14 September 2015 Issue 17 Year 77

Pg. - 3 Pg. - 4 Pg. - 3 SRC suspend 2015 Spring Day event

Review of the 2015 SRC

SRC election update

Perdeby

South Africa’s TV heritage

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

14September2015

year77issue17

Photo: Hendro van der Merwe

Red Bull X-Fighters return to Pretoria The day started with the bottom four riders, ranked at the qualifying rounds that took place the previous day, competing head to head for 60 seconds to claim the last spot in the top eight. Rémi Bizouard outperformed Alastair Sayer, Javier Villegas and Adam Jones to secure the spot in the top eight. Danny Torres pulled out of the qualifying round due to an injury

LEANNE CUMMING The Red Bull X-fighters returned to Pretoria on 12 September for the next leg of their world tour. This is the second time that Pretoria hosted the event after hosting it for the first time last year. The event took place at the iconic Union Buildings and drew a crowd of 17 000 spectators.

that occurred the previous day during his first qualifying run.

In the quarter-final for the day, where the riders had 75 seconds to perform their stunts, David Rinaldo and Josh Sheehan competed in the first heat, Maikel Melero and Taka Higashino in the second heat, Clinton Moore and Rob Adelberg in the third heat and Rémi Bizouard and

Tom Pagés in the fourth heat, with Sheehan, Higashino, Moore and Pagés qualifying for the semi-final round.

Pagés and Moore battled one another in a 105-second run for the title in the final run. Moore, after experiencing a bad fall and placing seventh in the qualifiers the previous day, proved that he could ride well under pressure after he fired up the crowd by performing the first dirt-to-dirt Volt ever landed in the competition. Pagés, however, won the title after landing a Transformer Flip and claimed a unanimous vote from all five judges. The commentator described Pagés as a “possessed man” while he revved up the crowd during his run.

Overall, Higashino placed third, Moore second and Pagés first. In a press conference after the award ceremony, the riders said that they were happy with the way that they had performed throughout the day.

Higashino expressed that “these two guys [Pagés and Moore] are too crazy”. Moore said that after his fall during qualifiers he had to refocus and not let it affect him during his runs throughout the day. “I put my head down today and put everything behind me and just really focused,” said Moore. Moore continued, saying, “I am very happy [with] where I placed today, that’s for sure.” Pagés said that he needs to focus in his preparations for the final that will take place in Abu Dhabi.

All riders will return home and practise and prepare for the finals in their own countries before reuniting for the final event in October.

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Perdeby

Editorial | 14 September 2015

Hear hear, heritage!

From the Editor

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

Editorial Editor-in-chief Carel Willemse

carel.willemse@up.ac.za @Ed_in_Chief

Editor Michal-Maré Linden

perdeby@up.ac.za @MicsLinden

News Michael Bongani Reinders

news@perdeby.co.za @Mike_Bongani

Features Leanne Cumming

features@perdeby.co.za @CummingsGoing

Entertainment Elmarie Kruger

entertainment@perdeby.co.za @elmariekr

Sport Michal Linden

sport@perdeby.co.za @PerdebySport

Web Marko Svicevic

webeditor@perdeby.co.za @MarkoSvicevic1

Copy Herman Hoogenboezem

copy@perdeby.co.za @hermaninoff

Layout Nikita Mokgware

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Visuals Hendro van der Merwe Multimedia Keegan Schmidt

Themed editions seem to be a thing recently.

On a completely unrelated note: welcome to our Heritage edition! I know it’s a bit early, but this is our last edition for a while and we didn’t want to miss this opportunity.

I remember wondering about my culture and attempting to find something that is specific to it when I was younger. Being a white, English South African, my culture

seemed to be identified by a “lack of culture” more than anything else, but I’ve started to see things differently as I get older.

It shouldn’t matter what race I am or what language I speak at home. What matters is that my culture and heritage comes from a phenomenal country. South Africa is a place that I’d never consider leaving.

I spent some time on the Proudly South African website as well as a few other tourism pages as research for this week’s Top Ten (pg.

13). There were some incredible facts that I found: The Kruger Park is the largest game reserve in the world and the south coast of South Africa is considered the whale-watching capital of the world.

South Africa has the longest wine route in the world.

Our tap water is rated third in the world in terms of purity and drinkability.

The largest bubblegum mosaic was a picture of Nelson Mandela and was put together by several South African businesses.

The only street in the world to house two Nobel Peace Prize winners is Vilikazi Street in Soweto. Nelson Mandela and Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu both owned houses on this Orlando West street.

The Comrades Marathon hosted 14 343 competitors in 2010, the most runners in an ultra-marathon ever.

A group of South Africans hold the record for most people surfing one wave. Muizenberg beach saw 110 people surfing the same wave in

visuals@perdeby.co.za @hendrovdm webeditor@perdeby.co.za @GraylyJoker0

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2009.

We also hold the record for the most vuvuzelas blown simultaneously. Just over 12 500 people participated in the event held at a Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates match.

We also hold records for the world’s highest bungee jump, the first heart transplant, the largest donation of pet food in a week, the longest braai marathon, the most official languages, the largest speed dating event, and the first woman to be first lady of two countries. We are known for incredible icons such as Steve Biko (pg. 11), our sense of entertainment (pg. 7), cultural diversity (pg.

12), and some awesome sporting ability (pg.

14).

I think these things speak tons for the uniqueness of the nation. South Africa has inspirational, creative, tenacious, friendly, beautiful people and they live in a gorgeous, diverse and rich landscape.

Yes, there are many things to be negative about, but taking a day to celebrate all that is good about being South African and what we have inherited, whether it is by celebrating your own personal heritage or the heritage of South Africa, is fantastic. The world could be a better place with a bit more positivity and celebration.

Enjoy your Spring Day and Heritage Day break! Our next edition will be out on 19 October.

Michal

14 September 2015 | News

3

SRC election update

SRC suspend 2015 Spring Day event JODY DAVISON The SRC has decided not to host a Spring Day event this year. The event has been suspended pending a student review. Tumelo “Duke” Rasebopye, SRC head of marketing, media and communication, was in charge of the committee responsible for the event.

Rasebopye explained that the “SRC took this decision based on the costs involved in actually putting together Spring Day and the lack of turnout”.

Linked to the cost concern is the university’s decision not to allow the general public to attend the event.

The reason that the university gave the SRC was that if something goes wrong, it is easier for the university to apply disciplinary measures through which students can be dealt with, but the same cannot be done for the general public.

The problem is that it is harder for the SRC to break even without the general public attending, given the costs involved in hosting such an event. Rasebopye gave a rough idea of how much an event like Spring Day costs. He said, “The whole operation can take up to R200 000, and when we get to that R200 000 all we have done is set up the framework for the party to happen, but we don’t

necessarily have people to fill in and make the party happen.”

Rasebopye went to on to say that the SRC did not want to replicate last year’s Spring Day. Instead, he said that “what we [the SRC] want to do for this year is put forward an actual plan [and] ... to actually sit down together as students and say what kind of event do we want to have.”

Rasebopye did say that there would be a meeting this year to discuss what kind of event will draw as many UP students to one venue.

Perdeby spoke to several students to hear what they think of the cancellation of Spring Day. Brittany Edwards, a second-year BEd student, said, “It is one of the few days of the year that Tuks had something really fun going on, and this just takes away from the very little student culture we have at Tuks.” Another student, Thabang Mashego, second-year BA Law student who attended Spring Day last year, feels that “events such as Spring Day are a great way to meet and mix with counterparts and build friendships, as they are outside of the [university] environment”.

Mashego went on to say that, “Social life should be celebrated as much as academics at the university; ‘All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy.’”

Exciting new

MICHAEL BONGANI REINDERS Following the SRC elections on 1 September and subsequent protests contesting the election results, the Independent Monitoring Board (IMB) met with concerned parties and has called for a recount and full audit.

Prof. Themba Mosia, vice-principal of student affairs and residences, stated in a media release, “In terms of its constitutional mandate, the IMB has found that a full recount of the SRC election votes must take place in the presence of staff from the Department of Student Affairs (DSA), the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC), candidates or party representatives, and the internal auditor authorised to complete the audit.” Prof. Mosia emphasised that

the IMB has not yet made a decision on whether or not the elections were free and fair.

