12 October 2020 Issue 14 Year 82

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454 Hilda Street, Hatfield

Tel: 012 362 7180

454 Hilda Street, Hatfield

Tel: 012 362 7180

PDBY

12 October2020

Year 82 | Issue 14

yourcampusnews.

SRC Elections: 2020 Meet your candidates Illustration: Giovanna Janos

2 | From the Editor

12 October 2020

Why all the noise about SRC elections?

t is October and that means a couple of things. One: the jacarandas are blooming and I miss campus more than ever. Two: exams are approaching, assignments are due, and my sanity is slowing slipping. Three: Halloween is coming and I don’t need sanity for that. And four: it is election season. You will notice the SRC election supplement in this edition of PDBY. This is a yearly supplement we include in an edition so that you can meet your candidates and get to know the people you will be voting for in a few weeks. Unfortunately, this is a digital version of a usually printed supplement that is ends up scattered in every lecture hall, until everyone is sick to death of seeing SRC candidates’ faces everywhere. While we seem to be bombarded with their campaigns on campus, and wish the voting would finally begin, I think those posters and manifestos serve an important purpose. We need to know what candidates intend on doing, how they hope to achieve this, and what purpose they serve to the larger student body. An SRC member should never be only a figurehead, or a name on a website. They should be active students who can make real differences for the student body, and be the voice students need to reach the university executive and higher-ups. So many students I speak to don’t give any attention to the SRC and are not interested in their actions – even when the SRC is promising things that would affect many students. We can’t be apathetic to the SRC, because they become some random people in fancy blazers, and what would the point be of that? The SRC receives a very large budget, has

extensive support from the DSA and UP, and is in a position of power on campus – this should make all of us take note and ask what the SRC can do for each of us as students. I think the danger for lack of accountability, transparency and failure of duties comes about when we are apathetic, and don’t hold the SRC to their promises and responsibilities as a collective. So this year, where it’s much easier to avoid SRC campaigning and dodge the influx of posters, we should actively seek this information out. It is exceptionally important to know what candidates are promising, what they aim to achieve, and what they identify as important to students. You may think the SRC has no influence on your life – but this is a problem in itself. The SRC’s actions should have material consequences, or they’re acting on the wrong things. And they can only act on the right things if we know what they intend to do with their respective portfolios, and share our opinions on these goals. This will empower us during their actual term, so that we, as the students they represent, can call them to task if or when they don’t deliver. We should be sick of seeing the SRC everywhere, because

Copy: Ropafadzo Chidemo CJ Barnard Ume Dikio Takunda Marecha Nomzamo Xolly Maluleka Layout: Kelly Anne Kong Kam Wa Duane Kitching Kara Olivier Ngoako Ramokgopa Kirsten Minaar Multimedia: Vice Mkansi Promise Zulu Cletus Mulaudi Madhuri Rambaran Sanele Zulu Cassandra Eardely Marchall Potgieter Adorn Ndlovu Elma Akob

it means they are doing their jobs and engaging actively with students and student related affairs. So before elections at the end of October, seek out the SRC candidates. Engage with their promises and campaigns, attend the Zoom manifesto sessions, peruse the ClickUP module, and know what to hold the new portfolios to next year. Don’t let your SRC be an idea that seems distant and irrelevant; be involved and ensure you shape an SRC that serves you as a student, and represents you to the university.

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12 October 2020

EMS Faculty unpacks the Clicks SRC Tresemmé advertisement election Susanna Anbu

n 30 September, the Economic Management Sciences (EMS) Faculty held a webinar - titled “At Crossroads: Reimaging Management Sciences and Inclusivity” - that sought to contextualise and reflect on the aftermath of the controversial Clicks TreSemmé advert that made national headlines for its racist depiction of African hair as “damaged and dry”. The webinar coalesced the broader implications of such an advertisement in the corporate field and raised several questions on the true level of diversity therein. The panel discussion was participated by Professor Alewyn Nel (Head of the Department of Human Resource Management), Doctor Tinashe Ndoro (Senior Lecturer in the Department of Marketing Management), and Dr Olebogeng Selebi (Lecturer in the Department of Business Management). Following the welcome address given by Professor Elsabé Loots - Dean of the Faculty of Economic Management Sciences - Professor Stella Nkomo introduced the topic of discussion by contextualising the pattern of racist depictions through history. Prof. Nkomo alluded to the incident of Sarah Baartman, a South African Khoikhoi woman who was displayed as part of a freak show across European countries in the late 16th century. Bringing it to the 21st century, Prof Nkomo cited local and international incidents – such as the 2016 incident at Pretoria Girls High school that encouraged black girls to straighten their hair with chemicals, the 2017 Dove advertisement incident that depicted a black woman turning white upon the use of Dove soap, and the 2018 debacle that Swedish multinational clothing company H&M found themselves in after depicting a black toddler in an animal themed hoodie as “the coolest monkey in the jungle”. Prof. Nkomo asserts that all these incidents illustrate the tragedy that we do little to no learning from them, with the absence of any tangible change following these incidents with the broader implications of the recent Clicks Advertisement positioning “a white woman as the

universal standard of beauty”. Prof. Nkomo cited that ads like these become societal markers of systemic racism, and the existence of a dominant hierarchy that perpetuates this. In addressing the aftermath, she notes that “apartheid fatigue” and happy-talk that sees to do damage control towards the issue, thwart efforts to address systemic racism. Prof. Nkomo ended her introduction by raising several questions pertaining to how much power individuals of colour have in the decision making processes of a corporation and whether there is adequate representation of these communities at the table where crucial decisions are made. Professor Nasima Carrim, Associate Professor: Department of Human Resource Management, facilitated the panel discussion that began by addressing how such an advertisement could be conceived. Dr Selebi asserted that the concept of racism is “not a white or black problem”, but that the mentality to herald white beauty standards are ingrained within black and brown communities. Dr Ndoro reiterated this sentiment by ascertaining that a consciousness of diverse audiences can only be garnered through diverse representation in the boardroom, citing that “if a marketing team is diverse […] different viewpoints can be seen”. This lack of diversity thwarts the marketing team from understanding how consumers will perceive advertisements. Dr Ndoro asserts that the use of two different racial groups to illustrate the comparison on hair evoked the negative emotions witnessed in its aftermath, and “through diverse marketing teams who understand the environment”, this can be thwarted before racist ads make their way to the public sphere. Prof. Carrim drew the panellists’ attention to the status of employees who work for companies that have faced reputational damage. Prof. Nel ascertained that an employee is associated with the values that a company exudes, stating that “you can have all the policies [of inclusivity], but the actions speak louder than words”. Prof. Nel asserted that the negative repercussions that the company faced, will transcend to the internal environment of the company, affecting the

BEd students begin final year teaching practicals Nokwanda Kubheka

ue to the national lockdown aimed at curbing COVID-19 infection rates, final year Bachelor of Education students at UP had their normal student teaching practicals postponed indefinitely. During this time, they had to record themselves teaching and submit videos for assessment. The normal procedure includes final year students being given the opportunity to teach in schools around Pretoria and having their teaching skills assessed. With the president’s announcement of the country’s move to alert level one, final year education students have

been given the opportunity to have their teaching skills evaluated while teaching at schools in Pretoria. The practicals will be from 5 October to 27 November. PDBY reached out to some students about their stance on beginning their teaching career during a pandemic. A 4th year BEd Intermediate Phase student expressed that her main goal is to finish her degree on time and she believes that - since the government has permitted all students to return to schools - nothing should stop them from doing the same. She says that her own health is in her hands and that she will make sure to wash her hands regularly, wear a face mask and use hand sanitiser. She also

sphere of the employees. He reiterated that the socioeconomic status of the employees generates a sentiment that solely promotes the pursuit of a livelihood which “is not conducive in the long term”, as “you want to belong to a company, but lose yourself in a company”. In brainstorming ways to bypass the occurrences of racist ads, Prof. Nel noted that if a leader of a company embodies qualities of inclusivity, this will transcend to the different branches of the company. Dr Selebi asserted that business should look at the macrocosm of the implications of their decisions and understand that a loss of reputation will have negative impacts on profitability. She mentions that companies should not look at employing inclusivity as a laborious process, but undertake it with the broader implications it will instil. Dr Selebi reiterated that “inclusivity is an asset for an organisation” and that businesses “should capitalise on this diversity” and perceive it as “something that unites and not separates us”. Prof. Nkomo concluded the webinar through key take-home points such as the question of representation, beyond the numbers that are represented, asserting that the representation of black women in the decision making process related to the Clicks advertisement would not have allowed the advert to enter public domain. She called for marketing teams to be more aware of their environments, “putting your ear to the ground [...] and try to understand the tensions surrounding race and difference”. Prof. Nkomo also drew attention to practical research that marketers have to undertake to understand the social setups of the consumers they cater to, and also reiterated the impact on the diversity climate of the internal employee sphere that such events have. Prof. Nkomo cited a question that was raised by Prof. Kupe during the course of the panel discussion on creating new institutional cultures for diversity to become meaningful and be more than just a surface phenomenon by imploring business to continue this dialogue with depth in their respective work environments.

Welcome student teachers!

Image: Giovanna Janos

believes that teaching physically will be more productive and will help students like her to be more confident and familiar with the challenges teachers encounter on a daily basis.

UP Benefits from US Embassy Nokwanda Kubheka

n 29 September, The United States Embassy, University of Pretoria, and Rutgers University-Newark, officially launched a R8,3m grant that is aimed at strengthening the United States-South Africa Higher Education Network (US-SA HEN). The launch was held online on the Zoom and was attended by Vice Chancellor, Professor Tawana Kupe, United States Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs, Tibor Nagy, Chancellor of Rutgers University-Newark, Professor Nancy Cantor, Deputy Vice-Chancellor

of the University of Venda, Professor Jan Crafford, and Deputy Minister of Science and Innovation Buti Manamela among others. The project is funded by the United States Embassy and prioritises the promotion of US-SA faculty and student exchanges, the acceleration of joint research in agriculture, food security, science and technology, engineering, mathematics, the provision of training and transfer skills in university administration through subject matter exchange programmes, and the exploration of public-private property focused on commercialisation, technology transfer as well as job creation.

Through this grant, the US-SA HEN will connect with other institutions of higher education to increase the number of staff and student exchanges between the United States and South Africa. The grant also makes way for new joint research agendas and will make it possible for the network to continue to support partnerships with public, private, and non-profit sector institutions in both the United States and South Africa. It will also implement new collaborative research agendas and enable the network to continue to leverage partnerships with public, private, and non-profit sector institutions in both countries.

News | 3

procedure

Image: Giovanna Janos

Kayla Thomas

RC elections are running online this year, with the campaign and election procedure occurring predominantly on the new ClickUP module: ‘SRC Elections 2020’. Voting will take place from 26 October to 29 October, on e-voting platforms. The new module contains an uploaded step-bystep guide, which can be found under ‘Navigation Guide’, as well as the election schedule and links to the Constitution for Student Governance, and FAQs for elections. The ClickUP module allows students to “receive all the relevant [...] election notifications” and updates as the election season progresses from nominations to final candidates. The nomination process and provisional candidate period has concluded, and the list of final candidates can be found on the module, on the SRC website and social media platforms, and in the election supplement to this edition of PDBY. Campaigns and election manifestos will be presented on live Zoom presentations, which are scheduled from 12 to 23 October, every weekday at 16:30. Each portfolio’s candidates will engage with “pertinent issues affecting students”, and issues pertaining to their respective portfolios. Voting will take place from 26 to 29 October, and the provisional election results will be announced for objections to be raised where applicable. Queries related to the election season can be sent to electionssrc@gmail.com.

PDBY x The Inklings: Student writing and art collaboration Kayla Thomas

DBY is working on a collaboration with the UP literary society, The Inklings. The collaborative response to 2020 will be published as a collective of student writing and artwork, submitted by UP students. The student collaboration is centred around two themes, namely: ‘Protest and Human Rights’, and ‘Loss and Growth’. Accepted formats for submission are poetry, journalistic articles, opinion pieces, short stories, dramatic scripts, letters, photography, drawings and paintings. The details for submission and guidelines for written and visual work can be found on the social media platforms of PDBY at @pdbymedia, and The Inklings at @theinklingstuks. Submissions to ‘Protest and Human Rights’ can be sent to editor@pdby.co.za, and submissions to ‘Loss and Growth’ to thinklings.tuks@gmail. com. Contact PDBY or The Inklings for more information, and follow @pdbymedia and @theinklingstuks for updates on the collaboration.

4 | News

12 October 2020

PDBY follows up on 2020 SRC goals:

Questions to the President: David Kabwa

What has been the status of fee engagements as of date? As per the meeting minutes that have been uploaded onto the website, that end for 5 August, there was not a mention of that as a point of discussion, hence we wanted to get an understanding of what the current status of this engagement with management was?

In a prior engagement between the SRC and PDBY, the SRC mentioned that “should the POA be updated, students can find it posted on the SRC website during the third quarter”. What is the current status of this now, as we enter the third quarter?

The third quarter has run it completion, and we observed that there has been a) an absence of a third quarter report uploaded into the SRC website, and also did not see an updated POA uploaded in place of the old POA on the website. We wanted to enquire the a) status of these 2 documents and b) when to expect them?

Recently the update regarding rebates was communicated to students with no rebates and with some concessions. The SRC had been raising the issue in statutory committees throughout the first semester. We are of the belief that there is need for further engagement to better support students. To this end we will be engaging further on the matter.

The SRC POA has been updated and will be posted on the SRC website in the week of the 5th of October.

The SRC third quarter report will be posted on the week of the 26th of October, the POA will be posted on the week of the 5th October.

The cancellation of the live question and answer session with PDBY Media was motivated by the notion that the SRC would wish to undertake this initiative on their respective platform. What was the reasoning behind not going through with this initiative in the 3rd quarter, as this topic was a point of discussion in the SRC’s meeting held on 5th August? Can we expect such a process to take place anytime soon? What were the suggestions given to the SRC by the aforementioned advisory opinion that was obtained?

As stipulated in your answer, meeting minutes have indeed been uploaded to the SRC website as mentioned, which has given the student body ample time to peruse them and garner an understanding of SRC meeting proceedings, which we are appreciative of. We wanted to query the fact that the meeting minutes end at 5th August, hence is this acknowledgment of the fact that no SRC meetings have been undertaken since 5th August?

