THE OFFICIAL STUDENT NEWSPAPER OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CAPE TOWN
25 August 2015
VOLUME 74: EDITION 9
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Remember Marikana
IN THIS ISSUE
Aisha Abdool Karim & Robyn Ausmeier with research by Megon Venter
F
rom August 17th to August 21st, a number of events were held on campus to commemorate the third anniversary of the Marikana massacre, where 34 mineworkers were killed by police on August 16th 2012. These events were hosted by different forums and societies to discuss issues around the mistreatment of workers in Marikana and to contest UCT’s involvement with Lonmin Platinum Mines, the company for which many of the slain miners worked. In response to the revelation that UCT has investments with Lonmin, members of Rhodes Must Fall (RMF) took action to hold the University accountable and demand transparency from management on the matter. RMF made three demands to the University in a press conference held in Molly Blackburn Hall on Tuesday, August 18th, and reiterated these calls in various talks as well as in their Marikana Campaign Memorandum. The first demand was that UCT provide a detailed outline of their financial relationship with the mining industry, particularly Lonmin, including specific information regarding donations given to the University by the mining company. Secondly, they have called for Judge Ian Farlam to be removed from the University Council due to his involvement in the Marikana Commission, which the movement says creates a conflict of interest, as Farlam was unable to hold those in power accountable for the massacre. The third demand is that Jameson Hall be renamed to Marikana Memorial Hall. Patricia Lucas, Manager of UCT Communications and Media Liaison Department released a statement on Friday, August 21st, in response to the RMF statement on Judge Farlam and his potential conflict of interest with Lonmin. The statement details the three different types of investment funds that relate to UCT: the UCT Retirement Fund (UCTRF), the UCT Foundation Trust, and UCT investments. The statement from management noted that trustees handle the investments for the Retirement Fund, and these are made independently of the University Council. As per the Pension Funds Act, the UCTRF is a separate legal entity and, as such, the Council, and Judge Farlam, has no input or oversight over the investments made within the fund. Furthermore, trustees have allocated portions of the
UCT Smoking Policy
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“How are you?”
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UCT Geniuses
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Image: Kristy Macnab fund to various asset and portfolio management companies, who in turn invest the money to earn a return. This means that the possibility of any money from the UCTRF being used to buy shares in a company is done without the Council’s knowledge or input.
UCT should disassociate itself from the report and take a firm stance The Foundation Trust is also a separate entity and the trustees determine all investments. Currently, 0.13% of the endowment portfolio is comprised of Lonmin shares, but these investments are, again, done without oversight from the Council. Lastly, UCT has investments that are managed by the University Council. These investments include a small equity portfolio managed by Allan Gray, an investment management company, which contains no Lonmin shares. In another statement released by Lucas on August 17th, she confirmed that UCT was “invested in the resources sector, including in Lonmin”. The Joint Investment Committee in line with the university’s investment policy manages this investment. During a panel discussion held at UCT on Wednesday, August 19th, the speakers raised their concerns around UCT’s connection with Lonmin. UCT student, Alex Hotz mentioned that the University received a donation from Lonmin to help fund the New Engineering Building, with the
company’s name appearing alongside others on a plaque in the building. Furthermore, Lonmin was involved in funding the EBE Graduation Ball. Addressing the issue of Judge Farlam’s position at the University, Professor Andrew Nash, from the Department of Political Studies, spoke about the lack of justice provided to the people of Marikana by the Farlam Commission. He also noted that the report missed crucial information and failed to properly address the grievances of the workers. Although the University argued that Judge Farlam was not working on the report in his capacity as a UCT Council member, Nash commented that he is nonetheless associated with UCT and in a position of trust. Nash argued that UCT should disassociate itself from the report and take a firm stance against the mistreatment of workers in Marikana. On Thursday, August 20th, the RMF organised a protest march from Bremner Building to Upper Campus, where speakers had been arranged to address the students. Among these speakers was Joseph Mathunjwa, head of the Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (AMCU). Mathunjwa highlighted the continuing exploitation of mineworkers in South Africa and said, “We have seen the individual getting richer and richer at the expense of their black brothers”. Furthermore, he said that it is necessary for South Africans to liberate themselves and to place their country and Africa above their political party. Other events which took place on campus during the week included a screening of the documentary ‘Miners
Shot Down’, which provides an indepth view of the Marikana massacre and events leading up to it, and a talk by Dumisa Ntsebeza, one of the lawyers for the workers who were killed. Ntsebeza addressed the shortcomings of the Farlam Commission, which he stated “silenced the voices of the injured and the dead”. Ntsebeza also highlighted inconsistencies in police reports and the inadequacy of the Commission’s findings.
speakers raised their concerns around UCT’s connection with Lonmin Members of the Tokolos Stencil Collective chose to make a public statement by spray painting stencils across UCT. The locations were chosen “for their specific symbolic meaning as well as to achieve maximum impact”. The Collective chose to make this statement at UCT this year after finding out about investments in Lonmin through UCT’s financial and governance documents and wanted it to coincide with the anniversary of Marikana. Some of the stencils used by Tokolos refer to Max Price, ViceChancellor of UCT, as they feel Price, and UCT, “can force those who do conduct the investments to invest more responsibly”. They said that the primary objective behind their actions was to ensure that all information about UCT’s investments became public and the stencils used at UCT were selected to draw attention to this message.
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v74 e9 – 25 august
News Bites State of emergency declared in Ferguson
United States – On August 10th, during a peaceful gathering to commemorate a year since the killing of Michael Brown, one of the protesters, Tyrone Harris, was badly wounded after police opened fire. Police officers stated that Harris had shot at them first. He was charged with assault, which his father says is untrue. The assault coupled with civil disobedience across Ferguson led to authorities declaring a state of emergency. –BBC News
Third anniversary of the Marikana Massacre
South Africa – August 16th marked the third anniversary of the Marikana Massacre. Mineworkers and the Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (AMCU) came together in Marikana to commemorate the deaths of the slain miners. Approximately 20 000 people gathered nearby the site of the massacre. Cosatu commented that South Africa needs to find a more effective way of dealing with crowd control and strikes. –Daily Maverick
Explosion in Tianjin
China – More than one hundred people were killed in China due to a series of explosions that occurred at a warehouse at the Tianjin port. The warehouse housed various dangerous and toxic chemicals, raising concern over future health implications for citizens. Officials state that the cause remains unknown. In the aftermath of the explosion, calls were made for China to become stricter with safety regulations in their industrial industry. –CNN
Five killed in plane crash
Cape Town – A medical airplane crashed in Platterkloof on August 16th. The plane disappeared off the radar at 6.50am, with its destination unknown, and made an emergency call one hour later. A helicopter was sent to the site of the crash, where the burning wreckage was found with five people dead on the scene, including one medical patient. –News 24
New books to filter water
Pittsburgh – Dr Teri Dankovich, a postdoctoral researcher at Carnegie Mellon University, has developed a book that is able to filter drinking water. The book’s pages contain particles of iron or silver which kills bacteria as it passes through the pages. The pages also contain information about drinking water and why it is important to filter the water. –Al Jazeera
By Tanya Magaisa
News
2015
Concerns of Security Beyond Liesbeeck Gates Yogi Shoba On Saturday, August 8th, a robbery occurred near Liesbeeck Gardens. This incident caused concern amongst students regarding safety beyond the boundaries of the residence. At around 9pm, four people were held at gunpoint near the corner of Durban and Hornsey roads in Mowbray, a few metres from the residence. The exact number of perpetrators is unknown. Two of the victims were female students and residents of Liesbeeck Gardens, the other two were members of the public. Allegedly only one of the students had any items taken from her. She reportedly ran to the Liesbeeck gate where she fainted and in an email sent out by the Acting Warden of Liesbeeck Gardens, Goantebale Nodoba, the second student involved began screaming. “We all heard loud screams of a female from the Selby Road side of the residence,” wrote Nodoba. At this point, according to eye-witness accounts, the perpetrators could be seen fleeing past the residence gate towards the maternity hospital just up the road. Residents and members of the public arrived at the scene. Shortly thereafter, residence management arrived to assist the victims. According to Health and Safety sub-warden, Matimba Mabonda, “We checked if the lady who [had] fainted was ok. We phoned the police and an ambulance.” The role of CPS guards on duty is unclear, but they allegedly assisted in resuscitating the student who had collapsed.
Two of the victims were female students and residents of Liesbeeck She was escorted from the scene in an SAPS vehicle. According to Nodoba the other student was examined by ER24 paramedics to assess if she was in medical danger and was subsequently escorted to her room. Ndoba also wrote that “she refused to go to hospital”. Initial comments by students maintained that the incident occurred
Image: Megon Venter in front of the residence gate and in full view of CPS guards on duty, however; according to Properties and Services Communications Coordinator Lilian Mboyi the site of the incident is a considerable distance away from the gate. “This location is around the corner from the vehicle gate entrance to Liesbeeck Gardens and not in line of site from the CPS office,” said Mboyi. This was not an isolated incident and a number of muggings and attacks have occurred in the vicinity of Liesbeeck Gardens. On the May 2nd, another female student and Liesbeeck resident, Pamela Dhlamini, was assaulted and mugged on the corner of Rose Street and Main Road, near the KFC in Mowbray. She was subsequently beaten and sexually harassed by three men in the perpetrators’ vehicle. This occurred a few metres from the Liesbeeck exit gate. “The one guy was punching my eye and touching me and the other was bashing my head with a brick,” said Dhlamini. Regarding the robbery which occurred on the August 8th, students were enraged that Campus Protection Services had not done more to protect the students or apprehend the suspects. Students have also complained that not enough is being done to protect Liesbeeck residents as they travel to and from the residence. According to Mboyi, the
contract under which CPS operates stipulates that, “they are to secure UCT property (Residences) and the occupants within the confines of the particular area.” Nodoba’s email also emphasised
backpack at the shrine. A warrant for his arrest has been issued by the Bangkok court. He is suspected to have been working as part of a network of 10 or more people.
the backpack, a the blast went off. Thai police said it was an improvised ‘pipe bomb,' which was made of 3 kg of TNT explosive stuffed into a pipe and wrapped with white cloth. Police officials at a news conference said that examination of the surveillance footage indicated that at least two others were helping the main suspect. The two other men, one dressed in red, the other in white, who were standing close to the prime suspect, appear to have screened him as he dropped the backpack. However, these suspects were cleared on Thursday, August 20th after presenting themselves for questioning. A Thai motorbike taxi driver, Kasem Pooksuwan, who is believed to have picked up the suspect after the blast, told CNN that the man spoke an unfamiliar language on his phone, neither Thai nor English, during the ride, however the
not enough is being done to protect Liesbeeck residents that CPS and residence management cannot fight crime beyond the boundaries of the residence. “Unfortunately this we cannot do, given resources at our disposal and our brief,” wrote Nodoba. Mboyi explained that CPS guards are equipped with “pepper spray, batons, handcuffs and in addition a radio to call for backup. Should the scenario be of such a nature.” CPS officers are also trained in first aid. In the event that backup is needed, “the control room will call on [the] vehicle officer who is further equipped with a tazer. Should armed backup be required [the] control room will call on the nearest SAPS station for assistance,” said Mboyi. The issue of safety outside of residences has been brought to the attention of Properties and Services and plans have been made to increase visibility and security. “CPS [has]
arranged with our external partners being GSCID and SAPS to increase their patrols in this area and in addition to this, one of CPS’ marked vehicles will also assist in patrolling the area,” explained Mboyi. In addition members of residence management have urged students to exercise caution when travelling to and from the residence. According to Mabonda, students have been advised to “catch a [Jammie] shuttle whenever possible. Walk in groups [and] keep their valuables safe.” According to Pamela Dhlamini, she no longer feels safe within or outside the precinct of the residence. “I carry around pepper spray because I’m scared,” said Dhlamini. Other students complained via social media that incidences of crime need to be taken more seriously. According to Mboyi , “All cases should be reported to CPS and victims are informed to report matters to SAPS. From CPS side all cases reported are investigated in full.” The expectation is that both students assaulted on the night of the 8th received adequate medical and psychological assistance.” UCT has a 24hr standby person from the wellness clinic who will respond to assist where psychological assistance is required,” said Mboyi Nodoba maintains that both victims are recovering well.
