Latest news with #UniversityOfPretoria
Mail & Guardian
3 days ago
- General
- Mail & Guardian
Antibiotic resistance profiles of oral flora in hippopotami (Hippopotamus amphibius): implications for treatment of human bite wound infections
Name of research institution: University of Pretoria Name of Faculty: Veterinary Science Name of department: Veterinary Tropical Diseases First author of the paper: Professor Anita Michel Authors: Maralize Engelbrecht, Francois Roux2 Jeanette Wentzel and Annelize Jonker Email address: Name of submitter: Professor Karen Keddy Capacity of submitter: Head of Department: Veterinary Tropical Diseases Email address of submitter: Submitting authority: Faculty of Veterinary Science Short description of the research: The common hippopotamus ( Hippopotamus amphibius ) which occurs in rivers, lakes and wetlands in sub-Saharan Africa, is known for its aggressive behaviour when defending its territory. This leads to numerous attacks on people close to water often leading to life-threatening injuries and severe wound infections. Our study investigated the bacterial spectrum common to the oral cavity of the hippopotamus and the antibiotic susceptibility profiles of those bacteria as this is of crucial importance to the effective treatment of bite wound infections caused by hippopotami. The findings showed that the bacteria usually residing in the hippopotamus' mouth are aquatic bacteria with a high level of antibiotic resistance to several antibiotic drugs which are commonly used to treat bite wound patients. This study highlights the need for revised, more effective treatment protocols that take into consideration the antibiotic susceptibility profiles reported in this paper. For the full paper see below:
News24
3 days ago
- General
- News24
‘Please delete, worried my mother will see': SA reacts to 17-year-old's actuary degree
At just 17, Mongiwa Hazel Ntuli earned an actuarial science degree from the University of Pretoria while becoming the first graduate in her family, sparking national admiration and praise. Social media erupted with a mix of celebration and humour, with users reflecting on their own 17-year-old experiences compared to Ntuli's remarkable achievement. Some teens around the country jokingly asked for her posts to be deleted so that their own mothers don't see her remarkable achievement. Mongiwa Hazel Ntuli's incredible journey has captured the hearts of many, sparking admiration, inspiration, and much-needed doses of humour from social media users. Graduating from the University of Pretoria with a degree in actuarial science at the age of 17, Ntuli not only broke barriers as one of the institution's youngest graduates but also celebrated a monumental achievement as the first in her family to reach this milestone. Her story of brilliance and resilience began in Rosettenville, Johannesburg, with an early academic spark that hinted at her exceptional abilities. By the age of 15, while most of her peers were navigating high school, Ntuli took on one of academia's most difficult challenges - before she could even vote, drink or drive. In the original story published by News24, Ntuli said: 'When I was in Grade 3, I mistakenly wrote a Grade 4 mathematics paper and scored the highest of all the actual Grade 4 students. My teacher identified this and allowed me to write more Grade 4 papers and saw that I performed exceptionally well.' READ | She's only 17 and just completed her actuarial science degree: Meet Mongiwa Hazel Ntuli Responding to the story among the waves of cheers from News24 readers and social media audiences, some couldn't help but mix awe with humour. From sharing quirky self-reflections about their own 17-year-old selves to cracking jokes about Ntuli's academic prowess, the reactions have been as entertaining as they are celebratory. On News24's Instagram post, @ joked: 'Please delete, worried my mother will see,' becoming the most liked comment. Then, @Definitely_not_thabang added: 'I just know her cousins are fighting for their lives rn [right now].' Meanwhile, @ shared the celebratory energy with a side of caution, saying: 'I love to see black girls winning (I hope my parents don't see this).' News24 readers also shared their heartfelt congratulations and encouragement in the story's comments sections. One such comment by user R.N. 87 read: 'Really well done, actuarial science is an extremely difficult degree. I know people who had straight 10As in matric and a 90% in maths drop down to business science due to the difficulty of actuarial science. Furthermore, given your humble background, it makes this achievement all the more impressive. Your parents, friends, and family must be so proud.' Another reader, Shirleyg, praised Ntuli as an example of determination: 'How awesome! A wonderful example to others of what can be achieved if you are determined to rise above your adversities.' I just know she inhaled high school. Leaving it at 14? Damn she didn't see it for nothing. Insane IQ 🔥🔥🔥🔥 — Lady Harlot of House Harlots (@Iyaya_S) May 29, 2025 Over on X (formerly known as Twitter), the mix of humour and admiration continued to flow. User @broztitute jokingly lamented: 'Achievement so remarkable it ruined my day, bruh.' @Linda_mot acknowledged Ntuli's unique gift with the comment: 'A vocation such as actuarial science is one gift. You cannot hard work yourself into that degree.' Through all the jokes and heartfelt wishes, one thing is clear: Ntuli's achievement has resonated with people across the country as an inspiring story of perseverance, brilliance, and consistent belief in one's potential.
