DieMATIE WENNER VAN DIE ATKV-MEDIAVEERTJIE VIR BESTE KAMPUSKOER ANT
WOENSDAG 14 AUGUSTUS 2019
NEGE-EN-SEWENTIGSTE JAARGANG | NO 1
‘Women of Fire’ face the flames... (again)
WEN KAARTJIES VIR CRAFT BIERFEES bl. 6 WIN TICKETS TO CRAFT BEER FEST p. 6
TERROR Huis ten Bosch lost 10 rooms on the third floor of the building. Photo: Francois Lombaard
Tragedy strikes Stellenbosch A
LIAN VAN WYK
fire has left all 164 residents of Huis ten Bosch Women’s Residence without a permanent roof over their heads. According to Wayne Smith, Fire Chief at the Stellenbosch Fire Department, the fire affected rooms 3020 to 3030 on the third floor of the residence and a total of ten rooms were destroyed. Smith, who was not on the scene, cited an official report compiled by the team of 16 firemen that were responsible for containing and extinguishing the fire on Monday 12 August. According to the report, the roof on the third floor was burned through and the remaining parts of floor were also affected by heavy smoke and water damage. The Fire Department received the first call at 19:20 and handed over the building to Stellenbosch University (SU) officials at 22:10, the fire having been extinguished. According to the accounts of various Huis ten Bosch residents on the night, all 164 women were evacuated safely to Wilgenhof Men’s Residence. This was later confirmed by Prof. Wim de Villiers, SU Rector and Vice Chancellor, and in the report by the Stellenbosch Fire Department. At the time of print, the causes of the fire were unconfirmed, but Smith said that the possibility of an electric short-circuit could not be
FLAMES TO ASHES Picture showing the aftermath of a room on the top floor of Huis ten Bosch. Photo: Francois Lombaard ruled out. “If one looks at the statement given by the lady in whose room the fire started, it looks like it could have been a short-circuit. She did not give an official statement, but communicated to some of the members of the fire team. We still have to find her and conduct the necessary interview.” According to a source close to the Huis ten Bosch leadership structures, the residence had been experiencing power trips on the third floor for at least two weeks preceding the fire. “There had been instances over the past two
weeks where the power tripped in the section in which the fire occurred,” she said. According to the source, the after-hours number for Campus Security was called every time the power tripped. “There was an electrician who came to switch on the mains every time the power tripped, but no one was sent to find out what was actually causing the power to trip the whole time. Over the long weekend a call was logged for someone to find out what was causing the problem.”
Apparently, nothing came of the alleged call. Susan van der Merwe, Director of Communication and Stakeholder relations, and acting media correspondent in the absence of Martin Viljoen, SU spokesperson, explained the procedure for lodging complaints after hours.“If, after hours, any incidents are reported, they are reported at the control room at Campus Security. There are always two Facilities Management employees who serve as support personnel on standby. They are deployed to attend to complaints. There is an electronic system that logs all calls to Campus Security.” According to Van der Merwe, she enquired at Campus Security about the calls made concerning the power trips at Huis ten Bosch. Campus security apparently had no immediate knowledge of the calls. “I will have to find out from Facilities Management if something like that occurred, but at this stage I have no knowledge whatsoever of such reports.” The residents of Huis ten Bosch are currently housed at various locations across Stellenbosch and have been at the receiving end of a magnitude of donations. Further investigations into the nature of the fire will apparently be conducted by the loss adjudicator of the insurance company in the service of SU with the support of the Stellenbosch Fire Department, according to Van der Merwe.
Vurige oefening 2 Neelsie tsunami
3
Huisdans 4 idees Women’s Sevens?11 MAIN ED MEET THE NEW TEAM p. 8 2019/2020 ONLINE
FOLLOW US
INSTAGRAM: @DIEMATIE FACEBOOK: Die Matie TWITTER: @DieMatie
2
NEWS
Sirenes loei in strate MART-MARIÉ SERFONTEIN
Knitting for homeless
D
ie klank van sirenes het nog nie eens behoorlik in Stellenbosch-studente se ore ophou weergalm weens die brand by Huis ten Bosch Maandagaand nie, voor die dorp Dinsdagoggend omstreeks 08:30 weer geloei het. Hierdie keer was dit na die Eikestad-winkelsentrum waarheen brandweerwaens, polisievoertuie en ambulanse gehaas het. Die hele sentrum, asook alle wooneenhede in en rondom die sentrum, wat tussen Bird- en Andringastraat geleë is, is gister ontruim. Aanvanklik het ooggetuies op die toneel gesê dat daar ’n bom in Sportscene ontplof het. Beeldmateriaal wat kort daarna op WhatsApp versprei is, het gewys dat vlamme en swaar rook by die dak van die sentrum uitborrel in die nabyheid van waar dié winkel geleë is. Beamptes op die toneel het egter bevestig dat al die gebeure slegs deel van ’n oefening was om Stellenbosch se verskeie nooddienste se gereedheidsgrondslag te toets. Daar word voorkomend opgetree in die geval van ’n regte brand, ontploffing of ’n verdagte pakkie
BRANDWEERMANNE WYS HUL STAAL Stellenbosse brandweermanne in aksie besig om die ontruimingsoefening te doen. Foto: Mart-Marié Serfontein wat agtergelaat word, aldus Wayne Smith, Stellenbosch se Brandweerhoof. Hy het gesê dat plekke van “massa-inwoning” gereeld twee of drie keer ’n jaar sulke ontruimingsoefeninge moet ondergaan. Dit word nie net gedoen om die nooddienste se reaksie te toets nie, maar ook om die reaksie van die inwoners en werknemers van die gebou te toets en te verseker dat mense veilig ontruim word. Russel Meiring, ER24 se woordvoerder, het bevestig dat dit ’n ontruimingsoefening in die geval van ’n brand was. Hy het bygevoeg dat alle strate naby die sentrum tydelik gesluit was, soos dit ook sou gebeur in die geval van ’n regte noodgeval. Op ’n
vraag oor die vuur wat ooggetuies op die dak gesien het, het hy bevestig dat die vuur deel van die oefening was en dat ’n element van realisme altyd deel van sulke noodoefeninge vorm. Smith het gesê die oefening was nie in reaksie op die brand by Huis ten Bosch nie, maar dat dit ’n geskeduleerde oefening was en wys dat die nooddienste as ’n geheel probeer om voorkomend op te tree. Die betrokke partye was die Stellenbosch Brandweeren Reddingsdienste, munisipale verkeersbeamptes, provinsiale en private ambulanse, die Suid-Afrikaanse Polisiediens (SAPD) en die Kaapse Wynland Distriksmunisipaliteit.
Robbery of the week CARLA VISAGIE
THE Incredible Connection store in Eikestad mall faced an armed robbery on 7 August at approximately 12:15. According to Captain Natalie Martin, communications officer of the Stellenbosch SAPS, one of the store’s staff members was on duty when two unknown males entered the Incredible Connection shop. “He [the employee] was busy with a customer at that stage and the suspect put a firearm against his back and told him to walk to the back of the storeroom. He [the robber] then instructed the complainant to open the storeroom,” Martin said. Martin explained that after the employee was commanded to open the
storeroom he was then told to get down on the floor and to face forward with the customer, who was instructed to do the same. “The complainant saw one guy standing next to them with a firearm and another four inside the storeroom. They took an unknown amount of different cell phones, tablets and laptops,” Martin said. According to a witness who was shopping in Food Lovers Market, the men fled just before the police came. “They didn’t threaten any of the shoppers, but they [the robbers] pointed a gun at the staff. They ran down the stairs and exited through the basement parking,” he said. According to captain Martin two of the five men were caught. “The suspects were chased to
Harare (Cape Town) by officers from the Western Cape War Room where suspects stopped their vehicle. Two suspects both from Philippi were arrested,” she said. According to another witness, the robbers initially followed a truck making a delivery to the shop. “The robbers followed the delivery truck here and they entered the building through the basement. When they saw the goods being delivered, they came into the shop and threatened the staff,” he said. According to a security guard from ADT, who stood guard at the crime scene, there were no injuries. Martin said all stolen goods were handed over to the Stellenbosch Police Station. The case is still under investigation.
