Issuu

DieMATIE WENNER VAN DIE ATKV-MEDIAVEERTJIE VIR BESTE KAMPUSKOER ANT

WOENSDAG 11 MAART 2020

NEGE-EN-SEWENTIGSTE JAARGANG | NO 8

MALLE MOLASSESÊR Die jaarlikse vertoning het plaasgevind. Blaai gerus om na bladsy ses en lees meer oor al die besonderhede. Foto: Tyrique Slingers.

The whistle blows for the wild Willows BRYNLEY VAN AARDT

fter Wilgenhof men’s residence has come under fire for an alleged homophobic incident during the welcoming period, Stellenbosch University (SU) Management have taken action against the residence. Dr Choice Makhetha, Senior Director of Student Affairs said, “On 28 February, the Rector and Vice-Chancellor of SU, Prof Wim de Villiers, notified the House Committee members of Wilgenhof residence that they had been temporarily relieved of their duties pending the outcome of an investigation. They had earlier been given due notice by the Division Student Affairs and been afforded the opportunity to respond, which they failed to do.” In response, GC van Heerden,

prim of Wilgenhof, said, “I and the rest of the House Committee responded to the communication, but we did not respond to the demands it required of us.” Due to the whole House Committee being temporarily relieved of duties, the residence head, Spurgeon Wilson was told by SU Management that he is to be in charge. “This is currently a very difficult period for the house as there is no active leadership, but the whole house has really been stepping in. Residents have been volunteering to ensure the house runs smoothly,” Wilson said. Wilgenhof residents are not sure when and if their house committee will be given their roles back, as it is a disciplinary action and they are not kept updated. “We are still trying to find out who posted on Instagram, but it is very difficult. We have had meet-

ings with the first years and the whole house, but we are still not sure who it was,” Wilson continued. After another controversial incident, wherein a Wilgenhof mentor posted an image on his Whatsapp story stating that “It is wrong to call the Bible homophobic, because it’s not fear, it’s disgust”, students supported by the Anti-GBV movement and QueerUS society planned a protest against queerphobia on the Rooiplein last Thursday. Wilson met the protestors there and addressed them with Paul Joubert, an executive member of the QueerUS society, facilitating the discussion. Wilson said that he would not open the gates of Wilgenhof for the protestors. After Wilson left, Joubert said that “being polite” was not getting them answers so they decid-

ed to be “non-violently impolite” and march to Wilgenhof with the hope of getting someone else to respond to them and open the door. After the doors were not opened, protestors decided to walk to the Long Table Woordfees-event held at Admin A where they knew rector Wim de Villiers would be, as well as Western Cape Premier Alan Winde and other important people. Joubert, along with a leader of the Anti-GBV Movement ended the protest after standing at the picket fence of the Long Table. “The group is thinning out and we don’t want that, because I think that is vulnerable,” Joubert said. “I think that we have achieved a lot today. I think we got the Wilgenhof residence head to be honest about how little he has done and how little he cares. While this is incredibly frustrating and upsetting

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and depressing, at the same time this is incredibly heart-warming to have all your support, both queers and allies,” Joubert continued. Organisers of the protest then contacted SU Management on behalf of the protestors and Anti-GBV SU, sent out a memorandum calling for the suspension of the “queerphobic mentor immediately”, for Student Affairs to speed up their investigation and for all residences as well as the Rectorate to adhere to the memorandum they signed last year with regards to discrimination among other things. “Our mandate is clear, we will not stop fighting until hatred, violence and oppression of marginalised bodies are eradicated in our society. We aim for a just, equitable, safe and empowering society for all,” the Anti-GBV memorandum concluded.

NEWS

Cameron in die knyp oor posisie MART-MARIÉ SERFONTEIN

ie stof rondom Universiteit

Stellenbosch (US) se nuwe kanselier, Edwin Cameron, het steeds nie gaan lê nie. Kontroversie rondom sy verkiesing tot die posisie het voorverlede Vrydag weer kop uitgesteek toe daar op 28 Februarie ’n klag teen hom by die Regterlike Dienskommissie (RDK) ingedien is. In September verlede jaar is Cameron, pas afgetrede oudregter van die Konstitusionele Hof, verkies as die US se nuwe kanselier. ’n Maand later het Gelyke Kanse sy saak in die Konstitusionele Hof teen die US, aangaande die US-taalbeleid, verloor. Cameron was egter voor sy aftrede steeds ’n regter in dié saak toe dit voor die hof aangehoor is. As gevolg van dié klaarblyklike konneksie het Leon Schreiber, DA-parlementslid, US-alumnus en voormalige lid van die US se institusionele forum, ’n beroep op die universiteit gedoen om ondersoek in te stel na enige onbehoorlike inmenging aan die kant van prof. Wim de Villiers, rektor en visekanselier van US. Dié moontlike optrede spruit uit De Villiers se kontak met Cameron voor hy die Gelyke Kanse-

DIE KANSELIER Edwin Cameron se aanstelling het onlangs weer oplsae gemaak. saak, wat nog onafgehandel was, aangehoor het. Teen die einde van verlede jaar het die ondersoek, gelei deur oudregter Burton Fourie, ook ’n US-alumnus, bevind dat De Villiers nie onregmatig opgetree het nie. Nou voer advokaat Johan Bruwer in sy klag teen Cameron, wat aanlyn beskikbaar is in ’n Dropboxlêer, aan dat hy “opsetlik of in ’n daad van growwe nalatigheid, verskeie artikels van die Wet op die Regterlike Dienskommissie oortree het” en dat daar ’n “genoegsame botsing van belange” in

dié saak was dat Cameron homself as regter moes onttrek het. Cameron word onder andere aangekla daarvan dat hy “nie eerlik en in ’n regsplegende wyse opgetree het nie”, asook dat hy die onpartydigheid van die howe in gedrang gebring het deur in kontak te wees met De Villiers vóór die Gelyke Kanse-saak in Augustus verlede jaar voor die Konstitusionele Hof aangehoor is en terwyl die partye op uitspraak gewag het. Advokaat Bruwer voer in sy beëdigde verklaring aan dat die klag wat hy by die RDK ingedien het, spruit uit verskeie e-posse en briewe tussen De Villiers en Cameron, asook tussen die US en Gelyke Kanse se regsverteenwoordigers en die getuienis wat in die Fourie-ondersoek na vore gekom het. Volgens Bruwer se beëdigde verklaring, het De Villiers vir Cameron reeds in Julie gebel en ’n versoek aan hom gerig dat hy die nominasie vir kanselier van die US aanvaar. Volgens die verklaring het Cameron vir De Villiers in ’n e-pos (wat in die beëdigde verklaring gesien kan word) laat verstaan dat hy nie in ’n posisie was om die nominasie te aanvaar nie, aangesien sy posisie as regter “gekompromitteer sou word indien hy die

nominasie aanvaar” aangesien hy nog in sy hoedanigheid as regter sou optree wanneer die Konstitusionele Hof die Gelyke Kanse-saak in vroeg Augustus sou aanhoor. De Villiers het daarna daarvan afgesien om verder vir Cameron te probeer oortuig. Cameron het eers twee weke ná die verhoor, op 20 Augustus afgetree. Die beëdigde verklaring van Bruwer hou verder dokumente voor wat beweer dat ’n aantal US-alumni ook die oudregter genader het om die posisie te aanvaar tussen 21 Augustus en Cameron se uiteindelike aanvaarding van die posisie op 30 Augustus. Cameron is klaarblyklik “genader deur advokaat [Jean] Meiring, [’n US-alumnus], en Chris Otto, Michiel le Roux en Edwin Hertzog (sakemanne van Stellenbosch), om homself beskikbaar te stel as kandidaat vir die kanselierskap”. Volgens die Fourie-verslag (wat op die US-webtuiste beskikbaar is) sou Cameron die nominasie heroorweeg, maar as voorsorgmaatreël moes diegene wat hom genader het om die kanselierskap te oorweeg ’n aanduiding kry van advokaat Jan Heunis, die voormalige president van die US-konvokasie en regverteenwoordiger vir Gelyke Kanse in hul saak teen die

universiteit, “tot sy ingesteldheid daaroor”. De Villiers het toe vir adv. Heunis gekontak en hom gevra of hy en Gelyke Kanse sou instem dat Cameron genomineer word. Adv. Heunis het toe vir Cameron laat weet dat Gelyke Kanse wel geen besware teen sy aanvaarding van die nominasie het nie, maar dat dit nie beteken dat hulle die besluit goedkeur nie. Dit was eers hierná dat Cameron die nominasie aanvaar het.Volgens Bruwer was dit “uiters onregverdig” van Cameron om hierdie soort druk op Gelyke Kanse te plaas en hy meen dat dit deel uitmaak van Cameron se problematiese handelinge. Na aanvraag op kommentaar oor die saak aan Martin Viljoen, die US se woordvoerder, het Viljoen gesê dat die Universiteit kennis neem van die klagte wat by die RDK ingedien is, en “verwag dat die klagte deur die kommissie oorweeg en hanteer sal word”. Verder het die Universiteit nie enige ander kommentaar te lewer oor die nuwe verwikkelinge nie. Viljoen het egter benadruk dat die US homself op hierdie stadium met die Fourie-verslag van verlede Desember, volstaan.Daar word nou gewag op ’n respons vanaf die RDK.

