25 May 2021 Issue 5 Year 83

PDBY 25 May 2021

Year 83 | Issue 5

yourcampusnews.

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2021 graduations

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PDBWhy: UP adopts trans protocol

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Meme-orable moments

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Thenjiwe Mswane on her debut novel “All Gomorrahs Are The Same”

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PDBY featured athlete: Cora Mak Photo: Tshepang Rihlampfu and Kayla Thomas

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Fact Check: Did certain buildings at UP never have female bathrooms?

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Toxic productivity and student culture

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Reflecting on the 2021 Academy Awards

25 May 2021

2 | From the Editor

Toxic productivity and anxiety

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n page 7 of this edition is an article on toxic productivity and student culture, and Kirsten, the journalist who wrote the article, asked PDBY followers on Instagram about their experiences with expectations of productivity. The responses and Kirsten’s article really got me thinking and reflecting on my own experiences, and honestly, I have a lot of material for my therapist this week.

I’ve thought about the expectations of productivity that we place on ourselves and wondered about the potentially toxic effects, and the responses to our poll on Instagram showed me that I am definitely not alone in these feelings. Speaking from my own perspective, I place a lot of significance on my ability to be productive and show (myself? My family? I’m not entirely sure) that I am capable of the things I take on. I often worry that I can’t do the things I commit to, and that if I don’t succeed everyone will be there to say “ah ha! We knew she couldn’t do it”. This is a very, very stressful and overwhelming anxiety to hold on to, and while it pushes me to prove I can do what I set out to, it is also exhausting and a difficult and heavy burden to carry. What is upsetting, is that it is a burden that exists primarily in my mind. I obsess so much over how I might fail or drop the ball, and put enough pressure on

myself to last a lifetime. It becomes so much to carry that I end up wanting to avoid it all and pretend my responsibilities don’t exist. And then I’m stuck in the enticing pit of procrastination.

It seems like a sick joke the universe plays to mix obsessive productivity and anxiety fuelled procrastination. What could possibly make you obsess even more over being productive than the internalised guilt of procrastination – and what makes you procrastinate more than the anxiety of needing to be productive. The back and forth between these two extremes make for an exhausting cocktail of emotions, and I find myself feeling incredibly overwhelmed. I wish that I could write this with a solution or some advice in mind, but instead I write only with the frustration that I think many of us share.

My only conclusion at this point is that this can’t be the healthiest way to live or even the most efficient path to success, but it’s also a difficult cycle to break. It should probably be discussed more frequently, because it seems toxic productivity is a burden a substantial amount of students carry. If you’d like to share your experience or your opinion, write a letter to the editor and email it to me at editor@pdby.co.za. Our letter policy can be read below.

On the brighter side, one product of my obsessive productivity was graduating in this year’s Autumn graduations. Congratulations to everyone who graduated! It may not have been how we imagined, but the impact and significance of our achievements outweigh the pandemic, and are a mark of our perseverance through this chaos. And bonus, it lasts forever, so take some time to bask in that.

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25 May 2021

Tales of a 2021 graduation Thabang Moloi and Manelisi Magoro

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he Autumn Graduations took place from 13 April to 7 May, where a total of 31 virtual graduation ceremonies were conducted. 11400 qualifications were awarded during the Autumn Graduation season, 198 of which were doctorates and 1289 master’s degrees.

The Faculty of Engineering, Built Environment and IT kick-started its ceremonies by presenting 450 degrees from four departments. The Faculty of Education awarded 259 degrees for distance learning. The Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences awarded over 1 000 degrees and the Faculty of Humanities concluded its virtual graduation ceremony by awarding 537 BA degrees.

The pandemic disrupted many of the normal campus activities and proceedings in 2020 and 2021. Graduation day, the one day that a student looks forward to the instant they set foot into a higher learning institution, has also fallen victim to the pandemic’s aftermath, and had to go virtual. This came as a disappointment to many students as it meant that they would not be celebrated to the extent of their satisfaction – that meant there would no longer be any ululations or outbursts of praise and gratitude from proud parents, family members and close friends. Higher learning and teaching institutions have not yet found an efficient and safe way to conduct physical graduations that are not in breach of the COVID-19 regulations. That has not meant that students couldn’t attend virtual graduation ceremonies and get their degrees via courier. The Autmun Graduations marked the university’s third virtual graduation since the start of the pandemic, with the first one being a few days after President Cyril Ramaphosa announced the national state of emergency in March 2020. The proceedings are as ‘normal’ as they could be, and includes a welcoming

and acknowledgement speech from the ViceChancellor and Principal, Professor Tawana Kupe, who then hands over to each faculty’s dean to introduce and present the Honorary Doctorate candidates of the faculty. The degrees are then conferred in their hierarchy.

Reabetswe Phati, a BCom Financial Sciences graduate, shared her experience and expectations for her graduation this year: “I expected what every person expects when they graduate, the whole family present and shouting my clan names as I cross the stage […] Expectations were not met but the opportunity to [take pictures] with my parents and dress up was still pretty great”. Thebe Lephallo, who is a BCom Statistics graduate, shared the same sentiments and shed light on what the future holds for him, “A whole lot. An engagement with the world of work and appreciating where I am going to apply the skills I absorbed in my studies”, he said. Nduduzo Majozi, who was awarded a master’s degree in Applied Mathematics, says that it is natural to expect a normal ceremony with friends and family. However, she was “blown away” by the video where their names were announced and degrees were conferred virtually. Majozi says her master’s degree is an entry requirement for a PhD and she is hoping to be employed on a full-time basis in academia and that this qualification serves as a stepping stone towards her dreams.

When asked what she would tell her first-year self, given the opportunity, she replied “I suggest you follow your dreams, it will get hard but if you honestly choose a course that you love, the love will sustain you. Make friends, be approachable because umuntu ungumuntu ngabantu”.

New graduates are advised to sign up to UP Alumni Connect at https://upalumniconnect.com to stay in touch.

For highlights on the graduation season follow #UPGraduation2021.

Illustration: Madeeha Hazarvi

Top scarce ICT skills in South Africa Nokwanda Kubheka

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he Information and Communications Technology (ICT) Sector Survey 2021 report, which was compiled by Marilyn White Radebe (the BITF’s Deputy President companies along with executive members, Mfundo Hlope and Sean Achim of the Black IT Forum), has recently been released. It shares industryspecific input towards the 2020 Critical Skills List Report by Labour Market Intelligence Research Program.

The report focused on individuals who are working in the ICT industry or have graduated with a degree in ICT. The results further revealed that there are twenty-five skills in shortage within the ICT sector in South Africa, including data scientist, ICT security specialist and data management manager.

They also reported that when compiling a list of scarce skills,

Intervarsity News Rhodes University

Rhodes University graduate, Esihle Lupindo, has been awarded the much coveted Fulbright Foreign Student Exchange Scholarship.

This scholarship, which will provide full tuition and board funding, has been awarded to Lupindo to study for his Doctoral degree at the University of Nebraska in the United States.

An avid advocate for the representation of queer individuals, he was also chosen by the Mail & Guardian as one of South Africa’s Top 200 Young South Africans in 2020. He was selected amongst a large competitive pool of university graduates who intend on pursuing postgraduate studies in the United States. After enduring a difficult selection process, which saw Lupindo, who graduated with his Master’s in Sociology at the Makhanda-based university, emerges victorious as he goes on to pursue his PhD studies.

University of the Witwatersrand The University of the Witwatersrand (Wits) has officially welcomed its 16th Vice Chancellor and Principal in a ceremony held on 29 April. Professor Zeblon Vilakazi, who previously served as the deputy vice-chancellor for Research and Postgraduate Affairs at

relevant industry organisations must be taken into account.

According to the technical report on scarce skills, learning a skill takes three years, but internships, learnerships, and graduate programs are usually only 12 to 18 months long.

A significant number of graduates have obtained the necessary qualifications but have not been given the opportunity to gain the necessary skills.

Software development is also a very broad discipline in which, for example, you may find a shortage in one region, such as Java, but a large number of Net developers in the market. This is why skills portability and the need for ICT practitioners to be lifelong learners is important.

The findings also reveal that most unemployed people with scarce skills are graduates, with 51 percent having a bachelor’s degree and 41,67 percent having a postgraduate degree. the Braamfontein-based institution, officially began his term at the beginning of 2021, taking over from predecessor Prof. Adam Habib.

The ceremony was held at the iconic Wits Great Hall and was attended by Wits University Chancellor, Dr Judy Dlamini, Director General in the Presidency, Ms Phindile Baleni and Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation, Dr Blade Nzimande.

Vilakazi, who takes over as Wits University celebrates its centenary, detailed in his speech plans to transform Wits into the “African academy of the future”, as well as bright plans to collaborate with the public and private sectors alike to “reinvigorate” the Braamfontein precinct into an ecosystem that would “[enable an] environment for the flourishing of great ideas.”

Stellenbosch University Stellenbosch University (SU) in the Western Cape has recently announced the establishment of the School of Climate Studies, which has its official launch date set for June 2021. In a statement released by the University, SU said that it aims to bring academia together with the private and public sectors, combining the climate-related knowledge systems, the climate policies of the public sector as well as the innovative capacities and the climate redress of the private sector.

Remarking that this is in line with SU’s mission to move towards being a carbon-neutral university, Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Research, Innovation and Postgraduate Studies, Prof. Eugene Cloete stated that the SU School of Climate Studies would be the first of its kind in South Africa that would have the status of a faculty, and that the institution was in the developmental stages of creating a master’s degree in Climate Studies.

Compiled by Tshepang Moji

Campus Nostalgia

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31 August 1973 Architects on study tour

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course in Architecture was founded in 1931, shortly after the Transvaal University College became the University of Pretoria (UP). The course was taught in collaboration with the University of the Witwatersrand, which awarded the degree. The article in a 1973 publication is about a housing project that had been started by the Department of Architecture at UP in 1971.

In 1973, although background research had been conducted, the course leaders decided to apply the research results to a practical project - the redevelopment of an area in Pretoria (in the manner of a ‘living laboratory’). The office concerned with this consisted of two lecturers, postgraduate and final year students, as well as the entire fourth- year class.

