29 February 2016 Issue 4 Year 78

HitRECord

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The Zika Virus

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Perdeby

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

29February2016

year78issue4

Campus activities resume under heightened security CAREL WILLEMSE Campus activities returned to normal on 29 February across all UP campuses amid a heavy police and security presence. This followed a week-long shutdown of the Hatfield and Groenkloof campuses as a result of the #AfrikaansMustFall protests relating to the revision of the UP language policy.

UP confirmed that a number of students at the forefront of the recent protests received letters informing them that they have been suspended from UP. EFFSC-UP’s Amla Monageng told JacarandaFM that “these are the tactics to delay the revolution … [and] to delay change at the institution”. He continued to say that the EFFSC-UP would continue with protests until their demands are met. The suspension of the students is subject to a full investigation.

On Sunday 28 February, Minister of Higher Education Dr Blade Nzimande met with UP management, students, and stakeholders at UP to raise his concerns about the violence on campus and to urge students to allow academic activities to resume. In his meeting, the minister highlighted the investment of the country in the youth and the need for the new generation of graduates with skills to contribute to building the national economy.

He also noted the potential costs to the country, as well as to individual students, of further disruptions to their academic programmes. Dr Nzimande urged students to go back to class without delay, and at the same time to

engage with university management in peaceful discussions to find resolution to their issues.

The EFFSC-UP walked out of the meeting after Dr Nzimande refused to engage with them and tweeted the following from their account.

The EFF returned later to engage with university management. Time would have been set aside on Monday 29 February to engage with the leaders of student structures, as requested by student leaders according to a statement released by UP. At the time of going to print, no meeting between management and students had taken place.

A separate press conference was also held on Sunday in which the ANC and Solidariteit announced their agreement on a number of matters relating to the recent unrest on university campuses across South Africa. The parties involved in this alliance include the Progressive Youth Alliance (PYA), ANC (GP), SACP (GP), Cosatu (GP), Sanco (GP), ANCYL (GP), Young Communist League (GP) and Sasco (GP), along with the Solidariteit group, consisting of Afriforum, Afriforum Youth and Solidariteit. According to a media release, the parties engaged with each other in a “constructive, bilateral meeting” on Wednesday

24 February to discuss three critical areas: to condemn the intimidation, disruption, violence and attempts to polarise students on the basis of race; to discuss the transformation of the university’s language policy; and to ensure the re-opening of the university on Monday 29 February.

This alliance received strong criticism on social media under the #ANCAfriforum hashtag. Interim spokesperson for Uprising, Tumelo “Duke” Rasebopye, says that a meeting and agreement of this nature was frustrating because the student organisations on the ground were not made aware of it. He added that the feeling is that entering into such a discussion is “selling out” on students as no student voice was present, and that it brings about a decision on student matters without students being consulted on what the way forward should be.

According to UP spokesperson Anna-Retha Bouwer, the review of the UP language policy will begin anew due the conflict brought about through the previous process. The process will be handled by a multiparty committee facilitated by an independent party. Rapport reported that the previous suggestion of the language review committee (that English be used as the only tuition language) was not the finding of the committee, but rather that a multilingual approach should be followed.

Stringent security measures remain in place around campus, with access only granted to students and staff with valid access cards.

If book blurbs were honest

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Activists argue against maiden bursaries Page 9

Work at Perdeby. Application forms inside.

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Perdeby

Editorial | 29 February 2016

Time to exit the pool. Where are the steps?

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

Editorial Editor-in-chief Carel Willemse

carel.willemse@up.ac.za @Ed_in_Chief

Editor Michal-Maré Linden

perdeby@up.ac.za @MicsLinden

News Chad Johnston

news@perdeby.co.za @ChadChaddalz94

Features Huvasan Reddy

features@perdeby.co.za @HuvasanReddy

Entertainment Elmarie Kruger

entertainment@perdeby.co.za @elmariekr

Sport Carli-Ann Furno

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Web Marko Svicevic

webeditor@perdeby.co.za @MarkoSvicevic1

Copy Herman Hoogenboezem

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Imaging Nikita Mokgware

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Visuals Shen Scott

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Multimedia Mothusi Masibi

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Teams Layout Audrey Nanjala Kriszti Bottyan Kudzai Nherera Copy Emma Paulet Happy Mahlangu Jaco Stroebel Jessica Nogieć Rorisang Moloi Tshepho Mamashela Online Bradley Duck Daimon Sewell Luke Hope-Sotherton Maxwell Kamlongera Mikaeel Abdulla Rebecca-Anne Perridge Tayisiya Rozova

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

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

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

The last two weeks have been frustrating ones for many students, and for a number of reasons. Some are frustrated by lingering systematic oppression. Some are frustrated over missed classes. Some are frustrated by the unpredictable nature of each day.

At Perdeby, it’s been frustrating trying to compile content for readers without access to an office and equipment. This sense of frustration has permeated social media. But in among this justified frustration, gremlins have

Maths and Physical Science Tutor Positions in Silver Lakes and Mooikloof, Pretoria We have two part-time tutor positions available for students who have the ability to help grade 4 to 12 school learners with Maths and/or Physical science.

You must be able to communicate effectively in both Afrikaans and English to qualify for this position.

To apply, please e-mail your Grade 12 Maths and/ or Physical Science marks and latest university results to silverlakes@mastermaths.co.za.

Letter I strongly condemn the editor’s reply in saying that Perdeby’s editorial did not amount to hate speech. Freedom of expression is not the point in this situation.

The editorial amounted to a condescending tone throughout, with wording/phrasing that could be incited to form hate speech to certain groups of persons. The editor should be held to a higher standard, as they ought to be familiar with the rationale and standard expected of them. The Code of Ethics & Conduct for SA Print & Online Media stipulates in provision 5.1 that denigratory references to persons should be avoided, and that a person’s status (in this case as a cyclist, or resident student) should not be referred to in a prejudicial manner.

The correct course of action in my opinion would be for the editor to retract their editorial and issue a formal apology.

reared their ugly heads in the form of ignorance, racism and hate speech flooding Facebook and Twitter feeds. We’re not alone in this experience. Just over a week ago, well-respected British actor and personality Stephen Fry closed his Twitter account. The metaphor he used to explain his reason was blunt, but honest: “Too many people have peed in the pool.”

Twitter is, in fact, losing active users. The number one reason proposed by the Harvard Business Review is none other than bullying and hate. The hate that has been spewed across our social media this last while has been appalling.

Hidden behind anonymity or the idea that you are just speaking to a pool of computers, rather than people with actual feelings, has resulted in “harassment, abuse, bullying, intimidation, threats – a ceaseless flickering hum of lowlevel emotional violence”. Yes, some people are oversensitive, but some of the things that have been said are just not on. Actively avoiding it has been my only way not to end up super sensitive, negative, and critical of the situations at hand. My greatest concern is, in an environment where “everything kinda goes” and there aren’t many repercussions (or often none at all, if you remain anonymous), this kind of behaviour becomes not just acceptable but the norm, online and in real life.

This last week and a bit has seen heartbreaking violence across the country and at UP inflicted upon students, workers and facilities. Students (who should be intellectuals able to engage in critical discussions) and adults (in the form of leadership and security, who should know better) ended up in physical altercations with others. I’m not pointing fingers at any one group or even individuals. There are

enough fingers being pointed already.

I get that people are angry, and I get that people are desperate to be heard on issues that have hurt them for years. If you look deep into the issues, their anger is justifiable. But more than ever, it is imperative that we find a way forward that creates inclusive, effective, quality education for everyone so that all are given the opportunity to understand their work and be understood. But I do worry that what happens on social media exacerbates what happens in real life.

I’ll leave you with a thought that I’ve had all week. Just like schoolyard bullies, you cannot truly remove your insecurities or validate your culture, your view, your argument, or your identity by undermining those who oppose you with violent actions and words that break your opponent down.

Sure, that will upset them and temporarily knock them down, but it facilitates no forward progression for yourself. Rather focus on what makes your culture, view, argument or identity valuable and important. Once you’ve identified the value in it, discuss it and listen to the views of those that disagree with you.

You might find that you have something in common – all cultures, languages, and people are valuable and therefore deserve to be recognised, respected and treated equally.

Let’s start a discussion that acknowledges that and creates a plan that facilitates that, rather than one that breaks and divides.

Have a peaceful week.

Michal

Letter

Letter Good day South Africa is a power battle between blacks and whites and this has been evident in the university. As an Indian I am not sure which category I fall in.

According to the Constitution, we fall under previously disadvantaged, but from personal experiences that is not what happens.

Indians and coloureds seem to be disadvantaged in current times. I have not seen a bursary or a job advertisement for Indians only or coloureds only. Instead of being assessed on merit, we are being assessed on colour, mainly black and white, and if you’re not one of the above it seems you’re non-existent.

If things were done on merit, would we develop faster as a country, or will we hire incompetent people to fill in jobs they are not qualified for, or as in my case award bursaries to a student whose average is 52, compared to mine which is 74, because he is black and I’m Indian.

This is just a story that I thought would be an interesting one that would cause a debate and interaction among students.

Azhar Farhad The letter on the left is in response to the editorial of issue 03 on 8 February 2016.

Rainier Rademan

From the Editor

As a student at this institution I am highly offended at the option that Sepedi should be a language included in our curriculum.

What about all the other African languages?

It is not all black people in Pretoria who are familiar and comfortable with that language. English should be the standard language for all students of all races, as it is the standard language of communication across the world.

The language policy should be the least of this institution’s concerns. Last year we all saw the rise of the #FeesMustFall movement. Nothing is being said about this. What will happen in October when we as students decide to cause commotion? It is definite.The reality is our fees are sky high and, fair enough, this is one the best institutions in South Africa, but what is this institution doing to combat this reality?

What are political parties doing? Wits has raised over R3 million for their students, it is honestly sad to see that nothing is being said to UP students regarding a way forward by the institution as well as all political parties. Issues like residence placements, those are the policies that should be reviewed.

As a learner in this institution, I feel that we are focused on issues at hand and we are not looking at the chaos that could arise in a couple of months.

This process is taking a toll on us as students. It raises great concerns about our futures with this institution Charmain Mathebula

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Perdeby has received other complaints, but could not publish them, due to the fact that they exceeded the word count as stipulated in our letter policy. Perdeby acknowledges the receipt of the complaints. Perdeby subscribes to the South African Press Code.

www.perdeby.co.za

29 February 2016 | News

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Image: Fezekile Msimang

Language policy protest leads to violent clashes MARKO SVICEVIC, BIANCA MEYER, CHAD JOHNSTON AND CAREL WILLEMSE Disciplinary procedures are to be implemented against individuals who participated in violent and unlawful behaviour following the clashes on the Hatfield campus of UP over the last couple of days. Cases will also be reported to the police for possible prosecution.

In a statement, UP management notes that it is “deeply concerned that political parties are using the current situation as an opportunity to play out their political differences on campuses”. The statement follows days of unrest, clashes and arrests at UP’s Hatfield campus.

On Tuesday 23 February a group of concerned students met across from the university main gate to join under the name #SouthAfricaMustRise. The group, promoting peace across racial lines and religions, joined hands to sing and pray in Zulu, Afrikaans and English in answer to the recent political violence experienced on campus.