WITH the natural elements taking their toll on the homeless in the winter, the Ascendio Harry Potter Alliance Stellenbosch society in collaboration with Huis ten Bosch residence hosted a knitting drive on 7 August as part of a series of knitting drives to provide blankets. According to Nicole Janse van Rensburg, Ascendio Marketing Manager and secondyear BA (Humanities) student, squares are knitted at the events and will be sewed together at a later stage to form the blankets. “The knitted squares will be donated to either an initiative organised by Renish Girl's High school, or we will sew the squares together ourselves and donate it to a shelter in Stellenbosch,” Janse van Rensburg said. Janse van Rensburg said the event was inspired by Molly Weasly, mother of the Weasly children in the popular Harry Potter novels. Janse van Rensburg said there was no training before the
event, but new knitters learned the skill as the evening went on. According to Sejal Debideen, Huis Ten Bosch leadership HK and third year BCom(Management Sciences) student, the event is a good way to unite people with a common passion while doing something good for the community. “They [the society] have done it a couple of times at our residence and I think it is a really cool way to give people in other residences a chance for knitting to together and share a common passion,” she said. Aaron Simmonds, third year BAcc student who went to the event for the second time, said it can be a challenge to learn how to knit at first. “The way the evening goes is you rock up and someone teaches you how to knit, which involves a lot of frustration at first but from there you just chill, it is really laid back,” Simmonds said.
– Carla Visagie
Talking the talk in court STELLENBOSCH University’s (SU) language policy is once again under scrutiny, but this time in the Constitutional Court of South Africa. On 8 August Gelyke Kanse, an organisation aimed at securing the future of Afrikaans at a tertiary level and supporting the upliftment of all indigenous languages, presented their application for leave to appeal in a hearing against the 2017 High Court ruling, which declared SU’s 2016 language policy amendment was justified. Gelyke Kanse has rejected this judgement, stating that change to the policy was “unconstitutional and unfair”. Gelyke Kanse, along with eight other applicants, filed a lawsuit against SU in 2017 for their language policy change.
Originally, SU’s 2014 language policy stated that both English and Afrikaans were to be taught as parallel mediums of instruction in undergraduate classes, but then amended their language policy to say that English had to be the language of instruction, but does not exclude Afrikaans. In a statement by George Steyn, the Chair of the Stellenbosch University Council, in 2016 it is explained that SU made the change to move towards “inclusive multilingualism and to facilitate effective learning and teaching, research, and service delivery”. The judgement on the hearing is reserved, meaning the judge has requested time to decide on the matter.
– Nicole Nasson
SR-nominasie droogte DIE SR-nominasies het op 2 Augustus gesluit ná dit met ’n week verleng is vanweë ’n tekort aan genomineerde kandidate. Volgens Mari Fölscher, hoof van bemarking en sosiale media van die Universiteit Stellenbosch (US) se verkiesingskomitee, moet daar minstens 10 genomineerdes wees vir die verkiesingsproses om te kan voortgaan. “Daar word nege lede verkies, so as daar nege of minder nominasies is, moet ons die aansoeke vir nog ’n week oopstel. Op Vrydag 26 Julie het ons net sewe aansoeke ontvang, so ons moes die nominasies weer tot Vrydag 2 Augustus oopstel,” het Fölscher gesê. Volgens Fölscher is van die vereistes waaraan kandidate moet voldoen om genomineer
te kan word, dat hulle die vereiste HEMIS-telling moet behaal, wat gelykstaande aan hul koshuis-HEMIS moet wees, asook om ‘n akademiese mentor te hê “om te verhoed dat kandidate akademiese HEMIS verloor as gevolg van die SR”. Volgens Wiann Bester, sameroeper van die Universiteit Stellenbosch se verkiesingskomitee, was daar vorige jare ook ’n tekort aan leierskapskandidate vir die SR en dat dit nie nét die SR is wat hierdie probleem ervaar nie. “Die tekort aan aansoeke kan moontlik apatie wees of net ’n besluit dat studente eerder meer tyd aan hul akademie wil spandeer as om betrokke te raak by buitemuurse aktiwiteite,” het Bester gesê.
– Carla Visagie
NUUS
14 Augustus 2019
Tsunami in the Neelsie
KESIA ABRAHAMS
H
ave you got some old books at home collecting dust on the shelf? Why not give them a brand new home through the Stellenbosch University (SU) Language Centre’s book drive: Book Tsunamis. SU’s Language Centre is planning to make a “walk-through library” in the Neelsie Student Centre on Friday 6 September to emphasise the importance of reading, and to give students the opportunity to obtain more books as these books will be available for free for everybody. Vernite Beukes, Language Centre Coordinator, said “we decided three years ago that we want to do a community project. One of my former colleagues, JC Rademeyer, and I talked about Emma Watson’s #bookfairy project”. According to her, the #bookfairy project was a project wherein Watson would release books, and people would be able to read the books on the condition that they pass them on to others once they have completed the books. Book Tsunamis will take place in order to commemorate World
TSUNAMI OF WORDS Students can donate books to the Language Centre for the walk-through library on 6 September. Photo: Kesia Abrahams Literacy Day, which occurs on 8 September every year following the General Conference of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO). Beukes stated that they are trying to create a “tsunami” in the Neelsie with books every Friday following up to the date of the event. The books that will be used at the event are collected throughout
the year. There is no specific criteria for the types of books that need to be donated. When books are donated, a Language Center sticker is pasted into the book stating that it is free, however, whoever takes the books are encouraged to pass them on to other people once they have finished them. “This is a sort of a pay it forward gesture,” Beukes said.
3
Sokkie opgeskop KESIA ABRAHAMS
Stellenbosch-studente sokkie al vir 11 jaar lank by Opskop, hul geliefkoosde sokkie-plek, op die maat van Kurt Darren-liedjies. Verlede week het Torres de Reuck, eienaar van Opskop, bevestig dat Opskop wel sy deure gaan sluit. “Dit was nie iets wat ek graag wou doen nie, maar dit was ’n gedwonge besluit. Daar was reëls en regulasies waarvan Opskop nie bewus was nie. Die finale besluit om Opskop te sluit, was egter weens residensiële uitbreiding rondom Opskop,” het De Reuck gesê. Opskop se laaste aand was Saterdag 10 Augustus. De Reuck het gesê dat die week voor Opskop se deure gesluit het, die pryse by die kroeg dieselfde was as toe Opskop oopgemaak het. De Reuck het genoem dat dit oorweeg word om Opskop op elders oop te maak. “Dit is ’n opsie, maar ons wag om te hoor oor die dranklisensie. Ons dink aan ’n plek waar mens kan sit, maar wat steeds soos Opskop is. Ons sal graag wil hê dat die
nuwe Opskop ’n klein dansbaan moet hê en as ’n venue gebruik word om funksies aan te bied. Volgens De Reuck was daar meer as ’n 1 000 mense verlede Woensdag by Opskop. Gabriella Rothmann, tweedejaar-BSc (Menslike Lewenswetenskappe)-student, was vir die eerste keer verlede Woensdagaand by Opskop. “Ek dink Opskop was oorvol en die rye was baie lank, maar dis omdat Opskop toemaak en die mense ongelukkig is oor hulle nie meer ’n plek het om te dans nie,” het Rothmann gesê. Eleonore Basson, ’n gereelde besoeker aan Opskop en tweedejaar-BA (Taal en Kultuur)-student, meen dat een van die redes waarom sy Opskop sal mis, weens die lekker dansbaan is. “Dit was die beste plek om in Stellenbosch te sokkie aangesien die dansbaan taamlik groot is. Ek hou van die goeie dissipline by Opskop, soos die feit dat jy nie toegelaat word om jou alkohol saam te neem op die dansbaan nie. Dit verhoed dat mense drank mors en dus is dit baie skoon,” het Basson gesê.
No progress for this student organisation
BRYNLEY VAN AARDT
PROGRESS SA, a liberal student movement that started at the University of Cape Town (UCT), made their mark at Stellenbosch University (SU) on Monday morning by putting up posters around campus which have since been taken down in several areas. “We plan to spark debate by running controversial campaigns and inviting speakers to campus. The posters aim to challenge ideas that are politically correct. These ideas tend to constrict free thought,” Tariq Khan, the spokesperson for Progress SA at Stellenbosch, said. Tami Jackson, a co-founder of Progress SA, said the organisation was started by students and young people who have an “interest in the principles of an open society”.
