22 March 2022 Issue 3 Year 84

PDBY

22 March 2022

Year 84 | Issue 3

yourcampusnews.

Sex and the new HIV/AIDS variant

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What the F are NFTs

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Illustration: Jaime Lamb

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2 | From the Editors

22 March 2022

This feels very chaotic

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eedless to say, life has taken a huge turn over the past two years, and it seems like these turns are just going to keep on coming. At the risk of jinxing our current line of trajectory, things seem to be

meet each other in person and put names to faces, our multimedia team made some magic attending some amazing student culture events, and our editorial got together for a second time to chat sh*t and edit articles.

Final checks for PDBY are always stressful and this edition was no exception. All of us of Prospect Street, eyelids heavy, reading produce these page is always worth it - right Special shout-out to Anneke Laaks, one of PDBY’s new photographers, who ventured out into the real world to take some amazing photographs of a night market in Pretoria

PDBY Media

but “What the F are NFTs”. This is my top pick this edition, because as of two weeks ago I could not comprehend certain complexities of NFTs

Copy: Nondumiso Mntambo Lee Tankle Ndinae Ramavhoya Tiara Joseph Kamogelo Thando Mabe Luka Joubert

article.

However, if NFTs are not your cup of tea, head over to our entertainment section to check out a

Layout: Kendra Dean Khumbulani Chaima Tshepiso Promise Mokoena

items, such as a pink cappuccino, or to our news section to read about the return of the dreaded yellow slip. Now I’m going to veer off track, thinking of what to write about is harder than expected.

On this week’s episode of what I’m currently honestly one of the most ridiculous things I have ever watched. From a phobia of breast feeding, to watching one mom throw out a $600 dollar Versace blanket after her child messed on it, to another mom getting a brand new Range Rover and Rolex as her ‘push present’.

Ironically, all I can say is “I don’t know what to

As an editorial we hope that you enjoy this edition, and everything that is going to come this year.

Until next time.

Web: Onele Gabadu

Counter-chaos

L

Multimedia: Vice Mkansi Cletus Mulaudi Madeeha Hazarvi Tshepang Rihlampfu Sanele Zulu Ruth Versfeld Sibongile Mthembu Anneke Laaks Sharon Dumba Jaime Lamb Mitchell Tsotso

thoroughly by cleaning out stuff that has lived in

conversations that transpire after 3 energy drinks, 2 coffees, sour jellybeans, and a little rant about editing. I have to admit, having the written version is a treat, because I cannot, for the life of me remember anything that I may be asked to repeat.

Unlike Leah, I still have no idea what an NFT is, but shoutout to her for learning. I am also going to give her a little stern-talking to about not commending the entertainment section, but every mention in her article was valid - the team truly is coming together and I personally am so proud of the advancements we are making. Having everyone back in despite life currently being what it is, I can giving me a proper laugh.

Also, I, the entertainment editor, attended the multimedia meeting and contributed

<3.

Once again, unlike Leah, I am actually spending

times than is actually healthy, I have spent my my salary on sandwiches now that campus cafés saying “I have to do it in order to be relatable for the readers of the paper!”. So, essentially, I use the paper as an excuse for my extroverted tendencies The input for this edition was really a team effort, and I could not be happier to interact with everyone in person. Thank you to all our readers who are supporting us and enthusiastically genuinely makes all the late nights worth it.

Until the next edition!

Ashleigh

yourcampusnews.

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News | 3

22 March 2022

News Bites Introducing Tuks Thunee Card Game Society The card game Thunee, named after the Tamil word for water, “Tani”, is a popular card game that originated in the South African Indian community. UP now boasts its own Thunee card game society, which allows students to play the game during their free time. One of the founders of the group is Nikhil Maharaj, a 4th year Mechanical Engineering student. Maharaj told PDBY that the society currently consists of 21 people, ascertaining that “if anyone is interested in joining, they could simply join the whatsapp group we have created. This group was created from an impulse decision and once we had the word out, people immediately joined out of excitement”. stems back to the Indian community from KZN and the card game brings people of all ages and different cultural backgrounds together, through the competition the game brings as well as through the pure joy of playing the game”.

