11 September 2017 Issue 15 Year 79

Review: Shorstraw Those Meddling Kids

Period brain: the bloody truth

-pg 9

-pg 6

Perdeby

TuksCheerleading: secret to success -pg 11

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

11September2017

year79issue15

Constitutional clause causes chaos Black ex-officio SRC members step down for white candidates to take their places

Illustration: Sally Hartzenberg

MARKO SVICEVIC, SHAUN SPROULE, HENRI UYS, CHAD JOHNSTON

On 31 August, the 2017/2018 Student Representative Council (SRC) was officially inaugurated.

The inauguration however was only held for the 12 elected members and not for the ex-officio SRC members.

According to an opening address at the inauguration by Director of the Department of Student Affairs, Dr Matete Madiba, the full SRC could not be inaugurated due to certain procedures and constitutional issues.

Citing this, several reports began to appear on social media that the SRC would possibly not be constituted properly in terms of section 12 of Annexure A of the Constitution for Student Governance (CSG). This section provides for what happens when the SRC is not constituted by

the EBIT Faculty House. Romario Roman maintained his position as an ex-officio member.

On 18 August, the sport executive committee held a meeting in which Rose Msomi was elected as the exofficio member of the committee.

On 4 September, a re-election was held to ensure a white candidate was voted into the ex-officio position, and Therese Rodink was voted in as exofficio member.

On 16 August, the RAG executive committee held a meeting in which Bradley Tjongarero was elected as the ex-officio member of the committee.

On 7 September a re-election was held and Phindile Makhombothi was elected.

On 29 August, the student culture executive committee held a meeting and Rudi Peters was elected as the ex-officio member of the committee.

On 4 September, a re-election for at least 40% black, white, male and the ex-officio portfolio was held female members. The ex-officio with the aim of ensuring a white portfolios include seven seats on the person was voted into the position.

SRC; two academic affairs subConsequently, Moné Erasmus was council representatives, two residence voted in as ex-officio for student sub-council representatives, one culture.

RAG committee On 7 September, the residence subrepresentative, one “The person who council committee sport committee stepped into the held a meeting and representative position of the elected Aaron Masemola and one student (Olienhout residence) culture committee ex-officio member and Heidi Davis representative.

(Asterhof residence) didn’t even apply for On 29 August, were elected as the exthe position initially...” the academic officio members of the affairs executive committee. committee held a On 8 September, an official meeting in which Romario Roman inauguration ceremony was held for the ex-officio members at (from the Law Faculty House) and Adlers Restaurant. The ex-officio Boniswa Tele (from the Education members were inaugurated along Faculty House) were elected as the with Mamello Motsi, the SRC ex-officio members of the committee.

Deputy President who could not be On 31 August, Boniswa Tele was inaugurated on 31 August. replaced by Janie Geldenhuys from

The stepping down of black ex-officio members to make place for white members

According to one student culture executive committee member who preferred to remain anonymous, ex-officio positions were moved around because the SRC needed to have a certain number of white members as well as women, which they did not have. “We felt it was very undemocratic to change our SRC representative for the sake of the quota for the SRC. Even the white people with us felt that it was unfair, they felt they were being put in a position they were not ready to do. One EC member even said we felt like we had a gun to our head.”

The member added that Dr Madiba, Dr Jorissen (Deputy Director of the Department of Student Affairs) and Mzikazi Noholoza (Head of Student Governance) came into the meeting and “before we could even say what we wanted to say, Dr Madiba told us that if we don’t comply UP will be taken to court. We felt that the ex-officio positions were not being protected.

Dr Madiba told us that of the seven positions, five had to be white and four of these white members had to be female. We were told that consideration was given to remove our exofficio portfolio from the SRC if we didn’t comply.

We were also told that if we didn’t comply a TSC might be put in place. We didn’t even know about this quota system before … how

come this has only come up now.

As a committee, we vote for the best candidates and not according to race.”

The member added that “The person who stepped into the position of the elected ex-officio member didn’t even apply for the position initially. Later that day we held a meeting to vote in a new ex-officio member - and we collectively decided that there were only two members that could be nominated and those were the two white females. Then we voted and the person voted in didn’t stand for the position originally but was eventually voted in. These elections were not free and fair.”

Another former ex-officio member,

Continued on page 3...

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Perdeby

Editorial | 11 September 2017

Between a rock and a hard place

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

Editorial Editor-in-chief Carel Willemse

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Last week was a wild week. So much happened in a short space of time and I am very proud of the Perdeby team. We had a huge amount of information to sift through to ensure we discovered and represented the most accurate and balanced story we could.

This story is obviously a contentious issue.

After years of pushing for transformation and many failed attempts, we were finally sitting with an SRC with less than 20% white representation. What makes this very important is that this was a result of a democratic vote, meaning that the students decided that this was the group they wanted to represent them. But alas, the Constitution of Student Governance could not allow for this.

I see the initial results of the election as an overwhelming success and a huge step

From the Editor

forward for us. But the decision to ensure we follow the Constitution was an important one, one that was, in some ways, necessary to make (although not the one that solves our problems, gives the students what they want, or aids in our fight towards transformation.)

How I see it, there are many factors to blame in the problem we faced and the way that it had to ultimately be handled. Students were to blame in our short-sightedness regarding our own Constitution and the participation levels we had this year. The planning of the transformation plan had an impact in the outcomes of the SRC elections and the various ex-officio positions that make up the SRC. And finally, the management and DSA had a hand to play in the process and resulting decisions that needed to be made.

I am not sure if students have become so scared and intimidated from speaking out, have become lazy when it comes to factors that affect them or just no longer care. The voter turn-out in the elections this year was far greater than ever before, but this does not mean that students are truly participating in campus affairs – 10 000 seems like a lot until you think that this was only 22% of students. Earlier this year we had a referendum to change the constitution. There were unfortunately not enough signatures to pursue the change, but if students had been interested or active enough, we could have saved ourselves from situations like the one we find ourselves in today. Not only that, but through our investigations we discovered that many of the structures on campus faced the same

Transformation: where is the line of demarcation?

From Editor-in-Chief

students in all structures.

I’ve worked Superficial integration or posturing won’t closely with lead to the types of change we wish to see some of the in South Africa. I’ve always had a problem students affected with surface level window dressing labeled by the current as transformation. Don’t talk to me about controversial renaming a building, it carries no value.

SRC situation But what we see in our committees through playing out on integration and the working together of our front page. different students is where the value of The emotional transformation lies. impact on the What is interesting about the current democratically elected student leaders is just as situation, at least within the university context, prevalent on those who reluctantly needed to is that the discussion on the demarcation line step up and fill the ex-officio positions to balance on transformation might have to become a the quota set out in the Constitution for Student reality.

Governance. No one won.

I’d love to hear from you in this regard There really isn’t much I can say that will especially around two issues: change the situation at the moment. I’d rather Should quotas in favor of white students be in focus on the evident transformation that has place at UP? taken place in our student structures. Who Have we reached a point where quotas at UP would’ve thought that UP would need to dance can be dropped completely? to the tune of filling quota positions for white In a discussion with a student at the helm students? Through a democratic process, UP of the new leadership I was surprised to hear students have spoken, and the result was a support for the removal of the clause in the completely different student leadership from CSG speaking to quotas. What happens if next previous years. year’s SRC happens to be all male and all My participation in discussions on white? Would the same tune be sung? transformation of institutional culture has made What happened in the ex-officio portfolios it clear that a misconception existed on the was unfair and the only positive thing I can approach to transformation, and that there really take from the whole debacle is that we sit with isn’t an engineered solution. Transformation evidence of progress on transformation at UP. needs to start from within, and being a part of How we deal with this come 2018 elections this institution for as long as I have, it is evident is however a discussion that needs to start that transformation has taken place on a big immediately. scale.

Carel Willemse Through a natural process we are seeing Editor-in-Chief representation, and in some cases over representation (is there such a thing?), of black

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participation troubles as the greater student body.

During our investigations, it was explained to me why we need to keep to our Constitution. It makes sense: every time we do not follow the Constitution we take a chunk of its credibility with us. But the situation we found ourselves in was something new to the culture at the university. We are used to the push for transformation with solutions that often only affect the surface of the problem leaving the ingrained issues unaddressed, yet now we have an organic change, something we should be proud of, and now we have to backtrack on years of slow progress. It feels like we are now being told that there is too much transformation.

How do we move forward? My advice, and it is by no means an expert advice, is that we need to voice our opinions, stand up for what we believe in, stay vigilant, hold people accountable, and most importantly, be involved. There is no way to know that something isn’t working properly if you do not know how it is supposed to be working in the first place.

In other news, we had our applications for new intake last week and the response was amazing. We had so many applications, and we really wish we could take them all. We are all very excited in the office to have some new faces and fresh ideas coming through our door.

