Activate
Rhodes University’s Independent Student Newspaper
Edition 1, 7 February 2014
INSIDE Rhodes lingo for dummies Page 2
All-new Rat and Parrot Page 3
Interview with SRC President Page 7
Your gig guide for O-Week Page 11
Getaways in the Eastern Cape Page 12
Full sports calendar for 2014 Page 15
e m o c l We ! s t n e d o h R
Est. 1947
2 Editorial
7 February 2014
The incomplete A-Z of Rhodes lingo: how not to sound like a first-year By Leah Solomon A – Arb: If you find that you haven’t passed all your subjects and you need a credit to get your degree, look around for ‘arbitrary’ subjects to make up the shortfall. These are usually first-year subjects and are often found in the Humanities. B – Bot gardens: The Botanical Gardens, found near Eden Grove. If you want some time to yourself, or you and your friends want to chill for a while, you can easily lose yourself for a few hours in the expansive lawns and trees. B – BP: Your best friend after 11pm every night if you are looking for a snack and Steers and Debonairs are closed. Noteworthy because of two things: the munchies after a night of partying including scrumptious bacon and eggs, and exam time, when everyone needs a little chocolate. C – CPU: Campus Protection Unit. They keep us safe and patrol the streets at night, but don’t get on their bad side. Pushing panic buttons unnecessarily will land you in a lot of trouble. D – Dawnie: The mythical first lecture of the day. Some say it has the magical powers of education, but there are no confirmed cases, as ‘attendees’ are either asleep in the beds or asleep in the lecture. D – DP: Duly Performed Certificate, awarded if you maintain a certain standard in all your subjects. This is one of the most important things to keep during your time at Rhodes. Attend all your necessary lectures and tutorials and keeping it shouldn’t be a problem. Lose your DP by not doing the above and you might not be able to write exams. E – Exams: The one thing that is guaranteed to bring students into class. Pass them and life is great; fail, and it’s not so amazing. Also, prepare yourself for the infamous talk about exam rules and etiquette, given at the start of every single exam. F – First-year spread: The notion that first-years gain weight due to increased alcohol consumption, visits to BP in the early hours of the morning, and free fast food delivery services.
G – Gees: Spirit, enthusiasm, giving your all and cheering madly. Rhodents are well known for having a lot of gees – for parties and sporting events in equal measure. H – The Hill: All the residences which are located above the Journalism and Media Studies building. The walk down is a breeze, but the walk up is a mission, and will probably test your faith in life, the universe and everything else. K – Kaif: The place to hang out before, during and after lectures. It is found just outside the library and will cater for all your caffeine and dietary needs. L – Late: When something really isn’t going your way, it’s late for you. L – LOA: A Leave of Absence form. You’ll need this if you miss anything that is a DP requirement, i.e. tutorials, essays, tests etc. In order to get an LOA approved, you need a certified document from a medical or other professional to say why you were absent. M – Mare: One of the most widely-spoken words at Rhodes. The word mare comes from the notion that you were up so late partying all night that the following day is a nightmare. Expect to be asked if you’re ‘maring’ every Wednesday, Friday and Saturday night. N – Naps: Refers to sleeping over at someone’s digs or res. However, as you may have heard, not much napping is done. O – Overalls: The attire worn during Intervarsity. Almost every Rhodent has one. They’re white when purchased, but by the end of the festivities they are covered in purple paint and no small amount of mud. P – Procrastination: Ever wanted to watch a series or a movie, but you could never find it? Or have you wanted to take up an obscure hobby, but you never find the time? You now have three years to do all these things and become a better person. R – The Rat: Grahamstown’s favourite watering hole, The Rat & Parrot has set national records for sales. A good place to have one, two or ten beers after a long day.
S – Seal clubbing: The aim of seal clubbing is for older students to hook up with first-years. Whether or not you choose to participate, just know that it exists. Keep your eyes open and your friends close on a night out. S – SRC: The Student Representative Council. They work to make sure that you get the education you deserve and to see that students are represented fairly. The 2014 SRC President is Bradley Bense. S – Serenades: A Rhodes tradition that takes place every year during O-Week. Serenades are the act of men’s and women’s residences performing song-and-dance routines to each other at ungodly hours of the morning. You may become firm friends with the people you meet in your sleepy state, but serenades have come under scrutiny in recent years for being very gender-biased and for not permitting unwilling students to opt out. TC - Tactical Chunder: Often used in the middle of a heavy night of drinking when a fellow Rhodent wants to make room for more beer or shots, as in ‘See you in a few guys, I’m going for a quick TC’. T – TriVar: The highlight of the Rhodes calendar, Intervarsity (previously called Tri-Varsity) sees four Eastern Cape universities converge for a weekend of sport and partying. Rhodes, Fort Hare, NMMU and Walter Sisulu University get together, and a funfilled and raucous few days always follows. V – VC: The vice-chancellor of Rhodes, Dr Saleem Badat. Try to stay in his good books. V - Vibes: The word ‘vibes’ is placed after a feeling or state of being that makes you sound like a true Rhodent, but basically serves no grammatical purpose, i.e. Chilled vibes, hungry vibes, tired vibes, etc. Y - Young: Nobody knows exactly what this word means but when put in front of any noun, ‘young’ makes the word 100x cooler, i.e. Let’s go for a young drink, man. Y – Youth: It’s a luxury that disappears fast. Seeing as your brain and liver regenerate until you are 21ish, study hard and party harder while you still can!
Activate Editor-in-Chief: Matthew Kynaston Deputy Editor: Rhea MacDonald Print Content Editor: Leah Solomon Online Editor: David Mann Finance Manager: Kamaria Balkisson Art Director: Niamh Walsh- Vorster Chief Photo Editor: Michaela Weiffenbach Chief Sub Editor: Heather Cameron News Editor: Sinazo Nakupi Politics Editor: Nicholas McGregor Features Editor: Fundiswa Ndlovu A & E Editor: Sebastian Burger Lifestyle Editor: Sara Steiniger Environmental Editor: Jane Berg Sports Editor: Julia Fish Deputy Sports Editor: Nandi Pape Contacts: Editor: activate.editor@gmail.com Deputy Editor: activate.deputy@gmail.com
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On the cover:
In the mid-60s, first-year students at Rhodes were labelled ‘Inks’ and ‘Inkettes’. The tradition was to wear a placard with your name and subject majors for the whole of first term. Today, Rhodents from any year are more likely to be seen wearing their purple painted overalls. Pic: Sourced
From the Editor
Welcome first years! Welcome to Rhodes University, your home for the next three or four years. You’ll come to love our little town, for its quirks and even for its faults. Expect to have your lights cut out once or twice this year – probably just when you’re cramming for an exam. Grahamstown also had problems with water last year, so you may want to make friends with people in another res so that you can take a shower when your water is out. O-Week is an amazing time to explore town, get to know the people in your res, and just have a great party. My O-Week was filled with late nights making friends and painfully early mornings walking across campus to perform serenades. I did the Amazing Race and I went to the Societies Extravaganza and all the other events organised by the SRC. I encourage you to go to them as well – they’ve been designed to show you what’s what at Rhodes and introduce you to some pretty cool people at the
same time. Go all out! Just remember to keep your friends close and live safely when you’ve had a few drinks. In this edition you’ll find many great stories. Our Arts & Entertainment section has all the info on the different pubs and clubs in town, and if you’re looking for some live music throughout O-Week, then the gig guide on page 11 is for you. If you’re into sport, head straight to the last two pages for a detailed calendar of all the major events coming your way, as well as a review of how Rhodes did last year. Also, check out our photo story in the middle of the paper. We looked up some old pics of Grahamstown and took some new ones to show side-by-side comparisons. Activate always has a great photo spread in the paper – look out for them in other editions throughout the year. Enjoy! @MatthewKynaston
Welcome to Rhodes! Yay! Pic: Niamh Walsh-Vorster
Edition 1
News
3
Wits expels students over concert protest By Sinazo Nakupi
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he University of the Witwatersrand decided to expel 10 students last month, after they staged a protest against a music concert funded by the Israeli Embassy. The concert took place during Israeli Apartheid Week 2013. The students, nine of whom are former members of the Wits Student Representative Council (SRC), were found guilty of misconduct for disrupting and inciting others to disrupt the piano recital and were excluded from the university for one year. A statement was released to the media by Professor Adam Habib, Vice-Chancellor of Wits University. “The sentence has been suspended provided that the students are not found guilty of any other form of misconduct for a period of two years. In addition, they will not be allowed to hold any office in any student governance structure for one year. They are also required to perform 80 hours of community service as determined by the university.” The protest occurred during Israeli Apartheid Week (IAW), an annual awareness campaign held across the world. IAW raises awareness of Israel’s apartheid policies toward indigenous Palestinians and seeks to bring an end to Israel’s
violation of international law. The Wits SRC had resolved to support the academic and cultural boycott of Israel. The students interrupted a concert by Israeli pianist, Yossi Reshef, hosted by an Israeli culture initiative in partnership with the Israeli Embassy. The students have been dubbed the Wits 11. Over and above the 80-hour sentence, the eleventh student was found guilty of not obeying a lawful instruction issued by a university employee and was given an additional sentence of 50 hours of community service. The former SRC Vice President, Tokelo Nhlapo, said that the students are not prepared to do the community service as they were doing their part as leaders of the community to stand up against the injustice of Zionism. The students are also enraged by the fact that the university announced the sentence to the media before informing the students first. Several of the students have already graduated and therefore the sentence does not apply to them. “However righteous the students believed their cause to be, they acted in an unacceptable, high-handed and irresponsible manner,” said the chairperson of the Wits disciplinary process, Advocate Jennifer Woodword. The Wits disciplinary process dismissed four of the six
charges that were brought against the students. The disciplinary hearing itself was plagued by complaints of prejudice and hostility against Woodword. The media was also banned from the hearings. It is alleged that Wits was advocating for a 12 year expulsion for the students. “This is completely anti-education and Wits University should be ashamed that it even asked for such a ridiculous punishment,” said South African Students Congress (SASCO) President, Ntuthuko Makhombothi, in a statement released by the organisation. The Wits University Palestine Solidarity Committee (PSC) is of the view that the charges brought against the students are due to The Wits students who protested at a concert during pressures from the Israeli lobby. Israeli Apartheid week last year are now facing Vice-Chancellor Habib admitted exclusion. Pic: Nokuthula Manyathi that this was the case in The Business Day on 20 May 2013. He revealed that the donations. university had come under financial pressure The university soon organised another concert from donors who support Israel and that some to appease their Israeli donors, but could not individuals have threatened to withdraw their secure Yossi Reshef.
