Newsletter Archive
Celebrating Leadership with Pride Maunatlala
On 23 February 2023, the Klaus-Jurgen Bathe (KJB) Leadership Programme held its annual dinner under the theme “Celebrating Leadership”, addressed by special guest speaker Pride Maunatlala (pictured below):
Every year, the KJB Leadership Programme celebrates the selection of 10 bright scholars drawn from UCT undergraduate students represented across all faculties of the University of Cape Town. The selected scholars are awarded full-cost scholarships for two years (including tuition and boarding) and leadership training that includes taught electives, internships, and leadership boot camps. To date, 71 UCT scholars have received support from the Programme since its inception in 2014, and 22 of these have been from the EBE Faculty.
This year’s dinner was held at Moyos in Kirstenbosch Gardens, and was attended by around 40 guests including UCT staff, KJB Selection Committee members and Alumni of the KJB Programme (pictured above).
The evening was opened with a welcome and overview by KJB Programme Director, Prof. Alphose Zingoni(UCT Department of Civil Engineering), followed by a speech from Prof. Jurgen Bathe (Programme Founder and Funder).
The scholars and guests were then addressed by guest speaker Pride Maunatlala (Entrepreneur and Board Member, Branson Centre for Entrepreneurship), who captivated scholars with her leadership story, with the message “you are never too young to show leadership”, thus capping the evening off with a message of hope and celebrating future leaders of today.
KJB Year-end Lunch
November 2022
On 12 November 2022, KJB Leadership Scholars gathered at the Simon’s Restaurant in Constantia to attend a luncheon hosted by the Programme Director. Also present were KJB staff, some invited guests and postgraduate scholars.
KJB invited to attend consultation on UCT Leadership Academy
October 2022
The establishment of a UCT Leadership Academy is a direct response to Vision 2030 of the University of Cape Town (UCT). An important aspect of unleashing human potential to create a fair and just society is the intentional development of student leaders. Although many outstanding leadership development initiatives already exist across the university environment, the Division of Student Affairs (DSA) believes there is an opportunity to integrate these streams into an institutional system that could optimise student leadership development at UCT and across Afrika. This systemic integration will serve as a baseline for making a global contribution. To this end, the DSA started a conversation with key stakeholders to establish a UCT Leadership Academy (UCT-LEAD).
This conversation was initiated during the DSA strategic planning session that took place from 9 to 11 November 2021. During this strategic planning session, the DSA identified three key strategic areas, namely: (1) grow a culture of ethical self-organisation and care; (2) create communities of co-creation and care; and (3) develop a system of integrated, responsive and agile support. The establishment of a leadership academy was identified as a specific objective to advance the second key strategic area mentioned above, namely: to create communities of co-creation and care. This objective (i.e. to establish a leadership academy) was further explored with a broader group of stakeholders during a conversation that took place on 21 and 22 April 2022.
Then in October 2022, UCT-LEAD invited KJB and other internal leadership programmes, to do a presentation of the KJB Leadership Programme as inspiration for the UCT-LEAD academy model. Programme Manager, Belisa Rodrigues, presented the history of the KJB Programme, its founding values and its programme model. It was noteworthy that after the presentation the Global Citizenship Programme commented that the KJB Scholars who take the GC courses, as part of their elective requirements of the KJB Programme, are the most engaged students in their courses and a pleasure to work with.
As a surprise, Ms Rodrigues invited one of the KJB special scholarship holders to share with the group their thoughts on leadership inspired by the most recent KJB Leadership Bootcamp. The KJB Bootcamp covered afro-centric concepts of leadership, focused on our collective humanity, explored intergenerational leadership and the need for pause/rest in the leadership journey. Inspired by the learnings, scholars came up with a concept of Sankofa Leadership to inspire the next generation of peers across the University. It is not yet clear what this could look like, but was used as a provocation at the UCT-LEAD Colloquium and was very well received.
UCT chemical engineering graduand Sarah Nzeka exemplifies the spirit of not giving up
"In 2020, she was introduced to Professor Alphose Zingoni, the director of the Klaus Jürgen Bathe (KJB) Leadership Programme who provided financial assistance. She received once-off support from the KJB programme, which covered her tuition fees."
28 MARCH 2022 | STORY STEPHEN LANGTRY. PHOTO NASIEF MANIE. Read time 7 min.
University of Cape Town (UCT) student Sarah Nzeka will graduate with a Bachelor of Science (BSc) in Chemical Engineering on 29 March 2022 after registering at UCT for the first time in 2012. The journey to graduation day has not been easy.
