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Winter ’12 | Issue Three

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BLACK MOTION • PRO KID • RUFFEST BASSLINE JOBURG SATURDAY 26 MAY 2012 WWW.REDBULLBEATBATTLE.COM

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a day in the life: shark spotter

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REGULARS

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Words Melody Chironda 23

Design Sivuyile Mntuyedwa 25

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regulars

Ed’s Note I pride myself on being a reasonably decent writer. I call myself the “word fairy” in the office, as I was the one who came in and added the witty words to an article that needed a sprinkling of wow.

Naturally it should be easy for me to write the Ed’s note, right? Not a chance. While cracking the whip for final deadlines for this issue, I conveniently forgot to crack it on myself (no, I’m not a masochist) for no reason other than I had no idea what to write. I pretty much spoke to every editor I know and kept getting the same advice, “be yourself”. Simple in theory, but I don’t think telling you guys that I’m a fairy-believing, cupcake-eating, creationobsessed, 23-year-old would make for interesting reading.

The word revolution was thrown around so much we actually decided to ban it from the office Being editor has been way different from being social media manager (my position for the past two issues).

For starters, while brainstorming for this issue, I had to keep from shouting every idea that popped into my head and learn to listen to others before adding my two cents: an invaluable skill that allowed brilliant ideas to be generated by our marvellous team. The word revolution was thrown around so much we actually decided to ban it from the office all together. Even so, we found a theme for this issue.

We were trying to figure out what our generation’s revolution is (forgive me team, for using the r-word again); and trust me, by revolution (ahem) we don’t mean marching in the streets, but rather figuring out what our voice is. What do we as the youth of South Africa have to say about our lives and influences? Through this soulsearching we found our cover story and issue three was created. In trying to discover who we are as Mandela’s children, I also found my voice as the new editor.

You guys know by now that we at Live HQ don’t do anything boring, so we added a humour page. Don’t take us too seriously on this, but we’re talking about how medicated we all are – you know the usual Ritalin, Prozac

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Words Ndu Ngcobo 23

Design Words Clint Name Visser Surname 24 Age

Photo Words Wandile Name Ngubane Surname 23 Age

and other tranquilisers that take us to our “happy-place”.

We added some grown-up wisdom by uncovering some shining stars in the form of young revolutionaries, people our age doing extraordinary deeds.

Of course we include favourites, but with a few makeovers and tweaks. Our sports page now comes packed with sports facts that will make you sound smarter (well sports-wise anyway), we gave the music reviews page a design makeover, we made money more exciting (who knew) with our new and improved Moolah wize, and added an arts page where we bring you interviews and news on inspired creative minds to look out for.

It’s been an adventure, and I’m glad I can share it with you guys through the amazing and sometimes crazy creations the team came up with this time around. So before I babble on about the red velvet cupcake I’m dreaming about, let’s get to the magazine.

With a sprinkling of fairy dust….

Happy reading!

PS Let me know what’s on your mind and what you think of the mag, drop me an email at thetha@livemag.co.za

You guys know by now that we at Live HQ don’t do anything boring

Word Name Surname Age

Illustration Name Surname Age

Photos Name Surname Age

Words Name Surname Age

regulars

the team Editor

Nonduduzo aka Ndu Ngcobo (23): Twitter: @ndufairy

Deputy EditoR

Jessica aka Jes Edgson (23): Twitter: @JesEdgson

Chief Sub-Editor

Melody Chironda (23): Twitter: @meltheangel

Art Director

Writers

Chandre Appel (19) Solomzi Mtengwana (20) Xolisa Pezisa (23) Zikhona Lusaseni (19) Mawande Sokaya (21)

Sivuyile Felix Mntuyedwa (25): Twitter: @felix_de_kat

Production Manager & Designer

Clint Carlyle Visser (24): Twitter: @Clint_Carlyle

Features Editor Nana Futshane (25)

Remote Contributors Editor Thokozile Mahlangu (20)0):

Designers & illustrators

Ryan Africa (25), Twitter: @africanryan Thabo Xinindlu (21) Twitter: @africanryan

Social Media Editor

Litsoanelo Zwane (21): Twitter: @LitsoaneloZwane

Marketing and Distribution Manager Luvuyo aka Papi Plaatjie (23)

Fashion Stylist Sandisiwe Pityi (21) 0): ):

Photographers Anele aka Ace Mdudu (19) Solomzi aka Soli Mtengwana (20) Edward Vermeulen (22)

remote Contributors

WRITERS: Cristle Mathapelo (24) Nozuko Poni (25) PHOTOGRAPHERS: Lebogang Bubu (24) Dylan Louw (21) Nkululeko Marais (25) Wandile Ngubane (23) Morgan Faku (17) Kgaugelo “Captain” Mabjwe (19) Thapelo Motsumi (21) ILLUSTRATORS: Cameron Cupido (21) Keya Murphy aka Cashril (14) Egon Mabee (22) Lunga Mbombo (25)

Live SA Mobile Channel:

Siphiwo Neo Matoane (22), Twitter: @Neolithic_767, Nwabisa Sonkqayi (21)

Live SA YouTube:

Siphiwo Neo Matoane (22), Twitter: @Neolithic_767 Sizeka Mfenyana (26) Thembalethu Mlokoti (20) Mawande “Manez” Sobethwa (24), Twitter: @manez134 Bandile Thwala (25) Mava Tsotetsi (21)

Mentors:

Mike Saal: Illustration Greer Valley: Illustration Lee Middleton: Editorial Bongani Kona: Editorial Bulelani Mvoto: YouTube Kirsten Townsend: Design Graham Arendse: Illustration Alexia Webster: Photography Julia Ranzani: Mobile Content Tamara MacLachlan: YouTube Lynne Stuart: Design & Production

First Time Contributors Clint Visser (24)

Publisher: Gavin Weale Project Director: Claire Conroy Project Coordinator: Nkuli Mlangeni Office Manager: Veronica Shumane Sales and Marketing: Nick Fitzell For advertising enquiries, contact us at 021 4800 400 nick@livemag.co.za www.livityafrica.com www.livityafrica.com www.livemag.co.za

Clint is a Production Manager and Designer here at Live. He studied at the Ruth Prowse School of Art in Salt River. He came to Live for work experience as well as for personal growth. He likes things that go fast, partying and things that look cool. He’s also a sucker for chocolate.

Anele “Ace” Mdudu (19)

Ace was a key photographer in this issue of Live.

He matriculated from Masiphumelele High School last year. He joined Live because he didn’t want to sit at home doing nothing while waiting to apply for further studies next year. He enjoys socialising with friends, playing soccer and computer games.

Special Thanks to:

Cow Africa, Keleketla! Library team, Gazelle, Tyler B Murphy @Sins of Style, Umuzi Photography Project, Mamelani, Young in Prison, Elsibe McGuffog, Osiame Molefe, Matthew Freemantle, Jennifer-Joy Solomons & Nikki Botha from GrandWest, Bee Diamondhead, Katherine Barratt, Johann Schwella, Vega School of Design, Helen Turvey, Karien Bezuidenhout, Karen Gabriels, all at the MAL Foundation, Mike Schalit, Clinton Mitri, Raf Newman, Thawfirah Davids and all at 140BBDO, Paul West and all at SAQA, Liesel Bakker, Nicholas Commeignes and all at Ikamva Youth, Zukile Keswa, Joy Olivier, Sbu Mpungose, Hevette Legrange, Nu Metro, Electromode, Craving Novity,Wendy Stoffels and all at the Shuttleworth Foundation, Mark Shuttleworth, 5FM, Manyano Mahlakata, Belinda Kande. Lorraine Holborn.

Solomzi “Solly” Mtengwana (20)

Solly is a writer and a photographer who has been dreaming about being a journalist since 2007. He matriculated last year from Masiphumelele High School. In 2010 he had an article about a fire in Masiphumelele that destroyed nearly 150 houses, published in Full Cycle magazine. He likes joking around, reading the Daily Sun, playing PC games and watching soccer.

africa

COPYRIGHT LIVE MAGAZINE SA LICENSED: CC BY ND SOUTH AFRICA

3

gularregulars regulars

news and views Stop wondering where to go boogie and let Live bring you up-and-coming events, quirky international holidays and our favourite people showing us some love.

lovers read LIVE

Cape Town Fashion Week

With the fashion industry blossoming in South Africa comes an event for all fashion lovers.

Cape Town Fashion Week, hosted at the Cape Town International Convention Centre on the 14th of July, this year showcases the latest in fashion trends by remarkable local designers such as Gavin Rajah, David Tlale and Thula Sindi to name a few. Menswear powerhouse Fabiani is one of the international brands showcasing in this year’s explosive lineup. Be sure not to miss out.

London 2012 Olympic Games

The 2012 Summer Olympics are coming to London.

People from all over the world are joining this magnificent event, which takes place from 27 July to 12 August, and then again with the Paralympic Games from 29 August to 9 September. from back to front

Durban July

Whether you’re a lover of the thrill associated with betting on well-groomed race horses, or like myself, a die-hard fashionista, this annual event marries those two loves perfectly. The event on every socialite’s calendar, yes, you guessed it, the spectacular Durban July.

Hosted on the first Saturday of July (7th of July 2012) at the Greyville Racecourse (boasting a carrying capacity of 50 000), it definitely promises to be an event that will be spoken about for months to come. With this year’s theme being “a material world”, creativity and style should be the order of the day, not forgetting those beautiful, gracious horses.

bad boys dig us

4

Design Thabo Xinindlu 20

We South Africans are well on the way to becoming an Olympic force to be reckoned with. Look out for the talented Caster Semenya, our amazing women’s national hockey team and our absolutely explosive swimmers, Roland Schoeman and Ryk Neetling.

The 2012 Paralympic Games programme showcases 20 sports including paralympic archery, paralympic swimming , table tennis, wheelchair tennis and wheelchair basketball. Some key athletes to look out for include Jeremy Wariner and Oscar Pistorius.

World Ocean Day World Blood Donor Day World Music Day International Chocolate Day World Population Day World Friendship Day

Words Thokozile Mahlangu 19

The first city to stage the Olympics three times, London also hosted the Games in 1908 and 1948.

Over 200 nations will take part in 300 events at the 2012 Games, and nearly 150 will participate in the Paralympic Games.

The 2012 Summer Olympic programme features 26 sports, including diving, swimming, football, gymnastics, hockey, basketball, beach volleyball and boxing.

Unusual international holidays: June 8: June 14: June 21: July 7: July 11: July 30:

From left to right: Catherine from the FRESH DRIVE, Matt Freemantle, editor of JRNL and TUMI & MANDLA from GANG OF INSTRUMENTALS.

For information visit: www.londonolympics2012.com

Photos Anele Mdudu 20

regulars regulars

voice of the youth

do the youth blame apartheid for their problems?

thobela fani (22) “Yes, because our future depends on our past.

What was done to our forefathers affected us, emotionally and spiritually, and that's what makes the youth of today have a negative attitude.

I believe that the way we were raised and our mind-set are somehow poisoned by our elders.

Apartheid affected us money-wise because the government took over wealth from our forefathers.”

samantha small (18)

aphiwe tshetsha (26)

sasha hugo (20)

lwandi mgodeli (18)

"No, I don't have any problems regarding the old government.

We are living in a democracy now, so any problems that the youth are experiencing are not because of the old regime – that has come and gone – but because of the current government."

''Yes, very very much, because a future is shaped by the past. If apartheid never existed, I think we would be on the same level or status. The apartheid government left a big impact, which is racism, and took over our wealth, minds and nature. But we have to admit what happened and live with it. Life can be understood backwards but it must be lived forward.''

"Yes, because all the depression and oppression caused people to be stuck in the mind-set that they don't need to work because they believe that the past should give them what they want, whereas they need to work for it."

''No, because I have everything. What happened during the past happened, and it should stay like that.

We have to admit it and try to do things by ourselves and stop being dependent, because even the current government isn't providing at all.''

siphesihle cwayi (19)

micaela swaason (16)

lwandiso dayimani (21) jody phillips (19)

''No, we are still stuck to that old mentality of being dependent, especially on whites, whereas we do have skills and ideas, but we are not able to use them without being dependent. We still need to be spoonfed, whereas we can do things on our own.''

"No, because everyone has a different perspective. I can't blame apartheid because I was born after apartheid, things are different now. It didn't affect me, but obviously it did my parents and grandparents."

''No, because we have opportunities ever since we got freedom. In terms of our government being able to improve, we have to co-operate with them.

If we work together, we can improve our country's situation.''

Words Chandre Appels 19

Design Thabo Xinindlu 20

Words & Photos Solomzi Mtengwane 20

"No, but I can't blame the government because I am not at a disadvantage. But I do hold them accountable for the disadvantages of others."

angelique doyle (15) "No, I think other people blame apartheid, especially the people that lived during that time. It hasn't affected me."

for more voices of sa youth check youtube.com/livemagsa

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loves and loathes As the days become shorter and the nights become colder, we celebrate the good stuff about the winter months and curse the bad.

Loves:

Loathes:

Hot chocolate Snuggling under the warm blankets

Frozen Toes

Not having to shave your legs

Early mornings

A warm cup of chocolaty goodness can cure all winter blues.

Lazing in bed the entire day without feeling an ounce of shame.

Even better with a snuggle buddy.

Winter is the only time you can get away with looking like the abominable snow man with hairy legs, and none will be the wiser.

That’s what we call body heat.

For some reason no matter how many socks you layer on, your feet always feel frozen.

Winter Weight Gain

Winter foods are so yummy and wonderful. The after-effects not so much. Winter weight gain leaves you feeling like a whale in a fish pond.

There’s nothing more torturous than hearing “rise and shine” during winter cold, winter mornings.

Winter Romance

Colds, flus and bad sinuses

Comfort food

Shortened curfews

Body heat and kisses by the fireplace will warm your heart and spice up your love life.

Lounging in front of the television with a stack of DVDs munching your favourite decadent treats: the ultimate excuse to indulge.

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Words Chandre Appels 19

Photos Anele Mdudu 19

Design Thabo Xinindlu 21

Sneezes, coughs and a runny nose. Miserable and seriously not attractive, thanks but no thanks.

Ever noticed how when this time of year comes you’re expected to be in the house earlier than usual.

Photos Edward Vermeulen 22

regulars

dummies guide to dating the girls of the rainbow nation Living in the rainbow nation we are constantly exposed to different types of people from different race groups. This makes life more interesting. but all these differences can make relationships way challenging. Girls of all races agree that guys are losing the plot in terms of how to treat them and knowing what they expect. LIVE asked around and got the following “tips”.

Xhosa:

Indian girls:

Xhosa girls are generally known to love all things domestic. That also means they love anything with meat, and a man who can be bossed around the house when he doesn't bring the expensive house décor or car to show “o makhelwana” (neighbours). And don't forget constant visits to the retail stores. So dudes, if you already think this is high maintenance, well, you're right, so ruuuunnnnn!

Family is of utmost importance, so above all else you are going to spend a lot of time surrounded by our family.

Unlike in the movies, we aren’t all curry-loving, dancingbetween-the-trees-whilst-singing kind of girls, and our marriage isn’t being arranged as we speak. That said, we have a colourful and interesting culture: don’t be afraid to explore.

coloured

White:

Don't refer to girls as “my kin” (my girlfriend), this is not cute even if you think it sounds that way. We don't want to be “tjaaised” (pursued). Unless you are my brother, you have no right to call me “my bru”. You're welcome to bring us a “stukkie” (piece) gatsby on a few occasions, but stop saying you “smaak me stukkend” (like me a lot).