The Rat and Parrot 2.0 By Rhea MacDonald
Grahamstown’s most wellknown restaurant and pub, The Rat and Parrot, has been undergoing renovations that have recently been completed, just in time for the arrival of Rhodes students. Service Manager Schalk van der Merwe says that the aim of the renovations is to enlarge the kitchen, extend the deck bar, enclose the beer garden and build a new deck above the
beer garden. “Nothing will be weatherdependent anymore,” says van der Merwe. “Before, if it was raining, people couldn’t go out in the beer garden. Now, they can use all areas at all times.” For those worried that their weekend hangout spot won’t be the same, don’t fret. Van der Merwe explains that though it may look different, the atmosphere will be exactly the same. “We continue trying to
improve our establishment and give customers the best experience we can,” says van der Merwe. For O-Week, The Rat will be hosting live entertainment nights as well as various specials throughout the week. There’s nothing better than a cold beer on a hot afternoon, especially at this old Grahamstown favourite, so be sure to check out the new and improved Rat when you get to town.
A new and improved upstairs bar is one of the changes to The Rat and Parrot. Pic: Niamh Walsh-Vorster
Makana finances in shambles By Sinazo Nakupi
A long standing record of water crises, maladministration and financial troubles continue to haunt Makana Municipality this year. The Democratic Alliance (DA) has requested that the Member of the Executive Council (MEC) for Provincial Governance, Mlibo Qhoboshiyane, investigate the municipality and place it under provincial administration. Makana Municipality came under fire in the past year for the water crisis that affected the Grahamstown community at large and still does. Signs of financial trouble appeared when the municipality failed to pay their employee’s salaries timeously in October 2013. This led to great unrest and a lack of trust among residents. The DA has requested that the settlement payout to Dr Pravine Naidoo be investigated as well as the role the Mayor, Mr Zamuxolo Peter, Council Speaker, Rachel Madinda Isaacs and the Municipal Strategic Manager, Mr
Mncedisi Boma, played in the proceedings. The municipal executive team authorised the payout as well as Dr Naidoo’s legal costs without informing the council. “The municipality’s cash on hand has been depleted, the outstanding debtors are on the increase. The payment levels are decreasing, operating on expenditure is higher than the operating venue and the creditors are on the rise,” said the MEC “It is a classic case of a municipality that is in distress and that is not sustainable.” A statement issued by the DA branch in Makana on 4 December 2013 revealed that the municipality’s cash on hand has decreased from R71.1 million to R23.5 million in just over a year, while their debt has increased from R128 million to R226 million. In addition, their collection rate has declined significantly and therefore there is money that will not be recovered. Boma has since been suspended pending a disciplinary hearing.
Call for Freelancers Do you have some experience as a journalist, writer, photographer or designer? R U currently studying at Rhodes and want to make extra cash whilst gaining valuable experience? Then we need you! The Communications and Marketing Division requires freelancers to provide a variety of services in these areas. Writing applicants must be able to write feature stories and news articles for different
audiences i.e. newsletters, websites, and other publications. Photographers must be able to take a variety of interesting and creative photographs. Designers should be able to produce eye-catching layouts that conform to the requirements of a style guide. Please email your CV and samples of your work to Ms Thami Yawa at t.yawa@ru.ac.za Closing date: 28 February 2014. Visit www.ru.ac.za/digitalpublications to view the “2013 Student Portfolio” which is a compilation of some of the work done by our 2013 freelancers. Alternatively you can visit us at Alumni House to view the hard copy.
www.ru.ac.za
4 Politics
7 February 2014
Last chance to register to vote By Sinazo Nakupi
over 1300 new voters. Khwezi Ngobese, a second year Accounting student and first-time voter, registered he Independent Electoral during the first registration weekend. “I Commission (IEC) will host a want to have a say in the running of the second national voter registration country so by voting I will have a say on weekend on Saturday, 8 and Sunday, who must lead the country,” he said. “I 9 February in a bid to increase think it is very important to participate registration figures ahead of the in politics and support a party that country’s fifth democratic national seeks solutions and try by all means to elections. implement them.” This weekend will allow eligible The Rhodes University branch of voters a final opportunity to register the Democratic Alliance Student and for the registered to change their Organisation (DASO) was prominent voting station. It also allows time for during the first registration drive at those who have not yet applied for Rhodes University’s Drama department identity documents to apply at their and campaigned under the nationwide local Home Affairs office. DASO banner #MyFirstTime, a The 2014 election date will be campaign aimed at turning out the announced by President Jacob Zuma youth for registration. “We acted as and is expected to be in mid-April. The first registration weekend, held party agents for the IEC and acted on 9 and 10 November, was a success alongside our ward councillor, Brian Fargher, in mobilising our community as over one million new voters were and getting them eligible to vote,” says added to the voters’ roll. Registration DASO chair, Chelsey Wilken. centres were open from 8am till 5pm There was no sign of the other main and the voters’ roll now stands at student political society, the South approximately 25.6 million voters, African Students Congress (SASCO) 77% of eligible voters. The registration station located at the at the registration venue. The society Rhodes Drama Department registered dismissed claims of neglecting to
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encourage students to exercise their right to vote, stating that it is not only presence at the registration venue that is symbolic of the mobilisation of their members. “We are of the firm view that the process of encouraging students to register is done before they go to the registration venue. At the venue they are then assisted by the IEC officials”, says SASCO Secretary, Vuyolwethu Toli. The IEC aims to register 80% of eligible voters with the next registration drive on 8 and 9 February. Focusing on first-time voters, better known as “Born-Frees”, the IEC is integrating social media into their election campaign. In an attempt to reach this age group, they have launched a MXit app, Facebook and Twitter accounts, a mobile website and an SMS line. In addition, the Electoral Amendment Act, 2013, will allow South Africans abroad to register and vote in elections. In the meantime, citizens can register The South African national general election will be held on a date in to vote at the local IEC office at 20 April-July. Final voter registration is on 8 and 9 February at the Drama High Street on weekdays from 8:30am Department on campus. Pic: FLICKR/Frank Trimbos until 5:30 pm.
AgangSA targets the Eastern Cape region
By Nicholas McGregor
Mamphela Ramphele is the leader of AgangSA who hope to have a foothold in the Eastern Cape. Pic: Sourced
As the elections draw ever closer, South African voters have never been so spoilt for choice. In the past it seemed that the African National Congress (ANC) and the Democratic Alliance (DA) were our only options, but since the development of Julius Malema’s Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), democracy in this country has flourished. But there is another group waiting in the wings. They don’t make as much noise as the EFF but AgangSA is slowly gathering support and have their eyes set on the Eastern Cape. The party is lead by Mamphela Ramphele who was a heavily involved participant in the Black Conscious Movement during apartheid alongside her life partner Steve Biko. She is a qualified doctor and was the former Managing Director of the World Bank before turning her focus to South African politics again. According to Sam Njela, AgangSA’s National Field Director, the party believes that the Eastern Cape is up for grabs after years of neglect by the ruling party “The Eastern Cape
certainly is a target, and it is winnable,” he said, “Everywhere we go in the province, people say they are tired of the ANC; tired of corruption and no service delivery. It is our responsibility to convince people why they should turn to us, and we are busy with that.” The newcomers have very particular targets regarding the Eastern Cape, especially when it comes to job creation and making use of the abundantly fertile land in the province. “AgangSA will put resources, skills, and agri-business expertise into developing existing subsistence farmers, to become semi-commercial, and eventually fully commercial on a sustainable level. There is enough skill, expertise and goodwill left in the current agri-business community to achieve this,” Says Njela. “We feel that subsistence farmers have been one sector of the agricultural sector that has been neglected. We will revive previously neglected agricultural projects and irrigation schemes. These will provide sustainable jobs and contribute to food security. There are young people who have degrees in agriculture and agri-business but
are still unemployed. They will form a vital part of our overall strategy for the Eastern Cape.” But are the upstarts going to contribute positively to the current South African democratic sphere or will they just be taking votes from other opposition parties, which need all the voting percentage they can get, to detract from the ANC’s massive share? Dale McKinley, a former Communist Party member and political activist believes so. “A lot of Agang’s votes will come from those who previously voted for the ANC, predominately I would argue, from the new black middle class as well as from smaller sections of white liberals,” says McKinley “The bulk of the remainder of those who vote for Agang will probably come from the ranks of those who previously voted for the DA and then very small numbers from other opposition parties like COPE [Congress of the People].” The inclusion of the EFF and AgangSA in our countries’ political landscape will hopefully be a breath of fresh air in a staling system of democracy.
