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Perdeby Tuks se amptelike studentekoerant / Official Tuks student newspaper / Kuranta ya baithuti ya semmušo ya Tuks
24March2014
Suspect caught stealing car
Twenty years of equal rights
year76issue09
Skrillex releases surprise album
Tuks crash out of Varsity Cup
and unskilled workers, the development for graduate students would be “great”. Ngeti Zwane, a final-year political science student, tweeted, “Just imagine a mathematics/actuarial [sciences] graduate teaching mathematics or being part of strategic thinkers at municipal level.” Not all students are excited at the prospect of having to undertake a year of mandatory community service. Some students have expressed concern about how they will finance
themselves during this year while others are doubtful as to how efficiently the programme will be enforced and monitored. Dr Laurel Becker, a senior lecturer from the Faculty of Education, said that, “Very careful planning will be needed if the plan is to be successful. One of the problems that will arise is already evident, in that many students who have bursaries will be unable to do community service as they are bound by the terms of their bursaries to begin working immediately in the company or the organisation that awarded the bursary.” She added that it would be a good idea to give graduates who are unable to find employment the option of doing a year’s worth of community service in order to gain experience in fields that are relevant to their degrees. “I am of the opinion that any sweeping decisions will prove to be unrealistic. When graduates find immediate employment, they are able to enter the job market and are then in a position to contribute to the economy in a meaningful way.” Ntsako Risenga, a final-year LLB student, said that the programme is a good initiative but added, “Unless they are going to fund the expenses incurred in getting the graduates places where they can do [community service], it will be a nightmare to administer and ensure proper and efficient participation.” In a statement issued on the same day as the ANC’s announcement, AfriForum Youth said that the programme would result in graduates leaving the country to work overseas. What do you think of the proposed programme? Send an email to perdeby@up.ac. za, tweet @perdebynews or vote on our online poll.
P10 P8 P12 P3 Compulsory community service for graduates? MAXINE TWADDLE The ANC national executive committee’s education and health sub-committee said last Monday that it aims to implement a programme requiring graduates to do a year of community service within the next five years. Graduates will be required to participate in the programme regardless of whether their degree was funded privately or by the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS). The programme replaces the graduate tax which was proposed at the ANC’s Mangaung elective conference last year. Delegates asked that the conference consider taxing people who graduate from institutions of higher education. The money raised from this tax was intended to be used for NSFAS, which would then be able to fund more undergraduate students. The proposal was rejected after public uproar. The committee then proposed that graduates whose degrees were financed by bursaries or loans (including NSFAS) be required to perform a year of community service. This was then expanded to include all graduates. Minister of Science and Technology Naledi Pandor, who chairs the committee, said that this would allow graduates to gain experience before they enter the job market. She said that graduates should consider how the community service can benefit them instead of only considering it a delay in their career. Nthabiseng Nooe, an engineering and environmental geology honours student, agrees and said, “Service to others is by far the most important aspect of personal development. Academia places a high emphasis on the individual, which is great because graduates need to be given credit for their work. But what is the real value of your grades?”
Illustration: Simon-Kai Garvie
Nooe added that, “A year of community service can show graduates the social application of their studies while also raising awareness of potential clients should one work for a corporate later.” Edward Hall, who is doing his postgraduate certificate in education, told Perdeby on Twitter that the programme could “evolve an elite group of people” who display both mental and intellectual strength. He added that, although there would be a greater gap between skilled
NSFAS shortfalls force students to drop out MOLEBOGENG MANGOALE A number of UP students have been forced to drop out due to the shortage of National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) funds. NSFAS failed to cover the 2013 fees of many students and, consequently, these students have been unable to register for the 2014 academic year. Earlier in January, the South African Students Congress (Sasco) embarked on a national strike at universities such as the Tshwane University of Technology, the University of Johannesburg and the Durban University of Technology. Due to the national strike Minister of Higher Education and Training Blade Nzimande allocated R1 billion to NSFAS to settle outstanding fees from 2013. At UP, outstanding fees from last year have still not been settled and students are still unable to register. Having recognised the problem, the university made provision that students with outstanding funds due to NSFAS could register for 2014, provided that they had achieved an academic average of over 50% and that a complete application for financial aid for 2014 had previously been submitted. The university said that students who did not fall into this category needed to make payment arrangements with Student Accounts. This arrangement included the stipulation that at least 50% of
the outstanding fees had to have been paid or covered by external funding before registration could be approved. The university says that it is aware of the announcement that has been made by the minister regarding the R1 billion allocation, but that it has not received an allocation for historic debt funding from NSFAS to date. “Should UP receive historic debt funding, qualifying students will be informed accordingly,” said the registrar’s office. In February the university opened up late applications for 24 hours for students who had not applied for financial aid for 2014. Only a few students could register. It is not clear what selection was based on or how many students registered. The registrar’s office said that, “It has always been communicated to students that an application for NSFAS funding does not guarantee an award [of a place at UP]. Certain NSFAS criteria and academic criteria need to be met in order to qualify for an award. Many students who applied for NSFAS did not qualify for awards.” “In addition to this, awards were subject to availability of funding, resulting in students who theoretically qualifying for awards not receiving any awards. UP acts as an agent for NSFAS and administers funding on the behalf of NSFAS.
Criteria and funding for awards are determined by NSFAS.” Selina Bojosi, a third-year BIS Publishing student, had to leave UP due to NSFAS’s lack of funds. Bojosi had received an internship that would also fund her studies this year, but ended up losing it because she was unable to register as a student for 2014. Bojosi owes R65 000 to the university. She told Perdeby that NSFAS did not send her an SMS to inform her to sign a contract last year. When she first inquired at the bursaries and loans section of Client Service Centre (CSC), she was told that her NSFAS application had not gone through. When she went to the CSC again, she was told that there was a shortage of funds. Bojosi said that although she has still not seen her final results due to the outstanding debt, she managed to find out from one of the employees at the NSFAS offices that she got an average of 61%. This means that, according to the provision that UP has made, Bojosi would have been eligible to register. She said that she was informed by NSFAS that the only reason why she cannot register is because she did not apply for NSFAS this year. Bojosi maintains that she did not apply because of her internship. Bojosi said that she was told that there is nothing that can be done to assist her.
Another Tuks student, a BA Law student that wishes to remain anonymous, said that he applied for NSFAS funding last year and was also told that funds had run out. He owed a total of R104 000 to UP. He was only able to register once he managed to find a sponsor that paid R64 000 of what he owed the university. He added that if NSFAS does not settle his outstanding fees, he will be faced with the same situation next year as his sponsor will not pay more. “All this time I did not have access to my final results. They told me that they could not help me and took me to Student Support. There I was advised by the psychologist that I should go and work,” he said. “The only thing I got [from NSFAS] was the R3 000 Eduloan card for books. They told me that I should wait for historic debt funding for 2014. When I did approach them this year they told me that there was no money,” he said. He added that he has been sleeping in the library for the first two months of the year as he did not have accommodation. It was only after he was able to register that he was placed in a residence. UP has said that it can assist students who applied for financial aid with university-managed loans. The maximum value of these loans is R20 000 and the student must provide two guarantors for the loan.
