3 May 2021 Issue 4 Year 83

PDBY 3 May 2021

Year 83 | Issue 4

yourcampusnews.

UP structures continue through the pandemic

PDBWhy: France’s hijab ban and its effects

The Student Counselling Unit’s new SCU-B

P10

Calendar: Happening in May Photo: Tshepang Rihlampfu and Kayla Thomas

Brooklyn SAPS weighs in on cell phone robberies

Astrology: the story in the stars

I! FREE WIF

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Tuks FM alumnus hits the power of 5

3 May 2021

2 | From the Editor

You can speak to a journalist

A helpful poster about your rights to speak to the media: WITHOUT FEAR OF RETALIATION, CENSORSHIP OR PUNISHMENT YOU HAVE THE RIGHT OF FREEDOM OF SPEECH, FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION AND FREEDOM OF MEDIA AND PRESS. THIS IS THE FREEDOM TO SHARE YOUR OPINION, WITHOUT FEAR WHERE DO YOU GET THIS RIGHT FROM?

ou may have noticed this poster on page 3 of the last edition of PDBY – I hope you did, it was really big. We don’t have the space to print it that large every edition, but it’s included again here in a helpful mini version. I encourage you to read it, because it’s important to know your rights when it comes to speaking to media and to journalists. Sometimes I get the impression that people are really hesitant to speak to journalists, and feel that the media might misquote or change their words, or even that they’d get in trouble for speaking to the media and sharing something that isn’t common knowledge. But this is not true. I can’t speak for every media platform or media house, but I can and do speak for PDBY. This newspaper exists to serve students, and publish content to inform and entertain. PDBY will never publish illegal or unethically obtained content, so if we publish something you share with a journalist on the record, you cannot get in trouble. You have the right to speak to media and to voice your opinion, share your experience and report your knowledge. You cannot get in trouble for telling a journalist something. The only time you can get in trouble for speaking to

the media is if you promote hate, violence or war – and even if you did, PDBY wouldn’t publish it. If someone tries to punish you, threaten you or intimidate you before or after speaking to a journalist, you can hold them accountable. Not many platforms speak on behalf of students independently from the university, so I encourage you to use the platform PDBY offers to have your voice heard. PDBY is entirely independent and serves only the students of UP. We are your mouthpiece, and we are here to listen any time you would like your voice to be heard. So know your rights, know your options, and know you can speak to a journalist at PDBY about any issues, problems or stories you may know of. As journalists we can’t fix problems, but we can make sure they’re heard, and that the people who can fix them are held accountable. You can contact us on social media, or via email. Until next time,

Kayla Thomas

SECTION 16

PREAMBLE

SOUTH AFRICA'S CONSTITUTION

SOUTH AFRICAN PRESS CODE

ARTICLE 19

UNIVERSAL DECLARATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS

HOW CAN YOU SPEAK TO STUDENT MEDIA?

SOCIAL MEDIA

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LETTER TO THE EDITOR editor@pdby.co.za

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Social Media: Maria Lehoko Oratile Kgofelo

KNOW SOMETHING? SAY SOMETHING

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

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THESE RIGHTS ARE PROTECTED IN SOUTH AFRICA. IF YOU ARE INTIMIDATED, THREATENED OR PREVENTED FROM ACTING ON YOUR RIGHTS, OR YOU WOULD LIKE TO LEARN MORE, REACH OUT TO PDBY.

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PDBYMedia, formerly Perdeby, is the official independent student newspaper of the University of Pretoria. We are committed to providing fresh and entertaining news content for UP students, by UP students, about UP issues.

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Freedom of expression, speech and media is crucial in a democratic society. You have these rights. They empower you to hold those in power accountable, and call for transparency in matters that affect students.

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Editorial Editor-in-chief carel.willemse@up.ac.za Carel Willemse @Ed_in_Chief Editor editor@pdby.co.za Kayla Thomas @KaylaThomas1998 Digital Manager digitalmanager@pdby.co.za Leah Rees @leahgram98 News news@pdby.co.za Susanna Anbu @susan_anbu Deputy News news@pdby.co.za Nokwanda Kubheka @nokwanda._ Features features@pdby.co.za Bianke Neethling @bianke.n Entertainment entertainment@pdby.co.za Dani Van Der Horst @danvanderhorst

Sport sport@pdby.co.za Caitlyn Walsh @cait_walshh Social Media socialmedia@pdby.co.za Kendra Connock @kccartwheels Marketing marketing@pdby.co.za Giovanna Janos @gigi.zita Copy copy@pdby.co.za Kendall Behr @kendalldoesbooks Visuals visuals@pdby.co.za Vasalya Moodley @vasalyamoodley Layout layout@pdby.co.za Kelly Anne Kong Kam Wa @kelly.anne15 Web webeditor@pdby.co.za Lucky Griffen Nyabicha @_lucky_griffen_

Letter policy PDBY appreciates that freedom of speech is an inalienable right enshrined in the Constitution of the Republic South Africa. We encourage our readers to engage in discussion and debate on issues that affect them through letters to the Editor, comments on our website, tweets, or posts on Facebook. We ask our readers to keep the following in mind: 1. PDBY will not edit letters, comments, tweets, or Facebook posts in any way. 2. PDBY will label letters, comments, tweets, or Facebook posts as opinion. These do not represent the views of PDBY in any way. 3. The PDBY editorial must approve letters, comments, tweets, or Facebook posts before they are published. 4. PDBY will not publish letters, comments, tweets, or Facebook posts that are defamatory, or libelous, or that contain offensive content. 5. PDBY reserves the right to practice discretion when publishing letters, comments, tweets, or Facebook posts. 6. PDBY reserves the right to publish any content we receive unless the sender specifically requests otherwise. 7. PDBY reserves the right to retract a letter, comment, tweet, or Facebook post after it has been published. 8. PDBY will not accept responsibility for any consequences the author of a letter, comments, tweets, or Facebook posts may experience as a result of the letter being published. 9. PDBY will only publish letters between 150 and 200 words. 10. PDBY will not publish letters unless the writer confirms their full name, student number and contact number. PDBY will not publish this information, we need it for our records.

Copyright PDBY is printed by Paarlmedia. All rights reserved. Contributions are welcome. All due care will be taken with materials submitted, but PDBY 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. PDBY cannot be responsible for unsolicited material. The opinions expressed in PDBY are not necessarily those of the editors and printers of PDBY.

3 May 2021

Student voices in the pandemic

ntroduction In March 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic reached South Africa and the country went into a strict lockdown to try and contain the situation. In the following months, a group of University of Pretoria development studies students - themselves forced to leave campus and student residences and try to learn online – wrote about this unprecedented situation. In this short collection we share some of these experiences; some reveal what the students themselves were going through, some capture the stories of others around them. No-one, at the time of writing these really imagined that a year later we would still be so severely affected by this pandemic. But here we are, all still grappling with many of the same challenges. We hope you find these glimpses of how others have been affected in some way illuminating and perhaps encouraging. Editors: Marc Wegerif and Bontle Modubu – March 2021 University of Pretoria, Department of Anthropology and Archaeology. The impact of online learning on university students during the coronavirus outbreak Technological devices On the 30th of April 2020, the Minister of Higher Education and Training, Dr Blade Nzimande, announced that the Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET) would distribute devices (laptops), with connectivity to digital remote learning platforms, to all students. Whilst waiting for the government’s action, learning institutions such as the University of Pretoria (UP) have already made means to distribute laptops to their students in order to continue with the academic year. This has played a major role for those students that depend on university computers that can only be accessed when on campus. “I am so delighted by the support provided by the university, I can now do my academic work conveniently without having to travel to campus in order to access computers. It was challenging to attend lectures and remain on campus until late in order to type assignments as I did not have a personal computer”, says William, a Social Work student from the University of Pretoria. Even though there has been progress at the University of Pretoria, this is not the case with students from other universities who are still waiting for the government’s support. Zero-rated links and data costs Taking into account that laptops are not the only requirement when it comes to remote learning, some universities have provided zero-rated links and data for their students in order to make remote learning a success, and curb the inequalities that arise. The University of Pretoria also came up with an innovative concept to give its students what they need at no cost through the zero-rated link called “UP Connect”. With the above being done, it has not been a smooth ride for some students as they experience technical and connectivity issues. As a UP student, I have also been experiencing technical issues with regards to connecting using the zero-rated link, so I have to buy data in order to access lecture slides, academic information and to listen to recordings of lectures at a later stage since I am unable to join online sessions during the set time. The fact that I can always access recordings of the session at a later stage, has helped me keep up with what happens each and every day A Bachelor of Information Technology student that I interviewed said that he copes very well with remote learning especially because his roommate is not around, and having sufficient internet connection and two computers (his computer and the university computer) has made things so much easier for him. “I don’t regret remaining at the student residence before the lockdown because it was going to affect my studies negatively since my home is overcrowded, and considering how other international students that left are struggling now.” Impact on post graduate students As a postgraduate student, I personally feel like COVID-19, has to some extent, a negative impact on my research since I am doing a research proposal for the first time. I am researching a new issue which requires me to keep abreast about what is unfolding, but I find it very difficult to carry out my research because I do not have access to the library and don’t have enough data to search for articles/information related to my specific research topic on the internet. A Geography and Environmental Management student from the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN) attests to this: “Sweetheart they don’t care about us. We have filled forms, we tried to reach out to them, the SRC. Nobody cares. And I have spent R2,000 on data already. My research needs internet!” Taona an engineering student said: “Some of the work requires practical analysis to understand. Interpreting already synthesised data from practical experiments does not give me the idea of how tasks should be done and deduce proper results, since I only rely on theoretical methodology which is not useful for future hands scenario. Engineering requires a lot of group discussions with colleagues in person on how to solve or come up with a related solution”. Author: Sinqobile Zuma Read the collection in PDBY: next installment 24/05

