2015: Edition 1

SINCE

1942 THE OFFICIAL STUDENT NEWSPAPER OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CAPE TOWN

24 FEBRUARY 2015

VOLUME 74: EDITION 1

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Reshuffling of SRC Portfolios

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IN THIS ISSUE

Freshers’ Insert

Dear SRC

PAGE 6

New Res Caterers

PAGE 3

Love Me Tinder

PAGE 13

USSA Roundup

PAGE 14

Image by Amina Ebrahim Aisha Abdool Karim he SRC released a statement on Thursday, February 12th confirming the decision to reshuffle the postions of President and Vice-President Internal in the SRC. The motion to reshuffle the SRC was put forward by Mmamalema Molepo, SRC Sport and Recreation Co-ordinator, at a meeting held on Tuesday, February 10th.

The vote was done by secret ballot and passed with a two-thirds absolute majority, with 11 in favour, two opposed, and two abstaining. The reshuffling of positions took place on Wednesday, February 11th where SRC members decided who would assume which new position.

The reason for the reshuffle was cited as a lack of trust and leadership as well as feeling the team was not operating effectively. The SRC felt that the ineffectiveness was due to the inexperience of certain members in student government. They stated that this inexperience led to a lack of accountability within the SRC which affected the

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functionality of the team.

Despite the fact that many students were surprised by the rapid change in the student governance structure, many SRC members said that the issue had been previously raised and discussed during strategic planning held in December last year. The notion was brought up following debriefings during Orientation Week which provided an opportunity to assess the performance of each member.

Issues raised during the constituting meeting were also addressed.

The standard protocol for SRC meetings is that everyone in attendance must be invited as certain issues are confidential. There are no clear specifications on whether students or media are allowed to be present in meetings. There have previously been requests to sit in on an agenda item and these are often granted. However, according to Ramabina Mahapa, current SRC President, requests are denied if “the SRC feels that they won’t be able

to express themselves fully in meetings” and if they would prefer for their views to remain private. This was the case, along with the issue of short notice, with the SRC’s denial of VARSITY’s request to attend the meeting held on February 10th. Members felt that media presence would impede on freedom of expression.

Given that there is no section in the current SRC Constitution which stipulates what process to follow for a reshuffling of the SRC, the procedure that was used will set the precedent for future reshuffles. The SRC followed guidelines based on the election commission and holding a constituting meeting.

If any members are unsatisfied with the procedure they can take a motion to the Student Assembly expressing their concerns.

Due to concerns raised, a proposal was made three weeks ago to revise the SRC Constitution. This plan needs to go through members of student assembly, DSA and other stakeholders before the process can begin. On February 11th

the SRC discussed outlining the process for a reshuffle in order to address the serious deficiencies in the Constitution and to make the document more comprehensive. For this motion to pass it is necessary to have a two-thirds majority of the SRC in favour, in order to reflect the views of the majority.

There is also no set guideline on how the minutes should be recorded and how comprehensive these minutes need to be. Currently the minutes simply record the results of the meeting as opposed to being an account of what each member said. In the meeting on February 11th it was decided that the minutes should be more comprehensive in future and detail important points raised by individuals. The SRC is considering using a minutes officer who will record everything said in

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

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news

V74 E1 – 24 FEBRUARY 2015

Reshuffling of SRC Portfolios

NEWS BITES Mbete apologises to Malema South

Africa - Baleka

Mbete issued an official statement apologising to Julius Malema for calling him a cockroach. She withdrew her previous comments, made at a conference on February 19th, and acknowledged that her remarks were offensive and unwarranted. Malema welcomed her apology and also extended his own apology to Helen Zille for similar comments he made in 2010.

Mail & Guardian

Troops retreat from Debaltseve

Ukraine - Ukrainian armed forces have withdrawn from Debaltseve after weeks of fighting with Pro-Russian rebels. Control of the railway town is seen as a strategic victory for rebel fighters.

Despite an earlier ceasefire, brokered by Ukraine, Russia, Germany and France, the violent conflict continued and intensified before government troops began their retreat on February 18th.

Al Jazeera

Egyptian Airstrikes in Libya

Libya - Egypt led an airstrike

in Libya on Monday, February 16th following the beheading of at least 21 Egyptian Coptic Christians by the Islamic State (IS). The attack targeted camps, training facilities and weapon depots near the town of Derna, an IS militant stronghold. The Arab League supported Egypt’s actions and backed Cairo’s call to lift the arms embargo on the Libyan army.

Reuters

Continued from page 1 the meeting whilst enabling all SRC members to engage and contribute to meeting discussions.

When asked about the reshuffle, Oyama Botha, Deputy Secretary General, commented that “a lot of us, the members, saw that there needs to be a change of leadership.” She felt that the change in leadership would allow members to function better as a team after observing each member’s strengths within their portfolio. Her main concern about the reshuffle was that she did not know whether this was the right process to follow.

Ndondo Nzama, Chair of Residences, expressed concerns regarding Tuesday’s meeting in terms of the effect on team dynamics and the guidelines and process followed. She felt there was a lack of clarity on which conditions and grounds validate a reshuffle and that people “were just making stuff up on the spot”. Nzama said she would have preferred it if there were an impartial external body, such as the DSA, to review the decision and supervise the reshuffling procedure.

Thato Pule, Chair of Transformation and Social Responsiveness, was confident in the procedure followed and felt that “it was fair to everyone involved.”

She also said that the reshuffle had previously been discussed, especially following the resignations last year.

She felt that “the lack of leadership at the top did affect [her] portfolio” and hopes that the reshuffle will help rectify this. Pule raised concern that the SRC may become a political vehicle instead of a vehicle for students. However, she emphasised that politics were not involved in this decision. She felt that “the voice of the independents is being undermined [in the media]”, despite their important role in the decision making process.

Nicole Mirkin, SRC Health and Safety Chair, left the meeting early on Tuesday evening to do a prescheduled interview on UCT Radio.

In the interview she discussed the motion of reshuffling the SRC and incorrectly cited parts of the SRC Constitution regarding factionalism.

Mirkin spoke in her personal capacity and since she had left before the meeting’s conclusion was not aware of the final decisions made by the SRC, including the decision to keep the meeting discussion confidential until an official statement had been released. Mirkin went on air a second time on Wednesday, February 18th, in which she expressed dissatisfaction with the procedure of drafting the statement sent to students.

The statement released by the

SRC on Thursday, February 12th was drafted by a task team of four SRC members before being sent out to the SRC for comments or objections. Any complaints raised were discussed in an emergency meeting which three SRC members, including Mirkin, were unable to attend. Mirkin sent her comments on the statement via e-mail and these were considered by the task team.

In her second interview on air Mirkin said that she had not been given a vote on the final statement and was unhappy with how she had been represented. However, there was no vote taken by the SRC on the statement that was released, rather it was discussed between all those present at the emergency meeting until a consensus was reached.

It was also mentioned that Mirkin might be facing disciplinary action for speaking about confidential matters on air however, thus far no motion has been put forward to take disciplinary action against Mirkin. Schedule A outlines various reasons to take disciplinary action against someone, one category in this outline is “grave offences”, something which leads to a motion of censure.

Two motions of censure means that your appointment is terminated.

Instances of committing a grave offence which may apply to Mirkin include: “sabotage the activities of the

Trials of UCT students implicated in 2014 “race-related” attacks remain on-going Image by Amina Ebrahim

Potential for HIV Vaccine

California - A group of researchers, led by Professor Michael Farzan, at the Scripps Research Institute, altered monkeys’ DNA to give them HIV-fighting properties using gene therapy. The study was published in the journal Nature on February 18th and showed that the monkeys were protected from all strains of the virus for at least 34 weeks.

BBC News

Man fixes car using a potato

England Mario Papademetriou, an AA patrolman, fixed his 1960s vintage Land Rover using a potato on February 19th.

After his car broke down on a farm in Hertfordshire, Papedemetriou attempted to fix the faulty condenser using tin foil and silicone repair tape. After the first attempt to repair the car failed, he then wired a potato to the car using two screws.

Metro

Robyn Ausmeier & Aisha Abdool Karim

SRC or its sub-structures”, “creates factionalism within the SRC and/ or its sub-structures”, or “commits any act aimed at undermining the effective functioning of the student governance in general and the SRC in particular”.

Another issue brought up in the statement was that of misinformation, specifically referring to UCT Radio.

The SRC felt that claims made by UCT Radio regarding Jonathan Yankelowitz voting in favour of the reshuffle were purely speculative and could not be substantiated since all voting is done by secret ballot.

The SRC also felt that there were incorrect claims that individuals were threatened and intimidated into not speaking to the media.

In response to questions about the implications of a reshuffle, Mahapa noted that there will be training offered to members in the four positions which have been reshuffled and there will be future team-building to strengthen team morale. According to Mahapa, “there will definitely be a number of things which needs to be adjusted but I don’t think it will affect the work of the SRC to a large extent.”

He further explained that only four portfolios had been reshuffled and that individuals will continue with their previous campaigns, regardless of what portfolio they now hold.

Tasneem Amra and Aisha Abdool Karim n February 5th, the case against five young men including a UCT student who are accused of assaulting a Stadium on Main cleaner was postponed in the Wynberg Magistrate’s Court until March 26th for further investigation.

The accused – Chad de Matos, a 19-year-old UCT student, Aaron Mack, 20, Mitchell Turner, 20, and two others who cannot be named until they have formally appeared in court – have been charged with attempted murder, assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm and crimen injuria after they allegedly attacked Delia Adonis, a Manenberg mother-of-six, in what the State labelled as a race-related attack on October 17th 2014.

