The Team

	Dr Sianne Alves Director Tel: 021 650 1003 Email: sianne.alves@uct.ac.za Sianne Alves brings to the position of Director, her multi-sectoral expertise across international and national government, corporate and civil society contexts. An alumni of the University of Cape Town, University of Free State and the University of Stellenbosch she has experience of multiple higher education contexts in South Africa which assists in keeping abreast of, and in some instances pioneering, systemic change within UCT.
	Mrs Edwina Ghall Manager of the Disability Service Tel: 021 650 5089 Email: edwina.ghall@uct.ac.za Edwina Ghall was the Barrier-Free Access Coordinator at the Disability Service from 2008 until her appointment as manager in 2018. She guides the university in all matters relating to its environment and its impact on access for people with disabilities (students, staff and visitors). She holds a Master’s Degree in Child and Family Studies from the University of the Western Cape and is a registered social worker with a background in community health and trauma counselling. She loves spending time as a volunteer, counselling the underprivileged.
	Mrs Cheryl Vallay Administrative Officer and Personal Assistant Tel: 021 650 2767 Email: cheryl.vallay@uct.ac.za Cheryl Vallay is the Administrative Officer and the Director’s personal assistant. She provides professional support including diary management, logistical and administrative support to the stream leaders. She is the liaison person between internal and external stakeholders and is the servicing officer for the university’s Institutional Forum, Transformation Forum, HIV/Aids Policy Implementation Committee and several working groups.
	Ms Zaaida Vallie Senior Finance Officer Tel: 021 650 1006 Email: zaaida.vallie@uct.ac.za Zaaida Vallie is the Senior Finance Officer. She holds a Bachelor’s of Commerce Honours degree in Organisational Psychology from UCT and specialised in Business Management and Industrial Organisational Psychology in her undergraduate degree. She also has qualifications in project management and finance. Her role entails managing the OIC's finances, as well as funding for strategic transformation projects and grants.
	Mrs Stella Musungu Student Capacity Building Specialist Tel: 021 650 1005 Email: stella.musungu@uct.ac.za Stella Musungu manages the Student Capacity Building portfolio. She holds a Master of Philosophy in Programme Evaluation and an Advanced Diploma in Business Project Management from UCT. Her position at the OIC entails managing the Agents of Change Education (ACES) Peer Education Programme and delivering training for various student clusters. She trains students in the intersectional areas of HIV, gender-based violence, class, privilege, marginalisation and sexual diversity. Her research interests lie in the programme evaluation field and building capacity amongst students in the higher education sector. She has published in the international Journal of Industry and Higher Education and the African Journal of Nursing and Midwifery.
	Ms Rashieda Khan Survivor Support Specialist Tel: 021 650 3530 Email: rashieda.khan@uct.ac.za Rashieda Khan is the Survivor Support Specialist. She provides legal and medical advice and assistance to the university community in sexual and gender-based violence complaints. She coordinates staff and student training courses, facilitates workshops, and advocates and lobbies against social injustice concerns.
	Mr Francois Botha Relations Strategist Tel: 021 650 5948 Email: francois.botha@uct.ac.za Francois Botha is the Relations Strategist. He joined UCT in 2001; opened and pioneered a small complaints office that eventually became the Discrimination and Harassment Office (DISCHO). As a former Magistrate, his legal background has proven to be invaluable in case management as well as managing disputes on campus over the years. He is an internationally accredited mediator, driving and developing mediation training and practice at UCT. He draws on his vast experience in dealing with difficult conversations to promote constructive engagement with difficult issues, including within groups and units. He runs workshop and leadership discussions for students and staff and focuses on empathic engagement as a way to deal with and explore differences.
	Mrs Denise Oldman Direct Services Specialist Tel: 021 650 2737 Email: denise.oldham@uct.ac.za Denise Oldham is the Direct Services Specialist at the Disability Service. She holds a BA Honours degree from Rhodes and has worked at the Disability Service since 2000. Her position includes coordinating and managing tests and exams written at the Disability Service by students with disabilities who require specific accommodations. She also liaises with students with disabilities to implement practical human support or technical strategies to enable their full academic inclusion. She runs the volunteer programme in the Disability Service specialising in text conversion for visually impaired students.
	Ms Lesego Modutle Disability Advocacy Specialist Tel: 021 650 5088 Email: lesego.modutle@uct.ac.za Lesego Modutle holds a UCT Post Graduate Diploma in Disability Studies as well as a UFS BA degree in Media Studies, majoring in Communications and Sign Language. In 2012 she was appointed as UCT’s first full-time South African Sign Language Interpreter before completing a British Sign Language course at the Croydon Adult Learning and Training Centre. She returned to UCT in 2016 and was appointed in the role of Advocacy Coordinator in 2017. Her responsibilities include welcoming and settling in students with disabilities, assistance with placement in accessible residence accommodation, disability awareness training, NSFAS support; and advocacy and promotion of the UCT Disability Service. She has been involved in the disability community for over a decade and continuously works to expand her knowledge and experience in this field. Lesego is fluent in English, Afrikaans, Setswana, Sesotho and South African Sign Language, and is a member of the UCT Language Policy Committee.
	Ms Morgynn Jones Psychometrist Tel: 021 650 5301 Email: morgynn.jones@uct.ac.za Morgynn Jones is the Psychometrist in the Disability Service at UCT. She provides psychometric input in respect of applications for time concessions in tests and examinations. She has an Honours degree in Psychology from UNISA and is registered with the Health Professions Council of South Africa.

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