2014: Edition 10.

SINCE

1942 THE OFFICIAL STUDENT NEWSPAPER OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CAPE TOWN

16 September 2014

VOLUME 73: EDITION 10

varsitynewspaper.co.za

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Increased international response to IS actions NOT SURE WHO TO VOTE FOR?

Robyn Ausmeier

Image: Katy Scott

n Wednesday, September 10th, President Barack Obama made a public address regarding the United States’ position on the Islamic State (IS), formerly known as the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS). Obama announced that he would take a firm stance regarding IS and would not allow the militant group to intimidate the United States (US). He declared that the US would increase both military and diplomatic support in the region, expanding its airstrike campaign against IS targets and forming an international coalition to aid the Iraqi forces. However, he stressed that the action plan would not involve the deployment of American troops.

O

called for international assistance in the fight against IS

SRC ELECTIONS: Get to know your candidates better by visiting: varsitynewspaper.co.za/3682-src. Make an informed decision. was similarly beheaded by IS.

The video attracted international attention On August 15th, The United Nations (UN) Security Council released a statement condemning the actions of the extremist group and encouraged UN member states to supply humanitarian aid to Iraq and Syria.

The Security Council resolution said that it would take a hard line against the “widespread

abuses of human rights and violations of international humanitarian law [committed

by IS]”.

The UN has blacklisted six IS members and threatened sanctions against anyone supplying weapons or finances to the militant group.

They also declared the IS advance in Iraq to be at the highest level of emergency.

The actions of IS have caused countless Iraqi citizens to flee their homes. Thousands of civilians from the Yazidi ethnic minority were forced to seek sanctuary on Mount Sinjar after IS began executing Yazidis in their home towns. The US Defence Department was employed

to help these civilians escape from the mountain, where IS troops had surrounded the area and vowed to kill anyone who tried to descend.

The US declared its mission a success after the majority of the refugees were able to flee down the northern and eastern sides of Mount Sinjar.

Iraq to be at the highest level of emergency However, it is estimated that over 4000 people remain trapped

on the mountain.

Over the past few months IS have seized a number of towns as part of their attack on minority religious groups, and their advances continue to pose a threat to the Iraqi people.

In early August, IS extremists invaded Qaraqosh, the largest Christian town in Iraq, causing approximately 200 000 residents to take refuge in the Kurdish north.

They also took control of the country’s second largest city, Mosul, on June 10th.

The IS military campaign has made use of intimidation tactics, suicide bombings and heavy weaponry in an attempt to gain power in the region.

IN THIS ISSUE

Obama’s speech came after Iraqi President Fuad Masum called for international assistance in the fight against IS. On September 4th, in an interview with CNN, President Masum stated that Iraq is in a “very vulnerable situation” and requires military expertise and supplies from external forces. He remarked that IS could be quickly defeated if Iraq, the US and neighbouring countries work together.

Obama was pressurised by the public to adopt a more aggressive approach towards the crisis after two American journalists were killed by IS. On September 2nd, a video was released showing reporter Steven Sotloff being beheaded by a masked IS member. The video attracted international attention given its violent and graphic nature. The footage also included a message to Obama demanding that he stop the US airstrikes. “Just as your missiles continue to strike our people, our knife will continue to strike the necks of your people,” threatened an IS militant in the video. Sotloff ’s execution happened less than a month after US citizen James Foley

Living green

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news

V73 E10 – 16 SEPTEMBER 2014

NEWS BITES Zombie Apocalypse in Spain

Spain – Over 2 000 people travelled to Collado Villaiba, a small Spanish town, for an annual zombie survival game.

Those taking part walk around the streets at night and try to avoid people dressed as zombies.

If a zombie touches you, you are eliminated from the game and as an added bonus there are actors dressed as soldiers to simulate a government military response.

– BBC News

New US and EU sanctions against Russia

Russia – Both the European Union and United States governments agreed to enforce new sanctions on Russia over the Ukraine crisis. However, these sanctions could be lifted next month if Moscow abides by a fragile truce. The US plans to sanction Russia’s largest bank and limit their access to US capital.

The implementation of the EU’s sanctions has not yet been announced.

– Wall Street Journal

Stem cells “reset” by scientists

London – British and Japanese scientists have managed to get stem cells to revert to their earlier stage, essentially “resetting them”.

This work enables the start of more in-depth research into human development and the potential of regenerative medicines. Stem cells have the potential to become any cell or tissue in the body which is what makes them so valuable to scientific research.

– IOL News

Violent clashes in Central African Republic

Guen – Associated Press has released a tally showing that more than 5 000 people have died in the religious violence which began in the area 9 months ago. This death toll is more than double what the UN cited in April when it approved a peacekeeping mission.

There has been no official death toll since then. The UN has taken over peacekeeping as of September 15th.

– News24/Associated Press

Oscar Pistorius guilty of culpable homicide:

Pretoria – On September 12th Judge Thokozile Matilda Masipa announced her verdicts. Oscar Pistorius was found guilty of culpable homicide, which is equivalent to manslaughter, in the killing of his girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp, on February 14th, 2013. The sentence for culpable homicide, an issue of negligence as opposed to intent, is determined by the judge’s discretion, but can result in a 15-year jail term.

Judge Masipa has not yet issued a sentence regarding Pistorius and it is possible that the case could go to a higher court on appeal.

– New York Times

Aisha Abdool Karim

Taxi violence in Western Cape Katy Scott

N

yanga and Philippi East Areas were ablaze on Monday, September 1st, when seven Golden Arrow buses were set alight, Golden Arrow spokesperson Bronwen Dyke confirmed. “Four buses were also very badly vandalised and 11 drivers assaulted by the assailants seeking to prevent buses from operating.”

Later that day a delivery truck was stoned and set alight in Mfuleni. It was taxi operators who stoned the truck, eyewitnesses told GroundUp. Police quickly dispersed the crowd and, once they had left the scene, the taxi operators returned to remove the battery from the truck, cut its wires and set it alight.

Police spokesperson Frederick Van Wyk confirmed that eight people had been arrested in connection with the Mfuleni incident.

A taxi driver who did not want his identity disclosed revealed to GroundUp that the main reason for the strike was the drastic increase in fines issued to taxi drivers. He would not say whether or not he had taken part in the protest.

Fines for failing to present a driving license went from R500 to R1500; driving without a Professional Driving Permit went from R500 to R2500, and with passengers R3000; overload offences were changed from kilogram categories to percentage categories, and fines that were between R250 and R2500 now range

Image: flickr.com/Scott Hadfield

between R750 and R5000.

Western Cape Department of Transport and Public Works Head of Communication, Al-Ameen Kafaar, confirmed that traffic fines had increased provincially on August 1st and both the city and the provincial traffic officials were able to issue fines.

The increase was in support of efforts to improve safety and compliance on the roads, stated Member of the Executive Council of Transport and Public Works, Donald Grant, and Provincial Traffic Chief Kenny Africa in a statement.

The taxi driver told GroundUp that the strike had been organised by taxi drivers and had nothing to do with the owners: “At the end of the day we are the ones who are fined and we are the ones who have to pay from our own pocket.”

Vusumzi Miselo of the Cape Organisation for Democratic Taxi

Association (CODETA) reiterated that the violent strike had nothing to do with the taxi owners.

“We had been getting complaints from our drivers about the fines and we decided to meet with South African National Taxi Council (Santaco) who in turn wrote a letter to the City of Cape Town about the grievances,” said Miselo. Santaco gave the City seven days to reply to the letter. The seven days ended on Tuesday, September 2nd, but the drivers went on strike of their own accord the day before.

“We don’t need permission from the owners when we want to strike,” confirmed another taxi driver. “We were promised that we would get a response on our grievances by today and if nothing comes then we will strike again.”

“This is our only way to get attention from government, by burning government property.”

In a joint statement issued on Tuesday, September 2nd, after a meeting, Cape Amalgamated Taxi Association(CATA), CODETA, SA National Civics Organisation(SANCO), Golden Arrow Bus Services, taxi drivers, the South African Police Services (SAPS), and Executive Mayor Patricia de Lille condemned the violent strikes and promised to establish a new forum to discuss the grievances of taxi associations.

Alfred Maseti of CATA said that they were satisfied with the outcome of the meeting, especially with the fact that a forum would be established. He said all they had to do now was set up a meeting with other associations so that names of those who would make up the forum could be brought forward.

Versions of this article were originally published on www. groundup.org.za

Four jailed for assassination attempt on exiled Rwandan army general Tasneem Amra Johannesburg: On Monday, September 8th, four men were convicted for the attempted murder of General Faustin Kayumba Nyamwasa, a former Rwandan army chief in exile in South Africa.

Each of the accused received an eight-year sentence.

The men – two Rwandans, Amani Uriwane and Sady Abdou, and two Tanzanians, Hassan Mohammedi Nduli and Hemedi Dendengo Sefu – were found guilty of shooting Nyamwasa in the stomach as he drove into his Johannesburg home.

In August, two Rwandans also believed to be involved in the shooting – Nyamwasa’s driver and the alleged mastermind of the hit – were acquitted.

The shooting occurred in Pretoria in June 2010. In February of the same year, Nyamwasa fled Rwanda after falling out with his former ally, Rwandan president Paul Kagame.

Magistrate Stanley Mkhari found the hit to be politically motivated.

Reuters reported that he told the convicted men: "You are not the main culprits in this matter. It is my view that you are supposed to appear before me with all the people who made money available and also the people who paid to commit the offences."

Mkhari handed down less than the minimum 15 years prosecutors had asked for. He said that he was taking into account the fact that the men had been in custody since the shooting.