Along with the media release from Prof. Mosia, Dr Willem Jorissen, deputy director of the DSA, explained the procedure that the IMB will be following: “In terms of the scope letter for the audit, KPMG had to recount a random sample of ten candidates across portfolios. In its report, the auditors listed a scope limitation. The end result is that a constitutionally mandated procedure was not performed. To remove this defect, a full audit as set out in the scope letter and in the audit report’s final paragraph on page 11 must therefore first be performed before the IMB can be called upon to make a ruling on whether the elections

were free and fair.” He further explained that, “In deciding whether the elections were free and fair, the IMB will have regard to the initial preliminary vote count and the vote count obtained in the full audit.”

After the abovementioned media releases, Sasco released a statement explaining their position on the matter. In the statement, Sasco says that, “The Progressive Youth Alliance (PYA) of the University of Pretoria (Sasco, ANCYL and YCLSA) fully rejects the findings as conducted by the IMB. We distance ourselves from communiqué sent to our candidates and not the organisation representing them, and we reject the IMB’s call for a recount.” Sasco reiterated that they are standing by their position and are calling for a re-election.

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News | 14 September 2015

Review of the 2015 SRC JODY DAVISON

As the SRC of 2015 come closer to the end of their term, Perdeby interviewed Mosibudi “Rassie” Rasethaba, SRC president, about his term and what the SRC of 2015 was able to achieve.

At the start of Rasethaba’s term as SRC president, he identified three portfolios that he aspired to work with. These portfolios were safety and security, study finance, and transformation. Rasethaba explained how he worked with each of these

portfolios.

Concerning safety and security, Rasethaba mentioned one of the things he did was to be “part of the team that has been driving to have a permanent bus to Sunnyside, which will hopefully not be an issue by next year”.

Rasethaba went on to explain how he “was heavily involved in the assistance of individual students, especially in the beginning of the year, to access funding through different mechanisms”. Rasethaba admitted that he did not work as much

as he would have liked to with the transformation portfolio. However, he did say that he was “part of transformation talks, both on campus and off campus”.

When asked what he thought his biggest achievements were, Rasethaba responded that his “biggest achievement was being able to listen and help each student that walked into [his] office”. Rasethaba felt that the one goal that he was unable to achieve was to “tackle particular policies at the university and have them reviewed ... especially policies

that govern the residences”. One of the reasons Rasethaba gave was that it “was extremely difficult just to get hold of some of the policies”.

During the interview, Rasethaba also commented on the successes and failures of the 2015 SRC. He identified that the 2015 SRC had been successful in managing to get the Sunnyside bus running, increasing the humanitarian fund, resolving issues around unfair exam rules, and had a high rate of success in the academic exclusion committees. Rasethaba said that “the SRC has failed in addressing

the issue of accountability to students.

Students feel that the SRC is not fully accountable and transparent to them, and I believe that this can be something the incoming SRC can address.”

Rasethaba ended off by saying, “One of my greatest pleasures this year was being on the ground and ensuring I interact with students in their own spaces. I want that the incoming president to continue this and become an accessible president who is on the ground and interacting with students.”

Raise awareness with The Rhino Run DANIËL BASSON On 12 September Gauteng hosted The Rhino Run, which was held at the Hedianga Farm, 15 km away from the University of Pretoria’s Hatfield campus. The race caters to runners with different levels of experience with three separate distances to choose from: 6 km, 12 km and 18 km.

The Rhino Run was inspired by a female rhino named Thandi (a Xhosa word for “love”) who was the sole survivor of a gruesome poaching attack. Many followed her road to recovery after a video of her struggle to survive was uploaded to Youtube.

Photo: Shen Scott

Yascom Give-what-you-can Campaign a success MAKHOSAZANA NDLOVU The Young Alumni and Student Committee (Yascom) Give-whatyou-can Campaign hosted an event during the lunch hour on 8 September in the piazza. This was the first big event that Yascom hosted this year.

Willing students and staff members were asked to make donations that go toward assisting students in need at the university.

The event began with a brief introduction of what Yascom is about

as an organisation. Some members of the 2015 SRC were present and the music attracted a crowd of students.

Students and staff members arrived in numbers to make their donations.

The donations included canned food, toiletries, groceries and money.

There was also a photo booth, with the money generated from the photo booth going toward buying more groceries for students in need and to the Pledge a Pad organisation Yascom coordinator Jacqui Pietersen said, “When a student has

been accepted by the university, it means that the student deserves to be here, hence we need to ensure that the student makes a success of their life. That is what Yascom is there for.

We need to ensure that they make a success of their life and get out of a poverty stricken situation.”

Pietersen also confirmed that this will become an annual event since it had such a great response. Students are encouraged to become Yascom ambassadors.

Organisers decided on a trail run in an attempt to bring South Africans back in touch with the wild and remind them of the beauty that their country has to offer.

Braam Malherbe, a South African running inspiration, asked for people to do “just one thing” to make a difference, and the rhino run is the perfect opportunity to make your contribution. The event has already raised over R345 000 for their beneficiaries. Organisers hope to take The Rhino Run abroad.

The Rhino Run is a great way to make a difference and contribute to the conservation of one of the most endangered species on the continent.

14 September 2015 | News

5

A O CC N O O MP UR A YO NIE UT D UB BY E AV CH ID AN EO NE L

Pledge a Pad launches 2015 campaign

Pledge a Pad 2014. Photo: Kirsty Mackay

SHAMMAH BOTERERE One of the least freely talked about topics in society is the female

menstrual cycle. Ignorance to these realities of the female body has resulted in the current plight of many women across South Africa.

With many South Africans living in poverty, basic sanitation has become a luxury afforded by few. That, coupled with a lack of self-knowledge, leads

many women to not speak about their basic sanitary needs.

These and many other factors led Aileen Hlongoane, a former student at

Principal’s Concert 2015 highlights South Africa’s heritage KOJO ESSAH The Principal’s Concert: Sounds of South Africa 2015 is a UP Arts production featuring the University of Pretoria Symphony Orchestra, Wind band and Jazz band, Tuks Camerata, the UP Youth Choir, UP Ovuwa and the drama department. It was held on 2, 3 and 6 September 2015.

The concert showcased renowned songs that are synonymous with South African heritage. Vice-chancellor and principal of the university Prof.

Cheryl de la Rey noted, “The 2015 programme showcases the sounds of South Africa, epitomising the unique and diverse musical heritage inspired by both the local and global contexts that have contributed to our national identity – truly fitting in the year in which South Africa celebrates 21

years of democracy.”

The concert opened with an instrumental overture performed by the orchestra. The Ovuwa cultural ensemble performed the songs “Homeless”, “Senzenina”, and teamed up with the jazz band to perform “Ipi’Ntombi the warrior” and “Kgomo”.

Tuks Camerata performed “Siyalobola” and “Nearer my God to Thee”, with Theo van Wyk accompanying on the organ. They performed together with the orchestra on Laurika Rauch’s hit, “Stuur groete aan Mannetjies Roux”.

The UP Youth Choir performed a medley of Cape minstrel songs as well as a medley of South African gospel music. They also teamed up with Camerata and Ovuwa on a “Sounds of South Africa” choral

medley.

The drama department performed a dance routine with accompaniment by the orchestra, and also sang “When you come back” with the jazz band.

Nikita Mokgware from the drama department performed a captivating poem, adding a spoken word element to the otherwise music-focused production.

Music student and soloist Monica Mhangwana performed “A cry, a smile, a dance” with the orchestra, as well as “African dream” with the full cast. The whole cast gave an enthusiastic performance of Johnny Clegg’s “Scatterlings of Africa”, signalling the end of the production.

The concert concluded with instrumentals from the orchestra and the jazz band, making for a memorable showcase of UP’s talent.

Image provided.

UP who was a volunteer at the Centre for Sexualities, Aids and Gender, to start a non-profit organisation called Pledge a Pad which aims to help the underprivileged. This was after regular visits to orphanages where she realised that most girls missed as many as 60 days of the school year due to a lack of pads. Some girls resorted to using newspapers and rags as an alternative.

In her Mail & Guardian blog, Hlongane says that the organisation is aimed at raising awareness about the female body so that women can know if something is wrong – for example, if a period goes on too long.

Rorisang Mongwaketsi, chairperson of the Pledge a Pad organisation at UP, also said, “Pledge a Pad does not only donate pads, we also educate woman about the menstrual cycle and do motivational talks in developing a healthy self-esteem among the women we assist.”