Bangkok Bombing
Tinotenda Masando
A bomb exploded on Monday, August 17th, killing 20 people at the Erawan Shrine, a shrine popular with both tourists and locals in central Bangkok, Thailand. Of the 20 people killed, 12 are said to have died on the spot, and more than 120 people were injured. A second 'pipe bomb' exploded at a popular ferry pier at the Chao Phraya River, another popular tourist area, however it exploded in the water so there were no injuries. Thai police released a sketch of a suspect, a male foreigner, for the first bombing on Wednesday August 19th, who was identified by police on August 21st as Mohamad Museyin, based on footage captured on CCTV prior to the bombing, which showed him leaving a
12 are said to have died ... and more than 120 people were injured Police have offered a reward of 2 million baht, or around R 985 thousand, for any information about the perpetrators. Police mentioned that footage shows the main suspect, who was wearing a yellow t-shirt and glasses, sitting down on a bench in the shrine at 6.52pm on August 17th, and hiding the backpack under the bench. A few minutes after the man left
police who had interviewed the driver earlier did not receive that account. Thailand's Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha discouraged international parties from involving themselves in the investigation, as it would be a “breach of sovereignty”. However Reuters reported that Interpol had been asked for assistance in tracking down the suspects. Given that more than half – 12 out of the 20 – of those killed by the bomb were foriegners, there has been a great deal of international interest in the event. Those who died were from a variety of countries, including China, Hong Kong, the UK, Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore. Thus far no one has claimed responsibility for the attack and the motives behind the bombings are unclear.
News
v74 e9 - 25 august 2015
UCT Proposes New Smoking Policy Nyiko Maroleni
T
he University of Cape Town has proposed a new smoking policy that aims to guarantee air free of tobacco smoke to all those on the University’s campuses. The policy is currently in its draft phase and has not been confirmed as yet. The proposal has been drawn up in order to clarify UCT’s stance with regard to smoking on campus. The main reason for the policy’s implementation lies in the risks associated with tobacco smoke on the health of both smokers and non-smokers. UCT has put forth a number of suggestions for smoking restrictions. Firstly, smoking will not be permitted in any enclosed area, residential space, service or parking area, veranda or balcony. Smoking will be prohibited within a five metre proximity from all areas where consumable goods are sold and a 10 metre proximity from the entrance or exit of buildings and operational windows. This is
due to the fact that present day air cleaning technologies cannot completely control second-hand smoke. Njabulo Thembela, a non-smoker, said he had heard about the new policy from a friend and hoped that designated smoking areas would be made available. He also stated that as long as communication is properly established the policy should not cause any problems on campus. Hugh Morns and Tom Windell are smokers but did not know about the policy. They were not against its implementation but hoped that they would not be singled out for smoking. “You can’t stop people from smoking but you can make them less inclined to do it,” Morns remarked. Windell said he was frustrated by the cigarette buds found on the floor around the cafeteria’s cigarette bins and said he could not think of any compelling argument against the policy. Celeste Jansen, a staff member at the University, raised concerns about the policy as she feels that it takes too much time to walk off campus to smoke. She also identified various discrepancies, “They
have informed us that we have to stand five metres away from the door and the windows but they put the smoking bins right next to the door and the windows”. Jansen states that she understands that not everyone smokes but feels that designated smoking areas should be made accessible. Copies of the policy will be made available and distributed to all faculties. Details about implementation of the policy will be announced in an undisclosed time period in order to allow smokers an adjustment period. ‘No Smoking’ signs will also be placed at all points of entry to the University’s campuses and at all its buildings. Any questions may be put forward to the relevant departmental channels through emailing smokingpolicy@uct.ac.za and the necessary administrative procedures must be followed. The full draft policy can be found on the UCT website. The 2006 publication, the US Surgeon General’s Report on The Health Consequences of Involuntary Exposure to Tobacco Smoke, revealed that exposure to second-hand smoke had negative effects
on the cardiovascular system and could result in lung cancer. Additionally, the 2010 US Surgeon’s General Report on How Tobacco Smoke Causes Disease also noted that even being exposed to low levels of second-hand smoke can have health implications and potentially lead to inflammation of the lining of the blood vessels. Furthermore, the draft smoking policy alsocitesthat,accordingtotheWorldHealth Organisation (WHO), there is no safe
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level of exposure to second-hand tobacco smoke and therefore implementing a 100% smoke free area is the only way of protecting the population. These findings are outlined in the draft smoking policy, and contributed to the proposal of this policy. VARSITY emailed smokingpolicy@ uct.ac.za for further information on the process and implementation of the policy, but had not received a reply at the time of going to print. Updated details about the policy will go online once these are made available. Image: fotocommunity.com/ Jacky Cola
UCT Queer Revolution Aisha Abdool Karim
T
he UCT Queer Revolution, a movement started during the June/ July vacation period, was created in order to raise awareness about the dangers that freedom of speech can pose, with particular focus on individuals who hold leadership positions, and how to avoid issues similar to what happened after Zizipho Pae, President of the SRC Vacation Committee, was called out for
bringing attention to queer bodies on campus
expressing homophobic views. The main aim of UQR is not focused on Pae, or her comments, but rather on bringing attention to queer bodies on campus and engaging with leadership structures on issues pertaining to the queer community at UCT. The movement aims to tackle the issue of transformation and expand on the issue of intersectionality raised by the RMF movement.
UQR aims to begin this transformation through sensitisation and educational workshops that impact all faculties and leadership structures within the university. They also want to find a mechanism through which to hold student leaders accountable and keep offices and public spaces neutral zones that will foster an inclusive environment. They have commended the introduction of gender neutral bathrooms, but still state the need for more of these bathrooms across all campuses, rather than just upper campus. Since Pae’s reinstatement in the SRC as Chair of Health, Safety and Environment, the UQR has expanded their role of providing a voice for the queer community at UCT by pushing for the inclusion of sexual health for queer community within her portfolio, such as the provision of lubricants and dental dams. The initial demands of the UQR were to have Pae removed from the SRC and to implement a policy that would require student leaders to attend sensitisation workshops. The UQR is currently trying to implement these workshops
in time for the student leaders who will be elected this semester. However, they have been informed that it may take a while before the workshops can be adopted. In lieu of this they are currently working on a form to be completed by student leaders acknowledging that they will not impose their personal beliefs on
pushing for the inclusion of sexual health for queer community anyone in order to prevent anyone from voicing problematic sentiments in the future. Another issue the UQR is dealing with is the emotional and structural violence, rather than the threat of physical violence. This violence has been experienced due to other students voicing hurtful views and expressing their disdain towards the queer community, in person and online. Members of the UQR stated that they were being verbally harassed by students as well as encountering this harassment online through hate mail and other forms. Structural violence refers to the oppression queer bodies feel within the institution of UCT and the heteronormative environment fostered within the university. This also includes that they feel their right to protection is being infringed upon. One example of this, raised by Sandile Ndelu, a member of UQR, is interactions between the UQR and the SRC. According to Ndelu, this was
particularly visible in the open meeting held on July 21st, where they faced antagonism from other students as well as religious groups present in the space. Li’Tsoanelo Zwane, a member of UQR, said that the problem is that you cannot reduce sexual orientation and prejudice to an opinion. UQR also encountered issues with management structures when they discovered that their complaint against Pae, filed during the June/July vacation, was thrown out of tribunal without them being notified. Pam Dlamini, who filed the case as a representative of UQR, said DISCHO tried to force UQR to resort to mediation as opposed to tribunal. Additionally, when the UQR went to Bremner to speak to management about the decision to reinstate Pae on the SRC, the gates to the building were locked. According to the UQR, management defended this action by saying it was to prevent another occupation of the building. Thus far, UQR has employed a more reserved approach, refraining
when the UQR went to Bremner ... the gates to the building were locked from resorting to radical action. Members of the UQR said that the claims that they were disruptive and violent when removing the religious posters from Pae’s SRC office were inaccurate, as the offices were opened for them and they conducted themselves in a peaceful manner. The UQR emphasised that the posters
were carefully removed and placed in a corner of the office. Zwane said that the aim of this protest action was to “reclaim the space through [their] physical presence in the office and through the removal of [their] shirts”. The UQR said that if their demands and movement continues to be overlooked, they are willing to resort to radical action in order to draw attention to their cause. The movement has refrained from being disruptive and Zwane emphasised that “people should not mistake [their] passion for [their] convictions”. The UQR is an inclusive movement, open to anyone who wants to be involved, and does not have leaders. There are, however, certain individuals who deal with issues that fall within the various portfolios; these include Media, Legal, Internal Administration, External Administration, Spokespeople, and Radical Action. Students who want to support or get involved with the movement can assume positions in the various portfolios and can contact the UQR through social media or via email. The only restriction within the movement is that allies are not allowed to speak of pain experienced by queer bodies. HAICU has assisted UQR by hiring external counsellors as well as supporting the actions of the movement. The Triangle Project has also been involved with the movement and provided the posters used by the movement. Furthermore, UQR works closely with RainbowUCT, as the official LGBTQIA+ society on campus, and the Trans Collective.
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Editorial
v74 e9 - 25 august 2015
2015 Collective editor-in-chief Parusha Naidoo
To Terrorise the Powers That Be
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news Aisha Abdool Karim & Robyn Ausmeier
“To terrorise the powers that be, the tokoloshe emerges from obscurity. It reminds South Africans, young and old, that freedom and justice remain elusive unless we are willing to fight for it.” These are words found on the tumblr page of Tokolos-Stencils, a loose collective who recently plastered UCT’s campus with stencils and graffiti. The movement puts out political street art with
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with the mining industry with pride, explaining that it was essentially the discovery of gold and diamonds that “gave it the financial boost it needed to grow.” Is it not problematic that we attend an institution that was essentially built on the wealth of mines and the sweat of black lives? Is it not problematic that as students we are not aware of the dark history of structural racism that this institution was built on? And that the continued exploitation is not questioned but instead covered up in a press release, leaving us with more questions than answers? It seems that modern day slavery has a new name – resource sector investments. A clinical phrase that may allow us to distance ourselves from the killing of 34 miners but essentially points to our undeniable complicity. We have bought into a system where economic rights are an entitlement, something you have to work towards – an aspiration reserved for the fortunate few who truly deserve to be more than a miner or domestic worker. A system that believes that having the right
In a World of My Own
opinions Sandisiwe Shoba & Adam Kleinschmidt
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the aim of challenging the “baas”. So who is this “baas” you may ask? Put simply: it is UCT, you, me and every other person that buys into the system of exploiting the black masses of our country. In the words of the Tokolos “real art makes those with privilege feel uncomfortable” and that they have done. By putting words to the pain of South Africa’s underbelly they have exposed UCT for what it really is – not an institution of higher learning but an institution for maintaining status quo. The actions of the collective left management babbling and attempting to save face but falling, leaving us with a lame statement that was essentially contradictory: yes we have invested in a mining company that exploits South Africa’s poor but we are definitely in support of discussing the exploitation of South Africa’s poor. UCT’s links with South Africa’s mining industry cannot be denied – the very formal inception of UCT was with the help of mining magnates Julius Wernher and Otto Beit. What is more difficult to comprehend is that UCT’s website outlines ties
Jena Ascough Deputy Editor
When I was younger I used to spend my days dressed up as Alice from Alice and Wonderland: apron, blue dress, knee-highs, Alice band with a bow and all. I think it was my way of blending the real world with the surreal. I could escape reality and jump down the rabbit hole whenever life seemed a little to dull. Nowadays it’s a little different. Instead of dressing up in cos play I concoct imaginary situations in my head – like how things
would play out if I actually did give into the urge to throw my cell phone out the open car window on the highway, or throw my car keys over that bridge and into the river. I think we all create these imaginary universes to satisfy our inner deviant – the one that tells us we could just not do that assignment that’s due tomorrow because that would be so badass and cool. And I think these hypothetical universes are important; they help us to think
to sanitation means you instead get a porta-potty and that the right to education means you get text books a year later. The words they have etched on to UCT’s pillars and walls speak the truth, so why is the truth hidden behind obscure terms like “vandalism” “defacement”? Since when did speaking the truth become a task reserved for press releases and academic write-ups? Why have we allowed black pain to be become something that is not real, something that must be hushed for fear of causing discomfort for baas? So what’s the big deal if UCT has some graffiti on its walls? We can paint over them and continue with our lives, feigning ignorance and living on our hill. We can continue to attend an institution that was essentially built on the wealth of mines and the sweat of black lives. The work of Tokolos-Stencils is not “vandalism” or “defacement” and it is not “irresponsible”, “disrespectful” or “inappropriate” – it is the rage and pain of black people. Thank you, Tokolos-Stencils, for challenging the superficial integrity of UCT. things through to their potential consequences so we don’t actually have to suffer them. But I also think it’s important to live through these temptations every now and again. Wear your pyjamas to varsity for a day. Try eating dessert for dinner. Whatever it is that will make you feel like a badass (without dealing with monumental consequences after the fact). Or maybe you’re one of those people who is happy to live out their rebellious side in their imagination, which is totally fine too. But me? I’m still seriously thinking of throwing my phone out the window…
ERRATA
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Opinions Why Do We Care About Journalism? Nic Cullinan On June 30th, 2015 a crowd gathered outside of the Swazi Supreme Court to celebrate the release of Bheki Makhubu, editor of Swazi magazine “The Nation”. Makhubu was jailed in March 2014 for a critical article that warned of Swazi Chief Justice Michael Ramodibedi’s powerseeking behavior and disregard for judicial process, especially evident in a speech in which Ramodibedi referred to himself as “Makhulu Baas”.
