26 October 2020 Issue 15 Year 82

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PDBY

26 October 2020

Year 82 | Issue 15

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Spooky Season Witches and zombies and exams, oh my!

Image: Madhuri Rambaran and Kayla Thomas. Elements of image from vectorstock.com

2 | From the Editor

26 October 2020

PDBY Media

Pssst...

Zombies P everywhere

s we are approaching the end of a very long year, I am going to keep this short and sweet. We are all so tired by this time of the year, and I am sure we all resemble zombies, shuffling along and groaning occasionally. Don’t mistake this smiling picture for actual joy - I am just so tired that it’s starting to become mania. Have you reached the level of tired where you find random things hysterically funny? Because that’s where I am – and I can’t stop laughing at the title font of this editorial. It’s cracking me up. Do you see what I mean? So tired. But it is the last push of the catastrophe of 2020, and we only have a few more weeks as zombies, mindlessly tapping away at screens, and then three glorious months of zombies watching Netflix without the guilt. But until then, many of us are still battling with assignments, dissertations and exams. We’re all in the same boat, which I suppose is comforting. I wish I could impart some miraculous advice, but I am the exact opposite of calm and prepared right now. So if you happen to have the miraculous advice, be nice and share it with the rest of us.

This is the final edition of the newspaper for the year, and for some of our journalists this paper contains some of their last work for the publication. It is always bittersweet when staff members graduate and have to leave, but congratulations to our journalists who are approaching their final exams. PDBY has also just welcomed the 2021 Editorial team, which is an exciting first step in a big year ahead. But it is also sad to say goodbye to the team that weathered the storm that was this year, and who made my first year as Editor incredibly special. I am so proud of you all, and thank you for serving our publication, and for loving and nurturing PDBY. We have a big year planned, and I can’t wait to get started. In the meantime, look out for the PDBY magazine before the end of the year, and keep up with @pdbymedia on social media to read our online exclusives. Enjoy Halloween responsibly fellow zombies, and good luck for exams! Kayla Thomas

ssst… has been busy. But Pssst… always has time to spill the tea for the week. Firstly, as Pssst… is sure you all know, or at least Copy: should know, it’s election season. Yay, Pssst… supposes? Ropafadzo Chidemo Pssst… must say though, it’s been nice to see all the various CJ Barnard candidates appearing out of the depths on WhatsApp groups Ume Dikio begging for votes. Pssst… is excited to see that it paid off, Takunda Marecha and can’t wait to see another year of empty promises in Nomzamo Xolly Maluleka action. (Don’t worry SRC, Pssst… doesn’t think everyone else noticed, even PDBY was a bit soft on you. COVID’s Layout: been tough for everyone, right? Pssst… isn’t a complete Kelly Anne Kong Kam Wa monster). Duane Kitching Speaking of action, Pssst… has seen that Aandklas has had Kara Olivier a little more action that usual this past week. Pssst… sees Ngoako Ramokgopa that other diseases were being spread, besides the usual ones Kirsten Minaar limited to the girls’ bathroom. Multimedia: By the way, Pssst… wants to thank Life at Tuks for Vice Mkansi posting about this. Now Pssst… would like to share some Promise Zulu information in return. In case Life at Tuks missed UP’s Cletus Mulaudi plagiarism session, cutting and pasting someone’s words Madhuri Rambaran without credit constitutes plagiarism. But don’t worry Sanele Zulu Pssst… isn’t mad... just disrespected. Cassandra Eardely Pssst… is now getting political...prepare yourselves. So Marchall Potgieter Pssst… was spying on the manifesto presentations this past Adorn Ndlovu month (thrilling stuff) and Pssst… was very sad to see that Elma Akob all DASO candidates failed to show up. It seems like all the candidates are suffering from a case of the spooky season Web: scares and were too afraid to pitch. Pssst… hopes you all get Jonathan Oladeji better soon. Zurika Raubenheimer But in more interesting political news, Pssst… would Lucky Griffin Nyabicha also like to say that Pssst… was inspired by a candidate who said that she feels capable of running the portfolio for Social Media: Jc Steyn international students because she’s been to Europe. Pssst… was so inspired by this that Pssst… would like to announce that Pssst… will officially be running for SRC treasurer in 2021, as Pssst… feels that having a bank account makes Pssst… the perfect candidate. Vote for Pssst…, 2021. Now Pssst… must move onto the presidential debate. Pssst… is sad to see David and the rest of the SRC go and Pssst… will miss the dance moves and that deep voice. However Pssst… is pleased to see Lerato running again. It will be nice for Pssst… to have a small reminder of the outgoing SRC’s shortcomings this year if our Deputy Secretary is elected as President. Pssst… thinks it would be even more exciting if the president herself fails to hold student forum. Then again, Pssst… never much cared for student forum anyway, with all the talking. Pssst… has a feeling some of the candidates would be happy to skip student forum as well, when Pssst… considers the lack of preparation and embarrassing stumbling Pssst… witnessed at the manifesto presentations. Even the poor moderator had to step in and rush the candidates along. Pssst… would shade all of the candidates, but Pssst… isn’t sure they each embarrassed themselves to the same degree. But at least Namatai and Lerato showed up, Pssst… can’t say the say the same for Rameeza. Pssst… is growing bored now and is ready to leave. Pssst… wishes you all a great spooky season, but hopes no one is too horrified by the SRC election results. As usual, Pssst… has eavesdropping to do, information to trade and gossip to spread. Pssst… says adieu. Xx P.S To all the outgoing PDBY editorial, Pssst… will miss eavesdropping on all of your conversations, and watching you embarrass yourselves sniffing snots at the strip. But most importantly, Pssst… doesn’t want you to forget about our game.

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26 October 2020

Faculty House Elections Law House Gomolemo Sibeko

House Education: Nokuthula Mahlalela

EBIT House: Uwaiza Abdool Sattar Health House: Mberipura Tjijorokisa Pulse House Humanities: Liam Jacobs House Theology: Lindokuhle Zikalala.

Amukelani Makamu

he elections of Faculty Houses took place from 14 to 16 October. On 19 October, the Executive Committee results and Chairpersons results were announced for the Faculty houses. PDBY interviewed some of the Chairpersons. PDBY asked each of the Chairpersons their motivation for running for Chairperson 2020/2021. Nokuthula Mahlalela, the House Education Chairperson, said “I was part of the Executive Committee last year, and saw myself having the potential to lead. I also saw some open doors that influenced me to run so I can fix the open doors that encouraged me to take the step forward and run for Chair.” Lindokuhle Zikalala, the Chairperson for House Theology, explained that leadership is one of the skills he has been pruning since his primary school days. “To become a chairperson of House Theology and Religion was always going to be a stepping stone to fulfill my deepest desire, which is serving the students [...]. What also influenced me to run for chairperson was my experience which I got in serving others and helping students with their difficulties for previous months in the Executive Committee and years even in High School”. Uwaisa Abdool Sattar, the Chairperson of EBIT House, mentioned that she was always surrounded by inspiring leaders who are extremely passionate when it comes to lending a helping hand. She told said “I wanted to make a change and inspire other students. Taking on the role of chairperson will grant me that opportunity to guide students towards the correct path in building a positive and promising future.” PDBY asked them about their goals for their Faculty in 2021. Stefan Steenkamp, the NAT House Chairperson, asserted that the goal he hopes to achieve during his term “is to ensure that all NAS Faculty students reach their full potential, achieving their academic goals and crossing the finish line.” Sattar said that as a

“

chairperson she will ensure that her team works together in fulfilling their duties and that they are motivated. “I will work together with my vice-chairperson to ensure that the executive committee members and students are always checked. Always considering the mental health of not only the executive committee members but all students in the EBIT faculty.” Mahlalela said that her goal is to transform the faculty of education and make it inclusive to other faculties. Zikalala said that his goal, “is academic excellence, making sure that all students pass, and they are taken care of mentally, physically, and emotionally which will impact their academic results.” Secondly, Zikalala explained that his other goal is to expose the faculty as since it is a small faculty and only a limited number of people know about the Theology and Religion Faculty in the university. “I want to expose it within the university and even outside the university, because I believe more theologians are needed in communities out there”, Zikalala explained. The various chairpersons were asked on what they want to implement in their faculty and what change they would like to bring forth. Mahlalela said that one thing that she wants to change in the education faculty is it being isolated from events and students who are based in other faculties, especially the main campus. Sattar said that she believes that every student has the right to voice out their opinion based on a specific matter that may arise. “Implementing the approach that I will take will ensure that all perspectives are taken into consideration towards creating and meeting the requirements that will result in the upliftment and development of the EBIT Faculty”, she explained. Zikalala said that his plans are to implement unity, where there is no dominant party or race, but instead provide a place where the faulty is a family of success. “I believe it starts once I instill unity, all else will fall into place,” Zikalala explained. He further mentioned that he dreams about every student going home happy at the end of the year, with great academic results.

I wanted to make a change and inspire other students. Taking on the role of chairperson will grant me that opportunity

“

The chairperson results for the faculties are as follows:

Intervarsity News

WITS T

he University of the Witwatersrand, which recently celebrated its 98th birthday, kicked off their 2020 edition of Fak’ugesi Festival online on 20 October. The festival sees Wits University’s Digital Arts department team up with their Digital Innovation and ICT hub, the Tshimologong Precinct in Braamfontein, to present the Fak’ugesi Festival, a month-long festival that celebrates digital art. This year’s celebration is themed ‘#POWERTOTHEPIXEL’, and is expected to rally up both professionals and enthusiasts in their numbers. The festival promises to provide Africa’s best creative digital workshops, as well as exhibitions and panel discussions. #Fakugesi2020 will be running until 20 November.

