UP Alumna cast in Rent South Africa
The Wound: Xhosa initiation in a modern world
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Perdeby
Tuks se amptelike studentekoerant / Official Tuks student newspaper / Kuranta ya baithuti ya semmušo ya Tuks
6March2017
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SAPS teams up with Hatfield carguards - Pg. 3
Illustrations of UP’s proposed plan for upgrading the Student Centre. Images provided
UP to undergo social learning upgrades MARKO SVICEVIC This year, UP campuses will be undergoing large scale upgrading of facilities and spaces to facilitate more social learning environments. According to acting UP Executive member for Student Affairs, Prof. Carolina Koornhof, there is a pressing need for more space at UP. “Due to the financial situation UP finds itself in currently, there is a scaling down of property acquisition and instead spaces will be repurposed,” said Koornhof. UP is in the process of implementing the reutilisation of space, which includes the building of a new residence, relocation of student structures’ offices and revamping of selected areas. According to UP campus architect,
Ané Genis, a directive from the UP Executive was given on the creation of social learning spaces in which modern teaching styles and social collaboration could be effected. Genis also added that more office space was needed for facilities for insourced workers, UP clients, and external organisations contributing to the funding of “missing middle” students. “What we did is to audit the campus and we looked at spaces specifically where offices are not used full-time. This does not justify us giving that office, [and this was when] student houses came under our radar,” said Genis. The audit identified several existing UP spaces to form part of the reutilisation programme. The four main areas identified for this year’s project are the Merensky II
Library, the Huis and Haard Building, Monastery Hall and the Arnold Theiler Building (Onderstepoort). “The theme for the project is the four C’s – connectivity, charging [of electronic devices], catering and caffeine,” said Genis. The Fly@ UP project, driven by UP Executive member, Prof. Norman Duncan, will require flexible spaces to enhance student and staff collaboration and learning. In addition to the redesigning of certain spaces, the following upgrades and changes are also expected: the addition of a coffee shop in the Merensky II Library foyer, the revamping of Monastery Hall (Kloostersaal), the revamping of the Huis and Haard Building, and the relocation of Nedbank from the
Student Centre to the Kamma Kamma building. Genis further added that the buildings on Prospect Street that were used by societies and political parties will be used for academic purposes by the Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences. These buildings include Pophuis (occupied by DASO), Loeloeraai (occupied by Afriforum-Jeug UP), Kamma Kamma (occupied by Enactus), Vygie (occupied by Sasco), and Ou Kantoorjie (occupied by EFFSC). The upper level of the Student Centre will be turned into an office space where student structures are able to book meeting rooms for their activities. Genis expects construction on the project to begin in the June/July recess, and it should be completed by the middle of next year.
ICC court judgement welcomed
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Executive Mayor speaks
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Editorial | 6 March 2017
A sign of the times This week the Perdeby editorial embarked on marathon interview sessions. We host intake interviews twice a year, and we receive numerous applications. There were quite a few interesting interviews this year, with many promising candidates. Tough choices had to be made, and picking the best candidates is always difficult. As I conducted interviews I noticed something fascinating – a pattern almost. For most of the interviews, especially with first and second years, applicants kept on saying the same thing, that they read their news online. No more than five of our applicants said that they read newspapers, and that made me a little bleak. We live in an age of instant gratification – people want what they want, and they want it immediately. It is the same with the news and Perdeby has had to take this into account. We inform and entertain. Informing is our primary duty, but there is a significant scope for entertainment. This is why we have decided to add daily content onto our website, so that our readers can access student-centred, informative, and entertaining content on a daily basis.
From the Editor We have big plans. I’m not going to divulge everything here, so keep an eye on the new Online Content tab on our website, as well as our social media accounts. Our interview with the Executive Mayor stood out for me this week. Mostly because I disagree with his opinion on the language policy. I touched on the language policy in my last editorial, and I did not intend to this week, however, his stance led me to change my mind. He’s said that a language cannot be “demolished” to fill a gap for a less developed language. To me it seems as if Mayor Msimanga is out of touch, as the new language policy promotes a single language of instruction: English. In terms of demand, it is simply not possible to justify that Afrikaans remains feasible as a language of tuition. On last week’s front page, we reported that the demand for Afrikaans at UP is at just 16%. This is surely a sign of the declining popularity of the academic use of the language. Msimanga also said that to abolish a language is to “sabotage” everything the institution is about. I find that worrying. Yes, the University of Pretoria is a historically Afrikaans university, however, in terms of South Africa aiming to bridge the divide between the past and the present, and create a single society, is an Afrikaans university still relevant? What does UP stand for? Is it still a protector of Afrikaner privilege? The answer is debatable, but UP’s step towards a single language policy has shown an effort to transform the institution. Mayor Msimanga has also attempted Perdeby 6 March 1992 25 years ago De Klerk op kampus “Ja vir FW”? / De Klerk on Campus “Yes for FW”? President FW de Klerk was set to visit campus on Friday 13 March 1992 in order to motivate his belief in a yes vote for a democratic South Africa. (On 17 March 1992 a referendum on ending apartheid in South Africa was held. The referendum was limited to white South African voters who indicated through a yes or no vote whether they supported FW de Klerk’s negotiated reform plans for the country. 68.73% of the votes were in favour of reform). The NP (National Party) –Tuks said the visit from De Klerk would happen behind closed doors and that only invited guests could attend in order to reduce the chances of disruption from right-wing groups. Perdeby 3 March 1967 50 Years ago Eerste Koshuisblad verskyn – Huis Taaibos maak geskiedenis / First Residence paper launched – Taaibos makes history Taaibos residence became the first res in UP history to launch a residence newspaper. The paper was called The Taaibosser. According to Ferdie Mostert, Editor-in-Chief of The Taaibosser, the main purpose of the newspaper would be to create unity and to revitalise the Tukkie-spirit. Provided by UP Archives
a slippery slope argument, questioning whether the abolition of Afrikaans would lead to English being abolished. That very notion is absurd. English is a language used globally and is an international business language. Furthermore, if or when English is implemented as the primary language of tuition, second language English speakers will be placed on a somewhat equal playing field, at least in terms of language. This is just the tip of the iceberg. There are many historical considerations that must be made when discussing the language policy. It’s somewhat worrying that the Executive Mayor of the capital city has adopted this viewpoint. Hopefully he will at least engage with the many complexities of the continued existence of Afrikaans at UP. Perdeby published its last Afrikaans article in 2012, in an effort to make the publication accessible to all students. It was nothing personal, but the publication is put together for each and every one of the students on campus, not just Afrikaans speakers. This doesn’t mean that Perdeby was not a good publication before the change, it was just time to change to an allEnglish publication. UP has made a significant effort in changing the language policy, and it is a way of erasing inequality. It is a sign of the times. If you have anything to say regarding the language policy, write to Perdeby. Letters can be sent to perdeby@up.ac.za Huvasan w
