The Oppidan Press Edition 3 2014

The Oppidan Press
Edition 3, 1 April 2014

Page 7 Page 2 Page 3
Grahamstown NGOs
step up
Say no to slacktivism
Antagonism in IAW
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Exploring
tragedy and
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News Features
2 Te Oppidan Press 1 April 2014
Tarryn de Kock and Mitchell Shaun Parker
Politics
With universities and various academic institutes recently
hosting Israeli Apartheid Week (IAW), questions were once
again raised about the dialogue between people on difer-
ent sides of the debate. Te aim of IAW is to raise awareness
about Israels social, political and economic policies and
to show how these have resulted in a diminished quality of
life and outright oppression for the people of Palestine. Te
reaction from pro-Israeli supporters this year has drawn at-
tention to the ongoing and pressing need for real dialogue.
Pro-Israeli parties and individuals have expressed frustra-
tion with the lack of dialogue in the IAW programme every
year. Te events that were held were all anti-Israel and run
by ait-Israel personnel so comments were interrupted or cut
short, said Michal Dahan who was involved in an attempt to
speak against the week.
Organisers of the protest disagreed with Dahans view. Tis
year saw more constructive debate than previous years, said
Politics student Sarah Bruchhausen, who was involved in the
weeks events. We found that having a pro-Zionist presence
actually led to meaningful discussions, rather than leaving us
on the backfoot.
Rhodes has come under fre for its support of this inter-
national event, especially from Zionist leaders and publica-
tions. Last year saw hastily printed posters condemning
the IAW events and trying to provide statistics from the
Israeli perspective of the confict put up around campus. Te
Universitys rejection of the actions of those who put up the
pro-Israeli posters last year only served to further entrench
the divide between Zionist leaders and their supporters, and
the University, with the former labelling Rhodes anti-Semitic.
Tis year, a pro-Israel tent was set up and three Israelis were
fown in to speak about their experiences.
Dialogue is great but people calling for it ofen exclude
the fact of unequal power relations, Bruchhausen explained.
South Africas peace talks during Apartheid included many
stakeholders, including the most radical political parties in
the country. When one looks at the Israeli-Palestine peace
talks, you fnd that the USA and Israel are the ones deciding
who is given a legitimate voice at the negotiation table, and
which actors are legitimate ones.
For South African students, IAW may not initially seem
like an initiative that would elicit support because of how far
removed the two countries involved are from our country;
however, the usage of the term apartheid locates the con-
fict within South African history and serves as a powerful
reminder of the kinds of injustices the Palestinian people are
being subjected to.
What most pro-Israel commentators have argued is that
IAW does not give weight to the Israeli side of the confict and
that the organisers have not included Israeli voices in the de-
bate. We should all be given an equal opportunity to speak so
everyone realises there are two sides to this story, Dahan said.
Bruchhausen countered: We have to face the reality that
in South Africa, most of the information disseminated on the
confict is pro-Israeli because it is fltered through American
media outlets. IAW is one of the few times a year where the
Palestinian side of the story can be given a fair voice, so it
might not necessarily always be the best platform for dialogue
because it has a very specifc directive.
South Africa appears to have the second most right-wing
Jewish press outside of Israel, which speaks to the fault-lines
in our own democracy, she added. People are still articu-
lating diference racially and culturally; its just being given
a political edge and a more nuanced approach than simply
saying one hates a certain group of people. In many ways
people have used the Israeli-Palestinian confict as a way to
channel feelings they are unable to articulate about life in
South Africa.
From this perspective, aggressive accusations and the
continuing claims of no dialogue taking place have yet again
successfully acted as a microcosm of the Israeli-Palestinian
confict. While the week is organised by the Rhodes Uni-
versity Palestinian Solidarity Front, a collection of staf and
students, it is aimed at attracting interested students across
campus through occupying a prime position on the university
calendar every year..
During IAW last year, an explanation of why the event is
supported by the University was given by lecturer Richard
Pithouse, saying, South Africa as a country is committed to
human rights, and the Israeli-Palestine confict fundamentally
includes questions of human rights.
Te University being considered pro-Palestinian is a result
of poor media coverage, commented Bruchhausen. National
opinion has fed this idea that the Israel-Palestine confict is
a massively divisive issue on the Rhodes campus when were
still at the initial phase of gaining solidarity internation-
ally. Te misunderstanding that all these conversations lead
nowhere is because people have misunderstood how politics
works on the ground.
Israeli Apartheid Week: creating confict or cultivating debate?
Fezi Mthonti
T
he Womens Academic Solidarity Associa-
tion (WASA) recently celebrated their
ten year anniversary. Te organisation
was founded by a group of female academics
who wanted to overcome the institutionalised
challenges that women face, particularly when
trying to advance to higher academic positions
within the university. WASA took on the role of
creating support networks for female academics
through mentorship and solidarity in spaces of
higher education.
Co-Chair Lieketso Mohoto contributed to
the creation of WASA because of the absence of
female representation in the higher academic and
administrative roles within the university. People
were working for years and years on contract
and not fnishing their Masters degrees and not
fnishing their PhDs, she explained. If you dont
fnish your PhD, that means that you cant become
a professor, and if you cant become a professor
that means that you cant become a dean which
means that the whole system is working, efec-
tively, against a particular kind of woman.
WASA was also established to challenge and
transform some of the cultural beliefs of an in-
stitution like Rhodes University, which Co-Chair
Babalwa Magoqwana described as being centred
on a white male Eurocentric gaze. While the Uni-
versity is currently in the process of transforming
architecturally, in terms of renaming some of its
residences and its architectural structure, one fnds
that the norms administratively and academically,
and the production of knowledge, are still rooted
in a Eurocentric value system.
Magoqwana went on to comment that an
apartheid system was still very much alive, even
in spaces like Rhodes University. For example, she
said, If you go to the residence system: look at
who is serving you [and] who is supposed to be
the cleaner; look at who is supposed to be the su-
pervisor and who is supposed to be the manager.
We need to challenge the view that our students
have of a normal professor [and] of a normal
cleaner and the diferent categories of people that
we have at the University.
Magoqwana warned that if transformation is
not made a priority, Rhodes will simply continue
to reproduce the past and lose sight of the produc-
tion of new knowledge and new understandings in
the world. Our students need to know that things
can be diferent, she said.
Both chairs believe that this transformative
agenda should not be a project, but rather an
integral part of the university system. We cant
call it a transformation project - it is supposed to
be something that is underlying every department,
every faculty and every kind of division that is
within this university, Magoqwana explained.
Mohoto described the transformation agenda
as being about creating an environment in which
the entire institution could be culturally reim-
agined. Te university space should be able to
speak to and interact with diferent cultural groups
at the same time and at the same frequency,
she added.
Te two chairs linked WASAs conception of
transformation with the bigger transformative
agenda that the country is vested in. We are not
trying to do something that is completely new,
Magoqwana said. Tis is part of the bigger trans-
formation project of the country which needs to
be refected inside of the university space as well.
Due to their commitment to such transforma-
tion, WASA has enjoyed a considerable amount
of success over the past decade. Magoqwana indi-
cated that WASA has assisted a number of female
students in obtaining professorial positions within
the university and made mention of the fact that
several PhD-holding academics form part of the
WASA alumnus.
Some members of WASA have also lef the
university and form part of the higher education
structures within South Africa like the National
Research Fund (NRF) and the Department of Sci-
ence and Technology, she added.
Although WASA has enjoyed a commendable
level of success, in terms of the advancement of
female academics, Mohoto said that the struggle
for transformation is not just about counting how
many women have secured high-level academic
and administrative positions. Transformation is
also about restructuring the present ideological
framework of universities so that the system can
regenerate itself.
WASA talks 10 years in transformation
WASA Co-Chairs Babalwa Magoqwana and
Lieketso Mohoto pose with copies of the
book compiled to celebrate 10 years since
WASAs founding. Photo: NICK DAKIN
Miko Peled, a pro-Palestinian activist speaks to staf and students on the
politics of the Israeli confict. Israeli Apartheid Week has yet again been
plagued by claims of lack of meaningful engagement from both sides of
the issue. Photo: SHEILA DAVID.
News Features
1 April 2014 Te Oppidan Press 3
Grahamstowns proftless pillars
Khanyi Mlaba and
Gemma Middleton
N
on-Governmental Or-
ganisations (NGOs) within
Grahamstown arguably
play a crucial role in the social and
economic development of the town.
Director of Grahamstown Area and
Distress Relief Association (GADRA)
Roger Domingo has called for an
informal inquiry into whether NGOs
are the main reason for urban devel-
opment and economic sustainability
in Grahamstown.
Domingo has stressed the need for
accurate research to be conducted to
determine how much infuence the
organisations actually have. Take the
NGOs out of the equation, what would
the economy look like? Domingo
asked. He argued that the organisa-
tions have generated one of the largest
sources of income for Grahamstown
- second only to the annual National
Arts Festival.
Co-founder of the Womens Aca-
demic Solidarity Association (WASA)
Dr Nomalanga Mkhize agreed with
Domingo that NGOs have a signifcant
role to play. Tere will never stop
being a demand for NGOs so long as
this country is the way it is, she said.
However, she pointed out that low-
income families that work hard to get
their children through education are
disregarded. NGOs are [important]
for vulnerable sections of our society,
but to claim that NGOs are holding up
Grahamstown is an insult to working
family members, Mkhize said.
However, the demand for NGOs
in Grahamstown has grown steadily
since most of them were established
in the early 2000s. Rhodes Universitys
Community Engagement (RUCE) of-
fces currently have a partnership with
34 NGOs within the Grahamstown
area. I think [NGOs] are appreciated
because the number of people turning
to them for support is growing all
the time, said RUCE Director Diana
Hornby.
