11 April 2016 Issue 7 Year 78

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Is the state under capture?

age 6

Perdeby

Tuks se amptelike studentekoerant / Official Tuks student newspaper / Kuranta ya baithuti ya semmušo ya Tuks

11April2016

year78issue6

Failed impeachment bid saves Zuma again HUVASAN REDDY President Jacob Zuma survived another attempt on his political life as the DA led motion to impeach him on 5 April failed.

Out of the 376 votes cast in the National Assembly, 233 of them were not in favour of the motion of impeachment – keeping the president in power – while 143 votes were cast in favour of the motion.

DA leader Mmusi Maimane anticipated the strength of the ruling party in protecting the president, saying, “Today is an historic day. It will be recorded that ANC members chose to defend a crooked, broken president instead of the Constitution and the rule of law. Today will signal once and for all that the ANC has lost its way, and there is no way back.” Fellow opposition leaders backed the motion, with IFP MP Narend Singh telling MP’s, “Saying ‘no’ to this motion will be morally unconscionable. Do the right thing.

If you choose not to, then cry the beloved country.” EFF leader Julius Malema implored ANC MP’s to vote

in favour of the motion, saying, “Stop thinking through your stomachs, use your brain to think.”

The ANC responded to the failed motion to impeach the president by calling the motion a “PR exercise” for the opposition.

The parliamentary debate and vote to impeach the president was scheduled to begin at 14:00. Before the debate had even begun, EFF chief whip Floyd Shivambu demanded that speaker of the National Assembly Baleka Mbete, who was named as the first respondent in the case against the National Assembly, step down from chairing the session. DA chief whip John Steenhuisen joined the call for Mbete to step down and called for Mbete to cede to the deputy speaker of the House. The debate was delayed for almost two hours while the House was suspended to allow opposition Chief Whips to meet.

At 16:00 DA leader Mmusi Maimane started the debate, referencing the statement released by the ANC after the judgement, saying, “They said Zuma was badly advised, that he was always going to comply

with the [Public Protector’s] report.

Basically they said it was no big deal.

We are here to say it is a big deal.” He continued by saying, “It is a big deal when he misleads this House when he says he was paying for it [Nkandla] with a bond.”

Deputy Justice Minister John Jeffery responded to the Constitutional Court judgement, saying that the remedial action put forward by the Public Protector was “not crystal clear” and that the president acted in good faith. EFF leader Julius Malema addressed the National Assembly, saying, “You want us to continue ‘business as usual’.

Not a single person has been held accountable.”

Deputy speaker Lechesa Tsenoli replaced Mbete as the debated continued for over two hours. At approximately 18:15, the MP’s cast their votes. After the unsuccessful vote, Malema again lambasted the ANC MP’s, saying, “We want to put on record that you voted against the Constitution here. You voted against the people of South Africa. We are not going to be part of this mess of Identical twins Tracey (left) and Danielle (right) Steenkamp obtained their Master of Arts in Human Movement Science (Biokinetics) during the autumn graduation ceremonies. UP will be celebrating its 250 000th graduate alumnus in the current cohort of graduates.

10 796 students will graduate this season. Image provided.

a useless Parliament that votes for wrong things,” following which the opposition walked out of Parliament.

Continued on page 3.

Laws you should be aware of Constitution of South Africa - The President and National Executive Section 89: Removal of President (1) The National Assembly, by a resolution adopted with a supporting vote of at least two thirds of its members, may remove the President from office only on the grounds of – (a) a serious violation of the Constitution or the law; (b) serious misconduct; or (c) inability to perform the functions of office.

Section 102: Motions of no confidence (1) If the National Assembly, by a vote supported by a majority of its members, passes a motion of no confidence in the Cabinet excluding the President, the President must reconstitute the Cabinet.

(2) If the National Assembly, by a vote supported by a majority of its members, passes a motion of no confidence in the President, the President and the other members of the Cabinet and any Deputy Ministers must resign.

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#FreeRassie sensation

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Introducing: The Sextons

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Perdeby

Editorial | 11 April 2016

Celebrating the end (and the lack of it)

www.perdeby.co.za perdeby@up.ac.za m.perdeby.co.za @perdebynews @PerdebySport @PerdebyE Tel: (012) 420 6600

With the end of the Easter break comes a return to work, but also marks the start of graduation season. Over the next four weeks, UP will confer thousands of degrees and certificates upon thousand of people, and this is nothing but a reason to celebrate.

Some wonderful statistics about this graduation season have been doing the rounds on Facebook over the last week. Apart from the numbers of degrees being awarded, UP has also reached the 250 000 alumni mark. I think this speaks a lot for the type of institution we have the privilege to attend.

I had the honour of attending graduation this past week, along with several of our current and ex-staff members. It was so exciting to see so many people I knew complete something that they had worked so hard and long for. It was also inspiring to see people pursue academic learning past an undergraduate degree and invest research into relevant and important areas, such as African literature, South African sport, local culture and social constructs, and nation building.

Despite the fact that you may not have finished or may be finishing and moving on

Editorial Editor-in-chief Carel Willemse

carel.willemse@up.ac.za @Ed_in_Chief

Editor Michal-Maré Linden

perdeby@up.ac.za @MicsLinden

News Chad Johnston

news@perdeby.co.za @ChadChaddalz94

Features Huvasan Reddy

features@perdeby.co.za @HuvasanReddy

Entertainment Elmarie Kruger

entertainment@perdeby.co.za @elmariekr

Sport Carli-Ann Furno

sport@perdeby.co.za @carlifurno

Web Marko Svicevic

From the Editor to the working world soon, the great thing is that learning never ceases. Formal academic learning at an institution is not the only means of education. Life lessons are taught through the things we do, the places we go to, and the people we meet, and it’s exciting to think that you’re always on a journey of selfimprovement. I think this is worth as much celebration as graduation.

If you don’t perhaps feel like this or don’t feel in a good place about yourself, let me encourage you with something that I think about often: you’re under no obligation to be the person you were a year, month, week or day ago. You are allowed to change. You are allowed to grow. Embrace the small things that challenge you or excite you and allow yourself to be influenced by them. The smallest bit of education is never worthless to or lost on anyone.

We’ve compiled this edition in one less day than usual, but there are still some great articles relating to graduation and more.

Congratulations to all the 2016 UP graduates!

Michal

webeditor@perdeby.co.za @MarkoSvicevic1

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11 April 2016 | News Continued from front page.

The motion to impeach the president comes in the wake of a damning Constitutional Court ruling that found that the president had failed to “uphold, defend, and respect the Constitution”.

The ruling served as the final, binding word on the Nkandla saga.

The investigation into the president’s private homestead began in October 2012, when Public Protector Thuli Madonsela began investigating allegations that non-security renovations to the homestead were being paid for with public money. Of the renovations to the president’s home, only security upgrades were to be state sponsored, while others were to be paid for by him in his personal capacity. Leaked documents published by City Press indicated that the president had paid for 5% of the bill himself.

In March 2014 Madonsela released her final report on the controversial security upgrades made to the homestead in a 447-page report titled “Secure in Comfort”, which found that the president benefitted unduly from the R246 million that the state spent on the upgrades, and ordered that the president repay part of the costs.

In May 2015 Minister of Police Nkosinathi Nhleko, who had launched an independent probe in late 2014, released a report on Nkandla which concluded that the president did not owe funds

Intervarsity News MARKO SVICEVIC

Wits lecture damaged by fire. Photo: Mickey Cost’s Twitter page

University of the Witwatersrand (Wits) On Monday, 4 April, student protests, led by the Economic Freedom Fighters and the Pan Africanist Student Movement of Azania, disrupted academic activities on Wits’s Braamfontein campus. According to News24, protesters chanting “fees must fall” disrupted lectures, vandalised property, and started a fire in a lecture hall in the Umthombo Building. The university condemned the behaviour from what it said were approximately 150 individuals.

Speaking to eNCA, Prof. Andrew Crouch, Vice-Principal and Deputy Vice-Chancellor of academics at Wits, said that there were a number of causes protesters aligned themselves

3 to the South African taxpayer. The minister’s report found that controversial upgrades, such as a swimming pool, cattle kraal, chicken run, visitors centre and amphitheatre, were part of the security upgrades. The National Assembly subsequently adopted a resolution absolving the president from any responsibility regarding the Nkandla saga.

