NMMU Centre for Community Technologies improves lives through mobile technology

WHAT does the Chief of the Shixini Great Place
in Willowvale, young people in Port Elizabeth’s
Northern Areas and school nurses in the rural
Transkei have in common?
They all benefit from the work of Prof Darelle
van Greunen the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan
University’s Centre for Community Technologies
(CCT) which aims to respond to the immediate
needs of the Eastern Cape and ultimately those of
the larger South Africa.
The Centre was officially launched on Thursday,
3 September at the university’s South Campus
auditorium.
The Centre has already made great strides with its
specific projects.
Health is one of the areas in which the use of
technology to improve school healthcare is making
a significant difference. The primary objective is
make use of mobile devices with specific mobile
applications to improve access to school healthcare
and health education based on the needs of the
schools in rural Eastern Cape.
Developed by (CCT), and originally funded by the
Department of Science and Technology (DST) as
the mobile health sector of their Technology for
Rural Education (Tech4RED) initiative, a pioneering
mobile app has enabled school nurses in rural areas
of the Eastern Cape to use tablets and cell phones to
more effectively assess the health of learners.
The app - piloted in Cofimvaba - has been so
successful in its two-year Eastern Cape pilot phase
that there are plans to roll it out nationally.
In addition, Prof Van Greunen was instrumental
in setting up an ICT resources centre, supported by
a solar charging station for laptops, tablet PCs and
mobile phones among the deep rural villages in the
Willowvale area of the former Transkei. This project
supports the vision of Chief Ngwenyathi Dumalisile
of Shixini Great Place, a leader within the Xhosa
Royal Kingdom and of the Amajingqi Traditional
Council. His visionary plan is for “rural-based
industrialisation”.
Vulnerable women and youth is another focus area
with a project that aims to change and improve the
life situation and living conditions according to the
millennium development goals for needy children
and exposed mothers in the gang-ridden Northern
Areas in Port Elizabeth.
This project proposes to implement a Mobile
Community Health Learning Space in support
of health education for vulnerable women and
children in the selected communities
Other focus areas are on ICT in higher education
for people with disabilities, building capacity on
TB/MDR-TB among community health workers and
occupational health among mine workers as well as
rural development and the creation of a wireless ICT
monitoring application for hydroponic agriculture.
‘’The research and engagement work conducted
in the CCT has made a significant impact not only
in the Eastern Cape but also at a national level. The
success of the Centre can be attributed to the strong
partnerships with research institutes, community
organisations, industry, Government departments
and other African countries,” says Prof van Greunen.
‘’There are currently some 27 postgraduate
students working on research projects that support
the aims and objectives of the CCT. In addition to
this, an undergraduate Dev Academy consisting
of Software Development students who work in
different teams, support the software development
projects. The members of the Dev Academy do an
internship in the CCT which not only builds capacity
but also provides the students with valuable work
experience while completing their studies,’’ says
Prof van Greunen.
It is the vision of Van Greunen to not only build
human capacity among women in this male
dominated field, but also to ensure that the products
deployed in the critical areas are developed for
Africa, by Africans in Africa.
2015
page 1
Faculty of Engineering, the Built Environment
& Information Technology
Tel: 041 504 3099 | E-mail: Sesethu.gqomo2@nmmu.ac.za | Web: www.nmmu.ac.za
Taking technology
to the communities
At the recent launch of NMMU’s Centre for Community Technologies (CCT) NMMU Vice Chancellor Prof
Derrick Swartz (from left), FamHealth’s Dr Jeff Govender, launch guest speaker Ms Rapelang Rabana, CCT
director Prof Darelle van Greunen, Amajingqi’s Chief Ngwenyathi Dumalisile and Mrs Tami Dumalisile.

FOR the past year, the students
making-up the NMMU Eco-Car
team have been hard at work
designing and manufacturing a
fully carbon composite prototype
vehicle to participate in the first
Shell Eco-Marathon: South Africa.
The Shell Eco-Marathon is an
established event worldwide
with current competitions in the
Americas, Asia and Europe. The
South African event, to be held
at Zwartkops Raceway in Pretoria
on the 2-4 October is an effort to
establish the competition on the
African continent.