News Bites

More than 30” emails about GBV to the SRC In 2020, the UP SRC announced the launch of a GBV email address that aimed to assist students who would fall victim to gender based violence by making the email address the first point of contact for victims to use to get guidance and assistance to report and resolve their cases. When asked about the initiative the SRC said, “the GBV initiative has truly been a great success”, but did not provide feedback on the number of emails received or the number of students assisted by the initiative. SRC member for Media, Marketing and Communications, Chanel Brown, said that it “is difficult to even quantify the number of students”, but that “more than 30 but less than 60 emails have been received”. Brown did not reveal who monitors or responds to emails, and said only that “an SRC member” manages the account. Huawei invests in UP EBIT students Huawei Technologies South Africa recently awarded bursaries to the value of R1,1 million to eight students from the Faculty of Engineering, Built Environment and Information Technology (EBIT) at UP. The bursaries were awarded to full time undergraduate and masters students to help them further their studies in the fields of EBIT. UP lecturer selected to be part of BRICS collaboration Prof. Hanlie Smuts from the Department of Informatics has been chosen to facilitate collaboration among researchers and institutions across the BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa)

Tshegofatso Maine: 19-yearold student and community service

Amukelani Makamu

P Political Science second year student, Tshegofatso Maine, has started a non-profit organisation (NPO) called ‘Legae La Kganya’. The NPO aims to push initiatives that empower marginalised groups, especially in the student community. Maine explains that the main aim of the NPO is to donate to students who cannot afford basic needs like toiletries and food. She further explains that Legae La Kganya has started its first initiative, namely ‘The Pad Drive’. The initiative aims to collect at least 500 sanitary pads in 16 days. The sanitary pads will be donated to student accommodations in Hatfield, a High School in Mamelodi, and a shelter for the homeless. The second project Legae La Kganya plans on running after the 16 days is a food drive. Maine further told PDBY that she might be the Chairperson of the NPO, but she is not working alone to positively impact student lives. She works closely with another UP student, Rethabile Kgomo, and UP alumni, Boikanyo Ernest. Maine says that they plan to reach out and work with the SRC, specifically with the transformation and media portfolios, with the goal of enabling the initiatives carried out by the NPO to reach a larger number of students and have a greater positive impact. Maine cites the inspiration behind these initiatives as the way she grew up in a township, facing and witnessing the struggles people had, such as not having sanitary pads. She says that this ultimately led to her wanting to “help out more”. Legae La Kganya express their willingness to work with other structures, saying that if any structure would like to work with them, they can email the NPO at legaelakganya@gmail.com or reach out to Maine on 0721571431.

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News | 3 member countries as part of a project to find creative solutions to the current global health crisis. Prof. Smuts is the principal investigator on the research initiative that brings together the experience of scholars from Brazil, Russia, and South Africa. The initiative will be known as BRICSmart and will be titled ‘BRICS-ICT alliance for smart resource utilisation to combat global pandemic outbreaks’. It covers artificial intelligence as well as information and communication technology (ICT) and how these topics may be applied to address issues around pandemics. UP experts consider cannabis use and labour law UP medico-legal experts, Dr JB Laurens and Professor Pieter Carstens, raised legal dilemmas regarding cannabis use by workers in a research article entitled “Cannabis legislation and testing for cannabis use in safety- and risk-sensitive environments”. A question that was raised was how employers can accurately and ethically detect if employees are under the influence of THC (the active component of cannabis) while at work. The legal dilemma arose in that THC can be detected in blood tests, saliva tests and urine tests for days after consumption, and is not an accurate indication of current intoxication. Dr Laurens and Prof. Carstens explain that using a ‘zero’ point threshold for testing is not “scientifically correct and could be problematic to defend in a court or labour hearing, since the ‘zero’ depends on the detection method”. They express that it is “essential to set a threshold concentration that was low enough for an individual to operate in a risk-sensitive environment, while also respecting their autonomy to use cannabis in private”. Compiled by Nokwanda Kubheka

Meet Hatfield: In the shoes of a beauty industry worker Mothusi Mokalane

he COVID-19 pandemic and the hard restrictions of the Level 5 lockdown period in 2020 set South Africa’s local hair and beauty industry back significantly. The beauty industry has struggled after being shut down for months as it made it to the list of non essential businesses that had to shut down operations when cases of COVID-19 increased. According to a multinational company and research group, Mekinsey, the global industry generates $500 billion in annual sales and accounts for millions of jobs, directly and indirectly. Many of the people who work in these industries were left without work for months. Locally; Hatfield is a university town that has hundreds of students from the University of Pretoria and other institutions walking its streets. Every one of these students is part of the target market for all of the salons around the city. When campuses closed for lockdown in March 2020, the large majority of students left residences and accommodations in Hatfield, which resulted in severe economic setbacks for the salons and all of their employees who faced the impact of lockdown restrictions. Matilda Okai, a Ghanaian citizen living in South Africa working as a hairdresser, is a manager at Hatfield Beauty and Hair Studio. Okai said that the lockdown crippled the business as they had to go for months without any income between her and her husband. “No work means no pay when you are a salon worker, even if you miss a single day. Now imagine months of a business not operating”, she explained. Okai said that what was even more difficult during the hard restrictions period was having to pay rent for the store they operate from. That put a strain on the staff and managers because it made it more difficult to honour salaries. Okai explained that her business did not qualify for specific government relief, and that it felt the burden of lockdown on a pronounced level. Okai elaborated that even now post hard lockdown restrictions, the business is still going through strain because they are recovering from the losses of 2020. “Last year when the salons were closed, my husband had to ask for money from our family in Ghana just so we could survive. It was really hard going for months without any money entering our pockets”, said Okai. Okai indicated that because of where they operate, which is Hatfield, they have a market advantage of students, and predominantly UP students. “Even when the university closes for recess we suffer as a business because the absence of students kills our business, as they make up most of our clientele”. Martin, a Barber at Hatfield Barber, agreed, indicating that the lockdown placed his business in a vulnerable state due to the lack of income for months. “It is only now that one is starting to recover from the debacle of 2020, at least now I can make ends meet”, he explained. Martin also stated that when UP students are all in town they can see and feel the difference, as they have regular clients. “When students [are] here, I know I will make a lot of money in a day, so it was very difficult last year when the majority of them were not around”, he said. While most industries have reopened and can conduct business freely, many still experience the economic and personal challenges caused by the lockdown in 2020. Small businesses like Hatfield Barber and Hatfield Beauty and Hair Studio continue to recover the financial losses of the past year and continue business as their largest clientele basis is still largely missing from Hatfield.

