30 July 2012 Issue 13 Year 74

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

30July2012

year74issue13

Bus services still a problem

The Top Ten

P4

P6

Die Tuindwergies onderhoud

P11

Zaki Ibrahim interview

P13

Olympics kick off with a bang

Another res tradition faces the chopping block MARGEAUX ERASMUS

The Residence of the Year competition could be canceled next year according to a proposal written by the Director of Residence Affairs and Accommodation, Professor Roelf Visser.

The proposal states that “the decision has been taken by the Office of the Director: Residence Affairs and Accommodation to remove the Residence of the Year competition as from 2013 – to offer residences the opportunity to better align themselves with the UP and TuksRes Strategic Plan 2025.”

According to the proposal, “This structure (the Residence of the Year competition) is putting unnecessary pressure on first year students to participate (as activities are mostly compulsory).”

In contrast, Curlitzia Primaria Mignon du Toit told Perdeby that participation in res activities is always by choice. Du Toit said that the Residence of the Year competition measures the success of the HK and residences, and although Curlitzia has won Residence of the Year for the past two years it does not overshadow other individual events. Du Toit added that removing the Residence of the Year competition “will detract from the student experience since everything will basically be ‘for the fun of it’ and have no

added purpose.” She feared that less effort will be put into planning events. She said that, “[Fewer] people will participate and morale in a residence will dip when you have nothing to show for the effort you put in,” but added that, “the added pressure of the competition does make it very difficult to [only] focus on the event [when] planning [for it]. When everything is done with this competition in mind, every setback becomes a much bigger issue than it should be allowed to become.”

Similarly Jacquelise de Vries, Vividus Ladies Primaria, said that the Residence of the Year competition promotes balance in students’ lives. Although day houses do not compete in the competition De Vries said that, “Should the competition be removed, students might be focused only on what they are truly interested in, opposed to trying new things that they are encouraged to take part in, essentially detracting from the overall student experience.”

The SRC has also taken a stand against the removal of the Residence of the Year competition. Mthokozisi Nkosi, SRC President, told Perdeby that “residence students should be assured that the SRC will not let the student life experience of our residence students, or any other student for that matter, to be taken away.”

He added, “While we ‘understand’ the arguments put forward that

the respective residences commitment to this Residence of the Year competition might interfere with the university’s academic programme (this is a futile and invalid argument by the way), the university management needs to understand that Tuks is not a monastery, we also want to have time to recreate and have fun as young people.”

Similarly, SRC Deputy President Gerbrand Lindeque urged university management to consider and listen to student opinions before making a decision.

At a student parliament sitting last week Wednesday, parliament voted to keep the Residence of the Year competition.

Nkosi told Perdeby that it was suggested by some members of parliament that the university should try to improve the Residence of the Year competition by placing a stronger focus on education rather than removing it completely.

According to Prof. Visser, discussions to remove this residence structure are still in progress and will be followed up with further discussions with the student service providers (Stuku, TuksSport and Rag) and other student life role players at the next Senate Committee for Student Life meeting.

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Perdeby www.perdeby.co.za perdeby@up.ac.za m.perdeby.co.za @perdebynews Tel: (012) 420 6600 Editorial Editor-in-Chief: Carel Willemse carel.willemse@up.ac.za @Ed_in_Chief Editor: Beyers de Vos perdeby@up.ac.za @perdebyeditor News: Margeaux Erasmus news@perdeby.co.za @MargeauxErasmus Features: Meagan Dill features@perdeby.co.za @meagandill Entertainment: Nadine Laggar entertainment@perdeby.co.za @Alula273 Sport: Carlo Cock sport@perdeby.co.za @CarloRP Web: Marissa Gravett webeditor@perdeby.co.za @perdebynews Copy: Hayley Tetley @Hayley_Tet Layout: JP Nathrass @JPNathrass Visuals: Brad Donald @Brad3rs

Teams Layout Nolwazi Bengu Meghan van Rooyen Copy Louis Fourie India Goncalves Jaco Kotze Nolwazi Mngadi Saneze Tshayana Lizette van Niekerk Marié van Wyk Nadine Wubbeling Yuan-Chih Yen 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 nescessary. Perdeby cannot be responsible for unsolicited material.

The opinions expressed in Perdeby are not necessarily those of the editors and printers of Perdeby.

Editorial

30 Julie ‘12

The one where Ross and Rachael … you know Holidays get boring, right? The last few weeks or so can be frustrating and dull, especially if you’ve gone home to some sleepy little town in the middle of nowhere (note: anywhere between Pretoria/Joburg and Cape Town qualifies as nowhere in this scenario).

To deal with this boredom, I turned to television. A lot of television. I became, for example, totally and devastatingly obsessed with Game of Thrones. I haven’t been this enthralled by a television show since Friends (still one of the greatest shows on TV, and if you don’t agree, you’re wrong). Game of Thrones has not only captured my imagination and created a deep emotional investment in its storylines and characters, but it is also just plain balls-to-the-wall awesome. Sex, bloodshed, war, magic, betrayal, zombies (zombies!). Seriously?

What’s not to like?

Another show I’m all kinds of in love with at the moment, which has just started airing in SA, but which I’ve finished watching because I’m a bad person with no respect for copyright laws, is Girls. Which is the opposite of Game of Thrones is many ways, but is in my opinion the freshest, most honest new comedy on television.

It treats its utterly relatable characters with a bracing, sometimes painful honesty. It is also really, really, really, really, really, funny. Really.

I haven’t found anything this funny since Arrested Development (probably the best show that ever was or will be).

So, now that you all have assignments to do

From the Editor

and tests to write and will soon be in dire need of any reason you can get your hands on to procrastinate, watch Game of Thrones or Girls, if you haven’t already. If you have I applaud your taste and want to be friends with you.

But if you’re looking for alternative distraction, you’ve come to the right place. If you don’t find something in this week’s edition that interests you, I’ll run around campus naked (when I say run, I mean walk. And when I say naked, I mean fully clothed). We have a really cool article on the upcoming zombie apocalypse (I hope you’ve all stocked up on guns and ammunition and canned goods). We also take another look at interracial friendships on campus (you can never have too many friends when the zombie apocalypse hits). We also follow up on the bus routes to Sunnyside and Arcadia that have been in the works since early this year and we chat to Die Tuindwergies about life, love and midgets. As usual you can also find the Top Ten on the Fun & Games page, in which I discuss the bad side of television.

I got a letter from a concerned parent who asked me to write an editorial in which I motivate you all to study. I don’t think I’ve really done that this week, but if at first you don’t succeed, have another drink.

Llama, llama duck Beyers @PerdebyEditor

News

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30 July ‘12

Tuks staff member arrested for making drugs MAXINE TWADDLE

A University of Pretoria employee has been suspended following his arrest for allegedly manufacturing drugs.

UP confirmed that the man is a Senior Technical Assistant for the Department of Chemistry. He has held the position for four years.

The suspect may not be named in order to protect the identity of his daughter, who allegedly assisted him in manufacturing the drugs. According to a Times Live article, the Hawks found the 15-year-old girl mixing chemicals when they raided the suspect’s home in Pretoria East. She was not arrested.

The suspect allegedly bought the necessary chemicals in bulk in the UP chemistry department’s name. According to Hawks

spokesperson McIntosh Polela, they have the corroborating receipts in their possession.

“The suspect allegedly bought the necessary chemicals in bulk in the UP chemistry department’s name” Police confiscated R20 million worth of methaqualone (more commonly known as

mandrax) during the raid on Saturday 21 July.

It is unclear to whom the drugs were sold.

Police cannot confirm that they were distributed on any of the UP campuses. It is also not clear if they were sold to any students. Although the man apparently admitted to selling the drugs to a dealer, he would not disclose this dealer’s name.

According to Nicolize Mulder, Media Liaison Officer for UP, the university has launched an internal investigation into the incident.

“The university will give its cooperation to the investigation by the South African Police Service,” she said.

The suspect faces charges of manufacturing, possessing and dealing drugs. He remains in custody and his bail application will be heard in the Cullinan Magistrate’s Court today.

Gmail accounts launch at Tuks

DAVID CROSS Last week Monday marked the launch of the new student Gmail accounts.

UP Management Executive Director,

Professor Antonie de Klerk, and Google Technical Program Manager, Ego Obi, shared their thoughts on the significance of the launch and discussed the numerous benefits that the transition has to offer. “It’s always exciting to

introduce something new, something that will improve your lives as students and make you more efficient and more productive,” said Prof. de Klerk.

Obi discussed the Google Ambassadors Programme, which enlists motivated students with leadership qualities and an active interest in the student community. In the program, students are exposed to the new technology and help inform the student community of the details regarding the transition. Obi further discussed the versatility of Google technology and the benefits that students will receive from it. “Our programme looks at getting users online and keeping them online by using our Google technology.”

The switch was necessary due to the growing requirements of students for a multifaceted software program that could provide them with the necessary tools to boost academic performance. Every student’s Tuks Gmail account will have the following format: u12345678@tuks.co.za.

