10 September 2018 Issue 15 Year 80

Perdeby

Official independent student newspaper of the University of Pretoria 10 September 2018

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80

year 80 issue15

Student suicides increase at SA Universities

Pg. 3

South Africa’s battle with fake qualifications

Pangea, HYPE and bright colours: Interview with Tron Pyre

Pg. 8

Pg. 7

Johan Lourens: Male athlete of the year

Pg. 11

FMF Students camp outside Union Building Pg. 3

SRC works to pardon expelled FMF students Pg. 3

Photo: Elmarie Kruger

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Editorial | 10 September 2018

The DSA leadership camp

S

o this last weekend the new editorial got the chance to go to the annual leadership camp with the leadership of all the structures on campus. The weekend was a chance for all the ECs to get to know each other and learn about each structure. From the weekend, I can say that next year will be a year of great things.

We were late to the event as we were up in the office trying to finish it off before we spent the weekend away.

With just my editorial to layout, we could quickly add it when we got back and send the paper to print. Even though

Editorial we were late, we quickly got caught up in the activities of the camp and joined the rest of the structures. We came up with an awesome war cry (honestly it was just embarrassing), dubbed ourselves the Perdepirates (and we made everyone perdecringe), and settled in with each other as we bonded over our successes (and, more than our successes, our fantastic failures).

I had a good weekend getting to know all the rest of the structures. If you look to the photo at the bottom of my editorial, you will see a very strong and very competent team of leaders that will hopefully take this campus to new heights. This was proved in a simulation

exercise where we had to organise a toiletpaper fashion show. The event went impressively well. Some structures were so creative with the dresses they made, others looked like they had been rolling in the aftermath of a particularyl bad flu season.

Speaking about leadership, I want to apologise to the people that were left off the front page of our last edition. We tried our best, sometimes these things slip through. Live and learn.

And finally, I’ve been watching what has been happening on the NWU campuses over the past week. It’s interesting watching from a place that has already experienced what they are going through at the moment. Where do you lie in this story, let me know what you think by sending an email to perdeby@up.ac. za.

Grab the week by the horns and go wild!

Shaun Sproule Editor Correction: In our 3 September edition: In our previous front page, Tuks Naledi and Tuks Bophelong were stated as TuksNaledi and TuksBophelong.

The Boekenhout chairperson was incorrectly stated as Obakeng Mokgara. The incoming 2018/2019 chairperson is Muzomuhle Vilane.

According to Lanché van Tonder, Hatfield Studios no longer has any connection to TuksRes or UP, and Tuks Naledi still has to choose a chairperson.

Katjiepiering’s Primaria, Jessica Aylward, was excluded.

Letter Policy

UP’s 2019 student leaders. Image provided by Arend Kahlau

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10 September 2018 | News

3

#FeesMustFall students camp outside the Union Building Mbali Mkhithi

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n 20 August, a group of students led by #FeesMustFall activist Bonginkosi Khanyile and his mother Phumzile Khathini set up camp outside the Union Buildings and promised to remain there until President Cyril Ramaphosa had spoken to them. The team was joined by EFF Student Command members from Durban and Pretoria with the mandate of requesting the President to grant all the arrested #FeesMustFall student activists amnesty. The group told Pretoria News that on 22 August, they had been visited by various civil organisations that believed that the president had the power to pardon the students.

The leader, Khanyile was found guilty of public violence, failing to comply with police instruction and for possession of a dangerous weapon on 13 August. He is due for sentencing on 16 October.

However, until his sentencing, he is determined to sleep outside the Union Buildings.

Thabo Shingange University of Pretoria South African Union of Students (SAUS) Spokesperson told Perdeby that “As the South African Union of Students (SAUS) we have made a clarion call to the state President, Cyril Ramaphosa, to grant presidential pardon and amnesty to students currently facing victimization and litigation due to #FeesMustFall protests. This is because their actions arose out of a time when society was abnormal, where the political climate was high and where government and the state were abrasive. Understanding this condition, various other organizations and individuals have embarked on their own initiated projects aimed at arriving to a similar end of student amnesty in the above matter.

Three student activists have made attempts to submit formal letters/ memorandums to the President’s office at the Union Buildings (Mcebo Dlamini, Bonginkosi Khanyile, Dikago Pule, who walked from Mafikeng and has arrived today at the Union Buildings) and so there is a rise on passive demonstration and protest towards achieving our end in that regard, which, as a union, need to ensure that it must be intensified and united.”

The students said they were determined to stay put although they were aware that Pres. Ramaphosa was in parliament. According to Pretoria News, Khanyile said, “We are not going to leave until he comes and speaks to us face-to-face because he is the one who has the power to pardon us.” He added, “One director from his legal department came here with two senior executives, but we told them we want the president and no one else.”

Khanyile explained that, “They tried to make us submit a memorandum, but when have you ever heard of people taking action because someone left a memorandum? They probably have a pile of memorandums in the Union Buildings.” He concluded that, “We are students who fought for free tertiary education, which is being implemented. We therefore should be pardoned because we are accused of less important crimes without even any concrete evidence.”

Pretoria News reported that the list of students who could benefit from a presidential pardon include Khaya Cekeshe, who is a student at a media academy in Braamfontein. He was sentenced to eight years’ imprisonment and had three years suspended from his conviction.

Former EFF Student Command leader Amos “Amla” Monageng was also expelled from the University of Pretoria and sentenced to a year of house arrest. He was one of other student activists who were expelled from the university such as Surprise Silowe, Wandile Masango, Thulani Masilela and Herman Mashaba.

Shingange added that, “Since our submission to the parliamentary portfolio committee on higher education around the matter, there has been a willingness to engage with various university managements. However, the discussion will unfold effectively following this coming weekend’s planned meeting with all SRCs and how best to work with Universities South Africa (USAF) towards dropping charges and lifting suspension/expulsions of students due to fees must fall protests, more will be said on this following our engagement with the primary stakeholders.”

Shingange told Perdeby that they want the charges, legal proceedings and victimization both by the state and the university management for all students involved in fees must fall student protests to be brought to an end.

Student suicides increase at SA Universities Mbali Mkhithi

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former BCom Accounting student at the University of Johannesburg (UJ), Xolani Kosi died by suicide on 28 August because of the pressure of informing his mother that he had failed and would not be graduating next year. Xolani had been pretending to be attending classes for the past two years after he failed his first semester in 2016. According to Sowetan Live, Xolani’s mother, Zolani Kosi explained that her son passed matric in 2014 and was only approved for funding by the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) for 2016, but he failed his first semester. He forfeited his funding and UJ de-registered him in June 2017. Zoliswa added that she thought that the pressure might have been too much for Xolani because all family members expected him to graduate next year. Xolani’s commemoration service was held at the Imbizo Arena, in Johannesburg on 31 August. This incident follows another alleged suicide, that of Keleletso Mahlala, also a UJ student who suffered from depression. Keleletso was a house committee member at Lebone Ladies Resident in Auckland Park Kingsway campus. Messages about her passing were circulating on social media, creating an awareness about depression and urging people to speak up about their troubles.

On 18 August, a video went viral on Twitter of a Central University of Technology (CUT) student jumping from the rooftop of Loch Logan Waterfront Mall. In the video the student is seen running and then jumping from the building. Speaking to DRUM, spokesperson of the University, Dan Maritz identified the young man as Lerothodi Joseph Mokati who had been a first-year student pursing a Diploma in Tourism Management at the University. “He was our first-year student and resided in Bloemside, Bloemfontein.

As a university, we have never had a tragedy of this nature in the past, and we are extremely shocked by what has happened to our student, Mr Mokati,” he told News24. News24 reported that according to Media Liason officer, Lieutenant Colonel Thabo Covane from the Park Road Police Station, a call was recieved that there was a person who tried to attempt suicide at Waterfront First Avenue, Willows in Bloemfontein. Mr Sample van Schalkwyk, an employee of Fidelity Security alleged that it was 6 p.m. when the young man dropped his school bag and file on the ground and jumped. Lieutenant Covane also explained that the police identified the deceased from the file he was carrying. “The police arrived and from his personal file it was discovered that his name is Lerothodi Joseph Mokati,” he said.

These events occurred after the death of 23-year old Rhodes University student Khensani Maseko that has sent shock waves through the nation and sparked dialog about rape culture within the institution. Maseko was allegedly raped by her boyfriend in May and reportedly died by suicide at her family home in Johannesburg on 3 August.

The South African Depression and Anxiety Group (SADAG) reports that according to the World Health Organisation, a suicide occurs every 40 seconds and a suicide attempt is made every three seconds. The report continues to state that in South Africa, hanging is the most frequently employed method of suicide, followed by

Photo: Nkululeko Ngcobo

shooting, gashing and burning. It argues that the risk factors for suicide among the young include the presence of mental illnesses, especially depression, conduct disorder, alcohol and drug abuse, previous suicide attempts, and the availability of firearms in the home. According to the report, in South Africa 60% of people who commit suicide are depressed and the average suicide is 17.2 per 100 000 (8% of all deaths). This relates only to deaths reported by academic hospitals meaning the real figure is possibly higher.

