22 August Issue 16

Dr. Ian Erasmus

TANDARTS / DENTAL SURGEON

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

22August2011

year73issue16

Serenade ends on a sour note

Application form

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This week AfriForum put petitions, containing 7000 signatures, up on the gratti wall next to the Campus Kiosk.

The petition is to ght for mother tongue education. There were concerns last week that AfriForum were violating

South Africa’s Spring Awakening

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students privacy by posting their personal information in public. Charl Oberholzer, Chairperson of AfriForum Youth, said in response, “The petition went with a message to the university management and we invited them to go look at it.

Talking to the big guns

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The goal was not to show people’s private information and that is why it was removed so quickly. The goal was that the university would get the message.”

Photo: JP Nathrass

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22 August ’11

Is jy bang vir dinge wat loer?

From the Editor

www.perdeby.co.za perdeby@up.ac.za (012) 420 6600 EDITORIAL EDITOR-IN-CHIEF: Carel Willemse EDITOR: Beyers de Vos NEWS: Nina van Wyk news@perdeby.co.za FEATURES: Marie van Wyk features@perdeby.co.za RES UPDATE: Katlego Mkhwanazi resupdate@perdeby.co.za ENTERTAINMENT: Meagan Dill entertainment@perdeby.co.za SPORT: Charlotte Keuris sport@perdeby.co.za COPY: Hayley Tetley LAYOUT: Hickley Hamman VISUALS: Desré Barnard

TEAMS LAYOUT Camilla Coertse Celeste Theron Allan Le Roux JP Nathrass COPY Ruhan Robinson Caitlin Roberts Jaco Kotze Jenna-Lee Fortuin Mandisa Mbele Somarié Gravett Saneze Tshayana Nadine Wubbeling Yuan-Chih Yen Marissa Gravett

ADVERTISING SALES Cell: 083 318 9738 carel.willemse@up.ac.za

COPYRIGHT

Perdeby is printed by Paarlmedia. All rights reserved.

Contributions are welcome. All due care will be taken with materials submitted, but Perdeby and printers can not be held responsible for loss or damage. The editor reserves the right to edit, amend or alter material in any way deemed necessary. Perdeby can not be responsible for unsolicited material. The opinions expressed in Perdeby are not necessarily those of the editors and printers of Perdeby.

For counselling and guidance in an unplanned pregnancy, contact 0800 864 658 or go to www.adoption.org.za

Dear Tukkie My focus this week is on the elections and the “goings on” during the campaigning period. I encouraged you last week to make it an exciting time so as to ensure maximum participation.

However, your efforts and creativity must take place within the framework of the rules which are given in writing to all the participants. The Independent Electoral Committee (IEC) is the custodian of these rules and all participants are urged to familiarise themselves with them.

During the last two weeks, I have noticed that some structures have taken the liberty to embark on actions that have not been approved by the IEC. This cannot be condoned as it will lead to chaos, therefore compromise the integrity of the process. The rules are there to ensure fairness and equity as well as provide guidelines.

However, mature leaders do not even have to be reminded by the rules about the difference

Editorial

Here are two facts: bacon and cheese toasted sandwiches are the best post-Aandklas cures that have ever been devised. And writing an editorial is difcult to do in a slow news week.

The main problem with a campus newspaper, especially a weekly one, is that sometimes there just isn’t much that happens on campus. You

know, other than the usual sort of “this faculty got a new machine” and “this person is doing this research” generic news bytes which turn into pretty boring copy. And unfortunately for me (and fortunately for you, I suppose), UP doesn’t seem to be the kind of campus where helicopters crash land in our piazza or the ANCYL busses protestors in to disrupt the peace in the name of freedom (or something). The UP campus can sometimes leave you praying to whichever god(s) you believe in for something dramatic to happen.

This is, of course, the sort of crisis of conscience that creeps into any sort of news journalism. If I am sitting in my ofces and hoping for a breaking story, I am hoping for something bad to happen (not necessarily catastrophic or horric, mind you. But something signicantly out of the norm, dramatic enough to put in the news pages).

Of course, that comes with the territory: journalism conditions you to immediately react as a journalist. The tiny little moral dilemmas you experience every time you hear bad news and think “this will be front page” before you think of anything else (like “I hope everyone is okay”) is disconcerting and requires some getting used to.

Naturally, when you tell people this they accuse you of bad-news mongering, of focusing on the bad and not the good – a constant mantra accompanying news journalism. Anyone who makes decisions on what to put in the news pages and what to leave out of them immediately

assumes some responsibility for deciding what news in fact constitutes news. They’re effectively prioritising the news for the readers. A great power to have, and a dangerous one if it isn’t used properly, of course. But, that is a negligible fact when you remember that editors put stories in newspapers based on what people want to read.

Those decisions are not made in a vacuum. The audience, see, are what matters because they are what sell newspapers.

So that leaves me sitting in my ofce hoping that a helicopter will crash land on campus (don’t worry, everyone survives in this scenario) because that’s a story that will make the paper y off the racks because that’s the stuff people want to read.

Funny old world, innit?

Anyway, the news pages aren’t quite empty this week. There’s the ongoing saga of the feeding scheme being suspended and not being suspended, depending on who you believe (we set the record straight this week) as well as the story on how Madelief challenged the Serenade results. We also have a couple of fun features this week, so check those out. And this week we have a couple of interesting interviews with Colin Slade from the All Blacks and Beau Robinson from the Wallabies. Enjoy.

Insert happy ending here Beyers

Poll: Has the SRC done anything for you this year? Vote online!

Letter to the editor: keep up the good work I studied at UJ for two years before I came to Tuks. The UJ Observer (their almost non-existent student newspaper) not only had more than 50 spelling mistakes in one issue but they used multiple exclamation marks in their headings and in sentences in

the articles. The photos were all bad and they had lots of facts wrong, for example, calling The Red Hot Chilli Peppers, The Red Chilies Peppers and referring to Jim Hendrix.

The news was old and the only way to get a copy was to walk to the ofces and get it out

of a box outside the door. Perdeby readers can’t complain – they’re spoilt! Keep up the fantastic work.

Anonymous

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between right and wrong. They ought to have a right sense of judgement. We rely on you all to exercise the latter. That is the only way to ensure that our university retains its good image and pride.

The last election was marked by tolerance and mutual understanding among societies. This was a product of pre-election talks and debates on issues that affected students on campus. A memorandum of understanding was agreed on which all participating societies adhered to. We have had a similar meeting last week during which the following points were agreed on: i) Respect for each other, for example, campaigning material should not insult or mock national leadership of counter-parts ii) Focus on student issues, in order to avoid being side- tracked by national issues and external political battles iii) Focus on selling one’s own organisation and what it offers in the forthcoming election rather than run down other organisations iv) Organise

debate on issues to criticise so as to afford the organisations being criticised some space to respond and v) Refrain from racist statements or remarks even if they are subtly disguised in the language of culture. Participating societies were: Afriforum, Sasco, Pasma, Cope, TSCF and VF+.

Later, Daso which was not present at the meeting pledged its support for the agreements.

I would like to stress that these are at this stage, only points of agreement among the participating societies. They are yet to be adopted formally as a memorandum of understanding and that should happen during the course of this week. Thanks to our student leaders for their maturity. I appeal to the members of these societies to support this initiative.

Best wishes with your campaigning.

Prof McGlory Speckman

The views reected are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of Perdeby

Letter

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22 August ‘11

Letter to the Editor

The year from hell

This year appears to be the administration year from hell. It’s just one constant administration c**k-up after the other. As a fourth year at the University of Pretoria, I’m sure that many senior students will concur. Now don’t get me wrong, I love UP. If I had the option of going back to matric and had to choose again, I would chose UP again. I know of no other university in South Africa that has such beautiful and well maintained campuses, demands such a high level of academic excellence, a student life which is vibrant and the Square is one of a kind. However, when I have to deal with administrative issues on a day to day basis, I kinda [sic] lose my mind.

