2009 - Edition 6

Edition 6, 27 May 2009

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>> Meet the new cabinet Take a look at President Jacob Zuma’s new cabinet

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>> Arts festival fever hits G’town Check out our in-depth preview of the National Arts Festival

Distribution subsidised by the Oppidan Committee and the South African Post Office.

Pics: Gcobani Qambela

THE GREAT DIVIDE Many Oppidans face a lengthy commute to campus everyday from their township digs. Rather than stay in the centre of town, these Oppies feel happy and secure with township living.

Oppies decide where the grass is greener The Oppidan Press investigated some of the challenges faced by Oppidans living in the township, compared with those living in central Grahamstown. Gcobani Qambela

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or most Oppies at Rhodes, getting from digs to lectures and back again takes a matter of minutes. However, for a few students this process can take hours. Third year BA student, Mandisa Maggwaxaza is in her first year in digs, and lives in Vukani Township. “I have to stay til late on campus to get the Oppi Bus but this has actually helped me in that it pushes me to fully utilise my day and work harder,” she said. Unathi Vimbani, a third year BSocSci student has stayed in Joza for two years. He

found the campus environment too constraining in first year and chose to stay in the township. “Coming from the township myself, I like the vibe ekasi (in the township). However, because I live close to the ‘hot spot’, it becomes difficult to study on weekends because of the high noise levels. Thus I mostly use the library during the day to study.” Vimbani complains that the Oppi Bus takes too long to get him home late at night. “Sometimes you arrive so late that you are so tired from being in the bus and you can’t really do anything but sleep,” he says. But he adds that “contrary to common conception that crime is very high in the township,

it’s really not that dangerous. I am not merely a student staying there, but I’m part of the township. I am familiar with most people in the area I stay in, and we’ve never once been robbed or broken into. I will stay in the township until I finish my studies at Rhodes, I am happy there”. Third year BCom Oppidan, Nkandu Clubuye contends that staying in the centre of town does not necessarily mean the grass is greener. She states that security is a big concern in her digs in African Street, as they have already had an attempted breakin this year. “We do not have the benefit of CPU on our doorsteps like most students in res,” she said.

Despite this, Clubuye still prefers being in digs: “I feel more at home in digs. There are lots of things I can do in digs that I can’t do in res – like baking,” she said. Bongiwe Bozo, a post-graduate student who is in her first year in digs feels that digs life is not for her. “Just last Friday (8 May) the outside flat in my digs in Beaufort Street was broken into, and I never had to worry about security when I was in res,” she said. “The only positive side to living in digs is that it has matured me, I have learnt to spend my money more wisely, but if I continue at Rhodes next year, I am definitely moving back to res.”

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The Oppidan Press 27.05.09

Got news? Send your news story ideas to us and we will consider them for publication. [email protected].

Get spotted The Galela Amanzi Get Spotted Campaign which took place on Saturday 16 May saw groups of students dashing around town, cameras in tow, performing a series of strange acts. Some were spotted “grabbing a random’s bum”, others “riding in a trolley filled with toilet paper”, and two male students were even seen outside Pepper Grove Mall trading clothes with two laughing school girls. Nikki Rushmere, the creator and project manager of Galela Amanzi, explained that the antics were all for a good cause. The money raised from the project will go towards funding the installation of two R5 500 water tanks at the Andrew Moyake School in Fingo Village. Nomfuneko Royi, a teacher at the school said: “We only have two taps for around two hundred children. It’s not enough.” Royi explained that some children at the school suffer from TB and HIV, and they need clean water to

stay healthy. The water at the school is so limited that toilets have been locked, forcing the children to relieve themselves on the ground next to the playing field. One of the learners, Sisipho Phongolo said “the toilets are stinky, and they don’t work, so the little ones have to relieve themselves here”. It is hoped that the two water tanks that Galela Amanzi will install at the school will provide water for sanitation, as well as a reliable supply in the event of more water cuts, which have been prevalent recently. But the Galela Amanzi Project still needs help. “We have the expertise, we have everything, we just need the funds,” said Rushmere. After investigating conditions at the school, it is obvious that the Rhodes students who made fools of themselves did so for a good cause.

Pic: Nicole Venegas

Robyn McCormick

MAKING A DIFFERENCE Students spent a day performing crazy antics in aid of Galele Amanzi, a project that installs water tanks at township schools. Goldilocks and the Three Bears was the winning team.

Exam timetable provokes discontent Jade Smith Rhodes forums have been buzzing lately with concerns about exam timetable clashes and the registrar’s response to complaints. A forum member known as ‘7W33K’ questioned the fairness of writing two exams on one day, or in this specific case, three major subject exams in 48 hours. 7W33K said that this could be detrimental to students’ marks, especially for final years. “An unsatisfactory exam timetable can be the difference between a pass and a fail. So what is the Registrar’s Office

doing about this obviously important issue? Nothing.” However, Registrar Stephen Fourie said that the majority of students have a reasonable timetable. “The exam timetable is created using fairly sophisticated software. It creates a timetable that produces the best solution for the greatest number of students. But given the number of days available, it cannot create an ideal timetable for everyone,” Fourie explained. ‘7W33K’ has invited students with clashes to sign a petition which will be presented to the Dean of Students, the Registrar’s Office, the Vice-Chancellor

and the SRC. However, Fourie says that a petition about the timetable will be “pointless unless it is about a longer exam period”. He is aware that the June timetable forces 240 students to write two papers on the same day. 725 students will have one free session between papers. At the other end of the spectrum, 593 students will have 20 open sessions between papers. Isabel Rawlins will write Geography 2 and English 2 exams on the same day. “I think it’s unfair,” said Rawlins. “I understand that so many students have to be accommodated but I don’t believe that

Nude, lewd and misconstrued The My Body – My Choice exhibition was a highly contested topic on campus over the past two weeks. Conceptualised by Elizabeth Vale and Kwezilomso Mbandazayo, the display featured a group of about 90 naked female students and some staff members holding strategically placed placards. Mbandazoyo said the exhibition aimed to highlight the plight of abused women in South Africa. “Womyn’s bodies are a sight of struggle; we are taught and told that our bodies do not belong to us. The way in which we present ourselves has been used to justify sexual violence committed by the ‘masculine’ on the ‘feminine’. Questions like ‘what was she wearing?’ should have no place in a country that is committed to ensuring equality for all.” Sibongile Mahlangu, a third year BCom student who went to the exhibition with some of her male classmates said, “I don’t think they [the men] get it, they talked about the chicks they know, and the great bodies some of the women had, and their ‘lovehandles’ – I didn’t hear any of them talking about sexual violence inflicted on women”. A second year BSocSci male student, who wished to remain anonymous, felt

Pic: Gcobani Qambela

Gcobani Qambela

the exhibition was too Americanised. “They can’t use American tactics on African soil. The exhibition for me was just a chance to see some fine women. I think if they were wearing one colour like black or white with the placards, I would have focused more on the message than their bodies.” Mbandazayo said there had been other similar complaints about the exhibition, and that all comments were welcomed. However, “if [womyn] are guaranteed freedom of movement, then they should be able to

BODY ART The My Body – My Choice exhibition, which displayed naked female students and staff holding stragetically placed placards, has been criticised for failing to convey its message effectively. do this [pose nude]”. Third year BBS student, Rudo Chingono said the exhibition could be misconstrued from an African perspective. But, she said that “being a person coming from a social activist background, I can understand what they are trying to do and I support it, and although there might be perverts out there, I think the ‘normal’ guy at Rhodes would get the message as well, despite his moral stand point”.

my combination of subjects is strange enough to be on the same day.” Some of the crowding has been caused not by the timetable design but by academic departments demanding changes for various reasons, such as a lecturer being away at a conference. Another reason Fourie stated was that, unlike most universities, Rhodes allows a very large combination of subjects in most curricula. Another Rhodes forum user ‘mary shelley’, agreed, pointing out that at other universities, the exam timetable is set at the beginning of the year and subject choices are then decided around the timetable.

“Some universities simply don’t allow people to do certain subjects together. I far prefer our system where we have a lot of freedom in the courses we want to do, for the price of a slightly uncomfortable exam timetable,” she said. She also said that students should not blame their timetables but instead work consistently throughout the term. “You shouldn’t [start] studying for exams only when they come around; you should be using swot week to revise.” Fourie echoed this statement. “If you have properly assimilated the learning material, you do not need time between papers,” he said.