Mail & Guardian
25-05-2025
- Politics
- Mail & Guardian
Universities defend hiring of foreign staff
Academics say claims by politicians and on social media are fueling xenophobia and could compromise their safety. Photo: Julian Stratenschulte/picture alliance /Getty Images Claims by politicians that South African universities are hiring more foreigners than locals for posts are stoking In parliament earlier this month, Reports of this sparked outrage on social media, with some users accusing institutions including the University of Fort Hare, University of the Free State, the University of Pretoria and the University of the Witwatersrand of being biased against local academics. Some posted lists of the names of foreigners they claimed had been hired. 'If a narrative such as this begins to take hold, if it becomes something that people believe to be true, then my concern is that that would generate a hostile environment — for international academics, specifically for African international academics — which can make life and work in South Africa profoundly difficult,' said Alf Nielsen, a Norwegian professor and director of the Centre for Asian Studies in Africa at the University of Pretoria. 'It's important to note that it's already quite challenging for most of us to be international academics, in terms of the difficulties that we experience with renewing our work permits, where rejection is more of a rule and an exception, despite the fact that you've worked at an institution in South Africa for quite a long time.' One list which was posted on social media was of academics at the University of Pretoria's Centre for Human Rights. The director of the Department of Institutional Advancement at the university, Rikus Delport, said it 'unequivocally rejects the false and misinformed commentary circulating regarding the staff composition of the Centre for Human Rights'. 'All academic staff are South Africans or permanent residents of the country and bring invaluable continental expertise that enhances the quality and relevance of the centre's academic and advocacy work,' Delport told the Mail & Guardian. 'The diversity of the centre's academic team is not incidental — it is essential. It directly reflects the centre's mandate to engage with human rights issues across Africa with depth, credibility and authenticity,' he said. He added that, overall, the university's law faculty exceeded the government's employment equity target. Parliament's portfolio committee on higher education said it was concerned about the University of the Free State's employment of 141 foreign academics and 26 foreign support staff and in March visited institutions of higher learning in the province to assess whether transformation, legislation and employment equity policies were being implemented. (Graphic: John McCann/M&G) Chairperson Walter Tebogo Letsie told the M&G that the committee 'observed non-adherence legislation as some institutions employed foreign nationals in non-scarce skills positions, despite South Africans having qualifications, skills and competencies to execute the duties of such positions'. 'Why are South Africans overlooked, even when they meet the requirements?' he asked. Following attacks that appeared on social media, the 'There are no legal quotas restricting the hiring of international academic staff. 'Many emerging markets around the world strive for international academic representation of 10% to 15% as a means to promote diversity, spur innovation and collaborate on research,' it said in a 'According to our most recent audited data, 81% of [our] academic staff are South African, while 19% are international.' Asked about reports of his committee requesting information from universities on the number and qualifications of the international staff they employed, Letsie said it would seek to 'ensure that their appointments adhere to the policy'. He said that universities must take responsibility 'where there is evidence of transgression' of the Employment Service Act. Responding to the xenophobic comments circulating on social media, Letsie said the portfolio committee sought to ensure that foreign academics, who are welcome in the country, 'meet all the legal requirements, have qualifications and that they have skills that South Africans do not'. Senior journalism and media studies lecturer at Wits University, Zimbabwean-born Collen Chambwera, said that while the nature of social media was generally 'anarchic' he was more concerned about false claims coming from political figures. 'Politicians are supposed to be more responsible than social media, you would think, and officialising something like listing names of foreign nationals who are employed by universities — I think it's reckless,' he said. The Free State's Central University of Technology did not respond to questions from the M&G.