Hopefully you will be able to see it in our next editions.

Shaun Sproule

OPPIKOPPI ticket giveaway Look out for details in our 18 October edition Two sets of double tickets to give away!

11 September 2017 | News

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Continued from page 1

email inviting me to the inauguration ceremony Another former ex-officio member, who also – I was never officially informed that I was preferred to remain anonymous, told Perdeby given the ex-officio position,” she said. “I don’t the same story. The member confirmed that they think this was fair – I don’t think the way the were given no choice but to step down from constitution was set up is fair. Its not fair to their position. They also confirmed that they have elected people step down because they were told the same consequences would result if have been elected by the student body. We tried they did not step down. The member said that to come up with other solutions but there was they were told to step down by their manager, Dr no other solution we could come up with other Madiba and Dr Jorissen. The member said that than this one. Dr. Madiba lead the emergency they believed that the initial elections in which meeting and I think she conducted it well the ex-officio members were elected were free because she was put in a very difficult position and fair, “but what the DSA did with the election – I have a lot of respect for her for being so results [afterwards], no.” When asked to explain, objective in finding a solution with the students, the member said, “Because we were fairly voted she asked for our opinion.” in, we worked hard...

According to Moné people saw us as Erasumus, a fourth year “Because we were fairly voted English Honours student capable and we were voted in, only to be in, we worked hard...people saw us part of the student culture told that because of as capable and we were voted in, committee, “Last week your race, you can’t Tuesday we elected the only to be told that because of your ex-officio. We elected Rudi take this position, because we need the race, you can’t take this position, because he was the best demographics of the because we need the demographics candidate, only afterwards SRC to look a certain we found out about the of the SRC to look a certain way.” quota system.” Erasmus way.”

Another exexplained that “We had a officio member choice, we didn’t have to who spoke to Perdeby, and also preferred to replace him but if we didn’t a TSC might have remain anonymous, said that the decision has been put in place and so we decided as a group had a huge impact on them personally and has and agreed to make the change.” Erasmus adds forced them to question their own leadership that it was a very frustrating situation because skills, capabilities and how they are perceived “it discouraged students because he worked hard based on the colour of their skin. “I felt that the and couldn’t stand in that position because of the decision was unfair towards me personally. But quota. A big problem is the constitution. We had sometimes you have to come to the realisation a meeting on Monday morning (4 September) that you can’t only think about yourself but then that evening I was elected, there were two you have to do what is greater for the larger white females that ran and I was the one that [student] body.” They continued to express their was elected.” Erasmus also said that “For the dissatisfaction with the university “constantly future the quota system needs to be changed, preaching transformation” but not acting on all non-white students are not black, there it. The member also confirmed that they were should rather be more categories otherwise it not aware of the limitations of section 12 of protects white persons. Rudi is Afrikaans and the CSG and if they were they would not have Zulu and such a fully rounded person but he put in as much effort as they did to run for the had to step down because of the constitution. ex-officio position. “Management and the DSA Perhaps change the quota to 70/30, rather put came with lots of threats saying that there would it in the students’ hands than leave it up to the be consequences if we continued [operating] constitution. The constitution is no longer in the how we are.” best interests of the students especially as we Finally, they said that the notion that have a vast majority of students on campus that coloureds and indians are classified as ‘black’ are not white, a big problem in this situation is is problematic and that, “we should stop living the constitution,” she said. according to a constitution that only favours one The legal side of section 12 category.”

According to the deputy dean of the Faculty White members express their views on of Law, Prof. Anton Kok, the CSG states that the matter if the elected SRC profile is not at least 40% Janie Geldenhuys, a third year Electrical black, white, male or female, then the Chief Engineering student from the EBIT Faculty Electoral Officer and the relevant sub-councils House, was elected chairperson of the and committees “must aim to decide to elect ex faculty house in August. The chairperson is officio SRC members to address the race and automatically part of the academic sub-council. gender profile.” Prof. Kok adds that “This is Nine people sit on the academic sub-council something completely different than saying the and from there, two persons are elected to sit on SRC ‘must’ be 40% white, black, male, female.” the SRC. “After the election of the ex-officio “The statute of the university provides that members we thought it was all fine but then on the SRC must be representative of UP's student 31 August an emergency meeting was called. population. So the CSG simply aims at getting “Prior to the meeting we were informed of the that right - to get a SRC in place that is broadly quota problem and were to discuss this in the representative of the student population,” said meeting,” she said. “Initially there was a bit Prof. Kok. of hostility in the meeting since the election Dr Madiba on the matter already took place, Dr Madiba said we can be Perdeby spoke to Dr Madiba regarding the non-compliant but the SRC might be suspended. situation. Dr Madiba started off by saying that The next option presented was that the elected “the constitution doesn’t talk about quotas, person step down in order for white people to but about representation” adding that the take their place. This discussion went on for constitution said that after the student body about two hours, everyone wanted to know what had elected the SRC, ex-officio portfolios were exactly the constitution said and I did not feel used to create a balance in terms of having the comfortable taking their position without their 40% representation of race and gender on the consent,” she added. Out of the nine academic SRC. When the DSA had realised that there sub-council positions – Geldenhuys was the was non-compliance with the constitution it only candidate who could run in order to fill the was decided that the ex-officio portfolios would quota. “Since I was the only candidate, I would not be inaugurated until ways of getting the take the position then our first goal would be representation of the SRC compliant with the to change the constitution, then once the quota constitution. Dr Madiba said that they started system was removed from the SRC I would with meetings between staff members and then resign and in accordance with the constitution meetings with the members involved and then another election would be held and that person organised larger meetings with all members that was initially elected would be able to take involved. According to Dr. Madiba, three that position. After this meeting, the academic solutions were explored: The first solution sub-council expressed the view that they liked was to simply ignore the representation and that idea and Boniswa (the member initially inaugurate the members; the second option elected as one of two ex-officio members) was not to inaugurate the members but to ask agreed to it – Boniswa agreed that it was best Council to “Please condone non-compliance to that I take this position temporarily instead of the SRC and allow us continue as is”; the third her having that position and then having a TSC option was the compliance route and negotiate put in place.” “On 6 September I received an with candidates to try and find a “balance”.

SRC for 2017/2018, including newly inaugurated ex-officio members. Photo: Stefan Stander

It was decided that the third option would be “The benefit of the quota system ensures used although Dr Madiba admitted that some inclusivity and representatively – it ensures candidates discouraged the non-compliance that the SRC is not dominated by a single route. Before the matter could be taken to cultural or gender view,” adding that “The ideal Council there must first have been an attempt to in a perfect world would have been to elect comply with the constitution, she added. “From members by merit.” He further adds that “With the beginning it was clear that it won't help to go the previous injustices that have featured in and undo these elections that have been carried SA, it was mainly focused on the basis of race out with so much care … it was clear that there and gender- therefore it was good to have that was nothing that RAG could do because the clause in there. Its not the first time the clause executive committee is all black, so we went has been used by the DSA. I blame the DSA into discussions and they were very unpleasant there for double standards – in 2015 Thandeka discussions because part of the reservations Mogoerane was appointed to serve as an exfrom students was why did you allow this to go officio where as Pieter Scribante was actually this far.” Dr Madiba also added that the reason elected into the ex-officio position for Stuku for the situation arising was that “There is, in (when the chairperson was automatically the general, a lower level of participation from ex-officio person). Only now the DSA has been white candidates and even further, white female considering amending the CSG quota system, candidates… the problem is not with the vote although no submissions on the amendments but with the participation”. “We have never seen have been made,” he added. “In the past there this low level of white participation,” she added. were white people who couldn’t serve on the The question of discrimination was also raised SRC because of this clause but the DSA never as well as the “anti-black” perception of the said anything but this year the DSA is focusing situation and even whether this was against the on the clause,” he explained. “You can’t change national Constitution of the country but “at the the document you are using in the election for end of the day students said we understand this the election – therefore changing the clause now is a problem for us,” said is not an option.