According to Reuters, Nyamwasa

Image: uk.reuters.com/ Siphiwe Sibeko

told journalists that even though he was happy with the sentences handed down, he and other exiled Rwandans around the world continue to live in fear. “There is fear for the lives of very many Rwandans, those that have taken asylum here in South Africa, those that have taken asylum in many other parts of the world, and even more, those that have remained in the country,” he said.

Attacks on Rwandan exiles in South Africa have caused diplomatic tensions between the countries’ governments.

In January, Rwanda's exiled former spy chief, Patrick Karegeya, was found strangled in an upmarket Johannesburg hotel room.

Two months later, armed men broke into Nyamwasa's house while he was not there.

This prompted South African Justice Minister Jeff Radebe to warn Kagame’s government that “our country will not be used as a springboard to do illegal activities”. South Africa then expelled three Rwandan diplomats allegedly connected to the break-in.

Kigali denied any involvement in the break-in, and reciprocated by expelling six South African diplomats from Rwanda.

Rwanda has continued to deny all allegations that it tries to kill opponents abroad.

It has also accused Pretoria of

harbouring "dissidents responsible for terrorist attacks in Rwanda” including Nyamwasa.

In 2011, a Rwandan military court tried and sentenced Nyamwasa in absentia to 20 years in prison on charges of desertion, defamation, and threatening state security.

Agence France-Presse (AFP) also reported that he faces charges of terrorism for his alleged masterminding of grenade attacks in the run-up to Rwanda’s 2010 presidential elections in the country’s capital, and that Spain and France want him extradited for his alleged role in the 1994 Rwandan genocide.

news

V73 E10 - 16 SEPTEMBER 2014

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Living Green: GCI wraps up Sustainability Month Lauren Vorster

L

ast month, Green Campus Initiative (GCI) presented “Living Trophies” to the residence staff to wrap up this year’s August Sustainability Month campaign. The event, hosted by GCI, took place at Avenue House in collaboration with Student Housing Services and was an opportunity to recognise and thank staff members for their involvement in the campaign.

Nicola Rule, GCI’s Residence

This year’s theme for the campaign was “Living Green” Project Co-ordinator, believes that without the support of the residence staff teams, the project would never have been as successful.

In her thank you speech at the awards ceremony she said, “Seeing students work together with staff makes this movement so much stronger than if it was just one party standing alone.”

This year’s theme for the campaign was “Living Green” and each week a new campaign was launched in residences. Residence staff were asked to incorporate the various themes into res life to generate awareness among students and

staff alike.

As an incentive to the Metro and Fedics teams from the various residences, competitions were run for two of the four August themes: “Working Green” and “Eating Green”. The results were released at the awards ceremony and presented

by Student Housing Manager Glenn von Zeil. In his opening speech, Von Zeil described his goal to keep increasing both staff and student involvement in green awareness at UCT. Clarendon Catering Manager Ann Anderson, who has won the prize for the best catering team for two years running, described how this year was different from the rest as she was able to involve so many students and staff in the campaign. “You know we’re one res, one kitchen, one family,” Anderson stated.

After setting up displays in

student totals 37.07g – an amount that Von Zeil believes can be cut down further. Although he believes that waste statistics are not where they should be, Von Zeil remains positive as waste statistics have decreased since the 2013 campaign.

“The students and staff are making an active effort to separate recyclables from waste before just throwing it away,” said Anderson proudly. Having worked with her staff to recycle light bulbs, paper and plastic, and to reuse rather than throw away, Anderson works hard to utilize the phrase “reduce, reuse, recycle”.

Anderson is spreading green

Average daily food waste per student totals 37.07g

awareness further by giving back to the community. Using the funds generated from the recycling, Clarendon is able to feed the residents of an old age home every month.

Anderson believes that the campaigns being held by GCI are necessary. She wants students to have greater exposure to green habits and learn what to do with recyclables, building the platform to give back to the community and keep the environment clean.

residence foyers, the “Working Green” campaign set the trend of going green for the month. The following week the “Eating Green” campaign was launched, allowing students to become actively aware of their food waste statistics.

Average daily food waste per

“The students and staff are making an active effort to separate recyclables from waste”

Images: Lauren Vorster

Image: Fowzia Davids UCT: Former UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Navi Pillay, speaking about Advancing Human Rights in South Africa and the World at the 15th annual Steve Biko Memorial Lecture on Thursday, September 11th.

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editorial

V73 E10 - 16 SEPTEMBER 2014

2014 Collective editor-in-chief Laurie Scarborough editorial@varsitynewspaper.co.za

deputy Editor Katy Scott

Editorial

online editor Daniël Geldenhuys online@varsitynewspaper.co.za

Copy Editor Jena Ascough copyed@varsitynewspaper.co.za

Online content editor Katelyn Mostert online@varsitynewspaper.co.za

news@varsitynewspaper.co.za

opinions Parusha Naidoo & Vikash Gajjar opinions@varsitynewspaper.co.za

Editor-in-Chief

“Who’s your friend? He looks…clever (read: nerdy).”

editorial@varsitynewspaper.co.za

news Clare Garrard & Aisha Abdool Karim

Laurie Scarborough

S

o I’m not a Windows fan.

I’m really not. And although I would consider myself a fairly quick-tempered person anyway, there’s nothing quite like the feeling of seeing the blue screen of

death flash onto my laptop screen.

Especially after you’ve just typed 500 brilliant words of your essay for your BA – a degree in which the only numbers and maths that have any relevance are word counts and number of references.

Now while many of you may cry at such a phenomenon I simply hand over my stupid crummy useless nonApple laptop to my dear Computer Science friend who does something magical and returns to me a slightly overheating, but nevertheless working, laptop. This comes with a price though.

Over many years I have had to learn how to play COD (yes, I’m down with the geeky lingo), Super Meat Boy, Portal and Rage, even when my hand was cramping around the Xbox controller and it became a weird claw-like appendix. I’ve been

UCT know-it-alls

features Lynne Marie Fraser & Busang Senne features@varsitynewspaper.co.za

sportS Mark Nandi sports@varsitynewspaper.co.za

centrespread Krysia Gaweda centrespread@varsitynewspaper. co.za

images Sofia Gilli & Khanyisa Pinini images@varsitynewspaper.co.za

Design Zona Magadla design@varsitynewspaper.co.za

web Tayla-Paige van Sittert

subject to randomised quizzes about who created the first ever firstperson shooter (Id, for those who care), and what the acronyms FPS, AKF, IRL, GG and LAN stand for.

I’ve sat through a two-hour movie about Indie Games development and I know that Phil Fish has some anger issues. I’ve had to learn the apparently extremely important difference between ADSL, broadband, cap, and internet. I’ve had to try not to laugh in the faces of those who tell me that they’re trilingual because they speak English, Java and Python.

But all of this has been worth it, for the many, many, many (many) occasions that my laptop has nearly blown up, and has been saved from me throwing it like a shot-put from my balcony window in a fit of rage.

And if I pull some puppy eyes, my

Katy Scott Deputy Editor

Many of us are graduating this December; many of us are halfway through our degrees. Some of us are cocky first years. But all of us think that we know it all.

Well I’m sorry to tread on your grad gown (and for my crassness) but we do not know shit.

We’re quite cute actually, pretending to be all grown up, pushing shopping trolleys around Pick n Pay, practising to budget like our fully-grown counterparts. We have probably had debates with our parents or grandparents, convinced that we have the intellectual upper hand. We have probably made a stab at understanding the political dynamics of our country.

But all we can safely say that we are masters of is academically bullshitting our way through flawed, weak arguments. We work to deadlines, to assignment outlines, not to greater understanding. Ain’t nobody got time for that.

My grandmother, a splendid and sprightly little lady, filled my childhood with Dr Phil’s Life Laws. Number six is particularly applicable here: “There is no reality, only perception.”

We view the world through individual filters, through perceptions that we create, and these stem from our beliefs. If we treat everything we believe as fact then we are not open to

printer gets installed for me while I watch Friends.

Plus I’ve learnt some other pretty cool things. I know how to use three operating systems: Windows (grrrr), OS (pure joy, heavenly) and Linux (makes me feel really smart). I can set up a computer tower, an Xbox, a TV, and I can identify an HDMI cable, a USB cable and an aux cable from a line-up of other cables that nobody cares about. I know that cables and ports can be referred to as female or male, and I can tell you which cables are what.

And I get to nod along with people who talk about the pains of learning how to code in C++ like I actually know what’s going on.

So really, there are many perks of befriending Computer Science students. seeking, receiving or processing new information.

“If you ‘shake up’ your belief system by challenging these views and testing their validity,” says Phil, “the freshness of your perspective can be startling.”

It’s easy to become jaded, and even easier to begin seeing things with sleep-filled eyes. Take up a new hobby, intern over the vac, forget your phone at home and try spending a day without it. Do anything that will make you feel vulnerable. Find another avenue to stretch your mind.

I would like to take this column space to misquote Kin Hubbard by saying, “It’s what you learn after you [THINK] you know it all that counts”.

I’m sure that’s what he meant.

web@varsitynewspaper.co.za

Finance & Ads manager Natasha Makoni

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Contrubutors Sub-Editors Nathan Hein & Courtney Hope Column photos Charlie Turnley

TELEPHONE: 021-650 3543 Level 5, Steve Biko Students’ Union

Daniёl Geldenhuys Online Editor

Jena Ascough Copy Editor

Letter to the Editor: Dear Editor I often read your newspaper as I am a student at this university.

It is full of insightful articles and opinion stories - not to mention fashion-trends etc.etc.

I think that your team is passionate about what you do and about upholding the image of the university.

Allow me to state that I might have missed something.

Why has the guilty plea-to-all-

three charges concerning the case involving defamation of character by a student been kept so quiet?

The Cape Argus published on September 16th 2013 says that Campus control was investigating.

The risk manager there confirmed that he had submitted all of this evidence for a strong case against the perpetrator in August of last year.

The perpetrator pled guilty to all three charges.