Dr Linda Blokland, a clinical psychologist and lecturer at the University of Pretoria told Perdeby that, “Periods of feeling down are normal for all people. We especially feel down, experience sleep disturbances, feel anxious or even panicky, lack motivation and energy during times of stress and prolonged pressure. It is important to recognise these as normal and even healthy feelings that we learn to cope with during our lifetimes. Just as it is expected that someone would feel anxious when faced with a physical threat such as a wild animal in the veld, it is normal and healthy to feel anxious, lonely, and down at times of stress and pressure in one’s life. These are the emotions that drive us to introduce change in our lives.”

She continued to say, “When students find that they can no longer use their developed coping strategies to effectively manage their moods when under stress, they can consult with trained professionals either using resources available to them outside the university community, or within the university. For students who do not have access to outside resources or choose not to use these, the Student Counselling Unit provides assistance for stress and other pressure related feelings and behaviours.”

“The Student Counselling Unit provides free counselling for students with a variety of personal and mental health needs”, she added.

“Most students seem to take their information from popular media which can be misleading. This is why it is so important to put out accurate and relevant information. We need to be careful not to feed into the alarmist discourses. Students need information which can guide and help them manage their pressures constructively. Information can help students expand on and strengthen their coping strategies”, she concluded.

The SADAG has a 24hr helpline and an emergency suicide line should anyone need help and are 0800 12 13 14 and 0800 567 567 respectively.

SRC works to pardon expelled #FeesMustFall students Mbali Mkhithi

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n 6 September the Student Representative Council (SRC) released a statement announcing their intention to help pardon students that were expelled during the #FeesMustFall movement. The statement reads, “The Student Representative Council (SRC) has received a request from a student to pardon all students who were expelled or suspended by the University Disciplinary Committee: Students on all charges that relate to protest actions that took place between September 2015 – December 2016.”

According to the SRC this matter was raised during their ordinary meeting which took place on 5 September. They then decided to request the Office of the Registrar, Prof.

Caroline Nicholsen, to pardon students who were expelled and suspended due to protest-related action. The statement continued to explain that the SRC had noted that not all students would be pardoned and, as a result, they have set out a criteria of which the students could be eligible for such pardon should it be granted by the Registrar of the University.

According to the statement, students who qualify for their cases to be reviewed are: students who were suspended or expelled for contravening the interdict(s) obtained by the University of Pretoria Management, those who were charged in terms of the Criminal Procedure Act 51 of 1977 and have since been discharged in terms of section 174 of the Criminal Procedure Act as well as students who have been suspended or expelled for protest related actions(s) but have not been criminally charged.

The list is not inclusive of students who have been found guilty by a competent court, but the outgoing SRC explained that they were quite confident that the incoming SRC will continue to spearhead this project once the President of the Republic of South Africa, Cyril Ramaphosa has pardoned students who were prosecuted for protest related crimes.

Students that fall within the abovementioned criteria are requested to send their full contact details including the student’s student number, the expulsion/suspension letter, a motivational letter stating why the said student should be readmitted into the University of Pretoria and if the student was discharged in terms of s174, the relevant court judgement indicating that the student has been discharged from the crimes he/she was accused of as well as any other relevant document/information that could serve as a mitigating factor as to why the student should be readmitted into the university. They should send these documents to the SRC Deputy Secretary (sec.deputysecretary@tuks.co.za) and (src. secretary@tuks.co.za) by 20 September 2018 at 17:00.

The statement concludes by explaining that the SRC will convene after all requests have been made, where each case will be dealt with individually and the outcome will be communicated to the requestor. SRC Deputy Secretary, Kutlwano Mositi told Perdeby, “I have communicated with the Registrar Prof Nicholson on Thursday 6 September 2018 and she requested that we set up an appointment with her once we’ve concluded our internal processes (assessing all applications received from activists)”. “After the closing date the SRC will sit down collectively and assess each application individually whereafter an appointment will be scheduled with the registrar to discuss the possibility of pardoning the students we think should be pardoned. We are not sure how long the process will continue but have received assurance from the SRC president-elect Mr David Kabwa that the incoming SRC will be willing to continue the process on 2019 should the process not be concluded in 2018,” he said.

Mositi explained that, “I received a request from a The Deputy Secretary of the EFFSC UP to propose this to the SRC, whereby it was approved based on certain conditions/ criteria which can be found on our social media platform. The approval was highly motivated by the Department of Justice’s cooperation with Bonginkosi’s request.”

“The 2018 SRC want to ensure that students who were suspended/expelled due to protest related actions are allowed/ readmitted back into the institution. We believe as a body that is there to represent students, our role is to ensure that all student requests are attended to in a speedily manor. This obviously entails that should the student(s) be pardoned, they will be readmitted for the 2019 academic year,” he concluded.

4

News | 10 September 2018

UP develops multilingual tool for higher education

CRC runs food drive Refilwe Mofokeng

T

Resego Molele

T

he University of Pretoria Department of African languages and the unit for Academic Literacy have developed an Open Educational Term Bank (OERTB) in collaboration with Prof Mbulungeni Madiba from the University of Cape Town. OERTB was started in 2015 with funding from the Department of Higher Education. The project aims to promote the use of African languages in teaching and learning at higher learning institutions and allows students to check definitions of words in other languages. This initiative is led by UP Professors Adelia Carstens and Elsabe Taljard and Mbulungeni Madiba.

OERTB aims to make the transfer of knowledge between the lecturer and student easier. Prof Elsabe Taljard explained that the majority of UP students are taught in and have learned through a medium which is not their strongest language. “By making a resource such as the OERTB available to students, we provide them with the opportunity to access key terms and the concepts that these terms represent in their strongest language,” she said. “The definitions that are provided, assist students in conceptualizing key concepts in the various subject fields. We also hope that the availability of this resource will contribute to a multilingual literacy on the UP campus. It will also help to dispel the myth that African languages are lacking in terminology and are therefore unsuitable as instruments of higher learning,” elaborated Prof Taljard.

Speaking to the university, Prof Carstens, Director of the Unit for Academic Literacy, said that OERTB is one of the tools that can be used to address the language challenges faced by many university students who are not mothertongue speakers of English. She went on to say that, “They [students] fail, not because of a lack of intelligence but because they are unable to express their views in the dominant language of instruction.” OERTB promotes African languages through ‘translanguaging’, which is the practice of interchanging between English and the students’ home languages to facilitate comprehension, allow social cohesion and recognise the linguistic identities of students.

To use this resource, students have to go onto the OERTB site and enter their query, their language of search and choose their target language and subject area. The subject areas that are covered in the programme range from Accounting, Anthropology, Chemistry, Philosophy to Political Science and Family medicine. Users can also submit feedback which may be incorporated into the system.

The data on the site was compiled by the OERTB in collaboration with lecturers from the various subject fields. Prof Taljard told Perdeby, “The terms in the term bank were extracted from the study material and textbooks used in the various subjects. Translation of the terms and definitions from English into the African languages was outsourced to professional translators.”

According to the OERTB site, the project is aimed at promoting the African languages as vehicles for comprehending the basic concepts in academic disciplines. Activities on the site include defining concepts, adding terminology, verification of terminology by subject field experts and translating the data into 10 other official languages of South Africa. It gives students access to an internet-based terminology data bank that has conceptual definitions which aims to give students a better understanding of key concepts. It also aims to use rigorous terminology development and effective terminology management that will contribute to the development of the African languages as a language of higher functions, including scientific discourse.

Image: Elmarie Kruger

UP joins forces with UWA Refilwe Mofokeng

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n 27 August, the University of Pretoria (UP) and The University of Western Australia (UWA) signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU), which seeks to enhance relations between the two universities by developing academic and cultural interchanges in teaching, research and other activities. The agreement was signed at the Australia-Africa Universities Network (AAUN) Annual Conference and Annual General Meeting at UWA. This agreement had been in the making for the past six years under the auspices of the AAUN, which is led by Australia Co-Chair, Professor John Hearn from the University of Sydney and Vice-Chancellor and Principal, Professor Cheryl de la Rey. The AAUN was launched in 2012 to enable the supply of specific expertise across Australia and Africa. There is a specific focus on the engagement of Australian universities with those who are in sub-Saharan Africa.

Over the following five years, the programme aims to pursue activities such as exchanging staff and students, having joint research activities, joint conferences and other academic meetings as well as exchanging academic materials and information. The UP website

reported that, Prof. De la Rey said that, “With this agreement we will fulfil our ambitions and objectives in building equal higher education and research partnerships and programmes between our two institutions. This partnership is vital as it brings together two universities from different continents to join hands and to catalyse new research collaborations that address significant challenges facing both Australia and Africa.”

It further explained that, “Earlier in July, UWA announced the establishment of the Africa Research & Engagement Centre (AfREC) to drive innovative and ethical collaborations on the African continent. The centre develops, produces and promotes research, teaching, training and other academic collaborations with university partners in Africa, Australia and globally to address mutual sustainable development challenges and responsibilities, while strengthening wider Australia-Africa relations.”

Last year UP signed 16 new institutional agreements. This year the university has signed eight agreements with other international tertiary institutions, including the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in the US and the University of Bologna in Italy, both of which are highly ranked in the latest QS Rankings.

Voices for the voiceless Refilwe Mofokeng

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n 7 September, the Centre for Augmentative and Alternative Communication (CAAC) hosted their annual workshop in the Humanities foyer for youth with disabilities who use alternative ways to communication. The CAAC is based within the Faculty of Humanities and aims to improve the lives of people with severe communication difficulties. The Centre is the only one of its kind in Africa that does training at different schools and institutions, using AAC intervention strategies with people with sever disabilities.

