27 March 2017 Issue 6 Year 79

Rag Photo Essay -Page 6

Perdeby

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

27March2017

year79issue6

Headlining act rapper Cassper Nyovest gets the crowd going. Photo: Tshepo Moagi

Rag of Hope Day Benefit Concert Successful concert has UP students grooving to local acts including Cassper Nyovest and Matthew Mole SHAUN SPROULE On 25 March, TuksRAG hosted the Rag of Hope Day Benefit Concert at the Rag Farm. The concert aimed to raise funds to assist student with food hampers and fees, but also to bring students together to celebrate different talents in the community.

The event boasted names such as Matthew Mole, Desmond and the Tutus, Cassper Nyovest, and Pretoria’s own A-Reece.

The evening started off with a performance by Desmond and the Tutus to a small crowd. The small audience was treated to lead singer Shane Durrant joining the crowd and sitting with them on the grass

as he performed. This was followed by indie-folk band Sutherland performing original songs and covers.

Matthew Mole performed next and started gathering a crowd. Mole performed old favourites with a slightly different sound, as well as songs from his new album Run and some covers.

As the night progressed, attendees were treated to sets by dance electronic producer Junior Taurus, Hip Hop Facalistic, and DJ Snow Deep. Crowds enjoyed the upbeat sets as they waited for headliner Cassper Nyovest.

DJ Speedsta performed a long set of remixed local and international

songs as the audience waited for Nyovest to arrive. Eventually Nyovest performed to an excited and lively crowd, performing newer songs and old popular favourites and the audience rapped along. Nyovest’s stage presence and band were on point and, although the performance had to be cut short due to time constraints, left the crowd happy and excited for the night’s final act, Pretoria’s own A-Reece.

Security at the event was tight with strict control at the bar area and entrances. Strict access meant that crowds didn’t have to worry about safety and busses to various drop-off points meant that people could get home safely.

The event had a slow start, but had a good turn-out by the end of the night. TuksRAG aimed to start a new annual event to replace the old RAG traditions. RAG Chairperson, Roahan Gouws, said that the “executive committee really worked hard on changing the concept this year and from our side it seemed like a great success”. Low pre-ticket sales were saved by a large turnout of sales at the gate. Gouws said that they fulfilled their aim of raising funds for needy students as well as their culture-building aims, “bringing student life back and giving the students something to enjoy while at the same time giving back to the students that need it.”

Higher Education Convention disrupted DANICA CHARLES On 18 March, the Higher Education Convention, organised by former Constitutional Court Deputy Chief and mediator at the meeting, Justice Dikgang Moseneke, took place at the Eskom Academy of Learning in Midrand. The convention was however cancelled after students who were allegedly aligned with the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) refused to give Minister of Higher Education and Training, Blade Nzimande, an opportunity to give his speech. Some students objected to the presence of Nzimande who, according to SABC News, was heckled by students upon entering the venue.

The two-day convention focused on the challenges that tertiary institutions are facing, such as the demand for free decolonised higher education. The gathering

was attended by students, academic staff (including university vicechancellors), politicians, and businesses who were anticipated to make proposals on the government's plan for the education sector.

Incidents of heckling and disruption were followed by a fight between EFF students and those aligned to Fees Must Fall (FMF) movements at some universities.

The programme directors ordered everyone out of the tent as students became violent. According to News24, Nzimande is believed to have been escorted away from the premises by his security team.

The proceedings were temporarily suspended and Moseneke told EWN that he is “disappointed” and “personally deeply saddened” that “he had to call off the convention due to multiple violent disruptions”.

Fees Must Fall movements took to social media to nationally and

Human Rights Day commemorated by Centre for Human Rights and Disability Unit -Page 4

The meaning behind South African national holidays -Page 5

EFF and FMF movements disrupt the speakers at the Convention.

Photo: Sourced iol.com.

“vehemently reject the Higher Education National Crisis Forum conference”, which the FMF delegates believe is a “disingenuous attempt at free education”.

The Department of University Relations at UP stated that “The University of Pretoria is disappointed that the convention had to be

cancelled. However, we recognise the effort put into convening this summit as well as the progress made up to the point of the cancellation. We remain committed to working with all stakeholders in finding solutions to the issues facing higher education in an environment of mutual respect and understanding.”

Review: Kalushi -Page 9

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Perdeby

Editorial | 27 March 2017

A long short week

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For a three-day week, the past week was pretty eventful. Human Rights Day came and went and reminded us of the painful sacrifices made by South Africans to ensure that we have the freedoms that we enjoy today. The South African Constitution is remarkable, and as a Law student I find myself in constant awe whenever I engage with it because it provides such comprehensive protection for the basic human rights that we take for granted every day. As a so-called “born-free”, it is easy to

From the Editor forget that there was a time when the rights we enjoy today were only available to a certain part of the population. It is remarkable to think that 23 years ago, which is not such a long time, it would have been highly unlikely that I would have found myself in the position I am today – pursuing my dreams at the University of Pretoria.

This does not mean that all is well in South Africa. The Constitution remains a point of departure, and as much as it grants us protection, the Bill of Rights has to be given effect to change the reality of marginalised South Africans. One of the biggest questions in the student context is of course education, and how far the Constitutional right to education extends. However, there are so many gaps in South African society where basic human rights are not met. Housing remains one such issue. According to data journalism site Wazimap, in the province of Gauteng, 18.9% of households are informal dwellings. The transformative nature of the Constitution, which aims to create a society based on social justice, is far from being realised.

Even though in theory the Constitution provides a mechanism for changing South African society, the powers that be have failed to make a greater effort to make that transformation a reality.

The fight against entrenched privilege and entitlement continues, with the benefits of democracy still out of reach for many of those who have grown so accustomed to marginalisation that it may seem like a battle no longer worth fighting. It is unfortunate that even after 23 years, there remains a level of resistance to change and integration that at times makes even the most simple of tasks difficult.

The Rag of Hope Benefit Concert was held on Saturday evening, and while I didn’t attend, I hear that it was a success.

After many years without UP hosting an event for students to let loose, it was refreshing to see TuksRAG host an event of such proportions, with a stunning local line-up that catered to a variety of musical tastes. Hopefully the Benefit Concert is the first of many more events that will help to bring the student body together.

We put this edition together in a shortened week, and I hope that you enjoy it.

27 March 2017 | News

Campus News Bites UP Library Services commemorates Library Week From 18 to 26 March, UP’s Department of Library Services and campus bookshop Bookmark commemorated South African Library Week. Together they have invited UP students to take part in the Library and Information Services in South Africa (IASA) competition, which will be open until 18 April. After submitting a video on the theme “My Library, Your Library”, students stand a chance of winning one of two drones from Bookmark.

UP students #Readyforwork Enterprise at UP is offering free online modules through the Ready For Work Programme. The programme is specially designed for UP students and aims to improve their employability. Among others, topics on offer include how to write a CV and cover letter, email etiquette, and interview skills. The UP Enterprise website clarifies, “The programme consists of four course packages that include either free modules or pay-per-course options.”

Information regarding enrolment is available at http://www.enterprises.up.ac. za/ready4work/

UP launches LLM/MPhil Environmental Law Programme The Department of Public Law at UP recently launched the LLM/MPhil Environmental Law postgraduate programmes. Hosted at Hogan Lovells law firm in the form of a panel discussion, students and guests took part in the discussion. The topic focused on hydraulic fracturing in South Africa.

UP Faculty of Theology tops world rankings According to the recent QS World Universities Rankings, the UP Faculty of Theology ranks among the top 100 in the category “theology, divinity and religious studies”. Prof. Johan Buitendag, the Dean of the Faculty of Theology, states that this is a significant ranking as the faculty is celebrating its centenary year.

“Laws of South Africa: Consolidated Legislation” to be included in US Library of Congress On 23 March, UP’s Faculty of Law announced that the “Laws of South Africa: Consolidated Legislation” was selected by the US Library of Congress for inclusion in its historic collection of internet material on the Laws of African Jurisdictions Web Archive. The project was initiated and is currenlty managed by UP’s OR Tambo Library under the supervision of Library Manager, Shirley Gilmore. UP thanked its sponsorers Webber Wentzel, Werksmans, Adams &Adams and SAICA for their support.