A group of pro-Afrikaans protestors also marched on Lynwood road today requesting to speak to UP Vice-Chancellor and Principal Prof.

Cheryl de la Rey. Their request was not met. The organisation Front National released a statement before the march calling for “spontaneous action and self-protection” and “an eye for an eye and tooth for a tooth” to help protect “our children”. Police were present and the march was uneventful, with the exception of a young lady attempting to chain herself to the UP main gate. Police prevented her from doing so.

Amla Monageng of EFFSC-UP, who witnessed the events, said that the EFFSCUP were there because the struggle is not only about Afrikaans as language of tuition but that

Image: Fezekile Msimang

the struggle is about the total transformation of UP. The EFFSC-UP was planning to hand over a memorandum of demands to Prof. de la Rey on the day, but was also not granted an audience.

Zizi Kodwa, national Spokesperson of the ANC, expressed outrage over the “signs of deteriorating race relations and racial tensions … [after] the violent clashes at the Universities of Free State and Pretoria”. The statement follows clashes between protesters and spectators at the Varsity Cup match between the UFS Shimlas and the NMMU Madibaz on Monday evening. In the statement Kodwa says

that “protest action by any group should not hinder the rights of others and equally protect their right to differ.” SRC secretary Donovan du Plooy sent out an email on Tuesday afternoon requesting all student structure chairpersons to attend a meeting with the SRC to discuss a way forward.

Timeline of events: Thursday 18 February On 18 February, violence broke out on UP’s Hatfield campus following mass protest action by members of Afriforum Youth, EFFSC-UP, Sasco and the Progressive Youth Alliance (PYA). A private meeting scheduled for 14:30 at the Sanlam Auditorium in which UPrising, Sasco and the EFFSC-UP were to debate UP’s language policy had to be cancelled after a large number of students, including members from Afriforum Youth, gathered outside the venue in support of UP keeping Afrikaans as a tuition language at the university.

In an interview with Netwerk24, EFFSC-UP secretary general Wenzile Madonsela describes how she and other students endured insults, were sworn at and battered with racial slurs by Afriforum members. According to Madonsela, they were blocked in and subsequently attacked

by Afriforum. “My beret was knocked off my head,” said Madonsela. Morné Mostert, national youth coordinator of Afriforum, said he could not confirm this as he did not see it happen.

An email from Prof. Norman Duncan, VicePrincipal of academics and chairperson of the UP language policy task team, said that the meeting, which was supposed to be held that day, was not open to the public but was only for representatives of the SRC, the UPrising central committee and EFFSC-UP. Students, however, received messages and read on social media about the event. Afriforum Youth chairperson Marthinus Jacobs explained the situation as confusing. Jacobs said, “We started gathering at the entrance to the Sanlam Auditorium [but] security wouldn’t let anyone in.”

According to Jacobs, Prof. Themba Mosia, Vice-Principal of student affairs and residences, came outside and addressed students.

“He [Prof. Mosia] said that he didn’t understand why so many people pitched [to the debate] because as far as he knew this was a closed event,” explained Jacobs.

After several scuffles outside the venue between students in support of and against Afrikaans as a medium of instruction, members of Afriforum Youth marched to the Administration Building and handed over a memorandum demanding that Afrikaans be protected at UP to the Registrar, Prof. Niek Grové.

Members of Sasco, EFFSC-UP and the PYA began their own protest, starting at the student centre and moving to Engineering 1. EFFSCUP’s Amogelang Monageng announced that students supporting the #AfrikaansMustFall movement would disrupt classes at UP. “The university must cut the budget [for expenditure on Afrikaans resources] and redirect those funds to the students and those who are suffering,” added Amogelang. The protesters made their way into the Engineering 3 building, forcing their way through security staff into the lecture halls.

It was at the entrance of the HSB where several violent encounters ensued between the protesting students and security guards. Students in the HSB were prevented from exiting, while security battled to contain the violent behaviour ensuing outside. Students threw rubbish at security guards and the pro-Afrikaans group.

Pro-Afrikaans protesters released pepper spray

on those protesting for the change of UP’s language policy.

The situation flared up when a large group of pro-Afrikaans students formed a barricade around student protesting for the removal of Afrikaans. Security guards, who repeatedly had to separate the two groups of students, used chain formations to prevent the groups from clashing. The violent flares continued in the Student Centre when the two groups confronted each other yet again, sending security running to break them up.

According to a statement by Prof. de la Rey, the report for the revision of UP’s language policy had been discussed with the Senate on 27 January and is currently being discussed with students and faculties. After the consultation process, UP’s Council will consider any proposals on the future language policy.

“Implementation of any changes [would be] in compliance with the relevant statutory matter that must be submitted to the Minister of Higher Education and Training,” added Prof. de la Rey. In a Facebook statement by the EFFSC-UP, they explained that they felt that Afrikaans at UP was not economically viable, disadvantaged the majority, and that it went against the project of social cohesion as it created two universities in one. “Afrikaans will fall because it is not used as just a language of tuition, but continues to be used like in the past … it is used to exclude and create some sort of superiority … [and] remind people of how it was used to oppress,” the statement added.

SRC secretary Donovan du Plooy said that the SRC “supports English as the only language of instruction at the institution”. Du Plooy also raised the concern that Afrikaans class attendance has decreased and that “it costs the university in excess of R100 million per annum [to present] Afrikaans as a language of tuition at UP.” Friday 19 February On 19 February, UP announced it had obtained an urgent court interdict against Afriforum, Afriforum Youth and the EFFSC-UP, preventing the parties from disrupting UP operations.

UP however remained closed for the day.

Protests, which began at the Prospect Street gate, moved to a full on occupation of Hatfield Studios as well as a disruption of events at Nerina, before making its way to Lynnwood Road. Once there, students attempted to light a tyre on fire, but were quickly interrupted by the police. Students showed their frustration by throwing rocks at police, who responded with tear gas and rubber bullets. A total of 27 individuals were arrested, among them a Perdeby photographer.

The arrested students were allegedly manhandled and mistreated by police and spent most of the night locked up before being released on R500 bail each. Charges against three students were dropped while the rest were to appear in the Pretoria Magistrate’s Court on Monday 22 February Monday 22 February #UPBlackMonday On 22 February UP reopened its gates, but was soon closed again following disruption of classes by protesting students.

Students wore black to campus in support of #UPBlackMonday and the #Tuks27, social media campaigns launched in light of the 27 students arrested by the police, four of whom were charged with public violence and malicious damage to property.

Students comprising of EFFSC-UP, Sasco, PYA, UPrising and SRC members gathered at 07:30 outside the Prospect Street gate and began filing into campus. They began shutting the university down by entering several lecture

halls and disrupting classes. UP deployed private security in an attempt to stop the students from entering lecture halls. Students and security clashed inside the EMB building, where security used tasers to contain protesters, and eventually students moved outside where Rowan Watson, manager of investigations at UP, was assaulted by a student who hit Watson in the face. (Video available on the Perdeby Facebook page) Students then moved through campus and split into two groups. One group continued toward the Engineering buildings, where they

Image: Shen Scott

struggled to gain access to the building, while the other marched toward the Thuto building where they continued to disrupt classes.

The two groups met at the Thuto building, after which they proceeded via buses, which were arranged by the students, to the court hearings of those arrested and charged on Friday.

Students sang and danced at the court in support of the students who had been charged.

The case was postponed to 7 April and students subsequently returned to campus.

Once on campus, student leaders planned to go to the Amphitheatre to debrief protesters on the way forward, but the group was met by a line of students protesting against the abolishment of Afrikaans, headed by Afriforum Youth, whose members formed a line blocking the protesting students from marching to the amphitheatre.

A standoff ensued, with UP security forming a line between the two groups as tensions flared.

Students from both sides hurled racial slurs at each other. Several of the pro-Afrikaans students were injured after being struck with stones and bricks.

Police arrived on campus with riot gear and a RG12 Nyala riot control vehicle. Eventually students who wanted to go to the Amphitheatre were given a path through the pro-Afrikaans supporters to do so, but as students moved toward the Amphitheatre, a fight occurred which resulted in pro-Afrikaans students chasing students against Afrikaans toward the Amphitheatre.

Anti-Afrikaans protestors began throwing rocks at pro-Afrikaans students, leaving a security guard and student injured. Another standoff occurred until the pro-Afrikaans students eventually dispersed.

Police remained on campus as students moved to the Amphitheatre and began singing and discussing their demands. A memorandum of demands was drafted (see photos on the Perdeby Facebook page). It was expected that the list of demands would be handed over to UP management on Wednesday.

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News | 29 February 2016

Prof. de la Rey briefs staff on protests’ implications NTOMBIKAYISE MKANDHLA On 10 February, UP Vice-Chancellor and Principal Prof. Cheryl de la Rey met with UP staff in the academic opening event, which coincided with the 108th anniversary of the university’s founding. The event was opened by the program’s director, Prof. Themba Mosia, the Vice-Principal responsible for student affairs, residence affairs and accommodation at UP. He described the event as a “rare occasion in the year where the Vice-Chancellor and Principal of the university speaks to all the staff”.

The main agenda of the event was to brief the staff on the recent events, namely the string of protests that occurred in the university and the implications they had on the institution. Prof. de la Rey expressed gratitude to the staff for their dedication, understanding and loyalty to the university in light of the protests that rocked UP at the start of the year. Furthermore, she apologised to the staff for what she described as “emotional stress” caused by

Image: Mammetja Mogotane

the inconveniences created by the protests. She labelled 11 January as a “dramatic day” where she said that she had “received reports that some members of our contract staff had been intimidated at train stations and taxi ranks on their way to work.”

Prof. de la Rey spoke of the time she addressed the university Senate a few weeks prior where she

referred to a number of international meetings she had attended in 2015.

“University leaders from across the world reflected on the increasingly politicised environment of higher education,” she said. Locally, the RhodesMustFall protests paved the way for other student protests, namely the FeesMustFall movement. “What it did was take transformation of higher

education institutions under the spotlight, particularly transformation at universities with a history like ours of being historically white,” she explained.

Once students had received news of President Jacob Zuma’s decision that fees for institutions of higher education will not increase in 2016, the government and universities had to gather funds to cover the resulting shortfall. Although the government has given UP funds to contribute towards UP’s shortfall, Prof. de la Rey said “R57 million will be required from [UP’s] personal fund,” as the given funds were inadequate.

Besides NSFAS funded students’ problems currently being addressed by the government, Prof. de la Ray spoke on how the “missing middle” students who do not qualify for NSFAS will also be addressed in 2018, with a pilot program being implemented in 2017. “The total debt owed to this university by the missing middle at this time is R97 million,” she said, showing how it is a matter of urgency.

The Vice-Chancellor and Principal

spoke highly of the UP protesters, whom she described as “peaceful by large”, particularly two students who safeguarded some cornered staff of the British High Commission at the heated FeesMustFall protests at the Union Buildings. She then went on to talk about the insourcing process the university has decided to adopt.

“I could not ethically defend that we would pay that level of wage … to people that had served us for many years,” she stressed.

There has been a perception that UP is a well-resourced institution with endless resources; however Prof. de la Rey emphasised that UP “accumulated resources because of careful management since our establishment in 1908.”

