Perdeby Official independent student newspaper of the University of Pretoria 12 March 2018
80
year 80 issue 5
Pg. 6-7
Land expropriation debate Pg. 5
SRC calls for first quarter student forum meeting
Pg. 4 Hanneke Schutte: writer and director of Meerkat Maantuig
Pg. 11
Liquid Telecom Athletix Grand Prix Series in full speed
Pg. 12
Illustration: Sally Hartzenberg
2
Editorial | 12 March 2018
T
80 News and the changing years of Perdeby
Melancholy March
Editorial
his time of year is always a drag, and I have been trying to figure it out for the past couple of years. It seems that there is always a slump in morale. It could be because of the first round of semester tests, the changing seasons, or a general knuckle down that throws all our lives to the wind. I’ve seen many people struggling, I have even seen it in the Perdeby office with our work. People need a break. So here is some unofficial advice form an almost old guy who is still trying to figure it out himself. I should probably also add the disclaimer that I also feel melancholy march, but this could also be that I don’t take my own advice. Unwind. I find it’s very important to let your hair down and fully forget about your studies and stresses for a little while. Watch some series or go for a run. Just lie about enjoying the peaceful bliss of silence. Don’t unwind. More important than unwinding is to not unwind. You have issues you need to address and work you need to do. Get to it and go wild. Make sure you demarcate your chill time and grind time. Make lists. Lists are crazy useful. Make lists and start at the hardest item and work your way down. Or start at the easiest and work your way up. Don’t forget to include a headline for your list. I like to use “List” when in doubt. Find fellow sufferers. Band together and team play your way out of your sticky situation. Wars are not won by a single soldier, battle it out with an army of mates behind you who have your back. Let it all out. There is nothing better than making your problems other people’s problems too. Get them to join in on your troubles, two minds are always better than one. Just remember to return the favour later on. Contact student support. Student support is there to specifically help people, not only in melancholy March, but also during agonizing April and madness May. Go home. There is nothing better than going home at the end of a hard week, curling up in front of the TV with the familiar smells of childhood, a home cooked meal, and if you are super lucky, maybe even your clothes being ironed for the first time in weeks (beware to not assume that this will be done, you might just get a clip on the ear). But most importantly, know that tomorrow is another day. Basically, a fancy way of saying YOLO without the grimy deadbeat connotations, you need to realise that sometimes things do not matter. Obviously use some common sense around this one, things have different levels of importance in the grand scheme of things, but don’t dwell on small issues and let them all build up to a point where you cannot function anymore. On a more serious note, we have an article this week about the land appropriation situation. I would love to start a discussion through the letters to the editor. We have the until August to critically look at all the issues surrounding this move. Can we do it? Should we err on the side of caution? What effects will it have? Let me know by sending a letter to the editor. Send me an email at perdeby@up.ac.za. Perdeby is the voice of the students and we would love to offer the platform to have your voice heard.
A look back at South Africa’s oldest student newspaper
student landscape S ince Perdeby’s initial release in 1939, the papers focus has shifted to cover more campus orientated news, so did the way it’s news room functioned. Perdeby had to keep up with the changing demands and demographics of students. When, in 1959, it was suggested that the paper publish more residence and sport club news Perdeby did not have the funds to print bigger copies to accommodate all the new content. The Editor at the time, Jan Spies, decided to use cheaper paper so that Perdeby could afford to print bigger editions. In the August of the following year the first news editor was appointed to help to cope with the large amount of content. As Perdeby developed, students started to question it’s function and relevance. In 1964 an article stated that students
www.perdeby.co.za @perdebynews @PerdebySport @PerdebyE Tel: (012) 420 6600
Advertising Sales
Tel: 012 420 6600 Cell: 083 318 9738 carel.willemse@up.ac.za
the students at the university. A survey conducted by Perdeby in 1981 revealed that the students wanted the paper to become more relevant to the English students on campus. In 1994 when South Africa became a democracy and the university started to change and so did Perdeby. 1999 marked the year of Die Perdeby’s name change to Perdeby. In the 2000’s debates arose over the language policy of the paper versus the university’s which was 50% Afrikaans and 50% English. In 2003 the Perdeby editor, Anna-Marie Jansen van Vuuren, said that it was difficult to publish content in both Afrikaans and English as Afrikaans students wanted more content to be published in Afrikaans and vice versa. In 2013 Perdeby officially started publishing English content only.
Letter Policy Perdeby appreciates that freedom of speech is an inalienable right enshrined in the Constitution of the Republic South Africa. We encourage our readers to engage in discussion and debate on issues that affect them through letters to the Editor, comments on our website, tweets, or posts on Facebook. We ask our readers to keep the following in mind: 1. Perdeby will not edit letters, comments, tweets, or Facebook posts in any way. 2. Perdeby will label letters, comments, tweets, or Facebook posts as opinion. These do not represent the views of Perdeby in any way. 3. The Perdeby editorial must approve letters, comments, tweets, or Facebook posts before they are published. 4. Perdeby will not publish letters, comments, tweets, or Facebook posts that are defamatory, or libelous, or that contain offensive content. 5. Perdeby reserves the right to practice discretion when publishing letters, comments, tweets, or Facebook posts. 6. Perdeby reserves the right to publish any content we receive unless the sender specifically requests otherwise. 7. Perdeby reserves the right to retract a letter, comment, tweet, or Facebook post after it has been published. 8. Perdeby will not accept responsibility for any consequences the author of a letter, comments, tweets, or Facebook posts may experience as a result of the letter being published. 9. Perdeby will only publish letters between 150 and 200 words. 10. Perdeby will not publish letters unless the writer confirms their full name, student number and contact number. Perdeby will not publish this information, we need it for our records.
University Editor (CC) • Affordable prices to suit your pocket. • Editors with PhDs • Over 20 years experience in proofreading and editing English text for scholarly journals, dissertations and theses.
w! www.uedit.org o or write to tN c A info@uedit.org
Visit us on
Add colour to someone’s day
Go wild Shaun Sproule
Perdeby
question the role of the paper. The writer explained that press plays an important role in representing and influencing people and that the newspaper must reflect the students and must function as a communication forum. Johan Steynberg, the editor of Perdeby in 1968, stated that Perdeby had become a true newspaper and had covered campus news. In the 70’s feminism flared up with female students demanding to participate in university activities. Perdeby also started to cover more female orientated news. In the 5 September 1975 edition, after year’s of ladies news, Perdeby publishes the first damesblad (ladies page). With the 80’s came the demand from students to Perdeby that the paper should become more inclusive of all
012 342 4006
EROS FLORIST
U
floristonline.co.za Editorial Editor-in-chief Carel Willemse Editor Shaun Sproule News Ditebogo Tshaka Features Sam Mukwamu Entertainment Claudine Noppe Sport Ntombi Mkandhla
carel.willemse@up.ac.za @Ed_in_Chief perdeby@up.ac.za @ShaunSproule news@perdeby.co.za @Didi_Tshaka features@perdeby.co.za @sammy_southside entertainment@perdeby.co.za @claudine1997 sport@perdeby.co.za @ma_khabo
Online Content Lorinda Marrian Web Marko Svicevic Copy Georgina Glass Visuals Sally Hartzenberg Multimedia Siwakhile Maseko Production Carly Twaddle Development Savannah Plaskitt
Edit uedit.org onlinecontent@perdeby.co.za @LorindaDMarrian webeditor@perdeby.co.za @MarkoSvicevic1 copy@perdeby.co.za @georginaaliceglass visuals@perdeby.co.za multimedia@perdeby.co.za @siwamaseko production@perdeby.co.za @CarlzTwaddle development@perdeby.co.za @SavChristie
Copyright Perdeby is printed by Paarlmedia. All rights reserved. Contributions are welcome. All due care will be taken with materials submitted, but Perdeby and printers cannot be held responsible for loss or damage. The editor reserves the right to edit, amend or alter in any way deemed necessary. Perdeby cannot be responsible for unsolicited material. The opinions expressed in Perdeby are not necessarily those of the editors and printers of Perdeby.
