2012: Edition 3

Varsity

CELEBRATING

70 YEARS

THE OFFICIAL STUDENT NEWSPAPER OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CAPE TOWN

13 March 2012

VOLUME 71: EDITION 3

varsitynewspaper.co.za

@varsitynews

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R147 billion for university residences WORKERS STRIKE

Kaede Wildschut

B

lade Nzimande’s report presented on Wednesday, February the 29th, alleging the dire state of residences at South African universities, called for an investment of over R147 billion to allow students to be acceptably accommodated at universities.

A team, led by Nzimande, was commissioned to investigate the conditions of university residences and student housing in South Africa.

The key issues raised by Nzimande’s report were: the shortage of 195 000 beds in residences across the nation – which allows only 20% of students to be accommodated in residences – and insufficient catering facilities that often cause students to go days without a meal.

One of the investigators, Ihron Rensburg, vice-chancellor of the University of Johannesburg, gave his opinion on the conditions at some university residences: “[They] were appalling. On the occasion that the team was visiting a particular residence, the food had been moved to this campus from the main residence. It arrived cold and – from the impression we had – was rotten,” Rensburg said.

However, the bleak picture painted by these findings was not one that many UCT residence students can relate to. Felix Martinez, a resident of Leo Marquard Hall, said that he did not think that these insights applied to UCT residences: “Everything’s good here”. While he said “a few things could be improved” he was confident that his residence was well-managed and -maintained.

Glenda Wildschut, Director of Transformation Services, agreed with Felix’s statement. She said that, in UCT’s case, students who live in residence are generally privileged by their surroundings. Wildschut said that there are definitely students who go hungry for days, but these are students who did not get a residence placement and who live in povertystricken areas.

UCT’s Student Housing Policy states that “6% of the total beds”

Image: Siyanda Ralane LIVING WAGE – COSATU’s national strike against the upcoming Gauteng e-tolls and labour broking reached campus on Wednesday, March 8th. Many SuperCare workers are unhappy with labour broking practices. will be allocated to “applicants who are African, Coloured, Chinese or Indian and [...] who have attended schools that have been identified as being disadvantaged.”

This allocation does not benefit all disadvantaged students, and many students are often unable to study at UCT or end up struggling with their studies because they are forced to live at home. “There are many sad stories.

I knew of a student who would sit in the canteen and wait for students to get up from tables, and then would quickly run and grab their leftovers.

That was how he sustained himself,” said Wildschut.

There are great challenges in trying to overcome the obstacles of poverty when they reach so far beyond the boundaries of campus and residences. UCT, however, is committed to transformation.

many students are often unable to study at UCT or end up struggling with their studies Ways of supporting disadvantaged students struggling, not with living

in university residences, but at home, are being investigated.

One of the ideas that is being discussed is that of “dayrooms”. These rooms would provide a private space for students to do assignments, have internet access, a bed, and perhaps a meal to help sustain them for the day.

Earlier in the year, iMaverick journalist Rebecca Davis accompanied three students on their move from their Khayelitsha homes into UCT residences. One of the students, Afika Damane, said the move was “the biggest step [he’d] ever taken”.

While Nzimande and his team may have found many university residences in South Africa in a shocking condition, UCT residences seem to have maintained their good reputation, and are still considered by most to be well-administered and -maintained.

The ideal situation would be for the provision of more student housing, so that more disadvantaged students will be able to benefit from the privileges and convenience of UCT residence life. Perhaps it is hoped that this is what Nzimande’s twelve-figure budget will allow for.

IN THIS ISSUE

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• At Jammie Shuttle bus stop • Accept major medical aids

• Discounts for UCT students

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

news

V71 E3 – 13 MARCH 2012

NEWS BITES COSATU strikes SOUTH AFRICA – On March the 7th, the Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) held their national strike action against labour brokers and the imposition of electronic road tolling on Gauteng highways.

According to COSATU, labour brokers create a modern form of slavery and undermine labour laws. There were 32 peaceful marches around the country, of which the largest gatherings were in Johannesburg and Cape Town. – News 24

Election victory for UCT releases nine new titles Putin sparks protests Aimee Carelse Image: Sebastian Derungs/ World Economic Forum

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Kony who?

UGANDA – Internet phenomenon “Kony 2012� is a 30-minute documentary by nonprofit organisation “Invisible Children� about war crimes committed by L.R.A leader Joseph Kony. Raising mass awareness on his recruitment of child soldiers, it aims to gain support for his arrest. The online video has reached over 50 million views. – The Guardian

Super Tuesday USA – In the race to the White House, Romney won in six out of 10 states during the Republican primary elections.

Despite his victory, Romney failed to get rid of his biggest rival, Santorum, who gained the support of three of the 10 voting states. The question of who will have to face current President Obama in November is thus yet to be answered. – New York Times

Kofi Annan’s visit to Syria SYRIA - Former UN SecretaryGeneral Kofi Annan was appointed as The United Nations-Arab League Special envoy last month and will visit Syria on March 10. The purpose of his visit is to seek an urgent end to all violence and human rights violations and to initiate an effort to promote a peaceful solution to the Syrian crisis.

Over 7,500 civilians have been killed by Assad’s troops since the beginning of the revolt. – The Guardian

Poland grieving train crash victims POLAND - Poland held a twoday national mourning period for 16 people who were killed in the country’s worst train accident in more than 20 years. After one of the trains switched to the wrong track, the trains collided head-on. Over 50 of the nearly 350 passengers were injured and three remain in intensive care. – Reuters

Fabienne van Sloten

CONTROVERSY - the recent Russian elections have been contested.

Temi Oketunji

O

n Monday, 5th March, Russian Prime Minister and former President Vladimir Putin was reelected into office for a third nonconsecutive term.

The win came after major protests in Moscow concerning his party winning almost 50% of the vote in the December parliamentary elections, as well as further protests against his decision to seek a third term.

Independent election authorities and opposition parties have lodged claims of fraud and ballot-rigging against the party. However, it seems unlikely that any steps will be taken to investigate the validity of recent claims, as was the case with the Parliamentary elections.

Opposition candidates and their supporters are, however, determined to ensure that Putin does not remain in power for the next six years, which would extend his time in office to a total of 15 years. They claim that his return to presidency is the beginning of his and former President, Dmitry Medvedev’s, quest to remain in power indefinitely.

Their efforts began on the day the results were announced with

protests in Lubyanka square, St Petersburg and Central Moscow’s Pushkin square, where hundreds of protesters and some opposition leaders, including Aexei Navalny and Sergei Udaltsov, were arrested by riot police.

The international reaction to Putin’s win has been mixed, with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, a long-standing ally of the Russian government, congratulating him.

This is suspected to be a result of the role that Russia is playing in rejecting the United Nations’ decisions to sanction Assad’s forceful stance against protests.

The United States have stated their willingness to work with the Russian government, provided that allegations of election violence are investigated fairly and found to be unsubstantiated.

All things considered, the future of Russia is unpredictable. Political analysts are speculating on whether Vladimir Putin will continue his reign of harsh dealings with other nations or take a calmer and more liberal approach in foreign affairs.

Economic analysts continue to contend with the possibility of Putin embarking on another bout of macro-economic reform, as promised in his campaign.

debate, and into practice and policy, the notion that the more we improve conditions for With the release of nine children and their families, the new titles so far this year, UCT less likely it is that children will Press is set to make a substantial grow up to become aggressive,� contribution to academic said Dr Ward. publishing in 2012.

The second book, Substance UCT Press is an academic Use and Abuse in South publishing house owned by Africa: Insights from Brain Juta and Co. It is committed to and Behavioural Sciences, was the promotion of research at written and edited by Dan Stein UCT through the publication and Ernesta Meintjes of the of scholarly titles, monographs Health Sciences faculty, as well as and original research works of Kevin Thomas of the Psychology an exceptionally high standard, department and George Ellis of particularly those in an the Mathematics department.

The book is a reflection of African context.

According to UCT Press yet another major initiative at UCT: the Brain Publisher Sandy Behaviour Shepherd, “these “these titles reflect Initiative, of titles reflect the academic research the academic research which Stein is around very real around very real and the director.

The initiative and relevant issues relevant issues� explores brain and situations and and behavioural will contribute to intellectual debate at home issues through research in the cognitive and affective and abroad.�

January saw the release of two neurosciences. “To fully understand the high books. The first, Youth Violence: Sources and Solutions in South prevalence of substance use in Africa, was written and edited South Africa, and to come up by Psychology department with innovative solutions, a staff members Catherine Ward multi-disciplinary approach is and Andrew Dawes, as well as needed. The Brain Behaviour Psychology graduate Amelia van Initiative is based on just this der Merwe. kind of cross-cutting approach, Dr Ward explained, “I am and we therefore decided to excited, as the reception to the come together to do this volume,� book has been good. UNICEF says Stein. headquarters in New York wanted An additional four books about 20 copies for themselves were released in February and and their country offices, and it’s a further three titles have been wonderful to know that they are released as co-publications with finding the book useful. On UCT international academic presses.

Press: they’ve been a wonderful They are, nevertheless, significant home for the book, and I’m glad to South African readers. to have worked with them.�

All books are funded in The book is one of many the form of grants from the outputs of research of UCT’s Department of Higher Education Safety and Violence initiative. and Training. “Having a Press is From a developmental psychology prestigious for the University, and perspective, the initiative aims to allows us to boost the University’s eradicate violence locating the prestige – it’s a brand, if you like origin of aggression in young – which is important in gaining people. “We wrote the book to other forms of research funding,� try to introduce into the national says Ward.

UCT Debating to help learners Roxanne Jones

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n Saturday, march 3rd, UCT students participated in the Township Debating League (TDL) training day. The TDL is a volunteerbased program that is hosted by the UCT development society, Ubunye.

The event took place at Zisukhanyo Senior Secondary School in Samora Machel.

The TDL is a non-profit organisation that is administrated by students and coaches that are teaching debating to high-school learners across township schools in Cape Town.

The TDL training day is a competition that is designed to help the learners avoid common debating errors and prepare them for beginners’ tournaments. Michael Marchant, the project director of the

TDL, says: “The Township Debating League does more than just assist the learners with their academics. TDL helps them with their analytical skills and their confidence to speak.�

At the tournaments, which are made up of five rounds, the learners compete against each other for trophies. This competition helps the coaches and the committee members to choose who should be nominated to compete in prestigious events such as the Western Cape Provisional.

