The University of Johannesburg has announced a new scholarship, the Mpedi Neurodiversity Scholarship which will help make research in a very underserved field more accessible!

Johannesburg, South Africa (06 March 2024) — In an effort to further research in the field of Neurodiversity Studies, the University of Johannesburg has initiated its Mpedi Neurodiversity Scholarship thanks to UJ Vice-Chancellor and Principal, Professor Letlhokwa Mpedi and his family!

Professor Mpedi is a parent to a neurodivergent son. From his son, the professor has witnessed both the unique intelligence and systemic challenges neurodivergent people face. Knowing that learning more is the first step to creating a more fitting society, the Neurodiversity Scholarship hopes to help more students who want to explore the largely untapped topic a Master’s level, with a emphasis on the neuro-develeopmental learning needs of children and youth.

This will hopefully play an important role paving the way to a South Africa that shifts to help neurodivergent people flourish instead of them having to simply make their way through a society that by systemic design, often doesn’t consider them.

UJ shares:

“The scholarship represents more than a financial aid program. It symbolises the commitment by UJ to address global challenges in the field of neurodiversity. The scholarship aims to facilitate meaningful research that contributes to a more inclusive and understanding society.”

For Mpedi, there are many areas where the system does not serve neurodivergent people. Legal systems do not safeguard their rights enough, policies are not centred around inclusivity and nurturing environments where neurodivergent people’s perspectives and capabilities are not acknowleged enough.

For him, it is about seeing the differences that neurodivergence entails not through the lens that paints them as defective, but as a variation of the human experience.

Students have already been awarded the scholarship. Nthabiseng Molebatsi, Ntokozo Zwane, and Mohamed Mosala are all researching topics related to Down Syndrome. Each is examining different topics, including parents’ experiences in providing support and transitioning from home to school.

Sources: University of Johannesburg 

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Or watch an episode of Good Things TV below, a show created to offer South Africans balance in a world with what feels like constant bad news. We’re here to remind you that there are still so many good things happening in South Africa & we’ll leave you feeling a little more proudly South African.

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The Elsen Academy started a Kindness Rocks project and students are loving the chance to share messages of kindness.

Gqeberha, South Africa (06 March 2024) – Ms Leigh Septoo and Mr Klaas Kingma at Elsen Academy started the Kindness Rocks project to give students a heartwarming project to work on that spreads kindness to others.

The school helps children with learning disabilities such as ADHD, dyslexia and other social barriers. The school provides a safe learning space for grades 1 to 12.

The Kindness Rocks project is based on the painted rock trend that is seen throughout the world. Finding a painted rock is supposed to inspire kindness and hope. The idea is to spread a little piece of joy to an unknown stranger. Finding a rock is often a little gift you never knew you wanted.

The hope is that having these rocks spread around the school, will inspire kindness!

“Imagine finding a beautifully painted rock hidden around the school, carrying a message of kindness inspired by our core values: Honesty, Empathy, Acceptance, and Respect (H.E.A.R.).

That’s the magic Ms. Septoo and Mr. Kingma have unleashed! They’ve collaborated with learners across all grades, igniting their creativity and spreading kindness through painted rocks scattered throughout Elsen Academy.

These unique gems hold the power to brighten someone’s day, whether it’s a student, staff member, or even a parent in need of a pick-me-up. So, keep your eyes peeled! You might just stumble upon a hidden masterpiece, reminding you of the simple yet powerful impact of kindness.

Consider doing something similar where you work. Don’t underestimate the power of surprises and messages of kindness.” – Elsen Academy

Rock finders are encouraged to either place the rock back, take it along their travels or keep it and share a rock of their own. We recently saw a rock and noticed several people stopping to peek at it and quickly moving along, not knowing what the rock meant.

There are many groups in South Africa that share this art form, so if you would enjoy it, you can find a list of groups to join here.

Sources: Elsen Academy – Supplied

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Or watch an episode of Good Things TV below, a show created to offer South Africans balance in a world with what feels like constant bad news. We’re here to remind you that there are still so many good things happening in South Africa & we’ll leave you feeling a little more proudly South African.