in many African countries, imprisoned journalists simply disappear At the time of Makhubu’s release, Ramodibedi was suspended pending conclusion of his impeachment process for abuse of power. Press in Swaziland are usually expected to toe the line, and “The Nation” is frequently an outspoken bastion of free speech amongst otherwise timid media outlets. Swazi journalism got lucky with the release of Makhubu, but in many African countries imprisoned journalists simply disappear far too often. Good journalism cares about disseminating information that citizens ought to know about. The information needs to be
accessible both in the sense that it is public, but also that it is presented such that consumers can find it, understand it, and care about it. Without reliable information about which mode of transportation is likely to go on strike next month, I cannot make an informed decision about whether I should catch the bus or buy a train ticket. Likewise, when important information about the character of South Africa’s politicians is missing or incorrect, I cannot make an informed decision about which political party to support in the ballot box. When journalism is weak, people on the ground have no connection with events taking place elsewhere. They cannot know that their Chief Justice is corrupt, or even that the editor of “The Nation” has been jailed for defending the right to free speech. This is why good journalism is important; information is the currency of democracy. Good journalism safeguards democracy by providing a powerful check and balance to power abuse. Currently, the world’s media does not enjoy the freedom to provide accessible information. Many governments actively harass, imprison and murder journalists. Reporters Without Borders, a nongovernmental organization that stands for freedom of information, reports 44 journalists killed in 2015, with over 300 more in prison. Here in Africa there are countries that desperately need press freedom;
countries such as Eritrea, which the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) has rated as the most repressive country in the world for press freedom and censorship, below totalitarian North Korea. Zimbabwe saw 22 media violations last year and is rated by Reporters Without Borders as a “predator of press freedom”. Although South Africa enjoys relatively good access to information compared to the rest of Africa, it’s important we bear in mind that journalism is what maintains that flow of information. Without it, our democracy would be far less robust. Our most recent challenge to freedom of expression comes in the form of a draft online regulation policy by the Film and Publication Board (FPB) that allows for the FPB to police South African Internet and take down online material.
information is the currency of democracy.
If we care about fostering successful democratic institutions throughout the African continent, it’s important we care when Swaziland imprisons one of its country’s last defenders of free speech. If we care about South Africa’s democracy, it’s important we care about journalism. Image: Jackie - flickr
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 300 words and can be sent to:
opinions@varsitynewspaper.co.za
v74 e9–25 august
Articulate
Opinions Editor
2015
5
Yogi Shoba
The Benefits of Failure:
An Ode to J.K Rowling
M
y column is dedicated to the master of the Deathly Hallows, J.K Rowling. I must admit to having a mild case of ‘Harry Potter Nerd’ (I know many in the end stages of that disease) but my syndrome of admiration has less to do with the contents of her novels but rather with the contents of her life’s story.
fairy-dust in the face of inevitable failure In 2008 Rowling delivered a Commencement Address at Harvard University. The modestly dressed, billionaire authoress stood before hundreds of dignitaries, hopeful graduates and their families and wittily spelled out the “Benefits of Failure and the Crucial importance of Imagination.” Quite obviously, this doesn’t seem like the most suitable subject-matter with which to address the future 1%. Few graduates on the precipice of independence want to be told that the fruits of the last 3-5 years spent in intellectual slavery would be fairy-dust in the face of inevitable failure, and that imagination would be their true saving grace. Indeed, in the case of the celebrated storyteller standing before them, fate had dealt a dark hand, because seven years after her own graduation, Rowling had failed dismally. She was a poor, divorced, single mother, living on welfare. Though many revel in glamourising her story of rags to riches; to her “poverty is only romanticised by fools.” Living on £68 per week while trying to provide for herself and her daughter, J.K recounts living with fear, stress, depression, and suffering utter humiliation. Yet, in that period of difficulty, Rowling was able to discover her purpose and direction. In that moment of material deficiency, she was able to focus on what she possessed abundantly: she was a talented writer. The idea of Harry Potter came to her exquisitely in a dream. Arriving at King’s Cross Station, Rowling’s mind was abuzz with wizards and witches and because failure was no longer a possibility, her imagination could run wild. She had come to know herself, she had become acquainted with her strengths and weaknesses and discovered that she had a will to survive. At this point the misguided reader, cushioned by privilege would probably romanticise and long for poverty. It’s understandable because in our spheres of comfort, we often have minimal room to grow. We often
aren’t faced with our deepest fears or pushed to our limits. We don’t break free from the shackles of expectation and performance and discover who we really are and what we really want or need. I agree with J.K Rowling when she says “You will never truly know yourself or your strength until both have been tested by adversity,” but poverty is only one example of adversity. Adversity, I believe, is anything which takes you out of your comfort zone. Adversity is going through the flames of your own personal hell and either disintegrating into dust and ash or being rescued by a blacksmith and forged into indestructible metalwork. I believe and have seen that adversity does not discriminate. We are all puppets of fate in one way or another and adversity comes to whom it pleases, when it pleases and how it pleases. Not only does hardship test us internally, it also tests our external relationships. Only in hard times do you discover who really loves you. I say love because despite the lies society has fed you, love is the unconditional acceptance of an individual. Love is sticking by someone despite their situation. I am also not referring to ‘Hollywood’ love or mere romantic depictions of it; I mean love between friends, family, even strangers. There are people in this world who have laid down their lives for individuals they barely knew, because they understood love on a level that the majority of humanity will never encounter nor understand. But, the pain of adversity is that it often comes at the hands of those around us.
embrace the notion that life is unpredictable On the topic of imagination Rowling defined this as the ability to empathise with others. It is the human capacity to think yourself into another’s situation without ever experiencing it. Adversity at the hands of others is when someone refuses to imagine the flames licking your flesh as they push you into the fire. Ultimately, although failure and adversity is nothing to desire - it is almost a certain possibility in all of our lives. Your reputation, wealth, qualifications and other privileges will most likely not protect you from the looming hand of fate. We are not gods, nor are we demigods, and despite what science has opened doors for some to believe, we cannot control the universe. We can’t portkey ourselves out of hardship, but we can survive. We can embrace the notion that life is unpredictable and prepare ourselves for the best and the worst. We can find those who love us and keep them close by. We can use our imagination to rescue others from the ashes. And finally, 19 years later, we can have a romantic reunion at platform nine and three quarters and watch our children board the train to Hogwarts as the music swells and the credits roll... Ain’t life grand?
6
Opinions
v74 e9–25 august 2015
The Mindful “How are You?” Anthea van den Bergh
I
n a week day I assume that a typical UCT student would meet or run into about five to ten people they know, ranging from close friends to those pleasant acquaintances we never seem to see outside of lectures. If we’re friendly people, we will probably greet them with a salutation of some sort. However, we soon ask or are asked the question, “How are you?” Our reply 90% of the time usually comes out automatically –“Good, thanks, and you?” One wouldn’t think that such a small part of a conversation could mean anything, but my dear readers, I argue that it means a fair amount.
we tend to throw out any answer that comes to mind. A couple of years ago, I went on a life coaching course where the primary philosophy was that the degree to which we use language consciously or not is the degree to which we are in charge of our lives. I
believe this applies very much to the aforementioned question.
show up to the world in its tiniest moments with deep care I have recently become super aware of how when we answer the question, “how are you?” we tend to throw out any answer that comes to mind. We say, “I’m good, fantastic, okay”, but we never actually pause, check in with ourselves and inquire how we are. What this means is that aside from not being present within ourselves, we then don’t share our true state of being with the person with whom we are speaking. Furthermore, when they reply with how they are doing, we are often not really listening. I see it like this: if we give another person a prerecorded answer, what is the chance that we expect them to share their authentic feelings with us when we unconsciously haven’t shared ours? It’s tough to be present, I won’t lie. “How are you?” seems like such a small and insignificant question, and you may think, “Dear me, if I have to be ‘present’ with every how-
are-you, I may as well schedule out an hour each day!” I’m telling you that that isn’t the case: being aware of our language and engagement with others isn’t time consuming. Instead, it requires of us to be whole people for each other, and our emotions are part of that. Yet, we habitually don’t look at what we’re feeling because we don’t want to burst the bubble of “I’m fine”. We seem to think that ignoring our emotions will make them go away, but we also don’t want to look to other people like we’re not totally and completely put together. Therefore, we often reply to a “how-are-you” with an answer we don’t really mean, and so we end up not bringing our whole selves to the table. We forget that sincere companionship is built on all parties sharing and being their full, present selves. We don’t have control over other people and their commitment to answer how-are-you, and other subsequent questions, with authenticity. However, we do have control over ourselves; so I invite you to try out a real “How are you?” and notice the difference in yourself and how other people react. If we show up to the world in its tiniest moments with deep care, sooner or later we’re bound to get some of that back.
Image: Morema Moloisi
What’s Interesting about Interest Rates? Lauren van Haght On July 23rd, the Monetary Policy Committee made the decision to raise the repo rate to 6%. If this did not surprise you, you would have won the bet against 14 out of 31 economists polled by Reuters. The last hike that shocked almost everybody was in January 2014 from 5% to 5.5% and since then it has been (rightly) assumed to increase.
student loans are looking less friendly
This is great news to an investor – someone with a fair amount of spare cash that they won’t miss for a few years in the bank – as this indicates that the Reserve Bank is trying to curb inflation and their return on investments will increase. However, for us students and
soon-to-be independent adults, this means we can no longer afford not to save. Another negative indication for us is that borrowing has become more expensive. Suddenly student loans are looking less friendly, as the instalments could be quite hefty come the day when we trade in our backpacks for briefcases. I certainly hope you do not intend to own your own home any time soon as mortgage payments are bound to be larger than you anticipated. Before you start thinking that the Reserve Bank has it in for you, it is important to note that the exchange rate is likely to increase due to the hike in interest rates. Foreign investors will be attracted to the higher rate and demand more Rands, strengthening our currency – admittedly just as the students on Contiki have returned from their vacations. Not everyone is a natural saver. For many of us, we only start taking control of our personal
finances once leaving school, or perhaps only once we have found employment. It is much easier to spend as it is unavoidable. If you do not buy groceries today, you will go hungry. However, if you do not save today you will not notice the consequences for many years. Saving becomes a lifestyle with practice. Start by setting aside a small amount every month, before spending on anything else. Most banks offer short term fixed deposits where you can earn interest over short bursts, while preventing spending over that time. While you might not have a predetermined purpose for all this saving, this may be the purse that saves you from future financial problems or lets you go on that dream holiday. As the saying goes, “save before you spend.” It is never too soon to start saving and the latest increase in the interest rate should be seen as further incentive to do so.
