2011: Edition 4

Varsity THE OFFICIAL STUDENT NEWSPAPER OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CAPE TOWN

5 April 2011

Volume 70: Number 4

021 650 3543

UCTT Ultimate Frisbee

varsitynewspaper.co.za

page 14

@varsitynews

Cirque du Soleil fires up IN THIS ISSUE

GCI against Shell

page 3

Mad not sad

page 5

Skulled art

page 6

IKEY spirit

pages 8 - 9

SALTIMBANCO - Crowds in Cape Town are hypnotized by a spectacular performance by Cirque du Soleil held at Grand West Arena.

Image: Matthew Jordaan/Independent Newspapers

20 000 learners march Absence of Minister and poor security organisation at Equal Education march raises concerns Pasqua Heard & Olivia Wainwright

T

he Equal Education campaign held a march to Parliament on Monday 21 March to draw attention to the state of education in South Africa. Marching from the Grand Parade, protestors and organisers raised questions about VIP attendance and visible crowd control at the event.

Equal Education is an NGO that campaigns for basic learners’ rights in South Africa. The march drew 20 000 protestors – mostly from underprivileged schools. All learners were neatly dressed in their school uniforms.

Organisers and protestors aimed to ensure that Minister for Basic Education Angie Motshekga provides the promised “minimum norms and standards for school infrastructure” by 1 April, a deadline to which she

has committed her department.

Upon reaching Parliament, marchers were to hand a memorandum to the minister, asking her to keep this promise.

Motshekga was invited in writing

by Equal Education but did not arrive at the event, causing disappointment amongst protestors.

“It was very much an anti-climax. The organisers literally looked deflated and everything felt like it had come to nothing,” said Ben Goble, a grade 12 learner from Westerford High School, who attended the march.

Instead, Dingani Ngobeni, Motshekga’s Chief of Staff, received the memorandum on Motshekga’s behalf. Ngobeni attempted to make a speech but was heckled by the crowd, and left the podium with the memorandum.

The annual march is well-known in the community, but this year has raised a number of questions.

The issue of road closures and crowd control was raised by Equal Education organisers. “We complied

with all rules, both from the SAPS and the City of Cape Town, and had all the necessary permissions and approvals, and communicated with them all documents pertaining to safety. However, when they were needed to handle any criminal incidents, they were nowhere to be found,” said Yoliswa Dwane for Equal Education.

A source at the Cape Town Metro Police Station responded that it was not the police’s duty to arrange the closing of roads, but rather that of the City Council. In terms of crowd control, the source said that the

“The cries of our youth for a quality education cannot be ignored” police were present, but not always visible. The point was made that the crowd was very large; “If you have 1 000 people, you cannot have 1 000

policemen,” the source said.

Although concerned about the role the authorities played in securing the march, Equal Education organisers believe that the march was successful. “It showed that people can be mobilised on a large scale to demand better education, and proves how important these issues are to those affected. The result is that now [more people] know about this mass movement of the youth, [which] is power in itself. […]The cries of our youth for a quality education cannot be ignored when they are coming from such a massive gathering,” said an organiser.

Equal Education will continue their campaign for quality education in South Africa. “We are holding a People’s Summit for Quality Education from 25–27 June. As a way forward with the struggle of the youth for education, we will […] put more pressure on government to deliver good infrastructure in schools and better education.”

Jazzfest dazzles

VARSITY, the official student newspaper since 1942, is committed to the principles of equality and democracy.

page 10

2

news NEWS BITES

Advocate to judge: “Jou ma se...”

CAPE TOWN – Advocate Nehemiah Ballem shocked the Western Cape High Court on Wednesday, 30 March when he swore at presiding Judge Lee Bozalek. “Jou ma se p**s, f**k you!” Ballem retorted before leaving the courtroom. Bozalek had been quizzing Ballem about arriving more than four hours late for court. Ballem then left the courtroom, whereupon the case was postponed indefinitely.

– Iol & News24

Libya: World leaders take action LONDON – United Nations (UN) Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon will co-ordinate the international community’s discussions on Libya’s future. This was revealed after a meeting of world leaders on Tuesday, 29 March. US President Barack Obama has strongly defended the US’s airstrikes (known as “Operation Odyssey Dawn”) against Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi’s forces. Obama stated that the strikes prevented a “massacre” in Libya.

– Times LIVE; Huffington Post

Krejcir linked to Beeka, Jackson murders JOHANNESBURG – Czech businessman Radovan Krejcir will be questioned by police regarding the gunning down of Cyril Beeka in Cape Town on Monday, 21 March. Beeka, whose name was found on a hit list found in Krejcir’s home, is said to have ties to the Cape Town underworld. Krejcir has been linked to the May 2010 murder of strip club boss Lolly Jackson, who is believed to have been killed after turning state witness against Krejcir.

– Iol & News24

De Lille for DA, Ehrenreich for ANC? CAPE TOWN – Western Cape Social Development MEC Patricia de Lille is the Democratic Alliance (DA) mayoral candidate for the City of Cape Town in the upcoming local government elections.

The African National Congress (ANC) mayoral candidate is not known at present, though the party has revealed that Cosatu provincial secretary Tony Ehrenreich is the forerunner for the party’s nomination.

– NEWS24

Stephanie Venter

Con Court: Hawks unconstitutional Lyndall Thwaits

I

n a surprise judgment on Tuesday 17 March, the Constitutional Court ruled that the legislation that created the Hawks is invalid because it does not provide sufficient protection against political influence.

The Hawks unit, also known as the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (DPCI), was created after the Directorate of Special Operations (the Scorpions) was dissolved as the country’s independent crime fighting unit.

The disbanding of the unit was brought to the Constitutional Court by businessman Hugh Glenister, who asked that the laws put in place to disband the Scorpions unit be declared invalid.

Glenister argued that the dissolution of the Scorpions warranted further investigation after mass resignations occurred within the new crime fighting body.

The Constitutional Court has given Parliament 18 months to amend the current legislation in Chapter 6A of the SA Police Service Act, or it will declare the legislation constitutionally invalid.

The court’s primary judgment

states, “The key question in this case is whether the national legislation that created the [Hawks] and disbanded the [Scorpions], is constitutionally valid”.

“An independent anti-corruption body which is protected from political influence is vital to maintain and essential to our constitution”, read the judgement. The court agreed that the public’s perception of an independent unit was important and that the crime fighting unit required adequate protection from political

interference and intimidation in order to be considered valid.

The Hawks are responsible for investigating serious organised crime, corruption, and commercial crime.

However it has been acknowledged that as the Ministerial Committee of the Cabinet controls the policy which is enforced by the unit, the priority crimes and offenses under investigation are predetermined by government, and not the unit.

The decision to disband the Scorpions unit was made at the

ANC’s conference at Polokwane in 2007 after multiple investigations into party leader Jacob Zuma (prior to his election as president) caused a stir.

In 2009 the Scorpions were replaced by the Hawks. The 288 cases being investigated by the Scorpions at the time were handed to the Hawks for further investigation. The Hawks have been criticised for not being a transparent and independent body, as they are made up of “ordinary” police officials.

17 members for future SRCs Stephanie Venter THE STUDENT Representative Council (SRC) will increase to 17 members from 2012, following changes to the SRC constitution.

The proposed changes were accepted at an extraordinary sitting of Student Assembly on Tuesday, 15 March.

The SRC currently comprises 15 members, meaning that future SRCs will gain two members. This is through the creation of a Chair of Postgraduate Academics, and a Services and Labour portfolio.

The proposal to split the current Chair of Academics position – creating separate chairs of Undergraduate and Postgraduate Academics – was met with scepticism by some members of the House, who raised concerns about the nature of the new position.

Among concerns raised were whether the Postgraduate Academics Chair would be an undergraduate or postgraduate student, and if the position would have voting power on SRC decisions.

Having the Chair of the Postgraduate Students’ Association (PGSA) fill the position was suggested by a member of the House, though this was decided against.

Another member felt that postgraduate students were largely “inactive” in student governance.

Dr M. R. Kalan and Associates

DENTAL SURGEONS • • • •

PARLIAMENT – The Constitutional Court has ruled that legislation creating the Hawks be revised to give Image: michael.currin.co.za the unit more independence.

fillings and extractions scaling and polishing root canal therapy teeth whitening and gumguards MEDICAL AIDS ACCEPTED

SRC Vice-President: Internal Jessica Price responded that she believed this was “due to postgraduate students [not having] access to the structures of the SRC before.”

Price added the SRC Constitutional Committee had ruled against giving an ex-officio (nonelected) member voting power on the SRC. Thus, should the House vote in favour of having the Chair of the PGSA fill the position, the position would not have voting power.

The Chair of the PGSA is not elected by the broader student body.

The decision culminated in two votes: firstly, whether to split the Academics Chair into two positions, and secondly, whether the new position would be filled by an exofficio or elected student.

The House voted 35–2 in favour of splitting the Academics Chair, and 34–3 (with four abstentions) to have the position filled by an elected student.

In a separate decision, the creation of a Services and Labour portfolio was confirmed by the House in a 32–6 vote in favour, with 2 abstentions.

The responsibilities of this portfolio will include representing students in tender negotiations, and handling student service delivery problems and labour-related issues on campus.

While some questioned the need

1st Floor, Atlas Books Building 18 Main Road, Rondebosch 021 685 5927 079 183 9336

PHONE: CELL:

1st Floor, St Peter’s Square Main Road, Observatory 021 448 8449 082 629 0136

PHONE: CELL:

for an additional portfolio, Price responded that an uneven number of SRC members would avoid tied votes on SRC matters. Additionally, Price said that 17 members “do not constitute a very large SRC”, especially considering the size of UCT’s student body, and the size of other SRCs around the country.

The SRC also put forward a number of portfolio name changes,

which were accepted by the House.

These included changing “Day Houses Co-ordinator” to “Day Students Co-ordinator”, “Sports and Recreation Co-ordinator” to “Sports Co-ordinator”, and “Health, Safety and Security Co-ordinator” to “Heath, Safety and Environment Coordinator”.

The sitting was adjourned at 8:32pm.

Pinelands Jammie woes: no end in sight Lyndall Thwaits

D

ISCUSSIONS concerning the implementation of a Jammie Shuttle to service the Pinelands area continue as UCT, the Pinelands Neighbourhood Watch Committee and the Pinelands Residents and Ratepayers Association (PRRA), are still standing their ground on the transport issue.

Concerns from the committees involved on the Pinelands side continue to highlight the need for transport for students from the area. The Pinelands Neighbourhood Watch committee fully believes that without adequate support from UCT, transport and the safety of students coming from Pinelands, as well as the surrounding areas, which the Jammie Shuttle does not service, will remain an issue.

Although they have acknowledged that the Jammie service is “an expensive enterprise to manage”, the Pinelands Neighbourhood Watch feels that UCT have not responded to their appeal, saying, “so far they have done nothing to assist us and knowing our problems, opened a Park and Ride in Sandown Road, which is totally useless to the Pinelands students.”

In a previous edition of VARSITY, John Critien, head of Property and Services at UCT, proposed the initiative that UCT, along with the GCI, would lease bicycles to students who could use cycle routes planned by the City as well as routes on campus which would be re-established.