The digital exhibition was pictures of the youths’ work. Some of the learners use the Speech Assistant AAC app which is designed to assist people who have difficulty speaking but can read.

Senior lecturer, Dr Kerstin Tönsing, said, “Previously these equipments were very expensive and now due to a lot of technologies having these features, it is now accessible.” A few of the youth were asked how important is it for them to “have a voice”? Lebogang Sehako said, “For me having a voice means that I am able to communicate with others and my voice can also be heard.” Tebogo Malebye wrote, “I feel alone, I feel I am not visible. When I speak to people and they ignore me, I feel unhappy, ignored. Being disabled is not a problem in my life. I can still reach my goals.”

Perdeby asked incoming SRC president,

Photo: Refilwe Mofokeng

David Kabwa, what does it mean for the Humanities faculty to host such an event.

“The event is important for the faculty for Humanities because it emphasizes the significance of the CAAC as part of the faculty. Many students are unaware of the fact that this centre falls under the Humanities faculty. I watched as many students were in awe as they learnt about the different innovations that are in place to assist [disabled] students and staff to communicate. Above all else, this event raised awareness of the centre and brilliant students and staff that work there as well as the work that they have been doing to pioneer the continuous development of students and staff that use alternative communication.

Having a voice should be a fundamental part of life. Its importance cannot be emphasised strongly enough. It is more than being able to speak. We all have opinions, thoughts and contributions to make. Having a voice is how we get these points across. Your voice is the embodiment of your thoughts and lived experiences. In expressing your voice, you are sharing those thoughts and experiences.

Though we may agree or agree to disagree, having a voice is important for the growth and the uplifting of our community.”

he Christian Revival Church (CRC) Cares Tuks Society is a division of the main CRC Cares ministry with the focus of helping UP students. CRC Cares Tuks Student Society is a society that aims to take care and assist students not only spiritually but also with their physical and emotional needs. They took an initiative to plan a food drive with the aim of appealing to the community, to come together and donate as much as they can to assist students in need. The society also provides meal packs for students, as well as providing free tutoring and emotional support for students. Students often struggle to make end meets on campus due to the financial cost attached to obtaining a degree and hence many students may find themselves with inadequate food and/or toiletries. The mandate of the CRC Cares ministry is to reach and care for local communities. They seek to cater for and meet the needs of the modern person. The ministry helps people through different projects such as Creches for Africa, Sandwich club, Winter warmers and certain youth outreaches.

The initiative was initiated by Imani Mahaseni, a second-year student at UP who approached the managers at Hillcrest Boulevard to ask for assistance with the idea. Mahaseni told Perdeby that, “I am just a student who has been helped and changed by attending one of the home-cells, I came with the idea and spoke to CRC Cares Tuks Society Chairperson, Wayne Naidoo about it and I have been guided and offered immense support by Wayne and the managers at Hillcrest Boulevard.”

The food drive will be held throughout September, volunteers will be at the centre collecting donations from the shoppers every Friday and Saturday from 8-29 September during 11:00-16:00 at Hillcrest Boulevard.

People who want to donate but can't make it on those days, can alternatively contact, Wayne Naidoo. Mahaseni said that, “We believe that at the end of the food drive we would have collected enough food that no student will have to go through the exam period stressing about where they will get their next meal. The Hillcrest Boulevard management also played a huge role in allowing this food drive project to roll out by allowing us to use their facilities and we are forever grateful. The CRC Cares Tuks Society has many plans on helping UP students succeed and live to the fullest and this is just one of the many greater things to come.”

Mahaseni explained how students in need would be identified, he told Perdeby “Our zone Pastors, Pastor Elzaan and Pastor Sylverster have been working with the SRC to identify students that are struggling to make end meets. Secondly, a lot of UP students are members of CRC and have home-cells (weekly small group gatherings) at almost all student residences, campuses and across the Hatfield spectrum and through the home-cells which are a safe space to grow and fellowship with others, students can and do come forward with their needs and receive help. Lastly, we have developed an app whereby students can come forth with queries, questions and problems and can be helped. The app is yet to be launched very soon and it’s going to be awesome. All of this is done with the dignity of students in mind hence it is treated very confidentially. Students can contact Wayne if they want to be part of a home-cell or for more information.” To contribute to this initiative, you can contact Wayne Naidoo on 082 414 8698.

10 September 2018 | News

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Meet incomming SRC President, David Kabwa

Henri Uys

that would be entering. From this experience I will apply the skill of coordinating many avid Kabwa, chairperson of House different beliefs and conflicting ideologies as Humanities, was recently elected as my commission was comprised of students, UP’s new SRC President. young unemployed people and young people Kabwa received 2971 votes, Thulile Zulu with disabilities.” (the new Deputy President) followed with Kabwa also commented on how he plans 2708 votes, this reflects a difference of 263 to build relationships with various student votes between the two. structures at UP. He said, “My focus is well Speaking to Perdeby, Kabwa explained placed on how each sub-council, society and why he decided to run for the position of SRC structure can assist the student body. I plan President. Kabwa said, “While I have been in on giving each of these structures the respect student governance, I have been involved in a that they deserve. The university cannot number of structures. In all of these structures, function the same without them. We saw I noticed my jurisdiction was always directed this during the food drive. On the ground it towards a particular group of students. This was the sub-councils and societies that took sparked a fire that burned with the flame of up the cause. Throughout of the year, each ferociously fierce fervour where I made up political organisation has dedicated itself my mind that I want to serve all students as to the betterment of students. Clashes come opposed to having the service directed toward where political ideologies differ. However, the a particular group of students.” Kabwa added, uniting call will be the upliftment of students.

“My experience as Chairperson of House As a united force that fervently follows Humanities has allowed me to become familiar through with the serious and sincere mandate with the bureaucratic nature of the student serving of students.” governance structures in the University of Perdeby asked Kabwa how he plans to Pretoria. I am now aware of how to navigate engage with students who either have little the bureaucracy to do so much more for so interest in the SRC or who don’t know what many students. The experience that I have the SRC is and what they do. He said, “It is gained in House Humanities will positively important to listen. That is the biggest thing impact my term as president.” that I learnt while I was campaigning. Students Kabwa used #LeadWithYou during his do not know or care about the SRC because it campaigning. Speaking about the hashtag, is a structure that has mostly been heard about Kabwa said, “I chose to run for the SRC in passing. However, a person is most likely presidency as an independent candidate. As to engage with you better if you are willing to such I gathered a team of my close friends to listen to them. It is through these engagements help me run the campaign. From the beginning that more and more students will be able to it became clear that although I was running familiarise themselves with the SRC and the independently, this was not a task that I importance of their role in the University.” would be able to accomplish on my own. The Kabwa added that he had learnt some inspiration behind the hashtag was when we lessons from the current and outgoing SRC realised that the SRC is to represent students President, Kwena Moloto. He said, “From and therefore lead with students and instead President Moloto, I have learnt the importance of leading over them. In the SRC, you are not of building relationships. It is only together a god but a student that is holding the torch that a difference can be made. Therefore you burning with the interests of other students.” will need to build relationships with people Kabwa served as the Chairperson of the that will be willing to enter the trenches with Second Commission in the 2018 Youth you. Among students, staff and all structures, Parliament. He explained that the purpose it is important to have the kind of relationships of the Youth Parliament is to involve young that will benefit the student body as a whole.” people in government policy. During his Kabwa also had this message to students time at the Youth Parliament, Kabwa was who did not vote for him or who have little involved in making recommendations relating confidence in him, “I am open to hear from to a proposal of a Decent Work Commission. you and learn from you too. I cannot pretend He said, “we recommended that the cost of that I am perfect nor can I pretend that I have establishing an entirely new commission all of the answers or solutions. However, I can be weighed against employing people in say you will rarely find an individual with the existing commissions and giving them the resolve, the heart and willingness work for the same mandate. This means that the same betterment of students. We share a common goals would be achieved and the issues interest in that we are here to gain a quality of inexperience would not be an obstacle education. Let our common interest unite us, as existing commissions have senior staff let our respective passions develop us and let member that mentor and groom the youth our differences build each other.”

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Photo: Nkululeko Ngcobo

SAPS warns of date rape drugs Henri Uys

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he Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences (FCS) Investigations Unit in the Tshwane Central Cluster has warned the public not to abuse alcohol.

A media statement shared with Perdeby reads, “In most of the cases that are investigated by this FCS unit, alcohol was consumed by the perpetrator, victim, or both. Intoxication can make you take risks which you would normally avoid, such as letting a stranger walk you home, or giving you a lift, going to somebody’s flat or house that you just met etc.”

In the statement, the FCS warns that criminals use so-called “date rape drugs”. These drugs are designed to incapacitate a victim to a point where criminals can take advantage of them.

Content: Henri Uys Infographic: Elmarie Kruger

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Usually, victims are sexually exploited or they are robbed. When the victim wakes up the following morning, they have little to no recollection of the previous night. The statement reads, “Eye drops can cause drowsiness, nausea and amnesia when mixed with alcohol. The other well-known drugs used to spike drinks are rohypnol, ketamine hydrochloride (an odourless anaesthetic) and GHB, a veterinary product that paralyses its victim.”