Thuli taking action TOM LEE

PRONK IN PIENK VIR KANKER Studente van die Universite Stellenbosch het op 5 Maart hul hare op die Rooiplein gespuit, geknip en geskenk vir die jaarlikse CANSA Shavathon. Die Shavathon is ’n fondsinsameling vir pasiënte wat kanker oorwin het, daardeur geraak is, of steeds die stryd daarteen veg. Die tema van vanjaar se Shavathon is Hope 2020. Vir meer inligting oor CANSA Shavathons, hoe om betrokke te raak of om ’n donasie te maak, besoek hulle webtuiste. In die foto is Hadley Thomas, eerstejaar Opvoedkunde-student. Foto: Michelle Kleynhans

Prof Thuli Madonsela, the Law Trust Chair in Social Justice at Stellenbosch University (SU), members of the SU Student Representative Council (SRC) and certain student political organisations, officially launched the Action for Inclusion campaign at a special press conference in Jonkershoek Nature Reserve on Saturday 7 March. According to Thembalethu Seyisi, member of the Action for Inclusion campaign, “the initiative aims to eradicate the amount of historical student debt posed by students at SU”. “The issue that this initiative aims to tackle, is being done to prevent problems such as certain students not being able to register and thus prevent subsequent calls for help towards big corporates from ensuing. “The initiative further attempts to provide student funding for students who are identified as being in need of the specific aid,” Seyisi said. Lewis Mboko, the SRC Chairperson, stated that Action for Inclusion aims to allow for students and potential students from all backgrounds to enjoy an education that allows them to reach their full potential. “We believe in social justice in the sense that if you look at the context of South Africa and people in universities, we all come from different backgrounds financially. The problem of not having the financial muscle shouldn’t be stopping you from getting your degree and exploring your full potential,”

TAKING ACTION AGAINST HISTORICAL DEBT Some of the members that were at the press conference along with prof Madonsela and Lewis Mboko, SRC Chairperson. Photo: Supplied. Mboko said. The figurehead of the project, Madonsela, urged all South Africans to take part, donate and show support for the initiative. “Action for Inclusion is a crowdfunding initiative which uses action to bring attention to this plight of students and gets this crowd, which is the village of South Africa and hopefully the rest of the world to contribute to the crowd fund,” Madonsela said. Madonsela is of the opinion that government or corporate South Africa should step in and provide help in the form of suretyship.

“Either government or corporate South Africa should provide surety because whilst you are collecting the money someone has to step in and provide a guarantee for the money to be paid. Considering the size of the nation and the resources between us this is really nothing – it is just a question of joining hands,” Madonsela said. This movement for funding came only a day after Blade Nzimande, the Minister of Higher Education, Science and Technology, urged students and universities to work together in order to resolve student debt.

NUUS

11 Maart 2020

Kora kraai koning WILLIAM SEZOE

PROF. Menán du Plessis, navorsingsgenoot by die Departement Algemene Taalwetenskap, is op 6 Maart vir die Hiddingh Currie-toekenning deur UNISA bekroon vir haar uitgebreide navorsing op die verlore Khoisan-taal Kora (of !Ora in die taal self). Dit is deel van die Khoekhoe-tak van die Khoisan-taalfamilie KHOE. Du Plessis het haar toekenning in Pretoria vanaf die senaat van Unisa-publikasies ontvang. Volgens Du Plessis was dit oorspronklik die idee van Mike Besten, ’n geskiedkundige en Matie-alumnus, om die verlore Korataal van die Suid-Afrikaanse Khoivolk, die Korana, na te vors. “Besten was in 2007 opsoek na taalkundiges wat wou help ná sy merkwaardige uitvindsel dat Kora/!Ora steeds gepraat word deur enkele ouer Korana-mense in en rondom Bloemfontein en Bloemhof,” sê Du Plessis. Du Plessis en Besten het toe veldwerk begin doen in die omliggende gebiede van Bloemfontein. Du Plessis het spesifiek daarop gefokus om al die inligting bymekaar te maak. Dit het ’n bewerkte en geannoteerde samestelling van al die vertellings en woordeskat wat op verskillende tye in die verlede ingesamel is, ingesluit, asook 'n gedetailleerde moderne beskrywing van die taal.

“My groot droom het uiteindelik in 2011 begin om ’n werklikheid te word toe ons befondsing gekry het van die Dokumentasieprogram vir Bedreigde Tale by die SOAS in Londen. Dis toe dat ons volstoom begin werk het met twee van die heel laaste sprekers van die Korataal. Ongelukkig het Besten in daardie jaar gesterf en ek moes toe voortgaan sonder hom. Ek moes toe uitreik na twee taalkundiges in Namibië, die een ’n Nama-spreker en die ander een Dama , twee dialekte van Namibiese Khoekhoe, en ’n taalaktivis vanuit Kaapstad,” sê Du Plessis. Ten spyte van Besten se heengaan, het Du Plessis voortgegaan met die projek. “Ek het verskeie mense, Khoisan-aktiviste en die merkwaardige Kaptein Kraalshoek en sy gasvrye familie ontmoet toe Mike my die eerste keer na die gemeenskap geneem het. Kraalshoek het my sy seën gegee vir die projek. “Hiermee het ek gevoel dat daar groot verwagtinge op my geplaas is, alhoewel ek soveel angstigheid, pyn en onsekerheid beleef het tydens die navorsing. Ek moes voortgaan vir die mense se saak, ek het hul beloof dat ek vir hulle ’n uitkoms sal bring.” Volgens Du Plessis is sy ook deur die gemeenskap vereer deur ’n “toekenning” van kaptein Kraalshoek te ontvang in die vorm van ’n spesiale soort water wat uitsluitlik in die sendingstasie van Bethany gevind word. Du Plessis sê hierdie water is nooit verkoop nie, maar wel aan besonderse mense toegeken.

First gender indaba AMERYN PETERS

IN light of International Women’s day having been on 8 March, several events took place highlighting issues relating to gender and gender-based violence. One of these events included a collaboration between the Students for Law and Social Justice (SLSJ) and Student Affairs to host their first annual Gender Indaba at Monica Residence on 5 March. Groups rotated every half hour so that everyone could have a chance to participate in many different discussions and the theme was “Starting a journey of understanding”. According to Emma Louw, BA(Law) student and SLSJ Executive Committee Outreach member, the discussion was important because “generally Stellenbosch campus is not very inclusionary to anyone who does not identify as male or female”. Lorissa-Jane Houston, postgraduate LLM (International Trade Law) student, said "people need to start educating themselves in areas of gender that they’re not aware of”. “If we aren’t ready to educate ourselves, how do we ex-

pect a change to happen?” Houston said. According to Milena Schultheiss, third year BA (Language and Culture) student and Harmonie critical engagement HK, she enjoyed the event, but discussion like these “should also take place in informal student communities, residences and PSO’s, so students can be more educated around gender”. “I think the gender indaba can be improved in the future by involving more students in events like these. If nobody knows anything about the topic, they wouldn’t necessarily go to events like these, but if that seed was planted in student communities, then discussions will grow,” Schultheiss said. The week culminated in a march organised by lobby group SA Women Fight Back in Athlone on Saturday, with many Stellenbosch students in attendance. This took place in light of the murders of at least four children in Cape Town over the past three weeks. The petition has over 530,000 signatures and demands that he stay true to promises he made September last year to combat gender-based violence.

