Ienkmelodienk photo gallery - pg. 5 Varsity Cup rugby breakdown - pg. 11
Perdeby
Interface vs face to face
Tuks se amptelike studentekoerant / Official Tuks student newspaper / Kuranta ya baithuti ya semmušo ya Tuks
01February2016
year78issue2
- pg. 7 Record temperatures’ impact on South Africa
Photo: Kirsty Mackay
Maroela and Magrietjie claim Rag win MICHAL-MARÉ LINDEN The 2016 annual UP Rag procession took place on Saturday at LC de Villiers. This year’s over-arching theme was “Going on holiday” and the floats reflected many exotic and familiar holiday destinations. The event got off to a start with Vice-Chancellor and Principal Prof. Cheryl de la Rey addressing the participants and spectators at 10:30. The procession then got moving and the floats, built over the last week by the various Rag partnerships, moved around the Sport campus. The
procession ended on the Rag farm with the floats on static display until midday. The floats were of a high quality and many made use of creative and clever materials and designs. Vividus Men and Erika’s Disney World float came complete with a moving ferris wheel and Buzz Lightyear. Olienhout and Klaradyn kept things local with their Kruger National Park float, which showed support for Olienhout’s long-term Rag project, rhino conservation. Olympus and Katjipeiring chose to stay at home with their “Staycation” float. Hatfield Studios and Tuks Bophelong made
View more photos and videos online. Like us on Facebook. Photos: Kirsty Mackay
their Rag debuts this year, partnered with Asterhof and Luminous and Kollege and Nerina, respectively. The results were announced later in the day. Judges based their marks on creativity, the materials used, how environmentally friendly the float was, the partnership’s donation to charity, and attention to detail. Sonop, Inca and Vividus Ladies placed third with their Thailand-themed float which featured a giant elephant and Thai man. Curlitzia and Tuks Naledi came second with their colourful Rio de Janeiro float which consisted of a huge parrot and actual plants. Maroela and Magrietjie were announced as
the winners of Rag 2016. Their float’s theme was “Around the world in 80 days” and included a number of objects from countries like Hawaii, Paris and South Africa. The day ended off with a market, a FunZone which included go-kart racing and bungee trampolines, a sports area and benefit concert. The benefit concert’s line-up included firm favourite Desmond and the Tutus and also included Kid X, DJ Killswitch, and Twins on Deck. *With additional reporting from Bianca Meyer
- pg.6 Interview with Ruan Steenkamp
- pg.11
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Perdeby
Editorial | 1 February 2016
Give and take, take, take
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After the blur that was Rag week and nearly two months of holiday, it’s a bit of a struggle to turn back to the usual grind of academics and responsibilities. That being said, building a Rag float seems to have ensured that the res kids got back to work at least two weeks before the rest of us. The floats at this year’s procession really were impressive. I loved the creativity and ingenuity used to create larger than life structures or animals out of a variety of materials. Each float had its own atmosphere and even when disaster struck and there was no float (as with Mopanie and Jasmyn), the rag committees still had the courage to walk the route and participate. What was disheartening about the day for me though was how few people actually came to see the procession. I understand that Rag is no longer the same now that it’s no longer in the streets. I, too, am nostalgic for blikskud and kilometres upon kilometres of hot tar and people. I feel fortunate that I even have those memories unlike so many students. But the fact that the procession is no longer supported the way it was makes me wonder about the real reason that people used to support it. The current procession isn’t terribly out of the way. Chances are, if you could stand along the streets of Hatfield, you can stand along the streets of LC de Villiers. The floats are still beautifully done, too. Residences now work harder than ever to ensure that their floats are
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From the Editor charitable, perhaps even cancelling out the need for blikskud. Is it really going to boil down to the fact that students don’t attend because students can’t drink at the procession? Surely we’re better than that? It’s been made clear several times that the procession will not be out in the streets any time soon. The procession on LC (or the “Rag afterparty”) might not currently be as good as what it used to be, but it has the potential to be great fun. However, this relies on students to make it good. It relies on people, particularly students, to be invested in Rag, to attend the procession and the activities. I believe we still have Rag because a number of individuals were so invested in the idea of Rag that they fought hard to make sure it was never cancelled. If we show that we are invested too, Rag could once again reach its past potential. Something can’t grow without investment into it, so perhaps it’s time we start taking back Rag for ourselves again, growing it into what we want through our support. If Rag isn’t your thing, never has been and never will be, we do have content for you this week. Be sure to check out our Sport section for cricket and rugby news, as well as our feature on freedom of speech (pg. 6). Have a great first week back! Michal-Maré
Letter As a student who sat in the crowd during Ienkmelodienk this year, I do not understand how Stuku can allow any residence, whether they are a day house, an on-campus residence or a private residence such as Sonop, to participate in a student culture event without even one student of color on stage. I think it is time that structures on campus start to take a stance and disqualify residences or societies who fail to implement transformation. It seems that as long as you can talk
a good transformation game that is enough. People need to understand that in 2016 it is no longer enough to just talk transoformation and I call on student structures such as the SRC and Stuku to implement a quota for further events such as the upcoming Serrie or Serenade or anything that happens on campus. Every year we complain and every year nothing changes. Anonymous
Correction
In the 16 January edition, we incorrectly reported that Sonop is 99 years old in our residence infographic. Sonop celebrate their centenary year this year. We also incorrectly reported that Kiaat won the 2015 football league. Zim Soc FC were the winners. We apologise for the mistakes.