Any suspicious persons or vehicles (especially vehicles that don’t have number plates) or any other suspicious circumstances can be reported by phoning SAPS’s emergency number 10111.

Brooklyn SAPS can be contacted on their 24hour number (012) 366 1735/6. Information relating to crime can be anonymously reported by phoning 08600 10111 or via SMS at 32211.

Do you have an LLB? Want to stand out in the job market? Looking to specialise?

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6

The update on gene editing Shanté Kroukamp

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here is a global debate among geneticists and scientists about the controversial and previously inconceivable possibility of gene editing, or genome editing, in the human species. Gene editing is a biological engineering process through which the DNA, or genome, of an organism is altered intentionally through the processes of insertion, deletion, replacement or modification of certain proteins that make up the structure.

The current leading gene editing tool is called CRISPR-Cas9. It consists of two elements, CRISPR and Cas9. CRISPR stands for Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats and refers to a target identification mechanism through which the specific locus on a DNA string that seeks to be modified is pinpointed.

The second element, Cas9, stands for CRISPRassociated Protein-9. Cas9 is the protein used to cut DNA at the targeted locus. Professor Christine Maritz Olivier, an associate professor at the University of Pretoria in the Department of Genetics, explains what gene editing entails with a simple example. “Sometimes there is a mutation, which means that one of your DNA bases changed and that can result in disease. [With gene-editing technology] we can now go and fix the mutation.

We don’t have to replace the entire gene you can just replace that little bit. One big example is sickle cell anaemia which a lot of African people have. So maybe this is therapeutic one day, so

we can go and change just that mutation.” Prof.

Olivier says that scientists are currently working on how to utilise this technology for bigger genes such as the one that causes Multiple Sclerosis.

Prof. Olivier adds that this technology cannot be used in humans at the moment. What is possible is to take a cell, use it in a cell culture, and replace it in the human subject. However, this process can be problematic for long-term treatment because it is time consuming and costly.

The award-winning science writer for Scientific American, Stephen S. Hall, conducted an interview with Professor Kyle Orwig of the University of Pittsburgh in Pennsylvania.

Professor Orwig is a specialist in the biology of sperm cells and how stem cells in the male testes specialise to generate sperm. He had the objective to use gene editing technology to correct the genetic flaw that causes infertility in human males by transplanting the erroneous testicular germline stem cells into mice and thus providing a potential fertility treatment, similar to the process of IVF (In Vitro Fertilisation). Professor Orwig has been occupied with this experiment for twenty years and if he is successful in his endeavour, the outcome would be epoch-making. A positive outcome would render it possible to change the genetic blueprint of the human species, thereby propelling genetics into an ethically questionable terrain.

An area saturated with controversy regarding matters of ethics is gene editing technology applied to germline modification. In 2015,

Chinese researchers in the field of genetics reported the first ventures to edit the genetic texts of human embryos. These reports were met with both excitement and fear. The general population were distressed because of the possibilities of “tailored babies” and “gene improvement”.

Editing genes to create a “better” human has been criticised for being reminiscent of eugenic movements that led to serious violations against humanity such as the Nazi Holocaust and the Aboriginal Massacre.

Prof. Olivier says “they are [currently] trying to [edit the genetic text in humans] and there is a publication in Nature about this which resulted in huge deletions of the genome”. She continues to say that geneticists have never been able to see the side effects of gene editing until recently.

“Now that we can do it with next generation rapid sequencing of genomes, it was found that there are side effects like deletions of the genome”, says Prof. Olivier. She confirms that the CRISPRCas9 tool is not 100% effective yet and that geneticists have not been as precise with this tool as initially anticipated. Prof. Orwig, who has been experimenting with gene technology in mice, says that this technology is not merely theoretical and that “pieces are already in place.”

Gene editing technology is not entirely unknown to the public. Some examples of the application of gene therapy include the GMO (Genetically Modified Organism) phenomenon in agriculture, the well-known cloning experiment on Dolly the sheep, the treatment of ADA (Adenosine

The latest buzz on drones Alison Massey

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hese days we see drones all around us. Most of the drones in public places are used for photography purposes, however there are many other ways that these drones, or Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), can be used. These areas are far reaching and include conservation, agriculture, entertainment, logistics and crime detection and response.

Drone technology has even been implemented in some developing countries.

Kenya has opened its airspace to commercial drone use for companies, making it the second African country to do so alongside Rwanda as of 2017. Kenya has used drones to monitor rhino poaching syndicates, a system that could be of use in South Africa. Drone technology has been used successfully for other conservation purposes such as in Belize, where they control illegal and unsustainable fishing practices, reports New Atlas.

Apart from conservation, the agricultural industry is one of the areas where drones shine. This industry is already using drones quite extensively in crop dusting, or spraying insecticides over vast portions of crops, says Technology Review. According to New Atlas drones have been used in France to locate and eliminate populations of Asian hornets that have recently made their way into Europe and are a predatory threat to pollinators.

Drones also have endless possibilities in the entertainment industry. Due to their success in photography, their potential for sportscasting has been extensively discussed. Golf Digest explains that drones can be used to replace action cameras to achieve clearer, better action shots and get close to the activity. In addition to this, drones have been used themselves as a form of sport. New Atlas reports that drone racing is gaining popularity and that there is a world championship where players wear Virtual Reality goggles to fly their drones at high speeds.

Perhaps one of the most high-profile uses of drones is in the logistics industry, specifically in deliveries. Business Insider

reports that Amazon has been testing the use of commercial drones to deliver packages under 2.3 kg. According to New Atlas, even Dominoes and Walmart have been testing this type of delivery system. Both Business Insider and New Atlas explain that the benefits of drone delivery for companies are potentially vast. These benefits include millions of dollars in savings and potentially reducing the environmental impact caused by the millions of deliveries sent out every day.

While drones may positively reshape the delivery industry, they have been controversial in the realm of air traffic, with airports being a big concern. According to Financial Times, the six “drone related” airport incidents in 2014 rose to 93 in 2013. As a result, the UK plans to ban drones from flying within 1km of an airport. In addition to this, drone operators must undergo an online air safety test and drones above a certain weight must be registered with the Civil Aviation Authority.

Drones can, however, also be useful in airports. The International Airport Review writes that drones can be used for more efficient data capture and airplane building and inspection. This decreases the physical risk that unstable structures can pose on workers.

The potential for the use of drones in crime detection and response has been widely discussed. Perdeby interviewed Professor Gregory Breetzke, of the Geoinformatics Department at UP, who has done work on the use of drones in the crime sector. While Prof.

Breetzke notes that “this kind of technology is in the infancy stages in South Africa”, he gives a better understanding of how drones can potentially be used for crime surveillance.

What are some of the biggest ways that drones could be used in crime fighting and prevention?

I think the main use for South Africa with UAVs and drones is in unrest and protests and monitoring them. […] There are also a lot of other opportunities, like in hostage situations where you could attach a camera to a drone and so someone could speak to a hostage taker virtually through the drone. There is also technology now that makes drones the size of dragonflies, with exactly the same capabilities, which allows you to navigate through a crime

scene […]. [Another example is] the mass shooting in the shopping mall in Kenya a few years ago, where they could monitor the active shooter without putting the lives of the officers in danger. And there is also the opportunity, although this is a little bit ‘higher tech’, to weaponize drones. […] I strongly suspect it will reduce fear of crime in people too, just by them noticing that there is an increase in surveillance.

Has South Africa implemented any of these methods?

The Western Cape government has used UAVs in certain cases, and they have proved very successful. […] [But I wonder] whether this type of technology could increase inequality because it would probably be dominant in more affluent areas that would benefit disproportionately from this type of technology because these police stations are generally more equipped and have better resources.

Do you think the use of drones in our police departments is realistic?

Well there are about 1300 police stations in the country, so for example if each one had a drone, that would be 1300 drones. Then you would need to have the training […] and at that level of drone the training that they go under is similar to a pilot’s license. You would then need the maintenance and if it crashes, what happens then? Does someone fix it? If they fix it, is there a budget for that? And it must be suitably equipped with technology that is able to do what it is supposed to do, whether that’s facial recognition, or infrared, or something else […] I don’t think it will be implemented soon.

Features | 10 September 2018

Illustration: Kayla Thomas

Deaminase Deficiency), treatment of haemophilia and cancer as well as organ transplants, IVF and the development of multiple vaccines.

The gene editing of humans will not be legalised in the immediate future because, as seen in the United Kingdom, geneticists are currently following European Union law regulations. This topic is still moving through various ethical committees globally. Professor Olivier says that if this technology is used only for the purpose of saving lives, she will definitely support it.

One of the main concerns among the public around drones entering our workplaces in general is the issue of job replacement. Do you think this could ever be an issue?

I don’t think so because I don’t think you could replace, for example, tactical or operational directives from the police like stop-and-search and road blocks. You also need the people to operate the drones, so I think if anything it will help upskill the police if there are people within the service that train themselves, and possibly even the ability to hire new people to operate the drones. Although, I strongly suspect that this may get taken over by private security.

One concern surrounding drones with cameras being able to monitor public places is the issue of privacy. Do you think this could become an issue?