Gender theme for ULC LESEDI MNISI

he theme of the Ubuntu Learning Community (ULC) short course for 2020 is “We are because I am: Changing selves and communities”. This theme will be explored through the perspectives of law, literature, history, visual/performing arts and economics. The ULC short course is a social impact collaboration between Stellenbosch University (SU) and Brandvlei Correctional Centre initiated by Dr Mary Nel, senior lecturer at the SU Law Faculty. According to a press release on the SU website, the course aims at “rehumanising learning through a process of encouraging and initiating collaboration, community-building and connectedness between SU and prisoners in Brandvlei Maximum Correctional Centre”. “We often fear, and sometimes even hate, people we don't know. In South Africa, many of us have limited opportunities to step out of our comfort zones to engage with and learn from people who have very different backgrounds and life experiences from ours,” Nel said. At the end of last year, the members of the ULC programme had a brainstorming session and thus decided that this year, the short course will place a lot of emphasis on discussions and lessons about gender in response to the gender-based violence issue in South Africa. According to the group members some objectives of the course “are to help learners recognise the value of perspectives of those who have different frames of reference, to perform a reflection on the broader shared societal opportunities and challenges and to build knowledge and understanding of issues related to the theme”. Caitlin Kleynhans, Student Coordinator for the ULC, says that programs such as these are important as they afford people a chance to learn in unfamiliar environments and to learn with and

CELEBRATING WISDOM Prisoner Lubabalo Fongoqa celebrates his achievement with Ntombi Makwasa, centre official, at the end of the first ULC course last year at the Brandvlei prison on 8 October. Photo: Esa Alexander from people with different frames of reference from them. Moreover, she believes it “breaks barriers between the community and correctional facilities, by empowering students to change the social narrative around people who are released from prison in order to reduce stigma and decrease high levels of recidivism”. “The concept of prison is so far removed from our realities that we as society tend to blindly accept imprisonment and the stigma that accompanies it as a viable system of justice. Perhaps it is time for society to begin questioning the effectiveness of South Africa’s criminal justice system’s reliance on incarceration especially once the high level of recidivism is taken into account,” Kleynhans said. Whilst the subjects will be focused on gender, the facilitators of each subject explained that they will explore the topic in a different

MY BREW GEE MOND-TOT-MOND My Brew sal voortaan nie net koffie vir studente op die Stellenbosch-kampus verskaf nie, maar ook vir dié in die verre vreemde op Tygerberg. Volgens Freddie Kruger, eienaar van My Brew, maak die Tygerberg-koffiewinkel anders, omdat dit in die vorm van ’n ambulansbussie is. Foto: Verskaf

way from others during their lessons. For example, history will consist of discussions surrounding gender history and the exclusion of women from historical accounts, and in literature the story of the life of a man who has been released from prison will be explored. The facilitators involved in the course are Dr Mary Nel (course coordinator and law facilitator), Dr Chet Fransch (history facilitator), Dr Debra Shepard (economics facilitator), Dr Lizabé Lamrecthts (music facilitator), Mrs Stephané Huigen-Conradie (Art facilitator) and Dr Daniel Roux (English facilitator). Each facilitator will give two or three sessions about a subject. According to Kristen Warner, a third-year BA (Humanities) student that completed the course, “it was such a positive and powerful experience”.

STUDENTELEWE

Fashion on a budget RENÉ ESTERHUYSE

hrifting has become a major trend, especially among younger generations, who often prefer a unique, pre-loved item to mass-produced clothing. We have already shown you the best thrift shops in Stellies in our previous edition (see Die Matie of 26 February 2020). However, even thrift shops cost money. This is why Venustia PSO has come up with an alternative for broke, but environmentally conscious students. Venustia recently launched their Eco-Closet, a swap system that allows students to simultaneously help the environment and save some money. Sasha McGhee, the sustainability HK of Venustia, explains that the Eco-Closet is a system based on an exchange, rather than on money. “You bring clothes that you no longer wear and can exchange them for an item in the store,” she says. You can bring any type of clothing and exchange it for whatever item catches your eye, which means that you can truly “shop” according to your current closet-needs. If you don’t find anything you would like to take home on the first try, you can add a credit to the store, and use it on your next visit. “It’s a fun concept,” said McGhee, whose passion for environmentalism and sustainability was the spark behind the idea of

CONSCIOUS SHOPPING Venustia PSO recently launched a clothing swap system. Photo: Supplied an eco-closet. “In Stellenbosch, students often need specific clothes for specific events – there are a lot of Huisfonds dances and parties and this and that that require costumes. Now students can exchange their old clothes that they’re not wearing for free and get what they need to get up and go out, without any cost to them personally, or to the environment.” She emphasises the huge, and

often overlooked, impact of the fashion industry on the environment. “A normal t-shirt can use up to 120 litres of water per wear! When we started to really educate ourselves, our HK team realised that by doing something that initially seems insignificant, we can have a massive impact – we can initiate a change in Stellenbosch.” In line with their vision of helping students out, they also decided

to eliminate the entrance fee that usually tends to accompany these kinds of swap shops. After the official launch on 24 February this year, with a fun evening with live music and a zero-waste market, the Eco-Closet is now open on every first Monday of the month between 13:00 and 14:00 in the Venustia HK office on the 4th floor of the Neelsie. Venustia also hopes to host a termly zero-waste market in celebration of all things sustainable. In the same spirit of saving the world one t-shirt at a time, Nemesia ladies residence, in collaboration with the AmaMaties cluster will also have a sustainable night market and thrift shop tonight from 19:00 to 21:00 at Nemesia. According to Toriso Rajoale, cluster HK from Nemesia, you can expect an evening filled to the brim with “vendors, good food, good vibes and good times, all in an effort to be more sustainable in the way that we live”. “In being mindful with our fashion choices, we can help the world be a better place. With this project, we aim to lessen our impact. An entire cluster thrifting means that much more of a difference can be made,” Rajoale added. Stellenbosch students are clearly stepping up when it comes to responsible (and trendy) fashion choices. Go have a look either at the Nemesia/AmaMaties cluster event, or the Venustia Eco-closet – you might just find the perfect item to spice up your wardrobe!

Die Tom-vereniging DOMINIQUE FUCHS

TOM Janisch en Tom Grubb het onlangs talle studente se koppe laat draai toe hulle op die Rooiplein naamgenote gesoek het om by hul Tom-vereniging aan te sluit. Janisch vertel dat hy en Grubb verlede jaar in dieselfde seksie in Metanoia was. Albei studeer BCom (Internasionale Besigheid) en is tans in hulle tweede jaar. Hierdie jaar ontdek hy dat nóg ’n Tom reg oorkant hom in die seksie ingetrek het en van toe af is hulle goeie vriende. “Op die ou einde was ons drie Toms in die seksie en daar was gereeld situasies waar ons al drie in dieselfde vertrek was en dan roep iemand vir ’n Tom en ons weet nie watter een hulle bedoel nie. Dit het heeltyd gebeur en was nogals irriterend.” Janisch het toe op Facebook gesien dat mense groepe stig vir mense met dieselfde name en het dit snaaks gevind. “Tom was die gewildste naam in my hoërskool. Uit 180 mense was daar agt Toms gewees.” Janisch en Grubb het ’n WhatsApp-groep gestig met al die Toms wat hy van sy skooldae af ken. Grubb het nóg Toms by die groep gevoeg en al die Toms is admin gemaak om nog Toms te kan byvoeg. Binne een dag was daar meer as 30 Toms op die groep.

TOM KWADRAAT Die Tom-vereniging het ’n stalletjie by die verenigingsuitstalling gehad. Foto: Verskaf “Ons het grappe en memes daarop gestuur. Daar het niks verder gebeur nie en toe kry ons die idee om ons groep verder te bemark en uit te brei.” Die Toms het baie studente se aandag getrek toe hulle op die Rooiplein met hulle Tom-kennisgewingbord gaan sit het. Volgens Grubb het hulle 20 nuwe lede vir hul vereniging gekry. “Daar was

baie mense wat vir ons geglimlag en gelag het en dit was baie spesiaal. Daar was ook ’n emosionele oomblik toe ’n ou met ons kom praat het oor sy broer wat oorlede is en sy naam was ook Tom.” Volgens Janisch is dit ’n unieke platform: “’n Mens se naam is baie belangrik vir hulle, omdat jy ’n konneksie daarmee het. ’n Naam verteenwoordig ’n vreemde mens-

like konneksie. As mense dieselfde naam deel, deel hulle ook ’n konneksie. Ek ken net agt of nege van die Toms op die groep persoonlik en dit voel of ek ’n konneksie met elkeen van hulle het. Toe ons die ander Toms op die Rooiplein ontmoet het, het ons dadelik iets in gemeen gehad.” Grubb voeg by dat mense wat voel asof hulle nog nooit êrens ingepas het nie, baie waarde uit so ’n groep kan put, omdat almal dadelik iets in gemeen het.” Wat as ’n grap begin het, is nou ’n waardevolle platform volgens die Toms. “As iemand blyplek in byvoorbeeld Johannesburg of Skotland kort, kan hulle net op die groep vra en hulle sal verseker iemand vind”. Daar is ook Toms van oorkant die waters op die groep, danksy Grubb wat op ’n uitruilprogram was. Tans is daar 58 naamgenote op die groep en die twee stigters se plan is om hierdie week ’n meet-up op die Rooiplein te hou en ’n foto te neem. Hulle poog ook om die WhatsApp-groep propvol te maak en dus 256 lede daarop te kry. “Dit sal so snaaks wees as ons ’n social kan hou met ’n groep soos ons s’n. Daar is wel ’n Matt-vereniging waarmee ons graag sal wil skakel”, vertel Grubb.

