Get to know your players: AmaTuks and Varsity Cup profiles
pg. 11
Perdeby
Tuks se amptelike studentekoerant / Official Tuks student newspaper / Kuranta ya baithuti ya semmušo ya Tuks
2 March 2015
year77issue05
pg. 6
Curlitzia were the winners of the inaugural interhouse debate hosted last week Thursday. The debate competition was hosted by Stuku. Curlitzia faced Olympus in the semi-final and their strong argument for banning alcohol in residences bested rivals TuksVillage’s in the final. Residences competed against each other during last week and Taaibos was also one of the top four finalists. Image: Suné van Wyk.
Academic dishonesty Israel Apartheid Week: the debate continues - pg. 7
Up-and-comers from UP pg. 9
A Re Yeng rapid transport system to affect student parking pg. 3
Freedom of speech: how free are we? - pg. 7
RAG Tuks BestMed race - pg. 12
Open to ALL interested candidates who would like to become involved in community engagement and would like to take Reach Out and Give on a new journey into 2015. Application forms available from Roosmaryn reception and to be handed in to Ms Erika Roux (Roosmaryn building room 1-33)
Applications close Friday, 13 March 2015 at 12:00 Please keep in mind that your academic record should be attached and that you should at least have 55% to be considered for an EC position and at least 60% to be considered for the position of an ex-officio member. For any further inquiries please feel free to contact Dr Rina Wilken via email to make an appointment at: rina.wilken@up.ac.za
applications now open
2
Perdeby
Editorial | 2 March 2015
Meet Grumpy McGrumpster (it’s not the bunny)
www.perdeby.co.za perdeby@up.ac.za m.perdeby.co.za @perdebynews @PerdebySport @PerdebyE Tel: (012) 420 6600
Editorial Editor-in-chief Carel Willemse
carel.willemse@up.ac.za @Ed_in_Chief
Editor Michal-Maré Linden
perdeby@up.ac.za @MicsLinden
News Michael Bongani Reinders
news@perdeby.co.za @Mike_Bongani
Features Leanne Cumming
features@perdeby.co.za @CummingsGoing
Entertainment Elmarie Kruger Sport Simphiwe Nhlabathi
entertainment@perdeby.co.za @elmariekr
Web Marko Svicevic
sport@perdeby.co.za @SimphiweNhlabZA webeditor@perdeby.co.za @MarkoSvicevic1
Copy Herman Hoogenboezem
copy@perdeby.co.za @hermaninoff
Layout Nikita Mokgware
layout@perdeby.co.za @nikineo
Visuals Hendro van der Merwe Multimedia Keegan Schmidt
visuals@perdeby.co.za @hendrovdm webeditor@perdeby.co.za @GraylyJoker0
Teams Layout Ashleigh Batchelor Jacob Swati Kriszti Bottyan
I feel that it’s time that I use this space to rant a little. It has come to my attention that many individuals are unaware of how to make effective use of the HSB lifts. As a student and employee of the Humanities faculty, I make use of the HSB lifts several times a day. For the most part, it is just me and a few other claustrophobic souls stuck on a journey to heights best not
contemplated. Every once in a while, though, our journey is unceremoniously jolted to a halt by some cretin that is using the lift to move just one floor higher. I encountered one such person last week that stood ranting and raving because the lift was not arriving fast enough. She had neither a heavy bag nor any visible physical ailment. I asked her why she didn’t just take the stairs to the fourth floor, seeing as we were on the third floor. She told me she was too tired. I mean, really? The stairs from the third to the fourth floor are wide and a decent distance apart making them neither a huge tripping hazard nor a significant physical obstacle. I chose not to take her lift but rather wait for another because I was certain I’d be annoyed to paralysis by the time I’d reached her fourth-floor stop. Not two days later, I encountered another person who was using the lift to go from the third floor to the second. Seriously, come on. It’s downhill! My residence has four stories and no elevator. Each day, 60 or so girls ascend and descend those stairs at least once. Sometimes they do it at 05:00 and sometimes they might not be too sober. They are certainly almost always tired (especially if the situation involves 05:00 and inebriation). Even so, in my four years I’ve never heard of anyone acquiring a serious health
Clarification
problem from these stairs. In fact, I’m pretty sure it actually improves their vitality. Or helps them sleep better, at the least. The HSB lifts are super crowded and everyone is quite anxious to get to their destinations. Being forced to stop just one floor up is highly annoying to the people that are aiming for the 10th, 16th, or even 22nd floor, especially if you’re late or the person next to you has powerful BO. It’s really not much effort on your part to cut the laziness and make everyone’s day more pleasant. 23 February 2015 | News I could elaborate on the idea that you SRC students financial shouldassists be grateful for yourwith mobility and aid make use of it, but instead I will just warn the offenders: if you encounter a short girl reprimanding you for taking the elevator to the next floor, it’s probably me and you’re suceeded in making me Grumpy McGrumpster for the next hour. Now that that’s done, you should probably read the rest of the paper. Our journs have been working super hard as we’re slightly understaffed at the moment. Thank goodness for new intake on Friday! Tuks Student Representative Council. Photo: Hendro van der Merwe
BUSISIWE BEJE AND MICHAEL BONGANI REINDERS The SRC provided financial aid to students in need of help with registration fees, as promised during their election campaign last year. Reghard Pretorius, SRC member with the student finances portfolio, said that the remaining funds from the 2013/2014 SRC budget amounted to R240 000 and was allocated to the current SRC. This was to help them get on their feet as they are still waiting to receive university funds, which will only happen at the end of February. “The money that [we] received was used to help all students that came to seek help as they were unable to register. We were able to help 48 students with that money,” said Pretorius. Preference was given to first- and final-year students. Furthermore, students that applied for SRC aid had to have a bursary or had to have applied for NSFAS aid. “The student had to be financially set for the year and had to have an average that is
above 50% to increase their chances of receiving help, as many students apply,” said Pretorius. In order to apply, a student had to go to any of the SRC members at the beginning of the year when registration opened and explain their situation to them. They also needed to write a motivational letter if they had an average below 50%, as well as supply a copy of their ID, proof of income, their most recent academic record and supporting documents for their application. However, not every student that applied received help. A BEd FET student, who wished to remain anonymous, told Perdeby that she handed her application in to SRC President Mosibudi Rasethaba at the beginning of the registration week for seniors. Rasethaba said that they would get back to her the following week. She had still not been informed about the status of her application three weeks after she applied. She said, “I have not yet registered, but I’m hoping that they will get back to me at some point because they are my
last hope.” When aked about the financial aid, Rasethaba said, “We managed to help as many students as possible, but this is clearly not enough.” He also spoke of fundraisers which the SRC have planned and a book drive to help students who can’t afford textbooks. He also told Perdeby that “money has been made available from the university management, R3 million to be exact, to assist students that don’t necessarily fall under the NSFAS criteria.” Rasethaba also added that, “we would just like to urge all students that applied for financial aid with the SRC office, that haven’t received any form of communication, to contact the SRC office, particularly the office of the SRC financial aid officer, Reghard Pretorius, to find out how far the application [is] and if it was not approved, why it was not approved, and to see if there are any other means we can [use to] help try [to] get in contact with bursars or any other potential loans that you can access that you are not aware of.”
Be considerate and have a fantastic week :) Michal
The headline on page 3 of the 23 February 2015 edition “UP political parties reject Student Forum” could be misinterpreted. The term “Student Forum” refers to the election process of the Student Forum, which took place on 12 February, and not the structure itself. Perdeby strives to provide students with accurate information and apologises for the ambiguity.
