24 July 2017 Issue 10 Year 79

TSC Egypt benchmarking trip

Tuks FM’s 67 hours for media freedom -pg 4

-pg 3

Perdeby

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

24July2017

year79issue10

New hope for opioid addicts -pg 7

TuksCamerata standing victorious on stage after being announced as the winners of

the Grand Prix of Nations, Youth Choir Category. Image provided.

TuksCamerata win Grand Prix of Nations DANICA CHARLES AND SAVANNAH PLASKITT On 20 July, TuksCamerata was announced as the winner of the Grand Prix of Nations Riga 2017, in the Youth Choir Category hosted in Riga, Latvia. TuksCamerata received 93,30 points out of a possible 100,00. The group that placed second, EVE from Denmark received 91,20.

The win also means TuksCamerata is now eligible to compete at INTERKULTUR events in the next five years, including the World Choir Games – The Champions Competition and the World Choir Championships – The Champions round.

Chris Okes, a TuksCamerata EC member, described the Grand Prix of Nations as “the best of the best” and went on to say that “for us to come first is really something that’s unbelievably amazing”.

TuksCamerata also placed third in

the Folklore acappella category.

Okes said the win was “unheard of” as “folklore is one of the highest and hardest things to compete in, because other countries are normally very brilliant in what they do. So for us to come third is really fantastic.”

The win comes during TuksCamerata’s European Tour, from 15 to 31 July. The entire choir went on the tour because, according to TuksCamerata, “each member was placed in the choir to form a balanced and holistic sound, so leaving any member behind would be a hindrance to this”.

TuksCamerata has a firm belief that “no one gets left behind” and said that if “one chorister would not be able to make it, then no one would go”.

The tour started in Istanbul, Turkey and will end at the 11th World Symposium on Choral Music in Barcelona, Spain.

This event is working alongside the International Federation for

Choral Music so that the 11th International Symposium of Choral Music will be “an unforgettable event”. The Symposium’s slogan is ‘The Colours of Peace’. The colours are said to “symbolise the diversity of international choral life in the building of a world at peace”.

TuksCamerata has carefully chosen each piece in their repertoire with the aim of taking “the audience members on a journey, as well as to be a symbol of the Colours of Peace”. The World Symposium on Choral Music is the main reason why the choir was headed to Europe.

The most prominent pieces that TuksCamerata will be showcasing were their “two new commissioned pieces”: ‘In Tempore Belli’ and ‘Wade in the Water’, composed by Hendrik Hofmeyr and Stacey Gibbs respectively. It will be the first time that an international audience has heard these pieces. The majority of TuksCamerata’s new CD, Indodana, will be used as competition

repertoire in Riga, Latvia, in which traditional African music will be sung, “with a plethora of African elements to show the world the beauty of [their] traditional music”.

Other competition repertoire consists of ‘U Lig en U Waarheid’, which is on the Love + War CD, released earlier this year, ‘Himne’, ‘Let my Love be Heard’ and ‘Kaisiaisa Niyan’.

The choir has said that they felt “excited, nervous and filled with adrenaline for the coming two weeks”. Furthermore, “each and every choir member has their game face on and [they] are hoping to be the best. As [they] are competing at the Grand Prix of Nations [they want to] come out on top, but [their] main focus for the tour is to show the world what South Africa has to offer, not only in terms of choral singing, but in the notion of integrity, passion and the coming together of many diverse cultures to create a product that South Africa can be proud of”.

St. Lorient presents “Untitled” -pg 9

Catching up with Lawrence Brittain -pg 12

2

Perdeby

Editorial | 24 July 2017

The thing is bittersweet

From the News Editor

www.perdeby.co.za perdeby@up.ac.za m.perdeby.co.za @perdebynews @PerdebySport @PerdebyE Tel: (012) 420 6600

Editorial Editor-in-chief Carel Willemse

carel.willemse@up.ac.za @Ed_in_Chief

News Ditebogo Tshaka

news@perdeby.co.za @Didi_Tshaka

Features Savannah Plaskitt

features@perdeby.co.za @SavChristie

Entertainment Shaun Sproule

entertainment@perdeby.co.za @ShaunSproule

Sport Lorinda Marrian

sport@perdeby.co.za @LorindaDMarrian

Online Content Carly Twaddle

onlinecontent@perdeby.co.za Photo by @hello_wxrld

@CarlzTwaddle

Deputy Online Content Pooja Pundit onlinecontent@perdeby.co.za Web Rebecca-Anne Perridge

@pooja_xx_ webeditor@perdeby.co.za @kindofapleb

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copy@perdeby.co.za

Visuals Kaylyn O’ Brien

visuals@perdeby.co.za @kaylyn_obrien

Multimedia Samuel Sherwood

The second semester is basically a mini new year without the fireworks. We start off reenergised, hyped and hopeful, ready to take on anything that comes our way and able and willing to make changes to the missteps of the previous semester.

But just like New Year’s resolutions, our good intentions and determination tend to fizzle out rather quickly. By “quickly” I mean in the first three days, or maybe a week if you’re lucky.

multimedia@perdeby.co.za @samsherwood95

Research and Development Xander Janse van Rensburg

Perdeby 24 July 1992 25 years ago

@XJvRensburg

Intervarsity steeds in weegskaal – maar intervarsity week gaan voort met of sonder sport! / Intervarsity future still unknown – but intervarsity week will go ahead with or without sport!

Teams

Layout Tayisiya Rozova Gwyneth Heshu Chante Naidoo

But we need to make a concerted effort not to “fizzle out” in the important matters, hard as it may be to do so.

We need to start and continue holding those in positions of power accountable, even if we didn’t vote them in ourselves. We need to demand transparency and accountability at all times, from student leadership to the highest powers of government in our country.

We should commend those in our student body who bring matters of significance in

The Intervarsity game between RAU and Tuks has not been cancelled yet as rumours suggested recently. The SRC and in particular the member with the portfolio for Intervarsity and Sport, Deon Lewis, have been working tirelessly to ensure the event goes ahead.

The lifting of the international sport boycott against South Africa and the ensuing international tours means

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Miné van der Berg Georgina Glass Bonolo Tlale Letlotlo Chabedi Jessica Schorr Ofentse Rabotolo

Online Arthur Zambezi Yemurai Nhamburo Elton Matchebe Siwakhile Maseko Kuzai Nherera Daimon Sewell

student governance to our attention, and stand in solidarity with those who are fighting to expose such issues and change the status quo.

It has been evident that the media on a global scale has faced persecution from those who’d like the truth to be labelled as #FakeNews. Even Perdeby continues to face censorship from forces on our campus.

Despite all this, we get to deliver the truth to you every week and give you enough facts to stay informed about current events. News is sweet in the sense that we live in a country where freedom of the press exists, but it’s also bitter because some people and organisations may choose to deny the truth because it incriminates or raises controversy around them.

Our edition features information on the hope that can be found in the treatment of opioid addiction (on page 7) and ways to counter the ominous dangers Über-users face (on page 6).

We commemorate the life of a musical legend and the emergence of up and coming artists on pages 6 and 9. Be sure to read how young UP athletes were filling up their trophy cabinets (on page 12) over the break while we were lying on our couches, filling up our stomachs.

Perdeby is also holding a charity drive and we ask that you please make a contribution to the items we’re collecting if you are able (page 10). We apologise for the lack of Pssst… this week. Pssst... is still in hibernation under the floor boards of the Perdeby office.