4 | News

3 May 2021

Intervarsity News University of Cape Town (UCT) On 18 April, a fire started at the base of Table Mountain and quickly spread to surrounding areas. The fire, which damaged the Rhodes Memorial Restaurant and surrounding areas, spread towards UCT, forcing students in campus residences to evacuate. All residence students were moved to off-campus locations and hostels and hotels in Cape Town have offered these students temporary housing and food. Damage to the UCT campus includes the Pearson, Smuts and Fuller halls, as well as the JW Jagger Library, which is known to house important and irreplaceable historical documents and texts. Schemes like Millennium Fundraising and the United Feeding Scheme have offered support to displaced students by providing sanitary products, food and water. The UCT SRC has also been providing people with resources for donation and spreading information and banking details of companies and charities that have been willing to assist the university and displaced students. University of Johannesburg (UJ) UJ has received a donation of R110 million for the advancement of the fourth Industrial Revolution in underprivileged communities. The origin of the project and the donation came from the non-profit organisation, Growing Up Africa (GUA), which works a researchbased development and design programme which is meant to build and

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Brooklyn SAPS weighs in on cell phone robberies

equip strong education structures for less fortunate communities. The founder and Chief Executive of GUA, Deborah Terhune, started the project. According to the university website, the donation has funded the construction of an Education Campus Project in Devland, Soweto, South of Johannesburg. This campus will be used to establish a centre to advance science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics for the benefit of youth of the community and ultimately for improvement of ecological, social and economic sustainability. University of the Witwatersrand (Wits) South Africa’s Dr Sibongile Khumalo has been awarded an honorary doctorate in music from Wits University. The doctorate was conferred on 21 April and was accepted in a virtual graduation by her daughter, Ayanda Khumalo. The singer passed away on 21 January 2021, before she was able to receive the award, but not before she was informed that she was being honoured with the award. North-West University (NWU) With the COVID-19 pandemic having placed an immeasurable strain on South Africa’s health services and medical professionals, NWU has stated that these events have “dramatically strengthened” the institution’s case for a medical school in the North West. This

comes months after Nelson Mandela University launched a medical school in the Eastern Cape. Plans to establish a medical school at NWU were mooted in 2006, but the plan began taking serious shape in 2017. The NWU Council Chairperson, Dr Bismark Tyobeka, remarked that the NWU Medical School would address the needs of a demand in students, as well as for the greater public. This saw the establishment of the NWU Medical School Task Team, led by Dr Tyobeka and including the dean of NWU’s Faculty of Health Sciences, Prof. Awie Kotzé, as well as the institution’s Principal and Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Dan Kgwadi, which will investigate the case for a medical school. Once the project is greenlit by the relevant authorities, this will pave the way for the 11th university medical school in South Africa. Compiled by Katherine Weber and Tshepang Moji

vCampus

Nostalgia: Flashback to student news in 1946

Nokwanda Kubheka

atfield and Hillcrest have become an easy spot for criminals to make a quick buck by snatching phones from unsuspecting students. According to Sergeant Webster Scheepers from Brooklyn SAPS, there has been an increase in cell phone robberies in their policing area. In most cell phone robberies, the victims were walking or standing with either their cellphones in their hands or on a phone call when it was grabbed from them. Sgt. Scheepers says reports show that an unknown man usually comes from behind, grabs the cellphone and runs towards a getaway vehicle that is waiting nearby and the vehicle speeds off. Although street robberies can be identified as a crime of opportunity and occur within a few seconds, Sgt. Scheepers said students that are listening to music, texting or generally using their phones in public are a prime target for criminals. You can protect yourself and your cellphone by: • Treating your cell phone the way you treat cash; do not flash it around in public; • Walking in groups, especially at night; • Using well-lit and relatively busy roads; • Changing your route if you think that someone is following you, and turning into an open business premises for help to contact the police; and • refraining from talking to unknown people and not allowing yourself to get distracted by people who are selling items on the street. Sgt. Scheepers also encouraged students to trust their instincts and not to allow technology to take away their focus from what is going on around them. Brooklyn SAPS can be reached at 012 366 1700.

DBY has covered student news for 83 years, but the type of news that students follow has evolved over generations at UP. This edition’s Campus Nostalgia offers some insight into the type of news student journalists covered, and the stories students were interested in reading in 1946, not long after the newspaper reopened after a four-year closure due to a paper shortage in World War 2. In a 1946 issue of PDBY (then known as Die Perdeby) published on 27 March, a student recounts a bus breakdown on a drama trip to Railway Institute Hall in Witbank. The student explains that the bus that the students was travelling in came to a grinding halt, and the group were stranded. The recollection is vivid, as the student fearfully recounts how plumes of smoke and steam evaporated from the bus engine, and the students mentions that the accident was accredited to the bus being overcrowded. There named mention that the jerk of the breakdown caused a student names Jeanne’s violin to fall and break, with “only Wouter being able to calm her down”. Wouter’s comment of “don’t sissy the woman” is described as having irritated the sentiments of female students on the bus. The two hour delay caused by the accident is described as dampening the “the spontaneous zest for life” of students on the bus. It is mentioned that another bus from Witbank was sent to pick up the students who expressed dissatisfaction at having to wait it out in the hot, arid weather. A neighbouring yard near the bus provided a source of water for students to cool off while they waited. Following the arrival of the new bus, the students travelled between Bronkhorstspruit (the site of the breakdown) and Witbank between 5am (the time they started their journey) and 6:45am (when they arrived at Railway Institute Hall). The student account states that “everyone was quiet now and whoever was not sitting and reading was lying asleep on his or her partner’s lap”. Once it was time to prepare for the competition, it is mentioned that the female students started to iron their Voortrekker dresses, with the only switch point for the iron being in the men’s dressing room. Before the start of their performance, students were treated to pies and fruit for dinner. The article also mentions that the students’ acting instructor, Uncle Jerry, provided some surprisingly positive critique by stating, “if you are not going to perform worse than tonight, our tour is a huge success.” It is concluded that the students came runner up in the drama competition. The news story ends with the student describing his and another man’s attempt to flirt with women at the competition, but says that they were too tired to really pick up any dates. Compiled by: Susanna Anbu

3 May 2021

News | 5

UP structures continue through the pandemic Katherine Weber

ith the pandemic halting campus contact lectures and on campus activities, campus societies and organisations have been hard hit due to the lack of contact with not only their members, but also with possible new members. Student societies and organisations have not had the opportunities of O-Week and the first weeks of the semester to market their societies to new students and promote their values and goals. This has left them with the responsibility of keeping student life alive on virtual platforms. On 5 April 2021 the SRC member for student societies, Hannah Le Roux, shared on the SRC social media platforms that the registration of student societies is delayed until a new website is developed to facilitate online registration. On 25 April the SRC confirmed that “students will be able to register [for societies] in the week following Freedom Day” and that the website “is ready for use with the potential of being developed and improved throughout the year”. The website has “not been perfected”, but the SRC say that there are features in place to “mitigate the possibility of something going wrong” regarding student details, passwords and student numbers. Despite the registration delays and the lack of contact sessions, societies continue their activities. Some have shifted to online meetings on platforms like Zoom (UP RAG), or Discord (Tuks UP&OUT). RAG has training programs like the Kagiso training programme, which educates students on the essence of community engagement. RAG chairperson, Busisiwe Yabo, says that “hosting online events has been the new establishment, but [it is] very hard”. Yabo explains that “as much as [RAG] [tries] to accommodate everyone, it seems impossible because people don’t have certain resources” to access physical events. Digital and virtual events have limitations, as “people are willing to participate but not fortunate enough to have data and [the] network to do so”. Yabo adds that attracting interest for virtual events is also challenging as people are tired of “the new norm of online”. As RAG continues activities online, Yabo ensures students that “UP RAG is still continuing to adhere to COVID-19 rules and regulations by keeping events digital. As much as we want the feel of a physical event, [...] the lives of people matter to us and we can’t risk it.” The Kagiso training programme will begin on 17 May, while the RAG Transformation Seminar will be on 25 May. More information can be found at @up_rag.

