Boobgate:
Karabo Mogale v UP Societies
The Barbification of Media
LatiNO: Party Alternatives
The World Cup Line Up
The truth-telling mandate that all publications like ours are tasked with is not something that we take lightly. The truth as we understand it is not something that can be easily defined; but our quest for the truth is built on verifiable facts. But in this quest very real people sit at the centre. People that do not want the truth to come out. They lash out, and end up treating the people around them like garbage.
The truth hurts
The reality that a lot of our journalists have had to face is how they have been treated by the SRC. But sometimes, there is no way to soften the cold hard truth, especially when you are a mess but believe yourself to be a masterpiece. When you are the president of an organisation that gets nothing done, an organisation that applauds racism at a student forum while saying that you fight white supremacy. When you are an SRC officer who is rude to students and has a pair of someone’s boobs as your Whatsapp wallpaper, a vice chairperson who lies under oath, or a Student Representative Council that will do ANYTHING to silence the press. You cannot face the music. The truth will always hurt, and you will never grow.
The truth heals
What you often forget is that when you are honest about your feelings toward a particular situation, it opens the door for potential change and compromise. You cannot be the president who represents all students and not address their moral reservations about the source of your
funding. It is not enough to stop at, “We take money from whomever we want, we do not discriminate.” By that logic, could you take money from Nazis without any hangups? Address those moral reservations, explain that you are in a bind and you have to choose between financially excluded students or money from a donor who has potentially questionable morals. Be open and be honest. There are students with legimate concerns and questions that when raised, you answered with a solitary ‘No’. And continued on to other issues.
In this sense, student governance doesn’t need to be so toxic, so confrontational. In that instance, you do not have a group of people fighting each other, but a reciprocal relationship. You don’t go into an armoury to find a first aid kit – you do that in a clinic. In the world of governance, that is what transparency is about, that is what it is for. We didn’t think it necessary to tell you this, but heal these relationships, be honest about the things you do that upset those around you.
The truth sets free
The truth serves as the point of departure for solving problems. Before you can solve a problem, you must first acknowledge it for what it is. Why must we have whistle blowers hiding behind unsubstantiated claims about what we already know with evidence?
We already know the Student Representative Council is in disarray, but start asking why?
If the suspicions are true and the whistle blower is, in fact, a member of the Student Representative Council, then, we hate to break
it to you, but you’re just as big a problem as the rest of those members you tore apart in your email. Khanyi thinks it’s appropriate for an office bearer to yell at members of the press and obstruct their entry into the buildings meant for all students. Njabulo finds it appropriate to berate journalists doing their job but remains silent when his organisation is openly racist to a student. Neville still does nothing. Is this the body that represents us? A SRC that chooses to ignore and abuse students. The truth is the SRC right now has shackled itself because of members not being honest about their own shortcomings.
So, what is the truth?
As a newspaper, our job is to protect and maintain the voice of the people. To give them the information they need to know in an objective way. It’s not an easy job and it’s not one we take lightly. The truth, like all things, is the manifestation of reality as it emerges from the facts. However, on occasion, someone so bold and arrogant will attempt to restrict the truth in a cage of lies. Unfortunately for them, what we know about the truth is that it always comes out. When it does, it usually does so by tearing apart that very same cage of lies. So, to those who lie on a public platform, are you ready for the crazy comeback we have in store? Because, the truth is, you aren’t. No matter how hard you try to silence us, we will continue to fight to get the truth to the public.
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Banathi Nkehli
On 22 May, PDBY was approached by the chairpersons of various societies explaining their grievances with the current SRC societies portfolio officer, Karabo Mogale. The issues with Mogale have culminated in a series of complaints which include the following: a rude disposition in interactions with students, posting images of a topless woman on the SRC’s societies sub-committee group, a pending matter with the Constitutional Tribunal and allegations of corruption against Mogale about the registration of societies. Specifically, Mogale’s registration of the EFFSC UP, despite their failure to fulfil the eligibility requirements to register as a society has been brought into question. PDBY investigates the turbulent dynamic between Mogale and societies in a series of interviews with the following: the chairperson of the Palestinian Solidarity Committee (PSC), Meara Pillay; the chairperson of Students for Law and Social Justice (SLSJ), Boris Mukwambo; and the chairperson of the Socialist Youth Movement (SYM), Cameron Rodrigues
Whose boobs are those – Understanding Mogale’s communication style Mogale has been accused of being rude to students from various societies while exercising her duties as the societies portfolio officer. In screenshots sent to PDBY of the “2022 Society Subcouncil” WhatsApp group, Mogale antagonised students in this group in March. When a student requested that Mogale refrain from blocking students on her WhatsApp, she responded, “are you mad because I ghosted you last year?” In the same group, Mukwambo expressed issues related to the acquiring of venues for society events, explaining that they found themselves in this predicament because, “communication wasn’t done properly.” Mogale stated, “I can’t run my portfolio based on your society… Consider the communication I sent final.” However, tensions on the WhatsApp group peaked when a screenshot Mogale sent to the group featured her WhatsApp wallpaper background, which featured the picture of a topless woman in underwear. When group
members asked Mogale to remove the image, as they had found it offensive, she responded, “It’s not the 2023 sub-council, people can do whatever they like.”
The events described above led to Mukwambo instituting proceedings against Mogale with the Constitutional Tribunal. When asked to comment on the above matter with the SLSJ, Mogale stated, “Again, the matter between me and SLSJ is subjudice. However, I have always been of the idea that when one offends people anyhow, they must apologise for as long as both parties’ beliefs and freedom of expression are not compromised. The issue would not hurt the office, as it occurred in an informal group in my personal capacity.” However, her responding form for adjudication was leaked to PDBY, and in response to the charge of ‘circulating pornographic content’ Mogale stated, “[I] believe it to be an objectification and sexualisation of women, which I am willing to issue out a verbal apology… to those who were in the 2022 sub-council group.”
Ancillary to the matter with SLSJ is an incident involving Rodrigues, who was looking into matters regarding SYM, Tuks for Climate Justice and United Nations Association of South Africa (UNASA). Mogale’s demeanour toward her triggered a panic response and sent Rodrigues spiralling into a panic attack. Rodrigues explained, “The first time, she was just very off with me…On the day where I gave her everything and everything was fine… then she asked where was the POA, which was in our constitution, and she requested it be submitted separately, just hours before it was due. And she was aggressive.” Reflecting on this, Rodrigues said, “She p*ssed me off.”
The interactions are not limited to Mogale simply being antagonistic in her interactions with students, but her communications to societies are often regarded as not being timeous. Pillay explained, “Before registration, communication was so bad. We only found out on the day of, that certain documents had to be submitted by this time, and at times the
[scheduled] time would have already passed.” Mogale explained that they were supposed to know about these dates already; however, Pillay responded, “How Swae? We never got any emails from marketing week up until we were registered.” When asked to share her overall experience with Mogale and the societies portfolio, Pillay explained, “She’s another one, she’s just inefficient.”