I think the question that is on everybody’s mind is “What the hell happened this year?”

I’ve heard a couple interesting theories as to why our administration performance has taken such an enormous dip this year, ranging from “The admin staff all got red last year and it’s a new bunch” to “UJ and UP have consolidated their administration” to my personal favourite “Admin is a bunch of drunks and druggies”.

Regardless of the reason, facts are facts and the fact is that admin has managed to screw up in every conceivable manner this year.

Firstly there was the three month long December holiday, which I admit was fantastic, but it made us start later than usual and rst semester as a result was one month shorter than

normal. Which would be ok most of the time, and in actual fact a cause of celebration if it wasn’t for the fact that lecturers either had to leave out half of the syllabus or had to rush through the course load in order to nish before exams. Which brings me on to the second colossal screw up of the year, our exam and semester test timetables. Not only did we write exams until the end of June (something that I, in my 4 years, have never experienced) not a single week went by without a semester test being written. And then to put the capper on it, we didn’t even get a decent break after the whole nightmare of the rst semester, 10 days holiday to be exact, if you include supplementary exam time. And nally, ClickUP, need I say more?

What was wrong with the old one? The new “improved” ClickUP is a one way ticket to the

nut house if you spend enough time on it. Let’s just say that if you don’t have the IT Department on speed dial by now then you haven’t spent enough time on it. The list could go on and on…but bitching just becomes boring after a while.

As students, we shouldn’t have to constantly deal with these things. University is about learning… the main thing that I have learnt this year is how to resist the urge to storm into the CSC and hit a staff member over the head to try knocking some sense into him or her.

So I guess thanks for that UP, you have prepared me for a career in government if I should ever choose to go that direction.

Perhaps if the SRC and Student Parliament stopped their constant bickering and pettiness, read their mandate and did their jobs us students wouldn’t have to deal with this s**t! Maybe

“You guys aren’t running a country, you’re not gonna change national legislation, in the big picture you guys are kinda insignicant so here’s some free advice: get over yourselves and start doing your jobs”

they never received the memo, so here it is: students don’t give a damn about your political alliances, who got elected unconstitutionally or not, which political party is the most represented in the SRC and student parliament and whatever else internal struggles you people may be having. All students want is a Student Representative Council (spelt it out in case you guys have forgotten what that stands for) and student parliament that represent the students and make sure the university doesn’t make the administration screw-ups that we are currently experiencing. Is that too much to ask?

Is that so difcult? You guys aren’t running a country, you’re not gonna [sic] change national legislation, in the big picture you guys are kinda [sic] insignicant so here’s some free advice: get over yourselves and start doing your jobs.

Here’s to the university’s administration staff, thanks a bunch for making the rst semester so, uhm… interesting. Can’t wait to see what you have in store for us this semester. Looking forward to it!

Anonymous Ed’s note: Both UP management and the SRC were invited to respond to this letter. Neither had sent Perdeby a response by the time of going to print.

This is an opinion. The letter above reects the views of an individual and does not necessarily represent the ofcial view of Perdeby or the personal opinions of any of the Perdeby staff.

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22 August ‘11

Feeding scheme not suspended KOKETSO DLONGOLO Perdeby would like to apologise for some of the inaccuracy in the article “Feeding scheme suspended” (15 August 2011). We would like to set the record straight by publishing the following letters from Prof. Speckman and SASCO.

Prof. Speckman, Dean of Students The Feeding Scheme falls part of schemes run the institution. The Dean of Students gives recommendation to the nance department for people to be in the program. A small amount is budgeted

by UP in order to help students from destitute backgrounds.

The criteria used to determine those students are the same criteria used by NSFAS but for the purpose of the scheme, we look even beyond the NSFAS criteria. Because funds are limited, some of the students who do not qualify at all come to plea with the Dean of Students and promise to improve their performance academically. They are then helped from the extra funds that the dean may be having.

This year the dean had more requests for accommodation especially from students who came from outside of South Africa and who cannot be helped by existing schemes. The dean helped with accommodation in addition to students he has helped in other ways. Consequently, there was no money to help an extra

group of students in the second semester.

Someone suggested that the SRC start a feeding scheme and the dean said instead of starting a feeding scheme, the SRC could make a donation in order to cater for the students.

It is true that at the beginning of the year, societies annually engage in admission campaigns for example, the Right to Learn Campaign, helped by UP with accommodation. They are never given any money in their hands for that purpose.

This year, the houses previously used, have been relocated and are not available. UP made arrangements with a boarding house linked with Tuks Res therefore the participants were housed there. The problem was not where they stayed but for how long they stayed there.

Its election time and I understand people will be trying to outwit each other. I don’t mind but they should not do so with factually incorrect information.

SASCO The South African Student Congress would like to respond to the recent allegations that were made in Perdeby which is indeed cheap, petty electioneering. The article, however, does not surprise us because we know the nature of the opportunistic Secretary General [Katlego Malatji] who we knew would jump at the chance to rubbish the name of SASCO without proper investigation into the matter. The mistake he made, however, was to think we will not respond.

The Right to Learn Campaign is a national campaign by SASCO which is funded by the university upon mutual consent between the two parties. Over the years we have met with senior management of the university in the form of Prof. de Beer and Prof. Grové, where we meet and reach an understanding of what is required from us and how management is willing to assist our Right to Learn Campaign. The university management has over the years given us accommodation in one of the residences of the university and also private accommodation where comrades stayed in Fairview and also part of the budget includes meals for people who work during the campaign, money for marketing material and in the past there was money for the phone.

The above mentioned assistance has been common practice over the years and Prof. Speckman is aware of that, though we know that the empty Secretary General, who is desperate for popularity, at the expense of SASCO might not be aware. This year we met with Prof. Speckman who told us that since Prof. de Beer is no longer involved in student affairs he is going to assist the campaign with accommodation and meals for the campaign.

The dean told us that since we refused to leave the house that we stayed in during the 2010 Right to Learn Campaign, we will not be accommodated in the same house and he would have to nd alternative accommodation, we requested to stay in one of the university residences as we have always been doing but the dean told us we can’t because Marga Zeelie told him that the university is understaffed at residences. Marga was then mandated to look for alternative accommodation.

All our efforts were in vain and we had to accept the lodge where we were of the understanding that the budget that has been used over the years will be used again. We accepted the lodge on the basis that the campaign was being strained by the lack of closer accommodation for the people working in the campaign and bearing in mind that Hotspot meetings are held from 08:00 am we needed a place where those who were working were closer to university. We had no alternative at the time and we could not compromise the campaign which has over the years assisted a number of students.

This year we had a huge success rate despite attempts to sabotage the campaign by the SRC who introduce their Mickey Mouse Hotspot Campaign which was an attempt to render SASCO useless but, however, the true voice of students will always prevail even in the face of adversity.

In conclusion we would like to say that we are disappointed by the level of opportunism displayed by the SRC. Who at the expense of the students want to rubbish the Right to Learn Campaign which has assisted a number of students who were in difcult situations, students who come to us with bags from as far as Eastern Cape, Limpopo, KwaZulu Natal and tell us that they don’t have a place to sleep and have no relatives and we as SASCO always make efforts to assist them.

The abovementioned 2010 revolt at the house we stayed in was not for our own selsh benet but for the students who stayed at the house after the university said that they cannot accommodate them and that there is no space, those students were about ten and because of the campaign but to shed light to the misguided article issued by Perdeby last week that we used the money from the feeding scheme. It is a lie …we rely on the university to assist us unlike the SRC who have their own budget and we are not apologetic about our campaign.

