A

A C T I V A T E
RHODE S U N I V ER S I T Y INDEPENDENT
STUDENT NEWSPAPER
EDITION 3 • 24 APRIL 2012 • SINCE 1947

Powers at play
in the ANC

Should weed be legal?

Your views
The positive power of
‘phuck’
SWOT week stress
Pirate Bay lifts off
 Edition 3 . 24 April 2012

Page 5:
HIGHLIGHTS
SRC address students about SWOT Week
Editor-in-chief:

Page 7: Lauren Kate Rawlins

Deputy Editor:
Eastern Cape education a “holy mess” Isabelle Anne Abraham

Content Editor:
Page 10: Kayla Roux
Managing Editor
UPM to lead own struggle Palesa Mashigo
Online Editor:
Alexander Venturas
Page 14: Chief Media Supervisor:
Legalising pot: Hot or Not? Megan Ellis

Chief Sub-Editor:

Page 21: Matthew Kynaston

Chief Designer
Stem cells could fight HIV Simone Loxton
Assistant Designer:
Mignon van Zyl
Chief Pics Editor:
Anton Scholtz
Assistant Pics Editor:
Niamh Walsh-Vorster
Illustrator:
Katja Schreiber

News Editor:
Sibulele Mabusela
Deputy News Editor:
Neo Koza
Politics Editor:
Marc Davies
Business Editor:
Njabulo Nkosi
C&A Editor:
Alexa Sedgwick
Features Editor:
Karlien van der Wielen
Features Assistant Editor:
Nina McFall
Lifestyle Editor:
Sarisha Dhaya
A & E Editor:
Elna Schütz
Sports Editor:
Bridgette Hall
Science & Tech Editor:
Brad de Klerk
Environment Editor
Shirley Erasmus

Advertising Manager
Lethukuthula Tembe
Above: An unusually large crowd of Rhodes students and other Grahamstownians gather in a large circle at the Botanical Gardens on 20 April 2012. Pic: Anton Advertising Assistants
Scholtz Justine Pearce
Front page: President Jacob Zuma and Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe cut the President’s birthday cake during his 70th birthday celebrations at Luthuli House Adrienne Weidner
in Johannesburg, 12 April 2012. Relations between the two have become increasingly strained, especially since some of Motlanthe’s allies have asserted that he will Advertisement Designer:
be running for President of the ANC at the Mangaung elective conference in December. For a more in-depth analysis, see page 9. Pic: Stephanie Lloyd Alex Bernatzky

From the Editor

Distribution Manager:
Bulali Dyakopu

Community Engagement:

S
Victoria Hlubi
econd term has begun and it seems as though everyone has hit the ground lecturers about decriminalising the drug. On that note, we encourage anyone with
running.  Events are happening every week and groans about all the work comments, suggestions or criticisms about our articles to send your response on Editorial Consultant:
to come can be heard in all corridors around campus.  Six weeks to go this or any other matter for publication. Craig Wynn
until exams and the prospect of no SWOT Week has stirred up some passionate In a few past editions, stories of the Unemployed People’s Movement (UPM)
responses from the student body. Some even took some of their precious swotting have featured often. In this issue, Ayanda Kota provides an account of what Contacts:
time to mix a song about the situation and others planned a protest. What are exactly the UPM is, and what it stands for. In a country where the government Editor:
your feelings about this? Write to Activate and we will gladly publish your views. is under intense scrutiny and criticism, movements like the UPM are crucial activate.editor@gmail.
In this edition, you will see that we have two letters. One is from the Dean of representatives of SA’s poor communities. com
Students and the other is an apology from a local comedian. We welcome both, At this year’s graduation weekend, Raymond Louw, a veteran journalist and
but would like to address the complaint from the Dean specifically.  Dr Viv de media activist, received an honorary doctorate. In his speech he connected all Deputy Editor:
Klerk sent us a complaint about an article we published in the features section the dots that make up our complicated society. I recommend that you go read it activate.deputy@gmail.
of our latest edition. This article, which was entitled “Dagga couple for the ‘re- on our website. He urged people to keep a close eye on the government and their
com
legalisation’ of weed”, was about a couple who has taken the issue of marijuana relationship to the judiciary. “If there is a hint of unconstitutional conduct people
legalisation to the Constitutional Court of South Africa. must protest loudly and long,” he said. “The Constitution Court is the last line of Printed by Paarlcoldset,
We would like to note that the article was not “airing the views” of journalist defence to preserve press freedom – indeed all our freedoms. We must prevent Port Elizabeth
Karlien van der Wielen. She was the interviewer in a profile about the couple and South African being rated ‘not free’.” This, he felt, would mark the beginning of
their specific views on the subject – a job she did without letting her own opinion our journey to becoming an authoritarian state.
on the matter influence her work. Activate does not advocate legalising cannabis,
but we do advocate serious and thoughtful debate on the matter, as with any other Editor-in-Chief,
issue of its kind. Lauren Kate Rawlins 
We have sought various other opinions on the subject in an attempt to open
up the debate, which you can read in the Comment & Analysis section. The
story, “Legalising pot: Hot or Not?” presents the views of a few students and
 04
News [in Briefs]
Telkom’s cables to increase speeds
By Brad de Klerk
Telkom has started deploying 3 700 new access nodes on its network
to offer faster ADSL, as well as fibre-to-the-home services.
These access nodes promise speeds of up to 1Gbps using a fibre optic
cable. This will be achieved by using the copper cable infrastructure
Telkom already has. Having made plans in July 2011 to trial 20Mbps
COSATU strike against e-toll
By Nikho Mageza
At the time of print, COSATU has planned several marches, rallies, night
vigils and demonstrations at the headquarters of South African National
Roads Agency Limited (Sanral) and transport departments. These will take
place across the country from 23 April.
“COSATU is mobilising its two million members for the mother of all
News [in briefs]
Fans carry English musician Charlie Winston through the audience during his Hamburg concert. April 16, 2012. Pic:
Reuters
An Occupy Wall Street protester is arrested in front of Federal Hall, across the street from the New York Stock Ex-
change, in New York. April 16, 2012. Pic: Reuters
Edition 3
and 40Mbps DSL services, Telkom is now ready for the next stage.
With this new investment, Telkom, working with Delta Partners
Project, hopes to roll out services such as video-on-demand to
customers. This involves providing video content via Broadband
directly to audiences’ TVs. While this was previously unfeasible in
South Africa, customers can expect these upgrades to make it a reality.
protests against the act of highway robbery set to be committed from 30 April
2012 – the Gauteng e-tolls,” said spokesperson Patrick Craven in a statement.
According to News24, Craven explained that there would be a national
stay-away, or socio-economic strike, on 30 April 2012. Due to the vast
number of public concerns, Business Unity South Africa and the South
African Chamber of Commerce and Industry suggest that the launch be
delayed until all public concerns are clarified.
Video leads to rescue
By Nikho Mageza
The mentally handicapped 17-year-old girl from Soweto who went missing on 25
March has been found. A video of her being gang-raped by several male youths,
which was made by one of the perpetrators, went viral. The video was used to
identify the seven males, two of whom were high school students, who have
been arrested and appeared in court last week. Talk of the video spread on social
networks such as Facebook and Twitter. There has been nationwide outrage from
various groups in South Africa, including the national police force and the Minister
of Women, Children and People with Disabilities, Lulu Xingwana, who aim to stop
the distribution of the video. For commenting on how this issue speaks to other
issues in South African society, see the column on page 9.
A baby sleeps in a hammock inside a temporary house built after the 2004
Tsunami at Lok Kruet village, in Aceh Besar, Indonesia, April 16, 2012. Pic:
Reuters
Palestinians hold portraits of relatives detained in Israeli prisons during a rally
to mark Prisoners’ Day outside Damascus gate, in Jerusalem’s old city. April
17, 2012. Pic: Reuters
 05
24 April 2012 News

The cost of Zuma’s wives

By Nikho Mageza case – and their children are

H
to have accommodation and
aving wed wife number four this past weekend at a minders provided by the state
traditional ceremony in Nkandla, the South African while they are away. Zuma and
president denies allegations that his wives are supported his wives are still required to
by the state and taxpayers’ money. pay tax.
According to Media 24, Jacob Zuma funded all expenditures for The Presidency’s Annual
the wedding himself and did not use any state funds. Report with Parliament’s
Presidential Spokesperson Mac Maharaj explained that Standing Committee on Public
allegations made by the media that the state supports Zuma’s Accounts (SCOPA) was held
various households are incorrect. He further said that each wife on 18 April. It was found that
had their own household and thus they support each house the president had overspent by
individually. R24.8 million in the 2011/12
The presidency does, however, provide logistical and financial year. The total
administrative support for the wives, including 60 domestic flights unauthorised expenditure is
for each of the president’s children and child-minders if they are R45.5 million - this amount
under the age of 18. They also provide private transportation for includes the debt of the
the children to and from school. financial year 2010/11. The
Zuma has a number of other expenses paid by the state for him unauthorised expenditures of
and his family: he has a 10% allowance of his salary for housing 2010/11 are made up of legal President Jacob Zuma with his new wife, Gloria Bongi Ngema. Pic: Flickr
and 25% of his annual salary goes to a private car allowance, fees of R5.3 million, travelling
despite his access to official presidential cars. The state will also and sustenance for R7.3 million and transfers to households of order to avoid unauthorised costs. George explains that the budget
provide 17% of his salary to a pension fund which will cover R279 000. The main consensus in the room was for reducing the does not specify the amount given to Zuma’s households in total,
medical aid for himself and his family. If an accident were to president’s budget in order to refund the state. thus making it unclear how they can save in terms of the wives
occur, Zuma is insured by the state. When travelling on business Democratic Alliance SCOPA Spokesperson, Dion George, and the children. The National Treasury is yet to appear before
the president is permitted to take his spouse – or spouses, in his suggested that constraints be placed on the president’s expenses in SCOPA for final recommendations.

Krejcir case postponed

By Bridgette Hall convicted of fraud and corruption in his home country. He is review application will have a bearing on the prosecution of
now fighting attempts by the Czech government to extradite the case against Mr Krejcir.”

C harges against Czech businessmen Radovan Krejcir were

withdrawn last week in the Johannesburg Magistrate’s
Court after he was accused of falsifying a life insurance claim
to receive a R4.5 million payout.
The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) temporarily
withdrew charges pending the outcome of an application
brought to the South Gauteng High Court in Johannesburg
last week by Tupy, the state’s main witness in the matter.
Krejicir fled to South Africa in 2008 after he had been
him by filing for refugee status in South Africa.
Krejcir’s urologist, Marian Tupy, admitted to falsifying
documents so Krejcir could be paid out for bladder cancer
from his insurance company. According to News24, the
NPA said that the charges had been provisionally withdrawn
pending the finalisation of the application for a review of
Tupy’s plea and sentence agreement. “We can’t have two legal
processes underway and parallel to each other,” said Mthunzi
Mhaga, spokesperson for the NPA. “The outcome of the
According to The Independent Online, police exchanged
information with Krejcir last year during their investigation
into the murder of Teazers strip club owner Lolly Jackson,
who also lived in Bedfordview in Johannesburg. Krejcir
and Jackson’s business partner Mark Andrews had claims
against Jackson’s estate, which was being handled by lawyer
Ian Jordaan. A charred body believed to be Jordaan’s was
found on top of his bakkie next to the R59 in Alberton last
September.

SRC address students about SWOT week

By Sibulele Mabusela with 135 voting either way. The final outcome proved to be inconclusive, because this voting segment
did not represent enough of the student body.

I n response to the recent student uproar over the timetable change and the resulting
miscommunication between the SRC and the student body, the SRC held a press conference last
week Thursday to address these concerns.
The conference was held following complaints about the outcome of a recent poll asking students
whether or not they wanted exams on Saturdays. The results were apparently disregarded, resulting in
the loss of SWOT Week before the June exams.
In his opening statement at the conference, SRC president Matthieu Maralack expressed his
disappointment that students would believe the SRC would go out of their way to inconvenience
them. “We wouldn’t make a decision like this without taking students into consideration,” he said,
explaining how the academic administration of the University had approached them halfway during
the first term about removing Saturday exams. This was put to the student body for the vote. Out of
the 5 000 undergraduates, only 1 750 voted. There were 817 votes for Saturday exams and 810 against,
Consequently, two days were taken out of SWOT Week and added to the exam timetable, on which
exams are organised into a blocking system. According to the Registrar, Dr Stephen Fourie, this was
to allow for the best possible timetable layout for the students.
Maralack feels that the SRC acted in the interest of the students. He explained the voting process
and confirmed that the SRC had no control over the final decision regarding the current timetable.
“We are not a bunch of ogres trying to inconvenience students,” said Fourie when explaining
exactly how the decision was made. He said that in constructing a timetable, the administration
is faced with 3 000 subject combinations and that they had attempted to make it as convenient as
possible for students so that their examinations could run as smoothly as possible.
The SRC admitted to a lack of communication with students regarding the decision and apologised.
“In terms of the event, what has happened has happened. We can’t change it; we can only move
forward,” said Maralack.

Tears of joy and sadness at Grad

By Yonela Zondani them being women, wrote Azwi Mufamadi on Rhodes’ official and made contributions to various sectors in society such as
website. educational advancement, social development, business and

T his year’s Graduation was not as happy an occasion as it

should have been, as Rhodes lost two students who were
due to graduate. Makabongwe Ndzwayiba, a BCom student,
passed away after a prolonged battle with cancer, before he was
to receive his degree. Rhodes also mourns the death of Lelona
Fufu, who was to receive her BSc Honours, but was stabbed on
her day of graduation while hitchhiking to Grahamstown.
This year more than 2 200 students graduated, with 62% of
The three-day event was joined by former President Thabo
Mbeki’s 96-year-old mother, Epainette Mbeki, who received an
Honorary Doctorate. In her speech, she said that the government
needs to focus on empowering the youth. “While I acknowledge
some effort is man-made in this regard, our government needs
to double its effort,” she said.
According to the Graduation Press Release, “the Honorary
Doctorate recognises individuals who have shown leadership
science. Other individuals who were honoured in this year’s
graduation were Geoffrey de Jager, Professor Mike Bruton,
Leymah Gbowee and Raymond Louw.
“This leadership must be exercised and your knowledge and
expertise must be put to work not only for your private benefit
but also for the benefit of society at large, to advance the general
public good,” said Vice-Chancellor Dr Saleem Badat on the
Rhodes website.
 06
News Edition 3

RU Green keeps it local

By Shirley Erasmus
Waste Management Plan. According to Lenferna, “new innovations that remain simple” will be the ones

R
U Green has launched their latest initiative in recognition of the Makana District Bicentennial.
The project brings together resources from the community, the environment and the University,
and plays an active role in reintroducing indigenous isiXhosa practices to the community.
The first aspect of the project, in partnership with the Makana and Rural Eastern Cape Regional Centre
of Expertise in Education for Sustainable Development (RCE), involves the creation of ‘hotbags’ for
slow-cooking food. A hotbag is two circular material bags filled with Styrofoam balls. The idea is that
once a person has brought their food to the boil, the pot can be placed between the two bags which
serves as insulation and thereby allows the food to continue to cook slowly.
Alex Lenferna, Chairperson of SEACC SF, says that the project employs women from the St Mary’s
Community Centre to sew the bags, thereby providing some employment and income which he hopes
will eventually become stable. Additionally, all the Styrofoam used in the hotbags is donated to RU
Green from the Masihlule Recycling Project, which forms part of the Makana Municipality’s Integrated
that can hopefully become a continuous facet of innovation and sustainability in municipal projects.
The second aspect of the project is the creation and distribution of composters. The composters
are created out of corrugated iron sheets, most of which are offcuts donated by Penny Pinchers. The
composters are made in Ward Seven and then placed in various local communities. The compost created
is then used in a veggie garden as well as to feed trees planted nearby. The compost that is then generated
is used to grow food which can be cooked using hotbags. This initiative provides the community with a
sustainable food source as well as a project they can work on in the long-term.
Lenferna says that aspirations for the project include it becoming a part of the extended public works
programme in conjunction with the municipality, eventually spreading across Grahamstown and the
greater Eastern Cape. However, this will involve a complicated process and Lenferna says that the team
have had to come up with many creative ideas due to financial constraints.
The project is an exciting endeavour for RU Green which embraces the Grahamstown community,
Makana District and the environment in a well-balanced undertaking.

