16 March 2015 Issue 7 Year 77

T

he tweet elite: Local Accounts to follow on twitter

T

he dark side

- pg. 9 -

of cartoons

Perdeby

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

16March2015

year77issue07

Majozi’s upliftingly positive new EP - pg. 8

Isis on social media - pg. 6

The Camerata, one of the choirs at UP, has received a South African Music Award (SAMA) nomination for Best Classical or Instrumental Album. The nomination was for their album Pheonix. Camerata’s conductor Michael Barrett said of the nomination, “It is a great honour to be nominated for a SAMA, especially alongside the best musicians in the country.” Camerata was nominated for the award along with Charl du Plessis, CH2, Tony Cox and Wouter Kellerman. Image provided.

Ienk Athletics

2015 - pg. 12

HPC strike follow up

TuksRes to weed out substance abuse

pg. 3

Cancellation of the Israeli Apartheid Week debate

Millions make dreams come true - pg. 7

Human rights: altruism vs egoism - pg. 7

2

Perdeby

Editorial | 16 March 2015

This theme may seem green

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

Green is my favourite colour. There are many nice green things. Things like creme soda, lawns, kiwis, St Patrick’s Day, mint, Yoda, the Mopanie grootbom, ivy, peas, Kermit the Frog, cucumber, the Statue of Liberty, emeralds, Slytherin, Eva Green, every South African sports team, green pens, green kettles, green smarties, green eyes and the colour green. In fact, one of the copy editors is checking this article in green while Herman and I are at the WineTasting Society’s office next door. It’s for work purposes, I promise. (Turn to page four to read up on their event last week.)

Being eco-friendly is even nicer and that’s why Perdeby has gone green in support of the upcoming Green Week at Tuks (and perhaps St Patty’s day on Tuesday). Green Week takes place from 13-17 April, but we unfortunately miss it because we’ll only be back in print on 20 April.

This is because we’re actually starting to burn out after many long weeks worth of work and sitting in the office until 16:30 every Friday. You may have noticed that this editorial may seem a bit purposeless and random. This is symptomatic of this burnout. In fact, the head copy editor is busy dictating my editorial to me. He has now taken over. I am just really out of ideas, so I’m going to keep on rambling and using completely

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 Entertainment Elmarie Kruger

features@perdeby.co.za @CummingsGoing entertainment@perdeby.co.za @elmariekr

Sport Simphiwe Nhlabathi

sport@perdeby.co.za @SimphiweNhlabZA

Web Marko Svicevic

webeditor@perdeby.co.za @MarkoSvicevic1

Copy Herman Hoogenboezem

copy@perdeby.co.za @hermaninoff

Layout Nikita Mokgware Visuals Hendro van der Merwe Multimedia Keegan Schmidt

layout@perdeby.co.za @nikineo visuals@perdeby.co.za @hendrovdm

webeditor@perdeby.co.za @GraylyJoker0

Teams Layout Ashleigh Batchelor Jacob Swati Kriszti Bottyan Robyn Phillips Copy Bianca van Staden Christelle van Schalkwyk Emma Paulet Happy Mahlangu Jaco Stroebel Jessica Nogieć Rorisang Moloi Shannon Nauschutz Tshepho Mamashela Online Jarred van der Westhuizen Joane Olivier Mothusi Masibi Thabang Letageng Taya Rozova PJ Hamilton Michael Smit Maxwell Kamlongera

Advertising Sales Tel: 012 420 6600 Cell: 083 318 9738 carel.willemse@up.ac.za

unnecessary elaborations and useless adjectives until the editorial is completely, utterly and irrevocably full.

He has now given control of the keyboard (of power) back to me.

Ever have a week like this? I bet you have.

Here at Perdeby, we understand. And while we strive to maintain a serious tone for the paper, sometimes we just need a bit of fun because we’re human and we face issues like stomach bugs, termite infestations, Fego running out of ice cream, poor group work, editorial writers block, etc. (I couldn’t think of a last example), just like you.

If you are in need of a laugh please head over to our Fun and Games page and have a look at the hilarious (and outrageous) Google searches that direct people to the Perdeby website search box. If you need to vent, please keep writing me letters. We like to hear what concerns our readers. It also means we’ll be able to ensure we cover the issues that are most relevant to you, the students.

What happens if you work at an office of suck-ups? Everyone keeps a-green with you.

Thank goodness I don’t.

Michal (and Herman)

DAWOOD’S HOME COOKED MEALS

Letters Racial discrimination is not just a thing that foreigners in South Africa experience. In the university, even Tsonga and Venda people go through it every other day. I personally have been through more than I can ever mention, but the thing is that we have to understand where we come from as black South Africans.

The system has always made sure that we find, or only see, our differences and rank ourselves in terms of culture and language, with Zulus and Xhosas ranking themselves first among black people while Tsonga and Venda people are last on the list. So even when it comes to services that we have to render to each other (for example, at the cafeteria as last week’s letter stated) culture and language seem to play a role and the attention you get revolves around it.

We all know that this should not be happening, but unfortunately it is and this is actually the aftermath of having once been a segregated society. I know that a lot of people argue that it has been 20 years already so we shouldn’t still be blaming apartheid, but you have to understand that almost all students, workers, lecturers and others in university still come from backgrounds or with parents whose apartheid mental state has not really

From the Editor

ALL FOOD STRICTLY HALAAL

changed.

I grew up with an undermining attitude towards other cultural people and it was even worse towards foreigners. I now have friends from Tswana, Zulu, Swati, Afrikaans, English and Venda cultures. We all tell the same story of what we were taught about each other and about foreigners.

So having discussed the little I could, it would help you a lot to learn the languages of the land, especially Sepedi and Zulu because they are the most spoken on campus. For example, if you had to go study in Cuba you would have to learn Spanish because that is the language spoken there, and because all your interactions outside of lectures or offices will be with people who do not speak English all the time. It would avoid unnecessary mistreatment and you would enjoy your stay here. If I had to come to your country, I would need to learn the language of the land because it makes things easier and reduces friction.

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Good luck Be a South African in South Africa, but don’t forget where you come from.

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Gerhard Pienaar 079 495 4417 www.gpphysio.co.za

Nolandi Botha 076 051 5048 www.eat-well.co.za

Copyright Perdeby is printed by Paarlmedia. All rights reserved. Contributions are welcome. All due care will be taken with materials submitted, but Perdeby and printers cannot be held responsible for loss or damage. The editor reserves the right to edit, amend or alter in any way deemed necessary.

Perdeby cannot be responsible for unsolicited material. The opinions expressed in Perdeby are not necessarily those of the editors and printers of

Marise Swart 076 078 7684 www.marise.co.za

Marius Prinsloo 012 342 3383 www.mppo.co.za

16 March 2015 | News

3

TuksRes to weed out substance abuse CHARLOTTE BASTIAANSE TuksRes has begun to take steps to approach the matter of substance abuse in university residences more seriously. The policies and guidelines regarding the use of prohibited substances are under revision with a strong emphasis on managing the use and abuse of drugs and alcohol.

Recently in a letter sent to the house parents of all the residences, TuksRes outlined the issues it has been experiencing regarding the control of students’ use of marijuana in particular. This has resulted in their determination to employ new and more aggressive strategies to manage drug abuse in residences.

When a student makes the decision to take up his or her place in a residence, they are given the TuksRes policies and rule guide to read through. Students are told to adhere to these rules or otherwise face possible expulsion. Furthermore, students sign a contract when they enrol at the university which binds them to the rules of the university.

The house parents of each residence schedule room raids at random times during the semester.

Image: Hendro van der Merwe

Most of the time they will inspect the rooms to make sure that students do not have people in their room after hours. The inspector may also search rooms for prohibited items and substances.

According to the letter sent to the house parents, drug use has been an increasing issue among the residences and has now become a focal point for house parents to monitor.

TuksRes further stated in the letter that in the future residence students can expect more room raids which will focus on exposing drug abuse.

Students need to be aware of the room raid procedure and how it deals with drug usage. This procedure was outlined in the letter.

If a student is found with drugs or any other unlawful substances in his or her room, the consequence

Cancellation of the Israeli Apartheid Week debate

will be an immediate expulsion from any residence that is under the university’s management. The matter will also be reported to the police.

The South African Police Service (SAPS) may choose to dispatch canine units to the residence if they are motivated to investigate the matter further.