Compiled by Bradley Tjongarero and Marko Svicevic

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Judgement reserved in AfriForum TSC and UP discuss UP language policy appeal HENRI UYS On 10 March, the North Gauteng High Court reserved judgement in AfriForum’s appeal to the ruling made in December 2016 to set aside UP’s decision to phase out Afrikaans as a medium of instruction in 2017.

The case can only be heard once the Supreme Court of Appeal has heard a similar case between the University of the Free State and AfriForum, brought to court in collaboration with Solidarity. This case deals with the use of Afrikaans as a language of instruction at the University of the Free State and started on 17 March.

AfriForum welcomed the ruling and in a statement said, “Even though the cases of the two universities display differences, both are about the wider principles of vindicating language rights, the right to mother tongue education, as well as stipulations of the Constitution and other South African legislation in this regard.”

Renier Goosen, branch chairperson of AfriForum Jeug at UP, said that “studies show that students understand concepts better if it is taught to them in their mother language”.

The court heard in December that only 8% of the University’s population speaks Afrikaans.

When asked about this, Goosen said, “The statistic is very vague in the sense that it does not differentiate between faculties, courses and more specific modules. I realise that to have an Afrikaans class where there is no interest does not make sense. However, there are many courses that [contain] a lot of Afrikaans students. These courses should be presented in Afrikaans.” Goosen added that “AfriForum supports the development of all native languages in South Africa and would like to see that their rights are protected and expanded.”

“AfriForum and Solidarity will take any necessary steps with regards to the protection of Afrikaans students’ right to study in their mother language”, the statement from AfriForum concluded.

TSC highlights pedestrian and cyclist safety MARKO SVICEVIC The TSC has appealed to student pedestrians and cyclists on Hatfield campus to be cautious when crossing roads. According to Roahan Gouws, the TSC member with the portfolio of safety and security, Hatfield campus experiences a large number of student pedestrians and cyclists travelling from lectures and venues across campus.

He adds that recently there were several complaints against students using pedestrian paths and campus roads without taking the necessary precautions. Gouws says that the TSC is requesting students to be cautious and adhere to campus rules, following incidents of carelessness and a lecturer being ridden into by a cyclist. “There is a possibility that students may be run over by cars, especially [at] bends in streets,” added Gouws. In this regard, students are advised to adhere to the following guidelines to ensure their own and other people’s safety: •Pedestrians should make use of sidewalks and not walk on streets.

•Bicycles should be parked at designated bicycle racks (like those at the Law and Thuto Buildings).

•Bicycles should not be cabled/locked

against lamp and street poles.

•Cyclists should push their bicycles when using sidewalks and not ride on them.

•Students should be cautious on streets when crossing and make use of pedestrian crossings.

•Student cyclists should wear helmets when travelling on bicycles.

Gouws further added that the TSC is looking into the possibility of running a campaign with Pedal Power Association to create awareness of pedestrian and cyclist safety. According to Director of Facilities Management, Prof.

Susan Adendorff, the TSC together with Facilities Management were working together to ensure student safety on campus, adding that students are advised that traffic rules that are applicable on public roads also apply on UP campuses.

According to the UP 2017 Fact Finder: Rules and Regulations, students transgressing road rules may face “disciplinary provisions of the University as well as criminal charges in terms of the Control of Access to Public Premises and Vehicles Act”. Bicycles left at places not specifically designated will be removed at the risk and cost of the owner and taken to the director of Security Services.

Bicycles not claimed within three months will be confiscated and sold by UP.

accommodation HENRI UYS AND POOJA PUNDIT On 2 March, the TSC and UP management met to discuss accommodation issues.

Sisana Machi, Director of Residence Affairs and Accommodation, announced resident placement problems. Machi said that almost all of UP’s residences are full, excluding the most costly residence, Hatfield Studios. She reported that these residences consist of between 62% and 68% black students. Citing reasons such as location and catering for specific programmes, Machi stated that of the residences, two consist of mainly black students. Machi concluded that the University’s residence placement policy is under review and that the updated policy will be implemented from 2018. Acting Vice-Principal, Prof. Carolina Koornhof, said that the new policy will prioritise students funded by NSFAS, first year students coming from quintile 1, 2 and 3 schools, and students relying on SASSA grants.

According to Machi, UP’s residences have strictly limited space available: approximately 9 500 beds for 45 000 undergraduate students.

Available space is designated for first year students and for specific programmes, such as Thuthuka and the Dell Foundation. Machi said that senior students are placed in residences according to their GPA ranking, the requirement being a minimum GPA of 50%. Machi added that students who had placement in their first year are not guaranteed re-placement in following years. Henrico Barnard, Chairperson of the TSC, said that significant changes to the residence policy include the addition of distance and financial need as placement criteria, and the removal of places reserved for discretionary placement of special cases (ten seniors per residence) as considered by the committee chaired by the Director of Residence Affairs and Accommodation. “Placement criteria is proposed to be made up of 80% academic performance, 10% distance and also 10% financial need. [It] is also proposed that there are 10 spaces kept per residence for extraordinary students with exceptional cases,” said Barnard.

Prof. Koornhof congratulated the TSC for assisting students who struggled during #UPResCrisis. Forty-eight beds were leased at Eastwoods Village to accommodate students on waiting lists who qualify for residence placement. It was pointed out that students had to make arrangements to settle outstanding debt before they could be placed in a residence.

Prof. Koornhof said that [private] residences such as Eastwood Village, The Fields and Urban Nest have no academic requirements for placement. According to Prof. Koornhof, there are 300 available spaces left in these residences, for which NSFAS provides funding. The residences mentioned by Prof. Koornhof aren’t affiliated to UP. Prof. Koornhof said that analysing distance from the university is not a useful indicator.

According to Prof. Koornhof, the new residence placement policy will exclude students living in townships around Pretoria who are in need of accommodation.

Prof. Koornhof confirmed in the meeting that funding has been provided by the Department of Higher Education and Training to build a 350bed residence between TuksMonate and Taaibos.

She also addressed the issue of refurbishment in some residences. According to Prof. Koornhof, conditions in some residences “would soon no longer be conducive to studying”. These conditions include plumbing, electricity, roofing and safety issues. She said that it was “unlikely” that these renovations would continue due to the fact that the university’s finances are “under pressure”.

Prof. Koornhof addressed allegations that black students, funded by NSFAS, were placed in residences away from the University. She said that the allegations are “unfounded” because the electronic system responsible for the placement of students does not distinguish between students funded by NSFAS and those not funded

by NSFAS.

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News | 27 March 2017

Intervarsity News

University of Cape Town (UCT) On 11 and 18 March 2017, UCT’s Information and Communication Technology Services (ICTS) issued over 800 free Lenovo laptops to students on financial aid.

According to UCT Daily News, the project is said to be an initiative of UCT’s Centre for Innovation in Learning and Teaching (ICTS) in its Centre for Higher Education Development. The project was started in 2013 through the Vice-Chancellor’s strategic fund.

UCT Daily News adds that Kira Chernotsky, UCT’s ICTS director, views “laptops [as] essential to building graduate attributes”.

North-West University (NWU) On 16 March 2017, Dr Mzubanzi Bismark Tyobeka was elected as the new chairperson of the North-West University Council.

As of April 2017 he is to replace previous chairperson, Adv. Johan Kruger, for a term of three years. According to North-West University News, Dr Tyobeka has a PhD in Nuclear Engineering and is an alumni of the North-West University as well as the Penn State University in the United States of America. North-West University News adds that Dr Tyobeka aims, with the cooperation of all members, to make North-West University succeed.

Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University (NMMU) On 22 March 2017, the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University (NMMU) ViceChancellor, Prof. Derrick Swartz, released a statement regarding the name of the institution. Prof. Swartz mentioned that the significance of the name of the institution is in it taking its name from Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela. Swartz added, “Various initiatives are already underway in the form of meetings, conversation opportunities and interviews to explore the meaning of our new name in line with Nelson Mandela’s legacy.”

In the statement he mentions that an event will be held towards the end of the year to launch the newly-named Nelson Mandela University.

UP recycling initiatives. Infographic: Sam Sherwood

Serious about trash: recycling at UP DANICA CHARLES The Campus Services Division of Waste and Environmental Management is responsible for the removal of general and hazardous waste at UP. The UP recycling initiative follows a 2025 strategic plan with regard to sustainability.