R6 billion housing plan

By Kayla Roux include schools, universities, clinics, spaza shops, a hospital and a
mall, as well as a multi-billion rand PetroSA oil refinery that will

A ccording to The Herald, Nu-Way Housing Developments of

Johannesburg is going ahead with a R6 billion “city-within-a-
city” plan near Motherwell just outside Nelson Mandela Bay. A plan
of this magnitude has not been carried out in this country before
and it is reported that, if successful, it will cut the country’s backlog
for housing by 40% and create up to 5000 jobs.
The 3 200ha of land which was purchased by the company in
the late 1990s will be developed in three phases over the course
of 15 years, and the expected value of additional surrounding
developments could be double the initial R6bn investment. These
help to create even more jobs with what Nu-Way has called “the
knock-on demand” for more housing.
Before starting the housing project, developers are awaiting a
046 622 3115
70 High Street
decision from authorities, which is expected in the next six months.
When it has been received, an application will need to be submitted
to the municipality for the rezoning of certain areas and service
delivery for things like water and delivery. If they do not receive a
response from government, however, Nu-Way Managing Director
Laki Constantinides has told The Herald that they will approach
businesses who are interested in applying for the job.

To the Editor
Apology from Lincoln Van der Westhuizen to Atherstone House
residents
Let me fall on my sword here. I’d like to unconditionally admit
that comments I made in my comedy act at the RU Jamming
event relating to members of the Atherstone House were sexist,
discriminatory and insulting towards women in general, and
were in direct conflict with the Rhodes University policy. I have
decided to remove the particular joke from my act as I realize
that it hurt the women from Atherstone House. I apologize to the
members of Atherstone House and realize the hurtful nature of
the joke.
Unfortunately, I can’t promise that I won’t offend anyone in
the future: that’s the nature of comedy. As a comedian you don’t
always know how an audience will respond to a joke until you
actually do it. Every joke has a victim and it’s a risk you take
hoping the audience can suspend their own feelings of shock
and that victim can laugh at themselves. However, there comes a
point in time when it becomes really difficult to justify a statement
made in an act artistically - a line that was crossed on that
Wednesday evening.
One of my comedy heroes, Ricky Gervais, always states that
there isn’t anything you can’t joke about. It depends on the
joke. It’s a comedic philosophy that I’ve taken to heart. There is,
however, a qualifier. Comedy isn’t your conscience taking a day
off. Jokes can come from a good or a bad place. They can be used
to educate or it can hurt. At RUJamming it was used to hurt.
Lincoln Van der Westhuizen
Dear Editor,
I write in response to the article in Activate (20 March
2012): “Dagga couple for the ‘re-legalisation’ of
weed”, which is an alarming example of an insidious
advocacy group making irresponsible claims. The
issue of drugs, and specifically marijuana usage is of
grave concern to my Office, given its attendant risks,
and I therefore seek to set the record straight through
the medium of the same paper which was so generous
in airing the views of Ms van der Wielen. In her
article, she makes little attempt to provide a balanced
view of dagga and its effects, and implies that there
is no empirical evidence regarding dagga’s negative
effects. This is biased, misleading and dishonest.
The article is a mischievous blend of some facts and
half-truths mixed with a few wild claims, resulting
in conclusions that any competent Philosophy 1
student could dispose of without difficulty (assuming,
of course, that they weren’t high on dagga). But the
danger is that such an article could be very affirming
for any (uncritical) student who seeks to justify why
they use cannabis. Indeed, the article provides the
uninitiated and adventurous student with grounds to
try it.
To ensure that our students do indeed get a
balanced view about cannabis, hopefully before
they try it themselves, I have therefore asked a few
local professional experts to supply our campus
newspapers with the kind of empirical evidence
that Activate apparently could not locate. I’d also
like to ask that Activate take a more responsible and
balanced editorial line in future.
From my side, I wish to emphasise only three points
that every student needs to consider before trying
cannabis: firstly, it is impossible to predict who will
get addicted or who is prone to psychosis, and just
taking it to see “how it goes” is a huge risk (my source:
Counselling Centre and local psychiatrists’ reports).
Secondly, dagga is an entry level drug; the real danger
is that once a student gets hooked onto the "high"
and finds they cannot repeat it, they often move to
the next level of dangerous hard drugs (my source:
local medical practitioners). Thirdly, dagga usage
is of particular concern in a learning environment,
because it impairs cognitive skills related to attention,
reasoning and memory (evidence: the academic
records of known users). I ask all students to consider
their own wellbeing and academic future very
carefully before they take this risk.
Kind regards
Dr Vivian de Klerk
Refer to Page 3 for the editor’s response to this
letter.
 07
24 April 2012 Politics

Zille: EC education
an “unholy mess”
By Marc Davies He said that due process must be granted to allow for quality

E
mphatically denouncing the Eastern Cape
administration, DA leader Helen Zille described
education in the province as a “holy mess” at the
party’s recent elective conference in Grahamstown. The
event, attended by approximately 500 party members, heard
Zille’s commentary on local schools only two weeks after her
inflammatory comments on “education refugees” fleeing to
Western Cape schools from the Eastern Cape.
The Western Cape Premiere and DA leader said the average
school pupil in the Eastern Cape is likely to receive “a worse
education than she would in parts of war-ravaged Congo”.
She subsequently claimed that “tough minister” of Basic
Education Angie Motshekga has attempted to rectify the issue
of severely overcrowded and failing schools, but has been
deterred by the South African Democratic Teachers Union
(SADTU). According to Zille, President Jacob Zuma has been
subtly sacrificing Eastern Cape children to ensure support
from COSATU and SADTU in the pivotal ANC Mangaung
presidential election in December this year.
ANC Provincial Spokesperson, Mlibo Qoboshiyane, denied
Zille’s statements about Zuma, calling them “vitriol, myopic
and uninformed”. He accused the opposition leader of
“worshipping at the altar of populism”, according to Dispatch
Online. Qoboshiyane alluded to the Western Cape’s historical
advantages under apartheid in the construction of white-only
schools while the Eastern Cape’s rural communities suffered.
construction of Eastern Cape schools. Qoboshiyane attacked
Zille’s comments on Zuma, but did not directly refute claims
of the “unholy mess”. Zille has also been labelled racist
for relating comments on education in which she claimed
“education refugees” have been forced to move to Western
Cape schools because of horrid conditions in the province.
Minister Angie Motshekga said that attempts to place the
Eastern Cape Education Department under administration
have failed as a result of internal resistance in an interview
with TimesLive. Motshekga says the province has resisted
attempts to overhaul the embattled department using legal
obstacles. Motshekga also said the state of education in the
province is a “horror story”, which is why she has presented
the matter to cabinet again for further assistance.
Zille, in her weekly newsletter, stated: “We treat children as
full, legitimate South Africans and we respect their rights to
education… the ANC does not.”
DA Youth Leader of the Eastern Cape, Andrew Whitfield,
told Activate that the party’s elected provincial leadership are
Helen Zille thinks at length before answering a question during
“experienced politicians with the capacity to deliver on their a press conference at the Democratic Alliance Eastern Cape
mandate both for the party and public at large”. Congress in Grahamstown. 31 March 2012. Pic: Catherine
Whitfield also said the combination of the diverse set of Pennels
skills in the DA’s provincial leadership places the party in a
strong position in the run up to the 2014 national elections rapidly to turn the situation around if elected into provincial
and beyond. He added that “thousands of young South government. Whitfield concluded by saying that anybody
Africans are being held hostage by SADTU and the governing who claims that education in the province is not in crisis is in
party” in the province, suggesting that the DA would work denial.

E-tolling debate intensifies

By Kayla Roux the second has an e-tag, but has not registered for the system. The the manner in which transport minister Sibusiso Ndebele and
third is a vehicle licence number user who registers for the system, SANRAL introduced this tariff “underhanded”. A group called

I n what some have called an ‘insult’ to the public consultation

process, it seems as though authorities are going ahead with the
contentious electronic tolling system on Gauteng inter-provincial
highways despite heavy opposition from various groups.
Despite facing three court applications attempting to stop the
implementation of e-tolls, the SA National Roads Agency Limited
(SANRAL) and government have not shown any sign of changing
in their plans, which are to be launched 30 April.
SANRAL laid out different types of e-toll users and the tariffs
they will face in a recent edition of the Government Gazette. The
first type of user has an e-tag and is registered for e-tolling, while
World politics round-up
but does not have an e-tag, while the fourth type of user does not
qualify for any other category. The fifth type is a day-pass user. The
tariffs for the day pass are R30 for motorcycles, R50 for standard
vehicles, R125 for class B medium vehicles and R250 for heavy
vehicles.
What SANRAL describes as “alternative users” – those who are
not registered for e-toll and have not installed an e-tag, or those
who do not have enough funds in their accounts – are not legally
obligated to comply with e-tolling requirements, but will have to
pay tariffs that are three times higher than those paid by registered
users. DA Gauteng Transport spokesperson, Neil Campbell calls
the Opposition to Urban Tolling Alliance (OUTA) has joined
others such as AfriForum and various businesses in rejecting the
e-tolls, lodging an application in the Gauteng North High Court
for an interdict to prevent the tolling of the Gauteng Freeway
Improvement Project (GFIP). According to IOL News, the reasons
for their complaints included that the planned e-toll system was
“grossly expensive, inefficient and a waste of citizens’ money; it was
fundamentally wrong to apply an additional toll against citizens
along their daily commuter routes [and] the e-toll project was
unfairly punitive to Gauteng citizens who contributed much more
in taxes than the value and spending they received in return.”

RUSSIA: ZIMBABWE: SYRIA: SOUTH SUDAN: UNITED STATES: NORWAY:

A recently instated ban on LGBTI
‘propaganda’ emanating from
St Petersburg has resulted in the
first arrests of two gay men in
April. The city’s parliament is the
latest to enact this law, which
imposes fines of up to US$17,000
for spreading “propaganda of
sodomy, lesbianism, bisexuality
or transgenderism among
minors”. Lawmakers behind
the ban cite preservation of
traditional Russian values as
the reason for the ban. Russian
gay rights group ‘Coming Out’
said “the homophobic mood is
growing in society and minorities
are getting more and more
afraid”.
Following false reports of
poor health and failing organs
emanating from Australian press,
a ‘healthy’ 88-year-old Robert
Mugabe was greeted by cheering
crowds in Harare at the country’s
32nd anniversary of independence
from British rule, joking that he has
died and been resurrected more
times than Jesus Christ. Mugabe
called for upcoming elections
to be peaceful and for voters
to select their party of choice.
Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai
inversely labelled the celebration’s
theme of ‘indigenisation’ of white-
owned businesses as “repugnant”.
Tsvangirai said that government
should instead focus on creating
jobs and investment and less on
indigenising existing businesses.
A UN-backed peace plan to
avert civil war in the Middle
East nation after continued
civil unrest in that country may
be a “last hope”, according to
French Foreign Minister Alain
Juppe. According to the Syrian
government, political in-fighting,
which began at the inception
of the Arab Spring in 2011, has
resulted in thousands of deaths.
The UN has established a deal
with the government with rules
for deploying observers to keep
watch on the situation and the
agreed ceasefire.
Unrest between Sudan and According to a new survey, In a shocking series of admissions
Africa’s newest nation, South Democrat President Barack to an Oslo court, Norwegian
Sudan, erupted in April after Obama has lost massive support nationalist killer Anders Behring
contestation for oil-rich areas abroad. Approval ratings for the Breivik says he would gladly
along the countries’ shared White House are currently lower repeat the murder of the 77
border ensued. Chief mediator than 10% in Iran and Serbia, people in Norway in July last year.
Thabo Mbeki is reported to with similarly low approval in Breivik revealed to the court the
be assisting in talks between India, Egypt and Belarus. Ratings plans of his killing spree, which
leaders in Khartoum and Juba remain strongest in Africa due he believed would ultimately
(the respective capitals). Both to significant enthusiasm about become a suicide mission. He
nations have denied initiating the US President in sub-Saharan claimed that he wanted to kill
attacks, each accusing the other Africa. Meanwhile, Obama many more people aligned with
for ‘waging war’. South Sudan faces strong opposition from the left in order to protect Europe
officially separated from its multimillionaire businessman from multiculturalism. Breivik
northern counterpart in July 2011 and Republican candidate Mitt reportedly used anabolic steroids
following years of war between Romney as support for Obama and injected testosterone on the
‘north’ and ‘south’ that ended in wanes in certain parts of the US. day of the attack. He has been
2005. charged with “acts of terror” but
pleaded not guilty, justifying his
actions as “necessary”.
 08
Politics Edition 3