Tokologo Ngakane-Dempers SASCO Chairperson

News

Intercampus news Chaos at the University of the Free State On 17 August chaos broke out at the University of the Free State’s Bloemfontein campus after around 800 people, believed to be mainly ANCYL members, stormed the main building.

The group apparently protested against the fact that no political activities by outside groups will be allowed on the campus during the university’s SRC elections. They insisted that the rector, Professor Jonathan Jansen, be red. The Free State chairperson of SASCO, Manyene Lesapo, said, “He [Jansen] has burned political structures on campus.” Police intervened when white students and protesters, armed with sticks and stones and singing Kill the boer, started ghting over pamphlets that the group had scattered over campus. Leading the protest was the Free State ANC Youth League chairperson, Kgotso Morapela. He had to calm a small group of protesters after being interrupted with “Ag shurrup,” shouted by a student looking on. Apparently Morapela acknowledged the protest was illegal only moments before the interruption. Jansen said the university was worried about “thuggish behaviour” by outside groups invading the campus.

“An urgent interdict has been obtained and any further invasions by outside groups will lead to arrest.”

A word on social networks from Maties According to one Prof. Manuel Castells, Wallis Annenberg Chair of Communication Technology and Society at the University of Southern California, Los Angeles, social networks and social movements help to liberate people from oppression and to bring about change in society. Castells is also a Fellow of the Stellenbosch Institute for Advanced Studies (STIAS) at Stellenbosch University. He was the speaker at the eighth public STIAS lecture held on Tuesday 16 August. According to Castells, a new form of communication – mass self-communication – enabled ordinary citizens to connect with each other on a large scale, to organise in the public arena and to ght for change.

“The increase in the number of internet and cellphone users altered power relations, expanded social networks and gave social autonomy to civil society.” Castells also said that major technological revolutions change the lives of people and help them challenge existing power relations. “Those in power want to inuence the feelings and thoughts of others and try to determine their actions.” However, the internet gave people back their autonomy. In countries like Tunisia, Egypt and Syria, people used social networks to protest against oppression, exploitation and humiliation. “Through social networks, people connected with each other, society at large and the world. In this way, they were able to start revolutions in their respective countries.”

Wits health experts’ Nehawu demonstration results in interdict views on the NHI THEUNS VAN RHYN The Public Sector Union, Nehawu, is in hot water after having a public demonstration outside the regulations of the university’s disciplinary code. The university was given notice on Wednesday 10 August that Nehawu would be handing a memorandum to the vice chancellor on Friday 12 August.

According to the rules regarding gatherings or demonstrations by trade unions at the university, the relevant provisions of the Labour Relations Act and the recognition agreements with the unions must comply with the provisions of the internal policies of the university governing gatherings.

Executive Director of the university, Professor A M de Klerk, said that two weeks notice is required for an application to convene such a gathering in addition to complying with all other applicable requirements.

“Nehawu has been unwilling to abide by the rules and required procedures. This is a contravention of the institutional rules and a

breach of the disciplinary code of the university.”

Michele le Grange, Nehawu UP Branch Secretary, said that the purpose was to hand over a memorandum to the vice chancellor with concerns that needed his urgent attention.

“The handing over of the memorandum was peaceful, as Nehawu has disciplined and responsible members.”

The university obtained an urgent interdict from the Labour Court against Nehawu and its 580 members, prohibiting their participation in any industrial action on the premises of the university outside the provisions of the Labour Relations Act. “As a trade union we view the court interdict as very hasty and unnecessary,” le Grange said, adding that it is seen as a tool used by UP management to continue oppressing the black staff members.

De Klerk added that the university has consistently attempted to engage with Nehawu on any issues raised and will continue to do so within the framework of applicable legislation, institutional policy and rules and agreements with the unions.

Last week the National Health Insurance (NHI) green paper was released by Health minister Aaron Motsoaledi. The Minister explained the rst steps towards establishing the national health insurance as historic, saying that it will ensure decent healthcare.

This is a right that large numbers of South Africans, over many generations, have never known. The NHI is a nancing system that aims to ensure that all South Africans and legal residents are provided with essential healthcare, regardless of their employment status and ability to make a direct monetary contribution to the NHI Fund. The reactions to this have been varied. Wits Health Economist, Prof. Alex van den Heever in the School of Public and Development Management, health policy expert Prof. Laetitia Rispel and Head of the School of Public Health, Prof. Sharon Fonn have penned responses to the proposed plan. One of the concerns raised was that the healthcare industry and all South Africans still need more details after the government released the green paper.

Res Update

22 August ‘11

Pregnant in res? What to expect

Pssst... would like to advise students in res to leave their res jackets in their closets next time they go to Oppikoppi.

It’s bad enough that you embarrass your residences at the Square, now you want to give your res a bad name in front of thousands of people. It’s okay if you can’t remember what you did at Oppikoppi. Just know that Pssst... saw you, Olienhout and Magrietjie, staggering your way around the farm. You sure know how to uphold your residence’s name.

Pssst... thinks that TuksVillage should have a crèche or daycare facility. If you stay in TuksVillage, you’ll know why.

Pssst... wil die Kollege ouens herinner dat die Klaradyn leeutjies is nie `n toilet nie, en moenie as een gebruik word nie. While we are still on the toilet issue, it has come to Pssst...’s attention that there is illegal dumping happening in the female residences, more specically in the bathrooms.

Pssst... heard that someone in Asterhof felt that using the loo would require too much effort. So they did their business in the basin instead. Eers was dit Madelief, nou is dit Asterhof.

Exactly when did using the loo become complicated? So much for “trouvrouens”.

Speaking of the so-called “trou vrouens”, apparently Asterhof has a new hobby. Stealing food from fellow res mates for fun. Pssst... always knew there was something dodgy about these ladies.

Pssst... thinks Olienhout should man up. Hou op om die meisies soos hondjies te agtervolg. Daar is `n fyn lyn tussen om belang te stel en desperaat te wees. Julle het die lyn oorgesteek. Maar dis oukei, niemand verwag inelkgeval veel van julle nie.

Pssst... wants to know what lies Kollege fed Nerina because these girls are hooked. Pssst... heard about how you ladies have turned Nerina into a holiday inn. But it’s okay, it’s not like you have a reputation to worry about. Remember to name and shame them on our mobile site, m.perdeby.co.za

ZOE NGOMBANE There are a number of very serious issues that a student may be faced with during their time of study: the death of a friend or fellow resident, problems such as depression or nancial uncertainty. Pregnancy may be one of these very serious issues. It may not necessarily be taboo but there is no real way of knowing how the expecting mother feels walking the corridors of her res. So what happens if you fall pregnant while staying in res?

This year’s Serenade competition has been surrounded with a bit of controversy. It’s alleged that Zeus Ladies, who are the winners of Serenade, have broken a Serenade rule.

The runner-up, Madelief, brought the matter to light after Zeus Ladies were announced as the winners of Serenade 2011. According to Wynand du Plessis, Stuku Chairperson, Madelief’s concern was that Zeus Ladies had members in their Serenade who were too old to compete, according to the Serenade rules.

A meeting with all the stakeholders was then held on 18 August. The stakeholders present at the meeting were Prof. Roelf Visser (Director of Tuks Res), Prof. McGlory Speckman (Dean of Students), Madelief, Zeus and the SRC. “We ensured that we had all the information and facts from everyone before making a decision,” said du Plessis. Du Plessis explained that the Serenade rules were edited in order to allow residence students to participate for their residence even if they have left their residences. Before, students who had left res could only participate within a year after leaving res. But it has now been extended to three years. It was concluded at the meeting

The Residence Affairs and Accommodation TuksRes Guide states that the pregnant student can continue staying in res until the 34th week of pregnancy. But after that she needs to organise alternative accommodation. The pregnant student can keep her room vacant until the baby is born. However, the student will still have to pay the normal accommodation fees for a period of three months or the room will be given to someone else.