Despite the economic challenges the university is facing, Prof. de la Rey acknowledged the steady progress UP is making in relation to its 2025 goal.“Last year we were included in the top two global university ranking systems: Times Higher Education and QS World University Rankings,” she said.

EWB-UP scoop top prize

Image: Mammetja Mogotane

ABASA Tuks hosts discussion on #FeesMustFall

EWB-UP members at Kutumela Molefi Primary School. Image provided.

NTOMBIKAYISE MKANDHLA The University of Pretoria’s chapter of Engineers Without Borders (EWB-UP) won the Empowering Communities through Engineering Excellence prize. The competition was run by Engineers Without Borders South Africa (EWBSA).

EWBSA has seven other chapters, which are EWB-Maties from Stellenbosch University, EWBNMMU from the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, EWB-UCT of the University of Cape Town, EWB-UJ from the University of Johannesburg, UWB-UKZN of the University of KwaZulu-Natal, EWB-Unisa, and EWB-Wits from the University of the Witwatersrand.

According to EWBSA’s website, the organisation is “a response to the multitude of problems that the profession is currently facing in [the] country [which] is setting out to reenvision the engineering sector as a place in which people can live their passion and work with compassion”.

Through a video or e-poster, the

chapters had to show EWBSA how their engineering project met a need in their communities and left it with a sustainable impact, all for a R5 000 prize. EWB-UP’s submission was based on the work the chapter did with Kutumela-Molefi Intermediate Farm School in Donkerhoek, which has many pupils that come from impoverished backgrounds. Their goal was to renovate the school.

According to the EWBSA website, work began during the July 2015 holidays with the help of 45 enthusiastic members.Renovations ranged from simple tasks like repainting the school to more complex tasks such as putting in roof insulation for some classes.

Paul Ssali, the chair of EWBUP, was also voted as the student representative of the EWBSA board of directors. On the EWBSA website, he gave feedback on their project. “It was such a great feeling and honour to know that we had done something to help keep a child’s dream alive, even if they don’t realise it,” he said.

MAMMETJA MOGOTANE On the evening of 10 February the Advancement of Black Accountants South Africa at Tuks (ABASA Tuks) hosted a talk titled “Funding the Revolution”. In true student spirit, the event started off with two song items from the students that were in attendance.

The proceedings started with a welcoming speech by Mbali Mashigo, the chairperson of ABASA Tuks.

In her speech she outlined the aims of the organisation- to redress the inequalities that black South Africans face in the accounting profession. The purpose of this event was for students to engage in thought provoking dialogue. Sinokuhle Ngqola, the head of debate ABASA Tuks committee said, “There has been a lot of debate surrounding the #FeesMustFall movement” and further posed the question on how this dilemma can be overcome and whether we should be discussing affordable or free education.

Relevant stakeholders to discuss this matter was made up of Vice Chancellor and Principal Prof. Cheryl de la Rey, the interim chairperson and deputy Secretary of the SRC Thabo Shingange, the former vicepresident of ABASA and former CEO of Gobodo Incorporated Sathie

Gounden as well as Peter Coutoulas, the director and founder of Atlantean Capital.

The debate was facilitated by Gaisang Diyale, a CA and secretary of ABASA Tshwane. He highlighted the importance of such engagements.

The first speaker was Prof. de la Rey who responded to the question of the feasibility and the reasonability of free education with the answer “yes, it is possible”. However, she highlighted the problem of sourcing the funding and the obstacle of the high intake of students.

Gounden, the second panellist, started by applauding the conduct of the students during the #FeesMustFall campaign, saying their “leadership and aspirations make [him] comfortable that the country is in good hands”. According to Gounden, the government should be able to hold the universities accountable and institutional autonomy should be scrapped to maintain transparency.

Reducing fees should lead to the increase in bursaries for students. In addition, Mr Gounden said that, “the #FeesMustFall [campaign] exposed the dual economy of the country, one very privileged and affluent and one living in poverty”.

In his response to the questions posed: who is responsible for funding

the revolution, who is free education for, and how can it be funded, Shingange started off by saying, “free education needs to be broken down into content and fee structure”. The curriculum, according to Shingange, ought to reflect post-colonial South Africa. Furthermore he said that free education is for everyone. In order to come to a workable solution, the state, businesses, and the public sector ought to work together in raising the capital to fund free education.

Coutoulas, the last panellist speaker for the evening, provided contentious methods to funding the revolution.

The first was listing the universities on the JSE. Second to that was that private financial institutions would have to increase the pool of funds available to students, that institutions of higher learning would have to create work programmes and that tutoring that uses a credit based system should be introduced.

In addition, he proposed that the government needs to increase its higher education subsidy from 0.75% to 1.3%.

Following the panellist discussion, students were able to ask relevant questions as well as raise their concerns

29 February 2016 | News

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New transformation course at UP MAMMETJA MOGOTLANE In the first week of February, the pioneers of the new UP transformation course Doing Difference Differently (UP 3D) were rewarded for their participation by UP Vice-Principal of academics Prof.

Norman Duncan.

In August 2015 the university launched the online course, which is aimed at advancing nondiscrimination and human dignity.

The objectives of the course are to create a space where undergraduates critically think about themselves in relation to other people in and around the spaces in which they live.

In an interview with one of the recipients, second-year BA Law student Botle Boikarabelo Mofokeng said, “It’s one of those modules that appeal to the human side. It was a great chance to learn something new and how to be open minded … as students we have more similar interests than we do different interests”.

The course is currently a pilot module available on ClickUp, making it voluntary for students to take part in. The course occurs over a four-week period, with week one to three comprising of various online activities. In the fourth week the participants conduct interviews with fellow participants.

The developer of the course is Prof. Christi van der Westhuizen, who holds a PhD in Critical Diversity Studies. When speaking to Perdeby, Prof. van der Westhuizen explained that the course is available for all students in the university. It does not carry any credits; however, “students that [completed] the pilot [received] certificates that they can add to their CVs,” she added.

The course aligns with academic theories on difference and the university’s vision, mission and values. Students who wish to get involved can do so by looking out for the next pilot edition that will be in August on their ClickUp page

Campus news bites MICHAL-MARÉ LINDEN AND MAMMETJA MOGOTLANE Murder investigation still ongoing The investigation into the death of UP project manager Johan de Beer is still ongoing. The Brooklyn SAPS is investigating a case of murder, however no further developments in the case have been made. De Beer was found in a toilet cubicle of the Musaion in the early hours of 6 January. Anyone who can assist the police with information can contact the Brooklyn police station at (012) 366 1764 or Crime Stop at 08600 10111.

First graduates of TuksRes Women’s Leadership Academy (TRWLA) awarded The first graduates of the TRWLA were awarded in a certificate ceremony on 22 February.

Dignitaries in attendance included UP Vice-Chancellor and Principal Prof. Cheryl de la Rey, VicePrincipal of residence and student affairs Prof. Themba Mosia, and Public Protector Advocate Thuli Madonsela, who was also the keynote speaker. The academy was first launched in 2015 and this year is open to first- and second-year female students in UP day houses and residences.

TuksFM turns 35 TuksFm celebrated its 35th birthday on 9 February. Since its

establishment in 1981, the station has produced many famous voices in the radio industry, such as Anele Mdoda, Gareth Cliff, Carmen Reddy and Sias du Plessis.

“The journey over the last 35 years has seen the station achieve many successes and become a formidable player in the South African radio industry. While we fondly look back at the formative years of the station and the people who made it possible, we look forward to new successes in future.

Here’s to the next 35 years of innovation and excellence,” said station manager Dewald Noel van Niekerk.

UP gives recycling the green light 2016 started off with an intensive effort by the university to improve the amount of recycling done on its campuses. Having started such an initiative in June 2014, it has now grown to encompass the recycling of waste in residences.

According to the 2015 data, approximately 2.45 tons of recyclable waste material had been removed from the campuses on a daily basis. The university aims to increase recyclable output by five tons daily.

Students are urged to partake in recycling by disposing recyclable waste in the correct bins at the various recycling stations on campus and in the residences.

Intervarsity news MICHAL-MARÉ LINDEN Tshwane University of Technology (TUT) Three TUT students have been injured in two separate robbery incidents at the Metro Rail station near the university’s Pretoria West campus. The first incident saw a student shot and admitted to hospital in a critical condition.

The other incident resulted in two students being stabbed. The pair is in a stable condition.

TUT shut down both of its Shoshanguve campuses on 24 February after #FeesMustFall protests in which protesters, who demanded a R1 500 residence food allowance and an end to financial exclusion, became disruptive to lectures. This is despite TUT’s 2015 interdict against protesters that still remains in effect. Lectures on the Shoshanguve campuses resumed the following day.

University of the Free State (UFS) Tensions flared when students and staff protesting against outsourcing interrupted a Varsity Cup rugby match between UFS Shimlas and the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University Madibaz on 22 February.

Spectators responded to the disruption by assaulting protesters.

University security and police intervened and the match continued.

The incident has been heavily criticised for its racial undertone.

UFS has condemned the violence against protesters and has launched an investigation into the violence.

The disruption of the match by protesters follows the arrests of 35 students and workers while they protested against outsourcing outside UFS’s main gate earlier that day. Workers also say that they have not been paid the wages they were promised last year following the 2015 #FeesMustFall protests.

Clarence Debeila, union organiser for the General and Industrial Workers Union, expressed concern that, while they appreciated the students’ support, certain political societies were using the protest to push their political agendas. Debeila also said workers would continue protesting until their demands were met, which include the end of outsourcing and the removal of Afrikaans as a language of tuition.

UFS announced on Monday night that lectures would be suspended due to protest action.

Ongoing protests had resulted in the vandalism of UFS residences and the university’s Law building, as well as the removal of a statue of former president CR Swart.

UFS management said on Tuesday 23 February that the situation was under control and that while protests continued, the situation was relatively calm. At the time of going to print, the university was expected to open on Monday 29 February.

North West University (NWU) Students interrupted the inauguration of the new Campus Student Representative Council (CSRC) on 24 February on NWU’s Mafikeng campus. Protesters claimed that their reason for the disruption was, among other reasons, that the new CSRC was not chosen by them but rather the university as the university had dissolved the most recent CSRC to uphold its obligations to allow management and registration to proceed. Private security used tear gas and rubber bullets to disperse the crowd. Some students were injured, but the university has denied claims that security used live ammunition and says that no students were killed.

Following this, students burnt cars, the staff cafeteria, and the science centre.

NWU suspended all activities indefinitely on its Mafikeng campus on 24 February, telling students that they will be given at least one month’s notice before the campus becomes operational again. Students from the Mafikeng campus have evacuated resulting in many being displaced. NWU says that despite requests, they cannot accommodate displaced students at its Vaal and Potchefstroom campuses. Activities at the university’s other campuses have also been suspended.

NWU announced on 25 February that it had suspended former SRC president Linda Mabengwane from NWU for three years, for reasons that “include the disruption of the registration process at the Mafikeng campus on 25 January, the assault of a fellow student on the same day, wilfully bringing the name of the university into disrepute by interfering with the rights of co-students … interfering with the managerial functions of the management of the Mafikeng campus, and engaging with the media on topics or activities that were designed to bring the NWU into disrepute”.