Leading political student societies aim to increase numbers By Sinazo Nakupi The country’s national elections are fast approaching and the focus seems to be primarily on the youth, especially those born after the advent of democracy, better known as the ‘Born Frees’. This unpredictable age group is the most sought after by political parties, hoping to gain their trust and ultimately, their vote. With the national election date expected to be in midApril, the majority of students will be voting for the first time. Rhodes University is home to two of the most prominent political student organisations in South Africa, namely the Democratic Alliance Student Organisation (DASO) and the African National Congress (ANC) affiliated, South African Student’s Congress (SASCO). Despite their resonance with students across the country, they do not seem to be popular amongst Rhodents. In addition, there has been little evidence of their activity on campus to the extent that some students are not even aware of their existence. SASCO has dominated the student political sphere since before apartheid was abolished and still enjoys massive support in campuses nationwide. In
2013 the organisation managed to secure several Student Representative Council (SRC) elections across the country, trumping DASO and other smaller student organisations in a victory termed the ‘SASCO Tsunami’. However, with the establishment of their first branch in Cape Town in 2005, DASO membership and support on campuses have grown rapidly, despite their status as a relatively new player in student politics. Amongst their most significant achievements, is their victory over SASCO in the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University’s SRC elections in 2012. However, the Rhodes University branches of these organisations have experienced low membership in recent years as the student body seemingly became less interested in student governance. Rhodents, similar to youth in the country, have become synonymous with political apathy and this is viewed as a main challenge towards elections. SASCO Secretary, Vuyolwethu Toli, expressed his dissatisfaction. “Politics are too important to be left to politicians. Students must actively involve themselves in politics. By doing so they are shaping the future of this country. Therefore, we will organise political schools which will be open to
all students to inform them about the importance of voting,” he said. The format of student governance at Rhodes is quite different from the majority of tertiary institutions and could be attributed to the increasing apathy amongst students. The SRC is not politicised but rather candidate based. Individuals are permitted to run for SRC portfolios in their personal capacity or as a representative of a political student organisation but the organisation itself cannot run for elections. “We have found that students do not react well when political parties get involved in student governance. As this situation is unique to Rhodes we as a society have decided to focus on community engagement and creating and supporting Rhodes’ strong sense of activism as well as host informative debates and discussion surrounding policies and social issues,” says DASO chair, Chelsey Wilken. Both organisations will campaign with the aim of increasing their numbers this year and hope to encourage students to register and vote. “We are not expecting our membership to increase because of elections. We are not opportunists and therefore will not hijack the
election programme of the ANC. Our campaigns which are aimed at increasing numbers have improved the membership in past years,” says Toli. DASO will resume their “Register. Vote. Be heard.” as well as the #MyFirstTime campaign that was launched shortly before the national registration drive in November. “Yes, it’s elections year and we will be putting a lot of effort in before the elections but we want to make sure
that we have continuous projects throughout the year,” says Wilken. SASCO on the other hand, does not have any campaign plans yet but will liaise with the ANC leadership in determining their role in the run up to elections. With regard to the ‘born frees’, the organisations realise their historical importance but plan to capture them along with the majority of students who will be voting for the first time.
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Business
Edition 1
5
Grahamstown gains a new saint By Rhea MacDonald
inspired menu,” said Michael Travis, the general manager. “We’re also looking to bring in some craft beers, Well-known High Street restaurant La Trattoria which is something that Grahamstown doesn’t closed its doors this January. A new restaurant, have, and expand our wine list,” he said. Saint’s Bistro, has bought the business and looks Bray agreed that the business is developing. “The set to become a new town favourite. outside area has been expanded as well,” she said. Kaira Bray, one of the owners at Saint’s and a 3rd year Psychology student at Rhodes, explained how “The menu is growing and changing as we grow. We have a range of styles with a taste of everything her family started the business. “I’ve been studying at Rhodes for two years now, but still offering that home-cooked feel.” Although Grahamstown residents will surely miss but my family moved to Grahamstown from Jo’burg La Trattoria’s 2-for-1 pasta deal, Saint’s Bistro offers and got the place up and running,” she said. a special every day of the week and prices that Bray said the opportunity to buy the business seem slightly more reasonable than La Trattoria’s. opened up when the previous owners of “We aim to attract local Grahamstown residents as La Trattoria made the decision to move to well as students with our prices,” Bray said. Johannesburg. Saint’s Bistro is open Monday to Sunday from 12 Saints opened their doors in mid-January, offering till late, so be sure to round up some friends and a completely new menu that uses only locallycheck it out. sourced ingredients. “Our chef is fully qualified and is training the cooking staff in a EuropeanPic: Asanda Chonco
Money making as a student made easy By Heather Cameron Incoming first-years will soon find out that student life can be costly. Booze and late-night runs to BP will take a huge bite out of your wallet and some students simply need a way to earn some extra money. Don’t panic, because Grahamstown has a number of money making opportunities on offer. Two of the most common student professions are waiters and bartenders. There are a variety of bars and restaurants in town that offer part time jobs. Waitering is a popular profession because the shift set up is easier to fit in with a student timetable. Third-year student Saya Pierce-Jones started working at Gino’s in her first year. She believes that having a job gives people the chance to gain some beneficial skills like patience and customer service, which will be of use to any future graduate entering the working world. Throughout the year, students will be pouring shots and pulling pints behind the counters of bars across town. According to Honours student Matthew Machell-Cox, bartending can be one of the best paying part time jobs in Grahamstown. Machell-Cox, who has worked at Friar Tucks for the past two years, explained that the hours were quite manageable. Students generally have to work one or two nights a week and one night on weekends. “Bartending doesn’t suit everyone’s personality,” he said. “You have to be friendly, have good patience and strong level-
headedness.” Another popular job is tutoring. From second year, students can apply to be tutors for their various fields of study. This usually involves taking charge of one tutorial a week. Students are paid termly. Those looking to tutor at Rhodes need to apply through their departments, which usually involves sending in a CV and a motivation. Tutoring can also be done outside of Rhodes. This is a job that has the potential to pay very well but is quite demanding, because the pupils and their parents expect results. Third-year student Sarah Cullen tutors through DSG. “Tutoring is time-consuming but rewarding. People who are confident in their knowledge and who enjoy teaching should apply,” she said. She went on to explain that prospective tutors need to ensure that they have adequate time for their pupils. Those who wish to work privately can contact the heads of tutoring at various high schools in Grahamstown or put up personal advertisements around town. For those with a car, time and patience with kids, au pairing is a possible part time job as it offers great pay. However, third-year student Lee Murcia, who au paired in her first year, warns that it can be extremely time consuming. “Unless your timetable is pretty chilled and you’re good with time management, then it’s really hard to balance everything and stay on track with varsity,” she said. Students looking to au pair can join sites like gumtree.com
which has a section specific to au pair work. They can also put up personal ads around town or become a member of the Grahamstown parents’ network. Waitering, bartending, tutoring and au pairing may not be jobs fit for every student. There are also non-traditional money making tactics available to you. Vintage shops and thrift shops are popular in Grahamstown. Facebook groups like Second Hand Grahamstown exist so that students can easily buy and sell second-hand belongings. Digging out some old clothes, snapping a few pictures and adding them to the group is a quick way to make extra money. Another non-traditional part-time job that can be extremely rewarding is recording audio books for the library for the blind (located on High Street). Application involves an audition whereby you will have an impromptu reading that is recorded and sent to a panel of judges who will decide whether your voice is appropriate or not. Readers are paid every hour and receive full payment once they have finished recording an entire book. Hours are very flexible. Making money as a student can be easy if you’re prepared to work hard and get a little innovative. Even small things like driving to the fresh water spring just outside town and charging for refilling five litre water bottles is a simple way of sliding a few extra notes into your wallet.
Rhodes student Joni Lindes works various jobs whilst studying to help pay for rent and other expenses. Pic: Niamh Walsh-Vorster
6 Features
7 February 2014
Swapping journalism for drumsticks By David Mann
O
ur little university here in Grahamstown is known for many things – two of them being our great music scene and our talented lecturers. But when the two combine, then it’s something really special. Strato Copteros, who recently retired from being a Media Law and Ethics lecturer in the Journalism and Media Studies department, has replaced marking essays with making music full time in a local band called Fishwives. Copteros had been lecturing at Rhodes for two years while playing in various bands such as Sunship and One for the Flood on the side. Once his contract with Rhodes University ended, he planned on leaving Grahamstown, but then he met Fishwives, got signed and decided to change his plans. “The contract had come to an end, the course itself is being completely redone in such a way that the way I was teaching it is almost impossible now so I was actually going to leave and go to Johannesburg for good – and then Fishwives happened,” said Copteros. “We’ve actually recently been signed by the same guy who discovered the Dirty Skirts, Springbok Nude Girls and Desmond and the Tutus, so we hit real luck with that.” The band itself is a formidable combination of four Rhodes students: Cal Thompson on bass, Celery Burger on electric guitar and vocals, Lizzie-Lou Gaisford on acoustic guitar, accordion and vocals, Nicole Germiquet on cello, and backing them all up is Copteros on drums. They only started out two years ago with founding members Burger and Gaisford. The band has come a long way, playing consistent shows and picking up fans as well as members along the way. Copteros explained how he and
Thompson came to be a part of Fishwives. “Sunship had gone through a bit of a hiatus and myself and Cal Thompson, who was bassist for Counting Backwards, were looking to do a little side project together,” said Copteros. “We were working with a whole bunch of different guitarists and nothing kind of really gelled, and then we checked out Fishwives at a gig they played during National Arts Festival. So I said to Cal, ‘Look, there’s two guitarists and a brilliant cellist, all they need is a rhythm section’. So we jammed with them a bit after fest as a sort of trial run and then I booked a gig and that’s how it happened.”