No, I don’t think it would realistically happen, although privacy is always a big issue. But, for example, let’s say there is a car that is being hijacked with a baby inside and the drone is attempting to monitor the suburb and look for a white SUV and it comes over a house in which there is a massive marijuana plantation.

That drone, you would imagine, would be obtained under the auspices of that particular crime, so would that be relevant to the crimes that they found? There is no answer to that. I don’t think globally, from what I have read, that authorities have actually gone this far yet. But […] this is all speculation, and it is all about the implementation. The idea is a good one and I think most people in South Africa

Illustration: Nkululeko Ngcobo

cobo

10 September 2018 | Features

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South Africa’s battle with fake qualifications Mosa Mgabhi

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draft of the National Qualifications Framework Amendment Bill is currently being tabled in parliament and contains different measures aimed at encouraging different institutions to stop offering qualifications not registered with the National Qualifications Framework (NQF) or administered by the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA).

According to Sabinet, the Bill has been drawn up by the Department of Higher Education and Training and seeks to provide verification of all qualifications or part qualifications by SAQA. One of the measures that the bill proposes is naming and shaming individuals who claim fake qualifications. South Africa has experienced multiple scandals about individuals who have misrepresented or used outright fake qualifications. Former South African ambassador to Japan, Mohau Pheko, falsified her qualifications by claiming that she had obtained a PhD in International Relations from LaSalle University in Louisiana in the United States of America. Subsequently, it emerged that this university did not exist at the time she claimed to have graduated from it. Former Arts and Culture minister, Pallo Jordan, resigned after he was exposed for misrepresenting himself as “Dr” when he did not have a PhD. In addition to this, former SABC Chairwoman, Ellen Tshabalala, falsely claimed to have a BCom and a postgraduate degree from the University of South Africa (UNISA).

Professor Johan Beckmann from the Department of Education Management and Policy Studies at the University of Pretoria expressed that “people holding executive positions and public office should be subjected to exactly the same, if not more, stringent scrutiny of their qualifications than other citizens [for] if justice is not seen to be done, a great deal of harm is eventually done to the guilty individuals themselves, the entities that they mislead and the value we attach to education.”

According to TimesLive, a man who goes by three names (Mohamed Ismail, Mohamed Ismail Patel, and Patel Muhamed) allegedly defrauded ABSA of approximately R17 million this year.

Evidence against him shows that he also faked a

law qualification and tried to bribe officers of the High Court to steal files. He is reported to have fled the country. A retired auxiliary nurse, Vusumuzi Jeremiah Dhlamini, masqueraded as a qualified doctor and reportedly charged R350 per consultation in his backyard. On 23 May authorities and officials from the Department of Health went to his home and seized his equipment.

After this incident, Lieutenant General Yolisa Matakata expressed concern at the “mushrooming of illegal practitioners because there are innocent lives at serious risk,” reports TimesLive.

Exposing individuals with fake qualifications has led to institutions that supply these fake qualifications being exposed. Prof. Beckmann asserts that “anecdotal evidence suggests that at some universities, postgraduate students are able to hire the services of syndicates that will scan the literature, identify sources that are unlikely to be known locally and use such material to write a thesis or dissertation for a student.”

The University of Zululand was involved in a scandal of approximately 4 000 people having allegedly bought degrees from the university over a twenty year period. In 2017, former Minister of Higher Education and Training, Blade Nzimande, issued a formal request for a full audit of the university’s affairs. However, earlier this year the audit panel established that “national perceptions of degrees-for-sale are misplaced” giving the university the all-clear despite the scandals. Four staff members were dismissed and criminal charges were opened against them for manually manipulating desktop information, changing names and identity numbers on documentation. The university has since enforced stronger security systems because it had suffered reputational damage due to the fraudulent acts of former staff members. Those “who transgress rules should expect no lenient treatment and should be expected to be punished according to the letter of the law and should receive no protection in the form of secrecy about their offences,” said Prof. Beckmann. The audit

Image: Kayla Thomas

panel offered various recommendations to the University of Zululand and they were given a year to address them.

The struggle with fake qualifications is not only confined to the sphere of higher education.

Recently, education quality control council, Umalusi, issued warning on various institutions offering fake matriculant certificates. They urged individuals to report such cases to the police or alternatively to Umalusi as they were operating illegally and committing “criminal offences punishable by law”, says Lucy Ditaunyane, Umalusi’s spokesperson. Prof. Beckmann suggests that the youth report to “associations of higher education institutions to verify the status of qualifications institutions. If an institution promises a qualification without demanding concomitant input and effort from students, they should be treated with care.”

The rise of fake qualifications, or rather the rise their revelations, is not exclusive to South Arica alone. Former spokesperson for the Nigerian House of Representatives, Salisu Buhari, admitted to allegations of perjury and forgery after he was exposed for lying about obtaining a Business Administration degree from the University of Toronto in Canada. In addition to this, Levi Nyagura was recently suspended as vicechancellor for the University of Zimbabwe for

awarding former First Lady Grace Mugabe a PhD in Sociology under controversial circumstances.

The issue of fake qualifications extends beyond Africa as Britain has also seen a sharp increase in the sale and purchase of qualifications online.

This has prompted an investigation into online agencies disguised as legitimate universities and supplying fake qualifications to the British population. In his publication titled “Corruption and Reform in Higher Education in Ukraine”, Ararat L. Osipian, from the University of Vanderbilt documents how globalisation has led to the trade in higher education. He also provides an account for how a significant portion of Ukrainians gain admission into universities by paying bribes or using their connections with faculties and administration. False qualifications have risen to become a prominent issue in society that individuals and governments have to deal with globally.

Prof. Beckmann says that South Africa “must value education and educational qualifications highly. All legal requirements regarding the assessment and awarding of qualifications need to be enforced strictly and offenders need to be punished in a manner in which justice will be done and be seen to be done […] The value of a qualification must be established and defended relentlessly.”

Comic Con and cosplay: a brief history Alison Massey

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osplay is a phenomenon that has come into the spotlight over recent decades as world comic book conventions, or Comic Cons, have become larger. The internet played its part in this as it has provided a way to share ideas and even allowed for careers in cosplay to emerge. If you are attending the first-ever Comic Con Africa from 14 to 16 September 2018, you will undoubtedly be met with dozens of cosplayers representing dozens of genres. But where does this unique hobby come from?

Take yourself back as early as 1939, when the first-ever world science fiction convention, Worldcon, happened in Chicago. Nowadays, Worldcon is an established institution and has taken place in many different cities, but in the ‘1930’s this was an unprecedented event. Fans of science fiction attended the convention in genre-appropriate dress, according to Artifice.

As Japan Powered reports, by the 1960’s, TV shows like Star Trek had become so popular that fans of science fiction dressed as aliens and crew members aboard the Starship Enterprise. With that, the seeds of cosplay in America had been sown.

Meanwhile, in Japan, manga and anime conventions had become popular. Japan Powered writes about how the word cosplay itself was coined when a Japanese journalist, Takahashi Nobuyuki, attended the Los

Angeles Worldcon. In 1984 Nobuyuki first used the word “cosplay” to describe the phenomenon he had experienced in America and brought the concept of cosplay into the Japanese manga and anime subculture where it flourishes to this day.

The word cosplay comes from the words “costume” and “play”. According to MerriamWebster it means “the activity or practice of dressing up as a character from a work of fiction”. Cosplay, however, entails much more than just dressing up like a character and in many cases it involves acting like the character too. Artifice writes that one of the reasons that people choose to cosplay is that they enjoy embodying the character they are dressed as, often because they respect or admire that character or are simply attached to them in some way.

Artifice and Live Science both highlight the way that cosplay can help people become part of a community, especially for their particular fandom. For example, someone cosplaying as Captain America may find other fans of Marvel’s The Avengers and through that form a sense of community. In an interview with Michael Nguyen, a Star Trek cosplayer and writer, Live Science quote him saying that in cosplay “you create your own look, but you also feel like part of a universe when you surround yourself with people who enjoy it as much as you do”.

The diversity of the cosplay community is

Image provided.

clear, and it is not only in America and Japan where cosplay is popular. Business Insider writes that in early August of this year two South African cosplayers, Kelsey Atkins and Natasha Biccard, competed in the world’s largest cosplay competition in Japan. Atkins and Biccard cosplayed as Link and Princess

Zelda from The Legend of Zelda games and were the first competitors from an African country ever to take part in the event. With this landmark occasion, and with the first-ever Comic Con Africa taking place in Kyalami, it is evident that cosplay has indeed developed into a global phenomenon.

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Entertainment | 10 September 2018

Female voices in South African hip-hop Nthabeleng Vilakazi

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Image: yomzansi.com

Looking For Love Adze Ugah Nthabeleng Vilakazi

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ooking For Love is a movie by Nigerian-born director, Adze Ugah, about a woman who, as the title suggests, is looking for love. After drunken behavior at her younger sister’s wedding, Buyi Dube (Celeste Ntuli) worries her parents as they think she is wasting her life with meaningless jobs and no husband.

Her mother, played by Lillian Dube, lets her know that fooling around at her age is not cute anymore, and that she should settle down with a good man. Buyi returns home to KwaZulu-Natal with one painful question in her mind: Where is a black, heavyset woman like herself going to find a man in South Africa? Especially with the pool of single men getting shallower.

Reluctantly she lets her best friend, played by Phindile Gwala, help her find a man.