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Editorial
17 March ’14
Perdeby
Ray of unsunshine
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Editorial Editor-in-Chief Carel Willemse
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Remember last year August when acting SABC chief operation officer Hlaudi Motsoeneng said that, of information published by the media, 70% should be “positive”? Quite a few people
From the Editor
(although I don’t think too many of them have journalism qualifications) agreed with him, including President Zuma, who told a group of undergraduate journalism students that the media should help advertise South Africa’s tourism industry. Anyway, I’m willing to bet that people who like Motsoeneng’s 70-30 ratio get pretty excited when days like Human Rights Day come around. It’s the perfect excuse for nice, cheerful sunshine journalism. In a column for City Press called “I will be free when we are all free” published last Wednesday, TO Molefe commented that when journalists ask people what 20 years of freedom mean to them, they are looking for answers affirming South Africa’s transformation. The story they want to hear, Molefe says, is easy enough to tell, but “neither fair nor accurate”. Molefe’s column definitely doesn’t qualify as sunshine journalism. It’s pretty spot-on, though. It’s uncomfortable to read, but that’s the job of unsunshine journalism. It’s supposed to make people a bit uncomfortable. It’s quite unnerving to admit that human rights have, to some extent, just become a rhetoric that’s easy to adopt. It’s one thing to acknowledge that human rights are important. It’s another to make sure that you are actively involved in ensuring that the human rights of every single person are met. It’s easy to get complacent when you, or a group of people like you, are treated pretty well. I live in a flat in a nice area and I don’t
have to worry about water supply problems too often. Can I dismiss claims that South Africa is ignoring it’s citizens’ right to clean, usable water? No. Instead, by enjoying the right to something, I incur responsibility to make sure that other people can enjoy the same right. We can’t judge human rights in South Africa based on people who live in Houghton or Clifton. They’re part of South Africa’s success story (and colonialist history, perhaps) but they aren’t a true representation of the state of the nation. We need to consider a broader reality. When rights are not afforded to some South Africans, our rights as a country are infringed upon. We can’t take the easy way out by becoming complacent and only judging that which we know. Obviously this is a bit daunting. We have limited reach and influence. As much as we’d like to, we probably won’t change the world. We can try, though. So, what do we do? We do what Molefe did. We don’t tell the easy stories. We tell the difficult stories. We don’t carry on doing the things that we’ve always done. We start doing things that take us out of our comfort zone. We consider our own actions and make sure that whatever we do doesn’t infringe on any else’s right to anything. We speak out against injustice when we see it happening. It’s the small things that we do in our everyday lives that have a big impact on others. Max
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News
24 March ’14
Suspect caught stealing car Some students
still forced to sleep on campus ARON HYMAN
Tiegs at his car. Photo: Brad Donald
MOLEBOGENG MANGOALE A man was arrested on Lynnwood Road last Wednesday after an attempt to steal a car belonging to a UP student. The car, a blue VW Beetle, was parked next to Varsity Lodge at the time. The car belongs to Connor Tiegs, a fourth-year mechanical engineering student. He told Perdeby that he was in class when his friends Neil Geldenhuys and Shaun de Klerk called him to ask where he had parked his car. When he told them, they informed him that they had just seen a strange man in the vehicle. “We were driving from campus on Lynnwood Road when we saw a guy in Connor’s car,” said Geldenhuys. They turned around and when they came back, the suspect was no longer in the car. “We then saw him walking and that’s when we got out of the car and chased after him,” said De Klerk. They tackled him and prevented him from leaving the scene. De Klerk told
Perdeby that he recognised the suspect because about a week or two ago, he attempted to steal his sister’s car outside their home in Brooklyn. The suspect had an identical key to the car which he had tried to steal. It is not known where he got it from. He also had a screwdriver, a spanner, his phone and some cash. The Servest security guards of the City Improvement District were soon on the scene. When the police arrived at the scene, it emerged that the suspect already has two cases open against him for car theft. On 26 November last year he allegedly stole a car from the corner Burnett and Hilda Streets. His face had been captured on surveillance cameras in a hardware store that he had visited the previous day. The suspect seemed very calm and cooperated with the police and with the security guards. Tiegs has opened a case with the police.
A lack of transport has resulted in some students sleeping on campus for days at a time. The expense and unreliability of the public transport system and the lack of university transport for students who live far from campus are the main contributors to this problem. Tshepo Mahudu, a final-year geoinformatics student, frequently stays in the library overnight. As an applicant for the NSFAS programme, he currently lives in Pretoria mid-city. He walks to campus because he cannot afford transport. The walk from campus to mid-city is a dangerous one and Tshepo has been mugged before while walking back home from campus around 20:00. Collen Mpabantchi, a final-year computer science student, has also been approved for a NSFAS loan but is yet to receive the funds for his tuition and accommodation in Sunnyside. He walks to campus every day because the Sunnyside/Arcadia night bus service has been terminated due to low usage and he cannot afford taxi fare. Mpabantchi said that, “It seems that the university is only catering for students who live in res.” The SRC says that it is aware that students sleep on campus. and that they often struggle with basic things such as food. According to Amy Ashworth, SRC member in charge of study finance, the SRC has been allocated an amount of R195 000 for the Study Aid Fund. This is to be allocated to long-term sustainable solutions which include transport. “This year is all about creating solutions that are sustainable ... This includes accommodation, transport, food and aid. We are working on the transport system, it is a big thing,” said Ashworth. “We are fighting a losing battle trying to get this bus system going because it costs a lot of money and the university is not willing to commit to it,” she said. According to Ashworth, the SRC is working on a food provision programme, but adds that such programmes have been “inconsistent” in the past.
Oscar Pistorius trial update MAXINE TWADDLE Day 11 Reeva Steenkamp’s mother June was in court on Monday for the first time since the trial commenced. Sean Rens was the first witness of the week to be called to the stand. Rens works at the International Firearms Training Academy and provides firearm applicants with certification. Rens said that he was introduced to Pistorius in May 2012 by mutual friend Justin Divaris. Rens testified that Pistorius was looking for a Smith and Wesson 500 gun, which has the nickname “the hand cannon” because it is so powerful. Pistorius, Rens testified, applied to buy a number of other guns. These applications were cancelled after Steenkamp’s death. Rens testified that in a written response on a test about responsible gun ownership, Pistorius had said that the only time he would kill an intruder was if the intruder was threatening him with a deadly weapon. When Barry Roux began his cross-examination of Rens, he asked Rens if there was a correlation between owning numerous guns and using guns recklessly. Rens testified that there was none. The next witness to be called up was Warrant Officer Bennie van Staden, who took photos of the scene. His testimony involved explaining the contents of the photos he took and when they were taken. During his testimony, a photograph was shown that indicated that there was blood splattered above Pistorius’s bed. During his testimony, Van Staden confirmed that Pistorius had a full alarm system at his house. He said that this had not gone off on the night of the shooting. Van Staden admitted that some objects in the crime scene had been moved. Roux alleged that Van Staden did not show all the
photos he had taken at the crime scene to the court. Day 12 There was a delay in the start of proceedings as Van Staden was organising the master copies of the photos from the crime scene. When he continued his cross-examination of Van Staden, Roux questioned the professionalism and reliability of the police at the crime scene. He showed two photos of the crime scene with objects in different places. In a different set of photographs, shoes next to Pistorius’s bed were seen to have been moved at least four times. Van Staden admitted that someone had moved the evidence around. Van Staden maintained that he was alone when he was photographing the bathroom. Roux suggested, using the times that the photographs were taken, that another photographer was there at the same time. In one photograph shown by Roux, a head is vaguely visible, which he says proves that another policeman was in the bathroom at the same time as Van Staden. Roux questioned Van Staden about the photographs he had taken of forensic expert Colonel Johannes Vermeulen testing at what angle the cricket bat would most likely have struck the door. In Van Staden’s photographs, Col Vermeulen is carrying out the tests as if Pistorius had been on his stumps, while defence ballistics experts say that marks close to the top of the door indicate Pistorius was wearing his prosthetics. Van Staden rejected Roux’s suggestion that Col Vermeulen had instructed Van Staden on what photographs to include in the police album. Ballistics expert Captain Christian Mangena was the next witness to be called up. The photographs of the scene which Captain Mangena referred to were not shown to the public gallery or the media. Captain Mangena testified that one bullet hit the wall. It has been suggested that this is the shot that missed Steenkamp, because the ammunition that Pistorius was using expands upon contact with tissue and, as such, does not ricochet beyond its target.