UP&OUT hold discussion meetings twice a week where they discuss current topics as they relate to the queer community, and have laucnhed their Round Table Talks on Discord from 23 April. Students can find them at @tuks_ upandout on social media. Student culture also continues online with Stuku, who launched episode 1 of “The STUKU Lockdown” on their social media platforms. The series covers “all things Stuku”, with the first installment covering “Nothing But Vernac and Expression”. The event is an annual themed art event for all students at UP. This year’s theme was “What does freedom mean to you?”, and ran from 26 to 28 April. Stuku also presented the Student Culture Debating Championship over Discord from 23 to 25 April. Students can follow Stuku’s events at @stuku_at_tuks. Another UP structure, Greenline UP, is a student-led environmental organisation that has recently had a litter up/scavenger hunt at the Faerie Glen Nature Reserve. Greenline UP has also run an initiative to attract volunteers to feed the feral UP campus cats, who serve as pest control, and confirm they are in the process of interviewing applicants. Greenline UP say they “were happy to get more than 100 applicants - 121 in total”. While UP supplies the food for the cats, Greenline UP recruited volunteers to travel to the different campuses and feed the resident rodent control. They say that Elmar, the staff member who looks after the cats, says “it takes approximately 7hrs in a day to get to all the cats”. Greenline UP adds that it is “quite hard to build a bond with these cats because they are scared of [people]” and so they hope to find “dedicated students to feed these cats” on a regular basis.

Photo: Cletus Mulaudi

Tuks Camerata has also been able to continue their structure activities and sang the national anthem at the Varsity Cup matches on 5 April. Involvement in student organisations continues despite the pandemic, and provides students with a community and allows people to interact with other students and issues that society faces, beyond only academic spaces. Due to the lack of contact, most societies have utilised social media to spread their message and get in touch with students, with most societies at UP having Instagram as their primary means of contact. Yabo, from UP RAG, asserts that they “are working hard to ensure that the events are inclusive, fair and fun”, as well as safe. Students can get in touch with RAG, UP&OUT, STUKU, Greenline UP, Tuks Camerata and other structures on social media platforms and through the DSA.

PDBWhy: How the vote to ban the Hijab affects Muslim men and women

Katherine Weber

n 30 March, the French Senate passed a vote to ban Muslim girls under the age of 18 from wearing the Hijab in public spaces. This is in addition to the French Senate’s prohibiting Hijab-wearing mothers from accompanying children on school field trips, as well as the banning of burkinis in public swimming areas. This sparked outrage in the Muslim community around the world. While the French government attests that the Hijab is a symbol of gender inferiority, according to the Muslim Students Association’s (MSA) market manager, Azraa Seedat, over the years, the Hijab has evolved to become a symbol of pride for Muslim women in their ethnic and religious identity. According to a study by two Stanford scholars on the impact of the 2004 Hijab ban in French public schools, the banning will cause Muslim girls to retract from society and stay home, despite the ‘liberating’ reasons behind the bill. Seedat, in explaining the new ban, says that the ban will force Muslim girls and women to choose between their religion and a place in society. Though the bill does not directly affect Muslim men, it still takes a large psychological toll on them because it shows a larger anti-Muslim campaign that French senate appears to some to be pushing. She expressed that the ban of Burkinis forces Muslim women out of public spaces and denies them their right to autonomy, and that it forces Muslim school girls to retract from recreational school activities because they cannot fully participate. Seedat says that the MSA is committed to dispelling common misconceptions about Islam and the practices within the religion. She expresses that if these misconceptions about Islam are dispelled, people will come to understand that France is writing Islamophobia into law. Seedat also believes that this issue is a feminist issue that seeks to control what Muslim women wear under the guise of trying to empower them.

Mohamed Asmall 4th year BEng Electronic “I think the Hijab ban is an attack on freedom of expression. We have laws in a society to protect people. The Hijab ban does the opposite. The only logical reason for the law is Islamophobia. Nuns can wear their head covering and no one has an issue with it. Why is there an issue with the Hijab? People are also covering their faces anyway because of COVID-19. So, it seems the issue is only if you are Muslim and cover your head it is an issue. The age [of] consent in France is 15, so why does one have to be 18 to consent to wearing an Hijab? The law seems to make it feel as it wants the impression of the Hijab to be something disliked in society or something that’s wrong. It aims to segregate Muslims or make Muslims feel as their religion and beliefs are wrong. A lot of people learn their habits and way of living when they are young. So, imagine being told your whole life as you grow up that wearing the Hijab is wrong and, in turn, your religious beliefs are wrong. This will surely create doubts in the mind of a child and will affect what one believes growing up. The law passed saddens me as it shows how much misinformation and ignorance there is about my religion. It is ignorance that leads to fear. I urge people who have such fears and mistrust to ask a Muslim about his or her religion to clear up any doubts or misconceptions.”

Shaylan Moodley BSc. Honours Pharmacology “We are often caught at the crossroads of choosing between what is allowed and what is correct. We see this example in the Hijab ban. For some, the Hijab may represent nothing more than a cloth that adorns the head of a Muslim woman. Yet, for Muslims, this article of clothing symbolises a form of worshiping the Almighty and a means of drawing closer to God. Thus, we reach a divergent pathway when secular law imposes on religious obligations. The question becomes “does the constitution of man have any right to affect the constitution of God” and subsequently “does the religious freedom of an individual have any right to renege the expected norms of society”. By curtailing the rights of a group (whether they be religious, political or otherwise) we are being told that the only way to be included, is to conform to what others have decided to be socially acceptable. The Hijab ban is the aftermath of a much larger problem, and that is intolerance. The beauty of mankind is found in its differences. I believe that the Hijab ban does not just affect Muslims but all those who wish to exercise their religious freedom.”

Mahmooda Milanzie 3rd year Bsc Human Genetics “For us Muslims, Hijab is not just a veiling over the head, it is an act of worship and obedience to God. It serves to preserve our modesty, and protects us from certain types of harassments and vanity. The Hijab ban in France is heartbreaking. We are made to believe that this a measure to advance women’s rights. How is this liberating when possibly most Muslim women feel liberated in their headscarves? Therefore shouldn’t [the] choice to wear the Hijab be an option rather than banning it? Rather, it is a depiction of how discrimination and stereotype against religion and religious practices still exist in our global society. Muslim women feel stigmatised and excluded from the public, sports, swimming facilities and various industries such as cosmetics and entertainment. Personally, I am disappointed that the government of France constantly attacks Muslims and our religion. They think putting us in a corner will shut us off, but we keep coming back up. This alone is liberating.”

Photo: Madeeha Hazarvi and Kelly-Anne Kong

3 May 2021

6 | Features

Mental care is also self-care The Student Counselling “Self-care is not just about relaxation. The overall benefit of self-care is that it can assist in building up resistance against the Centre’s new challenges and stresses of daily life.” Asanda Made

ife is known for throwing curveballs into the mix at our most settled and unsuspecting moments. Each person has their own unique method for tackling these unexpected scenarios. Finding what works for you is important because the way in which you respond to a curveball will determine your recovery time and can better equip you later on to handle future unexpected moments. How well a person handles a curveball can also impact their mental health, which may ultimately filter into every other aspect of their daily life. It is important to keep one’s mind in the best shape possible in order to maintain good mental health. This requires checking in on oneself to assess how one is coping and allowing for self-care when necessary. Self-care comes in various forms - for some it may take the form of a relaxing spa day while for others it may include hiking up one’s favourite trail. Each person needs an activity that enables them to slow down and embrace a different perspective. According to Karen Dempsey, in her article titled “Five SelfCare Tips To Support Your Mental Health”, published in Awareness Centre Online, and Mental Health America’s article titled “Taking Good Care of Yourself”, common self-care tips include: taking time to relax, making healthier choices, practicing good hygiene, socialising, expressing oneself, lowering one’s expectations to be realistic, and worrying less about what other people think. Finding activities that can incorporate these aforementioned tips can be a challenging process, but it is a necessary journey that every person should take. Dedicating time each week to try new activities is both therapeutic and fun. When trying out a new activity, choose to invite a friend or two to join in on the journey; socialising is one of the key aspects of self-care. According to Very Well Mind, mental self-care focuses on “the way you think and the things that are filling your mind”. Mental self-care includes activities that

Illustration: Sanele Zulu

keep one’s mind sharp, and healthy. Examples of these activities include: learning more about topics of curiosity and fascination, reading inspiring and motivational books, and practicing selfcompassion and acceptance to help develop a healthier inner dialogue The Student Counselling Unit (SCU) at the University of Pretoria has introduced tools to aid students in practicing selfcare to maintain good mental health. If students are not comfortable with arranging an in-person session with SCU psychologists, the SCU website has various self-help materials (including PDF documents and podcasts) for students to review. These materials cover various topics including: “promote your mental health”, “build psychological resilience”, and many more. In addition, Dr Eskell-Blokland, the Head of the SCU Department, took the time to explain a new venture at the SCU, namely the SCU-B - an artificial intelligence (AI) chatbot designed to provide students with information, tools, and skills to manage their mental wellbeing within the university context. Since the venture is relatively new, the services it provides may be limited, however it is continuously developing as more students make use of it. Self-care is not just about relaxation. The overall benefit of self-care is that it can assist in building up resistance against the challenges and stresses of daily life. Self-care makes coping with the unexpected curveballs easier. It is important to remember that maintaining one’s mental health is a life-long journey that requires commitment, patience, and the continuous practice of self-care as one goes through life.