Another new development stated in the letter is that the HK members of each residence will be required to sign revised contracts which include consent for them to be subject to random urine drug tests. If a HK member does not agree to sign and consent to the testing, then that HK member will be forced to resign. This decision has yet to be finalised.

Most HK members and res students declined to comment and said that they had been advised not to. A HK member, who wishes to remain anonymous, said, “An ideal drug policy would not seek to alienate and ostracise those who abuse drugs, but rather provide them with the required counselling to resolve the underlying cause for their drug use rather than simply remove them from the stable environment that TuksRes provides.

I also think that any policy should

be very wary to punish individuals for actions that might not have even happened on Tuks property.

While I completely support the university in eliminating drug usage on university property, the proposed policy may run the risk of punishing individuals for actions that happened completely outside of the university’s jurisdiction.”

Another anonymous student in Boekenhout said that “res is not the same as living in a flat or commune where you abide by your own rules, but rather by the university’s. If you have a problem with it then you should have [a look] at the contract that you sign at the beginning of each year a little more carefully.” Students who are offered a place in a residence are given the option to accept or decline the place.

Caroline Pieterse, a third-year BEd student, said that “When they come and raid our rooms, it is quite invasive because they don’t really tell us when they’re coming, so it’s always a surprise.”

At the time of going to print the university could not be reached for comment.

HPC strike follow up

Photo: Herman Hoogenboezem

HERMAN HOOGENBOEZEM Illustration: Jaco Stroebel

JACO STROEBEL The Muslim Student Association (MSA) has declined to attend a debate hosted by the SRC for the Israeli Apartheid Week (IAW).

This resulted in the cancellation of the event. The event was aimed at initiating a dialogue between proPalestine and pro-Israeli factions.

SRC secretary Adrian Eckard said that the debate was organised as a panel discussion, with one panel arguing for Israel, one arguing against it, and one neutral panel. He further stated that the invitation for the debate was sent to the EFF and Sasco two weeks prior to the event.

The MSA declined to attend the dialogue due to lack of timeous

notification on the part of the SRC. They said that the SRC approached them a day before the event to ask them to organise speakers for the Palestinian side because Sasco and the EFF had not.

The MSA issued a press release saying, “This initiative, in the same week as IAW, makes it difficult for activists to participate in the programme at such short notice. We welcome the opportunity to engage but believe that a more reasonable time frame should be allocated to invited speakers.”

Furthermore, the MSA alleged that one of the coordinators had taken a biased stand by attending a trip to Israel hosted by the South African Union of Jewish Students. In the same press

release the MSA asks, “Is it just coincidental that the main organiser of this event is someone who has just returned from a Zionist sponsored trip?” When asked about this organisational bias, Eckard responded that the organisers of the event would not have participated in the panel discussions, but would act as observers.

If the debate were to be rescheduled, the MSA said that they would participate fully. The MSA said that “After the date of IAW has passed, we will gladly engage in ‘dialogue’ with both factions of the panel (Pro-Israel and Pro-Neutrality) and we will provide adequate notice of such an intention.”

On Monday 9 March staff at the High Performance Centre (HPC), situated on the LC de Villiers sport campus, embarked on a strike.

The strike was due to an apparent breakdown in negotiations over bonuses and salary adjustments, and resulted in the closing of all entrances to the LC de Villiers campus.

The HPC staff have been in negotiations with HPC management since January. Gibson Lepoto, a shop steward at the HPC, said that the HPC staff were “fighting for [their] rights,” and claimed that the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA) issued them with a certificate allowing them to go on strike.

After the HPC asked for a postponement the strike was

cutting edge student living

moved from 2 March to 9 March.

Lepoto said that the HPC had still not contacted them after this postponement, leading to the staff beginning their strike. By 11:00 the strikers had dispersed and all entrances had been opened.

The HPC and university management released a statement explaining that the strike was due to “disagreement on labour matters, particularly of salary bonuses, between the company and the labour union representing the employees”, and also described the strike as “unlawful and unprotected”.

HPC CEO Tony Sutcliffe assured all HPC employees that the HPC is committed to negotiations with the employees and that HPC management hopes to “restore normality in a peaceful manner as soon as possible.”

0861 MIDCITY www.midcity.co.za

4

News | 16 March 2015

Green Week 2015 hosted by Unasa

Image provided.

MICHAEL BONGANI REINDERS The United Nations Association of South Africa (Unasa) Pretoria will be hosting the 2015 Green Week at UP in the week of 13-17 April.

The aim of Green Week is to bring Unasa, students and university staff together in an effort to address green issues. These include issues such as environmental sustainability, green international politics, and the emerging green economy.

The goals outlined for Green Week are in line with the millennium development goals. The aim of the week is to increase awareness of the environmental challenges our planet faces, how we are affected by climate change, to educate students and lecturers on what they can do to make a difference through the decisions they make and the career paths they decide to follow, and to inspire environmental action in underprivileged communities to

tackle issues, such as poverty, in order to create a more sustainable future and put emphasis on how every effort counts.

Unasa has a number of proposed activities which will take place during Green Week. There will be five major events taking place. These include teaching children from a school affiliated to Unasa Pretoria basic environmental skills, hosting a film festival of documentaries that deal with relevant environmental issues, facilitating discussions, creating pledges for students to take in order to encourage environmental action, a debate organised by the head of the Model United Nations on Saturday 18 April, and the planting of a tree which will serve as the closing ceremony for Green Week.

There will be other activities that will take place during the course of the week, such as the setting up of recycling bins on campus to promote a clean environment and multiple daily quizzes with small “green prizes” to help students realise the importance of sustainable living.

In a press release, Unasa said that, “Living sustainably has become a global responsibility and Unasa Pretoria, in cooperation with the University of Pretoria, plans to take account for our part of this responsibility.”

Student forum follow-up JODY DAVISON After the subcouncil meeting on 12 February during which the new Student Forum was elected, Daso lodged a complaint with the Department of Student Affairs (DSA) as they were unhappy with the election process. Sean Janse, secretary of Daso, explained that Daso felt that “there was a lot of ambiguity behind the voting process.” SRC representative for societies Michelle Kruger confirmed that this matter has been handled internally. Kruger told Perdeby that it was “decided that exactly the same procedures were followed as last year. Nothing in [our] constitution prohibits me from conducting the voting in the way I did.”

However, Janse responded by saying that “Daso [still does] not believe that this election process was free and democratic, as there was no independent observer.” Janse explained that Daso does not agree that societies “may only vote for representatives within their own society, as this creates a [lopsided] vote, especially within the political category as there are two ANC affiliated parties, namely Sasco and the ANCYL.” Despite nothing coming from Daso’s complaint, they are “still campaigning for strict election

guidelines to be added within the subcouncil constitution,” said Janse.

With the first Student Forum taking place on 17 March, Daso hopes for a positive outcome. Kruger said that the agenda for the first Student Forum “will be the reading of the plan of action and the budget. Should students wish to see this, they will have to approach our treasurer directly.”

Various other political parties on campus voiced their thoughts on the upcoming forum. Zwanyi Mohale, the deputy chairperson of the ANCYL said that they are “excited about the first Student Forum meeting because we will finally be able to get the answers from the SRC about their plan of action for the year, as well as get information about the budget.”

Nomcebo Jele, the EFF representative for international relations and liasons said that, “We want to know what the response of the SRC [is] regarding the number of suicides that we have heard [about] since last year.” The EFF would also like to raise “the question about racism to avoid issues like the blackface incident and discrimination.”

It is in students’ interest to attend the Student Forum meetings to stay informed of what is going on in the university and to ensure that their issues are addressed.

Talk of textured Israeli Apartheid Week at Tuks pathways Image: Hendro van der Merwe

MAKHOSAZANA NDLOVU

Textured pathways on campus. Image provided.

JODY DAVISON The introduction of textured pathways to the Hatfield campus is an initiative that began last year and is currently being drafted into a proposal for Prof. Susan Adendorff, the director of facilities management.

The SRC member with the Transformation and Student Success portfolio Jhua-nine Wyrley-Birch and the member with the Safety and Security portfolio Sibahle Sgwane are working on the textured pathways initiative together with Mandla Ntimane, a third-year town and regional planning student. The idea behind textured pathways “is to give blind students the chance to move around freely on campus without having to worry”, explained WyrleyBirch. Wyrley-Birch confirmed that this project “is definitely going to happen this year”.