Currently, measures in place will take the format as issued by the Chief Justice in the Advisory opinion obtained for the second quarterly forum. These measures are stipulated as follows: “Interim Measures Ordered [20] As a further attempt to be faithful to the CSG, I have again ordered interim measures in this matter, namely: a standard two week period in which students may submit questions to the SRC must be provided to students, with such a period being triggered by way of due notice to the student population by the SRC Deputy Secretary; the SRC must answer all questions submitted for their attention in writing and in full and publish all answers; the SRC must compile and publish the 2nd Quarter SRC Reports. [21] The interim measures will still allow students to receive information on the activities and operations of the SRC; to scrutinise the SRC’s fulfilment (or nonfulfilment) of its mandate by measuring its performance against the milestones reflected in plans of action etc; and will ensure that they get answers to their questions. That is the best that can be done to ensure accountability, openness and transparency from the SRC under the circumstances.

Questions to the Deputy President: Mpho Mehlomakulu

Please brief us on the progress of the following projects, #listentoyourrights, #itstartswithme and please elaborate on how you recorded the CSG and have it accessible to students.

[22] The SRC Reports and answers can be in any format or structure provided that: (1) they are published widely and are accessible;28 (2) remain accessible for the remainder of the SRC’s term at minimum; (3) are up-to-date and contain all relevant information; (4) are written in plain and understandable language; and (5) are formatted and structured in a coherent and understandable way.” The focus will remain on ensuring that students are able to engage the SRC on the work done by the Council have their questions answered. In relation to quarter three, the rules of the forum are currently under review. For the time being, the third quarter forum will take place in same format as the second quarterly forum.

SRC meetings have been continually ongoing. All minutes of the meetings that have taken place between the meeting on the 5th of August until the time of this response will be uploaded to the website. From the week of 12th of October, minutes will be uploaded on a weekly basis to be more accessible to students.

In the 2020 SRC Plan of Action, it mentions that you are responsible for challenging the SRC of 2020 to raise 500 cans and 500 sanitary pads every month, this is known as the food drive challenge, how has this project been and has there been any progress ever since the economy slightly opened in level 3? And, following the predicaments of the lockdown and COVID 19, what ways have you come up with to ensure that the project will continue to function in the future?

You are also responsible for the SRC Finance AID towards registration, Pledges, Save the semester and textbooks, please brief us on the exact amount that was allocated for this project, because according to the SRC budget R11 000 has been allocated for projects. Also, how much has the SRC pledged for this initiative? May you please also further explain the challenges that come with being responsible of the SRC Finance AID.

Since we are under lockdown, do you still plan on hosting the SRC DP-Varsity Derby? If so, how are you going to achieve that with COVID precautions put in place? If not, will the funds allocated for the Derby be used for other projects that require noncontact activities?

How often do you check the SRCs POA’s? Due to lockdown and majority of SRC not being on campus, how did you keep track of their POA’s? What revision to the POA were made and who authorised it? You are responsible for providing students with the consistency of SRC members, what methods have you used to keep on providing students with the consistency of SRC members because it is not on the SRC website?

What is the current status of the monthly SMS motivation towards student wellness, known as the Bophelo initiative? Was a mode of operation created to undertake this amidst the lockdown?

You are responsible for creating a platform for all religious organisations, where they can meet and discuss ways to impact the students at least once a semester, due to lockdown was that perhaps achieved virtually? Please give us an update on that. Also, what was the objective of the initiative?

PDBY reached out to the Deputy President numerous times for comment, but did not receive answers to the submitted questions by the time of publication. Any answers received from the Deputy President will be published on pdby.co.za.

2020 2020

SRC ELECTIONS

VOTING WILL TAKE PLACE FROM MONDAY, 26 OCTOBER 2020 AT 07:00 AND WILL CLOSE ON WEDNESDAY, 28 OCTOBER 2020 AT 19:00

SRC ELECTIONS SRC ELECTIONS

VOTING WILL TAKE PLACE FROM MONDAY, 26 OCTOBER 2020 AT 07:00 AND WILL CLOSE ON WEDNESDAY, 28 OCTOBER 2020 AT 19:00 VOTING WILL TAKE PLACE FROM MONDAY, 26 OCTOBER 2020 AT 07:00 AND WILL CLOSE ON WEDNESDAY, 28 OCTOBER 2020 AT 19:00

Candidates for SRC Portfolio

SRC President Profile

Participation in UP student structures

Lerato Ndlovu is a final year BPolSci (Political Studies) student. I am a proud member of the UP student community, not for anything else but the vibrancy and beauty of students in this university. My interest and passion lies with people and just serving as a whole. I believe that we have all been called for different purposes and mine was a call to serve and lead selflessly. Africa

Class Representative 2018-2019 ANCYL Branch Executive Committee member: Gender office SRC Executive member 2020: Deputy Secretary Absa Stargard Top 500 2020

I am running for SRC President. Someone recently said to me that if you don’t believe you are the best at something, you should not do it. And I believe I am the best candidate. What I bring is a vision, practical but effective vision. The vision to transform student governance structures to ensure that students have access, student needs are adequately met and students effectively participate in policy making and governance. The vision has three major points. The first is the sustainable reform in student governance structures. This reform entails fixing and strengthening sub-councils, ensuing that student activism is at the heart of these structures. Making sure that students are adequately assisted. Above all structures need to be equipped to work with issues pertaining to gender, GBV and the economically disadvantaged at the university. Secondly it is communalising the university, strengthening and empowering the student’s community. Student should be at the centre of all the SRC does. We need to create a community where students play a bigger role in the actual governance and policy making, to ensure that truly all students are heard and represented. Last point is the strengthening the SRC’s relations with external entities.

I am an independent candidate with a strong desire and demonstrated history of representing students and resolving student issues. My experience sets me apart as a committed, resilient, and trustworthy candidate for SRC President. I have represented student interests as SRC Academic Officer, UP Senate Member, Chair of chairs of the UP Student Faculty Sub-Council, and Chairperson of the UP Law Faculty, all in 2020. I also serve as a member of the Political Affairs Sub-committee for the UP African Union. I am also a registered member of the Tuks chess society for the year 2020.

I have represented student interests as SRC Academic Officer, UP Senate Member, Chair of chairs of the UP Student Faculty Sub-Council, and Chairperson of the UP Law Faculty, all in 2020. I also serve as a member of the Political Affairs Sub-committee for the UP African Union for the year 2020. In 2019 I served as the Social Portfolio co-head of the UP Law Faculty (Law House).

I am running for the Position of SRC President and I believe what sets me apart is my desire to serve and I just want to pour myself out to the betterment of all students. I want to be available for the students and I am always willing to go the extra mile, to break barriers and provide hope. I believe I have the work ethic, compassion, and the resilience required to be available when students need me and not to withdraw when it is critical in order for no student to be left behind. There are a lot of issues that I would like to address, including the gender-based violence and the increase of theft that has been occurring in Hatfield; the safety of all students is a priority and this is something that is dear to me. The consideration of international students for data and examinations is very pressing amongst many issues that they endure. I understand many student experiences and I know how much everyone wants to get an education, a shelter, or food on the table and this understanding and relatability helps me to act with urgency and the attention that every student deserves.

I am a final year LLB student in the Faculty of Law and I am a day student but I do stay near the university’s main campus (Hatfield).

I have served in several executive positions such as Vice-Chairperson of the Muslim Student Organisation (MSA), the Deputy Secretary of the MSA, Law House Outreach Subcommittee. In 2019 I was the Law House Chairperson and the SRC Academics Representative.

As the DASO SRC Presidential Candidate. I have served in a number of leadership structures and I have learnt how important proper planning and implementation is vital, but most importantly keeping the best interests of students in mind in dealing with matters. If voted into office, my main objectives would be to fight gender based violence Gender on all of our campuses, Tackle crimes, and provide study finance for students whose families were affected by covdi-19 and advocate for NO ACADEMIC Exclusions for the 2020 Academic year. I cannot achieve this without my team, so on the 26-28th October 2020 vote DASO UP candidates.

Lerato Ndlovu

Namatai Ruswa

Why I am the best candidate for this portfolio

Rameeza Abdool-Sattar Candidates for SRC Portfolio

SRC Secretary Profile

Chardonnay Arends

Dantes Viljoen

Participation in UP student structures

Why I am the best candidate for this portfolio

My name is Chardonnay Arends. I am currently a second year BA Law student here at the University of Pretoria. I am a hardworking, committed individual exhibiting a potential for leadership. I have a genuine interest in the welfare of others, consistently portraying qualities of responsibility, empathy, courage, integrity and perseverance.

I have been part of DASO for 2 years. In 2019 I was secretary for the structure and for the 2020 term I am chair.

Secretary General (SG) is the public face of the organisation and is responsible for its office leadership. I aim to ensure that meetings are effectively organised and minuted , maintain effective records and administration and provide consistent and transparent communication and correspondence. Due to the important duties of the position, choosing someone who is trustworthy, mature, honest and hardworking is of utmost importance. Having been DASO secretary in 2019 and DASO Chair for 2020 I would think that I am undoubtedly the relevant candidate for the said position.

I am a 2nd year BCom Business management student. I chose this course because I have an understanding for business and want to build on this strength. I am good at managing and taking responsibility in emergency scenarios. Residing in Sonop Christelike Tehuis taught me to appreciate the uniqueness of all students and that I have a responsibility towards every UP student and the student community as a whole. I am also involved in a community night watch in Brooklyn.

I served in several leadership positions throughout high school where I was part of the Learner Representative Council on which I served as a Prefect, highlighting the natural leadership characteristics I have exercised from a young age. I learned several new skills and especially working with people and improving the key factor of communication. I was also part of the Junior Tukkie community at the age of 16 showing the great interest I have in UP.

I have a strong sense of responsibility with regards to the safety of students. I have the skills to effectively communicate the needs of students to UP Management in a way that will ensure that action will be taken. Gender based violence is one of the greatest issues that we as a country are facing. As a society we blame the victim instead of the perpetrator and I am driven to change this where I can. I plan to implement a compulsory program during O-week or UPO where experts can educate students on GBV issues. UP has some of the best campuses in SA, but accessibility is a key issue that needs to be addressed, especially with post-Covid regulations in mind. This portfolio is not just about Hatfield campus. Mamelodi, Prinshoff, Groenkloof and Hillcrest campuses are equally important to me. I am not running to implement my personal agenda but to be the voice of the students. A vote for me is not a vote for Dantes Viljoen, but a vote for yourself to be represented at a management level.

Candidates for SRC Portfolio

SRC Secretary Profile

Hannah Le Roux

Herman Raubenheimer

Jaco Van Jaarsveld

Keletso Rakoma

Tarik Lalla

Thandi Mabala

Participation in UP student structures

Why I am the best candidate for this portfolio

I am a third year LLB Law student and current SRC Societies Officer. I am a proud DASO member. When not on campus, I enjoy being outside, training my puppy and traveling.

I have served as the transformation officer under DASO and society officer under the SRC for 2020. I am a member of the Golden Key Honours Society as well as a member of the Dean’s Merit List in the law faculty

I am contesting the society’s portfolio. I am most fitting to serve under this portfolio as I was able to successfully complete tasks in the SRC before and after lockdown. I have a passion for the people I have interacted with as well as their initiatives in their own societies. I have many ideas I would have liked to implement in my current SRC term but the pandemic had other plans. I hope to serve another term in order to spend more time with societies as well as improving this portfolio.

I am a 2nd year Bcom HR student, with a passion for working with people. I am newly elected as the Vice Chairperson for Tuks HR EC 2021 and I am a member of Blossoms Delight society. I reside in Sonop Christelike Tehuis where I have learned the importance of student issues. I enjoy a wide range of sports and cultural activities and would love to lead the process of reimplementing these activities post-Covid for a vibrant student life. I prioritize my administration skills as this is the key to success in academics and team management.

I was elected as Vice Chairperson for the Tuks HR EC 2021. I have held some leadership positions in school, including organising the Special Olympics event and being the 1st and 2nd-year representative at Sonop Christelike Tehuis. I have learned that to organise any event is no small task and it gave me the necessary insight to what administrative skills are required. Through my experience in various leadership positions I believe that I have acquired these skills and I am ready to use this to serve you as a UP student.

I am running because I believe that I have what it takes to serve UP students as your Secretary. I have the necessary administrative skills to ensure that the SRC as a whole can serve students to our maximum potential. I am a well organised person who works with an attitude that everything has the potential to be more effective and this is how I will approach my role as Secretary. The more effective the SRC’s administration is run, the more effectively we can see to ensure that the needs of students are met, both as individuals and as members of student communities. I have a strong sense of responsibility towards the UP community, when a problem arises the voices of the UP students must be heard. I will use an open door-policy and a system of approachability that will ensure that any and every student is heard. From there I will clearly communicate the needs of students to management. Where the interests of students are concerned, I will not take “no” for an answer from UP management. By voting for me, you are ensuring that your voice will be heard where it matters.

I am passionate in being a people person and choose to invest my time, talent and treasure in the Church and individuals. This is because I believe the only thing I can take to heaven are people, not my titles and not my achievements. I believe I am a great leader and achieve the things I set my mind to. If what I am doing in life is not making the lives of those around me better I am wasting my time. I am also currently in my fourth year of BA LLB.

In 2017/2018 I was the Culture External of House Boekenhout and led the house as an executive member during the transformative name change process. We as a residence achieved placement in all the cultural external activities in this year - 3rd place in 1nsyc, 3rd place in StepitUP and 2nd place in UP-acapella. The only mens residence that was placed in all of the events. In 2018/2019 I was re-elected as the Vice-Chairperson of House Tau. During this year we received the best academic progress for Male residences.

I am running for SRC Secretary. I cannot speak for others but I can speak for myself. I believe I have mastered the skill a very few candidates running against me might have. I am a great leader but anybody can lead. What sets me apart is that I am also a great follower submitting under authority but also speaking out when it is required of me. I am therefore a team player eager to help other portfolios to succeed in our common goal as the SRC. I have the characteristics needed to be a Secretary. I am well organized and have excellent time management skills and will therefore achieve the things I set my mind to it. I work extremely well under stress and pressure doing my work with excellence not only working hard but also smart. I can negotiate and organise very well. I am open to criticism and wish to be held accountable by students when they feel we are not doing enough. Not everyone can take hard criticism but I take it as the opportunity to learn from the needs students are facing. I am a good listener, deep analyser while multitasking in solving problems

I am Keletso Hayley Rakoma, a 3rd year BEd student, specialising in Foundation phase. I am a lively human being who is dedicated and passionate about education and children. I am currently living in a house commune in Hatfield. I do not belong to any societies at the moment. In my free time I enjoy writing articles and playing volley ball and most importantly I love spending time with Family. I possess great social and communication skills. I am assertive, detail orientated and analytical. I value integrity, diligence, determination and Honesty. I am ready to serve the University of Pretoria.

I have been appointed as a tutor in the faculty of Education for the year 2020 and in the short period I have been working as a tutor I have acquired great interpersonal, oral and Communications skills that I know I will put to great use as an upcoming SRC member. Achievements: my team and I won 3rd position in 2020 for the University of Pretoria’s annual debate. In my previous res(Inca) I further won the best speaker and the best 3rd speaker in team and residence overall.