Letters Dear Editor In response to a letter to the Editor (Perdeby, 20 February 2017) from Saa’if Essa the President of MSA Tuks, I wish to add my voice as a staff member in service of the University of Pretoria to his and many other halaal staff and students at the University of Pretoria. The fact that the sole halaal food supplier at the Hatfield Campus is still located on the South Campus smacks of discrimination and intolerance of cultural diversity. Further, one would also expect that all restaurants operating on UP campuses will properly train their staff as to what the terms halaal and crosscontamination means. [In short, Halaal is an Arabic word meaning lawful or permitted. It is the standard of conduct for Muslims, prescribed in the Qur’an (Muslim scripture). The opposite of halaal is haram, meaning unlawful or prohibited. Halaal and haram apply to all facets of life. They are commonly used to describe cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, food products, ingredients and food preparation materials. Alcohol is prohibited, as is any pork produce. Halaal meat is meat that has been slaughtered according to Islamic practice.] ] One would also expect all restaurant owners on UP campuses to pro-actively ascertain if the suppliers of their ingredients and meats are registered by the South African National Halaal Authority. The vague and confused looks when such questions are posed at restaurants merely increase the annoyance of potential Halaal patrons. As a staff member it is very frustrating that there are no decent and halaal food places on campus. I would appreciate having a place to buy something to eat without the worry of cross-contamination (which is very possible, as most staff at the food places on campus do not know what halaal or kosher is). Part of moving forward and making today matter is to serve food that matter today. Pro-active instead of complacent
6 March 2017 | News
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Brooklyn SAPS and Namola partner to fight crime MARKO SVICEVIC Brooklyn SAPS in collaboration with developers of the Namola app have launched an app to bolster the fight against crime in Tshwane. On 5 February, Station Commander Brigadier Kushie Nair and Chief Ambassador of Namola, Yusuf Abramjee signed a partnership agreement in which they committed to collaborating together in an effort to continue the fight against crime. Abramjee said, “To combat crime in Tshwane and across South Africa, we need all hands on deck. Partnerships like this add support and capacity to our emergency services, like the Brooklyn SAPS.” Abramjee added that embracing innovative technology in fighting crime was the future for safety and security in South Africa. The app, called Namola, allows users to report crimes and share their physical locations with the nearest police emergency response vehicles through their smartphones. It further provides users with direct access to the SAPS officer en route to the scene and the function to rate officers responding to the alert. SAPS officers are also able to precisely locate complainants and phone the complainant directly for more information. The control room feature allows police to monitor real-time vehicle location and tracking and also gives an overview of all reported alerts. According to Brooklyn SAPS Captain Colette Weilbach, “When a citizen sends out an alert, the nearest Brooklyn SAPS or
Car guard working on Burnett Street. Photo: Tshepo Kenneth Moagi A screenshot from the Namola app. Image: Apple App Store
Tshwane Metro Police Department vehicles that are Namola app-compliant are able to see the exact location of the incident. The first available officer is then directed to the incident while being monitored by the control room, which has the ability to intervene if necessary. While en route to an incident the officer is able to receive messages from the citizen and phone them if they need more information.” Weilbach added that the app enables faster response times and a more efficient flow of information. The app is currently available for download from the Google Play Store and the Apple App Store, or at www.namola.com/ download.
Letter Policy Perdeby appreciates that freedom of speech is an inalienable right enshrined in the Constitution of 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. Perdeby will not edit letters, comments, tweets, or Facebook posts in any way. 2. Perdeby will label letters, comments, tweets, or Facebook posts as opinion. These do not represent the views of Perdeby in any way. 3. The Perdeby editorial must approve letters, comments, tweets, or Facebook posts before they are published. 4. Perdeby will not publish letters, comments, tweets, or Facebook posts that are defamatory, or libelous, or that contain offensive content. 5. Perdeby reserves the right to practice
discretion when publishing letters, comments, tweets, or Facebook posts. 6. Perdeby reserves the right to publish any content we receive unless the sender specifically requests otherwise. 7. Perdeby reserves the right to retract a letter, comment, tweet, or Facebook post after it has been published. 8. Perdeby 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. Perdeby will only publish letters between 150 and 200 words. 10. Perdeby will not publish letters unless the writer confirms their full name, student number and contact number. Perdeby will not publish this information, we need it for our records.
Brooklyn SAPS and UP team up with Hatfield car guards MARKO SVICEVIC This year Brooklyn SAPS in collaboration with UP’s Department of Community Engagement have teamed up with informal car guards in the Hatfield area as part of a pilot project aimed at community engagement and improvement. Brooklyn SAPS Station Captain, Colette Weilbach, said that the police carry a high burden of vehicle-related crimes. In order to address this, it was necessary for SAPS to “think out of the box”. Station Commander Brigadier Kushie Nair took the initiative to “befriend” car guards around the Hatfield area, involving them in uplifting programmes. This includes registering car guards into the programme, after which each car guard is issued with a name card displaying their photo. Weilbach explained that for many years car guards were seen as an irritation and a crime contributor. “The relationship between the car guards and the police was always contentious
and adversarial,” said Weilbach. Brooklyn SAPS wanted to change this by adopting a new tolerant and social crime prevention approach, said Weilbach. While many of the car guards have criminal records for drug, property, and contact related crimes, Weilbach said that the programme is also aimed at rehabilitating them to a law-abiding life: “For the moment the car guards are excited and indicated that they are willing to cooperate with the police and to assist in crime prevention initiatives.” The project is already in its fourth week, with a database of car guards having been created and weekly meetings and training sessions scheduled. Weilbach explained, “A skills audit will be conducted and students from [UP] will give further training to empower the car guards.” Weilbach said that since the programme started, there has already been a decline in vehiclerelated crimes in the Hatfield area. If the pilot project in Hatfield is successful, it is expected to be extended to other areas.