De Matos, Mack and Turner’s first court appearance on November 25th 2014, the court heard how Adonis witnessed the five men leave Tiger Tiger nightclub in Claremont and

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wait on the street. When they saw another patron leaving the nightclub, they allegedly attacked him. Adonis helped the victim by alerting local law enforcement officers, and when she went to a nearby parking lot to smoke, the accused men allegedly attacked her and verbally abused her with racial slurs.

Adonis’s 17 year old son, TeshLee, witnessed the attack and rushed to his mother’s aid. “She was kicked on her head and face and could not move. If her son had not intervened, she could have been killed”, said State Prosecutor Nathan Johnson.

Johnson said that the State would also look to bring charges of defeating the ends of justice and possible bribery against Detective Andy Hendricks after it emerged that he allegedly contacted Adonis and offered her money to drop the charges. Detective Hendricks then contacted the court and falsely said that Adonis had dropped the charges.

Asghar Mia, the defence lawyer

for the accused representing William Booth Attorneys, argued that de Matos was approached by the detective and asked to pay R700 for the complainant’s medical fees. He added that his client did not ask for the charges to be dropped.

At the accused’s second court appearance on November 27th 2014, it emerged that de Matos was also facing charges of negligent and reckless driving after he drove onto the property of a Kenilworth resident in February and damaged her wall and car.

De Matos’s alleged involvement in the attack against Adonis was the second State-labelled “race-related” incident involving a UCT student in 2014.

On January 24th 2014, then 19-year-old first year BCom student Djavan Arrigone allegedly urinated on Khayelitsha taxi driver Michelle Puis Nomgcana from the balcony of Tiger Tiger nightclub.

According to Nomgcana, when Arrigone was questioned at the

Stadium on Main security office after the incident, he swore at Nomgcana and said that “he is coming from overseas, his father and his family is rich, and he doesn’t see anything wrong to urinating on the top of the black person and he’s not going to apologise for that”.

Arrigone was charged with assault and crimen injuria at a court appearance in January, to which he pleaded not guilty at a later court appearance in July. The case is still on-going.

The SRC released a statement on December 2nd 2014 saying, “The SRC awaits the outcome of the court proceedings before making any comments relating to the two incidences.” The statement also addressed a letter from Dr Max Price which was released on November 26th 2014 in which he stated that UCT was conducting independent investigations on the matter. Price’s letter also went on to say, “In the first instance, it must be stated categorically that UCT absolutely, utterly rejects racism, violence and discrimination of any kind. There can never be a justification for such behaviour and we will fight it tooth and nail where it occurs. We will bring our strongest disciplinary sanctions to bear on anyone who is found guilty of such behaviour.”

VARSITY enquired about any new developments and/or the outcome of the independent investigations UCT launched into the incidents last year, to which Ms Kylie Hatton, Deputy Director of the Communication and Marketing Department at UCT, released the following statement, “The two respective cases involving the University of Cape Town students, Djavan Arrigone and Chad de Matos, are still underway, and UCT cannot comment on them or on any possible further action at this stage.”

news

Spent Vac Under a Rock?

Here’s What You Missed

By Devarshna Govender ber banned in Delhi

Ü

Über, an app-based transportation service founded in 2009, has been banned in Delhi after an Über driver, Shiv Kumar Yadav, was accused of raping a female passenger on December 5th 2014.

Due to the insufficient examination of the drivers’ backgrounds the city has decided to only allow app/web-based transport companies to operate on their streets after they are registered with the government. This ban was then extended to other cities in India.

Customers held hostage in Sydney

On December 15th 2014, customers at a Lindt Café, situated in the business district of Sydney, were held hostage. Haron Monis entered the café, aimed his gun at the manager of the shop, and forced the customers to stand up and hold their hands to their heads. His actions were allegedly those of a terrorist attack planned and instigated by the Islamic State (ISIS). Monis allegedly filmed the hostages repeating his demands and posted the videos on YouTube.

However, these videos have since been removed. He proceeded to use the hostages’ social media accounts to further relay his demands. The siege lasted approximately 16 hours and

resulted in the death of two civilians.

Monis was shot and killed by the police, following a raid of the café.

AirAsia Flight Disappeared

AirAsia flight QZ8501 flying to Singapore from Surabaya lost contact with air traffic controllers and disappeared on December 28th, 2014. The official AirAsia twitter account released information that this occurred at 07:42am. The pilot had initially requested to change their route and fly higher in order to avoid bad weather. The search for the plane, which carried 162 passengers, then began and Malaysian, Australian and Singaporean authorities offered to assist Indonesia in the endeavour.

Two days later the National Search and Rescue Agency Republic of Indonesia confirmed that they had found debris of the aircraft in the Java Sea.

Missing Mexican Declared Dead

Students

On January 14th 2015, the Mexican Attorney General, Jesús Murillo Karam declared that the 43 college students, who were reported missing on September 26th 2014, were dead. He stated that evidence supports the theory that their bodies were incinerated. This mass kidnapping occurred in the town of Iguala, where the students had supposedly travelled in order to acquire money and steal buses to

take part in a protest. The mayor, who was arrested for his involvement, allegedly told police officers to detain the students, and later offered them to a drug gang known as Guerreros Unidos. According to the leader of the group, Felipe Rodríguez Salgado, these students were targeted due to a suspicion they were members of a rival drug gang. The remains of the students were supposedly found after a lab was able to identify one student positively. Most of the remains could not be used in testing due to severe damage.

Three Students Murdered in Chapel Hill

A young married couple, Mohammad Abu-Salha and Razan Mohammad Abu-Salha, and a fellow female student, Deah Shaddy Barakat, were murdered in their home in Chapel Hill, North Carolina on February 10th 2015. After the shootings, the victims’ neighbour, Craig Stephen Hicks, mysteriously disappeared, making him the prime suspect in the case. The police have not yet been able to identify a motive for the murder. The only dispute to have surfaced between the victims and Hicks was regarding parking spaces.

Due to the fact that all three victims were Muslim, many people across the world suspect that the murder was a “hate crime” orchestrated solely because of their religion.

Changes in Residence Catering Image by Robyn Ausmeier

and a choice of two vegetables with evening meals. Examples of the new meals include savoury mince bunny chow, Moroccan vegetable tagine and vegetable pad Thai. The Halaal food option has remained the same, and is still provided by an external caterer.

Despite the change in management, UCT was able to organise with C3 to continue the employment of existing staff members. Staff at Tugwell Dining Hall welcomed the new company and mentioned that they were relieved to have kept their jobs. One staff member, who wished to remain unnamed, commented that although there is more work for the cooks the improvements were necessary. “I think change is good so we should just make the best of it,” she stated.

Fedics, the previous catering company, was employed at UCT from 2009-2014. The 2014 Res Council, House Committees and SRC were instrumental in bringing about the change in food service provider. These structures gathered input from students and helped

V74 E1 - 24 FEBRUARY 2015

Online This Week...

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Plaza Week and Fresher's Braai By Razeena Palekar

A Summary of SONA President Jacob Zuma delivered his annual State of the Nation (SONA) address at the opening of parliament in Cape Town on Thursday, February 12th. The speech focused on key issues facing present-day South Africa such as energy constraints and poor economic growth. The address was preceded and largely overshadowed by a forced removal of Economic Freedom Fighters’ (EFF), Members of Parliament (MPs) and a subsequent walk out by members of the Democratic Alliance (DA).

Zuma’s speech cited the energy shortage as an “impediment to economic growth and… a major inconvenience.” The speech outlined the strategies being implemented by government to create a sustainable solution in the short-, medium- and long-term.

Short- and medium-term responses include improving maintenance at Eskom power stations as well as enhancing the power stations’ capacity to generate electricity. This will see the government prioritise its commitment of R23 billion to ensure Eskom can manage the current period adequately. President Zuma stressed the necessity for all role players in society to conserve energy and promoted a shift in usage by households from electricity to gas, where possible.

Long-term responses involved the building of three new power stations, as well as identifying and implementing alternative energy sources. The government has procured power from Independent Power Producers using renewable resources whilst Eskom has completed construction of a wind farm.

The State of the Nation Address also discussed poor economic growth, given that the International Monetary Fund revised GDP forecasts for global economic

growth down by 3.5%. Consequently, Zuma revealed a nine-point plan to create job opportunities and promote growth.

The nine-point plan included resolving the energy challenge, promoting agriculture, encouraging private sector investment and favouring small, medium and micro enterprises (SMMEs).

Zuma addressed land redistribution as “one of the most critical factors in achieving redress for the wrongs of the past.” During 2014 a second window to lodge land claims was reopened and this will continue until 2019. More than 36 000 claims have already been lodged. With respect to farms, the government plans to introduce a 50/50 policy framework, such that there are relative rights for those who live and work on farms.

New land ownership rules were disclosed during the speech. It was noted that the Regulation of Land Holdings Bill has been proposed. This recommends that a ceiling for land ownership be set at 12 000 hectares. Furthermore, foreign nationals will only be allowed to lease land on a longterm basis, not own land. The Bill will be submitted to Parliament later this year.

The speech also discussed improved access to identity documents. “Citizens will from this year be able to apply for the new Smart ID Card at their local bank,” stated Zuma. This partnership exists between the Department of Home Affairs and certain local banks.

