ActivateRhodes University’s

Independent Student Newspaper

Est. 1947Edition 4 , 2 June 2015

INSIDE:

Who is Mmusi

Maimane?Page 2

Grahams-town Saves

NancyPage 3

Siyanda in his own

wordsPage 4

GTown’s TuksiCab

Page 6

IVernac News

ngeelwimi zaseAfrika

Page 7

Rowing Captain’s national dreamPage 8

Cheers Siyanda!

#uLifeUnjalofriends

2 News 2 June 2015

ActivateEditor-in-Chief:

Heather Cameron

Deputy Editor:Sara Steiniger

Print Editor:Sarah Beningfield

Online Editor:Mitchell Shaun Parker

Executive Consultant:Sebastian Burger

Financial MangagerTashinga Nyahunda

Art Director:Tiger Maremela

Chief Photo Editor:Greg Roxburgh

Chief Designer:Cait Dominy

Chief Sub-editor:Nandi Pape

News Editor

Athini Majali

A&E Editor:Christina Schild

Features Editor:Mako Muzenda

Lifestyle EditorMegan Whittington

IsiXhosa Editor:Philasande Mfaba

Politics Editor:Laura Richardson

Environmental Editor:Jane Berg

Sports Editor:Nicholas McGregor

Designers:Kuvaniah Moodley

Bianca LevinSarah BeathNandi Pape

Sara Steiniger

Community Engagement :Philasande Mfaba

Contacts:Editor:

activate.editor@gmail.comDeputy Editor:

activate.deputy@gmail.com

Printed by Paarl Coldset,Port Elizabeth

Vela Mbambo

On 30 April, Advocate Robin Stransham-Ford passed on after a long struggle with cancer. However, this was not before Stransham Ford brought the question of assisted suicide back to the forefront of the South African legal sphere, applying to the Pretoria High Court for the right to have his life taken from him.

In the case, Judge Hans Fabricius granted Stransham-Ford the right to undergo assisted suicide through his doctor administering a lethal injection. The court ruled that “[t]he applicant is entitled to be assisted by a medical practitioner either by the administration of a lethal agent or by providing the applicant with the necessary lethal agent to administer himself”.

Judge Fabricius ensured that his judgment was limited in application.

He stressed that his ruling was not to set a legal precedent, and was exclusive to case of Stransham-Ford.

He asserted that others requesting the same relief would have to make a similar application. The ruling was immediately appealed by the NPA and Doctors For Life, an advocacy group which opposes the practice. Unfortunately, Stransham-Ford passed away before the ruling was granted. However, the case still highlights an issue which has received little attention by the South African judiciary.

In 1998, a report by the South African Law Reform Commission was brought before parliament. Subsequently, a so-called “End of Life Decisions” Bill was drafted, however this Bill was never officially tabled before the National Assembly, and there has been little forward movement with regard to the issue since.

For the last decade, various cases

have been launched and appeals made both for and against the legalisation of assisted suicide. A prominent example is the case of Sean Davison, founder of Dignity SA, who spent 5 months under house arrest in New Zealand after helping his mother to commit suicide. Another much cited case is that of Mario Oriani-Ambrosini, a Member of Parliament, who shot himself in his Cape Town house with his family present after suffering for years with lung cancer.

Dignity SA, who are firm proponents of assisted suicide, argue that it is an infringement of a person’s basic right to dignity to prevent them from choosing a dignified death.

Extreme illness, severe pain, hallucinations and physical deterioration are, according the advocacy group, something one should be able to opt out of.

Their website states that, “[m]any

would be relieved of that anxiety surrounding their final days if they knew that a painless and peaceful assisted death could be an option.”

On the opposite end of the spectrum stands Doctors For Life, another influential lobbyist group. Their argument is that during periods of extreme pain and using certain medications, many individuals experience side-effects of depression and wish to die; despite still having a lot to live for.

Simply put, the group believes that persons in such circumstances are rarely in the state to make such a fundamental decision. The group further argues that socio-economic factors must be taken into account. When a sickly person is in hospital, which is usually an expensive affair, he/she might feel like a burden to his family and opt to die instead of undergoing palliative care.

A change on the cards for assisted suicide in South Africa?

By Muchemwa Sinkala

After defeating party chairman Wilmot James by a significant margin, Mmusi Maimane was elected leader of the Democratic Alliance (DA) at the party’s 2015 Federal Congress in Port Elizabeth on 9 May.

The youngest and first non-white president of the DA to date, Maimane succeeds Western Cape Premier Helen Zille as the leader of South Africa’s strongest opposition party.

A married man, and father of two, Maimane was born on

6 June, 1980 in Krugersdorp, Gauteng to a Xhosa mother and a Tswana father. Maimane spent his childhood years in Soweto, where he attended Allen Glen High School, from which he matriculated in 1997.

He went on to graduate from the University of South Africa with a BA in Psychology, the University of the Witwatersrand with a Masters in Public Administration, and the University of Wales with a Masters in Theology.

Since then, Maimane has been actively involved in South African politics. In 2012, he was elected Deputy

Federal Chairperson, ahead of eight other candidates in the Democratic Alliance Federal Congress. In 2014, he became the leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly of South Africa, a position he still occupies.