Enjoy swot week while you can Gcobani Qambela The 2009 student body might be the last to see swot week, as was revealed in the General Student Body Meeting on Thursday 14 May held in the General Lecture Theatre. SRC President, Kholosa Loni presided over the meeting, attended by nearly 40 students. Various issues were discussed, such as the Constitution of Student Government Amendments and how the upcoming strike by workers will affect students. But the most contentious issue on the floor was the suggestion by the Registrar’s Division to change swot week to ‘swot days’ from 2010 onwards. According to Loni, this means that the full week previously dedicated to studying for exams will be “broken down into two swot days and then four days of exams and then another two days to study for exams, and four days of exams, and so on”. Former SRC President, Xolani Nyali said that although students fought hard to be granted swot week, “I would be able to sacrifice it for the World Cup, and only if the exams [wouldn’t] be transfigured to the point that we have fewer weeks to study than we did with swot week,” he said. SRC Activism and Transformation

Officer, Sekoetlane Jacob Phamodi announced that the Registrar’s Division has approved the change of swot week to swot days, and that this will be implemented in 2010. There were plans for a trial run of the proposed system with the upcoming 2009 June exams, but the Registrar’s Division failed to produce a template of what the actual timetable would look like. One of many who expressed discontent with this change was honours student, Siyabonga Yonzi who believes there wasn’t much transparency or consultation with the student body about the change. “I want a clear presentation as to how this thing will work itself out – its advantages and disadvantages, because at the moment it sounds all too abstract to me,” he said. Third year BA student, Eric Offei was equally discontented. “The problem is that the University does not consult the students. The board can’t make decisions for us, is this about them or the students?” he asked. But, as Phamodi pointed out, “the SRC consists of only 15 people, and there are 6 800 students at Rhodes, and thus we can’t do anything about the proposed change unless the students themselves engage with the SRC”.

CORRECTION: Last edition’s article, ‘What guarantee of safety on Rhodes campus?’ was written by Gcobani Qambela and not Lara Solomon.

The Oppidan Press 27.05.09

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Racism. Have you experienced racist discrimination on campus? Let us know. [email protected]

The new, the old, and the random President Zuma has officially announced his new cabinet of 34 ministers. This is an expansion of the previous administration’s cabinet and numerous new ministries have been created. New appointments are set to cost our country as much as R1 billion a year. Here is a basic guide to some of JZ’s right hand men and women. >> Benjamin Fogel and Nonceba Mhlauli Minister of Basic Education: Angela Motshekga

Minister of Higher Education and Training: Blade Nzimande

This position aims to co-ordinate and run the primary and secondary education institutions throughout the country. Motashekga was previously a member of the Gauteng Provincial Government. In this position she will co-ordinate and organise the national curriculum for primary schools, the General Education and Training Certificate (GETC), and Further Education and Training (FET). Her goal is to increase the number of successful Matriculants each year.

Nzimande was previously the Secretary-General of the South African Communist Party (SACP). This post aims to co-ordinate and maintain the tertiary institutions of the country in order to ensure skills development and growth for South Africa’s youth. Nzimande is the most ideological of previous educations ministers. He was always at the forefront of the Zuma camp during the power struggle with former president Thabo Mbeki in the run up to the 2007 ANC National conference in Polokwane.

Minister of Human Settlements: Tokyo Sexwale Sexwale is one of South Africa’s wealthiest businessmen and a renowned struggle hero. This department, formed out of what was previously the Department of Housing, aims to deal with the problems of housing in the country. The goals of the department are to ensure access to basic services in informal settlements as well as to reduce the number of squatters and increase the number of houses.

Minister in the Presidency for the National Planning Commission: Trevor Manuel Manuel was previously the Minister of Finance. This new position will allow him to create economic and social development plans for South Africa, to lessen the effects of the recession, lessen unemployment, alleviate poverty and pursue economic growth. Manuel has a good reputation and has maintained good connections with business leaders in South Africa. It will be interesting to watch this department.

Minister of Co-Operative Government and Traditional Affairs: Sicelo Shiceka This department is aimed at co-ordinating and ensuring communication between the executive branch of the government and the various premiers of the provinces of South Africa. It will be interesting to watch the interaction between Shiceka and the new Premier of the Western Cape, Helen Zille. This department will also deal with traditional leaders throughout the country and address the problems facing traditional communities.

Minister of Mining: Susan Shabangu The Department of Minerals and Energy has been split into two separate departments, with Susan Shabangu appointed to oversee the mining industry .

Deputy President: Kgalema Motlanthe

Motlanthe was the country’s president from September 2008 to April 2009. He became president after Thabo Mbeki was recalled by the African National Congress due to party politics. Motlanthe is also the current ANC Deputy President.

Minister of Women, Youth, Children and People with Disabilities: Noluthando Mayende-Sibaya This new department aims to protect the rights of women, youth, children and the disabled. It seeks to reduce the endemic abuse of women and children in South Africa, as well as abolish discrimination of the disabled. The department will also deal with problems facing the youth in a move to prevent the rise of another ‘lost generation’.

Minister in the Presidency for Performance Monitoring and Evaluation as well as Administration in the Presidency: Ohm Chabane This new post aims to evaluate the performance of the cabinet in order to increase service delivery and ensure that cabinet ministers remain accountable for their actions.

Minister of Economic Planning: Ebrahim Patel Patel was former general secretary of the Southern African Clothing and Textile Workers Union (Sactwu) and has extensive labour experience.

Minister of Energy: Dipuo Peters Peters takes up this position as a result of the Department of Minerals and Energy split. She was previously Premier for the Northern Cape Provincial Government

Minister of Health: Aaron Motsoaledi Motsoaledi has a Bachelor of Medicine and a Bachelor of Surgery from the University of Natal. He was a former acting premier in the Limpopo province and was previously also an education MEC in the same province.

Born to kill Like a lot of people, I was naïve enough to assume that the Obama administration would mark a sea-change in US foreign policy. Then again, anything looks good in comparison to the Bush junta. With unrepentant war criminals like Cheney and Rumsfeld at the helm (and running dogs like Tony Blair cheering from the sides, possibly wearing a gimp mask) the world had not seen such a collection of absolute bastards since Hitler’s 1942 birthday party. But the idea that the mayhem of the last eight years would give the US elite pause for thought and make them reconsider their imperial role is a bit optimistic. For now, it seems like it’s back to the War on Terror, except with improved public relations management. Troops are being poured back into Afghanistan. I suppose the occasional bombing of civilians is just not enough: you need marines on the ground to increase the kill rate. Next door, in Pakistan, arms and support are being pumped in to feed the war against the resurgent Taliban. This whole Pakistan thing is volatile and could turn nasty, well nastier than it already is, very quickly. Increased US intervention is only going to make the situation worse: Pakistan helped to create the Taliban and is now reaping the fruits (which is little consolation to the half a million people who have been displaced by the fighting). The real test of Obama’s foreign policy is how they deal with the poisonous centre of the Middle Eastern crisis, the US backed Israeli occupation of Palestine. And here again all we see from the president is some vague mumblings: “Two-state solution… terrorism… it’s a very complex situation… our hands are tied”. Well not actually. The tanks, F-16s and phosphorous grenades which terrify, strafe, maim, and kill the citizens of Gaza and the West Bank are the product of American military aid. If they really want to stop this conflict they should start by not paying for it. And what of Iran? Again, talk of how they need to stop their nuclear weapons programe. Again there’s a bit of disparity here: Iran = 0 nuclear weapons. Israel = over 200. And it doesn’t help that Hilary Clinton, now secretary of state, was last year ranting about wiping Iran “off the map”. What else? The extrajudicial rendition programme is being maintained, CIA torture sites are still open and evidence about the extent of this is being oppressed because, according to Obama, the US needs to move on from the ‘trauma’ of the recent past. I would have thought that after the Invasion and Occupation, it’s Iraqis who deserve some amnesia. Ask one yourself . Oh, wait, you can’t – they’re all dead. Anyone who was worried that the world might become a slightly more peaceful and stable place has nothing to fear. The country that dropped nuclear bombs on Japan, destroyed Vietnam to prove a point, and supported the apartheid government at its height is on the march again. We can but hope that they really decide to take things to the next level. My suggestion: Obama, drop the bomb on China. I’m sick of this whole being alive thing.

4 The Oppidan Press 27.05.09

Opinion It’s that time again The first semester is coming to an end and thanks to not so subtle hints from lecturers, and tutors on our backs about incomplete assignments, we’re being constantly reminded of our impending fate. Exam time is really quite an inconvenience for the socialites amongst us – Friday nights might now be dominated by Sigmund Freud over Johnny Walker and our desks frequented more often than the Rat. But perhaps we’re forgetting the real reason we’re here. As much as we enjoy living it up in all the pubs and clubs on New Street, at the end of the day, staying til closing time at Friars every weekend is not going to get you a degree, let alone a job. Personally, I hate exams (though this may have something to do with the fact that I’m not particularly good at them) but I have also realised that you just can’t get away from them. Though it may seem like you’re being punished for having a bit of fun, or that some evil force has arrived to spoil the numerous pre-drinks sessions you could’ve been having in those four weeks, exams simply have to happen. It’s all about testing your understanding of the work you’ve been taught since the year began. And at the end of the day, if they don’t kill you, they’re bound to make you stronger Here are a few useful things to keep in mind to alleviate the awfulness that is exam time: Start studying early – You don’t want to be going through a semester’s worth of study material in two days, can anyone say academic suicide? Use your resources – If you missed lectures and tuts, ask a friend (assuming they attended the class). If that fails then go straight to the lecturer. Make a study timetable – A form of procrastination, perhaps, but it’s always good to know what you’ll be doing when. Work together – Pick the right people, preferably the nerdy ones, and you’ll find that study groups are one of the best ways of getting to know your material. Revision – Review all the material at least once after your main study session. Ideally, those two days before the exam should be set aside for revision when all the theory has sunk in. Practice run – Get keen and think up a few questions you might be asked on you exam. The library has past exam papers which you can photocopy, or look at the online version on the library website. Lecturers have been known to repeat questions; it’s just a matter of which ones. Keep cool and calculated – you know the work; you’ve been doing it since February. Don’t let nerves be the end of you. All that remains then is to wish you the very best of luck!