12 March 2018 | News
3
Photo: Elmarie Kruger
International students delayed in beginning the academic year Refilwe Mofokeng
A
number of international students raised complaints concerning their inability to return to South Africa to commence the academic year as their study VISAs had expired and they were awaiting their renewal by relevant international bodies. Visa and Permit Faculty Centre (VFS) Global which is an organisation that is responsible for renewing students VISAs had started the VISA renewal procedure and as a result students had to wait until their VISAs were ready for collection. Due to this process international students did not start their academic programme on time. The VFS worked on a first-comefirst-serve basis which meant that the renewal of students’ VISAs was dependent on how early they submitted their applications. The SRC raised this issue on social media to attract the attention of such students. According to the International Students Office on UP main
campus, large numbers of students who were unable to come to South Africa were from Zimbabwe and Swaziland. The International Office also stated that their duty is to ensure that all international students are complying with South Africa’s Immigration Act which stipulates the requirements for studying in South Africa to international students. The office also rejected the statement posted by one of the SRC members that the International office will speed up the VISA renewal process. The office stated that international students have to apply for the renewal of their VISAs well before the expiry date. “Last year we invited VFS officials here (UP main campus) to help students apply for new VISAs but of the 150 international students whose VISAs was close to the expiry date, under 100 international students came” said the International Students Office. While most of the blame is placed on the pace with which VSF is handling the renewal of VISAs, part
of it is placed on students who apply for such renewals late. Other factors include late university applications on the part of students which results in them having to submit their applications late. The international student office said “Students must check the expiry date on their VISAs in order to apply on time and avoid complications at the beginning of the academic year”. According to an Honours Engineering student, Ngonidzashe Mutangara, “My registration process was slightly delayed because I did not have a study permit. After applying for the VISA I was then allowed to register with the receipt from VFS and I was advised that I had till the end of March to send a copy of the VISA on its arrival”. He added that the Faculty of Engineering did offer assistance for a late registration if need be until end of March. According to SRC representative for Postgraduate & International Student Affairs,
Jodie Chikowi, “The international office agreed to register students who had applied for their VISA in South Africa if the students presented proof of receipt. The office agreed to register the student until the 31 March latest without the actual VISA. With regards to international students who did not apply for their VISA in South Africa, they are welcome to contact me and we may be able to sort something out for them also with the condition they have their VISA by 31 March latest”. Jodie added that, “Most International student[s] know the requirements for VFS seeing as they are the same requirements needed to get a VISA. The only requirements they may not know of is if they want to renew their VISA they have to do it at least three months before the expiration date. We are working together with the international office to try and get VFS on campus in September so students who need to renew their VISA can do so easily and conveniently”.
4
News | 12 March 2018
SRC calls for first quarter student forum meeting Ditebogo Tshaka
O
n 5 March, the SRC announced on Facebook that they would be holding their first quarter student forum meeting as stipulated by section 41 of the Constitution for Student Governance (CSG). The student forum is made of the SRC, heads of faculty houses, societies and house committee members of residence and day houses. The meeting will be held on 27 March at the Sanlam Auditorium from 17:30 to 20:00. The post stated that anyone who wishes to pose questions should submit them in writing to the SRC Secretary, Soraia Machado at least 48 hours before the meeting. According to section 41(e) of the CSG, the “questions posed to the SRC must be focused on a particular portfolio and must be directed at the SRC plan of action”. Perdeby asked the SRC for its plan of action several times since 5 March. At the time of going to print, none of these requests were answered. All questions should be submitted by 21 March at 17:00 to src.deputysecretary@tuks. co.za. The Forum is normally chaired by Chief Justice of the Constitutional Tribunal. However, this year’s meeting will be chaired by the Deputy-Chief, Rethabile Shabalala as Antonie Klopper will not be in the country on that day. Klopper said that it is “important that the Constitutional Tribunal make sure that the SRC answers the questions posed to them and not merely brush them off”. Klopper mentioned that as the CSG is being amended this year, he would like the Forum to make suggestions regarding possible amendments, making the amendment procedure even more democratic. He noted that the Forum must be aware of its powers to make recommendations to the SRC regarding their plan of action as well
as its power to identify and communicate shortcomings in the CSG to the Vice-Principal of Student Affairs and Residences, Prof. Themba Mosia, or the Director of Student Affairs, Dr Matete Madiba. “It is important to note that at this stage Student Forum is the only way for the greater student body to hold the SRC accountable throughout their term. I, therefore, stress the importance of having Student Forum not break down as it has done in the past. The Forum is the way in which to make your grievances known, without it there is no other way except at the end of the SRC’s term by way of elections,” said Klopper. The last student forum was held on 5 May 2016. However, the Forum soon collapsed due to disruptions and the then SRC were not able to present their quarterly report or host a question and answer session with the floor. As reported by Perdeby on 16 May 2016, the disruption originated from EFFSCUP members refusing to recognise the SRC. The 2015 SRC president, Mosibudi “Rassie” Rasethaba said, “We don’t recognise the SRC.” The crowd demanded that the then-Chief Justice of the Constitutional Tribunal, Mia Labuschagne, explain to them in what capacity Thabo Shingange, the acting president of the SRC, was to present the report. When Shingange took to the podium, he was met with chants and songs from EFFSC-UP and Sasco members. Then EFFSC-UP Chairperson, Amos “Amla” Monageng went to the podium and switched the microphone off. Labuschagne tried to restore order but interruptions continued and some students left. She tried to move the session onto discussing “matters of pressing concern to the student body and/or for the SRC”, but repeated chanting and arguing prevented her from doing so. Ultimately, the SRC, and representatives of the Tribunal left the meeting, effectively concluding the Forum. This was the only student forum meeting held in 2016.
Photo: Nirvana Govender
SRC assists NSFAS students with accommodation Refilwe Mofokeng
O
n 26 February, the SRC’s Deputy Secretary Kutlwano Mositi announced on the SRC Facebook page that after much discussion they had managed to secure 50 beds at Hatfield Studios for NSFAS students at a discounted price. Hatfield Studios has been accommodating TuksRes students since 2015. Mositi said that there was no criteria that was used for placement. All NSFAS students who had a reasonable outstanding amount after tuition fees qualified for this offer. With regards to why the amount was R1000 for 10 months, Kutlwano explained that this was the maximum amount students could afford. He said, “It all depended on how much the student had after their tuition fees were deducted. For example, the company made the following proposal, (R43 000 for the year, for a student who chooses to reside at Hatfield Studios and R36 000 for students who choose to reside at Studios@Burnett). So if students had those exact amounts or more, they wouldn’t need to pay the top up fee as required, but if the aid student had
less than the two amounts, that is where the top up figure would be determined from”. Mositi explained that he had been informed that students would need to pay for their own electricity, but that water was included in the overall amount. He added that all the agreements that they had concluded with the private accommodation stakeholders would be selfcatering. When asked why Hatfield Studios was chosen, Mositi said, “Myself and some colleagues have been negotiating with various private accommodation providers to ensure that more NSFAS students were offered [...] affordable quality places to stay. Studios agreed to our request already during the registration period in January. A week ago, myself, the SRC President, Kwena Moloto and SRC Residences, Heidi Davis concluded a deal with South Point, where students would only need to pay R1100 booking fee and the rest would be covered by NSFAS. This would include water, electricity, and the bus shuttle fee. Unfortunately, a deal could not be concluded with Mid City Properties and TMM Lofts”.
Image: Jolly Roger facebook page
Firearm discharged at a popular student bar
Images: Screengrabs from an eyewitness video
Ditebogo Tshaka
I
n the early hours of 9 March, a firearm is believed to have been discharged inside a popular bar, The Jolly Rodger, on Lynnwood Road. A video circulated on social media showing the outside of the establishment, when what sounds like a gunshot is heard. After the sound, shouts can be heard from The Jolly Rodger patrons, who then begin to run away from the entrance. “One of the security guys shot one shot, after knocking out two guys with [a baton]”, Ludwik van Wyk, an eyewitness to the incident, recalled. According to a bartender of the clubhouse, who wishes to remain anonymous, “there was [an] unfortunate incident of violence last night where unknown clients attacked a security guard.” Management of The Jolly Rodger confirmed
the incident to Perdeby. “Scuffles ensued between the security company appointed by T.J.R and the unsavoury elements, when these elements tried to force their way into T.J.R. At this time, management cleared T.J.R via the emergency escape route and the police were summoned immediately. All clients were evacuated within 3 minutes. Police arrived on site without delay” said T.J.R. management. . “T.J.R is very grateful that nobody was injured in the process. Once the premises were entirely closed off, the situation was discussed with the SAPS and handed over to them.” The bar’s management said that since the incident, they have met with and consulted with various stakeholders to ensure the necessary steps are taken to enhance security to the best of its abilities. At the time of going to print, the South African Police Services was unable to give more information on the incident.