Copteros says that for him, music has always been a calling and the drums were a passion since he was about seven, but his mother never loved the idea and bought him a piano instead. “I hated the piano and I gave it up when I was about ten,” he said. “You know when a dream sort of slowly dies? I started slowly, slowly giving up on music, only picking up African percussion in my thirties just to have something to bang on and it was when I got to Grahamstown I thought, ‘Man, I’ve gotta play the drums before I die’. So I bought a drum kit, played with a few bands and now I’m here.” Each band has lent its own unique style and technique to Copteros’ personal style of playing drums. He cites Fishwives as the band which he fits into effortlessly and with which he works best. “These are four young women, all of whom can sing and play about two or three different instruments, which makes for a very interesting soundscape,” said Copteros. “They’re proficient, talented female musicians which is quite rare, as these are not just four young girls who have been whipped out of the queue, stuck in lycra and given four cover songs to do. Fishwives is just such an organic band and thankfully, I seem to work very well with them too.” With a fresh ensemble, a new record deal and a whole year ahead of them, Fishwives plan on dedicating this year to playing gigs, tightening up their live performances, building up a bunch of new songs and working towards a full length album. If you haven’t checked them out before, they’ll be playing gigs throughout O-Week, and you can undoubtedly catch them at Champs throughout the year.
RU well? Student wellness at Rhodes By Fundiswa Ndlovu Rhodes University realises that their academic prestige is not all that goes into creating a leader. Wellness at Rhodes encourages you to adopt habits and behaviour that promote better health and an improved quality of life. Emotional wellness is more than just handling stress. Physical wellness is not only about those morning jogs and just when you think a large crowd of friends will increase your social well-being, think again. The Counselling Centre, Health Care Centre, Career Centre and HIV office are collaborating under one umbrella term: Student Wellness. These four centres are here to assist with your physical, academic, social, emotional and spiritual wellness needs. According to Student Wellness, wellness is not the mere absence of disease. The absence of sickness is only one part of being healthy. Wellness is a proactive, preventative approach designed to achieve optimum levels of health, social and emotional functioning. It is a positive approach to living: an approach that emphasizes the whole person. It is the integration of the body, mind, and spirit, and the appreciation that everything you do,
think, feel, and believe has an impact on your state of health. If you are feeling emotionally down, unsure of yourself, or are dealing with issues that are overwhelming, the Counselling Centre encourages you to make an appointment with one of their psychologists. The Health Care Centre is the place to be if you are feeling physically unwell or if you wish to know your HIV status. Should you have any questions about your health, one of the friendly nursing sisters and the HIV officer will ease any anxieties you might have. Should you wish to discuss future job options or need a career assessment, feel free to make an appointment at the Career Centre. Alternatively, if you are struggling academically and you’re not sure whether your current study methods are working, or if you’re having difficulty with time management, you can join the study skills groups offered at the Career Centre. The Counselling Centre is found on the top floor of the Bantu Stephen Biko
Building. Their registered psychologists and interns are available to discuss a variety of issues related to students’ mental health and well-being. The Centre specialises in confidential counselling, referral information, workshops on relevant issues and support groups for students with similar interests and goals. Counselling Centre contact: (046) 603 7070 or counsellingcentre@ru.ac.za Career Centre contact: (046) 603 7070 or careercentre@ru.ac.za Health Care Centre and HIV office: (046) 603 8523 or healthcarecentre@ru.ac.za
Fables Bookshop 119 High Street, just down from King Pie
We buy and sell all year round! Rhodes setworks, African, Modern and popular fiction. Books make great gifts too! Pop in, have a browse and walk out with a great read.
Like us on The counselling centre is available to all students. Pic: Niamh Walsh-Vorster
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The SRC: plans to improve student governance By Matthew Kynaston The Student Representative Council, or SRC for short, is the group of students who have been elected to govern student affairs. They look out for you and make sure that students are not treated unfairly, be it in academics, finances or general student life. There were two resignations from the SRC at the start of the year. Palesa Kgasane, Academic councillor, and Angel Mcwera, councillor for Community Engagement, both left for personal reasons. By-elections have been scheduled for the first term. Brad Bense, the SRC President, sat down with Activate to discuss his plans for the year and what he expects of O-Week. “I encourage all first-years to focus on personal development in positive ways,” said Bense. “Do your academics and get involved, and accept that you sometimes have to be uncomfortable to learn something.”
Bense went on to talk about what the SRC has been focusing on in their preperation for the year. “We’ve been reviewing our policies and are looking to make some changes to the way we run the council,” he said. “For example, we’re keen to implement a Student Parliament. It will be empowered to investigate societies on campus and will utilise the student disciplinary board properly. It’s one of the structures of accountability that we want to set up.” Another such structure will see every council member submit a year plan to the Executive councillors by 14 February. This will help guide how they tackle the year, and will give students a way of holding them accountable. All too often Rhodes has seen students elected into leadership, but later renege on their campaign promises. “The biggest thing for us this year is sorting out our policies. This means implementing an accountability system and formalising structures,” said Bense. “We want to rejuvenate student
Rhodes University honours Nelson Mandela
governance and keep students inspired.” It is true that there has been a general lack of interest in student politics at Rhodes in recent years. The 2014 National Elections will be watched closely by the SRC and there are strict rules concerning what student organisations can do on campus, such as putting up campaign posters or organising a rally with a political figure. Final registration to vote is on 8 and 9 Febraury. The SRC is planning to host a series of events and discussions nearer to election time, dealing with student politics and the importance of getting involved. Students can take their ID books to the Drama Department to register. Some of the SRC’s plans are of a more lighthearted nature. “We’re trying to set a Guinness World Record for the biggest overall,” said Bense. Overalls are part of the staple diet of Rhodes attire. “We’ll get paint and invite students to come down and write messages. If we break the record, we’ll see if we can do something cool like hang it from the clock tower,” he said with a
grin. One of the biggest issues on campus last year was the collapse of student transport. Bense said that there was a tender put out for companies which wanted to supply the official student transport. “Blunden won the tender, and their plan sounds amazing. They will have routes all over campus and Joza,” said Bense. “However, I don’t think that their plan will be implemented this year. We are still paying off debt that was incurred in previous years and we can’t raise student fees to cover the proposed cost,” he said. “So for now we’ll continue with the status quo.” This means making use of the Oppidan bus and the SRC bus. It is clear that the SRC under Bense’s administration is looking to cement plans that will not only improve student life in 2014, but also impact students in years to come. Their caution regarding spending large amounts of money is intended to let future SRCs utilise the budget to its full potential.
Rhodes University Law Clinic (RULC) honoured Nelson Mandela’s legacy by its involvement in the situation surrounding the Mandela family vs Mr. Mandla Mandela issue The dust has settled after the passing of our of exhuming a member of the Mandela family. beloved President and humanitarian, Nelson The media criticised the RULC for representing Mandela. International dignitaries are gone, the members of the Mandela family and for newspaper headlines have resumed reporting on socio-economic lead stories and people have allegedly funding the case. Rhodes University’s Vice-Chancellor Dr Saleem Badat cleared the returned to their daily routines. air by stating that “at the time of the decision Former President Mandela is an alumnus of on the matter, it was established that a number Rhodes University, through the award of an of the applicants were indigent.” Indigence honorary Doctorate in 2002. Rhodes honoured the President by naming a Hall of four residences is assessed on an individual basis, and is determined by a Means Test as applied by Legal after him in 2006. In 2003, the Mandela Rhodes Foundation (MRF) Aid South Africa. Dr Badat described Mandela as “a giant, an was established in partnership with the Rhodes irrepressible freedom fighter, revered political Trust. The MRF is one of three official charitable leader, statesman, social activist, humanitarian organisations linked with the President. The Brad Bense, President of the SRC 2014. The SRC offices can be found upstairs in the and a champion of learning and education”. others are the Nelson Mandela Foundation and Student Union. Pic: Niamh Walsh-Vorster Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu, after the Nelson Mandela Children’s Fund. whom another dining hall at Rhodes is named, The MRF’s Scholarship offers young Africans, who exhibit academic prowess as well as broader was a long-time friend of Mandela’s. When Mandela was freed from prison in Febraury 1990, leadership potential, an educational opportunity he and Winnie Mandela spent his first night of unique on the continent. Since its inception, the freedom in Tutu’s house in Cape Town. MRF has awarded scholarships to 173 students. The scholarships for 2014 were awarded to Sanna Abrahams, Lisa Moholo and Nicole Germiquet. For further information on the Mandela Maholo will start reading for her Masters in Rhodes Scholarship, visit their website at Management this year, researching the water management system of Makana Municipality. Her www.mandelarhodes.org studies will focus on the internal and external risks that affect the municipality’s level of water service delivery. “I saw the impact it [Rhodes University] had on my community and I wanted to be a part of that,” she said. “I wanted to better my family situation and saw Rhodes as a way of doing that.” Abrahams will be pursuing an Honours degree in philosophy this year. She says she is moved and inspired by the MRF’s approach to leadership. “I think the awe-inspiring thing about the Mandela Rhodes Foundation is that it seeks to promote ethical leadership that is based in a respect for, and passion to promote, human dignity,” she said. “And for me, the scholarship, and specifically philosophy, is indispensable to this.” Inspired by a deep love for music and helping people, Germiquet was drawn to ethnomusicology as a way of combining her two great passions. “It has always been a great interest of mine to merge the social and the musical in my studies,” she said. “Ethnomusicology is a perfect subject path to do that.” Each scholar benefits from access to leadership development programmes rooted in the principles underpinning the foundation. The vision of the Mandela Rhodes Foundation is ‘Building an exceptional leadership capacity in Africa.’ This goes hand in hand with the Rhodes motto, ‘Where Leaders Learn’. President Nelson Mandela recieving his honourary Rhodes was in the news last year in Doctorate. Pic: Sourced relation to the Mandela family. The By Fundiswa Ndlovu
8 Photo Story
7 February 2014
Grahamstown: then and now Words and photographs by Niamh Walsh-Vorster
For a small city, Grahamstown has some big history. The 1820s settlers left behind their mark with amazing architecture and buildings. The founding of Rhodes University in the early 1900s attracted intellectuals from around the country, who contributed to discoveries that put Grahamstown on the map. The best part is that most of these sites and places of history are still standing tall (except for the original Great Hall, which burned down on Guy Fawkes Night in 1949). There are many ‘fun fact’ stories in the archives of the Cory Library. These are some of the ones we found.