UP covers tuition fees of a 14-year-old Actuarial Science student Mongiwa Ntuli, a 14-year-old learner, passed her matric year with 7 distinctions. However, Ntuli found herself battling for funding and was being rejected by bursaries because of her age. Due to these frustrations, she took to social media to state her case expressing that “being turned down by bursaries frustrated me because I believe that assistance”.

UP has come to Ntuli’s aid by pledging to fund Ntuli’s tuition fees and study essentials. UP Vice-Chancellor and Principal Prof. Tawana to promote”.

UP collaborates with UN for Sustainable Development Goals The University of Pretoria, together with the United Nations

has launched SDSN South Africa. This is a national network for the United Nations’s Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN). The objective of this collaboration is for the network to mobilize and support South African Universities and leading research institutions in promoting the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals in South Africa.

The launch took place at the UP Future Africa Campus - the event was a live-streamed moderated panel discussion, with a keynote address by Prof. Labode Popoola - chairperson of SDSN Nigeria and Professor of Forest Economics and Sustainable Development at the University of Ibadan.

Tuks Freshers On 2 February Tuks FM took to their social media pages to of the headliners for the event was the late Ricky Rick, who was subsequently replaced by Nasty C following his passing. Kasozi Phiri, a second-year law student told PDBY that the event was incredible. “I would say that it lived up to the expectations” said Phiri. Phiri went on to mention that he got his moneys’ worth - “the experience that I got there was much more worth than what I spent”.

Phiri excitedly indicated that the headlining act, Nasty C, pushed the perfection bar even further “Yeah! Yeah! Yeah! Everyone went crazy

Thesis award for LLD students in memory of late Prof. Christof Heyns On 1 March, submissions for the Christof Heyns Memorial Thesis passing of Prof. Christof Heyns to reward doctoral students who have completed their LLD at an African university. According to the Pretoria University Law Press (PULP), the award “underlies [Heyn’s] exceptional passion for promoting scholarship and a life devoted to initiating innovative ideas to make the world a better place for all”. be awarded to a student who completed or will complete their LLD in 2021, and submits their thesis to liesl.hager@up.ac.za before 30 June.

Students can access more information on PULP’s Instagram page @pulplawpress.

Compiled by Susanna Anbu, Mothusi Mokalane and Leah Rees

New HIV/AIDS variant: Its impact on students’ sex lives

the VB Variant and the possible effects it will have on the sex lives of students. Joubert stated that the UP’s Health Department has services that cater to students’ health in HIV/AIDS-related matters. The university offers free HIV testing services and referral letters that assist students that test positive with getting their introduction to treatment. Joubert added that students over the years have been making use of the service, however Mothusi Mokalane since the pandemic started, there has been a great decline in the usage of the service. “Historically yes there has been a lot of interest in the service, not t the beginning of 2022, the United Nations Programme on HIV/ just from students but also from the staff and contractors […] a lot of people AIDS (UNAIDS) announced the discovery of a new fast-paced HIV/AIDS variant in the Netherlands. This variant is referred to was that there were a lot of blocks to get into the university and it became as Subtype-B HIV1 or the VB Variant. The VB Variant is said to be more transmissible and damaging as people with HIV who subsequently catch that with regard to the infection rates and statistics of the UP community: “it is a bit tricky [to estimate] because when you look at the university, it is this variant will experience double the rate of immune system decline quite a large population and a large portion of those people [are] not testing and are prone to developing AIDS two or three times faster after the on campus, however, they could be testing elsewhere […] the number diagnosis.

Medical doctors in South Africa have urged South Africans to remain of infections is a fair amount, we are talking a few thousand per year”.

Additionally, Joubert stated that historically the infection rate has always calm about the outbreak of the VB Variant. However, it is important to been below or at one percent of people testing positive, “but of note that South Africa is one of the leading countries in terms of high course this is not to say that almost no one has it, infection rates. According to the South African National Aids Council (SANAC), South Africa has 7.8 million people living with HIV, and only it’s just based on those who actually test” cautioned Joubert.