Political societies gathered in the piazza. Photo: Charlotte Bastiaanse
UP political parties reject Student Forum JODY DAVISON On 12 February UP societies convened at the quarterly subcouncil meeting to vote in a new Student Forum. The Student Forum is responsible for holding the SRC accountable for their actions and their promises to students. The election process and the meeting itself have caused some discontent. Daso has lodged an official complaint with Director of the Department of Student Affairs Dr Matete Madiba concerning the manner in which the subcouncil meeting was conducted. The election process separated the societies into five categories (religious, political, social, academic, and other) where representatives of the various societies were voted into the Student Forum. Each category was limited to three seats in the Student Forum and the election
procedure only allowed one person per society to vote. Werner Beineke, AfriForum’s deputy chairperson, explained that AfriForum rejects the Student Forum because it is unconstitutional to allow only one person per group to vote and that the correct constitutional procedures were not followed. Daso also believes that this voting system was unfair and lacks credibility. Sean Janse, Daso’s secretary, told Perdeby that there was no independent officer to count the votes. When Perdeby spoke to the EFF, Daso and the ANCYL, all three parties agreed that the meeting was unprepared, disorganised and poorly planned. Evidence of this is that the election procedure was only determined at the meeting. Zwanyi Mohale, ANCYL deputy chairperson, said that the voting procedure was unclear and showcased
the poor planning evident as it caused confusion around the election. Janse also criticised the fact that there was no vote to decide on the election procedure. Both the EFF and Daso identified the constitution as the problem. Jaco Oelofse, EFF secretary, said “there was not enough clarity around the matter.” The problem for Daso is the constitution’s lack of provision for voting procedures and delegation of voting powers. For Oelofse, however, the newly elected Student Forum is good as it is “a bit more left-leaning, which means that students’ issues might keep being addressed”. However, Janse feels that the elected Student Forum “is not a free and democratic [one]”. Consequently, Daso has called for a re-election and for the constitution’s problems to be addressed.
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Update o and exam
JODY DAVISON AND MICH BONGANI REINDERS
UP has recently made changes test and exam rules. Certain ite will no longer be allowed into test or exam venue. These item are: bags, handbags, pencil cas books, unauthorized apparatus, electronic device which facilita communication, paper and note However, as of Friday 20 February these new rules were temporarily amended. Bags, bo cellphones etc. will now be all into test and exam venues, but items must be placed inside the which must be closed and plac under the student’s seat. Electr devices must be switched off a placed inside bags or on the flo out of sight of the student. Stud may not have physical access t of the items placed on the floor the duration of the exam sessio The initial decision to chang rules was made last year. Mosi Rasethaba, SRC President, told Perdeby that the rules have changed because of the numbe disciplinary hearings due to stu breaking the exam rules. Not h some of these items in the exam diminish the chances of studen cheating. Wendy Mamabolo, a second
Transform discussio KEEGAN FRANCES
Copy Christelle van Schalkwyk Emma Paulet Happy Mahlangu Jaco Stroebel Jessica Nogieć Rorisang Moloi Shannon Nauschutz Tshegofatso Ndabane Tshepho Mamashela
Perdeby is printed by Paarlmedia. All rights reserved. Contributions are welcome. All due care will be taken with materials submitted, but Perdeby and printers cannot be held responsible for loss or damage. The editor reserves the right to edit, amend or alter in any way deemed necessary. Perdeby cannot be responsible for unsolicited material. The opinions expressed in Perdeby are not necessarily those of the editors and printers of Perdeby.
From the Editor
Marise Swart 076 078 7684 www.marise.co.za
Marius Prinsloo 012 342 3383 www.mppo.co.za
The issue of transformation affe many institutions in South Afric including those in the higher education sector. As a result, a p discussion forum entitled “Imag a transformed higher education sector: lessons from home” was held by UP’s humanities faculty and the Humanities Transformat Committee on 12 February. The first speaker at the event was Prof. Melissa Steyn, a mem of the Department of Science an Technology (DST), the National Research Foundation (NRF) and the South African Research Cha Initiative (SARChI). She is also Chair in Critical Diversity Studi and director of the Wits Centre for Diversity Studies. The secon speaker, Dr Nomalanga Mkhize, history lecturer at the University Rhodes and a regular contributo Business Day and other news me Both speakers gave varying views on how to address the issu of transformation. Prof. Steyn sp of the importance of what she ca “critical diversity literacy” whic defined as an “informed analytic orientation [enabling] a person t read prevailing social relations… recognising the way that possibi are… opened up or closed down in those particular instances in th unfolding dynamics of society.” Steyn indicated that this term sh be stimulated in every graduate create individuals who would ha package of multi-literacies, inclu a literacy of critical diversity. Dr Mkhize spoke about the iss of deracialisation. She felt that
2 March 2015 | News
3
Full parking areas around the university. Photo: Brendan Fraser
A Re Yeng bus route. Image: www.AReYengTshwane.co.za.
A Re Yeng rapid transport system to affect student parking MICHAEL BONGANI REINDERS AND MONET CRONJE According to the UP strategic plan – 2025 the University of Pretoria is estimated to have had 45 000 contact students in 2011, with the number anticipated to increase to 55 000 students by 2025. The result of this substantial increase in enrollment is an ongoing parking crisis in and around Hatfield. The parking crisis is set to worsen with the introduction of the new A Re Yeng rapid transport system. The City of Tshwane launched the first phase of the A Re Yeng bus route late in 2014. Line 2A is operational from the Tshwane CBD to Hatfield and the line passes by the University of Pretoria. The A Re Yeng trunk bus routes (buses that operate in reserved lanes) are supported by feeder routes, and two of these feeder routes are
already operational at the Groenkloof campus and the Prinshof campus. The next phase that will be constructed is known as Line 2B. This line will run on Lynnwood Road from the intersection with University road and then along Atterbury road to Menlyn. Apart from making provision for a bus system, the design will also incorporate provision for non-motorised transport, such as cycle lanes and pedestrian walkways. Indications from the team responsible for the project are that the contractor for Line 2B will be appointed by April 2015. Part of the construction of Line 2B along Lynwood road will impact on the operations and activities of UP and parking along Lynnwood road will be forfeited to accommodate the proposed design of Line 2B. Additional parking will be created
on the corner of University and Lynnwood road adjacent to the railway line, but a net loss of parking space will be experienced. There are alternative parking options for students in Hatfield which are not common knowledge. The Fields on Burnett street (between Hilda and Festival street) has parking available to university students and is within walking distance of the Hatfield campus. According to Lize Nel, a marketing specialist at City Property Administration, there are over 1200 parking bays, of which 650 are available as the rest are rented out on a monthly basis. “If parking is required, students should visit the Interpark office in the basement (-1 level) with their ID and student card to discuss a cost-effective option,” she said. The monthly cost of renting a parking bay is estimated
to be around R220, excluding a once-off deposit of R220, an admin fee of R150 and a card fee of R50. If renting a parking bay is not a viable option there is also the option of daily parking at The Fields. “Students should collect a ticket at the entrance and before leaving take it to Interpark’s Office for the ticket to be validated for the student discount,” continues Nel. A valid student card is required to qualify for the student discount, which amounts to a fee of R10 per day from Mondays to Fridays. Parking at The Fields is available from 06:00 to 18:00 every day. However, normal parking fees are charged after 18:00. “Access to the basement parking is controlled by security guards patrolling constantly. There are also CCTV cameras,” says Nel. When asked about the A Re Yeng rapid transit system, fourth-
year BEng student Lana Kemp told Perdeby that she hasn’t used the service and that it hasn’t been marketed to students, but affirms that she would be willing to give it a go. The service runs from 06:00 to 20:00 during the week, with trunk services available every seven minutes during peak hours and every ten minutes during off-peak hours. The cost of a ten point journey, which amounts to roughly 3.8km, will cost around R11.88 according to the service’s website. According to the A Re Yeng website, students can go to any one of the seven A Re Yeng stations to obtain a “connector” card at a cost of R25, where an option will be presented to register (in which case you will get 25 travel points for free) or to remain anonymous. Registration requires a valid ID or drivers licence.
The technological age of tertiary education JODY DAVISON UP has increased the implementation of the new clicker system in lectures. The clicker system is an instrument to monitor class attendance as well as a way of inspiring class participation and serves as ongoing revision through multiple choice tests. This year the law faculty has started using the clicker system in first semester law modules for second years. Prof. Anton Kok, deputy dean of the law faculty, told Perdeby “we want to follow an inquiry-led approach in our teaching. We want a better classroom experience. We want to be better able to track our students’ grasp of the issues and in that process probably raise [their] game.” On Participate Technology’s website (the supplier of the clicker system) the statistical data shows an 83% increase in class participation and the system enhances learning by 73%. Some law students see the benefit of having this system, while others have an issue with the system’s
technological problems and the price. Lize Rossouw, a second-year law student, sees the clicker system as “a splendid way to adapt to a future with so much technology in sight and a great way to make class interaction grow miraculously.” There are other students who have experienced the technical problem of the clicker system. Neo Motlhoiwa, third-year BA Law student, explained that in his KTR 211 lecture students could not connect to the lecturer’s receiver, causing a delay of around ten minutes. This prevented the class from doing a mock test. Prof. Kok acknowledged that the system is not yet working optimally but that he does not “think we could have expected that after a month.” The price of the clicker has received a mixed response from students. Bookmark sells the QT Clicker for R776.50 and the RF LCD clicker for R555.95. For some it is a problem while others feel that the price can be justified by its benefits. When considering all of the other
All staff and students are encouraged to support Earth Hour on Saturday 28 March 2015 by switching off all lights for one hour from 20:30 to 21:30. South Africa has a dire shortage of electricity and this is a chance to support an important cause while saving electricity.