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1. The Drostdy Gateway in the early 1880s. The military used it as an entrance for their parades. The two wooden posts were used to protect plasterwork from being damaged by gun carriers. Today the Drostdy Gateway is more commonly referred to as The Arch. Still visible is the fire and curfew bell that was used in the late 1800s until the first clock was installed. 2. The Cathedral of St Michael and St George has the highest spire in South Africa. Located in the Cathedral are 10 bells that can be heard every Sunday as a call for worship. 3. The Grahamstown City Hall has been at the epicentre of the town’s development. It was opened in 1882, making it 132 years old today.
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4. A view from the South side of Grahamstown showing the buildings of Fort England and Fingo village in the early 1900s. Grahamstown seen from the 1820 Settlers Monument. At this site the military would fire a gun at 9am every day to announce the local time. Only in the late 1800s was the first clock installed at the Cathedral.
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5. Church Square in 1905. In 1906 the Guardian Angel statue was built in place of the well. The well had become a traffic hazard as people and their horses often stopped to collect water. 6. Beaufort Street in the 1900s as an upmarket residential area where people enlisted in the Boer War lived.
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10 Arts & Entertainment
7 February 2014
Pubs, clubs and watering holes: A guide to Grahamstown nightlife By Sebastian Burger Olde 65 – Playing host to open-mic nights of both the Rhodes Hip-Hop Society and Live Music Society, “Oldies” is the classic cosy hangout that starts off the New Street strip. Known as a great place to enjoy some of the musical talent Grahamstown has to offer, it always has friendly bartenders and is the perfect place to wind down at after a long day. If what you’re looking for is good mates and a cold beer, you can’t go wrong.
Café Blanca-Grotto – With some of the cheapest drinks in Grahamstown, Café Blanca is usually the first stop on a night of jolling, or just an awesome spot to have a daytime beer after lectures. Even though it was closed for the better part of last year due to “difficulties” with its liquor license, Café Blanca remains a firm favourite of veteran Rhodents and newcomers alike.
Friar Tucks Pub and Grill - An old faithful club with a pumping dance floor and a great upstairs bar area, Friars is a true mixing pot of Rhodents (and probably the last place you want to use a forensic UV light). Expect to make a lot of new Champs Action Bar – Run by Mike ‘Dirty Mike’ friends in this club thanks to its nature of being packed to the brim every weekend without fail. Theron, and located in Scott’s Avenue (between High and New Street), Champs is a rocking The Rat and Parrot – A classic bar in all bar complete with pool tables, comfy booths respects, The Rat is the perfect place to watch and enough smoke in the air to give Shanghai the game thanks to its revered pizzas and a run for its money. The bar has no specials, but an apparently limitless supply of beer. Don’t is loved by many Rhodents due to its insanely cheap drinks, regular live music and balls-to-the- underestimate it though; when it comes to crazy nights out, a stop at the Rat is a must, especially wall karaoke every Wednesday night.
with Mama Pam’s boerewors rolls being sold outside. With the new additions of a second deck area, revamped kitchen and an extended upstairs bar, the Rat can seemingly never disappoint. The Union – Home to the NatCaf improv comedy group and famous end of term drink clearance sales, the Union is an old gem hidden in the upper levels of the Bantu Stephen Biko building on campus. Its location makes it the place to go if you want to watch sports being played on the Great Field or to enjoy some of the bigger acts that grace the Grahamstown stage such as Desmond and the Tutus, Mr. Cat & the Jackal and more. Prime – Considered the higher end of Grahamstown clubbing, Prime is the place to go if you feel like being dressed to the nines and getting your dance on. With 2 for 1 specials every Wednesday and major bands and DJ’s such as Zebra and Giraffe, Goodluck and the 5FM crew
popping in for shows from time to time, Prime never disappoints. Slipstream Sports Bar – Often considered as one of the more alternative venues in Grahamstown, Slipstream Sports Bar is the proud host of the My Own Music events which happen once a term. It comes complete with a large stage and dance floor that allow for some intense live acts to accompany your pillaging of the bar and pool tables. It is well worth the extra walk down New Street. Tunnel Vision Festival – Arguably the biggest party of each semester, Tunnels is an electronic music fest that takes place on the 3 Chimneys Farm property on the outskirts of town. Getting its name from the famous tunnel that one of the stages is located in, expect to make some of the craziest and weirdest memories of your varsity career there - whether from inside the tunnel, at the bonfires around it or during the often “unpredictable” trips there and back.
The local pubs and clubs of Grahamstown attract hordes of students keen for a good time every Wednesday, Friday and Saturday night. Pics: Niamh Walsh-Vorster
Rhodents banding together – a brief introduction to Grahamstown bands By David Mann
Gentlemen Callers Comprised of five members, The Gentlemen Callers have made quite rahamstown is home to a bunch a name for themselves here in the of talented individuals, but not all of their talents lie strictly in academics. Eastern Cape. The prolific post punk / low fi outfit already have a music Our little city plays host to countless video as well as three EPs, all shot and gifted musicians and bands. Some of the best have been formed by students recorded here in Grahamstown. The band is a crowd favourite at Champs just like you who have somehow and has also toured across the Eastern managed to balance their passions Cape, playing at venues in PE and with their academics. Dream big and know that anything is possible. Activate East London. You can probably catch would like to mention just a few bands Gentlemen Callers at Champs or that are definitely worth taking the time Slipstream sometime this year. You can also check out their EPs on Facebook. to check out in the days to come.
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Lu Fuki Lu Fuki found Grahamstown fame after winning the 2011 Battle of the Bands hosted by the Live Music Society. Directly translated, the four-piece funky alternative rock band means ‘bad body odour’ and they pride themselves on “stinking up your ears”. Lu Fuki is known for their energy, their charismatic stage presence and their upbeat and in your face brand of funk. Lu Fuki have played shows accross the country and are sure to impress. Check out their Facebook page for links to their music, gig dates and videos.
Those Days Are Gone If mosh pits, walls of death or any other musically-accompanied act of pain is your scene, then Those Days Are Gone is the band for you. Comprised of five members, the local punk/hardcore band has only recently been formed and is made up of members who have all had experience in previous Grahamstown bands. Those Days Are Gone has already built up quite a following here in Grahamstown and have played shows in PE too. Expect to see them around Champs, tearing up the stage and making the crowd move.
Fishwives Fishwives started out as a duo in 2012 and fast grew to an all-female powerhouse in 2013, before being joined by their latest two members, one of whom is a past lecturer in the Journalism department who really enjoys his drumming. Now with five members, Fishwives is a Grahamstown favourite, frequently belting out fourpart harmonies accompanied by a spectrum of instruments. The band have played shows at the National Arts Festival and all around the Eastern Cape so be sure to catch them.
These bands and many more will be playing throughout the year at various venues here in Grahamstown. Be sure to check all of them out! You won’t regret it. Pic: FLICKR/ Ben Harding
• Home Baked Cakes, Pies, Quiches and Biscuits • Frozen Meals • Platters for Parties • Individualised Birthday Cakes • Gluten Free products • Gloves, Scarves, Beanies etc.
Arts & Entertainment 11
Edition 1
The Activate guide to events and specials in town By Sebastian Burger
Steak Night – A glorious celebration of carnivorism, Steak Night takes place on the last Wednesday of every month at the Grahamstown Golf Club. For R10 per 100g you can purchase steak which they cook to mouth-watering perfection in front of you, making it one of the best deals in town. 2 for 1 at Prime – A tradition every Wednesday night at Prime, the purchase of a drink comes with a free duplicate for your enjoyment or sharing. This is the perfect way to start your mid-week break and a great excuse to make friends. Karaoke at Champs – As sure as the sun will rise, there will be students singing their heart out at Champs every Wednesday night. From Guns N’ Roses to Robbie Williams, the always-packed karaoke nights at Champs are among the best ways to relieve stress and live out any suppressed dreams of being a rock star. Dressing up as your favourite singer is not required but is totally awesome.