I’m running for this portfolio because I believe I am a great listener and administrator who doesn’t deliver mixed messages. I am going to be a vessel of peace amongst the student population and the school’s management. I possess great interpersonal skills. I am prepared to liaise between the students and university. I am an enthusiastic and highly motivated person who is a great public speaker. Interests and a description of myself: I love outdoor adventures such as hiking, quad biking and I love dramatic Arts as well. I love playing volleyball and watching soccer. Mostly importantly I enjoy spending time with my family like the saying goes” charity begins at home”

For the Student by the Students. Having served in the African National Congress Youth League as the Resource Mobilizer, and various Progressive Youth Alliance campaigns, I have learnt that I am who I am because of the people around me. Umuntu Ngumuntu Ngabantu. I am studying 2nd year in BSc Zoology. Naturally, I am passionate about working with animals. Along with that, I have an interest in Sport, having served within the UP Student Sport Executive Committee, as the media, marketing and communications officer. My biggest interest is furthering the cause of humanity through love, thus serving those around me.

- ANCYL Resource Mobilizer -ANCYL Media, Marketing and communications Officer -UP Student sport Media, Marketing and Communications Officer -Hindu Students Society Dep. Chairperson -Master Leader Candidate 2019/20 -Member of South African Students Congress -Member of Muslim Students Association -Member of Young Communist League -UP Student Sport GC 2019

Running for SRC Secretary, I intend on implementing a number of ideas to serve the student. Good governance requires good administration. Needless to say, I am effective in administrative work, however, I intend to expand the SRC Secretarial portfolio beyond Administration. I believe that the Secretary should demand a platform to contribute to, and organise programs, as well as to be accessible to students. Visibility is a large part of this accessibility, in that it allows students to interact with the Secretary. Along with accessibility, I think the Secretary should be more vocal in fighting for students, and should not be limited to releasing statements, and taking notes. This has not been done in the past. I intend on working through collective, alongside students to serve students. I have always believed that a leader is only as strong as the people she/ he is being led by; the masses. In doing so, I want to advocate for more transparent communication processes, as well as a more inclusive decision-making process. Only together can we represent students and transform the Secretarial portfolio, thus overhauling the administrative process and increasing the capacity of the portfolio to serve students.

Greetings, my name is Thandi Mabala, a final year BA Psychology student and a current resident of Erica. Helping students has not only become my daily bread, but also served as second nature, to go above and beyond to provide assistance where I can. This means reaching out, to ensure that student success is the norm and reality at the university of Pretoria, and that student grievances are dealt and attended to, with the utmost respect that they demand and deserve.

Current and former Treasure of the EFFSC UP. Current Provincial member of the EFFSC. Current Mamelodi Sundowns Tuks branch Marketing and Communication office bearer. Former Junior Tukkie Marketing and Communication officer, and finally a proud lover of the most fastest growing movement, conscious and liberating, the mighty EFFSC.

1. I have taken note of the lack of minute updating on the SRC website and because of this I am planning to work with the incoming Marketing office to ensure that the minutes and reports are kept up-to date as this is one of the secretarial duties. I will be putting the obligation upon myself to ensure the minutes are released accordingly, as I will be advocating for the constitutional amendment of when minutes are released, as this should be done as soon as possible. 2. There shall be live streaming of online meetings from time to time to ensure accountability. I will also make sure that mass meetings, student forums and other SRC programs are not only centred around Hatfield campus but scattered across all campuses 3. Together with the Deputy president, I will help facilitate the amendment of the problematic constitution for student governance through the upcoming referendum

Candidates for SRC Portfolio

SRC Treasurer Profile

Participation in UP student structures

Why I am the best candidate for this portfolio

I am a third year LL.B student who is easy to work with and mostly approachable. Prior to the lockdown period, I resided in Respublica but in mid-April, decided to cancel my lease agreement so as to save on residential costs. I enjoy meeting new people and engaging mostly in topics that advocate for change and equality. I am very unshaken and mostly stand my ground for what I believe in. I love saving and I am always good with finances.

I have been a member of the Democratic Alliance Student Organisation for a period of three years. In the previous year, I was nominated to serve in the executive of the organisation as a Training Manager after having a good history of being able to work with people and affording them enough room to approach me. I have also served as Class representative of the Law of Contract 211 and Tax Law 310. In my first year, (2018) I volunteered to work in the General Committee which was appointed by House Humanities to assist with the preparations of “Mokete”, the biggest event to ever be hosted in the history of House Humanities. There, I sold tickets and also received an acknowledgement certificate for volunteering.

I am running for the portfolio of Study Finance and SRC Treasurer as my second choice. In the year 2020, I was a student employee at the University of Pretoria (Help Desk) and I was specifically allocated to work in the NSFAS Department. At a later stage of my employment period, I was deployed to work in the Administration Building (The Ship) where I assisted with processing loan and financial-aid applications. During this period, I learnt a lot about the financial aspect of the university and also gained the opportunity to be trained by the relevant people engaging in the work on a daily basis. I believe I am the best candidate for this portfolio because I will be able to properly advise students on what is expected of them in order to qualify for financial assistance from the university. I will also use my experiences to assist students who have been negatively and financially affected by the COVID-19 Pandemic so as to ensure that their financial needs are well taken care of in this difficult time. I also have a good background of fundraising for funds and outsourcing as another solution to combating financial challenges.

I am a third year BPolsci International Relations student, I am part of the EFFSC and I am interested in anything to do with social justice that will better society and the marginalised.

I have served as Deputy Secretary of the EFFSCUP 2019/2020

I am running for treasurer. I am planning to bring Student success in the financial sector of UP through the establishment of a crowdfunding account. Student entrepreneurship through the implementation of a platform that allows students to be vendors and entrepreneurs to fellow students, transparency and inclusivity of financial decisions through a platform such as clickup to let students give input to financial decisions as well as regular posting of how Finances are being spent. #PhakathiInside #EffscUP

I am a final year LLB student in the Faculty of Law and I am a day student but I do stay near the university’s main campus (Hatfield).

I am a hardworking, goal driven and dedicated young man who is vibrant, energetic and a socialite. A person who values trust, support and loyalty. I am a first year LLB Student. I am a day student who lives at a private accommodation. I belong to Junior Tukkie Student Ambassador’s Society, African Union Student Commission, Student Sports Committee, UP RAG, STARS Mentorship, and Law House Culture Subcommittee. My interests are cuisine, different music genres and the dynamics of politics.

I served as BAdmin@Tuks Faculty sub-house Secretary General, African Union Student Commission Political Affairs Officer , Junior Tukkie Secretary of Fundraising, Junior Tukkie Secretary General, African Union Student Commission President. I am currently serving as Family Law (FMR 121) Class Representative .2020 English (ENG 120) Deputy Class Representative. 2017 Best Ambassador for Junior Tukkie, 2018 Top 10 Public Administration , 2019 Graduate of University of Pretoria Autumn School of Social Democracy and Political Economy

I am a dependable, trustworthy, relentless and strategic student leader who transforms student governance spaces to create inclusion and participation of the student populous as a whole. I believe I am the best candidate for this position because I believe in consistent transparency and accountability for students finance usage from SRC and university management. I am an advocate for an increase of funds for student governance structures through the SRC which will be directed to address student issues which will benefit students and create efficiency in the different SRC Portfolios. To create a system of constant involvement Of Faculty and Societies Treasury Sub-councils which will in return create a system of inclusion of student entrepreneurship and effective financial administration in Faculty Houses and Societies.

Hilda Thupane

Jozias MahubeReinecke

Rameeza Abdool-Sattar

Siyabonga Nkosi Candidates for SRC Portfolio

SRC Facilities, Safety & Security Profile I am a 2nd year BCom Business management student. I chose this course because I have an understanding for business and want to build on this strength. I am good at managing and taking responsibility in emergency scenarios. Residing in Sonop Christelike Tehuis taught me to appreciate the uniqueness of all students and that I have a responsibility towards every UP student and the student community as a whole. I am also involved in a community night watch in Brooklyn.

Dantes Viljoen

Participation in UP student structures

Why I am the best candidate for this portfolio

Candidates for SRC Portfolio

SRC Facilities, Safety & Security Profile

Dumolwethu Ngidi

Participation in UP student structures

Why I am the best candidate for this portfolio

I am a young passionate person who has always been in leadership to influence change, advance and improve circumstances. Amongst many other leadership qualities, I embody a clear vision, determination, integrity, clear focus and accountability. I am the 3rd year Bcom Student who lives in the first residence of University of Pretoria, College. I belong to the following societies: DASO, TEDX, UPDU and IFTL. My interests include leadership, politics, economics, sports, community and charity works.

I’ve participated in DASO, UP Debating Union, Res Leadership, EMS Faculty House and I’ve held executive positions in the following structures, Democratic Alliance Student Organisation and I Found the link Student Society. Amongst many other merit awards I have the following: 1st best Junior City Council member, bronze medallist at 36th International Science Fair and invited to Worlds University Debating Championships, most achievement award for Class of 2017 at my high school.

I’m contesting for SRC member of Facilities, Safety and Security. I’ve always believed that every learning institution to have good wellbeing and academic performance of every student it should first have conducive environment that has proper safety and security. Not only do my leadership records or leadership values and qualities shows that I’m the best fit for this position but I’ve proved to care about students safety and security above everything else. I have a good mechanism in place to ensure that the safety of every student is a precondition, that university continues to have adequate facilities that will better the lives of every student and that the security is effective and functioning as intended. I’ve also made it my life’s mission to engage with the students because I believe engagement is a grease that lubricates effective leadership and it helps me to better understand their safety, security and facilities needs and this puts me in a better position to address students needs.

My name is Irvin Mavuso. I am doing my penultimate year in my LLB studies. I stay at Respublica Eastwood Village. I’m a big soccer fan and as a legal student I am interested in matters of justice and the law being used to help make the lives of ordinary citizens better.

I was a mentor in the stars mentorship programme in 2018. I then joined the stars mentorship programme’s executive committee as one of the humanities faculty coordinators and the IT & Logistics officer. I am a BA Law (UP) graduate. I am also a member of the golden key honour society.

I am running for the transformation and student success portfolio in this year’s Student Representative Council Elections. I believe that I am the best candidate for this portfolio because what is most important to me is to represent student views, and not just being an executive member. My commitment to helping students succeed is unshakable, which is why before I ran for this position I was in the executive of a student mentorship society (STARS), making sure students get the help they need to succeed. I plan on changing the current method of representation by continuously engaging with students to find out what they think would be the best way to support students in their academic journey. To allow students to suggest and vote for programs which will be most beneficial to them. I care about the students and if I am elected, helping students succeed will be my biggest. My promise, if elected, is to be accountable to the student community, to be transparent, and to vigorously represent student views and opinions within the council

I am passionate in being a people’s person and choose to invest my time, talent and treasure in the Church and individuals. This is because I believe the only thing I can take to heave are people, not my titles and not my achievements. I believe I am a great leader and achieve the things I set my mind to. If what I am doing in life is not making the lives of those around me better I am wasting my time. I am also currently in my fourth year of BA LLB.

I am Kamogelo Mmetle, currently in my third year of study, I am residing off-campus. My interest is in making an impact on humankind on the basis of ensuring that we all get through well at the end of the day. Life is all about the next person after all.

I have participated as a mentor in the 2019/2020 STARS MENTORSHIP PROGRAMME (Student Academic Readiness Programme) at the University of Pretoria in the Faculty of Education

I am standing for the Facilities, Safety and Security portfolio in the SRC. I believe I am the best candidate for this portfolio as I have the Facilitation, organising, presentation, decision making, and communication skills of which will form the best part for the SRC. I work to fullest potential and I am fuelled with positive energy to ensure that students are safe through their study journey and ensure study success.

Hobbies and interests: I listen to various genres of music. I have a high interest in soccer . I dwell on political Affairs during my spare time. I am a 3rd year student mentoring for MUN for IPL 220 under the state of South Korea 2020

Head of Societies I have been registered as a member of AUSCO for 2019. I was the Secretary General for AUSCO 2020. I was a prominent member for SASCO 2020 through creating and formulating the database for laptops and data.

Tmm house committee for part 2019 December. I am currently the registered secretary General for AUSCO 2020

I am currently studying BA Law and starting with my 2 year LLB degree next year. I am hardworking, caring, diligent and sophisticated. The reason I am passionate about the law is because I realized the importance of giving a voice to those who cannot speak.

I got an interview at the SLSJ community and maintained I am running for the Postgraduate and International Student Affairs a GPA above 70% portfolio and I am confident that am a perfect fit for the position because I communicate honestly and easily and people find me approachable.

Irvin Mavuso

Jaco Van Jaarsveld

Kamogelo Mmetle

Lerato Matlaila

Michaela Oberholzer

Candidates for SRC Portfolio

SRC Facilities, Safety & Security Profile

Namatai Ruswa

Njabulo Sibeko

Sizwe Ngwenya

Tshiamo Sekete

Participation in UP student structures

Why I am the best candidate for this portfolio

I go by the name of Sir Njabulo Sibeko, an eager servant of the students and an impeccable leader. I am currently doing my first year LLB and pursuing a career in ensuring the justice that I’ve dreamt of so dearly. Giving a voice back to those that have lost it for so long, is something that I’ve always advocated for in every aspect of my life. In my first year I stayed at Respublica and joined the EFF student command, where I managed to interact with a ton of people and hone amazing friendships. This inspired me to become a part of the Debating community which helped cultivate my people skills.

I am the current Legal and Transformation Officer of the EFFSC UP and in my position I have been honoured to have served a multitude of students. Concurrently I also serve in the UP Debate Union subcommittee in the position of Community Engagement where I have also had the honour of helping pupils sharpen their speaking skills.

I am standing for the portfolio of Facilities, Safety and Security as I believe in my ability to: • Increasing the visibility of UP security within a 3km radius of the main campus. • Ensuring that bathroom facilities at all our campuses, especially external campuses are maintained and well-kept more regularly. • Increase the number of female security staffed. • Ascertain that UP security staff receive sensitivity training in an attempt to create a safe space for all UP Students and Staff. • Guarantee that busses to external campuses, specifically the Mamelodi Campus travel on a more frequent basis. • Commit to the accessibility of computers on a 24 hour basis daily. • Gender neutral bathrooms will be extensively advocated for in an attempt to promote inclusivity.