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1 February 2016 | News
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Outsourcing falls at UP MARKO SVICEVIC On 11 January workers from several UP support services downed tools protesting the institution’s practise of outsourcing. Workers from the outsourced companies – which include Global One, Servest and Fidelity – demanded that they be employed directly by UP and have their salaries increased to R10 000 per month. Protesting workers also demanded full benefits while employed by the university, as well as an annual 13th cheque. The protest action, popularly referred to as #EndOutsourcing, resulted in the closure of UP from 12-18 January. On Tuesday 12 January UP released a statement in which it said that an “urgent court order was obtained interdicting protesters from their unlawful actions”. The interdict, granted by the Pretoria High Court, was directed at protesting workers, as well as the EFFSC Tukkies Branch, EFF and Sasco members, and three 2016 SRC members. On 15 January, UP reopened but was quickly forced to shut down, with the university citing “threats of violence” on its Hatfield campus and requesting that staff leave early. Due to the developments with the protest action, UP’s annual Welcoming Day, set to take place the following day, was cancelled. On 18 January, UP obtained a second court interdict from the Pretoria High Court. The
interdict prohibited protesters from engaging in protest action within 150 m of any entrance to any of its campuses. The continued protest action forced UP to postpone its first-year Orientation Week by one week, with orientation only starting on Monday 18 January. On Wednesday 20 January, after more than a week of protest action, a preliminary agreement between UP and protesting workers was reached. Although UP could not confirm the details of the agreement, it is alleged to have included the following: • UP is to insource all previously outsourced protesting workers, with full benefits included. • UP agreed to an increase in wages with a temporary salary of R5 500, which will increase to R10 000 by 2018 as workers exit their labour contracts. • Workers and their dependents will be able to study for free, on condition that they meet the academic requirements of their study course of choice. • All interdicts against workers will be withdrawn, on condition that all further protest action is peaceful and will not infringe upon UP’s functioning. • A committee will be put in place to oversee workers’ grievances pertaining to victimisation and will consist of two students, two NEHAWU members, one member of the UP senate, and one
Photo: Huvasan Reddy
member of the UP council. In a statement released by UP, ViceChancellor and Principal Prof. Cheryl de la Rey reiterated the university’s commitment to ensure no further disruptions to academic activities, but added that UP also recognised “the process of finalising and implementing detailed action plans and timelines for insourcing of the identified services”. Prof. de la Rey further stated that the implementation of the agreement would require hard work and commitment from all parties involved and that the agreement was in line with several similar agreements
at institutions such as Wits, the University of Johannesburg and the University of Cape Town. According to Sam Mphuti, the EFFSC’s acting chairperson at the time, the EFFSC initiated and led the protest action against outsourcing. Mphuti further added that, at present, a task team, which includes a member from the EFFSC, has been appointed to ensure the implementation of the agreement which had been reached. “Until there are no outsourced workers at the University of Pretoria … we cannot rest,” said Mphuti.
Intervarsity news NTOMBIKAYISE MKANDHLA Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University On 17 January, the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University (NMMU) SRC launched a fundraising initiative for its needy students called #enablingDREAMS. According to their Facebook page, this campaign was catapulted by “over 1600 students at NMMU alone [who] are at risk of being excluded from higher education because the government does not want to prioritise a brighter future”. The movement seeks to raise funds to establish a food bank and a book collection programme to support students in need. University of Stellenbosch Stellenbosch University’s (Maties) SRC has launched a campaign dubbed “Register All” to assist its needy students after realising the financial plight that many Maties students faced through awareness raised by the #FeesMustFall campaign. “We have seen a need to assist students that come to this university from various rural areas. They are unable to pay registration fees [upfront],” James de Villiers from Maties’ SRC told Eyewitness News. North-West University On 18 January heated protests at NorthWest University’s (NWU) Mafikeng campus
interrupted registration for first-years. This forced the university management to seek a court interdict to prevent further disruptions on campus. According to City Press, the NWU SRC president, Benz Mabengwane, proclaimed that the court interdict would not make them “keep quiet when out of the total number of 5048 students who applied for assistance from [NSFAS], only 1746 applicants were approved”. University of the Witwatersrand The University of the Witwatersrand’s (Wits) SRC and management came to an agreement, on 19 January. This was after the 2015 #FeesMustFall movement which sparked protests again this year, disrupting registration on their campuses. The two parties agreed on 14 issues, which can be read on the university’s website. They include Wits’ commitment to insourcing and paying for workers’ children’s tuition at the institution. Furthermore, students who are unable to make an initial payment of fees prior to registration would be allowed to register after necessary procedures have been taken. University of South Africa Following lengthy demonstrations against outsourcing, the University of South Africa (Unisa) came to an agreement with protesters to begin insourcing contract workers by June
Image: Shen Scott
2016. According to Eyewitness News, on 22 January “the university [had] agreed in principle to increase workers’ salary and a task team has been set up to look into employment benefits.” University of Cape Town University of Cape Town (UCT) staff have had to renegotiate salaries due to the government’s decision not to increase university fees as a result of the #FeesMustFall protests. This, coupled with the decision to insource certain services, has resulted in financial implications on the university. Prior to these protests, UCT was set to increase tuition fees by 10.3%. According to News24, “The National Health Education and
Allied Workers Union (Nehawu) said it had been asked to accept an 8% increase for its members at UCT, down from the 10% it negotiated before the protests against university fee increases in October last year.’’ However the 8% increase was rejected by the Academic Union, which represents academic staff at UCT. Smartdryck Abrahams, the Nehawu UCT branch manager, said that “negotiations are still taking place and no strikes are planned”. UCT spokesperson Elijah Moholola told News24 that UCT is committed to concluding the renegotiation process as soon as possible.
PERDEBY
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News | 1 February 2016
RAG 2016
Maroela and Magrietjie.
Curlitzia and Tuks Naledi.
Olienhout and Klaradyn.
Boekenhout and Zinnia.
Taaibos and Lilium.
Curlitzia and Tuks Naledi.
Maroela and Magrietjie.
Vividus Men and Erika.
Madelief and Kiaat.
Asterhof, Luminous and Hatfield Studios.
Maroela and Magrietjie.
Sonop, Inca and Vividus Ladies.
PHOTOS: STEFAN STANDER
1 February 2016 | News
Maroela.
5
IENK
Lilium.
MELODIENK
Nerina.
Magrietjie.
PHOTOS: FEZEKILE MSIMANG, KIRSTY MACKAY AND SHEN SCOTT
Mopanie.
Katjiepiering.
Olienhout.
Tuks Naledi.
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Features | 1 February 2016
Balancing free speech and dignity JARED DE CANHA The new year has seen many social media users experience highly provocative and sometimes offensive views filtering through their newsfeeds. The turbulence experienced on platforms such as Twitter and Facebook in the first few days of 2016 have once again highlighted the extremely fine line on which we as South Africans balance when we exercise our constitutional right to freedom of speech. How do we balance freedom of speech in South Africa? Freedom of expression has been enshrined in the 1996 Constitution of the Republic of South Africa because of its importance in upholding and maintaining democracy. The right to freedom of expression is afforded in a varying amount of strength and protection among democratic countries. In our own system, Section 16 of our current Constitution clearly outlines what freedom of expression entails, including the right to freedom of artistic creativity and the freedom to impart information and ideas. Section 16 (2), however, prevents freedom of speech from being granted absolute power by stating that any speech which constitutes propaganda for war, incitement of imminent violence or which advocates hatred based on race, ethnicity, gender or religion, or alternatively incites to cause harm, is excluded from the constitutional protection afforded to this right. Subsequent legislation drafted under our constitutional dispensation further criminalises hate speech, as seen in legislation such as the Equality Act which prohibits hate speech, as well as the dissemination
and publication of information which is unfairly discriminating. Twitter’s trigger On 2 January 2016, South Coast estate agent Penny Sparrow posted a comment on social media where she compared crowds of black South African beach-goers she had seen on New Year’s Day to “monkeys”, ending her statement by saying that she would address black South Africans as “monkeys” from then onwards. Sparrow’s comments soon triggered responses across Twitter and was trending shortly afterwards, leading to a Twitter storm that caused even more carnage as it progressed.