In October 2015 the EFF filed an application to the Constitutional Court – which was later joined by the DA – requesting that the court order the president to comply with the findings in the Public Protector’s report by repaying a reasonable amount of the money spent on upgrades to Nkandla. On 2 February the president offered to pay back some of the money spent on upgrades, suggesting that the auditorgeneral and the Minister of Finance should determine the amount he should repay.

On 9 February the president appeared in front of the Constitutional Court and said that he accepted the Public Protector’s findings against him as binding, and that the police minister’s findings were meaningless. The Court reserved judgement.

In the judgment delivered on 31 March, the Court found that while the National Assembly had the right to examine the remedial actions set out in the Public Protector’s report and have it taken on review to court, Parliament had no

right to “second-guess” the Public Protector.

The Parliamentary argument that it was not the duty of Parliament to ensure that the president complied with the findings of the Public Protector, as this would mean that a Chapter 9 institution supporting democracy would dictate how Parliament should conduct itself, was shot down by the Court. The Court agreed that Parliament could not be dictated to, but said that the Constitution allowed the National Assembly to determine its own manner of dealing with the Public Protector’s findings, and that the National Assembly had the duty to hold the president responsible for the findings made by the Public Protector.

According to section 55(2)(a) of the Constitution, “The National Assembly must provide for mechanisms – to ensure that all executive organs of state in the national sphere of government are accountable to it.” Section 92(2) of the Constitution provides that members of the Cabinet, which includes the president, are collectively and individually accountable to Parliament for the exercise of their powers and performance of their functions.

The Court ordered that the president repay a reasonable amount of the money spent on non-security upgrades to Nkandla, and gave the treasury 60 days to determine the amount payable and report back to the Court, after

which the President would be given 45 days to repay the money in his personal capacity. It further set aside the resolution adopted by the National Assembly that absolved the president of responsibility toward the payment of nonsecurity upgrades to his Nkandla homestead.

Following the judgement, the president denied responsibility for his actions, saying that he “never knowingly or deliberately set out to violate the Constitution, which is the supreme law of the Republic”. The president insisted that he had acted in good faith, and that “any action that has been found not to be in keeping with the Constitution happened because of a different approach and different legal advice.” He also insisted that it was never his intention to not comply with the remedial action set in the Public Protector’s report or to disrespect the office of the Public Protector.

ANC secretary-general Gwede Mantashe responded to calls from opposition parties that the president be impeached by saying that it was an “ongoing election ploy”, but that the ANC welcomed the “well-written” and “extremely balanced” judgement. Minister of Finance Pravin Gordhan said that the process to determine how much money the president should repay was being determined and that he would approach the Public Protector if necessary.

with, predominantly relating to demands for free education and the insourcing of workers. According to Wits management, no injuries were reported and no significant damage was done to property. The university has since deployed additional security to the affected campus.

According to Kyle Oberholzer, a Wits journalism student, the main road and entrance to the university were blocked off by protesters.

“After that [the protest] made its way to Senate Hall where protesters tipped over pot plants and dustbins. People were also admitted to the campus health clinic after protesters let off fire extinguishers in offices with people in them,” explained Oberholzer.

Oberholzer added that the protests was “led at most times by EFF leader Vuyani Pambo”, and that Pambo had said that the protest on campus was not an EFF one, but a FeesMustFall protest.

Another journalism student, Leanne Cumming, said that it seemed as if it was not only Wits students who participated in the protest. Cumming also explained that a woman, who was initially part of the protests, was assaulted. “Parts of campus were shut down [and] students were asking guards at the booms not to let anyone else on campus ... but that didn’t happen,” added Cumming.

Senate House to Solomon Mahlangu House.”

Final processes for the renaming are currently underway.

voted in favour of a language policy which is committed to multilingualism. Loader added that there would be several exemptions, citing Afrikaans to be used at UFS for those students studying teaching in Afrikaans, as well as theology students looking to minister in Afrikaans-speaking churches.

Students currently studying in Afrikaans will be allowed to finish their studies in Afrikaans, as per the conditions of their enrolment. However, from 2017 onwards students will only be able to enrol in English as a medium of instruction.

On 6 April Wits’ Senate Hall was officially renamed to Solomon Mahlangu House. The SRC said in a statement, “It seems only fitting that today 37 years after the brutal hanging of one of our most formidable anti-apartheid youth leaders on 6 April 1979, that the Wits SRC comes out successful in this proposal to rename

Stellenbosch University (SU) On 2 April, a 20-year old female student from SU was raped in a car at a parking lot near the Heemstede residence. According to IOL, this is the second rape to be reported at the university in about three months. A 32-year old suspect has since been arrested and appeared in the Stellenbosch magistrate’s court on 4 April. The case has been postponed to 5 May, with the suspect released on bail of R500.

North-West University (NWU) Following nearly a month of closure, NWU’s Mahikeng campus was reopened on Tuesday 29 March under tightened security. Speaking to The Citizen, NWU spokesperson Koos Degenaar explained that the suspension and subsequent closure of the campus was due to damage to property caused by protesting students. Damage to university infrastructure is estimated at R150 million following violent protests which saw the administration building and a science centre torched.

University of the Free State (UFS) From 2017, English will be the primary medium of instruction at undergraduate and postgraduate level at UFS. This comes after the UFS council gave the green light for a revision of the institution’s language policy which sees Afrikaans removed as a medium of instruction.

According to UFS spokesperson Lacea Loader, the majority of the university council

Deputy-President Cyril Ramaphosa is installed as Chancellor. Photo: PresidencyZA’s Twitter page

University of Mpumalanga (UM) On 2 April, Deputy-President Cyril Ramaphosa was installed as the first Chancellor of the University of Mpumalanga at the Ingwenyama Resort in White River. UM, which is one of the country’s youngest universities established in 2014 alongside Sol Plaatjie University in the Northern Cape. The establishment of these universities means that every province in the country is now home to at least one university.

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News | 11 April 2016

UP excels in SAICA ITC exams NTOMBIKAYISE MKANDHLA On 27 March UP announced that its chartered accountancy students had excelled in the South African Institute of Chartered Accountants’ (SAICA) January 2016 Initial Test of Competence (ITC).

UP released a statement saying that UP “achieved the first position under the four residential universities that contributed more than 200 candidates to this ITC exam.”

Furthermore, the overall pass rate for first-time writers was 92%.

Thuthuka Bursary Fund (TBF) first-time writers achieved an 89% pass rate. TBF provides educational support to black and coloured chartered accountancy learners, particularly those from disadvantaged backgrounds.

SAICA released a statement on 18 March saying that there were 2561 candidates that sat

Ntombikayise Msimango will represent Tuks at National Miss Varsity Cup. Image: facebook.com/ VarsityCup

for the ITC exam. In addition, 1943 candidates passed the exam which is the first of two qualifying exams university graduates have to take in order to become chartered accountants.

Azile Nkabinde and Maryna Roesch of UP, were among the top ten performing candidates.

Nkabinde, a recent UP honours accounting graduate obtained fourth position. SAICA describes having a spot in the top ten as a “prestigious achievement” as candidates need to have obtained at least 70% in the exam.

Furthermore, she was one of only six candidates who passed with an honours grade which has criteria of at least a 75% pass mark.

In the statement, Mandi Olivier, a senior executive of professional development at SAICA, also commended Nkabinde’s exceptional efforts in particular as she is the first ever student under the TBF program to make it into the top ten.

Banner outside the library, celebrating UP’s 250 000th alumni. Image: Twitter

Privilege, power and race in the university context MAMMETJA MOGOTLANE On 31 March the transformation committee in the Faculty of Humanities hosted a Critical Diversity Literacy Workshop. The workshop was presented by Pierre Brouard and focussed on how privilege, power, and race play out in the university context and how a transformed way of teaching may possibly contribute to conversations about a transformed institution.