Possible abuse of powers – Registration mayhem
Finally, a massive point of controversy that has yet to see a resolution is the matter concerning the registration process. PDBY reviewed the list of registered societies with Mogale’s office and found inconsistencies that are cause for concern, especially with returning societies. Mogale’s office requires returning societies to submit a managerial report to be allowed to register their societies for the 2023 period. In two spreadsheets PDBY reviewed, it is noted that the EFFSC UP had not submitted a managerial report for the previous year, and other societies that had not submitted the managerial report were cited as rejected and thus could not register. This raises concern as Mogale is a member of the EFFSC UP and ran under the organisation for the office she currently holds. When asked to respond to the above, Mogale explained, “You seem to have the wrong facts on the registration processes.” Mogale proceeded by attaching an email dated 4 May 2023, wherein she explained that the matter was rectified and the EFFSC UP was unable to register. However, this stands in stark contradiction to the evidence received by PDBY, as that was the official spreadsheet as of 23 May 2023. In addition, internal sources within the Department of Student Affairs have confirmed that Mogale has approached the Constitutional Tribunal seeking an advisory opinion on whether she can register the EFFSC UP without their managerial report.
When asked if there was a message that she would like to send out to the student body, Mogale stated, “At all times, I am available to be held accountable by the student body, and my office hours and contact details are public.”
On 24 July, the University of Pretoria kicked off UP-Topia on Hatfield Campus. The piazza was buzzing with students and music, yet, behind all the games and complimentary items, the true goal for this event was made clear. UP-Topia is a series of events hosted across the campuses as part of the second annual UP Giving Matters campaign. The university is aiming to raise R100 million over three years. This year’s campaign focuses on raising funds for undergraduate and postgraduate students who fall under the “missing middle”. PDBY wanted to hear from those at the event how they saw it.
According to UP-Way spokesperson Jan
Koketso Ndlovu, the aim of the programme is to attract students and to show them the ropes of UP-Way through each stall. At the UP-Way Department, they are trying to inform students about what UP-Way is and what they do. “I think this event kind of explains what UP-Way is all about,” said Ndlovu.
Brendon Pelwan, who hosted the graffiti wall during UP-Topia, stated that these campaigns are “aimed [at] the students” and that “literally every single cent [of donations] goes back to the students”. The aim of UP-Topia is to “make students more aware of how the social and economic problems do affect us” and to show that “if [students] do need help, all they have to do is shout out”.
Tech founder and student entrepreneur Sethu
Nzimande, who is funded by TuksNovation, also shared his thoughts. “I think today is a day for us to – as a UP society – show us, show the university. It shows solidarity with the students and all the offerings that we have in terms of all the financial aid and everything that UP can help with,” said Nzimande. “I like how we’re doing this, especially since we’re starting the second semester – such a stressful and intense one –[and] having [UP’s] support is one thing that is important.”
During the 2022 campaign, only R19.3 million was raised – not even a fifth of the goal. This leaves one question to ponder: will UP-Topia 2023 make or break the campaign?
After nearly four years at the helm, Prof. Tawana Kupe has decided to fly the coop. Kupe has been the vice-chancellor and principal of the University of Pretoria since January 2019. Although his term was scheduled to conclude in January 2024, Kupe handed in a letter of resignation to the University Council, abruptly ending his term in June 2023. His final day in office will be Monday, 31 July 2023.
Following the student forum, many concerns were raised about the establishment of the SRC’s fundraising committee, which has been established contrary to the Constitution for Student Governance (CSG) which recognises only three sub-committees. Furthermore, in minutes leaked to PDBY prior to their official release, dated 2 May 2023, the SRC discussed the plan to continue a fundraising event with Mpho Mehlomakulu, a former student and current gospel personality in Pretoria, and the South African Union of Jewish Students’ (SAUJS) Danceathon. The SRC has decided to go through with the fundraising plan which is confirmed in a separate set of minutes leaked to PDBY, the fundraising committee’s minutes.
The Fundraising Committee – What is it? We don’t know
The fundraising committee is not listed as an official committee in terms of the CSG. The CSG officially recognises three committees, and the establishment of a fourth committee would require a constitutional amendment. Thus, as it stands, the existence of a fundraising committee is constitutionally invalid and all their decisions are not binding.
The evidence of this committee and its activities comes in the form of meeting minutes leaked to PDBY, dated 10 May 2023 and titled “Fundraising Committee”. The members of various faculty house executive committees and SRC members were in attendance. These minutes were signed by SRC president Njabulo Sibeko
and SRC treasurer Lauren Thabethe. In the minutes, as far as the administration of funds is concerned, Thabethe stated, “[Those] funds will go to the Study Aid Fund cost centre under the SRC.” When asked, Thabethe refused to offer comment on any of the matters raised.
According to the minutes, the SRC has proceeded with pursuing a series of fundraising plans. The two that raise concerns are called the Arch Worship Gospel Festival and the SAUJS Danceathon.
Per the description within the minutes, the Arch Worship Gospel Festival came into being because “a former SRC member who is an alumni would like to raise 10 million rands through a Gospel Festival and [...] a prospective date where it will take place is sometime in November. [They] further explain[ed] that the suggested ticket price is R100 and that the prospective venue is Hillcrest campus. [They] also stated that the event needs a lot of sponsors and donors in order to set it up as the cost of set up might be R500 000-R800 000. [They] asked if the committee would be willing to take part in this initiative.” A potential obstacle concerning this event is that it may not be possible to make all the arrangements in time.
Another concern regarding the gospel festival was the stance of Mehlomakulu’s religious organisation on the LGBTQIA+ community. In the SRC meeting minutes dated 2 May 2023, the SRC brought up this issue with Mehlomakulu. According to the minutes, “[Mehlomakulu]
said that making decision[s] on that view and perspective is corrupted leadership. [He] mentioned that their stance cannot be a major influence on this. The stance of this course is [more important] than the concern they raised.”
In discussions surrounding the SAUJS Danceathon, Thabethe is cited in the minutes as stating, “[This fundraising attempt is] an upcoming event in which the SRC will be partnering with the South African Union of Jewish Students (SAUJS). It is a danceathon; students will be encouraged to participate and dance on the stage at the piazza. The more you dance, donations come through to the Study Aid Fund. We are trying to get Investec and Discovery to donate.” Furthermore, Thabethe indicated that the event is still being planned, but it should take place before the coolingoff period. Thabethe also referred to the concerns that other organisations had raised concerning this collaboration and maintained the position that Sibeko stated publicly at the second quarter student forum: “The SRC will work with who they want to work with; we do not discriminate.” Attempts to get comments from the SRC president has yet to comment on the situation.
On 25 May, the Students’ Representative Council (SRC) held the second quarter student forum in Thuto 1-2. For the first time in four years, the student forum proceeded without collapsing.
The forum
The student forum started a bit later than scheduled. The student forum started later than scheduled, with the first report given by SRC president Njabulo Sibeko. Sibeko reported on the many issues that students have experienced and continue to experience, including: NSFAS accommodation cap, cancellation of lease agreements, and NSFAS students whose NSFAS portals still reflect the provisionally funded status. “We are also students. We can’t perform miracles, and that is why we need to go to the people with money to help us,” stated Sibeko.
Following the president, other SRC members also gave quarterly reports of activities in their respective portfolios, including how they have tackled student challenges that fall within the spectrum of their portfolios. When reporting on accommodation issues, the SRC member responsible for the Residences portfolio, Vhutshilo Muambadzi, stated, “We have managed to help all students that wanted to cancel their lease agreements.” A problem arose with the report of Captain Shongwe, the SRC member responsible for the Facilities, Safety and Security portfolio. Part of Shongwe’s report was not in the published SRC Quarter 2 Reports. As a result, questions with notice could not be lodged specifically on this part of the report.