Don’t assume that our idea of romance and bliss is hiking and surfing, we also want to be taken to the movies and on nice romantic dinners. Also, we aren’t trophies to prove that you are “liberated”.

Sotho and Tswana:

zulu:

Dream of being like our President when you grow up? STOP right there. We don’t appreciate standing in line and flipping a coin to decide who you will be giving your attention to: we deserve better. While on the topic, gents please please ditch the traditional slippers when on a date, we want to dine with our hunks, not a reincarnated version of Shaka.

Yes, you love your mom. But a normal girl won’t do everything for you, so stop expecting us to be fluent in your home language the moment we agree to date you. How about you try to chill out, huh? Girls think if you're very needy and clingy, you're a definite no-no. We want to give you love, not a bottomless box of Kleenex.

Words Chandre Appels 19

Design Thabo Xinindlu 21

Illustration Cameron Cupido 21

Words Cristle Mokwape 24

FOR MORE Voices of sa youth check youtube.com/livemagsa

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regulars

For and Against: Home HIV tests Home HIV-testing kits are now available at a pharmacy near you. The test claims to be easy to use and accurate. The question is: is it a good idea? Clinics offer counselling and education about the disease, but the convenience of the home-testing kit means that you can take it more frequently. With the stigma of HIV still rampant around South Africa, Live went to find the arguments for and against home-testing.

for

Jessica Stuart-Clark (23)

against

Jackie Lampard (23)

Home HIV tests could result The HIV home-test claims to be an in misdiagnosis, infection or “accurate, anonymous and private” giving oneself HIV (by not means of testing for HIV. This will following proper sterilisation). help people who are particularly With no counselling and a poor concerned about keeping their understanding of how to use status private due to the fear of and read the test, it leaves one being stigmatised. Just as one is feeling very alone and more able to take a home pregnancy prone to self-harm like suicide test and thus make an informed for example. In cases where HIV choice based on the outcome, the tests are free and counselling is HIV home-testing kit similarly allows provided to those who are HIV individuals the autonomy to test positive, it is better to go that themselves and take the necessary decisions regarding the outcome, route, as I imagine home-testing kits would not be free. In this without having to endure the less desirable aspects of testing at a case one's options would be fully explained as well as clinic or hospital. Having said the process of receiving so, consequentially, there is a antiretrovirals; a medical problem when people aren’t professional is always properly educated about the better than the Internet. disease. It is also important that the test is purchased from legal and regulated vendors.

Kirsten Harris (23)

Christine Crombie (22)

The home-kit allows people to take the test in the privacy of their own homes and they can surround themselves with family and friends for support. We live in a society that still has a lot of stigma around HIV and this is one way to avoid any public humiliation. Also, if people can test themselves, more people will be aware of their status and it will allow them to take the necessary steps to prevent others from getting it. I do believe that there should be a toll-free helpline number on the packaging that people who require emotional support and information can call. Home-testing will provide a greater opportunity to reach outlying communities and empower the marginalised to seek the appropriate treatment and care.

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Words Jess Edgson 23

Design and Illustration Thabo Xinindlu 20

I don't think that HIV hometesting kits should be used.

I don't know where one would get them from, but if it's at a pharmacy, I don't think people would just go and ask for one; there is still too much stigma surrounding the disease. Secondly, if you are testing at home, there isn't that emotional support/counselling for those who are positive. Even if you think that you are positive, I don't think anything can prepare you for having a test confirm that you are positive, so that “counselling” is vital.

IF YOU DO TEST POSITIVE OR YOU JUST WANT MORE INFORMATION CALL THE NATIONAL AIDS HELPLINE ON 0800 012 322

uh regulars

Mzansi Diamonds Winter break is almost here – that time we look for comfort, good food and roaring fires. Instead of lazing around at home curled up like a dead worm, here are some cool activities to keep warm.

Cape Town Grand West

If there’s one thing you really have to get out of the house for this winter, this is it.

Grand West is a fun indoor shopping, dining and entertainment centre in Cape Town. Hang out, watch a movie, go ice-skating, bowling, try indoor go-karting or just dine in one of the many restaurants.

Ten-pin Bowling

After twirling on the ice, you can warm your toes by striking it lucky at the ten-pin bowling alley – fantastic fun for all. Part of the Magic Complex, 12 state-of-the-art lanes are set in a colourful venue, providing outstanding entertainment and competitive play, all set to music for all ages. Want to take it up a notch?

Go enjoy the vibrant Cosmic Bowling, also known Disco or Glow in the Dark Bowling.

Cosmic Bowling’s glow-in-the-dark bowling with a dance club atmosphere often rocks the centre with a pumping sound system.

Prices

Ice-skating

An Olympic-size skating rink, ice hockey and figure skating makes the Ice Station a seriously cool entertainment destination! It is home to action-packed adventure and affordable family fun all year round. With bright lights and contemporary music adding to the vibe, the Ice Station offers energetic entertainment for everyone. With plenty of stadium seating, it’s also a fun spectator-sport venue. Don’t know how to skate? Don’t worry, invite your chommies so you can have a lekker lag from all the slipping and falling in the learning process. This rink gives you the option of skating ‘til you drop.

R35.00 per person For more Information visit www.suninternational.com 1 Vanguard Drive, Goodwood 7460 Icy fun

JOHANNESBURG

Laser Quest

Stoneridge Mall

Love to shoot but don’t want to kill? You and your friends can shoot away, with a computer keeping track of who shoots whom, adding and subtracting points accordingly. Laser Quest is a game where players shoot at other players. Teams are identified by different colour lights on their packs. Each team mission lasts 25-30 minutes and includes suiting up in your pack, a briefing, the mission, and the score announcements at the end. The game is played inside an arena, with lots of hiding places, ramps and catwalks. Completely safe and harmless!

You don’t need to joy ride in a car at 220km to get the adrenaline rushing through your veins. Go-karting is way cooler and you won’t get in trouble. If you are dying to shoot at our friends paintball-style but without the bumps and bruises, laser-tag is so for you.

Go-karting

Compu-Kart Raceway is the next level of go-karting. With an exciting track designed to test all levels of experience, combined with new and well-maintained karts, Compu-Kart guarantees your enjoyment.

The smile on your face and the adrenaline in your blood will have you talking about your experience long after you have left.

Complete with carousel rides, bumper cars, go-kart racing, a mini fun fair, arcade games and more, we don’t call it magic for nothing.

Prices

R30 for 20min, R40 for 30min and R70 for an hour. Stoneridge Shopping Centre, Compu-Kart Raceway, Cnr Modderfontein & Hereford Rd, 011 609-0076

Words Melody Chironda 23

Joy riding for beginners

Design Ryan Africa 25

Photos Solomzi Mtengwane 20

Words Nana Futshane 25

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Check THE EKASI STYLE OF THE DAY at livemag.co.za

We’ve got the hookup on the latest trends this winter and just had to share. These clothes will havE you looking so hot you won’t even need a heater

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Stocklist: LIVE0512pg010-011.indd 11

RVCA: www.rvcasa.com Jay Jays: www.jayjays.co.za Revolution: www.revolution-daily.com Truworths: www.truworths.co.za

11 2012/05/08 4:50 PM

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With flat job numbers and few solutions for South African youth to FIND employment, starting your own business can be the path to help solve your financial needs. LIVE leads you down the road of success travelled by a few young South African entrepreneurs.

GOAT Clothing Line

MZUNGU Chicken

Make unemployment an opportunity and you could see your life improve. Thulani Mhambi, 25, found himself and six other people starting a business by braaing and selling meat in Gugulethu. They own their space, popularly known as Mzungu. “It was the start of the World Cup in 2010 when we started our chicken business. We were one of the first in Gugulethu to start the venture,” said Thulani.

“Unemployment led us to start the business as a way to bring income to our lives. We started with little cash, about R1,000, but now we manage to sell more than 50 chickens per day. We have a lot of customers, and people enjoy tasting the fresh braaied chicken with different sauces.” However, life is full of challenges, and they face competition in the area as many people are starting similar businesses. But they’re keeping their eyes on their dream to take this business further and make it big like the franchise KFC. “If you have a dream just push it hard and pray for it,” Thulani advises the youth. “Only planning today enables growth tomorrow.”

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check out the branson school of entrepreneurship at bransoncentre.org

Peacemaker Hliso, a fashion designer and owner of GOAT CLOTHING, created a range of clothing that he could not find in any retail stores. “I started selling clothes from home and then opened my own store in Shortmarket Street,” said Peacemaker of his beginnings. He started his company with very limited capital. He needed more money and it took him about six months to make a decent profit. “When the company was established we had to use penetration pricing. This is a strategy used to enter the market and gain brand awareness fast [where you lower your prices just to get people to buy your stuff]. Once this was accomplished we started pricing accordingly to our competitors, and the brand reached the growth and mature stage of the product life cycle,” he said. GOAT started off with retro and funky designs aimed at the student market. But through rebranding, repositioning and better buying power at the high end of the fashion market, the brand now targets the upper and middle-class markets. They now make enough money to keep them going while also extending the brand to higher standards and other markets. “Make the right career choices and follow your passion,” Peacemaker advises.

Designer Ryan Africa 25

Photos Anele Mdudu 19

House of Musicology (H.O.M)

House of Musicology (H.O.M) is a project started by Spha Mkhize and his partner Wandile Ngubane. H.O.M was conceptualised back when they were in high school. They started their business by throwing a few parties to get their name out. “As we grew we realised that there’s more to it than just parties. So whilst throwing parties, we invited different kinds of artists and formed a relationship with them,” said Spha. “We would approach clubs and try to negotiate what would benefit both parties, from designing a flier or poster to pushing the event ourselves.

We’ve grown from strength to strength, and feel that we would like to expand and face a new challenge. We are at a point where we are thinking of moving to Cape Town.” Their biggest challenge is juggling between school and business, and needing to multitask. “In business not everything goes your way, you need to learn to deal with disappointment and a lot of emotion all at once,” said Spha.

Spha advices the youth to always look to push to the next level, and always take time to do the research and analysis that help make a great deal.

Words Melody Chironda 23

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day in the life

Spotting sharks with: Monwabisi

Sikhweyiya

Trekking up the mountain to the lookout point, flying flags and constantly scanning the bay for any sign of one of the most powerful creatures in the world – sharks – this is the scary but spectacular life of a shark spotter.

Gone are the times when police officers, teachers, nurses and fire fighters were the only heroes out there; shark spotters are making their way to hero-status. In 2004, businesses along Muizenberg Beach’s Surfers’ Corner started losing clients due to an increase in the number of people being attacked by sharks. As a result they decided to form the shark spotters programme, which works to safeguard six beaches around Cape Town: Muizenberg, Fish Hoek, Clovelly, Glencairn, Noodhoek and St. James. Spotters are responsible for safeguarding swimmers and surfers by checking for signs of sharks.

LIVE tagged along with Monwabisi Sikhweyiya to get a peek of what goes on in the day of a spotter.

Field manager of the shark spotters, Monwabisi is a humble man, passionate about saving lives. He joined the lifesaving initiative at the age of 16, and was one of the founders of the spotting programme. Driving around he makes sure that his colleagues are stationed at their designated lookout points, the right flags are flown, and that the spotters receive their lunch goodie-bags sponsored

by Barra Udas restaurant.

“If my son woke up one day and said he wants to be a shark spotter, I would definitely give him a go-ahead. It’s not about making money, it’s about making a difference by saving someone else’s life,” said Monwabisi.

The challenging and demanding job begins at 7am and ends at 7pm every day. They are responsible for spotting sharks in the water and warning beach lovers if this opportunistic killer has been identified. The main duties of a shark spotter include going up to the mountain to their lookout points to check for sharks by scanning the sea using binoculars, Words Name Thokozile Surname Mahlangu Age 20

Word Photos Name Anele Surname Mdudu Age 19

and checking for other marine mammals e.g. dolphins and seals (the presence of these mammals often means the enormous white shark may not be far behind). Flying different coloured flags that carry specific messages from “all safe” to “a shark has been spotted and you should get out of the water immediately”: this is the life of a shark spotter.

They take turns working shifts on the mountain side and on the beach. Sharp eyes, polarised sunglasses (which reduce the glare on the water), binoculars and walkie-talkie radios assist the watchers in constantly scanning the bay. As rewarding as it may be, this job comes with challenges. The most difficult challenge, according to Monwabisi, is having to spot a shark after heavy rains, because the ocean water may not be clear.

An increase in shark activity can be associated with a growth in biological activity often identified by schools of fish, the presence of marine mammals and high marine bird activity. The spotters work with fishermen, because if yellowtail are swimming around, it’s likely that hungry sharks may follow. The spotters naturally also partner with lifesavers, together keeping the beach safe by deciding how soon the public can return to the water after a shark has been spotted.

According to Monwabisi, since the shark spotters programme started, Cape Town beaches have suffered only two attacks, and there have been 857 sightings. Since conditions at Cape Town beaches make barrier nets (that keep sharks out of swimming areas) difficult it is very important for everyone to understand the spotters’ flags, as their message could save your life.

“It is now much safer to surf at Muizenberg beach,” surfer Bapi Makanya said.

Words Design Name Clint Surname Visser Age 24

Photos Name Surname Age

We live in an area of rich natural heritage, where sharks have always existed.

Conflicts occur because there are more people entering what was once animal territory. Sharks aren’t there to get us, they just do what comes naturally to them.

So pay attention to the flags and avoid conflict!

BEACH FLAGS Green: spotting conditions good and no sharks have been seen Black: Spotting conditions poor or invisible Red: High shark alert White: A shark has been spotted: everyone should immediately leave the water

SAFETY IN THE WATER Do not swim while bleeding from a wound, sharks can scent blood within 500m.

Do not swim deeper than you can stand.

Stay in the breakers.

Look out for seals, fish and sea birds which could all indicate sharks in the area.

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LIVE Mawande VS His Worst Enemy YHO! EISH...THOSE WERE THE WORDS THAT CAME FROM THE LIVE TEAM AFTER THE CHALLENGE OF GETTING A TATTOO WAS PRESENTED. PEOPLE QUESTIONED THEMSELVES: IS IT NOT PAINFUL? I’LL HAVE TO THINK ABOUT IT...

After long hours, we decided to go for Mawande, one of the quietest guys in the team. Although he’s a quiet guy, he likes sharing jokes. He is a writer as well as a photographer, and grabs each and every opportunity that comes his way. And believe me, he would never let you down. But when it comes to needles...he might let you down. He was scared of needles while he was still in primary school in the Eastern Cape. In rural areas kids are taken to clinics to get vaccinations, and that’s when Mawande’s fear of needles began.

This was the first time Mawande considered getting a tattoo, and he was a bit confused as to what kind of tattoo he wanted. Thinking about the challenge, he already looked like someone who had lost his dog.

“I think I’m going to feel some pain, but not sure how much” On the way to the tattoo studio to face his worst enemy (needles) I could easily see that he was scared. He complained about not feeling his legs. We decided to keep him as freaked as possible by asking him some questions about why he wanted a tattoo and what he expected to happen. “I think I’m going to feel some pain, but not sure how much,” he said.

We arrived at the studio, “SINS OF STYLE”. Two girls were under the needle. Mawande’s fear and sweat couldn’t stop dripping, especially when he saw those two girls walking out of the studio with their tattoos -- now it was his turn. He was so scared he didn’t want to remove his t-shirt from his arm. Meanwhile, the sounds of needles buzzed inside.