The workshop started with a privilege exercise that comprised of a diverse group of people ranging from the CSA&G, Unit for Academic Literacy, the drama department, law faculty, Centre for Contextual Ministry, faculty student advisor in the humanities faculty and students. After a series of questions the exercise found that the majority of black women were at the lower end of the privilege spectrum while at the opposite end stood heterosexual males, black and white respectively. The constitution of privilege as put forth by the floor included the terms “cisgender” (a person born with a specific gender and whose self-identity conforms to their biological sex), “whiteness”, “being male”, “able-bodied”, “light skinned” and “being educated”.

The anti-racism pledge that has published by the university for students and staff members

to sign, although part of a bigger process, was noted by the floor as not attending to the structural power of the institution, which put into question the practical changes it would bring.

The discussion shifted from privilege to the method and practice of teaching and how it can be transformed within the university context.

The general consensus among students was that there needs to be room for students to design their own assignments and increased inclusion with teaching.

Curriculum development was discussed and one of the points that were made was that there is a desperate need for an “African voice” as there is an prevailing eurocentric view influencing prescribed texts. It was also noted that the students’ voice should be included in the curriculum.

Students highlighted that power is an instrumental factor used by the intuitional authority in moments of conflict that question the prescribed work and for transformation to occur there needs to be a removal of the “old guard” - a relinquishing of power by people that bring nothing new to add to the transformation debate. It was concluded that transformation cannot happen in isolation and is a continual, never-ending process.

Campus News Bites MARKO SVICEVIC UP student to represent Tuks at National Miss Varsity Cup BA Law student Ntombikayise Msimango will represent UP at this year’s Miss Varsity Cup. Msimango was selected as the finalist in the round-robin stage during which each university eliminates candidates from their lead group until only one finalist remains.

She is currently competing against five other finalists from North-West University, the University of Johannesburg, the Stellenbosch University, the Cape University of Technology, and the University of the Free State.

The final judging for the Miss Varsity Cup will take place on 9-10 April, and Facebook public participation in the voting will count for 33% of the final vote. The winners of Miss Varsity Cup will be announced at the 2016 Varsity Cup final.

UP celebrates 250 000 alumni During the 2016 autumn graduation that began on 30 March, UP will reach a unique milestone of having an impressive 250 000 graduates as registered alumni in its database. This year a total of 11 328 degrees, diplomas and certificates will be conferred. Of those, 188 are doctor’s degrees, 1430 are master’s degrees, and 2988 are honours degrees. Marking the occasion, UP Vice-Chancellor and Principal Prof. Ceryl de La Rey said, “UP has been the university of choice for many of the country’s top achievers at the end of matric, and as our reputation continues to grow, a qualification from this University remains highly sought after.” UP remains the largest producer of graduates among South African universities.

Founding director Johann van der Westhuizen.

Image: up.ac.za

Image: Twitter.com/@EFFSCUP

Insourcing of workers takes effect Previously outsourced workers began their new contracts at UP as full employees with the institution on 1 April. This follows several weeks of protest action in January, which saw UP management and university workers sign a memorandum in which all outsourced workers were to be insourced over the 2016-2018 period.

UP security services are the first to be fully insourced, with employees from Servest and Global One next on the list.

Founding director returns to UP’s Centre for Human Rights After serving a 12 year term on the Constitutional Court, founder and retired justice Justice Johann van der Westhuizen has returned to the Centre for Human Rights at UP’s Faculty of Law. His return was marked by a welcoming forum in which Deputy Chief Justice Dikgang Moseneke and Justice Sisi Kampeke reflected on Justice Van der Westhuizen, honouring his term at the Constitutional Court. Justice Van der Westhuizen holds a part-time position as extraordinary professor at the centre. #Tuks24 court case postponed The court case against the #Tuks24 students has been postponed to 26 April. On 7 April the 24 students accused of public violence earlier this year appeared in the Pretoria Magistrate’s Court. Court proceedings against the accused were postponed pending further investigations by the state.

2016 municipal elections The 2016 municipal elections will be held on 3 August this year. The final registration weekend took place on 9-10 April. Municipal elections take place every five years.

Perdeby knows...

WINTER IS COMING

11 April 2016 | News

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UP SRC rolls out#UPSRC_ 3D Camera can detect birth R10mGame funding defects in babies NTOMBIKAYISE MKANDHLA

DITEBOGO TSHAKA

On 24 March the SRC announced that students who applied for financial assistance from the SRC would be contacted. However, certain criteria had to be met for students to receive assistance. They said, via Twitter, that the funds have “strings attached”, such as a GPA score of 50%.

The SRC also announced that they were working on acquiring funds with no “strings attached”.

This is in light of the SRC’s funding initiative #UPSRC_R10mGame, that aims to assist students burdened with financial difficulties launched on 18 February.

Close to R2 million was raised at launch. Absa pledged R1.5 million to the cause. The City of Tshwane, donated R250 000 to the campaign.

An anonymous donor gave R200 000, while Tuks Rag presented the SRC with R13 910.

19 February was the last day that UP students could apply for financial assistance from the SRC.

UP’s Department of Genetics has launched a research project in order to identify specific facial features associated with dysmorphology conditions in African infants and children. The project, headed by Dr Vinet Coetzee from the Facial Morphology Research Group, addresses the problem of late diagnoses of birth defects, particularly Down syndrome, in African populations.

This was founded on the awareness that the majority of Western infants are diagnosed before or shortly after birth, whereas African infants are diagnosed at approximately seven months or later. This is because doctors struggle to identify the link between the child’s facial features and a specific condition due to how these facial features present themselves differently in different population groups. As a result, this deters early detection, making it harder to manage most of these birth malformations and initiate crucial intervention.

The SRC’s official 10 million a month poster. Image: SRC Twitter page

In order to identify specific facial features more accurately, the team needed accurate facial photographs of infants through the use of 3D images. For this purpose, they initiated a crowdfunding campaign to raise funds toward building their own 3D camera that would be better suited to meet their unique research needs. This campaign ran from 13 January to 1 March this year, enabling them to raise the necessary funds for the project to proceed.

Furthermore, Canon also donated ten EOS 1200D cameras to be used in constructing a 3D camera. With these ten cameras, models of the children’s faces will be constructed and then used to identify distinguishing facial features correlating with syndromes such as Down, Prader-Willi, Fragile X, and Marfan in African infants.

“This 3D camera can open so many doors for facial dysmorphology research in Africa.

My hope is that our work will help diagnose children that would otherwise have slipped through the cracks,” said Dr Coetzee.

Tuks students launch travel app DITEBOGO TSHAKA Former UP students Tyler Hoffman and Unathi Chonco have launched an app for public transport navigation which, they believe, will change public transport in South Africa.

The app Transit Wise shows the user all the necessary steps to get from point A to point B, including features such as trip duration and costs. The pair trusts that this will draw more people to public transport systems, causing a large scale reform in transit systems and directly impacting the communities around them. “I hope that we can bring a major reform to public transport as we know it, because these systems can be really useful if maintained and used properly,” said Chonco.

Hoffman and Chonco, who currently reside in Silicon Valley, California, realised their

shared passion for programming when they met at Pretoria Boys High School. In their grade 11 year, they won an app development competition and proceeded to develop another app for Android and iPhone devices in their first year of university.

Presently, Transit Wise is only available in Gauteng but plans are underway to extend it to the rest of the country. According to Mail & Guardian, Gauteng will have 18.6 million inhabitants in 25 years, as well as 8.9 million workers, which means 8.9 million home-work and work-home trips per day. The South African government aims to relieve this anticipated road burden by delivering expanded and sustainable public transport by 2020. It seems that the app comes at a crucial time for public transport, making it a potentially lucrative invention. The app is also available for free on the Apple App Store.

Anti-Racism Week at a glance KEMELO SEHLAPELO Anti-Racism Week, launched by the AntiRacism Network of South Africa (ARNSA), took place from 14-21 March. Many institutions across the country acted in response to this.

UP began to tackle racism through its “Re A Bua programme”, which included an anti-racism pledge that students and staff were encouraged to sign. The campaign aims “to build a solid foundation on which to increase inclusivity and social cohesion within the institution”, according to the Department of Human Capital and Transformation.

During President Jacob Zuma’s address to the country on Human Right’s Day – which subsequently coincided with the international day for the elimination of racial discrimination – Zuma stressed the importance of South Africans using this day to confront “the demons of racism” in this country.

