2011: Edition 8

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Varsity THE OFFICIAL STUDENT NEWSPAPER OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CAPE TOWN

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10 August 2011

Volume 70: Number 8

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Res admissions reviewed Stephanie Venter

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Images: michael.currin.co.za WHAT GOES UP – Emergency services lift the body of the helicopter that crash-landed near Woolsack on the morning of Wednesday 3 August. The pilot and his three passengers escaped unharmed, in part due to the assistance of UCT postgraduate Simon Harris. “his change intends to allow postgraduate students who may have been unable to study at UCT the opportunity to do so, and [thus] recognises the value of postgraduate students at UCT.” In a report on his achievements on the SRC thus far, Residence Co-ordinator Khanya Gwaza said: “Together with the Residence Council, we [the SRC] held central

consultations at Smuts and Marquard [Halls], Rochester [House], and Forest Hill to get student opinion.

Previously, students who had completed their undergraduate degree at UCT were not allowed to live in third-tier residences. We fought for this to be changed.”

“Unclear” eligibility criteria Many students have expressed

uncertainty about their eligibility for residence ater forms given out in residences for 2012 admission included the criterion, “[Students are eligible if] they live within local residential areas designated by the Admissions and Progression Committee (APC) as historically black and or educationally disadvantaged.”

When asked for clarity regarding

this, Willis said: “he criterion refers to current students who are not in the residence system in 2011. It should be added that these are students who have previously applied for a residence space and were unsuccessful; preference will be given to them.” his point has appeared on previous years’ admission forms, added Willis.

IN THIS ISSUE

ostgraduate students who complete their undergraduate degree while in residence will be eligible for residence accommodation in 2012, ater Council approved the decision at their Exco sitting in June.

Students who are registered for, or intend to register for, a postgraduate qualiication will now be considered for accommodation in third-tier residences, ater UCT’s previous policy change appeared to remove postgraduates’ eligibility for residence.

Once accepted into postgraduate accommodation, a student may stay for a maximum of three years while they complete their studies.

UCT’s “n + 1” policy was changed to “n” in 2010, leaving postgraduate students uncertain about eligibility for accommodation. “N” is taken to mean the expected duration for completion of the student’s undergraduate degree, usually three years for most students. “he [“n + 1”] policy was changed to allow more young irsttime- entering students a place in the residence system,” said Grant Willis, Director of Student Housing and Residence Life. It has been conirmed for 2012 onwards, but is applicable to undergraduates only.

A separate policy, though still under the banner of the Residence Admissions Policy, is applicable to postgraduate students, and it is this that has been changed to allow postgraduate residence students accommodation for further studies. he Student Representative Council (SRC) pushed for postgraduate students to be allowed to apply for third tier residence, said Secretary General Sean Darge in a statement to VARSITY. “Previously, if you had completed your undergraduate at UCT and wanted to pursue Honours, you were forced out of residence. Our postgraduate residences were thus occupied wholly by undergraduates from other universities.

Closing the closet

page 3

The 27 Club

page 5

Soldiers in petticoats page 6

UCT Heroines

page 8-9

Faith Chaza tells all page12

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

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news NEWS BITES

Miyeni ired for Hafajee attack JOHANNESBURG – Sowetan columnist Eric Miyeni has been fired after he harshly attacked City Press editor Ferial Haffajee in his weekly column on Sunday 31 July. The columnist appeared to condone necklacing in the piece, his words offending many including Haffajee herself. Last week, the Sowetan published an apology to Haffejee and “all South Africans”.

– News24

US raises national debt limit WASHINGTON – On Tuesday 2 August American President Barack Obama signed a new debt law into efect, meaning the US debt ceiling will be raised. he House of Representatives and the Senate both voted to raise the US debt limit by $2.4 trillion.

Lawmakers said that without this intervention, US markets would have crashed and a global economic crisis of greater scale than seen before would have emerged.

– The Guardian

Gautrain extends to Pretoria GAUTENG – On Tuesday 1 August, the Gautrain opened its doors on its JohannesburgPretoria route to over 11,000 commuters between 5am and midday. he high-speed train travels between the cities in just over thirty minutes. Oicials are hoping that the trains will carry 100,000 passengers per day. he cost of a single fare from Hatield to Sandton is R43.

– News24

Internet quota increases to 3GB Aimee Carelse & Roxanne Jones

A

s OF Friday 1 July, UCT’s Information and Communication Technology Service (ICTS) put into efect an increase in the allocated student internet quota.

In an email to all UCT students, ICTS announced the increase to 3GB per month, as well as changes to their proxy server resulting in a single array, ProxyNet. he upgrade allows increased usage of the internet as well as a simpler method of managing bandwidth usage with the new proxy server. he increase was made possible by the landing of the SEACOM cable, a cable system installed along the eastern and southern African coastlines to facilitate improved internet access, connecting subSaharan Africa to Europe. As a result, internet bandwidth availability has increased and comes at a lower cost, therefore allowing UCT to purchase more bandwidth at the same price.

Efect on Residence Students he increase has proved to be a positive change for residence students. Prior to the upgrade, residence students had two separate quotas: ResNet and CampusNet, but the upgrade results in the single ProxyNet. As a result, residence students no longer need to keep track of two

quotas. he upgrade has therefore allowed for easier management of bandwidth, the amount of which remains the same despite the merge of the two separate quotas. here is a confusion surrounding the payment of the ResNet fee by residence students.

According to Stef Hughes, team leader of Communications and Training at ICTS, “UCT does not charge for bandwidth.” In reality, the ResNet

UCT stepping up security

UN ights for drought victims EAST AFRICA – he United Nations (UN) has urged commercial airlines to start lying food to East Africa ater severe droughts have afected the region. With many people facing starvation, it is hoped that 500 tonnes of food from Europe – with the help of airlines – will be able to reach the Horn of Africa.

British Airways, Virgin Atlantic, Luthansa and UPS have agreed to take 15–20 tonnes per week.

– News24

Olivia Wainwright

Internet bandwidth availability has increased and comes at a lower cost he amount of the ResNet fee for 2012 is yet to be determined. he bandwidth quota increase pertains speciically to undergraduate and Honours students. Students

Norway attack suspect admits killings OSLO – Norwegian extremist Anders Behring Breivik admitted killing 77 people in the Norwegian attacks on 22 July. he attacks consisted of a bombing in Oslo that killed eight people, and a shooting on Utøya Island that killed 69.

Breivik’s lawyer has stated that the list of demands from Breivik is “impossible.” he courts have decided that two psychiatrists will closely examine Breivik and his actions.

– BBC

fee “is an annual admin/connection fee that is paid by a residence student to Student Housing and Residence Life to help them ofset the cost of providing and maintaining the network infrastructure in the residences,” says Hughes. “he fee is not in any way related to how much internet bandwidth quota a student is allocated.”

Image: michael.currin.co.za EFFECTIVE – The newly launched E9 service encourages students to be actively involved in their safety.

Lyndall Thwaits The “E9” response initiative is well underway ater its launch on Monday 1 August. he free mobilebased service is aimed at all UCT students and staf. he collaboration of Sinakho Mobile and Online, CPS, as well as UCT management comes as a response for the need to improve campus protection and safety. his safety and security initiative is being piloted at UCT, with the hope that the service will provide all students and staf members with an efective way of preventing crimes, as well as reporting them as they happen. he service works on the basis that when an individual has signed up with the company, simply pressing 9, the recommended speed dial number for the service, will activate a number of emergency responses.

Activating the service outside of the jurisdiction of UCT will still

be efective, but the relevant state emergency response services will be called to assist instead of CPS. Safety and security remains one of the biggest concerns for UCT, ater a number of incidents, the most serious being the deaths of two UCT students. he long-term aim for the E9 application is to spread the service over campuses across South Africa. he service was initially brought to the table by the BEE Mobile ater Roland September, the President of Campus Protection Society of South Africa (CAMPROSA) and the Risk Services Manager at UCT, approached CPS with the idea of the service, recommended to him by a paramedic.

E9 was approved and endorsed

by UCT as well as the SRC ater rigorous planning. September said that they “encourage universities to participate and accept this very necessary service…”

studying towards their Masters, Doctoral and Postdoctoral degrees, as well as UCT staf members, are not bound by a bandwidth limit.

Instead, their monthly internet usage is monitored and reported to the deans of faculties and the Executive Directors of PASS Departments.

In this way, ICTS ensures that bandwidth usage is not abused.

Many students at UCT only have access to the internet while on campus. Regardless of their circumstances, the allocated bandwidth should be adequate for academic research purposes – this being the primary objective of the provision of internet at UCT, says ICTS. UCT-ailiated websites, such as Vula, UCT email and UCT library services, do not count towards the quota.

news

3

Judge a book by its cover CPS discontinues investigation into closet burning Pasqua Heard Renovations in the Chancellor Oppenheimer Library — which commenced in October last year — are nearing completion.