I wish you all a renewed spirit and a sweet semester, but don’t be afraid of a lil’ bitta bitter. Remain inquisitive, sceptical and willing to learn.

Ditebogo Tshaka

that scheduled Intervarsity dates such as the Tuks-RAU game will have to be rescheduled. The All Blacks from New Zealand is one of the teams that will compete against South Africa with a game scheduled on 8 August at Loftus Versfeld.

The fact that the main Intervarsity game would not be broadcast on TV anymore meant that the largest sponsor of Intervarsity, Rentmeester, withdrew sponsorship.

A couple of alternative options have been considered, including scaling down the event so only the various under-20 university teams compete or moving the Intervarsity to 19 September.

For the time being, all planning would go ahead as normal. Intervarsity T-shirts could be bought from the SRC for R35.

Perdeby 23 June 1967 50 years ago

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Tweedejaarstudent in vliegongeluk gedood / Second year student dies in plane crash

Tel: 012 420 6600 Cell: 083 318 9738 carel.willemse@up.ac.za

A second year student from Onderstepoort, John Tuttle, and three others died on Saturday after the plane they were in crashed.

The crash happened at Wonderboom Airport while they were busy with a demonstration flight. Tuttle, who was a pilot himself, was a passenger on the flight when it crashed.

His funeral took place in Durban and was attended by representatives from Onderstepoort.

Copyright Perdeby is printed by Paarlmedia. All rights reserved. Contributions are welcome. All due care will be taken with materials submitted, but Perdeby and printers cannot be held responsible for loss or damage. The editor reserves the right to edit, amend or alter in any way deemed necessary.

Perdeby cannot be responsible for unsolicited material. The opinions expressed in Perdeby are not necessarily those of the editors and printers of Perdeby.

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24 July 2017 | News

Campus News Bites

UP chancellor re-elected Prof. Lumkile Wiseman Nkuhlu has been unanimously re-elected as UP’s chancellor. The election took place on 28 June and was conducted by the University’s Electoral College. The appointment is for the next five years until 30 June 2022. Prof. Nkuhlu has served as UP’s chancellor for 11 years since his appointment in 2006. Prof.

Nkuhlu has an MBA from the University of New York and in 1976 became South Africa’s first black chartered accountant.

Queer Africa 2: New Series Book launch

On 27 July, Queer Africa 2: New Series will be launched at the Merensky Library Auditorium, on Hatfield main campus. The book consists of 26 queer narratives from 8 countries. The launch will include readings and performances. The book contains contributions from UP students.

Commonwealth Science Conference honours UP researcher A doctoral student at UP was selected as one of three top presenters at the student and postdoctoral session of the Commonwealth Science Conference which was held in June, in Singapore. Osmond Mloyeni received at travel grant worth approximately R100 000 “to support collaborative visits and mentoring from scientists from another Commonwealth country”. Mloyeni says the grant will greatly assist his research and be of benefit to him as a scientist.

UP Expert Lecture Series On 2 August, the 21st lecture in the UPExpert Lecture Series will take place in the Senate Hall. The lecture is entitled ‘The drug everyone should take! Why, how and what?’ and will be presented by Martin Schwellnus, a professor of Sport and Exercise at the faculty of Health Sciences at UP.

EBIT career fair The Engineering, Built Environment and IT faculty will host a career fair from 09:00-14:00 on 25 July in the Rautenbach Hall. The fair will see organisations that recruit in the Engineering and IT fields will be on campus for two days, discussing available employment opportunities in the respective fields.

Compiled by Chad Johnston

TSC Egypt benchmarking trip Previous SRC DITEBOGO TSHAKA On 9 July, the TSC embarked on a benchmarking trip to Egypt that, according to a statement released by the TSC on 4 July, had “been planned since the strategic planning camp at the beginning of the TSC term”.

The statement added that the “excursion was approved by the highest level of University management, as it will not only benefit the university to learn from Egypt’s esteemed institutions but also build relations with them”.

According to the TSC, Egypt was chosen as the location for benchmarking because it is an African country that has already succeeded in challenges that South African universities currently face. “Egypt [has] undergone a transitional process into free tertiary education and till today their model is changing. Networking with other [3rd] world countries that deliver free tertiary education would provide great insight on feasibility and propositions on the approach. The transition from one fee structure to another can have political instability as a result. Information on how this process can be influenced positively by students is of great concern as it is a possibility [SA] faces and that we have already started to experience,” said the TSC. Eleven out of the 12 TSC members went on the trip and were accompanied by two Department of Student Affairs staff members, Ms Fundiswa Sizani and Mr Jimmy Molautsi.

Thabo Shingange, TSC deputy-chairperson, refused to go, labelling it “morally wrong”.

Shingange explained, “I have nothing against a benchmark trip in principle, what I do have qualms with is a benchmark trip funded by the student budget in the middle of a fees crisis.

As the deputy chair, and more so the study finance officer, I would be morally conflicted to have to explain, as I am now, to students who come to my office to apply for funds… that I have no money to assist, knowing very well that the money was used for a vacation in Egypt.”

According to the TSC, “There was a stage where two other members also excluded themselves from the excursion, as they were under the impression that the money could rather be utilised towards funding students.

After clarity was given that the money requested to be allocated to the TSC budget for benchmarking, cannot be used towards student funding and that it is ring-fenced for benchmarking, clarity was reached and they changed their decision.”

The trip was funded by a “university budget, specifically ring-fenced for the sole purpose of student leadership development,” read the TSC statement. The TSC went on to say that, “TSC budget funds were used as bridging money as the money was urgently needed to make visa deadlines. Accommodation and flights needed to be booked before visa applications [could] be done. There was confusion in the payment for the two members who cancelled and then

re-joined. The DSA staff members' payment differs as some of their costs are covered [by] the DSA budget. There [is] also difficulty as some of the members are international students and their payments differ.”

Henrico Barnard, TSC chairperson, did not want to disclose the final cost of the trip, saying the TSC needed to finalise all expenses and that total cost would be indicated in the final report. The deadline for the report on the outcome of the benchmarking excursion for individual TSC members is 5 August, and the final comprehensive report, which will include a breakdown of expenditure for the trip, will be released on 7 August and made available to the student body on the TSC’s social media pages.

Focus of the trip During the 6-day trip ending on 15 July, the TSC visited two universities, The Cairo University (CU) and The American University in Cairo (AUC). According to the TSC, AUC was chosen as, “The AUC stands as a crossroads for the world’s cultures and a vibrant forum for reasoned argument, spirited debate and understanding across the diversity of languages, facilities and human experiences”. South Africa also shares the challenge of integrating diverse cultures, which can be converted into a strength if managed correctly. There is a lot to learn from the esteemed AUC in this regard.”’

The TSC said that it focused on, among other things, how the tertiary institutions’ student life structures function, whether the universities have a co-curriculum for leadership development and CU and AUC’s general Constitution for student governance.

During an interview with the trip’s planning committee, which consisted of Barnard, Nosihle Msomi (academics portfolio) and Cara-lee Compton (TSC secretary), Perdeby asked the TSC what their mandate was with regard to taking such a trip as they were not a democratically-elected SRC. Barnard replied, “The discussion of the TSC's rights has been a topic of discussion the whole year. The TSC has till this day fulfilled the role of a fully constituted SRC by dividing the portfolios of 19 individuals between the 12 TSC members.

