The University of the Western Cape is a national university, alert to its African and international context as it strives to be a place of quality, a place to grow. It is committed to excellence in teaching, learning and research, to nurturing the cultural diversity of South Africa, and to responding in critical and creative ways to the needs of a society in transition.
Drawing on its proud experience in the liberation struggle, the university is aware of a distinctive academic role in helping build an equitable and dynamic society. In particular it aims to: advance and protect the independence of the academic enterprise.
Design curricular and research programmes appropriate to its southern African context.
Further global perspectives among its staff and students, thereby strengthening intellectual life and contributing to South Africa’s reintegration in the world community.
Assist educationally disadvantaged students gain access to higher education and succeed in their studies.
Nurture and use the abilities of all in the university community.
Develop effective structures and conventions of governance, which are democratic, transparent and accountable.
Seek racial and gender equality and contribute to helping the historically marginalised participate fully in the life of the nation.
Encourage and provide opportunities for lifelong learning through programmes and courses.
Help conserve and explore the environmental and cultural resources of the southern African region, and to encourage a wide awareness of these resources in the community.
Co-operate fully with other stakeholders to develop an excellent, and therefore transformed, higher education system.
South Africa has some of the highest mobile voice and data costs in the world. A project to deliver affordable services and keep money in communities with high unemployment rates could be the answer.
Farm dwellers like Zabalaza Mshengu live in extremely precarious conditions.
Association for Rural Advancement
Farm dwellers’ conclusion is that the politics associated with land is not about an organised emancipatory movement. Farm dwellers are mainly preoccupied with daily survival strategies.
Land ownership patterns in South Africa have not really changed since the advent of democracy.
Reuters/Mike Hutchings
South Africa’s President Jacob Zuma seems to be making a final push to secure the nuclear power deal before his tenure comes to an end. But it won’t be easy.
Nelson Mandela and his comrade, anti-apartheid activist, Fatima Meer.
Indian Spice
Two South African “romance” struggle auto/biographies have focalised the anti-apartheid struggle through the lives of heroic women who were bound by love.
A girl takes a close look at the world’s first artificial.
satellite, the Soviet-made Sputnik I.
China Photos/Reuters
South Africa’s Deputy President, Cyril Ramaphosa, claims the intelligence services are being used to discredit him and prevent him becoming the country’s next leader.
South Africa’s unemployment numbers reveal chronic joblessness.
EPA/NIC BOTHMA
A deeper analysis of South Africa’s joblessness reveals a scarier picture of large sections of the population suffering, especially the country’s youth.
Nearly 60% of all South Africans, live on land or in dwellings outside of the land titling system.
Filckr/Icrisat
The conventional view is that insecurity of land tenure results from the lack of a registered title deed which records the property rights of occupants of land or housing.
Protesters march ahead of a vote of a no confidence against President Jacob Zuma.
Reuters/Mike Hutchings
The huge hype ahead of the vote of no confidence in President Zuma made the result anti-climactic. However, the fact that the motion was defeated by only a 21 vote margin is unprecedented.
Education should be for everyone not only those in formal education institutions. Popular education programmes presents an opportunity for people to learn how to contribute to a sustainable future.
Language and herbs travel thanks to the Rastafarian community around Cape Town.
David Harrison/Mail & Guardian
Ethical engagement in multilingual communication is about mutual respect. More importantly, it’s about shaping a shared future through face-to-face communication.
Competing to be the next president of South Africa’s ANC: Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma and Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa.
Reuters/Siphiwe Sibeko
A combination of politicking ahead of the ANC policy conference, plus the machinations just before it met meant heightened tensions between rival factions.
Funeral of Namibian liberation struggle hero Herman Andimba Toivo Ya Toivo at Heroes’ Acre in Windhoek.
GCIS
Namibian hero and former Robben Island prisoner Toivo ya Toivo was part of a generation who contributed to the struggles against apartheid and colonialism in the region.
Tackling the challenge of stunting in South Africa needs a convergence of science and policy along with better coordination at all levels of government.
Tedros Ghebreyesus, the newly elected Director-General of the World Health Organisation.
Reuters/Denis Balibouse
There are a number of challenges that the World Health Organisation’s new leader, Ethiopian-born Tedros Ghebreyesus, will have to navigate during his tenure.
Workers harvesting from a commercial farm in Ethiopia.
Reuters/Barry Malone
Many African countries are still searching for inclusive commercial farming models that can bring in private investment without dispossessing local people.
A protester waves the South African flag during a mass protest demanding President Jacob Zuma step down.
EPA/Kim Ludbrook
The promise of Easter, which Christians around the world celebrate, can be likened to the new struggle in South Africa for a new leadership and government that cares about the people.
Protesters call for the firing of South Africa’s President Jacob Zuma.
Reuters/Rogan Ward