The advantages of the Gmail service include an increased data limit of 25GB per person as opposed to the current system’s limit of 50MB. Students will also have access to Google Talk, enabling them to conduct group projects and share information with fellow students and tutors.

Photo: Melissa Kemp

Res Bites AMY-MAE CAMPBELL Sonop One can only wonder what goes on behind closed doors at Sonop after watching their remake video of Carly Rae Jepsen’s “Call Me Maybe.”

The Erika ladies explained that Sonop compiled this music video especially for them.

Perdeby has seen the video and, in our opinion, while it makes you laugh, the video might have ruined any Sonop guys chance to date an Erika girl.

As far as home-made music videos are concerned, the use of different camera-angles and various rotating shots placed it just a step above average and the music was inserted professionally.

Perdeby would recommend this video only if you want to see these men “drop it like it’s hot” in tiny Speedos. And as for the deleted scenes, well, bloopers are always entertaining.

View the video at perdeby.co.za or pPerdeby7413a.

Magrietjie Magrietjie hosted a Mr Magrietjie pageant on Tuesday 24 July as part of their Culture Week celebrations.

The contestants were scouted by the Magrietjie ladies and were a combination of current Tuks students, residence friends, and other young men living in the area. Oxford’s hosted the after party as they sponsored the event and prizes.

Among the seven judges were a few local celebrities such as Mr South Africa 2011, Adriaan Bergh; professional Lions rugby player, Jaco Taute; and Miss Modern Woman 2012, Chanel Hoolsema. The Men’s Health cover model of the February 2012 edition, Lee Thompson, was also among the eleven contestants competing.

There were three categories: casual wear, occupational wear and formal attire. The contestants had to answer a series of questions in order to impress the judges. Hoolsema explained that the ideal winner had to have personality, good looks and also be able to have fun.

Lee Thompson was a favourite among the Magrietjie ladies, but BCom Financial Management student and Tuks swimmer, Sean Tucker, snatched the title.

Go to pPerdeby7413b or our Facebook page to see photos from the event.

Olympus Olympus held the official opening of their first-ever recreational hall last week Thursday.

According to Senior Manager of Student Recruitment and Retention Dr Pieter Clase, this facility was a necessity as the residents at Olympus had to share a dining hall with Curlitzia and never had a private space where they could congregate. The hall will facilitate house meetings as well as residence meetings and will also be utilised as a study centre or for other activities such as socials.

The hall was financed by the Department of Residence Affairs and Accommodation at UP. “I want to ask the Olympus men to treasure the hall and to guard it as a valuable contribution that UP has made towards their student life,” said Dr Clase.

@perdebynews

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30 Julie ‘12

Bus services still a problem

KEVIN VAN DER LIST UP students living in Arcadia and Sunnyside are still without a bus service.

On 23 April, in an article titled “Students sleeping on campus”, Perdeby reported that the SRC and COPE@TUKS wanted to introduce a bus service for students residing in Arcadia and Sunnyside.

Students were sleeping on campus due to a lack of affordable transport and nearby accommodation.

According to Jordan Griffiths, SRC member for Transport, Justice and Constitutions, the proposed bus service has not yet been implemented.

“We are looking to expand [the bus service]. It is something that is on the agenda at facilities management.”

He added, “There appears to be a certain

demand for [the service] and if it is advertised well, it will be implemented.” However, he further stated that there are financial constraints and these would first have to be investigated.

Of the private residences in Arcadia and Sunnyside, only Urban Nest has a bus service to and from Hatfield Campus. Griffiths said that the other residences have fewer students than Urban Nest and the university is looking to expand services.

According to Residence Transport Manager Herkie Smit, “[The] first responsibility is towards the residence students. That is why [our department] issues them with bus identity cards, so that the bus driver can make sure who is boarding the bus. If there is space open then other non-residence students are allowed on the bus.” Smit said that this is a result of financial constraints. “[O]ur department can’t afford to introduce more buses on the route, which will be the result if it is free for all,” said Smit.

According to Griffiths, a facilities meeting was held in which the cost of a bus service was investigated. If implemented, the bus service will operate from Sci-Enza to Campus House, Hantra, Walkerville and Urban Nest. The buses will run between 20:00 and 22:00.

The SRC did implement a bus service for Groenkloof students during the June exams and this bus service correlated with the extended library hours. It was canceled by Transport Services due to a lack of interest from students.

As a result, the SRC is in the process of launching a survey to gauge whether a bus service to Arcadia and Sunnyside is worthwhile. The survey will be posted on the UP portal and will determine the interest and location of students.

Griffiths urges students who are in need of transport to come forward and lodge a complaint.

This will help the SRC to implement the bus service.

Photo: Gloria Mbogoma

News Intervarsity News FRANCOIS VAN DER WESTHUIZEN University of Witwatersrand On 17 July, Sibulele Zide, a BSc student, was mugged at gunpoint and tied up in a bathroom in the Science Stadium.

Zide told Wits Vuvuzela: “The first guy just took out a taser and he put it on. I thought [he was] joking, I even laughed a little.”

“The other guy showed me a gun and moved to block the door and cocked the gun. That’s when I realised it was serious,” he said. Zide explained that the two men took his cellphone and wallet and then led him to the bathroom where they tied him up and where he was later found by two students.

Zide said that campus security was “pathetic” and blamed them for not installing security cameras in the Science Stadium. Rob Kemp, head of Campus Control, told the Wits Vuvuzela that, “ [The] Campus Control technical unit is currently viewing CCTV footage […] plans are in place to increase the visibility of security with additional patrols, increase the dog unit, introduce a second response vehicle and review and extend our CCTV coverage.”

Tshwane University of Technology A lecturer at the Tshwane University of Technology (TUT) has allegedly been dismissed after reports of offering higher marks to a female student in exchange for sex.

According to Pretoria News, the university refused to comment.

TUT spokesperson Willa de Ruyter said: “It is an internal disciplinary matter, which is still under investigation.” The identity of the lecturer has not been made public.

The lecturer allegedly started to demand sex from a third-year journalism student on Facebook.

In her complaint to the university, the student alleges that she failed the subject after she refused to have sex with her lecturer. The lecturer disputed the allegations and accused the student of blaming him for her poor marks.

Advertorial

30 July ‘12

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30 Julie ‘12

Sudoku

everything and everyone that walks past.

At some point someone should be asking themselves: is this really what life has come to?

BEYERS DE VOS There’s good television and there’s bad television. Then there’s television that you watch only because it makes other people look so bad and so desperate, that you can’t help but feel that no matter how bad your own life is going, at least you aren’t a Real Housewife of Dallas. Am I right? This week we present the top ten shows that prove we haven’t hit rock bottom (yet): 1. The Only Way is Essex. Perhaps we wouldn’t judge so harshly if we could actually understand what the “real” people in this show were saying. But is seems to us like they’re permanently stuck in a bad porn movie desperately trying to speak English and escape the horror.

2. Toddlers in Tiaras. Mothers that force their very, very young children to take part in beauty pageants. Watching unwilling four year olds dress like hookers and compete in semi-grotesque, hyper-sexualised dances for their mothers’ amusement is more than slightly disturbing.

@perdebynews

Fun & Games 5. Bridal Plasty. A bunch of brides compete in challenges and the winner receives free plastic surgery, while the losers have to get married without a new nose/chest/face/. We have some advice for the grooms though: run away and never return.

6. I Didn’t Know I was Pregnant. A show about women who didn’t know they were pregnant until they went into labour. They probably shouldn’t be breeding in the first place, then.

7. Extreme Couponing. Basically about people who spend their lives collecting coupons on an Olympic-style level. While it’s commendable that they manage to save hundreds of dollars, quitting your job and keeping your children out of school to help collect your coupons could be a sign of severe obsession. Probably not all that healthy.

8. Hillbilly Handfishin’. Self-proclaimed rednecks that go fishing in American swamps and catch fish with their hands because … well, because they can, apparently. It leaves us a bit speechless, so we recommend you check it out and see for yourselves. Have a drink with you, though.

3. Noot vir Noot. We know, we know. It’s an institution. But this show keeps Nicholas Louw, Bobby van Jaarselved and Steve Hofmeyer alive. Do we need any more reason for putting it on the list, really?

9. The Real Housewives of just about everywhere. Actual women all over America who deliberately imitate the Desperate Housewives. Because we all want to be semipsychotic murderers obsessed with our lawns.

Living the dream.

4. Jerseylicious. And the second, upcoming incarnation of the show, Chicagolicious. This show is about angry hairdressers throwing tantrums and wrestling in the street, grabbing each other by the cornrows and slapping

10. Baggage. A dating game show in which at least one person will turn out to have secretly been a man by the end of almost every game. We have to ask this: where do you find people who sign up for this crap?

Advertorial

30 July ‘12

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30 Julie ‘12

Features

Unravelling the myth of the zombie apocalypse LUSANDA FUTSHANE

There’s a conspiracist in all of us. We all apply our own private logic and science to certain situations in order to make sense of them. Some of us think that global warming is a myth and that there are no holes in the ozone layer and others believe that crop circles are conclusive proof that aliens exist. There are even those people who believe that Tupac is still alive. It was really no surprise, then, that when someone claimed that the human race would one day wipe itself out by turning into zombies, the idea went viral.