The objective of the event is for
the student teams to design, build
and participate in the event in
order to build an ultra-lightweight
vehicle with maximum efficiency
that can travel as far as possible
on an effective 1 litre of fuel.
The NMMU team is competing
in the Prototype class, where
passenger comfort takes a back
seat, and, as a result, the student
driver has to squeeze into a
virtually flat space within the
vehicle in order to pilot it.
Participating teams can enter
in multiple categories, but the
NMMU team will enter in the conventional petrol
category with an internal combustion engine,
modified to accept a programmable fuel injection in
order to minimise fuel usage.
The car also will be outfitted with specialised
tyres, custom-made for the event by Michelin in
France, that have a rolling resistance of less than a
train wheel on a steel rail and some 10 times more
efficient than the best road car tyres available.
The team, comprising of Mechanical
Engineering, Electrical Engineering and Logistics
Management students, have managed to secure
funding partnerships through local companies
and governmental agencies who focus on
lightweighting, efficiency and composites, which
has greatly assisted in building their programme.
If you are interested in viewing the NMMU Eco-
Car visit the Renewable Energy Lab (E007) on North
Campus and the team members are willing to
answer any questions you may have.
page 2
It was a case of being first out with the blocks at NMMU when young minds with
a penchant for engineering went ahead full speed.
Pupils and students gathered at the university to take part in a Lego building
competition as part of the Annual Winter School programme. Hosted by the
Department of Industrial Engineering, five groups of participants engaged in
a battle of wits and speed to build a Lego structure within a short period five
successive times, in each instance attempting to improve upon their last result.
The winning group’s time for construction was a record at 26 seconds.
Tamsen Smith, A Bsc student, said she participated in the Winter School
programme because she wanted a broader view of engineering to aid her in her
career choice.
There were two prize categories, one for the fastest construction and time, the
other for the most improved construction time.
It was all to help participants- some from high school and others from university-
to learn about the career paths within the fields
Students take on Shell Eco-Marathon
NMMU unblocks
Engineering
Students who are gearing up to witness the Eco Car Challenge… From left: Takuzwanashe Vudjizena (Elec. Eng), Mvume Ndimba
(Logistics), Tinashe Maphosa (Elec. Eng), Martin Badenhorst (Mech. Eng) and Oseluole Enabor (Mech. Eng)
The Winning team and runner up team that won the Lego challenge. From
Left to right: Cobus Joubert (lecturer), Zintle Phekana (Peer Helper), Nganiso
Grootboom, Fabian Ferreira, Shannon Farmer, Nosibulele Matota, Mihlali
Yelani, Sikelelwa Ngakula, Nosiphiwo Vumisa, Keanan Molosi and Jaco Snyders
(lecturer).

Colloquium
ACHEIVERS … Head of the Institute for ICT Advancement at NMMU Professor
Rossouw von Solms and his daughter Dr Sune van Solms, received the Best
Paper Award at the recent International Institute of Information and Systemics
Conference in Orlando, Florida. Sune works as a researcher at the Defense,
Protection, Safety and Security (DPSS) Unit of the CSIR. The paper was titled
Safety Education in Developing Countries.
RENEWABLE ENERGY SLP’S ... Delegates attending the August
Renewable Energy Technology course are shown on a site visit to a
local wind farm. The intensive 5 day courses include a number of site
visits and hands on lab activities mixed with class presentations. The
AMTC has been running these courses at regular intervals for more
than a year now and demand appears to be growing steadily.
WELA INDUCTION: On the 31st July 2015 the wela 1st year ladies were
announced. In order to become 1st year wela ladies they were to
complete a number of courses.
Swimming sensations…School of the Built Environment twin brothers
Alaric (left) and Alard Basson have been selected for the SA swim team
to participate at the African Games in Brazzaville, Congo next month.
Pictured with fellow Madibaz swimmer Edward Johannisen (centre).
A total of 45 delegates from nine different
UOT’s (University of Technologies)
attendedtheannualElectricalEngineering
Forum hosted by the Department of
Electrical Engineering earlier this year
at Pine Lodge. This year’s forum also
celebrated 23 years of existence.
