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university of stellenboschlatest news & developments
Khanya’s predecessor: Quintin the robot. (Damien Schumann)

The robot that allows Covid-19 patients human contact

A mental health pandemic: It’s far from ideal, but a dying mother was able to blow kisses to her child thanks to Khanya the robot

A meaningful life: Advocate Thuli Madonsela, who is now a lecturer, believes where a person’s burdens and talents come together is where their purpose lies. (Delwyn Verasamy/M&G)

Q&A Sessions: Love, Zuma, Stellenbosch and the heart for social justice

Thuli Madonsela speaks to Lyse Comins about how Zuma’s refusal to recognise any court and any structure that disagrees with him was sad. His violations were serious and he must…

‘It all depends’: Reviv CEO Sayed Mia says some doctors call IV drip treatments “expensive pee”, but he argues it’s a great source of vitamins if your diet is poor. Photo: James Puttick

Vitamin therapy is for drips

It may be marketed by influencers, but intravenous vitamin therapy is not necessary and probably not worth the hype, experts say

Some schools, predominantly the better-resourced schools, have been able to carry on with teaching online whereas in many other schools, learners have had to make do with a couple of radio and television lessons. (Graphic: John McCann)

Academics bemoan ‘toxic’ politics

Senior university managers say political parties should be banned from campuses, citing a climate of fear

Each year, somebody on a social media platform is either documenting or having a racist or sexist meltdown. (Kyle Oberholzer/Citizenside)

The humanities can cure our colonial, patriarchal hangover

Two academic articles raise questions about the inherent racism and sexism in scientific methodologies and research ethics

From Binyavanga, Brian Kamanzi learnt the importance about different kinds of “writing” and that it always involved confronting yourself.

​How to write about Binyavanga

Writing about Binyavanga, as is writing about Africa, is about what is left off the page

Shocking science: The campus of Stellenbosch University, where the problematic research article originated. (Courtesy of Stellenbosch University)

Scientific racism rears its head again

A recent journal article on ‘coloured’ women reflects an outmoded paradigm of race

Professor Resia Pretorius is the recipient of the TW Kambule-NSTF Award: Researcher through research and its outputs by an individual.

It’s in the blood

TW Kambule-NSTF Award: Researcher through research and its outputs by an individual

Put Africa back in our universities

Put Africa back in our universities

Decolonising and reimagining institutions is not a mere theory or idealism but a responsibility

Nasser bin Aqeel al-Tayyar

Stellenbosch students traumatised by ‘men in black’ still have to write exams

Students distressed by events on campus asked for an opportunity to write exams in 2017.

Study paves the way for Karoo lamb to join the ranks of tequila, champagne and Kobe

Research from Stellenbosch University has shown that grazing on fragrant Karoo plants gives lamb a regional taste.

English given equal status at Stellenbosch, made primary language of instruction at University of Pretoria

Stellenbosch has also committed to growing isiXhosa in effort to ‘facilitate social cohesion and promote inclusivity’.

Never far from controversy

Afrikaners: Stand up for what is right, for our future

A language is not preserved by formal applications, but rather in the home, in the arts and in literature, writes Josua Loots.

Afrikaans varsities perpetuate racial divisions

The use of a language that bars the majority of black African students – who do not understand Afrikaans – is indefensible.

Final frontier: Tiny satellites weighing no more than 1.3kg are gaining global traction as a relatively cheap way to get a foot in the space race door.

Smaller steps for mankind

South Africa is set to launch nanosatellites that will gather valuable data before self-destructing.

Helmuts and berets: “Decolonising Wits” focuses on students within the context of political theatre as performance art.

Decolonising Wits: Politics of the toyi-toyi on-screen

Aryan Kaganof’s film about Wits deceptively reflects on the political grandstanding at the institution.

Scales, which were found at Stellenbosch University, were used for racial classification. The one above was based on the belief that eye colours were markers of racial difference. (Anton Jordaan)

Rethinking Maties’ apartheid past

The retro arrangement of Stellenbosch’s Sasol Museum’s artifacts is a gem for cultural study.

The ANC has achieved its target of increasing the number of no-fee schools to 60% of public schools.

Vast improvements in pupils’ national test results ‘not possible’

If the annual national assessments are to be believed, SA has the fastest developing education system in the world – a highly unlikely conclusion.

Activists say the media’s feminisation of Caster Semenya reflects social unease about gender ambiguity.

Man up to gender studies

To some, gender may seem to be an unimportant topic, a frivolous diversion from the more critical problems of poverty, war, disease or racism.

Stellenbosch faculty claims bullying over report

A transformation lobby group has embarked on a collision course with the <em>taalbulle</em> who want to preserve Afrikaans at Stellenbosch University.