PerdebyTuks se amptelike studentekoerant / Official Tuks student newspaper / Kuranta ya baithuti ya semmušo ya Tuks

year77issue1819 October 2015

CHAD JOHNSTON AND MARKO SVICEVIC

On 2 October the Independent Monitoring Body (IMB) declared that the recent Student Representative Council (SRC) elections were “substantially free and fair” and that all irregularities on voting procedures and the counting of votes were resolved. However, they ruled that a re-election must be held for the portfolio of president and deputy president.

The IMB met over a period of just over one month to consider and address all processes, complaints and irregularities regarding the

IMB highlights discrepancies in 2015 SRC election2015 SRC elections and highlighted several discrepancies which occurred throughout the election period in a report that was published.Hate speech allegationsThe IMB addressed hate speech allegations brought forward by Daso and Afriforum. The complainants alleged that certain SRC candidates had uttered statements such as “whites have no rights in Africa” and “Afrikaans students must leave” during an SRC circus session and a Black Thursday society event, respectively. The IMB stated that “the words [that were] complained of probably constitute hate speech in terms of section 10 of the Promotion

of Equality and Prevention of Unfair Discrimination Act 4 of 2000” and that it would “arguably be hurtful to most reasonable members of the white and Afrikaans-speaking community”, respectively.

Citing a lack of evidence to suggest that the words complained of were in fact uttered by SRC candidates for the election, the IMB dismissed both complaints.Election regulation violations The IMB noted with some concern several election regulation transgressions, including poster regulation violations, society activities relating to promoting candidates, and the distribution of “freebies” by political parties. The IMB dismissed most of these complaints but noted that, in future, the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) and Department of Student Affairs (DSA) “should regulate society activity more rigorously during the campaigning period”.Vote count irregularities and KPMG auditWith regard to complaints by Sasco and the EFFSC-UP that the vote count and voters’ roll did not correspond (particularly at the IT voting station), the IMB ruled that the number of votes cast and number of people per voter roll are not compared to determine if reconciliation is possible. Instead, the number of clean ballot papers were counted before voting took place and were then compared to the number of total used and unused ballot papers after voting at each particular voting station. The IMB further added that students who were not listed in the voters roll were allowed to vote, provided they had a dated proof of registration with identification. They noted, however, that because the students’ details were not recorded, a comparison between the number of votes and the voters’ roll could not be done. Unsealed ballot-boxesOn the matter of unsealed ballot-boxes, the IMB stated that all votes contained in the ballot boxes had already been counted and the result slips were signed off by all party agents. Lack of stickers from Tuks Toonbank for postersA member of Sasco lodged a complaint that Tuks Toonbank had an insufficient number of stickers in stock that needed to be stuck onto approved election posters. In response, the DSA stated that they did

not make provision for societies that printed their own posters. As a result, the DSA only provided for 40 posters and poster stickers per candidate, as required by the Constitution for Student Governance (CSG).

“The IMB ruled that a re-election must be held for the portfolio of president and

deputy president.”After poster approvals, Afriforum had brought 400 pre-printed posters to Toonbank. According to the DSA, they did not want to prevent Afriforum from putting up their posters, and so alternative plans were made. The IMB noted its displeasure at the lack of “appropriate planning of the DSA and IEC in that insufficient stickers for election posters were available”.KPMG audit reportThe KPMG audit report, among other things, highlighted the differences in vote counts by the IEC and KPMG. The following differences in the vote count were found with regard to each SRC portfolio.• President and deputy-president: 68 vote difference.• Secretary and deputy-secretary: 32 vote difference.• Treasurer: 111 vote difference.• Facilities, safety and security: 139 votes difference.• Marketing, media and communications: 132 vote difference.• Study finance: 72 vote difference.• Postgraduate and international students: 98 vote difference.• Societies: 47 vote difference.• Transformation and student success: 49 vote difference.• Day and external students: 12 vote difference.

The highest difference in the vote counts occurred with the Treasurer portfolio for Nomtha Gobe (96 votes), the facilities, safety and security portfolio for Brian Nkala (95 vote difference), and the postgraduate and international students portfolio for Benjamin Ho (91 vote difference). The IMB declared that, despite several small differences in the vote counts, the results of the SRC 2015 election remained unchanged.

Continued on page 3...

DATE ELECTION SCHEDULE BY TIME

15/10/2015Announcement at the Piazza

IEFSA 13h00Opening of Nominations

19/10/2015Closing of Nominations

IEFSA12h00

Verification of submitted nominations 13h00-17h00

20/10/2015Indaba on candidates

IEFSA09h00

Publication of Provisional Candidate list 12h00

20/10/2015 Opening of Objections to candidate list IEFSA 12h00

21/10/2015Closing of Objections to candidate list IEFSA

/ IMB12h00

Compulsory Stakeholder Meeting 13h00

21/10/2015 Publication of the final candidates \ nomination list

IEFSA /IMB 13h00

21/10/2015 Official Campaigning period starts IEFSA 14h00

22/10/2015 Training of Electoral Staff DSA/IEFSA

27/10/2015 End of Official Campaign period DSA / IEFSA

12h00 mid-night

28/10/2015 Election day IEFSA 07am-07pm

29/10/2015 Publication of Provisional election resultsIEF-SA/IMB

09h00

29/10/2015 Opening of Objections to provisional results

IEF-SA/IMB

12h00

30/10/2015 Closing of Objections to provisional resultsIEF-SA/IMB

12h00

30/10/2015 IMB Meeting to declare electionsIEF-SA/IMB

13h00

30/10/2015 Publication of Final election resultsIEF-SA/IMB

15h00

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Inside: the annual Perdeby Gaming Supplement

Infographic by:Mothusi Masibi & Daimon Sewell

Interviews conducted by: Huvasan Reddy, Tijana Sakota, Jared de Canha, Courtney Tink,Savannah Plaskitt, Savva Pouroullis.

South Korea

GermanyFranceGreece

NamibiaMozambique

SudanZambia

Second-year BA Law student from Zimbabwe. She explains her di�culty with the language barrier in SA:

“It is challenging to encounter Afrikaans sections in some of my textbooks and classes and it can be challenging to interact with students who do not have English as a �rst language.

Zimbabwe

Second-year BCom Marketing student from Sudan.

“Even though my favourite place in my home country is the departure hall of the international airport, I do miss the safety of my homeland.”

SudanAhmed Abdelmoniem

Second-year BCom Marketing student from Zambia.

He says that the biggest stereotype he faces is that he was from Nigeria. He added that his favourite traditional meal is “Kapenta”, which is a small sardine eaten with Nshima (pap).

ZambiaMumbi Mukuka

Second-year BA Law student originally from Swaziland.

“Swaziland is known for being the last absolute monarchy in the world. I miss the love of culture that the Swazi people show with pride, along with an appreciation of their roots and identity.”

SwazilandSwazilandBenele Dlamini

Second year BEng Mechanical Engineeringstudent from Mozambique.

His favourite Mozambiquan phrase is “maningue nice”. He explained it as what Mozambiquans say to describe something pleasant. Where some South Africans may say “lekker”, Mozambiquans say “maningue nice”.

MozambiqueNico Niehaus

First-year LLB student from Namibia. He shared some interesting facts about his home country.

“Namibia is the second least densely populated country on Earth, after Mongolia, and is roughly half the size of Alaska.”

NamibiaLogino Giovanni Goraseb

GermanyGeorgia Kellow

FranceAlexandre Larroque

GreeceThalia Avvakoumides

South KoreaLeanne Jeon

ZimbabweTabitha Madziwanzira

Second-year BA Political Sciencesstudent from Greece. She describes some of the things students can do in Greece.

“Every student will love island hopping, beach parties and even skinny dipping!”

Second-year BA International Relations student from France. He says that his favourite [French] food is fondue, which means melted.

“It is a traditional dish made of melted cheese from Savoie, an Alpine region of France, and reminds me of winter in the mountains and skiing holidays.”

Second-year BA Political Sciences and International Relations student from Germany. She shared her love for both South Africa and her homeland, saying:

“I believe that both countries are my home, and I love both of them, each in their own very individual ways. When I visit Germany I get homesick for South Africa, but when I am in South Africa I also get homesick for Germany.”

First-year BCom Accounting Sciences student from South Korea.

“In South Korea, fast and free Wi-Fi is available everywhere, and all

A look at UP’s international students

- pg. 7

Sport supports Cansa - pg. 13

Bittereinder discuss their new album

- pg. 10

EU migrant crisis explained

- pg. 6

2 Editorial | 19 October 2015

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Editor-in-chiefCarel Willemse carel.willemse@up.ac.za

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Perdeby is printed by Paarlmedia. All rights reserved. Contributions are welcome. All due care will be taken with materials submitted, but Perdeby and printers cannot be held responsible for loss or damage. The editor reserves the right to edit, amend or alter in any way deemed necessary. Perdeby cannot be responsible for unsolicited material. The opinions expressed in Perdeby are not necessarily those of the editors and printers of Perdeby.

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I can’t believe we were on holiday just over a week ago. The pressure of the fourth quarter is so intense, even trying to

remember what a holiday is seems like a hard push. For many of us, our last assignments are due and if you took a bit too much time off in the break, you’re probably feeling even worse.

That’s how I’ve felt the whole week. On top of all my academic requirements, there’s been work that I haven’t expected. Sometimes this week has felt like it’s been a bit too much to bear.

Luckily, there have been really wonderful moments of relief, too. My whole class got an extension on our assignment and the project that I thought was due for last Thursday is only due this week. The venue I was organising an event at was super organised and helpful, and I’ll be home again in just over a month. Everything actually worked out in the end.

My struggles aren’t very challenging ones in comparison to the stories the month of October focuses on. World Mental Health Awareness Day was on 10 October. A large part of the campaign is aimed at removing the stigma from mental illnesses. Anxiety and depression are all mental issues that affect people around us. If you think you don’t know someone who is affected by it, think again. About one in every four people suffer from depression, and anxiety is the most common mental illness worldwide. These conditions are not make-believe, and they’re certainly not anyone’s fault. These conditions need medical treatment and the people suffering need support from friends and family rather than sneering, diminishing comments. That being

said, if you are currently feeling like you may be suffering from depression or anxiety or are just feeling overwhelmed in general, please ask for help. There are professionals on campus who will be able to assist you with the correct counselling and medical advice.

October is also Breast Cancer Awareness Month. We have two great sport articles on page 13 that show people celebrating life and the process of beating cancer as well as showing solidarity with those currently suffering.

In other news, this is our international edition in light of UP’s International Student Day last Friday. We have a great feature on page 7 that a number of UP’s international students contributed to. We also have local and international gaming news in our annual Gaming Supplement that the Entertainment section editor worked on for more than 24 hours alone to put together, and that’s not to mention all of the Entertainment and Visuals section’s hard work.

And now we’re back to working hard again. I hope your burden gets lighter this week as we rush toward the end of the year and that you realise that, in the end, everything will be okay. In the really cheesy (but hope-filled) words of John Lennon, “If it’s not okay, it’s not the end.”