Tumelo Tladi 072 589 7230 [email protected]

Feel like ranting and raving? Let us know what you think. [email protected].

Is anyone listening? of inviting men with their dress and behaviour. However, this view is not held by all ANC members. Nomaindia Mfeketo, chairperson of the ANC Caucus, presented a speech at a debate during the Sixteen Days of Activism For No Violence against Women and Children. She reported that the Department of Health had devised a policy to provide “high quality” sexual assault assistance to rape survivors. Mfeketo also mentioned a movement amongst men against gender-based violence, that is working with the media to establish a new image of men in South Africa. She mentioned that there would be changes in how the media accuse women of encouraging rape with their

Leigh Hermon

In light of the recent One-in-Nine protest, a reflection on the ANC’s comments at an election debate earlier this year, is warranted. The debate was held on the Rhodes campus and provided a platform for students to question leaders of various political parties on issues involving the student body. Towards the end, the debate became unpleasant when the ANC representative answered a question on rape. When asked how the ANC would provide support to survivors of rape, the ANC representative accused woman

clothing and conduct.Despite Mfeketo’s efforts, the statement by the ANC representative at the debate is cause for concern. This view amongst certain ANC members does not provide any sort of hope for survivors of rape. Many women may survive this terrible crime, but the crime may not be reported to the police, allowing rapists to remain in society with the potential of hurting others. The ANC vows to provide adequate tools to those who deal with rape survivors. The justice system is said to be “toughening up” on gender-based violence in an effort to protect the rights of women. These are all promises, but when will the women of South Africa feel their

effects? The One-in-Nine campaign effectively demonstrates how many cases of rape go unreported in South Africa. Only one woman out of nine has the courage to stand up for her rights and report the crime. Those eight other women feel unable to and who can blame them? The South African justice system is ineffectual when it comes to rape. There have been cases of women being treated poorly at police stations after horrific incidents. With the ANC back in power, they need to follow through with their promises. Women are crying out, but is anyone listening?

Studying with the Spirit for ourselves. Surround yourself with people who motivate and encourage – the scripture above shows us how The Lord is one of them. No matter how desperate you may feel, do not panic, God is there to guide you and his word should motivate you to work like you have never worked before. Confess to yourself that The Lord is your strength and shield. Ask God to help you manage your time and be disciplined in your study schedule, and to give you a clear understanding of your work. Doing this, you will notice you gain

neither enough hours in the day to get through those huge text books, nor enough series to justify procrastinating. But there is help at hand. Psalm 28:7 says: “The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in him, and I am helped: therefore my heart greatly rejoiceth; and with my song will I praise him.” It is when pressure mounts and we feel that we cannot cope, that drawing inspiration and strength from scriptures is amazingly beneficial. There are many voices of failure out there in the world, and it is important that we cultivate the right environment

Itumeleng Mohlabane It’s that time of the year again when we need to knuckle down and get serious. It’s that time that comes around twice a year when we rediscover our purpose for getting an education, and remind ourselves why we are at this university. Exam time – when exuberant jaunting comes to a sudden halt as we begin to realise that the prospects for our future rest on absorbing all the information we should have learnt during the term. There are suddenly

momentum and accomplish more each day, and when you see improvements in your studying, be sure to thank God, no matter how small that change may be. Your gratitude for even the smallest things will motivate God to do more for you. As you continue this way, you’ll find yourself relaxed, rejoicing and ever-singing praises to God for His wonderful grace. So stay focused, be disciplined and do not let anything distract you. Believe that with God’s help, you can. If you have been talking yourself down, today is the day to begin talking yourself up.

Letters to the editor >>

I would have kept the Benz Transport Minister S’bu Ndebele has returned the R1.14 million MercedesBenz he received as a gift from a group of contractors. This comes in the wake of opposition parties and analysts intensifying their calls for Ndebele to give up the car as it “constitutes a conflict of interest”. He was presented with a Mercedes-Benz S500 by Vukuzakhe contractors during a function to honour him in Pietermaritzburg at the weekend. He also received a plasma screen TV and two cows! Personally, I think he should have kept it. The “conflict of interest theory” is overplayed! The minister went public with his gift. The contractors were just showing their appreciation. If this was bribery surely both the minister and

the contractors would have been smart enough to keep the matter out of the public eye? Must the media and the socalled political analysts always expect the worst of our political leaders? Not too long ago, the South African media was very critical of Zuma and instilled fear in most white South Africans about his presidency. But now if one analysed the content of leading newspapers, one would note that there has been a change of heart after his inauguration. They liked his inauguration speech, they liked the “balance” of the cabinet, and they are calling for people to give him a chance. I, for one, am not surprised that the press has had a change of heart. We have seen it all before: leading white-owned

dailies predicted doom and gloom when the black government came to power. But after Mandela became president they had a change of heart and now everyone loves Mandela! The same thing happened with the 2010 world cup. SA media ran stories of problems with stadiums and how FIFA has a “plan B”, but now that all is seemingly on track we don’t hear about it. Meanwhile, Hellen Zille has really damaged her integrity by appointing an all male cabinet dominated by whites. The Mail & Guardian had a fitting headline, “Return of the white men”, for a story covering Zille’s white male dominated cabinet. Another issue which is sure to hurt Zille’s political career is her continued

obsession with President Zuma. Instead of giving answers for her failure to appoint a diverse cabinet she dared to personally attack the president, basically calling him a “womaniser who had put his wives at risk of contracting HIV”. I was once impressed by Zille but her continued aggressive behaviour is getting annoying. Everyone knows about President Zuma’s rape trial and the shower comments – no need to hold on to that. Even Zapiro removed the shower head! These are just my views on the very interesting current SA political landscape. Disgruntled Reader

Letters Editor: Tumelo Tladi Deputy Editor: Siphosethu Stuurman Managing Editor: Dagmar Kahn Multimedia Editor: Kgaugelo Motlafi Marketing Manager: Mohammed Shabangu Advertising Manager: Sam Masilakhe Financial Manager: Garth Alistoun Distribution Manager: Gugu Baduza Assistant Distribution Manager: Qcobani Qambela Technical Manager: Andrew Lynch Community Engagement: Hlengiwe Kweyama

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The Oppidan Press 27.05.09

Opinion

Donkey carts. Would you ride a donkey cart? Tell us what you think. [email protected]

Candyce Bruce The year is 1800 BC. Capable of carrying between 20 to 30 percent of their body weight, donkeys helped shape civilisation as we know it, without getting much credit. The year is 2009. Donkeys carry the occasional tourist and are willing to offer students a lift home at 02:00 in the morning for R5. It sounds like a great entrepreneurial venture, but who is really doing all the hard work and are these beasts of burden, the cogs in the commercial wheels, being treated fairly? Looking at their ragged coats and tired doe-eyes, I felt that a little investigation into what’s really going on behind the harness was necessary. Today, there are 56 registered donkey carts that roam the streets of Grahamstown. They are affiliated with the Makana Donkey Association, an organisation founded by Annerie Wolmarans. Her intention is to reduce the abuse and suffering experienced by the donkeys.

To control the treatment of the fourhoofed work force, Wolmarans asked cart owners to register with her and meet every month in the township. It seems there are lots of people looking out for the best interests of these donkeys. Katherine Townshend founded the Rhodes Organisation for Animal Rights (ROAR) donkey deal which holds fortnightly clinics where donkeys can be checked up and receive treatment if needed. This free-of-charge clinic also teaches owners how to care for their animals. “Donkeys provide people with a livelihood, so they do not want their donkey to get sick or die,” said Townshend. She added that the apparent ill-treatment of donkeys is only due to a lack of money and knowledge. A new harness can cost up to R600 and, with an average daily income of R60, purchasing new equipment hardly seems viable. Wolmarans admitted that, unfortunately, with such meagre incomes, “the donkey always comes last”. The SPCA confiscates donkeys that

are neglected and mistreated, charging R400 for their return to the owner. Considering their income, this is enough incentive for owners to try to care for their donkeys. Concerning the weight that the donkeys have to pull, it is estimated that the average donkey can carry up 75kg. In a double cart, however, they can carry up to 700kg on a flat road and 400kg on inclination. So unless you are using the carts for copious and loaded BP runs, you should be OK. So the petrol prices are up and you’ve swiped your card too many times this month. Why not indulge in one of Grahamstown’s novelties? Measures are being taken in the name of their protection and safety. And while R5 may seem like nothing to you, it might ward off the cold and hunger of a cart owner. Poverty is rife, and these donkey cart owners are working for their money as opposed to becoming begging nuisances. Donkey carts are an untapped resource that could very well be the way forward.

Pic: Laura Durham

Grahamstown asses get into shape

RIDING IN STYLE Thanks to organisations like the Makana Donkey Association and ROAR, practical steps are being taken to improve the lives of donkeys such as these in Grahamstown.

