Serrie
Perdeby
Tuks se amptelike studentekoerant / Official Tuks student newspaper / Kuranta ya baithuti ya semmušo ya Tuks
16May2016
year78issue10
SRC legitimacy questions answered
Exclusive investigation into constitutional amendments and CSG transgressions XANDER JANSE VAN RENSBURG AND MARKO SVICEVIC Following the publishing of Perdeby’s investigation into the SRC, amendments to the Constitution for Student Governance (CSG) and CSG transgressions, further investigation has revealed some answers on the matter. Note that all instances of “section” refer to the relevant sections of the CSG. CSG amendments In order to clarify the process followed in amending the CSG in November 2015, Perdeby inquired with various sources, including several former SRC members, multiple experts on legal interpretation and the Constitutional Tribunal. In accordance with section 49(1), the CSG may be amended by a twothirds majority vote by the SRC in a meeting duly constituted for such a purpose and in consultation with the Constitutional Tribunal. According to another advisory opinion by the Tribunal, when amendments are made to the CSG, the provisions of section 49(1) must be followed. The Tribunal also explained that the two-third majority vote on the amendments must have been taken by the 19 SRC members in office in 2015. The Tribunal concluded by saying “The amendments approved by Council on 24 November 2015 did not follow this process therefore they are, in our opinion, invalid.” Perdeby consulted with Prof. C. J.
Botha, a professor in public law and lecturer of legal interpretation at UP’s Faculty of Law for his legal opinion on the matter. Although Prof. Botha said he didn’t have the necessary time to have an in depth look at the matter from a legal perspective, he explained to Perdeby as the matter appeared on face value. Prof. Botha said that the CSG is part of a larger structure of legislation that governs the functioning of UP. The Higher Education Act that prevails over subordinate legislation empowers the Minister of Higher Education to set out institutional statutes in consultation with universities. UP’s institutional statute in turn gives rise to UP’s institutional rules and the CSG. Any amendments made to the CSG, and in particular by the SRC, must be done by the procedure set out in the CSG and must first and foremost be followed for the amendments to be valid. Prof. Botha further explained that because the procedures for the amendments to the CSG were not followed, the approval of these amendments by Council was invalid. Further to this, Prof. Botha also referred to UP’s institutional statute and said that according to section 59 of the statute, Council does not have the power to amend the CSG. The Tribunal also added that in their opinion “an interpretation based on the wording of this section [section 59] does not state that Council has the power to amend the CSG at whim [and that] it merely states that every amendment that is made (following the correct procedure as set out in section 49(1) of the CSG) must be
approved by Council for it to have legal effect.” Consulting Prof. Anton Kok, the deputy dean of the Faculty of Law, he explained that Council approved the amendments of the CSG in November 2015, with the specific aim of accommodating the current SRC situation and with the amendments only having effect for the duration of 2016. Prof. Kok further elaborated on the use of the words “in consultation with”, saying that consensus would have had to be reached between the SRC and the Tribunal in order to send submissions of the amendments to Council for final approval. When asked about the amendment process specifically relating to the powers conferred on Council through UP’s institutional statute, Prof. Kok explained that in his own interpretation of the Statute, and in line with the CSG being subordinate to the statute, this meant that the UP Council could amend the CSG if it saw the need to do so, after consultation with the SRC, and without involving the Tribunal. In Prof. Kok’s view, it would obviously be preferable if all the requirements for amending the CSG as set out in the CSG itself (two thirds majority decision of the SRC in consultation with the Tribunal) were adhered to, but as long as at least the requirement in the statute (consultation with the SRC) was adhered to, Council could validly amend the CSG. Continued on page 3.
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Perdeby
Editorial | 16 May 2015
Let’s love local
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 Chad Johnston
news@perdeby.co.za @ChadChaddalz94
Features Huvasan Reddy
features@perdeby.co.za @HuvasanReddy
Entertainment Elmarie Kruger
entertainment@perdeby.co.za @elmariekr
Sport Carli-Ann Furno
sport@perdeby.co.za @carlifurno
Web Marko Svicevic
webeditor@perdeby.co.za @MarkoSvicevic1
Copy Herman Hoogenboezem
copy@perdeby.co.za @hermaninoff
Imaging Nikita Mokgware
layout@perdeby.co.za @nikineo
Visuals Shen Scott
visuals@perdeby.co.za @_ShenScott
Multimedia Mothusi Masibi
multimedia@perdeby.co.za @_mo2c_
Last Wednesday the SABC made a surprising announcement that was met with mixed reactions but an overwhelming sense of excitement. As of last Thursday, the SABC’s 18 radio stations all committed to playing content that is 90% local. The idea behind this is that radio stations stick to their usual genres but play local rather than international music in that genre. What this decision has done is create immense support for our local music industry. Local music is immediately given a strong upper hand in the competition against international music. With frequent radio play, exposure and sales become more of a reality and this will allow local artists to live successfully off the income of their music, rather than having to have an extra job or bow
out of the industry completely. Some have expressed concern that there is not enough local music to fill our radio stations’ playlists. What is great here, though, is that lesser-known musicians are now granted a foot in the door because their music is suddenly needed. Any gap in our playlists also means that local musicians now have a responsibility to keep producing quality music (seeing as we’re going to be listening to a lot of it, it’s going to have to appeal to its audience). This bold decision is something that I think is highly commendable. While it might initially seem overwhelming, it’s now suddenly possible for our local music to reach high sale numbers and the top positions in national charts. The industry is also going to experience a growth in the quality and variety of music, because when something is done often, it not only improves but hands the maker and producer the tools to evolve their music in new directions. We will also hopefully be exposed to new artists we didn’t know about, new South Africa styles, and this, in turn, should hopefully bring about within us a bigger appreciation for South African music. The SABC’s decision and its support for local got me thinking about the culture of UP, especially in light of serrie last week. I’ve participated in serrie for the last five years. There’s no doubt that each year the call for transformation gets louder, specifically for the removal of its Afrikaans associations. However, over the last five years, there have been notable changes. Certainly it’s not as “Afrikaans” as it once may have been, especially in the song choice. At the same time, there have been actions to become more inclusive, demanding more diversity in song choice and dance moves. While these rules and
decisions may have been made by Stuku and external culture house committee members, they are propelled largely by the average residence student. Despite this, this year’s serrie got me wondering why we can’t be bolder in our inclusivity. In a serrie of 15 or more songs, the majority of them are by international artists. Likewise, the dance moves and formations mimic what we see in music videos and international sports like cheerleading. Just like the SABC has made moves to clearly preference the local industry, can’t we make moves to clearly preference South African culture – all South African cultures – in serrie? I don’t feel that singing and dancing is a problem - it’s a great means of learning group work, meeting new people and becoming a well-rounded individual. It’s also a way to learn more about each other. This bold move to become more inclusive and diverse doesn’t necessarily have to come in the form of quotas and rules, but rather just personal initiative of residences and house committees. We have so much culture at hand, why is it not dominating our serries to reflect a true picture of the make-up of South Africa and UP as a South African university in particular? Why are we not using serrie as a means to truly get to know more about each other on a level that is deeper than what is possible by using four “multicultural songs” as an excuse for diversity? I’d be interested in your thoughts. This is our last edition for the semester. We’ll be back on 25 July. All the best with your exams and enjoy your holiday! Michal