Michal

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319 October 2015 | News

MARKO SVICEVIC AND CHAD JOHNSTON

On 2 October the Independent Monitoring Body (IMB) met for a final sitting in order to make a ruling on the 2015 SRC elections. Although several discrepancies were found and an audit report by KPMG was reviewed, the 2015 SRC elections were declared substantially free and fair, with one exception: a re-election for the portfolio of president and deputy president will be held.

According to the IMB, two of the presidential candidates, Daso’s Kwena Moloto and the EFFSC-UP’s Naledi Chirwa, did not meet specific requirements to stand for the position of president or deputy president.

In section 24 of the Constitution for Student Governance (CSG), to be eligible for nomination as an SRC candidate, several requirements must be met. Section 24(1) lists five particular requirements, including that those candidates running for a position must be registered for a degree or diploma at UP and not have been found guilty of misconduct by a university disciplinary committee. Section 24(2) states that a candidate standing for the portfolio of SRC president or deputy president, in addition to meeting all the requirements listed in section 24(1)(i-v), must also have served on “a leadership body of a recognised student governance structure within the university prior to the SRC elections”. According to the IMB, the CSG clearly defines what constitutes such a structure.

The IMB and the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) is expected to monitor and preside over all electoral processes. The IMB further added that the requirements in section 24(2) (served on a leadership body) were not open to interpretation and that the IEC had failed to “rigorously check candidates’ nominations against the requirements in section 24(2)”.

In response to the finding that requirements were not met by certain SRC candidates, the Department of Student Affairs (DSA) stated that such findings referred to a narrow interpretation of the CSG. The DSA claims that interpretation of section 24 should also be read in conjunction with section 19 of the CSG, which states that the interpretation of the Student Bill of Rights must conform with the Bill of Rights in the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996.

SRC re-election to be held for president and deputy president portfolios

The DSA also stated that the narrow interpretation of the provisions of section 24 are likely to create a “closed club” mentality of who qualifies to participate at certain levels of student leadership. The DSA further argued that it had consistently applied the broad approach to section 24 in the past and that these were the first elections where the interpretation had been contested. In this regard, the DSA made specific reference to several previous SRC candidates, including Enwee Human, appointed as the 2013 SRC president, Tymoon Mohammed-Altamash, appointed as the 2013 SRC deputy-president, and Luvuyo Menziwa, appointed as the 2014 SRC deputy-president. The DSA argued that if a narrow approach had been followed in interpreting the provisions of section 24, students who occupy positions in student growth platforms would be excluded.

Although Moloto acknowledged that according to the CSG he was not eligible to run for president, he expressed his unhappiness at the situation, stating that it had been two months since his nomination was approved and one month since he was provisionally announced as the 2016 SRC president. “The IEC and IMB both accepted my nomination, and this is what frustrates me,” said Moloto.

Moloto, who was appointed chairperson of Daso on 12 October, will be contesting in the re-election. “I would like to thank the people that voted for me in the [previous] SRC election, and I urge them to support me once more. I’m still committed to keeping my promises on cheaper food, Wi-Fi in all classes and residences, and dealing with the issue of study finances.”

Citing Regulation 3(2)(h), the IMB concluded its sitting by declaring the election for president and deputy-president null and void and has instructed the IEC to hold new elections for these portfolios. Nominations for these portfolios will be open to all interested students, a campaigning period will commence on 22 October, and the re-election will take place on 28 October. All candidates will be running for the position of SRC president, with the candidate who obtains the second highest number of votes filling the SRC deputy president position. Publication of the preliminary election results is set to take place on 29 October, with the declaration of the final SRC results to take place on 30 October. Voting stations will be open from 07:00-19:00 on all UP campuses, excluding LC de Villiers and GIBS.

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MARKO SVICEVIC

The University of Pretoria’s Department of Security Services is warning students against falling victim to numerous scams that have recently come to their attention. In an attempt to prevent students from further falling victim, below is a list of the more popular scams currently being reported around campus.False prophets This involves a victim who is approached by individuals who claim to have been given “divine instruction” to pray for them. The scammer then requests that the victim leaves their property with them and is instructed to buy water for the “purification process”. Upon the victim’s return, the so-called prophets have disappeared, along with the victim’s belongings. According to security services, women are most likely to be targeted by these scams. Avon A scammer approaches their target on the street and inform them that they work for a company called “Avon”. The individual then explains to the intended victim that they can earn some money by assisting with a stock take of goods. A second individual, a “passer-by”, is then also pulled aside and briefed on the story and agrees to it.

The victim and “passer-by” are then requested to hand over all electronic devices such as tablets, cell phones and laptops for “verification purposes” while they are working with the “Avon” products. The items are then taken to be “marked” and subsequently never returned. The victim and “passer-by” then split up with only the victim reporting the theft, indicating that the “passer-by” is also part of the scam in order to gain the victim’s trust. The “drug dealer” scam An individual approaches a potential target and begins a light conversation with them. The scammer then requests the victim’s phone in order to send a “please call me”. The swindler then produces a white bag of powder that he alleges to be cocaine. After instructing the victim to look after the “cocaine”, the swindler usually walks away with the victim’s phone, never to be seen again. The “cocaine” then turns out to be baking powder or flour.

Popular scams targeting studentsThe “police” scam The intended victim is approached by individuals in a vehicle. The occupants of the vehicle identify themselves as South African Police Service officers.

The occupants tell a story of a robbery, and the victim is urged to enter the vehicle. Upon entering, they are asked a series of questions regarding their banking details that they then have to write on a piece of paper, and they are the instructed to hand over their bank card.

One of the occupants of the vehicle then takes the piece of paper and bank card and places it in an envelope that is then sealed. The victim is given the envelope, and upon exiting the car, the vehicle drives off. When the victim opens the envelope, they find a blank royalty card (such as clothing store gift cards) which was switched in place of their bank card.

“These swindlers are very good at what they do as their livelihood depends on scamming victims out of their property,” stated Rowan Watson, manager of investigations at the department. Although the department could not divulge any statistics on how many students have been affected, it mentioned that these scams took place both on and off campus in the Hatfield area.

“The Department of Security Services would advise that students not speak to strangers and do not hand over any electronic items … to any person they do not know,” says Linda Meyer, an investigating officer at the department.

Colin Fouché, director of the Department of Security Services, urges students not to confront these scam artists but rather to immediately report any such incident to security services. Fouché also requests that students not use their student cards to swipe in other individuals, as this is how people gain unauthorised access onto campus.

Fouché says that avoiding such incidents is better than dealing with the consequences, saying, “prevention is always better than cure”.

Students are urged to report any incidents to the 24-hour Campus Security phone line at 012 420 2310, or 24-hour Operational Management at 083 654 0476. Contact details for the department are also available on the reverse side of all student cards.

Image: Shen Scott

Continued from page 1...

Perdeby and SRC supplementThe KPMG report also noted that student affairs management had advised KPMG that Perdeby did not form part of the “legal and formal process of the SRC election”. The report noted with concern that the DSA was of this opinion, adding that according to Regulation 8(2) of Annexure A of the CSG, the CEO of the IEC must hand the list of candidate submissions together with their election manifestos to Perdeby for publication in an “election issue”. The report identified four election candidates whose names were not published in the “election edition” of Perdeby. The IMB eventually ruled that responsibility for the

election edition fell jointly on the DSA and the candidates to provide the requested information timeously.

The IMB made a final ruling and included several recommendations for future elections. Among others, the IMB recommended that the IEC effectively and consistently communicate the election and election campaigning rules to candidates and candidate representatives, with specific reference to the CSG. Furthermore, the DSA and IEC must carefully regulate society activities during the election and campaigning period. Finally, the IMB stated that CEO of the IEC should be appointed well in advance of the 2016 SRC elections, and that the CEO should not be a DSA staff member.

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4 News | 19 October 2015

RENEILOE BALOI

On 1 October The Times Higher Education (THE) announced the World University Rankings at the University of Melbourne, and UP has been listed in the 501-600 category.

This places UP firmly into two global rankings, with the other being the Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) World University Rankings. Vice-chancellor Prof. Cheryl de la Rey was in Melbourne for the announcement. Prof. de la Rey also participated in a panel discussion on international universities and their agreement with local communities.

As a multi-faculty and research-intensive university, UP stands among the top universities in South Africa in terms of research output and impact, and produces the highest number of graduates in South

UP ranks highly around the globe

BIANCA MEYER

The pre-summit dialogue on transformation in higher education was held on 5 October at the University of Johannesburg (UJ). It was organised as a buildup to the second National Higher Education Transformation Summit.

The pre-summit was hosted by the Department of Higher Education and Training in partnership with Independent Media Group and UJ. The dialogue was facilitated by a seven-member panel that consisted of three vice-chancellors, namely Prof. Ihron Rensburg from UJ, Prof. Dan Kgwadi from the North-West University and Dr Sizwe Mabizela from Rhodes University, and four student leaders and representatives, including Jody Williams from the Open Stellenbosch Movement.

The panel was expected to engage in a debate about how a better platform for engagement between university management and students can be built to enable collective and productive responsiveness to issues of inequality and quality within the broader context of higher education transformation.

Prof. Kgwadi addressed the issue of transformation student activism. Prof. Kgwadi said, “The revival of student activism is long overdue ... we owe a debt of gratitude to our

Chaos at transformation debate

RENEILOE BALOI

South Africa hosted its first ever National Recreational Day on 2 October. The event took place at the Tshwane Events Centre, with the aim of the event being to create awareness of the importance of physical activity, especially with a rise in diseases such as obesity, heart disease, diabetes and respiratory ailments.

Visitors were kept active all day by participating in aerobics, tai chi, volleyball, tug-of-war, sack races, hula hooping, and many other activities. The program started at 10:00 and was led by the Minister of Sports and Recreation, Fikile Mbalula.

Mbalula said, “Through the National Recreational Day, we encourage South Africans to be active and take part in sports. In that way we are creating a healthy lifestyle, and that is what it’s all about.”

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students for pushing transformation as forcefully as they have.” He also commented that “the year 2015 will go down in history as a watershed year in higher education.”

The panel was quickly interrupted in their debate as Sasco, the EFFSC, Daso, and the audience voiced their opinions regarding transformation. The student representatives of the panel encouraged the audience to share their opinions while the rest of the panel distanced themselves from the discussion as they were accused by the students of shutting their opinions down. A student from Stellenbosch University said that the panel doesn’t have power, but that they as students do. Another comment that surfaced was that the youth are hungry for transformation, but they are held back by their elders. The summit ended without a final conclusion as the debate got too heated and had to be suspended.

The dialogue was attended by approximately 436 delegates and consisted of lecturers, the public, students and student leaders from UJ, Wits, UP, the Tshwane University of Technology and the Vaal University of Technology. The Higher Education Summit was held at the Inkosi Albert Luthuli ICC in Durban from 15-17 October.