The studio was not as big as we’d expected. Looking at the unfamiliar tattoos pictured on the walls, I felt like I had entered a forest or was in a scary movie. Suddenly we realized that this was no child’s play.

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Words Solomzi Mtengwane 20

DESIGN Sivuyile Mntuyedwa 25

Photos Anele Mdudu 19

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We asked Tyler B. Murphy, the studio’s owner and the tattoo artist, how he deals with people who are afraid of needles but want a tattoo. “I don’t babysit,” he replied.

“When you are getting a tattoo, it’s like writing exams -- you have to relax, eat well, be yourself and make good decisions,” Tyler added.

He also advises that people choose tattoos with a strong meaning for them so they won’t regret it when they are old. After our chat, it was another fifteen minutes while Tyler was designing Mawande’s tattoo before needle and ink penetrated his skin.

Once the challenge started, Mawande couldn’t stop talking. “It’s so painful. How far is he? It must be this DLAMINI that is killing me, maybe if i should have written MIYA – that has four letters. Jah, I can feel it, that DLAMINI is killing me. I smell a braaied beef guys.”

AFTER THE CHALLENGE WE ASKED MAWANDE ABOUT THE CHALLENGE EXPERIENCE: WHAT CHANGED? WOULD HE DO IT AGAIN? THIS IS WHAT HE HAD TO SAY: “It was tough, painful, although I was kind of strong.

Nothing has changed. I think I have a fear of needles. I will never ever do it again unless I can have pills that will make me sleep so that I won’t feel pain.”

“When you are getting a tattoo, it’s like writing exams – you have to relax, eat well, be yourself and make good decisions” Rolling on the chair while Tyler inked his tattoo, Mawande could hardly open his eyes. The tattoo he chose is a “claddagh” (pronounced claw-da). It’s an Irish symbol usually including two hands, a heart and a crown, respectively representing friendship, loyalty and love. From my point of view, the tattoo wasn’t clear because of the ink all over Mawande’s arm.

“This DLAMINI, ZITHA, LANGA, FAKUDE, NGXIM’NOBOYA THAYENA,” Mawande said, praising his clan name (these are parts of his clan name, extended the way a praise singer would name them when praising his people).

A few minutes after Mawande had finished praising his clan name he told us something funny: “This DLAMINI is going to cost me – I won’t be able to date a girl who’s clan name is DLAMINI, because we will be kind of related.” At least he still had a sense of humour.

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regulars FEATURE

living online In the seven years that YouTube has been around, we have pretty much lived our whole lives online. Baby’s first steps: online. Guy tripping over some steps: online. Learning how to tie a bow tie step by step, you guessed it: all online...

Every hour of the day there is an equivalent of about 60 hours of video content being uploaded onto YouTube’s global servers. With the click of a mouse you can now transport yourself to endless hours of video. Now, try to imagine the possibilities of having so much video at the tips of your fingers, ranging from funnies to news broadcasts of previous days, weeks or even years, to music and gadget reviews.

How much do we really know about the activity around YouTube in South Africa? YouTube has been doing great in other parts of the world. Even with the occasional “this video cannot be played in your country” error message, we South Africans have also indulged in a daily habit of not only watching but also uploading content to YouTube.

So YouTube SA is not doing bad. From 2010 to 2011, content uploads increased by 120%. In that same year we viewed YouTube content to a point that it increased the total number of views to well over 190%. Of course this was good news for YouTube partners; the money they made from those videos has increased by 570%, on average, across the board (this grew the total partner revenue growth to around 315%).

Yo dude, should I throw it that way?

Another way to look at YouTube activity would be through what is probably the biggest driver of traffic to YouTube – social media. On average, we watch about 500 years worth of YouTube videos on Facebook daily – that’s more than 100,000 years of YouTube videos watched from Facebook in one year. About 700 videos are shared every minute on Twitter; this in turn amounts to over 350 million videos shared every year from Twitter.

Not only do we watch these videos but we also interact with them and inadvertently interact with the makers of this content. By liking or disliking the content, you help content-makers figure out how to improve their submissions. Up to now the ratio for likes to dislikes in general has been something like 10 ‘likes’ for every ‘dislike’. People are more likely to tell others about what they liked watching on YouTube – and in life generally.

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Words Neo Matoane 22

Design Sivuyile Mntuyedwa 25

When your friends steal your dance moves AND your outfit

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Check out our live content Day Pass - Career in Graphic Design

by LiveMagSA Views 225

PROFIL-e ARTIST Muziek Sensation

by LiveMagSA Views 225

YOUTH TAKE - largest money in yo pocket...?

by LiveMagSA Views 101

Let’s see how this translates in terms of YouTube’s real life “influence” across Africa...

Livemagsa - Behind the scences of the cover shoot with Carmen Solomons

•You know Beyoncé, right? You know the music video, “Who Runs the World”, right? Now, did you know that the two dancers that dance in front of her in the first dance sequence are from Mozambique and that they were both discovered on YouTube? As a matter of fact if you type “Tofo Tofo” in the search bar, you will see their dance routine as they performed it at a wedding in Mozambique. Beyoncé somehow got wind of this dance routine and the rest, as they say, is history.

by LiveMagSA Views 35

PROFIL-e ARTIST- aKing

by LiveMagSA Views 42

•According to www.chinapost.com, Kenyan policeman Julius Yego won a surprise gold medal in the javelin at the 10th All-Africa Games in September 2011. He perfected his technique by watching YouTube. “There is nobody who can coach us in Kenya,” lamented the self-taught thrower who nearly missed selection for the national squad. “I go on to YouTube to see what people are doing.”

YOUTH TAKE - Facebook

•In Senegal a YouTube video showing the unwelcome arrival of former President Abdoulaye Wade went viral. In the video the crowd showed their clear discontent at his presence by booing him as he was on his way to vote. The first time this video was shared on Facebook (26 February this year) it received over 7 000 views. To date it has been seen over 100 000 times on the internet.

by LiveMagSA Views 38

•Type “SixPackFactory” in your YouTube browser to delve into the world of home fitness and weight loss videos from South Africa. Peter (the guy from the videos) now makes over R600 000 (USD$80 000) a year, uploading one video a week. In the last 12 months, his views have gone from around 15 000 per day to around 60 000 per day, without any paid advertising. With over 77 000 subscribers and close to 48 million video views for his channel, he’s a real example of the pay-off of having an idea and committing to it.

by LiveMagSA Views 49

YOUTH TAKE - Women wearing weaves?

LIVE CHALLENGE - Stand up with Manez

by LiveMagSA Views 159

So whether it’s launching your dance career, trying to learn a new discipline or just staying fit, don’t underestimate the power of the Internet and social media. It could make you rich and famous, for the right or wrong reasons.

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regulars feature

ALUTA CONTINUA….

Unemployment, poverty and crime are among the struggles that young people worldwide are battling. Hate crimes against our fellow Africans are an increasingly common form of oppression in the new South Africa. Two modern-day freedom fighters are grabbing the bull by the horns to fight for a better tomorrow eMzansi.

Tarisai Mchuchu Rashidi

In 2006, Tarisai, a law student at the time at the University of Cape Town (UCT), was visiting Pollsmoor Prison when she was touched by the sight of young people, some her age,

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Words Name Nana Surname Futshane Age 25

Words Photos Name Mawande Surname Sokaya Age 21

The struggle continues. In honour of the youth of 1976, we salute young activists who are turning the struggles faced by today’s youth into triumphs.

locked up for various crimes. “It was sad to see them there, although I knew that they were responsible for being there, I also felt that society was also responsible in a way. It totally wasn’t normal for young people to be involved in crime and to know how to use drugs. Where were the parents, where were the aunts and uncles and the neighbours?”

She became the director of Young in Prison (YIP) in 2009 at the age of 23.

The Calling

Founded in 2002, YIP is a non-governmental organisation (NGO) that supports young

Photos Word Sydelle Name Smith Surname 25 Age

Design Clint Visser 24

people, aged 14-25, who are imprisoned, by offering art and educational workshops as means of rehabilitation. Though YIP believes that young people don’t belong in prison, they also believe that while imprisoned, young people should have the right to positively develop themselves. By doing this work, YIP provides young prisoners with skills that will aid them in reintegration in society after they are released. They also have a post-release program. Since its beginnings, YIP has grown, with offices now in South Africa, Colombia and Suriname.

Right2Know campaign protesting the Protection of Information Bill.

Trials and Tribulations

Working within the prison system hasn’t been a bed of roses for Tarisai and the staff at YIP. “Prisons are government property, and prisoners as well are owned by the government for the time they’re there. We still have to make sure, even to this day, that we don’t offend the government when we’re there doing programs. It also isn’t easy to rehabilitate someone. It has to come from them, because no matter how much potential I can see in someone, if they don’t want to change then that’s the most difficult part,” she says.

Asked about Youth Day and the struggle for youth today, she says it is all about remembrance. “If we could remember those who died in order for us to get the kind of opportunities we’re getting and not letting them go to waste, then we can really say we’re winning the fight against any form of oppression.”

Tarisai Mchuchu Rashidi – Director of Young in Prison SA

Tinashe Njanji

28-year-old Tinashe is passionate about social issues. A member of several civil society initiatives, including the People’s Health Movement, the Democratic Left Front and Soundz of da South artist collective, he is also an administrator for Right2Know (a campaign opposed to the Protection of Information Bill – also known as the Secrecy Bill – currently before the South African parliament). An activist, a freedom fighter and a crusader, this soft spoken gentleman doesn’t come across as the courageous person that LIVE discovered him to be.

In The Wilderness

When Tinashe first came to South Africa from Zimbabwe in 2008, the xenophobic attacks began. “I didn’t even know anyone here but I felt the need to fight for social justice as [what was happening] affected me directly,” he

“It was sad to see them there, although I knew that they were responsible for being there, I also felt that society was also responsible in a way. It totally wasn’t normal for young people to be involved in crime and to know how to use drugs. Where were the parents, where were the aunts and uncles and the neighbours?”

Tinashe Njanji – political and social activist.

said. “This was very difficult because I didn’t know how to approach South Africans. I didn’t know who my enemies were and who my friends were.”

“I didn’t even know anyone here but I felt the need to fight for social justice” He joined an organisation called Get-UpStand-Up, a group of South Africans and African immigrants in Khayelitsha (Cape Town), who are out to stop xenophobia and unite Africa. He says he joined because he needed to inform South Africans about foreigners, as he saw that people didn’t understand why foreigners are here. “Some of them think we are here to invade their country, steal their jobs and their women, but that is not the case.”

Fearing for his life, his aunt begged him to stop his activism, but he refused. “I was already here and I couldn’t go back home because the situation didn’t allow me to,” he said, referring to the dangers faced by Zimbabweans back home.

Tinashe continues to organise groups of locals and foreigners to form sports teams, and also facilitates anti-xenophobia workshops in Khayelitsha. “There are a lot of challenges, like people not taking you seriously, and others treating you as an inferior because you’re not South African. I learned to hide my feelings even when I got really offended by some people’s comments,” he said.

Individuals like these two young people surely have a passion for what they’re doing, and even though their chosen vocations are not easy, they are determined to succeed. Their efforts show that we are still on the long walk to freedom, but also that we shouldn’t give up. As uTata Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela once said, “Never, and never again shall it be that one would experience oppression and discrimination by another.”

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FEATURE

Morgan Faku, 17, has a scar under his left eye and usually hides his face under the curve of a hat brim. He lives in Alexandra Township with his sister who takes care of him.

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Design Ryan Africa 25

Photos Kgaugelo Mabjwe 19

Words Emily Coppel 24

Photos Thapelo Motssumi 21

Photos Morgan Faku 17

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I AM AN ACTIVIST Umuzi Photo Club is a youth development organization that works with young people in under-resourced communities to create socially informative multimedia, which inspires engaged citizenry, youth activism and change. Umuzi is a Zulu word meaning village.

Morgan was one of 14 Umuzi Photo Club learners from East Bank High School who photographed school dropouts and unemployment for a community exhibition in Alex.

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During a discussion at an Umuzi workshop, Morgan told the group that he had personally been affected by the issue when his mother dropped out of school in Grade 7 because she was pregnant with his sister.

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Morgan wants to study and become a social worker so that he can help young people in his situation.

To get involved and become an activist with Umuzi Photo Club visit umuzi.org

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FEATURE

promising policies It seems all we ever hear about politics and the youth comes down to Julius Malema. How can the youth participate in national politics? How can we make our voices heard? LIVE got some answers by shooting the breeze with youth league representatives from the country’s biggest political parties.

As the youth of today we are South Africa’s future. In 2014, we will line up with the rest of the country to vote for the party that will lead us for the next five years. For some, this will be our first ever visit to the polls. By then we will have heard all the sales pitches and promises of hope, courtesy of the media and spin doctors.

The problem is, most politicians are not accessible to us. They also tend to speak over our heads to an older constituency. That’s why most parties have Youth Leagues, a subsidiary of the party mandated with giving voice to issues affecting the youth, and carrying our fights in their hearts. LIVE contacted youth league reps from the four biggest parties in parliament. Unfortunately, despite numerous attempts to contact the ANC Youth League, they failed to respond, and therefore are not represented here.

Inkatha Freedom Party Youth Brigade

To start, we chatted with Mkhuleko Hlengwa, the National Chairperson of the IFP Youth Brigade. “The IFP is about [the] youth, and exists to serve South Africans in the spirit of ubuntu/botho,” he said. He added that the youth must actively get involved in confronting society’s challenges and not be content with standing on the sidelines.

“Our involvement must not be confined to elections only, but rather we should actively participate on a day-today basis so that we form part of the decision making processes, and the developmental discourse.”

According to Hlengwa, the two biggest issues facing the youth are unemployment and education. To counter the education problem previously disadvantaged schools need to have access to better resources, and teachers need to be kept up to speed with changes in the curriculum. Regarding unemployment, Hlengwa says there is a need for government and business to work together to create sustainable employment for the youth; and government must develop infrastructure that aids economic growth and job creation.

Their message: “our collective involvement will result in a collective ownership of the nation and its dreams, hopes and aspirations.”

Democratic Alliance Youth League

Next on our list was the youth wing of the main opposition party, the DA; we caught up with the chairperson, Mbali

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Words Jes Edgson 23

Words Solomzi Mtengwane 20

Ntuli. Much like her IFP counterpart, Ntuli believes the youth need to be more politically aware, as we are most likely to bear the brunt of societal issues like crime, poor health and unemployment.

The scourge of joblessness, Mbali says, is without doubt the biggest problem for the youth. “Unemployment is affecting our youth across all different sectors – it’s urban youth, rural youth, township youth, youth that are graduates, youth that have just matriculated, youth with no experience [or] youth with experience – it doesn’t matter, that’s the biggest crisis we have in our country.”

As a solution, the young lions of the DA are backing the idea of a youth wage subsidy. A subsidy given to employers who hire and train inexperienced youth, it would work as an incentive for employers to give jobs to young people.

Their promise: “we will keep on championing the causes of the youth that we think are ones that will give all young people in South Africa opportunities to create their own futures.”

Congress of the People Youth Movement “We promise a viable practical youth alternative to all young South Africans,” said the next leader we interviewed, Nqaba Bhanga president of the COPE youth movement, before adding; “join our youth party.”

Bhanga believes that we need to create a society with equal opportunities in order to create a truly non-racial, non-sexist, democratic and prosperous country. To that end, the COPE youth movement wants to establish a platform where all the political youth organisations can get together to discuss pressing matters affecting the youth.