The campaigns they run regards academic freedom, individuality and free speech. According to Jackson, Progress SA spread to Stellenbosch because “the events happening [aren't] exclusive to UCT”. “Progress wants to provide a platform to those who have been vilified as well as open up space for new ideas,” Jackson said. “Inevitably, we expected them to be removed. [It] proves the point we are trying to make regarding intolerance,” continued Jackson. SRC member, Leighton September, said that even though the posters were stamped, the stamping of the posters went against the SRC Code of Conduct with regards to an SRC member “[acting] as an agent or in the interest of another organisation”. September also said, “Some members feel that the
DONUTS FOR ALL The SRC candidates handed out donuts to students on 3 August at 13:00 while giving them the opportunity to ask questions on why they should be granted the chance to serve on the SRC. Photo: Lolita De Abreu
STAMPING CHAMPS Progress SA members with an SRC member stamping the posters. Photo: Progress Twitter page posters speak to issues that marginalised bodies still face and feels like it further marginalises them,” but said “the SRC was not responsible for taking the posters down”. Although the SRC is not at liberty to say which SRC member stamped the posters, they will be
having a closed meeting this week with the relevant member(s) and release an official statement once they have come to a decision on the posters. François Arnuad, a first-year BA (International Studies) student is of the opinion that any organisation that promotes
freedom of speech should be welcomed. “The need for free speech has never been greater in our society and if they can be an organisation with people who are willing to champion free speech and our right to it then I think they are of great value,” said Arnuad. According to Luke Waltham, third-year BA (Law) student, the organisation’s arguments are inaccurate. “The belief by Progress SA is that freedom of speech is absolute which is absurd from a legal and moral perspective, especially considering our [South African] historical and political context. Their arguments of collectivising all leftwing people and saying we act like victims and are oppressing them is flawed, and is, in fact, extremely hypocritical,” Waltham said.
4
STUDENTELEWE
Skitter met ’n klein begroting ʼn boodskap te stuur na hul Instagram-blad @thebowco.
CATHARINA VAN DER MESCHT
D
is tyd om jou dansskoene af te stof, huisdansseisoen is hier. Daar was nog nooit ʼn beter tyd om jouself te bederf nie. Ongelukkig is die studente-stryd ’n werklikheid, want die begroting knyp maar. Dit is waarom die volgende studentebesighede, teen ’n bekostigbare prys, die perfekte oplossing vir ’n huisdansbederf is.
The Bearded G Ltd The Bearded G Ltd. verskaf versorgingsprodukte soos baardolie en seep vir die moderne man. “Die besigheid het in 2017 onstaan in Huis Russel Botman na maande se navorsing en toetslopies,” bevestig eienaar Njabulo Magnificent. Hierdie produkte kan gebruik word voor jou huisdans om ’n gesonde en goedversorgde baard te verseker. Dit kan aanlyn bestel word by www.beardedg.co.za of deur ’n boodskap na die Instagram-blad @thebeardedg_ltd te stuur.
Get Nailing Get Nailing is ’n mobiele naellakbesigheid wat jou naels sal laat skitter vir jou huisdans. Jacki Rossouw, eienaar van Get Nailing en self ’n naeltegnikus, sê: “Ek gebruik slegs 100% veilige en vegan Bio Sculpture Gel-naellak.” Rossouw se besigheid is geleë in Onder Pappegaaiberg in haar woonstel, maar sy kan jou ook by jou koshuis of woonstel ontmoet. Haar pryse is perfek vir ’n studentebegroting en sy het tans ’n huisdanspromosie. WhatsApp Rossouw by 076 840 4900 of stuur ’n boodskap na haar Instagram-blad @getnailing. Winging It Winging It bied grimering en haardienste vir enige geleenthede teen ’n bekostigbare prys. Eienaars en aspirantgrimeringen haarkunstenaars, Jamie Porter en Lauren Mortimer, sal na jou toe kom om hulle dienste te lewer. Kliënte kan ʼn afspraak maak deur hulle te WhatsApp na 072 826 2594 of 072 257 6881 of deur ’n boodskap na hul Instagram-blad
Sew Sweet Sew Sweet bied ’n wye verskeidenheid handgemaakte haarserpe wat elke stylvolle meisie se sak sal pas. Vir die huisdans-seisoen kan Sew Sweet se haarprodukte gebruik word om jou unieke styl uit te beeld. Dié haarserpe kan bestel word deur ’n boodskap te stuur na die Instagram-blad @sew.sweeeet.
LENTE KOORS Baardentoesias, Njabulo Magnificent, verwelkom lente en huisdansseisoen. Foto: Verskaf @wingingitmu of hul Facebook-blad Winging It te stuur. The Bow Co “The Bow Co. is ’n start-up besigheid wat handgemaakte strikdasse en dasse verkoop vir enige geleentheid teen ’n prys wat selfs
student nie kan weerstaan nie,” sê eienaars Stefanie van der Merwe en Julian Goldmann. Dit is die perfekte geskenk vir jou metgesel of om jouself te laat uitstaan tussen die skare. Bestellings kan geplaas word deur ’n e-pos te stuur na thebowcoza@gmail.com of deur
Pure-Beauty Pure-Beauty is ’n 100% natuurlike en organiese selfsorgbesigheid wat verskeie body scrubs vervaardig. “Dit is vir my baie belangrik dat meisies goed voel in hulle eie vel,” sê eienaar Reini Scheepers. Hierdie produkte kan gebruik word vir ’n gesonde en gloeiende vel vir jou huisdans. Bestellings kan geplaas word deur ’n boodskap na die Instagram-blad @purebeauty_stellies te stuur.
K
KAMPUS QUOTES “So you just accidentally sit on your dog a bit and then suddenly your whole family hates you for a while.” – Sadistic student “MatiesWiFi has been slower than transformation at this university.” – Frustrated student “I feel like there is bad juju on campus.” - Girl outside pulp “There is not much new that I can teach you, but like there is also YouTube.” - Hipster tutor running late “There’s an arsonist loose on campus.” - Girl on the rooiplein “A night out is almost like watching Pulp Fiction.” - Confused student “Jogging? You seem to forget my policy - only if someone is chasing me, do I run.” - Inactive student “Parking applications are a myth.” - E-toll protestor “H&M in Eikestad is burning. Did someone not get a refund?” - Amateur comedian
Picking up ‘stompies’ on campus Zahlé Eloff asked what are the most bizarre things students have heard in Stellenbosch
Mororisheng Kganyago, BCom (Investment Management)
Kirsty Potgieter, BSc (Molecular Biology and Biotechnology)
Peter Vermaak, BA (Language and Culture)
Tashin Singh, BAHons (Journalism)
Kamryn Smith, BA (International Studies)
“I don’t intend to listen, but once outside an exam venue I heard a girl speaking about who I’m assuming was her boyfriend, and she said he got up and shouted at her that he just needed to finish a tutorial and after that he would f**k her. I thought that was pretty funny.”
“EK het die twee ouens agter my hoor praat. Die een ou bars skielik uit, ‘Oh ja! Slaap jy nog met jou baas?’ En die ander ou het so kalm terug geantwoord, ‘ja! Joh maar ou, ek’t die ander dag haar kinders by die studio ontmoet!’ En toe was dit al, toe skuif ek voorentoe.”
“SOMEONE was talking about flat earth and climate change, and the one guy said that if everyone keeps believing in flat earth, then we're all gonna die. I found it funny because somehow there's a consequence of people believing in flat earth that will result in death.”
“I overheard something in the sauna at the gym. These two old-ish guys were chatting about someone’s wife who had a botched boob job, and her botox looked terrible. They moved on to who’s the hottest South African artist and it started getting creepy.”
“THERE was this guy talking to his friend on the Rooiplein. He was convinced that coffee was his soulmate. He was talking about the qualities of coffee that are better than a female and how coffee would never leave you like a girl would. He said he would marry coffee.”
STUDENTELEWE
14 Augustus 2019
5
Campus closet: A winter kick-off
Winter makes students get cold feet. Kesia Abrahams scouted warm, cute shoes at the turn of the season.
Funky Chelsea boots
The bedazzled slip-ons
The classic jelly wellies
Faux animal print sneakers
A modern take of the platform 00s grudge boots
THERE is no doubt that Chelsea boots are a Stellenbosch staple. So why not spice things up by getting yourself a pair in an interesting colour, like this beautiful blue pair.