UFS T

he University of the Free State brought together distinguished experts in their fields to have a discussion on the current political landscape of South Africa. Facilitated by Dr Max du Preez, the discussion was also joined by guests such as Mr Moeletsi Mbeki, Professor Philippe Burger, former Public Protector Professor Thuli Madonsela, as well as the University of the Free State’s Chancellor, Professor Bonang Mohale. The discussion, titled ‘Politics In South Africa: Post COVID-19, Post-Crisis’, was a part of the university’s #UFSThoughtLeaderSeries, a series that aims to bring South African thinkers together for discussions such as these. The discussion saw the panellists touch on various important subjects, such as ethical leadership, governmental corruption and a critical insight into South Africa’s economic situation.

UJ T

he University of Johannesburg (UJ) has announced that it will be formally launching a brand-new Online Press. The university announced that the launch of the new UJ Press would take place virtually on Monday, 26 October. The UJ Press already publishes five journals on its online platform, which are largely edited and contributed to by members of the faculty at UJ. Through UJ Press, the university will be publishing more journals and monographs on this online repository known as the Open Journal System, which will be made available to the public as part of their greater mission to further and support research.

Stand a chance to win R2500 voucher by voting in SRC elections Nokwanda Kubheka

tudents who vote in the 2020 UP SRC Elections from 26 October to 28 October stand a chance to win a Menlyn Maine Shopping Centre Voucher to the value of R2500. The competition is being run by the Independent Electoral Committee (IEC) to encourage students to vote responsibly. Students can enter this competition by voting in the SRC online elections, saving their E-ballot voting receipt, cropping out the details of voting on the E-ballot receipt, and submitting the cropped E-ballot receipt on the link sent to all student email addresses: https:// docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdu7dym VjGF1lAFIV7g4khRITC6LCpUsoRapcDy2D SRM_qOTA/viewform?gxids=7757 The competition will close on 29 October at midnight. The winner will be chosen by a random draw by the IEC and announced on 29 October on the official SRC social media platforms. Candidates’ profiles are availibe on the UP website.

News | 3

Compiled by: Tshepang Moji

SRC ELECTION 2020

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Illustration: Promise Zulu

4 | News

National Marine Month

26 October 2020

The Whale Unit’s contribution to marine resources conservation Manelisi Magoro and Nokwanda Kubheka

ctober commemorates National Marine Month, which aims to create awareness about the benefits that are brought by South Africa’s marine and coastal environments. According to the University of Pretoria’s website, the Mammal Research Institute (MRI) Whale Unit at UP is responsible for the advancement of knowledge and conservation of Southern Africa’s diverse whale and dolphin fauna, through innovative research themes, promoting the development of human capacity in the acquisition of marine mammal knowledge bases. Set up in 1985, the MRI Whale Unit is a worldwide, African research, conservation, and education facility that investigates the nature, populace elements, and conduct of whales, dolphins, and porpoises in the Southern African subregion and encompassing seas, with the goal of giving information that will advance their conservation. The purpose of the unit is the development of human capacity in these zones. Dr Els Vermeulen, the Research Manager of the Whale Unit, said that the Whale Unit are currently working on data analyses and is unable to take part in any specific initiatives for Marine Month. She did, however, encourage students to do their part in the conservation of cetaceans by making conscious consumer choices. The South African government website encourages people to do the following in order to ensure the health of our oceans: 1. Reduce plastic use, 2. Only purchase seafood that is legal to consume according to the sustainable seafood guide,

Image: Giovanna Janos

3. Check with your district’s hazardous waste program to appropriately discard or reuse chemicals and keep them out of rivers and seas, 4. Only use green household cleaners or opt to make your own for your health and the health of our oceans, 5. Reduce your carbon footprint by buying local, organic food, when possible, 6. Plant indigenous shrubs and flower beds in your yard to provide a better habitat for birds which requires less water and fertiliser that can end up in our oceans, and

7. If you visit the beach, take your trash with you, and leave everything as you found it for everyone to enjoy. From 27 to 29 September, the UP MRI Whale Unit conducted its 41st annual aerial survey that records the population of South African southern right whales using an Airbus EC120B between Nature’s Valley and Muizenberg. The whales were monitored for a total of 12 hours and 52 minutes, spread over three days. A total of 136 females and calves (the

most female-calf pairs in the De Hoop Nature Reserve and Walker Bay), and 29 unaccompanied adults (adult whales without a calf) were photographed. This recorded number of southern right whales is lower than the number counted at the end of August. The number recorded marks the second-lowest amount of southern right whales along the South African coastline and indicates the decreasing residency time of these whales in South Africa. The decreasing number of accompanied adults since 2009 indicates that non-calving whales are still not migrating to the South African coast. The observed trends are similar to those recorded in South America and Australia. Calving success is determined by adequate body conditions such as blubber thickness and energy reserves, which are influenced by feeding success. The fluctuations in food availability and climate change contribute to the anomalous trends and the change in feeding locations of the southern right whales. The data analysis indicates that the change in feeding locations is an attempt to adapt to changing oceanic conditions. The photographs taken will be analysed and compared to those captured over the previous surveys to assess reproductive success. This analysis assesses reproductive success and monitors the recovery rate of the southern right whales’ population. The survey was carried out under a permit from the Department of Environmental Affairs to approach whales under specific Marine Protected Area permits from the relevant conservation authorities. The public can stay updated by symbolically adopting a whale and supporting whale research and conservation in South Africa. For information go to www.adoptawhale. co.za and Facebook page https://web.facebook.com/MRIWhaleUnit

NEWS BITES Dire Tladi appointed as the South African Research Chair Initiative (SARChl) Chair for International Constitutional Law Professor Dire Tladi of the University of Pretoria’s Department of Public Law has been appointed as the National Research Foundation’s (NRF) South African Research Chair Initiative (SARChI) Chair for International Constitutional Law. Prof. Tladi’s tenure is a five year term which begins in 2021. SARChI’s establishment was led by the Department of Higher Education, Science and Technology, and the NRF in 2006. This intervention was designed to coalesce the knowledge of academics to aid in the formulation of a concrete research base that would aid in contributing to national development and producing innovative research outputs of global acclaim.

FLY@UP partners with Specsavers to undertake free eye screening On 27 October, FLY@UP will partner with Specsavers Hatfield to undertake a free eye screening and testing initiative at the Hatfield Plaza Shopping Centre on Burnett Street. The screenings are undertaken on a first come first serve basis, and are scheduled to take place at either of the following timeslots - 09:00, 12:00 or 14:00. Subsequent to eye screening, deserving students will be provided with a pair of spectacles at no cost.

UP’s partnership with Impact Catalyst to deliver primary healthcare to mining communities UP’s Community Oriented Primary Care (COPC) Research Unit affiliated with UP’s Department of Family Medicine has undertaken the role to implement work-integrated learning sessions for health workers in the Mapela, Phafola and Mosesetjane mining communities in Limpopo. The research unit has partnered with Impact Catalyst, an initiative founded by Anglo American, Exxaro, the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, World Vision and Zutari to implement the learning sessions to educate the aforementioned communities

in the management of chronic diseases and other associated social concerns. The initiative is known as the WeCare programme, and includes a home based response for undertaking screening, contact tracing and self-isolation. The second part of the programme aims to support health facilities in these communities through the implementation of COVID-related training sessions. The success of the initiative has created impetus for Impact Catalyst to extend COPC’s template to all of its mining sites.

UP’s celebration of Augmentative and Alternative Communication Awareness Month The month of October commemorates Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) Awareness Month. UP’s Centre for Augmentative and Alternative Communication (CAAC), has undertaken projects to develop and disseminate materials that individuals with severe communication disabilities can use to garner an understanding of COVID-19 associated health terminology. The CAAC has asserted that the resources to undertake this initiative will be released and made available during the scheduled training webinars that have

been scheduled for November. AAC refers to the array of communication methods that can be undertaken to supply alternative modes of communication for individuals with speech impairments. This extends to speech comprehension as well, and differs from the traditional mode of speech therapy through a multidisciplinary focus that is not solely centred in speech improvement. Some of the tactics undertaken in AAC include keyword signing, sign language signals and communication boards bearing symbols. The onset of the pandemic has provided new challenges to the lingual model due to the emergence of numerous non-familiar lingual terms associated with the COVID-19 outbreak. AAC has seen successful implementation in this regard through aiding individuals with communication disabilities in comprehending health terminology at hospitals. According to the CAAC, “health information is often couched in confusing and inaccessible language and provided in formats and modalities that do not support comprehension and retention. As a result, persons with communication disabilities may be under- or misinformed, with consequent detrimental effects on health outcomes”. The initiative formulated by the CAAC aims to bridge the gap between COVID-19 misinterpretation and successful health terminology comprehension.

Compiled by: Susanna Anbu

26 October 2020

News | 5

Tuks UP&OUT beaming with pride this October Tshepang Moji

ctober is recognised as Pride Month in South Africa, and the University of Pretoria’s queer society, Tuks UP&Out, is continuing the support. In addition to hosting their annual UP Pride this month, which has had to take place virtually, Tuks UP&Out received a nomination for the 2020 Feather Awards. Tuks UP&Out is a society that strives to create a safe and comfortable environment for queer bodies to exist across UP campuses, achieving this through creating events where queer people feel comfortable to safely express themselves, as well as lobbying for policy changes on campus that will help protect the rights of the queer community. PDBY reached out to the UP&Out team to talk more about pride month, their nominations, and the celebrations they have in store. How does it feel knowing that Tuks UP&Out was nominated for the esteemed Feather Award?