One of the main focus points for
local NGOs is education within the
Eastern Cape, which has the lowest
matric pass rate compared to other
provinces. However, Mkhize felt that
NGOs should not need to be fghting
for this cause. I dont think its right
that NGOs are taking up so much edu-
cation work, Mkhize said, explaining
that the failing education system
makes initiatives such as the GADRA
Matric School essential.
Such initiatives are receiving good
support, but funding remains a prob-
lem for NGOs - especially those with a
focus on the environment. NGOs such
as Farm Animals Centre for Education
(FACE) continue to have a difcult
time with funding and creating greater
awareness for their cause. Donors are
warm-hearted and generous, but there
are not too many of them, said Direc-
tor of FACE Jenny Copley-Forster,
citing the need for support from busi-
ness, citizens, and government.
In spite of this, Copley-Forster
stated that the impact of NGOs in Gra-
hamstown is obvious. Because of the
University and the excellent schools,
there are opportunities to infuence the
leaders of the future. Tat is a priceless
gif, she said.
Te Grahamstown NGO sector has
proven to be helpful in meeting urgent
needs, but NGOs have found difculty
in raising funds to keep projects afoat.
It is largely with the support of the
university and dedicated donors that
they continue to grow and strengthen
in the Grahamstown community.
Student NGOs prompt change in Grahamstown
Robyn Hunt
Various Rhodes University student organisations volun-
teer their time and attention to help fulfl specifc needs
in the greater Grahamstown area. Here is what a hand-
ful of them had to say about the role that they play.
JJ Haven Educational Project Chairperson Sarah Rob-
erts:
What is the aim of the JJ Haven Educational Project?
Ultimately, the aim is to break the poverty cycle in the
community, by helping children with their education so
that they can have better employment opportunities when
they fnish high school.
Te Inkwenkwezi Society Chairperson Hannah
McDonald:
What needs does this society meet that the municipality
fails to address?
Tere is a lack of school teachers, resulting in over-
crowded classrooms and overburdened teachers, [plus] a
lack of adequate school libraries and easy access to reading
material which Inkwenkwezi then provides during [its]
programme.
Masincedane Soup Kitchen Society Vice-Chairperson
Khanyisani Kubheka:
What role does this society play in the community?
We visit eXolani, a local township, three times a week
as a soup kitchen and also run Kids Workshops every
Saturday, aiming to inspire the children and develop their
self-confdence and critical-thinking.
Emily Corke
Over the course of last week, Te Oppidan Press released a series of
investigative reports on Makana Municipality online. It soon became
apparent that Makana is not only embroiled in the infamous water
crisis, but is also in trouble related to electricity and fnancial manage-
ment. Here are some of the statistics.
Grahamstown electrical substations deemed hazardous to human
life.
Combined costs of necessary upgrades amounts to R50 million with
no funds put aside by the municipality to bankroll.
Cost of electricity is set to increase by 7.39%, a portion of which will
be put to urgently-needed refurbishment.
Over R200 million owed to Makana Municipality and income failing
to cover expenses.
72% of Municipal Infrastructure Grant (MIG) money used on salaries
and running expenses.
Only 75% of debt collected due to need for political back-up,
according to Council.
In August last year, Makana had overspent by R2,359,835. In October,
they overspent by R3,952,752 and in November, Makana had a defcit
of R136,042,366.
Makana has signed a fve-year contract with quasi-state body Amatola
Water, who have taken over virtually all activities in the distribution of
water, including treatment and allocation to training.
Plans include expensive infrastructure replacement, the building of
reservoirs, and general maintenance control upgrades.
Tension between municipality staf and Amatola engineers and
managers has created a potential obstacle.
Visit Te Oppidan Press website for more on the story and share your
thoughts using #MakanaInCrisis.
Makana in crisis: know the facts
Mila Kakaza and Kyla Hazell
It is unclear whether Rhodes Uni-
versity students realise how much
of an efect their University had in
the birth of the Black Consciousness
Movement and the legacy of Bantu
Stephen Biko. However, due to the
vision of Port Elizabeth resident
Sinphiwe Msizi, who plans to initiate
a Biko remembrance project at Rho-
des, it is hoped that this heritage will
soon be more widely recognised.
Walking past the Union building,
how many refect on the fact that it was
the segregationist regulations of our
residence system that led Biko to break
with the National Union of South Af-
rican Students (NUSAS) at their 1967
conference, or that it was in this town
that he was eventually arrested? For
Msizi, Bikos connection to Rhodes is
important and needs to be commemo-
rated properly.
My involvement is to follow that
history and settle it, Msizi explained.
In my view, these are small links to
the bigger picture for people to know
what actually took place here in 1967.
Te bigger picture in Msizis view
is the lesson of leadership and critical
thinking that Bikos memory brings.
His message on liberating the mind
seems to be what the country needs,
he said. Many graduates are produced
by the universities in the country, but
the question is: are they conscientised
leaders?
Msizi hopes that the project will
involve marking important loca-
tions connected to Bikos history and
organising critical dialogues in which
students can discuss the leadership
tools that Biko believed in. He has
been involved in heritage work focused
on Bikos memory since 2006 and has
already arranged a number of critical
discussions together with partners at
Nelson Mandela Metropolitan Univer-
sity (NMMU).
Given Rhodess close connection to
Biko, Msizi feels that more needs to
be done here. His experience at this
institution made him aware that there
is a long road for the oppressed to be
liberated, Msizi said.
Various eforts to commemorate
Biko have been made by the University
and other community members in the
past. Tese include the naming of the
Union building, marches, and com-
memoration lectures. Te problem is
that those initiatives are hard to fnd
and have no synergy, Msizi lamented.
He believes that a self-reliant
programme in which students them-
selves drive Bikos legacy is key to
integrating all of these eforts.
Te response to his ideas so far has
been extremely positive from various
persons within the University. On
Friday he received a personal com-
mitment from Vice-Chancellor Dr
Saleem Badat to help by searching for
and marking the locations of both the
NUSAS conference and Bikos eventual
arrest.
Te Alumni Ofce has already
started seeking out and contacting
NUSAS members who were involved
in the 1967 conference. Msizi hopes
that more initiatives from diferent
groups on campus will soon follow.
Te Oppidan Press will be working
with Msizi to research the history of
Biko in connection to the University
over the course of the year.
Remembering Steve Bikos legacy at Rhodes
JJ Haven Treasurer Jrgen Stroebel at one of the societys recent educational
events. Photo: HOLLY SNELL
Makana Municipality was recently investigated by The Oppidan Press.
Photos: ALEXA SEDGWICK
Features
Adam Klass
Politics
T
he second in our Get to Know the
Manifesto series will be looking at two
more well-known parties, along with
a lesser-known party with a strong Eastern
Cape base.
DA:
Te Democratic Alli-
ance (DA) launched
its manifesto on
Sunday 23 February
2014 in Polokwane.
Currently holding 67
seats in the National
Assembly, the party continues to gain support
in the Western Cape where it has enjoyed ruling
power. It has also recently started gaining a no-
ticeable Gauteng base and has established itself
as the ofcial opposition of the ruling ANC.
Party leader Helen Zille stated that one of
the main aims of the party is to intensify job
creation. Tis, the DA proposes, will be done by
broadening the skills base of unemployed South
Africans, attempting to drive down infation
and the subsequent high prices that hamper
economic growth. Te partys manifesto also
focused on cutting down corruption, citing
highly publicised cases of nepotism in the ruling
ANC government as deeply concerning, with
particular reference to President Jacob Zumas
R200 million Nkandla compound and the furore
surrounding the source of its funding.
Because of their alleged one-sided rhetoric,
the DA has come under scrutiny in the media
and from analysts for using its manifesto as a
soap box to criticise the ANC, rather than using
it to focus on its own goals.
However, the DAs manifesto remains largely
centred around job creation and education as
key themes. Based on research published by
the South African Reserve Bank in 2013, Zille
believes that policies such as the DAs could
increase economic growth to 8%, help the
economy to create 6 million new jobs, and halve
unemployment over the next ten years. Te
party also vowed that a large portion of
the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) would be
put into developing much-needed public infra-
structure.
In a step aside from their job-centred mani-
festo, the party also promised that they would
increase the National Student Financial Aid
Scheme (NSFAS) budget to R16billion in an
attempt to bolster the number of skilled workers
in the country and contribute to their overall
goal of job creation.
However, their election success remains a
question as they have not won a municipal elec-
tion in the Eastern Cape and maintain only six
seats in the Eastern Cape Government.
EFF:
Te Economic Free-
dom Fighters (EFF),
led by Julius Malema,
launched its manifesto
on Saturday 22 Febru-
ary 2014 at Mehlareng
Stadium in Tembisa.
Te EFF reafrmed
its commitment to the
nationalisation of mines although it is this
commitment that has brought Malema and
the EFF under scrutiny by the business sector
and pro-business press. Malema went on to
promise a R4,500 minimum wage to all workers.
He stated that he would respond to the now-
infamous Marikana strikes and issue a R12,500
minimum wage for all mine workers if the party
took power. He also afrmed a promise to dou-
ble social grants.
Over the course of the partys development,
the EFF has aligned itself with an array of lef-
wing political organisations, including the Black
Consciousness Movement (BCM), the Azanian
Peoples Organisation (AZAPO), the Socialist
Party of Azania (SOPA) and the Pan Africanist
Congress (PAC). Tis is part of its bid to elicit
support from parties with some similar policy
objectives but with less traction than the much
more public EFF.
AIC:
Te African
Independent
Congress (AIC) is
a minor regional
party formed on
12 December 2005
by the people
of Matatiele. Tey felt that there was a lack of
representation of the people of Matatiele and
surrounding rural communities and started the
AIC to remedy this.
Te AIC aims to represent smaller communi-
ties and stop what it dubbs political manipula-
tion. It has stated that it aims to create sustain-
able rural communities in the Eastern Cape that
will live a life based on constitutional democracy
and constitutional laws, with the aim of provid-
ing equal opportunities for all people.