Day 13 Captain Mangena continued his testimony. Questioned by Gerrie Nel, Captain Mangena testified that, based on his analysis, Steenkamp was standing facing the bathroom door when the first shot hit her on the hip. She then fell into a semiseated position on the magazine rack and crossed her hands over her head, presumably to protect herself. She slumped next to the toilet after being shot in the head. Captain Mangena testified that the shots were fired from a minimum distance of 60 cm and a maximum distance of three metres. According to Captain Mangena, the angle of the shots implies that Pistorius was not wearing his prosthetics. In his cross-examination, Roux suggested that Pistorius had fired two “double-taps” (a pair of shots in quick succession resulting from the trigger being pulled very quickly) but Captain Mangena disagreed. He said that, if this were the case, the wounds on Steenkamp’s body would have been closer together. After lunch, Colonel Ian van der Nest testified that Steenkamp had indeed been killed by the shots fired. Col Van der Nest testified that he agreed with Captain Mangena’s testimony. Colonel Mike Sales, the police’s phone and computer expert, took the stand next. He presented evidence based on what was found on one of the two iPads found on the scene. Colonel Sales indicated that the iPad’s browser history prior to 13 February had been deleted. The last time at which the iPad was used for browsing was at 21:19 on 13 February. It was noted that at 18:30, the iPad had been used to access a porn site. Nel asked Judge Masipa to adjourn the court until Monday, saying that the state intends on calling only four or five more witnesses and that he believes that their case can be wrapped up next week. The trial continues this week.
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News
24 March ’14
AfriForum Youth seeks safer campus
BOIPELO BOIKHUTSO AfriForum Youth at Tuks is in talks with the SRC regarding safety on campus and around Hatfield. Earlier in February Perdeby published an article about an Olienthout student who was attacked on his way to res from the Square which, according to AfriForum Youth chairperson Rochelle Oosthuyse, prompted the organisation to take action on the issue of safety. Oosthuyse said that the only security measure outside of the university is the presence of informal guards. Oosthuyse said that the Brooklyn SAPS told her that these guards are linked to a series of offences such as theft and drug trafficking. “I am sure that you will agree with me that this Mafia-like practice cannot be condoned or tolerated,” Oosthuyse said in a letter to the SRC, commenting on how aggressive informal guards can be if they are not offered money. In a letter that AfriForum Youth sent to the SRC on 7 February, AfriForum Youth made a few suggestions on how to address the issue of safety, particularly in parking areas. They requested the implementation of the parking meter system promised by the Tshwane Metro Council in January 2012, the upgrading of safety on campus by having formal, uniformed, trained, and well-paid parking attendants, and a local pay and park scheme. The SRC formally met with AfriForum Youth last week Thursday to discuss the
Security guards on campus. Photo: Praise Magidi
matter. According to an email that SRC President Enwee Human sent to AfriForum Youth, the matter was taken up to the SRC level and the Department of Facilities Management of the university thus it was not addressed on time. At the meeting that was held last week, Kim Ngobeni, the SRC portfolio member for facilities, safety and security, gave AfriForum Youth feedback on the matter after talking to the Department of Facilities Management and the Department of Security Services.
Ngobeni said that they are in the process of demolishing two houses which will serve as a parking facility for 60 cars. She also said that they are aware of the parking issue and they are planning structured parking which will cater for 70 cars. Ngobeni also said that having uniformed personnel is “beyond the university and it is within the Hatfield CID [Central Improvement District] because it is regarded as informal parking” and mentioned that the implementation of parking meters is not
viable due to space constraints. She concluded by emphasising that security guards on campus are placed with the best interests of protecting the students and it is advised that students treat the security guards with respect. Werner Beineke, the deputy chairperson of AfriForum Youth at Tuks, said that AfriForum will take this matter further by arranging meetings with the Department of Security Services, Hatfield CID and the Brooklyn SAPS.
SA political parties engage Public Protector announces Nkandla findings in debate at Unisa
Prominent South African politicians at a debate at Unisa. Photo: Praise Magidi
DAN MAFORA AND KEEGAN FRANCES South Africa’s major political parties engaged in a debate hosted by Unisa’s Vice-Chancellor Prof. Mandla Makhanya last week Tuesday on the Muckleneuk campus. The topic of the debate was “Reflections on 20 years of democracy in SA and visions for the future” and focused on an array of social, economic and political issues the country is currently facing. In his opening remarks, Prof. Makhanya reflected on South Africa’s journey during its 20 years of democracy. He also said that democracy means that “all citizens must be heard and that decisions must be taken together as one people.” Representatives of the different parties included ANC national executive committee member Thoko Didiza, the DA’s Mmusi Maimane, the EFF’s Floyd Shivambu, and Cope’s Lyndall Shope-Mafole. Bantu Holomisa represented the United Democratic Movement, and Jo-Ann Downs represented the African Christian Democratic Party. Didiza spoke of how the ANC’s leadership lay the foundation for the country’s success and said that, even though SA had not been transformed, many substantial gains have been made in the last two decades. “All of us felt more like South Africans in the past 20 years,” she said. Maimane said that while some citizens are enjoying the fruits of democracy and freedom,
the majority are still suffering. He also spoke extensively about how government needs to build institutions and intensify the land reform programme. “What’s more important is what we want the next 20 years to be,” he said. Holomisa said that, “Poor policy decisions, mismanagement of funds and corruption have turned South Africa into a welfare and not a developmental state.” He spoke of the ruling party’s disregard of the rule of law, attacked and undermined the public protector and also proposed a change to the country’s electoral system. Shope-Mafole said that, “Our greatest responsibility is to make every South African understand the purpose and significance of the vote.” Shivambu spoke of the lack of economic transformation and how it contributes to the country being the most unequal society in the world. He also spoke about land expropriation and corporate tax restructuring. He said that the ANC’s promise of six million jobs was nothing more than casual jobs. “The state, and not the private sector, should lead the development of the economy,” he said. Some of the major issues that arose were unemployment, e-tolls, corruption, the public protector’s Nkandla report and the need for change in the political sphere. The event was well attended and the atmosphere was marked by song and dance, and robust debate.
Pulic Protector Thuli Madonsela. Photos: Hendro van der Merwe
MAXINE TWADDLE Public Protector Thuli Madonsela announced her findings on the upgrades to President Jacob Zuma’s Nkandla residence at Hillcrest Office Park. In the report, Madonsela found ethical violations, improper conduct and maladministration. She said that Zuma is the “ultimate guardian of the resources of the people of South Africa” and, as such, should have questioned the scale and the cost of the upgrades. Madonsela says that Zuma should pay back “a reasonable percentage” of the non-security related cost. This would include the cost of building or upgrading the visitors’ centre, the amphitheatre, the kraal and the chicken run, and the swimming pool. Madonsela called on Zuma to “reprimand the ministers involved for the appalling manner in which the Nkandla project was handled and state funds were abused” and to report back to the National Assembly on this within 14 days. The report found that, “The implementation of the Nkandla project leaves one with the impression of excessive and unconciousable ‘Rolls Royce’ security constituting an island
in a sea of poverty and a paucity of public infrastructure. This cannot be accepted as consciousable in any state and certainly not any state where section 195 and 237 of the constitution promise to put people first and where the Batho Pele White Paper undertakes to transform the state from the insular apartheid state to one which is people centred and puts people first.”
News
24 March ’14
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Tuks students support Cansa Shavathon HUMPHREY MOKOENA AND KEEGAN FRANCES Last week Tuesday the Cancer Association of South Africa (Cansa), in collaboration with Commercii, held its annual Shavathon cancer awareness campaign at Tuks. Students had the opportunity to spray or shave their hair in support of cancer for a donation fee of R30. Badges and Cansa buffs were also sold at the event to help raise funds for the initiative. Francois Marais, Commercii chairperson, told Perdeby that social media platforms are the best way to get through to students and make them aware of the Cansa cause. Francina Dzumba, a second-year BAdmin International Relations student and Shavathon volunteer, said, “We live in a society where there’s a lot of stereotype against people with cancer and the Shavathon initiative is a great platform to create awareness for people with cancer. The university should hold regular seminars, organise trips to [visit] cancer patients and hold donation campaigns to help the cause.” Many students who participated in the Shavathon said that they think it is a great initiative. Third-year BCom Law student Louis van Wyk said, “I feel like it creates awareness about cancer and also that you are able to survive cancer. Not everyone can afford the treatment so these outreaches raise funds to help them afford the treatment.” Students who were unable to participate in last week’s Shavathon at UP can attend the Shavathon taking place at Unisa on 4 April from 16:00-19:00.
