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11 August 2022 | Story NONSINDISO QWABE | Photo SUPPLIED
The erudite watchmaker, Jabulani Mabuza.

At a time when it is becoming fashionable for high-tech smartwatches and fitness gadgets to adorn your wrist, there will always be room for a classic timepiece. Wristwatches in particular tell a different story to people of all social classes, and for Qwaqwa student Jabulani Mabuza, the process of making different watches to suit different tastes is what excites him the most.

Mabuza is in his final year of a BCom General Management degree.  In January 2020, he acted on his curiosity about the process of assembling a watch, and subsequently registered his watch business, Honour Watches, in January 2021.
Since then, he has steadily honed his craft, learning more about the art of watches. He recently made it through to the central regional rounds of the Entrepreneurship Development in Higher Education (EDHE) competition in the Existing Businesses category for studentpreneurs. 

On the pursuit of mastering the art of watchmaking

Horology is the study and measurement of time. It is the process of allowing yourself the time and patience required to master the art of building a watch from scratch, and Mabuza said he enjoyed the intricacies of the watchmaking process. “What I enjoy about horology is learning the deeper technicalities of the art, the whole process – from understanding basic astronomy and how planets move in our solar system, to sort of emulating that in a watch mechanism. The working of metals transformed into watch components that actually tell time, is what I enjoy most and what I am investing in so that I can master it one day,” he said.

As a BCom student, he said his studies have largely influenced his business journey, as it helps him understand the structure of his business professionally. “It assists me with the business administration and management of Honour, and the rest is inspired by my creativity and passion for what time means to human beings.”

Mabuza said South Africa does not have a watchmaking plant as yet, so all the components for his watches are currently imported from Japan and Switzerland. He hopes to one day have his own production plant that will produce watches from scratch, in order to teach more people this skill and to create jobs, for which there is always a need. Currently, he studies the watch components to learn which movement best complements which type of hand and casing, in order to assemble them according to the designs he likes. 

“I enjoy the pursuit of creating a mechanical auto-magnetic watch for international travellers that will automatically adjust to different time zones as they travel. These horological pursuits are what I enjoy the most, believe in, and am passionate about.”

The regional rounds will be held on the UFS Bloemfontein Campus from 19 to 23 September 2022.

News Archive

New projects will enhance the infrastructure on our campuses
2011-02-04

 
Illustration:
The university's Main Gate in Nelson Mandela Avenue, as designed by The Roodt Partnership Architects.
 

A new entrance to the Main Campus, a high-performance centre, commercial gymnasium, rock-climbing wall, memorial garden for women and a botanical garden are but a few of the number of building and renovation projects that will take place at the Main Campus of the University of the Free State (UFS) in Bloemfontein. A number of projects are also being done on the Qwaqwa Campus.
On the Main Campus the entrance in Nelson Mandela Avenue is being adapted to match the university’s new corporative identity which was introduced last week. This project will be completed at the end of March 2011,
 
The creation of an environment conducive to the development of its students in the field of teaching, learning and research, as well as sports and culture is one of the main reasons why the UFS is renovating existing buildings and developing new infrastructure.
 
With the construction of a high-performance centre and commercial gymnasium, the university wants to create a work environment for its staff that will not only contribute to the cultivation of maximum work performance, but also to staff wellness. The centre with its foyer and administrative offices will furthermore consist of a health desk, university sports institute, sports sales, a spinning and aerobic centre, and dressing rooms. The total area will extend over 2114 m² and the construction will take approximately 18 months. This development will take place on the western side of the university’s Main Campus, directly opposite the Furstenburg Gate and next to the new student housing.
 
The UFS is also progressing well with other building projects which commenced last year. One of the projects is a new Education Building which is being constructed opposite the UFS Sasol Library. Upon completion this building will be used for the training of maths and science teachers in the Foundation Phase. It will include three classrooms for 100 students each and an auditorium for 225 students as well as an office block. The auditorium will also be used as a classroom. The building has been designed according to environmentally friendly principles to save water and use power effectively. It should be completed this year.
 
Planning for the construction of more student accommodation on the Main Campus as well as the Qwaqwa Campus is already well underway. On the Qwaqwa Campus, a residence with 200 beds is being constructed. This also includes a computer laboratory. According to the planning, this residence should be completed by the end of the first semester in 2011. Furthermore, four residences will be constructed on the Main Campus. These residences are in the planning phase.
 
In order to place technology within reach of Kovsie students and thereby empowering them, computer laboratories were installed at the respective residences. The computer laboratories will eventually make provision for approximately185 computers for student use. Proper security is also planned to safeguard the equipment.
 
Work to a new building for the Faculty of Health Sciences is also proceeding rapidly on the site where the vehicle pool and Hertz were previously used. This will include a lecture hall for 200 students, five venues for 100 students each, as well as offices. Students from the School for Medicine and Occupational Therapy will make use of these facilities.
 
The new building for the Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences between the Flippie Groenewoud Building and the Wynand Mouton Theatre is also coming along nicely.
 
On the university’s Qwaqwa Campus a new Education building is being constructed. This building will include a lecturing hall with 100 seats, four 50-seat classrooms, six offices, ablution facilities, a biology and science laboratory, as well as an information technology laboratory for 60 students.
 
In the meantime, existing buildings are being renovated on all the campuses. This includes, amongst others, improvements to the Architecture Building, the Biotechnology Building and the quarters for service workers on the Main Campus. Other improvements that have already been completed include the renovation of the Odeion’s foyer and the Callie Human Centre.
 
In future, students, staff and visitors to the UFS can also look forward to a rock-climbing wall at the Student Centre on the Thakaneng Bridge, a memorial park for women, residential accommodation within a sports environment, and a botanical garden.

 

Media Release
03 February 2011
Issued by: Lacea Loader
Director: Strategic Communication (actg)
Tel: 051 401 2584
Cell: 083 645 2454
E-mail: news@ufs.ac.za

 

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