The course leaders decided not to start measuring the results of the research. There were many examples of this kind of research overseas replace with: that were relevant and so the fourth-year students were given the opportunity to take a trip to Europe and apply the results from the previous studies. Therefore, it was decided to give the fourth-year students the opportunity to study it overseas through a trip.

The tour ran from 25 August 1973 to 23 September 1973.

These were some of the countries they visited: • England: Thamesmead and other housing projects in London. Milton Keynes - the youngest of the new cities etc.

• Scandinavia: To visit various housing projects and new cities, as well as to investigate the work of building systems and contemporary architects.

• Munich: Olympic city and redevelopment of old city The students collected travel money under the name “Architectura 4” in various ways. The main project was in cooperation with Messrs. Schachat Cullum, a well-known firm of homebuilders and property developers.

The students held a house competition amongst themselves and the winning design was built as a show house in Constantia Park.

The students collected donations of building materials for this house because the profit from its sale was to be used for the travel fund. In addition, the students received R5 000 from Messrs. Schachat Cullum.

During the show, a public competition would be held in which, among other things, two return flight tickets to Europe - donated

by South African Airways - would be awarded.

Compiled by Nokwanda Kubheka

Tuks professor appointed vice-chair of international law commission session Tshepang Moji

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he United Nations’ International Law Commission (ILC) has recently announced the appointment of Professor Dire Tladi as the first vice-chair of the commission’s 72nd Session. Prof. Tladi is a globally renowned Professor of international law in the University of Pretoria’s Public Law Department.

This prestigious appointment adds another feather to Prof. Tladi’s illustrious cap. Appointed by the National Research Foundation’s South African Research Chairs Initiative (SARChI), Prof. Tladi currently serves as the SARChI Chair for Constitutional International Law. He has also served as the Principal State Law Advisor for International Law to the Department of International Relations and Cooperation and as a Legal Advisor to South Africa’s Permanent Mission to the United Nations, based in New York City.

The distinguished academic and advocate of the High Court additionally holds the title of Extraordinary Professor at the University of Stellenbosch, is one of the two editors of the South African Yearbook of International Law, and is currently a Special Rapporteur to the ILC on the topic of jus cogens.

The International Law Commission’s current session, which is being held in Geneva, Switzerland, began on 26 April and concludes on 4 June, and will be held again from 5 July to 6 August 2021.

4 | News

Fact check:

Did certain buildings at UP never have female bathrooms?

Bullying beyond school grounds

25 May 2021

Kimberley Mapedza and Nokwanda Kubheka

B Visual: Cassandra Eardley

Susanna Anbu

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recent poll conducted by Instagram meme page @Life_at_ Tuks asked followers whether schools were designed more for males or females. One such response that the page received, which was subsequently posted on its story, stated that “There isn’t even a ladies bathroom in Eng 2”. In response to this, another social media user explained that the statement is “both true and untrue”, explaining that the original design of the building did not include a female bathroom due to the engineering field chiefly being considered a “male field”. The user went on to explain that one female bathroom exists in the building, located on the top floor, mentioning that the female bathroom was “just a male bathroom that they converted into a female bathroom” and that the bathroom is “[…] so small that you can’t get into either of the [two] stalls with a backpack on”.

PDBY sought to verify the validity of the discourse regarding the prevalence of female bathrooms at UP campuses over the years.

Archival Assistant at UP, Sian Pretorius-Nel, explains that “Female bathrooms have always featured in the buildings at UP/TUC. The Old Arts Building (1910) was designed and built to have a male and female bathroom as there were male and female students from 1908”.

She ascertains that “as the university expanded and there tended to be more dominantly ‘male buildings’, like engineering, they still would have made allowance for female bathrooms as the secretaries working in the building were all female”.

Pretorius-Nel mentions that “the first female engineering student registered somewhere in the 1950s and then it became quite popular”.

She also stated that the council meeting minutes from the 80s mentioned that there were usually more female students studying at UP. Pretorius-Nel claims that “this could have been due to the war and then later because most men went to the army”. She explains that “in terms of Natural Science, the building was built during the 80s and there were a large number of female scientists, it would have definitely been built with female students in mind.”

Core statistics for 2020 show female students registered at UP totalling 30 643, while the number of male students totals 22 787.

PDBY spoke to 2nd year Civil Engineering student Deandré Pillay about the state and availability of female bathrooms in engineering buildings at UP. Pillay mentioned that there were a total of five bathrooms in the Eng 1 building, describing that “they are not in the greatest condition but they are functional”. Pillay went on to state that the bathrooms “are located below ground level (along with the male bathrooms and lecture theatres) however, it can be a little daunting going to the bathroom by yourself since it’s in a quiet, dimly lit area.”

Pillay acknowledged that she had only been to Eng 2 once due to not having lectures scheduled in the building, and that “there was a toilet available for females to use, however, in comparison to the male bathroom availability, it was substantially less”. Pillay speculated that “Perhaps this is the case because at the time of construction, female lecturers and students were scarce in the engineering department.

This situation does need to change as the male-to-female ratio of engineering students has been tending towards being more balanced as the years have passed on. I would hope that in the near future, plans could be constructed for more female bathrooms in this building.”

Pillay went on to explain that “in Eng 3, the bathrooms are in excellent condition and there are many lavatories to use. They are centrally located in the building which makes them easily accessible.

There are even security cameras that I noticed outside the bathroom areas and I’m sure all female students feel safe using them”.

In commenting on the varied availability of female bathrooms across the engineering buildings, Pillay articulated that “the availability of female bathrooms from Eng 1 to 3 can be seen as a sort of storyline for the evolution of society and how females are becoming increasingly involved in what society would have previously deemed ‘male-dominating’ fields. This does make me proud as an aspiring engineer and I do hope to see many more women make it in this industry”.

Student structures against queer killings Nkosinam Nene and Katherine Weber

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uring a presidential address in June 2020, President Cyril Ramaphosa said a war was being waged against women and children in South Africa. The enemy seems to be gaining momentum and in response, House Humanities’ newest initiative was born: #IAmNotYourProperty. #IAmNotYourProperty aims to raise awareness and understanding about gender-based violence within the student community. This initiative also highlights violence against the queer community and men who are considered “weak” for reporting violence.

House Humanities told PDBY that they believe there is no unique description of a victim, hence #IAmNotYourProperty represents victims from all walks of life.

This comes after the recent attacks on the queer community in South Africa. As of 18 April, the queer community recorded the fourth death in less than a month. This made the community call for action or acknowledgement from President Cyril Ramaphosa.

Members of Tuks UP&OUT, the UP queer society, have stressed that these attacks are nothing new, but that the attacks have been on the rise. UP&OUT maintain that their focus is on educating the general public about these problems that queer people face. They

have free reading material available on their website (upandout. org.za), they publicise any events the Centre for Sexuality, Aids and Gender (CSA&G) have, and they host open discussions on Discord, where they educate people and spread the word about these problems.

The #IAmNotYourProperty initiative is the combined effort of House Humanities, the CSA&G, SpeakOUT and the SRC Transformation Office. #IAmNotYourProperty utilises the university’s Anti-Discrimination Policy and receives direction from Department of Student Affairs’, Dr Madiba. Students are encouraged to familiarise themselves with this document because “ignorance is not an excuse”, says Dr Madiba. The successful implementation of this policy relies on students reporting incidences of violence and adhering to the university’s rules. #IAmNotYourProperty provides a platform for students to fulfil both these duties.

House Humanities encourages active participation from students.

The Transformation Office welcomes input from students and aims to involve the student community through intensive campaigns and events. When asked how long #IAmNotYourProperty will run for, House Humanities’ Transformation Officer, Amukelani Makamu, said “the killings of our brothers and sisters [are] not seasonal, so this campaign will also not be seasonal”.

ullying is viewed as a manifestation of juvenile cruelty. Images of uniformed children shoving a peer in a hallway or the popular kids mocking the nerds may come to mind. Although accurate, these stereotypical views are extremely limited. Bullying can exist in any social setting, including universities. According to Oxford Languages, bullying is any act that “seeks to harm, intimidate or coerce” someone and anyone can be a victim, perpetrator and a witness.

Online learning means that most students are at their homes, residences, or private accommodations. Although most students are not on campus, bullying can still take place in the comfort of their own homes. In the digital age, cyberbullying can take place anytime and at any geographical location, behind the security of anonymity.

According to the United Nations, cyberbullying is an extension of bullying, which is an age-old problem. Bullying is often motivated by social undertones of racism and discrimination, and it disproportionately affects individuals with protected characteristics such as ethnicity, faith, sexuality, gender identity, and disability. Additionally, 7 in 10 young people have experienced online abuse at some point.

In an interview with University World News in 2020, Director of Institutional Advancement, Rikus Delport, said that UP has a robust anti-discrimination policy that addresses all human rights, abuses and discrimination-related matters, including bullying. He expressed that no incidents of bullying were recorded in 2019, however two cases were being investigated. He added that UP takes discrimination very seriously and has a zero tolerance policy.

UP’s anti-discrimination policy states that “The University of Pretoria rejects and condemns racism, sexism, homophobia, transphobia, xenophobia, ethnic chauvinism, religious intolerance, unfair discrimination, hate speech, sexual harassment and harassment based on other prohibited grounds, gender-based violence and violence based on other prohibited grounds; and retaliation, in all its forms”.

The aim of the policy is to prevent unfair discrimination, hate speech, harassment, violence on prohibited grounds, retaliation and the promotion of substantive equality.

According to Sergeant Scheepers from Brooklyn SAPS, cyberbullying can be reported to your nearest police station where it is regarded as a crime incident that will be referred to experts to investigate. He also emphasised that the SAPS deal with all crime incidents seriously.

News Bites

Disability Unit celebrates graduates with disabilities.

In May’s Department of Student Affairs service letter, the disability unit honoured students who graduated in the 2021 virtual autumn graduations.

The unit celebrated Aviwe Mado, who is said to have come from humble beginnings and has graduated with a BA Industrial Sociology degree, Wilson Macharia who graduated with an LLM degree with distinction, and Angelique Duvenage who graduated with an LLB and has already started as a candidate attorney. The Disability Unit also honoured the following graduates who are continuing their academic career at the University of Pretoria (UP): Thembesile Sibanda, Tinyiko Ngobeni, Kayla Denbeigh and Reabetswe Seleitsha.