President Zuma’s new ministries: a better life for all? Lithemba Sebe “We wanted a structure that would enable us to achieve visible and tangible socio-economic development,” said President Zuma. As a means of achieving this, the ANC has created six new ministries, employed extra deputies for two departments, and split some of the old departments. But the money that is required to sustain the newly formed

departments could have been used to create separate ministries for women, youth, children and people with disabilities. Instead, the ANC has clustered all these groups under one disadvantaged umbrella. The idea is a noble one. It’s about time vulnerable groups have departments designated to cater for their specific needs, but the departments should be just that – specific. The split of Minerals and Energy into

two separate departments is an unnecessary waste of human capital, let alone tax payers’ money, as the previous department functioned just fine in the singular. Notes and change aside, most of the split departments complement each other perfectly, so the functions of one department could easily be incorporated into another. This means that multiple ministers will be paid thousands of rands for doing the same job; a job which could have been done by just one person.

According to the president, the Ministry for Women, Youth, Children and People with Disabilities will “emphasise the need for equity and access to development opportunities for the vulnerable groups”. Given the complex nature of the challenges faced by these groups of people, one department cannot effectively address all four. To ensure equity for these groups, the department has to identify key areas of development as each group has differ-

ent priorities (often worlds apart) and equity would mean different things to all of them. Additionally, these issues will change with time and the people working for this department will often be overwhelmed and under-resourced. If the ANC was serious about attaining development and equity for these groups of people, the party would have realised all this in the developing stages. Now it seems like a half-baked solution to support a full-blown ego.

The quest for the best in campus dining

Pic: Deidre Alcock

Sungeni Chithambo and Danelle Wessels

LUNCH TIME ROWDINESS Though it looks peaceful after hours, the Oppi dining hall becomes chaotic, messy and disorganised during mealtimes.

The Oppidan Press recently conducted a critical analysis of the feeding spots around campus with the aim of determining how the Oppidan dining hall fares against the rest. Here are our findings. As far as aesthetics goes, Allan Webb takes the cheesecake with its antique, church-like appearance and stained glass windows. It also gets an A-plus for efficiency – trays are removed quickly and there are no significant hold-ups in the hunger line. Kimberley, on the other hand, looks like an oriental dungeon, but somehow manages to feel cosy and welcoming inside. Those who have the pleasure of dining at Hobson Hall will experience a new level of comfortable eating whilst dining in their superbly squishy chairs. Founders is a true men’s dining hall with its dark curtains, old portraits and an abandoned tomato scattered here and there to betray their somewhat slovenly ways. But (and herein lies the crux of our critique), it’s not as bad as the Oppi dining hall. The Oppidan dining hall probably has the most chaotic atmosphere. By 13:30, it resembles a hurricane-swept warzone with trays littering the tables because there is no more rack space. According to the authorities, this problem has been tackled and once the order comes in from Johannesburg, extra custom-made tray racks will restore peace to the dining hall. Manager of Functions and Oppidan Services, Charmaine Avery has taken numerous steps to improve the Oppidans’ dining experience. But it is a work in progress. They only recently expanded on meal options to allow Oppidans to choose from the same meals as res-dwellers instead of plain old default and

vegetarian. According to Avery, the queues at the dining hall used to snake out the doors before renovations but now that Oppies can be served on different sides of the room, they can get to their meals much faster. The Oppi dining hall staff has to feed more mouths than the notoriously enormous Smuts Hall – with sometimes up to 600 empty stomachs – and with only half the staff. Although Smuts is not well-known for its scrumptious meals, it does boast one of the friendliest atmospheres on campus. The food across the dining halls is pretty standard. Peanut butter seems to have more mood swings than a hormonal teenager: one day it’s chunky and dodgy, the next it’s smooth and creamy. Let’s not forget the importance of condiments in the quality of (disguising) a res meal. Tomato sauce is an integral part of many students’ diets. Allan Webb tomato sauce has a bitter aftertaste; and who knows what happened to Oriel Hall’s mysterious red substance? It is watered-down and has lost that MSG-induced, synthetic Wimpy taste. What are the ladies to drench their dining hall offerings in? Food aside, it seems that dining hall staff is not always very supportive of students. Adrian Ciesielski of Matthews House was not a very happy campus camper when he was served a half-cooked sausage resembling a limp and gelatinous penis. He took it to a staff member in complaint, only to be told to put it in the microwave. But no cause for alarm; kitchen staff are generally a friendly bunch, but we all have our bad days behind the Bain-Marie. In conclusion, we have decided that there is no such thing as a perfect dining hall, and if you really put your mind to enjoying that wilted salad in front of you, anything is possible.

6 The Oppidan Press 27.05.09

Arts Fancy Fest-work: student entrepreneurs gear up for Fest

Budding with creative inspiration? Send us your recommendations on what to do and see on the art scene. [email protected]

Yvonne Nhuta As the National Arts Festival approaches, the excitement around the upcoming exhibitions, films and theatre productions begins to mount. But there is more to Fest than just the big shows. People flock from all over to sell their wares at various markets, and a group of Rhodes students has decided to take advantage of this opportunity. Bululimo Gqamane, also known as Rasgold on campus, is a third year BSc student embarking on a small business venture at Fest and attempting to capitalise on the large influx of potential buyers that will be arriving in Grahamstown. In association with Indalo Ethnic Clothing, Rasgold and his fellow budding

entrepreneurs, whom he refers to as “brothers”, will be running a stall where they will sell handmade items such as clothing, shoes, hats and jewellery. A natural designer, Rasgold already sells his own handmade works to people on campus. “I want people to know the art and creativity within me and in my mind so I express myself doing this work,” he says. On top of various university commitments, running a business at the festival is challenging, especially considering the time-consuming task of preparation. However, Rasgold and his team of brothers were busy in their workshop throughout the December vacation, and by January they had enough merchandise to exhibit at the National Arts Festival. Their business extends to other parts of the Eastern Cape, such as Summer-

strand in Port Elizabeth, where the boys display and sell their work at exhibitions every Sunday. “I believe it would be worth it for other students to get into such work because if you can get funding for things like machinery and a workshop, you can accomplish a lot and profit from it,” Rasgold said. The group will be selling their work at affordable prices for the duration of Fest. Their range includes jewellery from R10 to R50 a piece, and clothing of all styles and sizes from R50 to R100 an item. The stall will also offer entertainment to festival-goers as the group will be accompanied by a live band called Trinity. “They play while we sing,” said Rasgold. “You know you have to take up every opportunity, you are there to do everything you can do.”

Cracks - a slice of retro Megan Ross What do you get when you mix a 17-yearold porn star, a schizophrenic, and a woman who has recently had a sex change? Add five other equally ludicrous characters and you get Cracks, a play by Martin Sherman which will be performed at the National Arts Festival. It has been described as “Agatha Christie on an acid trip”. Cracks is an independent initiative produced by the Runaway Bunny Collective, a group of students currently studying Drama at Rhodes. One of the cast members, Robert Haxton explained that the play “is a farcical take on a ‘whodunnit’ murder mystery. It’s a dark comedy, and although it’s a thriller, it’s a very, very funny play”. The story is set in Cape Town in the late 1960s to early 1970s, the original setting of California having been adapted for a South African audience. The characters are people involved in film or porn industries and the play unfolds at a house party in one of their homes. The fun begins when a

murder takes place, which sets the ridiculous and farcical events in motion as the characters try to discover ‘whodunnit’. “From the characters, one gets the sense that they are in the porn industry, although there is doubt about this too. The sex is terribly crude and obvious, the pace is fast and the characters are very real,” said Haxton. Full of the sex, drugs and rock ‘n roll, the play promises to be an atmospheric, side-splitting comedy. Another cast member, Zanne Solomon said that she is very excited to perform. “It is a hysterical production with an accomplished cast. So hopefully it’ll be sold out every show,” she said. Cracks will be performed on 2, 3, 10 and 11 July in the B2 Arena at the Monument. The cast encourages everyone who will be at the Festival to support the show by booking tickets as soon as possible. Don’t miss this comical slice of the hippie era, full of ludicrous twists and bizarre, retro characters! Book your ticket for an hour or two of non-stop and mischievous fun.

A brief look at the 2009 Fest highlights 1. Batho Bothle – A morality play meaning “Everyman” in Tswana, Batho Bothle is about redemption and other universal truths. Khudu, a taxi driver, journeys through various relationships both geographical and metaphysical to determine where he is headed in his life.

3. School/Youth Jazz Bands – Top young jazz players from around the country will compete to make it into national bands. Established bands include the Taiwa Youth Band from the Mosesas Molelekwa Arts Foundation in Soweto, and the Stellenbosch University Jazz Band.

2. I Am My Own Wife – This Pulitzer Prize-winning one hander introduces Charlotte von Mahlsdorf, a German transvestite caught up in the great European dramas of the twentieth century, with Jeremy Crutchley playing 40 different characters in the play.

4. Vumelani Let us Dance – This showcase involves performances by traditional dance groups Via Paterson Art Club, Manyandube Dance Group and the Mvanda Dance Group, who all hail from different Eastern Cape districts.

