CPUT's Graduation| Reem Ahmed| Plagiarism| Sexual Discrimination

In this edition, for Campus Focus, we visit the Dome of Remembrance at CPUT's Bellville Campus during a graduation ceremony. For Student Spotlight, we speak to Sudanese-born Reem Ahmed, who has had to embark on an audacious journey, first to Saudi Arabia and to Cape Town for safety and finding some semblance of belonging. In Explained, we unpack plagiarism and ways to avoid it. Lastly, on Beyond Campus, we talk to students who encountered discrimination on the basis of their sexual identity.

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SPEAKER_09 0:27

Welcome to the brand new era of CPUT Live. Did you miss us? Because we missed you. I'm your host, Melissa Kaleza, and this is the space where student voices take center stage, where conversations matter, and the stories shaping campus life finally get the spotlight they deserve. From lecture halls to life lessons, today's episode is packed with stories that hit close to home. In campus focus, graduates reflect on the sacrifices behind earning their qualifications. In Student Spotlight, we talked to Sudanese-born Areem Ahmed about her audacious journey from Sudan to Saudi Arabia and finally to find a place of belonging in Cape Town.

SPEAKER_06 1:24

So in my first year as a student, I was pretty much occupied with settling in. I remember vividly crying every single day for the first two months of me being in Cape Town.

SPEAKER_09 1:39

In Explained, we unpack plagiarism and the risks students often overlook.

SPEAKER_02 1:45

In my first year, I was not aware about this. So the thing is when you use someone else's work or cause what the work was there without refusing them and using it as your own work that causes.

Campus Focus- CPUT's graduation

SPEAKER_08 3:25

Joy fills the air as graduates celebrate a moment here in the making. You can hear the pride, the excitement, and the relief as friends and family come together to capture memories that will last a lifetime. For many graduates, this moment is not only about personal success, but also about the people who walked the journey with them. Kisha and her friend Wusia Dube, both graduates in a diploma ICT in communications network, have held each other's hands throughout.

SPEAKER_19 3:54

I feel very emotional because I know that it's well deserving, firstly. And secondly, my family is not here, but it's an amazing moment to experience. It's worth the cost, it's with the years, it's worth the struggles, it's worth everything.

SPEAKER_12 4:09

It's just exciting. I think just exciting that's about it to be done, firstly. Your family's here. Yes, my family's here. It's very exciting because my family is here, but you know, she is my family basically.

SPEAKER_08 4:19

So what is clear from all the graduates is that to make it this far, to celebrate and be celebrated at the Dome of Remembrance, one needs to be brave and tenacious. Temisa Kanti is a mom and a full-time employee. She's graduating with a diploma in public administration.

SPEAKER_21 4:37

Yeah, it was quite a struggle because I must balance work and then I must balance school. But it was worth it. It's been years since I've wanted to have a formal um qualification. But due to responsibilities, due to being a mom, I couldn't do all of those things. But once my child became a teenager, then I went for it. 2023, I registered for public administration. And today I'm very proud to say I am a public administrator, a qualified one. Yo, once you you are in this moment, you you you forgot, you felt you forget the hard work, the the difficult times that you went through. Like this moment, just embrace it. Embrace the moment. Um, this should be a motivation, actually. Be motivated for this moment. Once you're in that world, once you sing people who have PhDs, people who have got advanced, you get motivated more to even study further. So they should embrace the journey, they should look forward to it.

SPEAKER_08 5:39

Samana Maximufugengi is one of those who has been bold enough to study further. Today he is attending his third graduation for an honors degree in journalism.

SPEAKER_17 5:50

Sometimes when you are sitting studying alone, it doesn't make sense. But when people come together to celebrate just that one instance, then it starts making sense that all the hard work actually came to be celebrated by a crowd.

SPEAKER_08 6:02

I suppose it's a diploma graduate in film production was emotional as she remembered the work it took to get her to her graduation day.

SPEAKER_03 6:12

Like I have my parents here, my grandmother is here, my cousin all the way from Vretoria is here. So it's just emotional and seeing all my colleagues, my classmates, and everything. It's just, I don't know, like emotional in a good way. Like three years of studying, like and sleepless nights, and you know, just all of that. And then you see like going up the stage and finally being rewarded.