Photos: Eddie Mafa
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24 March’14
Features
Human Rights Day: is it too late to right the wrongs? How the protection of human rights is implemented in South Africa
Illustration: Simon-Kai Garvie
ORENEILE TSHETLO The aim of Human Rights Day is for you to reflect on your human rights and become aware of what these rights are and how you can protect yourself against any violation of them. It is the state’s obligation to “respect, protect, promote and fulfill
the rights in the Bill of Rights” and, as stated by section seven of our constitution, “The Bill of Rights is a cornerstone of democracy in South Africa. It enshrines the rights of all people in our country and affirms the democratic values of human dignity, equality and freedom.” However, it must be kept in mind that a clause
exists in which every right may be limited “to the extent that the limitation is reasonable and justifiable”. To what extent can the rights of people be limited and just how are they being limited or implemented in South Africa? Prof. Charles Lombard from UP’s Institute for International and Comparative Law in Africa, says that, “To a large extent, human rights are recognised, respected and implemented in South Africa.” However, he also says that government has infringed upon human rights over the last few years. The right to protest Freedom of assembly and the right to protest is what enables South Africans to assemble and protest against things such as unfair labour laws and working conditions as long as they do so peacefully. However, protesters are often harmed when exercising this right. One such example is the Marikana massacre, when police opened fire on striking workers from the Lonmin mine. Prof. Lombard explains that this was a result of a fusion of two extremes. He explains that the strikers had tried to extend their right to strike to the right to strike violently, and the police had tried to extend their authority. The right to education The right to education is guaranteed in section 29 of our constitution. Prof. Lombard is of the opinion that this does not equate to a right to free education, although he says South Africa should invest more in education. “The cost of education is the most inexplicable thing in South Africa,” Prof. Lombard said adding such high costs are a betrayal to people. He believes that tertiary education should be made cheaper to encourage people to further their learning. Right to access information The Protection of State Information Bill (the Secrecy Bill) has sparked controversy since its introduction in 2010. The purpose of this bill is to control the classification, protection and broadcast of state information. Many people believe that, if written into law, the bill would impede on the right to freedom of expression which is guaranteed in section 16 of our constitution. They are particularly concerned with the right to freedom of the media and other press.
The Right2Know Campaign (R2K) is an organisation that was launched to oppose this bill. In an article published on R2K.org.za, Dale McKinley, one of the members of R2K’s working group, advises that, “The public [should] be especially vigilant because of our history of censorship and media suppression.” According to the site, “The Secrecy Bill is a symptom and symbol of much broader obstacles to the free flow of information. These are not merely the rights of journalists or the privileges of the economic elite: free expression and access to information are the building blocks of an accountable democracy that is able to deliver on the basic needs of its people.” Marenet Jordaan, a journalism lecturer at UP agrees that the media plays a pivotal role in society by enhancing the rights of individuals and believes that “even the government can’t function without it”. Jordaan explains that the goal of the media is to give people the information that they need to live their lives in a “free, self-governing way” and make decisions on whom to vote for, among other things. Jordaan warns that the Protection of State Information Bill should not to be confused with the media appeals tribunal. She explains that the State Information Secrecy Bill will actually be more detrimental to people who give information as the bill is aimed at prohibiting them from circulating “state information”. The media tribunal, on the other hand, although it would be accountable to parliament, would allow for a degree of self-regulation in the press. South Africa is not the only country in which freedom of expression is compromised. According to AlJazeera.com, three Al Jazeera English journalists were charged for “spreading false news and belonging to a ‘terrorist group’ in Egypt”. The website further stated that, “freedom of speech in Egypt has been the focus of mounting global concern since the government adopted a hardline approach towards journalists.” The events that took place over the past few years have resulted in dampened spirits for South Africans. But this does not mean we are without hope. Let us reflect on what we have been able to achieve as a country and celebrate Human Rights Day in true South African style.
The Facebook phenomenon THULANI MASHIANE Not too long ago everyone asked the question, “Are you on Facebook?” Now we don’t hear that so often. Why has this changed? Social networking is characterised by diversity. Users shift quickly from one platform to another. The site was started in 2004 as an online profiling site for Harvard. It gained 1 200 users within 24 hours of its launch and expanded to several Boston campuses by 2005. Facebook exceeded Mark Zuckerberg’s initial goal of creating a college directory product. In February 2014, Facebook celebrated ten years of success as the world’s most popular social network. According to StatisticBrain. com, Facebook had 1.1 billion users as of March 2013 and a revenue of $6.15 billion. Now, in the year of its tenth anniversary, the network is faced with talks of doom and perceived decline from a lack of enthusiastic users. The modern day teenager has to deal with the increased invasion of the social network by parents. This has drawn attention to the decline in users in this age group. Facebook chief financial officer David Ebersman confirms the decrease in users to Forbes. A survey among teenagers from 30 different countries found that there was a decline in active users from 76% to 56% in only six months.
First-year BSc Environmental Sciences student Tumisang Mokgobu says, “I used Facebook consistently in my first two years but I haven’t even touched it much this year.” According to BusinessTech.com, in early 2013 social media analyst SocialBankers announced a 3.85% decrease in Facebook users in South Africa. Michal Wronski, managing director of information analyst Fuseware, describes this as “social media fatigue and boredom”. AFP reports the shift in user age group statistics and behavioural trends in an article by Glenn Chapmann titled “Facebook battles to stay young and cool”. Wronski says he believes the quality of the service has declined due to the mass advertising appearing on the home feed as well as privacy concerns surrounding the use of Facebook. He goes on to mention that users are turning to other sites such as Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest due to real-time communication available on these networks. Reabetswe Motlana, a second-year drama student, says she only uses Facebook once every three months to catch up with distant friends. Second-year civil engineering student Rolayo Olukuhle says, “I hardly ever use Facebook. To me it was more of a ‘high school thing’, now I use mainly BBM and WhatsApp.” In Forbes, GlobalWebIndex’s founder and CEO Tom Smith clarifies the controversy around Facebook’s decline in users by saying that most teenagers are making use of mobile
Illustration: Simon-Kai Garvie
messaging apps but still have a Facebook account, and that it has become a trend to reveal they no longer use the network. The interesting part of this decline is that all other age groups are signing up. There’s an indication of the loss in young users being compensated by older users signing up. Among various theories of Facebook’s decline, the social network is compared to Myspace where users will eventually fade into other networks. Forrester Research analyst Nate Elliott said to AFP that “unlike Myspace,
Facebook continually innovates with features offered by its competitors”. So where are young adults going for social networking today? According to Forbes, the answer is “Instant messaging and quick photo-sharing app services”. Even Facebook Messenger has seen an increase in usage lately. The Facebook decline, particularly centred on young age groups, remains a noticeable phenomenon. This does not necessarily deem the network dead or dying any time soon though.
Features
24 March ’14
Twenty years of equal rights: where are we now?