I am currently doing my final year in BA law, residing in apartments on William under TuksRes and I am a member of the following societies : UNASA UP, TED X, TUKS GAMING SOCIETY, AND AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL UP

I was a stars mentor from the year of 2017 to 2018 and now recently I am a part of the executive committee of Amnesty International UP

My name is Sizwe Ngwenya, a 3rd Ba law student who is running for the portfolio of facilities, safety and security. My leadership skills are that I am a responsible being, professional and give respect to all sexes and can adhere the law to the law. I got my leadership skills from Amnesty International Up where I was part of the executive committee. I choose this portfolio firstly because I want to monitor students lock books at residents to ensure whether it is effective or not .Second to facilitate programs that are already running on campus {how the issue of phone grabbing IS handled } ,how effective it is. I am intending to solve such issue to ensure there is safety to student population. Third the issue of sexual abuse should not be swept under the carpet in residences and on campuses, moreover how long does it takes to solve such cases, this is an issue to be attended as speedily as possible. Vote for me because I am anti security breach kind of a guy.

I am Tshiamo Sekete, born and raised in Soweto. I have been a student at the University of Pretoria for two years and am studying for a BCom Degree. My general hobbies are going to hiking spots with family and friends, in the surrounding areas around Gauteng. Although I am studying a commercial degree, my interest is in youth development that centers around strong black liberating ideologies.

I am running for the portfolio of Facilities, Safety, and Security. This is one of the most important and fundamental portfolios in the SRC as it is in the centre of every student general and everyday university life. The reason we have this particular portfolio in our SRC is that it is our duty as student leaders to ensure that every facility, including all the resources that are availed by the university, are fully and fairly utilized by all students in all academic and operational campuses. As we all know we find ourselves in South Africa in a parallel epidemic which is Gender-based violence. It is our duty to make sure that every student’s safety is our biggest priority. Furthermore, I would push the SRC to ensure that no women are left to feel vulnerable.

1. Former Johannesburg Junior Council member 2. Honours Student and head boy in my High School. 3. Save the Semester task team in SASCO.

Candidates for SRC Portfolio

SRC Marketing, Media & Communications Profile

Participation in UP student structures

My name is Chanel Brown, I am a third year LLB (Law) student at the University of Pretoria. I served on the Golden Key Executive Committee at the University of Pretoria for the 2019/2020 term as the Personal Development Director. I am a very proud alumni of House Mags. I own two successful businesses which I am very passionate about. Furthermore, I am a professional hockey coach at one of the leading high schools in the country. In my free time, I love spending time with my family and friends and making a difference in the lives of others.

In 2018 I received a Golden Key award for academic excellence (top 15%) in my degree (LLB I). In my residence (House Mags) I was awarded the RAG first year of the year. In 2019 I was elected to serve on the Golden Key Executive committee for the term of 2019/2020 as the Personal Development Director.

I am standing for the Media, Marketing and Communication portfolio in the SRC. I believe that I am very suitable for the position as the various aspects which accompany the portfolio come very naturally to me and I have sufficient experience to do my work properly, effectively and efficiently. In my own businesses, I do the marketing and media myself and thus I am well trained and equipped in the field. When elected I will ensure that the SRC and the University of Pretoria is portrayed in a positive light and that the image we intend to protect at the University is maintained and well looked after. Whenever I engage with the media my comments will always be honest, respectful, relevant and in line with University policies. On social media platforms, I will ensure that the content is respectful, informative, inclusive and in line with the positive image of the University. I believe that no student should be left behind and thus in my portfolio and in the SRC I will ensure that every student is included, their concerns are heard and that they will have the opportunity to achieve their highest academic potential without unnecessary obstacles in their way such as crime and GBV.

I am doing my BTh Honours in New Testament Studies, a Student minister of the Uniting Reformed Church In Southern Africa and one of the core founders of “Bodese Fela” Business. I am from Ga-Rankuwa and currently residing in Sunnyside, Pretoria. Traveling, exploring the wild, drumming, singing, making music, going to gym, poster and video editing are my interests. I am a Preacher, Djembe Drummer, Producer, Singer and a POSSIBILITARIAN.

I am a member of the PYA Tukkies Branch. I am a member of UP OVUWA Cultural Ensemble & I served as the Web Master (Marketing) of the ensemble in 2018. Served as an additional member Student representative Council of Northern Theological Seminary in 2018. I served in the House Theology & Religion committee in 2019 on the portfolio of Marketing & Communications. Currently serving in the Student Representative Council on the portfolio of Marketing, Media & Communications.

I am standing for the position of Marketing, Media & Communications believing that I am the best candidate for the position due to the experience that I have on this portfolio from different structures & I am a very good and excellent communicator also more socially inclined in both the physical and digital world. I am a 9 point extroverted due to the social life that I have been engaging in and lastly, I have also extensive experience in campus life and student life.

I am Kgothatso Setshedi a second year in BConSci Tuks Ambassador of Peace, I am a member of the Food Hospitality Management Studies. I am in Eastwood Drive Committee, It has been successful since it started. village residence. I am an independent candidate. I love engaging with people and also listening about all the issues that they are facing. I love reading books and listening to music. Living to inspire, empower and motivate people is one of my passions.

I believe that I am the best candidate for this portfolio as I have great communication skills and I love engaging with people and being part of their well-being journey. I am hard working and self-dedicated person, full of ambition and responsible nature. I have good listening and effective communication skills. I am eager to learn and experience new things. I am capable of providing the necessary support and motivation to other people, especially when they are facing hardship. I am very organized. The marketing, Media and Communication portfolio requires someone who is responsible and hardworking enough to be able to fulfil the duties it entails and I believe I am that person.

You may know me better as “Max”. I’m a final year student who is about to begin her LLM. I have been lucky enough to survive my undergrad and I am looking for a new challenge and a new way to lead and serve as I enter into this new phase of my life. I have a great interest in Media and Music and recently released my debut EP. I have also been a member of Law House and TuksFM. I stand to protect and focus myself in the betterment of my fellow beings.

I served as the head of the outreach portfolio in Law House and was also the unit leader for the presenting department at TuksFm where together with my team we were able to win various Liberty Radio Awards.

I am running for the Media, Marketing and Communications portfolio. I am the best candidate for this portfolio as I believe so strongly in studentlead leadership. As an SRC it is impossible to adequately represent a body of students that you are not well connected to. I believe that the SRC needs to be transparent and held accountable for both the decisions and promises it makes. I have the steadfast and meticulous character needed to ensure that the SRC is consistent and maintains a high level of accessibility and visibility that is not just “for show” but actually results in substantial change and action when called up by the students.

My name is Melvin Maxwell van Rooyen. I am a third year Medicine student and a proud Olympian hailing from House Ukuthula. And it is there where my affinity for student culture and sport at Varsity continued to bloom. It is also at Res where my core values of respect, loyalty and perseverance got affirmed and where I got opportunities to commit to a greater cause and to serve my fellow students. At the end of the day I am just a regular guy who loves people and who’s grinding to get my degree.

Over and above sprouting my roots at House Ukuthula, I have also earned a set of wings as I am a previous HC of Culture External that won 2nd place in StepItUP as well as a participant in a winning UP A Capella. Serving others is integral to who I am and I am driven by a desire to create a culture of giving back within the youth of my community. Through participating in health days and mental health platforms, I have also been given access to serving and giving in other communities.

I am running for the SRC portfolio of Marketing, Media and Communications. And I have complete confidence that my hard-earned experience and skill set makes me an ideal candidate for the position. It is my mission to continue to build on the SRC’s vision of commitment and transparency as duty to the students. Being from Prinshof Campus, I have first-hand experience of the missed potential of communication channels. Platforms that will impact the lives of my fellow students and bring light to the dark corners of our unheard struggles. Satellite campuses are not just a commodity for candidates to mine votes, but we are real people, with real issues and real voices that need to be heard. I aim to achieve this by fortifying the bridges of communication across all 7 campuses at the University. We have much to benefit from each other. Together we can stand strong, united by one voice, mighty in our mission for progression. #UnitedVoice

I am studying BSc Chemistry, 3rd year. I live at The Fields and run as an Independent Candidate though I belong to the TAP society. I want to further my studies and enrol for honours and master’s degrees. I love dancing and going out. And I am socially active and an extrovert.

I have participated in the Insync and TAP Societies. I have held a position of being a Treasurer in the EFF (Ward56). I have a certificate of being a member at house Nerina and a certificate of a Cooking Show at Respublica.

I am standing for Marketing, Media and Communications because I am outgoing and I am a very social person, creative and can manage and organize events. I am able to do teamwork and very easy to work with. I want to bring more developments and change in the event marketing level, market our university to the top and bring increased good communication to reach to the students at large where we create a feel-at-home culture. I am very professional and responsible. I am able to work under pressure. I can plan and prioritize my work properly and my work ethic is excellent.

Chanel Brown

Gerald Mokwena

Kgothatso Setshedi

Makumya M/ Membe

Melvin Van Rooyen

Merriam Ramogale

Why I am the best candidate for this portfolio

Candidates for SRC Portfolio

SRC Marketing, Media & Communications Profile

Michelle Bida

Participation in UP student structures

Why I am the best candidate for this portfolio

Michelle Bida is the name , Political Science is the game. I’m in 2nd year. I’m not one to shy away from making a statement, I enjoy singing, dancing and photography. However, the top of the list is going out, meeting new people and exploring new spaces. Some would also refer to me as a history buff, but I like to keep my feet both in the past and in the present and this means the digitals sphere is also my playground. I’m not currently a res student and I belong to the mighty EFF.

As someone who enjoys building connections with people, community service in terms of food drives with church organizations has proved to be a large part of my life and something I consider a reward. With the current Covid 19 my hopes of having direct engagement with students has been severed but nonetheless a great leader always knows there is always a plan. A fun achievement of mine includes an off campus event, slam poetry, I intend to do more of these on campus as part of my new idea to start a #tuksTalent media page to show the broad variety Tuks students encompass.

Marketing media and communication is my portfolio and here’s why :As someone who is relatively new to the university I know first-hand how it feels to stay out of loop with affairs going on and as thus I present myself as some with direct understanding of these issues. My key area of marketing will be more emphasis on the arts/ artistic degrees which have not necessarily been marketed as degrees of importance in relation to commerce degrees or medical degrees. Tuks must be seen as inclusive in all spheres of life, especially the most important, academically. I have innovative ideas and as an extroverted character I really enjoy listening to the plight of students and with this I believe I’m best suited for the position. As someone who has also grown up with technology I have a very intense understanding of the notions of connectivity and thus I can assist students who do not have those privileges to awaken their digital consciousness.

I am Pamela Ndebele running for Marketing, media and communications as an independent candidate. I’m a LLB student transferred from the faculty of Theology. Currently residing at Apartments on Williams. I am a sociable individual who likes to meeting with new people. And volunteering tutor to needy students.

I’m a first year’s student mentor and a class representative. I participated in Maths problem solving a won a bronze medal in high school. I am a youth leader at church and did athletic 702 marathon and won a silver medal.

I am standing for Marketing, Media and communications as my first portfolio and Societies as the second portfolio. I am a communicative person and a good listener, self-motivated person who is willing to go above and beyond. I bring accuracy, care in my work and have a strong leadership skills. I am decisive and have a sense of clarity, passionate about students needs and supportive of their significance opinions. I am to serve as the bridge between the students and the university by making sure I convey relevant information due them. I am very humble and confidence and loveable which I hope is an attractive trait in a leader.

Participation in UP student structures

Why I am the best candidate for this portfolio

I am studying International Relations. I thrive off meeting new people. In my spare time, I play rugby, soccer, reading, chess, and pool. I am currently reading the Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank, and ‘Pedagogy of the Oppressed’ by Paulo Freire. I also sing, make music, and play piano –I am a product of the Drakensberg Boys Choir School. I enjoy playing A medley that I made up which consists of the songs ‘I’d Rather Go Blind’ and ‘Georgia’ by Ray Charles when distressing.

I have served mainly on political formations such as SASCO, ANCYL, and YCL and have also served as class reps for two terms, in which I fought very hard to ensure that my classmates were adequately represented. In high school, I was also part of the executive committee on Arts and Culture and served as deputy head of choir.

I am running for the portfolio of Study Finance. I believe that we need to reimagine what the office of study finance and its capability is. We must question that role and what it encompasses and then broaden it to deal with specific issues that we all face. I prefer not to use the phrase ‘best candidate’ because I do not speak for myself. I speak for all students, and I want to personally see to it that there is progression, and I want to grow the Study Finance office substantially. I stand for the interests of all students, and those of us who do not want to hear ‘I cannot’ and rather, ‘We Can’. Having witnessed first-hand, the many issues that we face as students – I realized that there needs to be a bigger vision with regards to the direction of this specific office. It is time to be accountable, and to provide loyal and steadfast leadership to every one of us. With you on my side, we are bound to be empowered and to bring about change In the words of Abraham Lincoln: “With malice toward none; with charity for all; with firmness in the right.”

I am currently doing my BTh Theology in third year level of study, also looking forward to commencing my postgraduate studies next year with the faculty of Humanities. I am member of a number of societies within the student body. I am member of Weavers of Integrity a student’s society that passionate about serving others, Good Samaritan a society focused on developing the youth and poor communities, I am a member of the progressive student’s movement within the University student body the EFFSCUP. I take interest in reading and writing, but I also enjoy sport and proud of serving the disadvantaged.

My leadership experience within the University range from chairing a student’s society, serving as secretary general for Good Samaritan, served under House Theology &amp; Religion 2018/2019 administration and am the Postgraduate &amp; International officer in the current SRC administration. I have also participated in a number of students leadership development course. Though I take pride in many decorations/awards received in my leadership, however I am still fulfilled by the smile of students going to class with their study materials on hand.

I am running for the portfolio of SRC Study Finances, I believe that I am the best for the portfolio since I understand that leadership is not in good time but also in the worst events. The office of Study finance is not a financial management institution but an office within a structure, the mandate should be fundraising initiative through SRC Sporting events, Social and formal events as to increase students funding. Such initiatives will also invoke the spirits of Ubuntu, students at the University of Pretoria would have equal access to books, learning equipment, and research materials throughout the year. This will also introduce a transformative student’s culture but also assure that access to quality education is not limited by financial background. International students feel excluded from the University funding policies, the SRC needs to challenge the University to consider instituting a funding pool for International Students. Owing to Covid, 2020 is an academic challenging year but 2021 is going to be more difficult financially. The University needs to consider their 50% credit payment policy before registration, my office will assure that all currently registered students would be allowed to register for the year of 2021 without registration fees.

Pamela Ndebele Candidates for SRC Portfolio

SRC Study Finance Profile

Hilda Thupane

Hosi Khosa

Lindani Mgoduka

Candidates for SRC Portfolio

SRC Study Finance Profile My name is Melvin Maxwell van Rooyen. I am a third year Medicine student and a proud Olympian hailing from House Ukuthula. And it is there where my affinity for student culture and sport at Varsity continued to bloom. It is also at Res where my core values of respect, loyalty and perseverance got affirmed and where I got opportunities to commit to a greater cause and to serve my fellow students. At the end of the day I am just a regular guy who loves people and who’s grinding to get my degree.