“we have a tremendous obligation to refrain from disseminating hate when we express ourselves”
Provocative or problematic? Sparrow’s comments have placed a spotlight on numerous social media users who have landed themselves in hot water for publishing their views on race recently. One of the first casualties after Sparrow was Gauteng government employee Velaphi Khumalo who posted that white South Africans should be treated “as Hitler did to the Jews” and that future generations should be “used as garden fertiliser”. Next to fall was Nicole de Klerk, an employee of a talent agency in Cape Town, who was exposed on social media after using a derogative racial slur. Perhaps the most notable case brought to the attention of South Africans this year was that of radio presenter Gareth Cliff who was
dismissed from Idols SA as a judge following his comments made in the wake of the Sparrow saga. Cliff responded to comments regarding the racial debate surrounding Sparrow by saying that people didn’t “understand free speech at all”, which led to a backlash on Twitter with calls to boycott Idols. Controversy has also surrounded a tweet posted by Standard Bank economist, Chris Hart, after he tweeted that despite the end of apartheid, “the victims are increasing along with a sense of entitlement and hatred toward minorities”. Another provocative opinion piece posted in response to the Sparrow saga was entitled “Why do white people despise blacks?” written by EFF leader Julius Malema. This piece has, however, been more readily received as an expression of an opinion in comparison to comments which clearly constitute hate speech. The implications for those in the spotlight of social media. While the various parties contributing to the turbulence on social media over the last month have issued apologies or defended their comments, there have been varying consequences depending on the perceived seriousness of each matter. For instance, Hart has been suspended from Standard Bank and faced a disciplinary committee on 22 January. De Klerk was fired from her job with immediate effect. Legal battles could be on the horizon for Sparrow and Khumalo after it was confirmed by ANC spokesperson Zizi Kodwa in a statement released on 21 January that the ANC had laid charges against them. In addition to these charges,
Illustration: Jaco Stroebel
Sparrow was stripped of her DA membership while Khumalo was served with a suspension letter, pending disciplinary action. Times Live, in their article published on 8 January 2016, also confirmed that the Sports, Arts, Culture and Recreation Department of Gauteng had not suspended Khumalo’s pay in a statement given by the department’s spokesperson, Nomazwe Ntlokwane. Cliff took M-Net to court on charges of defamation and unfair dismissal. Cliff has since won his case in the Johannesburg high court and has been re-instated as a judge on Idols. Social media: helper or hindrance? Social media has played an instrumental role in exposing the areas of South African society where those disseminating hatred have been uncovered on a broad platform. However, it can be argued that social media has helped facilitate “witch hunts” and has increased racial tensions by revealing previously
hidden views. This has been seen in a matter taken to the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) by the FW de Klerk Foundation, who have brought over 45 social media posts forward after reviewing these posts as constituting some of “the most virulent and dangerous racism – expressed in the most extreme and violent language”. In an article reported by News24 on 15 January 2016, the Foundation also explained that they were concerned “about recent statements in the media and social media that constitute hurtful racist remarks”. South Africans must remember how fortunate we are to live in a society that protects and values freedom of expression, keeping in mind that we have a tremendous obligation to refrain from disseminating hate when we express ourselves. The right to freedom of speech is not only a right that South Africans have fought for, but a right that they deserve.
Record temperatures’ devastating impact on South Africa
Photo: Kay O’Brien
SAVANNAH PLASKITT According to Nasa, 2015 saw the hottest temperatures on Earth’s surface since modern record keeping began in the 1800s. The effects of this global warming have been seen all over the world: December was
the wettest month on record led to devastating floods in the UK, record heat led to bush fires in Australia, and severe droughts have left countries in Africa and Central America in need of food aid. South Africa has not been exempt from the consequences of global
climate change as it saw its warmest year on record in 2015, with Gauteng already experiencing record breaking temperatures in 2016. South Africa’s climate woes do not only stem from global warming, but from the regular El Niño effect which causes shortterm fluctuations in temperature.
According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, “El Niño is characterised by unusually warm ocean temperatures in the Equatorial Pacific, as opposed to La Niña, which is characterised by unusually cold ocean temperatures in the Equatorial Pacific. El Niño is an oscillation of the ocean-atmosphere system in the tropical Pacific, having important consequences for weather around the globe.” South Africa experiences far less rainfall during El Niño, the realities of which are beginning to surface. In 2015, five of the nine provinces were declared drought disaster areas for agriculture. The Free State is the hardest hit and despite nationwide rain in past weeks, farmers have been told to prepare for a long road ahead. Rural areas are the worst affected, but fortunately community members have stepped in and many water donation points have been set up in surrounding cities and towns, coordinated through Facebook groups started by ordinary people wanting to help. Food shortages, another consequence of the drought, are increasingly becoming a concern. South Africa has been unable to grow enough maize to meet the nation’s demands, let alone export requirements. It is predicted that we will have to import up to 6 million tonnes of maize in 2016, which is over half of our national usage. Due to the growing shortages, maize prices have soared, rising 150 percent to R5000 a tonne from R2000 this
time last year. This will impact the cost of other food as well. Frans van der Bergh, a farmer and president of Agri-Gauteng, says, “We predict a food revolution because food will be unaffordable.” He stresses the importance of micro-farming – a task to be undertaken by families sooner rather than later. The advice from an array of experts is for South Africans to focus on conserving water by making small lifestyle changes, such as watering lawns in the evening when it’s cooler and taking shorter showers. However, some experts are calling for water restrictions to be enforced nationwide, and not just in the most affected provinces (North-West, KwaZuluNatal and Mpumalanga). The University of Pretoria has been preparing for water shortages for some time now. Prof. Susan Adendorff, the director of Facilities Management at the university, says they have taken note of the amount of boreholes situated on the UP campuses, and also which water storage facilities are available. UP has a unique feature outside the Mining Study Centre – a rainwater harvesting area, which as well as irrigating the botanical garden there, can collect and hold up to 80 000 litres of water. Most of the campus lawns (watered in the evening to restrict evaporation) are irrigated using borehole water. Prof. Adendorff has also said that many leaks across campus were repaired, and urges students who see a leak to report it to the department’s phone line at 012 420 2244.