I Listened:
A Response to ‘Luister’ Adam Kleinschmidt Unless you’ve been living under a rock or in the darkest eaves of the Oppenheimer Library – it is test week, after all – you should have heard of ‘Luister’, a video documenting the struggle of students fighting institutional racism at Stellenbosch University. It’s nothing new: an exposé about a prevailing system of oppression that is South Africa’s hangover from history. Intermingled with personal accounts and analysis, ‘Luister’ is nonetheless an important reaction point.
prejudice cuts deep into the political, economic and social landscape Every struggle against oppression in history has been marked by times of social reaction and social action. Consider any revolution, any civil war, any mass protest or riot, and you’ll see the common trends stand out like a sore thumb. In all cases, the people who are acting against the powers that be are those who are no longer willing to remain in the shadows of institutionalised prejudice. In South Africa, and indeed the world, prejudice cuts deep into the political, economic and social landscape, a wide series of chasms that cut people off. The old strategy of divide and conquer has always worked well for oppressive power bases, and Stellenbosch is no exception. So what do we need to take from the half-hour long video? We’re all aware of the protest action, of the views of the various sides of the dispute, and of the physical remnants of the action against institutional racism. Where do we go from here? How do we react to this video? Allow me the liberty of adjusting the context to one that happened a while back: the legalisation and normalisation of LGBT+ rights in South Africa. During the apartheid era, it was dangerous for a white person and non-white person to be in a sexual or romantic relationship; for members of the queer community, it was equally dangerous, if not more so. Like institutions today cut out non-whites from gaining an education at a respectable university, instructions back then placed nonheterosexuals into mental institutes,
Image: Wikipedia - Kevjonesin
used barbaric ‘corrective’ methods or simply shut them out of economic, political, and social opportunities. Then came the end of apartheid and the Constitution of 1996, a document that enshrined equality based on race, ethnicity, age, gender and – most importantly in this particular instance – sexual orientation. Being one of the more progressive and inclusive constitutions enacted in recent years, the legal position of the LGBT+ community skyrocketed. Did that solve all of the problems associated with them? Not at all: by becoming part of the mainstream and by exposing itself to civil society, it faced a major identity shift. Nearly twenty years later, we sit with a strange bipolar society: on paper and in most urban and semi-urban environments, members of the LGBT+ community are able to live a peaceful life with whomever they choose. There are still cases of exclusion, abandonment and social rejection in urban environments. In more rural areas, however, LGBT+ rights are ignored and there are continuing cases of violence and aggression. It’s better than it was in 1994, but it’s not at the stage where South Africa is an entirely inclusive nation. What burden is then placed on the LGBT+ community in South Africa? Primarily, it’s a mission to continue being loud, proud and determined to make society aware of how it is not a harmful or destructive force. Though there is antagonism, that particular community fights on and refuses to back down for their human rights.
we sit with a strange bipolar society
The issue of racism in South Africa is of a different build – and some argue that it is a bigger issue – but that is not what I’m discussing here. What I do believe, however, is that lessons can be learnt. Put simply, ‘Luister’ is a sign to all that Open Stellenbosch and its formal and informal associates are not backing down anytime soon. At the same time, however, organisations like this need to be aware of what their message and manifesto mean in the future, and how this will translate in the face of antagonism, institutional pressure and, ultimately, compromise.
Opinions
v74 e9 - 25 august
2015
7
H & M: The International Clothing Invasion Lorena Lesna-Maranetto
C
ALLING ON ALL FASHIONISTAS: If you have not heard yet, the famous European brand H & M is coming to South Africa soon. According to Business Day Live, H & M is set to open up shop this October in the V&A Waterfront, with rumours of a Sandton Shopping Centre store also in the bag. This does not seem to surprise us.
brand H & M is coming soon to South Africa
International brands such as Cotton On, Factorie and Forever New from Australia, America’s Forever 21 and Spain’s Mango and Zara, have recently infiltrated the South African clothing market as a means to tap into the emerging middle to upper income fashion market in the Sub-Saharan region. Economically, it’s great for consumers (more choice for you) and great for the clothing industry, since it inspires more competition, forcing South African brands to get their act together and become more competitive and cutting-edge. But how are these other stores more popular than our South African retail outlets? Do these international brands constitute a threat to our local retail clothing stores?
only to leave us constantly playing a game of catch-up Compare brands such as Foschini
and Truthworths to brands like Zara or Mango: similar price range and target market. Which one would you choose? I’d probably choose Mango. The reason? It’s trendier: the latest fashion that both the runway and celebrities are wearing. The first time I heard of the clothing brand H&M, it was strangely enough on the Sims 2 game – how ridiculous is that? The second time, I was actually in Europe. Product placement like that is rather ingenious and with the US’s power over our media with their celebrity-studded culture, South Africa is always behind on the trends that the US as well as Europe set for us. The trends and the prestige of clothing brands such as Top Shop and Mango go hand in hand with a good ambassador, as we have seen: Cara Delevigne for Top Shop, Penelope Cruz for Mango, and Zara, okay well, that one is just Zara, but you get the picture.Thank goodness that Woolworths has noticed this trend and has amped-up their game with Pharrell Williams on board their latest “Are you with us?” campaign.
South Africa is always behind on the trends
Woolies seems to be making provisions for this international competition, but will the likes of Edgars, Foschini and Truworths survive? As if South Africa were not already excluded from the ‘cool kids’ and the dictates of fashion, even nature is against us! The fashion trend cycle, with the duality of seasons between hemispheres, seems to have started in the Northern hemisphere, only to leave us
Image: mediaphoto.org
constantly playing a game of catchup. This problem can be resolved, however. The recent buy-over by Woolworths Holdings Limited of Australian retail store, David Jones (Stuttafords), has let Woolworths increase its economies of scale and reach of distribution. Added to this, Woolworths and David Jones are both Northern companies and can get the seasons’ trends within their respective countries quicker. Which leads me to a new word for you: “trend turnaround”. This essentially means the duration of new trends in our stores. SA retail stores buy most of their clothes a year in advance so
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they can ‘catch’ the previous season’s trends. This results in the purchase of ‘safe’ or more ‘conservative’ clothing rather than the more risky and chic trends, since they are basically making a good guess on what trends will be next. Many European stores and brands have quicker turnaround times in comparison, since they have a highly fashion sensitive market. According to slate.com, Zara has new trends within stores twice a week. This is because Zara places orders for fashion six months in advance, of which up to 50% of orders can be adjusted as the season starts, meaning new fashion, faster!
They also place smaller orders on trends, meaning that if some stock does not get sold, it is not an issue since they haven’t got much stock left to sell. South African clothing stores would seem to change their trends monthly and if that, seasonally. It may be all great and dandy to finally have international brands in South Africa, but I would really like to see South Africa become trend setters in their own right, for the sake of South African designers becasue, quite frankly, it is boring to keep following the trends instead of setting them ourselves.
SRC and Faculty Council election dates Faculty Council Nominations close: 21 August 2015 Q&As: 7 and 8 September Voting Faculty Council: 9-11 September Provisional Results: 14 September Final Results: 16 September Constituting meetings to be confirmed SRC Nominations close: 21 August 2015 Q&As: 7th - 11th September Voting: 14th - 18th September Provisional Results: 21st September Final Results: 23rd September Constituting meeting to be confirmed
The Super Friendship Arcade
The movers
A place to be awesome to each other
of UCT UCT is a large campus, with an even larger variety of students. Hidden away amongst the student body are some students who are making waves in the world in their own small way. Whether it’s raising funds for the fine arts or ensuring that we’re able to get our 2am coffee fix on campus, their acheivements are worth recognising. These are only three of the great things students around campus are doing – if we tried to showcase everyone we would simply run out of space. Do make sure to notice the ways in which many more students are making changes in the world around you.
Images: Anja Venter
Uni-Café: UCT’s very own coffee maestros U
CT has a mass following of coffee lovers, what with all the stress of having to cope with test week, essays, and projects. Students spend long hours on campus and when push comes to shove, brave the cold and come to campus early in the morning. What better way to get through this stressful period than with a bit of caffeine and hot chocolate, right? Thanks to two of the many geniuses of UCT, we finally have coffee machines that can be used at any time of the day. We finally put the faces to the Uni-Café coffee machines that have caused quite the frenzy around campus. I’m not a hot beverages fan myself, but l find myself not wanting to miss out on the experience of using the easily accessible and well-priced R10 machines. Uni-Café provides us with an array of flavoursome hot beverages, ranging from mochas to cappuccinos, and the list goes on. Mechatronics engineering students, James Shin (2nd year) and Jason Hardy (4th year), are the brains behind this genius masterpiece. James came up with the concept after years of frustration at being unable to get coffee during late hours on campus. It is amazing how
the simplest idea can be the most rewarding and beneficial. Mind you, both Jason and James did not develop a business plan, they just took a leap of faith and decided to implement the concept immediately. They are both incredibly hands-on with every detail of the machines. Jason worked on the software, programming, and circuitry of the machine, whilst James dealt with the production of the machine and the business details and deals. They started off with one machine on campus, which proved their business was going to be a success at the early stages. That one machine made roughly 240 cups per day. Since then, their business has grown and there are now five machines which can be found around campus. They can be found at the New Engineering Building (NEB), Menzies, NSLT, Kramer and the Computer Science Building. Now, all five machines combined make up to 1400 cups a day. This results in a monthly turn over that ranges in the hundreds of thousands. The boys are smart and investing the majority of it in developing and molding new upgraded machines. Coffee is really proving to be
big business. During his interview, James admitted that it was not easy at first. They did not have a system that allowed them to monitor their machines, or keep an eye on stock levels and payments. This led to them creating an interlinkage system which allows them to log in remotely and check on their machines, as well as receive notifications when stock is running low. To add to this they are currently working on a system that could see students being able to pay for coffee using their student cards.
After listening to a talk about what was happening in France, he realised that these were the types of parties that could be thrown down here in Cape Town, leading him to team up and throw the first Super Friendship Arcade last year. Richard’s interest has always been in creating games that are conversation pieces and bring people together, which led to the creation of The Super Friendship Arcade. For Ben, game design was something he always wanted to do but never really got around to. After attending the first SFA, he contacted them via Facebook and was invited to join up with them, and that was that.
It’s simple and ridiculously fun to play The last Super Friendship Arcade was held at Manilla Bar on July 31st. Ryan had two games at the event, Arcade Finger Twister and Super Massive Crate Dash. Arcade Finger Twister is essentially twister for your fingers. The controller is a little box with arcade buttons. You play against another person with the finger on one hand, pressing the buttons according to the colours that show on the screen. This in itself is quite unconventional in the gaming
Image: Richard Pieterse
Image: Shaun Swingler
industry, as controllers are very rarely shared. It’s simple and ridiculously fun to play, and by the end of the game your opponent definitely won’t be a stranger anymore. The idea of Super Massive Crate Dash was to get as many people as possible playing a simple, infinite runner game. As a player, you’re running on screen, jumping the crates as they are coming towards you, trying not to get knocked off. This game I didn’t have the pleasure of playing, but I can say it’s a lot of fun to spectate. The idea of Super Friendship Arcade is to create a small, gamemaking utopia right here in Cape Town. It’s a small, ever-changing community which has been created quite organically. More often than not, when someone says they’re having a gaming party, a bunch of guys sitting on a couch playing Fifa or Call of Duty comes to mind. This is not the case with Super Friendship Arcade, and they aim to change the
traditional idea of a gamer and open the community up to more people. Beyond that, there is also an idea of getting people to simply be nicer to each other, more friendly and open. If, in their own small world, they can create a community of people (friends and strangers alike) who treat each other amazingly, that’s one of the best things they can do.
a small, game-making utopia right here in Cape Town. There were many sleepless nights involved in getting this community running, and each event and new game design has its own set of problems, but in the end it’s all worth it. Watching the people play the games, accept them, understand them and have a great time is what it’s all for, and is a great feeling. There
was never an intention of using Super Friendship Arcade to put the South African gaming industry on the map, but it’s definitely happening. They’ve already made some worldwide contacts, and the games that are being produced at these events are matching the standards of ones being produced overseas. Looking to get involved? Start small, attend one of the game jams they hold each month and witness how the whole process happens. Go slowly, make some friends and contribute to one of the best indie gaming communities. Keep on eye what’s happening via their Facebook community page, Super Friendship Arcade, and get involved!
Words by Michaela Findeis and Gape Masole Layout by Michaela Findeis
Funding fine arts with Early Fridays
they just took a leap of faith It works like a printing credit: you load money into the card and simply swipe to pay. Although they are a fairly small team their customer service has proven to be superb as they try to always be at the disposal of anyone using their machines and encountering problems. James recalled a few occasions where he got called at around 2am about the machine not working, and having to dash to campus to solve the matter. Talk about good customer service, let alone a passion to ensure a good image for the business. Students are encouraged to use the story of Uni-Café as a stepping stone to starting their own businesses on campus or elsewhere. Jason and James are always open to suggestions from students on how they could further improve the machines. Be on the lookout for
When asked to describe in a few sentences what the Super Friendship Arcade really is, a thinking pause was encountered. Being the type of event that is something different and great to so many people, it is difficult to put it into words. The guys managed to come up with something though, labelling it as a beacon to attract interesting, cool people, or a punk show for geeks. Ryan Mazzolini (@ RyanMazzolini), Ben Rausch (@Ben_Rausch) and Richard Pieterse (@nekropants) are three of the people involved in the Super Friendship Arcade. It’s a party that happens every few months, creating a space for people to come together, have a few drinks and play some bizarre multiplayer games. The games on show for the night are designed for public places, to bring people together, break the ice and create a fun, friendly environment. Richard and Ryan both studied game design at UCT. Ryan is currently doing his master’s degree in computer graphics and makes games as a hobby. He will soon be starting a job at Sea Monster. Ben currently runs a small animation studio called Cool Your Jets, and Richard works at Free Lives designing games. Richard kept a keen eye on what was happening in the gaming industry overseas and the gaming parties they were throwing there.
