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Perdeby Tuks se amptelike studentekoerant / Official Tuks student newspaper / Kuranta ya baithuti ya semmušo ya Tuks
17March2014
Oscar Pistorius trial update
P3
Do antidepressants kill the mood?
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year76issue08
Reviews
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CSA Centre of Excellence
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SRC proposes work for study programme HUMPHREY MOKOENA The SRC has proposed a work for study programme that aims to increase financial opportunities for students who are struggling to pay off their tuition fees. This is in accordance with their strategic aim to assist students who struggle financially. The work for study programme will involve employing students to work for the university and, instead of paying them directly, will deduct money off their tuition accounts. James Lotter, the deputy secretary of the SRC, is a key member involved in this project. He said that the project was part of the 2013 Daso election manifesto. “NSFAS has many flaws and we are looking at more alternative solutions for students to receive financial aid. The work for study programme is another platform that creates opportunities for students to gain access to financial aid and at the same time students will leave the university with work experience,” he said. The programme is intended to target financially needy students who are performing well academically. Some of the projects that students might expect to be a part of include the idea of re-establishing the Sunnyside to
The SRC’s offices are in the Roosmaryn building on UP Hatfield Campus. Photo: Brad Donald
Arcadia and Prinshof to Hatfield bus services. Students with a driving licence would be able to apply for a UP driving licence and be employed
to drive the minivans which will replace the buses. The SRC also aims to lobby for the library
to be open 24 hours a day and students in the programme would be able to do shifts working at the library. The SRC also said that they would like to make administrative posts available as part of the programme. The SRC was not able to confirm how much of the students’ tuition fees would be debited for each month’s work, but they confirmed that it would be within the standards of South Africa’s labour laws. Lotter said that working for the university should not mean that students neglect their studies. “It will be extremely important that this programme doesn’t affect anyone’s academics, which is why academic performance will be taken into consideration when students apply for the programme. We will also establish a working system whereby students do not do shifts within a certain time frame of semester tests and exams,” Lotter said. The proposal for the work for study programme is expected to be finalised this week and will then be presented to university management. Lotter said that the SRC hopes to have a fully established programme in place by the end of this year and a formal programme implemented at the beginning of 2015.
Concern over high food prices at new dining hall TEBOGO TSHWANE UP has established a new dining hall for the Sport campus residences. Seven residences, excluding TuksVillage, are now making use of the TuksMonate dining hall, which services approximately 2 000 students. All other dining halls on the campus have since been closed. The main concern students have with the new dining hall is the increase in food prices. Stephan le Roux, a second-year BCom student said, “It’s too expensive. With the new dining hall they said they were going to make it cheaper but it’s more expensive.” Bakithi Mngomezulu, a first-year BCom student, mentioned how the prices are too expensive for what is offered. “The prices are too inflated compared to what you receive. If you look at the meals sometimes, I don’t think you are getting your money’s worth because they charge you R33 for two russians and chips,” said Mngomezulu. TuksRes’s Food Services division told Perdeby that the meals are fairly priced. Students complain that chicken costs the same as red meat, but Food Services maintain that chicken and red meat are along the same grade. They also added that their food prices will remain the same for the whole year, regardless of the country’s economic fluctuations. One of the changes implemented with the new dining hall is that students do not have to book meals in advance. Some students have complained that because of this, certain meals tend to finish quickly. This has also led to long queues. Other students, however, say that the fact that they do not have to book meals in advance is convenient for them. “It’s better this way, I know some of my friends in other residences book their meals and then something comes up during the day and they can’t make
The TuksMonate dining hall on Sport campus. Photo: Paul dos Santos
supper, so they forfeit that money,” said Andrew Cox, a first-year BSc student. Second-year BCom student Leandra Sewell said, “I prefer the fact that we don’t have to book anymore, because sometimes when you had to book, [it’s either] you did not have time to book or you forgot. Now you can just come here, see what they have [and] if you don’t like it you don’t have to eat it.”
Another problem that students have with the new dining hall is its distance. Jonathan Duurman, a second-year town and regional planning student, said, “My problem with the dining hall, when it’s raining especially, is that I have to walk in the rain or borrow someone else’s umbrella to get there.” Dr Peter Martins, director of Food Services at UP, said that the changes came as a result of the
university to adhere to government regulations. “Renovating the old dining halls of each res in order to bring them up to Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points standards would have meant more money, and students’ fees would increase as well. This was the best option financially.” Send your comments on the new dining hall to perdeby@up.ac.za
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Editorial
17 March ’14
Perdeby
The other b word
www.perdeby.co.za perdeby@up.ac.za m.perdeby.co.za @perdebynews Tel: (012) 420 6600
Editorial Editor-in-Chief Carel Willemse
carel.willemse@up.ac.za @Ed_in_Chief
Editor Maxine Twaddle
perdeby@up.ac.za @MissMax6
News Molebogeng Mangoale
news@perdeby.co.za @DisneyMdee
Features Maggie Roodt Entertainment Michal-Maré Linden Sport Michael Reinders
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webeditor@perdeby.co.za @perdebynews @MarkoSvicevic1
Copy India Gonçalves
copy@perdeby.co.za @IndiaGoncalves
Layout Rebecca Paulsen
layout@perdeby.co.za @UtdRedAngel
Visuals Brad Donald
visuals@perdeby.co.za @Brad3rs
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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 nescessary. Perdeby cannot be responsible for unsolicited material. The opinions expressed in Perdeby are not necessarily those of the editors and printers of Perdeby.
Letter policy All letters are published in accordance with our letter policy. The policy can be read at www.perdeby.co.za.