The address discussed uniting South Africa through supporting national teams and celebrating successes of South African individuals. Patriotic symbols such as the national flag, anthem and portions of the Constitution as well as trans-border commerce in Africa are being promoted.

President Zuma’s speech also highlighted celebrating 60 years since implementing the Freedom Charter and the concurrent need to address crime, amongst other issues such as violent mining strikes, housing and rhino poaching.

organise a student-led march from Lower Campus to Bremner Building, where they demanded that the contract be taken to tender. Their plans were ultimately successful and the Fedics contract was not renewed.

C3 was chosen as the new catering company after a tender adjudication process which was instructed by UCT’s financial procurement policy.

When asked about the new catering service, most returning residence students agreed that there has been a notable improvement from last year, although they acknowledged that it is still too early in the year to judge. A second year student at Tugwell, Michelle Usayiwevu, said she has definitely noticed a change in the meals and prefers the food on offer this year.

Another returning student,

Aurélien Pradier, remarked that it is nice to have some variation, although he suspects that after a few months people will get used to the food and grow tired of it again. “People just complain because it’s the same thing.

People get bored and need a regular change,” Aurélien remarked.

C3 Food Services have been active since 2003 and presently work as one of the three main caterers at Stellenbosch University. They have offices in Cape Town, Durban and Johannesburg, with their head office situated in Tokai. According to the Department of Student Affairs, C3 intends to reduce the carbon footprint at UCT and to promote more sustainable initiatives. They also aim to enable a more healthconscious lifestyle for students through their selection of meals.

SalmaKhan

Robyn Ausmeier The catering company C3 Food Services replaced Fedics as the new residence caterer from January 1st this year, after the previous contract expired at the end of 2014. C3 has been assigned as the new food provider for the next five years, catering to eight UCT dining halls, and the management has assured that there will be a number of

changes to the meal system.

Although many aspects of the catering system have remained the same, there have been major changes and additions to the menu.

Whereas under Fedics there was only one vegetarian option, there are now two choices and a variety of new vegetarian meals have been introduced. There is also a larger selection of salads at dinner times

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Fifty Shades of Perspective

Yogi Shoba ccording to page 40 and 41 of the 2015 edition of Sax Appeal, I can now have a public heart-to-heart with the Messiah himself, @TheGoodGodAbove.

Thanks to the developments of modern media I no longer have to get down on one knee and pray in reverence to the man upstairs; I can simply tweet him all of my moans, groans and requests!

But no, do not let my perceived tone fool you; this did not impress me in the least. Though I am swimming in imperfections I do openly categorise myself as a Christian and any Christian in their right mind would not take kindly to a statement from the Sax “God” saying “I didn’t write the Bible. It was written by a bunch of bigoted sheepherders. The Lord pisses on Leviticus.”

I won’t however, contrary to popular belief, descend on the RAG offices with a bottle of holy water to rid those Sax sinners of their iniquities. I believe in loving one’s neighbour (literally). It is quite interesting to note though how tastefully and politely issues of Islam have been tiptoed around in the magazine, perhaps because – in the words of Mikhail Moosa – “criticism of Christianity is commonplace and often encouraged in a ‘liberal’ environment but Islam is hardly ever debated or criticised for fear of extreme consequences.”

A bottle of holy water is what I would deem a comical extreme but the murder of 12 cartoonists at the headquarters of a satirical newspaper is hardly something

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to chuckle about, especially when the killing is done in the name of Muhammad. This however isn’t a religious debate but rather one grounded in the questions of freedom of speech.

Laurent L`eger, a surviving staff member of Charlie Hebdo, stated soon after the attacks that “as soon as we say to religion “You’re untouchable” – we’re f*****d”.

South African cartoonist Jonathan Shapiro called the Charlie Hebdo crisis an “attack on media and free press.” While both statements rightfully denounce the possibility of censorship, they did, however, make me question exactly how far is too far in terms of free speech.

Yes, religion is a sensitive issue but L`eger has a justified point in saying it shouldn’t be untouchable.

That would send a subliminal message that religion is faultless, especially when it’s the satirist’s duty to bring to light prominent societal issues. Yet how much responsibility does the satirist or journalist take for his or her views?

“All is [not] forgiven.”

It seems it’s a lot easier to utilise freedom of expression than to be held accountable for its effects. Charlie Hebdo anticipated the attacks. This was indicated by the the editorin-chief hiring bodyguards after receiving numerous death threats from fundamentalist Muslims for the newspaper’s depictions of Muhammad.

Unfortunately for the publication, they were not dealing with a passive audience. Rather, publishing the cartoons seems to have become a sport of unchained bear-baiting where they were provoking a known vicious animal to the point of attack.

To the issue of free speech I quote Mondli Makhanya, the editor-atlarge of the City Press,” Don’t offend for the sake of it.” So no, I won’t be tweeting ‘Sax God’ anytime soon. If you wish to offend me, do so within reason but remember that for some, “All is [not] forgiven.”

opinions

V74 E1 –24 FEBRUARY 2015

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Consciousness at a Time of Turmoil: A Call to All South Africans Adam Kleinschmidt Throughout history periods of major change have been augmented by the rise of social consciousness. A variety of examples support this idea: the Renaissance, the Enlightenment period in Central Europe and the Black Consciousness Movement in apartheid South Africa.

Periods of major change... rise of social consciousness Governments fall, leaders rise and the process of the world being reshaped occurs. South Africa has experienced this much in recent history when the mortal coil of apartheid died and democracy was established in the early 1990s.

Now, however, events are pressing forward a new era that threatens and protects our democracy at the same time. Even on a smaller scale – at UCT for instance– the changes we see are taking us closer to a watershed moment.

Two major political events occurred last week in Cape Town: the first was the annual State of the Nation Address (SONA) and the

second was the reshuffling of the SRC at UCT. With these changes comes a new landscape to which to adapt.

The SRC is now under the control of a completely different individual with a completely different political agenda. SONA showed us the raw nature of our national legislature and the lengths to which the national government will go to keep the opposition under control.

South Africans and UCT students alike now need to adapt. In some cases the response will be a mere shaking of the head and a shrug of the shoulders. “Nothing I can do” is a line I’ve heard a lot recently, along with the usual array of party-based or individual-based criticisms.

events are pressing forward a new era

Yet what we don’t realise is how dangerous this attitude is. Apathy and a lack of resolve are often a cause for trouble. When the society within a nation – or university – fails to interact and engage with its political realms it risks the same scenes seen in past and present dictatorial nations.

Granted, this metaphor is a little ridiculous in the context of this university but a student government that has effectively undermined itself is one I cannot fully support.

Much the same applies to this nation’s government and the events at Parliament.

Apathy and a lack of resolve are often a cause for trouble Quite simply I believe it is time for South Africans to engage once again in a meaningful manner with our government at all levels.

Politics and government is never an easy issue to deal with, but the fact remains that we are all linked to, and by, our rulers.

South Africa hasn’t had it easy, not in the slightest. Apartheid haunts us to this day and will continue to do so for time immemorial. The infringement of politics on our lives is tangible from the food we eat, to the homes we live in, to the universities we attend. Is it not time for us, the generation born into freedom, to ensure that this freedom flourishes at a time of turmoil, violence and austerity?

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

V74 E1 – 24 FEBRUARY 2015

Only Their SRC Arthur Faulkner …the SRC will continue to strive to act in unity to represent you.”

This is the closing comment made

by Ramabina Mahapa, the new SRC President in his statement on the recent SRC reshuffle. If the SRC

“

student politics is not a game

has been striving to act in unity up to now, I’d hate to see them being divisive. However, it is important to acknowledge that our SRC has been divided from the very beginning. DASO are now reeling from having the same factionalist sentiment they displayed last year being turned upon them.

The Aluta faction has clearly politicked with such skill that they’ve now gotten their way. If they had played a game of chess with such skill, I would offer them kudos, but the problem is that student politics is not a game. We have a system that has huge rewards for those in office and a tiny degree of control over the power that people assume.

This creates a perverse incentive for people to manipulate the

the power plays made... have created such animosity structures to their own ends. They start treating their representation of the 25 000 students at UCT as a means to achieve their ends and not as an end in itself. I cannot say that this is true for all of our student politicians, but it is true in enough cases for it to have had some serious ramifications.

“I was one hundred percent still sure of myself [on Tuesday] that we would get through this, but [now] I can honestly say that I don’t know.”

These were words spoken to me

by Ms. Nicole Mirkin, the Health, Environment and Safety Chair of our SRC, and a person who has been publically defamed in a statement released to every student on campus with no facility to defend herself. The reason that Ms Mirkin feels so unsure is because the power plays made in the highest levels of student governance have created such animosity and fear amongst the SRC that there is no chance for cohesion past this point, if there ever was. We have to ask ourselves whether we can support an SRC that would rather

spend time fighting amongst itself than looking after the affairs of its students.

In response to being queried about the lack of constitutional procedure regarding reshuffles, Mr Mahapa is reported as having said that if it isn’t in the constitution; the constitution doesn’t prohibit it. This was taken to mean that the SRC can do whatever it likes, so long as it is not explicitly prohibited

Pinini was ousted... on grounds... open to interpretation. in the constitution. As a result, Ms Pinini was ousted by a majority vote on grounds that appear to be entirely open to interpretation.