“We go to at least one school and a children’s home every month. As a result we are able to measure our success by the number of girls that no longer have to miss school because of a natural occurrence such as the menstrual cycle. Therefore, the goal of keeping young girls in school is being achieved,” says Mongwaketsi.

6

Entertainment | 14 September 2015

Three years of Hello Ambassador Tumi Molekane. Photo: Henry Marsh

Photo: Henry Marsh

The programme for 5 September featured animator and video artist Nathani Lüneburg who spoke about the subconscious and her own dream-world. She introduced attendees to the various On 4 and 5 September the third annual Hello Ambassador characters which feature in her dreams, which she fondly calls creative festival took place at the Sci-Bono Centre in Newtown, “krokkonosters”.

Johannesburg. The event featured talks by various speakers from Pepe Marais, founding partner and chief creative officer of several creative fields. communications group Joe Public United, gave a presentation The festival also featured workshops by the speakers involved, on the “ten commandments of becoming a citizen of greatness”. along with the yearly creative expo which showcased crafts like He spoke about the trials of getting a business off the ground and screen-printing, woodwork, and “live-drawing”.

On 4 September talks were led by speakers such as rapper and poet how he adjusted his life in order to become more successful. He also shared several advertisements that his company has made for Tumi Molekane, whose emotional talk was titled “We were almost great”. Fran Luckin, executive creative director of marketing agency various clients, including Nedbank, Tracker and Tropika.

The highlight of the Saturday programme was undoubtedly the Quirk, delivered an inspiring talk titled “Why you’re not crazy”. The Friday programme also featured creative director of Publicis Machine talks given by singer, songwriter and graphic designer Nonku Phiri, who opened her talk with a song, and award-winning author Lauren William Struwig and Sama-winning DJ Black Coffee.

ELMARIE KRUGER

Beukes. Beukes’s talk was titled “Bending the light: twisty fiction and added shine”. Beukes spoke about her work as a comic writer for DC Vertigo and gave attendees a sneak preview of her upcoming comic, The Survivors’ Club. The audience also had a chance to see the book trailer for her latest novel, Broken Monsters. Beukes is responsible for novels such as The Shining Girls, Moxyland and Zoo City, which won the Arthur C. Clarke award for science fiction.

Beukes also spoke about her work as a journalist, saying that “journalism is a backstage pass to the world,” and emphasising the importance of research when writing novels.

The festival ended off with an afterparty at Bassline in Newtown.

Overall, Hello Ambassador’s third instalment was a successful gathering for creatives, and hopefully the festival will continue to grow in the years to come.

Erika and Sonop shine at Serenade nationals THOMAS MARAIS

On 29 August Erika and Sonop represented UP at the Serenade nationals in Stellenbosch. They each performed in three venues, of which the second performance was judged. Overall, Erika placed third in the ladies’ category and Sonop placed second in the men’s category. The judges were, among others, television presenters Eloise Cupido and Katlego Maboe, and singers Heinz Winckler and Sarah Theron.

Sonop’s Serenade HK, Revan Luus, felt their performance at nationals was the best that they had given all year, and that they were the crowd favourite. “The guys were so amped … our res was supporting [us] in the first venue … they really gave us [a boost],” Luus said. He went on to say that their group got positive feedback on social media, with many people on Twitter giving them encouragement.

Pieter Scribante, the chairman of Stuku, said that Sonop and Erika represented UP very well at the event. Serenade nationals will be hosted by UP in 2016, and Scribante said that Stuku has a clear idea of how they wish to go about hosting the event. Scribante is confident that organising the occasion is within Stuku’s reach.

The overall results of the national stage for Serenade were as follows: in the men’s category, best prescribed song and own composition went to Veritas from the University of the Free State (Kovsies), and best prescribed song and own composition in the ladies’ category went to Marjolein, also of Kovsies.

The overall results for the men showed Veritas in first place, Sonop in second and Pieke of Stellenbosch University in third.

For the ladies, Hippokrates of Stellenbosch came in first, second was Marjolein, with Erika in third place. The overall winners of Serenade nationals were Veritas.

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Calendar 14-18 September: Tuks Up & Out Pride Week 20 September: The Rhino Run

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26-27 September: Deep in the Woods – Huddle Park

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

2 October: Green Campus Tours – Hatfield Campus 9-11 October: rAge Expo – Ticketpro Dome

14 September2015 | Entertainment

ShowMax: South Africa’s answer to Netflix?

7

A blast from the past:

SA’s TV heritage

Illustration: Jackie Zhang

KOJO ESSAH South African media company Naspers launched ShowMax, a subscription video on-demand service, much like Netflix, in late August. Netflix is an American video-streaming service, and although both services have the same principles, there are a few differences that set them apart from each other.

First and foremost is the location of their service. ShowMax is a South African service, while Netflix is an American service.

This means that South Africans will be looking to ShowMax to provide their entertainment needs simply due to its convenience.

Secondly, the pricing is also different. ShowMax offers unlimited access to the service’s library of movies and TV shows for R99 per month and offers streaming resolutions of up to 720p. Netflix, on the other hand, offers unlimited streaming of any of their titles in their catalogue for $7.99 per month. Unlike ShowMax, Netflix offers many of their entertainment titles in high-definition quality, utilizing Dolby Digital 5.1 audio and video resolutions of up to 1080p.

Both services can be used on multiple devices, such as laptops and Android and Apple devices. Netflix has now spread to more devices like Nintendo’s Wii, WiiU, Microsoft’s Xbox 360 and Xbox One, and the PlayStation 3 and 4. Netflix launched their streaming service in 2007, so it is understandable that it is now available on more platforms than the newly-launched ShowMax. ShowMax does have some crucial elements that Netflix does not, however. The main one is that ShowMax will provide local entertainment content. Home Box Office (HBO) shows will also be on offer on ShowMax. This is an advantage for the new service, as Netflix does not offer HBO shows. ShowMax also aims to borrow elements from Netflix. Netflix is known for their original, engrossing range of television series such as Daredevil, Orange is the New Black and House of Cards. ShowMax plans on releasing its own show before the end of 2015.

ShowMax launched with a catalogue of 750 different series, which includes 850 completed seasons and 19 000 episodes. This adds up to over 11 000 hours of entertainment. ShowMax general manager John Kotsaftis said that the focus on the South African market, as well as the inclusion of third-party local content and original shows, will give them a competitive edge against competitors, most notably Netflix.

Image: Caleb Linden

CHAD JOHNSTON A lot of us forget that there was a time in South African television before DSTV. While we can remember all of the international entertainment that used to be on our TV sets, we often overlook some of our favourite homemade TV shows. In the spirit of Heritage Day, Perdeby has compiled a list of local TV programmes that most of us would have seen in our younger years.

Kideo This kindergarten show was a favourite of many children growing up. The show’s cheerful presenter, Natasha, lived at number 1 Buzz Street and was always ready to take the young viewers on a journey while teaching them life skills along the way. The programme was on every Monday to Friday for 30 minutes and featured characters such as Mr Chinwag, Timothy Traddle and the characters from Pumpkin Patch.

Takalani Sesame South Africa’s very own adaptation of Sesame Street has been entertaining children aged between three and seven for many years. Many of us learnt how to count and spell by watching this show. The show is still running on SABC 1 at 07:30 and on SABC 2 at 10:00 every weekday. It is one of the only children’s TV shows that uses all 11 official South African languages.

Egoli: Place of Gold Egoli was a favourite among most parents. It first aired on M-Net on 6 April 1992. It is recognised as South Africa’s first daily soap opera. In 1999 it was the country’s first TV programme to reach 2000 episodes. The final episode aired on 31 March 2010, 18 years after its debut.

Backstage This soap opera targeted members of the youth from 1 May

2000 to 6 July 2007. It was centred around Vulindlela College, a performing arts school. The show was broadcast again in 2009 and is currently running on eTV. Generations Generations is one of the most dramatic shows to ever grace the South African airwaves and has been running since 1994. The show has had audiences glued to their screens for almost 21 years.

In 2011, 16 principal actors were fired from the show after a wage dispute.

Madam and Eve The hilarious antics of Madam, Eve, Thandi and Mother Anderson have made this show a hit for more than 15 years. The show was based on the popular comic strip illustrated by Rico Schacherl and Stephen Francis. The show’s humour is largely political and often comments on the state of the typical post-apartheid home.