In response to this, the Pinelands Neighbourhood Watch said it was important to note that cars do not respect bicycles or bicycle pathways as they have seen from the path between Pinelands and Mowbray.

They suggested that instead of the proposed third lane up Woolsack Drive and imported bicycles, that an undercover walkway be built with security along it at all times.

It seems that while no new developments between the PRRA, Neighbourhood Watch Committee and UCT have come about, the matter has been taken to Premier Helen Zille and Mayor Alderman Dan Plato for further attention by the PRRA. In a statement to VARSITY, UCT’s spokesperson has said that while UCT does not have the means to implement a Jammie service in Pinelands, alternative plans put in place by the PRRA are welcomed

by UCT.

news Frack off: GCI protests Shell oil plans

3

Images: Caterina Aldera

UCT’s Green Campus Initative (GCI) participated in a protest against oil company Shell’s plans for hydraulic fracturing in the Karoo on Friday, 25 March.

Colloquially known as “fracking”, this process increases the rate and recovery of oil and natural gas, and has received negative press in the United States for its effects on the environment. The process is water-intensive and carries the risk of contaminating ground water for Karoo residents. Shell will soon apply for permission from the Petroleum Agency of South Africa (PASA) to use this process on over 90 000kms of the South Western Karoo Basin.

GCI has compiled a petition against fracking, which can be signed by any concerned party.

Stephanie Venter

Parking Predicament UCT parking bursting at the seams Lauren-Kate Stewart

S

BUMPER TO BUMPER – The current ratio of three parking discs for every one parking bay means students struggle to find parking daily.

Image: Raees Abdoola

SRC co-opts new member

Stephanie Venter

the parking disc entitles a student to “search for parking” Third-year Humanities student Sarah Struben reports that she has to wake up at 5:30am to get to campus and find parking. “7:15am is the latest possible time to be able to get a parking [bay] on Upper Campus,” Struben said. Struben confirmed that students can wait up to an hour to get a free bay, and even miss lectures.

Parking is a “first come, first serve” facility, Critien explained.

UCT is trying to improve the university’s transport system by investigating constructing offcampus parking. Critien reported that UCT has applied to the City of Cape Town to buy various properties for “park and ride” facilities, much like the current parking lot in Sandown Road. Specifically, UCT

is also looking at buying land in the nursery next to Forest Station, which could provide eight hundred parking bays.

“Safety and security is paramount,” Critien assured VARSITY. He explained that UCT would like to have park and ride facilities that are lit-up, fenced-in, and secure. UCT Registrar Hugh Amoore stated that at the moment Jammie Shuttles are the best short-term answer.

UCT has been looking into solutions to its chronic parking problem for a number of years. In 2004 Critien investigated whether UCT could build more parking bays on Upper Campus, but the cost was not conducive to the funding UCT could maintain. “I investigated the possibility of having 3 structured layers of parking under the rugby fields. It was estimated to cost R55 million for 900 bays – an average cost of R550 per bay, per month. At the time student parking was around R600 per year. Clearly unaffordable,” said Critien.

For the moment students are left to fight the daily morning battle of finding an empty parking bay.

“Parking is highly stressful at UCT,” said Glen Hartmann, a third-year Humanities student. There is no parking anywhere on Upper Campus after 8:00am, Hartmann explained.

But “that’s just the way it is,” said Critien.

NE WS

G 21 Stadium on Main Main road Claremont (021) 683 1237 (021) 683 1232 www.claremontmedical.co.za www.claremontdental.co.za

OD

WS DOCTOR AND DENTIST IN CLAREMONT E N Claremont Medical and Dental Studio D O GO

GO

A FIFTEENTH member will be co-opted into the Student Representative Council (SRC) following a recommendation by Student Assembly on Tuesday, 8 March. Sipe Mgqibi, the sixteenth candidate on the SRC election results list, will join the SRC as the Day Houses Co-ordinator.

The SRC originally chose not to co-opt a new member to fill the vacancy created by Kodwa Cengimbo’s withdrawal from UCT at the end of last year. Cengimbo held the Sports and Recreation portfolio. Instead, it was decided that Kim Senogles would take on the Sports and Recreation portfolio in addition to the Day Houses portfolio she was first assigned.

With the incorporation of Mgqibi into the SRC, Senogles will

move to the Sports and Recreation portfolio, and Mgqibi will be in charge of the Day Houses portfolio.

Mgqibi is a member of the Ikhaya Dayhouse.

The SRC chose to change their position on co-opting at an SRC meeting after the first sitting of Student Assembly. It is the belief of the SRC that the Sports portfolio should be “occupied by an individual who is passionate about sports and will do the job well”, said SRC president Amanda Ngwenya.

However, “the desire of the Student Assembly is that there must be 15 members on the SRC,” she added.

The decision to co-opt fulfils both wishes, said Ngwenya, also adding that “the issues that had given rise to the SRC deciding not to co-opt [...] no longer exist.” The SRC cited “team dynamics” as the predominant reason for not coopting at Student Assembly.

tudent Drivers continue to battle to find open parking bays on campus as general student intake and the number of drivers increases.

Upon inquiry, VARSITY has determined that an unlimited number of parking discs are sold to students, despite the fact that there is a limited number of parking bays on campus. This is a concern for most students as UCT is unable to build more parking on campus.

The 2011 fee for a blue student parking disc, which enables a driver to park in any unmarked bay across all campuses, costs R720.

According to John Critien, UCT’s Executive Director of Properties and Services, there are currently 1 450 student bays across Upper, Middle and Lower Campuses. For 2009 “there [was] an over-sell rate of 3 [cars] to 1 [bay],” said Critien, “I do not have the 2010 statistics yet, as the traffic office is very busy at this time of year issuing discs – in context, approximately 3 500 students have discs/cars.”

The limited number of parking bays will be a major problem next year when the current first-year students are allowed to park on campus, Critien stated, especially considering UCT’s growing student numbers. “Each student should

have the right to drive to UCT if they wish to”, Critien said. No student is guaranteed a parking bay; the parking disc entitles a student to “search for parking,” he added.

According to Critien, the majority of students use lifts, the Jammie Shuttles, and public transport.

However, for many students, driving to UCT is the only means of reliable and available transport.

We accept most Medical Aids

4

opinions

Editorial

Nyasha Kadandara

Trust and Believe

Editor-in-Chief

A very good Bahamian friend of mine quite often uses the phrase “singing for blood” when describing any one of his many favourite vocalists. Typical of many English-ish phrases, this one has a few different meanings: one definition literally means “for blood”: the singer has a target in mind and will not stop until things are, well, handled (think Alanis in “You Oughta Know”).

Definition 2 is a bit less gory. It’s the reason I love watching people sing

Always Winning

io fe ns at ur es sp or t de s sig n im ag e ed s ito ria l ad s hr

in

op

ne

w s

Shhh… keep it down, you’re having way too much fun! Okay the lady didn’t say that. She actually said “You are ruining a perfect meal, we are trying to enjoy ourselves but you are just far too loud.”

There we were, sitting at Sevruga in the Waterfront, enjoying an afternoon of sushi and cocktails when this elderly woman waltzed to our table to complain.

From her accent is was clear she wasn’t from this continent, and from the way she behaved I figured maybe she’s not used to seeing young people having fun or maybe her hearing aid was in overdrive and she couldn’t bear another moment of our garrulous behaviour. Thanks to her, I see how people like Kenny Kunene have said screw it and insist on having their dinner on naked Asian women and Charlie Sheen is dating a porn star!

If you want a quiet afternoon go to a library, or better, build a Zen garden in the back of your yard.

Where do people get off telling you what to do with your money and spend your time? It’s not like you hurting anyone. After all look at all the people who have jobs working at infamous clubs like Zar and the photographers’ livelihoods that depend on a shot of Britney Spears shaving her head. You get these prudes complaining about how there people starving in Africa.

@varsitynewspaper.co.za 2011 collective editor Nyasha Kadandara deputy editor Nkosiyati Khumalo copy editor Candice Newton news Stephanie Venter & Lyndall Thwaits opinions Tiffany Mugo & Berndt Hannweg features Marché Arends & Thandokazi Hlwatika sport Tarryn Steenekamp Design Nic Botha images Jessica Christie & Michael Currin web Azhar Desai & Chris Linegar human resources Caterina Aldera & Chido Mpemba advertising Sizwe Moagi marketing Rémy Ngamije CONFERENCE team Florentina Swigelaar & Odwa Sihlobo sub editors Joy Mojela, Stuart MacDonald staff writers Calvin Scholtz, Pasqua Heard, Olivia Wainright Michelle October, Thabang Letheo, Lauren-Kate Stewart, Matthew van der Westhuizen, Ehrard Vermak, Tamaryn Blaine Sutherland, Nick Corbett, Tamaryn Blaine Sutherland, Kevin Minofu, Kurt Duvel, Katherine Verhoeven, Alex Searle, Anton Taylor, Andrew Gilliam, Michal Malek, Rachel Botsis, Shannon Cupido, Olivia Wainwright, Sajjad Karasmi, Michal Malek, photographers Raess Abdoola cartoonist Julian Nkuna

OFFICE: Room 5.20, Level 5, Steve Biko Building

live. Here, singing “for blood” literally means for blood. This is where you can virtually see what a person is singing about – it’s as if they’ve cut themselves open to show you who they really are, with everything else removed. Singing for blood here means the singer can show you exactly how they feel: afraid, enraged, in love, in despair.

Candice Newton, Copy Editor

Rock Candy But no one is asking old white guy in Franshoek if he can drive more than one vintage car at a time, and why he isn’t feeding the starving people in Africa.

I have now added to my list of life goals, owning a restaurant just so that I can laugh as loud as I want, and all shall be welcome to laugh very loudly!

I don’t think sushi served on naked women tastes any different, but it’s the twisted pleasure that one gets from seeing the looks of distaste and disdain on people’s faces. Such ostentatious behaviour is only justified by the fact that after working hard for your money, you need permission to as to how to spend your money. It is the very reason that you professionals will have an empty fridge, no furniture but an Audi tt just to prove they are the ones” winning”.

Charlie Sheen’s is classic example of what happens when you tell people that they are having too much fun. No he is deemed a bad role model, but when did he sign up to raise your children for you? Obscenity is just a step away from societal disapproval. Unless you’re are genuinely wealthy, it’s unsustainable and for the most part, unnecessary. But for that one moment, when you get that, who-do-you-think-you-are facial expression, it so worth it!

Nkosiyati Khumalo, Deputy Editor

Some people say, “the best things in life are free”, and although that may hold true for many things, I feel money can be a very handy thing in achieving some “best things”. For example, indulging my love of food and wine!

Now maybe a cheese toasty and Crackling is your quick fix, and you are happy to stick with it, but “yoh mensies”, there are some great places around.

Such as the delicious Chai-Yo at 65 Durban Road, Mowbray. Thai food has

never tasted so “thai-rrific”! Ok bad pun, but seriously, they serve heavenly soups and curries in stunning little handpainted bowls, and a starter platter to keep you running back for more.