1 February 2016 | Features
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Rag: from 1820 to now
SAVVA POUROULLIS UP prepares itself to continue the South African and British tradition of ‘reach out and give’ (Rag). UP has been a focal point since the beginning of Rag in South Africa, having introduced the tradition into the country and continuing the development of this annual fundraising event at the university. While “Rag” is defined by the Oxford Dictionary as an “extensive display of noisy, disorderly conduct carried on in defiance of authority or discipline,” the Rag tradition has earned its connotations of generosity and charity alongside the raucous behaviour that typically accompanies it. Most groups call it “raise and give” or “reach out and give”, among other names, but the general meaning is the same. Rag is just as much about festivities as it is about acts of charity. The earliest known Rag began as a rivalry between two British institutions when they were founded in 1820, namely University College London and King’s College London. They hold an annual rugby match to celebrate this age-old rivalry. Since then, Rag has spread to Ireland, The Netherlands and South Africa. The first time Rag arrived in South Africa was in Pretoria in 1925, where nonstudents could pay to watch a part of the initiation of the “ienkies”, or
Left: Rag float from 1955; right: Sonop’s winning float in 2015. Images: UP Archives
first-year students, in Church Square. The university raised a total of £197, according to university archives, which was then given to charity. A few years later, in 1931, students organised a full-scale procession to complement a local hospital’s street collection efforts. In the following year, students were given full responsibility for the collection and organisation of the street collections and procession, which has continued
since then and has become the highest-earning event run by students at Tuks, having raised a gross income of R4 million in 2005. While UCT has its famous Rag mag, Sax Appeal, Tuks itself is abundant with rich Rag stories and anecdotes. In 1955, a student started a rumour that spread through Pretoria in order to garner a larger audience at that year’s Rag. The rumour was that a flying saucer was making its
way around Pretoria and would land at Church Square on the day of Rag. There indeed was a flying saucer at Church Square, but it was built by third-year Simon Kamstra, who had enough people convinced that they flooded the SABC and South African Air Force with concerned phone calls. A particularly special Rag occurred in 1974, when Asterhof resident Anneline Kriel was named rag queen and then Miss South Africa later on
that year. She went on to be crowned Miss World the following year in London. Kriel dominated the news at Perdeby for several months afterward, garnering many photoshoots and interviews. Moving into the 21st century, TuksRag is still a large student-run charity organisation well-known among many South Africans
Interface versus face-to-face: AI to end humanity?
Image: Ciske van den Heever
COURTNEY TINK In 2016, artificial intelligence is predicted to advance in leaps and bounds. However, while this creates anticipation for some, it also brings about feelings of foreboding and
negativity in others. Artificial intelligence is defined as an area of computer science that deals with giving machines the power to copy intelligent human behaviour. It has become increasingly clear in the modern world that man and
machine have begun to merge, relying on one another to exist. According to English theoretical physicist, cosmologist and author Stephen Hawking, primitive forms of artificial intelligence (AI) have proven to be very useful, evident by Hawking’s
use of AI communication technology to communicate. However, Hawking recently discussed his fear that there will be consequences for creating something that can match or surpass human intelligence. “The development of full artificial intelligence could spell the end of the human race. In theory, a hyperintelligent form of AI would find the human race obsolete and unnecessary, or perhaps, as seen in numerous science-fiction works, may seek to save the human race from its greatest enemy: itself,” he said. Hawking clarifies that this will not stem from malice, but rather competency. He states that if humanity’s goals do not match robots’, then it will become problematic for humans, turning The Terminator from far-out fiction into near-future fact. Elon Musk, a South African born engineer and inventor, warns society about the dangers of AI and weaponry. Musk tweeted in 2014 that AI is “potentially more dangerous than nukes”. This is based on the idea that if military weapons became autonomous, they could activate themselves worldwide without any need for human intervention. Currently, there are bomb-activating robots and drones that can be remotely controlled. If these were to gain autonomy, they would be able to harm a specific group based on variable criteria that were not programmed by any human. Another potential issue with AI lies in the possibility of super intelligent weaponry being sold on the black market to terrorists and warlords, which could create a new wave of war and destruction unlike any before
it. Recently, Musk and Hawking signed an open letter, along with over a 1000 other leading scientists and businessmen, released by the Future of Life organisation which calls for a ban on lethal weapons controlled by artificially intelligent machines in an attempt to highlight the dangers of AI. While AI does have negative stigma surrounding it, it has created many new possibilities that could be beneficial to society. For example, the supercomputer The Nautilus has access to a multitude of news articles, to which it applies sentiment analysis algorithms and place-name detection, thus creating “predictions” based on any found patterns and common agendas. It managed to find Osama Bin Laden and predict the Arab Spring revolts in test environments. The Nautilus could be able to assist law enforcement agencies in finding criminals by using unique patterns to locate them. Google is also currently working on a car that uses AI to drive itself to predetermined destinations. Called “Google Chauffeur”, its goal is to stop fatal road accidents, as seen in South Africa during the festive season last year. The car will assess the driver and situation before allowing them to drive, leading to situations such as drunk-driving becoming a problem of the past. AI has near-unlimited potential. However, with great power comes great responsibility. As stated by Hawking, depending on the manner in which AI is developed, AI could either redevelop or destroy humanity.
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Entertainment | 1 February 2016
Perdeby Ienk awards Lilium performing at Ienkmelodienk 2016. Photo: Fezekile Msimang
Most creative theme – Olienhout: How I met your mother Least creative theme – Taaibos: Sumo fighters Most annoying theme – Vividus Men: Minions From left: Magrietjie, Boekenhout, and Tuks Bophelong. Photos: Kirsty Mackay and Shen Scott
Magrietjie takes Ienkmelodienk 2016 crown ELMARIE KRUGER Ienkmelodienk undoubtedly dominates the first week of varsity for every res first-year. The rehearsals are rigorous, and the long hours and learning the choreography in a short amount of time is no walk in the park. Ienk tickets for both the Amphitheatre and the Aula sold out quickly, despite some uncertainty about where the performances would take place (either on campus or at a separate venue). Twenty-five residences and day houses performed at the event and, after the performances, Stuku members expressed their satisfaction at the high standards of the performances that evening. Tuks Bophelong, newcomers to the mixed res category, chose a mine workers theme for their performance. The res experienced a wave of success at their first Ienk, winning awards for best introductory video and best theme, as well as taking first place in
the mixed res category, with Tuks Naledi in second place. The best introductory video awards in the men’s and ladies’ categories went to Sonop and Vividus Ladies, respectively. Sonop’s registered killers theme and Vividus Ladies’ 1940s factory girls theme won them the awards for best theme in the men’s and ladies’ categories as well. For the mens’ residences, Sonop placed fifth overall, with the sumo fighters from Taaibos placing fourth and Maroela’s Fight Club placing third. Mopanie’s Wimbledon-inspired performance earned them second place in the men’s category, with Boekenhout’s Navy Seals taking first place. The results for the ladies’ performances saw Curlitzia’s Taken theme earning them fifth place, and Lilium’s female prisoners placing fourth. Third place went to Erika, whose theme was “A tribute to the airwaves”. Vividus Ladies placed second, while the grannies from Magrietjie placed first. Magrietjie were also crowned the overall winners of Ienkmelodienk 2016.