“The policy shouldn’t encourage the students to get pregnant.

Instead, it should support the student,” said Bes Liebenberg, Coordinator of Student Support for Residences.

The university assigns a coordinator to the pregnant student to support her and to provide the necessary information to enable her to make an informed decision about her pregnancy.

The coordinator’s job, apart from offering emotional support, also includes informing the student about healthcare options, alternative accommodation and issues like HIV/Aids. Students also have access to Student Support services at the Student Affairs Building at absolutely no cost. Student Support also offers counselling for the father of the baby if he is a student at Tuks.

Perdeby spoke to two HKs from Huis Erika, Adila Jallae and Mine Labuschagne, about the dynamics of having one of their own fall pregnant.

“We are a close group of girls and we do not discriminate against each other no matter the circumstances but even so, girls aren’t forthcoming about pregnancy,” said Adila Jallae.

“But when we do nd out there is someone pregnant, we give her our full support,” said Jallae. Mine Labuschagne added, “The HKs don’t have to know about someone’s pregnancy. She doesn’t have to tell us, but by university rules, she has to tell the house parents and that’s who we nd out from. We help to better handle the situation and to offer support and nonjudgement at all times to make her comfortable.”

Shalita Magerman, the administration assistant at Student Support for Residences, said: “Some of them are very vulnerable and embarrassed because they are young and sometimes get rejected by the fathers of their unborn children, but we offer counselling to help them through the ordeal. We are here to help. The support system makes sure these girls are treated well while they are here, regarding health and we make sure they have a place to stay.”

Image: Ester van Eeden

Serenade finishes on sour note

KATLEGO MKHWANAZI

5

that Zeus Ladies didn’t break any rules. “Zeus Ladies are the fair and nal winners of Tuks Serenade 2011,” said du Plessis. However, “Madelief will receive the highest possible amount of marks for Serenade that will count towards residence of the year, seeing that they were the best residence in the female category of this competition,” explained du Plessis.

“People should make sure that the rules are known,” said Barend van der Schyff, Zeus Chairperson. “I haven’t heard of a year where a res won and there were no complaints. It becomes unpleasant when people complain and Serenade is supposed to be fun,” added van der Schyff.

“There is always some unhappiness from the residences/day houses who did not win after an important competition such as this. Again, we are not here to judge or disregard any query a student may have. We will always try our best to accommodate the student(s) in whatever concern they may have,” said du Plessis. Zeus Ladies and Boekenhout will represent Tuks at the ATKV “Universiteite Ser” on 3 September.

Du Plessis said that students should expect the highest quality Serenades from across the country.

Photo: Esther van Eeden

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22 August ‘11

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6 Application

Features

22 August ‘11

7

Political correctness, corrected NOLWAZI MNGADI Have you ever started saying something and then worried about it being too insensitive, homophobic, racist or sexist? Political correctness seems to be ruling the way people interact with each other through all spheres of life. Gone are the days when one could call a spade a spade. When did the concept of political correctness start and how has it changed the way we see the world and function in society?

Political correctness, although it became more widespread in the time period between the 1960s and 1980s, is an idea that has been around since the First World War. In his book An Accuracy in Academia Address, Bill Lind comments that political correctness can be compared to classical Marxism. Lind uses the example of the oppression of women to illustrate his argument. According to Lind, people, by treating the oppression of women as something that was never part of our cultural history (by skirting around the issue, so to speak), are denying that the reality ever existed, unjustly creating a taboo topic that should, ideally, be acknowledged openly In the 1970s and 1980s, the object of political correctness was an attempt to put an end to racism, sexism, homophobia and other offensive behaviours through language that treated everyone equally.

What this did was seemingly ignore the fact that, before the 70s and 80s, people were civil to each other despite the absence of these rules. But, more and more, there is a danger that society is swinging toward the other extreme: language that limits freedom.

Novelist Robert Price comments that, “We [may] now [be] moving into a draconian phase in which political correctness might be viewed as hindering progress and even removing some of our basic rights of freedom of speech.” While removing certain words from the socially acceptable lexicon will to some extent lessen the amount of discrimination against certain groups, this removal, at times, seems redundant and may even magnify the discrimination by intentionally creating the idea that certian groups can’t be spoken about honestly.

In his article, Price comments that the overuse of politically correct language is leading to a clone society, where the deletion of certain words will eventually lead to children not appreciating which words to avoid. This idea of a clone society may end up preventing free speech altogether.

In another article on the subject, Bill Lind notes that by using politically correct language to refer to certain groups, we as society are treating them as victims. These groups include, among others, blacks, Hispanics, homosexuals and the homeless. He states that when someone is treated as a victim, they can do no wrong and by walking on eggshells around these groups they will always be seen as victims of the “oppressor”. Lind writes that by giving people the victim status, they are then relieved of all personal responsibility, and every wrongful act on their part is merely the fault of all those who have discriminated against them. Homeless people, for example,

are then given leeway to refrain from bettering themselves because it is the “responsibility of the government” to make sure that these people are given jobs, food and shelter.

Politically correct language demands that we all behave in a way that offends no one, but that implies that we should accept the politically correct as truth. And in a country like South Africa where politics is so susseptible to interpretation and doubt, can we really afford to accept the politcal correct just becuase we are too scared to offend someone, if the price of that sacrice is the truth?

Illustration: Joachim Lubbe

Die rooi L op die agterruit

MAGDALEEN SNYMAN Met daai tweedehandse Volkswagen Golf in jou gedagtes en `n groot rooi ‘L’ op die agterruit, gaan jy jou eerste bestuursles binne. As jy `n rugged-renjaer-tipe ou verwag het om jou te leer bestuur, gaan jy teleurgesteld wees. Die instrukteur sal tien-teen-een `n woordeskat gebruik wat nie by die Sondagskool toegelaat word nie en een sigaret per kilometer rook. Berei jouself ook voor om sielkundige te speel, want vir die volgende maand of twee gaan jy skinderstories oor kliënte, vriende en skoonma’s moet verduur terwyl jy gelyktydig op die pad moet konsentreer.

As jy, soos meeste leerlingbestuurders, nie `n kar het om mee te oefen nie is dit geen probleem nie. Doen miskien net `n paar lunges elke aand om jou linkerbeen voor te berei op die koppelaar wat al so moeg is vir leerlingbestuurders dat hy terug druk wanneer jy hom intrap. Maak seker jy’t `n hoed en `n sonbril byderhand, want die

dag wat jy in Lynnwoodweg afry in `n kar met 700 Learner-plakkers op, sal die dag wees wat jy elke persoon wat jy ken sien.

Moet egter nie bekommerd wees oor wanneer die instrukteur jou sommer dadelik op `n pad vol karre laat ry nie. Jy gaan leer om ongeveer 40km per uur te ry vir jou lisensietoets, so die enigste regte gevaar is dat iemand jou vir `n stilstaande voorwerp mag misgis.

Maak nie saak hoeveel L’e daar op die kar is nie, die vrou in die BMW agter jou gaan vir jou toet, lelike handseine gooi en alles in haar vermoë doen om jou te laat sleg voel wanneer jou kar vrek. Vat maar `n asmapompie saam, want jy gaan waarskynlik een of ander tyd agter die grootste vragmotor met die meeste uitlaatgas in Pretoria beland, en nie vinnig genoeg al jou kyke kan doen en versnel om hom verby te steek nie. Maak jou ook maar reg vir `n nekspasma, want om jou lisensie te slaag moet jy oral behalwe voor jou op die pad kyk.