Mabengwane said that he would appeal the decision.

University of Cape Town (UCT) In the early hours of the morning of 24 February, protesters entered UCT’s Upper Campus and threw sewage into five building. Cleaners were called in soon after to clear the mess. Some classes were cancelled during the cleaning operations.

A silent protest was also held on Wednesday by the UCT Black Academic Caucus (BAC) as a means to highlight “different forms of violence that are being silenced on our campuses in the current crisis: structural, physical, psychological, symbolic and emotional violence”.

This follows last week’s demonstration that saw protesters erect a mock shack on campus as a symbol of their allegations that UCT has a shortage of residence accommodation for students from

disadvantaged backgrounds. Police were called in to dismantle the shack. This angered students who then torched a Jammie shuttle bus and bakkie. They also burnt paintings and petrol bombed UCT Vice-Chancellor Max Price’s office.

Eight student protesters were arrested and charged with malicious damage to property and public violence. They were released on bail the next morning and their court hearings have been postponed. UCT says that they are working to place all students who still lack residence accommodation. UCT remains open despite the disruptions.

University of the Western Cape (UWC) Workers protesting against outsourcing and demanding a R10 000 salary disrupted classes and overturned bins on the UWC Belville campus last week.

Police and security were called in following a failed arson attempt on UWC’s library. The UWC council says it will discuss workers’ demands next month when the executive meets.

University of Johannesburg (UJ) The UJ Missing Middle Campaign has raised R31 million, IOL Online reported on Sunday. Donations have been received by the university’s Vice-Chancellor and Principal Prof.

Ihron Rensburg, as well as deans of faculties at UJ and the student advisory board.

The campaign aims to raise R60 million by the end of the year for UJ’s 5 000 “missing middle” students who are too rich for NSFAS financial aid but too poor to afford university tuition.

Durban University of Technology (DUT) DUT has suspended its SRC president Sphesihle Mthembu, two other SRC members and three students following disruptions on the DUT Steve Biko campus on Monday 21 February. The disruptions saw classes halted, stones thrown and fire extinguishers set off in protest against outsourcing, student accommodation shortages, and transformation issues.

University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN) University workers protesting against outsourcing at UKZN’s Westville campus toppled a private security vehicle on 25 February.

Off-duty outsourced workers prevented workers coming in for their shift and partook in illegal protest action. Two people were also injured in the protest. Lectures continue without disruptions.

UKZN has obtained a high court order against illegally protesting workers and has requested that the employers of the workers pay their employees a “moral wage”.

Perdeby

6

Features | 29 February 2016

Health Science students receive free management training MICHAL-MARÉ LINDEN

Image provided.

SAPS warns against false statements NTOMBIKAYISE MKANDHLA The South African Police Service (SAPS) has noted an increase in the number of people submitting false statements at police stations. On 12 February, SAPS Brooklyn issued a media statement sending out a warning against the submission of such statements, which are often reports of theft from motor vehicles.

“This kind of criminality will not be tolerated,” cautions SAPS Brooklyn.

The media statement gives the example of a 33-year-old man who on 29 January made a report to SAPS Brooklyn that his wallet was stolen from his vehicle. His vehicle was parked in Hatfield. To investigate, SAPS Brooklyn worked closely with Hatfield City Improvement District (CID), which SAPS Brooklyn describes as “an additional crime

fighting resource for the Brooklyn police station”. Hatfield CID had in its possession CCTV footage of the supposed crime scene, which proved his report to be false, as his vehicle was not parked on the pavement that day. On 11 February it was confirmed that he had lied in his statement to the police and was subsequently charged with fraud.

SAPS Brooklyn emphasises that “the police officer investigating will always analyse a complainant’s statement and will find evidence of perjury if certain facts do not add up.” Moreover, from now on, “The Brooklyn police are inspecting all vehicles when cases of theft out of motor vehicles are reported. If the vehicle has already been repaired, the police will request a receipt of such repairs.” As a result, they hope to deter people from making false

statements under oath, which is an offence. “People who are making themselves guilty of this are not only abusing the police to solve their own personal problems, but they are also taking police officers away from real investigations,” SAPS Brooklyn say.

To SAPS Brooklyn, theft out of vehicles is a preventable crime as there are measures motorists can take to ensure the safety of the possessions left in their cars. Currently, they are running a campaign called “Boot it or Lose it”, hoping to raise awareness about the dangers of leaving unattended possessions in a vehicle visible to outsiders. SAPS Brooklyn cautions that “any visible loose items that are left inside a vehicle create an opportunity for would-be criminals to commit a crime”.

Students in the Health Sciences faculty will now be able to register for and complete management training free of charge. UP medical students Gabriel Nel, Jason Bassett, Bronwyn Krause and Anike Truter recognised the need for Health Sciences students to be taught about leadership, financial, team, and human resource management as their syllabuses lacked a management module. Having partnered with the Foundation for Professional Development and Medical Practice Consulting (MPC), students can now register and download the course material from the MPC website using their Health Practitioners Council of South Africa number.

In a health services profession, management plays a large role but no courses on management are offered to Health Sciences students, explains Nel. Nel says that while South Africa’s medical staff are of a high quality, they become limited in their jobs due to mismanagement in the health sector. Nel, along with his classmates, devised a plan to ensure that management training is offered at the grassroots level of the healthcare

Student Accommodation only 2km from TUKS!

system so that when students enter the system, they will be on a professional level and will have the knowledge necessary to lead and manage resources and people.

The course was launched at UP on 29 February and has now been rolled out nationally to other tertiary education institutions. The online course has no time limit, so students can take as much time as necessary to complete the course work. The course has been designed by top medical educators, so the course is of a high quality. For an additional fee, students can obtain a Higher Certificate in Management, which is a professional qualification, through the online course. Even if students don’t want to pay for the official qualification, they will still have access to the knowledge that the course provides, explains Nel. Nel hopes that providing free access to the training material will have a domino effect on the healthcare sector in five to ten years time. Students wishing to get involved in the project can contact Nel on health.management2016@gmail.com.

Students wishing to sign up for the course should log onto www.MPConsulting.co.za.

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Features | 29 February 2016

Almost a century of comic book heroes COURTNEY TINK Comic books were created during the late 1920s and were designed to be cheap, easy to read, and small. Nearly 100 years later, Perdeby takes a look at the evolution of the superhero.

On 17 February 1936, the world was introduced to the first costumed hero. The Phantom, created by Lee Falk, was a human being who didn’t possess any extraordinary powers, but his daredevil attitude earned him the title of the first comic book superhero. Just two years later, in June 1938, a new hero called Superman was introduced to the world in Action Comics #1. Superman marked the beginning of what is known as the Golden Age of comic books. This age also brought about Batman, who was created by Bob Kane to be grittier than the untainted Superman.

Although the new influx of heroes created an entirely new platform, the characters were not relatable. In April 1940 the first sidekick was introduced as Robin the Boy Wonder in order to appeal to younger audiences. A leap for feminism saw itself manifest in the Amazonian warrior known as Wonder Woman, who made her first appearance in 1941 in All Star Comics #8.

All of these characters belonged to publishing house DC comics who, in 1939, were met with an opponent under the name of Marvel Comics.

This new competitor brought about the Marvel Age in which creators like Stan Lee and Jack Kirby introduced the world to a new array of heroes, such as in 1941 when Captain America was presented in his own comic, Captain America #1, which was a great success and

PRE-2000's: BATMAN & SUPERMAN Smile Bruce!!!

boosted American pride against the backdrop of World War 2.

Marvel is famous for creating groups of heroes who are conflicting and diverse, as seen in The Avengers. They are also known for pushing boundaries, as seen in The Amazing Spiderman #96-98 where the idea of drugs was dealt with for the first time in comic book history.

Comic books were a platform which allowed readers to deal with societal issues, as seen in The X-Men where the heroes are normal people who were born with extraordinary gifts and were persecuted for them. This was a not simply a comment on unwarranted prejudice and how negative its effects were, but drew direct inspiration from the Civil Rights Movement of the 1950s and ‘60s in the US. The 1980s saw a rise in the Grim and Gritty Age, coined by comic book illustrator Frank Miller. Here comic books dealt with more realistic problems, such as the 1988 Batman one-shot cult classic The Killing Joke, which saw Batman’s arch-nemesis the Joker try to prove to Batman that all it takes is just one bad day to descend into darkness.

In 1986 Marvel was sold to Ron Perelman, a businessman who brought about the Gimmick Age. Perelman turned the comic book into a collectable hobby for all ages and films like Batman (1989) only boosted this. It could be argued that society is still in the Gimmick Age, in which heroes dominate franchising and popular culture as seen in the highly anticipated film Deadpool (2016). It is remarkable to note that even though the comic book is almost 100 years old, it is still thriving and evolving today.

THIS YEAR: BATMAN

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Illustration: Emmanuel Makhado

13 October 2015 1 May 2009 State security personnel conduct a security assessment of the President’s Nkandla homestead and recommend security upgrades costing approximately R27.9 million.

16 November 2012 President Zuma addresses Parliament about his Nkandla homestead for the first time and says he is still paying off the bond on the property.

The EFF files an application to the Constitutional Court requesting that the Court order the President to comply with the findings in the Public Protector’s report by repaying a reasonable amount of the money spent on upgrades to Nkandla. The DA later joins the application.

28 May 2015 Police Minister Nkosinathi Nhleko releases a report on Nkandla, which concludes that the President does not owe funds to the South African taxpayer.

2 February 2016 The President offers to pay back some of the money, suggesting that the Auditor-General and the Minister of Finance should determine the amount he is to repay.

9 February 2016 27 January 2013 The Department of Public Works clears President Zuma of any wrongdoing regarding his Nkandla homestead.

By - Mothusi Masibi, Bradley Duck, Huvasan Reddy

19 March 2014 Public Protector Thuli Madonsela releases her final 447 page report titled “Secure in Comfort” on the security upgrades to the President’s homestead, which finds that the President benefitted unduly from the R246 million that the state spent on the security upgrades.

President Zuma's lawyer tells the Constitutional Court that the President accepts that the Public Protectors findings against him are binding and that the Police Minister's report is meaningless. The Court reserves judgement.

29 Febraury 2016 | Features

9

Activists argue against maiden bursaries JARED DE CANHA

Illustration: Asiphe Dlulane

Zika virus: what you need to know TIJANA SAKOTA

Earlier this year, the World Health Organisation (Who) declared the Zika virus “a global health emergency”. With most cases appearing in French Polynesia, and more recently in Brazil, this virus now poses a threat to global populations. The Telegraph reported this month on four cases of the Zika virus in unborn babies in Britain, while the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports on their official website that, as of 10 February 2016, there exist 52 travel-associated Zika cases in the USA. The CDC say on their website that the Zika virus “will continue to spread, and it will be difficult to determine how and where the virus will spread over time”.

History of the virus In its fact sheet published this month, Who describes the Zika virus as “a disease caused by a virus transmitted by Aedes mosquitoes”. It was first identified in 1947 in Uganda where rhesus monkeys were found with the virus. Five years later, it was identified in humans in Uganda and Tanzania. In May 2015, the Pan American Health Organization (Paho) was alerted for the first time about the first confirmed Zika infection in Brazil.