Much of the awareness regarding Anti-Racism Week was generated via social media platforms such as Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. Much of the marketing was critiqued by students, staff, and the public. These critiques raised concerns about much of what has been said will be done about issues surrounding racism, as many felt that issues and measures against them are rarely followed through on.

Higher education institutions continue to

Bread and Butler which opened at Hatfield Studios on 5 April. Image by: Rebecca Woodrow

Sweet addition to Studios Living REBECCA WOODROW Hatfield Studios welcomed a new addition to their residences services on Tuesday 5 April.

Bread and Butler, intended to be a vendor of snacks, baked goods and soft drinks and a quaint café for the residents, is in a friendly, well-lit corner of the Hatfield Studios foyer. The shop hosted its grand opening celebration, open to all, at 18:30 on 5 April. Xantelle van der Vyver, a member of staff at Bread and Butler and their

representative, said that everything was going well at the opening, despite natural first-day jitters.

Bread and Butler has an opening special of a cappuccino and a toasted sandwich for R30, and is hosting a competition in honour of its arrival.

Two R500 Bread and Butler vouchers could be won by anyone who enters. Entrants must post a selfie with their Bread and Butler meal or coffee, with the logo visible, and the most creative photo with the most likes wins.

DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT! CALLING HEALTHY YOUNG WOMEN AGED 21 – 32: Donate some of your eggs to a childless couple and be well rewarded for your time and effort – you might even be part of a miracle!

Photo: Kaylyn O’Brien

work with the Minister of Higher Education and Training to ensure that racial and other societal injustices are addressed. Acknowledging that they have a considerable way to go in achieving this, they are hopeful that through these initiatives, great progress will be made.

Contact colleen@babymiracles.co.za or on 083 380 2354 to find out more.

www.babymiracles.co.za

Features | 11 April 2016

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Is the state under capture?

Illustration: Asiphe Dlulane

HUVASAN REDDY Controversy has surrounded the relationship between President Jacob Zuma and the Gupta family since the “Guptagate” scandal in 2013, when it was alleged that the president had allowed the landing of a jet chartered by the

Gupta family at Waterkloof Air Force Base.

A business family originating from the North Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, the Gupta family came to South Africa in 1993 on the eve of the first democratic elections and established the computer company Sahara Computers. Over the years the Gupta family have greatly expanded

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their business interests, which now include the mining, energy, technology, air travel, and media sectors.

On 14 March former ANC MP Vytjie Mentor said in a Facebook post that the Gupta family, in their Saxonwold home, had offered her the post of Minister of Public Enterprises in 2010, days before former minister Barbara Hogan was removed from the position. According to Mentor, the president was in the next room while she was being offered the ministerial position.

Mentor added that the Gupta family offered her the position and sought the cancellation of the SAA flight route to India in return. Mentor put forward a number of other allegations, saying that she spoke up because she was afraid of state capture and that the Gupta family had influence in key government departments, particularly the treasury. She called for top ANC members to come forward and expose the abuse of state resources.

Following the allegations, the Presidency promptly released a statement in which they said that the president had “no recollection” of Mentor, who claims to have known the president since his return from exile.

Following Mentor’s allegations, Mcebisi Jonas, the Deputy Finance Minister, released a statement on 16 March saying: “Members of the Gupta family offered me the position of Minister of Finance to replace then Minister Nhlanhla Nene. I rejected this out of hand. The basis of my rejection of their offer is that it makes a mockery of our hard earned democracy [and] the trust of our people, and no one apart from the president of the Republic appoints ministers.”

The president responded to the allegations on 17 March during a Q&A session in Parliament and said, “I’m in charge of government – I appoint in terms of the Constitution. There is no minister who is here that was ever appointed by the Guptas or by anybody else. Ministers who are here were appointed by me.” On 18 March the allegations continued as former Eskom chairman Zola Tsotsi told the Mail and Guardian that the Gupta’s said “he was not playing the game,” and that he was removed from his post through their influence. This is not the first time this year that Zuma’s relationship with the business family has been under the spotlight.

During the 2016 State of the Nation Address, the EFF interrupted the president’s address and coined the term “Zupta” in reference to the alleged corrupt relationship. They subsequently left the chamber without incident. The EFF has since released a house music track which includes lyrics such as “Zupta must fall”, while social media had hashtags such as #ZuptaMustFall trending around the country.

The ANC National Executive Committee meeting, held from 18-20 March, brought the current allegations to a head. The ANC reaffirmed their support for the president during a media briefing after the meeting. eNCA reported that ANC Secretary-General Gwede Mantashe said that the party was behind the president and that they had held “robust discussions” regarding the allegations. Mantashe also criticised the media for suggesting that there was a division in the ANC. During the media briefing, the ANC also affirmed their support for Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan. Mantashe said that the suggestion of the president stepping down was not discussed during the meeting.

Opinions on the allegations of state capture vary. John Kane-Berman, a policy fellow of the South African Institute of Race Relations, said in an opinion piece on PoliticsWeb.co.za titled “‘State capture’ didn’t begin with Guptas” that “state capture is the official policy of the ruling alliance of the African National Congress (ANC) and the South African Communist Party (SACP). So routine has it become that it is barely noticed unless something unusually dramatic involving the Guptas happens.” He added, “What distinguishes South Africa is the sheer brazen barefaced shamelessness of it all.

And the reason is simple. The deployment of party cadres to capture as many centres of power

as possible is one of the hallmarks of ANC/ SACP rule and ideology.”

In an opinion article published by the Rand Daily Mail titled “Of course the ANC wants to capture the state. It’s what political parties do”, ANC member and political activist Dr Phillip Dexter argued that it is an objective of political parties to capture the state, saying, “Starting at the beginning, ‘capturing’ or winning control of the state is the primary objective of any genuine political movement, whether it is the radical democratic ANC or the liberal democratic DA.” He also discussed the influence of the private sector on the state, saying, “The issue at hand in this important debate our country is involved in is not the issue of political parties having control of government and its institutions. It is about the effect of capital, private wealth, on the state and on the government.”

EFF deputy president Floyd Shivambu discussed the media’s approach to state capture allegations in an opinion article titled “State Capture: It’s criminal, and it is nothing new” published by Daily Maverick. He lambasted the South African media for what he called a “lack of sophistication”, saying, “There are of course many Gupta captures and influences on many aspects of the state, but South African media’s lack of sophistication and utterly sluggish investigative capacity keep what are reachable secrets as secrets.” He also discussed the economic systems adopted after apartheid, saying, “Towards the end of apartheid, various capitalist interests and factions were largely united on the replacement of apartheid with a system that will guarantee continued capitalist exploitation.” He also discussed the current allegations, saying, “What South Africa is currently experiencing under Jacob Zuma is a form of criminal state capture by a family that is in business with Zuma.” He alleged that the extent of the state capture by the Guptas was much wider than currently thought, saying, “The extent of the Guptas’ state capture is far deeper and wider than has been reported in the less inspiring newspapers of South Africa. The Guptas control many government departments, provinces, and state-owned companies in a manner that far exceeds any of the capitalist control in South Africa.”

In the wake of allegations that the Gupta family holds influence over the president, financial institutions have distanced themselves from Gupta-owned companies, with First National Bank closing the accounts of Oakbay Investments, a Gupta-owned investment company. Three months earlier Barclays Africa closed the company’s bank accounts as well. Auditing firm KPMG and investment company Sasfin also cut ties with the Guptaowned business, who released a note to the JSE on 5 April stating, “The reason for KPMG’s resignation is solely based on their assessed association risk, and KPMG have indicated that there is no audit reason for their resignation, whereas the termination of Sasfin’s services follows a recent decision by Sasfin to align the strategic objectives of Sasfin’s Corporate Finance Division more closely with that of the broader Sasfin group.”

The allegations of state capture added to the Rand’s downward spiral since the sudden firing of former Minister of Finance Nhlanhla Nene in December last year. After Nene was axed, the Rand/Dollar exchange rate broke through the R15 mark. After Deputy Minister of Finance Mcebisi Jonas came forward with allegations of having been offered the job of Nene, the Rand fell even further, moving past the R16 mark.