Resuscitating Mogadishu
By Fezekile Cokile

D
ecades of devastating political turmoil and civil war
in Somalia’s capital city may finally be coming to an
end. Mogadishu, ranked as one of the world’s most
dangerous cities, is showing signs of progress towards revival.
In past years, certain social activities such as basketball could
subject Somalians to torture or death during the reign of
the al-Shabaab militant Islamist group. Increased presence
of citizens engaging in public recreational activities and the
reopening of the central market may signify the beginning of
rejuvenation for the embattled city.
Somalia has been ravaged by civil war since rebel forces
overtook the capital Mogadishu in the early 1990s and ousted
the then president Mohamed Siad Barre, who subsequently fled
to Kenya. Battles for control of the city between rival groups
ensued. UN intervention in Somalia in 1994 was deemed a
failure after it resulted in thousands of deaths, deteriorating
relations with the United States and very little improvement in
the safety and sustainability of life in Somalia. “Year after year,
Somalia has been ranked as one of the world’s poorest, most
violent countries plagued by warring militias, bandits, warlords
and pirates,” said The New York Times in April.
Recent AU and emergency aid interventions in Somalia A helicopter flies over the Somalian capital of Mogadishu. The city, which has historically been known as one of the most
dangerous in the world due to persistent civil war, is in the process of rejuvenation. Pic: Wikicommons
have assisted the war-torn nation, notably the efforts of the
AU, which managed to pull the Al-Qaeda-linked Islamic 8 April. Turkish Airlines have instated international flights was the norm during the reign of Al-Shabaab’s strict sharia
rebels, Al-Shabaab, out of Mogadishu in 2011. However, to Mogadishu, small restaurants are opening and “men and laws. “The grim days are over,” said one former basketball
the group remains a threat to citizens and the Transitional women swim together without fear of punishment from player as supporters arrived at the stadium which once was
Federal Government of Somalia. Al-Shabaab was resposible militants” in Mogadishu’s beachfront. Civilians have also filled with bloodstains.
for a suicide blast which killed the head of Somalia’s Olympic noticed the resuscitation of their city, as citizens Abdiaziz Nur Despite gradual recovery, millions in Mogadishu and greater
Committee and eight others during a speech by Somali’s Prime remarked in the article: “I see so much difference as a long- Somalia continue to face threats of war, malnutrition and
Minister Abdiweli Mohammed Ali. The bomb went off at the time resident in Mogadishu. I had never dreamed that I would starvation, a condition exacerbated by widespread famine in
newly reopened national theatre, where a victorious celebration either walk through Mogadishu’s streets or drive my car at 2011. East African journalist Keishamaza Rukikaire agrees,
of the first anniversary of the launch of the country’s national night, but now we feel glorified and proud.” saying that, “The whole country has been through far too
television channel was in session. Sport has become a significant means to rebuilding the much” and “needs to recover.” Graziano de Silva, Director
Despite peace being frequently threatened in Mogadishu, devastated nation, much like the symbolic victory of South General of the Food and Agricultural Organisation of the
hopes of recovery still glimmer. “School, shops and markets Africa hosting the 1995 Rugby World Cup, although on a United Nations, said in The New York Times that the world
have reopened. The city government has repaired and smaller scale. Hundreds of men and women have claimed that “must not turn its back on Somalia,” saying the gains made so
installed streetlights,” reported The News Tribune article on they engage in basketball without fear of being punished, as far could be reversed if the conflict worsens.

Banks strangling immigrants lifeline

By Tegan Phillips says, “They put [the money] in the back of a bakkie and actually increase cash flow’ out of the country, as migrants are already
drive it to the doorstep in Zimbabwe,” in an effort to avoid sending as much as they can afford.

R efugee human rights organisation PASSOP (People Against

Suffering Oppression and Poverty) recently reported that
remittances from South Africa to Zimbabwe are “amongst
the highest in the world”. PASSOP Programme Coordinator
David von Burgsdorff compiled the report, which includes new
statistics and suggestions that directly challenge and criticise
current government policy.
Remittances, or transfers of local money to a foreign
national’s home country, have increased in South Africa over
recent years. According to the report, the amount remitted to
Zimbabwe alone is an estimated US$ 600-900 million annually.
This accounts for an average of one-third of the total income
of Zimbabwean migrants in South Africa, and 23 to 30% of
Zimbabwe’s GDP.
While there are formal channels through which the money
can be sent, bank charges for sending funds across borders
are generally between 10 and 15%, making South Africa one
of the most expensive places in the world from which to send
formal remittances. Furthermore, banks require a multitude of
identification documents in order to accept an application to
send remittances, many of which are difficult for asylum seekers
and refugees to attain.
The report states that a “shocking” 82% of migrants elect to
send money through informal channels. As von Burgsdorff
unaffordable transactions. The costs are often not nearly as high
as those incurred through formal channels, but the chances
of the money or goods arriving without interference are also
greatly decreased. “People are forced to use [informal passages]
because there is no other option,” says von Burgsdorff.
His findings indicated that it was “in South Africa’s interests”
to change current remittance policies, which he called
“excessive, unclear, unsystematic and ineffective,” so that
formal channels become more accessible to migrants sending
remittances. He said this would not only allow the South
African government to keep track of outgoing funds but also
“increase income to poor Zimbabwean families by about 70 –
90 million US dollars a year”, decreasing the need for as many
Zimbabweans to leave their own country in search of financial
support.
He stressed that the ‘know your customer’ approach adopted
by banks is not appropriate in the context of refugees, and refers
to a system implemented in Mexico in which migrants, although
not necessarily in possession of official documentation, were
given a “special ID card” which allowed them to send portions
of their income out of the country without question or hassle.
While the South African government is purportedly weary
of policies that ‘encourage’ money leaving South Africa, von
Burgsdorff believes that a system like this would be ‘unlikely to
Present at the conference was Professor Brian Raftopoulos,
a prominent Zimbabwean scholar who is noted for his
extensive involvement in Zimbabwean human rights in South
Africa. He commented that von Burgsdorff had compiled a
“very comprehensible report [containing] some very valuable
suggestions” which should be used to “advise policy-makers”.
He emphasised that the suggestions need to be “followed up
and lobbied on” as soon as possible as to begin to develop the
economies of both Zimbabwe and South Africa, and ultimately
contribute to establishing conditions in Zimbabwe under
which “free and fair elections can take place”. He stated that
he believed all interactions with Zimbabwe should have a final
aim of creating democracy, and that “substantive development
assistance can’t wait ... if we wait it will only weaken democratic
forces further”.
This statement was corroborated by the founder of PASSOP,
Braam Hanekom, who praised the report and announced that
PASSOP would “make sure that this remittances document
gets government officials to compel them to consider it”. He
expressed that he hoped the suggestions made in the report
could be adopted to begin to counter injustice and corruption
with regards to remittances, concluding that “there is no
reason why the profits of refugees should be intercepted by
businessmen”.

Do you ever get the feeling that the only reason we have elections is to find out if the polls were right?
 - Robert Orben (American Comedy Writer)
 09
24 April 2012 Politics

Political
Perspectives Bucket system still a reality
By Kayla Roux
By Megan Ellis

Social networks and news sites were
taken by storm this week when the story
of a gang rape video went viral. People
expressed disgust, shock and concern
about South African society.
However, the reality is that while this
incident caught international attention,
rape and gang rape occurs on a daily
basis in South Africa. Some were shocked
at the fact that people watched the video,
and while I, too, find this disturbing, the
truth is that many people have a morbid
fascination with taboo and violence.
Many of us are unsettled by pictures of
the Holocaust and Vietnam, and news
media often spreads scenes of violence to
shock their viewers.
We are fascinated by what is shocking,
but I feel that it goes deeper than this.
What I found most disturbing is that
the rapists felt the need to record and
distribute the girl’s pain and terror for the
world to see. It’s reported they laughed
at her and taunted her, offering her
R2 for her silence. The thought of this
scene makes me nauseous, but it also
brings to the fore that this is happening
– unrecorded and unheard of – to
countless others.
I think that once this case is over and
the perpetrators have been prosecuted,
the issue will slip under the radar once
again, only to be dug up again in the
occasional feature on the prevalence
of rape in our country or for an
exceptionally shocking or violent case.
What saddens me most is that these
incidents are nowhere close to ending.
It is no coincidence that South Africa
is both the most unequal society in
the world and also considered the
rape capital of the world. While it is
inexcusable to rape anyone, poverty plays
a massive role in violent crime.
People are forced to live in terrible
R
esidents in Joe Slovo informal settlement in
Uitenhage are angered and displeased with the
local government because their ablution buckets
have not been emptied all month. The ‘bucket system’,
a system whereby a single bucket serves as a toilet for
a household, is a reality for many in the Eastern Cape.
The residents are threatening to empty their buckets into
Ward Councillor Kenneth Kohl’s office if they are not
collected and emptied by the municipality.
The bucket system was first reported on in
Grahamstown two years ago, but many see the
municipality’s ‘sudden commitment’ to get rid of this
degrading and unsanitary system as a response to
coverage on the national TV programme Cutting Edge.
In a submission to the SA Human Rights Commission’s
(SAHRC) hearings on the right to sanitation and basic
services, the Unemployed People’s Movement (UPM)
expressed their concern about the superficial nature of
reparations made by the municipality to eradicate the Buckets are collected twice a week and emptied into a tank on the back of a truck. Pic: Anton
bucket system in KwaNdancama in Grahamstown. The Scholtz
system is still being used in surrounding areas, such as
Port Elizabeth, where there have been no moves towards a safer, more to cooperate and negotiate a situation in which people’s basic rights to
dignified and sustainable waste management system. proper, safe sanitation will be protected. “How are we expected to fight
Protest action against the bucket system has been taking place since for the restoration of our dignity if both the government and the police
last year, with the UPM leading a march culminating in the emptying repress us?” they asked. “When we organised a speak-out campaign
of buckets of waste in the hallway of the Makana municipal building. against water crisis and scarcity, both the ANC and ANC Youth League
According to The Herald, residents in Motherwell, just outside PE, disrupted our meeting, calling us names,” they continued. They feel that
dumped their buckets’ contents at Missionvale Ward 32 Councillor Sandra their right to organise against inadequate service delivery is under threat
Fillis’s office. by local police.
The bucket system is not the only problem for many residents in the The bucket system is particularly prevalent in areas such as Phaphamani,
Eastern Cape. According to the UPM, Grahamstown residents are still parts of Extension 6, and Kwandancama in Fingo Village in Grahamstown,
using the pit-latrine system, especially in Extension 6, in Phaphamani, and is most prevalent in the Eastern Cape in comparison to the rest of the
eThembeni, eHlanani, Zolani and eTuthwini. “This is the system in which country. Buckets are usually placed outside the home in makeshift shelters,
people dig their own pits and once they are full they have to dig new ones and are supposed to be emptied on a bi-weekly basis by the municipality
somewhere else,” they explained. They called this system an undignified – but this often doesn’t happen. When the municipality fails to arrive –
health hazard that was ultimately unsustainable. They also pointed out sometimes for two-week stretches at a time – residents are forced to empty
various problems concerning access to water for the poor in this drought- the contents in their own backyards and in local rivers and streams.
ridden province. “In eThembeni, a couple died in a fire while the water There are alternative toilet systems available which could be
was off – something that often happens,” they said. “In Joza, two couples implemented, given some infrastructural change and upgrades. From an
died. They could not be saved from the fire because there was no water in environmental standpoint, a waterborne flushing toilet is an unfeasible
the taps.” They highlighted further cases of water contamination and areas option in a drought-ridden province like the Eastern Cape. Therefore,
in which water can only be accessed in the early hours of the morning – flushing toilets in all households is not necessarily the answer. Systems
before 7am – and others without any water at all. such as the waterless loo work similarly to flushing toilets, except that no
In their statement, the UPM points to government’s unwillingness water is used in the process.

ANC Powers at Play (again)

conditions on a mass scale where a
cycle of violence, cruelty and anger is
perpetuated and alcohol and drugs are
used as an escape. Rape is often about
power, and in a patriarchal society
women and children (and men who are
perceived as ‘weaker’) bear the brunt of
this anger and frustration.
This is where I look to the government
in anger – because of corruption and
fiscal irresponsibility, people continue to
live in poverty. The government doesn’t
do much to dispel myths in rape culture
either. Remember Malema’s comment
about rape? “When a woman didn’t enjoy
it, she leaves early in the morning,” he
joked. “Those who had a nice time will
wait until the sun comes out, request
breakfast and ask for taxi money.”
With ideas like this being spouted by
those whom we are supposed to respect
and follow, is it so shocking that the
rapists in the video taunted the girl with
an offer of R2 for her silence?
If we want to see a real change in South
African society, our government needs
to fulfil its promises and help alleviate
the poverty which perpetuates crimes
like these, so that these horrific scenes
no longer constitute ‘just another day’ in
South Africa.
By Anton Scholtz
P resident Jacob Zuma’s main competitor for
the presidency is most likely to come in the
form of Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe
at the ANC’s elective conference at Mangaung
in December. While Motlanthe has not publicly
announced his intentions to compete against
Zuma yet, the Mail & Guardian recently
reported that his personal allies have confirmed
that he will stand for the position when
nominations open in October.
According to Richard Pithouse, a senior
lecturer in the Rhodes Department of Political
and International Studies, President Jacob Zuma,
“has certainly not met the expectations of the
people that brought him to power in a struggle
within the ANC”. Pithouse believes that any
hope of Zuma returning the party to its origins
as a “mass-based movement for emancipation”
has been disproved during his first term as
president.
Motlanthe is often described as the most
qualified alternative for the position specifically
because of his noted ability to unify divisions
in the ruling party in the past through effective
conflict resolution. Former ANC spokesperson
Smuts Ngonyama said Motlanthe’s approach
to leadership had earned him much respect
in Parliament from both ANC members and
opposition parties alike. However, due to the
covert nature of the majority of the ANC’s
succession battles, Pithouse argues that the
public has been “excluded from any full and
open sense of who Kgalema Motlanthe’s backers
are, what their commitments are and, of course,
what sort of president Motlanthe himself would
aim to be.”
Recent comments made by Motlanthe
regarding the state of the South African mines
have sparked much discussion in one of the
central debates pertaining to the economy.
While Motlanthe has openly stated that he does
not support the proposed nationalisation of the
mines, as called for by the ANC Youth League,
he does think that more state intervention is
needed in the mineral sector. This, he believes,
would lead to greater socio-economic benefits
for all South Africans. A recent report in
The Times states that Motlanthe proposes a
“competitive regulatory framework”, which
involves a soon-to-be-established state-owned
mining company which will aim to ensure that
the mineral industry and the economy as a whole
benefit more from locally-mined commodities.
While Motlanthe has been praised as a worthy
contender for the leadership of the nation,
his political career is not without controversy.
He has been intimately connected to ANC
front company Chancellor House, which was
first investigated by the Mail & Guardian in
2006 for its questionable relationship with the
government through which it was awarded
several lucrative tenders. The most notable of
these was its partnership with Hitachi Power
Africa, which was awarded a contract from
Eskom in the construction of the massive
Medupi power station near Lephalale in
Limpopo. He was also allegedly instrumental in
securing oil allocations from Saddam Hussein
for ANC donor Sandi Majali.
At this stage it is difficult to determine whether
Motlanthe enjoys enough support to contend for
the position of president. Given the dominance
of the ANC in South African politics, it is,
according to Pithouse, “essential that the ruling
party move towards an open and democratic
mode of engagement around contestation for
positions in the party. What we do know is that
if there will be an open battle in Mangaung, it
will be bruising”.
UPM to feed own struggle
The UPM, a social movement that has branches in Durban,
Grahamstown and the Northern Province, is strongly critical
of the ruling party and modern-day apartheid that leads to
the oppression and exploitation of the poor by those in power.
Locally, the UPM has been instrumental in the fight against
the bucket system and has put Grahamstown on the global
#Occupy map with its protests demanding service delivery.
The current chairperson of the UPM in Grahamstown is
Asanda Ncwadi. Ayanda Kota, ex-chairperson of the UPM
in Grahamstown and the current publicity secretary, outlines
the movement’s aims and goals and its role in the continued
struggle of the poor for access to basic services and resources.

