Africa faces a shortage of accounting professionals both in the private and public sectors. The accountancy industry is one of the least demographically representative in South Africa and one of those most in need of on-going

transformation when it comes to both including persons of colour and women in its ranks. According to the Association for the Advancement of Black Accountants of South Africa (ABASA), at present 79 percent of chartered accountants (CAs) come from 10 percent of the population. Black professionals, in particular, make up about 21 percent of CAs with black African women making up just 4 percent.

In other segments of the accounting profession, the picture is the same. BK Zwane, who lectures students at the Mangosuthu University of Technology (MUT) in Umlazi on the outskirts of Durban, is doing his part to help make much needed changes. Unlike other tertiary institutions, MUT has a higher percentage of students from disadvantaged backgrounds. Most are eager and determined to succeed and what he enjoys most about his job is being able to assist.

Yet, he says, the odds are often stacked against them. “It doesn’t look good – most don’t make it,” he says. The problem, he believes is that, after graduating, disadvantaged students cannot afford to take their careers to the next level. For this reason, he believes that academics such as himself need to guide young people to find out about development programmes run under the auspices of professional organisations such as the South African Institute for Professional Accountants

(SAIPA) and ABASAS as well as assistance programmes provided through government and via SETAs.

Sadly, very few students either studying at tertiary institutions or those who recently graduated know where to find assistance.

In addition, he says,

black accounting professionals need to become members of professional bodies such as SAIPA which has a membership of 10 000 and the South African Institute of Tax Professionals (SAIT) which is a recognised professional association of tax professionals. It regulates tax practitioners in South Africa, focusing on professional standards, ethics and integrity whilst also promoting the tax industry. For all, he says, the value of continued professional development is essential. In taxation – his particular field of expertise – legislation and regulations are ever changing and the Tax Act is constantly evolving. Those who do not keep abreast of this cannot but fail in their careers.

“So your degree is obsolete unless you continue learning. In this field, you cannot spend a single year without reading. That’s how frequently it changes,” he points out. It is also extremely important for young graduates to register, write board exams and serve internships, he emphasises. “That way you create your own employment. A degree is practically useless if you do not have a practice number,” he says, adding that graduates that cannot be absorbed into the corporate world, can then create their own employment and set up their own businesses.

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PROFILE:Durban University of Technology: Bachelor of Technology: Cost & Management Accounting, Management Accounting, Financial Accounting, Financial Management 2004. BTech: Taxation (2005) from the DUT.

Lecturer: Durban University of Technology: January 2005 – June 2006.Lecturer: Mangosuthu University of Technology: June 2006 – present.

BK Zwane

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BRIEF PROFILE:

• Studied somatology, graduating from the DUT NDip Somatology, BTech Somatology; Currently busy with MTech Somatology.

• Worked in the health and skincare industry for product houses and spas.

• Completed – Post Grad Diploma Holistic Therapies, Camelot International, 2006. Diploma Therapeutic Reflexology 2006. Diploma Sports Massage 2006, CIBTAQ. Qualified Assessor and Moderator, 2007 and 2008 respectively.

• Lectures at Camelot International in therapeutic reflexology, aromatherapy, shiatsu, sports massage and pathological (Pathophysiology) physiology.

• Lectures at Physical IQ, and UKZN Westville, Intensive Sports Massage, 3 years

• Has run her own practice for nine years.

• Branch chair for The South African Reflexology Society (Durban) - 4 years.

• Examiner for the South African Health and Skincare Professions - 6 years.

MAKING REFLEXOLOGY A PARTOF DAILY LIFE

Anastasia Papaspiridis

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lot of people have the impression that this is hocus pocus. We don’t diagnose or look into a crystal ball,” therapeutic reflexologist Anastasia Papaspiridis points out. Speaking from her home-based practice, she says it

is extremely important that this misguided perception is rapidly over turned. Without misconceptions, holistic health in general, and reflexology in particular, would be accessible to a far broader spectrum of people who need help in managing both lifestyle related ailments and medical problems. Therapeutic reflexology, she goes on to explain, is at an important cross roads. Over the past 20 years, the profession has been fighting for recognition. The recent acknowledgement by medical aids and inclusion as a benefit has been a massive step forward.