Why do other universities and schools protect victims of bullying while UCT was only forced to investigate after official reports were put out there by students with integrity?

Was UCT hoping that the whole case would disappear and people would get on with their lives?

And do you think that those who know who she is and might have been victims of her machinations feel safe?

This drawn-out case and the unbelievable silencing that came with it sends the wrong message: There is no real justice and UCT is a law unto itself.

I urge your team to do more and not cave to pressures. This bullying incident is not as new as some would like us to believe.

It will continue if people continue to make light of the situation.

The silencing of UCT advocates proverbial rape.

Opinions

What about “we blacks”?

V73 E10 – 16 SEPTEMBER 2014

w

The lady doth protest

Our need for ideological revolution

#NoNewFriends

“I’m so depressed. I had like, the worst day,” says a girl in high-waisted shorts sitting on Jammie stairs. “My laptop died while I was starting my essay and then I spilt coffee on my white Tomys.”

I roll my eyes and walk on. “…and you know how my mother is totally OCD about the house being tidy,” says a boy to his friend dismissively.

“I wish I had the will-power to be anorexic,” says a slim blonde student.

“The one minute he’s fine and the next he starts flipping out. It’s like he’s bipolar. Lol.” Phrases like these have crept in to our daily language. Words like “OCD”, “schizo”, or “ano” are being used almost for comedic effect, to slightly exaggerate our normal,

computer screen or phone.

Truthfully, the decision to quit Facebook was based partly on addiction but not wholly. I also admit that in the process of this experiment, I may have unconsciously substituted my addiction for one social media with another: Instagram. In my defence, I had a moment of weakness and feared that I would become a complete social outcast.

It was not the worry that big brother might be watching – if ’m a recovering addict with I had qualms about privacy I eight months clean to my name. would not have had a Facebook I’ve had my near relapse moments account to begin with. It wasn’t since everyone around me still the idea that a stranger was chooses to engage in the activity. able to scrutinise my profile I generally receive confused either. Cyberspace stalking is or pitying expressions when I an accepted activity that we all explain my circumstance. In engage in (don’t deny it – you’ll extreme cases the only be lying responses range to yourself). from irritation Instead to disbelief. Cyberspace stalking is find it hard to My friends and c ompre h e n d an accepted activity family have tried that people convincing me who request that my decision to be a part is unnecessary and senseless but of your cyber life through likes, despite their blatant exasperation, comments and shares, fail to I’ve solider on with my social recognise your presence beyond experiment. the confines of their screens.

The impact of the experiment It’s a confusing and disjointed may have resulted in the loss of a social practice that allows few friends, failing to recall some for people to walk past each birthdays and being oblivious to other without the slight nod new trends. Despite this, the gains of acknowledgement despite outweigh the losses with more knowing how the other person time and minimal distractions spent their weekend. If the real allowing me to regain my sanity. value of social media is the It was difficult persuading building and expanding of social myself to eliminate a social networks, these networks should activity that had become spill over into our everyday embedded in my identity and realties with our peers. interactions. Nevertheless, it So what spurred on the happened somewhere between decision to abandon the going cold turkey and convincing Facebook identity I had established and myself it was the right decision effectively for my mental faculties. And so maintained? False reality. While my face no longer appears in the social media is not the big bad wolf it is often made out to be, books of my friends.

The only walls I can write something can be said about on now are the physical ones the social realities we create for found in buildings. Unfriending ourselves and those around us, a person no longer happens at on a spectrum between true, the click of a button and instead false and fake. My Facebook requires bouts of awkward silence sabbatical/experiment may come and blatant avoidance. The only to an end at some point but for time I am able to tag someone is now I’ll be focusing on the type when I play touch rugby and the of friends that wave and greet words “What’s on your mind?” instead of the ones that only no longer stares at me from my comment and like.

I Image: Jessica Breakey black students. It seems when closely analysed we as black students at UCT are experiencing disadvantage.

From the language we are told assimilate to, the artwork on campus that continuously reminds us that we are “others” in this institution, the Eurocentric study material we are exposed to and the lack of any meaningful engagement with content from predominately black areas that is not patronising – UCT purports and sometimes genuinely strives to ease the effects of this disadvantage. But for all their efforts, “we blacks” still remain at the bottom of the food chain within our institution.

It seems then that our objectives are misguided. When “We Blacks” try to comprehend this inherent disadvantage (whether we acknowledge it or not) is that we have become so focused on trying to ensure that the solution to this racial disadvantage is correct that we often forget to solve the actual problem and vainly are focused on solving the effects.

This approach will not be of any use because it merely serves as a cover-up not a solution to the problems faced.

Even though we acknowledge that “we black” students continue to be almost exclusively affected by “student” problems and that we

should focus on relieving this burden, we remain stuck in debating the right ideological perspective to frame our solutions within.

You will notice that SRC candidates, regardless of their race, will always try to fit their identity/ rhetoric/ideological belief to the problems, whereas their identity should be moulded by the problem.

SRC candidates often want to be seen as the leaders of change.

Yet they fail to fashion the relevant underpinning social and political issues (which centrally focus on race) to will allow them to genuinely bring about significant social change.

Anyone who wishes to see any sort of revolutionary change during these elections is sorely mistaken. Our SRC is so firmly entrenched within the system of UCT that it is seemingly blinded, and has become part of the problem. Candidates who advocate for the bailout fund or any similar interventionist programme without addressing issues of race will certainly be missing the larger problems and entrenching the tradition of small meaningless change that black students face.

So, who do “we blacks” vote for? For that, I would have to tell to you: “Black man, you’re on your own.”

Me and my mental disorder Laurie Scarborough

Parusha Naidoo

Opinions Editor

Rekgotsofetse Chikane “To take part in the African revolution, it is not enough to write a revolutionary song; you must fashion the revolution with the people. And if you fashion it with the people, the songs will come by themselves and of themselves.” – Sekou Toure We blacks. How prone we are to accepting that we are victims of the legacy of Apartheid yet we readily accept solutions that are given to us based within the framework of our racial subjugation. The remnants of apartheid still exist in our society, festering in the cracks of ignorance and ambivalence. This is ever more present during SRC elections where you will be told repeatedly by SRC candidates about the struggles that students face on campus, yet I can’t help noticing that many of them overlook the unresolved racial issues.

For the next two weeks all the concerns that will be expressed will revolve around a selection of generic issues.

These include exclusion rates, bailout and crisis funds, fees, transformation issues, improving safety on campus, lack of representation, and how these SRC candidates will solve all your ills.

Candidates become soothsayers, promising that more will be done to solve these problems.

Although this will not be possible simply because they do not address the cross-cutting racial issues that underline each of their concerns.Little to no real work is done to understand the problems.

The issues that disgruntled students and SRC candidate’s voice during interrogations can be understood to primarily affect blacks students. Academic exclusion of black students is higher than any other race group on campus. Year in and year out, it is primarily black students that are beneficiaries of the SRC student bailout or crisis funds.

Readmissions Appeal Committees chiefly deal with cases involving

everyday trials.

But when your iPhone screen cracks is it really “depressing”? Do you actually feel five of the nine symptoms of a Major Depression Episode if you can no longer swipe your way through your camera roll, or type quite as quickly as you used to? No, I think not.

Being skinny is not the same as being anorexic. Feeling sad is different to suffering from depression. Having mood swings is not being bipolar. Being a little too organised is not the same as having OCD. Would it ever be acceptable to say “he has a cancer-head” about your bald uncle? Of course not.

So why is it fine to joke about mental illness?

The names of mental disorders are not a linguistic embellishment to your stories. They are a reality

in many people’s lives and by using them nonchalantly in your conversations you diminish the perceived severity and seriousness of these disorders.

Having known many people with mental disorders myself, and having spent three years studying psychology, I can tell you in great detail about how debilitating, disruptive and distressing a mental illness can be. Not to mention the stigma that is attached to having a mental illness or even trying to seek help by seeing a psychologist or a psychiatrist – a notion that is as narrow as thinking that seeing a GP for your tonsilitis is a sign of weakness.

Show some respect to those struggling with real mental disorders and reserve those terms for the medical use for which they were intended.

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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

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opinions

V73 E10 - 16 SEPTEMBER 2014

The value of virginity Yogi Shoba

I

n May this year, the self-proclaimed “virgin whore”, Hanna Kern (under the alias Elizabeth Raine) sullied the reputation of the prestigious University of Washington by auctioning her virginity for $801 000.

The reportedly shy bioengineering student set up a blog where interested males and females could place their bids. She initiated the auction as a feminist experiment aiming to prove that “society continues to exercise control over female sexuality by chaining it tightly to female morality”.

In a change of events, Kern later decided to abandon the auction despite the hefty price placed on her “deflowering”. Some question whether Kern overestimated the value of her virginity with some high bidders unable to prove that they could come up with the cash.

the definition of virginity is a contradictory enigma Was Kern naïve to believe that her virginity would be considered a prized possession in contemporary society?

What value do we place on virginity?

In the supposedly liberal setting of UCT I discovered that “virginity” holds various definitions. It can be a personal

choice, meaning that despite engaging in sexual activity, if someone didn’t enjoy their first time or they had it with the “wrong person”, they can retain their virginity. For some, anal and oral sex does not equal a loss of virginity due to the act not being penetrative.

traditional and pop cultures both place value on the thing As a Zulu woman, if I were to engage in oral or anal sex then undergo traditional virginity tests, I would initially be deemed a virgin as there would be no physical markers of my penetration. Yet, if it was public knowledge that I had engaged in these acts, my virginity would be thrown into question. In addition, I would be denied the ceremonial rite of passage into womanhood, as according to Zulu culture: sexual immorality is not a feature of what it means to be a good Zulu woman.