Africa annually. Prof. de la Rey said that UP’s

achievement in the rankings was a reflection of the progress that the university was making in actualising its vision of becoming a leading research-intensive university in Africa and the world at large.

“The Times Higher Education World University Rankings, now in their 12th year, apply rigorous standards, using tough global benchmarks across all of a global research university’s missions – teaching, research, knowledge transfers and international outlook. The results are trusted by students and their families, academics, university leaders and governments. For the University of Pretoria to make it into the world rankings is an outstanding achievement to be celebrated,” said the editor of the THE World University Rankings, Phil Baty.

Illustration: Shen Scott

South Africa’s National Development Plan (NDP) has a target of ensuring that at least 50% of South Africans participate in active recreational activities.

Speaking at a media launch, Mbalula said that recreation is one aspect that has been neglected and that he aims to challenge his colleagues to participate in the initiative, adding to that he knows that the president walks. “We are emphasising the importance of physical activity,” added Mbalula. Deputy Minister of Sport and Recreation Gert Oosthuizen said, “We also want to get children off the couches and video games and get them healthy. We want to inculcate the notion of a healthy lifestyle.”

Mbalula made it clear that this was not a once-off event, but an event that is bound to happen in the next coming years, hoping that many South Africans will come and join and choose to be active.

519 October 2015 | News

SHAMMAH BOTERERE AND MICHAL-MARÉ LINDEN

On 1 October Papa’s Real Food relaunched their pub, Papa’s Real Pub, which is situated at Duncan Yard. The relaunch was aimed at introducing students in and around the Hatfield area to the venue as a possible alternative to the now-closed Hatfield Square. The event was attended by a large number of students.

Papa’s Real Pub is a cosy and comfortable space that can host around 70 people and has the atmosphere of a residence clubhouse. The launch placed emphasis on how it will be beneficial to many students who are looking

Papa’s real food relaunchPhoto: Fezekile Msimang

STAFF REPORTER

Over the weekend of 1-3 October, eight first-year law students participated in the annual Kovsies Moot Court competition hosted by the University of the Free State. The English team consisted of Devan Falconer, Arlien Greyling, Rebecca Hill and Lawrence-John Maralack, and was coached by Alastair Dey van Heerden and Shannon Nauschutz. The Afrikaans team consisted of Rohann Eloff, Anri Erasmus, Michelle Oelofse and Arno van Niekerk, and was coached by Lize Rossouw and Johan Taljaard.

The first day of the competition took place in the Bloemfontein High Court. According to Falconer, a first-year BCom Law student, it was “an unforgettable experience where vital litigation and legal skills were learnt and practised”. After facing two preliminary rounds, one team from each division made it through to the finals.

The teams, sponsored by Norton Rose Fulbright, represented the university excellently in the final rounds, as was evident in the results. Eloff and Erasmus walked away with the award for the best heads of arguments in the Afrikaans junior division, with Oelofse being recognised as the best Afrikaans oralist. Hill was recognised as the best English oralist, with her and Maralack winning the award for the best junior English team as well as the best junior team overall. Maralack said, “The feeling you get when representing Tuks well is indescribable.”

Dey van Heerden, chairperson of TuksMoot, said “The skills [the team] have learnt will be the thing that will stay with them for the longest.”

Tuks triumph at Kovsies Moot Court competition

Photo: Shannon Nauschutz

JULIA BAIN

On 13 October the TuksRes Awards were held at Rembrandt Hall on the LC de Villiers Sport campus. Awards for Rag, culture, sport and academics were presented to the men’s and ladies’ residences.

For the sport awards, the winners of the hockey league, who also happen to be the winners of the football league in the men’s and ladies’ category, were Taaibos and Onderstepoort Ladies, respectively. Mopanie took first place for rugby and Magrietjie won the netball league. The men’s and ladies’ sport residence of the year were Mopanie and Onderstepoort.

For Rag, Madelief and Sonop won Best Short Term Project, and the best long term project winners were Taaibos and Curlitzia. Rag Residence of the Year was awarded to Erika and Sonop.

Cultural awards were handed out next, with Tuks Naledi winning External Culture Mixed Residence of the Year. The ladies’ external culture residence of the year was Curlitzia, followed by Magrietjie and Vividus Ladies in second and third place. For the men, Taaibos took first place with Mopanie and Sonop coming second and third, respectively.

Best Solo Event was won by Nerina. Best Generic Social Event for the men’s and ladies was won by Olienhout and Magrietjie, respectively.

Tuks Naledi won Internal Culture Mixed Residence of the Year. Magrietjie won Internal Culture Ladies’ Residence of the Year, with Curlitzia and Klaradyn in second and third place. For the men, Olienhout took first place with Olympus coming second and Sonop, third. The overall cultural ladies residence was Curlitzia, and Taaibos was announced as the cultural men’s residence of the year. Kollege was named social residence of the year.

Academic mixed res of the year went to Tuks Village, Men’s Academic Residence was won by Olympus, and Madelief won Academic Ladies’ Residence of the Year.

Perdeby named Zinnia and Inca as Newsmakers of the Year for their results in Serrie and Serenade respectively, and Kollege walked away with the Pssst… gossip award.

The Ladies’ Residence of the Year went to Curlitzia, with Magrietjie in second place and Erika in third place. For Men’s Residence of the Year, Olympus placed third and Sonop placed second, with Mopanie winning the overall title.

TuksRes host 2015 awards ceremony

MAKHOSAZANA NDLOVU

The World Homeless Day event was hosted at the University of South Africa (Unisa) in partnership with the Tshwane Homeless Forum, the City of Tshwane and UP on 10 October.

The purpose of this event, which followed the Tshwane Homeless Summit that was hosted 25-26 May, was to encourage people worldwide to create awareness about the issues that homeless people encounter and to help find paths out of homelessness.

The three aims of World Homeless Day event are: entering the four World Homeless Day partners into a social contract in order to pave the way for institutionalising active partnerships to find paths out of homelessness, to reveal the recommended policy and strategy, and creating awareness about homelessness in Tshwane and

UP partners in hosting World Homeless Day

for a pub-like space that offers frequent student specials on food and drinks.

In an interview Nikki Paul, manager and marketing director of Papa’s, explained how the relaunch helped attract students since Hatfield Square has closed. The pub, she continued to say, previously catered for young professionals and older people, and with Hatfield Square’s closure, Papa’s Real Pub now offers an alternative new environment for students and other people alike to relax in.

Paul further added that the relaunch was a success, as it helped in both retaining regular customers and in marketing themselves as a worthy contender with other local pubs and bars.

to show solidarity with what homeless people face.

Prior to the day of the event, research findings were presented during the Tshwane Homelessness Summit in May to recommended a revised policy and a proposed strategy on street homelessness. Partner universities were requested to do a review on the existing homelessness policy for the City of Tshwane by the executive mayor of Tshwane, Councillor Kgosientso Ramokgopa. A recommended reviewed policy and strategy for homelessness has been handed in to the City of Tshwane for consideration since the summit.

World Homeless Day was concluded with an awareness march, which took place at Unisa, to embody the shared commitment to overcoming homelessness.

Perdeby

6 Features | 19 October 2015

European discontent over migrant mayhem

“Over 500 000 refugees have entered Europe, and numbers are set to reach over a million

by the end of the year.”

SAVVA POUROULLIS

The European migrant crisis has quickly become the largest migration catastrophe since the second World War. The shocking image of drowned three-year-old Aylan Kurdi’s body on a

beach triggered global sympathy for migrants fleeing war and violence in the Middle East and North Africa.

While the majority of the people displaced by the Syrian civil war live in refugee camps in the surrounding Arab countries, many have opted to travel to Europe to seek asylum.

In order to reach Europe from the Middle East, migrants have no choice but to make a perilous journey across the Mediterranean Sea, usually on dangerously overcrowded boats managed by human traffickers.

The reasons for this dire situation are manifold and complex, involving past conflicts, the recent mass insurrection in the Middle East and North Africa called the Arab Spring, and multiple continuing civil wars in the region.How it beganIn 2010, the citizens of multiple Islamic nations began a series of protests and demonstrations. These protests would later result in royal families and dictators being overthrown in Egypt, Libya, Tunisia and Yemen, all within the space of two years. This caused major protests to break out in almost every other Arab country. The resulting lack of order led to general unrest and, in most cases, frequent and violent changes in leadership.

The Syrian government, led by Russian-backed dictator Bashar al-Assad, refused to step down and instead initiated a five-year civil war between Assad’s regime and several rebel groups, which do not necessarily share the same ideals and fight among each other as often as not.

In parallel to the war in Syria,

an expansionist Jihad group called Islamic State (IS) separated from its parent organisation, Al-Qaeda, and began to conquer territory

aggressively in neighbouring Iraq, enforcing an extremely strict interpretation of the Qur’an on

people in its domain.

When Syria entered its civil war, the IS took the opportunity to claim more territory and currently controls large portions of Syria, including large cities.

The main consequence of the conflict in Syria is that almost five million Syrians have been displaced, adding to the constant flow of refugees coming from other war-torn Arab countries such as Iraq, Yemen and Afghanistan.

While millions of them are situated in refugee camps in surrounding countries – Jordan, Iraq, Lebanon, Egypt and Turkey – the neighbouring

Gulf States have refused to take in a single Syrian refugee, an action that has been decried by multiple groups, including Amnesty International and the UN refugee agency, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).The situation in numbersThere has been a mass migration into

Europe in the past few years. Over 280 000 migrants entered Europe in 2014, while in the first eight months

of 2015 over 500 000 refugees entered Europe and numbers are set to reach over a million by the end of the year, according to the UNHCR.

The mass movement has captured the attention of the European Union (EU), which does not have

adequate infrastructure in place to accommodate such a large, sudden influx of asylum-seekers, as reported by the BBC.The reaction in EuropeEuropean leaders, now faced with an obligation to accommodate over

a million refugees, are currently holding emergency talks to develop a plan of action.

The European reaction to the refugee crisis has been mixed on every level. The German government stated that it would accept any refugees fleeing conflict without hesitation and called for an immediate plan to accommodate refugees across Europe. Hungary has rejected all asylum applications to date and has

completed the construction of a fence along the Hungary-Serbia border to keep refugees out, as many of them try to make their way to Germany where they are likely to be granted

asylum.

Some member states have insisted that the entire EU has an obligation to take in refugees fleeing conflict, regardless of their ethnicity or religion, while others have openly spoken against accepting any refugees at all. Some states, such as Poland, Slovakia, Hungary and the Czech Republic, intend to accept only Christian refugees, although this is not supported in the broader EU plan. These eastern European states have come under criticism by the rest of the EU as well as several rights groups, such as Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International, for a lack of sympathy toward the migrant crisis.

Some of these groups, including the UNHCR, went on to explain that many eastern Europeans experienced a similarly dire situation in the 90s when the Soviet Union collapsed, and were shown hospitality by neighbouring countries as they fled the conflict in their country. Croatia has suffered a similar fate, but its government has adopted a different approach, adapting its public bus services to speed the movement of

refugees through Croatia. Many Croatian residents have been welcoming to migrants passing through, offering them food and, in some cases, a cup of tea, according to witness reports by the UNHCR.