No statement has been made about what exactly the ex-President, Ms Pinini, did that rendered her an unfit President. The media was barred from entering the meeting in which this was discussed. I appreciate the need for the SRC to exercise confidentiality in delicate situations, but this is not one of those situations. We need to, at the very least, demand from the SRC a comprehensive justification of the reshuffle if we can possibly support them. The SRC that we have is not one that I can support.

We need to call for provisions to be put in place that explicitly prevent factionalism and self-promotion being prioritised over the good of the student body.

Dear SRC Rekgotsofetse Chikane It is often while sitting in an SRC meeting that an SRC member will wonder what is worse: “the politics of parties or the politics of people?”

It’s hard to imagine that – during the recent “reshuffle” meeting of the SRC which led to the removal of Baz Pinini as President – many SRC members did not have that thought cross their minds.

Often, power dynamics between individual SRC members drive SRC decisions. What this SRC has not realised is that this power struggle is no longer an internal issue. It is no longer a tussle between parties, people or factions within the council but a power struggle between our elected officials and the entire student body of the University of Cape Town.

This new power struggle was created when the SRC made the decision to bar the media from one of its most pivotal meetings - a meeting that would fundamentally affect all students - and its subsequent two-day silence on the matter. That decision created an unhealthy dynamic between the SRC and students based on the unholy foundation of secrecy.

This does not mean that the SRC is not allowed to withhold information from the student body.

In fact there are countless situations

one of the most-badly written... SRC statements

in which they must keep the students in the dark about their work. But a decision to do so must be based on the principle that it is in the best interests of the student body.

When we all look back on the events of that week and take note of the reports from VARSITY, the broadcasts from UCT Radio, the opinions of students and what must go down as one of the most-badly written – if not the worst – SRC statements in recent times, we, as the student body, have to ask whether the SRC has gone about its work with our best interests at heart.

We need to ask whether we can trust a student representative body that threatens and intimidates its own members through strong arm tactics (I do hope that the SRC does take note that, unless for reasons stated in the Constitution, setting

parameters on someone’s freedom of speech is the same as denying them that right). Furthermore, many SRC members should honestly reflect on whether their own individual motives were influenced by selfpreservation and gratification or by what would be best for all students.

The SRC should remember that the issue at hand is not their decision to reshuffle. With the chronic lack of experience with regards to student governance amongst many SRC members (in particular the President), it was inevitable that the organisation would face serious challenges. The countless resignations at the beginning of the year did not help the situation either.

The real issues here are the secrecy around the reshuffle amongst SRC members but more importantly the secrecy towards the student body.

The worst part of this entire saga is how easily our duly elected SRC became what we despise the most about our government. It’s the ease with which they chose to limit freedom of speech and justified their decision that concerns me. How easy it was for eight members of the SRC to simply allow a media blackout to take place. It’s unnerving to know that the same people who preached an open and transparent SRC during elections now sit firmly behind an iron veil of secrecy.

I hope, for your sake, that the changes that you as an SRC have made prove to be a masterstroke because if they are not, you risk being remembered as an SRC that chose politics over people instead of people over politics.

opinions

V74 E1 - 24 FEBRUARY 2015

7

Everybody get on Board the Peace Train Claudia Harrison s a university student I’m sure you are familiar with what I like to call ‘pseudo-hippies’. Usually (but not exclusively) they are barefooted and have dreadlocked hair. When conversing with such individuals they will tell you about their vegan lifestyle, musicians your parents listened to and, ultimately, some music festival you can’t afford.

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capitalism is … evident in the modern hippy lifestyle.

While it is admirable that they are doing all they can for the environment, can they truly be called hippies? Hippies – at least in the sixties – referred to young adults who lived mainly in Greenwich Village (New York City) and San Francisco. They started a ‘love revolution’ and listened to psychedelic music.

The pseudo-hippy clan embraces these original principles but unfortunately their good intentions are undermined by the one thing that ruins almost everything.

Ladies, gentlemen and those somewhere in-between, I am referring to money.

The influence of capitalism is becoming increasingly evident in the modern hippy lifestyle.

The original hippy movement was known for being a group of nomadic travelers with very few possessions. However, a pair of “hippy pants” (which is practically a uniform item in these circles) from Ska costs between R200 and R300. That amount is the equivalent of the wages from 11 hours of work at my part-time job.

One of the most wellknown South African festivals is AfrikaBurn. It is an annual week-long festival in the Karoo where participants bring selfmade items which are then burnt to become unique art. The mission statement of AfrikaBurn is to be “radically inclusive and accessible to anyone”.

I’m sure you are familiar with what I like to call ‘pseudo-hippies’ This sounds utopian in theory but the costs involved make it much less accessible than it claims to be. Firstly, the ticket price for the seven days is R1059, which I suppose is not bad for a camping spot for a week, as it works out to about R150 a day.

However, it’s the hidden costs

Image: flickr.com/Richard Elzey

that eventually catch you out.

Firstly, you’ll need to get seven days’ worth of clothing. One does not simply go to AfrikaBurn and not Instagram photographs of oneself in a crocheted crop top, hippy pants, a flower crown and sporting a bindi. Then you’ll need transport, which will cost you quite a bit no matter how you do it (unless you are offered a free lift from a unicorn).

Food will probably be one of your greatest expenses.

One does not simply go to AfrikaBurn and not Instagram photographs AfrikaBurn has a policy where no food is for sale at the campsite, but bartering is encouraged.

This is one of the few ways that they have stayed true to the ‘60s hippy movement. Nevertheless, you will need something to barter with, which means you

will need your own food as well as a container in which to keep it fresh.

I am sure there are people who are true hippies, but the majority seems to be doing it more for the show than anything else. To those of you going to AfrikaBurn, I hope you have a great time. As for me? I’ll be at home in my Mr Price clothes, PEP shoes, reading books from the library and eating R5 chips from McDonalds.

The Battle for Plein Street Dean Horwitz Last year was a landmark for South Africa as we celebrated 20 years of democracy and cast our ballots for the fifth time.

It was also the year in which we welcomed a radical leftleaning party to our politics. The Economic Freedom Fighters’ (EFF) arrival on the scene has brought with it a new approach to parliamentary affairs. This change kicked off with the disruption of parliament in August last year and looks set to continue into 2015 if the State of the Nation Address (SONA) is anything to go by.

a “he-said, she-said” blame game

In the weeks leading up to the President’s annual address, stories of the planned unrest by the EFF and the heavy-handed response by the ANC dominated the headlines.

These plans and whisperings all came to a head during the recent speech which saw several

disruptions, including a forced removal of the EFF and a walk-out of other opposition parties.

It looks set to be a bumper year of drama

While robustness is welcome and encouraged in parliament, it is unfortunate that the disruptions have taken the spotlight off the real State of the Nation and onto a ‘he-said, she-said’ blame game.

The media’s spotlight has shifted from the real issues South Africa faces to the fracas and disruptions of the speech. This trend is set to continue into 2015 with promises of further disruptions by the EFF and a promise by the ruling party that these would be met with a hardened response.

After the dust settled and the opposition had left the building, the President delivered one of the most uninspiring speeches in the history of our democracy, failing to offer any concrete plans to solve our energy crisis, restore our faltering economy or lower our rising crime levels. He also completely ignored the incident and nonchalantly continued as if

nothing had happened, chuckling and joking as if South Africa were not heading straight off a cliff.

What is interesting is the way in which SONA can be pulled apart and stand as a symbol of the year ahead in politics. The President’s speech, the ensuing fracas and the media’s focus on the incident, rather than the real issues, gives us insight into what we can expect this year. It looks set to be a bumper year of drama, controversy, finger pointing, demonstrations, chaos in the National Assembly and a year in which President Zuma fails to hold himself properly accountable to parliament.

plans and whisperings all came to head during the recent speech We, as the media, need to find a space in which we go beyond the chaos and paralysis that plagues the National Assembly and the battle between the parties and identify the true issues that face our country.

We need to find light in this dark time and use it to bring hope to a country which is quickly fading to a political blackout.

IVF CAPE TOWN

GOOD HOPE SPERM BANK • Minimum requirement Matric • All cultural groups welcome

PLEASE CONTACT GREG 021 506 4136 (office hours) or email greg@aevitas.co.za

It’s dangerous to go alone! Take this.

-Jammie Stop (South)

-UCT Pub

-Jammie Stop (West)

-Visitors Centre

-Jammie Stop (North)

-Greenhouse

-Parking

-Lion Cages

-Coffee/snack shops

-Road

-Food

-Walkway

-Tennis Courts

-Rugby Fields

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avigating first year is no easy task, let alone navigating upper campus. Lecture venues are still labeled as ‘TBA’ on Peoplesoft, ‘NSLT’ currently means nothing to you and around campus buildings are referred to as ‘Architecture’ or ‘Science’ instead of their actual names. The aerial map provided in orientation has long been lost or destroyed and you have no idea where to grab a quick snack or cup of coffee in-between lectures (or a beer after a long day of lecture at this mysterious and well hidden UCT pub that you’ve been hearing rumours about). It all sounds like recipe for disaster. Rest assured, after a few weeks on upper campus you will know it like the back of your hand, but until then, here’s a simplified map to help you find your way around.

Please note: this map was hand created and is not entirely to scale. It is only intended to be used as a guide.

Words and design by Michaela Findeis

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features

V74 E1 – 24 FEBRUARY 2015

Bar Fly A night in the life of a bartender.

Paddy Smyth

Ultra Music Festival. Twelve hours. I’ve bartended before, but not like this.