The disability unit is excited and fully supports the textured pathway initiative. Juan Erwee, technical officer at the disability unit, believes textured pathways will “make a big difference on campus if it does come to be a reality”.

Ntimane’s responsibility has been to source the material for the path. He has chosen tactile paving as it is cost effective, sustainable and requires less

maintenance. Tactile paving is “like pavement, but it has bubbles on it so you can feel where you are going with your cane or...your feet”, explained Ntimane. This choice was also motivated by the use of tactile paving in the Hatfield area as it makes it easier for blind students “to navigate around campus having something that they already know”.

While the project has taken some steps forward there are still things that need to be worked out. Ntimane explained that they are still in the process of determining how much the project will cost. The team has been working with blind students to see how to plan the route. Two weeks ago Wyrley-Birch, Sgwane and Ntimane, together with some blind students, assessed campus grounds to better understand where the difficult and dangerous areas are. Wyrley-Birch said that “the intention is to be clever about where the path is built so that it does not disrupt everyone as well.”

Nasmirha Dilshad Bhamjee, the SRC member with the sport portfolio, is blind and believes that textured pathways will “help people who are blind to mobilize themselves on campus”. She added that “it will just make life easier and it will give us a sense of independence.”

Sasco, in collaboration with the Muslim Student Association (MSA) and EFF Tuks, hosted a series of events throughout the Israeli Apartheid Week (IAW) of 2-8 March.

These events were hosted to raise awareness for human rights issues whereby the non-Jewish indigenous population of Palestine are allegedly

oppressed and segregated by Israel.

These events included a movie screening entitled Under the Forest which was broadcast to Tuks students in order to familiarise them with what is currently going on in Israel.

There was also a graffiti painting session for students who did not get the opportunity to see the movie. On 6 March a silent walk was conducted around campus to create awareness

of the oppression that the Palestinian people are facing. Saturday 7 March was National Day of Action against Woolworths. There was a boycott against Woolworth’s stores due to the trade relationship they have with Israel. During an interview with Perdeby, Matlou Pataki, who is a representative of the MSA said: “As South Africans, and as a post-apartheid state, we need to be in solidarity with the Palestinians as we know too well what the effects of apartheid are. This is a human rights issue and everyone should be ‘up in arms’ about it. The discrimination of anyone based on the colour of their skin is inhumane and must be uprooted, whether in South Africa or Israel.” This was the 11th Israeli Apartheid Week which took place in over 200 cities worldwide.

Wine Tasting Society opens for 2015

Image provided.

WILLIAM ALDRIDGE UP’s Wine Tasting Society officially opened its doors for 2015 at the Law kiosk on Thursday 12 March. Any student interested in joining could sign up at a small cost of R5 for

bottomless wine.

The Wine Tasting Society aims to host at least two tastings a month on campus, where professionals from prestigious vineyards in the Western Cape share their knowledge with members of the society while they enjoy tasting the different selections of wine.

The society aims to educate members about the process of wine making, the wine industry and also the history of each bottle and what went into it before it reaches your glass. It also promotes a culture of responsible drinking.

Registration was buzzing with students who were excited to get their first glass of wine. Whether those in attendance like red, white, or something a bit sweeter, there was something for everyone. A great

social atmosphere filled the event as usual. One lucky member won a bottle of wine for answering a spot question about South African wine.

If you love wine or simply love to socialise and meet new people, the Wine Tasting Society is a great place to do so. The first wine tasting will be on Tuesday 17 March. With a limited number of tickets going on sale, it is a first-come-first-served basis at around R30 per ticket.

If you missed registration, you can register in the week of 16 March at the Wine Tasting Societies office in the Vygie building at the Prospect Street entrance. The Wine Tasting Society has been shortlisted by the university to be shut down but they hope a large membership will deter the decision.

16 March 2015 | News

5

Student misconduct: what you need to know

Photo: Kaylyn O’Brien

STAFF REPORTER Each institution has its set of rules as to how things should be done.

Some people obey these rules, while others break them by accident or with malicious intent. UP is no different and student misconduct is a serious matter at the university. In the first two weeks of 2015 the Registrar processed 78 cases of student misconduct. Perdeby took a look at the most common occurrences of student misconduct and the procedures which are followed should they occur.

The most common form of

misconduct at UP is academic dishonesty. Deputy-director of the Student Disciplinary Advisory Panel (SDAP) Stephen Buabeng-Baidoo explained that this encompasses cheating in exams or tests, plagiarism, attempting to write a test without presenting identification or even writing a test for another person. According to BuabengBaidoo, cheating occurs mostly during the first set of semester tests, during engineering weeks and closer to the final examinations. BuabengBaidoo says most cases of plagiarism occur in postgraduate students who are in the process of submitting

research proposals and theses. “These are all very small things but they play a big role,” he explains.

The next most common charge brought against students is to do with the consumption of alcohol.

The university has strict policies regarding alcohol that not all students are fully aware of. BuabengBaidoo gives three examples of situations which can see students having charges brought against them. Publicly, “when you act in an indecent manner, you can actually be prosecuted by the university because you exist in a res or university setting in your capacity as a university student,” says Buabeng-Baidoo.

Those that enjoy their drinks at Aandklas on a Thursday night need not fear that their private social time is being invaded upon.

Where the issue comes in, according to Buabeng-Baidoo, is when an inebriated student causes chaos in a public area, such as attacking another student or returning to campus and defacing Tuks property.

The other two circumstances related to alcohol consumption are when “student societies provide alcohol outside of certain stipulated areas. So, [the organisation] either don’t have a liquor license to provide it... [or] they sell it to students that are underage,” or when students are “just walking around with alcohol

in general. You can only drink in designated areas, so you can’t take your drink outside of Oom Gert’s,” explains Buabeng-Baidoo.

According to the SDAP, breaking residence policy is also a common misdemeanour. The majority of cases in this area are the hosting of squatters or giving entrance to people who do not live in the residence.

Many students don’t know that action can be taken against them by security guards or other students.

When a student faces disciplinary action there are several events that may occur. According to the office of the registrar, any alleged student misconduct case that is brought to the university’s attention is followed by a preliminary investigation. A decision is then made on whether to pursue the matter further in terms of the Student Disciplinary Code and Procedure.

Depending on the nature and the severity of the alleged misconduct, the university may take temporary disciplinary steps pending a full disciplinary investigation. The guiding principle of discipline is that the punishment for unacceptable conduct must be appropriate given the nature, circumstances and seriousness of the transgression. For this reason, the Student Disciplinary Code and codes of conduct of the university provide different disciplinary processes. These range from different forms of dispute resolution, such as mediation, facilitation and conciliation, to various corrective measures such as suspension and expulsion. “Insofar as the university’s own disciplinary

process is concerned, it is important to keep in mind that the aim of the process at the university is educational: to assist students to become well-adjusted citizens, able to make responsible choices and pursue their goals by doing the right thing and [being] willing to take responsibility for their actions,” says Nicolize Mulder, media liaison for UP. According to Moyosola Joluolu, the public relations officer of the SDAP, students who are suspected of unacceptable conduct may be offered a settlement by the university. This requires them to plead guilty to the charge on the basis that they will be offered a more lenient punishment.

Should the student reject the settlement, a disciplinary hearing will be held.

The SDAP are a group of law students that are available to assist students facing disciplinary action.

They may not provide the legal advice of a lawyer, as they are still students, but they can advise them with their knowledge of the law and the experience of how the university handles disciplinary hearings.

Many cases are extremely difficult to prove. Students are often unaware that according to the doctrine of the onus of proof, the university has to prove that you committed the crime beyond a reasonable doubt.

The SDAP will advise you as to how to gather evidence for your case and how the procedures of the hearing will run. “We lay all your options before you and then you have to make the decision,” explains Buabeng-Baidoo.

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6

Features | 16 March 2015

Social media: Islamic State’s recruitment tool

Illustration: Faith Honey

TIJANA SAKOTA On 21 February 2015, the news of three missing British school girls spread across international media channels. Shamima Begum (15), Kadiza Sultana (16) and Amira Abase (15) fled their east London homes to join Isis in Syria. After catching a direct flight to Istanbul, they were believed to have crossed over into Syria. There is growing concern about the recruitment power of Isis through social networks, especially after luring these young girls to join their cause.

These three girls are not the first young people to have fled to join the militants.