SPEAKER_08 6:41

Accomplished journalism student Lisa Kanyavena graduates with an advanced diploma this year. As someone who has juggled work and academia since early in her university career, she stands as one of the examples of how dedication can truly shape one's future.

SPEAKER_15 7:00

But the benefits are always worth it. So I was not only a student, I was also working. I started as a tutor on my second year, and then when I was doing my third year, I started with my internship at Daily Maverick, where I got my permanent job, and from then on I moved to where I am today, which is good for Mzanzi. So I had to balance that while studying at the same time. So it has been a lot in terms of time because I needed to work during the day and at night I needed to study, but again, it was all worth it, and I'll do it again. Actually, my mom set a very thick foundation. My mom is a graduate herself, so I follow right after her.

SPEAKER_08 7:35

Graduation season is more than just a celebration. For every student walking across the stage, it was a moment to remember. Because against all odds, they did it.

Student Spotlight - Reem Ahmed

SPEAKER_09 7:49

For many students, the journey to success begins long before university, and that success comes with sacrifice. Sometimes that sacrifice means leaving behind familiarity, comfort, and even home itself in pursuit of a better future. In Student Spotlight, journalist Spongy Lingwe had a moving conversation with Reem Ahmed. She's had to overcome running away from her home for safety and later battling with feelings of loneliness in her quest to find some semblance of belonging. For caution, this story mentions themes of suicide. Please listen with care.

SPEAKER_14 8:44

Her journey to Cape Town has been shaped by political unrest, emotional struggles, and resilience. Like many international students, her story stretches far beyond the classroom. It is a story about survival, rebuilding, and trying to create stability while carrying the emotional weight of the past.

SPEAKER_06 9:02

My name is Reem Al-Quraishi Hesbaraisu. I can send you my um how to spell that. It's quite a long name. Yes. Um I was born to Sudanese parents who um immigrated to Saudi Arabia. Um, and they gave birth to me there in uh a city called Jeddah. So I lived in Jeddah for 17 years, and um, it's where I grew up, it's it's where I was raised. Um Jiddah is a city in Saudi Arabia, and Saudi Arabia is uh a predominantly Muslim um country in the Middle East. Yes living there has basically shaped my a lot in me. It has shaped my beliefs, it has shaped my religion, it has shaped um my view of the world, how to deal with people, um, the difference between what's right and what's wrong.

SPEAKER_14 9:53

For Rim, moving to Sudan became more than just an educational journey. In 2019, Sudan experienced political unrest during the revolution against former President Omar al-Bashir. Young people across the country became actively involved in protests, demanding freedom, justice, and political change. Universities and communities were deeply affected by the instability, and many students found themselves living under constant fear and uncertainty. During this time, Rim also became involved in activism, hoping to contribute to change within her country.

SPEAKER_06 10:29

So, what led me to leave Sudan was the shocking reality that life there is brutal. And to put it in simple words, I escaped because I didn't want a bullet in my head. Um in 2017, everything was going fine. Um problems here and there because Sudan's demographic, demographic is not the best. Um, poverty um is is is a dominating factor. Life there is just not facilitated as life was in Saudi, um a developed, not an underdeveloped country. Uh, but the true reason that made me leave Sudan is because I got politically involved um in the 2019 revolution. That has led to me being detained, actually, um once. And that was traumatizing to say the least. Um, it was a common, it wasn't one factor, but me being detained was the cherry on top. Because um, first you you're shocked because the country is not um, let's say, easy enough to live in, then you get shocked because the people are different. And then the revolution happened, and at that time we were all activists, we were all eager to fight for our country. Um, we all wanted to participate in overthrowing um the ex-president Omar Al-Bashir. So uh I participated, and honestly, I I don't regret it because the cause was solid, but um I just believe I didn't have a sufficient um wisdom.

SPEAKER_14 12:09

As political conditions in Sudan worsened, Rim's mother made the difficult decision to relocate the family to Cape Town in search of safety and stability. Leaving Sudan behind also meant living unfinished studies, familiar surroundings, and the life she had started building for herself. Arriving in South Africa brought relief in some ways, but it also introduced a completely different set of emotional and academic challenges.

