Latest news with #StellenboschUniversity
IOL News
18 hours ago
- Health
- IOL News
Unmasking the 'Zombie' Cells: The shocking link between ME/CFS and Long Covid
Both the World Health Organization and the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention officially classify ME/CFS as a brain disorder and post-viral fatigue syndrome. Image: File Despite testing negative and being told they're fine, millions of people recovering from infections like Covid-19, influenza and glandular fever are left battling crippling fatigue, brain fog, joint pain, gut issues and a strange crash after any physical effort — a pattern that's becoming too common to ignore. These symptoms are medically known as myalgic encephalomyelitis or chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS). Both the World Health Organization and the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention officially classify ME/CFS as a brain disorder and post-viral fatigue syndrome. Now, researchers from Stellenbosch University believe they may have found a common underlying factor linking ME/CFS and Long Covid: zombie-like cells hiding in our blood vessels. Dr. Massimo Nunes, a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at Stellenbosch University, explained:'Uncovering how ME/CFS and Long Covid originate and evolve over time is essential to move beyond symptom management toward disease-modifying therapies.' The Stellenbosch team's latest hypothesis is based on a growing body of research into what happens to blood vessels after viral infections. It proposes that viruses like SARS-CoV-2 (which causes Covid-19), Epstein–Barr virus, and influenza A can infect the inner lining of blood vessels, known as endothelial cells. Once infected, these cells enter a 'senescent' state — they stop functioning normally but stay alive, releasing molecules that trigger inflammation and clotting, while resisting destruction by the immune system. Prof. Resia Pretorius, Distinguished Professor in Physiological Sciences at Stellenbosch University, said: 'The long-term economic and health burden of Long Covid is immense, and we're seeing striking parallels with ME/CFS, a condition that has been historically neglected. Many Long Covid patients meet ME/CFS diagnostic criteria, highlighting the urgent need to recognize these overlapping diseases as serious physiological illnesses with real-world consequences.' The phenomenon of cellular senescence isn't new, but Stellenbosch's research adds a new dimension by placing these 'zombie' blood-vessel cells at the centre of disease progression in both ME/CFS and Long Covid. These dysfunctional cells contribute to thickened blood, lower oxygen delivery to tissues and immune dysfunction — a combination that aligns with what many patients experience physically and cognitively. Prof. Burtram Fielding, Dean of the Faculty of Sciences and Professor in the Department of Microbiology, Stellenbosch University, explained: 'Long Covid refers to a range of symptoms and conditions that persist for weeks, months or even years after a Covid-19 infection. It is not a single illness, but rather a collection of new, returning or ongoing symptoms that vary from person to person.' Dr. Nunes highlighted several studies showing the overlap between Long Covid and ME/CFS diagnostic criteria: 'A systematic review and meta-analysis inferred that 51% of Long COVID patients meet the diagnostic criteria for ME/CFS, based on data from 1,973 individuals across 13 studies. 'Another review with 127,117 participants found 45% met chronic fatigue criteria. A smaller study of 465 patients found 58% met ME/CFS criteria. Even in a 42-patient sample, 42% matched the diagnosis,' Nunes said. The research team believes that when blood-vessel cells become senescent, they disrupt circulation and immune responses in ways that echo what many patients report fatigue, cognitive dysfunction, gut issues and post-exertional crashes. 'We propose that when blood-vessel cells turn into 'zombies', they pump out substances that make blood thicker and prone to forming tiny clots. These clots slow down circulation, so less oxygen reaches muscles and organs. This is one reason people feel drained,' Dr. Nunes said. During physical exertion, the problem worsens. Instead of relaxing, blood vessels tighten, leading to a drop in oxygen supply. In the brain, this may contribute to dizziness and brain fog. In the gut, weakened blood-vessel walls could allow bacteria and toxins to leak into the bloodstream, fuelling further inflammation. Adding to this is immune system exhaustion. Senescent cells are typically cleared by healthy immune responses, but in Long Covid and ME/CFS patients, natural killer cells and macrophages appear sluggish or dysfunctional. The zombie cells send out signals that help them evade immune attack, creating a cycle that allows them to persist and perpetuate illness. As part of the next phase of their research, the Stellenbosch team is now testing blood samples from patients to see if they trigger senescence in lab-grown endothelial cells. They're also piloting non-invasive imaging techniques to detect these ageing blood-vessel cells in real time. 'Our aim is simple: find these ageing endothelial cells in real patients. Pinpointing them will inform the next round of clinical trials and open the door to therapies that target senescent cells directly, offering a route to healthier blood vessels and, ultimately, lighter disease loads,' Dr. Nunes said. Weekend Argus