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16 May 2015 | News Continued from page 1. In order to determine the process followed in amending the CSG last year, Perdeby consulted with several 2015 SRC members. According to four former SRC members, the 2015 SRC never intended to amend the CSG. This was confirmed by 2015 SRC members and 2016 SRC presidential candidates, Tumelo Duke Rasebopye and Henrico Barnard. Accordingly, the 2015 SRC never held any meetings for the purpose of amending the CSG. This was confirmed by two other 2015 SRC members, including Karabo Sekhukhuni, the SRC member for academics, and Liezl Aylward, the 2015 SRC deputy secretary. Rasebopye said that any recommendations submitted by the 2015 SRC were solely on a way forward following unsuccessful elections for the president and deputy president, and not for the purpose of amending the CSG. Another 2015 SRC member, who wished to remain anonymous but is known to Perdeby, explained that the 2015 SRC had many meetings to discuss the SRC elections. The first meeting of such a nature occurred between the 2015 SRC, the 17 elected 2016 SRC members and UP’s Vice-Chancellor and Principal Prof. Cheryl de la Rey. They said that the follow up meetings never reached full quorum and that the 2015 SRC had varying views on the matter. “These views were all submitted to the DSA for consideration.” The member speculated that only one of those views made it to the Council meeting that took place on 24 November 2015 and that “the reason this view made it to [the Council] meeting was because the elected 17 “2016 SRC” were consulted and they gave a similar view and this was then considered by the [then] Deputy Principal (Prof. Themba Mosia) as the most sound and popular view to submit to Council.” Perdeby was able to see the recommendations submitted to the DSA on behalf of the 2015
3 SRC. Out of the three recommendations provided, only one was ultimately reflected in the amendments to the CSG. According to a UP official, “the process followed in amending the CSG complied with the necessary requirements of the UP’s institutional statute. In amending the CSG, both the 2015 and 2016 SRC were consulted and as such, on 24 November 2015 Council approved the amendments, which were valid in their entirety. The Vice-Chancellor and Principal, Prof. Cheryl de la Rey met with both the full 2015 SRC and the 17 elected 2016 SRC members as well as other student leaders, and after consultation, a way forward was proposed, which resulted in the necessary amendments to the CSG.” Prof. Kok confirmed that the CSG is subject to the authority of Council and therefore Council could amend the CSG if it saw the need to do so, bearing in mind that consultation had taken place with the 2015 and 2016 SRCs. The UP official stated that “It should be emphasised that the election of 17 of the 19 members of the 2016 SRC was declared free and fair [and that] the voter turnout was 7 455... which is much higher than in previous years.” The Council, as the highest decision-making authority in the University, again considered the matter of student governance on 16 March 2016 and a Standing Committee of Council will deal with the way forward for student governance in 2016. SRC president and deputy president reelection According to the amendments made to the CSG, the re-election of the presidential portfolio was to be deferred to early 2016. However, due to the protest action which disrupted activities on campus this year, the reelection could not be held. With examinations only three weeks away it is not likely that it will be possible to conclude the re-election
Student Forum collapses NTOMBIKAYISE MKANDHLA On 5 May the SRC hosted the first quarterly Student Forum of 2016 in the Sanlam Auditorium. The forum is intended to be a platform for students to openly engage with the SRC on student issues. However, the forum dissolved due to disruptions before the SRC could present their quarterly report and host a question and answer session with the floor. The event was presided over by the Constitutional Tribunal, which is UP’s “judicial arm of student government”, as described by the institutions’ website. Mia Labuschagne, the Tribunal’s Chief Justice, chaired the event. The disruption stemmed from EFFSC-UP’s vocal refusal in recognising the current SRC. “We don’t recognise the SRC,” Mosibudi “Rassie” Rasethaba, a member for EFFSC-UP and 2015 SRC president, said, pressuring Labuschagne as the presiding officer to tell the floor the capacity in which Thabo Shingange, the acting president of the SRC, was to present the report. Labuschagne tried to assure the floor that Shingange would explain for himself. As Shingange took to the podium amid cheers and song from Sasco members, EFFSCUP called for Labuschagne to recognise a point of order from EFFSC-UP chairperson Amos “Amla” Monareng. However, she recognised a Sasco member first, which resulted in the two parties arguing on who should be addressed first. As the EFFSC-UP quietened down, some Sasco members called out that the EFFSC-UP should not be recognised. While Shingange persistently tried to address the floor, Monareng came down to the podium and switched off his microphone. Despite numerous pleas from Labuschagne for the floor to restore order, the situation was uncontainable. Some students resorted to leaving. As Monareng sat on the podium, his fellow party members argued with the Constitutional Tribunal and some members of the SRC. “If you responded to an SRC invitation and you do not recognise the SRC then you are welcome to leave,” Labuschagne shouted, as the noise level continued to
rise. However, none of the disrupters left. Labuschagne then recognised Monareng’s point of order in the hopes of pacifying the situation. However, he did not respond. She then gave in to the EFFSC-UP’s initial request for her to explain the capacity in which Shingange would be addressing the students. However, before she began a Sasco member raised a point of order, claiming that students were all aware of the grounds on which Shingange was elected acting president of the SRC and called the students who wanted to know Shingange’s capacity “ignorant”. Labuschagne briefly succeeded in capturing the floor’s attention and used it to propose three ways for the forum to move forward. The first method was to restore the meeting and to have the report read out. Her second suggestion was a platform where students could “personally” talk to the SRC in accordance with section 46 of the Constitution of Student Governance (CSG), which mentions the use of a mass meeting for an “open discussion of matters of pressing concern to the student body and/or for the SRC”. Labuschagne then referred to the CSG, which has binding procedures that do not allow the abandonment of reading the report or the engagements of questions that were not submitted prior to the event. She then spoke about the need for a member of the SRC to give the report, which led to some EFFSC-UP members vocally rejecting the SRC, which led to the instability of the floor once more. Amid continuous arguing, chanting and singing, Labuschagne managed to voice out the third option available, which was to proceed to students’ questions without the presentation of the report. No consensus could be reached at the forum and the floor, members of the SRC, and Constitutional Tribunal started to leave. Tamryn Gorman, the Registrar of the Constitutional Tribunal, was in charge of recording the minutes. Minutes will be made available to all registered students on ClickUp in due course. However, students who wish to see the minutes at an earlier stage may contact the Constitutional Tribunal to obtain a copy.