The movie is an honest, raunchy and female-driven comedy about acceptance and hope. The actors put up great performances. Celeste Ntuli makes it clear that this is her movie to shine as she owns every single frame. In this film, Ntuli is funny, vulnerable and relatable on so many levels. The movie breaks social convention as it redefines what it means to be ladylike.

The movie also features Ntosh Madlingozi and Isaac Gampu who, even though not having a lot of acting experience, were great to watch.

Representation is an important word in the entertainment industry right now and seeing a main character with a body that is not generally considered socially acceptable is refreshing. Buyi is a lead that does not fall into the stereotypes that the film industry has placed plus-size women in. She has her own goals, dreams and a healthy sex life.

This film is relevant and reflects the socio-economic issues facing many South African women, particularly positive body image and cultural diversity.

The dialogue of the film is intelligent, allowing the viewer to not only laugh but think about the deeper issues. The camera work and editing ticked all the boxes. This film is for anyone who is looking for something light, heartwarming and funny. However, if crude humour makes you uncomfortable, this is not the one for you.

he South African hip-hop industry emerged from the shadows of kwaito and has since become one of the fastest growing and most influential genres of local music, giving rise to top-selling artists such as Cassper Nyovest, AKA, Kwesta and many more. The hip-hop world is still known to be a male-dominated space, however, there are local female artists that have managed to break into the industry and claim their own stake. Yo Girls became the first all-female rap group in South Africa, performing from the mid 80s until the mid 90s. Although the Cape Town female group never recorded any music, they set a tone for women in the genre and paved the way for more women in hip-hop.

Godessa, was an all-female hip-hop group formed in 2000, and at the time was the only all-female hip-hop group in South Africa. The aim for Godessa, formed under Shameema Williams, was to be an all-female group that was lyrically as good as their male counterparts and that would use hip-hop as a means to make positive changes to society. Group members Burni Aman, EJ Von Lyrik and Shameema Williams not only met these aims, but managed to make their singles party starters. Being the only female hip-hop group in the early 2000s, they managed to make the female voice heard.

Fast forward to where we are now, one only has to look at album sales to see that hip-hop is still a male dominated industry.

However more and more female artists are making a name for themselves. Gigi Lamayne is one of the most recognized female voice in the industry today. Her music confronts controversial topics such as sexism, patriarchy, post-apartheid politics and

domestic abuse. During an interview with Zeleb.com, Lamayne pointed out that there are three main stereotypes that hip-hop has managed to put women into. The first is that there can only be one female heavyweight as a time. Second, that female rappers cannot and will not get along. And thirdly, the belief that women must sell sex if they want to be successful. Gigi Lamayne is therefore working towards breaking those beliefs and paving a new way for young female rappers.

Kanyi is a South African lyricist form Cape Town who gained popularity in the Early 2000s. In 2016 the Xhosa rapper said to LiveMag that she will not be the “go-to bully” when a new female artist comes into the game. Kanyi says that she’s happy that new female artists are emerging, staying that this means more bars, more lyricism, more creativity.

Fifi Cooper, affectionately known as “Mostwako’s First Lady”, made her mark permanent in the industry with her debut album 20FIFI in 2015. The rapper, who now has her own record label, MoCooper Records, has worked towards not only being her own boss but creating an environment where she can help create and discover new female voices.

Women have always been an important part of hip-hop culture; however, in the past, and even still today, they have been introduced by male artists as sexual and material objects. The hip-hop music scene in South Africa now includes artists such as Rouge, Boity, Yugen Blakrok, Yolandi Visser, Nadia Nakai, Patty Monroe, and many more. These women have changed the game by using their own voices to express their sexuality, their bodies, their lives and the environment around them. More and more females are ensuring that the presence of women in hiphop is felt.

Beyers de Vos — from editor to author Carina Kloppers

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n Thursday, 30 August, Beyers de Vos launched his first novel, Talion (Wrok in Afrikaans) at Uppercase Books in Menlyn Maine. With de Vos having been the editor of Perdeby back in 2011/2012, Perdeby naturally leaped at the chance to meet up with him and talk about his book.

De Vos moved down to Cape Town to complete a master’s degree in creative writing at the University of Cape Town.

There he started working on Talion as part of the degree. De Vos remarks that he was originally dismissive about setting the novel in Pretoria. He eventually relented and realised that his first novel was always meant to be about the city he grew up in.

Talion is set in Pretoria and follows the lives of five distinctly unique characters, whose lives are connected in ways they are yet to understand. However, Pretoria becomes more than just the setting, as de Vos chose to write Pretoria as the voice of the novel. It is Pretoria that unites the characters.

Moving away gave de Vos the perspective he needed to write about a city he loves dearly. He could be more objective and use his novel to analyse how the place you live in shape who you are. “When I was rediscovering the city through writing I had to come to terms with my own relationship with the city. It has a very special place in my heart.” De Vos continues by explaining that Talion is in some sense a love letter to an idyllic childhood.

That childhood is tied to Pretoria. “Pretoria is were I have been the happiest.” So, the scenes where Pretoria is at its best is taken directly from de Vos’s childhood.

Furthermore, de Vos also realises that the process of finding an editor and a publisher can distract from the actual writing.

“You have to have a thick skin.” he warns. “It really helps to understand that not everything you are going to do is going to be successful, but everything you do you are going to learn from.” He advises aspiring writers to work on many things at once “because if you focus all your creative energy on one thing and it fails, you are going to be disappointed”. De Vos continues, “If [you] understand your own writing and have an objective eye, you will [succeed].” The process might take longer than expected, “but eventually you will write something that will click and you will hit on the piece that is meant to be published.”

De Vos extends his advice by explaining that if you want to be a successful writer you cannot be focussed on what kind of brand you have or what social media is going to think. You have to shut yourself off from the public opinion. “What matters when you write is what you think.” So, he suggests that you

Image: penguinrandomhouse.co.za

hone your instincts and develop skills to help you understand your writing ability. “Once the thing exists in the world, worry about all that stuff; about social media and how everyone is going to react to it. But do not let that stuff effect how you create […] That is between you and the idea you have.”

De Vos always wanted to be a writer and refers to his novel as a “ten-year-in-the-making dream”. He is deeply in love with stories. “You are a story of yourself. […] You edit your life and relationships.” It is clear that de Vos poured all of this love into the writing of Talion. He even did the Afrikaans translation Wrok himself, an experience which he describes as “gruesome”.

But it is nevertheless evident that de Vos is proud of both publications. He even hinted that a sequel set five years after the events of the book might be in the works.

10 September 2018 | Entertainment

9

Pangea, HYPE and bright colours: Interview with Tron Pyre Pangea released last week. How’s the reaction been to that?

It’s actually crazy. Before I released it, I was on social media, I was like, “I’m going to release the best contemporary R&B project in the country”. I was just talking, but it’s crazy how when I released it all those sentiments were echoed by the people who heard it. So, everyone was like, “This is the great one. This is the great project.” So, I’m happy with it.

How did it feel hearing that you would be on the 30 man shortlist for the HYPE Freshman 2018 candidate list?

That was so random! I didn’t even know. We hadn’t even spoke to the guys.

I got a text from one of my friends that said “Yo, congratulations”, and then another one. I was like, “What? What do you mean congratulations?” They’re like, “Yo! You’re on the list!” I was like “what list?” And then he sent me the screengrab. So it’s pretty dope. Shout out to the HYPE team for checking out.

What advice would you have for other artists that are trying to get into the same position as you, of having their

Tron Pyre. Image Provided

Sam Mukwamu

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ron Pyre is a Pretoria based, contemporary R&B artist who has steadily been making a name for himself. His album Pangea, which was released on 24 August, has been receiving widespread praise on social media. Tron Pyre’s music has also caught the attention of South African hip hop magazine HYPE, who have named him on their candidate list for their HYPE Freshman 2018. Perdeby had the pleasure of chatting with Tron Pyre, who is also a UP student, to discuss his recent success.

For people who don’t know, who is Tron Pyre as an artist?

I’m a very curious person as an artist. I’d like to think I think I’m an expressionist. I’m always trying to find new ways to say or express what I feel. More than anything I feel like my music is always evolving and its growing. It’s almost like it’s taken a life of its own. So, I’d like to think of it as a person.

At what point did you realise that having a music career is something you want to do?

I once had a conversation with my friend, and I was telling him about a whole bunch of stuff that I’m interested in. You know, I want to do this, I want to do that, and then he was just like, “Bro you’re young, and if you feel the way you feel about these things that you’re so interested in, I rate you do them all. Do what you can with the life that you have. You only have one lifetime”. So, I’m just a curious person, I just want to do everything. I think after that conversation I was just like “Let’s be serious”.

How would you describe your journey from “I want to do this” to where you are now?

It’s been colourful. Sometimes the colours are dark, sometimes they’re very bright, but it’s a balance. They’re a bit bright today!

art recognised?

I think just focus on what you love. Don’t really do it to get the recognition. Do it for yourself, because people will always notice it when it’s for you, because that’s when it’s distinct. I gave up on trying to make a song that somebody else would like. I just decided that I’m going to make music that I want to hear more of and we’ll see where that goes. So, the minute when I decided to do that everybody was like “This is dope!” That way you can limit the pressure, because now you’re just creating for yourself, and it’s a beautiful thing. Because we’re different people, so if you’re creating for you it’s definitely going to come out different.