5. The Parlotones – This popular four-member South African band, with its pop-indie rock sound and energetic stage performances is definitely something to make a reservation for. 6. Rise Up! – An exhibition by Gillian de Vlieg, a white female photographer who experienced the harshness of the apartheid struggle firsthand. It reveals a different and important perspective on a period largely documented by male photographers. >>Yvonne Nhuta

The Oppidan Press 27.05.09

Arts Swimming Lessons: a must-see for Fest-goers

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Fest Time. What’s your favourite thing about the National Arts Festival? Let us know. [email protected]

Karin Reum National Arts Festival theatre-goers must be sure to dive into the production Swimming Lessons this year. The play is a story of hurting and hope, in which a South African Xhosa woman seeks to rediscover herself after suffering a great loss. The production skilfully combines tragedy with the sound of laughter and a sense of comedy. Not to mention that our very own Andrew Buckland is returning to co-direct and produce with Brink Schultz from Ubom!. Cast member, Jaques De Silva expressed his excitement over Buckland’s return. “He will add some colour and a creative spin to the

DIVING IN The cast of Swimming Lessons has been training very hard even though they may not yet have a clear idea of the play’s focus.

structure we have created,” De Silva said. The cast has been training hard in preparation, but some feel that they have not yet fully understood the focus of their work. “The tasks have been quite random,” said Liana Cilliers, another member of the cast. “We feel as if we are not quite sure what is going on.” However, these tasks which feed off real reaction and emotion instead of trying to fit into a prescribed story line are a method of ensuring that the work stays honest. Essentially, the story is all about the cast members as they draw on their own bodies and experiences. The Ubom! cast has a reputation of being in tune with each other and combining language and text to create a truly unique experience for viewers. Brink Schultz is slowly revealing the concept and, in this way, the creation remains a mystery – there is a sense that anything may happen. This reso-

nates within the piece and audiences will be kept guessing in this portrayal of ordinary life, performed with a touch of magic. Shaun Acker, a Drama Masters student at Rhodes is adding his musical genius to the play. A diverse range of genres including rock ’n roll, atmospheric and tribal all enhance the rather unique quality of this production. Buckland calls the production “a finely crafted, delicate and detailed study of the extraordinary possibilities created in encounters between the widely dispersed worlds still existing in SA today”. Though the context of the play is South African, it has universal appeal as we can all identify with a character or feeling in the journey undertaken on the stage – a journey laced with discovery, love, hope and myth.

Pics: Karin Reum

Q & A with Andrew Buckland

Andrew Buckland leaves the mad world of Cirque du Soleil to return to Grahamstown and the festival buzz. Lauren Minnie How does it feel to be coming back to Grahamstown, and more importantly, the National Arts Festival? We are very excited to be coming home and especially to the Fest. It will be great to get immersed in a heroic dose of home culture and

see friends and their work. I am also directing Richard Antrobus in Stilted so will have my hands happily full and dirty. What inspired you to get involved with Swimming Lessons? I have had the opportunity to work with Brink on other projects and love her work. Besides this, I am a firm friend of the Ubom! Company and will take any chance

I can get to get involved with them. The text of Swimming Lessons is also very strong and promises a really great show. I can’t wait to get back. How will your experiences over the last year be reflected in this production? Impossible to say, except that you won’t necessarily see people flying on trapezes. Being here and

doing this has only multiplied my love of theatre several fold, especially the intimate audience contact afforded by festival venues. We have been playing to 4 000 people a night. What is the most exciting aspect about coming back? Janet. My bed. My house. My dogs. South Africa. So what happens from here, after

Festival? After festival I have a term’s teaching to do at Rhodes and then I must find work. I am in rehearsal for a work made in collaboration with one of the performers here who is from Uzbekistan and has built his own theatre in his garage. It may well be the seed of a new work. Check out his theatre on YouTube, his name is Eugen Brim.

The Oppidan Press asked students if they will be staying for the National Arts Festival, 2 -11 July

DANIEL CHARVAT >> Second year Bjourn “No, Rhodes is great, but I can’t be stuck in such a small town for longer than I have to be.”

BUHLE NGABA >>First year BA “Yes, because I’m from Grahamstown, but this will be the first time I’m from Rhodes. I think the vibe will be different.”

MOTLATSI KHOSI >> Third year BSocSci “No, I can’t because of intervarsity commitments. But I’d love to because I was here in 2007.”

ARMAND SWART >>First year BA “What festival?…oh! No.”

KARABO MGOHALE >> Second year BSocSci “Ja, because I just dig going to the shows and it’s something different in Grahamstown.”

DALE HUTTON >>BSc Honours “The things that people say in these things are really unintelligent, so I wanna sound clever. But, um, ja.”

KELLY HITCHCOCK >> Second year BSocSci “Yes, because I think all Rhodes students should experience it.”

STACY MULLER >> Second year BCom “Yes, because I want to see this town come alive.” Pics: Michal Blaszczyk

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The Oppidan Press 27.05.09

Features 27 years at Rhodes and still going strong

Have a knack for creative writing? Join the features team. Just drop us a line. [email protected]

Small in stature but with a wide grin almost permanently across her face, Welekazi Sylvia Asiya, one of Rhodes’ oldest employees, chats happily about her nearly three decade-long service to the University which recently saw her receiving two merit awards. Asiya started working at Rhodes as a part-time employee in September 1982 when she worked in the Rhodes Café, kitchens and the sanatorium. Her hard work and commitment paid off a few months later when she received a permanent job with the University. Asiya started off in her new permanent position as a messenger and then became an assistant at the senior room. Years later, she was offered a job in housekeeping and catering which she still holds today. Having been diagnosed with diabetes

some time ago, Asiya’s health has not made her work any easier. The disease shattered her dreams of progressing with her studies in computer literacy – Asiya found that it made her continuously dizzy and faint and it often caused memory loss. Despite this, Asiya, in her 27 years as an employee at Rhodes has become the breadwinner for her family. “I am fighting for my children’s bread,” she says. Two of Asiya’s children are in high school but her older daughter is still unemployed after numerous attempts at finding a job. Asiya is granted certain privileges because of her work for Rhodes and has been given a house as a result. She considers coming to work a stress reliever. When she is busy with her work, she forgets about any troubles she may have at home. Although she describes her work as demanding and complicated, at the end of the day it is

through this work that she is able to make ends meet. Asiya appreciates working for Rhodes and has accepted that she will not be able to pursue her once-held dreams of becoming a nurse. She quickly looks at my notes and smiles, reassuring me that I should stress her last words. She advises all Rhodes students to work hard at what they want to achieve – partying and the wild life will always be waiting for them after they graduate. She views Rhodes as “a good place to learn and to work”. After 27 years of dedicated service, Asiya explains that it would be beneficial for her to take her pension in the coming years. Asiya concludes our interview with her favourite motto which stresses the need to grasp every opportunity you have because anything is better than nothing: “You never know which side of the bread is buttered”.

Hiking the Amatolas Pic:Catherine Cunningham

Enathi Mqokeli

THERE’S AN ALOE ON MY STOEP >>

POSITIVELY DEDICATED Having given nearly 30 years of service to Rhodes, Welekazi Sylvia Asiya stands proud as her family’s breadwinner.

Pic: supplied

Examination anticipation: the final countdown

MOUNTING PRESSURE Whether you’re overly keen or in denial, the fact that swot week begins on Monday is hardly a thought worth cherishing. Mallory Perrett The sad and dreary truth is this: exams begin in less than two weeks time. This is a somewhat sobering thought (literally) for those of us who’ve tried to push the ‘E’ word to the back of our minds for

the better part of the term. But while denial is an ever-appealing state of mind for some come exam time, others approach this looming horror in different ways. For instance, you are bound to know one or two of those over-confident, overly keen specimens who feel the need to express just how

well a particular study session went, how many hundreds of hours they plan to put in, or how they’ve colour-coded their study notes to make for happy studying. But fear not folks! The tell-all types tend to be over compensating for a severe lack of knowledge. At least, that’s a comforting thought.

For most of us, however, time is the constant enemy and with balancing acts to be performed right up until swot week – squeezing in extracurricular activities, sport and all those last minute tests and assignments – the general feeling is that we’ll never get through the countless modules and endless chapters which are “examinable material”. As a first year, I must admit that I’m hardly ushering in the coming exams with much enthusiasm. There’s a pressure to perform, the fearful thought of losing beloved DPs and of course, we’re not quite sure what to expect. It doesn’t really help our cause either when the veteran exam-goers whom we look up to laugh at the idea of first year workloads stressing us out, or when they reminisce about former friends who didn’t return to Rhodes after the last set of exams. On a more positive note though, asking around, I received some advice on tackling the E monster – actually studying during swot week, having sex as a stress-release, keeping healthy and taking regular study breaks were a few of the suggestions thrown my way. I say do whatever you feel will take the stressful edge off things. Here’s to being back next term!