THE Department of Quantity Surveying jointly with the Association of South
African Quantity Surveyors (ASAQS) EC Chapter hosted a two day colloquium
where a range of thought-provoking topics were discussed by specialists in the
Built Environment. Present at the colloquium was Mr Roy Cumberlege (HoD:QS),
Mr Joe Struwig (Architect of the Bay West Mall Development), Ms Christelle Bown
(Chairperson, ASAQS, EC), Prof Gaye Le Roux (Colloquium facilitator) and Prof
Winston Shakantu (Director: School of the Built Environment). The colloquium
was also part of the NMMU QS Legacy programme for third-year BSc Construction
Economics students.

THE novel idea of women “balancing” home and
work life is a myth, said quantity surveyor Busi
Nzo, one of the guest speakers at the Faculty
of EBEIT’s Women in Industry Breakfast held at
NMMU recently.
She was joined by division head of Volkswagen
South Africa Dr Lesley Lee in addressing the
audience of staff, students and businesswomen as
part of the Faculty’s Diversity Month celebrations.
Nzo said as a mother of four and a business
woman in the building sector, which is traditionally
known to be a man’s world, said she is often asked
- “how do you do it?”
“I have yet to find someone who says to me they
can. There is no way you can balance that” she
said. Instead, plan ahead and prioritise. After all,
‘life happens’ which can throw even the best laid
plans.
“Keep calm and position yourself,” she advised
particularly referring to women in industry, which
was the theme of the morning.
As one of the first black female students at what
was then UPE, she defied the status quo. She said
when she started work, most did not believe she
would step onto a construction site. “But I had to
do my work, I had a duty to do, a client to satisfy,
a goal to reach. Do you think if one woman had
marched against the Union Buildings in 1956 it
would have made a difference? No but because
they did it together, it made a difference”, she said.
The faculty’s breakfast was not only an event that
celebrated women but one with a purpose, as each
guest was invited to contribute toiletries for “dignity
packs” for teenage girls assisted through Vision 4
Women matric sponsorship.
The reasoning was that if girls did not have
sanitary towels, they would not attend school during
their menstrual cycle due to the embarrassment of
insufficient protection.
InformationCommunicationTechnologyprofessor,
Prof Darelle van Greunen who handed the boxes
of donations to director of Vision 4Women Nosi
Ncoyo, said she hoped the donations would make a
difference to the academic lives of many teenagers,
emphasizing how important education had been to
lift women from poverty to success.
Women in industry breakfast
SHARING … Guest speakers at the breakfast were from left Lakhanya Quantity Surveyors’
Busi Nzo, division head at VWSA Dr Lesley Lee, image consultant Solette Rhodes, EBEIT
marketing officer Sesethu Gqomo and director of Vision4Academy Nosi Ncoyo.
WOMEN IN INDUSTRY … Guests who attended the breakfast listening
attentively to one of the guest speakers.
BEHIND THE SCENES ... The EBEIT staff that helped orgainse the
event Leoni Erasmus (from left), Lizl Blom, Farren Foutie and
Amber Share.
page 4

Marrying literacy and science writing
GMSA Chair of Mechatronics showcase
CCT News
Human Settlements
Development hosts
University of the Free State
page 5
Language and literacy, science and education.
Masters in Education student Kholisa Papu
succeeded in combining all four aspects and
brought science writing and education together
which resulted in her winning the
South African Society for Engineering
Education (SASEE) best submission
and best presentation awards at
SASEE’s third Biennial Conference
held at University of Kwa Zulu Natal
recently.
Kholisa’s paper, “Investigating
the use of argumentation to
promote critical thinking in first year
Mechanical Engineering laboratory
report writing”, was presented in the
“academic” support programmes
and initiative in STEM (Science Technology
Engineering Mathematics) teaching strand. Her
research findings stimulated lively discussion
and was considered to be an innovative and
meaningful contribution towards engineering
education, particularly in light of current re-
curriculation imperatives.
The paper is part of her Master’s research study
on investigating the effect of a Science Writing
Heuristic approach in first year mechanical
engineering laboratory report writing at NMMU.