The plan started in 2014 whereby 288 tons of waste was disposed from all UP campuses. In 2015, this number grew to 612 tons of waste and an 8% increase in waste recycling in 2016 was realised.

Residences at UP also have recycle bins (blue) on each floor and non-recyclable bins (orange). Paper waste, which consists of waste paper, old papers and textbooks, is removed from the University on Mondays and Thursdays. During the last four months of 2016, almost 2 092 tons of white paper were removed from campuses.

While cardboard was previously disposed of as other waste, 11 new recycling cages for cardboard collection have been placed across UP campuses.

During the last four months of 2016 approximately 16 403 tons of cardboard were collected from these recycling cages. Waste and Environmental Management manager, Ilze Ueckermann, said that the goals for UP for 2017 to 2018 are “to increase the volume recycled, from the current 18%, to 20%; ensuring that the product removed off campus is cleaner and less contaminated; making a video clip that can be used during training; making staff and students aware not to mix white paper with other paper when disposing it [and] reporting recycling per campus will be elaborated and optimi[s]ed”. Enquiries relating to waste management can be directed to Waste and Environmental Management manager, Ilze Ueckermann on 012 420 2046,

079 527 5775 or ilze.ueckermann@up.ac.za.

Any staff members or students interested in becoming more involved in recycling can receive support assistance from the Campus Services Division. Interested members will be given plastic bags in which recyclable waste can be taken to the recycling points (below) by 08:00 on Friday, where it will be removed

by The Waste Group. Campus recycling points are as follows: •Hatfield campus: Festival street, Agriculture building and Visual Arts building.

•Groenkloof campus: Recycling area.

•Prinshof campus: Waste skip, Pathology building, HW Snyman building and Waste skip parking area.

•Onderstepoort campus: Waste skip incinerator.

•LC de Villiers: Waste skip Sports Centre.

•Mamelodi campus: Waste skip animal clinic.

Stellenbosch University (SU) The 2016 academic year at SU showed a record number of graduates for the university. According to an EWN article, the institution can boast with more than 8 300 degrees being awarded for 2016, an increase from 7 905 degrees in 2015. According to the university’s spokesperson, Martin Viljoen, this is a record number of degrees, including the most doctorate degrees being awarded by the university.

Rhodes University (RU) Former RU lecturer and composer of African music, Andrew Tracey, was attacked and held hostage in his Grahamstown home, according to Dispatch Live. The retired 80year old lecturer was at home with his wife when intruders entered their home and held the couple hostage, eventually leaving with money and some of the couple’s personal belongings.

Compiled by Bradley Tjongarero and Marko Svecevic

Image provided.

Image provided.

Centre for Human Rights and UP Disability Unit commemorates Human Rights Day BRADLEY TJONGARERO On 16 March 2017, UP’s Centre for Human Rights (CHR) together with the UP’s Disability Unit and Law House commemorated Human Rights day at the Law Kiosk in the Law Building.

The programme was interactive and educational, and was led by Sewela Masie, a research assistant at the Centre for Human Rights. The rights of people living with disabilities were emphasised under the event’s theme of “Inclusive Education”.

William Aseka, a PhD candidate at the Centre for Human Rights, explained, “Inclusive education is so that we can be

able to include. We appreciate that we have a diverse society so we look at it from that perspective, as we have a diverse society, we need to include everyone to be able to participate equally”.

One of the activities open to the audience was learning sign language. Sindile Mhlanga, a sign language teacher from Zimbabwe, taught the audience how to greet and introduce themselves in sign language.

Throughout the event, participants shared their experiences about living with disabilities.

Maria Ramaahlo, Head of the UP Disability Unit, addressed one of the key issues people with disabilities face at UP. She said that

people with disabilities often unwillingly forfeit their allocated parking spots due to unauthorised individuals using them and urged individuals to refrain from using parking spots allocated for those with disabilities. Ramaahlo also emphasised the importance of “putting the person before the disability”.

Law House representative, Mamello Molotsi, a third year LLB student, gave a brief overview of the origins of Human Rights commemorations in South Africa with reference to the apartheid regime. Molotsi said that it is important to focus on people with disabilities because everyone is human and disabled people are as significant as those without disabilities.

27 March 2017 | Features

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Korean culture gone global REBECCA WOODROW

Hallyu (The Korean Wave) is a phenomenon which means “Korean flow”. Hallyu is the global spread of South Korean culture. The term was first coined by Chinese journalists during the mid-1990s to describe the growing popularity of Korean entertainment and culture. It originally started in Asia through the success of Korean dramas, which resulted in South Korean television dramas garnering more audiences than American entertainment. Chung Kwangyong, counsellor at the Embassy of the Republic of Korea, said part of this success came from viewers enjoying relatable content that showed “common values such as Confucianism and family loyalty such that the audience could easily access and understand Korean dramas”.

In their Korean Culture book series, the Korean Culture and Information Service (KOCIS), which “aims to introduce Korean culture to the world and to raise Korea’s national profile”, have explained how the successes of Korean dramas “paved the way for many Korean singers to debut in China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan”. Korean literature is now receiving more global attention because of increasing cultural fascination. The dramas have also prompted the exposure of South Korean culture, like food and fashion choices, that have since become things of interest. Chung expanded on this aspect: “The Korean Wave is a mix of many genres that is not confined, and a synergy is created that boosts one another.”

This dissemination of culture expanded into a global reach.

The Korean culture has already had a presence internationally in Korean immigrant communities, but through internet access it has become more accessible and visible. South Korean music is collectively referred to as “K-Pop” by the international community and spans multiple genres. The growth in K-Pop’s international interest coincides with a rise in online piracy, which has prompted entertainment companies to produce high-quality content that is affordable in efforts to combat this.

South Africa is a participant in the Korean Wave. On 3 December 2016, the Korean Embassy in South Africa hosted the Korean Culture Festival at the V&A Waterfront in Cape Town where food, music, cinema, cosmetics and both K-pop and traditional dances were showcased. A UP student was a prize winner at this festival. The Embassy has received inquiries into learning Korean, and is running a survey on preferred teaching methods and is assessing the possibility of establishing a language institute. Korean pop has also recently made its way onto South African airwaves after “Blood, Sweat & Tears” by Korean boy group, BTS, featured on Highveld Radio’s Breakfast Xpress show on Friday 10 March.

Jung Jaeeun, who has been covering cultural and public diplomacy for several years, has noticed the rapid growth in South Africa. Chung, who has been stationed in South Africa for a year and a half now, “feels the difference every month” in cultural engagement during events like the Embassy’s film

Photo: Kaylyn O’ Brien

The meaning behind South African national holidays KATHERINE ATKINSON Everyone enjoys a public holiday, however, not everyone knows the significance that lies behind them. Public holidays serve as reminders of the struggles that South Africa has overcome and the sacrifices that were made by many.

21 March – Human Rights Day In 1994 when former President Nelson Mandela was elected, Human Rights Day was declared a public holiday. The aim of this day is for South African citizens to commemorate the Sharpeville Massacre and reflect upon their rights.

1948 was the start of formalised segregation, as this was the year that the National Party came into power. The Native Laws Amendment Act of 1952 stated that all black citizens must carry a reference book as a medium to control the movement of black nationals. Failure to produce this reference book was

showcases. Chung emphasised the phenomenon as a “benign expansion of the culture”, stating that “This is not a phenomenon originally planned by the government. It’s a grassroot movement.

Sometimes the people of the outside world have concerns about cultural imperialism. The Korean Wave is far from cultural imperialism.” Kwangyong spoke about the country’s history under foreign imperial rule and explained that South Korea used to be known as the “Hermit Kingdom” due to its isolation resulting from the cultural suppression it faced during Japanese imperialism, which included the banning of the Korean language.

The nature of the South Korean entertainment industry is subject to a level of controversy. Actors perform their own stunts under the pressure of production time and this has led to on-set injuries. Three members of S.M. Entertainment’s then-12 member Korean-Mandarin boy group, EXO, filed lawsuits to terminate their contracts. The members formed part of the Mandarin subunit and cited their reasons as violation of basic human rights, health issues, and discrimination in favour of the Korean members. S.M. Entertainment is one of the big three agencies in South Korea, alongside YG Entertainment and JYP Entertainment. Its YouTube Channel gets 1 000 views per second.