UP confers honorary doctorate on Generations’ executive producer Mfundi Vundla, a playwright and television producer, received an honorary doctorate from the University of Pretoria’s Faculty of Humanities during a virtual ceremony on 3 May as part of the university’s autumn 2021 graduation session.

Vundla received an honorary doctorate in Literature. As the founder and chair of Morula Pictures, he has established himself as a leader of the South African entertainment industry over the course of five decades. His efforts span South Africa’s visual and performing arts landscape in film, television, and theatre.

A+ Romance Andrea and Vishad Ramnund recently graduated with postgraduate diplomas in General Management from UP’s Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS) in 2019 and completed their MBAs in 2020.

According to the UP website, the couple had been married for five years when they decided to pursue their MBAs, and the goal was to dedicate their full attention to their studies before starting a family.

Compiled by Nokwanda Kubheka

25 May 2021

News | 5

Faculty of Health Food Parcel Project

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Manelisi Magoro

he Food Parcel Project is part of the faculty of Health’s ‘Life Changers Fund initiative’. It is a collaboration between the faculty and student bodies to address student hunger. In 2018 it was estimated that 30% of students were food insecure and that percentage is likely higher in 2021 in the aftermath of the national lockdowns in 2020. The Health Faculty recognised that

supporting students only academically is insufficient, and that there was also a need to support them in other areas. This led to the initiation of the Food Parcel Project.

The drive accepts donations of nonperishable foodstuffs such as canned food, whole grains, long-life milk and toiletries. It is important to note that perishables are not collected in the donation boxes which are found on several locations on campus such as: HW Snyman North Building (next to the library), the entrance of Student Admin, 6th floor of

PDBWhy: UP adopts trans protocol Vasalya Moodley

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n recent UP news, the University of Pretoria adopted a new trans protocol. This was done to allign with the university’s Anti-Discrimination Policy and to include the needs of non-binary, transgender and intersex students and staff. The trans protocol is UP’s response to protecting vulnerable individuals experiencing trans-aimed discrimination, thus building a stronger policy of anti-discrimination and creating a safe, inclusive university life.

This new protocol was compiled and produced by the Centre for Sexualities, AIDS and Gender (CSA&G), the UP Transformation Office, UP and OUT, #SpeakOutUP, Department of Residence Affairs, the SRC, students and staff as well as other societies and organisations. The collective efforts in drafting this protocol have spanned three years and were initiated when a student in the process of transitioning stated that he needed to feel recognised and safe in his university environment.

Acting director of the CSA&G, Pierre Brouard, has stated that this protocol is a response to the question but “what kind of space do we want to create at

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Images Provided

UP, where everybody – including people who are transgender, intersex, non-binary and genderqueer – feel welcome”. Discrimination, whether it be due to malice or misinformation, is prevalent in university spaces; with the addition of this protocol, Brouard hopes to achieve broad transformation at UP. Brouard now wishes to start the conversation of gender fluidity to create an environment of understanding and acceptance before a student or staff member announces their transition or process thereof.

In this way, prepatory work is done so that there is no place for discrimination and harm after the fact. Trans issues are not in isolation either, they can be linked to other facets of one’s identity such as race and disability. He hopes that this protocol will illustrate how these issues connect together.

According to Brouard, despite the South African Constitution protecting sex and gender, actual policies containing applicable provisions to execute such protection are absent. He goes on to say that these are new uncharted waters for South Africa. With this new protocol, a conversation has now been opened and the recognition it condones is empowering. PDBY asked UP students what they thought of the new protocol.

the Dentistry building, House Ukuthula, Tuks Bophelong and Hippokrates.

“We do not only collect non-perishable food items but also toiletries to assist students too.

All sponsorships are gladly accepted” says Vanessa Steenkamp of the project. The drive received two big donations of perishable food that included bread loaves, sandwiches and cooldrink. These perishables need to be distributed swiftly to ensure that they remain fresh. In the case of such donations, class reps are informed to pass on the message to students. “The remainder is taken to residences or churches who have and [continue to] assist us when we have a student without a place to stay or when [students are] waiting for accommodation’. “We also donate to the community”, Steenkamp adds.

The Food Parcel initiative plans to collaborate with the Department of Dietetics on incorporating a balanced cooked meal with all

Natania Harding 2nd year Mechanical Engineering

“ “As a non-binary [person] I am excited to see not only representation of the trans community but affirmative action taking place. Our constitution may protect us but we do not necessarily feel safe even in more open and accepting environments such as university. We are people and yes I am happy we are receiving protection now but it is the bare minimum to not be endangered for living as our true selves. I hope this protocol will allow us to be more than protected but also accepted and integrated into society.”

Sinazo Sijovu Final year BSocSci (Philosophy, Politics and Economics) “The passing of the UP trans policy is a progressive step towards the university’s overall aim of achieving holistic transformation. Acknowledging the existence and humanity of all members of the UP community goes beyond just saying it - which is why policies like these have to exist, for accountability sake and in order for it to be documented how the university practically plans to better accommodate transgender, intersex, gender non-conforming and non-binary members of the institution as per the needs of these individuals. Additionally, the policy demonstrates what measures are being put in place by the institution to actively make

all persons feel recognised and comfortable not as an exception, but as the standard for how all people within their rights deserve to be treated. I appreciate how this policy plans to engage multiple facets of student life and how it will challenge us all to confront discrimination and do better in our efforts to eradicate it. I look forward to the benefits that the transgender community will directly reap from the passing of this policy but I am also hopeful about the opportunities that it will [be] present for the rest of the UP community to educate ourselves and act in accordance with the policy so as to see to it that the importance of it and why it should be consistently upheld is never lost.”

Hamish Craze Masters in Bioinformatics “I read through the trans protocol and I get the sense that this document was written from a position of compassion. In that regard, I feel happy that I live [in] a society where we attempt to cohabitate and be tolerant instead of the alternative (re-education camps, conversion therapy, genocide). Aspects such as the SCU (Student Counselling Unit) offering their services to transitioning individuals seems like a win no matter how you slice it. However in some places, I feel it may reach for the impractical or idiotic. Say for example: In section 17, accomodation is provided to trans people who have legally

transitioned (their ID document reflects their chosen gender) to residences based on their chosen identity. I just picture a trans-person in Taaibos, Maroela, Mopanie or literally any res and think “yea guys, I don’t [think] this is going to be this win for human rights you expect”. But at the same time, what else is there to do? Build an entirely new res just for the three trans people? That doesn’t seem practical either.

At the end of the day I wish whoever is transitioning luck on their journey and advocate for growing a thick skin because by all accounts you’re going to need it.”

“

the necessary nutrients at least once a week.

Health students who require this aid are encouraged to contact one of the following people via their respective email addresses: Ms Lolo Mosia (lolo.mosia@up.ac.za), Ms Corne Nel (corne.nel@up.ac.za), or Ms Mahlatse Mokwena (mahlatse.mokwena@up.ac.za).

The Food Parcel project is an extension of the SNAPP project that provides food parcels to students in different faculties. Steenkamp expressed that they have plans to extend the project to other faculties. “We are one institution and [we] must help each other. We first wanted to get the project up and running on a smaller scale” says Steenkamp.

She adds that the next step for the project is to seek sponsorships which will allow them to buy the items in bulk. Steenkamp also expressed that there were some promising sponsorship opportunities and she is confident that this will cotninue to grow.

Student voices in the pandemic I

ntroduction In March 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic reached South Africa and the country went into a strict lockdown to try and contain the situation. In the following months, a group of University of Pretoria development studies students - themselves forced to leave campus and student residences and try to learn online – wrote about this unprecedented situation. In this short collection we share some of these experiences; some reveal what the students themselves were going through, some capture the stories of others around them.

No-one, at the time of writing these really imagined that a year later we would still be so severely affected by this pandemic. But here we are, all still grappling with many of the same challenges. We hope you find these glimpses of how others have been affected in some way illuminating and perhaps encouraging.

Editors: Marc Wegerif and Bontle Modubu – March 2021 University of Pretoria, Department of Anthropology and Archaeology.

COVID-19 Anxiety Most people might face stress and anxiety as a result of issues relating to food insecurity, money and employment, but from my experience I face stress and anxiety because of my schoolwork.

Online learning has been a huge struggle for me as I face challenges with my network connectivity, the constant buying of data and my laptop being extremely slow on certain days (mostly when I need it). Such challenges put an extra amount of stress on top of the general stress I already experience from being a student. I have not been clinically diagnosed, but I generally have bad anxiety, which causes me to stress about things for weeks on end, and sometimes I end up not doing certain things because of my anxiety.

Author: Nelisiwe Maseko

Read the collection in PDBY: next installment 07/06

6 | News

SHS tackles misinformation about contraceptives

Assault and GBV I in student spaces

Nokwanda Kubheka n May’s Department of Student Affairs service letter, Student Health Services tackled myths about contraceptives (birth control) and countered them with facts.

Some of the myths included: Myth: Birth control causes weight gain.

Fact: Contraceptives, like any other drug, have varying side effects on various women.

Increased appetite caused by injectable contraceptives can contribute to weight gain, but is not a certainty.

Thabang Moloi and Amukelani Makamu

U

niversity of Pretoria structures such as Speak Out, Just Leaders UP and the the Centre For Sexualities, AIDS and Gender(CSA&G) have carried out initiatives to raise awareness on sexual assault. Student Structures such as SRC and Stars Mentorship also participate in the fight against gender based violence.

Speak Out and co. held three webinars on Instagram. All three of the webinars have been recorded and uploaded, these can be found on the Speak Out Instagram page (@ SpeakOUT_UP). SpeakOut defined sexual harassment as outlined in the University of Pretoria’s Anti-Discrimination Policy, which is accessible to the public on the institution’s website. It states, “[s]exual harassment is unwanted conduct of a sexual nature. The unwanted nature of sexual harassment distinguishes it from behaviour that is welcome and mutual. Sexual attention becomes sexual harassment if the behaviour is persisted in (although a single, serious incident may suffice)[…]”. Speak Out encourages students to go through the University’s Anti-Discrimination policy to be better informed on the issue of sexual assault.