I know most of us have been on the ordering side of a bar, yet how many of us know what it’s like on the receiving side? I doubt that number is very high, but believe me when I say it’s an experience all on its own. The grass isn’t always greener on the other side – in fact, sometimes it’s a completely different colour altogether.

There’s a point in the night when you’re so amped up that your body feels like a whirlwind and your mind is racing at an unbelievable speed – a speed you wish it could reach during study hours.

You’re never facing one direction for more than a couple of seconds before you’re spinning around again: to take another order, get someone their change, pour drinks, give someone their drinks or carry out another request by someone too inebriated to actually know what they’re asking for.

An hour into your shift, your hands smell like hard liquor and your feet are more than likely moving to whatever rhythm is pumping out of the speakers and reverberating up through the ground.

You get to meet all kinds of characters while you bartend. For example, there are the peremptory ones who have clearly always given orders yet never taken any. They order with an imperious air, and simply say “Tequila” or “Heineken” without ever making eye contact with you. They whip out their straining wallets, stuffed with more notes than you’ll ever see in your own, and hold the notes out for payment looking simultaneously bored and disgusted.

Then there are those whose politeness makes you proud to serve them. One guy took his time to speak to me and place his order: “Hello. How are you … I’m fine, thank you. I’ll have 100 beers, thank you. I’m just kidding, two will do.” There are also those who don’t tip at all, no matter how many coins you give them, and there are those who will tell you to add your own tip to their payment by card.

To top it off, good people, there was load-shedding. You probably wouldn’t believe me if you weren’t there to witness it yourself, but I do not lie.

Ultra South Africa, it really is one-ofa-kind.

Image: Dercio Chim Jin

I Scream, You Scream We All Scream for Ice-Cream: Dean gives us the scoop on Cape Town’s ice-cream Dean Horwitz ith Cape Town summer in full swing, there’s no better way to escape the heat than taking some friends and heading down to one of the many new and exciting ice-cream shops that have sprung up over the last year. Ice-cream is no longer seen as a simple soft serve in a cone with a Flake, and has spun into an entire industry of artisan lollies, gelato creations and sorbet treats.

If you are looking for a delicious ice-cream experience close to campus why not try Marcel’s frozen yoghurt on Rondebosch Main Road, which serves traditional frozen yoghurt and has been doing so forever – their English Toffee flavour is incredible.

Alternatively, you can hop on the Dean Street Jammie and head to either The Creamery or Wakaberry.

The Creamery makes ice-cream that is designed to impress using only the best locally-sourced and seasonal ingredients. Their sea salt caramel flavour is worth breaking your diet for. Alternatively, Wakaberry is a fun outing simply because you get to serve the frozen yoghurt yourself and choose your own toppings.

Within the southern suburbs there are a number of ice-cream shops that are relatively close to UCT. If you feel like heading to Cavendish for some shopping, why not stop by the Magnum pop-up store, where you can custom-build your own

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Image: Amina Ebrahim

Magnum ice-cream, choosing from three decadent chocolate dips and nearly 20 toppings including sea salt, chilli flakes, rose petals and popping candy.

If you are up for an adventure, why not head out to the winelands or the northern suburbs? Situated in The Emporium shopping centre, next to Food Lovers’ Market in Parklands, is one of Cape Town’s most unusual but delicious icecream places, N2ice Cream Lab, which makes incredibly smooth tasting ice-cream and uses liquid nitrogen as a freezing agent.

If you feel like heading to Stellenbosch for some wine-tasting try stopping in at Cold Gold icecream or the Lanzerac Wine Estate.

Cold Gold uses only fresh, organic and all-natural ingredients ensuring that no additives, preservatives or colourants are used in the production of their ice-creams and sorbets. They also feature a special Banting ice-cream designed for all those following the diet.

The Lanzerac Wine Estate, on the other hand, has teamed up with ice-cream connoisseur Sinnfull to create a range of wine-flavoured ice-creams available directly from their farm.

Whether you feel like a Banting treat or an artisanal ice-cream lolly, Cape Town has exactly what you’re looking for. Make the most of the last few months of summer by getting out there and treating yourself to one of these indulgences.

DIY BYOB: Surprising Alternatives to Consuming Alcohol It’s a party and everyone from the raucous to the tame is invited.

Nkhensani Manabe Students can drink. Yes, #NotAllStudents, but a quick look at the deals on offer to us at bars and clubs makes it clear why a thriving student social life is often strongly associated with an appetite for hair of the dog.

Seriously, there’s an endless selection of experimental concoctions with fetching names available at fantastic prices.

However, while the pressure to drink seems inescapable, there are actually ways for those who choose not to partake in alcohol consumtion to enjoy some of its benefits.

Here are a few ideas that can help people of all tastes put booze to good use:

• You don’t have to be able to rattle off the virtues of a craft brew at a moment’s notice in order to use the science of beer to your advantage.

For example, a can of flat beer may not be suitable for consumption, but it has active B vitamins and proteins that can nourish your hair!

Pour the beer into a saucepan, and bring it to the boil over medium heat. Make sure to reduce the beer three quarters of the way to remove the leftover alcohol, which can dry hair out.

Mix the reduction into your shampoo, then wash and rinse your hair as usual. Towel dry, and enjoy the thicker, shinier look it has after styling.

Who needs Dr Miracle’s when you’ve got an extra Castle lying around?

• When hosting an outdoor party, consider using beer to keep pesky insects away from guests. The sugars in beer attract bugs, so leaving a few bowls of beer in the surrounding area (a short distance away from the main party space) ensures that no buzz – of the insect kind – ruins the vibe.

lightly onto the garments and leave them on a hanger in a well-ventilated space. Active ingredients in the vodka will eliminate the odour-causing bacteria, and you can wear your favourite shirt or blazer for an extra day (or two).

• Two-day-old wine mixed with water, pectin (that which • Those who explore the makes jam and jelly set), and world of vodka will soon discover some fruit produces a cabernetthat this spirit can be quite the inspired jam – which transforms any daily toast and coffee routine house-hold ally.

When doing laundry, using into a little party. vodka can help to lighten the The list of things to do with load! To deal with clothes that are getting a bit musty between dry alcohol, besides drinking it, cleaning days, make your own goes on and on, and only helps deodorising spray using water, to prove that alcohol is indeed many-splendoured thing. vodka and an essential oil of your a choice (to counter the smell of So maybe the bartenders and club promoters have been right alcohol).

Shake the solution, spritz all along.

features Take a Hike Butlers for Thailand Rona Elizabeth Evans Browse through social media and you’ll find that almost every Capetonian has at least one photo atop the infamous Lion’s Head. It has become something of a rite of passage for visitors to the City.

There are, however, an abundance of slightly less popular, yet equally beautiful trails available to you.

These trails are sure to leave you with the feeling of awe as you marvel at the beautiful Cape scenery.

There are three gems worthy of a visit, suitable to various fitness levels.

The Elephant’s Eye hike is great if you aren’t looking for anything too strenuous. It is an easy to moderate, 3km hike situated in the Silvermine Nature Reserve. Access to the park will cost you R40. It is a great place to spend the day as there is a large dam with ample picnic spots for your post-hike enjoyment. The Elephant’s Eye hike leads you up a mountain, over a varying gradient, to a small cave that gets its name from its resemblance to – you guessed it – an elephant’s eye. The view is beautiful as it stretches over Tokai, Constantia and beyond.

A little more than an hour’s drive from Cape Town, in the Limietberg Nature Reserve, is the Krom River.

The hike is great for a summer’s day outing. It stretches over 7kms of indigenous foliage and is well worth the effort to get there. It follows a river up a valley and rewards you with beautiful views of serene mountain peaks and a waterfall. Be sure to pack a costume, as there are various pools to cool off in after the moderately strenuous hike. There is an abundance of places to sit and take in the breathtaking scenery, which is accompanied by the tranquil sound of the river running over lazy boulders. A R30 permit is required, which you may purchase from the reserve in order to limit the number of people along the trail each day.

For those willing to take on a more challenging hike, why not take on the matriarch of all mountains – Table Mountain itself? The route that runs via Skeleton Gorge is considered the most challenging. Do not be deterred by the ominous name. This ravine is home to an assortment of exquisite indigenous flowers that will make the steep incline slightly more bearable. The route starts out at Kirstenbosch, where I recommend parking your car. At a gentle pace, this hike will take you around four hours, although be prepared for a challenge that is well worth a few stiff muscles… and the bragging rights that come with it!

V74 E1 - 24 FEBRUARY 2015

Cheapskate 101: Healthy eating at low costs Anna Insam Here are eight fresh tips to ensure you can eat healthily without spending a fortune.

1.

Forget supermarkets, try food-markets!

Just a five minute drive from campus, the Neighbourgoods market at the Old Biscuit Mill in Woodstock is open on a Saturday from 9am to 2pm. It has tons of fresh, local produce on offer. Check out other such markets in and around the city. Not only are you skipping out on expensive packaging and name brands by supporting local farmers, but you’re also getting wholesome, healthy food at a low cost.

Image by Marcus Lopes Pereira

Marcus Lopes Pereira ast year, a friend and I decided that we would visit a mutual friend who had immigrated to Australia in Grade 10. Since the now-Australian friend also wanted a holiday, we agreed to all meet up in Thailand during our December holidays.

Not wanting to take advantage of my parents’ funds, the problem I faced was how I was going to afford the trip.

After browsing through Gumtree and Careerjet advertisements online, I discovered that Butler’s was hiring students. And so begins my story of how I became a Butler at Butler’s Pizza.

