On the evening of the 2 May, a group gathered in the Atrium, a beautiful venue at Firmenich South Africa’s offices in Midrand, to celebrate the graduation of the students who studied the SAAFFI-Wits Course in Flavour & Fragrance Technology during 2022.
Derona Rajayah Naidoo, one of the three top students who spoke on behalf of the student group.
Michael Gristwood, Emeritus Executive Director, SAAFFI
This course, which is held annually at both at Wits University School of Chemistry, and is available online, comprises 12 lectures and 3 practical sessions. It is offered to 2nd year Applied Chemistry students at Wits, and is open to interested members of the flavour, fragrance and FMCG industries. While it is a South African based course, students from as far as Chile in South America have participated.
The flavour & fragrance industry is a little-known industry – but touches our lives from the moment we wake up and brush our teeth with minty flavoured toothpaste, to the moment we go to sleep, spraying our room with a relaxing room spray and mosquito repellent and drinking a delicious cup of soothing flavoured beverage . The graduating students – 6 from Wits university and 19 from the flavour & fragrance industry, enjoyed the course enormously, and are inspired to build their career in this fascinating industry.
Words of welcome and thanks were offered to Shimadzu for their generous annual sponsorship, Dr Maya Makatini, course-coordinator for the programme and the entire Wits School of Chemistry for their support and partnership, , Firmenich for the use of the venue, lecturers who dedicate their time to this course pro bono, with the passion and enthusiasm which is a hallmark of our industry, facilitators of the practical sessions, the SAAFFI management committee and employers who pay for their employees to enrol, and give them the time needed to complete the course.
The guests invited by the graduates – parents, spouses, family, friends and even one young child of a graduate – displayed a sense of pride in their “person” for an excellent achievement. The programme for the evening included a Welcome from Sharon Bolel, Executive Director, SAAFFI, a word from the hostess, Imaan Gaffore, General Manager, Firmenich SA, words of congratulations from Prof Charles de Koning, Head, Wits School of Chemistry and a delightful speech on behalf of the students, given by Derona Rajayah Naidoo.
Certificates were presented by esteemed guests Prof de Koning, head of the Wits school of Chemistry and Michael Gristwood, emeritus executive director and doyen of the South African flavour & fragrance industry, and recognition given to the top three performing students, Sadhana Jagath, Megan Naude and Derona Rajah Naidoo. The evening was concluded in a celebratory mood with delicious refreshments and enjoyable networking.