Karabo Mogale, the SRC member in charge of the Societies portfolio, and Karabo Lefete, the SRC member responsible for the Day Students and External Campuses portfolio, did not attend the student forum. No apologies were given on their behalf for their absence, and when asked why Mogale and Lefete were not present, SRC secretary Phenyo Matabane replied, “No comment.”
During the proceedings of the student forum, racial slurs and racist remarks were passed around by members of the EFFSC. When SASCO member Tarik Lalla, an Indian student, made his way to the front to ask the SRC a question without notice, EFFSC member Tshepiso Mathibela said, “Go make samosas, wena!”
Lalla asked the Chief Justice of the Constitutional Tribunal and Presiding Officer, Lesedi Ngubeni, to protect him and deal accordingly with the member who shouted the racial slur. Ngubeni replied, “I did not hear what was said, and therefore cannot make a ruling on that.” This caused a commotion as members who attended the forum voiced their discontent over the lack of ruling. The presiding officer then instructed Lalla to continue with his question and stated that he would make a ruling later.
The second racist remark was also from Mathibela. When Mathibela stood up to ask the SRC a question without notice,
SASCO members, including Lalla, shouted at him to go to the front of the hall and speak with a microphone. In response to this, Mathibela told Lalla, “I don’t listen to Indians; I only listen to Black Africans.” The Presiding Officer, Ngubeni, ruled that Mathibela had used offensive language, which violated Rule 15 of The Rules for Student Forum at the University of Pretoria. In accordance with Rule 15.2, the Presiding Officer ordered him to unconditionally withdraw his comment. After being urged by members of his organisation and a lengthy pause, Mathibela said, “I unconditionally withdraw.” The EFFSC members applauded him for his withdrawal.
Mathibela finally went to the front to pose his question to the SRC, which he opened as follows: “The question I am about to ask is not sponsored by white monopoly capital or Indian monopoly capital.” A member in attendance stood up and requested the Presiding Officer to ask Mathibela to withdraw his statement. The Presiding Officer answered, “I cannot make a ruling on that, as Mathibela is not referring to anyone specific.” Shortly thereafter, members of SASCO, DASO, four SRC members, and the chairperson and transformation officer of House Humanities walked out of the student forum. “Why are you leaving? Leave ke, bye!” said Khanyi Mahlangu, an SRC member, when she saw the four SRC members leave the forum. A DASO member explained why they left: “The Chief Justice seems to be lenient when it comes to making rulings on the things that the EFFSC members are doing in there.”
Despite these members walking out, the Presiding Officer ruled that quorum was still met, and thus, the forum would continue. However, the Presiding Officer suspended the forum at 21:45, as the proposed time for the forum had lapsed. This meant that not all questions without notice could be posed to and answered by the respective SRC members.
Near the end of the forum, Jay Grobler, SRC student culture ex-officio, raised a point of order on the grounds of Rule 15 of the Rules for Student Forum. Grobler (who uses they/them pronouns) pointed out that the presiding officer had assumed every student’s gender throughout the proceedings, thus using offensive language when referring to a student with incorrect pronouns. The Presiding Officer conceded this point and apologised.
The aftermath
Following the adjournment of the forum, PDBY interviewed a few individuals.
On the topic of the racism directed towards him, Lalla said, “For me what stood out today was the fact that, of all the things that I did […] all the positions I’ve held, the organisations I’ve joined, the one thing that was picked out today was my race. […] Critique me on my views, that’s fine. [But] on my race… People have died to not be criticised on their race. […] You really think we’ve made
so much progress, and we haven’t.” He further explained, “I think for me it’s the lack of upsetness that also gets to me, by the SRC, by the Constitutional Tribunal. These are issues that we’ve sort of become immune to. And we can’t allow that.” However, Lalla also commented, “I appreciate the level of upsetness from other members in the room, and I can appreciate the fact that everybody saw that that was an issue.”
Christo Pretorius, the SRC deputy secretary general, was pleased that the student forum proceeded without collapsing for the first time in four years. However, Pretorius stated the following on the proceedings of the forum: “The SRC should always condemn racism in any form and shape, and what unfolded at the forum is totally unacceptable. And I encourage the Chief Justice to look into it, especially the misgendering of individuals.” Varnu Govender, chairperson of the EBIT faculty and one of the individuals who walked out during forum, stated, “Procedurally, when people walk out of the forum, especially SRC members – and considering that most of the faculty house chairs also walked out – the forum should be collapsed because then quorum is not met at that point. Principally, when you have so much tension in a room and racism going on, it is problematic to keep going on as if everything is fine.”
“I wanted us to have a full forum and to keep the forum going. It only made sense to persist, otherwise the forum would have collapsed,” stated Presiding Officer Ngubeni when asked how he felt about the proceedings of and conduct at the forum. He did, however, condemn the misconduct and the racism that took place at the forum. In light of the Presiding Officer’s decision not to rule on the EFFSC applauding racism, as perceived by the audience, Deputy Chief Justice Webb stated, “It’s important to note that the ruling of the presiding officer condemned unacceptable language and gestures, and gross disorderly conduct.” She continued, “Firstly, in the interest of the general student populace, it would be best for student forum to continue. The Presiding Officer, in not condemning their actions, does not mean that he agrees with them or in any way says that they are what conduct should be. Thus, he did not recognise them and continued with forum, as is his duty.” She further stated, “Moreover, as Presiding Officer, he is not inclined to make any rulings on anything that he either did not hear himself or has substantial evidence that strongly suggests such incidence had occurred, relating to any racial allegations which were said.”
A word from a student that attended the forum
UP student Thando Nonkosi gave the following opinion on the effectiveness of student forum: “From my perspective, the student forum needs order and more control, and that is the responsibility of the Presiding Officer. Racism that took place tonight should be condemned, and because of the misconduct, lack of order and racism, I do not then think the student forum is a solid platform for students’ issues to be voiced out.”
Ipurchase agreement with an independent solar energy supplier
Several questions have since been raised about the following: the generators on campus, the diesel they use, the university’s carbon footprint, and a planned internal loadshedding schedule as a proposed solution. PDBY investigates further
The power purchase agreement management, commented on the issues surrounding the implementation of solar panels on campus: “We have had several service providers approach us with various models of putting solar
purchase agreement is a 20-year contract in which the university is not responsible for maintenance and pays the contractors for the energy that is generated. “It is a good arrangement we have,” Prof. of a year we are paying at a lower rate than what is paid in the city.”
Issues with the generators on campus
that the budgeting did not look good. She also stated that up until stage six of loadshedding, the department had experienced no issues regarding the generators. “Our generators are called standby generators because it is a backup. It’s not something that is supposed to be running ten hours a day for extended periods,” she because of the age of the generators. “You can imagine that the machines. It’s not like we can keep all the new parts in stock.”
they are doing everything they can to expedite the repairs. “We use an external contractor to do the repairs of the machines, but there are times when the generators are out of commission for six weeks because we
Internal loadshedding at UP
Because of the struggles of refuelling and maintenance, the Department of Facilities have worked out a solution to alleviate the inconveniences caused by loadshedding. “We call it ‘internal devise a schedule where if the loadshedding is at or above stage four, an internal program will be set in place which details the areas on campus that need to be prioritised in terms of power necessity. Parallel to that, the department will ask the university for a critical equipment register, which details what equipment on further stated that they are looking for UPSs (uninterrupted power supplies) to assist with this problem.