Although the food at these establishments blew my mind, the experience of it all would not be complete without my better half. So, I guess the expression should actually read, “the best things in life are free (and occasionally paid for by Visa)”.

Newsgathering: Tuesday, 5 April, 1pm LS2D DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSIONS: 13 April

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Do I identify with the Ikeys brand? (15 March 2011)

T

his is a yes and no from my point of view.

Yes because it is such a nationally recognised brand which represents the university in the sports realm.

No because personally, I don’t know the history behind the Ikeys team; I don’t know anything about

the sport so it becomes hard to fully support something if I don’t understand what it stands for on a more social level; that outside sport, and where it comes from.

In conclusion I would have to say that I’m leaning more towards a no. I think as students we need

something that we can relate to as a collective. Unfortunately the Ikeys Tiger symbol is not it as it only caters to the minority.

Simphiwe Ngwenya

I write in response to “Pope being tried for war crimes“ (15 March 2011) I was bitterly disappointed with the article entitled “Pope being tried for war crimes.” The article was dealing with a sensitive issue which was inadequately substantiated and therefore offensive. Conclusions such as ‘One could describe the Vatican as a state’ and that the pope should therefore be treated as a head of state and ‘be held accountable for the atrocities committed.’ is outright false. The article begins with the statement that the two complainants who want to bring the case to court are indirectly challenging God. This is blatantly erroneous and naive- it is offensive.

What’s more is that the article states that the pope is unaware

of the severity of the situation surrounding child molestation, yet later on it states that the pope does in-fact acknowledge the situation but that he is ignoring the issue- a contradiction in argument.

The concluding paragraph makes the in-passing remark that ‘paedophiles will not simply tick a “molests children” box on the application form.’ This is outrageous as it gives a false impression that the Catholic Church has an abysmal employment system. Catholic priests dedicate their lives to God and to their Church- an honourable process that does not deserve such a crude and simplistic definition.

The final line of this article (‘God save the children from

those we trust to protect them’) is hypocritical and laced with propaganda as it places the entire Catholic Church in an unjustifiably negative light. Opinions are no reason to scrutinise- points need to be proven through facts!

I am in no way saying that the Church is perfect. I acknowledge the problems in the Catholic Church but would expect a decently cogent argument with sufficient facts and justification to argue a point such as the one raised in the article – not a badly researched and opinionated piece of controversial creative-writing.

Danilo Acquisto

I write in response to “Transformation: This time we need action“ (15 March 2011) Malope Mogwaneng’s “Transformation” article, while written with a noble concept at its core, was very poorly thought-out.

Most prominently, Mr Mogwaneng really should realise that it is, in fact, rather a lot to ask UCT to somehow begin allowing a great influx of students who did not have access to proper education earlier in life. University education, by general definition, is intended for those who have recieved a proper secondary-level education; requesting that UCT somehow

look to defy this fundamental element, far from “not asking a lot”, is essentially asking UCT to subvert the very concept and purpose of a university altogether.

It is clear, when one examines the overall situation of our country, that the true answer to Mr Mogwaneng’s greivances is to make the effort to ensure that our government begins providing more people with greater access to decent primary and secondarylevel education. It is sadly evident both that such education is

currently beyond the reach of many poverty-stricken South African children and that, without it, it will remain impossible for these children to advance into any university – thus likely leaving our country, and its transformation, in a perpetually immobile state. The transformation Mr Mogwaneng – and most of the rest of us – wish for must begin at a lower level than UCT if it is to be at all effective.

Simon Hyslop

opinions

5

Party your troubles away Rachel Botsis & Pasqua Heard

T

he situation: it’s a typical Thursday on UCT campus. Sally, a second year student, is waiting for the late Dean Street Jammie at the crack of dawn. She has an 8am tut followed by a double maths period.

Then 11am - 1pm is absolute hell because Sally is forced to do n-o-th-i-n-g else but wait for her Ecos tut at 2pm.

This, in turn, means she has to involve herself with “Jammie Thursday”. An hour which frustrates her because of epileptic pigeons, lack of shade and hordes of people that make Jammie Plaza feel like an Indian sweat shop. Just as she thinks she’s conquered all this without being noticed by anyone, Sally bumps into her ex and his new “girlfriend”.

Awkward! All in all, Thursday has been pretty average. Definitely a day she wants to forget.

Sally ends the day with a classic night at The Tin Roof: way too much drinking, way too much forgetting, and way too many new problems the next morning.

The reality: Most of us have a “Sally” side, admit it or not – it’s there. As students, we go out and drink excessively in order to party our “woes” away. We’re not saying

this is the only motive for going out but it certainly is a common one.

Even subconsciously, we drink to make ourselves feel better.

But looking at it from a sober perspective (or a “morning after” perspective) it’s obvious that drinking away your worries has never worked for anyone. That boosted confidence, that unnatural carefree attitude and

it’s obvious that drinking away your problems has never worked for anyone that invincible feeling are all just temporary highs. Realistically, you wake up feeling like death with a headache, an empty bank account, and an inability to solve the many more problems you created for yourself.

Let’s highlight some of those afflictions we as students experience from time to time.

That loneliness: We all feel it. No one admits it. Instead, a lot of us fall for the misconception that it’s in those drunken moments that we’ll meet and make genuine friends and maybe even find our “soulmates” (girls, you don’t meet “boyfriendmaterial” guys in a club). Be it friends or more, the truth is one of

Ten ways to learn about sex, love and everything in between Shannon Cupido “4 Ways to Get Him to Do New Stuff ”. “5 Naughty-Girl Sex Moves You Can Master.” “How to Become a Tiger in the Bedroom and Rock Her World.” Honestly, do people really read stuff like this? Yes, as a matter of fact, they do. Why, you might ask? Well, I don’t know; I just figured out where the toilets in the library are. But I made it a point to find out.

In today’s glossy magazines, whether aimed at men or woman, articles like that are all the rage. It’s almost as if we the people of the new millennium, with our smart phones and smart attitudes, aren’t smart enough to know how tell our partners: “hey you, let’s try some new stuff ”.

The question to be asked, however, is this: can articles like these really enrich your sex life?

Can a few hundred words written by someone in bed in their underwear, and in front of a laptop, really improve your relationship?

In our fast paced world, we want quick fixes for everything. We want someone else to deal with issues that we don’t have time for. And who’s there to help us? The media? We run to “expert” writers in glossies like Cosmopolitan or FHM to tell us how to sort out our problems with our boyfriends or teach us how to do that thing to our girlfriends.

Although they are supposed to “help” us, they actually hinder us from sorting out our own problems.

But is that a bad thing? Why mull over something and spend

the evening trying and testing something new when you can spend R30 on a magazine and see what expert advisers have to say?

In a lot of ways it is a bad thing.

Aside from a few professional sex therapists and relationship experts who contribute to some magazines, quite a few of these articles are written by people whose love lives are infinitely more screwed up than yours is. Magazines can, on the other hand, give informative advice and answers to questions that you were dying to have answered.

We are all so different in our outlooks and backgrounds that it is quite impossible for us to conduct our relationships in the same manner. Magazines make broad statements about life, sex and everything in between even though the same rules don’t apply to everyone.

So where do you go when you think your love life needs bailing out or that surge of excitement?

You trust your instincts. Make up things as you go along. Doing something because it feels right is much more fun than trying to act out instructions from a magazine article written by someone who knows nothing about you.

Personally, I don’t have any problems with magazine articles and advice columns about love and sex, particularly because ten years from now, I’m probably going to be writing them myself. While it’s nice to hear some “expert” relationship advice when you’re stuck in a rut, happiness within any relationship must start with someone and that person is you.

you are bound not to remember the other, which leaves you feeling only one thing: more lonely.

The relationship problems: Trying to sort out your relationship niggles – while you’re half drunk – never works. Your aggression and passion are at their peak, which leads you to make irrational decisions that you will often later regret.

Those ‘deeper’ issues: We’re treading on egg shells when we say this, and perhaps it’s common knowledge, but we certainly can’t be drinking away problems like disease, divorce and death. Sadly, these are issues that won’t go away after a drunken night; that’s for sure. They deserve attention that is not swayed by alcohol, and perhaps a better solution is talking to someone who can relate and advise.

The heavy workload: It’s obvious that drinking to avoid your varsity work is a bad idea. Not only are you giving up time that can be used to study, but you’re also forfeiting the ability to function the next day, which means more time not spent doing that work – rookie error.

All in all, avoiding doing a “Sally” and instead trying to sort out your issues before you hit the club will inevitably result in a better night out, a better morning after, and a better feeling all round.

Mad is the new sane laughable and horrific at the same time because we all know we have become just like her. It is for this reason that Shutter Island really freaks us out. I would say that we should all continue living in our personal “Disturbia” music videos until one day someone normal walks onto the scene, stands out and sane becomes fashionable again. But there’s got to be more to this peculiarity than my petty ramblings.

Michelle October In this day and age the phrase, “Ja, I’m/my aunt/dad/brother is bipolar/ schizo, too” is becoming overused faster than a hackneyed local version of a Romeo and Juliet play. We seem to have all lost our minds. The social phenomenon of “Being Liberal” has reached a ludicrous new high with its latest addition of “The Mental Illness”.

The real reason your friend doesn’t have milk for your coffee isn’t because she’s a struggling student – her week’s bread and milk allowance has been spent on her Prozac. It is no longer just a joke to say, “I’m sorry that I just did that, but I forgot to take my pills this morning”- these things actually happen.

Yes, this is a scary notion indeed.

Look at the boy sitting next to you suspiciously. The notion of putting Lady Gaga in an asylum is both

The real reason your friend doesn’t have milk for your coffee isn’t because she’s a struggling student – her week’s bread and milk allowance has been spent on her Prozac.

In medieval times, it is no secret that people who were deemed as insane were treated worse than dogs in a battle. First they decided to call them “witch!” or proclaimed, “Kill this creature!” But then they noticed how all the good-looking girls were disappearing at an alarming rate.

Next, asylums were created. These asylums were places in which the most hair-raising, nail plucking, limb-wrenching incidents occurred.

After WWI, treatments for mental illnesses became serious due to the fact that 98% of soldiers returned with shell-shock. The aftermath of WWII saw the emergence of psychoanalysis and suddenly having a mental illness didn’t mean the end of your life anymore.

However, the basic mental illness catalogue – actually called the Diagnostic And Statistical Manual Of Mental Disorders (DSM) – has become overcrowded with new arrivals. The UK’s Daily Mail reported in February last year that psychiatrists are seeking to add “being angry” to the list, raising the question: is everyone mad, or are they making this up?

It could be a money-making scam: more prescription drugs mean more money. Prescription drugs that make you madder than you already are means even more money.

My theory is that we are going through our own traumatic little war that is affecting all the civilian “soldiers” in the world. As Hobbes said, “Life is nasty, brutish and short”. So we’ve all decided to come together and create a new state of nature because everything is just too much.