By Ayanda Kota, publicity secretary of UPM

T
he Unemployed People’s Movement (UPM) was
formed in August 2009 to respond to the crisis of
unemployment and the commodification of essential
services in a society dominated by corruption and greed.
As Steve Biko said, “The blacks are tired of standing at the
touchlines to witness a game that they should be playing.”
We want to do things for ourselves and all by ourselves.
The UPM was born out of a realisation that we are the
protagonists of our lives and nobody will free us but
ourselves. We – the unemployed – will have to be our own
liberators.
Despite celebrations of freedom on 27 April every year,
Ayanda Kota, former chairperson of the UPM, pauses during a motivational speech at the UPM offices in Bathurst Street
severe and widespread poverty persists. Our education
before the March against ‘state repression’ on 29 February 2012. Pic: Anton Scholtz
system is in tatters; the futures of many black children look
irrevocably bleak. Unemployment is skyrocketing, wasting black people live below the poverty line! Apartheid was they make their journey through life.” This whole society
the talents of many young people who are condemned to only abolished on paper. In real life, it is so vivid it cannot be needs to be transformed. It needs to be opened up to the
a life of permanent poverty. Many black people still lack overlooked. What is the difference between the Secrecy Act participation of the people. Political power and control over
access to electricity, clean water and proper sanitation. of apartheid and the current Protection of State Information resources must be shared. We need revolutionary change.
Many are terminally undernourished. Bill? And between the apartheid homeland leaders and This is what UPM stands for.
All these things are happening while the elite and the chiefs and the current Traditional Courts bill? What is the Our unity has never been as necessary as it is today.
government are living affluent, comfortable lives. President difference between the death of Hector Pieterson in the The students and the youth, the rural and the poor, the
Jacob Zuma has just built a mansion in Enkandla to the tune 1976 uprising and the recent murder of Andries Tatane? Unemployed People’s Movement and other movements

of more than R400 million, and Julius Malema has also built
a house worth R16 million. Every weekend the elite host
parties and weddings which cost taxpayers millions while
the people they claim to represent go to bed on an empty
stomach and live in absolute poverty. They do not find this
morally troubling.
UPM stands against this thoughtless, unfeeling attitude
– the lack of conscience in our rulers is reflected in the
“
What is the difference between the corrupt apartheid
government and the current government, which seems to
be just as – if not more - corrupt? One doesn’t have to look
We
- the unemployed -
such as Abahlali base Mjondolo and Ilizwi Lamafama need
to unite and form a constructive progressive bloc. We are
the agents of change, not the new elite that has betrayed
the struggle. We need to unite outside their movements
because they have privatised our struggle and have taken
it out of our hands.
Like the formation of the Black Consciousness Movement
did in the 1970s, we need to unite in our own space,
define our own struggle and politics and shake the

”
killing of Andries Tatane and other activists. We are shot
with rubber bullets when we protest because they have barricades of neo-liberalism. Forging a real unity of poor
neglected us. The prophetic Biko was once again spot on
when he said, “Tradition has it that whenever a group of
people has tasted the lovely fruits of wealth, security and
will have to be our people’s movements and struggles with the progressive
intelligentsia is of paramount importance.

prestige, it begins to find it more comfortable to believe

in the obvious lie and accept that it alone is entitled to
privilege.” It is this prestige and wealth that forms a hard
shell around their consciences, blinding them from the
poverty around them.
Karl Marx said, “History repeats itself, first as tragedy,
second as farce.” Apartheid was a tragedy, but our current
economic apartheid is a farce. Indeed, history repeating
itself: we are repeating the disaster of the post-colonial
regimes that Fanon attacked 50 years ago.
We live in a society where the unemployment rate
is said to be 23%, while the truth is different: the real
unemployment rate is closer to 40%.
We live in a society where to be black and unemployed is
held to mean only one thing – laziness and expecting too
much from the government. We live in a society where to
speak out against government injustice means that you are
ungrateful. We live in a society where people who speak out
against injustice, which we live with every day, are told that
we are being used by someone else. We live in a society
where the poor are denied basic healthcare because of our
inability to pay.
Every time we go to the clinics we are certain of getting
Panados, regardless of our illness. We live in a society where
the affluent elite live in their fortresses and bubbles and see
nothing wrong with the excessive poverty and inequality
surrounding them. They see the poor majority as a threat to
society. Yes – we live in a society where slavery, colonialism
and apartheid have all been abolished. Yet the majority of
own liberators
far - the arms deal, the Travelgate scandal,
Richard Mdluli, Shabir Schaik, Bret Kebble, Tony Yengeni,
tenderpreneurs, local municipalities that have become
milking cows for the leadership of the ruling party are but
a few examples. Think of Zuma’s mansion in Enkandla,
paid by taxpayers’ money. Now think of the mud houses
surrounding it, mud houses that are crumbling down.
Our leaders have become the nuts and bolts of the
machine that is oppressing us today. They have become
stooges of capital. They have not confronted white racism
seriously in all the various forms it takes today. We are
important to them on election day, but all they see us as
is voting cattle. Our new elite have taken the old masks of
the colonialist and are proudly wearing them. As Fanon
puts it, the mission of the new elite has “nothing to do with
transforming the nation; it consists, prosaically, of being
the transmission line between the nation and a capitalism,
rampant though camouflaged, which today puts on the
masque of neocolonialism.”
Martin Luther King once declared, “A true revolution
of values will soon cause us to question the fairness and
justice of many of our past and present policies. We are
called to play the Good Samaritan on life’s roadside; but... Ayanda Kota holds one of the infamous buckets, used in the
bucket system, outside the Grahamstown Town Hall during
one day the whole Jericho road must be transformed so the ‘Occupy Grahamstown’ March. 15 October 2011. Pic:
that men and women will not be beaten and robbed as Anton Scholtz
 11
Edition 3 . 24 April 2012 Photo Feature

Splishy
Splashy
Top: A view of the river that runs alongside the Splashy Fen Festival venue. Pic: Lauren Rawlins Above: Tight-rope walking in
one of the campsites at Splashy Fen Music Festival, 2012. Pic: Anton Scholtz

By Simone Loxton congested Easter in the city. We arrived the night before the festival adventure to places such as the famous river and the far side of the

S
plashy Fen is a sneaky festival. It is advertised as an
alternative Easter weekend getaway for the family and
although elements of this are present, it sure is one hell of a
party. Imagine five dirty days without showers, constantly changing
camping arrangements and beverage consumption that will ensure
that even the most seasoned party goer’s insides rot, and you get the
uncensored version.
Now in its 23rd year, the festival has grown into one that is
nationally recognised, attracting people who want to escape a
started and were able to watch the increase in festival-goers over the
four days which followed. It allowed for many amusing times, such
as the regular appearance of semi-lost visitors looking for a friendly
place to rest before setting off on more unknown adventures. The
venue, Splashy Fen farm, is fairly small which makes for short, yet
eventful trips to nearby attractions, there are even helicopter rides
available. Even finding fellow Rhodents was pretty easy.
The Underberg area is the perfect host in bringing thousands of
people to the farm. The beautiful surroundings play an important
role in the hospitality and escape offered by the event. One is able to
campsite, untouched by anyone, which can provide the peace and
quiet which is sometimes required when an overdose of booze, dust
and noise begins to take its toll.
Splashy Fen is South Africa’s oldest music festival and has grown
to now offer a line-up of some of South Africa’s hottest acts such
as Lark, Van Coke Cartel and Hog Hogidy Hog. There was a huge
amount of Durban and Pietermaritzburg based music along with
their loyal supporters. Lesser-known bands from other areas in
South Africa also held their ground after proving themselves to the
welcoming audience.
 12
Photo Feature Edition 3

Top L-R: Shadrack “Charlie” Mathopa, Tidal Waves bassist.

Inge Beckmann, Lark vocalist.
Pics: Lauren Rawlins
Above: Former Rhodes student, Glenn Groenewald,
dressed for the festivities.
Right: Festival-goers enjoy the music at the main stage.
Pics: Anton Scholtz
 13
24 April 2012 Photo Feature

Top: PH Fat in action on the main stage.

Left: Ross Terblanche of Durban-based Celtic punk band, The Trees. Pics: Anton
Scholtz
Above: Graeme Watkins, vocalist of The Graeme Watkins Project. Pic: Lauren Raw-
lins
 13
24 April 2012 Photo Feature

Top: PH Fat in action on the main stage.

Left: Ross Terblanche of Durban-based Celtic punk band, The Trees. Pics: Anton
Scholtz
Above: Graeme Watkins, vocalist of The Graeme Watkins Project. Pic: Lauren Raw-
lins
 14
Business Edition 3

R7,83 / 1 USD
Exchange

There is no crisis in the banking system. The banking system in South Africa has withstood the
rates:

Lehman crisis. That crisis has tested our regulatory system to the ultimate extent.
R10,37 / 1 EUR
- SA Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan
R12,65 / 1 GBP

Gordhan: tackle unemployment

By Njabulo Nkosi responsibility, however. “You can’t just look at government, restricting job creation, Gordhan noted that there are efficient

F
inance Minister Pravin Gordhan has said that SA is not
doing enough to create jobs in government, business and
civil society sectors. “The real issue is not the target, the
real issue is can we mobilise all of the South African resources...
in order that all of us do what we can to put people into some
kind of job,” said Pravin Gordhan while addressing the Foreign
Correspondents Association on 16 April.
The government set the creation of five million jobs by 2020
as one of its key Millenium Development Goals. According to
Gordhan, however, this is not what policy should be focusing on.
“It is more important to get everyone into some sort of job,” he
said. This is a pertinent assertion in the wake of recent university
graduates ready to take on the working world, in which 600,000
out of 12.5 million unemployed South Africans have degrees.
“In respect of our younger people, to have the basic experience
of working, that is the objective at this point in time,” said
Gordhan. He feels that job creation is not solely a government
because 70% of those jobs must come from the private sector; it’s
the private sector that must create jobs. For them to do this, they
must invest.” Businesses have about R500 billion in unused profit
surplus in the bank, which could be used for investing in the
creating of stable employment. Most businesses are risk averse,
and the risks of this plan of action are high in the short run, but
many have called for a less short-sighted view. “Businesses need
to take medium or long term view, not just react to short term
risks,” FNB CEO Michael Jordaan argued.
Thanks to South Africa’s BRICS (Brazil, Russia, China, India
and South Africa) membership, there are opportunities open
for all sectors in Africa, because our fellow members are
economically strong enough to provide channels, infrastructure
and resources to spur job creation in SA. This is seen by some as
a way of combatting the financial difficulties plaguing the world
economy. “The globe is not going to collapse,” assured Gordhan.
“We are in a period of recovery, just a very uncertain one.”
In response to the concerns of the country’s labour laws
structures in South Africa to deal with these concerns.
“Whichever side has concerns should use those forums and
create a climate for dialogue...and resolution so that we can
move ahead.”
Gordhan says international organisations had different
views on whether South Africa’s labour legislation was rigid,
explaining that “by and large the view would be that we are not
an overly rigid economy”. He said anyone with concerns about
the proposed labour law amendments should approach Labour
Minister Mildred Oliphant, as she has an open door policy.
The South African Chamber of Commerce survey indicates
that the biggest reasons SA is failing to create jobs are economic
conditions, burdensome dismissal processes in the current
labour legislation, a shortage of skills and high wage demands.
Mobilising all sectors of the country and reaching the 2020
job creation target will be hard, but there are incentives for
businesses to create jobs. It is clear, however, that urgent
discussion is necessary in this regard.

World Bank elects new leader

By Nicolan Reddy Gordhan, with regards to the voting process.
He also linked this to whether the process had

K orean-born health expert Jim Yong Kim was chosen by the

board of the World Bank as its new leader. The 52-year-old
won in a decision that, for the first time in World Bank history,
was not unanimous. “The final nominees received support from
different member countries, which reflected the high calibre of
the candidates,” said the World Bank in a statement announcing
the board’s decision. Kim will assume his post on 1 July when the
resigned president Robert Zoellick’s term ends in June, and will
serve for five years. There is speculation and debate as to whether
or not the appointment of Kim will lead to the reforms that many
global financial leaders are calling for.
Among these leaders is South African Finance Minister
Pravin Gordhan, who has long criticised the voting structure
and transparency of the World Bank. The US has traditionally
appointed the World Bank president who takes a European
deputy and vice versa at the International Monetary Fund.
In previous elections, a very limited global demographic has
been represented in the voting process, and this is something
that emerging markets have motioned to change. “From what
I’m hearing there’s serious concerns about transparency,” said
been a merit-based one. “The world will be
waiting to see whether the World Bank has
improved its legitimacy [and] has broadened its
base of participation in the terms of the kinds of
candidates it will entertain.”
Many believe that the voting process was
more fair and transparent this time. Nigerian
Finance Minister Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, who had
the backing of the African continent, was the
only other candidate for the job after Brazilian
nominated professor at Columbia University Jose
Antonio Ocampo pulled out of the race. Okonjo- Jim Yong Kim, the recently elected leader of the World Bank. Pic: Flickr
lweala, who lost the election, is happy with the
decision and that a much broader demographic had participated the needs of its diverse clients and donors, delivers more powerful
in the election. She believes Kim is an excellent choice despite results to support sustained growth, prioritises evidence-based
criticism of him being a medical doctor and not a development solutions over ideology, amplifies the voices of developing
economist like herself. countries, and draws on the expertise and experience of the
“As President, I will seek a new alignment of the World Bank people we serve,” said Kim. These are promises the world is
Group with a rapidly changing world. Together, with partners old waiting for him to deliver in the wake of both a financially volatile
and new, we will foster an institution that responds effectively to global economy and Africa experiencing global economic growth.