SPEAKER_06 12:38

I remember vividly crying every single day for the first two months of me being in Cape Town because uh it wasn't easy. It was it it felt like I had nowhere to belong. It felt like the whole world um is massive, but there's no home to belong to. It was a very painful feeling, but despite all of that, I was very persistent to study, I was very persistent to carry on with my academic journey. So the first step I did in 2019 was um enrolling in an FATC project uh management course at the College of Damlin. And then um from there, uh it took me a year, and from that year, basically by 2021, this is when COVID started. So I remember it uh it resulted in a state of the whole country not uh going to campus. But I was still persistent, so I remember doing my course online. I did it all online, and uh in 2022 I was able to finally start with journalism.

SPEAKER_14 13:52

Despite the emotional difficulties of adapting to a new environment, Rim remained determined to continue pursuing journalism. Over time, storytelling became more than just a career path for her, it became a way to process experiences, connect with people, and speak about realities that are often ignored.

SPEAKER_06 14:13

The way I view journalism, it has always been a lean for me to connect with the world. Um, I I made the decision of becoming a journalist. One day I remember vividly when I was 16 years old. After finishing one of my prayers, I sat on the side of a mat and I asked myself, what do I want to do with my future? And being a 16-year-old, you don't really have much wisdom or you know, ability to think or rationalize the future. Um and I remember in my head going through different scopes, different measures. And I knew it, I knew it by heart that I wanted to become a journalist. Not for anything, but because I believe what keeps us connected as human beings is sharing meaningful stories. And um not just sharing meaningful stories, but pushing them to the front line so that people can read and learn from them.

SPEAKER_14 15:14

Behind Rim's academic journey was another reality that many students silently experience, balancing education with financial and emotional responsibilities. While studying full-time, she also worked long hours tutoring English to help support her family financially.

SPEAKER_06 15:33

So a typical day would be waking up at 8 or 7, uh, sorting out whatever assignments I have till 10, because from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., I would be seated in a chair by a table and meeting a client after another, after another, after another, after another without a single break till 7 p.m. Um, I would obviously tutor them English one after the other. And then at that time, my charges were relatively low to keep them standard. So I would only charge um 50 Rands an hour, which was relatively low. So and I would give high quality, you know, classes because I have studied English my whole life, basically. Um bilingual, um, Arabic is my mother tongue. So um, and these are Arab clients. So they loved the service and they loved how cheap it was. So they would all come to me. And then by 7 p.m., I would uh pretty much be mentally exhausted, fatigued. Then I remember the social, the academic obligation I have. So from 7 p.m. roughly to 10 or 11, I would rush my assignments, rush through them, and I admit I am a perfectionist. I like things to be up to a perfect standard. Um it is a curse and a blessing. It is a curse because it has drained my mental energy. It's a blessing. Yes, I have alhamdulillah, with full thank to God, succeeded a lot in life or achieved a lot of milestones. That would be a typical day for three years until I was done with my diploma.

SPEAKER_14 17:11

Years of emotional pressure and unresolved trauma began affecting Rim's mental health.

SPEAKER_06 17:18

After so many suicide attempts, almost five or six growing up, I stopped for a second and I realized there is something wrong with my mental health. Um, I think it's time I get an assessment. This happened in 2022, also the year where I started my journalistic studies. At that time, um, I took myself to a hospital, to a psychiatric ward. I admitted myself and I asked them to tell me what's wrong with me. So I think on a diagnosis that I have uh a personality disorder, uh something called borderline personality disorder, which is um something, it's not an illness, it's a personality disorder, which makes your life just um more difficult or challenging than those that do not have personality disorders. That has actually changed a lot of things about how I view myself. Because previously I used to think I am um just weak. I am someone who cannot handle pressure, someone who breaks down under pressure. Um, but from 2022, I started understanding um mental health, why it matters, why I behave the way I behave. The reason why I'm telling you about all of this is because understanding, or let's say, going about life before understanding what was wrong with me was something. And then going about life after understanding, I am not weak. I am, I just have challenges in in my brain that other people don't have. Um, then life started to become another way. Then I started to rest when needed, then I started to um be lenient with myself when I am not 100. Um, and from there, honestly, I was able to achieve more and at the same time um rest when needed, because I also had an issue with that.

SPEAKER_14 19:09

From political unrest in Sudan to rebuilding her life in Cape Town, Rim Ahmed's story reflects the hidden struggles that many students silently carry everything. If you could speak to your younger self back in Sudan, what would you say to her now?