Chief political reporter for writer for Reuters and Sky News Kieran Gilbert reported last month that there has been a “concerted effort” from Isis to groom young girls through social networks. By using Twitter, Tumblr, Facebook and Ask.fm, Isis persuades young girls that they have a moral obligation to join the militant group.

Moreover, through its own media outlet, AlZawra, Isis romanticises the ideal of becoming a “jihadi bride” and sells the position of a martyr’s wife as something desirable and rewarding.

Aqsa Mahmood (20) fled to Syria in 2013 to become a “jihadi bride”, reports CNN London correspondent Atika Shubert. Though it is not entirely clear what sparked Mahmood’s interest in Isis, Shubert reports that authorities communicated to the news agency that Mahmood “watched sermons and met people online” who persuaded her to join Isis and become a “jihadi bride”. A Tumblr blog that Mahmood’s family believes belongs to the young woman describes how and why potential recruits can join Isis. After each post, many people would “like” it and further reblog entries of this account. The account also features photographs of mutilated children and mockeries of the Syrian President, reports Shubert. Mahmood was allegedly in contact with

one of the three British girls who fled to Syria, BBC News reported last month. She reportedly also used her Twitter account to spread Isis propaganda and encourage other British girls to join the militant group. A featured snapshot from Twitter shows Begum contacting Mahmood, requesting her to follow her back so they could message privately on Twitter. Another report details how one of the three girls had been following more than 70 known extremist Twitter accounts. Subsequently, social media officials and security services have been criticised for not doing enough to prevent persuasive propaganda from being fed to the public through this social networking recruitment strategy.

Staffan Truvé, the co-founder of social media monitor Recorded Future, along with his team, has tracked more than 27 000 Twitter accounts which mention Isis in a positive way, says Jillian Kay Melchior, writer for National Review and the Franklin Centre and Independent Women’s Forum. Truvé describes how a total of 700 000 accounts had been discussing the militant group in October last year alone, despite Twitter suspending thousands of accounts suspected to have links to Isis. Truvé explains that when an account is shut down, “a new one is immediately created,” using other individuals “to promote the [new] account”. This vicious cycle of propaganda and the challenges involved with preventing its spread makes this militant communication easily accessible to social media masses around the globe. Subsequently, this impacts negatively on vulnerable populations at large and fulfils the recruitment aims of Isis.

The definition of propaganda refers to “biased or misleading information” which is used “to advance a particular political agenda”, according to Quraysha Ismail Sooliman, an assistant lecturer in UP’s Department of Political Science who is currently doing her doctoral thesis on Isis. Sooliman argues that, “depending on which side of the fence one is sitting [on]”, how you utilise social media results in different interpretations thereof. This includes the use of social media by the media, Isis, or even government organisations. Isis

accuses main world powers of having used propaganda “to murder hundreds of thousands of innocent civilians” in states such as Iraq, Afghanistan and Somalia, says Sooliman.

Sooliman further argues that Isis is making a “counter-statement” to the propaganda and lies of states which “sponsor terrorism”. She identifies the USA as the “foremost leader” of this. Isis is utilising social media to “counter the lies [and] bias” of the “western mainstream media”. This media is controlled by “oligarchs who drive...[a] supremacist and racist agenda”, argues Sooliman. She delves deeper by explaining that social media is used by Isis as a “deliberate attempt” to convey how they understand “revolutionary violence in the face of domination and oppression”. Sooliman raises the idea of how western media has instilled fear that all acts of terror are related to Muslims. She finds this to be problematic as one should rather question, “Who is disseminating propaganda?”

In response to how and why social media officials go about monitoring online grooming activities, Sooliman argues that these officials are obligated to tell the truth and “monitoring is only as objective as the funding that drives the project.” Sooliman believes that monitoring of these networks is justifiable only “if the playing fields are level”. This is determined by asking, “Who is doing the monitoring?” and who funds this. Sooliman explains that once these questions are answered, one will know if any particular view is given priority over another.

Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, David Cameron has described the fleeing of these three British schoolgirls as “deeply concerning”. Speaking out in a press conference in Buckinghamshire last month, he said that “the broader point” is to fight Isis without the sole use of border control. Cameron reiterates that “every school, every university, every college [and] every community” needs to identify its role and responsibility in fighting Islamic militants. The global community has a role in preventing people from “having their minds poisoned by this appalling death cult”, says Cameron.

EU signals the resurgence of GM crops SAVVA POUROULLIS Genetically modified (GM) crops are all the rage in Europe this year following the European Union (EU) Parliament passing legislation which allows individual states to make their own decisions regarding GM crops after years of back-and-forth debate on the issue at every level.

GM crops are modified on a genetic level to have one or more so-called “beneficial traits”, such as a tolerance to certain herbicides and pesticides, fortification of certain vitamins or nutrients, and resistance against other unfavourable factors, potentially allowing greater crop yields, foods richer in nutrients and decreased use of harmful chemicals.

There are many critics around the world, especially in Europe, who advocate the banning of GM crops due to safety concerns over their potential harm to humans, animals and the environment. While the US and Asia already employ a broad spectrum of GM crops and plants, Europe has remained largely opposed to the idea in general. Europe has legalised the widespread use of only two GM variants, which are stilled banned in several member states, against the already strict legislation of the EU. The turn of the year has seen a significant shift in the EU’s aims, with the UK at the head of the rush to change legislation in the interest of keeping up with global trends. In 2014 Owen Paterson, Britain’s environmental secretary, along with Prime Minister David Cameron, spearheaded a renewed push for the “opt-out” proposal, which has been put into effect by the European Commission this year.

Previously, a prospective GM crop would undergo assessment by the European Food

Safety Authority, which would then decide if the crop could be marketed and grown in Europe at large. The “opt-out” proposal would allow each state that is a member of the EU to make that decision itself, effectively allowing any member of the state to ban or allow a specific GM crop according to its own government’s decision. This has resulted in different situations across Europe which could see GM production either increase or decrease on a national level as a result of this legislation. No GM crop is currently grown commercially on British soil, according to Genewatch UK, an associate organisation of the European Commission.

However, with field trials of two GM crops underway and the release of this new legislation, the GM industry in Britain seems set to change, as stated by Genewatch on its website. Several countries in the EU, including Germany and France, have historically shunned GM crops in general but were pressured by the European Commission to comply with European laws and allow EU-approved crops to be grown in their territories. In 2007, Reuters reported that the European Commission intended to fine the French government almost €42 million for failing to comply with its GM-related laws.

These countries are likely to adopt their old legislation now that the European Commission has given them the opportunity to do so, with the vast majority of citizens in several member states remaining sternly against GM crops.

While Europe clears its GM legislation, it finds itself behind in the GM industry. The US is the clear leader with massive corporations like Monsanto, DuPont Pioneer and DOW Chemical dominating the global market since the 70s when GM crops were first put into widespread use. Meanwhile their European counterpart,

Image: Shen Scott

Swiss-based Syngenta, was only formed in 2000 from the merging of several, smaller companies struggling to compete with the US. This scenario still has the potential to change as the Germanbased chemical company BASF begins renewed trials for their exclusively developed GM potato in the UK, leading to the first European company manufacturing European GM crops.

This is a break from the traditional markets of European-based manufacturers, who largely sell their products abroad. In 2013, Syngenta reported that 74% of their crop protection products were sold on the US market. The US is also on the defensive. Having found that offshore GM producers are becoming increasingly more active in their territory, the US government is scrambling to write legislation required to regulate international suppliers.

The first question that comes to mind when confronted with the possibility of having traditional cross-bred crops replaced by GM crops is the obvious: “Is it safe?” The truth is that there is little that can be said of GM crop safety. While many studies conclude that there is no obvious danger in GM crop adoption, many of these studies are funded by GM companies.

The environment in which GM effects are tested has many independent variables, such as weather patterns, changes in farming technique, and local pest population changes. Increases in crop yields over the past 40 years could be attributed just as much to improved farming techniques as to the use of GM crops.

There is not enough evidence to condemn GM crops as harmful, but there is also no way of being sure that this is not the case.

16 March 2015 | Features

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Human rights: altruism versus egoism CINDY FRIEDMAN “The defence of human rights is not just an issue for the free world; rather it is the responsibility of a free people. We should not forget that liberty is forgiving of many failings, but it forgives neither apathy nor neglect. But human rights do not seek to protect your culture; instead they protect you from your culture’s limitations and confinements. Public policy should be about the dominance of altruism over egoism,” says the 2010 Nobel peace prize laureate, Chinese dissident Liu Xiaobo.

