At the University of Cape Town (UCT), we have the privilege of meeting with a variety of colleagues.  Our host is Dr. Mamokgethi Phakeng, deputy vice chancellor of research and internationalization.  Besides being an incredibly accomplished scholar, the only black female South African professor at UCT, and a caring university administrator, today she also serves…

University of the Western Cape On May 31, after visiting the University of Cape Town, we boarded our bus to journey to the University of the Western Cape. Once we crossed the gates, we recognized the differences between this campus and University of Cape Town, as this was a bit more suburban, and in this…

Started in 1943 by a UCT medical student, SHAWCO has grown into one of South Africa’s largest student volunteer organizations focused on youth education.  During the Apartheid era SHAWCO ran health and welfare projects. With the dawn of democracy in 1994 there was a shift from welfare to a development model.  While still providing primary…

After a delicious traditional South African home-cooked meal at Mzansi restaurant, the in-home business of Nomonde Siyaka located in the nearby township of Langa, we conclude our two week sojourn with a site visit at the Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT). Our host Dr. Rene Pellissier, director of Strategic Initiatives and Partnerships, and her…

Robben Island, used as a prison since the late 17th century, sits tantalizingly close to the shoreline of the African continent.  Nelson Mandela spent 18 years here as a political prisoner.  He was then transferred to another prison near Cape Town, and finally another near Johannesburg, serving a total of 23 years before his release…