There’s just not enough time in the day to deal with all the problems we’ve created for ourselves. We have global warming, gaping holes in our breathing space, and maybe we’re all going to die next year. But I still have to write this report for tomorrow: how can I cope? At least I don’t have the hoarding disorder my roommate has. So calm down, agree with your inner Sasha Fierce that the report is more important, pop a few pills if you must, and learn to adapt.

Disclaimer

The Varsity Opinions section is a vehicle for expression on any topic by members of the university community or other interested parties.

The opinions within this section are not necessarily those of the Varsity Collective or its advertisers.

6

opinions

Yes, but is it art?

Berndt Hannweg

Art (noun): The quality, production, expression, or realm, according to aesthetic principles, of what is beautiful, appealing, or of more than ordinary significance.

An artist we, the common public, should point at and ridicule for his increasingly over-the-top works.

Hirst’s work revolves around death and anatomy. The work which elevated him to fame was The Physical Impossibility of Death in the Mind of Someone Living, which

A

rt is a difficult concept to define, only because it’s become the victim of the tug-o’-war that exists between that unholy trinity of artists, critics, and the common man. It used to be that the definition of art was any pretty picture or piece of moulded rock that was stuck in a corner that was looking a bit empty.

But then came the Impressionists (“This is what it should look like”), the Cubists (“This is what it’s made of ”) and, God help us, the Surrealists (“This is what I smoked last night”), then art became a very, very broad concept. Add the advent of music and film, and the increasing prominence of dance and stage, and suddenly people are equating “art” with “excuse to sell a dead cow for an awful lot of money”.

I’ll be picking on Damien Hirst for several reasons, not least because there is a reasonable chance you may have heard of him. Hirst has hit the headlines several times over the past few years, seemingly having become the poster boy for “ridiculous art”.

Yes, yes, I’m an uneducated layman who wouldn’t know art if it punched me in the face and then used my teeth in an ironic work about violence was a dead shark in formaldehyde.

Most recently, For the Love of God, a platinum skull covered in diamonds, shone in type as people discussed its absurd cost (£15 million) and the even worse asking price (£50 million).

Is this art? To my mind, art has two very specific, not necessarily mutually exclusive, aims. It can look pretty, or it can deliver a very specific message. A beautifully designed building is a piece of art. A movie that uses metaphor to explore child abuse is a work of art.

Is a skull worth an obscene amount of money art? Is a collection of dead cows, cut into fractions and

preserved, art? Call me a Philistine, but my definition of art ends just around the time Dali decided that clocks melt. Yes, yes, I’m an uneducated layman who wouldn’t know art if it punched me in the face and then used my teeth in an ironic work about violence, but if you need a lifetime of study and a degree to truly appreciate high art, well then perhaps that stuff is best left to snobby critics while the rest of

us plebs go and watch Inception and Up for the third time, enjoying the scenery in those films far more than some strange performance art that hides an esoteric meaning behind layer upon layer of obfuscating drivel.

It used to be that art was a label that was generically tacked onto anything that the “artist” couldn’t be bothered to fix or explain. Nowadays we’ve developed a universal cynicism

of the term, and art is becoming more strictly defined by what an exclusive group of gallery owners believe is art.

And that’s a slippery slope of private ownership that no-one wants to see art go down.

In the end, what is “art” is a personal choice. It may be a painting, a sculpture or a play. It may be a song, a meal, or a one-line letter.

You decide.

your career as a

media personality

VARSITY speaks to a director, producer, and award-winning CNBC Africa reporter:

Talia Sanhewe

BA Film & Media Production (UCT)

Media students in particular have to look at their careers horizontally.

We have options. Other people don’t always have an option – they’re just going. We have options – but we have to try almost every single one before we find what we like. As a media student, you have to start that as a student; it’s too late to start after you’ve graduated. Self-promote, and go out and get practical experience.

How did you get started your industry?

My story began when I joined UCT Radio. I was reading the news, and I stood in front of that microphone, and as soon as that red light went on, I had this incredible, magic moment where I realized that this was what I was going to do for the rest of my life. That’s where my education really began in terms of my career, and it impacted why I’m doing what I’m doing today. Now, I’m a documentary-maker, a reporter, a judge for 2011 international Emmy Awards, and winner of the 2009 Vodacome Journalist of the Year.

How does your course of study/ your industry differ from others?

Careers Calendar

What are the key skills that have contributed to your success thus far?

UCT really is one of the best institutions in the world. But I found it’s what I did around my degree that really took me to the next level.

Being gutsy at UCT and going after every opportunity while studying has enabled me to draw on some of that courage to go forward.

What do you consider to be your biggest achievement thus far?

I’ve enjoyed many successes, but perhaps the most exciting change for me now is my decision to leave CNBC to start my own production company. I’ve had an amazing experience as a reporter, and I loved it, yet I’ve always had this pull that said “you have to do your own thing, you have to chart you rown destiny”.

That’s a huge transition – how has that been?

It was frightening. It dawned on me after a while that my next job was going to be my own. I’d always think back to interviews I’ve done with other entrepeneurs, and their advice was always “you’ve just go to do it”. Now, I know that my gifts and talents have gotten me this far – doors will open. Now, I’m ecstatic. I have something to offer the word.

What challenges have you encountered, even day-to-day?

There are those off days when I’m tired or just having a down day.

But I live by excellence and I’m very driven. I’m very critical of myself. I pick myself up every day because I’m working towards something even bigger than where I am now. I know where I want to go and where I want to be. Even the hard days are taking me there.

In retrospect, what advice can you give to students?

1)Take every opportunity. 2) The impossible can truly happen.

3) Seriously follow your heart. 4) Stay young, stay foolish, and stay hungry. If you keep that in life, it will never be boring; it will always be an adventure.

Career Awareness Talks All talks take place from 13h00 – 13h45.

7 April: CV’s and cover letters 11 April: Preparing for Interviews 12 April: Rethinking your degree.

Download the first term’s schedule of Career Talks on www.careers.uct.ac.za Mock Interview Programme Enquire about registration at CDP Reception April:

4, 6, 11, 13, 18, 20

Hot opportunities Looking for opportunity?

a

bursary/scholarship,

vacation

or

graduate

7 April: Unilever LS2A 12 April Foschini Group LS3B 13 April: Standard Bank Corporate and Investment Banking LS3B Visit www.careers.uct.ac.za/careerportal

opinions Speak Easy

Tiffany Mugo

7

Bicycles on campus

Wherefore art thou, SRC? I

was recently asked by a first core question still remains, what year if we actually had an SRC are they doing? and if so, where they are. “Hush, What we have here is termed in little one’” I said; “they shall be here political studies as a “penetration soon”. So we waited, but they never crisis”. There is a gap between appeared. The SRC are yet to make those who “rule” and those who any substantial impact this year. are “ruled”. The SRC seems to have I understand being on SRC forgotten how they got into the isn’t easy. There are many things positions they hold. They seem to to contend with, one of which is have forgotten that they work for your own degree. Passing courses us. is hard enough without having to The key words here are Student run a world-class institution. Some and Representative. Don’t think members (both past and present) that now that you have dinner at have shown us that being on SRC the Vice Chancellor’s house with and managing to its expensive get above 40% is Being part of steering paintings, and something that take part in dreary committee in some is damn near meetings with old, obscure room in impossible. Every important people, year has seen at Bremner doesn’t mean that you are now you are driving the least two members an entity of your of the SRC either student body anywhere own. We still own fail courses or get you. academically excluded. However, Yes, Madame President, this one doesn’t get to the top of the means you too. Being part of political game without learning to a steering committee in some “pimp the system”. obscure room in Bremner doesn’t Whereas some of us would have mean you are driving the student been kicked to the curb, some SRC body anywhere. Those people did members have managed to stay here not elect you – we did. And if we despite having a GPA in the single don’t feel your presence, you have digits. So my question remains, if failed your mandate and there is a you aren’t passing courses, what in big problem. tarnation are you doing with your We are the ones who need to time? see you. We are the ones who Someone wise once said that need to know our vote wasn’t knowing how to serve is the mark wasted. Constructing an “intern of any good leader. Well, I can safely programme” and breeding the next say that I have not been served. I still bunch of power-chasing, votehave not been given an update on grubbing bottom feeders does not the state of affairs, serve anybody. or even a change No one likes a I beseech ye “gods” in the softness of of level 7 come down politician. We the library toilet also don’t need paper, let alone the and grace us with your you to be in presence promised change constant ‘camera’ in the opening meetings. Actions hours of the library. speak louder than words.

Can a girl at least get a firm So I beseech ye “gods” of level handshake – anything – to let us 7, come down and grace us with know that you are still here for your presence. Or so help me we us? How can you serve people will come up there and get you. when they barely know you exist? Now I must escape out the window, SRC has three meeting rooms and it seems CPS is knocking on my approximately six offices, so we door. know they can chat up a storm.

Viva la revolucion!

And seeing as it took them seven weeks to find a new member, the

Image: michael.currin.co.za

Ehrard Vermaak

A

few weeks ago I made a mistake of watching a very low-budget horror film. The Thaw stars former A-lister Val Kilmer and a bunch of ugly actors stuck close to the North Pole on an expedition, trying to survey the impact of climate change.

What they didn’t know though (cue dramatic music), was that something was waiting for them in the thawing ice. Even though the lame attempt at raising eco-awareness via film drained two hours of my life, its message did strike a chord. We do not know what might happen if climate change reaches even more advanced stages.

Fortunately enough, back in reality, and much closer to home, we have the Green Campus Iniative (GCI) to help us save our eco-souls from damnation. Our campus now

recycles, holds an annual green awareness week, and even partakes in Earth Hour, all thanks to the socalled “Green Police”. Their latest project “Bikelink” seems to be a very responsible extension to their “Ridelink” carpooling project.

Firstly, it might not save the planet but it will save Mother Nature some energy. Secondly, it might get you few fatties to lose a few pounds.

These are two things which most people should want. There is also the money factor: according to the GCI website, there is R7000 + to be saved.

Timewise, 50 minutes in peak traffic from Kenilworth, for example, can be reduced to 20 minutes.

This is all good and grand, but what about a bike? Apparently, UCT’s Property and Services department are working with GCI to finalise a Bike Renting system. I am very excited about this as it shows a growing interest in sustainability

from our institution. But until we see it happen, you will need to buy a bike (and maintain it of course).

As GCI’s website says, “it needn’t be expensive”; yet the so-called ecobikes on their website seem to say otherwise. Ranging from between R5 000 and R10 000, these electric machines that pedal for you might not use petrol, but need to be charged; therefore, they are still using the earth’s resources. My amendment to the group’s website would therefore be: “Stop being lazy and just do it the old fashioned way!”

All this green business (organic food, electric cars, etc.) walks a fine line between the consumer fallacy of saving the world and actually saving the world. Advertisers are clever. They exploit our consciences to make us feel like we are saving the planet one pack of eco-friendly Omo at a time, while we still drive our fossil fuel-guzzling BMWs. Green stuff is expensive!

Another consideration to be made is launching this project just before the wet winter months.