THESE bedazzled slip-ons are sure to brighten up this gloomy weather. Wear them out to class with a pair of jeans, or wear them with your favourite stayat-home socks and pajamas.
WHEN the rain is so bad that everything seems to be flooding, Wellingtons are the ideal boot. They’ll keep your feet dry and you can get them in a variety of colours.
FAUX animal print is all the rage right now, which is why these metallic snake skin printed sneakers are perfect for those trying to stay on trend for those combatting the winter season.
THESE platform boots are perfect for short girls on the run to campus. It gives both the height and the comfort most of us desire during these cold times.
PULP REVIEW Rocketman ARMIN PRINSLOO
ONE thing you should know going in to watch this movie is that it feels much longer than its measly 2-hour run-time suggests, and that is not a compliment. It’s a shame that a man as great as Elton John didn’t get a better tribute. His life is hardly celebrated, rather, it is minimalized and criticised – his choice to let go of his true self, Reggie Dwight, in order to become “Elton John” is delivered in a way that suggests he is a sell-out for fame (and we all know he is a lot more than that). DEUR DIE WEER Oortref die koue soos Colleen Muller, Cassey Steyl, Christina Eloff en Engela Smit met hierdie vinnige wenke. Foto: Lisa De Clercq
Almal is deur die weer
LISA DE CLERCQ
J Y stel jou wekker vir 7:00 die
oggend, maar wanneer dit jou wakker lui, is dit buite nog steeds pikdonker. Jy stap dan klas toe en al waaraan jy kan dink, is dat Victoriastraat eintlik so vaal is soos Fifty Shades of Grey se storielyn. Dan begin jou trane vinniger as die reën val, want al het jy ’n sambreel, is jy nou natter as wat jy 10 minute terug in die stort was. Hulle sê dis altyd lente, maar selfs die oë van die Stellenbosch-studente sien nou al dat dit winter is. As jy iemand is wie se gemoedstoestand geaffekteer word deur die weer, het die laaste paar weke op Stellenbosch jou heel moontlik nogal mistroostig laat voel. Selfs al is jy iemand wat die sonskyn in hul eie lewe is of iemand wat van reën hou en nie omgee om permanent in een of ander fase van klamheid te wees nie, maak die donker en die koue dit maar moeilik om vroeg op te staan en pligsgetrou na elke klas toe te gaan. Hier is dus ’n paar wenke vir die alledaagse lewe al
is dit bly-in-die-bed-en-kyk-’nfliek-met-warmsjokolade weer. Opstaan-opstaan, dis ’n heerlike dag. Die moeilikste deel van die winter is seker om in die oggend op te staan. Die hoeveelheid lig buitekant is ’n definitiewe aanduiding dat daar nog geslaap behoort te word. Daar is geen goud in die mond van die môrestond nie. Skep daarom maar jou eie lig wanneer jy moet opstaan. Sit dadelik die lig aan wanneer jou wekker afgaan. Speel musiek. The Beatles se “Here Comes the Sun” is dalk die naaste aan vitamien D wat jy die hele dag gaan kry. Aangesien die temperatuur onder leefbare grade is, is dit ook aanvaarbaar om in jou bed aan te trek en te eet. Te ver om te loop en te na om met Noag se ark te vaar. Wanneer dit reën, voel jou klas altyd net ’n klein bietjie te ver, ongeag hoe naby jy aan die kampus bly. Behalwe natuurlik vir paddavoete, is reënstewels ’n goeie item om in te belê gedurende die nat maande. Al is dit al wat jy en jou oupa en sy oupa al julle lewens lank dra, pak
weg die plakkies; om droë voete te hê, maak alles baie meer draaglik. Spanwerk is altyd ’n wenmetode. As jy weet jou maatjie wag vir jou in die reën op die hoek van Bosman- en Victoriastraat, sal dit jou aanmoedig om nie na die eerste druppel wat val te besluit dat daardie klas nie so belangrik is nie. Alhoewel ’n Uber ook altyd tot jou redding kan kom in die reën, is hierdie metode van vervoer beslis nie volhoubaar nie. Maak dit lekker. Al bly ’n fliek in die bed altyd die gunstelingding om op ’n koue dag te doen, is daar ook ander dinge wat jy kan doen om jouself te beloon vir jou harde werk om homeostase in hierdie uiterste kondisies te handhaaf. Daar is talle koffiewinkels in Stellenbosch wat heeldag ’n lekker kaggeltjie laat brand om meer gesellig te raak. Pannekoekbak is natuurlik ook sinoniem met reënweer. Oefen eerder volgende keer jou pannekoek-in-die-lig-omdraai-vaardighede as om te huil oor die feit dat jou handdoek nie meer droog word deur die dag nie.
It’s hard to believe that Elton himself would be happy with this final product. His life story is told as a series of flashbacks as he sits in AA meetings reminiscing to strangers about his past experiences. The choice to tell the story in this way is very impersonal. Do not expect Rocketman to win any of the big awards at the end of the year, however, within the recently-overcrowded genre of musical biopics, it does win the prize for most-forgettable film. This is not a film I will be seeing again.
6
DAG & NAG
Dag & Nag ‘Down of fokof’ by Bierfees ERIN WALLS
Vertaal deur René Esterhuyse
W
at is beter as ‘n somersdag met goeie bier, wonderlike vriende en die beste musiek? Absoluut niks. Dit is waarom die Stellenbosch Craft Bierfees vir die 6de jaar in ‘n ry terug is. Dié fees, wat twee maal per jaar plaasvind, gaan weer op 12 Oktober ’n draai in die Jan Marais-Natuurreservaat maak, en beloof ‘n dag van goeie gehalte musiek, kos, craft gin, sowel as craft bier. Die Stellenbosch Craft Bierfees bied nie net ’n nuwe ervaring vir mense nie, maar skep ook ’n platform vir verskeie artisans om hul produkte uit te stal. Alhoewel die eerste event, wat aanvanklik April vanjaar moes plaasvind, gekanselleer was weens die weer, is dit dié keer hier om te bly. Die fees beloof om feesgangers aan die dans te kry met musiek van die hoogste gehalte. Die bands wat vermaak gaan bied, sluit onder meer die The Rudimentals, Rumswinger en Aidan
Martin in. The Rudimentals, ’n band wat uit nege musikante van Kaapstad bestaan, speel musiek wat uit ’n mengsel van genres soos reggae, dancehall, drum bass en dubstep, bestaan. Hulle sê: “Ons is regtig baie opgewonde om by hierdie event op te tree. Ons beloof om ’n onvergeetlike show vir almal te gee.” Daar is werklik iets vir almal by hierdie fees. Vir dié wat nie drink nie of bloot net moet bestuur, sal daar verskeie kombucha-geure, sowel as ander nie-alkoholiese drankies beskikbaar wees. Die organiseerders van die fees waarsku feesgangers om nie onder die invloed van alkohol te bestuur nie en eerder van saamrygeleenthede gebruik te maak. Natuurlik, soos enige Stellenbosch-student sal getuig, is die geld soms net te skaars om sulke wonderlike events met ’n knap begroting te kan bywoon. Gelukkig hoef jy nie oor so ’n rede uit te mis nie, want Die Matie gaan twee kaartjies weggee vir ’n gelukkige leser. Meer inligting oor hierdie
BLACK LABEL SÊ DIE BYBEL Craft Bierfees verlede jaar by Jan Marais-Natuurreservaat. Foto: Verskaf opwindende kompetisie sal op ons Facebookblad beskikbaar wees. ’n Ander opsie is om ‘n paar vriende bymekaar te kry en saam kaartjies op Quickticket te koop. Afslag word verkry as ’n groep mense
Double the trouble BYRON LATHAM
COUNT this week’s entertainment sorted with music from Dope Folks and Coriander Colin coming to town once again. The two groups are releasing new singles for Die Mystic Boer’s klein saterdag Lift Off performances. Coriander Colin is inspired by multiple genres and plans on making something fresh with what they’ve drawn from. They don’t want a set genre and are making their own way in the local musical industry. Accompanying their unique take on music, Coriander Colin are breaking moulds with their planned, larger than normal album that will be released in consecutive seasons. Their Wednesday performance will be revealing several selected songs from across their album’s spread as well as their new release, “High”. The band is proud of their “Whack sounds” that stem from lengthy experimentation in their recording studio and let it show in their music. In the words of the band members themselves it’s going to be “weird s**t”, interesting, appealing and, overall, good music.” Dope Folks is also coming to the Wednesday night show with heaps of
kaartjies koop. Wanneer Stellenbosch se reënweer jou gemoed weer swaar laat voel, dink net aan dié fees en die vooruitsig van ‘n lekker koue craft bier op ‘n warm somersdag.