Do you have something to say? Send a letter to perdeby@ up.ac.za
I have a mild obsession with Instagram. I also have a mild obsession with Victoria Beckham. A few days ago, when I was looking at Victoria Beckham’s Instagram feed, I came across a
From the Editor photo with the hashtag (if you post a photo on Instagram and you don’t use a hashtag, did you still post a photo on Instagram?) “ban bossy”. I liked the photo and did some research on the hashtag. Ban Bossy is a campaign started by Sheryl Sandberg and Rachel Thomas. The campaign, which has been backed by celebrities like Beyoncé and Beckham, aims to, quite literally, ban the word “bossy” as a way of describing a young girl. Sandberg and Thomas write on LinkedIn that, “We expect boys to be assertive and confident, while we expect girls to be kind and nurturing. We encourage boys to lead and reward them when they do. When girls lead, however, we disapprove – and our language communicates that disapproval clearly.” They add that the word “bossy” sends the message, “Keep your voices down. Don’t raise your hand. Don’t take the lead. If you do, people won’t like you.” As someone who’s been called bossy a few times, I fully support this campaign. I don’t think that everyone who’s ever called me, or other girls, bossy did so thinking, “Okay, now I’m going to call you bossy, and by doing so I’m going to reinforce gender stereotypes. So there.” They used the word bossy because that’s how little girls who like to be in charge are described. That’s the thing about gender stereotyping (or any stereotyping, for that matter): sometimes, it’s so subtle that we don’t
recognise it. I’ve never really cared much for gender stereotypes. When I was a child, I asked my parents to buy me army toys. My dad, who was into woodwork, helped me make “boats” out of pieces of wood and his old t-shirts and I vigorously reenacted Pearl Harbour in the fish pond. Not once did I think that this was weird and maybe I should have been watching My Little Pony instead. I did what I wanted to, without worrying whether it was a boy thing or a girl thing. I’m still like this now, but it’s become a bit harder, because now I not only have to act like a girl, I also have to act like a lady. I went to quite a formal function a few months ago and made a life-long enemy because I drank a beer (“so unladylike”) and I drank it from the bottle (“if you have to drink beer, have the decency to pretend it’s a cider”), and then I even snuck outside to check the football score. I probably won’t be invited there again. Also, apparently you can’t tweet about who the best football team is (Chelsea) and who wore the best dress to the Oscars (Amy Adams). Um, wrong. Let’s not just ban bossy. Let’s ban all forms of gender stereotyping (including asking me if I can explain the offside rule as soon as you hear that I watch football. By the way, I can.). Max
Letter to the editor In reply to letter published last week Facts over assumptions any day How is it that Pot `n Pons 2013 started 90minutes late due to “poor planning”? For your information and those who might not know this, before an event is given a green light, thorough security checks and corrections thereof need to be done. Due to some residences not meeting the security requirements the green light was not given in time. Even after the residences were informed of all the rules and restrictions well beforehand. How is it possible that you give a float height restriction to residences, but fail to make sure the trees on the route pass the restrictions? The only failure here is that some residences did not adhere to the height restrictions. The relevant service providers were notified about the trees being too low and the appropriate measures and precautions were taken. How is it possible that for the previous 30 years Drastoel was held on the Friday of Rag Week but this year somebody failed to organise
the event on time? Point of correction the last time Drastoel was held in Rag week was in 2011. Every year after that Drastoel was held after Rag week. How is it that you inform residences they should create eight teams, yet the final map accommodates only seven? Drastoel was co-organised by TuksRag, Tuks SRC and the Student Sport Committee (SSC). The sport HKs received information from the SSC clearly stating that 6-8 residence teams per trial basis. Further instructions, pertaining to residences team numbers, were conveyed during the debriefing on the day. In actual fact there were seven teams for the ladies which means six change overs and eight teams for the males that means seven change overs. How is it possible that residences should pay R100 to compete in Drastoel, if UP funds you to organise events? The key phrase in this question is “if UP funds you to organise events”. Fact. UP does not fund TuksRag to organise Drastoel. Can you imagine what would happen if
every above mentioned event was finalised “on the morning”? Dated emails sent out to those responsible for organising the participating teams shows that the event details (including the route) were finalised two days prior to Drastoel. Rag HKs have been briefed, that all questions should be directed to the chairperson if Rag HKs are unsure or dissatisfied of the procedures. With all the supposed hiccups created by TuksRag explained by the not so “competent” student, perhaps the questions you should be asking as a concerned student are: How is it that Tuks FM, Perdeby, Stuku and SSC fall within the SRC budget but Tuks Rag does not? Who assists TuksRag with its finances? Why is it that TuksRag does not have a manager solely devoted to overseeing all the happenings of TuksRag the way it was in the past with Ludwich Marx and the way it is now with Perdeby and Tuks FM?
resources and events on university and student issues as that is why Up & Out was established, to provide a safe and interactive place for all LGBTI and non-LGBTI students where they can converse, obtain information and network among like-minded students. We also have a lot of non-LGBTI identifying students as members as they have common interest with other members and feel that they can come and gain knowledge and work with LGBTI students in combatting discrimination. Our events, forums and awareness projects focus on various student issues such as sexuality, combatting homophobia and gender studies We are an open society that accepts any and all students and recommend that our members
let us know what they would like us as the society to do during the year and issues they feel need to be addressed. We work with the Centre for the Study of Aids to broaden our knowledge on sexuality and we like to give our members accurate information should they want to know. We also work with other societies in various projects that work on the issues we are concerned with. Our offices are located in the Huis-en-Haard Building above Oom Gerts Should any student like to come and visit and find out more, please feel free as we have an open door policy.
Kiandiko Kasure, chairperson TuksRag
Letter to the editor In reply to letter published last week As Up & Out, Tuks’s official LGBTI society on campus, we hear your concern and would like to state that Up & Out is and has always been a society that majority focuses on LGBTI students and their issues. We are aware of current social issues surrounding us internationally and even nationally, and we inform and debate such topics with our members and even nonmembers. We encourage our members to get involved in such issues outside of university and often provide help and assistance where we can. The society however focuses most of its attention,
Thyler Cardinal Von Widdern, chairperson Up & Out 2014
News
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17 March ’14
Oscar Pistorius trial update
Oscar Pistorius in court. Image: dailymaverick.com
DAN MAFORA AND MAXINE TWADDLE The second week of Oscar Pistorius’s murder trial was not without drama as court proceedings continued in the North Gauteng High Court in Pretoria. Day six On Monday, Pieter Baba, the security guard who was on duty on the night of the murder, was cross-examined by advocate Barry Roux. Baba said that Dr Johann Stipp (a resident in the same estate as Pistorius) called security at around 03:00, saying that he had heard gunshots. Baba testified that he called Pistorius who told him “everything is fine”. Roux disputed the time of the call, saying that Pistorius had called Baba first.