More than a rescue remedy Philisiwe Mbongwana Examinations are looming and for many people this spells highly stressful study days and nights which can lead to depression and uncontrollable anxiety. In light of this, Jo-Anne de la Mare, who is currently working on a PhD in Biochemistry at Rhodes, has a plan. De la Mare, who grew up in Grahamstown, has struggled with depression and anxiety for most of her life. “At school I would be unable to write exams as I would literally become ill from anxiety and experience panic attacks,” she said. De la Mare plans to start up an anxiety and depression support group under the South African Depression and Anxiety Group in Grahamstown. A diagnosis with severe depression and bipolar disorder, followed by a suicide attempt in 2002, is what motivated de la Mare to form the group. “I yearned to feel understood and [to] speak to others

who [had] been going through the same thing,” she explained. De la Mare says that the group will be available to everyone in Grahamstown so as to enable all people to locate a support group when they need it most. The group will deal with a number of disorders linked to depression, such as post-traumatic stress disorder, bipolar disorder, panic attacks and obsessive-compulsive disorder. The main aim of the group is to provide a space for people experiencing these problems to discuss them openly and to find help. De la Mare asserts that silence over these kinds of issues prevents us from dealing with them. She also emphasises the severity of these problems, noting that “severe depression could even pose a suicide risk”. Under these sorts of circumstances, the need for a strong support system is crucial. In this regard, de la Mare has her husband to thank whom she describes as “a wonderful, gentle and loving person”.

Daneel Knoetze Adjusting the straps of the stifling deadweight on your back, you make the first few steps rather tentatively. And after that, there are plenty more steps to go. The Amatola trail, which starts at Maden Dam just outside King Williams Town, spits you out at Hogsback one hundred kilometres and six gruelling days later. What happens in between is simultaneously painful and beautiful, in equal measure. From day one, I quickly learned to stick to the little yellow footprints that dot the trail and by day three, being obedient to them had become an obsession. Especially because they had the habit of abandoning our party at certain particularly unclear sections of the trail. There’s little way of describing the panic that descends on an expedition that believes it is lost in the wilderness. Faith and order is always restored though, and ever onward we bounded. When navigating the Amatola trail, your surroundings are in a perpetual state of flux. Some stretches give the impression that the landscape is actually changing by the minute. Typically, each day of hiking features something between dense indigenous forest and mountain crags that double up as platforms for panoramic views. In the morning, it’s a climb, in the afternoon, a descent towards the next pit stop. The overnight huts (atop a mountain, by a waterfall, in the forest) are strategically placed to make one appreciate the diversity of a highly under-rated mountain range. With dusk setting, and the legs beginning to tire, these simple sanctuaries always met me at just the right time. A striking feature of the trail is that you are rarely more than half an hour’s walk from fresh spring water. For the most part, we’re talking little streams, but the trail is also well known for its bigger waterworks. Massive waterfalls are so frequent that hikers are almost at risk of becoming immune to the awe they inspire. But the feeling of putting a parched mouth right in the firing line of a falling mass of mountain water doesn’t easily lose its charm. Against the trail’s diversity, there’s constancy in the form of the hikers’ routine each day. At 5:00 each morning, an unrelenting polyphonic alarm would announce the body beating and sensory overload to follow. And most mornings, the first thing I saw in the pitch darkness (it floated about three inches above my face) was a luminous yellow footprint of indeterminate size. Such a vision inspired a mixed reaction – of dread and exhilaration. Dread because your goddamn right foot is just one big blister, and exhilaration because you know that the Amatola is one of the most remarkable experiences of your life. On the last day, when a little billboard unceremoniously announced our triumph, there arose a cheeky desire in me to turn right around and head on back again.

The Oppidan Press 27.05.09

9

Environment

Green living. Are you living a green lifestyle? Let us know what tips and tricks you use. [email protected]

Skating on thin ice: Rhodes student turns explorer Antarctica is, for most of us, a rare destination at best. But Rhodes Masters student, Nellie Chiphwanya can cross it off her bucket list. Chiphwanya, a student in environmental education, was one of two lucky students from an African country chosen to be part of the Antarctica expedition earlier this year. It was organised by 2041, an organisation created by Robert Swan which aims to encourage young people to help protect the Antarctic from human interference. The organisation derives its name from the treaty which currently forbids countries claiming territories in Antarctica to drill and plunder its natural resources. This treaty expires 32 years from now (in 2041) but Swan’s organisation hopes to see the treaty renewed beyond that date. Inspired from a young age by such adventurers as Jacques Cousteau and Edward Shackleton, Swan has walked across both the North and South Pole and, because of this, has experienced firsthand the effects of global warming on the environment. He will be returning to the Antarctic next year and will live off only renewable energy for five

months. Swan has made it his mission to educate younger generations and he hopes that through 2041, his goal of protecting Antarctica will carry on. Chiphwanya is part of this young generation that Swan seeks to target. A member of 2041, she is interested in “getting kids involved in recycling projects and developing children’s action competence, by giving them a better understanding of why they need to recycle,” she told The Oppidan Press. Chiphwanya represented South Africa, one of the 15 countries that participated in the two week long expedition to Antarctica. BP, which is interested in developing renewable energy, co-sponsored the trip by supplying warm jackets, and Rhodes also helped by providing Chiphwanya with other equipment required for the cold Antarctic breeze. “I was one of the people from a warm climate and it was freezing, around minus 13 degrees Celsius. I used one of Robert Swan’s special jackets and sleeping bags to make sure I stayed warm,” said Chiphwanya, referring to the night they camped on the ice. The trip was potentially very dangerous as the expeditioners were, as Chiphwanya recalled, “at the mercy of Mother Nature, it would have take about two days to reach the nearest medical

facility”. Before embarking on the trip, members were briefed on the strict safety rules they were to follow, and were paired up in a ‘buddy system’, each taking responsibility for another person’s safety. In addition, the adventurers had to be careful not to fall off the zodiacs (small rubber boats) into the freezing water and, most importantly, they had to follow each other’s footsteps closely when hiking to avoid falling into crevices. In the event that one of the members of the party did fall into a crevice, he or she would be left there to die as the safety of the group couldn’t be risked to rescue them. Chiphwanya felt up close the effects of global warming. She saw and heard big pieces of melting ice breaking off and falling into the water: “It sounded like an earthquake, it was quite scary,” she said. Although the trip was frightening and dangerous at times, Chiphwanya felt it was well worth it: “Before I went there, I just thought it would be ice, but the beauty of Antarctica is… It was amazing; it was something I had never seen before. Everyone was speechless, some people just remained motionless and silent for the first day just to absorb it.”

Pic: Supplied

Nicole Venegas

ICE, ICE, BABY Rhodes environmental education student, Nellie Chiphwanya experienced the effects of global warming on her trip to Antarctica, organised by 2041 – an organisation that aims to protect the continent from human interference.

Going green, but for the right reasons?

Look out for >>

Tommie Gilbert

GRASS has tested Grahamstown’s water and the results are that “the water quality is variant and in need of more monitoring and testing”. They have worked with the Pharmacy Department to develop easy and accessible ways to test for Coliforms and Aluminium in the water. However, GRASS needs volunteers to test the water in digs as well as in residences on a regular basis to ensure that the water is safe. If you are interested contact GRASS at [email protected]. • Artwork Collective Festival show Artwork Collective, a Grahamstown grassroots art project, is looking for colourful plastic waste. They will be performing at the National Arts Festival this year, doing a traditional Banraku Puppet Show. The puppets are made out of plastic waste, mostly colourful plastic bottles and containers, such as empty household cleaning bottles, lids of soft drink bottles, bubble wrap and more, so please collect! Contact Dylan on 078 032 6047, or email him at [email protected] for more information. Pic: supplied

Even in our ever-changing, ever-surprising world, the news that some CEOs want to institute carbon laws seems strange. Carbon laws, if implemented, would force companies to institute major changes in factories to make them more ecologically-friendly, as these companies would be made to pay a tax on emissions which exceed the permissible amount. Sadly however, what has brought about this change of heart is not a genuine concern for our planet. Rather, it’s to jumpstart a new economic sector – that of renewable energy. Many CEOs of motor and energy companies are seeking to outsource and look into renewable energy as they realise that oil and gas aren’t long-term solutions. However, the cost of doing so is very high and these companies are concerned about the transition period when competitors who aren’t prepared to invest in renewable energy might profit. But if all companies were forced to abide by carbon laws, they would all have to consider renewable energy. Ford Motors’ CEO, Bill Ford and CEO of Duke Energy, Jim Rogers have both been campaigning for some sort of carbon-related legislation in the United States of late. Rogers wants to invest in renewable energy and Ford in smaller and more economic cars. There is a cap-and-trade structure imposed on companies through the Kyoto Protocol (which the United States has not signed), which states that companies must be charged a higher tax for using

• GRASS water project

SMOKIN’ The Kyoto Protocol expires in three years but countries are a long way off from reaching the carbon emission reduction target. carbon-emitting factories, and receive rewards for investing in green technology. CEO of carbon trader EcoSecurities, Bruce Usher is pushing for such a system in the US, where he believes that it would not only be beneficial, but that it could be implemented quickly. But time is running out for Usher – the Kyoto Protocol expires in three years and these types of deals take up to two and a half years to develop. Usher is not the only one who wants some sort of eco-friendly legislation

to sort out the US’s carbon emissions, which are some of the highest in the world. This December, world leaders will gather in Copenhagen to decide on a successor to the Kyoto Protocol and they are desperate to get America on board. The Americans will need to come up with a compromise regarding carbon laws if there is to be any hope of combating carbon emission levels and reversing global warming.