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MAXINE TWADDLE On 21 March 1960, 69 protesters were fatally shot by police in Sharpeville, between Vanderbijlpark and Vereeniging in Gauteng. Together with a large crowd, the victims had been protesting against the pass laws. Many of them were shot in the back as they were fleeing police. The Sharpeville massacre, as it is called now, sparked outrage among the South African anti-apartheid community and among the international community. Protests and demonstrations were held around South Africa and the world. The UN officially condemned South Africa, passing Resolution 134 on 1 April 1960. The resolution condemned the apartheid government’s policies and called upon the government to initiate measures that would bring about racial equality. Dr Hendrik Verwoerd’s government ignored the UN and called a state of emergency within South Africa, which included banning the ANC and the Pan Africanist Congress (PAC). Historians agree that Sharpeville marks a turning point in resistance to apartheid. It was here, they say, that armed resistance replaced passive resistance, and the ANC’s Umkhonto we Sizwe and the PAC’s Poqo were formed shortly after the massacre. The role that Sharpeville played in the struggle is recognised every year on 21 March when we celebrate Human Rights Day. As we remember Sharpeville’s importance in our struggle history, here are some important events in South Africa’s history as a democracy. 27 April 1994 South Africa’s first democratic general election, in which people of all races could vote, was held over a three-day period beginning on 27 April 1994. A total of 19 726 579 votes were counted (193 081 were spoilt or invalid). The ANC won 62.65% of the vote while the National Party and the Inkatha Freedom Party won 20.39% and 10.54% of the vote respectively. 27 April is marked every year by the celebration of Freedom Day. 10 May 1994 Nelson Mandela was sworn in as the president of South Africa in an inauguration ceremony at the Union Buildings on 10 April, 20 years ago. At the ceremony, which was attended by dignitaries from more than 140 countries, Mandela pledged his determination to follow the process of reconciliation in South Africa. In his inauguration speech, Mandela said that, “We saw our country tear itself apart in terrible conflict … The time for healing wounds has come … Never, never again will this beautiful land experience the oppression of one by another and suffer the indignity of being the skunk of the world.” 1995 The new South African government established the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) in 1995 in terms of the Promotion of National Unity and Reconciliation Act, Act number 34 of 1995. The TRC’s three committees – the Human Rights Violation Committee, the Reparation and Rehabilitation Committee, and the Amnesty Committee – bore witness to crimes against humanity committed during apartheid. People who had committed these crimes could be granted amnesty by the TRC if they fully disclosed their actions and if their actions had been politically motivated. The TRC has been contrasted to methods of “de-Nazifying” Germany after the second world war, although there are different opinions of how effective the approach was. 10 December 1996 South Africa’s new constitution was drawn up by the parliament elected in the 1994 elections and was signed into law at the site of the Sharpeville massacre. The constitution came
Illustration: Johann van Tonder
into effect on 4 February 1997. 2 June 1999 South Africa’s second democratic election was held on 2 June 1999. The ANC won the election, coming within one seat of a twothirds majority. Support for the New National Party (which had replaced the National Party) declined by more than 50%. The Democratic Party (now known as the DA) became the main opposition party. Thabo Mbeki was sworn in as South Africa’s new president two weeks later. 16 June 1999 On Youth Day in 1999, Thabo Mbeki was sworn in as president. Mbeki has been praised for growing the South African economy and for diplomatic mediation in African countries such as Burundi, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Ivory Coast, but has been criticised for not speaking out on issues in Zimbabwe and for his stance on the Aids endemic. 14 April 2004 The new South Africa’s third general election was held on 14 April 2004. The ANC increased its majority, winning 69.7% of votes. Only 56% of South Africans who were eligible to vote participated in these elections. The election marked the beginning of
Illustration: Monrique Hennig
Mbeki’s second term in office. 24 September 2008 A few months before the 2009 general election, Mbeki resigned as president of South Africa. Mbeki was recalled by the ANC’s national executive committee after Judge Nicholson ruled that Mbeki’s government had interfered in the National Prosecuting Authority, most notably in the corruption case against Jacob Zuma. Although the Supreme Court of Appeals overturned Judge Nicholson’s ruling, Mbeki’s resignation stood. He was replaced by Kgalema Motlanthe, who took office on 25 September 2008. 22 April 2009 South Africa held its fourth democratic election in April 2009. In February that year, the North Gauteng High Court had ruled that South African citizens living abroad would be eligible to vote. This ruling was confirmed by the Constitutional Court in March. Support for the ANC decreased slightly, with the ruling party winning 65.90% of the vote. About seven million South Africans who were registered to vote abstained from voting, while about five million registered voters did not vote in the election.
The ANC won eight of South Africa’s nine provinces, with the DA winning the Western Cape. 9 May 2009 Jacob Zuma was sworn in as South Africa’s new president on 9 May 2009. He had been ANC president since 2007. Zuma was once again voted ANC president in 2012. Zuma has been criticised for his legal battles, his relationship with Schabir Shaik, alleged abuse and intimidation by his bodyguards and, most recently, for the billions of rands spent on his state-funded Nkandla residence. 5 December 2013 Just before 21:00 on 5 December last year, Tata Mandela died in his home in Houghton, Johannesburg. Following his death, South Africa observed a ten-day mourning period, which included an official memorial service at FNB Stadium on 10 December. The mourning period culminated in a state funeral on 15 December in Qunu, Eastern Cape. Messages of condolences were received from around the world. Many South Africans paid tribute to Mandela outside his Houghton home and at his statue in Nelson Mandela square in Sandton.
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Fun & Games
24 March ’14
Sudoku
Previous editon’s solution:
Pssst... Each week, res life is one step closer to resembling an episode of Days of our Lives, or even worse, 7 de Laan. Between all the affairs and divorces that have been going on with some Rag partnerships, Pssst… reckons it’s time to get out the popcorn and enjoy the drama. The first victim on the Pssst… agenda this week is Maroela. Word has it the boys have been entertaining more than their fair share of female reses. Between Curlitzia, Asterhof and Nerina, Pssst… is struggling to keep up with Maroela’s latest crush. Pssst… reckons Maroela shouldn’t make enemies along the way though. As it is, Curlitzia isn’t too happy with Maroela after the boys ditched the doctors and chose to go on a party bus with Mopanie’s Rag partners Asterhof instead. Besides hurting Curlitzia’s feelings and enraging Mopanie (what’s new?), Maroela have also managed to upset Nerina. Pssst… hears the girls are heartbroken as the partnership is prematurely heading for divorce. On another note, though, Pssst… hears Nerina did nothing but scream at their Feesjaar Dinee when, after two years without a mascot, Kollege returned Nerina’s mascot to the girls. Pssst… feels bad for the Nerina girls’ poor dates. It can’t have been fun having to contend with all that screaming. And to top it all off, their ears got chewed off by all the bragging that the Nerina girls did. Pssst… reckons Nerina’s heads have got quite big since they won Miss Kollege and Pssst… feels that Kollege should do everyone a favour and steal the mascot again just so we don’t have to hear them. Besides, this is all Kollege’s fault anyway.
Pssst… wonders how Katjiepiering feels about all the attention that Kollege has invested in Nerina. It can’t be fun being shunned aside. Pssst… suggests the Katte ask Magrietjie for advice on how to deal with the trauma. Pssst… hears they’re quite experienced in that department. Pssst… has noticed how close Magrietjie has got to Taaibos lately. Pssst… suggests the girls don’t become too attached though, Magrietjie doesn’t want history to repeat itself. Pssst… sees that desperation has hit Jasmyn hard again. The girls are so desperate for attention that they’ve been auctioning themselves off at Springboks. Pssst… could have handled a harmless little auction, but Jasmyn had to take it a step further when they wore minimal clothing to a pyjama party with Kollege. Pssst… would just like to point out that there are other, less slutty, ways to attract guys. From raunchy to conservative, Asterhof seem to have their heads screwed on the right way, for now. Pssst… thinks it’s refreshing to see that some residences still foster intellectuals who enjoy a game of chess. However, Pssst… isn’t too sure this will help Asterhof to attract any male attention. Well, at least not the attention that Jasmyn is craving. Boekenhout have locked themselves away for the next few months to prepare for their Serrie performance. Pssst… is very grateful to Boekenhout for this, not because Pssst… is looking forward to seeing their Serrie, but because Pssst… and everyone else on campus don’t have to be faced with disgusting sweat-stained caps. Really Boekenhout, have you never heard of a washing machine?