However, after the Constitutional Court ruling on 31 March that found that the president had acted unconstitutionally when disregarding the Public Protector’s report about his Nkandla homestead, the Rand strengthened in relation to the dollar and traded at under R15 on the day after the judgement was delivered.

On Sunday, 10 April, newspapers reported that the Gupta family spokesperson had announced that the entire Gupta family are now in the process of leaving the country for Dubai.

11 April 2016 | Features

7

UP student represents SA at Next Einstein Forum

Caption: UP PhD student Pelly Malebe represented South Africa at the Next Einstein Forum. Image provided.

TIJANA SAKOTA

Photo: Lana Mathews

Vacinnation vs. Herd immunity SAVANNAH PLASKITT In South Africa vaccination is voluntary, but strongly recommended. However, not vaccinating children is currently a growing trend among parents. There is also a part of the population who believe that vaccines do more harm than good, even believing that they cause the diseases they are designed to prevent, or that vaccines cause autism.

Between birth and six years of age, children have eight scheduled vaccinations (some stages are composed of more than one vaccine). As vaccinations have been developed and administered over the years, there has been a dramatic drop in the rates of infection and death from preventable diseases and, ironically, this is often the reason parents cite for not vaccinating their children. As these diseases become increasingly rare, parents have begun to question whether vaccination is necessary. This is where the concept of “herd immunity” comes in. When a large percentage of a population becomes immune to a disease, they provide a level of indirect protection for individuals who are not immune. Those who are against vaccines argue that the vaccinated majority provide herd immunity for the unvaccinated.

The majority of medical practitioners and parents agree that vaccination can cause adverse reactions in a small number of people, but the medical community accepts that the benefits greatly outweigh the risks. Parents are also made aware of these risks before vaccinating their children. Parents are concerned about the harmful effects of the vaccines, as some contain viral specimens, and they often fear the complicated chemical names of the ingredients. Neil Cameron, former director of the Communicable Disease Control Centre of the national Department of Health, explained in an article published in the

Mail and Guardian in 2005 titled “The great vaccination debate” that, “Only a small part of a virus is used to make a vaccine. This is either killed or weakened – so as not to [cause] disease – and turned into an antigen. Antigens stimulate the immune system to produce antibodies.”

Another concern cited by parents is the misconception that vaccinations have a link to autism, specifically the MMR (mumps, measles, and rubella) vaccine. A report published in The Lancet, a UK medical journal, in 1998 described cases of eight children who developed autistic characteristics shortly after getting their first MMR dose. This research was found to be fraudulent.

Unfortunately, the damage had already been done by the time the article was retracted and vaccine rates in the UK dropped sharply, which resulted in many deaths, especially from measles. Since the release of the discredited study extensive research has gone into the link between autism and vaccines, and no link has been found by any of them.

In 2012 the Department of Health claimed that 96% of South African children had received all necessary vaccinations. In contrast, the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the UN children’s agency (Unicef) estimated that only 64% of South African children had received the necessary vaccines. A 2012 article by Africa Check titled “Flawed data undermines SA claims on vaccination coverage” included the opinion of Wits statistical expert Alex van den Heever, who said, “No verifiable claim can be made about immunisation rates in SA. Essentially, no-one knows.”

Unvaccinated children can put an entire population at risk, especially the elderly, ill, or pregnant. Aside from clean water, vaccinations are the most cost effective way to improve a population’s health and prevent disease.

Student Health Services aids in the fight against communicable diseases HUVASAN REDDY University students are always in contact with each other, and can often be found sitting together in crowded lecture halls, eating together, as well as living in and using communal spaces.

According to Sister Hannelie Coetzee, Coordinator of Student Health Services. this leads to students, especially first-years, being particularly susceptible to communicable diseases. These diseases are spread by airborne viruses or bacteria, but may also be spread through contact with blood and bodily fluids.

Student Health Services (SHS), which provides health services to all registered UP students, has begun an immunisation campaign in an effort to protect students from communicable diseases – some of which are vaccine-preventable – and helping those who have contracted a disease.

Immunisation greatly reduces the possibility of contracting certain communicable diseases, some of which are potentially fatal. Sister Coetzee said that while all medical students receive immunisation to hepatitis B, it is recommended that all students, especially first-years, receive immunisation for a number of communicable diseases. Residence students are in additional danger of contracting a communicable disease due to communal living spaces. Diseases that can be prevented by immunisation include hepatitis B, polio, mengiococal diseases, influenza, and measles. Students who are interested in immunisation may speak to a nurse at SHS, and vaccinations can be administered for a fee.

Additionally, SHS offers assistance to those who have been infected with or are affected by HIV/Aids. HIV tests and counselling services are offered on a walk-in basis. Student Health staff include HIV counsellors, who have been trained by the

Centre for Sexualities, Age, and Gender.

SHS provides additional services, which include walk-in services to students, examinations with a doctor, eye tests, and a diet clinic. Furthermore, a student can be examined, diagnosed and given a prescription for medication that can be bought at a pharmacy. If necessary, they may be referred to a specialist, clinic, hospital, or laboratory. When necessary, SHS can attend to medical emergencies.

Student Health Services can be found at: Hatfield campus Student Health Services building, directly opposite Roosmaryn Onderstepoort campus Arnold Theiler building Mamelodi campus Education building Groenkloof campus Letlotlo building, level 2 Prinshof campus Tswelopelo building

The Next Einstein Forum (NEF) is a platform that aims to enable Africans to find African solutions to African problems, through the coming together of African leaders in science, policy, industry and civil society. Pelly Malebe, a biotechnology PhD candidate at UP, was selected as the NEF ambassador for South Africa and represented the country at this year’s gathering. The 2016 platform took place from 8 - 10 March in Dakar, Senegal.

Malebe’s current research focuses on identifying and developing molecular markers for drought tolerance in tea plants.

The importance of such research is linked to her understanding that the genetic basis of drought tolerance may impact on food and job security in Africa.

Malebe is the recipient of the Department of Science and Technology Women in Science Doctoral Fellowship in 2013 and currently has a Southern African Biochemistry and Informatics for Natural Products Network PhD Fellowship. In an interview, Malebe discussed the NEF, the significance of the NEF, and her research, as well as the impact of such a forum on Africa and African youth.

What are the most persistent problems in terms of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (Stem) and social sciences facing Africa and more specifically South Africa discussed at NEF? The three most persistent problems discussed included the lack of funding, lack of infrastructure and resources, as well as the brain drain in South Africa and Africa at large. The one issue that was brought [up] and that stood out for me was the underrepresentation of women in the fields of science and technology.

Women are still under-represented in top research managerial positions. Women are still under-represented in science, technology, and innovation policymaking. In South Africa there are a number of initiatives to promote women in Stem. The Thuthuka program has been in existence since 2001 [and] it [was] fast-tracked for [female] academics PhD, post-PhD and ratings.

What are your views on Africa, its development, and economic growth in relation to the rest of the world?

When comparing Africa’s research output to the rest of the world, Africa is lagging behind. Africa is faced with many challenges, including poverty and hunger. We need to realise that science and innovation are the key to our economic growth and food security.

Africa is such a rich continent in terms of healthy agricultural land. We need to incorporate biotechnology tools to combat climate change. Africa is developing [and] there is plenty of room for growth. As Africans living in Africa we can identify the gap, the missing infrastructure, and the needed technologies. We should be using our ideas to further grow our knowledge economy and develop our continent.

How does your current research around drought tolerance reflect current situations in South Africa and Africa?

My research focus is on identifying and developing genetic markers for drought tolerance and yield on the tea plant. These biotechnology tools can be applied to other crop research. My interest lies in identifying ways to increase food security. The threat to food security has become a reality in South Africa, as we recently experienced our worst drought in December 2015. I am interested in increasing the understanding of the genetic basis of drought tolerance and yield in the tea plant. Ultimately, research such as this has the potential to impact on food security through [the] breeding of drought-tolerant crop varieties.

How could this research assist African leaders and the NEF with transforming Africa?

Drought hinders agriculture. This results in food limitations and threatens the economy. My research advances rural development through innovative approaches to sustainable farming in Africa.