Before being elected as the successor of Helen Zille, Maimane was a leader of the DA in the Johannesburg City Council, and the former DA National Spokesperson.

Through hard work and sacrifice, Maimane claims to have been able to build a successful career in business. He has worked as a business

consultant and trainer for a number of South African and international firms. In addition, Maimane has also taken an interest in community work. He currently chairs a number of NGOs focused on rural and youth development, as well as HIV and AIDS.

His community work ties into his optimistic vision for the DA.

In the DA manifesto, it is written “[o]ur dream for South Africa is of an open opportunity society in which every person is free, secure and equal, where everyone has the opportunity

to improve the quality of their life and pursue their dreams. A society in which every language and culture has equal respect and recognition”.As the youngest and first black leader of the DA, the hope is that Maimane will bring a more energetic and modern perspective to the party.

However, many remain sceptical, and are discouraged by Maimane’s age and seeming ‘black token’ status. Only time will tell if the DA’s decision to elect such a young and different leader will be beneficial.

Who is Mmusi Aloysias Maimane?

Mmusi Maimane was recently elected as the new leader of the Democratic Alliance (DA). He is the first black leader of the DA since it was founded in 2000. Maimane will be taking over leadership responsibilities from the former leader Helen Zilla. He hopes to build a unified South Africa. Pic: Sourced.

3LifestyleEdition 4

By Kayleigh Pereira and Janet Clift

On 16 May, Rhodes students were given an excuse to don feather boas and cover themselves in buckets loads of glitter as they prepared for the Mardi Gras party.

The surprise venue was an old liquor dispensary. Although it didn’t look like much from the outside, inside revealed plenty of room

to sit back with friends, as well as a crowded dancefloor. The single bar was flooded with a throng of students ready to drink, so much so that it could take up to an hour to get your bad-decision juice. Not even a power cut could hinder the gees.

You can thank EQ Events, the newest kids on the block, for the following Sunday’s hangover. Their Facebook page was set up in January of

this year, and the company is already making waves. Richard Leigh collaborated with friends Matt Whitmore and Luke Osborne, drawing on their business smarts and experience with digs parties to create a company that caters to Rhodents’ party needs. Leigh was motivated by both the satisfaction that he gets out of having students rave about his jols , as well as the personal pleasure he gets out of hosting them.

If the arranged shuttles and their quick and effective adjustment to Eskom’s inconveniences are anything to go by, the guys at EQ know what they’re doing. So far, they have already hosted four successful events.

EQ Events are keen to get the infamous O-Term started with a lumo-themed party. Keep a look out for the invite. We can expect big things from Gtown’s newest events company.

Unmasking EQ Events

The daily struggle of General Anxiety Disorder Jack Van der Merwe

“You know that feeling you get before a test? It is like that but a billion times worse.” This is how Samantha* describes what it is like to live with General Anxiety Disorder (GAD).

She is not alone.Three to eight percent of the South African population will suffer from GAD at some point in their lives. GAD can be described as constantly worrying about issues or events that in reality have no real tangible impact in your life.

Sufferers will often find it difficult to control their stress-levels, and in some cases this can get out of hand. People with GAD will often know that what they are worrying about is not a big deal in the long run, but that doesn’t

stop them from being on edge. Often times the end result of all this

concern and anxiety is a panic attack. Samantha describes having a panic attack as “constantly being in flight or fight mode. Even though you only deal with it for five to ten minutes, it can sometimes feel like hours,” she says.

A panic attack can be described as a sudden urge of anxiety that overwhelms you completely, mentally and physically. Samantha compares having a panic attack to having someone choke you. The aftermath of having an anxiety attack is almost as bad as the attack itself. “Afterwards you just feel tired and useless,” describes Samantha. While there are many problems with having GAD; Samantha describes the worst part as the fact that people will often not understand

your situation. She says teachers will often diminish the issue to just regular anxiety.

She adds that families can be insensitive to problems. She described how her own family members would not take the time to sit down and listen to what she was going through. This created a sense of isolation, which only made the anxiety worse. Having GAD shouldn’t stop you from living your life.

If Samantha’s account of GAD sounds familiar to you, pay a visit to the Counselling Centre. Don’t be ashamed to ask for help, and be sure to surround yourself with understanding people.

The name in this article has been

changed to protect the identity of the

person involved in the story.

Grahamstown saves NancyKelia Losa

On 5 May, Jorinda Gardner, a resident of Grahamstown, received a call about a dog that was hit by a car. Gardner took the dog, named Nancy, to the Frontier Vetrinary Clinic in town to get her checked out and recieved a quote for the costs of the operation that would save the dog’s life. The unfortunate alternative was euthanasia. Nancy’s owner, who is from the Cookhouse area, was devastated that she could not afford the surgery, so Gardner decided to step in.

The following day, Gardner posted this touching message on the Grahamstown Animal Network (GRAN) Facebook page:

“I know this a lot to ask maybe! This poor girl needs around R1500 to help remove her eye. She needs help urgently. Is there anyone that can help assist to pay for her medical bill?”

Later that day, Furry Funds, a Grahamstown based fundraising group, also posted a similar message attached to a heart-wrenching picture of a little brown dog with one eye, red, bulged out and distended from the accident.