On the other hand, many European citizens, especially

conservative and far right groups, have expressed

concern about the

burden such a large-scale migration will place on their economies and social welfare systems. Furthermore, many Europeans fear that terrorist groups will use the resulting chaos to smuggle suicide bombers into Europe, an action which IS has claimed to have attempted. Far right nationalist parties in Europe, which have gained support in recent years, have similar policies opposing immigration, citing arguments that a large influx of multiple cultures, particularly Muslims, would dilute or extinguish traditional Christian European culture and values, even though the greatest number of immigrants being accepted by any EU country, Germany, would amount to 1% of its total population.

Parties such as Germany’s Für Deutschland, France’s Front National, and the Hungarian government, are among such groups.What will happen now?German Chancellor Angela Merkel, who is at the forefront of efforts to accommodate immigrants, plans to grant almost one million asylum applications. It is unlikely that many migrants will return to Syria if the conflict is resolved, as most of the country has been left in ruin.

Russia and the US have surprisingly released joint statements that they will prioritise the ending of the Syrian conflict, despite having been deeply divided over who should run the country once the war is over.

The latest UN General Assembly has reached an agreement that the pre-civil war Syrian state will never exist again, and will most likely have to be fractured into several smaller autonomous nations on an ethnic basis, which will be an undesirable and difficult solution. With no possible short-term solution in sight, it is up to the EU to develop a system that will both protect European citizens’ interests and fulfil its humanitarian obligations to the millions of refugees fleeing a disastrous conflict.

719 October 2015 | Features

Infographic by:Mothusi Masibi & Daimon Sewell

Interviews conducted by: Huvasan Reddy, Tijana Sakota, Jared de Canha, Courtney Tink,Savannah Plaskitt, Savva Pouroullis.

South Korea

GermanyFranceGreece

NamibiaMozambique

SudanZambia

Second-year BA Law student from Zimbabwe. She explains her di�culty with the language barrier in SA:

“It is challenging to encounter Afrikaans sections in some of my textbooks and classes and it can be challenging to interact with students who do not have English as a �rst language.

Zimbabwe

Second-year BCom Marketing student from Sudan.

“Even though my favourite place in my home country is the departure hall of the international airport, I do miss the safety of my homeland.”

SudanAhmed Abdelmoniem

Second-year BCom Marketing student from Zambia.

He says that the biggest stereotype he faces is that he was from Nigeria. He added that his favourite traditional meal is “Kapenta”, which is a small sardine eaten with Nshima (pap).

ZambiaMumbi Mukuka

Second-year BA Law student originally from Swaziland.

“Swaziland is known for being the last absolute monarchy in the world. I miss the love of culture that the Swazi people show with pride, along with an appreciation of their roots and identity.”

SwazilandSwazilandBenele Dlamini

Second year BEng Mechanical Engineeringstudent from Mozambique.

His favourite Mozambiquan phrase is “maningue nice”. He explained it as what Mozambiquans say to describe something pleasant. Where some South Africans may say “lekker”, Mozambiquans say “maningue nice”.

MozambiqueNico Niehaus

First-year LLB student from Namibia. He shared some interesting facts about his home country.

“Namibia is the second least densely populated country on Earth, after Mongolia, and is roughly half the size of Alaska.”

NamibiaLogino Giovanni Goraseb

GermanyGeorgia Kellow

FranceAlexandre Larroque

GreeceThalia Avvakoumides

South KoreaLeanne Jeon

ZimbabweTabitha Madziwanzira

Second-year BA Political Sciencesstudent from Greece. She describes some of the things students can do in Greece.

“Every student will love island hopping, beach parties and even skinny dipping!”

Second-year BA International Relations student from France. He says that his favourite [French] food is fondue, which means melted.

“It is a traditional dish made of melted cheese from Savoie, an Alpine region of France, and reminds me of winter in the mountains and skiing holidays.”

Second-year BA Political Sciences and International Relations student from Germany. She shared her love for both South Africa and her homeland, saying:

“I believe that both countries are my home, and I love both of them, each in their own very individual ways. When I visit Germany I get homesick for South Africa, but when I am in South Africa I also get homesick for Germany.”

First-year BCom Accounting Sciences student from South Korea.

“In South Korea, fast and free Wi-Fi is available everywhere, and all

8 Features | 19 October 2015

JARED DE CANHA

The origin of our species has sparked scholarly debates over the centuries and has produced some of the most significant scientific works of our time. This is why the discovery of Homo naledi, announced by the University of Witwatersrand in September, has turned the world’s focus to our backyard.

The remains of this prehistoric hominid species were discovered by Steven Tucker and Rick Hunter, recreational cavers that stumbled upon the fossils just outside Krugersdorp almost two years ago. The discovery was made in the Dinaledi chamber of the Rising Star cave system and led to the fossil species being named after the Sotho word for star: naledi. Determining the genus name for these fossils proved to be challenging, as researchers first had to determine whether the naledi fossils belonged in the Homo or Australopithecus genus. After carefully examining the skulls of the fossils, it was determined that they belonged in the Homo genus due to the shape and distinct brow ridges of the skulls.

The announcement was made by the Evolutionary Studies Institute (ESI) at Wits University in a press release titled “New species of human relative discovered in South African Cave” on 10 September 2015. This coincided with the publication of two papers in the scientific journal eLife and the cover story in National Geographic magazine’s October issue. Prof. Lee Berger, a research professor and palaeontologist at the ESI at Wits, explained the fascination with the discovery: “This is the most significant and extensive discovery of early human relatives’ fossils ever made on the continent of Africa.” Prof. Berger went on to say that this discovery was truly “remarkable” because it uncovered approximately 1550 fossils of 15 individuals, including infants, children, adults and the elderly.

Homo naledi’s physical features are of significance because, according to Prof. Burger, they are a “combination never seen before in the fossil record”. Homo naledi skulls are believed to have once housed brains approximately

All eyes on Africa’s new star, Homo naledi6.3 cm in diameter, which is half the size of a modern human’s brain. Homo naledi fossils also indicate that the average specimen weighed approximately 45 kg and was no taller than 1.5lm. The average modern human weighs roughly 60 kg and is approximately 1.7 m tall. The position and structure of Homo naledi’s shoulders also gives an insight into the lifestyle

of this species, as these show that Homo naledi climbed and hung from trees. This is further supported by Homo naledi’s strongly curved fingers. The palms, wrists and thumbs of the fossils found indicate that Homo naledi, nevertheless, had human-like characteristics and may have utilised primitive tools. Homo naledi also possessed similar feet and legs to modern

humans that indicate that they were bipedal and could walk upright over long distances.

The most significant similarity between modern humans and Homo naledi can be seen in the way that both species treat their deceased. The remote location of the discovery of the fossils in the Dinaledi chamber suggests that Homo naledi disposed of their dead in a ritualised manner. Prof. Paul Dirks, a professor at James Cook University in Queensland, Australia, said that the Dinaledi cave had “always been isolated from the other chambers and [had] never been open directly to the surface”. Prof. Dirks indicated that the fact that the remains were found almost alone in the remote chamber is of importance. The Wits research team explained that the fossils do not bear any scavenger or carnivore markings and are missing signs that other agents or natural processes, such as moving water, carried the fossils into the Dinaledi chamber. “We have explored every alternative scenario, including mass death, an unknown carnivore, water transport from another location or accidental death in a death trap,” explained Prof. Berger. This has led to researchers proposing that the only plausible explanation is that Homo naledi, like modern humans, intentionally disposed of their dead, which suggests a form of ritualised or repeated behaviour originally believed to be unique to humans.

This discovery has raised the question of where Homo naledi will slot in when considering the well-documented fossil history of early human remains. Researchers have struggled to date these fossils, particularly because of the absence of other animal fossils to date them against, making it impossible to determine the exact position that Homo naledi fills in the earth’s paleontological timeline.

Homo naledi is one of the many valuable fossils found in South Africa that have shed light on the past. Other significant South African fossil discoveries include two examples of Australopithecus africanus, the Taung Child in 1924 and Mrs Ples in 1947, as well as specimens of Australopithecus robustus and Australopithecus sediba in 1994 and 2008 respectively.The Homo naledi exhibition at Maropeng museum. Photo: Shen Scott

i19 October 2015 | Entertainment - Gaming Supplement

Escape reality.

The positive effects of gaming - ii

The world of mobile gaming - iii

rAge 2015: gamers galore - iii

Anyone can be a gamer - ivImage: Shen Scott

ii Entertainment - Gaming Supplement | 19 October 2015

Missed rAge? Take a look at our gallery on Facebook for more

photos!

KYLE OBERHOLZER

Like many media-based industries, the gaming sphere has been forced to evolve with the rapid technological developments that accompanied the turn of the century. Faster internet speeds, increased knowledge-sharing and steadily dropping hardware prices now enable individuals to accomplish what used to require large game development teams. Thus the independent developer was born, and their product was the indie game.

Of course, the industry didn’t simply pop up overnight. Its earliest products were a collection of 2D side-scrollers that looked like they belonged on the screen of an early smartphone. However, over time these small developers began to achieve a more artistic level of refinement than their larger counterparts. Indie games like Limbo (2011) set a new precedent as to how the lines between gaming and art might be blurred. Limbo was a 2D side-scrolling platformer with a characteristic black and white environment, ambient noises and no adjustable difficulty, and it won multiple awards.

The award-winning game Fez (2012) showed how indie games are able to rely on innovative gameplay, interesting storylines and problem-solving to make up for their comparatively smaller scale. However, this is beginning to change. The indie gaming industry is growing to include full scale first-person games with large 3D maps like that of Ark, which is currently available as an early access release on Steam and will be released in 2016 across multiple platforms.

The main advantage that independent developers have is that their design process is not subject to the bureaucracy of large organisations. The small teams, sometimes just one person, are able to work more closely, thereby enabling games to stay true to their essence. Indie developers are mainly disadvantaged by limited resources, although this was never the point for many developers. Indie games often begin as passion projects, and that is where their success lies.

Rise of the indie game

Characters from the indie game Darkest Dungeon. Illustration: Asiphe Dlulane

JARED BEUKES

Many a gamer has been e-mailed, furnished with, and tagged in more than enough articles on the harmful effects of habitual gaming to induce precisely the neuroses that such articles warn against. As a remedy and an opportunity to throw off all those unswayable relatives who pass on these frustrating viewpoints, Perdeby has compiled a few of the reported positive effects that gaming can have.

Firstly, research has shown that there are certain mental benefits to gaming. Gamers have better hand-eye coordination, keener resistance to distraction, stronger problem-solving skills, and greater sensitivity to peripheral vision than non-gamers. Additionally, with products like the PlayStation Move and Wii, video games aid the development of motor skills by way of full body movement. Far from being exclusively for the lazy members of our population, video games strengthen children’s reasoning, perception, memory, and spatial navigation.