The main cast consisted of legendary South African actors Joe Mafela (Sol), Val Donald Bell (Gwen “Madam” Anderson), Pat Sanders (Mother Anderson), Tina Jaxa (Eve) and Jenny Steyn (Marge). The show was nominated for the acclaimed Rose d'Or Competition.

S.O.S Likely the most relatable show to UP students, S.O.S was about five students who moved into a commune together and all the adventures that followed. The show ran from 2001 to 2004 and was quite popular during its time. The catchy jingle and talking fish, “Racheltjie”, are two of the most memorable elements from the show.

Noot vir Noot This is a popular Afrikaans music quiz show that many of our parents and grandparents watch. The show was first aired in 1991, and 40 seasons later it is still presented by Johan Stemmet. A board game version of the show was also released.

Who is Allen Smithee?

SHAUN SPROULE

Illustration: Faith Honey

It is not unusual for some artists to disown their creations, but sometimes so much money has been invested that there is no choice but to go with what they have. In the past, directors and filmmakers replaced their names in the credits with the notorious pseudonym Allen Smithee so that bad work would not be credited to their own name. This practice was stopped in 2000, but recent developments in the film industry could signal the return of the world’s worst director.

The newest Fantastic 4 movie is seen by some critics as the catalyst for this return. Josh Trank, director of Fantastic 4, disowned the movie soon after it hit theatres as bad reviews came flooding in. Trank blamed 20th Century Fox for meddling with the final cut and claims that there is a better cut that no one will ever see. The film received the worst ratings for a superhero movie since 1997’s Batman and Robin, which starred George Clooney. Batman and Robin was so badly received that it was disowned by director Joel Schumacher, who apologised to fans for the disappointment. It took eight years for Christopher Nolan to revive the franchise with Batman Begins.

Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen was disowned by

director Michael Bay, even though the film grossed over $400 million. The screenplay was written during the Writers Guild of America strike in 2007 and 2008, resulting in the film being criticised heavily for its lack of script. Because of the strike, Bay only had a few pages of script with which to produce an entire feature film.

Even some of the world’s most influential directors can’t escape being haunted by bad movies. Alfred Hitchcock, the famous master of suspense, directed the film Rope (1948), which is based on the 1929 play of the same name. As shown in the more recent movie, Birdman, Hitchcock aimed to make a movie which appeared to be one single shot. In the end, Hitchcock described the film as “an experiment gone wrong” and tried to buy all the rights to the movie to ensure it would never be seen.

American History X, starring Edward Norton, was one of the last films to be directed by the notorious Allen Smithee before the name’s discontinuation in 2000. The film was actually directed

by Tony Kaye, who disowned the movie after he lost control over which cuts made it into the film. The studio and Norton both made changes that Kaye disagreed with, leading him to disown the movie. However, by his own admission and by accounts of those who worked with him, he was terribly difficult to work with and may have been a bit rash in his decision.

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Photo essay | 14 September 2015

Red Bull X-Fighters

Photos: Hendro van der Merwe

Advertorial

NATIONAL RECYCLING DAY 18 SEPTEMBER 2015

The Division Campus Services (Waste and Environmental Management) under the Department of Facilities Management is responsible for the removal of general and hazardous waste on the campuses of the University.

The 2025 Strategic Plan of the University of Pretoria is focusing on recycling in support of the initiatives related to sustainability.

When the recycling programme started in June 2014 the total volume recyclable waste recovered was 23 709kg. Between June and December 2014 a total of 288 734kg was recycled. In sharp contrast the volume of recyclable waste removed at the campuses of the university since January 2015 was 393 637kg. The recyclable waste being removed off campus has therefore increased.

Early in 2014, the division Campus Services started with recycling of general waste at the campuses. From a humble beginning, where only paper waste was removed, the program has since grown to include general waste recycling of restaurants and residence kitchens. In 2015, the recycling service was further expanded to include a waste recycling service to staff; this enabled them to bring recyclable waste at home for road condition.

An investigation of the waste disposal process was launched and found that the most successful method for waste separation was a two way split e.g. recyclable and non-recyclable. The University subsequently purchased blue and orange 240l bins marked with the university’s name. These bins were placed at different residence kitchens as well as restaunrants.

Currently, the following residences form part of the recycling: Onderstepoort Curlitzia and

Bopholong, TuksVillage and Tuksdorp. In the near future the ladies residences in the Hatfield area will also receive recycling bins.

It does not however, imply that general waste disposed of during the course of the day on the campuses, is lost for recycling. On the contrary!

All general waste removed from the University’s campuses is taken to their waste area in Bon Accord, where it was sorted and recycled. The waste is put through their Materials Recycling Facility and sorted and recycled.

The general waste from the bins around the campuses is collected by a tractor and removed to the waste transfer stations on campus. The Waste Group collects the general waste from the waste transfer stations and removes it to Bon Accord where it split and recycled.

Recyclable waste can be divided into different categories. The university focus now on the following categories: • Cardboard • Paper • Alimunium • Glass • Plastic.

On 18 September 2015 it is national recycling on the environmental calendar. During that day, the division waste and environmental management plans a program in collaboration with the student association (The Green Line) and The Waste Group. The program will be an exhibition of different categories of waste, interesting facts, as well as an awareness campaign.

Please come and join us and participate in the fun!

14 September 2015 | Photo essay

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10

Features | 14 September 2015

The history behind our holidays JARED DE CANHA For many students a public holiday is a welcome break from lectures and a chance to recharge their batteries. Fortunately, these opportunities present themselves relatively often given the South African calendar’s generous allocation of public holidays, which are regulated by the Public Holidays Act of 1994. While a public holiday is always enjoyable, many can’t say that they appreciate where these holidays came from. Understanding the history and significance of each of these unique days is important in our continued efforts towards understanding one another as South Africans. In the spirit of Heritage month, Perdeby has examined the history behind some unique South African holidays.

Human Rights Day – 21 March This public holiday is linked to the events which occurred in Sharpeville on 21 March 1960 in response to the Native Laws Amendment Act enacted in 1952. The Act extended the apartheid government’s control over the movement of non-white South Africans in urban areas and abolished the pass book system in favour of a reference book system which had to be carried at all times as proof that non-white South Africans had permission to enter urban areas. According to the law of the day, failure to produce this reference book when demanded to by the police was a criminal offence.

At the annual conference of the ANC in December 1959, it was announced that 1960 would be the “year of the pass”, where the ANC planned to launch a national anti-pass mass action campaign on 31 March 1960 to commemorate the anniversary of the 1919 antipass campaign. It was soon after this general meeting that the Pan Africanist Congress (PAC),

who were initially a breakaway sect of the ANC, held their first conference and announced their own anti-pass campaign. On 21 March 1960, an anti-pass law march led by the PAC in Sharpeville turned violent when a scuffle broke out at the Sharpeville police station and the police opened fire on the crowd of protestors after a policeman panicked and began shooting.

The live rounds of ammunition killed 69 people and wounded approximately 180 people, leading to this event being known as the Sharpeville Massacre.

The ANC and PAC were banned shortly after this in 1960.

According to the South African parliament, this day is historically significant because it symbolises more than just a protest against the pass laws of the apartheid regime, but of the “affirmation by the common people, rising in unison to proclaim their rights”.

Freedom Day – 27 April 27 April 1994 is significant for two reasons: Firstly, the Interim Constitution of South Africa took effect on this day, and secondly it marked South Africa’s first, democratic elections. This day has particular significance as it led to the election of South Africa’s first democratic government, led by the late former president Nelson Mandela, and was the culmination of years of struggle and a negotiated settlement which paved the way toward our current constitutional dispensation.

According to statistics provided by South

African History Online, it is estimated that 19.7 million of South Africa’s 22.7 million eligible voters cast their votes in this historic election, which elected a government of national unity with an ANC majority.

Youth Day – 16 June This is a day which recognises the role which the South African youth played in the transformative process which our country has undergone and commemorates the Soweto Uprising of 1976, which is synonymous with the image of Hector Petersen. The 1976 student protests resulted from a culmination of factors, including the introduction of Bantu education in the 1950s, which was of an inferior standard, as well as ill-equipped school facilities, overcrowded schools and unfavourable learning conditions. The situation was aggravated by the decision to make Afrikaans the medium of instruction in subjects such as mathematics and social studies, and led to hundreds of Sowetan scholars protesting. This protest soon turned violent and clashes between the police and students followed. This holiday recognises the sacrifices made by the students of that time in the struggle for a free and equal society.