The carbon footprint
The Department of Facilities at UP releases an annual carbon footprint report. The 2022 report has not yet been served at the executive committee of the department, but Prof. some indicators with PDBY on where they stand. She stated, we need to meet to decrease our carbon footprint. In the last year we [have] exceeded our target.” According to Prof.
already exceeded it without the additional installation of solar panels.
The problem with implementing green energy roof, there was a problem with storing the energy. “When the said that Ludolf van der Merwe, the deputy director of technical services, indicated that the solar panels provide 1 MVA (megavoltampere) of power in total. This is a very small portion of what campuses use more than 20 MVA at peak demand.
possible space we can with solar panels, it will never be enough to supply the power [needed] to keep our two campuses running.” feels like we can t return to normality.”
On 4 April, Law House issued a letter addressed to the entire student body within the Faculty of Law titled “Re: Closure of Whatsapp module groups”. In terms of this letter, the Law House executive committee was tasked with “the closure of group engaging in abusive behaviours directed at lecturers. The following Whatsapp groups were notorious for such conduct: 2022 IGZ320 (Intellectual Property Law), 2023 RVW210 (Statutory Interpretation), and 2023 PBL310 (Administrative Law).
These problems are not new, and they persisted until the groups were reconstituted on 18 April, limiting the ability to send messages to only group admins. Following this reconstitution of the groups, Law House has engaged in the process of deleting conduct.
The notice
In the letter, the primary reason for closing the Whatsapp groups was “an incident of gross misconduct in this as a joint decision made by the Law House executive portfolio responsible for the establishment and management of the groups), revealed that the decision came as an Sargood stated, “No, it was not our decision. […] I
why the groups were reconstituted with the limitation that only admins could send messages, Sargood stated, “To try and accommodate the students as best as possible, I asked the Dean’s being the class reps.”
Misconduct on the groups
ranged from xenophobic to sexist comments. On the 2022 IGZ320 group, the class representative, Ethan Kanniah, engaged prominently in xenophobic comments directed at Dr Chijioke Okorie, a Nigerian professor. Kanniah’s comments and conduct on the groups were so severe that he was removed from his position as class representative of IGZ320. Some of the worst comments Kanniah made included, “Not using deodorant, we don’t tolerate such things in this great nation.” Following the outcome of a bad semester test, Kanniah said, “We are all just yams being crushed and pounded for Okorie’s jollof rice.” Once he was removed as the class representative, Kanniah wrote an entire goodbye speech on the group, where he was unapologetic of his conduct: “I did what I could but the powers that be have removed me as class rep […] I was the yam, who would not be crushed.”
In the RVW210 group, comments directed toward the lecturer, Advocate Noluthando Ncame, included, “One contraceptive method, just 1 nje! Could have prevented this.” In the PBL310 group, comments regarding Professor Melanie Murcott included, “I am gonna rizz her up to get more marks.”
Why are these messages being deleted?
deleted and explained, “I have deleted messages on the groups previously, but I cannot say for certain if I deleted those messages were being deleted, Sargood explained, “What I can say, if messages were ever sent on the group that were not on the purport of the description of the groups, which was for academic purposes, then from time to time admins have deleted them.” Sargood further stated, “Multiple members of Law House are admins in groups. It could be another member of Law House that deleted them.”
Regarding the ethics of deleting the messages targeted at would like to merely state that if messages were ever deleted, it was in the purport of what the groups were intended for. It was not ethically motivated. At this stage I was merely following a directive for what the groups were established for.”
Barbie, one of the most actively anticipated movies of the year, has recently been released with resounding praise. What is interesting, however, is understanding the reasons why the movie was so widely anticipated. Media outlets and Twitter accounts have been hyping this movie up for months, so much so that googling the film literally turns your entire page pink. This hype, though well earned as PDBY’s review will show, has been a concerted effort by Mattel to ensure that the film is as widely seen (and as widely paid for) as possible.
In a New Yorker article, Mattel CEO Ynon Kreiz explained that Mattel has changed from “a toy-manufacturing company, making items, to an I.P. company, managing franchises''. This approach is telling in the over 100 million dollars that have been pumped into campaign after campaign to ensure that this film was a success before it even hit cinemas.
Barbie is important. It is a brand that was created by a woman to show that women can fill any role in society. According to the New Yorker article, Barbie had been to space years before most women had credit cards. However, this importance has often been the subject of criticism. From a feminist perspective, a doll cannot solve the deep-seated problems within our society. But Mattel’s consistent statement has been one of self-awareness. The Barbie film’s irreverent treatment of the IP has been intentional in that it has sought to tap into a more irreverent public (and was successful). Memes abound, with
Ryan Gosling tapping into his “kenergy”and the trailers evoking 2001 a Space Odyssey. Furthermore, the amount of “this Barbie is an X” memes that you can find littered across social media is astounding. All of this is to say that Barbie is likely one of the most astonishingly expensive toy advertisements to date.
This is obviously a cynical view. Barbie is a toy brand that has evidently
had an impact, and the movie goes far beyond being an ad, but you would not be able to tell from the strategy behind the marketing. According to an article from The Hollywood Reporter, marketing analysts all seem to agree that the endpoint of this entire campaign is a movie that will be “very, very profitable”. And here we have the clear point of films: movies are an industry, and we buy into that industry when we go to see the movies. Barbie,
however, is the best example of that. Mattel expects toy sales to increase because of the movie. With that said, it is up to you to decide whether any amount of selfdeprecating humour (and what is genuinely an important message) can make up for the fact that everything behind this movie is motivated by the same thing that motivates any company to create anything: profit.
In a Little Black Book article, Raphaël Bouquillon (the managing director at MG Empower) lays the strategy bare: “This new, more inclusive messaging is clearly being communicated in [Mattel’s] strategy. By activating across multiple spaces, products, and brands, they’re creating bold touch points across a range of communities, therefore building wider, more meaningful associations and connections with the brand, keeping the movie at the forefront of minds.” The goal is clear: connections need to be built with the brand. These connections have been successfully built and this corporate goal should be remembered when watching the movie. As the movie itself points out, everything is complicated, as the people who should be praised for the startling achievement that is Barbie are those that made it, and yet all of the marketing funnels you back to Mattel. The fact that the media has effectively been ‘Barbified’ may support the people on the ground who made the film, but it supports none more than the corporations who bankrolled it.
Watch the movie. But as with any piece of media, watch it and understand its context.
Whenit comes to the future of the world, we often paint it as a place filled with ridiculous contraptions and off-the-wall devices. But, what if the future we are heading for is not that far off from these flights of fancy? This article will take a close look at some truly futuristic inventions making their way into public use.
Electronics
According to Cornell University, Ruidong Zhang has made the first-ever pair of silent speech eyeglasses. These AIequipped spectacles can track and predict the words a person is saying by reading their lips. In the first public showcasing of these lip-reading goggles, Zhang is seen mouthing his password to unlock his nearby smartphone.
Next up from E Ink, they have launched their new Spectra 6 ePaper. Those amongst us who frequently use Kindles and other e-readers are in for a treat. As this is the first time that such colour saturation and vividness can be seen. It marks a revolutionary point where we can see the swing away from traditional paper as ePaper can now replicate, if not surpass, the quality of traditional paper.