Video games could even include social benefits for gamers. They may, for example, present a topic for discussion and a basis for social bonding. They might also boost a child’s self-esteem if he or she shows an affinity for some video game but struggles

in other areas. Leadership skills may also be sharpened while playing a multiplayer game.

Researchers have suggested that video games provide valuable relief from stress. For example, in a study conducted among American teenagers, it was found that over a quarter of young women and a half of young men in the US vent their anger through games such as Grand Theft Auto.

Considerable assistance in physical rehabilitation has been one of the recently discovered advantages of video games. Video games have also provided physical therapy, distraction from discomfort and improvements in disease self-management for patients, who often show substantial progress.

In 1997, author Jessie Herz called attention to the anti-capitalist bias of many researchers by identifying as a benefit what they considered a negative effect. Her notion is simple: studies have shown that aggression and anti-social behaviour are possible effects of regular gaming, but she claims that these can be counted as advantages in a capitalist society.

As is the case with most aspects of life, gaming has its benefits when it is enjoyed in moderation, which is something to consider the next time you receive an article on your Facebook timeline which condemns gaming.

The positive effects of gaming Gamers at this year’s rAge expo. Photos: Ciske van den Heever

Escape reality From the Entertainment Editor

Photo: Stefan Stander

When broaching the topic of gaming, you will most likely be met with one of three reactions: fence-sitting apathy, serious enthusiasm, or a series of annoyed eye-rolls. The general opinion surrounding gaming is that it’s not for everyone. However, I would like to oppose this.

As someone who played nothing more than The Sims for most of my gaming life, my idea of what it means to be a gamer was fairly limited until quite recently. As someone who is, in a word, useless at first-person shooters and could never grasp the concept of the WASD control scheme, my initiation into gaming was a slow and casual one.

It didn’t take me long to realise that gaming isn’t limited to first-person shooters or mind-boggling puzzle platformers. You don’t need to own the latest console to consider yourself a gamer (if you’re thinking of buying a new console, though, be sure to check out our article on page iv). Of course, there will be some die-hards who disagree with me, but being a gamer is about more than your League of Legends success rate. I have as much respect for someone who has a high score on QuizUp or Candy Crush as someone who is an excellent Call of Duty player (if you’re an avid mobile gamer, by the way, our article on page iii might interest you).

Gaming is for everyone. You just need to find the right game for you, be it a first-person shooter, a role-playing game or a point-and-click adventure (see our article on alternatives to first-person shooters on page iv).

The world of games, much like the world of literature, can help us de-stress and, as the title of this editorial suggests, escape reality. While this obviously isn’t the best idea during exams, gaming is still a good way for us to expand our creative horizons and see the world through a new lens. I hope this supplement and our gaming-related web exclusives can open new doors for you and maybe help you discover a new hobby or two.

Elmarie

iii19 October 2015 | Entertainment - Gaming Supplement

CHAD JOHNSTON

From 9 to 11 October the Ticketpro Dome in Johannesburg was filled with gaming enthusiasts from all over the country for the annual rAge gaming expo. The lines to get in stretched in all directions as gaming enthusiasts from all walks of life congregated together to experience all the thrills and excitement the gaming world has to offer.

There were demos galore, cosplayers representing their favourite games, and a 52-hour Nag Lan at the 13th instalment of the event. The Nag Lan is the largest Lan in the country, with more than 2500 gamers participating this year. Gamers bring their own computers, sleeping bags and food as they engage in a Lan that can only be described as incredible.

This year, many gaming enthusiasts came to test out games such as Assassin’s Creed Syndicate, Rise of The Tomb Raider and Tom Clancy’s The Division. One of the more popular games was Fifa 16, as there was hardly a corner that wasn’t being occupied by excited Fifa fans playing the newest version of the game.

The cosplayers were out in full force this year. There were a range of characters walking around the expo, including Harry Potter, The Joker and characters from the popular game Assassin’s Creed. People flocked to have their pictures taken with their favourite characters.

There was hardly a day when the expo could have been considered empty, which is a testament to the growth of the gaming industry in South Africa. One can only wait with great expectations to see what rAge will bring next year.

rAge 2015: gamers galore

Gamers playing Call of Duty at rAge 2015. Photo: Stefan Stander

Cosplayers at rAge. Photo: Stefan Stander

SHAUN SPROULE Mobile gaming is taking the world by storm and is becoming more popular than ever. Mobile games have become such an important part of people’s lives and cater for almost every sort of game-lover. The popularity of these games can be seen when new games are released complete with television adverts featuring A-list celebrities such as Liam Neeson and Kate Upton.

The early 2000s saw the birth of the mobile gaming craze with the introduction of Snake and Snake II. These simple games kickstarted the culture as they grew in popularity and complexity over the next few years. The evolution of WAP (Wireless Application Protocol) browsers on cell phones, which allowed users to access the internet from their phones, ushered in a new generation of competitive mobile gaming. Today there seems to be too much to choose from, but there is sure to be a game for everyone.

Nova 3 is one of the most realistic looking first-person shooter games available for mobile devices. The game scored a 4.5 out of 5 on the Google Play Store with over 5 million downloads. A free version called Nova 3: Freedom Edition exists for those who do not want to spend R89.99 on the full version of the game. This version is slightly limited, however, as it only has ten levels to explore, but its multiplayer capabilities make up for this.

Asphalt 8 is a mobile racing game that is included under the Editor’s Choice category in the Google Play Store. The game has convincing crashes and realistic car damage with graphics not

Games on the go: the new world of mobile gaming

seen in many other mobile racing games.For music lovers, Cytus may be the perfect game to play when

you have a bit of extra time. The game combines art and music as the player is challenged to complete a perfect round. The game includes 180 songs to play to in varying genres and difficulty levels.

Hearthstone Heroes of Warcraft is a card game where one player competes against another by drawing and playing various cards. Players cast spells, call up minions, and try to outsmart their opponent in this cunning yet simple game, which is also playable on PC.

Impossible Caves is a seemingly simple game made for anyone brave enough to take on the caves. Similar to the early 2000 Nokia game Bounce, the player aims to manoeuvre the character through the caves, which are riddled with traps and obstacles. This game is deceptively difficult and addictive.

THOMAS MARAIS

Laura Kate Dale is a freelance video game journalist, developer and podcaster based in the UK who has written for numerous publications. Perdeby interviewed Dale about her work and the challenges it involves.What do you feel makes games journalism different from other kinds of journalism?In my experience, games journalism differs from other kinds of journalism in that the majority of the time, journalism is not an accurate term to describe it. Most of a [gaming] journalist’s job is PR approved interviews, writing up news stories from PR approved press releases, and reviews of content that is provided by PR. Most game critics are more accurately described as reporters and critics [rather] than journalists. Games journalism at the moment has a real issue in how PR controlled it is, and as such ... it is [hard] to do any kind of investigative or expository work. What are some of the most challenging aspects of the job that you have encountered?For me, the two most challenging aspects are (a) getting noticed in a field full of ambitious [and enthusiastic] writers, and (b) walking the line between PR mouthpiece and hard-hitting critic. In terms of getting noticed, there are so many teenagers willing to write about video games just for a free copy of a new release that it can be a real challenge to turn writing about games into a reliable living. A lot of that comes down to building a personal brand that [is] memorable and making connections with [known] writers and editors. In terms of the balance between PR and journalism, there’s a constant battle to know when it’s worth jeopardising a PR connection to break a story that’s of importance to readers. It’s

Five minutes with games journalist Laura Kate Dalealways a case-by-case basis, but hopefully over the next few years this problem will slowly lessen.You’re involved in a lot of podcasts. How did you start podcasting?I first got into podcasting almost two years ago as a way to get over a fear of public speaking. [A few months earlier] I had launched a website called IndieHaven.com and wanted an excuse to interview game developers on a regular basis. Podcasts are quick to make and produce, as well as being a great source of audience interaction and personality building. I enjoyed my first few podcasts so much that I launched a couple of other podcasts with different niches, allowing my readers to get a better idea of what I was like as a person, building up my personal brand.You’ve recently become the UK editor at Destructoid.com. What does this mean for your career?For me, writing for Destructoid is a fantastic chance to work with some big-name writers on a site with a very active readership who are open to experimentation with content and the format that writing is done in. I find [that] writing for Destructoid is a nice way to write news for an audience that is eager to interact with the author of the work, as well as a place with a large audience to test new [ways to go] forward.Do you have any advice for aspiring games journalists?Persevere, even if you feel like you’ve been working your socks off and you’re not getting anywhere. It took me the best part of three years to get [to] where I am now, writing every morning before work and every night when I got home for no pay and very little reward. It’s an incredibly tough field to get into, but if you keep pushing for it you’ll get there eventually.

Magic: The Gathering

WILLIAM ALDRIDGE

This year, the Tuks Gaming Society helped to restart the Tuks MTG (Magic: The Gathering) Society. MTG and Anime Thursdays have now become a regular event at the Graduate Centre. Perdeby spoke to Morné Snyman, chairperson of the Tuks Gaming Society, and Siveshen Chetty, coordinator of Tuks MTG.How often do MTG games happen?Chetty: Our MTG sessions happen every Thursday at the [Graduate Centre]. These sessions start at 17:30 and end at 19:30 [or] 20:30, depending on the attendance.What sort of prizes, if any, are there for the winners of a game?Snyman: Tuks Gaming sets aside money each semester in order to have booster packs as prizes for some of the events. The events that don’t have prize-support [are] normally for fun and members use these events to try new strategies or deck combinations.Does the society accommodate beginners or should players have at least some level of proficiency in the game to participate?Snyman: Players of all levels are welcome. Most of the players that do attend have been playing MTG for a while, but they will

always help anyone that would like to learn the game.Is there any sort of intervarsity competition for MTG players?Snyman: Nothing at the moment. We will be looking into partnering with Wits next year and having a couple of intervarsity matches.Do players use their own decks to compete or are games with random decks sometimes played?Chetty: Players almost always use their own deck, whether it be custom-made or bought as a whole.What do societies like Tuks Gaming and Tuks MTG do for people who are avid players of MTG, Dota, League of Legends or other compoetitive games?Snyman: We try our best to build communities in the games that a lot of students compete in so that they can practise, socialise, and improve their gaming skills with fellow students. We also organise events throughout the year for MTG, Fifa on console, and have launched the Orena University League for avid Dota 2 and League of Legends players. For MTG, we partnered with [gaming store] Outer Limits [in] Pretoria, and they have been very helpful in prize support and currently also host a lot of events over weekends that our members attend as well.