Torrential downpour outside? Grab your bicycle! No? Yeah, didn’t think so. These issues aside, I commend the GCI for the work they are doing (especially with regards to the antifracking petition), but there is also the question of even cheaper changes that could be made. The GCI must ensure that their projects stay accessible, otherwise they might not have the desired effect. One example is asking the people on top to not switch the sprinklers (aimed more at the parking lots than at the thirsty gardens) on in the middle of a scorching day. A simple request. No bikes or cash required.

The Politics of being Poor and White Matthew van der Westhuizen When South Africa became democratic, everybody thought that there will be freedom for all and that discrimination will come to an end. This was not going to happen overnight, but people believed that it would happen soon. Nearly 20 years since our first democratic elections, there are still forms of discrimination happening in our country. One group of people that are barely ever discussed, if at all, are poor white people in the country.

For the past few years, they have been unable to afford living in predominantly white suburbs and have been restricted to locations that are classified as “poor white” areas. The employment rates of poor

TEFL: 4 weeks only R5,500!

Travel ( Book by 31 May 2011 and teach ( Starting date: 06 June 2011 439 7410 | southafrica@lalgroup.com English LAL021Cape Town, 319 Main Road, Sea Point

whites have decreased since 1998 at a higher percentage in comparison to other population groups. This has led some of them to become involved in illegal activities, such as prostitution, in order to make a living. The reason behind this is that these people were told that they are too white for Affirmative Action and that they did not maintain the skills needed for higher qualified jobs.

these people were told that they were too white for Affirmative Action The concept of democracy in South Africa was not to determine whether a person was black or white or whether a person was rich or poor. The problem of poor whites reflect the general poverty rates in the country of all racial groups. Does the government subsidise enough for these people to maintain survival or do they suffer alone?

Every year the government initiates programmes to alleviate poverty and increase employment for the population. This, however, is not prominent in the poor white society, as many of them remain unemployed and cannot even find simple jobs, for example as gardeners or domestic workers. The problem of

unemployment interlinks with the issues of housing and food, as many poor white families cannot even afford a meal of R4 a week provided by soup kitchens in areas such as the poverty-stricken Ruyterwacht in Cape Town.

The problem of poor whites has also created animosity between them and other population groups who believe that white people deserve to suffer because they did not suffer under the apartheid system. This notion is wrong, as a person living in poverty is a person living in poverty.

The politics of South Africa do reflect on unemployment rates and the amount of people who live in poverty. Even though these rates increase every day, is there anything done to alleviate these rates? Will the amount of poor whites vanquish over time with all other population groups who live in poverty? Who will poor whites look toward for a support system?

Who do poor whites, therefore, relate to when it comes to political parties? The question remains unanswered as the stereotyped economic states that the ANC supports are only black people living in poverty, whereas the DA caters for only middle to upper class white supporters. So one is left to ask: who can needy white people turn to?

IKEY TIGER MAGIC Images: michael.currin.co.za, Gallo

BACK YOUR BOYTJIES - The Green Mile came alive during the 2011 Varsity Cup as fans from far and wide threw their support behind the Ikeys. From face paint to supporters vests, UCT has been a flash of blue and white on game days.

Get behind your team as they travel to Pretoria on Monday 11 April and aim to end their Varsity Cup off on a high note. They will play Tuks in the competition final, to be held in Pretoria. Kick-off is at 18:45.

10

features

ARTS & CULTURE

Old meets new at the Cape Town Jazz festival Tamaryn Blaine Sutherland

O

n Saturday 26 March I cried.

Not because it was my party, and I could if I wanted to, but because I got to sit in the centre of the front row at Hugh Masekela’s performance at the CTICC during the Cape Town International Jazz Festival, while he played Billy Holiday’s; “Don’t Explain”.

Jazz is a musical genre with a complex history. In one breath: it is a genre rooted in African rhythms and became popular in New Orleans in the early years of the twentieth century. So yes, like a fine wine or the cheese in my fridge, it seems pretty archaic music to a bunch of hot, young things who just want to rub each other up to the sound of a funky House beat.

I’m guessing, by the programme, that the organisers of the event are slowly transposing the Jazz Festival into a more free-form music festival.

I have realised that in order to entice a wider age bracket to cough up about R500 for a weekend pass, the organisers have to provide a little more than improvisations of Miles Davis songs. They have to give South Africa something more recent; something from this century at least.

They have done this with performances from big House names like Liquid Deep, Leighton Moody and DJ Cassiem, who all tested the quality of the speakers, and quickened the festival’s pace to 128bpm. The Cape Town Jazz Fest is becoming faster, like walkways in airports and stairs in malls; everything is becoming electronic.

The audience areas became dance floors and people boogied that beat when Leighton Moody, a South

JAZZ FEST – Trumpeter Hugh Masekela during his performance Saturday night at the this year’s Cape Town Jazz festival.

Image: Ian Landsberg / Independent Newspapers

African House DJ from Durban, laid his limber fingers on the mixing table. As a jazz enthusiast and pianist, I was most sceptical but undeniably intrigued by the reaction he got. To be honest, the soulless electronic monster that my parents claim club music and escalators to be was not coming out of those speakers. The tracks Moody and Liquid Deep were playing are funky; harmonious, good-mood music.

We spoke to Hugh Masekela about music genre and his recent collaboration with Black Coffee on the House track “We Are One”. “I come from a dance background... I grew up in dance halls. I’m obsessed

with dance”, he said.

Effectively, it makes sense that Jazz Fest is expanding and incorporating modern forms and more importantly,

The Cape Town Jazz Fest is becoming faster, like walkways in airports and stairs in malls; everything is becoming electronic. it makes sense that the great legends of South African music are getting in on the action.

“Music is about sound that is

arranged and organised... it evolved depending on people’s movements”, Masekela said. He is all for the evolution of music. Masekela seems totally non-discriminatory when it comes to defining genre and categorising the music he plays, which made me feel like a bit of an ignoramus for trying to define what the Cape Town Jazz Festival should and should not be.

In my opinion, Hugh Masekela is iconic and has achieved this status through his ability to transcend genre. Perhaps the way for Jazz Fest to remain a relevant part of Cape Town’s cultural scene is to transcend genre as well. It seems that the

incorporation of dance music into any music festival is a key component in keeping it relevant; make the music move with you, which in turn allows you move to it.

The last song of the set that Hugh and his band played on Saturday was “Thanayi”. The whole audience got up and jived and jammed and sang along. I beamed. This man is a legend. He is like Yoda but so much wiser and way more awesome.

If he isn’t worried about Jazz Fest morphing into a less genre-specific music festival, then why the hell should I be? If the music is good, it is good – as long as the people are dancing.

Cirque du Soleil wows Cape Town audiences Stephanie Venter

SPLIT – Bicycle performance by Ivan Do-Duc during the opening night performance of Cirque Du Soleil’s Saltimbanco.

Image: Matthew Jordaan / Independent Newspapers

The arena was filled, and the lights dimmed. A few latecomers hurried to their seats, a few cell phone lights flashed, and a few whispers flittered around the room. A strange-looking creature appeared from behind the screen and flounced its way to the front of the stage. In a high-pitched, child-like voice, it began to speak.

“Welcome to Sal-tim-banco!” the creature proclaimed as it bowed gracefully, snatching the audience’s attention with this small action.

Its next words were simple instructions: please switch off cell phones, and no cameras during the performance. Yet the audience was enthralled, and this was when I realised exactly what has made Cirque du Soleil so revered around the world.

Everything about this show is a production.

From the announcements to the changing of sets, each and every aspect has been meticulously thought through, and works towards achieving an overall fantastical effect.

And the effect is indeed fantastical: from lights, to costumes, to incredible acrobatics, the performance is literally out of this world.

This year’s tour of Johannesburg

and Cape Town marks Cirque du Soleil’s first visit to Africa, having performed regularly all over the world since the early 1990s. The Cape Town leg of the tour was performed in the Grand West Arena from 23 March to 3 April.

“Welcome to Sal-tim-banco!”

Cirque du Soleil is based on a combination of “circus art” and street entertainment. That is, the show is centred on the tricks, mimes, dances, and acrobatics associated with a circus, but does not have animals. This gives far more time to the artistry of the performers in the show, who thoroughly deserve the fascinated attention of the audience they receive.

The show consists of a number of acts, all linked by this apparently fantastical world. The colourful design of the stage and the costumes are key to the perception of this different reality, as are the playful characters (dubbed “The Baroques”) that often appeared between or in the different acts.

The only way I am able to describe The Baroques thus far is by comparing them to the Munchkins

in the Wizard of Oz. The show does not have a Wizard of Oz theme, but the giggling, gossiping, colourful Baroques who smooth the transitions between acts create in this world the same aura that the Munchkins do in the Land of Oz. While I enjoyed each act, there are of course particular performances that stood out. “The Chinese Poles” near the beginning of the show was one of my favourites, and left me childishly wondering the limits of the human body.

Dressed in striped, tight-fitting jumpsuits, the “Multi-Coloured Worms”, or performers of this act, scaled four poles between them, upon which they twisted and leaped between the poles and amongst each other.

Always having been impressed by trapeze artists, I was pleased to find that the trapeze act was particularly striking. Though the stage was relatively small, the duo used the space effectively and performed a variety of beautiful, graceful moves.

The four bungee artists who followed were also excellent.

Overall, Cirque du Soleil Saltimbanco was a riveting performance that was a privilege to watch. It is performed by a group of immensely talented individuals, and the overall show is quite brilliant.

features Album Review: Angles - The Strokes

11

REVIEWS

Kurt Duvel 

F

ive years after their last message to the world (2006’s First Impressions of Earth), a lot has happened in Strokes country. All but one of them worked on solo projects, and attempts to reunite in the studio in 2009 were fractured and shambolic. Despite these diversions, they have returned to us in March 2011 with their fourth output, Angles.

For the first time, the Strokes have recorded an album democratically, allowing all five of them to contribute to the band’s most schizophrenic, experimental and ambitious album to date, after lead singer Julian Casablancas alone steered the ship through their breakout successes.

Now, like it or not, the band has definitely morphed their sound.

They’ve grown up but have still kept much of their identity: beautifully intertwined guitar work and a moody, iconic front man, veering between nonchalant, rebellious and enraged without a moment’s notice.

Due to input from all “angles” (from where the album gets its name), it’s often a lucky packet at times, but many of the bolder statements tend to grow on you. Standout tracks have to be the first single “Under Cover Of Darkness” (which retains much of the swagger of the “Is This It” era, but adds backing vocals and a higher singing range for Julian), “Two Kinds Of Happiness” and “Taken For A Fool” (the melodic grandeur of playful, catchy 80s-style choruses, interesting rhythms and intricate dual-guitarwork) and the skittish defiant confusion and rage that is

“You’re So Right”.

Others, like the shimmering 80s electropop chill of “Games” (which sounds like an outtake of Julian’s solo album) and the intriguing percussion-less tango of “Call Me Back” definitely need a few listens to get into. But the feel-good vibes of “Gratisfaction” show the band not as the cool, us-against-the-world garage-rock gang of the past, but as a soulful group not scared to be open, have some fun and not take themselves too seriously.

Therefore, as it is with any fledgling democracy, it takes time for things to settle down and move on. And this sums up Angles exactly – give it a chance.