With the world fabled to end in December of this year, should we be worried that it might be at the hands of a global flesh-eating army?

Based on recent news events alone, many people are convinced that a zombie apocalypse could indeed be possible. The most famous story is that of Rudy Eugene (known famously as “the Miami zombie”) who mauled another man on a Miami highway and ate his face while completely naked and allegedly high on methylenedioxypyrovalerone (MDPV), a new psychoactive drug with the inconspicuous street name “bath salts”. Reports say that Eugene continued to eat his victim’s face while a police officer shot him six times until he eventually died.

The climax of the episode was caught on tape and has since been immortalised on various internet utilities – the YouTube video alone has been viewed over a million times. Toxicology reports later showed that Eugene had in fact been under the influence of marijuana and not “bath salts”.

Then came a deluge of incidents of cannibalism-related and deranged attacks that further provoked alarmist reports about the rise of zombies. In the US there were three separate events within a week of Rudy Eugene’s incident, in three different states, involving people trying to eat each other’s faces off and/or throwing their own intestines at police officers. A month later, there were nine such incidents – all of which were blamed on “bath salts”. Other incidents of murder and cannibalism that were not related to any psychoactive drugs followed, the most famous

being the case of a Maryland student pleading guilty to killing his roommate and eating his body parts, including his heart and brain.

Armed with sensationalised accounts of these stories, people took to the internet in a panic, claiming that the zombie apocalypse was close at hand. This, despite the fact that none of the culprits were undead. Furthermore, there was no evidence of contagion: nothing was spreading from attacker to victim. Nonetheless, even if these events weren’t the start of a zombie apocalypse, is one still possible and why are we suddenly so prepared to believe that it could be?

Jonathan Maberry, bestselling author of zombie fiction, seems to believe that a zombie apocalypse is more than likely to occur. In an interview with The Examiner he says, “Every day we’re discovering that the line between science

fiction and today’s headlines is becoming blurred.

There are parasites, bacterium and viruses that could easily get out of hand and some of these could be tweaked with a bit of very doable mad science.” Maberry is not alone – no conspiracy is complete without a few non-profit organisations that are dedicated to investigating it : websites and blogs run by zombie enthusiasts desperately seeking vindication. One such organisation is the Zombie Research Society, which, according to its website, is “a global community dedicated to the serious study of zombie science, survival and pop culture.” The website contains posts about safe houses up for rent in the event of a zombie attack, weapons and supplies to aid survival.

Not everyone is a believer though and the zombie apocalypse has its fair share of sceptics.

Andre du Preez, a first-year physics student, says

that zombies are fun to imagine and be entertained by, but it is unrealistic to think that an army of blathering, slow-walking monsters could be the end of civilisation. “Zombies, like vampires, are not real. We’re doing the Twilight thing all over again where kids in America were biting each other because it seemed cool in books.” Suzaan Bester, who is in her first year of biological sciences, does not believe in any doomsday conspiracies and when asked if she thought the zombie apocalypse were possible, she simply replied, “K*k man.”

One thing is certain: the idea of the zombie apocalypse has become nothing less than a phenomenon in popular culture. Ever since the release of George A Romero’s 1968 cult hit Night of the Living Dead, the world has been obsessed with the idea of the living dead. There are countless hyperbolised movies and TV shows where the middle-aged woman with the child always survives after falling in love with the handsome straw-chewing, shotgun-wielding recluse with a mysterious past and a permanent sweat stain on his chest.

The idea of zombies and everything else dystopian has become a fashion of sorts. Even in the literal sense, fashion brands like Alexander McQueen and Christian Dior have drawn inspiration from zombies and other apocalyptic tropes for some of their lines. Exactly how prophetic this zombie craze proves to be will have to wait until December.

The zombie apocalypse may happen, the same way Bigfoot might still be out there and vaccines may be giving children autism. Conspiracy keeps us curious, aware and guarded. And no matter how paranoid and insane the conspiracists may sound in those YouTube comment boxes, at least they’re prepared. It wouldn’t hurt to befriend a few of them – you know, just in case.

See the video of the Miami Zombie attack on perdeby.co.za or pPerdeby7413g.

Illustration: Simon-Kai Garvie

Is metrosexuality a marketing ploy or something more?

BERND FISCHER Marc d’Avignon is a 28-year-old graduate living in Manhattan, New York City. In an interview with The New York Times, he describes himself as “horrendously addicted to Diesel jeans”. He also admits that he does not care if someone wants to judge him because he uses moisturiser. In fact, he has numerous moisturisers. That’s because d’Avignon is a self-confessed metrosexual.

Guys, if your favourite “murse” or manbag is a Hermès Birkin and you love to obsess over the latest trends at Paris Fashion Week whilst chatting away to your beauty therapist, then it is time for you to get out of your walk-in closets.

The term “metrosexual” was coined in 1994 by Mark Simpson, a British journalist, writer and broadcaster specialising in popular culture, media and masculinity. The term is derived from the words “metropolitan” and “heterosexual” and is used to describe men who exhibit behaviour that is stereotypically associated with homosexual men.. The archetypal metrosexual lives in a large, cosmopolitan city and spends a lot of time and money on his appearance. In short: image is everything.

Perdeby asked young women how they felt about metrosexual men and if they would ever consider dating one. “Of course,” says Joanna Constantinou, a second-year medical student, “it is the expression of a guy’s style, encompassing many different aspects of his life. Personally, there is nothing sexier than a guy rocking a cardigan and a scarf.” However, first-year BSc Biological Sciences student Daniella Klonarides disagrees. She doesn’t find it attractive at all and says that “a metrosexual guy is to a girl as a female bodybuilder is to a guy.” Jade Liebenberg, a second-year BSc Medical Sciences student, would only date a metrosexual depending on how extreme his metrosexual tendencies are. “A guy should care about his appearance and look after himself but he shouldn’t be obsessed with it.”

In an article by Salon.com published in 2002, Simpson branded David Beckham as the poster boy of metrosexuality.

The rise of the metrosexual is mostly attributed to society’s changing perception of what is considered “masculine”. Dr Ronald Levant, in his book Masculinity Reconstructed, regards the avoidance of femininity, restricted emotions, sex disconnected from intimacy and homophobia as traditional masculine norms. However, at the turn of the 21st century, these norms were no longer adequate to describe the modern man.

Research and statistics by Euro RSCG – one of the largest market research agencies in the world – maintains that there is less avoidance of femininity and that more men are embracing beliefs and behaviours once deemed strictly feminine. According to The New York Times, the number of men seeking plastic surgery procedures has increased threefold in the USA alone since 1997. The changes in society and culture towards

masculinity also became evident in the media with TV shows such as Queer Eye for the Straight Guy (which began screening in 2003).

Some argue that consumerism and capitalism are exploiting the term in using it to create a target market which gives men an identity to strive for.

“Capitalism has turned men into consumers, a role that is traditionally feminine,” says Rory du Plessis, a visual vulture studies lecturer at Tuks. “In order to re-masculinise consumption, the act is distilled through endorsements from role models who represent traditional masculine roles, like rugby players.” Research conducted in 2009 by Martin and Gnoth supports Du Plessis’s argument. They provide evidence which suggests that men still feel socially pressurised to perform traditionally masculine gender roles and are therefore most likely to identify with “manly” models in advertising.

The issue of male sexuality has also been contested when exploring metrosexuality. In his

definition of a metrosexual, Simpson states: “He might be officially gay, straight or bisexual, but this is utterly immaterial because he has clearly taken himself as his own love object and pleasure as his sexual preference.” Simpson further explains that gay men provided the early prototype for metrosexuality as they “pioneered the business of accessorising – and combining – masculinity and desirability.” However, marketers still insist that the metrosexual is straight. Critics of this notion argue once again that this is done in order to keep the heterosexual target market on a leash.

The concept of “female metrosexuality” was later brought forth by Simpson and American writer Caroline Hagood. The female characters from Sex and the City were used to demonstrate this ideal. Simpson states that because male metrosexuality liberated men, the same would happen to women. This concept has, however, been criticised by feminists as it perpetuates stereotypical feminine behaviour which would not empower women.

As far as university students are concerned, there is a general consensus that the emergence of metrosexuality does not pose a threat to masculinity. According to a study done by Prashna Ramdeo on students at Wits University, the male participants opposed the idea that masculinity is in crisis and maintained that men were simply adapting to a new and changing environment. They also agreed that a balance between masculinity and the traditional male would be ideal as both qualities are considered advantageous. Still, the majority of female participants insist that they have nothing against metrosexuality but argue that men could be losing their fundamental masculinity.

It is debatable whether the concept of metrosexuality empowers men by allowing them to express themselves through fashion and appearance or whether it pressurises them to perform as consumers in the same way that women have been pressurised for years.

According to Simpson, only one thing is certain: “It’s the end to sexuality as we know it.”