Receiving this nomination felt amazing because it helped us recognise that we are doing right by our community. We know that we are not perfect, and that we have to change, but what this nomination does is tell us that we are still making an impact on our society on behalf of the [queer] community – that as we grow as an organization, so does our reach. It really helps us with issues such as the legitimacy and influence of our society. The awards, now in their 12th year of existence, are an annual recognition of trailblasers in the African queer landscape. Founded by queer activists Thami Kotlolo and Joe Correira, the Feather Awards also celebrate groups that “enrich the community”, such as media bodies and queer student movements – just like Tuks UP&Out, which received a nomination in the “Best LGBTIQ Student Movement” category, alongside North-West University and the University of Cape Town’s queer student movements. How does such a nomination help with

the visibility and recognition of the queer community at UP? This nomination helps to tell the University and the greater public that we are still here, and that we will never be complacent because there is still so much work to be done for the community on campus. It also tells the university that we as Tuks UP&Out are serious, and that there should be more engagement with us as an organization when it comes to transformation at this University. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, UP Pride celebrations have had to be moved online, which took place during Monday 19 October and Friday 23 October. These virtual celebrations included a conversation on the history of drag with Genevieve Le Coq, a dialogue on Queer Health and Stigmas, an exhibition debate in partnership with the Debate Society, as well as a panel discussion on Res Culture and Queerness. All these events brought many queer students together to share their experiences and learn from one another, making for just

a few of the many opportunities and safe spaces that members of the queer community on campus can enjoy that the UP&OUT society actively strives to achieve. As the year wraps up and we steadily prepare for another year, what does Tuks UP&Out have planned for the future? As we get closer to the end of the year, our biggest mission is to get through and celebrate UP Pride Week successfully. As for the rest of the year, Tuks UP&Out will be doing a lot of internal administrative work so that we can provide the UP students a spectacular 2021 full of things to look forward to. People should keep an eye out on our social media accounts to ensure that everyone stays updated! To join the UP&Out family, contact the society on upandout.tuks@gmail.com to get a registration form. Keep up to date with the latest news from Tuks UP&Out community by following them on their social media pages: Twitter & Instagram: @tuks_andout

The Library during lockdown Kendall Behr

he UP Merensky Library is one of the centres of academic activity on Hatfield campus that provides students a space to study and concentrate. The UP library has been closed for the duration of the lockdown, but the library services have not stopped working to ensure that students can access the resources they need for assignments and other academic work. Lindiwe Soyizwapi,the Director of Library Services, said, “during this time uppermost in our mind as the Library was to align our support and programmes to the needs of our students and staff. We gave priority to enhancing access to academic texts and information resources”. DigitiSing Library Services While a full staff could not be present in the early days of lockdown, librarians went into the libraries in shifts to digitise physical books and send them to those who requested them. They also made themselves available for queries on both the chat function of the library website and a WhatsApp line until 21:00 on weekdays. According to Soyizwapi , “[the library services] listened to student voices via a number of channels, to the SRC, to faculties, to Deans, and other professional service departments who articulated problems experienced by students to access key texts. We engaged with the university executive for permits for essential library staff to get onto campus in order to print PPEs in the MakerSpace, to scan print materials within the copyright limitations. We engaged with Faculties to enhance reference pages on ClickUP. We scheduled meetings with some of the publishers to explore eTextbook formats where available. Library staff members have also needed to adjust on a number of fronts. As we learn, explore, and innovate, we are driven by the need to improve the student experience. We aspire to create inclusive experiences for

the UP community”. Training sessions The library provided training sessions on how to use library resources, and hosted a number of online webinars, such as how to recognise academic integrity, the mind-altering books webinar, and an overview of the library services. You can also access a list of the current webinars available on the library website. These include information on how to upload theses and dissertations onto UPSpace, how to make your work available through open access publishing models, and how altmetrics work. If you missed any of the past events, these links will take you to the recordings: Academic integrity in the age of misinformation: https://up-za.libcal.com/ event/6962925 Webinar on Mind-Altering Books: https://upza.libcal.com/event/6999385 The Library: a wealth of online information and support: https://up-za.libcal.com/ event/7108738 Online training sessions: https:// up-za.libcal.com/calendar/ training/?cid=13820&t=g&d=0000-0000&cal=13820&inc=0 The day physical books became available Recently, the librarians set up a voluntary system to help students access physical copies by sending runners to the Roper Street access to deliver books that had been placed on hold on the library website. This system was completely voluntary. Professor Molly Brown, the Head of the English Department, had this to say about the system: “When I proposed the scheme for allowing students to Click and Collect at the Roper Street gate, the librarians were completely supportive of the proposal that went to the executive and

Image: Provided

made many helpful suggestions. They collected up the books every Tuesday and Friday, checked them out for the students who had requested them, helped the faculty volunteers pack them into a golf cart and collected returns and books that had not been fetched at the library entrance at the end of the afternoon. The librarians also tracked down urgently needed resources for a couple of my research students and applied for copyright permission to digitise and post some key third-year materials on ClickUP. Students appreciate the assistance provided during lockdown by Marietjie van der Westhuizen, the circulation manager, Anna Siwela, the faculty librarian, and Adrienne Warricker, the subject librarian for English and other Humanities subjects”. Level 1 changes and how to access the library Now that we’re on level 1, it is possible to visit the libraries on each campus. They will be open Monday to Fridays 9:00 until 18:00 and Saturdays 9:00 until 13:00. What you can do under level 1: • Book study space at the library (on the library website) in advance. This will be useful for students who do not have a dedicated study space at home. • Postgraduate students can access the

Research Commons. Book online and bring your own device if possible. If you need to, you can arrange with the Research Commons staff to use a computer in the facility. • Return your current library books. This will allow other students to use those materials. You can do this via the book drop (at the top of the pedestrian gate) on University Road. The books will be quarantined before being re-shelved and you’ll get an email from the library confirming that they’ve received your books. No late fines will be issued for unreturned books possessed by those who have no access to campus. Place a book on hold on the library website and set a time and date with a librarian to go and collect it from the library. Contact the library (handle on all social media: @UPLibrary) The library has Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter profiles where they share helpful news, tips, and resources. The Instagram page has beautifully illustrated short stories archived on their stories by Edgar Allan Poe, Oscar Wilde, and Henry Callaway. Additionally, information regarding the library services can be found on www.library.up.ac.za.

6 | Features

Cannabis Research at UP Maryke Steynvaart

annabis has been used by humans for millennia for its medicinal and psychoactive properties. The cannabis plant also has various industrial uses, and is a more environmentally friendly substitute for various materials such as plastic. Recently, increased resistance against prohibitionist legislation has resulted in a slow movement towards legislative reform. As cannabis is becoming more legitimised, various types of research on cannabis have become essential in ensuring that cannabis’ potential can be maximised, and used to benefit the people of South Africa. The prohibition of cannabis is a relatively recent and short period in cannabis’ long history. And, in the past few years, there has been increased pushback against these prohibitionist laws. In addition, there is growing support and acknowledgement for the potential the plant holds, that moves far beyond its well-known psychoactive properties. In 2018, the Constitutional Court ruled that the laws around cannabis in the Drugs and Drug Trafficking Act, as well as the Medicines and Related Substances Act, were in violation of South Africans’ constitutional right to privacy. Parliament was given two years to amend legislation, and in August 2020 the draft bill, the Cannabis for Private Purposes Act of 2020, was released. The prohibitionist legislation has prevented researchers and academics from conducting research on cannabis. The latest draft bill also does not accommodate for serious research on cannabis from a medical, agricultural, economic or social perspective. Doctor Marc Wegerif, a lecturer in UP’s Development Studies department, says that it is concerning that “while South Africa does have a system in place for the cultivation of cannabis for medicinal purposes, there is no such system for the use of cannabis for scientific research and academic purposes”. The lack of a foundation to conduct research is, to an extent, contradictory, since there is growing acknowledgement of and support for the various uses that cannabis has. Professor Vanessa Steenkamp, Deputy Dean of Teaching and Learning for the Faculty of Health Sciences, explains that “cannabis has a variety of therapeutic uses, which include analgesic effects in the treatment of chronic pain (in certain conditions), anti-emesis for the treatment of chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting, and appetite stimulation in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and cancer patients”. Research is an integral part in developing legislation and policies that are effective and meaningfully contribute to the UP, South African, and global community. Through researching the various aspects of cannabis, impactful policies and legislation can be developed in order to maximise all of cannabis’ potential.

Image: Cletus Mulaudi

Dr Wegerif elaborates that “such legislation needs to take-intoaccount the opportunities and risks associated with this sector and, where possible, build on existing cannabis production, distribution, and use to maximise the benefits for South Africa and the majority of its people”. Hence, it is important that academic institutions become involved in cannabis and related research in order to develop effective legislation and policies. Dr Wegerif continues to stress that “in order for such institutions to be involved, they need to be able to grow, process, and hold reasonable amounts of cannabis and cannabis plants for nonprofit, research and academic purposes”. At UP, certain academics and researchers have already started investigating various aspects of cannabis, despite the lack of a formal legal framework to conduct such research. Prof. Steenkamp is in the process of conducting research by analysing various cannabis products available for sale in order to “improve the current legislation concerned with cannabis and cannabis-containing products”. In addition, Prof. Steenkamp is also collaborating with Doctor Gerhard Grobler, Head of the Clinical Unit in the Department of Psychiatry at UP, to research the psychological effects of cannabis. Nikita Meyer, a research assistant working with Professor Anton Kok from the Department of Jurisprudence in the Faculty of Law at UP, is in the process of ethically approving a modest study. The research study is focused on gathering “some insights on the relationship between knowledge of the law and people’s behaviour. South Africa’s Constitution promises a kinder, more equal South Africa”. Prof. Steenkamp and Dr Grobler, who are a part of the Alcohol, Tobacco and Other Drug Research Unit (ATODRU) of the South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC), recently published an Editorial about the priority areas in cannabis research that they identified. The three priorities include conducting a national, multisite clinical trial of cannabinoids supporting exploratory research to determine how much, and for what people use cannabis extracts for; and conducting evaluations of possible barriers and facilitators to medical practitioners prescribing cannabis or cannabinoids for medicinal purposes. As the position of cannabis is shifting legally, socially and economically, doing research on the plant is essential in order to ensure that effective and meaningful legislation and policies can be developed. Research and researchers are integral to this process, and a legal foundation needs to be provided in order for effective research to take place. Regardless of these barriers, many academics have started conducting research in recognition of the fact that cannabis is in a critical position within contemporary South Africa.