Transmission, signs and symptoms The CDC says that the Zika virus is primarily transmitted through the bite of an infected Aedes mosquito. Other means include spreading through infected blood transfusion and sexual contact. Published on UP’s official website, Prof. Leo Braack and Prof. Marietjie Venter of UP’s Department of Medical Virology describe the symptoms of Zika as fever, rash, and joint pain, adding that, “Most infected people will, in fact, not even feel sick as the symptoms are so mild.” The complications of the virus are more evident in its recent link to cases of microcephaly, a condition in which “babies are born with reduced brain size. This is a potentially disastrous condition which threatens younger generations,” say Prof. Braack and Prof. Venter.

Treatment and prevention There is currently no vaccine to prevent Zika. However, protection from the virus is of great importance. The Who urges people to use insect repellent, wear clothing that covers as much of their body as possible, and to use screen barriers and mosquito nets during the evenings. Great emphasis is also placed on emptying, covering or cleaning containers which hold water, where mosquitos can breed. The Who cautions travellers especially. In treating symptoms of the virus, the CDC encourages people to take long rests, keep hydrated, and take appropriate medicine to reduce fever and pain. The CDC say that, “Victims very rarely die from Zika.”

Is South Africa at risk?

Prof. Braack and Prof. Venter say that, “The South African public should be made aware that there is no cause for panic in this country.” They went further in describing how the “Zika virus has never been diagnosed in people anywhere in Africa south of Uganda.” The Aedes mosquito has been present in South Africa for many decades, yet there is no reason to worry. According to Prof. Braack and Prof. Venter, “Arboviruses (viruses transmitted by arthropods) usually have an animal that functions as an amplifier host.” The virus subsequently multiplies to a high enough level to provide a source of infection. “This is either absent in South Africa or the virus has never been introduced to a susceptible amplifier host here,” they conclude.

A way forward Prof. Braack and Prof. Venter explain that, “Every South African living in the northern parts of the country, including Gauteng, will almost certainly have had numerous bites from Aedes aegypti.”

This results in no more than “a temporary itch”.

Through enhanced surveillance of the virus, training through its collaborating centres, and preparing recommendations for clinical care of victims of the virus, the Who supports countries to ultimately control the Zika virus.

What’s better than Baja?

Image provided.

SAVVAS POUROULLIS There are so many activities, societies and clubs to join at UP that some are hardly ever heard about after years spent on campus.

To engineers, one of them stands as testament to the capabilities of UP students given full creative freedom. This society is Baja, which takes part in a national and international off-road vehicle design and performance competition.

Undergraduate university teams compete with one another in the “mini Baja” competition, in which go-carts are used as they are of a more manageable size in terms of safety and finance. The national competition features local universities and consists of a

variety of challenges. The UP team typically enters two vehicles, keeping a third for testing and research.

Before a vehicle can compete in the main events, it has to pass a safety check and a brake test. The team can then enter the so-called “dynamic events”. A timed obstacle course, called a gymkhana, is designed to test the vehicle’s manoeuvrability, featuring tight turns and high-skill, low speed driving.

Acceleration is tested in drag races to determine starting positions for the endurance race, and the sledge pull features a trailer that digs more into the ground the further you pull it, testing the vehicle’s raw power.

The static judge contest focuses on aesthetics and design.

Advocates for women’s rights have appealed to the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) to investigate the practice of “virginity bursaries”, following the decision made by the uThukela District Municipality in KwaZulu-Natal in January this year to award 16 young women bursaries on the condition that they remain virgins.

This investigation was later confirmed by SAHRC spokesperson Isaac Mangena, who reported on 27 January that the SAHRC would be working closely with the Commission for Gender Equality to investigate the complaints received in response to the conditions attached to the bursaries. As part of the agreement, the young women must subject themselves to virginity testing procedures every holiday when they return from university.

A failure of the test will result in a loss of the bursary.

Women’s activists have slammed this practice as an intrusive and unfair way to link the opportunity for education with sex. Palesa Mpapa, a member of the group People Opposing Women Abuse (Powa), recently told BBC News, as reported in their article titled “Why South African mayor offers virgin scholarships”, that Powa found it “really worrying” that the municipality had focused on women only, and that this discriminatory view would not adequately address social issues such as teenage pregnancy and lowering HIV infection rates.

Similar sentiments were echoed by the DA, who have hailed the programme as infringing on the right to privacy and dignity of the young women. In an article by Ladysmith Gazette published at the end of January, the DA went on to say that while they respect that virginity testing may be a part of certain cultures, it was “inexplicable” for a government department to subject young women to such invasive procedures.

However, uThukela mayor Dudu Mazibuko has lashed out at critics of the bursary procedure and explained to Ladysmith Gazette that the municipality “did not go out looking for women who are virgins”, but rather tried to assist an organised group of young Zulu women with opportunities for education based on the instruction and training which they had received since pre-adolescence. Mazibuko went on to explain the importance that virginity has in Zulu culture, and the pride which young women take in their chastity. She also stated that the decision to help young women by affording them opportunities to study had a financial incentive for her municipality, as a group of women focused on their studies would act as role models in society and would be far cheaper to sustain than subsidising women and children on social grants. Mazibuko also clarified that the virginity testing was done as part of cultural rites which young Zulu women partake in, and was not a decision imposed on them forcing mandatory virginity testing. She also explained to Ladysmith Gazette that sympathy would be shown in instances of rape and sexual violence, which would be investigated in light of continuing a young woman’s bursary.

The BBC interviewed Thubelihle Dlodlo, an 18-year-old woman who is one of the recipients of this bursary. Dlodlo told BBC that remaining a virgin was her “only chance to get an education” as a result of the financial constraints her parents were under. Dlodlo also explained that she did not mind undergoing regular virginity tests because virginity testing was a part of her culture and “not an invasion of privacy” because she felt pride after confirmation of her purity.

In 2004, the SAHRC recommended that virginity testing be re-evaluated and brought within the parameters of the Constitution and the right to privacy in its submission to the Social Development Department. Many activists anxiously await the findings of the Commission.

Vehicles are rated on the intelligence and originality of their designs. The UP team has repeatedly won the static judge portion of the competition in South Africa, with the two vehicles they enter coming first and second, time and time again. Globally, UP is one of the up-and-coming teams, showing consistent improvement over the last decade. They first competed internationally in 2007. In 2013, UP came 19th out of over 100 teams.

In terms of sponsors, both the UP team and the mini Baja competition at large have had some rough patches recently. Sasol used to sponsor the entire competition, but pulled out last year.

Luckily, Armscor (Armaments Corporation of South Africa), which used to rent out the space to hold the competition at Sasol’s expense, allowed the use of its facilities free of charge last year.

The UP team’s primary sponsor is Deutsche Post DHL. Other sponsors include HAAS Tooling, Certus Engineering, MECAD, Bosch and – for the first time ever – the UP Department of Mechanical Engineering.

With the annual South African competition coming up in October, the Baja team is already making preparations. They have confidence that they will add another glass trophy to their extensive collection.

10

Entertainment | 29 February 2016

Image provided.

Fiësta awards honour the arts ELMARIE KRUGER

On Thursday, 18 February, the annual KykNet Fiësta awards celebrated its sixth instalment. The Fiëstas celebrate and acknowledge various stage productions that are performed at festivals such as the KKNK (Klein Karoo National Arts Festival) and Aardklop, while also rewarding heavyweights in the drama and music industries for their contributions. Recipients of these Lifetime Achievement awards went to dramatist Pieter Fourie, musician Ronnie Samaai and actress Lida Botha.

The evening’s hosts were actor and comedian Pierre Breytenbach and veteran actress June van Merch. They were joined by guest hosts such as actress Leandie du Randt and radio and TV personality Rozanne McKenzie.

Productions and performers who received awards during the evening included Stian Bam (best actor), Tinarie van Wyk Loots (best actress), Marlo Minnaar in the production Santa Gamka (best acting in a solo performance) and Nathani Lüneburg for her visual arts presentation at the KKNK. The award for most popular festival went to Innibos, with other nominees including the University of Stellenbosch’s Woordfees, Aardklop, KKNK and

Oppikoppi.

The Fiëstas panel attended 112 productions at festivals across the country in order to select the various nominees. The panel included Herman van der Westhuizen, Barnie Mans, Wayne Muller and Laetitia Pople, among others.

The audience were also treated to live excerpts from some of the nominated productions, including Askoop, Die Dag is Bros, Amper, Vrystaat and comedy by Schalk Bezuidenhout. Further entertainment was provided by pop group Adam, Bittereinder’s Jaco van der Merwe, vocal diva Vicky Sampson, the Esther Nasser company of dancers, SircuSynergy, Lizelle le Roux on violin, Khanyisile Mthethwa on flute, Sydney Mavundla on trumpet and select members from the Tuks Camerata choir.

“The Fiëstas are an important event for KykNet, [as well as an opportunity] to acknowledge talent…[and we honour] the best interpretations and creative work that have taken place on our festival stages over the past year,” says Karen Meiring, head of KykNet. The ceremony was broadcasted live on KykNet, and was a celebration of not only the beauty of art, but also its diversity and ability to engage viewers and listeners emotionally.

Image: LiveScience.com

Dolls like me: Barbie gets a body positive makeover AAISHA KALLIER Barbie just got a major makeover. The bleach blonde, size 0 Barbie is no longer the only doll available. Mattel, the company that created Barbie, has released three new body types for the doll, each with several skin tones, hair and eye colours, and textures.

These are all part of the 2016 Fashionistas collection.

Arriving in 1959, Barbie’s proportions and figure suggested a beauty standard that was unattainable for millions of children who played with the doll. Through the ages, Barbie began to get thinner with bigger breasts. There are some studies that link the early exposure to the “unrealistically thin” Barbie doll to the development of an unhealthy body image seen in young girls.

This new generation of Barbie dolls is a diverse representation of many types of women. The addition of the petite, curvy, and tall Barbie has brought a positive light to Mattel in view of their social responsibility and moving with the times. Altogether, there are 29 unique dolls, each with new outfits and accessories.

Explaining their decision for the Fashionistas collection, the official Barbie website noted that “Girls everywhere now have infinitely more ways to play out their stories and spark their imaginations through Barbie. Along with more overall diversity, we proudly add three new body types to our line.” The new dolls are certainly more realistic and representative of a wider range of females. The company’s hashtag trend #TheDollEvolves certainly sums up the campaign and the Fashionistas collection. These new body positive dolls have created an appreciation for every body type and will help young children realise that beauty is in everyone.

Mystery Ghost Bus launches new Irene tour

Photo: Elmarie Kruger

ELMARIE KRUGER

Image: Claptone.com

Claptone vists SA’s shores for Ultra

KOJO ESSAH

Berlin-born house artist Claptone visited South Africa for Ultra 2016. Perdeby caught up with Claptone after Ultra, which took place from 26-28 February at the Nasrec Expo Centre in Johannesburg.

How do you prepare for a music event such as Ultra?

After meditating, I go through all my music and select the perfect Claptone festival tracks.

You have a very unique mask you wear when you perform.

How did this mask come to be part of your persona?