Participation in UP student structures

Why I am the best candidate for this portfolio

I am running for the SRC portfolio of Study Finance. And I have complete confidence that my hard-earned experience and skill set makes me an ideal candidate for the position. It is my mission to continue to build on the SRC’s vision of commitment and transparency as duty to the students. Being from Prinshof Campus, I have first-hand experience of the missed potential of communication channels. Platforms that will impact the lives of my fellow students and bring light to the dark corners of our unheard struggles. Satellite campuses are not just a commodity for candidates to mine votes, but we are real people, with real issues and real voices that need to be heard. I aim to achieve this by fortifying the bridges of communication across all 7 campuses at the University. We have much to benefit from each other. Together we can stand strong, united by one voice, mighty in our mission for progression. #UnitedVoice

Melvin Van Rooyen Candidates for SRC Portfolio

SRC Post Graduate & International Student Affairs Profile

Bernalee Botha

Participation in UP student structures

Why I am the best candidate for this portfolio

I am a day student and currently doing my Masters in Theology. I have a passion for working with people and to include those who feel excluded from society. I love meeting people from different cultures - I think we can learn a lot from one another. I try to have a positive attitude most of the time and can work cheerfully under pressure. I love to learn new skills and I enjoy accepting new challenges! I am currently doing a counselling course with the aim of one day helping people by means of Animal-Assisted Therapy.

I have had the opportunity to serve on Theology’s House Committees for two years. I had two portfolios (that were completely different from one another), namely Care and Outreach, and the Social and Cultural Events portfolio. I also had the privilege of working as a student advisor to help students find their way when they get “lost”. My grades are good - but can always be better!

I believe that the Postgraduate and International Affairs portfolio has a lot of potential for student engagement seeing that it can connect students, staff members, faculties and universities across borders. I believe that this portfolio will not limit me to ONLY work with postgraduate and international students. I believe that other students could also enjoy the benefit of learning from postgraduate students and international students who have different cultures. I also believe that the international students will fall in love with our cultures here in South Africa! I am the best candidate for this portfolio because I am a Postgraduate student and I would truly go out of my way to make people feel welcome and cared for. I have had the opportunity to explore different parts of the world, such as Belgium, Germany, Switzerland, The Netherlands, Egypt, and Israel. My personal favourite, however, is my beloved country, South Africa. I enjoy meeting new people and look forward to long lasting friendships. I believe that I can learn something new from each person that crosses my path.

3rd year Law students, staying at a private accommodation. Currently, I’m the Vice Chair of Legal shebeen. My interests centred around pencil drawing, playing rugby and currently I’m into choir music, mostly by universities. Lastly, I’m reading up on African history and Mythology, exclusively anything that concerns the Southern Africa perspective.

I was a member of the United Nations Student organisation. Most of my interests are centred around Sports. I was in the tennis and rugby team. I won the inter campus tennis competition in 2016 at UKZN. I’ve played for the Tuks third team but sadly corona stopped my rise in the ranks.

I’m running for Postgraduate & International Student Affairs. My reasons are two-fold. I was once financially and medically excluded from school. I had asked for assistance from many structures and in all honesty, I found no help or I found it too late. The second reason is, when I approached political parties and the SRC for help I was turned away, ignored or told that they had other commitments. Commitments that mostly involved matters removed from the typical student. I have recovered medically, but I learned what it’s like to be deserted by those who are supposed to help you. Our problems as Students aren’t vague, they are real. Our leaders up until now have not shown any clear direction. I have a plan to help students and it’s based solely on students telling SRC what they want and SRC focusing only on that. I believe I am suitable for the role because I have no political ambitions, I only have a need and that need is to ensure that for one year, students are served without compromise. No excuses, just results. My strategy will ensure that not only can they measure delivery but have tangible evidence to hold SRC accountable.

I am Dimakatso Koketso Lekola, doing Second year Bachelor of Laws at University of Pretoria and currently residing at Respublica Urban Nest. I am running as an independent candidate. I love socialising and spending most of my time helping those in need.

I have been part of the Tuks Ambassadors of Peace (TAP) leadership committee since my first year of study and currently I am also part of the Beyond Our Limiting Disabilities(BOLD) leadership committee.

I am running for the University of Pretoria’s SRC elections under the following Portfolios: Societies as my first option and the office of Post graduate and International students as my second option. With the experience that I have got from the leadership committee positions at University of Pretoria’s societies I think I think I am ready to serve and represent this office very well as I know all the needs that are required of this University’s societies. Also through my skills that I have obtained from the University of Pretoria’s Career services since my first year of study in this University where I was able to work with almost all the University students serving them, I think could also represent all our Post Graduate and address all their challenges accordingly as well as The international students. I will be grateful if you all vote for me.

Boris Mukwambo

Dimakatso Lekola

Michaela Oberholzer

Candidates for SRC Portfolio

SRC Post Graduate & International Student Affairs Profile

Sizakele Muyedzwa

Participation in UP student structures

Why I am the best candidate for this portfolio

I am currently studying a BCom degree in economics. I have been privileged enough to be given the honour to serve in the EC for ZIMSSOC as projects and sports coordinator. I am a member of ACTS and UPI Society.

I was in the EC for ZIMSSOC as projects and sports coordinator

I am running for postgraduate and international student affairs. I am running to help UP through the SRC to not only be number 1 in Africa but number 1 for Africa. I am also passionate to use networking, with companies and embassies, to open opportunities for postgrad funding.

I am a BA Psychology graduate and currently enrolled for an LLB degree and I reside at Tuksdorp. I am a member of the EFFSC, Amnesty International, UP&OUT and NADEL societies. My interests are attending public lectures, community engagement, women and child development, watching crime documentaries, logging and reading novels.

I was a mentor under the STARS Leadership Programme, a volunteer for the Psyche Society and Facilitator at TuksRes, facilitating the residence house committee elections. I also served in the EFFSC Legal Office subcommittee, assisting students with whatever legal issues they face on campus and res. With regards to achievements, through these structures, I was able to play a part in kids’ lives through sport, mentorship and tutoring. I recently graduated as a Girls 4 Girls Mentorship Programme, facilitated by the DSA. The “Thank you, Sibalukhulu” was achievement enough for me.

I am a Postgraduate and International Students candidate and I intend to work closely with the departments of postgraduate and research, international students division and relevant stakeholders to advocate for the needs of all these students. To act as a resource that provides support and services and promotes academic leadership and excellence. UP is a research-intensive university and I plan to increase the amount of support provided to postgraduate students by the University because it is these students’ research outputs that have put the University on the African and greater global map. I also plan to appeal to the University for the relaxation of international student fees in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, to make sure that these students are not neglected as we have seen the past few months and to provide mental and emotional support as they are far removed from their familiar support structures. The International Students Day will be held over a week instead of a day. I hope to lead with inclusivity, diversity and transformation and to become a strong support structure for both postgraduate and international students alike.

Timothy Chilemba is a First-Year Masters Student from Malawi studying Livestock Production and Ecology in the faculty of NAS. Currently I am staying at Tuksdorp Village. I am passionate about youth empowerment and engagement. Specifically, involving youth in all decision-making platforms to bring about positive change. During my free time, I enjoy hiking, watching movies, and socializing with people. I am part of the UP Malawi society where I participate in creative and open debates and discussions that help to address societal, academic and developmental challenges.

In high school I have once held the Volleyball Team Captain, Deputy Sports Prefect and World Life Club Chairperson positions. These roles shaped my leadership skills and motivated me to pursue Animal Science at Bunda College. During my undergraduate studies, I led the Protection of Wildlife and Animals Society as a Chairperson, that aimed at rescuing animals. In high school I was given the most responsible student and I graduated with high points. My honours research article was the first in my discipline of study to be published in an International Journal of Avian and Wildlife Biology

I am standing for the Postgraduate and International Students’ Affairs portfolio. I believe I am the perfect candidate for the position because you lead best when you have lived and experienced the journey. As an international and postgraduate student without financial aid, I have lived the challenges of settling and adapting to a new environment while striving to deliver the best in your academics. I spent time discussing with fellow students (international and national) on challenges they face; lack of food, shelter, orientation on basic information (i.e. printing, shops) and psychological support when adapting to changes were some of the challenges raised. I would like to develop a strategy that will address these challenges with the help from the University. With the few resources I have, I have supported some underprivileged students with food, free printing services, oriented some and assisted them on how best to adapt to the new environments while excelling in academics. I love working in a team, am open to new ideas and easily understand systems, I believe these will assist me in representing the students whilst abiding to the universities’ systems.

Thando Dhlamini

Timothy Chilemba Candidates for SRC Portfolio

SRC Day Students & External Campus Affairs Profile

Alex Mailola

Bernalee Botha

Participation in UP student structures

Why I am the best candidate for this portfolio

I am a vibrant second-year student studying BSC Human genetics, psychology & physiology. I am residing in RISE student accommodation.

I have been the head boy in my last two years of my high school days. Individually I have achieved awards for obtaining number 1 spots in the inter-district social debate and also home language oral competition. I was Part of the 2019 future leaders program.

I am running for a portfolio of Day student and external campus affairs. I will be a prominent member and a crucial asset to the team. I have developed many problem solving skills and I am very analytical on matters. I want to Bring innovative ways to engage with our fellow students by breaking the gap that has always been there between students and the leadership. I am determined to do my utmost best to lend my ear in listening to students daily affairs across all the university campuses.

Candidates for SRC Portfolio

SRC Day Students & External Campus Affairs Profile

Noko Mabilo

Nothando Ngubeni

Participation in UP student structures

Why I am the best candidate for this portfolio

I am currently doing my second year in Bcom Supply chain Management and I stay at Azalea TuksRes. I am an outgoing person who is passionate about helping other student’s success and enjoying the student life. I am currently playing for TuksNetball U/21

I am a GC Student Sport Member, Ambassador of Miss Maruleng Municipality which leads to community work

I chose the portfolio because I’ve learned from an external campus where certain issues weren’t resolved so I want help other external campuses in any issues that they are dealing with. Other campuses don’t really get that much attention which is concern for me. I want to play an important part in the social activities of campus life. Planning and Promotion social and academic events for day students

I’m a third year law student and I’m also a day student. I am an honest, creative and passionate person. I’m currently on the Now4tommorrow executive committee and a volunteer in their outreach programme. I’m mostly passionate about working with people in social and political spaces.

Now4tommorrow executive committee.

I’m standing for the day student and external campus Affairs portfolio because I have been a day student throughout my university years and I have experienced the difficulties that come with being a day student or external campus student. I understand the grievances that we have and I have a passion of helping disadvantaged students in any way.

1. Former Johannesburg Junior Council member 2. Honours Student and head boy in my High School. 3. Save the Semester task team in SASCO.

Tshiamo Sekete Candidates for SRC Portfolio

SRC Societies Profile

Participation in UP student structures

Chanel Brown

Dimakatso Lekola

Why I am the best candidate for this portfolio

Candidates for SRC Portfolio

SRC Societies Profile

Hannah Le Roux

Kgothatso Setshedi

Lerato Matlaila

Makumya M/ Membe

Nothando Ngubeni

Pamela Ndebele

Participation in UP student structures

Why I am the best candidate for this portfolio

I am a third year LLB Law student and current SRC Societies Officer. I am a proud DASO member. When not on campus, I enjoy being outside, training my puppy and traveling.

I am Kgothatso Setshedi a second year in BConSci Hospitality Management Studies. I am in Eastwood village residence. I am an independent candidate. I love engaging with people and also listening about all the issues that they are facing. I love reading books and listening to music. I live to inspire, empowering and motivating people is one of my passion.

Tuks Ambassador of Peace, I am a member of the Food Drive Committee, It has been successful since it started.

Tmm house committee for part 2019 December. I am currently the registered secretary General for AUSCO 2020

Now4tommorrow executive committee.

I’m a first years student mentor and a class representative. I participated in Maths problem solving a won a bronze medal in high school. I am a youth leader at church and did athletic 702 marathon and won a silver medal.

I am standing for Marketing, Media and communications as my first portfolio and Societies as the second portfolio. I am a communicative person and a good listener, self-motivated person who is willing to go above and beyond. I bring accuracy, care in my work and have a strong leadership skills. I am decisive and have a sense of clarity, passionate about students’ needs and supportive of their significance opinions. I am to serve as the bridge between the students and the university by making sure I convey relevant information due them. I am very humble and confidence and loveable which I hope is an attractive trait in a leader.

Candidates for SRC Portfolio

SRC Societies Profile

Siphesihle Dlamini

Participation in UP student structures

Why I am the best candidate for this portfolio

I am a third year education student who is a day student, I was part of the Prodigy Elite society from TUKS and once stayed at Kiaat(now known as TIRISANO) res, I am interested in football, music, current affairs and our societies mind-sets. I do not let my past experiences define me but I let my character and actions define me. My humbleness, kindness and confidence pushes me to grow positively and take those around me with.

I was in the society called Prodigy Elite and I was the marketing officer for the 2019, and I was a res mentor in the year 2019 and even received a certificate for it, I have been and still currently a member of the 100% Human society. I served as a class rep for three modules in my first year and participated in the annual Mathematics Conference which was held at the University of Pretoria in 2019 were I occupied the position of being a computer assistant.

I am standing for the Portfolio of Societies in the SRC and the reason I believe I am the best candidate because I have the work ethic, the personality and the character for it, my kindness, confidence and strive for positive growth for me and those around me makes me believe that I am more than equipped to occupy this position in the SRC, I am a team player who believes in teamwork more than anything, I am able to absorb pressure and meet deadlines and motivate those around me and the larger community. I always give a helping hand in any way that I can and it is something I have been doing for some time ever since I was a UP student, hence getting into the SRC will widen and increase my sources for me to be able to help students because at the end of the day, the SRC is for the students, by the students.

I am a third year BAdmin Public Management and International Relations student who has an interest in political studies and is conscious of the world around me. I am part of the societies EFFSC, UNASA and TAP. I stay at Respublica Urban Nest.

I have participated in the Tuks Ambassadors of Peace which is a religious society which aims to bring peace and unity in the institution. In 2018, I was also the Gender Officer of the EFFSCUP.

When elected to office, I will bring about the hybrid registration of societies whereby societies will have the discretion of choosing between either online or contact registration. This is to gradually adapt to the fourth Industrial revolution. I will make sure that societies that have reasonable amounts of active members get their own offices so as to attend to issues of their constituencies with consistency. At the core of my plight, will be to create a safe and inclusive space for marginalized groups such as the LGBTQI+, women and people living with disabilities so as to have the will establish societies that will bring about progressive transformation in the university. Working with the treasurer, I will ensure that funding for societies is released on time without bias. Allow societies to be present during open days so that prospective UP students can familiarise themselves with these structures.