student costs, Rebone Dikotla, a second-year LLB student felt “really inconvenienced by the price of a clicker.” Prof. Kok says that law firms have sponsored clickers that will be loaned to students with financial difficulties and who cannot afford a clicker. However there are students like Carli Vorster, a second-year BCom Law student, who acknowledge that “It’s expensive in addition to other study costs, but using it throughout the remainder of your studies makes it worth it.” For now this is a new system that, like anything new, has flaws that need fixing and will take time for both lecturers and student to adapt to it. Prof. Kok encourages students to “enjoy the experience of doing something a bit different in class than the old style of just listening and taking notes.” He also says that the clicker system will very likely be extended next year to third-year and first-year law. The new clickers. Photo: Hendro van der Merwe
Earth Hour is a worldwide grass-roots movement for the planet organised by the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF). Earth Hour engages a massive mainstream community on a broad range of environmental issues. It was famously started as a lights-off event in Sydney, Australia in 2007. Since then it has grown to engage more than 7000 cities and towns worldwide. The annual event is held towards the end of March and encourages individuals, communities, households and businesses to turn off their non-essential lights for one hour as a symbol of their commitment to the planet.
4
News | 2 March 2015
Students making use of the facilities at the Marensky library. Photos: Jaco Stroebel
A space to collaborate, create, and innovate JACO STROEBEL The Merensky library on the UP’s Hatfield campus has a new secret. It is a curious and colourful room behind Xerox, poised to set new ideas and creative individuals free into the world. This is the makerspace. In recent years craft culture has had a profound introduction to society, from growing your own bananas to making your own beer from the bananas that you have grown. This trend has not failed to catch on in the science and engineering sectors either, with small start-up companies making drones for doing anything from surveys to surveillance. Anyone with an idea and some time seems to be employed in making something. This is how the makerspace was born. It is a space in which people with ideas can get together with people that have
the technical ability to make these visions a reality. This means that any student, regardless of their technical background, can go there with an idea and attempt to realise it. The “maker movement”, which USA Today refers to as the next industrial revolution, has been in full swing since 2005. It is the idea that if you are able to imagine it, you are able to make it. This is partly due to the fact that digital fabrication techniques that were previously only available to large institutions have now become accessible for individuals or small groups. Now it is not just the engineer working at some large corporation who is capable of making something, it is also the student sitting in a residence room plotting a schematic for the world’s furthest flying banana-rang. It doesn’t stop there. This idea of creation over consumption has
turned into a global phenomenon, with makerspaces popping up all over the globe, from the USA and Germany to China and Singapore. Large corporations and institutions that don’t want to be left out, team up with or sponsor some of these makerspaces. Harvard recently donated a scanning electron microscope to Artisan’s Asylum, and MIT and Carnegie Mellon have their own makers. As of 2015, UP can also boast with its innovation incubator. A makerspace is an environment in which individuals come together to share knowledge and ideas. Openness is fundamental to the movement as it fosters the collaborative trust that allows the concurrent and interdisciplinary development of ideas. As such, it is not the physical space that is the important factor, but the collaboration between individuals with various and distinct areas of
knowledge that is fundamental to fostering this creative environment. Not only does it serve as a place to come together, it also houses fantastic technology to aid in the development and prototyping of ideas. With soldering benches, 3D printers and computers on which to design and render models, the makerspace on campus has an excellent inventory for students to make use of. The coordinator of the Hatfield campus makerspace is Jaco Bezhuidenhout, a postgraduate student in computer science. He is also the person with whom you should go have a chat with should you want to learn how to use the electronics, specifically Arduino (an excellent introduction to electronics). Bezuidenhoudt says that he believes in the maker movement as a philosophy of self-sustainability, where focus moves from consumption
to creation. Future plans for the campus makerspace rests on the participation of students. The specialised equipment used for rapid prototyping is prohibitively expensive, and as such will only be considered if there is a real need for it. This should not dissuade potential innovators, however, because as the saying goes, “where there is a will there is a way.” There are plans to offer courses in introductory electronics, bookbinding and leather work. If you are skilled in a field and interested in things that don’t yet exist, go and make yourself known. The need for skills stretches much further than designers or builders, as this is truly a multidisciplinary adventure where everyone is welcome. So go have a look and take your ideas with you, great change starts with little moments.
2 March 2015 | News
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Intervarsity news disadvantaged backgrounds with registration fees. The Wits SRC is currently in negotiations with the institution in order to get the university to reduce the cost of registration for these students from R9300 to R3000.
NASIPHI MDLULWA Stellenbosch University On 22 February 2015 the University of Stellenbosch’s Van der Sterr building caught fire. The 56-year-old building housed the accounting and statistics department. The roof as well as sections of the third floor of the building were the most damaged. It is thanks to safety precautions such as firewalls that the fire did not reach and destroy other sections of the building. It is not known if it will be business as usual on the sections that had not been affected by the fire, however at the time of going to print this was not the case and students were being directed to attend lectures at alternative venues on the university’s website.
University of Cape Town SAX Appeal, a satirical magazine produced and distributed as a part of the traditional Remember and Give (RAG) festivities of UCT, caused a great deal of uproar this year due to its controversial cover. The cover is of a white man in a well-fitted dark suit holding a whip and looking out of a window with a view of a township. Many commentators felt as though the cover was racist and was a mockery of the poor. RAG apologised for the cover, stating that the intention was to incite discussion on the “problematic power relations in South Africa”. Some members of society were supportive of the cover due to this reasoning. However, some students who had taken part in the distribution of the magazine were also upset.
University of the Witwaterstrand The SRC of Wits launched the 1 Million 1 Month campaign. This target was reached in less than half of that time and on 24 February the amount collected was R1.6 million. The money collected is to assist more than 2 000 students from
Photo: Hendro van der Merwe
Tuks students involved in accident but there has been no response. The residents are not allowed to speak to the head of the traffic department, Mr Steve Ngobeni, directly, despite trying to contact him on numerous occasions. Ngobeni was not available for comment at the time of goint to print. During an interview with Perdeby, a resident in the area who has witnessed an accident on this street said, “The street is very dangerous and...[speed] bumps to limit the speed should be put on it,
MAKHOSAZANA NDLOVU Four Tuks students have recently been involved in an accident on the corner of Murray and Hay street in Brooklyn. Residents of the surrounding area believe that the intersection is dangerous due to numerous accidents that have happened there before. The Tshwane traffic department has already been consulted with regards to placing a traffic circle on the street since 25 October 2012,
not necessarily a traffic circle”. She further stated that, “The tar road is not marked and does not indicate to the driver that they must stop”. Murray and Hay streets are close to UP and men’s residence Sonop. The residents are requesting that the traffic department erect a traffic circle on the corner of Murray and Hay street, which is the same as the one in Brook street, in order to prevent the ongoing accidents and save lives.
Minister of Finance delivers budget speech 2015
Perdeby
Education budget
R265.7 billion
R
looks at the 2015 budget en ev
ue
Basic education
R1 188.9 billion
• • • • • •
Personal tax - 36.4% VAT - 26.2% Corporate income tax - 18.7% Fuel levies - 5.1% Customs & excise duties - 7% Other - 6.6%
R203 billion
Post-school education and training
NSFAS
R62 billion
3.5c/kWh to 5.5c/kWh
en
R1 351 billion
di tur e
R11.9 billion for 2017-’18
Ex
p
• • • • • • •
Education - 19.6% Economic affairs - 15.2% Community amenities and housing - 14.72% Defense, public order and safety - 12.6% Health and social - 11.6% Employment and social security - 11.4% Other - 4.7%
Temporary electricity levy increase from
Fuel Levy
+38.5c per litre
Road Accident Fund levy
+50c per litre
?