Photo: Gloria Mbogoma

Features

30 July ‘12

9

Wat jy nie oor kanker geweet het nie

MIGNON PEENS Statistiek vanaf Health24 wys dat een uit elke ses mans en een uit elke sewe vrouens in SuidAfrika met `n vorm van kanker gediagnoseer word. Dokters kan dikwels nie verduidelik waarom `n persoon kanker ontwikkel nie, maar navorsing toon dat daar sekere risiko-faktore is wat jou kans om kanker te kry verhoog.

Volgens Ayesha Sassman, beampte van die Kankervereniging van Suid-Afrika (CANSA), word Suid-Afrikaanse vrouens die meeste met borskanker, servikale kanker, kolonkanker, longkanker en slukdermkanker gediagnoseer.

Die tipe kankers wat algemeen by SuidAfrikaanse mans voorkom is prostaatkanker, longkanker, slukdermkanker, blaaskanker en kolonkanker.

Die vraag is egter: hoe kan `n mens kanker probeer voorkom? Twee van die hoof risiko-faktore wat kanker kan veroorsaak, is sonskade en ioniserende straling (microwave radiation). `n Mens kan nie juis die son of `n mikrogolfoond vermy nie, maar dit sal slim wees om sonskerm op `n daaglikse basis aan te wend en nie naby die mikrogolfoond te staan terwyl jou kos gaar word nie. Alkohol is die oorsaak van ongeveer 3% van kankers, tabak van 30% en dan is sekere chemikalieë ook deel van die hoof risiko-faktore. Wees dus maar versigtig vir die gevaar wat binne bottels, pille en sigarette skuil.

Sigarette doen nie net jou longe skade aan deur longkanker te veroorsaak nie, maar kan ook die oorsaak wees van verskeie ander kankers. Baie nie-rokers het ook nie die vaagste benul dat sekondêre rook wat ingeasem word amper net soveel skade kan aanrig nie. Diegene wat rook is meer geneig om leukemie te ontwikkel. Sou jy ophou rook, verminder dit jou kanse om weer kanker te ontwikkel indien

jy dit alreeds tevore oorwin het. Indien jy hulp benodig om op te hou rook, besoek www. cancer.gov of www.smokefree.gov.

Om `n slegte dieet te volg is volgens Health24 glo die oorsaak van ongeveer 35% van alle kankersterftes. Kanker in jou borste, longe en spysverteringskanaal hou ook verband met `n slegte dieet.

Virusse en bakterieë is twee ander hoof risiko-faktore. Indien jy met sekere virusse of bakterieë besmet word, kan dit jou risiko om sekere tipes kanker te kry verhoog.

Hormoonterapie en medikasie soos estrogeen (alleen of saam met progestin) kan ook jou kanse om borskanker, hartaanvalle, beroertes en bloedklonte te kry verhoog. Daarom moet mens maar versigtig wees rondom die keuse van hormoonaanvullings wat jy wil gebruik.

Indien jy versoeters in plaas van suiker gebruik, spits jou ore vir die volgende kontroversiële studies: `n ruk gelede het `n furore in die pers ontplof toe liberaaldemokratiese parlementslid, Roger Williams, gesê het dat items wat aspartaam bevat van die mark afgehaal moet word, omdat daar sterk wetenskaplike bewyse te voorskyn gekom het wat bewys dat die komponente van aspartaam en hulle metaboliete ernstige toksiese uitwerkings op mense het. Aan die ander kant het die European Commission’s Scientific Committee on Food (SCF) dit heeltemal veilig verklaar na menige omvattende studies.

Aangesien talle studies mekaar weerspreek, is dit veiliger om aspartaamvrye versoeters te gebruik.

Dr. Georgia Demetriou, woordvoerder vir die SA Oncology Consortium (SAOC) en onkoloog by die Universiteit van Witwatersrand, sê dat die voorkoming, behandeling en bewusmaking van kanker in Suid-Afrika tans uiters swak en heeltemal onder standaard is. Indien jy nie

aan `n mediese fonds behoort nie, staan jy nie maklik `n kans om jou mediese onkostes te dek nie. CANSA versoek dat Suid-Afrika se begroting in terme van die voorkoming, behandeling en bewusmaking van kanker verhoog word en dat die regering `n groter bydrae deur die belasting van tabak lewer.

Dr. Demetriou wil die bekommernis dat daar tans `n tekort aan opleidingsposte vir onkoloë is onder mediese studente se aandag bring.

Daar kwalifiseer slegs ongeveer 40 onkoloë in Suid-Afrika elke vier jaar. Sy stel voor dat `n moontlike oplossing vir hierdie probleem sal wees om opleidingsposte vir onkologie te

skep. “Poste moet vasgemaak en verseker word by universiteite regoor die land en `n groter blootstelling van studente in die voorgraadse sowel as nagraadse vlak sal die bewustheid van kanker verhoog as `n subdissipline wat dan meer van diegene tot die professie sal betrek,” sê Dr. Demetriou.

Hoewel die laaste twee risiko-faktore, veroudering en `n familiegeskiedenis van kanker buite jou beheer is, beveel mediese kundiges aan dat diegene met `n familiegeskiedenis van kanker vir gereelde ondersoeke gaan.

Beeld: Wordpress.com

Interracial friendships: how integrated are we?

DITSHEGO MADOPI In general, people tend to be predominantly in contact with those from similar social standings as their own and this may include being around their own race. However, university may be the first opportunity for some students to develop interracial friendships – something which was previously impractical simply because of lack of exposure to other races. Aimee Clarke, a second-year BIS Publishing student, says, “At my high school there were only two non-white students in my grade of 60 people.

University has definitely opened my eyes to cultural diversity.” Clarke tells Perdeby about a friend of hers that she met in class whom she calls “Chocolate Bear”, and who in turn calls Clarke “Vanilla Bear”. “Some people might think negatively of such an explicit reference to race, but between friends, it’s tongue-in-cheek humour that isn’t malicious or offensive.”

Students are discovering that sharing common ground (such as studying the same course or sharing activities on campus) can

mean more than just belonging to the same race. Because of these common threads, relationships formed in university may be less limited by race. However, it seems that among Tuks students this is not a general opinion though, and some students feel that interracial integration on campus is much less prominent than people would like to believe.

In a 2008 journal article entitled, “Does Campus Diversity Promote Friendship Diversity? A Look at Interracial Friendships in College” Mary J. Fischer writes that “it is not just the overall composition of a school that matters, but also the organisational structure that may promote interracial friendships.” Just being in the same environment isn’t necessarily sufficient to make you comfortable enough to cross racial borders.

In an article previously published in Perdeby (27 February) entitled, “The great debate: We ask students about racism on campus” (available at perdeby.co.za), an anonymous source recounted: “Another shocking thing I witnessed in res was how an African and a white girl do

not share double rooms. Why did I receive a form that [asked whether] I was comfortable in sharing a room with another race?” Marga Zeelie, head of Placement Management and Guest Accommodation in the Department of Residence Affairs & Accommodation says, “We look at sensitive issues that may arise from putting people together, for example, a Hindu and a Muslim. It’s more an issue of compatibility than it is of race.”

Interracial interactions can be made difficult by linguistic and cultural barriers as well as anxiety about the possibility of prejudice.

Tumelo Mathulwe, a second-year BSc Geology student, says, “I can only hang out with people who aren’t of my race for a short period of time. I can behave the way I want to around my own race because they are more inclined to understand and not judge my behaviour, without me having to explain it. Being around my own race also allows me to speak my mother tongue.” Clarke says. “I think the majority of people still mainly interact with their own race for the same reason anyone selects a friend – based on common interests, a shared sense of humour and understanding of one another.

There is an increased potential for those shared interests when someone is of your own race.”

Mark Modimola, a second-year BA Information Design student, has friends that are of a different race from his, but for him this didn’t start in university. “It is not a new occurrence for me; I’ve always had a circle of friends that was multi-racial. I guess it was the way my parents brought me up and going to a multi-racial school that influenced me,” he says.

Social studies research validates Modimola’s situation in suggesting that the likelihood of having interracial friendships in university can be influenced by whether or not a student had them prior to university. A 2009 journal article

by Elizabeth Stearns, Claudia Buchmann and Kara Bonneau entitled “Interracial Friendships in the Transition to College: Do Birds of a Feather Flock Together Once They Leave the Nest?” mentions a term called “cocooning behaviour” where students who are in the minority, group themselves together in a sort of

supportive alliance. Even in diverse settings like university, students who are strongly inclined to form friendships with their own race will still do so, leading to things like cultural groups on campus. Although such groups do not usually purposefully exclude anyone, they are set up primarily to attract people of a specific culture or ethnic group. Do most people on campus still largely associate with their own race?

A second-year BSc Microbiology student, Tshepo Maubane agrees. He would like to befriend people of other races, but that they are almost always with their own race which makes an approach difficult. “I have acquaintances of different races, but not friends. I wouldn’t blame the university as such for it, but there are constant allegations of racism on campus and although we usually think too much is being read into things, their regularity can make one suspicious about how much the university is really doing for integration,” he says.