Most yawn-worthy performance – Katjiepiering: From wicked to good Most misguided theme choice – Maroela: Fight Club Most unnecessary shouting – Madelief: Thugs Most surprising performance – Lilium: Jade is the new black Biggest loss of dignity – Zinnia: 60s Pixies
Calendar 6 February: Word N Sound Poetry League – Market Theatre Lab: The Bus Factory 11 February: Born to be Black: A Celebration of the Conscious Soul – The Orbit: Home of Jazz 26-28 February: Ultra Johannesburg – Nasrec Expo Centre 27-28 February: Metal Feast 2016 – Rumours Lounge 2 April: Sowing the Seeds Music & Lifestyle Festival – Emmarentia Dam
Image: Gillian Coetzee
Lost&Found maps their way through the music scene JULIA BAIN Alternative country two-piece Lost&Found is the side-project of Glen Hodgson of The Parlotones and Jason Oosthuizen of Black Cat Bones. The band is currently recording an album that will feature a guest artist on every song. Perdeby spoke to Hodgson and Oosthuizen about the project. You didn’t start off with the intention of forming Lost&Found together. What led to the collaboration? Hodgson: Jason and I just found ourselves in the right place at the right time, and a catch up over coffee led us to start this thing. It just seemed like everything was pointing us both in this direction, and the timing was just right. Oosthuizen: [When] Glen started this project I was actually living in Los Angeles, so I wasn’t even in the country, and I think in life everything happens when it needs [or] wants to happen. I have known Glen for years and it really was a case of him giving me a call, [and] we went to News Café and now we have our first album coming out. As [they say in] Afrikaans: chop-chop! What was the most memorable part of the album’s recording process? Hodgson: Jason walking around every day in his underwear because he lost his shorts. But also, for me, having all the guest artists come in to do their parts was a very cool, memorable experience. Oosthuizen: For me it was amazing to be doing my thing for a change. In the past I’ve always joined bands and it remains [your] band’s thing at the end of the day. [Now] I got to write and do the me-and-Glen thing. This is our sound, our vibe and we made the decisions, so it was good to be as much a driver as a co-pilot, if that makes any sense. We also had many of our friends come in and [collaborate], which was so refreshing every single time. This has really been such a memorable and beautiful process and I am as proud of this record as can be. What was the experience like having a different guest artist for each track?
Hodgson: I really enjoyed it. It was pretty nerve-wracking because these are the musos I’ve admired for years, so for me it was quite intimidating having them there listening to my songs and [having] them play or sing on them. They would come in pretty much blind and just track on the spur of the moment, so nothing was really rehearsed and it kept the energy very exciting and spontaneous. Oosthuizen: It was such an amazing process. I have been lucky enough to work with the most of them before and they’re all friends of mine, so it was like having your brothers stroke a paintbrush on your favourite painting every day while in studio. Did you have a common thread in mind when choosing collaborating artists? Hodgson: [We] just bounced names off each other and made some phone calls. Most of the guys said yes in an instant, others declined. What was the inspiration for your single “Lost and found”? Hodgson: It’s a typical “finding yourself” kind of song. I was in a dark, destructive space and someone came along who healed me and showed me some direction. We helped each other out of our individual “rock bottom” situations. What are you expecting the reaction to be in response to the album release? Hodgson: So far [there’s] been a 99% positive response to the single, so I’m hoping for the same kind of response to the album. I know there will be haters, and I’m fine with that. I don’t expect everybody to like it. Oosthuizen: I think many people will like and relate to it, but you always [have] the odd person who will hate on it. [I’m] sure myself and Glen are both cool with that. I think in this day and age so many people are dealing with personal hard times that if this gets some of those people through their tough times and can lift their spirits a bit, then I’m happy. What are you hoping to achieve with this album? Hodgson: I have no expectations. I’m not trying to achieve
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. anything besides putting out a good, honest album that I’m proud of, and have the best time ever touring it around SA and the world. Oosthuizen: I just [want to] tour, see a happy crowd going crazy and have as much fun as I possibly can. Are you planning to do any future projects together as Lost&Found? Hodgson: I don’t think too far into the future, however I can tell you that we are thinking of starting a reality show about ourselves called Two Tattooed Guys and an Albino Boxer Named Slash – but let’s just get this album out of the way first.
1 February 2016 | Entertainment
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Entertainment to enrich your year
Image: Undertale.wikia.com
Undertale Toby Fox Image: GoodReads.com
THOMAS MARAIS Toward the end of 2015 a game was released, seemingly without any fanfare, which skyrocketed to the top of nearly every critic’s Game of the Year list almost instantly. Undertale is a game with a simple premise: you, a young human child, fall into the underground kingdom of the monsters, who were sealed there after a war against humanity. Surprisingly though, almost all the monsters are actually relatable, and for this reason the player is given the opportunity to spare the majority of your enemies, thus ending battles peacefully. Or you can kill the entire monstrous race. It is this choice that makes Undertale stand out from the crowd: the ability to progress through the entire game without taking a single life, where every single kill made is the player’s decision. This, combined with a host of colourful, endearing characters, makes the notion of killing abhorrent, and has raised debate across the internet about other games’ attitudes toward killing. As far as gameplay elements go, it seems rather simple at first. The graphics are reminiscent of 8-bit games like Space Invaders. The main gameplay loop consists of random battles with a turnbased combat system in which the player decides whether to fight or perform actions. These actions can range from complimenting a frog, flirting with a ghost, or posing during a battle with a very sexy killer robot, all of which have their own effect on the battle’s outcomes. During the opponent’s turn, things change into a “bullet hell” style mini-game, where white, orange or blue bullets are fired at the character’s soul, represented by a red heart. The player must then move this heart around a limited area in order to avoid the bullets. The bullets have about as much variety as the actions the player can take, from flexing arms, to bones which spell out “cool dude”, to spears flung by a captain of the royal guard. Special mention must be given to the game’s soundtrack. Toby “Radiation” Fox is a prominent composer, having written songs for a wide variety of projects, most notably contributing tracks to the hit webcomic Homestuck. Undertale’s soundtrack is a stroke of genius, with each track perfectly evoking the correct emotions during the scenes The game has a short yet poignant story with multiple endings. At several points during gameplay, the game uses its own mechanics to tell the story, to the extent where certain characters are aware of the “Save” mechanic. All in all, this is a fascinating game that proves that video games, as a medium, can indeed be art.