Women’s Day – 9 August On this day in 1956 approximately 20 000 women from all walks of life marched to the Union Buildings in Pretoria to protest against the government extending the regulations governing the carrying of passes by women.

To date, this was the largest gathering of women ever seen in South African history.

The significance of this holiday celebrates and honours the important role women have played in helping South Africa transform into the constitutional democracy we hold dear today.

Heritage Day – 24 September This holiday is one of the more recent holidays added to the South African calendar and is a day which encourages us all to celebrate our cultures and customs in light of the wide variety of cultures, beliefs, languages and traditions that make up our rainbow nation. This day bears particular significance to the Zulu tribe as this day, formerly known as Shaka Day, commemorates the legendary Zulu king Shaka Zulu.

Reconciliation Day – 16 December This day serves as a culmination of the recognition of two significant historical events which occurred in our history. This day holds historical significance for many Afrikaansspeaking South Africans and was previously recognised as the Day of the Vow. On this day in 1838, the Voortrekkers defeated the Zulus in the infamous Battle of Blood River after making a vow before God to build a church should they be granted victory. This day holds particular significance as a symbol of Afrikaner pride, culture and identity.

16 December 1961 is also a day of significance to the ANC as the armed military wing of the ANC, Umkhonto we Sizwe, was formed on this day. Thus, in order to foster reconciliatory relations at the start of the new dispensation and to attempt to reach a balance between our divided past and promoting national unity, the holiday was renamed to incorporate all the aspects of South Africa’s diverse and divided past.

14 September 2015 | Features

11

Steve Biko: the father of black consciousness

Image: Kirsty Mackay and Hendro van der Merwe

TIJANA SAKOTA On 12 September 1977, the South African Security Police claimed the life of Stephen Bantu Biko. An anti-apartheid activist during the 1960s and 70s, Biko shifted the political direction of an entire generation.

Biko was the founder of the Black Consciousness Movement (BCM), initially involving himself in the multiracial National Union of South African Students. Thereafter, convinced that black, Indian and coloured students needed an organisation of their own, Biko founded the South African Students Organisation. Its agenda of political self-reliance and unification of university students provided a platform for what Biko encouraged as black consciousness, where “black is beautiful”.

Biko set out to study medicine but never became a doctor. Although he had the opportunity to complete his law studies, he did not pursue that either. While he never set out to become a martyr, that is what Biko became.

Biko was born on 18 December 1946 in the Ginsberg township in the Eastern Cape.

As a student leader, and through the BCM, he empowered and mobilised the urban black movement while emphasising his aim to “awaken the people”. Biko stated at the time that, “The black man has become a shell, a shadow of man [who] bears the yoke of oppression with sheepish

timidity.” He empowered the black South African population through defining the BCM as an “inward-looking process [to] infuse people with pride and dignity.” It was through this refusal to comply with apartheid’s definition of black inferiority that Biko inspired and encouraged the black youth and changed the political landscape of the 1970s.

Lindy Wilson, who met Biko during his time in the Eastern Cape, accounts for Biko in her biography: “His vitality drew people to him, not only for his sharp intelligence and generous counsel but for his exuberant energy and contagious laugh.” Wilson goes further to praise Biko, not only for his clear thinking and “refreshing political insight” but for his capacity to listen and his ability to place himself among people and not position himself above them.

“Biko’s gift of leadership was not that people should follow him in a slavish kind of way, but that suddenly ... they discovered themselves and empowered themselves with their own resources,” says Wilson. “He was essentially human but also exceptional,” she adds.

In the early 1970s, Biko was a key figure in The Durban Moment. This refers to a period when the city of Durban became the centre of a new vibrancy in the struggle against the apartheid regime. It was in 1972 that Biko was expelled from the University of Natal’s medical school because of his political activities. Later that year

Biko assisted in founding the Black Community Programmes (BCP), self-help groups for black South African communities. In February 1973 Biko was banned by the apartheid government from speaking to more than one person at a time, as well as from speaking in public. Biko was restricted to the King William’s Town district and could not communicate with the media.

He then established a branch of the BCP in the Eastern Cape. Together with early leaders of the movement, such as Bennie Khoapa and Barney Pityana, Biko published various journals such as Black Review.

In 1975 Biko began to form grassroots organisations with the core agenda of selfreliance. These organisations included Zanempilo, the Zimele Trust Fund, and the Ginsberg Education Fund. Biko said in public that, “The logical direction is that eventually any white society in this country is going to have to accommodate black thinking.”

Biko, together with the BCM, played a significant role in protests which subsequently led to the Soweto Uprising. On 16 June 1976, students protested in the streets of Soweto against the introduction of Afrikaans as the primary language of study in local schools. This protest was met with fierce police brutality, and 16 June has since been an annual public holiday which seeks to commemorate and remember the youth and the events of this day.

Voices of Liberation, a series of books published by the Human Sciences Research Council tells the stories South African and African liberation activists. The book detailing the life of Steve Biko, written by Dr Derek Hook, includes significant contributions from an associate of Steve Biko, Nkutsoe Motsau, a fellow BCM comrade who served time on Robben Island. Motsau described Biko as a man who was “at home conversing with anyone”. “[Biko] exhibited a genuine urge to connect with others, even when separated by ... race, class or social hierarchy,” says Hook. Included in Hook’s book is an excerpt of Steve Biko’s writings titled “Black Consciousness and the Quest for a True Humanity”. Here, Biko describes his hope in reaching “some kind of balance – a true humanity where power politics will have no place”. Biko goes further to describe black consciousness as “an attitude of mind and way of life ... Its essence is the realisation by the black man of the need to rally together with his brothers around ... the blackness of their skin ... and to operate as a group to rid themselves of the shackles that bind them to perpetual servitude.” He describes how the philosophy of the BCM expresses the determination of the black population “to rise and attain the envisaged self”. Thus, black consciousness encourages the “black man [to] see himself as a being complete in himself,” Biko urges. “Black people – real black people – are those who can manage to hold their heads high in defiance,” he concludes. “[Biko] suffered a terrible death at the hands of a grotesque and brutal power,” writes Professor Achille Mbembe in Biko’s Testament of Hope.

After his arrest on 18 August 1977, Biko was taken to Port Elizabeth where he was kept handcuffed and naked. He was subsequently interrogated and tortured preceding his death in detention in Pretoria on 12 September 1977.

Biko’s funeral was attended by over 10 000 people, including many international ambassadors and diplomats.

In February 1978 it was concluded that, due to a lack of evidence, the officers charged with Biko’s murder would not be prosecuted. “In the story of black martyrdom, Biko stands opposite Nelson Mandela, the hero who came up from death and captivity unharmed in body and in mind. Paradoxically, Biko’s death only served to illuminate the permanence of his life further. This is why, for as long as history continues, [Biko] will be with us,” added Professor Mbembe.

Barney Pityana, a fellow publisher of Black Review and friend of Biko, spoke of today’s South African students and their relation to Biko at the inaugural Steve Biko Memorial Lecture in Europe in 2012. In order to emulate Biko and his vision, the youth and students need “to avoid the lure of instant riches” and attain a “critical approach to life and a sense of freedom by which they live their lives”, urges Pityana. “That is what Steve Biko achieved in his lifetime, a life of sacrifice that today shapes the thinking of many for a better world,” says Pityana.

Sceletium: a herbal mood elevator?

LEANNE CUMMING

Sceletium, also known as Kanna, Kauwgoed or Kougoud, is a sweet groundcover plant that is native to Southern Africa and has been used for hundreds of years as a mood enhancer and natural anti-depressant.

Sceletium was used as a bartering currency during the times of Jan Van Riebeek and was traditionally used by hunter-gatherers as a hunger suppressor and mood elevator during long journeys, where the plant would be chewed and then the saliva swallowed.

Nowadays sceletium can be found in tablet form, in herbal drops, as a tea and, less commonly, as a snuff or a smoke. The reported

benefits the substance are decreased stress, tension and anxiety levels, increased energy, and it can also help one to concentrate.