Hundreds of comments were made by people either expressing their worry or wanting to donate to the account, which came to be known as the ‘Nancy Fund’.

The response to the request, to Gardner’s surprise, was stupendous. “I decided to ask, what is the worst that can happen? But I never expected all this, each and every one of you

who helped, every bit of money that has been donated, every share that has been made, every phone call we received, I can only say thank you...” she wrote in a Facebook post.

Within the hour, enough money had been raised to go ahead with Nancy’s surgery. According to Gardner, a total of R4700 was raised, with R3218 of it going towards Nancy’s medical costs.

The Frontier Veterinary Clinic performed the surgery that saved Nancy’s life, and also managed to spay her with the remainder of the funds.

Since then, there has been a constant stream of posts and comments updating Nancy’s supporters on her well-being. Gardner in particular has been keeping us all updated on Nancy during her recovery period.

Nancy stayed with Gardner until her stitches were removed. She then returned home with two warm jackets for the winter from Furry Funds, as well as a large bag of food donated by a member of the public.

Nancy’s story is a prime example of what a community can do if they stand together for something. It took one person to start the ball rolling and soon enough so many joined in to help little Nancy.

Big thanks must be given to Pick n Pay for transporting Nancy, the SPCA, Furry Funds, GRAN, the Frontier Veterinary Clinic, the public for their contributions and of course to Jorinda Gardner for helping to give Nancy a much needed second chance.

As many as one in six South Africans experience issues with anxiety, depression and substance abuse problems. In light of the coming exam period, students should be aware of the effects of GAD and the like. Pic: Greg Roxburgh.

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4 Politics 2 June 2015

On 26 May 2015, Siyanda Makhubo resigned as the President of Rhodes University’s SRC. Following his resignation, he sat down with Activate’s Editor-in-Chief, Heather Cameron, for an interview where he discussed his decision to leave, explained his personal stance on transformation issues at Rhodes, and shared his thoughts on the importance of the SRC as an institution. Pic: Mitchell Parker.

What really motivated your resignation?

I am emotionally attached to my work. Helping other people drives me and if I cannot offer that anymore, if people don’t have confidence in me, then emotionally I just shut down and obviously that affects my work. I believe in the SRC as an institution - that people come and go - I understand that I am not bigger than the SRC itself.

From the SRC I’ve grown and developed as a person so for the sake of that institution to remain as an institution and so that the next SRC can benefit from that institution as I have benefitted [I chose to leave].

I called an emergency meeting at 6pm and told them “I am the bad apple”. So I removed myself so the institution could continue.

The decision was coming. I have had two emotional break downs during Rhodes Must Fall. I consider myself a very strong person, I never thought I would have a breakdown. I’m from a very stable family: my mom and dad live under the same roof, it’s a very happy space, you know? And although you’re in a team of 14 other people in the SRC with a great advisor - Mr Ofei - and two other team members, no one understands the

position as President. It’s very lonely up there although you have these other support structures. On two separate occasions my parents had to come to Grahamstown.

I was never prepared for the position itself. Not by being academic councilor last year. No one could have thought that it would turn out this way and so the resignation was forthcoming.

I had confidence and hope that people, the student body, were supporting me so when I tweeted that then it was the final stroke for me leading up to the resignation. When I turned around and there was no one following me then it became problematic for me. Then I didn’t see myself as leader and it was fitting for me to step down.

I had a meeting with the Vice-Chancellor (VC) - a very emotional meeting too - I said to the VC it’s a very difficult position to be in in this day and age. Number one I’m black so I’m already supposed to be relating to a number of issues certain members of the student body are raising and I concur with those issues but because of the position I hold, one needs to maintain the integrity of the office and that has been difficult.

Differing ideologies on council made support for issues difficult and

this speaks to a council of liberal thought and not a council of political thought. I don’t like neutrality. I’m a ‘do’ person and I take decisions and I follow and defend those decisions. It’s not the fault of council, no one was forced - nothing in this constitution gives me the power as president to force decisions - that is an advantage and disadvantage of the SRC at RU, you know the fact that an SRC president finds himself powerless that itself has personal detrimental effects.

Individually, in my own capacity I am a Pan-Africanist which already speaks to what my stance should be on a number of issues in the University. [I] had to compromise that personal position (due to the SRC’s neutrality).

Does the SRC have the potential to affect any change because of the stance of neutrality?

I got about 1500 votes but I don’t know who those people are so it’s very difficult to gauge what the masses want and what their views and beliefs are. You need to be very careful because the last thing you want to do is upset the electorate.

However, in my days as President I have always said, because we don’t know who we’re leading, it is better

that we engage in dialogues to understand where the student body comes from and I’m very happy that we went with that route. Before, there were some councilors who felt ‘let’s put this to a vote’- but then you have to understand the moral obligations of a majoritarian vote. If we have had to take a vote right now, I’m very confident that 70% of the student body will say no to the name change. So one needs to interrogate this majoritarian route - is it really right?

We should be taking very bold and courageous decisions. Decisions that will lead a student body to think in a certain way because that’s the power we hold. And the power we hold is to influence procedures within the University. We are the largest stakeholder in the university so once you have disturbances within the largest stakeholder then you have a problem with the university.