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Here’s a guide to discerning truth from fiction amidst the flood of AI-fuelled “breaking news,” empowering you with five key strategies to unveil the veil of deceit.

Johannesburg, South Africa (03 March 2024) – AI-generated content is taking over the internet, blurring the lines between reality and fabrication, and it seems even our most cherished news stories may not be what they seem. Brace yourselves, Good Things Guy family, for the snow in Durban, the sharks in Port Elizabeth, and those jaw-dropping beach sculptures are not as real as some of you once believed.

I can hardly fathom having to relay this message, but it’s a truth we can no longer ignore. Even though some of you may see through AI-generated content, the heartbreaking reality is that countless individuals are falling victim to the allure of fake photos masquerading as sensational “breaking news.”

There are various reasons that motivate the use of AI-generated photos from clickbait tactics to driving more social media engagement (this is usually a big influence), to spreading real misinformation and sometimes it’s all just in the name of fun.

It’s a bitter pill to swallow, but it’s high time we confronted this AI-fuelled digital deception head-on because it can be incredibly problematic should the user not know that the images are, in fact, not breaking news. You see, these ideas then become a person’s belief – where a joke has now evolved to a fact in someone’s mind.

And yes, we know that distinguishing fact from fiction can be daunting but we’ve put together five telltale signs to help you discern AI-fuelled fabrications:

• Unrealistic Detail: AI-generated images often exhibit an uncanny level of detail that surpasses reality. Look closely for inconsistencies or hyper-realistic elements that seem too perfect to be true.
• Lack of Context: Authentic breaking news photographs typically come with accompanying context or corroborating reports. If an image surfaces without supporting information or credible sources, proceed with scepticism.
• Identical Images: AI algorithms have limitations, leading to the replication of certain features across multiple images. If you stumble upon identical or nearly identical photographs depicting different events, it’s a red flag signalling potential manipulation.
• Unlikely Scenarios: Trust your instincts when assessing the plausibility of the depicted scenario. Outlandish events or occurrences that defy logic should prompt further investigation into the image’s authenticity.
• Reverse Image Search: Leverage online tools such as reverse image search engines to trace the origins of the photograph. If the image has been widely circulated or appears across various unrelated contexts, exercise caution before accepting its legitimacy.

It comes down to knowing – when we know better, we do better. And then we can help others too.

How do we do that? Well, if you see an AI-generated piece of “Breaking News”, call it out in the comments so others won’t be fooled. Even if the photos are “just for fun”, help others navigate the AI-generated noise.

And then we can all laugh at the photos together.

Snow on the beaches of Durban. Have you ever? LOL.

Sources: Social Media | Opinion Piece 

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Do you have something to add to this story? Please share it in the comments or follow GoodThingsGuy on Facebook & Twitter to keep up to date with good news as it happens, or share your good news with us by clicking here or click the link below to listen to the Good Things Guy Podcast with Brent Lindeque – South Africa’s very own Good Things Guy. He’s on a mission to change what the world pays attention to, and he truly believes there’s good news around us. In the Good Things Guy podcast, you’ll meet these everyday heroes & hear their incredible stories:

Or watch an episode of Good Things TV below, a show created to offer South Africans balance in a world with what feels like constant bad news. We’re here to remind you that there are still so many good things happening in South Africa & we’ll leave you feeling a little more proudly South African.

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In incredible international news, a widow who was left a fortune has decided to donate $1 billion dollars to fund medical students’ tuition! Full story:

New York City, USA (29 February 2024) — It’s not every day that a widow receives a billionaire’s fortune. But it’s even rarer to learn that she would make the decision to donate $1 billion (over 19 billion rand) to fund medical students’ tuition. Well, in a literal wealth of good news from New York City, this is exactly what happened thanks to Dr Ruth Gottesman.

Ruth Gottesman is the widow of David ‘Sandy’ Gottesman—a billionaire who made a big part of his fortune by investing in Bershire Hathaway Inc. It is believed that this saw him quietly reach a net worth of around $3 billion in his lifetime.