Therapeutic reflexology became a registered allied health profession under the Allied Health Professions Act in 2001, making it compulsory for all of those studying or practicing reflexology to register with the Allied Health Professions Council of South Africa (AHPCSA). Most importantly of all, according to Papaspiridis, this enforces accountability and enables the public to pick out appropriate professionals. It also manages to flush out the many fly-by-nights who have given her profession a bad name over the years. “It is also unfortunately often associated with beauty treatments. Without regulation of the profession, someone who completed a weekend long course could claim to be a reflexology practitioner. With the involvement of the AHPCSA and recognition by medical aids, practitioners now have practice numbers which will do a lot to overturn misconceptions,” she says.

She adds that a lot more research is also being done in this field which is providing a sound base. Papaspiridis explains that a trained practitioner can find a microcosm of what is happening in the body via the feet, hands and ears and then stimulate reflex points in order to stimulate the body’s own healing process and rebalance the body. Each pressure (reflex) point corresponds to a different part of the body. For example, the toes can give you an example of what is happening in the brain – if you work with the foot, you can influence what is happening in the body by directing treatment specifically towards the problem area. “We have all got receptors in the skin. Touch, in itself, is an amazing thing,” she says, pointing out that you automatically touch someone when you are comforting them and that babies that

are not touched and held don’t reach developmental milestones.

Therapeutic reflexology, she says, is condition specific as well as patient specific. It also

cuts across different age groups – from elderly people with problems such as

diabetes to children with cortical

visual impairment. Overall, reflexology assist with a wide range of ailments including insomnia, neck and shoulder pain, sinusitis, infertility and stress related issues. It also offers palliative care for patients with chronic diseases. She says that examples include managing the symptoms of a patient with hepatitis A, assisting a diabetic patient who recently saw his insulin levels drop and treating a patient with chronic kidney disease who has managed to remain off dialysis. There are no contraindications to reflexology and it is non invasive. Reflexology can also be done anywhere or anytime. Even though the majority is done in a treatment room using a plinth, it can be done in homes, hospitals and rehabilitation centres. Papaspiridis emphasises that she takes a fully systemic approach and has run an integrated practice that also includes sports massage and aromatherapy over the past nine years.

Sports massage, she says, is based on a sound knowledge of anatomy and is very specific, enabling a practitioner to get to the root of a problem. But, generally, the mindset is that this only applies to athletes and sports people. She says that it can actually benefit almost everyone and is great for treating postural stress which often manifests as “white collar syndrome headaches” that are often caused by long hours spent in front of computers. Then there’s problems stemming from excessive use of computers such as carpal tunnel syndrome which is really a repetitive strain injury caused by excessive movement of joints such as the wrist whilst using a mouse. Overall, she says, problems such as this are usually occupation related. Treatment, which needs to be specific to each individual, also includes putting in place remedies such as teaching patients to stretch or spend time away from their work stations. But, ultimately, all holistic health disciplines work towards encouraging people to begin taking responsibility for their health. Papaspiridis does point out that reflexology cannot replace medical treatment. However, because reflexology helps people cope with illness and respond better to medical treatment, she works closely with mainstream medical professionals to help manage specific conditions. She also refers her patients to doctors should she detect a problem.

Although she does not prescribe medicines, she does advise on supplementation and on lifestyle adjustments. “I also don’t claim to be a nutritionist or a psychologist or counselor. Adhering to scope of practice is imperative,” she says. For her, the major difference between standard medical treatment and reflexology treatment is contact time. Time spent with patients tends to be longer and a full medical and lifestyle history is a must in order to obtain a more well-rounded understanding of the myriad of factors that can influence a patient’s wellbeing. That’s why reflexology and related holistic treatment are viewed from a more inclusive perspective and go beyond more conventional “signs and symptoms”.

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uy local,” says Terrence Bray, an award winning designer who has made a name for himself in the South African fashion industry. Bray has participated in fashion shows across the globe

and worked with fashion icons such as Karl Lagerfeld and Giorgio Armani. He also dressed Princess Charlene of Monaco for her South African wedding event. He has built up a noteworthy South African and international clientele from whom he creates bespoke garments and also produces a seasonal ready to wear range available at select boutiques and on line.

