ActivateRhodes University’s

Independent Student Newspaper

Est. 1947

INSIDE

Edition 6, 30 July 2013

Rhodes Law Clinic under fire

Page 3

SANDF in the CongoPage 5

Q & A withTaxi Violence

Page 6

Travelling through Zimbabwe

Page 8

Gathering force for water

Page 9

Student games a success for RU

Page 11 Trading LivePage 2

Editor-in-Chief:Xand Venturas

Deputy Editor:Sarisha Dhaya

Chief Copy Editor:Matthew Kynaston

Online Editor-in-chief :Megan Ellis

Webmaster:Brad de Klerk

Online Content Editor:Nina McFall

Chief Media Supervisor:Hancu Louw

Designers:Kuvaniah Moodley

Cindy ArchilliesTinika King Nuen

Chief Pics Editor:Niamh Walsh- Vorster

Assistant Pics Editor:Sibulele Mabusela

Illustrator:Katja SchreiberNews Editor:

Brenda SekgotaPolitics Editor:

Andrew BlaneBusiness Editor:

Njabulo NkosilA & E Print Editor:

David MannA & E Online Editor:

Leah SolomonLifestyle Editor:Rhea MacDonald

Environmental Editor:Jane Berg

Sports Editor:Bridgette Hall

Online Sports Editor:Ashleigh Morris

Distribution Manager:Fezekile Cokile

Editorial Consultant:Marc Davies

Contacts:Editor:

activate.editor@gmail.comDeputy Editor:

activate.deputy@gmail.comMarketing Manager & CE

Rep:Dilim Oranye

Printed by Paarlcoldset,Port Elizabeth

Activate

2 News-in-Brief 30 July 2013

Chanelle Prins

The new Smartcard Identification Documents (IDs), due to be rolled out over the coming months, are a transition from the conventional green book to a more modern card. This will make them more convenient and virtually impossible to forge. Any attempts of identity theft will be immediately detected by Home Affairs officials.

The features of the smartcard are believed to transform and secure the country’s security system. The micro-chips embedded in the card contain biometric data, which hold the personal information of individuals. An information laser is installed onto the chip, prohibiting the tampering of the smartcard.

The process of issuing the smartcards

is envisaged to be an efficient one. In comparison to the 54 days waiting period of the green book, the smartcard is estimated to take approximately three days after an application has been made.

According to Home Affairs Minister Naledi Pandor, the issuing of the smartcard should take between six to eight years to reach all South Africans and to be in full operation. The new smartcards will be granted to the elderly citizens first and then will continue to be issued according to the various age brackets.

The fee for all identification documents will remain more or less the same as those of the green book- free for all first time applicants and then a further R140 to those who wish to update their information or to replace a lost ID.

The new and improved Smartcard IDs

Chanelle Prins

A cell phone application was recently launched in the England that allows users to “anonymously hook users up with their Facebook friends”, according to their website. The “Bang With Friends” app had a successful launch and there are plans to expand it as demand increases.

The way it works is simple: requests are sent and users await a response. However, should the request be denied, then it remains anonymous – should the other participant indicate a reciprocal interest then both participants are notified by the administration of the application.

This, and other social media tools like it have caused a stir over the past

year for using apparently harmless networking as a means to find a sexual partner. Parent groups have protested against Bang With Friends, saying that their worst fears for their children have been realised.

Coupled with the fact that the app is currently only open to heterosexual users, there is bound to be controversy.

Meanwhile the app’s popularity is soaring: the creators claim to be registering five new users every minute. This can be attributed to the simple-to-use interface and ribald terms used to describe one’s availability: “Down to Bang” when waiting for a response and “Awaiting Bang” when partners have confirmed interest.

Social media sex appApps now dominate your smartphone’s screen. Pic: Jason A. Howie/FLICKR

By Matthew Kynaston

Applications for the Allan Gray Orbis Foundation Fellowship, which is available for first-year students, close on 30 August.

The Foundation was set up to develop a new generation of entrepreneurial leaders, ready and willing to contribute to South Africa’s economic future.

The Fellowship offers comprehensive financial support to those who meet its qualifying criteria. They also give

learners the opportunity to participate in a personal and entrepreneurial programme for development.

Beneficiaries are not tied to working for a specific organisation once they have completed their studies.

Sign-up for the Fellowship takes place at 13:15 – 14:00 on 31 August, in the Arts Major Building.

To find out more visit www.allangrayorbis.org, follow them on Twitter @AllanGrayOrbis or go to their Facebook page (www.facebook.com/Allangrayorbis).

Last call for applications to entrepreneurial fellowship

A member from Rhodes Housekeeping cleans the windows at Nomcweda Preprimary School in Joza on Friday 26 July. Some members from Housekeeping spent time cleaning the School. Pic: Louisa Feiter

On the cover

We’re nearing the end. Yes, I know we’re still in July, but for my team at Activate, its almost time for us to hand over the paper to the next group of passionate individuals. The problem we have at this time of year, is filling the positions that need to be filled with people who can take the organisation forward.

It is a really exciting time to get involved

with Activate. We’re streamlining our editorial process, launching a bunch of great new initiatives that the student body will become privy to in the coming weeks and starting from next year, signing up for Activate makes you eligible for our bi-termly workshops. The workshops will be one-day intensive courses on various forms of journalistic practice and will be taught by senior lecturers from the

journalism department, such as Brian Barman and Jude Mathurine.

So, if you’re a driven individual who has a flair for a certain field that could benefit Activate as a news organisation - you don’t have to be a journ student - then drop me an email at activate.editor@gmail.com and I’ll start you on your path towards making a difference at Rhodes.

For the penultimate time, I hope you enjoy the paper.

Xand VenturasEditor-In-Chief

@XandVenturas

From the Editor

3NewsEdition 6

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By Brenda Sekota

Residents who live close to the Grahamstown dumpsite complain about foul-smelling black smoke rising from the dump, which they say is a health hazard. The dumpsite is located on Cradock Road, just beyond the Grahamstown Riding Club.

For months the municipality keeps promising to fix the situation. Municipality spokesperson Mncedisi Boma visited the dumpsite in February and expressed shock at its state, saying that

illegal squatters probably started most of the fires.