Shaun Carvalho-Malekane, a second-year BIS Information Science student, is a member of TuksRag. “It selects students to come together and form a bond for a common goal,” he explains. “Since working for TuksRag I’ve had a chance to get to know and form friendships with wide variety of people.”

Carvalho-Malekane’s statement highlights the way in which societies or groups at university can encourage racial integration. Modimola, considering the question of official involvement of the university itself in racial integration, says, “I think implementing policies for interracial integration might be a good idea for people who grew up more in contact with one race. But it shouldn’t be forced; people should be given a platform to engage other races by their own free will.”

Modimola says, “Once you allow yourself to be influenced by someone different to you, you enrich yourself. It’s helped me grow, and learn to appreciate my own race and culture because I can share it with the people who have no experience of it.”

To see student’s opinions on campus racism go to our YouTube channel or pPerdeby7413h.

Photo: Hendro van der Merwe

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30 Julie ‘12

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30 July ‘12

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“Wie gaan na Die Tuindwergies kyk as daar midgets wrestle?”

CHRIS VAN DER MERWE EN JP NATHRASS Die Tuindwergies het onlangs hulle nuwe album Terwyl Die Donker Wolke Dans by Firkin Centurion vrygestel. Saam met die vrystelling het hulle ook `n wêreldrekord opgestel vir die meeste Jagermeisters (1014 shots) wat in een sekonde gedrink is. Perdeby het meer oor die nuwe album en hierdie rekord uitgevind.

Julle eerste album, Tuisgekweek, was `n groot kommersiële sukses. Het julle dit moeilik gevind om `n nuwe album te skryf wat op dieselfde vlak as die eerste een is of om die standaard nog hoër te lig?

Pieter: Ek dink wat lekker was, ons het nogal ons tyd gevat met die tweede album. Ons het nie gerush nie. So ons het elke song gaan uitwerk en toe ons gevoel het ons het genoeg songs vir die CD het ons dit gaan opneem. Ek dink dit het baie gehelp met daai proses, want obviously keep jy dit in mind, jy wil `n beter produk uitbring as die eerste album.

Jean: Ons het almal musically verbeter. Soos Pieter en Emile met hulle songwriting en die res van die band met ons playing. Ons het almal in musiek mature. Dit was `n natuurlike groei.

Sou julle sê dat julle skryfstyl en die kreatiewe proses wat julle ondergaan het om die nuwe album te skryf anders was as die van die vorige album?

Emile: Ons het rehearse voor ons studio toe gegaan het so ons het eintlik baie min tyd fisies spandeer aan die album, omtrent so tien dae met die recording en nog so sewe dae met die mixing en mastering. So dit was meer die opbou na die studio toe.

Emile: Die vorige een het ons gesit en kop, werk dit nou? Ag kom ons vat nog so ses maande.

Ons was nege maande besig met daai album, hy het net nie klaar gekom nie. Dieselfde songs drie keer record – toe ons dit eventually record vir die album was ons so gatvol vir die tunes. Ons was

net soos dammit, kan ons nie net `n nuwe album doen nie, maar ons het nie genoeg songs gehad nie. Met dié album het ons darem onsself daai frustrasie gespaar en ingegaan en geweet wat ons moet doen.

Het die songs wat julle al oor en oor gespeel het en live by elke show speel nog dieselfde betekenis vir julle of is dit meer van `n crowd pleaser?

Emile: Dis nog lekker, daar’s `n paar wat ons nog like om live te speel, eintlik die hele CD, maar “Soos sy sê” en “As jy val” ons geniet daai songs baie.

Pieter: As mens daai songs speel en die mense sing saam, maak dit elke keer die moeite werd.

Dis darem lekker, ek dink as ons elke keer gespeel het en net krieke gehoor het was dit bietjie k*k.

Deur die loop van al julle toere regoor die land, wat sou julle sê was die snaaksste storie wat julle al op die pad ervaar het?

Pieter: Ons het een keer gespeel by `n fees, die dwergiefees in Standerton, en terwyl ons show aan die gang was, het hulle `n jelly wrestle match met midgets en toe kom kyk niemand ons show nie.

Emile: Midgets wrestle. Wie gaan die Tuindwergies kyk as daar midgets wrestle?

Emile: Ons het moerse rockstar gevoel na die straatfees in Stellenbosch en terwyl Jean besig was om die trailer te haak, het daar `n meisie aangehardloop gekom en sy kon skaars asem haal: “Dis Die Tuindwergies, kan julle vir my iets teken?” Ons is toe moerse kalm en ons teken dit vir haar en klim terug in die kar en ry. Na so kilometer gaan ons oor `n hobbel en ons kyk terug en kom agter die trailer is nie daar nie. Jean het nie eers die safety chain opgesit nie, ons het die plug los gery en die trailer en die meisie staan toe nog daar en wag.

Pieter: Hero to zero in tien minute.

Vanaand gaan nie net oor die albumvrystelling nie, daar is ook die wêreldrekord wat julle probeer om te breek. Hoe het hierdie idee ontstaan?

Emile: Hannes, ons manager, het snaakse idees maar dit werk gewoonlik.

Pieter: Ons is geborg deur Jager. So hulle het vir ons 1000 shots gegee. Dis 25 liter. So as jy more `n hangover het, sê dankie vir die Jager.

Jean: Ons wil mense geïnteresseerd hou en vir hulle memories skep en dat hulle dit onthou en die is `n epic event vir almal wat hier is.

Pieter: En Die Tuindwergies was van die begin af oor having fun.

Indien julle graad sewe onderwyseres julle môre raakloop, wat dink julle sal sy van julle sê?

Ek dink hulle sou ook hier wou wees, almal hou daarvan om te party. Hulle hou hulleself verniet so onskuldig.

Julle het almal in bands gespeel voordat julle Die Tuindwergies gevorm het. Watter rol het dit gespeel in die kunstenaars wat jul nou geword het? Sou julle sê dat dit in julle guns getel het?

Jean: Ek dink dis die feit om meer gemaklik op stage te wees. Want jy stap nie net die eerste keer

op die stage en jy is gemaklik nie. En ook om al voorheen musiek te gemaak het dink ek gee jou `n sense of maturity as musikant, jy kan hoor die ou het al gespeel. Nie dat ek sê ons dink baie van onsself nie. Jy kan net hoor die ouens weet wat hulle doen.

Pieter: Al die bands wat ons al in gespeel het was lekker om in te speel, hierdie is `n nuwe ding en dis ook lekker. Maybe oor ses jaar kry ons weer iets anders en is dit ook lekker. Maar ek dink die lekker ding van die dwergies is darem dat ek dink ons sal nie ophou nie. Dis wat ons doen, nie dat ons nie ander goed ook sal doen nie. Ons is nie gebonde nie, elke ou kan sy eie ding ook doen.

Is die band vir julle soos `n 24/7 werk of het julle ander day jobs wat julle doen?

Jean: Ons almal is besig met ander goed, maar nie een van ons het regtig `n day job nie, behalwe Dawie [baskitaarspeler], hy het `n orgideë besigheid. Verder doen ons net musiek. Emile doen sy eie shows en Naas ook. Ons almal probeer onsself maar besig hou in die musiekbedryf.

Wat sou julle sê is die hoogtepunt van julle musiekloopbaan tot dusver?

Vanaand!

Emile: Ons het `n flippen cool show gespeel een keer by die FORR Festival in Mosambiek.

Ons het almal so half onkant gevang. Ons het drie dae voor die tyd al by die kampterrein gebly en net gekuier en lekker in die vibe gekom en toe die mense daar is toe klink ons sommer soos `n Mosambiekse band. Dit het vir hulle regtig bietjie foreign geklink.

Jean: En ons eerste Oppikoppi was ook baie lekker gewees, want ons was nie regtig gewoond aan `n groot crowd nie.

Julle nuwe snit, “Golwe”, is glo oor aardsverwarming en omgewingsbewustheid.

Sou julle julself as aktiviste vir die omgewing bestempel?

Emile: Ja, in `n baie onbewustelike en subtiele manier. Dis nie in iemand se keel af forseer nie. Dis meer `n individu se manier om te dink daaroor. Dit was vir my toepaslik toe ek dit geskryf het vir die Tuindwergies, dit connect nogal met die naam.

Pieter: Ek dink ons sal nog meer daar wil ingaan, maar op die stadium is ons nog nie green peace of tree huggers nie.

Emile: Ek dink op die stadium is dit nog op `n klein vlak, maar dit sal cool wees om later `n groter deelname te kan hê in daai tipe van goed.

Pieter: Jy kan elke jaar `n hok by die SPCA sponsor en ons het nou een daar.

Enige planne om moontlik uit te brei na `n oorsese mark?

Pieter: Dis nou nie oorsee nie, maar ons speel die jaar Namibië en Mosambiek en ons wil definitief bietjie België en Holland doen. En ek dink ons wil baie graag Australië en Nieu-Seeland ook doen. Maar dis `n duur storie, dis nie net op die vliegtuig klim en gaan nie.

Sien die “Golwe” video by pPerdeby7413d of perdeby.co.za.