He has a firm and distinctive design philosophy - to strive for the best quality and design. His designs are drawn from classical concepts placed in a contemporary context as well as “the eternal heart” viewed through the personal and challenging and unexpected. Simply put, it honours beauty, humour and passion and adapts to its environment whilst constantly evolving. But, aside from the glamour, Bray strongly believes in giving something back. As a DUT graduate and a lecturer in the Department of Fashion and Textiles, he values an opportunity to nurture new talents and, ultimately, grow the industry. He points out that newcomers are making their way into the fashion industry at a crucial time. The local industry was all but destroyed during the nineties when retailers switched to buying cheap imports from China and India. Companies closed and tens of thousands of jobs were lost.

With the depreciation of the rand, a shrinking Chinese economy and government’s determination to re-ignite

manufacturing, the revitalisation of this sector is possible. In addition, there’s a growing call for locally made goods. The eThekwini municipality, which created the Durban Fashion Fair (DFF) four years ago, shares this opinion – and, as a programme mentor of the DFF Mentorship Programme, Bray is playing his part. “I align myself with products and projects that have vision and want to move the industry forward. If an initiative is not healthy for everyone, then it is not healthy for me,” he declares. This year, Bray not only showed his own collection on the DFF ramp during the glamorous four day event but exhibited alongside the 20 youngsters that he helped guide and mentor. Ten were selected for an all expenses paid, two month internship overseen by Italian fashion

analyst, Helene Blignaut, in Milan. Four were DUT graduates.

He believes that, by exposing them to the international market and how the supply chain works, they will gain a better understanding of quality and systems. In addition to

focusing on quality, the new techniques learnt as well as “a different attitude and respect for their craft” will make a difference. Bray points out that the fashion industry is both difficult and technical. It is also unfortunately seen as superficial and fickle and dominated by big egos. But better equipped young designers can cope with the harsh realities and come to appreciate the experiences that he has learnt first-hand whilst establishing his own business and brand. “You’ve got to love it as it can be soul destroying at times. When you stumble, you have to pick yourself up and strive to do better. It’s important not to let feelings get the better of you and to avoid being overrun by negativity but rather to see the good in

I align myself with products and projects that have

vision and want to move the industry forward.

Simon Deiner / SDR Photo

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a situation,” he shares. In his experience, giving a brand a face and a distinct identity is the best way to start.

“We are an emerging industry that is seduced by the concept of celebrity. We can use this to our advantage in marketing ourselves locally. It is important to align your brand correctly and to follow through. Some young designers are vague and don’t see the importance of not over committing and honouring what they do decide to do. Reliability, visibility and accessibility are very important. It is only when we embrace these elements that the local market will start taking local businesses seriously,” he says. Bray says that when he studied at the then Durban Technikon (now DUT), the industry was still fairly healthy. “When I look back now, it was liberating, free and exciting.” Nevertheless, after graduating in 1995, he admits that opening his own business was scary. Although he started out working for himself, he ultimately moved into the commercial world to gain extra experience.

After meeting his partner, John Bleach, he returned to running his own business once more. Bleach had worked for Lancome for 26 years and provided much needed support and expertise. They also travelled a great deal. By going to Milan, Bray believes that the four young DUT graduates will experience some of the things that made a huge impact on his own design career. “Traveling puts one in unfamiliar environments and disarms one. You find new and exciting approaches to old ideas and fresh perspectives. I know this trip will have a huge effect on these young designers as they are an appreciative and inspired bunch to start with! This ‘new world’ steeped in history can only humble and inspire. Art and architecture that has survived hundreds of years is a powerful thing to observe,” he says.

But reality will inevitably bite when they return. Young designers who do not have an established customer base are vulnerable. Right now, the challenges they face include being exploited by big retail chains that are keen to set up in- store ‘designer outlets’ but pay unsustainably low prices for garments as well as high store rentals should they set up independently. What they stand to benefit from is pop-up shops and artisan markets where they can begin to establish a following – not to mention that all-important localisation trend.