The highlight of Speak Out webinars was the presence of a health care institution, OnPoint Health Care, which provides health care for victims of Sexual Assault and various other health care services. The focus of their in-depth discussion was the role of perpetrators.

Sharmilah-Kasai Matime, a UP student, answered the question of “what do you think ncompasses sexual assault?” and answered: “People who have a certain power or strength, (even physical strength, where someone is stronger and knows the other person cannot fight for themselves) over another person or the victim. Lack of knowledge, a perpetrator may think what they’re doing is not sexual assault or may not be defined as sexual assault so they will not get into trouble, however anyway sexual act that is unwanted and forced or opposed is assault. Perpetrators know that in most cases they will not get punished or[that they will] get away with a lenient punishment like a fine or a warning or a suspended sentence, especially when they are first time perpetrators. Some [perpetrators] know that they can get away with the crime as most victims do not report the crime or wait a long while before they report it, meaning the evidence is lost or doesn’t exist and there are no witnesses and it becomes the victim’s words versus the perpetrator’s words.”

Sexual assault, sexual harassment and gender based violence can be reported to Protection officer, Mrs E Gardiner from the Legal Services Division (Tel: 012 420 3073) or a member of the Support Panel. Crime can also be reported to Brooklyn SAPS at 012 366 1700.

Myth: Birth control will affect a person’s future ability to have children.

Fact: Short or long-term birth control has little impact on potential fertility, according to research.

Myth: Contraceptive pills can lead to cancer.

Fact: Combination oral contraceptives have been shown to reduce the risk of ovarian and endometrial cancer.

Myth: Contraceptives protect people from sexually transmitted infections.

Fact: The only birth control methods that protect against sexually transmitted infections

25 May 2021

are the male and female condoms. Other birth control methods only protect against pregnancy.

Myth: It is not safe to use hormonal birth control over a long period of time.

Fact: It is safe for women to take hormonal birth control for as long as they need them.

Myth: Contraceptives cause acne.

Fact: Oral contraceptives may reduce the appearance of acne.

Students can get access to contraceptives free of charge in government funded clinics and hospitals, and at a cost in private medical centres.

Students and safe sex Mothusi Mokalane

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ex among students is a common practice in universities. This is because of the ample freedom that most students find themselves having, as they are no longer under parental authority. It is, therefore, of great importance to have conversations surrounding sex, especially among students. This is a measure to try and prevent sexually transmitted infections and diseases, as well as to do away with unwanted and unplanned pregnancies. University years are probably the most exciting for any young person and it is at university where we learn and discover our sex rhythms, who we want to have sex with and how we want to have sex.

The Centre for Sexualities, AIDS and Gender (CSA&G) maintains that there is not enough sex education in South African universities.

That is why the centre uses sex positive and intersectional approaches to working with young people and broader issues of human rights and social justice. “An ‘intersectional’ approach refers to the fact that forms of oppression intersect with and co-constitute each other, so that our work must focus on people as complex bearers of multiple, contextual and fluid identities”, stated Hulisani Khorombi, a member of CSA&G. A sex positive approach is based on the idea that people should have space to embody, explore and learn about their sexuality and gender without judgment or shame.

Above all else, sex positivity values consent, communication, and education that allows people to make informed choices about their bodies and pleasure.

Safe sex and STIs The University of Fort Hare psychology scholars, Magqamfana and Kheswa, in their study of “Sexual Practices of Female Students at South African Universities”, indicate that the majority of female university students fall within the sexually active group and are at risk of sexually transmitted infections. This is because of practices that students participate in, such as partying and having unprotected sex with multiple partners. The study shows that many female students go to university without having explored partying and clubbing, and this reality makes them adapt to these cultures in an uninformed manner, which in turn, can adversely impact their sexual health and behaviour.

A study conducted by the National Department of Higher Education and Training HIV/AIDS Programme (HEAIDS), revealed that in South African universities, 32.4% of sexually active male students did not use a condom the last time they had sex. The study also considered that some students explore their sexual diversity when they are in university as the study revealed that a quarter of the students in this study acknowledge that they have sex with men, however, they do not identify as queer. This suggests a sexual trend that indicates that most students choose sexual partners on grounds other than the sexual orientation they identify as. Khorombi of the CSA&G adds that when a student attends university, there is an opportunity for exploration that occurs as the space may be more inclusive than previous spaces that the

student was in. There is often less judgment and Sexual dysfunction critique in a space that is filled with peers of a Lee Spencer and Antoinette Zeiss’s study similar age group who come from vastly different on “Sexual Roles and Sexual Dysfunction backgrounds. The inevitable exposure to new in College Students” revealed that 13% out ideas and concepts can affirm certain ideas that of the 43% of students that participated in a student may have had that they could not fully their survey experience sexual performance understand until the vocabulary was explained to difficulties. Spencer and Zeiss’s observation them. “A student may find that now that they are is that sexual pressure from partners is closely in a safer space they allow themselves to fully associated with sexual dysfunction for most engage with their attraction to people whom they students. Spencer and Zeiss indicate that may be attracted to regardless of the biological many male students are likely to not report sex of the person”, explained Khorombi. their sexual problems and concerns. Mkhize Siyabonga Mkhize, a programme coordinator at of Outreach added that, because of the shame Outreach, a division within the Engage Men’s attached to sexual challenges, especially among Health Clinic, stated that there is nothing wrong males, Engage Men’s Health does not have a with having multiple sex partners, however one large influx of people coming to the clinic for has to practice protected sex, or at least be on a consultations. Mkhize, however, encourages PrEP treatment. students to seek help and make medical enquiries PrEP – Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis so that they get the help needed. A study by PrEP is a preventative medicine for people Caroline Moreau et al. on “Sexual Dysfunction at risk of HIV/AIDS. It is taken to prevent Among Youth: An Overlooked Sexual Health infection from sex or injection during drug Concern”, shows that a large percentage of use. If one takes it as required, PrEP is highly female students also experience some form of effective for preventing HIV. Mkhize of Engage sexual dysfunction. These range from lack of Men’s Health explained that for one to be on sexual desire, difficulty in reaching orgasm, to PrEP one has to be HIV negative. Therefore, a pain during sexual intercourse. Additionally, test is conducted first before one is approved Moreau et al. wrote that “21% of male youth/ for treatment. Mkhize went on to indicate that students indicated that they regularly experience there is a worrying lack of knowledge about premature ejaculation while a 4% minority PrEP and access to it. “Most people in our reported problems of erection”. The study also society have no idea what PrEP is, they do not shows that one in eleven females indicated that even know that it exists and this act further puts they experience vaginal dryness on a regular people at unnecessary danger of infections”, basis. Khorombi indicated that when a person stated Mkhize. Mkhize added that there has becomes sexually aroused, hormones, muscles, to be popularisation and advertising of PrEP, nerves and blood vessels all work with one especially among young people and students another to create a reaction. There are many because of their often highly active sex lives. factors that can influence this, including physical Mkhize noted that for the mere fact that it and psychological factors. These are not limited prevents what is among the biggest killers of to age and should they be prolonged and cause people in South Africa, distress to the person who is it is a huge advantage suffering from such struggles, for everyone, therefore it is suggested that they people should know about speak to a professional such Above all else, it. “Because of budget as a doctor. “Engaging in sex positivity constraints, PrEP is not sexual acts can at times be advertised enough for the frustrating and it is important values consent, general public. Only a that everyone is aware that communication, small percentage, mostly they can get assistance”, and education that social media users, [are] motivated Khorombi. aware of it”, explained In trying to bridge the gap allows people to make Mkhize. Mkhize went on of lack of sex education, the informed choices to suggest that when one CSA&G runs a 9-week entry wants to be on PrEP it level training course twice a about their bodies is better if one is at risk year which gives foundational and pleasure. of getting HIV, because knowledge surrounding social mostly people with a justice matters. In light of single sex partner take that and having created a safe the treatment, and default space for students to explore along the way. This has negative effects because difficult and uncomfortable conversations, there in some areas PrEP is not easily accessed. A are instances where students feel comfortable single bottle is purchased by the state for over approaching either staff members, trainers or R600. Khorombi explained that the CSA&G befrienders around issues surrounding sex. In informs students about both this as well as the context of its history and vision, the CSA&G PEP - a post-exposure prophylaxis which is a explores, at the university and beyond, themes short course of HIV medicines taken soon after that are not limited to, social and community a possible exposure to HIV to prevent the virus justice, gender-based justice, sexual and from taking hold in the body. PrEP treatment can reproductive health and rights for all sexual be found at no cost for people at various medical diversity, and sexual citizenship. The centre can institutions; Engage Men’s Health in Hatfield be found at Akanyang Building at the University also gives the treatment. of Pretoria.

25 May 2021

Features | 7

Toxic productivity

& student culture Kirsten Minnaar

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oxic productivity, as Huffpost defines it, is the “unhealthy desire to be productive at all times, at all costs”. It is not hard to understand why this phenomenon is so prevalent among university students. Students are expected to push themselves to their limits to succeed, even if that means sacrificing their mental and physical health in the process.

According to the Amherst Wire, university students are forced to go above and beyond in order to remain competitive in the job market. This means that students are expected to partake in internships, full- or part-time jobs, and student societies, all while maintaining high grades for all of their classes. The University of Pretoria’s Student Health Services (SHS) and Student Counselling Unit (SCU) also expressed that toxic productivity is encouraged among students through “pressure to achieve high marks, competitive programmes, [and] pressure to complete quickly no matter their own possible individual obstacles”. They believe that this phenomenon stems from students’ inability “to realistically estimate their own reasonable levels of achievement”. Students will put more pressure onto themselves and they “could end up feeling like failures when the problem is not their own outcomes but rather their expectations”. Psychologist and blogger, Dr Julie Smith, explains that toxic productivity enforces a feeling that no matter how much you do each day, it is never enough. This means that students are drastically overextending themselves, while simultaneously never feeling fulfilled or accomplished.