On responsibilities, the TSC has not excluded anything that a SRC will attend to and the powers [have] not been limited in other areas where responsibilities are allocated on a daily basis. Till this day there has been no investment in the TSC in the form of student leadership development. The TSC will also not attend the annual GIBS course which is aimed at this purpose, [whose] cost exceeds R300 000. Also, more than R700 000 has already been spent on study finance to students in need by the TSC. The benchmarking excursion is thus also aimed to invest in the leadership development of the TSC.” “We are only 12 members so the costs are less”, added Barnard.

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benchmarking trips CHAD JOHNSTON The UP Temporary Student Council (TSC) embarked on a benchmarking trip to Egypt from 9 to 15 July.

Students took to social media when it was revealed that the trip would allegedly cost R200 000 to fund. Perdeby had a look at previous benchmarking trips of previous Student Representative Council’s (SRCs).

2015

According to a 2015 SRC quarterly report, then-SRC president, Mosibudi Rasethaba, proposed that the SRC should look at benchmarking trips with international institutions and furthermore that benchmarking trips should be earlier and more frequent throughout the SRC’s term.

This was just after they had visited four institutions around the country – University of the Free State, University of Fort Hare, Rhodes University and Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University. The proposed cost of this trip was between R96 000 and R100 000. The actual cost could not be determined as Perdeby could not locate a report on this trip.

2016

According to the 2016 benchmarking proposal, the SRC intended to discuss the radical transformation of higher education in the country.

They identified four universities that they would visit – the University of the Free State, University of Western Cape, University of Cape Town and Stellenbosch University.

Thirteen out of the 17 SRC members attended the trip. Perdeby could not find any SRC reports online indicating the cost of this trip.

Student governance did not supply this figure either.

2017

According to Barnard, R130 000 was proposed for benchmarking. However, this was never approved or added to the 2017 budget.

Barnard said that the TSC “has not received a clear budget approval stating which proposed projects with the required funds are approved and allocated”. However, according to Barnard, “funds used for the TSC excursion however, [are] directly from [the] student leadership development funds of UP after the approval and endorsement of both Prof. De la Rey and [Prof] Koornhof”.

Finances - 2015, 2016 and 2017

According to the SRC portfolio budgets of 2015, 2016 and 2017, the budget allocated to benchmarking increased every year.

In 2015, R96 920 was allocated for benchmarking. However, this figure rose to R100 000 in 2016. The proposed budget for benchmarking this year is R130 000.

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Intervarsity News North West University (NWU-PUKKE) NWU-Pukke has withdrawn its suspension on a student who was accused of contravening the university’s social media policy due to his response to being called a monkey on Facebook. On 17 July, News24 reported that Jeandré Goliath had been suspended over his reaction to being called an ape by Hanno Bisschoff and would face disciplinary charges over “social media abuses”.

On 18 July, Vice-Chancellor of NWUPukke, Prof. Dan Kgwadi, released a statement saying he had decided to withdraw the case against Goliath as “evidence to be presented [did] not clearly justify the continuation of the matter”.

According to the statement, on 30 May, Bisschoff was fined R5 000 and was given a two year suspended sentence.

News | 24 July 2017

Tuks FM’s 67 hours for media freedom NTOMBI MKANDHLA

From 15 to 18 July, Tuks FM had a non-stop 67 hour-long drive by three of its presenters – Caitlin Webb, Nathi Dlamini and Duane van Wyk – in celebration of Mandela Day. Mandela Day took place on 18 July.

Coined #TuksFm67HoursBroadcastForMediaFreedom, it was the station’s way of commemorating Mandela Day. As Mandela was historically revered as being the voice of the oppressed, Patrick Maloyi, Station Manager at Tuks FM, said, “The broadcast will serve as a reminder that many, like Madiba, gave up their freedom so that we can enjoy ours.”

In a press release statement, Maloyi said “with concern” that freedom of expression has been under attack where South Africa has seen “recent events spotlighting the intimidation

of journalists”. “Freedom of expression is entrenched in the constitution thus it should be protected,” he added.

As a radio station that seeks to produce content that is both empowering and entertaining to listeners, Maloyi added that they are “nevertheless encouraged by continued efforts by all involved to improve the standard of journalism in the country.” This is in light of the captivity of photojournalist Shiraaz Mohamed in Syria who, according to News 24, was kidnapped on 10 January while he was travelling to Turkey. Mohamed had been taking pictures of the Syrian civil war. Maloyi said that Tuks FM hopes Mohamed’s freedom will be “realised soon”.

Maloyi added that it was important for Tuks FM to “safeguard their media freedom” and with the 67 hour long broadcast, the station was able to “pay their respects” to the people that continually fight for media freedom.

South Africa ranks 31st out of 180 countries in the 2017 World Press Freedom Index.

Maloyi describes this as “satisfactory” as he believes that “it still calls for vigilance in ensuring continued media freedom.”

Furthermore Maloyi highlighted the important role media has to play in society, calling it a “mirror where we as a country and a nation can see ourselves”.

Notable guests during the broadcast included representatives from the South African National Editors Forum (Sanef), World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF-SA) and Freedom of Expression Institute (FXI).

Webb, Van Wyk and Dlamini noted that although the drive was physically and emotionally taxing, they realised that it was for the greater good. Throughout the drive, Van Wyk said he hoped that their feat encouraged people to do even the minimum in commemorating Mandela Day.

Stellenbosch University (SU)

On 12 July, the three SU students who were linked to posting Nazi-like posters on the SU campus in May, were found guilty by the university’s central disciplinary committee.

The posters which drew from Nazi propaganda were titled “the Anglo-Afrikaner student”, and called on students to “fight for Stellenbosch”.

According to Huffington Post, the guilty students are each required to perform 100 hours of community service by the end of the first semester of 2018. Sixty of those hours have to have been completed by the end of the 2017 academic calendar. Furthermore, they need to complete a “restorative assignment” to help them “constructively engage on campus and address different narratives”. The assignment has to be submitted by February 2018. The remaining 40 hours of their community service has to incorporate the ideas they would have highlighted in the assignment.

University of Cape Town (UCT) Two UCT SRC members are facing charges following allegations of rape and sexual harassment. According to News 24, “over thirty cases of rape and sexual assault were reported at the University of Cape Town” in 2016. In a statement released by the UCT SRC, the two men, Sinawo Thambo and Masixole Mlandu, were allegedly “unanimously” suspended from the SRC in an “effort to advance the fight [against] gender-based violence”.

University of KwaZuluNatal (UKZN) At 34 years old, Prof. Thabo Msibi has been appointed Dean and Head of School of Education at UKZN. This makes him the youngest dean of a tertiary institution in South Africa. According to East Coast Radio’s website, Msibi obtained an honours degree in Education at UKZN before qualifying for a Master of Education degree from Columbia University and a PhD from the University of Cambridge.

The radio station adds that Msibi believes that one’s matric results do not determine success in life. “In many ways, it is about a test whether someone can regurgitate information and what level they can do so,” he said. Msibi added that it often does not breed critical thinking – an important tool to have as an adult.

Compiled by Ntombi Mkandhla

Zinnia (left) and Olienhout (right) performing at the ladies and mens prelims respectively. Photo: Kay O’Brien

Zinnia and Olienhout announced victors at Serrie Prelims SHAUN SPROULE On 20 July, STUKU announced the results from the Serrie Prelims on Facebook Live.

