2011: Edition 10

Varsity THE OFFICIAL STUDENT NEWSPAPER OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CAPE TOWN

13 September 2011

Volume 70: Number 10

021 650 3543

WATCH THEM SQUIRM catch videos of this week’s SRC Interrogations on our website: www.varsitynewspaper.co.za varsitynewspaper.co.za

@varsitynews

Domestic violence on campus IN THIS ISSUE

Alex Nagel & Olivia Wainwright

A

case of domestic violence was reported to UCT’s Discrimination and Harassment Office (DISCHO) on Sunday 4 September. The assault allegedly took place in a university residence and a case has now been opened by the South African Police Service (SAPS).

When asked about domestic violence levels on campus, DISCHO stated that they receive, on average, two reports of domestic violence per month. Due to the stigmatisation of such violence, it is suspected that there are more cases than reported.

Dr Floretta Boonzaier, a senior lecturer in the Psychology Department at UCT, explained that “there is a stigma attached to being a victim of violence; [I] think particularly in cases of sexual violence where there is often blame attached to victims of such violence.”

UCT has an internal procedure in place to deal with cases of domestic violence on campus. CPS should be contacted immediately; they then refer the case to DISCHO. Depending on the severity of the case, external assistance is sometimes required from SAPS. Rashieda Khan, DISCHO’s administrative manager, explains that DISCHO “assist[s] with [victims’] protection order application [at a SAPS station]. Internally, we can apply for a No Contact Order, if the respondent is a student at UCT, which is usually valid for 6 months or until the case has been finalised.”

Domestic violence does not

9/11 remembered

Power and scandal

page 6

An American Africa

page 7

Image: Steve Ludllum/NY Times

A DECADE LATER – Sunday 11 September marked the ten-year anniversary of the US terrorist attacks. Close to 3 000 people died when two hijacked airplanes were flown into the World Trade Centre in 2001. necessarily just present itself as physical injuries, but can also cause psychological damage.

“Depending on the individual, the psychological injuries and impact of the incident(s) varies, and doesn’t always present [itself] immediately,” explained Khan.

According to the Domestic Violence Act 116 of 1998, domestic violence is defined as “any […] controlling or abusive behaviour towards a complainant, where such conduct harms, or may cause imminent harm to, the safety, health or well-being of the complainant.”

DISCHO stated that they receive on average two cases of domestic violence per month “I don’t think students at UCT would be immune from such violence in their relationships,” said Dr Boonzaier, “so I suspect that many students may have been in relationships that could be considered to have been violent.”

Domestic violence can take many forms, ranging from physical, verbal and emotional abuse to financial abuse.

According to SAPS Warrant Officer Lyndon Sisam, “Everyone has the right to make use of the Domestic Violence Act. You don’t have to be in a relationship for them to commit domestic violence against you; you could have met at a party. If there is

any form of verbal or physical abuse, they can report is to us.”

The Domestic Violence Act is broad legislation that not only protects those in committed relationships but also includes those who are in sexually intimate relationships, authentic or supposed romantic relationships and those sharing residence.

Officer Sisam warned students that they “need to be cautious when it comes to going out and meeting someone at a club. It is irresponsible to get a lift home with a stranger from a nightclub.”

If you or someone you know would like to report a case of domestic violence, please contact the following: Campus Protection Services (CPS): 021-650 2222/3 DISCHO: 021-650 3530; Rashieda Khan at rashieda.khan@uct.ac.za SAPS Rondebosch: 021-685 7345 SAPS Mowbray: 021-680 9580 Student Wellness: 021-650 1017/20; Benita Southgate & Carmelita Shong at benita. southgate@uct.ac.za Dr Floretta Boonzaier at floretta. boonzaier@uct.ac.za

Education Spectrum page 8

Musical for all

page 11

Car or social suicide? page 12

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

2

news

JOHANNESBURG – Disciplinary hearings for ANCYL officials resumed at an undisclosed location on Sunday 11 September.

This after supporters of ANCYL president Julius Malema caused the closure of city streets after throwing stones at assembled journalists and policemen when hearings began two weeks ago.

ANCYL officials have been charged with several violations of the party’s constitution.

– news24

Mogoeng Chief Justice JOHANNESBURG — President Zuma confirmed Justice Mogoeng Mogoeng’s appointment as the country’s Chief Justice on Thursday 8 September. The nomination was controversial, with Cosatu saying, “It is disturbing that even if not successful, Justice Mogoeng will remain on the bench as an ordinary Constitutional Court judge.”

Opposition arose from Mogoeng’s past judgments, which are alleged to show insensitivity to genderbased violence.

– news24

Call for BBM decryption EAST LONDON – Deputy Communications Minister Obed Bapela has called for authorities to be given access to messages sent via BlackBerry’s encrypted messenger service (BBM). Bapela said government was considering following Britain’s and Saudi Arabia’s calls for decryption “if crimes are committed” using the service.

Communications Minister Roy Padayachie later released a statement saying government has no intention to legislate BBM. – Business Day

Info Bill takes next step CAPE TOWN – The Protection of Information Bill moved a step closer to becoming law when a final draft was formed on September 5, despite heavy opposition. The African Christian Democratic Party has stated that they would petition for the bill to be constitutionally reviewed, as the final draft has no “public interest” defence to protect those who publish classified information.

– iol

Simelane ‘racist’ JOHANNESBURG – A complaint has been lodged against National Director of Public Prosecutions Menzi Simelane relating to allegedly racist comments he recently made in the Sunday Times. Frans Cronje of the SA Institute for Race Relations said that the comments were “racist, and could incite racial hatred”.

Simelane had commented on recent controversy surrounding a picture on Facebook.

– News24

Danielle Barnes & Iman Latief

Holocaust survivor returns to SA Alex Searle

H

olocaust survivor Dora Love spoke in front of a packed lecture theatre in the Beattie Building on Thursday 30 August.

Love was invited to speak at a History and Current Affairs (HCA) society meeting while on holiday visiting her grandchildren in South Africa, and was welcomed by a warm round of applause after being introduced by Chairman Michael Moss.

“I don’t know why you applaud, it might be awkward,” she grinned.

Students were captivated by Love’s subtle sense of humour and astounding lucidity in sharing the experiences of her life.

Originally Lithuanian, Love was 16 years old when Nazi troops occupied her hometown of Memel (now Klaipeda). Her family fled to the Shaulen ghetto in northern Lithuania. With over a hundred others, they were taken to Elbe and forced to dig peat. Eventually she and her family were sent to the Stutthof concentration camp.

“In Stutthof, my brother was shot on the second day, my mother died a week later and my little sister died a few months later from the typhus epidemic,” Love recounted.

Her father and other brother had been separated from them and were presumed dead.

Stutthof was the last concentration camp to be liberated by Allied forces. This occurred on 9 May 1945.

Following the camp’s liberation, Love crossed the Baltic to reach Neustadt in the Rhineland. She was treated for severe tuberculosis and years of maltreatment in the camp.

Shortly after she met her future husband, Frank Love, who worked for the British Army. Six months after the end of the war, Love was reunited with her father, who had escaped to Italy. However, it was to be another 16 years before she reconnected with her brother in Russia.

Image: Raymond Botha/Monday Paper

ANCYL hearings rescheduled

she is most proud of the home for Jewish children in Hamburg that she helped establish After the Holocaust, Love had a range of jobs, including a translator for the Nuremburg Trials and work for the United Nations. However she is most proud of the home for Jewish children in Hamburg that she helped establish. In 1946, they took care of over 700 destitute children, reuniting them with their families where possible.

In the 1960s Love immigrated to South Africa with her husband, where she gave birth to their two children. She learned to speak Afrikaans within the first six months.

LOVED – Holocaust survivor Dora Love impressed students with her sense of humour and her love of South Africa.

For her, South Africa is like a second home.

“Ek kan Afrikaans praat; ek het dit nie vergeet nie!” (“I can speak Afrikaans; I haven’t forgotten it!”), she exclaimed. The couple lived in Johannesburg until 1978.

The University of Essex recently bestowed an honorary doctorate on Love, recognising a life of compassion, kindness and grace. She now resides in Colchester, England,

keeping active in the lives of her children and grandchildren.

Moss shared some of his thoughts after the talk. “Dr Love’s message about encouraging the youth to capitalise on every opportunity to recognise other people’s humanity resonated strongly with me,” he said.

“Somebody has to survive to tell the tale,” said Love. “Unless you hear it from somebody who was there, how you could believe it?”

Gordhan looks to students for economic solutions Omogolo Taunyane

to the East and South for economic growth prospects.

During the Q&A session, second year BusSci student Kurt asked how aspirations for a 7% GDP growth is realistic with the reality of South Africa’s stringent labour laws and the ANC’s inability to extricate itself from Cosatu’s “chains”.

In response, Gordhan stated that South Africa is one of the six fastest growing economies, and used the German economic structure that infuses a relationship between labour, business, and government as a model for us to follow.

“A new generation of young people who operate business is needed to revitalise our economy.”

This is according to Minister of Finance Pravin Gordhan, who addressed students on Tuesday 30 August. Hundreds of UCT students filled the venue for the talk, entitled “Economic Development and the Financial Crisis”, and welcomed the guest with a rendition of the national anthem.

Image: journtau.blogspot.com

NEWS BITES

South Africa is one of the six fastest growing economies Gordhan encouraged the students to be proactive in addressing South Africa’s economic challenges against the backdrop of the global economic transpirations. He stated that all economies around the world are affected by the current economic crisis, when South Africa lost R60 billion during the recession. He made specific mention of Spain, a developed economy struggling with a 20% general unemployment rate alongside South Africa’s 25% unemployment rate.

Gordhan advised students to utilise development agencies such as the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), SEDA, Khula Enterprise, and the National Youth Development Agency (NYDA) to

ECONOMISE – Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan spoke about growth, inclusivity, and job creation for the SA economy. contribute to attaining economic emancipation for South Africans through entrepreneurship.

“The history of apartheid was economic marginalisation,” said Gordhan. According to Gordhan, South Africa’s economy continues to suffer from apartheid through the high levels of economic concentration and unemployment, high skills shortages, and redundant ownership patterns.

He spoke about the implementation of the New Growth Plan, and identified growth, inclusivity, and job creation as the three tenets

that could reinvigorate South Africa’s economy through restructuring the current economic model.

One of the challenges he identified was finding ways to revitalise key institutions (such as education and skills-training colleges) that would contribute to our society. Gordhan said just as political emancipation was attained post-1994, the same economic emancipation should follow. Minister Gordhan said it is important for young people to deliberate their position as Africans within a growing phenomenon of investors looking

attaining economic emancipation for South Africans through entrepreneurship Expressing her thoughts afterwards, Nosizwe Ndlovu, a third year BusSci student) said, “the subject has too many components to cover in the amount of time he addressed it in. He didn’t beat about the bush as many politicians do and didn’t hide the fact that he doesn’t have all the answers.”