“They make fires to cook there, or burn metal stuff to sell,” he said. “Sometimes the fires are caused by explosive materials, especially when it’s extremely hot.” Boma also pointed out that there is seldom any management at the site, and that some of the people who live there are looking for food or items to sell and cannot be told to leave. During his February visit, Boma said that the municipality was planning to appoint two people to manage the site: one in charge of

security and the other to oversee the running of the site.

Boma told Activate that the decision to hire two people were just ideas that were not yet constituted. He said that the municipality is thinking of recruiting the people that go to the site illegally. The municipality will ensure that other environmental management decisions that have already been implemented, such as recycling just need proper management.

However, there is a call for the problem to be solved by moving the dumpsite to a new location

and starting again. According to Municipal Communications officer Yoliswa Ramokolo, the municipality is currently looking for a new site for dump which is far removed from households.

Boma could not offer a conclusive statement on this issue, saying instead, “We are in the process of preparing a proposal for the funding to manage the site, so that it can operate to the required standards.

We have not yet come up with official decisions on how we going to address this dumpsite situation.”

Rhodes University under scrutiny for involvement in Mandela court caseBy Sinazo Nakupi

The Rhodes University Law Clinic has been blowing out fires since the Sunday Times revealed their involvement with the Mandela court case.

Mandela family members, led by Makaziwe Mandela, succeeded in ordering the reburial of the remains of Mandela’s children in Qunu. They have since laid a criminal charge of grave tampering against him.

According to the Sunday Times, however the Rhodes University Law Clinic had funded the family’s legal fees. The Rhodes Law Clinic states “providing free legal services to the indigent people of Grahamstown and surrounding areas who cannot afford to pay a legal practitioner” as one of its primary objectives.

The applicants included Mandela’s wife, Graça Machel, and at least 10 grandchildren, who are either students or involved in their own business ventures. Mandla Mandela questioned

this action since the Mandela family, with their various business ventures, does not appear indigent.

Among four family members deemed by the law clinic to be indigent and therefore deserving of aid are 22-year-old Mbuso and 20-year-old Andile, younger brothers of Mandla.

“Indigence is assessed on an individual basis and not a family or group basis. At the time of the instruction it was established that a number of the applicants were indigent… there was compliance with the means test,” the university responded.

The university defended their decision by classifying it as a case that impacts on human rights and socio-economic conditions.

“An issue involved in this matter included the tension between the role of women in traditional matters vis-a-vis women’s rights in terms of the Constitution. The view was that Mr Mandla Mandela’s approach to deciding this family matter was at the

expense of women’s voices in the family”, the university stated.

According to Dr. Saleem Badat the Rhodes University Law Clinic was aware that some members were not indigent and could afford legal representation.

“It was decided that it would be beneficial for all the applicants to be joined in one application against the respondent, an approach which is not uncommon”, he said.

The Deputy Director of the law clinic, Mr Wesley Hayes was the instructing attorney in the case.

The Mandela family had been former clients of his.

The clinic is funded by Atlantic Philanthropies, The Charles Stewart Mott Foundation, The German Development Services, The French Embassy, The Attorney’s Fidelity Fund, Rural Legal Trust, The Department of Justice and Rhodes University.

Mandla Mandela has since made it clear that he has requested a meeting with the university to clear up matters.

Dumpsite continues to create a health hazard

The Grahamstown dump site with a group of people on an Eco Bus tour (left) and people who collect recyclable materials watching the visitors. There have been complaints about the smoke coming from the dump. Pic: Niamh Walsh-Vorster

Nelson Mandela’s daughter Makaziwe Mandela and other family members were funded by the Rhodes University Law Clinic in a court case. Pic: Sourced

4 Business 30 July 2013

“President Zuma is [the only] candidate for the ANC. That’s policy. It is the ANC that contest the elections, not individual candidates. The opposition takes 90% of their time discussing us. We don’t do that”

– Gwede Mantashe, secretary general of the ANC.

Market Indicators:

By Njabulo Nkosi

Students have a tremendous impact on the economy in towns dominated by a university. Between 2008 and 2012, the average student intake at Rhodes was 7 250, while at Stellenbosch University the number was 26 928. However, 54.45% and 91.24% of students could not be accommodated by these respective universities. The average annual growth of these student intakes was 3.58% for Rhodes and 3.8% for Stellenbosch over the past five years.

The 2011 census found that the population of Stellenbosch was 155 733, which is 17.87% of the population of the entire town. The yearly intake of Rhodes students makes up 8.71% of the entire town’s population of 80 390. When measured against cities without student populations, the economic effects are seen to be more than substantial.

The South African residential market grew 3.7% from

2008 to 2012. Cape Town, which is one of the biggest beneficiaries of international house seekers, grew in residential property by 3.5% over the same period. By comparison, Grahamstown grew by 9.46% and Port Elizabeth by 6.47%, while Stellenbosch grew by 12.02%. The large difference between the two types of cities can only be attributed to the student presence. It is interesting to note that several university towns are located in areas of comparatively low economic activity – one of the reasons why Cape Town’s economy is not as affected by its students is because it is a hub of trading for South Africa.

The lack of ability of the universities in these towns to accommodate all their students drove a strong demand and rental growth. It would seem that the accommodation market is independent of the prevailing economic conditions. The performance of these markets substantiates the proper institutionalisation and packaging that can lead to listing on the JSE and give more diversity to current property counters.

Forbes lists world’s top billionaires

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Students make market impact

By Njabulo Nkosi

The annual Forbes list of the richest billionaires constantly attracts much attention and interest around the world. Some have dropped and improved in the rankings, but most are no stranger to the list. Most of those listed are advanced in age and dabble in philanthropy, which denotes two things about the rich: it takes time to amass such a high level of wealth and sometimes the super-wealthy feel the urge to give back to the world. Here are the three richest people in the world.

Rank: 1Name: Carlos Slim HeluWorth: $73 billionAge: 73Source: TelecomCountry of Citizenship: Mexico Note: Carlos Slim Helu is the world’s richest man for the fourth year in a row. He clocks in at $4 billion more than a year ago, thanks to surging stock prices at his financial arm, Grupo Financiero Inbursa, and at his Grupo Carso industrial and retail giant. Pan-Latin American mobile telecom outfit America Movil remains his most valuable holding at $36.3 billion

Rank: 2 Name: Bill GatesWorth: $67 billionAge: 57Source: MicrosoftCountry of citizenship: United States Note: Bill Gates is the world’s most generous person. He says that as long as he helps eradicate deadly diseases like polio and malaria, he doesn’t care if he’s forgotten after his death. Not that there’s any chance of that: Gates has already donated more than $28 billion. He said in his fifth annual letter for the Bill & Melinda Gates

Foundation that the total amount invested is less important than precise measures of impact, like child mortality rates. Gates has been spreading his gospel to other billionaires near and far. Such as, his good friend Warren Buffett.