Zinnia with their “Addiction” theme placed first for the ladies’ residences, and Olienhout found success with their “A Million Ways to Die in the West” theme. The results are based on the preliminary rounds, and were not judged by STUKU, who only facilitated the event.

For the ladies, Zinnia placed first, Curlitzia came second with their “Genie in the Lamp”

theme, Erika came third with their “Joker” theme, Nerina came fourth with “Revenge Body” and Vividus Ladies came fifth as “Parish Pickpockets”. For the men, Olienhout came first, Mopanie came second with their “German” theme, “Retro Rugby” Olympus came third, Taaibos came fourth as “White Walkers” and Boekenhout placed fifth with their “Survival” theme.

Olienhout and Erika won Best Reception, and Zinnia and Mopanie won Best Theme.

Serrie is a collective dance competition between the university residences usually

consisting of Prelims, where all the residences perform in front of each other, and Finals where the top five men’s and the top five ladies’ residences perform for the title. This year Finals were cancelled after pictures of members of the men’s residences holding signs objectifying and insulting the performers from the ladies’ residences circulated on social media.

This was reportedly done to distract the ladies’ performers. The men holding up the signs in the photographs faced disciplinary proceedings.

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24 July 2017 | News

5

2018 SRC elections under way

CHAD JOHNSTON The Department of Student Affairs (DSA) has announced that the election season for the 2018 SRC has commenced. In a statement released on 18 July, the DSA announced that the polls for the 2018 SRC elections will run from 21 to 23 August between 07:00 and 19:00, via an e-voting system. Nominations opened on 18 July and will close at 16:00 on 1 August.

In the statement, the DSA said that “this is a major change and it should bring convenience and increased participation, and it should assist in securing the integrity of the election process, and in delivering accurate results within the quickest time”.

The logistics of the electoral process will

be overseen by the national Independent Electoral Commission (IEC). According to the statement, election committees have been established and an auditing firm has been appointed to monitor the process.

Nomination forms are available on ClickUP, the DSA reception, and IEC offices which can be found on all external campuses. “Voter education” will be provided as the process will be completely electronic. The DSA implored students to participate in the election to “enhance the democracy on campus and make sure that we have strong and capable student leaders”.

More information will be available soon via Perdeby, TuksFM and various SRC social media accounts.

UP withdraws from ATKV Serenade HENRI UYS UP has withdrawn from the annual ATKV Serenade Competition.

In a letter addressed to the ATKV, Prof. Koornhof, acting Vice-Principal of Student Affairs, stated the reasons for UP’s withdrawal from the competition.

According to Prof. Koornhof, the decision to withdraw was considered in 2016 due to #AfrikaansMustFall protests and subsequent transformation talks. Prof. Koornhof said, “The University decided in 2016 not to withdraw from the competition due to the fact that the national final round was to be held at UP.” Prof. Koornhof said that the decision to withdraw was made by the university’s Student Culture Committee (STUKU) and that the decision was supported by UP

management. STUKU is responsible for organizing UP’s own internal serenade competition and for organising UP’s participation in the national serenade competition.

Prof. Koornhof said that various parties were consulted before the final decision to withdraw was made in May this year.

These parties included the Temporary Student Committee (TSC), STUKU, House Committees from residences and day houses, as well as the university’s management.

Rikus Delport, UP spokesperson, said that the decision to withdraw from the ATKV Serenade Competition was not influenced by the events surrounding the cancellation of Serrie in May. Serrie Finals were cancelled after sexist and derogatory posters shown at the Serrie prelims caused outrage from students on social media.

Tuks FM volunteers handed over a cheque for funds raised during 2016 to Dr Willem Jorissen (Deputy Director: Student Affairs). Image provided.

Tuks FM Woolly Winter campaign NTOMBI MKANDHLA Since early June, Tuks FM has been running their annual Woolly Winter campaign, where members of the public as well as students and staff of the university are encouraged to submit donations to the Tuks FM studio.

In a press release statement, the radio station acknowledges that for many students, “winter consists of fighting the icy cold”. Furthermore, this year’s unstable economic climate has highlighted the dire need students have for food, toiletries, warm clothing and textbooks that students have. “We’ll take anything, really,” Patrick Maloyi, station manager of Tuks FM said. However, he noted that in previous years, the station received a huge response for toiletries and textbooks.

According to Maloyi, Tuks FM has the “most giving listeners” as listeners have shown unwavering support for their campaign every year. “Whatever we give is in the name of our listeners,” he added. The “overwhelming success” of last year’s campaign saw Tuks FM hand over a cheque to the deputy director of Student Affairs, Dr. Willem Jorissen, and Priscilla Malaza of the Student Nutrition and

Progress Programme (SNAPP) on 2 June. “To put it simply, Tuks FM acts as the receiver of the donations,” Maloyi said. He then went on to explain that UP, through its channels, then dispatches the donations to the students in need.

Dr Jorissen, in the press release statement, shared his appreciation for the ongoing support from donors in the campaign. “These funds will be used to purchase non-perishable foods and toiletries for students in need and who do not have the financial capability of providing for themselves,” he said.

As Tuks FM is a campus radio station, Maloyi stressed that in essence, any company which advertises with Tuks FM directly funds students. “At Tuks FM, any money that we make eventually flows down to students,” Maloyi added.

“If you’re a company out there and you want to donate [to the Woolly Winter campaign] we will make sure to give you free publicity,” he added. This is an incentive for donors to respond to the campaign before 31 August in exchange for free exposure on air.

All goods can be dropped off at the Tuks FM studio on week days between 08:00 and 16:00.

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Features | 24 July 2017

Controlling the mosquito problem

Image: Pixabay

SAM MUKWAMU

Image: Michelle Hartzenberg

Ray Phiri: a legend that will live on SERISHKA MOODLEY On 12 July, South Africa bid farewell to the iconic jazz musician, Ray Phiri. The legendary artist succumbed to his long-standing battle with lung cancer during the early morning. According to the Daily Maverick, the 70 year-old musician was surrounded by loved ones when he died.

Phiri co-founded the instrumental band called Cannibals in

1971. The band represented the soul of Soweto. It included Isaac Mtshali, Thabo Lloyd Lelosa and Jabu Sibumbe, along with Ray Phiri. These members later joined Phiri in founding Stimela.

Stimela became famous for hits such as “I Hate Telling a Lie”, “Look, Listen and Decide”, “Trouble in the Land of Plenty”, “Whispers in the Deep” and “Where Did We Go Wrong?” Stimela’s soul-filled music was a mainstay for music fans all across Southern Africa, and they inspired their fans through their socially conscious lyrical content and upbeat live performances.

During 1987 and 1990, Ray Phiri toured with Paul Simon.

His unique guitar work and songwriting ability caught the attention of Simon who, shortly thereafter, tapped him to become one of the core musicians to form part of the Graceland album. Phiri soon became the very heartbeat of the Graceland album, and with that, was able to secure his place as a world-class guitarist and musician.

In 2011, Phiri was awarded the Order of Ikhamanga in Silver for his contribution to the South African music industry. In 2012, during the 18th South African Music Awards, he earned the Lifetime Achievement Award.