According to Bhanga, one of the biggest issues in SA today is the uneven distribution of opportunities across race, class and gender lines. “Economies of the future require diversifying the economy – producing secondary and tertiary goods – this implies more investment in skills and education. We need a clear education policy, vision and consistency of policy choices,” he said.

Their motto: “all youth to the frontline.”

So there you have it. These are the political voices that speak to the youth and that will canvass for your vote in 2014. Get involved, stay informed and make an impact.

Design Sivuyile Mntuyedwa 25

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feature

Moving with from ground-breaking front runners Run DMC to “mostwako” rapper HHP, ghetto-political musings of Arthur Mafokate to kwaai-house explorations of Big Nuz, LIVE lookS at how hip hop and kwaito have evolved.

Missing the beat?

“I’m not the political type/ not the type to fake an image for the sake of this whole consciousness type/ Never been called a kaffir before/Harambe.” hhp You have probably danced to these lyrics by Mafikeng-born hip hop heavy weight HHP (“Harambe”) from his album O Mang Reloaded. HHP (real name Jabulani Tsambo) is a talented Joburg-based MC who frequently performs in multiple languages.

His music appeals to a number of youngsters from Limpopo to the Drakensberg. This goes to show one thing: hip hop in South Africa has grown exponentially in the last two decades. But has the genre gone from soul stirring social commentary to a blingladen downfall into irrelevance?

I have been bouncing around clubs for eons now, and if asked to typify the era we live in from a musical perspective, I would probably say hip hop is pretty much anything with great dance beats. The music has changed over the years, in ways both good and bad.

Some detractors say hip hop is dead because the lyrics lack meaning and are no longer rooted in the old communal ethos of “each one, teach one”.

Wack MCs of today just rap

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about their shopping lists and other meaningless stuff.

Some critics point to the ubiquitous use of vulgar words and the everpresent half-naked girls (video vixens) in music videos as evidence of how far the genre has strayed in its direction. And by vulgar, I mean every fourth word is the “F” word.

Human emotion and soul has been wrenched out of the music-making process and replaced by machines which will do everything (e.g. autotune, an audioprocessor created by Antares Audio Technologies, which uses proprietary software to change pitch in vocal and instrumental performances).

But don’t get me wrong, I still love the music. It’s fun and a great way to shake off some stress, and most importantly, it’s alive.

The picture is not entirely bleak; lyrically, not all artists are in it for the money-making scheme. Some rhymes revolve around complex issues like relationships, love and sex, the residue of the apartheid political system, the prevalence of HIV and AIDS, violence in the major cities, and what it means to be South African.

Young musicians should look up to great artists like HHP, Teargas, Ill Skillz, Die Antwoord, Proverb, Pro (formally known as Pro Kid), AKA and L-Tido.

So I would say it’s pretty evident that hip hop has evolved, but can the same be said about Kwaito music? [MC]

Words Litsoanelo Zwane 21

Words Melody Chironda 23

Photos Anele Mdudu 19

Design Sivuyile Mntuyedwa 25

the beat Ironically, the word “kwaito” is derived from the Afrikaans word “kwaai”, which in suiwer Afrikaans means “angry”

Kwaito and the “black condition" Do you remember the days when “zoy’thola kanjani” and “don’t call me kaffir” blasted from every hi-fi in every corner of our beloved townships? Aaaaah... those were the days. When music seemed to serve a much greater purpose than simply to entice those who knew how, but more likely those who didn’t, to break out into that seizure we love to call pantsula.

Those days when kwaito was a motor of liberated self-expression after decades of a politically silenced black youth. Political chants, popularised during the liberation struggle found their way to becoming the choruses and verses of kwaito songs. Antiapartheid songs of bygone eras gained “cool” status as they were resurrected over more youthful beats.

Ironically, the word “kwaito” is derived from the Afrikaans word “kwaai”, which in suiwer Afrikaans means “angry”; how befitting since the genre became an outlet of disillusion and discontent for township youth.

Originating in the 1990s, it is a music genre that emerged from Gauteng townships and was a

means of documenting the struggles and hardships associated with life in the townships.

It eloquently told a ghetto story, a story to which a lot of young people could relate, and in that way it gained momentum even outside the townships.

As widespread as kwaito became, with the likes of Arthur Mafokate, Mdu Masilela, Boom Shaka, Chiskop, TK-Zee, Thebe, Abashante, Zola and Brothers of Peace (B.O.P) flying the kwaito flag at high altitudes, it was only in 2001 that the genre reached international shores, where it serenaded American and European ears.

It was also during that time that kwaito increasingly became commercialised, others like to say “tainted”. As the times changed, so did the majority of the content in kwaito songs. Has the message changed? From “zoy’thola kanjani uhlel’ekoneni?” (How are you going to achieve anything if you sit on street corners all day) to “sika lekhekhe” (“cut the cake”, slang for “have sex with me”): you be the judge. [LZ]

punked out Three chords, three countries, and one revolution…PUNK IN AFRICA is the untold story of the multiracial punk movement Southern Africa.

This documentary traces the story of the multiracial punk movement within recent political and social upheavals in three Southern African countries: South Africa, Mozambique and Zimbabwe. The punk subculture represents a genuinely radical impulse, set against political struggle, economic hardship and even civil war. The stories unfold from the Johannesburg underground rock scene of the 1970s, the multiracial punk bands formed in the wake of the Soweto Uprising and the anti-apartheid sounds of the 1980s, to the rise of Africaninspired ska-punk from Cape Town to Maputo in the democratic 1990s.

For more information, contact: Deon Maas 083 231 8910 deon@meerkatmedia.co.za www.punkinafrica.co.za http://www.facebook.com/#!/PunkInAfrica

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regulars feature

youth then

According to our parents we are the lost generation. We are nothing like the youth of their time.

LIVE decided to ask the older generation about the youth of today, and let today’s youth speak for themselves: here is their battle of words...

“Youth of your time an my time d Salt an ? pepper. d ”

My first interview was with Themba, an old man in his fifties who works as a security guard, a very old-fashioned old man, just what I was looking for.

“You kids of today have no respect for your elders. Back in my time you wouldn’t find 14-year-old kids in prison,13-yearold girls with babies,” he said when I asked him the difference between the youth of his time and the youth of my time. He said these words pointing fingers at me, his face so serious.

Then he continued. “You kids today don’t even care who is watching when you are doing embarrassing things. Us, we used to hide ourselves from our parents when we knew that what we are doing is wrong; but you kids...” he muttered, shaking his head.

I wondered what he meant by “embarrassing things”.

“Sometimes you see a very young girl caring for a baby. It is obvious it’s hers. While you are still shocked by that, she takes out a cigarette and starts smoking.

That is the youth of today,” he said before I could ask what he meant.

Wanting to hear a woman’s point of view, I found a lovely, tidy and neatly dressed lady. Rita, in her 40s, is a manager of a building.

“Youth of your time and my time? Salt and pepper,” she said, responding to the same questions. “They are total opposites. The youth of today is nothing but mayhem. You kids today, you don’t stand up for

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Words Name Surname Age

Words Name Surname Age

Word Name Surname Age

Words Xolisa Pezisa 23

Illustration Name Surname Age

Photos Anele Mdudu 19

older people to sit, you swear at your parents... I mean we don’t even know when you are going to put a knife on us or pull a gun on us. We as parents don’t trust the youth of these days.”

I was so shocked to hear that these people think these things of us. But also I found it almost funny, because in my heart I know we’re not really that bad.

Wanting to find someone my age to speak for us, I was walking down Main Road in Salt River when I saw a girl caring for a baby. Her name was Rasheel, aged 17. She had that look of forcing herself to be beautiful, wearing a short mini-skirt and showing a lot. Explaining what the old man had said, I asked for her side of the story.

“Old people are so quick on pointing fingers at us, saying we are this and that, saying we are the lost generation. But what I know is when a follower is lost, we don’t point fingers at the ground, we point fingers at the leader.

Monkey see, monkey do,” she said.

Poetry aside, I needed her to explain more, put on the green light. “Everything we are doing we saw our elders doing, we didn’t invent any of it. Don’t forget that we were raised by victims of the apartheid system. Those are the ones that made us victims of abuse. This is the outcome of being raised by angry victims of apartheid.”

This girl was so deeply angry, she got my heart beating fast.

Needing a not-so-angry teenager to slow this fast-beating heart of mine, my target was the students.

I headed to the Salt River train station, where I noticed a girl in a uniform standing with other students. I liked her attitude, her

Photos Name Surname Age

Stylist Thokozile Mahlangu 20

Words Name Surname Age

Design Clint Visser 24

regulars

& now “When we think about the youth of the 70s, we think of the freedom fighters, but deep down in my soul I know that not all of them were freedom fighters. Same goes for us...” voice so loud you could hear her speaking from far.

“Yeah, they’re right, but at the same time they’re wrong,” Thabisa, aged 16, said when I described what people had said so far. “The majority of the youth is disrespectful. But not all of us are like that,” Thabisa said.

“Even back in their time not all of them were good. When we think about the youth of the 70s, we think of the freedom fighters, but deep down in my soul I know that not all of them were freedom fighters. Same goes for us: they need to look at the kids that are making use of this democracy the good way.

“Look at me, not pregnant and still going to school. Is that bad or good?” she was saying as she turned and screamed to her friends, “HiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiGH FiiiiiiiiiiiVE!!”

Since the older people I interviewed made it clear that they see the youth of today as

Words Name Surname Age

“Don’ were t forget t of the raised by hat we Those aparthei victims that m are the o d system. abuse ade us vi nes ctims .” of

Photos Name Surname Age

Words Name Surname Age

Word Name Surname Age

nothing but trouble, I wanted to see if I could find an older person with a different view. I went to the school at the Brooklyn Chest Hospital where I interviewed Evelyn, a 57-year-old teacher, who has worked with young people with cancer and tuberculosis for nearly 15 years.

“As youth of the 70s, we were told what to do. We were always doing what our parents were telling us to do. We couldn’t say, ‘But I don’t want it this way, I want it that way.’ Now you as the youth of today, you are given choices,” Evelyn said.

Her comment left a question mark on my mind. Was it good or bad that the youth of today can choose what they want?

“It is not bad at all! It is a good thing to listen to what the youth want to do before telling them what you think they should do.

As a teacher I enjoy it when my students put something I said to a debate,” she said, glancing at the photos of her students hanging on the wall and smiling with pride.

I told her about my other interviews and the answers I got from people her age.

“Maybe those people had bad experiences of the youth. Not all kids are like that. They should say some kids are bad, we can even do a test to prove that. We can go to prisons and count how many of the youth is in jail, go around SA and count how many young girls are with babies. Then go to schools and workplaces and count how many of them are without babies, how many are still at school and working hard. I am sure you will find that there is few percentage of the them that is trouble,” she said.

So what did I find? The youth of today is going through tough challenges, and parents must understand that. The parents are facing difficult issues and stressing a lot too, and the youth must understand that. They must not judge each other, they must support each other, we are all humans so we make mistakes now and then.

FOR VIDEOS FOR MORE VIDEOSCheck Checkout out OUR YOUTUBE PAGE youtube.com/livemagsa youtube.com/livemagsa

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regulars FEATURE

Downloading the #Voice of SA Youth

A middle-class pedant, an animal-loving KZN coconut and a hardcore kasi girl search for that elusive creature: the voice of SA youth.

LM

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We are so concerned with ourselves as “brands” that we forget about what is going on in the rest of the world around us

KM

I’m on the way to submit an assignment. I’m hoping for an A. I did it in 10 minutes. As I walk to the bus I rummage around my Cancer Association bag for a cigarette. The ride into town is a documentary of poverty (rows of poorly built shacks along the one side of the road) that turns into an advert for the good life (beautiful apartment blocks where bachelor flats cost more than 3-bedroom houses). Under the backdrop of Cape Town’s mountain range: that’s where I want to be in the next three years. I’ll worry about how later.

For now, I am a cynic who believes in positivity. I tweet that we rely too heavily on technology. I insist on privacy, especially on Facebook. I am an activist, I forwarded that Kony link. I want change, if only someone would start it. I want to be successful, I have no idea at what. I am an individual and don’t associate myself with brands. I only buy Apple. I crave freedom but need security. I believe in equality but want a Mercedes. I am the lost generation... well, that’s what the adults tell me anyway. But who are we really? This question is what got us started on this mission: to find out who our generation is, to discover our collective voice.

Full Disclosure

Sitting in corners where our particular viewpoints were shared, our brainstorm for this story was an intense two-hour session.

Discussing this idea of “the voice of SA youth”, the only interruptions were to get up and make more coffee (and subsequent trips to the bathroom). Unintentionally clustering with those who shared our backgrounds, our contrasting profiles became prominent. Team-members from the suburbs Words Ndu Ngcobo 23

Words Jes Edgson 23

Words Litsoanelo Zwane 21

Illustration Egon Mabee 23

on the left, those from eKasi (townships) on the right. Our “natural” positioning alone showed us that we had to establish what we as a team have in common. Simply, it is that we all have a voice and want to be heard. A starting point.

We are divided, but how big is this divide?

We have platforms and opportunities that were absent for our forefathers to interact cross-culturally, so why don’t we act?

We three, the writers of this story, are from different backgrounds. Jes, a middle-class white girl who loves to throw around words like “indoctrination” and always wins an argument. Litsoanelo, born and bred in Gugulethu, with a deep love for sitting on her neighbourhood streetcorner snacking on amagwinya (vetkoek). And Ndu, a privateschool bred coconut from the Natal Midlands who cries every time someone eats KFC due to her support of animal rights.

So how do a middle-class pedant, an animal-loving coconut and a hardcore kasi girl even begin to start writing about the voice of SA youth when we ourselves are so different? How do we relate to each other’s issues when we seemingly aren’t bothered by the same things?

Illustration Keya Murphy 14

Illustration Michael Samuels 22

Illustration Lunga Mbombo 25

Design Sivuyile Mntuyedwa 25

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What to do with all this “freedom”?

Another balcony chat ensued. The topic: a 19-year-old girl who killed herself after a video of her having sex with her ex went viral in every major KZN campus. We had to ask the question: how the hell are we using social media – the platform of our time?

“Young people abuse social networks,” said Victor Minnies, 24, from Gugulethu. “Some use it to promote their stupidity, and others to boost their social status. We are abusing the voice of social media.”

MS

It was during one of our “balcony chats” (aka, smoke break, where we rant and rave about anything and everything) that we discovered just how much we do relate to each other. We might come from different backgrounds and have experienced different schooling systems, but we’re drawn together by common issues.

Common denominators

Indulging in our bad habits on a balcony we found that there is a unity – we often just fail to recognise it. And not only amongst us three, but in the greater South African youth. It is not that we lack common denominators, but rather we lack the ability to communicate what those common denominators are.

“I don’t personally relate to white people, they do not have the same issues as us,” said Sihle Dikweni, 21, from Gugulethu, echoing the problem in different words. We are divided, but how big is this divide? We have platforms and opportunities that were absent for our forefathers to interact cross-culturally, so why don’t we act?

We are a generation desperate for change, yet also conflicted between those who are apathetic to change and those who hunger for it so much they have become angry and bitter Maybe because we are confused. We know what our parents fought for, but we don’t know what our causes are.

We want to change the status-quo, yet we are stopped dead in our tracks by the fear of not being taken seriously.