of a president and deputy president in the first semester. A UP official indicated that the “SRC was seen to be functioning well under their acting chairperson, Mr Shingange, who was legitimately elected by the SRC in November 2015.” Meeting minutes On 11 May 2016, a notice by Prof. Tinyiko Maluleke, advisor to the Vice-Chancellor and Principal, was posted on ClickUP that sought to clarify the status of the 2016 SRC. The statement said that the SRC had been mandated to elect from their ranks an acting chairperson and deputy chairperson to assume the duties of the president and deputy president until such a time a re-election took place. “Accordingly, on 25 November 2015, Mr Thabo Shingange (Deputy Secretary) was elected as acting chairperson and Mr Donovan du Plooy (Secretary) as acting deputy chairperson…” In an interview with Shingange and Du Plooy, it was confirmed that Shingange was elected and assumed the role of acting chairperson. However, according to a 2016 SRC member who wished to remain anonymous, the meeting to elect the chairperson and deputy chairperson never took place in 2015, but rather, only
happened in 2016. The member added that the agenda for the 25 November 2015 meeting were issues that were only discussed in 2016 and that the minutes could have been altered or a mistake could have been made as “the minutes and the content of the minutes of this meeting did not take place on 25 November 2015.” Although the member could not give an exact date on which Shingange was elected as interim chairperson, they suggested that the meeting minutes dated 25 November may have actually been minutes taken on 25 January 2016. The SRC member did confirm that Shingange was the only SRC member to be nominated for the chairperson portfolio. Finally, the member said that although the deputy chairperson was never specifically elected by the SRC, the SRC assumed it to be Du Plooy as he was the secretary and would have ordinarily taken up the position. The SRC meeting minutes dated 25 November 2016 contain several discrepancies, including the adjournment of the meeting and reconvening of the next meeting dated 26 January 2016. The SRC was not available for comment on the discrepancies in the meeting minutes. The Department of Student Affairs was also not available for comment on the matter.
Image: up.ac.za
PAM hosts rape culture seminar CHAD JOHNSTON On 11 May the Post Anthropology Movement society (PAM) hosted an introductory seminar discussing rape culture in South Africa. The event was chaired by PAM’s vice-chairperson, Miles Lovell. Lovell defined the term “rape culture” as the normalisation of rape in society in a manner that detracts from the seriousness of rape. He highlighted that he believes that rape is an act of violence and power, and that when traditions and practices are intertwined in a joking manner, they create a rape culture. Lovell highlighted three characteristics that contribute to rape culture, namely normalisation, ownership, and power. He continued to say that rape is a difficult issue to talk about in society, but is very easy to joke about due to normalisation. According to Lovell, normalisation involves the act of making something the norm in a social setting. He argued that society has normalised the act of rape through speech and jokes. When speaking on ownership, Lovell said that there is a generalised idea among men that they have some sort of ownership over a woman’s body because “men are used to getting what they want”. He argued that through “slut shaming” and objectification, men have separated women from their bodies and that men don’t see a woman’s other
characteristics, but rather only focus on her body. He acknowledged, to the agreement of many in attendance, that this all came down to the system of patriarchy, which he claims is the dominant social system in the country. With regard to power, he related everything to ownership and highlighted his earlier point that rape is an act of power. He continued to argue that women cannot occupy positions of power due to society’s view that men should occupy these positions. There was a ten-minute intermission, after which the floor was opened for discussion. Lovell posed two questions to the audience: “What [role] does your religion play in rape culture?” and “How does the music you listen to inform rape culture?” In response to the first question, most of the floor highlighted how women are represented in religious texts such as the Bible. There were also points raised about rape culture within married life. The floor discussion was lengthy and students raised points such as rape being an issue among individuals who are perceived as feminine, which led to many students questioning the fragility of masculinity in the country. The discussion then moved on to rape culture in a university context, with many people believing that students should be informed about rapists on their campuses. Lovell said that PAM would commit to ensuring that these issues are discussed through posters and by continuing seminars centred around rape culture.
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Entertainement | 16 May 2016
Die Heuwels Fantasties set to rock Emmarentia Dam
Image: Ovo Sound
Drake Views Die Heuwels Fantasties. Photo: Jaco S. Venter
ELMARIE KRUGER On 16 June, Emmarentia Dam will play host to the Liefde By die Dam festival, which boasts big acts such as Francois van Coke, Valiant Swart and Die Heuwels Fantasties. Perdeby had the opportunity to speak to Die Heuwels about their performance at the event. You will be performing at Liefde by die Dam soon. What are your expectations for your set? We are going to do tracks off all four our albums. Expect the hits and some personal [favourites]. Which song does the band most enjoy playing live? “Shangri-la”. What can fans expect from your performance at the event? Party, dance, fun [and] boogie.