It was wonderful working for Butler’s Pizza. They understood that I would have to visit home during the holidays and the shifts were flexible.

Training included a pizza test (I wasn’t complaining) and shadowing an experienced Butler, during which I was treated to a free meal. Technically the saving for Thailand had just begun with my money being saved on that one meal. I received even more perks, such as 60% off a pizza and getting a free pizza and coke after a stipulated amout of working hours. From the top ranking people in the office to the kitchen ladies, telephone receptionists and fellow butlers, the employees at Butler’s were great to work with.

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Sometimes, to get the most out of a situation you need to be prepared to perform unpleasant tasks. The Butler who had made the least pizza deliveries during a shift had to be the last driver of that shift, and so ended the latest, unless someone else was willing to do it instead. That someone was usually me. It meant scoring a free pizza, and I would be able to save more by not having to pay for my dinner that evening with my allowance.

While working this job I encountered many different people, the same residence receptions time and again – and numerous pets. I’ve been slobbered and jumped on by many dogs, and I have walked into someone’s garden and been pecked at by their chickens. I have also seen a few amazing houses that I wouldn’t normally see. Occasionally, I’ve been locked into homes because the customer forgot to open their gate.

Looking back, I could have stretched my savings by residing in these gardens for shelter for the evening instead of paying for rent at my flat, but I decided to save the backpacking for my overseas trip instead.

Overall, I managed to pay for my flights to Thailand and my whole 23day trip there. I didn’t have to ask my parents for a cent and it was the most epic holiday I have ever had. Chicken encounters aside, my life as a Butler’s pizza boy was well worth my time.

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2. Eat seasonally Take advantage of the high supply of seasonal ingredients – at cheaper prices – by buying what's in season throughout the year.

During these last weeks of summer, go for mangoes, grapes, berries and watermelon. For your vegetables, grab beetroot, mielies and asparagus.

Then, going into autumn from March, look out for pineapple and avocados as they come into season.

3. Don't fear the freezer Frozen fish and vegetables are great to stock up on, as you can't accidentally buy too much and have to throw it out when it goes off.

Added perk? Even if your access to a kitchen is limited, you can microwave the vegetables to defrost and to cook them.

4. Stock up on produce that is simple, versatile and edible raw Focus on items such as leafy greens, cucumber, tomatoes and carrots. These simple ingredients can be added to salads, wraps, burgers, sandwiches, stir-fries and just about any other meal you can dream up. An added bonus is that not only are these low calorie foods, but they don't need to be cooked either. You'll be able to use up all your ingredients – in either snacks or meals – using zero electricity!

5. Drink tap water Paying R10 for a Coke every day equals around R300 per month, so not only are these fizzy drinks hard on your waistline, they're hard on

your wallet as well. Thirsty? Try water instead. Keeping hydrated is vital for everything from optimum function of your organs to being capable of giving your best during a workout. Drinking water also means you'll snack less (as it fills you up), plus it is free and readily available everywhere. Keep in mind that even fruit juice is full of added sugar, so your best bet is to utilise lemon season (currently trending) and add some fresh slices to flavour your water.

6. Stock up on canned goods Unlike fresh foods, canned foods won't clutter a fridge you're sharing with roommates. They can be kept on a shelf for months, only needing fridge-time once opened. Plus, they can be bought in bulk at low costs! Sneak in some extra protein by buying lentils, chickpeas and beans, which are far cheaper than fresh meat.

7. Utilise your resources Bound to the confines of res means a bar fridge, microwave and lunch voucher. However, you can apply the above tips to help you be healthier. Even if you can't afford to replace a res meal, bulk up on salad (not the mayo-smothered potato salad) during meal times and avoid the sauces served. Gero yoghurts are the healthiest yoghurt brand out there and, since they are for diabetics, are sugar and fat free, so stock up on those from the dining hall as well.

Furthermore, ditch sugar in your coffee, and use your lunch voucher on campus to grab hold of some delicious fresh fruit on sale.

8. Plan your meals in advance A game plan is necessary when shopping healthily. You need to eat the right foods for your health goals, and buy them in the correct quantities so that no excess goes to waste. So, be equipped with a full tummy and a shopping list when embarking on your new healthy lifestyle.

A grumbling tummy means unnecessary purchases, while a concrete list means you'll have a clear direction on how to save your way to a healthier and fitter version of yourself.

Image by Anna Insam

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V74 E1 – 24 FEBRUARY 2015

features

Horoscopes Shannon Krausey

Unearthing Über The app-based transportation network spreading quicker than Butro.

Aries: 21 March – 19 April You may be tempted to indulge in some impulse buying of the scholarly kind. Beware – surrounding yourself with books and stationery will not make you happy. Instead, it will drain your bank balance and remind you of how sad your life is about to become.

Image: Uber South Africa Tecnology (pty) Ltd

Taurus: 20 April – 20 May An intimidating force will trouble you this week.

It may be from a friend, but will most likely come in the form of a UCT pigeon trying to steal your sandwich. Hold that sandwich close.

Gemini: 21 May – 20 June A sense of deep regret will settle upon your shoulders. Take a deep breath and try to forget the embarrassing things you did drunk during O-Week.

It won’t work, but there’s nothing you can do about it.

Cancer: 21 June – 22 July You will fall madly in love with one of your new tutors. Sadly, you will later discover that his/her sexual orientation will prevent you from ever being together. Sorry.

Leo: 23 July – 22 August Someone will soon return from your past. By “your past” I mean last week in Claremont, and by “someone” I mean that person who you were grinding on the dance floor. It is going to be one long, awkward Jammie ride.

Megan Thomas ow many times in the last month have you heard the phrase “let’s just get an Über”?

I’ve heard it a lot, probably because this app is spreading quicker than Butro. If you haven’t heard of it yet, you need to install some Wi-Fi under your rock and listen closely.

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Virgo: 23 August – 22 September You will face some profound hardship. It will most likely be that you will have to wake up for an 8am lecture with a hangover. The stars warn that you should take the whole day off or you will send their cosmic plan into disarray.

Libra: 23 September – 22 October You will run out of your cellphone data bundle.

You will find yourself spending more and more time on campus (hello eduroam!) and shrugging while saying, “Hashtag student life.”

1. What? Über is a smartphone app that acts in place of a taxi company. The person who needs transportation simply requests an Über on their phone and the drivers in the general vicinity give an estimated time of arrival.

Scorpio: 23 October – 21 November You may feel like your whole life is spiralling out of control. This may be because of your fiery Scorpio nature, but it is probably because your holiday was not long enough. Take a day off lectures and go to the beach. This is definitely a smart life decision and won’t affect your marks at all. Cough.

2. When and where?

Provided there is a driver online, you can get an Über wherever and whenever you need one. There is no pre-booking necessary because the process goes as follows: you set your location via the built-in GPS and the closest driver gets to you as fast as they can. This is one of the things that make the service so revolutionary and safe – it’s there regardless of the hour or location of your desired pick up.

Sagittarius: 22 November – 21 December Trouble is brewing on the home front. Tell your digs-mate to stop stealing your coffee before it is too late.

Capricorn: 22 December – 19 January You may find yourself binge-watching series on your laptop. Give this up as soon as you can or you may turn into a social recluse who has forgotton how to pronounce the word “hello”.

3. Why? Now that you know what it is, you’re probably thinking the app is slightly redundant, seeing as calling normal cab companies is hardly that taxing of your time.

But consider this:

Aquarius: 20 January – 18 February You will find yourself standing in lots of long queues (mostly while waiting for Jammies and toilets). These queues are a metaphor for how long you have to go before you graduate and feel like you’ve achieved something with your life.

Pisces: 19 February – 20 March Expect an inundation of phone calls from your parents. Initially you will think that it’s because they miss you now that you’re back at varsity, but it’s actually because they’re angry that you’re spending so much money. Blame all your spending on textbooks.

Illustrations: Mari Mombers

Cash The most exciting part for me that most people don’t realise is that Übers are actually cheaper than cabs. There’s a basic minimum fare, which is much

lower than ordinary cabs, and your Über account is linked to your chosen credit card. This removes the fee straight from your account when you finish your trip and means you’re never limited by not having cash on you.

Additionally, you can split your trip with other Über owners, meaning that awkward shuffle for coins and that annoying “I’ll pay you back” is a thing of the past.

vomiting in an Über is a R100 fine Rating System There is a rating system for both the driver and the passenger.

At the end of your trip, both you and the driver are required to rate each other out of five stars. If a driver averages with 1 star, they’re fired. If the passenger averages with 1 star, other drivers see this and can choose not to fetch them.

This makes the relationship between driver and passenger respectful and pleasant, removing the opportunity for abuse.

Interesting fact for the jollers (or just ill) – vomiting in an Über is a R100 fine (which, on reflection, I think is fairly reasonable).

Contact details Über has your details and the driver’s details, so if you lose anything or leave something in the cab, you can phone your driver and they usually – from my experience – come and drop it off for you.

4. How? Just download it from the app store and have a credit card – it’s that simple!

features

Love Me Tinder

Busang Senne

Tender love is blind It requires a dedication All this love we feel needs no conversation” – Kenny Rogers.

It was a Thursday morning, unusually brisk for summer but characteristically Capetonian.

There I was in the darkened VARSITY office, shunning the sunlight and nurturing a hangover with the looming sense that I was to die penniless and alone for my sins of the previous night – the whiplash of vodka. I flip through the cartoonish apps and find the one I’ve been avoiding. There it awaits – a little red flame.