“We are a generation desperate for change, yet also conflicted between those who are apathetic to change and those who hunger for it so much they have become angry and bitter,” said Megan Ellis, 21, from Boksburg.

“Before, the fight was about freedom and education, but now... we sit waiting for the government or someone to give us that great job with great salary and idlala (house) that’s perfect. There’s no longer that vuka uzenzele (get up and do it yourself) spirit,” were the contrasting words of 20-yearold Durbanite, Noziphho Cebekhulu.

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Is this what we use our socials mediums for: bragging and expressing our stupidity? As one Facebook contact said, “I have enough money to buy you and your mother as my domestic worker.”

Twitter has become a platform for scandalous behaviour and cat-fights. This behaviour isn’t unique to a particular group: it affects all races and all cultures. “Very seldom will you find the youth tweeting about positive stuff,” were the words of private-schooled Mabutho Mabaso, 22, originally from KwaZulu-Natal.

Young people abuse social networks.

Some use it to promote their stupidity, and others to boost their social status We have the means, we have the platform, but why aren’t we using them for positive things? Could social media take the place of striking and marching? And what does our generation think about those older forms of activism?

“When people are striking or marching, they don’t only march, they also destroy things that affect others. The government now has to replace those things and fix them.

Also when they do that they are affecting other people’s lives,” said Solomzi Mntengwane, 20, from Masiphumelele.

His insight brings to mind the Durban University of Technology (DUT) marches that happen almost every year.

These kids protest for things like better food in their cafeteria, but instead of just marching, they throw bricks at the buildings of their own school.

Discussing if we should rather use Facebook to communicate our causes, Anele Mdudu, 19, from Mthatha Eastern Cape, said: “I think Facebook would work because everyone is on Facebook. They must post [the social issues we are concerned about] and see how it works.”

So why don’t we?

Can I get a witness?

“We just want to [be] recognised and known, [being on social media] is all about putting ourselves out there,” were the words of Ernest Roskruge, 22, a mechanical engineering student from Ruyterwacht.

We take the time to broadcast our lives on social networks in an attempt to gain acknowledgement, validation and even fame, often at the expense of more important issues. “[Our generation stands for] obsession with identity, asserting one’s identity and ‘individualism,’” said Kelly Mealor, 22, from Stellenbosch.

FOR MORE VIDEOS videos of sa youth check out OUR YOUTUBE PAGE youtube.com/livemagsa

EM

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We live in an era defined by freedom of expression through social media. At the same time this media breaks us down and controls us – making us feel that we must consume or be a nobody. We don’t all want to be famous, but we want people to know our names. That was one point that came up in every interview.

Kids in Sandton have Facebook. Kids in rural Pongola have Facebook. It’s time SA youth used this social platform to create more socially aware communities We want people to understand who we are and what we stand for. That is why we tweet, that is why we Facebook, that is why we blog. The more “googleable” you are the better. We are so concerned with ourselves as “brands” that we forget about what is going on in the rest of the world around us.

we are the voice

Our need for recognition is not totally self-consumed, however. Part of what we want heard is our views on the issues out there. What are our issues? The answer depends on who you ask. The middle-classes of our generation came up with big statements like “socio-economic divides”, “gender inequality”, “residues of past racial segregation” and “inadequate education”. Those from eKasi believe that substance abuse, HIV/AIDS and teenage pregnancy are the biggest problems facing our generation. These aren’t exactly separate issues. The harsh realities of living in a separate and unequal society can cause the feelings of desperation and isolation that lead to drug use, unsafe sex and its results.

mansions, but we all can have a say, we can all be part of the greater voice.

Most of us have access to this amazing thing called “social media”. Last year around the world we saw youth fighting for social change and using social media to do so, from Africa to England to Wall Street. We have the mental capacity to fight for what we believe in. Kids in Sandton have Facebook. Kids in rural Pongola have Facebook. It’s time SA youth used these social platforms to create more socially aware communities instead of just posting pics of drunken parties. Our social networks provide us with the ability to interact effectively, even with people we never would have met in a physical “real” space. Through social media, spaces between us – even hundreds of kilometres that separate us – are reduced to nothing more than a tweet or Facebook inbox away. If we used this social media to interact with people from different backgrounds with different ideas, we could strengthen and unify our voice as a generation. We could be recognised together.

We are the voice, we are the ones to start change, not just the three of us: all of us Our search lead us back to a final balcony chat: one English girl, one Sotho girl and one Zulu girl, indulging in our bad habits and tagging each other on a Facebook post. What we discovered?

We are the voice, we are the ones to start change, not just the three of us, but all of us. By using LIVE as a way to to uncover the voice, we found our voices, and started using them for good. It takes one tag to send a message, one Tweet to share a thought and one collective voice – our voice – to make a world of difference.

“Unemployment and drugs are killing us eKasi. It’s taking away any hope we had,” were the sad but too true words of 25-year-old Mbulelo Sibunzi from Khayelitsha.

But there is hope, as so many of our peers’ answers pointed in the same direction: we do have common views about what’s going on in the world and about the issues facing us, regardless of background, culture and race. We all want things to change. Maybe it’s here that we finally found an answer to our question.

As the South African youth we need to understand that we do not have one voice, but our shared issues and the need to resolve them are what bind us. No matter where you come from or where you are going, our problems as a nation – and how we end up dealing with them – are our common denominator.

We all want things to change. Maybe it’s here that we finally found an answer to our question Each particular group of “us” has its own struggle and therefore own voice. But these clusters don’t have to find their voices in isolation, there are similarities in what we all want: economic freedom, clean healthy neighbourhoods and better health and education systems. Regardless of whether you live in the yards of Gugulethu or the streets of Constantia, there are issues which are common to us all. If we pluck up the courage to voice our concerns, we can start a conversation. We can’t all drive BMW’s and live in

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MS

have your say at livemag.co.za

magazine wants

you!!!

are you known as the wordsmith of your crew, can you snap pics that deserve to be in a hall of â&#x20AC;&#x153;framesâ&#x20AC;?,, can you can draw up a literal storm or are you a graphic design whizz kid?

If you are based in Cape Town, have talent for days and are18 to 25 years old, we are inviting you to be part of the Voice of SA Youth If you are not in the Cape, fear not, we accept submissions nationwide, so show us your talent us, @ us, Watch Us Join the conversation Subscribe at: youtube.com/LiveMagSA Facebook: Live Magazine SA Twitter: @LiveMagSA on mobile: www.livemag.co.za Get in touch on 0788177595 or email thetha@livemag.co.za Words Ndu Ngcobo 23

Design Clint Visser 24

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regulars feature

what culture?

For some reason here in South Africa we always dwell on African culture, forgetting the meaning behind “rainbow nation” (love it or hate it, it’s us). We decided to explore the mystery (to some of us) that is white culture.

Our cultures are made up of our norms and values, right down to our habits and the things we eat. “I have grown up with parents who are British,” said 23-year-old Sophie Slater. She went on to tell a colourful tale about how her upbringing was based around English traditions she loves. “To be honest I’m not too sure what my culture entails. Unless you are Afrikaans or follow some religion, I don’t think [white culture] really exists,” she added.

and springbok; I’m sure some biltong follows thereafter. “The other thing would be helping around [my grandparents’] farm. Farming is another aspect in our family,” Ryan informed us.

Could it be? Does the elusive white culture really not exist? Never one to back down from a challenge, LIVE stumbled upon a 15-year-old Afrikaner boy by the name of Ryan Van Der Westhuizen.

“To be honest I’m not too sure what my culture entails. Unless you are Afrikaans or follow some religion, I don’t think [white culture] really exists”

We wandered into Ryan’s room and were immediately shocked and intrigued. Hanging on his wall is the old South African flag. As one does when seeing this flag, we asked what it was about. “My great grandfather gave this flag to my dad and he gave it me,” Ryan explained. For him, it’s not a symbol of racism; the only meaning he attaches to the flag is that of an heirloom. This is what the flag means for Ryan. We didn’t dwell too much on this, as when faced with the old flag one must tread lightly.

Most of us know that Afrikaner heritage is deeply rooted in the two “Fs”: farming and family. Ryan is no different. “The most important thing about my culture is hunting during school holidays with my grandfather and father.” From what we know about Afrikaans culture, a typical hunting session consists of male bonding and hunting rabbit

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Photos Paul Ward 23

Words Nana Futshane 26

Words Ndu Ngcobo 23

White culture isn’t just made up of the English and Afrikaners -- our country is a kaleidoscope of different European cultures. We needed to explore further.

With every culture, there is a subculture. in Cape Town, hipster culture is a subculture that has been part of many conversations lately. Which brings us to the second exciting part of our journey of discovery.

For those of you who aren’t in the know: hipsters are those white kids who hang out in coffee shops, wear skinny jeans and generally study something art-related (vs. blipsters, the black counterparts to hipsters, but that’s a topic for another story).

There is more to this subculture than skinny jeans and vintage clothing, though. Like any subculture, hipsterism has its roots firmly planted in

Design Thabo Xinindlu 20

regulars Skipping in nature? Gues they enjoy that type of thing

family. In most African cultures, regardless of your parents’ financial status, you are expected to work hard, earn well and a portion of your income should always go home.

It’s the unwritten rule. What we found to be different with many white families is that parents cut the umbilical cord at 18, and what you earn (or don’t) is yours.

Guzzling alcohol with your family is also a fun social part of white culture. Not in the alcoholic sense, but as something that is done as a family. Lauren Maitre, 24 from Etscourt, KwaZulu-Natal is of French descent. A visit to her family provided a welcome culture shock.

“We have red wine, white wine, vodka, gin and beer,” Lauren’s mother Cheryl offered when I came for dinner.

Cut to the average black family where my brother, 35-years of age, still sneaks alcohol from my parents’ cabinet.

other aspects of white culture. What we discovered is that white youth tend to have more freedom to carve the future they want. This luxury is one of the factors that have supported the rise of hipster culture. In a typical black family, parents will say you can be anything you want as long as you study to become a doctor, a lawyer or an accountant (you know, those desk jobs that allow you the utmost financial freedom and the least creative freedom). At least this was my experience when my parents were still optimistic of me being the Albie Sacks type and practising law.

I shattered their dreams when I told them I wanted to be a fashion stylist. Naturally, they told me that once I was a practising lawyer I could do whatever I wanted on the side. My rebuttal was, “But Gabby [a childhood friend] is going to be a ballerina.” At which point my older sister piped in, pointing out that although Gabby was a childhood friend and we come from similar backgrounds, Gabby is white.

What that really meant was that Gabby could study whatever she wanted, as she would never have the expectation of having to come back and care for her Photographer by day hipster by night

“We have red wine, white wine, vodka, gin and beer,” Lauren’s mother offered.

Cut to the average black family where my brother, 35-years of age, still sneaks alcohol from my parents’ cabinet The French aren’t the only Europeans who consume alcohol as a part of their culture. Lots of Italian South Africans drink wine at supper, as 23-year-old Gabriella Pasqualotto explained. For the Pasqualottos, a glass of wine at supper is crucial to enhance the taste of the food, and drinking the wrong wine with a meal can end in disaster at the family dinner table.

“When we visit my nonna [Italian for grandmother], we always eat traditional meals like antipasto and fresh meat.” The word “fresh” when associated with food, and the extravagant accompanying hand gestures, are also integral parts of Italian culture, it turns out.

This leads us back to the subcultures of white youth.

From an outsider view, it seems that all these kids do (okay, maybe not all, but the general hipster types) is take photos, sip wine, and party the night away. It’s their expression of a freedom they are taught to explore from a young age.

What was interesting is that most of the people we spoke to initially said they they don’t have a culture. “To live as a neutral young white in SA is pretty much all I am doing,” were Sophie’s words when we asked if she was “living her culture”. The truth is, culture is so entrenched in everyone’s lives that they actually overlook it. But for two African girls (Xhosa and Zulu), looking from the outside in, white South African culture is rich, diverse and oh-so-interesting.

PAUL WARD is a 23-year-old Cape Town based photographer. After graduating in 2009 with a degree in art direction from Vega Cape Town, Paul has emerged as one of South Africa’s top young creatives. Listed in Design Indaba magazine’s 2012 Top 50 most influential South African designers, Paul also saw his blog, DiaryofWard.com, a photography blog documenting youth culture, win photography blog of the year in the 2011 SAblogawards.

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fashion

Manyano wears:

Glasses: stylist’s own White jersey by Ackermans Grey cardigan by Jay Jays Green pants by Lee’s Wholesalers Brown suspenders by Jay Jays Red suede shoes by Mr Price

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pimp your form From boring school wear to fashionistaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s dream, we pimped out the simple school uniform like you will not believe.

regulars Manyano wears:

Black leather jacket by Mr Price White beanie by Jay Jays White shirt by Ackermans Striped vest by Mr Price Tan shorts by Lee’s Wholesalers Knee-high grey socks by Lee’s Wholesalers Blue suede shoes by Mr Price

Belinda wears:

Denim jacket: stylist’s own, Mustard tunic byLee’sWholesalers White socks by Lee’sWholesalers Chunky heels by SteveMadden Necklace by Sass Diva Two-finger snake ring by SassDiva

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fashion on the go: more fashion @ www.livemag.co.za

Belinda wears:

Black tunic by Lee’s Wholesalers, Oversized striped cardigan by Jay Jays, Knee-high grey socks by Lee’s Wholesalers, Platform heels by Steve Madden, Collar necklace by Sass Diva

Manyano wears:

Checkered cap from JHB thrift Grey shirt by Ackermans College jacket by Jay Jays Slim-fit pants by Lee’s Wholesalers Yellow shoes by Mr Price Bag: stylist’s own

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Manyano wears:

Checkered cap from JHB Thrift White shortsleeve shirt by Ackermans Red sleeveless hoodie by Mr Price Grey shoes by Mr Price Slim-fit shorts: model’s own Striped briefcase: stylist’s own

Belinda wears:

Denim crop jacket by Jay Jays White shirt by Ackermans Checkered skirt by Lee’s Wholesalers Military boots by Mr Price Earrings by Sass Diva Wings necklace by Sass Diva

Stockists

Steve Madden: www.stevemadden.com Lee’s Wholesalers Sass Diva www.sassdiva.co.za Mr Price www.mrprice.co.za Jay Jays www.jayjays.co.za Ackermans www.ackermans.co.za JHB Thrift

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Photos Lebogang Bubu 24

Words & stylist Sandisiwe Pityi 21

Design Thabo Xinindlu 20

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mocking our icons?

It was the 16th of June 1976, the day that angry, frustrated black students took to the streets of Soweto to protest against Bantu education and apartheid in its totality. They marched, chanted anti-apartheid slogans and reiterated the messages of defiance written so blatantly on their placards. They were young. They were students. They were us.

Intimidated by these unarmed school children, the apartheid police opened fire. A precipitation of bullets that lethally decorated the atmosphere. It was a bloodbath where youngsters sacrificed their lives so that we, the youngsters of 2012, may be alive with possibilities, that we may live in a society free of laws that disrespect us, so that we may know what it means to have human rights. They were young. They were students. They were us.

Together they stood, dispersed they ran. From that day emerged a picture of a gunned-down young boy being carried to safety. Sam Nzima’s photo came to represent the many lives that were lost, the many dreams that were never realised. The image of 12-year-old Hector Pieterson became a universal symbol of the potent role the youth played in the liberation of this nation. Some lived to document what happened, others died for a concept they never lived to see materialise.

We’re now at the point where we can desecrate images of such historical relevance. Is this how far we’ve come in our pursuit of democracy?