Image: James Shin
this duo doing amazing things in the future, as they intend to expand Uni-Café not only on campus but around South Africa, even taking the business international. UCT indeed never ceases to amaze with the awesome things students are doing on campus. I can safely say if you have an idea, implement it immediately. Whatever failures you
may go through are just stepping stones to growth and success. James and Jason’s coffee story is one of one coffee machine to five, and possibly hundreds in the future. For more information or any suggestions contact: james@unicafe.co.za.
Early Friday is a weekly party at the Waiting Room, held by Michaelis fourth years in order to raise funds for their end-of-year graduate exhibition. It’s probably the only place in Cape Town – besides the Kimberley Hotel – where you can hang out and get drunk with a bunch of artists (it’s more fun than it sounds, I promise). The entrance is free, the DJs are largely unknown (i.e. art students playing futuristic techno remixes of whale sounds, or whatever), the beers are cheap, and most importantly there’s a tequila (sometimes vodka) raffle! Each week, an artist is asked to decorate, alter or stage an intervention with the liquor bottle, and the past results of these artists’ bottles have ranged from beautiful to funny to totally horrifying. What other party in Cape Town raffles off what are essentially artworks by people like Jane Alexander and
to a consistent sense of tradition throughout, most notably, besides the tequila bottle, amazing poster design and hilarious event descriptions.
get drunk with a bunch of artists
Image credit: Anel Wessels
Ed Young? The theme of Early Friday changes from one week to the next, and is reflected in the meticulously decorated space and the homemade costumes of the students. So, if you’ve ever wanted to dress up really
weirdly for a party, this is your chance! You won’t even look out of place at Early Friday! This year marks the ten-year anniversary of Early Friday which, in spite of changing hands from one year to the next, has held on
As one can gather from the name, the party starts pretty early (between 4:30 and 5pm) as well as ending pretty early – which is great, because it means that you can go to Early Friday, get drunk, go home, have a good night’s rest and wake up without a hangover on Saturday morning. Alternatively, it can function as ‘pre-drinks’ for whatever debauchery might occur later. The choice is yours.
Image credit: Xanthe Somers
10
Features
v74 e9– 25 august 2015
Straight Outta Long Street
Image: flickr.com/Fabio Venni
Anonymous I never understood the meaning of the phrase “It’s a dog eat dog world” until I was almost drugged, mugged and left for dead in the Bo-Kaap. I had put my trust in the wrong people and had I not experienced luck that, in my opinion, was beyond extraordinary – I may not have lived to write this article. On the surface; Long Street is nothing more than a patch of road that starts on Han Strydom and ends on Orange Street – home to some of the finest bars and clubs Cape Town has to offer – but what many of us don’t know is that Long Street is also a hotbed of drug dealers, thieves, con artists and prostitutes. On Friday August
14th I set out to interview a swath of prostitutes to understand the trials and tribulations faced by the women in this city who work in the oldest profession.
injecting what I believe to be heroin into his veins The first woman I encountered was standing by the FNB ATM across the street from Barcelo’s – she was wearing knee high boots and a leather jacket, her hair was cut short and sported a small scar across her cheek (courtesy of her boyfriend). I walked up to
her and stood next to her and for a moment there was silence as she began eyeing me up and down. It wasn’t very long until she asked “Do you want Business?” I responded “How much?” She walked me about 50 meters down the street, until we were standing across from Sgt Pepper’s. She opened an inconspicuous wooden door; above it a sign read “Indoor Market” we walked up a flight of stairs – the first thing I saw was a boy, he had to have been about the age of 14, he was sitting next to an older man (mid-twenties). It was at this point she demands I give the man 50 rand to “rent a room” – I obliged. As the transaction occurs I glance behind me and see a man sitting in
ll Gatvol:
#TheSelfieParty – Andrea George Inspired, revolutionised and drunk is how most students left Springboks in the early hours of Friday morning, after attending one of UCT’s biggest media fundraisers: Gatvol: the selfie party. Pronounced ‘gaaat-fall’, and not ‘cat-full’ (the way most non-first language Afrikaans speakers pronounce it), ‘gatvol’ means to be very fed-up or irritated. Gatvol is a 3rd year final project for the BA Film & Media: film production stream, which took place on Thursday night, the 13th of August 2015 at Springboks in Newlands. The purpose of the party was to raise money for the short film ‘Gatvol’, which was written by UCT student Sarah Summers. The fundraiser hosted a number of live acts, a bunch of local artists among which included the X Green Panther, Immortal Killers, LION x JAGUAR, and UCTs very own duo, H3nry & Hillzy. Later on in the evening, the crowd was wooed with Mitchells Plain’s finest, Bison and Kain, rapping their famous single ‘Gatvol’. “Performing with a purpose” is what many would call the acts that performed last Thursday. On to the film itself. “The film assumes the entire South African working class became so Gatvol of their circumstance that they instigate a revolution that eliminates class,” Summers explains. “How would this affect our cushy UCT middle class lives?” The film is inspired by a
Image: Amy-Leigh Braaf
group of community activists in Mitchells Plain fighting gangsterism, drug abuse and the ostracism of the coloured voice in politics. It all began when rap artist Brandon ‘Bison’ Collins, a fellow member of the Mitchells Plain community, decided to open up a studio called Bison Community Upliftment Studio, which serves as a platform for people and artists in the community to express their feelings and stories.
the short film ‘Gatvol’, which was written by UCT student Sarah Summers One of the many people Collins has helped along the way was rap artist Kain, who wrote a song 10 years ago, called Gatvol. The studio acted as a space for Kain to record his hardships. Shortly after this, Collins met a woman whose son was killed through gang affiliations in the community, which inspired him to organise a march, also called
‘Gatvol’. For one of the Gatvol events, Collins was interviewed by Sarah at Bush Radio Station, and they connected on a commiserating level. He was inspired to make a film, and coincidentally Sarah was already making one, so their ideas merged. The fundraising event was sponsored by ALCATEL Onetouch, who gave away free goodies like selfie sticks, bar tabs, data and cellphones based on the pictures and selfies taken at the event. Attending this fundraiser was more than just selfies, cheap drinks and dancing though – it was about showing support, by learning about the struggles that people face in our very own Mother City, and celebrating who we are and how we rise above these struggles.
Thanks to the success of the fundraiser, filming will begin in early September. To keep up to date with the progress of the Gatvol movement, kindly follow the Gatvol page on facebook athttps:// w w w. f a c e b o o k . c o m / p a g e s / Gatvol/1614704415445753
the corner of the room injecting what I believe to be heroin into his veins, I looked away wanting to appear nonchalant about the situation. Once the transaction is complete she’s handed a condom and a wad of tissue paper. We then walk up another flight of stairs – there are six rooms; the first room she leads me into has a musky smell, I looked to the ground and saw some crumbled tissue paper, similar to the one she’d been given, and a used condom – she moves onto the next room. The second room is relatively clean, a modest bed stands opposite us, the walls were painted a shade of blood red, and the window was left open so fresh air could get in; she sits on the bed. It’s at this point she names her price: 100 rand for sex (5 minutes), an extra hundred and I get more time and she becomes an active participant as opposed to her just lying down flat on the bed with her legs spread eagled. I give her a hundred Rand and explain that I have no interest in having sex with her – I tell her I just want to talk for 10 minutes – she agrees. For the sake of her safety, and the other women I spoke to that night, their names and the places they were from will not be mentioned in this article – I will however say none of the women were from Cape Town, all of them in fact came to this city with hopes of making a decent living – however the sad reality is that there simply isn’t much legal work in the city that provides a liveable wage. I asked her how long she’d been working as a prostitute, she said about a year. I ask her why she got involved in prostitution; she told me she came to Cape Town and couldn’t find much work, she had bills to pay and lacked a tertiary education, so she resorted to selling her body. I asked her if the men downstairs were her pimps, she then told me that they weren’t; they just provided the venue. Through our conversation I came to learn that many of the women who work on Long Street don’t have pimps, they’re independent contractors, they work out deals with people like the men I encountered downstairs who rent rooms to women. It’s beneficial to these men because it allows them to operate a brothel that technically isn’t a brothel. She then told me that she prefers not to work with pimps because many of them are violent and abusive, they also take a large sum of the women’s earnings. She began to recount a story about an acquaintance (a fellow prostitute) who was murdered by her own pimp for refusing to work. She told me the woman had been sending applications around the city and had found a job working in a restaurant, when she told her pimp she wanted to quit he killed her, nobody knows where the body is; nobody really cares. As we spoke she told me stories about clients getting violent with her, some men see her, and other prostitutes, as easy targets for muggings
and some clients have tried to go as far as attempting to drug and rape her. We leave the building, I thank her and we part ways – she walks back to the ATM.
I asked her how long she she’s been working as a prostitute It wasn’t long until I ran into another woman – I offered her 100 rand to speak about what she does; she agreed. I asked her how she got into prostitution – she told me she was an illegal immigrant who fled her country two years ago with her son, when she arrived in Cape Town she was able to secure a job as a domestic worker but unfortunately she was fired. She begged on the streets for a while but eventually resorted to prostitution. Similar to the woman I’d met earlier she didn’t have a pimp, but she said she was considering getting one. I asked why; she then told me in a very casual way that she’d been raped at knife point three nights prior, she told me the nice thing about pimps is that they provide protection. She told me she couldn’t go to the police – I asked why. She then began to explain that she was afraid that if she went to the police they may try to deport her, but what was more frightening was what she told me next; apparently many police regularly assault prostitutes – due to the illegality of their trade the police are well within their jurisdiction to arrest these women – the police don’t arrest these women though, many infact assault them both physically and sexually. She told me that some officers threaten to arrest prostitutes unless they perform sexual acts on the officers for free, some even demand to be given a cash bribe after. The cash bribes are anywhere between 200 and 500 rand and the women pay the bribes for fear of losing out on work. If the women try report the officers they are brutalised and often the reports don’t get filed. Pimps are exploitative, but they provide protection that the police simply don’t. We bid farewell to one another and she walked down the street- I felt ill. I was considering going home until I ran into two women standing outside a convenience store, one of them asked the familiar question- “Do you want business?” I told her I didn’t have much money but I was willing to give her 20 Rand in exchange for a conversation; she consented. The transaction took place and I began to ask questions- I found out that she and the woman next to her were sisters, they’d been working for about four months. It was at this point that her sister offered to have sex with me for free- an offer I declined. She then asked why I was so inquisitive about their lives... To read the rest of this story, go to varsitynewspaper.co.za
A quick and easy guide to using the train in Cape Town. Image: flickr.com/Markus Stober
Kirsty Macnab Metro trains. The mere idea invokes fear in many a person in Cape Town. These trains just scream “unsafe, unreliable and all round unpleasant” to most people. However, even though this may be true for some train rides, with the tips below I would like to prove the stigma around the Cape Town Metro wrong. The first and foremost advantage to taking a train is the incredible cheapness! Petrol is so expensive (especially on a
student budget), so if you want to spend a day at the beach but are limited as to how to get there, use the train. The Southern Line goes all the way from Cape Town CBD, to Rondebosch (where most of you could catch it) to Simonstown. On this route, you can stop at Kalk Bay – it takes about 40 minutes and a mere R10 or so, which leaves you plenty of money to splurge on an ice cream at The Ice Café, or maybe on a few afternoon drinks at the Brass Bell. Even better, is the fact that you do
Features not have to worry about drinking and driving...just hop on the train home! Be sure to be on time for the last one though, check http://cttrains.mobi for up-to-date schedules. Now, not only is it cheap, but the train ride along the Southern Line is beautiful! Once you reach Muizenburg, the train runs right along the shore. You could not get a better (or cheaper) view of False Bay. The Southern Line is probably the most frequented, however, you can also catch a train to Stellenbosch or Century City. These trips run a bit longer, as you have to go into town first, before catching the Northern Line, but even though the trip may be lengthier by train than by car, the money saved makes it so worth it! You should note though that the trains can be unreliable at times. If a train is delayed there really is nothing you can do but to wait – South Africa is the epitome of organised chaos! Once you realise and accept this, you can just enjoy the adventure. Another worry is the fear that the trains are unsafe to take, because incidents have occurred on trains. The trick though, is not to be scared but to be careful. If I am carrying a bag when I take the train (which I do a lot), I try to hide my valuables such as my phone or money. I like to put them all in “my
Are the Scars of Racism Embedded in UCT? How the University of Cape Town’s architecture reflects colonial views Kristy MacNab Very often, we live our lives with a blurred peripheral vision. We naively plod along without noticing that which is right in front of our eyes. Students blindly describe the University of Cape Town (UCT) as being aesthetically beautiful, but in light of the removal of the Rhodes statue, I decided to research ways in which the UCT buildings themselves can represent the opinions of those who built them. What I discovered – the truth behind UCT’s campus – reveals a harrowing narrative of South Africa’s battle with racism.
reveals a harrowing narrative of South Africa’s battle with racism Joseph Michael Solomon, on land donated by Cecil John Rhodes, built the buildings of UCT. The university is popularly known as South Africa’s most political university and thus, it was perhaps overdue (but definitely nothing new), when resistance was sparked through the Rhodes Must Fall Movement earlier this year. Despite this opposition towards racist values though, not many people fully grasp the extent to which UCT’s architecture reflects colonial power. Solomon deliberately designed the UCT campus to be symmetrical, in order to portray white dominance and
create a powerful presence as you look at the campus from afar. Cape Town is internationally recognised by Table Mountain, and this absolute power of UCT is emphasised by its situation on the slopes of this significant landmark. The symmetrical, rigid structures of the UCT campus contrast the wild and rugged African landscape that surrounds it. Similarly, Devils Peak also acts as a foreboding force, looming over the southern suburbs...and it would take a powerful expanse to compete with it. UCT does just that. In its design, Cecil John Rhodes was granted a prominent position on the UCT campus. A line of symmetry cuts through UCT’s campus and goes from the tip of Devils Peak, through the top of Jameson Hall, down to where the Rhodes’ statue used to be. Rhodes was also situated perfectly between the third and fourth pillar of Jameson Hall, placing him right in the middle of campus. This highlights the significant influence that Rhodes had in UCT’s history.