Photo: Stefan Stander

Illustration: Emmanuel Makhado

iv Entertainment - Gaming Supplement | 19 October 2015

Getting inside the game: a look at interactive gaming

From FPS to RPG: anyone can be a gamerELMARIE KRUGER

Games in the first-person shooter (FPS) genre aren’t for everyone. Not everyone enjoys skulking in dark corners, unsure of whether they have the drop on their enemy or not. Many people are discouraged from getting into gaming at all, as their idea of available games sometimes doesn’t stretch further than Call of Duty or Battlefield. Luckily, these aren’t the only options available to the FPS-wary gamer.Darkest DungeonA wildly successful Kickstarter-funded dungeon-crawler, Darkest Dungeon has managed to gain a massive following despite not even being fully completed yet. In this turn-based role-playing game (RPG), you are the descendant of the owner of a once-revered estate. However, the house and its surrounds are now overrun by bandits and supernatural creatures, and it is your job to assemble a team of expendable heroes to explore various dungeons and defeat them.Game of Thrones – A Telltale Games series

Episodic narrative-driven graphic adventures are the speciality of the game developers at Telltale Games. They have adapted the storylines of various movies, TV series and comic books, such as The Wolf Among Us, The Walking Dead, Jurassic Park, and Law and Order, into innovative point-and-click adventures. Their rendition of Game of Thrones is no different. In the game, players make various choices, which influence the outcome of the game, in order to defend the members of House Forrester. The story takes place in the original Game of Thrones universe and even features some familiar characters.Shadowrun: Hong KongAnother turn-based RPG, the Shadowrun series of games takes place in a dystopian future in which the world is run by various corporations. Shadowrunners are, effectively, people who band together to do the dirty work of others – for a fee. In many cases, this unwittingly involves saving the world from a great evil. The Shadowrun games rely on well-written dialogue and expertly crafted narratives to form a game that grips the player from start to finish. Her StoryHer Story is a unique full-motion video game based on fictional police interview clips. The game requires the player to sift through these clips in order to solve a case involving a missing person. Players who enjoy mysteries and crime thrillers in the style of shows like True Detective will be captivated by the creative and clever narrative of Her Story.UndertaleIn this quirky, humorous RPG, it is up to the player to decide whether they want to fight or negotiate their way through various combat situations. Shortly after its release, Undertale became the game with the highest rating ever on review aggregator Metacritic. Its distinctive gameplay allows players to become friends with bosses and be surrounded by any number of dogs at any given time. According to the creator, dating a skeleton is also one of the game’s many possibilities.

Illustration: Asiphe Dlulane

JULIA BAIN

For many people, sitting on the couch and playing a game is simply not enough anymore. Game developers have taken the next step and are moving toward immersing the player into the game itself. From virtual reality headsets to real-world interactive mobile games, gamers can now be a part of their favourite games in a completely new way.

The Oculus Rift is a first-of-its-kind virtual reality headgear made available to the public. The headset allows the wearer to feel as though they are inside the game they’re playing, due to the high-resolution display, and can be used while sitting, standing, or walking. Its primary purpose is for enhanced gaming, but it can also be used to view other media. The consumer model, the CV1, will be released in early 2016 and each headset will come with an Xbox One controller.

Pokémon GO is a mobile game with the focus of bringing the world of Pokémon into reality. With the use of GPS technology, players will be able to track down and capture different types of Pokémon, trade them with friends, and have battles with other players, all based in the real world. The app will be made available in 2016 for both iPhone and Android and will be free to download on Google Play and the iPhone App Store. For those looking to enhance their experience, in-app purchases will be offered as well as Pokémon GO Plus, a small device to keep you connected even when you are not online. According to the official Pokémon website, “the device connects … via Bluetooth” and uses “an LED and vibration” to alert players of happenings within the game. Pokémon Go is Niantic Inc.’s second “augmented reality mobile game”, the first being Ingress.

Ingress is a story-based sci-fi game in which players choose a side to fight for and then travel to cultural sites (monuments, sculptures, or museums) and collect energy from “portals” for their chosen alliance. Like Pokémon GO, Ingress is also a GPS-based game requiring the player to interact with the real world in order to complete missions. Ingress was released in 2014 and is available for download on Google Play for free.

KOJO ESSAH

It has been almost two years since the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One consoles were launched, and almost three years since the Wii U console was launched. As expected, many people rushed to get their hands on these brand new consoles on launch day and the days following, but many gamers decided to stick with the PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 and Wii consoles, for legitimate reasons. However, the year is 2015, and it could not be a better time to make the jump to the new consoles.

When their consoles launched in 2012 and 2013, Sony, Microsoft and Nintendo focused their attention on showing potential customers what these systems could do. This was seen in Nintendo’s E3 press conference in 2011, as well as Sony and Microsoft’s E3 press conferences in 2012 and 2013. As a result of this decision, new game announcements for these consoles were scarce, leading to scant games at the respective launches of these platforms. This issue, however, has since been resolved. After the consoles hit store shelves, the companies decided to focus their attention on delivering the best games for their respective platforms. Nintendo is using the Wii U to evolve their most beloved franchises, delivering the next iterations of popular titles such as Mario Kart, Super Smash Bros., and even third-party exclusives such as the widely acclaimed Bayonetta series. In 2016, Nintendo is set to release Star Fox Zero, a new game in the Star Fox series that has long been untouched, as well as a new Legend of Zelda game.

Microsoft is heading into uncharted territory with their title Quantum Break, which is going to be a new video game exclusive to the Xbox One, as well as a tie-in TV show with the same name. This is set for release early next year. They are also evolving fan-favourite titles such as Halo with the next iteration, Halo 5:

Solving the console question: to buy or not to buy?

Guardians, and Forza, with Forza Motorsport 6. These games will be released by the end of the year.

Sony is raising the bar for itself by moving games that were meant for the PlayStation 3 over to the PlayStation 4. The main example of this is The Last Guardian, an epic, story-driven tale. Sony, through Kickstarter, has also helped revive Shenmue, an open-world series that began in the 1990s and never had a proper continuation after Shenmue 2.

Some gamers are still hesitant to move over to the new consoles because they fear they will never play their favourite titles from the previous consoles. Gaming companies have found a solution to this, as they are now re-mastering their most popular titles for the newer consoles with high-definition graphics, improved gameplay and extra features. These are just a few examples of how the new generation of consoles are and will be the best places to play games, now and in the future.

Illustration: Jackie Zhang

Image: Shen Scott and Jackie Zhang

@perdebynews

Perdeby

ELMARIE KRUGER

Afrikaans rap trio Bittereinder have recently released a brand new album titled Dans tot die Dood [Dance to the death]. Perdeby spoke to the group about the new release and their latest music video.You’ve recently released a new single titled “Hartseer gangster”. What has the response to the single been like so far? Overwhelmingly positive, which we’re thrilled about. The concept behind the music video for “Hartseer gangster” seems very interesting. Was there a specific message you hoped it would convey? It’s a carefully stylised world which captures the lyrical themes of lonely individuals hoping to be noticed in a globalised society. What was the recording process for the video like? Lots of fun. As usual, Louis Minnaar was at the helm, we had awesome help from film makeup specialist Nicola Roodt, and we just lived ourselves into these characters. Louis’ character is especially impressive, easily our favourite

919 October 2015 | Entertainment

Dance ’til you’re dead with Bittereindercharacter and performance he’s done in our videos. Your latest album, Dans tot die Dood, was released earlier this month. What can listeners expect from it? Big banging beats, lots of dark melancholy melodies which are still fun to sing along to, lots of new lyrical flows and journeys, powerful analogue synth basslines, and lots of drums. How do you hope the new album will be received? [W]e’re hoping it will do well in cars, bars, elevators, offices, earphones, and especially live shows. We’re feeling pretty confident that we’ve created our finest work yet. What was the most memorable part of the new album’s recording process? It was an amazing week in the mountains of Mpumalanga, the first time that the three of us had managed to synchronise our schedules to break away from society and the daily grind with the sole purpose of making new music together. Louis is busy finalising an epic “making of” documentary that he filmed during that magical week, [so] keep an eye out for that. It’s almost as cool as the album itself.

Image: Louis Minnaar

JULIA BAIN

Ottoman Slap is a Middle-Eastern/Balkan fusion band based in Cape Town. The band was established in 2012 and has since played at Rocking the Daisies for the last three years. They are influenced by traditional songs from many different cultures, such as Andalusian, Arabic, Romanian and Spanish. These influences are used when creating new works and when reinventing traditional folk songs. Ottoman Slap uses a wide variety of instruments including saxophone, guitar, trumpet, double bass, saw, mandolin, zills, castanets, hulusi and darbuka.

CHARLOTTE BASTIAANSE

Vodacom in the City was held on 4 October at the picturesque Emmarentia Dam. Gates opened at 10:00 and Grassy Spark, winners of Vodacom Open the City, kicked off at 11:00. The day was off to a relaxed start with plenty of people arriving early to secure themselves a prime spot for the international acts later in the day. The sun was scorching and competition for shade was tight.

Al Bairre and P.H.Fat attracted large crowds during their sets. People definitely started to warm up along with the weather. The Cat Empire kicked off the international acts at around 13:30, attracting an impressive number of people. Their performance was truly entertaining to watch. The band added something different to the music mix and something alternative went down well with the crowd.

Next up was the eagerly anticipated Milky Chance, visiting South Africa all the way from

Vodacom in the City: ready, set, rock

Milky Chance performing at Vodacom in the City. Photo: Charlotte Bastiaanse

Germany on their tour. Their set was relaxed and casual, yet still gave people an extra spring in their step. Milky Chance was evidently a crowd favourite as everyone sang along and appreciated their music. Their performance ended with the crowd demanding an encore.

Half an hour later, it was time to welcome the much-anticipated final act, UK band The Kooks. The crowd was enthralled with the band from the opening song. The Kooks brought energy to the day and their enthusiasm thrilled the audience. As the sun began to set during their performance, it was time to put the 2015 instalment of Vodacom in the City to bed. The Kooks’ set ended at around 18:00, which meant that it was finally time for everyone to pack up and head home. The event was a success and thoroughly enjoyed by everyone who attended. Of course, there is no better way to enjoy a festival than to be able to leave peacefully. As always, the event set high standards for itself that will undoubtedly be met next year.

Idiomatic is the band’s debut album, featuring six original tracks and three adaptations of traditional Yiddish, Spanish and Romanian songs. The vocals for all the tracks are in Spanish.

The opening track, “Aquel ruido”, starts off with a Middle-Eastern atmosphere, with the slow quivering sound of a saw and mandolin, quickly moving into an upbeat jazzy use of a trumpet.

The jazz trumpet continues through to the next track, “The dachshund and the weasel”, starting off with a flowing solo with percussion flourishes. As the pace increases, a variety

of instruments are introduced. With particular emphasis on castanets and vocals, this track has a strong Spanish feel to it.

“Clapham junction” has an interesting use of clapping within the track, giving it a Spanish castanet-like quality. This track has a good combination of jazz, Spanish and Middle-Eastern styles coming through at different points and blending well together.

“Calle del aire” is an adaption of a Romanian love song, with the vocals translated into Spanish. Low vibrating notes accompanied by slow chant-like vocals give the track an Arabic feel. Throughout the track, the pace and intensity build and it contains flourishes from many different percussion instruments.