The lack of regulations in the strenuous Korean industry prompted the creation of legislation to protect their young pop idols. The Hollywood Reporter wrote on the legislation being made in order to help underage performers ensure that they are not overworked and to combat being sexualised. Idols are

frequently unable to escape public attention, to the point where a member of K-pop group Big Bang, Choi Seung-hyun, has had the personal details of his mandatory military conscription made public knowledge.

Racism and cultural appropriation are concerning aspects of the entertainment industry. Korean girl group, Mamamoo, recently apologised after a video of them covering Bruno Mars’s “Uptown Funk”, featuring the members in blackface, received backlash. NCT 127, a boy group under the management of SM Entertainment, debuted cornrows and braided hairstyles in their album Limitless.

The Korean Wave is not going to wane anytime soon. With Korean boy groups performing sold-out concerts in Central and South America and music-and-fashion icon, G Dragon, hosting what Vogue called a “couture-level party” at the exhibit for his arthouse Peaceminusone during Paris Fashion Week, Korean culture has very much gone global.

Chung advises UP students on the importance of incorporating other cultures into their everyday lives, as it can only make it more abundant: “Our culture will flourish, but only with exchanges and interactions with other cultures”.

The Embassy is planning to host the 2017 K-Pop World Festival in Pretoria this July. The 2017 Korean Essay Contest has just kicked off and prizes are available for winners. Visit the Facebook page for the Korean Embassy in South Africa for more information.

a punishable crime. This legislation was met with an antipass protest on 21 March 1960 by the Pan African Congress (PAC), a breakaway party of the ANC. During this protest at the Sharpeville police station, the police opened fire which resulted in the death of 69 individuals and left 180 wounded.

Although it is uncertain what caused the police to open fire, the aftermath of the event was tragic. Mass funerals were held and several marches were led by Phillip Kgosana, the PAC Regional Secretary General. Of these marches, the most significant occurred on 30 March 1960 when Kgosana led a crowd of between 30 000 to 50 000 protestors from Nyanga and Langa to the police headquarters in Caledon Square. The protestors offered themselves up for arrest as they did not have their reference books. A week later, both the PAC and the ANC were banned under the Unlawful Organisations Act of 8 April 1960.

The apartheid government implemented this banishment – and other more brutal methods of repression – to silence liberation movements. This ban prompted the ANC and PAC to launch an armed struggle campaign as a new means to fight the apartheid government.

On 21 March 1996, the South African Human Rights Commission was launched. The Commission aims to promote respect and protection for the attainment and development of human rights.

27 April – Freedom Day Freedom Day marks South Africa’s first democratic elections held on 27 April 1994. 86.8% of the 22.7 million eligible voters partook in these elections. The ANC won the elections with 62.65% of the votes and Nelson Mandela became South Africa’s first black president. Although apartheid formally began in 1948, segregation, white minority rule, and colonialism had oppressed black citizens for over 300 years. Although many inequalities burden South Africa today, 27 April 1994 remains significant as it is a turning point in the struggle for equality. Freedom Day thus serves as a reminder of the continual fight to eradicate racism and inequality, as well as to promote the rights within our Constitution.

16 June – Youth Day 16 June 1976 led to the death of approximately 700 people

(the majority were members of the youth) when over 20 000 protested the Bantu Education System. This system was designed to “train” black citizens for their role in apartheid society. The Black Consciousness Movement and South African Student Organisation brought the injustices of such a system to light.

The implementation of Afrikaans as a medium of instruction led to protests in 1975, but other injustices of the Bantu Education System included poor facilities, overcrowded classrooms, and inadequate teachers. On 16 June 1976, students from various schools in Soweto marched peacefully toward the Orlando Stadium. The students were met by police who were armed with live ammunition and teargas.

Although it is unclear why, the police opened fire and shot at the youths. One youth, Hector Pieterson, has become an icon for the fatal events of this day. At the age of 12, he was one of the first to lose his life during the uprising. His life and the lives of others are now commemorated at the Hector Pieterson Memorial and Museum. The Soweto uprising turned into an uprising against the apartheid government as its brutality was exposed both nationally and internationally.

9 August – National Women’s Day 9 August commemorates the day in 1956 when thousands of women marched to the Union Buildings to oppose Pass Laws.

The march consisted of over 20 000 women of all races and was organised by the Federation of South African Women (FSAW).

FSAW was famous for challenging South Africa’s patriarchal ideologies. 1995 was the year when the first National Women’s Day was celebrated.

16 December – Day of Reconciliation In 1838, the Battle of Blood River took place between the Zulus and the Voortrekkers. Having the advantage of gunpowder, the Voortrekkers won the battle and defeated the Zulu army of 10 000. During apartheid, 16 December was commemorated as the Day of the Vow, which signified the Voortrekkers’ thanks to God for their victory in battle against the Zulus. However, 16 December gained new meaning in 1961 when the ANC’s military wing, Umkhonto we Sizwe (MK), was formed and led by Nelson Mandela. MK was launched as a part of the armed struggle against the apartheid government after the Sharpeville Massacre.

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Photo Essay | 27 March 2017

Photo: Tshepo Moagi

Junior Taurus. Photo: Stefan Stander

RAG 2017

Photo: Stefan Stander

Cassper Nyovest. Photo: Stefan Stander

Sutherland. Photo: Stefan Stander

Photo: Tshepo Moagi

27 March 2017 | Entertainment

7

Republic of Mieliepop 2017 wrap-up

Photo: Kaylyn O’Brien

CARLY TWADDLE The Republic of Mieliepop music festival was held in Lothair, Mpumalanga, from 17 to 20 March. As a family-friendly festival, all were welcome and enjoyed the 60 music acts and various comedians. This festival catered for an impressively wide spectrum of music tastes, with five stages accommodating the numerous styles, and two of the five stages running throughout the entire day. Main Stage was used for the bigger acts, as well as the indie and folk acts, while Willow Tree Stage was for almost all tastes, ranging from metal bands like Boargazm to rock bands, such as The Dandies and even the reggae band Tidal Waves. The Cool in the Pool stage was only used from 11:00 to approximately 15:00 to keep people moving and entertained while enjoying the day by the poolside. The Rave Cave and Bar Floor both only ran in the evenings, focusing predominantly on the various subgenres of electronic music.

Friday evening was relatively quiet due to the small crowd of festival-goers who had arrived, as most would only be coming the following morning. Performances only started at 17:00, with DJ Bongwater opening the festival on the bar floor – the only floor open at the time. The highlight of the night was Half ‘n Half as they stole the show by getting everyone in the vicinity grooving.

Friday night set the tone for the weekend, promising good music, good vibes, and an overall good time.

Saturday morning started with laughter and fun in the sun, as many took to the waters on their floaties or on the barge accompanied by comedians to keep them entertained. The blistering sunny weather lent itself to the success of the Cool in the Pool stage as Bongani Zulu enticed people out of the waters and onto the dance floors. People strutted around in their swimwear, equally enjoying the ‘boozey ice pops’ and the music.

It was the Pretoria-based band, The Lebowski’s, first festival and they opened up Willow Tree stage, drew in a good crowd and proved they earned their place at the festival by delivering a great set. Adelle Nqeto, a Tuks alumna, had as much fun on the main stage as her audience did. She told Perdeby that this was “definitely one of [her] favourite festivals”. Other noteworthy acts of the day included Lectric Monks, Majozi, Hot Water Duo, Desmond and the Tutus, and Popartlive. The crowd responded to all of these acts very well, particularly to Majozi’s simple and honest set and Popartlive’s energetic and technically smooth set.

Moods were dampened as the clouds settled in on Sunday morning, but despite the weather, Missu and Bhashkar still managed to draw a sizeable crowd to the Cool in the Pool stage and got the audience dancing. The Willow Tree stage was a crowd favourite as the intimate setting was conducive to snuggling under a blanket with a cup of coffee while enjoying the acts – especially as Jonathan Peyper and Tidal Waves warmed everyone’s spirits.