New student parking under development MARKO SVICEVIC A new parking area is currently under development for students on the Hatfield Campus. The proposed parking area comes after UP busses on the Hatfield Campus were moved to an interim terminal situated on the corner of Duxbury Road and Herold Street. According to UP Director of Facilities Management, Prof. Susan Adendorff, there was congestion of busses on the Ring Road of the Hatfield Campus. “Due to the bus congestion, we were asked to move busses off campus,” said Prof. Adendorff. An interim measure was arranged for all busses to be stationed at the bus terminal on Duxbury Road. This meant that the current student parking, parking lot H29, had to be divided to allow for the bus terminal. The interim bus terminal resulted in a decrease in student parking. A section of the area across from the bus terminal was identified for the development of additional student parking. Prof. Adendorff explained that the existing area was previously occupied by several buildings and trees. In demolishing the existing buildings, UP had to comply with heritage laws.
Prof. Adendorff explained that her department removed as few trees as possible, and followed a rule whereby three new trees were planted for each tree that was removed. The area is currently being renovated to include adequate surfacing and fencing. Once it has been completed, it is expected to provide parking space for roughly an additional 100 vehicles. The interim bus terminal will be moved over onto parking lot H2 until the interim terminal has been upgraded. The upgrades include surfacing of the area and construction of a shelter where students can wait for busses. To cater for the increase in traffic expected from the additional parking, plans are also under way for increasing the capacity of the Duxbury turnstile gates. The construction of the new parking area is expected to be completed in May this year with the new bus terminal to be completed by August 2017. While the addition of the parking lot will aid in alleviating the parking issue around campus, students are reminded of the park and ride facilities between Hatfield and Hillcrest campus and Hatfield and Groenkloof campus. All park and ride times are available on the UP website.
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News | 6 March 2017
New website created for students to search for tutors HENRI UYS
International Criminal Court Building - The Hague. Photo: wikipedia.com
Centre for Human Rights welcomes ICC court judgement MARKO SVICEVIC
UP’s Centre for Human Rights (CHR) based at the Faculty of Law has welcomed the recent High Court decision against South Africa’s withdrawal from the International Criminal Court (ICC). On 22 February a full bench of the Gauteng Division gave its judgment in the case of Democratic Alliance v Minister of International Relations and Cooperation and Others. The CHR joined as a party to the proceedings by the applicant for its interest in the matter, and argued that withdrawal from the ICC was unconstitutional based on four reasons. Firstly, the decision to withdraw violated the separation of powers. Secondly, the decision was taken without any public participation. Thirdly, the decision was irrational because the means were not rationally connected to the ends. Lastly, it was inconsistent with government’s obligations under sections 1(d) and 7(2) of the
Constitution. The full bench of the High Court declared the decision made by Cabinet to withdraw from the ICC and the notice of withdrawal from the ICC sent to the United Nations Secretary General as unconstitutional and invalid. It ordered the Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, the Minister of Justice and Correctional Services, and the President to revoke the notice of withdrawal. Professor Frans Viljoen, Director of the CHR, welcomed the decision, saying, “The judgment firmly underscores how important it is that the South African Government consistently act[s] with due regard to the demands of the Constitution, both on the domestic and the international planes.” Prof. Viljoen added that in giving effect to the letter and spirit of the High Court’s judgment, “a broad consultative process should be followed before Parliament considers the possibility of withdrawal from the ICC”.
NSFAS to fund over 400 000 students in 2017 HENRI UYS On 19 February, the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) Board Chairperson, Sizwe Nxasana, said in a media briefing that NSFAS will loan funds to 409 788 students nationwide. According to Nxasana, Dr Blade Nzimande, Minister of Higher Education and Training, allocated R15.2 billion to the NSFAS funding budget for 2017. Nxasana said that January and February were “business as unusual” for NSFAS. According to him, this is due to NSFAS using the new Student-Centre Model at universities and Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Colleges. “This new model will allow NSFAS to establish a direct relationship with its students from the time they enter higher education until postgraduation,” said Nxasana. NSFAS received a total of 161 938 applications for 2017. Out of these applications, 105 135 were approved for new students and another 204 653 were approved for returning students. “Given the completion of some 2016 academic year examinations in January 2017 [at] certain universities, there are also more qualifying students whose results are being evaluated which will also increase the numbers of funded university students. We expect to add more than 100 000 students to the already 309 788 students already funded,” said Nxasana. 53 043 applications were unsuccessful and 3 760 applications are still being evaluated. “We have also communicated with these unsuccessful applicants and have
announced an appeals process available to them. Unsuccessful students can lodge an appeal by downloading an application form on the NSFAS website, filling it in, and emailing it – together with their recommendations – to this email address: appeals@nsfas.org.za,” Nxasana added. The deadline for appeals was 28 February 2017. Students who were funded by NSFAS in 2016 will automatically be funded in 2017, provided they have passed at least 50% of their modules and have signed their loan agreement forms from last year. Nxasana also commented on the issue of accommodation for NSFAS-funded students. “The universities and TVET colleges are tasked with accrediting the private accommodation providers and only then [will] NSFAS register these private accommodation providers as merchants for the universities and TVET colleges already on the sBux disbursement system. For universities and TVET colleges not on the sBux system, NSFAS pays the universities and TVET colleges who then settle with providers of private accommodation,” he explained. “It’s important to note that NSFAS does not make decisions on which students qualify for private accommodation allowances. Additionally, NSFAS does not have any relationship with private accommodation providers and we are not involved in any accreditation process,” he clarified. Nxasana recognised that the NSFAS system did not perform sufficiently enough and apologised to all students who suffered any inconvenience.
A UP final-year Mechanical Engineering student, Nick Ndhlovu, has created a website for UP students to find a tutor at any time of the day. The website, Creative Genes, currently caters for UP students only, but Ndhlovu hopes to expand to other universities in the near future. Creative Genes is a website where students can search for a tutor for any subject with the tutor’s contact details readily available on the website. According to Ndhlovu, the idea of the website is to allow students to contact tutors who are nearby at any time of day for assistance in a specific subject “even if it is the night before a test”. Any student can register themselves as a tutor. On the website, students can fill in a registration form and the student’s details will be uploaded onto the website. The website has online courses on software design, mobile app creation, and website creation. Students can also buy used textbooks. An additional feature is the “tutorial” section, where students can
post their academic questions and get answers and help from other students. Ndhlovu has been involved in various student structures, been a STARS mentor, and worked as a tutor for Programming and Information Technology at UP. Creative Genes currently has two options: a free plan and a premium plan. The “free plan” will allow tutors to list their services for free and Creative Genes will also do free marketing for them. These tutors will charge students a flat rate of R100 per hour and will get to keep all profits. The “premium plan” will allow tutors to charge more than R100 per hour, however, those tutors will have to pay a portion of that amount to the website. “We are also very strict on the price tutors charge because our main aim is to make education accessible at an affordable price,” says Ndhlovu. Ndhlovu created the website because he wanted to leave something behind that students can use, and solve one of South Africa’s biggest problems – access to education.
