KZN teacher uses social media to bridge language gap
By Jehran Daniel
Share
DURBAN - With South Africa’s education system having been heavily disrupted by the Covid-19 pandemic over the past year, a KwaZulu-Natal linguistic teacher is making creative use of digital resources to help learners.
Thirty year-old Gloria Mngadi, a language practice alumni of the Durban University of Technology (DUT), started a Whatsapp chat group where she teaches mostly children and some adults to read and write isiZulu and English.
Mngadi, from the town of Ndwedwe north of Durban, calls the Whatsapp group “Ingosi Yabantwana”, which translates to “Children’s Session”.
Social responsibility MOOC for universities launched
Universities in Africa will benefit from a massive open online course (MOOC) that has been launched by the University Social Responsibility Network (USRN), which aims to promote understanding of how universities could better fulfil the societal expectations of higher education teaching and research.
Speaking during the University Social Responsibility Summit 2021, which has been organised virtually by the University of Pretoria and will take place until 5 February, Dr Fernando Palacio, a member of the organising committee and a senior lecturer at Kyoto University in Japan, said the MOOC will lay the theoretical framework of how universities globally could go about community engagements.
New continental platform for open access publishing
A new continental platform for the open access publishing of journals, monographs and textbooks in Africa has been developed by South Africa’s University of Cape Town (UCT) through its library service.
The platform allows the African research community to share their scholarly content, which could advance the growth and development of local research aimed at benefiting African society.
“The major publishing houses have inadvertently northernised the publishing landscape,” said Dr Reggie Raju, the director of research and learning at UCT Libraries.
“These publishing houses are driven by the fundamental principles of economics; that is, they will publish that which will be bought. It is the Global North that has the buying capacity.”
There are things to do during lockdown
By Frank Chemaly
Markets
Golden Hours Market: (tomorrow) This relaxed family market at the Golden Hours School reopens tomorrow from 10am to 2pm. All Covid-19 protocols in place and strict social distancing. Call Lyn on 083 262 3693.
Concerts and Shows
Music Revival: Pianist Christopher Duigan online, live-streaming on Wednesdays and Saturdays at 6pm. Duigan has performed more than 80 concerts since March over lockdown. Free, but donations are welcome. Email [email protected] or WhatsApp 083 4174473. View at the Music Revival website www.musicrevival.co.za or on www.youtube.com/c/ChristopherDuigan.
Rhumbelow Theatre, Umbilo: (today) Barry Thomson and The Reals perform Cold Fact Rodriguez, a tribute to the album from an unknown artist in 1970 who became a huge phenomenon in South Africa. All Covid-19 protocols adhered to and attendance limited to 50 people. Show times have been amended to suit curfew. Today at 4pm. Tickets R160 fro
Tributes pour in for Bhodloza By Jabulani Langa
Comments Former Ukhozi FM station manager Welcome ‘Bhodloza’ Nzimande died on Friday after a short illness. Photo by Jabulani Langa.
TRIBUTES are pouring in for former Ukhozi FM station manager and veteran broadcaster, Welcome “Bhodloza” Nzimande.
The 74-year-old former SABC1 Ezodumo presenter died on Friday after a short illness.
He has been hailed as a hero in developing radio and traditional music.
He increased Ukhozi’s listenership from about three million to about six million in 2006.
Bhodloza was one of a few people who got recognition for his work while he still was alive. He was conferred with an honorary Doctorate of Philosophy in Visual and Performing Arts by the Durban University of Technology in 2018.