The 2015 budget shows a projected deficit of
R162.2 billion Sin Tax
+82c
Cigarettes (box of 20)
+7c
350ml beer/cider
+15c
750ml bottle wine
+R3.77 750ml bottle spirits
Minister of Finance Nhlanhla Nene delivered the annual budget speech last Wednesday. Perdeby had a look at some of the areas that will affect a student’s pocket. Infographic: Carel Willemse
6
Features | 2 March 2015
Blank page vs a bad record: academic dishonesty in SA universities CINDY FRIEDMAN Although the Oxford English Dictionary defines the word plagiarism as “the action or practice of taking someone else’s work or idea and passing it off as one’s own,” South African author Mokokoma Mokhonoana defines it rather as “the fear of a blank page.” The second definition is one that resounds with students around the globe who are under constant pressure to perform well at tertiary institutions. In an article written last year by Prega Govender in Times Live entitled “Universities battle a rising tide of cheating,” Govender says that more than 1400 students at major tertiary institutions in South Africa were found guilty of academic dishonesty in 2014. Prof. Molly Brown of the Department of English at the University of Pretoria says that “plagiarism is an enormous problem at UP.” With so many students resorting to literary theft despite the harsh consequences, one has to wonder what drives students to such measures. Danelle Kamffer, a student judicial officer at UP, said students caught cheating often complain of having enrolled for too many modules and say that they have too little time to prepare for exams or assignments. Another big factor is the pressure placed on students to succeed. A CNN report written in 2002 showed that some students are willing to sacrifice their integrity in order to achieve good grades. Prof. Brown believes that many students plagiarise because they do not have confidence in their own choices. It is important that students realise the value of producing creative ideas that result from their own hard work. Although the internet has made it easier for students to plagiarise, it has also made it easier to detect plagiarism through software such as Turnitin. Students face getting zero for the assignment, having
the offending article placed in a departmental plagiarism register, and even academic exclusion if found guilty of blatant plagiarism. Prof. Brown adds, however, that “this kind of penalty is never imposed for plagiarism which could conceivably be seen by a reasonable person to have been accidental.” Prof. Adele Thomas, a professor of industrial psychology and people management at the University of Johannesburg, sounded passionate about this subject when being interviewed on Talk Radio 702 on 19 February. She says plagiarism is a “cancer” growing in our institutions, but her focus was more on plagiarism committed by academics themselves rather than their students. She said that there is no question that academics have come under huge pressure by institutions to publish articles, as a large source of income for many universities is the R120 000 incentive paid out by the Department of Higher Education and Training for each paper published. The sad result of this is that there is a performance measure in terms of volume of output and not quality. While in the past there was not enough publishing done by academics, there is now an overflow of published papers that are not papers of original content and integrity, said Prof. Thomas. Co-written by Prof. Gideon de Bruin, Prof. Thomas’ editorial “UJ professors on plagiarism: the millions we spend on stolen ideas” from 17 February 2015 shows that, by using Turnitin, it was found that 68% of journal articles recently published in the South African Journal of Science showed enough evidence to qualify as plagiarised. For clarity, Prof. Thomas pointed out that students working towards their PhD were expected to produce work with original input, but for master’s students it is acceptable to refer back to previous publications. She also explained that self-plagiarism is using
work previously written by you and presenting it as new thoughts. This is considered a very serious form of plagiarism. “Always reference back,” added Prof. Thomas. Plagiarism is certainly not a new phenomenon that came about with the advent of the internet, although the “cut and paste” aspect has certainly helped make the problem worse. An academic committee at Boston University found that over half of Martin Luther King’s academic works were plagiarised while he was working towards his PhD, and his “I have a dream” speech was plagiarised from a sermon by Archibald Carey, a popular preacher in the 1950s. Another famous plagiarist was the poet T.S. Eliot. Nowdays academic scholars attack his legacy for unoriginality, including respected poetry critic F.W. Bateson who wrote an essay entitled Image: Johann van Tonder “T.S. Eliot: The Poetry of Pseudo that he lied about having a matric qualification Learning”. and Ellen Zandile Tshabalala, now former Plagiarism is not the only form of academic chairperson of the SABC, admitted that she had fraud taking place. Former Arts and Culture not actually been awarded the BCom degree and Minister Pallo Jordan was exposed for lying postgraduate diploma in labour relations that about his academic qualifications. It was she claimed to have had. Tshabalala remained pointed out that academic qualifications are not defiant when confronted with this, stating “I among constitutional requirements to qualify have done nothing wrong.” for a seat in parliament, but does this excuse In 2012 the University of Johannesburg had to his blatant lie? His record of contribution and deal with 613 students who produced fake sick sacrifice certainly sparked robust debate after notes in order to avoid writing exams. this revelation, especially when Prof. Jonathan Why take the chance of your credibility Janssen, the vice-chancellor and rector of the always being questioned? Remember, your University of the Free State, suggested that original thoughts or ideas might not be a South African university do the right thing everybody’s cup of tea, but original ideas will and award Jordan with an honorary doctorate. always contribute to any healthy debate and The SABC suffered not one but two similar therefore will always have value. scandals after Hlaudi Motsoeneng, COO at the SABC, admitted to the Public Protector
Freedom of speech: how free are we?
This visual has been redacted according to the guidelines set out by the Protection of State Information Act Illustration: Jaco Stroebel
JARED DE CANHA The past few months have seen a recurring pattern in current affairs, where there has been conflict regarding the balancing of the right to freedom of expression. The right to freedom of expression is protected in democratic countries because this right is seen as a cornerstone of any democratic system. It has been argued, however, that the right to freedom of expression is afforded too much strength and power in certain societies, and not enough protection in others. What does freedom of expression mean in a democratic society? The right to freedom of expression is afforded a varying amount of strength and protection among democratic countries. In a speech at the University of Cape Town in 1966 made to the National Union of South African Students, Robert F Kennedy defined freedom of speech as not only an element of individual liberty, but also as a tool to hold governments accountable
to their obligations. Thankfully, section 16 of our current constitution clearly outlines what freedom of expression entails, including the right to freedom of artistic creativity and the freedom to impart information and ideas. In France, which has been in the spotlight recently after the Charlie Hebdo shootings, free expression is also a right enshrined in the French constitution. Article 11 of this document says that the free expression of thoughts and opinions is “one of the most precious rights of man”, and therefore every citizen has the right to speak, write and print freely in France. The United States, however, affords the strongest protection to freedom of speech in the first amendment of their constitution. Can freedom of expression be limited? In each of the countries mentioned above, there are varying degrees of freedom of expression. Both France and South Africa have provisions in their constitutions which limit freedom of expression and criminalise expression which incites violence and hatred based on nationality,
religion and a host of other factors. In the United States, on the other hand, citizens have the right to express any form of emotion, as long as it does not incite a clear and present danger to themselves or those around them. Therefore, freedom of expression, while being a fundamental component in a democracy, is not an absolute right if used incorrectly in the eyes of that country’s laws. The situation in Denmark Denmark has joined the list of countries which have been targeted by extremist groups in response to the works of a controversial Swedish cartoonist and his depiction of prophet Muhammad. Two people were killed after suspected gunman 22-year-old Omar El-Hussein attacked a café during a debate featuring the Swedish artist Lars Vilks, who had depicted the prophet in some of his cartoons. One person was killed outside the café and, after the gunman was unable to enter the café meeting, a nearby synagogue was targeted where another person was killed. This attack, in light of the Paris attacks earlier this year, has challenged what constitutes freedom of expression in Europe, as well as globally. SONA 2015 and freedom of speech The jamming of cellphone signals in Parliament during the 2015 State of the Nation Address has triggered condemnation from all sides of South African society after the jamming prevented journalists from reporting the happenings during the address. The discovery of the signal problems was made by the Beeld news editor Pieter du Toit who released a tweet which detailed how the Parliament technical staff had confirmed finding a signal jamming device in Parliament. Opposition parties have rallied in outrage, claiming that this action is a direct restriction of freedom of speech. In a statement issued by Democratic Alliance MP Gavin Davis, the incident has been labelled as an “unprecedented contravention of media freedom” according to the party. The DA, EFF and Freedom Front Plus have all agreed
that the jamming was “in direct violation of the constitution” as well. Cope has made a statement calling the incident a “threat” to freedom of speech. The ruling party, through their national spokesperson Zizi Kodwa, have also condemned the jamming of the signal. The ANC released a statement supporting “the free flow of information and media freedom”. The signal was eventually restored later on in the evening. Parliament will launch a probe into the matter on orders from the Speaker of the House, but opposition parties have also called for an independent probe by the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa. The importance of freedom of expression to students In an article published by The Guardian in September 2014, the results of a US poll regarding the importance of freedom of speech has shown that students are more concerned about their right to freedom of speech than adults in the same poll. 65% of students questioned believed that freedom of speech was their most important right and 61% of students agreed that they should be allowed to freely express their opinions about their teachers and administration on social media without fear of repercussion. This is in comparison to the two-thirds of adults interviewed who disagreed with these statements. Jon Sotsky, a director for the Knight Foundation that conducted the poll, attributed the strong support shown by students towards the fact that many students see themselves as creators of online content, and not as just consumers thereof. The French philosopher Voltaire once said, “I do not agree with what you have to say, but I’ll defend to the death your right to say it.” It is in light of this statement that we need to acknowledge not only our fundamental right to express our opinions, but also our inherent responsibility to exercise this right with tolerance and respect. It is through this balance of understanding and tolerance that freedom of expression can continue to thrive.