KAMPUS QUOTES “Wilgenhof is their own brand of tea.” – Student discussing the spice surrounding Willows “I needed some first world coffee in my life.” – Tired, struggling post-graduate student “Kom jy agter dat die vibe beter is as jy nie sing nie?” – Student by die Karen Zoid konsert “You don’t f*ck with fish.” – Student explaining why it is a bad idea to make fish fingers in the microwave “Pretty sure I’m in uni because of peer-pressure.” – Student who can’t believe she voluntarily came here “I really want to cry right now but I’m dehydrated so I can’t do that.” – Overworked and dehydrated student “Why is Stellenbosch so hot? It feels like the gates to hell have been left opened. My ex must be in town.” – Student complaining about the heat in Stellenbosch “I saved electricity today by cooking eggs on the sidewalk.” – Student discussing Eskom and the heat in Stellenbosch “You can’t cook two-minute noodles on your engine.” – Student stopping friend from living in their car “I have so many trust issues and they all started with the weather app.” – Student complaining about the weather “I’m so broke that when my card declined, I had to take Zoo cookies off the list.” – Broke student complaining about being broke “I’m a strong, independent woman and I don’t need no man.” – Student that just got dumped “Don’t come crying to me when your heart is broken into a million pieces and laying all over the floor. I do not vacuum.” – Student supporting their heartbroken friend “My love life consists of my dad telling me my profile picture looks nice.” – Lonely student “My mind says go to the gym but my stomach is telling me to get a Big Mac.” – Unmotivated student trying to go to the gym

STUDENTELEWE

11 Maart 2020

SPYS and EcoMaties tackles pollution WESSEL KRIGE

here has never been a topic that has caused as much day-drinking and panic as Climate Change. In a world where young people are constantly confronted by the end of days, two Matie societies decided to team up to discuss the scary but hopeful future and how our spiritual lives play a big role in solving the climate crisis. On Thursday 5 March the Spirituality Philosophy and Yoga Society (SPYS) combined forces with the EcoMaties Sustainability Society at the Regter van Zyl Hall to host a talk on climate change and how turning inward and cleaning the pollution from within is an important step to tackle the issue. It was a message that pulled no punches in its discussing of the environmental issues that we face, and yet it was also a hopeful and constructive discussion on how we can better the environment and ourselves. The speakers who delivered this message were Axl Maas, a former Maties student and current operator of Down to Earth Stellenbosch, a plastic-free grocery delivery service, and Zan Le Roux, a passionate member of EcoMaties and an aspiring conservationist. “The biggest contribution we can make as the youth of South Africa and as members of this University is to invest in our future. If you are studying law, try going

ECO WARRIORS SPYS and EcoMaties joined forces to discuss Climate Change. Photo: Supplied into environmental law,” Le Roux said. “It shouldn’t be a death sentence. We are the first people who have caught on to this thing, we are the first ones who can change this.” Maas spoke of how our comfort zones are fuelling the climate change fires and how there must

be internal change in order for external change to take place. “In a very real way we are super attached to our comforts” Maas said. “We need to clear all pride, greed and envy from our hearts and through that our world view and our habits shift. “A big part of spirituality means becoming humble. Humili-

ty means looking at the world realistically and realising that we are all part of a big system and that we are all interdependent.” During the Q&A section the conversation was carried further and Maas gave some tips on how we can shift our mindset to help solve the problem. Meditation is key in changing

our mind set, Maas argued. “Meditation, in whatever form, is important each day in order for us to clear the inside of our minds.” The societies are planning more events in the future with the aim of helping Stellenbosch not only grow as an environmentally conscious society but as individuals with hearts for the future.

Campus closet: Sizzling summer style Mia van der Merwe found students whose outfits demonstate summer fashion on campus

NEAT AND POLISHED

FLORAL STATEMENT

MONO MINIMALIST

NO FUSS

SKATER GIRL

HERE, a blue and white cotton short is paired with a simple white t-shirt and white sneakers. White sneakers are a closet staple because of the flexibility that comes along with it, these shoes can be worn with almost anything and everything. The shorts have been rolled up to create a more polished and refined appearance while the shirt hangs loosely or tuck it in to wear with a belt.

THE key to not overheating in summer is to pair a relatively open top with a loose fitted maxi skirt. This ensemble’s colours play together nicely, the orange skirt is framed between two black items. This bandeau is the perfect piece of clothing to deal with the heat. The sleeveless top allows for a cool but stylish component. The skirt functions as the statement piece in this outfit.

THE best color to wear during summer is white. It is a reflective color and you are less prone to getting hot as quickly as you would in black. This outfit is made up of a white top with big oversized sleeves, along with linen print pants. Linen materials are light and breathable. Here, two toned linen pants are paired with the white cotton top and black sneakers.

THIS outfit is perfect for the average person who wants no hassle or does not want to spend too much time getting dressed. The outfit consists of a plain t-shirt and board shorts. This look is extremely simple and quick to achieve, paired with a Stellies favourite: plakkies. The lilac shirt plays off of the blue nicely in this piece. Try pulling it off with a messy bed-head hairstyle.

IT is a well-known fashion fact that the skater lifestyle amongst women brought sneakers and skirts to life in the early 2000’s, now it’s being revived with a variety of skirts and dresses. As seen here, a pair of black sneakers and an oversized black crop top frames a purple dainty printed maxi skirt with a slit. The crop top is a loose fitted cotton that correlated with the shoes worn here.

DAG & NAG

Dag & Nag Taai situasie by Molassesêr MARELI SWART

* Vertaal deur Dominique Fuchs

it was die een dag van die jaar wat Willows nie verantwoordelik was vir die geraas afkomstig van Wilgenhof se vierkant nie. Die 2020 Molassesêr-finaal het op Woensdag 4 Maart plaasgevind met hope gees in die lug. Die uitverkorenes wat die finaal gehaal het, was opgetooi en het die reeds vuurwarm Stellenbosch aan die brand geslaan. Die energie was in oorvloed en toe Yanga Keva, KuKo-beoordeelaar, gevra is oor sy verwagtinge vir die aand, het hy geantwoord: “Ek het nog nie die deelnemers se vertonings gesien nie, sodat ek geen vooropgestelde idees het nie. Vanaand wil ek one-hit-wonders sien. As hulle die toeskouers beïndruk, sal hulle met goeie resultate beloon word.” Hierdie jaar het die koshuise en PSO’s nie ’n tema gehad om te volg nie, maar deelnemers soos Harmonie (dameskategorie), en Equité en Capri (gemengde kategorie) het Eskom as inspirasie gebruik om die verhoog te verlig. Dit was Equité en Capri se eerste verskyning in ’n finaal. Hierdie twee PSO’s het saamgew-

SING JOU HART UIT Een van die damesgroepe wat dit uitgespook het om die titel te verower. Foto: Verskaf erk om verskeie scenario’s voor te stel wat tydens beurtkrag kan plaasvind: ’n date night wat deur Eskom se Push geruïneer word en ’n sterfbed wat gans te vroeg voorberei is. Hulle elektriese op-

trede is deur Arné Kruger en Arno Schwartz gelei. Een van Harmonie se Molassesêr-leiers Chloë Bosman het verduidelik dat hulle benadering van die oop tema was om enigiets

te doen waarmee Suid-Afrikaners aanklank kan vind. “Ons het Suid-Afrika se grootste probleme gebruik, soos beurtkrag, korrupsie en openbare gesondheidsorg, waarmee mense

kan identifiseer.” Dit was die tweede keer dat Harmonie in die finaal was en hulle het die dameskategorie gewen, asook die prys vir die beste choreografie. Volgens Keva het Harmonie nie net gewen weens goeie organisasie en ’n boodskap wat goed oorgedra is nie. “Dit was die poëtiese geaardheid van hul kostuums soos die LGBTQIA-vlag op hul skouers, op dieselfde plek waar die Suid-Afrikaanse vlag op ’n militêre uniform sou wees, wat vir hulle laat uitstaan het.” Die manne van Hippokrates het weggestap met hulle vierde agtereenvolgende wen, asook die prys vir die beste liedjiekeuse. Die enigste manlike verteenwoordigers van die mediese kampus het meer as gees na die finaal gebring. Hulle onuitputbare energie het toeskouers van die begin af geboei. Tygerberg het nie net die manskategorie gewen het nie, maar die dinamiese duo Kerkenhoff (Kerkenberg en Meerhoff) het ook die gemengde kategorie gewen. Die mediese kampus het soos gewoonlik nie teleurgestel nie, maar dis dalk makliker as afleidings soos die Stellenbosse naglewe nie op jou voorstoep is nie.