Finally, the University of Technology Sydney has made its graphene braincomputer interface and its military applications public. This small chip, placed behind the user’s ear and combined with a headmounted augmented reality lens, allows
the user to send mental commands to an electronic device. In the demonstration video, the Australian military showcases how they give silent commands to a quadruped robot.
Automation
Aurora also announced that their fully autonomous self-driving truck is complete and is being tested. They have plans to release this revolutionary technology by next year for commercial use. So perhaps gone are the times of multiple trucks trying to overtake each other while you are on your way down to the coast for vacation. This does, however, open the discussion around challenges that this technology will introduce, such as job losses.
Flying Machines
Institu, a subsidiary of Boeing, just announced its VTOL drone and vertical take-off procedure that could change the aeronautical industry forever. The larger application of drone technology would shrink the size of runways and lessen fuel use. It could also mean that the future of having drones flying from a storage site and delivering your goods to your front door is a step closer than we thought.
Reality
Nueyes also introduced its NuLoupes surgical visualisation spectacles which is built upon live 3D stereoscopic imaging technology. This will allow for real-life 1x to 10x magnification while keeping
Visual: Sourced
that high-resolution image. When this is combined with the new equipment that medical professionals are using, it could make surgeries safer. Not only that, but it could open the door to more advanced surgeries.
Sony has also released their spatial reality displays. These authentic 3D viewing tools can cast 2D images into a pseudo-3D state. This makes it possible for engineers to draw in the third dimension or architects to fully develop their designs.
Biology
Hwang Woo-suk opened the gates to cloning for the entire world. According to
Cell, which published the article on the first macaque monkeys being cloned, people have the capability of cloning primates, so the possibility of cloning humans is not far off. This technology might also allow for organ cloning. The only question now is, how do you keep this ethical?
With these examples merely being the tip of the iceberg, it is easy to see that the world we are going towards is going to be a wild and interesting one. One that hopefully solves more problems than it causes.
Ghosting is known for being the worst modern dating behaviour/trend, and for good reason too. One minute, you are
the planet. This leaves you thinking you may just have imagined the whole encounter
But what happens when your new beau has not ghosted you but has not exactly been entirely present either? What does it mean when you are constantly left with more questions than answers? When you are left with more shock than pleasant surprises?
As it turns out, there are more dating trends that are worse than ghosting. These unhealthy trends are subtle and not as obvious to the untrained eye. The only remnants of them are toxic dating trends that can be best observed in dating culture.
Breadcrumbing
Probably the most common toxic modern dating tactic- breadcrumbing- as described by commitment”. Equate breadcrumbing to mixed signals, vagueness or inconsistency. In other words, it means leading someone on. They will
needs. The intention is to keep you hopeful, intrigued, and attracted to them.
What makes breadcrumbing toxic, is that it is not about you. According to Brides, the
breadcrumber seeks validation from others; the worth.
Benching
The term benching is derived from sports, and Women’s Health explains that it “involves keeping you on hold while the person continues
but they keep you around just in case their main options fall through. Like a breadcrumber, a bencher gives you only enough to keep you interested.
Benching is toxic because the person comes into your life and maintains consistent communication, then suddenly exits your life through abruptly reduced communication, before returning just as you are about to move on and gain peace. Benching looks like last-minute plans, inconsistency and uncertainty You never know when or if you will ever hear from them again, their level of interest or where you stand with them.
According to Bazaar, benchers bench because while they may like and enjoy spending time with you, they just do not feel it enough to commit to you. VeryWellMind suggests that this could be due to various reasons: stress due to a busy work/personal life, emotional unavailability, feeling overwhelmed by the dating world, mental health issues, or simply a fear of being alone.
Stashing
Stylist describes stashing (also known as “pocketing”) as “when one person in a relationship makes the conscious decision of keeping their partner from their inner circle”.
Stashing looks like never going to their place, not going out with them or, if you do, it is to faraway places where you would not be recognised. It also looks like your partner not introducing you or even mentioning you to their friends and family
When being stashed, you will get the eerie feeling they do not want to be seen with you. According to PureWow Wellness, stashers stash because they are embarrassed by either you or their loved ones, they do not aim to commit or be long-term with you, or they are simultaneously seeing someone else.
Quiet dumping
Oprah Daily explains that quiet dumping or “quiet quitting” is when your partner stops “exerting the energy, emotion, or investment in the future of the relationship that [they]
Visual: Nicole Hagemannpreviously [did]”. Essentially, they start doing the absolute bare minimum required to date you. You exist together in a way you would with a disinterested roommate – you are together just for the sake of it.
Quiet dumping is unhealthy because it is done with the sole purpose of manipulating you to dump them.
According to Psychology Today, when quiet dumping, a partner may withdraw or reduce interest, attention, quality time, and physical
or generally just stop prioritising you.
into the adventure of a lifetime, where legends come to life and treasures are waiting to be revealed Will you be the clock is ticking – are you ready to seize the moment?
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H ello U P s tud e nt - t h i s i s a sa f e place t o shoo t y o ur sho t a t all t hose c ut e people y o u see a r o und camp u s . Tell t hos e people ho w y o u f eel a b o u t
t hem, h it o n y o ur c ru sh o r compl i me nt a pe r so n o n t ha t
o t he r d a y. Anyt h in g pos itiv e r eall y. T ry t o b e as d esc ri p tiv e a nd c r ea tiv e as poss ib le wit h y o ur d esc ri p ti o n so it ma k es i t eas y f o r t he pe r so n t o id e ntif y t hemsel v es . H e r e ‛ s t o hop in g f o r y o ur s u ccess a nd ma yb e e v e n a poss ib le mee t u p : )
To the House Morula Treasurer, you can be my caramel treasure any day. How does pizza and a Sunday walk sound?
Hello Rapunzel! Love the long hair, love the fact you do Engineering. Looking super good . The boxing is just the cherry on top. You have caught me staring at you multiple again .
To Michael . The tall guy studying MBCHB. You’re so handsome , and you’re
To the cute , tall Indian boy with
Theology building and kept making eye contact with me at 10’z. You’re very nice to look at :) Wanna hang out sometime?
alone and quiet During PBL 210 (I think his name is Lebo?) I think you’re really cute and your smile brightens my day. I just wanna be friends or maybe more
To Michael (who I see at res all the time) you’re the most captivating human being I’ve ever met. With your calm, gentle voice , gentlemanness (is that even a word? Eh I
I see you I get so captivated , I get immensely nervous, my knees lock , I can’t think straight. Whenever I see you I meet you but yoh , a gwababa a day keeps a humbling experience away.
Want to shoot your shot? Scan the QR code.
Jade Fabri, Franco Marais
If you have not seen that Carte Blanche episode yet, newsflash, Latino’s has become a no-go on the Strip, and you should definitely find a new spot for your nights out. Here are some suggestions with different vibes to replace this nightclub.
Lucky Rodrigo
A retro bar located in Lynnwood. If you are looking for your next “How I met your Mother bar.” with a tight dance floor and a secluded feeling, this is the place for you.If you are looking for a place to go with your group of friends, you have found the right spot. It caters to all tastes, a casual bar or clubbing experience.