As the afternoon progressed and the sun made an appearance, so did festival-goers. Highlights of the day included Hellcats, Femi Koya, and Grassy Spark – all of whom warmed the crowds through the chilly night. Fuzigish stayed true to form and delivered a raw and dynamic performance, satisfying the crowd’s anticipation for the seasoned band. Haezer was also a crowd favourite, making full use of the lighting and sound equipment with a very technically effective and vibrant set. The Rave Cave was unexpectedly quiet and the acts lost a bit of crowd support to Haezer.

Energies and moods were on a high on Monday morning as the warmth spread over the camping grounds. The music started off on a high note with Kid Robot and Rebel Clef at Cool in the Pool. Rebel Clef was particularly successful, and it was obvious that he enjoyed the set as much as the crowd did. He told Perdeby that it was as if the set acted as the “window to [his] soul”, as he really connected with his audience. The Dandies, The Tazers and Boargazm impressed on the Willow Tree stage, and fans could not have been happier with their performances. Shortstraw did what they always do: they gave a great performance, playing a mix of their classics and newer music. Ella G and Kallisto got the crowd going in the Rave Cave and there was hardly a free space during both DJ’s sets. PHFat closed the main stage with a bang, and no one expected any less, playing three brand new tracks as well as the more popular songs such as “If he can’t dance”. The audience went ballistic throughout the set with no one standing still. After PHFat, the bar floor and Rave Cave ensured the festival ended on a high note, not stopping until the early hours of the morning.

The Republic of Mieliepop was a successful event with many artists already excited to return next year. One of the core reasons for its success was its focus on the acts rather than the image. As PHFat said, it was a festival with a “core music lover audience”. Although it didn’t pull as big a crowd as festivals such as Oppikoppi and Lush, the quality of the festival exceeded expectations.

Books soon to be major motion pictures

Illustration: Michelle Hartzenberg

CLAUDINE NOPPE 2017 will mark the release of films based on famous books such as It by Stephen King, The Shack by William P. Young, and the 1951 classic My Cousin Rachel by Daphne du Maurier. Perdeby took a look at some lesser-known books being turned into motion

pictures that you should read before they are released in cinemas.

Wonder by R.J. Palacio Julia Roberts and Owen Wilson will play the lead in the film adaptation of the 2012 children’s novel that can be seen in cinemas from April. Wonder may be written for children, but the universal message of acceptance makes it a book worth reading.

The Zookeeper’s Wife by Diane Ackerman This non-fiction book is based on the story of Antonia Zabinska and her husband, who helped save the lives of Jews in Poland during World War 2. Golden Globe winner Jessica Chastain will star in the film that is set to be released in April.

Everything, Everything by Nicola Yoon The plot centres on Maddy, a teenage girl with a disease that forces her to stay indoors. She falls in love with her new neighbour, Olly, and the two venture off to Hawaii. The film starring Amandla Stenberg will be released mid-June.

I Put a Spell on You by Nina Simone with Stephen Cleary I Put a Spell on You is the autobiography of the ‘high priestess of soul’, Nina Simone. Zoe Saldana is set to star in the controversial biopic Nina, which can be seen in cinemas from late July.

The Dark Tower series by Stephen King The film, which will be released in August, is a sequel to The Dark Tower VII: The Dark Tower. Idris Alba and Mathew McConaughey take the lead in this science fantasy western horror about a young boy being thrust into another dimension.

PHFat at Mieliepop. Photo: Kaylyn O’ Brien

Adelle Nqeto at Mieliepop. Photo: Kaylyn O’ Brien

Desmond and the Tutus at Mieliepop. Photo: Kaylyn O’ Brien

Photo: Kaylyn O’ Brien

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Entertainment | 27 March 2017

Promotional image for District 9. Image: imdb.com

Made in SA: Hollywood-approved CARINA KLOPPERS

Contrary to popular belief, South Africa does not play in the amateur league when it comes to film-making. South Africa has been in the film-making business since 1911 with the release of The Great Kimberly Diamond Robbery, and has long since proven its worth. With the recent premiere of John

Trengove’s The Wound at the Sundance Film Festival being so well-received by film critics, Perdeby decided to have a look at other South African films that have made a splash in international waters in the new millennium.

Yesterday (2004) is the first full-length feature film shot completely in Zulu. Yesterday (Leleti Khumalo) continues to tend to her young daughter, Beauty, despite her AIDS diagnosis

and her husband’s rejection. The director, Darrell Roodt, deals beautifully with the stereotypes surrounding HIV-infected South Africans through a raw story of love and sacrifice.

Yesterday received a nomination for Best Foreign Language Film at the 77th Academy Awards.

The only South African film to date to walk away with an Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film is Gavin Hood’s Tsotsi (2005). This adaption from the 1980 Athol Fugard novel explores six days in the violent life of a tsotsi (thug) in Alexandra township. David (Benny Moshe) steals a car, only to find himself responsible for an innocent baby. The film expertly portrays the complexity of our culture and with the film’s high production value and artful soundtrack, performed by Sowetan musician-poet Zola, Tsotsi will forever remain a benchmark in South African cinema.

Neill Blomkamp’s District 9 (2009) made an estimated profit of more than $210 million and received four Academy Award nominations. This sci-fi allegory on racism is presented in found-footage format as it follows Afrikaner bureaucrat, Wikus (Sharlto Copley), after an alien species has taken refuge in Johannesburg. District 9 explores themes such as humanity, xenophobia and social segregation in a dark comic style that is presentable to a wide audience.

Avenged (originally marketed as iNumber Number) is a 2013 action film about an undercover cop, Chili Ngcobo (Sdumo Mtshali), who is willing to do whatever it takes to settle a score with a gang. With loads of blood, gore and authentic language, this gritty film by writer and director Donovan Marsh provides a window into gang-life in South Africa.

Shepherds and Butchers (2016), directed by Oliver Schmitz, is based on the novel of the same name by Chris Marnewick, whose story was inspired by true events. A prison guard, Leon Labuschagne (Garion Dowds), embarks on a killing spree resulting in seven victims. The lawyer assigned to his case is determined to prove that Labuschagne’s violent actions are a direct consequence of the executions he has witnessed during his career. The captivating cinematography draws the viewer to the trauma and psychological conflict of the characters.

Image: imdb.com

Jagveld Byron Davis

SHAUN SPROULE Based on a Deon Meyer short story, Jagveld tells the story of primary school teacher Emma le Roux (Leandie du Randt) as she heads home for the holidays. She hopes to have a quiet holiday at home with her father, ex-special forces soldier Jacques le Roux (Tertius Meintjies), in the Karoo. Along the way, however, she finds a group of men involved in a drug syndicate and witnesses a crime that results is Bosman (Neels van Jaarsveld) the mastermind, Baz (Tim Theron), Jay (Bouwer Bosch), AJ (Danie Putter), Boela (Edwin van der Walt), and Piet (Luan Jacobs), chasing her down in order to leave no loose ends. They make a mistake in chasing Emma, as she has been trained from a young age to protect herself.

The Afrikaans action thriller is an exciting step for the Afrikaans film industry. Jagveld as a whole is an enjoyable and exciting film, although it does fall short on the technical side. Being set in the Karoo, the film gives beautiful wide angle shots of the landscape while incorporating spectacular close-ups. These cinematographic achievements are somewhat dulled by the constant red filter that causes the great camera work to look sloppy and cheap. The excellent script is eclipsed by poor acting by some actors, which causes the dialogue to sound stunted and unnatural. The character development is also underwhelming as various characters’ back stories are scattered throughout the film in a confusing jumble of flashbacks that don’t provide enough information by the end.

Despite the film’s technical failures, it still succeeds in pleasing audiences at the end. Jagveld adapts classic action film tropes to a South African storyline in a very satisfying way, with a main character that genuinely lives up to the action genre. The villains are excitingly psychopathic and the film does not spare any gore in the fight scenes. Audiences are treated to a classic western-style shootout that, while cliché, throws back to classic action films.

Image:Raimund Nel

Musicians in Pretoria LINDO KHOZA

Pretoria is the birthplace of a variety of notable public and musical figures dominating the continental and international platform. It is home to the likes of Dr Malinga, a multi-award winning recording artist and dancer, and Matlakala, a top musician in South African gospel. Perdeby explores four other musical acts of similar stature who were also born in the capital city.

A-Reece Born Lehlogonolo Mataboge, A-Reece is a household name in the South African Hip-Hop space. Currently 19 years old, he has earned a spot as an African A-list rapper along with fellow musicians and stage rivals such as Emtee, Sjava and Nasty C. He was born in Pretoria and grew up following in the steps of his older brother who is a member of the duo Benchmarq.