When David passed away, his wife of over seven decades was reportedly left with the stock David had and instructions.

“Do whatever you think is right with it,” the instructions said as per Forbes.

93-year-old Ruth got to thinking about what she could do and found the answer in her roots. Ruth is a former professor of the Albert Einstein College of Medicine, based in New York City’s Bronx. Knowing the institution and its student’s challenges well; Ruth returned to her old professional stomping ground with a once-in-a-lifetime gift: a donation that would change the futures of students in a way that has never been seen before in the United States medical school history. Ruth decided to donate the $1 billion so that medical students would have their college tuition covered. Historically, tuition at the college will now be free; and no student will have to pay tuition costs in the future either! Not to mention, all spring tuition will be reimbursed, as the college shared.

“I am profoundly grateful to Dr. Gottesman for this historic and transformational gift. I believe we can change healthcare history when we recognize that access is the path to excellence. With this gift, Dr. Gottesman will fund excellence in perpetuity and secure our foundational mission of advancing human health,” said Philip O. Ozuah, M.D., Ph.D., President and CEO of Montefiore Einstein.

Dr Gottesman has only added to her legacy of impact with this gift. While she was working at Einstein’s Children’s Evaluation and Rehabilitation Centre, she was a huge force in developing screening and help for children with learning problems. In the ’90s, she began the Adult Literacy Programme and continued her work in treating learning disabilities and, alongside David, created an institution for stem cell research.

Sources: Various (Linked Above)

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Do you have something to add to this story? Please share it in the comments or follow GoodThingsGuy on Facebook & Twitter to keep up to date with good news as it happens, or share your good news with us by clicking here or click the link below to listen to the Good Things Guy Podcast with Brent Lindeque – South Africa’s very own Good Things Guy. He’s on a mission to change what the world pays attention to, and he truly believes there’s good news around us. In the Good Things Guy podcast, you’ll meet these everyday heroes & hear their incredible stories:

Or watch an episode of Good Things TV below, a show created to offer South Africans balance in a world with what feels like constant bad news. We’re here to remind you that there are still so many good things happening in South Africa & we’ll leave you feeling a little more proudly South African.

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The South African Veterinary Council (SAVC) shares how pet owners can help curb the spread of Zoonotic Diseases in South Africa.

South Africa (29 February 2024) – Humans and animals share a special and close bond, especially when it comes to our beloved pets and our livestock. But think twice before giving your parakeet an affectionate peck on the beak, letting your dog lick your face or cuddling up with your new kitten until it’s received a clean bill of health from an animal healthcare professional.

Why? Well, your cute pets or farm animals might just be harbouring a zoonotic disease, which is an infection that is transferred between animals and humans. And be aware that there are some diseases that we can transmit to our beloved animals, too.

“The best-known zoonotic disease is rabies, which is transmitted from an infected mammal – usually a dog – to humans, and can be fatal if not treated immediately. So, avoid stray dogs and those exhibiting erratic behaviour,” says Dr Nandipha Ndudane, the president of the South African Veterinary Council (SAVC). Tick bite fever is another well-known zoonotic disease that is prevalent in Southern Africa.

In the home, kittens and puppies can carry ringworm that poses a danger to immunocompromised pet owners. Also, birds such as budgies and parrots can transmit psittacosis – or parrot fever – to humans, resulting in flu-like symptoms or severe pneumonia.

Furthermore, cattle tuberculosis (caused by Mycobacterium bovis) can be transmitted between humans and animals – through unpasteurised milk, infected animal carcasses or meat that hasn’t been cooked properly. Another zoonotic disease is brucellosis, a bacterial infection causing flu-like symptoms that affects not only livestock but also humans who are in contact with infected animals and contaminated animal products or who consume unpasteurised milk from infected livestock. Unlike flu, however, brucellosis can become chronic and debilitating if not diagnosed and treated timeously.

We also need to prevent the spread of disease from humans to animals – for example, human tuberculosis (M. tuberculosis) can be transmitted to other mammals, including dogs, cats, livestock and wildlife such as primates. If you have an illness that can affect animals, take special precautions to keep them safe.