Dr Madiba. Some students Substructures should “We have never seen were even aware that align their constitutions this low level of white where the representation with the CSG in ensuring did not occur, Council had representation. The clause participation,” the power to put in a place is also linked to the statute a TSC, she added. Stuku of the university – therefore and Sport had to go into a process to clarify the statute needs to be changed if you want to who would be put in place as the ex-officio to amend things at this point. meet the representation required. In the faculty Barnard further added that “I am happy with houses only one candidate was white and only the way the DSA handled the situation especially one of two ex-officio were changed. Dr. Madiba to Dr Madiba, since it was done quickly and said that they then went to the residences and constructively, they showed commitment to explored the situation there and were still having the right process followed. awaiting the response from residences. The According to the 2017/2018 SRC President situation of having both residence ex-officio’s Kwena Moloto, the quota clause in the CSG was as white members and how that could be initially implemented to protect marginalised perceived as working against transformation groups, saying that “this is the first time was then raised. “If you ask me personally where the reverse has happened – we’ve all then as a university community how do we known for a very long time the constitution define transformation,” Dr Madiba questioned, was flawed, unfortunately the referendum fell adding that one view on transformation was through to amend the constitution.” Moloto representation. Dr Madiba added that it was said that “as an SRC we aim to amend the highly undesirable in having an all white, constitution, specifically that provision but also all male residence representation but that other problematic provisions.” I think its been some people have said it would be “equally handled very poorly on the side of the IEC, there problematic to have a fully black SRC, as if that were process that were meant to be followed is the only category of students on campus.” which weren’t’ – this resulted in democratically After all these discussion it was agreed on at elected members losing their positions which least 40% from each of these groups (black and is extremely unfair. However, this is not the white). Dr Madiba also explained that the quota first time the CSG was used against students, system was not undoing transformation but in 2015 we saw it when I was removed from merely giving detail to representation, adding office, we saw it in 2016 when the constitution the scenario of what would have happened was amended to ensure the then SRC operate if there was an all white representation, the and now we see it again where black ex-officio quota would still be needed. One suggestion Dr members have had to step down.” Kwena Madiba made was that perhaps representation explained that “I think that this election has should be linked to the number of participants shown that we have matured as a democracy and not representation in terms of the larger especially here at UP, I think that at the end of student body. the day we need to be consistent, democracy However, Dr Madiba rejected claims that the is democracy, who students want to lead them, candidates were “forced” to step down from must lead them, its then clear that this provision their positions saying that there was a process needs to be scrapped entirely.” He also added of discussions and this option was left to the that “I would say to the elected ex-officio student committees themselves. members, keep your heads up, I know from experience what it feels like to loose a position TSC and SRC on the matter you worked for months on end, you don’t need According to Temporary Student Committee a position to serve students, I know that every (TSC) Chairperson Henrico Barnard, the first single one of those members are leaders and thing to note is that the constitution not only I have no doubt that they’ll continue to serve refers to a race imbalance but also a gender students.” imbalance.

4 Culinary Sciences degree introduced and food laboratories upgraded

Campus News Bites

UP’s Aula Lawn to be temporarily closed The Aula Lawn on UP’s Hatfield campus will be closed temporarily for restoration and treatment, which is done annually at the beginning of Spring.

The lawn will be closed from 4 September until 29 September.

UP confer 1800 degrees during Spring Graduations

During this year’s Spring Graduation Ceremony, UP conferred 1807 degrees, diplomas and certificates. These included 142 doctorates, 427 master’s degrees and 746 honours degrees.

Vice-Chancellor and Principal of UP, Professor Cheryl de la Rey, was quoted on UP’s website saying, “Every graduation is a success story for the University of Pretoria and society at large, as a new cohort of much-needed skill is injected into our economy.”

One graduate, Dr. Theodor Loots, will be the first blind man in South Africa to acquire a master’s degree in Mathematical Statistics with distinction.

This year’s Spring Graduation Ceremony took place over three days, from 6 to 8 September. The Ceremony was presented at the Rembrandt Hall at the LC de Villiers Sports Grounds.

News | 11 September 2017

Anti-Discrimination Week overview NTOMBI MKANDHLA

In light of drafting a new anti-discrimination policy, UP ran an Anti-Discrimination Week from 28 August to 1 September across all UP campuses.

UP’s Anti-Discrimination webpage says the drafting of a new anti-discrimination policy was meant to “prevent discrimination in all its forms on all its campuses”. It adds that it seeks to “establish a community with a culture that is inclusive and affirming to all its members”.

A group of UP staff members were appointed to the Anti-Discrimination Working Group Committee and acted as overseers of the entire project. Pierre Brouard, Deputy Director of The Centre of Sexualities, Aids and Gender (CSA&G), sits on the committee.

On discrimination, he said they often “work together” as “people have multiple forms of identities”. He gave the example of a black, lesbian foreigner who can be victimised across the board for her identity. For this reason, he highlighted the importance of a policy that will “work together” with the multi-faceted UP community.

Brouard explained that management invited all UP constituencies to “initiate their own events”. “The departments were

invited to develop their own works”, he said.

The Faculty of Vetinary Sciences, through its Marketing and Communication division, encouraged its students to create posters and articles for the Onderstepoort website and publication. Throughout the course of the week, the faculty also hosted debates on discrimination for both its students and staff members.

The Faculty of Theology started off their initiatives with a round table discussion on anti-discrimination, headed by the faculty’s Transformation Committee, on 28 August.

Other events during the course of the week included discussions on issues such as homophobia, xenophobia and racism, and the role of the church in addressing such issues.

Posters on anti-discrimination were placed in communal areas of the Faculty of Health Sciences. In addition, students and staff were invited to express their views on antidiscrimination on whiteboard paper provided.

Visual Culture Honours students in the Faculty of Humanities ran photo essays. The programme of events describes the initative as a means to “create an awareness of the benefits of including the arts in healthcare services and to address discrimination against psychiatric patients and institutions”. The

Humanities Transformation Committee also held a transformation talk on colonialism and its legacies on 30 August.

The Faculty of Education’s events included talks on the psychological effects of racism and a debate on the concept of anti-racism.

The Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences (EMS) provided suggestion boxes at the building’s entrances, and an electronic link for submissions on suggestions on enhancing diversity and inclusion.

On 29 August, the Transformation Committee of the Faculty of Engineering, Built Environment and IT (EBIT) held a transformation discussion to tackle issues of discrimination.

A campus wide anti-discrimination and diversity consultation was held on 31 August in the Sanlam Auditorium. Brouard admits that there were a “few” students present as getting student participation is “challenging” despite extensive advertising through posters and emails. “I suppose there needs to be a more creative way in engaging with students,” he said.

Brouard added that the Anti-Discrimination Working Group Committee is working on developing a draft policy that will be distributed for comment.

UP improves ranking in survey

The Times Higher Education (THE) World University Ranking was recently released.

In the survey, UP was ranked in the 601-800 category, out of a total of 1102 institutions considered by THE. Using 13 performance indicators, the rankings judge researchintensive universities in aspects such as teaching, industry income, international outlook, citations and research. UP improved its ranking in teaching from 583 in 2016 to 509 in 2017. UP also improved its ranking in research, from 388 in 2016 to 374 in 2017.

In the ‘industry income’ category, UP was placed in the 171th position. UP’s VicePrincipal for Research and Postgraduate Education, Prof. Stephanie Burton, was quoted on UP’s website, “The University of Pretoria is committed to world-class teaching and research. We are pleased to see that this focus is paying off with improved rankings, especially when we are compared to top institutions around the world.”

Law Faculty appoints former Constitutional Court Justice

Former Constitutional Court Justice, Johann van der Westhuizen, has been appointed as the new Head of the Department of Jurisprudence in the Faculty of Law. Van der Westhuizen achieved his BA Law, LLB (both cum laude) and his LLD at UP, and was a professor at UP from 1980 to 1998, as well as being the head of the Department of Legal History, Comparative Law and Legal Philosophy (today known as the Department of Juriprudence) from 1980 to 1994. In 1976, Van der Westhuizen was appointed as an advocate of the High Court in South Africa.

On 1 February 2004, he was appointed to the Constitutional Court. He is known for his judgments in the Constitutional Court that dealt with matters such as constitutional amendments, equality and the right to privacy. Van der Westhuizen is also the founding Director of the Centre for Human Rights at UP, which was established in 1986.

Compiled by: Henri Uys

A participant using a laptop with special software, where the user can type words or phrases that the computer repeats to the user. Image provided.

CAAC creates awareness for disabilities HENRI UYS

On 1 September, the Centre for Augmentative and Alternative Communication (CAAC) hosted a disability awareness event at the Piazza on the Hatfield campus. The event focused on people who cannot speak or have limited speech, and thus rely on technology to communicate.

According to a press release from the CAAC, “For people with severe communication difficulties, making connections is not always easy. Discrimination, stigma, and false perceptions by society often make it difficult for them to be seen, to be heard, and to have a chance to ‘just say hi’.” The annual FOFA programme held at the Centre for AAC aims to empower young adults who use augmentative and alternative communication to make their voices heard by making connections, and breaking through stereotypes that marginalise and sideline them.”

During the event, students had the opportunity to learn more about disabilities and to speak to some of the people living with disabilities. Students also had the opportunity to

try out the devices that people with disabilities use to communicate. These devices include eyetracking computers that monitor eye movements to create words or sentences. The people living with disabilities asked every student, who came to speak to them, specific questions like “If you met someone on an internet dating website, how would you feel?” and “What do you think of people living with no disabilities parking on parking spots reserved for disabled people?”.