2 March 2015 | Features
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Israel Apartheid week: the debate continues
Image: Hendro van der Merwe
LEANNE CUMMING Israel Apartheid Week (IAW) is an annual international event that aims to create awareness about Israel’s apartheid policies towards Palestine and highlights the daily problems Palestinians face. The 11th international IAW will take place on 2-8 March 2015 and includes a series of events such as rallies, protests, workshops, films and cultural performances to help build support for the expanding Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) campaign. According to BDS South Africa, IAW is “held [in] over 250 cities, communities and campuses across the globe. It’s endorsed in South Africa by more than 75 organizations, trade unions, political parties and other groups.” During the apartheid period in South Africa thousands, if not millions, of people held protests, rallies, lectures, films and free Mandela events in order to build support and create awareness for the a similar campaign against apartheid South Africa. Boycotting played a large part in forcing the apartheid government to agree to change their policies and become a democracy. BDS South Africa hopes to achieve the same “by joining the international movement in solidarity with the indigenous Palestinian people, and their progressive Israeli allies, who are struggling against Israel apartheid.” South African academic, newspaper columnist, journalist and activist Steven Friedman from the University of Johannesburg stated at an IWA campaign in 2012 that there is a principle of the “Iron Wall” within Israel that makes Israel an apartheid state. Friedman explains that the assumption is that the Palestinian people will never accept that their land and occupation was taken over by an alien group. “At the end the only way...
to maintain this state is to reduce the Palestinian people to such a state of fear that they cannot resist. Now, apartheid [in South Africa] did not think of that. Apartheid did not think of trying to so cow, so humiliate, so dehumanize them that they would comply simply because they felt that there was no alternative,” says Friedman. Friedman added that “if one takes away the rather grotesque elaboration of the Iron Wall, then one is left with a fairly straightforward apartheid system. You are dealing with a system in which one group uses ethnicity and race as a criterion, dominates the land of another group, in which that group in effect denies citizenship of another group.” South African journalist Stan Goodenough, who has been living in Israel for the past 25 years, says that there is no apartheid present in Israel in a video from Youtube channel HereIsIsrael titled “IAWSouth Africa National- Israel Apartheid is a Sham!” In the video Goodenough says that IAW and the BDS campaign are trying to make comparisons between the Zionist Jewish faith in Israel and the racist apartheid regime in South Africa. Goodenough explains that he grew up in apartheid South Africa where he witnessed segregation. “In South Africa a system was set in place which would lock the majority of the black population out of the country in terms of citizenship, in terms of where they could live, where they could work and what they could benefit from. Every aspect of their lives would be affected, impacted and restricted by the system of laws known as apartheid” explains Goodenough. Goodenough further states that he became a journalist because he was anti-apartheid. He says that there are 8 million people living in Israel and about three-quarters of the Israeli population is Jewish. Goodenough is of the opinion that “there is no
Calendar 9 March: Varsity Cup rugby: Tuks vs Shimlas – Xerox Shimla Park 11 March: Dan Patlansky performance – Atterbury Theatre 11 March: PSL: AmaTuks vs Platinum Stars – Tuks Stadium 14 March: Tuks medical students charity fun run – Rietondale Park 26 March: Maroela Boksaand – Voortrekker Monument
To get your event listed in our event calendar, send the date, event name and venue to entertainment@perdeby.co.za or tweet us (@PerdebyE). UP societies are welcome to send their events, too.
apartheid between Jews and Arabs in Israel. There is no robbing Israeli Arabs of their citizenship, there is no limit on their ability to live where they want to live, work where they want to work. They can get full education and in fact enjoy all the privileges of life that Israeli Jews enjoy. There is no comparison, nothing remotely similar in modern day Israel with the old South Africa, the South Africa I grew up in.” Goodenough further says that Israel is blamed for being an apartheid state because of their relation with the Palestinian Arabs. Goodenough is of the opinion that this concept is misdirected. “The Palestinian Arabs are the same as the Israeli Arabs, except there are those who never accepted Israeli rule and chose not to live in Israel.” Goodenough says that Israel relates to Palestinian Arabs as non-Israeli because they are not from Israel and are therefore not entitled to the rights Israeli citizens have. “No country in the world would allow people who reject their sovereignty and their very existence as a country to act as citizens,” he says. Goodenough adds that Israel is a democratic state where all citizens are allowed to vote, are represented in parliament, have access to large houses and education and there are no laws suppressing them. Friedman on the other hand states that Israeli Arabs are only allowed to vote in Israel because they are such a small group and their vote does not make a difference. Friedman explains that there is apartheid in Israel because civil right groups have been trying to have “Israeli Citizen” stamped in passports for a long period of time. This has been rejected because the only thing that can be stamped in an Israeli passport is “Jew”, “Arab” or “other”, explains Friedman. Friedman further states that only Jews can own land in Israel because of the Jewish Agency Mandate.
First-year BA law student Emmanuel Olusegun and third-year BCom accounting science student Nqobili Mbhele say that there is no apartheid in Israel. Both students visited Israel after the 50-day war on a tour. Both Olusegun and Mbhele said that they were scared that they would not make it back to South Africa because of the violence and war that was going on. However, both students were pleasantly surprised when they arrived as the country was not the poverty stricken war zone that the media had portrayed. Olusegun and Mbhele said that the media portrays Israel as a “bully”, but there was no segregation among the people whatsoever. “The media coverage distorts information. They compromise the truth in favour of sensationalism.” explains Olusegun. Mbhele says that people are ignorant and do not know the truth about Israel. Olusegun and Mbhele point out that if people want to boycott Israel they should do it properly. They should reject all things from Israel, like medication and certain technologies, and go back to the dark ages. Israel makes all the Intel Pentium and Celeron processor chips found in laptops, personal computers and note pads. Other technologies like mobile phone manufacturing, algorithms used to send emails, antivirus software, add-on application software for Facebook and Whatsapp were all made in Israel. Israel’s Teva Pharmaceuticals is the largest drug company in the world and manufactures medicine for cancer, diabetes, HIV and Aids among many other diseases. Olusegun and Mbhele state that if you are going to join the BDS campaign, then you should switch off all devices made in Israel and should not use any medication supplied by Israel. Olusegun and Mbhele are in the process of forming an organization called “Defend Embrace Invest Support Israel (DEISI) International”. They hope to encourage students to find out the facts about Israel before joining campaigns like IWA and the BDS campaign. “Just because we are pro-Israel, does not mean we are anti-Palestine. We are pro-Israel, pro-Palestine, pro-peace,” states Olusegun and Mbhele. During the week there will be events taking place around campus. This would include movie screenings, high profile speakers, silent marches, and painting of the graffiti wall. Adrian Eckard, secretary of the SRC, says that the SRC will not be taking sides with organisers of these events but they will be supplying equipment for some of the talks that are taking place. Whether you are for, against or indecisive about IAW and the BDS campaign, be sure to find out all the facts first and then make your stand accordingly.
We want to hear your thoughts! What is your take on the debate? Are you active in this argument? Write Perdeby a letter and send it to perdeby@up.ac.za.
This competition is only for first year students in the humanities faculty.