6 March 2017 | News
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Executive Mayor of the City of Tshwane, Solly Msimanga. Photo: Facebook
Solly Msimanga speaks on student issues Tshwane’s Executive Mayor speaks to Perdeby in an exclusive interview. MARKO SVICEVIC AND POOJA PUNDIT Solly Msimanga, Executive Mayor of the City of Tshwane and UP graduate, has held office since mid-2016 when the Democratic Alliance, in conjunction with support from the EFF, took over the leadership of the city. Perdeby spoke to the Executive Mayor about numerous issues regarding the city, including issues facing students in Hatfield. You were recently quoted in mainstream media as saying that the City of Tshwane could no longer afford Tshwane WiFi (TshWiFi). What does this mean? Will TshWiFi services continue as usual? Will it be monetised? Does your administration have a plan to continue this service? Let me state categorically that we don’t have an intention in stopping the service, and it has been [a] part of our manifesto – it’s [a] part of the DA’s vision to have a connected city. So what has been paddled is just complete lies about us and obviously politics – people are playing politics. What we have said is that the Auditor General has raised concern about how the contract was entered into in the first place. It is actually a finding by the Auditor General that we have spent more than R200 million of tax payers’ money on Wi-Fi, and we have gone about it the wrong way, so what we are saying is we want to find a way of ensuring that we comply with all the regulations in the Municipal Finance Management Act, and all other related regulations that are to be complied with. So what we have done behind the scenes is we have contacted service providers and potential service providers to say how do we go about ensuring that we can continue with the service, but that will not infringe or not go against the required regulations. The service providers have told us that we actually can get the service free to the city because the city already owns the infrastructure. We can, going forward, actually make money out of the system but not out of the users, not out of the residents because, like what you’re doing with Facebook, you’re using Facebook but not paying for it – so that is the same thing. They will be able to sell advertising space – that’s how they’ll be able to generate money and the city will be able to generate money, which will then mean that we can also cover areas that haven’t been covered by the Wi-Fi. There are certain areas that haven’t been covered, certain areas like Hamanskraal and Bronkhorspruit. What we’re saying is that we want to make sure that these areas are covered, but the system will pay for itself. It will be much quicker. We want to make sure that it’s able to be much quicker than what it is right now, and so upgrades of the system and also ensuring that it covers a whole lot more people than what it is currently able to do. So our plan is to make it better, not to shut it down. The issue of accommodation for university students has been raised numerous times. Recently we’ve seen protest action at TUT, as well as the #UPResCrisis issue relating to affordable and accessible student accommodation. The University of Pretoria (UP) recently issued a statement saying that it can only accommodate 15% of the student body in its residences. Does your administration have any plans in order to alleviate the pressure regarding student accommodation? Education falls outside the ambit of local government, outside of what we are actually required to do. But we will be playing our part to ensure that, given the fact that we are the host of the biggest concentration of institutions of higher learning, we have to find a way of playing our part. What we’re looking at is to incentivise developers to look into building more affordable student accommodation, and we also are looking at how we will be able to reduce the rates and taxes that these developers are paying to the city, so that the residents of those units will also not be burdened with carrying that cost. What it boils down to is that if you’re paying rates and taxes that are high to the owner, the
owner then passes it onto the students, who are then the residents. We [are] also incentivising and attracting more people who are looking at building student accommodation – if you go to Hatfield right now there’s two new facilities that have been built that are just for student accommodation. We’re looking at doing that in Pretoria West as well. We’re looking at six residences in Pretoria West and another one around the Marabastad area. I’ve also engaged with Professor De la Rey [UP Vice-Chancellor and Principal] in terms of how we will be able to assist in Mamelodi with accommodation for those students [...] so it’s our duty to make sure that we provide affordable accommodation. Last year the UP council decided to amend the university’s language policy, making English the only language of tuition. This came shortly after the #AfrikaansMustFall movement at UP and was also followed by several other universities making similar decisions. Do you support the move to English-only tuition at universities, and specifically at UP? I’ll give you my personal opinion, which is very welldocumented. I’ve actually even written an article on that. I’ve said that you will not be able to demolish a language in order to fill a gap for a language that hasn’t been well-developed. I have said what we needed to do instead of abolishing a certain language is to look into how do we promote other languages – the diversity thereof. Because to then say you don’t want a language at an institution amounts to, in the long run, sabotaging everything that institution is all about. I mean after to say no to Afrikaans, are you going to say no to English? After you’ve abolished Afrikaans, are you going to abolish English? So what I’ve said is what we need to do is, and this is where government has failed, is to ensure we invest heavily in the development of indigenous languages. I’ve made an example to say since the days of the National Party what they have done is to make sure that they are able to study, translate and develop new material, translated from English, which was the predominant university’s language before apartheid. They were able to translate that and develop languages and ensure that a child will be able to go from pre-school up to a professor level learning in Afrikaans. What we need to do is prioritise and pump money into the development and training of facilitators, authors and lecturers who will be able to assist us in ensuring that a child will be able to learn in Zulu from pre-school up to wherever the case. That is how we need to be thinking and that is how in my view we need to be approaching this, because it cannot be that you say you want to abolish one language over another. What’s next that you want to abolish? What we need to do is ask how do we bring diversity. Yes, it cannot be that language is used to bar people from accessing opportunities, so you cannot really run a 50:50 class in a certain language – for instance you can’t run an Accounting class where 60% of your students are non-Afrikaans-speaking and then want to run it in Afrikaans. So there needs to be that balance, but at the same time we need to ensure that we promote languages and we are trying to develop literature around the language from a school level up to university level – you would still be able to get that material. Right now I don’t know of any Economics book that is written in any other language except in English and Afrikaans. Currently the Hatfield area experiences large amounts of traffic and one of the largest problems students face is parking. Does your administration have any plans to alleviate the parking issues around UP campuses, specifically the Hatfield campus? A further issue faced here is that students end up parking on non-parking areas, leading to many parking tickets. There’s a conundrum here. In order to have an upkeep of a particular area you need to leverage some kind of levies – parking will be a way to generate revenue. Now, we understand that it’s