Perdeby spoke to some of the people living with disabilities to learn more about their disabilities. These people communicate using laptops with special software such as Grid 2 and E-triloquist. They can also type words or phrases that the computer will repeat to the listener. Lebohang Sehako, from Kuruman in the Nothern Cape, is involved in various community projects. He showed Perdeby the book that he is currently writing. His book is about his disability, how it has affected him and his advice to others living with disabilities.

Robyn White from the CAAC said that they felt that the event was a success. White said: “We were actually expecting a lot of students just to walk pass or just stop for a lollipop, but we

were so thrilled at how many students stopped and engaged with the FOFA participants, and some who stayed for more than an hour to talk to them.” White said that the disabled people also enjoyed the event. White said: “The feedback we got from the FOFA participants [was] only positive. They had such a great time and really felt included in campus life on Friday, which is so important for them. As we know, many young adults with disabilities often feel isolated from their communities, but on Friday they felt included and empowered, they were all so happy afterwards.”

The CAAC have the following tips should you come across someone who has limited or no speech: • Talk to them directly.

• Ask one question at a time.

• Wait patiently for that person’s answer before asking another question.

• Do not pretend that you understand what that person is going through.

• Feel free to ask the person to repeat themselves if you did not understand them the first time.

11 September 2017 | News

Car guards: eyes and ears of the police

HENRI UYS

On 31 August, 50 car guards received certificates from UP at a graduation ceremony.

The car guards underwent a six-month programme in life skills and crime prevention at UP. During the course, the car guards also attended police meetings every

week to discuss crime in their respective areas.

One of the 50 car guards is Michael Ndimane. Speaking to eNCA, Ndimane said he has been working as a car guard for the past three years. Ndimane said, “My past life was a mess. I was not honest about my life and I was doing crime, smash and grabs.”

Ndimane decided to turn his life around after

Hatfield CID creating a better Hatfield environment HENRI UYS

The Hatfield City Improvement District (Hatfield CID) is working on making Hatfield a safe place for students.

Perdeby spoke to Lucas Luckhoff, CEO of the Hatfield CID and Danie Basson, COO for Security and Cleaning at the Hatfield CID. Luckhoff said that Hatfield CID uses approximately 55 security officials from two external companies: G4S Security and JC Security. According to Luckhoff, between 28 and 33 officials work during the day.

According to Luckoff, the root cause of crime in Hatfield is poor people with drugrelated problems, willing to do anything to get their next “fix”.

Luckoff said that the Hatfield CID’s biggest problem is vehicle-related incidents such as stolen vehicles and items being stolen from inside vehicles. Luckoff said that it is very important for all vehicles to be equipped with an alarm of some sort. According to Luckoff, older model vehicles are bigger targets for potential car thieves. Danie Basson said that incidents involving remote jamming is also increasing. Basson added that the devices criminals use to jam signals works on most vehicles, except newer car models. Luckhoff and Basson urged students to be careful when leaving their vehicles parked on sidewalks. They also urged students to be extra vigilant when people approach them while they are getting out

of their vehicles. It is then when criminals silently open car doors while the driver is being distracted by someone else.

Approximately 34 CCTV cameras are installed in and around Hatfield. Basson explains that a company contracted by the City of Tshwane, SAPS and members from the Hatfield CID monitor these cameras.

Any suspicious persons and/or vehicles are quickly spotted and a security guard on foot is dispatched to investigate. SAPS is also immediately notified as soon as a crime is reported and backup is sent, if necessary.

Basson explained that the Hatfield CID has full jurisdiction to arrest people committing any crime within the area that they operate in. However, the security guards have to witness the crime taking place before arresting someone. In this case, if a crime is reported, security guards can hold a suspect until police arrive. The Hatfield CID has had some success in their work. According to Basson and Luckhoff, 47 people were arrested in July in connection with possession and selling of drugs.

Luckoff added that they are also working with the City of Tshwane to ensure that all of Hatfield’s street lights are in working order.

This will also help in decreasing crime in Hatfield.

Basson said: “If you are coming to Hatfield to look for trouble, you will find trouble. But I (can) guarantee you, if you need help, we will help you.”

spending some time in jail. Ndimane said, “I started parking cars and from it I was making an honest living, and through it I could maintain my family.”

Colette Weilbach, Brooklyn SAPS’ spokesperson, told the Pretoria East Rekord, “For many years, informal car guards in the congested parking areas in Hatfield and surroundings of the university were seen as

5 an irritation and a crime contributor.” Now these car guards are the eyes and ears of the police. Weilbach told eNCA: “They must be able to not only to tell us it was a white car with two men, they are trained to tell us it was a Toyota, this is the number plate, (the) front bumper has a bump, the way a suspect dresses, did they pick up the language they spoke, scars (or) anything that can help with solving the case.”

Due to this programme’s success, it will be implemented in other precincts in Pretoria.

Image: Shaun Sproule

Police presence outside Hatfield campus CHAD JOHNSTON On 6 September, the South African Police Service (SAPS) were stationed at the Prospect street entrance outside UP’s Hatfield campus where a protest was planned by the EFF Student Command UP (EFFSC- UP).

The planned protest was in response to the disciplinary hearings of four students who allegedly held a UP staff member hostage in the Merensky Library on 26 May. On 5 September, the EFFSC-UP posted on Facebook saying, “We will never forget those in need. Those who stood for nothing, but better conditions for the marginalised and forgotten in the institution. Tomorrow we have a date with the enemy…” In the post, they called for “solidarity against racism and institutionalized tyranny”. The post was made under the hashtag #FearFokol.

Early on 6 September, a Nyala and two police vans were parked outside the Prospect street entrance. The police presence was

limited to this area until about midday when they left briefly. Later that afternoon, the SAPS returned when a small group of protesters sang and danced outside the gate.

According to UP’s media liaison, Candice Jooste, SAPS were positioned outside the campus “based on information received from their criminal investigation department (CID) that a protest had been planned for [6 September]. A small group of protesters gathered and the protest went ahead without incident.” According to another UP media liaison, Rikus Delport, the disciplinary hearings have been postponed.

On 19 February 2016, UP obtained an interdict against Afriforum Youth and EFFSCUP following violent language policy protests.

The interdict has recently been extended until 7 December 2017. When asked as to whether the EFFSC-UP’s protest was in violation of this interdict, Delport said that due to the fact that the protest took place outside of UP’s campus, it did not violate the interdict.

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Features | 11 September 2017

Period brain: the bloody truth

Illustration: Sally Hartzenberg

KATHERINE ATKINSON Women have always been subject to discrimination and one such form of discrimination is society’s portrayal of a menstruating woman.

Earlier this year, Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience published an article that debunked the notion of “period brain” finding that menstruation does not affect a woman’s cognitive functioning. The study which followed 68 women over two menstrual cycles, was led by Professor Brigitte Leeners and a team from the University Hospital of Zurich and Medical School Hannover. The study tested three cognitive aspects by making women perform ten cognitive tests at different stages of the menstrual cycle. It found that the levels of oestrogen, progesterone, and testosterone in a woman’s system had no impact on their attention, working memory or cognitive bias.

Although Professor Leeners said that more research with larger samples of women needs to be done, these findings are significant as they dismiss the patronising perception of menstruating women.

UP Anthropology Department’s Dr Fraser McNeill speaks about the myths and taboos surrounding menstruation. Dr McNeill says that there is an idea that “menstruation is when a woman is in a polluted state.” This exists because this is a time when “a woman’s body is cleansing itself and therefore […] in a taboo type state.” Dr McNeill says that there are myths that if you have sexual intercourse with a woman on her period you will get “some kind of illness, because menstrual blood is seen as dirty.” However, this has been proven to be false.

A journal article published in the National Center for Biotechnology Information entitled “Menstruation related myths in India: strategies for combating it” speaks of many taboos and myths surrounding menstruation. This journal article, published in 2015, coincides with what Dr McNeill says, saying that in India “menstruation is still considered to be dirty and impure.”

In fact, in some parts of India this myth restricts women from things such as “offering prayers and touching holy books” and preparing food for fear of “contamination.” This exclusion of women from socio-cultural aspects of life largely impacts their “emotional state, mentality and lifestyle and most importantly, health.”

Another well-known myth is that women become extremely irrational or overly emotional while menstruating. Since the myths of lessened cognitive functioning, impurity, and madness heighten discrimination against women for approximately five days in every month, it is important to understand where they come from. Dr McNeill believes they link back to one thing, the patriarchy. He says that “women are connected to nature in a much stronger way than men are and that terrifies men.”