Eco-fact >> If less than two percent of the ice in Antarctica melts, the world’s sea level will rise by one metre.

• Wilderness Vision Drive Wilderness Vision is organising the 1+1=1 Pledge Drive SA, where they drive around the country in eight weeks, giving presentations to schools and universities. They are raising funds for the Billion Tree Campaign as well as for Wilderness Vision’s own environmental projects, by asking people to sign a pledge and donate R1. They stop in Grahamstown on Monday 1 June and in Port Elizabeth from Tuesday 2 to Friday 5 June. For more information go to their website at www.wildernessvision.org/ • World Environment Day Friday 5 June is World Environment Day. It was started in 1972 by the United Nations and it brought on the creation of the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP).

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The Oppidan Press 27.05.09

Business A depression is no time to be depressed

Credit crunch: Have you been directly affected by the world economic meltdown? [email protected]

Pic: supplied

Gwynne Mhlanga

GOLDEN OPPORTUNITY McDonald’s is one of a number of successful companies that was started up during a recession or depression. Emerging entrepreneurs need to take advantage of the current economic climate.

Necessity is the mother of all invention; when the going gets tough, the tough get going; what doesn’t kill you will only make you stronger. These are some of the oldest and most abused clichés, but they have never been truer than now. Contrary to the widespread panic and drama across the world, an economic depression is actually the best time to grow businesses. Some of the world’s biggest and most successful businesses started up during a recession or a depression: Disney, McDonald’s, Burger King, Procter and Gamble, Johnson and Johnson and Microsoft. Anyone can run a business during stable economic times; even an unprofitable business will survive during a boom. However, it is in periods of recession or depression when the tough get going, and in today’s business environment, it is the tough who will survive. Although many businesses are currently folding, opportunity knocks for the entrepreneur. With many put out of work by the global credit crunch, people are starting their own business ventures. Newly jobless people, flush with redundancy money, are spiking an increase in

MATERIAL GIRL >>

the number of small businesses. With little to lose, many new ideas are sure to surface as people strive to survive in this harsh climate. One such idea belongs to a former gym instructor who wants to start a portable gym. He is taking his equipment to companies around London, giving people a lunchtime workout without them having to leave their offices. Research shows that 80 percent of all small businesses fail but those that do not fail will come out stronger and are set to do well once global conditions are stable. Figures, regarded as a good guide to the level of start-up activity, show encouraging signs given the worsening economic environment. The British Bankers' Association (BBA) revealed that 142 500 small businesses established new banking relationships in the first quarter of 2009. The same period last year saw 142 700. Unfortunately, this is one wave that has not hit South Africa. It will be tough going for South African businesses because we have not seen the last of the effects of the global recession. Nevertheless, it does not take an economist to know that the recession will not last forever, and once it is over people like the innovative gym instructor could be competing alongside Virgin Active.

Get that choir away from me Ines Schumacher

Motshidisi Mokoena Once perceived as the lovechild of a new democracy and economic liberalisation, more recently, Black Economic Empowerment (BEE) has displayed characteristics typical of an unruly youngster. BEE has managed to rebel against its intended purpose of creating a bridging tool between the previously disadvantaged majority and economic opportunity. Indeed, it has opened many Mercedes Benz doors for a number of individuals, but it has only intensified the socio-economic cycle where the rich get richer and the poor poorer. And just like any political issue, the illusion of the limitless power of BEE was to prove fatal for its successful implementation. The Elephant Consortium exemplifies the self-interest that has driven too many BEE deals. The consortium is made up of the Lion Consortium led by Andile Ngcaba, the Buffalo Consortium led by women's

group Wiphold and the Broad Based Beneficiary Trust, and owns about 15.1 percent of Telkom’s shares. It has emerged that the Public Investment Corporation (PIC), which, incidentally, is owned wholly by the South African government, had warehoused the shares to allow Elephant time to raise enough cash to get their hands on these shares. This share acquisition controversy, coupled with a number of other issues surrounding the consortium’s management, has stirred up much debate regarding its true intentions. It seems that its members are using their broadbased empowerment status to fulfill personal goals, and are deliberately interrupting the natural workings of business for their own gain. Probes into the company finances have revealed a number of issues, a major one being that Elephant is trading in company shares, which was only meant to be possible in May 2010. And don’t forget that this company has a number of ANC beneficiaries on the

board, such as former Treasurer-General of the ANC, Mendi Msimang and Alan Norman who controls millions in shares in the consortium. As a shareholder in Telkom, Elephant is set to benefit by billions of rands in dividends after Vodacom (owned jointly by Telkom and Vodafone) went public on 18 May. A group of shareholders in Elephant plan to use dividends from the listing to settle debts, before dividing the remaining proceeds and dissolving the consortium. This Telkom empowerment deal has faced a succession of inquiries since Elephant acquired an estimated R9 billion stake in the fixed-line operator in 2005. Further investigations are now under way into a deal shrouded in secrecy, according to Business Times. The Elephant Consortium is just one of the companies formed under the guise of empowering the disadvantaged, but which has only served to feed fat cats and make a monkey of a system that looked so good on paper. Welcome to the zoo that is BEE.

Pic: supplied

The great cullling of BEE

CRIMINAL CONSORTS Andile Ngcaba is part of the management of Elephant Consortium, which has used its black economic empowerment deal to boost the bank balances of its beneficiaries, many of whom are ANC members.

Rough ride for China’s sex theme park Gwynne Mhlanga Controversy and big business are never far apart and where the two collide, there is sure to be a good story. In China recently, one rather innovative businessman began a sex theme park. The idea behind the theme park was to display naked human sculptures, giant replica genitals and a photo gallery on the history of sex. It would include sex-

technique workshops and sex education to help adults “enjoy a harmonious sex life,” says park manager, Lu Xiaoqing. The park, christened ‘Love Land’ by its owners, went under the wrecking ball over the weekend in the city of Chongqing, according to the spokesman who (like many Chinese bureaucrats) would give only his surname, Yang. He refused to state the reason for the demolition or other details. “Vulgar,

ill-minded and misleading” was the official reaction to the park. Everything was demolished over the weekend – thongs, replicas of derrieres and all. Xiaoqing had earlier claimed that the attractions sought only to boost sexual awareness and improve people’s sex-lives. Unfortunately for this business though, China is largely a conservative society and the idea of such a theme park shocked many people even before the official opening, which was

set for October. Photographs of the adult-only park had circulated widely on the Internet over the weekend, prompting widespread mockery and condemnation. The demolition highlights the conflicting views on sex in modern China. While pornography is banned and sex education is generally inadequate, shops selling sex toys and related items stand out prominently in many neighbourhoods and sex outside of marriage is widely tolerated.

The offices I work at are right across the road from the Johannesburg Stock Exchange. How convenient, I thought, when I took an early morning stroll there last week Monday to attend the listing of Gold One International, a gold company as the name might suggest to the perceptive among you. When I walked into the JSE, a wall of sound hit me and I was dismayed to see a choir the size of an academic procession, and wearing equally hideous clothes, pelting out some hymn or other at the listing event. Wow, this junior gold company pulled out all the stops, I thought. It turned out I had stumbled into the Vodacom listing by accident. I grabbed a handful of snacks and made my way up to the smaller but much more tasteful Gold One listing. Little did I know that I had walked into a cesspool of controversy in the foyer that morning. As I’m sure you’ve heard, the trade union Cosatu and the industry regulator, the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (Icasa), launched a last-minute bid to stop Vodacom going public because it forms part of a deal that gives UK-based Vodafone control of the company. The trade union body objected to foreign ownership of a major South African company and said it feared job losses. The deal also enriched businessmen close to the former government of Thabo Mbeki, angering leftists. High Court judge John Murphy rejected Icasa’s attempt to block the listing. That was the end of that, and we are reminded once again that in South Africa the judiciary has the final say on any matter, as it should. The dust has now settled. Vodacom has listed, Cosatu has lost (hah!) and the government has shown that it supports the kind of business Vodafone and Telkom are doing. The real loser in all of this is Icasa, the industry regulator which should, at all times, be independent. It is clear that Icasa took the lead from Cosatu in its decision and this brings into question its autonomy. Some analysts have gone so far as to call for a restructuring of the authority and a review of its management. Icasa has not only failed to remain independent and shown itself to make wishy-washy decisions, it has also proved prone to meddling in industry affairs which are really none of its business. And this with no regard for the economy, or for protecting foreign investment prospects. The Vodacom deal will bolster competition in South Africa’s telecommunications market, allow both Telkom and Vodacom to expand as separate entities and, ultimately, create more jobs. Competition will improve service and prices for consumers. There really aren’t any downsides to it. The deal is good for South Africa and those who fail to see that are simply short-sighted, lying about their interest in the matter, or despise choirs in hideous clothes.