The Science Writing Heuristic is a
laboratory report writing intervention
that uses argumentation to promote
reasoning about laboratory data and
it can be used both by the teacher/
lecturer and the student ie there
is a teacher template and student
template.
The teacher template guides the
teaching of content knowledge
before laboratory work is done and
the student template provides the
prompts that scaffold students’
thinking about laboratory work through a writing
to learn approach. Importantly, these writing
prompts/ thinking prompts offer metacognitive
support that is, they seek to make the student
aware of their own thinking and how they have
come to learn.
Well done Kholisa, keep the flag flying high!
At the GMSA Struandale plant, the manual car
assembly line required additional automation
in the area of material handling to improve
efficiency. Within this framework, the GMSA Chair
of Mechatronics was requested to design a low-
cost Automated Guided Vehicle (AGV) applicable
to the South African automotive industry, as well
as to similar low volume GM plants worldwide.
This project was accomplished in stages by
three postgraduate Mechatronics students, who
designed a number of prototypes of low-cost AGV
over the period of two years. During the design and
implementation processes, the students worked
closely with the GMSA production engineers and
maintenanceteaminordertoimproveergonomics
of the final design and to satisfy the stringent
safety requirements. The latest AGV design was
recently implemented in real production at GMSA
where it has been undergoing extensive trials.
The development of a market-ready design of an
AGV is an outstanding example of an innovative
solution, which can lead to commercialisation of
research outcomes. The AGV design is currently
in the process of registration. It is envisaged that
a spin-off company will be established as a result
of this research project, which will produce AGVs
for local manufacturers and warehouses. A team
of industrial engineering students developed
a business plan for this initiative as part of their
undergraduate studies. The SWOT analysis results
indicate good potential for a sound business case.
This example of university-industry collaboration
also shows the direct benefit for the univeristy, as
the spin-off company will generate an additional
income for the university, new jobs for engineering
graduates and funds for student bursaries.
THE Centre for Community Technologies
celebrated the graduation of the first 14 members
of the Amajingqi graduating from the NMMU- DG
Murray and Amajingqi Skills Development Center
with a Computer Literacy qualification.
“It was indeed a proud moment for the members
of this community and of course the partners
in this initiative. We are aiming to double the
number of graduates in 2015 and will be adding
to the portfolio of courses,” Director of CCT, Prof
Darelle van Greunen
The official launch of Centre for Community
Technologies was in September. The Centre is
already well established and has already managed
to create a national footprint. CCT has been
approached on a regular basis to partner with
different organisations on the development of
technologies to support national priorities.
The Chair for Education in Human Settlements
Development and Management under the Faculty
of EBEIT, hosted the University of Free State (UFS)
as part of an emerging inter-varsity collaborative
programme with NMMU
The University of Free State was visiting the University
for a number of research-related and capacity building
programmes for their students in the School of
Architecture and Planning and thus requested an
opportunity for its lecturers and students to interact
with Faculty of EBEIT
Mr Andisile Best, Investor Relations Manager in the
Human Settlements Development department was
the programme director of the event and proposed
an expectation for the future and necessary relations
to bring funds and bursaries to Bachelor of Human
Settlements Development Management, a four year
degree offered at NMMU Missionvale Campus.
NMMU delegates were Prof Winston Shakantu,
Director: School of Construction Management. Dr
Franco Geminiani, Head of Department: Building
and Human Settlements, Prof Sijekula Mbanga, Head
of Chair for Human Settlements as well as Ms Nadia
Wessels, a Senior Lecturer in the Department.
Presentations from UFS were on Urban Sanitation
Scape and Mixed Housing Observations followed by an
active and vibrant interaction with students.
PROF Mbanga addresses
the guests and students
of the University of the
Free State
FINANCIAL SAVVY … Sandras Phiri from UCT Business School addresses third-year engineering
students, invited to a Financial Literacy Talk at the New Engineering Building. Sandras spoke to the
final years about money with particular reference to budgeting and developing the right attitude
towards money.

LIVING out its value of respect for the natural
environment, Nelson Mandela Metropolitan
recently handed a 100% electric vehicle to Nelson
Mandela Bay mayor, Danny Jordaan.
