Campus highlights

NRF Rating

This is a second call for applications for NRF rating, which will be considered from academic staff who already have an established track record of research or who, in the case of younger researchers, are recognised as having the potential to become established in the near future. The internal closing date for the submission of new applications is November 25. Please contact (Christina Pather (or x2434) or Joanne Brinkman (or x2433) for more information.

Music festival to benefit Mandela Children's Fund

They come following the unmistakeable aroma of boerewors rolls and the unique sounds of South African voices and music. Ex-pats, temporary sojourners, lovers of the home country, they are rolling up for the London Solidarity music festival, a project run by UCT alumnus Adele Muzik (nee Théron) to raise funds for the Nelson Mandela Children's Fund.

The festival runs for the month of November and has been backed by an array of sponsors. Hosted at the Zulus Bar (in Leytonstone, East London, and Fulham), the festival features some of South Africa's finest musicians: Robin Auld, Arno Carstens, Livingstone Karma (previously Henry Ate), Justin Bergh, IGAGU, Jerusha and Pieter Smith.

"It was inspired while I was doing a course on self expression and leadership," Muzik explained. "I realised how much I love South Africa, especially the children, and wanted to create an event where South Africans celebrate together while giving back to their communities back home."

Muzik graduated with a BBusSci (honours in information systems) in 1999, part of the winning IS honours project team that spawned the startup software company Southeaster. The software, aptly called Silverfish, was a rapid e-commerce tool that facilitated the quick building of e-commerce websites.

After a stint heading software development at Crusader Systems and an appointment as product manager in software development in London, Muzik was appointed product marketing manager and training consultant for the REL Consultancy Group in the United Kingdom. She recently went part time to become a property developer and investor.

(Go to www.zulus.co.uk/solidarity for more details of dates and venues.)

Interactive art appeal

A fourth-year art student at Michaelis is appealing to people to log on to a website and become part of his art work that deals with "invisibilty and anonymity". The site focuses on non-academic staff in the UCT community who are not acknowledged. "Many of us who interact with them on a daily basis do not even know their names," says artist Jermaine Michael Charles. "I am trying to make them visible and also show that they are individuals." He documented his experiences working as a Supercare cleaner for a day, taking pictures of himself. The interactive website has these pictures on display where he has set up a "game". Viewers can play the game, which echoes a daily life of monotonous labour. Viewers can earn credits through a seemingly repetitive process. These credits will be used in a performance piece to be staged at Hiddingh campus on November 10. To take part, log on to www.michaelis.uct.ac.za/morethanclean.

Retirees dinner

Chair of Council Geoff Budlender, will host a dinner for retiring staff on Tuesday, November 15, in the Smuts Dining Hall at 19h30 for 20h00. All staff are invited to attend this dinner to support the retirees. The cost of the three-course dinner, which includes a welcome cocktail, red/white wine, will be R95 per person. Contact Rosina van de Rheede at 650 4468 by November 10.

Circumcision symposium

Stellenbosch University's medical school is holding a mini symposium on the painful dilemma of circumcision on November 24 at their Tygerberg Campus (first floor, Clinical Building, Teaching Block, Main Lecture Hall). One of the speakers will be UCT philosopher Prof David Benatar whose topic is May Parents Decide? Other speakers will look at a range of issues surrounding circumcision, including sexuality, children's rights and HIV. The symposium starts at noon and will finish at 18h00. If you are interested in attending, please RSVP dawn@sun.ac.za by November 21. Other enquiries can be directed to Dr Daniel Sidler, paediatric surgeon and ethicist, Tygerberg Children's Hospital.

Shows on at On Broadway

Rhythm's Gonna Get You is on at On Broadway, 88 Shortmarket Street in Cape Town, on Tuesdays till Saturdays until November 26. It showcases the up-and-coming talent from Cape Town performing mega hits by Janet Jackson, Tom Jones, George Michael, Atomic Kitten, Kylie Minogue, Tamia and Gloria Estefan, among others. Rhythm's Gonna Get You is directed by Glenn Swart and choreographed by Nichol Petersen. The show stars Francois Schreuder (Zing runner-up in 2003, and Soul'd Out, 2004), Melani Johnson (international touring company of Cats and Fame - The Musical), Robyn Hendricks (Project Fame, 2004), Chantal Stanfield and Chervonn Pearce. This fivesome dazzles with sexy costumes, brilliant voices, glorious harmonies and raunchy dance moves. For more information, call 424 1194 or 424 1195, or visit www.onbroadway.co.za