An old mask manufacturer gave me this mask centuries back in a land which is now part of France. Since then I wear it and never take it off. It has brought me much luck and also some grief over the past decades, but I accepted that mask as part of me. There is no Claptone without the golden Venetian mask.

Your debut album, Charmer, was released in October 2015.

You stated that this album has been in the works for a long time. Could you please elaborate more on this?

The idea of making an album came right after the success of [the single] “No eyes”. This song was laid out as a B-Side in 2013 and became bigger and bigger in the clubs, [even] though it had a full vocal on top. This gave me the confidence to think about making an album that works in the club but is a “real album”, not only a compilation of club tracks. It needed to be an album in a “classic” sense: a collection of vocal songs that relate to each

other, that make sense in their order and something you can listen to in one go. This takes time, but on top of that, when planning the album I had the idea of working with singers that I personally like a lot. Singers with charisma, vocalists who make a difference and are different to what you would usually hear on the radio.

I [also] wanted to hear voices with character [that] you don’t hear on every house music record, like Nathan Nicholson of The Boxer Rebellion, Jimi Tenor, Clap Your Hands Say Yeah, Jay-Jay Johanson [and] Peter Bjorn and John. I approached them in a very old-fashioned way, I contacted them personally. I wrote them letters and emails, and asked them in person where possible. Their presence and unique character is very important for the overall vibe. I didn’t want any studio singers, I wanted characters. These artists give my music a voice.

The album’s first single, “Puppet theatre”, features Peter Bjorn and John. What was it like to work with this Swedish indie band?

Working with them has been a precious experience to me. We met up in an old cave somewhere in the woods, brought some candles and hummed melodies to one another. Then Peter came up with some deeply critical lyrics analysing the state of turbo capitalism we all live in and suffer from.

What were your expectations for your visit to South Africa?

It [was] more like a demand. I really [wanted to] see the enthusiastic South African crowds again, who I had the chance to play for at Truth nightclub last time around. I love [them].

Illusionist and parapsychologist Mark Rose-Christie has been thrilling South African mystery-seekers since 2001 with his Mystery Ghost Bus tours, which are based on the original London Ghost Bus tours.

On Saturday 20 February, tour-goers were given the opportunity

by Rose-Christie and associates to enter the Smuts House Museum, known as “one of the country’s most well-documented haunted houses”, according to Rose-Christie and his team. This tour marked a brand new Pretoria route for the Mystery Ghost Bus, which also includes two (much-needed) pub stops, and has been nominated for an international Luxury Travel Guide award.

As the tour begins, you will be led through some of the rooms in the Smuts House Museum. Some background, a few ghost stories and a jump-scare or two later, and you’ll make your way to the tour bus where the fun really begins. The bus stops at many famously haunted locations, such as Erasmus Castle, the Palace of Justice and Melrose House.

While on the bus, you will be treated to EVP (Electronic Voice Phenomenon) recordings, explanations of science and paranormal occurrences, and radio drama-style readings of ghost stories by Jamie Bartlett of Rhythm City fame.

During one of the tour’s two pub stops, the mechanics behind dowsing rods are explained and tour-goers are also given the opportunity to try dowsing for themselves. For those interested in the tour, it is important to note that flat, closed shoes are a must, as well as a torch, camera, jacket, umbrella, and money for the pub stops. The restaurant at Smuts House also offers dinner before the tour, which is not included in the ticket price.

The tour’s climax is a walk through the haunted forest at Smuts House, which will leave your hair standing on end. The overall experience is enjoyable and memorable, and if you have a keen interest in the paranormal, you’ll want to return for another spin on the Mystery Ghost Bus as soon as possible.

29 February 2016 | Entertainment

11

Image: ConsequenceOfSound.net

The Life of Pablo Kanye West KOJO ESSAH With 21 Grammy awards, 32 million albums sold and 100 million digital downloads under his belt, prolific and controversial American artist, producer and fashion designer Kanye West needs no introduction. His latest album, The Life of Pablo, has gone through several name and song changes before being officially released. This is West’s seventh solo album, and it has shed a significant portion of the abrasiveness from his previous album, Yeezus, in favour of a gospel-infused hip-hop sound that exceeds all previous expectations, thanks to West’s unorthodox approach to music.

The gospel elements of this album may seem like a gimmick to some, but they are authentic facets that give it a unique sound and many positive messages. This is evident in the opening track “Ultralight beam”, in which West credits his success in life to God. Fellow Chicago artist Chance the Rapper features on this track, giving one of his best performances. This church organ and choir-backed song sounds like it was taken straight from a gospel record and perfectly sets the tone for the rest of the album. The gospel elements are prevalent throughout the album, especially on the track “Low lights”. It is a testimony of faith spoken by a woman who declares her love for God. The sentiments here are also shared by West, who thanks God for all the blessings he has in his life, such as his family and music.

Life, however, has not been all positive for West. On the track “Father stretch my hands part 2” he talks about his car crash, his parents’ divorce, his mother’s passing, and other personal stories.

On the deeply introspective “Real friends”, West reflects on how he has certain people in his life just because he’s famous, and he wonders how many “real friends” he has.

West is infamous for his ego, and that also factors into The Life of Pablo. The track “Famous” shows him bragging about his successes, but because of his achievements, he claims he has earned the right to do so.

It is impossible to cover everything on The Life of Pablo, from the deeply intriguing and debatable album name to each individual song. West has created a near-flawless album with phenomenal guest performances, jaw-dropping production, lyrics that encompass every facet of his artistry, and the album’s uplifting gospel and hip-hop fusion. Love him or hate him, West continues to push the boundaries to create music that is unlike anything else on The Life of Pablo, making it an unmissable musical experience.

Calendar

Illustration: Asiphe Dlulane

If book blurbs were honest ELMARIE KRUGER

It has been said time and again that you shouldn’t judge a book by its cover. It has also been said that you should rather judge a book by its blurb – the paragraph at the back. Sometimes the blurbs are written to make books seem better than they are, and can mislead you into thinking that you’re reading the “great classic of our generation”, when really you’re about to trudge through 628 pages of pretentious, experimental gobbledygook. To help you avoid this, Perdeby has put together a list of book blurbs for famous novels, written as if they were honest about the book’s contents.

Oedipus Rex – Sophocles Or, How I met my mother: a fanfiction by Sigmund Freud. If warped relationships with older women and unwitting incest are your field of interest, then by all means, give this Greek tragedy a go. Why not read Marlene van Niekerk’s Triomf while you’re at it? And perhaps stay away from schoolyards.

The Great Gatsby – F. Scott Fitzgerald At its core, this Jazz Age novel is a story about a man who spends a summer becoming one of literature’s most famous third

Lost in translation: Japanese self-censorship THOMAS MARAIS It’s no secret that Japan strives to be different from the West when it comes to entertainment, and this difference is clearly expressed in the video games the country exports. However, games released in Japan are often radically different from the Western version, and not just in terms of language.

It’s an old phenomenon, dating back to the Nintendo Entertainment System, with games such as Top Secret: Resurrection of Hitler being renamed to Bionic Commando for its release in the West, and having all references to Nazis removed and replaced with innocuous versions, such as Hitler being renamed Master-D. A less egregious example would be the renaming of the spell “Holy” in the original Final Fantasy to “Pearl”, as Squaresoft wanted to avoid religious connotations, something they would repeat in their later Final Fantasy games, specifically IV and VI. Many of these self-censorship cases also involve the removal of blood, tobacco, drugs, alcohol and foul language in order to retain a lower age rating in the West, a phenomenon also seen in anime Image: IGN.com

17 March: Mopanie St. Patrick’s Day – Papa’s Real Food 17 March: Nicki Minaj: The Pinkprint Tour – Ticketpro Dome 2 April: Sowing the Seeds Music & Lifestyle Festival – Emmarentia Dam 14 May: Oesdag 2016 – Pretoria High School Old Boys Club

To get your event listed in our event calendar, send the date, event name and venue to entertainment@perdeby.co.za or tweet us (@PerdebyE). UP societies are welcome to send their events, too.

wheels. As it progresses, the book also becomes the novelised embodiment of #FirstWorldProblems. However, the ending will make you rethink that Gatsby-themed party you’ve been planning.

A Game of Thrones – George R.R. Martin Pick a character. Do you like them? Good. Now, become really invested in their story. Do you feel an emotional connection forming? Very good. Oh look – your chosen character has died.

Repeat process ad infinitum.

The Catcher in the Rye – J.D. Salinger Also known as How to be hipster: a counter-culture handbook, featuring that guy in the beanie from your ENG 110 class who tries to read his “deep” short stories to any unlucky soul who will listen.

Finnegans Wake – James Joyce If you Google this book’s title, some of the first results to appear are “Is Finnegans Wake worth reading?” and “Is Finnegans Wake a joke?” Go figure. This novel is notorious for being one of the most complex books in the English language, and you’ll probably lie about finishing it.

It’s about time...

and movies imported from Japan.

More recently, Japanese game developers such as Game Freak, makers of the celebrated Pokémon series of video games, have removed references and mini games related to gambling in their remakes of earlier generation games. Renowned publisher Nintendo has also recently removed a head-patting mini game from their localisation of the strategy role playing game Fire Emblem Fates, which releases for the 3DS on 19 February this year.

Game publisher Square Enix has also made some changes to the upcoming localisation of the second Bravely Default game, Bravely Second: End Layer, with the replacement of a NativeAmerican inspired costume with a cowboy-style outfit.

These changes have caused much controversy on the Internet, with some fan sites being outraged that their version of the game will be watered down compared to the original, while others are relieved that the games are seeing a Western release at all. These controversies are not helped by mistranslated statements by the companies, or early looks at scenes in-game which have their true meaning lost in translation, and rapidly misinterpreted.

12

Entertainment | 29 February 2016

Adelle Nqeto brings her smooth sound to Mieliepop Image: Jean de Villiers

THOMAS MARAIS Image: Shen Scott

HitRECord: collaborate with the world SHAUN SPROULE

Many people dream of pursuing a career in the arts, but once they have written their first book, script, poem or taken a series of photographs or even put together a short film, they often wonder who to show it to, who can advise them and, most importantly, how can they start making money from their art.

This is exactly what HitRECord is all about. HitRECord is an online collaboration platform headed by actor and director Joseph Gordon-Levitt and his brother Daniel. The company has a website and mobile app which runs similar to a social media platform.

Members can upload their work, which can then be used by other members in collaborative pieces or even just to get feedback from like-minded people. The company caters for a wide variety of art, from music to painting and everything in-between. The best part is that any money made from your art will be paid back to you if

it is used by HitRECord in any of their projects. People can post challenges, sometimes from Gordon-Levitt himself, for missing pieces of projects that need to be finished. This mostly involves editing and sound mixing, but can extend to missing sections of the project or parts of compilations that the company is putting together.

The company has put out some impressive products since its conception. It often enters its short films into film festivals and has received many awards. The 2013 movie Don Jon starring GordonLevitt was a product of this company.

They also produce a television series, HitRECord on TV, which won an Emmy Award for outstanding creative achievement in interactive media. They are currently working on a poetry anthology themed around body parts, a book of patterns to colour in, and a photography and cinematography project called “The Lens Project”.