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Poll What do you think of the proposed programme to make a year of community service compulsory for all graduates? A) I think it’s a good idea. B) I think it’s a terrible idea. C) I don’t really mind; my degree requires community service anyway. Vote online at www.perdeby.co.za
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Entertainment
24 March ’14
9
Camerata’s sound travels abroad
The Tuks Camerata at an evening practice. Photo: Brad Donald
LIZL LOMBAARD This March the Tuks Camerata is celebrating its 46th year as a university choir. The choir has accumulated a number of accolades through the years. Their prestigious history is being continued under the direction of new conductor Michael Joseph Barrett, who was appointed the position last year after serving as assistant conductor for nine years. Barrett himself is an old choir member, having joined the choir while he was a music student at Tuks. Now a doctoral student, specialising in choral performance, he is proud to be their conductor. “In its very short interim since I’ve been here, it’s really done very nicely,” he says of the Camerata. Some of the choir’s recent highlights include a performance at last year’s Rand Merchant Bank Starlight Classics concert, where international Welsh soprano Katherine Jenkins also performed. They also performed at the Nelson Mandela memorial service held on the UP campus. “By far the most
moving was, for us, to give something back to Nelson Mandela. Words cannot describe how emotional that moment was that we had some way of bidding farewell to the world’s greatest leader,” Barrett says. This year has already seen the choir achieving some more highlights. In February they performed at the KykNet Fiëstas and later this year they will be touring to Riga, Latvia for the World Choir Games. They will be competing in the contemporary university category and in the traditional African music category. Barrett says that the choir has started rehearsing what they will be performing at the competition. On top of all of the musical preparation, they are also raising funds to cover the costs of the 71 students going on the tour, although Barrett says the university has also contributed to this cost. “The rest of the money has all come from concerts and shows, which are getting straight back to the students so that we can get them all there because we believe that that is important,” he continues.
At the beginning of March this year, Barrett’s arrangement of the traditional isiXhosa song “Indodana” was published in an international choral music publication by Santa Barbara Music Publishing, based in Ohio, USA. Barrett told Perdeby that it was a huge honour for him. “It wouldn’t have happened if it wasn’t for the connections I made through the university and as my position as conductor of the university choir,” he said. The choir performed this song when they featured on SABC 2’s Morning Live. Barrett arranged the song together with African choral music specialist Ralf Schmitt, the artistic director of the Mzansi Youth Choir. Schmitt and Barrett attended the Drakensberg Boys Choir School together which is where their love for traditional African music started. “Every year in the Drakensberg we had a huge traditional African programme that we had to learn and we had to sing,” Barrett says. Barrett says that traditional African music is so special to him because of “the movement of the music and the language and of course the simple harmony”. Barrett saw Schmitt’s choir perform “Indodana” and was so moved by it that he asked Schmitt if he could rearrange it. “He did the first arrangement of it and then I totally readapted it for the university choir and the end result is what we have published now together as a joined work,” says Barrett. “Indodana” was published after Prof. Cameron LaBarr from the Lee University in Cleveland, Tennessee, visited the choir last year and heard them performing the song. “He has connections with Santa Barbara Music Publishing and he emailed them. He said to them ‘This piece has to be published, it is exceptionally moving’ and the rest, as they say, is history,” says Barrett. When asked if “Indodana” will be part of the repertoire for the choir games in Latvia, Barrett answered no, although he did say it would’ve made a fantastic competition piece. “We did it last year but music loses its integrity when it is performed too much. It was really special for us last year and I think it needs to remain that way,” says Barrett. New audiences may still have a chance to see it at some of their other performances during the year and maybe watch it again on television. “We’ve been invited to possibly perform at Skouspel in October,” Barrett told Perdeby.
New and greener pastures for Forfeit Thee Untrue Perdeby’s exclusive interview with drummer Craig Palmer JOHAN SAAYMAN A year after their first EP, metal band Forfeit Thee Untrue is soon going to be gracing fans with their first full-length studio album. Forfeit Thee Untrue is currently recording in Watts Productions studios with Best Producer award winner of the first South African Metal Music Awards of 2013, Clinton Watts. Perdeby sat down with drummer and former Tuks student Craig Palmer to get the latest news on their progress. Forfeit Thee Untrue has been working around the obstacle of co-founder and guitarist Sean Towsen stepping down by alternating between guitaring roles. “For the full album Mitch [Pearson] is the lead guitarist, so Gideon [Karsten] has been doing the bass guitar and the rhythm. Some of the parts are different, like when Mitch comes up with a rhythm and he’s got a rhythm piece, Gideon takes the duties of bass and [lead] guitar,” Palmer explains. A potential replacement has come in the form of a Tuks student. “He hasn’t joined officially yet, but he’s going to be playing gigs with us,” says Palmer. The band expects the album to be similar in style but better produced to that of their debut EP Blood Soaked Splinter. “In Blood Soaked Splinter it was kind of a ‘come up with a cool beat and then just play it and put a guitar to it and come up with a cool riff and guitar piece and I’ll throw the drums to it,’” Palmer says, adding that they have been spending more time on writing the songs. “As much as we want to record the album, we want to take the time to make an awesome album. You can always hear an album that was made because the band had to make it, they didn’t want to make it. So we want that passion to come out in the music,” Palmer says. A number of guest vocalists from other bands will be featuring on the album. Palmer explains, “The two bands that have always stood out for us in terms of what they stand for and intensity and the professionalism in music and lyrics and vocals was Hammer of Redemption and Adorned in Ash.” Besides those two local bands, Ryan Kirby, the vocalist of international band Fit for a King from Dallas, will be featured on one of the songs. “We said on the second full album we can have a guest vocalist, a big guy, like a really, really big name. Then we were kind of thinking ‘well, why don’t we just give it a shot now?’ See if some of the
guys respond. Ryan Kirby from Fit for a King was one of the first guys. We actually already got his vocals back. We recorded the whole track with the drums and bass and guitars and Gideon’s section of the vocals, and we sent him the track and he sent it back to us. It’s an amazing opportunity and such an honour to be working with such a big name singing our words on one of our songs,” Palmer said. Despite the band’s enthusiasm and dedication, a financial obstacle is hindering their progress. Although the band is signed to a label, they are funding the album themselves, making it a difficult process to complete. “What we’re doing now is for people to get behind the ministry and also to get it out there possibly sooner by asking people to invest in us. We’re approaching some businessmen, businesswomen, companies, institutions, organisations, saying ‘this is who we are, a Christian metal ministry and this is what we’re about’ and so on, and ask them if they would like to invest in the band by sponsoring a song,” Palmer said. The album’s release date has not yet been set, because, as Palmer explained, “We don’t want to put a month on it, because then it’s like ‘Guys, it’s already January, February. Where’s your album?’” The band is hoping to get the album fully recorded by the end of the year so that the album is available early next year. On the album, fans can expect some diversions from the hard and crashing metal songs to songs similar to “Grace covered sin”. “We’ve always liked to have that range, to go to very heavy, for the metal fans, and add chilled songs and ballads. We’ll still definitely have chilled songs, more acoustic-based, piano-based, not so much just tumbling guitar riffs and roaring guitars and drums,” Palmer said. In the past few months, Forfeit Thee Untrue have performed a lot of live gigs, including festivals like This Is War, Reroute to Remain, and Blood & Ash. “It’s been really awesome in terms of the amount of support we’ve been getting with the live shows. It’s also because of the genre that it is in. It’s hard. Metal is persecuted enough and Christian metal is even more persecuted, so you get guys who support you and recognise you sometimes and just want to chat with you,” he said. The band was also featured in the 2013 documentary SA Alternative Ministries where three of their songs were included in the bonus CD.
Forfeit Thee Untrue are busy recording their new album. Image provided.
Although all of the members aren’t in the band full time, they are dedicated to the band through other responsibilities. “It definitely comes down to juggling. It also comes down to commitment. If you want to succeed in anything, whether it’s a business, or a band, you have to be committed,” Palmer says. “A lot of these bands from South Africa or anywhere, it’s like you see them either explode on the scene and they come on to it, and all of the sudden they disappeared, or a lot of bands will release an album and then break up or go on a break, or you see them three or four weekends or a month and they’re playing gigs and then they disappear. So it’s important for us to, even if we’re not that in live shows, just to keep active, to keep busy with it,” Palmer explained.