5.4 million of those infected are on anti-retroviral therapy (ARV). The According to Joubert, the CSA&G outbreak of COVID-19 did not aid this crisis.

Health-E News negatively affected the battle against HIV/AIDS. South Africa is make inquiries about sex, its safety, currently experiencing a decline in ARV consumption, and as a result, people have defaulted on their treatment because of accessability issues and sexuality saying that “overall, apart from people who come in for that were caused by constant lockdowns. This means that there are testing, there are certain people who HIV-infected persons who are currently experiencing a decline in their really just come in and inquire about immune system’s functionality because their viral load is going up.

South African tertiary institutions are not immune to the HIV/ AIDS conversation, as well as certain residences crisis. It is not a secret that sex is part of university culture - as many will also invite us along with other entities at students start exploring their sexuality in university spaces. Some students are in committed relationships and do not see the need to have the university to come and talk about safe sex, consent, and different things that essentially protected intercourse, while others are actively involved in hook-up culture. These mentioned reasons and many others, contribute to the high affect sex and sexualities”. With regard to raising awareness about the VB Variant, HIV infection rates amongst students in South Africa. The New Age in CSA&G is currently in the process of 2015 reported that 41% of South African students in FET colleges are reintegrating their volunteers to the living with HIV, while University World News also reported in 2010 that 3,4 % of students in universities are living with HIV. This is a clear testing services, and with that comes indication that due to the outbreak of the VB Variant, greater HIV/AIDS constant “recapping” of what HIV/ AIDS is so far and coming up with awareness is needed for South African students.

The Centre for Sexualities, AIDS, and Gender (CSA&G) Programme certain campaigns to raise awareness around the new HIV/AIDS variant.

Coordinator, Chris Joubert, spoke to PDBY about the prevalence of

A

In Memorial of Jonathan Konigkramer UP mourns the passing of a Physical Sciences Extended Programme student, Jonathan Konigkramer, who lived in College residence at UP. Due to the sensitivity of his passing, his residence did not release details on his passing.

Konigkramer was known for his involvement in extracurricular activities as a student. “He was involved in the College Football team, especially during RAG. I believe he was the goalkeeper.”, said Ayden, College’s chairperson.

College plans on having an internal memorial session after his burial.

Annien Muller On 27 February, a UP medical student, Annien Muller, passed away after attending her twin sister’s wedding. The UP community grieves the inopportune passing of the 22-year-old. Her unfortunate death transpired after she was involved in a pedestrian-car accident on the N14, as she was crossing the road to save her boyfriend, Reino von Wielligh, who was involved in a car crash.

Rikus Delport, the Director of Institutional Advancement, said, “we are shocked and saddened by the fatal accident that caused the untimely death of Annien Muller, a student from the Faculty of Health Sciences.

Our thoughts and prayers are with the student’s family and friends.”

Written by Amukelani Makamu

“The variant comes with certain things that [are] more aggressive and goes from the HIV stage to the AIDS stage a lot faster. By all accounts is it very possible that the variant is already in South Africa, because, as travel goes, it is very possible that it has already entered into South Africa” stated Joubert. Joubert went on to say that this new variant is not really a game-changer because even though it is aggressive, the same procedure that will be used to prevent HIV infections will be used to treat the virus once a person is infected.

Joubert indicated that CSA&G and the health clinic currently do not have an ARV, Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) or Post-Exposure Prophylaxis positive people with getting their medications from any public or private health facility in the country. Joubert reckons that the impact of this variant on the sex lives of students will be a positive one, provided that there is enough awareness out there. “We try to focus on not just informing people on HIV and other related things when it comes to sex, but also having conversations around practicing safe sex, that usually comes with people being open to things such as testing themselves, testing with partners, having conversations around consent and safety and in that regard it would create a lot of safer space for people to have sex in” motivated Joubert.

The CSA&G offers testing services to the UP community from Monday Building.