The state then called Prof. Gert Saayman, the pathologist who conducted Reeva Steenkamp’s post-mortem, to the stand. Judge Masipa ordered that graphic details of the post-mortem not be made public to protect Steenkamp’s dignity. During Prof. Saayman’s testimony, Pistorius could be heard vomiting. Prof. Saayman revealed in his testimony that there were bruises on Steenkamp’s body that were not as a result of the shooting. He also explained that any of the three shots could have killed her. Day seven Prof. Saayman was cross-examined by Roux. During the cross-examination, he revealed that Steenkamp had eaten two hours before her death. This is in contrast to Pistorius’s version of events. Roux disagreed and said that gastric
Sasco hosts Israeli Apartheid Week panel discussion
Israeli Apartheid Week at UJ. Image: Israeli Apartheid Week SA Facebook page
TEBOGO TSHWANE The South African Students Congress (Sasco) hosted a panel discussion on Israeli Apartheid Week (IAW) at the Tshwane University of Technology (TUT)’s Pretoria West campus on 12 March. The event, which was scheduled to begin at 15:00, began at around 17:00. Attendees kept themselves occupied during the delay by singing struggle songs. Sasco provincial deputy chairperson Surgeon Masooane was the programme director for the evening. Members of the panel included the mayor of Tshwane Kgosientso Ramokgopa, Sasco provincial secretary Billy Sepuru and Palestine ambassador to South Africa Hafiz
Noval. The event was part of a solidarity campaign and discussed possible ways of creating a nonracist, non-sexist and classless nation in Israel. In his opening remarks Sibusiso Mpongose, Tshwane regional chair of Sasco said, “As a country with a shared experience, we are called upon and unapologetically associate ourselves with the people of Palestine.” He added that, “In the words of Nelson Mandela, ‘Our freedom is not complete without the freedom of those in Palestine.’” One of the speakers of the evening was Dr Essop Pahad, former ANC national executive committee (NEC) member. He spoke of the importance of having solidarity with nations in need of liberation. “None of us would be sitting in this room today and be able to celebrate 20 years of democracy if it was not for international solidarity. It is important because it enables us to raise the level of political consciousness of others and ourselves,” Dr Essop said. He added that South Africans need to reflect upon their own responsibility towards others who are struggling in order to achieve an ideal state in South Africa. Dr Essop urged students to be active and to not only speak of solidarity but to identify the elements that would enable them to mobilise the masses of students in support of the struggle in Palestine. “It is up to us to find those concrete manifestations around which we can mobilise people,” he said. An example of the “concrete manifestations” was the boycotting of goods manufactured in Israel. Sasco NEC secretary general Luzuko Buku urged the South African government to remove the Israeli embassy in South Africa. “We cannot continue to nurse apartheid relations in our country,” said Buku. This is the tenth IAW. It is hosted among 250 cities worldwide. In South Africa, it is hosted by more than 15 universities.
emptying differed from person to person and that it could have taken longer for Steenkamp’s stomach to empty. The state then called Pistorius’s friend Darren Fresco to the stand. Fresco had taken the blame for a shooting incident involving Pistorius in January 2013. Roux questioned why Fresco and Pistorius had different accounts of the same incident, and went on to try to discredit him as a reliable witness. Day eight The state called its expert witness Colonel JG Vermeulen, a forensic analyst for the SAPS, to testify on the forensic evidence. The door that Steenkamp was shot through was erected inside the courtroom and Vermeulen demonstrated how the marks were made by a cricket bat From these demonstrations, prosecutor Gerrie Nel concluded that Pistorius was on his stumps when he hit the door with the cricket bat. Roux questioned Col Vermeulen on his competencies, and focused on the missing parts of the door and alleged shoeprints that had disappeared from the door. Col Vermeulen denied any knowledge of shoe prints and said that the door was in “pretty much the same condition” as it was a year ago. Roux went on to question the whereabouts of the door in the last year, to try to find out if it had been tampered with. Day nine Roux continued with his cross-examination of Col Vermeulen. The court was shown photographs of the crime scene, and a photograph of Steenkamp’s dead body was briefly visible. One photograph showed the bullet holes in the door, and another showed Pistorius’s prosthetic legs smeared with
blood. Roux used this photograph to support his claim that Pistorius was wearing his prosthetic legs at the time. Col Vermeulen said that this was doubtful, as it is unlikely that the cricket bat would have struck the door at the angle it did had Pistorius been wearing his legs. Roux concluded his cross-examination by mentioning a YouTube video that shows an American man comparing the sound of gun shots to a cricket bat hitting a door. After lunch, another expert witness, Schoombie van Rensburg, took the stand. Van Rensburg, who retired from his position as commander of Boschkop Police Station, said he arrived at Pistorius’s house at 03:55 on the night of the shooting. He confirmed that a paramedic told him that Steenkamp was dead when the ambulance arrived. Van Rensburg said that Pistorius could not tell him what had happened because he was in tears. Van Rensburg testified that Clarice Stander, daughter of the estate manager, had told him that she and Pistorius had attempted to stop Steenkamp’s bleeding while they waited for paramedics to arrive. Van Rensburg said that Stander had also told him that when she and her father had arrived on the scene, Pistorius told them that he had mistaken Steenkamp for an intruder. Perdeby went to print before day ten of the trial had adjourned. Read about the day’s update on our website.
Pinnacle Africa hands over laptops to deserving students MOLEBOGENG MANGOALE Last week Friday ten Tuks students received laptops from Pinnacle Africa, a South African distributor of advanced computer equipment. The handover serves to assist students from disadvantaged backgrounds and part of the executive committees of societies at the university. Mr Takalani Tshivhase, a UP alumni from Tuks and a representative from Pinnacle Africa, handed over the laptops to the students. Tshivhase said, “We take pride in ourselves
that we are willingly investing in students.” Collins Makamu, a second-year BA Theology student and one of the recipients of the laptops, told Perdey that he was thankful for the opportunity. “We used to go to the open labs to do our assignments,” he said. “I feel grateful, it’s not every day that you just get a laptop,” said Penny Mahlalela, a third-year BCom Financial Science student. Another student, Crispen Mulongoti, said, “I am very grateful for being given this opportunity. I’m sure it will be quite helpful in my studies.” Mr Tshivhase added that Pinnacle will probably do this gain.
Some of the recipients of the laptops with Takalani Tshivhase. Photo: Brad Donald
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News
17 March ’14
FUMILAYO SOKO
What do you think about the Oscar trial?
Oscar Pistorius is currently on trial for killing his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp in the early hours of 14 February last year. Pistorius shot Steenkamp three times through a closed bathroom door. He says that he mistook her for an intruder. The case has become a high profile trial and is being followed by people around the world. Perdeby asked UP students if they are following the trial.