Two loors in the middle of the newly-formed Research Wing are an academic workspace reserved for postgraduates. Undergraduates are permitted to use Special Collections or consult a librarian within this area. his space consists of 36 new computers, four wall-mounted LCD screens, study desks, soundabsorbent carpets, and power points for laptops. Both loors have a room for printing, copying and scanning. 24 easy chairs are in place for resting or networking with other postgraduate students. he Hub for undergraduate students, situated on the main loor near Short Loans, contains ive new LCD screens for group work, 25 computers, and new sofas. he library was unable to provide the exact number of new desks the renovations have created.

“We realised that our postgraduate and undergraduate students sometimes have diferent needs,” said Diana Hurter, Deputy

Director of UCT Libraries. “While postgraduates require a quiet working environment with quick access to print and online research, undergraduates [need] space for collaborative work, and less formal spaces for individual work and socialising.

“So we have created the new Hub on the main loor with group study tables, movable furniture, and comfortable sofas. And since we know that undergraduates also need quiet space, we have transformed the old Current Journals section into a Silent Study area. We’ve done our utmost to meet the needs of all our students.”

Students have conlicting views about the changes. While some are impressed, others are sceptical. Murray Kernick, a postgraduate Business Analyst student, commented: “he new postgraduate section is amazing.

It’s spacious, silent and the chairs are so comfortable. It makes studying way more pleasant.”

“An increase in couches is a nice idea in theory but not in practice. ... Perhaps the space could be better used for more desks; it never feels like there are enough during the exam period,” said Kirsten Dreyer, an undergraduate.

Image : michael.currin.co.za

Image : michael.currin.co.za

Alex Nagel

T

he investigation into the burning of RainbowUCT’s Closet on Jameson Plaza last year will be closed ten months ater the act. No suspect has come to light.

A Campus Protection Services (CPS) representative reported that footage of the suspect leaving the Steve Biko Student Union Building was captured by CCTV cameras, but it was during the night and the face of the character was obstructed. his made it diicult to ascertain the suspect’s identity. “We saw lames coming from the box … Obviously someone was trying to prove a point,” the representative said.

CPS has been investigating the incident for ten months and the ofender has still not been named.

CPS claimed that the investigation “came to a dead end” and no further leads on the case could be traced due to insuicient evidence. he Closet was set alight on Monday 4 October 2010 during the

society’s Pink Week. It came as a shock to society members, many of whom saw it as a form of hate speech.

RainbowUCT members signed a petition which has been handed to the oices of the Vice Chancellor and the Executive Director of Student Afairs.

the investigation “came to a dead end” and no further leads on the case could be traced due to insuicient evidence Richard McLaverty of RainbowUCT stated that the signiicance of the petition is to “help create a more friendly and safe environment for the LGBTIQ (lesbians, gays, bisexuals, transgender, intersexual, questioning) community,” as they face many identity struggles daily. he petition also requests that university management “punish the perpetrators, if caught, not with expulsion but with community

service and a public apology.”

RainbowUCT has replaced the burnt Closet with another metal closet called the New Closet and a quote reading: “Makes me that much stronger/Makes me work a little bit harder/Makes me that much wiser/ hanks for making me a ighter,” from Christina Aguilera’s “Fighter”.

Even with the New Closet in place, McLaverty said that, “while the majority of people at UCT are accepting, we still have a very long way to go in creating a safe and accepting environment.” he society states its aims as including attempting to create an environment on campus and within the general community that is free from homophobia and where people won’t feel ashamed of who they are. he society provides a secure environment where other LGBTIQ people can come together and celebrate their individuality without fear of being threatened or discriminated against. It also ofers guidance to those who are struggling to acknowledge their sexuality.

Academic freedom?

Lyndall Thwaits

The importance of academic freedoms for South Africa as well as the United States of America led the discussion at this year’s TB Davie Memorial Lecture entitled “Post9/11 hreats to Academic Freedom.” he guest speaker, Professor Nadine Strossen from the New York Law School in the United States, raised a number of signiicant issues regarding both the historical contexts as well as the futures of South Africa and the USA. he focus of the lecture delivered

by Strossen was to highlight the link between past and present academic freedom in light of the respective political and social happenings of the time. She quoted Dr Davie extensively in her address, honouring the manner in which he strived for academic freedom at UCT. Strossen commended his ight for “academic freedom for all” in light of the government regulations and controls over institutions at the time.

Some of the academic freedom issues which South Africa was facing at the time of apartheid were familiar to the USA during its time of “apartheid-like racism, including

the racial segregation in schools.”

Strossen said she felt a “close bond to TB Davie,” and was indebted to him as an activist.

UCT has endorsed its academic freedom, but still faces many challenges which were relevant in Davie’s day. he likes of the Protection of Information Act and the Media Tribunal are causes for concern, Strossen added.

One of the underlying issues of academic freedom in the USA as well as in South Africa is that of government control and regulation of information which afects academic institutions. Stossen said that “government expansion of power and constitution of rights on the basis of the ‘war on terror’” was a danger to the freedoms each respective country has fought hard to achieve.

Strossen cautioned against enacting emergency policy to protect the people of a state ater legislation passes such laws as an option.

Much of the lecture was focused on the freedom of scholars in relation to one another and the sharing of vital communication between them.

Strossen, who is a chief member of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) in the USA “called to take

FREEDOM - Professor Nadine Strossen highlights the dangers facing academic freedom.

Image: Monday Paper

the ACLU’s evidence of harm of laws like this into serious account.” She emphasised that more harm than good would ultimately come from laws such as those which enhance

excessive secrecy from the public domain, which may infringe on academic freedoms across the globe.

With her closing statements Strossen hoped she would inspire

learners as well as the academic community to continue to be “actively vigilant in South Africa and at UCT”.

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4

opinions

Editorial

Nyasha Kadandara

Trust and Believe

How to suck at your job — and keep it!

Editor-in-Chief

I mean, really. Barely a day goes by without some mention of him, somewhere. And this week he comes under particular ANC scrutiny for (among other things) remarks that painted a negative picture of the state of our government to other nations.

So I have to wonder – how does Julius Malema still have a job?

Granted, somebody, somewhere voted him into position, which is fine. But in my book, what you did to get a job, you have to do to keep it. As president of a youth league, shouldn’t your job include engaging and interacting with youth – especially

Only room for one Queen Bee! O

surpassed the alleged glass ceiling, we’ll assume she slept her way to the top, forget about her performance or excellent leadership skills. Girls like Mindy also happen to wear the boldest colours, shortest dresses, and the tightest tops, and for that we will label her an attention seeker, while we sit in our dull black frocks secretly in envy! If Mindy was a housewife we will accuse her of settling, not reaching her full potential and being pathetic. But if Mindy becomes a high powered mother, we will condemn her for “wanting it all”, when her child does not bring homemade goods for the school cake sale! All this jealousy having sprouted from the fact that we wish we had the guts to do what she did!

I think it is so sad that we have no sense of sisterhood. As a result we become our own worst enemy as we disparage each other for doing the very things we burnt our brassieres for. I oten hear women who mistake feminism for being about emulating a certain type of woman. But surely feminism should be about freedom: freedom to do and wear whatever you want and be respected for it. here need not be only one leading lady in the show. And if you meet a girl like Mindy, you ought to take a page from her book. And if you are Mindy, how about inviting another girl to the party and supporting each other. And now it’s time for me to continue doing the Pretty Girl Rock!

in a country where so many of them face a grim future? Of course, he way very well be the most youthempowerment-focused person on Earth – but you’ll never hear about it. I can almost guarantee he’d be the first to blame the media (and truth be told, there’s far more negative than positive reporting) – but isn’t he to blame for some of that?

But my real question: how many times can someone be “criticised” and “disciplined” by his own party, found guilty of hate speech, and who knows what next, before someone has the guts to get rid of him?

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op ws in io fe ns at ur es sp co orts nf er en im ce ag e ed s ito ria l ad s hr

ld boys weekend was always such a big deal for my brother school Falcon College. I was fascinated at how generations of men would lood the Falcon gates in July to watch the rugby game against their biggest rival. I always wondered why we never had an Old Girls Weekend; we had the sports, we had rivals, but the idea of a bevy of ex-Girl’s College girls locking to the place where it all began is quite unheard of. If for some strange reason we did return for our old school, we would spend the entire event discussing who nabbed a hot husband, and who never got rid of the baby weight!

Many a time, women complain about unequal opportunities or male misogyny getting in the way of our success. And while we do live in a patriarchal society the truth is we do a lot of damage ourselves. hrough all the struggles for gender equality, the Only Woman Syndrome has proved resistant against any eforts of female empowerment.