News24
6 days ago
- General
- News24
100 not out! These 3 SA grannies celebrated a century of birthdays
The families of three grandmothers wanted to celebrate their centenarian matriarchs this week. Ouma Lydia de Kock from Cradock, granny Amy Canham from Port St Johns and Johanna Marais all blew out their candles in June and July. Some of their best advice for life includes remaining eager to learn, drinking tea and this sagest of quotes: 'mind your own business'. They've lived through a world war, a global pandemic, the rise and fall of apartheid and the macarena. Over the past few weeks, News24 received three separate emails from three different families celebrating their grandmothers who can all call themselves centenarians. Ouma Lydia de Kock from Cradock and granny Amy Canham from Port St Johns both turned 100, while Johanna Marais from Cape Town turned the ripe old age of 105 not out. Beautiful letters were sent this week honouring their beloved, and we share them below. An English girl turned Stellenbosch farm wife Ouma Lydia de Kock from Cradock, met her husband Frikkie le Roux in the 1940s at Stellenbosch University where she obtained a BA degree and he a BCom degree. Supplied They married directly after her studies and settled on the family farm Vlakkenheuwel in the Hermon/Riebeek Kasteel district, where this English village girl emerged as a successful farmer's wife. She and Grandpa Frikkie were married for 65 years at the time of his death at 92, and have three children, six grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren. She was actively involved in community initiatives such as the VLV and as chairperson of the Leeskring until her 80s. She is a sports enthusiast and never misses a rugby or cricket match on television. She also enjoys watching golf and the Tour de France and knows the names of most of the great sportsmen. Grandma Lydia is in brilliant health and still quite mobile – although she has to do it stealthily if she wants to move around her room herself – and her memory is better than that of her children, who are all in their seventies. We believe the secret to grandma's longevity and clarity of mind is the fact that she has always been curious and eager to learn – her brain has not retired. And oh yes, she enjoys a glass of wine during family visits to the farm! Drinking tea and 'minding your own business' This June, our beloved granny Amy Canham celebrated her 100th birthday, a milestone few reach, and even fewer do with the grace, humour, and wisdom that she carries so effortlessly. Born in Port St Johns, Eastern Cape in 1925, she grew up during a time of great difficulty in South Africa, but she met each challenge with quiet resilience. A devoted wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, she raised three of her children and helped raise generations after, always with love, patience, and strong values. Her life was one of service, to her family, community, and faith. She worked hard on her farm, believes in simplicity, and always welcomed others with open arms and a warm meal. She lived through world wars, apartheid, the birth of democracy and Covid-19, always keeping her dignity and kindness intact. She has seen it all, from fetching water in buckets to seeing Facebook posts and wondering 'How did you find out about that?'... to video calls with her great-grandchildren, even those who live in New Zealand. When asked how she made it to 100, she smiled and shared her simple recipe for a long life: 'Drink tea, stay active, and mind your own business.' She adds with a laugh, 'Also, never stop learning and always keep a little sweet for later.' Her 100th birthday was a beautiful gathering of family and friends, with laughter, stories, and even a few tears. Letters and messages poured in, a reminder of just how deeply she has touched lives. We honour you, granny - for every lesson, every hug, and every prayer. Happy 100th birthday gran. A visit from Cape Town's first citizen Originally published on and sent to News24, Johanna Marais received a special visit from Cape Town Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis last week at Panorama Palms for her 105th birthday. Her entry read a little something like this: After matriculating at Charlie Hofmeyer in Ceres, she qualified as a nurse. She then had a career in banking for more than 30 years and worked at Barclays Bank (now FNB) in Strand Street in Cape Town until her retirement as a senior supervisor. Supplied She has been a resident of Panorama Palms since May 1999. She lived independently in one of the apartments until December 2010 until her first stroke. After a follow-up stroke in 2019, she went to the weakened care facility and made use of a wheelchair. With a chair gym she regained the use of her arms after the stroke. She enjoys watching rugby and athletics and loves gospel music. Her favourite dish is water cauliflower stew. She is much loved among the staff of Panorama Palms. Once again, Congratulations!