Simon Deiner / SDR Photo Simon Deiner / SDR Photo

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One of Durban’s oldest and most respected technical institutions, the Durban University of Technology (DUT), is set to launch a far reaching initiative to promote green energy in rural areas of KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) and surrounding provinces, providing much needed skills to an impoverished community plagued by energy shortages. Chronic electricity cuts have put the brakes on South Africa’s economic growth, stifling industries from mining to manufacturing since 2008, but green energy projects seem to be renewing hopes of the country becoming one of the world’s top clean energy hubs. DUT’s Greenride Project, in an effort to create an awareness that there exists alternative clean energy resources and uplift poverty stricken communities, will take to the streets of rural KZN in the form of a road show, highlighting various renewable energy technologies and promoting Sector Education and Training Authority (SETA) courses before moving to the next province. The project aims to teach that candles and coal are not always necessary by demonstrating with a specialised truck designed by the DUT Physics Department (Laboratory) and the DUT’s Energy Technology Station how alternative energy can power an on board PA system, TV, lighting and cooker.

The truck will feature solar photovoltaic panels, a solar water heater, a wind turbine, a biodigester and several demonstration equipment. The main sponsors of the project are Energy and Water SETA. Co-funder Nedbank’s Eyethu Community Trust Portfolio Manager Tshego Bokaba said, “What attracted us to this initiative was the fact that it’s targeting schools and colleges with the intention of encouraging youngsters to take up careers in renewable energy or start their own business. The truck will show them how they can turn this knowledge into a career or business in renewable energy which is critical at this time. Now is the right time and there are long term benefits for the country.” DUT’s Project Manager Dr Ian Lazarus said, “Many people still do not know that there are alternative energy sources available. KwaZulu-Natal however, is one of the cities with a plan to supplement the grid using renewable energy resources. Renewable energy sources like wind, solar energy and biogas are becoming more popular. These alternative energy investments require environmental impact assessments. These important resources play an important role in relieving the stress on the electricity grid and at the same time reducing domestic and commercial costs.”

“Our country requires research in renewable energy. We have an energy technology station at DUT called the KZN Energy Efficient Training and Resource Centre focusing on innovation, development and training in renewable energy. We are also in the process of offering a course-work Masters and a PhD in energy studies.”

Participating DUT students will also exhibit the cutting edge technology at Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET) colleges.

The project is estimated to be up and running by December this year.

DUT Green energy project aims to uplift communities

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ight now, Durban designer, Sibu Msimang, is creating beautiful outfits for a very feminine woman who has kids and is always on the go - just like her! Sitting with her two young daughters by her side wearing comfortable distressed jeans and a red knitted jersey, she seems to exemplify the description “super-

mom power-woman” but, she admits, fashion is hard work and certainly not as glamorous as it seems.

“With fashion you dress up and have fun, but you have to love this job. It’s a struggle at times. Sometimes you work the whole weekend while your kids need you, so it’s about juggling and balancing life. If you love what you do, even when times get tough you are able to persevere.Born and bred in Durban, former Durban University of Technology (DUT) student Sibu Msimang has a National Diploma in fashion design. Her brand Sibu Msimang Designs, which champions the feminine, trend conscious, hard working woman, is a perfect blend with what she describes as the modern woman’s lifestyle.

She is also a firm favourite when it comes to designing matric dance and bridesmaid dresses and estimates that she has made about 50! Now 34, Msimang’s success story is the product of perseverance. Her role model, she says, was none other than her single working mother who, on her teacher’s salary, raised her family and gave them everything they needed. Surprisingly, she started out as a chef. After finishing school, she studied for three years at the Royal Hotel. But, after qualifying and working for a year, she informed her mother that she wanted to study fashion design. Her mother was not happy with her decision but, she says, she stuck with it and ultimately proved that it was the right one.

“It was difficult for my mother to accept that I was going back to study rather than look for another job. I wanted to please her but, at the same time, I didn’t want to work with someone else. I wanted to stand on my own two feet. I wanted her to see that I could do this and I showed her! Eventually she relaxed,” she smiles. This is Msimang’s tenth year in the fashion industry. She started designing for the Durban Designers Emporium (DDE) in 2005 after winning a competition. In 2006, she was invited to design for The Space and The Sunflower Fund, showcasing alongside high profile Durban designers.

In 2008, she went to India to showcase at the Annual Freedom Day Celebration.