Helfte van die lisensietoets bestaan uit parkering. Dit word

agteruit gedoen, presies die teenoorgestelde as wat jy doen wanneer jy uiteindelik jou lisensie het, en elke bestuurskool het `n geheime kode wat jy daarvoor moet onthou. Die feit dat daar eendag wanneer jy buite Pick `n Pay gaan parkeer, nie twee meter lange wit paaltjies gaan wees nie, is nie relevant nie.

Perdeby het by `n paar studente gaan uitvind wat vir hulle meer relevant sal wees om te leer in `n lisensietoets.Volgens tweedejaar joernalistiekstudent, Stephan Scholz, sal die lisensietoets meer relevant wees as dit jou leer hoe om `n “pastei of jam fold-over in jou mond hou. Dít terwyl jy albei hande van die stuurwiel af het omdat jy sukkel om jou klein melkie oop te maak, want daar is so `n weird stuk plastiek wat dit toe hou.” Volgens eerstejaar omgewingswetenskappe student, Cornel Claassen, is dit belangrik vir die toetsbeampte om vir jou roereier en roosterbrood te gee en jou dan in die middestad te laat ry: “Jy mag nie mors of die kar stamp nie,” verder voel hy ook: “As jou rims nie groot genoeg is nie mag jy nie jou lisensie kry nie.” Derdejaar spraakterapiestudent, Doret Niemandt beweer dat dit `n kuns is om met vals naels te bestuur en vir die ware toets beveel sy aan dat mens in spykerhakke en `n kort rompie op die snelweg moet kan ry. `n Nare drieletterwoord wat jy nie uit die toetsbeampte se mond wil hoor nie is: rol. Dit gebeur binne `n sekonde en is amper onmoontlik om te voorkom. As jy jou lisensie in die Vrystaat gekry het, het jy moontlik nog nooit die term gehoor nie. Dit is wanneer jy teen `n opdraende staan en jou kar (al is dit net `n halwe millimeter) agtertoe beweeg voor jy die petrol trap om vorentoe te gaan. In die geval sal die gemene toetsbeampte jou dadelik druip.

Wanneer jy `n leerlingbestuurder is, is toetsbeamptes meer beroemd as lmsterre. Al jou vriende gaan jou vertel van die een wat oulik was by daai toetsstasie en daai een wat hom onregverdig laat druip het by `n ander. Natuurlik is daar altyd `n vriend van `n vriend se niggie, wat haar lisensie met `n bottel Whiskey gekoop het by `n toetsstasie waarvan jy nog nooit gehoor het nie. Al dink jy dis `n skande, begin jy na die eerste keer wat jy gedruip het wonder of dit nie `n verskil sal maak as daar volgende keer toevallig `n bottel met `n strik om op die agtersitplek lê nie... `n Faktor wat baie mense glo `n groot invloed het op of jy druip of deurkom, is wáár jy die toets gaan doen. Hoe kleiner die dorp, hoe groter is jou kans om deur te kom. Name soos Volksrust, Pofadder en enige plek waar jy die hoeveelheid verkeersligte op een hand kan tel, is wenners. Nog `n wenk is om `n dorp te kry wat so klein is dat die enigste plek waar jy kan oefen op die toetsbaan self is, byvoorbeeld Potchefstroom.

Met `n mooi geboude kuit, gewapen met `n hoed en `n sonbril, in die middel van nêrens, wannneer jy daardie klein plastiekkaartjie kry, maak dit alles die moeite werd, selfs die rooi L op die agterruit.

Foto: Esther van Eeden

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22 August ‘11

Features

Leuens, kamera, aksie MAGDALEEN SNYMAN

Daar is min dinge so lekker soos om jouself vir `n uur of twee in `n goeie iek te verloor. `n Bietjie verbeelding maak vir `n lekker storie, maar soms rek Hollywood die waarheid net te ver.

Perdeby het besluit om `n paar van die algemene leuens wat ieks as waarheid aanbied vir julle oop te vlek.

Keer die vliegtuig!

Die liefde van sy lewe het na `n tranerige totsiens lughawe toe vertrek om na die ander kant van die wêreld te vlieg. Met net genoeg tyd oor om haar te vang soos sy haar kaartjie laat skeur, besef die held dat sy die een vir hom is. Hy hardloop deur die skare, veg met sekuriteit en gooi tasse uit die pad tot hy haar kan sien. In die werklikheid hardloop mense baie selde in lughawens, nie net omdat daar skare mense is nie, maar ook omdat dit redelik verdag sal lyk. Sekuriteit is ook heelwat beter opgelei as wat die ieks voorgee, gewapen, en daar is meer as een van hulle om jou vas te keer.

“Speak now or forever hold your peace...”

Die enigste tyd wat `n mens iemand kan keer om met die verkeerde persoon te trou is die paar sekondes nadat die predikant dié bekende sin ge-uiter het. In die werklikheid het haar pa duisende betaal vir die rok, die blomme en die onthaal.

Familie en vriende het kilometers gery om by die seremonie te wees en dit mag dalk net jou toekomstige skoonouers ontstel as jy die hele gedoente omver gooi. As jy regtig die bruid of bruidegom wil keer “om die grootste fout van hulle lewe te maak”, behoort daar meer as genoeg geleenthede te wees om `n minder dramatiese gesprek te hê lánk voor die seremonie.

Jou boek, sy hand...

Wanneer jou boeke op die grond val sal die ou of meisie op wie jy verlief is skielik verskyn en jou help om dit op te tel. Julle sal die laaste boek gelyk probeer optel en soos julle hande raak sal julle oogkontak maak en bloos.

In die werklikheid is studente haastig en het nie tyd vir boeke help optel nie, omdat hulle gesukkel het om parkering te kry en dus klaar laat is. Jou selfoon en taak wat jy net-net betyds gedruk het sal deur die lug trek, kennis maak met `n plas water en dan vuil getrap word deur `n groot groep mense. Jy kan nie jou taak met `n nommer nege skoenafdruk as voorblad ingee nie, so jy mis klas om nog een te gaan druk om in te gee, en oppad huis toe besef jy dat jou selfoon nou vries wanneer jy op Facebook gaan.

Sy been is gebreek? Gee hom CPR As dit by ieks kom, werk CPR vir alles, van motorongelukke tot longontsteking. Volgens ieks moet `n gespierde lewensredder `n slagoffer net `n soen vol asem gee om hulle te laat wakker word. Die waarheid is egter dat CPR werk deur suurstof in die longe in te forseer en soms die hart weer ritme te gee, maar wanneer die persoon klaar bewusteloos is, gaan dit geen effek hê nie. Verder is CPR nie so lekker soos dit op die grootskerm lyk nie. In baie gevalle kan die slagoffer se bors beseer, sy ribbes gekraak of selfs die longe beskadig word, en die prosedure werk slegs in 4% van alle gevalle.

Skiet my, maar net nie in die bors nie As jy al ooit `n aksie-iek gekyk het, is jy seker onder die indruk dat solank die koëel jou arm of been tref jy nie net sal oorleef nie, maar `n oorlogswond letsel sal hê om vir almal te wys. Die waarheid na `n skietvoorval is egter dat dit senuwees beskadig wat kan lei daartoe dat jy nooit weer jou arm behoorlik

kan gebruik nie. Studies wys dat party gevalle waar iemand in die been geskiet is, lei dit tot lewensbedreigende bloedverlis, weens al die are wat bo die knieskyf verby loop. Dus, die enigste plek waar jy geskiet kan word sonder om langtermyn gevolge te hê is die boud, waar geen belangrike senuwees voorkom nie en daar `n lekker laag vet is om die koeël te rem.