“As a law student it gives me insight of how the legal system works. [I am interested in the trial because of] the fact that Oscar might walk free, because he has a very good advocate. I initially thought it was black and white, he was guilty and justice would be served. I am not certain anymore. [The trial has] taught me a lot about the importance of what one can prove in court as opposed to what actually may have occurred.” - Karissa Johnson, second-year LLB student
“It is interesting, people look up to him. I don’t know [if he is guilty] and I don’t want to be judgmental but you never expect a sport icon would do something like that.” Carla Miller, third-year BA Drama
“It is interesting. I read Oscar’s book, as a result I feel like I know him. We won’t hear him testify personally, the lawyers are speaking on his behalf. No eyewitness to the case besides Oscar himself, all others just heard the gunshots and commotion. [I am disappointed by] the hype, it is too much.” - Paul Koch, second-year BCom student
“Well I’m a law student so obviously I am quite intrigued by such a high profile case. Plus, this case is revolutionary in South Africa because for the first time a case is being tried while the country has a front row seat to it all. Barry Roux, the devil himself, has stood out for me. He is so cut-throat and ruthless. Also, I admire the judge [Thokozile Masipa] for her strict conduct and the way she has handled this peculiar situation with the world looking on. Nothing about the case has really disappointed me. The manner in which they are handling all the media and social media coverage is quite good.” - Puno Selesho, second-year BA Law student
“It is interesting. [I watch because] I can develop as an attorney. I can learn many skills. The most disappointing thing is that all Oscar’s friends, who are now witnesses, are trying to build a negative character for him. It could be seen that they want justice.” - Diyuti Lalla, thirdyear BA Law
“I actually went to Pretoria Boys High School([same one Oscar went to) so I admire him. I don’t know him personally but we used to train at the same gym. When I heard the forensic pathologist giving the evidence and Oscar retching in court, it struck me quite a lot because it hurt him quite a bit. The situation is disappointing because he stood for more than just sport. He was a symbol of hope.” - Murray Coetzee, first-year medicine student
“I think they are making a bigger fuss than what it should be. The fact that his attorney aims to make the witness doubt themselves is a smart trick to get Oscar out of the situation.” - Lizette Posthumus, third-year BA Drama
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17 March ’14
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17 March’14
Features
Do antidepressants kill the mood?
ORENEILE TSHETLO
Science tells us that there is an equal reaction for every action. Antidepressants are worth their weight in gold to many who use them, but all that glitters is not gold. Studies show that they may have a negative reaction on the libido and for this reason many have avoided them. Despite this, however, being forced to choose between being down in the dumps and having a healthy sex life doesn’t have to leave you stuck between a rock and a (not so) hard place. According to Hello Doctor, a SABC 2 television show hosted by Dr Michael Mol on health and medical advice, clinical depression can be classified as either mild, moderate or major and the common thread that runs through all three is that “simple things like getting dressed in the morning or eating can become a daunting task.” The symptoms of depression include persistent thoughts about suicide, self-harm or death, changes in your sleeping patterns and loss of appetite or over-eating. Lack of energy, difficulty concentrating and ongoing aches and pains are also listed. More symptoms are restlessness and moodiness, a sustained feeling of hopelessness and sadness, a loss of interest in activities that were previously enjoyed, and feelings of guilt and worthlessness coupled with frequent crying spells. Dr Russell Thompson from Hello Doctor says, “Depression is an easily diagnosable and treatable condition, so the sooner you seek help for it the better.” For some, help comes in the form of antidepressants. According to Drugs.com, the group of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI) antidepressants include Prozac, Paxil, Zoloft and Celexa. Although SSRI antidepressants may lower the risk of adult suicide cases, they all can lead to sexual
Photo: Charlotte Bastiaanse
dysfunction. Sexual dysfunction is defined as difficulty in performing sexually and is experienced by a person at any stage of normal sexual activity. This means that an individual may struggle to become sexually aroused, achieve orgasm, or may experience a decreased sex drive. Much research has gone into the science behind sexual drive and depression, as well as how the two correlate. Dr Robert Phillips, an academic fellow and a clinical instructor in the Department of Family and Community Medicine, and Dr James Slaughter, an associate professor of psychiatry and chief of psychosomatic medicine, both from the
University of Missouri’s Columbia School of Medicine, have linked depression to a decreased libido. In an article titled “Depression and sexual desire”, they say that “Treating one condition frequently improves the other. Medications used to treat depression may decrease libido and sexual function.” Because of this they believe that “asking a depressed patient about libido and sexual function and tailoring treatment to minimise adverse effects on sexual function can significantly increase treatment compliance and improve the quality of the patient’s life.” As many would agree, and in the words of HealthCentral.com, “it seems an unfair choice
to make, our emotional wellbeing or our libido”. However, natural remedies can be used to get your libido back to normal. The article “5 surprisingly effective allnatural aphrodisiacs (that you probably have in your kitchen)” on HowStuffWorks.com, written by Eric Leech, lists aphrodisiacs that can be found in a typical household. According to this article, the feel of corn starch on your skin can be a turn-on and so can eating tomatoes, which is referred to by many food experts as “the apple of love”. Another fruit which is said to be an aphrodisiac is avocado as “the high-quality vitamin E content of this super-food can boost the state of arousal and intensity [of your] orgasm.” Other aphrodisiacs include chocolate and cool buttermilk that is rubbed on your body. A simple change of medication is another effective way in which you can increase your sex drive. A student at Tuks, who wishes to remain anonymous, spoke of her experience with Prozac and her change to Tegretol. “With the first prescription of pills that I was taking I felt sleepy all the time, my libido was low and so were [my] energy levels. I stopped taking those pills for a while and I did not take any other medication. My libido increased from having no sex to having sex three times a day. I then started taking Tegretol, which just balanced the chemical imbalances in my brain. My sex drive has gone back to normal,” she says. Sex and antidepressants are a reality for many students and have been a source of happiness for respective reasons. There are those who have had to choose between one of the two. Yet, despite many estimations about not being able to manage depression as well as a healthy libido, it is apparent that students can be happy and have a balanced mind, body and soul.