“I designed for clothing stores and runway shows in between. In 2010, I was invited to showcase my designs at the Mercedes Benz Fashion Week,” she adds. Last year, Msimang showed her designs alongside top Durban designers during the Durban Fashion Fair. She was chosen as one of 10 emerging Durban designers to go to Milan for a brief fashion internship that was funded by the Business Support and Tourism Unit. During that time, she met and worked with top Milanese designers. She says the experience was amazing, “It was indescribable. You have to experience it for yourself.”

She says the trip taught her a lot about design - and shoe design in particular. She now has plans to design her own range of shoes, for which she will likely return to Milan to learn the craft. Speaking about the local design scene, she enjoys one particular designer’s work. “Myself!” she laughs, before adding that the only designer who really speaks to her is Stoned Cherry.

“Topshop is my favourite chain store right now, although the prices are a bit too high here in South Africa. While we were in Milan last year for a two month internship, we found Topshop was the cheapest. Unfortunately, I didn’t bring back much clothes. They don’t have a plus size market because everyone is skinny. But I did buy shoes!” she concludes. Msimang also returned to showcase how she has grown as a designer with a collection that grabbed plenty of attention at this year’s DFF.

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DRESSING

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he Durban Fashion Fair (DFF), an annual event, which took place at the end of August this year, is as much about fashion and design as it is about finding one’s feet in the tough world of fashion. With this in mind, the eThekwini Municipality has not only provided young, emerging designers with an important chance to show their collections to some of the top fashion media, fashionistas and commercial buyers, but also provided a select few with an

opportunity to complete an internship in the fashion capital of Milan, Italy, during the last quarter of the year. However, to earn this opportunity, young designers had to sign up for a series of workshops that would teach them the finer skills of participating in the fashion industry – an initiative in which the DUT has played a strong part. Of the 10 ultra-excited ‘next generation’ designers, chosen to explore the world of international fashion were four DUT alumni. For Kat Shoesmith, Blaire Brown, Neliswa Jili and Sadie Bosworth Smith, it was the perfect culmination of an event that saw them share the DFF ramp with some of Durban’s fashion greats as well as other African and international designers.

Scores of young designers put forward their names for the DFF Mentorship Programme in November last year and 19 were chosen to take part in the programme based on their creativity (which was judged on story boards and garment construction) and business acumen (a traceable client base, business plan and business skills). Because these interns, who ranged in age from 23 to 35, were all working in the fashion industry, classes and workshops were held after hours. Interns were provided with different design briefs each week and assignments and worked in teams, selecting a team leader and critting each other’s work. Programme mentors Greg Wallis from G & D Apparel and Durban designer, Terence Bray, put in place a rigorous schedule that not only focused on the styling aspects but also on choosing textiles, collection design and styling, manufacturing, brand management, costing and entering the world of retail. Developing life skills was also on the agenda with classes covering everything from time management to opening banking accounts and applying for passports.

Wallace said it had been difficult to choose who would be included in the programme this year, adding that the 2015 intake were extremely committed to both learning and winning the opportunity to visit Milan. International fashion analyst, Helene Blignaut, who has been instrumental in putting together the Milan side of the Mentorship programme and is the lead judge for the selection brought the Mentorship Programme to an end with an in depth workshop just before the DFF. Having worked with Durban’s fashion interns since 2012 and proudly seen her protégés grow and find their feet, she says she has seen a significant improvement in the quality of the work of the interns entering the programme this year. Although the 10 next generation designers will get an opportunity to see the sights of Italy, they will also have to work hard as they learn from big names in Italian fashion, attend fashion events and fashion shows.

Kat ShoesmithAs the designer behind KSD (Kat Shoesmith Designs), Kat Shoesmith was one of the 10 DFF mentees who headed for Milan for a two month long internship in September this year.

She comes from Kokstad and is now living in Morningside in Durban. She studied through both the Linea Fashion Academy and the DUT (2013 to 2014). Her ladies wear designs are inspired by dark romanticism, music, nature, art and architecture. “My style is a modern take on classic, elegant fashion with deep passion,” she explains.

She says that the workshops during the run up to the DFF have taught her the importance of managing both time and budgets when running a business as well as managerial skills which, she points out, can be as important as creativity itself in the fashion business.