Fast forward to the year 2012. We’re now at the point where we can desecrate images of such historical relevance.

Is this how far we’ve come in our pursuit of democracy?

We’re at the point where we can remake an image as politically sensitive as the Hector Pieterson photograph into an image in which a youth is passed out in a drunken stupor, flanked by equally drunk peers, beer bottles in hand. To me the saddest part is not the actual desecration of this image, it’s how we can find so much humour in the “spoof” that we parade it all over social networks as if it’s something to be proud of.

But perhaps it says something about what we’ve become: a generation that lacks a purpose or a cause.

A generation that cannot relate to the meaning of its own rich historical and political heritage. Perhaps the meaning here is the way the image captures the struggle that faces 2012 youth. Our struggle has become our deviation from morals and our plunge into the world of substance abuse.

Our struggle is our own apathy and complacency. We’re very much on the fence about a lot of key issues.

Some people may say, “What’s the big deal, it’s history.”

But we are a product of that history and it is a history that is being constantly perpetuated even decades after it occurred.

It may be the past, but who are we without it? A disillusioned youth with no grasp on the very thing that forms our identity.

Words Litsoanelo Zwane 21

Design & Illustration Ryan Africa 25

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the baby-making business

“I use the grant to buy myself clothes and sometimes to go out with my friends” The air is tainted with smells of decomposing rubbish and burning chicken, yet what appears to me as ill sanitation is called home by so many people. Wetlands, Masiphumelele, a relatively small township found between Fish Hoek and Kommetjie, is a known fire-hazard area, mainly due to overcrowding of shacks and poor management. Its people, regardless of their circumstances, are dressed smartly in brands that, up until today, were unknown to me.

Between all the gangsterism and slums are the gems of Masi... Its children. Beautiful little kids run in the streets, playing various games and singing traditional songs. Whilst their parents are away these children are left to their own devices, free to do whatever they choose. Free to be. But who are these kids? Who are their parents? And why aren’t they at school?

“I had to hustle as I wasn’t working. I was a teenager that fell pregnant for the money but I didn’t know that it was going to be difficult”

Words Chandre Appels 19

Words Name Surname Age

South Africa is currently facing a huge problem: teenage pregnancy. With the current rate of teenage pregnancy [one in three girls has a baby by age 20], the need for child support grants are increasing, impacting our economy in the process.

According to Martin Fisher from the Department of Social Development: “Social grants from the South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) are provided to biological parents/mothers. A teenage mother in possession of an ID document, proof of birth (birth certificate) and clinic card is eligible to apply for the grant. The grant may also be given to a primary caregiver providing the necessary documentation.”

Research Zikhona Lusaseni 20

Unathi Whitey fell pregnant in 2008 at the tender age of 15. Whitey, along with 387 238 other beneficiaries (as reported by Parent24) receives a support grant of R270 every month from the South African government. It is believed that many girls use this grant for their own benefit as extra spending money, instead of the way it was intended to be used: for the children.

“I had to hustle as I wasn’t working. I was a teenager that fell pregnant for the money but I didn’t know that it was going to be difficult,” said Whitey. She now belongs to a stokvel group (consisting of her and two friends) where R100 of the grant money is put aside every month for entertainment purposes.

“I use the grant to buy myself clothes and sometimes to go out with my friends,” said the teenage mother, who, like many of her peers, turns to her parents to take care of her child whilst she goes out with friends.

Before we play the blame game, Fisher cautions that we need to understand the wider context. “Gender relation issues are also social factors that have to be considered when we assume abuse of social grants and the lack of proper parenting supervision skills to young parents, especially women,” Fisher explained.

There are many people who feel that the grant is effective and isn’t being abused.

“From clinical experience I saw that it normally supports the entire family. In a community health centre where I worked, beautiful young women informed me that their parents consented to them having relationships with taxi drivers, as they supported the family financially,” Juliana Willemse, health worker and lecturer at the University of the Western Cape, told LIVE. Nevertheless, some children suffer under the existing system. “My mother sent us to steal a toaster and iron,” said a five-year-old boy from Elsies River. He and his older brother were

Photos Anele Mdudu 19

Design Clint Visser 24

sent by their mother to steal from a house in their community. The mother is currently receiving a grant for both children but uses it to support her Tik addiction instead.

Society may look at the children as delinquents, yet in reality they are victims of poor parenting and poverty. “The children are taught to steal and are used to beg on street corners to provide funds for their households,” said Melissa Waters* from Victim Support, an NGO that works with abused individuals in Elsies River.

A major problem worsening the situation is the absence of fathers to support their “babymommas”. For those mothers, the grant is their only source of income. “He doesn’t even care that he has a child.

We see each other in taverns and just look at each other like we’ve never met before,” Whitey said of the guy who got her pregnant.

When is the government going to hold the fathers responsible?

“When is the government going to hold the fathers responsible? [Fathers] are now abandoning their children because there is SASSA taking over their responsibilities.

According to government and SASSA, the fathers do not exist. If government can hold the fathers accountable, the battle will be won half way,” said Williams.

Upon leaving Wetlands I spotted a painting on the local library’s wall that held me captive by its beauty. It read: “Education is the great engine of personal development.

It is through education that the daughter of a peasant can become a doctor; that a son of a mine worker can become the head of the mine; that a child of a farm worker can become president...”

Not only are mothers who abuse the grant robbing their child of their future, they are also creating a cycle of grant-dependency.

So trade in those Carvella’s and take that “long walk to freedom” with your bundle of joy. Yes you may stumble and it might hurt sometimes. Even roses have thorns. In the end it’ll all be worth it. *Names have been changed to protect identity.

Stokvels are clubs or syndicates, serving as rotating credit unions, where members contribute fixed money.

For more info: www.theparentcentre.org.za

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champs chillzone

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Songezo Jim, 22, from Masiphumelele, is an up-and-coming cyclist who grew up in Umtata, Eastern Cape, where cycling was the last thing on his mind.

Though Songezo had dreams of being the next Lucas Radebe, in March 2005 everything changed. He had moved to Cape Town, where his friend Siyathemba Adonisi introduced him to the world of cycling. “We were watching the Cape Argus of 2005,” recalled Songezo with an excited smile. That major cycling event was where the passion for this self-motivated and hardworking cyclist was born. Cycling has played an important role in Songezo’s life, allowing him to travel the world and meet and interact with new people.

One of the highlights of his travels was cycling alongside seven-time Tour de France champion, Lance Armstrong. Songezo is currently racing for one of South Africa’s biggest cycling teams, MTN Qhubeka, and for the National Team. “It has always been my dream to ride for one of the best teams in South Africa,” he told LIVE, beaming with pride.

Songezo considers cycling a “fair” sport because individual riders can only succeed through hard work, determination and intelligence. He highlights that you need to work on your strength physically and mentally in order to succeed. He is now looking to the future: he wants to start an academy training young kids in cycling and reaching their potential.

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Quickie Facts about Songezo

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BEST RACE: 2010 Western Province Championship, where he was crowned champion ROLE MODEL: Swiss road–bicycle racer, Fabian Cancellara MOTTO: Never give up without a fight BEST COUNTRIES VISITED: Belgium, Holland and Rwanda ADVICE TO BUDDING CYCLISTS: A good cyclist needs dedication, self-discipline and the ability to manage time.

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Words Mawande Sokaya 22

Photos Anele Mdudu 19

Design Thabo Xinindlu 20

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Bits and bobs about the bike Rumour has it that Leonardo DaVinci -- the man responsible for almost everything according to Dan Brown (if you don’t know who he is, check out The DaVinci Code, and yes, it was a book before becoming a movie). DaVinci designed the modern bicycle in 1490. Fact or Fiction? You be the judge.

France must have thanked Ernest Michaux for having a brainwave in 1860 and inventing the Velocipede, or “fast foot”. It was like a hobby horse with pedals.

Unfortunately Michaux made the wheels out of iron (we can’t really blame him for not having rubber, as it wasn’t so readily available in those days). Imagine: iron wheels and cobblestone roads. Ouch! It became known as the bone-shaker for obvious reasons.

Englishman James Starly invented the Penny-Farthing. Finally, rubber wheels. This was the must-have of the decade, and the first invention to be called a bicycle. It had one major problem though. Thanks to a high front wheel, small back wheel and non-existent brakes, people were literally falling on their heads. After many hospital casualties, a breakthrough was made that led to the modern bicycle as we know it.

The smallest adult bicycle ever made used silver dollar coins as wheels. We just want to know who rode it.

It takes 20 stacked bicycles to fill up a normal parking space. This means someone actually took a whole lot of bikes and tried this. Clearly that person had a lot of time on their hands. The real upshot: think bike!

check out youth cycling clubs: crestawheelers.co.za (joburg) velokhaya.com (cape town)

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WALALA WASALA!

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(you snooze you lose)

We know that almost everyone is sitting around relaxing instead of applying to tertiary institutions while there is still time and space available.

Most of us also know about the stampede at the University of Johannesburg, where a student lost his mother while attempting to register for one of the precious remaining spots. This story is and will always be disturbing to everyone.

So listen up! Time wasted can never be returned. So everyone -- but especially those interested in professional degrees (e.g. health sciences, accounting, social work, etc.) -- start those applications now, as professional programmes close earlier than others, some as soon as the end of May or June.

Applying to tertiary institutions can be stressful. We have all been through it, and for the matriculants out there, if you haven’t, what are you still waiting for? LIVE has gathered all the information for you here, so get up and go, because the time to start thinking about it is now. You know what they say: “You snooze, you lose”.

WHICH INSTITUTION AND WHEN SHOULD I APPLY?

To all matriculants: start your applications now, because by January, most tertiary institutions are full.

Though almost everyone dreams of going to a University, it’s not the only option (unless you want to venture into a career like bio-medical technology or zoology). So grade 12s, listen up: colleges, Universities of Technology, and Further Education and Training (FET) colleges are all also out there, and can equally channel you to your desired career.

Those with a National Senior Certificate (NSC or Matric) are eligible to further their studies at institutions of higher learning like Universities, Universities of Technology or private colleges, where they can achieve a higher certificate, diploma or degree.

If you’re interested in pursuing a vocational career, you can head straight from Grade 9 to an FET college, where you can earn a National Certificate Vocational (NCV). The NCV is an exciting new three-year qualification that improves your employability after graduation.

It’s aimed at students who have The NCV is an completed Grade 9, know what they exciting new threewant from life, how they want to get year qualification there, and don’t want to first complete that improves your Grade 12 before they start out on employability after life’s great adventure. Studying at an graduation FET leads to a vocational career, like hospitality, office administration, tourism and building, to name just a few.

Finally, and perhaps most importantly, coming from a family that is not financially stable does not mean that you cannot further your studies! You are not your background. Utilise your present to create a future that is a real definition of you. Let’s shine against all odds.

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Designer Ryan Africa 25

Words Thokozile Mahlangu 20

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LIVE got a word of advice about the application process from four students from different institutions who are looking forward to their bright futures.

Prayer Sindane 21, Electrical engineering at Nkangala

FET College

Prayer ventured into the engineering world by choosing electrical engineering. She is also someone who “relaxed” during application time. “When I was in grade 12, I knew that the [final] deadlines for applying to Nkangala College were in January of the year of studying, so I decided to take my time and register in January. If only I knew that the queues were going to be that long and the sun that hot, I would have applied earlier. My advice to all grade 12s out there is to do it as soon as you get your June results.”

Closing date for applying: January 2013 Admission enquiries: (013) 656-2597

Vb Mahlangu 22, Information technology at Tshwane University of Technology

For VB, the closing date of 15 August at Tshwane University of Technology was something she always had in mind, as she was well-informed about the long queues in the year of study. “I believe in applying early, which I did, but my main concern was where I was going to get the money to study. By applying early I got the opportunity to apply for a NSFAS bursary, which is assisting me a lot with financing my studies.”

The National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) is a loan that is offered to students whose gross family income is under R140 000 per annum.

Closing date for applying: 15 August 2012 Admission enquiries: (012) 383-5750 Application for NSFAS loan: 31 October 2012 Late application for NSFAS: 13 January 2013

Azande Ngxongxela 22, marketing at Cape Peninsula University of Technology, (Western Cape)

Azande knew exactly what she wanted and so applied early to make things easier. “Applying early is always an advantage because you get to apply for exactly what you want to study, whereas when you apply late, the course that you were interested in studying may be full. You will have to make a quick decision picking a second-choice course, which is why most students end up dropping out. Apply as early as possible.”

Closing date for applying: 31 August 2012 Closing dates for design portfolios: 31 July 2012 Admission enquiries: (021) 869 8787

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Dumisani Tlou 23, Network Specialist at University of South Africa, (Gauteng)

Dumisani chose UNISA, an open distance learning (ODL) institution with a student-centered approach that gives student flexibility and choice over what, when and how you learn. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I needed to work on the side and earn extra cash [while studying]. So I applied at UNISA because you work on your own timetable, and you get to choose how many modules you want to do per semester. The disadvantage of studying at UNISA is that they donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t offer practicals, unless your course is computerrelated. The advantage is that it is affordable and highly flexible, especially if you need to work while youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re in school.â&#x20AC;?

Closing date for applying: 15 September 2012 Admission enquiries: www.unisa.ac.za

Professional programmes close earlier than others, some as soon as the end of May or June

Stressed about financing your fees?

Here are some useful sources to check out:

NSFAS

Website: www.nsfas.org.za Tel: 021 763 3232 *HSS JLU[YL OLSWSPUL! ,THPS! OLSW'JHYLLYOLSW VYN aH :TZ [L_[!

FUNDISA FUND

Website: www.fundisa.org.za >LIZP[L! ^^^ JHYLLYOLSW VYN aH -HJLIVVR! ^^^ MHJLIVVR JVT JHYLLYOLSW ;^P[[LY! [^P[[LY JVT UXMJHYLLYOLSW

Contact info

Deadlines vary for Universities, so use these contacts to find out when and what you must submit to apply.

Rhodes University tel- 046 603 8111 closing date for applying: 30 September 2012 www.ru.ac.za

University of Cape Town tel- 021 650 9111 closing date for applying: 30 September 2012 www.uct.ac.za

University of KwaZulu-Natal tel- 031 260 1111 closing date for applying: medicine: 30 June 2012 all other programmes: 30 September 2012 www.ukzn.ac.za

University of Johannesburg tel- 011 559 2911 closing date for applying: 28 September 2012 www.uj.ac.za

University of Stellenbosch tel- 021 808 9111 closing date for applying: University of Fort Hare tel (Alice campus)- 040 602 Health Sciences: 31 may all other programmes: 30 2016 tel (East London campus)- June 2012 www.sun.ac.za 043 704 7155 closing date for applying: Nelson Mandela 30 September 2012 Metropolitan University www.ufh.ac.za tel- 041 504 1111 closing date for applying: 01 August 2012 www.nmmu.ac.za

FOR VIDEOS Check out OUR YOUTUBE PAGE youtube.com/livemagsa

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regulars FEATURE

taxi teens The most common trend ekasi (in townships) is young boys joining the cab industry as drivers. Unfortunately for many, dreams of a decent living are dashed as they become victims of abuse at the hands of their bosses for various reasons.

Live investigates.

Like other boys who become taxi drivers in order to escape poverty or crime in their areas, Mongezi Thwala*, an 18-year-old from Philippi (a township on the outskirts of Cape Town), earns his bread as an “amaphela” driver. In suburbs they are called cabs, but because most of them are old and often not roadworthy, in township-lingo they’re called amaphela (cockroach). Mongezi opened up to LIVE about his near-death experience when his taxi bosses beat him to a pulp, resulting in him spending two weeks at Tygerberg Hospital.