It is clear that the definition of virginity is a contradictory enigma and the values surrounding it are an even greater one. Pop culture may encourage sexuality, especially among women whose boobs and butts are constantly put on display. Yet, women are easily labelled “tramps” and “hoes” when they engage in sexual activity.

What then is said through the case of Elizabeth Raine? She placed

monetary value on her virginity which was interpreted, by US law, as prostitution. She was almost excluded from Washington University when her identity went public. On the other side of the world, Zulu mothers expect to receive a cow during lobola (dowry) negotiations as a monetary marker of their daughter’s virginity.

In both instances, traditional and pop culture, value is placed on virignity.

They seem, though, to disagree on how exactly this value should be placed. Where does that then place the individual who must juggle potentially conflicting value systems?

Is virginity important to you?

For guys, it matters for when choosing someone to marry. We want a wife who’s completely ours.

-AVISHKAAR SINGH

women are labelled as “tramps” and “hoes” With close to 25 000 students on campus, UCT is a melting pot of cultures, religions and different sets of values. Each of us has been socialised in a somewhat unique way that overlaps and diverges in some aspects. Therefore the value we place on virginity is merely a marker of the institutions through which we have been socialised.

As individuals, we exercise agency when we consciously decide to accept, reject or negotiate the value systems surrounding us. So if you haven’t decided yet, why not think about it.

What’s your value of virginity?

Virginity matters as sex is an act of love, not a recreational sport.

-LIMPHO

Virginity matters but it’s not that important. It’s an individual choice which doesn’t define you.

-MCEBISI

Exposed & bare in the name of expressive liberties Image: NickiMinajAtVEVO

– apologies to all those allergic to anything legal.

I believe twerking or whatever sexually explicit and suggestive “dance” doing the rounds can and may just be justified by legislation.

the explicit twerk craze we all have been exposed to

Tshilidzi Neluvhalani I had the misfortune of watching Nicki Minaj’s recent “Anaconda” music video. The video was the longest five minutes of my life – time that could have been better on something I deem more artistic. Thighs and buttocks taking the lead ahead of singing, the video was a show of asset contentment and glee. The phrase “if you've got it flaunt it” comes to mind when watching the video.

How would one measure the state of sexualized content on public platforms that commands mass interest? The flashing of bosoms or the explicit twerk craze we all have been exposed to can be an expression of artistic creativity. With ideals in mind, a point of departure on this debate could be the constitution

Secion 16 of the Bill of rights in the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa recognises the freedom of expression which includes subsection 1(c), the freedom of artistic creativity.

Provided the right does not supersede its limitations, on these legal grounds of freedom of expression, exposure is not much of a big deal.

can and may be justified by legislation The question of justifying increased sexual exposure is somewhat measured by societal tolerance. People have different preferences, falling on a spectrum between odd and the norm. Some choose to walk about naked in public places, others choose to light up the odd tobacco stick.

In both cases, the inclinations of

individuals will evoke different emotions.

At its core, societal opinion matters little as long as that opinion is not collectively and legally recognized as binding legislation. This rationale brings me back to the question of the measure of sexualized content on film and media platforms.

Regardless of my opinion, what the law thinks of that video is where the money is at. What did the Film and Publications board have to say about Minaj’s Anaconda video?

The Film and Publication board operate on the mandate dictated by the Films and Publications Act of 1996. The body’s mission is to regulate the media environment through the classification of content. This stance, among other things, aims to balance the right to freedom of expression. The overriding obligation is to protect children from exposure to material that is potentially disturbing, harmful and inappropriate.

It is safe to assume that adult liberals do not need any material censored for their protection with explicit content available on demand depending on platform choice. Sexual exposure in the name of the liberal arts is on the rise and the constitution does little to curb it. Fact of the matter – if you cannot handle what is in sight, its best to just look away.

Virginity matters as it’s a sacred, beautiful thing that should be kept for marriage.

-MELO

Yes, because it’s a purity thing. It gives us a view of who we are.

-YASMINE

Religiously and culturally virginity matters. Punishment for a loss of virginity religiously is less severe than culturally.

-ZAINOT

Images: Claudia Emmanuel

Opinions

V73 E10 - 16 SEPTEMBER 2014

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University rankings: farce or fair?

Cyprien Pearson

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sking which universities are the best in the world is like taking a poll of the best tuck shops in Cape Town. Every person would give you a different answer depending on the suburb they lived in, how nice the owners of the shops have been to them, and if they like Twist but this particular shop is always out of stock. Matters of “best” are always subjective.

Recently, though, institutions like the Times Higher Education Rankings and the QS Rankings have become wildly popular as a way to see how one’s university stacks up against the rest. Companies like these collect and combine information on schools around the world by looking at ideas of their prestige, the learning environment, the number of

international student and staff members, number of citations, current research and many more.

Yet, like asking about those tuck shops, things like how a university is perceived globally, again, is a matter of opinion.

A near-perfect example of this comes from the UK. There, University of St Andrews is ranked as #117 in the Times World Rankings. This particular university also happens to be the alma mater of both Prince William and his wife, Kate Middleton. If one narrows down the search field, there are 15 UK universities placed higher than St Andrews including Oxford and Cambridge Universities.

If St Andrews was really so mediocre in that country, why would the future King of England (someone with a long family history of Oxford and Cambridge attendance) choose this particular university? Perhaps because its value is more than just the number

of research papers it produces.

Perhaps the creators of the QS and Times Rankings have their own bias. There could be a dozen different answers, all with subjectivity at their core.

In the case of UCT, these same principles hold true. Times currently ranks UCT as #126 and QS at #145.

With the unreliability of ranking systems, though, it’s questionable whether this is something to be proud of. I think not.

A year ago, I was a student at St Andrews yet I transferred to UCT – an admittedly “lower” school on the ranking systems – for a more rounded education.

The workload, the international staff and the curriculum have all surpassed anything I received at that “better” university. The learning environment, something the ranking systems use to place universities, is also much better when the sun shines in South Africa rather than the rain pouring in

the UK. People will always ask why I moved to a “worse” university because of things like the ranking systems. However, there is so much more to a school than some number on a website. With thousands of universities in the world and billions of different people looking for different experiences of learning, the idea that there is some

objective hierarchy to universities is ridiculous. While there may be some merit to saying that Harvard University is seen as more prestigious than a community college somewhere, a quality education may be received at both.

University rankings mean little, then, of the possibilities available at any and all higher education institutes.

Image: Kai Marini

In defence of reality television Party time on the hill Image: Londeka Mazibuko

Nkhensani Manabe Life is stressful. There is traffic on Monday mornings, queues are always long (and it is guaranteed that someone behind you will be standing much too close to you). Someone always buys the last cupcake just before you get to the counter, and you haven’t had a decent holiday in years.

Thankfully, we have reality TV to make all of this better.

a certain catharsis in being able to pass judgment freely I find it amusing to watch children of rich parents complain about wanting to be “independent”. There’s a sense of elation, seeing a woman who had resented being judged for looking frumpy, light up when she sees herself

in a wrap dress and heels. The women who make fools of themselves in attempts to win the affections of a man always make me cringe, and I marvel at the outrageous behaviour of housewives with more time and money than good sense. All these things give me such joy.

Reality TV – unscripted programming, showing footage of real people (i.e. ordinary, non-celebrity type people) in real situations – has become a standard in television programming. Viewers are given unlimited access to the conflicts and tragedies of a select group of oddly fascinating people, and they often become deeply invested in the lives of these strangers.

Reality shows are also an experiment in voyeurism: the masses love to gawk at the crazy hairdressers, amateur chefs, models-who-are-nowmoguls, hopeless romantics and rich socialites. There is a certain catharsis in being able to pass judgment freely on the foibles of others. Watching

reality TV is a form of escapism – a chance to trade in your humdrum life for the excitement and drama of the life of a reality star.

But how far can you escape before you get lost? What would happen if you were seduced by the glamour and allure of a life lived for an admiring audience? Entertaining as it is, TV in all its forms is also incredibly impactful on viewers’ daily lives. The vapid individuals who make up the cast of most shows promote attentionseeking behaviour and conspicuous consumption, both of which are dangerous attitudes.

Critics of reality TV also lament the way programmes in the genre deceive viewers by distorting the reality which they claim to present. The truth is, after production and editing, what makes it to the Wednesday night timeslot is no longer “real”, in the truest sense of the word.

Parents prone to overreacting or paranoia might choose to discontinue their DSTV subscriptions, or make their children memorise and recite the encyclopaedia in order to counteract the effects of this nefarious product of pop culture. I’d like to suggest a different approach: watch reality TV without any guilt, but always in moderation. Perhaps also watch it in the company of a friend who will pinch you with a jolt back into real life, before you get taken in by the snappy editing and well-timed cliff-hangers.

Reality shows are also an experiment in voyeurism Whether you choose to watch it or not, a quick look at trends in programming makes it clear that reality TV will not be going away any time soon. So you can click away as soon as you hear “previously on…”, and save yourself a headache. Or, you can take reality TV for what it is - a cheap temporary distraction designed to provide some entertainment – and leave it at that.

Adam Kleinschmidt Winston Churchill once said that the best argument against democracy would be a five-minute conversation with the average voter. Not exactly a positive statement from a well – known statesman, but the process of electioneering, campaigning and voting is one that is riddled with issues. Being political, this is not beyond the realms of expectation.

voting... is riddled with issues At UCT, the process of voting has been dominated for many years by large partisan groups, augmented by independents. The main figures of contention are the student wings of the DA, ANC and SACP, which itself already prompts inevitable clashing during elections. All three have longstanding positions on campus, and political involvement at UCT has been a long-lasting process. Riots, protests and demonstrations by UCT students were frequent during the apartheid years.

In recent years, however, the mobilisation of politicised societies has come under fire. This critique explodes during election season, when parties are out for the votes and positions. Given this, the recent move towards non-partisan elections has been rapid and on the offensive against student political parties.