‘Free’ EP review LOLITA DE ABREU
LIFT OFF The Coriander Colin band taking it easy. Photo: Supplied passion and a dedication to their music. Initial lyrics were penned by lead singer Marius van Coller – a.k.a. MC – and a fateful jam session resulted in the band’s formation. Though they all profess to having differing style and taste, they see this as a positive as they all bring something unique to the band. They love playing in Stellenbosch and love the “awesome energy” the town throws back at them while performing. The music is original and something that is evidently close to the band’s heart. The band’s history includes no dry spot and they admit to having lots
of material to work with. The band members themselves are Stellenbosch locals and describe themselves as being “from the culture”. Their new release, “Cocaine babe”, is to be looked forward to. The overall impression that emerges when one sits down with Dope Folks is their unashamed respect for the music. Something both bands appear to share is their novelty, experience and fresh take on what they love – music. Die Mystic Boer’s Wednesday night is sizing up to be one to remember with Coriander Colin and Dope Folks coming in hot with their dual release.
Vir meer inligting oor wat hierdie fees vir jou kan bied, sowel as die bevestiging van watter ander kunstenaars gaan optree, volg die Facebookblad: Stellenbosch Craft Beer Festival.
Ronan Morris, a first year student in BA Politics, Philosophy and Economics (PPE), released his EP, Free, on 2 August. The EP consists of five songs and each song is accompanied by clear acoustic guitar which gives the EP a pleasant and easy-going vibe. The EP gets its name from the first song on the album, “Free”. The song gives off a care-free and happy vibe. The optimistic mood takes a turn with the second song “Room 44”. The song describes the feelings of a man who has a wife dying in hospital. From the production down to the lyrics, the song is beautiful in all aspects. It is the only song on the EP that Morris says he didn’t actually experience. However, the emotion in the heart-tugging song feels far from fabricated. The ironically titled song, “A Song You’ll Like”, is my least favourite of the five. Although the guitar in the background is on par with the rest
of the songs in the collection, the song misses that same story-line effect that the others have. “Broken-Hearted Man”, is the strongest lyrically. In spite of the melancholy story I find myself smiling at its relatability and uplifting backing track. “Yesterday” is Morris’ personal favourite and it is clear to see why. The production on the song is definitely the best out of the five and the chorus is extremely catchy in its simplicity. Overall, the songs compliment each other well. Morris wanted the EP to radiate good vibes and get people moving, which he achieved with four of the five songs. “Room 44”, despite being a personal favourite of mine, would be the only reason that he slightly misses that mark. Although the EP is very impressive, especially considering everything is written and produced by Morris himself, it is not perfect. I think Morris’ signature raw and shaky voice is either a love it or hate it situation but luckily for him, I love it. I give the EP a solid 4 stars out of five.
DAG & NAG
14 Augustus 2019
7
A stylish Saturday in Stellies The Elizabeth Galloway Academy of Fashion has their annual fashion show in two weeks. Willow-Ruby van der Berg spoke to a few of final-year designers in BA (Fashion) about their designs and excitement for this evening.
E
lizabeth Galloway has been around since the 90s. Yet, every year their annual fashion show is one for the books and the perfect example for why “local is always best”. This year the fashion show is taking place on 24 August at the Protea Hotel in Stellenbosch’s Techno Park. The event starts at 19:00. The academy now affords designers an opportunity to get a full degree in fashion, and not only a diploma as in the past. “We are Elizabeth Galloway’s first degree year to graduate, so that is very exciting,” said Lerieze Erasmus. This is the night where the blood, sweat and tears of all the designers at the academy finally pays off and where the public can get an idea of the best looks for the future of fashion in South Africa. “We started the design process at the end of last year, so I think we are all quite tired at this point, but extremely excited! We started the process with design ideas, then moved on to pattern-making, then mocks, then prototypes and only then final garments. It is extremely rewarding to see everything coming together now. Especially since it is our first time having complete free reign with what we want to do (we usually adhere to a brief). So our ranges all speak very
À LA MODE One of Doré Bornman’s designs from her collection, Adore, at the fashion show last year. Borman was a 4th Year Advanced Diploma Student, specialising in Womenswear. Photo: Models for the Brand true to our personal styles,” said Jordyn Morley. It is in the final year that the designers in the academy really get a chance to have the freedom to build up a collection from scratch. “Each third year designer could choose between self-expression and client range for the show. Self-expression is more free and you can do anything you want. Client range is more specific and you have to choose
a fashion brand to work with. I chose to do client range, because I want to go into kids wear and I am working with Keedo. I still had a lot of freedom and could do what I wanted and envisioned, I just had to meet with Keedo and discuss my ideas and designs with them. My theme is very earthy and organic. I drew inspiration from nature, but also from children and how we need to preserve the earth for our children and future generations,” said
Erasmus. Jeanie Schoeman chose to do a self-expression range instead. “I desired to create a range that had loads of significance and emotion. The meaning that could only be unravelled as a storyteller tells a story. My range, Promise, is a small part of who I am. My range showcases the imperfections, textures and unravelled edges in nature,” said Schoeman. The show makes it very clear that
all the designers have different visions and styles in mind. “We have all worked so hard and it’s been a really long process to get everything ready and done for the show. I am really excited to finally see my clothes on the runway and see everything as a whole. I am also looking forward to seeing all of my classmates’ pieces on the runway as you can see everyone’s personalities in their designs,” said Erasmus. “It is amazing looking around the class and seeing the diversity of colour and style! No one’s ranges are remotely similar, but they are all too cool,” added Morley. “I am most excited for the adrenalin rush 10 seconds before the models go onto the ramp at the fashion show. This is the time when I can see my range coming to life as a whole for the first time. This is when I can give my first sigh of relief that it is done. “Before that sigh of relief occurs you have to get the correct model into the correct outfit in less than 40 seconds from coming off the ramp to on again. This is always such a blur, and often makes me wonder why people even bungee jump if they can experience the same adrenalin rush backstage of a fashion show?” said Schoeman.
8
REDAKSIONEEL
says: WHERE one thing ends another must begin. Ever tolling are the minutes of the earth and the hours and the days of it and the years without cease. A term and a year have steadily ticked by and Die Matie stands before a beginning once more. Whether it should be new remains for us to determine. Let us without reserve salute those who came before us. With great vision and tenacity they have done the necessary repairs and have set our publication on course to novel horizons. Never for a moment did they sit still or give way under the pressures of our job. They had ideas and they had the will to shape the stuff of Die Matie accordingly. Now one might hold the paper not knowing what had changed, but confident in the feeling that something had changed. We like to believe that we have grown into something quite magnificent. But the work is never done. Once more we head into the place of rock and no water and the red of the Plein. For many of us, all is new and there is much to learn. Often we will be asking what is this that we have brought upon ourselves. Many more times we might not have the faintest inkling of the way forward. But to these predicaments we will always be able to answer with ideas. Die Matie is a place bursting with ideas. They hang like a mist in the office that is our home and they thread through the words
and the sentences and the paragraphs upon which our trade is built. We are journalists editors artists visionaries. We know nothing else. Our bodies can never be without restraint, but our minds are all encompassing. We ask questions of everyone and everything. No thing should be free from scrutiny, free from having to face our enquiries. Our ideas are the code we live by. It is by their light that the face of truth might be glimpsed. We need the truth because our readers need it. Information is a coy master, one at whose feet we are always prostrating ourselves. It must be sifted and searched. It is never free of bias and it is never free of emotion. We know this because we are biased and because we are emotional. We strive for objectivity but find it unobtainable without exception. Here we work to grasp fairness, to give equal opportunity to speak, to tell the story from all sides. There might be no one truth, but we might as well keep up the search for it. And so Die Matie stands before a beginning once more, at the dawn of our 79th year. No beginning preceded by a history as rich as ours can be truly new, but it can be a beginning of new things. We look forward to presenting a new team to an ever-changing University community. Let us be the writers of the first draft of its history, well into the hundreds of years that may come.