Te AIC has had mild success in the Matatiele
community and currently holds one seat in the
Eastern Cape Government.
Get to know the manifesto #2
Grahamstown business at war with the internet
In an ever-increasing technologically-dependent society, many businesses
cannot keep up. Photo: GABRIELLA FREGONA
Bradley Prior
Scitech
Many people fork out thousands of
rands to purchase the sofware they
need for university, work or even
day-to-day tasks. Unfortunately for
them, they do not realise that it is
possible to acquire sofware that
gives the same function, at absolutely
no cost.
For many activities, LibreOfce is
an alternative to the more popular
Microsof Ofce suite. It contains alter-
natives to Word, Excel, PowerPoint
and Access, as well as a useful program
called Draw which allows you to draw
complex diagrams and designs. It can
also be used for simpler tasks in a
similar way to Paint.
LibreOfce is compatible with
Microsof Ofce, meaning that docu-
ments created with LibreOfce can be
opened with their parallel program on
the Microsof Ofce suite. Tis is use-
ful if you plan to print your work at the
library, or make presentations using a
Microsof-installed computer.
It is important to keep in mind that
LibreOfce does have some limita-
tions to some of its programs. If you
are using the word processor simply to
write essays, then LibreOfce will be
sufcient.
However, some more complex func-
tions within Microsof Ofce, such
as Excels mathematical function and
graph features, may not be present in
their LibreOfce alternatives.
If LibreOfce does not suit your
needs, there are other alternatives:
namely Apache OpenOfce and
Google Drive. OpenOfce flls the
same role as Microsof Ofce, with
most of the trimmings. Unfortunately,
OpenOfce also saves its documents
in a diferent fle format, meaning that
PCs running Microsof Ofce will not
be able to open your fles.
Google Drive runs on a diferent
system, but it can still fulfll the same
role as the other ofce programs.
Google Drive allows access to Google
Docs (Word), Slides (PowerPoint) and
Spreadsheet (watered-down Excel),
amongst others.
It difers in that it runs online. All
your work is automatically stored in
your 15GB Drive and can be down-
loaded at will.
Drive also allows users to access a
variety of fle formats, including the
OpenOfce formats. One of its big-
gest benefts is that you never have to
worry about losing your data because
it is stored online. However, this is also
one of its biggest downfalls, because it
can only be accessed online and you
cannot use the program without a run-
ning internet connection.
Linux is an open-source operating
system that acts as an alternative to
Microsof Windows. Open-source
means that anyone can use it for free.
One simply needs to download it onto
some form of bootable storage device
such as a fash drive or a CD.
Since Linux is open-source, it can
be modifed by anyone with the ability
to program, especially in C or C++
programming languages. As a result,
many diferent versions of Linux exist.
Te most popular of these ofshoots is
named Ubuntu, famously founded by
Mark Shuttleworth.
Virus protection is possibly the
least necessary program to pay for
if you consider the free alternatives.
Antivirus suites such as Norton and
Kaspersky require expensive annual
subscriptions to do the same thing that
several free programs can do.
Te best examples would be those of
Avast! and AVG, both of which have
free packages and premium upgrades.
Tese are fairly basic virus and internet
protection programs, but with a bit
of caution when browsing the web,
you will never need anything more
powerful.
Tese are several examples of free
alternatives to mainstream computer
sofware. While the idea of free pro-
grams is enticing, it should
be remembered that there are
sometimes negative aspects to these
alternatives.
With this in mind, both the
benefts and drawbacks should be
well-researched before you make any
decisions.
Free alternative PC programs for students
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There are a number of free programs that students can use as an alternative to Microsoft, such as LibreOfce.
Photo: WWW.EXTREMETECH.COM
Features
Christopher Fisher
Business
Te internet, arguably our most
precious resource, came to South
Africa through Rhodes University
afer Rhodes acquired the frst South
African IP address in 1991.
However, what was once Grahams-
towns claim to fame is fast becoming
its downfall as the Internet establishes
itself as a hindrance for local business-
es. Business owners locally and further
afeld are increasingly of the opinion
that their decrease in productivity is
related to the development of the In-
ternet and all that we associate it with.
For instance, the once-successful
Rosehill cinemas in Port Alfred has
been closed and a piece of paper read-
ing closed due to illegal downloads
has been stuck on the door.
Closer to home, the Movie Zone
Cinemas have also recently closed. It
would seem that the growing popular-
ity of fle sharing websites is causing
movie theatres to become redundant.
Economics Department Profes-
sor Gavin Keeton stated, I think the
Internet is directly responsible for the
demise of the movie houses. With
any new technology it challenges the
existing, and very ofen if the existing
doesnt adapt it is wiped out.
Cinemas are not the only businesses
sufering. Outlets such as Musica, Mr
Video and libraries across the province
are fnding it more and more difcult
to conduct business although all is
not lost yet.
While physical disc sales of DVDs
have had a worldwide decrease of over
30% since 2004, digital sales continue
to grow, with the music industry see-
ing its frst period of growth since 1999
as a result.
Tis hints at a crucial point that is
raised by Keeton. [Local businesses]
need to be doing something that ena-
bles them to compete, he explained,
attributing their lack of success to
their inability to adapt to the changing
times. Keeton went on to say, If these
shops were to create greater appeal for
the customer, perhaps they would not
be on such a downward slump.
Despite Keetons view, options are
limited for these businesses and adapt-
ing to change is not as easy as it may
seem. According to PR spokesperson
for Musicas digital distribution service
Karey Evett, It is nearly impossible
to compete with the illegal download
markets that are providing your goods
for free.
LLB student Ndumi Ndlovu disa-
grees, saying, If the CDs and DVDs
were sold at a more reasonable price
then I believe more people would still
be buying them. Perhaps proving this
point, Evett believes Musicas monthly
online sales to be in the region of tens
of thousands regardless of the fact
that there is a large group that have no
intention of paying for something that
they can get for free.
One cannot help but think that
there are still untapped business
opportunities here. Perhaps the
success of iTunes and websites such as
Kalahari is related to the fact that they
have embraced the internet and made
its existence a part of their business
model, instead of trying to compete
with it. Local businesses can also learn
from these models.
Te internet is undoubtedly having
an efect on local businesses and it
would seem that they have no option
but to adapt to the changing times.
Should businesses fail to create an
experience that is new, relevant and
enticing, they face a relentless and
unpredictable competitor that is sure
to win.
Gemma-mae Hartley
Scitech
T
he Rhodes University Biotechnology
Innovation Centre (RUBIC) is a recent
addition to the Rhodes family. Rhodes
University has the oldest academic programme
(23 years) in Biotechnology in South Africa.
Te centre aims to both better communicate
this research and to transform it into valuable
products and processes which beneft society.
Te centre also seeks to create a home for
aspiring entrepreneurial students. Head Professor
Janice Limson explained, Te academic pro-
gramme includes traditional research, but with a
clear focus on how that research can ultimately
beneft society through product development.
One project that promises to beneft society is
that of Honours student Selokwane Morake, who
is researching alternative energy using microbial
fuel cells. He is researching how bacteria creates
electricity under certain conditions and how this
can be enhanced. Te aim for this research is to
efectively create a new way of making electricity
without the use of fossil fuels, Morake explained.
Morake was attracted to Biotechnology at
Rhodes because it encourages application of
knowledge right from the ofset, and continually
challenges understanding at the fundamental
level as well as in broader aspects.
By creating a partnership with the School of
Journalism and Media Studies, RUBIC intends
to include science communication in their
programme. To include the humanities in their
research, they are partnered with the Institute
for Social and Economic Research as well as the
School of Languages. Tis emphasises that the
programme includes the felds of Social Sciences,
Business, Economics and Law to create a diverse
approach to Biotechnology.
Although Biotechnology is a postgraduate
course connecting Microbiology, Biochemistry,
Chemistry and Nanotechnology, many of the RU-
BIC staf teach in undergraduate science courses,
like Microbiology 3. At undergraduate level it is
compulsory to major in either Biochemistry or
Microbiology in order to take Biotechnology in
postgraduate studies.
Te door is wide open for undergraduates and
postgraduates who would like to be part of our
think-tanks and any crowd-sourcing activities in
the future for implementing ideas, Limson ex-
plained. One of the aims of RUBIC is for science
students to interact with students of other felds.
Te programme aims to provide a cross-disci-
plinary approach to teaching. [RUBIC] is rooted
in the core principles of excellence in research,
teaching and community engagement, Limson
stated. Tere is a large aim to bridge the gap be-
tween scientifc research and community engage-
ment. At an educational level, RUBIC focuses on
empowering its students by fltering knowledge
through experience, Morake said.
Te project has the potential to beneft human-
ity on a universal level and this is shown by the
progressive research done at the centre. Water is
a necessity in any environment, be it industrial or
residential, as it is required for life and well-be-
ing. Te research on water done at RUBIC could
potentially be translated into processes that can
clean and treat water, both helping the environ-
ment and providing better sanitation for all areas.
Te research being done on various diseases
such as malaria and HIV will help to create
medications and treatments, eventually managing
and eradicating those diseases. An aim of RUBIC
is to create biotechnological industries within
Grahamstown, both to involve the community
and provide jobs.
Te ultimate goal of RUBIC is to create an
enabling space to deliver on promises that science
holds for society, explained Limson.
[RUBIC] is rooted in
the core principles
of excellence in
research, teaching
and community
engagement. At an
educational level,
RUBIC focuses on
empowering its
students by fltering
knowledge through
experience
Professor Janice Limson
Science in and for society
Grahamstown business at war with the internet
In an ever-increasing technologically-dependent society, many businesses
cannot keep up. Photo: GABRIELLA FREGONA
There are a number of free programs that students can use as an alternative to Microsoft, such as LibreOfce.