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Entertainment | 2 March 2015
Mango Groove head to London for special performance ELMARIE KRUGER South African Afropop veterans Mango Groove will be heading to the UK for the first time in over 20 years on 7 March in support of the new global branch of the Wilderness Foundation. Perdeby spoke to lead singer Claire Johnston about the event. You will be playing at the Hammersmith Apollo in London on 7 March. It has been about 20 years since the group’s last performance there, what are your expectations for the show? I’m looking forward to being in that beautiful venue with all my Mango friends and having a great time. I also know it’s going to be pretty emotional, given that it’s our first time back at the Apollo in over 20 years, not to mention my 30th anniversary with the band. It’s also very special that we are globally launching the late Dr Player’s Wilderness Foundation Global. We are going to have a lot of very homesick South Africans, as well as some British fans, plus some family [as] I was born in the UK, so [it will be] quite an intense experience. What kind of preparations go into a big performance like this one? A load of rehearsing, as we often add or take away songs for playing outside of SA. Plus all the logistics, given that Mango Groove is twelve people, and that’s just on stage. Obviously there is a team behind this, but it still requires a lot of
input from us. And let’s not forget all the media leading up to it. This performance will be in aid of the launch of the Wilderness Foundation Global. Is it an organisation that is close to your heart? Extremely. We were lucky enough to get to know the late and very great Dr Player several years ago, and he got us interested in the whole notion of “wilderness”. As a result, John [Leyden, founding member of Mango Groove] and I went on a few wilderness trails and found them unbelievably moving. [The] wilderness is increasingly being encroached on and the Wilderness Foundation seeks to highlight this and is now taking the message global. Your solo album, featuring some big names in the South African music industry, is set to be released soon. What can fans expect? [They can expect] a celebration of SA Music throughout the years. It’s a very diverse mix of songs, from Brenda Fassie’s “Vulindlela”, all the way through to Laurika Rauch’s hit “Kinders van die wind” and Johnny Clegg’s “Great heart”. There are eighteen songs, so it’s quite a journey and we are very pleased with how it’s sounding. It’s got kind of an SA meets Nashville [sound], which has the effect of creating a unified sound on the album. Some of my collaborators, to name just a few, are Zolani Mahola from Freshlyground, Juanita du Plessis and Vusi Mahlasela. I can’t wait to hear what people think.
Lead singer Claire Johnston. Image provided.
AfrikaBurn: the other festival KYLE OBERHOLZER The past few years have seen a rapid growth in the live music industry in South Africa. Just ten years ago a visit from an international act of any sort was considered a privilege and one-day events like Coke Fest served as one of the only highlights of a music lover’s year. Today, a meagre student budget makes it almost impossible to keep up with the relentless stream of festivals which now feature a wide array of both local and international acts. Options are abundant, decisions are difficult. If you’re a regular on the local festival circuit, you’ve probably heard a sensationalised tale or two being recited around an Oppikoppi campfire about an event called AfrikaBurn. Everyone seems to have heard of it, everyone seems to have a “friend of a friend” who has attended, and yet first-hand accounts are almost nonexistent. The reason, perhaps, is that AfrikaBurn is not a concert. The “About” tab on the event’s website describes it as a “community of participation”, which loosely translates to a massive gathering where just about anything goes, as long as it is dreamed up and executed by the participants. Consequently, if you have dreamt of it you will likely find it present in some form at AfrikaBurn. Music, art, exhibitions, performances, relaxation areas, dance floors, mutant cars and a multitude of unnameable entities appear to fill just about every square centimetre of the small expanse of desert which the event occupies. Sounds
glamorous, right? Wrong. On the flipside of the concept of participation lies one of the key aspects of this gathering: there is no money. AfrikaBurn is a decommodified zone with a gift-based economy. Everything you may need must be crammed into the back of a hatchback on top of the usual festival luggage for the one day trek to the Northern Cape. Five litres of water per person per day, camping equipment, all your food and something awesome which can be gifted (not exchanged) must be brought along. In other words, the usual Oppikoppi packing list consisting of three cooler boxes of beer, a pillow and a packet of Bar Ones will not suffice. Likewise, a bakkie loaned from a relative might serve as a more suitable chariot to deliver your food, friends and supplies to the event’s venue, known as Tankwa Town. However, if you are willing to brave the big bad desert with nothing but wit and preparation as your means to stay alive, a pleasant surprise lies in store. AfrikaBurn is nothing short of eclectic and is filled with themed camps, sculptures and pop up parties created and attended by participants donning every garment imaginable, with some wearing nothing at all. Whatever your opinion, and despite criticisms of elitism and wastefulness, AfrikaBurn is undoubtedly a marvel of community involvement, artistic expression and creative escapism. It might just be the most exciting addition to your festival itinerary for the year.
Illustration: Monrique Hennig
The art of Japanese cartooning: the Society of Anime and Manga KOJO ESSAH The Society of Anime and Manga is one of the many societies that students at UP can join. This society seeks to spread awareness of both anime and manga throughout the university. Perdeby sat down with Matthew Cown, the chairman of the society, to discover more about this unique club. A number of people are not aware of the existence of this society. Could you please explain what the Society of Anime and Manga is about? [It’s] about the Japanese culture of animation and storytelling through cartoons...and comic
books, even novels in some cases. Even though it’s a very small society, it’s still heavily loved by the people who are in it. As little as it is known, it is very fun for people who know about it. So, if you’ve never heard of it, try it out. Come see what it’s like. It will probably bring you into a world that we know of [that has brought the members] years of enjoyment. What inspired the creation of this society? Unfortunately, I haven’t been around that long. It’s been around for probably ten years or so, but I know it’s been around...to spread the word of [anime] to people who might like it. What is the selection process for the anime you screen?
We screen five episodes of the most current anime that is out. One episode [of a specific anime] comes out per week, and we screen the first episode of a brand new anime that comes out in Japan, with [English] subtitles and such. Manga hasn’t been touched on recently, but I’m going to be bringing that back as chairman this year. We get recommendations through the Facebook page. What is your job as the chairman of the society? As “in the shadows” as I am, I have to book the venues...organise interviews, make sure I spread the word [about the society]...make sure the society runs smoothly, money-wise...
do marketing week, I have to plan that as well. I have to make sure [things] run smoothly so other people can enjoy it in a way that they don’t have to worry about [the society] disappearing. Does the society have any other events other than the anime screenings? What we had last year was [that] the Japanese embassy had its own thing, so we’d recommend people to go there. They have flower arrangements, which [are] beautiful, it’s [a part of] Japanese culture. So [screenings] are really the integral part of the society, and a few side [events].
2 March 2015 | Entertainment
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Up-and-comers from UP Images provided
Five minutes with Pop Art Live WILLIAM ALDRIDGE
Johannesburg based DJ-duo Pop Art Live, made up of Tuks student Martin Kabamba and fellow DJ Ricky Amatucci, have been making people dance all over Gauteng and overseas. Perdeby spoke to the duo about their work. For those who haven’t heard of Pop Art, how would you describe your sound? [For] those who haven’t heard of us or seen us play, our sound can only really be described as electronic.We like to move between a lot of different sub-genres of electronic [music], like deep house, disco [and] techno, but [we] always like to keep an element of pop [and] nu-disco. [We] want to bring back the idea of having real song and lyric content on a more crossover basis that can be enjoyed by the underground movement as well as popular culture. At the end of last year you played a set in the UK. How was the experience being so far from home and playing to a completely different crowd? The experience playing at Sankeys in Manchester was something we will never forget. People there really do give it their all and music is a very important part of [their] everyday living. [Upon] coming back home [and] playing our first gig[s] at Truth and Sub Urban State, [however], we realized that this country is not far off at all.The only difference in our eyes
[is that there is] a sense of freedom in the UK, [whereas] in South Africa we [are] still a very conservative nation. Recently you released previews for your singles “Forest fire”and “Collide”. Can listeners expect another extended play (EP) or album soon? Yes, our next release is [with the] local [Johannesburg] label Just Move Records, which [has] been over a year in the making and shows our deeper side. We are really excited about it. We do have a couple [of] EPs lined up, including more with our UK based label Outcross Records (Miguel Campbell’s label), a collaboration and remix for Kyle Watson, and we are currently writing our album, but expect something very different as we are aiming to showcase stuff that really inspires us, not just straight-up club music. You’ve been confirmed for FenomenaPhestival later this year. What can the audience expect from your show? Fenomena [is] set to be an amazing event, the guys have put together a great lineup and the Metro Ticket guys always know how to bring it. We have been wanting to play a show like this for some time so expect a bit more of our techno influences and, of course, the usual original material and energy we try [to] bring to every show.