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24 March ’14
Entertainment
Image: afroradio.com
Skrillex releases surprise album Recess Skrillex
Image: revolt.tv
MICHAL-MARÉ LINDEN In the early hours of 7 March, Skrillex sneakily dropped something other than the bass. An app called Alien Ride was released on the iTunes App Store and made available for free download. The arcade-style game,
which involves an intergalactic mission to destroy asteroids, was revealed to stream Skrillex’s debut studio album Recess. Recess opens with “All’s fair in love and brostep”, a dub-influenced track somewhat reminiscent of Skrillex’s single “Make it bun dem”. As for dubstep though, that’s where it ends as the rest of the album can only be classified as electronica. Not that this is a bad thing. Being eclectic was, in fact, Skrillex’s goal and a goal he undoubtedly achieves. The album includes tracks that range from typical club hits to tracks that could pass for hiphop, all the while still managing to embrace Skrillex’s signature screech bass. Fans of
Shakedown Basson Laubscher & the Violent Free Peace Image: museonline.com
MICHAL-MARÉ LINDEN Two years in the making, Basson Laubscher & the Violent Free Peace (of Zinkplaat fame) have finally released their debut EP, Shakedown. A mix of blues, old school rock’n’roll and country, the seven-track EP is inspired by the music of Laubscher’s childhood and focuses heavily on his intricate guitar work. Typical of the blues, the EP’s instrumental work features simple and familiar chord progressions and extended lead guitar solos. The rhythmical drums lead to the listener foot stomping and the occasional harmonica, mandolin and even harp add a unique twist to songs such as “Swamp thing” and “Cage blues”. Laubscher has been playing the guitar since the age of 15 and his instrumental solos are carefully crafted to highlight his technical skill and his musicality. Supported by session musicians, listeners can appreciate the reason
why the EP’s production took so long was because of the large amount of thought put into each instrumental track. Lyrics follow the same blues-influenced pattern as the instrumentation with themes of love, women and freedom. A notably different track, however, is “Brother” on which Laubscher sympathetically offers a friend a helping hand in times of trouble. The EP is hard to fit neatly into one specific genre as each song varies slightly in tone. “Cage blues” has a slightly upbeat country feel, “Killing me” is far darker and moodier and on the flip side is the hard rock track “Rambling man”. This appears to be intentional and rather astute on Laubscher’s part as it ensures the listener never grows bored of what could easily become just noise. As a first offering, Shakedown is catchy, fresh and will appeal to a wide range of ages. The EP sets a promising tone for the band and places them comfortably onto the local blues scene.
Perdeby and Xoo Xity have six sets of double tickets to give away for the Johannesburg leg of the festival. To win email your most convincing animal impression to entertainment@perdeby.co.za Competition ends 10 April.
grimy garage will enjoy the track “F**k that” where as those that preferred Skrillex’s Leaving EP will be happy with the album’s closing song “Fire away”. The variety in Recess is partly as a result of the crowd of artists that Skrillex worked with on the album. Diplo, Kill the Noise, Fatman Scoop and Alvin Risk all add their unique flavour to tracks such as “Dirty vibe” and “Try it out”. Recess was not recorded in one static location but rather spontaneously as Skrillex toured Seoul, Stockholm, London and the USA. The relaxed pace at which the album was created seems to have kept the album from the rut that many other albums get stuck in when
the artist is made to record on demand. True to Skrillex’s previous releases, Recess captures a sense of nostalgia and longing for fun. Each track is upbeat enough to bounce around to and contains a smile-worthy element or two (remember the “Call 911 now!” in “First of the year”?). If you’re looking for “Scary monsters and nice sprites”, you won’t find it here. This may disappoint some purists but Recess represents the much greater maturation of Skrillex’s musical and technical ability. Recess will appeal to a wider audience than his previous material and the fact that Skrillex has stated that the record sales are trivial to him, this album is for the fans old and new.
Sport
24 March ’14
Tuks Raw Fit: what is it?
Shaun Nortjie conducts bootcamp. Image provided
LAUREN NEUHOFF In August 2013 House Humanities began an innovative community-based organisation called Tuks Raw Fit. Tuks Raw Fit offers fitness expertise, including group training classes and nutritional programmes geared at getting Tuks students to think about their lifestyle and how to consistently maintain it. The idea came from Shaun Nortjie, who studied exercise science and is a teaching assistant and tutor at the International Institute for Sport Science and Fitness Training (IIFT). Nortjie is currently studying psychology. He took the idea to his acquaintance Mellissa Mlambo, who is doing her honours in international relations and is also the chairperson of House Humanities. Together the dynamic duo brought the idea of Tuks Raw Fit to life. “It’s not about where you are, but it’s about where you can be. We started this programme to get students aware of the benefits of an active
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Everyone brings it in after training. Image provided
lifestyle and how it will enhance not only their personal or professional lives but also their academic lives,” says Nortjie. The goals of Tuks Raw Fit include increasing health awareness, promoting healthy living for students and increasing community awareness of healthy living. Tuks Raw Fit is a student initiative, which is run for students by students. Apart from Nortjie and Mlambo, the management team also consists of Jeanne-Michael du Plessis, Taryn Bornman and Marijke Benade. With a crew comprising of students, Tuks Raw Fit offers a personal touch and students can engage in a hands-on, peer-based health and fitness training regime. The crew is very passionate and motivated to make students more aware of their lifestyle and are ready to work hard with the students to get the best results possible. One of the biggest challenges Tuks Raw Fit faces is that they do not have enough trainers for the number of students who want to
participate. Nortjie is the only trainer for Tuks Raw Fit at the moment. Biokinetics students cans use Tuks Raw Fit to clock in hours for their degree and also receive a letter of recommendation for their work. The work done by the Tuks Raw Fit team is voluntary. If a student would like to become a trainer for Tuks Raw Fit they have to be secondyear sport science students and will then receive further training from Nortjie. On 22 February Tuks Raw Fit held their first training session of the year. The training sessions, more commonly known as bootcamp classes, due to their intensity, consist of three 50-minute sessions with the focus being on body weight exercises. Each session starts with a warm-up, followed by the workout and then the cool-down. Tsepo Nkosi, a student who took part in the first bootcamp, said, “It was indeed a great bootcamp, there was a lot of sweat and pain but I can believe after every pain there is always a smile from my side, I am feeling rejuvenated,
energetic and focused.” Basani Rikotso, another student who took part in the session, said, “I had so much fun even though I was in pain but it shows I was working out properly. No pain, no gain.” Depending on weather conditions, the bootcamps take place on Hatfield campus in the Piazza, otherwise the sessions take place in the Ampitheatre. “Students who wish to participate can book online before the date and participate at their own risk,” says Nortjie. Tuks Raw Fit is also looking into introducing an aerobics component and hopes to launch more bootcamp classes with a focus on abdominal stretching exercises as well as fun runs. “We would also like to involve the university personnel with their own separate training regimes in the future, as well as focusing on community wellness by encouraging maintenance staff to join as well,” said Nortjie. The fee to join Tuks Raw Fit is R20 per semester.