Sharing the idea behind inviting Minister Gordhan to UCT, Mike Ramothwala, Chairperson of SASCO and member of SRC, said “with the US and Europe slowly losing grip as world economic super powers, it is necessary to debate Africa’s position as young people who will participate in the economy.”

news

3

Moral imperative to speak

Image: michael.currin.co.za GESTURES – Archbishop Desmond Tutu spoke of the need for gestures in healing South African society.

Aditi Hunma

S

eventeen years into democracy, the struggle for equality continues. Some still go to bed hungry; for some it is a daily struggle to survive. How should society respond? This was the theme of the talk organised by the Living Reconciliation Forum in collaboration with UCT on Wednesday 24 August.

Archbishop Desmond Tutu, City Press editor-in-chief Ferial Haffajee, Council for the Advancement of the South African Constitution (CASAC) chairperson Dr Sipho Pityana, founding director of the Stellenbosch Institute for Advanced Study Prof. Bernard Lategan, and Khayelitsha community activist Noncedo Bulani formed the panel for the event. Also speaking were SRC presidents Amanda Ngwenya (UCT), Rayne Moses (TSiBA Education), and Jan Greyling

(University of Stellenbosch).

Almost unanimously, the speakers noted with dismay that something has gone wrong, and that social inequality and unemployment are being perpetuated to this very day.

Social inequality and unemployment are being perpetuated to this very day Archbishop Tutu reminded the audience that this was not the dream the anti-apartheid activists had. “You know what we dreamt?� he asked. “We didn’t dream of changing the complexion of people sitting in the offices. We believed that we could create a society that was caring, where each one of us counted. But if you sit here and you think that in this country, with all the resources that we have, people actually go to

Security on the lookout

bed hungry‌ How? Why, why, why did we struggle?�

Animated discussion about the Archbishop’s suggestion of a wealth tax for white South Africans as beneficiaries of apartheid formed a part of the evening. In clarification of his intentions, Tutu said that through this “tax,� he had hoped that his “sisters and brothers who are not black would get a chance to show they care.� For Lategan, one can “broaden [this] idea a bit, not just make it a racial one, but a transparent one.�

Pityana argued that he ought to pay the wealth tax too, since he is among the beneficiaries in postapartheid South Africa. Greyling pointed out that giving money away is too easy.

However, Haffajee saw the wealth tax as a mere “palliative,� and something that needs to be preceded by “deep structural adjustments�.

The problem is not one of resources, but of their poor allocation, noted Pityana. “The money raised from taxpayers does not go far enough.�

Like Pityana, the other speakers urged the youth to exercise their civic responsibility and speak up against the violation of the South African Constitution, of the social contract, of the rights conferred on the leaders by the governed.

For Lategan, the time has come to re-imagine democracy. “Remember [the past] in a new way that changes the discourse of justification and blame, and ask ‘how can we contribute to making it a better future?’� he advised.

A UCT student commented that it is time that the youth became “reality makers� in this country, which is “our home�.

The Archbishop closed the panel with these words: “Dream, believe in your dreams and make them happen.

For goodness’ sake, give yourself a chance.�

Where in the world is Colonel Gaddafi?

Bushra Gules & Stephanie Venter

Condoleezza Rice.

A TIME magazine correspondent recently reported that Gaddafi and several family mbattled Libyan leader members were given safe passage Colonel Muammar Gaddafi to neighbouring Algeria and were remains in Libya determined to granted entry on “humanitarian continue his fight for power. This grounds.� according to an audio recording However, this conflicts last released by Gaddafi himself to week’s reports that Colonel Gaddafi the international community on and his family have been granted Thursday 9 September. asylum in Burkino Faso, passing In the recording, Gaddafi from Jufra in the South to Niger, slammed reports that he had fled using the help of the Tuareg tribe. to Niger, and again labelled the According to the UK rebel forces “rats� and “scumbags.� Independent, the convoy of 10-plus Gaddafi’s forces would regroup land rovers may or may not have and rejoin the fight, he said. contained Gaddafi and close allies.

However, “Gaddafi and the The article alleges that the passage remains of his to Burkino Faso regime must realise was allowed by there’s nothing to the North Atlantic ...determined to be gained by more Treaty Organisation continue his fight fighting,� said (NATO) without for power NATO Secretaryairstrikes because General Anders the possibility of Fogh Rasmussen. civil war between NATO has played a key role in the Gaddafi loyalists and rebels Libyan conflict through consistent is high. airstrikes aimed at removing Fathis Baja, Spokesperson Gaddafi from power. for Libya’s Transitional National Cabinet spokesperson Jimmy Government (TNC), said that the Manyi said that the South African Burkino Faso convoy is said to have government’s position on Libya carried “substantial amounts of had not changed, and that “the gold, Euros and dollars.� The TNC roadmap [for Libya] should lead to is the internationally recognised an inclusive interim government.� government of Libya.

As the search for Gaddafi Burkino Faso is a signatory continues, rumours of his to the International Criminal whereabouts are rampant.

Court (ICC), which has issued a Early last week Bab al- warrant of arrest for crimes against Aziziyah, the Gaddafi family’s humanity for Colonel Gaddafi military compound in Tripoli, was and his son, Saif. Burkino Faso, bombed and ransacked by curious however, is also a member of the Tripolitans, journalists and rebels. African Union (AU), which has From the ruins of the compound, called on all member countries interesting details emerged to disregard such warrants of about the elusive former leader, arrest. The government of Burkino including United States reports Faso has denied any knowledge of a collection of photographs of a Libyan entourage possibly of former US Secretary of State transporting the former leader.

E

THE DENTIST ON MAIN

Dr Kalan & Associates General Dentistry Routine Cleaning X-rays

MEDICAL AID ACCEPTED

1st Floor, Atlas Books Bldng 18 Main Road, Rondebosch PH: 021 6855927 Cell: 0791839336 1st Floor, St Peter's Square Main Road, OBSERVATORY PH: 021 4488449

Image: michael.currin.co.za

Pasqua Heard

U

CT increased its security measures at the start of the second semester with the installation of two large security cameras in Cissie Gool Plaza on Upper Campus. The cameras caused much confusion as students questioned their purpose.

The cameras were set up as a matter of precaution in Cissie Gool Plaza, which is often bustling with students. “We do not wait for crime to occur before we react, and have long recognised that Cissie Gool is an area of high density, and in need of coverage,� said John Critien, head of Property and Services at UCT. The new cameras allow for greater “functionality� and do not need to be discreet, he added.

Critien said that it is the recent renewal and expansion of facilities

and the change in the monitoring process in the surveillance room which has allowed for the cameras to be set up at this late stage in the year.

The cameras are maintained by UCT. The cameras are monitored from within a CCTV monitoring room by suitably qualified personnel.

These personnel are in constant contact with CPS officers who are able to react if needed.

While it is impossible to cover the campus in its entirety, UCT aims further to increase its surveillance on campus.

However, the whereabouts of new cameras will be withheld until the cameras are set up. “[To provide the cameras’ whereabouts] will be to give critical information to wouldbe criminals, which may in turn help them in commissioning crimes against our students,� said Critien.

3RVW JUDGXDWH 'LSORPD LQ 0DUNHWLQJ One year full-time.

No prior marketing knowledge required!

Closing date for applications: 30 September 2011 For more information: PDUNHWLQJGLSORPD#VXQ DF ]D f

www.sun.ac.za/business

4

opinions

Editorial

Nyasha Kadandara

Trust and Believe

The Real Problem

Editor-in-Chief

People often complain about sensationalism in the media.

Recently The Sowetan came under fire for publishing photos of two police officers who were busy getting busy while on the job. “Shouldn’t have been published”, “in poor taste”, “irresponsible journalism” — these were just some of the reactions.

I don’t think the media is infallible; there’s that famous picture of Harry S Truman celebrating his victory as the newly elected US president, in which he’s holding up a

Life is not a dress rehearsal empty fridge to your name. I have no qualms with the aforementioned behaviour if that is really who you are and you are comfortable with it.

If you’re a jerk, by all means act like a jerk. Life is way too short for you to spend it failing dismally at being someone else. And if you are worried that you will have no one to share your bed, rest assured that there is some insecure, hopeless individual who will tend to your ego day and night.

It is funny how, after spending so long living out another person’s life, people often sit and think about all the things that could have been. In the words of Lupe Fiasco, “It’s so loud inside my head, with words that I should have said, as I drown in my regrets. I can’t take back the words I never said.”

So get on with it. As I write my penultimate editorial, it is a bittersweet feeling. I think I have said everything I wanted to say. I am recalling the awkward moment I felt when the 2009 VARSITY Features Editor rejected my first article. I thought I should’ve have just stuck to Investsoc, numbers and all. Fear of an unknown world didn’t get me down, and now I am the editor! Do something new, do something you… Life is not a dress rehearsal, and there is no encore, so do it right!

ne

op ws in io fe ns at ur es sp or t im s ag es

ave you ever had one of those friends who is just afraid of living life? These types of people will never tell their crush that they are keen and instead pray for a “hello”? They are too afraid to dance at a party, because they don’t want to look stupid and they do not move like Shakira. Yes, we all have insecurities and hate being embarrassed, but isn’t being embarrassed a natural part of life?

Like passing wind: we all do it, yet when it happens we get flushed and turn away, pretending we can’t smell that pungent aroma from our nether regions.

Well, while I can admit that passing wind can be uncomfortable, the fact remains we all do it; it’s natural – so lighten up. I think it is so much easier to be you than to present a façade of a supergrade version of yourself. This 2.0 version of you that does not do a number two in the loo when on a date! I mean, seriously, it’s like women who pretend not to sleep with a stocking or scarf at night when their man is around, but after three nights he’s looking baffled and asks, “Baby, why do you have cotton balls in your hair?”

For women it can be about the weaves and the fake eyelashes and when it comes to men it can be expensive cars, at the expense of an

a co ds nf er ed enc ito e ria l hr

H

@varsitynewspaper.co.za

Nkosiyati Khumalo, Deputy Editor (little too) early morning newspaper that claims his opponent the victor.

Ethics and standards need to be addressed almost daily.

Yet, there’s little to no outcry as to what the story or the photos actually depict. Think of Andries Tatane: more people complained about the photo of his slaughter tarnishing up their newspapers than they did about the atrocity itself.

The mirror may be cracked, but I would be more concerned about fixing what its reflects.

Newsgathering Tuesday, 13 September, 1pm, LS2D DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSIONS: Wednesday, 21 September

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Support ‘Palestinian September’ (23 August 2011) The main thrust of Carla de Klerk’s article seemed to be the idea that the recent riots in the UK “proved” that “crime happens everywhere”.

Even leaving aside Miss De Klerk’s apparent conception that crime is the sole reason South Africans emigrate — and not education, job opportunities, or the myriad other factors that influence such decisions — her oversimplification of the issue is striking.