Photo: WWW.EXTREMETECH.COM
Opinion
Tarryn de Kock and Michal Dahan
I
sraeli-Apartheid Week (IAW) has
been the subject of much controver-
sy since it was introduced at Rhodes
University. Tis year, campus was
awash with posters in an attempt to bet-
ter portray the Israeli side of the story.
As with everything else IAW touches,
the posters were controversial. Both
writers write in their personal capacity,
the views expressed are personal views
only and do not refect those of Te Op-
pidan Press or any other organisation.
Criticising the poster
- Tarryn de Kock
Although students would recognise
the posters put up around campus
towards the end of Israeli Apartheid
Week (IAW), the two most prominent
ones did nothing to excite support for
the Israeli cause. While the frst fea-
tured Miss Israel 2013 Yityish Aynaw
pledging a story of multiculturalism,
the second showed Israeli Supreme
Court Judge Salim Joubran with the
caption Yes, hes an Arab!
It was at this point that I found
myself questioning an argument which
had suddenly become quite familiar:
it was in a similar vein to the cries of
Some of my best friends are black, so
I cant be racist that one hears from
the most obviously undercover racists
out there. Having an Arab Supreme
Court Judge does not make Israel any
less oppressive than having homeland
chiefs made apartheid South Africa a
fair, multicultural state.
Tat line of argument could not
elicit my support because it side-
stepped the heart of the issues of IAW.
Te organisers of IAW were dealing
with these issues at an in depth level
throughout the week, but these posters
focused instead on petty examples of
how and why Israel was not as bad as
IAW was making it out to be.
Furthermore, pleading to the mul-
ticultural nature of Israel says nothing
about its politics. Tese arguments are
appealed to in a bid to balance a de-
bate. Tis debate is defnitely weighted
in favour of those opposing the unfair
and unlawful persecution of dis-
placed peoples, and I am not sure that
balancing attempts are well-received
in a country where oppression is still
a raw and painful memory for many.
I used to believe I was neutral on the
Israel-Palestine issue but the more I
learned about the confict - from both
sides - the more I found myself oppos-
ing Israels continued occupation and
expansion in the region.
Defending the poster
- Michal Dahan
Te posters put up around campus
were not there to give an in depth
analysis about the Israeli side of the
story, but were put in place to attract
attention and push students to think.
Israel has been accused of a heinous
act, one were all too familiar with in
South Africa. If we are to equate black
South Africans under apartheid to
Palestinians and white South Africans
to Israelis, we ask the question: where
during the apartheid era would we
have seen a black South African judge
convict a white South African and
send him to jail? Tis was the primary
purpose of the poster to point out
one of the many diferences between
the current situation in Israel and the
previous situation in South Africa.
In the other poster, it is argued
that Israels multicultural nature has
everything to do with its politics. It led
to policies that were responsible for
bringing thousands of African Jews to
Israel when they were being perse-
cuted by their own neighbours.
For the last couple of years, the de-
bate revolving around IAW at Rhodes
has been far from balanced. Ofen afer
IAW, many people at Rhodes act as
though Israel has been tried and con-
victed and they are personally ready to
escort it to its execution. Tere are two
sides to every story and those posters
were used as a tool to make that fact
abundantly clear, as well as to draw
students into a discussion with the
three Israeli representatives who few
down specifcally to combat this week.
If all it took were a couple of one-
sided seminars to completely educate
you about a confict that has been
going on for thousands of years, then
we need to re-evaluate the way we are
being taught to critically analyse what
we are being shown.
Double-sided posters
An IAW poster that has caused controversy in an attempt to better refect the
Israeli side of the story. Photo: GABRIELLA FREGONA
>>Inter-res swimming results
>>The Neil Aggett Labour
Studies Unit Launch
>>Dr Raj Patel looks at the
evolution of the Green Revolution
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The Oppidan Press staf and contact details
The Oppidan Press
Editor: Kyla Hazell. Deputy Editor: Amanda Xulu. Executive Consultant:
Binwe Adebayo. Managing Editor: Sindisa Mfenqe. Financial Manager:
Lorna Sibanda. Advertising Managers: Chiedza Guvava, Tinashe Jani.
Marketing Manager: Sarah Taylor. Community Engagement Ofcer:
Abigail Butcher. Online Editor: Stuart Lewis. Assistant Online Editor:
Chelsea Haith. News Features Editor: Emily Corke. Assistant News Features
Editor: Mila Kakaza. Politics Editor: Tarryn de Kock. Assistant Politics
Editor: Mitchell Parker. Opinion Editor: Ben Rule. Arts & Entertainment
Editor: Jenna Lillie. Assistant Arts & Entertainment Editor: Matthew
Field. Business Editor: Chris Fisher. Scitech Editor: Bracken Lee-Rudolph.
Environment Editor: Mikaela Erskog. Sports Editor: Douglas Smith.
Assistant Sports Editor: Kimara Singh. Chief Photo Editor: Gabriella
Fregona. Assistant Chief Photo Editor: Kellan Botha. Chief Online Photo
Editor: Alexa Sedgwick. Chief Sub-Editor: Kaitlin Cunningham. Chief
Online Sub-Editor: Melian Dott. Sub-Editors: Kate Jennings, Danica
Kreusch, Leila Stein Jessica Trappe, Amy Wilkes. Chief Designer: Madien
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Designers: Amber-Leigh Davies, Amy Davidson. Junior Designers: Amy
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The Oppidan Press publishes letters which are bona fde expressions
of opinion provided that they are not clearly libellous, defamatory,
racist or sexist. We publish anonymous letters, but as an act of good
faith on your part, we require your full name. We reserve the right
to shorten letters due to space constraints and to edit them for
grammatical inaccuracies. Letters that do not make it into our print
edition will be published on our website.
U
pon the release of the infamous Nkandla Report, it was
disconcerting to see that much public commentary paid more
attention to Public Protector Tuli Madonselas second-hand
weave than to the actual substance of her fndings. Some comments
on Twitter seemed to suggest that Madonselas questionable hair
choices could be causally linked to her competence as Public Protec-
tor. To discredit Madonselas tireless quest to inform the public about
the institutionalised corruption in South African government based
on something as irrelevant as her hair speaks volumes about the
continued gendered discourse of this countrys politics.
Madonsela is not the only woman whose credentials have been called
into question on the basis of her appearance. Most recently at the state of
the nation address, Member of Parliament Tandile Sunduza was serious-
ly scrutinised by the media and South African public for her fashion faux
pas. Heavily pregnant, Sunduza chose to wear a garishly yellow boob-
tube dress that admittedly did not fatter her fgure. Talk soon turned to
comments about her looking like Big Bird and other ofensive compari-
sons. Te discourse surrounding Sunduza was extremely gendered and
disregarded her abilities as a politician and a Member of Parliament. It
highlighted the continued conservative and masculinised nature of South
African politics.
Incidents like these have led us here at Te Oppidan Press to question
whether there has been any real transformation in South African politics.
It is apparent that women politicians continue to be subjected to a sexist
understanding of this countrys politics, as many of their contributions
are analysed to a far greater extent than those of their male counter-
parts. Tis leads us to wonder why women in South Africa are still not
treated as rational and capable agents; but are viewed in a reductionist
manner that sees them as either being an accessory of a greater political
event (one need only look at Riah Piyegahs complicit involvement in the
Nkandla cover-up) or presents them as angry women with an unjustifed
agenda, something that Madonsela has fallen into.
In this edition, the conversation with womens progress in South
African society is carried on through a refection by WASA about the
state of gender transformation at Rhodes. WASA recently celebrated their
10th anniversary and frst chairperson Darlene Miller stressed the need
to challenge patriarchal forms of power that champion individual success
and the accumulation of infuence. It is arguably this attitude to leader-
ship that underlies the corrupt practices Madonsela seeks to decry. It
seems somewhat ironic, then, that Madonsela was criticised based on the
kind of patriarchal presumptions that underscore the very corruption of
power her position aims to control.
Thank you for helping us raise over R1500 for breast cancer last week!
Opinion
Binwe Adebayo
F
or a generation which so ofen claims to have no
cause, were awfully busy on the internet. We hit
share to pledge our allegiance to Jesus, like news
articles about NGOs helping food scarcity and most
recently make the brave, risky choice to post #nomake-
upselfes in order to create breast cancer awareness. Our
Apple-loving, trend-following, neknominating conscienc-
es have never been so clear.
Let me not be misunderstood here. I think that the
internet and modern technology have opened up incred-
ible avenues for the proliferation of ideas and campaigns of
which a global audience can take charge. But are we taking
charge if we simply hit share without reading a full article,
or profess outrage without having checked our facts? Tis is
not activism; it is slacktivism. Besides refecting the stereo-
type that the youth are fippant and unaware, it can also be
harmful to those whom we purport to support.
Lets stop sharing the photos of starving children in
Africa. If you have ever turned down the chance to take
part in a Community Engagement trip in favour of nursing
a hangover, you are who I am talking to. Te Africa youre
trying to save is right outside, minutes from your doorstep.
Rhodes boastsseveral community engagement societies and
community engagement initiatives are also open to resi-
dence and Oppidan students alike. But why bother to spend
a morning at a soup kitchen? Afer all, you can simply wave
your righteous indignation around online for an audience
who will revere you as a modern day Mother Teresa. Isnt it
great how easy activism is these days?
Even if the internet is your chosen superpower for world
peace, make sure to use it efectively. Somehow, word of
mouth (that highly reliable source) spread the idea that the
#nomakeupselfe campaign was started by Cancer Research
UK. Allegedly the organisation pledged to donate money to
breast cancer research every time the hashtag was used. Te
group fully denies this, unsure of where this misinformation
came from. It came from us, churning untruths through
cyberspace.