Kapstadt Brauhaus
For all our K-Way wearing friends or those looking for an upmarket bar experience, this is the place for you. Kapstadt can be found in Menlo Park. The best eisbein (German pork on a bone) and foreign beer north of the Vaal can be found here. This is the best bar to have a chilled drinking experience with your friends.
Summit Skybar
Are you on the lookout for a good DJ and a light-up, openair dance floor? Summit, based in Menlyn, may interest you. If you get tired of the dance floor, there are laid-back booths where you can catch your second wind. And on a cold winter night, the restaurant downstairs doubles as a club as well.
Altum
For those who are interested in the multi-club experience of the Strip but have safety concerns, Altum is your best alternative. Located in Hatfield, this variety nightclub has multiple dance floors to cater to different vibes. Be it techno, house or live music, Altum has a place for everyone.
Sunset Bar
Conveniently situated on the Strip, this is the place for predrinks. So even if you want to hit another location, this is a good spot to start your club crawl. It is difficult to say no to a R20 beer or the quick bar service during Happy Hour. So pull through for a short time or a long time, just keep the drinks flowing.
These are suggestions, so find your place and find your vibe. Latino’s is not worth the risk of being another statistic.
On 2 September from 14:00 at Loftus Park, a variety of artists will gather to give the rock and metal lovers of Pretoria a show to remember. Then for those who are stressing about the fact that it would only be local acts, do not worry. Two international acts will be making an appearance as well. The festival is not limited to local artists, two international acts will be making appearances as well.
The line-up has international acts like and The Ocean as well as many local bands. Some of the highlights for the South African acts are Straatligkinders, Shadowclub and Man As Machine. With Jack Parrow even making an appearance on the main stage, it is destined to be a brilliant day. Also, how many of the last remaining rock fans here in Pretoria have gotten a chance to go to a big concert like this in the past seven months?
So, if you have been on the fence or out of the loop on this ‘fest’, then let it be known that the tickets, as of the writing of this article, are on phase three and will soon be sold out. So, get your headbangers together and come down to the biggest rock festival this year.
Rebecca van Besouw
Barbie needs no introduction. It has been one of the most anticipated films of the year since its first trailer released. It spawned many memes, and its marketing campaign can only be described as aggressively pink. But with all the hype surrounding the film, the question still remains: is it worth seeing? Absolutely.
The film opens in Barbieland, a magical world of feminist liberation in which every Barbie can be whoever she wants to be, and every Ken can hang out on the beach and wait for the Barbies to notice them. Margot Robbie heads the cast as ‘stereotypical’ Barbie, who at first has everything she could ever dream of, but soon becomes plagued with existential questions and thoughts of death. Disturbed, she decides to visit the Real World in order to find out what is wrong with her. To give more details about the plot would spoil the fun, because above all else the film strives to be a wildly entertaining ride with an unpredictable sense of humour
It manages to be self-aware of the plastic nature of Barbie while still acting as a loving tribute to the doll as a cultural icon. Director Greta Gerwig clearly had a vision for the film’s style: pastel colours pop off the screen, and the costumes show an impressive level of knowledge about Barbie’s history. The actors are all stellar, with Ryan Gosling giving a particularly memorable performance as the Ken who gets a taste of the Real World and learns all the wrong lessons about gender equality.
Although the film is fun, it also has a message. Barbie’s existential crisis leads into a host of other issues faced by women in the Real World. The film’s transparent discussion of the current state of feminism is both sincere and frequently funny, as it highlights problems women face in a male-dominated world – problems that Barbie cannot fix by simply being Barbie. The presentation of the message is not perfect. This is a film made by several massive corporations, after all, so the film’s ideas cannot be truly radical. But it is still a relevant and necessary message; one that will resonate with many women. In the end, the film succeeds in balancing serious ideas and a silly, brightlycoloured, unapologetically feminine world. See it with a crowd for the best experience, and remember to wear pink.
Picking up that book that has been blowing up on Tiktok is a risky move. It will either alter your brain chemistry, or it could. That said, here are seven popular Booktok books that will (hopefully) not disappoint.
Normal People by Sally Rooney
This complex story navigates love, friendship, class, communication, and mental health in the lives of two Irish teenagers, Marianne and Connell, as they mature through high school and university. Rooney does a deep dive into the emotional complexities of young adulthood. With compelling characters and thoughtful examination of the young adult/human experience, Normal People is raw and honest. This novel’s complexity and thought-provoking story will stay with readers long after they have watch.
Daisy Jones and the Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid
The tumultuous story of the rise and fall of 1970s band Daisy Jones and the Six is told through a series of interviews with band members, managers, and other key players in their orbit. It explores themes of love, addiction, creativity, and the complex dynamics of relationships within a band. With its immersive storytelling and vivid characters, the novel captures the spirit of an era and the power of music to move and inspire. The accuracy and realism with which Taylor Jenkins Reid tells the story will have readers believing that the band is real.
Beach Read by Emily Henry
This romantic novel is set in a charming small town on the shores of Lake Michigan. The story follows two rival writers, January and Gus, who are struggling to overcome writer ’s block. They agree to swap genres for their next books, leading to interesting adventures and a growing attraction to each other With humour and heart, Beach Read is a perfect witty read for any contemporary romance lover
Love and Other Words by Christina Lauren
In need of childhood friends to lovers with an added secondchance trope? This story of Macy and Elliot will satisfy that. After 11 years of radio silence, Macy and Elliot run into each other with the mystery of why they just disappeared from each other ’s lives. Told in alternating timelines, the novel explores themes of absorbing characters and heartfelt storytelling, Love and Other Words delves into the many facets of love.
Everything I Know About Love by Dolly Alderton
The book is a witty, warm, and sincere account of Dolly Alderton’s journey through heartbreaks, friendships, self discovery, and survival of young adulthood. Alderton talks about the highs and lows of modern dating, the importance of platonic love, and the transformative power of therapy. Her writing is relatable to anyone who has ever navigated the complexities of love and life. This is a must-read for anyone in their 20s.
The Love Hypothesis by Ali Hazelwood
Fantasising about your hot professor? Or are you a girlie in contemporary romance novel is for you. When physics PhD student Olive needs a fake boyfriend, she strikes a deal with the stoic Professor Adam Carlsen. As they spend more time together, Olive realises that the chemistry between them has got nothing to do with the science she studies and everything to do with how hot her professor is. The witty banter between these two love interests is bound to pique any hopeless romantic’s interest.
Verity by Colleen Hoover
Although Colleen Hoover may be a controversial author, Verity is a must-read. This dark and suspenseful thriller follows the story of struggling writer Lowen Ashleigh, who is hired to complete the remaining books in a bestselling series by author Verity Crawford
details about Verity’s thoughts on her life and family As Lowen becomes more intimately entangled in the Crawford family’s secrets, she must decide what to believe. This story will leave you staring at your ceiling wondering what you just read, which is exactly why it is an essential read.
Next up
2. California - The Great Yawn
3. Queen of Nothing - Tuelo
4. Aphrodite - TRESOR & Beatenberg
5. Smells Like Summer - Early Hours
6. My Favourite Place - Shortstraw
7. Too Much - HONEYMOAN
8. Wild Hearts - Cece Vee
9. Street Lights - 4am
10. First Year - Zebra
Rebecca van Besouw
Student budgets generally cannot cover elaborate romantic gestures, but there are still many options for dates beside
do with a long-term partner
Art Galleries
Pretoria has a thriving art scene, and many galleries are free for students, including the UP-Javett gallery. Interpreting a piece of modern art together, learning about South Africa's vibrant artistic history, or just sitting together taking in the beauty of human creativity makes for a date that is both romantic and sophisticated.