Taxes forcing businesses into ‘shadow economy’

By Ziyanda Magazi informally employed. Adcorp estimates the number to be closer to Mediation and Arbitration increased by 22% from 128 000 to 156
6.5 million. With unemployment at a desperate level and the 2020 000 a year. Sharp said the industry-wide extension of bargaining

G rowth in the informal sector is encouraged by heavy regulation,

rising labour costs, corruption and declining ‘tax morality’
according to Friedrich Schneider and Dominik Enste, two German
experts on the international underground or ‘shadow’ economy. All
these factors are present in South Africa, and experts attribute the
recent shocking statistics regarding the informal sector and start-up
enterprises to them.
A 76% decline in start-up businesses in the national economy in the
last five years is due to budding entrepreneurs doing business in the
unrecorded informal sector. The drop from 250,000 to 58,000 small
businesses in 2011 could be harmful to the South African economy,
because small businesses hold a very real prospect of sustainable,
large-scale job creation in the long run.
According to an official estimate by Stats SA, 2.1 million people are
job creation goal set at five million jobs, these numbers are starting to
draw attention.
According to Adcorp labour economist Loane Sharp, the fact that so
many small start-up companies have moved to the shadow economy
indicates that the conditions for starting a legitimate small business
have deteriorated. He believes that this is due to two primary factors.
Firstly, between 2003 and 2010, SARS offered a tax amnesty that
helped many new taxpayers, including a large number of small
businesses. This period is now over and the additional burden of taxes
has fallen on small businesses. Starting up underground is a way to
avoid them.
Secondly, labour laws and regulations for small businesses have
become particularly onerous. For instance, between 2004 and 2011
the number of cases dealt with by the Council for Conciliation,
council wage agreements, typically decided on between a handful of
large employers and trade unions, also forced small businesses to pay
higher wages.
Assuming that more small businesses in South Africa are starting
up illegitimately, the disadvantages for society are that employees are
paid in cash, do not pay tax other than VAT, and are not protected by
statutory benefits.
The growth of the shadow economy is set to increase even further,
especially since more restrictive labour laws may be implemented
soon. “Such laws eventually have the opposite effect... resulting in less
protection for labour and less unionisation, because informal workers
have neither,” said Sharp. “The laws also encouraged lawlessness
and undermined the ability to gain accurate statistics, which meant
discrepancies would increase.”
 15
24 April 2012 Comment & Analysis

By Alexa Sedgwick and Kate Sedgwick Legalising pot: because in today’s society weed is actually seen

Hot or Not?
as the ‘not so harmful’ drug so it isn’t actually

T he cannabis sativa plant, otherwise known

as marijuana, weed, pot, dagga or hemp,
has had its fair share of media attention in
the past few years. Discussions regarding
its decriminalisation have grown across the
world and whether or not you agree with it,
there is no denying that it has sparked some
interesting debates. Commonly associated
with alternative groups or stereotyped as a
‘hippie’ drug, cannabis has been criminalised
in many countries and is considered a ‘gateway
drug’ to hard substance abuse. Even though
the movement for its sanction was effectively
spear-headed by alternative groups in the past,
it has now become a mainstream discussion.
The reason for the conflict of interest is mostly
due to studies that allege that the drug is not
addictive or harmful to humans, and that it
also has medical benefits that relieve pain
for cancer and multiple sclerosis patients.
However, nothing concrete has been proven
in this regard. Campaigns around the world
are advocating for both sides of the cause: the
Netherlands and North Africa are commonly
known for their legalisation of cannabis, and
other countries have also allowed controlled
use of the drug for medical purposes. It
is currently still illegal in South Africa. Is
cannabis really a medical miracle and a
harmless way to relax, or is it a dangerous
gateway drug that needs to stay illegal? Activate
sought your views.
Nicky Reid, BSC 2
I don’t think legalising weed would be a
good idea because it would then be taxed and
The debate on the legalisation of marijuana is one which many students feel particularly strong about. Pic:
Anton Scholtz
corrupt. I also think that it would take away
the fun element, because things are always a
lot more fun when you are not allowed to do
them.  alcohol, which does quite quickly. The biggest
Michael Naidoo, Clinical and Experimental
Pharmacology lecturer and Pharmacologist
I am in favour of decriminalising marijuana
because the arguments against it are flawed
pharmacologically. Firstly, there is no
evidence that marijuana is a ‘gateway drug’.
Secondly, it is a non-addictive drug and
creates no physical dependency, unlike
factor in the criminalisation of marijuana is
really that governments haven’t found a way
to tax it yet.
Damian Dillineer, BSC 1
I don’t think weed should be legalized,
that bad that people are taking it. The fact that
people do weed is largely due to the fact that
it is illegal anyway and if it became legal, it
wouldn’t be as much fun actually going to a
shop to buy it than it is getting it from a dealer.
Dr Alan Kirkaldy, History lecturer
I think marijuana should be decriminalised
– meaning that people will not be prosecuted
for having it – but not legalised, so that large
companies will not be able to deal in it. That
way, large businesses will not gain a monopoly
over it.
Ash Ketchum, BPharm 1
I think that idealistically weed should be
legalised and by doing this it would decrease
the crime levels. However, legalising weed
isn’t going to influence the number of people
using it, because it is something which a lot
of people do and many people are addicted
so they are not going to just stop because it
becomes legal.
Tshegofatso Monare, BA 3 and sub-warden of
Rosa Parks
I think it should be legalised. Even though it
is harmful and does affect people in different
ways, I just feel that people simply do it
because it is illegal. It also doesn’t make sense
that people are going to jail for things such as
smoking weed, because smoking weed doesn’t
affect anyone else but the person smoking it,
which makes it rather stupid as there are so
many other things happening in the world
which people should be arrested for.

Hollywood’s
By Luke Cadden Natasha van Blerk, BSS 2

T
Personally I don’t like 3D movies. The reason being is because
he thick-framed glasses, eye-popping performance and the I like to believe the illusion of reality within the movie. The

newest
extortionist ticket prices are all factors that make up the illusion itself is the attraction, being the ‘ideal’ girl, the ‘ideal’
popular 3D movie experience. The technology of creating boy… 3D blurs that perception. 2D allows us to differentiate
the illusion of depth perception, however, is certainly no stranger between reality and the illusion of reality. In addition, the idea
to the big screen, with the earliest 3D movie being recorded in of introducing classics into the 3D world is sad. The reason the

1922. It experienced a revival in the late 1980s, finally culminating
with the releases of various high-end 3D films like the highly
successful Avatar in 2009, which remains the highest-grossing
film of all time. On the other hand, older films are now being
re-screened with the addition of 3D, such as the Disney classic
The Lion King and more recently Titanic, which is currently in
cinemas to mark the 100th anniversary of the ship’s sinking. Some
argue that this is a money-making racket, leavings customers
unimpressed by the higher ticket prices and sheer arrogance of the
movie industry to occasionally screen films in ‘3D-only viewings’,
but it appears that many moviegoers continue to support the new
movie dimension. The 3D movie industry has a considerable (if
not permanent) impact on our cinematic experience, but will
consumers continue to buy into Hollywood’s re-release antics
or will they demand the experience of newer and better budget-
defying epics like Avatar? Should the classic films be left as they
are, or is 3D a better movie experience in general? Activate sought
the views of moviegoers across campus.
Kevin Wang, Diploma of Multimedia 3
I think 3D is just the enhancement of depth, as 2D in normal
movies only has height and length. I’m studying 3D moulding and
2D animation. Some people would say they can ‘touch’ it more
and that’s true, but the experience is the same – as in the same
story line... But the 3D movie experience will make it more fun.
They still need to fix the fact that putting the 3D glasses on might
make you feel a bit ‘grey’, but fixing it might be difficult and they
have gone wrong a few times due to the nature of 3D. But 3D is
the next step to 4D, so I say it is here to stay, but they must leave
old movies behind and make new ones for the future.
Ananda Paver, BA 2
3D movies are greatly exciting and a little headache-inducing,
dimension
but I think that the technology is only truly successful when
used for animation. Otherwise it’s just a little blurry and too
quick to follow. The glasses might be uncomfortable but 3D
really brings cartoons alive - it’s magical. I always feel like a little
kid again. I usually avoid ‘real people’ films in 3D but if it were
a movie that I really liked I might give it a watch – it’s just super
expensive.
Kirsten Wagner, BA Law 2
I just think 3D movies aren’t for everyone. I generally have quite
bad eyesight so it messes with my sight. The last two 3D movies
I saw were Alice in Wonderland and Avatar. After that I couldn’t
stand to see another 3D movie so I opted to either wait for the
DVD or I’d watch the original. I also find that 3D movies are
exuberant [sic] in price and as a student I can’t afford that kind of
cash for a movie! That’s why I feel it is a money-making scheme.
They should leave movies as they are – the storyline is the same
and the graphics are pretty much the same too with some added
‘depth’. I do understand though why 3D movies are so popular, I
suppose technology changes everything and as we move forward
technologically, we have to embrace such change.
Natalie Austin, BJourn 2
The 3D movie experience is one that requires a certain set of
circumstances. If you are not positioned at the very back or centre,
it is a waste of a good ticket. What is the point of watching a
great action flick when suddenly the sword is bent out at an angle
because you got the last seats right under the big screen?
movie is a classic is mainly based on the time it was made. Why
would you want to ruin a classic by trying to shape it into the
believed new era of movies? There are too many classics that
became that way without 3D. We live in 3D – we do not need
the illusions of entertainment to become like everyday life.
Lucille Moleko, BCom 3
Remaking Titanic was a money-making gimmick because
the movie already had so many supporters and was a success
without 3D effects. Movie-making has evolved though, so I do
think in the future 3D movies will be the norm. They are quite
cool to watch but producers should stay away from remaking
classics because audiences will probably stick to what they
know.
Tshego Monare, BA Law 2
I think 3D movies are great! They make the experience
of watching a movie even better than it is. As for remaking
classics like Titanic, I haven’t seen the 3D version yet but I
think it’s going to be even better than it already is. Well the
glasses are quite a schlep but I don’t mind wearing them – a
small price to pay for the experience I guess! I think 3D movies
are the future; it makes the whole experience more real.
Nicolas Dias, LLB 3
A movie is art, so the purpose of the art depends on who
is making the movie. If the person who is making the movie
intends it to be as realistic and immersive as possible, I think
3D is a good way to go. We all have depth perception, and we
don’t see the world as a 2D picture. But current 3D technology
is analogous to the earliest use of colour in movies; it reflects
better our reality than black and white movies, but it has a far
way to go before it reaches its potential.
 16
Features Edition 3

Festival of Chariots
By Youlendree Appasamy pull the Lord back into our

T
hearts and rekindle the loving
he thousands of Hare Krishna devotees streaming to relationship we have with Him,”
the Chariot Festival grounds in central Durban this past says Champakalata Dasi on her
Easter had an air of serenity and peace. The rhythmic blog about the festival.
chant “Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Hare Ram, Hare Ram, Hare Since 1988, the festival has
Hare” by musicians on stage was a fitting soundtrack for the been an attraction for both local
weekend. and international worshippers
The Festival of Chariots, or Ratha-Yatra, has been an annual and tourists. It is one of the
event in Durban since 1980 and has the dual purpose of main events on the Durban
showcasing Hare Krishna consciousness to the public and drawing calendar and draws over 200
three religiously significant chariots through Durban. The chariots 000 people every year. Various
are a highlight of the festival as the public is invited to pull them celebrities and presidents,
along their path. At the end of their journey, devotees cluster including President Jacob
around the chariots to receive holy fruits and garlands of flowers. Zuma and former president
“I really feel blessed when garlands and other goods are thrown Thabo Mbeki, have attended
down from the chariots,” said Samandrie Govender of Shallcross. the festival to show national
“It gives one a sense of peace and I’ve come back for the chariots support.
the past seven years.” Hare Krishna devotees are
The festival is held annually in India in the city of Jagannatha practising vegetarians and,
Puri. As in Durban, the chariots are drawn through the city to the initially, the lack of meat
A Lord Krishna figurine is surrounded by Hare Krishna devotees at the Festival of Chariots in
ancient temple in which Hare Khrishna is worshipped. The festival options can be a concern for
Durban on the Easter weekend. Pic: Youlendree Appasamy
is based on the legend that Hare Krishna was inspired by the some. However, the various
spontaneous love of his followers to leave his castle and visit them vegetarian food stalls catered for many different tastes and degradable,” said Janardana Daas of Phoenix. “[The] eating of
in an ecstatic state. appetites. flesh serves to degrade the body faster so it is not done. This is our
“The esoteric meaning of the Ratha-Yatra parade is that we “Hare Krishnas worship the soul solely, as the body is original state of being.”

The positive power of ‘phuck’

Nina McFall

S wearing in a professional context could impact your job –

positively. According to a Forbes online article, the use of
expletives has the potential to make those in power seem more
approachable, which can be a powerful tool for lecturers and
politicians alike.
According to Sean Stonefield’s article, the taboos against
swearing in public might not be well-founded. In the article,
Robert Sutton, author of Good Boss, Bad Boss and a professor at
Stanford Engineering School, argues that “taboo words have an
emotional impact that replacements cannot equal, and [they]
suggest that when public figures like Barack Obama and Donald
Trump throw about an expletive (or several, in Trump’s case) it
only helps them to appear more relatable.” Sutton adds, “There
are times when cursing adds emphasis and does not necessarily
hurt your image.”
Dr Alan Kirkaldy, a History lecturer at Rhodes admits, “I do
swear in lectures, but I never actually swear at students. I like
to think I don’t swear gratuitously, but to make points. Swearing
is a normal part of language.”
Kirkaldy explains the motivation behind his relaxed lecturing
style: “The public pay your salary, so they should be able to
read what you write if they want to. I write and speak as the
general public can understand. Academic production should be
accessible. I put things as simply as I can.” Kirkaldy adds that
this technique helps students to remember what has been said
in lectures.  Cory Scherer, an Assistant Professor of Psychology
at Penn State University, who conducted a related study, agrees:
“If you use swearing in a humorous way, it can be a great tool Illustration: Katja Schreiber
for relieving stress in a situation and bringing the group closer.”
Kirkaldy explains that he does not set out to offend anyone, swore at the end, and the third not at all. Results showed that It was discovered that those who swore were able to keep their
and stresses that he never utters racist, sexist or homophobic the speakers who cursed during their lecture scored higher in hands in the ice water for longer. Interestingly, the effect was
remarks. “You have to be able to interact on another level ‘persuasion and perceived passion’ than the one who didn’t. particularly strong amongst volunteers who said they did not
[besides academia], as a human,” he says. “You have got to be Furthermore, the swearing did not impact the students’ usually curse.
provocative in a way that doesn’t offend.” perception of the speaker’s credibility. “Swearing is a way of US President Barack Obama, Vice-President Joe Biden,
The Forbes article cites a 2006 study by Scherer and Brad communicating that you are the most important person in the Donald Trump and Steve Jobs have all been known to use
J. Sagarin from Northern Illinois University which backs the room,” says Scherer. swearwords during public appearances. President Obama went
above claims. The 88 students who took part in the study Swearing has also been proven to have other effects. A 2009 on The Today Show following the BP oil spill to tell NBC host
were randomly assigned to listen to one of three speeches on report by researchers at Keele University in Staffordshire, Matt Lauer that he was consulting experts about the spill “so I
high tuition rates. The speeches were all of a similar length England, found that swearing can ease physical pain. Volunteers know whose ass to kick”. In this case, perhaps President Obama
containing similar material, with one key difference: in the for the experiment held their hands in ice water, first while should have selected a stronger word, as he was criticised for
first speech the speaker swore at the start, the second speaker repeating a curse and then while using a less offensive phrase. his ‘lack of passion’ in reaction to the spill.

