Picture: The former SABC newsreader, Masego Ezekiel Matjila/Supplied
By KEDIBONE MOLAETSI
The North West University (Mafikeng campus) will bestow an honorary doctorate to the renowned broadcaster and former SABC newsreader, Masego Ezekiel Matjila on 18 July 2024. The NWU said in a statement that Matjila has demonstrated significant dedication in promoting the Setswana language at the SABC.
“He started his career more than 30 years ago as an on-air radio personality for Radio Setswana, which later became Motsweding FM after merging with Radio Mmabatho. During this time, he also managed the archives for Radio Setswana, the Afrikaans Service, Radio Ndebele (Ikwekwezi FM), and Radio Swazi (Ligwalagwala FM).
“His exceptional broadcasting skills and language proficiency, led to his appointment as a Setswana sports commentator for SABC Topsport (SABC Sports). He was later seconded to the News department, where he worked as a Sesotho, Sepedi and Setswana prime-time news presenter from 1993 until his retirement in 2021.”
The university said Matjila also served as a bulletin editor and executive producer. It said that he advocated for more multi-lingual youth programmes on SABC2, noting that Setswana, Sepedi, and Sesotho-speaking youth were underrepresented. The university said his efforts at the SABC earned him numerous awards, including Best News Writer (SABC, 2008) and Commentator of the Year: AFCON 1996.
“His contributions to South African society, particularly in promoting the Sesotho, Sepedi, and Setswana languages in broadcasting, are noteworthy. The honorary doctorate from the NWU recognises these significant contributions.”
The Mamusa Local Municipality said has managed to restore power at various areas after a high voltage breaker burnt at Schweizer main substation. The acting Municipal Manager at the Mamusa Local Municipality, Vincent Masilo said this has disrupted the restoration of the much expected power supply after Eskom switched on power.
“All the areas that receive electricity from the municipality such as town, Roshunville and surrounding farms, Charon, Extension 7 and 14, were without power supply.
“The service provider will install a new high voltage breaker and ensure the restoration of electricity supply to all the affected areas. The municipality profusely apologises for inconvenience this causes you all,” he said.
Picture: The North West University students during animal health engagement
By KEDIBONE MOLAETSI
Professor Mulunda Mwanza at the Faculty of Agricultural and Natural Sciences of the North West University (NWU) said a relationship started 10 000 years ago and continues to shape the world to this very day. Mwanza said as human societies transitioned from nomadic hunter-gatherer lifestyles to settled farming communities, they recognised the benefits of taming and breeding animals for a variety of needs.
He further said not only did this domestication revolutionise agriculture by enhancing food security, it also allowed the development of complex societies. Mwanza added that it was a pivotal period in the history of the species and now the subject group is ensuring that this relationship continues to thrive for the benefit of South Africa.
“It is a field where opportunities thrive. Animal Health at the university is so unique because it provides so many opportunities and so much exposure to students. From their first year, students are exposed to a working environment and all that entails.
“In addition to the veterinary possibilities, the programme offers students a wide variety of employment opportunities that include meat inspection, employment at animal feed companies, animal breeding stations and agricultural firms, and in biosecurity, for example for border control, and they are given training to be self-employed through entrepreneurship programmes,” he said.
Mwanza said the subject group has numerous focuses that include animal health, veterinary microbiology, biosecurity, food safety, community engagement, production, primary animal healthcare, companion animal healthcare, wildlife and research.
He said that there are numerous reasons why he would encourage prospective students to study in the field of animal health at the NWU.
“The programme is so well structured. Students are trained in small groups, and the training is done to ensure that students gain as much experience as possible. They are taught to think outside the box and to be independent thinkers as well as entrepreneurs who can significantly contribute to South Africa’s economic growth.
“The programme offers both undergraduate and postgraduate training. For students, this programme holds several benefits, but that is not the full extent of the picture. In this important field, students form part of a bigger picture, namely to protect the country against animal diseases through prevention, treatment, research and innovation with regard to diseases,” said Mwanza.
He said successful graduates also participate in the growth of agriculture, thus benefiting the country’s economy. Mwanza said animal health at the university also has a strong community engagement component.
“For four days a week, students engage with emerging farmers to help them with primary animal healthcare and to give them advice on diseases. This engagement has seen a drop in the disease burden in the area surrounding the NWU’s Mahikeng Campus, where the programme is hosted.
“A subject group also boasts state-of-the-art facilities that include a veterinary laboratory, which is approved by the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (DAFF). It also has a fully equipped animal health hospital, which provides surgery, dentistry, orthopaedic, radiology, endoscopy and sonar services,” said Mwanza.
He said this, coupled with the NWU’s dedicated researchers, makes animal health an indispensable tool in the fight against a number of attacks on animal health.
“We are doing some very exciting and impactful research on emerging animal diseases and others like mastitis, rabies, campylobacter resistance, antibiotic residues, lumpy skin disease and foot-and-mouth disease, and we are developing new technologies for environment control.
“An example of this is the development of biological control of odours on farms and at abattoirs. Regarding food safety, we are doing innovative research on residues, mycotoxins and toxicology. We are also invested in ethnoveterinary research to help farmers reduce the use of drugs and other harmful chemicals,” said Mwanza.
He said innovation and dedication the NWU is ensuring that the next steps of our 10 000-year journey with animals will be more beneficial than ever before.
The Guardian 