Pierre Greeff recently collaborated with Loki Rothman on the track “My kamer”, an Amanda Strydom track. How has it been received? [It is] absolutely one of [our favourite] Afrikaans songs of all time, in a different light. [The] response has been great, and [it was a] pleasure working with the talented Loki. Why the decision to keep the accompanying video for “My kamer” more toned-down? We wanted the live feel, as the production is really sparse so the song can shine, no tricks. The band has been touring all over the country lately. What has been your favourite show so far this year? This year we had a great intimate show in a barn outside a small town called Standerton. What a great crowd, always nice to get off the beaten track of the metropoles!
CHAD JOHNSTON Drake released his fourth studio album recently, and so far it’s been met with mostly positive reactions from fans and critics alike. This is echoed by the album debuting at number one on the Billboard Top 100. Drake is known as a rapper who isn’t afraid to talk about his past emotional experiences. He acknowledges this in the song “U with me?” where he says, “I’ve made a career out of reminiscing”. The personal nature of the album is highlighted in songs that include spoken word or skits beforehand, which give the songs context. This is similar to past albums such as Nothing Was The Same and Headlines The album was originally titled Views from the 6, with “the 6” referring to Drake’s hometown of Toronto, but it was later shortened to Views. The cover art for the album was originally released via Drake’s Twitter account on 28 April. The images quickly circulated on social media, with many people likening the pictures to the loading screen of the popular game, Grand Theft Auto. While the visual connections are definitely there, it cannot be denied that the images suit the general sound of the album. The album is predominantly hip-hop driven, but there are some elements from other musical genres fused into the songs, such as electro in the songs “9” and “Feel no ways”. When Drake raps on the album, there is an emphasis on clever lyrics and metaphors. However, when he sings there is a slight element of disconnection, because it is easy to hear the intentional alteration to his voice, which detracts from the feeling of “realness” that he tries to convey through his lyrics. Some general themes that can be identified on the album are financial success, love, loyalty, the struggles of being a rapper and the hard work that goes into the craft. These themes are highlighted by clever rhymes and strong lines. The songs on the album seem to be randomly placed, and this could make listening to the album a bit challenging. However, each song offers something different, from lines that will make you pause the track to beats that will have to be turned up to maximum volume in the car. The album is easy to listen to and can appeal to die-hard Drake fans as well as first-time listeners.
Image provided.
Blackbyrd to spread their wings at Liefde by die Dam
THOMAS MARAIS Capetonian girl group Blackbyrd will be bringing their feel-good sound to the Liefde by die Dam concert at Emmarentia Dam on 16 June. Perdeby spoke to the group about their performance and the band’s new horizons. How are you anticipating performing alongside such musical giants as Francois van Coke and Die Heuwels Fantasties at Liefde by die Dam this June? We are so excited to be playing this year at Liefde by die Dam. It will be our first time performing at the beautiful Emmarentia Dam, [and] it [is] such a stunning location for this event. The lineup is fantastic. We feel like everyone has a lot to offer and together, as a full show, we fit perfectly. We have performed a few times with Heuwels and we feel like family already. We’re looking forward to sharing the stage with these exceptional artists. What song are you most looking forward to playing live? That’s such a hard question. [We] can’t choose. We love all our
songs. We put so [much] work into each and every one of them. They each offer a message that’s close to our hearts. We will add in a few covers, but mostly we look forward to hearing our audience sing along, smile and have a great time. How do you experience being an all-female group in South Africa’s male-dominated music scene? We definitely have to work hard to prove our musicianship, but we get so much support from our fans and from other bands. People see us as women first and musicians second, but as long as our message of love and positivity gets out there, we don’t mind. You’ve released two albums so far, Strong and Home. Which was the most fun to record? Both albums are dear to us. Recording Home was a lot of fun. It’s the first album where all three of us contributed to writing and we had a great time vibing off each other in studio. Can we expect anything new in the near future? We have a lot of new things in the pipeline, but we [are trying] to keep it very hush-hush before any releases. All we can say is we might be crossing over into new territory very soon.
Calendar 18 April - 21 May: Sophiatown – South African State Theatre 18 May: Korean Film Night – South Korean embassy 19-22 May: Brooklyn Travel Fair – Brooklyn Mall 28 May: Market @ the Sheds – 381 Helen Joseph Street 11 June: Capital Craft Beer Fest – Pretoria National Botanical Gardens 11-12 June: Airlink Adrenaline Show – Wonderboom Airport 16 June: Liefde by die Dam – Emmarentia Dam 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.
16 May 2016 | Entertainment
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Mopanie (left) and Curlitzia (right) won the mens and ladies categories respectively. Photos: Stefan Stander
Mopanie crowned Serrie victors
ELMARIE KRUGER
On Friday, 13 May, residences from the various UP campuses took to the Amphi and Aula stages to showcase their many hours of hard work at the Serrie 2016 finals. The prelims for the ladies’ and men’s residences took place on 9 and 10 May respectively. In the ladies’ category, Madelief, Katjiepiering, Zinnia, Erika, Curlitzia and 2015 winners Magrietjie made it through to the final round of performances, while Olienhout, Taaibos, Olympus, Maroela and Mopanie were chosen to go through to the finals in the men’s category. Katjiepiering’s theme was 60s diner girls, while Zinnia’s skull island and Madelief’s corpses were some of the darker themes of
the evening. Erika, Magrietjie and Curlitzia went for more tonguein-cheek themes, namely runaway brides, stalkers and bullfighting senoritas respectively. Olienhout’s Helen of Troy theme and Olympus’ medieval uprising theme were among the darker themes in the men’s category, while Taaibos’ firefighters made use of innovative costumes and Maroela’s Cool Runnings theme was more light-hearted. Mopanie’s performance was centred around the more humorous theme “my daddy is rich”, and their energetic stage presence earned them first place in the men’s category and the title of overall winners of Serrie 2016. Second place in the men’s category went to Olympus, with Taaibos placing third. In the ladies’ category, Curlitzia placed first, Zinnia second and Erika third.