We have all met a girl like Mindy: she is a boys’ girl because she’s easy going but also quite a looker. Unfortunately a woman’s insecure nature will prompt her to say Mindy is a slut, and conclude she has no girlfriends because she cannot be trusted when it comes to men. Mindy is also the one woman who manages to snatch that promotion and now she’s the only female in the board room. Having

Nkosiyati Khumalo, Deputy Editor

@varsitynewspaper.co.za 2011 collective editor Nyasha Kadandara deputy editor Nkosiyati Khumalo news Stephanie Venter & Lyndall Thwaits opinions Tiffany Mugo & Berndt Hannweg features Marché Arends & Thandokazi Hlwatika sport Sajjad Karamsi & Nicole Beale Design Nic Botha images Michael Currin web Azhar Desai & Chris Linegar human resources Caterina Aldera & Chido Mpemba advertising Sizwe Moagi marketing Rémy Ngamije OPERATIONS Candy Peck CONFERENCE team Florentina Swigelaar & Odwa Sihlobo sub editors Kent Elsner, Rhynhardt Krynauw & Stuart MacDonald staff writers Calvin Scholtz, Liam Kruger, Xavier Van Der Zandt, Rob Attwell, Bushra Gules, Annique Bolliger, Nda Masimula, Thabang Clive Letheo, Tasneem Emeran, Carla de Klerk, Anade Situma, Nick Corbett, Aimee Carelse, Bushra Gules, Roxi Jones, Pasqua Heard, Alex Nagel & Olivia Wainwright Design Team Sean Parker, Sarah Thomas & Takura Wekwete cartoonist Julian Nkuna

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opinions Speak Easy

Tiffany Mugo

Does gender equality birth misogyny?

“Why should we still open doors?

You guys wanted to be independent: get your own damn doors!” his is the logic seemingly held by men (or boys) of our generation. he notion is that, as we are no longer the fairer sex, we do not get the “fair treatment.” So the question is: in our battle for empowerment did we unwittingly slay chivalry?

Do equal rights now mean “equal” treatment?

In years past we have forfeited the right to vote, work, own property and wear two-piece swimsuits for the privilege of having our menfolk “take care” of us. Doors were opened. Trinkets were given as presents. Hats were taken of when “in the presence of a lady.” But it would emerge that with the ability to take care of ourselves we are no longer worthy of such treatment. If you’re smart enough to vote, you’re smart enough to igure out how the door handle works. his notion comes in many forms and I personally have been privy to at least two. he most memorable interaction was with a drunken fellow who was convinced I was a lesbian due to the fact that I came across as a woman who could take care of herself utterly and completely. Ergo, I did not need a man. Ipso facto, I must be a lesbian.

And here I thought being only attracted to other women made a woman a lesbian, not the ability to function without a man. his thinking has led to a new phenomenon of the oversexualisation of women. he beautiful, sensual and somewhat controversial dichotomy of a woman as a nurturer and sexual

being has decayed into “meat in booty shorts.” hus many women are now facing the Madonnawhore complex and coming of in an unfortunate position. Some men are seemingly unable to marry the two ideas of a woman who is his equal in the workplace and one who is the heartbeat of his home.

With this new class, an “independent woman” is unable to play the role of a “Madonna” in his life as she is no longer primarily the “domestic deity.” his leaves her relegated to the whore. No longer a woman to love and cherish but one to “tap and run.” No longer to be courted but rather one to be mounted. I have personally witnessed one acquaintance show 10 girls a “good time” in the space of one night. Courtship in the Twitter age, I suppose.

So, has our new-found power meant that we should forfeit the respect and love previously aforded to us? his rationale makes no sense. Just because I want to have a job, drive a nice car, and pay of my own mortgage doesn’t mean that I am now “one of the boys.” It doesn’t mean that I am now a ball-breaker or a man-eater. We still have a long way to go in terms of equality, and the fact that women are becoming multifaceted does not make them less worthy of getting gentlemanly treatment. I would actually argue it makes them more deserving.

Does it mean that just because I have a better GPA than you that you shouldn’t let me go through the door irst? Deinitely not. But does it mean that if you grab my derrière when I walk by I will drop you like a bad habit? Most deinitely.

The club everyone’s dying to get into Rhynhardt Krynauw

I

’ve always reckoned I would give myself until my 28th birthday to become a rock star. his was not based on any kind of responsible, goal-oriented life choice, but rather on the fact that a few legendary artists died at 27 and let the world in awe of their greatness. his so-called “27 Club” previously comprised Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, Jim Morrison, Kurt Cobain and Brian Jones.

With the recent passing of Amy Winehouse, the club appears to have grown. here are those among us who believe this is evidence of a curse, rather than a coincidence. he fact of the matter is that these six people — and many others — died very young from causes other than natural. Hendrix died under somewhat suspicious circumstances by asphyxiating on his own vomit, which consisted mainly of red wine.

Janis had a bit too much heroin.

Jim either drowned in the bath or died of heart failure. Kurt had an immense amount of heroin and then became intimately involved with the business end of a shotgun. Rolling Stone Jones drowned; some think it was suicide, others that it was accidental. Essentially, they did not die from natural causes. Unless, of course, they happened to have been drug-addled rock stars.

Amy Winehouse, let’s be honest, probably overdosed. A favourite 27 Club nominee, Robert Johnson, supposedly sold his soul to the Devil,

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became a guitar god, and then got himself poisoned for lookin’ at some other fella’s woman. he list goes on. Wikipedia, that trusted tome, lists dead musicians along with their

Are “Sex, Drugs and Rock ‘n Roll” worth it? age and cause of death. Nineteen relatively well-known musicians shuled of at 27 — more than any other age group – but they only make up a quarter of those who died before hitting the big three-oh. Looking at the cause of death, a disturbing picture appears. Suicide, heroin, plane crash, bike crash, car crash, cocaine, drug-related heart attack, accidental drowning, morphine

overdose, alcohol overdose, speedball overdose — apparently, these are natural causes in their line of work.

Is that an excuse, though? Why does it seem to make any more sense for a musician to die a senseless death than for anyone else? It’s not even just young people either: Dee Dee Ramone OD’d on heroin aged 50 and Ike Turner (Tina’s ex) had one too many lines of coke when he was 76. Is “Sex, Drugs and Rock ‘n’ Roll” worth it? How did people adored by so many have no support structure in place to save them before they destroyed themselves? Perhaps we should be looking at why these young souls lived and died the way they did, rather than harping on about curses. here is nothing mystical, enigmatic or poetic about a young, talented person having a heart attack due to cocaine. It’s just sad.

One man’s terrorist, another man’s freedom fighter to do so with violence. My mother taught me that it does not help to ight ire with ire, but it seems as if the logic of “he Freedom Fighter” accepts as true that if you deny me my right, I deny you the right to live. Does this “you hit me, I hit you back” philosophy lead to the ideal of peace?

Carla de Klerk

I Disclaimer

5

n South Africa, this phrase carries more meaning, weight, and understanding than most other countries. Of course, I will cite the well-known (almost clichéd) example of a freedom ighter during Apartheid - Nelson Mandela.

Before he became a Nobel Peace Prize recipient and a hero and inspiration to the world, he was a freedom ighter, raging with guerrilla war tactics against the government which led to many civilian casualties.

Keep this in mind when moving the lens to the recent Norway massacre.

When he bombed a government building, killing eight people and shot 69 youths dead at a camp that was also politically inclined, Anders Breivik (better known as “he Norway Killer”) believed his actions were necessary for the good of Europe, .

Comparing Madiba to the Norway

Killer is far-fetched and, some may argue, irrelevant, but the motives for both correlate in a chilling way.

Mandela fought for the recognition of his race; Anders Breivik fought for his own race and religion. He stated in his 1 500 page manifesto “2083: A European Declaration of Independence” he spoke of ighting for the preservation of Europe against being “colonised” by Islamic groups.

Breivik is not completely alone in these anti-Islamic beliefs. For example, think of the Islamic veil ban in France, where Muslims are denied the civil right to express their religion publicly. Clearly, there are underlying tensions in Europe involving race and religion, and Breivik merely made these grievances public. Please note I am not stating that Breivik had the right to massacre 77 people, or that just because he had a certain worldview he had the right to defend it.

I am just wondering why people who “ight for the cause” always need

Does this “you hit me, I hit you back” philosophy lead to the ideal of peace?

We live in a world where we are brought up knowing our human rights, and we are taught that we need to defend those rights, but no one has ever taught us how to defend them without denying another human being their rights.

Borders between right and wrong have become increasingly vague as each individual’s world-view is taken into account. Our Constitution guarantees our freedom in terms of culture, religion, race, beliefs and freedom of expression. he only problem with this is that sometimes the expression of one individual’s rights contradicts another’s. hereby, “human rights” became a weapon and a defence mechanism.

Like all those beauty queens, I believe in “world peace”. I am just afraid that if my freedom ighter is your terrorist and your religion is my hate, then the notion of world peace is in truth just another good idea.

6

opinions

Julius the White?

Stuart MacDonald

T

he recent hubbub surrounding Julius “the trust fund kid” Malema has brought with it the usual lurry of controversy that seems to follow Mr Malema wherever he goes. he dynamic of Malema’s business ventures, millions of rand, government contacts (and contracts), and oten hypocritical defenses of his lifestyle are nothing new to the South African public, so it is not important to expound on that. Instead, I want to try to put the sometimes-enigmatic Malema into a theoretical perspective so that his actions become, if not defensible, at least understandable.

In the summary blurb of a recent article entitled “Julius Malema defended,” freelance writer Xola Moni says, “Whenever a black child accumulates wealth there’s a gnashing of teeth.” Yet such a defence only blurs the reality of current economic divisions with past racial ones, attempting to justify neocolonial opportunism, a system in which the once-oppressed now become the oppressors. “You are rich because you are white, you are white because you are rich” [Fanon, he Wretched of the Earth] may no longer be true physically, but it remains so psychoexistentially.