KLAGTEPROSEDURE EN FOUTRAPPORTERING / 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 Ombudsman. You may also lodge an internal complaint or report factual errors by contacting the SRc member for Media. Also following the procedure explained above. Die Matie is accountable to its readers and will correct errors where necessary. Please send any complaints to the paper’s ombudsman/ public editor, George Claassen, at gnclaassen@sun.ac.za or 083 543 2471.
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 AFRIKAANSE 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 OPLAAG 4 000 VOLGENDE UITGAWE 28/08/2019 SPERDATUM 23/08/2019 ADVERTENSIES Nicole Nasson diematieads@gmail.com ARGIEF Vorige uitgawes van Die Matie is in die biblioteek beskikbaar
MEDEWERKERS TEKSREDIGERING Mia van der Merwe, Dominique Verster, Wynand Conradie, Brynley van Aardt, Zahlé Eloff, Lolita De Abreu, Lauren Wesley-Smith DRUKWERK PaarlMedia SPOTPRENT Kesia Abrahams
GORRELKOP Maties BAAI-Fi Gorrel se gô is uit te danke aan die verskriklike trae spoed waarteen Maties WiFi deesdae aansloer. Gorrel kan nie eens iets so eenvoudig doen soos om ’n e-pos vir Gorrel se dosent te stuur nie. Gorrel sou verstaan as die weer iets daarmee te make het, die hemel weet Gorrel se prag-land het die reën nodig, maar Gorrel sukkel selfs op die dae wat die son sporadies kop wys. Gorrel het skoon op Gorrel se gebedslysie geskryf dat Gorrel gaan bid vir beter WiFi-spoed. Dit is ’n ernstige saak dié. Gorrel moet vanjaar slaag. SR-syfer-“skok” Gorrel was nie verbaas om te hoor dat daar min belangstelling in die nuutste SR-verkiesing is nie. Dit lyk vir Gorrel dat dinge nou al so erg is dat nie eens die kandidate meer glo dat die SR ’n verskil
Die kommentaar waarvoor almal bang is. Gorrel is nie verantwoordelik vir enige ongerief veroorsaak nie.
kan maak nie. Gorrel hoop maar dat daar wel mense opdaag wat sal help met kampus se leierskap, aangesien die noodsaaklikheid van ’n SR by ’n universiteit grondwetlik beskerm word, maar nie onderrig ontvang in een van die 11 amptelike tale, soos wat studente dit benodig of verkies nie. O, ja! Wag! Dit word wel grondwetlik beskerm. Dit is jammer dat niemand by die US hulle daaraan steur nie. MAAR, SR SAL DAAR WEES. Stompie stoepe Gorrel se vriende hou van hulle daaglikse rollies op die rooiplein. Wanneer Gorrel verveeld is, rook hy maar saam om te vergeet van sy Audit-punte, maar die afgelope tyd maak dit hom net nóg meer angstig. Wanneer Gorrel Golden Virginia klaar is voel Gorrel nie meer so golden nie, want dan besef
Gorrel dat Gorrel omring is deur almal anders se vuil stompies. Dan stap Gorrel maar weer bib toe. Dit voel al hoe meer soos die walk of shame, want nie net is Gorrel besig om Audit te dop nie, maar in plaas van die rooi-tapyt-trappe, is dit net ’n stompie-tapyt na sy daaglikse straf.
Opskop skop op Gorrel hou van kaalvoet sokkie met sy Gorrelina by Opskop. Gorrel is hewig ontsteld dat Gorrel nou by Catwalk moet gaan sokkie tussen die glasstukke. Daarom kan Gorrel en Gorrelina nie meer kaalvoet sokkie nie, want anders raak dit net ’n taai en gevaarlike situasie. Verder is daar ook meer kompetisie met die Dagbreek-gemeente aangesien daar ’n droogte aan die vroue-spesies is.
OPINIONS
14 Augustus 2019
9
Perspektiewe National Health Insurance DAN-ANGELUS ZEMBERE
N
othing is more South African than living with uncertainty and not knowing what comes next. Most of these uncertainties stem from proposed government policies, and NHI (National Health Insurance) is not an exception. Many analysts have forecasted or speculated about its outcomes, but I have an uncomfortable feeling that South Africa will have a bigger price to pay. The government currently spends 4.5% and 4.2% of its annual GDP on private and public healthcare respectively, but despite this huge investment, other diseases and H.I.V prevalences remain shocking beyond words. Approximately 19% of the global H.I.V population comes from South Africa alone and study shows that diabetes is likely to be the leading cause of death in the country by 2040. Here is why the prevailing health status does not justify such an enormous healthcare spending. According to Statistics SA, approximately 16.4 % of South Africans are covered by private medical schemes and a majority of the remaining 47 million depend on public health facilities. This implies that the government is spending half of its healthcare budget on 16.4% of the population and the other hand, there are only about 50 0000 nurses available to serve the public sector. Amid this shortage, getting sick without a compre-
*Dan-Angelus is a third year BCom (Actuarial science) student. He has blog for those interested in insurance and other related topics. https://byangelus.blogspot.com/ hensive private health insurance looks almost like a death penalty. According to the new NHI draft, all South Africans will be subjected to a government-run health Insurance by 2026, and it would be based on need rather than working status or affordability. Though this might be a crowning achievement, I have avoided looking at it through rose-coloured glasses and I identified the following: The most confronting challenge is funding. No more than 9% of the country’s population are registered taxpayers, yet they are expected to be the primary source
of finance for NHI. I have never known any government that prospered by charging its people heavy taxes. It reminds me of Winston Churchill’s words, “For a nation to tax itself (it’s people) into prosperity is like a man standing in a bucket and trying to lift himself up by the handle”. Secondly, the unpredictable future state of private health Insurance companies raises many questions that have haunted almost all of us. One of these is whether the use of private medical aid will be approved not. The answer is yes, you can still have as many private health Insurance policies as you dare, but they will be disallowed to provide any treatment that lies within NHI’s package. On the other hand, the NHI draft is still unclear about its prescription coverage, thus withdrawing from your private insurance contract is not a good gamble. However, NHI might be good news to those with chronic diseases e.g diabetes since they won’t be needed to provide any medical records. This differs from some private health insurers who would normally take them through some complicated and intimidating medical exams as a basis for underwriting the policy. In some resulting cases, the chronically ill couldn’t have all their needs covered or otherwise high premium (contribution) costs would eat them alive.
Media-gedrewe populisme TIVAN LEAK
DIE mediabedryf, nie net in Suid-Afrika nie, maar oor die wêreld heen, verkeer onder toenemende finansiële druk. Dit is hoofsaaklik die gevolg van so s iale media wat digitale inligting makliker en goedkoper toeganklik gemaak het. Mediaplatforms moet meeding met bronne op sosiale media – wat gebeure vinniger kan weergee aan gebruikers. Die tradisionele rol van die media in ’n demokrasie is om by te dra tot deursigtigheid en verantwoordbaarheid. Dit is om burgers – wat die politiek bepaal – ingelig te hou oor die politieke en ander relevante aangeleenthede. Die mandaat van ’n besigheid daarteenoor is hoofsaaklik om winste te maksimeer. Die tradisionele rol van die media en die winsmaksimerende strewe van ’n besigheid oorvleuel soms, maar kan soms ook verskil. Die media behoort onafhanklik te funksioneer – dit wil sê, sonder die inmenging van belange groepe wat dit beheer waaraan burgers in die media blootgestel word. Die winsstrewe van besighede kan egter soms die onafhanklikheid van verslaggewing belemmer. Om te verstaan hoe dit kan gebeur, is dit nodig om die finansieringsmodel van mediagedrewe
besighede te verstaan. Digitale media werk, hoof saaklik, as ’n tweeledige-mark – een waarin lesers deur verslaggewing gelok word en ’n ander waarin adverteerders advertensies koop gebaseer op die lesers wat gelok word. Hoe meer lesers gelok kan word, hoe meer geld kan deur advertensies gemaak word. Daar is dus ’n aansporing om meer lesers te lok. Digitale platforms beskik oor gesofistikeerde elektroniese data wat, onder meer, vas kan stel watter artikels lesers gelok het, vanwaar die leser ingeskakel het en hoe lank die leser die blad besoek het. Hierdie data word dan gebruik om ’n besigheidsplan saam te stel. Die besigheidsplan sal dan uiteensit watter kategorieë die meeste lesers lok en daar is dan ’n aansporing om op die verslag gewing van daardie kategorieë te fokus. Dit is hier waar populisme in die prentjie kom. Populisme kan rofweg beskryf word as gewildheidspolitiek waarin “die mense” teen ’n “bose elite” te staan kom. Die probleme van “die mense” word dan blameer op “die elite” en die oplossing vir die probleme het gewoonlik te doen met die aftakeling van die “elite”. Die EFF se politieke strategie val
*Tivan studeer HonsBCom in Ekonomie aan die Universiteit Stellenbosch. vierkantig binne hierdie definisie – met wit mense as die “bose elite” en swart mense as “die mense”. Wanneer daar verslag gedoen word oor radikale uitlatings van die EFF, veroorsaak dit meer verkeer na hierdie artikel. Daar word dus meer verslag gedoen oor hierdie radikale uitlatings deur populistiese leiers omdat dit die winsbelange van mediabesighede bevorder. Verslaggewing word só skeefgetrek deur die winsmotief en daarom kan daar gesê word dat die media in hierdie opsig nie meer onpartydig is nie. Hoewel dit navorsing sal verg, vermoed ek dat die winsmotief en die toenemende finansiële druk op die media-industrie, bygedra het, en steeds bydra, tot die toename in populistiese bewegings.