For many volunteers it is not

about the competition but about the love of helping others. Chloe, one of the debating league volunteers, explained: “Debating is something

“TDL helps them with their analytical skills and their confidence to speak.�

I’ve always loved, so it feels good to teach it to learners from township schools. It helps them formulate

an argument and assists them with their work.�

Since its creation in 2004, the TDL has been one of only two development debating leagues in the Western Cape. Cingashe Tabata, the Marketing Manager of Ubunye, said: “The organisation has since collaborated with the Constitutional Law and Schools Initiative (CLSI), the Road Safety Management Fund, TSiBA, the UCT Debating Union (UCTDU) and the Western Cape Schools Debating Board (WCSDB).�

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V71 E3 – 13 MARCH 2012

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Israel “worse than Apartheid South Africa” Muattham Carlie

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sraeli Apartheid Week (IAW) is a global event which ran the week of March 5th to March 11th. UCT, along with many other campuses across the world, also took part in the event.

The Palestinian/Israeli conflict, as is typical, drew in big crowds and heated debate. Although the theme of the week was to condemn Israel for being an apartheid state, many proIsrael students attended the events to defend Israel from this claim.

“Having been to Palestine, I have witnessed apartheid at its highest.”

One such defendant is Josh Benjamin, head of the South African Union of Jewish Students (SAUJS), who said: “the 23% of Arab citizens in Israel enjoy equal rights as any JewishIsraeli citizen would. The dream of Palestinian self-determination will not be achieved by false accusations of apartheid which, ultimately, do not promote reconciliation between Arabs and Jews”.

However, Benjamin’s views were not echoed by the speakers at the IAW. The speakers, who come from diverse backgrounds, included high profile names like Ronnie Kasrils, Jonathan Shapiro, Dr. Allan Boesak

and Professor Andrew Nash.

Ronnie Kasrils, former Minister of Intelligence and struggle hero, argued vehemently that Israel mirrored Apartheid South Africa in many ways. Kasrills said: “one can go through a very long list of Israeli racism. The Palestinians are a people who are dispossessed of their land, that they had for centuries, based on a biblical account by European Jews”.

He added that wars, checkpoints and violence, on a greater scale, mirror that of Apartheid South Africa.

The “birds of a feather” analogy was applied and Kasrills mentioned how the apartheid government and Israel were allies.

World-famous cartoonist Jonathan Shapiro suggested that the concept of “bantustans” and the tricameral parliament could be applied to Israel. He argued that Palestinians were subjected to “homelands” with horrible conditions.

Dr. Allan Boesak, founder of the UDF, echoed Shapiro and Kasrils’ comments. “I was brought up under Apartheid and I would recognise it anywhere and everywhere. Having been to Palestine, I have witnessed Apartheid at its highest and the Palestinians are subjected to a lot worse than we were under Apartheid”.

Boesak also went on to quote Nelson Mandela who said, post-1994, that South Africa cannot have peace until Palestine has peace.

Associate Professor of Politics at UCT, Andrew Nash, was critical of UCT’s stance on the issue. “I do

Fears about engineering failures unfounded Monique Rodgers Doubts about the quality of degrees from the Engineering and Built Environment Faculty are unfounded, VARSITY has revealed. The Engineering and the Built Environment (EBE) Faculty is examined every five years by the Engineering Council of South Africa (ECSA). This is to ensure that the correct material, teaching applications and outcomes are on par with the national standard.

UCT’s latest inspection was in 2010, with the faculty having passed the inspection and fulfilling all necessary criteria.

The concerns arose after the ranking of the faculty fell to 227th in the Quacquarelli Symonds University World Rankings in 2011.

This was after having been ranked 219th in 2009.

If any concerns need to be addressed, ECSA makes more frequent inspections. These extra evaluations occur as often as every two years, as opposed to the standard evaluation that happens once every five years. As UCT has passed the ECSA inspections, there has never been a need for a two-year followup inspection.

The Washington Accord, signed in June 2000 by UCT, states clearly that the faculty’s qualifications are widely recognised by a group of

professional accreditation bodies.

UCT follows the strict curriculum outline of British universities and professional institutions, which makes it easier to achieve such accreditation.

Accreditation bodies are based in the United Sates of America, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, Ireland and Hong Kong. UCT also has close ties with the Commonwealth Universities – the oldest and one of the largest international interuniversity networks in the world.

The UCT engineering degree is highly renowned and accepted at international universities.

doubt surrounding the credibility ... stems from the students not fulfilling degree requirements It is suspected the alleged doubt surrounding the credibility of the degree stems from the students not fulfilling degree requirements to the full extent. As stipulated by ECSA, students need a minimum of 3 years approved practical training and experience after graduation in order to register as a Professional Engineer.

It is possible to shorten this period up to one year in recognition of a successful postgraduate degree.

Image: michael.currin.co.za DEBATE – Israeli Apartheid Week aims to create dialogue among students. not believe that a commitment to academic freedom requires that you renounce all views about the real world and limit yourself to academic discussion in the bad sense – that is, discussion as made for the academic’s own amusement without

regard to their consequences in the real world. A more responsible conception of academic freedom requires universities to engage with injustice and oppression in the real world,” said Nash.

The speakers all agreed that

boycotts, divestment and sanctions on Israel should be called for, in the same way the international world did to apartheid South Africa.

Visit varsitynewspaper.co.za to view video coverage of the talk.

SRC clues up on students’ concerns Cai Nebe March 27th marked the launch of the Student Representative Council’s new initiative, C3 – short for Compliments, Complaints and Concerns.

Members of the SRC interacted with students on Middle Campus, Jammie Plaza, Hiddingh Campus, and in the dining halls of residential communities at Rochester and Clarinus.

SRC Communication and Media representative, Nkateko “Kats” Minisi, said that C3 seeks to make the SRC more visible and accessible to UCT students and to improve their well-being.

“C3 is a platform where students can voice their issues on every aspect of university life” said SRC President Insaaf Isaacs.

“All students matter to the SRC and their worries are important,” said Minisi. “Essentially, C3 is the human face of the SRC. Students get to see us as one of them.”

At Clarinus dining hall on Wednesday March 29th, C3 encountered concerns ranging from the restrictions of the Fedics catering company to a plea for tutors to become more energetic.

Adnan Tayabali, a first-year Actuarial Science student, voiced his complaints regarding room size and lack of uncapped Internet and added that the C3 initiative would only be effective if students’ situations really changed as a result of their drive.

SRC member Fadzai Chitiyo said Wednesday’s turnout at Clarinus was “good” and, except for a lack of advertising for the C3 event, the SRC suffered no administrative problems.

“Students were very willing to talk about their issues,” she added.

Other C3 locations included the Jammie Plaza. First-year student Chloe commented that it was the first time she had come into direct contact with the SRC. Another first-year student, Fadwah, added: “C3 is good because we get to meet the SRC personally.”

Lucky, a second-year student, said: “This year the SRC is more approachable. Last year it was not only intimidating, but inconvenient. I would go to the Steve Biko building and wait in queues.”

Craig, a third-year Business Science student said that the SRC is trying to improve its image by being easier to talk to. He feels C3 will bring about positive change.

Isaacs said that, before initiating C3, the SRC had no means to reach out to students, particularly those in the residences, due to impracticality.

“When this SRC was elected there were huge expectations on us as leaders, both to be recognised as such and to deliver. We have a responsibility to live up to those expectations,” Isaacs stated.

C3 will continue through the year with two more drives at the start of the second semester.

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editorial

V71 E3 – 13 MARCH 2012

Editorial

Stephanie Venter

En Pointe

Never again

Editor-in-Chief

The first time I overheard three girls in a lecture discussing how they couldn’t relax without taking a little magic pill, I stopped. The second time I overheard something about a “delightful drug”, I knew I needed to say something – because I was an addict.

We all remember the lectures about the dangers of drugs, only no one ever mentions prescription drugs – which happen to be the second most commonly abused drug class. I’ll be the first to admit that it’s

When the strike hasn’t struck

Caterina Aldera Managing Editor

“Even if you’re on the right track, you’ll get run over if you just sit there.

— Will Rogers

Newsgathering Tuesday, March 13th, 1pm, LS3A

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

@varsitynewspaper.co.za ERRATA volume 71, edition 2: “Putin’s population push” (p. 5): Russia was incorrectly listed as “USSR”.

“UCT Cricket bowls another team over” (p. 15): UCT Cricket’s sponsor was incorrectly credited as General Motors. Infact, the club is sponsored

by Gunn & Moore (GM).

[Ctrl + C]

really not that difficult to get your hands on your chosen high.

It’s all fun and games until you can’t fall asleep at night without popping something codeine-based or you can’t write that test without “borrowing” some of your friend’s ADD medication to take the edge off.

When the pain passes and you’re still using to keep yourself from feeling what’s around you – that’s when you know you have a problem. Be strong enough to admit you need help and then seek it.

Rhynhardt Krynauw, Copy Editor Text workers and flash mobs Text. The lack thereof is somewhat demoralising. Especially with that bloody cursor flashing at me.

Flash. Flash. Flash. It’s like the electronic equivalent of someone passive-agressively standing in line behind you tapping their foot. Tap. Tap. Tap. Flash. Flash.

Now, I’m pretty sure I’m in no position to bitch about writer’s block. This little text message I have to write, once every two weeks, in a space the size of a Chappies wrapper,

is hardly a novel.

Flash. Flash. Flash. We go to print in 34 minutes. I reckon this is how stream-of-consciousness writing originated; people had deadlines, nothing to say and pages to fill.

Grandmaster Flash. 22 Minutes.

Oh well. It’s not like you paid any kind of money to read this column.

So I don’t even feel that guilty.

Have a good week, Y’all.

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR In response to “An Apple a day keeps the kiddies at bay” In the previous edition of VARSITY (edition 2, February 28th), the term “geeks” in Katy Scott’s article caught my eye. Upon learning that a group of seven-yearolds were granted access to iPads for educational reasons, I wasn’t very opinioned to begin with, but some thoughts came to mind, which is why I’m writing this article.

Firstly, I’d like to say it’s great that schools are trying new ways of teaching. The world is changing, so should the teaching paradigm. Since there is no real way of knowing in advance what teaching methods are the best, I say experiment away.

What worries me isn’t technological progress. I am concerned about the accessibility these children gain at such a young age. I do not doubt that the use of iPads and such is properly monitored at school but between kids wanting to “grow up” faster and faster with each year and the decreasing age by which they get their first smartphone, I wonder if parents really do a proper job nowadays. I speak in general, of course, and am in no way saying that parenting is easy. But even if parental control or some equivalent is established on the phone or iPad, the younger generations always find a way around it.

On an academic level, I think such portable technology is more hindrance than help. In my second lecture this morning, I noticed two students using their iPads to play video games instead. We’re (mostly) past 18 when we reach university and I think it’s a safe assumption that we are meant to be responsible and have the discipline to not play video games for an entire lecture. But some of us can’t.