Books to fill up your year Image: DarkSouls3.com
Games to get you through 2016 AAISHA KALLIER Looking at some of the releases scheduled for 2016, it will certainly be an exciting year for gaming. With releases ranging from The Division to Mass Effect, there is definitely something for every type of gamer.. The Street Fighter series is one of the world’s most popular fighting games. Street Fighter V is set to be released for PS4 and PC on 16 February. Veterans of the game can expect a familiar art style, with vibrant graphics bringing the game to life. The Division, which will be released on 8 March for PS4, Xbox One and PC, is a highly anticipated third-person actionMMORPG (massively multiplayer online role-playing game). The game includes elements like deadly viruses, team missions and the choice to betray teammates at any point for self-gain. Keeping to its trend of semi-godlike difficulty, Dark Souls 3 is expected to be released on 12 April. Falling within the Souls series, it brings faster gameplay to its usual sword-and-shield combat, and the series finally makes the leap onto PS4 and Xbox One. Mirror’s Edge: Catalyst, releases on 24 May for PS4, Xbox One and PC. The game dynamics in this sequel remain similar to the gameplay of its predecessor. With elements of freeflowing parkour included once again, the game is fast-paced and fits well in the action-adventure genre. The action role-playing game Deus Ex: Mankind Divided combines first-person shooters, stealth and role playing elements, all held together by cyberpunk themes. This sequel to Deus Ex: Human Revolution is set to be available for PS4, Xbox One and PC. You can expect to get yourself a copy on 23 August. To end the year off, Mass Effect: Andromeda will be available to play in December. The game is the latest addition to the Mass Effect series and, like its predecessors, is an action, role-playing, third-person shooter game and will be offered on PS4, Xbox One and PC.
JARED BEUKES You’ve probably encountered the joys of reading, whether by way of Harry Potter, A Song of Ice and Fire, or the newly discovered articles in Playboy, and would like to take on the world of literature in 2016. But where to go next? Worry not, for Perdeby has compiled a short reading list for you, with titles readily available at the UP library and nearby bookstores. For the procrastinating philosopher: Essays by Michel de Montaigne Not only did Montaigne invent the form of the essay, but his models of it are among the best in literature. Set off by his curiosities and fascinations, he wrote many short, provocative, and entirely personal pieces on the complexities and charms of life. For political intrigue: Wolf Hall and its sequel Bring Up the Bodies by Hilary Mantel These historical novels show the political manoeuvrings that would give birth to England as a world power. The genius of Mantel’s fiction is in revealing to us what we thought we already knew by finely painting in details with her own insight and imagination. For political provocation: Nineteen Eighty-Four by George Orwell Orwell’s Animal Farm is a favourite high school setwork choice, which awakens us to the self-interest of the ruling classes. Nineteen Eighty-Four extends this vision, showing a government seizing control of people’s entire lives, and inspiring readers to enact justice against oppression. For historical insight: Telling Times by Nadine Gordimer This collection of stories and essays written by the South African Nobel Prize Laureate between 1954 and 2008 is a staggering document of South African history, fleshed out with clarity and passion. For the poetry lover: poems by Ingrid Jonker, Mongane Wally Serote, and N.P. van Wyk Louw These three South African poets reach dazzling heights of beauty and authenticity in their works, and are likely to move you deeply. For the escapist: The intimate township short stories of Es’kia Mphahlele, the vivid South African novels of Zakes Mda, and the deliciously gruesome short stories of Roald Dahl. Add to this list the domestic thrillers of Gillian Flynn, the comedic novels of Nick Hornby, the dark and gripping detective novels of Raymond Chandler and the fantastical science fiction of Frank Herbert, and you have a wide variety of books to keep you happy throughout the year. These are for those readers seeking diversion from the real world, and for those who are hunting for alluring feats of imagination and fantasy on the page.
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Fun and Games | 1 February 2016
Pssst... Even though Ienkmelodienk is thoroughly (and thankfully) behind us, Pssst… was still there to witness all the, uhm... “performances”, and Pssst… is as ready as ever to comment on them. Oh, Katjiepiering, had your Skerwe but kept their Ienk masks on to save them the embarrassment of showing their faces in public after that disastrous performance. Honestly Katjie, Pssst… was more entertained by the drunk Olienhout ex-HK sitting behind Pssst… than by your dancing. Pssst… is surprised that Lilium placed fourth. Pssst… thinks it’s really creative that Lilium chose a theme that so perfectly reflects their res: female prison. As for Taaibos, Pssst… is pretty sure they’ve never seen what a real sumo wrestler looks like. It’s called the internet, Taaibos. You know, that place where you go to look at … never mind. Pssst… would say that Luminous were missed at the event, but in all honesty, they weren’t. Arguably the loudest performance of the night was Madelief – and Pssst… does not mean that in a positive sense. Pssst… was so traumatised by the Knolle’s hollering that Pssst… had to run to the Musaion to snag some of the leftover wine from the VIP function. Olienhout surprised us all by doing the same moves they do every year and hoping it would help them win. Spoiler alert: it didn’t. As for Klaradyn, do you really think we all forgot Olienhout and Madelief’s Rag theme from two years ago? Speaking of stolen themes: Sonop, Pssst… knows that Katjiepiering’s serries are notoriously forgettable, but we both know that in 2013 they had basically the same theme (and James Bond backdrop) as your Ienk. Still on this topic, Tuks Bophelong not only dethroned the previously undefeated Tuks Naledi by being the only other mixed res