With such a wide variety of musical influences, Gypsy-style dress and belly dancing incorporated into performances, Ottoman Slap is unique to the South African music scene. Idiomatic offers listeners an unusual musical experience with a refreshing twist.

Ottoman Slap Idiomatic

Image provided.

10 Entertainment | 19 October 2015

AAISHA KALLIER

Street art in South Africa has become more and more prolific in recent years. It is no longer seen as mere vandalism, but is now regarded as an art form within the art community. Perdeby asked Cale Waddacor, a South African artist and author of Graffiti in South Africa, a few questions about street art. His book showcases some of his work and contains a lot of information regarding street art and graffiti.

The legality of street art is something that many artists are concerned about. “Art on the street can be legal and illegal, or even semi-legal. It varies. Artists will seek permission to paint a specific spot or location, but sometimes to achieve the desired placement (for desired effect) you just have to gun it,” says Waddacor. He notes, however, that he does not endorse or promote the act of painting on public or state-owned property.

As with other forms of art, there are many types of street art. Street art can be mural art, video projections, street installations and even yarn bombing. “The graffiti and street art scene has developed rapidly over the last few years due to many reasons,

South African street artists on the riseincluding the general growth of active artists as well as more frequent visits by internationally acclaimed artists, who in turn inspire the local artists,” Waddacor explains, adding, “There is also a lot more presence on the internet, which has created a bigger following and more appreciation [for] the sub-culture. Urban art festivals, exhibitions and books like mine have also been released to promote and document the movement.”

With a growing community of street artists, street art is able to reach the public in a way that no other medium can. Waddacor says, “Street art can send all kinds of messages as it is a pure form of creative expression. It has no boundaries and is able to speak to a large range of people. Street art is very powerful as it is seen by many and can have different meanings for each viewer. It is non-elitist and can play a direct role in inspiring change and uplifting broken or abandoned communities and spaces.”

Rising fast, this art form and its artists are quickly becoming something recognisable and distinct. In South Africa, it allows young artists to showcase their work or message in a way that will definitely be noticed.

Street art at Market on Main in Pretoria. Photo: Shen Scott

SHAUN SPROULE

The Jacarandas are in full bloom around campus, and this means exams are just around the corner. It’s the time of year when students knuckle down and get to their preparations for their exams. With this comes the struggle around study methods and the age-old debate about studying with or without music. Many students claim that listening to music while studying can elevate their mood, help them focus and even prolong study sessions. While most studies reveal that silence is best, they also reveal that some genres of music are better than others for optimising the study environment.

There are a few rules for what makes the best study music. Firstly, music with no vocals is better for concentration as vocals may be distracting. It is also not advisable to play music too loudly. Music with a slower tempo or music which can be considered sedative will be better, as it relaxes the mind and may put the student in a better state of mind to study. The question still remains: what genre of music is the best to study to?

Classical music may seem clichéd, but it has been used for decades to promote mental development and focus. While not for everyone, classical music is useful as it is unobtrusive and creates a calming atmosphere.

Ambient sounds can easily fit into anyone’s study playlist. These are simple tracks produced with the intention of creating a soothing and creative atmosphere. Brian Eno, a songwriter and award-winning producer, is a good artist to turn to. His album Music for Airports was produced to help relieve the tense and anxious atmosphere of an airport terminal and could easily be used to create a good study environment.

Instrumental hip-hop can be great for hip-hop fans. With no lyrics, people who enjoy hip-hop can get their fix without getting distracted by lyrics. If you don’t know who to listen to, try producers such as Clams Casino, Freddie Joachim, Blunted Beats,

Ace exams with a good playlistJARED BEUKES

What began as a discussion on purity between actor Mmabatho Montsho (of Generations and Rhythm City fame) and a friend has since been turned into a web series called Women on Sex, where an array of women are interviewed on various topics regarding sexuality. Montsho considers the subject matter very important, as “it intersects the different areas of life – economics, education, religion, politics, and more … [revealing] the scale of gender inequality.”

The women interviewed are all black or of Asiatic descent, and Montsho has managed to elicit enlightening testimonies from each of them. Montsho has adopted the attitude that every woman’s voice is of value and worthy of attention.

It is clear that the subjects, ranging from health experts to television personalities (such as Masasa Mbangeni and Khanyi Mbau) and laywomen, defy any accents of shame or shyness in their interviews, revealing their viewpoints with sincerity and confidence. “Lived experience is its own kind of expertise and its voice is just as important, especially if you consider how few women have access to education,” Montsho says.

These interviews both appreciate and distinguish black women as distinct individuals and critical, intellectual beings. The subject matter moves the perception of black women as passive participants in their sex lives to being progressive campaigners for their own liberation. Montsho has spoken out before on the large gap for content featuring black women. She says, “Fair representation won’t happen without conscious black women pushing for it.” Montsho goes on to say that even when you see a black woman on the screen, what goes on offstage “is still very much white and male dominated … One must first fight to get in before one can even attempt to change things … I can say confidently that if jobs were given based on merit in the film/TV industry, more black women would be in power positions.”

Rather than grinding an axe, the series lays a mosaic of stances that is illuminating to both male and female viewers. “We live with men and the relationship between men and women has to improve. We have to be equal and that starts with being able to listen to and hear each other,” she says.

Women on Sex can be subscribed to on YouTube and followed on both Facebook and Twitter. According to Montsho, “there is a lot of progressive content online that consciously goes against regressive mainstream media ideals. It will challenge television to look into [different] kinds of content in future.”

Women on sex: empowering femininity

Illustration: Faith Honey and Moods, who also produces some house music.

Deep house is one of the best choices for your study playlist, but try to avoid the much louder future-house genre. With soothing melodies and low-tempo progressions, deep house may rival classical music as some of the best music to listen to while studying. Although many deep house tracks include vocals, the vocals are often simple and soothing, resulting in a good study atmosphere. Look out for lounge house artists such as Adrian Loud, Kaskade, Late Night Alumni and DeadMau5.

@PerdebyE

1119 October 2015 | Advertisement

12 Fun and Games | 19 October 2015

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Pssst...Pssst… has been away for far too long, and Pssst… thinks it’s time that the safety blanket is lifted off the fragile res-dwellers.

Pssst… would like to ring in the new quarter with a question for Erika: have you all gone insane? From prancing around on campus with brooms between their legs, to arriving at the Perdeby office with purple paint all over their arms and legs, to asking poor, unsuspecting students how to ride a unicorn, Pssst… thinks that the Erika ladies have finally lost it. Erika, Pssst… will tell you how to ride a unicorn: you don’t, because it is a mythical creature that doesn’t exist – much like your dignity.

Pssst… had to give up precious hours of Pssst…’s life to attend External Prestige last week, and Pssst… honestly isn’t sure whether it was worth it. If only Pssst… was able to reach some of the wine that the Kollege and Jasmyn HKs were having. Oh, to be royally drunk at a TuksRes event – not that Pssst… expected anything less from these exemplary reses.

Pssst… is also sure that everyone was expecting Kollege to win Pssst…’s gossip res of the year award. However, Pssst… can’t take responsibility for Zinnia and Inca

winning the award for newsmakers of the year. Pssst… would think that you’d need to prove that you’re more than just a one-hit wonder in order to qualify as a “newsmaker”, but, oh well.

In other news, nobody really cares about the awards that Mopanie, Curlitzia and Magrietjie won, and nobody is surprised that Katjiepiering, Kiaat and Asterhof walked away with nothing.

What surprised Pssst…, though, was the fact that TuksVillage actually won an award – even though no one from TuksVillage was there to receive it. Tsk, tsk. Perhaps this proves that TuksVillage is even more mythical as a res than Erika’s unicorn.

To be honest, that last statement has actually made Pssst… a little worried that TuksVillage might send Pssst… another angry email demanding an apology, so Pssst… will apologise in advance: sorry, not sorry.

The year might be drawing to a close, but Pssst… has no intention of backing down just yet. If you feel particularly offended that your res of choice didn’t make it into Pssst… this week, be the change you want to see in the world and send some res tips to pssst@perdeby.co.za.

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1319 October 2015 | Sport

CARLI-ANN FURNO AND ERIN SLINGERLAND

The annual Spar Women’s Race, also known as South Africa’s Most Beautiful Race, is an event that encourages women from all over the country to come together and participate in either a 5 km or 10 km run. On Sunday 11 October a record 13 358 people gathered at the starting line near the Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg.

Lebogang Phalula proved to have entered the event with determination when she crossed the 10 km finish line first in a time of just over 35 minutes, followed by Rutendo Nyahora and Diana-Lebo Phalula. All runners received a free pink T-shirt upon arrival, and although it was a women’s event, men were also seen blending into the crowd with pink attire and dressed in drag.

Perdeby was given an opportunity to enter

the race and was able to speak to some of the men running along the way. One such runner was high school student Tyron Froneman, who commented on his decision to enter the race, saying, “I did this to show my support to the women around me who I consider as equals. This event was well organised and I feel like I did a good thing today.” Another runner, Brett Palframan, also entered the event as a display of his support and said, “I felt like it was the right thing to enter, and what [a] beautiful thing it was to witness this sea of pink today.”

In light of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, all funds raised by the event go to Reach for Recovery, a breast cancer support group and non-profit organisation. For many, this race was a significant tribute to the women who have either suffered from breast cancer or have witnessed their loved ones suffer from breast cancer.

Nicole Brower is a breast cancer survivor.

Thousands enter Spar Women’s Race in support of Breast Cancer Awareness Month

ERIN SLINGERLAND

TuksDance performed at the Cansa relay in Bedfordview on 3 October in light of Cancer Awareness Month. Seven dancers were accompanied by their two teachers from Pretoria, who are both cancer survivors, to participate in this momentous event hosted by Leeuwenhof Akademie. They performed eight dance styles throughout the evening including cha-cha, rumba, jive, boogie, and sokkie, during which they invited cancer survivors to get up from the audience and join the fun. The relay took place from 17:00 to 06:00 the following morning.

People from all walks of life entered teams into the relay, and all proceeds went to the Cansa Foundation. The only rule is that a member from each team must be on the dance floor at all times. The Cansa relay is in memory of those who have lost their lives to cancer, in support of those fighting cancer, and in honour of those who have won their battles against cancer.

Chantal Potgieter, a former member of TuksDance and the event coordinator, made it clear that TuksDance strongly believes that giving back to the community is a vital part of dancing and any sport. Potgieter placed the evening into context, saying, “The evening proceed[s] from dusk to night [symbolising] how a cancer patient goes from a light place in their life as they are cancer free into a darker place as they find out they have cancer. The struggle through the night against the cold and sleep symbolises a cancer patient’s struggle through chemotherapy, dealing with cancer and ill health. As the evening turns into dawn it symbolises how a cancer patient goes into remission and sees the light at the end of the struggle just as you see the sun come up.” The dancers themselves said that they thoroughly enjoyed the event and were willing to participate in it again.

This event was one of the many that TuksDance has participated in, and they plan to continue their participation in such events by igniting the uniting power of sport.