In the beginning of this year, Phiri joined Black Major Artist Management. He was set to release various productions, but sadly was unable to when his health took a turn for the worse.

Ray Phiri leaves behind an iconic repertoire, ensuring that listeners are able to connect to his legacy although he is no longer with us.

When asked what the most dangerous animal in the world is, most people would assume something notorious for causing harm to humans, like a snake or a crocodile. Humanity’s most efficient killer is actually the mosquito. It has the ability to carry and transmit various bacteria, viruses and parasites that cause very serious diseases. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), “up to 500 million cases [of mosquito-borne diseases] occur every year, 90% of them in Africa, and there are up to 2.7 million deaths annually”. These mosquito-borne diseases include malaria, yellow fever, West Nile virus, Zika virus and dengue fever.

On 26 April, a paper published by Science Translational Medicine released details of a new antimalarial drug candidate, MMV390048, which is effective against the entire parasitic life cycle and resistant strains of the malaria parasite. The research was conducted by the University of Cape Town (UCT)’s Drug Discovery and Development Centre, H3D, Medicines for Malaria Venture (MMV), as well as a team of international researchers.

The MMV390048 drug, also known as MMV048, is described as having the potential of curing malaria symptoms with just one dose. Prof. Kelly Chibale, Founder and Director of H3D, and senior author of the paper said, “The ability of MMV048 to block all life cycle stages of the malaria parasite, offer protection against infection as well as potentially block transmission of the parasite from person to person suggests that this compound could contribute to the eradication of malaria”. Initial optimism on the drug goes as far back as 2014, when it became the first new antimalarial drug to enter phase I of human studies in Africa.

Preparations for phase IIa human trials are now underway.

Mosquitoes have been hard to stop from spreading diseases.

Different species of mosquito prefer different methods of feeding, either indoors or outdoors. It is easier to control indoor feeding mosquitoes with the use of insecticide treated mosquito nets and indoor spraying. Outdoor-feeding mosquitoes are harder to control as they cannot all be reached. Prof. Maureen Coetzee of the Wits Research Institute for Malaria commented on this, saying, “In terms of the other mosquito-borne diseases, like dengue and yellow fever, these are transmitted by Aedes mosquitoes. These are mosquitoes that breed in small containers, discarded tyres, tin cans. That kind of environment is what they really like, and they bite during the day. So, they are not controllable through the bed nets or through the spraying of houses. The only real way at the moment that people have of controlling these mosquitoes is to use larvae sites, and as you can imagine, finding every discarded tyre and tin can is just impossible.”

Another reason as to why mosquitoes have been so hard to control is their ability to adapt to insecticides. According to Prof.

Coetzee, mosquitoes have become more resistant to insecticides as the number of mosquito nets have increased,. “In the last fifteen years Africa has seen the roll out of [mosquito] nets increase exponentially, I mean there’s just millions and millions of [mosquito] nets being distributed across the continent. As the bed nets have increased, so has the insecticide resistance increased among the mosquito population,” Prof. Coetzee said.

She also spoke about the way in which parasites and viruses carried by mosquitoes have been adapting and becoming resistant to drugs. She spoke of drugs such as chloroquine which are no longer used, due to resistance. She said that the parasites developed a resistance to this drug in South-East Asia, and inevitably it spread to Africa.

There is extensive research being conducted on intervention and control methods to stem the spread of malaria-borne diseases. Prof. Coetzee said “there’s a group in Australia that is doing some innovative work using a bacterial symbiont that if the mosquito is infected with the symbiont, then the virus cannot replicate. The idea is to make sure that all Aedes populations are infected with this symbiont. It doesn’t kill the mosquito but it makes them unsuitable for the virus to replicate in, and in that way, they hope to bring down the incidents of dengue and yellow fever in particular.”

Mosquitoes and the diseases they carry have been of significant interest to researchers for many years, and have led to new questions constantly arising. Profe. Coetzee’s opinion is that “there are very interesting and important questions that need to be answered still. We’re a long way from knowing even a quarter of what goes on in both the mosquito and the pathogens that they carry.” One can only hope that researchers such as Prof. Coetzee find the answers that they need, for the sake of the millions at risk.

24 July 2017 | Features

7

New hope for opioid addicts

Image: Michelle Hartzenberg

SAVANNAH PLASKITT According to the South African Community Epidemiology Network on Drug Use (SACENDU), up to 26% of patients in specialist treatment centres reported heroin as their primary drug of abuse. But there may soon be a safer alternative available for Opioid addicts in Pretoria. Working with the University of Pretoria, the City of Tshwane is providing Opioid Substitution Therapy (OST) at seven clinics in Pretoria and surrounding townships.

In May, Executive Mayor of Tshwane, Solly Msimanga said, “The agreement between the City of Tshwane and the University of Pretoria was finalised in June 2016 and funds were made available in August 2016.” In a 16 March article published in The Citizen titled ‘Tshwane, Tuks join forces to tackle drug abuse’, Msimanga said that “measures to address drug abuse have resulted in the city engaging with the university as a partner in the fight against substance abuse.” Msimanga went on to say “the approach to dealing with substance abuse has shifted from sending users either to jail or to rehabilitation centres where withdrawal and

total abstinence are the sole aim. It has now moved to a human rights, harm reduction and health care approach where early detection, hard reduction and care in the community through relationship building, support and re-integration into the society are the main focus. The [community-oriented primary care] COPC, brief interventions, opioid substance therapy (OST) and a needle exchange programme are central to this approach. The Department of Health and Social Development are engaged in the development and monitoring of the project. A medical doctor, registered nurse, clinical associates and social workers have been trained and they have already started the screening of substance users at homes and have initiated treatment at several sites.” Gauteng already has 14 specialist treatment centres, where according to SACENDU 3 989 patients were treated between January and June in 2016 Jannie Hugo, University of Pretoria’s head of Family Medicine department, told Bhekisisa that the Gauteng programme is already seeing results in its initial two months. He says it strengthens the argument that OST should be increasingly available in the public sector – a call supported by the country’s latest HIV plan. Hugo explains: “Our experience is that it makes a significant difference.

The person is able to build a normal life as the cravings are controlled. We are of opinion that OST should be made available widely for use in primary health care as part of a comprehensive care programme to deal with substance use.”

Opioids include prescription painkillers and heroin, which according to the South African Addiction Medicine Society (SAAMS) is the most frequently used illicit opioid in South Africa, and the fourth most common substance of abuse overall with a prevalence of 7.9%. In South Africa there are several common versions of heroin such as “sugars”, a mixture of cheap heroin, cocaine, and often other dangerous substances such as rat poison; “nyaope”, common in Gauteng, is heroin mixed with cannabis; and “woonga”, which is common in Durban and contains heroin mixed with a variety of substances, sometime including crystal methamphetamine.

According to SAAMS, the prevalence of heroin in South Africa is due to increased opium production in Afghanistan and South Africa’s location along one of Africa’s main drug trafficking routes.

Opiates produce painful withdrawal symptoms. When in the system, opiates bind to opioid receptors on the brain (creating the pain relieving effects drugs such as Morphine are known for) and produce a secondary effect, causing the release of dopamine

– the body’s ‘reward’ neurotransmitter. The dopamine in turn suppresses the release of norepinephrine, causing the user to feel calm and sleepy. Over time, physical dependence and tolerance occur. DrugAbuse.com explains physical dependence as “the brain transition to functioning normally when the substance is present and abnormally when the drug is unavailable” and tolerance as “the brain will begin to register less of a dopamine response when the opiate is used like it did initially. The person will need to consume higher doses of the substance more often to produce the same level of wanted effects.”

