Relebohile (Lebo) Lethunya, Rene Nolte, and Zimkhitha Mqutheni.

The Development and Alumni Department (DAD) has appointed new staff:
Zimkhitha Mqutheni joins the department as individual giving relations officer in the place of Jasmine Erasmus, who left in December to focus on studies and motherhood. Mqutheni obtained her degree in language and communication, as well as her honours in linguistics, at the University of the Western Cape. She has worked for Metropolitan Life Insurance, where her last position was as communication officer for the Government Employees Medical Scheme.

Relebohile (Lebo) Lethunya has been appointed alumni relations officer, taking over from Rene Nolte, who assumes the responsibility for all matters concerning bequests to UCT, becoming DAD's first 'bequests officer'. Lethunya comes from Vega School, an institution of advertising and brand communication, where she is currently studying towards her master's degree. She has worked at Vega for the past two years, and was in charge of the school's part-time studies programme until appointed at UCT.

Josiah Mavundla has transferred from student housing, admissions and advocacy services at Student Housing and Residence Life to replace Jane Connolly as DAD's senior manager of advancement research and information systems. Having worked with Mavundla at Student Housing before, DAD's executive director Jim McNamara said his new colleague is "one of those guys whose smile really lights up a room". McNamara is confident that Mavundla will fit right in as a member of the DAD team.

McNamara added that while the departure of such experienced staff members is a big loss for DAD, he was at least happy that the department has attracted candidates of such high calibre to replace them.