South Africa - DWR Distribution’s Jaques Pretorius recently spent two busy days with third-year lighting students from the Department of Performing Arts at Tshwane University of Technology (TUT), offering hands-on training on the grandMA3 lighting control platform.
Over the past year, TUT has invested in two grandMA3 onPC command wings – one for its Breytenbach Theatre and another for its practical teaching space – making this training especially timely.
Wandile Mgcodo, a long-standing lecturer at TUT and a passionate supporter of the next generation of creatives, helped organise the workshop. “There’s nothing more rewarding than seeing students grow in confidence, find their artistic voice, and master tools they’ll use in their careers,” he said.
The journey began when TUT decided to upgrade from their previous MA2 system, keeping up with current industry standards in South Africa. Motlotlo Makhobotloane from DWR assisted with the purchase. “This was a great choice,” said Motlotlo. “Most rental houses and theatres are already using the MA platform. The grandMA3 onPC command wing is powerful, flexible, and full of features.”
It was important for Wandile to give students hands-on time to bridge the gap between theory and real-world practice and give them the kind of experience that employers look for.
For Jaques Pretorius, it was a privilege to share this knowledge. “The students were a little overwhelmed at first by the new software, but they were also really eager to learn,” said Jaques. “By the end of the training, they were confidently using the system. They did so well, and I was honoured to be part of their learning experience. As for Wandile, he is just a beautiful soul. He truly wants the best for his students and is always looking ahead, making sure they’re working with the latest technology.”
The feedback from students was positive. Many shared how much they learned in just two days and how the training boosted their confidence and deepened their understanding of lighting design and control.