26 October 2020

The Social Media Dilemma Carli Botha

he new Netflix documentary, The Social Dilemma, was released on 9 September, and has started a few conversations about social media and the influences it has in the modern day. The documentary highlights some of the most pressing problems people face regarding personal information, including data mining, social media addiction, and fake news. The Guardian, however, describes this documentary as “a valiant if flawed attempt to address our complacency about surveillance capitalism”. The term “surveillance capitalism” is described in the article “Explainer: What is surveillance capitalism” on theconversation. com as a market for the commodity that is personal data. The article credits Professor Shoshana Zuboff as the academic who coined this term in 2014. Prof. Zuboff, the author of The Age of Surveillance Capitalism: The Fight for a Human Future at the New Frontier of Power, describes surveillance capitalism as “a new economic order” in an article on The Guardian. Prof Zuboff explains that algorithms and mathematical calculations are used by businesses to find out the maximum they can extract from users in an exchange. The power that these businesses have over individuals is described as “an assault on human autonomy” by Prof Zuboff. The Social Dilemma also features comments by Prof Zuboff and adds that, when an app is free, “you are the product”. Personal data is collected through every action a user takes, and this process of collecting data is known as data mining. Data mining is defined on Investopedia.com as “a process used by companies to turn raw data into useful information”. This information is used to design better marketing strategies, and it can also be used to influence the results prioritised by search engines and the ads that appear on social media feeds. Investopedia explains the process using the example of a loyalty card. Loyalty cards are marketed to individuals as a way to get access to special prices that non-members do not have access to. Companies can keep track of who is buying what and how much of it through the data collected by this system. The Social Dilemma focuses specifically on how data mining is used by social media platforms to predict the behavioural patterns of their users, and utilise the information to keep users engaged. With enough data, a platform knows what to show to users and when to show it, in order to keep users scrolling for as long as possible. Consumer Notice emphasises the fact that data mining is commonly confused with data breaches. On their official website, they explain that “data breaches happen when sensitive information is copied, viewed, stolen or used by someone who was not supposed to have it or use it”. In 2018, The New York Times reported that Facebook has shared users’ personal data with more than 150 tech companies. In the same year, the Cambridge Analytica scandal became public. Cambridge Analytica collected data through a personality quiz app on Facebook. Consumer Notice explained that, by downloading the app, users gave the company access to the personal information of all their Facebook friends. Facebook has since added a feature that allows users to see if any banned app has accessed personal information. Although surveillance capitalism is a worldwide phenomenon, the legislation that governs the processes of data mining differ for every country. The Protection of Personal Information Act (POPI) is an Act that was assented to by Parliament in 2014 in South Africa. This Act addresses issues relating to the processing of personal information. According to the official website, popia.co.za, the aim of the Act is “to promote the protection of personal information processed by public and private bodies”. The summary of the Act mentions that another aim is “to provide for the rights of persons regarding unsolicited electronic communications and automated decision-making”. Even though companies are not prohibited from processing personal data, they are required by POPI to obtain prior authorisation. This legislation helps protect users’ personal information, but it remains the duty of the user to be vigilant. Many apps and websites ask permission to access data, and, in these scenarios, it is always important to research exactly what information the app is requesting access to. Consumer Notice advises individuals to adjust the privacy settings of apps and, most importantly, “don’t click agree unless you’re willing to agree with all the terms”. One of the key speakers on The Social Dilemma, Tristan Harris, co-founded the Center for Humane Technology after noticing the ethical problems surrounding data mining. The computer scientist was referred to as “the closest thing Silicon Valley has to a conscience” and now continues to educate the world about the reality of data mining and other tech-related threats. The Center for Humane Technology was started in 2018, and, according to their official website, they “articulate the problem, its diagnosis and the path toward a new era of truly humane technology”. Personal information is a valuable commodity in this technological era. While the measures to protect users from exploitation are being developed, the value of this commodity keeps growing.

26 October 2020

Features | 7

Online learning and health: the possible effects and how to avoid them

Stephanie Cookson

n the age of online learning, students are experiencing the downsides of spending extended periods of time sitting at the desk with a computer in front of them. PDBY spoke to Dr Elzette Korkie from UP’s Department of Physiotherapy about some of the ways students can avoid these downsides and stay healthier during online learning. In a non-representative survey of a group of [-]students, PDBY asked students what physical side-effects students have experienced more since the move to online learning. Almost 90% of the surveryed students reported more back pain and eye strain, with 76% of students experiencing more headaches. Just under 30% have experienced dizziness and nausea, and some students even cited nerve issues or numbness in hands and forearms, as well as issues with sleeping, fatigue, and worsening eyesight. These problems are some of the most common computer-induced health issues, which typically affect musculoskeletal problems, vision, sleep, headaches, and can cause repetitive stress injuries, like carpal tunnel syndrome, which involves numbness or tingling in the hand and arm as a result of a pinched nerve in the wrist. Some studies have named motion-sickness induced from movement on screens “cybersickness”, which causes nausea, dizziness and headaches, while computer vision syndrome refers to digital eye strain, resulting from extended periods of time looking at computer screens, and can have serious long-term effects. Dr Korkie explains that “the most common short-term side effects of prolonged sitting are discomfort in the hip and spinal joints [such as the] neck, upper and lower back […] as well as muscle pains in the shoulder and neck area”, and added that not addressing this effectively “might lead to tight and painful muscles, [like] muscle spasm, back and neck pain and headaches”. “The reasons for these pains and discomfort include bad sitting posture, incorrect desk and chair height, incorrect positioning of the laptop or

computer and lack of movement”, says Dr Korkie, especially because students “move and walk between different classes, walk uphill or downhill and climb stairs” during usual on-campus learning. “Now when attending online classes students are much less active”, she says. In terms of trying to combat these possible problems, Dr. Korkie recommends first, the ergonomic factors to keep in mind. With chair height, “when sitting on the chair the hips and knees should be [bent] 90 degrees, with the feet flat on the floor and the back supported”, she explains, adding that, for students who are too short, using a step, thick book, or even a brick under the feet is effective. Additionally, she suggests placing “a rolled-up towel or small pillow between your lower back and the chair to support your back”. The second factor is desk height. When close to the desk, “elbows should rest comfortably on the desk with no shrugging of the shoulders,” she explains. Thirdly, the position of the computer screen is important, and should be directly in front of you, at an angle positioned so that “your chin is not up or in a double chin position, but forward”, and the keyboard should be forearm-length away, according to Dr. Korkie. Of the students PDBY asked, over 50% reported spending upwards of seven hours sitting at the computer a day, while 45% spend between three to five hours a day at

the computer. Roughly a quarter of the students do not make time in the week to exercise or move, while just over 30% do so between one and two days a week. Almost half of the students make time for exercise or movement between three and five days a week, and 42% said that they do so for 1 hour at a time, with almost 48% doing so for less than one hour on the allocated day. Dr Korkie emphasises the need for movement in combatting the health problems associated with online learning, suggesting 20 to 30 minutes of “brisk walking”, which means walking at a speed just before a slow jog. “This improves joint mobility, muscle function, circulation, controls blood sugar levels and improves concentration”, she says. She also suggests specific exercises that can be helpful, noting that students should pause when they feel discomfort. For spinal movement, she recommends five repetitions of each of the following motions: look over both shoulders, look up to the roof and down to your lap, and push your chin forward and pull your chin back [to form a] double chin. For the upper back, “slouch and sit up straight [with]

shoulders backwards” for five reps. “Make [your] lower back hollow [and] away from the chair, and push your lower back against the chair” five times to exercise the lower back, she says. It is also important to move nerves and muscles. “As you sit, lift your right arm sideways with the elbow bent and the hand on your shoulder”, explains Dr Korkie. “Straighten your elbow while you turn your hand away from you as if you want to push something away”, and repeat each side five times. Additionally, create large circles using the arms, “reaching forward, sideways and backwards as far as possible”, she says. “If you have discomfort - move”, Dr Korkie emphasises. The “rule of thumb” is that one must change their position or move “at least every 45 - 50 minutes”, according to Dr Korkie, and that “a hot shower or bath relieves muscle pain, [while] movement helps for joint pain”. It is also important to know when to seek professional help. Dr Korkie says that experiencing “muscle pain present more than five days, [without] relief when trying the above, a headache that becomes constant more than 24 hours day-and-night, and/or pain or pins and needles down your arms or legs”, it’s time to consult with a physiotherapist. Regarding vision, computer eye strain involves the following symptoms: discomfort; headaches; painful, tired, burning, itchy, dry or watery eyes; difficulty focusing; blurry or double vision; and an increased sensitivity to light. Regularly looking away from the screen and focusing on distant objects, like looking out of a window, is helpful, because this motion relaxes the muscle inside the eye, and reduces eye fatigue. Taking a 20 second break every 20 minutes, making sure to blink, or even use eye drops, is advised. Having good lighting is also important, which means avoiding overly bright lighting, like overhead fluorescent lights. Setting computers to auto-adjust the screen brightness helps avoid looking into an overly bright screen when unnecessary. Additionally, blue-light filters have been found to help vision problems, as well as promote better sleep, and can be used through computer applications like F.lux. Online learning and being at a desk all day, even between classes, can take its toll on the body, but there are plenty of habits or tricks to avoid this, as well as knowing the signs of when it is time to consult a medical professional. Image:Cletus Mulaudi