Mayor Jordaan was keen to start his three-day
stint of silent, emission free motoring behind the
steering wheel of the Nissan Leaf vehicle.
The initiative was part of an awareness campaign
driven by the uYilo e-Mobility innovation program
run by acting director Hiten Parmar.
uYilo was established in March 2013 by the
Technology Innovation Agency hosted by eNtsa to
fast-track development and commercialisation of
keytechnologiestosupporttheSouthAfricanElectric
Vehicle (EV) industry. The five-year multinational
multi-stakeholder programme seeks to ready South
Africa for the introduction of e-mobility by creating
new business opportunities and generating the
know-how to support electric vehicles.
Currently supporting relationships existing with
BMW South Africa, the Department of Science and
Technology, Eskom, First National Batteries, General
Motors SA, the Industrial Development Corporation,
Imperial Green Mobility, Mercedes Benz SA, Nissan
SA, Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality, Powertech
Batteries, the South African National Energy
Development Institute , Shamwari Conservation
Experience and the Department of Trade and
Industry.
In addition to the uYilo programme that is
also running a number of projects to promote
e-mobility and serve platforms which will enable the
knowledge creation and technical know-how in the
field of EV technologies.
One such project, run in partnership with Imperial
Green Mobility, Shamwari Game Reserve, Tracker
and Powertech Batteries sees an electric 4x4 ATV
being used by Shamwari Game Reserve in their
rhino poaching programme.
uYilo also approached Nissan South Africa to
use one of its Leaf EV’s as part of a field testing
programme. The car will be used to determine
user patterns, usage modes and energy cycles.
It is not intent of the programme to modify the
vehicle systems in a way, but to use it as a tool to
facilitate the development of other technologies.
The deployment of these platforms will service to
identify technology gaps, test new business models
and eliminate inter-operability issues between
eco-system components. Emphasis will be placed
on creating credible data that can be used for
marketing purposes and to create awareness of
e-mobility as a viable alternative.
“There is a global revolution in technology and
electric vehicles are at the forefront of many of these
innovations which are being used to accompany
electric vehicles. These are very exciting times, not
only for the South African industry but also for uYilo
programme,” says Parmar.
Showing South Africa
the e-mobility way
Champions of change… The 100% electric Nissan Leaf vehicle showcased at the New
Engineering Building.
page 6
Dr Andreas Tostmann, ex-Volkswagen Group South
Africa Managing Director, and current Executive Vice
President for Production for SEAT in Spain, visited
the NMMU Engineering students with Volkswagen
South Africa (VWSA).
This year’s topic was on current and future
automotive engineering. During the presentation
the students stepped outside to witness for
themselves, a demo car with the feature of auto
parking.
Students also, had an opportunity to stand a
chance of winning an iPod and received VWSA
branded merchandise.
Student Orientation Programme in
Automotive Manufacturing (SOPAM)

Teacher of the Year Cheryl Schroder -
more like mom than lecturer
Welding coup for NMMU engineers
Chair for human
settlements
page 7
As NMMU lecturer Cheryl Schroder was about to
invigilate an exam, she came across a panicky
student who could not find his name on the list.
She helped him find out where he should have
been, gave him a lift in her car as the
venue was on another campus, and
even walked in with him – to ensure
he was allowed in despite being
late. She turned a student’s worst
nightmare into a situation of calm,
and enabled him to have a good
start to his exam. The student later
tracked her down to thank her.
He told her: “I didn’t feel like I was
riding around with a lecturer. I felt
like I was riding around with a mom.”
Schroder’s warm approach as
a lecturer – both in and out the
classroom – makes a huge difference to those she
teaches, and led to her winning one of two NMMU
Excellent Teacher of the Year awards. “I care and
I’m interested . . . It’s a privilege to be in this
position and to make a difference in someone’s
life,” she said. “Lecturers forget that – you can
make or break a person.” Her prestigious win
comes not long after she received the Golden Key
Society lecturer of the year award in her faculty.
“These awards are totally chosen by the students
– it was very touching,” she said.
Schroder lectures Information Systems 2
(software development) to second-year students
and supervises third- and fourth-year
students’ software design projects.
From the time she was a young
girl, she knew she wanted to teach.