Any true white-black schism is only a historically contrived archetype of a power dynamic where one class is deemed superior and the other inferior, so lavish richness within a colonial backdrop (i.e. in the developing world) still symbolizes the historically deined psychoexistential ideal of socio-political domination (historically, by whites).

Turning Malema’s wealth into an issue of race masks the reality that the problem is really an ecomonic one: the economically oppressed are poor, no matter which race or social group is doing the oppressing and which one is being oppressed.

the major socioeconomic change that has occurred since apartheid is that the ruthless opportunists ... now include blacks If Malema’s apparent greed is any example for the ANC (and it may very well be: in February, Public Works Minister Gwen Mahlangu Nkabinde revealed that more than R70 million has been spent on renovating the ive presidential residences over the last ive years, with almost R40 million being spent on President

Image: Sowetan/Elijar Mushiana

Jacob Zuma’s Pretoria residence, Mahlambandlopfu, alone), the major socio-economic change that has occurred since apartheid is that the ruthless opportunists who are using the socio-political system to beneit themselves now include blacks as well as whites. he question of whether two wrongs make a right is nonsensical; the fact that now there is a diferent clique exploiting their political power for their own self-interest (the

post-apartheid blacks rather than the pre-apartheid whites) changes nothing. he basic problem remains: that wealth and power are still concentrated in the hands of a select few to the detriment of everyone else still needs to be addressed, and now more than ever.

When Malema defends his opportunism with tirades akin to “because I’m black you don’t want me wealthy; you want me back in the township gutter,” someone needs to

retort “no, Mr Malema, we want you to either (a) act like someone who represents a socialist group by ceasing to hoard wealth to support an openly lavish lifestyle, or (b) acknowledge to everyone that you are just another capitalist opportunist who is in it for himself, and henceforth cannot honestly represent said socialist group as its leader.” And that should go for anyone else who purports to represent a socialist government.

Women’s Day - soldiers in petticoats Nick Corbett

Bay direct a ilm about it years ago.

We are a generation that needs to learn the value of appreciating what past generations have struggled for. Women have indeed fought a silent battle over the past one-hundred-or-so years. Not with guns, or spears in a Nordic Viking novel, but with words and with the sheer right of equality behind their cause, going shoulder to shoulder into the fray.

W

We are a generation that needs to learn the value of appreciating what past generations have struggled for

Image: costumecraze.com

omen’s Day. In writing this piece, I spent a good few moments thinking of a creative spin to put on the topic. Women’s day.

Oh heck, I’m not really a woman.

Hence, readers want something fun, I told myself. But women don’t want to be ofended, I reminded myself. Having ruled out “Women’s Day and he Dawn of the Dead” as an otherwise smashing heading, I consulted my professional sources on the topic.

Ater listening to the expert “Sister Sufragettes” for about an hour, crooned by Glynis Johns during Mary Poppins, I felt that as a man I had a fairly good idea of why women are in fact soldiers in petticoats. Women’s Day began in 1909 in New York City ater the fairer sex rioted for equal rights and a better quality of life. hroughout history, women have continued to struggle for their equal place in society, to break free of the caste system chaining them to an otherwise androcentric world with their proverbial place centred on food-preparation and child-rearing. What followed were a good few more years of women speaking up about how unhappy they were with their circumstances and what a terrible condition the kitchen was always in.

All history lessons aside, as students today we need to recognise the importance our views now have on our country. No matter how many times your parents, your lecturers, Desmond Tutu, or

Bertrand Russell says it, we really are the leaders of tomorrow. As it turns out, we are not a generation of “the struggle”. We were not taught the importance of ighting for a cause and even dying to further it. hus, we need to learn not to ight, but to uphold and appreciate. If we only knew half of what this brave, brave gender has gone through since the early 1900s to ensure their rights to equality, we would have had Michael

Take a look around campus, right where you’re sitting now, and imagine women not having the right to study. Imagine women not having the right to travel, apply for a loan, vote, or have a professional job outside of nursing and teaching. Imagine a woman not even being allowed to buy clothes or cut her hair without the permission of a male. We are the generation that needs to appreciate not only the women of today, but what the women of yesterday and the day before that struggled for.

So cast of the shackles of yesterday; take your mother, girlfriend, sister, or lady friend out and appreciate them for how much better they make life. And boys, when you get back home, make sure that you clean up the mess you let in the kitchen.

Warning: Sluts approaching Image: alexchamas.blogspot.com

Anade Situma As Woman’s Day approaches, a Slut Walk has been planned for the streets of Cape Town. A Slut Walk is basically a protest against the idea that by wearing suggestive clothing, some women are, in efect, asking for sexual harassment and rape. he movement which started in Toronto, spread to India on the 2nd of August and is due to hit Cape Town on the 20th of August 2011. Women walk the streets dressed in what would be commonly deemed as “slutty clothing”, calling for equality in public perception. he question is: are we barking up the wrong tree? Ater talking to a few students on campus (predominantly female) I found that there is a perception that in third world nations, particularly African states, the opinion of women seems (for lack of a better term) backwards. his perception is based on the fact that in most African cultures, women are regarded as inferior objects, and while intuitively this is morally wrong, one cannot disregard how deeply rooted this perception is. hat being said, isn’t one of the biggest criticisms of globalization the fact that it’s divesting the world of its diverse cultures? Women’s rights are an extension of human rights and human rights are in essence a western construct based on western thinking and western culture. he

reason human rights became such a global issue is that in order to gain favour with the aluent western states, third-world countries were forced to build human rights into their constitutions. Human rights do not come naturally to African culture and for this reason it’s more diicult to endorse things like women’s rights in an African context. It also goes against the idea of being “Proudly South African” or proudly African. hen there is the argument that in more educated communities women’s rights are accepted and incorporated into the African lifestyle. While this seems to indicate that women’s rights are bigger than cultural views, it is also important to notice that most education systems are modelled on those found in the west. One will ind, more oten than not, that the same Africans that are endorsing women’s rights are likely to be the type of Africans that are accused of being westernised. he type of Africans, I hate to point out, that you will ind all over UCT. I am one of those Africans. he point is that while a Slut Walk seems like a creative, in-your-face way to shed light on women’s rights, in Africa, it’s probably just going to ofend people. What we need is a gentle way to ease Africans into the idea of equality, ease the fear of losing our essence. I fear that the scandal will overshadow the cause; having said that, I RSVP’d on Facebook and hope to see you there (slut or not).

opinions

7

Won’t cook? Can’t cook Tasneem Emeran

I

can’t cook, And, according to my grandmother, I will never get a man because of my lack of expertise in the kitchen. I feel as though a time machine was invented and I, unknowingly, became the scapegoat of the experiment. Don’t get me wrong; I love the idea of being able to cook a ive star meal.

I love food. I love eating it, smelling it, browsing through cookbooks; I’m even addicted to watching cooking shows. My ventures in the kitchen, however, seem to be a fruitless endeavour. And if this was the Stone Age, I’d be that woman with no husband and cats as companions. Or sabre-tooth tigers.

I know in this day and age feminism is the status-quo, but sometimes not being able to cook really gets me down. So: a few nights ago I attempted to cook myself dinner; dinner being mushrooms in the oven and anything that can be fried in a little pot. Having never used an oven before, I was completely confused and too stubborn to ask for help. So let’s just say that ater putting my arm in the oven I learnt to never put my arm in the oven. Note to self:

pull tray out, do not put arm in.

I take the stinging burn mark on my arm as a sign that cooking just isn’t on the cards for me. From burning pans and setting dish cloths alight to breaking an innumerable amount of plates and glasses; I have a deep-seated appreciation for personal chefs. Hell, I have a deep seated appreciation for anyone who can cook. When I was younger I would

Note to self: pull tray out, do not put arm in. make peanut-butter sandwiches and pretend to have my own cooking show. Now I make peanut-butter sandwiches and pretend it’s a ivestar meal, knowing that having my own cooking show is a negative integer on a probability scale. If there is such a thing as destiny, which I believe there is, then we’re all meant for something in our lives, be it cooking, writing, or being in a Broadway musical. And as versatile human beings, we combine these talents. We’re not just one thing.

So ater tending to the wound on my arm I was enlightened rather

Image: jemikaan.blogspot.com

than disillusioned. Since I love food and writing, not necessarily in that order, the best way to combine the two would be to eat delicious food and write about it.

Now, this isn’t what I want to do with my life but for now its

wishful thinking, hoping that my grandmother sees this as an accomplishment somehow. Surely she’ll assume that by writing about food some knowledge of how to cook it will be bestowed upon me.

Perhaps one day my descriptions of

R E E R A C YOUR OPERATIONS MANAGER VARSITY speaks to EUGENE PELTERET – Operations Manager at Zanokhanyo - Bachelor of Business Science Degree: Marketing

What is your current position and the name of your rganisation?

