Latest news with #Vermaak
IOL News
06-06-2025
- Business
- IOL News
STADIO's ambitious engineering vision gets a boost with experienced new Head of School
JSE-listed higher education provider STADIO has announced the appointment of Prof Herman Vermaak as its new Head of School for the STADIO School of Engineering & Architecture, where creativity and technical expertise converge to shape the future of the physical and virtual built environments. 'We've long voiced our ambition to offer engineering and architectural qualifications to help serve the growing need for professionals in these fields in South Africa and beyond,' says Chris Vorster, STADIO CEO. 'While our School of Engineering & Architecture currently offers the Higher Certificate in Architectural Practice, we have plans to expand our offering significantly, with the launch of the Higher Certificate in Mechatronic Engineering and the Higher Certificate in Renewable Energy Engineering launching in 2026, and more qualifications to come in 2027. Prof Vermaak is the ideal person to help us realise our goals, having been the Dean of Engineering, Built Environment and Information Technology at the Central University of Technology, Free State for 18 years, and having worked as a project engineer before that.' Prof Vermaak holds a PhD in Electrical Engineering from the University of Twente in the Netherlands, a Master's Diploma in Electrical Engineering from Nelson Mandela University (PE Technikon), and is a Professional Registered Engineer and Technologist with the Engineering Council of South Africa (ECSA). He also serves as a senior member of the International Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE) and has been a National Research Foundation-rated researcher since 2018. In 2018, he was awarded the DAAD Visiting Professor Scholarship at Ulm, University of Applied Sciences, Germany. 'STADIO wants to prepare engineering technologists who are capable of functioning within the contemporary technology environment and contribute to the socio-economic development in the country,' he says. 'The School of Engineering & Architecture aims to facilitate career-focused expertise with students through the provision of knowledge and skills and the development of the appropriate attitudes in mechatronic engineering. This development will address the needs of the community to ensure upliftment through education and skills development and to maintain collaboration with stakeholders in the engineering environment.' Engineers for a new era Prof Vermaak says STADIO's engineering programmes have been developed through considering the national and international trends in engineering education that include practical, project-based, problem-based and work-simulated components within an environment of leading technologies. 'In the engineering disciplines, the continuous and rapid development of complex technology necessitates higher levels of conceptual understanding and problem-solving skills,' he says. 'Adaptability to new technologies relies heavily on the ability to apply fundamental conceptual knowledge to address modern engineering challenges. STADIO is committed to offering programmes that are relevant, flexible, aligned to the world of work and aimed at contributing to the mitigation of the national skills gaps in South Africa.' He says that in addition to the Higher Certificates currently offered, STADIO will launch three Bachelor of Engineering Technology degrees (Electrical, Mechatronic and Computer Engineering) in 2027. 'We are also already offering a Higher Certificate in Architectural Practice, and the Bachelor of Architecture will also follow from 2027.' The programmes will all be endorsed and accredited by the relevant professional bodies. 'This is particularly important for our graduates to ensure they can register professionals after graduating with a STADIO qualification in engineering or architecture,' says Prof Vermaak. For more information, visit the STADIO website.
IOL News
24-04-2025
- Entertainment
- IOL News
Cruz Vodka's quiet luxury party launches SA Fashion Week SS25
Metro FM presenter and DJ Lamiez Holworthy had guests dancing and singing along during her set at the Cruz SAFW opening party. Picture: Itumeleng English/ Independent Newspapers The South African Fashion Week SS25 kicks off, this Thursday in Johannesburg and before the stunning collections being revealed Cruz Vodka kicked things off with a little razzle. Quiet luxury was the theme for the Cruz Vodka fashion week opening party, allowing guests to tap into their inner creativity. Newlywed former Miss South Africa Natasha Vermaak (née Joubert) was glowing, looking radiant from her travels Mauritius and Cape Town. Vermaak wore a playful gold dress, with a shirt and tie and the top by RethaN. 'They say high fashion, you can wear anything,' joked Vermaak. The TV presenter explained that she put together her outfit last minute after mixing up the dates but loved the entire outcome and confidently wore it. Vermaak was not the only person who slayed in RethaN, digital creator K Naomi wore a black and white playful dress. Both ladies, elegantly pulled off their looks.