21 March 2015 marks a coming of age for Human Rights day in South Africa, but apart from the fact that most of us know our basic human rights (such as the right to life, the right to protection and the right to equality) how much do we really understand about our human rights? Simply put, human rights are the basic rights everyone has because they are human, and in South Africa our human rights list is contained in the second chapter of the South African Constitution, the Bill of Rights. South Africa has 27 rights listed in the Bill of Rights, and because the Constitution states that it is every South African’s fundamental right to be protected and respected, various government bodies and institutions have been set up to ensure that these rights are protected. According to the ClaimingHumanRights.org, “On 10 December 1948, the United Nations General Assembly adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. For the first time in history it was officially and globally stated that all human beings have the same fundamental rights, irrespective of race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status.”

Out of the four independent African states (Egypt, Ethiopia, South Africa and Liberia) only South Africa abstained from voting with the other countries voting in favour of the declaration. Post-1948, many Africans fought for independence from colonialism, slavery and apartheid and were successful. There are now

53 African states that are members of the UN, most of them ascribing to the UN human rights treaties.

The Centre for Human Rights, based on UP Main campus at the Faculty of Law, works toward human rights education in Africa.

This centre, along with 14 other partners, corroboratively presents the award-winning master’s degree programme in Human Rights and Democratisation in Africa. UP Associate Professor Magnus Killander explained that the centre was established in 1986 and was quite controversial at the time, given the history of the university. The centre, an academic department in itself, has such well developed PhD courses that as many as 500 applicants from all over the continent vie for the 25 places available each year. Part of the educational challenge is explaining possible conflicts of rights that can arise, such as the right to education versus the right to practise your own religion, culture and beliefs. For example, there have been stories in the past of schools not allowing students to practise their religion. This is a case where a person’s right to freedom of religion is limited, but in a reasonable and allowable way as the school has the right to discretion of its students and their behaviour.

Recognising that with every right comes a responsibility is a vital aspect of this education.

“There needs to be a balance, for our privileges can be no greater than our obligation,” Xiaobo says. In the light of this, the Department of Basic Education launched the “Bill of Responsibilities” in 2008 as a guide for learners and schools. The document outlines the responsibilities that correspond with the rights found in the Bill of Rights. An example of this is recognising that the right to freedom of speech is not without limits or conditions. It should be respectful and based on the truth.

Some people believe the 30 articles adopted and proclaimed by the general assembly of the United Nations to be one of mankind’s greatest moral achievements, but a thought provoking article entitled “The case against human rights”

written by Eric Posner, a professor at the University of Chicago Law School and published by the UK Guardian on 4 December 2014, seriously challenges this belief. Prof. Posner makes the point that the ambiguity in these human rights treaties allows for governments to rationalise almost anything they do.

The sheer quantity and variety of rights (most countries formally have as many as 400 international human rights) can provide no guidance to governments given that one human right might prevent the government from protecting another.

Prof. Posner goes on to say that even though each of the six major human rights treaties has been ratified by more than 150 countries, many remain hostile to human rights.

Saudi Arabia ratified the treaty banning discrimination against women in 2007, yet their law subordinates women to men in many areas of life. Despite ratifying the Convention on the Rights of the Child, child labour still exists in countries such as India, Uzbekistan and Tanzania, all of which do business with powerful Illustration: Faith Honey western countries. China cites “the right nations. to development” to explain why the Chinese What is apparent is that the battle for government gives priority to economic growth human rights is not only an ongoing one but over political liberalisation. The “Free the a dangerous one for activists. 2014 Nobel Slaves” organisation estimates that between 21 Peace prize winner Malala Yousafzi can testify and 36 million people are forced to work against to this and, closer to home, Prof. Killander their will in China. While non-governmental revealed that the centre of Human Rights is organisations (NGOs) such as Human Rights mourning the death of one of their collaborative Watch and Amnesty International do achieve professors, Prof. Gilles Cistacwhowas, who was success, Prof. Posner says that NGOs do not assassinated on 3 March 2015 in Mozambique take an impartial approach because they realise because of his views on human rights. that they cannot make poor countries comply The youth of today should never lose sight of with all the human rights listed in the treaties the need to take up the baton not only for human they ratify, so they end up picking and choosing. rights, but also for the responsibilities that come Perhaps the best that can be said of the human with them. When we enjoy our picnics or braais rights movement is that it reflects a genuine on 21 March, let’s just pause and take a moment desire. Human rights are a complex issue and to remember where we have come from. That in the water is further muddied by the different itself is a positive contribution. cultures and moral convictions of different

Millions make dreams come true JARED DE CANHA

For many young people, attending university and furthering one’s studies is a distant and unattainable dream due to a lack of financial means. In fact, while many of us play Subway Surfer during lectures and take for granted the opportunities we are privileged enough to have, there are youth who are missing out on opportunities to not only better themselves, but our country as well.

It is against this backdrop that various million rand funding campaigns have been initiated at South African universities in response to the shortage of funds announced by NSFAS for the 2015 academic year. Wit’s first campaign for funding in 2015, entitled the “One million, one month” campaign, was launched by their SRC in February as part of the council’s humanitarian fund. In an article published in February’s Wits Vuvuzela, Wits SRC President Mcebo Dlamini explained that the origin of the campaign was in response to the 2788 students who were unable to study due to a lack of financial means.

Dlamini explained that the wish of the SRC was to “take all 2788 students to class, because that is the future of the nation”, and that the problem of funding was an issue which needed to be addressed.

The campaign, whose first official ambassador was advocate George Bizos, has seen tremendous success since its inception, with an amount of approximately R780 000 being raised in the first ten days thanks to large donations from the private sector including law firm Nortons Inc., the Oppenheimer Family Trust and the South African Property Owners Association.

This amount increased to approximately R1.7 million on 23 February after Wits Chancellor and Chief Justice Dikgang Moseneke pledged

R50 000 to the cause and encouraged ten of his friends to match his contribution. When interviewed by the Wits Vuvuzela, Moseneke commended the SRC on their initiative, saying that they had found a positive way of addressing a deep grievance.

Wits Vice-Chancellor Prof. Adam Habib lauded the efforts of the campaign recently in a statement issued on the Wits website entitled the “1 Million Campaign”. Habib stated that Wits was “indeed grateful for the support of the private sector that continues to fund many projects at Wits”. Habib also commended the SRC, who had “taken it upon themselves to support their fellow students.” The vicechancellor hopes, however, that the campaign total continues to rise in order for all of the students to be funded. This is why Shaeera Kalla, the deputy president of the Wits SRC, has appealed to registered students, staff, alumni and the general public to contribute to this campaign.

Kalla reiterated the importance of every single rand raised, and the potential to make dreams a reality for underprivileged students.

A little closer to home, Tuks has also announced a similar campaign called the #100InAMillion campaign, which is aimed at encouraging regular donations to deserving students who cannot afford tertiary studies.

This long-term view has been adopted by the university in order to combat the annual increase in struggling students who apply each year at Tuks. According to the UP website, the aims of the #100InAMillion campaign are to get 10 000 people, including students, to give R100 from their accounts each month to create a sustainable stream of R1 million worth of funding each month.

Cheryl Benadie, a senior development officer at UP, explained that the need for funding was

Photo: Brendan Fraser

essential in ensuring that deserving students did not become varsity drop-out statistics. “With over 63 000 students registered at UP, the need for student support has become important,” said Benadie. “It is also important to highlight that all students that have applied via our online system for funding will be eligible for support. A UP selection committee decides on the disbursements depending on the available funds,” Benadie explained. This was in addition to the 33 students who received top-up bursaries in 2014 across a range of academic programs.

Benadie went on to say that the aim of the “#100InAMillion” campaign launch was to invite UP alumni and friends to help contribute towards successful students who were facing financial exclusion. One such student was Tiny Maake, who is currently enrolled in

postgraduate education studies. Despite being a top performing student at UP, she was unable to meet her outstanding 2014 tuition fees. Due to the efforts of the campaign, this Golden Key student, Sepedi tutor and head mentor in Lillium has been able to continue her studies.

In a statement released by the UP Development Office entitled “UP responds to student funding crisis with #100InAMillion”, Maake explained that this opportunity had given her the “potential to impact, change, improve and reconceptualise different social, economic, physical, political and cultural issues pertaining to our country”.