However, what has been ignored is that the supposed exacerbation of student politics has been a combined effect of student apathy, poor knowledge of South African politics filtering into student perceptions and the continued harsh deal political societies receive on campus. It is openly perceived, for example, that political societies operate with minimal members, ability and are absent during non-election months.

When it is election season, the posters and bunting are everywhere,

and the promises rich and abundant.

Student politics, like “adult” politics, is going to be rife with political machinations, manoeuvring and all the activities seen in nationwide elections. However, how student elections differ is that we, as the young voters of this country, are in our primary development when it comes to our political views.

This is a hugely influential factor when it involves the political future of South Africa and our government, as the views we develop today will define the future. Is apathy a wise decision in the current context?

Certainly not, if you believe in a brighter future for this country and any South African who doesn’t needs to reassess their views sharply.

Another point in favour of political societies is the political unity it provides to those of ideological similarities. While this does occasionally prompt issues of blanket ideology and of people being lost in the rhetoric bubble, this is merely part of the growing process of a party.

mobilisation of politicised societies has come under fire If the view is widely held, strongly advocated and clearly defined, it can make waves much greater from the chorus of a party rather than an individual. This may have a very “the greater good” sounding to it, but the reality is that even the smallest voice cannot drown out the choir. If the small voices join together, to further elaborate on this metaphor, then it will become a choir itself.

Students, particularly UCT students, are the most enlightened of South Africa’s population. It is our destiny and role in the future to define this nation for what we hope and dream will make it a better place.

Shouldn’t it be our prerogative to allow student partisanship, which in turn will allow us a developed view of the scope of South African government and politics?

What are your thoughts on Heritage Day? I challenge the students of UCT to analyse the facts pertaining to our Heritage, such as the Rhodes Mem memorial statue and the statue of Sara Baartman in the library, and I encourage debate on that and how it reflects our heritage.”

“Well pertaining to the fact it being national Braai Day, just shows how South Africa has trivialised the day as such. But I can say in the same breath really that we do all have a common feat in that we are all celebrating on that day regardless of our differences.

YOUCT

What do you think of the SRC as a whole?

in pictures

“ I think the SRC is an important part of any higher education institution and more so UCT. I am sure UCT have put in a considerable amount of effort to address some of the issues that plague UCT. However I feel that the involvement of political parties in the SRC somewhat hinders the concept of a strong SRC body.

Political parties in the country are struggling to implement sound policies to ensure social and economic development. What we have seen is numerous cat and mouse political games and while this may not be largely apparent in an SRC body, the very presence of these parties in SRC affairs has its effect.”

Why are you at UCT? “Learn some things, get a degree and start making some money!”

What are you studying now, and if you weren’t studying it, what would you be studying?

“I am studying Electrical Engineering, and if I wasn’t I would be studying Astrophysics or Astronomy I think.“ What has been the highlight of your year at UCT? “This is going to sound really cheesy, but I have really enjoyed being part of the VARSITY collective. It has been really nice being part of something quite big on campus, I would say, and everyone on the collective is really nice and I have had a lot of fun and been challenged at the same time.”

What does UCT mean to you?

“UCT is my education, my present and my future - what I learn here today is going to help me tomorrow.”

What is your favourite spot on campus?

“Jammie steps of course!”

What is iKhaya?

“For me ikhaya is just a chill spot, after lectures, or whenever I have a bit of free time, I come here and can just calm down and socialise. There are microwaves here also and you can eat food.

It is just nice to just have a space to chill and sometimes do work when you have a tough day that is other than the library.”

Why are you at UCT? “It is the best university in Africa and it challenges its students.

After all, a place is only as good as its people.”

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features

V73 E10 – 16 SEPTEMBER 2014

Liquid Ecstasy

Image: Nix vd Westhuizen

The biological and psychological effects of free-diving

Gustav Lilienfeld

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omplete silence and serenity.

That is what awaits me at the bottom of this synthetic vertical line, reaching down from the water’s surface to the deep ocean floor. As I take my last breath, I close my eyes, and only open them again once my body is fully submerged and I am making my way down into the abyss. As I pass the 12 meter mark, a mixed sensation of fear and excitement falls over me. This is it, I suddenly realise. This is my attempt to break my personal free-diving record by swimming down deeper than ever before on a single breath of air, with no fins.

Free-diving is a sport where one swims down as deep possible and then returns to the surface on a single breath of air without the assistance of an artificial breathing apparatus.

The thought of this might leave you agitated and anxious. Why would a person risk their lives by swimming deep into an environment clearly not natural for humans? Most people are not aware that the breath-holding capacity of humans is on par with some marine mammals. This is largely due to the mammalian dive reflex, which occurs when the sensors of our body come in contact with water and we automatically adjust and adapt to the conditions.

On my way down, the urge to breathe kicks in as I pass the 20 metre mark. This constantly causes my diaphragm to involuntarily contract as my body tries to exhale carbon dioxide (CO2) and push the oxygen around my lungs. It is at this stage that people usually tend to stop holding their

breath because they think they are out of oxygen. Contrary to popular belief, it is not actually low levels of oxygen that trigger the urge to breathe; it is the increasing concentration of CO2 that tempts inhalation, which occurs even though there is still plenty of oxygen in my lungs. A few days of training allowed me to endure the discomfort of the contractions. Passing the 30 meter mark, I let my mind drift away and swim down even further.

Free-diving is as much a mental sport as it is a physical one. As with many sports, the key is confidence.

Simply believing that you will be able to reach a certain limit will undoubtedly make you feel more relaxed, which results in a lower oxygen metabolism and lower levels of CO2. Any professional free-diver will tell you that it’s important to keep your mind clear before and during a deep dive.

It’s true; even the most trivial thought may cause your brain to use oxygen and thereby reduce your chances of reaching a certain depth.

As I pass the 30 metre mark, the intense pressure starts to compress my lungs, causing me to become “negatively buoyant”. From this point on, I can sink instead of swim, allowing me to use less energy and thus preserve more of my oxygen. This strategy is called free falling, and it’s phenomenal.

Even though the pressure is building up on my mask and lungs, and the effects of the mammalian dive reflex decreases my heart rate to twenty-five percent, the sensation of sinking down into a liquid darkness feels like floating into another world.

Finally, I snap out of this dream-

like descent, as an object appears in my vision. A large weight secured to the bottom of the line, marking a depth of 40 metres and the end of my free-dive. I have made it. As I grab onto the weight, the momentum of my descent causes my body to flip upright almost immediately.

The next few seconds are absolute bliss. As I lie there in the abyss, staring up at the seemingly never-ending line, I see a little ray of sunlight penetrating the ocean depths. The feeling of being entirely surrounded by an element not typically suited for mammals is one of complete tranquillity.

After a few seconds, my contractions become almost unbearable, and I decide to begin my ascent back to reality. Ascending is the most difficult

and dangerous part of the dive for various reasons. Firstly, I am negatively buoyant at this stage, which makes it very difficult to swim upward. Also, my limbs have become numb as the peripheral vasoconstriction limits the blood circulation to my vital organs, another effect of the mammalian dive reflex.

A safety diver follows me back to the surface from the 20 meter mark.

From here on up, the sudden change in pressure causes my lungs to expand, which rapidly increases the amount of CO2 in my lungs. This effect results in an extremely high risk of shallow water blackouts. As I finally reach the surface, I am still monitored for a few moments, as the high risk of a black out is still present. After the “OK

sign” is given, I am free to enjoy the feeling. I have dived down to 40 metres unassisted with a single breath of air.

To me, this is extraordinary, and just a few days earlier I could only dive up to 12 metres.

There are various disciplines in freediving. My personal favourite involves constant weight with no fins, which basically means I swim down without any assistance. This discipline is seen as the purest form of free-diving, and the world record holder for this is William Trubridge, who dived down to 101 metres without fins in 2010 in the Bahamas. So next time you find yourself snorkelling on a holiday trip, you might find it worth your while to try and push your limits, and you might discover a whole new world.

on your way out of Cape Town down the N7. However, it is truly magical, filled with relics from the past and buildings which highlight architectural elements from bygone eras and people who seem to have missed the big-cityindustrialisation memo.

minutes of driving, we located a beautiful field of Canola and a hole in the fence extended an invitation to us to climb through and start exploring.

Over the next hour or so we ran, jumped, lay, crept and ambled through the beautiful fields of bright yellow Canola, stopping to take pictures of ourselves and the beauty we were surrounded by.

The day ended with a spectacular sunset which, unlike in the city, was completely unobstructed by buildings or smog, allowing us an unparalleled 360 degree view of the sun setting over the Canola fields and the surrounding farmlands.

While snapping away at this picturesque scene, we took in the beauty that lay just outside of our city, promising to return some time in the near future.

For pictures of the walk, check out the hashtag CapeCanolaFields on Instagram and follow @igerscapetown and @igersuct.

Never have I ever...

Ventured out to the Canola fields of the northern suburbs Image: Dean Horwitz

a hole in the fence extended an invitation to us

Dean Horwitz As someone who has spent my entire life in Cape Town, I have heard many stories and reflections of Cape Town’s northern suburbs.

To those in the South it is known as “beyond the boerewors curtain” – a reference to the local population of mostly Afrikaans speakers.

What you may not know about the Northern Suburbs is that it is home to some spectacular Canola flower fields, which appear bright yellow in the spring sun. These flowers are used to make Canola oil which is present in almost every cooked meal.

I joined a group of Instagrammers who meet every so often to take pictures and explore areas of Cape

Town that provide spectacular shots. These people are known as IgersCapeTown. This weekend’s mission started in the quaint town of Philadelphia (yes, we have our own one just outside Cape Town) followed by a jaunt in one of the local Canola fields.