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Re-ignition Lumo Party feat. Clinixx (Belgium) Saturday 8 February Venue: Prime Time: 21:00 Entrance: R10 before midnight
Day at the Zoo Wednesday 11 February Venue: 28A Milner Rd Time: 13:00-20:00 Entrance: None, but donations are welcome Free Punch Free shuttle from Union and back from 1pm Space Invaders Lumo party Wednesday 12 February Venue: Prime Time: 20:00 2 for 1 drinks After 21:00
2 for 1 burgers at Spur – Pick your fuel: beef, chicken or even ribs, they all come with an extra friend on Monday nights, which means you better bring yours. A tradition for many Rhodes students and Grahamstown locals alike, the 2 for 1 burgers at Spur special is the perfect way to take a break from dining hall dinners without breaking your bank account.
Nat(urally) Caf(feinated) – Bringing everybody to tears with their comedy every second Thursday, the NatCaf improv comedy group is widely considered the best comedic act at Rhodes University. Adopting themes for many of their shows such as Lord of the Rings, Harry potter and even The Simpsons, this group of funny people are definitely worth checking out.
Brunch – Taking place once a semester for students living in res, brunch means the cancellation of breakfast and lunch in favour of a single glorious feast featuring everything from croissants to bacon. Bring your stretchy pants and prepare to hate yourself.
Thirsty Thursday at Lowlander– With R25 crunchy thin-crust pizzas, drink specials all night,and live music, Lowlander is the perfect place to spend your Thursdays.
Open-Mic/Acoustic Night at Olde 65 – If you feel like taking it easy or just enjoying some local music, Oldies is the place to be on a Wednesday. Hosted by the Rhodes Live Music Society (LMS), this event sees the local poets and bands of Grahamstown showing off their talent in a friendly and cosy environment. Entrance is free for LMS members and R10 for everybody else.
There are many more specials and regular events in town, so exploring the various spots and finding out what works for you is highly recommended.
Campus Reboot Thursday 13 February Venue: Prime Time: 21:00 Entrance: Pre-sold - R20 General, R50 All Access Door - R40 General Pre-sold tickets available at RMR in the Bantu Stephen Biko Building Valentine’s Day Party Feat Heavy K Friday 14 February Venue: Prime Entrance: R30 Foam Party Feat GUNZ ‘N LAZERS Saturday 15 February Venue: Prime Time: 21:00 Entrance: R10 before midnight Campus Invasion Feat DJ Milkshake, Oskido and Rob Vember Friday 21 February Venue: Prime Entrance: +-R40 Time: 21:00
Coombs Camp Retreat for stressed campus types and like-minded people (20 minutes from Grahamstown)
Off-season town break-aways: Min. 4 adults - Max. 8 adults from R110.00 per person per night (backpacker rate)
For bookings or more information: 082 784 6805 info@afrikaleisure.com
12 Lifestyle
7 February 2014
First year obstacles: the guide to surviving and thriving in your first year By Sara Steiniger
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t is no secret that university is very different to high school. While trying to adjust to a new environment and meeting new people, you may find it hard to settle into studying. Before you know it, it is your first set of exams and you are missing notes and have no idea what is going on in your classes. Here are a few tips to help you to survive first year work load. Know your timetable like you know your dining hall menu. Write it down, take a photograph of it on your phone and keep an extra copy in your bag. There is nothing worse than missing a class because you mixed up your timetable. If you are very bad with time, make your timetable your screensaver so you will always know what subjects you have. It is also important to remember that most classes have a register and only allow for you to miss a certain amount of lectures and tutorials. Take note of this as it would be sad to lose your DP over a simple time mix-up. So make sure you do get to class and try your best to make it to your dawnie lectures. Lecturers like to give out important information and tips at dawnies as they know only serious students make it to early lectures.
Procrastination is a serious condition that many university students suffer from. A lot of projects and essays get done either the night before or even the day of. Try motivating yourself to do your work in advance by setting dates for yourself. If you meet these dates then reward yourself by going out or buying yourself something nice. You will be organised and prepared for anything the lecturer throws at you. University is also about social interactions. If you are feeling a bit socially awkward and easily overwhelmed by the amount of new people around you, here are some tips on how to make friends. Orientation week, or as everyone else calls it O-Week, allows for many opportunities to make friends. So here is how it is done. Make sure you introduce yourself to your neighbours and other people around you. You will be living with these people for a year and will more than likely come to the rescue when you run out of staples or shampoo. Do not hibernate in your room. Get out, go to supper or a party or even hang out with some people in your residence or digs - you aren’t going to make friends by sitting in your room. Get out of your comfort zone and into a different environment, you never know where you will find your best friends.
Be active in university life. There are so many different events and activities for you to take part in. Serenades, sports games, opening lectures and the many societies Rhodes has to offer are just a few examples. These are all great places to transform yourself into the socialite that you have the potential to be. If you see someone in the street or in a lecture that you have met before, don’t avoid eye contact and run in the opposite direction - say hello. The only way to make friends and build relationships is to actually talk to people and invite them for coffee or drinks. Nomusa Mavuso, a third year BA English and Linguistics major says, “I know it sounds cheesy, but grab every opportunity. I know you are there to get a degree but if you don’t allow yourself to make mistakes, university will suck for you. ” Last but not least, smile. Greet everyone, no matter how shy or socially awkward either you or they are. You are going to be together for the next three to four years, so having a possy of good friends to support you will help you along the way. You need to find the balance between work and fun. If you can achieve this, then you will have the best year of your life and set the pace for the years to come.
Tips on dominating your O-Week By Nicholas McGregor As fresh young minds follow their academic dreams to Grahamstown they must first pass through the gauntlet of Orientation Week, otherwise known as O-Week. This can be a difficult and trying time for the new recruits, so here are some tips to optimize what could be the greatest week of your lives. 1. Don’t go to introduction lectures. Really, don’t. Unless you are utterly perplexed as to what career you would like to be delving into, rather utilize that precious time by socializing with your new friends in residence and in your dining hall. 2. Spend money allotted for the month in O-week. I promise it’s worth it. Have the time of your life. 3. Don’t get stuck into going to the same places for the whole week, i.e. Rat and Friars. I am well aware of the gravitational pull that these two fine establishments hold and you will be tempted to play it safe and spend your nights bouncing between the two of them. I urge you to explore the other options within Grahamstown. The hipsters and rollie-smoking, beanie-wearing individuals should all make their way to Champs. However, if you are wearing a FOX cap, tap-out vest and hail from Benoni, Prime will be the place for you. 4. Pace yourselves, O-Week is vac on crack. Yes, I am sure vac was hardcore ‘bru’, but your leisurely week away in Umhlanga or Plett is a walk in the park compared to the war zone that is O-Week. Do not get sucked into the thick of things. Take it easy until you are completely comfortable and have made some friends who you trust and who will look after you. 5. Don’t be too cool for serenades. It is probably one of the best experiences in O-Week. The bonds that you will make whilst waking up at 7 in the morning with your res brothers and sisters and others you meet will last a lifetime. 6. ‘First Year Spread’ is a real thing. The Steers delivery men are great guys but you really don’t want them to be your best friends - rather let them be distant acquaintances. Especially when the amount of exercise you will be doing at Rhodes compared to high school will be near minimal (unless you live on ‘The Hill’). There is a myth floating around that guys cannot contract the cruel condition of ‘First Year Spread’ but don’t be so easily fooled. It happens. As the mukaba rises like baking bread, from a build-up of Black Label, Steers and Mixed Grill, it will soon be time to sign up for the gym.
Joining a society or getting involved in extra activities can be a great way to making friends. Pic: Niamh Walsh-Vorster
The road less travelled: Eastern Cape’s hidden gems By David Mann and Leah Solomon As your time at Rhodes flies by you’ll come to realise that Grahamstown can become very small very quickly. Luckily, the Eastern Cape is filled with little getaways that make your student life a lot more manageable. Activate has compiled a small list of places to go when times are tough. Hogsback is located approximately an hour and a half outside of Grahamstown. It is a firm favourite to all Rhodes students. Highlights include the ecology shrine, the labyrinth, hiking trails and the bath tub at Away with the Fairies. Cheap accommodation, beautiful scenery and the occasional trance party make it an instant high priority destination to visit. Bathurst is a quaint little town about 45 minutes outside of Grahamstown. Abundant in craft shops and thrift stores, it is a perfect place to go on a day trip with mates. Having a cold beer at the Pig and Whistle Inn, which holds the oldest pub in the country and visiting the famous Big Pineapple is an absolute must. Kenton-On-Sea is a great place to go for a quick getaway. For those that find themselves missing the ocean, the beaches are quiet and secluded and Jeremiah’s, located right on the beachfront is great for a couple of beers and slices of pizza with friends.
The giant pineapple located in Bathurst is a popular attraction among students. Pic: Niamh Walsh-Vorster
Kasouga is the best place to go to wind down after a stressful term or right before exams. It is located a short while after Kenton and according to Kenton.co.za, many people consider Kasouga to be one of the earliest Eastern
Cape resorts and “a nature lovers paradise as it is not commercialised”. With cheap accommodation as well, a visit to Kasouga could be one of the best decisions you will ever make. Port Alfred is home to the infamous Universities Boatrace event that all Rhodents anticipate every year, and therefore is a prime place to visit. Known as the ‘Heart of the Sunshine Coast’, Port Alfred has a lot to offer. Apart from its friendly atmosphere and locals, Port Alfred has many things for people to do, despite its small size. One of the most popular attractions is to go on boat cruises through the Marina canals. Addo Elephant Park is perfect if you feel like you need to get in touch with nature and escape from the hustle and bustle of student life. Home to 550 elephants, it offers you a “true African experience”. You are able to engage in amazing activities such as walking with elephants and elephant back rides, as well as hiking, 4X4ing, horse trails and river cruises. Luckily for students, they have a backpacker’s facility which agrees with the student budget. Coffee Bay is located within the former ‘Transkei’ or what is now known as the Wild Coast. With rugged, untouched coastline, secluded beaches and traditional isiXhosa culture in abundance, Coffee Bay has something for everyone. If you’re looking for a hectic party, the area hosts two inexpensive backpackers aimed at youth which attract visiters from accross the globe. If you are looking for more of a relaxing long weekend away, stay at White Clay. It is the most beautiful location, overlooking the sea with a variety of accommodation,as well as a superb restaurant.