No rational-minded human

being would claim that crime is nonexistent anywhere, nor that the First World is in any way flawless. The issue is, simply put, one of statistics; and while the recent riots are indeed shocking, they do not change the fact that, overall, Britain remains a place of measurably greater social stability than South Africa.

Following this is Miss De Klerk’s feeble efforts to extend the issue to other First World countries by

cherry-picking a number of other tragic but isolated, exceptional incidents. This rounds out what seems, sadly, to be an attempt on Miss De Klerk’s part to demonise emigrant South Africans.

I do not in any way wish to belittle patriotism in South Africans; I simply wish to communicate that it must be balanced with rationality.

Simon Hyslop

‘UCT Heroines from Past to Present’ (10 August 2011) I was thrilled to receive a copy of the Varsity News last edition, with the centre article on the UCT Heroines. (we live in tiny Umdloti, Northern Durban, so it has taken a while to clear my mail box!)

It is always heart-warming to

see Molly Blackburn remembered, especially by the future leaders of our country-the youth, and an honour to share the page with the calibre of other heroines past and present. As my son is at UCT (Molly’s grandson) we often meet

him at the Molly Blackburn Hall, and have a “student” lunch or coffee. What an amazing hub of energy it is!

Gill Cox

joinVarsity

Be the voice of the student body! Make a difference! Develop your skills!

2011 collective editor Nyasha Kadandara deputy editor Nkosiyati Khumalo news Stephanie Venter & Lyndall Thwaits opinions Tiffany Mugo & Berndt Hannweg features Marché Arends & Thandokazi Hlwatika sport Sajjad Karamsi & Nicole Beale Design Nic Botha images Michael Currin web Azhar Desai & Chris Linegar human resources Caterina Aldera & Chido Mpemba advertising Sizwe Moagi marketing Rémy Ngamije OPERATIONS Candy Peck CONFERENCE team Florentina Swigelaar & Odwa Sihlobo

Design internship

Images internship

Features Editor

Finance Manager

Deputy Web Editor

Conference Manager

sub editors Kent Elsner, Rhynhardt Krynauw & Stuart MacDonald staff writers Calvin Scholtz, Liam Kruger, Aditi Hunma, Danielle Barnes, Iman Latief, Alex Searle, Bushra Gules, Olivia Wainwright, Alex Nagel, Pasqua Heard, Omologo Tauyane, Chris van derWesthuizen, Matthew van der Westhuizen, Alex Nagel, Kevin Minofu, Berndt Hannweg, Kate Amm, Rob Atwell, Zaid Gamieldien, Alex Nagel, Stuart Hendricks, Kim Senogles, Paul Kennedy &Tracy van Heerden. photographers Gareth Smit cartoonist Julian Nkuna Design Takura Wekwete & Sean Parker

OFFICE: Room 5.20, Level 5, Steve Biko Building

Email your CV, motivational letter & portfolio to hr@varsitynewspaper.co.za Apply now! DEADLINES: 23 September 2011

opinions Speak Easy

Tiffany Mugo

Drugs, Dior and Mr Jacobs Alex Nagel

Boogie Man in a Big Court Can anyone explain to me this a judge who excuses martial rape Chief Justice palaver? There have (which is testament to a complete been tweets and statuses and misunderstanding of the law) and passionate discussions on how perpetuates the myth that victims outrageous it is. Amidst all this of domestic violence are to blame debate the question that I feel is will not alleviate the situation. yet to be sufficiently addressed is: LGBTI people still face wideWhy in the world would this man spread violence and harassment be nominated? and again the courts do little to Discussions of how much of protect those it is constitutionally a blow it is for women’s rights/ mandated to defend. No matter gay rights/civil-political rights how progressive a constitution have raged on for what has felt is, it is only as effective as the like a lifetime. This nomination is institutions that uphold it. a slippery slope and soon we may Paul Hoffman is right in saying find the right to breathe coming that “a tragedy of Shakespearian under threat. proportions played out in the South Africa JSC.” And thus is a leader in my question No matter how many ways. It’s still stands: why an economic progressive a constitution this man? His is, it is only as effective powerhouse, the predecessors proud survivor are often lauded as the institutions that of a trying time with playing uphold it in history and integral roles in as progressive the protection and protective a democracy as any and furtherance of human rights. country could ask for (in theory).

Adding an ordained minister to One now questions if this the line-up seems like a good idea, nomination is an example of this but history has shown us that some titan of Africa taking a stumble of the most closed-minded and backwards out of the light of the cruel people can come from deep future towards the shadows of a inside religious ranks. darker time.

The President should take note I have heard it claimed that of the mass opposition to the Mogoeng Mogoeng has no nomination, which includes top real power to strip the rights of South African lawyers and even vulnerable groups away, as the Nobel laureates. The world has Constitution’s legal tentacles spread screamed no, but in his eternal far and wide seeking to protect wisdom the President has said yes. vulnerable portions of society.

He believes the judicial system will People must not, however, be in “good hands”. forget that this country’s legal The world is a scary and dark system runs on the doctrine of enough place without putting a precedent, allowing case law to “boogie man” on as the country’s make colossal changes to the way night watchman. No one wants justice is administered. One also to know that the monster hiding cannot make the argument that the under their bed is now protecting system in place will serve as a check you from things that go “bump” in on his misogynistic, homophobic the night. judicial style.

We cannot expect to feel Domestic violence is still protected when the people we widespread. A rape occurs every need to be protected from are our 17 seconds in this country. All this last (and possibly only) line of takes place while the various courts defence. of the land do very little to tackle these grievous problems. Having

5

W

hen we think of the fashion world, we not only think of the fabrics that designers weave together with their magical needles, but also the designer druggies like Kate Moss, Christophe Decarnin, John Galliano and the late Alexander McQueen. The pressures on this well-dressed world are unbelievable, with the public always expecting more and better-than-before works from these designers.

Marc Jacobs [pictured right] is the hopeful contender to replace fashion sensation John Galliano this year as the new creative director of Dior. With Jacobs’ contract at Louis Vuitton about to end and Galliano’s anti-Semitic and racist remarks, this could be the perfect opportunity Dior and Jacobs have been waiting for. Yet poor drugged-up Galliano (who allegedly told a woman that her parents would most likely have been gassed in the Nazi-German concentration camps) will face a £22 000 fine and find his position at Dior occupied.

Although, with the spotlight now on Marc Jacobs, we all might wonder if he will buckle under Dior’s weight, as the previous creative director perhaps did. Will he drug-up and Nazi-up like Mr John Galliano or remain designer drug-less as he has done since 2007?

With people from across the globe constantly expecting reels and reels of new styles — complementing every season — coming out of your brain, perhaps a little bit of a kick sounds quite appealing to some of these designers. As Michael Kors put it, “What are designers supposed to say? ‘I’m tired. I’m not doing fall.

Wear last year’s clothes, and maybe get some new nail polish.’”

Will he drug-up and Nazi-up like Mr John Galliano or remain designer drug-less as he has done since 2007?

Jacobs, being a recovered drug addict himself, was reported on the website fashionologie.com as saying that everyone has pressures and problems in their lives. “You don’t think bank tellers have problems?

You don’t think people in the middle of the suburbs have problems?

Blaming is such a complete waste.” At the end of the day, it’s how you deal with these pressures that matter.

Sure, the fashion industry is a coke addict’s haven, and you could say that is how designers create such elaborate collections, but drugs are everywhere in society; the choice is yours whether or not you want to deal with problems in that manner.

Image: Evan Agostini/Getty Images

Maybe the fashion world wouldn’t be going up in flames if fashion icons such as John Galliano and Kate Moss remained as icons and perhaps put their snorting, puffing and injecting energy into something more durable, as Marc Jacobs and his partner Robert Duffy are doing — they are currently working on a collection for women size 14 and up, and are the first major fashion designers to do so.

Dior would be privileged to have Marc Jacobs fill the position.

“Everyone loves Marc.

He’s boundlessly creative. And he is resolutely modern,” fashion journalist Dana Thomas explains. We should hope so, because the last thing Dior needs now is another crazy designer druggie.

The big braai-off: DJ vs DJ Braaivleis, cold brewskis, rugby on the bigscreen, live local music and 5FM DJs spinning the latest, hottest tunes… how are you planning to spend your Heritage Day? 5FM and Robertsons are turning up the heat on 24 September at the Robertsons Bring and Braai powered by 5FM. The Robertsons Bring and Braai is an opportunity for all young South Africans to get together and take part in one of the country’s favourite and famous pastimes – the braai! With over 250 fires, all you need to do is bring your braai goodies and slap them on the fire. And hey, there’s also a R50 000 cash prize for one lucky listener.

But that’s just the tip of the iceberg. The Bring and Braai includes live performances by hot local acts Flash Republic and The Graeme Watkins Project, as well as a braai-off between 5FM’s Sasha Martinengo, Kim Schulze, Anele and Grant who’ll be competing to see who’s got the best, er, make that tastiest meat.

And the best part is it’s free, gratis, mahalah.

The competition is fierce between the four 5FM jocks with Sasha promising his juicy fillet will win the judge’s approval handsdown. “I’m going to win because I’m Italian and we make the best food, whether boerewors, pizza or pasta. No one else stands a chance. The competition better watch out: I don’t get mad. I get awesome.”

Anele insists she’ll win the title of braaimaster with her lamb chops, homemade chakalaka sauce and button mushrooms with sundried

tomato cheese. “I’m winning this thing because none of the others are black,” she jokes. “Black women are used to cooking outside.”

Kim Schulze says the German side of her is bound to come out – and that means lots and lots (and lots) of beer. “I’m just going to have a few drinks and throw something on the braai. That’s when it really works.”

Grant, a vegan, is opting for a meat-free selection of soya sausages and corn. “I’m out to prove that you can have a proper vegan braai and still enjoy it to the max.”

Let the braaing begin!

Sasha and Kim on 5FM weekdays 9am to noon

Grant and Anele on 5FM weekdays noon to 3pm

What you need to know: When: 24 September 2011 Where: German School, 11 Sans Souci Road, Parktown, Jhb And if I'm not in Joburg? Listen to Sasha Martinengo and Grant and Anele's shows on 5FM for a chance to win tickets for you and four mates to fly to Jozi for Braai Day. Doors open: 9am, plenty of time to get there early and start braaing. Gates close at 6pm.

Cost: Nada! All you need to do is SMS the word BRAAI and how many tickets you want to 33729. SMSes cost R1.50 and free SMSes do not apply.

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.