To emphasise this connection to nature, he uses examples of childbirth and breastfeeding. Dr McNeill continues to say, “There are some anthropological theories that patriarchy [and] male dominance became a global norm because men are terrified of women” and so men try to “control women’s connection with nature.” It is this inherent connection to nature which also explains why women are more likely to be accused of witchcraft because they can do things that men “can’t quite do.” The National Center for Biotechnology Information journal article

found that “in Surinam [South America], menstrual blood is believed to be dangerous” and that this blood can be used to do “black magic” or for women to “impose her will on a man.” Dr McNeill says that “patriarchal society consistently demonises women.” Dr McNeill said that these myths which are driven by patriarchy are also colonial. He said that pre-colonial African communities saw menstruation as a way of cleansing, to prepare for pregnancy or to rid oneself of sexually transmitted diseases.

It was the European colonists who imposed the notion of periods being dirty on these communities.

Whether or not people believe in these anthropological theories, these myths and taboos surrounding menstruation can be seen as an expression of the patriarchy. Dr McNeill says that perhaps “bleeding is a great opportunity to exaggerate [male] control” over women as it is something inherent, that every woman faces. The idea of “‘period brain’, women being a bit mad when they’re on their period, might have been […] internalised by women themselves. So, they start to reflect what men and other women expect to see in them,” says Dr McNeill.

This notion is addressed by Professor Leeners who says that as “a specialist in reproductive medicine and a psychotherapist, [she deals] with many women who have the impression that the menstrual cycle influences their well-being and cognitive performance.” Dr McNeill notes that this does not, however, take away from the reality that sometimes the pain of a period does cripple women. He says that “maybe in some cases it’s internalised, but there’s also just the physical reality that some women feel as if their uterus is being torn out of their bodies”.

When asked whether society is becoming more progressive in terms of these taboos, Dr McNeill said that “patriarchy isn’t going anywhere.” The way in which “men view menstruation and frame it as women going ‘mad’ […] is all about patriarchal control of women”. Dr McNeill said that in “lived reality patriarchy comes over as a beautiful thing.” Men take great pride in protecting and providing for their women, however, the subtext of this is that women need protection and cannot provide for themselves says Dr McNeill. Dr McNeill believes that only once people stop “treating women like [they] own them”, attitudes towards “things like menstruation will change”.

He adds that these myths are “constructed by society, so if there is nothing natural about them and if they have been constructed, that means they can also change.”

11 September 2017 | Features

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Photo: Shaun Sproule

The history of hashtags GEMMA GATTICCHI

The term ‘hashtag’ was added to the Merriam Webster dictionary in 2014 as “a word or phrase preceded by the symbol # that classifies or categorises the accompanying text (such as a tweet).” Also known as the ‘octothorpe’, the hashtag has transitioned into one of the most recognisable

symbols in recent years.

Apart from its prior uses, the hashtag as we know it today was introduced in 1988 on Internet Relay Chat (IRC). Here, users communicated with each other through channels indicated by hash signs. Their use in IRC was similar to their use today; grouping messages and visual content into categories in order to easily view the related content.

The hashtag has since shot to fame after former open source advocate and Uber Developer Experience lead, Chris Messina’s 2007 tweet, “how do you feel about using the # (pound) sign for groups. As in #barcamp [msg]?” Here he became the first person to use the hashtag on Twitter, as it is currently used, by asking his followers how they felt about using the hash to group conversations. Initially, Twitter founder Evan Williams said hashtags would be unpopular due to their technical approach, but 10 years later its popularity has contradicted his statement.

The hashtag has since been embraced by Instagram, Pinterest, and many other social media platforms. It has also become a fundamental part of contemporary communication, especially in the form of news sharing. According to an article in the Telegraph, around 125 million hashtags are shared by Twitter’s 328 million users every day. This also means that hashtags have become an increasingly crucial way to spread awareness. In the past years this has been noted with iconic hashtags such as the 2014 #BringBackOurGirls campaign and 2012’s #BlackLivesMatter. According to The Washington Post, #BlackLivesMatter was used around 12 million times, and has since transformed from an online-community unifier to a political movement. It is the third most used social issue related hashtag, with #Ferguson placing first, being used over 27 million times. Both relate to racial violence, as #Ferguson emphasises the protests in the area after the fatal shooting of Michael Brown by a white police officer.

South Africa has also seen the use of popular hashtags which have shaped how news spreads. #PayBackTheMoney and #ZumaMustFall have been widely used since 2015, with the latter gaining 60 700 tweets on 10 December 2015. #FeesMustFall, a cause closer to UP, gained over 370 000 uses in its first week alone, and the only event to have generated higher volumes in the same year was the State of the Nation Address.

The hashtag has also become a platform for data collection and statistics can be viewed pertaining to participation.

According to The Media Online, in South Africa “activists coming out of Wits and UCT have definitely been the most vocal, producing a larger proportion of tweets than we would have expected given how many members they have”.

The hashtag plays the simple role of connecting relevant audiences. Consequently, it has since become the ideal example of how social media language and cultural systems have combined in modern society to create a synchronous system of communication and online sharing. This shows the power of the hashtag in spreading news, opinions, and even advertising. The hashtag has certainly earned its place as one of the most innovative communication tools of our time.

Shining a light on skin damage

REBECCA WOODROW

Skin is the human’s largest organ and the first on the frontline when we expose ourselves to the elements. Our region’s climate has made sun damage a prevalent skin affliction; the Cancer Association of South Africa (CANSA) says South Africa remains the country with the second highest incidence of skin cancer in the world.

A UP student is susceptible to sun damage, especially when Pretoria’s particular climate is brought into consideration.

Gauteng’s proximity to the Tropic of Capricorn means summer sunlight is direct, and the seasonal heavy rain clouds are not adequate shielding from UV rays, and the province’s dry winter offers little protective cloud cover. Students’ pedestrian habits and varied daytime responsibilities expose them to the sun directly. Acccording to CANSA, “for every 300 meter rise in altitude, there is a 4% increase in direct UV radiation.” This means that people living in Pretoria and surrounding Highveld areas are more prone to sun damage, compared to coastal areas, due to the high altitude on the Highveld.

Sunblock is not worn habitually on a large scale by students.

This is because the product can be costly, time consuming to apply, and it is not always comfortable.

Misconceptions about sun damage contribute to people failing to prevent it as it is thought that being naturally darker or avoiding actual sunburn is effective enough. A person is susceptible to sun damage regardless of race, and damage is able to build up over time. Dr Ranella Hirsch, a Boston dermatologist and past president of the American Society of Cosmetic Dermatology and Aesthetic Surgery explains because people are more heterogenous that some may assume, dark complexion does not guarantee safety from the sun because you could have genes making you more susceptible to skin caner.

According to CANSA, “At least 20 000 South Africans are diagnosed annually with non-melanoma skin cancers, and approximately 1500 are diagnosed with melanoma”.

Melanoma, according to Mayo Clinic, “develops in the cells (melanocytes) that produce melanin, the pigment that gives your skin its colour.” Melanoma can also form in your eyes and, rarely, in internal organs, such as your intestines.

Photo: Shaun Sproule Melanoma can be identified as growths that resemble moles, and are usaully black or brown in colour. According to Mayo Clinic the risk of developing melanoma is increased by the exposure to UV radiation from direct sunlight or tanning lamps and beds. Melanoma is considered the most dangerous kind of skin cancer, because the risk of it happening later in life is increased if excessive UV radiation happens during your developmental years.

The prevalence of skin ailments caused by sun damage has influenced the direction of research at UP. The Department of Plant Sciences’ Professor Namrita Lall’s research

team utilises medicinal indigenous plant life to develop cosmeceuticals (cosmetic beauty products that include pharmaceutical benefits). UP’s Institute of Sports Research at the High Performance Centre includes warnings against excessive exposure to direct sunlight to encourage healthy exercise practices.

Prevention is ideal. Sunscreen products are recommended, but a concerted effort to avoid excessive direct sun exposure is effective. Any skin irregularities should be monitored and examined. Skin is a helpful indicator of the body’s health, so we should take care of it the way it tries to care for us.

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Entertainment | 11 September 2017

Entertainment Bites The DStvMzansi Viewers’ Choice Awards On 26 August the annual DStv Mzansi Viewers’ Choice Awards took place at the Sandton International Convention Centre, hosted by Bonang Matheba. Over one million votes were cast for the 50 nominees, separated into ten categories.

The Our Perfect Wedding presenter, Thembisa Mdoda, walked away with the award for South Africa’s Favourite Television Presenter. Themba Ndaba and Vatiswa Ndara won the awards for Favourite Actor and Actress respectively. Other categories include Favourite Comedian, won by rising star, Summary Wa Lehetla, and Favourite DJ which was won by the much loved Black Coffee.

The event saw thespians, musicians and even sport personalities come together for the magical night. Caster Semenya won the award for Favourite Sport Personality.