Dr Smith believes that there is a wider cultural problem at play.

Social media has created an environment where people have a constant view into one another’s lives. This has created pressure to “appear a certain way to family, friends or potential employers”.

TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube are filled with an endless amount of ultra-productive day-in-the-life videos, accounts dedicated to beautiful note-taking, pictures of fellow students studying in coffee shops, and, tragically, the #hustle. This has led to a culture where hyper-productivity has been romanticised and normalised on social media. The UP SHS and the UP SCU stated that “[s]tudents may publish achievements on social media which do not reflect the real world. Images are displaced from the real-life context of ongoing challenges and disappointments which accompany ordinary life experiences amid the achievements”. This culture of “performative workaholism”, as the New York Times calls it, makes people feel inferior if they are not able to maintain the same levels of hyperproductivity they see portrayed on social media. Social media also exposes people to an onslaught of advertisements that force people to compare themselves to others and their levels of productivity, in order to encourage them to buy their products. PDBY conducted

a poll on social media and asked students about their feelings regarding toxic productivity. When asked if social media has ever made them feel as though they were not being productive enough, the vast majority of students who responded replied that it did.

The constant push for hyper-productivity is not sustainable or healthy. However, in order to keep up with the high levels of productivity that this culture requires, many students are forced to turn towards unhealthy habits. In PDBY’s poll, 73% of 1260 students who replied said that they drank caffeine while studying, 59% of students said that they sleep less than 6 hours multiple times a week and 79% of students said that they practise unhealthy eating habits while studying. Students also revealed that they suffer from panic attacks and insomnia, partake in smoking, neglect personal hygiene, and use concerta or similar substances without a prescription, or double their usual dosage. One student also shared that they “[went] to class with a kidney stone”, because they prioritised their academics over their health.

An overwhelming majority of responding students also expressed that their sense of self-worth was dependent on their ability to be productive. They expressed that if they think that they are not being productive enough they experience feelings of guilt, stress, and anxiety and can feel like they are “useless”.

The SHS and the SCU explained that, in the long term, hyperproductivity can “bring about low self-esteem and a sense of hopelessness”.

The constant pressure that students put on themselves to participate in endless activities, while also maintaining high grades, is not sustainable. Even though this behaviour is expected from all students, it is not good for the mental or physical health of students, and it can leave them with a sense of hopelessness. As one student expressed on PDBY’s poll, “[w]e need to stop comparing our progress to others’. That’s where it becomes toxic.”

Illustration: Bernhard Schiele

Trophy hunting for conservation Lauren Harries

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ecently, the Zimbabwean government released a statement regarding the hunting of critically endangered African forest elephants in order to accumulate an income for the further conservation of their wildlife. According to CNN, the Zimbabwean government plans to sell hunting licenses for the hunting of approximately 500 elephants. Hunters will reportedly need to pay between $10 000 - $70 000, depending on the size of the elephant, to secure their hunt. This announcement is considered extremely controversial as it comes only two weeks after the International Union for Conservation of Nature announced that African forest elephants are now considered critically endangered. Despite this, Zimparks is pushing for the number of elephants for the hunt to be increased due to overpopulation within their national parks. The Zimbabwean government has motivated this decision by stating that the revenue accumulated from the hunt will be used to fund further conservation.

According to Discover Wildlife, trophy hunting is the shooting of carefully selected animals, under official government license, for pleasure. It has been around for decades with big wildlife, such as elephants often being the targets of these kinds of hunts. According to wildlife conservationists, the Zimbabwean government’s allowance for this trophy hunt to occur will not have any drastic effects, as it is not a sustainable or beneficial way to manage the wildlife. This solution will also not address the issue of local communities being affected by them due to the overpopulation in the national parks.

The effect of trophy hunting on conservation is an issue that is often critically discussed within the wildlife community. Simiso Mlevu, a spokesperson for the Centre for Natural Resource Governance, a Zimbabwe environmental and human rights advocacy group, reminded the public that trophy hunting is a practice that agitates animals and increases the chances of human-wildlife conflict. Mlevu argues that the Zimbabwean government’s argument that trophy hunting will assist with conservation is one that is motivated purely by greed, and that the money accumulated from such hunts is often not accounted for.

The decline in tourism due to the COVID-19 pandemic is an international issue that has resulted in a significant loss of income for many countries. Many African countries, like Zimbabwe, rely

Image: Bernhard Schiele

on tourism revenue to fund their conservation programmes. With this loss of income, countries are forced to find other ways to fund their programmes. For Zimbabwe, this means the trophy hunting of African forest elephants. However, whether trophy hunting is the most effective way to fund conservation is a topic of debate. A journal article, written by Melville Saayman, Petrus van der Merwe, and Andrea Saayman, about the economic impact of trophy hunting on the South African wildlife industry predicts that trophy hunting brings in an annual revenue of more than $341 million and provides for more than 17 000 employment opportunities.

With South Africa’s alarming unemployment rates and decreased tourism revenue, trophy hunting would be an effective way for the

country to increase its revenue and further its conservation. However, this would be done at the expense and livelihood of the already endangered wildlife.

Overall, a country’s decision to use the trophy hunting of endangered wildlife as a means of accumulating income for further conservation has the ability to create jobs and increase their overall tourism revenue in a time where it has significantly dropped.

However, the use of critically endangered wildlife, such as the African Forest Elephants, for the hunt has the potential to further endanger their species. Overpopulation and lack of capital gain could mean the relocation and not the death of the elephants and funding for conservation could be sourced in a more eco-friendly manner.

8 | Features

Contextualising student protests: Campus security and policing

issues of student debt and funding as well as the prioritisation of the missing middle bracket of students. However, the death of Mthokozisi Ntumba, a bystander during the Wits Fee Protests in Braamfontein, Johannesburg, once again brought issues of security, policing and the use of force during student protests to the forefront of national discussion. This incident drew rebuke from Police Minister, Bheki Cele, who deemed it as “something that it has no inch, it has no grain of explanation. Somebody, for me, went crazy”. A statement from the Independent Policing Investigative Directorate (IPID) has confirmed the arrest of the four police officers involved in the incident who have been charged with three counts of attempted murder and defeating the ends of justice.

UP’s own microcosm of the nationwide fee protests in March was led by the SRC, who handed a memorandum of demands to UP vice chancellor, Professor Tawana Kupe, on 18 March, following a week of protest action and sit-ins. As the UP SRC and other students waited for the vice chancellor Photo: Susanna Anbu at the Engineering entrance, SRC President Lerato Ndlovu stated in an interview with television network Susanna Anbu ENCA that, “We [the students] were told to social distance so [Prof.

Kupe] may come, wear our masks, we have done exactly that as you tudent protest action in South Africa has garnered national can see behind and all that we have gotten so far is still waiting for attention due to its volatile and persistent nature. Over the him and the police are now preparing their weapon and now they have years, incidents like the Soweto Uprising in 1976 and the Fees pointed this water machine of theirs in our direction so that is all we Must Fall (FMF) movement of 2015/2016 have effectively cemented have had so far [sic]”. notable Watergate moments in South African history, and underscored Despite the police articulating that they would leave once the the importance of student movements in the South African national students were on campus property, it was understood through Ndlovu’s consciousness. Student movements in South Africa are often rooted statements that the police acted beyond their jurisdiction. She states, in funding crises and institutionalised racism. Through the discourse “they [SAPS] gave us 15 minutes to disperse and we did not do so. of student protests in the last eight years, UP students have boasted They threatened to shoot and we came running for refuge here, on participation in the many movements. By tracing this protest action, university property because they don’t have jurisdiction beyond this we garner a better understanding of protests in the context of tertiary place and they’re still here, still preparing their weapons and they’re institutions, and at what point student protest action poses the potential still coming on the property, intimidating us”. to morph into a turbulent nature.

Some of the traditional methods employed by SAPS to disperse Through the progression of student protest action over the years, protesters consists of the use of teargas, water cannons, and stun the interplay between student safety and policing is a concern that has grenades. The aforementioned equipment is listed under the SAPS drawn up wide debate. Former PDBY Editor, Michal-Maré Linden, policy document as minimum equipment required by police during mentions that, during PDBY’s coverage of the FMF movement in protest action. Such equipment enables SAPS to undertake mechanical 2015, PDBY journalists tasked with covering the protest action were force on demonstrators. It is further stated that the use of “coercive supplied with red bandanas on the day. Journalists were encouraged to and deadly force” is only undertaken in rare and exceptional cases as write their name and contact number on the bandana and tie it around opposed to indiscriminately. their wrist for easy identification in the crowd. Linden ascertains that The policy document on the policing of public protest articulates there were a number of student Whatsapp groups before the march to that “in line with international instruments, many countries do not the Union Buildings where students shared tips about how to protect subscribe to the use of force [during public protests]”. The policy themselves from the police. She mentions that “these tips were told document discerns that the SAPS policing template stems from a to students by their parents who used them during apartheid”, stating Belgium model that is based on “distant policing of crowds and that, “a popular one was to carry a bottle of water and a bandana. You would include discussions, negotiation and persuasive methods”. The could also use your t-shirt. When the police shoot tear gas, you cover document goes on to explain that limitations of the Belgium approach your face with the wet t-shirt or cloth”. underpinned the justification for resorting to a French template that cut Bringing it to the current context, 2021 saw student protests down the distance between protesters and police, and rather “requires regain national attention due to nationwide protests regarding the that the police should be literally a few meters in front of the crowd”

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Meme-orable Moments Muskaan Singh

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ver the past year, the news has been dominated by bad news, from devastating updates about the global pandemic, to hate crimes. However, every now and again, a headline is just absurd enough to find itself commemorated as a meme on Twitter timelines, TikTok trends and Tumblr dashboards (and inevitably as screenshots posted on Instagram). In case you missed the memo (or should I say, meme-o), here is a rundown and explanation of the meme highlights of 2021 thus far.

Bernie Sanders and his mittens After the 2020 US elections that had the world collectively holding its breath, President Joe Biden was elected as the 46th President of the United States. However, at his inauguration on 20 January, all eyes were on Senator Bernie Sanders and his mittens.