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8 | Entertainment

26 October 2020

Diversifying the Academy Awards: the introduction of prerequisites for allinclusive nominees

he Academy Awards - the highest honour for an entertainer - is Hollywood’s most glamorous night to celebrate the best in film for the year. Past winners have included the likes of Leonardo DiCaprio and Meryl Streep. However, a change has swept the film industry. Fresh stories are being told from unique perspectives that showcase the lives lived by people from all walks of life. It is with this mindset that the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences set new requirements to be adhered to for the Best Picture category. The requirements are meant to encourage diversity and representation. These new prerequisites are evident in four categories, each with its own subcategories. The films for consideration must satisfy at least two of these categories to be eligible for the award. The categories in question are on screen, among the crew, at the studio, and opportunities for training and advancement in other aspects of the film’s development and release. The on screen requirement dictates that the film must contain at least one leading or significant supporting character that is of an underrepresented racial group. Alternatively, at least thirty percent of the film’s secondary roles must be from two underrepresented groups, or the plot, theme or narrative of the film must be centred on an underrepresented group. The academy confirmed that women, persons of colour, queer persons or disabled persons

Vasalya Moodley

constitute as underrepresented groups. According to the crew requirement, the film must have at least two persons from underrepresented groups in leadership positions or department heads (with at least one being from an underrepresented racial group). Six crew members, or thirty percent of the crew, should be from an underrepresented racial group. ‘At the studio’ refers to internship opportunities and the training of workers ‘below the line’. The last category, opportunities for training and advancement in other aspects of the film’s development and release, applies to representation within persons involved in the marketing, publicity, and distribution of the film. The Academy’s new diversity standards were created by DeVon Franklin and Jim Gianopulos. In consideration of similar diversity standards within the British Film Institute and British Academy of Film and Television Awards, the Academy’s new standards were formed. Academy president David Rubin and CEO Dawn Hudson have stated that the films up for the prestigious award must “reflect our diverse global population”. This is to bridge both film and the audience, in hopes that this change begins a new lasting era in Hollywood - one that celebrates all stories and showcases the talent of what a diverse group of artists can create. The new standards of representation will be in full effect in 2024 at the 96th Academy Awards.

he New York Fashion Week (NYFW) showcases visionary designers’ inspired collections as stamps in the fashion industry. This celebration of fashion has exhibited the works of fashion frontliners such as Diane von Fürstenberg and Marc Jacobs. This year’s events spanned five days, while adhering to new social distancing and protective measures due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Of these protocols, virtual fashion shows were used to display the lines of the designers that were to be featured at NYFW. Port Elizabeth-born Laduma Ngxokolo, and his label MAXHOSA AFRICA presented their designer clothes to the world in one of these virtual shows. MAXHOSA AFRICA was founded in 2010 as part of a thesis project. This line was to create clothing representative of Xhosa culture. Ngxokolo has described his label as “an alternative option that was cultural yet modern”, in reference to a right of passage of young Xhosa men in which a new wardrobe is acquired in celebration of his manhood. Now, Ngxokolo’s creative mind showcases this fresh take on Xhosa dress and prints at one of fashion’s most glamorous events. Ngxokolo’s colourful new line was showcased

Image:

Vasalya Moodley

MAXHOSA AFRICA represents local talent at New York Fashion Week on 16 September, and featured a variety of new fabrics and prints in sportswear-esque clothing for men and women. He titled the theme of the collection after his late grandfather’s song, Ingumangaliso Imisebenzi KaThixo, which translates to God’s work is so wonderful that we don’t even acknowledge how powerful it is. The goal of this vibrant collection, Ngxokolo says, was to provide a sense of hope and happiness in the midst of a sad, uncertain time in our history. It is also important to him that he shares his Xhosa roots with the world on the platform he has earned. Models strutted down the runway in playful prints and, quirkily, clutching Tastic Rice Bags as accessory bags. Spearheads of South Africa’s entertainment scene were featured in this online show. After an introduction by musician Unathi Nkayi, Ngxokolo’s runway featured many celebrity models such as Riky Rick and Maps Maponyane. International recognition is not new to Ngxokolo. In celebration of the 2019 remake of The Lion King, MAXHOSA AFRICA was featured in the sixth round of Style Kingdom, a rotating pop-up affiliated with New York Bloomingdales. In 2020, British Vogue magazine named him one of seven must-see African brands. His clothing was also featured in Beyonce’s Black Is King visual album. On the more local front, MAXHOSA AFRICA has a new store in Cape Town at the V&A Waterfront’s luxury wing, alongside stores of internationally acclaimed brands such as Gucci and Versace. Through MAXHOSA AFRICA, Laduma Ngxokolo has merged the modern and traditional - creating clothing for the modern man and woman while incorporating the rich Xhosa tradition into each piece. His artistry and vision has gained him the local and international success that he can broadly boast today, more recently on the New York Fashion Week stage.

Zulu Man in Japan Emily Harrison

Image: can.newonnetflix.info

ulu Man in Japan, a documentary that follows multi-award-winning rapper Nasty C on his trip to Japan, was released on Netflix at the end of September. The documentary was followed by the Durban born rapper’s highly anticipated album Zulu Man With Some Power. The documentary follows Nasty C on his trip to Japan where we see him create new music and enjoy the Japanese culture. The film shows that the artist enjoyed a more authentic version of Japan than other

celebrities that take similar trips to the country. The rapper is honest from the beginning of the documentary about how humbling of an experience it is to be in a country where no one knows who you are, but also what a creative experience it can be. Nasty C shares that he feels like he can redo his ‘come up’ without all of the mistakes in the countries where he is relatively unknown. The documentary also allows audiences to see the rapper flex his creative muscles as he lays down ‘7 tracks... in 8 days’. The film also lets audiences see the local favourite work with Japanese artists such as JP the Wavey, Ricky and Yoshi. One of the highlights of the film is when Nasty C talks about his love of fashion and explores some Japanese styles. The documentary does, however, leave some things to be desired. The film is definitely more for the artist’s fanbase than someone trying to get to know the rapper as the film seems to advertise him rather than try to show an interesting side of him. There are so many interesting people that he meets on

his journey but very little time is spent on speaking to them and asking them what they think of the rapper and his music. This seems like a missed opportunity in the film as not many South African musicians try to break into the Japanese market. Although Nasty C shares his thoughts on what it is like to be able to do things he cannot in Africa, because he is so well known, and his thoughts on what it means to be a ‘Zulu man in Japan’, the documentary still feels like it needs more pivotal moments and revelations. The film was made possible by Red Bull, but the constant product placement becomes exhausting and it takes away from the visual experience of film as a whole. The documentary only has a running time of 44 minutes and it feels as though it needs to be extended a lot more for it to really say something important. Nasty C’s personality, constant optimism and honesty draws viewers in and keeps them invested which makes the film a fun experience for fans of the iconic rapper.

26 October 2020

Entertainment | 9

My Octopus Teacher Vasalya Moodley

ff the coast of Cape Town nests the kelp forests. It is here that local filmmaker, Craig Foster, starred in an exquisite marine life documentary - but more importantly, found a friend. My Octopus Teacher dominated Netflix’s trending list of films to watch, and being a South African work, makes it all the better. The touching documentary boasts a rating of 96% on Rotten Tomatoes. In a time of career burn-out, Foster narrates the story of how he retreated from his life by diving into the Cape coast and befriended a female octopus. Audiences follow a mancephalopod friendship over the course of a year. Through this adventure, Foster (and the viewers) learn about this octopus’ daily activities as she cleverly evades predators, hunts, and even plays with other sea creatures. Foster’s observations have stuck with him, and he emotionally reveres in what he learnt from her in their friendship together. The documentary is shot in the cold waters of the Cape Town coastline amongst the kelp forests. This is where

we spend most of the documentary, watching Foster and his octopus bonding and learning. The film’s cinematography almost magically captures the clear blue ocean with all its flora and fauna. We get close-ups of the octopus’ activities even in dangerous situations, such as where she is being hunted by a pyjama shark. Directors James Reed and Pippa Ehrlich are the duo that brought this aquatic friendship to the screen. Reed has made wildlife documentaries in the past, such as Jago: A life Underwater - another marine documentary, which is about an elderly hunter who deep-sea dives on a single breath in Indonesia. Ehrlich is a filmmaker and journalist. A stand-out moment of filmmaking mastery being when the octopus latches on to the back of the pyjama shark that is trying to catch her as a way to escape it. The thrill of the chase was excitingly captured on screen. Foster’s narrations were quite effective, as they took us through every inch of his mind as he bonded with the octopus. We can hear the emotion in his voice which touchingly further proves the genuine love he had for this octopus.

Spooky books to read this October

Image: southafrica.nownetflix.com

The moving narrations of Foster coupled with stunning cinematography and direction present a poignant tale of an unlikely friendship. The masterful camerawork captured the unique love of Foster for the octopus, and vice versa. This tender package of a documentary shows the relationship man can have with nature, along with valuable life lessons.

Inktober 2020

by Nicola’s disappearance - goes to look for her in this nightmarish city and gets a lot more than he came for. Jeff Van der Meer is known for his bizarre and horrifying novels that are perfect for this time of year.