In any case, most of the participants are wholly unaware
of this, rather using the opportunity to show of their fresh
faces. Tese pictures have been accompanied by hashtags
ranging from #asscaryascancer to #cancercanbecute. Tis
is where things get really problematic. For the countless
people afected by breast cancer, as well as those who have
loved ones sufering or indeed dying from the illness, these
platitudes are insulting to say the least. Activism of any
kind requires understanding, information at your hands and
a sensitivity to the audience (which in many cases, extends
beyond your own social network). In the wise words of
Uncle Ben from Spider-Man, With great power comes great
responsibility and social responsibility is no exception. In
the age where what goes on the internet stays on the inter-
net, this has never been more true.
In addition to this, it is important to be consistent in your
cause. Particularly with recent debates around LGBTi rights
in countries like Uganda and Nigeria, or campus-related
gender-based violence issues, it is important to live what
you speak. Phrases like thats so gay or what a good frape
refect with far more clarity your true position on an issue
than the number of times you retweet Avaaz or Greenpeace.
Tere must be a commitment which extends past the realm
of your social persona - the lived persona must follow.
Tere is a choice to be made. As young, educated indi-
viduals who have access to countless opportunities for social
change, we can become part of sincere movements with
real aims towards improving the lives of other people and
our world. Although it is incredibly tempting to simply hit
share, it is important to be aware of the fact that this is your
statement to the world. If you really mean to make a difer-
ence, make sure your statements hold true value. We are not
the generation without a cause.
Nonsense conscience on the social networks
#Selfesdontcurecancer
Selfes for change. Because actually doing something is too mainstream. Photo: ROCHELLE-MARI SMITH
Double-sided posters
Letter to the editor
Ms Orla Quinlan, Director:
International Ofce.
Prompted by a complex and rath-
er unpleasant encounter with the
South African bureaucracy, Ms Mi-
kaela Erskog, in her opinion piece
dated 11/03/2014, infers that her
difculty in fnding immigration
information, which was specifcally
and exceptionally requested of her,
somehow suggests a prejudice
against international students at
Rhodes. Ms Erskogs allegations
of prejudice are taken extremely
seriously and she is invited to come
to the International Ofce to share
any remaining concerns with us,
which we would be more than
happy to discuss.
Having requested information
from the International Ofce to
write an ofcial Oppidan piece, Ms
Erskog chose to write an opinion
piece, neglecting to check the facts
or verify her assumptions, some of
which I hope to clarify here. Coming
from a national history of segrega-
tion, student services, which fall
under the Dean of Students Ofce,
are available to all students at Rho-
des University. Te International
Ofce is responsible for Internation-
alisation at Rhodes, which pertains
as much to South Africans as to
International students. Te Interna-
tional Ofce is developing a portal
on internationalisation, which will
expand its communication, improve
access to information, and provide
links to the Department of Home
Afairs (DHA) and other websites.
Turning to Ms Erskogs unpleas-
ant experience renewing her study
permit, for which she has my full
sympathy (getting a stamp on my
own new passport took less than 5
minutes but required queuing for
four hours in Home Afairs and a
three hour round trip to PE). Tere
is no provision for a full immigra-
tion service on campus. Information
on study permit requirements is
available on: http://www.dha.gov.za/
index.php/immigration-services/
types-of-visas. Te website states
that forms will no longer be avail-
able from this website. Please visit
your nearest Home Afairs ofce to
obtain ORIGINAL APPLICATION
FORMS&necessaryinformation. We
apologise for any inconvenience.
To facilitate international stu-
dents, the International Ofce con-
tinues to provide the list of require-
ments for standard applications
and we have confrmed with DHA
Pretoria that, as of March 2014, B1-
178 and B1-179 forms are still valid.
However, immigration regulations
are in transition and it is imperative
that students check directly with
their nearest issuing authorities.
An immigration ofcer may, at any
time, request additional informa-
tion beyond standard practice, as
was the case with Ms Erskog. Such
requests cannot be preempted by
either the International Ofce or the
professional immigration agencies,
who make immigration advice their
full-time business.
Te International Ofce has an
open door policy and welcomes
suggestions and ideas to further
internationalisation at Rhodes. We
may be contacted at:
internationaofce@ru.ac.za
The International Department at Rhodes University aims to refute an
opinion piece written in the previous edition of The Oppidan Press.
Photo: GABRIELLA FREGONA
If you have ever turned

down the chance to take
part in a Community
Engagement trip in favour of
nursing a hangover, you are
who Im talking to
Response to allegations of prejudice
>>The Neil Aggett Labour
Studies Unit Launch
Arts & Entertainment
New kids on the block: Campus Vibes
Lesedi Ntuli
G
rahamstown is known for ofering a
unique playground in which students
can enjoy a varied social life. Tis
vibrant scene now stands to be captured by
newly established media company, Campus
Vibes. As a new presence on the block, Campus
Vibes is here to capture not only the individual
moments, but the sharpness and spontaneity of
what Grahamstowns nightlife has to ofer.
Te brand was set into motion when its three
founders saw a gap in the entertainment market
that they wanted to fll. Te main inspiration
behind the company is founder and LLB student
Sazi Ntuli.
We saw that there was not much informa-
tion being disseminated about Grahamstown
nightlife, and decided to do something about it,
he explained. Tus the search for more members
began.
Ntuli and his co-founders did not have to
search far for people interested in joining the
company, as their friends were more than eager to
get on board in a variety of roles. Campus Vibes
currently consists of photographers, videogra-
phers and entertainment writers who all have big
plans to invigorate the entertainment industry.
Co-founder and SRC Projects Councillor
Khulani Ngubane explained that the founders
had initially planned to start something similar
in 2013. Te plans were put on hold when key
people lef Rhodes, while other members were
unsure of whether they were coming back. Te
idea of Campus Vibes just slowly died away,
said Ngubane, who went on to say that regardless
of these initial setbacks he believed that they were
merely a stepping stone to a much larger plan.
Like any other brand, Campus Vibes is plan-
ning on becoming bigger and better. One way
they are doing this is by partnering with local
nightclubs Prime and Friars to give their brand
even more exposure in Grahamstown. Our goal
is to make people remember the nightlife they ex-
perience and [to] recreate the atmosphere which
we experience from the events we go to. We want
people who werent at the events we cover to be
envious of the people that were there and want to
turn up with us wherever we go, said Ntuli.
Ngubani confrmed that, despite how
successful they have become within a short space
of time, they have bigger goals they are still
hoping to achieve. We are hoping to branch
out to Port Elizabeth within the next couple of
months because we do have connections that
side, he explained. Later we plan on branching
even further out to places such as East London,
Cape Town and maybe Stellenbosch because
they have a strong nightlife community just
like Grahamstown.
Tird co-founder and photographer Mandi-
lulame Manjezi added that students should get
excited for the companys launch party which he
said was coming soon.
Although we have been out and about, cover-
ing other parties, we still have not had our own,
he said. At this point in time the date has not
been fnalised yet and will not be confrmed until
the nitty-gritties have been sorted out. What I
can say, though, is that nobodys ready for what is
going to happen that day.
Ntuli further added that they are planning on
having the party across four houses with diferent
themes and genres. Basically, the idea is to allow
people the freedom to party at all four houses
without any restrictions. Its going to be amazing,
Ntuli said. All information is made available on
campusvibesght.tumblr.com on a regular
basis and students can follow their social media
profles to get more information about
upcoming events.
Facebook page: Campus Vibes
Campus Vibes highlights Grahamstowns unique and vibrant nightlife. Photo: KER-
RYN CHEGWIDDEN
Josh White
Tis year marks the commemoration of one
of historys most well-known playwrights.
William Shakespeares 450th birthday will be
celebrated by the Shakespeare Society of South-
ern Africa, a group responsible for numerous
educational and literary achievements both in
Grahamstown and beyond.
Te society was founded in 1985 with its
frst president Guy Butler, a former Head of the
English Department at Rhodes. Tis position has
now been flled by Warren Snowball, a part-time
lecturer in the Classics Department. During its
long life, the society has sponsored a series of
texts for students whose home language is not
English and has authorised the publication of an
academic journal, Shakespeare in Southern Africa.
Te society also funded Shakespeare SA, a tour-
ing theatre company which has performed
in areas of South Africa unaccustomed to
live theatre.
An international conference on Shakespeare
is also held by the society at Rhodes every three
years. We have extended our activities to include
an annual outreach project to local schools which
still include Shakespeare in their curricula, said
Chairman of the Grahamstown branch Lynette
Paterson. Te project aims to highlight the im-
portance of preserving interest in Shakespeare in
other institutions.
Perhaps the most long-lived of the societys
traditions within Grahamstown is the public
readings of Shakespeares works. Over the past
decade or so our reading group has read the en-
tire canon, and were just at the point where were
starting over again, Paterson explained.
Classics Masters student Philippa Evans has
participated in many of these readings, which
occur once or twice a term. I have had the
pleasure of playing Ophelia on two occasions,
Cleopatra, and assorted witches and crazy
women, she said. Te part of Hamlet has also
been read numerous times before once by a
well-known theatre practitioner and part-time
lecturer at the Drama department so there
is clearly interest from beyond the English
departments corridors.
I wish more people knew about these read-
ings and would participate. People are always
pleasantly surprised at how much fun we have
[expressing these characters], Evans added.
Students interested in Shakespeares works
can also beneft from these readings. I would
encourage more student involvement as being
benefcial to all concerned, especially as the read-
ings have recently been focusing on plays taught
as part of the departments curriculum, said Dr
Jamie McGregor of the English Department. A
selection of Shakespeares histories, which are
currently part of the English Honours course, will
be tackled by the society this year, beginning with
Richard II on 10 April.
In line with many similar Shakespeare initia-
tives across the world, the purpose of the society
has always been to take the understanding and
appreciation of Shakespeare beyond the acad-
emy so that it enriches the lives of those who are
interested in the worlds frst globalising artist,
explained Honorary Life President of the society
Professor Laurence Wright.
Te society collaborated with the Institute for
the Study of English in Africa (ISEA) to organise
Shakespeare Day for learners which took place
on 28 March. Tis project has enjoyed gener-
ous sponsorship from several local businesses,
drawing them into our diverse circle of friends,
commented Paterson.