24 April 2012
More than ink on skin
By Kerstin Hall
I
t’s an overcast day. The small side street that leads to the tattoo
parlour is difficult to find and overgrown with ivy. Irritable dogs
bark from the backyards of adjoining houses, but there aren’t
any other people around. On the gate a monochrome sign leers,
depicting a skull and daggers.
It’s an intimidating scene.
One tattoo artist has tattoos covering almost every part of exposed
skin, from his hands to his face. They vary in subject matter: he
has a clover on his forehead and an incredibly intricate design of
flowers, chains and faces writhing across his forearm. He says that
most of them don’t have any special meaning. After a short foray
into the tattoo subculture, that’s hard to believe.
Rhodents themselves have more tattoos than most people
would suspect. Some of them, like the tattoo artist, have big, bold,
colourful designs proudly on display. Liam Rabitte, for instance, has
the entire Van Morrison song ‘Sweet Thing’ tattooed in black ink
down the side of his chest. Apparently, he has another tattoo as well.
Hilary Kane (left) and Liam Rabitte (right) show off their tattoos. Many students who have been inked say that their tattoos are deeply personal and significant and are not necessarily just for show
and tell. Pics: Kerstin Hall.
Enough to make you sick
By Youlendree Appasamy and Gabriela Masson
C onstant stomach aches, looking and feeling like a corpse
and running to the bathroom every three minutes – these
are some of the symptoms students have been complaining about
after eating res food. As 50% of Rhodes students live in res, it is a
complaint that should not be taken lightly.
First-years Luyanda Mahlinza and Brian Mabe have first-hand
experience of residence kitchens. Both were serving hours in the
last week of first term in the Kimberley West dining hall and were
shocked by the lack of general hygiene standards with regards
to the washing of dishes, trays and cups. “They only clean the
countertops around the dirty dishes properly,” said Mabe.
Mahlinza agrees, saying that both she and Mabe were
reprimanded for spending more time attempting to clean the
dishes and trays thoroughly. “We were hurried up and told to leave
them. It seems like they [the kitchen staff] were rushing to get
home,” said Mahlinza.
Dirty dishes are known to be a contributing factor towards
“Yeah, but he can’t show you that one,” sniggers a friend.
Other students have smaller tattoos, often hidden from the public
eye. Bridget White has a small peace sign tattooed on her back. It’s
something she truly believes in. “Other people often bring me down
about it,” she says. “They think peace is a stupid notion and that I
must be a hippy.” She recently got the tattoo because she wanted to
do something exciting and permanent to represent a part of who
she is.
Zintle Dolweni also has uplifting, positive tattoos. Zintle had
always wanted a tattoo, so she went to a tattoo parlour in Durban
two years ago and had a phoenix etched onto her ankle without
telling anyone. She laughs and adds, “My mom didn’t freak out.
She just asked how much it had cost when she saw it.” Zintle also
knew exactly what image she wanted: it had to be a phoenix. “No
matter what situations I go through, I can rise from the ashes like a
phoenix and start over,” she says.
Hilary Kane’s tattoo is well-hidden on her side. “It’s the perfect
spot,” she says. “I can keep it private.” The beautiful purple orchid
is her own design, a gesture of self-expression. Orchids are her
diarrhoea, vomiting, salmonella and E. coli infections. Melvin
Pascal, a food scientist at Ohio State University, explained that
bacteria which cause ill health to humans multiplies faster in
utensils such as forks and plastic trays.
Worryingly, dirty dishes are not the worst of it. Describing the
beef used in the dining hall, Mahlinza said that it was “mostly
red but some parts were black or grey, and two flies flew out of
the beef when I picked up the packet”. In the last week of the
first term, the mince used in the Halaal meal (in Kimberley West
dining hall) was described by the students of the dining hall as
being green.
According to Mavis Mnyungula, the Senior Caterer at Kimberly
West dining hall, the allegations made by students are not true.
Mnyungula stated that dishes are washed through a dishwasher,
which uses Diner Wash and Diner Rinse (cleaning chemicals), and
are dried with paper towels instead of dishcloths. According to her,
this is because cloths can harbour potentially dangerous bacteria.
Myungula stated that kitchens have set regulations that have
been implemented in the interest of health and safety. She also
17
Features
favourite flowers and symbolise femininity and individuality to her.
She, like Zintle, had also always known she was going to get inked.
Other students have different, sadder significances behind their
tattoos. Louise Fuller had always wanted a tattoo, but it was only
after her brother passed away that she went out and got one. The
tattoo on her lower back is a stylised butterfly alongside his initials.
“I wanted it to be meaningful,” she says. “I saw the butterfly design
on the Internet and I knew I had to get that one.”
Milly Wilkinson had her tattoo done just a few weeks ago. The
design on her foot is of a daisy, alongside the name “Wilkinson” in a
pretty, curving font. “My grandfather passed away. It’s a dedication
to him,” she says. Milly’s grandfather had always liked daisies, and
often wore one behind his ear. “He wrote a poem called I Pick More
Daisies, about living life to the fullest.”
Tattoos, in their varied shapes, sizes and significances, are not
arbitrary symbols, and do not always signify an attempt at being
‘cool’. They mean something to the person on whose body they are
imprinted. They leave a mark on the skin and can often reveal a
little of a person’s soul.
asserts that, to her knowledge, the meat served in the dining hall is
not compromised.
Correspondence between food representatives and catering
administration ultimately proved to be fruitless, as stool or vomit
samples had to be given at the Health Care Centre to verify if it
was indeed gastro-enteritis or food-borne contamination.
Avril Kivitts, a nurse at the Health Care Centre, commented on
the increase in stomach complaints on campus. “The incidences
have been quite random, and about 98% of the students who come
in complaining of stomach aches have then requested LOAs.”
Kivitts went on to say that not all students complaining of an upset
stomach were actually sufferers of gastro-enteritis, and there were
“big questions on the legitimacy of the complaints”.
Without evidence directly linking residence food to ill health,
the Health Care Centre cannot verify the food poisoning claims.
The Health Care Centre and the Catering Department urge
students to come forward and report incidences of gastro-enteritis
immediately, so that this can be put to bed and students can eat
meat dishes without doubts of its freshness.
 Edition 3

EVENTS GUIDE Zebra and Giraffe come

Zebra & Giraffe
8pm on Wednesday 25 April
under The Knife
By David Mann
Prime R30

Acoustic Soul
Wednesday 25 April
Makhaya’s Lounge
The Dogs Must Be Crazy
Wednesday 25 April and
Thursday 26 April (7pm)
Rhodes Box Theatre
Ladies Night
8pm on Thursday 26 April
Prime R60
MYOWNMUSIC: It came
from the mountains?!
Friday 4 May
Slipstream Sports Bar
I
ndie rock band and popular
favourites of the local music
scene, Zebra and Giraffe are
hitting Grahamstown this week
on Wednesday 25 April.
The band has been on a
winning streak lately, walking
away with a South African
Music Award for ‘Best Rock
Album’ with their debut album
Collected Memories, as well as
a MTV Africa Music Award
in Kenya for the category
‘Best Alternative’, beating both
Coldplay and Green Day for the
award. Greg Carlin, the band’s
vocalist, called the experience
a career highlight. “It’s always
great to receive recognition
from the industry,” he said.
Zebra and Giraffe has gone
international for the first time
with their EP The Knife, which
Zebra & Giraffe are set to rock Grahamstown this week. Pic: Wesley Vinay
contains songs from their
debut album. The EP was mixed and mastered by famed producer Cenzo is currently working on their third album to be released in July and will be
Townshend, who has worked with bands such as Snow Patrol, Editors and touring SA shortly after that to promote it.
U2. “It was crazy going to London and working with Cenzo, it was a great They are now well-known favourites in SA music with their experimental
experience,” says Carlin. The band also plans to tour internationally near songs and captivating lyrics. Carlin, who writes the songs, is inspired
the end of the year to promote the release of their third album. from his experiences, giving the songs a very personal feel with powerful
Since starting out in about 2008, they have only gone from strength to emotion. “Writing music is very cathartic and is a great way for me to deal
strength, shown by their follow-up album The Inside and the international with things,” he says. “It’s like my therapy.”
launch of their latest EP. Zebra and Giraffe is a band to be reckoned with. The last gig Zebra and Giraffe held in Grahamstown drew the biggest
The band has made a name for themselves by frequently touring around SA crowd on their album launch tour. Carlin says “it was an insane show and
and building up a strong fan base. They have said that despite piracy and also a highlight. We can’t wait to come back.” Be sure to to catch their show
“turmoil in the local music scene”, it’s getting better all the time. The band at Prime on Wednesday, 25 April.

Richard the Third Anything but the tip of the iceberg

Friday 11 May
The Union
The Graeme Watkins
Project
Friday 18 May
The Union
Alive! at the Monument
7.30pm on Sunday 12 May
R50 tickets available at various
shops in town
If you would like your event to
appear in the gig guide or have a
story suggestion, email artsan-
dentertainment.activate@gmail.
com
By Gemma Barkhuizen
Title: Titanic (3D re-release)
Director: James Cameron
Cast: Leonardo DiCaprio, Kate Winslet.
Running time: Too damn long.
Rating: Only okay to watch if you have just been
dumped and feel the need to bask in self pity by
watching a romantic film that is clichéd enough
to correlate with this mode of dealing with a
break-up
T itanic – the pseudo-historical tale of the
forbidden and unlikely love that develops
between an upper-class, engaged girl (Winslet)
and a poor young nomadic artist (DiCaprio)
aboard a supposedly unsinkable ship. Everyone
knows the plot, even those who are lucky enough
never to have spent three mind-numbing hours of
their lives watching it.
Upon its original release, Titanic was the
highest grossing film of all time. It is a film that
everyone is expected to have seen, yet nobody is
expected to admit having enjoyed. The motivation
behind its re-release is thus questionable (it was
purportedly to commemorate the centenary of the
ship’s sinking), although the fact that it was in 3D
undoubtedly made viewing it more bearable: after
all, nearly any film can be exciting when it is in
three dimensions… even one that has been done
to death.
However, aside from this aesthetic element
of excitement (the cinematography is actually
quite remarkable), there is little that can be said
to justify Titanic’s cult following. While it may
be worth watching out of curiosity as to why a
film that is so obviously mediocre in every way
should have attracted such devout and widespread
adoration, it is inevitable that this curiosity will
not be satisfied by this monotonous, gratuitously
drawn-out piece of overrated cinema that is
Cameron’s classic.
The iconic music score – if you can hear it over
the sobbing middle-aged women who will no
doubt comprise the majority of the audience
– is admittedly near-perfect; but only because
it complements the repulsive soppiness that
pervades the movie, ensuring that it is unable to
resist its extravagant sentimentality. Furthermore,
the cast is enjoyable, but only because it is an
amusing novelty to see that Leonardo DiCaprio
could not always act all that well – and also to
marvel at the spectacularly over-plucked eyebrows
of Rose’s fiancé (Billy Zane). Pic: Flickr
If you are planning to revisit Titanic because
you cherished it as a child and are thus seeking abandon that plan. However, if you are one of
validation for that childhood appreciation – a the rare individuals who have yet to watch this
surprisingly and consolingly commendable film questionable classic and feel foolishly deprived as
that escapes its own clichés and thus makes you a result, at least now you can watch it in 3D. Nude
feel less ashamed of having loved it so much – scenes are much cooler in 3D.

24 April 2012
Horrible horoscopes
HOROSCOPES Writing these can’t be that hard …
Libra
You are a pretty airhead and nothing
more. You are terrible at making
decisions and can never stick to them once they’re
made. And would it kill you to use a little less
perfume? Your skirts are always too short and you
flirt too much! To find some decorum and dignity
this month, try the 27th.
Scorpio
You’re just weird. You like death
and have strange sex fantasies. You
only make friends with dumb people
so that you can always feel important - hence
your fascination with dominatrices. You are too
demanding and super secretive! You should be living
on another planet. Space trips are coming up soon…
Get yourself on a rocket on 4 May!
Sagittarius
Your only skill is making tea. You pretend
to be busy, but you really never are, your
days are spent sleeping and nights drinking
in a quiet corner. Is it so hard to stick to a system or
commit to a relationship? Stop trying to tell people
that you have skills – you really don’t.
Capricorn
Someone likes to talk about themselves! You
love your drink and pretend to be the non-
By Sarisha Dhaya
judgemental and jealous type but you are a
jealous monster and everyone can see through your act.
Buy a huge bear jacket – try hunting on 17 May.
Aquarius
You’re a Jack of all trades, but
master of none. Nothing is really ever done properly
– you would be the perfect robot because you walk
around with no visible feelings, and you’re tactless!
Try some community engagement; you might earn
yourself some heart eventually.
Pisces
You live in your own delusional world
and you’re a cry-baby. You tear up at
anything, and you probably had your
first cry for the day already – you’re far too sensitive
and lack real drive for life. Reality check: LIFE IS
NOT A FAIRYTALE! Stop listening to Taylor Swift.
It’s definitely not helping your situation.
Aries
You are so super competitive it’s
ridiculous! You go about life making
up little competitions for yourself so that you can
be the winner all the time. You are a loud, annoying
bossypants with whom no-one wants to play. Tone
it down – try meditation on the edge of a cliff
tomorrow!
Taurus
Micro-manager alert! Could you just
focus on fixing your own life? People
are getting rather irritated with you trying to manage
theirs and you are becoming quite unpopular. You’re
such a prude, even when it comes to clothing! If you
find the courage this month, try shopping on the
26th.
19
Horoscope
Gemini
You don’t plan on growing up
and you’re a two-faced monster.
Newsflash: all but one must grow up, and that one’s
name is Peter Pan! You never stop talking and you
never say anything interesting. Haven’t you noticed
the looks your friends give you?
Cancer
Damn, you are one moody person –
it’s like PMS for life with you. Actually,
it’s the guys who are the most annoying whiny
creatures – you know the type. They cry in toilet
paper commercials. Especially that really moving
one with the puppy.
Leo
You are lazy! You expect the world to
bow down to you as if you are Mufasa
– you’re not. Get a move on and get
something done because sooner rather than later
someone will knock you off your high pedestal. It
will hurt and leave a scar on your beloved face – you
vain thing. You probably think this horoscope is
about you, don’t you?
Virgo
You’re too picky – someone should pick
you apart. Life isn’t clean. It’s messy and
nothing is going to change that. No matter
how many times you try to order your pencils they will
never stay that way in order and neither will your life!
 20
Lifestyle Edition 3

Daring
dreadlocks
By Rhea Macdonald with Elna Schütz were always willing to give a hand. It