Net sekondes om die wêreld te red Daar is `n bom wat gaan ontplof en soos wat die iek aangaan word die sekondes al hoe minder. Na gevegte en roekelose bestuur van formaat kom die helde uiteindelik op die bom af.

Vyf, vier, drie, twee, knip! Die goeie ouens wen! Maklik nè?

Ongelukkig het bomme in die werklikheid nie horlosies op wat met `n angswekkende getik die sekondes aftel nie. Baie bomme het ook nie drade wat geknip moet word nie en meeste mense is slim genoeg om nie hulle bomme in `n groot kapsule in die vyand se hoofkantoor op te stel nie.

Illustrasie: Gustav Reyneke

Vloeke in die vermaaklikheidswêreld

CHRIS VAN DER MERWE Elkeen van ons het al `n ervaring of twee gehad waar dinge ongemaklik onheilspellend raak. Deure slaan toe op lukrake oomblikke, ligte gaan aan net om `n paar sekondes later weer af te gaan en misterieuse klanke word in gange gehoor. Toe sterf Amy Winehouse: nog `n bekende persoon met `n twyfelagtige lewenstyl wat op die ouderdom van 27 oorlede is – dit was al wat nodig was vir `n bietjie navorsing van Perdeby se kant af…

Die 27-klub Hierdie vloek is redelik selfverduidelikend, maar vir diegene onder julle wat bietjie sukkel om die konsep te begryp, hier is waaroor dit gaan: `n reeks musikante is almal op die ouderdom van 27 aan beweerde dwelmmisbruik oorlede. Gerugte laat dit

blyk dat alles begin het met Robert Johnson, `n blues sanger en musikant. Daarna het hierdie vloek verskeie groot name in die musiekbedryf geëis. Eerste na Johnson was Brian Jones, kitaarspeler en stigter van The Rolling Stones, na hóm was dit Janis Joplin en daarna `n hele reeks musikante, insluitende Jimi Hendrix en Kurt Cobain. Die nuutste toevoeging tot die 27-klub is natuurlik Winehouse, wat op 23 Julie oorlede is – maar kritici het gemengde gevoelens oor of sy verdien om deel van die klub te wees of nie.

Atuk In 1970 is die draaiboek van die iek Atuk geskryf. Dit het gehandel oor `n Eskimo wat oorgewig was en in die stad probeer oorleef het. Die draaiboek is geskryf met `n spesieke akteur in gedagte: John Belushi. Belushi het die rol aanvaar en terwyl hy

besig was om voor te berei vir die rol is hy dood aan `n oordosis van kokaïen en heroïen. `n Paar jaar later is die draaiboek aan `n nuwe akteur, Sam Kinison, gegee. Kinison het egter na net `n halwe dag die draaiboek teruggegee en gesê hy hou nie van die manier hoe dit geskryf is nie. Kinison is twee jaar later in `n motorongeluk oorlede. Die skrywers van die draaiboek was nog nie gereed om die iek te laat vaar nie. In 1993 is die rol aan John Candy aangebied, maar Candy is dood aan `n hartaanval terwyl hy die draaiboek gelees het. Hierna is die draaiboek uiteindelik weggebêre en nie weer aan `n ander akteur aangebied nie.

John Lennon en die nommer 9 Almal ken die musiekgroep, The Beatles en hul voorman, John Lennon. Lennon het `n obsessie gehad met die nommer 9 en hy het daarop aangedring dat hierdie nommer vir hom geluk gebring het. Wanneer mens terugkyk na Lennon se geskiedenis, kom jy `n paar vreemde goed agter. Lennon is gebore op 9 Oktober 1940 in Liverpool, waarvan die woord 9 letters het. The Beatles is op 9 November 1961 gestig en hulle eerste verskynsel op The Ed Sullivan Show, `n Amerikaanse TV-program, was op 9 Februarie 1964. The Beatles het na 9 jaar opgebreek. Lennon het Yoko Ono op 9 November 1966 ontmoet. Hulle seun, Sean Lennon, is 9 jaar later gebore op 9 Oktober, Lennon se verjaarsdag. Lennon is doodgeskiet 9 jaar nadat hy na New York getrek het en hy is dood verklaar teen 11:07, wat saam na 9 toe optel. Die datum van sy dood was 8 Desember in New York maar 9 Desember in Liverpool, waar hy gebore is.

Die Playboy-vloek Hugh Hefner, die Playboy-hasies en daardie uitvoumiddelblaaie. Dit is die drie goed waarvoor hierdie tydskrif waarskynlik die beste voor bekend is. Deur die tydskrif se bestaan was daar al menigte dames wat op hierdie middelblaaie verskyn het. Die vreemde ding is egter dat 25 van hierdie modelle al gesterf het. Die eerste was Marilyn Monroe, daarna was dit Jayne Manseld en die nuutste slagoffer van hierdie vloek was Anna Nicole Smith, wat in Februarie 2007 oorlede is. Daar is ook gerugte dat elkeen van hierdie slagoffers êrens in hulle lewens iets met Anton Lavay, die stigter van die Kerk van Satan, te doen gehad het. Hierdie gerugte is nooit bevestig nie en dit sal tien-teen-een ook nooit bevestig kan word nie...

Photo: Gerhard Louw

Entertainment

9

22 August ‘11

South Africa’s Spring Awakening KIRSTI BUICK AND MEAGAN DILL The Tshwane University of Technology (TUT) has just recently nished a successful run of the hit Broadway musical, Spring Awakening. Just before the run began Perdeby took some time out with director Dr Harold Mortimer to chat about the production’s journey from inception to nal product.

How did you become involved with the production?

I became involved because I was a Fulbright Scholar with TUT four years ago and that programme is something that brings faculty, teachers [and] artists from the United States to universities all over the place. I was able to teach there for six months in 2008 and every year since then I’ve tried to come back and do something with them. I’ve had a great relationship with them the past four years. While I was up here with a couple of students last year, they [TUT] asked me if I’d like to direct the production. The rest, as they say, is history.

What was the production process like?

When I came back we did auditions. The students were great – we actually made the cast a little bit larger than the show calls for. I doubled up wherever possible. We have a cast of about 25, 26. We got all the music learnt and the Grahamstown Festival came up – one thing I haven’t seen in all the time I’ve been here – so we went to see that and we used the week or so there to learn lines. When we came back, holiday was going on, so we took the time to rehearse during the day and be leisurely. As soon as the holiday was over, we started evening rehearsals. They put a lot of hours in, we rehearsed at least ve or six times a week, for three or four hours. We didn’t have very long to rehearse. About two months.

Why was this production in particular chosen?

It has had such a pivotal mark in Broadway and musical

theatre history. It has so much contemporary music, a pop/ rock combination. It won so many Tony Awards and it just offers such a new, fresh way to get the music out there. It was based on a controversial play from 100 years ago, so you can imagine, after 100 years, it’s not as controversial anymore. It features so many young people which makes it perfect for a college or university because the roles are similar to their own age. It covers a storyline that is easy for them to relate to.

Although Spring Awakening is set in Germany, in your director’s notes, you talk about the South Africanisation of the content of the play. How have you localised it?

Well, now that we’ve seen the costumes, there’s a school uniform which certainly looks like a high school uniform from South Africa. But basically, I wanted to make sure that we included an atmosphere of a different life. Because the storyline is so universal – in my director’s note I said that it wasn’t my intent to South Africanise it, but certainly, because it’s been done in so many different languages, there is no need for a whole bunch of people trying to sound like they’re American. They’re actually trained to kind of imitate that accent – my accent – so as soon as they were able to speak how they really speak, it just eased up their bodies. So in the show you’ll hear a lot of their own language, where it needs to be more intense emotionally. Also, we chose to have a baobab painted on to the back wall of the stage, kind of to a “ying and yang”effect.