Recommended Tracks: Under Cover of Darkness Two Kinds of Happiness Taken For a Fool Gratisfaction

Album Review: Radiohead – The King of Limbs Kevin Minofu 

Bookmark

Deadlands

by Lily Hearne

Calvin Scholtz This story takes place in Cape Town in 2020 and tells of how, during the Soccer World Cup ten years before, a virus arrived from outer space and started reanimating the dead, turning them into flesh-eating zombies.

The city was largely destroyed in the ensuing war, and now the survivors live in a sheltered enclave out on the Cape Flats. They are ruled over by mysterious figures in cloaks called Guardians, and their fanatical human followers, the Resurrectionists. Beyond the fence lies the Deadlands, where hordes of zombies still roam free, and it is not safe to venture out.

However, one teenage girl, Leletia (or Lele) de la Fontein, is not willing to accept all that she is told and wants to leave the enclave to see if things really are as bad as everyone says they are.

The book reminds me of the film I Am Legend. Read it if you’re

Critics fawn over no band more than they gawk at the mere mention of Radiohead. Pitchfork, the leading magazine in the realm of “all things cool” in the music sphere gave Radiohead’s albums OK Computer and Kid A the title of best album of the ‘90s and ‘00s respectively.

For a band known for constantly challenging our definitions of “rock”, “alternative”, “album” and “song”, the release of their eighth studio album The King of Limbs was eagerly anticipated. It has also been four years since they released their last album, In Rainbows, which caused a storm by being sold on a “paywhat-you-want” scheme - which surprisingly was not bought for free by most punters.

Lead singer Thom Yorke and his bandmates decided to release this album in a more traditional format with an initial downloadonly released on 18 February, and a physical release on 28 March.

The album opens with “Bloom,” consisting of a sprawling keyboard intro, off-beat jazz drums courtesy of drummer Phil Selway and driven by an enigmatic bass section by Colin Greenwood. Interspersed with a ghostly string section by Jonny Greenwood, it has an ethereal quality, reminiscent to being underwater.

The lead single “Lotus Flower” is Radiohead at their funkiest and most sexed-up as Thom Yorke proclaims, “I will shape myself into your pocket / Invisible / Do what you want”. But the standout track is the brilliant closing track, “Separator,” led by the silkiness of Yorke’s voice over a wonderful jangly guitar riff, as he sings “If you think this is over / Then

you’re wrong”. Considering that it is the shortest Radiohead release at only 37 minutes, as well as rumours of a follow-up release in the offering, the lyrics have an ominous nature to them.

With only eight tracks, it seems like a long wait for just this; however, despite its length, it picks up from In Rainbows, showing the skill they have as a band in crafting irresistible, personal, and beautiful songs. Although lacking in a genredefining track in the mould of a “Paranoid Android” or “Idioteque,” for a band that seems almost peerless in terms of their scope, relevance and skill, this is another poignant, accomplished and mature effort.

Recommended Tracks: Bloom Lotus Flower Give Up the Ghost Separator

Movie Review: Rango - Return to the Old West Calvin Scholtz

I

into zombie stories, or if you’re interested in South African fantasy or sci-fi. However, it didn’t strike me as an exceptional book: the name “Lily Hearne” is, in fact, a pseudonym for South African writer Sarah Lotz, and her daughter Savannah, and I suspect that most of this story was written by the latter, who is still quite young.

magine you’re director Gore Verbinski, and you’ve just finished directing the wildly successful Pirates of the Caribbean trilogy. What do you do next? You make an animated Western with a chameleon as the hero, of course!

Verbinski has once again teamed up with superstar Johnny Depp, who lends his talented voice to a pet chameleon who ends up alone in the Mojave desert after his glass box falls off the back of his human owner’s car. He eventually makes his way to a small town called Dirt, which looks like something out of an old Western and is populated with a host of animals.

The unnamed lizard has a flair for drama, and after everyone in the saloon asks him who he is, he takes on the persona of Rango, a fearless gunslinger. But, the town is facing a crisis: it’s running low on water, the very lifeblood of the desert, and no

one knows why their usual supplies have dried up.

In Rango, the townsfolk see someone clever and brave enough to solve their problem and save the town from extinction. The mayor makes him sheriff, and many volunteer to join his posse. But how long will it be before his lies catch up with him?

This is an excellent adventure film for children and adults alike.

Those old enough to remember the spaghetti Westerns will see this movie

as homage to those classics and will recognise several of the characters and situations. Hans Zimmer’s score recalls the music of the genre, from The Magnificent Seven to Once Upon a Time in America. The humorous dialogue is sharp and well-delivered by the cast of brilliant voice actors.

The animation sets the bar even higher for films to come, as every reptile’s scales, every rodent’s fur, and every bird’s feathers are vividly rendered.

12

features

CURRENT AFFAIRS

2011 Municipal Elections: know your parties Katherine Verhoeven

COPE Economically, COPE hopes to replace BEE and GBEE so that the benefits of empowerment can focus on a certain ward’s needs. With regards to crime, it hopes to involve the community more by educating and utilizing neighbourhood watch groups and community policing forums.

COPE also hopes to ensure that all children have an equal chance of success when entering school by focusing on early childhood development. It plans to achieve this by giving communities the resources to give children the stimulation they need.

ANC

DA

UDM

CAPE

The ANC is the ruling party in all provinces except the Western Cape.

It wants to focus on an “inclusive economy”.

The party hopes to build 400 000 building units in South Africa in the next 5 years, and to improve and upgrade informal settlements. It wants to fight crime by increasing the visibility of SAPS personnel through increased patrolling in the cities. The ANC also hopes to increase cooperation and communication between communities and their councillors so that they can better represent the inhabitants. It wants to concentrate on proper co-operation between municipalities, provincial, and national government.

The DA has been the ruling party in the Western Cape for quite some time now.

Headed by Helen Zille, the DA has merged with the ID. Patricia de Lille is now running for mayor of Cape Town. Its policies include improving school systems by ensuring that teachers are properly trained and that good results are recognised and rewarded adequately. The party’s aim is to make an additional 30 000 school teachers available to South African children each year for the next five years. And with regards to crime, it wants to increase the number of SAPS members to 250 000 and focus on community specific issues rather than having a centralised system.

The UDM, headed by Bantu Holomisa, is hoping to “get back to basics”. It plans to do this by concentrating on communities’ basic rights such as the right to clean water and health care. The UDM council promises that communities will have testing and treatment for HIV/AIDS as well as other serious illnesses. The party hopes to encourage communication between communities and their councillors by having an “open door” policy. It wants to create a skills audit among the youth and unemployed graduates to start dealing with the unemployment problem. It also hopes to improve rural areas’ infrastructure so that they may be up to the standard of South Africa’s developed areas.

CAPE, led by Jack Miller, h o p e s to declare the Western Cape Province independent.

The Province would be called the Cape Republic. Its policies for the running of the Cape include direct democracy where power is localised to community level.

With regards to crime, it hopes to increase the metro police by 150% and concentrate on more serious crimes rather than petty ones.

With regards to housing, it hopes to do away with racial quotas and make it on a first come first serve basis. The party also wants to do away with the BEE and AA system in the Cape, as it believes that it is not fair or applicable to our region.

Old enough to vote, but not old enough for a dop Nyasha Kadandara

feed his family. Reduced trading hours may just mean more people leaving work early to beat the clock.

What regulatory measures have been taken by government to fix the perpetual social and emotional factors that drive people to run from a sober disposition, and straight into an inebriated one?

It is nice to know that now you can be fined up to a R1 million for using the Dop System, which

M

eet Janie, the bergie, who sleeps outside Mowbray liquor stores. When he was a young farm worker in the Western Cape in the 1950s, he was given jugs of sweet white wine as payment for his labour under the infamous “Dop System”. Despite it being outlawed in 1961, there are still farmers to this day who reward people like Janie with booze. Sixty years later, Janie gets drunk out of his mind every chance he gets to.

Then we have Jason, who is failing his way through UCT. He’s not failing because he’s not smart, but rather because he gets drunk out of his mind every chance he gets. He’s been at it since he was nine years old. Everyone drinks in his house; it’s nothing out of the ordinary. Sadly, Jason also tends to sleep around when he is drunk and is also part of the 300 thousand people in the Western Cape living with HIV/Aids.

Janie and Jason will always find a way, and the black market will become the real market

In some parts of the Western Cape, 7% - 8% of all children have Foetal Alcohol Syndrome Together Janie and Jason have helped contribute to South Africa’s title of being amongst the top three heaviest drinking nations in the world.

University students want to have fun, and to some students, fun equals drinking. Sometimes people drink to celebrate, to grieve, to be polite, or to just breathe. So when you, as a 19-year-old, are told that the legal age for drinking could be lifted to 21, you panic (or grin if you are over 21).

When we’re told that the trading hours in business centres have been

RESTRICTED - Party goers could face steep penalties if the drinking age is increased to 21.

Image: michael.currin.co.za

reduced to 11am – 2am, and in residential areas to 11am – 11pm, you panic once again. There is also the fact that you still cannot buy alcohol on Sundays in the Western Cape, and all you can say is, “What is the big damn deal?” This leaves you feeling like the world – well, in this case, the government – is just trying to ruin your life.

The problem is that the Western Cape has the highest number of heavy drinkers and the highest

proportion of binge drinkers in the country. According to the Alcohol and Drug Abuse Research Group, and the Medical Research Council, nearly 300 people die every month from alcohol-related injuries.

In some parts of the Western Cape, seven to eight percent of all children have Foetal Alcohol Syndrome. Alcohol abuse is also commonly linked to unsafe sex.

Sixty-seven percent of domestic violence in the Western Cape is

alcohol related. In a study among grade eight to eleven pupils, the odds of repeating a grade at school was found to be 60% higher for learners who consumed alcohol.

Who’s to blame? The Dop System – yes. The government – maybe.

SAB and all the other alcohol producing companies - probably.

Sin-tax could be high enough, in order to be a disincentive for people to drink, but it may just mean less money for a dronkie to

has consequently become a more underground system instead of an annihilated one. However, what good is the legislation when it is a fact that you can buy alcohol in various places after the trading hour – and even on a Sunday?

While R3 billion of the Western Cape Government’s budget (also known as the “people’s money”) is being spent on dealing with the harm caused by alcohol, part of the remaining R9 billion budget is spent paying a police force that ignores underground bootleggers.

Much like the American Prohibition of 1920 - 1933, bills and by-laws can quickly become ineffective. Janie and Jason will always find a way, and the black market will become the real market.

I fearfully wonder whether in thirty years time, the aforementioned statistics would have risen along with sin-tax. While the number of trading hours may have been reduced, people like Janie and Jason will still exist.

features

13

TRAVEL

Abu Dhabi: not Aladdin’s cave of wonders

Alex Searle onjure up the idea of holidaying in the Arabian Peninsula, and what comes to mind? Camels, scattered Bedouin tribes, endless desert, women covered from head to toe in abayas, and remote, stinky souk shops. But no, mon ami. I had the pleasure of visiting the United Arab Emirates last month, and during my week-long stay in the capital, Abu Dhabi, I was pleasantly surprised at how mistaken this ancient perception truly is.