The town of Philadelphia is exceptionally small, and you would be excused for missing it

Our exploration of the town took us from the old church in the centre, past two post offices, a little winkel and a heavily fortified police station, before ending up at the graveyard with graves dating back to the 1800s.

After our town mission, we headed back the way we had come in order to locate the real reason for the journey. After about five

features

V73 E10 - 16 SEPTEMBER

2014

11

CAPS LOCK: The zine that will shake up your social world Nkhensani investigates the CAPS LOCK movement

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he number and variety of student societies available at UCT gives the impression that just about every special interest group is represented, yet there are still some issues which are side-lined.

In such cases, students who are invested in raising awareness about their causes and making mainstream campus media more inclusive take matters into their own hands.

“something edgy and subversive, that isn’t endorsed by the university” Stephanus Buys and Kirra Havemann are two such students.

They lead the team behind CAPS LOCK, an emerging feminist zine.

A zine (for those who are unfamiliar with guerrilla publishing) is a selfpublished periodical, usually with a small circulation, that is most commonly reproduced using a photocopier.

Buys says the zine format was chosen based on its history as

a successful tool for spreading information which heightens social consciousness.

The RIOT GRRRL underground feminist movement of the mid1990s popularised the use of zines to promote activism, and Havemann and Buys have been inspired to do a similar kind of work with CAPS LOCK. The zine is currently on its third issue and is focused on saying everything mainstream campus media isn’t about gender issues.

Buys notes that he and Havemann, as gay students, did not feel like there was anything on Upper campus for them to relate to. CAPS LOCK is an effort to get all members of UCT to open up the ranks and begin to engage with each other on topics around sex and sexuality.

According to Buys, anyone at our prestigious institution should want to get involved because “there is so much that we can do, and have to say.”

CAPS LOCK is being purposefully pursued as an outsider project that breaks away

from mainstream university culture to create something new.

Buys says even at the first meeting for the zine, the contributors agreed that they were going to make “something edgy and subversive, that isn’t endorsed by the university.”

At the moment, CAPS LOCK is distributed on the Upper and Hiddingh campuses every second Monday – get a copy from one of the students wearing fetching satin sashes. The CAPS LOCK blog will be launching soon, publishing art, music and articles that speak to the themes of the zine. Those interested in contributing are strongly encouraged to e-mail capslockzine@gmail.com for more information.

CAPS LOCK may still be in its fledgling phase but its subject matter, democratic approach to creating and disseminating insightful and thought-provoking content, and the optimism of the team indicate that it could go on to be a great success.

Words and image: Nkhensani Manabe

“I put it to you”: Kramer’s dissection of the Oscar Pistorius verdict Image: flickr.com/ LwpKommunikáció

Jamie Brandes It was undoubtedly the shocker of 2013 when Oscar Pistorius shot Reeva Steenkamp dead in his home in the early hours of the morning of Valentine’s Day. It’s the stuff movies are made of: a moment of rage, swirling questions, lies, a fall from fame and grace and, sadly, a wasted life. Well, luckily for us—the captive audience— the entire production came to a dramatic end on September 11th.

Among various other unrelated firearm charges, the State had originally brought a charge of premeditated murder but, through complex legal reasoning, this charge was ultimately dismissed.

Instead, Judge Masipa made use of the court’s competent verdict in

order to reach a verdict of culpable homicide (competant verdict is the ability to find on another charge not expressly brought by the State).

Oscar was found guilty of culpable homicide, and discharging a firearm negligently and recklessly, a wave of shock has hit social media as people struggle to understand why he was found ‘not guilty’ of murder.

how sexy it was to see our justice system in action Given that not all of us read criminal law textbooks in our spare time, here is what you need to know about the Oscar Pistorius verdict:

A charge of murder requires certain definitional elements to be present; one of which is intention to kill.

This intention can be either direct or indirect; with what is arguably the most indirect being known as dolus eventualis. What this type of intention essentially entails is the accused foreseeing the possibility of death or harm to another through their conduct, and nevertheless going ahead anyway.

Since Oscar argued he hadn’t intended to kill whoever was behind door number one, the State set out to prove that at the very least, this element of intention was present.

With swift and (slightly) confusing reasoning, Masipa, however, found that Oscar lacked such intention; and thus, could not

be guilty of murder.

This reasoning was based on the fact that the State had failed to prove the intention existed beyond reasonable doubt.

Culpable homicide essentially entails the negligent and unlawful

killing of another. To this extent, Oscar raised the putative private defence— a subjective, as opposed to objective test.

What this charge turns on is the reasonableness enquiry: what would a reasonable, hypothetical person in the position of Oscar have done in the circumstances?

It was on this leg that Oscar fell (I couldn’t help it).

The judgment was not particularly well explained, but, in the end, a fair outcome has been reached.

From the perspective of the lawlovers, one cannot begin to express just how sexy it was to see our justice system in action from the comfort of our own homes.

And for those who aren’t so familiar with the law, perhaps let me leave you with what we can learn from this case.

If you’re paranoid, get burglar bars on your windows. If you have a gun, don’t use it willy-nilly. If you’re having a sleepover, use the buddy system.

This piece was written by a representative of Altum Sonatur, the official UCT law-student magazine.

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features

V73 E9 – 26 AUGUST 2014

Bringing the Winelands to you

No car? No cash? Here are some of the best places to taste wine without making the trek to Stellenbosch Shannon Krausey

M

ost of us have a love-hate relationship with wine. We hate it, because we wake up with headaches after spending wild nights drinking it straight from the bottle – or worse, the box. We love it because it’s delicious, and nothing makes us feel classier than sipping on some wine at a tasting, talking utter codswallop about the “fruity notes” that we pretend to taste.

Unfortunately for us Capetonians though, driving an hour to estates in Stellies isn’t always an option. But don’t fret – there are a bunch (see what I did there?) of great places to go wine tasting in Cape Town, many of which are free.

Tjing Tjing on Longmarket Street hosts free tastings every Wednesday night and the winemakers often pop in as well. Tjing Tjing is a rooftop bar and boasts spectacular views of the city. The decor is eclectic and trendy and the bar is always buzzing,

quickly becoming one of the most popular in the city. If you go with people who aren’t so keen on wine, they can sip on some of the awardwinning cocktails while listening to music and enjoying the vibe. Tjing Tjing is a five minute walk from the Hiddingh Jammie stop if you walk along Long Street. Tastings start at 5pm.

“Most of us have a lovehate relationship with wine.”

Every first and last Friday of the month, Cozier Wine Cellars hosts a free wine tasting. At these events, tasting masters from several estates share their expert knowledge of wine and guide you through the tasting.

These are great opportunities to get some tips from real connoisseurs, so that you can impress (and shock) your friends. Cozier is at 115 Kloof Street, a seven minute walk

When I grow up I want to be a YouTuber Ali Findlay YouTube seems like easy money, but what does it take to be a YouTube star?

Don’t deny it, you’ve spent a good few hours of your life watching videos on YouTube. Cats, vines, sleepy puppies, people doing stupid things, music videos and double rainbows have all turned bored moments into entertaining ones, and have added hours onto usual procrastination routines. Until recently, I had never given YouTube much thought. I didn’t think further than the random viral videos. That is, until I was enlightened to the world of YouTubers.

Who knew that you could make a living through YouTube?

That your job could be making YouTube videos? That you can be a YouTuber? I didn’t until a few months ago. The videos don’t have to be serious. They can be silly and funny, as long as it’s what people want to see. Because in order to make money, you need to have a lot of subscribers. Advertising is what enables people to make money off YouTube. If a channel has thousands of subscribers, it translates to thousands of people watching the advert, which means more people will be exposed to the product and more people will buy the product or service.

back in the 90s everyone wanted to be a singer or a Nickelodeon star At the moment, PewDiePie is the most subscribed-to YouTuber, with over 30 million subscribers.

He makes over R40 million per year and his daily videos get around 2,5 million views. Smosh, Jenna Marbles and Ray William Johnson follow with over 18,5 million, almost 14 million and close to 11 million subscribers respectively.

Caspar Lee is the most subscribed South African YouTuber with over 3 million subscribers.

facebooking for hours each day makes me feel a bit sick Many YouTubers first started out with a blog, which progressed to YouTube. Now, many of the most successful YouTubers are considered “vloggers” as well. A “vlog” is just like a blog, but instead of a written post, the post is in the form of a video. Many vlog accounts are an insight into people’s lives; they allow vloggers to share their lives on the internet.

Many YouTubers have built up dedicated fan bases with the help of Twitter and Instagram. This has resulted in a community of YouTube celebrities. Getting paid to make videos sounds awesome, but the thought of filming mealtimes, car trips, shopping, time with friends and family, along with tweeting, instagramming and facebooking for hours each day makes me feel a bit sick. Clearly these activities aren’t unappealing to everyone, as being a YouTuber seems to be the new age dream job.

Back in the 90s everyone wanted to be a singer or a Nickelodeon star, now kids and adults all over the world are aspiring YouTubers. At least one thing is guaranteed: an influx of procrastination material is on its way.

from Hiddingh. Tastings are from 4 to 7pm.

Wine Concepts is so serious about their wine that they hold tastings daily, with a focus on a different estate every day. Twice a month they also have a Friday Flavour Focus, where they focus on a specific varietal and get the winemakers to come around and talk about their craft. Tastings are free and you don’t have to book, so Wine Concepts is the perfect place for an impromptu glass of wine after a bad day. What could cheer you up more than free wine? They have a branch next door to Melissa’s in Newlands; and another one at 50 Kloof Street, a three minute walk from Hiddingh.

Tastings are from 4 to 7pm.

If you have a car, make sure to visit the Constantia wine route. It’s only a 15 minute drive from campus and is home to the oldest wine estate in the country, Groot Constantia.