SCU-B T Asanda Made

he Student Counselling Unit (SCU) at the UP is focussed on providing students with adequate support to ensure that they are better equipped to approach their studies, and to make the correct career choices. Services offered by the SCU include cognitive training, academic help, individual consultations, workshops, and webinars. Remaining true to their philosophy, which is “to make [their] services available to as many students as possible,” the unit recently introduced a new venture. PDBY asked Dr Linda EskellBlokland, Head of Department at the SCU, to shed some light on this venture. Dr Eskell-Blokland explained that the SCU-B is a chatbot: an automated information system that focuses on adding a human element into its interaction with the users. Its main purpose is to provide students with information, tools, and skills to better manage their studies and mental health within the university context. The SCU-B currently has three main focus areas: depression, anxiety, and general life management. It also provides links to other resources, such as the SCU careline, the student counselling centre, and other external resources. Students can access the SCU-B through a portal on the UP Student Portal. It is accessible to all registered students at UP. Students can browse various topics, watch video material, read articles, and even complete questionnaires. The SCU-B provides the option of using its services under an anonymous identity, or student’s may elect to input their student details. The primary difference between inputting student details and using an anonymous profile is that when using an anonymous profile, students will be unable to save any of the resources for review at a later stage. To create a safe environment for students, all the services offered by the SCU are confidential, and this includes the SCU-B. As the SCU-B encounters various user requests, it will improve and become more responsive. Students are encouraged to take some time to make use of the bot and, in doing so, help the bot to develop.

“The government has made its priorities clear, for over five years students have taken to the streets to demand free tertiary education, while the government continues to dedicate tax-payer rands to Sasol through R1.55 billion in fuel subsidies and a further R6.5 billion in carbon tax exemptions, which actively erode the future of our youth. The South African government needs to redirect the funding from the destructive fossil fuel industry towards free tertiary education, and break the cycle of poverty and achieve social justice. We call on the government to divest from fossil fuels and invest in education.” - Greenpeace Africa’s Climate and Energy Campaigner, Thandile Chinyavanhu

Join the conversation on WhatsApp by sending “South Africa” to +27 82 214 1636.

3 May 2021

Features | 7

Unravelling the eating habits of black holes in Space Susanna Anbu

team of researchers (headed by Dr. Jack Radcliffe from UP) has published research papers that decode the ‘eating habits’ of massive black holes in space. The implications of the research allows scientists to make discernable links between the creation of new stars and the growth of the black hole itself in a particular galaxy. This is noteworthy as the two aforementioned phenomena are crucial in uncovering complex processes in the universe. A black hole is a dense region of space that has such an intense gravitational field that no matter can escape from it. Black holes normally arise when stars die, and have the potential to grow into much larger forms by either coalescing with other black holes, or

“eating” streams of gas and dust in space. The team of researchers describe that the black holes “feed themselves in various ways: some gobble as much as they can, others digest slowly, and others are starving for food”. Dr. Radcliffe explained that “these growth episodes manifest themselves as violent phenomena: emitting extremely strong radiation that we can then detect with our telescopes”. The research headed by Dr. Radcliffe consisted of two papers published in the international journal Astronomy & Astrophysics. The papers sought to unpack questions on what types of galaxies black holes eat and the resulting implications on how to detect such eating phases in galaxies. Dr. Radcliffe ascertained that “taken together, the absorption of matter onto the central black hole appears to be a standard ingredient in the life of a galaxy: black

holes love food, but they eat in different ways”. In some instances, a black hole’s eating phase may occur simultaneously with the creation of stars. The research undertaken also underscored that expensive space telescopes need not be the sole equipment used to study the eating habits of black holes, when the radio telescopes such as the Square Kilometre Array (based in South Africa and Australia) are sufficient. The study conducted by the team of astronomers was undertaken on a special part of the sky, known as the GOODS-North field. This part of the sky is renowned for displaying tens of thousands of faint distant galaxies. The implications of the research allows astronomers to ascertain the link between when exactly new stars and black holes form in a single galaxy.

The stories in the stars

Carli Botha

dominant star sign, or the sun sign, is the general star sign that is referred to in horoscopes, there is also the moon sign, ascendant, Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto. When creating a natal chart, Co-Star described the sun sign as “your ego, identity and role in life”, while the moon sign is described as the “sign you most think of yourself as, since it reflects your personality when you’re alone or deeply comfortable”. The ascendant sign is “the mask you present to people”, Mercury “determines how you communicate, talk, think and process information”, Venus “determines how and what you love”, and Mars ”determines how you assert yourself, take action and the energy that surrounds you”. Jupiter and Saturn are described as the social planets, ruling “idealism and optimism” and “responsibility and fears”, respectively. Uranus “rules innovation, rebellion and progress”, Neptune “rules dreams, imagination and the unconsciousness”, while Pluto “rules power, intensity, obsession and control”. The article, “3 Different Types of Astrology You Should Know”, on keen.com, explains that there are about 12 types of astrology being practiced in the modern times. The three most common types highlighted by the article are Western astrology, Chinese astrology, and Vedic astrology. The type of astrology most often seen in South African magazines is based on Western astrology. Through the years, astrology has been criticised for its lack of scientific background. I. W. Kelly, from the University of Saskatchewan, Canada, wrote an article titled, “Modern Astrology: A Critique”, in which it is said that “modern advocates of astrology cannot account for the underlying basis of astrological associations with terrestrial affairs, have no plausible explanation for its claims, and have not contributed anything of cognitive value to any field of the social sciences”. In 1983, Shawn Carlson, from the University of California, conducted a test called the “Double-Blind Test of Astrology”. The abstract of the report states that “in the first test, we attempted to determine whether a person could recognise his own personality when described by an astrologer through a ’natal chart interpretation’, while “in the second test, we attempted to determine whether astrologers could correctly match a person’s natal chart to the results of a well-known and scientifically accepted personality test (the California Personality Inventory or CPU)”. The conclusion was that “astrology failed to perform at a level better than chance”. Although astrology has been critiqued, it is still widely practiced and it seems that, despite the critique, the practice will continue to draw crowds. Similar to the sign of Taurus, astrology is too stubborn to merely give up.

obert Andrew Gilbert, in Brittanica.com, describes astrology as a “type of divination that involves the forecasting of earthly and human events through the observation and interpretation of the fixed stars, the Sun, the Moon, and the planets”. Astrology has been around for years, and many popular magazines include weekly or monthly horoscopes in every issue. Astrology has been used to explain an individual’s personality traits, strengths, weaknesses, relationships, and other interests. Through horoscopes, astrology has also been used to predict an individual’s future. According to Ask Astrology’s homepage, the difference between astrology and astronomy is that “astrologically, the Zodiac refers to the 12 signs that rule each of the 30 degrees that make up the 360 degree ‘wheel of the sky’”, while, “astronomically, the Zodiac refers to the part of the sky that is 8 degrees north and south of the ecliptic, which is the path of the Sun across the celestial sphere from the view of earth over the course of the year”. The Zodiac is made up of 12 signs: Aries, Taurus, Gemini, Cancer, Leo, Virgo, Libra, Scorpio, Sagittarius, Capricorn, Aquarius, and Pisces. These 12 signs fall under four astrology elements: fire, water, air, and earth. The page also names three astrology qualities that further describe the signs: cardinal, fixed, and mutable. These qualities are also called “quadruplicities, and they have a significant effect on a person’s general outlook and attitude and indicate how they function in their daily life”. The signs are categorised as follows: fire signs are Aries, Leo, and Sagittarius; the water signs are Cancer, Scorpio, and Pisces; air signs are Gemini, Libra, and Aquarius; and earth signs are Taurus, Virgo, and Capricorn. Moving on to the qualities: cardinal signs are Aries, Cancer, Libra, and Capricorn; fixed signs are Taurus, Leo, Scorpio, and Aquarius; and mutable signs are Gemini, Virgo, Sagittarius, and Pisces. In the article, “The most personal spread EVER | Astrological Birth Chart Spread”, on The Living Wheel’s website, it is said that an “astrological birth (or natal) chart is essentially an old photo; it’s a photo of the heavens at the exact moment you were born”. It further explains that, to get an accurate natal chart, an individual needs to take into consideration the date and time of birth, as well as the location. Co-Star Astrology is a popular website and app for creating and understanding natal charts, which explains that an individual essentially also has more than one sign. While the Illustration: Cassandra Eardley