Dr Ndudane says it’s imperative for farmers, people who work with animals and members of the public to know more about the close relationship between human, animal and environmental health – also known as “One Health” – to prevent zoonotic diseases from spreading.

The SAVC also hopes to raise awareness about the vital role veterinary and para-veterinary professionals play in curbing disease outbreaks, thereby contributing to public health and food security.

“We urge pet owners to educate themselves about the symptoms of important zoonotic diseases, and mention them to your doctor if you suspect they might be relevant when you are feeling ill. Wash your hands thoroughly after playing with pets or handling animals, and ensure your children do so, too. Clean your pet’s litter box and living quarters regularly. Do not touch or interact with wild animals, as they might be carrying an infection you don’t know about,” advises Dr Ndudane.

Zoonoses also pose an economic threat to farmers – including subsistence, small-scale and emerging farmers – and agricultural workers, making preventative measures vital, says Dr Ndudane.

“Most of our farmers are aware that healthy herds and flocks mean healthy products and profits, but education about animal health and food safety needs to be an ongoing process,” she says. Here, para-veterinary professionals and community animal health workers who are trained in primary animal healthcare can show farmers how to protect their herds through vaccination and other biosecurity measures.

“For anyone working in meat and dairy production, it’s vital to take precautionary measures when handling animals, as well as animal products and by-products. Educate yourself as to what is normal and abnormal animal behaviour so you can recognise when they are unwell, and of course always practise good basic hygiene and wear gloves, masks and overalls.”

Certain animal diseases, such as rabies, are controlled through national legislation. Controlled and notifiable diseases must be reported to the state so that the government veterinary services can intervene to halt an outbreak – and, if it’s a zoonotic disease, prevent a spillover to humans as well.

“It’s important to view the health of humans, animals and the environment as closely interlinked,” says Dr Ndudane. “We need to reassess how human activities are disrupting how we engage with animals and the environment, because new zoonotic diseases are emerging that pose a serious risk to public health.

“For example, the Nipah virus, a zoonotic disease that affects livestock and humans, is thought to have originated because of fruit bats being displaced from their natural forest habitat due to agricultural expansion in Asia.”

She says it’s therefore vital to find a better balance in how humans engage with wildlife, production animals, pets and the environment – because we are dependent on each other for our common health and well-being.

“Most importantly, be switched on and be aware. And remember to take your animals for regular veterinary check-ups and vaccinations to ensure their optimal health – and yours. We applaud South Africa’s veterinarians and para-veterinary professionals for rendering a valuable public health service in ensuring our animals are healthy and our food is safe to eat.”

Other zoonotic diseases to be aware of:

• Rift Valley fever is transmitted mainly via mosquitoes to livestock or to humans (humans can also be exposed to it indirectly through infected animal carcasses)
• Salmonellosis (caused by the Salmonella bacterium) can be transmitted to humans via contaminated poultry or dairy products, or to workers in contact with infected animals
• Anthrax is a deadly disease that can be transmitted from infected livestock or wildlife to humans – by law, all cattle have to be vaccinated against anthrax in South Africa
• Aspergillosis is a fungal disease that can be transmitted to humans, especially those working in animal production, through infected poultry or other birds, including pet birds
• Q fever is caused by Coxiella burnetii, a bacterium that is transmitted to farmworkers by cattle, sheep and goats
• Toxoplasmosis is a parasitic infection that can be contracted through contact with cat faeces, and is particularly dangerous to pregnant women
• Cryptosporidiosis is a gastrointestinal condition caused by a parasite living in the intestines of humans and pets, and is spread through contact with infected stools
• Cat-scratch fever is a bacterial infection that can be passed to humans through a cat scratch or bite
• The herpes B virus (which often manifests in fever blisters) can be transmitted from macaque monkeys to humans via a bite or a scratch

Useful resources

• National Institute for Communicable Diseases
• Resources | Global Alliance for Rabies Control
• Controlled and Notifiable Diseases – NAHF
• Afrivet – disease identification and treatment
• Zoonoses: Animal Diseases and Man (book and website)