Tinder is a dating app designed to turn the ‘plenty of fish in the sea’ into a neatly categorised pond of those who can ignite the fire of romance through mutual interests. I would bet money (or at least something more manageable, like a stick of gum) that everyone I know under the age of 25, save for those already in relationships, has it. It’s the love-bug that is infecting the city and this time, instead of the stigma attached to dating sites in the early nineties, there are: corny-looking hearts on pixelated screens and users judged for their inability to make

“

a connection with actual flesh.

Tinder may as well be Facebook – the new age take on Pen Pals.

There is even a spin-off Twitter account called Tinder Disaster – the entertainment is endless.

Where’s the meet-cute of instant, fiery synapses?

It’s bizarre, yet absurdly 21st century. I am, of course, in no position to judge anyone who uses it and finds a significant other; but for those who have been following my VARSITY career with keen interest (a total of four, if you don’t count my mother), my first article for VARISTY was about Valentine’s Day. There was Fresher me, my toasted cheese sandwich titillatingly close to a sandwich next to it, belonging to a boy.

My love life has come a long way since then, and I’ve upgraded to tomato, mozzarella and pesto baguettes.

For the sake of journalism, research, the media, breaking boundaries and what not, I was drunkenly convinced by my friends to download it. How

bad could it be? The concept of someone knowing me before I’d even met them was one that was hard to swallow, but I am on Facebook so there was no turning back.

Google Play, search – Tinder, installed, done. Sign in with Facebook? Provide my contact details that Tinder promises to “never store, share or sell”? This doesn’t ease my pseudo-phobia of being easily traceable at any given time by anyone who’s looking.

My fingerprints are on every webpage and Tinder is relying on my readiness for love to entrap me in whatever web of personal information they have stored on some Cloud (which I don’t trust either!).

It wasn’t a great start. Too many trust issues. I feel like I’ve sold my soul for an awkward encounter at a heavily public bar with my roommate on speed-dial. But I persevere. I must know the truth.

I get sent a code and here we go: the first victim is Michael, he’s 22 and he’s wearing a snapback with a whimsical look on his face, peering toughly into the distance.

There’s a red ‘X’ and a green heart, their symbols unequivocally clear.

Swiping to the right means you like what you see and swiping to the left means you don’t.

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Image: Nelly Thoithi It’s strangely addictive, scrolling through the selection of ladies and gents before me, the art of seduction coming straight through my smart phone.

Wi-Fi is where the heart is

Where’s the romance, you ask?

Where’s the meet-cute of instant, fiery synapses? It’s at the tip of your finger when you swipe, like we’re selecting meat for an entrée, or reducing relationships to

algorithms and selfies. I do think this is the most interesting time to be alive.

Wi-Fi is where the heart is, you can buy books on tablets too. As interesting as it may all be this time may be the most impersonal – that it can all just happen so easily, the love of your life smiling back at you from a screen. It’s hard to fathom.

So now you know, Busang Senne is on Tinder and is trying hard not to burst out laughing every second she thinks about it.

Who knows? Maybe one of you will find me. We’ll go for dinner, you’ll mention this article and we’ll both laugh together.

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sport

University Sports South Africa annual tournaments wrap-up While most UCT students were working hard on their tan and beach bats game, UCT sports teams were competing in the annual University Sport South Africa Tournaments around the country. UCT sent teams to the USSA Men's Rugby Sevens Tournament, the USSA Aquatics Tournament, the USSA Cricket A-Section Tournament, the USSA Fencing Tournament, the USSA Table Tennis Tournament, the USSA Tennis Tournament and the USSA Yachting Tournament. Compiled by Dean Horwitz.

Image by Bradley Bosman

Individual achievements USSA Aquatics Tournament: • UCT players Taryn Schooling and Devon Card were named tournament MVPs USSA Cricket A-Section Tournament: • J. Newby was named as batsman of the tournament and selected for the SA Students Team.

USSA Tennis Tournament: • UCT players Dion Ross and Chloe Heerden were selected for the SA students’ team.

USSA Table Tennis Tournament: • Asif Lulat and Ruixuan Qi both made it as far as the Round of 16 and shall both be seeded for USSA 2015.

“With an excited crowd and the Swimming Team cheering us on from the sideline we gave it all we had and came out victorious at the final whistle.

We won 7-4, an incredible way to end the season.”

Caitlin van Niekerk, UCT Women’s Waterpolo.

“The UCT Fencing Club won the 2014 USSA competition in December 2014 for the 6th consecutive time. Our women won gold in the individual epee and sabre and silver in foil and our men won gold in all three weapons.”

James Lister, UCT Fencing.

Results USSA Men's Rugby Sevens Tournament • UCT lost to Maties in the Cup quarter-finals • UCT lost to NWU-Pukke in the Plate semi-final USSA Aquatics Tournament • The UCT Men’s Waterpolo team came 1st • The UCT Women’s Waterpolo team came 1st • The UCT Women’s Swimming team came 4th • The UCT Men’s Swimming team came 6th USSA Cricket A-Section Tournament • UCT 1st team came 8th out of 16 teams USSA Fencing Tournament • UCT came 1st USSA Table Tennis Tournament • UCT came 8th out of 21 teams overall • In the Doubles UCT placed 4th • In the singles two players made it into the round of 16 USSA Tennis Tournament • The 1st team finished 5th out of 8 teams in the A section • The 2nd team finished 3rd out of 8 teams in the B section USSA Yachting Tournament • The UCT team came 2nd

“Five days of thrilling sailing left UCT up against Stellenbosch in the final.

It was the best of five races and the scene was set for the ultimate rivalry to be battled out. It came down to the final beat of the final race where Stellenbosch just managed to squeeze the win.” Mikhayla Bader, Vice-Commodore, UCT Yacht Club

Image by James Lister

“We went down 12-5 to Maties in the Cup quarter-final. We later went down 14-0 to Pukke in the Plate semi-final. We finished in the top 10 which we were very happy about as we qualified for Varsity Sports tournament.” Bradley Bosman, UCT Rugby Sevens.

"With a rookie teams comprising of four players making their debut, team UCT still found the courage and skill to perform at the highest level". Udhir Ramnath, UCT Table Tennis Captain.

Image by Caitlin van Niekerk

sport SPORTS BITES Dean Horwitz and Fanie van Zijl Cheetahs reveal jet lag plan

The Cheetahs' team doctor has a special plan to help the team overcome jet lag on their upcoming Australasian Super Rugby tour. The players will be given melatonin pills and their sleeping patterns will be adjusted specifically for the destination they're due to play at. They will attempt this during the two days spent travelling from South Africa.

-Sport24.co.za/Rugby

Ref forgets red card in Nedbank clash

Referee Shane Chuma stole the show as Nedbank Cup holders Orlando Pirates began their defence with victory over Tornado in Soweto on Wednesday. The match official yellow-carded Tornado defender Mapego Maphakane after seven minutes and again nine minutes into the second half.

But believing he had cautioned different players, Chuma did not show Maphakane a red card and allowed play to continue before the fourth official intervened.

-Supersport.com/Football

Birkett edges Dusi Stage One

Andy Birkett has taken Stage 1 honours in the 64th edition of the Dusi Canoe Marathon.

Birkett finished in a record time of 2:36:262, marginally ahead of Lance Kime (2:36:513). Sbonelo Khwela (2:38:21) rounded off the Day 1 podium, ahead of Thulani Mbanjwa (2:42:01).

-Sport24.co.za/OtherSport

England opener “embarrassing”

Former England coach Graham Gooch described his country’s 111 run loss in the World Cup against fierce rivals Australia as “embarrassing”. Australia set a target of 343 after they had been put in to bat by the English, but in return Eoin Morgan’s side could only manage 231 runs before they were bowled out.

-Sport24.co.za

Illness forces Hamilton to stop on day one of Barcelona test

Lewis Hamilton’s pre-season preparations suffered a setback as he was forced to sit out the majority of the first day of the Barcelona test. The Englishman woke up with a fever and could only complete eleven laps at the Circuit de Catalunya before he was forced to withdraw. He was replaced by teammate Pascal Wehrlein.

-Skysports.com

Louis van Gaal warned over referee comments

Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal has been warned by the FA for his comments following United’s goalless draw against Cambridge United in the FA Cup. The Dutchman said that “every aspect” had gone against his side, including the referee. The FA has ruled that his comments breached rules but he has escaped a fine.

-BBC.com

Cricket World Cup 2015 Fanie van Zijl y the time this goes to press the 2015 ICC Cricket World Cup will be in full swing, but it still seems apt to include one of the year’s biggest sporting events in the first edition. Fourteen teams will enter the tournament in Australia and New Zealand, ranging from juggernauts of the sport like Australia and India, to minnows like Afghanistan and Ireland. The teams will have varied aims, with some looking to score their first Cricket World Cup win, to others (like defending champions India) whose enormous and expectant fan base will want nothing less than the trophy. One of the highlights of the tournament so far was the pool B match between India and Pakistan which drew a record television audience and saw India defeat their fierce rivals by 76 runs.

Last time round legendary Indian batsmen Sachin Tendulkar was the star of the show. But 2015 will undoubtedly see new stars rise to the top of the world game. One man who has the weight of expectation resting on his shoulders is South African captain AB de Villiers.