“When I first started working for this guy, he told me that I should return his car at the end of every shift, which is usually around 10 pm at night,’’ said Mongezi, still covered in bandages. On the night of the incident he decided to visit his friends in Delft before returning the car; a terrible miscalculation. “We were sitting inside my friend’s house until about 10:30 when I was about to leave. When I got outside, the car wasn’t there.” Ashen faced, Mongezi got on the phone and called his boss telling him what had happened. He slept over at his friend’s house, with the intention of going to the police station the next morning with his boss to report the car stolen.

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Words Nana Futshane 25

Photos Words Anele Name Mdudu Surname 19 Age

Design Words Sivuyile Name Mntuyedwa Surname 25 Age

“Umlungu (the boss) called me in the morning and I took a taxi to his house. When I arrived, there were other taxi bosses and they told me to get into another car.”

The bosses then drove him to his boss’s office at the taxi terminus. “They started asking me questions, and no matter how much I explained what had happened, they said I was lying and they started beating me up,” he recalled, tears welling up in his eyes. According to Mongezi, the bosses took turns beating him with iron bars, knobkerries and sjamboks. “They even burnt my private parts with boiling water,’’ he says, still in anguish and reeling from the pain of the ordeal.

After the bosses finished, they took him to the police station, where they laid a charge of car theft against him.

“The police took me to hospital and after two weeks they returned and told me the charges had been dropped because they found the car.” Mongezi is back at his mother’s house, recovering from the beating.

“There’s nothing we can do about it because these taxi bosses are even feared by the police. That’s why they do as they please to our children!” exclaimed a distraught Nobesuthu Mudau, Mongezi’s mother.

regulars FEATURE

In 2011, Mabhuti Phakthi’s* home in Nyanga was vandalised and he was shot in the leg by angry taxi bosses. ‘’They got here one morning and started breaking windows and furniture, saying that Mabhuti had run away with R10 000 and his boss’s firearm,’’ Mabhuti’s grandmother said. “The police came but left again when the taxi bosses told them to stay out of their business.”

After the ordeal she pleaded with the bosses to extend a hand of mercy to Mabhuti, but they told her that they didn’t want to see him anywhere in Cape Town again, and that if they did, they would kill him. Ever since the incident, the 20-year-old has been living in the Eastern Cape.

The bosses took turns beating him with iron bars, knobkerries and sjamboks.

“They even burnt my private parts with boiling water,” he says, still in anguish and reeling from the pain of the ordeal ‘’These boys are criminals,” said a taxi boss from Nyanga, Mr Gaba*. “Some of them have been to jail for theft, murder and armed robberies. They approach us saying that they need jobs while they know that somewhere along the line they will go back to their criminal activities.

I’m a parent, I cannot just beat up another person’s child for nothing, especially if that child had been helping me in my business.’’ He added that although there have been cases of taxi bosses giving bad beatings and the police not doing their job, that it wasn’t his place to answer for them. ‘’ I can’t answer for other people; I answer for myself and my business.’’

The South African Police Services (SAPS) declined to comment. Mongezi is currently looking for another job but he’s sworn never again to work as a taxi driver. “Taxi bosses are cruel, they don’t appreciate what we do for them, instead they thank us by spitting on us.’’ He also warned other young people who plan on becoming taxi drivers, saying: ‘’you’ll only be safe there if your family

member is a boss, otherwise they tell you that they are not your parents and they will beat the s*** out of you.”

The hard facts The routes of these taxi drivers include Gugulethu, New Crossroads, Lower Crossroads, Luzuko and Nyanga. Days start from about 4.30 am and end whenever they make their target, usually around 9pm.

Car owners set the targets, usually between R450 to about R750 (depending on the car size). All profits must be given to the car owner. Owners give the young drivers a portion, usually between R120 and R200; the amount depends on if the owner thinks the driver abused petrol-use.

Duties: to transport people to and from the above mentioned routes, for a payment of R6, often in unroadworthy vehicles and without a drivers license (or any licensed driver present). This can lead to court appearances and even jail time.

A majority of these young drivers are high-school dropouts, with some not even having completed primary school education. For some, taxi-driving is a means of supporting an alcohol or drug addiction, but for others it’s their only way of clothing themselves, putting their younger siblings through school and avoiding going to bed with a hungry stomach.

*Names have been changed in order protect identities.

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Calling all 2012 Matriculants Khetha and apply now!

Don’t wait, apply for further studies before it’s too late. If you’re interested in studying at a higher education or training institution in 2013.

Now is the time to start looking at applications.

Check out the closing dates, ask questions and get all your info in order.

Don’t forget to check that the institution and qualification that you’re looking at is accredited with the National Qualification Framework (NFQ). For any of those nagging questions call the NQF and Career Advice Helpline on 0860 111 673.

Plan ahead – your future is too important to leave until tomorrow!

regulars

lazy guide to health Do you know what you're macking on?

You’re lying on the couch, probably in that unflattering outfit you love so much. You’ve probably had the worst day ever. At that moment, nothing could be more comforting to the soul than a “McDees Big Mac”: that succulent beef patty, those wonderfully crisp fries…hmmm.

Honestly speaking, nothing beats a juicy Big Mac, either after a messy break-up or a hard day at work. Somehow, it always makes even the worst of situations seem a little more bearable. Surely food like that can't be bad for you... Or can it? That question set me on a quest in search of the truth about this soul food we all love so much. Boy, I was not prepared for what I discovered.

That beloved Big Mac contains 540 calories. That’s the equivalent to eating almost a whole cup of sugar. No, you’re not hallucinating; nearly an entire cup. But what are calories? In layman’s terms, calories are the simplest form of energy the body requires to function.

The average person requires between 1,500 and 2,500 calories a day to function properly (this obviously changes depending on how active you are and on your body weight).

Ok, so let’s do a little equation, shall we? If you eat a Big Mac (540 calories) then decide to down it with a regular serving of coke (140 calories), and because you’re still feeling hungry you decide to top it all with a McFlurry (510 calories), that’s a total of 1,190 calories from just one meal. If you were to continue on that trend, you’d probably eat around 3,500 calories, far more than the daily requirement. In fact, you would be consuming about 1,000 calories more than what you probably should.

Words Litsoanelo Zwane 21

Illustration Keya Murphy 14

Design Thabo Xinindlu 20

So where do all these excess calories go? Well, if they’re unused (i.e., in the form of exercise), they get stored as fat. So based on the diet above, in less than four days, you’ll gain nearly half a kilo (3,500 excess calories = 0.5kg gained). A couple of kgs don’t matter, but give it a few years, and you’re in the realm of obesity -- one of the leading causes of diabetes. The excess fat also leads to cardiovascular ailments such as heart disease. Heartbreaking, literally; but before you go and console yourself with a milkshake (the strawberry one contains 570 calories, chocolate one 580), listen up.

honestly speaking nothing beats a juicy big mac,either after a messy break-up or a hard day at work When hunger strikes, or when you feel the urge to eat for whatever reason (that rough day at the office), why not opt for a healthier option? Instead of that Big Mac, why not make your own burger at home? Save your heart, your waistline, and your wallet. A fish burger is a healthier option; grilled fish contains about 100 calories, and a regular bun 134 calories. So that’s 234 calories altogether. Not a fish lover? Make your own green salad. You can use fruits and vegetables in your fridge. Add some cheese or nuts, even some grilled chicken.

As wonderful as that Big Mac is (and magical as its temporary healing powers may feel), finding healthier options is the best way to avoid a bulging waistline and, ironically,an anorexic wallet.

FOR MORE VIDEOS Check out OUR YOUTUBE PAGE youtube.com/livemagsa

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regulars

live sounds The Plastics – Shark The Plastics are a fast-rising indie-rock band brewed down in the Cape. The melodic vocals of frontman Pascal Righini, supported by Arjuna Kohlstock on guitar, Karl Rohloff on bass and Sasha Righini on drums, will lift any sullen mood. Their current 12-track album, Shark, which they say was inspired by whale sounds and the ocean (well, it is called shark) will bring out the inner Kurt Cobain in anyone. They created this album with acclaimed international producer Gordon Raphael, who has worked with the Strokes (yes, we just name dropped).

When it comes to musical influences, The Beatles and Gorillaz come to mind, though The Plastics are ever evolving their sound. Their lyrics range from crazy fun to insightful. You can jam to their song “Jukebox” and other sounds online, they have something for every mood.

[NN] Rating:

MiCasa – micasa Music This album is like a full-blown relationship to keep you warm this winter. From the first track to the last, these guys deliver a master class in musical storytelling. There is no point in trying to classify this genre: it’s soulful house that’s therapy for the ears. You have to give “Beautiful” a listen at least once, play “Give You Love” for your one true love while sitting fireside somewhere. They nailed the cover of Sade’s 80s classic, “Smooth Operator”, and I loathe covers, so you better believe it’s amazing. Their band name, MiCasa, means my house, and believe us, this album created by Dr Duda (production genius), J’Something (crooner of the crew), and Mo-T (trumpetboy), should have a place in your house.

[NN] Rating:

DJ ROGER GOODE’S TOP 5 TUNES TO JAM TO: IVANGOUGH & FEENIXPAWL – In My Mind feat. Georgi Kay (Axwell Mix)

Spoek Mathambo – Father Creeper I don’t know if I should be scared or dance, so I’ll just do both. This dude just created his own genre; mashing together an eclectic mix of sounds from dance, electro, rock, kwaito, dub-step and some hip hop, and the result is too dang beautiful for words. I’m calling it Hip Horror.

It’s a name that suits Mathambo’s shape-shifting sound.

The “Grave intro” sent chills down my spine, but it was necessary preparation for the actual track, “Grave”, (my favourite) cause it’s B.A.N.G.I.N.G! (I don’t know why I just did that.)

[PM] Rating:

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Words Ndu Ngcobo 23

Words Papi Mirelli 23

Design Clint Visser 24

KASKADE – Room For Happiness DEADMAU5 – Maths COLDPLAY – Charlie Brown (Dave Aude Remix) DADDY’SGROOVE – It’s Not Right But It’s Ok

regulars

We bring you the latest must haves on any playlist. Everything from hip-hop rappers to soulful lyrics and pop melodies, plus versatile DJs all from Mzansi.

Blaq-phonix

DJ Dilo - Vuyisa Genu Diloxcusiv

Shenfm

MusicNoteRecords

Magic can happen anywhere, but for 20-yearold Philani Ntanzi, a.k.a. Blaq-Phonix, the magic happens in the comfort of his own home in Jozi’s Kempton Park. Ntanzi stumbled onto his talent a mere six years ago when a friend told him about a music production program called Reason. After some heavy experimentation, Blaq-Phonix was born. His music is a melodic mixture of electro beats, loungy sounds and hip-hop vibes. His music is making waves on music websites across the Internet sphere. Take it from us, this guy means business. When asked who taught him, he simply replied, “I am my own teacher.” The words “musical genius” come to mind... Blaq-Phonix is worth a listen and a dance. [NN]

The eclectic mix of African sound, soulful lyrics and pop melodies are what embody ShenFM. Playing one-hour long, non-stop sessions, they transition from song to song with no breaks. Their music has been inspired by everything from classic pop to Steve Kekana. There is no genre to classify this, let’s just call it proudly South African.

Their debut album is called Season One, the tracks are called episodes, and the whole thing is a must listen and watch. See them perform online at: www.shenfm.com. But do yourself a favour and listen to “City of Might” first. These are jams that anyone from everywhere can identify with and even dance to. [NN] Words Melody Chironda 23

Words Ndu Ngcobo 23

Design Sivuyile Mntuyedwa 25

DJ Dilo is a majorly in-demand DJ, playing at different clubs around Cape Town every weekend with his own definitive style. Born Vuyisa Genu, DJ Dilo is a young producer, DJ, concept creator, graphic designer, MC and radio presenter at UCT Radio. He started as a house music selector in 2003, with the likes of the late DJ Wele, DJ Max, DJ Nsunda, playing at Whitehouse club in Delft.

The biggest challenge that DJ Dilo has faced was playing for more than 25 000 people at the Cape Town International Convention Centre (CTICC) Music Festival for the World Cup 2010. He also says maintaining his standards and continuing to set trends in a very populated industry is a challenge.

To hear him, check out places like Mzoli’s Place and E’skhaleni Butchery. [MC]

Game-changing artists PS Quint and YungLue (MusicNoteRecords) are an upcoming hip-hop duo representing Cape Town’s finest. They drop the hottest mix-tapes, coolest remixes and spit dope verses over any beat you can come up with.

The way they deliver their lyrics and swag makes their music different from anyone else. YungLue describes their music as lyrical, fun, wild and catchy with hot punch lines. PS Quint says, “Music is the best way we express ourselves. Music is the way we talk, the way we act, our fashion, our lifestyle and our people. It’s the culture of the streets.” Expect an album dropping soon, because every mix-tape they have had dropped so far is on fire. [MC]

FOR MORE music content check out profil-E artist on www.youtube/livemagsa

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art hub

In the world we live in and with the types of social ills we are confronted with, art can sometimes be the only meaningful way to make sense of what’s happening around us. our arts page will cover arts events, profile new artists and different art forms, hopefully inspiring you to explore your own talents.

Winslow Schalkwyk, poet

V u C, artist

Q: Tell us a little about yourself A: I’m a descendant of a strong line of healers, dreamers, slaves, travellers and artists. A recovering perfectionist. I love music, art, good food, reading, performing, learning, teaching and being me. A multi-media junkie and a stage-addict: I love having various mediums through which to express my personal truth. My personal truth is poetry.

Q: What’s your definition of poetry?

A: Poetry is pure expression wrapped in an honest interpretation. It can be expressed through words on paper or on stage or through movement. Life is poetry. It doesn’t have to be a rhyme or be an extended metaphor. It can be like a simile. Simple. Direct. Poetry.

VuC is a promising 25-year-old graffiti artist from Newtown, Joburg. He started tagging (a personalised signature in graffiti art) in his teens on trains, bridges and walls around his neighbourhood. He now does his graffiti on designated graffiti sites or on t-shirts (which he sells to buy spray cans) and occasionally he gets commissioned to do adverts for small brands. His work can be seen at the Newtown bridge, an iconic spot for graffiti art.

EVENTS ENCOUNTERS film festival

When: 7 - 24 Jun 2012 (annual) Where: Cape Town & Johannesburg Encounters is the annual South African International Documentary Film Festival featuring screenings, panel discussions and workshops for aspiring filmmakers with both local and international documentary work.

The event is held at various locations in Cape Town and Johannesburg. See the website for more details: www.encounters.co.za Q: What is your writing process like?

A: I open myself to life and honestly experience the lessons life is teaching me. I listen to the rhythms around me or inside me and allow these rhythms to just be. I spend time with my granny and listen to her stories. I listen to music, find a dance floor, go for a walk or spend time in nature. I get angry, I fall in love, I cry, I feel love and then I write.

Twitter: @win_s_low http://www.facebook.com/WarriorWinslow

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Words Nozuko Poni 25

Photos Solomzi Mtengwane 20

Photos Nkululeko Marais 25

National Arts Festival

When: 28 June to 8 July Where: Grahamstown One of Africa’s most important cultural happenings, the National Arts Festival includes drama, dance, comedy, music, art exhibitions, films, lectures, craft fairs and a children’s arts festival. A highlight of the yearly art’s calendar! www.nafest.co.za

Design Sivuyile Mntuyedwa 25

REGULARS regulars

LIVE READS IF YOU JUDGE A BOOK BY ITS COVER, YOU MAY MISS AN AMAZING STORY...