Sources: South African Veterinary Council (SAVC)

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Do you have something to add to this story? Please share it in the comments or follow GoodThingsGuy on Facebook & Twitter to keep up to date with good news as it happens, or share your good news with us by clicking here or click the link below to listen to the Good Things Guy Podcast with Brent Lindeque – South Africa’s very own Good Things Guy. He’s on a mission to change what the world pays attention to, and he truly believes there’s good news around us. In the Good Things Guy podcast, you’ll meet these everyday heroes & hear their incredible stories:

Or watch an episode of Good Things TV below, a show created to offer South Africans balance in a world with what feels like constant bad news. We’re here to remind you that there are still so many good things happening in South Africa & we’ll leave you feeling a little more proudly South African.

The post From Cows to Kittens – How to Curb the Spread of Zoonotic Diseases appeared first on Good Things Guy.

Three conservation heroes share their hopes of getting more children involved with nature, creating a generation that is hooked on nature.

South Africa (29 February 2024) – When Patlego Machete lived with her grandmother in rural Mpumalanga, she couldn’t wait to escape to the bright city lights. It was only years later that she realised the bush had always been calling her back – and now she is imparting this rekindled passion for nature to children as a conservation facilitator at Good Work Foundation (GWF).

As we celebrate World Wildlife Day on 3 March, Patlego and other young conservation champions wish to drive home the importance of educating children – as future custodians of our natural heritage – about conserving wildlife and caring for the environment.

Patlego’s journey may have since come full circle but, as a young village girl, “I wanted a different kind of life – I envied the city life. I needed to go and find myself,” she reminisces.

After matriculating, she had hoped to become a chartered accountant but was not accepted into college. Then she heard about GWF’s Conservation Academy and decided to enrol, not really knowing what it was all about.

“Three months down the line, I fell in love with nature – it was insane!” laughs Patlego. She would stop to identify rocks as she walked home, eliciting curious stares – “and that’s when I realised this is for me”. Accounting was history!

Today, Patlego is a qualified GWF conservation facilitator who loves taking schoolchildren into the bush on educational game drives. She says they get so excited seeing lions, zebras, wildebeest and elephants for the first time – even though they live close enough to these wild spaces to throw a stone in there, most have never had the opportunity to visit a game reserve because of affordability.

“If you have a dream, it’s better to go for it than to just do nothing and feel sorry for yourself. My dream came true, and I’m grateful for the risks I took and the people who helped me along the way.”

Neo finds her groove as a game ranger

Neo Mnisi, another GWF conservation graduate who works as a ranger and guide at Sabi Sabi Private Game Reserve, was hooked on the great outdoors from an early age.

Neo grew up with her grandmother in rural Bushbuckridge, where life was tough. “When the rivers were full [and impassable], there was no going to school, even though I was a top student, getting 100% for my Natural Sciences tests. Sometimes, I would go to school with no lunch.”

Her career aspirations were put on hold when she fell pregnant at 18. To make ends meet, she took a job packing macadamia nuts on a farm. Years later, a glimmer of hope arose when she moved to Tshabalala village near Hazyview and learned of the opportunities offered at GWF.

Despite a decade having passed since school, Neo took the plunge and enrolled at the education non-profit’s Bridging Year Academy in 2020, and after that its Conservation Academy. “I’ve always loved reading and learning, so for me it was easy to go back to school,” she declares. “And I love nature.”

Thanks to GWF’s network of hospitality contacts, Neo landed a job as a transfer driver at Sabi Sabi. “They gave me a chance, enabling me to gain confidence as a driver. My driving improved a LOT in those first three months!” Neo then became a trainee ranger and, in February 2024, she qualified as a ranger.

“I get goosebumps when I think how much I love my job – it’s so amazing to see the faces of guests when they see an elephant for the first time in real life, not on TV. Some of them start crying,” she says, adding that she enjoys teaching children in her village about different bird calls and the importance of not harming wildlife.

“We should respect nature, and nature will respect us. Animals are dying because we are building everywhere and limiting their movement. We need to protect nature and wildlife and preserve it for future generations, otherwise they won’t know about their natural heritage.”