We have the advantage to influence the student body and to open up discussions and one of the advantages of Rhodes is that we are a liberal university and we are able to convince each other of our conversations and our own experiences. We are able to listen and allow ourselves to be convinced. I’ve always been that person to say ‘let’s listen to the other side’.

I’ve been advocating for a political SRC. For it to happen, I would encourage the fellow political societies (who have issues themselves) on campus to run. Actually, I would encourage a coalition SRC. However, a political SRC also has its disadvantages, such as veto-ing within council. UCT’s SRC is an example. The SRC then becomes a huge substructure because more people are political. (Veto) does stem to slow progress.

However a political SRC is also a powerful SRC that is able to lead, take decisions, and to a certain extent, hold management to account. This is because if I am SASCO, I am able to bring Gwede here and who is Gwede, he is ANC , and who is ANC- the government. And if I’m DASO I’m able to bring the big shots of DA… EFF etc etc.

So this does help the student body to a certain extent.

Are we ready for a political SRC? I don’t think so. I would like our political groups on campus to really establish themselves, to really understand what the SRC is, and how it works, understand the politics of Rhodes University and where Rhodes is right now. We’re not ready for a political SRC right now but I am advocating for one.

From the inauguration of Rhodes University’s first black Vice-Chancellor Dr Sizwe Mabizela, to of a string of high profile resignations from Rhodes’ SRC and the upsurge of student activism amidst protests against slow transformation and issues of institutional culture on campus; the past six months have been a turbulent time for politics on Rhodes University campus.

It has been a time of change. It is arguably much needed change, and one of the largest, and most recent changes involved Siyanda Makhubo stepping down as SRC president.

On 28 May, he resigned amidst controversy surrounding a tweet he posted. Following his resignation, the now former SRC President sat down with Activate to clear the air surrounding the

controversy, discuss his time as president, provide his thoughts on the future of the SRC, and lend his insight into issues of transformation on the Rhodes campus.

While this is an exciting time for politics, it is also that time of the year when exams roll around. The Activate team wishes all students writing exams the best of luck and happy studying!

From the Editor

Siyanda in his own words...

5PoliticsEdition 4

Do you advocate the name change?

The bottom line is that the name has no place in a free and democratic South Africa.

We agree with the Black Student Movement (BSM) on these issues and it would be great if we could work together. I’ve always disagreed with the BSM on the way they do things and as President I can tell you I’ve sent about eight different emails to the BSM saying we can work together: “You’re raising the same issues as we are”.

I’ve been branded as a radical by the registrar of this University, Dr Fourie, because of the conversations we have at our meetings and the work that we do behind closed doors advocating for things, unfortunately students don’t get to see this side of the SRC and its substructures.

Groups like the BSM need to realise the power that the SRC has. The VC has come out rightly to say, and has been hinting to the BSM, that the SRC is the legitimate structure of governance.

I am obliged to listen to you as a social group as per the constitution but I am not obliged to listen to your views when it comes to the operations of the university. I can consider them but they just remain as considerations or recommendations but the legitimate structure for the students is the SRC.

We have come out to say, “look BSM

we want to listen, and most of the time we agree on things, but the only thing we disagree on is the name and how we should go about the name because we believe we are not clear on who we represent and we need to establish what the students say.”

It would be very unfair to look at the posts and look at the likes, it would be unfair to grab conversations that were had at the emergency student body meeting, we need to establish the route of the matter by understanding what the student populace wants. That has been the most important thing that the student populace has always believed in.

We (the SRC) need to be careful of the things we say to hold and keep the integrity for the University. There are things you can say as the BSM that we cannot, and if we come together to use that power then we have a revolution.

What’s happening at UCT is exactly what would happen at Rhodes but it hasn’t been catching momentum because the legitimate structure at the University is not challenging the institution. So as long as BSM does not understand the SRC as the legitimate structure - and the power they hold - then it will never catch on as a revolution. It will just be noise to the University.

Siyanda on rumoured tensions with former Vice-President Grace Moyo and former Secretary General Abigail Butcher:

There was a lot of respect between myself and Grace. I think it’s important for people running for the SRC to understand that you’re not bigger than the SRC. It’s not a popularity contest and it’s not about being liked. It’s about giving back and serving.

Grace and I understood the institution and respected the institution and took pride in the institution.

Because of that mutual understanding and respect, we put aside our differences. We did have differences on a number of issues but we sought out to work as a team and we became just that.

However with regards to Miss Butcher, we did disagree on a number of issues, rightly so: the position of Secretary General and President. You’ll remember there is the President who is the custodian of council, the image of council, representing council and speaking on behalf of council and Miss Butcher’s idea of what an SG is differed from the council, which states that the SG is more of an administrator.

In that regard there were a lot of clashes. There is a constitutional mandate that sets up the SG as spokesperson of the SRC, making the President redundant, which was one of the issues. And as someone who loves representing the SRC and engaging with the student body and personifying the SRC it became problematic. She also left on her own account. I think we both respected

each other and we are both hard workers.

What would you say to students who have become disillusioned with the string of resignations?