Who recently added 12 non-Americans to their Giving Pledge, including the U.K.’s Richard Branson and India’s Azim Premji. This bumped the total to 105 high net worth individuals.

He also partnered with Carlos Slim to build a new $25 million agricultural research centre in Mexico.

Rank: 3 Name: Amancio OrtegaWorth: $57 billionAge: 77Source: ZaraCountry of Citizenship: Spain Note: Spain’s Amancio Ortega is the year’s biggest gainer, up $19.5 billion. He moves into the top three among the world’s richest for the first time. He stepped down as chairman of Inditex, best known for its Zara brand, in 2011, but still owns nearly 60% of its shares, which soared 50% year-over-year on record profits. - Forbes 2013. See activateonline.co.za for the full list.

The three richest men in the world, Carlos Slim Helu, Bill Gates and Amancio Ortega. Pic: Forbes

Rand to Euro: R12.93Rand to Dollar: R9.811Rand to Pound: R15.07

South African Minimum Wage per week: R8.95 per hour

Your Voice Counts

5PoliticsEdition 6

By Mabine Seabe

Every five years South Africans get the opportunity to play a direct role in determining which political party will be the temporary political custodian and administrator of the Constitution and democratic dispensation. Casting a vote during the general elections is the most important act a citizen performs in ensuring the efficient operation of the state. The only act that comes close, in terms of importance, is paying taxes.

It should weigh heavily on people’s conscience when they do not vote.

I remember the first time I voted in 2009; I was both excited and nervous. As a citizen of South Africa, I had the privilege to determine the future of my country, by simply placing an ‘X’ next to a grinning politician’s photo and party logo. This was a privilege and duty which I did not take lightly, knowing that oppressed generations before mine fought and died to ensure that everyone could freely perform their democratic duty of voting.

With the simple yet profound act of voting, I felt that I had made a contribution to the advancement of my country and fellow compatriots. The ink blot on my thumb was a mark of pride and active citizenry. Even though the party that I voted for did not emerge as the overall victor to occupy the Union Buildings, I was content.

The 2014 national and provincial elections are under a year away, and we keep on hearing about the significance of the youth vote and the election itself. Next year’s elections are important for two reasons: first, 2014 marks the 20th year of South Africa’s democracy; second, this will be the first election in which a generation born under democracy will vote.

With this in light, it is discouraging to know that only about 10% of 18 and 19-year olds are registered to vote, and just over half of citizens aged between 20 and 29 are registered to vote. This is the generation that will have to live with the decisions made, yet they’re not ready to vote.

Further discouragement comes from informal conversations with friends and colleagues who say, “I will not vote because it will not make a difference. It’s just one vote.”

The reality is that each and every vote does count! It’s not “just one vote.” If we had a situation where millions of citizens shared this view, elections would not represent the true views of the people. As young citizens, we should be ready to vote and see voting as a patriotic and democratic responsibility.

As we near the election year, we should be mindful of Plato’s words, which outline the price of not playing a role in the democratic voting process. He wrote: “One of the penalties for refusing to participate in politics is that you end up being governed by your inferiors.”

Participating in politics for the average citizens comes in the form of voting. It would be great if all citizens joined political movements, but for now, we must work on getting citizens, especially the youth, to register and vote. Your vote does count.

By Andrew Blane

After the deaths of 13 South African soldiers in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) in March, the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) has come under the spotlight for the way it is being deployed.

A brief history of South Africa’s peacekeeping efforts

In 1999 President Nelson Mandela insisted on the need to bring peace and stability to the DRC. This came as a result of the resurfacing of violent conflict that involved foreign troops from countries near the Great Lakes region.

South Africa became one of the first African countries to deploy in DRC later that year. Although the country continues to suffer from war waged by rebel groups such as the M23 group, investors have shown interest in their economy, specifically the mining industry. The SANDF helped ensure the re-election of President Joseph Kabila in 2011.

The SANDF’s peacekeeping efforts also helped bring about democracy in Burundi by ensuring stability and the facilitation of a peaceful transition.

In 2009 President Jacob Zuma spoke at the 10th anniversary of the SANDF’s participation in peacekeeping missions. He said that

“for South Africa to enjoy economic prosperity, there needs to be stability on the continent … our country cannot survive in isolation, as its economic development and security is linked to the continent stability.”

Since 1999 the SANDF has been deployed in numerous countries throughout the African continent. In addition to its own efforts, according to United Nations peacekeeping deployment numbers, South Africa is ranked as the 6th largest contributor to UN peacekeeping operations in Africa.

SANDF’s peacekeeping efforts today

The SANDF has established a Peace Mission Training Centre (PMTC) to prepare for peace support operations. These will enhance South Africa’s contributions to peacekeeping missions on the continent.

The PMTC came about through an agreement between the South African and the United Kingdom Defence departments, where the UK contributed R2.3 million of the R30 million that it cost to set up. Additional contributions have come from the United States as well as Canada.

The PMTC teaches courses in disarmament, demobilization and re-integration; peace relief and reconstruction; peace mission

commanders and military observers; as well as gender advisors and instructors, to name but a few.

Other than training, the SANDF has recently deployed additional troops to the DRC to help to form part of an Intervention Brigade that is headed by the UN involving South Africa, Tanzania and Malawi.

The situation in DRCPresident Joseph Kabila recently

signed the Peace and Security Co-operation Framework Agreement, which aims to establish regional security. Critics have said that he has not taken it seriously, however, as he appears more consumed with strengthening his own power.

Consequently there is a lot of work being done by the Intervention Brigade. They are based in Goma, where over 800 SANDF and 1 200 Tanzanian troops have been stationed. Malawian troops are expected to deploy there in the near future.

The need for extra troops comes at the price of the stagnation in the peace talks between the government and the M23 rebel group in Kampala, Uganda. This has led to increased fighting by the M23 group, whose last attack on 14 July 2013 was quite close to Kampala and appears to be moving towards Goma where the Intervention Brigade is located.