A conservation hero who never rests

Zuzumuzi Gumede, a facilitator at GWF’s Conservation Academy who has also worked at the Open Learning Academy, is a natural teacher who thrives on activity. “My favourite animal is an elephant – because elephants are always busy, moving around and doing something. They seldom rest.”

This animal lover was named a conservation hero during last year’s Extra Mile trail run (an initiative of the More Community Foundation) that passes the GWF’s campus in Huntington village – small wonder, as his passion for bringing conservation to life for young people is plain for all to see.

“There are a lot of issues related to human conflict with the natural environment, like poaching,” he says, explaining his passion for kindling a love of nature in young people.

“The natural environment is part of us as human beings – without it, we are nothing. It’s our duty to protect and sustain it. If we damage our ecosystems, humans are the next to be damaged. So we should learn to conserve our environment so it can sustain itself,” says Zuzumuzi.

Sources: The Good Work Foundation

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Or watch an episode of Good Things TV below, a show created to offer South Africans balance in a world with what feels like constant bad news. We’re here to remind you that there are still so many good things happening in South Africa & we’ll leave you feeling a little more proudly South African.

The post Three Young Conservation Heroes Highlight Importance of Getting Kids Hooked on Nature appeared first on Good Things Guy.

What began as a lesson in the craft of culinary skills for Cheryl’s son, who is on the Autism Spectrum, has turned into an entire cooking school for kids and adults with special needs!

Claremont, South Africa (27 February 2024)—Cooking is a multifaceted discipline. It’s an art for some; a labour of love for others. But no matter how seriously you take your time in the kitchen, cooking is pretty imperative knowledge to have. However, for the Spectrum Cooks we’re about to spotlight, cooking is more than either of the aforementioned.

It’s a bridge that helps special needs kids and adults feel more comfortable in a society that is largely, still, not designed with them in mind. it’s an opportunity for more independence, inclusivity and confidence. This is what the Spectrum Cooks are all about, and why both students and teachers just can’t get enough of what they’re doing.

Simply put, Spectrum Cooks is a cooking school in Claremont that teaches kids and adults on the spectrum or who have special needs how to cook.

As teacher, Candice Friedman, tells Good Things Guy:

“We want to teach these amazing adults and kids life skills and to be independent. We even offer a full-time chef’s course for anyone who wants to be a chef and hopefully create their own business or work in a kitchen.” 

Beyond its mission, the story behind how Spectrum Cooks came to be is just as heartwarming.

As principal and founder Cheryl Terblanche shares of the school’s beginnings back in 2008, the school began organically.

Cheryl was home-schooling her son, a then teenage Shay Terblanche who is on the Autism Spectrum. The focus was on Shay’s hospitality studies and culinary abilities.

Shay began working professionally when he was just 17 and had become something of a success story.

“Word got around and I received a phone call from a parent of a son with Cerebral Palsy and was asked if I could teach his son to become self-sufficient in the kitchen.” 

Despite not having taught another young special needs student apart from her son, Cheryl decided to give it a go. This for her, was the beginning of a dream she didn’t even know she had.

For a long time, Shay and Cheryl taught skills at Bergvliet School’s Adult Enrichment Programme. After this chapter, she decided to focus completely on her own students. From 2017, Shay joined as a lecturer and the small but determined pair began working on figuring out how to offer accredited cooking courses!

The Spectrum Cooks have faced their fair share of challenges. One of the biggest includes fighting with the Department of Education to curate a recognised culinary curriculum for special needs students. When the going got tough, the team decided to develop their own recognised curriculum, as acknowledged by the Quality Council for Trades & Occupations (QCTO).

This resilience and willingness to make a plan that best helps the special needs community is the school’s secret ingredient. One new skill at a time, they are slowly but surely making a difference that’s plating more dreams.

Sources: Website Submission

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Or watch an episode of Good Things TV below, a show created to offer South Africans balance in a world with what feels like constant bad news. We’re here to remind you that there are still so many good things happening in South Africa & we’ll leave you feeling a little more proudly South African.