DrugAbuse.com also explains that the extreme withdrawal symptoms “with tolerance driving increasing patterns of use and physical dependence in place, someone who suddenly attempts to end use will experience a combination of very low dopamine levels and very high noradrenaline levels. This out-of-balance neurotransmitter combination helps to explain some of the unpleasant opiate withdrawal symptoms that begin to arise.” These withdrawal symptoms, including nausea, vomiting, and muscle pains, can “begin between 12 and 30 hours after last use and will last between 4 and 10 days in most situations, although someone withdrawing from a longer-acting opioid drug like methadone will require up to 21 days to end this acute withdrawal phase”, says DrugAbuse.com. The only way to prevent withdrawal symptoms is to continue to take opioids. This is where the opioid replacement therapy comes in. According to a 2011 article titled ‘Opioid substitution therapy in resource-poor settings’ in the Bulletin of the World Health Organization, “Opioid substitution therapy supplies illicit drug users with a replacement drug, a prescribed medicine such as methadone or buprenorphine, which is usually administered orally in a supervised clinical setting.” These drugs allow users to avoid withdrawal symptoms, but do not give them a “high”.

Another risk for illegal opioid users is contracting HIV. In an article Bhekisisa published on 30 May titled ‘New Gauteng programme allows drug users to swap illegal highs for safer alternatives’, “People who inject drugs are at a high risk of HIV and Hepatitis C infection, in part because users may share needles.

A five city study conducted in South Africa found that the HIV prevalence rate among injecting drug users was about 40% higher than that of the general population, according to 2016 research published in the International Journal of Drug Policy.”

OST also provides patients with counselling, job skills training, and tests for HIV and Hepatitis C.

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24 July 2017 | Entertainment

9

St. Lorient presents “Untitled”

Die Heuwels speaks Liefde By Die Dam CARINA KLOPPERS

Provided. Artwork from “Untitled” exibition

CLAUDINE NOPPE “Untitled” is a vibrant and exciting new group exhibition that can be seen at The Viewing Room at St. Lorient Fashion and Art Gallery.

This display showcases Pretoria-based artists Neo Mahlangu and Ilandi Barkuizen, as well as sculptors such as Jana Schilling, who specialises in ceramic works, and Simon Radebe who uses concrete for his masterpieces. Neo Mahlangu comments on society with her charcoal and watercolour paintings. She incorporates scenes of poverty with social media icons to create pieces that make you think, such as her piece “Can I go a day without it?”. The piece shows a boy holding out an empty bowl while a ‘Facebook-like’ icon falls from the sky like a water droplet. This begs the question: can we go a day without social media while some people go days without nourishment?

Liandi Barkhuizen and Palesa Mokwena took important issues and created art, with abuse and feminism as inspiration.

Barkhuizen depicts disturbing images of abuse and gore on circular paintings done with oil on pig leather. Her piece titled

“Do you feel powerful now?” shows a woman who has been beaten. Her work is important, since violence against women and children is something that happens on a daily basis.

Mokwena’s series Cosmos Existential Feminism is a presentation of how women are seen only as breeding machines by society.

The utilisation of different mediums such as permanent markers, enamel paint and spray paint created this artist’s magical three painting series Hydromancy, which depicts humans as the immortal beings of the sea: jellyfish.

An artist who has been on the scene for a while, Katlego Modiri, is also showing at this exhibition. His use of ink on paper demonstrates futuristic astronauts in his piece “Phantasmagoria” while “Teen Angst Too” outlines a person in bright red. There seems to be a contrast in colours to all his work, whether he uses purple and orange in one drawing or the use of bright red accents on white paper and black ink.

This exhibition is a beautifully put together showcase of different artists who use a wide variety of mediums to create amazing art that speaks to the soul. “Untitled” will be shown until 15 August.

Popular South African band, Die Heuwels Fantasties, will be performing alongside Laurika Rauch, Francios van Coke, Riana Nel, Majozi, Jo Black and many more at Liefde By Die Dam. This celebration of youth and South African music will take place on 6 August at the Emmarentia Dam in Johannesburg. Perdeby spoke to Die Heuwels Fantasties (Pierre Greef, Hunter Kennedy, Fred den Hartog and Shelden Yoko) about their new album, OKAY!, and the upcoming event.

As one of South Africa’s most recognisable and well-known bands, do you still get awestruck (or even jittery) when performing?

Sometimes! It depends. But it usually disappears when we start playing. Then you’re in, no turning back.

What would you say was the highlight of working on your new album, OKAY!?

So many highlights! But recording at sunset was the best time.

Writing poolside in the burbs, writing seaside in Vleesbaai. Good times.

The new album also features several collaborations with other singers and artists. Who did you particularly enjoy working with?

All the colab artists were amazing. I have two favourites, though.

JR’s performance on Kalmeer and Hiram’s sax solo on Sheila are special things I hold close to my heart.

On 14 July, you performed at Liefde By Die Arena at Grand West, Cape Town. Was it everything you expected it to be?

I didn’t really expect anything, so yeah, it was friggin’ awesome. I try to lower my expectations.

With the vibrant variety of artists that will be performing at Liefde By Die Dam, what can fans expect and look forward to most?

The line-up is wonderfully diverse, so there is something for every member of the family. There are also more collaborations to look out for – and then for the good of it all, leave your picnic blanket behind like last year – for the Liefde Wen charity drive.

See you there!

Photo: Stefan Stander. Band of medical students, Kadawer, perform at Pulse-Intercare Talent show.

23rd Annual PulseIntercare Talent UP rapper Shonaman releases Rebels Show Provided. Shonaman, a student at UP, releases EP Rebels.

SERISHKA MOODLEY

Shonaman, a fourth year Social Work student at UP, has been working hard on the release of his EP entitled Rebels, and after much anticipation he is finally ready to share it with everyone.

You said that your music is related to who you are spiritually. How has your music changed on a spiritual platform?

Yeah, my music is more spiritual. I have grown up a lot and understand things a lot better. Since I got involved with church, my music and identity have changed dramatically.

What sets your music apart from other student rappers?

I don’t compare myself to other rappers. At the end of the day, the music is all universal. However, I am a Christian so my music often reflects my beliefs. I would say that that’s what sets me apart.

Can you describe what Rebels is all about?

Whenever you do something, people have the tendency to place you in a box. They assume that you are just like every other rapper. I make music for those that are out there that want to learn more about Christianity. And that’s what Rebels is all about. It’s about me redefining what the church expects

of me and in the process educating others about it.

The EP was previously called Price Paid Already. Does the change in the name represent your development as an artist?

I started working on the EP in 2014. When I started recording, I was still learning about certain things. As time went by, I started speaking to people who taught me about life, and that helped me develop into the artist I am today. The name change represents my growth as an artist.

It has taken you a while to release the EP. What made you wait so long?

I was worried about the quality of the work. I didn’t want to rush and produce something that wasn’t up to standard. I wanted the quality of the music to be of a high standard. In doing that, I met new producers and learnt how to market myself in a way that would attract fans. All this exposure took time to manifest into Rebels.

What is the best piece of advice you have ever been given?