Letters to the editor need to be kept to a maximum of 350 words and can be sent to:

opinions@varsitynewspaper.co.za

6

opinions

Ze French Affaire

Black, white and colour(ed) TV

Kevin Minofu

Matthew van der Westhuizen

T

S

here are things that just go together: peanut butter and jam; Lindsay Lohan and jail; politicians and a sex scandal. There is something about a few hours of campaigning and a couple more hours of signing documents that gets politicians randy better than any mass-marketed blue pill. Dominque Strauss-Kahn (former head of Africa’s favourite old loan-shark, the International Monetary Fund) was caught with his pants down in a New York hotel.

Well, at the time that DSK was riding high as the most likely nominee for the Socialist Party’s bid to topple the very un-French Sarkozy in the French presidential elections, he also seemed the most likely person to bang together the heads of European leaders and save a country that has not exported anything worthwhile other than cheese, berets and the odd salad. This was until it was alleged that the silver-haired economist had attempted to sexually assault an unsuspecting hotel maid.

Within a few weeks, DSK had resigned his IMF post and suffered the ignominy of being forced to live under house arrest in his daughter’s swanky Manhattan townhouse. Fastforward a couple of months and DSK looks free to return to France with all charges against him being dropped due to alleged inconsistencies in the maid’s story.

You may be wondering if you have heard this story before. Famous/ powerful person gets caught up in a scandal and when push comes to shove it’s all swiftly swept under the carpet. France in particular has taken the very laissez-faire approach when it comes to all things that go on under the sheets. Former President François Mitterand famously maintained a second family while in office and did not even have the “Zuma-esque” courtesy to marry his mistress.

Image: Manuel Balce Ceneta/AP

Even throughout the whole ordeal DSK was not universally slated or ostracised by the French people and, in fact, still stands a good chance of returning and re-assuming his political career. What does this say about how we hold such a politician to account?

A kneeling Monica Lewinski showed us that sex scandals can make or break a politician A kneeling Monica Lewinski showed us that sex scandals can make or break a politician. The reality of the situation is that powerful individuals are not powerful for nothing. They have assembled influence that spans across all areas of society. So in the case of Ms Diallo (DSK’s accuser), she was not merely fighting against him, but against an institution.

Countless individuals have faced

such a challenge, not only abroad, but also with regard to the Zuma rape scandal in South Africa.

A case must be so watertight that not even the influence of the man in question could stop it. In this case there is the assumption that he was guilty and simply got away with it.

There could be a chance that he was simply being extorted by this lady.

Although that may be a possibility, it takes a lot to imagine a poor immigrant worker hatching a plan to entrap one of the most powerful men in the world.

In the end it is something that we can trace throughout history.

It seems almost acceptable for powerful men to exert their power on women in subordinate positions.

It is a state that is born out of a chauvinist world, but with the rise of women into positions of increasing power it would be interesting to see if society accepts a role-reversal.

Hillary Clinton caught with a rent boy? Has a nice ring to it.

the show reflect negatively on the coloured people of South Africa by placing a strong emphasis on certain stereotypes. tereotypical South African Researcher Dr Zimitri television comedy shows have Erasmus stated that, even though been in existence since before apartheid gave coloured people South Africa became a democracy the label “coloured”, it is the people in 1994. These shows aimed to themselves that re-define, construct allow South Africans to laugh at and re-construct this label for themselves with regard to their themselves through their actions cultural differences within the and behaviour. Colour TV is one racial groups that were labelled such action whereby coloured under apartheid law. The aim was people are defining their identity to create a positive response from and validating stereotypes that the audience viewing these shows people of other population groups in order to portray how South have about coloured people.

Africa was veering away from Colour TV does not only enforce racial segregation so that people stereotypes but it also creates could come together in a “rainbow tension between coloured people nation”. themselves. For example, the In the South Africa we know soap opera in Colour TV tells the today, is it still relevant to be story of a Christian woman who making these kinds is in love with a of comedy shows?

Muslim man and Let’s analyse this by Some of the aspects results in debate looking at one of and controversial of the show reflect the latest shows to attitudes between a negatively on the hit SABC2, Colour the two families. coloured race of TV. Does South Africa The concept as a rainbow South Africa behind Colour nation need to TV was to give have this type of the South African coloured programming on a national community some exposure, public broadcaster? as they only comprise 9.1% of Colour TV is therefore another the country’s population. The reminder that instead of South originator of the show came up Africa moving forward and away with the idea so that the rest of from the idea of race, it steps the country could view the world backwards to remind us that we “through the eyes of the coloured are still validated by and should population”. The problem with this conform to the labels that the concept lies when the line between apartheid laws implemented. There exposure and stereotyping is being is nothing wrong with laughing crossed and does not, therefore, at ourselves as people but when it elicit a positive response from creates a negative stereotype, the its audience. problems begin. What message are The show is considered a South we trying to portray to the public African version of Saturday Night if we broadcast negative stereotypes Live, as it spoofs news reports, soap about ourselves through media operas, game shows and talk shows. such as television? Exactly what This supplies the comical element is said in the question – negative in the show, but does not mean that stereotypes. the stereotype it portrays should be perpetuated. Some aspects of

What to do with Juju?

Chris van der Westhuizen

I

doubt whether there is anyone in South Africa today who has not heard of Julius Malema. Among the young impoverished masses, he has gained hero-like status for his jubilant cries for economic freedom and equal distribution of land. And as for the rest of country, they have come to know him for his reckless abuse of power and notorious statements in the media. One way or the other, I think it’s safe to say everyone has heard of Juju.

So why exactly is there so much controversy surrounding the ANC Youth League president? Well, he was heavily criticised for his repeated singing of the struggle song “Dubul’ ibhunu” (“Shoot the boer”) despite an ANC order not to do so.

Other instances that have earned Malema infamy in political circles include: the allegations of fraud and

“tender-preneurship” that have been weighed against him; his destabilising calls for nationalisation of our mines; and his pronounced support for the autocratic Zanu-PF in Zimbabwe (a very untimely statement, considering the violence brewing in our own country).

Clearly, Juju’s plans for South Africa are taking longer than he bargained for So how, you might ask, has Juju been punished for these crimes?

Well, in the past, he has had to pay some fines, attend anger management classes, and make (seemingly insincere) public apologies to the media.

And it appears that thus far, these petty gestures of remorse

have been adequate in keeping Juju in power.

Subsequently, Malema and other ANCYL officials were sentenced to a disciplinary hearing by the ANC for allegedly “bringing the ANC into disrepute”. This was after Juju and his boys claimed that Botswana is being controlled by imperial forces that are undermining the African agenda.

Therefore, according to the Young Lions, the Botswana regime should be overthrown. Clearly, Juju’s plans for South Africa are taking longer than he bargained for. Perhaps he thinks that interfering in one of Africa’s last-standing democracies will speed things up a little.

Claims have been made that the outcome of the recent disciplinary hearing could possibly lead to Julius Malema being suspended from the ANC. One would think that they should just expel him, right? Surely, someone who repeatedly violates our democratic constitution cannot be

Image: eitahola.net

allowed to run free and sow division like a bull in a china shop.

Unfortunately, it’s not that simple. We can’t be so quick to insist that President Zuma should destroy Malema. He’s the hero of the impoverished masses, remember? If their youth leader gets shut down, they’re not going to take it lightly. You only have to look at recent pro-Juju demonstrations, where supporters threw stones at journalists and

policemen, to know that Malema’s followers won’t hesitate to resort to violence.

In the end, we can only speculate as to what the future holds for Juju.

In any case, even if he gets shut down by the ANC, his powerful influence is likely to remain as firm as ever.

There are hundreds of thousands of angry poor people who will be more than willing to continue his legacy.

opinions

7

The New United States of Africa Berndt Hannweg

I

s American culture dominating South African youth at the expense of our own roots, or are we merely integrating ourselves into the global village?

Shopping inside any mall in South Africa today has become an interesting education into what happens when a foreign culture intersects with your own. To your left, a Tuisnywerheid selling, among other things, home-made milk tart and koeksisters, while on your right a Sports Scene lines its windows with Adidas and Nike. Jock appears on our silver screens while the Rugby World Cup and our (hopeful) domination of it is broadcast in the Land of the Free. Our rich and powerful drive BMWs while American rap music plays in teenage bedrooms.

Not for the first time I am struck by the curious melding between “Western” and “African” cultures that has occurred in South Africa.

So many things that we instinctively think of as being “American”, like cell phones and record contracts and summer blockbusters and the latest fashion, are now the driving force behind the lifestyles of those in South Africa: our tiny upper

Image: travelandtradesouthafrica.com

class and growing middle class, who can actually afford them. But is it happening at the cost of our own local cultures?

Ask yourself what South African cultures are. Xhosa, Zulu, Afrikaner, Indian, Cape Coloured and many more traditions form what we like to think of as cultures. Are these being destroyed by the mass consumerism that we perceive as coming from America, or are they being enhanced by them?

R E E R A C R YOU

I’ll take the third option and say that it is neither. Culture is a lot more

Culture is a lot more than what we wear and do in our free time. than what we wear and do in our free time. It is really linked more to what we do when we want to feel at ease

and at home. Regardless of whether or not they’re serving Coca-Cola, many South African families still sit down to at least one family meal together a week. Sometimes it’s Klippies and Coke. South African teenagers still remove branded t-shirts and stow away fancy cellphones before going on to initiation camps where they complete the transition from boys to men.

It’s worth noticing the similarities between America and South Africa

RESEARCHER

VARSITY speaks to SHIREEN MUKADAM – Researcher in the Corruption and Governance Programme of the Institute for Security Studies (ISS) - BSocSci (Politics, Philosophy and Economics) How did you find your niche in your current area of work?

While completing my Honours in International Relations at WITS in 2006, I applied for the International Law and Organisations Program Internship with Amnesty International because I had always had a strong interest in human rights law. However, I did not hear back from them for more than 3 months and I subsequently forgot that I had even applied. I was incredulous after being informed that I had been shortlisted for the internship. I had a teleconference interview and shortly thereafter was informed that I had been successful, after an international recruitment process. The internship was with Amnesty’s UN office, based in Geneva. I spent six months there, monitoring the UN Human Rights Council, from the perspective of an international NGO. This experience was definitely a formative one in my young career. It was invaluable exposure and I learnt so much through my first-hand experience of the UN human rights system at the international level. During my experience in Geneva I decided I wanted to specialise and do my Masters in a combination of international relations and development studies. Coincidentally I found a Masters course which was precisely what I was interested in at the Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies, Geneva. This academic experience was excellent since the degree was multidisciplinary and I was able to specialise in conflict and development studies.

Which factors ignited your interest in this organisation?

The ISS is a non-profit organisation that undertakes applied research in human security in the African continent. The focus is therefore not on the security of states, but on the human being. I identify with this concern and believe that in the work we do it is important to remember that human beings are of critical importance. I am also fascinated by the securitydevelopment nexus, which is aligned with the work of the ISS. Describe some of your day-to-day responsibilities/experiences.