The post Spectrum Cooks are Sprinkling a Difference into Students Lives! appeared first on Good Things Guy.

Last year, Chad Markgraaf signed up to run 100 marathons in 100 days for his friend fighting cancer. Now, he’s teamed up with Dayne Smith for ‘1000 Beyond Running’—10 km for 100 consecutive days to help underprivileged children’s education essentials!

Johannesburg (27 February 2024) — Another dynamic duo is on a mission to create positive change by making many kilometres count! While Ruth Boshoff and Debbi De Waal are preparing to put their legs to work to help fund a community food garden in the Western Cape (‘Greyton to Gardens’), in other parts of South Africa, Dayne Smith and Chad Markraaf have already set to the task of tekkies with their initiative ‘1000 Beyond Running’.

If the name rings a bell, Chad Markgraaf made headlines last year for running ‘100 marathons in 100 days’ to help a friend fight skin cancer’s financial challenges. It was a brilliant effort and one that has paved the way for Chad to get involved in more positive impact efforts in South Africa.

This year, Chad and Dayne have teamed up to tackle 10 kilometres for 100 days to raise funds to help underprivileged children along their educational journeys. At the end of the commitment, the two hope to have completed 1000 kilometres of effort for TeachBeyond—an education non-profit organisation!

Dayne, the National Director of TeachBeyond tells Good Things Guy that as of yesterday, 57 consecutive days have already been completed. That’s a whopping distance of 570 kilometres done and dusted! If we consider that some of South Africa’s most revered marathons like the Two Oceans Ultra Marathon (56 kilometres) and the Comrades (just over 87 kilometres) are some of the most intense exercises of endurance for legs to handle; the excitement around their chopped up runs of resilience becomes even more exciting.

Says Dayne of ‘1000 Beyond Running’:

“The primary objective of the campaign is to raise R100,000 to support the education of underprivileged children and provide essential educational services. We are thrilled to report that, thanks to the incredible support from individuals and organisations…[we] have already raised approximately R33,000, bringing us one step closer to achieving our goal.

“Our dedication is not only reflected in the distance we have covered but also in the positive impact they have already made in the lives of those we aim to support. The funds raised so far are contributing directly to providing educational opportunities and services for underprivileged children.”

Anyone who is keen to get the pair closer to their closing goal can learn more via info@teachbeyond.co.za!

“Together, we can make education accessible to all and create a lasting impact on the lives of underprivileged children.”—Dayne Smith.

Sources: Website Submission; Dayne Smith 

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A donation in support of education has seen the University of Pretoria add the largest CT scanner in veterinary practice to its medical offerings.

Pretoria, South Africa (27 February 2024) – The University of Pretoria’s (UP) Onderstepoort Veterinary Academic Hospital (OVAH) has recently revealed the largest CT scanner ever used in veterinary practice in South Africa.

Made possible by a generous R13 million donation from the Roy McAlpine Charitable Foundation. Given that the Faculty of Veterinary Science at UP is the sole veterinary school in the country and the second oldest on the continent, the state-of-the-art scanner will undoubtedly advance the training of veterinary specialists, clinical research capabilities and innovation coming from UP.

Part of the donation was used to make some changes to the existing CT room to accommodate the new and bigger Siemens Somatom Confidence 64 Slice CT scanner with a sliding gantry (a gantry that runs on a set of rails). To perform a CT scan, done to visualise an entire area of the body (e.g., head and neck), the patient usually is placed on the table that moves through the gantry, which works well on smaller animals such as dogs.

To be able to perform CT scans of the limbs as well as the head and neck of large animals like horses or buffalos, a CT scanner with a sliding gantry is required, allowing the gantry to move along the body of the animal either in a standing position or placed on a static table.

“As a referral and research centre the Faculty of Veterinary Science at UP the OVAH have to be at the forefront of diagnostics,” Professor Themba Mosia, UP Interim Vice-Chancellor and Principal, said.