Illustration: Jaco Stroebel
Homegrown musos on the rise SHAUN SPROULE
With a wide range of music sharing platforms to choose from, it is easier than ever to pursue a career in music. Perdeby has taken a look at a few of the many upcoming talents on campus. Kofi Kofi is a rapper with influences from around the world, including Ghana, the USA and South Africa. When he is not busy with his honours in entrepreneurship, Kofi focuses on his true passion: music. He works with other Tuks producers and producers from around the world to create his masterful rhymes, all of which can be found on SoundCloud under KofiKoff. Over the past two years his music has developed into what he describes as “traditional American rap with African influences”. His prospects for the future look good as his tracks are receiving increasing numbers of plays on SoundCloud. Flamingo This producer discovered his musical talents during his matric exam breaks. Flamingo is in his third year of mechanical engineering and makes time to follow his dream of being a successful producer. He tries to find his own niche in the electronic music scene, but closely associates with the deep house and progressive
house genres. Flamingo publishes his work on SoundCloud under FlamingoMusic, showcasing original compositions as well as some enjoyable remixes. Bin Linden This third-year multimedia student started five years ago by producing house music at first, and from there gradually transitioned into electronic dance music (EDM). Linden, who also goes by Blobby Linden, dabbles in remixing popular songs to give them his own EDM twist. His brand is spread across many music sharing platforms and all of the links can be found on his SoundCloud page. Aston This 21-year-old international relations student started rapping at the age of ten. With over a decade of experience, he hopes to become a household name in rap. Drawing from established rappers such as AKA, Reason and J Cole, Aston aims to tell a story that his audience can relate to. He works with local producers to create original hard-hitting tracks. His work can be found on SoundCloud under Aston Hype, where you can also find links to download his work. If the current downloads are anything to go by, we may expect to see more of this rapper in the future.
Photo: Mike Olckers
Scarlotte Will: foot-stomping rock ‘n’ roll
CHAD JOHNSTON Scarlotte Will is a rock band comprising partially of former Tuks student Tristan dos Santos (vocals, guitar, keys), final-year Tuks medicine student Xan Swart (drums), Hugene Koekemoer (bass, backing vocals) and Brendon Bezuidenhout (lead guitar, keys and backing vocals). Perdeby spoke to the band about their recent live performances and their upcoming EP. You performed at the Hello Ambassador afterparty alongside bands like Shadowclub. What was the experience like? Tristan: The venue is called The Sheds, which is an old warehouse in [the] Pretoria CBD. [It is a] great place for a band to play. It’s huge and once you have your amps cranked up it fills the entire room. Sharing the stage with Shadowclub so early in our band’s existence is unforgettable. Hugene: The Hello Ambassador show is one of my favourite shows to date, where we played our hearts out in such a punk vibe venue, and
because it was such an awesome show. Just after we started we felt a sense of appreciation from the people that were there. You played alongside aKING on 26 February. How does the band prepare for a big gig like that? Tristan: It’s great to get to gig with one of South Africa’s best rock ‘n’ roll bands. You realise that as great an achievement as that already is, there is now equal pressure on us to make sure it’s the best show we could ever do. We try to keep the show interesting and not just play ten songs. The songs are an outline of the show, what we do within and between those songs musically is what makes it a “live show”. So we try and work hard at making it somewhat impressive. Hugene: Practice. To be jamming with guys like that [has] its own mindset that you need to prepare for. It’s either your best show ever or your worst, but usually [it] ends as one of the best since you are under so much pressure to
nail it. You are currently recording an EP. Has there been anything special about the recording process so far? Tristan: We had barely started gigging last year when our friend and producer Gerhard van der Merwe suggested we record with him as he showed an interest in the music. Before we knew it he was recording guide tracks in Xan’s room and we had to get ready for this EP. We recorded drums in Pretoria at Xan’s house, guitars in Jo’burg and then bass and vocals [with] Gerhard. The recording took about a month due to everyone’s time constraints, so we’d record each instrument somewhere different and on a different day. Usually when you book a studio or plan to record a few songs you do it in a few days or weeks flat-out, then mix, master and release. We had time to record each part and then listen to it before we moved on, so it wasn’t rushed. We did it at our own pace and in a completely comfortable environment.
What can listeners expect from this EP? Tristan: It’s raw and energetic rock ‘n’ roll that’ll bring you to tears. Hugene: Some awesome foot-stomping rock ‘n’ roll that will get you moving and a song that you’ll just get lost [in]. You recently completed a national tour stopping in Durban, Port Elizabeth and Jeffrey’s Bay. How did the crowds around the country receive you? Tristan: This was the first tour we embarked on. It was with some crazy friends who are also in bands such as Sheldon Payne & The Blue Veins, The Barking Trees, Carri Wolfe and Blazin’ Gooch. [It was the] best time of our lives. We played Durban first and it was such a party. I think “Durbanites” are deprived of live music so either they liked us or they just needed to hear some bands. Either way we all win. You have to start somewhere, and as a whole it was a successful first tour.
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Fun and Games | 2 March 2015
Pssst...
ways to save money ELMARIE KRUGER
There has been a drought of res news as of late, but as always, Pssst… has managed to dig up some juicy tidbits for your reading pleasure. Pssst… hears that Kollege had a social with Zinnia, not out of choice, but rather because the ladies in orange seem to keep inviting themselves over. Didn’t your mothers teach you about “overstaying your welcome” Zinnia? Pssst… fears that Katjiepiering may not have a serrie this year due to the fact that they seem to be scheduling practices during loadshedding times. We know that cats always land on their feet, but practising lifts in the dark isn’t incredibly safe, now is it, Katjie? Pssst… thinks the Katte should try scheduling their needless fortnightly house meetings during load-shedding as well, so that nobody notices the low attendance. TuksVillage are showing up in their numbers at Varsity Cup matches these days. Pssst… thinks this is because of the fact that they have nothing to support for their own “res” and have to show gees for something. TuksVillage also don’t seem to be doing well with getting other reses to like them either. Pssst… suggests taking part in anger management sessions instead of debating if you’re going to refuse to be good sportsmen after
If you’ve ever seen the show Extreme Cheapskates, you’ll know that some people are truly obsessive about saving even the smallest amount of money. The proverbial broke student knows all about the troubles of scraping together those last few Rands just to buy one last Fego milkshake at the end of a long month. Luckily, Perdeby has some saving tips for the fanatically frugal and perpetually penniless among you.
1
Save electricity by turning off every single light near you. Like, always. Who needs to see where you’re going? Girls dig guys with good night vision and/or bruised shins.
2
Take part in clinical tests. Not only do you get a free medical check-up, but you also get to make a little money out of it. You might get injected with a sample of the herpes virus, but hey, at least it was free.
3
Work where you shop. Employee discounts are not a myth, and you can save time by spending the money that you earn immediately!
4
Collect water on campus. Most students understand all too well the perils of a high water and electricity bill. Instead of using the tap at your flat, why not bring 5L water bottles to campus and fill them up in the bathrooms? It’s a great way to get something back after those all tuition fees you’ve paid.
having your “res” scrutinised, Village. Inca hasn’t made a significant appearance in Pssst… (or anywhere else) for some time now. This leads Pssst… to believe they’ve given up at trying to make any kind of impression on anyone at all. You know things must be bad when you’re the joke of Groenkloof, right Inca? Speaking of Groenkloof, Pssst… hears that Lilium haven’t taken well to the early rejection from Olienhout, so much so that they’re now after Boekenhout. Pssst… thinks this makes sense seeing as neither of them have their socials at clubhouses. Pssst… hears that Taaibos has been parading their serenade group around the Proefplaas. Pssst… knows that Taaibos are experts at coming early, but serenade in February is a little ridiculous. Don’t relax just yet, as Pssst… has eyes everywhere and will be back next week with more res news. If your res didn’t make Pssst… this week, don’t despair. Some kind soul might just do you a favour and send a piece of res gossip to pssst@perdeby. co.za.
Perdeby web poll ■ The real life? ■ Just fantasy? ■ Even a question?
Is this:
Vote online at www.perdeby.co.za
Last week’s poll Do you think the new exam rules are reasonable?
5
Wash your clothes while you shower. If hauling empty bottles to campus isn’t your thing, doing laundry in the shower is another great way to save water (and time).
Yes (16.3 %)
6
Alternatively, don’t do laundry at all. Let’s face it: nobody actually likes washing their clothes, so why bother? Washing powder is expensive, and no one really notices that salty sweat smell on your clothes anyway.
No (67.5%)
7
Do one of your friends/relatives have a big birthday coming up? If you don’t have money to buy a gift, steal something they already own and re-gift it back to them. They’re guaranteed to love it – why else would they own it in the first place?
There are new exam rules? (16.3%)
8
Walk everywhere. Who needs to pay for petrol or public transport when you have a perfectly good pair of legs that can carry you literally anywhere you want to be? Sure, it might take several hours to reach a destination that you could have reached in a few minutes if you drove, but you’ll have super strong leg muscles and a killer tan as a reward.
9
Collect every 5c piece you see lying around on the sidewalk. A woman picked up loose change for a year and bought a decent second-hand car with the money – the possibilities are endless.