It sounds like you’ve been quite creative with the show, so it’s not just a carbon copy of the Broadway version?

No, denitely not. I actually didn’t get a chance to see the show on Broadway. So there are some things that [are] similar because of the text and everything, but there are other aspects that are totally different. The choreography in particular is very original.

Image: Garth Collins

Calling all couch potatoes LISA DE KLERK Is the mediocrity of Idols VI getting you down? Are you taking the axing of Desperate Housewives badly? Does Private Practice not compare to Grey’s Anatomy? Relax. Close the tab on your The Simpsons reruns and get back on the couch. Some tantalising titles are heading for the South African small screen.

A royal mash up LUSANDA FUTSHANE The wait is over. Kanye West (fresh from his My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy high) and Jay-Z (still retired from retirement) have nally surrendered their keenly anticipated collaborative effort Watch the Throne to the public. After a year of teasing and false release dates, it seems like fans will nally be rewarded for all their waiting.

The opening track “No Church in the Wild” sells the album within the rst few seconds. “Human being to the mob / What’s a mob to a king? / What’s a king to a god? / What’s a god to a non-believer / Who don’t believe in anything?”, so sings Frank Ocean, who is featured in the song. These and many other lyrics are characteristic of the album’s audacity. Both Jay-Z and Kanye West’s styles are clear and unadjusted on every track, yet they remain compatible. Look out for “Otis”, “Gotta Have It” and “Welcome to the Jungle” – obvious winners. Skip through the uncomfortably experimental “Who Gon Stop Me”.

Smart and quotable lyrics peppered with social commentary and creative beats are this album’s main selling-point. The dark references in the songs and the imagery in the CD booklet will also keep fans busy with Illuminati rumours. Above all, the marriage of Jay-Z’s measured rhymes with Kanye West’s reckless bragging is interesting to observe, lending some unpredictability to each verse.

Expectedly (and disappointingly) most of the songs are produced around samples, something both of these artists should have outgrown a while ago. The only other complaint would have to be about the album’s lack of cohesion – at the end, all these well-meaning songs seem to wander in distinctly different directions. However, as hip hop continues to teach us: sometimes, the absence of a message is the intended message.

Image: whatsgoodington.com

Now showing: The Borgias This ctional historical series is based on the notorious Borgia family, an Italian dynasty of Spanish origin that controlled the papacy during the late 1400s. The series captures all the elements surrounding the actual corruption of the Catholic Church during this period. Expect a mess of scheming, simony (the buying and selling of church ofces), sex, feuds and murder. It’s rather like an Italian version of The Tudors. The costumes and scenery of old Rome are exquisite but lead actor Jeremy Irons steals the show. Though the storyline is intriguing, it would denitely not be able to captivate an audience without Irons’s mastery and a strong supporting cast. Just to emphasise this fact, the tagline on the series’s promotional posters is “Jeremy Irons is Pope Alexander VI”. Enough said.

The Borgias premiered on Mnet on 9 August. Start catching up now on Tuesdays at 22:00.

Coming soon: Game of Thrones Be excited. Be very, very excited. HBO has created yet another masterpiece for us to devour. Game of Thrones is based on the rst book of George RR Martin’s fantasy series A Song of Fire and Ice. For lack of a better comparison, expect a more-medieval-than-fantasy version of The Lord of the Rings, where characters are killed off indiscriminately. Watch the noble families of the mythical seven kingdoms of Westeros battle it out for the Iron Throne. The series was signed for a second season only two days after its overseas premiere and has garnered 13 Emmy nominations. The pilot reportedly cost HBO between ve and ten million dollars and the total budget for the rst season has been estimated at between fty and sixty million dollars. Thus, the production value is eye-popping. Audiences are also spoiled with the acting skills of Sean Bean, Peter Dinklage, Lena Heady and Mark Addy. Eye candy includes new Conan the Barbarian star Jason Momoa and the broody Kit Harrington.

Game of Thrones premieres on Mnet on Monday 26 September at 21:30.

Due in 2012: Terra Nova Steven Spielberg is the executive producer: that should already

whet your appetite. The year is 2149 and all life on earth is threatened with extinction. In an effort to save the human race, scientists develop a time machine that sends people back 85 million years to prehistoric Earth. The Shannon family joins a pilgrimage of settlers to Terra Nova, the rst human colony on the other side of the time portal. Unbeknown to them, Terra Nova is set in the heart of a territory lled with hungry dinosaurs. The series stars Band of Brothers actor Jason O’Mara. It’s become clear that a new type of series is developing: the blockbuster series. Terra Nova cost roughly four million dollars per episode, and visual effects editing has repeatedly set back its release date.

Science-ction fans will denitely not be disappointed.

Terra Nova premieres on Mnet in early 2012.

Image: mediadotovedotcybermage.se

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22 August ‘11

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22 August ‘11

London Riots: how do they affect London 2012?

CARLO COCK When a small group of protestors took to the streets of Tottenham, London on the night of Saturday 6 August, few could have predicted the chaos that ensued in the next few days. These protesters were angered by the killing of alleged gangster Mark Duggan by London police two days earlier. The police’s seeming lack of ability to diffuse the situation and control rioters in what ended up being nationwide unrest came as a surprise to many.

What started out as a peaceful protest outside Tottenham Police Station that afternoon, mostly by friends and family of the 29-year-old, escalated into a full-on riot by youths, gangsters and yobs. That night saw 26 police ofcers injured and four hospitalised as cop cars were torched, shops trashed and looted, and property destroyed at the hands of a small group of unruly young people. Riot police, armed only with plastic shields, helmets and batons, failed miserably in their attempts to contain the upheaval. Protesters spread like wild re throughout London and by the following Monday night, to Birmingham, Liverpool and Manchester. Small groups of angry youths took to the streets, smashing shop windows, looting and burning cars with no police in sight. The youths apparently rioted because they felt that they have no prospects for a future due to increased education fees.

Prime Minister David Cameron swiftly returned from a trip abroad to attend to the matter. He and other state ofcials labelled the protests as “criminality” and “opportunism”, dismissing the youths’ claims. However, putting aside the validity

of their complaints or the reason for the violence, the more glaring issue is the lack of police readiness, efciency and tactical planning. This gives an interesting insight into London 2012.

Few could ever forget the tragic events that overshadowed the 1976 Olympics in Munich where a small group of Palestinian radicals managed to inltrate the Olympic Village and kill several Israeli athletes. In light of the current global threat of terrorism and the high prole of the Olympic Games, it is alarming that the police of the city that will host the showpiece event in 11 months’ time showed such a lack of prociency in dealing with sudden chaos. The mayhem which for four days engulfed the country may well have been prevented if London’s police had managed to adequately contain the situation on the Saturday night.

Eventually, the unrest came to a halt and the police then swiftly arrested over 1000 suspects linked to the riots, among them a 14-year-old ambassador for the London 2012 Olympic Games.

However, these arrests do not undo the millions of pounds in property damage caused by the riots. What if it had been terrorist bombings or kidnappings of athletes during next year’s Games?

What reason is there to believe that London’s police can cope with the threat which accompanies the honour of hosting the Games?

For now, the International Olympic Committee organisers don’t see too much reason to panic.

Many have come out expressing their condence in London’s police to manage the security operation. But with police refusing to use aggressive tactics such as water-cannons and rubber bullets until day four of the riots, one could

be justied in questioning their faith.