Anler de Vries, a wholesale and retail distributor of sceletium, explained that a user’s mood is elevated as the mesembrine, mesembrenol and tortuosamine in the plant interact with the brain’s dopamine and serotonin receptors, which then cause a “feel-good effect”. De Vries continues, saying that “sceletium is not a controlled product, and therefore the usage, trade and possession thereof is completely legal.” “Sceletium is very potent and [even] minute quantities will give the desired effect,” explains de Vries. De Vries says, “I prefer to do only the smoker’s cut and the powder, because of the many uses between smoking and eating the

product.”

De Vries explains that one can smoke sceletium by mixing the powder with the tobacco of rolled cigarettes, in the flavour of a Hubbly Bubbly, or clean through a vaporiser. “The smoke is sweet-tasting and does not irritate the lungs or throat,” says de Vries. De Vries continues to explain that the powder, although bitter in taste, can be taken orally in tea, in a spoon of honey or in yoghurt. De Vries also explains that the sceletium powder can also be used as a snuff at lower dosages.

However, de Vries explains that there are side effects to the substance, such as headaches, slight nausea, insomnia and a feeling of sedation if one overdoses on the amount of sceletium they

intake. De Vries continues to say that “sceletium is non-hallucinogenic and non-addictive and can be used on a regular basis, followed by abstinence, with no effects of withdrawal”.

According to Sceletium.org and WebMD, there have been no severe side effects reported and no confirmed reports of drug connections related to the use of sceletium. “However, because of the neuroreceptor activities of sceletium, there may be interactions with other pharmacokinetic drugs.

People taking any psychiatric drugs, including all anti-anxiety drugs, sedatives, hypnotics, antidepressants, anti-psychotics, so-called designer or recreational drugs, or any cardiac medication, are advised not to take sceletiumcontaining products,” states Sceletium.org

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Features | 14 September 2015

Photo: Shen Scott

155 years and counting: Indians are South Africans HUVASAN REDDY Indian South Africans are a diverse and complex group of people comprising approximately 2.5% of the South African population. The majority of the Indian population can be found in Durban, especially the suburbs of Phoenix and Chatsworth, with Durban having the largest population of people of Indian descent outside of India.

Indians first arrived in limited numbers in the Cape in 1654, along with other Southeast Asians, as slaves. However, it was not until 1860 that they arrived in Durban with 342 Indians arriving from the Indian city of Madras (now Chennai in the state of Tamil Nadu) aboard the Truro on 16 November 1860, with a further 310 labourers arriving ten days later abroad the Belvedere.

At the time of their arrival, both Natal and

India were under British colonial rule and Indian labourers were brought in to work on the sugar cane plantations of the Natal colony. The majority of Indian immigrants were Hindus, however Christians and Muslims also formed part of the group of immigrants brought to South Africa.

The arrival of Indians in Natal was not spontaneous and was orchestrated through legislation. In 1859 the Natal government passed the Natal Coolie law, which allowed Indians to immigrate to South Africa for a period of five years as indentured labourers, after which free passage back to India would be provided.

Alternatively, indentured labourers could choose to re-indenture themselves for another five-year period, with the promise that after the completion of their indenture they would be gifted a piece of crown land and full citizenship rights, a provision withdrawn in 1891.

Not all South African Indians are the ancestors of indentured labourers. In 1869 the first “passenger Indians” arrived and worked as craftsmen, artisans, teachers and traders who paid their own way to the Natal colony and travelled as British subjects. Before long, Indians became subject to discriminatory laws, with the South African Republic (Transvaal) passing Law No. 3 of 1885 just 25 years after Indian labourers first arrived. The discriminatory law applied to “any of the native races of Asia” and provided for, among other things, the assignment of Indians to specific living areas and the registration of those intending to set up trade.

In the following five decades almost 150 000 Indians arrived in South Africa, both as indentured labourers and as “passenger Indians”.

As early as 1899, the Indian population in the South African Republic numbered 17 000, and by 1904 Indians outnumbered whites in Natal.

Fast-forward almost 155 years and Indians have a different identity in South Africa today.

While the reasons for immigration differ, with oral tales being passed down through the generations, a recurring tale tells of the British promising young Indian men gold growing on the chilli trees of South Africa. Today, young Indians could be between the fifth and seventh generation of Indians in South Africa and have developed their own language style, culture, identity and stereotypes.

The South African Indian identity of today is a far cry from the history of labourers toiling in the sugar cane fields. Instead, South African Indians are stereotypically associated with rims, gold teeth, and always looking for a bargain.

McDonald’s recently aired an advert featuring Indian comedians Simmi Areff, Karou Charou (known only as Karou in the ad) and Jai’prakash Sewram. The advert played on Indian

stereotypes, such as the exaggerated nasal accent of Durban Indians, the fear of Indian mothers and the love of modified cars. McDonald’s marketed their new McFeast Spicy as “hot like a twin turbo”. The advert perpetuates the bulk of Indian stereotypes and serves as a representation of the perception of Indian identity within the diverse spectrum that is the South African population.

Perdeby asked accomplished classical South Indian Bharatnatyam dancer Kumari Deepika Naidoo what she thought about Indian culture and heritage in South Africa. She replied that South African Indians are moving toward a more universal South African identity and that a person’s heritage should not be seen as a barrier to who or what they identify as. Times columnist Nikita Ramkisoon stated in an opinion column that while South Africans of Indian descent may be officially known as Indian, they are in fact South African.

Some UP students of Indian descent seem to share the idea that the South African Indian youth are moving toward a more South African identity, as opposed to a more Indian identity.

According to second-year LLB student Akshay Keshav, the Indian youth have moved toward a very individual type of identity in the South African society, but at the same time have kept their roots and heritage. Courtney Steven Isaiah, a second-year BA Law student, said that Indian South Africans are stereotyped and misunderstood because they are categorised according to the perceived stereotypical Indian image and behaviour of having gold teeth and being obsessed with car engines and mag wheels.

South Africans of Indian descent feature prominently in South African history and the country we live in today. They constitute antiapartheid activists such as Ahmed Kathrada, as well as the late Fatima Meer and Kader Asmal.

South African test cricket captain Hashim Amla is also of Indian descent, as is famous former ANC spokesperson Sathyandranath “Mac” Maharaj and Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs Pravin Gordhan to name a few.

With social media becoming accessible at an exponential rate and popular culture, mannerisms and fashion being adopted by South African youth of all races and cultural orientations, South African youth of Indian descent appear to be adopting a more South African culture. While the Indian community may have their own slang, mannerisms and stereotypes, South African Indian youth are seeming to identify with the youth of South Africa as a whole, and are moving toward a national, instead of a cultural, identity.

14 September 2015 | Fun and Games

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Pssst...

ELMARIE KRUGER AND MICHALMARÉ LINDEN

1

Visit Maropeng. On 10 September, Wits University researchers announced the discovery of a possible new human ancestor: Homo Naledi. The fossils are currently on display at Maropeng until 11 October.

2

Braai. Possibly the most clichéd suggestion, but grilling meat on some hot coals is still a good way to spend the day.

3

Learn the national anthem. It’s just plain embarrassing (not to mention rude) to mumble through parts of the national anthem that you don’t know. Why not take the time to learn the all the words? You will also hopefully realise just how beautiful the words are.

4

Speaking of premature separations, Pssst… hears that Maroela and Inca weren’t too keen on each other after Rag either. Don’t worry, Maroela, after this year Pssst… is giving you permission to play Gotye’s “Somebody that I used to know” whenever you come into contact with Inca.

Nerina and Tuks Naledi, Pssst… thinks you are both very strong for tolerating each other as long as you have. Pssst… knows that Nerina (and Sonop) did most of the work in this partnership, and Pssst… thinks the song that best describes your unfortunate, one-sided relationship is probably “Sisters are doin’ it for themselves” by Eurythmics and Aretha Franklin.

Pssst… doesn’t know about the rest of you, but Pssst… is very glad that the quaint little three-way between Kollege, Zinnia and Klaradyn is finally over. In the hopes of never seeing these three reses together again, Pssst… thinks that your breakup song should be Taylor Swift’s “We are never ever getting back together”.

Asterhof and Boekenhout, Pssst… really hopes that the Ysters still have money left after their splurge this week to pay alimony after your zef divorce. If they don’t, Pssst… gives Asterhof permission to play Rihanna’s “B**ch better have my money” whenever they come across Boekenhout.

Does anyone know anything about Vividus Ladies and Luminous’ Rag partnership?