I work primarily on a Conflicts of Interest project, of which the Who Owns What online database of politicians interests and assets is a component. This is the first database of its kind in Africa and allows the public access to the financial disclosure records of elected officials in South Africa from the Presidency, Parliament and Provincial Legislatures. My task is to extend this project to the local government level which as you can imagine is quite challenging! My dayto-day activities include liasing with numerous municipalities across the country, research and writing about the experience of accessing information. In addition, I am a volunteer on the Right 2 Know campaign and participate in advocacy work in the Western Cape.

What challenges have you encountered?

Not having a clearly defined career path. I was a student in the humanities faculty at UCT and humanities degrees in general are not vocational.

So this meant that while friends doing medicine or dentistry or accounting knew exactly what their career path was, in the humanities field there is no clarity or strictly defined career.

While this provides a great deal of flexibility for students of humanities, it also serves as a huge challenge. It requires a lot of proactiveness and persistence to be able to make a success of a career in the humanities field.

In retrospect, what advice can you give to students?

My advice to students especially those in the Humanities field is to be proactive and open to opportunities. Be persistent and work towards achieving your goals. Be hardworking, consistently. Accept opportunities which come your way with grace and humility even if it’s not 100% what you envisioned yourself to do.

Try to gain as much exposure to the field you are interested in, and pursue work experience while you are studying — this will set you above other students with similar degrees. Finally, be passionate about what you do; passion enables you to give your best, at all times.

ED UC AT IO N R HI GH ER CE NT RE FO

CAREERS CALENDAR SEPTEMBER Career Talks All talks take place from 13h00 – 13h45.

CVs & Cover Letters 15 Sept, New Chemical Engineering Seminar Room 20 Sept, LT1, Hoerikwaggo *Come and pick up a copy of our brand new CVs and COVER LETTERS book!

Preparing for Interviews 13 Sept, LT1, Hoerikwaggo 21 Sept, LT1, Hoerikwaggo Researching Careers: where to begin 19 Sept, LT1, Hoerikwaggo Rethinking your Degree 22 Sept, New Chemical Engineering Seminar Room *Download the second semester’s schedule of Career Talks on www.careers.uct.ac.za

Opportunities Consult our Career Portal for a list of bursary/ scholarship, vacation or graduate opportunities. Visit www.careers.uct.ac.za/careerportal General Career Fair 14 September: 09h00 – 15h00 in Jameson Hall

ices v r e S s r e e r Ca p o rt u n it ie a d vi ce • o p in fo rm a ti o n •

(and the United Kingdom) as cosmopolitan societies. For the past two centuries, America has been the go-to place for emigrants around the world, all chasing the American Dream. That’s why New York has its history of Irish workmen and Italian mobs, California its Chinatowns and Pennsylvania its Germanic influences.

South Africa did all its integration over a period of centuries. We’ve been colonised by everyone and their granny: Indians from the East, Europeans from the West, Africans moving in from the North to join those tribes already resident here. It’s this cosmopolitan nature, built into the foundations of our society, which allows us to merge so seamlessly with American ideals, while not being overtaken by them.

The annual Cape Procession still happens year in and out. Taxis and spaza shops are still familiar sights on the street. Teenagers still respect their elders (though not as much as they like, but that’s traditional too). South African life, in short, goes on. We may be more comfortable, or more efficient, or more technologically advanced because of how much we buy and ape from American culture, but we’re no less South African because of it.

DE VE LO PM EN

T

Presentations Consult the Calendar on www.careers.uct.ac.za for a list of employer presentations.

Looking for a bursary/scholarship, vacation or graduate opportunity? *Register on our mailing list to receive updates about events and opportunities.Visit www.careers.uct.ac.za/reg *Find us on facebook @ University of Cape Town Careers Service and on twitter @UCT careers

www.careers.uct.ac.za • 021 650 2497 • Ground floor, Hoerikwaggo, North Lane VARSITY would like to apologise for incorrectly stating Rulisha Chetty’s title as Operations Manager in the previous edition. It should have stated that her title was Digital Learning Materials Designer.

Its hard work but towards the end of the year your body starts to make sense Tania Vossgatter, UCT School of Dance

-

[Commerce is…] stressful. A lot of work and there is so much coordination between the courses. Tests and assignments all come at once.

Caitlin Ferreira and Caroline Mclagan, Bus Sci Marketing

[Humanities…] Makes you question everything; you don’t take anything at face value.

Nicole Newan, Media Writing and English

12-13 hours of practice, let alone dress rehearsals, exams and courses — music school is not easy.

Michaelangelo Cloete, Music College - Opera

Tawanda Gora, Engineering - Mechatronics

A Rainbow Nation of Education Images by Michael Currin (michael.currin.co.za)

It’s a roller coaster, full of ups and downs.

Spha Mdlalose, BMus Perfomance (Jazz)

VARSITY would like to express its apologies to Michael Currin for not crediting his photographs in the SlutWalk centrespread (Edition 9, 23 August 2011).

Simphiwe Shongwe, MBChB

It feels like there is no time for anything BUT your Postgrad.

-

Irfaan Abbas, PGDA

Imagine being able to immerse yourself fully into your passion to the point where it consumes your entire being. Hiddingh is a black hole and I love it Shariffa Ali, Theatre and Performance [Fine arts is…] ‘Exuberant!!!’ ‘Beyond…’

Oliver Booth & Lauren Brown

Nick Corbett, BCom Law

[Engineering is…] isolationist. I walk past jammie and see people eating lunch whilst we eat lunch in the labs.

Kevin Wilson, Engineering

I can apply what I learn; not sure if that is the case in most degrees.

Med Campus is homely. Upper has too many people and those pigeons are the rats of this place.

Doing ecos and law leads to an incredible and deeper understanding of how our society operates.

[Post Grad is…] emotionally draining Sonam Bechoo

10

features

REVIEWS

Movie Review: Super 8 Calvin Scholtz 

D

irector JJ Abrams has become, in quite a short space of time, a force to be reckoned with in Hollywood. Starting out in television, he created hit shows such as Lost and Fringe, and was also chosen to reboot two struggling movie franchises, namely Mission Impossible and Star Trek.

Those films did very well at the box office, and more sequels will follow, but Super 8 is the first opportunity Abrams has had to write and direct a film of his own. Working as a co-producer on this film is Steven Spielberg, one of Abrams’ role models and a particular inspiration for Super 8.

A sense of Abrams’ style of storytelling is evident from the first frame: the film opens with a train

crash, but it happens off-screen.

Instead, all the audience sees is a signboard at a factory involved in manufacturing train parts. The wording on it reads: “Days since last accident”, followed by the number 784 hanging on removable plates. A factory worker then climbs a ladder, removes the three numbers, and hangs up the number 1 – simple, yet effective. The next scene shows a house where family and friends have gathered to mourn the loss of a woman who died on the train.

The woman’s 14-year old son, Joe (Joel Courtney), sits outside alone on a swing. A man arrives at the house and enters, but is soon expelled by Joe’s father, Deputy Sheriff Lamb (Kyle Chandler), who puts him in a police patrol car.

Synopses of this movie may call it a science-fiction film, but as with many good films of the genre, it is also a family drama. Flash forward

a few months and Joe is running around with four other teenage boys, friends united in their love of film, who want to make their own home zombie movie using an 8mm camera, the “Super 8” of the title.

They enlist the help of a girl, Alice (Elle Fanning), to play the female part in their home movie, and the six teenagers go to film a scene at a deserted train station at night. There they witness a train crash and, amid the wreckage, find their science teacher, who warns them to run away and never to speak of what they have seen.

The kids return home, but in the weeks that follow, their small town is hit by a series of strange attacks and other occurrences. Then the US Military rolls into town led by a taciturn colonel, and the kids begin to realise that it is all connected to the train crash.

It was refreshing to see a film that

Image: super-8movie.com

relies on story and storytelling, not special effects (which are quite sparse) and big star-power. As alluded to earlier, the film feels like an homage to the films of Spielberg, and fans will recognize certain trademarks from Jaws, E.T. and Jurassic Park. Even Michael Giacchino’s music sounds

like it comes from that era, the main theme reminiscent of the “five notes” of Close Encounters of the Third Kind.

The movie was also filmed using a Super 8 camera, which shows up flaws in the picture quality at times, but that just adds to its perfection.

Album Review: Lil Wayne – Tha Carter IV Zaid Gamieldien 

R

ap critics often associate Lil Wayne with one word: random.

We press play and wait for Weezy to flabbergast us with his slick metaphors and spit like he just drank sour milk.

However, Wayne’s appeal is purely abstract. While most rappers construct songs with specific themes, rap about experiences in life and base their lyrics around that matter, Wayne sticks to what he does best: freestyle.

Although his talent with words is at a new level of insanity, the danger is that his “randomness”

restrictss him to dealing with limited issues.

Yet, there was something exciting in the build-up to his new album Tha Carter IV. After spending nine months in a jail cell with only his thoughts to keep him company, you would expect his latest material to demonstrate growth. But listening to the first four songs I could already tell what this album was all about.

The music is the type you listen to with big speakers, a Cadillac and a few of your homies as you cruise around the block. The “hoes” are sure to turn their necks your way, as the speakers spit bass that mess up your heartbeat. Songs like “Blunt Blowin”, “Megaman” and “John” are sure to reconfigure a pacemaker or two.

Standout songs include “She Will”,

“How to Hate” and controversial single “How to Love,” which, despite its refreshing value on the album, drew many whinges from fans claiming the song was too soft.

The album clearly lacks diversity and this is apparent in the re-use of the same beat for three different songs. What you can expect from this album is hardcore freestyle rapping and a vast array of punchlines worthy of a facebook status.

Tha Carter IV did not live up to its hype, and with Young Money counterpart Drake due to release his second album in October, it in no way deserves the tag “most anticipated rap album of the year.”

Weezy F. Baby — the “F” is for “fail”.

Image: newlilwayne.com

Restaurant review: Beluga Lyndall Thwaits 

M

y love for all things sushi is a developing taste, so while my friends have raved about Beluga for some time, I’ve never actually set foot into it until now. Tucked away near the V&A Waterfront, its chic yet inviting atmosphere set the tone for a wonderful meal with friends.

Beluga is known, first and foremost, for its outstanding sushi and seafood, but the menu is not restricted to these things alone.

Everything, from seafood to meat dishes is available and the attention to detail in each dish is clear.

I had a hard time deciding what to eat as the menu was filled with a variety of inviting options. The extensive range of sushi dishes highlights the confidence of a professional team of sushi chefs catering for all desires. I ended up opting for dim sum — mouthwatering chicken parcels wrapped in pastry, steamed and served hot.

For dessert: a heavenly white and dark Lindt chocolate variation of a sundae.

“2011 grade 3/6 marking”

Image: Olivier H/Flickr.com

Their list of cocktails is impressive, and caters for all tastes. I got the feeling that quality, rather than quantity, was the focus of each dish which made each course an ideal portion size, bursting with flavour.