The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson

This book is known to be filled with ‘unnerving terror’. It follows a host of characters which make their way to the Hill House in search of the haunts that supposedly live inside. At first it seems that the house is just filled with unexplainable horror, but soon the house takes on a life of its own and will choose one of the characters to claim for itself.

The Fifth Season by N.K. Jemisin

Image: Madhuri Rambaran

Cassidy Bessa

f you are looking for some scary or atmospheric books to read this Halloween, then this list is for you. It includes some horror, fantasy and dark academia, and is sure to get you in the spooky season spirit.

Rebecca by Daphne Du Maurier

In this gothic novel, the protagonist marries a man who lives in a old mansion called Manderley. It is there that she deals with the ghost of her husband’s dead wife, Rebecca. The house takes a role of its own and adds to the atmospheric and creepy setting.

Veniss Underground by Jeff Van der Meer

This spooky and strange story tells the tale of Veniss Underground through multiple voices and viewpoints. Nicholas goes to the underground to escape his demons but faces the devil himself. Nicholas’ twin sister Nicola is scouring the underground looking for her brother and as she does so finds secrets to the city. Nicola’s lover - spurred on

This is the first book of The Broken Earth series and is very popular amongst fantasy readers. This story follows the way that the world ends and three horrible things that happen in one day. It follows a brutal murder, a mass murder and a natural disaster. This starts a war in which our main character, Essun, must try to survive and save his family.

The Secret History by Donna Tartt

This book is a dark academia following classics students in a New England college. Everything seems to be going well until, under the influence of their classic’s professor, they slip from obsession to corruption and betrayal. There also is a murder involved which makes it perfectly spooky for an October read.

The Shining by Stephen King

The Shining follows the Torrance Family as they move into the Outlook Hotel for the winter. The son, Danny, has a special power that allows him to ‘shine’. This means that he can see the future and read people’s minds, and what he sees for the upcoming months at the Outlook Hotel are scary and horrifying. The hotel - which is meant to be empty - takes on a life of its own. The evil force is too strong to ignore. This is one of Stephen King’s best and more scary novels, but any of his books are great October reads as they are all filled with horror and adventure.

Illustration: Marchall Potgieter

Cassidy Bessa

nktober is a challenge that takes place every October, wherein artists make ink drawings as a social media challenge. You post your first post on social media on 1 October and your last post on 31 October. You can post your picture with the hashtags #inktober and #inktober2020 so that other people can see your drawings and you can see theirs. However, it isn’t only about social media, you can also do the art independently and keep it for yourself. This challenge is about improving your skills and not just trying to see how many likes you can get on a drawing. You can also do the 52week challenge where you do one drawing a week for a whole year. This challenge was started by artist Jack Parker in order to improve his drawing skills and become more creative in his work, while inspiring others to be creative as well. He also wanted to encourage others to be creative as well. Parker started this challenge in 2009, so the challenge turns eleven this year. However, it is not a competition, but rather a way to show off your art and to challenge yourself to draw consistently. Although ink drawings are what was originally intended for this challenge, pencil drawings with ink over them as well as other mediums can also be used to show your own unique sense of style. Each day in October has a prompt which you can interpret anyway that you would like to. Every year the prompts are different, and they inspire you to get those creative juices flowing. Digital drawing is also very popular during Inktober. This is a fun alternative medium to basic black pen on paper. This is a unique and fun challenge to do and it is highly recommended to try it even though we are well into October already. You can always extend the challenge to make it more accessible to you. You can follow the official prompts, or you can come up with your own. Happy drawing!

10 | Entertainment

26 October 2020

n io t ic f n a h t r e g Truth is stran

Kendra Connock

ctober is generally regarded as “Spooky Season”, due to the Halloween festivities that take place on its last day, but with the coronavirus still lurking and restrictions on gatherings still in place, there is no way to know whether costumes, parties, and trick-or-treating will occur as normal form this year. You may be spending the evening around a campfire, dressed up as your favourite character, or maybe you’re leaning on the side of caution and you will be spending the night in; either way, PDBY has you covered. We’ve put together a list of some of the creepiest, spookiest things that people claim have happened in real life; tell these to your friends around that campfire or read them alone in your room. However you choose to enjoy these allegedly true stories, be sure to keep a light on somewhere nearby… The Dyatlov Pass Mystery A group of 10 young people embarked on a skiing/hiking trip in the Ural Mountains of Russia in the winter of 1959. All of the group members were experienced hikers and embarked on their 300km journey in order to achieve their Grade III hiker status, the highest certification available in the country at the time. On the morning of 25 January, the group set off, leaving behind one member who was unwell. They veered off their intended path when a fierce snowstorm descended onto the mountain. They found themselves hiking the slopes of a

Illustration: Cassandra Eardley

mountain called Kholat Syakhl which, translated from the language of the indigenous people of the region, means Dead Mountain. This is the point in a horror movie where the audience becomes acutely aware that something is going to go horribly wrong. For unknown reasons, the group made camp on the exposed slopes of the mountain as opposed to retreating into nearby woods. The next two days of the hikers’ journey has been reconstructed through some journal entries and film recovered from the campsite, but much of what happened on the mountainside remains a mystery to this day. The group failed to reach a previously agreed upon check-in point and search teams were deployed to find them. Recovery teams finally found the camp on 26 February 1959, three weeks after the hikers had gone missing. A number of strange findings awaited the rescue workers; the tent, half-covered in snow, had been torn open from the inside and the group’s belongings (including their shoes) had been left behind. Roughly half a kilometre away they found evidence of a campfire and the mostly naked remains of two of the hikers. Other members of the group were found between the fire and campsite and some were in the bed of a creek. The majority of the hikers had succumbed to hypothermia with the remaining three suffering various terrible injuries including skull and chest fractures. By the end of May, the investigation was officially closed with the cause of death being listed as “compelling natural force”. Documents pertaining to the case were classified and the area, now known as the Dyatlov Pass (named

for the leader of the group Igor Dyatlov), was closed to the public for several years. This list of explanations includes an avalanche or extremely high winds, which caused deep infrasound vibrations that may have incited panic and hallucinations within the group. Some of the hikers’ clothes was found to be radioactive, leading some to believe they may have stumbled into a military weapons experiment of some sort. It is 61 years later and the investigation has been reopened by Russian authorities but, for now, what happened on the mountain remains a mystery. Amber Dawn Amber Dawn was 20 years old when she moved into her own apartment. Like anyone living alone for the first time, Amber heard strange noises but chalked it up to being alone and in a new area. She worked three jobs and so wasn’t home very much during the day. When she noticed some groceries going missing from her cupboards she assumed it was her brother, who lived nearby, taking the food. One day, Amber received a call while she was at work; her apartment was flooding. She rushed home to save the German Shepard puppy she had recently bought. The puppy, which she kept in the bathroom while she was at work, was unharmed by the flooding. In fact, the puppy was sitting safely in the sink – far away from the water. Amber found a way to explain it away despite the fact that there was no way the tiny puppy could have made it into the sink on her own. Six months into living in the apartment,

Amber took a day off work because she was sick. She was lying in the bath with the lights off when she noticed that the trap door to the attic was open, which she knew she hadn’t opened herself. Slowly, all the strange things the young woman had noticed over the months began to fall into place and Amber realised that someone had been living in her attic. Amber managed to climb out the bath and put on her gown before quietly retreating out of the apartment. She called her sister-in-law and went outside to wait, puppy in one hand and a hammer in the other. The two young women phoned the police; but by the time they arrived the man was gone. They climbed into the attic through the open trap door and found a sleeping bag, a book, and some food. Amber Dawn moved out of the apartment the next day and says the experience taught her to trust her instincts. The Mary Celeste The Mary Celeste was an American merchant ship discovered adrift and deserted in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean in 1872. The ship’s cargo was still aboard and the personal belongings of the crew were untouched. The last entry in the ship’s log was dated 10 days prior to the ship’s discovery. The lifeboat was missing, fuelling assumptions that the crew had left the ship on the lifeboat. None of the people aboard the ship were ever seen again. The mystery remains unsolved but hypotheses abound, including submarine earthquakes, paranormal intervention, and attack by a giant squid.

26 October 2020

Top 10 Halloween Netflix Watchlist

Entertainment | 11

There’s a

conspiracy theory for that! Kendra Connock

A scene from the movie #Alive

Image: netflix.com

Emily Harrison 1. The Haunting of Hill House and Bly Manor You will have to mind your manors around the ghosts in this horror anthology series that focuses on a different haunted house each season. The series is also famous for having one of the best jump-scares ever in the first season. 2. The Invitation This slow-burn cult horror movie focuses on the main character after he is invited to a dinner party by his exgirlfriend. Everything is not as it seems though, and the less you know about this movie beforehand, the better. 3. The Babysitter This campy movie is the perfect horror-comedy that centres around the teenage protagonist and his babysitter who is part of a demonic cult. The sequel was also released this year but did not raise as much hell as its predecessor. 4. #Alive This South Korean zombie movie came out earlier this year and follows a video game streamer as he tries to survive the zombie apocalypse alone in his apartment. Audiences will be living for the amazing special effects and body horror in this film. 5. Sleepy Hollow and Dark Shadows Tim Burton’s films are Halloween essentials and Netflix South Africa currently has two of the spooky classics available. Sleepy Hollow is based on the classic tale by the same name and Dark Shadows focuses on a vampire, Johnnie Depp. 6. Veronica This Spanish horror film follows a young girl in the 90s after she plays with a Ouija board. This film caused a lot of buzz when it came out, as it is loosely based off of real events so it will definitely give you Netflix and chills. 7. Slasher Slasher is a horror anthology series that features a different masked serial killer in each season, so it is perfect for those Halloween bingeing needs. This show is very entertaining and is sure to slash through your study plans. 8. 8 This South African horror movie follows a family moving to an isolated house where unsettling events start to take place. The film is sure to give any South African chills with its familiar setting and use of South African lore. 9. Don’t Breathe This film is a modern horror classic that centres on a group of friends that plan to rob a man in a mostly abandoned neighbourhood. The suspense in this movie will leave you breathless. 10. Stranger Things This popular series is a Halloween staple that follows a group of kids and the mysterious things that happen in their town. If only this list was a top eleven.