Image: Jaime Lamb

22 March 2022

4 | News

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Pass your yellow slip to the right: The return of the on-campus assessment online from home to complete assessments seems like a daunting

Banathi Nkehli

T

he return to contact classes and assessments is a contentious issue among students, given that institutions of higher learning are now transitioning away from full-time online learning to gradually re-introducing in-person classes. In light of

government restrictions and regulations.”

The return to campus also ushers in with it, the return of contact assessments. garners nuanced responses from

anxiety of others surrounding us during

in a precarious position where university directives are often at odds with their lived realities, and the return of the on-campus this.

assessments must

released a document titled: Faculty of Law Return to Campus Plan: Semester 1 2022

education moving forward. Swanepoel

face” classes for their elective modules. Furthermore, the document

assessments caused me a lot of anxiety.

Online learning allows for students

law students have to return to campus for their elective modules,

environment when camps.

offers a more detailed explanation for this,

faces the reality of returning to on-campus activities with mild prefer online assessments.

For my degree it makes

It is clear that there is a lot of thinking and confusion surrounding the return to campus and in-person assessments at the

most of their work on draft legal documents for

diverse array of feelings that are on display. Most students know the awkward feeling when the instructor

and easy access to legislation, during a test and shortly thereafter says,

online system worked perfectly. It provided students with the Online learning allowed students to listen to lectures as much as they wanted to.”

The other camp concerning the return to campus sees the return to on-campus activities as positive and would love to expand the

access to my learning resources during tests only makes sense.” In light of these ideas, we can deduce that, the opinion that the days especially when they had their wishes granted and wrote tests from home. In contrast, one can also sympathise with students who feel are once again a reality, and with that comes the task of adjusting.

Adjusting to in-person assessments after two years of working

degree. For now, all students can do is: pass their yellow slips to the right and maintain social distance.

Photo: Jaime Lamb

Features | 5

22 March 2022

Humans of UP A guide to student misconduct - Everyone Has a Story

Kirsten Minnaar

T

he process of being accused of misconduct can be incredibly daunting. However, this process does not have to be completely hopeless. There are many ways that students about this procedure, the better their chances become of

According to the Student Disciplinary Advisory Panel (SDAP), while the process of being charged with misconduct is different for every student, “the most general process is as [follows]. Firstly, students will get an email from the university [informing] them that they are being investigated for misconduct. After receiving this email, students can already approach the SDAP. The email will set out the misconduct the student is being investigated for, and students will be able to respond to this email by stating their side of the story. It is important to note that the initial email of investigation does not mean that the student has been charged with anything yet. If there is enough evidence against a student, the process of a possible charge comes into play. Students will also receive an email explaining the charge. This is [when] students will have a hearing [where they] are allowed to bring their own legal representation. There are many stages to the hearing, where students can present their evidence, call witnesses, etc. Students will then have to plead guilty or not guilty. UP’s Legal Services will deliberate and

what you share. Students should try to familiarise themselves with Students who have been accused of misconduct should not feel completely hopeless, as they still have several important rights. Students right to tell their side of the story free from prejudice”. While this process may seem intimidating, students do not have to go through it alone. “If you are unsure about anything, contact the SDAP. Don’t be misconduct reported in a year and it does not have to be the end of the world.”

found guilty, they have the choice to appeal this decision, and an appeal process will then be initiated.”

Once students hear that they are being investigated for misconduct,

I

t’s always been my dream to study Veterinary Science. I was Veterinary after that, so I did one year of Microbiology. I still to do. I moved to stay with my mom in Qatar and she advised

other faculties. I did a semester of philosophy, a semester of

you understood the landscape of where you were living. It was very cool, it gave you a holistic approach to learning.)

I ended up getting very settled in Qatar. I was studying and their national research fund. In terms of safety, being a female, you could go out by yourself at any time, day or night without fear. Faith wise, as a Muslim woman I was treated so well, you I had gotten used to a new culture and decided to call that home. apply for Veterinary again.

I had even forgotten about my application when I received my acceptance letter from the Undergrad Admissions department.