Foto: JP Nathrass

JP NATHRASS Die Tuindwergies se tweede album, Terwyl Die Donker Wolke Dans, volg op die suksesvolle Tuisgekweek. Terwyl Die Donker Wolke Dans is `n bewys van hoeveel Die Tuindwergies oor die laaste paar jaar verbeter het.

Die eerste snit van die album, “Golwe”, het `n aansteeklike melodie (met gebruik van `n banjo) saam met sterk lirieke. Die res van die album word ook beter hoe meer mens daarna luister.

Die album dek `n verskeidenheid temas en musikale style. Van die “bluesy” “Blou gras”, met `n kitaarsolo wat enige “blues” kunstenaar van die 1950`s trots sal maak, tot `n interessante colab met Francois van Coke op “Paar stappe voor”, wat handel oor `n meisie in die gehoor wat hulle oog vang. Die kombinasie van hulle stemme maak vir `n interessante musiekstyl.

Die Tuindwergies het ook `n brawe besluit geneem om hul eie weergawe van `n Dawid Kramer treffer te speel. Hulle doen gelukkig aan die reputasie van die klassieke “Meisie Sonder Sokkies” gestand. Pieter De Jager (sanger) voeg selfs `n effense Kramer-aksent by.

Die album behou steeds die diep en persoonlike lirieke waarvoor Die Tuindwergies bekendheid verwerf het. “Byle en Uile” handel oor `n verhouding en kan deur een sin uit die lirieke opgesom word: “So onbewus tog so aspris.” “Stop Asseblief” is `n alternatiewe ballade wat vir `n lang tyd deur jou kop sal draai.

Terwyl Die Donker Wolke Dans bewys dat Die Tuindwergies `n jong groep is met baie potensiaal om nog ver met hul musiekloopbaan te vorder.

Die groep se musikale talent verbaas jou elke keer wanneer jy na die album luister.

Terwyl Die Donker Wolke Dans is beslis `n moet vir bestaande bewonderaars van die groep en ook vir enige iemand wat na iets nuuts opsoek is.

Kyk die Jacaranda Friday Live video van “Meisie Sonder Sokkies” op perdeby.co.za of pPerdeby7413e.

BEVINDING: 8/10

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Entertainment

30 Julie ‘12

Glaskas: agt jaar later CHRIS VAN DER MERWE EN JP NATHRASS

Perdeby het in die vakansie met Glaskas oor hulle nuwe album, Verganklik en Afhanklik, die musiekbedryf en hulle lewens as musikante gesels.

Julle was finaliste in die 2004 Rockspaaider kompetisie. Hoe sou julle die pad wat julle sedertdien met julle musiek gestap het, beskryf?

Al wat ons weet, is dat die pad van dag een af onvoorspelbaar en `n leerskool was en dat dit vandag nog geld. Mens leer feitlik elke dag nog iets nuuts oor jouself en ander en dit alles deur musiek. As mens terugkyk sien mens ongelooflik baie om voor dankbaar te wees sover en ons weet nie altyd hoe om dit te sê nie.

Julle was gelukkig om van `n jong ouderdom af baie goeie blootstelling te kry met julle musiek.

Watter advies sal julle gee aan nuwe aspirantmusiekgroepe wat beoog om die plaaslike musiekmark te betree nou dat daar so baie Afrikaanse rock-groepe daarbuite is?

Die musiekbedryf verander beslis baie vinnig en drasties en die landskap is glad nie meer dieselfde as toe ons begin het nie. Een ding wat waar behoort te bly, is dat musiek sonder twyfel jou passie moet wees, want dit is wat uiteindelik vir jou die uithouvermoë gee om dit te laat werk. In vandag se tyd dink ek dis belangrik vir musikante om te besef dat musiek iets is wat gedeel moet word met mense, eerder as wat dit bloot `n produk is om te verkoop. Die feit dat daar baie bands daarbuite is, skep nie net kompetisie nie, maar ook meer geleenthede om by ander musikante te leer.

Julle nuwe album, Verganklik en Afhanklik, is onlangs vrygestel. Verduidelik bietjie die kreatiewe proses wat julle gevolg het met die skryf van die nuwe album?

Ons het nie noodwendig `n spesifieke proses wat ons volg nie. Wat hierdie album bietjie onderskei van ons voriges, is dat ons nogal baie tyd as band

aan die liedjies spandeer het voordat ons dit finaal opgeneem het. Gewoonlik sal ons die liedjies bou so terwyl ons opneem. So ons het met `n baie duideliker visie begin opneem as gewoonlik, maar selfs met `n duidelike prentjie in gedagte het die musiek nogal `n manier om sy eie pad te stap.

Julle nuwe enkelsnit, “Menslik”, is onlangs vrygestel, tesame met `n musiekvideo. Die musiekvideo wys hoe julle in `n speelparkie rondspeel. Wat was die inspirasie agter die video?

Die idee van die video is om `n vreemde omgewing voor te stel waar ons instrumente in die lug hang, toegedraai in lappe as onbekende, ontoeganklike vorms. Uiteindelik besluit ons om die lap af te skeur en, alhoewel dit nog ongemaklik is met stukke lap in die pad, op die instrumente te speel. Dit speel bietjie met die idee dat mens dikwels deur bekende goed reg voor jou

uitgedaag kan voel en dan opnuut iets kan ontdek wat eintlik reg voor jou was.

Die nuwe enkelsnit klink ietwat anders as julle vorige werk. Kan aanhangers steeds dieselfde kenmerkende Glaskas-klank verwag of is daar `n paar verrassings met die nuwe album?

Ons hoop dat mense verras sal wees. Ons wil eerder nuwe dinge probeer as om eentonig te bly.

Ons het selfs `n baie rou akoestiese liedjie op wat ons nog nooit voorheen op so manier aangepak het nie. Tog het ons hier en daar in die produksieproses probeer terugverwys na ons ou klank omdat dit natuurlik deel vorm van wie ons is.

Deon, jy is een helfde van die akoestiese groep Dans Dans Lisa. Sal jy sê dat die musiek wat jy saam met Bouwer skryf `n invloed het op die musiek wat jy vir Glaskas skryf of hou jy die twee style so veel moontlik apart?

Ek glo nie die twee beïnvloed mekaar baie direk

nie, want die rede hoekom ons Dans Dans Lisa oorspronklik begin het, was juis om iets bietjie meer ligsinnig en slegs akoesties te doen wat wegbreek van ons gewone projekte. Hoe dit mens wel beïnvloed is dat die afwisseling mens soms nuwe kreatiewe energie gee in beide rigtings.

Wie is julle gunsteling plaaslike musiekgroep(e) om saam mee op te tree en waarom?

Ons hou baie van Die Tuindwergies, want ons geniet hulle musiek en ken die ouens redelik goed.

Ons probeer altyd om sover moontlik te onthou dat die meeste bands wat saam met ons in die bedryf is ook baie vir ons kan leer en geniet dit regtig om saam met soveel moontlik verskillende bands te speel, want juis een van die redes hoekom ons musikante is, is omdat ons voel dis iets wat mens help om oopkop te bly en met `n verskeidenheid mense in aanraking te kom.

Wat sou julle sê is julle gunsteling oomblikke in julle musiekloopbaan tot dusver?

Daar is natuurlik baie en mens onthou nie altyd alles wanneer iemand hierdie vraag vra nie. Maar: om elke nuwe album vir die eerste keer vas te hou, om te speel voor `n groot skare by `n fees of om in klein akoestiese venues mense in die oë te kyk.

Om te hoor mense na wie ons opkyk glo in wat ons doen. Om pret te hê saam met ander bands.

Om te lag vir foute op stage. Ons doen waarvoor ons lief is.

Het julle almal ander beroepe wat julle deur die dag beoefen? Dink julle dis belangrik om ander dinge (buiten musiek maak) te doen of maak dit nie eintlik saak nie?

Almal behalwe Deon het ander beroepe.

Buddah produce voice-overs vir elektroniese opvoedkundige materiaal en Francois is `n kitaaronderwyser. Ons het in elkgeval ander goed waarin ons belangstel en wat ons ook van hou soos die meeste mense. Musiek bly maar ons al drie se eerste liefde.

Sien die “Menslik” musiekvideo op perdeby. co.za of pPerdeby7413f.

Foto: Eduan Kitching

Resensie: Verganklik en Afhanklik JP NATHRASS Verganklik en Afhanklik is Glaskas se vierde album nadat hulle bekendheid verwerf het in die Rockspaaider kompetisie. Hulle benader met hierdie album meer volwasse onderwerpe.

Glaskas word nog altyd deur hulle eenvoudige melodieë en sterk lirieke gekenmerk en Verganklik en Afhanklik wyk nie hiervan af nie. Alhoewel die album steeds by hierdie eenvoud bly, kan mens dadelik agterkom dat dit algeheel `n vinniger tempo het. “Kwesbaar” fokus op vinnige kitaarspel in die klassieke punk rock formule wat kenmerkend van Glaskas is. Definitief `n snit wat mense aan die dans gaan kry.