DJ Mujava Born Elvis Maswanganyi, DJ Mujava was raised in Atteridgeville.

A well-known pioneer of a very distinct style of electro music established in Pretoria, he is celebrated for various club bangers and influential collaborations that helped shape the spectrum of South African house music as we know it today.

Vusi Mahlasela An African icon in all aspects of his music, usually described as African folk, Vusi Mahlasela’s music inspired many anti-apartheid activists, encouraging the unification of people of various backgrounds. His music is well-received by international and local audiences of all ages and musical tastes.

Lady Zamar A big fan of Pretoria, as heard in her music, Lady Zamar went from performing in various small Mamelodi gigs to dominating the South African house music scene, which is the most dominant house music scene in the world. A natural hit-maker with great talent to listen to, Lady Zamar has aggressively put Mamelodi township on the map through her music.

27 March 2017 | Entertainment

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Photo: Kaylyn O’ Brien

Exploring the secret side of Hatfield Campus UNOSHAMISA CHIRADZA The University of Pretoria is a big place and sometimes navigating your way through it can be challenging. Most students are satisfied knowing where their department building is and where their lectures are. They don’t know about the various places and events on campus that are designed to make life at UP a bit more fun.

Free Leo Haese Lunch Hour concerts If you appreciate watching talented people make incredible music then the Lunch Hour concerts are definitely for you.

These concerts were started to present world-class concerts annually on the campuses of the University of Pretoria with more than 25 free Leo Haese Lunch Hour concerts presented annually to afford promising Music students the opportunity to perform for a live audience. These concerts happen at the Aula, Musaion and Groenkloof Auditorium. This year you can expect performances by Tuks Camerata, Pretoria Boys High Dixie Band and Orchestra, UP’s Music department and many more.

Mapungubwe Collection Mapungubwe, located in Limpopo, is a world Heritage Site, a national park, and the most famous of the iron archeological sites in South Africa. The University of Pretoria’s collection includes a rare and unique gold rhino figurine that was discovered in 1933. With artefacts dating from 1000 AD to 1300 AD, a tour of Old Merensky where the collection is found is a great way to get rid of stress and to learn something new.

The Manie van der Schijff Botanical Garden This garden’s collections currently have about 3 000 plant species planted on approximately 3.5 hectares of the Hatfield campus grounds. This is a great place to go if you want to take a break from all the pressures of university and relax while looking at the variety of plants. This is also a wonderful place to go to sit and read a book. This garden is open to the public.

There are notice boards everywhere on campus and it would be in your best interest to read them and get involved in the different events happening on campus. Why not take a friend and go exploring – just be careful not to get lost.

Student culture in Nothing but Vernac

Photo: Kaylyn O’ Brien

CLAUDINE NOPPE Express Yourself in Nothing but Vernac, a Stuku event, was held on 23 March on the Aula grass. The evening combined the old Expression event, that was last held in 2015, and performances in indigenous languages of South Africa.

Residences set up stalls all along the sides of the Aula grass where they displayed visual art works and literature pieces within the theme of the butterfly effect: a change for the beautiful. Each residence was restricted to seven pieces each. Some residences like Madelief and Olienhout paired up to participate in this event. “Every residence’s own residents would [have] to then create original pieces,” said Thando Mtimkulu, a Stuku EC member. “This year we also included photography pieces,” Mtimkulu added. The artworks ranged from magnificent paintings to simple drawings and touching photos. Kiaat created a scene using playground materials, typical South African snacks and road signs that beautifully represented South African culture. Day students also had a

stall to make the event more inclusive to all students and not just for residences as it has been in the past. The original pieces were judged by experts and lecturers in the Visual Arts and Literature departments. “[Nothing but] Vernac is a cultural showcase whereby people will show their pride [in] their cultures through story-telling, monologues, dialogues, [plays] and acting. There are also a few performances where people will sing,” said Rudi Peters, Stuku head of the event. Around 20 students took to the stage and gave the audience chilling and passionate performances in languages ranging from Xhosa to Afrikaans. A wide variety of performances, such as a dance piece and djembe drum performance, kept the evening exciting. According to student participant, Tara Cliff, the event incorporates everyone because if you cannot draw you can still participate by performing a piece, or simply look at the art and watch the performances. The showcase also included a special performance by Stuku GC member Sadé Msibi.

Stuku aims to make Express Yourself in Nothing but Vernac an annual event.

Image: imdb.com

Kalushi Mandlakayise Walter Dube TSHILISANANI NDOU Kalushi is a South African film based on the real life events of Solomon Kalushi Mahlangu, portrayed by Thabo Rametsi. This project took approximately nine years to complete and the hard work can be seen in the outstanding result.

Director Mandlakayise Walter Dube brings to life the story of Solomon Mahlangu who was born and raised in the township of Mamelodi. Mahlangu was a hawker who lived with his mother, Martha Mahlangu (Gcina Mhlophe), and brother, Lucas Mahlangu (Fumani Shilubana). The film follows Mahlangu from his humble beginnings as a hawker, to joining the liberation struggle and being trained by uMkhonto we Sizwe (the armed wing of the African National Congress).

The film offers an authentic view of the hardships that citizens underwent during the apartheid regime. The audience is exposed to the police brutality Mahlangu was subjected to as a hawker, as well as the heartless massacre of the June 16 protests. The film fails to evoke the intended emotional response, due to some scenes not living up to their full potential, and other confusing scenes. The one thing that stands out in this movie is the uncompromising use of the Nguni dialect. Viewers have to understand the language to truly grasp what is being said, as the subtitles are directly translated and do not reflect the true meaning of the words.

The film comes alive at the end and allows the viewer to feel like a bystander at the Joburg shootings, or an eyewitness to the murders of the two unintended victims. The final scenes of the movie are powerful and evoke a lot of strong emotions in the viewer as the director beautifully captures the gruesome atrocities. If you are interested in the context behind the struggle song “Iyho Solomon” then you should definitely watch this movie.

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Pssst...

Pssst… sees that even though last week was so short, the residences were able to get quite a lot not done. Mopanie’s mieliewag in particular seem to have had a very lazy long weekend. #wherearethemielies Mopanie? Pssst… thinks that maybe some of their first years would make effective scarecrows.

Speaking of scarecrows, Katjiepiering and Madelief have planned a social to “bury the hatchet”. Pssst… isn’t sure what happened, but Pssst… would like to let Madelief know that not all of the Katte are excited. But maybe this isn’t because of the wrongs that transpired between the two residences, Pssst… wouldn’t want to go to a Madelief social either.

Olienhout has finally noticed how boring they have become. Pssst… thinks their Rodney Revival party is long overdue.

Vividus Ladies had to practise their Serrie in the Mopanie courtyard. Pssst… doesn’t expect much from their Serrie, given that they impressed Mopanie so much that the Vividus Ladies had to attend Nothing but Vernac without their Rag partners. Pssst… would like to remind Mopanie that gentlemen always say it’s good even when it’s not.

Fun and Games | 27 March 2017

The Top 10 Pssst… heard that Jasmyn and Erika had to combine their Nothing but Vernac efforts because they couldn’t get enough content.

Pssst… thinks that the Erika and Jasmyn ladies really need to focus on their cultural side. At least you showed up. Pssst… saw that Kollege’s only idea of culture is flat-caps and vapes.

For the second week in a row, Pssst… would like to remind Klaradyn and Taaibos that cultural appropriation is a thing. Pssst… worries that Juan really will be asked to leave campus, or that he will have to eventually grow a natural beard.

Pssst… wishes everyone a very relaxing break, and advises all the residences to use the time to work on their Serries. Pssst… can’t take another year of watching last minute drivel.

Love, Pssst...

Things to do when you don’t know what to do: 1) Pick ‘C’ – statistically, 83% of all answers in a multiple choice test are “C” (maybe we made up the statistic).

2) Run away – the real adult way of dealing with your issues is to run away. Or it may just be fun to hide and see who looks for you.

3) Phone a friend – they probably won’t pick up because only two people in the world like you.

4) Have a nap – when you’re sleeping you can’t do anything wrong.