To have waited 6 years, and in those 6 years continually giving up and then renewing my hope, that moment was so crazy. I immediately phoned the admissions department, all the way

SDAP “for advice on the disciplinary procedure and how to proceed.”

The SDAP “explains the disciplinary process to students, refers students to other bodies who can provide them [with] assistance and gives them an idea of what is ahead”. They can also accompany students to their hearings, however, they cannot represent students.

Ideally, all students should try to avoid committing any misconduct.

The most important advice, according to the SDAP, is “don’t cheat, don’t plagiarise and don’t distribute any documents without consent sign the attendance register for your friends and don’t send assessment

Photo: Anneke Laaks

What the F are NFTs Lauren Harries and Leah Rees

N that is attached to an item. This label can represent a variety of digital assets such as digital art, or even tangible assets such as cars or property.

as the buyer of an NFT, you gain certain usage rights, such as the ability

For those of you who want to invest in NFTs, Forbes explains that you will need a digital wallet that allows you to store both NFTs and cryptocurrency, as well as go through the process of purchasing some

of cryptocurrency and NFTs, as it is designed to function as a digital

all these competitive selection programmes, not being accepted While NFTs and cryptocurrencies are fascinating concepts, no conversation about them would be complete without discussing their environmental impact. According to The Verge, NFTs use the same form

whole life and now you’ve got this big fat no in your face, really traumatises you, you’re afraid to excel anymore.

represent different assets or assets with differing attributed values).

NFTs vs Bitcoin

pay my fees, which impaired my academic performance. I’ve also come to realise, unfortunately a little bit late, which is why

platforms will charge a gas fee for the energy needed to complete the

Therefore, as The Verge points out there is a notable contrast between and you will be in possession of the same item. However, due to the impossible for the NFT that you receive to be the same as the one you

of cryptocurrencies and the transformation of the digital art world to include NFTs is just the beginning of a new form of monetary transactions. While it may be easy to get swept up in the excitement of what this could mean for the future of digital art and crypto, it is will/can really last when you consider its environmental impact.

to repeat also haunts you. I’ve had to come to see myself as my own biggest challenge and realise that it’s my own mindset that I have to overcome.

something that cannot be copied. According to Forbes, each NFT has a

I wouldn’t change anything. I always said when I get here, I’m I really got involved. I got to serve on 7 different committees of clubs and societies, I served on the faculty and residence house committees on my campus, and attended practically every social event. Now it’s just grind time, I can focus on my academics.

The degree academically is very demanding, but it’s worth it.

Above all I’ve learned that if you want to get far in life in any

ownership. In simpler terms, anyone can own a print of Van Gogh’s Starry Night Digital art and NFTs

don’t have to be the smartest person in the room, contrary to

To say “Hello!”: azraa.seedat@gmail.com

unheard of in the art industry.

Illustration: Jaime Lamb

22 March 2022

6 | Entertainment

Soul Nativez On Their Music Journey

“ We are always chasing greatness “ Minentle Mndiyata

P

playing. All this just groomed my ear.

DBY had the pleasure of interviewing DJ and percussionist duo, Soul Nativez. The duo performed at the 2022 Freshers event, and they are gradually showing more and more face in and around Pretoria. This interview discusses their dynamic, musical journey, and the day-to-day challenges they face as local musicians.

Have you always imagined yourselves in the entertainment industry?

Native: Yes, from a young age I’ve always known it’s what I want.

Sana: Yes, as I was already playing and doing gigs at a very young age

What is the nature of your dynamic? Are you related to any extent?

No blood relations, but we are very close. We met through Sana’s older brother, Native being friends with Sana’s older brother then eventually formed our brotherhood through music. Music united us.

you two have experienced in your music journey?

There’s just a lot of exploitation that happens in the industry, especially because at the time we started our

What would you say evoked the enthusiasm for music in you two as a duo?