The chefs’ precision and passion is evident across the menu, from starters to desert. The presentation of the food was elegant yet simple, and the service as good.

Mains are roughly R135 when the specials aren’t on, but the food is

well worth the price. They offer halfprice sushi, dim sum and cocktails every weekday from 5-7pm and on Sundays all day. This makes it ideal for students who want to enjoy topclass cuisine at a reasonable price.

Bookings are quite important as it is a popular place for groups of all sizes. I feel like I’ve really missed out on some good food up until now and would really recommend Beluga as a well-rounded place to stop in for a cocktail or a full meal.

In October the Schools Development Unit (SDU) in the School of Education at UCT will be administering mathematics and language tests to all Grade 3 and 6 learners in the province.

The SDU is seeking to employ suitable postgraduate students in a short-term basis between 12 and 28 October 2011 to assist in the marking of these tests.

Remuneration will be based on the number of scripts marked.

Requirements: Minimum second year pass in Mathematics or Language (either English, Afrikaans, or isiXhosa)

Please provide contact details (including name of tertiary institution at which you are enrolled) to: Hayley.eyssen@uct.ac.za, who can be contacted at 0216505874/3850 for further information.

features

ARTS & CULTURE

11

Finding your own musical path Tiffany Mugo

U

CT has an array of artistes — from the hip-hoppers who stand outside Arts block to the serene drum and guitar circles that congregate on patches of grass.

Although some may just be blowing off steam, others have big plans to navigate that ocean called “the music scene”.

As a recipient of sound rather than a creator, it seemed best to find out from those “in the know” how to go about making sweet music on campus. One such sculptor of sound is Vuyo Sotashe, recent winner of the SAMRO Overseas Scholarship competition. To show that UCT has talent he was joined by fellow UCT student Maudé Montierre who was also named a winner.

Notwithstanding the extremely delicious R160 000 scholarship (and the minute amount of R10 000 in travel allowance), this writer also witnessed Vuyo experiencing what can be termed as “groupie love” with one girl saying, “I saw you on SABC last night.” This accomplishment shows just one way to penetrate the music industry, as Vuyo now has the opportunity to further hone his craft in a tertiary institution of his choice — his being the Manhattan

Image: michael.currin.co.za LOCAL TALENT – SAMRO scholarship winner Vuyo Satashe is headed towards to the Manhattan School of Music in New York.

School of Music in New York where many of his jazz influences teach and perform.

Winning a music education scholarship is not the only way musicians can get close to their dreams. Getting together after a gruelling day of med classes is another. “Band-Aid” is the interim name for Music and Medicine Project. Despite finding themselves in the clutches of a gruelling degree (to such an extent that lecturers advise them to pick up a hobby),

the band finds their pursuit of music a “welcome distraction.” This is a phenomenon experienced in many universities; according to Bernard Edwards, “there is a university nearby that has an entire orchestra made up of their health faculty.”

Sometimes doing it old school is just as effective: playing in dingy joints, then moving on to better joints. Joining one band, then another, then another. As a friend of Spha Mdlalose, I have known that this girl has paid her dues in such a

way that would be worthy of an E! True Hollywood Story. From being discovered by her school music teacher to being the subject of a Zama Jobe Facebook status, Spha is a rising star. This year alone she has featured on three albums that are soon to be released whilst also being a part of the The Lwanda Gogwana Songbook, a group which has managed to feature at events such as the Cape Town International Jazz Festival. Eventually she hopes to start her own musical project in which she writes and performs her own material.

Spha admits that the scene can be very competitive and one must conquer the problem of being “the new kid on the block.” When taking this into account it is also best to know that you’re trying to get into the right place for you – different places will have different music vibes. Cape

Town is said to have a strong jazz scene so if that’s your thing, come on down! If country and western is what you’re peddling it may best keep on trucking onto another town.

So, people, know that you too can live the dream. It doesn’t matter if you study music or medicine, film and media, or engineering. There is no one way to break into the music industry or find your musical groove. Don’t be bogged down with the logistics of it all. There is no right or wrong way to break into The Scene. If you’re passionate about it, find your sound, find some friends, and jam. And know your audience.

Don’t walk into Mzoli’s and decide that now is the time to unleash the material you have been working on that is inspired by Björk. Most of all, be passionate. And send me a signed photo when fame comes knocking on the door.

Salute!

2011 RMB Winex Nyasha Kadandara

T

Image: michael.currin.co.za YOU’RE BEAUTIFUL – UK singer James Blunt wowed audiences during his recent SA A Tour Tour, which included a performance and a stint as a guest judge on Idols.

Image: michael.currin.co.za

here are two things one must bear in mind as they read this: first, it is very hard to remain sober and objective at such events. My opinions were influenced by many suave male exhibitors I encountered.

Second, as the night lengthened my notes became less legible and so even as I typed this review, my sober self was not completely sure if I agreed with these “notes”.

So, in honour of Phuza Thursday, I decided to jazz things up a bit and I attended the RMB Winex at the CTICC. With our bellies lined with pies, my mates and I gave Winex a good shot.

Post-Winex, I am glad my time at UCT Winesoc was not wasted.

Now I can confidently talk about acidity, oaked wines, and malolactic fermentation and not look like a fool. The best thing about Winex is that you can experiment as much as you want, and if you do not like it you can just spit it out instead of feeling obliged to down bad wine, as one often does as a student.

I jotted down a few scribbles of my favourites and must-nothaves. The following morning, this is what I could make out of my notebook…

Since summer should be on its way, the Backsberg 2010 Chenin Blanc is fruity on the nose and has a crisp taste, with just the right acidity. The Spier 2010 Bordeaux

and KWV Reserve Bordeaux are prescribed for that cold winter’s night spent with your lover in front of a fire. If you like something more spicy then try the KVW Mentor Canvas; according to the exhibitor it’s fit for your in-laws or the president. The Café Culture 2010 Pinotage was great on the nose, giving off wafts of a coffee aroma, but that is where it stopped for me. I was impressed by Vrede en Lust for having sexy women in red dresses serving Lindt chocolate with their reds and the freshest strawberries to accompany their Rosé, Jess — named after one of the owner’s daughters. For the carnivores, the Raat Family 2008 Cabernet Franc or 2008 de Compostella will go down well with a steak. Landskroon 2008 Port ended my night on a delectably sweet note. Unfortunately my liver never made it to Klein Constantia and Groot Constantia, but I will recommend them anyway because they have been good to me in the past.

Winex is more than a fancy way to get sloshed; think of it as analysing future stock market and testing out the stocks before you invest. If you remember any of what I said, let it be this. Do not take codeine or anything remotely similar before you got to Winex, you will end up feeling faint and staggering after tasting your fifth Sauvignon Blanc. Second, do not attempt to taste everything. Thanks to the former, the latter was not an option for me.

12

features

Warning: Citi Golfs may ruin your life Kate Amm

S

ome say a car is a car, but this is not always true. When I was recently approached in writing by a close friend “to take part in a vehicle exchange” (he had a Citi Golf and I had a Golf 6) I was bemused, humoured, and working out at the time. This was because somehow I had anticipated this request and I was already preparing for the absence of power steering.

Power steering: a mechanism that allows for assisted redirection of the wheels via steering wheel (round thing in front of driver’s seat) while allowing for simultaneous BBM-ing.

This exchange would handicap my social life in two ways. Firstly, I would be looking half as cool when I came to campus, and secondly I wouldn’t be able to stay 100% connected while driving. The VW Golf 6 versus the Citi Golf – almost like a match between Man United and Spurs. Challenge accepted.

It was time for the switch. I was nervous. I drove speedily from Claremont to Clarendon in thirteen seconds — the G6 is super fast. After exchanging keys and leaving the G6 in the hands of one Michael Aquambo, I attempted to leave. I couldn’t and not because I was sad at the time — the thing

Image: Andi Carter/Flickr.com

RIDE OF DOOM – Get ready to wave goodbye to your social life in the Citi Golf. just wouldn’t start. Mike pointed out to me that it had a choke. Of course it had a choke! The last thing I had ever seen that needed a choke was a pull start boat engine with a horsepower of 25 — fairly similar I guess.

Finally, I got going but there was something fishy about this situation. I smiled at a hot guy in a Honda Jazz at the red robot — he didn’t return the favour. This was

slightly understandable. I tried to BBM a friend to tell her the news — but I couldn’t because there was no power steering.

The VW Golf 6 versus the Citi Golf – almost like a match between Man United and Spurs

Could it be? Was the Citi Golf as bad as everyone had told me it would be?

Things were definitely different.

I felt down and needed a hug so I phoned my mom and she rejected my call. I went to campus the next day and it took me an hour because the car was so painfully slow. I attempted to jump the queue in the snake pit, but people wouldn’t have it.

Usually people offer me their parking in exchange for a photo in the front seat of the G6. The sad truth is no-one wanted a picture in the Citi Golf.

When I finally parked up at Rhodes Mem I went straight to the Computer Labs to find out if the curse was real; I would check the never-failing Facebook to see if my life had been ruined. Alas! It was true: No friend requests and my total friend number had halved (be warned).

I went to Michael’s profile.

Michael is now friends with Patrick Lambie and 42 other people. Michael is in a relationship with Candice Swanepoel. Michael added “being cool and goodlooking while driving a Golf 6” to his interests. Michael likes “People w who drive white Citi Golf ’s should le leave UCT.” I thought I would never see the light of day again. One act of kindness left me alone and afraid.

This is a warning to anyone who is approached in writing by these guerrilla car/happiness/ identity Citi Golf-driving thieves.

Whenever you see someone driving in their Citi Golf acting innocent, don’t fall for the trap. Don’t feel sorry for them — just report them on Facebook and never, ever make eye contact.

features

CURRENT AFFAIRS

13

The party is almost over for Colonel Gaddafi Rob Attwell

has been quick to legitimise the NTC. The notable exception is the African Union, which missed the Air NTC flight to mutual cooperation between African nations and must now catch the dilapidated water-taxi of animosity and distrust.

S

Libya has never really had a constitution worth the paper it’s written on

Image: hybriddiplomacy.wordpress.com

ince the fall of Tripoli to the NTC, Libya’s spanking-new government has discovered many of Gaddafi’s toys. Amongst them is his private jet, a pimped-out Airbus.

Gaddafi made many modifications to his prized plane, including — wait for it — a jacuzzi.

It’s furnished expensively in grey leather, giving it the appearance of a fledgling Bond villain’s fantasy when the evil business is just starting out and hasn’t taken off yet. It certainly supports the commonly held view of Colonel Gaddafi: that he is a crazy, narcissistic old egomaniac who draws inspiration from a bizarre combination of Bedouin tradition, socialism and cheesy action movies from the 1970s.