not always a nice thing to have where we say we will have a dedicated parking zone because there needs to be an upkeep of that particular area. So if we’re going to develop that, and this has been the proposal to say we will develop parking spaces or parking zones, but there is a cost that comes with it. Someone will have to pay at some point. The university is not willing to carry that cost because it falls outside of the boundaries of the university, so now comes the question of who will carry that cost. What we’re looking at is ensuring that as much as we want to assist with student parking, what we will have to do is to clear up the spaces, pave it and have it as a municipal dedicated parking, but that will then mean that students will have to pay. That is something we will be able to do and also provide some security for that. What we want to do is have peace officers or warrens who are walking around with hand-held meters guarding cars but also they will be paid a certain amount. The Hatfield area has always seen a high number of crimes committed against students. These usually include petty crimes, but are not limited to such crimes. What has your administration done to curb crimes committed against students, particularly in the Hatfield area? Within campus there’s not much we can do because the campus as much as [it is] a public entity will be regarded as private property. But outside we are doing much. I mean we are now introducing the bicycle unit in the metro police, so you will have more metro police visible everyday, all day on bicycles around the Hatfield area. You will also see that we will be installing quite a number of cameras, street cameras as well, so that [is] something that is also coming to your business areas of Hatfield where UP is, and the streets around the particular area. We are making sure [that] we install more cameras to monitor what is happening there. We are also ensuring [that] we have peace officers which will be trained to not only look after cars, but will be able to monitor what is happening in a particular block in terms of safety and security. These peace officers will be vetted, and will also be able to collect revenue for the city in terms of the parking meters. It’s a long process of vetting, but it will also help in terms of employing people this way, ensuring they have means of providing for themselves aside from committing crime. The recently implemented A Re Yeng transport system is expected to greatly assist commuting students. What benefits do you think students gain from this? Are there reduced prices planned for students? Are there any plans to extend the reach of A Re Yeng to students/persons staying further away from the CBD? I must say that A Re Yeng at the moment is a big problem. It’s a big black hole; the system is costing the city R9 million every month. I would say at the moment [that] A Re Yeng is a bit of a challenge because of its implementation not generating income, but actually working at a loss. The city is losing R9 million every month just to keep the system. It’s part of a big challenge in which we are trying to determine how to go forward with the system at the moment. Right now we can’t really talk about discounts because it is just a nightmare. The #FeesMustFall movement last year saw many institutions of higher education shut down for long periods of time. UP was also impacted by the movement. Have you been in collaboration with UP regarding how to deal with such situations, should they arise this year? Education falls outside the ambit of what we do, but I’ve seen it in myself to try and assist and we have now donated money to institutions to assist students. We are going to be giving R250 000 to Tshwane South College and Tshwane North College. We are further going to give UNISA, TUT and UP R500 000 each. This is our contribution towards assisting students. I know it’s not much and falls outside of what we do, but we felt we cannot just fold our arms and sit on the side-lines and for us it’s part of getting involved. Last year saw the call for free higher education having a national impact on South Africa’s universities. The Commission into the Feasibility of Fee-Free Higher Education is expected to release its report later this year. What is your take on free education and its feasibility? The notion of free education is not as simple as people want to make it. You need to look at where the resources are going to come from for it to be made possible. It’s not a matter of cutting here to give money there. You need to say where are you cutting for this money to come from. There are people making comparisons of countries that are heavily subsidising education, but when you trace where those countries are getting their resources from, some of them coming from a dedicated sector like mining will be heavily funding student education. South Africa is not doing that very well, asking where the money will come from when it comes to its finances. Are we going to stop some other social funding – building houses, providing water and electricity or social grants – to pay for education? Is it really feasible is the question. I do believe [that] we need to make space for those students that are deserving but cannot really afford [higher education], but there are also those that are just taking advantage. Those that come from well-off families should pay more to subsidise education, those that can afford to pay must pay, those that cannot afford to pay and generally afford to pay we need to subsidise. It cannot be a one-size-fits-all because at the end of the day you will not have a quality education system [that is] able to run.
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Features | 6 March 2017
Did you just assume my gender?
Image: Fezekile Msimang
KATHERINE ATKINSON Gender is a 2017 buzz-word. It is a subject that is essential, but often misunderstood. In National Geographic’s series, The Gender Revolution, American activist, author, and comedian Sam Killermann, breaks gender down into three basic categories: gender identity, gender expression, and biological sex. Killerman defines gender identity as “how you see yourself”, gender expression as the “different ways we present gender through our actions, dress and demeanour”, and biological sex as the “physical characteristics that make up our body”. Mpho Motiang, counsellor at the Centre for Sexuality, Aids and Gender (CSA&G) at UP, echoed Killermann’s
definition of gender when he said that he “identif[ies] gender as how you feel and how you express yourself within your everyday interaction within the world and what the world gets to receive of that.” Many believe that gender equals biological sex, therefore, if a person has XY chromosomes then their gender is male. However, while a person may have XY chromosomes, they may still feel that they identify better as a female. Motiang explains that these conservative ideologies surrounding gender exist because gender is a social construct: “There’s so many ways to express it [gender], yet we become so used to a binary system where it is man on one side and woman on another side. It is a lot more complicated than that.” Motiang describes gender as “fluid” since it cannot be broken down into two simple categories of male and female. The biological make-up of many people correlates with their gender, although this is not the case with everyone, as seen with transgender people. National Geographic said in their documentary, The Gender Revolution, that testosterone levels during pregnancy could determine whether a person is transgender. In fact, above average levels of testosterone in the second and third trimesters of a pregnancy can cause a baby girl to believe she is a boy. Motiang defines and expands on what it means to be transgender. He says, “We usually look at transgender as just an umbrella term for an interchanging space of gender. It’s a transformational space of gender – so some people are transitioning physically, some people are trying to understand themselves emotionally.” While transgender people may fit into a gender binary category, such as a transgender woman or transgender man, it is important to recognise that many fit into a non-binary category of gender. A person who is androgynous, which National Geographic defines as “gender identity or expression [which] shifts between masculine, feminine, or somewhere in-between”, fits into a non-binary category of gender. An “agender” or gender neutral person also fits into the non-binary category of gender. There are still misconceptions surrounding gender and stigmas attached to gender roles. Kemelo Sehlapelo, a BA Humanities student at UP, said, “There are many myths about the gender non-binary community that need to be broken [such as] the myth that people belonging to this community are ‘confused’ or born with birth defects that make them that way. Non-binary simply means that they choose not to conform with the allocated binary gender that they were given at birth.” Motiang said that the biggest misconception surrounding gender is that “your gender determines your sexuality”. Motiang dismisses this misconception by saying