Shake the sitting syndrome How sitting too much can affect your health
LEANNE CUMMING In a world centred around technology, it comes as no surprise that sitting down has become the natural posture for many. Our busy days are spent sitting, whether it is while we are attending lectures, eating lunch, driving around, working on assignments, or watching television. In fact, it is probably safe to assume that you are sitting down while reading this. David Dunstan, an associate professor as well as head of the Physical Activity laboratory and the Physical Activity Project Leader of the Healthy Lifestyle Research Centre at the Baker IDI Heart and Diabetes Institute in Melbourne, Australia, says that, “We have come to the reality now that we are a nation of sitters, and for many people they are sitting longer than they are actually sleeping.” The YouTube video NextDesk: why sitting is killing you, posted by John Powers on 13 March 2013, notes that our bodies were not designed to spend all day sitting down. When you regard the activities of our ancestors you will realise that they spent most of their time standing, either hunting for food or tending to crops. Modern humans perform more than 90% of their daily activities sitting down and when combined, these activities can result in 80% of our waking hours spent sitting. Obesity expert Dr James Levine, who directs the Active Life Research Team at Mayo Clinic in Florida, says research has associated long periods of sitting with numerous health problems such as obesity and metabolic syndromes. These in turn form a cluster of other problems that include high blood sugar, high blood pressure, weight gain around the waist and irregular cholesterol levels. Levine states that “too much sitting also seems to increase the risk of death from cardiovascular disease and cancer”. The article “Stand up for your health”
in the September 2013 issue of Women’s Health claims that, “Women who sit for more than six hours a day have roughly 40% higher risk of dying from any cause, regardless of their fitness level, versus those who sit fewer than three hours.” A recent study by Levine and the Active Life Research Team compared adults who spent less than two hours a day in front of the television, or other equipment that requires you to sit like the computer, to adults who spent more than four hours a day seated. The results demonstrated that those who had greater sitting time had a roughly 50% increased risk of dying from any cause, and a 125% increased risk of problems linked to cardiovascular disease such as a heart attack or Angina (chest pains). Levine says that, “The increased risk was separated from other traditional risk factors for cardiovascular diseases such as smoking or high blood pressure.” You might assume that occasionally going to the gym would exclude you from the sitting disease, but according to Levine “spending a few hours at the gym or otherwise engaged in moderate or vigorous activity does not seem to significantly offset the risk”. Moving more overall seems to be the solution. Levine affirms that the activity in your muscles necessary for standing or other movement set off an important process linked with the breaking down of fats and sugar within the body. “When you sit, these processes stall and your health risks increase. When you are standing or actively moving, you kick the process back into action,” Levine says. Women’s Health illustrates health problems associated with sitting and inactivity, which include damage to sleeping patterns, organs and even your brain. The publication explains that being inactive for long periods of time can cause fluid to accumulate in your lower legs
Image: Tahnee Otto
and this is mainly due to “gravity and a lack of circulation”. The fluid stored in your legs moves toward the muscles and tissues in your neck while you are sleeping. This in turn may result in sleep apnea, where one has difficulty inhaling air and may even stop breathing for short amounts of time, leaving a person feeling like a zombie. Prolonged sitting can also have a negative result on your behind. Women’s Health says, “A recent cell culture study found that when you sit for long periods of time, the weight your body
puts on your fat cells actually encourages them to create twice as much fat - at a faster rate - as when you are standing.” Women’s Health also mentions that, “Prolonged sitting makes blood flow sluggish and more likely to cause blood clots, which can become lodged in your lungs.” There are many ways to avoid constant sitting. Instead of sitting down while studying rather walk around the room with your book. This will not only help to avoid the sitting disease but it will also keep you active and focused. Stand up to the sitting disease.
Features MAGGIE ROODT In his book Puckoon, British author Spike Milligan says, “Many people die of thirst, but the Irish are born with one.” This statement could be interpreted as proverbial, but there is a stereotype that reinforces the idea that very few people are able to consume their Guinness quite like the Irish, and stereotypes often exist for a reason. This stereotype, regardless of the weight it carries, is annually celebrated on 17 March and is known worldwide as St Patrick’s Day. This proves to be the day when everything turns green, from your hair to your beer. The day is celebrated across the world, from America to the Caribbean and even in places that you would have never expected, such as Tokyo and South Africa. Despite its popularity, the history, traditions and facts of this day will probably be the last thing on your beer-stricken mind. How much do people truly know about the interesting back story to this exciting day? Jacky Bals, a first-year BEd student, says, “I know there is a tradition behind it, but I haven’t really looked into it. It’s mainly just an excuse to get drunk with friends.” The exact dates of St Patrick’s life remain debated, but it is generally accepted that he lived in the fifth century. According to an article titled “Who was St Patrick?” on History. com, he was born in Britain into an aristocratic family of deacons and priests. On the fact that St Patrick isn’t Irish, secondyear BEd student Shakira Beecroft says, “I didn’t even know he wasn’t Irish, I would like to know why he is the symbol for an Irish holiday if he isn’t Irish himself.” At the age of 16 Patrick was kidnapped by Irish raiders who apparently attacked his family’s estate. They took him to Ireland and imprisoned him for six years. It is said that he began dreaming about converting the Irish people to Christianity during this time. After his escape from imprisonment, Patrick returned to England, but later went back to Ireland as a Christian missionary. The population of Ireland was predominantly pagan during this time. The History Channel reports that Patrick spent the remainder of his life in Ireland and died on the 17 March AD461, hence the date of the yearly celebration. After his death, he was honoured as Ireland’s patron saint due to the great impact he had on the religious beliefs of the Irish people.
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According to NewAdvent.org, Patrick is not responsible for introducing Christianity to Ireland. Apparently Pope Celestine sent a bishop named Palladius to Ireland in AD431, years before Patrick returned to the Emerald Isle. Another popular rumour regarding St Patrick tells of how he preached a sermon so powerful that it drove all the snakes on the island into the ocean. However, this legend is untrue as snakes are a rare sight in Ireland. Ireland became an island during the last ice age, separating it from England by about 550km of water. This prevented snakes from crossing over into Ireland from the mainland, and while it was still physically attached to Englad, the conditions were too cold for any type of reptiles to survive. The story most likely has its roots in the ostracising of paganism by St Patrick, making it more symbolic than factual. A Time article called “St. Patrick’s blue” by Frances Romero claims that the colour green has not always been the colour of St Patrick’s Day. Knights who served in the order of St Patrick traditionally dressed in a colour named St Patrick’s blue, and this colour can still be seen on some ancient Irish flags. Green became the associated colour of the festivities because people wore clovers. The use of green also correlated with Ireland’s lush green fields. The clover, also known as a shamrock, is a symbol associated with this day and the Irish culture. Contrary to popular belief, it does not signify good luck, but rather Christian pride. It became popular when St Patrick used a clover to portray the Holy Trinity and thereafter Irish citizens began wearing shamrocks on their clothes on 17 March to show that they were proud to be Irish and Christian. The leprechaun, also known as the lobaircin in Irish folklore, is a well-known association with St Patrick’s Day and also Irish culture. The name leprechaun literally means smallbodied fellow. The origin of this mythical creature is Celtic and falls in the category of fairies and dwarfs. The leprechaun is mischievous and carries a pot of gold. Jolyon Attwooll writes about about how St Patrick’s Day is celebrated across the globe in his article called “St Patrick’s Day 2014: celebrations and parades around the world” published in The Telegraph. According to Attwooll, St Patrick’s Day as we celebrate it today also has its roots in the USA. Up until
Illustration: Johann van Tonder
the 1700s the day was solely observed by the Roman Catholic Church in Ireland and it was a strictly religious holiday. Irish immigrants in the USA began celebrating the day socially and the next 300 years saw it spread all over the globe, turning into an excuse to drink green beer, paint your hair green and throw your name away. Today, there are various traditions around the world that people partake in to celebrate the holiday. In Chicago, Illinois, the city annually dumps 18kg of green dye into the Chicago River in order to create a massive green snake
flowing through the city. More than 100 000 people observe the transformation of the river every year. St Patrick’s Day seems to be one of the world’s most famous holidays, and it can be enjoyed even more if you know the back story. Go out this St Patrick’s Day and truly celebrate it. Dress up, gear yourself with Irish symbols, put on your best accent and try out one of these failsafe Irish pickup lines: “I might not have four leaves, but if you kiss me I’ll bring you luck,” or “Come over to my place and I’ll show you my Lucky Charms.”