Image: Seth Zworestine

Diamond Thug releases debut EP SHAUN SPROULE

Capetonian electro rock band Diamond Thug is set to release their debut EP Monday Will Have to Wait at the end of February. In the past few years the band has grown from a two-piece electro act to a four-person band with a unique sound and a presence in the South African music scene. Perdeby caught up with Diamond Thug to talk about their new EP. Diamond Thug is Chantel Van T (vocals and keys), Danilo Queiros (bass and production), Adrian Culhane (guitar, backing vocals and production), and Ted Buxton (drums).

You were one of 84 bands chosen to record your singles in Boston at The Converse Rubber Tracks Studio, working with Dave Minehan from Woolly Mammoth Studios. How was the experience?

Danilo: The whole process was unreal. Getting selected was a huge confidence boost for us. I think there were [over] 9000 entrants globally, and we managed to secure one of 84 spots. That was huge for us! Getting flown over, put up in a hotel and taken around a beautiful city like Boston was definitely not on our list of expected achievements for last year, never mind getting to record there. We managed to get two tracks done, both “Long way” and “Mind’s eye” while we were over there, [but] it was rushed as we only had two days in studio. But that’s not really a problem when working with people like Dave, because he allows you to grow more in two days than you would in two months. People like that have so much experience and every sentence they speak just offers you a new perspective or direction.

Your single “Long way”, which as become quite popular, is included on the EP. Is it a good indication of what listeners can expect from the EP? Adrian: Yes and no. Yes because our sound has developed a lot over the past year and “Long way” sort of marked the beginning of that. So in that sense it’s an indication of how the band is sounding at the moment and that ties through the whole EP. No

because we do not really define our sound by any genre, we write songs that differ a lot. One of the songs on the EP, “Beauty through the devil’s door”, starts off in a soulful, electronic way and by the end it sounds more like indie-rock than anything else.

Then [there’s] “Mind’s eye”, which is straight up rock ‘n’ roll and “Miami”, which leans more toward alternative pop. But the overall sound of the EP is very groove-orientated and that’s pretty consistent.

Last year, you performed at most of the top music festivals and venues. Are there any that stood out?

Adrian: Well, our favourite festival this past year was probably one of the smaller festivals that we played at, Smoking Dragon.

It’s in the middle of the Drakensburg, in a beautiful setting, [and] it was super relaxing and the perfect way to end off our year and celebrate the new year. The show was also really good. Everyone was on such a high for New Year’s Eve and the energy was great!

Chantel Van T recently released her own solo album, We’re still running. What was the response to the release like?

Chantel: It’s been really good! I worked with Adrian on the album and we’re really happy with how things sound. The response has been great, we just recently held an album launch in Cape Town with Sean Koch, who also released his EP, and it sold out, so I guess that’s cool. It’s just really nice to have some of my work out there and know that people are engaging with it. I’m excited to add this EP to that!

What are the group’s favourite songs on the EP? Ted: I think we all agree on this one: “Beauty through the devil’s door”. It’s a song that really builds and builds and builds, and the climax at the end of the song, where Adrian takes a guitar solo, is super fun. Then I’d say we all really love “Mind’s eye”, because it’s so much fun to play. It’s a real let-it-all-go song that makes you want to move!

Diamond Thug will be at Arcade Empire on 24 March for their official EP launch in Pretoria.

Adelle Nqeto of Flint, Meet Spark fame, is a singer-songwriter from Pretoria who will be performing at Mieliepop this March.

Perdeby chatted to Nqeto to find out what she expects from her Mieliepop performance.

You’re performing at Mieliepop this year. What are your expectations of the festival?

I’m really excited – I’ve heard only good things about the atmosphere of the festival. Also, the line-up looks incredible so I’m keen to get to soak it up. So, chilled vibes, good music and friendly people [are] really what I’m expecting.

What can festivalgoers expect from your set?

A good combo of original stuff, as well as some interesting cover choices, which may or may not include me trying my hand at rapping.

You’re associated with Flint, Meet Spark. Have you found much difference between playing in a group and playing solo?

It’s definitely very different. I have much more control of the sounds, as well as the dynamic obviously, since it’s just me now.

So there’s a lot more freedom in that sense. It’s also a little more unnerving – being the only person on stage is something to get used to. There are positive and negative things about playing solo.

I’m glad I get to do both.

Do you prefer playing at smaller venues, or in larger festival atmospheres?

I think smaller venues are incredible for songwriters, because people really get to focus on the words more. Also, it’s much more of an intimate setup. This will be my first festival as a solo act, so I’m not sure what that atmosphere will be like, but I’m curious to find out!

Do you have any new music in the pipeline?

Yes, I’ve been writing some new songs, which I’ll start incorporating into my set soon!

Where did you draw your lyrical inspiration from for your tracks “Sailor’s draw” and “Sojourner”?

Both are exaggerated versions of experiences from my own life.

“Sailor’s draw” is about things falling apart and the will to start again, and “Sojourner” is a love story about a wanderer who finds someone worth staying for.

Why did you choose to perform “Sojourner” live on your YouTube channel?

It was all a bit of a whim – the way that whole song and video came together. We thought a live recording would be a much better way to capture what [the drummer] and I had going. We also were working with a deadline, so the live recording made sense at the time. It’ll be an incredible song to try put together and record in studio though, which I definitely plan to do!

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29 February 2016 | Fun and Games

13

Pssst...

Pssst… has been away for far too long, although Pssst… can’t say that much has happened in Pssst…’s absence.

Pssst… wasn’t at all surprised to hear that the annual Miss Kollege event soon devolved into Miss Carnage, as girls were apparently falling all over the catwalk – whether this was due to stage fright or inebriation, Pssst… can’t really tell. Pssst… was even less surprised to hear of the Klaradyn first-year parading around in her less-than-modest dress well after the event had ended. It’s okay, Welpies, Pssst… will see you on the tables at Aandklas next Thursday.

Erika and Vividus Men must think they’re hot stuff for winning Valentine’s netball this year. Pssst… has some harsh news for you, however. On an earth that is slowly falling into the black hole at the centre of the Milky Way, such petty achievements mean nothing.

Pssst… has been wondering why the Kloostersaal has been so packed lately. Recently, Pssst… realized that it’s likely because Boekenhout has decided to become the new Mopanie and buy all the junk food they can carry. Seriously, Ysters, Pssst… isn’t a pretty sight when Pssst… is hangry, so stop clogging up the queues (and your arteries) and buying all the fresh chips.

Perhaps Boekenhout’s newly-forming potbellies were the

reason why Magrietjie’s semi-week event with the Ysters was more of a semi-weak event?

Still on the subject of queues, Pssst… is appalled at the Katjiepiering semis and their queue-jumping ways. Just because you’re the only girls at TuksMonate, doesn’t mean that you can skip a line of 30 people to get your dinner. Even Pssst… knows that gender equality doesn’t work that way. No wonder Olympus ditched the rude Katte on Valentine’s Day and decided to carry on their Valentine’s tradition with Curlitzia instead. Can Pssst… get you some ointment for that burn, Katjie?

How do you know that someone does CrossFit? They tell you. How do you know that someone is from Olienhout? They tell you. Pssst… has had more than enough of the Houte and their constant bragging about their (non-existent) fitness levels.

Pssst… gets it, Houte, you have confidence issues.

Pssst… would love to know why Sonop has been so quiet lately? Has the strain of being old men finally gotten to you?

Judging by how things are going at Kollege, they might have something that can help you with that.

Pssst… is getting tired of the slow flow of res news, and Pssst… is asking nicely for your gossip donations during this difficult time, which you can send to pssst@perdeby.co.za.

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14

Sport | 29 February 2016

2016

vodacom bulls/tukkies

fixtures

FEBRUARY 8 15 22

FNB Tuks vs FNB NWU-Puk (15-38) | 16h45 | Tuks Stadium, Pretoria FNB Tuks vs FNB Shimlas | 18h30 | Tuks Stadium, Pretoria FNB Tuks vs FNB Maties | 19h00 | Danie Craven Stadium, Stellenbosch DHL Stormers vs Vodacom Bulls | 17h05 | DHL Newlands, Cape Town

29

27

FNB Tuks V FNB Ikeys | 16h45 | UCT Rugby Fields, Cape Town

march Vodacom Bulls vs Rebels | 15h00 | Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria

7 14

5

FNB Tuks V FNB NMMU | 19h00 | Tuks Stadium, Pretoria FNB Tuks V FNB UJ | 18h30 | Tuks Stadium, Pretoria Vodacom Bulls vs Cell C Sharks | 19h00 | Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria

21

FNB Tuks V FNB CUT | 18h30 | CUT Rugby Stadium, Bloemfontein

28

ROUND 8: TO BE CONFIRMED

Sunwolves vs Vodacom Bulls | 12h50 | Singapore National Stadium

18 26

APRIL Vodacom Bulls vs Toyota Cheetahs | 19H10| Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria Southern Kings vs Vodacom Bulls | 19h10 | Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, PE

11

2 9

FINAL: TO BE CONFIRMED Vodacom Bulls vs Reds | 17h05 | Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria Force vs Vodacom Bulls | 13h05 | NIB Stadium, Perth

16 29

may Brumbies vs Vodacom Bulls | 11h40 | Canberra Stadium, Canberra Waratahs vs Vodacom Bulls | 11h40 | Allianz Stadium, Sydney Vodacom Bulls vs DHL Stormers | 19h10 | Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria Vodacom Bulls vs Emirates Lions | 17h05 | Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria

6 14 21 28

july Jaguares vs Vodacom Bulls | TBC | Velez Sarsfield Stadium, Beunos Aires Vodacom Bulls vs Sunwolves | 17h05 | Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria Toyota Cheetahs vs Vodacom Bulls | 20h10 | Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein 1st Seed vs 8th Seed

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3rd Seed vs 6th Seed

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29 February 2016 | Sport

15

A tribute to TuksCricket coach Pierre de Bruyn Road to Rio countdown:

Image provided

TAY LETHULOE AND CARLI-ANN FURNO February marks the formal departure of TuksCricket coach Pierre de Bruyn. The TuksCricket team recently came together in the Rembrandt Hall for a bittersweet event that celebrated their recent Varsity Cup victory, and also served as the send-off for a man to whom the club owes much of its success. De Bruyn occupied his position as head coach from February 2010 and will soon set off to England to embark on a new challenge as second team head coach and elite skills coach for Leicestershire County Cricket Club.

The event was attended by TuksSport, UP Vice-Chancellor and Principal Prof. Cheryl de la Rey, friends, and colleagues who came to pay tribute to De Bruyn’s contributions over the years. De Bruyn reflected on the defining moment of his career in a speech and said, “In 2010 I walked into a club that was under-achieving, to say the least. They had not won the premier league in three years and were riddled with internal problems. I knew I had to change this around, so I took 23 players camping. I sat around a

bonfire with my boys for three nights and I got them on my side. That’s how we started this journey.”

The TuksCricket coach reached a pinnacle of his career at the university, claiming an unprecedented double win at the Red Bull Championships with the team in London in 2014 and Dehradun, India in 2015. The coach was placed in the limelight last year when he was deemed “Coach of the Year” at the Gauteng Sport Awards.