that too often people assume that “if somebody dresses in a bit of a masculine ‘tomboy’ style, now that the person is lesbian […] but it is just an expression of your clothing.” Such misconceptions and stigmas are further perpetuated by our society, especially through media. Motiang says that the media sometimes portrays gender nonconformity incorrectly, saying, “Right now there is still a high stigma because people don’t really understand it [gender]. There [are] organisations that try [to understand gender] and the public space, especially in media, [and they] make a bit of an effort but they don’t get it right every time.” The South African television show Generations is one particular example that Motiang uses to show how media may slightly misrepresent minority groups. He continues to say that “We have to be very careful about how we represent certain minorities in the media.” Despite some exposure within South African media, gender ideals may seem somewhat Americanised. South Africa seems to be slow-moving in terms of gender exposure and policies. As Motiang says, “South African culture is actually a bit conservative still. We’ve got a lot of liberal law and our laws are good for creating safe spaces, but the people who live in those spaces are still very conservative, very heteronormative.” Although Motiang believes that South Africa has the potential to change, he feels that “change in policy implementation, education and media representation” is essential as these factors can either do a lot of good or a lot of harm. According to Motiang, since South Africa is still considered conservative, it is essential that UP continues to bring the topic of gender into the light. Motiang feels that “consistency is key” and that “more media coverage and transparency around the situation” is needed with UP campaigns such as #SpeakOUTUP. Thiruna Naidoo, who also works at the CSA&G, agrees with Motiang, saying, “Basic education about gender and other gender identities outside the spectrum of male or female would assist in the transition into a campus environment that is a safe space for non-binary people to feel safe and be themselves.” Sehlapelo believes that “the best thing that students can do when meeting any non-binary person for the first time is ask which pronouns they prefer, instead of just assuming their gender. They can also read up on how non-binary/non-conforming individuals differ from intersex individuals, as they are often mixed up.” Creating a safer campus space for all students is something that UP should continue to strive toward. Overall, Motiang said that what he would like to see from UP this year is “a little bit more visibility, a little bit more transparency” and that he would “like the campus to get into that spirit of being safe and vulnerable around each other.”
The Wound: Xhosa initiation in a modern world GEMMA GATTICCHI AND SAVANNAH PLASKITT The release of John Trengove’s film The Wound has sparked controversy, as it centres on the secretive Xhosa rites of passage and the practice of traditional male circumcision. The highly contested South African film tells the story of a homosexual African man who returns to the rural Eastern Cape to be a mentor or a khaukatha to new Xhosa initiates. The film, which premiered at the 2017 Sundance Film Festival, brings to light the practices of ulwaluko and the concept of African masculinity. The Xhosa ritual of circumcision is highly controversial due to the statistics detailing its medical risks. The Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC) conducted an intervention study in the Libode district in the Eastern Cape during the period of 2009–2013. They found that 453 circumcision initiates died during the period of June 2006 to December 2013 and 214 initiates suffered penile amputations in the Eastern Cape region. The HSRC also stated that dehydration, sepsis, and gangrene play a leading role in the cause of deaths among initiates. UP Anthropology lecturer, Dr Fraser McNeil, explained these perceived risks: “This is about the construction of masculinity – this is about a much wider question. South Africa is a dangerous place to live, and we can trace these things to men being migrant labourers and going to work in the mines where there was a pretty big chance that you would get injured and die in the mines, so risky behaviour is a thing that’s associated with masculinity in this country, and perseverance is something that’s associated with masculinity as well in this country, so that idea that if you’re in pain and you’re struggling, you’re not meant to make an issue of it, that is symbolic of lessons for life as many things in initiation schools are.” A Xhosa fourth year LLB student, who wished to remain anonymous, explained this further, saying, “At the end of the day any rite of passage is to be viewed as ‘dangerous’ to an extent. Look at the Aborigin[al] rite of passage, then again look at North American tribes’ rites of passage. It’s surviving that risk that makes it even more of a life-changing experience for most [initiates].” With calls to end an age-old tradition, Richard Bullock wrote
in Africa Geographic Magazine that “banning it is a ridiculous notion. Ukwaluka is fundamental to Xhosa life, but it’s not a rigid, inflexible ritual.” In reality the practice has conformed to contemporary notions by initiating the boys in a secluded area closer to home and for a shorter period of time. It must be remembered that the nation calling for the ban does not know much about this sacred tradition besides the statistics that come with it. Dr McNeill stated that “they [initiation rituals] are ways older men and younger men engage with modern society by connecting to their past. It’s not just about some imagined history, it’s a real way of expressing masculinity in a contemporary context.” The Xhosa fourth year LLB student, who preferred to remain anonymous, said, “The rite of passage is still very important. I think people forget that originally the rite of passage itself was to pass down knowledge of our culture and our traditions from the elders to the younger boys. So understanding the context and where you fit in your culture is important. Look, nobody is forced to go through a rite of passage. But its significance in most people’s lives is outstanding – mind-sets change.” They went on to explain, “What most people don’t understand is that it’s a cultural rite of passage. Not everyone must know what goes on up the mountain, especially the fairer sex and outsiders. Among the many reasons is that you won’t understand because you’re looking in from the outside. This lack of understanding has people with uninformed opinions of which one can’t even explain to people, because it’s not supposed to be common knowledge. Talk to a Xhosa woman and to an extent they even understand the secrecy of what goes on up there. I’d ask people to understand that certain information cannot be public knowledge. Even though we’re in an information age, rites of passage aren’t for public knowledge. Yes, people sadly pass away, but we must understand that there are regional traditional leaders that deal every year with such things and initiates’ caretakers are consulted yearly to adapt to changing circumstances [and] health issues.” The process of Xhosa initiation is usually a closely guarded secret which has led to the movie being viewed as a “betrayal of a sacred [rite] of passage tradition.” When asked about the
Promotional image for The Wound. Image: MambaOnline
secrecy surrounding the initiation, Dr McNeil said, “There’s a hierarchy of knowledge here and youngsters can only go through the rite of passage because people at the top of this hierarchy have got knowledge they are trying to give to the people down below.” He went on to explain that “it takes on more significance than just being a body of knowledge – it starts to become a way in which you can really maintain masculinity in a wider context of crisis.” Dr McNeill said that the questions that we ask and the way we ask them reveal a lot more about where we come from as people, instead of what we try to find out about the actual topic. He went on to ask if we are really that different if we all engage in risky behaviour. Trengrove said in an interview with City Press that he doesn’t believe there is anything exploitative or exposing about the culture in the film. Trengrove went on to say, “I think we’re actually speaking about something really important about the culture that clearly isn’t being discussed enough.”
