UWC Offers Best of Both Worlds as Sports Stars Graduate

Juggling sports and academic work can be a tricky balancing act that many find difficult to master. Yet, the University of the Western Cape’s (UWC) support structures have ensured that students get the best of both worlds – academically and in sport.

That is why scores of sports men and women are among the hundreds of students having their degrees conferred on them at the University’s Autumn Graduation ceremony this week.

Among them are those involved in demanding sporting codes, like football and rugby, and those who have represented South Africa on the international stage.

UWC Deputy-Vice Chancellor for Student Development and Support, Professor Matete Madiba, congratulated the graduates and said it was “heart-warming” to see athletes and sports people walking to the stage to have their degrees conferred on them.

“To me, that signifies what students’ success is all about. Not just your ordinary student success. We are not just talking about the completion of a degree here. We are talking about far more than that. This is somebody who has paid a higher price for their growth but also allowed the University to help unfold their talent. These are role models of student success and how universities allow the growth and blossoming of talents,” she said.

Prof Madiba said she attributed student-athletes’ success to the world-class sports infrastructure at UWC and the passionate and dedicated people who work in Sports Administration.

“There are dedicated people who are making UWC a force to be reckoned with in sports in academia,” she said. Prof Madiba also credited networks of sports support as having played a vital role in the success of the University’s sports stars.

“You are talking about mentoring, buddies and role models within these networks who help one another. One of the structures that I enjoy observing is the Sports Council and its sub-committees. They are doing sterling work to organise and create support and safety nets for athletes and connect them with the management. Through them, we get a deeper glimpse into the needs of the athletes,” she said.

“That journey is still long, and we need to engage athletes, including graduates, to look at what enabled them to get to this point and what more needs to be done. That is more important now that we have advanced technologies, virtual assistance, and developed learning management systems, as well as many systems that should be helping people complete their studies on time and realise their talents.”

“Graduates are hard evidence that UWC enables this type of growth, which can be taken for granted and neglected or pushed to the periphery in some environments. At UWC, we understand how this holistic growth is central to who we are as human beings, because we are not compartmentalised.”

Some of the university’s sports stars graduating include:

Football
Thandolwethu Mfundisi, Ismael Lakay and Craig Joemath (BA Sport Recreation & Exercise Sciences)
Ridhaa Essak (Postgraduate Diploma in Sport, Development and Peace).
Keagan Bailey (Honours in Information Systems)
Mxolisi Nxumalo (Honours in Education)
Nhlanhla Mtambo (Bachelor of Education)

Tennis
Siphesihle Kumalo (BSc Biodiversity and Conservation Biology)
Zoe du Plessis (BSc Biodiversity and Conservation Biology)
Suzan Nampewo (BEd Languages, FET, and Social Sciences)

Hockey
Gillian Hermarnus (BSc Hons Medical Biosciences)
Robyn Peskin (B Admin Hons)
Luke Manuel (BA)
Jody Williams (BA Hons Sports and Recreation Science)

Chess
Tristan Willenberg (BCom Accounting)
Thato Selema (BCom)
Dumisani Mbele (LLB)

Supa Pool
Marlon Levendal (B Admin Hons)

Men’s Rugby 
Ridge Joze Gaffley (BA Arts)
Keon Rael Links (Bachelor of Library and Information Studies)
Mauritz Swartz (BA Sport, Recreation and Exercise Science)
Curtly Ambrose Thomas (BA Sport, Recreation and Exercise Science)
Emilia Adonis (Master of Philosophy in Sport for Development)
Chetwynne Cuan Meyers (PGDip in Sports Development and Peace)
Jami Maart (Higher Certificate in Economic Development)
Lelethu Layta (BAdmin)
Wian van der Sandt (Higher Certificate in Economic Development)
Brent Afrika (Higher Certificate in Economic Development)
Siswe Nation Galela (BEd Language and Life Orientation)
Tiaan Thomas Henecke (BEd Languages (FET) & Life Orientation (SP)
Riaan Jacobus van der Merwe (BEd Languages (FET) & Life Orientation (SP)
Bronlee Mouries (Postgraduate Certificate in Education)
Nicholas Chipanje (Higher Certificate in Economic Development)
Ethan Diston (BEd Languages (FET) & Life Orientation (SP)
Bryan Breda (Postgraduate Diploma in Business Administration)
Liam Tattersall (BA Honours Sport, Recreation and Exercise Science)
Tendai Michael Makoni (Bachelor of Arts)
Keanuh Michaels (Higher Certificate in Economic Development)

Women’s Rugby
Yanga Klaas (BA Arts)
Taybah Johaar (Higher Certificate in Economic Development)
Delon van Wyk (Bachelor of Education Honours)
Caroline Mokoena (BCom-General)
Corne Oerson (LLB)
Zamo Ngubane (BSc Sport & Exercise Science)

Boxing 
Andre Visagie (BPharm)

Cricket
Mihlali Clint Mpongwana (BA Arts)
Michelle Mutongwafa (BCom (Hons)
Raees Carr (BAdmin)
Abubaker Samodien( BCom Hons Management: FT)

Karate
Jody Williams (BA Honours Sport and Exercise Science)

Table Tennis
Denver Titus (BEd. Math and Science)