Can we really expect children to focus on academics when such a wide range of distractions is also at their fingertips?

Still, it’s a change. We’ll see where that leads us. Anonymous

That “Coloured” Thing In the article which appeared in VARSITY entitled “It’s not racist, it’s a joke”, the writer critiques the role humour plays in enforcing racial stereotypes, particularly against those classified as “coloured”, claiming that the humour “erodes the very democracy for which we have struggled”.

To make the claim that this country is struggling with racial divisions, and to call this a consequence of a case of “prejudice”, is to be dangerously short-sighted.

The identity was not constructed out of “stereotyping” which then led to extreme racial divisions.

But rather out of a serious colonial project for which the divisive tools were beneficial for the ruling class.

2012 Collective

I

wonder if anyone remembers that the Jammie drivers were in plain clothes last Wednesday, March 8th. I, for one, noticed this as I hopped on the morning shuttle, but further than this I didn’t think.

It was only a bit later that I remembered the email warning of a possible delayed Jammie timetable due to strike action in the Cape Town CBD by trade union powerhouse COSATU. (I read my emails, you see.) My Wednesday, March 8th, however, was far removed from the reality of that day for many people.

For some, it meant participating in the strike to show support for COSATU or disapproval of labour brokers and the Gauteng e-tolls.

Then there is another group of people, often, I argue, not thought about by either the strikers or those for whom the strike has no relevance or impact. These are those who choose not to participate in the strike, but faced immense difficulty getting to and from work or going about their daily lives because of the strike. And these are the people most often forgotten during the midst of a strike.

For us as students, the choice not to participate in the strike is an easy one. Managing the consequences of this choice isn’t as easy for some.

Strike action, as seen in Cape Town on March 8th, cripples South Africa’s already problematic public transportation system. Whether its buses, trains, or taxis, a day-long strike means either exorbitant costs to get to work, or a day’s wages lost

to those who can’t make it to work at all.

Why was it necessary for Jammie drivers to wear plain clothes on the day of the strike? Quite simply, they would stand out too much in their ordinary uniform. If there’s one point that is continually emphasised in the organisation of strikes, it’s solidarity.

I can’t pretend to know what the dangers are facing someone wearing a services uniform – and thus, who has chosen not to participate – but I would like us as students to give this some thought.

No matter your political, religious, etc. beliefs, South Africa is one society, no matter what some may say. That we’re a divided society, anyone can see. Like many other countries, we have different classes, a disparity of wealth, and a diversity of cultures. But, chief amongst all of this is that we’re South African.

The UCT student is no different in the eyes of the law than the striking worker in Cape Town CBD on Wednesday, March 8th.

This means that what happens in one sector of the society, even if it doesn’t have a direct impact on your day, is your concern. Special plans were put in place by the UCT Traffic Department to ensure that student service delivery would not be affected on the day, and rightly so. However, this does make it easier for us as students to ignore our surroundings and focus on the here and now.

My point in this editorial has nothing to do with guilt-tripping students, and I think there’s much that’s lost on you if this is what you take away from reading this.

Tucked away safely on the side of the mountain, in the homely Southern Suburbs, it is easy and natural to become absorbed into the UCT bubble. But remember that there are many around you on a daily basis who have a vastly different life experience to you.

Peace, love, and all things warm and fuzzy.

S

Lyndall Thwaits, Deputy Editor

Coloured and black people (deemed by the Verwoedian definition to be inferior) continue to live in absolute squalor conditions because of the lack of adequate redress of an oppressive history. Here is the real racism that we ought to be fighting. To highlight that others are ridiculing the representation of coloured people is the least of our worries. Whole scale marginalisation persists. Because somebody made a joke? I doubt it.

Mentioning “successful” coloured people, in an attempt to say “look we don’t all have false teeth”, is equally as misguided. Whose definition of success is this? Should these tokenised coloured people be celebrated for their successful

assimilation into the dominant culture? What is the worth of motivation in the face of continued systemic oppression?

An old joke which Zizek enjoys repeating is the one where a friend mentions his preference to being called Indian as opposed to Native American, claiming that it does a better job of illustrating the ignorance of the white man.

Jokes in solidarity like this serve to expose the situation. So make jokes… or don’t make jokes… just don’t think that the laughter (or lack thereof), changes anything for the majority of people of colour facing the ills of this “democracy”.

Ziyana Lategan

editor-in-chief Stephanie Venter deputy editor Lyndall Thwaits Copy Editor Rhynhardt Krynauw Managing Editor Caterina Aldera news Olivia Wainwright & Pasqua Heard opinions Berndt Hannweg & Nick Corbett features Liam Kruger & Anade Situma sport Sajjad Karamsi & Nicole Beale images Uwais Razack & Thabang Serumola Head Photographer Michael Currin Design Nic Botha web Chris Linegar, Alex Nagel & Carla de Klerk advertising Kaede Wildschut Finance Andrew Montandon OPERATIONS Jodi Edmunds marketing Andrzej Ogonowski human resources Tanyaradzwa Dzumbunu & Lydia Shilla I.T. Mfundo Mbambo sub-editors Theresa Scott, Claire Hunter, Mary Kennedy, Hannah MacMillan, Keagan Macpherson, Megan Pilditch & Cayley Mitchell Design assistants Emma Fernandez, Louis Liss & Julien Speyer HEAD PHOTOGRAPHER Michael Currin Cartoonist Julian Nkuna photographers Siyanda Ralane, Zakiti Bhengu & Raees Abdoola

opinions

V71 E3 – 13 MARCH 2012

Burnt Toast

A foreign Apartheid Bruce Baigrie & Liam Minné

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The focus of IAW is to bring these issues into the public and academic sphere.

As South Africans, we have a civic responsibility to support and show solidarity with the Palestinian cause.

During our own Apartheid struggle we received support from the international community, including Palestine, and it is this support that we must now show in return. Nelson Mandela, in his address at the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People, noted this in stating, “We know too well that our freedom is incomplete without the freedom of the Palestinians.”

As UCT students, we must honour this responsibility and condemn all forms of human rights abuse and seek justice and equality for all.

Josh Benjamin

W

hen the dust of historical calamities settles, there is no more pressing and pertinent responsibility than to preserve the history of the persecuted.

It is of grave concern when a generation not only fails to do so, but effectively robs the persecuted of their surviving solace, their story of persecution.

The Israel Apartheid Week, a worldwide campaign, not only distorts history and current affairs, but also robs black South Africans of their story of suffering under a genuinely racist regime.

If the status quo in Israel does resemble Apartheid, the black South African narrative must then, in order to represent a true parallel, change accordingly.

Instead of one where black people had little or no rights, it would tell of one where their freedoms surpassed those of their immediate neighbours.

Instead of prohibition from benches and public amenities and exclusion from education and public discourse, Apartheid would instead have been

This week’s poll Do you believe the Big Bang: t JT TDJFOUJöD GBDU

the story of individual democratic leverage so high, a black judge could have prosecuted Verwoerd.

The campaign targets “Apartheid” Israel and its “racist” policies, whose democracy allowed for the Israeli president to be sentenced to seven years’ imprisonment by an Arab judge.

Or consider the South African tricameral system, which would similarly be replaced by a story of equal representation in parliament, through a fair and all-inclusive electoral process – just as the Israeli process is indiscriminate towards its 23% Arab population.

The campaign to isolate South Africa through sanctions and boycotts would not have occurred externally, but rather by black people from leading academic institutions within South Africa itself – just as the BDS (Boycotts Divestment and Sanctions) was launched by ArabIsraeli Omar Barghouti from Tel Aviv University.

These examples demonstrate that this flawed attempt to place two different historical stories in parallel succeeds at nothing more than robbing a persecuted people of their history.

Solidarity Forum

Josh Benjamin is Chairman of the South African Union of Jewish Students

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This is not to overlook the brutalities that Israel has committed, but to reject a false analogy which does little to resolve a volatile conflict.

Just as Israel represents an actualisation of a collectively-held Zionist dream, the Palestinian people must have their dream of selfdetermination actualised. Their right to statehood is inalienable.

This will not be achieved through false analogies which promote polarisation and isolate the other side.

It should not exclude the Israeli camp from discourse based on accusations of Apartheid – a twisted irony, considering how white racists attempted to exclude non-white South Africans through demonisation.

If South Africans care about respecting those who tragically suffered under a genuine system of Apartheid, it is our duty to condemn Israel Apartheid Week in the strongest manner possible.

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of this war between science and faith are the media and the politician’s podium. After all, freedom of speech and religion guarantee everyone the right to voice their beliefs. But it is the third battleground which is the murkiest and possibly the most dangerous: the classroom.

In no other place do we gather so many susceptible minds under one god-like authority who commands the trust, fear and respect that students have for eligion, like politics, is their teachers. After all, these one of those verboten topics are the people our parents are that no-one really likes to bring paying to prepare us for “the Real up in conversation. And if you do World”. bring them up, it’s generally with I had long believed this to someone whose preferences on be America’s domestic battle both you already understand. (apart, perhaps, from some Unlike politics, however, isolated outbreaks in Europe and which only enrich our lives Australia), so it was a surprise to once or twice every four or five discover that an unnamed Cape years, religion Town school and the religious had fired a At its heart, the constantly affect teacher after she debate revolves our day-to-day insisted on tealiving, often in ching children around Faith and ways we don’t that Mother Evidence realise.

Nature was a lot But we do all older than people recognise, on some level, thought, and that life, beautiful the way our faiths (or lack as it may be, is still a series of thereof) impact the way we think. happy accidents.

Or rather, the way we don’t.

At odds with both staff The “theory” of Creationism and a body of parents who is composed of a variety believed otherwise, this veteran of schools, ranging from of biology was invited to find Intelligent Design to Young employment somewhere where Earth theorists. Practitioners are their kooky ideas, backed by a generally Christians, and their mere overwhelming majority aim is to prove that, at some of eminent scientists and other level, a deity was involved in thinkers, could be passed on to a creating everything. less critical younger generation.

Most often found in America’s At its heart, the debate revolves Bible Belt, Creationists’ primary around Faith and Evidence. If activities are commissioning you have large amounts of Faith, studies affirming religious you will be willing to discount claims, and disputing the results anything, even rationally proven, and methodologies of studies that contradicts the object of that that contradict them. belief, or you may subtly alter Intelligent Design contends that belief so that, in some small that complex life cannot have way, it remains compatible with evolved (though that word is the Evidence. already a minefield of its own) If you rely on Evidence, without a guiding hand, while everything you know and believe the Young Earth states that the is subject to change the moment world couldn’t possibly be 4,5 new evidence comes to light. billion years old, given that we In this way, Evidencers seek to can trace Biblical lineage all the understand their world. way back to Adam, who was The two ways of thinking are at around (supposedly) only 4000 once abhorrent and impenetrable years prior to us. to each other, meaning that a All of those fossil records are resolution may never be reached. apparently a double-bluff on the And because they are part of the Big Guy in the Sky, it incompatible, we can only teach seems. His little jape, although a our children one of the two. thorough one, considering how Critical thinking? Or faith in a much of the damn stuff we keep higher power? Choose wisely, for finding. once taught, this will be the way The first two amphitheatres our children view their world.