’n Rowwe RamFest-reünie die naweek ALEXANDER BRAND

* Vertaal deur: Dominique Fuchs RAMFEST is terug met volle vaart hierdie komende naweek by die Hillcrest Quarry in Durbanville. Hierdie dag lange fees beloof om die beste van die plaaslike alternatiewe scene saam te bring asook ’n internasionale act. The Black Dahlia Murder, ’n Amerikaanse death metal band van Waterford, Michigan, sal die fees headline saam met Suid-Afrikaanse legendes soos Van Coke Kartel. Rock, metal en alternatiewe musiek entoesiaste het al oor die jare die fees bygewoon en dit is ’n moerse mosh pit propvol kopskud. Die atmosfeer is aansteeklik en die musiek is beautifully intense. Voor verlede jaar se RamFest, is die fees in 2014 laas aangebied. Hierdie jaar se rendition sal veral rof wees wanneer Van

Coke Kartel (VKC), wat laas in 2017 opgetree het tydens hul finale toer, weer kragte saamspan vir RamFest 2020. Francois van Coke, die hoofsanger van VCK, het vertel oor die RamFest-reünie: “Ek het great herinneringe van RamFest waartydens ek saam met van my gunsteling-bands opgetree het. Fokofpolisiekar wat vir AWOLNATION geopen het en VCK wat saam met Alkaline Trio opgetree en gekuier het. Ek het ook al amazing parties by die Ram gehad; my stem, skoene en waardigheid verloor.” Hy het geen bedenkinge dat die band “gereed, bereid en gewillig” is om die RamFest-feesgangers ’n full set te gee, nes net VCK kan. Anton Louw, die hoofsanger en kitaarspeler van The Valley, sê: “Ons is regtig opgewonde om by RamFest op te tree. Opelug-optredes is die beste en om saam met my pelle Peasant en Stoker op die lineup te wees, sorg altyd vir ’n lekker tyd. Ek het geen twy-

DIE ONDIERE KOM Van Coke Kartel gaan van aftree na optree danksy RamFest. Foto: Verskaf fel dat dit ’n killer-fees gaan wees met klipharde musiek wat teen die quarry-mure weergalm. Die fees sal twee verhoë hê, ’n hoofverhoog (die Ram-verhoog) en nog ’n verhoog wat deur Metal4Africa (M4A) geborg word. Kos, alkohol en nie-alkoholiese ververs-

ings sal by die fees verkoop word. Nog bands om na uit te sien, sluit Facing the Gallows, Metallica Tribute, Peasant, Stoker, The Valley en MARENE in. Op die M4A stage sal III System, Rhakshah, Ohgod, Human Nebula, Indika Black, Thread of Omen en Creating the Godform

optree. Kaartjies is op Howler beskikbaar. Die early birdkaartjies is reeds uitverkoop, maar pre-sold kaartjies is beskikbaar vir R300 of R350 op die dag. In Francois van Coke se woorde: “Long live RamFest!”.

DAG & NAG

11 Maart 2020

The Stereo Kids at St Patricks WILLOW-RUBY VAN DER BERG

his St Patrick’s Day is sure to be a memorable one with The Plastics, Dope Folks and Kontras taking over the stage at Aandklas on 18 March. Earlier this year The Plastics blessed us with the magic that is the Bright Blue Orchids – the album which led us all to indulge in the memories of the mesmeric music that the 60s brought. The album was greatly influenced by the music that was produced during this golden era. This is not only evident in the sound that the group explored but even in the album cover which resembles the famous Beatles album, Help! “The sound of the 60s is so iconic and comes with such good vibes – it’s hard not to love. The whole point is love and that’s what influenced the album more than anything. It’s a celebration of the power of love and magic,” said the band while explaining the allure of the period’s music. In the album they explore “the sound of magic and melodramatic love mixed with psych rock. The music is nostalgic and modern at the same time”. What better name is there to reflect this magic than the Bright Blue Orchids? When asked about the idea behind this name, they replied by saying: “We decided to name the al-

bum the Bright Blue Orchids because a blue orchid is a magical flower that does not exist – it’s a product of wonder and imagination like all things from nature it is both beautiful and mystical. The “bright” came in later because we also wanted the name to reflect the energy and intention of the flower power age of the 1960s the album is all about full decisive ideas that are bold and confident, we thought the name portrayed that feeling well. “We also used the name as a concept for a new band called The Bright Blue Orchids who were performing this material as the original The Plastics had gone through numerous line-up changes and also added two additional members for this project. The Bright Blue Orchids is a new direction for the band and Sasha, the drummer, wrote most of the songs in a twoweek burst of inspiration so we came up with the concept of us transforming into another band for this album,” said The Plastics. So, it seems that their performance at Aandklas is bound to be a mystical experience for all who will be there. “We love playing in Stellenbosch because there are so many cool places to play and people to meet! The audience can expect a full and energetic sound made for dancing and having fun,” said The Plastics. Joining them on stage are

IN THREES The Plastics are ready to rock the stage at Aandklas with Dope Folks and Kontras on 18 March. Photo: Lauren Waller Stellenbosch favourites – Dope Folks and Kontras. Both bands are also launching new singles for the crowd to jam along to. “Our upcoming release is called ‘Perfect Hits’ scheduled to launch on all streaming platforms on Friday the 20th of March 2020. It’s a hopeful pop rock hit that attempts to simultaneously comply with and defy radio censorship ‒ by coating an infectious bop in sexy subversive phrasing. It is hilariously self-aware in referencing the

The Blue Jeans Duo RENÊ ESTERHUYSE

THE Blue Jeans Duo believes their music to be like a good old pair of jeans: versatile, timeless and, in the words of member, Jeannie Botes, “something that can be put on every day”. This dynamic duo consists of Berno van Zijl, a second-year BA Humanities student, and Jeannie Botes, a third-year BA Language and Culture student, both at Stellenbosch University. They are both also music teachers. “We have a mutual friend who introduced us, as she knew we were both looking to start a band. After about a week of rehearsing, we began to play at Aandklas’s Acorn Acoustic Sessions in May 2018. From there we just expanded our music and audience step by step,” said Botes about the formation of the band. Blue Jeans Duo takes pride in their hybrid style, and not only incorporates different genres in their music, but also three different languages: English, Afrikaans and French. They describe their unique sound as “Folk-Roots”. “The ‘folk’ referring to our focus on telling stories and sharing messages, and the ‘Roots’ referring to our Blues and Jazz undertones,” they explained. Botes considers female

jazz vocalists such as Etta James, Randy Crawford, Norah Jones and Katie Melua as some as her biggest inspirations, and emphasises the Cape Town jazz scene as a fundamental stimulus for her love for jazz and blues. Van Zijl, on the other hand, greatly admires prominent guitarists like Eric Clapton, Jimi Hendrix and Jimi Page, and looks to Bob Dylan and John Mayer when it comes to inspiration for songwriting. Blue Jeans Duo performs predominantly original music, written by both Botes and Van Zijl. Botes describes her creative process as profoundly fulfilling. “Writing and creating music is one of the most powerful things I have ever experienced in my life. The aftermath is being high on life, fully satisfied with oneself in the knowledge that one has created something purely unique. Creating a song is like exploring your inner self, your essence, your subconscious. To sit at the piano and know that a secret lies within the keys that only you can find the answer to, is like looking at your endless potential on a linear scale,” she said. She also draws from her own experiences and emotions as inspiration. “This leaves me empowered, gives me closure and helps me to move on and grow.” Van Zijl explains that song writing is, for him, the process of taking every day experiences and

using them to create something beautiful to share. “Any melody, lyrical line or memorable incident inspires me to get my guitar and develop it,” he said. In line with their jazz and blues style, improvisation forms an integral part of their performances, and, as not only musical colleagues, but also romantic partners, there is a powerful connection and understanding between the two that creates unity within their spontaneous playing. “Often we purposely venture out unprepared to test our skills of improvisation and musicality. I find myself delivering the best performances when I haven’t exactly perfectly prepared and mapped out my entire performance,” said Botes. She describes a Blue Jeans Duo show as one that is always sincere. “We have learned that the most powerful performance tool is to be who you are at the heart of your music.” With an EP-launch coming in early April, plans for performances across South Africa, a tour to the Netherlands in June/July and the potential of a debut album next year, Blue Jeans Duo is a name to remember. Keep a lookout on their Instagram page, @blue_jeans_ duo, for information on all their exciting future ventures!

sacrifice artists often make to sell out in pursuit of fame. The new single is a collaboration with the Stellies local musician Duke Duke and is a folk-rock bop that’ll get stuck in your head and have you humming along,” said Marius van Coller, lead singer of Dope Folks. Van Coller also explained how excited they are to share the stage with The Plastics. “OMG its flippen rad. We’ve been fanboys since our teens so it was an amazing experience when

they approached us! Can’t wait to warm up the stage for SA indie royalty,” said Van Coller. He continued by explaining that this event is the perfect way to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day: “People should definitely come through to the event for an epic St Paddy’s experience. We’ve got some sweet competitions and even a beer pong tournament lined up.” So, be sure to jam out to these bands while enjoying a pint of Gat at Aandklas. Sláinte!