12 March 2018 | Features
5
Land expropriation debate Katherine Atkinson
O
n Tuesday 27 February, the majority of South Africa’s Members of Parliament voted in favour of amending the Constitution to allow land expropriation without compensation. The vote came after the EFF presented Parliament with a draft amendment and argued for an ad-hoc review committee to be set up by the National Assembly to initiate the process. The EFF argued that section 25 of the Constitution has made it impossible for those dispossessed of their land during the apartheid era to get justice. The Constitutional Review Committee will now “review and amend section 25 of the Constitution to make it possible for the state to expropriate land in the public interest without compensation”. According to News24, the National Assembly has given the Review Committee until 30 August to report back on its work. News24 reports that it is unclear whether the ANC will transfer all land to the state after expropriation, but if they adopt the EFF’s policy then this would be the case. However, the ANC’s conference declaration says that they intend on expropriating land without destabilising the agricultural sector, without endangering food security and without undermining economic growth, therefore, it seems that the ANC might “focus on specific pieces of land that will be used for land reform projects” reports News24. Political dynamics and Section 25 Roland Henwood, a political scientist, commentator and lecturer in the Department of Political Sciences at the University of Pretoria, doesn’t believe these events show EFF influence over the ANC, rather it says more about parliamentary procedure and process than influence. Henwood points out that land redistribution was part of the ANC’s plan, as stated in their December conference. He also says that “[any] party can introduce a motion, that motion must be tabled, and if accepted, it is debated and then voted on and that’s what the EFF did”. Henwood notes that the “EFF can turn this issue [of land expropriation] into a very powerful position for themselves if they monopolise” it. Parties who voted against the Constitutional amendment, such as the DA and Freedom Front Plus, say that the expropriation of land without compensation would undermine property rights. The DA’s website says that it “is clear that it is not Section 25 that is standing in the way of land reform” but rather “the government’s implementation of what is provided in Section 25.” Henwood says that it must be deciphered whether this amendment is an “attack on the constitution and what the constitution represents” or if it is “an honest attempt to address a pressing issue”. Section 25 of the constitution states that no one “may be deprived of property except in terms of law of general application, and no law may permit arbitrary deprivation of property.” Property may only be expropriated for public purpose, such as building a road, or in the public interest, such as land reform. Expropriation is only approved if it is met with “just and equitable” compensation and the “time and manner of payment of which have either been agreed to by those affected or decided or approved by a court.” Section 25 continues to say that a person who has been “dispossessed of property after 19 June 1913 as a result of past racially discriminatory laws or practices” is entitled “to restitution of that property or to equitable redress”. What does the ANC mean by land expropriation? Henwood notes that thus far there is “no clarity on what land expropriation implies”. He says that the Ramaphosa presidency has been one of “continuous consultation and engagement” which is good. However, the ANC’s goal to expropriate land without impacting the economy does not seem possible and this is where confusion sets in. According to Henwood, Kgalema Motlanthe’s November 2017 report of the High Level Panel “provides a bit of a guideline from within the ANC” as to how they
will tackle expropriation. Henwood says that the report points out existing problems such as “inaptitude [sic] and lack of capacity in government,” the lack of reliable land ownership statistics, and corruption which allows elites to appropriate land. In the report, Motlanthe states that the ANC should apply the already-existing constitution and should learn from the 1936 Land Act and not implement it in a different manner. Motlanthe believes we should “start differently,” “act differently,” and “revamp a lot of legislation that underpins land use and ownership” as well as considering “what we plan to do with land in future,” says Henwood. The possible outcomes Theo Boshoff, Wandile Sihlobo and Sifiso Ntombela, researchers at the Agricultural Business Chamber (Agbiz), released a paper which debates four possible outcomes for land expropriation without compensation. The paper takes into consideration economic and legal variables and states that the first outcome is the self-help scenario which is legally and economically a bad option. Hypothetically speaking, this is when citizens would take matters into their own hands thereby disregarding legalities and misinterpreting political statements. This could result in the escalation of illegal land occupation and farm invasions. The paper says this would make the agricultural sector non-functional and unproductive, violate human rights, escalate unemployment, increase imports and lead to high levels of food insecurity. The next alternative is the gradual decline scenario which is a good option legally, but a bad option economically. This means that section 25 would be amended and there would be expropriation without compensation at government level. Although this would be mostly positive legally as it paves way for land reform, the legal negatives include that it requires a Constitutional amendment and the weakened protection of property. The paper says that “from an economic point of view the outcome is negative, as the reduced recognition of property rights leads to disinvestment and consequently a gradual decline in the agricultural, agro-processing and financial sectors”. The third scenario that the researchers predict is entitled the economic sustainability (business-as-usual) scenario which is a good option economically but a bad option legally. This would mean that the Constitution does not get amended and that the existing motion of expropriation is not used but rather the current methods of acquiring land for redistribution are continued “out of fear that a departure from these [methods] could adversely affect the economy”. The final scenario is the hybrid approach and is the best option economically and legally. This hypothetical scenario would use various mechanisms to “speed up the pace of land reform”. Mixed financial and AgriBEE models would be used to target farmland which is “unbonded, unused and uninhabited by the owner” and to transform this land into “productive farmland.” Using ‘vacant’ land therefore reduces economic impact and legally “it achieves increased access to land, thereby promoting the objectives of section 25 (5) whilst maintaining the rule of law and respecting fundamental rights”. Those who lose out economically would include affluent individuals and companies “who bought land for recreational purposes or as investments for future development.” Although land would be readily made for settlement, much investment would be required “to make the land usable and habitable”. The paper says that ownership of “productive agricultural farms” would be “transformed using AgriBEE transactions and public-private partnership funding models, thereby minimising the disruptive effect on production and investment confidence in the sector”. Should we be concerned that South Africa could become the next Zimbabwe?
Many are concerned that South Africa will follow the same economic trajectory as Zimbabwe. Henwood believes that this is a valid concern, saying that if “land expropriation process runs away, like it did in Zimbabwe, it is not going to only destroy the economy, it is going to cause conflict – serious conflict”. He notes that South Africa’s population is significantly larger than Zimbabwe’s. This poses a particular problem if there is no food production in South Africa and we need to depend on aid from the UN, like Zimbabwe. Henwood adds that for South Africa, it is a “totally different ball-game” as our “economic consequences” could massively impact the economy of the whole continent. Robin Blake, a part-time lecturer at the University of Pretoria’s Political Sciences Department, argues that Zimbabwe cannot be used as an adequate example as to why South Africa should not implement land reform. Blake says that “there are many myths and legends about land reform in Zimbabwe.” He says that although it “did go wrong, as a result of certain decisions that were taken” it would be “untrue” to say that the “land reform programme in Zimbabwe didn’t work.” Blake adds that the Zimbabwean government has statistically proven that following land reform “the agricultural production was on the increase and that the land situation was stabilising”. Henwood argues that you have to “look beyond the immediate issue of land” as the Zimbabwean land reform “destroyed the economy” and “made everyone poor except the elite who became very wealthy.” Lessons that South Africa can learn from the Zimbabwean land reform include having “a very careful, considered policy,” having “the required framework of policy and legislation” and having “the capacity in government to implement and execute” this policy, says Henwood. Land ownership and property rights Henwood says that it is not a question of whether the state should own land, rather, whether the state can “own land and use it effectively and productively” and what the “mode of ownership” will entail. Henwood believes that the countries who have radically redistributed land have all failed. He points to Zambia as a success story saying that ten years ago, Zambia couldn’t feed their own people, but is now suddenly a net exporter of food. Although government does not give private ownership to people they give security of tenure and have a 99-year lease. Henwood says that how you acquire land, how the process of redistribution is managed, support the people will get and who gets the right to use land are important, not necessarily ownership. Henwood says that the “issue of land in South Africa is an emotive issue because it is a symbol of everything that’s wrong with Apartheid”. He agrees that the dispossession of land caused poverty and stripped people of their dignity. Although land redistribution is a “symbolic way to demonstrate the return of dignity,” it does not necessarily ensure the return of dignity “in a real way,” says Henwood. He argues that some “people don’t see the importance of the symbolic issue of land and others don’t see the limits of land reform in a modern-day context”. Blake argues that people “must own land because it is part of their dignity” and “it is part of the solution” to “what happened in the past and we must fix it”. Blake believes that the “requirement to restitute land is not going to go away” and although “there is going to be pain” with regard to this restitution, we “must make sacrifices” should we be “interested in the long-term.” Karina Sevenhuysen, a history lecturer at the University of Pretoria, says that throughout history the group in power, whether white or black, have naturally sought to write the wrongs of the past. She says “[t]here is a difference between righting the wrongs and acting in a revengeful manner. Many people could see this as revenge if you look at this from an emotional and even political view. If land expropriation is viewed from a rational and economic-viable way it could be in the interest of all in South Africa.”
P
erdeby asked students around campus about their opinioins on the land expropriation issue:
Akira Modise (BA International Relations)
I am fifty-fifty. I am for it and against it, against it because government owns most of the land, and people are making it a race thing when it isn’t. People genuinely do need back their land, and we need less malls. We need people who need land, and they’re not going to compensate people, that’s not fair. If you look at the farms, some people are generational farmers, with the land handed down from their grandfathers, there’s this whole history behind it and now you’re not going to compensate them? That is very selfish, and what are we going to do with that land? We need to be careful, or we will go the same way as Zimbabwe. Farming provides most of our food, so what’s going to happen then?
Atlegang Nyakale (BEng Chemical Engineering)
It’s a complicated issue, you can’t just take something from people without compensating, especially if they are using it for the greater benefit. If it’s contributing to the economy, you can’t just take it. From my point of view, it would be given to people that would not know how to use it effectively. You don’t want to give something to someone if they won’t use it for any benefit. So, if they are using for agriculture, then they can be given that land, but if they aren’t going to use it, they should not get it.
Ozzie Abanno (BEng Mechanical Engineering)
First of all, do they have a criteria for giving this land away? Do they deserve to have the land taken away? There are african farmers that have already devoted their time to growing the land, they do deserve to be compensated in some amount. I do believe that it a major issue. You also can’t just take away someone’s land if it’s been with them for so long, that could be a source of livelihood. There is so much that relies on that land, you can’t just take it away from them, regardless of their actions. Some sort of compensation would be good.
Leigh Perumal (BCom Accounting Sciences) In concept, it is okay, but the fact that there is no compensation, it is as if they are fixing a bad thing with another bad thing. They are correcting an injustice with an injustice. I don’t think it is fair, but the principle is okay.
Sergio Pereira (BCom Accounting Sciences)
There are a lot of issues surrounding it because you have to try and rectify previous injustices but, my issue is that they don’t consider when the land was purchased. A lot of farms have been purchased after the ANC took over, and if you are taking away the land from those people then you can’t blame them for anything. Whereas the family that took the land many years ago, they should probably give it back. Another issue is that maybe they did something wrong, the people today didn’t do anything and now they could be losing their house. Then they have no means of acquiring a new one, because no compensation.