MeToo, Captain Marvel and the way forward PRIYANKA GOVENDER
FOR those of you who have been living under a rock these past two years, the major theme running from October 2017 to the present has been big vagina energy. And it starts with a black woman, like every legendary story of the 21st century should. Since 2006, Tarana Burke, an American civil rights activist, has been using the phrase “MeToo” to signify the shared experience of so many women who have survived sexual abuse and assault. It seems a simple phrase, yet its power is in its simplicity. For abuse victims, MeToo is a release of collective shame and an acceptance into a community of women where one can feel safe and protected. In late 2017, the phase started gaining traction after the sexual abuse allegations against Harvey Weinstein came to light. Female celebrities banded together in support of one another as sexual harassment accusations against high profile male celebrities started piling up. Moreover, pay discrepancies and unequal treatment in Hollywood were also gaining attention.The visibility of respected and admired women not putting up with being downtrodden, activist groups like BLM and the stark contrast between the Trump administration and basic humanity has seen a spike in media representation of women and, for that matter, minority groups, over the last two years. My Netflix profile has more LGBTQ show options than not. For those of you who watched Captain Marvel, the movie was sub-par but kudos to MCU’s attempt to create an empowering, non-sexualised female role model whilst simultaneously sensitizing the American public to the plight of immigrants. Underwear models are trans, Asian, black, brown and sometimes have real, visible cellulite and fat rolls. It’s a better (not yet good) time to be alive against the soundtrack of Lizzo Beating making us feel like emboldened bad bitches. Whilst all this representation in the media is empowering, and although I would not go so far as to call any form of progress a smokescreen, I am somewhat failing to see the trickle-down effects of the MeToo movement. MeToo was supposedly characterised as a movement against sexual harassment and assault in the workplace, but really it was dominated by high profile cases and celebrities. We have not seen widespread measures being taken to legally protect women in regular workplace
*Priyanka is a third year engineering student and co-founder of iLizwi.co.za, a progressive online publication. environments. Indeed, consent is more widely understood today than it was a year ago, but it is not well understood by the people who need to understand it the most. Our university is an example of an institution that ought to have comprehensive consent workshops during orientation week, but instead we are frolicking on the Vensters stage. Don’t get me wrong, Vensters is fun and all’ but I think preventing date rape is more important. Education can run parallel to enjoyment without one or the other being sacrificed. Whilst the progress we have made tastes sweet, we shouldn’t lose sight of what still needs to be achieved. And nasty neo-liberal anti-feminists will jump at the opportunity to use the progress we have made as justification that oppression no longer exists, and on some absurd occasions, that we are now the oppressors. We cannot take that last step over the gender equality finish line unless we collectively agree as a society that this is a topic of importance that demands meaningful participation. This includes educating ourselves about issues outside the context of our small worlds. Most students have little idea that FGM (Female Genital Mutilation) is a continental crisis or that the argument for legalising sex-work in South Africa is to legally protect sex-workers from rape and abuse. I tend to chastise myself regularly for getting caught up in pop culture female empowerment Instagram pages or for crying at MeToo Oscar speeches, because I know there are so many equally important gender equality causes that tend to have less visibility. But honestly, what is the point of being a woman if we can’t revel in the progress we’ve made? Just so long as we remember that more still needs to be done, we should proudly celebrate our identity this month.
10
CANVAS
The Matie of the Opera One of Stellenbosch’s very own starring in a world-renowned musical. Kathryn van den Berg interviewed a relaxed Phantom cast member on break from touring the world.
T
he Phantom of the Opera is a name that we all know and is one of the first that comes to mind when we think of the theatre. Oliver Rhys Druce, a 2018 Stellenbosch BA Music graduate, sat down with Kathryn van den Berg to share his experience of being a part of the Phantom of the Opera World Tour. Oliver is a twenty-three-yearold former Stellenbosch student who is currently on a break from touring the world as a member of the cast for The Phantom of the Opera. The world tour is being spearheaded by Pieter Toerien and directed by Hal Prince. When asked how he became involved with this tour, he said that “it was sort of a rushed series of events because at the time, we were doing Die Fledermau at Artscape during the Suidoosterfees last year”. A few emails were sent to music students and Oliver received one from his lecturer in which she encouraged him to audition for the tour to gain some experience in the field of performance audition. The fact that this was an open audition, which means that anyone could audition, was further motivation for Oliver’s decision to apply. On the topic of the audition, Oliver said that it was very relaxed, and the people were welcoming and enthusiastic.“The day after we finished Die Fledermaus, I went to the audition and sang two songs
OPERA Here you can see Oliver Druce in his natural habitat, performing on stage in the musical The Phantom of the Opera. Photo: Provided that were supposed to show them my talents. Directly after the first audition they asked me if I was able to do a call back the next day and I said, ‘of course I’m available!’ because I went there with the intention of just doing this for the experience. It was a very relaxed audition” explained Oliver with excitement at the memory. Although a large portion of the cast chosen for this tour were previous cast members of the last world tour, soon-to-be graduate Oliver arrived at the call-backs after preparing “some dialogue and singing excerpts for me to look over, which I did as best as I could, so that I could be able to respond and interact with the judges”.