How your online profile can cost you your job One status or embarrassing photo can cause a potential employer to doubt your professionalism
Photo: Brad Donald
JOANÉ OLIVIER There is no doubt that social media and its use has made a big impact on society since its onset. Social media provides the opportunity to express your feelings, share photos and meet new people online. It has changed the way people communicate, date and even find jobs. What many people are unaware of, however, is that the content placed on their personal social media pages can cost them a job.
Companies have started searching potential job candidates on Google, and they explore the social media profiles of potential employees before offering them a job. There should be no cause for concern when social media is used responsibly, but this is not always the case. Koba Allison, key account manager at Asie Personnel recruitment agency, said that companies Google the names of candidates for several reasons: to see what race the candidate is, to see whether the person is presentable, to
confirm information given by the candidate, and to get a “feel” for who the person really is. Allison adds that the last step is done because people can be very different during an interview and on their CVs than when they are more relaxed. The type of posts, pictures and comments that a person publishes on social media says a lot more about their character in a relaxed environment. It is important to have a clean digital footprint. Everything you post online can contribute to this. With the recent Neknomination trend and Facebook pages like “Embarrassing Drunken Photos” dedicated to photos of drunk people, last night’s party photos can pollute your online portfolio and can give a negative representation of who you are. According to Allison, negative comments about a previous boss, confidential work related content, nude photos and crude comments can also cost an applicant the job. However, social media can also be used to further your chances of getting a job. Companies also use social media to find potential employees who might be perfect for the job. According to an article by Jacquelyn Smith titled “How social media can help (or hurt)
you in your job search” on Forbes.com, the type of content you post online should work to your advantage. The article advises job seekers to remove any content that might be viewed as unprofessional, to check for grammar and spelling errors when posting online, and to change privacy settings so that their profile cannot be viewed by anyone who isn’t on their friend list. Allison adds, “The name says it all – social media, use it for social events and for connecting with friends. Don’t ever mention anything work related on any of your personal social media sites.” In an article titled “How recruiters use social networks to make hiring decisions now” by Dan Schawbel in Time, he says that people need to be active on social media websites such as LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter in order to seem relevant to potential employers. He says that if you are not active on social media, employers might think that you are hiding something. In the article he stresses the fact that employers look at grammar and spelling on potential employee’s profiles and posts. Social media is not only used for social purposes anymore, but has the power to boost or reduce our chances of finding a job in the future.
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17 March ’14
Bookly breeds local literacy
MICHAL-MARÉ LINDEN
Last year was a year marked by the revelation of statistics about our country and the people in it. Always a hot topic, literacy and access to literature was scrutinised by government, media and educators alike. This is because, once analysed in its entirety, the results of the National Education Evaluation and Development Unit (Needu) painted a dismal picture of literacy and reading rates, particularly among younger learners. Needu studied 215 classes of Grade 2 pupils and found that 72% of the classes’ top three learners read below the average benchmark. Furthermore, reading material was lacking in the majority of classrooms, limiting the students’ access to literature that could aid and extend their literacy abilities. Having a snowball effect, countless concerns were raised about the future of these students and how proficient current young adults that claim to be literate actually are. The 2013 Grand Household Survey (GHS) revealed that 92.9% of South Africa’s population is literate. Literacy considers anyone over the age of 15 with a Grade 7 or higher education qualification. Where the remaining 7.1% of the population that are deemed illiterate were asked the level of difficulty they have with writing their name, filling in forms and reading road signs, those considered literate were not. Thus the high literacy rate is not a true reflection of South Africa’s ability to read. This furthers the concern about South Africans’ true literacy ability. There is no clear answer to our true level of ability but there are still a number of unresolved issues that hinder an improving literacy rate. One of the most prevalent obstacles in improving literacy is the access to literature, specifically literature in a person’s mother tongue. “When it comes to the improvement of literacy, it is vital that especially children, should have access to literary works in their mother tongues. The importance of mother tongue instruction at the first years of schooling is now
Image: ventureburn.com
widely accepted, and this is coupled with the adequate provision of children’s books in the various South African languages. Literature is an excellent tool to instill a reading culture and if children can access books in their mother tongues, it is likely that a love of reading can be developed at a very early age.” says Prof. Andries Visagie, a lecturer of Afrikaans and Dutch at UP. Prof. Visagie added that “the literacy of adults can also be improved through the availability of a range of popular and more literary texts. It is therefore very unfortunate that the M-Net book prizes were suspended a few months ago. These prizes were the biggest prizes available to writers in all of the South African languages.” Reading and writing go hand in hand. South African literature is a growing art form but still an art form very much overlooked. “The problem is perhaps most glaring in the (public) school English syllabuses. Why is it that Shakespeare is perpetually in the syllabus but Fugard never appears? I think that this focus on the so-called Western canon in schools gives pupils the impression that these works are ‘better’ or ‘more important’ than works produced locally
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and perhaps this is where the ‘devaluation’ of South African literature starts,” says Tuks graduate, Sreddy Yen. Yen, however, does not entirely agree with the idea that the answer is local literature. “The literacy problem isn’t a uniquely South African one, so I don’t quite see how promoting local literature would help. People who will read will read and those who won’t won’t. Genre fiction is less ‘heavy’ than literary fiction, so perhaps it might be a useful way to get the masses reading. SA genre fiction is burgeoning at the moment – the well-worn example being Lauren Beukes,” he said. If the school system doesn’t make local literature available to students, efforts must be made on the students’ part to source them elsewhere. In more rural communities, this may prove difficult. There are, however, efforts being made to bridge the gap between literature, literacy and South African youth. In Perdeby’s 2013 Literature Supplement, we reported on an initiative called Bookly, the MXit service that provides access to numerous books, both old and new, to anyone with a Wap-enabled phone.
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The cost of a single book totals only R30 making reading an activity that is cheaper as well as viable to those that struggled to obtain physical literary material. This month Bookly launched its second phase of its initiative. Apart from launching a mobile site, Bookly has extended itself to writing. Hoping to inspire those that read to write as well, Bookly now offers users the possibility of writing their own “bookly”. These pieces need not be voluminous novels as the app encourages all forms of writing including short stories and poems. Native VML’s head of inventions, Levon Rivers, said that they hoped that expansion would “allow children and young adults to create content that is relevant to them – and written in their own language.” He added that he hopes “Bookly will become a platform that inspires writing, in any language, on any mobile device”. Booklies can be written on any device in the wide spectrum between a feature phone and desktop computer allowing even those without the latest technology to participate. Bookly have offered incentives to those that take up the opportunity of sharing their stories with other users. The Bookly Award is specifically designed for South African writers under the age of 21. Rivers said that the award will be “based on activity on the app - number of reads, number of likes, reviews and ratings. From there the final vote will be cast by our panel of judges, which will be comprised of South African authors.” Popularity marks will be accumulated by sharing the work on social networks. It is Rivers’ hope that this method will encourage others to read as people may be more likely to read their friend’s work. Bookly won the MTN Most Innovative App Award as well as the Best Start-Up award at the FutureBook Awards in London late last year. To date Bookly has had more than 700 000 unique visitors. This app as well as the innovations it inspires will undoubtedly be a useful tool in growing the future of South African literature and literacy.