Klaus-Jürgen Bathe Leadership Bootcamp (2019)
KJB BOOTCAMP 2019 | Highlights of the Leadership Bootcamp this past weekend:
"Potentially the best leadership boot camp I've been to. Really helped me get that vigour back!"
"So, so helpful! You really harnessed the leadership in the room, built on it and gave it time to flourish!"
"Thank you! Vulnerability is an important thing to consider for leadership and people. Maybe more team exercises?"
"Your energy/ies and smiles made us receptive to what you both had to teach us. Thank you for your time today!"
KJB Scholars were taken through a journey to explore who they are as leaders, and then workshopped what leadership looks like in the future using popular culture such as K Pop and Master Chef. Using D-thinking tools, teams also came up with ways to leverage social media for impactful leadership messaging.
#AfricaAnswers #KJBLeadership #KJBLeadershipBootcamp
INSUBORDINATE LEADERSHIP, lecture by Pregs Govender
1 August 2019
UCT's Klaus-Jürgen Bathe Leadership (KJB) Programme in collaboration with UCT's Poverty & Inequality Initiative invites you to its 2019 Inaugural Leadership Lecture on 1 August, to open women's month.
On the eve of women’s month in South Africa, Govender (feminist, human rights activist and former MP) focused on transformational leadership in an age of reductive advertising hype and government speeches. Govender asserts that the high level of GBV demands an urgent transformation of SA s patriarchal, racist, sexist and capitalist society.
The Klaus-Jürgen Bathe (KJB) Leadership Programme Lecture seeks to connect South Africa’s foremost critical thinkers with the UCT community and the broader public. The KJB Programme was established at UCT in March 2014, through a gift donated by Professor Klaus-Jürgen Bathe, who graduated from UCT as an engineer in 1967 and is an award-winning researcher and teacher at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. The primary goal of the Programme is to produce graduates with outstanding leadership qualities and a strong sense of social justice, who will go on to play leading and significant roles in business, government, industry and civil society in South Africa and on the African continent.
Leaders must resist the nhunzi
27 FEBRUARY 2019 | STORY CARLA BERNARDO. PHOTOS ANGUS RULE. Read time 8 min
You sit down at your desk to study. A short while later, a fly – a nhunzi – begins buzzing, distracting you. You decide you’ll dedicate just a few minutes to catching the fly so that you can continue working in peace. The few minutes go by, and then an hour. Before you know it, three hours have passed and you are no closer to killing the nhunzi.
The ability to resist that nhunzi effect (the Shona word for fly) is what sets leaders apart, according to Gladys Mawoneke, guest speaker at the University of Cape Town’s (UCT) Klaus-Jürgen Bathe (KJB) Leadership Programme induction dinner on Friday, 23 February.
The event was held to welcome the 2019 cohort, acknowledge the programme’s recent graduates, and to celebrate the programme having funded a total of 50 students.
Klaus-Jürgen Bathe Leadership Bootcamp (2018)
27-29 July 2018
"After the workshops I feel that I have learned how to become more self-aware, to listen more attentively, and how to work towards becoming the social change agent that I aspire to be". Nelisa Khwela (KJB Scholar 2018)
On the weekend of the 27, 28, 29 July, Klaus-Jürgen Bathe Leadership Programme, together with the Social Enterprise Academy, hosted a 3-Day Bootcamp entitled “Self-Leadership for Active Citizens” for all KJB Scholars (past and present).
Objectives of the Bootcamp:
- To strengthen your approach to leading and inspiring those around you
- To gain greater clarity and focus as a leader to help you drive social change
- To identify your personal leadership style and how your style impacts others
- To develop awareness and the capacity to listen deeply
This platform, hosted within the Hlanganani Junction within UCT Main Library, enabled scholars to carve out space to get to know one another and reflect on their leadership journeys. Expert facilitators channelled the energy and discussions to form a rich tapestry of leadership enquiry and personal development.
"I enjoyed the group feedback sessions, and how the space was opened up and a comfortable one to share in any way possible. This allowed us all to be comfortable and to also be vulnerable with each other and communicate, not just our leadership successes, but our fears as well. Getting to share and interact and learn from my fellow peers was the best part of the boot camp for me" Nondumiso Goba (KJB 2018 Scholar).
KJB Scholar Reflections over the years
Jacqualine van Zyl (KJB Scholar 2015) , graduated with a Bachelor of Social Science, majoring in International Relations and Gender Studies, stated:
“I have been involved with the Klaus-Jürgen Bathe Leadership Programme for two years now, and it’s been great for networking outside of the university but also with my peers.”