Ice Skating
nights, making this a cheap and fun option for an evening that might otherwise be mundane. Learning to skate together is an excellent excuse for physical contact, and hot drinks to warm up afterwards are a cute way to end the date.
Botanic Gardens
South Africa's natural scenery is both unique and beautiful, and Pretoria's botanic gardens are no exception. The gardens are full of
gorgeous sights and forest paths to explore with a date. Take some snacks for a picnic, count the dassies in the rock garden, or admire the waterfall together for a romantic experience.
Trampoline Park
For a date that is both active and original, the Bounce trampoline park in Menlyn has student specials on jumping sessions. Whether impressing a partner with your athletic skills or memorable.
Klapperkop Nature Reserve
Another date idea that makes the most of Pretoria's natural surroundings is driving through the Klapperkop Nature Reserve. The reserve is free to enter, and also features hiking trails, a fort that is now a museum at the top of the hill, and 360 degree views of Pretoria. It could be the perfect place to get that cute couple's photo.
Date View
Bring a blanket, drinks, some funky tunes and soak in a spectacular sunset with your special someone. Date view in Sterrewag, Pretoria is a quaint little viewing point that is often frequented by couples and friend groups alike.
Across
2. Luke Skywalker's father
5. The OG vampire
8. Where Hans in Frozen is from
9. Evil fairy who curses Aurora
14. Erased half of all life forms in the Marvel Cinematic Universe
15. Opposite of deep
16. Dr Jekyll's dark counterpart
17. Harry Potter's nemesis
Down
1. Solve the anagram for this pop star: STORY FLAW IT
3. Area where people and craft mysteriously disappear
4. The voodoo man who "helps" Prince Naveen
6. Solve the anagram for this talk show icon: WAR FINERY HOP
7. Notorious hater of dalmatians
10. Clownish fiend who despises Batman
11. Synonym for mulish
12. Greatest enemy of the Powerpuff Girls
13. Prince Zuko's sister
I have a heart that never beats, I have a home but I never sleep. I can take a man's house and build another, And I love to play games with my many brothers. I am a king among fools. Who am I?
Capricorn (December 22 - January 19)
You feel like you don’t get enough attention? Maybe there is a reason for that.
Aquarius (January 20 - February 18)
How is that destructive era going hun? Yeah... maybe try reign it in a little bit.
Pisces (February 19 - March 20)
Being delusional is fun but it is time to start confronting reality.
Aries (March 21 - April 19)
Just go for it, what is the worst that can happen?
Taurus (April 20 - May 20)
You have been quite the social butterfly lately. Do not make that big purchase, Venus is in retrograde and you will regret it.
Gemini (May 21 - June 21)
You’re not cool. You’re a try hard. Please calm that ego and take several seats babe.
Visual: Joshua Hunter
PLUTO PUA RAY SEBASTIAN STITCH SVEN TUK TUK
Cancer (June 22 - July 22)
You really didn’t listen to that last horoscope did you? Those trust issues are a little hard on you aren’t they? Go see a therapist.
Leo (July 23 - August 22)
Your diva behaviour is becoming a problem for all the people around you. It is giving “bratty” and it is time to fix that.
Virgo (August 23 - September 22)
Being emotionally unavailable is not a personality trait and it is pushing people away.
Libra (September 23 - October 22)
Just because you avoid conflict, does not mean your life is balanced.
Scorpio (October 23 - November 21)
Maybe consider that you may be the villain in your own story.
Sagittarius (November 22 - December 21)
You are entering your healing era, touch some grass and stop the self-destructive behaviour.
The second semester is kicking off with a plethora of must watch sports. Football, netball, cricket and rugby are all on full display for the global cohort, even more specifically for us South Africans as we have teams playing in all these cups.
The FIFA Women’s World Cup is on and being played across New Zealand and Australia. The World Cup commenced on 20 July where the host nation, New Zealand broke its World Cup losing streak by winning their opening match against Norway. If the thrill of the largest sport in the world is not enough to convince you to tune into the Women’s World Cup, perhaps seeing our very own will. Banyana Banyana, the second ranked team in Africa and the 54th in the world, will be taking to the field. The women in green and yellow have been placed in Group G alongside Sweden, Italy and Argentina.The team will have a tough battle ahead but will undoubtedly play with utmost determination and classic South African flair.
Mumbai will be hosting the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup this year, which begins 5 October till 19 November 2023. The host nation boasts that this will be the biggest cricket World Cup to date. The undeniably strong passion for culture in India is sure to be loud, bright and utterly memorable. The Proteas form part of the first eight teams that have qualified to play at this World Cup with the final two teams competing yet to be decided. Proteas are ranked sixth in the world in the ODI (One Day International) format, which is the format that will be used in the World Cup.
The sport that brought together our nation
for a month; the Men’s Rugby World Cup is due to be on the screens of super sport fans on 8 September 2023. The wider sport community turns their eyes to France who are no strangers to hosting these large occasions, especially in the last few years. Our Springboks, the 2019 winners with three World Cups under their belt and a 100 percent success rate in the finals, return as the world number four. No pressure to the Springboks but it would not be a stretch to say fingers are crossed and prayers are being said for another win. A win to warm the nation’s heart in this winter and to charge up our homes due to Eskom fumbling the bag.
And last but most certainly not least, the Women’s Netball World Cup hosted in our very own Cape Town, South Africa. This is a momentous World Cup, as it is the first time it is held in the continent of Africa. The Netball World Cup promotion has been vibrant with the lioness mascot, Letsasti, at the forefront. This World Cup is a showcase of the top teams in the world, but also aims to promote values of community, strength, inclusivity, and fair play. So, the teams better keep the contact to a minimum. The first games will be played on 28 July.Team South Africa are facing off Wales on day one. Our SPAR Protea ladies, as they have been dubbed, place fifth in the world and will be looking for a World Cup win on home soil, no doubt!
Citizens of South Africa – prepare your braais, grab your snacks and set your alarms for this brimming international representative sport season. From July to November there is non-stop sporting action across the globe and South Africa is showing up, so we have got a showdown!
PDBY had the privilege to interview a young FNB Varsity Young Guns Tuks rugby player.The featured athlete is the senior sides technical manager and also the youngest team manager in Young Guns Tuks history. Lucian Bekker hails from the Free State and came to Tuks to study BEd Senior Phase, of which he is currently a third year student. On the field Bekker plays as a fullback for the Young Guns team in both the Varsity Cup and the Carlton Cup. The sheer load of being team manager on top of being a player and a student, intrigued PDBY. What are his plans going forward?
When asked about where he sees the managerial role leading him, he was quite upfront with his response. Responding with, “I think most people would be surprised if I told them that I see myself going forward with being a team manager. I see myself continuing to make that impact as it’s something that makes me enjoy my work at the end of the day.” He even joked that since he was enjoying managing the team so much and was so focused on it, that sometimes education was his ‘side hustle’.
Visual: Joshua Hunter
was Djokovic’s first Centre Court loss in over 10 years! In the women's final we saw complete dominance from Marketa Vondrousova beating Ons Jabeur to become the first unseeded ladies champion at Wimbledon!