Thus without resumption of

the negotiations between the government of DRC and the M23, group fighting is expected to escalate.

To make matters worse, a report from the United Nations indicates increased tension between the DRC and its neighbour Rwanda, after DRC spokesperson Lambert Mende accused the Rwandan army of supporting the latest M23 attack.

In addition to this the Allied Defence Forces, which is an Islamist anti-Ugandan rebel group, launched a recent attack across several towns along the DRC-Ugandan border.

The attack lead to over 50 000 refugees fleeing to Uganda.

According to an official press release from the South African Department of Defence, the SANDF has not engaged in any conflict as of yet. However it appears that there is great unrest in the Great Lakes region and the SANDF has to remain vigilant.

With reference to the deaths of 13 SANDF troops that were recently killed in the battle of Bangui, President Kabila needs to initiate negotiations and regain stability within the DRC as a matter of urgency. This does not come at Kabila’s own expense, but rather at those of South African lives who have deployed to help facilitate peace within the Central African Republic and neighbor states.

SANDF in the Congo

(Left and Right) Troops carry their equipment in training at the Roodewal weapons range in May of 2013. Pic: Lystil/FLICKR

Troops spill put of a Super Lynx 300 helicopter during South African Airforce training in anticipation of deployment. Pic: Lystil/FLICKR

6 Arts & Entertainment 30 July 2013

By Staff Writer

Third term is upon us and we could already do with a break. With Intervarsity taking place at NMMU on 17 August, you’ve got the perfect opportunity to let loose for a weekend. Activate has compiled a short guide to ensure that you make it through Intervarsity alive.

What it’s aboutIntervarsity is a multi-coded university sporting event which sees Rhodes, NMMU, Fort Hare and Walter Sisulu University coming together to compete in a variety of sporting events such as rugby, hockey, soccer, cricket, chess and water-polo. The event is known throughout the Eastern Cape as a festival of sports and partying.Getting thereSeeing as Intervarsity is being hosted by NMMU this year, Rhodes students will have to make the drive to Port Elizabeth. Shuttles and buses will be provided for competitors, but for those who are going to support fellow Rhodents, there are various shuttle services from Grahamstown to PE that are relatively cheap and very safe. Otherwise, plan a road trip with friends or ask

around as there are always students looking for people to share the 130km drive. AccommodationSummertime Accommodation and 99 Mile Beach Lodge are great self-catering lodges that are close to the beach. At R120 per person they’re perfect for students seeking a place for the weekend. If you find yourself without cash or car, you can always find a mate from PE with a spare bed or couch for you to crash on. What to doWhen you’re not participating in the many sporting activities or supporting your friends, you can head down to the beach. NMMU is situated right on the coastline so a short walk will have you soaking up the sun on the shores of PE with friends. You can also take a quick taxi ride into town and check out the local pubs and clubs such as Balizza, Barney’s, Gondwana’s or even try your luck at the Boardwalk Casino.

Lastly, don’t forget to be safe. With a weekend of sports and partying, roads will be busy and dangerous so travel safely and look after your friends. Remember, there’s nothing worse than alcohol poisoning to ruin a good weekend.

A guide to Intervarsity

By Ash Erasmus

After such a long vac it takes a while to get back into the swing of things at Rhodes. Luckily Taxi Violence is here to give you something to look forward to.

The band will be playing at Slipstream on 17 August. They last played in Grahamstown in 2011 and are currently promoting their new album Soul Shake. In light of this tour to Grahamstown, we caught up with two of the band members for an interview.

Activate: So, Grahamstown! You have played here before, two years ago. What are you looking forward to most about playing to a ‘mad’ Grahamstown fan base?

Louis Nel: We certainly have had crazy shows in Grahamstown. It’s never dull. Hopefully the next one will be the craziest ever. It should be a great night, as we’ll be playing some rock ‘n roll after all the Intervarsity rugby madness.

Jason Ling: Good clean fun is what it’s all about at the end of the day. Where there’s a party, we shall go - and Grahamstown happens to be one of those places.

Activate: As a band you have gone from relatively unknown to nationally famous over a lengthy amount of time. Do you think

that your fame has changed the band or brought you closer? Has anything tested the relationship between the members?

LN: A lot of things have tested our relationships, but fame is definitely not one of them.

JL: We have been around a long time and all the tours have bonded our friendship. Just like any other relationship we disagree on things but everyone has an equal say in the band and we always manage to work it out without killing each other.

Activate: You’ve recently had a song, ‘Devil ‘n Pistol’ featured in the film Spud 2: The Madness Continues. This is an older song, so did it come as a surprise?

LN: Not really. It is a song that was written a long time ago, but the version used in the movie is the unplugged version off our last album.

JL: It’s actually the unplugged version of the song which we released in 2011

Activate: Still on the movie: was this a welcome venture or were there hesitations? Did the band anticipate such a large ‘gig’? And how do you expect it will change your fame, if at all?

LN: I personally am a huge John Cleese fan, so for me to be associated with the movie is an awesome feeling. There were some hesitations with regards to reimbursement – we’re certainly

not making a lot of money from it. But it might steer some extra attention towards the band, which is nice.

JL: It’s always nice for someone to notice the hard work you put into something. Hopefully it will open some more doors internationally for us.

Activate: Where does inspiration for writing your songs come from? Is it a collective thought process by all members?

LN: We all get inspired by other music we like. One of us would bring an idea to rehearsal, then we see if we can

build it into a song. It’s a group effort.JL: We all listen to similar music and work on riffs at home. When

we get to the rehearsal room we all kind of know where the songs should go and then arrange them accordingly.

Activate: You have opened for some really amazing bands in the past but if you could choose anyone (alive or dead) to open for, who would it be?

LN and JL: Queens of the Stone Age.

So if you’re missing home and need a little more “Taxi” in your life, Slipstream Sports Bar on 17 August 2013 is the place to be.

Taxi Violence will not disappoint.

Taxi Violence are due to play in Grahamstown on the 17th of August at Slip Stream Sports Bar. Pic: Supplied

Boat RacesFriday 6 and Saturday 7 September

Venue: Port AlfredEntrance: R220 (including camping

and parking.