6 March 2017 | Entertainment
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Five minutes with Francois van Coke CHAD JOHNSTON
Perdeby caught up with Francois van Coke about his new album, Hierdie is die Lewe. Van Coke is the front man for Fokofpolisiekar and Van Coke Kartel. You have recently become a dad. What is it like being a dad and a musician? It is tiring and amazing. I never imagined the amount of work it takes to raise a child and how difficult it can be at times. Our little girl is amazing and she has added so much to our lives already. Playing music is [the] way I wake up in the morning and I will do anything in my power to keep it that way. It is just hard going on the road with a family at home. What was the most challenging part of making Hierdie is die Lewe? The [most challenging] part was not to think about the success of the previous album and not [to focus] on the success of “Toe vind ek jou”. I think in the beginning of the writing process I was thinking about writing a big hit again, but realised that “Toe vind
ek jou” worked because it was honest. I tried to write the most honest and best songs I could and put it out! You have been touring for the new album. Where are you off to after that? I will be playing all over the country in the next couple of months. I am also releasing new singles and videos later in the year. You’ve worked with a lot of distinguished artists in your career. Who has been the most exciting to collaborate with? I think the collaboration with Karen Zoid was the most noteworthy. The song also reached more people than anything I have ever done in the past. What do you want your music to say to the youth of South Africa? Don’t let anyone tell you what to do. Do you have any new exciting future prospects to share with us? You started the year on a good swing. Can you tell us what the rest of 2017 has in store? We are working on a new Fokofpolisiekar album – the first one in 10 years.
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UP Alumna in the cast of Rent South Africa CLAUDINE NOPPE
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Francois van Coke Hierdie is die lewe
CHAD JOHNSTON 2 February marked the release of South African rock legend Francois van Coke’s second solo album, Hierdie is die Lewe. The blend of melodic beats and catchy lyrics makes the album easy to listen to by yourself, yet hard enough to blast on full volume on the way to a party. The album is a good depiction of where Van Coke is in life, while the sound is simply an evolution on his first self-titled album. The first single, “Mensdom”, urges people to live in the moment and to acknowledge their flaws. Some of the harmonies and melodies are flavoured with an old-school influence that brings up a sense of nostalgia while still remaining fresh and new. Van Coke’s band, Die Gevaar, really came to the party with some electrifying melodies. There is an air of introspection throughout the album, but it is especially prevalent on the third track, “Beter mens”. The ballad, “Die wêreld is mal”, shows off Van Coke’s vocal range and his lyrical skills in a way that takes us back to “Toe vind ek jou”, which became the first Afrikaans song to reach number one on commercial radio charts in South African history. The last track on the album, “Klein prys”, is a moving tribute to Fokofpolisiekar. It’s a warm song that reminds the listener of the influence of the band on Van Coke’s life and career. In a nutshell, Francois van Coke has outdone himself. The album is exactly what we would expect from one of South Africa’s leading Afrikaans artists.
Stoker Stoker SHAUN SPROULE Cape Town rock band Stoker have released their self-titled debut album. Their first full album introduces listeners to their own identity and voice better than before. Suited for seasoned rock fans as well as occasional listeners, Stoker has something for everyone. South Africa has a relatively active rock following, so it can be hard to find a place among other successful bands such as aKing, Taxi Violence and even old veterans like Prime Circle. Stoker is a great introduction for the band as it gives a little taste of everything they have to offer. The band is made up of two sets of brothers, Chris De Wet Bornman (guitar and vocals), Jurgen Bornman (bass), Morgan O’Kennedy (drums), and Redge O’Kennedy (guitar and backing vocals). The album opens with “Keep swirling”, a rough get-you-going type of rock song, which almost announces Stoker’s ability and worthiness of the rock label. This leads onto “Hot body/nobody”, which is packed with contrast. A dark and hazy guitar is layered over subdued vocals that create an interesting and pleasing result. The range of music that the band is capable of comes across as the album progresses, from the heavy “Transylvanian summer” to the closing track, “Get lost in this”, which is calm and subtle compared to the beginning of the album. A stand-out track would definitely be “Evil shaker II”, which embodies the essence of rock from vocals to melody and lyrics. The band’s attention to production and mixing shows the quality of Stoker’s music. Overall, Stoker is a suitable introduction into South Africa’s rock household names. The album is worth listening to if you have even the slightest love for rock.
2017 marks the 20th anniversary of the hit Broadway musical, Rent. Under the direction of Byron Bure, the Stephan Fourie Production Company is bringing this musical back to life. The critically acclaimed rock musical tells the story of struggling artists in New York City and will be coming to the Joburg Theatre from 28 April to 7 May. The cast just finished a 10-day stint at Artscape Arena in Cape Town. Perdeby caught up with University of Pretoria Alumna, Bonolo Makhele, who is currently part of the chorus in the cast of Rent. She completed her degree in Drama at UP and received her Honours in Applied Theatre and Education at the University of Cape Town. Can you tell readers what they can expect from this rendition of Rent, one of the most famous musicals in the world? This rendition is nothing short of vibrant and diverse. It will have you laughing and shedding a few tears. The cast itself is very powerful and brings a fresh take on this 20-year-old production. Rent deals with very sensitive issues surrounding “outcasts”. Why is it important for South Africans to see this musical? Rent is relevant in South Africa because it deals with themes like HIV and AIDS, relationships and homosexuality. South Africans need to see this because as much as we try to hide from these things, they are still so present in our communities. You have completed your time at Artscape Arena in Cape Town. What has the response been? We have felt so much love from each and every audience. Cape Town is a theatre-loving city, so it was a pleasant surprise when we got standing ovations, because the pressure was on to give them an overall quality performance. This rendition of Rent features old favourites from the original musical such as “Seasons of love”. Which song is your personal favourite to perform? The song “No day but today” is so profound. The [lyrics], “I can’t control my destiny, I trust my soul, my only goal is just to be” are so raw and so beautiful. I love performing that song. “La vie bohème” is [also] crazy fun to perform. What is the most memorable moment for you from this entire experience? I would have to say finally performing for an audience in the Artscape Arena. All our hard work was finally showcased, the lights hit us and sparked a new energy. There is no better feeling than that.