Fortunately, the people of Libya no longer have to fund the opulent lifestyle of their memorable, if manic, ex-autocrat. Last month, the National Transitional Council (NTC) took control of Tripoli, the Libyan capital. Mustafa Abdel Jalil, leader of the NTC, has given the remaining Gaddafi-loyalist towns of Sirtre, which is Gaddafi’s hometown, and Bani Walid until Sunday to surrender.

Jalil is a former government minister and was the first to resign and join the rebel cause when Gaddafi deployed the military against civilian targets. He has articulated the aims of the NTC in very simple language.

“We want the same things as people in other countries, and we are looking for the same things,” said Jalil. “We want a democratic government, a fair constitution and we don’t want to be isolated from the world anymore.”

In the meantime, Gaddafi is on the run. Tripoli was apparently captured

before he could stock up on bubble bath and escape in his party plane, being gently massaged in the jacuzzi by one of his sexy female bodyguards as the city burned.

Flippancy aside, Gaddafi’s elite unit of all-female bodyguards, the Amazonians, have accused

the roistering dictator, and his assortment of sons and cronies (not a mutually exclusive category) of rape. At least five of the bodyguards claim to have suffered from serious sexual abuse at Gaddafi’s hands.

An armed convoy of Gaddafi loyalists recently sped across Libya’s

southern border into Niger. There, they met up with local Tuareg fighters and are hightailing it to the capital, Niamey. Several news agencies have speculated that Gaddafi – or at least Saif al-Islam, one of his sons – is hidden somewhere in this convoy.

The international community

At the 291st meeting of the AU Peace and Security Council, the council not only refused to recognise the legitimacy of the NTC, it also expelled Libyan representatives – who are now part of the interim government. The AU said that an “all-inclusive transitional government” is needed. This seems to be the standard AU response to political upheaval. Zimbabwe has a transitional government (and has been transitioning for quite some time now) and Ivory Coast nearly got one a little while ago when Laurent Gbagbo refused to cede power after losing the election.

The AU’s official position is one of concern over the unconstitutional change of government. This represents an unfortunate disregard for realpolitik, and arguably shows too much concern for Gaddafi and not enough for his victims.

Of course, the irony of the AU’s position is the fact that Gaddafi came to power in a coup, after overthrowing King Idris. He then autocratically ruled Libya for four decades, using the nation’s GDP to fund his lifestyle.

Libya has never really had a constitution worth the paper it’s written on.

Free press: where do we draw the line?

Image: The Sowetan

Thandokazi Hlwatika

B

ig* grabs her and she responds affectionately. He moves his hands towards her private parts.

She is all smiles.” When reading this extract from the front page of the Sowetan newspaper dated Monday 15 August, it could easily be mistaken for the opening lines of a sex scene in a tacky romance novel; unfortunately, it isn’t.

These are just some of the words used to describe an explicit 15minute sexual encounter, between

two law enforcers Big* and Nina* while they were meant to be on duty.

The two officers were in a hospital waiting room at Leratong Hospital in Krugersdorp when they started having sex. Both law enforcers are married, and their act of infidelity was recorded by Big (a father of seven) on the grounds that he wanted to have evidence that the sexual encounter was consensual, in the event that Nina would turn around and accuse him of rape.

Sex sells, and the Sowetan newspaper accrued substantial financial benefits from publishing

the story; all copies of the paper were sold out by midday. The accompanying still frames were akin to pornography, and in bad taste.

The prolific rate at which the story and the photographs spread through social networking sites made this story source of heated civic debate.

The premise of most of the arguments were centred on notions of invasion of privacy, media ethics, freedom of expression and the public interest. This then begs the question: does this story serve as evidence of the declining standard of journalism within the South African media?

Could this be one of the stray steps that the media is taking towards an era where informative agenda-setting is being traded for sensationalist journalism in the name of revenue?

People in favour of the story being published are of the viewpoint that the law enforcers were essentially breaking the law by having sex in a public space.

In addition, muckraking was essential for drawing the public’s attention to this matter of misconduct. Conversely, people against the story being published on the front page contend that the

story was not entirely in the public’s interest as the two law enforcers are not prominent public figures.

South African media is not new to sex scandals and leaked videos, but in previous instances the people featured in them have been public figures. Stories like Joost van der Westhuisen’s Heat exposé, or President Jacob Zuma’s rape scandal are examples.

the responsibility of a broadsheet does not include reinstating moral consciousness in society The argument for making these private affairs public has been that they are in the public interest.

However, applying the same standard to ordinary law enforcers is viewed as an invasion of their privacy and an abuse of media power.

Others hold that, even though the story should have been published, it should have been put in one of the inside pages, and the accompanying photographs should have not been

that explicit.

Given the precarious position of the media in the midst of current regulation debates and the Protection of Information Bill being in the process of being passed as law, publishing stories of such an explicit nature substantiates the need for instating such bills. The unanswered question remains: did the Sowetan cross the line by publishing Big and Nina’s story? Or do we need more stories like these that transcend boundaries of conservative journalism, and uncover issues in a more provocative manner?

Infidelity is anathema, but the responsibility of a broadsheet does not include reinstating moral consciousness in society and more salient issues should take prominence when selecting a front page story. Our economy, law, crime or politics were not impacted on a big enough scale to make this article front page material or even newsworthy. Two resignations, an attempted suicide, depression clinic admittance and ruined reputations later, the only benefit that came with this story were the high circulation figures. *Real names withheld.

14

sports I’ll be watching all the games on TV. Hope SABC or eTV will be showing them. I pray the Boks do us proud, and become only the first country to defend their title.

I love the Boks and will be keeping up with their performances. I don’t think they’ll do as well as 2007, but I’m still hoping they win.

Trevor Davids

Itumeleng Khoarai

For the kickoff match, we had a champagne breakfast. I’m going to be following the Boks religiously in every game.

Caville Harris

I support the Bokke but I’ll only go watch games if my friends are going to.

Fouziyah Jacobs

How eagerly will you be following your favourite team during the Rugby World Cup? Sajjad Karamsi

I’m not going to follow the RWC at all! It irritates me that men don’t pay attention to women when the rugby’s on.

It depends on what people are doing. If my friends are going to Cafe Sofia, I’ll go along with them. Else, I won’t be following it that keenly.

Michel Segal

Sharon Harbor

I’ll be watching, but I won’t be blocking out the entire next month of my life just for the RWC.

I’m not missing any game. I even downloaded an app on my phone that tells me when the games are.

Neil Malan Images: michael.currin.co.za

Yaasier Galant

Entertaining end to Internal Hockey League

“KE NAKO CAST YOUR VOTE” SRC ELECTION PROGRAMME LAUNCH OF SRC ELECTIONS: 12 September 2011 Molly Blackburn (Café Frigo) Upper Campus: 13h00=14h00

Questions and Answer Sessions: Campaigning week: Time: 20:30-22:30 Candidates will be divided into two groups: DATES MONDAY 12 SEPTEMBER TUESDAY 13 SEPTEMBER WEDNESDAY 14 SEPTEMBER THURSDAY 15 SEPTEMBER FRIDAY 16 SEPTEMBER

GROUP A LIESBEECK GARDENS GRACA MACHEL ROCHESTER

GROUP B FOREST HILL CLARINUS LIESBEECK GARDENS

FOREST HILL

GRACA MACHEL

CLARINUS

ROCHESTER

Image: garethsmit.com AYOBA! WERE AYOBA – They won the women’s Internal nternal Hockey League, after a tense penalty shootout. The men’s league title was won by the Mavericks.

Kim Senogles MEET THE NOMINEES DURING THE MERIDIAN HOUR: 13H00-14H00 DATES CAMPUS TUESDAY 13 SEPTEMBER MEDICAL SCHOOL WEDNESDAY 14 SEPTEMBER LAW SCHOOL/MIDDLE CAMPUS THURSDAY 15 SEPTEMBER HIDDING CAMPUS FRIDAY 16 SEPTEMBER UPPER CAMPUS: LESLIE SOCIAL SCIENCE 2A UNIVERSITY OF CAPE TOWN_______________________________ DEPARTMENT OF STUDENT AFFAIRS: STUDENT GOVERNANCE AND LEADERSHIP

SRC ELECTIONS OFFICE Rm 7.14, Level 7, Steve Biko Students’ Union Building, Upper Campus, UCT Rondebosch,7700 Tel: 021 650 4107, Fax: 021 650 5051 Email: uctsrcelections@gmail.com

T

he UCT Hockey Internal League finals took place on Friday 26 August, at the Hockey Astro fields near Forest Hill.

The evening started off with the Ladies Final between Ayoba and defending title holders Tartans.

An extremely even game saw the final score after extra time sitting at 2-2. A tough penalty shootout ended with Tartans having to hand over their title to the brightly coloured Ayoba!

Quaggas vs Bushies was played before the men’s finals in a game that only slightly resembled hockey; the first 10 minutes were played using any possible object as a stick. This game is a UCT Legacy

between the UCT Men’s 7th and 8th hockey teams.

Internal teams Dirty Ducks arrived halfway through the game for their hockey club post team fines. Decked out in animal print and with cups strapped to their hands they arrived to much cheering from the crowd.

The last game of the evening was the Men’s Internal Final played between Mavericks and Average Joes. Fast-paced and intense, the game was a fantastic display of athletic prowess enjoyed immensely by the crowd, most of whom had played in one of the 32 teams that participate in the UCT Internal Leagues. In an exciting encounter, Mavericks proved their dominance with a 2-1 victory over Average Joes.

sports

15

UCT sports overview VARSITY’s round-up of action-packed homegrown sports clubs Alex Nagel

Paul Kennedy

Zaid Gamieldien

YACHTING

CAPOIERA

CRICKET

UCT Maverick got a bit of a bumpy start en route to the Lipton Cup, as a pre-sail accident unsettled the sailors.

“The boat had to be craned out of a ditch,” explained Captain Neil Malan, “and hastily repaired by the team just in time for the event.”

With the club finishing in tenth place this year, Malan explained how Mossel Bay’s thundery weather conditions caught the club offguard this time around. The famous competition took place in the last week of August.

It just goes to show that “one slip of concentration or a piece of bad luck (can) drop you out of the competition.”

UCT will make a fiery comeback in the tournament, held in Simonstown next year. “[We] will put our preparation into making it back into the top five teams in the country,” says Malan, “and continuing to be the only university team competing at this level.”

This year, UCT Capoeira celebrates its 10th year of operation.

Capoeira at UCT has grown from humble beginnings to become the thriving club it is today, and nothing shows this better than the success of the workshops the club held recently.

UCT Capoeira last week hosted several highly acclaimed international instructors for a week of workshops and a Batizado, or grading ceremony. The week-long festival was titled “Africa se Uniu,” or “Africa Unites,” a reference to capoeira’s roots in Africa.

Capoeira is a Brazilian martial art form that combines elements of fighting, dance and acrobatics into a fluid and beautiful “conversation” between two people to the rhythm of traditional Brazilian instruments.