Die eerste radiosnit van die album, “Menslik”, herinner baie aan die groep se vorige treffers.

Ongelukkig geld dit ook vir die res van die snitte op die album. Hulle lirieke word dalk beter, maar hulle resep bly dieselfde – selfs hulle verwysings na hulle musikale rolmodelle. Teen dié tyd weet die Suid-Afrikaanse mark dat Glaskas respek vir Jimi Hendrix het.

Daar is ook `n colab met `n nuwe naam in SuidAfrikaanse musiek, HemelBesem. “Wegbreek” het `n sterk kitaarritme en Deon Meiring stel van sy beste vokale talent ten toon. HemelBesem slaag daarin om met `n unieke rap-styl die eentonigheid wat op die album begin kop uitsteek, te breek.

Glaskas se Verganklik en Afhanklik bevat ook `n weergawe van Johannes Kerkorrel se “Revolusie”. Glaskas het daarin geslaag om die ou treffer te verwerk in hulle eie styl sonder om die oorspronklike gevoel van die liedjie te verloor.

“Hoe Meer Ek Voel” is `n voorbeeld van Glaskas se goeie lirieke, maar ongelukkig voel dit asof die krag van die lirieke verlore gaan wanneer die musiek Meiring se stem oorweldig.

Verganklik en Afhanklik wys dat Glaskas die ruimte en potensiaal het om te groei as musikante – veral met hulle lirieke – maar daar moet meer aandag gegee word aan die musiek indien hulle nie net as `n vier-akkoord-punk-band geklassifiseer wil word nie.

Sien die “Menslik” musiekvideo op perdeby. co.za of pPerdeby7413f.

BEVINDING: 6/10 Beeld: www.mk.dstv.com

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Entertainment

30 July ‘12

13

Zaki Ibrahim: telling stories through music MELINA MELETAKOS Like her music, Zaki Ibrahim is difficult to place. Perdeby caught up with the Canadianborn singer and songwriter before her stellar show at Arcade Empire to reveal a timid, pensive soul behind the fierce performer and to talk about her debut album, Every Opposite.

You’ve said that Every Opposite is an album full of contrasting concepts. Would you like to elaborate on this a little?

It’s not too cerebral. It is just what it is but I did recognize it as being a theme and then kind of built on the story and the album does tell a story. It’s very contrasting. I think every human being has contrasting thoughts. If you ask someone, “Where exactly is it that you firmly stand?” there are some things that are absolutely solid and some things that you’re just like, “I don’t know”. I’m a growing and curious being that is going to continue to question and contradict sometimes, not on purpose but it is existing. One thing doesn’t exist without the other, so I like to always observe those things.

What was it like working with Tiago Paulo as a producer on the album?

It was great. He’s a picky artist, as am I. In a healthy way we butted heads, which was to be expected in a few different ways. And then sometimes we just had a party and we just got lost. I would be like, “Whoa, whoa, whoa, what song are we working on here? Okay, let’s get back to the topic and focus.” But it was great fun.

You’ve said that you’ve seen your work as building bridges, acting like a cultural connector. How do you think you have done this?

I think because my music is a representation of who I am. In a lot of ways, it is my way of expressing who I am and I am a traveller, I am a connector. Music, I feel, helps make those connections in a lot of ways. I mean, it helps me travel and connect up worlds between Canada and South Africa and now beyond. I’ve been able to use music to connect to the rest of the world in a lot of ways and vice versa, music has connected me to a lot of different experiences and cultures.

A recent review of you new album, Every Opposite, in Rolling Stone said that with the album you’ve allowed your “signature trip-hop-soul to drift into more fitful urban soundscapes”. Was it a conscious decision to steer your music in this direction?

No, I think it’s inevitable for my sound to change because I’m growing. I feel like there is a lot to be expressed and a lot still to come. I guess it’s not surprising to me that it’s going to go in all sorts of different places and I wouldn’t box myself into saying anything like “trip-hop” or “urban”. But I express using a foundation of my reference points which are coming from an urban and a trippy kind of background.

I’ve grown up in a few very different places.

In the land of fairies on Vancouver Island, it literally could be Narnia, where you get lost in

the woods for hours. And then you get pretty hard cities and living in the real urban kind of situations you know, like living very opposite ends of the spectrum which this being my first album, Every Opposite, it’s very much a reflection of who I am and those opposite ends of the spectrum.

You’ve brought the track “Something in the Water” to life in the form of a short film.

Why did you decide to do this?

“Something in the Water” hasn’t actually been made into a short film yet. There was a video; I guess it was a film piece that was done for “Something in the Water” in Toronto with a couple of good friends. As far as a short film, the album itself is a story that is being put together and hopefully in the works now, directed by Zandi Tisane, who is a budding director here is South Africa. I’m excited to see what she does. She just shot another video for the song “Go At It”, which is on my album as well. But as I was writing the record over the last few years, it kind of came together. In my travels, I continue to have this concept, this story following a character. It’s a story based on some time in the future where free thought is banned. The theme of the story and the album is to do with free thought and expressing yourself in any way that you can just to make sure that

you stay true to yourself. I could get into the story but it’s actually quite a long sci-fi thing.

Are you very into film?

I always have been. Now I’m just nudging a little bit into it by writing my stories and make them come to life more and more. I love the idea of making music for film. Film has often inspired music and as music can kind of set the tone to a film, a story can be told through music.

You also write your own poetry. Are there any poets that have played a stand-out role in shaping the poetry you write?

From Maya Angelou to James Matthews.

One of my favourite poems by Langston Hughes is “A Dream Deferred”. There’s a song that I haven’t released yet that is inspired by that poem. I just kind of got into poetry and I wasn’t even calling it poetry, more just like free writing.

When Perdeby interviewed Tumi Molekane in February, he raved about you. What do you think it is about your music that has Tumi and the rest of the world so enamoured?

I pay them big bucks [laughs]. I’ve known Tumi now for a long time, from before I really took the music path seriously and I think he’s seen me grow in a lot of ways. And he’s been encouraging in a lot of ways as well. I guess he’s seen the talent and he’s been able [to say],

“Come on, keep going, keep going”. We’ve been able to be sounding voices for each other.

You know, “How does this sound? What do you think of this?” That’s always great to have, to be excited not just by people saying, “You’re great, you’re great,” but also critique what you are doing and give you real feedback and be excited. I can see that he is genuinely excited about the creativity and the talent that’s there.

And the rest of the world? What do you think the magic ingredient is that you have?

I try to keep it as real as possible. I feel like I have quite an appetite for fantasy and sci-fi.

My imaginary world is also quite vivid, so I like to kind of take people to other places with music as well. Some people have described it as being cinematic and descriptive. Someone once described it as being sucker-punch music because it’s all sweet and lovely and then it’s just like boom, all serious, heavy facts in the middle of like a lullaby type of song.

You’ve confessed that you are actually a very shy person. How do you go from being that person to getting onto a stage and sharing what is a very intimate performance?

Performance has always been a good challenge. When I perform, I feel that it’s quite raw and it’s quite intimate, so it’s like I’m exposing myself in a way. Getting ready to do something like that is almost nauseating. I used to be a lot worse. Obviously I’m always jumping onto stages so it’s almost like a moth to a flame kind of thing and I am going to get burned. But somehow, you can’t keep me away from the flame. I used to actually get nauseous and I would miss the cue, miss the beginning cue, and the band keeps going. But I’ve used that in the past because it’s happened to me a few times. I only really started performing a lot in Toronto and people have said that Toronto is one of the toughest crowds in the world. For some reason, it just has this really tough, hard crowd. It really takes a lot to get into. I kept using that to challenge myself and I used my shyness in a few ways in a show concept where I stood there and as long as it took me to get into my zone and comfortable on stage, my backing singers and band were kind of lulling me into it with, “Come on Zaki, it’s okay, you can come out.” They would speak to each other on the mike saying, “Is she going to be okay?

When is she going to start? Man, this is taking too long!” First of all, I’m late. I’m a very late person and always late for everything. I’m late getting on stage and then I stand there and I get frozen because I’m scared of the crowd.

And then I let go, and it flows. If I can properly connect I can feel comfortable and look at the faces in the crowd and feel the connections. It’s like we have a connection right now. I’m going to show you myself and that’s a really intimate and difficult thing to do. I’m speaking from my heart and I’m saying things that I truly believe in, which are not always the easiest things to confess. That’s the shyness part I think, because it’s a very raw experience.

Photo: Hendro van der Merwe

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30 Julie ‘12

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30 July ‘12

Van Zyl ready for London

ZENNA MULLER Being the only South African judo athlete to qualify for the 2012 Summer Olympics, Jacques van Zyl (22) has only one thing in mind: winning gold. After ranking 25th in the world, Van Zyl needed to be placed 22nd or better in the under-73kg division to qualify as part of the South African Olympic team. After winning silver earlier this year in the Africa Championships in Agadir, Morocco, he did exactly that.