LIT MATIE ’n Platform waar ons gedigte deur studente publiseer. Is jy passievol oor poësie? Stuur dan jou gedig na willowbrg@gmail.com. Dié week se gedig is deur Nollie Smit geskryf. Verloor Ek wil op die rand van die wêreld staan êrens in ‘n lughawe waar dit golwend suis bo die handdroër. Daar, binne ‘n advertensie van ‘n helder plek wil ek in ‘n donker see beland en wakker word op ‘n strand van goud en verlorenheid. Die water sal druis en ek sal saam met die branding speel… maar die water spoel en ek stap by die badkamer uit. Die mense stap verby, êrens heen. Ek ry huistoe op die N2, R300, N1 “Wat wou jy bereik?” Ek wou glo… ek gaan. Ek draai links op die R44 en ry so vinnig soos ek kan weg van die helder Kaapse wêreldrand “want jy sal nêrens gaan nie”

REDAKSIONEEL

On journalists at protests

t the recent protest that took place on Wilgenhof’s doorstep (read about it on the front page), some of the protesters tried to dissuade a Die Matie journalist from documenting the event by covering their faces or waving the camera away. A journalist from another Stellenbosch publication was even confronted with a demand that they stop photographing the protesters. To be clear, it is not illegal to photograph or film people in a public space. This is something that journalists are taught very early in their careers. However, the discussions that have sprung up in the Die Matie

office around the opposition to the documentation of the protest have not been on matters of law. To ask whether it was right to photograph the protesters at Wilgenhof is perfectly reasonable, and we have seriously considered the question. The capturing of the faces, words, and movements that gave life to the protest, and the publishing of this documentation online and in print, inevitably exposed a small part of the identities of the protesters to a wide audience. Although names are rarely published, and personal information never, antagonists of the protesters might now have the means

to identify individuals that they wish to target. This is a valid concern. As journalists, however, we understand the value of documentation and we would argue that the benefits thereof outweigh the possible drawbacks. In the Die Matie office, we have a framed canvas showing two people of the same sex sharing a kiss in Die Laan. During the 2010 Matie Week, the Lesbigay Society, as they were then called, joined many other students for the annual “Kiss in Die Laan”. The photo, striking and in full colour on the front page of a 2010 issue of Die Matie, might not have been taken during a protest, but the two people depicted

GORRELKOP

Die kommentaar waarvoor almal bang is en nooit wil sê nie. Gorrel is nie verantwoordelik vir enige ongerief veroorsaak nie. Waar is Style Indaba? Gorrel dwaal heeldag op die Rooiplein met die hoop dat Style Indaba uiteindelik vir hom erkenning sal gee vir sy goeie styl. Ongelukkig blyk dit vir Gorrel dat Style Indaba iets van die verlede is. Het Gorrel dan verniet sy Doc Martins ten duurste gekoop? Die katte het ’n fees Gorrel sukkel die

afgelope

tyd om sy Gorrelina van die feeskatte te onderskei. Die feeskatte loop hierdie jaar rond met hulle Hazz-koffies, kleurvolle serpies en stylvolle sneakers nes enige ander student. Kraai me a river Gorrel is lus om die kraaie se fluitjies in hulle bekke te druk. Gorrel dink nou rerig dat die spul moet ophou met al hulle strooi. Het hulle nie nou al hulle les geleer nie?

COMPLAINTS PROCEDURE AND REPORTING ERRORS Die Matie is onderhewig aan ’n gedragskode wat by die SR-lid vir Media beskikbaar is. Alle klagtes word deur ’n regsdosent ondersoek, waarna Die Matie voor die Mediaraad kan verskyn. Klagtes moet volgens die uiteengesette prosedure binne veertien dae ná publikasie aanhangig gemaak word. Die Matie subscribes to the

South African Press Code that prescribes news that is truthful, accurate, fair and balanced. If we don’t live up to the code, please contact the Press Ombudsman at 011 788 4837. You may also lodge an internal complaint or report factual errors by contacting the SRC member for Media. Also following the procedure explained above.

HOOFREDAKSIE

KONTAK ONS / CONTACT US

HOOFREDAKTEUR Lian van Wyk TESOURIER Alexander Carstens BEDRYFSREDAKTEUR Oliver Frew UITLEGREDAKTEUR Heléne Leonard FOTOREDAKTEUR James Smith AANLYNREDAKTEUR Gabriela Viljoen ADVERTENSIEBESTUURDER Nicole Nasson ENGLISH SUB-EDITOR Byron Latham AFRIKAANS–SUBREDAKTEUR Dominique Fuchs NUUS Carla Visagie STUDENTELEWE Kesia Abrahams DAG & NAG Willow-Ruby van der Berg SPORT Lemuel Blignaut

E-POSADRES diematie75@gmail.com POSADRES Langenhoven Studentesentrum; Privaatsak X1; Universiteit Stellenbosch; Matieland; 7602 WEBADRES w w w.diematie.com FACEBOOK w w w.facebook.com/ diematie INSTAGRAM @diematie OPLAAG 4 000 VOLGENDE UITGAWE 08/04/2020 ADVERTENSIE diematieads@gmail. com ARGIEF Vorige uitgawes van Die Matie is in die biblioteek beskikbaar

MEDEWERKERS TEKSREDIGERING Marissa Badenhorst, René Esterhuyse, Maryna Adshade, Tamlyn February DRUKWERK PaarlMedia

SPOTPRENT Kesia Abrahams

therein had a small piece of their identity shared with the Stellenbosch community in a way not dissimilar from the manner in which the faces of some of the Wilgenhof protesters are now visible to the public. One could muse about the dangers that the kissing students might have faced due do the exposure of their moment, but that would possibly negate the profound significance of that moment. Today, 10 years after that kiss in Die Laan, we admire the defiance it demonstrated, and we respect the principle of dignity that it stands on. Someone once said that journal-

ists write the first draft of history. The documentation of the protest at Wilgenhof is part of that job. We are aware of the dangers of this endeavour, but we have had numerous glimpses of its monumental importance. By photographing and filming the Wilgenhof protesters, we attempted to bear witness to a possibly profound historical moment, to solidify its memory. There might be those who would contort their faces at the sight of the Kiss in Die Laan, but they will be hard pressed to erase it from the historical record. The same rules might someday apply to the Wilgenhof protest.

OPINIONS

11 Maart 2020

How queerphobic is Stellenbosch really GIUSEPPE GUERANDI

* I am an Italian/Indian, queer humxn currently in my third year of BA International Studies. I serve on the House Committee of Eendrag and am an aspiring journalist.

arrived in Stellenbosch in 2018, anxious and uncertain. As someone who had spent years cultivating confidence and assurance in my queer identity, my preconceptions of this environment were less than reassuring. As someone placed in an all-male and men’s residence, those fears were tenfold. I expected overt antagonism and queer prejudice at worst and micro-aggressive, faux-tolerance at best. What I received was not far from this. ‘Queerphobia’ exists in many forms, much like any socialised and systemic intolerance. It penetrates both the physical and psychological sanctity of queer bodies. It is both violent and passively normalised. It is multi-faceted and pervasive, and I could write a novel’s-worth of personal anecdotes from the last two years. In my ‘welcoming’ week I was accommodated with heteronormative socials and hyper-masculine practices. In conversation with cisgendered heterosexuals, I am a politicised source of knowledge to cross-reference problematic questions (I have actually been asked if my gender fluidity still makes me a person).

On a night out my gender expression is an oddity for either entertainment, ridicule or active violence. Public displays of my same-sex relations are still tinged with fear. Support from Stellenbosch University and residences for queer initiatives is few and far between, answers for accountability are even fewer, and allies to the community are a rarity. This is not merely a laundry list of oppressions, but rather an articulation of the constant, all-encompassing forms of queerphobia endured by just one queer humxn. Less than a week after Cape Town Pride, I was attending a rally against Wilgenhof in light of recent queerphobic events concerning that community. The very next evening I experienced a homophobic attack in a McDonalds after a night out. It dawned on me that despite my pride in my identity, and unapologetic attitude to sexual and gender expression, Stellenbosch will remind me of its intolerance in one form or another. In the case of WIlgenhof, our structures are protecting a bigot as opposed to those subjected to his queerphobia, go-

ing so far as to maintain his mentor-status. The resident head of Wilgenhof made it clear, after questioning, that neither him nor his counterparts in management knew how to handle the situation. All we know is that they still need time to discuss, reflect and formulate an approach. They speak about the issues that face us as if it were an administrative issue needing processing, as opposed to real lives and humxnity at stake. This is institutional rot, and queerphobia is undoubtedly a manifestation of that rot. So to answer the initial question succinctly: yes, Stellenbosch is queerphobic. It exists in all spheres of this community, and individuals and movements, such as anti-GBV, are fighting these plagues alone. To be a minority is not simply to be small in numbers, it is a feeling. It feels like you’re alone. It feels like you are not safe. It feels like nobody cares. * I understand that ‘queerphobia’ is a problematic and misleading term however, for the sake of clarity and due to linguistic limitations, that is the term used throughout this piece.