R

Bruce Baigrie and Liam Minné are Co-Chairs of the Cape Town Palestine

Don’t steal Apartheid from black South Africans

Berndt Hannweg

The Science of Faith

Image: Liam Hoare

he University of Cape Town Palestine Solidarity Forum (PSF) was established in 2010 with the aim of promoting social justice in Israel and Palestine. In doing so, the PSF promotes action, debate and education around the issue, while striving to combat all forms of antiSemitism or Islamophobia.

UCT PSF recently hosted the eighth Israeli Apartheid Week (IAW), which ran from 5 to 11 March. IAW is an annual international solidarity campaign that is hosted across university campuses, including eleven other South African universities, in over 110 cities.

The aim of the week is to raise awareness about the State of Israel’s current apartheid policies towards

Palestinians and to promote the call for Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) of Israel.

Palestinians living within the Occupied Territories are impeded daily in exercising their basic rights to movement, property and equality.

This is done through a state system of permits, segregation barriers, segregated roads and checkpoints.

Currently there are over 500 000 illegal Israeli settlers living within the occupied West Bank. These settlers are afforded full civilian rights under Israeli civil law. In contrast, the Palestinians living within the same area are forced to go through checkpoints to cross land, are not allowed on roads deemed for Israeli use only and are evicted from their land in aid of continued settlement construction. This law affords the settlers liberties in the West Bank, yet denies Palestinians these same fundamental rights.

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opinions

V71 E3 – 13 MARCH 2012

What are you occupying?

Thato Mabudusha

I

t was the dawn of September 17th, 2011. Thousands of disillusioned youths arrived in Manhattan’s Financial District, sleeping bags and tents in hand, to protest the immense inequality and greed that has come to define America’s economic practices.

They stood in belligerent defiance and they sent a message to the world, a message the world never thought they’d hear.

While much of youth culture in the West is defined by materialistic pursuits, banal pop culture and the humdrum of perpetual nothingness, the Occupy movement has been a breath of fresh air. It has proved that young people of the world still stand for something remotely worthwhile – that somewhere, deep inside, they are still alive.

As young eyes witnessed their peers in New York – people their age doing something about the injustices of their world – something sparked in them. It was a shot at significance, a possibility of leaving a mark on Earth and a chance to be written into the history books.

And so, it spread like wildfire.

The movement was unstoppable.

Major cities across the world were “Occupied.” It has even spread to incorporate other interest areas, from Occupy Education and Occupy Police Repression to Occupy Food Supply and even the Occupy Your Hearts version of the movement, which was launched on Valentine’s

Day as a call to love.

Yet as the movement reaches its six-month anniversary, one must question how significant it has really been. Was it a desire to effect sustainable change in the world, or was it a vehicle used to fulfil the longing for meaning in this generation’s heart?

Paging through history books, we saw the plight of those before us in their struggle for equality and freedom. We saw young heroes and heroines risk their lives to fight for a

cause that would speak to their very rights as human beings.

We too want to be significant. We want to make a difference. We want to be heard. We too, at the very core of who we are, want to stand for something far bigger than ourselves, something in which we believe so deeply that we are willing to risk our lives for it.

We have yet to see what the long-term results of the Occupy movement will be. Will it be enough to transform greedy economic malpractices that prevail? Or will it just be another irrelevant story demoted to collecting dust in history’s library?

Although it has now subsided to a background hum, Occupy awakened the world for a few weeks and gave people something to stand for. As they huddled under tents surrounded by the glow of soft light, the luxuries of modern life briefly neglected, they felt worthwhile.

They felt they had made an impact and had earned their rightful place in history books and finally felt they had a meaningful story to share with their children.

So, what do you stand for?

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 must be kept to a maximum of 250 words and can be sent to editorial@varsitynewspaper.co.za. The VARSITY Editorial reserves the right to trim articles for space reasons.

NYPD vs the Muslim Community Justin Bellamy

The parochial and bigoted vision of the NYPD regarding the American Muslim community America, at its best, is a nation is profoundly disturbing. It is that brings its ideals of liberty, unconstitutional, as it violates the justice, freedom and equality to equal protection clause of the 14th life for all of her citizens. Indeed, Amendment that clearly prohibits the U.S. constitution is a vibrant states from denying citizens equal text that delineates the rights of protection of the laws.

U.S. citizens, regardless of race, Even more unsettling and religion, colour, sex or creed. problematic, though, is the fact that One of the most powerful rights Mayor Michael Bloomberg and the of which the Constitution speaks NYPD are promoting widespread is, of course, freedom of religion. Islamophobic ideology, attitudes To be sure, freedom of religion and behaviour. The unfortunate and is a cornerstone of American disheartening result is that many democracy and is deeply rooted in Muslims continue to be excluded the nation’s fabric. from mainstream It comes as no America.

AccMuslims are surprise, then, that ording to Corey there has been uncomfortable with Booker, mayor a notable public of Newark, NJ, being open about outcry over the Muslims are their faith New York Police u n c om f or t a b l e Department’s abuse with being open of power; they have been about their faith and bringing accused, and reasonably so, of their rich and colourful culture to targeting the Muslim community mosques, religious groups and the solely on the basis of religion. like, for fear of being watched and The most recent display of ascribed guilt. the NYPD’s egregious behaviour, This is a true testament to the religious profiling, came to light fact that vital, productive and on Thursday when the Associated meaningful relationships across Press revealed a ten-page document religious and racial lines continue recommending increased sur- to be fractured by unchecked and veillance of New York’s Shi’ite arbitrary police power. community.

It is incumbent upon Mayor The reports informed the Bloomberg to re-align his vision public about a range of dubious with that for which America’s behaviour by the NYPD, including democracy stands: a vision that spying on Muslims in mosques transcends bigotry and prejudice and businesses as well as at several and transmits freedom and justice universities in New York, New from parchment to pavement Jersey and elsewhere. for all.

The missing culture of giving Shannon Holcroft

W

hen I boarded the bus to my first SHAWCO meeting, I was amazed at the assortment of foreign voices I heard chattering away: Eastern European, Canadian, plenty of Americans – but our South African accent was strangely absent.

This puzzling occurrence also caught the attention of other new SHAWCO volunteers. I overheard a fellow member remarking to a group leader that there are extremely few local participants in the society.

The leader said that the society’s volunteers are approximately twothirds international students, with South Africans making up the remainder.

It’s easier to head home after lectures than to lay bricks for affordable housing.

I was intrigued to see whether this extends to other UCT charity societies, and after asking the right questions on campus, I discovered that this lack of local participation is prevalent in most societies that require an after-hours input that doesn’t involve cheap alcohol or

reduced cover charges.

Let’s face it: it’s easier to head home and watch and episode of Gossip Girl after a gruelling day of lectures than to teach underprivileged children their multiplication-tables or lay bricks for affordable housing. Students are inherently lazy creatures, but what creates this particular distinction between local and international students’ inclinations to give back to the community?

In a country where there is such a large divide between standards of living, many find it soul-destroying to be involved in attempting to improve conditions, as it appears as if nothing will ever change.

South Africans could be apathetic towards causes and charities because they cannot bear to see the suffering in their home country, knowing that it will take much time before any progress is made. Perhaps it is easier for international students to participate in UCT charity societies, as it is not the country where they were born and raised, and they can deal with their experiences more disinterestedly.

On the other hand, it could also be argued that South African UCT students are apathetic towards causes and charities because they have not been raised in a climate that contributes to the community.

In the 2010 World Giving Index report, South Africa is profiled as less charitable than much poorer African

Image: SHAWCO archives countries, ranking 76th out of the 153 countries surveyed. The study states that 15% of South Africans donate money to charitable organisations, and only 19% will donate their time to volunteering for a cause.

Physical assistance is often what charities are most in need of, and being on a student budget makes time the only thing we have to offer. SHAWCO and Ubunye cannot improve the education

of underprivileged Cape Town scholars without volunteers, and the UCT campus will have a carbon footprint worthy of an Al Gore documentary if nobody is willing to put in some extra hours with Green Campus Initiative.

We have a lot to learn from international students willing to reach out to a community that is not their own. When it comes to helping others, local students often have

the mindset that there will always be someone other than themselves willing to stand up to the challenge.

Most will continue to spend their money on societies providing them with services, instead of on societies expecting a service from them. Because discounted entrance to Tiger is just, like, way cooler than committing to a cause and providing the time needed to make a difference.

opinions

V71 E3 – 13 MARCH 2012

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Talk of moving Parliament to Pretoria Joann Julius

years at election time. Best of all, the rest if the nation would be spared any ripple effects.

In reality, the staff and infrastructure changes that would be required for a move of Parliament could take years to implement. The staff currently based in Cape Town would have to decide whether they would be prepared to move to Pretoria or take a retrenchment package and struggle to find other work, thus further impacting our unemployment rate.

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enior ANC MP Vincent Smith has asked that Parliament be relocated to Pretoria. In his words, “the decision to house the executive authority, the legislative and judicial authority in separate places was as a result of a political arrangement in 1910 by a white government”.

He further went on to say that “the decision [has] led to unnecessary costs for travel and accommodation, and had an effect on productivity”.

perfect excuse not to make any real, positive changes

A move of Parliament could take years to implement The first time I heard about this, in November last year, I thought it absolutely amazing that, after 14 years, our government MPs, such as Smith, continue to look to the past for reasons not to move ahead. It would seem that everything that remotely reminds one of the Apartheid years and its “white government” needs to be blackwashed, renamed or relocated. What has happened to preserving our history and learning from our mistakes?

Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan has said that travel costs for Treasury officials came to R5 million between April and October in 2011. A huge

Image: flickr.com/pandrcutts

sum for anyone, but still not enough to warrant the move of our legislative and judicial authorities to one place.

Instead of looking for new ways to use our tax money more wisely, it would seem as if our elected officials are looking for innovative ways to spend it.

We should, in fact, be looking at more cost-effective ways to stretch our existing budgets. Heck, you’d

save more money if you sent them on time management and advanced computer training courses. Why should Parliament move just because our MPs don’t know how to manage their time more effectively?