Lifestyle 13
Edition 1
Groups on Facebook: helping Rhodents since forever By Sara Steiniger
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acebook isn’t so cool now that your parents, uncles and even grandparents use it. But it provides a very helpful forum for communication at Rhodes. There are many groups Rhodents have created to help our community of students. There are pages for second hand furniture to help those who are moving out of res and for those leaving to sell theirs, groups for your subjects, societies and even carpooling to and from different areas. Make sure you familiarise yourself with these groups, as well as the Rhodes University group and Rhodes SRC group. These groups are very important as they will answer almost anything
you need to know regarding your new university. Online second hand clothing pages have become quite popular, so much so that it may be overwhelming trying to keep up with it all. The ladies of Rhodes have teamed up and created a second hand clothing site. “Second hand Grahamstown” is an open group on Facebook that anyone can join. This group has over 1 000 members; all posting items of clothing, shoes and accessories. The creators of this group, Georgia Humphrey and Anjuli Daya did not expect its popularity. “I got the idea for second hand Grahamstown from a page on Facebook called Second Hand Cape Town,” says Humphrey. “I noticed that a lot of friends of mine were posting
in the group - trying to get rid of clothes for a bit of extra money and I was like, ‘Hey, this is a way for Rhodents, including myself, to sell their old clothes to make a bit of money’,” says Humphrey. Most of the second hand shops in Grahamstown are quite expensive. “It is often a struggle to find nice clothes at student prices in Grahamstown. It’s also been very useful for clothes that are gathering dust at the back of closets to get new homes,” says Daya. With so many different people on the group, there are bound to be clothes that suit your style. So make sure you find the groups that best suit you and join them as you are bound to have questions that other Rhodents will be happy to answer and vice versa.
Facebook group ‘Second hand Grahamstown’ taking Internet shopping to a cheaper level. Pic: Niamh Walsh-Vorster
The student’s guide to surviving technical disasters By Ash Erasmus We’ve all been there. Your assignment is due in less than 12 hours, and your computer decided that it was a good time to rebel against the system. So you’re sitting with a blank screen and no assignment. Commence panic attack. But have no fear, Activate is here to save you from potential disastrous situations. We’ll even add in some tech-savvy tips and tricks. Back-up, back-up and back-up again. You’ve heard it over a million times, but do you do it? Save your work onto your laptop and a USB stick. Do that, and it’s then time to use Google Drive or anything similar. Google Drive is a nifty tool that
allows you to back up your documents, pictures, videos etc on the Internet. Which means that you can download them anywhere, any timeprovided you have internet of course. So if you lose that USB stick, and your computer freaks out, Google will have that document waiting for you. Head on over to drive.google.com, check out the tutorial videos and get started! Save your documents CONSTANTLY. With Grahamstown being notorious for blackouts, this is the best advice Activate could ever give you. Never go for more than 10 minutes without saving your document. It’s not worth the pain if your battery dies or the electricity goes out. Use strong passwords! Try not to use the same
one for multiple sites. The characteristics of a strong password include: at least 8 letters long, a number, a capital letter and a symbol. Never leave your laptop lying underneath heavy books or items. Pressure can cause the screen to crack. Replacing that is almost as expensive as a brand new computer. Another rookie error is leaving your laptop lying next to speakers or any magnet. Hard-drives are susceptible to even the smallest magnetic field, and your data can become corrupted really easily. Save yourself a heartache. Software is becoming more and more expensive, basically unaffordable, but here are some free (and legal) alternatives to common software: Openoffice: A free alternative to Microsoft Office. Downloadable from www.openoffice.org - the software is compatible with most document
types and is fully functional. It’s a great way to save yourself a few thousand rand. Avast Free Antivirus: Every computer needs an antivirus, but if yours has expired or you just don’t have one, Avast is the next best thing. Check out www.avast.com. VLC Media Player: If you haven’t heard of this yet, time to jump on the band wagon and download this fantastic software. This media player allows you to play almost every video or music format. It’s great for those educational videos you’re bound to be watching. Those are just some basic tips to keep you going. Should you need any assistance throughout the year, be sure to head on over to the friendly IT Shop staff or Insight Technologies in Peppergrove Mall.
Take your computer to the IT Department on campus to have it looked at. Pic: Sourced/ FLICKR
14 Environment
7 February 2014
Living green: how to make your digs more eco-friendly
By Youlendree Appasamy
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iving in digs can be a great opportunity to incorporate eco-friendly tips and tricks into your student life. Activate has put together a short guide to help you live a more eco-friendly life this year. Recycling is a cost-efficient way to reduce waste. Since 2011, Rhodes University has instituted a recycling collection service. The recycling service routes and drop-off points can be seen on this map. Alongside this university initiative, the Makana Municipality has a two-bag recycling system in place. Recyclable materials such as paper, glass bottles and cans (all cleaned) should be placed in an orange or clear plastic bag and all non-recyclable items should be placed in a black bag. Both bags should be left out on the usual garbage collection days. From living in one of the apartment blocks in town to a granny flat in the suburbs, here are some nifty environmentally-conscious tips from the Oppidan office: • Switch off all lights and appliances when leaving a room • Use an electric blanket or hot water bottle instead of a heater • Use energy saving bulbs such as compact fluorescent lighting (CFL), instead of incandescent lighting.
• Turn the temperature on your geyser down to 60 degrees Celsius. Your water will still be warm and this saves on geyser energy consumption • When re-heating food use a microwave instead of the stove as this uses less energy. • Walk or cycle wherever you go. • Use your printer wisely - double sided printing and use low quality printing for everyday notes. • Limit the use of disposable plates, cups and serviettes. Here is what Rhodes students in digs have to say: Jamie Eray 3rd year BA student “We have water tanks in our garden. Start a veggie patch. Use dirty water to water plants, handwash small clothes, and don’t use the tumbledryer. Always recycle. A cool thing to do is use old wine bottles as candle holders. Vintage looking tins, vases, pots, bowls and cups all lend a rustic feel to the digs and also reduces rubbish.” Jason Mackay 3rd year BA Law student “Walk to gym and find a digs that is centrally located so that you can walk to places instead of driving. Also, switching off lights can save a lot of money on electricity” Anna Kharuchas 3rd year BJourn student“I won’t be making any great efforts beyond the basics such as switching on the geyser only when needed, saving electricity by unplugging electronics. This year will be my first year in digs so any efforts to be green will be learned and done as A map of the Rhodes University recycling route. Recycling is easy if you know the process so get involved and help the planet! Pic: Supplied I get use to living by myself.”
New environmental policy seeks approval at Rhodes By Youlendree Appasamy A proposed addition to the 1998 Rhodes University Environmental Policy has been rejected by the Rhodes University Senate for not adhering to the approved format for policy proposals. The proposal, entitled the Environmental Sustainability Policy, was tabled by the Rhodes University Environmental Committee and submitted for approval in 2013. “Unfortunately the document did not fit into the approved Rhodes University (RU) template for all RU policies. This set us back, but we will resubmit it this year in the format they require,” said Rhodes University
Safety, Health and Environmental Officer, Nicky Kohly. “The need to freshen up the Environmental Policy came through the Rhodes University Environmental Committee”, said Manager of Grounds and Gardens at Rhodes University, Mark Hazell. Amendments to the current Environmental Policy were brought forward by all members of the RU Environmental Committee and were collated by Kohly in March of last year. According to the policy document, the Environmental Sustainability Policy highlights Rhodes University’s unique impact on the resources of the region, as well as its far-reaching
influence in the broader community. The proposal states that “Rhodes University recognises that its use of resources has an impact on the socioeconomic and biophysical environment, and that embracing sustainability... will improve human well-being.” Along with foregrounding sustainability in environmental teachings and practices at Rhodes University, the policy attempts to incorporate cultural, economic and political concerns into the grander narrative of the biophysical aspects of the environment. If approved, facilitating sustainable and effective water management and usage is pivotal
in the implementation of the Environmental Sustainability Policy. As Grahamstown locals and past students will attest, regular water supply proves to be a challenge for Makana Muncipality and Rhodes University. “We will have to ensure that the implementation procedures in the policy cover all the necessary areas, including Rhodes University’s approach to use of water resources. Otherwise the policy statement could just end up being a bit of common ‘green-wash’,” said Kohly. In addition to sustainable implementation procedures, identifying areas of responsibility and monitoring within the Rhodes community are also key in this regard.