A celebratory dinner for society members will
also be held on 22 and 23 April where Wright will
be giving the annual Shakespeare Memorial Lec-
ture in Eden Grove Blue. Te title of the lecture
is Too much i the sun: Hamlet and the form of
the Humanities.
William Shakespeare lives on after 450 years
Arts & Entertainment
Matthew Field
U
bom! Eastern Cape Drama
Company is gearing up to
present a new show for the
people of Grahamstown. Te Wangai
is an adaption of Dr Seuss novel Te
Lorax, only this time with a unique
South African spin. What makes Te
Wangai special is that Ubom! has
enlisted the help of Rhodes Honours
students in marketing and managing
the production.
[Te Wangai] was originally
produced by Ubom! as Te Lorax, said
Megan Wright, one of the students
recruited by the production company.
Although the name of the produc-
tion is a play on the name of Wangari
Maathai, a prominent political and
environmental activist from Kenya, the
new show will take place in a South
African setting. It will also absolutely
[have] an Eastern Cape point of refer-
ence, according to Rhodes Drama
lecturer and director of Te Wangai,
Andrew Buckland.
Te story concerns this young ad-
venturer who leaves his home to seek
his fortune, explained Buckland. In
his travels, he comes across this fan-
tastic landscape full of amazing plants
and animals. Unfortunately, hes still
caught up in the capitalist, consumer-
ist view of the world that you have to
make something to be successful.
Tis attitude puts the hero at odds
with the local community and he ends
up accidentally destroying the natural
world around him. His actions cause
one guy to take a stand, resulting in
everyone in the community joining
forces to protect their environment.
Te Wangai is aimed mainly at
school children. Honours student
Ryan Napier said, Its not simply
about teaching an important mes-
sage. Its about bringing children from
all backgrounds into theatre. Tose
involved are hoping to use the play to
encourage young children to get in-
volved in theatre and hopefully choose
to follow it as a career later in life.
When asked what inspired the play,
Buckland said, We [Buckland and
wife Janet] both love the story and the
fact that it has appeal for both kids and
adults. He was also drawn to the fact
that the storys message was clear and
identifable.
Honours student Kamogelo Molo-
bye described Te Wangai as staying
true to Ubom! and its past style. Its
defnitely high-energy and fantastical,
added fellow student Pereko Makgothi.
Teres going to be lots of music, sing-
ing and dancing.
Wright and Molobye together with
fellow Honours students Ryan Napier,
Benita Swanepoel, Pereko Makgothi,
Matthieu Maralack and Sandi
Dlangalala were recruited by Ubom!
this year to help with the marketing
and management of Te Wangai and
other projects in the near future.
By doing this work for the produc-
tion company, the students not only
make a valuable contribution to a
respected organisation but also gain
frst-hand experience at running and
managing a full-scale drama produc-
tion. Its very collaborative, said
Wright. Its a case of We scratch their
back, they scratch ours.
Another important feature of the
production will be its use of local tal-
ent. Buckland said that Ubom! used
local performers who have been train-
ing with the production company for
the last few years.
Te entire cast of Te Wangai will be
made up of community artists sourced
from around Grahamstown. Te aim
of this initiative is to encourage greater
interaction between members of the
local community and to support local
artists.
Although it is a cautionary tale,
the work is created to be accessed and
enjoyed by children and adults from
the wide range of cultural backgrounds
which the Eastern Cape is home to,
wrote Buckland in the ofcial press
release.
Te Wangai will be performed
from 14 17 April in the Rhodes Box
Teatre.
Ubom! aims to teach ecological awareness
The theatrical thrill of tragedy
Nandi Majola and Serena Paver
Classics and Drama Honours student Kelsey
Stewart will be taking her passion for Greek
Tragedy to the stage in her directorial debut of
Agamemnon by Steven Berkof.
Stewarts Agamemnon tells the story of two
brothers, Tyestes and Atreus, who rule over
ancient Argos together. Not all is well in the
kingdom, however, and Tyestes has an afair
with Atreus wife. Atreus then seeks revenge and
murders Tyestes three children.
A generation later, tragedy once again looms
on the horizon of the kingdom of Argos, now
under the rule of Agamemnon. Agamemnon, the
son of Atreus, has to bear the burden of the curse
that Tyestes placed on Atreuss bloodline afer
the murder of his children - a curse that brings
terrible tragedy into Agamemnons life. You will
have to watch the play to fnd out who it is that
seals his fate in the end.
In Stewarts rendition of the play, Wilhelm
Schumann plays the role of Agamemnon and
Amy Annear plays Clytemnestra, Agamemnons
wife.
Te other six members of the cast form part
of the chorus, a key element in Berkovian Greek
Teatre. In addition to this traditional element,
Agamemnon also incorporates the more modern
elements of physical theatre and multimedia.
For her directorial feat, Stewart was infuenced
by the physical theatre style that the Rhodes
University Drama Department specializes in as
well as the flms Cloud Atlas (2012) and Perfume
(2006). Te plays of Tony Harrison, a proponent
of Greek Tragedy in modern theatre, were also a
source of inspiration.
Te audience can expect an exciting, fast-
paced visual spectacle, an eerie and unusual
soundscape, and, of course, a classic Greek tragic
plot: lots of action, suspense anddramatic cli-
max, said Stewart. Most of all I would like them
to be entertained and unsettled.
Another Honours piece on the programme
Last Taped Rockaby, is directed and constructed
by Megan Wright and stars Ananda Paver and
Gerhard De Lange.
Tis piece is a union of two plays created by
absurdist playwright Samuel Beckett. Te meet-
ing of these two scripts is intended to pay homage
to nostalgia: dealing with memory and loss as it
investigates the lonely bitterness of becoming old.
Integrating spoken text with recorded
voice-overs and making use of twisted sound and
lighting efects, Last Taped Rockaby produces the
alienation and anti-theatre essential in absurdist
theatre. Tis disturbing piece takes a look at the
dark side of the senile, wasting mind.
It follows 69-year-old Krapp who obsessively
replays past memories recorded on an antique
tape player. He is the son of an immobile mother
who rocks back and forth upstage, lamenting
from her seat of decay.
When questioned about her unique vision of
the show, Wright said, I saw the absolute neces-
sity to marry [the scripts]. Te characters shared
the same pain, the same space of consciousness
and I needed to tell their stories together. Wright
also explained that she has been enthralled by
the process, speaking of her growth and inspira-
tion as a director. Im excited to unlock the vivid
imagination I already love to indulge.
Te show is inspired, charged and creative,
agreed Paver. It has been great working with
Megan as a director. Absurd theatre is very in-
teresting to explore and I feel that it will speak to
any audience member, seasoned theatre-goer or
frst time attender.
[Te creation process] has been fun but chal-
lenging, said De Lange. Beckett is very particu-
lar about every pause and silence. It is a daunting
task to fnd the Beckett-ness of it all, he added.
Come watch the Last Taped Rockaby and
discover this Beckett-ness for yourself.
Tragedy and absurdism take centre stage

Two Drama Honours students will be showcasing their non-real plays this Wednesday at 19:00 in the Rhodes Drama Box Theatre. The Last Taped
Rockaby directed by Megan Grace Wright, and Agamemnon directed by Kelsey Stewart, will unveil to audiences the darker side of theatre.
Ubom! has enlisted the help of Rhodes drama Honours students in their latest production. Photo: ALEXA SEDGWICK
Absurdism hits the theatre
Most of all I would
like them to be
entertained and
unsettled
- Kelsey Stewart
Honours students are gearing up to explore absurdity and tragedy in their productions this
Wednesday. Photo: SARAH WARD
In line with many similar Shakespeare initia-
tives across the world, the purpose of the society
has always been to take the understanding and
appreciation of Shakespeare beyond the acad-
emy so that it enriches the lives of those who are
interested in the worlds frst globalising artist,
explained Honorary Life President of the society
Professor Laurence Wright.
Te society collaborated with the Institute for
the Study of English in Africa (ISEA) to organise
Shakespeare Day for learners which took place
on 28 March. Tis project has enjoyed gener-
ous sponsorship from several local businesses,
drawing them into our diverse circle of friends,
commented Paterson.
A celebratory dinner for society members will
also be held on 22 and 23 April where Wright will
be giving the annual Shakespeare Memorial Lec-
ture in Eden Grove Blue. Te title of the lecture
is Too much i the sun: Hamlet and the form of
the Humanities.
William Shakespeare lives on after 450 years
Environment
Mikaela Erskog
W
hile most student activists recognise change
as something that manifests most obviously
in banner waving and mass protest, a handful
of students are demonstrating a more direct activism by
meeting every other week to clean up the dam at Tunnels.
Te Facebook group Clearing out the Tunnels dam was
not a once-of project for the beneft of the participants
at Tunnel Vision Fest. It is a group of people interested in
maintaining the health of the natural landscape.
Rhodes fourth-year Fine Art student Sarah Mitchell
started this initiative afer she visited the dam and saw that
Kariba weed (Salvinia molesta), an invasive aquatic plant
species, was covering most of its surface. Tis plant has
been killing all the life in the dam all the fsh and the
plants, Mitchell said.
Mitchell mentioned that she initially got very little sup-
port from fellow students. However, some students have
now shown serious interest in the project and a group of
them, still no more than ten at a time, now meet at least
once a week to clear Kariba weed out of the dam. First-year
Galad Smith is one of those students. It has been an op-
portunity to do something, said Smith, to use your energy
and express yourself in a constructive way. With increased
support and commitment from students, Mitchell realised
that, if you go every day and make it a real thing, change
can happen.