Don’t ever give up and don’t compare yourself to anyone. If you want to do something, just do it. We all have different purposes in life, so there’s no point in comparing yourself to others. Just be true to yourself.

SHAUN SPROULE

On 16 July, the 23rd annual Pulse-Intercare Talent Show was held at the Musaion Theatre on Hatfield campus, giving medical students a chance to showcase their talents. This year’s event consisted of dance, poetry, singing, acting, an art exhibition and recitals on various instruments.

The masters of ceremony, Jannes Badenhorst and Laura de Bruin, entertained the audience between performances with their humour and easy stage presence. Performers of various ages represented different areas of study including Occupational Therapy, Dentistry, Radiography and Medicine. Performances showcased a range of talents from Appolonia Malapane’s reading of her poem “Eyes”, to a Spanish guitar crowd favourite performed by Stephan Brink and Juandre van den Berg. Some of the best performances of the night included the band Kadawer, formed especially for the night, with their rendition of Toto’s “Hold the line” and Michelle Marx’s performance of “Creep” by Radiohead.

Performances for the event are chosen by a panel of judges comprising of lecturers from the Medical faculty and the Pulse Committee.

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Fun and Games | 24 July 2017

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The Top 10

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Untitled

Top 10 bittersweet things about being back on campus:

1 5

2 6

3 7

4 8

5 9

10

6 11

1.

The new Game of Thrones season started.

2.

You’re a tiny step closer to graduation.

3.

You have an excuse to get out of family functions.

4.

The jacarandas will be out soon.

5.

It’s a shorter semester than the first.

6.

The sun will rise earlier, so you don’t have to get up for your 7:30 lecture in the dark.

7.

You’re six months closer to the end of Trump’s term as president.

8.

Oppikoppi and Rocking the Daisies are approaching.

9.

We’re closer to having an SRC that we actually voted for.

12

13

7

14

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The new semester brings about a range of mixed feelings. You miss waking up at 10:00 every day, but this is the start of the end of the year. Perdeby has picked up on the top 10 bittersweet things about being back.

10

Untitled Across

Down 1

2. Bastard surname of Dorne

1. Isle of sapphires 2

4. Number of actors who have played the Mountain

10. The res house weeks are nearly over.

3. Number of new gods

6. Largest of Daenerys Targaryen’s dragons

5. What Khal drogo calls ships

8. Kissed by fire

7. He drinks and he knows things

10. Stark ancestral sword

3 9. Name of Rickon’s direwolf

13. A pirate who has a good name for songs 4

14. Name of Arya’s sword

11. The greatest city that ever was or everFor will be how 12. No one knows how old she is

Down 5

1. Isle of sapphires 3. Number of new gods

The Perdeby poll much longer will you be attending your classes this semester?

• I will be going to all the classes everyday

6

5. What Khal drogo calls ships

• For another week, then I will get back to sleeping in

7. He drinks and he knows things 9. Name of Rickon’s direwolf 7

11. The greatest city that ever was or ever will be 12. No one knows how old she is

•

What attendance?

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Vote now on perdeby.co.za 9

11

10

12

13

14

Across

Down

2. Bastard surname of Dorne

1. Isle of sapphires

4. Number of actors who have played the Mountain

3. Number of new gods

6. Largest of Daenerys Targaryen’s dragons

5. What Khal drogo calls ships

8. Kissed by fire

7. He drinks and he knows things

24 July 2017 | Sport

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Illustration: Michelle Hartzenberg Illustration: Michal-Maré Linden

Second semester sport lookout ANTHONY JORDAAN Following a highly successful start to the UP 2017 sporting calendar in the first semester, the juggernaut that is TuksSport has been tempered, if only momentarily, as the result of a brief hiatus as students and athletes alike return from the mid-year recess.

Expectations, however, have not been quelled as Varsity Sport begins again in relentless fashion with the return of Varsity Football this month. 2017 has proved to be an unforgettable year for most sporting codes at the University of Pretoria, as the university’s trophy cabinet continues to fill up at an alarming rate. Success for UP in the first half of the year came with victories in the Varsity Athletics, Varsity Cup and Varsity Hockey tournaments.

Athletes participating in sporting codes and tournaments throughout the second semester of the year will similarly be looking to contribute towards what is shaping up to be an unparalleled level of success for the UP. With preparations having occurred throughout the year and pre-season training now at an end, Varsity Football will be the first sporting code to return. The competition will get underway on July 27, with the tournament marked as the fifth

instalment.

Varsity Netball will return for its fifth season, as the Tuks women squad look to break an extended period of misfortune in the competition. The competition will get underway in September, as Tuks ladies will be hopeful for 2017 to be the year the team finally claims their first Varsity Netball Championship. The team will be looking to put the most recent disappointment of the 2016 campaign behind them, after completing the season unbeaten only to fall at the final hurdle to Pukke in the final, 55-56.

In addition to the two showpiece events for the remainder of the 2017 season, the TuksArchery winter challenge, as well as the NG Provincial Indoor tournament, both get underway in mid-August. This comes following the Autumn championships in which individuals shot both provincial and national qualification scores.

The mid-year interval is now at an end, and students once more fill the campuses of the university, as the sport calendar is once more in full tilt. What’s to come from the remainder of the calendar year remains to be seen. For all that is yet to come, the second half of the year promises to be anything but dull.

Varsity Football fast approaches

ANTHONY JORDAAN

A new semester brings with it a renewed determination and focus for students, both in the classroom and on the sporting field. For the players at TuksFootball there is perhaps an added incentive, with Varsity Football now in its fifth season. TuksFootball will be looking to continue the stream of success for the UP as they look to become the first team to win the prestigious tournament for a third time.

Action will get underway later this week on July 27, when two-time champions Tuks will travel to current defending champions TUT in a match set up as one that may establish the tone for the season. Meanwhile, last year’s finalists, UJ will travel to the Central University of Technology (CUT).

Alternating from last year’s format in which matches were played on Monday nights, games this year will take place on Thursday evenings in order to best accommodate student athletes, as well as to support the student academic and social calendar.

Following crowd attendances of more than 100 000 people throughout the duration of the 2016 season, Tuks will be especially hopeful of attracting large turnouts on the chilly winter nights. The team will have renewed inspiration as, over the years, Varsity Football has become

more than just a tournament, but rather a competition in which talent is highlighted and careers are launched.

Following the successes of the Varsity Hockey and Varsity Athletics tournaments earlier this year, the interest of students and staff alike at the university has been particularly piqued. This comes just at the right time as TuksFootball look to expand on an already impressive trophy cabinet for 2017. Participation in the tournament doesn’t come without restrictions however, as students will only be permitted to participate in the tournament if they have achieved a minimum of 60 credits in their previous year of study.

This system was introduced in order to ensure that while athletes may be planning for a career in football, they are also preparing for a life beyond sport. Tuks athletes will further be looking to re-ignite their claim to the prestigious university tournament.

Following the opening years of the competition in which TuksFootball were back to back champions in 2013 and 2014 respectively, the team has since struggled to attain the same levels of success after ending fifth on the overall log in 2016. The team can however take heart, as former varsity players have gone on to play for teams in the PSL, as well as represent the national side Bafana Bafana.