There is a saying in isiZulu: Inja iknonkotha ehambayo, which means a dog will never bark at a stationed car, it will always bark at a moving car. We are to welcome these resignations, and we are also to appreciate the stability of the SRC after these resignations. When people leave they leave with their energy and expertise. I can comment on Miss Butcher who was a hard worker and when she left we all thought “Oh my goodness, who is going to be the next SG?

Are they going to be as efficient as she was?” Its always comforting to see that council moves on. People have been commenting on how these reshuffles happen so mysteriously quickly and that’s because the SRC understand each others’ strengths, weaknesses, personalities and expertise. It always comforting to understand that there is continuity. We are to view these resignations as movement.

Now that you’ve resigned from the SRC, whats next for you?

There is more to me. You will be seeing more of me. It’s not over. It’s not the end of me, you’ll be surprised. It’s not the end.

I am sad that Mr President had to resign as we worked well together. I further saddened because I saw the commitment he has for student governance and student issues and thus his resignation was sad for me.

On the SRC moving forward:

Though Siya was a very good President, he’d agree when we say that the institution is greater than one man. Further, he’ll also agree that the quality of one leadership is mostly revealed when the leader is not there. Thus, the institution continues and functions and continues prioritizing student issues and championing student rights. Siyanda leaves behind him a very robust team and a very passionate team, that I am fortunate to have inherited, to continue making sure that students remain central. On knowing Siyanda

personally:

Siyanda is a great person, fun to be around and very kind. He is also diligent and has worked himself very hard. His commitment could never be questioned as he gave himself wholly to issues of student governance. Thus, I hold him in the highest regard.

...more from Siyanda

Former SRC Secretary General, Abi Butcher, former SRCPresident, Siyanda Makhubo, and former SRC Vice President, Grace Moyo, in action when they were all still in office. Pic: Ivan Blazic.

New SRC President

Zikisa Maqubela on

Siyanda’s resignation:

6 Features 2 June 2015

Kerryn Cockbain & Natalie Holman Unplanned pregnancy at any point

in life comes as a shock. However, finding out you are to become a parent while still at university is enough to make anyone think twice about entering an intimate relationship. Naturally, these events do occur, let’s be honest guys… this is university we’re talking about. Having hardly left childhood behind, finding out that you are pregnant is not only intimidating but down right daunting. This became Ntemogisang (Ntemo) Motsewabone’s reality when faced with a small pink plus sign on her pregnancy test in June last year.

Ntemo was 20 years old, and three months into the pregnancy when she made the discovery. Looking at Ntemo’s slight figure and girlish smile, it is hard to imagine that she already

has a child of her own. As her baby bump grew, Ntemo was forced to face more than just the prospect of becoming a mother, as her peers began to notice and, inevitably, stare.

“My friends made me feel comfortable; they weren’t judgemental. You’d think they were pregnant with me,” Ntemo says. It also became challenging to walk around campus, as the baby grew and inevitably got heavier. All hill dwellers know the struggle of fighting the steep slope several times daily, and Ntemo, who lives in Victoria Mxenge House, eventually gave up the idea of attending lectures and instead began a cycle of sleep and work from her room. Supported by her friends and caring residence warden, Ntemo completed her nine months and gave birth to her daughter, Esihle, in the comforts of her home in the North

Western Cape.Ntemo is not the first, nor the last,

student to become a mother during her university years. Rhodes University does provide support and care to young students facing this difficult situation. The Rhodes Pregnancy Protocol, which can be found on the Rhodes Website, explains all procedures in place, and while the university encourages the use of the various contraceptive methods available on campus, pregnancy still occurs.

While potential future mothers can stay in residence for their pregnancy, giving birth to a child in the dorms isn’t an advisable scenario. Therefore, pregnant mothers are required to leave residence in their 36th week of pregnancy. This is to ensure the safety of both the mother and the unborn child, and to make sure the mothers

are in an environment which is ready for the arrival of their little bundles of joy. The mothers can either choose to temporarily live in off-campus accommodation, or make the journey home until they give birth. Once the baby is born, the new mothers have the choice of moving permanently off-campus with their child, or to leave their baby with loved ones at home and return to residence

Fathers are given no special concession by the university, but are allowed to miss a grand total of 3 days once the baby is born. Ntemo’s boyfriend has missed a few more than that, as he decided to drop out to provide a stable source of income for his new growing family. Ntemo is happy to report that her boyfriend is very active in his Esihle’s life. This ideal situation is not always the case, as many young moms

face the difficulties of raising their children without the father’s input. And while there is nothing wrong with single motherhood, Ntemo and her boyfriend are willing to face the sacrifices of parenthood together.

Pregnancy is scary. No one can deny the initial shock and drastic change of lifestyle which follows. However having a child, although challenging, has its rewards, as Ntemo would be the first to say. “My baby is a part of me. Her presence makes me feel whole, so I feel like a part of me is missing when I don’t see her. I miss her a lot,” she says. Although Ntemo has been incredibly fortunate, it is important for everyone to remember that they are not alone, and that Rhodes will be there to guide you through the good times and the bad, through the midnight cravings and the golden glow of pregnancy.