5) Eat things – there’s no better way to kill time than by eating excessively. It also counts as doing something.

6) Play League of Legends (if you want to get salty).

The Perdeby poll

7) Smoke a hubbly – light a pipe and play cards with your friends. It is productive and builds character.

How close are you to dying due to your semester tests: • 50%

8) Do the things – make the pots to be done.

9) Make random lists – because you’re tired and the Perdeby office is a cold and lonely place.

• 75% • I am already dead, please bring flowers to my grave.

Vote now on perdeby.co.za

10) Read Perdeby – 79 years in, it is still the biggest and best student publication in the country.

27 March 2017 | Sport

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New director of TuksSport, Toby Sutcliff. Image provided.

Fifteen minutes Cornelius speaks on with new TuksSport TuksAthletics success Director Toby Sutcliffe Head of Athletics, Danie Cornelius speaking to young athlete George Kusche. Image provided.

KWAZI SOKHELA

KWAZI SOKHELA At the beginning of 2017, Toby Sutcliffe took over the reins at TuksSport from long-serving director Kobus van der Walt, who has now retired. Perdeby spoke with Sutcliffe to gain some perspective on how he has settled into the position and his vision for TuksSport.

How have you settled in thus far?

It’s been interesting [...] when you’re in your little bubble...like I was as the CEO of the High Performance Centre, you are in your bubble over there and you tend to worry about what’s happening in your bubble. You don’t look outside of the bubble, [and] now that we’ve been exposed to outside of the bubble, we’re seeing how professional sport is run by the Sports department, and Mr Kobus van der Walt did an unbelievable job. The legacy that he has left behind is something [...] that we have to build on. We cannot digress and we cannot go backwards. We can only go forward because he has done a phenomenal job.

What does the stripe generation and the stripe brand of UP mean to you?

Well I think to me, it was made distinct last year when I was inducted into the Stripe Generation...The pride, I think let’s call it ‘the Stripe’ is [...] something that I now understand why people are so crazy about it, [people] like Roland Schoeman.When Roland Schoeman comes back to South Africa, the first place he goes to is...Tuks. He comes here because of the stripe. He loves the stripe and he is the stripe...he talks about the stripe all around the world and for me it is guys like him that epitomise what we’re trying to do. [People] identify with a brand, so our brand for us is very important, and I think the stripe is the... sports brand of the university.

What do you envision for TuksSport?

I think we’ve got to be smarter [regarding] the #FeesMustFall campaign. There has been a complete rethink on finances, and the finances are limited, so we are able to do less. But I’m saying to everybody, with every problem comes an opportunity, and we have to find these opportunities. We have formed a division which is currently going to commercialise sports on this campus. We have to support the clubs and the clubs have to support themselves...In the past, they’ve just

relied on the University to give them funding.

Now they have to go out and do clinics and more outreach programmes. They have to get more involved with communities and they have to do more events to raise funds.

Is there a certain type of culture you want to instil within TuksSport?

I think there [are] two cultures; there’s a winning culture where you play to win. It’s all about winning, we want to be winners, and I think Tuks has proved over the last few years that we have [a winning culture]. So we want to continue building a brand of winners, but at the same time, we need to create an environment where we address the issues of student involvement in recreational sport.

[The Department of] Sports and Recreation had a slogan called an active and winning nation. I think we have to get our students active […] we want to win with the elite [athletes] and we also want to look after the students that just want to have fun [and] the res leagues are important for us.

Considering all that’s happened with performances by UP athletes and teams, how bright does the future look for TuksSport?

It’s amazing. I think that’s one of the positives about the University of Pretoria, and we do understand that the level of entry to the University of Pretoria, academically, is a lot higher than other universities, so it does exclude some of the good sportsmen. We understand that, but...we [are] still managing to bring people in that have potential and it’s our job to turn that potential into a winning formula. I think that’s where we’ve been successful at the moment. The TuksSport High School plays a massive role, [we’ve] got 246 students there at the moment, if you go and ask Rocco Meiring from swimming, he’ll tell you he’s got six swimmers at the moment in the school that he’s excited about. [It is] really pleasing to see through the athletics academy...the girls that are coming through, [as] there’s been a steep decline in women in sports, and if we can just get winners again, people [will] start coming back to the sport.

That’s what we want to try and do, which is to get more winners on a more consistent basis, so we can pull more people through the system.

TuksAthletics has enjoyed a very strong start to the season, with UP winning the first leg of Varsity Athletics on 3 March 2016, with record-breaking performances by the likes of Akani Simbine and Clarence Munyai. Danie Cornelius, who is the head of the programme of athletics at UP, was not timid in expressing his delight at the recent results UP athletes have produced, the reasons for the success of TuksAthletics, and the goals of TuksAthletics for this season, when Perdeby spoke with him.

How would you describe the way you feel about some of the performances by Tuks athletes this early in the season?

Well I can tell you one thing, if the readers could actually see me I would make backflips, I promise you that’s how excited I am, it’s amazing. We have so many great athletes coming through, but this early in the season, the athletes are just beyond my expectations.

Normally, we see these kinds of performances in April because that is when our national championships take place. Look at the sprints in the world, sprints is probably your most competitive event in athletics; everybody wants to run [it]. But [for Akani Simbine] to be the seventh man ever to run a sub 10 [seconds] and sub 20 [seconds] in one day, I mean that just shows you how special it is. So I’m very excited, I am extremely pleased. If this is just an indication of what is to follow we [are] going to have an amazing year at TuksAthletics.

With so many Tuks athletes succeeding now, have there been any transformation strategies that you have implemented over the years?

There were many things that we did try from the start. We try to change always, try to create an environment for the athletes to perform. It’s like an incubator, you must get everything to the athlete, you must get the sport scientists involved, you must get physiotherapists involved, you must have dedicated coaches... and then also sometimes there are injuries where you [have to] get the right people that can treat injuries. So I think what we have done [is] we have looked at the athlete, [and asked] what does an athlete need to perform?

We have tried to create that environment within our budget constraints, to get these things happening, and I think what we have done is that we have created a professional environment for these athletes. We are still far away from

our target, and what we’d really love to have at TuksSport [is] an environment where you can come and do everything – everything must just happen for you...The other thing [we]’ve got is two full-time coaches now as well. That’s Hennie Kriel [who] is coaching Gift Leotlela and Clarence Munyai and Rikenette Steenkamp [who has] now been running well. He has actually been the driving force behind our success in the sprints, and then Neil Cornelius [...] is Luvo Manyonga’s coach as well.

What are TuksAthletics objectives for this year?

Well we’ve got several objectives, the first objective we’re already halfway [with]. Our main objective was to [reclaim] the Varsity Cup [in athletics] that we lost last year. We were not happy with our [...] performances.

We lost fair and square by not performing up to standard, and we had a long and hard look at our own performances and we decided we [are] not going to let it happen again. Our second objective is to see if we can win the University Sport South Africa (USSA) championships.

Our third objective is that we want as many people as possible to represent South Africa at the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) world championships later this year, that [is] going to take place in London. If I look at the performances that we’ve seen so far, I can tell that we are on the way to greatness, there is going to be a big contingent of Tuks athletes over there.

Will TuksAthletics see any more expansion in the future?

Well like I said to you earlier, you must remember that we have to develop, we have to expand, we have to be fluid and we have to be always one step ahead of the rest. In order to do that we have to get better facilities. We’ve got excellent facilities already on the main track, but in the process we have to look at our gyms, for instance, to make sure that our strength and conditioning is on par. We are busy negotiating with the Physiology Department of the university and there is going to be a new sport research unit that will be headed by Prof.

Martin Schwellnus. We are also going to get [the Physiology Department] in to help us do a more scientific analysis on the athletes and their performances. So there [are] a lot of things we want to do, we want to expand. If you want to be an athlete who is a megastar [...] there is no other place than TuksAthletics as everything will be here for you.

Sport Image: www.durban-2022.com

SA bids farewell to Commonwealth games LORINDA MARRIAN

On 13 March, the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) announced that Durban will in all likelihood no longer host the 2022 Commonwealth Games. The President of the Federation, Louise Martin, after conducting a review of South Africa’s current preparation for the games, said that they were now “exploring alternative options, including a potential replacement host”.

This decision comes after months of speculation about South Africa’s ability to host the Games after Government missed various deadlines and financial obligations.