IOL News
22-07-2025
- Business
- IOL News
Land a job in your sleep? This Stellenbosch student's app does the hustling for you
former National University of Lesotho student, Thabo Maibi, has managed to turn job hunting on its head Image: National University of Lesotho Meet Thabo Maibi, the former National University of Lesotho student, who has created an application that helps you apply for jobs - while you sleep! Maibi, now completing his PhD at Stellenbosch University in the Western Cape, has built an app called Career Agent, which is said to "automatically search for jobs, matches them to your CV, and even applies for the jobs on your behalf… while you sleep!" According to an article posted on the National University of Lesotho (NUL) website, the app uses artificial intelligence to scan job listings across the internet, evaluate them against a user's qualifications and skills, and generate personalised applications. 'Career Agent is like having a personal assistant who never gets tired. It looks at your CV, checks what kind of jobs you're looking for, and then goes out to find them…for you,' Maibi told the university. He decided to develop the app after witnessing the challenges young people face when searching for jobs. 'Why do people have to suffer like this when we have technology that can help?' he said. Career Agent uses technology called Natural Language Processing to understand the details of applicant' CV and the requirements listed in job adverts. It then checks if the job is a good fit based on factors like location, required skills, and qualifications. The app also includes a feature to check how well your CV will perform against automated screening systems many companies use. Image: Supplied The app also includes a feature to check how well your CV will perform against automated screening systems many companies use. 'Most of our people don't have time to learn complicated job systems. I built Career Agent so that even if you're not a tech expert, you can still apply for jobs, without stress.' IOL Business [email protected] Get your news on the go, click here to join the IOL News WhatsApp channel
The Hindu
18-07-2025
- Sport
- The Hindu
Who is Riley Norton? — South Africa U19 cricketer leads U20 Rugby team into World Cup final
After representing South Africa in the 2024 ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup, Riley Norton has now captained his nations' U20 Rugby team to the final of the 2025 World Rugby U20 Championship in Italy. The 19-year-old is quickly becoming one of South Africa's most compelling young sporting talents, making headlines for his exceptional achievements across two major sports: cricket and rugby. In the 2024 U19 Cricket World Cup, he showcased his all-round abilities as a fast-bowling all-rounder, picking up 11 wickets at an average of 18.36 and maintaining a batting average of 50, being dismissed only once in three innings, helping South Africa reach the semifinals. Despite his promising cricket career, Norton has recently pivoted to focus more on rugby, a sport where he has also excelled significantly. Following in the footsteps of his father, Chris Norton, who played for Maties Rugby from 1991 to 2003, Riley joined Maties Rugby this year while pursuing a B. Com Investment Management degree at Stellenbosch University. His leadership prowess has been particularly evident in the 2025 World Rugby U20 Championship. As captain of the Junior Springboks, Norton has guided his team through dominant performances, securing victories against Australia (73-17), defending champion England (32-22), and Scotland (73-14) in the group stage. They then triumphed over Argentina 48-24 in the semifinal, earning their spot in the final against New Zealand on July 20. The youngster represents a rare breed of dual-sport athletes, drawing comparisons to figures like Namibia's Rudie van Vuuren, who notably played in both the Cricket and Rugby World Cups. Norton's story is an inspiring testament to elite talent knowing no boundaries, and his future in South African sport looks incredibly bright.
Daily Maverick
17-07-2025
- Politics
- Daily Maverick
What inclusionary zoning in Stellenbosch means for post-apartheid cities
Stellenbosch municipal manager Geraldine Mettler says she wanted to go public with the admittedly excellent Inclusionary Zoning Policy in 2023, but with highly contestable local elections on the cards in 2026, it's easy to see why the Cape leadership held it for 2025. Anton Bredell, Western Cape MEC for local government, environmental affairs and development planning, wants South Africa to radically rethink what it means to live a 'dignified life.' Specifically, he believes the constitutional standard for basic services (currently 50kWh of free electricity and six kilolitres of water per household per month) is too low. 'We need to double that basket,' Bredell said to the room overlooking a picturesque vista of the Stellenbosch Berg and the exclusive De Zalze golf estate – it's 10 years and one month since Henry van Breda handed himself in to the local police following the January 2015 axe murder of his family which got locals calling the estate 'van der byl park,' but I digress. The occasion on this day is the Stellenbosch Municipality's Inclusionary Zoning Policy workshop. Stellenbosch is only the second municipality in the land to adopt the founding ideas of reconstructing the social fabric and undoing apartheid spatial planning that was codified in the Mandela years (read: RDP). It may come as a surprise, but the Cape Winelands region actually gave the City of Johannesburg its flowers for being the first municipality to introduce inclusionary housing by adopting a policy and amending its planning by-law to guide decision makers, all the way back in 2019. Trading rights for positive choices How would Bredell's radical ideas be funded? 