to compete, but they also had a very familiar mineworker theme (side-eyes Sonop). Nerina were too busy waving at their mommies in the audience to care about performing well and spent most of their stage time getting choreography prompts from their HK. Kollege were falling around and babbling incoherently – wait, is Pssst… talking about their Ienk or a Thursday night at Tennessee? Even Pssst… doesn’t know. Olympus informed us that their theme was top hat, so naturally they pranced onto the stage wearing bowler hats. Olympus, you had one job. Pssst… also wonders why nobody has thought to tell them that the meaning of “swinging” has changed? Awkward. Pssst… actually managed to like Magrietjie’s grannies theme, because Pssst… knows that old people take the best naps – sometimes they don’t even wake up. The Spikkels’ performance made Pssst… want to follow suit. As for Vividus Men: Minions, really? Pssst… thinks it must be really disappointing to finally reach university and be made to perform as characters from a movie made for five-year-olds. Shame on your serrie HK. In true Asterhof style, the Sterretjies performed an Ienk all about themselves. Their theme was “we can do it”, and whatever “it” was, you certainly did it, Asterhof. And to the Aster in the crowd with the “Asterhof #90” sign – congratulations! You accurately predicted Asterhof’s Ienk placing. Vividus Ladies ended up having a similar theme to Asterhof, just with less… Asterhof. Ah, Kiaat, you’re always a treat. Despite your banner being upside down for the entirety of your performance, you soldiered on, even though Pssst… really wished you wouldn’t. To top off an Ienk that played out like a badly made surrealist film, the Kiaat men performed “Gangnam style”, a song that is more dead than Pssst…’s morals. Erika’s “tribute to the airwaves” Ienk made Pssst… wish that
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Erika were actual radio stars, so that video could kill their performance. Pssst… would honestly rather listen to Jacaranda FM. Does Pssst… really have to say anything about Curlitzia besides the fact that they were beaten by Lilium? Pssst… has a tip for you, Kloekies: it was probably because of the awful Liam Neeson impression. Winning is something that Boekenhout takes very seriously, but it’s also something that they aren’t very good at. Of course, Pssst… knows that they won first place in the men’s category this year, but Pssst… also knows that this was probably because they had all their performers on stage at the same time for once. Starting to see a pattern, Ysters? The minute Inca announced that their theme was a surprise, Pssst… was ready to give up. Inca, your performance was not good enough to justify such fanfare. When Jasmyn took to the stage, Pssst… wasn’t paying attention, because Pssst… was too fascinated by their HK’s red hair. They’d be the perfect candidates for Pssst…’s new (fake) reality show, Home Dye Jobs Gone Wrong. Pssst… thinks that Maroela has no idea what Fight Club is really about. Perhaps Maroela needs to become more cultured and actually watch the movie (or, heaven forbid, read the book). Zinnia’s ‘60s Pixies theme was very entertaining, especially when they belted out that great ‘60s hit, “Shut up and drive” by Rihanna. Perhaps the Mopanie HK might be better off teaching the Peppies some manners rather than trying to teach them how to dance? Pssst… isn’t sure what travesties the new semester will bring, but Pssst… can only hope that you’ll send all your res gossip to pssst@perdeby.co.za, and that you’ll always watch your back.
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1 February 2016 | Sport
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Varsity Cup rugby breakdown
Image provided.
Ruan Steenkamp leads UP-Tuks into new season DYLAN JACK
Photo: Stefan Stander
THORISO PHASHA With Varsity Cup rugby around the corner, Perdeby takes a sneak peak at the teams and players set to rock this year’s edition. The 2015 season was nothing short of intense, with the University of the Free State (Shimlas) clinching the title by sinking the University of the North West (Pukke) 63-33 in a fantastic final. The Free State side have retained the services of the joint leading try scorers Daniel Maartens and Gerhardus Olivier. The two loose-forwards played an instrumental role in Shimlas’ 2015 triumph. The Central University of Technology (CUT Ixias) retained their spot in the competition despite finishing last season rooted to the bottom of the log. 2015 was a bad year for the then newly promoted Ixias, who lost all seven of their fixtures. They ended the season with a demoralising -333 point aggregate, conceding 57 tries in the process. CUT will be looking to redeem themselves as they go in search of their first ever Varsity Cup win. Another team that looked out of sorts last year was Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University (NMMU). They finished second from bottom with a solitary win that came at the expense of fellow stragglers CUT. The Madibaz have come close to making the final on two previous occasions, and perhaps this year might end their title drought, led by livewire scrum-half Ivan Ludick. Despite having never won the title, the University of Johannesburg (UJ) is a consistent threat in the Varsity Cup, exiting in the semis in 2013. However, UJ only managed to finish sixth on the log last year with three wins and four defeats, while surprisingly boasting the best defensive record in the tournament. This year they will look to the likes Aphiwe Dyanthi and Dominic Kroezen to add attacking flair to the team. The University of Stellenbosch’s (Maties) three consecutive
title triumphs from 2008 to 2010 may be long forgotten, as they have been struggling recently, but that does not discount them as title contenders this season. They came agonisingly close in 2014, only to be outdone by the defiant University of Cape Town (UCT Ikey Tigers) in a dramatic final. Maties finished the 2015 season mid-table with only three wins, but this year boasts a strong and vastly experienced forward pack which consists of loose-forward Justin Ben and lock Wilhelm Van der Sluys, among others. After enjoying a good 2015 run, the Ikey Tigers lost out in the semis to eventual champions Shimlas. The two-time winners are no strangers to Varsity Cup glory, however. Well known for their explosive attacking rugby, the Ikey Tigers scored 32 tries in last year’s competition. Open-side flank Jason Klaasen was a colossus for UCT, winning the “forward that rocks” award. Warren Seals, who scored an impressive 81 points, will also be looking to reprise his role in the fly-half position. UP-Tuks appeared to be overwhelming favourites heading into last year’s semis against NWU Pukke. They easily outmuscled Maties in the third round and gave a surgical performance against UJ, winning by 34-0. Despite all that domination, the Pretoria team was left lamenting after a major disappointment in the last minutes of the game. UP-Tuks had arguably the most menacing squad in the competition last year, but no such luxury will be afforded to them with many senior players having since moved on. They will have to make do without former captains Reniel Hugo and Wiaan Liebenberg, but the team will be well-represented by new captain Ruan Steenkamp, who leads with experience. Stalwart utility back Riaan Britz returns to the fray, alongside junior Springboks Tinus de Beer and Aston Fortuin. It will be a test of character for the relatively young and inexperienced squad, but they should do well under the watchful eye of head coach Pote Human.