Because Pssst… doesn’t.

Perdeby web poll

Read up about the history of our flag. According to the website ProudlySA.co.za, our flag is the third most recognisable flag in the world.

Will you be celebrating Heritage Day?

5 6

■ No

Be kind to your fellow countrymen. This is self-explanatory.

Embrace your own culture. It is the point of Heritage Day, anyway. Don’t know your culture? Do some investigation. Each culture is valuable and each one is equally fascinating.

7

Have a drink. More specifically, a SABMiller drink. SABMiller is the world’s second largest brewer behind Anheuser Busch, makers of Budweiser, and also the world’s largest bottler and distributor of Coca-Cola products outside of the US.

8

Go for a hike. The land is everyone’s heritage and SA has one of the most fascinating and diverse environments in the world.

■ Yes

Vote online at www.perdeby.co.za

Sudoku

ways to celebrate Heritage Day

It’s been an interesting week in res circles.

At least, it was interesting for the reses, but not really for Pssst…. Besides the normal debauchery, Pssst… hears that Boekenhout had to find an actual reason to make unlimited punch, because if you start brewing punch for no reason, that apparently counts as alcoholism.

Pssst… would also like to know how the Ysters managed to make a punch so expensive that it could pay for an underprivileged student’s studies.

Besides this, most of the reses kept themselves busy with their zef divorces these past few weeks. Pssst… is sure that some reses are happier to be rid of their partners than others.

In the spirit of spring and new beginnings, Pssst… has decided to compile a list of breakup songs for the (ex) Rag couples of 2015.

Pssst… thinks that Taaibos and Curlitzia must be sad to let each other go, especially since Taaibos has to shack up with Lilium next year.

To process the pain, Pssst… recommends that Taaibos listens to Fergie’s “Big girls don’t cry” to help them through the separation.

On the topic of Lilium, Pssst… knows that most reses didn’t even need a zef divorce, since they were never in a partnership in the first place. Pssst… also knows that Lilium weren’t too happy about their premature separation from Olienhout. Houte, if Lilium comes knocking at your door begging for attention, Pssst… thinks you should play them Justin Timberlake’s “Cry me a river”.

Last week’s poll

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View some art. Whether it’s street art, oil paintings or installations, South Africa boasts some well renowned artists such as Gerard Sekoto, William Kentridge, and Jane Alexander.

10

Spend it with family and friends. No matter what you choose to do, the best way to remind yourself of who you are and where you come from is to spend the day with those closest to you.

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Sonop and Erika seem so in love that Pssst… doubts their divorce will have any effect. Vividus Ladies, Pssst… hopes you’re willing to share. Pssst… thinks the song that best describes the Sonop-Erika partnership is Rick Astley’s “Never gonna give you up”.

Vividus Men, Pssst… knows that Madelief dropped you like it’s hot the minute that Rag was over. Perhaps the song to help you through this difficult period is Kanye West’s “Heartless”.

There was also very little love in the Katjiepiering-Kiaat camp this year. Pssst… thinks the best song to describe the Katte’s newfound freedom is Kelly Clarkson’s “Since u been gone”.

Pssst… would say something about the relationship between Jasmyn and Olympus, but Jasmyn was too busy ignoring Olympus for it to qualify as a “relationship”. Pssst… thinks Olympus’ theme song this year was probably Billy Idol’s “Dancing with myself”.

Mopanie can’t be happy to give Magrietjie up to Maroela next year. Peppies, next time you run into Maroela, make your feelings clear and play “Steal my girl” by One Direction.

Pssst… will be taking a bit of a break, but hopefully the reses will have done something noteworthy by the time Pssst… returns.

In the meantime, send your gossip to pssst@perdeby.co.za.

14

Sport | 14 September 2015

2015 Rugby World Cup preview THORISO PHASHA The world rugby community is buzzing with anticipation as the 2015 Rugby World Cup inches ever closer. The international showcase that was established in 1987 enters its eighth instalment this year. Twenty international sides will assemble in England to compete for world rugby’s most coveted trophy.

Hosts England will look to be inspired by talisman winger Jonny May and the leadership of Chris Robshaw as they hope to recapture the form that saw them as the epitome of world rugby in 2003. However, England will face a tricky situation being pitted in a group of formidable nations, including the likes of Wales and Australia. Wales will be a worthy competitor after claiming a monumental win over South Africa in late November 2014, coupled with an impressive Six Nations campaign in 2015.

Australia has seen a rapid ascent in world rankings recently, placing second overall after claiming the Rugby Championship in emphatic fashion with a scalp over New Zealand. The Wallabies will be itching for tries with backline features like Israel Folau and Matt Giteau in their ranks.

South Africa enters the competition with lingering uncertainties after enduring a disappointing build-up to the World Cup. The southern hemisphere giants were demoralised by a series of three straight defeats in the Rugby Championship this year. One of those defeats was suffered at the hands of Argentina,

who recorded their first ever test win over the Springboks. This has seen the Springboks drop to fourth on the IRB world rankings. The Springboks will look to youngsters Jesse Kriel and Handre Pollard to inspire them to victory.

The former UP-Tuks 1 players have been a revelation in Springbok rugby over the past year after some impressive individual performances.

The Springboks will be looking to kick off the world cup on a winning note as they face Japan on 19 September, before a physical clash against Samoa a week later.

Defending champions New Zealand will attempt to become the first team in history to claim back-to-back World Cup trophies. Such a feat would certainly cement New Zealand as world rugby’s powerhouse nation. Currently the best ranked team in the world, New Zealand have only lost three matches since 2011. New Zealand will be captained by world rugby’s most capped player, Richie McCaw, in a squad consisting of Dan Carter, Kearan Read and Conrad Smith, to name a few. New Zealand faces Argentina in their opening fixture. The Argentines have never beaten New Zealand, but victories over Australia and South Africa in the past year will give the Argentines a good sense of optimism.

Reigning Six Nations champions Ireland will battle France for top honours in group D as the two prominent teams. The Irish boast a wealth of experience, with a squad consisting of Paul O’Connel and Rory Best to lead the forward charge. 2011 World Cup finalists France have

POOLS

QUARTER -FINALS

POOL A

WINNER B vs RUNNER-UP A

AUSTRALIA ENGLAND WALES FIJI URUGUAY

POOL B

Illustation: Shen Scott

lacked consistency in recent years, but they can’t be written off as title contenders. The French will be captained by veteran loose-forward Thierry Dusatoir. Wesley Fofana and Yoan Huget will add attacking flair to the French backline.

Uruguay is the only new addition to the competition at the expense of Russia who failed

SEMI-FINALS WINNER A vs RUNNER-UP B

OCT 24 2015

SOUTH AFRICA SAMOA JAPAN SCOTLAND USA

POOL C

FINALS

WINNER C vs RUNNER-UP D

FRANCE IRELAND ITALY CANADA ROMANIA

OCT 25 2015 OCT 31 2015

NEW ZEALAND ARGENTINA TONGA GEORGIA NAMIBIA

POOL D

to qualify for the tournament. Kick off will commence on 18 September when England take on Fiji in the opening match of the tournament.

The Webb Ellis Cup has only been lifted by four different nations in its 28-year history. The stage is set and the ground is on level pegging as the world awaits to see the crowning of the next world champions.

WINNER D vs RUNNER-UP C

14 September 2015 | Sport

15

Five minutes with Robin Swartz TAY LETHULOE

Image: Saspa

UP-Tuks misses out on a treble Varsity Football title TAY LETHULOE UP-Tuks’s hope of a hat-trick title in the Varsity Football league came to a disappointing end after they were defeated by the Tshwane University of Technology (TUT) at the UP Stadium on Thursday 10 September. Over 4 500 spectators came to show their support and were left heartbroken when TUT were able to clinch a 4-1 victory on penalties. AmaTuks head coach Sammy Troughton was among the supporters with several of his AmaTuks players, and was hopeful before the game. “Obviously the senior team will be in support of the lads in today’s match. We are [also] giving the coaches all our support for today’s game,” said Troughton.

The UP-Tuks team, however, squandered countless opportunities in a nervous semi-final.

TUT keeper King Ndlovu proved worthy of his

Varsity Football Super Striker performance as early as the third minute, and made a save that denied winger UP Lindsay Stowman in the 13th minute.