Pregnancy at Rhodes University

Michelle Laver

Students requesting transport for those long tiring walks up and down campus now have the opportunity to try something new. All you have to do is keep a look out for a speedy yellow hero to make sure you’re safely where you need to be.

TuksiCab’s goal is to provide a safe easy way for any member of Grahamstown to travel. Even though this is a small town, it is often difficult for students to get to their destination on time. Once load shedding hits, getting home also becomes a major risk in terms of safety.

“One time, I was walking down Somerset by myself quite late at night. The gentleman that drives the tuk-tuk stopped and gave me a lift, free of charge so that I’d be safe. Absolute gem!” explained Abi Butcher, third year law student and debating coach at St Andrew’s.

The TuksiCab is the brainchild of a Rhodes Journalism lecturer. With a distinction in Photojournalism and a Masters in Fine Art under his belt, Paul Greenway, manager and owner of TuksiCabs desperately needed an alternative interest to pursue.

With his brakes set in Grahamtown, this ambitious go-getter didn’t need to travel far as the opportunity to do something different soon rolled in.

After launching TuksiCabs in 2013, complications within the licencing system soon forced an emergency hand-brake. “Taxi operating licences would take eight to nine months to be issued. It is an incredibly complicated process that took us three years,” explained Greenway.

The painfully long process didn’t stop Greenway, but motivated him to work harder in order to reach the fast-lane. “My aim was to create a simple efficiency that students would love to go on in order to fulfil a need,” said

GreenwayAfter zooming around the world,

these three-wheeled motorised tuk-tuks are now being distributed around Africa, offering a great opportunity for suppliers to give their community a unique travel experience.

Knowing that communities would have a strong market for public service, a puncture soon arose as suppliers around South Africa pumped up the prices.

With Grahasmtown’s wide set up of buildings being a headache for students, postgraduates and the surrounding local community, an easy cheap and efficient transport system needed to be implemented. With a new opportunity under his fingertips, Greenway was introduced to his three-wheeled option.

“They are the best. So much fun, and are actually quite speedy…well, faster than walking,” explained Nicole Le Grange, a postgrad student.

Now, with a fully licenced taxi operating permit in hand, the business has re-opened and is rearing to go. “We are the first fully legal tuk-tuk company in the Eastern Cape,” said Greenway.

With endless practical benefits of travelling in a tuk-tuk, these low maintenance vehicles not only offer a great experience with friendly and reliable service, but have a positive impact on the environment.

Carrying a load only takes up to 30-32 km/l of fuel, so as far as being economical and environmentally friendly, they are extremely beneficial. Plans to improve the experience even more are underway, as Greenway is hoping to extend for a 24 hour service.

Ensuring that the three paralleled seats behind are filled every day of the week from 10:00 am - 2:00 pm and on weekends except for Sunday, these hop-on-hop-off short distance taxi rides are just a phone call away.

Three wheeled bug gets third time lucky

Agrippa Kurambiwa is a driver of one of the first Tuksi Cabs in Grahamstown. Pic: 3P Photography.

7isiXhosaEdition 4

By Philasande Mfaba

Udliwano-ndlebe phakathi komhleli weVernac News uTaariq Amod(TA) kunye nombhali uPhilasande Mfaba(PM). iVernac News liphepha-ndaba elisekwe ngabafundi base yunivesithi yaseKapa, eli pheli lingeelwimi ezininzi ingakumbi iilwimi zase-Afrika.

PM: Le projekthi uyiqale nini, njani. Yintoni ekukhuthaze ukuba uyiqale?

TA: Icebo leli phulo laqala ekuqaleni kuka-2014, kumaxesha apho kwakuvuka khona i-Independence News kunye namajelo osasazo. Ndiqaphele ukuba esinye sesihloko esivele kwi-independent, iphepha eliqhuba KZN elibizwa ngokuba yisolezwe senza kakuhle kakhulu xa sithelekiswa nezihloko zesiNgesi kwiinginqi zaseKZN. Kwelinye icala, e-UCT bekunendaba enkulu apho bekuphikiswa into yokuba i-UCT yiyunivesithi ye-Afropolitan. Le ngxoko ike yavezwa kwiphephandaba leyunivesithi phantsi kwesihloko esithi: “What is Africa about UCT?”

Ngoko ke ndiqaphele ukuba iphepha leelwimi zesiNtu liphumelela kakuhle apho kuxhaphake khona amajelo osasazo aveliswe ngesiNgesi kwiindawo esizifumana kuzo, kwaye ndithe xa ndijonga le ngxaki inkulu kangaka yase-UCT, ndacinga ukuba kutheni ndingaqali into ezakujongana nale ngxaki? Kutheni ndingasebenzisi iphephandaba elinemihlathi ebhalwe ngeelwimi zesiNtu ukuze