'I can tell you now, if we can get the 100,000 children that's on the street into schools, we get R2.5-billion. There's the money.' Of course, his scheme for releasing this assistance to households in need is based on an incentive: 'If I offer 100 units of electricity on proof that your child is in school, won't that help us? Must we not start to change?' He believes that this approach, getting children into schools, would lead to 'less unemployment, less inequality and less poverty in the future because we won't have to spend that money [on] safety because our children end up in gangs, etcetera…' Bredell's expanded dignity basket ideas were developed in partnership with Stellenbosch University and peg a realistic standard of dignity at 115kWh and 10.5kl of water per household monthly, far above the current minimum guaranteed by policy. What's the cost of dignity? But lofty ideals come with heavy costs. A quick analysis estimates that such a doubling of services would cost R28.7-billion annually – R17-billion for water and R11.7-billion for electricity. This comes at a time when South Africa's water and electricity infrastructure already face a combined funding shortfall of more than R1.6-trillion over the next decade. With 65% of the country's 257 municipalities in financial distress, Bredell's model may work in Stellenbosch – but it's unlikely to survive contact with the national balance sheet. The Stellenbosch Inclusionary Zoning Policy, formally adopted in June 2023, is part of the National Land Value Capture Programme and makes the municipality the first in the Western Cape to adopt such a strategy. At its core, inclusionary zoning is a land-use planning tool that requires or incentivises developers to include a certain proportion of affordable housing units in new developments. Jeremy Fasser, executive mayor of Stellenbosch, framed the policy not as a housing intervention alone, but as an attempt to remake the city's spatial geography. 'It's about bringing working families closer to opportunities,' he said. 'It's about redressing historical spaces of injustice.' The policy has already yielded more than 900 approved inclusionary housing units, which is a significant early success. But Stellenbosch's financial health is a critical part of the story. 'We're in a good financial position as a municipality,' Fasser tells Daily Maverick. 'We can afford to give 100kWh when the national standard is 50kWh because we have the revenue, the political stability and the planning capability.' Pioneers in disarray Minenhle Maphumulo, assistant director of metro planning at the City of Johannesburg, offered a frank assessment of why the country's first inclusionary zoning policy fell short. 'Johannesburg left affordability to the market,' she explained. 'We limited the size of units rather than setting price thresholds.' The result? Developments included units ranging from R700,000 for 20m² to R2-million for 140m², hardly affordable for the intended market. In contrast, Stellenbosch defined affordability more rigorously and anchored the policy in land value capture principles. 'Stellenbosch presents opportunities for us to leverage strategic use of land,' Maphumulo continued. 'It's the first policy presented as land value capital – unlike Johannesburg.' Still, she stressed that inclusionary housing wasn't meant to replace social housing. 'It's one tool in a broader set of responses. We need more responses, not fewer.' Wait, what's inclusionary zoning? Inclusionary zoning sounds technical, but it could change where you live, work and send your kids to school. Stellenbosch is testing a policy that forces private developers to include affordable housing in new builds. If it works, it could undo decades of apartheid spatial planning – not just in wine country, but nationwide. What this means for you If you're a nurse, a teacher or a security guard commuting two hours to work, inclusionary zoning could mean living closer to your job, your children's school, and public transport – without paying elite prices. If Stellenbosch's model proves financially sustainable and socially transformative, other cities may follow. That means more mixed-income neighbourhoods, less congestion, better school access – and more pressure on developers to prioritise people over profit. But here's the catch: only two municipalities (Joburg and Stellenbosch) have adopted inclusionary zoning in 30 years. If Stellenbosch fails, it may take another 30 before anyone tries again. Samantha Naidu, from the National Treasury's Cities Support Programme, declined to respond directly to Daily Maverick's questions, but did offer more general insights. 'Inclusionary zoning is not the silver bullet when it comes to spatial transformation,' Naidu said. 'It is one of the tools in the arsenal of instruments that a municipality has at its disposal.' But tools need hands to wield them, and political will to use them effectively. 'Leadership is required at both technical and political levels. We need consistency, governance, and accountability. And we need to start implementing, not just planning.' No handouts from national coffers Naidu cautioned municipalities against always turning to the Treasury for funding: 'There are tools you already control. We should not always be looking for solutions elsewhere, like more money from the national government.' While acknowledging the pioneering role of Stellenbosch, she reminded the audience that 'despite discussions for the last 30 years, only two municipalities have adopted inclusionary zoning policies. So something is wrong somewhere'. She praised Stellenbosch's use of the Adam Tas Corridor as a site for testing land value capture and deeper affordability mechanisms, but reiterated that without meaningful integration into broader housing, transport and economic policy frameworks, isolated experiments wouldn't change the systemic failures that continued to marginalise the urban poor. Good ideas and the best intentions For Bredell, the argument isn't just about water and power. He says it's about changing how society values its people, even offering a metaphor: 'If you're in a hospital, do you want a nurse who took four taxis to get to work and doesn't know if her children are safe, or one who walked from a nearby home after dropping her kids off at a good school?' It's a powerful image. But good metaphors don't fill dams or rebuild substations. He may be right that South Africa's problem isn't a lack of resources, but a crisis of leadership and coordination. But as long as policy ambitions outpace fiscal reality, the Constitution's promise of a dignified life, even at its current standard, remains just a promise. DM