or nearly every mysterious occurrence on the planet there is a conspiracy theory: there are even some for the not-so-mysterious events. It seems to be human nature to attempt to find an explanation for the things that occur around us, even if the explanation turns out to be somewhat far-fetched. Here are some conspiracy theories to pique your interest. There is still a lot of speculation in many circles about the 1969 moon landing. In 1980, the Flat Earth Society accused NASA of faking the moon landing. They suggested that the space agency had enlisted expert help in the form of a sponsorship from the Walt Disney company, a script written by Arthur C Clarke, and directed by Stanley Kubrick. Theorists cite the impeccable quality of the photographs on the moon, the lack of visible stars in the background, and the seemingly identical backgrounds in photographs supposedly taken kilometres apart. A resident of Western Australia claimed to have seen a bottle of Coca-Cola roll across the bottom corner of the screen in footage of the moon landing shown on the news. Many theorists point to the fluttering of the American flag despite the absence of wind on the moon. However, some readers may remember an episode of the popular television show, Mythbusters, where the theory that the flag would not flutter was debunked. Another cosmic conspiracy theory is that of the Nibiru Cataclysm, which theorists believe NASA is trying to cover up. Believers of the theory suggest there will be an encounter between Earth and another large planetary object at some point in the early 21st century. The theory was started in 1995 by Nancy Lieder, who claims to have contact with extra-terrestrial beings called Zetans. The most popular use of this theory was in 2012 when theorists began sharing the speculation that the world would end on 21 December of that year. The theory was revived in 2017 when a numerologist claimed this theory was related to passages in the bible and that it would happen on 23 September 2017. The theoretical planetary body has since appeared in movies like 2012 (2009) and Star Trek Into Darkness (2013) and made a long-running appearance on Scooby-Doo!, but it has yet to materialise in real life. In 1967, a rumour began circulating that English musician Paul McCartney had died in a car accident the year before and was secretly replaced by a look-alike. Proponents of the theory say the band left clues for fans to find in their songs and album covers including the line “here’s another clue for you all, the walrus was Paul” in their 1968 song Glass Onion. The cover of their album Abbey Road is also cited as evidence, with the band members representing a funeral procession and McCartney (barefoot and out of step with the rest of the band) as the corpse. This theory came about in a time where similar theories about popular figures abounded, most notably those surrounding the assassination of President John F Kennedy. The “Paul is dead” rhetoric has been

applied to a number of other prominent figures who conspiracy theorists believe have died and been replaced by imposters, including Nigerian president Muhammadu Buhari, punk-pop singer Avril Lavigne, and most recently, First Lady Melania Trump. Perhaps the most widespread conspiracy theory of all is that of the Illuminati and the New World Order. Proponents of this theory believe that there is an elite international group that controls nearly all of the world’s mechanisms and institutions. The Illuminati are allegedly promoting the New World Order, with the hopes of establishing a global hegemony. Many musicians are accused of associating with this group, including Beyoncé and Whitney Houston. One of the more bizarre theories related to the New World Order theory is that the Denver International Airport in the United States is built atop an underground city which is the group’s official headquarters. There are also some who believe a race of lizard people live below the airport, so definitely take this idea with a pinch of salt. Professional conspiracy theorist David Icke visited a psychic in 1990 who gave him the message that he had been placed on earth for a purpose and he would soon receive messages from the spirit world. He began speaking at a number of events which have gone down in conspiracy theory history. His first message was that the world would experience a number of events (including the disappearance of New Zealand and the transformation of Los Angeles into an island) which would culminate in the end of the world. One of his most popular theories is the existence of the Anunnaki, a race of inter-dimensional reptilian beings which have replaced some prominent figures in our world. The Bush Family, Margaret Thatcher, and the British Royal Family are among some of the people Icke believes are such creatures, working in secret to control the world. Most recently, Icke was responsible for a YouTube video in which he claims 5G mobile phone networks are responsible for the COVID-19 pandemic. This is one of many conspiracy theories related to COVID-19, including the belief that the virus was engineered by a Chinese laboratory, the belief that the virus does not actually exist, and the belief that Bill Gates released the virus into the world to make money. Those with a keen interest in conspiracy theories should look for the Conspiracy Theories podcast which covers these beliefs in more detail. Stuff They Don’t Want You To Know by iHeartRadio, started as a YouTube show and has transitioned into the podcast world, bringing its listeners discussions on the vast conspiracy theories and mysteries that exist. Skeptoid, by Brian Dunning dives into the scientific explanations behind some of these theories. If you’re sceptical about the actual existence of conspiracy theories, try QClearance; a brand new investigative journalism podcast which focuses on the biggest conspiracy theory of this year: QAnon, a group of theorists who claim Donald Trump will soon defeat an organisation of ‘Satan worshipping’ sex traffickers.

12 | Entertainment

26 October 2020

How Jerusalema Took the World by Storm

KG envisioned Nomcebo’s vocals on the beat, and upon its completion, he contacted her for a collaboration to which she agreed. Jerusalema was released two months later in October on YouTube as audio only, and without much promotion, the video quickly hit its first milestone, reaching 1 million views in a week. In December of 2019 on the Openmic Productions YouTube channel, the official music video for Jerusalema was uploaded, keeping up with the audio release by gaining 3 million views in two weeks. South Africa had been taken over by the infectious tune, being a mainstay on radio and music channels. By February 2020, the song had Master KG and Nomcebo in the international public’s eye, landing the artists opportunities to perform across Africa and in Europe. #JerusalemaDanceChallenge flooded social media for the next three months, with participants hailing from all corners of the globe. The meteoric rise has continued throughout the year, nabbing a Burna Boy remix of the song along the way, which the Nigerian superstar singer was very happy to make. Jerusalema also received an approving nod from the nations finest, President Cyril Ramaphosa, as he urged his fellow countrymen to participate in the smash hit’s dance challenge on Heritage Day. South Africans obliged, with everyone getting together to celebrate the country’s rich history and loosening of lockdown regulations. Jerusalema currently sits atop the charts of several countries and has gained platinum certifications in Belgium, Italy and France. With remixes and challenges being uploaded by fans on a daily basis, almost a year after its initial release, it is hard to see the upward trajectory of the song slowing down.

Image: Madhuri Rambaran

Daluvuyo Nkumbulo Mapuzi

n an impressive feat, the producer Master KG and vocalist Nomcebo’s collaboration has reached new heights with global success. With the YouTube music

video currently sitting at close to 185 million views, the song has towered above all its contemporaries in impact and ubiquity. The instrumental of the chart-topping hit was conceived in July 2019 and completed in August of the same year. Master

Coctail Corner Recipe You will need: •

Shot glasses

•

1 fresh lime

•

Purple food colouring

•

1 Tbsp sugar

•

1/2 cup vodka

•

1/3 cup like juice

•

1/4 cup raspberry liqueur

Instructions: 1. Cut the lime in half and squeeze the juice onto a small plate 2. Mix in 3-4 drops of food colouring and mix 3. Place the sugar in another small plate 4. Dip the shot glasses into the lime juice and then into the sugar and set to the side 5. Mix the vodka, lime juice and raspberry liqueur into a cocktail shaker (or something similar) and add ice 6. Shake well and strain into the sugar rimmed shot glasses 7. If you’d prefer a long drink, replace the lime juice with 1 cup of lemonade or Sprite, and served with crushed ice. Illustration: Marchall Potgieter

26 October 2020

Sport | 13

Rozani Honiball: SA wrestler to look out for

DBY spoke to wrestler Rozani Honiball, a South African title wrestler who only took up wrestling at the age of 24, about her life in and out of wrestling

Who is Rozani Honiball? I studied Industrial Psychology. My trade by day is as a consultant, and I also do part time personal training and teach kids Jiu Jitsu classes. I love having a job that gives me time to do sports, I love my family, and I love my dogs - they make my world a better place. My purpose is to have a positive influence on the people I meet. You started with wrestling in your twenties, which some may consider to be late. How did you first get into wrestling? I started training Jiu Jitsu late 2016, as my training and knowledge for the sport grew, I knew I had to work on my takedowns. Jiu Jitsu, just like wrestling is a grappling art, the main focus is on the ground, wrestling has its focus on takedowns hence getting to the ground to get the first advantage. I started only wanting to learn so I can improve my Jiu Jitsu, but I enjoyed the challenge of wrestling so much that I decided to train full time and learn to wrestle well. I called our local club in Klerksdorp in 2018 and never looked back. Considering my age, I see it as an advantage. I am a lot smarter than I was when I was younger and only doing hockey my whole life, my body hasn’t taken too much punishment. I feel good, healthy and strong, age for me is truly just a number. Who had the greatest influence/impact on your life and where it is headed right now? My mom. She has always believed in any crazy dream I have had. It is because of her that I have the courage to take on any challenge. She is my number one supporter and my strength pillar. I honestly try not to think too much of the future, I try to take each day and make the best of it. What do you enjoy doing off the mats? For fun I love spending time with my dogs and my friends. I love being active so on weekends. I always try to do something outdoors, since I am new in Pretoria. I like to explore the city on weekends, which has been really fun. When did you decide you wanted to join TuksWrestling? As we all know it’s been a confusing 2020. I moved to Pretoria for better opportunities. My coach and friend from Klerksdorp, Tanki Tau, moved a few months after me to coach at Tuks wrestling. I was so excited to hear the news and I knew immediately that I was going to go where he is. Tuks wrestling is one of the best in the country. I am so excited to join them; I know they are going to help me get better and I cannot wait to learn from them. What are your future plans for wrestling? Where are you going and how do you plan to get there? I want to really get good at wrestling. I still want to compete for a few years and see how far I can take it. The only way to get good is to put the time on the mats, so I plan to train hard. In the future I would love to coach kids and help grow the sport, especially for girls and women. Contrary to popular belief, wrestling is a brains over brawn sport. How do you keep your brain engaged during a match despite any blows you might be taking? Wrestling is definitely both brains and brawn. It’s all about the work you put in before the match. How well you prepare for a match (mentally and physically) will determine the outcome. In wrestling what you put in is what you will get out. With good