Tshegofatso Nthite Candidates for SRC Portfolio

SRC Transformation Profile

Alex Mailola

Ernest Boikanyo

Irvin Mavuso

Participation in UP student structures

Why I am the best candidate for this portfolio

I am a vibrant second-year student studying BSC Human genetics, psychology & physiology. I am residing in RISE student accommodation.

I am running for a portfolio of Transformation & Student Success. I will be a prominent member and a crucial asset to the team. I have developed many problem solving skills and I am very analytical on matters. I want to bring innovative ways to engage with our fellow students by breaking the gap that has always been there between students and the leadership. I am determined to do my utmost best to lend my ear in listening to students daily affairs across all the university campuses.

Ernest Boikanyo, currently a 2nd year enrolled for Political Studies. Firm believer in democracy and its values, guided by unity and collective decision, accountability and value transparency in all forms of communications aimed to ensuring every voice is heard to bring change. I currently reside off campus at South Point and affiliated to the EFFSCUP, and highly passionate in serving and volunteering particularly in societies or structures such Amnesty international. I fully support societies that seeks to fight for social justice.

Served in House Education 2018/2019 as the Treasurer of the House. The first Faculty House to establish Mr. and Mrs. House Education in the history of Faculty Houses. The House valued accountability and Transparency, the most prominent leadership qualities that I was able to inherit. Having served in the House I got to work with different students and I was able witness inequalities in Education. The right to education is one of the democratic right enshrined in constitution. I therefore, make an oath to advocate for access to education.

I am running for the office of Transformation and Student access. As I will be occupying the office I will be encouraging more local oriented content such as campus upcoming musicians, arts and culture. Policy oriented education and visibility of LGBTIQ+ community and persons who are differently to build create an inclusive and diverse well rounded institution culture. Efficient campus access and mental and physical health services, partnership with various institutional departments to increase campus by campus capacity. Petition executive management exemplary commitment on SGBV training extending to UP staff, adequate student representation in Institutional Transformation forum and foster policy and regulations partnership. Ensuring affordable food prices, reasonable registration, residence and tuition fees especially with the Covid-19 economic impact on household livelihoods.

My name is Irvin Mavuso. I am doing my penultimate year in my LLB studies. I stay at Respublica Eastwood Village. Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m a big soccer fan and as a legal student I am interested in matters of justice and the law being used to help make the lives of ordinary citizens better.

I was a mentor in the stars mentorship programme in 2018. I then joined the stars mentorship programmeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s executive committee as one of the humanities faculty coordinators and the IT & Logistics officer. I am a BA Law (UP) graduate. I am also a member of the golden key honour society.

I am running for the transformation and student success portfolio in this yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Student Representative Council Elections. I believe that I am the best candidate for this portfolio because what is most important to me is to represent student views, and not just being an executive member. My commitment to helping students succeed is unshakable, which is why before I ran for this position I was in the executive of a student mentorship society (STARS), making sure students get the help they need to succeed. I plan on changing the current method of representation by continuously engaging with students to find out what they think would be the best way to support students in their academic journey. To allow students to suggest and vote for programs which will be most beneficial to them. I care about the students and if I am elected, helping students succeed will be my biggest. My promise, if elected, is to be accountable to the student community, to be transparent, and to vigorously represent student views and opinions within the council.

Candidates for SRC Portfolio

SRC Transformation Profile

Lopez Dube

Princess Sibanda

Participation in UP student structures

I’m Lopez Dube, a fourth year student studying education (BEd). I’m a day student. I enjoy to social with student inside campus hear I engage in intellectual argument from Culture, Politics, Races, Gender, Academics, Economics and Philosophy which enhance understanding of life and people.

I haven’t participated in any student structure or held a leadership position to be honest. However I’m taking this big step to encourage every individual student that there’s a trait of leadership within each of them. I’m setting example as one of the candidate who hasn’t held a leadership position before but inspired to run for SRC position. Transformation and Student Success.

I’m the best candidate for the portfolio because my reasons comes from a conviction than an external motivation. Students are not impressed with the way the SRC is been doing and the best way to change this is to put forward my admission for it. I’m a round person who have faced all struggles I have went through financial struggle, academical struggle, struggle for Accommodation and struggle of transition from high school and universities environment which I understand what student go through.

My name is Princess Thembisile Sibanda. I am registered for a humanities special program majoring in Psychology, and I stay in Nerina residence. I have a great passion for people and I am a disability rights activist. I believe that inclusion is one way of allowing people to reach their full potential. I am always willing to listen, share my story and help where I possibly can. One of my weaknesses is that I want to be involved in almost everything which then becomes strength because it enables me to represent persons with disabilities and be their voice within that space.

I am the current Chairperson of BOLD (Beyond our limiting disabilities) society. In 2019 I was a speaker at the Student wellness community human rights event. I hold a certificate for the Nerina Nika of the year 2019, this certificate reflects on the values of Nerina residence and I happen to hold all of them. I also have a certificate with the South African Depression and anxiety group as a volunteer counsellor. Last but not least I graduated as a mentee from the Girls for Girls South Africa mentorship program.

I am running for the office of Transformation and student success. Through inclusion, equity and equality we can all ensure students’ success and this can be achieved through transformed minds (willingness to unlearn, relearn and accommodate). One of the reasons I am running for this portfolio is so I can get to a platform to implement new strategies of a more inclusive and accommodating UP community, telling people what to do is different from actually doing the job yourself because then you can implement new ways of achieving that goal if the initial plan doesn’t succeed.

My name is Reece Lenting. I am currently working towards my LLB qualification after successfully obtaining Ba(Law) in 2019. I am a member of Tuks karate, considering the fact that I am a black belt and former national champion within Goju Kai Karate. My love for sport has carried me through many ups and downs in my life. Sport has also guided me to places such as TuksFM, as I am the current News and Sports manager at the best campus radio station in South Africa. I am also one of the co-founders and former directors of Mandown. .

A former director of Mandown, our main aim was to establish a structure within the university that focused on issues such as: toxic masculinity, res culture (Male residences), GBV , financial literacy & mental health awareness. As the Transformation Officer at Beyond pages (BP). We promoted student development & success through academic wellness, social wellbeing and financial management. A loyal member of TuksFM for the past 2 years; I was named News & sports reader of the year and I was fortunate enough to be a part of the team that won Campus breakfast show at the National Liberty Radio Awards.

Running for the portfolio of Transformation and Student success was an instinctive decision. My mission is clear, to see a positive change within the student population. As a proud graduate of the University of Pretoria (UP), I have seen and experienced the structures that restrict student advancement within various sectors of the university. Through this portfolio I seek to further advocate for the inclusivity of all students across all our UP campuses. This includes bringing about consistent awareness to mental health, not just during a one month campaign. Since the university has taken the decision to not reduce our fees for the 2020 academic year. I will demand that a certain portion of those funds be dedicated to paid courses for students, a further injection of funds into the Student Health services to ensure students receive timely and adequate care while at the university. Secondly, I will lobby for the introduction of safety buttons in and around UP campuses to promote safety while in and around campuses. Further, I aim to collaborate with Mandown, to ensure that the fight against Gender based violence is continued.

I am a young prominent female that associates herself with bringing change in people’s lives. I am doing my second year BPolSci( Political studies). I stay in Hatfield. I am a member of SASCO, YCL, and UP Xhosa society.

I have been part of the subcommittee of the Community Engagement for House Humanities in 2020. I’ve served in SASCO and ANCYL in 2019 and 2020.

I’m running for Transformation and Student Success. I believe that I am the right candidate for this portfolio because there is a need for transformation in this institution. I have observed tuks res and see a need for bringing about change. Food prices and the kinds of food sold on campus and res must be accommodative. Nsfas students should not stress about academics because allowances are coming in late. The LGBTIQA+ community and disabled students have been marginalized in this institution and this must change. I believe through collective Leadership and integrated teamwork with stakeholders of student governance, change can be realized. The success of students is what drives me from within, that is enough reason for me to be positioned in the office of transformation and student success.

Reece Lenting

Thuto Mashila

Uwaiza Abdool Sattar

Why I am the best candidate for this portfolio

My name is Uwaiza Abdool Sattar and I am a second- The leadership roles that I have gained this year as the year BIT(Information Systems) student. Secretary of the EBIT Faculty House as well as the Junior I am a well-organized, confident, goal-driven, and a Tukkie Student Ambassadors Society. hardworking student who is always striving towards assisting others. I am passionate and capable of managing and handling tasks to the best of my ability to ensure that the desired outcome is reached successfully.

I am running for the position of Transformation and Student Success. I want to step in and create a culture of support and be a pillar of strength for all students. Ensuring that each student is well equipped and will reach the goal that they set for themselves. This culture will bring forth unity and inclusivity allowing help and support to be reached from all aspects. Bringing forth the best interest of all students will always be my first priority and this will be accomplished by Engaging with students to ensure that their Mental Health is always taken into consideration. As a DASO candidate, I will revolutionize the SRC and ensure that my voice is heard to leave an echo of change. I am the best candidate for this position not because I understand the students but because I am willing to provide the best and most effective solutions to the needs of the students.

HOW TO VOTE IN THE STUDENT REPRESENTATIVE COUNCIL ELECTIONS

Voting starts at 07:00, 26 October to 19:00, 28 October 2020 #UPSRC2021 #MySRC_MyVote

STEP 1: Login details At the start of the voting period, you will receive login details in your @tuks.co.za Gmail account STEP 2: Accessing the voter portal Log into the voter portal using the provided login details STEP 3: Viewing the candidates Once successfully logged into the voter portal you will have access to ten ballots, you will also be able to view all the candidatesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; profiles and manifestos on each ballot STEP 4: Selecting the candidates On each ballot vote for your preferred candidate, and click submit after you have reviewed your choices STEP 5: Receipt Once you have submitted, you can download a copy of your receipt

Disclaimer - Do not share your login details. - Voting is anonymous, secured, and audited by an external auditing firm. Your vote is secret! - Voting is an expression of free will and a right which must be exercised freely and discreetly. - No staff/student should coerce you to vote in any particular way.

12 October 2020

News | 5

Questions to the Treasurer: Shaheen Deonarian How are budget allocations undertaken for each portfolio?

How much money did the SRC inherit from the previous SRC body, and how much had to paid off to clear the pledges of the previous SRC?

What were the additional costs incurred during the lockdown period and how was the budget adjusted to accommodate this?

Budget allocations for each portfolio are based on the Plan of Action each portfolio submits at the beginning of the year the more projects which require funds in the POA the more funding is provided.

We did not receive any funds from last years SRC, we only got the budget allocated for this year by the DSA. The last year SRC pledges I know amounted to over a million which was surplus to the budget given to the last year SRC, thus we recieved no funds

The additional cost for the SRC was only the SRC solidarity fund this was a project that was not anticipated and thus had to be re-worked for

Were the allocations to stationary made at the beginning of lockdown, if so, were there talks to redirect this due to many SRC members working from home?

Who does a SRC member give an account of what has been spent in their respective portfolios and why does the student body not observe this?

What challenges has the COVID-19 pandemic posed to the budget of the SRC this year?

The stationary budget was drafted prior to lockdown, the SRC never saw a need to use this for members at home as they never expressed any need for stationary thus this will also be drained and redirected.

To use funds in the SRC I need to sign-off on the use aswell as the president in some cases thus I keep a running record of all expenses that are made, I can also get a statement from toonbank for costcenters. I do believe the student body should have access to it however this year there were very minimal transfers of portfolios to report, the report of the faculty houses day houses and SRC transfers to the solidarity fund were voted to be confidential by a majority thus that budget could not be released without the chairs and treasurers permission.

The status of student and staff pledges for the SRC study aid: Under the Office of the Treasury’s POA, Deonarain mentions the formulation of pledges “that will challenge staff members, as well as willing students to pledge their salaries to students’ needs”. Deonarain mentions that the SRC “has not implemented, yet, neither abandoned” the initiative, and confirms re-visitation of the initiative once campus activities resume. Deonarain cites potential lockdown extensions, and lack of full salary payment as potential motivation to not run the pledge initiatives immediately, but focus on it in later months when activities return to normal. Deonarain indicates that the pledges mentioned in the POA also referred to interdepartmental budgets, as it would make the initiative “more successful, not to only target salaries but rather than have unnecessarily expensive teambuilding excursions or workshops we use the saved money for the SRC study aid”. It was confirmed by Deonarain that that all SRC members gave away 20% of their budgets allocated to their portfolio, and that talks are under way with the DSA about further cuts to the budget that will be revisited once campus reopens. We wanted to query the status of these pledges as of now. There was a lack of purchases and expenses for projects by the SRC due to the nature we found ourselves in the SRC did donate money from its contingency cost center for the solidarity fund which is still ongoing, hence why no final budget was released as more donations will be made, more recently the

transformation office made purchases however that is still within toonbank to reflect on the system.

The system in which the SRC could operate financially changed quite significantly to a system which resulted in alot of delays and alot of dependence on the DSA to make purchases, financially it was not a major impact however to efficiently perform the purchasing for SRC, the on campus system is critical.

What happens when a portfolio needs more than what was budgeted for before and were there incidences of this during 2020?

How much has the current SRC body left for the incoming SRC body (i.e. the inheritance)?

In cases where a portfolio needs more money during the year funds are taken from the contingency cost center to supplement the portfolio. This is money I set aside for emergencies or cases like this there were no instances; infact many projects were put on hold due to COVID, so the excess funds we had went to the SRC solidarity fund and the registration period payments.

Currently we are in the process of draining the SRC cost centers for the final quarter to move to the solidarity fund for another round and we will gage how much money we can leave to the incoming SRC depending on the need in the solidarity fund; so no set amount but money will definitely be left for next years registration period.

In an effort of transparency, it is mentioned under the Office of the Treasury’s POA that a tab on the student portal page would be devised to have all financial reports accessible by the student body. Deonarain ascertains that it was decided to keep this tab on the UP website to enable non-registered students to view the reports. In commenting on the correct status of this initiative, Deonarain says that “there is a minor tweak for now that needs to be discussed with Tuks Education Innovation as well as the SRC Media Communications officer”. We wanted to query whether this initiative to make financial budgets more readily available to UP affiliated students and alumni, and whether this is in a stage for the incoming SRC Treasurer to undertake?

It is still a very important activity that needs to be done, it is definitely in a stage where next year it can be completed before the first quarter draws to a close and by no means will be hard to implement once campus opens.