There are so many video conferencing tools available that could effectively cut down on the exorbitant travel and accommodation fees. Has our government never

heard of Skype? The installation and purchase of the equipment to set it up would cost far less than a single business-class trip to Cape Town would.

With a little time management and training in the use of online tools, I’m sure our MPs and their staff could not only cope, but also begin to make some real progress on the promises they make us every four

If COPE MP Graham McIntosh had his way, a move like this would take even longer. He has proposed that “if Parliament was relocated to Pretoria, the Cape Town Parliament complex [could] be used for the Pan African Parliament,” which means an additional infrastructure change.

My guess is that our government officials are looking for the perfect excuse not to make any real, positive changes in our city. Even if they were to move Parliament and they did save some transport and accommodation costs, we the people would not benefit from the change. We’d just be left wondering what happened to it all.

YOUR CAREER

AS A CONSTRUCTION PROFESSIONAL

CAREERS CALENDAR MARCH

VARSITY speaks to AISHA DALVI, Associate Consultant in Quantity Surveying and Commercial Management at Mott McDonald.

Describe your role as an Associate at Mott McDonald.

As an Associate at a consultancy, I am involved in maintaining client relationships, finding new work with existing clients and providing opportunities for graduate development. My main role is still Quantity Surveying/Commercial Management of projects.

What are your academic qualifications?

B.Sc Construction Studies (UCT), Member of Chartered Institution of Civil Engineers (UK) and in the process of completing a Mott Macdonald 2.5-year Management Programme, in association with Cranfield School of Management.

What other student or community activities did you participate in during your studies?

I was a member of SHAWCO, a really worthwhile experience. I was also a tutor in the Construction Economics division at UCT. RAG week stands out!

Which skills and personal qualities contribute to your success in this position?

Leadership, communication, professional integrity, stability and a positive attitude.

When I joined a company I took on their values whole-heartedly, and in that way I benefited from what the organisation was

trying to achieve. I used every opportunity to learn more about the industry I work in.

Describe a typical day in the life of a Construction professional.

Every day is truly different - from visiting sites or attending meetings in Mott Macdonald head offices, or visiting client offices. Today, I am in East London, on the site of the only desalination plant in the UK. I lead a commercial team consisting of four Quantity Surveyors of various levels of experience, to help deliver a £185 million upgrade scheme for a client in the water industry.

What challenges have you encountered?

Working in multidisciplinary teams where personalities vary greatly and managing employees who are older and more experienced. Also, the scarcity of successful female Quantity Surveyors with whom to network.

What is your greatest achievement(s) thus far?

At £185 million, the upgrade of an existing water process plant is an enormous project. The achievement is that I was even considered for a project of this size as Commercial Lead. Project completion is scheduled for March 2015.

Prior to this, I managed the day-to-day contractual and commercial aspects of two projects, for the upgrade of a process plant and the introduction of Thermal Hydrolysis (conversion of biodegradable material to renewable energy). This was the springboard for the promotions which followed. In the workplace, you create your own ceiling.

What advice would you give to current students?

Don’t give up on your studies. Get some work experience in your holidays. This makes it easier to understand the bigger picture. Do not be afraid to take a chance when an opportunity arises and create your own opportunities. Try to get involved and participate in team exercises. The EBE Faculty, in particular the team in the Centlivres Building, are there to support you, so make the effort to get to know your faculty leads.

c . z a s . u c t . a r e e r a w w w . c

ces i v r e S s r e e ie Car o p p o rt u n it a d vi ce • in fo rm a ti o n • C

H IG H ER ED EN TR E FO R

U C A TI O N D

EV EL O PM EN

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ild in g ri kw ag go Bu Le ve l 1, H oe pu s U pp er C am N o rt h La n e, 4 9 7 1 6 5 0 2 ( + 2 7 ) 2 ac.za rvice@uct. careers.se

Career Talks All talks will take place in LT1, Hoerikwaggo 14 March CV & Cover Letters 15 March Preparing for interviews APRIL VACATION 2 April Preparing for interviews 3 April CV & Cover Letters 3 April Researching your career 4 April Rethinking your degree

Opportunities 13 March Investec Career Day 10h00–15h00 in LS 3A, Leslie Mezzanine Consult our Career Portal for a list of bursary/scholarship, vacation or graduate opportunities. Visit

www.careers.uct.ac.za/careerportal Register on our mailing list to receive updates about events and opportunities.

Visit www.careers.uct.ac.za/reg

UCT shaves an

nd sprays for CANSA Krysia Gaweda On March 1st and 2nd, UCT students flocked to Upper Campus and Medical Campus in support of the CANSA Shavathon. This year marked the ninth anniversary of the event, hosted by Cancer Association of South Africa.

For over 80 years, with support of various organisations around the country, CANSA has raised funds for the fight against cancer. The shaving of hair became a symbolic gesture of support to cancer survivors and serves to remember loved ones that lost the battle against the disease.

“Shaving your head allows you to realise a small portion of what cancer patients go through. It is a physical way of showing that you are here to support them”, says Tara Mfihlo, a first-year Humanities student. CANSA encourages individuals to help make a difference by shaving or spraying their hair for R50.

The event was organised by Kopano Residence, the Commerce Student Council and TutorwALL

in an effort to help CANSA raise money for cancer research.

Shannagh Hare, a Medical Science student at UCT and one of the organisers explains, “I find the most rewarding part of this event is to see all the people that are shaving their heads in honour and support of cancer survivors and those fighting cancer. It creates awareness and allows students to get more involved and help other people without having to leave the comfort of their own campus”.

Cameron Kyle, a fourth-year Business Science student, had his hair shaved on Upper Campus to support the cause. “I first did it four years ago when my hair was long. I took a liking to my new hairstyle and continued to keep it short. I now return to honour and support the cause each year”.

Not only students got involved in this year’s Shavathon, but a few lecturers too, including Professor Henvor Hendriks, Dr Kosheek Sewchurran and Adrie Stander among others. On the whole, the event was a huge success, making approximately R 5 000 for CANSA.

Images: Raees Abdoola, Michael Currin, Tasneem Jaffer & Uwais Razack

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features

V71 E3 – 13 MARCH 2012

It starts with a dream of being a rock star Daniella Toscano

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et’s be honest: we all desired, at some point in our childhood, to be in a band. Either that or we have attempted to form one, which usually fails horribly and ends up only looking like four kids banging on tins and singing notes that don’t even exist.

There are, however, those few lucky children whose rock-star dreams come true and who grow up ready to tackle the music industry.

The members of Bicycle Thief, a poprock band that has recently emerged from the quiet southern suburbs are among those lucky children who are now all grown up and trying to make a name for themselves and their music.

“We’re not necessarily the best musicians, but we’re songwriters, and we want people to hear our songs.”

The band was formed in 2009 by three friends who enjoyed writing songs together. They managed to find themselves a drummer, and they were ready to show off their music to Cape Town. Front-man Tim Lester says: “We’re not necessarily the best musicians, but we’re songwriters, and we want people to hear our songs.”

Well, people definitely will be hearing their songs, because they will be holding the launch party for the

release of their new EP on Saturday, March 24th at Mercury Live.

With their music being influenced by the likes of Coldplay, Kings of Leon, Biffy Clyro and local band aKing, their sound has received good feedback from fans, but the road is far from smooth.

Every unsigned local band will tell you that breaking into the Cape Town music industry is no easy task.

Although the gig scene is significantly bigger than Johannesburg and Durban’s, “it still feels as if you hit a ceiling”, says Tim. “You can play at Ramfest, Synergy, Mercury and Assembly, but once you have played at Assembly you have essentially ‘made it’. Then what? How do you get bigger?”

There is no support structure for the independent music industry in South Africa. The market is just too small, so bands like Bicycle Thief really have to work hard at getting

people to “take a chance on [them]”.

They’re hoping that the release of the EP and the chance to play more shows will generate more support from fans and from gig venues like Assembly.

their sound has received good feedback from fans, but the road is far from smooth.

Their music is definitely distinguishable – because not many English rock bands have emerged from the southern suburbs – and they try to keep their sound as “South African” as possible. With an excessive number of indie bands to have graced the Cape Town music scene, Bicycle Thief is definitely going to stand out from the crowd.

Images: Nick Gordon

So what lies ahead for this group?

“Well, of course I would love for us to go international, but first and foremost we want to make it in South Africa,” says Tim, who has dreams of headlining festivals like Ramfest, Synergy and Oppikoppi and going on tour with Zebra and Giraffe. The band also wants to start music workshops,

which they will eventually introduce into the townships, and create better infrastructure for music in this country so that other local bands don’t feel they have to leave.

Thank goodness for childhood dreams of wanting to be rock stars.

Sometimes, just sometimes, those dreams turn into great bands.

Something Like Now – an exhibition by Elsabé Milandri Caitlin Le Roith

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urrounded by the urban sounds and exhaust fumes of bustling Kloof Street, a little place of calm can be found. Salon 91 is a quaint gallery space for contemporary artists. On one misty Saturday morning, I attended an exhibition by Elsabé Milandri called “Something Like Now.” Milandri was born in Pretoria and studied Fine Art at the University of Pretoria and New Media at Michaelis.

However, she has always had a strong passion for drawing and the use of more “immediate” artistic media, different from her often digital approach. After teaching at AAA School of Advertising for four years, she decided to further her career as a solo artist.

Her most recent exhibition, “Something Like Now”, is an extremely personal exploration and depiction of her immediate environment. It focuses on her family and her closest friends, yet comments strongly on her wider social environment. The pieces deal with the issues of modern society in a subliminal manner, by using words or common phrases that lead to associations by the viewer.

Collectively, the works form a “letter” to the artist’s children for

when they are the age she, the artist, is now. The pieces document her experience as a woman living in South Africa through ink paintings and drawings of photographs and cell phone images.

Some pieces are black and white, whereas some incorporate both colour and black and white or are done solely in vivid, heightened colour. She uses excerpts of common conversation, which are very telling of modern-day society, in her works.

an extremely personal exploration and depiction of her immediate environment The works allude to common issues, such as the effects of social networking sites, through the use of seemingly mundane statements juxtaposed with images of critically endangered animals. In this, she comments on mass media and the need for environmental concern.

The artist equates this environmental awareness with parental care for children, thus introducing a strong familial element to her work. The intimacy of each

piece, with the sensitive treatment of subject matter and the raw, emotive use of her media, provides a close, personal experience that the viewer can share and relate to.

Her pieces are largely done in collage, watercolour, acrylic or ink on paper. These mediums allow for the uniquely diverse treatment Milandri gives each piece, with a delicate use of line in some, and harsher, thicker brushstrokes in other. Also, the “dreamy” quality of the watercolour and ink give the visual effect of a memory, which most of the pieces portray.