The biggest award of the night went to the South African Jazz legend Hugh Masekela. Masekela took home the Lifetime Achievement Award for his years of contribution to the South African music scene.

After the awards were all given out, the venue was transformed into a laser and tribal print disco, with many artists taking to the stage to entertain the guests. The artists who performed included Lady Zamar, Zodwa Wabantu, Lebo Sekgobela, DJ Cleo, Winnie Khumalo, Busiswa, Tshedi Mholo, and Cassper Nyovest.

The awards ceremony was not just about praising our favourite celebrities, but was also about awarding those who voted. One viewer took home R50 000, after being named the 1Life Life Changer, whereas another viewer walked away with a brand new Kia Picanto worth R150 000.

TiMO ODV released new EP

Image: Shaun Sproule

Death Note: A Netflix Original film TSHILISANANI NDOU Netflix released Death Note on 25 August. The film, directed

by Adam Wingard, is an adaption of the anime series Death Note by Tsugumi Ohba and Takeshi Obata. The Netflix film stars Nat Wolff as Light Turner, Keith Stanfield, as the famous detective known only by his alias L, and William Dafoe as the voice of Ryuk, the death god. Death Note is a story that revolves around a mystical notebook, death note, that has deadly powers. The notebook is discovered by Light and he learns about its abilities. The death note gives Light the ability to kill anyone he wishes simply by writing their name within the notebook’s pages.

The anime series follows the daily life of the student vigilante and his journey in ridding society of its degenerates.

Light chooses to use the death note to target and kill criminals that have committed atrocious crimes. Obviously all of this could not be captured in the hour and forty minute Netflix film, which got a meager rating of 4.7 out of ten on IMDb. In the opening scenes we see Light conducting a transaction, exchanging money for homework. The scene then takes us through the motions of the typical American high school culture, including cheerleaders, American football and bullying.

The rules of the death note are still similar to those of the anime version. The first encounter between Ryuk and Light as interpreted by Netflix is chaotic. Light wasn’t expecting, while he was in detention, to find a monster hiding at the back of the

class. The monster’s presence creates a vortex of chaos. Light found himself in a panic, screaming for help as the death god turned the whole place into a mess. This is severely different to the first encounter between the two in the anime version. In the original anime, Light was startled at first, but soon calmly looked the death god in the eye and says “I was expecting you.”

In the Netflix version of things Ryuk then proceeds to instruct him on how to kill his first victim. A high school bully that was harassing Light’s high school love interest. At the end, Light is paralyzed, trying to shut his eyes to block out the image of the bully’s decapitated body lying on the ground. The bully had been gruesomely killed in a freak accident right after his name was written on the death note.

In the anime version, Light did not know how he was killing his victims and that is why they started investigating him.

The police also did not know how he was killing his victims, because all of them were mysteriously dying of heart attacks while in prison. Light took his time to learn the abilities of the notebook on his own.

The movie however, had some well executed details that made it thrilling to watch.. Ryuk’s character is artistically designed and he truly is terrifying. Mbongeni Ncube, a third year Law student who is an anime fanatic, said that he was disappointed with how the Netflix version chose to interpret certain elements of the original anime series. “The movie was turned into a typical tragic teenage love story with a ‘twist’ and did not stay truthful to the anime.”

The Johannesburg based writer, producer and DJ released his brand new EP, Move, on 8 September. The two track EP consist of the songs “Move” and “Your Love”. TiMO ODV succeeds in showcasing that he is not constrained by genre as well as his ability to blend world-class production with catchy hooks. “Fans can expect the same darker, clubbier vibe that my last two songs ‘The Kingdom’ and ‘Dancing Again’ brought,” TiMO ODV said of his new release.

Johannesburg DJ wins AXE DJ Search On 31 August Axe in collaboration with Black Coffee announced the South African winner of their nationwide DJ search. Kutloano Nhlapo won the competition after he and the other finalists played a twenty minute set each at Taboo in Sandton. The grand prize includes a VIP experience and the opportunity to play alongside Black Coffee in Ibiza.

“Playing alongside internationally recognised DJ’s like Black Coffee in South Africa, let alone in Ibiza, is a dream come true,” Nhlapo said after he was announced the winner.

Good news for October babies The OppiKoppi Festival is offering free tickets to the first 100 people to provide proof that they have a birthday between 2 and 8 October. They will also attempt the biggest record-breaking birthday cheers on 7 October at the festival. You can email your proof (ID or drivers license) to info@oppikoppi.co.za Compiled by: Claudine Noppe and Sheriska Moodley

Image Provided: Calvin Siderfin

Five minutes with Medicine Boy MINÉ VAN DER BERG

Medicine Boy is a dream noise duo, consisting of Lucy Kruger and André Leo, from Cape Town. Their first EP, More Knives, was released in 2014 and their debut full-length album, Kinda Like Electricity, was released in August 2016. The duo will be going on a spring tour of South Africa this September. Perdeby caught up with them to find out more about this duo.

What attracted you to the dream noise genre?

I think we may have penned that [name]. When time came to open a Facebook account, we realised we needed a genre (wanting to avoid the usual labels associated with the two of us, ‘alternative’, ‘psych’ etc.) and we thought it would be fun to come up with something new altogether. We love tension in music, marrying vast, sparse, gentle waves with crushing blows and shambolic chaos. ‘Dream noise’ seems to paint that picture as well as anything could.

Your Spring Tour takes place from 13 to 27 September, do you have anything exciting planned for after the tour?

A lot of new songs. We’re currently finishing up the sessions for

our next album and, unlike with the last album, we’re trying out all of these songs live before the album’s release. We’re visiting some new places, which is exciting and kind of scary and we are playing two stripped down shows in smaller theatres. We love those shows. We are also looking forward to playing at Endless Daze music festival in November this year. For more details you can have a look at their website.

What is your favourite song to perform and why?

Any of the new ones. We’re still learning our way around them.

They feel dangerous, exciting and alive.

Where do you get inspiration from to write new material?

I’m realising more and more that song-writing is [as] mysterious as it is intuitive. These things come out of you and while you know that they are a result of your inspirations, day to day life, love and all that comes with love… They are also these foreign entities that seem to come out of nowhere and breath an air all of their own. So who knows where inspiration comes from?

If you could open for any artist, which artist would you choose?

Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds.

11 September 2017 | Entertainment

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Shorstraw Those Meddling Kids CLAUDINE NOPPE

Image: Sally Hartzenberg

Spring inspiration from South African fashion bloggers TAIGA RIVE With the change of season coming so suddenly, it can be easy to forget that part of keeping ourselves feeling good is by dressing well. By keeping the following South African fashion bloggers rotating in your searches, you can be sure to find fresh inspiration for the warmer weather of spring.

Copying any one person’s style completely is not suggested, because fashion is all about finding the things that appeal to you, and finding a style that makes you comfortable and happy. Sometimes, looking at a closest full of clothes you’ve had for years or thinking about what to wear can make it difficult to get the creative juices flowing.

Using bits and pieces from these style icons will help to spark some inspiration to put together the best outfits this spring.

The Threaded Man is a South African online destination, launched in 2013, and is aimed at the modern African man although it caters for women as well. The website is updated weekly, and hosts a variety of content including style trends, fashion news and grooming tips. They use a Lookbook layout to showcase top class shoots. Their Instagram @ thethreadedman shows a wide range of flamboyant outfits that make for an enjoyable viewing experience.

“For I am the Totally Polished woman, a woman of style, substance and character,” is the last line of the mantra on the home page of the Totally Polished website. This is a South African clothing brand, and by going into the catalogue or onto their Instagram @totallypolished_sa, you can easily browse through an assortment of outfits ranging from flowing bohemian skirts to chic smart casual suits.

Moving between South Africa and the UK, fashion blogging duo Emma Jane Menteath and Justin Polkey make up My Life in Pink. Menteath is an international model, while Polkey is a South African photographer. Together, they travel and shoot inspirational scenes. They both showcase some brilliant chic and minimalist ensembles, as well as give insight into current trends in their shoot descriptions. More of their work is displayed on their Instagram account @ emmajanementeath.

What My Boyfriend Wore is a blog run by Sergio Ines, a South African man whose former girlfriend began posting pictures of his stylish outfits, prior to him making his own blog. He describes his fashion sense as classic, and doesn’t follow trends which date. He boasts perfectly fitted outfits (usually suits) in collections that show how to pair and accessorise as a tasteful modern man.

Kwena Baloyi is a Limpopo born woman who uses her Instagram @kwenasays to broadcast her African inspired outfits. With radical hair, brilliant colours and wonderful photography, her page is splendid to explore when planning your own outfit or for simple visual pleasure.