Oliver spent about an hour in the call-backs and recalls a particularly proud memory in which the musical director for the whole show, Kristen Blodgette, said his voice was “velvet’’. On the topic of the creative group, Oliver said that “the whole creative group has huge amounts of experience and are phenomenal: you know you’re in good hands with them.” About a month and a half after the call back, Oliver received an email asking if he would be able to tour for two years with the company, along with a contract. Oliver holds a two-year contract from the beginning of 2019 and goes to the end of 2020. “On the 2nd January we left for Manil-
Crossword Puzzle 1
2
3
4
5 6
7
8
9
10
Across Across 5. Wat is die onderwerp van die Voxpop? (bl. 11) 5. Wat is die onderwerp van die Voxpop? (bl 11) 6. Which clothing brand did Lerieze Erasmus 6. Which clothing brand did Lerieze Erasmus collaborate with for collaborate the fashion show?with (p 7) for the fashion show? (p. 7) 8. Which shop was robbed in Eikestad Mall? (p. 2) 8. Which shop in Eikestad Mall was robbed? (p 2) 9. Watter bekende dansplek het toegemaak? (bl. 3) 9. Watter bekende dansplek het toegemaak? (Voorblad) 10. Wie is die nuwe redakteur van Die Matie? (bl. 8) 10. Wie is die nuwe redakteur van Die Matie? (bl 8)
Down
Down 1. Watter naellakbesigheid het ’n huisdans 1. Watter naellakbesigheid het 'n huisdans promosie? (bl 4) promosie? (bl. 4) 2. Which Matie plays in Phantom of the Opera? (p 10) 2. Who plays in Phantom of the Opera (p. 10) 3. Which residence sustained fire damage? (Front page) 3. Which residence sustained fire damage? (p. 1) 4. Na fees kankan jy kaartjies wen?wen? (bl 6) (bl. 6) 4. Nawatter watter fees jy kartjies 7. Which singer is the movie in the Pulp Review(bl. about? 7. Which singer is in the Pulp Review? 5) (p 5)
la, which is the capital of the Philippines, where we met the whole cast and spent a month and a half in rehearsals.” A great portion of the cast is split between South Africans and Americans. Naturally, there are big names in the South African industry like Jonathan Roxmouth who plays the Phantom. In between laughter while telling this story, Oliver said that “for the first two weeks of rehearsal, we actually didn’t have a Phantom because Roxmouth was still busy with Chicago in Shanghai.” The opening night of the World Tour was on the 20th of February but, before that, the team went through a series of previews which are essentially paid audiences who watch the performance in order for the creatives to get the opportunity to put the cast on stage and give feedback thereafter. After a month and a half of performing in Manilla, which Oliver said is “a beautiful country filled with natural splendour but busy as hell… I’ve never seen traffic like that in my life”, the tour took a break and Oliver came back home. The tour then spent a month performing in Singapore and Malaysia. They are now back from Malaysia and will be setting off to Tel Aviv on 9 August. After that, the tour goes to Dubai, a few cities in South Korea, Hong Kong and, finally, Taiwan. In describing his role in the cast, Oliver explained how he is what is called a ‘male offstage swing’ of
which there are two. This job is to be the understudy of everyone. “So, when someone has to cover for someone else, the swing goes into that role. For example, my most common role that I’ve done is Passarino. He’s not a gigantic character- he’s an ensemble member and the man who plays him is actually the phantom understudy. When he fills in for Roxmouth, I take the role of Passarino. Between the other swing and I, we do 12 roles.” When asked what the closest call was when he had to go on stage, he explained how “the closest we had it was about 20 minutes before the show started, when Roxmouth, who was already in full costume and make up, suddenly fell ill and couldn’t perform. The Phantom’s understudy then had to take his place and I was put on in Passarino’s place. It was a rush because I had to get dressed and warm up very quickly luckily they can delay the show for a minute or two which makes a huge difference in the world of quick change.” Oliver’s advice to students who aspire to his situation is to “take every chance you can to audition and get your foot in the door. Start somewhere and don’t be too intense on yourself. Let yourself thrive in an environment that you enjoy”. He was adamant on performance needing to be something which you enjoy, because it is apparently very difficult to try keep control of your mental health when you’re on tour. “It is a big problem,” said Oliver. However, luckily, “It’s not something I’ve struggled with hugely because I’m blessed with a solid rock in my girlfriend who is amazing – I speak to her every night.” There are a lot of people on the cast who don’t have that support system and “we see them crumbling.” Oliver elaborates by saying that “there isn’t a standardised way that mental health is controlled, and there is such a stigma that you don’t really show if you are struggling.” Despite this Oliver admits that he has “not even one regret ‒ It’s a beautiful life and it’s amazing to be able to experience the different cultures.”
SPORT
14 Augustus 2019
11
Savvy Springbok Sevens: yes or no The Springbok Women’s Sevens team announced that they will be inviting female athletes from all over the country to participate in national trials. Gita Fourie asked a few female students how they would feel about playing rugby professionally.
Lisa Slabber, BA (Language and Culture) third year
Tharene Visser, BSc-derdejaar
YES, I would play rugby professionally, because I love contact sport. I’m not scared to get physical, because I think every sport has a price to pay when it comes to injuries.
NEE, ek dink nie ek sal rugby professioneel wil speel nie. Die oomblik wat ek die bal het en iemand kom op my afgestorm, sal ek omdraai en anderkant toe hardloop.
Cornel Koorts, BA (Geesteswetenskappe)-derdejaar EK sal nie sommer rugby speel nie, want ek is nie baie lief vir kontaksport nie! ’n Mens kan baie maklik beserings opdoen wat jou vir die res van jou lewe kan beïnvloed. Ek wil nie oud wees voor my tyd nie!
Emma van Deventer, B(Ed)-derdejaar EK sal rugby as ’n professionele sport wil speel. Dis ’n kontaksport en kan jy maklik aan jou frustrasies uiting gee en nog betaal word daarvoor ook! Ek weet net nie of ek hierdie besluit gaan berou as almal my eers begin trap nie.
Bianca Augustyn, B(Eng) third year I play rugby for Maties, so I think playing professionally is great. It’s time we start changing our perception of rugby as a male dominated sport. I would love to see more women showing interest in the sport.
Hockey standings
O CAPTAIN, MY CAPTAIN Nicholé Taljaard in action for Maties Netball. Photo: Supplied
Captain’s corner DOMINIQUE VERSTER
AT the age of 22, Nicholé Taljaard (BSc Sport Science) has a netball career packed with remarkable achievements. After joining Maties Netball in 2016, she made the Western Cape Southern Stings squad, as well as the South African u/21 Baby Proteas squad for the first time. Taljaard was also invited to train with the Protea netball squad earlier this year. For this year’s Varsity Netball competition, the talented player is enthusiastically embracing the role of Maties netball team captain for the first time. Preparation for the fast approaching competition has been well underway, and Taljaard expresses the confidence she has in her team and their performance. “My personal goal, as captain, is to try and bring out the
individual strengths of each player in the team. If [this] could take place, I feel like the team should be able to win by a large margin. We are such strong individuals together, [especially when we] elevate each other and each other’s strengths.” Even in her confidence, Taljaard anticipates a few challenges for the upcoming season. “Our attacking side is very young, where our defence is the more experienced side. [As] we are a younger side, [we] need to keep up the tempo and carry over [the] strengths [of the defence] to our side.” Taljaard emphasises her role in helping her team overcome these challenges by motivating them and regulating their head spaces before and during a game. “I try to get positive quotes in and positive personal experienc-
es so that the team can feed off of positive outcomes and build off of that.” The netballer’s initial reservations about being team captain quickly dissipated as her term started. “It means a lot to me knowing that I need to play an important role in the team now, not only on the court but off the court as well. I enjoy the challenge.” The team will be demonstrating their skill and preparation in their first match of the season against NWU on 26 August at Coetzenburg. Taljaard, Stephanie Brandt, Jo Prins, Kgomotso Ithlabanyeng and Sasha-Lee Petersen (all from Maties) made the cut and have been drafted into the national squad. The selection took place at the National Championships in August.
Graphic: Anke van der Merwe
WOENSDAG 14 AUGUSTUS 2019 | GR ATIS
TOUGH DAY AT THE OFFICE A player from Huis Marais collides with a PSO Barbarian. Koshuisrugby runs until 15 October. Photo: Francois Lombard
World Rugby tackles new law GABRIELA VILJOEN
T
he study named “Risk factor for head injury events in professional rugby union: a video analysis of 464 head injury events to inform proposed injury prevention strategies” was conducted by a group of research scientists. It proved that more head as well as high risk injuries occur during both head-on and high tackles. “The tackle is the most injurious match event in Rugby Union, accounting for between 40% and 60% of all match injuries.” This is a direct quote from an article published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine in 2017. This year, during the Maties Koshuis Rugby season, a trial of a law variation will be implemented, where the height of a legal tackle will be reduced from the shoulder to the armpit line. The Institute of Sport and Exercise Medicine (ISEM), in collaboration with the University of Cape
Town (UCT) and the University of Bath, is studying whether this injury prevention strategy could reduce head injuries in the game of rugby. The study is funded by World Rugby. Stellenbosch University’s Dr James Brown is the Principal Investigator of the study, which forms part of the ISEM’s Injury and Illness Surveillance and Prevention research trust. According to Prof Ross Tucker, a research scientist for World Rugby, there is extensive data which shows that the tackler is most likely to be concussed, especially when they are in an upright position and/or during head to head contact. The law variation aims to get the tackler and ball carriers’ heads out of the same airspace, thus protecting both players. Prof Tucker also stated: “I want to emphasise that bringing the height of the tackle down does not change the way that the referee views the high tackle, it just
changes the threshold for when he gives penalties and other sanctions when a high tackle is seen.” The law variation trial focusus on protecting players, not penalising them callously. The Koshuis tournament started on 30 July and is running until 15 October. Match nights are every Tuesday to Friday night starting at 17:00. Injury recorders will assist medical staff in recording relevant injury details. The games will also be filmed for research purposes.
Standings: top 6 1. Elsenburg 2. Eendrag 3. Huis Marais 4. Dagbreek 5. PSO Barbarians 6. Huis Visser
HIGH HOPES Dagbreek and Wilgenhof during a lineout. Photo: Maties Rugby Club