However, when it comes down to the fner details, micro-
activism of this kind does have its limits. Invasive plant
species like Kariba weed are highly resilient and difcult
to eradicate entirely. Whats so tricky about it is that it
duplicates, remarked Mitchell. You may clear half of the
dam and then in the next couple of weeks, if you dont carry
on clearing it, it will double itself which sometimes makes it
feel like a losing battle.
Masters student Zolile Maseko, who has been working in
the Biological Control Research Unit, said that a limitation
of manual clearing such as that done by Mitchell is that it
can result in small particles of the plant being broken of
into the water. Tis means that particles of the plant will
remain in the contaminated area and duplicate further.
PhD candidate in Etymology Philip Weyl added that
while manual removal of invasive plant species can be ben-
efcial, the proper disposal of an invasive plant is essential.
In the case of Kariba weed, if a miniscule amount of the
weed gets into contact with a sustained body of water, it will
rapidly multiply and invade that particular area and any
areas linked to it.
Te initiative of those few people clearing out the Tunnels
dam speaks to a more immediate activism that is not con-
fned by institutional procedure. Tis sort of activism may
be a slow and quiet involvement, but it embodies proactive
intent that can change the very landscape that surrounds
us. Yet one should never underestimate the usefulness and
value of the more formal structures already in place. Con-
sulting experts on the best course of action moves towards a
more rigorous, efective and responsible activism.
Working towards a real ACTIVism
Mikaela Erskog
In the wake of the Global March for
Lions held on 15 March and the light
it shed on the problematic practices
of hunting, it is worth remembering
that there is more than one perspec-
tive on such a contentious issue.
Some believe that hunting has its
place in society as a conservation
tool, a commercial practice or even
as a recreational activity, while oth-
ers consider it criminal. Te latter
opinion has ofen been the dominant
public perception. Before one can
condemn the practice of hunting
altogether, one should look at its
broader functions and benefts.
Nelson Mandela Metropolitan Uni-
versity (NMMU) game reserve man-
agement student David Melrose com-
mented that hunting actually enables
conservation of certain animal species.
Unfortunately, in this world, people
associate most things with money,
he said. So if there is no [monetary]
value behind the animal, it is not really
looked afer. But with hunting, it gives
value to certain animals.
Melrose continued by explaining
that animals are given value through
investment in breeding and arguing
that the demand driven by trophy
hunting leads to the purchasing of
game reserves and animals. Hunting
therefore contributes towards the con-
servation of animals and their natural
habitat. He pointed to the example of
the sable antelope, which he believes
was largely saved from extinction
through the increased breeding and
habitat protection that was created by
demand from hunters.
Managing Director of Greenfre
Tourism and Chairman of Balule
Nature Reserve Andrew Dott also con-
siders hunting to be a useful source of
conservation, as well as income. Dott
explained that game reserves incur
expenses from maintaining infrastruc-
ture and security which cannot be fully
covered by the income generated from
sightseeing tourism. As such, hunting
is a popular option for maintaining
game reserves and Dott sees hunting
as a business venture that supports a
community of humans and animals
alike. Provided that it is done intel-
lectually, integrally and scientifcally, it
is sustainable, he explained.
Dott believes that the efcient main-
tenance of game reserves simultane-
ously protects both its animal inhabit-
ants and their natural environment.
However, an area of concern which has
the potential to solicit unsound hunt-
ing practices is the realm of regulation.
Rhodes University Zoology lecturer
Dan Parker explained that private
game owners are not legally required
to give back to the conservation
projects, other than through the pay-
ment of hunting permits. Dott added
to this, stating that self-regulation by
game managers is fundamental to the
sustainability of hunting. Trough
analytical research, the game reserve
can employ sustainable hunting by
knowing the environmental statistics
on species counts, territorial climate,
predicted natural breeding patterns
and other pertinent facts. Tis allows
for the natural integrity of the animals
and habitats to go unharmed by
hunting practices.
Dott explained that such princi-
pled hunting should not interrupt the
natural biological structures within
the environment. Tere is an absolute
ethic that one needs to approach the
whole issue from, he said, and that
is why the word sustainability comes
into play, because whatever action you
take has got to be sustainable in the
long run. It cant damage a species
it cant damage a pride structure [or
animal collective].
Whilst explaining the legislation
of hunting in South Africa, Parker
pointed to the fact that South African
citizens can own wild animals private-
ly, in comparison to countries like the
United States where wild animals are
owned by the state. Private ownership
ofen means less external regulation
as the government does not have the
capacity to regularly monitor all events
in all the game reserves in South
Africa. Parker commented: Perhaps it
is because the animal is on [the game
reserve owners] land and it is much
more difcult to inspect them, that
those grey areas tend to crop up.
Because of the way animals belong
to the owner of the property, Parker
continued, I think that does lend itself
to all sorts of situations. But having
said that, we have got pretty good laws
against canned lion hunting in South
Africa compared to elsewhere. It just
seems that people tend to disregard
those regulations.
According to the arguments pre-
sented above, if hunting was banned
tomorrow, it is almost certain that the
ban would have a negative impact on
the environment and commerce. Mil-
lions of rands would be lost and many
other species would perish from the
subsequent lack of control over erosive
tenants, such as habitat destruction
due to the overgrazing of overbred
antelope herds.
Although hunting is not inherently
bad, it does require rigorous regula-
tions and continual exploration of the
ethical parameters. Tere needs to
be a distinction between areas where
incentive-driven hunting contributes
positively and negatively to conserva-
tionist goals. Legislators, hunters and
conservationists alike need to seriously
engage with the laws that enable sus-
tainable hunting.
Is hunting here to stay?
A handful of students take the initiative by cleaning the Kariba weed out of the Tunnels dam. Photo:
SARAH MITCHELL

If you go everyday and
make it a real thing,
change can happen

- Sarah Mitchell, founder of the
Tunnels dam cleaning initiative
If hunting
was banned
tomorrow, its
almost certain
that the ban
would have
a negative
impact on the
environment
and commerce
Elisa Edmondson
On 29 March, people were encouraged to celebrate Earth
Hour by turning of all their energy-consuming devices
between 20:30 and 21:30. Te overarching message was
that humankind needs to reduce their high energy con-
sumption.
In order to identify ways in which Earth Hours message
could be practically and sustainably applied in our daily
lives, this question was posed to some members of the com-
munity: How can we embody the ideals of Earth Hour on a
day-to-day basis?
Switch of your geysers. Remind people that its important
to live sustainably. Peter DeLacy, Masters student,
Environmental Science
Environment
Luke Cadden
K
itchen waste can accumulate quickly and excessively, with most of
the waste simply becoming fodder for the bin. Te truth is, you
may not be aware of the intrinsic value your cooking scraps can have
on your garden and your pocket. Instead of buying someone elses lefovers,
homemade compost is a great way of reducing your own household waste
and disposing of organic matter appropriately.
Here is how you can make your own compost:
Construct a large wooden box, fenced cylinder or get an old bin with holes
in it in order to store the compost. Te size of the container should be around
2m x 1m and it should be positioned on an elevated surface (preferably made
out of wood if you use a wooden box). It is useful to have a stick in it to aerate
the compost once it has fermented over a longer period of time.
Te key to successful compost is efective layers. Layer the bottom of the
compost box with newspaper (but not magazine or colour print/glossy fnish
pages) as well as lawn trimmings, dry leaves, small sticks, and wood chips
and compact this all with a rake. Place used cofee granules, carrot and potato
peelings as well as egg shells that are not boiled in the next layer. Most other
organic matter can also be put in this layer, but citrus fruits must not be used.
To repeat the process, add another layer of newspaper and lawn trimmings
followed by more kitchen lefovers. Te top layer should have dry leaves and/
or lawn trimmings. Once the compost box is at capacity, it is vital that the up-
permost layer is lef to ferment for at least three months. To start the fermenta-
tion and whilst the fermentation process is occurring, pack the contents within
the box with a garden rake or shovel and water it occasionally to add moisture
to the mix.
Compounding waste with compost
Lauren Buckle
In a number of recent environmental
campaigns, music has played a cen-
tral role in ensuring that the protests
stand out so that their personal
battles become public concerns. Both
the Global March for Lions and the
Rhodes Earth Hour followed this
increasingly popular trend and used
music to attract more attention to
their cause.
Nathi Mzileni, organiser of the
Earth Hour event held at Rhodes on
29 March, incorporated music into the
Earth Hour campaign to encourage
students to protect their planet. Music
allows people to come together and to
protect the one thing that we all share,
our planet, remarked Mzileni. He also
feels that the use of music at the Earth
Hour gathering drew more people
towards the campaign efort at large.
Music also drew people to the
Global March for Lions, held on 15
March. Animal rights activist Harry
Owen commented, Apart from draw-
ing attention to the [lion] march itself,
it seemed to me that the drumming
applied a kind of breathing, a heart-
beat, to the demonstration.
Tis was a living thing. People felt,
rather than thought, the power of the
cause.
Te campaign seemed to focus on
music to communicate the serious-
ness of the cause and its goals. Ofcial
songs were created for the march, but
there were also many participants
who added their informal chants and
drumbeats to the campaign.
Julie Lines, founder of Voice of the
Animals and co-founder of Awakening
to Animals International Conference,
and singer and songwriter David Cha-
beaux, created the song Lionhearts
for the march. Music is a universal
human language that resonates with
us all on a deep level, commented
Chabeaux. As such, it has the power
to unite and bind us in this world of
so much separation, to galvanise us
towards positive change.
German singer and songwriter
Anouschka Pearlman actively
promotes nature conservation and
environmental awareness through her
music. Her song Dying to be Free was
played on South African radio stations
to garner support in the weeks leading
up to Global March for Lions. Te lyr-
ics in the song are based on Dying to be
Free by Gareth Patterson, an expos on
the canned lion hunting industry.
On a more informal level, Chair-
person of African Drum Society and
activist Kestrel Raik as well as fellow
activist Emma Tompson brought
their bongo drums to the lion march
to generate interest for both the
participants and the onlookers. Te
music gives us a sense of connection
to the protest, explained Tompson,
showing how protest songs can appeal
to peoples feelings and unite a crowd
under a single cause.