The exhibition space interacts with its external environment via large windows that bring the urban elements in. This serves to visually contrast the peaceful, melodic nature of the artworks and enhance the message the exhibition intends to convey.

The placement of several works, facing outwards onto the street, creates a unique interaction between the subject matter – showing forests and intimate family scenes – and the rough, industrial surroundings.

Overall, this exhibition creates an impact both visually and conceptually. Although intrinsically personal, Milandri conveys a relevant and universal message through her work.

Images: www.elsabemilandri.com

features

V71 E3 – 13 MARCH 2012

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London, wear else?

Daniël Geldenhuys

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hypnotist. A flash mob.

Controlling the elements. It doesn’t sound like I’m talking about fashion week, right? Well, I am.

Last season, London kicked itself into high gear by showcasing the brilliant standard of creativity and the all-important “wearability” factor for Spring/Summer ’12. The question on everyone’s lips: “Would London do it again?” The answer is: “No, they’ll do it even better!”

Simone Rocha, Christopher Kane, Peter Pilotto, Jonathan Saunders and Mary Katrantzou: these are the names you need to know. Anyone will tell you they are the freshest, most exciting new talents in fashion, and they’re all in London.

For Autumn/Winter 2012 the young designers showcased a kaleidoscope of hypnotising print and crisp architecture, the high point of which was the dazzling dresses at Mary Katrantzou, who is to prints what Oprah is to talk.

While the young designers kept the quality levels high, it was the big names that organised the legendary headlines for the week. It all started at Stella McCartney’s “special presentation” where London’s fashion elite sat down to dinner and a show.

What a show! After a magician had entertained the crowd and

Image: mylifewithvogue.tumblr.com

hypnotised Alexa Chung, the waiters, who were quickly joined by the Stella models, did a full-on flash mob.

You may think these antics are just some sort of cover-up for the fact that the clothes weren’t really that great, but Stella’s capsule collection was eccentric and utterly stylish all at the same time.

Just when everyone thought London had reached its high point, along came Burberry Prorsum. As

showcased a kaleidoscope of hypnotising print and crisp architecture the last model exited the runway in the greenhouse-like show location in Hyde Park, the heavens opened and it began to rain. The audience

Image: evikaratzaadores.com

sat in awe as they knew what was to come next: the traditional Burberry confetti began to fall – supported, for the first time in history, by the actual elements – the models entered with their umbrellas for the finale.

YouTube this moment; it will give you chills. Of course the question remains: was it really a magical coincidence or did creative director Christopher Bailey have something

to do with it?

The thing that really makes London Fashion Week a success, more than the talent, is the diversity of talent. From the delicate beauty at Erdem and the dark romance at Christopher Kane, to the mindblowing construction-meets-print at Mary Katrantzou and the insane fun at Meadham Kirchhoff…

There really is something for everyone.

African fever strikes the international fashion scene Thapelo Teele

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ondon, New York, Milan: A petite long-legged model on the runway of Burberry Prorsum ’12 struts past in a traditional Africanprint jacket and matching hat. Africa has arrived in the building and She doesn’t intend on leaving just yet.

With other well-known fashion houses following in the footsteps of Burberry, it is obvious that an African fever has hit the international fashion scene.

it is obvious that an African fever has hit the international fashion scene At New York Fashion Week, the likes of Afro-American fashion house Boxing Kitten – famous for their signature African print material and adored by the likes of Beyoncé and sister Solange – scoop up orders as fashion buyers seek to give their clients something new and exciting.

Gone are the days when Africa was solely perceived as poverty-ridden and war-torn. These phenomena are still in existence, but learned Africans have taken the initiative to begin an African renaissance of some sort, starting with fashion.

Mercedes-Benz are the main sponsor of Johannesburg’s fashion week as of 2012, finally recognising Africa as a

fashion capital along with the likes of New York, London, Milan, Paris and Tokyo.

Africa Fashion International, the leading fashion networking company in Africa and organisers of Joburg Fashion Week, began an initiative to link African designers to New York Fashion week in 2009. This initiative has since seen African designers like South African David Tlale and House of Nwocha of Nigeria showcasing their designs to the world through the platform.

This year, New York Fashion Week ran from February 9th–16th, nearly coinciding with Johannesburg Fashion Week, which runs from March 7th–10th. Not only have the two Fashion weeks nearly overlapped, but the fashions are similar too, with trends that are home-grown and à la mode. The intercontinental exchange through New York Fashion Week saw African designers travelling from New York last month and preparing for Jo’burg Fashion Week for this month. It is evident that African fashion has improved significantly through the years, and designers representing Africans have done well, becoming successful on the international scene and pushing the African brand – a brand that has appealed to fashion houses such as Burberry.

Designers of African fashion have seen their support base grow not only in New York, but also amongst Africans themselves. At last African fashion has a firm place on the international fashion circuit.

Image: lea-oh-lea.blogspot.com

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features

V71 E3 – 13 MARCH 2012

The pride and joy of Cape Town Sandile Ndelu

T

he only place where you are likely to spot good-looking men and women dressed in outrageous multi-coloured attire, aside from the Academy Awards, is at the Cape Town Gay Pride Parade.

Draped in fabrics of bright pinks and other colours of the rainbow, or nothing but Madonna-inspired swimsuits, hundreds of “dragqueens”, “jocks”, “twinks” and everything in between made their way to Green Point on Saturday, March 3rd for the annual event.

Extravagantly decorated buses, motorcycles, trucks and even boats paraded the streets of Cape Town. The demonstration is the highlight of a week of festivities designed to celebrate sexual

diversity and to encourage the unity and support of the LGBTI community. Rey Olivier, president of UCT’s official LGBTI support organisation, RainbowUCT, stated that the festival, especially the public parade, is a “loud and fun” reminder that homosexuals are humans deserving of the rights awarded to them. He went on to say that the LGBTI community continues to contribute a great deal to the country as well as the global society.

This year, the parade was followed by an after-party at Beefcakes Burger Bar at De Waterkant.

Laughs and entertainment were provided by local members of the LGBTI community. Numerous stalls were set up around the venue, projecting ideals such as safer sex,

sexual reconstructive surgery and the importance of advocating homosexual/bisexual tolerance.

The Cape Town leg of the festival carries on until March 11th, with parties, pageants, film and literature festivals and a host of other events for the public’s enjoyment (details of which are accessible on the Pride website). “Everybody is welcomed and encouraged to take part in the festival”, says Callan Paul, one of the promoters; “this contributes to social tolerance and understanding.”

So if you are gay, bisexual, curious or just bored, find your way to any of the pride events – or just wait until next year. In the meantime, grab all things pink and bright and begin constructing the masterpiece that will be your outfit.

Image: flickr.com/Citywalker

Design Indaba Image: Siyanda Ralane

Lucy Wileman

“I

was scared that all the creativity would have run out after last year,” was the comment made by one of my friends as we drove to the ninth annual Design Indaba Expo last weekend. Fortunately it hadn’t, and the organisers of the event had managed to find plenty of innovative and passionate designers to display their wares at the threeday event.

Since its inception, the Indaba has grown exponentially – the first Expo, in 2004, saw 40 exhibitors and 8000 visitors, whereas this year’s expo boasted over 300 exhibitors and roughly 40 000 visitors. It remains

the largest national gathering of South African designers, showcasing clothing, furniture, ceramics, jewellery, illustrations, graphic design, architecture, new media and décor, all devised and produced by a selection of the country’s finest creatives. Expo manager Kelly Berman expressed delight at the fact that South Africans are increasingly “waking up” to the creativity and design present in their country.

Design Indaba’s organisers are committed to the vision of a South African economy transformed by design – they believe in having a “can-do” attitude and assert that design has enormous potential to solve the problems faced by emerging economies such as our own.

The Expo was the culmination of a two week Design Indaba period which included a film festival, an urban planning competition named “Your Street” and an internationally-

South Africans are increasingly “waking up” to the creativity and design present in their country acclaimed conference which featured speakers from across the globe. The conference, specifically targeted at those involved in design-related careers, encouraged attendees to

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Image: Siyanda Ralane take risks with their work and avoid the conventional. This is certainly a principle followed by South African designer Clive van Heerden from Phillips Design Lab, who presented his concept of a wafer-thin screen which is implanted under human skin so as to allow its “wearer” countless tattoo options. Another speaker, Massoud Hassani, who hails from the Netherlands, presented his “Mine Sweeper” – a wind-generated landmine detonator which is designed to blow across suspected minefields while blowing up bombs.

One initiative of the Indaba is the “Most Beautiful Object in South Africa” award, an accolade conferred upon the designer whose work is chosen as the best out of 10 pieces nominated by leading voices in the industry. The award is decided by votes cast by the public, whether online or via sms. This year’s

winner was the “Lily Pad Ring” by jewellery designer Kirsten Goss, whose designs have been praised both locally and internationally. No doubt the decision was an incredibly difficult one, as so many of the Expo’s exhibitors produced designs worthy of praise. From jewellery designers Anomoli – who cut dainty scenes out of spoons which are then made into necklaces – to Isle of Trees, which won in the category “Most Creative Stand” for designer Ian Kelnyk’s handmade, sustainable, biodegradable, flat-pack furniture, there was no limit to the creativity on display.

After visiting the Design Indaba, one realises just how much potential South African creatives have to offer the international design industry.

South African design promises a bright future.

features MOVIE REVIEW: Emma Dittmer

V71 E3 – 13 MARCH 2012

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BOOK REVIEW:

The Artist

Terry Pratchett’s “Snuff”

Director: Michel Hazanavicius Stars: Jean Dujardin and Bérénice Bejo The Artist grabbed the Oscar for Best Picture along with four more awards at the 84th Academy Awards ceremony held on Sunday, February 26th. “I am the happiest director in the world right now,” exclaimed Hazanavicius after the ceremony.

As the Oscars approached, there was much hype surrounding the movie due to its success at the Cannes Film Festival and The Golden Globes.

Set in the 1930s, it was filmed in black and white and, to the surprise of many 21st-century moviegoers, it is silent.

This encourages one to take a trip down memory lane to the very beginning of filmmaking. The lack of dialogue accompanying the movie

MOVIE REVIEW: Danielle Barnes

Image: lenouveaucinephile.blogspot.com

changes the viewing experience in every way. The visuals take over and the true essence of acting out one’s emotions is revealed.

It is through the silence that one is able to truly appreciate the performance. This is especially true of the breathtaking performance by male lead Jean Dujardin, who took home the statuette for Best Actor.

For some, a movie like The Artist

might hold little appeal. However, one cannot but admire the risk that Michel Hazanavicius has taken. I would urge people to give it a try. You may very well surprise yourself and actually enjoy it.