After releasing a new song with a music video once a month for the last year, Shortstraw finally released their third studio album, Those Meddling Kids, on 1 September. The band celebrated this event with a launch party at The GoodLuck Bar in Johannesburg. The Cape Town based electronic duo, Floorslive, took the stage first. Their moody sound got the throngs of people waiting to get in swaying and excited. MIAGII followed them with a hard rock set that was reminiscent of Van Coke Kartel and Foo Fighters.

Shortstraw started off their set at The GoodLuck Bar with the first song on their album “Ignorance is Bliss”. According to a press release from the band, this song was born from a ten year old idea. “Ignorance is Bliss” is a perfect beginning for the album as it starts slowly with a keyboard instrumental and then flawlessly goes from that melody into something more hardcore sound synonymous with their Indie-Bele sound. The strong vocals intertwine beautifully with the changes in rhythm.

“Keep it in the Family” is a song that sounds very similar to songs in their first album Good Morning, Sunshine. Fans will get the same feeling when listening to “Keep it in the Family” as they got listening to “Gimme my fix (It’s Only Recreational)”.

The next songs on the album, “Thailand” and “Bowsie” flow effortlessly between each other without sounding too similar.

“Bowsie” kicks off with an old-school electric guitar solo that builds into an all-instrument intro. The song also acted as a spring board for The Bowsie Foundation, a foundation to support animal charities in South Africa. “Boo” acts as a much needed intermission between the first and second halves of the album. The song might be a typical love song, but the quirky lyrics and catchy hook keeps it from becoming too sappy. The tempo of the album is picked up again in the intro for “Rich Richards”, which uses brilliant tempo changes to keep listeners enthralled. “Rich Richards” is described by the band as “three

Image Provided

different songs in one”. One of the most uniquely different songs on the album, “Our Simple Minds”, blends well into the album, but definitely stands out with its powerful lyrics. The lead vocalist, Alastair Thomas, shows his full vocal range in this song. The last song on the album, “Eventually…” featuring Laudo Liebenberg, perfectly ends this listening experience with explorations of love and death. Liebenberg, from aKing, pops in and out of the track to deliver a raspy verse or two.

Those Meddling Kids truly encapsulates Shortstraw’s IndieBele sound without being monotonous. This can be attributed to the fact that the songs were written each month with different moods, genres and themes. “Each month, as we wrote the songs, I’d just be singing about what I was going through at the time. A struggling relationship, a break up and the subsequent reforming of said relationship, along with the death of my first dog. It’s actually a pretty personal album,” Alastair Thomas said of Those Meddling Kids.

Photo: Fezekile Msimang

Slam poetry as meaningful communication TAIGA RIVE

With spoken poetry or ‘slam poetry’ becoming popular on and around campus, it is vital to understand what this genre of poetry is and what it stands for. Slam poetry is a raw, powerful and moving style of oral poetry. Slam poetry competitions were first started in 1986 in a Chicago jazz club by poet and construction worker Marc Smith. It spread to New York where it made somewhat of a home in the Nuyorican Poets Café. It is a platform for countless topics, both personal or political, and often deals with vital issues that tend to be avoided in daily conversation. This style of poetry, like other poetry, makes use of imagery using metaphors and personification, but also has the added element of vocal speech to paint a picture of words.

Reagan Myers’ poem Depression is Funny Like That describes depression as “a silent film monologue shot underwater”. Her description of this mental illness uses metaphors that make it more relatable to those who do not know what suffering from a mental illness is like.

Crystal Valentine uses her poem Black Privilege to tell a story of racial discrimination. She uses the word ‘privilege’ sarcastically, and expresses the bitterness and pain that a reality like this brings. Her voice breaks with passion when she talks about “the time a teacher asked a little boy what he wanted to be when he grew up and he said ‘alive’”. In Hide

Your Shea Butter, by Valentine and Aaliyah Jihad says that “Kylie Jenner is turning into a black woman right before our eyes,” as they broach the topic of appropriation of black beauty culture.

UP alumna, Xabiso Vili’s poem, Kingdom of Scars, explores the emotional trauma involved with being in love with a person who has been hurt deeply in the past. The poem is filled with imagery that takes you on a journey so vivid that you feel that you are experiencing the pain that the speaker felt when enduring this pain.

Poems dealing with rape and gender inequality are also used to fight the culture that perpetuates this treatment of women.

Another Rape Poem is written and performed by Brenna Twohy, who explains that the reason there is ‘another’ poem about rape, is because rape still needs to be spoken about.

Blythe Baird’s Pocket-Sized Feminism explains the struggle that women have with upholding their beliefs in a society that discourages feminism.

The platform slam poetry provides is almost perfect for our times, passionate and entertaining enough to catch our eye, and short enough to accomodate our attention spans.

It is easily accessible online, and can be used by people to gain understanding about topics that they may not realise are problematic. It is because of this that slam poetry is becoming an increasingly popular style of expression.

Fun and Games | 11 September 2017

10

Top Ten

Oppikoppi crossword

Top ten things to do on spring day If you don’t like dust and sunburn and you have seen Mathew Mole at every possible South African event to the point where you wonder if a special “bat signal” is put out at a gathering of more than twenty people and he just appears, then this list is for you.

1. Sleep 2. Visit the SPCA (they have puppies!)

3. Lie to yourself about getting some studying done 4. Any admin things you need to do (like asking Vodacom where all your data went) because it’s not a real public holiday 5. Celebrate Roald Dahl’s birthday with some Frobscottle and some Snozzcumber 6. Do some spring cleaning 7. Read Perdeby

Across:

Down: 1.

2013’s theme

2.

Twin DJs from Cape Town performing at Oppi

3.

Irish indie rock band performing at Oppi

4.

One of the TV channels sponsoring Oppi

9.

The name of the Oppi dog

10. American rapper performing at Oppi

5.

Nickname of general camping

6.

In ______ we trust

7.

The town in which Oppi is held

8.

New Zealand indie electric band performing at Oppi

11. 2017’s theme 12. Harley Edward Streten’s stage name

Baby animal wordsearch

Lamb

Duckling

Tadpole Hatchling

Calf

Kitten

Joey

Antling

Chick

Puppy

Hoglet

Fawn

Cygnet Piglet

Owlet

8. Contemplate imminent nuclear fallout.

9. September 13 is also Defy Superstition Day, so maybe walk under all the ladders and cuddle some black cats 10. It is also Positive Thinking Day, so smile and may all your vibes be good.

Cartoon

“A hashtag can’t compare to the might of UP... and they’ll prove it”

11 September 2017 | Sport

11

Nelson Mandela and Francois Pienaar. Image Twitter Lowvelder

Sport, building a nation since 1995 SAM MUKWAMU

TuksCheerleading. Image provided

TuksCheerleading: the secret behind UP’s sporting success ANTHONY JORDAAN TuksCheerleading is best described as the unheralded backbone of TuksSport, and perhaps even as one of the fundamental pieces in the framework that has led to UP’s sporting success in recent years, including 2017. UP has achieved unparalleled levels of success in 2017 in the Varsity Rugby, Hockey, and Athletics tournaments, and the Tuks Cheerleaders have been present at all of them.

The club has existed as an official sporting code since 2015, alongside the University of Johannesburg, Stellenbosch University and North-West University, and is helping to increase the popularity of cheerleading across the country. Many athletes join the club for the opportunity it provides to get involved with TuksSport and to serve as brand ambassadors for TuksSport.

Cheerleaders at the club are considered as much athletes as they are performers, and are required to maintain high levels of physical fitness. Every year, the club hosts two scheduled auditions at the beginning of each semester, with both men and women welcome to the auditions and training. Athletes that meet selection criteria at these events are considered for the High

Performance squad, which is the squad that performs at all major TuksSport home events and matches throughout the year. A twoweek boot camp, preceding the club’s annual Varsity Cheerleading Championship, is held every season and aims to train and enhance the required skill sets of the club’s cheerleaders.

The TuksCheerleading squad typically has a majority of female performers and includes a variety of dancers, acrobats and gymnasts, all of whom add to the uniqueness of the team. Cheering is considered to have a marked impact on the atmosphere of TuksSport matches, and serves to boost team and audience morale. Training and routine exercises include flexibility and strength training, and focus mainly on allowing athletes to understand their routine and the physical demands of cheerleading.

A typical challenge the squad faces is incorporating new members into the squad, and allowing them an appropriate time to find their feet, before having them take on the responsibility of performing at big events. The squad has to incorporate all the different types of experience in the team, while attempting to integrate each squad member’s individual talent to form an impressive performance.

There are very few things that possess the ability to bring people with different backgrounds together like sports. It is this ability to bring people together that has made sports one of the most effective tools in nation building. Sport creates the perfect environment for people to come together for a common goal and for a country as diverse as South Africa sport has promoted social cohesion, as well as national pride.