David De Sousa (BEng Mechanical Engineering) I don’t think it’s fair that they are going to give back the land without any compensation, because maybe the current owners bought the land from previous owners, and they won’t get any money for it now. Maybe there is heritage with that land and now you’re going to lose it and maybe your family has lived there for centuries, and now it’s no longer your land.
6
Mieliepop | 12 March 2018
Five minutes with Julia Robert Claudine Noppe
T Image Provided
African Rhythm ahead of Mieliepop Naomi-Lisa Kobbie
T
he diverse and always exciting, African Rhythm is heading to the Republic of Mieliepop Festival.
African Rhythm is not only a band but also has members who dance, choreograph and design clothing. How do you successfully blend these other two mediums with the band’s music? We have been friends for the past 15 years, we started as a dance crew and as time went by we realized the importance of looking different and that’s when the fashion part came in. When you have cool moves and looks good, you need music, and the music part came in. It’s easy to blend in the fashion and dance into our music because of our common desire to be creative and because of what inspires us. Your band is quite large and yet seems to function well with 11 members. How have you managed this? We come from a small township of Munsielle in Krugersdorp, we know each other very well and share [the] same ambitions. We have been staying together [in] the same house in Pretoria for the past two years and that has strengthened our friendship and commitment to make African Rhythm work. We are a family. How has moving to Pretoria from Krugersdorp affected the band’s music and creativity? When we moved from Krugersdorp to Pretoria we knew that we will grow as band and individually. We had to defy our parents and if you go against the wishes of your parents, you better make
it work. Now they have accepted and support our journey. Music is what we do full time and staying together in the same house has brought so much growth. The band recently had its first performance outside of Gauteng. What was that experience like? The experience was amazing. Thanks to our new Manager Molatelo Eric Thoka and ConcertsSA for sponsoring the whole tour. We didn’t knew how people will react to our music and it was a bit daunting, but music proved to be a universal language that goes against cultural and racial boundaries. You know you have done well when audience screams “We want more!” You’ve been together for about seven years. How has your music changed between now and when you first got together? When we first got together we used to do other musicians songs, but now the focus is on creating our own music. We now understand our sound and also acknowledge the fact that we are different and we don’t have to try be like any other musicians but ourselves. What are you most looking forward to at Mieliepop? It will be our first time performing in Mpumalanaga and we are excited that’s this will be at Mieliepop. We are looking forward to meeting new audience, other artists that will be performing and experiencing this amazing festival. What can fans expect from your performance at Mieliepop? We play real instruments and we play them well. Fans should look forward to a bunch of young people on stage with a soulful, youthful and unique sound. Different from the usual run of the mill rappers who dominate the music scene in South Africa.
he Republic of Mieliepop festival is around the corner and the Cape Town based band Julia Robert is ready to head to Lothair for the serene four day festival. Perdeby spent five minutes with the band to ask them the important questions, about Mieliepop, their future plans and of course Julia Roberts, because you cannot interview a band named Julia Robert without bringing up the Pretty Women star.
What are you most looking forward to at Mieliepop? Taking long hot showers (it’s been months) going on tour with our besties and of course, introducing the beautiful people of the north to Julia! You have played at a myriad of venues, which has been your favorite? It’d have to be where we played our first ever show. It was a Halloween party at a friend’s house on top of a hill. The crowd almost broke the floor in the living room during the performance, it was wild. On that night everyone fell in love with everyone, and it was as close to perfect as anything should get. What can festival goers expect from your Mieliepop performance? Glitter. Glam. Poorly applied makeup. Expertly applied sequins. Loud and fast AF music with girls on drums and boys on guitars. Do you have anything new and exciting in the pipeline? Heck yeah! Our first full length album is in the works. It’s coming out on mother trucking vinyl yo! What do you think Julia Roberts would say if she knew there was a band out there that was using her name? At first, after hearing about us, she’d say nothing. Instead, she’d take a long thoughtful drag of a cigarette and would briefly think about the best days of her youth while absentmindedly petting her King Charles Spaniel. Then, while exhaling a thick plume, she’d quietly say to her assistant, “Get Chicago on the phone. We need to deal with these punks.”
WEDNESDAY 21 MARCH BAR FLOOR
THURSDAY 22 MARCH MAIN STAGE
EACH DAY AT 11:00 AT
SESSIONS
MAIN STAGE
COOL IN THE POOL 11:00
Dsco Cam x Duard Musk
EACH DAY AT 11:00 AT
THE BAR STAGE
SESSIONS
12:30
David & Goliath
12:30
STEPHANE MARAIS
13:45
GREG GEORGIADES
14:00
Mvelo
13:45
SUN XA EXPERIMENT
DIE SEE
15:30
15:00
D&S
STRAIT JACKAL
15:45 16:15
11:00
BONGANI ZULU B2B KHATHU MUST
12:30
BRUCE LOKO
HALF SISTER
16:15
19:00
DJ LEGEND VS ZEF LEOPARD
21:00
NICK HAMMAN VS LIL BOW
23:00
MOEJOE VS DR KHUMALO
01:00
HALF 'N HALF VS RANDOM CITIZEN
14:00
GUY HERMAN
15:30
WESTON & ENGINE B2B KEREN ONAY
WILLOW TREE STAGE EACH DAY AT 11:00 AT
SESSIONS
BOXER
Zionruts Family
MAIN STAGE
COOL IN THE POOL
THE BAR STAGE
WERNER BEKKER
DJ BONGWATER VS ANDRE STANDERISH
SATURDAY 24 MARCH
WILLOW TREE STAGE
12:30
15:00 15:45
FRIDAY 23 MARCH
WILLOW TREE STAGE
17:00
15:45
LUMA
JAGERMEISTER BRASS KARTEL
COOL IN THE POOL 11:00
OG CHOCALATE
12:30
ALEX DALAIS
14:00
ANG
15:30
HEADPHASE X MIKI SAN
THE BAR STAGE
12:30
GUNSHOT BLUE
13:45
WOLFGANG MARROW
15:00
THE VALLEY
16:15
THE SHABS RAVE CAVE
17:00
GO BAREFOOT
18:15
DEON BAKKES & THE STOLEN HORSES
17:30
19:30
SOL GEMS
20:45
EASY FREAK
18:45
23:15
AFRICAN RHYTHM
18:15
NATIVE YOUNG
17:30
RAVE CAVE 18:00
BIG DADDY MUSIC
JONATHAN PEYPER ME_T
19:30
FEMI KOYA
20:45
THE MOTHS
APOCALYPSE LATER
21:15
RAYGUN ROYALE
22:30
MADE FOR BROADWAY
VAN PLETZEN FT EARLY B
20:00 21:00
LEEU
22:00
2LANI THE WARRIOR
23:30
INVIZABLE
METRO TICKET
22:00 23:15
MILK BAR KID
01:30
#SOZLOL
17:00
GEORGETOWN
18:15
KLOPJAG
RAVE CAVE MISSU
SUTHERLAND
RADIO 123
20:00
19:30
BOO!
20:45
CRIMSON HOUSE
DISCO
21:15
MOONCHILD SANELLY
21:00
HAEZER VS GEORGE DANIEL (HWR)
22:30
CORTINA WHIPLASH
22:30
CHEE.
DZ DEATHRAYS (AUS) HELLO BEAUTIFUL
BAR STAGE 00:00
MIKI SAN TZU 18:00
18:45 19:30
20:00
22:00
ALBERT MEINTJIES
17:00
22:00
BOMBSHELTER BEAST
23:15
BLACK CAT BONES
17:30
RAMBLING BONES
18:45
RUNAWAY NUNS
20:00
RETRO DIZZY
21:15
HELLCATS
22:30
JULIA ROBERT
BAR STAGE
01:00
00:00
KERRY ANNE
01:30
HELLS KITCHEN DJ SET
RICARDO PINTO
17:00
SOUND SENSIBLE
19:00
DOGSTARR
21:00
G-FORCE
23:00
TRANSMICSOUL
BAR STAGE 00:00
RAINMAN & RHEPULS
01:30
GEORGE DANIEL VS HAEZER (HWR)
WWW.MIELIEPOPFESTIVAL.CO.ZA
00:00
BOBBEJAAN DJ'S
00:30
ANDI DILL
01:30
SURPRISE GUEST
02:00
FABIO
7
12 March 2018 | Mieliepop
Five minutes with Femi Koya before Mieliepop Ricardo Teixeira
P
Image Provided: Jenna Photography
erdeby caught up with African Jazz musician Femi Koya before he heads to the Republic of Mieliepop Festival. How do you raise human rights awareness through your music? When my Afrobeat makes you shake your head and you tap your feet to my horns arrangements, your mind is receptive to the lyrics, the words and their power of projection. I guess making songs that plea to human rights to be respected is how I raise human right awareness. What are you currently working on? Currently, I have just finished my new album ”Village Afrobeat” due to be released on 16 April, looking forward to my national tour of the Village Afrobeat album to Cape Town, Durban, Nelspruit, and Gauteng. Mieliepop festival will be the first to experience the album. What performances do you have lined up for this year? Lagos Thursdays still once a month at the Orbit jazz Club, We
are starting Afrobeat night once a month at the African Beer Emporium soon. Festivals and gigs are looking good for this year, [but they are] still in talks wouldn’t want to mention before the festival announces. Hugh Masekela has been a huge influence on South African music, what influence has he had on you? Well the late Hugh Masekela did put me [in my place] about three years ago, we had a good chat and he bluntly made me see the light of the African sounds hidden in me after listening to my second album Iba. He told me which way to go and confirmed it when I shared the stage with him at the Bush Fire Festival in Swaziland last year and he nodded, that was it. I will pay one song tribute to him at the Republic of Mieliepop. You started out in West Africa, and have moved to South Africa, where do you plan on going next? I do not plan on moving anywhere else, except if the universe request [it] but I will be taking my music to Europe soon and from there to the other parts of the world. Music will determine where his messenger abodes.