Reflects the power that is currently present within Rhodes was also strategically situated so that his gaze would fall over the southern suburbs and the Kwalanga townships, with the powerful
symmetry of UCT supporting him from behind. This shows the absolute assurance in his right to ownership over the land that he sat on, as well as the people that crossed his path. His height and vantage point above the rest of Cape Town effectively highlighted his white dominance. Elsewhere on campus, there is a stone etched with an engraving that acknowledges a man known as the champion of Afrikaner nationalism – DF Malan. Malan has not been granted as much attention as Rhodes, (perhaps he did not enslave as many people, but who’s counting?) however, there is a hint of irony in the fact that this stone forms part of the walls holding the Jagger African Studies library. Perhaps though, instead of focusing on the irony, this stone could be a symbol of progression after years of repression, the celebration of how Africa and its people have triumphed over the architect of apartheid’s ideals and racist laws. UCT was rated as the third most beautiful university in the world by The Telegraph, but it is terribly sad to think that the campus we know and are so proud of contains so many scars that serve as a reminder of South Africa’s violent, racist history. Perhaps the opinion to take is that UCT’s campus does reflect power. However, instead of it reflecting that of colonial power, perhaps the architecture of UCT now reflects the power that is currently present within the hands of the students at UCT.
V74 E9 - 25 AUGUST 2015 Image: flickr.com/ Oran Viriyincy
safe place” – i.e. my bra. Choose a safe place to store your things, and try to avoid things like travelling in a carriage alone, or travelling outside of the 7am-5pm bracket.
Taking the train is an experience, not merely a cheap convenience. So if you are itching to explore, catch the train and see Cape Town from a different perspective!
No Pens Intended? The Benefits of taking notes by hand Nadia Ghumra
In most lectures it is not uncommon to see a variety of laptops and tablets propped up on the desks, or to hear the ferocious tapping of fingers on a keyboard. However, when it comes down to trying to capture the details of the lecture slides in front of us, are we actually setting ourselves back by typing them out? Could the efficiency of a computer in effortlessly generating our work for us possibly outweigh the invaluable psychological benefits that handwriting offers us?
Handwriting is a cognitive skill
I have felt many a peculiar stare when I put my laptop aside and pull out my notepad and pen during a lecture, as if I’m some kind of archaic creature. However, writing out my notes honestly helps me pay better attention to the lecture! This is because handwriting is a cognitive skill. It helps to stimulate the mind by constantly demanding your brain’s attention. Writing each letter by hand also automatically serves as a first read-through, and thus is a way of remembering what we wrote down.
This leads to an enhanced comprehension of what was taught Although typing out notes can be faster (and so you may find that you take more notes), you tend to just write down unnecessary facts. According to a study performed by researchers Pam Mueller and Daniel Oppenheimer,
students who took notes with a pen were able to rephrase and summarise the notes far more effectively. Writing usually rules out taking down every word and hence we tend to put down only what is important. This leads to an enhanced comprehension of what was taught. Not only do hand writing notes assist with retaining the knowledge, however, it also sanctions conceptual understanding since we write the notes in our own words. This means that when writing a test or exam, we can apply our knowledge of the subject to understand ideas and customise them for different situations. Besides all the skill developments that you miss out on by typing your notes, using a laptop can also be very (very) distracting. Students tend to drift towards checking their Facebook timeline or emails, or playing games... just because the opportunity is right there, staring them in the face.
We may find a compromise between electronic note-taking and applying pen to paper I do believe, however, that as we move through the digital ages, we may find a compromise between electronic note-taking and applying pen to paper. We all know that it is easier, cheaper and more efficient in terms of maintenance to use electronic copies of documents, so maybe we should head more resolutely in the direction of styluses and smart-pens! After all, if you think about it, handwriting is a way of expressing our personalities. We each learn the same letters but draw them in our own unique ways. Hence, we can make the most of our education, and still look contemporary while doing so.
DOCTORAL FELLOWSHIPS IN HIGHER EDUCATION STUDIES The Faculty of Education at the University of Johannesburg (UJ) invites applications for Masters by Research Scholarships and Doctoral Research Fellowships in the field of Higher Education Studies. The fellowships are offered as part of a larger research project in higher education with a focus on policy, leadership, development and social justice. The programme targets graduates who wish to pursue careers in higher education.
Eligibility
Applicants must: • Have graduated with a minimum average mark of 70% in their previous degree • Not be full time employees or must be prepared to be full time students • Be highly proficient in English and academic writing skills The fellowships are tenable for one year but would be renewable for a second and subsequent years depending on academic performance.
Application process
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Applicants should submit the following: • A letter of application, containing a brief motivation for the scholarship or fellowship • A detailed curriculum vitae indicating qualifications, and, if applicable work experience, list of publications and conference presentations • Certified copies of relevant academic records • Reference letters from at least three referees (two of them must be academics who have contributed to the academic development of the applicant) • A three-page research proposal outlining the applicant’s envisaged area of study.
Value
The value of the fellowship is about R120 000 per annum plus a monthly stipend of R6 500. 10 000
Closing Date 30 June 2015. Dec.
Enquiries
Professor Michael Cross 011 559 3286 mcross@uj.ac.za or Loria Mokoena 011 559 3655 loriam@uj.ac.za.
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Features
v74 e9 – 25 August 2015
Easy-Peezy Pizza
5 Fun Things to do Around Cape Town A healthier, homemade alternative to everyone’s favourite – pizza
That you probably haven’t done yet Emma Strumpman
Alexandra Findlay
H
ere in Cape Town, we are creatures of habit. We like to live our best hipster/insta-worthy lives by keeping busy with some of the many activities that this bustling cultural-hub of a city has to offer. From First Thursdays and the Old Biscuit Mill, to Lions Head, artisan burgers, and coffee snobbery, there’s surely never a dull (or hungry) moment. But, because these “hipstivities” are so, erm, hip and enjoyable, it’s easy to get stuck in a rut. So, to broaden your horizons, venture out of your comfort zone and keep keeping things interesting. Here are five things to do outside of the CBD that you probably haven’t done yet:
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Village Roast: Take a break from your usual coffee joint and venture to the Village Roast in Noordhoek’s Farm Village for your take-away caffeine fix. “Noordhoek?” you say. “Don’t I need, like, a passport to go there?” Well, no, but pack your friends in the car and make a mini road trip of it. The Village Roast is run by Guy Chaston, who is one of the coolest and most knowledgeable baristas you’ll ever meet – he will happily tell you anything you need to know about the beans he roasts on site. In typical Noordhoek fashion, expect a welcoming and laidback vibe, homemade pastries and ecofriendly take-away cups (yay!).
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Paarl Rock: The town of Paarl, meaning “pearl”, is named after the pearlescent shimmer of this giant granite formation, which forms part of the highly-underrated Paarl Mountain Nature Reserve.
Image: Nicole Arends
Image: Nicole Arends Hike one of the mountain’s many trails, rock climb and, when you’ve had enough of that, lay out a lovely picnic on the grass and tuck in.
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Jump Around: More and more people are hopping onto the health and fitness train these days. That said, the indoor trampoline park Jump Around has recently opened its doors in Paarden Eiland, offering a new and exciting way of getting into shape – while still having fun. You can practise your back flips at the Foam Pit, play a game of bouncy basket ball or simply free jump – it’s up to you.
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Bloubergstrand’s FrozenYo: Take a drive, a gentle stroll or a bicycle ride along Bloubergstrand’s promenade on a sunny day, and you won’t miss this bright turquoiseand-yellow-coloured member of Cape Town Food Trucks parked off next to the beach. As the name suggests, FrozenYo offers frozen yoghurt in a variety of flavours, with the option of adding the toppings of your choice. Whether you prefer sweet, fruity or, for the carb-conscious, banting, enjoy this delicious treat while taking in one of the best views of Table Mountain that the Mother City has to offer.
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Sunset Beach: What’s better than eating frozen yoghurt on the beach? Eating frozen yoghurt on Sunset Beach (a hop and a skip away from Bloubergstrand, although you’d get roughly the same effect from there, too..) and watching the sun make its descent, turning the sky a brilliant orange... with Table Mountain in all its glory as a backdrop, that’s what! You’re welcome.
Everyone loves pizza. Everyone. If you don’t love pizza, you’ve got to start questioning your life choices, because to say that you’re missing out is a wild understatement. The problem is, however, that good pizza costs money, which is both irritating and inconvenient. Spending R100 every week on Col’Cacchio’s is not ideal. Also, university spread is a real thing, and pizza is not a good meal choice if you’re trying to hop on the healthy-eating wagon. But there is just no way to resist that delicious melted cheese, tomato sauce and crunchy crust... so here’s a great way to have all the pizza-deliciousness, without breaking your piggy bank or your belt!
What you will need: - A working oven - 1 whole wheat wrap - 1 serving tomato pasta sauce (or, if you’re feeling energetic you can whip up your own sauce with a can of chopped tomatoes, a clove or two of garlic and some fresh basil) - 2/3 cup grated mozzarella cheese - Toppings of your choice (my personal favourite is fresh tomato, feta cheese and basil pesto) Method:
1. Pre-heat your oven to 200°C. 2. Place the wrap flat down on an oven-proof tray. 3. Spoon the tomato pasta sauce onto the wrap (about one or two tablespoons, depending on how saucy you want your pizza). 4. Sprinkle the mozzarella cheese on top of the sauce. 5. Add your toppings. If you are adding any type of meat, be sure to cook it before you put it on your pizza. 6. Put your wrap pizza in the oven for 5-8 minutes. When the cheese is bubbling and the crust is crispy, the pizza is done. 7. Hold the oven tray with an oven glove and use a spatula to slide the pizza onto a plate. Be careful because both the pizza and the tray will be very hot. *Tip: Yo 8. If you want to add avocado or parmesan cheese, now’s the time. 9.Slice u c a n them in c the ove ook a few pizz the pizza into 8 and chomp away! n. as onto a p late. Us Put two trays at a time by g et in e place th is tray o two spatulas t the oven and ting them all ready a o move n the lo when th nd a wer ove n shelf, n uncooked p e top pizza is d rotating izza on moving one, sli to t de the half shelf. cooked he oven tray a it nd pizza to the upp er
Romance Isn’t Dead! How to bring back the romance: 2015 style Nicole Arends I recently stumbled upon a Facebook post that captured my attention: “True love lives: Calvin Harris babysits Taylor Swift’s cats,” it read.
saying what you truly feel has become such a rarity Accompanying the article was a stream of “relationship goals!”
comments, and needless to say, I was wildly perplexed. Has the notion of romance become such a myth, that the idea of someone babysitting your cats is the grandest romantic gesture we strive for?? In light of this crisis, I’ve got a few hints for you to flourish as a hero – fighting against the impending romantic Armageddon. The first problem, is that saying what you truly feel has become an incredible rarity. One guaranteed way to reignite the flame in any relationship though, is reminding your significant other how special they are. If you love what they’re wearing that day, tell them! Psychologists list communication as one of the most important factors that contribute to a successful relationship, and note that supressed feelings easily drive couples apart. The same applies when you’re attempting to approach a potential suitor. The ideal method is probably not delivering some corny pick-up line you read on Twitter last week, but rather a more simplistic, straightforward style. Compliment their eyes or their smile, or something little you noticed about them for guaranteed results.
remember that it’s quality – not quantity – that matters
Image: Nicole Arends
Now, on the topic of little things... let’s remember that it’s quality – not quantity – that matters. Yes, dinner at a fancy restaurant in Camps Bay
with a bottle of Sauvignon Blanc is lovely, but it’s not always necessary to splurge to impress. No. It’s all about creativity. Think of some unique way to bring some thrill into the relationship. Think: rock-climbing, dancing or a trip to a theme park! These types of activities spark the release of the adrenaline hormone, which, according to scientists, is the primary hormone released when you first start falling for someone.
the glass slipper has got to fit someone right? For those people who have been in a relationship for a while and are feeling the spark beginning to dull, a great idea could be a “first date redo”, where you and your significant other go on a date, pretending that it is your first...which serves as the perfect reminder of why you fell in love in the first place. At the same time, there’s nothing like the element of surprise to spice things up – yes, I’m talking Zinger Wings with hot sauce. Be spontaneous and surprise your girl/guy with a gift for no particular reason, leave them a cute note or go on a spontaneous midweek date to break the routine! At the end of the day, we’re all looking for some sort of happy ending. And the truth is, even though 90% of the chances we take may fail, the glass slipper has got to fit someone right? Romance is not dead. It’s just lost. Go find it.