The prizes for best reception went to Kiaat and Erika in the men’s and ladies’ categories respectively. The prizes for best theme at finals went to Olympus in the men’s category and Magrietjie in the ladies’ category. Magrietjie also took the prize for best ladies’ theme at prelims, and they earned the title of ladies’ prelims winners. The awards for best men’s theme at prelims and men’s prelims winners went to Olienhout. The only residences not to perform at prelims were Sonop and Tuks Naledi. Tuks Naledi’s withdrawal meant that there was no mixed residence category this year as the Onderstepoort (OP) Serrie group did not contain any male performers. All of UP’s day houses took part in Serrie prelims, with Luminous, a mixed day house, entering an all-ladies group. THOMAS MARAIS
Vibrant Venda cultural showcase
On 6 May, the successful startup Ventso Group organised an event to showcase Venda talent in Pretoria. The party, called Vendas in Pretoria, was the third such event ran by Ventso and the first to run smoothly, according to the organiser and co-owner of Ventso, Zwanga Mabaya. His partner, Luther Mochabe, said that they had been running similar shows in Limpopo. The occasion itself was a success and took place at popular Sunnyside club House 22. Roughly 300 people attended over the course of the night, and the atmosphere was friendly and relaxed. The artists included such talents as DJ Khathu, Enosoul, and King Kong, all Venda artists. Mabaya said that he was not expecting so many people, and that the money made from the entrance fees was merely an afterthought. The primary purpose of the event was to show off various Venda talents, a purpose he felt was fulfilled. The group plans to run further events in this vein and are hoping that it continues to grow. They wish to provide a platform for a people who are marginalised and ignored in South Africa, and to show that there are talents that need to be recognised.
The Vendas were hosted at House 22. Photo: Lerato Mokoka
Josh Kempen brings his smooth grooves to Capital Craft 2016 AAISHA KALLIER Capital Craft will be hosting their annual beer festival on 11 June, and among some of the performers is Josh Kempen, a Wawela-nominated South African singer-songwriter. Perdeby asked him about his involvement in the event. What can attendees expect from your set? Hopefully some fun, some dancing, and at least one story about a long lost Italian romance. What are some expectations that you have for the festival? Knowing the team behind it, I’ve got no doubt that it will be out of the ordinary and really well executed. How do you prepare yourself for such an event? I’ll probably think of the sort of things I want to say in between songs so I don’t say anything too bizarre, but I’ll also accept that it’s OK to say some bizarre things. I like people to know I’m standing in front of them with honesty. Inspiration can be found in the strangest places sometimes.
Where do you find yourself writing the most? Music itself inspires most of my songwriting. I like attempting a sound and feeling that I’ve heard, but I think we can choose to express our inspiration wherever we want. So when I feel it’s time for me to write I express it [in] my songwriting, but if it isn’t I’ll express it in the way I dress, or speak with people, or cook, or the way I spend my time. As an artist or even just an attendee of Capital Craft, what are you most looking forward to about the event? Definitely my show, I really can’t wait. the performers is Josh Kempen, a Wawela-nominated South African singer-songwriter. Perdeby asked him about his involvement in the event. What can attendees expect from your set? Hopefully some fun, some dancing, and at least one story about a long lost Italian romance. What are some expectations that you have for the festival? Knowing the team behind it, I’ve got no doubt that it will be out
of the ordinary and really well executed. How do you prepare yourself for such an event? I’ll probably think of the sort of things I want to say in between songs so I don’t say anything too bizarre, but I’ll also accept that it’s OK to say some bizarre things. I like people to know I’m standing in front of them with honesty. Inspiration can be found in the strangest places sometimes. Where do you find yourself writing the most? Music itself inspires most of my songwriting. I like attempting a sound and feeling that I’ve heard, but I think we can choose to express our inspiration wherever we want. So when I feel it’s time for me to write I express it [in] my songwriting, but if it isn’t I’ll express it in the way I dress, or speak with people, or cook, or the way I spend my time. As an artist or even just an attendee of Capital Craft, what are you most looking forward to about the event? Definitely my show, I really can’t wait.