Abu Dhabi is the richest city in the world (comfortably sitting on and around 10% of the world’s oil reserves), and just as Westernised as any city in Europe, if not more.

Massive business interest, military and police bases and exquisitely-built skyscrapers adorn the cityscape. And this is not to say that the Westernised feel has shirked its age-old Arab decadence. Where would it be without those foul-smelling perfume shops and golden palace ceilings?

And don’t let the scenes of civil unrest and heartless regimes in the Arab world put you off. The closest they get to the tension is watching it unfold on TV. The desperate images of Libya’s Lionel Richie-like ruler fails to awaken any sign of revolutionary spirit among the Emiratis; something in my opinion they would be better off having. I asked a few Emiratis (the

Image:Asrema.com

C

UNRAVEL - The the hidden treasures that lie int he cracks of the world’s richest city. locals) about their feelings towards their ruler, the eminent Sheikh Khalifa. The question was met with bemusement; most Emiratis are bobbing along on a steady money stream that they hardly ever bother or dare to peak out of their gilded shell.

“Abu Dhabi” translated means “father of the gazelle”. Don’t worry, I had the same huh? expression on my face. Despite its name, it is a beautiful city in its own right. The streets bustle

The streets bustle through the day into the wee hours with activity; souks, malls, Indian, Filipino, Chinese restaurants - you name it through the day into the wee hours with activity; souks, malls, Indian,

Filipino, Chinese restaurants – you name it. The hotels house most of the entertainment joints while the pubs and bars are frequented mostly by the huge ex-pat culture. There is a great deal of good cover bands playing in these pubs, and some bad ones too.

Anything from English cock-rock to a host of scantily-clad Filipino girls singing in a woefully flat manner to a “Brown Eyed Girl” backtrack. If you ever go there, I recommend the latter. Trust me, it’s a hoot.

In the summer time (the heat reaching up to a scorching 55 degrees) the man-made beach becomes a hot spot (so to speak) for music festivals, air shows, boat racing and all sorts of beach activities such as jet-skiing and paragliding. After a long day in the sun there are a myriad of restaurants from which to choose, ranging from Arabic, Indian, Filipino, Chinese, and Italian, and usually housed in the hotels. But get ready to fork out the cash; a seafood dinner buffet at a brassiere can set you back Dhs 280 (about R530 per person).

For me, the most memorable parts of the city are definitely those that don’t show up on the postcards.

I’m talking about dirty back alleys, the quiet side roads where people gather to wait for a taxi, remote juice shops open until 4am, the outside alabaster wall of the elaborate Sheikh Zayed Mosque (one of the largest in the world). All these things capture a certain normalcy that seems to have been lost in the inflated view of Abu Dhabi as this new sprawling metropolis. The emirates only formed a unified country in 1971, but what it lacks in history, it makes up in money. It certainly challenges the idea of the antiquated “lost desert city” as being one of the most expensive and ambitious cities in the world. I mean, who else has the money (or the bother) to import millions of tons of beach sand from Spain?

HUMOUR

The Well Ran Dry; Somehow I Survived

Anton Taylor

After I graduated at the end of last year, I expected to be at UCT this year doing my Honours programme.

I had thought about it a great deal and was very excited for 2011. You might imagine my feelings then, when I got back home from holiday to discover that I hadn’t made it into the programme. For brevity’s sake I shan’t expound on the matter, other than to say I thought I deserved to be in the course and fought a six week battle which would eventually end in defeat.

Sadly, there were no staff members or administrators open to bribes or sexual favours, which hindered my chances. Or perhaps there were, but the offer of R150 and hand-love from my calloused claws just wasn’t enough to make them risk their jobs.

It was a very stressful time for me, but unfortunately I didn’t experience the weight-loss that usually accompanies insomnia and depression. All that got me through this painful period was the sagely and uplifting words of Katy Perry’s “Firework”, which I played on repeat each night as I lay crying in bed*. There were indeed many times when I felt like a plastic bag, drifting through the wind, wanting to start again.

I was advised to apply to Stellenbosch. I tried to explain that the ideal follow-up to a controversial article about how students go to Stellenbosch because they can’t get into UCT would not be to go to Stellenbosch because one didn’t get into UCT. I felt that the students from the Winelands would probably

not laugh gaily at the irony and then continue with their lives. Rather they would take the opportunity to stone me to death in the Nielsie.

With this in mind, I tried to apply for some kind of refugee status, but my probable murder aroused neither compassion nor pity.

I suppose one might say I was upset, distressed even. Having your

Upon discovering that my career at UCT was over, I saw my future life flash before my eyes dreams collapse before your eyes and having your life-plan crushed for reasons you don’t understand does tend to bring out such feelings. I am one of those students who literally loves being at UCT. I have been here for ages, but still get excited (sexually and otherwise) when I go up to campus. There was so much I had planned to still do at UCT, and getting booted out so unexpectedly was somewhat like being dumped via SMS as you’re on the way back from buying an engagement ring.

Upon discovering that my career at UCT was over, I saw my future life flash before my eyes, like a scene from the movie Click. As if a lover had left me while I was most vulnerable, I would spend the rest of my days unable to get over what once was, longingly and desperately still going to campus for the odd lunch and sadly attending Jug Night even though I knew nobody there.

I would sit alone on Jammie stairs ogling at girls who thought I was a

STOP, DROP, AND ROLL – Before you know realise IT, your days as UCT’s Van-Wilder will be hosed out.

Image: michael.currin.co.za

weird janitor. With my B.A. behind my name I would deliver pizzas or work as a barman, and as my hair greyed and my paunch grew, I would drunkenly tell people how good life used to be - how I once “use to be somebody”. Of course, getting into my Honours Programme wouldn’t have changed this fate; it would have just postponed it by a year.

And then, something miraculous happened. I got back into UCT. Not into my Honours programme, but still into UCT. It was a beautiful moment. My heart sang. The creepiness and self-revulsion I felt from having lunged a first year the same week lifted off my shoulders – I was a student once again, and everything was chilled. A total

rejection turned into a six week break where I had time to remind myself how much I love this place.

Having seen the bleak alternatives, I am ecstatic to be back on campus to enjoy life and flood the pages of my beloved VARSITY with smut and propaganda. Every now and then we all need the well to run dry. *Not a joke.

4 Mountbatten Ave, Pinelands Contact us for appointments:

021 532 3402

STUDENT DISCOUNT!! Every Tuesday Afternoon!!

10% off all treatments over R85. Bring your student card with!

SPECIAL FOR APRIL: Pedicure for R90

We do Environ Facials, Massage, Waxing, Tinting, Mani’s & Pedi’s, Spray Tanning.

14

sports

F1 2011: The title race begins Berndt Hannweg

W

e’re one race in, and the 2011 Formula One racing season looks like it’s going to be pretty much the same as it has in previous years; more rules and regulations, more standardised cars and more “there can be only one” mentalities.

That’s not to say that it’s not going to be a great season to watch. Last week’s race in Melbourne seemed to set the tone for the year, with reigning champion Sebastian Vettel, racing for Red Bull-Renault, starting from pole and retaining the position for the entirety of the race. Lewis Hamilton kept up a strong if not remarkable performance to come in second for McLaren-Mercedes (despite a brief off-road jaunt), while Russian Vitaly Petrov managed to take third podium for Renault, but more importantly for the motherland, grabbing the first podium appearance of his long career as the only Russian in the race.

Image: Getty

more rules and regulations, more standardised cars and more “there can be only one” mentalities

POLE POSITION: Red Bull’s Sebastian Vettel started the Formula One season on a high as he won the Australian Grand Prix on March 26. Will his success continue this season?

The race itself had the usual blips and bangs, with over a third of the field retired or disqualified by the time the chequered flag had unfurled. Both Nico Rosberg and Michael Schumacher went out as a result of collision damage, while teammates Rubens Barrichello and

Pastor Maldonado exited due to transmission problems. This left their team Williams-Cosworth level on zero points in the Constructor’s standings alongside the SauberFerrari drivers, Sergio Pérez and Kamui Kobayashi, who had both been disqualified due to the rear-

wings of the vehicle violating technical requirements, which was a disappointing loss for the drivers who had come in 7th and 8th respectively.

The season ahead is going to be filled with the now-ingrained rule changes and fixes, which are too

numerous to list here. However, the two big ones are the return of the “107% Rule” (drivers must qualify within 7% of the fastest qualifying time or miss out on the race) and the fact that key staff members (such as technical directors and team leaders) will have to undergo accreditation for a “competitor’s staff license” in order to bring F1 in line with other racing championships.

In addition, long-time tyre supplier Bridgestone has left the championship to be replaced by Pirelli. The change has resulted in a mandatory weight distribution for all cars (as indeed all cars will now be racing with the identical tyres), as well as an increased number of pitstops, as the new tyres seem to be more susceptible to wear-and-tear.

One of the main things to look forward to is the first Indian Grand Prix, to be held at the Jaypee Group Circuit in Greater Noida (near Delhi). The circuit was originally set to make an appearance last year, but will (provisionally) show up on 30 October this year.

As to the drivers, it’s too early to tell, but it is safe to say that upand-coming racers like Vettel and Hamilton will have their hands more than full with old pros like Alonso, Massa and Button nipping at their heels. It should be an interesting season, to say the least.

The Ultimate Game Pasqua Heard Often the word “frisbee” conjures childhood memories of throwing a disc to our dogs, our siblings or our parents. It’s a recreational device.

Ultimate frisbee is not this.

It is a competitive sport that attracts close to 100 UCT participants. In fact, the sport is so advanced that the first and second sides will play at the South African National Ultimate Championships at the Pirates Rugby Club in Johannesburg from 29 April to 2 May. Ultimate frisbee originated in North America and involves fourteen players, seven per side. It is a bit like netball in the sense that when one has the disc, one may not move until the disc is passed to another team member. It is unlike netball in the sense that it is a unisex sport. The objective of the game is to catch the disc across the end zone on the opposite side of the playing area.

The structure of each team varies,

but in general the seven-person team consists of three handlers, who are skilled at throwing the disc, and four cutters, who specialise in running into space to catch the disc. Games are played to 15 points and can last up to two hours. Astonishingly, there is no referee in the game. Instead, the players at as referees themselves, which generally enforces good spirit amongst teams.

According to Jon Luies, both the coach and a player of the UCT first team, UCT has played a “social”, “unstructured” form of ultimate for eight years. This version is also played by Wits, Rhodes, UEL and City Varsity.

In 2010, UCT ultimate became more competitive and joined the Cape Town Ultimate Summer League, where they struggled to win many games. However, in the 2011 Summer League UCT’s 1st Team are currently top of the log. Those who call the slopes of Devil’s Peak their second home will also be pleased to note that UCT has never lost an ultimate match against Stellenbosch.

Image: Morgan Morris

UCT’s Ultimate Disc Jock(ey)s

FLYING SAUCERS: The UCT Ultimate Club took part in the SA Ultimate Championships in May 2010 and won 9-7 in their game against Johannesburg’s Ultitude, setting the stage for disc domination in 2011.