How have social media and online platforms helped in your career so far?

It’s probably done the biggest thing, because of how I use the social media platforms. We walk around with these magazines, these platforms, and we literally have everything in our pockets.

That’s what I see. My phone is my slave […] so I use it to do anything I want. If I want to get on radio, if I want to talk to you my phone needs to get that done. It’s just been the greatest tool outside my voice and God’s plan.

You’re now repping Pretoria. What do you think of the current Pretoria scene?

It’s pretty dope. There’s some great talent coming out. I’m curious to see how Pretoria looks like in two years. It’s a slow start, but I’m curious to know, because the kids are talented.

From the musicians, to the photographers, videographers, the models. The creative scene in Pretoria is now becoming a thing.

I think it’s pretty cool to be part of that.

What does the future hold for you?

The future is going to give me whatever I want to take from it.

You create your own reality.

10 Steps Forward Mobi Dixon Kevin Mareletse

M Image: joox.co.za

obi Dixon recently released his latest album, which he calls a celebration of all the contributions that he has made towards music and the progression his made in his own career. Moving on and making a name for himself, he named this album 10 Steps Forward, and rightfully so. This album is an amalgamation of the evolution of house music in South Africa over the past ten years from the perspective of Dixon himself and he set out to add elements of the different influences into this album while still keeping in

Image: theguardian.com

Bloom Troye Sivan Carina Kloppers

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roye Sivan has come a long way since his days as the awkward and naïve Spud. Now, the 23-year old with the wispy bleach blonde hair has transcended his YouTube personality and become what Time referred to as “the perfect popstar for 2018”. His second studio album Bloom dropped on Friday, 31 August and carries lighter, happier tunes than that of his debut Blue Neighbourhood.

With Bloom Sivan perfectly captures a coming-of-age narrative. Sivan is clearly no longer an anxious teenager looking to find himself. He is an adult and confident in his own skin. This growth manifested in Bloom, a warm and upbeat album about love, sex, relationships and selfdiscovery.

What makes Bloom really stand out though, is Sivan’s dedication to celebrate his identity. Before he was merely stepping out into the world as a gay artist and embracing his homosexuality with brooding melancholy. Now, he is dancing with pride as he fully embraces every facet of his being.

Bloom is thus dripping with tantalising honesty. The album opens with Sivan singing about trying to lose his virginity to an older man in “Seventeen”. The passion continues with the submissive sexual imagery of the title track “Bloom” and on “Plum” Sivan references to tangerines, pears and peaches brings to mind a specific scene from Call Me By Your Name.

Sivan manages to comfortably set loose his songs on profound queer love in the world of radio pop, because of Bloom’s sweet and airy feel. He approaches the same-sex romance and sensuality of his music, not a brand of niche art, but with a gentle breeziness and so he insures that Bloom is an album everyone can relate to. Bloom might be a defiantly queer album, but moreover, it is just about loving freely and deeply.

Unfortunately, Bloom’s sound fails to match up to the authentic vulnerability of the lyrics. Most tracks feel stifled and unoriginal as they carry a familiar mid-tempo with rich and muted hues. So, except for “My My My!” and “Bloom” the arrangements on Bloom lack the urgency that defines its writing. Thus, the reward of the album is purely found in its content.

Bloom is by no means a perfect album, but it is pretty damn good. It is an easy listen that was carefully crafted to be appreciated by everyone. So, go appreciate it.

tune with the sound he has made for himself throughout his lengthy career.

The album starts off with the title track, which features tantalising vocals from Shekhinah as she speaks of preparing herself for the worst from the lessons she’s learnt through her life. Those repeated lyrics set up the theme of progression and change throughout the project. The inclusion of star power is not sparse as he had enabled the assistance of the likes of J’Something, Dj Tira, Donald, Kwesta, and many more. The inclusion of so many artists from different genres of music, and walks of life makes the album go above and beyond itself. Each song uses its guest perfectly, blending and borrowing from each person involved.

The only problem with the album is the track placement, which could have been better arranged just to give the listener a smooth journey when listening to the album from start to finish. Altogether though, it’s evident that the influence of the many sub genres of house, as well as the influence of jazz and hip-hop played their roles in making the album a commendable effort from the “City Rains” hitmaker.

10

Fun and Games | 10 September 2018

Pssst...

Another week, another opportunity for Pssst… to contemplate life, the universe, and everything (maybe by the time Pssst… is finished, TuksRes will have announced their ECs).

Pssst… is not surprised to hear that Kollege kept it classy this past while by using the Taaibos blad to relieve themselves, for lack of a better term. Pssst… would like to note that the G6 bathrooms are gross enough to make popping a squat outside of Taaibos almost understandable, though. But still, Kollege, if this is a cry for help, maybe it’s time someone listened. Not Pssst…, but someone.

Top Ten case, you’re barking up the wrong tree by cosying up to Dregeana).

Worryingly, Pssst… sees that Erika are still having their weekly fun runs. More worrying still is that Erika thinks it’s okay to use the words “fun” and “run” in the same sentence.

Why not take a page out of Mopanie’s book and set up shop at the Hillcrest KFC? Then again, Pssst… doesn’t necessarily think clogged arteries are very appealing, so maybe not.

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4Second place is2perfectly 1 acceptable, 8 ladies. Pssst… thinks it’s more than okay that you embrace your sub-par status.

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10 September 2018 | Sport

11

Getting to know the ins and outs of TuksVolleyball Ntokozo Zondo

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erdeby sat down with TuksVolleyball chairperson, Tawnay Gierke to discuss the differences between indoor and beach volleyball, funding for the club and highlights for the season.

Image:TuksUltimate Facebook page

TuksUltimate Spring League preparation Ashley Magwindiri

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uksUltimate is a year round sport, with three leagues in total. Perdeby spoke to the TuksUltimate chairperson Edna Stander about the Spring League, which started on 17 August. According to the chairperson, every season brings a group of new players and throughout the year, the team is constantly developing.

How do you keep the team motivated throughout the year?

This is one of the biggest challenges for the club, especially during the colder months and holidays. Less players want to face the cold alone, so we emphasise the attendance of a core group of players at every session as this encourages other players to join. Our focus is to ensure that all players enjoy the sport, and this motivates players to participate regardless of their skill level.

TuksUltimate has exceeded all expectations through successful tournaments. What’s next for the team?

The next step for TuksUltimate is to focus on restructuring teams and seeing further club membership growth. This includes splitting our team into a student team and an alumni team, like what the Wits Ultimate Frisbee Club has done.

This will allow more players to get involved and develop their skills. We have started an additional social game every week with a focus of reaching new players.

Passion vs Athletic ability, which one is the most important for Ultimate athletes?

Without a doubt, passion. Ultimate is known for its “Spirit of the Game” which focuses on how the game is played and how rules are implemented. Regardless of athletic ability, we encourage all levels of participation as long as passion for the game is present.

What is it about your players that you’re most confident about?

Having these players around, makes it easier and exciting to run the club. There has always been a warm welcome for all new players which is responsible for the growth we see in the club.

What are you doing as a club, to make sure that you all achieve your goals?

We have been focusing on bringing new players into the sport and reassigning responsibilities within the club to ensure that everyone can contribute in their own way. As players come and go, we ensure that the club’s core values are passed on so that the club can continue to help grow and develop Ultimate in South Africa.

What are you are most looking forward to this season?

We always look forward to our games against the Wits Ultimate Frisbee Club as university ultimate grows best within these competitive games. Our teams learn from each other and the clubs support and assist each other’s growth. In the past few games against them, we have been edging closer to triumph and we look forward to continuing the rivalry this season.

What are the differences between Indoor and Beach Volleyball?

Indoor Volleyball consists of two teams of six players are separated by a net. The ball is played by hitting it with any part of the body mainly with the players hands. The objective of the game is for each team to send the ball over the net to ground it on the opponent’s court, and to prevent the ball from being grounded on its own court. The ball is put into play by the serving player.

Beach Volleyball is played on a sand court which slightly small and with two players. The objectives are the same as indoor, but the rules differ in some respects to indoor volleyball. Both codes have seasons that run from the end of February to the end of October.

What is the highlight for the season for each code?

The main tournament of the year is Volleyball South Africa’s National Club Champions which is normally held in April annually. Depending on how the club does, there is an opportunity to qualify for the Central Africa Volleyball Zone 6 tournament. The USSA games are also highly anticipated by

Image provided.

the students.

Does the club easily raise funding for tournaments and sports bursaries? If not, what do you think there is a lack of support in this area?

We do not raise funds very easily. Volleyball in South Africa is not a priority sport and therefore is unknown without public support and masses of followers, making it difficult. Throughout the year the club hosts a variety of fundraising events but most of the travel and tournaments are funded by the players.

Please provide a short review of the season and the club performance In December of 2017, the TuksVolleyball team won the Varsity Sport Beach Volleyball tournament.Volleyball South Africa hosted the National League we had three players represent Gauteng in the Beach Volleyball section; Andriko Von Ludwiger, Dominique Gachet and Margrit Springer. The Club Championships were successful with the womens team coming home with a silver medal after losing in the finals to UWC by two points. Natasha Webber was voted as best setter of the tournament.

What upcoming events is each code currently training for and when do they take place?