Heroes and Villains Costume PartyFriday 2 August

Venue: The MonasteryEntrance: R10 with a costume R20

withoutTime: 8:00pm

WordsUntame – ForewordFriday 2 August

Venue: Bathurst Arms Entrance: FreeTime: 8:00pm

Guy ButteryTuesday 6 August

Venue: The LowlanderEntrance: R60Time: 7:30pm

Gig Guide

Bringing some “Taxi Violence” to Grahamstown

By Leah Solomon

Due to a lack of funding, the Ubom! Eastern Cape Drama Company will be closing this August.

They have never had never had any difficulties with receiving funding in their 11 years of running. However, funding was just not on the cards this time round and so the company has no other option but to close down.

The company is best known for the platform it gives local Eastern Cape performers to display their talents and for taking theatre to parts of the province that don’t have access to theatre and stage productions. They have also influenced the lives of countless children during their 11-year existence through programmes aimed at education through theatre.

In an article published by CUE Online, Janet Buckland, the director of the company, said that they started out wanting to change the prevailing desire amongst aspiring performers to escape the Eastern Cape for more bustling areas in order in succeed.

It was a general consensus that the closing was not received well by many. Sandi Dlangalala, a

former drama student, said, “It’s a sad thing that it’s closing. It closes a lot of doors for aspiring actors.”

Although not every Rhodes drama student is destined to be a part of the Ubom! group, the presence of such a prominent and well-recognised company is a sign of hope and opportunity. Without it, drama graduates may have to flee the Eastern Cape for another stage.

Not only will the actors be affected, but the arts in South Africa as a whole too. Ananda Paver, a third year drama student at Rhodes University, explained that the arts in South Africa could potentially suffer a blow from the closing of Ubom!

“It’s really disappointing because it shows how difficult it is to get funding for the arts in South Africa, which shows how little importance the arts are given in this country,” she said. “Theatre in particular is a way of examining ourselves and solving problems as well as providing entertainment and upliftment.”

“Ubom! did a great deal of educational theatre, which engaged with kids and brought up important issues that the youth needs to face in this country,” said Paver.

Curtains close on Ubom!

7FeaturesEdition 6

By Gorata Chengeta

Whether you are in your first year or final year, not doing well in your June exams can be a source of great anxiety in the new semester. If you are coping with a set of disappointing June exam marks, you may feel discouraged or hopeless, but there are ways to move on from the daunting situation. Activate has compiled a guide which can help you assess your options and get you back on track academically.

The first thing to consider, according to Sarah Green from the Career Centre, is what could have gone wrong. If you studied for all your courses and worked diligently throughout the term, you should remember that you tried your best. Regardless of how you’ve done in the past, all students are reminded that help and support is available for them.

Green says, “You just have to ask for it and commit, no matter how hard it may feel at the time, if you think a personal problem or psychological issue such as anxiety was hampering your performance, you need to address this urgently.” In this case, the first step would be to contact the Counselling Centre, located in the Bantu Steve Biko Building or, if you wish, contact a private psychologist in town. In addition to counselling services, the Centre has workshops which help students improve their academic performance.

“To find out whether or not you can continue with a course, first consult the student handbook and look at the possibilities of combinations for your degree,” says Green. After this, it is best to contact a faculty officer or the Career Centre (also located in the Bantu Steve Biko Building) to discuss your options.

For Humanities students, it is best to consult the lecturer

concerned if you are battling with a particular subject and consult the Dean if you have not performed well across the board.

Professor Bernard, Dean of the Science faculty, says students who have not done as well as they would have liked should do this as soon as possible.

In the Science Faculty, and similarly for the Commerce and Pharmacy faculties, marks for different courses need to be considered in relation to each other before any decisions are made. By meeting with their deans, students can find out if they can and should aggregate, rewrite or consider picking up a different subject. Through these consultations Bernard says that, “It is often possible to find a way out of what may seem to be a terrible mess.”

Depending on your exam mark, faculty and year of study, you may be eligible to write a supplementary exam. Professor Sewry, Dean of the Commerce faculty, says that supplementary exams should be considered carefully. “The award of a supplementary examination is a clear indication that you have every potential to pass the course.”

Dean of the Law faculty, Professor Campbell advises students to also take advantage of the invaluable opportunity to see their lecturers after having arranged to see their exam scripts. In this case, Prof Campbell says, “Your lecturer can explain to you where you went wrong and how to do better.”

No matter how disappointed or discouraged you may feel, it is vital to remember that at a small university like ours, there are plenty of opportunities to seek guidance from your Deans and lecturers.

If you are committed, there is always a way forward and with the range of services at your disposal, there is no reason to doubt that this next semester signifies a positive, new start.

How to recover from June exam gloom

Supplementary exams are a reality for most students and allow them a second chance to improve their exam marks. Pic: Phillip Dean/FLICKR

Moving into digs: a double edged swordBy Nicholas McGregor

It is time to break free and cut the chains tying oneself to authority. It is time to find a place to call your own. Moving from residence to digs can be a liberating and maturing experience, but it also has its drawbacks.

There are many things to think about when moving: finding a house, finding house mates, price, security and cooking for yourself.

The most exhilarating part of the process is finding the right house. The question of flat versus house can be a problem. Should I move into a house to get that family home experience with braais in the garden and the occasional house party, but risk security? Or do I move into a flat where security is a given yet lose the feel of a house?

Mandy Burgess, a real estate agent and office manager at Pam Golding, said that students seem to be vying for the flat option more and more often. “Houses definitely used to be more popular, but with the facilities that flats provide, they are becoming the more frequently-chosen option,” she said. “Crime is really not as bad in Grahamstown as everyone is led to believe – it is mainly petty and opportunist crime rather than anything sinister. But a lot of women moving into digs are pressured by their parents to move into blocks of flats just in case.”

The next step in the process is finding people to move in with, which can be quite a difficult decision to make. “I would never go back!” said Leah Solomon, a second-year Journalism student. “The freedom and privacy you get in digs is something I would

never trade.”But like most awesome things in life it does have its negatives.

“Choosing someone to move in with is a huge issue,” said Solomon. “Even if you are best friends with someone and get on like a house on fire, it doesn’t mean that you can live well with them. But still, I would never go back.”

It seems that often the greatest challenge is getting friends to sign the lease. Obviously everyone moves at their own pace, but some people do not move fast enough for the Grahamstown real-estate market. Asking their parents and securing the paperwork becomes the bane of house hunting, especially when the estate agent is shooting volleys of angry emails your way.