DUT GRADUATES WING THEIR WAY TO ITALY

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Neliswa JiliDesigner for ladies wear brand, Makuyi Design, Neliswa Jili was one of the 2015 DFF fashion mentees. Based on her enthusiastic participation during this programme which extended from the beginning of the year and her collection in the DFF Next Generation Show, she was selected to travel to Milan for a two month internship.

She describes her style as sophisticated, bold and edgy. She is inspired by architecture and structure.

Based in Isipingo Hills, she studied at the DUT. She says she has always loved the fashion industry and learnt a lot from the DFF workshops and says that the new skills that she has added to her repertoire will certainly help her find a place in South African fashion.

Sadie Bosworth smithAs with many designers, her label is her name. “My design aesthetic is influenced by the history of fashion, traditional techniques and handcrafts. I am interested in different world cultures and my style ranges from bohemian to classic, changing to suit my mood, which is reflected in my designs,” she says.

The collection which saw her chosen as one of 10 for the Milan mentorship at the DFF was eclectic and inspired by orientalism in the first decades of the 20th Century.

She says that the DFF programme allowed her to develop skills in professional communications, pattern making, costing, and quality control. She says she intends applying these to her business in future.

Blaire brownFor Blaire Brown, whose label, Bamboo Hill, reflects her own personal taste and love for natural and neutral tones, eco-friendly is king. Her ladies wear range is eco-friendly and uses mainly organic fabrics that contain no chemicals or harmful dyes.

Based in Amanzimtoti, Brown has a National Diploma in Fashion Design and is currently pursuing her BTech degree at the DUT. She says fashion is a perfect outlet for her creativity. The DFF proved an excellent platform for her to showcase her design talents with the programme leading up to sharpening practical skills such as costing a garment and budgeting. It also put her in touch with the nitty gritty issues of running a business.

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t’s the little things that we do on a daily basis that have the most effect on our health in long term. If you are always looking off to the side whilst working on your computer, you will find it hard to watch your blind spot when driving. High heels shift your centre of gravity and place strain on your lower back and may also predispose you to headaches,” says Dr Charmaine Korporaal, a senior lecturer at the DUT’s Department of Chiropractic

and Somatology.

Then there’s “mouse” arm or “mouse” shoulder, an increasing problem for those spending hours with one arm stretched out as they click and reposition their computer mouse. This is compounded by poor posture, hours of immobility, increased eating of snack foods, no breaks and insufficient hydration. Enter the smart phone. More and more people are, quite literally, experiencing De Quervain’s syndrome first hand. Texting and typing incessantly with one hand irritates and strains the muscles and tendons of the wrist, causing irritation and inflammation. “It’s a similar concept to what runners experience with tendonitis, except it’s in your thumb,” she explains, adding that there’s also the problem of people constantly peering down at their phones. It’s not normal posture for their necks.

The point that Korporaal is making is that, in the workplace, health problems are changing – particularly among the often office bound young professionals who are enamoured with what she calls “techno wizardry”. Often, the most vulnerable are those graduating from tertiary institutions such as the DUT. Up until now infectious diseases such as TB and HIV and maternal health held centre stage in the workplace. But that’s changing fast with lifestyle problems such as back and neck pain becoming more of a problem. Although there aren’t any specific figures for South Africa, the South African Society of Physiotherapy says that back pain costs economies more than any other disease and that back related injuries are the leading cause of disability for workers aged between 19 and 45. Korporaal has first-hand knowledge of back pain and sports related issues through her work with her students in community clinics and wellness days, the DUT’s Chiropractic Clinic and the many sports events which she attends with her students.

She points that of the 80 percent of people that develop lower back pain; only about 10 percent of people develop chronic lower back pain, but says that these cases account for an estimated $100 billion a year in health care

BRIEF PROFILE:

• M.Tech: Chiropractic. CCFC, CCSP, ICSSD. • As senior lecturer at the Department of Chiropractic and Somatology, she is involved in department and programme management, research and clinical supervision and lecturing. • Director of the Faculty of Health Sciences Clinic. • President and Member of the Executive of the Chiropractic Association of South Africa and member of the Federation International de Chiropractic du Sport through its various commissions.• National Co-ordinator of the National Internship Committee for the Allied Health Professions Council of South Africa. • Member of the International Chiropractic Regulatory Forum and the Public Health Committee of the WFC.