From observing her own teachers
and lecturers, the best and the worst
of them, she learned that “excellent
teachershavetobepassionateabout
their subjects and strive to instill the
same passion in their students”.
“I’ve been teaching for 30 years
– and I haven’t lost my passion
for teaching. “Excellent teachers
also have to establish a positive
class atmosphere by investing time in building a
rapport with their students and encouraging active
class participation. “Unless there is a climate of
mutual respect in the classroom, students will be
reluctant to ask questions and contribute to any
discussions.”
Schroder say she views herself mainly as a
facilitator of learning, rather than as an expert
who simply delivers information to the students.
SOUTH Africa’s energy sector is set to save billions after researchers were
granted international approval for the development of ground-breaking
sampling and welding technology earlier this month.
The American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) gave approval for
use of WeldCore® – a friction taper hydro-pillar welding and repair process
– in the country’s power generation and petro-chemical industries.
The new welding technology is in accordance with the ASME Boiler
and Pressure Vessel Code (BPVC) and will be used at all major energy
producers countrywide – saving the industry billions of rands.
The approval follows 15 years of research by NMMU’s engineering
technology station, eNtsa, which has driven a number of innovative
engineering solutions.
eNtsa director Professor Danie Hattingh said the approval was like
conquering the highest engineering mountain for him and his team.
“It’s a major step as this is proof that the local welding solution survived
international scrutiny at the highest level,” he said.
The ASME code approval places the process on the international front as
an accepted procedure, and removes some of the legal compliance risk
for users world-wide.
The major deal has already seen Eskom making substantial savings from
more than R1-billion in deferred expenditure as the technology developed
by the WeldCore® process offers reliable feedback on its ageing power
stations.
This is the first approval by ASME BPVC for a South African institution.
Over the next three years, industrial experience in the application of the
process will be evaluated, determining if it will be adopted as a new solid
state welding process in ASME BPVC – Section IX.
Chair for human settlements (CHS) participated
in Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality (NMBM)
career exhibition. This career expo was held at
the Science Centre in Uitenhage.
Over 20 schools attended, comprising of over
1000 learners in grades 9 to12. This is a long term
investment with immense benefit to NMMU, as it
also forms part of National Strategic objectives.
Beyond recieving guidance on career paths
and admission process to NMMU, learners were
introduced to the Bachelor of Human Settlements
qualification offered by NMMUMissionvale
Campus. Many were excited to know about it as
this Degree offers skills which they feel are basic
needs to our current communities in daily basis.
PROBLEMSOLVED…Eskom’sPhillipDoubell(fromleft) andMarkNewbycongratulate
Professor Danie Hattingh and Dr Ossie Franks of NMMU on receiving accreditation for
a ground-breaking South African sampling and welding technique that will benefit all
major energy producers countrywide.

CELEBRATING DIVERSITY … As part of a Diversity Month Initiative, the
Faculty of EBEIT celebrated Cultural Day by showcasing an array of foods
from various cultures and encouraged staff to wear their traditional dress
and participate in the festivities.
Cultural Day
BRIGHT MINDS…The Challenge Release workshop which forms part of the
First Lego League was attended by 11 schools and their coaches. The School
of ICT hosted 87 students and their coaches. Two guest speakers from EP
Waste Management addressed the learners and their families.
FOR A CAUSE …The Construction Management Student Society held their
first event, a bus party which raised over R600 donated to the Charles Duna
Public School Library.
SECRETARIES DAY …EBEIT Faculty secretaries were treated to a lunch at the
North Campus Conference Centre as a token of appreciation for all the hard
work and efforts in keeping the administration of the Faculty efficient.
SPRING HAS SPRUNG … Supporting National Casual Day in aid of people
with disabilities were EBEIT staff Janine Holmes (from left), Meera Naidoo,
Phatheka Hobongwana, Eunice Marx, Amber Share, Joshna Daya, Lizl
Blom, Leoni Erasmus (front from left), Zandra Joubert and Liesl Stowman.
This year the theme was “Spring into action”- which was inspired by the
birds and the dawn of a new season of spring.

NMMU Centre for Community Technologies improves lives through mobile technology

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