preparation your mind will follow your body. Who do you look up to in the industry and why? My favorite wrestler is Helen Maroulis. She overcame so many battles to win her olympic gold, her story is truly inspiring, and she is the product of hard work and determination. Being a female in a male dominated environment can’t be easy, who is your closest friend in the industry? Tanki - my coach and friend. He taught me everything I know. He has cornered all of my matches. I am so grateful to have him as a coach and a friend. He believed in me and it made me believe in myself. He is one of my biggest inspirations. A lot of times there aren’t girls in your weight class at competitions. How do you think this can/should be addressed? We need to get girls to wrestle, promotion is key. I think there are a lot of misconceptions around wrestling, and getting the word out and talking about the benefits, especially for girls/ women, will attract more numbers. What would you say to young girls who want to join wrestling like you? Do it. You won’t regret it. Wrestling will teach you so many things about yourself. It is going to push you and teach you to thrive under pressure. You are going to see the benefits mentally, physically and emotionally, the benefits are numerous. The greatest of all is you will know how to defend yourself which is a valuable tool especially in South Africa where gender-based violence is a big issue. Who do you enjoy working with on the mats most? Training with friends and learning new throws always gets my blood pumping. It is hard and challenging and that makes it so rewarding. What is your favorite match that you’ve been in? The ones I have lost. I learned the most from them and they have made me better. I learned from my faults and knew what I had to fix. What has been your biggest achievement so far? For me it is not quitting, I was literally thrown around for the first six months, it did not come naturally. I had to work hard to get better and had to preserve to not give up What are you currently working towards? What do you have lined up? I joined Constrictor Jiu-Jitsu in Pretoria, and Tuks Wrestling. At the moment I am waiting to start training for wrestling, the Jiu Jitsu is open now with COVID-19 regulations. The wrestling has not yet begun. This year has taught me to be patient and go with the flow. I just want to improve and get better. Again, as a female in a male dominated environment, what are your thoughts on the issues of sexual harassment of females in the industry? I think sexual harassment is a issue in most industries. The wrestling community has only shown me kindness and respect. So far it has only encouraged and empowered me. Unfortunately there will always be bad people in the world but I do feel that contact sports is an amazing tool for self-defence and can be used for good. There are amazing coaches out there who empower women and help them to overcome adversity. Where should we look for you in ten years’ time? I hope to be on the mats teaching girls self defence, wrestling, and Jiu-Jitsu.

Images: Provided

“

Wrestling will teach you so many things about yourself. It is going to push you and teach you to thrive under pressure.

“

Mpho Ramagoma

Sport Tuks Rugby honoured by Blue Bulls director’s visit

Tuks Golfer Dylan Naidoo ranked in the order of Merit Rankings

Pride Mathebula

he Rugby 2021 Varsity Cup tournament will have many surprises, as TuksRugby players are going to be watched by the director of one of the biggest rugby teams in South Africa: the Blue Bulls. It would stand TuksRugby players well to “not to drop the ball” during next year’s Varsity Cup tournament, as the Blue Bulls Director of Rugby, Jake White, will be watching them. To White, a healthy student and club rugby setup are crucial to ensure the Bulls’ success in the Currie Cup as well the SuperRugby Tournaments. The director has already met with Nico Luus, the TuksRugby’s head coach, to discuss his plans for next year. White, the former coach of the Springboks, led the team to win the Rugby World Cup in 2007 and the Tri Nations in 2004. He discussed with Nico that he “needs to acquaint himself [with] what is happening at a club rugby level in and around Pretoria”. It will make it easier when some of the Bulls players contract expires, or the older players retire. White said that he “has not signed a full quota of the Bulls contracts yet”. “The last thing I want is for some Bulls players to hold a diving bag for the whole season. It serves no purpose”, said White. They would need to play as if it is the only way they can improve their skills. The visit to UP matches will be introducing new opportunities to the TuksRugby players. White reiterated that he “wants the players not to be selected to play for the Bulls on any weekend, but to play club rugby”. He plans to allocate everyone into a specific club. Meaning that there might be four to five Bulls watching, which makes it an excellent way to spot new talent. White says that “next year there is no South African under-21 tournament; it has been changed to an under-20 tournament”. One of the things White and Nico discussed is how the Bulls and UP can work together to ensure no player sits on the side-lines, as all should have an opportunity to play. “Some of the younger Bulls players who are eligible should represent Tuks during the Varsity Cup tournament come 2021”. White believes that it is better for players between the ages of 21 and 22 to hone their skills at a Varsity level as it prepares them for the severity of Currie Cup and SuperRugby. The TuksRugby team in the upcoming 2021 Varsity Cup tournament should give its best as always, as a few good performances might lead to a call up to play for the Bulls. White wants every young player in Pretoria and surrounding areas to aspire to wear the coveted Bulls jersey, opening brighter opportunities for TuksRugby players as next year he will be watching them during the Varsity Cup tournament.

Illustration: Sanele Zulu

Image: Provided

Pride Mathebula

eing ranked as a top achiever or top sportsman is one of the goals all athletes and sportsmen strive for. It is a sign of hard work and symbolises success and growth in their journey. Dylan Naidoo is one of the sportsmen to be ranked for 2020/2021. The Tuks golfer has been ranked 29th in the Order of Merit Rankings. Naidoo, who is a TuksGolf Academy graduate, and has been with it for the last seven years, has completed five tournaments in the Sunshine Tour Season so far, which has been taking place since mid-August 2020 ending in March 2021. The golfer said that he is “very happy about the Sunshine Tour”, even though he has not played his best golf, he is still happy to give his best. The player gave credit to the lockdown regulation as it has allowed him to work in the gym and practice. The Sunshine Tour tournament for Naidoo is a decent start for the long season and prepares him in his “golf journey and career.” However, the 2020-21 Sunshine Tour has been full of the unknowns, said Naidoo. He does not know the schedule but he plans to take it as it is and keep on improving. Naidoo’s said his biggest motivation is to be the “best golfer in the world” and he has big aspirations. He admitted that he still has a long way to go, but through his vision and plan he

will probably get there. Despite the challenges along the way, what also pushes Naidoo is to win trophies. His only way to achieve these dreams and goals is to “compete in the big events”, and from January and March this year, before the COVID-19 regulation and lockdown, said he has been involved in events that are co-sanctioned with the European Tour. Naidoo stated that the big events helped in his growth and improvement, and the three months of lockdown gave him time to improve and increase the level of his skills. The TuksGolf Academy graduate said he is still working with his TuksGolf coaches, Llewellyn Van Leeuwen and Emile Steinman. He says that the two coaches have been the best coaches as they assisted in his growth and continue to do that. “I’m still going to continue to work with them as they have helped me in sharpening my potential”, said Naidoo. He is not aiming to remain only in the Sunshine Tour, as he has other plans. He said that initially for the end of September and October he was planning to join the Euro Tour qualifying school. However, he could not do that because of the COVID-19 pandemic and the regulations around it. In 2021 the Tuks golfer is aiming to join or enter a several of European and US Tours and gives thanks to the Sunshine Tour as it is giving him a great starting point to bring him close to his aspiration of being the best golf player he can be.

SEMLI leading athlete research trial Chrizaan Pretorius

he University of Pretoria’s Sport, Exercise, Medicine and Lifestyle Institute (SEMLI) was started in June 2015, by its director Martin Schwellnus. Its evolution since then directly translates its endeavours into ultimate success for each athlete they encounter. As a whole, SEMLI consists of a diverse team of professionals and various methodological approaches. Their work will not only lead to the health and well being of athletes, but provide intervention to minimise any possible injuries and supply scientific and translational research. The team of SEMLI did not stand back when the COVID-19 pandemic had a negative impact on the lives of people, and especially those of recreational and professional sport capacity. SEMLI correspondingly launched a research study on the effects of COVID-19 in association with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Research Centre of South Africa. The Athletes with Acute Respiratory Infection (AWARE), research study involves various local academic institutions such as the University of the Witwatersrand, as

well as diverse international academic institutions, such as the University of Melbourne, and sport organisations, namely FIFA. Martin Schwellnus told PDBY that “the decision as to when it is safe for an athlete with recent or current symptoms of an acute respiratory infection to return to exercise remains one of the most challenging clinical decisions for a sport-andexercise medicine physician, or health professional involved in the management of athletes”. He furthermore explained that 50% of all illness in general causes a critical dysfunction in the respiratory tract of athletes, and COVID-19 complicates matters further as it presents a threat to vital organs of the human body. Overall, they hope to track a linear pattern of symptoms and the recovery process to create return-to-play guidelines and checks for symptomatic athletes that are accurate and of beneficial use. Coupled with SEMLI’s holistic guidance in the success of an athlete, the institution faced COVID-19 head on to ensure that it will not cause a roadblock in the path of success for the well-being of professional athletes. To partake in this study and find out more about their research contact: aware_covid@semli. co.za.

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