We collaborated with the Tea Research Foundation of Central Africa in Malawi and the Tea Research Institute in Kenya. The information we discover in the lab is given to the tea farmers in Kenya and Malawi through the tea foundations and institutes. This research is a great example of Africans doing research in Africa, solving African problems. Kenya is the third largest producer of tea after China and India. Tea is Kenya’s leading foreign exchange earner for the country.

Take a look at the full interview online at www.perdeby.co.za

8

Entertainment | 11 April 2016

Image provided.

The Sextons: welcome to forever JULIA BAIN

Genre-wise, The Sextons’ music is hard to define. The band has recently released their debut album, Welcome to Forever, which draws on various influences, from pop to soul to reggae. Perdeby spoke to the band about the release and their future plans.

What were your influences for your album Welcome to Forever?

Welcome to Forever is a culmination of influences, memories, life experiences and events that materialised [in] the recording studio.

The inspiration is purely a dreamy rendition of life and everything in between. Recording this album has been a lifelong ambition.

Our sound is a combination of singer/songwriter, folk, jazz, reggae, progressive rock, blues, and funk. All of these elements and varied genres inspire our sound. We all have different influences musically and that is a great combination for a unique sound.

Also as a songwriter, the sound/mood of the song is depicted by the contents of the lyrics. The story more often than not displays the mood and sets the scene.

Is there a particular song on the album that stands out for the band?

Track nine on the album, “Alive” – or as we like to call it, “The Anthem”. It stands out mostly because of the progressive energy and lyrics. It’s also one of our favourite songs to play live, the lyrical content is powerful and meaningful and the instrumental content really gets your blood flowing.

Welcome to Forever is your debut album. How was your experience of recording an album for the first time?

Being in studio was wonderful. We will never forget it, especially when you’re working with such amazing and efficient people who

all share a common goal. There was a lot of pre-production before we got into studio (we rehearsed a lot) and recorded all of our tracks beforehand to make sure we had the perfect idea of what we wanted when we entered the studio. It took us about two and half months to record. Drums and bass were recorded first, then we went on to acoustic guitar, electric guitar, piano, saxophone, ukulele and percussion, and lastly we recorded vocals. This was a spiritual experience that will be tattooed in [our memories] and will definitely translate on the album.

What was the most memorable part of the recording process?

The most memorable parts of the process are the moments in between. Getting the difficult parts right, listening back to the first raw recording of the full band, joking around, falling asleep, having friends over and also watching each other grow and achieve goals throughout the process. [It was] very special.

What has the reception for the album been like?

The album is doing tremendously well. [We are] selling them as fast as they can make them. People are really loving the sound and the whole concept behind the album. We worked with the best in the business: Kevin Leicher, Dark Star studios and Rogan Kelsy to get the best sound, and we put great effort into the design of the album cover and booklet.

Are there any plans to go on tour with Welcome to Forever?

Absolutely. We are planning a nationwide tour this year and also planning a tour to the UK. Exciting times.

What can we expect from The Sextons in the near future?

There is plenty to look forward to from the Welcome to Forever album tour, [from] working on some fantastic new material that we are sure you all will love, to looking at possible overseas journeys, and most of all we have wonderful shows and festivals that we are part of, coming up this year and next [year].

Photo: Kirsty Mackay

Ready, set, snap: apps to bring out the photographer in you AAISHA KALLIER Photography is art and requires a tremendous amount of skill and knowledge. For those out there that don’t have that skill or knowledge there are smartphone apps (other than Instagram) that let us pretend.

PhotoBuddy (IOS) and Photo Tools Pro (Android) are apps that provide exposure and depth of field calculators. These apps allow you to change the depth of field or exposure time of the picture to create professional landscape, macro and even wildlife pictures.

LongExpo (IOS) is an app that creates beautiful long-exposure pictures, which makes it perfect for capturing the rush of a waterfall or the taillights of cars on a highway.

VSCOCam (Android/IOS) works as a social media platform where you can connect with other photographers and create a photo journal of your own. This free app comes with filters and allows you to manually edit every detail of your image.

SimplyB&W (Android/IOS) is a black and white filter app that allows you to change the intensity of your black and white balances, resulting in stunning black and white images.

Adobe Photoshop Express (Android/IOS) is Photoshop for your smartphone. It gives you many of the standard Photoshop features such as “red-eye detect and correct” and ”blemish removal”.

Both of these features are useful if you’re taking portrait pictures.

In addition to Photoshop Express, Adobe Photoshop Lightroom (Android/ IOS) allows you to edit the finer details of the image, creating a polished and professional result.

Photo: Ciske van den Heever

#FreeRassie: neo-struggle song becomes sensation THOMAS MARAIS After the events that kicked off the #AfrikaansMustFall movement, the arrest of former SRC president “Rassie” Rasethaba caused a group of UP students to compose and release a song in protest against this. Called “#FreeRassie”, this hip-hop style song caught on with a great number of people and garnered the artists a good deal of attention. Perdeby sat down with these students, known as Focalistic, Nolosel, Papi and Power, to get some info on their creative process.

What made you decide to focus on former SRC President Rasethaba, as opposed to the others who were wrongfully arrested?

We were recording a different song when one of our friends came in and told us that Rassie was arrested. She said we should make a song about it, [and] just freestyle it. It started out as a joke, and we thought at that time that only Rassie had been arrested, and later

he sort of became the face of the Tuks 27.

Did you expect the song to be as big a hit as it became?

Honestly, no, not that big. But we knew that it would catch on, because at that point it was just political people involved. We wanted to become involved as well, bringing the art side [to it].

How long did it take you to compose the lyrics, beat, master and release the track?

It took us [about] four or five hours.

Are you planning to release any other current event-related songs?

Yeah, we feel like we want to contribute to student activism through our art and our music.

Do you have any previous music-making experience or training?

It’s all practically self-taught, [although one of us] had piano lessons.

The song can be heard at soundcloud.com/focalistic/freerassie.

@PerdebyE

11 April 2016 | Entertainment

9

Image: GeekFest.co.za

Fly your freak flag at GeekFest 2016 KOJO ESSAH Not everyone enjoys loud concerts and done-to-death expos with nothing innovative to offer. If you’re looking for some pre-exam relaxation of a more alternative kind, perhaps GeekFest is the event for you.

GeekFest is a two-day festival for “geeks”, according to the event’s organisers, Dark Carnival. The festival will take place on 7-8 May at Inanda Country Base in Kyalami.

“Fight a Knight” is one of the activities on offer at the festival. Festivalgoers get to dress up as a knight and fight against a foe supplied by the festival who is not allowed to hit back.

The Zombie Run is an event hosted by Zombie Run South Africa where festivalgoers will be divided into two groups: “zombies”, who will do the chasing, and “humans” who will do the running away. Zombie Run was first introduced as a once-off event to raise money for different charities in South Africa, but its popularity has kept it going, bringing it to different environments such as GeekFest.

The festival will also offer a Magic: The Gathering tournament for all players interested, with various prizes up for grabs. Additionally, Robowars offers the chance for inventors to enter their robots to compete with other participants’ creations for a chance to win great prizes.

Due to safety regulations, robots have to adhere to specific guidelines, which are available on the official GeekFest website and Facebook page.

There will be a cosplay competition where participants can dress up as their favourite pop-culture character. Judging will start on 7 May and end on 8 May. Festivalgoers do not need to join the competition if they simply wish to dress up for the event.

Finally, there will be a chance to win what has been dubbed as “The Ultimate Geek Box”, which includes tons of goodies worth over R20 000. Raffle tickets will be sold at the festival, with the final draw taking place at 15:00 on 8 May. One-day tickets to the festival cost R100, the weekend pass with access to both days of the festival costs R150, and entrance is free for children under the age of 12.

The Social Market. Photo: Fezekile Msimang

A guide for the party-shy: the introvert’s Pretoria CAROLYN HUGHES If a thumping Thursday night at Tennessee has you rolling your eyes in despair and you just don’t have any more series to binge-watch, Perdeby’s introvert’s guide to Pretoria might just be what you need to plan your next day out. Contrary to popular belief, Pretoria has more to offer the brave students outside of the dungeons of Aandklas.