Finances are a very pertinent issue. The best way to counteract any surprises is to work out one’s personal budget for the full year. That way parents know exactly what is expected of them financially and can set spending parameters accordingly.

Moving into digs is a double edged sword when academics are concerned. A lot of people find it very easy to work in digs as they can create an environment that is the most conducive to suit their own academic prowess. “What is actually really nice about living in a Rhdoes residence is that everyone has the same routine,” said Nonhle Skosana, a first year Journalism student. “So when everyone is relaxing, you relax but when everyone starts working so do you. Being in res really encourages you to graft.”

Decent dining becomes a scarcity when in digs as the convenient three meals a day gives way to two-minute noodles and intermittent meat supplements as digs spending varies from

one month to another. Instead of having a meal already

prepared, there is a massive transference in energy as the responsibility is placed on you and your house mates. “It becomes a real issue when it is your roommates’ night to cook and they do not pull through. It usually means I have to resort two-minute noodles again,” says Ian Currie, a second year Journalism student from Pretoria.

Including the aforementioned ordeals and troubles of moving from res to digs, it remains an exciting stepping stone to maturity and individuality.

It is often under the responsibilities of house maintenance, friendship tests and financial juggling that one truly starts to feel like an adult.

What better way to do so than with your closest friends around you, making sure every difficulty experienced is not one felt on one’s own.

Before moving into a property students are required to sign lease agreements protecting both their rights as well as their land-lord’s. Pic: Niamh Walsh-Vorster

8 Lifestyle 30 July 2013

By Buntu Ngcuka

Many women, and sometimes men, choose to wear make-up to enhance their beauty – some more so than others. But what most may not realise is that while they are enhancing their day-to-day beauty, they are actually harming their natural beauty and health in the long run. Research shows that those who use make-up daily are filling their bodies with close to 2kg of chemicals each year.

Many cosmetic products contain ingredients that can have damaging effects on the body, both short and long term. Most foundations contain oil which clogs pores and can lead to acne breakouts and blackheads – the very thing you were probably trying to cover up in the first place!

Even scarier is the fact that some lipsticks contain lead and aluminium, which over time can lead to serious conditions such as cardiac arrest, anaemia, or even cancer. L’Oreal, the producer of popular brands like M.A.C., Rimmel and Maybelline, was found to have the most lead-contaminated products.

Aluminium is also present in many deodorant brands such as Nivea. Preserving agents called parabens (the label will probably read butylparaben or methylparaben), found in Revlon and Yardley lipstick and mascara, are known to be toxic to the lungs and mucous membranes. Also commonly present in cosmetics are chemicals such as monoethanolamine and diethanolamine (they’re part of a family of chemicals known as amines), which can cause hormonal changes as well as cancer.

So in a world where appearance is of the utmost importance and make-up is the answer, how can you keep these chemicals from harming you? Firstly, make sure to thoroughly wash off your make up at night and moisturise your skin daily. You could try organic make-up. Inthusiasm and The Body Shop are easily accessible and affordable brands in South Africa.

You could also look for products that are hypoallergenic (less likely to cause allergic reactions), non-comedogenic (won’t clog your pores) and non-acnegenic (they won’t give you acne).

By Michaela Weiffenbach

When I walked through the airport doors into the sunshine of Harare, the first sights of Zimbabwe blew me away. An endless sea of red sand, beautiful African thorn trees and a tight-knit community with echoes of Colonial influence all combined to form something amazing.

I visited the Chinhoyi Caves, known as the diving jewel of Africa, which has a 120m deep pool at its bottom. In the 1830’s the cave was originally named “Chirorodziva” by the Angoni

Tribe, which translates into “The pool of the fallen”. The pool was used by the Angoni Tribe as an attempt to overthrow the Chinoia Tribe, by surprising them and throwing them into the pool, causing them to drown.

Using the flash on my camera to light the way throught the cave, we entered into an abyss of darkness known as The Dark Cave that leads to the top of the pool. Legend says that there is a lady who lives at the bottom of the cave, who preys on fearless divers and traps them in her lair forever. Myth has it that one

cannot successfully throw a stone across the pool: the sacred spirits that watch over the pool will catch the stone and put a curse on the stone thrower.

The second breathtaking view was from the top of Domboshawa, a huge granite hill. Once you reach the top, nature has provided the perfect sundowner spot by means of a rock in the shape of a whale, which you can sit under as you watch the golden sky. Just be sure to take a torch for the walk down.

Both the caves and Domboshawa

are hugely under-marketed and they have remained an untapped tourist attraction for many years. Taking advantage of these lesser-known areas is a great way to explore the more untouched sides of Zimbabwe, as well as avoiding nasty queues and overpriced entrance fees.

If you are living in Southern Africa, it only makes sense to take the short trip up to Zim at least once in your lifetime!

Go to activateonline.co.za to see more pictures of these natural wonders.

Down Shift

Looking up from the Chinhoyi Caves to the blue skies above. Pic: Michaela Weiffenbach

Destination Zimbabwe

Make up’s dirty little secret

By Ruan Scheepers

Narrow Eastern Cape back roads are a great test of a cars performance and road manners. Long sweeping corners, sudden tight bends and uneven surfaces test the suspension and braking components while straights and climbs pull every last kilowatt from the engine.

Enter the Alfa Romeo MiTo Quadrofoglio Verde, the smaller brother of the brilliant Giulietta. I have a soft spot for Alfas so driving the Cloverleaf, as it is called, was something I had wanted to do for some time. And boy, it didn’t disappoint.

Alfa Romeo’s DNA system, representing the Dynamic, Normal and All Weather modes of the car’s computerised setup, transforms the feel of the car at the flick of a switch. Normal mode is automatically selected and can be used in everyday conditions. The Dynamic setting sharpens the suspension and steering feel and, to my delight, increases the turbo boost on the already rampant 1.4 Multi-Air engine.

Selecting Dynamic mode means that the little MiTo fully exploits its 125kw and 250nm of torque. That’s enough to chuck you from 0-100 in 7.5 seconds and up to a top speed of 219 kph with the help of a 6-speed manual gearbox. Make no mistake, it’s a great little car.