Sky News
14-03-2025
- Politics
- Sky News
Sam Jones: US influencer who snatched baby wombat from its mother leaves Australia amid fears for animal's health
An American influencer who caused outrage by snatching a baby wombat from its mother has left Australia - amid concerns the "disorientated" marsupial may not have refound its parent. Sam Jones, who describes herself as an "outdoor enthusiast and hunter", left the country on Friday after the Australian government said it was reviewing her visa. In a now-deleted video to her 92,000 followers on Instagram, recorded at an unknown location, Jones says: "I caught a baby wombat" as a man filming her laughs. She returns the animal to the roadside after several seconds. Now, there are concerns the baby wombat may have been left to fend for itself - and an animal welfare expert has warned it has a potentially fatal skin disease. Yolandi Vermaak, founder of animal care charity Wombat Rescue, said separating the youngster from its mother created a risk the parent would reject her offspring. "My biggest concern is that we didn't actually see mum and baby getting reunited," Ms Vermaak said. "When she put it down, it looked disorientated. It was turned away from where the mother was last seen. So we don't know if mum and baby actually found each other again." Ms Vermaak said Ms Jones should say where she left the wombat after the video showed the joey had a skin disease. "The baby has mange and it's a matter of time before it dies of mange, so it's important for us to find where this happened and to get this baby and its mum treated as soon as possible," Ms Vermaak said. Ms Jones's actions drew fierce criticism from politicians. Australia's Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said she had clearly caused "distress" in the marsupial's mother and described her behaviour as "just an outrage". Home affairs minister Tony Burke, speaking after a government official confirmed Ms Jones had left the country voluntarily, said: "There's never been a better day to be a baby wombat in Australia." Previously, he said he could not wait for "Australia to see the back of this individual". The wombat appears to be a common wombat, also known as a bare-nosed wombat. It is found only in Australia and is a protected marsupial.
CBC
14-03-2025
- Politics
- CBC
American influencer who snatched baby wombat from its mother leaves Australia
An American influencer left Australia on Friday after the government announced it was reviewing her visa over a video she posted of her snatching a baby wombat from its mother. Sam Jones, who describes herself as an "outdoor enthusiast and hunter," made her Instagram account private Thursday after she was widely condemned for the video. "There's never been a better day to be a baby wombat in Australia," Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke said in a statement after a government official confirmed Jones had flown from the country voluntarily. In the video, Montana-based Jones lifts the wombat joey by its front legs in darkness from a roadside, then runs away from its mother. "I caught a baby wombat," she said as a man filming her laughs. She returns the wombat to the roadside after several seconds. Burke had said earlier Friday the conditions of her visa were being reviewed to determine whether immigration law has been breached. "I can't wait for Australia to see the back of this individual, I don't expect she will return," he said in the statement received by The Associated Press. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese added his voice to the criticism. "To take a baby wombat from its mother, and clearly causing distress from the mother, is just an outrage," he said. "I suggest to this so-called influencer, maybe she might try some other Australian animals. Take a baby crocodile from its mother and see how you go there. Take another animal that can actually fight back rather than stealing a baby wombat from its mother." Jones, who also uses the name Samantha Strable, closed her social media channels to messages and couldn't be reached for comment Friday. The wombat appears to be a common wombat, also known as a bare-nosed wombat. It is a protected marsupial found only in Australia. Yolandi Vermaak, founder of the animal care charity Wombat Rescue, said separating the young wombat from its mother created a risk that the mother would reject her offspring. "My biggest concern is that we didn't actually see mom and baby getting reunited. When she put it down, it looked disoriented. It was turned away from where the mother was last seen. So we don't know if mom and baby actually found each other again," Vermaak said. Vermaak also called on Jones to say where the wombat was after the video showed the joey had a skin disease. "The baby has mange and it's a matter of time before it dies of mange, so it's important for us to find where this happened and to get this baby and its mom treated as soon as possible," Vermaak said.
Asharq Al-Awsat
14-03-2025
- Politics
- Asharq Al-Awsat
American Who Snatched a Baby Wombat from Its Mother Leaves Australia
An American influencer left Australia on Friday after the government announced it was reviewing her visa over a video she posted of her snatching a baby wombat from its mother. Sam Jones, who describes herself as an 'outdoor enthusiast & hunter,' made her Instagram account private Thursday after she was widely condemned for the video. 'There's never been a better day to be a baby wombat in Australia,' Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke said in a statement after a government official confirmed Jones had flown from the country voluntarily. In the video, Montana-based Jones lifts the wombat joey by its front legs in darkness from a roadside then runs away from its mother. 'I caught a baby wombat,' she said as a man filming her laughs. She returns the wombat to the roadside after several seconds. Burke had said earlier Friday the conditions of her visa were being reviewed to determine whether immigration law has been breached. 'I can't wait for Australia to see the back of this individual, I don't expect she will return,' he said in the statement received by The Associated Press. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese added his voice to the criticism. 'To take a baby wombat from its mother, and clearly causing distress from the mother, is just an outrage,' Albanese said. 'I suggest to this so-called influencer, maybe she might try some other Australian animals. Take a baby crocodile from its mother and see how you go there. Take another animal that can actually fight back rather than stealing a baby wombat from its mother,' Albanese added. Jones, who also uses the name Samantha Strable, closed her social media channels to messages and couldn't be reached for comment Friday. The wombat appears to be common wombat, also known as a bare-nosed wombat. It is a protected marsupial found only in Australia. Yolandi Vermaak, founder of the animal care charity Wombat Rescue, said separating the young wombat from its mother created a risk that the mother would reject her offspring. 'My biggest concern is that we didn't actually see mom and baby getting reunited. When she put it down, it looked disoriented. It was turned away from where the mother was last seen. So we don't know if mom and baby actually found each other again,' Vermaak said. Vermaak also called on Jones to say where the wombat was after the video showed the joey had a skin disease. 'The baby has mange and it's a matter of time before it dies of mange, so it's important for us to find where this happened and to get this baby and its mom treated as soon as possible,' Vermaak said.