The Oppidan Press 27.05.09

11

Science & Technology

WTF? Seen anything weird and wacky online lately? Send us a link. [email protected]

Food for thought: snacking your way through exams Zukiswa Kota Looming exams and winter blues are just two reasons why taking extra care of your immune system is important right now. The breakneck pace at which we all seem to be racing through daily life is no doubt taxing on the mind and body. So what can you do to avoid burnout? There is an array of food items that are affordable, easy to acquire and tasty, to add to your list of exam ‘must-eats’. A brief enquiry into the emerging field of functional medicine revealed some interesting facts. Functional medicine is an approach to nourishing the brain and body using food. The use of food as medicine, however, is referred to as nutrigenomics – an emerging science. According to Dr Mark Hyman there are strong connections between a change in diet and changes in the way your body works or doesn’t work.

Peanut butter There is much to be said for the humble peanut butter sarmie. Scientists believe that magnesium, which is found in peanut butter, has the potential to fight against harmful free-radical molecules that damage blood vessels and the heart. According to Toni Younghusband, editor of a popular health and fitness magazine, you should ideally use bread that is high in fibre (at least 3g of fibre per slice). Spinach Besides being a good source of iron and calcium, this flowering plant is rich in a co-enzyme called CoQ10, which slows the rate of brain degeneration. Although I’ve never really associated brawny ol’ Popeye with much mental prowess. Bananas The sodium in bananas assists with water and blood pressure regulation,

helping your body to function efficiently. This potassium-packed fruit is a hassle-free, anytime snack. Marmite B vitamins in this sticky spread might explain why 25 percent of British tourists take Marmite with them on their travels! The age-old ‘Marmite versus Bovril’ debate is the source of many a heated breakfast table discussion. One website depicted a sculptor’s seven foot Marmite replica of ‘The Kiss’ to celebrate Valentine’s Day. Almonds Snacking on these nuts can help to improve your memory. Almonds contain phenylalanine, which stimulates the brain to produce neurotransmitters such as dopamine, adrenaline and noradrenaline. One ancient Indian system of health care uses almonds to treat ailments related to the brain and nervous system.

Avocadoes Research from the University of Maine has revealed that avocados play an important role in lowering high blood pressure. This can give you that mental ‘edge’ when you need it, as high blood pressure has been associated with decreased cognitive function. Also known as the butter pear or avocado pear, this fruit contains 60 percent more potassium than bananas, is rich in vitamin K (which plays an important role in increasing bone mass), and contains higher amounts of fibre than any fruit. Tomatoes This fruit is 95 percent water and 22 percent of your daily recommended allowance of vitamin C. Tomatoes bring life to a low-budget salad, add zest to the quietest of sandwiches, and give fresh volume to a variety of sauces. French researchers found that heating lycopene (which tomatoes are rich in)

Rhodents’ choice of popular perk-me-ups Zukiswa Kota, James Short, Tafadzwa Mlambo and Mathilde Brassine The Oppidan Press SciTech team prowled the Rhodes campus to get an idea of students’ exam snacking habits. This is what we discovered from a sample of 40 respondents as illustrated by Figure 1. A number of respondents depend on more than one substance to boost their energy levels. 22 percent (12) of our interviewees drink more coffee around exam time in order to stay awake and work for longer hours. Interestingly, two students stated that drinking water to stay focused and alert was enough for them. Chocolate (15 percent), Red Bull

(13 percent), Berocca (7 percent) and vitamin supplements (11 percent) were also high up on the list of popular perkme-ups. While our sample size barely accounts for one percent of the total student population, it is interesting to note the absence of fruit and vegetables in the responses tallied (read our ‘Food for Thought’ article in this issue). One student, however, reported snacking on nuts. It was also interesting to note that the only students who reported engaging in physical exercise as a form of stress release were also those who reported drinking water, fruit juice and using “nothing” to maintain energy levels. figure 1

facilitates the absorption of this brainboosting substance. Other studies have found that lycopene, also found in watermelons and pawpaw, can play a role in preventing some forms of cancer. Chicken The meat-eaters among us will be pleased to know that chicken is good for muscle-building due to its protein content. But as we’re focusing on mental vitality, it must be said that this poor-man’s turkey can help to ward off depression as it is high in vitamin B6. This water-soluble vitamin plays a key role in the conversion of tryptophan to serotonin, which studies suggest may increase the ability to recall dreams as well as their intensity. The alleviation of hangovers and morning sickness in pregnant women has been linked to the diuretic effect of vitamin B6. However, the likelihood of someone reaching for a chicken drumstick in the throes of nausea is rather low, methinks.

Correction The Oppidan Press would like to apologise for a photograph that appeared alongside an article in the 13 May 2009 issue (‘Rhodents and Rodents: Stem Cell Research at Rhodes’). The caption incorrectly implied that BioBRU, headed by Professor Gregory Blatch, uses live mice to carry out research. BioBRU does not experiment on whole organisms. Researchers at BioBRU use commercially available cell lines, grown and manipulated in tissue culture flasks, which does not require the use of whole organisms. The Oppidan Press is committed to ensuring accurate and professional reporting and would like to extend an apology to Professor Blatch and his colleagues and to our readers for any confusion caused by the photograph. Zukiswa Kota, Editor: Science and Technology

IF YOU READ NOTHING ELSE… Rhodents ride donkey carts Page 5

Litha Mpondwana The Rhodes Internal League Basketball tournament took place for the first time on Friday 15 May at Alec Mullins Hall. The event was yet another achievement for the fledging basketball club which has seen a number of successes in recent years. The internal league fixtures did not get off to a good start when around half of the registered teams failed to arrive at the event. However, this did not deprive spectators of some competitive action on the court, as the teams that did pitch up fought intensely, displaying extraordinary skills to please the crowd. Of the men’s teams participating in the first round of league matches, the most impressive were Fantastic 3 and Ama-Dreds, a team of small yet fast players who all sport dreadlocks. Disappointingly, only two women’s teams competed. Every team participating in the basketball internal league has to field one Rhodes first team player in their line-up, a measure which ensures that each team

possesses an element of quality in their play. Rhodes Basketball chairperson, Tarcille Mballa was pleased with how well the tournament went. “It was more successful than we expected, and I’m excited about the turnout,” she said. Although the matches did not showcase any new basketball talent at Rhodes, Mballa was still encouraged by the performances of the seasoned members. “They showed a new spirit. The players were more committed and enthusiastic, and that impressed me,” she said. Mballa said she hoped to improve the organisation of the event for future internal league games. She also acknowledged Sports Administration for their role in ensuring the existence of Rhodes’ internal basketball league. “Sports Admin tries to make people work on their own, but they have given us support whenever needed,” she said. As the lights dimmed at the end of an evening of entertaining basketball, the jovial mood of the players and spectators reflected the general success of an event enjoyed by all.

Pic: Candice Cupido

Rhodes Internal League Basketball debut

SHOOTING HOOPS Players impressed the crowd at the first ever Rhodes Internal League Basketball tournament, which was a great success.

Out of the blue winning streak for TUKS FC Anesu Chingono Remember when you sat in Sunday school learning about how David beat Goliath? The moral of that story was that through faith and belief, an inexperienced shepherd, against all the odds, can defeat a trained warrior. Imagine the odds when a relatively unknown University of Pretoria soccer team (TUKS FC) came up against the

mighty Kaizer Chiefs – a team that has hosted the likes of Manchester United in pre-season friendlies. Varsity students were pitted against international level players who have made a living out of kicking a ball. There could only be one winner, you would think. As the match started, I found myself talking to a friend and barely paying attention. But after a few goals from both teams, our conversation came to an abrupt end as my eyes were firmly glued

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to the telly. I found myself cheering for David (TUKS FC in this case), praying for a giant killing, and I was not disappointed as TUKS FC emerged victorious with a final score of 4-3. But the story doesn’t end there. TUKS FC has gone on to beat Bloemfontein Celtics and pre-tournament favourites Ajax Cape Town, in what the media has described as a “fairytale”. Although they had a chance of win-

ning the prestigious Nedbank Cup, their loss to Moroko Swallows on Saturday 23 May meant that the fairytale ending was not to be. Nevertheless, the hype around TUKS transcended national borders when various international websites wrote about their success. The Rhodes soccer team can certainly learn from TUKS FC. Rhodes has had an average season to say the least. They began the SASSU campus league season with two victories but have lost

their last three games. While University of Pretoria recruits skilled players each season through scholarships, Rhodes provides few incentives for talented soccer players. I have since watched all the TUKS FC games and they certainly have determination and grit which is lacking within the Rhodes soccer ranks. It remains to be seen whether or not the Rhodes team can rekindle their early season form.

Team Oppi need to up their game Lonwabo Fayo The Oppidan soccer team suffered their first defeat at the hands of Mandela FC, in the new Inter Res soccer league on 20 May. Team Oppi, sporting their new red and white Umbro kit, played a first half to be forgotten as they allowed the opposition to dominate midfield and score a soft goal. In the second half, they came out with a point to prove, but due to wasted chances and a resilient Mandela defence, Team Oppi could not manage to score that elusive equaliser and the game ended 1-0.