International sport news WILLIAM ALDRIDGE Football Increased unrest in Brazil as World Cup approaches World Cup excitement in Brazil has been marred by poor infrastructure and stadiums not being finished on time. Three out of the 12 stadiums for the World Cup still have to be completed and those that are complete are being described as “horrid” by Brazilian tabloids. Roof leaks, incomplete bathrooms and ticket sales for seats that don’t exist are just some of the problems fans have experienced after a stadium in Manaus was given a test run. Fifa and Brazilian organisers have less than 100 days to get the country ready to host the world-wide spectacle. Cricket T20 World Cup provides platform for underdogs Afghanistan, Nepal, Ireland and the Netherlands are not household names when it comes to cricket, but these smaller cricketing nations will be given a chance to showcase their ability in the shortest format of the game. The tournament will take place in Bangladesh in March and April, with the final being played on 7 April. All eyes will be on tournament favourites, the West Indies, who took the crown in 2012. This will be the first time that the International Cricket Council has included 16 nations, instead of the usual 12. Fans can
expect to see fast-paced, big hitting cricket and possibly a few major upsets. Tennis Novak Djokovic wins in Indian Wells Novak Djokovic came from a set down to beat Roger Federer 3-6, 6-3, 7-6 at the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells, California. The defeat brought Federer’s 11-match winning streak to an end and allowed Djokovic to claim his third title at Indian Wells. Djokovic, who had lost to Federer two weeks earlier in Dubai, had to dig deep to break Federer’s serve in the eighth game of the second set to level the match. “He doesn’t give you the victory; you have to earn it,” Djokovic said. Too many unforced errors by Federer allowed Djokovic to race into a 5-3 lead in the deciding set. The Serb claimed the final set by way of a tie-break to win his first title of 2014. Cycling Cyclist removed from Sky roster Sergio Henao has been taken off Team Sky’s race roster after the results of a recent outof-competition drug test have come under question. Sky manager Dave Brailsford said that the team’s experts had raised questions about Henao’s test results and that they would like to understand them more. He also notified the International Cycling Union and the Cycling Anti-Doping Foundation of the anomalous values. Team Sky have requested that Henao return to his home country Columbia to undergo further testing at altitude.
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Tuks crash out of Varsity Cup
Pukke scrum-half makes a break. Photo: Brad Donald
NMMU test the Tuks defence. Photo: Brad Donald
Maties knock Tuks out of the Varsity Cup. Image: varsitycup.co.za
MICHAEL REINDERS
Tuks lost back-to-back home games to Pukke (North-West University) and Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University (NMMU) respectively. Both of these games were in very wet conditions and Tuks seemed to struggle to get into their rhythm because of the conditions. In their final match against Maties, Tuks began the game on a positive note, going into the break with a 26-0 lead. In the second half Tuks let their defence slip and allowed Maties to fight back and gain the victory. These sides have a long history, especially since Tuks have beaten Maties in the last two finals of the Varsity Cup. The loss against Maties and the fact that Tuks are out of the competition came as a big blow to Tuks. The other seventh round matches of the Varsity Cup saw NMMU get two bonus points and book their spot in the semifinals despite losing to Shimlas (University of the Free State). Ikeys (University of Cape Town) beat bottom of the log Wits to secure their place in the semi-finals and Pukke, who were behind for most of the game, recorded a comeback victory against UJ. Wits, who were winless this season, have automatically
been relegated to the Varsity Shield and will be replaced by the winners of the competition. UJ will play a promotion/relegation match against the runners-up in the Varsity Shield. Tuks started the season with a new coach and many new players and now have to look to rebuild for the remaining tournaments: the Carlton Cup, USSA and Predator series this year, as well as next year’s Varsity Cup. Tuks coach Pote Human told Perdeby that their failure to qualify was unfortunate. He further said, “We had two games in terrible conditions that we couldn’t adapt to.” With regard to the last game he said that Tuks started the game well against Maties but that they came back in the second half and they deserve to be in the semi-finals. The semi-finals taking place are between table-toppers Pukke who will host NMMU, and Ikeys who will host Maties. All four teams are competing for a place in the final, which will be played on 7 April. The venue is still to be confirmed as it is dependent on the finalists and their standings on the table. Watch the final to see the new champions crowned.
The reigning Varsity Cup champions failed to qualify for the semi-finals of the competition after their third straight defeat. Tuks, who won the Varsity Cup in 2012 and 2013, have lost the chance to get a hat-trick of titles. Going into the last round of the competition, Tuks were already in a bad position. They had lost their two previous games, which were at home, and after beginning the season at the top of the log had a must-win encounter against Maties (Stellenbosch University) last Monday. Tuks will not progress to the semi-finals of the tournament as they were defeated by their fellow finalists from last year, Maties, and have crashed out of the competition. After struggling to a draw in their first match of the season against University of Johannesburg (UJ), Tuks seemed to get into their stride and won three games in a row before their season turned. Tuks appeared to be strong mid-season and were dominating the standingss. However, they failed to perform in their last three matches.
TuksAthletics captains of 2014
TuksNetball dominate in pre-season friendly BRIAN KIAUTHA
Anneri Ebersohn. Image: varsitysportssa.com
Muntingh Hamman. Image: flickr.com
KHUMO MEKGWE Name: Anneri Ebersohn Event: 400m hurdles Studying: LLB How long have you been with TuksAthletics? This is my fourth year. What do you like most about being a part of TuksAthletics? Winning. What are your hopes and dreams for the future? I would like to compete at the 2016 Rio Olympics. What do you look forward to most this year regarding your athletics career? Varsity Sports [athletics] is always a highlight. I would love to go to the Commonwealth Games, but for now I need to focus on the SA champs. When did you start athletics and why? In grade one. It seemed fun at the time. Who is your athletics role model? Delilah Muhammed, the American 400m hurdles athlete. Tell us more about your training programme? It differs every day. We train between two [to] four [hours] a day depending on if it’s gym or not. Besides athletics what do you do in your spare time? I watch series and read my story books like The Hunger Games.
Name: Muntingh Hamman Event: 110m hurdles Studying: BSc Agriculture, doing a masters in agronomy, with a specialisation [in] weed sciences. How long have you been with TuksAthletics? This is my sixth year. What do you like most about being a part of TuksAthletics? The atmosphere in the club, the whole set up and all the facilities. What are your hopes and dreams for the future? I guess all athletes’ hopes are to go to the Olympics, so athletics wise I’d say to go to the Olympics. What do you look forward to most this year regarding your athletics career? For me it’s a bit different because I had a big injury last year so the first job is just getting back, [and to] run the times I was running last year and I’m looking forward to the upcoming events like the Varsity Athletics, SA championships and SA Student Championships. When did you start athletics and why? I started athletics at the age of seven and I started doing hurdles at the age of 14. I just loved it from the beginning. Who is your athletics role model? Edwin Moses, a 400m hurdler. He was unbeaten for nine years, nine months and nine days which is unheard of for an athlete.
The TuksNetball first team played the Gauteng North men’s netball team in a pre-season friendly at the TuksNetball grounds. TuksNetball start their season in April as opposed to March due to a hectic 2013 schedule which forced the 2014 calendar to be pushed up a month to ensure that the players were in the best shape possible. The game began competitively as evidenced by the Gauteng North team who went ahead within a minute of the match beginning. TuksNetball came back to equalise. The first quarter was very competitive as it was a matter of who converted their chances and created turnovers. Tuks seemed to implement this strategy as they led 10-6 at the end of the first quarter. In the second quarter Tuks continued with their resilient performance in what was a physical game. The first half ended with Tuks extending the lead to 19-12. In the second half the Gauteng North team reshuffled their players and introduced new players into the game which immediately increased their scoring rate. They had to do some catching up which meant that they not only needed to score more goals but also be solid in defence to avoid conceding more goals. They were successful in scoring but their defence was not as solid as the Tuks defence, who were able to penetrate and increase their goal tally. Tuks delivered a brilliant performance and went on to win the friendly 31-24. TuksNetball’s Nthabiseng Mothusi was delighted by her teammates’ performance. “It was a great game. I took it as a match to increase my fitness as the season is about to start and I look forward to the new season,” Mothusi said. Coach Jenny van Dyk was also impressed by her players’ performance on the day. “The friendly was crucial to evaluate the fitness of the players as the season commences,” she said. She added that her aim for the 2014 season was to win the Varsity Cup later in the year, as well as the USSA Championships and win every final. “Expect TuksNetball to be the most competitive team in the circuit and win the Varsity Cup,” Van Dyk said. Tuks’ tri-series opening fixture will be against the University of Johannesburg in April.
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