Additionally: • The SRC Financial budget on the website gives amounts allocated to each portfolio, yet there are no subdivisions on what this money was spent on, where can the student body find details of this money was spent? • The financial budget has seen numerous revisions during the course of the year, attributed to the imposed lockdown. When can students obtain copies of these initial budgets that were drafted and changed during the course of the year? • Robinson clarifies that most of the ventures set out in her POA like the addition of drinking taps, panic buttons, and solar powered lights around dark walkways on campus, are in

the research phase, and that she had to put her personal POA on hold to assist with student concerns that came to the SRC. The budget allocated for the Office of Facilities, Safety and Security was confirmed by the SRC treasurer, Shaheen Deonarain, as R15 050. • In a prior engagement with PDBY, you had mentioned that the Office of Facilities, Safety and Security had a budget of R15 050, while the Office of Postgraduate and International Students was allocated as 23 050, which are the exact amounts stipulated in the financial budget that was released. Were there no changes or additions to these budgets since March?

There were not necessarily revisions the budgets were not correctly drafted according to UP Accounting Department as there was a conflict from toonbank and the DSA on how it should be done, hence the delay in the initial release. The revision to the budgest will happen within October and the new budget will be released for

the student body. There were no changes to the budget since March yet however I have just received the updated SRC POAs which I then will now set the new budget on for the year end process this will then send a change to portfolios.

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Contact: Carel Willemse carel.willemse@up.ac.za

6 | Features

Love in the Time of Corona

12 October 2020

Bianke Neethling

OVID-19 has affected nearly every aspect of society, including relationships. The lockdown and social distancing guidelines have made starting and maintaining romantic relationships increasingly difficult, as physical contact had to be kept to a minimum to prevent the spread of the virus. Even as the lockdown restrictions are easing and some aspects of the world are slowly starting to see a return to normal, the effects of the pandemic on relationships and the dating world are still being felt and will likely continue to be felt for the foreseeable future. PDBY consulted Dr Shingairai Chigeza, a UP lecturer and Research Psychologist in the Department of Psychology, on the effects of COVID-19 on relationships. Dr Chigeza notes a distinction between the effects on “face-to-face relationships” versus “virtual relationships”. Face-to-face relationships refer to partners who shared the same space during the lockdown and were, in general, affected in one of two ways. On the one hand, says Dr Chigeza, the pandemic and its resultant lockdown “brought unity”, as these couples had to share a space and could thus spend more time together, thereby strengthening their relationship bond. On the other hand, however, was the negative impact of couples being confined together, which could be seen in news reports on the high rates of domestic violence during the lockdown. According to News24, over 1400 gender-based violence and domestic abuse cases were opened in Gauteng during the Level 5 lockdown. Dr Chigeza explains that “being confined in the same space for a longer period of time has a significant effect on mental well-being, which can possibly cause violence”. One inevitable result of the lockdown restrictions, especially under the higher levels of restriction, was an increase in long-distance relationships, as couples who do not live together were unable to meet in-person for a number of months. Dr Chigeza refers to these relationships as “virtual relationships”. In terms of this relationship type, Dr Chigeza explains that partners who were not able to see each other for an extended period of time likely faced many challenges, and she distinguishes between the effects of the pandemic on short-term versus long-term relationships. Dr Chigeza believes that short-term relationships, referring to newer and younger couples, were likely more affected by the lockdown than older couples who have

Illustration: Giovanna Janos

been in long-term relationships. She accounts this difference to the fact that, “psychologically, age plays a big role”. Older people are able to regulate their emotions better and, in general, have a more stable mental well-being. In addition, long-term couples could also be more used to spending longer periods of time apart. Dr Chigeza highlights the fact that the pandemic and the resultant lockdown regulations have brought about a lot of anxiety, which was largely fuelled by the uncertainty experienced during this time. Uncertainty surrounding the outcome of both the pandemic and its effect on people’s relationships, as well as the loss of physical connection for many couples, also brought a lot of loneliness to relationships. However, Dr Chigeza advises that, in order to curb these effects, couples must remember that “communication is key”. Lack of physical contact and lack of communication weakens the relationship bond. Communication is necessary to strengthen a couple’s bond, build trust, curb uncertainty, stabilise mental well-being, and

build the relationship. She also advises couples to keep in mind that, “companionship contributes to happiness and meaning in life” and that “effective relationships are built on reciprocal caring and interactions”. However, the pandemic did not only affect couples as the world of dating was also impacted by both the lockdown and social distancing guidelines. As people were unable to meet someone in public, online dating saw a significant rise in popularity during this time. Business Insider reports that Match Group, the owner of popular dating brands, such as Tinder, Hinge, and OKCupid, saw a 15% increase in new subscribers over only one quarter in this year. As their popularity increased during this time, many dating apps launched new features in response. Tinder, for example, launched a new feature called “video dating”, with which, as Business Insider states, users can “go on virtual dates”. However, a Global News article, entitled “‘I’m going to bring hand sanitizer’: What it’s like dating during the pandemic”, predicts that

“people may move away from online dating once the pandemic is over”, as “[people] are getting fatigued from technology and miss in-person connections”. In this same article, Kristen Mark, an associate professor and director of the Sexual Health Promotion Lab at the University of Kentucky, refers to a phenomenon called “skin hunger”, which became especially prevalent during the pandemic. The term “skin hunger” refers to the feeling of “touch starvation”, which the Texas Medical Center defines as the negative psychological effects caused by a loss of physical contact. These effects include an increase in “stress, depression, and anxiety” and an extended period of time without positive physical touch “can even lead to post-traumatic stress disorder”. However, Asim Shah, professor and executive vice chair of the Menninger Department of Psychiatry at Baylor College of Medicine, is optimistic that “people will overcome the stress and anxiety of physical distancing” and will “learn the new level of intimacy [and] human connection”.

What we can do to curb climate change, now Umeonisofien Dikio

hether you believe that global warming affects you or not, it can’t be denied that earth’s climate is changing, and something must be done about it sooner, rather than later, to avoid irreversible consequences. The year 2020 has been a year of problems; in health, in economy and in weather. Some exemplar events in climate change for 2020 include what happened in Djibouti, where earlier this year they received up to 6 months-worth of rain in a few hours, as well as California, USA, where fires have been raging for over a month. According to the New York Times, climate change did not cause the wildfires, they were caused by human activities, but through intensified heatwaves and drier temperatures, the fires are getting worse. Climate change primarily presents itself through changes in water cycles – such as flooding, drought, rising sea levels or melting glaciers. Traveller24.com explained that up to nine world cities inch closer to water dayzero’s, like Cape Town in 2018. Reading about such massive events can be de-motivating, as we think about how small we are compared to such events and dismiss the idea that we can enact change. But there is always hope. According to The Guardian, just a hundred companies are responsible for 71% of global

greenhouse gas emissions – the majority of which are involved in producing energy, from coal or oil refining. Greenhouse emissions contribute to climate change, they comprise greenhouse gasses like carbon dioxide (CO2) which trap heat from the sun on earth’s atmosphere, causing increased temperatures. Humanity needs to find alternatives to what we produce and apply pressure to larger bodies to switch to alternatives. The alternatives already exist; we can produce renewable energy from hydro dams, solar power and wind energy. We can also use electric vehicles, which won’t be redundant if we convert to producing renewable electricity. Businesses work by demand and make money from producing a supply, we can create a demand for renewable energy sources so that businesses will have no choice but to supply renewable energy. But what can students do on an individual level? For the sake of our environment, we must try to change our lifestyles. Some helpful activities that students can engage in include; upcycling clothes. The World Wildlife Fund, in an article entitled “The Impact of a Cotton T-Shirt”, explains that it takes about 2700 litres of water to produce a single cotton shirt, and that by upcycling we reduce the demand to produce new clothes by making new clothes from our old clothes, thereby conserving water. Another alternative is thrift shopping, simply buying and selling used clothes instead of continuously buying new clothes can help conserve water. In

other departments, we can recycle paper, this would reduce the rate at which trees are being cut down to produce more paper. We can also try and save water at home, by conserving grey water and rainwater. Grey water is used water from your house, especially the kitchen. It may contain dirt, hair, food or cleaning substances, and so it is advisable to use gently used water and not harshly used water that contains high amounts of cleaning detergent. Water from washing vegetables is a great example of greywater. Grey water can be used for washing laundry, irrigating crops and gardens, and flushing the toilet. If you would like to go the extra mile to combat climate change, some drastic changes you can make to your lifestyle include reducing your consumption of animal products – especially beef. According to CSIRO, it takes an estimate of 50 thousand litres of water to produce only 1 kilogram of beef, as compared to 2385 litres of water for 1 kilogram of rice. If you do decide to reduce animal products, be sure to replace your sources of protein and nutrients in order to remain healthy - it’s also advisable to consult a health professional before making any drastic changes. You can also invest in an electric vehicle; which emits much less greenhouse gasses and is a great way to evade using fossil fuels. Another important thing you can do is to research the brands you buy from to ensure that they reflect the eco-friendly or sustainable behaviour you expect from them, and buy your goods and services accordingly.

Illustration: Giovanna Janos

There’s a lot we can do to help combat climate change but it is an ongoing process. Changing our own lifestyles and raising awareness should be the main objective, and the main aim is to evade a climate change disaster. Most importantly, remember that you are not too small to enact change.

12 October 2020

Features | 7

PDBWhy: Will you be voting in the SRC elections? Carli Botha

oting for the 2021 Student Representative Council (SRC) starts on 26 October 2020, and as with many other key events, it has moved online due to COVID-19. PDBY asked students whether they will be voting in the SRC election this year, whether they think it is important to vote, and why.

Damien Govender, third year BCom Accounting Sciences

I am not voting in the SRC elections. I have never voted since I’ve started my first year at UP in 2018. I think it’s important to vote for any form of an election that affects your personal capacity. Whether to vote for a political party, class representative, or other governing bodies. The SRC is no different - it comprises of a student body that aims to uplift the university in many areas such as academics, student support, sports etc. Each party has its own agenda and vision which should be analyzed carefully before deciding on such. The reason I have never voted is because there is often very little interaction between myself and the SRC. There may be intangible connections and benefits that I have received over the course of my degree that I shall acknowledge. My degree is extremely intensive and free time has decreased drastically over the years as the workload and difficulty increased. Consequently, there is very little time for other student activities such as socials, sporting events etc. There is also a strong support and admin structure within my degree. We have class representatives, academic trainees, organizations such as House CA, and our lecturers who provided us with ample support and opportunities. I have also not done the appropriate research into the various parties and refuse to make an uneducated vote. The combination of the factors above is why I don’t think it’s important to vote for SRC.

Tiaan Janse Van Rensburg, first year BEng Civil Engineering Yes. It is not always easy for students to communicate with faculties or to find the right person to talk to. That is why I see the SRC as the middleman for students and administrators to communicate.

Sibabalwe Ndlela, third year LLB

Yes. We live in a democratic country and university is part of a larger community, community being South Africa. Just like how national elections are conducted where everyone is given a fair chance to vote for their leaders, the same is done in [the] SRC elections. Democracy plays a huge role in South Africa. SRC elections are just that, democracy.

Toni Ferreira, third year BCom General

No. I don’t see the point in voting for the SRC, I am in my final year of studies and I have never seen or heard of the SRC doing anything. I also didn’t know we had a SRC president until David Kabwa started speaking on behalf of the students.

Angel Khwela, second year LLB

Yes. Because my opinion, just like everyone else’s, matters and I want to contribute by making sure the people I believe are best suited for the position, get the position. After all, this impacts my future too.

Eleni Athanasiadis, MSc Human Physiology

Yes. As students, I think it is important to vote so that we can have a say in those who represent us. Voting for a candidate gives us the power to have a partial say in how things will be run. It is our chance as students to speak out to candidates of our choice that can empathise with us and that will ultimately make a change for the better. I would like to vote for someone that will hear my voice and my problems, and for this reason, I will be voting.

Gloria Choma, second year BA Law

Yes. It is important to vote because by not voting you are giving up your chance to raise your voice. Voting is essential because it is your opportunity to strive for change. You can choose to elect who you feel will have your best interests at all times when representing you in front of the University’s management. It is a chance to choose if the people currently holding office have been delivering according to your expectations and if they should continue to hold office or not.

Will you be voting in the SRC elections this month? Let us know at @PDBYMedia!

8 | Entertainment

12 October 2020

Kompleks Kendra Connock

ompleks is the interwoven story of two people in two different times of their lives. In the first timeline, Sean and Mika are teenagers enjoying the winter holiday of 2019. The two youngsters barely know each other and meet by chance one afternoon - the connection between the two is immediate. Both teenagers have their own tough family dynamics to navigate, with mothers who are hardly home and fathers who are disinterested in the lives of their children. In the second timeline, viewers meet Sean and Mika as adults; Sean is a skilled actuary who left his dream of being a concert cellist behind him, and Mika is a widowed graphic designer and mother to 16-year-old Frida. The two timelines are narrated by stalwart of the Afrikaans music scene, Koos Kombuis. The show makes use of split-screen filming which allows viewers to watch the characters on the screen while also seeing what is happening on the screens of the character’s phones; the relationships in the show play out as we’re used to in real life: through a combination of video calls, social media, and messaging apps. The writer of Kompleks, Louis Pretorius, is responsible for

a number of other popular Afrikaans TV series, including Die Boekklub, Die Boland Moorde, and Fynskrif. The characters are well thoughtout and appear on your screen as if they were real people you have known for years; there is incredible depth within the characters and their background stories even within the short span of the first two episodes of the series. Kompleks is far from your run-of-the-mill romance story; the complexity of the two timelines leaves viewers questioning when and where the two might intersect. Small, seemingly insignificant ‘easter eggs’ have been left in the background of the teenage timeline, which then appear in the later timeline and vice versa. Throughout the tunnels of time and space which separate the teenage timeline from the adult timeline, there exists a faint connection between these two individuals; a connection which seems to lead them to one another time and time again. The intricate and beautiful writing of the series is only enhanced by the talented actors and actresses

Image: IMBd.com

tasked with portraying the various characters. The teenage Sean and Mika are played by Arthur Falko and Melissa Myburgh respectively; while their adult counterparts are Armand Aucamp (Die Boekklub) and Roeline Daneel (Fynskrif). Familiar names Stian Bam, Milan Murray, Therese Bam, and Paul du Toit round out the cast as the parents of teenage Sean and Mika. The team is guided by actress-turned-director Tinarie van Wyk-Loots. Kompleks airs on KykNET and is available on DSTV Catch Up and Showmax. This show is for fans of great writing, dynamic and dimensional characters, talented actors and actresses, and a love story that spans time and space.