The Jo Kunnuji Experiment
Features
Res4Res Play The annual Res4Res Festival is a greatly anticipated event on UCT’s cultural calendar. The event, comprising of short-play performances by each of the university’s various residences, is held at our own magnificent Baxter Hall and sees the residences competing for an array of much sought-after prizes and titles.
held at our magnificent Baxter Hall
Engela Britz
A
s the name itself suggests, this project is an expedition into somewhat unfamiliar territory – that of a musical fusion between jazz harmony and traditional Ogu percussive and vocal music. According to Kunnuji, the experiment is not pursuing African-inspired jazz, but rather jazz-inspired African traditional music.
Kunnuji adapts ... melodies of songs from his childhood Work on this experiment only began in 2013, but the initial inspiration goes way back. By drawing on memories from his youth in Badagry, Nigeria, Kunnuji adapts traditional melodies of songs from his childhood to modern jazz, while retaining their original rhythmic feel.
many Ogu children wanted to learn English and Yoruba songs Reflecting on the socio-political situation in Nigeria, Kunniji admits that many Ogu youths have shunned their traditional music and language in order to be “hip”. He recalls how many Ogu children wanted to learn English and Yoruba songs, rather than their own traditional songs. He explains that this is following the general quest in Africa, of wanting to imitate the West. Historically, Western music has been a threat to traditional music all over the world – first in the form of Christian hymnody and later in the form of American and European popular culture, amongst others. Thus, Kunniji’s
approach, wherein the traditional and modern support each other, is absolutely refreshing. Kunnuji’s dream is to take this music further by creating collaboration between the best Ogu percussionists and modern jazz musicians. The Jo Kunnuji Experiment is clearly more than just a band – it is a genuine mission to entice Ogu youths to reconnect with, and take pride in their traditional music by giving it a modern edge. It has the remarkable potential to educate and to encourage the transmission of traditional knowledge into contemporary ears, which may even serve as a model for similar projects in the near future.
The Jo Kunnuji Experiment is more than just a band Currently, the band consists of the staples of Kunnuji on trumpet and cornet, Georgie Jones (baritone sax), Zeke le Grange (tenor sax), Keegan Steenkamp (flugelhorn), Lumanyano Unity Mzi (drums), Blake Hellaby (piano), Sibusiso Matsimela (double-bass) and Keketso Bolofo (percussion); but recent recordings have also featured Zoë Modiga on vocals and Keenan Ahrends on guitar.
take pride in their traditional music by giving it a modern edge For those who would like to get an idea of the band’s exciting musical fusion, check out their videos on Youtube, or make your way to their Facebook page – Jo Kunnuji Experiment aka Mau Vivi – where you’ll be able to get needto-know information about them and their upcoming performances.
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Festival stirs up the winds of change
Hannah Roodt
Image: Nicole Arends
V74 E9- 25 AUGUST 2015
The festival was held from August 12th to August 15th and, at only R45 a ticket, was very popular with UCT students! The theme of this year’s Res4Res was, “The Winds of Change” – evidently inspired by the various attempts at transformation on the
each play showcased ... distinct identities and opinions UCT campus. Written and directed by the culture representatives of the various residences, each play showcased the distinct identities and opinions that are governing the campus. Various controversial topics were explored as themes, including SRC shortcomings, homosexuality, privilege, religion and human trafficking.
various controvertial topics were explored as themes The evening’s introduction consisted of two of the festival’s artistic directors delivering a scathing portrayal of the social, political and
economic circumstances of South Africa. This was brilliantly done through physical expression and the use of satire; passionately and effectively sharing their ideas on Nkandla, the ANC and Xenophobia.
brilliantly done through physical expressio and the use of satire The amateur residence performances, ranging from soulful, melodic singing to dramatic expressions of thought, not only contained something for every viewer to appreciate, but also indicated that there is a vast amount of undiscovered talent on this campus. Special thanks must be given to the cultural reps of each participating residence and to the Department of Student Affairs, Housing and Resident Life, for putting together this incredible event!
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Sport Fitness Fanatics: Infinitely Black
v74 e9 – 25 august 2015
Catherine Fulton
Sports Bites Dean Horwitz Ikey Tigers continue their unbeaten run
The Ikey Tigers have continued their unbeaten run of form in the 2nd half of the Western Pronvince Rugby League, with two bonus point victories against Primrose RFC at home and Sir Lowrians away. In the game against Primrose, Huw Jones, who is back from WP duties, scored four tries to help the Ikey Tigers to a 48-0 victory on a wet, cold and muddy night on the Green Mile. The team then travelled to Sir Lowrians where despite some plucky play from the home team, the Tigers came out on top with a 33-26 bonus point victory. The Ikey’s have won all their matches with a bonus point in the 2nd half of the season and seem to be in great shape for their next game- which is a mighty encounter with False Bay, at False Bay, in their final round robin game of the season. A good performance from the team should see them advance into the semi-finals where they will hopefully go all the way and lift the trophy at the end of the season.
UCT Table Tennis players dominate at the LivKen Fourth Division Championship
Udhir Ramnath and Jared Gruzin finished first and second, respectively, in the Liv-Ken Fourth Division Championship on Monday, August 17th. Udhir was automatically entered into the Second Division Championship on Wednesday, August 19th, where he unfortunately lost the quarter finals.
UCT Soccer on a great run of form
Both the men’s and women’s UCT soccer teams are currently enjoying some great success on the pitch. The UCT men’s and women’s team recently beat both the University of Stellenbosch and CPUT, while the women’s team also went on to beat Northpine United in a quarter-final replay. Both teams will be playing the University of the Western Cape in the next week. In addition, Shalom Chitanda, who plays for the first team ladies, has been selected for the under 19 Western Province team.
UCT Waterpolo results
On Wednesday, August 20th, the UCT 1st Waterpolo team beat RWC, but lost later to SACS. The women’s 1st team, however, was able to beat SACS. In the other games played on the evening the men’s 2nd (A) team drew with the RWC 1st team but lost to the SACS 1st team while the men’s 2nd (B) team drew with the SACS 2nd team.
UCT Fencers selected for the Africa Games
Three fencers from UCT have been selected to attend the Africa Games in Congo this week. Giselle Vicatos was selected for the women’s Epee team, while Robert McGregor and Alexander Collings were selected for the men’s Foil team. This is a massive achievement as all three had to first be selected by the Fencing Federation of SA and then again by SASCOC in order to participate.
From the Bench Hello, welcome to Edition 9, and happy women’s month to all the incredible women out there. This week, we decided to celebrate women’s sports with not only an entire page dedicated to the celebration of women but also ensuring that every article has a women’s theme. At a time when women are fighting for equality in almost every aspect of their lives, nowhere is this battle more apparent than on the sports field - this is what we wanted to highlight. From Gape’s article on the pay disparity in sports, to Lauren’s article on some pretty tough female rugby players. We hope that this edition will shine a very bright light on the remarkable world of women’s sports and perhaps start an important dialogue around it both here at UCT and in South Africa. If you would like to contribute to the dialogue please drop us an email at sports@varsitynewspaper. co.za and look out for our online articles, which further highlight the important role that women play in the sporting world.
Over and out. Dean
O
ne will always come across a ‘diet plan’ or ‘fitness guide’ when flipping through health magazines. Usually it’s the same old thing with a ‘NEW’ sticker plastered across the front. Come to think of it, there are only a handful of people who find these kinds of plans successful, and I think I’ve found out why. Everyone’s body is different, and often these specific eating plans don’t work for people because they just don’t suit them. UCT’s very own Zumba instructor, Phenyo Nkongwana, has started a fantastic blog that will help you design your own formula: a “formula that will be unique to you”. The motivation behind the blog came from individuals who wanted to make changes to their lifestyle and wellbeing. Phenyo’s blog gives you guidelines on how to eat well and be active, how to improve your endurance, fitness levels, flexibility, and stamina, as well as how to become a conscious eater.
how to improve your endurance, fitness levels, flexibility, and stamina, Her blog begins with her personal transformation story, and not only does it inspire and motivate others, it really proves the effectiveness of her lifestyle in that anyone who sets their mind to it can actually do it. The guide tells you how to portion your meals and how to choose what to eat according to your own body. Instead of adapting to it, let it adapt to you. She provides examples of
Image: Phenyo Kgongwana
meal plans and useful information on what to eat. She caters for the food lovers too, providing delicious ‘guilt-free’ recipes such as chocolate cake and pumpkin pancakes. The blog includes a variety of interesting and useful posts, ranging from the benefits of various products like coconut oil, to useful and tasty sugar replacements as well as strange and wonderful smoothies. Phenyo’s approach is fantastic in that it is really personal, which makes it all the more real. She takes a positive approach to every challenge and can teach you to do the same by making you feel like you are not taking on the challenge alone. Her blog goes beyond conscious eating to fitness, cardio, and strength tips, as well as keeping things easy and affordable. She teaches you how to be disciplined and maintain your lifestyle, and
her blog appeals to both men and women, as do her Zumba classes! Her Zumba classes, which are at the gym on Monday, Wednesday and Friday mornings as well as Tuesday and Friday evenings are a great way to have fun while exercising. They also improve rhythm and flexibility. I personally think she sets such a high standard for fun that I have a hard time enjoying the machines and treadmills. Judging from my own experience I can see and feel a difference in myself and I would definitely recommend her blog to anyone interested in fitness and health. You can access her blog on iblck.tumblr.com, follow her on Instagram at ‘phennyb8’, or check out her amazing dance choreography on YouTube under ‘phennyblack’. So long Fitness Fanatics, and happy dieting!
My first time watching Netball live Image: Jian Yi Song
Dean Horwitz Since we are doing a special women’s month sports edition this week, I attended the UCT 1st team netball practice in an effort to learn more about the sport and to get a better understanding of how it is played. I was fortunate in that the practice I attended was actually a practice match between UCT and the Western Province u21 team, which allowed me to observe the fast-paced nature of netball first hand.