In an official statement released by the CGF, they claim that South Africa has not been able to fulfil its commitments made in their bid in areas such as governance, venues, funding, and risk management.

Durban won the right to host the Games back in September 2015, after spending R118 million on the bidding process. Although the

proposed cost of the Games was around R8 billion, the estimated GDP growth amounted to approximately R11 billion. Official research done by the South African Government estimated that around 1 000 full-time jobs would have been created through organising the games while another 2 700 jobs would have been created indirectly.

Besides the economic benefits, many young athletes would have benefited from the investment in infrastructure that would have been created through legacy programmes.

According to the Durban 2022 official website (durban-2022.com), the revenue from the Games would have been used to develop sporting infrastructure and support local clubs in rural areas. Furthermore, the revenue would also have been used to deploy homegrown coaches and retired players under the age of 35 to informal areas in order to develop various sporting codes around the country.

UP 100 m hurdler Rikenette Steenkamp told Perdeby that hosting the Games would have been great for sport development in the country as more athletes would have been given the opportunity to compete. She also said that athletes will be affected in terms of traveling and team selection, as she believes that the money lost from the bid will affect the budget.

In addition, the Times reported in the article “The cost of Durban losing the Commonwealth Games” that the Games would have also shone a light on lesser known sports in South Africa, such as boxing, where Bongani Mwelase still holds the country’s only Commonwealth gold medal, which he won in 2006.

Speaking to Perdeby, Danie Cornelius, the head of the Athletics programme at UP, said that he was disappointed by the news as it is very seldom that South African athletes are able to compete against the world’s best in front of their home crowd. He said that although he understands that financially the Games would have been impossible, it is still a disaster for young up-and-coming athletes who had hoped to “shine on home soil”.

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Cameron van der Burg. Photo: www.supersport.com

Luvo Manyonga. Photo: www.supersport.com

LORINDA MARRIAN

the same event after being beaten by the young Adam Peathy. He has also won multiple World and Commonwealth Championship medals, and recently won gold for the 50-meter breaststroke at the 2016 FINA World Championships. He currently holds the South African records for both the 50 and 100-metre breaststroke, and in 2013 he was awarded the silver Order or Ikhamanaga by the South African President for his outstanding achievements.

Luvo Manyonga The heart-warming and inspirational story of this Olympic long-jumper seems as if it were based on a Hollywood movie. Manyonga’s first major achievements were in 2010 when he won the IAAF Junior World Championships title, and in 2011 when he won gold at the All African Games with an impressive jump of 8.02m. However, his life started to spiral out of control in 2012 when he began using the methamphetamine, tik. In March of 2012 he tested positive for tik and was then banned from competing for eighteen months. After a few years of being stuck in his addiction, Gideon Sam, the president of SASCOC, arranged for Manyoga to be housed at the HPC and Manyonga restarted his training. In 2016 he qualified for the South African Olympic team and went on to win silver, only one centimetre away from gold.

HPC produces SA’s biggest talent University sport is now in full swing, and High Performance Centre (HPC) athletes such as Akani Simbane have already shown off their incredible talent. HPC is the first South African elite performance sports facility, and has been active since its launch in 2002.

The Centre offers world-class training facilities that include five gymnastic halls, six rugby fields, an athletic tartan track, and a fitness gym. The Centre also offers medical and nutritional support and employs various Sport Science staff to assist their athletes. The HPC established the TuksSport High School to develop young athletes so that they can fulfil their sporting goals, while providing them with quality education.

It is no wonder that the HPC has produced some of the best sport talent that South Africa has to offer. Here is a look at two of South Africa’s biggest sports stars who have trained with the HPC. Cameron van der Burg The 28 year-old has one of the most well-known faces in the country, and has represented South Africa at various World Championships and Olympic Games. In 2012 he won Olympic gold for the 100-meter breaststroke, and in 2016 he swam to silver in

ASA timing glitch THORISO PHASHA AmaTuks applaud TuksSport staff and Vice-Chancellor and Principle Prof.Cheryl De la Rey. Image provided.

TuksSport hosts annual Stripe event KWAZI SOKHELA AND LORINDA MARRIAN

On 8 March, TuksSport hosted its annual Stripe UP event. This is the third time that the event has been hosted. The aim of the event is to celebrate and welcome back the 2015/2016 Stripe Generation, which is the name used to represent the diverse athletes that represent UP, while introducing first years into the TuksSport community. The event was centred on the “elevate your greatness” hashtag, which promotes excellence and success at TuksSport.

The event was attended by an abundance of TuksSport staff, sporting clubs and teams such as AmaTuks, the UP Varsity Cup team, and the Tuks Women’s Rugby 7s team.

The main speakers at the event were UP Vice-Chancellor and Principal, Prof. Cheryl De la Rey, and Acting Director of TuksSport, Toby Sutcliffe. They both highlighted the achievements of the previous year, which included the 46 athletes and support staff who attended the Rio Olympics last year, and the three medals won by TuksSport athletes.

Prof. De la Rey, who competed in the Bestmed Tuks race last month, said that she liked the energy of the event, and that she was pleased to see first years and res students attending.

Concerning the event she said, “I hope that it will get bigger, better and we need to get more students involved in sport; it’s not just for the champions. If I can be there, everyone can”.

Sutcliffe said that the most important part of the event was to welcome home the Stripe Generation, although he was disappointed with the first-year attendance. He also said that the event was part of a ten-part series, and the next big part will be to identify ten students who have incredible stories, such as cricketer Lugni Ngidi who is now the breadwinner in his family, and Lawrence Brittain who won a silver medal at the Olympics after overcoming cancer. Regarding TuksSport he said, “You know opportunities are there. It’s whether you want to take the opportunity, and that is what we are trying to say [to] everybody”.

The event also featured performances from singer-songwriter and rapper Una Rams, Tuks Idols winner Siyabonga, and TuksDance.

The recent ASA Series Meeting in Bloemfontein on 8 March 2017 was shrouded in controversy after numerous athletes registered personal best times and recordsetting benchmarks. The legitimacy of the results was questioned after it was declared that the official timing equipment had malfunctioned in the men’s 100 m race.

In a statement Athletics South Africa’s (ASA) President, Aleck Skosana, said, “The transponder in the starting device did not react at the start. It’s a new system and we will have to find out from the [private] company what caused it.” Skosana sought to clarify the speculation surrounding the other races as he stated, “In the other races, we can’t discredit the athletes until we know whether there was an issue with the times.’’ The ASA President further stressed the point that “there is no reason at this stage to question the rest of the results.’’ According to TuksSport News, social media was buzzing with speculative banter after the athletics meeting, with many questioning the fact that so many athletes coincidentally ran personal best times all on the same day, especially when the timing equipment had malfunctioned on that very day.

One of the athletes to be affected by the aftermath of this controversy is UP hurdler

Ruan de Vries. The 31-year-old set a new national record when he clocked 13.23 seconds in the 110 m hurdles in Bloemfontein, slightly edging passed the previous record of 13.24 seconds, previously held by compatriot Lehann Fourie. De Vries was left feeling slightly apprehensive rather than celebratory after his record-breaking race. Speaking to TuksSport News, De Vries said, “It was certainly one of my better races. I was off to a good start and by the fifth hurdle, I started to edge ahead.

Technically I executed my race to perfection, not hitting one of the ten hurdles. Taking this into account I know that I did run a faster time than I normally would have. If it is a new record I will take it, but if for some reason the decision makers of Athletics South Africa find that the timing system did not work properly and that my time of 13.23 s is unofficial, I will also be okay with it.” UP athletics coach Hennie Kriel works closely with De Vries, and he too was baffled by the record-breaking time, saying, “I knew Ruan had good form but I did not quite expect him to run 13.23 s.

I am aware of all the rumours, but up to now nobody has said that Ruan’s time is not a new record. So I am glad for him, especially since he has qualified for the World Championships in London.”

UP teenage sprint sensation, Gift Leotlela, gave one of his finest performances in the controversial 100m race on the same day in Bloemfontein. The 18-year-old sprinter outpaced Olympic 400 m champion Wayde van Niekerk to clock a handheld time of 10 seconds, while Van Niekerk came in second with a time of 10.10 s, after the aforementioned glitch that transpired with the electronic timing system.

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