Native: Growing up in the township where every 2nd house had a sound system and was blasting the radio or even just their CD collection, I was exposed to a lot of music. My family too, was into music, so just growing up I consumed so much music that I fell in love with it and just genuinely became interested in learning the creation part of it. I’ve also always just pictured myself on stage performing for millions of people and seeing people smile. That’s when I knew I had to tap into it.

Sana: From the days when I would be in church and just watching the drummer at church and how everything just comes together was just amazing for me. Walking around the neighbourhood and just listening to the music that my neighbours were playing and just always waking up to music playing in the background (outside), going to sleep with music

so money was a problem and even when they started getting better, they still opted to exploit for as long as Based on your Instagram account, we see that you have a song with Musa Keys. What was it like working with him?

Yes, Musa is our brother! A true hard worker. Working with Musa was one of the easiest to do because we believe in exchange of energy. We need to be in sync energy wise and we truly experienced that, making the process very much easy and enjoyable. It’s also an exchange of knowledge because we believe he showed us new ways/things to go about this music production thing and we did the same for him because no one knows everything and we can all learn one or two things from one another.

If you can have your fans remember one thing about you, what would it be?

GREATNESS. How we are always chasing greatness, it’s a race with ourselves to always come out in 1st place.

Which artist would you like to collaborate with next and why?

Everyone that’s amazing at what they do, but our process of choosing who we would want to collaborate with would be based on where we feel we need to take the brand next, so Boohle, Young Stunna, ... and ... yeah, it’s a long list but those are the ones who we believe could fully align with the brand.

What can people expect from you this year?

They can expect us to be more outside. Last year we had a reduction of gigs due to certain personal and business reasons, mainly business, but more gigs, MORE MUSIC, BIGGER FEATURES. Just OVERALL GREATNESS.

PDBY IS LOOKING FOR TALENTED ARTISTS Are you or do you know an artist with a talent just waiting to be featured?

Let us know on Instagram @pdbymedia!

We cover all art forms in our featured artist section.

Photo: Instagram - soulnativez_

Check out Soul Nativez and more local music picks from our editorial!

22 March 2022

Entertainment | 7

Breakfast nooks for UP students

Ashleigh Pascoe

E

very student area needs a few safe places where friends and family can come together over a lovely meal and discuss the day’s plans and the night’s adventures. Here are a few breakfast places in and around Pretoria that are worth spending some time experiencing.

Ashleigh Pascoe

Goddess Café Pink cappuccinos make Goddess Café a bookmark for a magical adventure. If one was to imagine a restaurant designed by the inner child of a non-evil Dolores Umbridge, this would be the perfect embodiment of this. The attractiveness of this restaurant truly lies in its femininity.

The lattes are colourful, there is edible glitter on the food,

T

revor Noah is a well-known and well-loved South African comedian. What makes him so relatable is how authentically South African he is, and how his daily observations become the

only book” Born a Crime, is such a compelling read. There is a certain sense of depth to Noah’s writing, as he expresses how he, a person of colour, both is and was impacted by the socio-political state of endured, with humour and relatability being peppered in throughout the chapters.

Noah was born in 1984, during the apartheid regime, where interracial relationships were illegal. His father is white, his mother is black, and he was quite literally born “illegal”. His individual story serves as a reminder of the bigger historical realities that citizens of South Africa were exposed to. This novel serves as a reminder that apartheid is not a distant concept that happened centuries ago, but is rather an event that still impacts the lives and existence of people today.

As humorously as the book is written, it forces readers to face a certain reality and not deny the impact of historical happenings. He is as good of a writer as he is a comedian, and this is a worthwhile read for all South Africans.

and the food is often too pretty to eat. Not only does the restaurant make one feel as if they fell into a fairy-tale, Image: Facebook.com but it is also realistic in its pricing and food option availability. This restaurant caters to gluten intolerant, lactose intolerant, and vegan members of society (and yes, there is also gluten free dessert). The ultimate recommendation would be to get dressed up, take yourself to Goddess Café in Waterkloof, and treat yourself. *insert Parks and Recreation reference*.