Contrary to popular belief, which suggests that netball is a womenonly sport One aspect of the game most commonly talked about is the fact that once you get the ball, you are unable to move until you have let the ball go. This is often construed as strange and looked down upon by other sports, but when you watch a live game you begin to understand the strategic element that this brings to the sport. This rule requires each team to strategically place their players, ensuring that every player is constantly moving and looking for that gap that will lead to the team’s next goal. The game of netball is played at a frantic pace, with play often moving from one side of the court to the other
within a very short space of time. I would often look away for what seemed like a few seconds and would look back to see that one or more goals had been scored. The sport requires players to be extremely fit, because they are constantly moving, and to have high levels of coordination and alertness at all times. Prior to the game starting, I had a chance to learn more about the game first hand. I learned very quickly that running, stopping and shooting are incredibly difficult. In addition, the lack of backboard behind the basket (like in basketball) makes the task even harder. I also learnt that unlike
basketball, where you can get two or three points for a successful goal (depending on where you are in the scoring zone), in netball you only get one point no matter where you shoot from. In addition, the fact that you cannot move once you get the ball means that you have to ensure that you get as close to the basket as possible before taking a shot. Contrary to popular belief, which suggests that netball is a women-only sport, there are both men-only and mixed netball leagues, both in South Africa and around the world. The UCT netball team competes in the women-only Tygerberg League
and also will be competing in the Varsity Sport Netball tournament in September. They will play against some of South Africa’s best university netball teams and will even get a chance to showcase their talents on national television. I left the sports centre after the practice with a newfound appreciation for the sport of netball and all those who play it. These women (and men) combine speed, agility and brains every time they step onto the court and I cannot wait to watch and cheer for our UCT girls on TV and hopefully attend a real game sometime in the near future.
Women in Sports
Pretty Tough:
Women rugby players tackle their unequal past
Lauren van Haght
W
ith the Rugby World Cup less than a month away, there’s plenty of focus on the popular male players of the game, such as Schalk Burger, Patrick Lambie and Victor Matfield, as they prepare to wage a war against other national teams like the Brumbies and the All Blacks. Meanwhile, female rugby teams fight their own battles for recognition and acceptance. I don’t know who decided that men were the superior sex, but that person clearly didn’t factor in women’s resilience, stamina and courage. Women are generally known as the smaller (and in some cases, weaker) sex, but this has never stopped us from believing
Whose Game is it Anyway? Image: Wikipedia Commons
women is identical to that played by men. Why shouldn’t it be so? They are on equal playing fields. As much as men can enjoy the thrill of the game, so can women. Scoring tries, tackling, scrums and line outs - the
The roars echo across the stadium, a tidal wave of joy as the game finishes in victory. The vanquished side stands by, their shoulders hunched and faces despondent as the winning team holds the trophy aloft. This is all normal as far as spectator sport is concerned. Two or more teams play to win a prize or title, and the crowd goes ballistic when one prevails. The post and pre-match debate centres around teams, the games and the people on the field. However, one aspect we haven’t cared to look at is the composition of the spectator crowds.
Gender roles shouldn’t be translated onto sport
Take any rugby game at Newlands Stadium, for example, or highly popular soccer derby games at Soccer City, Soweto. What do you commonly find? If your answer isn’t ‘adult men’ then you really need to examine your television closer the next time you switch over to Super Sport. The reality is that a lot of popularised spectator sports are supported by men - and thus orientated towards them. Despite the equal accessibility sport should afford to all genders, ages and
Spectator sports are supported by men descriptions, men still remain the centre of attention as far as luring prospective spectators is concerned. Consider advertisement campaigns for tournaments and commercial products like Castle Lager. There is a clear presence of men swigging beers, braaing meat, and cheering for their team. It’s a normal and friendly environment. Women entering that space are portrayed as either clueless when it comes to all things sporty, or are objectified by the men present. On this note, consider cheerleaders in South African sport. In what way does poor dancing around a small stage every few minutes inspire cheering by the crowd? This all boils down to a central question: is this a good environment or an impression to be perpetuated? One where women cannot break into the ‘ideal spectator’ bracket? After all, sport is definitely not a male-centric activity and in many counts the sport in question can be seen as unisex or ‘female-orientated.’ Also, by making sport more inclusionary and by being aware of how gender roles shouldn’t be translated onto sport, you are able to make sport a pure, unadulterated and enjoyable experience for all.
From as early as 1880, women have taken part in contact sports, although many matches were called off due to violent rioting. There were
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many attempts at forming an allfemale team, but these were put off due to public outcries. Rugbyfest, started in 1990 was the first female international rugby tournament.
Rugby played by women is identical to that played by men South Africa’s male players were leaders in the game once upon a time, and until now our female team has hardly featured. The front runners in women’s rugby are New Zealand, England and the USA. As some of us lose our faith in the ‘Bok Boys’ after a series of losses right before the World Cup, perhaps we should start putting our faith in the ‘Bok Babes.’ There is clearly a growing interest in women’s rugby and South Africa should have jumped on board years ago. The world is changing and the women are leaving the kitchen - today.
Equal Pay for Equal Play Gape Masole
Adam Kleinschmidt
girls do them all, and with an extra dash of grace. They have to train just as hard and as long to make it into the big leagues. This involves early gym sessions and lots of practise. On top of the hardships of making a career out of being a professional sportsperson, female rugby players also have to deal with a lot of prejudices. South Africa is making leaps and bounds to overcome prejudices, but we are still far behind with sexism, and unfortunately there are many people who still hold notions like “women belong in the kitchen” and “rugby is a man’s game”.
matches were called off due to violent rioting
Image: Carlos Delagado that whatever men can do, we can do too and even better. That is why if you thought - like I used to - that women can only play touch rugby, you would be horribly wrong. A game of rugby played by
v74 e9 - 25 August 2015
Post 2015 Women’s World Cup, gender inequality payment has once again caused a storm of controversy. There was an outcry over the fact that the (winning) USA women’s soccer team received a mere two million dollars, whilst in 2014 the German men’s team walked away with 35 million. The same debate has caused a stir in the WNBA (Women's National Basketball Association), where women’s teams are facing the same degree of inequality. As a female sports enthusiast, I find it unfair that women in the 21st century still go through such adversities despite proving time and time again that women are just as capable of delivering outstanding performances as men in sports. However, l have to consider the reality of why women are not paid as much as men and we need to consider the fact that progress will be slow. People are often quick to jump conclusions, suggesting that organizations such as FIFA and WNBA should simply pay women and men the same amount of money
for the same work. This argument often stems from tickets sales, but this is not applicable in sporting events such as the NBA and soccer world cup. Ticket sales contribute a fraction of the total profit generated by sporting events. For example, the NBA generates 25-30% of its profit from ticket sales. The real money comes from local and national broadcasting rights. These are the nitty-gritty details prohibiting women from gaining equal pay. The 2015 women’s World Cup final might have had 25 million viewers in the US alone, but we also have to consider the role of advertisements and endorsements shown
gender inequality payment has once again caused a storm during broadcasts. The lack of promotion in women sports, despite success on the field or the court, is one of the main factors that affects payment equity.
Furthermore, sportswomen, with the exception of tennis players, do not generate as much sponsorship and endorsement opportunities as men do. Bear in mind that the highestpaid male player on the field is not only paid according to his skills on the pitch but also his publicity, ticket sales and branding for the team. On a positive note, we can applaud organizations such as World Surf League, World Major Marathon and Wimbledon for paying both men and women the same prize money. One needs to question steps that should be taken to promote gender equity in football, basketball, and other types of sport. Firstly, one of the easiest solutions is to support female athletes. This can be done by attending live matches, or watching them on television. Secondly, people should advocate for women’s sports rights, as this might put pressure on advertisers and endorsers to give just as much coverage to women as they do to men. The more support we generate for female athletes, the closer we are to payment equity!
Sport
What to Watch August 12th- UCT A Rugby vs Primrose (UCT A Rugby Field 21:00) August 13th – UCT Men’s 1st Waterpolo vs UCT 2A (Wynberg 20:00) August 14th – Proteas vs. New Zealand 1st T20 (Supersport 18:00) August 15th - South Africa Rugby v Argentina (Supersport 21:40)
VARSITY
OarsWoman Danielle Louw
I
n a world dominated by testosterone-fuelled male power, it can be difficult for women to assert themselves as powerful and driven leaders. In recent years oarswomen and coxswains have found the water to be the perfect place to establish gender equality. Rowing allows women to prove their worth powerfully and unabashedly. The coxswain, or cox for short, is an individual in rowing who is responsible for giving the crew direction and motivation. This individual needs to be light so as not to weigh the boat down, which slows it. The cox is usually a woman or a small-framed man, but the pressure to be as light as possible is always on the cox. Think along the lines
of wrapping your legs and arms in cling-wrap and running for 3km’s or rowing for 2km’s to force yourself to sweat-it-out. Controlling the crew requires a strong-willed and confident leader (which is perfect if you’re a feisty sister!). The oarsmen or oarswomen are the driving force, the engine behind the movement of the boat. Consistent training of the muscles
a world dominated by testosterone-fuelled male power and the cardiovascular system is what really gets the boats moving, and the oarsmen and women are under constant pressure to master
Whip It Mabeth Crafford This is a sport you probably have never heard of: unless you saw the movie ‘Whip it’. Roller derby is a roller-skating contact sport, where two teams of five players each compete against each other while skating around a track in the same direction. The objective of the game is to score points by lapping (passing) members of the opposing team. Game - play consists of a series of short matchups (called jams) in which both teams designate a ‘jammer’. The teams comprises up to 12 skaters and a bench manager. Four blockers are fielded from each team in every jam. The blockers attempt to hinder the opposing jammer while assisting their own jammer— in effect, playing both offense and defense simultaneously. It is played in approximately 1,250 amateur leagues worldwide. In its revival during the 2000’s, there had been a few co-ed or male teams, however
today it is mostly dominated by women. In the 1920s, ‘roller derby’ was used to describe the endurance races on quad skates. The growing popularity of roller skating in the United States led to the formation of organized multi-day endurance races for cash prizes, as early as the mid-1880s. Speed and endurance races continued to be held on both flat and banked tracks in the century’s first three decades, and spectators enjoyed the spills and falls of the skaters.
score points by lapping (passing) members
By the 1930s, it became a transcontinental sport when promoter Leo Seltzer created the Transcontinental Roller Derby: a month-long simulation of a road race between two-person teams of
the technical aspect of rowing on the water. Perfection of stroke is never achieved but what makes rowers so unique is that they chase this perfection with a never-ending hunger. Squeezing out efficiency is of utmost importance with infinitesimally tiny alterations to the angle of wrists, backs, and shoulders, all while being perfectly in sync with seven other rowers. Training is strenuous but rewarding, proving that progress is indeed the strongest form of motivation. Training takes place every day and one is expected to do more than what is required - all while making sure you get your DP. Women haven’t been given the same race entry options as men in international regattas. Although this is changing with a large effort from World Rowing to improve gender
equality in the sport during 2015, it leaves me wondering about the years to come. As a woman, being taken seriously by a crew of men is difficult in itself, but then there is the added pressure of being taken seriously as an athlete by the international community at large. The physiological differences between men and women don’t allow for women and men to compete against each other in terms of indoor-rowers scores or time over a distance, but our success can be
a world dominated by testosterone-fuelled male power measured relatively. Power to weight
Image: Matt Harris
is something that levels the playing field, and sometimes female rowers can be more powerful than male rowers. Current events at international competitions (regattas) tend to favour men in terms of number of entries, but things are changing at the International Rowing Federation and University Sport South Africa level. Right now, rowing is in an exciting place for women to potentially establish themselves as powerful and driven leaders. However, we need more women in this sport to prove that we have what it takes to achieve that inreach gender equality. In the next big regatta, coming up in September, I shall be racing in two crews: as the cox for the men’s crew and a rower in the women’s crew, all while chasing that elusive DP.
Image: George Rabe professional skaters. It had evolved from a skating race on a banked track to more of a physical competition that resulted in many collisions and falls. The sport became very popular in the 1960s, but was shut down in 1973 when its popularity petered out. There were a few attempts to bring roller derby back over the years, especially in the 1980s, but to no avail.
Mostly dominated by women Roller derby, as we know it today, began in the early 2000s in Austin,
Texas. A flat track roller derby, as opposed to a banked track that was previously used, was created because it was easier and cheaper to mark down a track on a flat piece of floor. Today, there are more than 1,200 flat track roller derby leagues around the world; four of which can be found in South Africa. Cape Town Rollergirls NPO, founded in 2012, offers women’s full contact roller derby and recreational roller skating where women learn to use their bodies and skating style to their advantage. The league has grown to more than 60 members of different ages and different occupations. They are regularly assessed and skate with different training groups: wRECk skaters,
fresh meat, and rookie skaters (able to compete in Friday Night Derby bouts), Level 1 (home teams) and Level 2 (all-stars Iron Meisies). They’re also currently hosting their home tournament called Mother City Mayhem, where the three home teams are competing for the trophy. The Next bout is on Saturday, 29 August (The Rev’ettes vs. Scrim Reapers) and the winning team will play against the Storm Riders in the finals on Friday, 25 September at Sunningdale Sports Complex in Blouberg. Ed’s note: We have a set of double tickets to giveaway for the bout on the 29th of August. All you have to do is email your name and contact details to sports@varsitynewspaper.