Don’t be shocked by how different it is; rather enjoy something new, something engaging. If anything, the entertaining performance from the dog alone, known as Uggie, will make it worth your while.

South Africa has dropped four places in the latest standings on the Press Freedom Index for 2011/2012. Down to 42nd in the world, South Africa still compares favourably to most of the continent as well as other SADC nations.

Only two SADC nations performed better, Namibia placing 20th in the world and Tanzania 34th.

Botswana tied with South Africa at 42nd, while Mozambique and Zambia had the next best offerings in 66th and 86th respectively.

Zimbabwe is ranked at a lowly 117th, the same as Cambodia and Oman.

Unfortunately, Angola (132nd) and Malawi (146th) received shockingly poor ratings following the government’s brutal treatment of journalists in 2011.

The highest-ranked African country was Cape Verde in 9th

S

Image: filmofilia.com

and Hardy, are an interesting trio that, when you watch them together, make you wonder why they have not done anything together before. Their on-screen chemistry is really great and leads you to believe that they will be friends long after this movie is on the shelves.

A really entertaining movie, it incorporates the fantastical,

South African freedom of press in solid position Alex Tarr

Berndt Hannweg

This Means War

Director: McG Writers: Timothy Dowling, Simon Kinberg and Marcus Gautesen Stars: Reese Witherspoon, Chris Pine and Tom Hardy The movie is about two CIA agents (Pine and Hardy) who are best friends until they meet and start going out with the same woman (Witherspoon). The war begins when they both start to fall for her. Lines are crossed and rules are broken.

This rom-com is witty, fun, charming and surprisingly adventurous. It has the viewer laughing out loud and unconsciously smiling at the charmingly funny moments in the movie. The three main actors, Witherspoon, Pine

Image: squidoo.com

place following the peaceful democratic elections last year.

Eritrea placed last in the world in 179th place with a score of 142.00.

Sudan was second worst in Africa in 170th place and Egypt placed 166th.

The complete Top Ten scores are: Finland Norway Estonia Netherlands Austria Iceland Luxembourg Switzerland Cape Verde Canada Denmark

(-10.00) (-10.00) (-9.00) (-9.00) (-8.00) (-7.00) (-7.00) (-6.20) (-6.00) (-5.67) (-5.67)

The full rankings are available at http://en.rsf.org/press-freedomindex-2011-2012,1043.html

high-energy lifestyle that one would expect a CIA Agent to have, while simultaneously showing Witherspoon’s character in a relatable position: juggling two guys at the same time.

nuff is the 39th Discworld novel and the latest in the “City Watch” series. It details Com Commander Samuel Vimes’s unw unwanted holiday to his country esta estates, where he, rather predictably for him, discovers and attempts to solve a terrible series of crimes.

It has all the ingredients necessary for yet another excellent Pratchett work: the usual assortment of fan favourites, interesting bitplayers and a dastardly villain protected by privilege, which, as Pratchett will tell you, just means “private law”.

Then why isn’t it? Why, for the first time, did I not enjoy a Discworld novel?

The plot is good. It’s typical Pratchett, taking a known trope and subverting it. But it feels like it was written by someone else. All the characters become parodies of themselves. Sergeant Colon

is overtly racist. Vimes becomes invulnerable, and never seems to be in danger. But Willikins, the unflappable butler, comes off the worst of all, and it destroys any interest you may have had in the character.

The entirety feels rushed. New characters are introduced and disposed of within a handful of pages. The reader is bounced back and forth between short and sometimes unnecessary scenes. The resolution, while classic PTerry, feels rushed and therefore fake.

It’s an odd misstep for the author. Writing has become hard for Pratchett during his battle with Alzheimer’s, but this is the first time you feel the impact on the story.

Snuff is an okay book. Not great, not particularly funny – just okay – and for a Discworld novel, that is more damning than anything else I can think of.

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sport

V71 E3 – 13 MARCH 2012

Let’s all get smashed and chunder Michelle October

T

he walk to Middle Campus is only this busy one day of the year: that familiar buzz of excitement is in the air – excitement that reminds you of the times people rushed to a fight in high school. The masses’ gazes lay transfixed. You weave through the crowd, only to see nothing but people stumbling around on a field and what can easily be perceived as misplaced cheers. Is this some strange medieval event akin to bear-fights? Someone pukes.

The crowd goes wild.

This phenomenon, you are told, has a name: 6s × 7s – perhaps UCT’s oldest and most bizarre social spectacular. Hundreds of spectators gather at the Woolsack Cricket Oval and cheer teams of drunken participants who aim to down six beers and run around the field seven times. As they run around, they seek to projectile vomit on each others’ bodies.

Image: michael.currin.co.za Whoever has the most colours on his/her person is the “winner”. But how do they get all these colours?

Puke. Participants consume coloured milk, noodles, with copious amounts of food colour.

Some students find the event repulsive. Many more find it intriguing. The event is wellattended every year, and has been for over 20 years. No one has any idea how it started or who started it, but

every year, adolescents congregate, get drunk, and vomit on each other religiously. And every year, students gather in their hundreds to watch.

The Dummies have been part of the event for years. A group of male students dressed in adult diapers and occasionally painted completely blue, the Dummies claim to be a loyal Ikeys support base. “We’re supporting the boys. That’s what we are,” says Sipho Hlela, a member of

the Dummies. How this relates to the puke-fest at Woolsack is anybody’s guess.

Edwina Brooks, Director of Student Development, said, “This is an unauthorised event organised by ‘unknown’ students.” Brooks admitted that 6s × 7s breaks a host of UCT rules. However, she insisted that the university’s main concern is making sure that all the students remain safe.

UCT’s resident rabble-rouser Anton Taylor, facilitator and public face of the event, says that the event has changed for the better over the years. “What would happen is, anonymously, word would get out that 6s × 7s is happening … there was no accountability. There would be a mess.”

Taylor, in his Entertainment & Fundraising portfolio on the SRC in 2009, tried to get the event authorised by opening the lines of communication between the participants at the event, the SRC and other relevant authoritative bodies, in an effort to create a more controlled environment in which to puke. This wasn’t possible, but in recent years, the event, with his and the help of CPS, has become safer to attend.

Is 6s × 7s a barbaric abomination or an intriguing tradition? With so few outrageous traditional events left at this fine institution, is this worth hanging on to?

Women and UCT sport: is the playing field level?

Keshveer Dhyanand & Parusha Naidoo UCT offers a host of sporting activities – from Ultimate Frisbee to synchronised swimming, there really is something for everyone. But are females at UCT involved enough in sport? VARSITY took to the steps of UCT to find out.

Of the UCT ladies who were asked about this, those who did not particpate in UCT sports said the major reasons for not doing so ranged from commitment issues, to time constraints, to comments that sports club tents are “hidden” during Plaza Week.

With over 9 000 students and staff at UCT participating in one or more of the 40+ sporting activities such as rugby, cricket, soccer and tennis, one may wonder how many women actually participate in these activities. Speaking to a few women round and about campus, the most common answer was, “There’s not enough time to participate in sports.”

Is this really a valid excuse? How does the less fair sex do it? Looking at the social sports and internal leagues at UCT, it appears that men are significantly more involved in sport at UCT. Take a look at the UCT Tennis Club. It has three women’s teams, with the first team winning its respective league last year. “They’re doing quite well,” said Ben Walker, vice-chairperson of the UCT Tennis Club. Roughly 40 males try out to make the cut for the final 12 positions available for the three male teams, whereas only 20 females compete to make up their top three teams.

This significant difference in numbers cannot solely be due to the time constraints that parts of the female population at UCT claim they experience. Are women just less sport-inclined?

UCT is an academic institution, but do females really need to pull away from sport or is the walk up Jammie Steps a good enough workout for the week?

Varsity

CELEBRATING

70

YEARS

“I’m more interested in a less popular sport which is Australian football and it’s not offered at UCT.” Zanele

“I feel like Jammie steps are enough exercise for me. I like sport but I’d rather be a spectator.”

Magnolia

“I don’t take part in sport because of time. There’s so much to do and not enough time for extramural activities.”

Francisca

“I prefer going to the gym because I can fit it into my own schedule.”

Lerato

How involved are you in sport at UCT?

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“I don’t play sport at UCT but I’ve joined a boxing club outside.”

Raisa

“I’ve joined the yacht club but haven’t taken part in beginner classes yet.”

Julia

Send and email to hr@varsitynewspaper.co.za

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“I’m planning on joining yoga and taekwondo.

Volleyball is my favourite sport.”

Elizabeth

sport

V71 E3 – 13 MARCH 2012

SPORTS SHORTS Nicole Beale Netball February 20th saw the UCT Netball Club kick off the trials afresh with new coaches, Western Province’s Helena Laubscher and Stephanie Duursema. The club now consists of 20 players in the 1st and 2nd teams and about 30 players in the other three squads.

In an exciting move forward, the Club has also introduced a men’s team for the first time. With open invitations to any men interested in joining to take part in practices on Mondays and Thursdays from 5.30pm on the practice courts adjacent to the Tennis Club, the men’s team works hard at challenging the female players.

The club’s Internal League commenced on the March 4th, with Varietas, Tugwell, Forest Hill and Obz Square participating in the first round. With wins for the strong teams of Varietas and Forest Hill, this is set to be a thriller of a season. Obz Square is the team to watch, showing their mettle against defending champions Forest Hill.

Basketball The men’s basketball team started the season with a challenging game against UWC. Considering that the team had only practiced thrice since the final selection, they performed quite well in the game. Initially struggling, UCT united in the third quarter after UWC had already established a 14-point lead.

In an exhilarating comeback, UCT upped their pace, strengthened their defence and regained the lead.

Despite the intense efforts of UWC, UCT managed to hold on and walked away with a 61–59 victory with Head Coach Sergei Paly admitting that “it was a hard-earned win.”

The women’s team dominated the inexperienced UWC team. With excellent ball movement and topclass shooting, UCT excelled in each quarter of the match with the ladies enjoying a comfortable 58–20 win.

Cycling The Absa Cape Epic is just around the corner, and UCT students are among some of the volunteers getting involved. Nathan Trollip, a fourth-year Mechatronics Engineering student and keen

cyclist, told VARSITY: “I’m really looking forward to helping out at the Absa Cape Epic. This is an exciting opportunity to see how big stage races are organised and also to see some professionals pushing themselves to the limit.” This year marks the ninth year since the race’s inception, and promises to be as challenging as previous years, with 16300m of climbing over 781km between Meerendal Wine Estate in Durbanville, via Robertson and Caledon, to Lourensford Wine Estate in Somerset West.

The race takes place between March 25th and April 1st. The Prologue marks the start of the Absa Cape Epic at Meerendal Wine Estate. 1 200 hard-core mountain bikers from all over the world will charge over the demanding terrain.