Café Grenadine Grenadine is a quaint café with a modern twist sunny outside seating. It is centred in the Hillcrest Boulevard Shopping Centre and is a perfect spot to have breakfast before or after a

Image: Facebook.com

day of grocery shopping and errand running. Observing the everyday hustle and bustle of life is the purpose of this café’s placement, but it also serves the purpose of being a nook in which last night’s adventures can be discussed in peace. It is a desirable breakfast spot, with free range eggs and the toast of your choice being some of the breakfast options.

23 on Hazelwood 23 on Hazelwood is a little

be a spot for a special-occasion breakfast. This restaurant serves an all-day breakfast, with a vast menu that ranges from savoury breakfast burgers, to sweet and refreshing smoothie bowls. The menu includes some unique options that are not available at the others restaurants in Hazelwood such as their matcha and mint latte - an Image: 23onhazelwood.co.za item worth trying.

This spot offers options for a surplus of tastes and preferences.

One of the most enjoyable elements of this modern and energetic spot is the creative array of choices from the menu and how it accommodates all tastes and cravings. (You could even eat freshly baked cake for breakfast. No one is judging you).

Toast Food Company Toast is a tucked away café two blocks down from Johnny’s Liquor (based on the assumption that this article is being read by UP students). The exterior of Toast appears to be small, but the interior is warm, welcoming, and has ample Image: toastfoodcompany.com space for students to stop and have a little treat. This café has a bakery, sandwiches, and caters for those with dietary restrictions through its plethora of plant-based milks. The coffee from this spot has saved many, many lives. Toast to grab a bite to eat before class, or just to meet a few friends and unwind.

Image: Amazon.com

Party on with Park Acoustics Ashleigh Pascoe

O

n one Sunday of every month, Pretorian music lovers convene at the Voortrekker Monument to enjoy local entertainment provided by beloved performers, and this event is known as Park Acoustics. On 27 February, PDBY attended this festival, to support previous Featured Artist, Kenny Hughes.

Kenny Hughes gently warmed the crowd with his enticing introductions of blues and rock. There is something special about a performer enjoying their performance almost as much as the crowd does. The beginning of the afternoon was mellow, with people dozing off in the sunshine, and the smell of Black Label in the air.

Vodka and brandy reared their head when van Pletzen sauntered onto the stage and declared “lekkerness”. The vibes were stellar, and it did not take long for the stage area to become crowded with a decent ou” (if you know, you know. If you do not, see the Park Acoustics playlist). Van Pletzen did not fail to elicit a reaction from the crowd and was one of the most interactive performances of the afternoon. Every single event that performed at Parks, was an event It is uncertain as to whether there is anything as enjoyable as being at a Desmond and the Tutus concert, surrounded by good vibes, doing the t-rex dance with Shane Durrant, and yelling “What, am, I gonna do with you!”. The album that was being performed was literally called “Enjoy Yourself”, and the crowd did not take that task lightly. Not only was the performance phenomenal, but the chemistry between the band members truly made fans realise how incredible it is to have a South African band as captivating as this. Continually, Durrant would hand the spotlight over to Bower, and Bower would accept the limelight with unbridled enthusiasm, while Craig Durrant would be consistently manning the drums. The way in which this band performed for the Parks crowd, really did show that they love Pretoria Girls.

As the Tutus ended their performance, the clouds opened, and the downpour came. Even the rain respected the performance enough to wait until the end of their set. Throughout the day, nothing deterred the Pretorians from completely immersing themselves in this festival. Direct sunlight in a South African summer - who cares. A thunderstorm that creates puddles that could give Shrek’s swamp a run for its money - who cares. No signal in the area - who

cares. The attendees were here to have a good time, and they truly did.

Park Acoustics is an event that can be enjoyed by those looking for a way to unwind before the week begins again. The next event will be Park Electric on 3 April, and will be featuring artists such Freak, and appears to be well worth the price of the tickets.

Photos: Ashleigh Pascoe

Editor’s picks - Park Acoustics Playlist “Picture Perfect” - Perez

“Dronk op Liefdie” - Van Pletzen “Decent Ou” – Van Pletzen

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