TuksDance shows show-stopping support for cancer survivors

Illustration: Aaisha Kallier

Image: Reg Caldecott

She was diagnosed earlier this year and shared what this event meant to her personally, saying, “I entered this race to show that I have beaten

cancer, and to support other people who may still be fighting [cancer]. This race is a celebration of me being alive today.”

14 Advertorial | 19 October 2015

1519 October 2015 | Sport

Assupol Tuks head to India for Red Bull cricket championship

TAY LETHULOE

The Assupol Tuks cricket team will be heading to India in a quest to defend their Red Bull Campus Cricket world title in a tournament which will take place from 19-24 October in Dehradun, India. The Red Bull Campus Cricket competition is an annual initiative focused on

Image: Blanche Conradie

Respublica, South Africa’s leading developer, owner and manager of student

accommodation, has announced that Eastwood Village, its fifth purpose-built apartment-style student residence, will open its doors to students in January 2016, with applications already open for students seeking new accommodation for next year.

Developed at a cost of over R125m, Eastwood Village is located less than one kilometre from the University of Pretoria (UP) and close to the Tshwane University of Technology (TUT) Arcadia campus. It will offer

accommodation to 538 students in 78 apartments, as well as a canteen, recreation rooms, a gym, a computer laboratory, and study rooms.

Construction is on track for completion for the start of the 2016 academic year, giving students at tertiary level at any institution in Pretoria the opportunity to move into brand-new, state of the art accommodation.

Respublica announces new student residence in PretoriaEastwood Village offers accommodation alternative to the city’s students

“Respublica is committed to alleviating the critical shortage of suitable accommodation around Pretoria, and we have designed Eastwood Village to create and nurture a vibrant student community,” says Craig McMurray,

CEO of Respublica. The residence offers a range of upmarket apartment and accommodation options, to meet the needs of diverse personal preferences and budgets. Even though it is within walking distance of the UP campus, Eastwood Village has been carefully located along bus routes leading to both UP and TUT, giving students a range of options to travel to lectures.

Respublica’s portfolio of residences includes Saratoga

“less than one kilometre from

the University of Pretoria”

“It will offer accommodation

to 538 students in 78 apartments”

WIN A SEMESTER’S ACCOMMODATION WITH RESPUBLICA

AND Perdeby Respublica is setting new standards in South Africa as the country’s leading developer, owner and manager of student accommodation. Eastwood Village will be Respublica’s third student residence to open in Pretoria, offering apartment-style living and all the modern amenities that students need, including access to WiFi and an integrated residence life programme to help you ease into your new way of life away from home. At Respublica, we strive to provide an ecosystem for living and learning that is clean, modern and conducive to the academic success of all our students. All Respublica residences typically include canteens, recreation rooms, gyms, computer rooms and study spaces, making sure that there’s space to do anything that students need to, whether it’s socialising, studying, or keeping fit and healthy.

One lucky student can stand the chance to win a

semester’s accommodation, up to the value of R25 000, at Respublica’s Eastwood Village

or Urban Nest residence in 2016.

To enter, email the answer to the below question together with your full name, student number and contact details to: perdeby@up.ac.za Question: In what city is Eastwood Village located?

Village and The Fields in Doornfontein, which provide accommodation for University of Johannesburg, Central Johannesburg College and University of the Witwatersrand students. In Pretoria West City and Urban Nest facilities accommodate students from TUT and UP, as well as from various other colleges in the area. Respublica is engaged in numerous other projects across the country which are at various stages of development and will be announced in due course. Terms and Conditions apply

developing university cricket on an international platform by inviting national champions from various countries to compete against each other for the world title.

This year the tournament will see India, Australia, South Africa, Pakistan, England, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and the United Arab Emirates competing in a twenty-over (T20)

format. The UP team will have a tough challenge ahead in an attempt to live up to their label as defending champions. High expectations surround the team after a successful 2015 season where they secured the USSA title as well as the first instalment of the Varsity Cricket competition. TuksCricket head coach Pierre de Bruyn will have drawn attention to the team after he was recently awarded Coach of the Year at the 2015 Gauteng Sports Awards.

The team will have to deal with unfamiliar sub-continental conditions in India. They are, however, prepared for this challenge after receiving assistance from South African cricket legend Shaun Pollock, who advised them on how to excel in such a tournament.

The team will comprise of some of the players who competed in the tournament

in England last year, and will hope to draw from these experiences. “We have done a lot of preparation in terms of the things you can control, but going that side we are expecting a tough tournament. We are the defending champions, which puts a target on our back. Although we expect some tough cricket, at the same time it is nice to be challenged,” said captain Aiden Markram.

To get your event listed in our event calendar, send the date, event name and venue to entertainment@perdeby.co.za or tweet us

(@PerdebyE). UP societies are welcome to send their

events, too.

Advertorial

22 October: Re-opening of Tennessee – 526 Duncan Walk

24 October: The Thrift Fair – Maritimo Football Club

24 October: European Day of Languages – Alliance Française de Pretoria

25 October: German Classic Car Festival – Route 24 Pub & Grill

29 October: Beerhouse Silent Disco – Beerhouse Fourways

30 October: Night of the Walking Dead – Hatfield Plaza

31 October: Halloween – Arcade Empire

5 November: The Black Lips live in SA – Carfax Johannesburg

6-8 November: Cool Inc. Tattoo Expo – Voortrekker Monument

Calendar

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CARLI-ANN FURNO

Fascinating Expedition and Adventure Talks (Feat) is an annual event that allows adventurers to take to the stage and share their extreme expeditions in a time-limited presentation. Each speaker is given seven minutes to present 20 slides that reveal the highlights of their life-altering experiences. Lisa de Speville is a writer and adventure racer who began this event to open the eyes of South African audiences, specifically to the possibility of the adventurous life that they are able to create for themselves.

In a presentation that had the audience on the edge of their seats, UP student Bernie Theron described his experience of hiking from the north to the south of Iceland in a journey that took place over 27 days. With minimal preparation and food supplies, Theron took to the icy mountains alone with the reassurance that his mother would contact emergency services if she failed to hear from him after 30 days. Theron spent just under a month of hiking approximately 600 km into an unrelenting wind before arriving at the most southerly point of Iceland. When asked about the feeling of completing such an expedition, Theron said, “I hit a low when I reached my destination, because I didn’t know what to do when suddenly the expedition was finished. I realised that happiness is not found from arriving at your destination, but during the countless hours of wishing for your journey to end.”

Another young speaker was Unisa student Keegan Longueira. Longueira cycled the length

Feat 2015: tapping into the heart of adventurers

of Africa on his mountain bike, completing the 10 520 km distance from Cairo to Cape Town. He described the most memorable part of his trip in the country of Sudan and Ethiopia, and, despite having to overcome challenging conditions, said, “I remember setting up tent in the middle of a desert one night. I looked around and found myself beneath stars that stretched from horizon to horizon. I felt freedom in being completely alone.” Longueira was able to set a world record by completing the journey in 59 days.

Feat speakers were not limited by age, however, and ranged from children in the Feat Kids section of the event to 62-year-old Tim Biggs. Biggs shared his adventures as the only man to have kayaked the three main tributaries of the Amazon River, a quest which got underway on the Urubamba River (1981), continued on the Apurimac River (1985), and concluded on the Marañón River (2004). When asked about pursuing a life of narrow escapes, he said, “When things get tough, I just do one rapid at a time. They told me life begins at 40,

and I thought maybe it was true. Then they told me that life begins at 50, and I considered that too. But I know, without a doubt, that life begins at 60.”

Second-year medical student Shannon Brit spoke to Perdeby afterwards, saying, “Feat spoke into my life tonight. It encouraged me [to] realise my adventurous ambitions instead of allowing them to remain as dormant dreams. I loved that the speakers tonight are ordinary people, just like I am.”

Image: Bernie Theron

Contact colleen@babymiracles.co.za or on 083 380 2354 to find out more.

www.babymiracles.co.za

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UP-Tuks ladies continue victorious momentum in sevens rugby

Image: Riaan van der Merwe

THORISO PHASHA

The UP-Tuks women’s sevens rugby team has enjoyed a winning streak in 2015. The ladies’ success has not gone unnoticed, drawing particular attention when the team appeared on the SABC lifestyle programme Expresso.

UP-Tuks showed no signs of slowing down in the last month, with an impressive display at the USSA tournament at the end of September where they won four consecutive matches. UP opened with a 38-0 mauling of Walter Sisulu University. Their second victory came at the expense of the University of Fort Hare with a 33-0 whitewash. UP-Tuks continued in unrelenting fashion as they brushed aside the University of the Western Cape with a 22-5

scoreline. The Pretoria outfit showed no fatigue, concluding the tournament with a 19-0 sweep over the University of Johannesburg. The quartet of solid wins sealed their title credentials as the 2015 USSA champions.

Celebrations will be short-lived, however, as the team get back to the training pitch in preparation for their next challenge: the French Olympic women’s sevens team. The French team will be touring South Africa to face off against UP-Tuks between 26 October and 9 November this year in a

series of friendly matches.The most anticipated challenge this year for

UP-Tuks will be the Dubai sevens tournament. It will be a great opportunity for UP-Tuks to compete on an international level against some of the best national teams in the world. The competition will take place from 3-4 December with Sweden, Germany and Australia also taking part.

It has been a remarkable season for Tuks so far. Coach Riaan van der Merwe had nothing but praise for his team. “Tuks sevens ladies [are] champions in South Africa and Europe! [They are] one group of ladies from a university [who] is not afraid to face the world,” he said. UP are optimistic about finishing off the year on a positive note and perhaps even with their undefeated record still intact.

TAY LETHULOE

The UP-Tuks netball team missed out on what would have been consecutive Varsity Netball finals with a shock 50-56 loss to the University of Stellenbosch (Maties) at the UP Rembrandt Hall Monday night.

In what proved to be a tight start to the game, both teams were able to capitalise on

Maties keep Tuks from Varsity Netball final

their centre passes but it was Maties who were able to apply the required pressure to break away in the first quarter with a score of 14-11. The second quarter saw UP-Tuks make early substitutions that allowed them to find their feet and reduce the deficit to within one point. After almost drawing even on two occasions, the first half ended with a 25-21 lead for Maties.

The second half began with Maties frustrating last year’s finalists with their physicality to build up a nine-point lead at the end of the third quarter, despite UP outscoring them during their power play.

In the final quarter, the Stellenbosch side were able to create spaces between the UP defenders and managed to build up a ten-point lead. Tuks were able to fight back within the last five minutes of the match, however, to reduce the deficit and make it a nervous end to the game. Despite the lack of experienced players, Tuks is proud to have made it to the knockout stages.

Another surprise result in Bloemfontein saw North-West University (NWU-Pukke) beat the University of the Free State 48-56. Maties will now face NWU-Pukke in Stellenbosch, which means that a new Varsity Netball champion will be crowned on 19 October.

Image: Riana Bezuidenhout

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