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19 October 2018 Photo Anja Aucamp
Itumeleng Tsatsi - Using Occupational Therapy to tackle mental health
“Every opportunity you get is a chance that leads you to your goals, making the best of it; a journey of a thousand steps begins with just one.” - Itumeleng Tsatsi
Polokwane-born Itumeleng Tsatsi, junior lecturer in Occupational Therapy at the University of the Free State (UFS), pledged to improve the quality of life of South African citizens through her study and practice of Occupational Therapy.

Itumeleng Tsatsi was named in the Mail and Guardian Top 200 list of South Africans under the age of 35 who have done exceptional work in their fields, aiming to uplift their society.

Tsatsi explained that working as a clinician at the Thabamoopo Psychiatric Hospital in Lebowakgomo, Limpopo, lit a fire in her that was charged at dissociating and destigmatising the views that people associate with the term ‘mental health’.  Her focus as an occupational therapist zooms mostly into tackling mental-health issues and the injustices faced by people, making use of the services offered in the system.

World Mental Health Day is observed on 10 October every year, with the overall objective of raising awareness of mental-health issues around the world, and mobilising efforts in support of mental health. Tsatsi elaborated that one of the many challenges she faced in clinical practice, was the constructed theories of mental health that were too westernised and did not meet the needs of South African populations, particularly in the rural areas. Her aim is to create a niche area in academia and train occupational therapists to care for their citizens on a practical basis and not only through textbook guidelines that aren’t entirely applicable to the South African context.

With October being Mental Health Awareness Month, Tsatsi further highlighted that she wants to optimise the training of Occupational Therapy students at the UFS by ensuring that their attitude towards mental health as a specialisation in their field is a positive one, due to the growing number of South Africans subjected to mental-health issues today. 

Furthermore, her study aims to empower mental-healthcare users to speak up about their experiences in mental-health institutions, to aid their reintegration into communities and create supportive environments where they can equally contribute to society. 

News Archive

Public Protector visited Faculty of Law
2005-09-23

On 21 September 2005 the Public Protector visited the Faculty of Law.  This event took place at 10:00 in the Senate Hall of the CR Swart Building, after which a light lunch was served for the delegates and staff of the Faculty.

The purpose of the visit was to spell out the roles, functions and powers of the Public Protector, to promote public awareness and transparency and to increase contact between the Faculty and the Public Protector.  Sufficient time was allowed to answer all the questions posed by various parties, and brochures were made available.

All law students and staff members of the Faculty were invited to the occasion.  The presentations also included information regarding career possibilities for students with the Public Protector’s office.  This organization is more than willing to involve students in community service projects and would keep in contact with the Faculty in this regard.

All the representatives of the Public Protector’s office who visited the Faculty are in the law profession:

The following persons made presentations:

Mr P Nthotso:  Independent Complaints Directorate
Ms L Mdalane: Directorate of Special Operations – Scorpions
Ms M Thetlhu: South African Human Rights Commission
Mr A Madiba:  Office of the Public Protector.

The persons mentioned above were accompanied by their supervisors, viz. Mr L Mashee (Head Public Awareness, Free State) and Ms SD Griessel (Provincial representative for the Public Protector, Free State).  A further two employees of the Public Protector attended as observers, viz. Mr T Kgabeginyane and Mr MR Matlesoane.

The Public Protector functions independently and reports directly to Parliament.

Staff and students found the visit very informative and valuable contacts were made in the process.

 



Back from left: Ms Michelle Havenga (President of the Faculty of Law's Juridical Society ), Ms Masego Thethu (South African Human Rights Commission), Ms  Lebo Mdalane (Directorate Special Projects of the Scorpions) and Mr  Pieter Nthotso (Independent Complaints Directorate).
Front from left: Mrs Soné Griessel (Provincial Representative of the Public Protector in the Free State) and Prof Carel van der M Fick (Head:  Department of Criminal Procedure and Philosophy of Law at the UFS Faculty of Law).

 

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