“A certain subset of cases are dependent on CT (computed tomography) for time and cost-effective diagnosis of suspected conditions. These include but are not limited to, small animal cases with suspected nasal pathology, equine cases with suspected dental and sinus pathology, and small animal cases with intra-thoracic and abdominal vascular anomalies. We are grateful and commend the Roy McAlpine Charitable Foundation for helping us purchase a machine that allows us to obtain high-quality, diagnostic images at a reduced scan time. It increases throughput and improves diagnostic accuracy, to the benefit of the patient, client and clinical team.”

Scotland-born Roy McAlpine, Founder of the Roy McAlpine Charitable Foundation, said the donation of the funds represents an example of how public-private partnerships can play an important role in enhancing our educational and other key institutions.

“The importance of protecting our environment and wildlife for future generations cannot be underestimated,” McAlpine said. “I have been fortunate in having lived in this country throughout my adult life. It has given me a wonderful life, for which I am very grateful. In founding this Foundation, my aim was, and remains, to give something back.”

Prof Vinny Naidoo, Dean of Faculty of Veterinary Science, and Dr Paul van Dam, Acting Director for Onderstepoort Veterinary Academic Hospital, said as with modern training facilities, imaging has been core to what can be done, making the generous donation of the funds by the McAlpine Foundation to procure a state-of-the-art CT scanner an opportunity to advance to the next level of diagnostic imaging, especially since OVAH is the only veterinary facility in Africa with such advanced equipment for both patient care and specialist training.

The Faculty has been training veterinarians since 1920, with the graduating class of the end of 2024 set to be the 100th class graduating with the BVSc degree. When the Faculty was started, the country was grappling with many veterinary diseases and animal welfare was really non-existent. Over the years, the veterinarians who graduated from the Faculty have gone on to assist our agricultural and companion animal sectors to develop and become what we see today, being the production of food that is good, sound and wholesome to our pets becoming members of the Family.

To support the training of veterinarians and the subsequent need for veterinary specialist services like surgery, internal medicine, anesthesiology and radiology, as animal care needs in the country advanced, the University developed a tertiary care hospital on its Onderstepoort Campus that while totally funded by the University and Department of Higher Education, can still compete favourably with any medical hospital in the country.

Sources: University of Pretoria

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Stranded turtle hatchlings will start washing up along Western Cape beaches and they may not always look like turtles at first; this turtle was completely camouflaged by barnacles.

Cape Town, South Africa (26 February 2024) – Rescuers spotted a bit of sea debris moving while on a walk, curious, they looked closer and saw that it was in fact a stranded turtle hatchling covered in barnacles. They acted quickly and the little turtle was saved!

It is rescues like this that help the Two Oceans Aquarium Foundation save as many turtles as possible. In the coming months, more and more of these little turtles will wash up along beaches.

Stranding season usually runs from March to July each year, so the Aquarium is encouraging beachgoers to keep an eye out.

Hatchling Season

The Two Oceans Aquarium Education Foundation started preparing for Turtle Hatchling Season back in January, and the first rescues will most likely arrive very soon.

So many of these hatchlings wash up on the Western Cape coastlines because when they are born on the Northern Beaches in KwaZulu-Natal, they make their way into the ocean and towards the warm Agulhas current.

If a hatchling is lucky, it will be carried by the Agulhas Current as it turns east off the coast of the Western Cape and out into the warm Indian Ocean. Unfortunately, this isn’t easy for the tiny hatchlings, and many of them are ejected from the Agulhas Current into the cold water of the Atlantic. This water is too cold for these hatchlings to survive. They get gradually weaker and weaker as they try to return to the Agulhas – an effort that is made increasingly difficult in bad weather, barnacles taking over the little body or if the turtle has been harmed by ingesting plastic pollution.

These weakened hatchlings inevitably wash up on the Western Cape’s coast, and without human intervention, they have no chance of surviving. We have a responsibility to help these animals.

The hatchlings that wash up in the Western Cape are all taken to the Two Oceans Aquarium. Once they have been rehabilitated and are healthy enough, they are released back into the ocean.

If you would like to help the team prepare, you can do so here.

Sources: TOAF

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