Over the last six years of his career, he saw victory at the Northern Cricket Union (NCU) Premier League and NCU Knock Out Competition for five seasons, victory at the NCU T20 Competition and the Momentum National Club Championships for three seasons, victory at the USSA Cricket Tournament three times, and won the VarsityCricket trophy. Some of his other awards include five NCU Club of Excellence titles, four TuksSport Club of the Year titles, and two TuksSport Team of the Year awards.

Over and above his achievements at the club, all who attended his farewell made it clear that it was his legacy that he will be remembered for. After undoubtedly instilling a “winning culture” in the players of the club, De Bryun described his coaching relationship with the team in a specific light and said, “Every single time I drove home after training, I used to think about how this job allowed me to hold the dreams of young men in my hands, and I could not let myself mess that up.”

The team will now be under the leadership of Chris Kruger, who has begun his tenure on a high as his team claimed the 2016 VarsityCricket title. This will put them in good stead to win the Red Bull Cricket Championship for a third time as they head to Sri-Lanka later this year to represent South Africa. Kruger hopes to continue the relationships that have been formed with the players and commented on the year ahead, saying, “There are certainly big boots that I have been given to fill, but we will certainly continue the legacy of growing a brand that we are proud of. I am grateful to Pierre for the foundation he has set.”

Investing in an athletic future: TuksSport High School ZUKO QUSHEKA AND CARLI-ANN FURNO UP is renowned for producing some of the most talented athletes in the country. The High Performance Centre (HPC) has produced the likes of Wenda Nel, Akani Simbine and Henricho Bruintjies, who have represented the university on an international level and gone on to join an elite group of world ranked track athletes. To uphold this kind of success, UP invests in grassroots through the young, up-and-coming athletes of the TuksSport High School.

This high school nurtures, molds and grooms the athletic future of South Africa.

Catering for those talented in sports, TuksSports High School offers Grade 8-12 learner athletes the unique opportunity to mix their sporting talents with academic success in an environment of excellence created by the HPC and UP. This institution sets itself apart through the quality education that is provided for both South African and international athletes.

The LC de Villiers Sport campus is home to the sporting and accommodation facilities where learners reside and train, while the school is located a few kilometers away on the Groenkloof campus. After morning sessions at the HPC, learners are taken to school by bus and brought back to train later in the afternoon.

Class sizes vary depending on the learners, but do not exceed a 1:27 teacher-learner ratio. Lunch is prepared for the learners per the guidelines of a sport nutritionist and is served in the school canteen.

TuksSport High School has produced some phenomenal youth athletes like Gift Leotlela, a sprinter who recently broke the South African 100 m record for his age group in a time of 10.20 seconds, becoming the second fastest sprinter in history at youth level. In an interview with Perdeby, he spoke about the benefits of going to TuksSport High School and said, “Coming here has given me so many more opportunities [that have] changed me into a better athlete.”

Other TuksSport High School leaners include Gizelde Strauss, who won the 2015 ITU Duathlon World Championship for the junior women’s race in Adelaide, and Dylan Naidoo, who not only matriculated with four distinctions but began the year as the winner of the prestigious Nomads Dr Bam golf tournament.

These “mini-Tukkies” might not be varsity students yet, but through their accomplishments and dedication, they highlight the possibilities of success that TuksSport hopes to see unfold in the future.

Gift Leotlela. Image provided.

meet Wenda Nel

Image provided.

CARLI-ANN FURNO If you are an athletics supporter, you will know that in less than 200 days the Rio de Janeiro Olympic Games are set to kick off.

In a special moment for South Africa, the country will watch its athletes use their abilities to leave a mark on what is arguably the most prestigious athletic meet in the world. What makes this moment particularly special is knowing that many of these athletes are our very own UP-Tuks talent. Perdeby will be meeting with one UP athlete every month who has qualified for the Rio Olympics.

This month we got to sit down with 400 m hurdles star Wenda Nel, who is currently ranked tenth in the world.

The 2015 Beijing World Championship saw a moment in history for South African athletes that will not be soon forgotten. When you saw the athletes in your social circle, like Wayde van Niekerk, cross the finish line with a gold medal, how did this affect you?

They inspire me a lot. Sometimes you wonder whether you can get through your race, or whether you have enough guts to show, and to see these guys really stand up as an example is a big motivator, and something I aspire to achieve.

You have tweeted that, “The will to win means nothing without the will to prepare.” Each athlete will embark on a unique road of preparation for Rio this year. What does yours involve?

My Road to Rio is an exciting one. I have support that will carry me throughout the year. I will do a few local meets in South Africa. The National Championship will be the biggest one. From there I will go to Europe for some stronger competitions where I will compete against some of the world’s best. The races will help me build up for the Rio Games and assess where I am. I plan to stay motivated, go to the track everyday, keep my head held high and treat each training session as if it were my last.

Something that most athletes are able to relate to is learning to wait for the perfect time to allow certain goals to unfold.

Is there anything you are hoping to achieve when the time is right?

When we train together, the hurdles team always joke about how we run for that one in every ten races that will be perfect. There is so much that can go wrong in every race. Hurdles is very technical, but I do believe that there is a really perfect race waiting for me. If it could be a peak in the Olympic final, break the South African record and get a place on the podium – that would be my perfect time.

The Road to Rio has been spoken of as the road to South Africa becoming one of the best sprinting nations in the world.

How do you hope to contribute to this moment in history?

I would like to better my time and break some records, if possible, to contribute to the history of South Africa. But for me, it is actually more of a personal contribution. I love what I do and enjoy this sport. Every time I step onto the track I find joy in the talent I have been given, and I want to fulfil that to the best of my ability. It is important not to just focus on the records, but to really enjoy and think about the difference you can make with the sport that you are doing.

This is a special year for South African athletic supporters, but also a very special time for UP students who see athletes like you representing the university on such an internationally recognised level. What does representing UP-Tuks mean to you?

It is a special moment. I really appreciate all the support that is behind all Tuks athletes. I love knowing that I am not only representing my country, but the club that I have been a part of since I started my studies after school.

Go to our website to watch the first interview of our “Road to Rio” series.

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The ultimate pursuit: adventuring across the African continent

Images provided.

CARLI-ANN FURNO Adventurer and former UP student Bernie Theron set off on 20 February to take on his biggest challenge yet. He cycled out from Cape Town to embark on a bicycle trip that will stretch through 11 countries across the African continent in nine months. An adventure of such extremity is not without a cause, and will serve to raise awareness and funds for climate change projects in Africa. Theron has called this specific project “Wild for Change”, and has teamed up with a social enterprise known as Greenpop, who have agreed to plant 22 trees in every country that he travels to.

In 2014 the young adventurer found his way

into the spotlight when he received the Mountain Club of South Africa Supertramp Award, which ultimately sponsored his solo trek across the daunting mountains of Iceland. In an interview with Perdeby, Theron explained, “My previous expeditions and pursuit of adventure have always been for my own personal gain. I have come to a place where I want to use my sense of adventure to fight for a cause that is bigger than myself, even if that means handing over the comforts of my life.”

Theron will not only pedal across each border, but challenge himself to accomplish an extreme adventure specific to the country he finds himself in. The first stop will be Lesotho, where he plans to hike the 220 km Grand Traverse down the

Drakensberg. The next will be in Swaziland and then Zimbabwe. A mysterious forest awaits his exploration in Mozambique and was apparently spotted by tourists for the first time on Google Maps. He’ll soon be off to paddle for 600 km along Lake Malawi, and after the predicted duration of a month, he will be climbing up the active volcanoes of Tanzania. In Kenya he will explore the heights of Mount Algon and cycle to a rural village near Lake Turkana, before he turns around to cycle back down the continent.

He will stop in Zambia for a tree planting expedition and take on an extreme adventure that awaits him in Botswana that involves trekking across the waterless Sau Pans in the heat of summer. Nambia is up next to climb to the peak

of the Brandberg mountain, before he finally arrives in the Western Cape again, but this time to journey into the mountains for 11 days of solo survival.

When questioned about his training for such a journey that will test the physical endurance of his body, he said, “To be honest, the only training I have really done is watch Star Wars and drink beer.” This does not bother him, as he believes that his passion for the outdoors and love for nature has given him a sense of responsibility. He describes this adventure as the “ultimate pursuit” to protect what he knows best.

Tuks Student Gym: a first-hand account

Photo: Ciske van den Heever

ERIN SLINGERLAND It is almost two months into the year and, like us, you may be looking at your New Year’s resolutions feeling a little defeated. The Perdeby Sport team recently pulled themselves together after far too many Valentine’s Day chocolates

and headed to the Tuks Student Gym (TSG) in order to provide you with a first-hand experience of exactly what it is like.

Fake it until you make it: The first visit may be tough if you are not completely sure where TSG actually is. It is of utmost importance to avoid feeling hopelessly lost among the attractive

athletes that roam the LC de Villiers Sport campus. Our advice is to calmly approach any of the knowledgeable (and very helpful) security guards with your slick gym outfit and new Nike tekkies. They will be more than willing to assist you find your way.

Yes, TSG is “legit”: We had no idea what to expect walking into the building, and soon discovered that although the TSG is by no means a Virgin Active or Planet Fitness in terms of size or calibre, it provides the same service for a “student-on-a-budget” looking to achieve their fitness goals. There is a large section for lifting weights, so those looking to “make gains” have ample opportunity to do so. There is also a smaller section for cardio training. This worked perfectly for those “get-in and get-out” kind of days, burning calories and building up a sweat in no time at all.

Beat the queues: We seldom had to wait for a machine, but we discovered a small section upstairs with lockers and stretching mats that we used as a back-up workout section when the gym was a little crowded, or when we just needed some privacy on our “fat-days”. When our white gym pants were slightly off-colour after kneeling on the mats for too long, we moved on to the real hidden gem of the gym – the classes. For those who struggle to motivate themselves, these classes are a great way to keep on track. TSG offers two different bootcamp classes, pilates, and aerobics. As two people with different fitness levels, we decided to give these classes a try and were pleasantly surprised by the way that they catered for both us.

First we tried aerobics. The instructor was

both motivating and fun. Although the house music was not particularly to our taste, our spirits were held high during a full body workout that was tough for both the women and men in the class. An intense full body workout mixed with some cardio is what we found at the bootcamp. The times were very convenient, being early in the day. Think “Crossfit meets cardio meets bodyweight training”, and then throw in some High Intensity Interval Training (HIIT). We worked up a sweat and felt pumped for the rest of the day, and all by 07:00. We were surprised at how tough the pilates class was. It left our arms and abs in a severe state of stiffness the next day. Expecting a nice stretch down after our hard work, we were not prepared for the intense ab crunches we were met with. While it is a lower intensity workout than the other classes, it gave us the chance to focus on specific muscle groups.

“I’m from Groenkloof” is not an excuse: If Groenkloof is where you reside, then you are in luck. Groenkloof has its very own TSG right above the Gymnasium. This gym is also fully equipped and offers its own set of classes, which also includes a spinning class. Since there is not a separate venue for the spinning classes, we will admit that it was a bit awkward to have everyone watch us drench ourselves in sweat. Being in the corner of the gym, we missed the experience of the typical spinning class with pumping music that blocks your ears afterwards, but the music inside the gym was turned up enough to give us that little push we needed. There are not many bikes, so getting there early is advisable. Like all classes, the workout is as tough as you make it.

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