More than just the budget speech SEBASTIAN UYS

THE Budget Speech delivered on Wednesday 26 February by our Minister of Finance, Tito Mboweni, and was met with mixed responses from the South African public. Some were positive, thanking the treasury for avoiding tax increases and cutting the public wage bill. Others were negative, especially those who hoped to see larger cuts to large State-owned enterprises such as Eskom or SAA. Personally, I quite enjoyed this time surrounding the budget speech of South Africa. Not only because it is economically interesting, with some fluctuations in the value of the Rand and market responses following the speech, but also due to the opportunity the budget speech offers us all to stop, look around, and assess where we

are. As an economy, as a people and also as a nation. Following the spectacular success of the Springboks in the World Cup last year, there seems to be at least a glimmer of hope left in our country. Yes, the darkness (excuse the pun Eskom) might have dampened the national mood, and our fair share of public sector tensions haven’t helped, but silently the ember of hope burns in the heart of South Africa. We can do this. However, practically, numbers mean numbers and budget speech involve budgets. But, while our government shares its plans for the fiscal year to come, it offers us all an opportunity to take in the reality of our common situation.

Things aren’t all as good as we might have hoped for them to be. Maybe I, or we as students, are a bit young to claim that things are not what we ‘hoped’ for them to be. Hope implies an expectation of future reality, and I think the hopes of those who survived and fought for the freedom of all under the Apartheid regime are the hopes that our current nation in 2020 should be measured against. What did people in 1994 think South Africa would look like in 2020? I’m not sure I have enough time, or words, to write about what I think people might have imagined, but I am quietly confident of one thing. They would not want us to give up.

* Sebastian is currently enjoying Bcomm Honours in Economics and analysing the role the government wage bill has played in our nation since 1994)

Die Matie supports freedom of speech, meaningful debate and tolerance for differing viewpoints. Pieces that are published on Die Matie's opinion pages do not necessarily reflect Die Matie's point of view. Opinion pieces about any topic can be submitted to the editor at dimatie75@gmail.com and will be considered for publication. Topics about current affairs will be given preference. Please include a short bio and a photo of yourself.

CANVAS

Finding the Roodts of Philosophy

Professor Vasti Roodt is an Associate Professor in the Department Philosophy at Stellenbosch University (SU). Kirsty Bucholz spoke with Roodt about her research and her multiple philosophical interests.

rofessor Vasti Roodt is an Associate Professor at the Department of Philosophy at Stellenbosch University (SU) and holds an MA and DPhil (Philosophy) from SU. Professor Roodt recently went on a research sabbatical to the Katholieke Universiteit Leuven (KU Leuven) in Belgium, where she was a research fellow for one of their sub research groups, called Research in Political Philosophy Leuven (RIPPLE). Kirsty Bucholz spoke with Rood tabout her research and her various philosophical interests. At KU Leuven, Roodt worked on the concept of violence. The concept of violence has expanded quite significantly and recently in everyday discourse and in philosophy, particularly in political and moral philosophy. Roodt’s research aims to understand the reasons why and motivation for this expansion, and also looks at the point when meaning has expanded so much that it stops tracking the world and starts to undermine the moral and political aims it is trying to serve. Roodt’s primary interest is political philosophy, and her research project falls into the category of conceptual ethics/engineering. It is a recent and specific focus in philosophy. Conceptual engineering/ethics doesn’t simply ask what our concepts mean, but rather what they should mean given other considerations. Our concepts can serve epistemic, moral and/or political aims, and we can always say whether they can do so well or badly, and what we can do to improve them. She is specifically interested in concepts in political philosophy that she thinks need to be looked at, “cases where the concept is a metaphor, but recognised as a metaphor… the assumptions that a

metaphor are drawn on are sometimes false”. Roodt is also the Head of a research unit within the Centre for Applied Ethics at SU called PROSPER (Promoting Social and Political Ethics Research). Her research there focuses on the field of conceptual ethics. She runs a philosophy retreat with some of her colleagues for business people, who know nothing about philosophy and want to learn to think better. They apply philosophical questions to their respective businesses, for instance, what is free will, justice, the mind and consciousness. Roodt has published extensively on the works of Friedrich Nietzsche and Hannah Arendt. She wrote her masters on the Concept of Justice in Nietzsche and has always been immensely drawn to Nietzche’s thinking. “He’s a different kind of philosopher to any other philosopher you’d encounter, he doesn’t take anything for granted. He pulls the rug from under your feet completely, in an interesting way,” Roodt said. Hannah Arendt also doesn’t try to offer a final foundation, but she does take society’s political life seriously. Roodt read Nietzsche and Arendt together for years as they represent two points of view. While Nietzsche represents a single point of view (i.e. who am I, what matters to me?) and then shows that there are no final answers to these questions, Arendt’s point of view starts from “you and me together”, in a world which is shared with others. This work forms Roodt’s background. While her research on conceptual ethics is new and what interests her now, Roodt has always been interested in political phi-

Rooting for Philosophy Professor Roodt speaks about her interests in philosophy and it’s foundations. Photo: Supplied losophy, more broadly speaking questions of justice. Her research on violence is

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based against this background. According to Roodt, “One thing that philosophers can do practical-

ly, outside of academia, is to aid in improving public debate. Because a lot of the time when we’re debating and disagreeing and shouting at one another in parliament etc., we’re talking past each other and each person is defending their own position.” For instance, the debate around unity. It is a term used often by politicians, but it is not unpacked as a concept itself. “If you think of unity as a point where we’re all just going to magically agree with each other, we’re never going to have it. Does that mean that all that remains for us is anarchy, violence, endless conflict? That doesn’t have to be. There’s a way of thinking about social and political unity that takes human plurality seriously... So while we can’t have magical perfect unity where we all want exactly the same thing, we can have a kind of unity where we cooperate in order to achieve our own aims, but recognise that we can only achieve them if we also help make it possible to achieve others’ aims,” Roodt said.

SPORT

11 Maart 2020

Take a stab at fencing SIBELLA SWANEPOEL

f your phone is full of gym selfies, or if you're sick and tired of grass burns, perhaps you should give fencing a try. The Maties fencing club is well established and has been around for years. Recently, however, there is a new buzz surrounding one of the university’s smallest and most intimate sport clubs. Despite always poking each other with foils, fencing is actually one of the safest sports in the world. The club accommodates casual fencers, who want to make friends and have a good time. They also provide a space for experienced fencers to improve, grow and obtain skills to be able to compete on a larger scale. The club is your ticket into the lively Western Cape and South African fencing community, as well as a gateway to local, provincial and national competitions. The fencing club is for everyone (non-students as well), even for fencers coming out of retirement. Newcomers do not need equipment, experience or skill to join the club. “Fencing is a part of me, it’s a passion that I have had for years,” Akira Coetzee, a third year BA

(Language and Culture) student said. Coetzee is the fencing captain, and one of the club’s most experienced fencers. Last month she took part in the Western Cape Open and came second in the seniors (over 20) women’s sabre. This achievement increased her national ranking to fifth in the country. Coetzee was also asked to represent South Africa in the Seniors African Championships later this year but is unfortunately unable to go. Mieke Burger, a first year BA (Humanities), a new member of the fencing team, took a break from fencing in her matric year, but continued with fencing this year. She also took part in the Western Cape open alongside Coetzee last month. “This year I am trying to pick it up again, I didn’t train a lot last year, but I am focusing on my progress,” Burger said. In 2018, she took part in the Junior Commonwealth Games in England, as well as in the Junior African Championships in Algeria during the beginning of last year. Any Matie interested in poking around and breaking a sweat in the process, can join the club practices at the Maties gym from 19:00 to 21:00 on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

FOCUS It was all smiles at the Dagbreek Straatmyl as many came to support those participating in the races. Jerry Motsau was the winner of the dream mile with his close friend, and biggest competitor, Luan Munnik not far behind in second place. Motsau expressed his enjoyment of the event and said he was happy to be there. Caption: Lolita de Abreu, Photos: Kesia Abrahams