It was started by African slaves in Brazil, and has now spread to many parts of the world.

Festivities continue with a Festa Brasileira on Sat 17th September at the UCT Soccer Club.

The 2011/2012 UCT cricket season officially kicked off with the club launch at the Cricket Club House, on 23 August. Guests included ex-Protea Brian McMillan, and Beresford Williams, Chairperson of the WPCA. New Head Coach Ryan Maron addressed the audience, speaking about his aims to make UCT a club to compete for top honours in years to come. Plans for the new season, including details for pre-season training, were unveiled. The new high-quality kits were also revealed, and better fitness conditioning techniques introduced.

The excitement was heightened by the introduction of the first ever internal cricket league at UCT. The Internal 10’s Tournament, starting on 16 September sees 10 teams competing for victory in a fast-paced 20/20-style tournament.

Games will be played on 16 and 23 September with the finals played on the 30th. All games will take place on the UCT Hockey Astro, from 18:00 to 22:30.

Image: garethsmit.com GET YOUR KICKS – UCT’S Women’s Soccer team heads ads to nationals in December.

Tracy van Heerden SOCCER On 31 August, Northlink came to face UCT for their final USSA league fixtures at the Astroturf on lower campus. In the women’s game, Northlink made just one foray into UCT’s box early in the first half.

The girls were on form as usual, and after opening the scoring there was no looking back. UCT put 6 past Northlink’s defenders in a focused

game where fluid passing was key, resulting in a decisive win.

The men’s game was expected to be a tough encounter, with Northlink having a reputation for doing very well at nationals, having finished second in 2010. With the visitors possessing very quick players, UCT had to work hard defending against their speedy breaks down the flanks. This game was not short on entertainment or goals, with UCT eventually going down 3-2 in an exciting encounter.

England’s triumph: flash in the pan?

Stuart Hendricks

Zaid Gamieldien

B

T

y now, it is common knowledge that Peter De Villiers’ tenure as Springbok coach has been mired in controversy and that during his stay, the Springbok team has experienced its fair share of ups and downs on the rugby pitch. With the Rugby World Cup underway, there are many who are questioning the ability of the Springboks to defend their title.

Make no mistake, this Springbok team does, on the balance of evidence presented this year, look capable of keeping that little trophy the Australians call “Bill”. If they do, however, be sure that it’s in no small way due to the majority of the grunt work being done by the players, and very little being done by Peter De Villiers and his deputies.

There are those who would point to the Springboks winning a TriNations title in 2009, along with a series win against the British & Irish Lions in the same year. Those same proponents of De Villiers would also be correct in pointing out that the Springboks managed back-toback victories against Australasian opposition in that same 2009 TriNations tournament.

It would be remiss, however, to ignore just how the Springboks fell from grace the following year, while also noting that the All Blacks were without key personnel during the 2009 season. It became clear that Stephen Donald was a poor Dan Carter imitator, and that New Zealand lacked depth in their flyhalf channel beyond the world-famous Jockey model. This became even clearer when Colin Slade turned in a poor performance when the All Blacks met the Springboks in Port Elizabeth last month.

Image: Duif du Toit/Gallo

If the Boks win, don’t congratulate the coach!

CAN THEY DO IT AGAIN? – The Boks face many challenges including striving to find a balance between experience and youth.

Watching the Springboks play against established opposition in 2010 was utterly tragic for the devoted Springbok supporter.

Many were scratching their heads and trying to fathom how South Africa could field both teams in the Super Rugby final, and then go on to end stone last in the 2010 Tri-Nations tournament.

This position was further exacerbated on the Outbound Tour of Europe, where Peter De Villiers, despite winning three of four internationals with the Springboks, reneged on promises of blooding new talent and chose instead to stick with Springbok warhorses. These failures, more than anything else, spoke to the lack of cohesion within the coaching structures.

Yes, in 2010 key team members such as Fourie Du Preez and

Heinrich Brüssow were excluded through injury, but again one has to consider the manner in which South African teams dominated Southern Hemisphere rugby. When the Springboks have won over the past two years, there has very often been an air of desperation surrounding their camp prior to the win, and the team has often made use of the “kick-chase” approach, one which has brought them great success but has not brought much evolution or variation to their attack.

De Villiers has done nothing to turn the Springboks into an allround attacking force capable of being world-beaters. And at the end of the day, being world champions requires exactly that: beating any team on any given day.

he hallmark of a great cricket team is great players. Let’s face it; cricket is as much a team sport as relay running is. Teams rely on individual scores to create a team total.

Be it cricket, football or rugby, there has always been a great team to define the game in their reign of dominance. The likes of the West Indian team of the 80s and the Australian side of the 90s helped define modern cricket. They had flair, skill and left you in awe. Viv Richards, Michael Holding, and Gordon Greenidge; Steve Waugh, Glenn McGrath and Shane Warne; these players will be recorded as greats in the cricketing annals.

The current state of international cricket is a breeding ground for a new cricketing dynasty. The stage is set for a team to define themselves as legends of this era, and the recent test whitewash of India by England may provide some insight into the near future. India, regarded by many as the dominant force of the game since their World Cup triumph earlier in the year, suffered a humiliating 4-0 whitewash at the claws of the Three Lions. A team capable of toppling the mighty Indians so emphatically deserves some recognition.

England are not a team of stars.

They do boast players of quality in Kevin Pietersen, Andrew Strauss and Stuart Broad, but they do not posses the flair displayed by the Australian legends and also do not have that “oomph” factor that distinguishes the good from the great. England have collective strength and do the basics really well. A closer inspection reveals

that India’s flaws, rather than England’s lustre, led to the suffering of Tendulkar et al.

India generally performed poorly throughout the series and a contributing factor to this was player selection. With strike bowler Zaheer Khan out injured, there was not much on offer in terms of pace, giving the English batsmen only the swing of the grassy pitches with which to contend.

Questions need to be asked to identify the underlying problems that contributed towards the team’s pathetic batting performances.

Were the Indians still living in February? Were the stalwarts of the team getting too comfy on their thrones after being crowned World Champions? It seems there was an air of satisfaction around their approach to their game. They lacked intensity and hunger, and probably should have shown the English a little more respect.

Could this be the start of the English dominion? Probably not, though it is still too soon to tell. A characteristic of a legendary team is consistency and the ability to display the same form in different conditions around the world.

England only seem to do well on their own soil, as the 2007 Ashes series in Australia would confirm.

After regaining the Ashes at home in 2005, they succumbed to an Australian obliteration when the series was played Down Under, going down 5-0.

If the future is any indicator of England’s potential for legend status, the upcoming tour of India would serve as an enormous assessment of the team. After all, no Average Joe comes to India and prevails.

Sport

FIXTURES

VARSITY

Internal Cricket League

Internal Rugby League

FOREST HILL HOCKEY ASTRO

GREEN MILE

16 September, 6pm

14 September, 6pm

First Round of Group Games

Semi-Finals: Nadoes vs Magic Lions

Ikeys close to WP Title

SPORTS BITES

RUBGY - SA conquers Wales 1716 in World Cup opener.

ROWING - UCT Men’s A team come 4th and Women’s team 3rd.

Image: michael.currin.co.za CHALLENGE CONQUERED – The Ikeys, helped by two tries by Therlow “Puppy” Pietersen, managed to continue challenging h ll i for f the WP Super League. They need to win both remaining games with bonus points to overtake Maties at the top.

Kim Senogles

U

CT’s Ikey Tigers hosted DurbBell on the Green Mile on Saturday 10 September, and narrowly emerged victorious in the do-or-die clash. They scraped through with a 20-19 win in a tense encounter.

The boys in blue and white are chasing their first WP Super A League Title since 1974. With topof-the-log Maties having played all their 18 games and having amassed 69 points, UCT faces a tough challenge to win the league. They have to win both remaining games and earn the available bonus points to win the title. Saturday’s fixture was the Ikeys’ antepenultimate, and against the team sitting fourth on the log, the pressure was on.

Durb-Bell came out firing and scored two early tries that saw them 0-14 up after only 15 minutes. UCT gathered its composure and a bout of pressure gave flyhalf Nick Holton the opportunity to get the Ikeys on the scoreboard with a penalty. Durb-Bell missed a kick of their own at the 30 minute mark, and UCT continued to take the game to the opponents, culminating in a try for Ikeys centre Therlow “Puppy” Pietersen just before halftime. After the conversion

by Holton, the teams went into the break with UCT down 10-14.

Holton got the second-half pointscoring going with another penalty, before Pietersen popped over for his

second try of the game. Converted again by Holton, the Ikeys were finally leading the game 20-14 with 60 minutes on the clock. Durb-Bell, with their never-say-die attitude, hit back with a try of their own but failed to convert, leaving UCT in

TENNIS - Stosur defeats Serena Williams in her first US open win.

They have to win both remaining games, and earn the available bonus points to win the title. the lead at 20-19. No team managed to change how the scoreboard looked by the time the final whistle was blown.

The UCT team, led by looseforward Don Armand, were aided with the return of Tiger Bax and WP U21 Paul Cohen. Both started on the bench, and Bax made an obvious impact when he took to the field. Fullback Ricky Rijs also made a notable performance proving almost “untackleable”.

The Ikey Tigers’ destiny is in their own hands, with the league title theirs to lose. They must win both remaining games convincingly, and need to comfortably outscore their opponents. Next week sees the team taking on log bottom-dwellers Belhar, away, before returning to the Green Mile to host Victorians (Maties B) in their final battle on 24 September.

Image: michael.currin.co.za

The FNB UCT team

The WP Super League log (Played, won, points)

15 14 13 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

Ricky Rijs Richard Stewart Therlow Pietersen André Coetzer Mark Winter Nick Holton Nick Farrar Greg Mallett Zandy Macdonald Don Armand (captain) Brad Bosman Pallo Manuel Shane Meier Neil Rautenbach Wes Chetty

REPLACEMENTS: 16 Dayne Jans, 17 Francois van Wyk, 18 James Kilroe, 19 Ntsolo Setlaba, 20 Steve Wallace, 21 Tiger Bax, 22 Paul Cohen.

MOTORSPORT - Sebastian Vettel’s set to keep his title after winning the Monza Grand Prix.

1. FNB Maties 18, 14, 69 2. Hamiltons 17, 12, 61 3. FNB UCT 16, 13, 60 4. Durbanville-Belville 17, 9, 50 5. SK-Walmers 15, 9, 44 6. Victorians 16, 7, 43 7. False Bay 15, 8, 39 8. Villager’s 16, 5, 22 9. Belhar 16, 3, 18

CRICKET - Pakistan demolish Zim, taking the lead in the ODI series.

10. Helderberg 16, 0, 5 Images: Gallo, Brandon Gillon, cricketwallpapers.blogspot.com, I Ragazzidi