There are also some stunning estates, such as Buitenverwachting, Uitsig and Steenberg, which offer free tastings too.

Image: Sky Orion

The three-course microwave meal miracle

How to serve up the best of the microwave world, right here in res Anna Insam Between the oftenunpalatable Fedics and the Woolworths microwave meals (which somehow all taste remarkably similar), the horizon for delicious meals appears grim for the average UCT student.

Confined to the sloped walls of Tugwell for a year, one learns to embrace alternative meal options. I bring you microwave cooking, also known as the solution to student starvation, like you’ve never seen before. If you’re fed up with bad grub, look no further than this 3-course microwave meal miracle! Yep, these mug-recipes will change your res living, one minute at a time.

The good news is that we’ve made sure that all you need is a microwave, three microwavable mugs, a fork, knife, teaspoon and tablespoon.

Starter: Ham Cheesy Quiche

&

Tomato

Ingredients:

Image: flickr.com/Waleed Alzuhair

2 eggs 2 tablespoons milk Pinch of salt Cracked black pepper 4 baby tomatoes 1 slice chopped ham 1 slice chopped cheese How to make it: 1. In a mug, beat the two eggs with milk until well combined and fluffy.

2. Add the remaining ingredients.

3. Microwave on high for 40 seconds, and an additional few more if needed!

P.S. This could totally double as breakfast too.

Main Course: Spicy Tomato, Avocado and Bean Burrito Ingredients: 5 halved baby tomatoes 3 tablespoons kidney beans Fresh chilli/ Cajun spice 1 slice of cheese 1 wrap 1/4 sliced avocado How to make it: 1. Mix the first four ingredients together in mug.

2. Microwave on high for 1 minute.

3. Microwave wrap for 45 seconds.

Image:flickr.com/mhaithaca

4. Pour mug contents onto middle of wrap, and add avocado.

5. Fold up wrap and devour! *Chef ’s tip: Add some smoked trout or cooked chicken in step 1 And for dessert? How about…

Dessert: Smores Mug-Cake Ingredients: 4 tablespoons all-purpose flour 4 tablespoons sugar 3 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder 1/4 teaspoon baking powder 1/4 teaspoon salt 1 egg 3 tablespoons milk 1 tablespoon vegetable oil 2 marshmallows How to make it: 1.

In a mug, mix all dry ingredients with a fork – flour, sugar, cocoa, baking powder, and salt.

2. Stir in the egg, milk, and vegetable oil.

3. Pour batter into a lightly greased coffee mug, pushing the marshmallows into the centre of the mug.

Image: flickr.com/Sandra Rybicki

features

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Cape Town’s Moulin Rouge From the mouth of a UCT SuperCare Cleaner Busang Senne Driving down Albert Road in Woodstock, amongst the plethora of quaint indie stores, second-hand furniture and vintage bargains, you may have come across Cape Town’s own Moulin Rouge (well, minus the overtly risqué atmosphere).

A former hotel converted into a sophisticated compilation of boutiques and art, this place dazzles.

I recently entered Woodstock’s fashion and artistic hub to see what treasures The Bromwell was hiding.

The Bromwell Hotel started as one of Woodstock’s originals, dating back to 1927 and after a threatening period that saw the space on the verge of collapse, was renovated simply to The Bromwell.

We all know Woodstock is Cape Town’s grimy, industrial darling, and the trademark robin-red of The Bromwell solidifies its place as an Albert Road favourite.

Unbeknownst to the dedicated fans of our humble Varsity Features section, my Editor and partner-incrime, Lynne, has been begging me for what seems like an entire year to go check it out. Strangely, the hustle and bustle of Woodstock has always made my stomach churn, the thought of parallel parking in a tight space between a shoddy pavement and a Citi Golf gives me anxiety akin to doing my driver’s license all over again.

So, I replaced The Bromwell reviews with any other topic I could think of until Lynne wouldn’t take it anymore. Finally, I convinced my roommate (bless her) to drive me, and so, heart attacks dodged, we made our way to 250 Albert Road.

Entering The Bromwell, I came across BREAD, a boulangerie of deli delights on the first floor, making my way through a staircase of knickknacks and portraits.

The building is made up of separate wings, each housing 16 stores including a bookstore, with limited edition pieces of art, interior décor, jewellery and sartorial masterpieces. Unique brands like South African fashion god David Tlale, local indie jeweler Made of Mettle, Craig Jacobs, Isabel de Villiers Clothing and other exclusives can be found at marked-down prices in the corners of The Bromwell.

Was the AKEDO mini leather dress in a temptress oxblood calling my name? Absolutely yes. Was I actually able to purchase anything?

Absolutely not. But my roommate and I marveled in The Bromwell for a good half an hour, and dreaming is better than crying. I got there just in time before the even bigger and better renovations took place, so for now window shopping and drooling at the goodies is the best you can hope for. But when The Bromwell returns, expect a Pandora’s box of luxury and awesome.

Katy Scott speaks to Maggie Cardinal, a 38-year-old Supercare Cleaner, about drugs, prostitution and politics Image: Katy Scott

“We can just pray that God send the right people in the right positions to do the right thing. We only can trust God, we can’t trust people to do right.”

Maggie has a thick accent and loves chattering. Her every “like” sounds like “liken” and she has the pitch of an excited little girl.

She speaks of Milnerton and prostitution. “You will sommer see every night, during the day the prostitutes and that is not good for small children. Like my friend’s child she did pick up condoms two times, put it in her mouth. It’s dangerous to live like that.”

She has been to the police many times to report the drug dealing on the streets. “But you see it’s all over corruptions. The police is like, ‘Do you have your fact straight?’ Hello! I live there, I can see they dealing drugs

by my house… And I’m really sick of that stuff.”

She realises that she has gotten a bit off topic. (I had asked her what she thinks of South Africa). “But further on, South Africa is a really beautiful place,” she concludes with an affirmative nod.

But she is still stressed about the “young coloureds”. “They are standing in the streets. You come out of work, ‘Give a 50c, give a R1’. This, that and the other but nothing is wrong, hence you can go work but still you wanna live that life and all this gangsterism.”

“Now we like scared to walk any distance after 10pm because a lot of things have changed and it didn’t changed for the better. It just got worse.”

She expands on how things have changed. “Our government system is not right and, like I said to the police,

everything is like upside down.”

“They sommer wanna mug you when you come to work, put a gun on your head and all that. Even the trains you can just stand and you’ll sommer feel when you come at work your bag is open and you feel no they cut the bag open and taken everything out.”

We move on to chat about her husband’s drug addiction. “I said to him no, I don’t want my child to grow up the way that I grew up and if you don’t change and you want to do your drugs then you must go outside and do whatever you want to do. But for me, I want to do a lot of changing in my life for my child to have a better future.”

She performs a quick psychological analysis on herself. “I didn’t took care of myself, was like, you wanna give other people your best but you forget about yourself. And I come to a conclusion and tell myself, no man I must stop this cause otherwise I’m gonna die because of all this stress because people don’t appreciate what you do for them.”

The tiny-boned woman sits up straight and convinces me (and herself) by saying, “I know where I’m coming from but I also know where I want to be at like five years from now”.

And where does she want to be? “I sommer say to myself, if I can just get a place that has a lekker yard so I can see my child freely play.” That’s all.

South Africa's democracy — Mandela's "cherished ideal" Image: flickr.com/LesHaines

Dean Horowitz

N

elson Mandela: South Africa’s most cherished leader, a man who rose above his own oppression to free a nation and usher in a new democratic era for our country. Madiba was loved, cherished and celebrated around the world, not just in South Africa. This is most evident in the UK, where his legacy continues to inspire and live on, his presence is marked by a bronze statue in London’s Parliament Square.

The London School of Economics (LSE) is one of the top universities in the world and is known for producing some of the best and brightest in the fields of economics and politics. It has a long standing partnership with the University of Cape Town (UCT), bringing its top professors out to South Africa annually to run a winter school for locals and foreigners.

The LSE is paying tribute to the father of our Nation, Nelson Mandela, this month through an exhibition entitled: “South Africa's Democracy – Mandela's ‘Cherished Ideal"’. The exhibition will run from September 1st to September 26th in the Atrium Gallery in the Old Building at the London School of Economics (LSE).

The exhibition highlights Mandela’s role in South Africa’s journey to democracy through photographs, documents and artefacts..

This exhibition is being presented in association with UCT, Wits and Fort Hare University and is co-sponsored by the South African High Commission in London. The exhibition will run every day from 10am to 8pm and is open to the public free of charge in an effort to attract locals, foreigners and expats to learn about our remarkable journey to democracy.

The LSE will also play host to a public lecture by Moeletsi Mbeki on September 23rd. Mbeki is a political analyst, author and entrepreneur who has written several books, his latest being “Architects of Poverty: Why African Capitalism Needs Changing”.

He also recently edited a book entitled “Advocates for Change: How to overcome Africa’s challenges”. Mbeki is the Deputy Chair of the Institute for

International Affairs in South Africa and brother to previous president Thabo Mbeki. In his public lecture, Mbeki will examine how close South Africa has come, in the two decades since its first free and fair elections, to the "cherished ideal" of democracy once envisaged by President Mandela and his peers, like Mr Mbeki's father, who were jailed for life alongside him.

The exhibition is unique in that the

artefacts and images are straight from the associated universities’ precious archives, as well the fact that they have never been seen outside of South Africa before. In addition to an impressive gallery of photographs capturing South Africa during and post-apartheid, the exhibition will also feature many documents relating to famous trials of South Africa’s freedom fighters. This collection also includes documents

directly from the Rivonia Trial.

From South Africa to London, the stories of our brave forefathers are brought to life through these exhibitions, talks and documentaries.

These important elements of our struggle shine a well-deserved light on the amazing work that was done to end Apartheid and help provide future generations a glimpse into how oppression can be overcome.