In 1994, South Africa was in need of some sort of unity after years of segregation. The 1995 Rugby World Cup and 1996 African Cup of Nations were seen as being potentially useful for nation building by then president Nelson Mandela, and they became two defining events in South African history. After being banned from competing in these and other sports, due to international sporting sanctions, South Africa hosted and won both tournaments, while showing the rest of the world that it was a country that was ready to move on from the oppressive Apartheid regime and make an effective contribution to the global community. Regardless of race, South Africans showed support for their national teams, in stadiums and in their homes.

The use of the football and rugby tournaments is quite significant. Football and rugby were seen as black and white sports, respectively. Both tournaments allowed for diversity, which would have not been seen in stadiums prior to 1994. Since the early post-Apartheid years, South Africa also hosted the 2010 FIFA World Cup, arguably one of the biggest sporting events in the world. Apart from nation building, the hosting of these tournaments also contributed to the economy, with an increase in tourism and employment opportunities.

Over the years, swimming and athletics have been sports that have contributed to national pride. Swimmers such as Natalie du Toit, Roland Schoeman, and more recently Chad le Clos and Cameron van der Burgh, are South African swimmers that excelled in the sport, and have won gold medals at the Olympic, and Paralympic games. Controversial figure Oscar Pistorius dominated Paralympic sprints, with six golds, one bronze, and a silver.

South African athletics looks to have a bright future with athletes such as Caster Semenya and Wayde van Niekerk excelling at the Olympic and World Championships. South Africans can look forward to the future success of athletes such as Luvo Manyonga, Akani Simbine and Thando helping contribute to a more diverse South Africa through sport.

Sport CHAD JOHNSTON AND NTOMBI MKANDHLA

UP rower Katlego Sotsaka. Image Provided

5 minutes with Katlego Sotsaka EMMANUEL OLUSEGUN Perdeby sat down with TuksRowing Champion, Katlego Sotsaka, to discuss his history with the sport, as well as his thoughts on its future in SA, particularly on its potential popularity among black people.

How did you first get started in rowing?

When I first started rowing, I initially joined because there was a girl I had a crush [on] who was doing it, so I decided I would pick it up as well. As time went on, I realised I really enjoyed rowing. I started rowing when I was in high school. I initially attended Willowridge High School, but then finished high school at St Albans. I was a rower for both of those schools. I then joined TuksRowing after high school. While training for the SA Junior Championships, James Thompson, who was part of the gold-medal winning 2012 Olympic rowing team, suggested that if I would like to pursue a rowing career I should come to Tuks.

Did you play other sports in High School? What made you choose rowing over these sports?

During high school, I was a rugby player and I did athletics.

Rowing has always stood out for me because it is challenging [as] it pushes [my] limits and is physically and mentally demanding. It gave me that extra kick that I felt I was not getting from rugby or athletics.

What has been your biggest achievement since taking up rowing?

My proudest moment during high school was in 2012 when I

Varsity Football: Tuks vs CUT. Photo Stefan Stander

Football round-up EMMANUEL OLUSEGUN

Varsity Football and ABSA Premiership are all in full swing as at least three rounds of fixtures have been played.

After seven rounds of fixtures, the 2017 Varsity Football season has been dominated by defending champions, TUT Football. The TUT side has picked up five impressive wins from seven matches. They are at the top of the Varsity Football log with 17 points. TUT Football’s campaign has seen them score 19 goals in total, with the bulk of these coming in a 7-0

qualified for the SA Junior Championships. During university, I would have to say my proudest moment was when I won my first Boat Race competition. Boat Race is a big varsity event that happens in 8’s [8-man rowing crew] and annually takes place in Port Alfred.

What type of rowing do you currently participate in?

I row as part of an 8-man crew and we race down a 6km course.

Hopefully, we can win Boat Race for a 9th consecutive year.

What would you say has changed about you since joining TuksRowing?

What I feel has changed the most is the way I approach things, as well as my maturity levels. In my first few years I was still trying to mature as person and rowing has actually helped me to learn to balance my sports, social life and academics.

When you look at TuksRowing do you see diversity?

I feel a lot of work has been put into it in the last few years.

There are quite a few foundations that are working to introduce rowing to youngsters in places like Germiston for example.

I would say there has been a bigger push towards getting more black people like myself involved, and this is definitely manifesting itself with the increasing racial diversity of rowers in the national squad. It is a challenge though [because] rowing is not mainstream.

What are your long term and short term goals?

In the short term, I would like to win Boat Race again. My ong term goal would be to represent my country at the [2020] Olympics.

victory over UFH Football in the second round. TUT Football is the only team confirmed with a spot in the semi-finals on 14 September.

Despite an impressive campaign, TUT are not without challengers to their place at the top, as UWC Football and CUT Football have both produced good results, giving them second and third place respectively. Both teams have 12 points each.

TuksFootball’s campaign has proven to be difficult and disappointing so far. For a team which was considered to be a title contender from the onset, the team is currently fourth on the log. A tough away-game against TUT in the opening round, ending in a 1-1 draw, set the tone for their upcoming fixtures. Against CUT Football on 7 September, TuksFootball claimed all three points in a 1-0 victory. This pushed the team up the log to fourth from a former sixth place with a total of 11 points. Tuks still has time to redeem themselves by securing a place in the semi-finals.On 11 September, TuksFootball will play UWC Football.

For Wits Football and UFH Football, 2017’s campaign has been difficult. With goal differences of -14 and -24 respectively, both teams showed porous defence. Wits is Football is ranked seventh with 6 points while UFH Football sits at the bottom of the log with 0 points.

Overall, 2017’s Varsity Football has been exciting, with 78 goals being scored to date. As for whom this year’s semifinalists will be, if the previous rounds’ fixtures are anything to go by, the battle for the top four spots will be an interesting one to watch.

Elsewhere in SA, the ABSA Premiership concluded its second round of fixtures on 23 August with unexpected leaders, Maritzburg United and Cape Town City, maintaining their 100% starts to the 2017/18 season. The first two rounds were a different story for Ajax Cape Town and Platinum Stars, th th who sit 15 and 16 in the overall standings respectively, with neither having registered a win.

Athletics TuksAthletics 400m hurdles athlete, LJ van Zyl, won the bronze medal with a time of 49.69 seconds at the Memorial Borisa Hanzekovica meeting in Zagreb, Croatia. Kyron McMaster, from the British Virgin Islands, came in second place with a time of 49.49 seconds. Abderrahaman Sambaof, from Qatar, clocked 48.70 seconds, and came in first place. van Zyl expressed enthusiasm about his win, telling the South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (SASCOC) that he was happy with his performance as his win was a “nice solid third place”.

With the track and field season coming to a close, seven South African athletes have been placed in the top 10 world rankings in their disciplines. Long jumper, Luvo Manyonga, is in first place with a distance of 8.65m. For the men’s 100m, Akani Simbine placed fourth in his discipline with a time of 9.92 seconds and fifth for the men’s 200m with a time of 19.95. seconds. Thando Roto ranks ninth in the men’s 100m with a time of 9.95 seconds.

Hockey Curlitzia’s hockey team beat Onderstepoort (OP) with a 2-1 victory.

Taaibos followed suit, with a 4-2 victory over Boekenhout. This made both residences the Tuks Internal Hockey League champions for 2017.

Describing the finals as “nail biting”, Nadine Meiring, team captain of Curlitzia, said the team won off a short corner at the end. Meiring added that the “determination, sisterhood and good sportsmanship” from her team stood out for her the most.

Taaibos has played Boekenhout in the hockey finals for the past three leagues. Taaibos team coach, Dylan De Gouveia, described it as a “tough encounter” as the game ended in a 3-3 draw, resulting in shootouts, where Taaibos snatched the victory.

Having won three consecutive championships prior to this win, De Gouveia attributes the need to preserve their hockey legacy as a contributing factor to the team’s “hunger and willingness” to win, saying “[We] did not want to let the house down and [damage] the good reputation we have built over the years”.

Netball TuksNetball got off to a mixed start to the 2017 Varsity Netball competition. They had a convincing 53-43 opening victory against Kovsies in Bloemfontein on 27 August. A day later, the team lost their second-round match 40-34 to a strong Pukke team. When asked about the loss, Head Coach Jenny van Dyk admitted that the women had “made too many unforced errors and struggled to find connections in the shooting circle. [These are] fixable mistakes for sure”. In their game against Madibaz Netball, on 4 September, TuksNetball had a 45-24 victory.

Tuks will be looking for a similar performance as last season, where they made it to the final against Pukke. According to van Dyk, the team focused on the type of netball they would like to play this season and have shifted their mind-set. “While we always play to win, winning isn’t the way we measure our success. The goal is to play netball of a very high standard with excellent, well refined skills and a solid game plan and tactics”, she said.

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