I am the Operations Manager for a nonprofit project called Zanokhanyo, which aims to support the unemployed in their search for work.

section where we connect with businesses looking for reliable candidates, and the Personal Development section which aims to continue our input into the lives of graduates by encouraging them and helping them overcome challenges in their lives.

Tell us more about your organisation.

Phambili ngeThemba is a non-profit organisation that was birthed through Pinelands Methodist Church in response to shack fires that ravaged the Joe Slovo region of Langa.

What started out as a relief effort turned into a sewing course for women until 2007 when our trainer left to return to the Eastern Cape.

Around this time, Phambili had conducted research into the Langa community and the surrounding business communities to identify each community’s specific needs. This research showed that jobs were in fact available due to a high turnover rate in businesses and that the Langa community didn’t know how to access these jobs.

As a result, the Zanokhanyo Project was initiated. It consists of four parts: a Job Readiness Course that trains the unemployed in essential work-related skills, including how to search and apply for work, a computer Resource Centre which gives graduates of the course training and access to computers to search and apply for work online, an Employment Intermediation

How did you find your niche in your current area of work?

After graduating from UCT with my Business Science Marketing degree, I decided to take a ‘gap’ year to get my bearings and decide exactly what I wanted to do with my life. During this year, I worked as a part-time youth pastor for Pinelands Methodist, and two months into 2009 I was given the opportunity to join the project which was in its development phase.

Describe some of your day-to-day responsibilities/experiences.

Each day of ours starts with a team meeting that allows us to ‘check-in’ with one another and pray for aspects of our days. My work thereafter varies much from day-to-day as I cover many different portfolios. These include managing the Zanokhanyo team, helping our beneficiaries develop CVs, putting business structures in place, designing marketing material, assisting with fundraising, or managing our IT systems and facilities. Priorities are constantly shifting, so this all keeps me pretty busy and challenged.

What challenges have you encountered?

Being involved in a ministry that comes into contact with some of the most broken people and situations, it’s really difficult to maintain a balance that allows one to be empathetic and caring while ensuring that you are not overly burdened by stories you hear. Another challenge that I have experienced recently is moving from a small, intimate team that essentially leads itself, to larger team of employees that requires development and leadership. It has needed a personal mind-shift, and I now spend much more of my time focusing on the team and not simply the work I have to complete.

In retrospect, what advice can you give to students?

I think the best piece of advice is to do what you love. Life’s too short to be stuck somewhere you don’t want to be. Instead do what you love, and the rest will follow.

food will be so vivid that my words would entice a young man’s taste buds and he’ll seek me out, asking for my hand, Jane Austen-style. But then I’d have to turn him down, because this isn’t the Stone Age, and I’m already taken.

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

CVs & Cover Letters 11 August New Chemical Engineering Seminar Room 16 August LT1, Hoerikwaggo 18 August New Chemical Engineering Seminar Room *Come and pick up a copy of our brand new CVs and COVER LETTERS book!

Preparing for Interviews 17 August LT1, Hoerikwaggo 22 August LT1, Hoerikwaggo Researching Careers: where to begin 10 August LT1, Hoerikwaggo Rethinking your Degree 22 August LT1, Hoerikwaggo *Download the second semester’s schedule of Career Talks on www.careers.uct.ac.za

Opportunities

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

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

DE VE LO PM EN

T

Career Fair Jameson Hall, 09h00 - 15h00 15 August - Science, Engineering and Technology

Company Showcase Mezzanine Level, Leslie Social Science 10 August - Deloitte 11 August - Proctor & Gamble Looking for a bursary/scholarship, vacation or graduate opportunity?

www.careers.uct.ac.za • 021 650 2497 • Ground floor, Hoerikwaggo, North Lane

Visit www.careers.uct.ac.za

Dr Mamphela Ramphele Trained as a medical doctor, Mamphela Ramphele steadily became one of the icons in the struggle against apartheid. She was one of the founders of the Black Consciousness Movement and spearheaded several community development programmes during this time. In 1996, she was appointed as the ViceChancellor of UCT, becoming the irst black woman in history to assume this role.

Dr Zainunnisa (Cissie)Gool Cissie Gool, after whom the Cissie Gool Plaza is named, was the irst woman of colour to receive a Masters Degree from UCT in 1932. She did this in a time when both her race and her gender were being oppressed. Gool fought tirelessly against the injustices of apartheid, driving national campaigns to this efect.

UCT Heroines From Past This Women’s Day, VARSITY honours women who have passed through our hallowed halls and

Maria Emmeline Barnard Fuller Maria Fuller is the woman behind Fuller Hall residence at UCT. She was one of the irst women to enrol at UCT (then South African College) in 1886. For 65 years, she fought not only for the enfranchisement of women nationally but for equal status for female students and staf at UCT. Molly Blackburn Molly Blackburn was a member of the Black Sash movement during apartheid and she fought fearlessly against the secret police. Although she did not attend UCT, Blackburn’s eforts in ighting against human rights abuses are commemorated today through the Molly Blackburn Memorial Hall just outside the library.

Prof. Annette Seegers Head of Department for Political studies at UCT, Annette Seegers is a woman to be reckoned with. To date, Seegers has numerous publications under her belt and drafted Chapter 11 of the South African Constitution. In an arena dominated by males, Seegers has deinitely made her mark.

Prof. Paula Ensor For almost 8 years, the current Dean of Humanities, Paula Ensor, has successfully led one of the biggest faculties on campus. Ensor has always been heavily involved in social development and activism projects – in the 1970s, she was banned because of her activities in the (NUSAS) – and remains active today as a board member of Equal Education.

to Present made a diference in our society. By Marché Arends Images courtesy of UCT Manuscripts & Archives and The Monday Paper

Lauren Beukes Best-selling author and UCT alumnus Lauren Beukes is a power woman of note. Before the age of 35 Beukes had worked as an award-winning journalist, and has two novels – Moxyland and Zoo City – to her name. Beukes also made South African history when she became the irst South African to win the coveted Arthur C. Clarke Award for Science Fiction Writing.

Sarashree Traci Reddy Featured in the Mail and Guardian’s “Top 200 Young South Africans” for 2011, Traci Reddy may change the face of several South African industries. An Engineering PhD student at UCT, Reddy is researching alternative methods of waste-water treatment which could be more energy- and cost-eicient.

Former Justice Kate O’Regan Alumnus and former UCT Law Professor Kate O’Regan was appointed to the Constitutional Court by Nelson Mandela in 1994. O’Regan was one of only two women on the Constitutional Court at the time. Within this maledominated profession, O’Regan has risen to the top.

10 features Restaurant Review: Mozzarella Bar

Bookmark

by Bushra Gules

Annique Bolliger

Bear Grylls is not your average man, that’s for sure. his motivational speaker, Special Air Services (SAS) oicer, adventurer, chief Boy Scout, TV host and loving family man has seen it all.

He has never stopped trying to challenge himself and in May 1998, he climbed Mount Everest, becoming the youngest Briton to do so. His show Ultimate Survivor has topped ratings for their real, no nonsense appeal (this is what reality TV is about). In his book he talks about his journey and shares the thoughts of a truly fantastic individual. his book makes you want to run 8km at 5 am!

I

Image: plodit.com

‘Mud, Sweat and Tears’ by Bear Grylls

 was having cofee with a friend at Vida e Cafè in Kloof Street when my eyes rested on an Italian lag across the road and the words Mozzarella Bar caught my attention.

Could it be true? All my life I had been longing for this moment to arise: to ind a restaurant in Cape Town where I could enjoy real mozzarella!

Ah yes, I’m sure you think you know what mozzarella is, but if you’re currently picturing one of those rubber-textured, yellowish building blocks you ind at the bottom of the Pick n Pay shelves, you are horribly mistaken. Calling that concoction of cheese “mozzarella” is an insult.

Real, fresh and delicious mozzarella cheese is sot, snow white, moist, has a slightly spongy texture and usually comes shaped as an oval ball packed in a tub. Anyone who has ever been to Italy, or granted him or herself some of this exquisite cheese elsewhere, knows what I am talking about. he bar has a very homey and relaxed atmosphere, perfectly balancing traditional Italy with the hip and modern Cape Town. he menu is fantastic. It took me forever to decide between the fresh mozzarella salads, sandwiches or the various rolled sheets of mozzarella. I

REVIEWS

Image: capetownbymouth.com

settled for a rolled sheet with salmon and rocket. hey roll it and cut it into pieces (like sushi) and present it topped with South Africa’s inest Morgenster olive oil and toasted ciabatta. he taste was out of this world. he average meal costs about R5060, but it’s totally worth it (given you love this cheese as much as I do).

If you have any sort of appreciation and respect for the bliss that is true mozzarella, do yourself a favour and go check out this bar. the desert alone is reason enough to drop in: homemade Italian ice cream… need I say more?

Movie Review: ‘Paul’ Calvin Scholtz  The dynamic duo of Simon Pegg and Nick Frost (Shaun of the Dead, Hot Fuzz) write and star in this sci-i comedy that pays homage to classic ilms such as Close Encounters of the Third Kind and E.T. hey play two British geeks

who decide to go on a road trip across the US, visiting all of the sites where aliens have allegedly been spotted. But then a real alien, named Paul (voiced by Seth Rogen), crosses their path and he needs their help to get back to his planet. Hilarity ensues as they are soon all on the run from a host of government agents and a drunk, gun-wielding Christian.