Musical niches and their online home Meet Robyn Vasalya Moodley

In today’s music scene, pop music dominates mainstream media. The general public are privy to chart-topping pop songs heard on radio or advertised on television. However, with the rapid increase of online sites such as YouTube and SoundCloud that are accessible to anyone and everyone, the world of music is opened up beyond the realm of radio pop. Varieties of alternative genres of music are shared on these platforms. In an age where an enormous amount of time is spent online, it is not difficult to find artists that perform within these genres. Through online platforms, unique subcultures of music are discovered and artists in every corner of the world can endlessly share their creativity online, with the freedom to experiment and test new sounds unfamiliar to the commonality of music released by major production labels. With the distribution of a particular video just a click and ‘share’ button away, word of mouth (or text) spreads the names of bands and musicians quickly, which over time garner increasingly large fan bases with views and streams growing by the millions. Here are a few examples of budding genres in the online scene: The ancient art of Mongolian throat singing was said to originate from the sounds of natural surroundings. Mongolia is the only country that continues to practice this form of singing. The physical demands of throat singing, namely a straight posture and breath management, combined with a specific mouth-movement technique, create a deep guttural sound. Today, the long tradition of throat singing is continued. In Mongolia’s capital Ulaanbaatar, the International School of Throat Singing trains the future generation of throat singers to pass down and exhibit the unique style. Mongolian Band The Hu creatively interpret throat singing in their sound, which has been coined as ‘Mongolian Metal’. The fusion of throat singing, traditional instruments, heavy metal sounds, and videos create a powerful image that elevates the craft of throat singing. Millions have watched the band’s grand music videos and the love for this unique sound has vastly spread online. The band’s most-viewed video on YouTube, “Yuve Yuve Yu”, gained over 47 million views. The same track is the band’s most-streamed song on Spotify, with over 12 million streams. The world has seen and heard the war-like music of The Hu through online platforms like Youtube, and the band have since toured the world successfully, sharing their fusion of art and culture to all. Trance is a form of electronic dance music that came about in the 90s from Germany. The genre has evolved since then by

Photos: Kayla Thomas Illustration: Giovanna Janos

becoming multi-influenced in various sub-genres. Trance music aims to induce a state of euphoria or high within the listener through its lengthy mixed layering and buildup-and-release structure. Listeners in the 90s gravitated towards trance music to simulate a hypnotic state. The genre has evolved into mainstream popularity in the current music world, infiltrating music festivals WITH artists interpreting the genre in their own creative ways. Major platforms such as Billboard have acknowledged the trance genre, and a mix highlighting the best of it can be found on Spotify. Armin van Buuren, known as the ‘king of trance’ by Billboard, is a Dutch DJ who is an expert on the genre. His utilisation of the psychedelic genre of music has elevated his career to new heights. He has headlined major music festivals and has over 11 million monthly listeners on Spotify. The trance genre has also reached South African ears. Many trance music festivals have been hosted in major cities like Cape Town and Johannesburg with more coming up, such as the Into The Wild: Moon Child festival that was originally scheduled for 26 September but was cancelled. Carnatic music, a musical form originating from South India, is a widespread genre of Indian classical music. Not to be mistaken with Bollywood music, which is the soundtrack of Bollywood films, Carnatic music is an ancient musical style that depicts traditional and religious themes of Hindu culture, such as mythological stories or customs. It also traditionally accompanies Indian classical dance styles. In today’s online culture, young people have shared their own modern interpretation of the traditional art on platforms like YouTube and SoundCloud. The ever-growing modernisation of the musical form seems to have formed its own sub-culture of Indian music, evident by the extremely high number of hits and clicks online. A classic example of new-age traditional Indian art of Carnatic music is the IndianRaga performance company. The performance artists featured in the videos on their YouTube channel create innovative productions of classical music. Their success is evident in the millions of views their videos accumulate. ‘Shape Of You Indian Mix’ is their most-viewed music video, a traditional take on the famous pop song ‘Shape Of You’ by Ed Sheeran. The groups’ creative 21st century twist on such a traditional form of music has amassed an enormous fan base of old and young listeners, who rush online to find and replay them. Whether it be inventing a new sound or drawing inspiration from tradition, online platforms have provided an easily-accessible space for artists in any genre of music, or any industry for that matter. Online content is boundless, and artists have the opportunity to express their musical creativity in as many forms and as many times as they wish. As easily as artists can upload content, viewers can see it. Applying this to unique genres of music, when the right sound strikes a right chord within the viewer, an artist can gather a mass following of fans the same way any signed recording artist on the charts can. Online sites provide a home for these genres of music to exist and be exposed, for one’s musical taste can be wider than that of mainstream artists.

Furgeson

Cassidy Bessa and Dani van der Horst

obyn Ferguson is a talented South African guitarist. In addition to her impressive solo career, Ferguson also plays for numerous bands. PDBY had the opportunity to catch up with Ferguson shortly after the release of her latest EPs.According to Ferguson, “music is a form of expression”. She explains that she “fell in love with the guitar by watching someone else play and seeing the sparkle in their eyes” and that “[she] wanted to experience that sparkle.” The talented guitarist draws inspiration from “everywhere”, as she explores her own experiences, but also feels as though she is “mostly influenced by nature”. Ferguson describes her music as “pure alchemy”. She elaborates on this by suggesting that it is a collection of “bits and pieces put together like a mad scientist trying to make things work”. When asked how being South African influences her music, she explains that “being South African is not a disadvantage”. As Ferguson suggests “by saying that you are ‘only’ South African or ‘only’ a woman, you are putting yourself into a box”. Ferguson encourages musicians (and all people) to constantly evaluate their way of thinking and live outside of the box. Ferguson has had the opportunity to play all over the continent and when asked about her favourite experience so far, she suggested that she really enjoyed performing at a guitar festival in Nairobi. She said her experience: “was more of a workshop than a performance but there were so many cool people to meet and learn from”. When asked about her experience of performing in bands, Ferguson explains that “with most bands it is a collaborative effort”. She suggests that “each person in the band is a gear in the machine and that it is never a ‘me’ thing but more like an ‘us’ thing”. Ferguson is an adaptable guitarist who draws a lot of inspiration from the bands that she performs with. When asked about her own music, Ferguson says that her favourite part of it all is “finding her groove and allowing her music to shine on its own”. She explains that her EP, Falling Forward, “is what really opened the floodgate for [her]”. Ferguson is proud of the vibe on all three of her original bodies of work and she is excited to see where it is leading her to. She explains that she “doesn’t have a favourite piece of work but rather loves how they are all coming together”. Ferguson suggests that budding solo guitarists and new artists in general should “start off solo, get some material going and show up!”. She further emphasises that it is important to “work hard, play hard, and stick to your guns. Remember why you started. Remember your purpose and commit”. Her final advice to new artists is to “have fun and don’t stop. Believe that what you’re doing is cool and there will be someone else who thinks it’s cool as well.” Robyn Ferguson’s music is available on all major streaming platforms.

Sport Photo: Reg Caldecott

Short Course Championships with Schoenmaker

Caitlyn Walsh

atjana Schoenmaker recently set a new national record for her 200m breaststroke during her trials for the South African Short Course Championships on25 September. She won with a time of 2:18.20 at the Curro College Hazeldean performance pool with her winning time resulting in a time of 0.53s faster than the record set by Suzaan van Biljon during the Manchester Short Course World Championships in 2008. PDBY spoke to Schoenmaker’s coach, Rocco Meiring, to learn about her exemplary performance and her plans for the future. How did Schoenmaker react to her performance? Tatzi was pleasantly surprised as it was totally unexpected. What specific instructions should Schoenmaker follow in races to not over exert herself during the first 100m of the race? The correct pacing during her races are critically important and practising her pacing in her training is an integral part of her training. How does the altitude of a competition’s location affect the

TuksRugby world class coaches for 2021 Chrizaan Pretorius TuksRugby and the season of 2021 looks very promising. Nico Luus (TuksRugby head coach) recently announced that John Mcfarland and John Laffnie de Jager will be joining their coaching team. This news did not only excite TuksRugby and their future prospectives, but also the longstanding supporters of TuksRugby. Luus added that the theme for TuksRugby in 2021 will be ‘Champion people who are world class’, and added that he believes that by setting their heart on being world class, they will enable TuksRugby to be one of the best rugby clubs. Correspondingly both these new coaches have worked within the international sporting arena. Mcfarland, famous for his defence coaching within rugby, worked ten years as an assistant coach at the Bulls and served as the 2012 defence coach for the Springboks. Luus told PDBY that “To have him as part of our team will be like having a ‘rugby encyclopedia’ on the field”. Secondly the appointing of de Jager might come as a surprise to many, since he is primarily a tennis coach. Luus explained that this is exactly why TuksRugby decided to include them in their coaching team. De Jager specialises in developing ‘Champion People’ and the individual, which is an aspect that can easily be neglected within coaching strategies. Luus also said that “one of the things de Jager said that stuck with me is: ‘when you respect your opponent, you ultimately show respect for yourself. When you respect your opponent, you will never be surprised when they play well. When you challenge your opponent to play at their best, it will bring the best out of you. It is the culture I want at TuksRugby”. Overall 2020 was not a forgotten year for TuksRugby, but Luus constructively used this time to interview 105 of their current players in an attempt to improve their coaching. TuksRugby managed to turn 2020 around in a year of progress and planning to ensure a season in 2021 that the TuksRugby players and fans are already very excited about.

swimming times in longer races? What causes this? Altitude affects people differently, but in general, swimmers competing in events further than the 50m and 100m sprint events do benefit from racing the 200m to 1500m events at sea-level, where the oxygen content of the atmosphere is significantly higher than at [a greater] altitude. What previous achievements does Schoenmaker have? Tatzi now holds all the African and South African long course and short course records, and the FINA [French for Fédération internationale de natation] World Cup series record for the 200m breaststroke. She broke the long course records at the 2018 Commonwealth Games and the 2019 World Championships as well as the short course records at the 2018 SA World Championship trials and the 2020 Regional trials. The FINA World Cup record was broken at the 2019 Tokyo World Cup. What has Schoenmaker’s greatest achievement been thus far with regards to her swimming career? [She is a] silver medallist at the 2019 World Championships, the Double Gold medallist at the 2018 Commonwealth Games, the

Double Gold medallist at the 2019 World Student Games, and [is the] FINA World Cup Record holder, [as well as] the Gold medallist at Tokyo in 2019. What is the next big goal that you hope to achieve with Schoenmaker? My goal as her coach is to continue to support Tatzi, [for her] to enjoy her career as a professional athlete, to continue to improve in her performances in the pool and to assist her to qualify for Team SA for the upcoming Olympic Games in Tokyo. What else can we expect with regards to Schoenmaker’s future in her competitive swimming career? Every day is a gift that I [develop] to her benefit into her preparation, and every major competition is a test to determine how successful her preparation was, and where the shortcomings are that we need to address in the following preparation cycle. Having expectations about the future, beyond what we know needs to be done, is a waste of time. We try to control what we can, such as her forward planning and preparation, but we do not waste energy on speculating about future results.

The return of sports needs the fans to survive

Sam Mukwamu

he COVID-19 pandemic has changed many aspects of our lives, and sport has been no exception, particularly in a time when people are desperate for the escape and stress relief that sport can provide. In order to limit the spread of the virus, countries across the globe enforced restrictions on public gatherings and suspended non-essential activities, including sport. These restrictions have not only inflicted a significant financial hit to the sports industry, but have changed the way we participate in and view sport for what could be a long time. According to The World Economic Forum, the global value of the sports industry was estimated to be US$471 bn, a 45% increase from 2011. Sporting bodies’ main income streams are from broadcasting (sales of media rights), commercial (sponsorship and advertising partnerships) and match day revenue (ticketing and hospitality); all of which disappeared when games were suspended throughout months of lockdowns. According to a report by sports marketing agency, Two Circles, the estimated cumulative revenue loss for the global professional sports industry in 2020 due to missed event-day operations, broadcasting sales and sponsorship rights is US$61.6 bn. Without spectators and viewership, advertisers and sponsors are reluctant to invest in sporting events, which ultimately puts financial pressure on broadcasters, with a knock-on effect on sporting federations, leagues, clubs, athletes and other aspects of the industry. In South Africa, the “big three” sports, football, rugby and cricket, rely heavily on broadcast revenue and faced financial fallout during the early months of lockdown, although cricket to a lesser extent since the season was coming to an end before lockdown was implemented. A report by accounting firm PWC estimated the value of the South African sports industry at R15.285 bn in 2016, based on ticket revenue, broadcast rights, sponsorships, merchandising and sports betting. The effect of the lockdown had a bigger impact on smaller and lower level sports, as they have significantly smaller budgets and rely mainly on event earnings, affiliation fees and lottery grants as their main source of revenue. According to Forbes Africa, some of the country’s top rugby players will lose up to 43% of their monthly earnings in 2020 after SA rugby announced plans to cut R1.2 bn from its budget for the year by cancelling junior competitions, and limiting operations such as training camps and coaching courses. The Premier Soccer League (PSL) had cut players’ salaries, as well as

laying off non-playing staff. The PSL is seen by many as the richest and most established football league in Africa and receives most of its revenue from SuperSport, which is then distributed to the clubs. The PSL is currently in a five-year R2 bn broadcasting deal with SuperSport. While Cricket South Africa also pays out local provincial franchises from a deal with SuperSport, its revenue is more reliant on international broadcast deal. This means tours in and out of the country are essential for the financial future South African cricket, pending approval from Sports Minister Nathi Mthetwa. Now that more restrictions are being lifted, sporting events are gradually returning under strict guidelines; however, sports in the current COVID-19 climate have faced serious challenges. Although the reasons for the resumption of sports have been mostly commercial, protecting athletes’ health and reducing the risk of infection to their communities is a priority. For example, in football, social distancing measures have been enforced in stadia for masked substitutes and non-playing staff, who are made to sit at least five seats apart. Actions such as customary pre-game handshakes have been done away with, and hugging and spitting discouraged. The numbers of journalists in stadia have also been restricted, and journalists are also required to wear masks and abide by social distancing rules. Regular COVID-19 testing before training and matches for playing and non-playing staff has become standard practice. Some sports leagues have taken steps to ensure a bio-secure environment, or a “bubble”, such as selecting match venues that are closer to hotels to reduce possible exposure to infection for athletes. The biggest and most striking change to sports has been the absence of fans within venues. Fans add emotion and atmosphere to events, something broadcasters have found difficult to capture or recreate, despite the attempts at innovations like blasting EA Sports FIFA-like crowd noise, giant screens with at-home fan reactions and Spidercam or drone footage. Beyond the atmosphere and emotion that fans bring to sporting events, the financial loss is from their absence is quite significant. For example, the English Premier League stands to lose an estimated £700 million (R15 million) if fans don’t return this year, as reported by the Financial Times. Some territories with low cases numbers are allowing a couple hundred spectators into stadia, however capacity crowds are only expected back by mid-2021. While the return of sports has been welcomed, it isn’t financially sustainable in the long run without spectators, from grassroots level all the way up to the highest professional level. The need for sports as a business to thrive is essential not just for the industry itself, but also its beneficiaries like vendors, ground staff, security personnel, as well as the hospitality and transportation. It isn’t sustainable from a public health perspective either and a vaccine will need to be developed for the safety of the fans and the athletes.

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