There's much in store for spectators, from the buzzing atmosphere to a Freshlyground concert on the last day at Lourensford Wine Estate. As the premier long-distance mountain bike race in South Africa, it's

15

certainly an event anyone with even a vague interest in cycling will be sure not to miss. Catch all the updates live on varsitynewspaper.co.za.

practising running with their 12– 20kg boats at least twice a week to hours spent in their boats, resulting in such an impressive performance.

Canoe

Volleyball

On February 22nd, 2 000 paddlers took to the water in the 2012 Unlimited Dusi Canoe Marathon, widely recognised as one of South Africa’s toughest endurance sporting events. The race covers a 120km-stretch of river from Pietermaritzburg to Durban over three days.

Four members of the UCT Canoe Club squad, Ben Biggs, Ben Bradford, Bruce Hughes and Andrew Birkett headed to KZN for the race where Biggs, an Engineering student, teamed up with his cousin, Shaun, in a bid to achieve a top-ten finish.

After a gruelling three days, Biggs came in sevent place overall – the best ever finish for a UCT student.

Bruce Hughes, the UCT club safety officer, finished second in the singles category with Ben Bradford also placing in the top one hundred finishers overall. Unfortunately, Andrew Birkett’s hopes of finishing on the top 50 were dashed when his boat sustained serious damage on the second day.

The UCT Canoe Club put in countless hours of training – from

The finals of the Top 4 Volleyball Games took place in Athlone on March 6th, seeing UCT ladies take on Saints and UCT males take on the Western Cape Sports School (WCSS).

After four sets in the ladies’ game, the scores were 25–28, 23–25, 12–25, 25–17, which left the teams tied at 2–2 and necessitated the playing of a fifth set as a decider. UCT ladies stayed focused and finished the set convincingly with a 15–12 win, ending the game with a 3–2 win. The men won 3–1 with the scores sitting at: 25–19, 23–25, 25–16, 25–14.

Jessica Davies played exceptionally as the ladies’ utility player and Gashirai Masvikeni had an outstanding game for the men.

The results mean that both UCT teams are now ranked third in the Western Cape, an improvement over last year’s fourth place for the ladies, while the men didn’t qualify for the Top 4 last year.

With contributions from Lisalokuhle Mbobo, Nwabisa Dyonashe,Salebona Shongwe, Caterina Aldera, Steve Bissett & Christine von Hirschfeld.

Driven past Point

Sajjad Karamsi Sports Editor

G.O.A.T.

Rugby vs American Football Matt Tracy

I

n January of this year, I attended the Giants vs Falcons American Football NFL playoff game in New York City. Fast-forward just a few weeks later – I was attending a rugby game here at the University of Cape Town.

The football game was one of many I have attended over the years living in the USA. My father has coached football at the collegiate level since I was born, so I was that kid who spent weekends following his dad around the office or at practice at the fields while he did his job. I developed a passion for sports that has shaped me into the aspiring sportswriter I am today.

But rugby, though? Not so much.

To be honest, nobody in my family really knows the rules. Americans are never exposed to it, plain and simple. In fact, the most rugby we have ever watched was probably in Invictus. Even then, we had no idea what was going on in the rugby scenes except that the sport helped

unite a divided South Africa.

Sure, there are similarities between the two sports – both have goal posts, a try line or an end zone, and in both sports players tackle each other. I do know that much. But really, unlike certain international sports such as golf, rugby and football are divided by two different cultures on separate continents.

Last weekend, I attended the Sharks vs Stormers game in Cape Town. In a few ways, the experience was reminiscent of an American football game – Newlands stadium was shaped like any football stadium I’ve been to, the fans were cheering for their favourite team, and there were vendors walking around and selling food and drinks to fans. Even the “Let’s go Stormers” chant was the same as the “Let’s go Giants” that we always hear in New York.

But it was different in more ways than it was similar. I walked into the stadium without passing through any security checkpoints or metal detectors, and nobody was checking bags. In America, the security at sporting events rivals that at airports.

Bags are thoroughly checked, people are patted down and then walk through body scanners. Admission tickets to games in America have a special barcode to prevent fraudulent tickets, and everyone’s ticket must be scanned before they may enter the stadium. When I entered Newlands Stadium, the ticket was just simply torn in half, the old-fashioned way.

Also, when attending a professional sporting event I expect a Public Address announcer to fill me in on the details down on the field and some stadium music to keep me entertained when there is any break in play. This is completely necessary at American stadiums, but I didn’t hear a word from a PA announcer or a beat of music when I was at the game this past weekend. I feel that music could at least help fire up the fans even more.

I plan on spending my semester abroad acclimatising myself to rugby. It is something I should know about. As I prepare my to-do list for the remainder of my time living in South Africa, here is a start: learn the rules.

Image: flickr.com/NottinghamTrentUni

G

reatest of All Time. The moniker that leads to mass rioting on sports fora on the internet. Endless hours are spent discussing who deserves this title.

Tendulkar or Bradman – who’s the greatest batsman of all time?

Messi vs Maradona vs Pelé, who’s the best footballer ever? Should Schumacher be considered the best F1 has ever offered or Ayrton Senna?

The debate rages on in almost every sport, despite its incredible futility. While it is understandable that fans want to emphasise a particular player’s place in the Parthenon of legends, they make comparisons across different eras and different playing conditions, diminishing the strenght of their arguments.

Is it just to elevate Pelé over Messi, when Pelé played in teams that had three strikers and two full backs, and tactics were extremely attacking? (To be fair to him, Pelé did play in times where crunching tackles weren’t frowned on as much as they are today.)

Is it fine for Indian cricket fans to deify Sachin Tendulkar to such an extent that any article that criticizes him, whether it be print or online causes a huge furore. It’s often blasphemous to consider other batsmen better than him.

Yet Bradman played on uncovered pitches, with rather shoddy bats, and without a helmet, and still achieved that magical 99.94.

Tell any F1 fan over the age of 30 that Schumacher is the greatest driver of all time, and you’ll be met with a bloodcurdling stare. Senna, you’ll be screamed at, is the best.

Again a comparison that doesn’t account for the changing technical

requirements in the sport.

Tennis fans are as garrulous.

They have these incredible Team Roger vs Team Rafa duels, where they emphasize why their favourite player should be aggrandised.

They do not allow for the fact that it’s impossible to compare either of these players to past legends like Rod Laver, who played with a small wooden racket, as conditions are quite different today.

We have this overwhelming urge to classify one person as the greatest, at the expense of vilifying other players. Shouldn’t it be enough to consider each player as a legend amongst legends?

It should be, yet human emotion assigns great sanctity to our own favourite players and we yearn to rationalise the emotional choices we make.

That’s what makes sport special.

The overwhelming outpouring of emotion and passion that it results in. The passion that heals nations. *** Rahul Dravid announcement of his retirement from cricket last week left the cricketing world melancholic.

Overshadowed most of his careers by Messieurs Tendulkar and Laxman, his grace, and fighting spirit will be sorely missed.

Sport VARSITY

FIXTURES Netball

Volleyball

WP HEADQUARTERS, BELLVILLE

UCT SPORTS CENTRE

March 21st

March 24th and 25th

Western Province A, B, and C team trials

Volleyball Open Tournament

Trying time for Tigers Vafa Naraghi

B

arring the events that occurred yesterday evening, the Ikeys have managed to win one, draw one and lose three of their games thus far in the 2012 Varsity Cup season.

The season kicked off with a home game against Shimlas, where an expected easy win morphed into a shocking 38–10 loss. Things got worse a week later when they went down 29–15 against UJ. While they bounced back, with an emphatic 66–2 win over TUT in Pretoria, they then lost a nail-biting encounter, 23– 21, against NMMU in PE. Last week saw the Ikeys take on NWU–Pukke at home. The match ended 29–29, even though the Ikeys seemed in complete control for most of the game.

This is a team that has played in three of the four Varsity Cup finals – having won one and claimed silver on two occasions – and has yet to miss out on the knock-out stages of the tournament since its conception in 2008. This begs the question, what went wrong? Have the Ikeys lost their stripes?

The UCT crop of 2012 is a mix of exciting new talent with a sprinkling of experienced campaigners. Dillyn Lyeds, Liam Slatem, Ryan Smid and Ntsolo Setlaba are but a few of the names who have given spirited performances in their maiden season. The likes of Tiger Bax and Wes Chetty form part of the experienced contingent.

“What went wrong?

Have the Ikeys lost their stripes?”

However, the number of players who are involved in the provincial system are few and far between in comparison to previous seasons, with Don Armand being the most prominent of the lot. When you look to the squads leading the pack (Maties, UJ and Tuks), you notice a host of players who are involved in their local franchises, with UJ even having the Namibian RWC 2011 flyhalf at their disposal. This is a huge change from last season where 2011 Ikeys Demetri Catrakilis and Nick Fenton-Wells put in impressive performances for the Stormers.

UCT’s impartiality with regard to support of their sporting clubs, both financially and with regard facilities, has made UCT a very unattractive destination for the prospective rugby player. UCT needs to pump in more money. We have yet to purchase adequate flood lights to air evening fixtures, let alone have a decent

Image: michael.currin.co.za STRIPED OUT – Pukke snatched a draw from UCT in the dying moments of the game last week despite a commanding performance from the Ikeys. The defending champions have been having a torrid time this season. What went wrong? stadium to play in.

Let’s take a look at the rugby itself. The game against Shimlas was marred by a host of schoolboy handling errors. The Ikeys backline dropped and knocked on more balls then they had points on the board that evening.Although they did get better in the next few games, one or two opportunities went flying due to handling errors in the narrow 23–21 loss against NMMU. If the Ikeys are to be a dominant force again they need to get the basics right.

The Ikeys forward pack has been subject to several changes this season with Setlaba, Odendaal and Chetty the only players to have retained their starting positions for all five games.

This is understandable as there have been games this season where the forwards have been M.I.A.; thus, changes are inevitable. However, rugby is a highly team-oriented sport, so issues of consistency with regard to team selection plays a huge role in the operational dynamic of the team, and in such a short tournament one cannot afford any dip in morale.

But it’s not all blue for the Ikeys.

They have had stints where they displayed glimpses of the trademark Ikeys’ “Running Rugby” but not enough to cement any sort of authority. If they are to return to their once lofty heights, they have to look hard and reflect on the season that has been. With the right attitude and support from the Rugby Club and UCT as a whole, it won’t be long before the Ikeys bounce back.

So have the Ikeys lost their stripes?

Perhaps a little faded, but lost?

Never. Once an Ikey, always a Tiger!

Image: michael.currin.co.za