With hands and legs crossed, and while wearing oversized mittens, Sen. Sanders was photographed by Brendan Smialowski, a photojournalist at Agence France-Presse. Soon, thousands of renditions of the picture with hilarious captions were being shared on social media. While it was not a headline by itself, the meme was a wholesome takeaway after a tense election.

GameStop short squeeze The social media posts about GameStop stock that appeared in late January had many people cackling with laughter, and just as many stumped. The memes appeared in various formats and, without context, were bizarre. In this instance, however, the actual

event was more absurd than the memes it birthed. In short, amateur traders on Reddit cost hedge funds billions of dollars.

GameStop is a chain store group in decline, with mass closures announced last year. The price of stocks was incredibly low and Wall Street bet on its closure and shorted the stocks.

In short, shorting is when Person A owns a share of stock that they lend to Person B who is the short seller. Person B then sells this borrowed stock to Person C. If the price of the stock drops, Person B buys back the stock for a lower price and returns it to Person A, keeping the difference. If the price of the stock rises, Person B has to purchase back the stocks at a loss in order to return them to Person A. It is possible for one stock to be borrowed multiple times.

Therefore, when Redditors on the r/wallstreetbets forum began buying up GME stocks, it caused the value of those stocks to rise.

By 27 January, two major short-sellers, Melvin Capital and Citron Capital, closed after taking a 100% loss from betting that GameStop stocks would fall, as reported by The Guardian.

Essentially, a group of Redditors upended Wall Street and made for some great memes.

The obstruction of the Suez Canal This meme was hard to miss - a huge ship lodged in the Suez Canal, and a meme often used to represent student struggles.

In March, the Suez Canal was blocked for six days by the Ever Given, a 200 000 tonne container ship. On 23 March, the Ever Given encountered a sandstorm and was grounded, lodged sideways in the Suez Canal. By 28 March, 369 other vessels were lined up and waiting to pass through the canal. BBC News reported that around 12% of global trade passes through the canal each day and data from Lloyd’s List showed that Ever Given was holding up around 9.6 billion dollars of trade every day.

25 May 2021 to restrain forward movement of protestors. It is acknowledged in the document that, although the French template has been employed, “no formal approval for the exclusive implementation of the French model by the SAPS has been made by the SAPS management”. The document concludes by articulating that the policies governing the use of force by SAPS during public protest action is a “subject of urgent review to reduce the use of force to a minimum” in order “to reduce the risk of casualties and fatalities associated with the use of firearms during public protests”.

Research penned by participants of the FMF movement articulates that the university management in tandem with the South African Police Service (SAPS) “used militarisation and force to perpetuate violence on campuses”. It is echoed that the moment a campus undergoes militarisation in the form of interdicts and heavy police presence on campus property, early engagement with student stakeholders becomes an impossible phenomenon. This is substantiated by a statement made back in 2016 by the UP SRC, which stated that “[i]n light of the heavy security presence in the form of bouncers, and in light of the presence of the SAPS, and the general militarisation of our institution, we believe such a statement adds to the paranoia of students and the limitation of their freedom of expression as provided for in the Constitution of South Africa”.

PDBY reached out to Johan Boonzaaier, Director of Security Services at UP, for consensus behind how campus security operates in the midst of looming student protest action. Boonzaaier states that “given that the department is tasked with ensuring the safety and security of all students, staff and visitors on campus, we will compile an operational plan to address the challenges that staff and students will face with regards to safety on campus as soon as we become aware of potential protest”.

Boonzaaier ascertains that campus security is only obligated to use force against students “when people’s lives are endangered /threatened and only in severe cases of damage to property”. Boonzaaier explained that student protest action breaks the law in cases where a person’s life is in danger or property damage is undertaken. In these instances, Boonzaaier established that “if possible, we will engage with students before acting against the offenders and getting the assistance of the SA Police”.

Boonzaaier acknowledged that “by its very nature, protests are volatile and anything can trigger violence”. In such instances, he stated that campus security “try to engage with students, limit access to campus and separate groups as far as possible”, explaining that “if initial measures don’t succeed the campus will be vacated and closed for a period of time. When students prevent access to a building in a form of sit in (such as the sit in witnessed at the Enterprises@ UP building during March’s protest action), Boonzaaier mentions that campus security services ensure the safety of the buildings’ occupants by closing the building and its perimeter. In instances where student protests disrupt public traffic or block roads, Boonzaaier explained that, “outside the boundaries of the University’s properties, the jurisdiction falls within the responsibility of the SA Police Service and Metro Police”.

In commenting on the history of campus security deployment against student protest action at UP, Boonzaaier stated that, “The Department of Security Services took all protest action, which has the potential to endanger the lives and property of the University as serious”, and “will do everything we can to protect UP students and staff, visitors and property”. He mentioned that it was for this purpose that the Department of Security Services “have added additional security measures such as the installation of the biometric access control system, extensive CCTV coverage, deployment of security officers to protect students (Green Route Service), staff members and UP property”. Boonzaaier stated that “building relationships with student leaders, such as the SRC has assisted us greatly in ensuring the safety of students”.

Josh Fight This has to be one of the most wholesome things to come from 2021. Josh Fight was a meme, pool noodle fight, and a fundraiser.

It had the same energy as the Area 51 Raid, except for the fact that people actually showed up.

Josh Fight began in 2020 when a University of Arizona student, Josh Swain, began a Facebook group with nine other people named Josh Swain, and invited them to meet on 24 April 2021 to fight for the name. The Facebook message was a joke, but Josh Swains and hundreds of others gathered on the specified date at Air Park in Lincoln, Nebraska.

After the initial message was posted on Twitter last year, several Reddit pages were started and countless memes emerged.

The hype seemed to have died down, but evidently, Josh Fight was taken seriously by many across America. The original Josh Swain helped organise the event when it became apparent that people were planning on showing up. He set up a fundraiser for the Children’s Hospital & Medical Centre Foundation in Omaha and managed to raise $12 000. People who attended the event also donated food to the Lincoln Food Bank.

The Josh Swains faced off in a game of rock-paper-scissors, and the others battled with pool noodles. Ultimately, a four-yearold Josh (Little Josh) emerged victorious.

Some honourable mentions While these memes stood out because of their real-world bizarreness, this year has shown us so many gems, from the vaccine memes on Twitter— “if you’ve ever dated a Pretoria hun, you don’t need to worry about what’s in the vaccine”, was a big ouch— to the Gorilla Glue meme, and The Weeknd’s iconic Super Bowl halftime show.

Whatever the rest of the year has in store, at least there will always be reason to laugh.

9 | Entertainment

25 May 2021

PDBY Featured Artist:

Kwazi Biyela Thando Dlamini

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The 93rd Academy Awards ceremony, presented by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, honoring the best films of 2020 and early 2021 was held on 26 April 2021.

Image: Kayla Thomas

Reflecting on the 2021 Academy Awards

Disappearing relevance or victim of pandemic fatigue?

Susanna Anbu

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ince the inception of the Academy Awards, the ceremony has seen considerable criticism and controversy surrounding its criteria and lack of diversity in award nominees. The 93rd Academy Awards were held on 25 April – marking it as one of the first full-fledged red carpet events since the start of the pandemic. A preliminary post-event analysis showed that only 9.85 million US television viewers tuned into the Oscars this year - compared to the 23.6 million in 2020, showing a 58% reduction in viewership. This year’s fashion theme was a fusion of “aspirational and inspirational”, while the event’s theme according to the organisers was described as “bring your movie love” in an effort to celebrate the art of filmmaking.

Owing to a scaled down size, this year’s Oscars broke tradition by hosting the main ceremony in Union Station, Los Angeles - as opposed to the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood. The motivation to choose an unorthodox location such as a train station for the ceremony stemmed from social distancing regulations required of the attendants. All nominees were required by the Academy to attend in person and were denied the option to attend online. Considering the number of watershed moments that defined 2020, many viewers express dissatisfaction at the lack of statements or tributes encompassed in the organisation of the ceremony.

Eco-Chic fashion, social justice and tributes Compared to last year’s statement of “eco-chic fashion” at the Oscars, celebrities attending this year’s Oscars did little to reaffirm their support for sustainable fashion. None of the outfits worn by celebrities had a notable story of sustainable fashion tied to them.

Despite such an absence, many fashion statements made by celebrities interweaved touching tributes and pledged solidarity with notable social movements from 2020. Singer and Songwriter, H.E.R. who had been nominated in the Best Original Song Category, wore a cobalt blue hooded fashion wear that mimicked a look worn by Prince when he accepted his Oscar back in 1985 for his song Purple Rain.

Directors Martin Desmond Roe and Travon Free, both won the Best Live action short film for Two Distant Strangers. Roe and Free both paid tribute to the late Kobe and Gianna Bryant by wearing Dolce and Gabbana pins with the numbers 24 and 2 – which were the jersey numbers of the late Kobe and Gianna Bryant. Their live action short film, Two Distant Strangers, was centred around a black man stuck in an infinite time loop which ultimately saw him dying at the hands of a white cop. In solidarity with the issue of police brutality, Roe and Free opted to have the names of the victims of police brutality stitched into the inner linings of their custom made tuxedos. Allegedly, there were so many names that Roe and Free were forced to choose the names that meant the most to them on the extensive list of victims.

Historical firsts Chloe Zhao became the first woman of colour to receive the award for best director for her film Nomadland. Zhao’s win marked it as the second time in history where a woman won the Best Director accolade.

Nomadland also won the Best Picture Award.

Mia Neal and Jamika Wilson became the first black women to win Best Makeup and Hairstyling for Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom. Neal mentioned in her speech that “[…]I know that one day it [the historic

win] will not be unusual or ground-breaking; it will just be normal”. 73 year old actress, Youn Yuh-jung, became the first South Korean woman to win an award in an acting category, for her supporting role in Minari.

Emerald Fennell won Best Original Screenplay for Promising Young Woman. Her win marked it as the second time a female won the said category since Diablo Cody’s win back in 2008. Riz Ahmed became the first Muslim actor to be nominated for Best Actor for his work in Sound of Metal, while Steven Yeun became the first Asian American to be nominated (for Minari) under the same category.