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V73 E10 – 16 SEPTEMBER 2014

sport

VARSITY FOOTBALL

It may have been another disappointing tourney for UCT Ikeys, but there were good times and great moments too. Here’s a preview for those who missed out.

Image: Supplied by Varsity Sports

Image: Sarah Hotz

Image: Supplied by Varsity Sports

Image: Supplied by Varsity Sports

Image: Sarah Hotz Image: Supplied by Varsity Sports

Image: Supplied by Varsity Sports

Image: Sarah Hotz

Image: Sarah Hotz

Image: Sarah Hotz

sport

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Rugby or life: the choice is yours Saadiq Samodien

place to ensure that these players can sustain themselves after retiring from rugby. In van Reenen’s book, he reveals that about 76% of Australian players who retire are graduates, and of those, about 84% end up in their desired occupation. In New Zealand, about 90% of them are working towards a qualification. In South Africa however, only about 4.78% can sustain themselves for a period of three years or longer after retirement.

Y

ou are a young, ambitious, strong, eager rugby player. Your dream is to play for your provincial side and eventually the Springboks.

However, the statistic that only 5% of South African retired rugby players succeed in the real world may deter your enthusiasm.

On average, a good rugby player will play anywhere between five and 15 years, dependent on how good he is. Then there is life after that, which could last for another 60 years. According to former Currie Cup Winner Ross van Reenen, this period is absolutely abysmal for retired South African rugby players.

In his book, From Locker Room to Boardroom, he says that there are about 600 players contracted professionally in the country, of which only 30 will be able to sustain their lives to some degree after retirement.

You won’t get the job just because you’re Beast Mtwarira These are facts which are often ignored by fans and spectators, as we just enjoy rugby players scoring amazing tries and putting in a few big tackles. However, not every

Only 5% of South African retired rugby players succeed in the real world

player has had the privilege of starting business ventures, as legends Francois Pienaar, Kobus Wiese and Jan Pickard have done. Instead, many have dropped out of university and the only qualifications they possess are “seven years’ scrum-half for Western Province (WP)” or “five years’ prop for WP”.

You won’t get the job just because you’re Beast Mtwarira or

Jaco Taute. They are looking for valid qualifications or experience.

According to the official Western Province Website, there are currently 68 contracted senior players. This excludes players in the under 16, under 19 and under 21 squads hoping to one day play for the senior squad and ultimately the Springboks. Similar structures are in different squads across Provinces.

In total, that is literally thousands of boys and men who are often putting aside education, graduating from a university or getting a qualification for the dream of one day possibly playing for the senior squad and ultimately the Springboks.

I don’t have a problem with someone dreaming to play for the national or provincial squads.

However, structures need to be in

University rugby teams are ultimately a huge feeder club to provincial sides. An example is the number of Ikeys players who are playing or have played for WP. In many cases, players have left their studies to focus on their rugby careers. Jean Kleyn, the 21-year old WP lock from Maties, put his mechanical engineering studies on hold to focus on his rugby. He has however registered at UNISA and is doing a course in financial management as he knows the importance of a qualification. The problem remains, however, that probably 95% of contracted SA rugby players are not thinking in the same way.

deal for the player, something almost unheard for a big money club like Manchester United.

This transfer window and deadline day in particular saw the use of loans by big money clubs for big name superstars for the first time ever in European football. Loan deals are usually reserved for smaller clubs who often take on bigger clubs’ younger or out of favour players in order to give them match time and

to boost their squads. This window was characterised by big money loan moves for Falcao by Manchester United, Hernandez by Real Madrid and Negredo, who moved from Manchester City to Valencia on loan.

Another integral and exciting element of the transfer deadline day is the panic and chaos that often ensue when a club realises that they have not bought their players yet and have less than 24 hours in

which to do so. In direct contrast, Chelsea played it smart this year and brought in Costa and Fabregas early on in the window. Both players have settled in well at the club and are outperforming their rivals on their way to ensuring a 100% start to the season for the club. Arsenal fans had been in full voice throughout the window, pleading for manager Arsène Wenger to bring in a new striker. In what may seem like a panic buy, Wenger obliged by bringing in Manchester United’s Danny Welbeck

at the last minute.

Transfer, whether done during the window or on deadline day, can only be accurately measured once the players have settled into their new clubs and roles. At the end of the season we will be able to analyse whether or not players have been a success and have led their team to success. Until then we will continue debating whether or not our favourite team used their heads or their hearts during this transfer window.

Image: commons.wikimedia.org/ Pierre-Selim

The precious window Dean Horwitz

Image: flickr.com/Sean McCormick

In European soccer, teams are able to buy new players during two “transfer windows” in the year. These fall between July and September and between January and February each year. While the July window is referred to as the pre-season window, the January window is known as the mid-season window and allows teams to strengthen their squads and sell excess players. The final day of the window is known as transfer deadline day and is often filled with rumours, drama, controversies and head scratching moments leaving fans wondering whether their team will go onto score big or not.

The 2014 pre-season transfer deadline day delivered some very interesting business deals, including the transfer of Falcao to Manchester United and the transfer of Welbeck to Arsenal. The deadline day also capped a record spending spree by English clubs and saw a considerable number of loan deals being finalised.

Manchester United has been one of the busiest teams in this transfer window and the club was expected to add one or two more players on deadline day. However, the club shocked the world when they launched an audacious last minute bid for Falcao, a Monaco player who had been put up for sale 48 hours prior. The shock was followed by the news that United had agreed a loan

Sport VARSITY

FIXTURES Varsity Netball UCT vs UJ, MWU

Monday, September 22nd

UCT Rugby Internal League Finals, Wednesday, September 24th, 5.30pm RUGBY FIELDS

UCT amped for Varsity Netball Tourney Melody Fynn

Image: Melody Fynn

T

he UCT Varsity Cup squad has come a long way since the start of the season early in February this year. The new coach, Theo Moletsane, ensured that each player could easily be noticed on campus by their unique “penguin-style” walk up and down Jammie stairs after their gruelling fitness sessions three times a week.

As the season drew closer to the annual USSA Tournament, held in Port Elizabeth this year, the sessions became more intense, increasing to three-hour sessions including weekly trips to the gym.

Despite the pressure of having to cope with exam study and assignment hand-ins, the team’s dedication and commitment was incredible. This definitely helped bring them closer together and prepare mentally for the competition.

All the hard work paid off, as the team managed to finish 9th out of 32 teams, securing a spot in the Varsity Cup competition. This achievement was even sweeter for the girls, as they managed a victory over CPUT for the first time in the

history of UCT netball at the USSA championships.

Captain Fortuna Begula, who has represented SA in the under 19 and under 21 national squads, forms a formidable partnership with Simone Peters in defence in the circle, with heights 1.77 meters and 1.80 meters respectively.

Trying to get the ball past these two will require a great deal of effort

with little reward if they manage to intercept a ball coming into the circle.

Centre court player Phumzile Shandu’s agility has often left spectators in awe at her ability to fly through the air and turn over balls.

Lelutu August, the fastest player on the team, runs circles around her opponents and Bronwyn Bodley’s clever play ensures that the ball

travels up court and lands safely and accurately in the hands of our shooters. Our top scoring shooter, Fikile Dlamini’s cool and calm presence in the circle creates a roar in the crowd when she sinks those balls and adds points to our scoreboard.

The team is fully prepared both mentally and physically. This year, the players’ determination coupled

with fantastic coaches, dedicated to developing and unlocking each player’s full potential, will make all the difference at this year’s Varsity Netball tournament.

Monday, September 22nd, will see UCT take on UJ at NorthWest University (NWU). A trip to Stellenbosch will follow a week after, and all are encouraged to pitch up for support. However, the girls will be relishing the October 5th game against Vaal University of Technology (VUT), the team that scored a narrow victory over them at the USSA tournament held earlier this year. All Varsity Netball matches will be televised on Supersport.

The team is fresh this year, with several new players in the squad. Adding to the strength and experience are players who represented Western Province for their different age groups this year, namely: Fikile Dlamini, Robin van Wyk, Phumi Shandu and Bronwyn Bodley. Phumi and Bronwyn were selected for the SA under 19 and under 21 squads respectively.

UCT played their first game against NMMU at UCT on Sunday, September 14th (check out results at www.varsitysportssa.com).

UCT Cycling Club takes on “Everest” Image: Shaun Bongani

Bruce Hughes In the early hours of Sunday morning, while most students were returning home from a night out on the town, eight UCT Cycling Club members assembled to begin their assault on Mount Everest.

Their goal was lofty, albeit simple: to ascend the equivalent height of the highest peak in the world in a

they would have to climb repeatedly until they had ascended 8 848 vertical meters single ride.

A ride of this magnitude had not yet been recorded in Africa and in the weeks leading up to the challenge many had called this attempt both foolhardy and ridiculous. However, the UCT cyclists had extra motivation to see this challenge through as all money raised during the ride would go to Velokhaya, a cycling academy based in Khayelitsha which uses cycling as a medium to steer youths away from the negative influences that plague marginalised communities.

In order to be inducted into the “Everesting” hall of fame as the first Africans to complete this challenge, the team were required to choose a single hill which they

would have to climb repeatedly until they had ascended 8 848 vertical meters. The team chose the winding road from Camps Bay to the top of Signal Hill and covered

a distance of 303km over a period of 19 hours, battling physical and mental demons, wind, high temperatures and extreme fatigue.

Finally, at 10pm that night Liam

Swanson, Craig Getz, Jonty Adams, and Wayde Finch, four of the eight starters, crested the hill for the 24th and final time, having ascended just over 9 000m and in

the process raising nearly R25 000 for Velokhaya.

Originally published on UCT Daily News: http://www.uct.ac.za/ dailynews/?id=8819