In preparation for Nationals both sides train on Wednesdays and Saturdays and play matches on Mondays and Thursdays.

The future seems bright for UCT

ultimate as the team hopes to travel abroad and fly the flag high for South Africa.

“Given our astoundingly quick rise to the top, our large player base and our passion, UCT has been given South Africa’s exclusive bid by the South African Flying Disc Association (SAFDA) to represent South Africa at the BULA World Beach Championships. It’s in Italy in August and if we can get partial sponsorship, we will be going to represent South Africa,” states Luies.

If you are interested in joining UCT Ultimate, simply turn up on a Fridays at 5pm on the UCT rugby fields, or on Wednesdays at 5pm at

the Woolsack Cricket Fields, next to middle campus.

“Playing socially requires no experience, and just a good attitude and a desire to run around. Playing competitive Ultimate requires hand-eye coordination, physical intensity, pace and dedication.

What makes Ultimate so awesome is that, given that the sport is relatively small, if someone loves it, and commits to their game, the learning curve is steep, and victory on a national level is more acquirable,” explains Luies.

“We’re always looking for athletic, tall men and women to rise to the challenge and try something new!”

sports

15

Played 6, lost 6: Quarter-final woes for Proteas Sajjad Karamsi “With an extremely potent fast bowling attack, the top two ODI Batsmen in the world, and a fielding side that can leap over tall buildings to complete the most extraordinary catches, they will be unbeatable.�

That’s how one described the Proteas’ before the Cricket World Cup began. But alas, another knockout stage exit beckoned. Now all the fans can do is share a rueful smile, huddling together in despair, trying to glean some comfort in the fact that it’s all happened before.

Calling them “chokers� is doing the team a great disservice, for a closer inspection gleans the core reasons of their sordid journey.

While their ability to fall apart at crucial junctures is outstanding, the last few months displayed many reasons to think otherwise.

The team was gelling well together, and the inspiring fightback against India in the group stages suggested that they could survive under pressure. Nay, the reasons are much simpler than a straightforward choke.

The middle order was inexperienced and edgy, with no batting stalwart left to guide the lower order in the closing overs of the game. And, the leadership, too, left much desired, with the senior players not stepping

up to show the young ‘uns how it’s supposed to be done.

A middle order of JP Duminy, Faf du Plessis and Johan Botha doesn’t really make the other team shudder with fright. While they might display oodles of talent, they really haven’t shown the temperament to carry the opposition by the scruff of their neck and kick them out of the game. Their fragility was never exposed much due to the solidity of Messieurs Amla and AB, whose batting form dominated almost every game. Fate toyed with them cruelly in the quarter finals, finally piling on pressure on them, shaving out Amla and de Villiers in unlucky dismissals, causing the middle order to finally display their unkempt batting performances.

The captain and senior players didn’t really step up. Captain Graeme Smith, vice-captain Johan Botha and Jacques Kallis were supposed to have led from the front, yet their performances throughout the tournament were rather dreary and dismal. Smith and Kallis are undoubtedly batsmen of the highest pedigree, yet, when they were needed the most, they just couldn’t survive.

Johan Botha, in his role as a spinning all-rounder, was equally inept, doing nothing special this tournament.

With Smith stepping down as captain, a new leader who inspires the team through his own achievements

must be picked, and Johan Botha doesn’t really fit the description.

Average with both bat and ball, he’s not even a certainty to be picked for all matches. Hashim Amla, who possesses both a tactical mind, and excellent batting performances, should be at the front of the captaincy line. The future needs to develop young batsmen, particularly Colin Ingram and David Miller, and expose them in difficult series, to

toughen them up.

While the bowling has been almost flawless in this tournament, the search for a good spinner must also continue, as the current stock are soon approaching their best before date. Finally, the old order needs to gradually step aside, to let the younger players flourish.

The future of South African cricket holds a garland of sparkling talent and sprigs of experienced

warriors. It’s a rosy future that needs to be tended well, with the administrators, the players and the fans watering the Proteas’ aspirations with commitment, discipline, and mainly in the supporters’ case, lots and lots of undying support and encouragement.

Showdown at Augusta I

t’s arguably the most coveted item in world golf, and it is once again up for grabs. The green jacket of Augusta National will find itself on the shoulders of yet another champion on Sunday evening, and this year it’s anyone’s tournament.

Since this time last year, Tiger Woods has toppled in the world rankings to fifth, now placed behind four talented and experienced Europeans who will each be eager to claim their first Master’s title.

Current world number one, Martin Kaymer, has had a terrible track record at Augusta. He has played at the Masters three times

but has never once made the cut.

However, having risen to the pinnacle of world golf from eighth in the world this time last year, winning the PGA Championship on the way, Kaymer may fancy his chances.

The UK trio of Lee Westwood, Luke Donald and Graeme McDowell, will take to the course with a lot of support behind them. Each of them possesses a crucial component to Masters success: consistency.

Westwood, since turning pro in 1993, has come close to taking a number of major titles, including runner up position at last year’s Masters, but has never been able to cross the line in first place. He has, however, been playing some scintillating golf of late, and with experience, patience, Image: Getty

Andrew Giliam

",) )275) *35 32*0-'7 )63087-32 %4) "3:2 !387, *5-'% -29-7)6 <38 %2( 1)1&)56 3* <385 35+%2-6%7-32 73 % 48&0-' (-%03+8) 32 7,) &33/

HISTORICAL ROOTS OF THE ANC

SANDBOXED - Can world number one Martin Kaymer overcome his shocking track record at Augusta?

5 ()/)<) ()&%.3 !

! !

53*)6635 )2 "853/

New Agenda

5 %003 35(%2

" ! %7) "8)6(%< ? 45-0 > "-1) 73 #)28) )275) *35 7,) 33/ 8))2 #-'735-% !75))7 %5()26 %4) "3:2 > !# %9)2-% )2.%1-2 > 1%-0 0%9)2-% ''5 8'7 %' =% ")0 ? > %;

> $)&6-7) ::: ''5 35+ =% 00 %5) :)0'31) %2( )275< -6 *5)) -2(0< !# *35 6)%7-2+ 485436)

crowd support and technical ability backing him, he will certainly be one of the favourites to take the title.

However, while Europeans clutter the top of the World Golf Rankings, the Americans will surely put up a healthy fight in their own back yard. Nick Watney has had a superb season to date, accumulating five top ten finishes including a victory at the Cadillac Championship. He currently sits second in the FedEx Cup Points. Phil Mickleson has an uncanny ability of raising his game when it counts. At last weekendâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Shell Houston Open, Mickleson adapted his game to fit Augusta National conditions in the hopes

that he would be prepared for this weekâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s major. Few will forget his phenomenal approach shot from the trees on the 13th hole last year that all but sealed his victory, and many home fans will back the likable character to defend his title this year.

On the South African front, Ernie Els believes that his game is grooved nicely for Augusta, and will be hoping that he can claim his first green jacket, a prize that has evaded him year in and year out. Yet, while Els believes he has a chance of winning, he has also expressed that the tournament is open wider than ever. Other players to look out for

include the in-form Martin Laird, new-face Gary Woodland, Paul Casey, Bubba Watson, and even the slightly off-colour Tiger Woods.

The course itself has undergone a number of changes since last year. A number of holes have been lengthened, bringing more bunkers into play. A few trees have been added to tighten a number of fairways and approaches, and many of the fairways and greens have been made significantly more undulated than before. Augusta will once again present a serious challenge to the worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s best, even more so if the wind blows.

Sport VARSITY

FIXTURES 1st Ladies vs WPCC

Varsity Cup final

UCT SQUASH CLUB

UCT RUGBY

13 April 2011, 6pm

11 April 2011, 7pm

Western Province Cricket Club

University of Pretoria (match televised)

INDIA TAKE THE SPOILS

SPORTS BITES

MOTORSPORT: Jorge Lorenzo sealed victory for Yamaha in the Spanish Grand Prix on Sunday.

Image: Gallo

RUGBY: Stormers remain unbeaten in Super Rugby after 16-6 win over the Sharks in Durban.

TENNIS: Novak Djokovic defeated world number one Rafa Nadal to claim Sony Ericsson Open title.

JAI HO - A jubilant Sachin Tendulkar celebrates his team’s Cricket World Cup victory on Saturday. India beat Sri Lanka by six wickets in Mumbai.

UCT Football’s facelift Tarryn Steenekamp

T

he UCT Football club can look forward to a brighter, bettermanaged and well-planned season ahead.

This after significant shifts in club coaching staff and management have taken place in order to rectify stifling issues of the past.

New club chairman Dustin Holohan, who stepped down as a player in order to assist within club management, says the club has already undergone a serious facelift and has reaped the rewards early on. The club has been able to double in size as well set themselves some attainable goals for the year ahead.

“Taking off where we left off last year, the club now has six teams in total. In 2009 we only had three competitive teams and battled to field enough players,” Holohan explained.

“There are currently four men’s teams and two women’s teams and

the first teams play in two leagues; CDLFA – a local competition which involves teams from the Southern Suburbs – and the USSA league – a provincial tournament in which all universities in the Western Cape compete to represent the province at Nationals.”

“UCT Football club can look forward to a brighter, better managed and well planned season ahead” The club will strive to achieve three goals in 2011: accommodating each and every player that decides to play UCT football; setting up a reliable management system for the future; and ensuring that both their men’s and women’s teams are selected to compete at Nationals.

Holohan feels that the club is on track to surpass these goals after a strong and dedicated committee was selected to represent UCT Football .

“The committee that was elected have stood strongly behind me and are extremely competent individuals who are working hard to carry this club forward. Matt Walsh (Vice Chairman), Tracey van Heerden (Secretary) and Wisy Namaseb (Treasurer) are all working hard behind the scenes to ensure the success of UCT Football,” said Holohan.

The biggest hurdle within UCT Football remains financial support and the club is currently in negotiations with several organisations to secure sponsorship.

Discussions are currently underway with the Sports Science Institute of South Africa to arrange assistance with player conditioning while there are plans for Film and Media students to record matches, in order to provide coaches an opportunity to analyse games.

New coaches Gugu Nangosuthu and Winston Zeederberg have been put in charge of the men’s and women’s teams, respectively. Both

are blessed with vast experience as players and captains and can understand the pressures of being a student as well as a footballer.

Their experience and knowledge of the game cannot be matched and the club is looking forward to their contributions in the season ahead.

Holohan believes the presence of both coaches has already lead to positive shift and a sense of encouragement amongst players.

“Every day when I am down on the fields, I see members of the club working hard to improve themselves.

Be it 1st team players working on their weaknesses or a 4th team guy who wants to earn himself a spot in a higher team, the club is on the up and is growing from strength to strength.”

CRICKET: World Cup-winning coach and ex-Proteas batsman Gary Kirsten approached for Proteas coaching job.

UPCOMING HOME FIXTURES (Men’s and Women’s):

13 April: UCT vs CPUT 20 April: UCT vs UWC

RUGBY: Thomasi Cama helped lead New Zealand to victory over the Blitzbokke in the Adelaide 7s Cup final.

Images: Gallo