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features

ARTS & CULTURE

Van Coke Kartel make waves in the music biz

Image: Thomas Ferreira

Xavier Van Der Zandt he last time I had a sober conversation with Francois Van Coke and Wynand Myburgh was in a Buitenkant sports pub shortly before the release of Van Coke Kartel’s last album, Skop Skiet en Donner. There was no way we could have known for sure that all our talk of a change in direction would have led to another SAMA, an MK Award, two more members in Jedd Kossew on guitar and drummer Jason Ooshuizen, and werewolf headgear with glowing eyes.

What was clear was that the album was intended to be different from anything they had done before — because they were different. “Coming around and to be able to create your own thing

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and be your own boss and in between everybody has always said you can’t play music – it’s not part of this and you can’t do that, work should be complicated and life is hard…We’re in our thirties and we’re completely different people.”

Van Coke, hungover and barely hanging on added with a shudder, “We’re not so angry [anymore]…

We made peace with who we are before we started writing this album.”

Over a breakfast of beer, burgers and tequila (the best meals stay in memory), Myburgh talked about how their approach was summed up in the mantra, “weird is good”.

“Musically, obviously we’ve learned a lot. When we started Fokof we’d done one kinda decent recording.

Now we’ve done a handful, two hands full… and the idea was to make an album that people can

dig. We can make rock ‘n roll, we’ve done it so many times, let’s make an album that more people can dig.” Francois offered in response that, “We’ve already made the rock

‘n roll albums, now we can do what the fuck we want.”

Myburgh went on to explain how it had been the easiest album to write: “There was a lot of freedom,

The Spotlight’s on you, Faith Chaza I hate to ask, but as a gay girl from Botswana, you’re working a couple of minorities there.

Does that come through in the music?

I don’t know – being a super minority makes you part of the majority; everyone’s a bit odd. I think the fact that my very jock-y friends can listen to the stuff and like it speaks for it as common factor music. But I have songs about girls and Botswana too.

Theatre Review: ‘The Domain’ Liam Kruger Nominee Fancesco Nassimbeni brought his new genre-bending play, showcased irst at the Grahamstown Arts Festival, to Cape Town last week. Entitled he Domain, the piece mashes together song, dance and disjointed leaps between colloquial narrative and free-form poetry, carried over by the youthful cast of six, who act as their own Greek chorus.

The talented City Varsity cast carries it off with an impressive naturalness

It’s largely pretty good; the stage decoration is pared down, rendering the elaborate costume designs by Richard de Jager yet more striking, and where the intentionally vague narrative threatens to grow frustrating, the talented City Varsity cast carries it of with an impressive naturalness.

Image: Anna Stielau

Liam Kruger aith, Why You Always Running, the solo performance project by UCT student Faith Chaza, released its debut album Billboard Lights in July. VARSITY sat down with the part-time musician, full-time Maths student, to discuss her work.

F Image: 10and5.com

Nassimbeni again displays his ability to compress a fair amount of high-concept information into a brief number of exchanges, last showcased in his modern-day-vampire play, he Clan. hat same ability is a stumbling block in places, though, and not infrequently audiences may ind themselves broadly entertained but not a little bemused by the time the curtain comes down. Still, look out for Nassimbeni’s next project, due towards the end of this year.

a lot of talk about the future; we wanted to do something special …I think that’s what [it] was about for us, this progressive moving forward – Die Laaste Sondag is still about having a coke hangover [and] it’s still very personal… but it definitely has a direction to it which the others didn’t have…

You feel like a bit of an outsider to society when you do what we do.

But I think we made peace with a lot of stuff while writing this album.”

“I think it’s our tour-de-force, the pinnacle of what we’ve done….

We want to be able to pull those songs off live. And we want to be a great rock band.” Francois Van Coke’s words echoed roughly a year later as I found myself in the photo pit at RAMfest, watching a band dressed as wolves, supporting the Billboard-charting Alkaline Trio – a far cry away from the “garage band” tag they sought to shake off.

Since then VCK have played London, Amsterdam and Taipei and kick off the national Haal Asem Kwagga Toer with Zebra and Giraffe at the Assembly on July 30 and at Aandklas in Stellenbosch on August 13.

So, what kind of music do you make?

If I had to put it into a genre, I’d call it “urban folk”, which I like because it doesn’t have any clear definition; it’s about people in the city. Urban folk. It’s naïvely honest music; mostly it’s just me on the acoustic guitar, but we threw in

some other effects for atmosphere when we recorded the CD. Before I started recording, I was really doing my own thing - saying words and playing chords to match.

I worked with Sasha Righini from The Plastics in the studio, and that made me play with expanding my sound a bit.

And what are your ‘Urban Folk’ influences?

It’s a made-up genre, so basically none. I do listen to a lot of pop, though - I love the sincerity and shininess that songs about love and stupid things have. A lot of critically acclaimed stuff lacks that. But in a way I’m not trying to put together a particular sound; I mean, I write my lyrics first, then the chords, so I build my songs backwards.

Any upcoming projects following your debut?

I’m putting more time into song-writing, learning to take it seriously; I’m doing a crazy guitar-based project with Johke Steenkamp called Sigh & Purr, where we’re really playing with the limits of recording. We should have a couple of tracks out by the end of the year.

Where does the name, Faith, Why You Always Running, come from?

I got it before I was even playing guitar; I was in my cousins’ flat, and we were talking about how cool it would be to be in a band, assigning roles and stuf – groupie, manager, and so on – and we each got to name our fake band one word at a time, and came up with Why You Always Running. hen I put my name in front of it and stole it.

Nice. What do you do when you’re not music-ing?

Maths or whiskey. A lot of the time they overlap. But not music and maths. Girls and music work well, though.

features

CURRENT AFFAIRS

13

Could Malawi be the next Zimbabwe?

Rob Attwell

U

ndule Mwakasungula, organizer of the recent protests in Blantyre and Chairman of the Human Rights Consultative Committee, told the Johannesburg press that Malawi, once considered one of sub-Saharan Africa’s success stories, could easily go the way of regional embarrassment, Zimbabwe.

Of course, the idea that Malawi may become the next regional basket case — as put forward by Mwakasungula — is an extreme one. However, taken in context of an increasingly volatile political culture, it may prove to be a justiied concern.

Speaking in Johannesburg, where he has led following the issuing of an arrest, Mwakasungula said, “We are almost Zimbabwe, both in the economy and in political governance.”

He then drew a comparison between Malawian president Bingu wa Mutharika and Robert Mugabe: “here are similarities in terms of their [Zimbabwe’s] president and Bingu wa Mutharika, their style of leadership. hey’re both using a heavy hand in terms of their governance, in terms of how they want to rule. And also disregarding other branches of government — the judiciary, the legislature,” he said.

Mwakasungula is facing treason charges for his organisational role in the recent demonstrations. he anti-government protest resulted in the deaths of 19 people and

ON THE EDGE: Malawi’s recent civil protests are not a good sign for its future. injured 45 others. hese casualties were caused when troops ired live ammunition to disperse the crowd. he reason given for this show of force was that many protestors had become unruly and were looting shops, many of which are owned by political allies of the president. he demonstrations in question took place on 20 July. he demonstrators were composed of a consortium of opposition parties and civic groups who, in an unusual show of unity, took to the streets in protest against the newly imposed repressive media laws. he new laws allow Information Minister Symon Vuwa Kaunda to ban any publication

he deems “contrary to the public interest”. Other issues demonstrated against included severe fuel shortages, bad economic governance

“If you go back to the streets, I will smoke you out. Enough is enough.”

and the increasingly autocratic rule of the president, whose resignation was called for.

President Bingu wa Mutharika said he was “unhappy” with the army

Image: flickr.com

over the handling of the unrest and has reshuled military leadership.

General Chiziko, commander of the Malawian armed forces, has been replaced. However, General Chiziko has since been appointed National Security Advisor. he violence accompanying the government crackdown on protesters has intensiied calls for Mutharika to relinquish power. Civic movements have set a deadline of 17 August for him to both step down and sort out the debilitating fuel shortages.

Mutharika responded with, “If you go back to the streets, I will smoke you out. Enough is enough.” he United States has withdrawn

$350 million in aid over the Malawian government’s handling of the unrest. he aid was part of the Millennium Challenge Corporation pact, signed on 7 April. he aid was to be used in the promotion of economic development, good governance and a political culture that respects human rights. he withdrawal of the US aid funds makes the economic standing of Malawi even more uncertain ater its recent diplomatic spat with Britain resulted in the indeinite withdrawal of all British inancial aid to Malawi. he conlict between Malawi and its former colonial master arose ater a leaked British diplomatic cable described Mutharika as increasingly autocratic and intolerant of criticism. he row caused by the leak resulted in the expulsion of respective ambassadors from both nations.