How to become a citizen of the Republic of Mieliepop Savannah Plaskitt
I
f you plan on becoming a proud citizen of the Republic of Mieliepop later this month here are a few things you need to know so that the only reshuffles in your life are the dancing kind. Below are step by step instructions on how to set up your cabinet and survive the motions of no confidence in the Republic of Mieliepop. Step one: acquire your proof of residence. Unless you are booking into the Maizey Stray tent hotel you will need to bring your own tent. Your parents were right when they told you it’s best to eat your vegetables first. Drunken tent assembly is not recommended for those who do not wish to spend the night curled up on the grass. For the best camping experience be sure to also bring a sleeping bag, mattress, pillow, and other sleeping essentials. Step two: a well-deserved snack break. After a hard few hours of setting up your camp it is time to become one with your inner
Home Affairs officer and take a break. Bring out the camping chairs, or just lay out a blanket on the grass and enjoy some of the food you have packed. Sandwiches and salads are easy to assemble simple staples. No open fire braais are allowed in the camping area, so if you want to really embrace your inner South African a gas braai will have to do. Step three: make like a Minister and head down to the Saxonwold shebeen. Using a little more caution than some South African minister, take note of the following things in order to keep good times rolling. To enjoy Mieliepop without injury from the sun be sure to apply sunscreen or wear a hat. Comfortable shoes are a must, although sandals can be worn as the soft grass will be kind to your feet. It does get cool in the evenings so bring along some warmer clothes. Step four: Mpumalanga is not Cape town. Unlike our comrades in the South, Mieliepop is a festival with a lake. Make the best of this by bringing along any flotation devices you may own. Canoes are welcome, but if you prefer floating without the rowing bring
along a pool floatie. The more bright and creative the pool floatie the better, this is a Republic where colourful floating birds and inflated rainbows are celebrated. Step five: Don’t let the Guptas capture your State. Even in the best of places there can be the worst of people. Don’t carry around what you won’t need, and keep your extra cash and important documents locked away in your tent. Step six: A motion of cleanliness. After a long day of attending raves in caves and listening to jokes on boats make use of the hot shower facilities available to clean yourself off. Other announcements: Make sure to drink lots of water to stay hydrated and out of the medics tent. There is very sketchy signal in the campsite so if you need to phone home you will have to make a trek up the hill to do so. Don’t despair, the view will give you something to brag about. Bring a torch, don’t be the person who falls over three tents and a tree strump trying to get to the bathroom in the middle of the night. Two towels are better than one, this especially applies if you plan on lounging in the lake.
8
Features | 12 March 2018
The need for postgraduate funding
the international edge t THE University of Sydney
tives from the University of Sydney will Town to meet and chat with students n learning more about studying there and an help take your studies to new heights.
ay 2017 11:00 to17:30 - 17:00 arch 2016 TIME: 10:00 erence Centre, City Lodge ference Centre(Floor of the1)Southern Sun l, Lynnwood Bridge, c/o Lynnwood and erfront, 1 Lower Buitengracht, entry Roads, e Town CityLynnwood, Pretoria
nformation call Rutega Education Services Illustration: Marizanne Linde 0306 or mail: info@rutegaeducation.com
Mosa Mgabhi
P
d by Oxford and Cambridge, University of ostgraduate e oldest university in Australia and degrees among are progressively becoming the standard tigious. It is a comprehensive University and for excellence employers, y ranked in the top 50among Universities in the professional stralia it has received the top ranking for the as they can be organisations and colleagues vides to international students. indicative of superior ability. Postgrad.com,
a website concerned with providing a portal gaeducation.com or like students seeking information for different wn Under foron Africa" on Facebook postgraduate related courses across the
globe, points out that postgraduate education provides “professional credibility [and] develops important transferable skills”. Deputy Vice-Chancellor of Research and Internationalisation at the University of Cape Town, Professor Mamokgethi Phakeng, expressed in an article she wrote for Mail & Guardian, that for South Africa’s economy to grow, new businesses and professional sectors need to develop and become areas
in which “South Africans can apply their skills and engage in problem-solving that can have a global impact.” She insists that postgraduate studies have practical contributions to the growth of our economy and knowledge and that South Africa needs to be globally competitive and make its mark through research that seeks to address specific problems in technology, health, science, media, law, business and social welfare. The National Development Plan (NDP) acknowledges that South Africa has a shortage of good-quality engineers, doctors, prosecutors and curriculum advisors, while the National Research Foundation (NRF), as one of the main sources for postgraduate funding in the country, aligned some of its targets with those of the NDP, such as generating more than 5 000 doctoral graduates per annum with most of the doctorates being within Science, Engineering and Technology (SET) and over 25% of university enrolments should be postgraduate. However, postgraduate education is underresourced in South Africa, because financial assistance from the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) only provides funding for students to acquire their initial degree, leading to many students grappling to find scholarships and grants to fund them as they further their studies causing them flock towards funds such as the NRF, leading to great competition among postgraduate students. Postgraduate and Scholarship Manager at the University of Pretoria, Leanne van Zyl, says that “at Honours level there [are] limited funds and the important funds that students need to apply for are the NRF, Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) scholarships and a few others, however, for Masters and Doctoral level, the amount
of opportunities [do] increase; [although], research fields or the fields of study also plays a big role. There are certain fields that have limited funds compared to other fields that are funded from various stakeholders but all of the information can be found on the UP website”. She further goes on to say that funding has been cut by the government, because they are moving the funds away from postgraduate studies to other issues happening in the country and so “the NRF was cut by 30 million for the 2017 academic year [and] the scarce skills award has received no funding for the 2018 academic year.” Van Zyl, moreover, urges students to be proactive and constantly seek information on the university’s website under fees and funding, “from the day a student walks into UP, before they even arrive, as a prospective student, they need to start using the university’s website to view all funding opportunities.” Students need to be informed early so that they can begin working towards making sure that they meet the academic requirements to be eligible for funding as she says that “if they do not meet the academic criteria then they won’t be considered for funding at all.” She further went on to emphasize that “students need to realise that many of the funding opportunities open early in the year, like [The Mandela Rhodes Foundation] for which I am expecting an advert for next year’s intake at any moment, and it closes in April already. Many of the funding opportunities have quite a long selection process, hence closing it quite early in the preceding year.” Ultimately, she advises students to seek information and visit their offices in the Graduate Centre to find out more about the opportunities available to them.
A representative of these Universities will be visiting Pretoria on Saturday, 17 March 2018 to discuss study options with interested students. The one-on-one sessions will take place between 13:00 – 17:00 at the Conference Centre (Floor 1) of the City Lodge Hotel, Lynnwood Bridge, Pretoria.
Please contact the accredited agent: Rutega Education Services at 082 887 0306 or info@rutegaeducation.com for further information.