8 | Entertainment

Tuks FM alumnus hits the power of 5

Tshepang Moji

rom keeping night-owls company as she pushed to perfect her craft during the ‘graveyard’ slot, to now keeping the country entertained as they go about their weekends, Keabetswe Boya is definitely on a winning streak. The Tuks FM alumnus, who graduated with a psychology degree from the University of Pretoria in 2019, and who is also the host of her own podcast, titled Inside Out with Keabi, is one of the newest radio DJs to join 5FM. She is part of the station’s line-up overhaul, which saw their previous vanguard of presenters make way for a new cohort of talented broadcasters. Boya’s appointment at the Auckland Park-based radio station makes her a part of the many success stories to come out of UP, and more specifically, the university’s multi-award-winning campus radio station, Tuks FM. She joins a station that has previously been home to South African household names such as Anele Mdoda, Gareth Cliff and Rob Forbes, all fellow Tuks FM alumni. Boya joins the current line-up with big names such as Nick Hamman, Karabo Ntshweng, Nicole da Silva and fellow Tuks FM alumnus, Zanele Potelwa. This is not the first time that Boya’s talent is recognised on a wide scale, as she was a part of the Tuks FM team that took away many awards at the 2019 Liberty Radio Awards, where Tuks FM still stands as the country’s most awarded radio station. The awards, dubbed the “Oscars of South African Radio”, also saw Boya walk away with the award for Best Afternoon Drive Show, as well as a nomination for Best Afternoon Drive Presenter that year, cementing her place in the radio industry as a talent to keep an ear out for. In celebration of her recent achievements, and having been endowed with ‘The Power of 5’, PDBY caught up with Boya to discuss her journey in radio, and the steps it took leading up to this leap in her career in media. When did the radio bug actually bite you? The radio bug bit in 2016, just a few months after my first few shows on radio. Radio really wasn’t always the plan – I usually just tell people I “fell” into radio because from an early age, I had always aspired to be a television host instead. I just took radio as an extracurricular activity – but that was until I cried hysterically after my first graveyard show (02:00-04:00)! That’s when I realised that I actually really love this thing. Tell us about how you joined Tuks FM in the first place. On a regular Saturday morning, I was sitting with a colleague of mine, and I was being my usual, talkative self, when Gugu, a friend of mine, paused for a second, looked at me and said “Kea, you know you would sound really great on radio!” I asked her if applications were open for the station’s February intake, and she walked me to the Tuks FM studios where I filled in the forms. I then received a call to come in for an interview, and, well, the rest is history! How was your time at Tuks FM? What was the experience like, from your first broadcast, right up to your last? Well actually, the interesting thing about my TuksFM journey is that I was what you could call the “weakest link” among the volunteers selected during my intake. I messed up the station name during our mock show – which had to be done in the presence of all the other presenters! Based on this experience, I told my manager at the time that I could not do radio, and that I wanted to leave. He suggested that I do my first three live shows, and then I could make my decision to leave thereafter. With that being said, the journey from then on out was one

of absolute growth which saw me cross paths with amazing, talented individuals. I learnt a lot from my peers, my managers, the people I got the chance to interview, as well as the many individuals within the radio industry who would come to chat to us about their radio journeys. Working at Tuks FM surely comes with some of the best experiences. Which of these experiences stood out to you? Oh, my goodness! I have so many – I mean, being part of Tuks FM was a highlight in itself! But the two events that definitely come to mind are, firstly, being the first black woman in the history of the station to win the “Member of the Year” Award. It is awarded to the volunteer who consistently goes over and above the call of duty, who is enthusiastic, a top achiever in their department, makes a positive contribution and truly embodies what it means to be a Tuks FM volunteer, and secondly, getting the chance to interview the Deputy Minister in The Presidency for Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities, Professor Hlengiwe Mkhize. Winning any award is a big deal but winning a Liberty Radio Award is a massive deal! Can you recall how it felt being in the venue as a part of the Tuks FM team and winning those awards? Yoh! It felt surreal! It was absolutely amazing because that year, we celebrated Tuks FM winning Campus Station of the year. What made it even sweeter was that it was the first time after two whole years that we hadn’t taken it home. It encouraged me to work even harder. Our programme manager always encouraged us never to make winning an award our sole focus, because not winning would make us think we weren’t talented, which isn’t always the case. But it was really a beautiful moment of recognition, as well as a true encouragement to work hard. The first week of April is known as the “radio shuffle season” in South Africa, as most radio stations change their offerings and switch up their line-ups for the next year. The SABC’s national youthoriented radio station, 5FM, underwent a line-up overhaul, cheekily dubbed a “System Upgrade”. To much fanfare, the station released its new, much anticipated line-up, which saw a refreshed daytime line-up on the weekdays and weekends. This line-up saw Boya take over the coveted weekend afternoon spot from 14:00 to 17:00 on Saturdays and Sundays. Boya tells PDBY about her shift from campus radio at Tuks FM to commercial – and nationwide – radio at 5FM. The move from campus radio to commercial radio is always a massive deal. Tell us about the journey to 5FM and how this opportunity came about. You know, these things are tricky! I genuinely believe that it’s all a matter of timing. I had been sending my demos to the programming manager on a weekly basis throughout the whole of 2020. Early this year, I was contacted by the station manager, JD Mostert. I almost fainted when he texted me! Like, I had to breathe because my heart was beating out of my chest upon the realisation that my dream was about to come true. He then asked to meet up with me, and it’s during this

3 May 2021

meeting that he offered me a show on 5FM. Any commercial radio job is huge – but it goes without saying that 5FM is colossal. It’s easily one of the most recognisable stations and brands in South Africa. How does it feel knowing you’re a part of what is often regarded as “The Voice of the South African Youth”? I am, to this day, still struggling to wrap my head around that reality. It’s absolutely surreal and it’s really humbling. I must say, it’s a tad bit intimidating because it comes with a huge responsibility, but I am really just enjoying finding my way in this industry. You currently find yourself on the same station line-up as big names in radio like Nick Hamman, Nicole da Silva, and the iconic Roger Goode. How does it feel to be listed alongside such greats in the radio industry? I never get used to it! I think it will take some time because I really try not to be a fangirl when I meet these broadcasters. I have also just had to make the mental shift that this is the field I am in now. I am sharing the same space with some radio legends of our time, and I could not be more grateful. Speaking of mental shifts, how did you manage to deal with the shift of broadcasting to just the Greater Tshwane area when you were at Tuks FM, to being on 5FM and broadcasting to the whole country? Honestly, I am still dealing with the shift. It still scares me to hear someone send in a voice note saying they are from Bloemfontein in the Free State or Cape Town in the Western Cape – I am yet to get used to that. I have also had to stretch myself in terms of the manner in which I create content for my show. It’s not just centred around Pretoria or Gauteng anymore, but it needs to be inclusive of the entire country. So, in that sense, it has brought a lot of growth, not just in my work as a broadcaster, but also personally. Finally, for someone still putting in the effort at a campus or community radio station, what advice would you give them about breaking out into the commercial radio industry? Work hard. Focus on your craft. You won’t always love what you do but commit yourself to it. Have a solid reason for why you’re doing this, because that is what will keep you going when your peers get ahead of you, when your journey delays and when you feel like quitting. This journey is a journey of patience, so make sure you have your faith to keep you strong as you embark on it. Listen to Keabetswe Boya on weekend afternoons every Saturday and Sunday between 14:00 and 17:00 on 5FM (98.0 or 103.6FM in Johannesburg and Pretoria respectively or stream live on 5fm.co.za). You can also listen to her podcast, Inside Out with Keabi, which is available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and other podcast platforms. Follow her at @keabi. boya on Instagram as well as @Kea_Boya on Twitter.