UP-Tuks’ Diski woes continue
In the build-up to this yera’s Varsity Cup season, Perdeby interviewed former Springbok under-21 and current UP-Tuks captain Ruan Steenkamp to get his thoughts on the team and the upcoming season. Last season saw a heartbreaking defeat in the last minutes of a neck-and-neck semi-final game. Is there anything specific that the team has been working on to increase the chances of a spot in the Varsity Cup final? Yes, it was a very heartbreaking defeat for us, but like all disappointments you have to learn something [from] it. We pretty much have the same approach [with] slight changes here and there. A big focus for us is the set pieces, especially the scrum. The UP-Tuks team will see a selection of young talent take to the field this year, but also the return of experienced players such as yourself and Andrew Beerwinkel. How do you feel this combination will impact the team this season? I believe that if you are good enough, you are old enough. I think the youngsters bring a great energy to the team and that is vital in a rugby competition like the Varsity Cup. It’s also very important to have some experienced players just to bring that calm to the field. A number of rule changes have been introduced in the 2016 season, such as the 9-point try. How has the team been adapting to these changes? I believe that the fans want to see running rugby and the 9-point try will definitely motivate teams to play running rugby. However we’re not going to play high-risk rugby in our 22. If [the game is] on, we will play, but otherwise we will exit and [rather] apply pressure. We would, however, like to keep the ball in hand and score tries. How do you think the rule changes will affect the way that the competition will be played as a whole? I think teams are going to start playing high-risk rugby. If they pull it off it will be great, but if not, it will be points [scored] against them. It will be vital to know when to run and when to kick. You managed to get a taste of Currie Cup action for the Blue Bulls last season. As an experienced player, how do you hope to lead the UP-Tuks team this year? It has been a dream come true. I believe [I] have to keep it simple. Everybody on the field [should] know their role, so each player needs to focus on their role. I believe a captain has to lead by example and has to give everything to earn his players’ respect, and that’s what I will do.
Did you know... Images provided.
TAY LETHULOE The University of Pretoria, defending champions of the Multichoice Diski Challenge, have effectively ended their chances of defending their title. Their disappointing campaign continues as the Pretoria side linger in the middle of the log. UP’s uninspired form from the late stages of 2015 has carried over to the new year as they are yet to claim a single victory. They began the year with a 1-1 draw against Tshwane rivals Supersport United, which was followed by a 2-1 loss to Polokwane City at Loftus stadium a week later.
The side will have to regroup and produce some convincing performances against Bloemfontein Celtic and Golden Arrows to stand a chance of improving their league standings before the tournament concludes in March. The tournament serves as a flagship competition for South African football as 16 teams are pitted against one another. In partnership with the Premier Soccer League, the tournament focuses on the development of younger players. The winners will get four days of training at the Royal Netherlands Football Association, which will be an invaluable experience for the developing team.
The best jaffles in Pretoria can be found on the South Campus of the UP. Come and visit us on south campus. (Use the bridge at the Visual arts department to get to South Campus)
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VarsityCricket roundup: UP-Tuks twice as terrific TAY LETHULOE From 25-30 January the second edition of the Varsity Cricket tournament took place at the Senwes Stadium in Potchefstroom. For almost a week seven university cricket teams looked to dethrone the winners of the first edition of the competition and two-time Red Bull World Champions, UP-Tuks. The battle for a spot in the final was by no means predictable and had UP-supporters on the edge of their seats. The road to success began with a convincing log match win against NorthWest University (NWU-Pukke) in a reduced-overs match. A double header the next day had the defending champions come up against the University of Cape Town’s Ikeys and the University of the Free State, with the Pretoria team winning both fixtures. UP-Tuks faced their first obstacle on day two as they suffered a defeat at the hands of University of Stellenbosch (Maties). They were able to recover and comfortably beat Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University by 6 wickets before a second defeat against University of Johannesburg (UJ) in the final log round. After qualifying in third place for the semi-final, UP-Tuks were able to stay composed and pull off a comprehensive 55-run win against NWU-Pukke, before progressing to the final. The final presented itself as a mismatch with underdogs UWC surprising everyone. Former UP-Tuks cricket coach Pierre de Bruyn was confident before the game began and simply said, “It is going to be very hard to beat two-time world champions.” The world champions batted first and with contributions from Gerry Pike, who managed 45 runs off 48 balls, the innings was soon stabilized after the early loss of a wicket. When Jones managed over 50 runs UP-Tuks took their second Varisty Cricket title on Saturday. Photo: Saspa for the second time that day, with 56 from 35 Championship title for the third time in Sritournament. Both players made the Varsity balls, a competitive score of 174/5 was set for Lanka later this year. Cricket Dream Team, with Moore becoming UWC to chase. The Cape side was sent home The Pretoria side were unrelenting despite the leading wicket taker with 13 wickets to with a difference that dampened their spirits, the upsets and standout performances from his name. Jones was deemed the top batsmen restricted to 153/6 as UP-Tuks won by 21 runs. players like Vincent Moore and Evan Jones with 391 runs, including two 50s and the only This victory means that UP-Tuks will regain had the crowd on their feet throughout the century, which was scored in the semi-final. The their opportunity to reclaim their Red Bull World
inclusion of team cheerleaders also added to the overall atmosphere as they were competing for the Varsity Cheerleading title, where UP placed third.
New rules set to shake up Varsity Cup 2016 The commencement of the Varsity Cup on 8 February brings with it a few changes to the rules, following in the footsteps of the experimental nature of the tournament seen in previous years.
and their try will be nine points. In an interview with Network24, Springbok legend and University of the Western Cape Varsity Shield coach Chester Williams commented on the new rules. “The rules will force coaches to place greater emphasis on skills [rather than trying to] suppress,” Williams said.
The points
The scrum
A try will still be worth five points, but bonus points may be awarded to the scoring team depending on where the try-scoring move started. If the try-scoring team started the move between the half-way line and the opponent’s 22 m line, and they kept possession from start to finish, they will be awarded a further two bonus points and their try will be worth seven points. If the team that scored the try started the move from their own half and kept possession from start to finish, earning them four bonus points,
The instructions to set the scrum will now change to “crouch, bind, slide”. The way that the props bind into each other following the “crouch” will come with particular requirements, and the referee will only recognise a set bind position if there is no connection below the middle area of the ribs or onto another armpit. Once the referee is satisfied and the props are lined up ear-to-ear (and not head-to-head), the scrum-half will be given the go-ahead to feed the ball. “Slide” will then be called to indicate that front contact can now be made.
ZUKO QUSHEKA
Photo: Stefan Stander
The maul If a maul stops moving forward or moves in any direction other than forward, the referee will intervene and require that it starts moving forward again. The attacking team will then be given five seconds to get it moving again. If it cannot move, the referee will count aloud to three in which time the attacking team will have to produce the ball. Failure to do so will result in a scrum for the defending team. The white card: The white card review system, which was introduced in 2015, gives teams a limited opportunity to ask the referee to review a ruling. The system will only be used in the semifinals and final in 2016 and will be limited to one review per half per team. These new rules will only apply to the Varsity Cup and not the Varsity Shield, Koshuis Cup or the Young Guns competition, producing an interesting year of Varsity Cup rugby.
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