Dr Charmaine Korporaal

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and other costs in the US alone. If you look at it per sport, there are many different problems, she explains. If you compare a racquet sport to cycling, you will find that, because racquet sports are very one sided, people have issues with muscle imbalance. When it comes to cycling, there is less imbalance because both legs are used. But, because of the way in which people sit on a bicycle, there are prolonged immobility issues. The workplace is no different. Those working on a production line doing the same repetitive tasks every day will see their bodies adjust – some muscles will be over used while others will shrink, resulting in an imbalance. Poor computer posture creates different problems. According to Korporaal, many things negatively affect the lower back because it is associated with a lot of metabolic processes. “A lot of stress goes to the lower back. If you think about it, your thoracic (mid-back) spine and ribs are fairly solid, to protect your lungs. So you don’t have much need for movement. But, when you bend down, all the movement comes from your lower back.”

She says the temptation is to rest to relieve back pain – but instead people should avoid bed rest. “I know that it feels good and frankly, when I had an episode of lower back pain once, I was tempted to lie in bed all day too. However, bed rest actually allows your muscles to waste away. So, the next time you experience back pain and feel like you can’t do anything, always remember that any movement or activity or treatment that keeps you moving is crucial for recovery.” She adds that, when it comes to back pain, early intervention is best. “From a chiropractor’s perspective, spinal manipulation is one of the only treatments that is consistently recommended

for those with acute lower back pain – and yet far too many people don’t visit a chiropractor and choose to

use over-the-counter pain medication instead.”

Then comes another frustration – people forget their problems as soon as the pain disappears,

revert to old habits and relapse. Posture needs to be corrected and core muscles

strengthened through exercise. If no changes are made, another bout of back or neck pain

is inevitable. For Korporaal, everything starts with a good lifestyle. Watch your weight and your

hydration levels. Don’t drink too much caffeine and make sure that you eat properly so that your body has the nutrients it needs to heal itself. Give up nicotine. Smoking decreases blood flow and thus oxygen and nutrients to spinal discs, making smokers vulnerable to back pain and less likely to heal after trauma. At the end of the day, the chiropractor ends up being a teacher to one patient at a time – but usually only when they have experienced pain first and are ready

to receive good

advice – and put it into practice, she says.

TIPS FOR BETTER SPINAL HEALTH

Get more exercise – Apart from strengthening essential muscles, regular physical activity can help ease inflammation and muscle tension.

Watch your weight - Increased weight can make back pain worse by changing your posture and putting strain on your lower back or neck. Stay within 5kg of your ideal weight.

Correct your posture - Sit as close as possible to your desk, with your upper arms parallel to your spine and your hands rested on the work surface.

Check your chair – check the depth of your seat, ensure that your chair supports your back, check that computer screens are at the correct height and that

you are looking straight at your computer screen. Make sure you’re not sitting too high by sliding your finger underneath your thigh at the front end of the chair. If it’s easy to do, your chair is at the right height.

Lose tight clothing and high heels - Anything that interferes with bending, sitting, or walking can aggravate back pain. Throw out the stilettos and go for low heels or no heels.

Lighten your wallet- Sitting on a wallet in your back pocket will cause discomfort and back pain.

Carry the right handbag or briefcase or satchel - Ensure that these have wide, adjustable straps that are long enough to reach over your head. Having the strap on the opposite shoulder of the bag distributes the weight more evenly and helps keep your shoulders even and your back pain-free. When carrying a heavy bag or case without straps, switch hands frequently to avoid putting all the stress on one side of the body.

Check your sleeping position- The best sleeping position is usually on your side with your knees pulled up slightly toward your chest (foetal position). Place a small pillow between your knees and another in front of your chest to rest your arm. If you prefer to sleep on your back, then place one pillow under your knees and another under the small of your low back. Don’t sleep on your stomach.