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Advertorial | 16 May 2016
16 May 2016 | Serrie 2016
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Features | 16 May 2016
The East/West connection: 2Pac vs. Biggie CHAD JOHNSTON AND HUVASAN REDDY The late 80s and early 90s are commonly referred to as the golden age of hip-hop. The era was defined by the rise of legendary hip-hop acts such as N.W.A , Run-D.M.C., Snoop Doggy Dogg, Nas, and Wu-Tang Clan. However, the era was dominated by two artists who are consistently referred to as the two most influential rappers of all time: The Notorious B.I.G. and Tupac Shakur. These two artists became central figures in the infamous East Coast vs West Coast saga, which ultimately led to both rappers being gunned down. The Notorious B.I.G. Christopher George Latore Wallace, better known as The Notorious B.I.G. or “Biggie”, was born on 21 March 1971. He grew up in Brooklyn, New York City. At primary school level he excelled in school, winning several awards for English. At the age of 12, Wallace began dealing drugs and in 1989, at the age of 17, Wallace dropped out of high school and became heavily involved in crime. After Wallace was released from jail for dealing drugs, he made a demo tape under the name Biggie Smalls. In 1992, Biggie signed with Sean Combs’ new label, Bad Boy Records. Biggie released his debut album in 1994 titled Ready to Die and soon after became the face of East Coast hip-hop. A year later Biggie and his friends started the record label Junior M.A.F.I.A. which stands for “Masters At Finding Intelligent Attitudes”. On 9 March 1997, The Notorious B.I.G. was shot and killed by an anonymous assailant in a drive-by shooting, which led to the end of Junior M.A.F.I.A. Sixteen days after he was killed, Biggie’s double disc album Life After Death shot to number one on the US album charts and was certified diamond in 2000. The album is one of the only hip-hop albums to receive this award. Biggie is remembered as a good storyteller whose loose, easy flow is regarded as one of the best ever. To date, his songs have sold up to 17 million units in the USA. Tupac Shakur Tupac Amaru Shakur, better known by his stage names 2Pac or Makaveli, was born on 16 June 1971 in East Harlem, New York City, and moved to California at the age of 17. He was born one month after his mother, a former member of the now dissolved revolutionary Black Panther Party, was acquitted of over 150 charges of conspiracy against the US government. Shakur began his hip-hop career with alternative hip-hop group
Illustration: Asiphe Dlulane
Digital Underground, before branching off into a solo career in 1991. His 1991 debut album, 2Pacalypse Now, has been certified platinum, as were his following albums Strictly for my N.I.G.G.A.Z., Me Against the World, and All Eyez on Me. Shakur became the face of West Coast hip-hop. Shakur encountered numerous troubles with the law and served nine months in jail in 1995 after being convicted on sexual assault charges in 1994, before Death Row Records CEO Marion “Suge” Knight posted his bail of $1.4 million pending the outcome of the appeal of his conviction. Tupac was fatally wounded in a drive-by shooting in Las Vegas on 7 September 1996. He died of his injuries on 13 September 1996. Shakur repeatedly mentioned that he would die at a young age, and his fifth studio album, and first album to be released posthumously,
The Don Killuminati: The 7 Day Theory, depicts Shakur as being crucified on the album cover and led many to speculate that Shakur was not in fact dead and would later be “resurrected”. The belief that Shakur is still alive has never truly died down, with many believing that he had hidden clues in the lyrics of songs on The Don Killuminati: The 7 Day Theory. This is supported by some conspiracy theorists relying on the fact that Tupac was quickly cremated after his death, without an autopsy report being released. Occasional news reports have been published claiming that Tupac has been sighted, many using photoshopped pictures of Tupac and R&B singer Rihanna. However, no conclusive evidence has been released which could prove that he is still alive. The East Coast/West Coast rivalry
The East Coast/West Coast rivalry reached a tipping point after Tupac’s shooting in a hotel lobby in 1994, where he was shot five times but not fatally injured. A few months after the shooting, The Notorious B.I.G. released the diss track “Who shot ya?” aimed at Tupac’s shooting. Tupac responded with a parody of The Notorious B.I.G. and Sean “Puff Daddy” Combs in the prelude of the music video for “2 of Amerikaz most wanted” featuring Snoop Doggy Dogg. He then released the diss track “Hit ‘em up”, aimed directly at The Notorious B.I.G. and Bad Boy Records, in which Tupac claimed that he had slept with Faith Evans, The Notorious B.I.G.’s wife. He also addressed his 1994 shooting and his belief that The Notorious B.I.G. was involved in it.
16 May 2016 | Features
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Municipal manifestos made easy COURTNEY TINK, REBECCA WOODROW, AND HUVASAN REDDY
Over the last month the African National Congress (ANC), Democratic Alliance (DA) and the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) released their respective local government election manifestos in the build-up to the municipal elections on 3 August. These three parties represent the majority of the seats in the National Assembly (NA): the ANC holds 249 seats, the DA holds 67 seats, and the EFF holds 25 seats. The NA has a total of 400 seats. Perdeby looks at each party’s election manifesto and how students may benefit from each party’s policies. ANC The ANC manifesto, titled “Together advancing people’s power in every community”, was launched at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium on 16 April. The manifesto is based on improving projects that were previously completed or are in the process of being completed, such as road maintenance and transportation. Special focus is given to improving sanitation, housing and water services available to communities. The ANC also plans on funding projects that focus on sustainable living and remaining consistently successful within changing climate conditions. The manifesto also places emphasis on creating better accountability for ward councillors, and the prevention and investigation of fraud and corruption.
DA The DA launched its manifesto at the Rand Stadium in Rosettenville, Johannesburg on 23 April. The focus of their manifesto is to secure the Ekurhuleni, Tshwane, Johannesburg and Nelson Mandela Bay municipalities in the elections this August. The DA’s manifesto, titled “Change that moves South Africa forward again”, includes overall community improvement in safety, service delivery, and job creation. The manifesto features the party’s local government successes and infographics comparing DA-run municipalities with ANC-run municipalities. The DA will offer free public transport to all registered jobseekers, and exclude politicians and public representatives from recruiting for the Department of Public Works. EFF The EFF launched their local government election manifesto, titled “Our last hope for jobs and service delivery”, on 30 April at Orlando Stadium in Soweto. The EFF put forward some unique propositions, such as providing municipally-owned theatres and recording studios with support to build up aspiring artists. Their manifesto includes abolishing tenders, CCTV cameras in crime hotspots, waiving debts for the unemployed and social grant recipients, municipal driving schools with all matriculants being provided with driving lessons, and the expropriation of land through the amendment of municipal bylaws.
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How can students benefit from each party? All three of the parties have promised easily accessible, free Wi-Fi, with the EFF promising the widest implementation, offering free Wi-Fi at schools, clinics, parks, taxi ranks and other public spaces. The EFF promise of municipal-owned theatres and recording studios could be an attractive proposition to young artists. The DA’s promise of free public transportation for registered jobseekers will assist those who have left university and entered the job market. According to the ANC manifesto, in the last five years 600 young graduates and apprentices have been placed in municipalities. In their plans for boosting local economies, the ANC claims that they will set aside 60% of jobs for the youth. How did Tshwane vote in the last municipal elections? According to census data compiled and processed by Wazimap, in the 2011 municipal elections there were 1 330 475 people registered to vote in the City of Tshwane in the municipal elections, of which 55.3% voted. The ANC claimed 55% of the votes, while the DA claimed 39%. The University of Pretoria is situated in Ward 56 of the City of Tshwane. According to Wazimap, in 2011 the population in the ward was 19 381, with 12 414 people registered to vote in the 2011 municipal elections. In Ward 56 the DA won the majority of votes in the 2011 municipal elections with 81% of the votes. The ANC won 14% of the votes.