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Catching up with Ryan Chapman KWAZI SOKHELA
Ryan Chapman. Photo: Stefan Sander
The University of Pretoria Football Club (AmaTuks) acquired four new players during the National First Division (NFD) Competition. One of these new arrivals is forward, Ryan Chapman, who has played regularly for the team since joining. Perdeby spoke with the striker on 28 February to enquire about his transition into the new environment at the University of Pretoria Football Club. How have you settled in at the University of Pretoria? I think I’ve settled in well. There are lots of guys that helped me settle in here. I know a couple of guys, I played with some of the others. The technical team was very good with that, and I think it’s a very good team. There’s good structures here and lots of young, hungry players. The team has enjoyed a consistent set of results so far in the second half of the season. What do you think will be the key to success for the rest of the season? Just hard work and sticking together as a team and not letting people get in between us. How has it been working with Coach Shaun Bartlett? It’s been very good so far, I’ve been really enjoying it. What are your goals and objectives for you and the club in the future? I never really set myself any goals because I haven’t been playing for a while. So I just wanted to get fit and push myself, basically. But for the team, I think the team has been doing very well at the moment, but I think we just need to keep on pushing and maybe we can get into one of the play-off spots. Because you have not been playing for some time, what’s been the driving force to get back on the field? To get fit, to get to the top, to get the best out of myself. How have you adapted to playing in the NFD? It’s different, but I mean I’ve been working hard and the team has also helped me out.
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Shell Eco-Marathon returns to SA
KWAZI SOKHELA
Shell South Africa, a subsidiary of the multinational oil and gas company and the University of Johannesburg’s (UJ) School of Electrical Engineering will once again collaborate in hosting another instalment of the Shell Eco-Marathon in Africa this year. Shell South Africa and UJ are inviting students from the University of Pretoria who have a passion for ingenuity and innovation of cutting edge efficient technology to register a team, and possibly compete in the 2017 edition of this event, which is set to take place from 20 to 22 of October at Zwartkops Raceway in Pretoria West. The Shell Eco-Marathon is a global initiative with events that occur annually in regions including Asia, the Americas and Europe. The project attempts to encourage young engineers to invent new forms of energy which could ultimately shape and revolutionise transport in the future. The aim of this initiative by Shell is to “challenge high school and university students to design, build, test and drive the most energy efficient vehicle”, therefore creating a platform for young, passionate Engineering students and enthusiasts to showcase and exhibit their fresh, new ideas regarding efficient energy against some of the best young minds on the African continent. As the term “eco-marathon” suggests, the essence of this competition entails constructing unique and ultra-energy
sustaining vehicles. The criterion for success revolves around maximising the best possible energy and efficiency for the specific car. The Shell Eco-Marathon places no emphasis on the speed of the vehicle, but rather on how economical and efficient the vehicle is in using its energy. Thus the winners of this competition come from teams that manage to travel the longest distance, utilising the least amount of fuel or energy. There are two classes present at the Shell Eco-Marathon. Firstly, there is the Prototype class whereby participants employ a streamlining approach to the engineering of their vehicle, defying the usual aesthetics and designs of vehicles in order to ensure that the vehicle achieves maximum performance. The second class is that of the UrbanConcept vehicles that resemble everyday, roadworthy and production-type vehicles. There are also several categories of energy sources available that participants can utilise, including diesel, gasoline, battery electric, ethanol and hydrogen. Since the inception of this event in South Africa in 2014 it has already proven a success for South African students who get to compete on a global stage. A team of Engineering students from UJ (UJ Voltronics) competed in the Shell Eco-Marathon Europe in 2016, which took place in London, where they placed 15th with their electrically-powered vehicle. Entering the Shell Eco-Marathon is free, but space for participants is limited. Teams can register on the Shell EcoMarathon South Africa website at www.shell.com.
Photo: Stefan Sander
Tuks Varisty Cup recap THORISO PHASHA UP entered the ninth instalment of the Varsity Cup rugby competition on 30 points when they played host to Stellenbosch University (Maties) at Loftus Versfeld. UP, the two-time Varsity Cup champions, kicked off the 2017 season on a high note when they defeated their Cape-based rivals 13-9, after falling out of the competition in the semi-finals against Maties last year. UP were welcomed back home to the Tuks Stadium on 13 February when they hosted the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University (NMMU) Madibaz in a third round fixture. UP-Tuks continued their winning streak over the Madibaz as they claimed a 33-16 victory. This gave UP a 100 percent winning record going into the next fixture against the University of Johannesburg (UJ). The match against UJ was played on 20 February at the UJ stadium in wet conditions. The UP kickers did not cope well with the elements as they repeatedly missed chances to score points. UJ unexpectedly defeated UP when they won the game 18-17. The captain of UP (Chris Massyn) expressed his disappointment at the narrow defeat by saying, “We were our own worst enemy against UJ. We did not take the opportunities on offer and have only ourselves to blame. The boys are pretty upset about the result but are determined to bounce back against Wits. We really struggled to be on the same page as the referee, but that is our fault. We did not adapt quickly enough and thus couldn’t get into the game. The weather certainly did not help but that is no excuse.’’ UP were looking to bounce back from their UJ defeat when they welcomed the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits) to the Tuks Stadium on 27 February. Wits approached the game with an aggressive edge that ensured a 3-all score-line at the first strategic break. However, the Wits defense was finally breached in the 24th minute of the game. Dewald Naudé scored the first try of the match. Wits scored a three-point penalty two minutes later to narrow the gap to two points with the score at 8-6 in favour of UP. The visitors took the lead for the first time when flyhalf and captain, Warren Gilbert, scored his third penalty of the match to make the score 9-8. The response from UP was almost immediate as the skipper, Chris Massyn, scored a converted try. This ended the half at 15-9 in UP-Tuks’s favour. UP extended their lead to 18-9 after the second half resumed. The remainder of the half was played at a slow pace with neither team showing any endeavour to score. UP-Tuks managed to force a try through a strong rolling maul late in the second half. Franco van den Berg emerged with the ball after crashing over. Flyhalf, Tinus de Beer, converted the try to give the hosts a comfortable 25-9 victory. UP have qualified for the play-off stages of Varsity Cup for the past two seasons. With the recent victory over Wits, UP-Tuks are third on the log with 14 points. With a game in hand, it seems likely that a play-off position is on the cards. Next on the agenda for UP-Tuks is a home fixture against the Central University of Technology (CUT Ixias) on 6 March. UP-Tuks will be aiming for a possible bonus point victory over CUT to enhance their chances of a home semi-final. It is a fixture that UP-Tuks will be relishing, having beaten the Free State-based side at two previous meetings when UP-Tuks recorded 60-plus score-lines on both occasions.
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