Some of My Best Friends Are White

The Goblet Club

Ndumiso Ngcobo’s Some of My Best Friends Are White answers all of those little questions about race and friendship in South Africa. The Sunday Times columnist comically tackles issues black South Africans often contemplate such as race, language (slang), politics, culture and unemployment. All this is deftly handled with a sense of humour that cuts across the racial divide; we are able sit back and laugh at ourselves. You’ll recognise a facet of yourself (or people close to you) in this hilarious collection of non-fiction essays. If you really know your quirky habits you will laugh until you can’t BREATHE! [MC]

The story takes place at St Matthews, a private school for boys with issues. It starts out with promise. The plot is intriguing and it would probably have made for a good read if executed properly, but it wasn’t. You can tell that it was written by a woman because the male protagonist starts out cocky and self-assured before slowly becoming as emotional as a 13-year-old school girl. The setting is better suited to a British private school in the good old days before technology than South Africa in the so-called “noughties”. There are a few Afrikaans surnames sprinkled in, and there’s a mention of Soweto somewhere, but that's as African as it gets. The twist is too obviously set-up, and the climax is short-lived and unsatisfactory. The descriptions, though interesting at first, are repetitive. I gave it two out of five because, even though I didn’t enjoy it, I still finished reading it. [JE]

Ngiyolibala Ngifile

Zoo City

Imagine being molested by your father and carrying his child as a result. The blood that created you, the man who fed you your whole life, who provided the roof over your head and who sleeps in the same room as your mother, is the same man who causes you the most gruesome pain. Barely into womanhood, Khanyisile finds herself in this unimaginable position. The question before her: what to do next? Does she tell her mother? And how does she even begin to tell this story? And what about her father, who is raising his own child as his grandchild? Dumisani Sibiya explores how a family is broken down and threatened from within in this novel rich with emotion, turmoil and imagery. Putting this book down is even harder than not crying as you turn the pages. This is a must-read if you are a strong Zulu reader, if not forget it. In true Zulu style, the words are so poetic that you might need a dictionary by your side just to get through the first chapter. [NN]

Taking your imagination to a higher level, this sci-fi novel throws you into a world populated by characters with kick-ass bad attitudes. Lauren Beukes introduces us to Zinzi December, the protagonist allegedly responsible for getting her brother killed. A former journalist and drug addict, Zinzi is trying to repay a debt to her dealer by charging people for her talent in “finding lost things”, as well as writing fraud emails. So when a woman is found dead, Zinzi brings her detective skills to the table to try and solve the murder. Along the way, Zinzi has to face up to some dark secrets from people’s lives, including some of her own. The novel is so well written you won’t want to put it down. [MC]

by: S.A. Partridge

by: Ndumiso Ngcobo

Words Melody Chironda 23

Words Name Surname Age

by: EDM Sibiya

by: Lauren Beukes

Words Jes Edgson 23

Words Ndu Ngcobo 23

Design & illustration Ryan Africa 25

Photos HAVE YOUR SAY AND JOIN THE Solomzi DEBATE AT LIVE EAST Mtengwane

www.live-east-mag.com 20

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regulars

at the movies We always rush to crowded cinemas just to catch a glimpse of the latest Hollywood blockbusters. but lately there is a crop of homegrown flicks making it BIG and telling our stories.

Otelo Burning PG 13 Set in KwaZulu-Natal in 1988, Otelo Burning tells the story of three township youngsters who discover the freedom of surfing despite being surrounded by the violence and mayhem of the apartheid era. The movie takes us into the lives of Otelo, his 11-year-old brother, Ntwe, and his best friend, New Year.

Otelo learns how to swim at the local municipal swimming pool, a step which leads him closer to conquering the waves on a surfboard. In the midst of romance and rivalry, tragedy compels Otelo to make a choice between fame, money and girls on the one hand, and justice (or revenge) on the other. Intriguing and well worth watching.

Drama: 72 mins Release date: 11 May 2012

nsi a z M r o cks f ay not be i p p o t Our ies. they m’re still n Mov , but they d – or eve new th a secon . wor d! – watch thir

Words Name Surname Age

PG13 A South African movie about a young boy growing up in the streets of Soweto, Johannesburg, and rising from a rank small-time criminal to a powerful crime lord during the turbulent years before and after the fall of apartheid.

Action/Drama/Crime: 90 mins Release date: 27 May 2008

Invictus

PG13 A heart-warming story of how newly appointed President Nelson Mandela set out to use the 1995 Rugby World Cup to unite a fractured but sports-mad country emerging from a past of racial hatred.

Drama: 134 mins Release date: 11 Dec 2009

Tsotsi

Sarafina

PG 13 Material is a comedy about a young Muslim man, Cassim Kaif (played by Riad Moosa), who loves performing stand-up comedy.

Unfortunately his dream conflicts with his father’s ideals, which revolve around him taking over the family textile shop. Family feuds from all corners engulf the Kaifs, and problems start to mount for Cassim as he seeks to balance his comedy, love-life, religion and family values without hurting anyone in the process. Material is a pleasant film to watch and share a laugh with your friends and family.

Comedy: 90 mins Release date: 17 Feb 2012

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Jerusalema: The Promised Land

PG13 An Oscar-winning film, set in Johannesburg, about a teenage township tsotsi (thug) who gets more than he bargains for when he steals a car only to find a baby in the backseat.

Crime/Drama: 94 mins Release date: 23 Dec 2005

Material

Words Melody Chironda 23

Best South African movies of all time

Design Clint Visser 24

PG13 A classic musical that tells the story of the Soweto uprisings of June 1976. The film was made, in part, to commemorate student resistance to the State of Emergency declared by the South African government in 1976 – a decree that led to thirteen years of martial law.

Drama/Musical: 117 mins Release date: 24 July 1992

Skin

PG13 Based on the true story of Sandra Laing, a black girl who was born to white Afrikaner parents in South Africa during the apartheid era. Sandra was a genetic throwback because, unknown to her parents (and like many “white” South Africans), their heritage included the mixing of blood between the Europeans who settled in South Africa and indigenous Africans.

Drama: 107 mins Release date: 22 January 2010

Words Name Surname Age

Word Name Surname Age

Words Name Surname Age

Photos Name Surname Age

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live

cellphone play Cellphones are meant for more than just calling and snapping pics. We have come a long way since the days of snake on a nokia 3310. Here are the latest games that have us going crazy. even better, they’re all free.

Social games on Google play

I like new things and naturally I shied away from the over-popular BlackBerry movement (also I can’t afford the BlackBerry Bold). So the Android does it for me. if you don’t have an android phone, fear not, these games are also available on Facebook. Some top picks (they are social, so require internet access) : DRAG RACING by Creative Mobile Games Mod your car for victory against the set career mode (i.e., pretend to be a pro-racer), which you can be playing for hours on end, unaware of the watches and hourglasses floating around you. I looked up and was surprised that time really could fly when I was having fun. You can also participate in the online tournaments and race against other players all over the world. Go ahead, shift your way up the ranks and be the best… It’s quite easy to get stuck in, so don’t say you weren’t warned.

Rating: 4 1/2

“WITH FRIENDS” SERIES by Zynga Inc. Play against mates or random onliners with games like online poker, scramble with friends and words with friends, all brought to you by the “with friends” series from Zynga. You will have your mind stuck in (never wanting to get out, trust me) creating words on “scramble” and “words with friends”. Since you have an Android phone I suppose you know where you can find a free wifi connection, or just use your airtime. Play these games for bragging rights as you can post your scores and progress online, or just for the fun of it offline. Zynga really brought it out this time.

Rating: 3 1/2

Non-social games If you don’t feel like playing against people and you’d rather get your game on alone, then non-social games are your vibe.

Words Neo Matoane 22

Words Name Surname Age

Angry Birds Like puzzles? Then you must have heard of the Angry Birds series. If you haven’t then climb aboard your spaceship and head back to planet earth... where have you been? A bunch of pigs steal the birds’ precious eggs and enclose them in their fortresses. Naturally, the birds get angry and plan to get even.

So they gather up and raid the castle. The aim of the game is to destroy the pigs’ fort by attacking its weak spots using naturally occurring forces like gravity. In this case (unlike Dr Seuss’ book) it’s a case of red eggs and green ham (the first bird is red and all the pigs are green).

Rating: 4

Design Clint Visser 24

wired

app vs app

Tech boffins have given us awesome (or sometimes lame) apps to choose from. Downloading what seems to be a cool app is exciting, finding out that it’s duller than watching your grandmother knit sucks big time.

Battle of notes We love looking cool in front of our friends – name dropping songs, the artists and the album that a particular song is from. but sometimes we don’t know who sings it, let alone the song’s name. Fear not, Shazam and Soundhound to the rescue – but which to choose?

Shazam

SoundHound

Point your cellphone in the direction of the music, make sure you have an internet connection, and SHAZAM! SHAZAM tells you the song name and even includes a cool picture of the album the track comes from. Share the music you have “SHAZAMed” with your friends on Facebook and Twitter.

It’s like your all-in-one music encyclopaedia. I would say that this is kick-ass, but forget “SHAZAMing” local artists who aren’t as big as Goldfish or Louise Carver, apparently the rest don’t exist in SHAZAM-land. Don’t bother humming a tune, that too is a SHAZAM no-no.

[NN]

Gone are the days where you call up your radio DJ to find out what the song’s name is. SoundHound will pick up the song as it plays, and you will have the song title before the DJ sounds the jingle. If you can hold a note, SoundHound tries its best to recognize the song that you sing or hum; it may not be 100%, but it is really cool. Be warned though, this app is super data-intensive, but at least it gives you value for money. With the pro-version you can even get the lyrics (if available). [NM]

VS

SoundHound wins by a hum: Sound hound can do everything SHAZAM can but faster. The humming factor gives it the upper hand so that we can even overlook the annoying ads (on the demo versions).

“Twar” of the twitter app: A twitter war is always fun to laugh at on your timeline. Yes, yes, “TWAR” is one of those annoying twitter type names that morph twitter and a normal word. In the spirit of Twars we chose Tweetcast and Ubersocial, so battle it out: #It’s On!

Tweetcaster

UberSocial

TweetCaster is so easy to use, it will have you tweeting, RT’ing, subtweeting and DM’ing all your followers and followees (there are no leaders on Twitter but you can follow tweeps). With this app you can also have your tweets sent to Facebook so as soon as some of your Facebook friends see your tweet on their timeline they can follow you. You can TMI, store people you’ve mentioned on your timeline, and mute people with “Zip-it”. It saves hashtags and highlights trending ones. Once you get to know it, you will have no choice but to #LoveIt. [NM]

Themed screen #yay, UberSocial lets you customise your screen.

There are useless ones like the “50cent screen”, but we can look past that. You can post your tweets to Facebook automatically (though why people do that is beyond me). There’s a nifty trick where it highlights people tweeting nearby: #stalker. The standard muting of annoying people, storing mentioned people and TMI are all thrown in. One problem is that it doesn’t save your hashtags or bring up hashtags that are trending: #Fail. I get the UberSocial craze: it makes Twitter more personal. [NN]

VS

Words Ndu Ngcobo 23

Words Neo Matoane 22

Words Name Surname Age

We #ThumbsUp UberSocial: Twas a tough one, but due to the personalised themes and nearby tweet factor, download UberSocial.

Design Clint Visser 24

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LIve Jabs

LOL FANTASTIC HILARIOUS flying high

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MERRY

I WANNA BE SEDATED

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Feeling sad? You must suffer from depression.

Take some Zoloft. If you talk during class you’re probably ADD. There is Ritalin for that.

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If you struggle to talk to the boy or girl that you like, well, you probably have general anxiety disorder. Don’t despair, there are brilliant pills for that (yay Prozac). If your boss says something mean to you (e.g., “Please stay off Facebook”) keep an eye out for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). You should really treat that before the humiliation sets in; a bottle of Aropax will do the trick.

Depression medications may lead to a severe addiction, but who cares? There are pills to help with addiction. All these meds may cause lack of appetite, staring into space, etc.; fortunately there are drugs to calm the side-effects of the drugs, and more pills to calm the side-effects of those other pills...

and elevator music in their heads. If, somehow, you find yourself confident, happy or in control of your emotions, you are not as well as you think. You are almost certainly the victim of delusions of grandeur (confidence), mania (happiness) or, worst of all, if you think you’re in control of your life, you are most likely suffering from schizophrenia (a disassociation with reality).

Think yourself creative? Think again.

If you find yourself being inspired you should see red flashing lights and check yourself into the nearest insane asylum and get yourself sedated. Vincent Van Gogh, Amy Winehouse, Jimi Hendrix and Virginia Woolf are all said to have suffered bipolar disorder. So rather than be the next creative genius, pop a pill and chill as your brain slowly turns into wobbly jelly.

But don’t take me too seriously on any of what I’m saying – I haven’t taken my medication in two days.

Words Name Surname Age

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Words Jes Edgson 23

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Don’t watch the news though, that might cause you to think. Thinking leads to thoughts. Thoughts lead to opinions.

Opinions might lead to another disease or, even worse, actual participation in modern society. We wouldn’t want that. People who can formulate thoughts and participate in political debates are a no-no. What we really need are a bunch of kids drooling in the corner with dazed smiles

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Design & Illustration Ryan Africa 25

DEFINING THE DISEASES (SERIOUSLY...)

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Apparently our parents had to deal with their problems. If they were sad they had to suck it up and get on with life.

That caused building of character, and we know how frustrating fully formed personalities can be. We’re lucky: we can just take a pill, veg in front of the TV and continue to be part of the dumbed-down, consumer-driven culture our generation worships.

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If, somehow, you find yourself confident, happy or in control of your emotions, you are not as well as you think

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Depression is a prolonged feeling of sadness and despondency characterised by a lack of energy. It’s not just having a bad day.

ADD (Attention Deficit Disorder) is an inability to concentrate for a certain... ooh look, butterfly!... period of time. ADD is usually treated with Ritalin, a drug with many negative side-effects General Anxiety Disorder is characterised by frequent and irrational worry.

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) can occur after a traumatic experience that results in anxiety and/or depression long after the event.

Bipolar disorder is characterised by severe mood swings ranging from mania (an intense excited hyperactivity and restlessness) to depression.

ON A SERIOUS NOTE: For help with mental health issues call Depression and Anxiety Group Helpline: (011) 262 6396

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episode 3 Words Jess Edgson 23

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Live is coming at you from your phone! from the bundus to Braamfontein

mobile Head to our new mobi site where you can get the magazine

live is coming at you instantly to your handheld straight to your phone, device wherever you are. if thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s cell coverage LIVE will Thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s more content to be there with you. mobi live comment on so your voice can on-the-go to share with your really be heard. If you have more mates. than a comment to share you can contribute, this is your chance to be a part of the

voice of the youth.

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www.livemag.co.za Words Ndu Ngcobo 23

Design Clint Visser 24

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enter: to enter go to our mobi competition page, www.livemag.co.za, count how many times we use the word live in our special article. fill out the form and this amazing cellphone could be yours.

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S’phum’e lokshen!

From the new kid on the block to 4 293 870 Rhythm Citizens, welcome to…

WEEKDAYS 6.30PM