SPEAKER_06 19:32

You're gonna make me cry.

SPEAKER_07 19:35

Sorry.

SPEAKER_06 19:36

I uh I would I would tell her that she is an amazing young woman who has been dealing with um a challenge in her head that isn't her fault. Um honestly, if I could ever say anything to my younger self, it would be um I love you, keep going.

Explained - Plagiarism

SPEAKER_09 20:14

Stories like these remind us that building a future takes effort, discipline, and integrity. But in academic spaces, pressure can sometimes push students into making choices they don't even fully understand the consequences of. So before your next assignment deadline creeps up on you, let's unpack plagiarism, the different forms it takes, and why understanding it matters more than students may realize.

SPEAKER_18 20:41

Plagiarism. One powerful word that can shatter a young person's bright future into tiny ashes. It is the act of presenting someone else's work, ideas, or worlds as your own, without proper acknowledgement or credit. Plagiarism is considered as a form of fraud or theft, a serious academic and professional offense with severe consequences. We have interviewed CPUT students and the librarian, asking their perspective on what plagiarism means. Ogut Lakosa, a second-year student in environmental health, tells us her perception of plagiarism.

SPEAKER_22 21:11

It simply means like taking someone's information that is not yours and using it as like it's yours, your own, without giving credit to that person.

SPEAKER_18 21:21

Different forms of plagiarism exist in academia, but the most common classifications are direct, moi psychic, and self-plagi. The most misunderstood form is moi psych, which refers to keeping the same sentence structure as someone else's work, but only changing a few words. Second year town and regional planning student Oyama Zazini shares her understanding of direct and self plagiarism.

SPEAKER_13 21:42

Direct plagiarism is when you take someone's work word for word with no citations, no paraphrasing, no quotation marks, no things that show that it is somebody else's work and using it as your own. And self plagiarism is using maybe your your previous work and Not showing that it's your way to you that you already done, maybe, or something like that.

SPEAKER_18 22:04

There are various reasons why someone may commit plagiarism. For instance, it can be a panic response to poor time management when an assignment deadline is looming. Ms. Cavar, a CPUT librarian, shares her opinion on why students may resort to plagiarizing work.

SPEAKER_07 22:18

Sometimes students um don't actually understand that the concepts around plagiarism, and so maybe they are doing it because they don't really understand what plagiarism is.

SPEAKER_18 22:34

Research has shown that plagiarism can be avoided by adopting ethical writing practices, including proper source citation, the use of quotation marks for direct wording, and careful paraphrasing that acknowledges the original source. Abu Lamakkuyana, a second-year financial student, tells us how he struggles to reference his work to avoid plagiarism.

SPEAKER_02 22:53

I do find referencing difficult because in some articles there could be a paragraph, only to find out that paragraph is also the quote from another source. So now you're not sure who is the original author, so it makes your work inaccurate.

SPEAKER_18 23:09

What students don't seem to understand is that if plagiarism is believed to have taken place, the reason why is not taken into consideration. Due to its severity, it is dealt with through strict university procedures. One procedure includes being expelled for up to three to five years. However, there are programs at the library that help students avoid plagiarism. Ms. Cavar, a CPUT librarian, explains how the school helps students to avoid plagiarism.

SPEAKER_07 23:34

Okay, so the library offers all first-year students uh training, and we call it information literacy, consists of five modules. And uh one of the modules is plagiarism and copyright law awareness.

SPEAKER_18 23:53

Understanding the impact and seriousness of plagiarism is crucial for every university student because a moment of dishonesty can turn years of hard work into dust. Students must know that education is not just the collection of other people's echoes, but rather a beautiful process of finding one's voice.

SPEAKER_09 24:13

Student

Beyond Campus - Sexual Discrimination

SPEAKER_09 24:14

life carries pressures we don't always see, and sometimes the kindest thing we can do is make space for people to exist as they are. Because university life is about more than academics. For many students, it is also a journey of identity, belonging, and self-acceptance. But what happens when expressing who you are comes with judgment, rejection, and isolation. In our final story, students open up about sexuality, mental health, and the emotional weight of trying to exist authentically in spaces that don't always feel safe or accepting.

SPEAKER_10 24:49

Understanding and embracing sexuality is a personal journey shaped by questions of identity, belonging, and acceptance. Students share what it's like to navigate that journey and the challenges that come with being open about who they are. Reneel Wetaka shares her experience.