ndikwazi ukuvelisa i-identity yaseAfrika kunye namasiko ayo ngokusebenzisa ulwimi, kodwa okubaluleke kakhulu kukunika i-UCT ilizwi labantu abamnyama, ilizwi elisathule nanamhlanje kweli lizwe liphela. Kunyaka ophelileyo ndiqokelele iingcukuacha ezithe zakwazi ukuvelisa izidingo okanye umdla kumaphephandaba alolu hlobo. Emva koko ndicele uncedo kwiSRC ngezinto eziphathelene nemali kunye nezinye izixhobo ezifunekayo. Yonke le nto yenzeka ngeli xesha sizamana nokugcina abafundi abangenangxaki neli phulo abazisebenzisa kakuhle iilwimi zabo zasekhaya. Kungoku ndikwazile ukugcina abafundi ababini, omnye wabo uthetha isiTswana omnye isiXhosa, bobabini babhala amanqaku, bafumane amanye kwaye bawahlele besebenzisa iilwimi zabo zasekhaya. Siqale ukupapasha ngomhla wethoba kuOckobha 2014, besisajonga ingxelo yabantu, sikwacela nezinye iilwimi, anani lamaphepha kunye nomxhelo. Kuko konke oku inyathelo lokuqala lephupho lam nge-Afrika liphumelele, ukwenza i-UCT ibe yi-Afrika, ndiyinike izwi le-Afrika.

PM: Ingabe ninalo na elibambekayo iphephandaba ngaphandle kweli silibona kwi-intanethi? Ingaba akho na amanye amaphulo ozibandakanya nawo ayame kweli le-Vernac News?

TA: IVernac News ikakhulu ikhupha amaphephandaba abambekayo, kunyaka ophelileyo sinikise ngamaphapha ayi-2500,

iphepha ngalinye liqulathe amakhasi alishumi elinesithandathu, ngeelwimi ezimbini zase-Afrika.

Ngenxa yengxelo encumisayo, sizimisele ekukhupheni amaphepha inyanga nenyanga kulo nyaka eUCT. Siyokhupha amaphepha asithandathu, amathathu ukusuka kuMatshi ukuya kuMayi, namathathu kwakhona ukusuka kuAgasti ukuyoma kuOctobha. Sinyuse inani lamaphepha ethu, ukusuka ku-2500 ukuyoma ku-4000 kuluhlu ngalinye, namanani amakhasi anyuke ayoma kumashumi amabini anesine aqulathe iindaba, izimvo, ezemidlalo, imibongo, ukutya, imfundo ngeeliwimi aseAfrika nezinye iindaba. Sandula ukuqukumbela iphepha lethu likaMayi eliqulethe iilwimi ezilishumi zaseMzantsi Afrika, kunye nezintathu zakwamanye amazwe.

Sikwafumaneka nakwi-intanethi kunye nakwi-facebook, Twitter kunye ne-instagram. Ayikabikho enye iprojethi efana nale endithe ndazibandakanya nayo. Sizama ukusebenzisa iindawo ezisemgangathweni kangangoko ukuthetha ngemiba ephathelene nephepha-ndaba.

PM: Ngeyiphi imiceli-migeni othe wahlangabezana nayo xa ubusavusa eli phephandaba?

TA: njengayo yonke into entsha, mininzi imingeni ethi ibekho. Ukwetha eli phepha kube nzima kakhulu. Iindaba ibe ligama lokuqala elithe lavela njengoko isiXhosa kululwimi lwase-Afrika lweenkobe oluthethwa kakhulu eKapa. Kodwa

ke eli gama libe neengxaki ezimbini: eli gama livakele liphakame kakhulu ukuba lingaba ligama lephepha-ndaba labafundi, kwaye belingafikeleli kumntu wonke othetha iilwimi zaseAfrika, umzekelo umntu othetha isiTswane bekengeke abe nomdla wokuthabatha iphepha elibhalwe isihloko sesiXhosa. Omnye umceli mgeni othe wabalasela kakhulu ibe kukukhetha ulwimi emasilusebenzise kuluhlu lwethu lokuqala, isiXhosa sike savela ngenxe yezizathu ezibekwe ngasentla kodwa sithe xa sijonga iyantlukwano eUCT kwacaca ukuba isiXhosa asonelanga.

Ukufumana umhleli wesiXhosa nomhleli wesiTswana kube nzima kakhulu. Isikhundla sazisiwe kubahlali base-UCT, kuba ke sibatsha singekabonwa, ndike ndanyanzeleka ukuba ndithethe nabantu endibaziyo, ndibabonise iphupho lam, kwaye ndibakhuthaze ukuba bathathe inxaxheba. Kodwa ngenxa yokuphumelela kweVernac news, abantu baqale ukusifuna isikhundla sokuba ngumhleli.

PM: Xa ubani efisa ukufaka isandla kweli phulo, ngawaphi amanyathelo amakawathabathe?

TA: Sinequbo ethi ijongane nabahleli abathi babhalele iphephandaba lethu, ibekho neyabanye ababhali abangengobahleli abathi babhale izinto ezifana namanqaku imibongo nezinye izinto. Zonke izinto ezibhalwa ngababhali abangengobahleli zithunyelwa apha: vernacnewsuct@yahoo.co.za .

IVernac News ngeelwimi zaseAfrika

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Theo Ledwaba

After six months and 82 games, we have the National Basketball Association (NBA) finals before us. 16 teams from across the United States entered the playoffs, all in search of the elusive NBA Championship. The Atlanta Hawks lead the Eastern Conference with a 60-22 win record. As impressive as the Hawks have been in the regular season, the Golden State Warriors blew all the other teams out of the water.