As UP-Tuks players became comfortable with the ball they began to create scoring opportunities that put pressure on the opposing defence. Ndlovu received a yellow card in the 42nd minute that awarded the defending champions a free kick outside the box, which was blocked by the TUT wall. The last play of the first half also saw Ndlovu make another save against a Jeremiah Nkwana free kick.

The second half began positively with both teams creating scoring opportunities, with a solid Robin Swartz in the Tuks midfield and an enterprising Itumeleng Mogotsi for TUT. Tuks’s best opportunity of the match came in the 61st minute when Stowman received a pass from

Tebogo Galane in the final third, but shot the ball wide. Stowman, who was named the man of the match, was able to create a few more chances for UP but all in vain as Ndlovu kept TUT in a game that was to be decided by penalties.

Tuks made a few late changes in their preparations for the penalties as Stowman and Galane came off for Mbongeni Masilela and Thabo Ndlovu, but Tuks still faced challenges having lost their leading goalkeeper David Ribero to a knee injury. TUT took every one of their penalties clinically as Ndlovu’s save off the UP-Tuks’s first penalty kept Tuks on the back foot. UP were unable to recover from their poor start.

The defeat sees UP fall out of the 2015 competition and lose the opportunity to retain their title. The 2015 Varsity Cup champions will be decided on 24 September.

Mopanie claim Koshuis Rugby title again ZUKO QUSHEKA This year’s Steinhoff Koshuis Rugby Championships finals were played on 1 September at the LC de Villiers stadium.

In the first final of the day, Steinhoff Law House went up against Steinhoff Sonop in a match between two physical teams that were both determined to claim the title of second league champions. The pressure of the occasion saw the teams play a match that was riddled with errors, and it was Sonop who crossed the line first. They were soon under pressure as Law House spent a large amount of the game in their half of the field and, despite being resilient in defence, they ended up losing the match 13-7. The u/20s match saw Boekenhout beat Olienhout 29-5.

The day also saw defending champions and crowd favourites Steinhoff Mopanie take on Steinhoff Sonop in the first league final.

With Mopanie holding the title as the 2014 champions, they presented a tough challenge for any team that was going to meet them in the final. Sonop gave them a run for their money, but Mopanie clinched a 24-13 victory.

As part of the competition, a Steinhoff UPTuks Koshuis Barbarians team was announced that will compete against the University of Johannesburg on 12 September. The following players were chosen: Anru Stander (Mopanie), Hancu Sipsma (Sonop), Lood De Jager (Maroela), Rynhardt Bezuidenhout (Mopanie), Lourens Weyer (Mopanie), Alex Thomas (Maroela), Albert Jordaan (Mopanie), Hein Schoeman (Mopanie), Vincent Hulk (Sonop), Christiaan du Toit (Mopanie), Boeta Erasmus

(Sonop), Cameron Christie (Onderstepoort), Helgard Gous (Mopanie), Lean van der Walt (Mopanie) and Javon Erasmus (Sonop). The following reserves were also chosen: Jeandre Taljaard (Maroela), Jason Langman (Mopanie), Allistor van Schoor (Maroela), Dawie Maree (Onderstepoort), Hanro Cloete (Sonop), Dean Alberts (Mopanie), Kobus Eloff (Sonop) and Burger Fouche (Maroela).

UP-Tuks res rugby continues to attract crowds who relish the opportunity to witness the latest rugby talent on display, especially with the players getting better every year. As Mopanie looks toward the next Steinhoff Koshuis Rugby Championships, they’ll be wary of complacency during the long break but will surely be confident, having stepped up to the challenge in previous championships.

Perdeby

Just before UP-Tuks took on Tshwane University of Technology (TUT) in the Varsity Footbal semi-final, Perdeby sat down with captain Robin Swartz to chat about how the team felt about the upcoming match.

AmaTuks made it into the Varsity Football semi-finals after what many have described as a slow start to their campaign. Do you feel the team is starting to peak at the right time?

Yes we are. We agree as we also felt that we weren’t firing on all cylinders in the early stages and it cost us some points in the first few games. Of late we have improved in our performances, which we are really proud of as it’s something we have worked hard at.

We are peaking but still have a lot to improve on. It’s our hope that we continue improving, as we will need to be at our best if we want to achieve our mandate.

How do you feel about your performance in this year’s tournament, being one of the most consistent starters in the squad so far?

I’m happy to have been given the opportunity to play all [of] these games, as last year I missed out on a large part of the season due to injury. Personally, I feel good about my performances and all I can hope is that I can contribute to the team’s overall success. The coaches and my teammates are happy with my contribution and that, for me, is the most important thing.

How have you found leading the UP-Tuks team for this campaign?

It’s been a great honour and a privilege that I hold really close to my heart. We have a diverse group of players from different backgrounds, but thankfully they are all great characters willing to learn from each other and that has led to a great team spirit. I can say that my leadership responsibilities have been shared by the entire squad, as we all want to represent the institution well and we are united in that.

You are facing TUT in the semi-final. How do you feel going into the match?

[UP] and TUT have had a longstanding rivalry in tertiary football. It is definitely going to be a huge game. More than just their natural talent and quality of their squad, we know they will be really determined to beat us, as in recent times we have had the better of them. This is a true test for us to see if we deserve to defend our title, and I believe we have what it takes to do so, but we need to be at our best.

What would it mean to the team to secure the Varsity Football title for a third consecutive time?

It would be, for some of us, the highlight of our football career. We realise that it would leave a legacy in TuksSport and not just [with] football, and it’s a legacy [that] we want to be associated with. It would also be a great way for us to thank our supporters and the management of the university for always believing in us and providing [us with] the opportunity to play while receiving a great education, and that is priceless.

Proudly South African!

Sport

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Pretoria sees that Brian Capper can CARLI-ANN FURNO

If you have ever witnessed Brian Capper in action, you will not find it difficult to understand why he is so often referred to as South Africa’s most diverse motorsport talent. Capper can face almost any terrain with his experience in trial riding, motocross and supermoto.

Having accomplished many of his dreams as a supermoto and trial champion, he has set his focus upon the technical world of enduro riding and endurocross, competing in selected events both nationally and internationally. He also performs in Xtreme Riding Xhibitions (XRX), where he uses a custom built rig, trusting volunteers and self-confidence to stun onlookers with an action packed 25-minute display of skill. One such performance was on Saturday 12 September in front of thousands of X-Fighter fans. With the lingering excitement of the event, Perdeby spoke with Capper to understand the mindset of those who pursue the extreme lifestyle of motorsport.

There in very little room for error during an XRX performance. How do you take the risks that you do, especially performing over trusting volunteers, with absolute confidence?

In a live show there is absolutely no room for error whatsoever. Thousands upon thousands of hours of practising the same thing allows you to get to a level of excellence and commitment.

When your confidence is high enough you feel like you can do just about anything, but there is

also danger in being over-confident. It is critical for me not to get too caught up in the moment, but also for the person involved in the event to absolutely trust me.

The pressure of a huge crowd in Pretoria watching you perform must be very intense, especially since you win their approval by landing each stunt. How do you cope?

Well that’s really what we get paid by sponsors to do – ride under pressure. Years of training and massive amounts of effort to get to a certain level helps you deal with the pressure well. To get the approval of the crowd is everything and I go out there to be myself and do what is natural, but I also put a lot of energy into thinking of new ways to win their approval. I always say that the more they have fun, the more I have fun.

How do you feel before attempting each stunt?

It is very seldom that I get nervous. I honestly just love what I am doing, and have done thousands of these shows all over the world – one in front of 60 000 people in New York when I was 18 years old. The only time I really get nervous is when there is somebody in the crowd that I really respect and hope to win the approval of. I also get nervous before certain races, especially if I have a lot on the line or am going for a championship.

What are the elements of an XRX performance that you find appealing?

I get fired up when I see peoples’ faces who honestly can’t believe what can actually be done.

Brian Capper performing at an event. Image provided.

I enjoy seeing the crowd’s reaction when we jump something high, or come really close to our volunteers. I have been gifted with the talent to entertain people, and I love being able to do that.

What does it feel like after a successful performance at an event as massive as the Red Bull X-Fighters?

There is absolutely no better feeling than finishing up a show without injury, having entertained a huge crowd that really enjoyed it.

You feel like an absolute rock star with a sense of satisfaction and relief. This is the coolest job in the world for me, and the better you get at it the more fun you can have entertaining people.

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