S
omehow, I find that you always notice
the person with dreadlocks. Perhaps
you wonder how they got their
hair to do that, or if they ever even take a
shower? My friend and I had been talking
about getting dreads for a while, and we
decided it was time we made it a reality
in the summer of 2007. We enlisted the
help of my mother, her friend, and a few
YouTube videos explaining how to make
them. Six hours later, after much scalp
abuse, our dreads were born.
Making a dreadlock in the beginning
involves backcombing your hair into a
massive tease, then twisting and rolling
sections between the palms. Luckily my
mother and her friend had done this
part for me; unluckily for me and my
friend, the pulling and teasing hurts.
This combination, repeated again and
again, tangles the hairs and eventually
they become matted and dread-like. But
this is only the initial process. After this,
the first few months involve substantial
maintenance in the form of backcombing,
rolling, waxing, and even crocheting dreads
through themselves to tighten them up.
This I had to do myself, though friends
became a daily ritual to sit in front of the
mirror and work on my dreads. Once they
were settled in though, it was a breeze.
Except for occasional fixings, they did not
require any styling.
Now for the big question: do dreadheads
shower? Once the dreads have compressed
and meshed up, they can be washed
regularly. Just because they can, however,
does not mean they will be. Rachel Garbary,
a first-year Community Development
student at St Francis Xavier University,
explains that people always ask her if she
can wash them, “followed by a look of
absolute disgust and confusion when I
voluntarily disclose that yes you can, but I
haven’t in 3 months”.
For Emma Harris, a first-year Rhodes
student, dreadlocks invoke a feeling of,
well, dread, calling them disgusting and
unhygienic. “No one should ever subject
their hair to that,” she says.
People of any and every ethnicity have
purposefully backcombed, teased, twisted,
and rolled their hair into this historic style.
There are many opinions on dreadlocks.
Dreadlocks for me though, will always
emanate a certain love and respect. They Ixora-Li Nash, a third-year BA student at Rhodes, is proud of her dreadlocks. She saya that it is hard
are a part of my history I will never regret. work maintaining them, but worthwhile in the end. Pic: Anton Scholtz

Thank you for not staring

By Inga Sibiya it’s on your derriere or the dumbbells in your hands) is Siyamthanda Stone. Kyle Tate, a Rhodes Health Suite staff
fundamental. Time is anything but just a number. Don’t deny member says,“You do look around, but 99% of the guys come

F or those who scrape themselves together in time to go to

the health suite at 05h30, their size is the starting point
with which their day is based – whether they like it or not.
“Enter weight”- the number, so despicably displayed on the
screen of your machine, taunts you throughout your entire
workout. No longer a living, breathing person with feelings but
an imperfect collection of muscle, bone and fat.
The gym is a place where the weight you’re packing (whether
it – at one time or another, even you have looked at a fellow
gym-goer and seen nothing but their body. It may have been in
envious longing of the flat stomach stretching on the yoga mats
or the long legs leaning against the wall in a 90-degree angle.
We have all stared longingly at someone at the gym.
“It’s cool, I get to check chicks out and bulk up at the same
time,” says Joshua Brennan. Not everyone enjoys this though. “I
don’t feel comfortable. I literally left the one time,” complained
with a mate to work out together so there’s really no picking up
here.”
The Rhodes Health Suite could be replacing the swimming
pool as the new ‘meat market’, whether it is just a breeding
ground for sexual objectification and judgement, or still has
working out as its main function is debatable. I guess it would
all depend on your point of view - the view of the hottie on the
treadmill that is.

Kia Rio: from the ashes

By Ruan Scheepers he has continued in a similar vein with the Rio. Its aggressive
looks and sporty 17" rims give it the appearance of having a

I n the not-so-distant past it was unthinkable for a Kia to have

any kind of appeal whatsoever, with the exception of the
Picanto – and then only because nothing else was available and
you really didn’t want to walk. As a competitor against the likes
of the Ford Fiesta, VW Polo and Toyota Yaris, this new car is
under a lot of pressure to make a good first impression on the
global market. Its competitors are established icons in the small
car division and although the Yaris is now more than past its
expiry date, it remains a good seller because of its reputation to
perform when needed. The new Rio has no real legacy to rely
on. It was a case of here and now, make or break.
At first glance it isn’t quite clear that you are looking at a
Kia and not an Opel or Audi. Then again, it was sketched by
Peter Schreyer, the former designer for Audi and VW. He was
responsible for the Audi TT, A3 and A6 and the VW Golf, and
hidden agenda, like a naughty kid plotting their next prank.
It’s a strikingly good-looking car, and inside is no different.
A beautifully designed cabin with Bluetooth, iPod and AUX
connections for your audio system are standard features. There
really is a genuine sense that this is a quality product.
The 1.4l motor needs to be thrashed if you want any sort of
The new Kia Rio is said to be a fit competitor for the likes of the
rapid movement, so with the 1.2l option, overtaking a truck on Ford Fiesta, VW Polo and Toyota Yaris. Pic: AutoMotor und Sport
a hill would be better dealt with using an angry mule and cart.
Although it feels solid and well put-together, it must be said and the Polo technically and performance-wise, and tell you
that the plastic used on the dash and door panels seems cheap. about its value for money. The Rio doesn’t feel like a small
But you could look past that - these issues are mentioned city runabout. On a long distance drive it is so spacious and
purely to find something to criticise. Apart from these glitches, comfortable, so quiet and pleasant that it feels like a car worth
this is a sorted car. Its price and overall package will put a three times the price. The genius of this car is just that: at R154
genuine smile on your face and bank balance. 000 there is nothing in the segment that can match it. This is a
One could talk for hours about how it compares to the Fiesta grown-up car for people who still want a touch of fun.
 21
24 April 2012 Science & Technology

Facebook buys Instagram

for $1 billion
By Brad de Klerk pictures daily and the purchase of Instagram is crucial

M
onday 9 April 2012 will be remembered as the
day that Facebook took its first steps towards
becoming a web conglomerate. Their purchase
of popular photo-sharing application Instagram, which
recently became available on Android, cost them a cool
10 figure sum, competing with Google’s acquisition of
YouTube back in 2006 for $1.65 billion.
This move is unusual for the social-networking giant,
whose previous dealings have been in purchasing start-up
businesses for their engineering talent. In a post on the
social network, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg said that
this is an important milestone for the company because it
is the first time they have acquired a product and company
with so many users. He added that this was a rare dealing
and the company does not plan for many more of the sort
if any at all.
Zuckerberg says that Facebook users upload 250 million
for Facebook to retain their large mobile audience. He
admitted that Facebook’s own in-house mobile application
was slow and cumbersome to navigate. The company hopes
to learn through Instagram’s mobile expertise to increase
their own knowledge.
However, some users have questioned whether Instagram
will retain its unique appeal after its integration with
Facebook. Many users on Twitter say they plan to uninstall
the app as a form of protest.
The CEO of Instagram, Kevin Systrom, has posted a blog
article in an attempt to quell fears. “The Instagram app will
still be the same one you know and love,” he says. “You’ll
still have all the same people you follow and that follow
you. You’ll still be able to share to other social networks.
And you’ll still have all the other features that make the app
so fun and unique.”
With the integration still in its early period, only time will A photo of the bicycle sculpture taken using the photo-sharing application
tell whether users’ fears will be realised. Instagram. Pic: Sarisha Dhaya

Stem cells could fight HIV

By Megan Ellis immune systems. The researchers’ next step will be to begin making T cell
Microbiology Honours student David Penkler, says that the receptors that are able to target different parts of the virus. Also,

A breakthrough has been made in the fight against HIV and

AIDS. Scientists at the University of California, Los Angeles
have found that stem cells can help battle HIV cells in living
tissue, suppressing the virus’ damage to the immune system.
The study was published on 12 April in the journal PLos
Pathogen. It involved the genetic alteration of stem cells to form
immune cells, which in turn will be capable of destroying HIV-
infected cells. These cells were placed in human tissue implanted
in mice so that scientists could see their reaction in living tissue.
While the human body is able to produce the T cells which are
capable of destroying HIV-infected cells, there are not enough
of them. Therefore, the use of altered stem cells could be a
viable way to contain the virus’ damage to infected individuals’
treatment would be comparable to viral immunisation. “HIV
targets our immune system, weakening our defences and thus
AIDS develops,” he explained. “Introducing a cell that is not
affected by HIV and is capable of carrying out an immune
response against the virus can be compared to any other viral
immunisation. Instead of antibodies being introduced, a
genetically altered cell is the means of defence.”
According to the Daily Mail, the study’s lead researcher Scott
Kitchen believes that this is “the first step in developing a more
aggressive approach in correcting the defects in the human T cell
responses that allow HIV to persist in infected people”.
However, the research does not guarantee a cure as its results
in mice may be different to its results in humans.
since it was found that stem cells need to match the patient,
much like in organ transplants, the researchers now plan to
find T cells that could be used in more genetically-matched
individuals.
Penkler says that while the discovery has extraordinary
implications, it may prove unaffordable as a treatment in the
future. “Due to the nature of the treatment, close monitoring
will be required to ensure that inserted stem cells do not start
dividing uncontrollably and thus cause collateral disease such
as cancer,” he said. “The cost of such a treatment will more than
likely be too high for the average South African citizen.”
He adds that these findings “open a door for the development
of many other immunological cures”.

Pirate Bay to go airborne

By Brad de Klerk and Megan Ellis

T he Pirate Bay, the world’s largest torrent website, recently announced plans to launch ‘Low Orbit
Server Stations’ in an attempt to avoid shutdown and censorship. After numerous takedown
attempts by authorities, the site’s owners hope this will be the answer to their run-ins with the law.
This proposal comes in light of the recent push for copyright laws and Internet censorship
legislation from the US and the EU. Other sites have been shut down, including the file-hosting site
Megaupload, whose founder was arrested in January.
“With the development of GPS-controlled drones, far-reaching cheap radio equipment and tiny
new computers like the Raspberry Pi, we’re going to experiment with sending out some small
drones that will float some kilometres up in the air,” The Pirate Bay said in a recent blog post. They
added that they are always trying to optimise the positions of their front-end machines which
redirect users’ traffic requests to a secret location.
The site is also looking to implement modern radio transmitters which can transfer at speeds of
100Mbps per node up to 50km away, but these are yet to be confirmed. These Low Orbit Server
Stations will act as a proxy system – one which establishes connections between computers – that
will redirect traffic. This will replace their front end machines, which are more vulnerable to being
shut down.
However the launch of these server stations could be problematic: there are issues concerning
the required height as well as low-flying aircraft occupying the same airspace. Others do not even
believe the site’s owners are serious about the endeavour.
According to The Hacker News, The Pirate Bay claims to have bought Greek airspace for the
launch of their drones. Flying in international airspace will make it harder for governments
to shut down the servers. “Political power in Athens, Greece today signed an agreement with
representatives for The Pirate Bay about exclusive usage of the Greek airspace at 8000-9000ft,” said
the site’s owners.
While The Pirate Bay and many downloading hopefuls are positive about the plan, it has yet to be
Illustrator: Katja Schreiber seen whether it will be a sustainable solution.
 22
Environment Edition 3

HOW TO Earth Day, Beached whale an endangered species

save a rhino
By Shirley Erasmus every day
For obvious reasons, the poaching By Isabelle Anne Abraham

of South Africa’s rhino for their horns
has caused an uproar. The majority of
poached rhino horns are smuggled to
countries such as China and Vietnam.
Poaching is perpetuated by beliefs that
rhino horns contain magical medicinal
properties, curing everything from
pus-filled boils to demon possession.
This year, 181 rhinos have already been
butchered for their horns. Shocking
images of brutalised rhinos have been
posted on news sites and social media,
stirring up feelings of deep sorrow
and anger as well as an overwhelming
helplessness in many. We are not all
able, like Dr William Fowlds (see ‘A new
light for rhinos’), to have an active
impact on the situation.
Perhaps your initial reaction, like mine,
was dumbfounded horror and shock at
the gruesome photographs and videos
followed by a melancholic apathy as I
gradually became desensitised to the
images. Yes, it is awful, but what can I
really do to help? Harry Owen, a local
Grahamstown poet, said in his call
for contributions to his next poetry
anthology, that one may feel “the
problem is so overwhelming there can’t
be anything we can do as individuals
E
arth Day 2012, held on Sunday 22 April, has
come and gone without garnering much attention
or action. The theme was ‘Mobilize the Earth’: a
movement to encourage people from all corners of the
planet to take part in environmental deeds.
The first Earth Day was held more than 40 years ago
in America. Today it has achieved global participation
of one billion people. For a country that needs plenty
of environmental attention, South Africa does not host
enough programmes or activities to support this event.
The 2012 Environmental Performance Index ranked
South Africa 128 out of 132 countries. SA is one of the
weakest performers with a worrying rate of environmental
decline.
The Wildlife and Environment Society of South Africa
attributes this decline to: the nation’s compromised
water systems, an energy system driven by fossil fuels, On 12 April, a 14-metre Bryde’s Whale was discovered washed up on the shores
loss of biodiversity, and the widening gap between social of Buffalo Beach in Knysna. The Bryde’s Whale is seriously depleted in some areas
upliftment and environmental management. Since due to the threat of whaling practices, and as a result of the 1986 moratorium on
government policy and involvement is lacking, individuals whaling, they are now a globally protected species.
have to affect change whenever and wherever they can. Nearby residents noticed the smell of the whale carcass when it started
For Rhodes students, there are many effective campus decomposing, and spotted it floating near the shore. Once the carcass had washed
organisations to get involved in: SEACC SF, Galela Amanzi, on shore, residents were warned to exercise caution when swimming in the sea
Masincedane and ROAR are just a few of them. The point because the carcass was attracting sharks into the nearby waters. According to the
is that action has to occur immediately and as often as Knysna-Plett Herald, rescue teams spent the whole evening attempting to tow the
possible. One single day is not enough to appreciate the carcass back into the sea and were unsuccessful as the carcass was firmly anchored
earth. The current environmental crisis means that the on the rocks. It has subsequently been disposed of on a local farm. Pic: John de Bryn
concept of Earth Day should be implemented every day.

