BORDER TECHNIKON, Potsdam, Eastern Cape.
Per chevron: 1. Azure, a sun rising or; 2. Or, a fountain; Overall, a chevron ermines.
About the arms:
The upper part of the shield is a rising sun – a common feature in Eastern Cape coats of arms. It appears in the arms of both East London and Fort Hare University (in the same position within the shield) and also in the crest of the Eastern Cape Province.
The middle is occupied by a chevron, shown in this illustration in blue with gold (or yellow) ermine spots, but in other versions as black with white ermine spots, namely ermines.
In base is a charge which in English is usually simply blazoned as a fountain: representing a spring or other kind of water source, it is a disc made up of alternating wavy lines in blue and white (in the formal language of blazon, this would be described as a roundel barry wavy argent and azure).
About the technikon:
The Border Technikon had its beginnings in the Ciskei Technikon Act of 1984. The first home of what was at that stage called the Ciskei Technikon was the Wongama Building in Zwelitsha, previously occupied by Ciskeian government departments (which had by this stage moved to Bisho).
Classes started in January 1988, and there were 66 students. At first only certificate courses were offered, but in mid-1989 diploma courses were introduced. In 1999 the students exceeded 4 000 in number, and in 2000 were close on 5 000.
Following the abolition of the Ciskeian state, the technikon was able to move to a purpose-designed campus at Potsdam, between East London and King William’s Town and situated between the Buffalo River (just above the Bridle Drift Dam) and the N2 highway, which was completed in 1997.
The inauguration of the new campus saw also a change of name (to Border Technikon) but also the inauguration of Eastern Cape Premier Makhenkesi Stofile as the technikon’s first Chancellor, and the principal, Prof L R Brunyee, as Vice-Chancellor.
The technikon’s first full graduation ceremony, also in 1997, saw 400 students capped.
The technikon has three satellite campuses, two in the centre of East London (one at College Street and one in Cambridge Street) and one in Bisho.
The technikon has its own website here.
Afrikaanse blasoen:
Die wapen mag in Afrikaans so geblasoeneer word:
Kepergewys gesny: 1. In blou, die stygende son in goud. 2. In goud, ’n fontein. Oor alles heen ’n keper van teenhermelyn.
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