Very few small cars can aesthetically compare to the Mito. The attention to detail, coupled with leather interior and good driving position, is typically Alfa and it would be brilliant if not for one tiny detail.

I have a 1982 AlfaSud. This was roughly Alfa’s equivalent of the MiTo back in the 1970’s and 80’s. There’s no air-con, power steering, ABS, traction control or airbags. It’s brilliant. Arse, seat, road, steering wheel. End of story.

The problem with the modern world is needless complication.

What I need is the suspension to absorb, not to transfer impact into my spine. I want composure in a 150kph corner without the steering wheel rebelling against my choice in direction. I don’t want to wait for the turbo to wake up and realise I put my foot down three days ago. I want a modern AlfaSud.

But that’s just me I guess.

Alfa Romeo Mito

9 Environment 30 July 2013

By Jane Berg

Literary scholars will address environmental problems this August, as the Literature and Ecology Colloquium returns to Rhodes for its 10th anniversary edition.

The forum is an opportunity for literary critics to share ideas about how literature can be relevant to the ecological crisis and to further ecologically-orientated literary study, also known as Ecocriticism. The event will be held from 30 August to 1 September at the Environmental Learning Centre, above Eden Grove.

Professor Dan Wylie launched the Colloquium at Rhodes in 2004 and believes that literature has much to contribute, because ecological issues are also questions of emotional and psychological humanness.

“Literature is about imagining ways out of our dilemmas, not necessarily in practical ways, but in opening up possibilities of attitude,” said Wylie. “And we surely need that expansiveness to break out of the current trajectory.”

Since its inception the Colloquium has been hosted across the country, from the Western Cape to KZN to Gauteng. It has resulted in several publications and stimulated a number of post-graduate students to find new ways

of using literature to address environmental issues. Wylie has now decided to bring the Colloquium home in order to look back and evaluate how far it has come.

Ecocriticism, a well-developed field in countries such as the United States, England and Australia, but still scarce in South Africa, is the study of literature from an ecological point of view.

“Potentially any work of fiction or non-fiction, poetry or drama, is susceptible to ecocritical interest,” said Wylie.

“Everyone lives somewhere and relates to place and nature in some fashion, even unthinkingly.” He went on to say that in recent literature and film, from Barbara Kingsolver to James Bond, ecological themes have been centrally visible.

“These forms of art are actually hugely influential in affecting how people think about the natural world and their place in it,” said Wylie.

“In South African literature, scholars have barely begun to exploit the potential for study in ecocriticism. The Colloquium intends to continue stimulating such study.”

A guest speaker at the event will be Professor Byron Caminero-Santangelo from the University of Kansas. There will also be an associated art exhibition.

By Youlendree Appasamy

The establishment of a Water Users Association for the Makana District was initiated earlier in June by the Kowie Catchment Campaign (KCC).

The KCC meeting, which was held on 6 June, was an opportunity to discuss the possibilities of embarking on this water-saving venture.

Nikki Köhly, who is the KCC chairperson and officer for Safety, Health and Environment at Rhodes University, believes the Water User Association, “might afford water users a bit more traction in addressing water service delivery concerns in the town.”

The National Water Act of 1998 describes a Water Users Association as a localised organisation whose main concern is not water management, as is with catchment agencies, but rather a co-operative undertaking of water related activities for mutual benefit of residents and governance structures.

This sentiment is echoed by Laura Forster,

secretary of the KCC, who asserts that if the creation of a Water Users Association is done in the right manner, it could potentially become a powerful force for community-level interaction and support for water resource and supply management in the Makana area. “It would pull together the efforts of the various water-focussed bodies both on campus and in the broader community,” she said.

However, for the creation of an effective Water User Association, the stipulations of the National Water Act of 1998 would need to be adhered too. These stipulations include approval by the Department of Water Affairs and Makana local governing structures.

Köhly said that this would be the biggest hurdle for the proposal to overcome. “It would seem that forming a Water Users Association would be demanding, costly and time consuming, and thus beyond the scope of the KCC, which is a volunteer-run community initiative.”

Ecocriticism: Literature meets ecology

Gathering force for waterKhanyisani Kubheka collects water from the spring on the road to Port Alfred. It is economically more viable to collect water at the spring. Pic: Niamh Walsh-Vorster

11SportEdition 6

By Julia Fish

I take umbrage with people who say Rhodes students are nothing but a bunch of drunkards. I get even more upset with the label that we don’t do sport.

There is a cacophony of alarms going off around campus at 5am as dedicated students hit the gym or go running. The dam is full on cold weekend misty mornings with our rowers while Alec Mullins lights burn late into the night as teams practice. The echo of rugby games are felt up the hill, carried on still Wednesday nights away from the bars of New Street. Rhodents care about sport, and not just watching it. The only thing stopping outright jubilation in our sporting glory is the silence from Sports Admin.

Did you know the Rhodes men’s hockey team just won their SASU tour to Cape Town? The women came second. This is a sports triumph we should be shouting from the rooftops, but instead Sports Admin is keeping them in the dark – quite literally. Embarrassingly the largest sports society on campus had the lights turned out on them in the middle of Inter-varsity last year as Sports Admin did not bother to check fixture schedules. This is not a one-time occurrence. During an internal league soccer game the sprinklers came on drenching or tripping up players only for the floodlights to ironically switch off a few minutes later. Nobody at Sports Admin speaks to us, and it seems they cannot handle speaking to each other either.

Sports societies have no choice but to do the work themselves running independently as they handle their fixtures, transport and socials. The only need for the ivory tower of individuals up on the prospect fields is to superficially rubber stamp decisions already in progress. Basically talking to Sports Admin is like going to your dad and saying “I am going out, is that ok? Bye.”

Much has been said about our inability to get into the Varsity Cup or even the second-flight Varsity Shield. We can throw blame and say we are rubbish, but whispers are that the rugby society is woefully underequipped as the new scrum machine begged and then budgeted for, has taken two years so far to be delivered.

They can tell the university and the international community when one of their administrators gets a job in Russia, but they cannot handle internal communication on match results or spread the word on one of our multiple Guinness world record attempts (late congratulations should go out to the pool club and our archers – no thanks to Sports Admin).

Granted, budgets are tight but not finding the time to use the money set aside to fix Alec Mullins, which is a disgrace, cannot be blamed on a lack of funds.