Namhla Mabombo (KJB Scholar 2015), graduated with a Bachelor of Science (Engineering) in Mechatronics, shared her thoughts:
“End of 2015, I feared I wouldn't be able to continue with my studies because I didn't have funding and my parents were starting to feel the strain of having to pay. Then I got the scholarship…but the vision is bigger than that, and is to grow us as leaders”
Irfan Habib (KJB Scholar 2015), graduated with a Bachelor of Science majoring in Astrophysics, Physics and Applied Mathematics, explained:
“The hallmark of my experience is the people. We all got on so well. They are not looking for leaders, they are looking for people who will one day become leaders. For me that just resonated with me because I feel I still have a lot of room to grow.”
Alumni want to now give back to communities:
Inspired by the scholarship experience, Mogamat Salie (KJB Scholar 2015), wants to one day give back to his own community of Athlone, by providing similar financial and leadership support to youth.
Irfan Habib will be continuing his studies at Wits University, and hopes to move into Research and Development in renewable energies and space propulsion. He also hopes to gain experience overseas and learn skills to bring back to South Africa that will ‘propel’ South Africa forward.
Namhla Mabombo states that coming from a previously disadvantaged background, she wishes to inspire, motivate and encourage other disadvantaged learners to go to university, showing them, she says that: “If I can do it, they can also.”
KJB Leadership Internship experience:
As part of the KJB programme activities, scholars are required to take part in a 4-6 week internship experience to learn about leadership in a corporate, NGO or government environment. The main aim of the internship is to enhance the scholar’s leadership experience and awareness of critical real world issues.
Mabombo, however, not only grew her leadership competencies and skills, but was also successful in getting at job at the host organisation after graduation:
“So in those 5 weeks, I got to know the right people, and they saw that I was really interested in working with them, and I applied for a job and I got it. If I had not spent those 5 weeks, I wouldn't have known what they are about and I wouldn't have applied for a job there.”
KJB Leadership electives and activities:
In addition to the scholar’s normal academic load, the KJB scholarship requires students to take on an additional two leadership electives offered by various faculties of the University of Cape Town. Scholars are able to thus learn about key global issues outside of their normal degree curriculum. Van Zyl described the impact that these electives have had on her own leadership journey:
“One of the electives that I did through the Klaus- Jürgen Bathe Scholarship, was the Global Citizenship Programme, and through that I ran an intervention on campus where we did a campaign on ‘Bring Back our Girls’, and afterwards in my third year, I went back as a facilitator at the Global Citizenship Programme.”
Other activities offered by the scholarship includes networking dinners, leadership workshops such as ‘Meet Ups’ and community service engagements.
Advice to prospective KJB scholars from alumni:
Habib says: “To prospective KJB students - when you get in, because everyone can get in, as long as you stay true to yourself. Make the most of it.”
Salie described how his friends found the application process to be quite intimidating, but offers encouraging words of advice: “Apply! The advert is a little bit scary. Just apply. If you are lucky enough to be a KJB Scholar, Get involved and grab it with both hands.’
Keabetswe Bonolo Skee (KJB Scholar 2015), describes how the scholarship encourages personal growth: “This scholarship doesn’t throw things at you, it requires you to come out and do things for yourself, so get involved. The people in KJB are very willing to help, whatever idea you have.”
Parting message:
Skee sagely summarises her experience in the form of insightful message to others:
“Let it be your own journey, try to map it out and everyone in the programme will be willing to help you.”
KJB Induction Dinner – 21 February 2018
“Your network is your power. Use it, nurture it, and pay it forward!” Nwabisa Mayema, KJB Guest Speaker and Founder of Nnfinity.
Traditionally, every year the Klaus-Jürgen Bathe (KJB) Leadership Programme hosts an Official Induction Dinner for new KJB Scholars at the beginning of the UCT Academic year.
This year, the event not only welcomed 14 new KJB Scholars into the 2018 programme, but was also an opportunity to connect the KJB alumni as far back as 2015 with the new cohort in order to share experience and network. Thus a record attendance of 64 invitees including key staff and luminaries from UCT community were present that evening!
The evening started off with pre-drinks hosted at the KJB Director, Prof. Zingoni’s, residence; thereafter a 3-course meal was enjoyed at Jonkershuis in Groot Constantia.