Britain has historically been the major supplier of aid to Malawi and the withdrawal amounts to 550 million US dollars. 40% of Malawi’s budget comes from Western aid. his is a dangerous situation for Malawi. he last time Western aid was removed, in 2002, Malawian food security was threatened and famine was widespread. he looming economic crisis and a deteriorating relationship with its Western sponsors indicate that Malawi’s future looks grim. Unless president and protestors come to some sort of mutually agreeable solution, Malawi may very well become another Zimbabwe.

Monogamy loves company: the legacy of cheating bosses

Image: Richard Drew/msnbc.msn.com

Nyasha Kadandara

B

ehind every successful man is a woman, but behind this Jackie O there will be a bevy of Marilyns sure to follow. he history of men and their extramarital afairs will have us believe that power and idelity must be mutually exclusive. We oten have an impression of these illusive men succumbing to some femme fatale and then being spurned when she has decided that hotel suites and secret rendezvous are not enough.

However the typical sex scandal we know of took a diferent turn when

Dominique Strauss-Kahn (DSK), was accused of allegedly sexually assaulting housekeeper Naissatou Diallo on the 14th of May this year.

If Diallo had reciprocated DSK’s advances, this would simply be a case of inidelity, but what made it so shocking and unsympathetic to him, is that she cried, “attempted rape.”

Unlike most of his fellow compadrés, DSK is now facing jail time, and not just the ordinary media bashing and humiliation that the likes of Clinton, Schwarzenegger, and Edwards have endured. A question most of us ask is why and how powerful men feel

the need to have numerous afairs in between sessions in parliament?

My best friend Google will give an array of answers; it is suggested that narcissism is almost part of the remuneration packages.

Psychologists suggest that a combination of a) the thrill of the chase, b) the belief you can get away with it and c) ego-embellishment are all reasons for anyone to stray.

When it comes to sex scandals, the focus is always on men. In a survey published in Bloomberg’s Business Week, results showed that women are just as likely to cheat. he two major indings showed that there is a strong relationship between power and conidence and the amount of conidence a person has is the strongest connection between power and cheating. he second inding was that the gender of powerful people made no diference in past inidelity or their desire to be unfaithful.

In that case, where are all the female philanderers? Perhaps, given

how difficult it is to get to the top, one would not risk it for a side squeeze, not to mention it is very hard to hide a love child for a decade when it was once attached to you. A friend recently suggested that most women who land themselves in powerful

“Behind this Jackie O, there will be a bevy of Marylins sure to follow”

positions aren’t very attractive — take Hillary Clinton or Iron Lady Maggie hatcher — hence they will stick to the husband they have.

Women usually play the role of the accomplice in the saga; sometimes the media portrays them as helpless victims, such as Mildred Baena, and other times as vicious vixens like Monica Lewinsky. It is interesting to see why these alleged home-wreckers

Postgraduate Studies Support

came forward months or years later.

Ladies like Lewinsky have made a career from it: she went on to host a reality show and sell handbags under her company he Real Monica, Inc. If you are the unlucky wife, then you can either stand by your husband’s side, and while he will most likely deny the allegations and then a month later apologise for hurting you and disgracing his constituents, leaving will mark you as being “the unforgiving wife”.

Sex scandals rock the headlines because questions about people’s judgement and integrity come into play. All the while, we forget that the postman or neighbour can also indulge in extramarital afairs. In a world obsessed with people in the public eye, one must ask what is the diference between you and Jude Law? Nothing – apart from the fact that his job involves a lot of cameras.

But if this is the case, why do we as the public feel so strongly about reprimanding said culprits?

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14

sports

Climbing the Himalayas Nicole Beale

W

hen UCT’s Mountain and Ski Club (MSC) describe themselves as adventurous, it is no understatement. On 2 July, seven members of the club began the mission of a lifetime – climbing a peak of just over 6200m in the Himalayas. Brendan Argent, Hannes Breytenbach, Jonathan Glover, Matthew Davey, Mikhaila Levitas, Tim Perks and Wiebke Toussaint were the brave individuals who took part in this incredible trip.

Ater the MSC had planned to climb a peak, they hadn’t decided where they wanted to go in particular, so they literally just picked a peak in the Himalayas. “Everything was in preparation for this,” said the team, who trained for over a year before their journey, “we spend almost every weekend in the mountains.” he group set of to India at the end of June and were able to travel around the country before meeting up for the expedition. While in India, the team took part in pretrip training, involving practice ascending and descending on various degrees of slope, working with ropes and learning rescue techniques as a precaution, in case they fell or got lost in the mountains.

ON TOP OF THE WORLD - The brave MSC members who climbed to the top of a 6200m peak in the Himalayas.

Image: UCT Mountain & Ski Club

Along with 12 donkeys to carry equipment and 12 live chickens to eat, the group took two full days to reach the 4400m base camp. here, they spent a day acclimatising to the altitude, climbing up to 4800m before returning to base camp. he group then spent six days training with intense morning sessions, which would last over six hours each day.

Although there were not too many injuries, team member Hannes Breytenbach dislocated his shoulder during training. he team contacted an emergency doctor via telephone and were able to put Hannes’ shoulder back into place with the help of the doctor’s instructions.

With three instructors, a cook, and two kitchen staf, the group then spent a day carrying equipment to the advanced base camp. hey spent one night camping on a glacier and one night in tents on the snow. he group was reminded of the danger of their journey when they saw the debris of a plane crash in the snow near their camp.

When the mountaineers reached the advanced base camp, they let the donkeys behind and carried the bare minimum of what they needed. he majority of their trip to the summit was manageable, although they did experience low blood sugar

levels as well as dehydration, as their water bottles froze and there was no running water.

In the last third of the climb, the team struggled with the extreme altitude and slowed down during the inal stretch. “Getting to the top was a relief,” said Hannes, who also mentioned that it was also a slight anticlimax, as heavy snow led to poor visibility at the top. Although they couldn’t see very much, the crew felt that reaching the summit was a nerve-wracking experience.

With at least six to seven hours to climb down, the team acknowledged that “the summit is only actually half way.” Descending the peak took longer than expected due to the climbers’ dehydration and poor conditions. he group was extremely careful about safety on the climb down and eventually all passed out when they arrived back at advanced base camp. Twenty-one days ater beginning their experience, the team had attained their fantastic goal.

Ater the amazing and taxing trip, the group cannot express enough gratitude to their sponsors, PVM energy bars, Driters Extreme Sport in the Cape Quarter, UCT Travel Fund, and the UCT Mountain and Ski Club. he seven adventurers know that this trip is just the beginning of many more exciting journeys.

sports

15

UCT Cricket Club appoints Ryan Maron as new Head Coach he Woolsack ields, however, do have one of the best batting tracks in Cape Town. We are looking to uplit the facilities and this season we’ll also try to make the best of all the indoor facilities the university has to ofer.

Sajjad Karamsi

U

CT Cricket Club recently appointed Ryan Maron as their new head coach for the upcoming 2011/2012 season. Commenting on the appointment, Chairperson Graeme Beghin said that “they were very excited about the appointment” and that “his modern style will be well received by the students.”

VARSITY interviewed the new Head Coach.

Firstly, VARSITY would like to congratulate you on your appointment as head coach. Please tell us a little about yourself.

I matriculated from Rondebosch Boys High in ’93 where I played for the First XI, as well as the Western Province (WP) U-17 and U-19 teams.

Ater that I played a bit of amateur cricket in England, before returning to WP and breaking into the main side in 1996. I’ve also coached club sides in England, been Head Coach of Denmark, and Assistant Head Coach of the Netherlands. he cricketing school I run has coached more than 5000 students.

What are your priorities in your new role as Head Coach?

Improved communication structures, better training regimes and increased student involvement. I

What’s your opinion about nonUCT students playing for the First XI? Does it discourage UCT students from trying out?

Not at all! I actually believe that students look forward to playing with these external players, many of whom are seasoned professionals.

We aren’t allowed to have more than 3-4 external players in the team, but students learn a great deal about cricket playing with these seniors. hey add great experience and help the team grow.

NEW CRICKET HEAD COACH - Can Ryan Maron help UCT return to the First Division?

Image: UCT Cricket

want students to enjoy the game and have a great time.

Last season, the UCT First Team got relegated. What do you think went wrong?

It was disappointing to see them relegated, but we need to learn our lessons and focus on the new season.

A few of our main players let the team to join semi-professional cricket, which was a huge blow.

Better support structures could also have been implemented.

What’s your opinion about the UCT Facilities? hey do need some sprucing up.

What’s going to be different at training this season?

We’ll have a lot of people coming to help with mental conditioning.

I’ll also ensure we always have the correct equipment and facilities, and have even got a few sponsors on board to help out with this. Several professional players have agreed to pop in to help out as well. Prof. Tim Noakes from the Sports Science Institute has also promised to lend a hand. Most importantly though, training is going to be fun, and we might even have jogging sessions at the beach.

PSL 2011/12: How do the teams stack up? The Springboks Down Under

Image: Gallo

PIRATES CAPTURE BENNI - Can he lead them to PSL glory again?