Images provided.

3 May 2021

Entertainment | 9

PDBY Featured Artist:

Given Masilela Ashleigh Pascoe

iven Masilela is a Pretoria-based spoken word/ performance poet with an impressive eleven-year career behind him so far and he shows no signs of slowing down anytime soon. Masilela’s poetry takes on themes of patriotism and family, and transforms them into artistic works about faith, love and hope. Masilela says that he always strives to challenge the modern views of society and to encourage a return to a godlier way of life. His work “seeks to encourage good ethics, morality and great value systems”. Masilela spoke to PDBY about his “innate disposition for creativity” and the art that is performance poetry. Masilela explains that slam poetry refers to competitive poetry whereas he is more of a performance poet. Masilela published an anthology of poems in 2012 titled Shifting Paradigms, and is on the verge of publishing a second book titled Corridors Within, which is also a collection of poems. How did you get involved in the performance poetry scene? I began my journey as a performance poet in 2010 when I attended a rap and poetry session at the University of Pretoria. This exposed me to a group of poets known as PenseedPoets. They were a community of performance poets who had regular events, and it was through consistent performances at these events that my skills as a writer and performer were harnessed. What exactly is spoken word poetry? Spoken word poetry is a way of expressing your thoughts, emotions and experiences through wielding words in an artistic manner. Poetry somewhat accomplishes the very same objective as music, dance or painting, but what distinguishes it from most mediums of expression is that it relies more heavily on descriptive language. Which of your poems are you proudest of, and why? I am most proud of a poem titled “My Philosophers’ Rock”, which is a poem that captures the dynamics of my family very well. It mainly expresses how I feel about my mother, a single parent who had to carry the weight of raising four children virtually on her own, and how her own upbringing influenced the way she raised us. I love my family dearly and this poem has given me an opportunity to express the complicated relationship between my mother and her children, as well as how we as siblings relate to each other. Your performance of the poem “Our Home” offers a very touching reflection of our country. What inspires you, as an artist, to make this specific kind of poetry? “Home” was meant to be part of a project I was working on for the United Nations in 2015. The project itself never manifested, but a lot of the poems I wrote for that project live on. “Our Home” became a poem that invoked the patriot in me. It continues to remind me that [there] are many things to appreciate about South Africa and our beautiful continent.

Image provided.

PDBY’s artists to watch CXLXB

“Happy Again”

What is the process you follow when creating a poem? At the risk of sounding unsophisticated, I actually don’t have a process at all. My writing sessions are sometimes provoked by inspiration, an overwhelming desire to create a piece of art, but that’s not always the case. In most cases I write poems simply because I enjoy it, I find it to be therapeutic. Why is spoken word poetry something that appeals to you, as opposed to simply publishing written poems? In my experience, I have found that the South African audience tends to resonate more with live performances. Spoken word poetry when performed creates an experience for the audience that the literature is incapable of producing on its own.

IG: @cxlxb_xx CXLXB is a Pretoria-based hip-hop dominant, multi-genre artist. His music is available on all major streaming platforms and his next project, titled “Connect”, is already in the works. In addition to creating his music, CXLXB also heads up his own independent label called “Positive Thinkers”. You can check him out on Instagram and Twitter: @cxlxb_xx.

Joy Club Cassidy Cassidy “Run It”

My writing sessions are sometimes provoked by inspiration, an overwhelming desire to create a piece of art, but that’s not always the case. In most cases I write poems simply because I enjoy it.

IG: @joyclub_ cassidycassidy Joy Club Cassidy Cassidy is a punk band from Pretoria. According to their Spotify Bio they “play punk and tell the truth”. Their music is available on all major streaming platforms and you can check them out on Instagram (@joyclub_cassidycassidy) or on Facebook (Joy Club Cassidy Cassidy).

Zen Garden “Find Barry”

You work closely with Spoken Sessions. Could you explain Spoken Sessions in terms of what it is about and what the platform has done for you? Spoken Sessions is a community of poets, writers, singers, rappers and lovers of art. As the Spoken Sessions team, we labour to create a safe space for poets, singers and comedians to come and share their work and for their work to be consumed and enjoyed by audiences. In creating these spaces, Spoken Sessions has also given me a reliable platform to share my work and to connect with other artists. What inspires you to keep creating? Inspiration is not necessarily what keeps me creating, although it does help. I’ve come to understand that I continue to create simply because I have an innate disposition for creativity; it is my domain and place of belonging. It’s simply God-given. What is the next step for you as a poet? At this point, my primary focus is on publishing my next book of poems, Corridors Within. By God’s grace I hope to also produce a studio album and a mini documentary series to accompany the book digitally. You can check out Given’s video content and any future announcements on his socials: Instagram: @givenillustrative Facebook: Given Illustrative Twitter: @IllustrativeGM

IG: @zen_and_ nowww Zen Garden is another Pretoria-based band. Their sound can best be described as groovy rock ‘n roll - think Red Hot Chilli Peppers meets Beatenberg. You can check them out on Instagram (@zen_ and_nowww), Facebook (Zen Garden) and Twitter (zenandnoww).

Zebra:

Sorry Mom

Ashleigh Pascoe

opular Pretoria-based band, Zebra, released its album, Sorry Mom, at the beginning of April 2021. This 12-track album is classified as alternative but leans slightly towards a soft version of punk rock. Its unique sound can be attributed to its South African song lyrics, accompanied by an array of musical instruments played with intensity. The album is introduced with “Welcome to the Show”, a track opening with manic drumming and a greeting in multiple national languages. Nothing is more welcoming than explosive guitar riffs and intense expressions of energy. The enjoyment of this album comes from its flexibility. The themes of the album are fluid. They discuss drugs, politics, romantic relationships and wild nights out, all the while accompanied by upbeat instruments. “Life Sucks” is the more heartfelt anomaly to this energy. Whether you are a local or someone who is new to the Pretoria lifestyle, this album will teach you the ultimate “Zebra Fkn Way” with its raving guitars and drums, prominent bass guitar riffs, and husky voices. The musical intensity of “Zebra Week” represents the voice of the band and will help you understand why many apologies to your mother will be in order throughout your university career. Manic apologies that appear throughout the album and especially in tracks such as “Sorry Mom”, may not be to your taste, but the nostalgic appeal of the consistently played acoustic guitar in the song “Sanbonani”, just might be. The album is laced with underlying humour, with the high energy tracks “Exticy” and “First Year” being testimonies to that. The ability to relate to the album is its appeal, as the most relatable track, “Got The Time”, is also the most popular track. If anything, the album will teach you a little about “Living Your [my] Best Life” as an overwhelmed student. There is hardly a guitar melody in the entirety of the track that is not played with a fast-paced vigour that will encourage you to connect with the music as a South African, while having a laugh.

10 | Entertainment

Monday 3.

3 May 2021

Tuesday 4. Karaoke Tuesdays @Aandklas

Wednesday 5. Bar Acoustics @Fokof Bar Quiz Night @Aandklas

Thursday 6. Major League DJs Residency @The Blue Room

Ladies Night (Wine and Pizza) @Jukes

10.

11. Karaoke Tuesdays @Aandklas

12. Bar Acoustics @Fokof Bar Quiz Night @Aandklas

13. Major League DJs Residency @The Blue Room

Friday

Saturday

Drive-In Movie: Mamma Mia 1 @Loftus Park Centre Friday Sunsets Unlocked @Summit Rooftop Menlyn

GinFest @Kleinkaap Boutique Hotel

14.

15.

18. Karaoke Tuesdays @Aandklas

19. Bar Acoustics @Fokof Bar Quiz Night @Aandklas

25. Karaoke Tuesdays @Aandklas

26. Bar Acoustics @Fokof Bar Quiz Night @Aandklas Ladies Night (Wine and Pizza) @Jukes

Open Mic Night @Aandklas

16.