Hazel Food Market A delicious taste adventure lies in store for anyone who visits the Hazel Food Market. There are a wide variety of food stalls set up, ready to cater to any palate and a wide range of desserts that will certainly satisfy any sweet tooth. If you aren’t hungry, stop by one of the many drink stalls offering goodies from home-brewed ice teas to vitamin rich organic smoothies. Don’t forget to visit the craft stalls and pick up a trinket or two. The Hazel Food Market happens every Saturday from 08:00 until 14:00 at the Green Village Centre in Menlo Park.

The Social Market A niche market for the fashion-oriented hosted in a new location

Calendar 11, 12, 14 April: UP Arts – Aula Theatre 15 April: Tax@Tuks Golf Day – Waterkloof Golf Estate 16 April: Parklife Johannesburg – Marks Park Sports Club 26 April: Beer Fest 2016 – Trademarx 30 April: BezFest – 158 Third Road, Kempton Park 7-8 May: GeekFest 2016 – Inanda Country Base, Kyalami

Image: Imdb.com

The art of viral marketing: how to sell a movie SHAUN SPROULE

To get your event listed in our event calendar, send the date, event name and venue to entertainment@ perdeby.co.za or tweet us (@PerdebyE). UP societies are welcome to send their events, too.

Sometimes movies are only as successful as their marketing teams. A lot of time and money is spent on creating hype for films, with marketing teams going to great lengths to make sure their movie is a box office success.

The most recent movie with an overboard marketing scheme was Deadpool. With Ryan Reynolds' quirky character, there was

on the last Saturday of every month, this market is a place to unleash your inner fashion critic. Expect to indulge in good food and even better drinks, as each market offers unique stalls and an even more unique experience.

Picnics and Movies in the Park A fairly recent addition to Pretoria’s social calendar, Movies in the Park is hosted by Picnics in the Park and promises to be a great day out at the Voortrekker monument. Each instalment of Movies in the Park is themed and picnic baskets can be ordered online.

There are also treats on sale and a wine bar. Keep an eye on the Picnics in the Park Facebook page for upcoming dates, themes and opportunities to vote for the movies that will be screened.

Park Acoustics If you’re in the mood for something more than a movie, each month the Voortrekker monument plays host to a Pretoria favourite. Park Acoustics always lives up to its promise of a good time. Bring your picnic blanket and some borrowed camping chairs and spend the better part of your Sunday indulging in some of the best live acts that South Africa has to offer.

quite a bit for the marketing team to play with. From billboards featuring a skull and a poop emoji followed by an “L”, to romantic comedy posters ahead of its Valentine’s Day release, Deadpool was set to be a success from the start. The team also created a set of Deadpool emojis and a Tinder profile for the anti-hero.

Another movie to make use of Tinder was 2015’s Ex Machina.

Users could find a woman called Ava on their Tinder feed who would interact with users, engaging in deep conversations about love and life. Eventually, Ava points users to her Instagram page where they could find more photos of her, only to find out that they had been speaking to a Tinderbot advertising a movie about deceptive artificial intelligence.

District 9, by South African director Niell Blomkamp, was advertised worldwide prior to its release in 2009. Weeks before its release, signs on buses, trains and public toilets indicated that they were for humans only. The iconic sign from the movie indicating that only humans may use the public facilities created an excited following for this new take on the ever-popular alien invasion plot.

One of the first movies to make use of internet’s full potential in its marketing scheme was The Blair Witch Project. This 1999 “found footage” movie follows a group of students on their film project as they hunt for the infamous Blair Witch. The marketing team set up a website which included a full history of the Blair Witch, reports and official looking documents. It also included interviews with the family members of the three students and officials on the case. Together with missing person’s posters for the students and the lack of the actors’ presence, the film was widely believed to be actual footage from the hunt. With a very small budget of around R370 535, the film made R3.6 billion, proving that marketing can be everything.

Christopher Nolan’s 2008 hit The Dark Knight used many ploys in its marketing. The phrase “I believe in Harvey Dent” was popularised before the first trailer for the movie was even released, with the use of an official looking campaign website for Dent as the next District Attorney of Gotham City. The marketing scheme also included hidden Joker cards in cities around the world and hidden secrets in the pictures released for the movie. One such picture featured Dent (Aaron Eckhart), but with some manipulation, it showed Heath Ledger’s Joker, which was also the first revelation of what the Ledger’s Joker would look like.

10

Fun and Games | 11 April 2016

Poll results

Pssst...

Pssst… is incredibly happy to be back after the holiday, bright-eyed and bushy-tailed for a brand-spanking new quarter. Pssst… was a bit worried that Pssst… would struggle to find some gossip for Pssst…’s adoring public to feast on, but even with two weeks away from university, some res-dwellers still managed to make sure that there was no shortage of juicy tales.

Pssst… is completely baffled by the sudden camaraderie between Curlitzia and Asterhof. Pssst… hears that their FutureFest event was … interesting, to put it lightly. Pssst… wonders if Curlitzia need some advice from the Asters on how to get the male reses to actually like them, and whether Asterhof are getting guidance from the Kloekies so that they can actually win something for once. Perhaps a serrie collaboration is on the cards? Pssst… really doesn’t hope so, since Pssst… would rather eat a spoonful of bees than watch such a performance.

Pssst… has received word that the social go-slow at the Groenkloof reses has reached new heights, since Lilium hasn’t hosted or attended a social event since January. Shame, you know it’s bad when Kiaat and Inca take pity on you and invite you to third-wheel at one of their socials.

Katjiepiering’s annual interior night (which is really just a cheap excuse to invite a bunch of men into their building) went as debaucherously as usual, although Pssst… was told that consuming copious amounts of punch was the only way to make it through the otherwise unentertaining night.

Meanwhile, it seems like no one is really excited for Mopanie’s Oesdag

– not even the Peppies themselves.

Pssst… thinks they’re probably too busy making inappropriate remarks to anyone on the Proefplaas who even slightly resembles a female.

Pssst… is very amused by the fact that Jasmyn had to emphasise that their Wellbeing-week slumber party was specifically for girls only. Only for the Slurpies would this need to be stipulated so clearly – because no one wants a repeat of that embarrassing Tennessee incident, right Jasters?

Pssst… has become quite worried about the quiet state of things at Erika and Madelief. Pssst… would like to know what (or who) the ladies are hiding from? Although, Pssst… was glad to see Erika indulging in some good old vandalism by painting on the dustbins on campus, just to remind everyone that they haven’t fallen off the map completely.

Speaking of quiet residences, Pssst… wonders if Olienhout have decided that social interaction is just too exhausting for them? Houte, if you want to be social ostriches, think of your ex-Rag partners Lilium as a cautionary tale – if you’re too silent for too long, Kiaat might just invite you to an event, and you don’t really want that, do you?

With everyone re-adjusting to varsity life for the new quarter, Pssst… is sure that some tantalising res news will surface next week. You, of course, can make this prediction even more of a reality by sending your res gossip to pssst@perdeby.co.za.

Love, Pssst...

How can we solve the pots issue?

16.9% 9.2% 56.9% 16.9%

Hunting down the lady who Are you joining the stole the pots

250 000 alumni?

Stealing someone elses pots

• Yes Calling for the nationalisation of all •pots No • I’m never leaving university

3. “Waiting for Godot,” for one (4) 5. Jenson, Formula One driver (6)

6. Lover of Aeneas (4)

2. Lemon peel (4)

7. Wonderland drink (3)

3. Alfresco meal (6)

8. Thrill to pieces (7)

Sudoku

8. Steady application (9)

1. Pampered one? (4)

Stealing someone elses pots

By making the things that will Thistheweek’s poll make pots to be done

Across

4. PC clicker (5)

Hunting down the lady who stole the pots

Calling for the nationalisation of all pots

Crossword

Down

By making the things that will make the pots to be done

ranks of UP’s

11 April 2016 | Sport

11

Five minutes with Leroux Hamman TAY LETHULOE

Image: Saspa

UP-Tuks took a big leap in becoming Varsity Athletics champions after they placed first in the delayed first leg of the competition.