Van Zyl told Perdeby that it is a great honour to be the only judo representative for the country, but that he would have loved it to have a full team going along. “My dream is definitely the gold medal. I know that I have the talent to win and I want to go show it to the world.” For the past four years, his main focus was only qualifying for the Games, but it has been a long journey of hard work and dedication. Van Zyl won his first National Championship at the age of nine and has won another six national titles since then. However, the road to success has not always easy. He had to give up his studies at Tuks and has required surgery on both his shoulders. “I think it has just been

my motivation and chasing my dream that has been my recipe for winning. I’ve been so focused and dedicated that nothing would have been able to stop me,” said a confident Van Zyl. The South African Olympic Committee has set an ambitious goal of 12 medals for the South African team, after South Africa brought back just one medal from the 2008 Beijing Olympics. Van Zyl will be competing against 385 other athletes in 14 medal events. His toughest competitors at the Games will be from Japan, Korea, France and Russia. But Van Zyl is not fazed by the tough competition and is focused only on gold.

“My friends, family and girlfriend keep me motivated, and also just chasing that dream, seeing that gold around my neck. In life it isn’t about how hard you hit, but how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward,” Van Zyl said. After the weekend’s start to the Olympic Games, millions of followers will zoom in on different athletes’ progress. Van Zyl will only zoom in on one thing: gold.

See the complete list of TuksSport Olympians at perdeby.co.za or pPerdeby7413i.

Photo provided

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PSL preview

AB BASSON

After one of the most exciting and closely contested Premier Soccer League (PSL) seasons in 2011/12, another potentially more exciting season is around the corner. The 2012/2013 season is set to start on 11 August with 16 teams facing off across South Africa.

Orlando Pirates will look to retain the trophy, after winning back-to-back titles.

Pirates have been South Africa’s top side over the last few years, having won no fewer than seven trophies. Pirates’ fierce rivals Kaizer Chiefs will look to beat them to the title.

Chiefs are aiming to win their first league title since 2004/2005. Other teams that will look to reign supreme are last year’s runners-up Moroka Swallows, along with big-spending Mamelodi Sundowns and SuperSport United.

Pirates and Chiefs have both had solid preseasons, both winning separate pre-season cups. Over the weekend, Chiefs won the inaugural Gauteng Cup against Wits, while Pirates won the Mbombela Super Cup against Mamelodi Sundowns. Chiefs will be under the guidance of former South African coach Stuart Baxter.

Another team that will try to prove their worth is Ajax Cape Town. The club from Cape Town came close to PSL glory two seasons ago, but struggled to regain that form last year. With an impressive performance against a strong Manchester United outfit in the MTN Football Invitational, it seems that this could be their season. After signing Bradley Grobler from Turkish outfit FK Goztepe, the team could surely be more of force come the start of the season.

Moroka Swallows must count on veteran striker Siyabonga Nomvethe if they are to pose a threat this season. The Bafana Bafana ace was the league’s best player and top scorer last season with 19 goals and their chances of success will rest squarely on his shoulders.The new PSL season will not only contain a potential close fight for the

title, but also for survival. Newly promoted AmaTuks and Chippa United will be keen to show their worth in South Africa’s top soccer tournament. AmaTuks join fellow university side Wits in the PSL after winning the National First Division title. AmaTuks kick off their maiden campaign in the PSL against Kwazulu-Natal side Maritzburg United at the Absa Tuks Stadium. Having lost an astonishing 18 players in the offseason, AmaTuks are a much-changed outfit from the team that won promotion. Chippa United secured a PSL spot after beating Thanda Royal Zulu and Santos in the playoffs.

Photo: Kobus Barnard

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Sport

London 2012: Olympics special CARLO COCK The world’s biggest sporting event, the Olympic Games, is finally here. Top athletes from around the globe have all gathered in London for what promises to be one of the most memorable Games in recent times. The much-anticipated event was officially opened at the glitzy ceremony on Friday night, where TuksAthlete Caster Semenya carried the flag for the South African team.

Of the 131 athletes that make up the South African team, 34 are from Tuks, including LJ van Zyl, Khotso Mokoena, Bridgitte Hartley and Oscar Pistorius.

With the South African Olympic Committee (SASCOC) having set a very ambitious target of 12 medals at the Games, the pressure will be on those who have been there and done it before, such as LJ van Zyl and Caster Semeya. The latter has been in poor form lately, struggling to reproduce the form that saw her win the 800m gold medal at the 2009 World Championships. Despite this, she remains confident of success in London. “Caster Semenya is a big-event type of athlete,” Semenya’s spokesman Tshepo Seema said in a statement on Wednesday. “Caster is focused on bringing glory and celebration to South Africa by dominating the 800m female challenge at the Olympics,” Seema said. Meanwhile, Van Zyl will be looking to replicate his silver medal at last year’s World Championships in the 4x400m relay alongside Ofentse Mogawane, Willem de Beer and Shaun de Jager.

From a global perspective, there is no doubt that the star attractions at the Games are 100m world-record holder Usain Bolt and American swimming sensation Michael

Phelps. Phelps arrived in London last Wednesday and made it clear his goal was to leave as the most decorated Olympian of all time, having won eight gold medals in

Beijing. “I’m [a] lot more laid back this time around, but I still have goals. I still want to win. There are things that I still want to do and that’s why I’m here,” he told the media

upon his arrival. He, along with several other top athletes, chose to snub the opening ceremony in an attempt to conserve energy ahead of the Games. “I’d love to go but I have to race,” Phelps said. “They say you’re on your feet for about five hours and it can take a few days to recover so I can’t do it.”

Bolt will be aiming to do the seemingly impossible by breaking his 100m world record of 9.58 seconds. He is targeting what would be an unbelievable time of 9.40 seconds.

This weekend saw the archery, badminton, basketball, athletics, rowing and gymnastic events get underway, while both the men’s and women’s football events started two days before the opening ceremony. The tennis event, which is being held at the home of Wimbledon, the All England Club, also started this weekend with world number one Roger Federer in action. Other notable names that will be in action at the Games include American basketball superstar Lebron James, Brazilian football prodigy Neymar as well as Tour-de-France winner Bradley Wiggins.

The men’s 100m final will take place on Sunday at 20:50 while the women’s final takes place on Saturday at 20:55. You can catch Caster Semenya in action in the 800m heats starting on Wednesday at 10:30 with the final taking place on Saturday 11 August at 19:00. The Games are being broadcast on SuperSport so make sure you don’t miss any of the action.

See the complete list of TuksSport Olympians at perdeby.co.za or pPerdeby7413i.

Photo: www.wordpress.com

Jono Ross signs with Saracens KATLEGO PHEEHA On 10 July Jono Ross, former Tuks 1 captain and a key member of the Tuks squad which brought home the Varsity Cup trophy, travelled to the UK for trials with English rugby franchise Saracens. Ross’s contract with the Blue Bulls was up for review in October, but he had two weeks to prove his worth to the 2010/2011 Aviva Premiership champions.

Ross has represented the Blue Bulls at Vodacom Cup level, but has been down the pecking order of the Pretoria-based club, which has a flurry of highly rated loose forwards such as Deon Stegman, Dewald Potgieter and Bulls captain Pierre Spies. With this list of established loose forwards and some talented youngsters coming through the ranks such as Jean Cook and CJ Stander, Ross has been unable to break into the Bulls’ Super Rugby and Currie Cup squads. It is for this reason that when the hastily arranged offer for trials came his way, Bulls management concluded it would be best to allow him to take the opportunity. “We thought it would be best for Ross, as he had the opportunity and we didn’t want to stand in his way,” Bulls coach Frans Ludeke told SuperSport.

After a fortnight of trials, which included the Asset Management Premiership Rugby Sevens match against London Wasps at Twickenham, Ross was awarded a six-month contract with Saracens. He joined former UCT Ikeys captain Nick Fenton-Wells, who has also signed a six-month deal with Saracens which commenced at the start of

July. Ross is the second former Tuks player to leave the Bulls this year in search of greener pastures overseas. Daniel Adongo, who has seen little game time with the Bulls, was released by the club earlier this month. The 23-year-old was quickly snapped up by New Zealand outfit Counties Manukau, pending a few formalities. The Bulls have been highly criticised by some members of the media for releasing Adongo from his contract, with well-acclaimed writer Brendan Nel reportedly calling the move “inexplicable”.

Since the inception of the Varsity Cup, the exposure of young players has been high in recent years. A large number of the Tuks 1 team is also under contract with the Blue Bulls, but many of these young players have struggled to make it into the first team. The players’departure to Europe has been a trend in the Bulls camp this year, with team icons such as Gary Botha, Danie Rossouw, Fourie du Preez and Bakkies Botha having left the club at the end of last year to ply their trade in Europe and Japan. Youngster CJ Stander, a player that has turned heads in this year’s Super Rugby season, will reportedly also be leaving Loftus Versfeld for Munster after the 2012 Absa Currie Cup campaign. Ross now joins the growing list of South African rugby players to have left the country in search of better things overseas. Ross is expected to feature for the “Sarries” in the 2012/2013 Aviva Premiership season which kicks off on 1 September.

See our an interview with Jono Ross (13 February) at www.perdeby.co.za.

Photo: Kobus Barnard

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