Die ekstra 109 km gaan op Matie-fietse KARLA VAN DER MERWE

DIE Kaapstad-Fietstoer, beter bekend as die Argus, het vanjaar sy 42ste wedren op 8 Maart aangebied. Die wêreldbekende 109 km lange fietstoer was vanjaar egter op ’n unieke manier deur ’n groep Maties aangepak. Die Hippocampus-span, ’n groep mediese- en fisioterapiestudente, het die fietstoer op die vintage Matie-fietse aangedurf wat mens elke dag in ’n maroen blur verby jou op kampus sien ry. Na hul agt dae lange reis van 1000 km vanaf Vioolsdrift af tot by Kaap Agulhas, het die span gevoel dat 109 km in een dag nie uitdagend genoeg vir hulle was nie. Hierdie eerste toer saam vanaf die noordelike grens tot die land se mees suidelike punt is in 2018 voltooi as ’n fondsinsamelingsinisiatief deur die Hippocampus-span. Dis toe dat die idee ontstaan het dat hulle die toer met Matie-fietse kan aanpak. Daar is egter ’n paar uitdagings. Die Matie-fietse het slegs een rat. Terwyl een rat fietse ideaal is vir pendelaars soos studente wat van klas tot klas ry, skep dit egter ’n uitdaging vir fietsryers wat ’n roete soos die een van die Kaapstad-Fietstoer gaan ry met sy afwisselende platter en steiler gedeeltes. Die groot mandjie vooraan maak dinge ook nie juis makliker nie. Die Hippocampus-fietsryers is egter nie hierdeur afgeskrik nie. “Dis ook ’n cool manier om die Matie-fiets op die proef te stel en ook om te wys dat hulle in staat is om die ektra myl of 109 te kan gaan,” sê Breda Reed, een van die spanlede. Reed vertel dat toe hulle die

First years: Lets score! EMMANUEL EKENE OKERE

BENE SOOS BOOMSTOMPE Die Maties wat die Argus op die Maroen-fietse aangepak het. Foto: Verskaf Argus verlede jaar ook só aangepak het, baie mense hulle afgeraai het om dit met die Matie-fietse te doen. Daar is verder aan die span gesê het dat hulle sal sukkel en besef dat dit ’n onnosele plan was. Toe dit egter duidelik raak teen die laaste 60 km dat hulle gaan klaarmaak, het dieselfde mense hulle as helde bestempel. “Daar gaan altyd ’n risiko verbonde wees as jy iets skouspelagtig aanpak. Jy kan óf in die 60 km leef waarin mense vir jou sê jy kan

dit nie doen nie, óf jy kan in daardie 60 km leef waar mense sê dat jy ’n held is,” filosofeer Reed. Die span het drie weke gelede begin oefen vir die wedren en meld elke oggend sesuur aan om te gaan spin waartydens hulle vir tussen 35 en 45 minute hard oefen. Reed verduidelik dat dit nie soseer ’n fisiese voorbereiding is nie, maar eerder ook ’n geestelike voorbereiding. Hippocampus is egter nie net ’n fietsryspan vir die genot nie. Die span pak toere soos die

Kaapstad-Fietstoer en hulle 1000 km-toer aan om geld in te samel vir studente wat finansiële ondersteuning benodig. Tydens hulle 1000 km-toer het hulle meer as R600 000 ingesamel en hulle beoog om aan te hou om meer studente te help. Enige iemand kan bydra en ’n donasie maak by https://hippocampusteam.co.za/. Die groep het almal sterk geëindig rondom die ses uur-merk met 26 fietsryers op Matie-fietse en twee op normale fietse.

THE Men’s first-year 11-a-side tournament, which has been on going at the Lentelus Sportsground, has finally reached its climax with two popular residences – Simonsberg and Academia, set to go head to head against each other in the final. Teams from other residences and PSOs like Eendrag, Helderberg, Boland College, Oude Molen and Capri were all hopeful contestants in the tournament but couldn’t make it past Round 1 as they were knocked out. Round 2 saw Metanioa ousted by Simonsberg, Huis Visser eliminated by Pieke, Helshoogte kicked out by Dagbreek and Vesta dumped by Academia. The semi-final between Simonsberg and Pieke was a tough outing for both teams, but Simonsberg booked their place in the final with a 1-0 victory. Academia grinded a narrow win over Dagbreek (3-2) to take the second final spot. The final game is scheduled to take place today. The tournament is a 15 minutes-a-side straight swap knock-out competition and promises a lot of fun. The final looks set to be highly contested, as both residences are determined to take the trophy home.

WOENSDAG 11 MAART 2020 | GR ATIS

ROCK SOLID The Maties defensive line held tight against the blue wave that was the Ikeys onslaught. Photo: Erin Johnston

Close call for the Maroon Machine

KESIA ABRAHAMS

onday night saw the continuation of an age old rivalry between FNB Maties and FNB Ikeys at Danie Craven stadium. Luck was fortunately on Maties side as they ended off with a hard fought win, accomplishing their 21st consecutive home win in the FNB Varsity Cup tournament. Through fierce wind, both teams persevered, showcasing phenomenal talent in the first few

minutes of the game with the one of the only two tries being scored within the first eight minutes. Ben-Jason Dixon, Maties captain, continued to utilise try-scoring tactics but pivot Reinhardt Fortuin was unfortunately not able to add the extras. Neither Maties nor Ikeys were able to score further match points before the strategy break due to the wind. The game continued into the second quarter, with the 5-0 score to Maties remaining unchanged.

As the game progressed into the second-half, the wind continued to blow. Prop Ashywn Adams from Ikeys was taken off the field following a painful collision. In his place, Luthando Woji was sent onto the field who, alongside flanker Neil Otto, was a powerful force. FNB Maties made only two additional player changers during the game with speedster Mike Mavovana and flanker Joa Swart coming on. Maties centre, Cornel Smit

kicked a magnificent penalty, giving Maties an 8-0 lead. Tension rose in the Danie Craven as scrumhalf Kyle Bowman scored a try for Ikeys, with flyhalf James Tedder converting to make it a one-point game going into the last few minutes of the match. In the end Maties won the match by the skin of their teeth with the scoreboard reading 8 points to Ikeys’ 7 when the referee blew the final whistle. It was a close call for the Maroon Machine as for a minute, it

appeared as if Ikeys were close to becoming the first team to leave Danie Craven with a victory in the last 20 games. The game also saw prominent figures on the stand including Springbok captain, Siya Kolisi and former Springbok, Schalk Brits. With the win, Maties are now at the top of the Varsity Cup log. Maties 8th man Marcel Theunissen was awarded FNB Player That Rocks and captain Ben-Jason Dixon was awarded the Steers Kinging Moment Award.

Gardeo Isaacs: Aiming even higher in 2020 JACQUES BOTMA

It is inevitable that when one superstar is absent, another will rise to stardom. This was the case for Gardeo Isaacs, a third year BCom (Management Science) student who, in the absence of world champion Wayde van Niekerk, rose to the occasion to claim the first place in the 400 metres at last year’s Athletics South Africa (ASA) National Senior Championships. This year, his sights are set even higher. “The biggest goal for this year is to qualify for the Olympics. To qualify, I need to run a 44.9 second race.

My personal best is currently at 45.3 seconds. I do not think that it is such a major jump. I think I can do it this year,” Isaacs said. The early signs are certainly promising. On 4 March, he raced in his first 200-metre race of the year, completing it with a new personal best, and he looks more motivated than ever to achieve his goals. Not only does he want to defend his title, but world record holder Wayde van Niekerk, is back in action. This, however, only seems to awaken Isaacs’ competitive spirit. “I thrive on competition,” Isaacs said. “I switch on when there are big names around me. It helps me

to perform at the highest level.” With an excellent support system working in the background, Isaacs is hard at work preparing for the major qualifying events, including the 2020 ASA National Senior Championships, that will take place in April. He attributes a lot of his success to the support system that Maties has in place to manage their athletes. “Their structures and the way they care for their athletes is, in my opinion, one of the best in South Africa,” Isaacs said. He mentions, however, that it is sometimes important to get away from the track. “The best in the world are able to

plan which races to compete in and where to peak. This is important in terms of burning out later in the season. I would like to break away a bit and spend more time with friends and family,” he said. Athletics seems to be a family affair for the Isaacs’. It was initially his grandparents who introduced him to athletics and now his mother is a crucial part of his support system. Isaacs also mentions that his coach is now almost like family. “I see him more as a father figure than a coach. He has helped me build character both on and off track,” Isaacs said. With his growing success

showing character and acting in the right manner is now more important than ever. “With all the recent media attention after my win, I have to be very vigilant about how I act and what I say, especially on social media. Young kids can be very easily influenced.” Inspiring others is one of his passions. When he one day retires from professional athletics he would like to motivate and help young up-and-coming talent. With his humbleness and dedication, he is already inspiring a new generation of superstars to achieve greatness.