Pearlman echoed this sentiment:
A song goes straight to the heart and
bypasses all our flters which would
otherwise stop us from engaging.
Music as a means of communication
for a campaign has great mobility as
it allows the message to travel beyond
the bounds of the protest.
Te songs of the Global March for
Lions exhibited a means by which
people could better hear the voice of
an ofen distant cause.
Music enables the awareness of a
campaign to sink in at the level of the
individual as well as the community.
Te Rhodes Earth Hour not only paid
homage to the planet, but encouraged
mass participation and community
action that unites us all in a collective
environmental consciousness.
Music for the march
Illustration: AMY SLATEM
Applying Earth Hour beyond the blackout
Rhodes encourages going beyond Earth Hour to become conscious consumers. Photo: GABRIELLA FREGONA
Simplify your life as much as possible reduce, re-use,
recycle.Tat basically sums up my philosophy!
Eileen Shepherd, Science and Pharmacy Principal
Faculty Services Librarian
Research the numbers and the costs and then use this to
consciously think about the power you are wasting. Imagine
what could be saved if everyone switched of appliances
not in use. Dont feel shy aboutreminding your digs mates,
friends and family to do so. Soon you will not be able
to leave a room without switching of frst. Professor
Sheona Shackleton, Head of Department, Environmental
Science
Reduce your carbon footprint by purchasing recycled
clothing. Whats not sold at our shop goes to the hospice
shop so a worthwhile charity benefts too. Nothing is
wasted! Di Westcott, owner of Te Nearly New Shop,
a second hand clothing store
Use rain water tanks, plant indigenous plants in your
garden, use vehicles as little as possible, recycle, and
buy local foods. Professor Ian Meiklejohn, Head of
Geography Department
Before you throw something away, see if it can be used
for something else. Use what youve got. Less is more.
Tracy Jefery, Owner of Kisma & Co., handmade
gifs and art store
We need to pay closer attention to what we do,
think about the consequences of our actions, and
make changes where we can. In terms of energy
consumption, avoid over-use switch of when
you dont need it and use smarter technology
wherever possible. Nikki Khly, Safety, Health and
Environmental Ofcer
Consider the role you can play. If you use less energy, if
you recycle, if you plant a veggie garden whatever you do,
it will make a diference. Karabo Chadzingwa, Masters
student, Environmental Science
Conserve water. We live in a town where there are always
water shortages.Use a cup and fll it with water and use only
that water when brushing your teeth. When showering, turn
of the water when soaping yourself and turn it back on to
rinse. Ruwa Nhamoinesu, Environmental Representa-
tive, Dingemans Residence
Use eco-friendly bulbs whenever possible. Be conscious
of daily light use. Keeping the lights of can prevent
structural fres as well. Leanne McKrill, Masters student,
Environmental Learning Research Centre
Sports
Kimara Singh
Rhodes Universitys soccer teams have started play-
ing their annual league games, which extend into the
third term. Both the mens and womens teams aim to be
consistent against strong opposition, with the hope of
qualifying for next years University Sports South Africa
(USSA) soccer tournaments.
Te frst round of league fxtures took place on Sunday 23
March. Te men lost their frst match against Walter Sisulu
University (WSU) Ibika 2-0, but bagged three points by
default as a result of WSU NMD not pitching for the second
fxture. Mens team captain Artwell Marazani said, We will
look to improve on our performances next time by execut-
ing all the chances we receive.
Te womens team was also awarded three default points
when their only game was cancelled due to their opposition,
WSU not registering for the league in time. Womens team
coach Brynmor Heemro said that it is difcult to focus on
improvements when they didnt get the opportunity to test
themselves in a match situation and that they could have
used the early opportunity to gauge how well their pre-
season training has gone.
However, Heemro has great faith in the team. I have high
hopes for us qualifying for USSA but it is important that we
take it one game at a time. During practice the girls have
improved immensely; passes are sharper and confdence
is building. Tey are humble and teachable and these two
qualities will make them amazing footballers and will keep
our prospects alive throughout the league campaign.
Rhodes mens coach Samkelo Papu added, Our goal as
Rhodes Soccer is to play in competitive, organised and well-
structured football leagues and our focus is to fnish in the
top three at the end of the season to qualify for USSA soc-
cer. Like Heemro, he stated that he enjoys working with the
players and believes that his team is improving day by day.
Te Rhodes soccer teams need to build on their good
work during the of-season - the men in particular have
changes to make afer their loss in the frst round of fxtures.
However, positivity and determination are essential in
reaching sporting goals and the soccer teams hope to take
courage from other sporting codes that have made it into
past USSA tournaments.
Qualifying for the USSA soccer tournaments would be a
huge boost for Rhodes soccer as a whole and the league has
the potential to become a positive stepping stone for both
soccer teams, provided that they play well and qualify for
USSA by the end of the season.
RU soccer teams aim to qualify for USSA tournaments
A well-shaped column:
calisthenics vs gym
Timothy Collier
We take it for granted that almost everyone goes to the gym to exercise
and ofen forget that before gyms existed people relied on little more than
their own bodies to achieve incredible ftness results. Calisthenics is an
alternative method of exercise which is based on this pre-gym style of
training. It involves performing sets of simple but efective exercises that
can be done anywhere. When used correctly, it can yield excellent results.
It is not a new concept or way of training. In fact, it has been around for
centuries. Although ofen sold as a sofer form of training, it is far from easy
and involves a range of exercises such as push-ups, sit-ups, burpees, pull ups,
dips and the signature move the
human fag. Te core of calisthenics
lies in the exclusion of equipment
from training, which is a popular idea
with 5th Dan kickboxing instructor
Shihan Shaun Rmer. I prefer to train
without weights so I think it is a viable
alternative, he said.
Hit Richards, President and founder
of Calisthenics Kingz, also praises this
style of exercise, I think calisthenics
is the best viable alternative to gym
training, he said. One of the main reasons is because it can be done any-
where, at any time and you specifcally dont need any equipment. Richards
went on to say that he prefers calisthenics training due to the fact that it
helps to build better functional strength, increases fexibility and endurance,
and sharpens both balance and coordination skills. According to Richards,
training in this way leaves one less prone to injuries.
Another option, especially for those who are concerned about retain-
ing muscle mass, is to combine calisthenics and weight training. Qualifed
personal trainer Brandon Redman says that the advantage of this is that
you are able to achieve a more athletic build, rather than that bulky, heavy
look. You will also be able to mix up your workout routine, because train-
ing solely in the gym tends to get monotonous. Te choice comes down to
the specifc individuals training needs, but calisthenics does seem to ofer a
dynamic alternative to weight training.
Hit Richards of Calisthenics Kingz successfully represents the human fag.
Photo: SUPPLIED
Calisthenics
is the best
viable
alternative to
gym training.
Douglas Smith
L
ast month the South African
u18 fve-a-side hockey team
qualifed for the 2014 Summer
Youth Olympics which are to take
place in Nanjing, China from 16-28
August. Rhodes Universitys very
own Cody van Wyk was part of the
nine-man squad which conquered all
opposition at the African qualifca-
tion round in Zambia.
Van Wyk has represented Eastern
Province hockey since he was 13 years
old. Tis year he became one of the
frst students to come to Rhodes on
a hockey scholarship. Te University
has placed an emphasis on the sport
since the mens frst team qualifed to
compete in this years inaugural Varsity
Cup hockey tournament. His selec-
tion for the national fve-a-side team
was announced in December 2013
and since then van Wyk has made a
smooth transition to the shorter for-
mat of the game.
Te fve-a-side format was created
to make the game even faster and more
exciting, much the same as sevens has
done for rugby. Each team consists of a
goalkeeper, two defenders, two attack-
ers, and rolling substitutes. Te turf is
surrounded by low boards to keep the
ball from going out of play, so players
hardly get to take a breath during the
game. Teir only relief comes in the
two minute breaks between each of the
three 12-minute chukkas.
During the qualifcation rounds,
the South Africans managed to fend
of some strong opposition despite
being down by a player in most of their
matches. Its really tough when some-
one on the team gets a yellow card,
because then you have to run twice
as hard, explained van Wyk. One of
our defenders got a card in every game
except one.
Teir 4-3 win over Kenya was a clear
example of the team defending their
precarious lead with only four players
and scraping through to the knockout
rounds.
Although they qualifed for the
Youth Olympics by defeating host na-
tion Zambia 3-1 in the fnal, the team
is still not certain of its participation
in China. South Africa will only send
one sports team from each gender to
compete and the fve-a-side hockey
team is in contention with the mens 7s
rugby and badminton teams.
Regardless of whether or not they
get the nod to compete in China, the
mens fve-a-side hockey squad will be
preparing. Van Wyk is happy with the
way his game is improving under the
Rhodes system.
Te Universitys frst team squad
has been hard at work this year with
training camps, early morning gym
sessions and video analysis sessions.
Van Wyk has found that adding weight
training to his routines has helped him
to develop his game. Ive got more
confdence compared to last year, I
would never throw overheads, he said.
He and his national teammates are
holding thumbs that they get their
well-earned chance to compete in Chi-
na against the best in the world. Until
then, he will continue to be an asset to
the Rhodes frst XI as they strive for
success in this years Varsity Cup.
Van Wyk helps SA fve-a-side
hockey qualify for Youth Olympics
Cody van Wyk (bottom right) and his national team-mates celebrate after
securing victory in Zambia. Photo: BRANDON SWART
Bikos legacy lives on
Programs with no price
Life when the
lights come on
Page 3 Page 5 Page 11
- Hit Richards
President and founder
Calisthenics Kings

The Oppidan Press Edition 3 2014

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The Oppidan Press Edition 3 2014

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The Oppidan Press

Edition 3, 1 April 2014

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