Benadie explained that anyone interested in becoming a contributor to the “#100InAMillion” campaign could do so at up.ac.za/tsf , as well as learn more about the campaign on the “#100InAMillion” Facebook page.

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Entertainment | 16 March 2015

Majozi’s upliftingly positive new EP THOMAS MARAIS Electro indie rock newcomer Majozi has grabbed the public’s attention with his singles “Someday” and “The river”. Perdeby spoke to him about his upcoming EP, his videos, and his future performances.

You’re releasing an EP on 27 March. Is there any specific theme to it?

[Yes], and I am very excited. I’m not sure if there really [is] a theme, but for the most part the album is uplifting and generally positive.

The music video for “The river” is quite interesting. What is the concept behind it?

The video is about a man who has lost everything (his daughter) due to some of his actions. He has flashbacks to happier days when he still had his daughter, and they would play by the river.

[At] the end of the video it seems like the man has pulled his life together and is reunited with his daughter after many years. It follows the story of the man I sing about in the first verse.

You’ve recently released the singles “Fire” and “Someday”.

Are you happy with the success they’ve had so far?

The radio play has been great, especially for “Someday”. ECR [East Coast Radio] and KFM have been great, so I’m really grateful for that and people seem to like it. “Fire” has just been released, so it’s too early to say but there seems to be a healthy hype around it so far. I have big ambitions for my music, so it’s hard to be happy about the success of my music when I look so far ahead. I enjoy the journey and thank everyone and God for getting me this far because I know I won’t be successful on my own.

“The river” has received over 30 000 views on YouTube. Did you ever expect the song to be so successful?

Not at all. Not even close. I...was happy with 2000 views, [so] 30 000 has gone so far past what I thought was possible. It’s crazy.

I wrote that song in my garage oblivious to the doors it would open and how it would speak to people. It means a lot to me that people have responded to it so well.

In 2014, you opened for The Lumineers. What was that experience like?

It was [amazing]. Seed Experiences treated us really well. We felt like rock stars, and of course the Lumineers were unbelievable. I learnt so much just watching their set and talking to them. They really opened my eyes, and they were so down to earth and really nice. [It was] by far [one of] the best live experiences I’ve [had] and I’m so grateful to have been a part of it.

Do you have a specific song-writing process or is the process different for every song?

I’m still learning a lot about songwriting and how I like doing it, so it’s different all the time. Sometimes I have a cool [lyric] and write a song around that. Other times I have a cool melody and let the song flow naturally and figure out what the song could be about, but I do find that I enjoy telling stories in my songs, so writing stories like “Someday” and “The river” have been my favourite writing experiences.

What’s next for you? Are there any prominent performances in the pipeline?

I will be doing some album launches in Jo’burg, Durban and Cape Town, so I’m looking forward to that. [I am] playing at Splashy Fen for the first time too, and there [are] many other [performances] in the pipeline. I really enjoy playing live and meeting people, so I’m [going to] play wherever I can and as often as I can.

Image provided.

Image: Itunes.Apple.com

Gateway Drugs Magick Spells Image provided.

Awolnation Run ELMARIE KRUGER The electronic rock sound of Awolnation took the world by storm in 2012 after the release of their hit single “Sail” from their debut album Megalithic Symphony. For the band’s second offering, Run, frontman Aaron Bruno was solely responsible for all of the album’s vocals and instrumental parts. The album’s release has caused excitement among Awolnation’s fans and Bruno has said that he hopes the album will be viewed as “proper maturity” from the band’s debut.

The album’s title track “Run” opens with synths reminiscent of Megalithic Symphony. It starts the album off on an ominous note but relieves the tension by moving into an unexpectedly rough guitar riff. The track “Hollow moon (bad wolf)” is the first single from the album and the song’s punchy vocals are reminiscent of the hit single “Sail”. The track also offers an interesting music video that was shot in one take. Its upbeat and bubbly melody disguises some slightly dark lyrics and this element becomes a golden thread which runs through the album.

The track “I am” features a gentle melody that bleeds into sharp, anguished vocals in the chorus, yet manages to seamlessly flow back to the placid melody from before. Other tracks on the album that tend to be more slow-paced include “Fat face” and “Jailbreak” with its relaxed piano and drum accompaniment in the introduction. “Headrest for my soul” is an introspective and wistful song with an acoustic introduction which plays

like a slower version of “Guilty filthy soul”, another track from Awolnation’s debut. After these pensive tracks the short, explosive track “Dreamers” picks up the pace with its frenzied tune and fiery vocals.

“KOOKSEVERYWHERE!!!” is a track that gives away its fast pace in its title. The song’s speed is further driven by aggravated drums and jagged vocals. It slows down towards the chorus but it does not lose its angry undertone.

The track “Windows” is a mixture of intense lyrics and almost choral vocals which chime in the background. It is one of the album’s standout tracks and is a song that evokes images of mental torment, which is sure to activate an emotional response in the listener. The rapidity of this track is slackened by the song “Holy roller”, a song that listeners can easily close their eyes and daydream to.

The moderate pace of the track “Woman woman” evens out the conflicting atmospheres of the songs that precede it. While Bruno’s barbed-wire vocals still shine through, they are slightly tamer than before.

Another highlight on the album is the track “Like people, like plastic”. Its bubbly introduction prepares the listener for its assertive verses but not for its almost Beatles-esque chorus, which makes for an interesting amalgamation of styles.

The album’s closing track “Drinking lightning” offers a light, soft melody that lulls the listener into a relaxed state, despite its hot-blooded title. The jumpy harmonics are the only lively elements of this track. It is only at the end of the song that the pace picks up slightly, but only for a moment, as the lullaby melody resurfaces just as the song fades out. As the song ends listeners can hear a friend of Bruno leaving him a voice mail, ensuring that the album draws to an interesting close.

As a whole, the tracks on Run might be an acquired taste for new and established fans alike. Although it might take a few listens to grow on fans, it contains a number of hidden gems.

KYLE OBERHOLZER With a humble Facebook following of just over 2000 people, Los Angeles band Gateway Drugs has recently launched their debut full length album entitled Magick Spells. While they remain somewhat underground as far as fame and fortune are concerned, the band has managed to produce a well-polished album that is easy to listen to without sounding over-produced, a feat that many young rock bands struggle to achieve.

The group consists of siblings Gabe, Noa and Liv Niles who share vocal and instrumental responsibilities. They are joined by singer and instrumentalist Blues Williams who completes the quartet. Despite having successfully reigned in their sound to create a more pleasurable listening experience, Magick Spells is by no means monotonous. Its instrumental variety and evershifting vocals keeps the album dynamic from beginning to end.

Harmonies are always present and the vocal variety, although a little confusing at first, is undoubtedly the defining feature of Magick Spells.

The quartet’s musical prowess and vocal capabilities are apparent in the variety of genres that are present in the album.

This enables them to effortlessly shift from thoughtful melodic tracks like “‘Till you come home” to hard rock numbers like “Head”. More intense psychedelic tracks are also present with songs like “Black wine of an owl”, which serves as a reminder that Gateway Drugs is not selling out and that Magick Spells is still a rock album with an alternative influence, not the other way around.

With a new full length album and a sound that is simultaneously refined and rough around the edges, it will be interesting to see what response the music industry has in store for Gateway Drugs.

For now they have been signed as the opening act for a tour with British rock band Swervedriver, which may be the publicity stepping-stone they need to launch them into the halls of musical fame.

16 March 2015 | Entertainment

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The tweet elite: local accounts to follow on Twitter THOMAS MARAIS AND ELMARIE KRUGER @texxonfire Tecla Ciolfi is a former editor for Your LMG, current marketing manager and music editor for Deezer SA and a prominent music journalist. Her blog, TexxAndTheCity.com, is linked to her Twitter account. Here you will find music news, reviews, and the occasional giveaway. Her entertaining opinions and links to interesting stories and interviews are included in her tweets, making this account a worthwhile one to follow. @jonsavagerocks Jon Savage is an actor, entrepreneur, former 5FM DJ and former lead singer of the band Cassette. Savage will star alongside Rob van Vuuren in their upcoming movie about a South African rock band called Stone Cold Jane Austen. Savage’s account is an

excellent one to follow because of his wit and uniquely South African humour. @dillanoliphant Dillan Oliphant is a stand-up comedian from Johannesburg whose humorous tweets are sure to have you in stitches. In the vein of Trevor Noah, Oliphant’s tweets add an amusing spin to current affairs and help South Africans see the lighter side of otherwise serious situations. @BouwerBosch Best known as the lead singer of Straatligkinders, musician and actor Bouwer Bosch’s Twitter page is a hub of hilarity, amplified by his witty one-liners and comical vines. Bosch also comments on current events and provides links to music and film projects he is working on. Bosch is an accomplished solo musician and is also a member of the Afrikaans soft rock group Dans Dans Lisa.