Lift wisely- Don’t bend over from the waist or your hips to lift anything. Bend your knees and squat, pulling in your stomach muscles and holding the object close to your body as you stand up. Don’t twist your body while lifting.

everything starts with a good lifestyle

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BRIEF PROFILE:

• Diploma Office Management and Technology: ML Sultan Technikon: 2003• In service training at ABSA Bank: Customer Services Clerk. • B.Tech Business Administration: DUT: 2006. • Prestige award in Leadership: 2009.• Best Performing Manager 2011• MBA: Majoring in strategy and human and organizational behavior 2014. • Nedbank: Sales and Service Manager: 2012 to date. • Nedbank Achiever Award: 2014

Gugu Mathebula

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ou don’t just walk into a branch and leave your challenges outside. It does not work like that at all. I try to remember that each person in my team is a mother or a father. They could have a sick child at home. How do I support

them? There’s life after work – that realisation helped me and moulded me to be a better person, helped me to be a better leader.” For Gugu Mathebula, the branch manager at Nedbank’s New Germany branch, it is about caring for, supporting and managing people. Vivacious and sincere, she is proof that banks are not about crunching numbers. “What makes me love working for Nedbank is that it is not paper based, it’s people centred. Nedbank equips managers to be able to think of people,” she points out.

Awards and promotions have seen her move quickly through the ranks at both ABSA and Nedbank and pursue what is clearly her passion – management and leadership. Yet, she admits, she never planned to work in a bank! During the eighties, she recalls going into what was then the United Building Society with her mother. “My mother said, Wow, I wish you could be a banker one day.” I only thought about it much later.” After completing her Diploma in Office Management and Technology, Mathebula started her banking career as an in service trainee and receptionist at ABSA. Eight months later, she moved on to become a customer services clerk which, she says, “was another world” and taught her independence and saw her break out of being an introvert and enjoy interacting with people.

It was during this period that a colleague informed her that she would probably remain a customer services clerk for the rest of her life. She responded that she wasn’t born to be a customer service clerk! Five years later, she returned to the same branch as that colleague’s boss. “She was not happy. But I told her that it is what you say, what you believe in and what do after that, that helps you get to where you want to be.”

She had moved from customer services to become a sales consultant, the role she has enjoyed the most and the place where she says she found herself and began to discover her passion. Two and a half years later, she moved on to manage one of ABSA Bank’s loan centres – once more reaching outside her comfort zone. This was the first time she would manage a team and she recalls dreading the thought of her first team meeting. Nevertheless, she slipped easily into her new role. What Mathebula realised was that it was impossible to achieve anything without her team. Once that team embraces

a goal and a vision, everything falls into place. “We had the best team ever. Our branch was number one within a period of two years and we broke even within 18 months,” she recalls. Although reluctant to leave ABSA, she says she decided to move on to Nedbank when she realised that the members of her team had grown to the point where they could work on their own. “I believe that every person should have a development plan. Once you reach your goal, my job is done. Most of those people are team leaders now,” she says.

As branch manager, she faced a whole new set of challenges at Nedbank. “It’s like managing your own franchise. You must make sure your branch is profitable and manage the risk. You have to minimise your costs and grow profits,” she explains. Even though her staff were sceptical about achieving it, the New Germany branch became Nedbank’s top performer last year. The reason was good leadership. “If you don’t manage the people part effectively, that becomes a huge challenge in terms of operations. You have to make sure that you up skill your staff with new information – make sure they know and understand,” she says of the precautions that are needed to counter the fraudsters and syndicates for whom banks are the prime targets. One of the things in which she also strongly believes is that a manager should practice what she preaches. In her own experience, she says having had various roles within banks has enabled her to better understand and not to ask the impossible from her staff.

Another all important thing is recognising staff contributions and simply saying thank you. Mathebula, who would ultimately like to go on to become a business coach, is determined to never stop learning and to stay relevant. “If you don’t remain relevant, how will you be able to manage or lead your team? You need the theory and then you have to apply it and see how it works and how effective you can be as a leader,” she explains. Studying for her MBA started her in this direction and she says a course in human and organisational behaviour began to teach her the soft skills she needed to support her staff in achieving that elusive work / life balance.”As she explains, what differentiates one bank from another is good service – and staff that are appreciated, supported and given the tools to grow are the ones who will deliver it. But, again, it starts at the top. “I always say that if I want to see change, I need to be the change I want to see within my team. Then we will grow. It won’t happen over-night, but step by step, we will reach our goals.”

“If you don’t manage the people part effectively, that becomes a huge challenge in terms of operations. You have to make sure that you up skill your staff with new information – make sure they know and understand,”

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