Controversy surrounding Sir Anthony Hopkins’s win for best actor This year saw a break in tradition as the recipients of Best Actor and Actress were announced last as opposed to Best Picture. This change was instigated by organisers who thought that the Best Actor Award would undeniably be handed to the late Chadwick Boseman for his role in Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, which would end the award ceremony on a memorable note. Contrary to this belief, Sir Anthony Hopkins became the recipient of the Best Actor award for his role as a man suffering from dementia in The Father. This led to Hopkins holding the record for the oldest recipient of an Oscar award at age 83. The unexpected moment was compounded by Hopkins’s absence from the show. The organisers of the Academy Awards stipulated it as compulsory for all nominees to attend the ceremony in person, however, Hopkins, who currently resides in Wales, chose against attendance, opting to be on standby for a Zoom call on the night, which was rejected by the Academy.

This led to the absence of his acceptance speech at the end of the show, which led to a very dull finish marking the ending as one of the biggest upsets in Oscar history. In Hopkins’ acceptance speech recorded a few hours later from the gravesite of his late father, he paid tribute to Boseman and thanked the film fraternity for his award. Boseman’s family also publicly defended Hopkins as the recipient of the award, congratulating the veteran actor for his performance.

Local talent sweeps up Oscar for best documentary My Octopus Teacher, a documentary film directed by Pippa Ehrlich and James Reed, tracks the journey of filmmaker Craig Foster, as he documents his relationship with an octopus in the wild. The documentary, set in False Bay, off the coast of Cape Town, marked a historic win for South Africans, as it was the first time that a South African nature documentary became a Netflix Original. The documentary explores the relationship between man and animal and the subsequent metaphorical interpretations that one can make from the animals’ lifestyle into one’s own. It took 10 years to film and release, starting in 2010 and was released in 2020.

The ethics of the Oscars’ grandeur in a post pandemic setup This year’s Oscars saw an overwhelming number of negative reviews which criticised multiple facets of the show. Furthermore, this year’s Oscars saw the absence of live music performances, film clips and a host – which were all aspects that normally punctuated the long programme of celebrity speeches. Owing to the pandemic and subsequent theatre closures, numerous discourses predicted that many members of the audience may not have watched the nominated films - thus the lack of film clips in the event markedly drew sharp criticism. Critics also called out the In Memoriam segment as being overly rushed, mandatory and slightly offensive due to the choice of lively background score.

DBY recently spoke to final-year International relations student Kwazi Biyela (AKA Azi the Soulster) about her upcoming endyear release and music process.

When did you realise that music is your passion?

Since I was very young. I didn’t realise it myself, it’s more like people told me. I already knew, as a baby I had a huge*** head, and I already knew because I would just sing all the time and my thing wasn’t to get people to tell me ‘oh you can sing’ it was to get people to realise that I can sing. So, from like Grade 3 that’s when it became a huge actual passion thing because in Grade 3, I was already singing with the senior choir so that’s when everything flourished.

Which artists inspire you?

It’s such a variety because I feel like I have inspiration from so many different genres and it literally changes each and every single time but right now I think I have a huge, huge influence from Thandi Ntuli, Cleo Sol, Ami Faku just to name a few of the vibe[s]. But I just have a lot of influence from them but also a lot from local artists even Ayanda Jiya because I like their sound. I like how soulful it is but yet it’s still very South African you know.

What’s your favourite song to sing or perform?

Recently my favourite song to perform, like to cover, has been Thandi Ntuli’s “New Way’’ because that song, I feel like it just speaks to [you]. You know when a butterfly reincarnates and all of that, from moth to butterfly, all that type of stuff. I feel like that song literally describes me and as a person. You’re continuously growing as a person and I feel like that song is the perfect break up song with yourself, you know when you’re breaking away from your old self to your new self and I think it’s the perfect break up song and I think that’s my favourite song to perform recently.

What genre does your sound fall into?

I think afro-soul, neo-soul with a bit of jazz cause you know, I’m a jazz baby but like more around that. I would like to dip into pop but I don’t think I have the persona for pop. Maybe one day in life, God knows. But for now, a more afro-soul and jazz vibe.

What are the biggest hurdles you have had to overcome as a musician?

I think I’m still overcoming them now. I think most importantly my mental health has been my biggest enemy. That’s been like the biggest block. I swear if I could cross that obstacle I would be in the studio right now recording and all that different stuff. Another hurdle is studying. Parents will always want you to chase your passion but will always focus on, you know, getting the degree so, I think right now it’s a matter of completing my studies and having something to fall back on. Once I get over that hurdle and I can fully put my energy and my focus into music without letting stuff like imposter syndrome and anxiety get to me. That will be the pinnacle of everything.

You are set to release some music towards the end of the year, what can listeners expect?

I want to talk to your soul. They must expect someone who is going to talk to their soul. Listen, I am not going to get you into your feels too much so that you’re going to be all sad but I want you to sit and reflect and be like haibo guys. I want it to be relatable. I don’t want it to feel far-fetched, I don’t want to feel far-fetched as an artist and as a musician I want [you] to feel like [I’m] sitting here in the room with [you] talking to [you]. I want it to be a very intimate, soulful connection. It’s going to be a soulful connection because it’s going to be coming from a place of hurt but a place of joy in the hurt as well.

So, they can expect a sort of bitter-sweet something.

Looking at the SA music scene local and national, which artist would you like to collaborate with in the future?

Ami Faku, Ayanda Jiya, there are so many, I have a whole list! Ami Faku, oh my God if I could sing with Ami Faku I would be so happy.

Ayanda Jiya, Langa Mavuso, Langa Mavuso, Thandi Ntuli, and of course Zoë Modiga. I would love to be on stage with Zoë. Zoë’s voice inspires me so much so if I could ever have a collab with her, I think I’d pass away. I think I would just perish, I would definitely perish.

These people are not only killing the game this side, their international recognition for keeping that ethnic sound, I love it, that’s exactly what I want.

What’s next for you after releasing? Where do you see your career in 5 years?

After releasing, because we are focused girls, we are going to get a postgrad. I also want to go back to my music degree, so I’m torn between doing my postgrad or completing my music degree. But knowing the universe, I will probably be completing my music degree while also working on other bodies of work.

I want to be more of a live performer than a person who just releases songs.

I like being intimate with my audience so if possible after releasing, small performances in like two cities just a little something, that is the plan while tackling school and work.

You can follow Azi on Instagram and Twitter (@azithesoulster).

Image provided.

25 May 2021

Entertainment | 10

Thenjiwe Mswane on her debut novel “All Gomorrahs Are The Same” Nothando Mafu

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DBY had the pleasure of virtually sitting down with gender activist and former queer activist, Thenjiwe Mswane, to discuss her debut novel All Gomorrahs are the Same.

What does your writing process look like? Do you have any writing rituals or habits?

I want to say things like ‘of course I’ve got a writing ritual’ because I have heard writers say that they wake up at 2am when their characters arrive, I on the other [hand] will not. My characters must know that I am lazy, so they must not come at 2am. I did not have [for this novel specifically], a writing process, because I had been writing for a long time. I write on-and-off, I write when the people come into my head and say, ‘hey I am here.’ I wrote this book in the middle of my Masters and I finished it in the beginning of my PhD, so the characters were definitely more alive because the academy is *** boring, so they would appear like ‘we can entertain you.’ I wrote a lot as a distraction from the academy. One of the things that helps me write is finding a writing process that I hate. So every time I have to write academic work, I then write other things.

This is your debut novel. Why was it important for this particular story to be the first that you tell?

The likes of Toniy Morrison and black women all the time have told us to write the stories we want to read because they do not exist and archives have not told our stories in the ways that they have to, so this is the life I knew. I can only write from a place where I know.

For me, this book is an ode to every black woman I have known.

They are like this – the black women that I know are like the people of this book and it just so happens that they tell the story that they do but [...] I was writing from a place of wanting to be honest and to what it means to be all the things I am and to engage with the different types of women that I am. So, it was trying to honour that really. I have written about black women a lot in academic work – it never would translate to anything that they would recognise.

What was the inspiration or influence behind the narrative?

[Laughs] The more I do interviews, the more I realise I have no idea. I never had a moment of inspiration for what the story would become. I had the privilege to know and be loved by Panashe Chigumadzi and for whatever reason, Panashe thought I could write. I do not think I would have ever given any of my work to Panashe to read but for whatever reason Panashe was like ‘I think you have got a story to tell’. So the writing itself was not new to me and I have been hit with the knowledge that I am a writer at different times in my life. I grew up in a township and I have never met a writer. I did not know that writers could look like me. In the years that I had been writing, these women lived in my head. What the world got to see are the people who live in my head every day, and like right now, without giving the book away, I do not know where Makhosi is. They come and go.

What was your reasoning for naming the book All Gomorrahs are the Same?

[Laughs] Again, there will be so many different answers to this. So for me, whether it is biblical or whether it is Alex, Gomorrahs is a place of oppression. It is a place of being inhuman, a place of non-existence, a place of being ignored, feeling unseen and all of those things. That is what Gomorrah is – this constant state of existing in a world that pretends to see but really does not. In the context of the book, the protagonist engages and encounters Gomorrah in the first context of the

“

I can only write from a place where I know... this book is an ode to every black woman I have known.

All Gomorrahs Are The Same is available for purchase on the Blackbird Books website.

Follow Mswane on Instagram at @uThenjiwe_igama.

Images provided.

Bible and she meets this woman she loves (she has loved many), and she goes ‘all of these existences are the same’, whether you are in Alex, eMbali, Khayelitsha, oppression is so uncreative.

If there is a thing that oppression has been over the last how many years is that it is uncreative. One of the things about it, the structure of oppression, tries very hard to pretend that our sufferings are all different from each other and that is part of the divide and conquer era of whiteness, white supremacy and power.

What this book highlights are the ways in which the oppression of black women is so intertwined intergenerationally. In a lot of these things our oppression is the same and part of the division is whiteness, and we never conquer Gomorrahs because the divisions exist and I wish that black women, all of us across the generations, would one day have the conversation of [how] we have all been oppressed by the same system, it is just that we [feel the need to tell each other] that our oppressions are different and never stand with you.