Open Mic Night @Aandklas

20.

21.

Major League DJs Residency @The Blue Room

Friday Sunsets Unlocked @Summit Rooftop Menlyn

22.

23. Sunday Sessions @ Summit Rooftop Menlyn

Ladies Night (Wine and Pizza) @Jukes

24.

Sunday Sessions @ Summit Rooftop Menlyn

Friday Sunsets Unlocked @Summit Rooftop Menlyn

Ladies Night (Wine and Pizza) @Jukes

17.

Sunday

Open Mic Night @Aandklas

27. Spoken Sessions Open Mic Night @Bravo Pizzeria Comedy Night @Fokof Bar Wine Tasting @ Blos Café

28. Friday Sunsets Unlocked @Summit Rooftop Menlyn

29.

30. Sunday Sessions @ Summit Rooftop Menlyn Open Mic Night @Aandklas

When attending public and social gatherings, abide by COVID-19 regulations. Maintain social distancing, wear a mask that covers the nose and mouth, wash or sanitise your hands frequently, avoid touching your face and abide by government regulation safety measures and restrictions. Infographic: Dani van der Horst, Ashleigh Pascoe, Kayla Thomas and Leah Rees

3 May 2021

Fun and Games | 11

RECIPE

SUDOKU

Microwave Mac and Cheese

Difficulty: moderate

Ingredients ½ cup of macaroni ½ cup of water 3 tablespoons of milk ¼ - ½ cup of cheddar cheese

Salt Pepper Cayenne Pepper (optional)

South African film and TV

- Catching Feelings - My Octopus Teacher - Lockdown - Intersexions #22482 - Blood and Water - Seriously Single

South African lm and TV

2 9

5 1

7 8

Word Search Puzzle | Discovery Education Puzzlemaker

WORD SEARCH 7

- Diamond City - Queen Sono - Talis Baby Diary

4/25/2021

Instructions Place the macaroni, water and a pinch of salt into a mug. (Tip: to avoid the water spilling in the microwave, place the mug on a plate) Microwave the mug for 2-4 minutes or until your pasta is cooked. (Tip: cook the pasta in two minute intervals) Add the milk and cheese to the mug. Then add salt and pepper to your taste. Now stir. Microwave for another 30 seconds Now enjoy.

Puzzlemaker is a puzzle generation tool for teachers, students and parents. Create and print customized word search, criss-cross, math puzzles, and more-using your own word lists.

- Dam - Kings of Joburg Difficulty: hard - The Girl from St Agnes

#34101

Difficulty: moderate

Difficulty: hard

8 1

6 4

3 3

2 8

MyOctopusTeacher

I want to go out, Words can go in any direction. I want to have fun, Words share letters as they cross over each other. But Covid can and lack of cash Really makes my day trash.

Alexa Midnight

Things will get lighter.

#29591

NSFAS will start paying your fees. Covid will get better. Again, we’ll start living with ease. You’ll get your university letter. The sickness will start to wane. Together, we’ll get through the pain. We are stronger as a team, With no reason to be mean.

Poetry submitted by UP students to PDBY. You can submit your poetry to editor@pdby.co.za if you would like to be featured in the PDBY Poetry Corner.

2 8 7 3

6 1

8 2

3 3

7 6 5 1 2

8 5 4

9 Difficulty: hard

#171184 #70084

7 8 3

5 5 8 2 7 1

4 2

3 1

8 9

4 3 7 7 4

5 1 7

2 3

Difficulty: moderate Difficulty: moderate

8 9

Difficulty: moderate Difficulty: hard

QueenSono TheGirlfromStAgnes

7 5

KingsofJoburg

5 3

2 5

Dam

8 3

#77828 #22482

We lost people, We dear price 12allofpaid 12a words placed. Locked up, like little mice, Not being able to see The people we love. Missing our friends, our family. Slowly losing our sanity.

8 5

9 6

4 8

3 CROSSWORD 8 4 2 9 3

3 9

8 9

Intersexions

Get new sudokus at https://sudoku.cba.si/

Pandemic Blues

Find the word in the puzzle.

Just wait and see.

CatchingFeelings

TalisBabyDiary

Difficulty: moderate

Poetry Corner

SeriouslySingle I have no money No friends I can see. The despair, Never ends.

6 5

#70084

8 3

Hearing the sounds of parties rise DiamondCity I feel desperate and alone Lockdown Broken and have but a bone

I layBloodandWater in my bed every night

udoku.cba.si/

6 2

7 2

3 9

#34101

Can't solve it? Check the solution at https://sudoku.cba.si/

#77828

Sport Varsity Cup Results Round

Round

4 April

8 April

11 April

22 April

26 April

30 April

10 May

13 May

16 May

48 - 25

47 - 19

33 - 15

24 - 31

31 - 25

PDBY Featured Athlete:Noël Lee

Varsity Cup Round 4 Highlight

Caitlyn Walsh and Kayla Thomas

oël Lee is a TuksAlumni squash player with a BA degree from UP. Originally from KZN, 21 year old Lee was number 2 in South Africa in Juniors Squash, before an injury in 2016 forced her to stop playing. PDBY spoke to Lee about reflecting on her career in squash, and getting back into the sport. Why did you begin and where did you start? My older sister played squash and at the school I went to everyone just played squash at some point. So I started in grade 1 at my school and have loved it since. [...] I haven’t played for 4 years due to injuries but I’m training hard to get back to it now. What is your favourite thing about the sport? I love the intensity of squash. It is both physically and mentally demanding, it’s a brilliant workout no matter what level you play and you meet the most amazing people through it. What is the most rewarding experience about playing squash? I think the most rewarding experiences for me have been the amazing places I’ve been able to travel to and the people I’ve been able to meet. Squash is such a social sport at all levels. What arew the most challenging aspects of the sport? For me, the most challenging part is looking after your body and avoiding injuries. Squash is a very physically demanding sport and if you don’t work hard to constantly work on your strength and flexibility it can take its toll, especially when playing at a high level. Squash is also a mental game so you have to learn to control your emotions which is what many people struggle with.

Image: Provided

What were your best achievements? Winning the South African Junior Closed in my matric year, winning the Top Schools Tournament with my school and being chosen to represent South African at the World Junior Open in Poland in 2016. Do you have any role models that you look up to? I have always looked up to Nicol David, she is a very classy squash player, she has great control both physically and mentally. What advice would you offer to those looking to play and do well? Work on maintaining your strength and flexibility so you can play to your best ability, but mostly have fun and enjoy the sport and all it has to offer. If you enjoy your game it will make it that much easier to excel in it. On 23 April the FNB Varsity Cup captains took part in a chestnut tree planting ceremony, hosted by Professor Cheikh Mbow, on the Future Africa Campus. As eight of the ten teams are staying in a bio-bubble at the Future Africa campus, the planting is “a symbol and a metaphor for how this collaboration should be established for the future,” according to Prof. Mbow. He further stated that “when teams are connected, universities are connected. Tree planting is symbolic because the trees will grow and we’ll remember that the university bio-bubble did this exercise for us.” Photo: Catherine Kotze

Alex-Zander du Plessis (UP-Tuks) and Christopher Louis Schreuder (Maties) during the Varsity Cup match at Loftus Versfeld on 22 April 2021. Photo: Christiaan Kotze

Update

s of 26 April, UP-Tuks is currently ranked second in the Varsity Cup rankings, trailing only behind the UCT Ikeys. During round 4, on 22 April, UP-Tuks faced off against Maties. UP-Tuks’ players Hanru Sirgel and Johan Mulder scored one try each, but ultimately UP-Tuks were defeated by Maties, breaking UP’s three game winning streak. During round 5, on 26 April, UP-Tuks played against UWC. UPTuks’ player, Johan Mulder, scored a try within the first six minutes. Louritz van der Schyff scored a third try for UP, followed closely by another try by Zander du Plessis, a couple of minutes later. This brought the score at half-time to 10-26 to UP-Tuks. Llewellyn Classen scored the only try for UP in the second half, howevever UP-Tuks left the field with another win. *PDBY has not captured the results of round 6 at the time of print.

3 May 2021 Issue 4 Year 83

Articles inside