News24
20-05-2025
- Health
- News24
Dr Louisa Dlamini makes history as UP's first black radiation oncology graduate
Dlamini earned a master of medicine degree, a medical specialty that utilises high-energy radiation such as X-rays and cancer treatment. The Mabopane-born doctor says her achievement is a 'generational victory'. She plans to expand access to oncology services in underserved communities. In a profession where representation still lags far behind, Dr Louisa Dlamini has shattered the glass ceiling in specialist medical field. This month, the 36-year-old mother of three from Mabopane in Pretoria made history as the first black graduate with a master of medicine in radiation oncology degree from the University of Pretoria. Her groundbreaking achievement is not just a personal milestone, it's a moment loaded with historical, cultural and generational weight. Dlamini said: This has been more than just ticking a box. It's a generational victory, a moment that represents hope, perseverance and the strength of those who came before me. Being the 'first' carries pressure, the pressure to excel and justify your presence. But it also means opening the door for those who will follow. Raised under difficult socioeconomic conditions, Dlamini's dream of becoming a doctor once felt far out of reach. But she never wavered in her determination. Inspired by her uncle, Dr Mandla Mdawe, the first medical professional in her family, she carved her path with laser focus, completing her bachelor of medicine, bachelor of surgery degree at Wits University. From the outset, her passion was clear: medicine was not just a job, it was a calling. 'I've always been passionate about working with vulnerable people,' she said. 'I knew medicine would be a fulfilling career for me.' Her moment of clarity came when she worked as a medical officer at a district hospital. Daily faced with cases of untreated or late-diagnosed cancers and watching patients slip through the cracks, she realised how inaccessible cancer treatment was in underserved communities. She said: I saw the critical need for oncology services. Patients were dying, some in urgent need of cancer treatment. That's when I realised just how limited access to oncology is in black communities. Her experiences on the front lines sparked a desire to specialise. After working in medical oncology, she took on the challenge of studying radiation oncology, a highly technical, intellectually demanding field that remains underrepresented by black professionals in South Africa. 'Oncology is a broad, ever-changing and progressive field. That excites me, because it means I'll be learning throughout my career,' Dlamini said. Enrolling in the programme at the University of Pretoria was a great leap, one that came with enormous responsibility. Dlamini faced the dual pressure of academic excellence and symbolic representation, all while juggling her roles as a mother, daughter and mentor. She recalled: There were moments when I felt like giving up. There were times I wondered if I really belonged. But I kept pushing because I knew this journey wasn't just for me. With support from her parents, siblings and daughters, her supervisor, Dr Sheynaz Bassa, helped her stay the course. The academic environment at the University of Pretoria, she said, offered intellectual stimulation and a community that carried her through the hardest moments. Now, with her degree in hand, Dlamini is not only looking ahead to a career of treating patients, but also to changing lives in and beyond the hospital. She is passionate about expanding access to oncology services in rural areas and township communities. Dlamini is developing ideas for community-based cancer awareness programmes focused on prevention, early detection and treatment literacy. Her approach to medicine is people-first, holistic and deeply rooted in her lived experiences. 'I want to support other [medical] students from disadvantaged backgrounds, to show them that they too can make it,' she said. To young black South Africans dreaming of a future in medicine, her message is unwavering: You belong. You carry the strength of generations behind you. Don't wait for permission to take up space, make space. Surround yourself with those who uplift you and remember to uplift others as you rise. As her achievement is being celebrated across the medical community, Dlamini is planning for what comes next. 'I may be the first, but I definitely won't be the last. This achievement proves that excellence exists beyond the systems that once excluded us. It's time to shift the narrative.'