SPEAKER_11 25:08

I wouldn't say my journey, me being lesbian, has been that easy because I've dealt with a lot of hateful speech towards me.

SPEAKER_10 25:17

19-year-old Imonge Damana, who identifies as they or them, says living openly and authentically has come with its own challenges.

SPEAKER_05 25:27

We're told that we're equal, you know, um, and we should be ourselves. I have to experience lots of discrimination at school. Yes, it's not going to be loud or obvious. But you know, sometimes how how teachers look at you, you know, the comments they make, those shape comments they make in class.

SPEAKER_10 25:54

Sandi Sobutelezi, who is part of the queer community, along with Imonge Damana, believe that it is lack of understanding in society that continues to shape these negative experiences.

SPEAKER_20 26:16

So will emaka it's immense in Gani is poor minded, so but a bangaga. So um Jay Mangalula, you know, Utua and stuff, being disrespected, caught called by names.

SPEAKER_10 26:35

Imangas shares how difficult it is to walk freely in their community without feeling different.

SPEAKER_04 26:42

In terms of attitudes, you know, you'd be walking, you know, in the streets, in the mall, minding your own business. And as much as people or we as queer people claim that we we do have a space in society, I've realized wow, you we still get those looks, those judging looks of it. I'm internally, I don't mean sometimes people actually misgender you and all of that. And in a way, that does affect me because now from those looks and the way I can tell as a corners in Nobazangayo, you know, when I when I come outside and I try to be myself, it's very different because I can tell that people can see that I'm different.

SPEAKER_10 27:37

Kazimulan Gende, a transgender man, says the criticism they face goes beyond their homes and communities, extending into campus life and student residences. He recalls being rejected by his roommate.

SPEAKER_16 27:52

Besides a pretty bad experience I did have recently, which was linked to another student, unfortunately. We had a really bad time with one another. She was actually my last roommate because we were both appointed to the same residency. And she just completely violated who I am. And everything I stand for, like my identity, she completely disrespected and violated everything I stand for.

SPEAKER_10 28:15

Elam Vugera, who identifies as non-binary, also faced similar challenges. They share how difficult it was living with homophobic roommates during their first year.

SPEAKER_01 28:30

Or is there a question about why I'm okay? Why like ended on this book and this question about my sexuality?

SPEAKER_10 28:42

Over time, these experiences begin to affect more than just the social lives of these students. It also takes a toll on their mental wellness. University spaces and their extensions, such as student residences, should be a welcoming environment, but it hasn't been one for them. Despite the hate, the loneliness, and the challenges, these students have no choice but to chart forward.

SPEAKER_11 29:09

Um, there is nothing wrong with the way you are. There is nothing wrong with being queer. You are wonderfully made, and what other people see about say about you, the way people view you, should not don't let it get to you. Just be who you are. You are amazing, you are in love.

SPEAKER_09 29:40

And that brings us to the end of today's episode of CPUT Live. I'm your host, Melissa Khaliza. Thank you for spending your time with us. If you enjoyed this episode, make sure you like, share, subscribe, and stay connected for more stories that reflect student life honestly, creatively, and unapologetically.

Team Credits

SPEAKER_09 30:00

The script for campus focus was written and narrated by Kawim Land. The student spotlight feature on Ream Ahmed was written and narrated by Spongi Lenguelo. For explained, the plagiarism story was written by Oguse Makaula and narrated by Gamva Katsola. And lastly, for Beyond Campus, the story was written and narrated by Uviwen Jagaza. This episode was produced by Nunjanja Mashabana. Our executive producer is Magnificent Mdebele. Our script editor is Tyler Abrams, and our chief script writer is Owendando Zanzi. Sound Assembling and Engineering by Kumbula Manwana. Our commissioning editors are Kayleigh Fanigak, Somele Zendede, and Snawer Jack. And fact checking for all the stories was done by Gamba Kakula. From all of us here at CPUT Live, thank you for listening. Stay curious, stay loud, and keep your story alive. See you next time.

SPEAKER_20 30:58

What's going on, man? It's the coolest kid in Africa, Zoom Power NCC, and you are tuned in to CPUT Live.

SPEAKER_11 31:04

This is CPUT.