University of Sydney University of Queensland University of New South Wales (UNSW) University of Western Australia (UWA) Edith Cowan University (ECU)
U
12 March 2018 | Features
9
Listeriosis: what you should know
Illustration: Marizanne Linde
Katherine Atkinson
A
s of 2 March 2018, there have been almost 1000 cases of and 180 deaths caused by listeriosis in South Africa. The outbreak is believed to be the largest outbreak of listeriosis that the world has ever seen, and has created a considerable amount of concern in South Africa. On 4 March 2018, Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi announced that the source of the outbreak is identified to be “polony and products from an Enterprise Foods factory in Polokwane,” says TimesLIVE. Deli meats and foods which do not require heating or cooking are known to have previously caused outbreaks of listeriosis. The discovery of the source of the listeriosis outbreak is a considerable breakthrough in terms of controlling the disease. On 1 March, prior to the discovery of the source, Perdeby spoke to
Prof Lise Korsten, who is a full-time professor at the department of Microbiology and Plant Pathology at the University of Pretoria. Prof Korsten says that for “an effective national food control system,” South Africa must not only identify “the original source” of the listeriosis outbreak but also “implement effective product recall” and “put the required resources in place.” News24 say that Listeria has been traced to an “Enterprise facility in Germiston” and “a Rainbow chicken facility in the Free State.” According to News24, these manufacturers and facilities have been “issued safety recall notices” by the National Consumer Commission. The companies must now come up with a recall plan which is “sufficient to cover their entire distribution chain, and the facilities will also have to resource and pay for the implementation,” News24 reported. Prof Korsten believes that food safety is a “national priority for all” and unless
“all role players are included” and contribute to solutions, South Africa will “not be able to effectively address the problem.” According to the National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD), “listeriosis is a serious bacterial disease” caused by “the bacterium, listeria monocytogenes.” The listeria bacterium is “widely distributed in nature” and found in primarily soil and water. This means that the food products that we ingest such as fruits, vegetables, and animal products can become contaminated with the listeria bacterium. For those with weakened immune systems, such as people with HIV or diabetes, “listeriosis can lead to meningitis or septicaemia,” says the NICD. For pregnant women listeriosis can result in miscarriage. Although these groups are most seriously affected by listeriosis, South Africa’s Department of Health say that neonates and those between the ages 15 and 49 years are most frequently affected. In fact, the former makes up 37% and the latter 33% of reported listeriosis cases in South Africa to date. TimesLIVE says that “listeriosis symptoms develop any time between two and 30 days after eating food contaminated with the listeria pathogen.” These symptoms are similar to those of flu and include “fever, muscle aches, and sometimes nausea or diarrhea”, according to WebMD. If the disease spreads to the nervous system, symptoms such as “headache, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance”, and convulsions may develop. Prof Korsten says that the listeriosis “outbreak has a direct effect on the health and well-being of every citizen in this country.” This is because it affects South Africa’s “national health system” and negatively impacts “public trust in the food sector.” Prof Korsten continues by saying that food “safety assurance is a minimum requirement for any country and all people in South Africa expect [their] food to be safe.” Although government food-regulation systems are in place, Prof Korsten says there is a “growing informal unregulated sector that often operates below the radar and sells food products outside a traceable system.” These foods “do not comply with national [labelling] requirements and may
Combatting school violence
Illustration: Rhodeen Davies
Gemma Gatticchi
M
arjory Stoneman Douglas High School was the latest target in one of the most brutal school shootings the United States has seen. 19
year-old Nikolas Cruz entered the school armed with a semi-automatic rifle, gas mask, multiple magazines of ammunition and smoke grenades. He proceeded to shoot students and teachers in the hallway of the school. He has been charged with 17 counts of premeditated
murder, all just a week before his dismissal from the school for “disciplinary reasons”. South Africa faces its own problems with violence involving weapons at schools. This kind of violence might not take place on as grand a scale as the USA, but it is present and it remains a problem. The National Schools Violence Study (NSVS) undertaken by the Centre for Justice and Crime Prevention (CJCP) indicates that three in ten secondary learners know of a fellow learner who has brought a weapon to school. National Professional Teacher's Organisation of South Africa (Naptosa), executive director, Basil Manuel says, “Our children’s lives are peppered with violence, either in the homes or on the streets, as a nation, we have simply not dealt with our violent past and the impact of societal violence on our children.” Places like schools or churches are targeted because they are associated with a sense of belonging, to each other or to a group while the shooters probably felt out of place and alone. Psychologist, Dr Peter Langman says that school shooters often leave many signs; they talk about their plans with their friends and encourage them to join in. Roger Depue, veteran of the FBI, emphasised that some warning signs carry more weight than others. For instance, a fascination with, and possession of firearms, is more significant than simply being a loner, because possession of firearms gives one the capacity to carry out an attack. However, if a person simply possesses firearms and has no other warning signs, it is unlikely that he represents a significant risk of danger. It is only when multiple indicators is present that the risk
therefore contribute to our perceived unsafe food burden.” South Africa is “unable to provide an effective food control system” because there is a “lack of effective governance and control and a highly fragment[ed] food system”, says Prof Korsten. She expands by saying that the “scientific community” is “not actively engaging with industry and government and vice versa” and that South Africa has “inadequate resources, a lack of well-trained auditors/ inspectors, laboratory technicians, researchers and regulators”, all of which contribute to the ineffective food control system in the country. Prof Korsten speculates that “perhaps the most profound long term impact” of the listeriosis outbreak could be on South Africa’s “fresh produce export industry.” Prof Korsten says that South Africa’s export industry has “established a quality, safe, reliant supplier image on the highly competitive international markets.” She says that South Africa should therefore “show due diligence and establish preventative programmes” so that the country will never “have to experience such a devastating outbreak again.” According to TimesLive, Motsoaledi says that to reduce their risk of getting listeriosis, one can avoid all “ready-to-eat products such as viennas, polony and frankfurters.” South Africa’s Department of Health has described other measures which one can take to reduce their risk of being infected with listeriosis. The first is to “keep clean” by washing your hands and equipment before and after meal prep. This is because “dangerous microorganisms” can be carried on “hands, wiping cloths” and “especially cutting boards.” When preparing and storing raw and cooked food it must be kept separately and different utensils must be used. Thirdly, food must be cooked thoroughly and have reached a temperature of 70˚C to “ensure it is safe for consumption.” Storing food at safe temperatures, which is below 5 ˚C or above 60 ˚C, ensures that “the growth of microorganisms is slowed or stopped”, however some “dangerous microorganisms can still grow below 5 ˚C.” Finally, the document says to “use safe water” to rinse raw foods such as “fruits and vegetables, especially if eaten raw.”
becomes more serious. The case involving Cruz has sparked a worldwide debate over gun laws. In South Africa, gun ownership is not a right but a privilege governed by law which sets criteria for ownership. According to SAPS, the Firearms Control Act (FCA) has a twofold purpose; to establish a comprehensive and effective system of firearm control and management, and to ensure the effective monitoring and enforcement of legislation as it pertains to the control of firearms. Section 140 of South Africa’s Firearms Control Act gives the Minister of Police the power to declare spaces, such as schools, as Firearm Free Zones (FFZ). The penalties for breaching the specifications are that, if a person brings a gun or ammunition into an FFZ, he or she can be sent to prison for up to 10 years and if a person stores guns or ammunition in a FFZ, he or she can be sent to prison for up to 25 years. This being said, occurrences like that of a student from Mpumalanga who shot and killed a teacher in front of students in 2017, remains a norm and an underreported reality. Counselling Psychology Professor, Arnold Spokane says, what we need is more people looking, more people checking their instincts for what might be going wrong and then acting on those instincts to try to prevent them. However, the economics we are dealing with makes that a lot more difficult. Instead, we have fewer eyes on the classroom, fewer eyes on the school and neighbourhood. The CJCP highlights the need for combined efforts of school authorities, parents, community leaders and the government. It is necessary for these efforts to be located within a broader framework of an intensive social crime prevention strategy that addresses much of the violence that is beyond the reach of police and which occurs within the home environment.
10
Entertainment | 12 March 2018
Entertainment Bites Tumi Morake quits Jacaranda FM
On 9 March, Tumi Morake had her last official day on air. She co-hosted, with great success, the station’s breakfast show with Martin Bester for almost a year. Her performance career is taking off in a new and exciting direction as she plans to co-write a movie with her husband, Mpho Osei-Tutu, continue her TV presenting and further pursue stand-up comedy. Although she says the decision was difficult, it was necessary as her radio career requires too much time and energy to fit into these new plans.
Praise for SA’s The Colour Purple
Since opening a couple of weeks ago, the South African take on the famed Broadway musical, The Colour Purple, has received nothing but praise. American composers Brenda Russell, Allee Willis and Stephen Bray are some of the people that cannot stop raving about our local version, calling it “fantastic”. The composers have been longing for their musical to be staged in South Africa for quite some time, and they’re ecstatic about the result of applying South Africa’s vocal style and flare to their work.
Suzelle DIY star to be a mom
The social media star, Julia Anastasopoulos, known for her eccentric alter-egos Suzelle DIY and most recently Tali on Showmax’s Tali’s Wedding Diary is soon going to be a mother. She recently shared a picture on Instagram where she is cradling her protruding belly on Chapman’s Peak in Cape Town.
Image: Sally Hartzenberg
A voice for the oppressed: Remi Kanazi Dinah Ramonyai
R
emi Kanazi, a Palestinian-American poet, once said “We should be less concerned about hurting the feelings of the oppressors and more concerned about standing in solidarity with the oppressed.” Remi Kanazi is one of the many artists that stand for fighting alongside the Palestinian people in their war for justice. The poetic artist performed at this year’s Sounds of Resistance, an art festival featuring musical arts, writers and poets with the aim of spreading the message of #IAW2018 (Israeli Apartheid Week 2018), an international series of events that seeks to raise awareness of Israel’s settler-colonial project and apartheid system and stand in solidarity with Palestine in the fight against apartheid and injustice against its people. The concert featured some of the well-known voices in the movement like Benjamin Zephaniah. Being the son of Palestinian refugees who fled Palestine in search of a haven himself, the fight against oppression is close to home and his heart and the passion comes out in his work like the poem “Layover in Palestine”, found in his latest book.
His latest release of work, Before the next bomb drops: Rising up from Brooklyn to Palestine, has received many acclaims and praises for being strikingly honest and eye opening to the issues faced, the book brings to light the on-going struggle of the Palestinian people and touches on racism and the lives of scattered refugees across the world, away from their homes. Kanai doesn’t only focus on the conflict in the East but also covers the racism that is experienced in the United States where he was raised and all the laws created by the United States foreign policies and in what way these laws continue to cause and support Islamophobia and police brutality. The poet is on tour promoting his latest collection of rhymes and verses throughout the Middle East, Canada, Europe and the United States, a cause laid out to spread the word on the brutality and gruesome reality that Palestinian people continue to live under and call their reality. Many of the issues that are touched on are ones that South Africa can relate to and sympathise with, having scars of our own as a country, and so this week we celebrate a voice for the voiceless in our continued struggle for equality and justice all around the globe, for all races and backgrounds.