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Fun and Games | 16 May 2016
Poll results
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16 May 2016 | Sport
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A UP perspective on Fikile Mbalula’s decision DYLAN JACK, CARLI-ANN FURNO, THORISO PHASHA AND TAY LETHULOE On 25 April, South Africa’s Minister of Sport Fikile Mbalula announced the immediate suspension of Athletics South Africa (ASA), Cricket South Africa, Netball South Africa, and South African Rugby’s ability to bid to host international sporting events. The decision was made after the Eminent Persons Group released its Transformation Status Report for 2014/2015 and it was determined that South African cricket, rugby, netball and athletics had failed to meet certain transformation targets. The Department of Sports and Recreation later reached an agreement that exonerated ASA, allowing the federation to host international tournaments such as the Confederation of African Athletics Senior Championships in July. UP athletes and coaches from some of the sporting codes have expressed their views on how the ban will affect university sportspeople and coaches in the long term. UP cricket captain Murray Coetzee said that he found Mbalula’s decision “massively demotivating”. He explained that as a “young sportsperson, your goal is to play in front of your friends and family and homeground on a big stage”. This was supported by UP 400 m hurdler Le Roux Hamman, who explained, “Everyone wants medals from South African athletes, and holding an international event in your own country would play a huge role in achieving that. If we want the younger generation to be a part of transformation, then exposing them to a world event in their own country will help them develop a passion for sport, instead of suppressing passion by keeping them from this experience.” Coetzee indicated that the ban could result in players opting for overseas offers, as previously seen with former SA cricketers Kevin Pietersen and Craig Kieswetter. Coetzee explained that this “will lower the standard of our domestic tournaments, and ultimately the national side”. Coetzee said that he doesn’t think quotas take away from the competiveness of the sport, but rather “goes against what sport should be about – a competition between
equals”. He added that he feels that players like Kagisho Rabada play on merit, and that if the players are good enough and the systems are in place to produce them, make it on merit. UP athletics coach Hennie Kriel explained how transformation could take place realistically by being “a natural process”. He explained that, “There are specific challenges for sports like swimming, where we don’t see many African competitors. This is not a case of not having ability, but a case of not being exposed to opportunity. For sprinting, opportunity is much more readily available. I have no doubt that we have world class athletes [of all colour] in all the sporting codes, but we need to take on the challenge of preparation and development.” Kriel suggests that Image: Shen Scott the governments invest in coaches who can enhance specific movement skills development from the youngest age university system and structure. [This results in] losing bursaries possible, saying, “The problem is placing an athlete in a sport and not being able to continue with their studies and getting study where they haven’t developed the necessary skill to perform from debts they need to pay off,” said Van Dyk. a young age. If we can do this and be patient, watch to see how Transformation is implemented at a TuksSport level. Van Dyk transformation will happen in the next 5-10 years.” noted that TuksNetball is involved in annual school netball clinics Coetzee also highlighted the importance of making cricket that aim to develop skills from a grassroots level. UP netball player readily available throughout the country as a long term solution Lenize Potgieter elaborated on these efforts, explaining that “talent for transformation, especially in rural areas. “Cricket is an identification is being done at national netball championships expensive sport, and obviously not everybody has access to the throughout the whole year, where netballers are chosen by our opportunity to get to play and learn it ... [Emphasis should] be coach and invited to join our High Performance squad to develop placed on a youth level to produce a bigger pool of players, rather their skills and improve their knowledge and movements of than playing guys who are out of their depth,” said Coetzee. the game. They also get time to play against top players at the Mbalula’s decision has directly affected TuksNetball, who have TuksNetball Club (who are also Proteas) and therefore gain a number of Protea players within their ranks. Coach and head experience on court as well as off court.” Kriel supported this by of programming Jenny van Dyk explained that universities are saying that he has seen transformation at UP “with some of the viewed as a means to develop upcoming talent and, while they best younger athletes moving through the ranks. TuksHigh is an can provide physical development, governemnt needs to focus opportunity that exposes our younger generation to the possibility on educational development too as it goes hand-in-hand with the of pursuing a professional sporting career.” He highlighted Gift making of an athlete. “Unfortunately we have not bridged the Leotlela and Clarence Munyai as examples. gap for some of the players, who are excellent netball players and come from rural areas but can’t cope with the pressure of a
Perdeby wishes you the best luck for exams and an enjoyable winter break!
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World cup success for Tuks archers TAY LETHULOE Several TuksArchery archers took part in the Shanghai Hyundai Archery World Cup, which took place from 26 April to 1 May. This was the second stage of the world cup and UP archers Seppie Cilliers, Vivien de Kerk, Jeanine van Kradenburg, Gerda Roux, Danielle Wentzel, Patrick Roux and Marco di Matteo represented the South African team. UP is one of the top archery clubs in the country and they are an affiliate of the South African National Archery Association. Van Kradenburg, one of the archers pegged to do well for the South African women, managed to finish fifth overall. The SA team will head to Turkey next month to compete in the third world cup stage, where UP members hope to gain as much experience as possible before the USSA tournament later this year. Van Kradenburg took some time to reflect on her Shanghai experience. How did you do find the recent experience of competing in the Shanghai Archery World Cup? What an amazing experience to travel! It was my first time [going] to China and I must confess that I was very worried about their food menus, but we stayed in a good hotel that served an oriental and western menu. The size of Shanghai is something I have never seen before. How do you feel about your personal performance at the world cup? I had a great tournament. I ranked eighth and after eliminations I finished fifth overall, losing by two points to the current world number one in the quarter-finals. My preparation was spot on. I was in top form and [I] am very happy with my archery at the moment. I feel I can still improve and [I am] looking forward to shooting in Antalya, Turkey, in a month’s time.