The protagonist, Makhosazane has a habit of cutting pages from books, which is remarkably interesting. Where does this come from and what does it mean?

Oh I had not thought about that, it is just what the character did. She arrived and she was cutting books. But I think how her mother, uDudu engages her, [and] it is that she [Makhosi] is at a point where she is just refusing to engage [in] any system. She fights every system. Makhosi is at a place where she hates everything and hates everyone. She is wise, she is seeing the world as she should and it is angering her, but she is very disruptive and then this becomes a theme to what she becomes.

She is very destructive to herself as well. She does not like peace.

Readers often have their own perceptions of characters in a novel, but how would you like Makhosazane to be perceived?

I think what I am trying to have as a conversation with Makhosazane is the trauma of black queer existence, the lack of ever seeing ourselves anywhere. Being a black queer lesbian in particular, we have never seen ourselves grow old and go grey. We know that we die, and we know that we are traumatised. I think the conversation with her is that you live in a world where you do not see yourself, so you are fighting everything just to exist and you are destructive to yourself sometimes. One of the things that I believe is that black queer people need to go to therapy, all of them. From the point that you begin to be on the spectrum, it [therapy] should be free for all of them, because it is one thing to be black in a country that hated you in the ways it did and then its another thing when you are a woman, and you are queer.

Throughout this [all spaces that she tries to engage], there is no space for her, and she is trying to exist in these spaces. Ultimately, she is in pain but she sees herself so much more because she had been raised in a world where she ‘doesn’t look right’. We see her try to fight in, with her partner’s mother, trying to be good partner and it really hurts [for] queer people. We must be honest with ourselves so we can heal so that we are not destructive. Everything about our existence has been trauma.

The novel seems to have no clear-cut resolution, which is rather unsettling. The unresolved ending seems to be intentional. What was the thought-process behind the ending?

Ends do not always look the same. People disappear, especially in the context of SA and people escape, whether its suicide [or] disappearance and I needed it to be true to that theme. Not everybody gets saved from suicidal inclinations but that’s the thing, you do not know necessarily what happens here. There are so many people that you lose touch with and just never know where they end up.

PDBY’s artists to watch

Steve Umculo “Fall From Grace” Steve Umculo is a singer/songwriter from Johannesburg. His music has been described as “a unique blend of afro-centric grooves and folk harmonies”.

If you feel like some dance-inducing grooves, Umculo is your guy. His folky EP “Fall From Grace” was released in mid-May 2021 and is available on most major streaming platforms. You can find him on Instagram, @ steveumculo, and on Facebook, Steve Umculo.

Upper Mill “She” Upper Mill is a Cape Town-based indie rock band that was created in 2016. The band released their debut album “Exhibition” in 2017. Their latest album “Oh Lights Out” was released at the end of April 2021 and has been described as “quintessentially upbeat”. It is available on most major streaming platforms. You can find Upper Mill on Instagram, @theuppermillband, and on Facebook, Upper Mill.

Sipho the Gift “Scared to Love” Sipho the Gift is a Stellenbosch-based rapper/producer who “sought to distance himself from the pack”. He released his first EP “Coming of Age” in 2015. His latest EP “DO FOR LOVE” was released in April 2021, and is available on most major streaming platforms. You can find him on Instagram, @siphothegift, and on Facebook, Sipho the Gift.

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Sport TuksAthletics PDBY Featured athlete: Cora Mak at World W Athletics Relay Kayla Thomas

Boitumelo Kokwe

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he World Athletics Relay took place from 1 to 2 May in Silesia, Poland - where the event gave athletes the chance to compete on a global scale before the World Olympic Games in Tokyo (set to commence on 23 July 2021).

As an international event, the World Athletics Relay saw South Africa as one of the countries which competed. SA’s participation came through Athletics South Africa (ASA) selecting three teams, totalling 17 athletes.

The squad also consisted of the following Tuks athletes: Akani Simbine, Clarence Munyai, Thando Dlodlo, Emile Erasmus, Gift Leotlela and Luxolo Adams.

Amongst the selected athletes from Tuks, four of them (Thando Dlodlo, Gift Leotlela, Clarence Munyai and Akani Simbine) won a gold medal at the championships. Simbine said the gold medals were won because “[they came] to Poland to win a medal. And [they] did”.

Luxolo Adams will also be participating in the World Olympic Games later this year.

Image: timeslive.co.za

oman FIDE Master and TuksChess star, Cora Mak, began playing chess at eight years old. Now a masters student at UP, she competes in university and national championships, winning as an individual and as part of the TuksChess team. PDBY spoke to Mak about her career in chess so far, and some of the highlights of the game.

How did you get into the sport?

There was a chess board at home and it was my brother that was curious about it. My dad taught us how to play and it so happened that chess coaching had just started at our primary school.

What is your favourite thing about chess?

The thought process throughout the game because you never know what your opponent might play - hence having to think about many ‘lines’ (variations) in order to compensate for each possible move. [...]

Also, to think of moves that improve my own position and not simply responding to my opponent.

You won the 2019 University Sport South Africa (USSA) championships, can you walk us through the process of preparing and competing?

TuksChess hosts clinics, throughout the year, where we have a coaching session followed by a mini tournament amongst our team.

Another preparation for USSAs was to play a lot of online chess and to also revise my ‘openings’. As for the competing part - I am certainly more confident over the board than off it. So I must thank my teammates for the encouragement they gave and for their help in the preparation against some of my opponents.

How have you continued with chess during the pandemic?

I play online on Lichess, mainly bullet games (1 minute on each side) but I love to play hyperbullet and ultrabullet as well (30 seconds and 15 seconds respectively).

I also play for TuksChess in online tournaments against many SA Universities. The tournament is held every Sunday. TuksChess is run by students, Mfundo Masiya and myself, and this year we have started hosting clinics on Google Meet.

What are your goals for the future in chess?

Specifically for TuksChess: I’d like to leave the club to students that will step up and continue to run this amazing club. Over the past several years, excluding 2020, TuksChess has been at the top of the USSA standings and I’d love to see TuksChess thrive for the years to come.

What are some highlights of your chess career so far?

To have played in two World Youth Chess Championships. I competed in the African Youth Chess Championship where I won in my section and got a title: WFM, Woman FIDE Master. [And] winning the 2019 USSA Championship female section, individually and as a team.

What is the most challenging part of playing chess?

Not blundering.

I find it challenging to analyse the position objectively. It’s easy to have the feeling that you’re winning or [have] the advantage but it gets hard when it comes to critiquing/analysing a position not solely on

Image provided

material. Eg. You can be up on material but still be losing and not even know it.

How do you stay focused in a demanding game?

I don’t really know, but what I can say is that in long games, I end up walking around and analysing other games to just take a short break from my own game. Some people leave their board but still analyse their game in their head - I can’t. I would also walk around and see the board from my opponents view, although I don’t do that often.

Who has most influenced you in your chess career?

Johannes Mabusela. He was my coach and I’ve learnt so much of what I know now from him. Also, after tournaments he would go over my games [which equals] added pressure to not make mistakes.

What advice would you give aspiring players of the game?

Don’t take a piece just because you can.

But on a more serious note, I’d say to analyse your games. Don’t just play continuously without learning something from your games.

Chess World Championship candidate found Mfundo Masiya

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he FIDE Candidates Chess Championship 2020-2021 was held in Yekaterinburg, Russia from 17 March to 25 March 2020. Halfway through the event it was paused and postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It resumed on April 2021, more than a year after it began, and finished on 27 April. Many are calling it the ‘longest ever chess tournament’.

The Candidates’ tournament, the second last tournament on the chess world championship cycle, is an eight player double round-robin event where the winner wins a large share of €500 000 and, more importantly, the right to challenge for the World Chess Champion title. The eight players qualify through various criteria in which one needs to be one of the best chess players in the world.

The tournament was controversial from its onset as it began just as the COVID-19 pandemic was picking up. One of the players who had qualified, Azerbaijani Grandmaster (GM) Teimour Radjabov, cited concerns over the COVID-19 pandemic and the world chess federation’s (FIDE) risk management solutions. He asked that the tournament be postponed, but FIDE responded that that could not be done. He withdrew from the event and was promptly replaced.

The tournament began on 17 March and halfway through the lead was being shared by Russian GM Ian Nepomniachtchi and French GM Maxime Vachier-Lagrave (Radjabov’s replacement and popularly referred to as MVL). On 26 March 2020, the Russian

Government announced restrictions of air traffic with foreign that with a round to spare, Nepomniachtchi was crowned the countries to take effect the next day, 27 March. This prompted candidate and next challenger for the World Chess Championship.

FIDE to immediately pause the event so players could make it The World Chess Championship will occur in Dubai from 21 back to their home countries.

November to 16 December. Nepomniachtchi will be facing World After this postponement, Radjabov asked that he be reinstated Champion GM Magnus Carlsen who will be mounting his fourth back into the tournament. This was not feasible according to the World Championship defence. tournament rules and FIDE compensated Radjabov by offering him a spot in the next Name Rank Qualification Candidates’ tournament.

The tournament resumed on 19 April 2021, right where it had stopped. On resumption, GM Fabiano Caruana World: 2 USA: 1 Previous Candidate American GM Fabiano Caruana GM Ding Liren World: 3 CHN: 1 World Cup Runner Up (the previous candidate) beat MVL in one of the best chess GM Alexander Grischuk World: 4 RUS: 1 Fide Grand Prix Winner games this year, sending GM Ian Nepomniachtchi World: 5 RUS: 1 Fide Grand Runner Up shockwaves around the chess GM Teimour Radjabov (with- World: 9 AZE: 1 World Cup Winner world and leading many to drew) believe he could win the event.

GM Anish Giri World: 11 NL: 1 Highest Average Rating Nepomniachtchi, however, did not let go of his lead which put GM Wang Hao World: 12 CHN:2 Fide Grand Swiss Winner pressure on the players chasing GM Kirill Alekseenko World: 39 RUS: 11 Wild card Chosen by orgahim. Dutch GM Anish Giri came nizer closest to catching up but a loss GM Maxime Vachier-Lagrave World: 8 FRA: 1 Highest Average Rating in the penultimate round meant