The USSA Beach tournament is in September in Durban and the National Indoor tournament at the end of September in Durban, the qualifier for the Zone 6 tournament to be held in December 2018.

Johan Lourens. Image: Johan Lourens instagram page

Johan Lourens: Male athlete of the year Ashley Magwindiri

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uksLifesaving offers athletes the opportunity to get lifesaving awards which will enable them to act as lifeguards. Johan Lourens, a TuksLifesaving athlete was recently awarded Male Athlete of the Year at the South African Lifesaving prize giving, the athlete will represent South Africa at the World Lifesaving Championships in Adelaide. Perdeby spoke to Lourens about his lifesaving journey and the upcoming World Lifesaving Championships in November.

What do you like most about Lifesaving?

Lifesaving is a unique sport that teaches you lifesaving skills as well as how to react and appreciate different situations. Lifesaving is not just a sport it is more like a lifestyle, lifesaving is a way of giving back to the community as well as creating awareness for drowning prevention.

What motivated you to go into lifesaving?

I love helping people and making people’s lives better, that is what makes me happy. Lifesaving is creating awareness for drowning, of which drowning is a very big problem worldwide.

Your lifesaving journey has been remarkable. What has been the secret behind your success?

Never giving up! My entire life, I was told that I was never fast enough, never big enough. I was always the underdog, but I believed I was special and I had big dreams for myself. If you believe in something and you put your mind to it, you will achieve the highest you envision for yourself. There is a saying “ It’s not the size of the man but the size of his heart that matters.”

In another interview, you mentioned that you have been doing water sports for as long as you can remember. Can you say that you are now a lifesaving guru?

The beauty of lifesaving is that there are so many components to it. Lifesaving keeps you humble because everyday you learn something new and it serves as a reminder to why we do what we do.

What’s the most important thing lifesavers should have?

They should never settle for less, never settle for anything less than what they believe is possible no matter what people say.

They need to dream big enough and if they believe it, then they can achieve it.

What are you doing now in preparation for the World Lifesaving Championships?

Most of the hard work has been done, now it is working on the small details so that we can utilize the training that we have done leading up to World Champs.

Sport Perdeby

Assupol TuksCricket: Black rhino conservation Caitlyn Walsh

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ecently, Assupol TuksCricket broadened their outreach to the community by reaching out to the Black Rhino Reserve Wildlife Trust. Perdeby spoke to the head coach of Assupol TuksCricket, Kruger van Wyk, about the outreach project.

What did Assupol TuksCricket assist with within the Wildlife trust?

We assisted with a financial donation towards the trust. These funds were raised by the players and staff members themselves, together with a donation from our main sponsor Assupol.

When did this outreach project take place?

It took place during our annual team building and planning weekend from 19 -21 August.

Planning for this project/fundraising event and creating an awareness around our outreach programs has been happening since January.

What was the goal of the outreach and did TuksCricket reach it?

Together with our team building weekend where we determine our goals, align our values and beliefs, we also wanted to give back to conservation. We assisted in tagging two rhinos. One was an injured white rhino which received X-rays, antibiotics and the medical attention it required.

The second rhino was carrying a baby, was tagged as well as to determine if she is healthy.

Both rhinos, also received tags that are inserted in their horns for tracking and protection purposes. All tests were done, and it was incredible to be so up close with the animals and it touched

Illustration: Marren McKay

lives of even the players who experienced this humbling moment. The second rhino was named Blanche, after our club manager which was a great initiative by the players. We most certainly created a huge interest in so many different fields around rhino conservation.

Was fundraising involved and if so, how much was raised?

Our fundraising target was R25 000 and with the help of Assupol we raised R30 000. The players and the staff of the club raised the R25 000 through selling tickets in support of the project What was the experience of this outreach like?

It was incredible. It was a once in a lifetime experience being so close to these gentle giants and it really touched all of us on so many levels. To be able to assist and help them in such a small way was just great, but it motivated all of us to try and do more in all our outreach programs. All of us have a responsibility to keep giving back to people and the environment.

What was the highlight of the outreach to the Wildlife trust?

The team coming together, their presentation about of values and beliefs, the rhino tagging was so special and just to spend time together as a group of staff and players was great. The tagging however was the firm highlight Do you consider this outreach project to the Wildlife Trust to be successful?

Definitely. Not only did we raise the funds, we also created awareness in our players and staff around this project and to our wider community that we are involved in.

TuksTennis team plays in Gauteng North A and B Leagues Ntokozo Zondo

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uksTennis has produced impressive results within the Gauteng North League with the ladies coming fourth in the A league and the men winning the B league therefore qualifying to compete in the A league, a significant victory as next season TuksTennis will for the first time in recent memory have all their teams; mixed team, ladies and men’s summer teams and men’s winter teams in the A leagues. The leagues ran during the following periods; mixed league from 5 May to 2 June, Men’s Winter league 6 May to 3 June, Ladies and Men’s Summer league 28 July to 1 September.

The Mixed league was unbeaten against the following clubs; Waterkloof Ridge (RIF) A, Lyttleton A, Elardus Park B, Belgrave B, Irene A. The Men’s Winter league won against Koedoepark A and Belgrave B and lost against to Belgrave A and CSIR securing fourth place in the Gauteng North A league. The Ladies Summer league beat Elardus Park A and Lynnwood A and lost to Midstream A and Belgrave A 4.3 and 6.1 loss to Koedoepark A placed 4th in Gauteng North A league. The Men’s Summer league won against Irene A, Lynwood Glen A, Midstream A and Lyttleton A and lost a close tie to Lynwood A, but still managed to collect enough points to win the Gauteng North B league.

Kyla Yelverton, TuksTennis Chairperson

evaluated the objectives set by the teams competing in the A league said, “to win both leagues, but with injuries and players unable to play some weekends, both teams managed to remain in the top leagues in Gauteng North by winning two to three ties out of the five and six ties in the league.” Yelverton further reviewed the B league objectives observing that, “it was the main objective to win the B leagues moving up to A league to have all teams in the Gauteng North A leagues for 2019, which both teams achieved.” Yelverton reviewed the overall performance by all teams remarked that, “The player’s conduct was complimented by other clubs stating that the players represented UP with pride and a healthy competitiveness.

In terms of strategy, it’s important to learn from mistakes. In the beginning of the leagues it’s important to note which players would be playing where, and ultimately what actions lead to winning the tie.”

Yelverton commented on the funding issues facing the club and reasons support is lacking in this aspect, “The funding for the club is not something easily raised and a lot of the time, the players have to pay for many things themselves which becomes quite expensive. Tennis is quite a smaller sport code which isn’t very recognised in South Africa. It would be great to get more funding from UP in the future as the club has done a lot, especially this year, to show that we are well-deserved of more funding.”

TuksWomensRugby continue winning streak at Zando Tshwane 10s Ntokozo Zondo

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he Delta Drone TuksWomensRugby 7s took part in the annual Zando Tshwane 10s tournament which took place during the first weekend of September. The tournament provides a variety of sporting codes; rugby, netball, dodgeball, five-a-side soccer, hockey and lawn balls with codes split into categories of social, premier, ladies division and men’s division.

The team played two matches on the Saturday, winning both with the following scores; 38-0 against Mamelodi and 28-0 against NWU. The team debuted new players at the tournament. In addition, Springbok player stood in for Captain Libbe van Rensburg as she was recovering from an injury. “We are pleased to have [had] springbok player, Nadine Roos join us while Libbie recovers. There is a void without Libbie but the team is learning new dynamics, learning to communicate and the players are playing harder than before to maintain the standard”.

On the last day of the tournament, the team continued their winning streak with the following scores; 40-0 against Benoni Northern Tops, 24-0 against Botswana’s UB Rhinos.

UP’s womens rugby team played UB Rhinos again in the finals, winning the game 39-0.

Liske Lategan scored the most tries over the event with seven tries, contributing to the team winning Ladies division of the tournament.

Team captain Libbie van Rensburg, discussed the objectives set for the tournament commenting that, “Having won the tournament last year, our main goal was to defend the title.”

van Rensburg further elaborated the deliberate player skill integration for the tournament and said, “We also wanted to give our new, up and coming players, who may not necessarily be on the required level to play internationally just yet, the opportunity to play in a tournament where they have spectator and where they too can feel the “rush” that you get when playing in a big time tournament.”

After sustaining an injury during a tournament in Europe in June, van Rensburg has been recuperating and supporting the team on the side-lines waiting eagerly to get back on the field in four weeks, observed the challenges of recovery explained, “I am well on track with my recovery. I’d like to think that I am exceeding expectations. I do physio as well as ozone therapy to hopefully speed up my recovery.

The most challenging aspect is watching my team play and not being able to play. I’ve never imagined myself not being able to play and it kind of feels like a dream or as if I am watching everything from the outside. Luckily our team is so tightknit that the girls still go out of their way to make me feel involved and they have been so encouraging and supportive.”

The team is currently training for the upcoming Oktoberfest which will be held on the 22 of September “Preparation is going well in terms of the work put in from the players, we are however struggling a bit this time with funding therefore we will not be taking a full team to the Oktoberfest 7s. There is talk of some tougher competition this year but hopefully this decision to take fewer players doesn’t come back to haunt us,” van Rensburg said.

Photos: Ntokozo Zondo

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