When you mention Sports Admin people start steaming. My favourite solution to the problem was put in a report to the Dean of Students last year: “We would have better luck if we outsourced their services to a call centre in India.”

Dropping the ball

By Ashleigh Morris

While many students were making the most of their well-deserved break over the holiday, a few were out, representing Rhodes University in their various sporting codes at the 2013 University Sports South Africa (USSA) Tournaments.

A diverse group of teams took part in the tournament including; netball, hockey, basketball, squash as well as Dancesport, a relatively new sport at Rhodes.

The netball girls, who were relegated after not competing last year, played in the C division, According to Sanele Sobahle, Rhodes University Sports Administrator, the tournament was exciting and the girls played outstanding netball. They claimed the bronze medal after beating Zululand University 27-26.

Both the men and women’s hockey teams enjoyed successful campaigns. The men’s team began with a promising 10-0 win against Tshwane University of Technology and went on to win their league. They will now be competing in the A section next year.

According to captain Mark Raines, the team has been close to being promoted for the past three years. “This year we pulled it off and I cannot be more proud,” he said.

The men’s B section competed in five games, of

which they won four, placing them just one point ahead of North West University. The women’s team fell just three points short from winning their league. They came second to the University of Kwa-Zulu Natal.

Dancesport also competed during the holidays and stunned the rest of the competition by making it through to the quarter finals. Siyabonga Dumiso, Rhodes University Assistant Sports Officer, said that the section was one of the toughest in the tournament. “The team was also competing with only four couples as opposed to the standard ten,” he said.

Neo Mohapi, manager of the Dancesport team, was pleased with their performance. “The tournament was wonderful, and despite our inexperience we gained so much from it,” he said.

The men and women’s basketball and squash teams also competed in the holidays. Basketball, which was hosted in Cape Town, resulted in the men’s team finishing 14th on the log and the women finishing 10th.

Squash saw Rhodes finish 7th on the USSA 2013 final ranking.

For all the latest fixtures and results see activateonline.co.za

Student games a success for RU

By Kendra Dykman

“South Africa has come a long way.” These were the words of Mandla Gagayi, head of sport at Rhodes, after South Africa returned with 14 medals from the World University Games.

The Games took place over the past month in Kazan, Russia. Gagayi was the Head of Delegation for South Africa’s competitors for University Sports South Africa (USSA).

South Africa competed in 12 sporting codes, and received eight gold, three silver, and four bronze medals.

This was Gagayi’s second World University Games, with his first being in 2007 in Bangkok, Thailand as Logistics Manager. “It was very busy but in a nice way, in that every day I met people from various universities around the world. It was a bit taxing though.”

Fabio de Dominicis, a fourth year Rhodes Journalism student, was chosen as one of two African representatives to report on the World University Games as part of the 2nd FISU

(International University Sports Federation) Young Reporters’ Programme.

“These guys are basically the future Olympians, and the future of International sport, so the experience of getting to talk to them was amazing,” he said.

With his accreditation, De Dominicis said he had close access to the athletes, even being allowed into the training grounds with the South African athletes. They told him how the ASA’s banning had negatively affected their headspace, but that they still managed to pull through with good performances.

Gagayi was impressed by the level of sport, but said that the improvement of the South African squad over the past few years was truly impressive. They finished eighth on the medals table – considerably better than had been anticipated when the squads were first announced.

In the weeks leading up to the games, Athletics South Africa was suspended by the South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (Sascoc). As a result, the track and field athletes

were not initially included in the squad. Two days before they were meant to leave, USSA severed its ties from Sascoc, allowing the athletes to complete the 120-member South African team in Russia.

“Because we are dealing with students, we did not really want to be dragged into politics of national federations,” said Gagayi. “We stuck to our plan. We said ‘we are going to World University Games; we are taking our athletes’.” As a result, eight of the 14 medals achieved by SA were from an athletics code.

De Dominicis said he also gained a lot of journalistic experience. “We were rubbing shoulders with the best in the industry, making contacts from all over the world,” he said.

He and Gagayi found the event to be biased towards Russia, who had sent 693 athletes to compete, achieving 292 medals, followed by China in second place with 88. “But they were the host nation and they wanted to say ‘listen, we’re here, we can compete’,” said Dominicis. “That didn’t take away from the actual tournament, though.”

A Rhodent in RussiaFabio de Dominicis and his international collegues at the World University Games in Russia. De Dominicis was one of two South African representatives to report on thWorld University Games as part of the second FISU (International University Sports Federation) Young Reporter’s Programme. Pic:Supplied

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Results & Fixtures

Rhodes Internal league SoccerWednesday 24 July

FC Illuminati 2 - 1 AmazuluHilltop FC 1 - 0 Phonenix Knights

Titans 4 - 1 Cosmos

Wednesday 31 July6:00pm

Fantastic 11 vs Motley CrueDe Beers vs Chris Hani

7:15pmMicah 6:8 vs Phoenix Knights

Mandela FC vs KDFC8:30pm

Amazulu FC vs Joe SlovoFC Illuminati vs Abu Dhabi

Rhodes Internal league RugbyFriday 26 July

Founders 23 - 2 The Hill

Rhodes Hockey

WomenFriday26 July

Rhodes 6 - 1 St PetersSunday 28 July

Rhodes 3 - 1 Old Grey B

Inter-res wall climbingMen

1.Guy Butler2. Graham

3. Stanley KidWomen

1. Hobson2. Atherstone3. Livingstone

A Rhodent in Russia

Page 11

Edition 6, 30 July 2013

By Sara Steiniger

The Rhodes Inter-res competition started the new semester on a high note with teams tackling the climbing wall.

The Rhodes Mountain Club created seven routes for the residence teams to climb. Teams consisted of three people who each had three attempts to conquer the walls.

Nicola Wasserfall, Chairperson of the Mountain Club, said that each route was marked out with tape. Teams got two points for reaching the top and the first to do so received eight.

Some walls were flat and others at an angle, which were much more challenging. Teams were in high spirits as they competed to see who could make it to the top.

“It’s harder than it looks,” said Zizipho Masiza from Hobson residence. “You need really strong upper body strength to hold your body up there.”

The club practises on Tuesdays and Thursdays, so if you are looking for a new place to hang out, the RUMC is a great place to do it. The only problem is the stiff arms the next morning.

Pic: Sara Steiniger

Tackling the wall