Beach volleyball title eludes UP Photo: Saspa
TAY LETHULOE
Image: TuksArchery’s Facebook page
How do you think world performances like these help create interest in the sport? We are lucky that Afgri came on board as our main and big sponsor. Without sponsors we would not be able to show the world that we are equal to them when it comes to archery. I reached almost 4000 people on my Facebook page and the total likes grew by almost 10% after my good ranking, so good performance definitely spikes interest. What are the most valuable skills that TuksArchery has helped you to develop? The very strong support circle [provided by] TuksArchery has has been instrumental to our recent success on the world archery scene. To be able to shoot and practice in a safe and worldclass environment is something we, as Tuks
Archers, really appreciate and value. After representing SA in the second stage of the world cup, what are your other objectives as an archer? We are competing in a month’s time in the third world cup stage in Turkey, so I would like to rank in the top eight again and shoot my best in eliminations to see myself finish on the podium. If all goes well, team SA will hope to see an individual archer or mixed team in the world cup finals later this year. Do you think this experience holds the team in good stead looking ahead to the USSAs? Definitely. We are very strong as a team, not just the Tuks woman’s team, but TuksArchery as a whole. For Tuks archers there is no “I” in team. We support, care and celebrate together.
Varsity Cup builds SA’s rugby future: Courtnall Skosan DYLAN JACK In 2012 and 2013, UP-Tuks left their mark on Varsity Cup rugby history when they overcame the University of Stellenbosch for two consecutive years to win the title. Some of the integral players of the 2012 and 2013 winning sides have gone on to see success in national rugby, such as Handre Pollard (Blue Bulls), Clayton Blommetjies (Cheetahs), Juan Schoeman (Sharks), and Franco Mostert and Courtnall Skosan (Lions). TuksRugby players who have moved through the ranks to become a part of national rugby has put the importance of Varsity Cup in a new light, and serves as a testament to the way that it develops the future generation of South African rugby players. The Lions are currently on top of the Africa two pool, consisting of the Natal-based Sharks, Argentinean Jaguares, and the Eastern Province-based Southern Kings. The rise to the top of their pool is a comeback that was deemed impossible by critics, considering the Lions’ relegation from Super Rugby in 2013 and the current challenge of the New Zealand franchises they have had to face. Perdeby spoke to Skosan about the impact of Varsity Cup and his current success. “What I did during Varsity Cup [has come] through. You need to see Varsity Cup as an opportunity to play for right now instead of looking ahead, because [such an] opportunity is enough to show that you have the skill and the talent to get signed, like I did,” said Skosan. When asked specifically about being a part of the winning title in the 2012 and 2013 Varsity Cup edition and how it has assisted him and other Lions players from the UP side in their
current success, Skosan said, “We had a good group of guys that were tight-knit and we were a brotherhood in that victory. We never had anyone that wanted to be a star, and that was what I enjoyed. We also had a good group of coaches who allowed us to play, and that also played a big role. The guys knew from the beginning of the tournament in both seasons that we were going to win, and had a lot of faith as well. That winning mentality has carried through [to Super Rugby], and now we are playing games expecting to win.” Skosan attributes his current performance to the platform that Varsity Cup created and continues to create for players who hope to pursue rugby as a professional career. “The pace of Varsity Cup [played a big role] in my personal performance [in Super Rugby]. It is quite a quick game that [demands] tries. You also get a lot of TV time, and that’s what you [as a rugby player] want. You want to know that coaches are watching [your performance]. Varsity Cup allows this and creates such a good platform for young players,” he said. The Lions’ rise to potential title challengers despite having faced relegation has not only appealed to UP, but Varsity Cup players in general who play to enjoy the game. Skosan encourages them in this regard, saying, “The biggest thing for me right now is being able to enjoy myself at the Lions. So if you are playing at Varsity Cup, just enjoy it too. If you enjoy yourself, you start playing well and might just receive that phone call from someone saying they have a contract for you. If you put too much pressure on yourself to be the star, you might just find yourself slipping up and not getting in enough good performances.”
Courtnall Skosan in the 2013 Varsity Cup semi-final. Photo: Reinhard Nell
The UP volleyball team narrowly lost to the University of the Western Cape (UWC) in the Varsity Beach Volleyball final that took place on 5 May. The UP team was beaten 33-29 by the defending champions, who have won every edition of the competition since its inception in 2012. The final was the most hotly contested in recent years, which stands as testament to the improving quality of play at the 2016 edition. UP-Tuks had high hopes after winning against the University of the Free State and the University of Limpopo. It was a tight encounter between the two sides, but UP’s Jamie-Lee Wentzel secured a 33-43 victory, which meant that the 2015 final would be repeated against UWC. Perdeby spoke to UP volleyball captain Margrit Springer, who walked away with the Super Striker and Player of the Tournament titles after leading the team’s attack, starting all matches throughout the two days of the competition and scoring the majority of the points with her team. How do you feel about your personal performance at this year’s tournament? I would’ve liked to come home with the gold medal in hand, but I received [the] Player of the Tournament and Super Striker title[s] [and] it’s rewarding to come home with two individual awards, so I am very happy and pleased about that. What challenges do you think have contributed toward the team finishing second for the past two years? I believe that UWC has strong players and their players are being developed correctly. I believe that their homeground advantage plays a huge role, though, and I would like to see another university host the tournament for a change. There were some problems getting the clearance for some of our strong student players and they had to stay behind. I hope that all universities are playing via the same strict rules when they decide who is eligible to play and who is not. How important is the Varsity Sports league in creating interest in volleyball as a sport? The only reason I started playing beach volleyball was due to Varsity Sports, and I can definitely say that they have raised interest [in volleyball] for the younger generations. It’s a good thing to get players involved at a younger age. Being the final year of Varsity Volleyball for you, what are your future plans? This was my last Varsity Sports as I will be graduating at the end of 2016. Future goals definitely include national participation. For the past year I have already been playing in the National Beach Volleyball Series together with my (non-student) partner, Nicky Wenhold. What other competitions will the team be focusing on this year? The USSA Beach Volleyball competition will be taking place at the end of the year. My personal goal will be to get the gold, even though we haven’t decided on partners yet. It will be my last chance and I am adamant to take it.
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