Sport UP’s women’s hockey team. Photo:www.up.ac.za Facebook page

Flip through Perdeby online www.perdeby.co.za

TuksChess Team. Image Provided

UP represents at USSA Championships KWAZI SOKHELA The mid-year winter recess provided the occasion for the 2017 University Sports South Africa (USSA) Championships, which is an annually contested intervarsity competition between various institutions throughout the country spanning across several sporting disciplines. A large contingent of the University of Pretoria’s sports clubs featured prominently and took home either gold, silver or bronze medals in their respective sporting disciplines.

The University of the Witwatersrand (Wits) played host to a variety of sporting codes including hockey, rugby, chess and gymnastics. It was in two of these sporting codes that UP ultimately emerged victorious. It was the UP women’s hockey team that set the early precedent as they went one step further this year by taking top honours at the 2017 USSA Hockey event, which took place from 28 June to 2 July, when they defeated the University of Johannesburg (UJ) 1-0 in the A-section final. The men’s team placed in third position earning themselves a bronze medal in their efforts with victory over Wits.

UP were also able to showcase their brainpower as TuksChess were crowned champions of the 2017 USSA chess tournament also hosted at Wits from 3 July to 7 July. The women’s chess team, which consisted of six players, placed in first position and the men’s team, which consisted of 10 players, finished in third. TuksChess chairperson Godfrey Kgatle said of the team’s experience of participating in the competition, “I think this has been one of the most memorable experience[s] that these players would have enjoyed as chess players or as sportsman in a long

time. They went there with the idea of having fun, playing the game, winning the game, and that’s exactly what they came back with”.

On the soccer field, TuksFootball men’s and women’s teams displayed strong performances during the football tournament that took place at (UJ) from 3 July to 7 July. After a tight and tense A-section final, the men’s side narrowly missed out on claiming the 2017 USSA football title when they were defeated 4-5 on penalties against their formidable city rivals Tshwane University of Technology (TUT). When asked about his views regarding the team’s performance during the tournament, coach Jan “Mabuza” Motaung answered, “I think the boys did well in the tournament simply because we lost the only game in the final on penalties, and the whole week we only conceded one goal and we scored [in] every game that we played. And when you look also at the possession, we dominated all the games that we played, so for me that is a good performance”. The women’s team managed to make it as far as the semi-final stages but were beaten 1-0 by the University of the Western Cape (UWC). They came out 1-0 victors against UJ in the third and fourth playoff match to finish in third position and claim a bronze medal at the end of the tournament. Both the men’s and women’s football teams will now turn their attention towards the upcoming 2017 Varsity Football competition.

Among other notable performances, the TuksSquash women’s team showed their prowess by achieving gold at the 2017 USSA competition that took place at UJ from 3 July to 7 July.

TuksTennis took home the silver medal and managed for the first time in 12 years to qualify for the final of a USSA competition.

Tuks athletes heat up the winter break EMMANUEL OLUSEGUN UP’s junior and senior track and field stars have kept busy during this past winter break, pulling off a string of impressive performances both locally and internationally.

The university’s junior athletes formed part of the SA team that competed at the IAAF World U/18 Athletics Championships in July. From 12 to 16 July, the Moi International Sports centre in Nairobi, Kenya played host to the championships, marking the first time the event has been held on the continent.

Day one of the competition saw TuksSport High school Sprinter Tshenolo Lemao take Gold in the boys’ 100m final.

Lemao’s winning time of 10.57 seconds saw him become the first South African athlete ever to win a 100m world title. Compatriot, Retshidisitswe Mlenga, finished a close second in a time of 10.61 seconds to secure a historic one-two finish for team SA. The duo would go in to secure an equally impressive one-two finish in the 200m event, with Mlenga taking first place honours and Lemao coming in second. Fellow TuksSport High School athlete Zazini Sokwakhana seemed to draw inspiration from the Mlenga and Lemao’s performances as he too raced to victory in the boys 400m hurdles final in 49.27 seconds.

Team SA’s gold medal haul would be added to by another hurdler as Zeney van der Walt stormed to victory in the girls’ 400m hurdles final. Not to be outdone by the track athletes, high jumper Breyton Poole cleared 2.24 metres in the boys’ final to register Team SA’s fourth gold of the championships. The team continued to move up the medals table with javelin athlete Johannes Schlebusch winning silver in the boys’ final, recording a personal best throw of 75.68 metres. As the games drew to a close,

Gold medalist Tshenolo Lemai. Photo:www.up.ac.za Facebook page

two further medals were added to the Team SA collection as field athletes Jonathan de Lacey and Morné Brandon both won bronze medals in the men’s shot put and discus finals respectively.

Elsewhere around the globe, Tuks hurdler Rikenette Steenkamp took part in the Gothenburg Athletics Grand Prix on 11 July.

Looking to build on her impressive sub-13 second run in Ostrava (Czech Republic), in June, Steenkamp overcame both the tough competition (the field included former junior world champion Isabelle Pedersen) and a strong headwind to claim her 4th victory in five meetings. “For me it was important to go out and have a solid performance and that’s exactly what I did. I’m quite happy with the win,” Steenkamp said when reflecting on the race. As the international athletics season nears its climax with the upcoming Senior World Championships and World Student Games, Tuks Athletics continues to show its depth in quality at both junior and senior levels.

Lawrence Brittain. Image provided.

Catching up with Lawrence Brittain LORINDA MARRIAN HPC rower and Olympic Silver medallist Lawrence Britain is one of South Africa’s top athletes. Perdeby caught up with the rower to discuss his successes, current season and his family of competitive rowers.

How is your season going so far?

Usually the season after the Olympics is a bit calmer, but with five A finals and only one medal at the Rio Games we have started the hunt for Tokyo with the real purpose. Rowing is gaining momentum quickly in South Africa so whilst people are still interested we need to capitalise on it and keep raking in the results.

The season so far has been awesome with some amazing local racing. Most notably winning the Buffalo Grand Challenge, South Africa’s most prestigious rowing race, with my three brothers. We race together in the Four against another Tuks Crew with three Olympians. It was a fantastic race and it was amazing to win it with my brothers (a feat that has never been done before and will be really hard to replicate).

You are a very successful rower with many achievements including winning silver at the Olympics after beating cancer. How have you been able to manage all these great achievements?

I just take my life one step at a time. I really love competing and there is no greater satisfaction than winning so I strive to be the best I can possibly be. Silver at the Olympics was amazing but there is still gold so I still have a step higher to aim for. I also love what I do, other people might ask how I can sacrifice so much to do what I do but I don’t see it like that.

What is it like living in a family with so many competitive and successful rowers?

I am really lucky to be surrounded by the family I have, they have definitely helped make me who I am. I love how competitive we are with each other, not only in rowing but everything we do.

Although this can make it quite intense at times.

Your brother Matthew was just awarded The Order of Ikhamanga. Are you proud of your brother?

Yes, he is a huge role model of mine and over the years he has taught me a huge amount. I think it is awesome that they (rowing partner Shaun Keeling) have been recognised for their achievements. Their gold medal at the 2012 Olympics was rowing’s first Olympic gold medal and has given our team the belief and the momentum to keep performing on the World Stage.

What are your current goals and aspirations going forward?

The big goal is the Tokyo 2020 Olympics and that is in the back of my mind every stroke and every day. But the Olympics is still a long way away and if I obsess about the games for four years the chances are I will miss it. It is about the process that will get me there and making sure I seize every opportunity along the way and perform each year building up to the Games.

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