UB40 coming to SA The popular reggae trio is making South Africa a part of their 25th anniversary tour. Original band members Ali Campbell, Astro and Mickey Virtue are in the most successful UK reggae band ever, with tracks like “Red Red Wine” dominating the airwaves. They will be here in May and will be performing in Cape Town, Durban and Pretoria. Tickets are available at Big Concerts.
Raaiselkind now showing at cinemas This powerful South African movie brings Annelie Botes’ story Raaiselkind to life. A nine-year old autistic boy is found dead and his loving mother, Ingrid, is the police’s prime suspect. This haunting and intense emotional drama is now showing in cinemas country wide.
OppiKoppi to be held in August this year Fans of Oppi will be happy to hear that this year, OppiKoppi will be held in August once more. Goodbye muddy grounds, hello dustbowl our old friend. This however raises a new question. With Rocking the Daisies and OppiKoppi being held at different times, who will be head lining the festivals?
Queer Africa 2 nominated for an award The anthology of twenty-six short stories by local South African writers, including UP’s own Emma Paulet, has been announced as a finalist for the Lambda Literary Awards, in the LGBTQ anthology category. Compiled by: Carina Kloppers
Appreciate, don’t appropriate I Illustration: Sally Hartzenberg
Claudine Noppe
n 2018 achieving transformation is the main goal of most residence cultural events at the University of Pretoria. Many events, such as Rag weddings, are popping up with the theme of “African heritage” or “South African culture” to try and make it more inclusive. On 22 March Stuku will host the 2nd annual Expression and Nothing but Vernac. This year the event has the theme “Who are we if not African? My difference is my strength.” In order to help those attending to avoid cultural appropriation Perdeby has put together a guide on how to avoid cultural appropriation. What is cultural appropriation? The UK website The Week simply defines it as “when someone adopts something from a culture that is not their own.” But cultural appropriation is so much more than that. Cultural appropriation is a form of exploitation, because it usually happens that a majority take a cultural practice of a minority and either claims it as their own, does not give credit to the minority, or does not understand where the practice comes from and its significance to the people it belongs to. An example of this would be the recent Kardashian debacle where Kim Kardashian West sported cornrows and gave the credit to a white actress Bo Derek. In actual fact cornrows originated in Africa and the Caribbean and not with a white woman using them as a beach accessory. An example of how a piece of South African tradition
has been exploited and misunderstood is the tribal face paint from the Xhosa tribes. Time and time again there have been images posted of girls at festivals sporting the tribal face paint. Louis Vuitton’s designs for their 2017 men’s wear collection came under fire when they featured designs that were inspired by the prints of Basotho blankets. Some also included Indebele patterns. They were mostly worn by white models. This is an example of using culture for aesthetic, not out of respect. On the other hand, cultural appreciation is when you adopt a cultural practice in respect of that culture. For example, Black Panther very clearly showed cultural appreciation by ensuring their costumes and dynamics which were based on select AFrican cultural practices were well researched and portrayed. This was a clear celebration of the cultures. Angelina Jolie wore a hijab when she visited Pakaistan. As a woman in an Islamic country it is a sign of respect to wear a hijab. Appreciation of a culture is not wrong, but make sure you do research and appreciate it respectfully. Just because you appretiate a culture does not mean you are entitled to it. Some may find it difficult to differentiate between cultural appropriation and cultural Scanned appreciation.by An CamScanner easy way to identify if you are appropriating or appreciating is to simply ask if you are reducing this culturally significant thing into a fashion statement. If after that you are still not sure, the solution is simple: err on the side of caution.
11
12 March 2018 | Entertainment
The difference between blockbusters and Oscar winners Ricardo Teixeira
T
Image Provided
Image Provided
Hanneke Schutte: Writer and Director of Meerkat Maantuig Claudine Noppe
T
he Afrikaans film Meerkat Maantuig is set to be released on the Friday 16 March in cinemas country wide. Meerkat Maantuig was adapted from the youth novel Blinde Sambok by Riana Scheepers and tells the story of a 13 year old girl who thoroughly believes that her family is cursed. Perdeby caught up with UP Ulumna, director and screen-writer of Meerkat Maantuig, Hanneke Schutte. The film was screened at both the Silwerskerm Fees and the Austin Film Festival in America and received rave reviews at both screenings. What was you first reaction to seeing the amazing response? It’s been heartwarming to see people’s reactions to the film. In Austin, Texas a lady gave me a note after the first screening telling me how much the film meant to her and thanking me for writing it. I’ve been bombarded with messages from strangers telling me how the film has affected them on a personal level. I’ve also just received a message from a lady who saw the film at the premiere with her teenage son and she said he told her it was the most beautiful film he has ever seen. That coming from a teenage boy. So the film seems to be resonating with young and old and even people overseas who have to read the subtitles. I’m truly
surprised and thankful for the amazing response we’ve been getting. What can South African audiences expect from your film? It’s a magical and inspiring story that will take you on a journey through the misty forests of Magoebaskloof and help you to relive the beauty and innocence of your childhood. It’s also a movie about the limiting stories we tell ourselves and it will help you to face all those fears that keep you from achieving great things. Many have compared Meerkat Maantuig to the likes of Moonrise Kingdom and The Secret Garden. Did these films serve as inspiration for Meerkat Maantuig, or did you find inspiration elsewhere? Those are some of my favourite movies, so I’m sure on some level they did inspire the film. I love whimsy and magical realism and I wanted to create something beautiful and uplifting, but also a bit spooky, mysterious and strange. I loved packing details into the film, things that I did growing up. I wasn’t inspired by one specific film but I knew from the start I wanted to create a dark fairytale that will leave you thinking about the film long after it’s done. You wrote and directed Meerkat Maantuig. Do you enjoy the writing or directing aspect of film making more? I’m a bit of an introvert and I love hanging at home
with my dogs, so the writing process comes more naturally. But it’s such a privilege to get to set and work with a group of incredibly talented people who inspired me on a daily basis. Each cast and crew member brought something special to the project and shooting the film in the Magoebaskloof forests was a huge adventure. As a female screen-writer and director, what are your views on the lack of female directors nominated at the Oscars? I think the more we draw attention to the issue the more it will improve. The Me Too campaign has shown us that if we make our voices heard and shine a light on an issue great things can be achieved. What can we, as South Africans, in the film industry do to increase female representation in the industry? I think it’s our responsibility to help, mentor and uplift wherever we can. I had a female first assistant director, a female on-set editor, a female composer and a female sound designer. It was important to me to work with females, not just because they’re female, but because I knew that their sensitivity, intuition and worldview would inform the project. What other projects can we look forward to seeing from you in the near future? I’m busy writing my next screenplay called Die Gedig ( The Poem) and I’m about to finish a crappy first draft. Writing doesn’t seem to get any easier.
TURN LEARNINGS INTO EARNINGS
JSE Investment Challenge Play the market and test your trading skills as you manage a virtual portfolio of R1million. Register your team and stand a chance to win R25 000 plus an all-expenses paid trip to an international stock exchange. There are also monthly prizes to the value of R3 000 up for grabs. https://university.jse.co.za Johannesburg Stock Exchange E+I 3724
he 90th annual Academy Awards took place on Sunday 4 March, as directors, actors, and technical crew members were awarded one of the highest prizes in the film industry, the Oscar. This year, Guillermo del Toro’s The Shape of Water earned him the Oscar for Best Picture, and Best Director, while Gary Oldman was awarded Best Actor for Darkest Hour and Frances McDormand was award Best Actress for Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri.These films may have been critical successes, but they are not top grossing blockbusters. The box office top performers over the past eight weeks have been Black Panther, Fifty Shades Freed, Maze Runner 3, and Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle. While these films are box office successes and entertaining, they were not nominated for Oscars or Golden Globes. The truth is films like these are unlikely be nominated for Academy Awards. It wasn’t always this way, in the 1960s, 70s and 80s, most Oscar winning films did well in the box office, bringing in large profits. However, during the 1990s, the gross profits of Oscar winners began to decline. Since 1990, only four blockbuster films have won the Oscar for best picture. The reason for this decline is mainly due to the behaviour of Hollywood, and the public reception of films. Lately, the Academy awards have favoured films for their artistic value, script writing, technical innovations, camera work and the emotional performances of actors. Acording to an article by Quartz the reason for this decline is mainly due to the behaviour of Hollywood. Lately, the Academy awards have favoured films for their artistic value, script writing, technical innovations, originality, camera work and the emotional performances of actors. Most Blockbuster films lack these, as Hollywood has stopped making films as a form of art, and has churned out remakes, sequels and films that only offer momentary entertainment. This is also responsible for the growing number of action films, slap stick comedies and multiple horror movie franchises. Films like Fast and Furious, Insidious, and the numerous Adam Sandler films. While films like these bring in millions in the box office, they are often not well received with critics, who often give them bad reviews. An example of this would be The Fate of the Furious which earned a whopping 250 million US Dollars in the box office but got an average 66% rating on Roten Tomatoes. Oscar winners are also not widely screened, and are normally released late in the year, closer to the Oscar selection period. However, in the case of films like Black Panther, a film that was both well received by critics and topped the box office, they are still not likely to be nominated for any Academy Awards. Although it may be a culturally important and ground-breaking film, one major aspect stands in its way. It is a superhero blockbuster film. The only superhero film to be nominated for an Oscar was Christopher Nolan’s The Dark Knight, which did receive a win, with Heath Ledger being posthumously awarded Best Supporting actor, and Richard King winning for Best Sound Editing. It did, however, not receive a nomination for Best Picture. Ultimately, films that take part in the Oscars are made for a different reason than most box office successes. It is a case of artistic expression versus entertainment and profit.