A new light for rhinos

to help - but there is.” My hope in this
edition of Activate is not to shock you,
scare you or guilt you into caring about
the plight of the rhino with horrifying
images or gruesome descriptions, but
rather to celebrate this beautiful animal By David Peek potential for illustrations too. The aim of

and show you what you can do to make
a positive difference in this situation
and for the environment as a whole.
The first, most obvious, thing you can
do is simply to spread the word. Join
groups, share articles online, educate
others and get the word out there. The
second thing you can do is to write a
personal letter to the Chinese Embassy
in the hopes that with an overwhelming
outcry demanding attention to this
injustice, authorities will pay more
attention to education and there
will be some kind of response from
those involved in this trade. To do this,
address your letters to:
The Ambassador
Chinese Embassy
972, Pretorius Street
Arcadia 0083
PRETORIA
 
Letters copied to:
Dr Nicola Brewer
British High Commissioner
255 Hill Street
Arcadia 0002
PRETORIA
It is easy to feel insignificant in the
face of such huge tragedies, but every
single effort to change this situation
makes a difference – no matter how
small.
I t’s easy to feel overwhelmed by the constant
deluge of images of butchered wildlife, and
particularly the rhino. It is easy to slip into
a sense of apathy as yet another image of a
dehorned rhino is flung at you. Currently,
the future of the rhino seems bleak and there
doesn’t seem to be any real hope of resolving
the situation. There is seemingly little that
the individual can do beyond sharing the
odd Facebook status or donating money to
conservation organisations.
Harry Owen, a local poet and author of The
Music of Ourselves and Non Dog, has dedicated
himself to making a positive contribution
towards the current crisis through the medium
he knows best – poetry.
After attending a talk given by Dr William
Fowlds on the plight of our rhinos, Owen
speaks of that “overwhelming horror” at the
realities he heard about in the nearby Kariega
Game Reserve. After the lecture, Owen says
that he took to heart Fowlds’ plea of, “making
an effort to do something, no matter the size of
the action”, and considered the idea of making a
difference to the situation through poetry. “I’m
not an activist, I’m a poet,” says Owen.
Owen adds that he knows many poets who
would be just as deeply affected, and thus
hopes to have as many poets as possible on
board with the project. He is planning to
compile an anthology of poetry, the proceeds
of which would go towards Kariega Game
Reserve in an effort to contribute to the stop
of Rhino poaching. He says he has received an
overwhelmingly positive response from poets
worldwide.
Aviary
By Harry Owen
They shriek and whistle like Bedlam inmates,
startling swatches of primary dyeings
against a destitution of cement,
wood and wire – alien and outlandish
in their crazy, squawking belligerence,
visions entirely stripped of a context.
See them, imagine them in tropical
forest, where the sun unbends amongst
fronds
and flowers, where the universe dazzles
and they vanish into hot, moist screechings,
into joy, into pure feeling and air –
see them, imagine, then bleed for them here.
Opposites, yes. Where the whole world’s
frantic
with colour, only the dullest stand out.
The anthology will possibly contain works
from some of the leading names in the field of
environmentally-oriented poetry. For example,
Professor Dan Wylie of the Rhodes Department
of English is on board, as is Chris Mann,
Professor of Poetry; UK poet Pascale Petit;
Zimbabwean-based John Eppel and PE poet
Sonwabo Meyi.
Owen encourages everyone to submit their
own poetry to the project, and there is the
the anthology is not to showcase all the big
names in poetry, but rather a collection of
“brilliant poems” that will make an impact
on readers. The poems can relate to anything
environmental. Submissions will be chosen at
Owen’s discretion with the final deadline being
15 June 2012.
Owen hopes that the proceeds from the
anthology can go towards increasing the
physical protection of the rhino, improving
education about the crisis amongst local
communities, and raising general awareness.
One of the goals of the project is to create
awareness beyond the borders of South Africa,
and possibly even in China and Vietnam – the
two greatest global consumers of rhino horn.
Owen has said he sees his work as “putting
a Band-Aid on a gaping wound – it won’t do
much, but it will do something until proper
surgery can take place.”
With the positive response the project has
attracted as well as the large amounts of
material Owen has already received, the biggest
obstacle concerning the project is funding. The
printing costs will make up the majority of the
expenditures and as such, Owen will be grateful
for any who may want to contribute financially.
The proposed work provides something positive
instead of relying on the power of shock to get
its point across. This initiative is attempting
to make a deeper impact on the current
environmental crisis through demonstrating the
dire situation in another light, a way that every
person can relate to on a personal level.
Anyone who wishes to contribute to the
anthology or has an enquiry can contact Harry
Owen at heo@hotmail.co.uk.
 23
24 April 2012 Sport

On the ball
By Bridgette Hall
RU athletes to take on NZ
By Morgan Collins and windy swim, cycle and run during the South training at 100 percent to do as well as possible,”

Debate over goal-line technology has
once again come under the spotlight
after Chelsea was awarded a goal
that did cross the line in their 5-1 FA
Cup semi-final win against Tottenham
Hotspur. Manager Harry Redknapp
called the goal “an honest mistake
by the referee,” but with ever-rising
stakes in professional sports, can we
afford these kinds of mistakes? To add
O
ctober marks the annual Triathlon
World Championships, and this year
two Rhodents will be adding a splash of
purple to the South African team.
Natalie Ross and Darryn van Huyssteen
were recently selected for the South African
team that will travel to New Zealand later
this year to participate in the World Triathlon
Championships. This achievement is the result
of them gunning their way through a demanding
African Triathlon champs in Port Elizabeth.
Competing against over 400 other athletes, both
Ross and van Huyssteen took third place in their
respective races, with fellow provincial athlete
Leah Sloman finishing fourth in the 20-24 age
groups.
Ross completed the swim in 00:37:10, the cycle
in 01:19:45 and the run in 00:43:31, while van
Huyssteen completed his swim in 00:26:48, the
cycle in 01:07:36 and run in 00:42:56.
“I’m counting down the weeks to the race and
said Van Huyssteen, who is new to the sport,
having only started doing triathlons this year.
For this reason his success came as a shock, but
he is nonetheless delighted at the results and sees
World Championships as an opportunity “to gain
valuable experience”.
The World Champs mark one of the most
prestigious events in the Triathlon calendar but
if van Huyssteens’ attitude is anything to go by,
the windy Port Elizabeth race seems to have been
only the beginning for these Rhodes athletes.

salt to Tottenham’s wounds, Petr Cech
was not sent off for a foul committed
against Emmanuel Adebayor.
When it comes to technology and
sport, some purists feel that the
introduction of technology did a lot to
undermine the authority and integrity
of the official on the field. Many a
cricketer observed something similar
when the same debate overshadowed
the gentlemen’s game. Sometimes
you get a wicket when there isn’t a
nick and sometimes you’re the one
standing at the crease and you get
lucky. Similarly, I find the idea of
‘challenging’ the umpire in tennis a
ludicrous one which took authenticity
away from the sport, diluted the
integrity of the officials in charge and
was really just an ‘audience’ pleaser.
With the boundaries of the sport
constantly being pushed and the
sheer amount of money professional
sport is now worth, ‘lady luck’s choice’
is no longer going to cut it, and I
have to admit – the introduction of
technology has become essential in
today’s sporting world.
Why FIFA has failed to catch on
to this trend for so long is beyond
me. Football is one of the most-
watched sports worldwide. It took
the misfortune of Frank Lampard in
2010 to change FIFA president Sep
Blatter’s mind. According to the BBC,
Blatter said that “it is obvious after the
Countdown to gold
By Kendra Dykman
T here are fewer than 100 days until the 2012
Olympics being held in London and final
qualifying for the events is underway.
To celebrate the 100 days countdown last week,
the event’s motto was unveiled by Sebastian
Coe, London 2012 chairperson: “Inspire a
generation.” South Africa’s celebration of the
100-day milestone, held at Gold Reef City in
Johannesburg, was aptly themed as ‘Going for
Gold’.
The South African theme is one of optimism,
particularly because at the last Olympic games
in Beijing in 2008, the 136-member team only
managed to procure a single medal. This was their A computer-generated image of the Olympic Stadium in London which will be the main stadium
worst performance in 70 years. This year the goal during the 2012 Olympics. Pic: Olympics 2012
is 12 medals.
Qualifying is open until 30 June, and many Jessica Pengelly, Chad le Clos and Charl Crous. countdown at Puplilsat Khayelitsha's Kwamfundo
athletes remain confident that they will South African men’s hockey team, ranked Senior Secondary school.
comfortably meet the deadline. Caster Semenya 12th worldwide, aims to do well in the Olympic The event’s Opening Ceremony will take
and Mbulaeni Mulaudzi took part in the South Qualifying Tournament being held from 26 April place on Friday 27 July, and it should be a big
African Championships on Friday night. to 6 May and claims the last qualifying ticket one, based on their performance at the closing
Semenya qualified by coming first in the 800m in its sporting code. The women’s team already ceremony in Beijing. The budget has grown to
event. secured its place earlier in the year. more than three times what the estimated cost
Tuesday night saw many South African Princess Anne paid a three-day visit to South was when London won the bid in 2005. This is the
swimmers qualifying in Johannesburg, including Africa to mark Queen Elizabeth’s 60th year on third time they are hosting the event.
Cameron Van Den Bergh, who completed his the throne. The Princess is on the International In anticipation for the Olympics, South Africans
100m breaststroke in a time of 59.90s, just under Olympic Committee and is President of the are encouraged to don the national colours of
one second faster than the qualifying time. Other British Olympic Association. She participated green and gold. In lieu of the success of football
qualifiers include Wendy Trott, Michelle Weber, in the celebrations for the start of the 100-day Fridays, we now have Team SA Fridays.

Easter for athletes:

experiences at the 2010 World Cup it
would be a nonsense not to reopen
the file on goal-line technology”.
UEFA president Michel Platini remains

The Two Oceans

opposed to the idea and favours the
use of additional assistant referees,
which is currently being trialled in
the Champions League and Europa
League.
According to BBC Sport, a final
decision on whether to introduce
goal-line technology will be made in
an International Football Association
Board (IFAB) meeting on 2 July. Any
rule changes by IFAB requires a 75%
majority vote. Should the vote go the
way of the technology, we may see its
introduction as early as next season
or at the very least, the 2014 World
Cup in Brazil.
With goals starting to be “guessed”
and the inconsistency in the reffing
becoming ever more blatant, even I
have been converted to let hawk-eye
have the final say - not as a challenge
on the integrity of the ref, but as
a means of making sure they have
some.
By Morgan Collins
E aster Weekend is commercially defined
by chocolate bunnies, eggs, chickens
and all other suitable farmyard creatures
which are hidden in back gardens for little
kids to find. Grow up, and it becomes four
days of free time and parties.
Grow up as a runner, however, and it’s
the four days for which you have been
training for ages, and an excuse to go
to Cape Town. This is of course the Old
Mutual Two Oceans Marathon, one of
the most scenic 21km or 56km ordeals of
torture you can think of. This year marked
the 43rd self-proclaimed “world’s most
beautiful marathon” with a record 16 000
half marathon (21km) entries.
The Two Oceans has become more than
just a race. It has grown and expanded
over the years to become a celebration of
all that is running, including expos and
even fun runs and kiddy runs, all of which
contribute to its increasing popularity
amongst local and international racers.
The influx of entries showcases this
popularity and, along with requests
from previous runners, has caused the
organisers to alter the route to avoid
human traffic jams. They did this by
keeping the ultra route (56km) the same
and changing the first 10km of the half
marathon.
Despite rainy conditions, some Rhodents
managed to get to Cape Town and pioneer
their way with some impressive results.
Some of the faster times came from Natalie
Ross, who finished 21km in 1:33:27 and
Warrick Smith, who finished in 1:18:53.
So while some hunted for Easter eggs
over the weekend, thousands of others
crammed Cape Town streets to hunt for Participants in the 2012 Old Mutual Two Oceans Marathon. The
a medal, or even just the satisfaction of Marathon has been described as one of the most scenic in the
saying “I ran the Two Oceans”. world. Pic: Flickr
 A sport

The Founders Knights (in red) face off against the Young Guns in a Rhodes Internal Premier League match on 21 April 2012. Pic: Bridgette Hall

40 overs of entertainment
By Matthew Hirsch South African youngster Faf du Plessis has scored the second-most runs in the competition so
far, scoring 229 runs in six matches and smashing 12 sixes. Morne Morkel has taken the most

T he Indian Premier League is now one of the world’s biggest cricketing tournaments with the
world’s best showcasing their talents on a daily basis in the fast-paced, action-packed 20/20
tournament.
The fifth season is now underway with nine teams made up of some of the world’s best
cricketing stars including Jacques Kallis, Sachin Tendulkar and Brett Lee. The rules state at least
seven Indian players making up the starting 11, allowing India’s up-and-coming players the
chance to showcase what they have to offer.
Each team has now played around five or six games each with the Dehli Daredevils and
Rajasthan Royals at the top of the log. In what has been an extremely closely contested season,
only the Decan Chargers have failed to win any points.
wickets in the competition for the Dehli Daredevils, taking twelve wickets in five matches with
an average of 9.33 so far.
And if you can’t get enough of the excitement from India, Rhodes University RIPL league
started this week. The Awkward Turtles will be looking to defend the title that they won last
season as the tournament starts to get into full swing.
Bad weather has meant that only a few games have been played so far. The Pink Platypuses
beat the Prime Super Tigers by 4 wickets. Sean McCulloch top scoring with 41 runs. The
Awkward Turtles were awarded three points when the Twing Belmount Bashers were unable to
field a team.
Expect sixes and switch hits as teams battle it out for the title of RIPL champions in 2012.

RU rugby to compete RISL kicks off

with the best
By Tommie Gilbert

By Siyavuya Makubalo produced many young stars to keep your eye on, such as
Clayton Blommetjies. He was the 2012 Varsity Cup “Back
M onday night saw the return of the Rhodes Internal Soccer League with
a flurry of games taking place. With both top and bottom leagues
in action and all teams having the chance to shake the rust off, there was a
definite chance for an upset or two.
The league has changed slightly this year with a two-tier system being put

T he open season for Rhodes Rugby will kick off soon,

after the opening match between the first XV and
Kwaru was delayed last week. It will be rescheduled for
later this season.
This is one of four games that will determine the first
XV squad that will travel to Johannesburg to compete
in the annual USSA (University Sports South Africa)
tournament to take place at Wits University from 2 to
6 July. They will face the exciting and daunting task
of competing for a spot in the Varsity Shield for 2013.
They will need to win three matches at the tournament,
a quarter final, a semi-final and a final in order to be
promoted to the Varsity Shield for next year.
The Varsity Cup and Varsity Shield aim to showcase
rugby talent among students across the country and have
that Rocks” and a member of the Varsity Cup-winning
FNB UP-Tuks side. He has also been called up to the
South African Sevens squad, along with five other Varsity
Rugby stars. It also allowed each university to come
together and show their support and spirit on ‘Rugby
Monday’.
While Rhodes was excluded from the competition this
year, the Rugby Committee has been hard at work to
change that next year, said Chairperson of the committee,
Chase Le Roux. “2012 has been a promising year for
Rhodes rugby with a committed team working to improve
Rhodes rugby,” he says, urging both students and staff
members to “get together and create an atmosphere that
will be felt throughout Grahamstown” to show their
support and Rhodent spirit for the team.
in place, which is similar to most leagues world-wide. In this system, bottom
teams in the top tier will be relegated to the lower tier and the top teams in
the lower tier will be promoted. There will also be a cup-style competition
where teams from both tiers will be pitted against each other in a straight
knock-out format.
In the most anticipated fixture of the opening round, the Titans narrowly
squeezed past defending champions Abu Dhabi 2-1. Sembene Hamilton, an
Abu Dhabi player, sums up his team’s chances: “It’s going be a tough season
with the new league set-up, but we are the defending champions and have to
be up there. [The] Titans need to be watched too.” Other fixtures on Monday
saw Cullen Bowles and the Retief Rangers share the spoils at 0-0, and the
Rhodes Staff team narrowly beat Allan Webb 3-2. Dark horses Phoenix
Knights thrashed F11 4-0 and Joe Slovo and Cosmos FC drew 2-2, while
Goldfields dominated Hilltop FC 3-0. Buckle up and get set – it looks like this
season is going to get interesting.