Grahamstown tourism clashes with proposed turbines By Sebastian Burger With South Africa moving towards a more energy sustainable future as of 2009, a town located so close to the windy city of Port Elizabeth would seem like an obvious place to construct electricity generating wind farms. However, distress from the local game farm industry over the potential harm to business has continually slowed down progress towards a greener Grahamstown. In 2010 it was proposed that a wind farm be constructed in the Grahamstown area to supplement the town’s power generation and provide other benefits for the community. Such benefits include supporting local childcare facilities and improving the Duna library in Joza Township. The wind farm would go by the name of “Waainek” (windy corner) and would consist of eight turbines situated approximately 5km to the west of Grahamstown. This proposal was quickly halted by local residents and property owners who complained that the turbines would ruin the local scenery and devastate the local tourism industry. An industry that they claim was built on providing tourists with unspoiled “virgin” views of South African nature and wildlife. Residents claimed that tourists would not pay to hunt and view game if the horizon played host to futuristic wind turbines. They added that many local businesses would suffer and close down as a result. These are not their only concerns. A panel was organised to allow locals to voice concerns regarding the project conducted by the Eastern Cape Private Nature Reserve Association (IN-
DALO). The panel brought to the surface three common worries concerning wind farms. These worries stated that the turbines would kill birds, would be noisy and that they are costly when compared to coal. These common complaints have all been disproven by studies that show that birds are more likely to be killed by cars, turbines are no noisier than a passing car and that within the next two decades wind turbines will have proven cheaper than coal and would, in the long term, greatly benefit the province. In 2012 another proposal for a wind farm, headed by German company Plan-8 Infinite Energy, was brought forward. This time, the farm would be located 30 km to the east of Grahamstown, but the proposal was once again halted by the same complaints of damaging the tourism industry. According to studies conducted by the Coastal and Environmental services on behalf of Plan-8, approximately R6.13 million per year would be lost by the local tourism sector. While this is a substantial amount, the same studies show that approximately R107.25 million would be injected into the local economy by the wind farm project in the form of job creation and support for the local community. It remains to be seen how long Grahamstown residents will have to wait for clean, affordable energy when creating it will mean the shutting down of one of the area’s major industries. For more info on the topic, go to activateonline.co.za and head to the Environmental section.
Windmill farms such as this are a source of clean effiecient energy. But there are many obstacles halting the installation of such in the Grahamstown area. Pic: Sourced/FLICKR
Sport 15
Edition 1
Sports Admin reports back on the year 2013 By Mandla Gagayi Head of Sport Rhodes University
2013 was a year filled with both difficulties and major successes for Rhodes sport. At the end of year USSA events, our biggest result came in from the pool tournament held in Cape Town. Our men’s side won silver, an improvement from their 2012 bronze win, after narrowly losing to the University of Limpopo in the finals. Tennis finished sixth out of 12. A– Section Cricket matches were rained out with very few matches to be played. Rhodes won one, drew one and thus avoided relegation. 2014 promises to be an even better year and we have the following big
events coming up: • Hockey men’s 1st team participation in Varsity Sports (March – May) • Hosting USSA Rugby National Championships (29 June – 04 July) We will also be hosting Rhodes Rugby 7’s as a way of re-launching the Rhodes Rugby Club. This involves the unveiling of the new 1st team kit, new scrumming machines and other equipment. The team has battled in the past few seasons but on the back of an encouraging win at last year’s Intervarsity, Rhodes looks forward to
igniting a new era on the field. We are also waiting for the signing off for the two following infrastructure projects: • Sanding and remarking of Alec Mullins Hall floors. • Upgrading the hockey Astroturf lights. To further recognize our hardworking sports stars, two of our female athletes, Natalie Ross (athletics) and Nobubele Phuza (netball) have been nominated for Eastern Cape Sportswoman of the Year. The sports awards function will be held in Port Elizabeth on 28 February 2014.
Sports calendar 2014: everything plannned
FIRST TERM 17 February 2014: First Term Starts 24-28 February 2014: Club Committees induction workshop, Sports Admin, 18:00 24-26 February 2014: Health Suite Sign Up (Students) 25 February 2014: Clubs Sign Up (Alec Mullins Hall) 17:00 – 20:00
SECOND TERM 14 April 2014: Second Term Starts
21 July 2014: Third Term Starts
14 April 2014: Club of the Year forms circulated to clubs
26 July 2014: Deadline for submission of Club Budget requests for 2015
17 April 2014: Staff Intervarsity Meeting (Rhodes)
31 July 2014: Judges Evening – Sports April 2014: Weights Facility Fitness Day (date Personalities to be confirmed)
April 2014: Nominations for Rhodes Sports 26 February 2014: Rhodes Sports Evening (Great Personalities (date to be confirmed) Field) 24 April 2014: SPA/SRC Intervarsity LOC meeting (SPA) 11:00 28 February 2014: First Years Athletics 01 - 02 March 2014: Health Suite Team Building
30 April 2014: Colours committee meeting (SPA) 13h00
04 March 2014: Sports Council Exco Meeting 17:00
05 - 09 May 2013: Clubs to submit/present updated colours guidelines
07 March 2014: Deadline for Club Sign ups
May 2014: Closing date for Sports Personality nominations (date to be confirmed)
13 March 2013: Pick ‘n Pay Chairper sons Cocktail Evening (OMP Lounge) 17 -20 March 2014: Club General Meetings 04 April 2014: First Term Ends
THIRD TERM
05 August 2014: Sports Council Exco meeting 22 August 2014: Cyclathon (Aerobics Hall) 08 August 2014: Sports Personality Gala Evening 15 – 16 August 2014: Eastern Cape Intervarsity, Alice
20 May 2014: Sports Council Exco meeting
18 - 29 August 2014: Colours Awards presentations
01 -05 June 2014: SWOT WEEK
05 September 2014: Third Term Ends
29 June – 04 July 2014: USSA Tournaments (USSA Rugby) 17 July 2014: Staff Intervarsity Meeting (SPA) 10:00
FOURTH TERM 15 September 2014: Fourth Term Starts 17 -20 Sept 2014: Universities Boatrace, Port Alfred 16 September 2013: Sports Council Exco meeting 22 September 2013: Deadline for Club of the Year forms 23 -26 Sept 2013: Evaluation of the Club of the Year forms 26 September 2014: Group Fitness Marathon 30 September 2014: Results for club of the year forms 16 October 2014: Health Suite Star Awards 17 October 2014: Sports Awards Dinner 24 October 2014: Deadline for Rhodes Sport Magazine articles (Clubs & SPA) 28 October 2014: Sports Council AGM 27 – 31 October 2014: SWOT WEEK 01 November 2014: Exams 20 – 21 November 2014: Strategic planning session and end of the year function 01 – 06 December 2014: USSA Tournaments
Intervarsity is the biggest event on the Rhodes sporting calendar. Here the Rhodes women’s first team takes on Walter Sisulu University’s teams at the 2013 Intervarsity. Pic: Ashleigh Morris
Sports Admin report Page 15
Edition 1, 1, 7 February February 2014 Edition 2014
A year in review: the sporting highlights of 2013 By Nandi Pape
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he 2013 sports season saw some excellent performances from Rhodents across a wide variety of disciplines. From Intervarsity, the highlight of the sporting calendar, to the somewhat nail-biting end to Inter-res, Rhodes sportsmen and women kept the spectators entertained throughout the year. In 2013, Inter-res sport made sure that those who were partial to physical activity had something to do on a Saturday morning and, as the competition was nearing its end the residences began to mean business. Among the women’s residences, Ruth First House and Oppidan had emerged as the top contenders, as they were tied for the top spot going into the final event. The Oppidans eventually took the trophy after an impressive performance in squash against Prince Alfred A. It was a similar situation for the men’s residences, with Calata House leading the rankings and Piet Retief and Winchester tied for second place. Despite a fourth place finish in the final event, Calata had earned enough
points from consistent participation to take the overall victory. The 2013 Intervarsity saw the Rhodes first rugby team win their match against the University of Fort Hare (UFH), who finished fourth on last year’s Varsity Shield log, with a score of 28-14. Other standout performances included the women’s and men’s basketball teams, which finished in first and second place respectively. Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University (NMMU) took the overall win at Intervarsity and Rhodes coming in second place by a narrow margin of 62 points. UFH and Walter Sisulu University (WSU) finished third and fourth respectively. Another popular event for Rhodes students is Universities Boatrace, which also saw some impressive performances last year, not least of all from the inebriated spectators on the riverbanks. The men’s and women’s A teams both finished fourth, beating, among others, Stellenbosch University and NMMU. The men’s B team finished third, behind the University of Pretoria and the University of Cape Town (UCT), while the women’s B team finished second
behind UCT. The achievements of Rhodes’ sports teams, as well as those of individuals, were celebrated on 18 October with the annual Rhodes Sport Awards. The winners were as follows: • Sportswomen of the Year – Natalie Ross (Athletics) • Sportsman of the Year – Tafadzwa Chitokwindo (Rugby) • Club of the Year - Rowing • Committee of the Year – Rowing • Most Improved Club – Hockey • Performance of the Year – Natalie Ross • Administrator of the Year – Sarah Holser (Underwater) & Dean Johnston (Hockey) • Community Engagement Project – Hockey • Inter-res Winner (Men) – Calata • Inter-res Winner (Women) – Oppidan • Inter-res Spirit – Calata & Ruth First With the 2013 results as a benchmark, the upcoming year hopes to build on last year’s success and surpass these results, taking Rhodes sport to new heights.
SRC events during O-Week Jazz Evening 9 February RU Jamming 11 February Societies Extravaganza 14 February Amazing Race 15 February Great Field Party 22 February Societies sign-up
Tafadazwa Chitokwindo, Rhodes’ lightning-fast wing player. He also represents Zimbabwe at a semi-professional level. Pic: Jacob Claassens
Natalie Ross, athlete extraordinaire. She has now won Sportswoman of the year two years in a row. Pic: Jacob Claassens
4 March