Sport Perdeby
Liquid Telecom Athletix Grand Prix Series in full speed Keegan Sullivan
O
n 8 March, the TuksAthletics Stadium hosted some of the finest international athletes at the second meeting. Athletes from nine different countries took to the track and field in search of glory with fans licking their lips at the rare chance to see some of the world’s best athletes. Athletic heavyweights Justin Gatlin (USA), Nicholas Bett (Kenya), George Manangoi (Kenya), Isaac Makwala (Botswana) and Joshua Cheptegei (Uganda) aimed to showcase their talents on South African shores. Competing alongside these world superstars were numerous Tuks athletes as well as athletes from various other athletics clubs and universities. Many of the big name athletes competing were hoping to use this event as part of their preparation for the commonwealth games due to take part in Gold Coast, Australia. This was the case with Tuks athlete Wenda Nel as she cruised to victory in the 400m hurdles with a time of 0:55.31. However, it was Zeney
Van Der Walt who placed second who had everyone talking. The 17 year-old Afrikaanse Hoër Meisieskool athlete posted an impressive time of 0:56.29 with many feeling they were witnessing the birth of South Africa’s next track superstar. Perhaps the biggest cheer of the night was reserved for South Africa’s Olympic gold medalist Caster Semenya as the 27-year-old shattered the South African 1000m record with a sublime time of 2:35:44, beating Ilze Wicksell’s record which stood for 35 years by almost two seconds. South Africans will hope this is a precursor of what is to come with Semenya due to compete in the 1500m and 800m events at the Commonwealth Games. South African 100m record holder and Tuks athlete Akani Simbine breezed to gold in his first race of the season with a time of 10:05. The same can be said about Simbine’s compatriot, Anaso Jobodwana. Jobodwana took part in the evening’s curtain closer which was the 150m men’s event. This included a star-studded field with the most notable name
on the roster being Justin Gatlin who remains the eighth fastest man to ever complete the 100m. This did not stop Jobodwana from claiming gold on the night with a time of 15:10. Other notable track performance on the night included Botswana’s Olympian Isaac Makwala’s, with a recorded time of 31.77. Fellow Olympian Joshua Cheptegei cleaned up the competition in the men’s 3000m. The Ugandan finished at a time of 07:49.48, claiming gold. Kenya’s George Manangoi also claimed gold in the 800m’s with a time of 1:47.20. The highlights of the field events saw Ruswahl Samaai, a commonwealth games bronze medalist, claim first place in the men’s long jump ahead of a star-studded line-up which included heavyweights such as Godfrey Mokoena with a distance of 8.24 meters. The men’s discus saw Tuks athlete Patrick Duvenhage claim victory with a distance of 53.79 meters. The women’s javelin was claimed by impressive young athlete Jo-Ane van Dyk with a distance of 54.82 meters.
South African cricket: a look through history Ntokozo Zondo
S
outh African cricket has a compelling and long history. This history can be divided into three eras; pre-apartheid era, apartheid era and post-apartheid era. South African cricket has always been shadowed by racial lines, the earliest instance being Armien “Krom” Hendricks, a coloured cricketer during the 1890s who was prohibited from playing on the national and international team. Hendricks came into prominence during the Malay XVIII against the touring MCC side led by Walter Read at Newlands on March 22 and 23. According to ESPN, “The game in which Hendricks first came to prominence in 1892 was the only time a touring side played a non-white team until the end of the apartheid era.” South Africa’s provinces were asked to send nominations for the 1894 tour of England, and Hendricks was included in the Transvaal and Western Province selections. However, William Milton, the second test series captain at the time, thought that it would be improper to have him represent the team internationally. While a compromise was reached to allow Hendricks to accompany the team in the official capacity as a bag master, the idea was dismissed by Hendricks who told Cape Times, ”I would not think of going in that capacity.” The National Party coming into power in 1948 marking the
start of apartheid which resulted in mounting international pressure to boycott South African sport. South Africa’s 1969/1970 Australian tour was the country’s last official international contact. South African cricket was boycotted in 1970. On 17 March 1973, a non-racial sports organisation within South Africa established the South African Council of Sport (SACOS). This council was formed with the mantra “no normal sport in an abnormal society”. While non-white cricket suffered in South Africa during the 1970s and 1980s, white cricket authorities broke the boycott by organising seven rebel tours featuring teams from Australia, England, Sri Lanka and West Indies at the height of the apartheid regime. According to Prof. Goolam Vahed, the tours were funded by white-owned businesses and orchestrated by Ali Bacher, a former South African test cricketer and an administrator of the United Cricket Board of South Africa. South Africa resumed international cricket in 1991 with a Goodwill Tour of India. The International Cricket Council (ICC) recognized the united cricket body of South Africa (UCB) on 10 July 1991. India’s support was crucial. The support of the white members Britain, Australia and New Zealand was secured and South Africa needed the backing of at least one Black member, and that was India as both Pakistan and the West Indies opposed a speedy South African re-entry. Makhaya Ntini became the first Black cricketer to play for
Catching up with TuksTennis
Illustration: Sally Hartzenberg
Ntokozo Zondo
T
uksTennis recently hosted their student tennis championships at the TuksTennis Courts. Perdeby sat down with Kyla Yelverton, the TuksTennis chairperson, to find out more about the tournament and the team’s plans and aspirations. Yelverton described the championships as a “full on tennis tournament with proper draws and seedings in which all players who wish to be a part of the student team enter.” Yelverton added that the championships help assist the club in ordering players according to rank and ability. What objectives do the club have for the upcoming tennis
season? Last year we came very close to winning USSA by losing 7.6 to Kovsies in the final. This year we are out for gold and not silver. As a club we aim [to win] the Sun City Intervarsity challenge coming up in April, the USSA Tennis tournament coming up in July, as well as excelling and going for gold in our Gauteng North Leagues. As a club we are very dedicated [to] bringing home gold and first place in all aspects and competitions we compete in [this year]. We began training early in January this year as we knew that if we were to produce a high performing team, all players need to be fit and on form for the upcoming tournaments. What are you looking forward to this season? […]All the competitions that TuksTennis competes in […]: Sun City InterVarsity, Gauteng North Mixed League, Gauteng North Men’s Winter League, the USSA Tennis tournament, Gauteng North Ladies and Men’s Summer League, our […] greatest goal of the year is to win the USSA Tennis tournament. This is something all team players put extra training in for and has been a tournament we have been wanting to win for the last 5 years but have just missed it every time. This is the highlight of our season and it is the tournament we work hardest and prepare the most for. Which events are the club currently preparing for and how is training going so far? The Sun City Intervarsity is our first varsity competition coming up on 13 and 16 April. In this tournament, only the first team competes which includes the top six men and top six ladies at TuksTennis. With regards to preparation for this tournament, all players are required to train at least three times a week in order to ensure that they are staying fit and on form. With busy academic schedules, we offer quite a number of different sessions for our players to attend so that they are not restricted to one session, this being thanks to the assistance and leadership of Coach Kobus Botha, and Helga Jeske. Does the team have any special routines they follow before a
Image: Sally Hartzenberg
South Africa in 1998. The proteas now include a variety of ethnicities and religions as the team gives chances to players of other nations in their international side, especially cricketers from Pakistan and India. In a match between Australia and South Africa in 2016 at Providence Stadium, Guyana, the Proteas played with five Muslim players for the first time in the history of South African cricket. These players included Hashim Amla, Farhaan Behardien, Imran Tahir, Tabraiz Shamsi and Wayne Parnell. tournament? Closer to the time, the team will have to attend a training camp which consists of training together for the five days leading up to the tournament, which gives the team the opportunity to practice team dynamics and begin building team spirit for the tournament. These training camps also usually help the first year players get into the groove of things and get to know the team dynamic better before the tournament. The Sun City Intervarsity challenge is also a tournament we as a team have always come close to winning, bringing home a number of second places, this year however our focus is on winning and we have never been this focused before. What would you tell students who are considering joining the club but are unsure about following through? TuksTennis is a wonderful club full of a bunch of friendly people who all come from different academic backgrounds, different cultures and different provinces perhaps, but one will always feel welcome here. If you are a serious and [a] very competitive player, you will thrive here as TuksTennis offers the facilities and the coaching to build on your tennis and make you even better physically and mentally. If you are a social player, you are just as welcome here as we have social evenings specifically for our social players so that they can also enjoy the sport without the competitive nature of it. What advice would you offer to women in this male dominated industry? As a female walking on the court to play, your mindset has to be just as dominant as a [man’s], you have to show just as much capability, durability and strength, which is very possible. A female should never feel less important in tennis, as it is completely up to you as to how good you will be and what mark you will leave. Serena Williams, one of the greats is a perfect example of this, she has never given up and never showed weakness in her career and she is now one of the greatest not only sportswoman, but sports players of all time. In any sport, a woman ultimately has to work harder to be noticed, but this should be motivation and not a hurdle on the way to greatness.
30 000 people read the print version of
Perdeby To advertise email carel.willemse@up.ac.za
visit www.perdeby.co.za for ad rates