After a welcome address by both Prof Zingoni (Programme Director) and Prof. Bathe (Programme Founder), certificates were handed out to all the new scholars. The awardees are: Sinazo Brown (Commerce), Jean-Luc Ciapperelli (Humanities), Na’eem Davis (Commerce), Oriana Esau (Law), Nondumiso Goba (Law), Nelisa Khwela (Humanities), Denislav Marinov (Science), Woxonga Mathebula (Commerce), Napo Mochekoane (EBE), Zahraa Mohamed (Health Sciences), Tariromunashe Mufunda (EBE), Naledi Ramoabi (Law), Muhammed Razzak (EBE), Stephanie Roche (Health Sciences). Certificates were also awarded to graduates of the KJB programme.
The evening was punctuated with some food for thought by Guest speaker, Nwabisa Mayema, founder of Nnfinity, a support network for female entrepreneurs, where she focused on the value of the KJB network and the importance of connecting, sharing and nurturing the network.
“You, as this growing group of KJB Scholars, are now part of a powerful network. It is up to you to use this network, rely on one another; and it is on you to nurture it and live it out to its fullest potential. Use it, nurture it and pay it forward!”
Finally the evening was closed with a vote of thanks by Dr Russel Alley, Executive Director of the Development and Alumni Department. He commended the KJB programme for attracting the most talented students from diverse cultural backgrounds and encouraged them to take the opportunity forward into the world.
UCT Honours Programme Director – 20 January 2017
Alphose Zingoni, Programme Director & Professor of Structural Engineering and Mechanics in the Department of Civil Engineering at UCT, was honoured with a Fellowship of the University of Cape Town at the University Graduation Ceremony of 20 December 2016. UCT Fellowships are awarded for original, distinguished academic work. For full story, see:
http://www.uct.ac.za/dailynews/?id=10117
Induction Dinner – 17 February 2016
A dinner function held on 17 February at the Jonkershuis Restaurant in Constantia saw the induction of 10 new scholars into the Klaus-Jürgen Bathe Leadership Programme, bringing to 26 the total number of UCT undergraduate students now enrolled in the Programme. The new recipients were: Emma Green (Humanities), Fatima Docrat (Commerce), Tafadzwa Kwaramba (EBE), Natalie Mangondo (EBE), Naledi Masilo (Humanities), Kolosa Ntombini (Science), Ryan Prithraj (Humanities), Mathew Saunders (Commerce), Nkululeko Tsoketsi (Commerce) and Carla Wilby (EBE).
Hosted by the Programme Director, Prof. Alphose Zingoni, and the Programme Founder, Prof. Klaus-Jürgen Bathe, the induction dinner was attended by all 26 scholars, the Executive Director of the Department of Alumni and Development, Dr. Russell Ally, the Vice-Rector of Stellenbosch University, Prof. Arnold Schoonwinkel, as well as several other guests.
Guest speaker Mr. Simon Mantell, founder of the premium biscuit brand, Mantelli’s, challenged the scholars to seize opportunities and make a difference in transforming the fortunes of the country. The new scholars were each presented with a certificate and a copy of Prof. Bathe’s book “To Enrich Life”. It was a lively evening as the scholars shared their experiences and pledged their commitment to helping the country and the continent towards a more prosperous future.
Inaugural Dinner - 19 February 2015
A dinner to inaugurate the 16 new scholars of the Klaus-Jürgen Bathe Leadership Programme was held at the Vineyard Hotel in Newlands on 19 February 2015. The event was hosted by the the Programme Donor, Professor Klaus-Jürgen Bathe of Massachusetts, USA, and the Programme Director, Professor Alphose Zingoni of the Faculty of Engineering & the Built Environment at the University of Cape Town. Read the full article.
Programme Launch - 20 November 2014
On 20 November 2014, Vice-Chancellor Dr Max Price awarded certificates to 16 recipients of scholarships of the Bathe Leadership Programme, established at UCT in March 2014 through the first part of a grant by Professor Klaus-Jürgen Bathe of Massachusetts (USA). Read the full article.
Back row: Gifton Lamola (Commerce), Matthias Schulz (EBE), Ryan Hudson (EBE), Amy Booth (Health Sciences), Jacqualine van Zyl (Humanities), Thembelihle Zulu (Commerce), Namhla Mabombo (EBE), Mogamat Salie (Humanities), Irfan Habib (Science); Front row: Nozipo Gwaza (EBE), Felicity Seragie (Programme Administrator), Ziyanda Kebeni (Science), Keabetswe Skee (EBE), Prof Alphose Zingoni (Programme Director), Dr Max Price (Vice-Chancellor), Dr Russell Ally (Executive Director of the Department of Alumni and Development), Ruqaya Gabier (Health Sciences), Nhlonipho Khanye (Commerce), Kamohelo Mabogwane (Humanities), Morategi Kale (Humanities).