@watkykjy This Twitter page is linked to the humorous and sometimes vulgar website, WatKykJy.co.za. Sensitive internet users had best stay away as Griffin, the (distorted) face behind the account, does not shy away from inappropriate language. One of the site’s most visited pages is an inset called Zefspotters, which is entirely based on contributions from readers. @klyntji Klyntji calls itself an “internet descendant” of Ons Klyntji, the Afrikaans magazine that was first published in 1896. Klyntji is an online publication run by Potchefstroom students. It focuses mainly on entertainment news and reviews and offers insightful articles in both Afrikaans and English. Lovers of art and music are bound to have hours of artistic enjoyment after following this account.

Behind the music: famous songs with famous writers SHAUN SPROULE There has been an increasing focus on songwriters since it has become more common for them to try their hand at performing their own songs. Sometimes these songwriters make it to stardom and get the chance to call their former bosses their peers. Perdeby has taken a look at a few songwriters who have traded their pens and notebooks for microphones.

Sia is a talented songwriter and singer who started her career in the early 90s. Apart from her own music, which is receiving many awards and nominations, Sia has been writing chart-toppers for several years. Some of her work includes “Diamonds” by Rihanna, “We are one (Ola Ola)” by Pitbull, “Perfume” by Britney Spears, Ne-Yo’s “Let me love you” and Rita Ora’s “Radioactive”.

Lady Gaga worked as a songwriter before becoming the sometimes controversial singer she is today. Songs she wrote include Britney Spears’ “Quicksand” and Jennifer Lopez’s “Invading my mind”. Gaga’s hit song “Telephone” was in fact originally written for Spears in 2008, a demo of which was leaked in 2010.

Ghostwriters are not confined to mainstream pop music and can be found everywhere, from house to rap and folk. Some artists continue writing songs for other artists even when they become famous for their own music. Drake has had a hand in many songs outside of his usual genre. He has written for big names and was responsible for songs such as Alicia Keys’ “Unthinkable” and Rita

Ora’s “R.I.P.” Ed Sheeran and Bruno Mars both made names for themselves as songwriters before becoming well-known musicians. Sheeran started by writing songs for One Direction and was responsible for some of their hits like “Little things”, “Over again” and “Summer love”. Mars was one of a group of writers called The Smeezingtons who have worked with Justin Bieber, Mike Posner, Flo Rida, The Black Eyed Peas, Adam Lambert and Far East Movement to write and produce over 20 songs. These songs include “Love me” by Bieber, “Right round” by Flo Rida, “Never close our eyes” by Adam Lambert and “Forget you” by CeeLo Green.

Some artists are involved in more than one role when it comes to creating a top song. Perhaps one of the ultimate names in this regard is Calvin Harris who, as a producer, singer, songwriter and DJ, has worked intensely with other artists to produce popular music. In 2013, Harris was named Songwriter of the Year at the Ivor Novello Awards. He writes all of his own music and he has written notable tracks such as “Say my name” and “We found love” for Cheryl Cole and Rihanna respectively. He has feature parts on these songs, but did all the behind the scenes work as well.

These artists have proven themselves to be all-rounders in the music world and are excellent examples of multi-talented individuals who started small before becoming big names in the industry.

Image: Brandon Dlamini

The chillingly light-hearted dark side of cartoons

Illustration: Jaco Stroebel

BYRON MCLEOD AND ELMARIE KRUGER Whether we’re reminiscing with our friends about the cartoons we used to watch or are just bored at home flicking through channels on the television, cartoons hold a special place in our hearts. But what if the cartoons we know and love are darker than what they originally seemed to be?

A fan-made Power Rangers video produced by Adi Shankar was recently uploaded to YouTube and Vimeo and showed a darker side to the otherwise child-friendly franchise. The trailer portrayed blood and guns as well as violence and drugs, giving a dark and gritty edge to the beloved brand. After a lot of controversy around the video, YouTube and Vimeo decided to take it off their sites to prevent any legal action being taken against them. This incident begs the question: what are we missing in everyday cartoons shown on child-friendly channels like Cartoon Network and Nickelodeon?

In an episode of the 90s cartoon Rocko’s Modern Life, main character Rocko takes up numerous jobs after being fired from the comic book store. He applies to work at a “one-on-one hotline”, where employees are encouraged to “be hot, be naughty, [and] be courteous”.

Episodes of the cartoon Hey Arnold! have also taken a dark

Calendar 16 March: Varsity Cup rugby: UJ vs Tuks – UJ Stadium 24 March: Unasa-Pta panel discussion on inequality and education in Africa - SRC Chamber 26 March: Maroela Boksaand – Voortrekker Monument 25 April: Freedom Festival – Supersport Park

turn after making reference to a Vietnam War refugee in search of his daughter. The show also depicts Helga, one of the show’s main characters, as coming from a home where she is verbally and psychologically abused, and they imply that she is an unwanted child with an alcoholic mother who takes constant “naps” and makes “smoothies” for herself.

In an episode of the popular cartoon SpongeBob SquarePants entitled “Are you happy now?” main character Squidward contemplates suicide as he cannot think of a single happy memory to cheer him up. The episode actually features the character readying a rope and implying that he is about to attempt suicide.

However, it is quickly revealed that he is only hanging a bird cage to cheer himself up.

The contemporary cartoon Adventure Time is known for its controversial nature, however the episode “I remember you” took an even darker turn when it was implied that the show’s main protagonist, the Ice King, suffers from memory loss which is induced by his trademark crown. He is shown singing the Cheers theme song to another character, a young Marceline, after he has taken her under his wing in a world that is clearly in the throes of a violent apocalypse. This tear-inducing episode is a favourite among fans and critics alike.

Next time you find yourself watching your favourite cartoon, try looking a little deeper. You may end up realising that some episodes, despite their good intentions, really aren’t meant for children.

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

UP societies are welcome to send their events, too.

10

Fun and Games | 16 March 2015

Pssst...

The top ten unusual green inventions ELMARIE KRUGER The majority of students don’t really focus on living green. There are, however, a select number of individuals who make it their life’s work to innovate the world in such a way. Some inventors accomplish this task better than others, resulting in some bizarre green inventions out there.

1

The Blood Lamp. This single-use lamp was meant to make the user think more carefully about power usage, as the light from this lamp would require a drop of the user’s own blood to be activated. Perhaps this invention would have taken off in a society filled with vampires and fetishists.

2

Clothing made from cigarette-butts.

A designer from Chile noted that cigarette-butts are among the items that form the largest part of the world’s litter.

She then decided that sanitized cigarettebutts could be recycled and used as material for clothing. This sounds like an idea that would be welcomed by hipsters.

3

Coffee-powered cars. A 1975 GMC pick-up truck has been modified to run entirely on used coffee grounds. This caffeine-fuelled vehicle has been dubbed the Café Racer. If anything, this is an excellent excuse to consume even more coffee than the average student usually would.

4

Aggressive shower curtains. Does your roommate spend hours in the shower, using up all the hot water? The Green Warrior shower might just be the solution you’re looking for, as it stabs you with inflatable spikes if your shower exceeds a certain time limit.

Pssst... is really starting to get bored with all this lack of activity. We understand it’s engineering week, but then what’s your excuse Groenkloof?

Serrie practice has provided some excitement, but not for those doing it. Boekenhout seem to be using the “try to be louder and scarier than everybody else” tactic again. If it didn’t work in the last couple of years, what makes you think it’s going to work now? Pssst... has seen that Taaibos, however, have been stuck on the same song the whole week. No pressure to the Brakke after winning Ienkmelodienk, especially since Taaibos went from winning serrie a couple of years ago to

not placing at all.

Zinnia has been leading the teaching campus again. But don’t tell them, the Pixies already seem to think they’re far too important for that place. At least the serrie practices have been fighting off first-year spread, and for that Pssst... thanks you. Pssst... was surprised to hear that Mopanie (aka Huis Ingenieurswese) took time out of their week to get the hours in. Maybe you could take serrie, because Pssst... knows you’re not getting social res of the year.