In terms of facilities, London is well on course to be more than ready by the start of the Games on 27 July 2012. The awe-inspiring Olympic Stadium is almost completed and the football nal will be held at the magnicent Wembley. Furthermore with the tennis tournament to take place at the pristine All England Club, home to Wimbledon, the 2012 edition of the Olympic Games looks set to be a lavish affair. With the fastest man in the

history of mankind, Usain Bolt, super-swimmer Michael Phelps and other stars set to feature at the Games, security will be a critical component of the successful running of the event.

London, it appears by all accounts, will be ready. The key question though which remains unanswered, is will London be safe? And perhaps more specically, will London be able to protect itself, its visitors and the Games?

Illustration: Joachim Lubbe

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Res rugby liga semi-finaal MARI-LOUISE DE KOCK Na lang ure van oefening, sweet en bloed het die manskoshuise die semi-naal van die Steinhoff Tuks Rugby Liga op 16 Augustus verwelkom.

Die spanne: Mopanie, Sonop, Tuks Rugby Akademie, Onderstepoort en Boekenhout het in die semi-nale deelgeneem.

Mopanie se eerstespan het teen Sonop gespeel en het hulle 26-19 geklop. Volgens Mopanie se eerstespan kaptein, Christo Basson, is die rede hoekom hulle so suksesvol is as gevolg van harde oefening, uitstekende afrigters en beslis die Mopanie ondersteuners. Mopanie se tweedespan, wat ook bekend staan as die “Young Guns”, het hul oorwinning teen Sonop geniet met `n eindtelling van 12-5.

Sonop het in hierdie wedstryd vir Mopanie gewys dat hulle strawwe kompetisie is en Mopanie moes hul sokkies optrek om te wen.

Tweedespan stut, Kobus Erasmus, het gesê: “Na `n goeie halftyd praaitjie het ons besef wat ons moet doen en... ons het toe `n goeie [tweede] helfte gehad.” Die Mopanie se o/20s het ook Tuks Rugby Akademie 21-7 geklop.

Verlede jaar se ligawenners, Onderstepoort, het hul titel as wenners behou met hul wedstryd teen Boekenhout. Onderstepoort het Boekenhout 30-7

geklop. Roché Cronjé, Onderstepoort se sport HK en eerstespan ank het gesê dat die term “hard”, Boekenhout se span die beste beskryf.

“Hulle het nooit moed opgegee nie en was aanvallend die hele stryd deur,” sê Cronjé.

Cronjé het verder kommentaar gelewer deur te sê dat Onderstepoort dalk nie die mees talentvolle span is nie, maar harde werk deur die loop van die jaar het die span gemaak wie hulle vandag is.

Alhoewel Boekenhout se eerstespan nie gewen het nie, het hul o/20 span 30-18 teen Sonop gewen. Volgens Boekenhout se vaskopstut, Andreas de Lange, het hul `n goeie spel gespeel, en is iemand in hul eie span as speler van die wedstryd nie net toevallig aangewys nie, maar De Lange reken: “Sonop se nommer ses (MJ Cronjé) het ons baie gehelp met sy twee geelkaatre en `n rooikaart.”

Al die spanne wat hul semi-nale wedstryde gewen het, kwaliseer vir die naal wat plaasvind op 30 Augustus. Die wedstryd wat almal na uitsien is die twee eerstespanne van Mopanie en Onderstepoort, waar die wenner as die 2011 Steinhoff Tuks Rugby Liga se kampioen gekroon sal word.

Foto: Brad Donald

Talking to the big guns knife and a hammock.

Sexiest woman alive? Toss up between Jessica Alba or Kate Beckinsale.

Tell us something about yourself that no one knows. I’ve read all the Harry Potter books … twice.

SAMANTHA EVANS AND MANDI VENTER Colin Slade from the All Blacks Where were you when you found out you made the All Black squad? I watched the All Black announcement on TV with my family.

You broke your jaw early on in the Super Rugby season. What was the recovery process like? I actually broke my jaw twice, both times needing operations, eating liquids (smoothies), purées and soft food for the rst four weeks.

When did you rst start playing rugby and did you have a role model? Started rugby at nine because I used to love watching Andrew Mehrtens.

Do you have any qualications outside of rugby? I have a BA in history and media communications.

What do you do in your free time? In my spare time I play golf and guitar or, if I get enough time, travel.

Colin Slade

What would you be doing if you weren’t playing rugby? If I didn’t play rugby, I would try to be a pro cricketer or own my own business.

You’re on a deserted island. Name three things you will take with you. Radio,

Beau Robinson from the Wallabies When did you start playing professionally?

I had a year with the Bulldogs Rugby League under-20 team before joining the Waratahs academy and signing a 3 year deal with them.

I was not re-signed and spent a year working before joining the Reds.

Best moment in rugby to date. Two things that came about within a week: winning a Super title and making my Wallabies debut.

Goals for the future? To play further games for the Wallabies and hopefully win more Super Rugby titles.

When did you rst start playing rugby and did you have a role model? 15. Not really, I just enjoyed watching the Wallabies when they were

very successful.

Do you have any qualications outside of rugby? I am currently studying a sports business degree.

What do you want to do after your rugby career is over? Something in the sports business industry. As to what that might be I’m unsure as yet.

When travelling, who is the best player to share a room with and why? Whoever keeps quiet and doesn’t go telling everyone about what I’m doing.

Tell us something about yourself that no one knows. I love watching cartoons and chick icks.

Sexiest woman alive? Elle McPherson. I know she may be getting a little old now, but if any lady can look as good as her at that age then they deserve to be named the sexiest woman alive.

For the full interviews and many more visit www.ruckbee.com.

Image: odtconz.com

Tuks gymnast sets new Africa record KEVIN VAN DER LIST It’s not every day that you hear of someone setting new sporting records on the international stage, but that’s exactly what Tuks gymnast Lucky Radebe did.

Radebe, a second-year sports science student, set a new Africa record in the Double MiniTrampoline discipline at the Canada Cup from 28 to 31 July earlier this year. Radebe was one of two senior gymnasts who were invited to the Canada Cup after impressing judges at the Jannie Jansen International held at Tuks earlier this year.

Radebe certainly justied his invitation by setting the Africa record and achieving an overall fourth place nish in this category. He also nished 12th in a eld of 24 participants in the Euro Trampoline discipline.

Perdeby spoke to Radebe about his unprecedented achievements and this is what he had to say.

How long have you been doing gymnastics?

I’ve been doing gymnastics for 11 years now and have been a part of the Tuks gymnastics team since 2005. I was very exible at an early age so my friends and I started gymnastics when I was just ve years old.

How did you feel when you set a new Africa record? I was very happy, but I wasn’t focused on setting the new record. My competitors were attempting different things and I decided to do the same. Although I messed up, I still managed to nish fourth. I was very happy with the result, although I feel I could have done better.

What were your thoughts when you nished 12th in the Euro Trampoline discipline? I was very pleased with the results but I could have done better than that. I was aiming for eightposition and in doing so would have secured my place in the nals. The competition I faced was very stiff because I was competing against each country’s best athlete. One of these was the Canadian Olympic medalist Jason Burnett.

What did it feel like competing against

the best in the world at the Canada Cup? It was interesting and exciting, but not all that intimidating. The only competitor that intimidated me was Jason Burnett. He is just on another level and has a completely unique style of jumping.

Do you have your eye on the Olympic Games? Yes. I also have my eye on the World Games, but my rst priority is the Olympics. I’m going to give it my all this year and I’m going to put in the most unbelievable performances.

Who is your motivation in the sport?

Family, friends and God: they all give me the determination to keep on pushing forward.

What makes your sport different from others? Trampoline is totally different from other sports because you need many things to do it.

You need to be strong, exible and well-balanced.

Trampoline is also one of the toughest sports in the world and it is very dangerous. You can easily injure yourself if you’re not sure of what you’re doing.

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