The first round of the competition took place on 18 March at the University of Johannesburg stadium. The performance that ultimately caught the attention of onlookers belonged to men’s 400 m hurdler Leroux Hamman. Hamman broke the 50-second barrier for the first time in his career, securing a bronze finish with a time of 49.99 seconds and added to UP’s victory of 15 496 points. Hamman spoke to Perdeby about the season and his achievement ahead of the second leg that took place on 7 April in Stellenbosch.

How do you feel about breaking the 50-second barrier as a 400 m hurdles athlete?

In 400 m hurdles, one of the biggest steps an athlete can take is to break that 50-second barrier. It took me four hard years of training and devotion to get my time from 50.99 to 49.99.

The gratitude you experience when achieving that is absolutely amazing. This has been one of the best feelings in my life, and one that I will never forget.

After the Johannesburg meet, you were just over half a second away from achieving an Olympic qualifying time. How does that influence your athletic goals this year?

As for the Olympic qualifying time, the best way to achieve that is to keep on praying and believing that God will bless me with going to the Olympics. I have been running hurdles for 14 years now, and one of the biggest lessons I have learnt is that you can’t run hurdles without God. So in short, my faith will determine my athletic goals this year.

How do your personal expectations change for the meet down in Stellenbosch, which offers different conditions?

It’s always nice to run at sea level with all the oxygen in the air, compared to here in Gauteng. This is actually a very

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good opportunity to run in Stellenbosch, because SA Senior Championships are a week later on the same track. So it’s a very nice practice run for nationals.

How does the recent international success of individual UP athletes encourage the team’s overall performance at such meets?

UP-Tuks has a lot of international[ly] successful athletes. I train with two of them personally, namely LJ van Zyl and Wenda Nel. Training with them day after day and then seeing them performing internationally makes you believe you can do that as well. When you have that belief to win, you most probably will win. This counts for all of the UP international athletes and the people they inspire.

What would you attribute the success of UP-Tuks in the Varsity Athletics to, seeing as they have retained the Varsity Athletics title since its inception?

I attribute the success of UP to the coaches. In almost all of the events, UP sits with the best coaches in SA. When an athlete performs, half of the credit is due to the coach. When you know you have the best coach, you believe you are on the right track.

With every training session and every gym session, you know they have a plan and are making you faster and better. With so many good coaches at UP, all the athletes have the belief that they can win, which eventually makes you win.

What would it mean to the team to achieve an eight consecutive Varsity Athletics title?

Winning eight consecutive Varsity Athletic meetings will and, ultimately has, cultivated a culture of winning. In athletics, winning becomes a habit. The more you win, the more you want to win, and so the harder you work to achieve that victory.

Because of this winning culture, everybody wants to come to Tuks. We attract the best young athletes to come and join Tuks and make the athletics club stronger and stronger.

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UP fight relegation in Absa Premiership DYLAN JACK

Visual provided.

Man of the momentous match: Duhan Van der Merwe THORISO PHASHA UP-Tuks created a moment in Varsity Cup history on 28 March when they played against the University of Cape Town (UCT), beating them 100-25. The score line has immortalised UP-Tuks in the record books as scoring the highest point total ever in a Varsity Cup rugby match. The match offered both teams crucial opportunities: UCT looked to restore their pride and avoid an unsuccessful campaign, while UPTuks won a viable playoff spot. Winger Duhan van der Merwe led the charge that overwhelmed UCT with a barrage of attacking rugby that ended in a total of six tries to his name. Perdeby spoke to the winger about his experience of the historic match.

UP-Tuks recorded the highest point total in Varsity-Cup history. What does it mean to you to be part of such a momentous game, especially after scooping the honour of Man of the Match?

It was a fantastic feeling being part of such a record-breaking match. During the game I didn’t even realise we were accumulating so many points. We just kept our heads down and did what we [went] there to do.

You played with a lot of intensity in that game, scoring six tries. What inspired your performance?

My ultimate goal was to become top try scorer

for Varsity Cup, so I just went to achieve what I do every game, which is to score as many tries as possible. In this specific game, however, everything came together perfectly.

UCT responded immediately after you scored the first try. How did this affect the team?

We knew that if we didn’t win the game with a bonus point, we wouldn’t make it to [the] semifinals. This motivated us every step of the game.

How do you plan to continue in the same form and score when it matters most in the knockout stages?

I’m just going to keep my focus for the full 80 minutes. Focus is key.

What would you point out as your highlight of the match against UCT? Scoring two nine-point tries (from 70 metres) within five minutes.

After suffering a dismal start to the season, what was the turning point of the campaign for the team to have advanced to the semifinals?

Some of our vital players were injured at the beginning of the season. When they came onto the field it made a massive difference.

Much was said about the exclusion of fans from Varsity Cup matches. How did you feel about returning to the fans at home ground stadiums after such a comeback?

It was really great to give fans the opportunity to back their boytjies once again.

UP have had a poor 2015/2016 season in the Absa Premiership. The team currently sits 15th on the log in one of the two relegation spots – only a point above last-placed Maritzburg United and with four victories to their name out of the 23 games they have currently played.

A promising start to the season, which included a 3-0 win over Polokwane City and a 1-1 draw with Kaizer Chiefs, has slowly petered out with the team losing 14 games in the season.

What has been highlighted as a major issue for the team is the lack of goal-scoring abilities, accompanied by the inability to keep clean sheets.

UP have scored 15 goals this season – the lowest on the table – and have conceded twice that, leaving the side with a goal difference of -15. The lack of goals is illustrated through the performances of star striker Thabo Mynamane, who has only scored five goals this season, and the recent addition of experienced former Orlando Pirates forward Lennox Bacela, who has only scored once this season.

Many have also blamed the poor performance of the team on the lack of solidarity within the club, which traces back to 2014 when Steve Barker left the club for Amazulu, and is displayed in the recent sacking of his replacement, Sammy Troughton. Troughton was replaced by former South African international Shaun Bartlett in January.

The danger of UP’s potential relegation is that the Absa Premiership will lose a club that is regarded as one of the strongest youth academies in the country.

There is, however, still a chance for UP to save the season. Bartlett is hopeful to get the team scoring goals again and said, “The confidence [in the team] is growing, and their performances are getting better. We just need to be more clinical in the final third.” Jomo Cosmos are also only three points above UP with a greater goal difference. If UP are able to put together an unbeaten run, they will be certain to stay in the Absa Premiership.

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The Varsity Cup semi-final game took place on Monday, 4 April. UP faced Stellenbosch University, who crushed the hopes of UP-Tuks supporters with their 49-11 victory. Photo: SASPA

Visual provided.

UP soar at USSA

TAY LETHULOE

UP flexed its sporting muscles at the University Sports South Africa (USSA) championships recently.

UP came first in the men’s football category and placed second in the women’s football category tournaments. The tournament took place from 21-25 March after it was postponed in December 2015 following the student protests across most university campuses in the country.

The finals match saw the men’s side defending their title as USSA champions.

The men’s team faced the Cape University of Technology in the final, which saw Claudio de Almeida and Frank Mpedi find the back of the net to lead UP team to a 2-1 victory. Player of the Tournament was awarded to UP student Khumbulani Siluma, and fellow UP student Dylan Paterson walked away with Goalkeeper of the Tournament.

The team was pleased with their performance that led up to the semi-final stage in Bloemfontein, where they faced the University of Fort Hare in a game that ended in a score of 2-0 for UP. The women’s side showed a promising chance of victory entering the final, having overcome the Tshwane University of Technology by penalties after a 1-1 scoreline.

They went home with a respectable second place this year, following defeat after a series of penalties against the University of the Western Cape.

The 2016 tournament will be revising its format and will branch into two divisions.

Division A will consist of the top twenty university teams in the country, and division B will compete for a promotion to the premier division in 2017. The UP-Tuks teams will be competing in division A for the 2016 tournament, which will take place from 5-9 December at the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University.

The USSA rowing tournament took place from 1-2 April at Misverstand Dam. The TuksRowing men were victorious in their section, while the TuksRowing women won second place. Their respective performances placed TuksRowing second overall in the tournament. The University of Johannesburg came away with the overall victory. The athletics edition of USSA competition will take place from 28-30 April.

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