Thabang Clive Letheo

O

n 21 May 2011, South Africa was entertained by a true spectacle of soccer. he entire nation expectantly watched as Ajax Cape Town looked to lit the PSL trophy for the irst time. Orlando Pirates, however, plundered the trophy from under Ajax’s noses right at the end of the match. Fast forward to a few months later, and teams are getting ready for a dramatic and actionpacked ABSA PSL season. he teams have been busy during this transfer window as they prepare to stake their claim for the 2011/12 title. Kaizer Chiefs have surprised many with their remarkable acquisitions: Lehlohonolo Majoro, the former Amazulu striker, who with 14 goals was second on the goal scoring charts last season. Other additions include Bafana Bafana striker Bernard Parker, back from Europe bringing a great work rate and a keen eye for goals, while young

prospect Keegan Ritchie is expected to make the let back position his own in the colours of the mighty Chiefs. he Amakhosi will look to dethrone their chief rivals, Orlando Pirates, but have already started on the back foot, having lost against them twice in the last few weeks.

Ajax will now be using the Cape Town Stadium for their home games

he Buccaneers themselves have not rested on their laurels. hey have strengthened an already strong and talented squad with major signings including Siyabonga Sangweni, Shameeg Doutie and Benni McCarthy. Sangweni is the no-nonsense defender from Golden Arrows, who will certainly act as the brick wall in the heart of the defence, while Doutie is a talented winger with burning pace.

he controversial but talented Benni McCarthy arrives at Pirates ater being released from West Ham United last season. South Africa’s all-time top goal-scorer will look to show the country he still has what it takes to bang in the goals for the mighty Buccaneers. New Brazilian coach Julio Leal replaces treblewinning coach Ruud Krol, who was surprisingly let go at the end of last season.

Mamelodi Sundowns have been conducting their preseason beyond the borders in Swaziland. hey have only made a few signings, such as bringing in Punch Masenamela from Chiefs ater reportedly tripling his salary. hey are also in talks to bring in Clayton Daniels from Ajax, apparently ofering him increased wages as well. Bankrolled by generous owner Patrice Motsepe, Sundowns remain a threat with their star-studded line-up which includes Katlego Mphela, Elias Pelembe, Franklin Cale and the talented Teko Modise. According to new coach Johan Neeskens, Teko has been in ine form in preseason and was one of the players who impressed in Swaziland.

Closer to home, all Cape Town football fans will be happy to know that Ajax will now be using the Cape Town Stadium for their home games.

Fans should appreciate being able to head to Green Point on Friday nights to watch the beauty of South African football. Santos will still be based at Athlone Stadium, leaving Capetonians with decent options on the footballing menu. he PSL is certainly going to be bigger, more entertaining and full of surprises this coming season, continuing from where it let of last season.

Nda Masimula

W

ATCHING the dismal performance of the Springboks, it may be diicult to resist the urge to spit out your beer in disgust at the impostors trying to convince the world that they are the best South African rugby players available. heir defensive performances Down Under were abysmal and lacked the intensity needed, proving that they deserved the solid klap they received from the Wallabies and the Kiwis. But what have we learned from this Australasian expedition? he irst thing we realised is that Peter de Villiers is either a huge fan of Jake White, or a true copycat.

De Villiers has employed the same tactics of resting elite players and taking an inexperienced team on a tour that many viewed as doomed from the start. he second thing we learned is that there is an edge that sets testcalibre players apart. he ability to perform efectively in high pressure situations is crucial, as is the quest for physical dominance. John Smit seemed to step up to the task, being used as more of a ball-carrying weapon, showing that he is a quality test player despite not performing to his full potential.

Danie Rossouw will surely be going to the World Cup ater performing admirably and displaying his toughness. Ruan Pienaar also performed well, but still showed glimpses of the inconsistencies that have plagued his career due to the risky choices he makes.

It cannot be denied that

Morne Steyn’s performances were appalling, as his inability to make tackles revealed, with Adam AshleyCooper sending him spinning like a ballerina. Steyn’s inability to vary his attacking play was evident with the introduction of Pat Lambie, who did this well. Lambie not only looked to give the Boks a more attacking edge, but also proved to be more reliable on defence. With Steyn’s mediocre kicking display, one wonders if there is still space in test match rugby for one-trick ponies.

It should be a concern that some players, such as Wynand Olivier, Ryan Kankowski and Deon Stegman perform consistently at the domestic level, yet wallow in mediocrity internationally. hese are players that need to step up their intensity.

Regular game time in Super Rugby has done a world of good for Chiliboy Rallepele, whose performances have been admirable.

His anticipation is brilliant and he also appears to be in much better physical shape, which bodes well for a player who has not yet reached his potential. Along with Rallepele, Jean Deysel has shown his ability to remain efective and make meaningful contributions, especially in the game against the All Blacks.

We can only hope the rumours that Rassie Erasmus has been conducting extensive training sessions with the “Elite Boks” in Rustenburg are true. his would help restore some pride in the Springboks, because the displays we have seen in the last two Saturdays would make any self-respecting Bok fan feel like he just tried the soup in a res dining hall.

Sport VARSITY

FIXTURES Internal Soccer

Internal Rugby

KOPANO ASTRO

GREEN MILE

11 August, 7.30pm

17 August 2011, 5.30pm

Rochester vs Umbala FC

Cobras vs Spanners Marquard vs College House Smuts vs Ikhaya Nadoes vs Magic Lions

Patriots vs Clarinus The Bra Boys vs St. Peters Sq. Afghan FC vs Barbarians

Rowed to victory

SPORTS BITES

RUGBY - The Ikeys beat the Maties yet again 22-5 this Sunday in the Western Province League.

SOCCER - Manchester United came back from behind to beat rivals Manchester City 3-2 in the Community Shield.

Image: Brendan Gliddon ROWING TO VICTORY - UCT rowers training hard for this year’s boat races in Port Alfred.

Nicole Beale

I

t has been ten years since UCT rowers saw complete domination at Boat Races in Port Alfred; and this year’s squad is ready to reclaim lost glory in September. As one of the more underexposed sports clubs at the university, the rowing club is proving to be the hidden gem of UCT sports right now.

With ive weeks until Boat Races, the teams have stepped up training considerably. Along with daily training, the rowing team will be training at Misverstand every weekend until the all-important regatta in September. his year, the rowing team’s conidence has skyrocketed due to their improved technique, spirit and growing enthusiasm for the sport. he rowers have been training extremely hard, which is evident in the fantastic results the group has achieved. hese many achievements have boosted the morale of the group – Jozef Muller has been selected to the SA Heavyweights Four and was able to compete at the World Rowing Championships, while Marcus Crowther, who was selected to the SA U23 pair, came 8th in the world in pairs, beating the USA at the World U23 Regatta. he management side has also seen great success, with Brendan Gliddon, one of the

men’s coaches, selected to coach the national U23 team. Both Gliddon and Mark Lucani, the men’s other coach, as well as women’s coach Jane Passmore were part of the winning A teams ten years ago. his year’s captains, William Tipping-Woods and Sarah Bishop, are very conident and proud of the teams that will be competing at the Boat Races. During the recent holiday break, the squads participated in two rowing camps. he irst took place at Misverstand, which focused on technique, and the second in Port Alfred, which gave the squad excellent practice and tested their pressure levels. hese camps were extremely successful, as they allowed

“There hasn’t been a group like this for a while” the rowers to work on their times, teamwork and team spirit. “here hasn’t been a group like this for a while,” said rower Georgie Mackenzie, “where the support between the boy’s and girl’s teams is clearly apparent.” Unlike previous years, both groups have been encouraging each other to reach their potential and work on team spirit. he daily training of body weights and work on the ergo equipment at the ErgoGym Centre on Upper

SOCCER - Kaizer Chiefs reached the semi-finals of the MTN8 Cup, beating Bidvest Wits.

Image: Sarah Bishop Campus has helped strengthen the rowers and their technique. he hardworking coaching team, which includes former Olympic rower Rika Diedericks, has been pushing the squad to its limit.

With more novices than ever, the rowing club is also hoping to hold on to their shared title of UCT club of the year, which they won last year. his weekend, our rowers will be competing in the Misverstand Challenge, where they will get a feel for the race and their boats as they compete against the Maties.

In 2001, all A and B teams competed in an A inal and both the men’s and women’s teams won their races. his year’s rowers are hoping for the same result. UCT rowers will be looking to overcome their main competitors, Tuks and UJ for the men and women respectively. Mark

Lucani is also organising for the winning men’s team of 2001 to race in the alumni race.

In a bid to match last year’s standards, UCT rowing expects to send the biggest university team to Port Alfred, consisting of three men’s and three women’s crews. his fantastic season of rowing will peak in Port Alfred, as the teams have already come together and the atmosphere is exhilarating. his tight-knit group looks forward to the support of fellow UCT students in a few weeks. Boat races will take place from the 8th to the 10th of September, with the most important day and celebrations taking place on the Saturday with the women racing 4kms and the men 6kms on the Kowie River.

For more information about UCT Rowing, visit www.uctrowing.org.

CRICKET - Zimbabwe play comeback test against Bangladesh in Harare.

ATHLETICS - Kenya’s David Rudisha wins yet another 800m event at the London Diamond League.

Images: lickr.com, wikicommons, Gallo