There are a couple of dark horses on the rise. Olympus seem to be taking serrie quite

The Other Top 10... and a bit things people search on our website HERMAN HOOGENBOEZEM AND MARKO SVICEVIC Every now and then we have too many lists that we just have to share with you guys. Therefore, it gives us great joy to introduce to you The Other Top 10...and a bit. The following is a list of Google searches that people have done that have pointed to the Perdeby website. Very few of them are actually related to something that was published in Perdeby. Some of them are stupid questions. Some of them are disturbing questions. Some of them aren’t even questions. Come on guys, who do you think we are? ● How to use hashtags on Whatsapp ● Where to sell my eggs for cash in South Africa, Pretoria ● Where is the brothel in south Africa ● South African prostitutes contacts ● Buy drugs online South Africa ● Pretoria nude selfies ● Ways to get rich with a BCom degree ● Advantages of virginity testing ● Revenge porn South Africa ● Can I sell Richeliue per shooter ● Can you sell semen in RSA ● Some sexy pictures of sport man gay male ● Hoe om ‘n discus to gooi ● Boere raad vir hormoon probleme ● As jy te veel eet gaan jy kots

Last week’s poll

5

Solar powered mini movie theatres.

The Sol Cinema is an eco-friendly movie theatre that is run from an old caravan, and makes use of solar panels which charge lithium ion batteries – something to keep in mind next time you’re in dire need of a creative date idea.

6

The White Goat. This invention transforms scrap office paper into toilet paper. Enough said.

7

Wind-powered cell phone chargers.

The Hymini Charger is a mini wind turbine and solar panel combo that charges your phone and other mobile devices.

8

Batteries powered by sweat. This battery is available in tattoo form and it is hoped that this device will one day be able to charge smart phones, digital watches and even heart monitors with human sweat.

9

The solar bikini. This bikini is made up entirely of little solar panels which emit enough energy to charge phones and iPods. Apparently, a male version is set to be released soon.

10

Speakers that double as pots for your plants.

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seriously this year. Pssst... isn’t sure if they want to make a statement, or just shut Curlitzia up once and for all. Pssst... is begging you on behalf of everybody, show the Curlitzia girls how it should be done.

Asterhof are desperate to get hours in, but they can only practice as long as their members don’t start filing noise complaints, something they also do for whatever is left of Square, and the rest of the Melkweg.

Keep sending your tips to pssst@perdeby. co.za

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16 March 2015 | Sport

11

Image: www.up.ac.za

TuksSwimming announces new initiative TAY LETHULOE With the competitive swimming season nearly upon us, TuksSwimming has been busy.

TuksSwimming manager Rocco Meiring feels the importance of “improving and expanding our student swimming programme” is one of TuksSwimming’s focal points for the 2015 season.

This year marks the introduction of ResSwimming, which hopes to see residences and prospective houses compete in the swimming pool like they would on a hockey or cricket field. The proposed programme hopes to have two galas, one in May and the other in

September, where participants can show off their abilities with some hopefully pursuing it further.

“The swimming club programme hopes to have a level where students that want to train and want to compete, but not necessarily as their main priority, have an opportunity to train and compete with their own personal aims, and that’s why we introduced this initiative,” said Meiring.

Swimming is a growing field at the university and its main objective is to make sure that the TuksSports culture of winning is in place at every level of the Tuks swimming club, while providing the students who swim with the best possible environment for them to reach their full potential.

@PerdebySport

UP Tuks-1 hosted bottom of the log CUT Ixias in a fifth round Varsity cup fixture on 9 March at the LC de Villiers sports grounds. Tuks beat CUT 63 - 8. Photo: Brendan Fraser

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

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Sport Last year’s ladies first team in a Varsity Cup game. Photo: Brad Donald

Flip through Perdeby online www.perdeby.co.za

Tuks player making a tackle. Photo: Varsity Sports South Africa

Tuks hockey pre-season off to a good start

THANDO CELE During the past two weekends, the Tuks hockey men’s and women’s first teams took on the University of Witwatersrand (Wits) and the University of the Free State (Kovsies) in a twomatch series where each team played one game per day.

The first round of matches against Wits produced a mixed bag of results. The men were

involved in a 2-2 thriller during which they dominated possession of the ball and had better chances. Wits earned themselves a hard-fought draw in the dying seconds of the game when it looked like Tuks was going to come away with a win away from home. The Tuks ladies first team on the other hand were in control from start to finish, and it showed on the score board as they came out victorious with a convincing 5-1 win over their counterparts.

The second round of fixtures showed Tuks dominance throughout, as the Candy Stripes men and ladies ran riot on their home turf with powerful 8-0 and 3-0 wins respectively.

The matches against Kovsies, played on 7 and 8 March, were defined by Tuks class. The men won with a score of 6-1 in the first game and the ladies continued their fine form with another 3-0 victory. 8 March saw the men win again with a resounding score of 6-0 over their opponents.

The ladies suffered their first loss in a game which saw Kovsies hold on for a hard 2-1 win over the hosts. Regardless, the confidence seems truly alive in the Tuks camp as the Premier League approaches.

Backed by this pre-season warm-up, it seems that the first teams certainly don’t lack any firepower. This may prove to be a season where the Candy Stripes get to the top position in the Northern Gauteng region once again.

TuksRes cricket players disgruntled DANIËL BASSON

Jasmyn won the ladies spirit trophy at the 2015 Ienk athletics. Photo: Nicole Kruger

Ienk athletics 2015 TAY LETHULOE

The annual Ienk athletics event, which took place on 3 March, gave first-years the chance to show off their athletic skills. Due to load shedding, the event was held later this year than it was last year. This initiative by TuksAthletics, together with the Tuks Student Sports Committee (SSC), gives an opportunity for residence students to represent their respective teams for the prestigious title of Tuks Ienk athletics champions.

The event began at 16:00 and started off with the field events which included javelin, shot put, long jump and high jump. They continued throughout the night as the track events, which

include sprints, long distance running, hurdles and relays, took place.

On the field competition was fierce with athletes ready to impress and represent their residences. Along with having fun and making their teams proud, some of the athletes gave good performances and impressed TuksAthletics with their ability. As always, the relays were the top event of the night and the res HKs finished the night off on a high note with a bit of friendly competition and excitement.

Vividus Ladies saw themselves on the winning podium for the athletics cup. TuksVillage took top honours for the men.

The spirit cup, which went to the most enthusiastic supporters on the pavilions, meant

teams really started to compete later in the evening as the crowds increased significantly.

The competition was tight but the spirit cup went to Jasmyn for the ladies, who also impressed on the tracks, while Kiaat took the title for the men.

Maria van der Merwe from Campus Leagues and Recreational Sport, who was also part of the organising team for the event, said that “As always, the Tuks Athletics students made sure we had many breathtaking events on the night.

Each athlete that participated enjoyed the night thoroughly and gave everything they had for their residence. The spectators on the pavilions entertained us with their songs and war cries.”

The residence cricket season is in full swing and speedily approaching its end. The res cricket league is very competitive but it also provides the opportunity for cricket enthusiasts to play the game seriously without being tied down with training every day of the week. Matches often go down to the wire and there are plenty of displays of talent from the players.

Matches are currently played on Mondays and Wednesdays with the first ball bowled around midday. Teams, however, have bee finding it difficult to put an eleven-man squad together.

So far this has led to a lot of matches being abandoned. The competitiveness of matches is lost as star performers from the one side are absent, resulting in runaway victories for the opposition. Sport HK members from various residences have complained to TuksRes cricket in an attempt to have game times rescheduled so that they don’t clash with class times.

“The organisation of the tournament could be better in terms of having umpires and being able to play on weekends because this weekday fixture thing at 14:00 forces [players] to miss lectures. The practise times for nets at Tuks is ridiculous (from 12:00 to 14:00) and it is unlikely that teams can make those slots so it’s a bit unfair. We also haven’t trained once all season,” says Tshepo Mokoena, sport EC of Kollege.

According to TuksRes cricket, the fields are needed later in the night and therefore matches have to be scheduled early in the day.

Despite having no luck in their efforts to revive res cricket, the teams are appreciative of the fact that they are able to play the game, but also feel that consensus should be reached in order to keep the tradition of having a res cricket league alive and give more students the opportunity to play.

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