The explosive 31-year old batsman from Pretoria is already one of the biggest stars on the world stage and it is fair to say that a South African triumph is hard to imagine without the brilliance of their skipper. Following his astonishing century of 31 balls against the West Indies, many big names took to social media to lavish praise on him, likening him to some of the finest batsmen the world has seen. He is well capable of proving them right.

With stars of old like Jacques Kallis and Graeme Smith now out of the picture there is an exciting new contingent within the South African team. Dale Steyn leads a menacing attack consisting of bowlers Vernon Philander and Morne Morkel, lauded as the best in the Proteas’ history, whereas the rise of players like Faf Du Plessis and Quinton de Kock have added an exciting element to the batting line-up.

Elsewhere, India will be one of the favourites. It is very much a new era for the team but MS Dhoni remains as captain of a squad full of talent, including Virat Kohli, who has emerged as one of the stars of his generation, scoring an impressive 6330 runs in under four years.

Pakistan and West Indies are two nations that have been historically successful and still boast a number of quality players within their ranks. But both of them are plagued by inconstancy and instability. Sri Lanka, 2011’s losing finalists, have shown on many occasions that they are to be taken very seriously, and possess a world-class batsman in Kumar Sangakkara.

Australia has more World Cup pedigree than any other team, having won the tournament on four occasions.

Their dominance of the world game may be over but names like Shane Watson, David Warner and Michael Clarke still jump off the team sheet. In 2011 India became the first home nation to win the tournament, and Australians are optimistic of repeating this feat. England, who have never lifted the trophy, have also come on strongly in recent years, and with proven performers in tough circumstances such as Stuart Broad and Alastair Cook, they look to be in good shape ahead of the tournament.

The Cricket World Cup promises to be an exciting tournament for both avid fans and amateur supporters and with the South African team brimming with confidence this could finally be the year that we lift the trophy.

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2015: A year of sport Fanie van Zijl As a sports fan, at the beginning of every January I can’t help but think ahead to all the drama, class and action that will inevitably unfold in the year ahead. So many sporting events take place annually that whatever sport you may be interested in, you will rarely struggle to find something to watch.

Aside from the usual annual events and tournaments, 2015 will also see South Africans unite in support of the country’s cricket and rugby teams ahead of world cups in February and March, and September and October respectively.

These events are the pinnacle of the sports world and, as ever, South Africans will have high hopes and expectations for the Proteas and Springboks. All South African sports fans remember the glorious victories at the 1995 and 2007 Rugby World Cups. Less glorious are the memories of the Cricket World Cup. From Alan Donald’s infamous run out against Australia, to 1992’s semi-final against England, when rain denied South Africa the chance of victory in the unfairest of ways. Amidst all the accusations of “chocking” over the years, this year’s talented crop will be desperate to erase the painful memories of old.

If neither of these events get your pulse racing, try the Tour de France, which is worth watching for the

scenery alone, and is a superb test of endurance. This year it will run from Utrecht in the Netherlands, to the iconic finale in Paris on July 26th. Also included in my sports calendar are the tennis Grand Slams, and Wimbledon in particular. There is little that intrigues me more than seeing two masterful tennis players have it out on a Sunday afternoon in the London sunshine. Who remembers Wimbledon 2008?

One also has the inevitably dramatic European football season to look forward to. It is followed religiously in South Africa and all over the world. Chelsea look to be in pole position to win their fourth league title, but perhaps the most intriguing competition is the one for European dominance.

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Can Chelsea and the rest of the English teams rival European superpowers Real Madrid, Barcelona and Bayern Munich? Real enter the knockout stage as reigning champions and La Liga leaders, whereas Barcelona have managed three Champions League titles since the turn of the century, more than any other team. Then there is Bayern Munich, a team packed full of 2014 World Cup winners and brimming with confidence. We are in for a treat.

Closer to home, UCT will be out to defend the Varsity Cup title that was snatched under such dramatic circumstances last year.

Our footballers will aim to put last season’s troubles behind them, and there is still much to come from all UCT’s other sports clubs. It is time for us to get behind our teams.

Image by Bradley Wiggins - 2012 Tour de France

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Sport VARSITY

What to Watch UCT Monday March 2nd IKEYS vs. CUT 16:45 Green Mile (Not Televised) Monday March 9th Ikeus vs. NWU-PUKKE 16:45 Away (Televised)

CRICKET WORLD CUP Friday February 27th SA vs. WEST INDIES 05:30 Tuesday March 3rd SA vs. IRELAND 05:30

The 2015 Varsity Cup Kicks Off Fanie van Zijl ounded in 2008, the annual Varsity Cup has become the country’s most watched university sporting event. There have already been countless memorable moments in the competition, but last season’s astonishing final will certainly have been the highlight for UCT rugby. The Ikey Tigers showed remarkable perseverance and determination to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat, scoring three tries in the final eight minutes to win their second Varsity Cup. The tournament will feature eight university teams in a round robin system (every team will play against every other team once) with the top four progressing to the semi-finals.

The old sporting cliché is that it is difficult to get to the top but even more difficult to stay there, and the Ikeys know that it is going to take another big effort to retain the trophy. This has been emphasised by the team’s indifferent start to the season. The tournament returned with a bang, as UCT played host to fierce rivals Maties. The game attracted an all time record crowd at the Green Mile, and saw the teams play out an engrossing 32-32 draw. The Ikeys’ second match was a 39-24 defeat against a strong Tuks

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Image by Mari Mombers side that has won the title in two of the last three years. Ikeys and Maties are the only other teams to have won the trophy and the three of them will go in as the favourites.

The Ikeys are led by skipper and loose forward Michael Botha and coach Kevin Musikanth. Flyhalf Warren Seals is the competition’s top point scorer so far this season

with 21 points through seven conversions (in the Varsity Cup they count three instead of the traditional two).

This season, North West University Pukke and Tuks are level on points at the top of the table with a win and a draw each, while the Tigers sit second from bottom with just three points from their

opening two games. But what a log tells you this early in the season is limited. Last year the Tigers entered the top three for the first time in the fifth of seven rounds from thereon they discovered their best form, and of course went on to win the final. History tells us that things can change very quickly so it would be unwise to write off any

team at this stage.

Around the country, there has been considerable excitement this season. UCT’s draw with Maties was not the only time the scores have ended level, with UFS Shimlas playing out a 29-29 draw against Tuks in Bloemfontein.

UJ, who finished second from bottom last season, started this one impressively, scoring eight tries during a 10-46 victory against CUT Ixias, but then failed to register a single point in their game against UFS Shimlas.

History points to a victory for one of the established teams.

Maties and Tuks have been two of the tournament’s most consistent teams and one would expect them to be near the top again.

NWU Pukke will be determined to avenge the disappointment of last season (topping the log and then surrendering a lead in the dying minutes of the final).

Many would say that they were often the strongest team in last year’s tournament and they will undoubtedly be itching to set the record straight. Then there are the unfancied teams such as new boys CUT Ixias. Not much will be expected of them this year, but the unexpected can quite often happen and it would be interesting to see them beat an established force like Maties or Tuks.

Where does UCT Sport go in 2015?

Gordon Dodge Education extends further than just the class room. The values, lessons and experiences gained from participating in sport prove that it is not only an integral part of education, but is also a major contributor to the all-round education that UCT advocates for. With 35 sports clubs, UCT is blessed with a vast range of activities. From individual to team, from water to land, and from novice to national. Whether you want to be social or competitive: and no matter what kind of person you are, or how strong you may be, there is definitely something here for you.

Nobody can argue that 2014 wasn’t a remarkably successful year for UCT Sport. When one considers From the Ikey Tigers’ illustrious Varsity Cup victory, to the Rowing Club’s once in a lifetime win in the A8+ South African National Championships, and to the UCT Waterpolo club making up the majority of the South African Senior Squad, it is in no doubt that 2014 was clearly magnificent. So where to from here?

2015 promises to harness the momentum from last year and the year before and to continue on the path of further success. The Ikey Tigers recently began the defence of their title, with the heart and spirit

events that UCT will be participating in, we have a full complement of sports. The Cricket Club recently took part in the inaugural Varsity Cricket tournament and finished in a hard- fought 7th seventh place. On

UCT Sports clubs are busy training for their annual USSA tournaments.

UCT students have the opportunity to see fencing, rowing and yachting this year, as the university acts as hosts to these amazing events.

Image by Mikhayla Bader that only an Ikey could have. Moving into the third week of the Varsity Cup, things are looking promising. This year marks the 3rd year of Varsity Sports. In terms of other top class

top of this we still have the football, netball and hockey to look out for, which all promise to be fast paced and of the highest calibre.

Outside of the Varsity Sports arena,

Looking at the influx of sporting talent that made its way into the university, including provincial and national representatives as well as Commonwealth Games participants,

the phrase “success breeds success” could never have been truer. From provincial, to national, all the way to Commonwealth Games participants, This shows that the capacity for victory is certainly there for every single sports club.

Finally, in terms of governance, in October 2014 the UCT sports’ committees voted in the 2015 Student Sports’ Union (SSU) and with the previous year’s success, this year’s committee has big shoes to fill.

Already the committee members have been hard at work preparing for the year ahead with one main focus: breaking down the barriers to inclusivity within sport at UCT. One main obstacle that the SSU has decided to tackle is ability of UCT students to swim, and with drowning listed as one of the top causes of unnatural death in South Africa it is certainly a skill that goes beyond the sporting arena. As always, the SSU will strive to be a reliable, effective representative of UCT student sport throughout 2015 and aims to ensure fairness, transparency and excellence across the board.