We asked him how he found himself in this position to which he replied, “I’ve always been a hustler and busy. So, I went out to the Tuks Rugby office and asked them if they had any positions open for students. Then two days later they contacted me with a list of requirements I needed to meet and being a rugby player as well, I had an advantage. Then afterwards they told
Another battle occurred, but this time outside of the octagon. The experienced Novak Djokovic came face-to-face with the next generational talent, Carlos Alcaraz, in the recent Wimbledon final. It was a final for the ages going the full five sets with Alcaraz taking the final set by 6-4. This
South Africa hosted the World Rugby u/20 Championship this year in which our junior Boks finished third after a slow start in the tournament. Something to still look out for is the Netball World Cup, which will also be hosted on South African soil from the 28 July. On the Formula 1 circuit we saw dominance from the Red Bull team with Verstappen still miles ahead on the leaderboard. Finally, our South African ladies football team will also compete in the women's football World Cup, which will kick off on 20 July.
I hope you are up to date with what happened during the recess, and also keep your eyes out for the upcoming events.
Visual: Provided
me there was a managerial role open if I was interested and well I took it.”
With the future roles he could see himself in, PDBY probed whether he would ever see himself in the coaching role. To which he responded rather humbly with, “For now I’ll stick with the managerial side of things as I’m still very young. But when I get older that is something I would love to do because it’s something I could see myself enjoying. As I have been around these people and being exposed to it has shown me what it’s like. So, if I had to say I continued with this, I could see myself going down the coaching road.”
Yet as the senior team found themselves relegated to the Varsity Shield, PDBY dove into what impact this would have on the Varsity Young Guns team. He shared that the team will slot into a Blue Bulls competition next year because of the senior team being relegated. Then with regards to the team he plays and manages for, PDBY was interested in how the Young Guns were fairing in the Carlton Cup. Lucian was eager to share that they reached the semifinals and will be playing on 21 July against the Naka Bulls at Loftus Park to see if they can secure a place in the finale.
Finally we asked if he had any message he would like to share with the readers to which he responded, “I would just like to take this moment to tell all the youngsters coming into university that you can do what you want to do, no matter what other people say. Just chase your dreams no matter what and don’t get demotivated by negative comments. Just go for it.”
Franco Marais
With Varsity Football around the corner, UP students find themselves asking why the university team is not competing in this year’s penultimate varsity football competition. PDBY spoke with UP Director of Sport Steven Ball with regards to this conundrum.
Ball stated that Varsity Football is a tournament that requires qualification at the USSA National Football Championships in December. Regrettably, he informed PDBY that UP did not qualify for this year’s competition due to placement at this tournament. Ball also stated, “The team and squad are working hard to ensure we qualify at this year's December USSA competition for next year's Varsity Football competition.”
Visual: Joshua Hunter
While the rest of the student population was heading home and kicking up their feet for recess, our TuksCheer Titans were triumphing! The Titans headed down to Durban for two major competitions in the cheerleading sphere. The Titans started off at the South African Majorette and Cheerleading Association National Championships, the annual cheerleading championship in our country, which took place from 3 July to 8 July. The Titans moved on to the first ever International Cheerleading Union African Continental Championships that was hosted later in the same week.
Cheerleading is a combination of athleticism and showmanship. It demands flair, strength, grace and tons of stamina for multiple variations of jumps. The TuksCheer Titans displayed all of this and more, which earned them their silverware at both championships. This makes the Titans the silver medallists in South Africa and the African continent at large. Now, that is how you spell champions! For more information, visit the PDBY website.
Ashura Kalufya
TVisual: Provided
he TuksCheerleading team are back at it again. Only this time, they performed during their annual outreach programme at a festival hosted by the Magalies Special School in Pretoria. They were invited to the Magalies Fire and Food festival to lift the spirit of their visitors and performed a lovely dance routine. According to the school, the cheer team’s routines brought some extra fire to their festival. They even decided to stay back and socialise after their performance was done.
When PDBY spoke to Dolly Makgotlho, the manager of the TuksCheerleading team, she stated that they are always looking for more opportunities to give back to the communities around UP. She also stated that if anyone has a need for the cheer squad to come through, they should contact the team via their UP site. The TuksCheerleading squad will be performing during the AmaTuks games. The AmaTuks games will be filled with music from the brass band and energy from our cheer team. In the words of the head cheerleader, Dolly Makgotlho, “the people must go”. Truly now you must go, we would not want to disappoint the team that brings us joy now, would we?
House Mopane and Morula Legae’s matchup was a perfect game of exciting rugby that had everyone at the edge of their seats. Both teams previously battled in Round 2 where Morula came out as the victors with a score of 27-14. This match was much more exciting to watch. Mopane started the game with the kick-off which immediately led to a Morula penalty due to a Mopane player not rolling away. After 15 minutes into the game, Morula aimed to kick for the posts and took the lead by 3-0. Both sides had great scoring opportunities, but the defence from Mopane was rock solid. Mopane came close to scoring in the corner and Morula’s maul attack was successfully halted by Mopane five metres from the try line. Mopane had the clear scrum dominance and after applying relentless pressure they scored and
made the halftime score 5-3 lean towards their favour.
This was a bruising first half with both teams’ number eight’s making big hits. After the break, Morula had two opportunities to take back the lead but could not successfully convert their penalty kicks. The Morula fly half then made a clutch penalty kick to take the lead and put the pressure back on Mopane. Shortly after, Mopane had a penalty kick but this one also faded past the upright post. Both kickers were under a lot of pressure and it showed. As the game came to a close, Mopane launched one final attack and patiently worked their way into Morula’s 22 area. When a relentless attack meets a courageous defence, it turns into a spectacle for the viewers. Morula managed to tackle Mopane out in time to win with a score of 6-5. What a game!
PDBY did not report on the match between OP Village and Sonop which was played at Onderstepoort.
Iam no Fabrizio Romano (bonus point if you know who he is), but I took on the responsibility to give a brief update of the biggest summer signings for the 2023/2024 football season. There have been 404 deals completed, comprising a total value of 1.6 billion pounds.
The Premier League undoubtedly had some of the biggest signings during this transfer window. Interestingly, a lot of transfers were between rival clubs. Chelsea midfielder Mateo Kovacic now serves his trade for Manchester City. Mason Mount also left Chelsea and went to the Red Devils. Chelsea signed the promising Christopher Nkunku, who was the joint highest goal scorer in the Bundesliga. The biggest signing of them all, however, was that of Declan Rice being signed by Arsenal from West Ham United FC. He is now the most expensive British footballer of all
time, with his move being worth a whopping 105 million pounds. Another English footballer, Jude Bellingham, made the move to Los Blancos where he will play in the number five shirt, worn by the great Zidane.
Outside of Europe, we saw another unbelievable signing with Inter Miami CF in the US signing Leo Messi, where he will join up with former Barcelona teammate Sergio Busquets. Inter Miami will greatly benefit from this since they are currently finding themselves at the bottom of Major League Soccer. A big trend during this transfer window is the Saudi Arabia Pro league signing loads of players from European clubs. Some of the major names being signed include N’Golo Kante, Roberto Firminio and Riyad Mahrez. All of them are decorated and world class players. This extraordinary transfer window will definitely add some spice to the upcoming football season.
Visual: Cleo Qin