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Entertainment
17 March ’14
Reviews
Girl Pharrell Williams
I, Frankenstein Director: Stuart Beattie
The Lego Movie Directors: Phil Lord and Christopher Miller
Image: rollingstone.com
Image: imdb.com
Image: imdb.com
JOHAN SAAYMAN
JOHAN SAAYMAN
After a popular period across various forms of entertainment vampires (finally) seem to have disappeared. Reviving the themes of immortal love and the human craving of eternal life are gargoyles, demons and revived corpses in a battle for humanity and purpose. Featuring the classic legend of Dr Frankenstein and his monster, the 2014 fantasy action movie I, Frankenstein puts a new twist on the supernatural with mythological and historically accurate facts. Paired with incredible computer-generated images and set-design and topped off with a good dash of action movie elements, I, Frankenstein is a rush of a sci-fi experience. The movie was made with the collaboration of some of the greatest, most underrated actors of our time, a relatively small budget of $65 million and an extremely capable team of specialeffects artists, with writer and director Stuart Beattie bringing it all together. Although the obvious message in the movie is simple and brought forth in an equally simple plot. Such simplicity is necessary to prevent audiences from becoming tired of all the graphic detail of the characters and fight sequences. The plot lacks substance and intrigue in some parts of the movie, and together with the seemingly flaccid nature of some of the characters, the movie won’t be a match for a wide variety of people’s appetites. Contrary to this, the score is greatly executed. The rolling sound manages to add to the suspense of the scenes, but is not overwhelming to viewers. The overly simple plot and layout as a whole might have nonsci-fi fans regretting the decision to spend their money to see the movie, but for sci-fi fans of grand calibre, this movie is an action ride in fantasy that cannot be skipped out on.
What gets people excited over a stop motion movie made from Lego? The Lego Movie is certainly the first in its class and has powered up the anticipation of many audiences, grossing nearly $400 million after its release in the United Sates alone and gaining the approval of many critics. The movie follows an average Joe called Emmet who gets caught up in the battle of the good versus the evil Lord Business. The movie goes deeper than the journey of a character becomg greater than he thought he could be, and provides an interesting interpretation of the journey itself. The movie combines witty humour and slapstick comedy and the sub-textual humour in this movie sets it apart and makes it widely enjoyable. The movie’s has a collection of outstanding actors. Chris Pratt, Morgan Freeman, Channing Tatum, Jonah Hill, Will Arnett and Liam Neeson are only a few of the voice-over artists in The Lego Movie. The producers matched characters to actors very well, which helps to bring the simplistic animation to life. Flawless execution of the visual effects team is one of the aspects of the movie that makes it more enjoyable. Stopmotion movies are often clearly hand-generated, but without prior knowledge this movie could fool the keenest eye into thinking that it is completely computer-generated. A noticeable flaw is the timing of the dialogue, which appears sometimes as electronic malfunctions and sometimes as editing mistakes. At first thought this movie may seem like a great movie for children, something between Shrek and Finding Nemo with a Transformers edge, but this movie is nothing short of a grown-ups’ blockbuster choice.
JOHAN SAAYMAN Pharrell Williams likes women. He admires, desires and respects them. As women are the central theme of his second solo studio album, the title Girl is only too fitting. Williams himself describes the album as a celebration of women. Unlike some other pop and R&B singers, Williams does not need to use grotesque and foul imagery to match an over-developed narcissism. Instead, his smooth melodies and funky beats aim to charm women. Compared to his first solo album from 2006, In My Head, the music is more retro. Unlike the basic R&B music of his previous work, Girl has elements of disco, synth pop and R&B all mashed-up, which is a good escape from the generic pop sound currently on the mainstream charts. Lyrically, the new album is more focused on a series of romantic experiences as opposed to the crude and blatant references present in In My Head. The new album is also filled with playful metaphors and suggestive imagery, which is easier to listen to than direct and blunt sexual statements. This somewhat redundant theme is occasionally broken by songs snuck in such as the hidden track “Freq” featuring JoJo. Girl also features vocals from Alicia Keys, Justin Timberlake, Miley Cyrus, Kelly Osbourne and Daft Punk, which give the album variation and provides rest from William’s limited range. Williams’s collaboration on “Brand new” with Justin Timberlake goes down like ice-cream on a hot Sunday, as their voices work effortlessly together. Alicia Keys’s vocals on the funky “Know who you are” makes the song soulful and Miley Cyrus’s “Come get it bae” lyrics are good for giving the song a truly fun and lively sound. One mistake that Williams makes is only focusing on one genre of music throughout the album. This means only a specific audience will like it. The album is much better than his first solo album. Girl shows that Williams can adjust and grow as time goes by to stay current in his own style.
Part time earning opportunity for students with English writing skills Students (strictly 3rd year or beyond) to write summaries of topics covered in written articles, journals and text books, all of which will be provided. Topics include (but not limited to) trends on: society, technology, environment, economy, politics, legal issues, ethics and demographics.