10
Swear off all technology. Data and internet charges are just extra expenses that aren’t really necessary. Send one last mass-Whatsapp to your friends telling them that they can only reach you via snail mail from now on. It’s cheap, and totally hipster.
Sudoku
2 March 2015 | Sport
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AmaTuks player profiles: stars to watch this year
Thabo Mnyamane. Image: AmaTuks.co.za
Atusaye Nyondo. Image: AmaTuks.co.za
Lucky Mathosi. Image: AmaTuks.co.za
Botshelo Mfulwane. Image: AmaTuks.co.za
Atusaye Nyondo Nyondo is a 24-year-old Malawian footballer and a striker for AmaTuks. He began his career with Silver Strikers and signed with the National First Division in 2009. He spent two seasons playing for Carara Kicks and finished the 20102011 season as the division’s top goal scorer with 15 goals to his name. Nyondo moved on loan to AmaTuks from SuperSports United (SSU) in the 2013/2014 season, making it a permanent shift at the end of his loan spell. He is now ranked 21st on the PSL top goal scorers list with five goals scored this season. He represented his native country, Malawi, at the 2010 African Cup of Nations.
Lucky Mathosi Having grown up in the township of Rustenburg, Boiketong, Mathosi describes his time as “amazing”, stating that “it was fun. [I] would wake up in the morning and play soccer the whole day.” Mathosi is one of the players who made it made it into the senior squad, having played for the 2014 University of Pretoria Varsity Cup football team. He then represented AmaTuks in the Premier Soccer League.
Botshelo Mfulwane Mfulwane is one of the younger players in the AmaTuks team. He played for the UP Varsity Cup team before being promoted to the senior team. Former AmaTuks coach Steve Barker said, “He [Mfulwane] has been scoring goals wherever he has gone and has shown tremendous potential in the USSA league and the Varsity Cup. We look forward to him adding value and banging in the goals for the first team.”
ABONGILE SKOSANA Thabo Mnyamane Mnyamane is a 22-year-old South African striker who has a goal of playing for Bafana Bafana and in the Spanish League (La Liga). Mnyamane played for North West University in the opening of the Varsity Football tournament in 2013 before he was endorsed to Premier Soccer League (PSL). Mnyamane is also one of the leading goal scorers in the league with six goals. He was also named the PSL player of the month for the November/December period. Bigger teams such as Orlando Pirates have expressed a willingness to sign him but Mnyamane chose to remain with AmaTuks for the moment.
@PerdebySport
Varsity Cup rugby 2015: get to know your boytjies SIMPHIWE NHLABATHI
Dayan Van der Westhuizen. Image: Varsity Sports SA
Jan Enslin. Image: Varsity Sports SA
Cornelius Els. Image: Varisty Sports SA
Clyde Davids. Image: Varsity Sports SA
Dayan Van der Westhuizen Full name: Dayan Leslie Van der Westhuizen School attended: Hoërskool Hugenote Position: tighthead prop Born: 5 April 1994
Jan Enslin Full name: Jan Enslin School attended: Grey High School Position: hooker Born: 6 January 1993
Cornelius Els Full name: Cornelius Wilhelmus Els School attended: Grey College Position: hooker Born: 19 January 1994
Clyde Davids Full name: Clyde Eathan Davids School attended: Paarl Gymnasium Position: eigth man Born: 17 April 1993
Read our Varsity Cup web exclusives each Tuesday at www.perdeby.co.za UP-Tuks 1 before beating Maties 53 - 8 at LC De Villiers Sport Grounds. Photo: Hendro van der Merwe.
Sport
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AmaTuks u/19 impress in the Multichoice Diski Challenge DANIËL BASSON The capitulation of Bafana Bafana over the past decade left South African football in disarray. The once top-ranked African football team has slipped down the Fifa world rankings, failed to qualify for two of the last three World Cups, and struggled to qualify for the African Cup of Nations on numerous occasions. After ten barren years the answer has been found, and the South African Football Association came to the conclusion that the lack of youth development in soccer is the main reason for the lack of results in the senior sides. The Premier Soccer League (PSL) and Multichoice teamed up to create the Multichoice Diski Challenge, which is a reserve league for the teams that play in the PSL. The 16 reserve teams are split into two groups and the top four finishers qualify for the knockout stage. All squads have to consist of u/19 players, with the exception of three players who can be over the age of 20, because the challenge aims to create another platform for young players to showcase their skills and gain the necessary exposure and guidance for each player to reach fulfil their potential. Tuks got the tournament off to a winning start, but consecutive poor performances threatened to be the undoing of the youngsters. A couple of wins and a draw in their last rounds of the group stage gave the boys from UP a glimmer of hope as elimination after only the first round seemed to be inevitable. UP’s reserve side qualified for the knockout stage on goal difference, edging out Kaizer
Chiefs who had conceded two more goals in the seven group matches. Good form helped Tuks through the knockout stage, firstly defeating Group B winners Orlando Pirates comfortably with a 5-2 scoreline. The Tuks side then had a semi-final showdown against Tshwane rivals Supersport United, who had already defeated Tuks 1-0 earlier in the group stage. Even though Supersport were favourites to reach the final, the UP side fought back to return from a goal down when Dikgang Ngcobo netted an equaliser to send the match into extra time. The added 30 minutes turned out to be uneventful with the game playing out in the midfield and neither sides having any clear-cut chances. The match then went to a penalty shoot-out. The Tuks penalty takers showed more composure as Supersport missed three of their attempts, handing Tuks a 3-2 win on penalties. Tuks now face Mamelodi Sundowns in the final on 28 February at the Nike Football Stadium in Soweto. With both sides having peaked at the right time there is no obvious favourite. The winner of the match will not only be rewarded with a trophy and gold medals, but bragging rights for Pretoria’s best side will also be up for grabs as Tuks compete in their second Tshwane derby of the knockout stage. On top of that, the champions will fly to the Netherlands to attend a four-day training camp at the Royal Netherlands Football Association (KNVB) and play a friendly match against a Bundesliga outfit in Germany. At the time of going to print, AmaTuks were getting ready to play in the final. Find out about the results on Perdeby.co.za.
An AmaTuks player challenging a Bloemfontein Celtic player. Image: SoccerLaduma.co.za
Tuks plays host to star-studded BestMed TuksRace
Runners collecting their medals. Photo: Monique van Hattum
TAY LETHULOE 21 February saw UP host the annual BestMed TuksRace which had thousands of participants. As one of the largest road running events in Gauteng, the Bestmed TuksRace is open to everyone and has grown to attract some of the best athletes from South Africa and other African countries, as well as social runners and wheelchair athletes. The event started at 06:00 as participants began and concluded their journey at the LC De Villiers sports ground. The events included a 21.1km, 10km and 5km race, as well as a 1km open race and a wheelchair race. The BestMed TuksRace, which places
emphasis on cancer awareness and the general wellbeing of individuals by encouraging a healthy lifestyle, was also attended by the university’s vice-chancellor, Prof. Cheryl de la Rey. Prof. de la Rey participated in the race bound to Dries La Grange, CEO of BestMed, in a visual representation of “breaking bad habits”. The race was well attended by professional runners, many of whom use the race as preparation for larger events such as the Comrades marathon. However, for many this was a community and family affair, giving them the opportunity to run with some of their favorite athletes in a relaxed and enjoyable manner. Zipho Tshapela, a third-year social work
Monique van Hattum and Olivia Odendaal showing off their medals. Photo: Catherine San Martin
student who was working at the event, said, “It was an amazing experience. I enjoyed seeing little children running and taking part with their parents and siblings.” Deputy Minister of Sport and Recreation Gert Oosthuizen and La Grange marked the beginning of the event at the podium, which was followed by the handover of a certificate to Stein Steinbach, CEO of Run-a-Way Sports, for his long-standing service to the running community of North Gauteng. The 21.1km race was the first to begin followed by the wheelchair race officiated by Prof. Antonie de Klerk of UP. The 10km and 5km proceeded thereafter, with the 1km the last
to start at 08:00. This was then followed by the prizegiving where Tuks was well represented among professional squads such as Nedbank, Transnet and Maxed Elite. TuksAthletics hosted and helped organise the event, which served as exposure for the TuksAthletes club to experience racing at a professional level. Danie Cornelius, a TuksAthletics representative, said of the event. “The race of 2015 was one of the best races ever according to feedback from participants. We also had more than 9000 participants, indicating the growing popularity amongst the road running fraternity, making it one of the biggest races in Pretoria.”
30 000 people read the print version of
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