The Warriors lead the Western Conference with a franchise record breaking 67-15 win record.

The success of the Warriors falls largely to the 2014-2015 NBA league’s Most Valuable Player (MVP) Stephen Curry. Long range shooters,

however, are notoriously unreliable and understandably so. Shooting is a fickle mistress; the tiniest variation in a shooter’s form puts the shot off. This is hard enough without 19 000 screaming fans and a 6’8” LeBron James with his hand in your face. Despite this, Curry has managed to amass a truly spectacular record, shooting the lights out at 44.3%.

All of the fanfare and circus surrounding the Warriors and the Houston Rockets has detracted a lot from what used to be the LeBron James show.

This however doesn’t mean that James is not as big a superstar as he used to be.

In the quiet corner of the U.S. known as Cleveland, the Cavaliers have gone about their work with a silent yet

determined intensity. Despite losing James for two weeks, the Cavaliers still managed to achieve a respectable record at 53-29 wins to losses, making them the second best team in the Eastern Conference. The question on everyone’s mind, however, is whether or not James can still win with a team that has suffered injuries in key positions.

The answer is yes. James can win, because that is what he does in the face of adversity. In the 2011-2012 NBA final in a series against the Boston Celtics, James scored 45 points in a must-win game to keep the Miami Heat alive, who eventually went on to win the NBA Championship that season.

The following year brought an even tougher challenge for James in the

form of Greg Popovich, coach of the San Antonio Spurs. Popovich put into motion a plan to stop James’ reign of terror.

The plan was simple, “let him shoot.” Popovich hoped he had found a chink in the King’s armour, and for a while it seemed he had. That is until James went off in Game Seven of the finals to the tune of 37 points and 12 rebounds, shooting 10 shots from three point range and sinking five. James knows how to win, he owes his city a championship and he will not rest until they have one.

The quiet demeanour James has taken to his work is one of the many indicators of how he has matured from the boy who was always too small for the big moments, to the man who wears them like a well-tailored suit.

The return of the NBA King

Theo Ledwaba

If you were stuck on a desert island, what three things would you take?

Matt King: My family, there’s nothing without family.

If you could choose to have dinner with anyone, dead or alive, who would it be?

MK: Without being too controversial, it would have to be Jesus, I have a lot of questions about his book.

Who do you think is the best rugby player in the world right now?

MK: Julian Savea, the weight of a front rower, the skill of a fly half, and the speed of a winger.

Where does the achievement of making one of the Rhodes rugby captains this year rank among your other achievements?

MK: In the Rhodes rugby club we have a number of players that have been together for a few years now, and each one of us contribute equally to the promotion of the club, and in the supporting of new players who join us. It is an honour to serve beside these great guys who are committed to taking Rhodes to greater heights on and off the field.

Who will win Super Rugby this year?

MK: My heart says the Stormers, but my head says the Chiefs.

Who will win the Rugby World Cup in England?

MK: My heart says the Springboks, but my head says England, because they’re at home.

A lot of players have strange rituals before games. What is yours?

MK: I wouldn’t call it a ritual, but before I run out onto the field I rub Vicks Vapour Rub under my nose so that every time I inhale, its menthol.

Who is your role model and why?

MK: Ellen DeGeneres. Her motto “be kind to one another,” although it’s very simple, is something I strive to promote every day.

Rhodes, meet your first XV scrumhalf for 2015, Matt King

Christopher Hale

For a rower of his calibre, Rhodes Rowing Captain Nick Greeff started off at a relatively late age. At 16, he picked up rowing at St Johns College after his father suggested he take up the sport. Since then, he has never looked back, saying he found his passion. He went on to thrive for the school, he rowed two years in the First Eight boat, and competed in the prestigious BoatRace competition. Greeff also claimed a gold medal in the First Eight in his

senior year.After a successful, yet draining three

years of rowing at school, it wasn’t in Greeff’s interest to continue, but then he applied for a sporting bursary at Rhodes. After much discussion with past captain Tristan Wentworth, he was convinced to carry on, and he is now is in his third year at the club.

Having started out in the B crew, Greeff has taken up captaincy this season, whilst simultaneously juggling a triple major.

The student games in South Korea

this year have been one of Greeff’s dreams since he started university rowing in 2013. This dream of being able to compete at the Student Games became a reality in the first term, after his crew achieved a position at the University Sport South Africa games (USSA) in Cape Town while racing in the Blue boat, and won a sliver at the South African Championships, just behind the South African four who had previous Olympic medallist, Laurence Ndlovu, in their crew.

The crew as a whole are constantly

labelled as the underdogs, which they believe drives them to work even harder. After speaking to Greeff on where he finds the motivation to wake up at 5am day after day, he said, “[t]hat drive started at school, I always wanted to be the best, never taking the easy way out. It’s also about making my family proud.”

With such a huge opportunity in the near future, Greeff is only looking forward, saying it is in his aim to row for the U/23 South African squad, and even take a crack at the national squad.

Rowing Captain Nick Greeff’s National Dream

(From left to right) Jed Therone, Nick Greeff, Robert-Stuart Thomas and Tristan Wentworth row in the four at Misverstand Dam in 2014. Pic: Nick Dakin

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