Rate offered: R35/ hour on a month-to-month basis. Requirements: • Must have between 10 and 20 hours available per 7 day week • Exception for work delivery deadlines to be pre-agreed upon during high intensity study periods (for example: exams, assignments or thesis deadlines)
Please email your application via a single page CV as an attachment to: upstudentwriter@gmail.com [Please note: Only selected applications will be responded to. If you do not receive a response, it means that the position has already been filled]
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17 March ’14
2014 IAAF World Indoor Champs review KHUMO MEKGWE The International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) World Indoor Championships took place 7-9 March in Sopot, Poland. USA finished first on the medal table with 12 medals while South Africa did not place. On the first day of the championships all eyes were on Ethiopian 3 000m runner Genzebe Dibaba. Dibaba had successfully broken the world indoor record 15 days before the IAAF meeting. The Ethiopian finished first in the women’s 3 000m race just seven seconds shy of her world record of 8:16:60. In the men’s 3 000m, 21-yearold Kenyan Caleb Ndiku finished the race in 7:54: 94, six places in front of South African Elroy Gelant. One of the highlights of the championships came from the American men’s 4x400m relay race. The team finished the race in 3:02:13 (each 400m was run in less than 75 seconds) to set a new world record and earn themselves
Genzebe Dibaba after winning the 3 000m race. Image: nytimes.com
$50 000 as a bonus. Double world champion and Olympian
silver medallist Jamaican Shelly-Ann FraserPryce, also set a new world record. She ran
the 60m women’s race in the seventh fastest time ever recorded for the distance. FraserPryce finished the race in 6:98. She told media that she had not expected to do so well as the championships were part of training for upcoming outdoor championships. FraserPryce is now the first woman to win IAAF titles in the 60m, 100m and 200m races and in the 4x100m relay. Great Britain’s Richard Kilty won the men’s 60m race. South African and Tuks shot put athlete Orazio Cremona finished seventh overall by throwing 20.49m in his first indoor championships and made the finals out of six athletes sent to represent South Africa. South African Andre Olivier, who is the second fastest 800m athlete, finished fourth in the 400m semi-finals after Polish athlete Marcin Lewandowski was disqualified from his fourth place. The IAAF’s website experienced its most visits since Berlin 2009. There were 1 million unique daily users and more than 16 million daily page views.
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GABRIELLA FERREIRA Football Four teams qualify for Uefa Champions League quarter finals Atletico Madrid, Bayern Munich, Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germaine (PSG) are the first four teams to qualify for the quarter final round of the Uefa Champions League. The first set of matches for the second leg of the round of 16 took place on 11 and 12 March. The round saw the dismissal of Arsenal, AC Milan, Manchester City and Bayer Leverkusen as they were all unable to turn over first leg deficits. The next set of round of 16 matches will take place on 18 and 19 March. Russians attempt to get United States barred from the Fifa World Cup Two Russian lawyers have written an appeal to Fifa to prevent the USA from participating in the 2014 World Cup. This comes after two American senators wrote a letter to Fifa asking for the 2018 World Cup to be taken away from host country Russia due to their military involvement in the
Ukraine. Fifa President Sepp Blatter has not yet commented on the situation but has previously said that in future, football’s governing body will take the political and social situation in a country into account before awarding them hosting duties. Cricket Protea coach defends loss against Australia South African cricket coach Russell Domingo, has defended the country’s fivewicket loss against Australia in Durban on 12 March. Domingo stated that the team had to do without veteran bowlers Dale Steyn and Morné Morkel and was not disappointed with the way his team played. The match was reduced to a seven over contest due to rain. South Africa was first to bat reaching a total of 80/1 at the end of seven overs. Australia started the second innings off strongly after scoring 21 runs in the first over. The game began to slow down after JP Duminy took two wickets, but picked up once more in the last two overs which saw Australia score 28 runs to reach the target of 81 with two balls remaining.
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TuksCycling club: what to look forward to in 2014 LAUREN NEUHOFF AND MICHAEL REINDERS Many students are unaware that Tuks has its own cycling club and even if they do, they know little information with regard to the club. The club consists of top riders from around the country and has a lot of support from their first committed sponsor for 2014; Pro-Admin. Jacques Horn, the club’s chairperson, stated that, “Currently the main focus of the club is to send a men’s and women’s team to the 2014 USSA cycling tour.” The University Sports South Africa (USSA) cycling tour is a three-day, five-stage tour and also includes a one-day mountain biking race. The TuksCycling team won the championships last year and Horn said, “We hope to defend the title this year. Tukkies are the proud hosts of the 2014 edition of the tour and all of the stages will be taking place in and around Pretoria with stage 4 and stage 5 being held at the Voortrekker Monument and Tuks campus respectfully.” The tour takes place during the first week of the June/ July holidays and will see cyclists from universities around the country competing. Two cycling stars that were a part of the TuksCycling club are Willie Smit and Kevin Patten. Both of these riders have represented South Africa and are currently riding full
Willie Smit (front left) cycling for Tuks in the USSA tour. Image: thehubsa.co.za
time for professional teams. Smit won four out of the five stages of the 2013 USSA tour and also won both the yellow and green jerseys. Horn informed Perdeby that, “Willie recently won the intermediate sprinters jersey at the prestigious Tour of Oman, his first pro European tour race, with some of the world’s top riders present.” Smit is currently based in Europe and is racing for Vini Fantini-Nippo, a continental cycling team that
CSA Centre of Excellence opens
is based in Japan. Joining the TuksCycling club allows members to participate in the annual nationally recognised USSA cycling races (mountain and road). Students can register at LC de Villiers’s main building to become members of the TuksCycling club. The membership fee for the year is R240, and includes affiliation to USSA. You do not need to be a licenced rider in order to join and
the club welcomes riders of both road and mountain biking. Students are encouraged to register before the end of March as the club is planning its first meeting after the quarter break in April. Students can follow TuksCycling on Twitter @TuksCycling for news relating to any races that take place as well as on the Tuks Cycling website, which can be found under the Cycling tab on the Tuks Sport website.
Tuks lose second game in a row in wet conditions
Players and dignitaries at the opening. Photo: Brad Donald
KHUMO MEKGWE After months of construction Cricket South Africa (CSA) opened its first Centre of Excellence on the UP Sport campus on 13 March. Attending members were CEO of CSA Haroon Largot, UP’s Vice-Chancellor Prof. Cheryl De le Rey, executive director of infrastructure and sport Prof. Antonie de Klerk and director of TuksSport Kobus van der Walt. Members of the national cricket team were also there. Largot thanked Prof. De le Rey for renting out the land on which the centre is built and the CSA board members for the funding. He said that CSA wants to transform the game of cricket in every sense and that this centre will aid the process. He emphasised that the centre will spread the knowledge and technology across all dimensions of cricket. The R30 million building boasts world class technology and coaching software. CSA’s general manager Corrie van Zyl said
that the building has sensor mats that can sense the foot work and movement of players. The centre’s spin bowling machine can be programed to bowl any type of spin technique or even a combination of all. This will be used to prepare batsmen for spin bowlers. This machine has received high recommendation by the English national cricket team. Van Zyl explained that the centre will be used to prepare the Proteas for international competition, but also to provide the same level of coaching technology to disadvantaged communities. TuksCricket projects administrator Zolani Gubuza told Perdeby this opportunity will allow their players to grow and one of the biggest benefits is that it will allow them to continue training even when it’s raining. Prof. De le Rey told Perdeby that the centre will be important for academic research. Former Tuks cricketer and Protea player AB de Villers told Perdeby that he was excited about the facility and the opportunities it will create for TuksCricket.
Tuks lost 19-9 against NMMU in last week’s Varsity Cup match in terrible conditions. After the match, Tuks were placed fourth on the Varsity Cup log. Their match against Maties this week is a must win. Photos: Brad Donald
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